A Surprise!

Some of the trees that we drove past.

Friday morning, after heading to the dentist (I have healthy teeth, don't worry!), my friend Kyle and I began the long drive up to Ottawa in order to surprise his girlfriend, and my best friend, Ana, on her birthday.  It was a beautiful day for a drive.  The sun was shining, the leaves were changing, and thus the scenery breathtaking!  How I love to take pictures of such an exquisite creation!

A shot of Silver Lake.  We paused so I could get pictures!

Upon arrival in Ottawa, we swung by the U. to pick up our friend Jenna, then went and bought an ice cream cake and headed to Ana's apartment where we met one of her roommates.  We had a couple of hours to wait as Ana wouldn't be back from work until 7:30 and so we chilled and got to know Lynette a little better.  At last, it was time.  Kyle hid behind the front door while I went out on the balcony behind some curtains.  Jenna, being a resident of Ottawa, sat in the open, right in front of my hiding place, pretending to be the surprise.  Ana knew that her roommates had something planned, but she didn't know what.  After waiting for what felt like forever, she finally opened the door.  As guessed, she was extremely happy that Jenna was there.  As the two embraced, I emerged from my hiding place and when Ana opened her eyes, she let out a shout for joy.  We hugged and then she turned and saw Kyle.  At this point, she was crying from happiness.  I was so glad the surprise turned out so well.

The ice cream cake!
(Winnie the Pooh!)

The six of us (Kyle, Jenna, Ana, Lynette, Fatima (other roommate) and I) shared a delicious dinner made by Lynette (she is an awesome cook!), enjoyed some cake and socialized for the evening.  It was so much fun and I'm really glad it worked out.  Not only did I get to see my bestie, who I rarely get to see due to school, but I got to make two new friends as well.

In the words spoken by Lynette a mere 10 minutes after we first walked in the apartment, "I felt like I've known you guys forever."

Ana and I - Saturday, Sept 29th

Mind Reading Teachers?

Most teachers have eyes in the back of their heads, but in reality, that’s just a ruse.  Teachers actually have an extra ear on top of their heads.  You might not normally notice as it’s hidden beneath their hair.  What?  Your teacher has no hair?  That’s no scalp, that’s a bald cap covering the extra appendage.  Trust me, I know.  I am a teacher after all.  You may think it odd to have an ear growing from the crown of your head, but don’t worry, we’re not born with them.  They are an added, and also  really helpful, adjustment that most teachers go through.  You see, this ear doesn’t hear normal sounds.  Instead it...

I lower my hands from the keyboard and sigh.  Maybe it’s too soon to reveal this secret.  If the students find out, there might be an uproar.  Chaos could then naturally ensue and nothing we taught would get learned.  Further, once parents found out, there would probably be trouble for the Department Head as well.  But at the same time, to keep this a secret..?

The bell chimes through the school, startling me from my reverie.  End of lunch.  I close the program and shut down the computer.  Grabbing my afternoon binder, I then push the office door open, turn off the lights and head to class.  The hallway rush consumes me immediately as students bustle to and fro, nattering back and forth to each other as they finish their lunches and head to class. 

It should hit her now!

I turn on my heels and catch the ball of paper before it meets my face.  “Nice try, Bradley.” I smile at the blond youth who stands, mouth open beside a garbage can down the hall.  I toss the ball back at him. “Garbage.  Get to class.”  I don’t wait for him to close his mouth before I pivot and continue.

How did she..? the thought trails off as I turn down another hall.

“Find your seats, please.” I walk into Room 219 as the changeover time ends.  Twenty-one pairs of eyes stare over their desks at me as I walk to the chalkboard.  With my back to the students, I pick up a piece of blue chalk and begin writing the day’s agenda nice and big.

Arg! I brought the wrong binder.

“Yes, Connor?” I ask, my back still to the class.

Chairs rub against tiles as the students shift in their chairs.

