I speak whale

I've been loving this long two week winter break. Ahhh. I'm so relaxed, so rested, and so thrilled with some of the photos and experiences I've been sharing.

Our daily routine is pretty much the same. Only with slight changes to the schedule.

Today I woke up early around 6:00. The sky is still dark, but there is a lot of activity. Trucks are busting down the dirt road to the beach. In these early trucks you see fishing poles through the dust-caked windows. Later after the sun peeks through the Sierra Lagunas mountains the trucks will be toting sun-kissed surfers with tassled hair.

This was my second morning waking up early to fish with my dad. I actually don't do any of the fishing. I'm behind my camera lens fascinated with all of the life around me.

We drove the one minute drive to the beach and found a smattering of other trucks and cars. This is a good sign. When the local fish you know you are bound to get something too. The fishermen space themselves out along the shore. Many of the locals still use the traditional method of throwing and pulling the line by hand. They need space to swing the line and let it zoom through the air. The sound is magical as the line whizzes and whinnies before plopping into the water. This morning they were pulling them out of the sea like crazy. Quickly they release the floundering fish from their lines, deposit them on the sea and within seconds are back casting into the glassy sea.

I used my macro lens to watch the Humpback Whales on the horizon. It's like binoculars. They are spouting and arching. I envied the boats as they nosed their way up close to them. Yesterday while my sister, dad and I swam in the ocean we would dive under and hear the whales moaning and trumpeting to each other. It is a beautiful experience. Sort of thrilling and a bit scary at the same time.

After fishing we stopped at home to drop off a sort board surfboard. My grandma joined my dad and I to check out the surf on a beach called La Pastora. It's just a couple minute drive from our house. While the waves weren't great my dad couldn't resist an opportunity. He went out anyways. As my grandma and I sat out a towel we oohhhed and awwed as the whales were leaping straight out of waves, repeatedly thumping their tales against the water and were very talkative. I could hear them hollaring from the shore. We also saw pods of dolphins and jumping fish. All this activity within the first couple hours of morning sunlight. Can't beat that!

It's been a trip full of amazing experiences.

Another Meag Adventure

We were sitting around the empty metal containers that just moments ago were filled full of steaming shrimp dumplings and sticky rice. If you know me and my family you know this is a familiar scene of ours. We frequent Dim Sum so often we have a golden membership.

But, it was in this blissful setting that I had a horrible realization. It was Christmas eve and in two days I would be catching a flight to Mexico with my sister. We were going to join my dad, step mom, grandma, aunt and migrating whales in the sleepy town of Todos Santos.

I had been so preoccupied packing all of my crafts that I had forgotten to pack my very important passport. But, I did have a photo copy in my wallet left over from my years in Nigeria. I called the airlines to see if this was legit. It's not.

Then I tried to mentally imagine where my passport was. My desk drawer? My unpacked Tupperware bins stored behind a wall of clothes? My memory was foggy with too many moves into different houses since my return from Nigeria.

We had planned to cross the street to Target where I was to buy some eyeliner. Instead we headed home where I searched the desk, the drawers, under the bed and sadly concluded it was in a pile of documents up in Tacoma.

About an hour later my step dad Tommy and I were in his Prius on the straight and forward I-5. Two and a half hours later we pulled up to my house. I rustled through the expected hiding places and found it moments later. Shoved safely in the pocket of my new Omni Heat jacket we piled back into the car and headed South. Since we wouldn't be making it back in time for Christmas Eve service and the dinner of Cajun tots we stopped by Burger Ville for our own hamburgers and waffle fries. I was so grateful for Tommy's company. We actually had a wonderful time talking. I loved hearing about his Irish family and how he grew up as a first generation Irish. My favorite part was when he did the Irish accents of his parents.

Now, I'm sitting in the airport, waiting for our delayed flight to Todos Santos. Don't worry. I know exactly where my passport is. It's safe and close by me. Exactly where it should be.

