I was up until 2 a.m. last night doing preparations for the school year which is very strange because it wasn't entirely necessary. (I can't wait to see how late I stay up when I actually have more pressing tasks to tend to.)

Today is going to be my first real work day in my classroom. I have purchased supplies including a radio/c.d. player, maps, and wait for it... a glass candy jar filled with jolly ranchers for my kids. How teacher-y am I? Anyhow, I knew that I was going to end up paying out of pocket for supplies and materials. Sure, I will have unlimited use of paper and pencils but what student (or teacher or parent) wants to walk into a classroom with blank walls? President Bush signed the Teacher Tax Relief Act that is supposed to alleviate some of the financial burden on teachers. Actually new teachers spend more of their own money on supplies than veteran teachers. On average new teachers spend about $700 on supplies for their classroom in the first year alone! New teachers do not have the network of resources or even physical supplies that veteran teachers have established over their years of teaching. As this article points out, that becomes a further burden when you consider that new teachers are on the lowest step in the pay scale. No wonder teachers are often accused of hoarding seemingly trivial supplies like notepads and pens. Any thoughts?

Anyhow, I am going to take before and after photos so everyone can see the wonderful progress I have made. (Talk to me again in a couple of hours and I probably won't sound so cheerful.)

Wish me luck!

"Excuse me, Flo?"

Last week, I attended a new teacher orientation that introduced me to my district and some of my new colleagues. It was very helpful and I am grateful to be part of a school district that considers this, as part of a New Teacher Mentor Program, to be a priority. Interestingly, there are 5 other new teachers and staff at my middle school that are about my age. I think it is great that there are others in a similar place as me- I think we can support each other quite nicely.

I also entered my classroom last week. The principal led me down the maze of hallways and when we got to my room (312) he said, "Well, it's a blank slate" and it certainly was. All the student desks were stacked on the window sills and the other materials in the room (including my desk, filing cabinet, white boards, and computer) were either empty, blank, or not set up. It was a little overwhelming and besides moving in some books, I didn't stay for very long. I didn't have the requisite caffeine level/frame of mind to get started. That said, my classroom is absolutely lovely and I am excited to get started.

Thsi past weekend, I did a fair amount of "conceptual" planning, including a diagram of my classroom and outline for the first week of school. My sister thinks I am *a little* crazy but at least I feel more comfortable and prepared to walk back into my classroom and roll up my sleeves. I also had a nice rest in the Berkshires this past weekend as I knew I would need it to gear up for the first month of school. After getting lost in Boston for 2 HOURS on Thursday afternoon on my way to see an apartment, I decided to start my ride home a little earlier than planned. (I was going to drive home after visiting the apartment but since I was unable to locate it, I just jumped on the Mass Pike and drove into the setting sun.) My time home consisted of watching the doe and her fawn in my mom's backyard that eat from the neighbors garden every night at 8 p.m., picking 16 pounds of blueberries with my dad, baking my first ever apple pie, and spending Saturday night at Tanglewood listening to the Boston Symphany Orchestra (with Yo Yo Ma). Whoa, talk about culture shock and I only had to drive 2 hours to obtain it.

Off to my canvas- more to follow...

Several new words (when spoken in succession) have entered my vocabulary this week: "I don't have anything to do."

I have spent the last 5 days bidding on (and winning!) my first ebay items, treating email as if it were instant messenger, scanning through craigslist ads, and reading every article on redsox.com.

After the hurricane of being a VISTA at a D.C. non-profit and living in Northern Virginia with family for a year, my last week was strangely relaxing. No complaints here though, I definitely needed this brief time to catch my breath. This past year has come and gone...

Awkward first days of work sitting in the lobby, at the desk right next to the frequently visited company printer...

The first raucous happy hour with $.50 tacos and a waitress who basically threatened my life...

Saying good-bye to a new co-worker/friend who got the boot... (Has anyone even found out if VISTAs are allowed to be fired?)

Community resources, best practices, collaboration, OH MY!

Watching my little nephew/god-son attempt his first steps across the living room floor and then slamming into the couch with record force...

Listening as my niece read her first real chapter books (Junie B. Jones, all), falling asleep in the process, and having her tuck me in...

Halloween in Boston with the Girls and some new friends, one of which dressed as a cat to accompany my dog costume...

Christmas in Virginia with no snow but a very-pregnant sister who couldn't travel...

A 23rd birthday with great new friends at our favorite Mexican spot on the Hill...

The arrival of a very sweet little niece that further demonstrates the fact that Hinkells produce attractive offspring (ummm, maybe I won't adopt)...

Seizing the books and sweating through spring wiht my office-mates...

Spending time with the family and watching the little peanuts grow, the real reason I came to D.C. in the first place...

Nights out with the coolest class of VISTAs ever, never catching the last train home, and always ending up on the short couch...

Road-trips to Detroit, Boston, and even the 'burbs of VA...

Long lunch talks that usually left Sam blushing (or wishing he were born a woman)...

Camden Yards and the Red Sox- need I say more?

Living through a tornado, listening to live music, enjoying (and sweating profusely because of) deliriouslye, delirisouly laughing because of the heat, spending an entire weekend with 3 very special friends, all of which made this year's Falcon Ridge a memorable one...

SCHLEPPING.

The sheer ABSURDITY of it all.

Oh goodness...

Even these snapshots of this past year can't do it justice. Thanks to all of you who contributed to it. I had a fabulous time and learned a hell of a lot more about myself than I ever thought possible.

Now I am ready to teach.