I finish writing my current line and then turn to look at a well muscled boy with shaggy auburn hair sitting in the second row.  His hand is half raised in the air and he stares back at me, mouth set in an uncertain smile.

“You brought the wrong binder, right?”

He gives a curt nod and then looks sideways at his classmates.

“You can go with Dylan—”

Did she just say my name?

“—He spilled his water on his jeans and needs to change.”

Heads rotate in unison, as if pulled by a string, to look at the small, dark haired boy sitting by the back window.  He’s perched on the edge of his chair, legs spread open.  His torso is currently leaning forward over his knees and his eyes peek up at me in wonder.  An empty, but dripping, water bottle rests in his right hand.

“Well, hurry up, you two.”

The two stand.  Water drips to the floor from Dylan’s pants leaving a snaking trail as they leave the room.

“Ms. Bea,” Leanne, my lone red head begins.  I can hear the question forming in her mind.  “How did you know?  Are you a mind reader or something?”

That’s the question.  Now, do I answer?  I ponder for a moment, a small smile on my lips.

“Ha!  People can’t read minds,” scoffs Richard, Leanne’s desk buddy.  “Are you stupid?  If anyone could, they’d end up being lab rats and all the news casts would tell us there aliens among us or something.”  He leans back in his chair and scratches his chin.  “An alien hunt... now that would be fun.” 

Resting my piece of chalk on the ledge beneath the board, I let my smile widen.  It probably is too soon, but maybe someday.  Right now though, listening to thoughts might be a bit too unbelievable.

“Rich, four on the floor, please.  The truth is, class,” I say with a wink, “most teachers have eyes in the back of their heads.”

I wonder how many worms die on a Golf Course...

For most of you, this thought has probably never crossed your mind.  I'd be a little surprised if it had.  The fact that the thought crossed my own mind was in itself surprising.

I have never really wondered about the life of a worm.  On rainy days in elementary school, I was one of those kids that would pick the worms up from the black top and move them to other "more safe" locations.  I didn't always move them because I cared but simply because they felt kind of cool (and most other girls gave grossed out reactions).  I've also gone fishing and have personally pierced through a single worm 2-3 times, in order to secure my bait, without giving it much thought.

But, as I was mowing my five greens one rainy morning, I took note of all the worms that had taken refuge on the driveway short grass.  All they wanted was a place above their flooded homes, and yet they had the misfortune of being out while I was walking my mower.  If I were to move every single worm from the surface, each hole would take an extra 20 minutes at least and I don't have time for that.  So instead, I mow away.

And now, I wonder how many worms die on a Golf Course.

Beginnings

It's raining.

Huge drops of water blur together as they cascade on the street outside my window.  I was really hoping for sun today.  This morning, I was supposed to go to work to mow some greens while watching the sunrise, but that became impossible with the thunder and rain this morning at 6 o'clock.  Then, after that, I was going to join my friend Joel in a bike adventure.  Sadly, all those plans are now washed away...

Lately there has been so little rain, and so I'm happy that it's pouring, but couldn't have done this yesterday when I was inside all day?  Bah, humbugs.

Last Sunday I moved into a new house and so naturally, all week I have been pulling my hair out trying to figure things out--just kidding.  I have a really small room (which I picked so it's not really so unfortunate as it may seem to people), and I brought too much stuff (which I should have foreseen).  My room currently is still messy (things with no home live on the floor...) and I've moved some things three or four times in order to find the right spot. For instance, because my room is so small, it has a bunk bed.  Initially, I put a bunch of text books on the shelf above the desk, but when I climb into bed, the frame rattles and the books would either fall over or worse, fall off onto the desk.  No fun.  Not only that, but I've realized I forgot my laundry hamper, my hole punch, page dividers and a few other things back home.

(~_~)

Isn't forgetting things wonderful?

Oh well.  I suppose it's all apart of being human.  Everything will get organized in the end.  It's just not organized right now.

Despite that, the people I live with are nice and I'm looking forward to this coming year!

God bless, 
Rae