An innocent beginning

It all started so innocently. A little conversation based on a little question leading to something big. This past weekend at Geiger's staff holiday party a colleague asked if I had brought anyone as a date. No. At this time in my life there is no one to bring, but I do await the day when I will have someone to discuss and debrief with on the drive home. Well, Jo found my current status absolutely appallingand turned immediately to our principal, Paula, who was in the kitchen with us. Paula was giddy and said, "I wanted to talk with you about that! Now that I have permission I'm going to find you a guy! Just you wait." Chuckling she says, "Oh... this is going to be good!"

This evening I poked my head into my principals office to see if she had a moment to talk about phone call I had with a parent. She was on the phone, but took the time to talk with me. It was as if she saw my mouth moving but created her own dialogue because in response to what I said she talked back into the phone and said, "Hey, Brian, (her nephew) you know who I'm talking to? This really hot, smart, well traveled, artistic, amazing teacher. Do you know of any of your friends who are single?" Then she continued on for a good solid couple of minutes about my qualifications. Well, I take that back. She would pause for a second to ask me questions. "What's your type?" "When did you graduate?" "Blond or blue haired, I mean eyes?" "How young are you willing to date?" I would stumbled around for an answer all the while thinking.... can this really be? She never really waited for an answer. She took the liberty to translate my gawking and nervous giggles.

Brian was doing his own talking on the other end of the line. I couldn't hear what he was saying but from her answers I have a pretty good idea. "PLU." "Hot" "She thought you were hot." "No, he needs to be smart." "Artistic and athletic" "She's lived in Africa and Australia." "What are you a sicko, 18 is WAY to young!" " Yeah, like an 18 year old would think she is hot." And I'm wanting to sink into the floor, run far far away, and burst into hysterical laughter all at the same time. Instead I stood there dumbfounded. Could this really be happening? Who does this? What have I gotten myself into?

It gets even better.

With some perimeters laid she and Brian start to rattle off names of guys they mutually know. While she is talking at the same time she begins to open her facebook account, she goes to her friends list and types in a name to find a picture of a guy who would be just perfect for me. She shows me various pictures of him. Tells me his life story starting with his fathers' occupation, his jaw surgery and how he had to drink only liquids for two years of his life when the surgery went bad.

I'm flattered Paula thinks so highly of me and can so easily brag about my qualifications, but it's just hilarious to think about how my good intentions to keep her in the loop on my students turned into a speed dating session. I've also never worked for someone who can so easily blur the line between professionalism and personal life. I sort of like it, it catches me off guard constantly. Definately keeps me on my toes and is giving me plenty of good material if I ever write a sitcome about the life of a teacher.

Often my friend Kathy and I joke about creating a sitcom like The Office based on the lives of teachers. We've already talked about scenes in the staffroom. With really healthy teachers who dream about going to New York to visit the famous Moosewood Cafe. About the conversations around what that teacher pulls out of their lunch bag. And the quizzical looks and questions other teachers have about what's being eaten. I can't wait to tell her about the most recent scene. I think it will get some laughs. We'll have to store it away in our resources of good ideas because it's definitely laugh worthy. Yet at the same time it's actually my real life.

Field Trip

Our Mayor declared the 30th of Novemeber as the official day to honor our First responders. With banners rolled up and umbrellas protecting us from the rain we made our way to the neighborhood Fire Station. We huddled under the covered area and rang the bell to announce our arrival. After a short wait, we rang again, and again, and again. Even though we had called a head and arranged our visit they weren’t there. Since two of the firetrucks were gone we inferred these first responders were out on a call. To honor them we sang a Fireman song, propped our banners against the door and bundled up for the walk back to Geiger. Back in the class we talked about celebrations and disappointments. I reflected on the events and decided the children had a wonderful experience. In real life we have opportunities to show gratitude. Sometimes the process and planning is just as beneficial as the end destination. Through our preparation of the banners we got to reflect on the first responders role. We learned team work as we shared paper and crayons. Jayden and Dylan solved the problem of a ripped banner. Octavia got to feel pride as she saw how beautiful her fringed end looked when finished. I agreed with Natalie that while it was disappointing not getting to hand deliver the banners or to sing them the prepared songs, we did have a great time walking in the rain and working together to show our gratitude.