Names

Arriving home today from work I sat down, then laid down, then set my alarm to go off in 15 minutes to wake me.   I snoozed the alarm at least 3 times.  I have a vague memory of saying something to Z.  When I awoke, I was alone in the house, I didn't hear anyone leave and I was maybe 12 feet from the door on the couch.  I am hopeful that I will be able to fall asleep still tonight.

There are around 70 students in the 7th grade that I am trying to learn their names.  The teachers have the attendance and other tools to help them learn.  Last year I remember looking at the small tags on their chromebooks or notebooks and folders to learn the names.  This year I am in an art class and the teacher is having them design a folder to keep work in-with their names colorfully represented on the front.  This has helped considerably.  These little things are so helpful.  I just wandered around looking at the name on the folder, then the student and after a while, the student then the name until I am fairly certain I have those names committed to memory. 

My chromebook was given to me today.  I have been asking different people for it since last Tuesday during PD days.  Apparently it was just waiting for me in an office that I only go into once every other week to fill out my time card.  Getting that is my happy for today.  I have been borrowing or going without and it had become tiresome.  Some things I can access on my phone, but not everything.  I feel that I need to learn something about who to communicate to by this, but I talked to enough people that it seems like someone could have known and sent me to the right place, but they didn't either.  It is all good, or will be once I charge it!  😄

Clouds

My daughter made an absolutely GORGEOUS scroll.

It has yet to be awarded, but here is a little part of it.  

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Short post

It is an hour and a half after the time I had hoped to be getting ready for bed.  My day was full.  Work, home and short nap, out to dinner with friends and a few short errands along the way.  As I look at my screen, wanting to get to sleep soon, I see a tab open showing me that I have 23 notifications on Facebook.  Perhaps I will be able to avoid them tonight.  Perhaps...

Two happy things for today, dinner out with friends and getting to talk with my friend in Texas.  I say this often, friends and hugs are awesome.  The world needs more of both.

Foggy morning

Friends 

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First Day of School-brief

There are about 70 students whose names I tried to learn today.  Well, a little less than that because  had repeats in different classes and knew a couple of the kids from a mixed class and D&D last year.  New school year and new challenges, here we go!  After work I napped and headed to the rehearsal.  Next week is the dress rehearsal.  I stayed out way too late and had ice cream with two friends after.  On the ride home I did some math and figure I have known those two for over 30 years.  This started to make me feel old, but they are older, so I chose to feel young instead.  😜

For today my happy is the peaceful time I had when I took a walk prior to rehearsal.

The Charles River

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Harper's Clean Up Day

As the title implies, today was supposed to be spent cleaning up the campground after the event.  I did indeed help and stayed until we were sure it was finished, but I spent a great deal of that time visiting with people.  It seems like there is always a period of time after an event that is rehashing parts of it and sharing with others the experiences we had.  Every day this event there have been stories shared about the people who have passed away this year.  Logically, I know that these things happen and that the rest of us need to move forward.  Emotionally, there are so many different feelings and it depends on the day or hour as to how I feel and handle it.  Emotionally and selfishly, perhaps, I hope that there are no more deaths in the near future.  A friend came to the event on Saturday with her baby.  Holding a little one did wonders for a bit and it is a feeling I may need to keep calling on. 

Any how, my happy for today is going to be the SCA and all the friends that being a part of this organization has allowed me to have.  There are so many wonderful people that I know only because of being a part of this organization.  Sometimes I wonder if other hobbies create such an experience of friends and acquaintances as this one does. 

A silly picture of Gideon and me to end this post that became way too serious.

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Harpers day 3

Again there was no internet at the cabin.  I was unable to get enough service when I was in a building that has an internet connection. The mosquitos and other insects have seemed more fierce this year. Perhaps they are the reason for the lack of internet. 😉

It was a good day. I got to watch some fighting and visit with friends. The only award I ever really wanted to get and try for I received at court. It is the Keystone given for service above and beyond someone does at Pennsic for the Barony. I had hoped that by doing land grab and being extra helpful this year that I might do enough to warrant receiving it. Then there was a death and a good deal of the work fell on myself and my daughter. We had so many others that helped too. Three of us got the award. Myself, my daughter and the wonderful woman who made sure the shower worked as well as helping out in other ways around camp. There really were many who pulled together for the encampment to run well. I'd gladly return the award and get my friend who passed away back.

This evening also had a play that some of the kids acted in. Seeing this is my happy for today and I will try to load that video onto here. It is in two parts but I didn't miss too much when I had to make the second part.

Some random pictures. 

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About Harper's Event Day 2

After sneaking into the cabin for bed last night, with everyone else inside asleep, I couldn't get the internet to work.  It worked the night before when I wrote the blog, but not this night.  Perhaps I got to sleep faster because of this, I don't think so. 

The day was filled with responsibilities interspersed with sitting and talking with folks.  A dear friend came and helped me out by carrying things, running quick errands and being company.  Having company helped to keep my mind from heading down dark paths that creep into my mind lately because so many people have passed away recently.   

In the evening a bardic competition was held.  We did things differently this year with the audience being allowed to vote by following a rubric.  I was sceptical about this working on such a large scale, but it seemed to.  I know I wasn't the first person to consider using a rubric, but I had expected it to only be used on a smaller scale.  My thoughts had maybe five people use the rubric to judge the competition.   Instead the audience teamed up in groups of 4 or 5 using the rubric to score each of the participants and it seemed to work well.  I am curious how those who participated felt about this system.  

After the competition was over, I ended up staying up way too late talking with someone.   It was fun, just wish it wasn't so late.  My happy for today is spending time with friends, old and new.  

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Harper's Event First Day-- just a happy.

Last night my phone died and I had forgotten to unpack the charger before everyone else had gone to sleep.   The day was filled with packing and the evening with friends.  My happy for today is friends.  Friends that I can share hugs with.

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