Damn Nature, You Scary.

That was a pretty big storm we just had.  Apparently, there was even a gust of 70mph at National Airport.  

Yet, by some stroke of luck, we still have power.  Huzzah!!

So Long DC Prep.

I have been meaning to post on this for a long, long while...but life happened -- as it usually does.  Sorry, friends.

Anyway, the big news is that I left DC Prep.  I had actually been planning on leaving Prep for a bit now...realizing that I need to try out new things in order to best prepare for future endeavors...wherever they may lead.  Plus, it is exhausting work.  Totally worth it.  But exhausting nonetheless.

I finished up the year taking over a classroom for one of our teachers who resigned mid-year.  While I was nervous about going back into the classroom after so many years out of one, it turned out to be a great way to reconnect with students and the whole reason I got into teaching to begin with.  I have a few backlogged stories (with photo evidence) in my pocket to share with the blog later.  But I'm going to try and stay on topic for now.

It has been incredible to be a part of the DC Prep family for the past five years.  Building the school from scratch and being a part of its growth into the successful establishment it is today.  It has been a true learning experience and I know I have made life-long friends.

Turning towards the future, I have joined another organization that is making waves called The Achievement Network.  I have been fortunate enough to work with them through Prep for the past few years and attribute a lot of our success in the upper grades with their work.  It's a really great opportunity for me to do some of the things I love: (puts on nerd glasses) like data analysis, consulting with school leadership, and really pushing teachers to think critically about how to improve their instruction.  I'm especially excited to be able to work with many schools throughout the District.  It will definitely be another learning experience.

So, last week, I wrote up my exit memo, finished up some projects, and took on the task of cleaning out my office.  I gave away so many years worth of books, materials, etc. since I'm pretty certain now that I will not be re-entering the classroom.  By the end, my office looked like this:

Trust me.  It hadn't looked like that in a long, long while.  It was sad leaving my office last Friday.  And I will not lie...Sarah McLachlan was playing in my head (I Will Remember You...natch!) when I turned off the lights on my office.  Specifically, the last scene from the first season of Felicity (you know what I'm talking about, D) -- granted, I didn't have Scott Speedman or Scott Foley waiting for me -- but I was thinking about it anyway.  (I should note, I was going to find a clip, but I could only find one that included the 7 minutes leading up to the scene...and also it was in Italian.  What did I say about staying on topic??)

Anyway, on that last day of DC Prep, I had a visitor that was very fitting.  He (she?) always came out around this time in the summer.  In fact, I spent a good amount of time looking for a post about him (her?) until I realized it was much more likely a Facebook post.  (Yep.  It was June 24th, 2011.)  But my little friend came out to say one last goodbye.

This guy was missing a couple of his one MILLION legs which made me feel a little camaraderie with him (her!) as that's how I feel after 5 years of some of the most difficult (but rewarding) work.  In the end, I let this little guy climb up the wall and out of sight -- free to terrorize the next occupant of that office.  

And then I left.  We'll see what's in store for me now!

Nawlins.

Did I mention that Jamie and I had our 5th wedding anniversary last weekend?  As it was the first wedding anniversary where we were not attending someone else's wedding, we booked a flight and made it over to New Orleans.

Interestingly, on the flight over we ran into a friend from high school also going to New Orleans...Jamie had actually known her since elementary school.  It was great to catch up with her...and be given the opportunity to apologize for how disgustingly schmoopy we must have been in high school.  In the tradition of Jamie knowing everyone in DC, we also ran into two other couples he knew on our flight.  Such a social butterfly, that one.

We arrived in New Orleans on Saturday morning and it was already sweltering.  Fortunately, our hotel was wonderful and centrally-located so we were able to explore the French Quarter while still being able to retreat back and get a much-needed AC break.

Our first day there, we noticed there wasn't much of a line at the famous Cafe du Monde and stopped in for some beignets.

We also ventured out to the bayou and got to see some Louisiana wildlife up close.

We did lunch a Commander's Palace -- somehow, forgot to take pictures -- and stopped by the Lafayette Cemetery.  

Before I managed to evaporate in the heat, we did get to walk around the beautiful Garden District and see some of the famous homes.  My favorite was the Benjamin Button house.

As one of the ways to duck out of the heat after walking around the Garden District, we took the trolley back to the French Quarter and stopped in the Audubon Aquarium.

There are so many things that I didn't manage to get pictures of.  There were Po'Boys, Jazz on the streets and in clubs, Bourbon Street debauchery (not mine), so many excellent meals, and of course, lots of time spent with Man Boo.

Despite the 5-hour delay getting back, I wouldn't have changed a thing about our trip...