Amos, what happens if you take a whole teaspoon?

Sorry to be so quiet. This school year is tough on both me and Wakana. She has a particularly difficult set of students. I spend a lot of time listening to her decompress at the end of the day. A husband's work is never done.

Recently she introduced me to one student who has given her a lot of trouble. I smiled, looked him in the eyes and shook his hand... the way we shake hands in Maine... you know, the strength contest between hairy-chested males? I could see the pain in his face. I told him that Wakana had told me all about him and that I was glad to meet him. Later he complained to Wakana that I hurt him. She innocently explained that she had told me all about his antics and that I had been looking forward to meeting him.

It worked for a few days.

Wakana and I talk about dogs using a phrase I picked up from a stand up comic. "Every time they blink they open their eyes on a whole new world." Our students are like that. At some point this kid blinked and he forgot the whole thing. I need to shake his hand again.

We have a new teacher at the school. The Spanish teacher took a medical retirement and Mr. Catling came in to take her classes. It wasn't until he arrived that I realized some of what I've been missing. Mr. Catling is a new age kind of guy. He's small, dark, and wiry and has long Afro hair that he bunches at the back of his head. He is back on Guam after trying out the life of a professional actor. He learned Spanish in Spain.

I really like him. He is like a number of people I know back home. New age, interested in a lot of things, plays music, has his own drums, etc. He wants to get the drama club running and healthy at the school. He is trying to plan a trip to Spain for his students but that will be very difficult because he will need about $60,000 to pull it off.

Plus, he spent a few months working in The Old Town School Music Store in Chicago and is very familiar with folk music.

Of course, he had a little misunderstanding with the administration. Our windows are covered with plexiglass panels. He had his students paint them in a swirl of colors and styles. I guess this did not sit well with the administration. I don't think he did anything bad. He's like a breath of fresh air. It is one of the few really positive things to happen in a long time.

Anyway, I wanted to post my itinerary for all to see. We'll be spending most of our time with family in Houlton. I'll finally get to see my granddaughter again. The last time she was about six months old. Now she's almost two years old. She's walking and talking. Too cool.

Here is our itinerary.

Arrive Portland - Dec 21 at 10:42 PM

We'll be picked up by my sister, spend the night at her house and then head up to Houlton.

We are planning to go to Mary's for her New Year's Bash. Dates and times for our return to the Portland area are uncertain.

Depart Portland - Jan 1 at 2:05 PM