For our last summer “hurrah” we went south. For those of us who live in Northern California, So Cal feels almost like another state — warm beaches, insane traffic (ok, we’re catching up), and Disneyland (none of our theme parks even come close!). While we spent two days immersed in all things Disney, I’ll spare…
Category: Summer
Summer brain and the start of a new school year
I’m such a cliche. After having spent the whole week thinking today was my wedding anniversary, I actually looked at the calendar. It’s tomorrow. It’s not that I didn’t know the date we got married; it’s that I didn’t know what today’s date was. I’m blaming it on summer brain. Summer brain is the heavy…
The gifts of 5:00 AM and coffee-cup meditations.
My husband jokes about “burning daylight” if you wake up too late. I’m less concerned about that than I am about seeing the start of day. There is something about the quiet beginnings of morning, the way the birds awaken and the sky lightens, that comfort me. It’s a grounding I need, and a space…
Summer Inertia and Shel Silverstein: Playing Hurk a little while longer
I’m back from the AVID Summer Institute feeling energized to start the new year . . . and lamenting that the summer is now flying out the door. This morning I took care of the 4000+ emails I had in my google in-box which was mildly satisfying. I just stuffed them all into a folder…
To reach every student, every day; Breaking for AVID so I can fill up my tool kit.
I am very excited that over the next three days I will be at the AVID Summer Institute in Sacramento. While I’ve used AVID strategies and have been part of my school’s AVID team of educators, this is my first “official” AVID conference. I’ll be taking the strand for Cultural Relevance to Transform Teachers. The…
Living in my memories: If only I’d had my camera …
This waterfall is somewhere near the Lihui airport — along a tight, twisty road, found by the hoards of tourists. We had a few minutes before our flight home to take a look — my camera was slung over my shoulder. Sometimes, though, having your camera on you is impractical, even when you’re in the…
Kauai Skies and Good-byes
One last morning on the lanai waiting for the sky to light up over the ocean. My packed bags might be full, luggage tags in place determining my destination — but part of my heart will always stay on Kauai. Sunsets and day breaks are glorious on the islands. Here are some dusk and sunset…
Last Day on Kauai (Write Every Day 30)
Moonlight’s magic mist makes vacations disappear before our very eyes. Just one more day to enjoy Paradise . . . I’m going to sit here and breathe in the ocean for a while. I’ll be back.
Kayaking to the “someone let out the” Secret Falls: Uluwehi Falls, Kauai (Write Every Day 29)
Yesterday, we took a kayaking+hiking trip out to the Secret Falls, which is a misnomer since everyone and his brother seems to know where the falls are. We had done a similar trip out to the falls many years ago and had fond memories of a canoe ride and hike. The kids were little and…
Finally easing into summer (Write Every Day 28)
I have no words. None. This isn’t writer’s block. It’s something else. I thought finding something to write for a straight 30 days would be challenging, and it was, but up until this morning, I always found in the morning that I had something to say. This morning, my mind is blank. I have nothing…
“What’s this button do?” On Kauai, playing around with the settings on my Panasonic Point-n-Shoot (Write Every Day 27)
We stuck pretty close to the hotel today, driving only up to Kapaa and into Lihue to see if we could find a shoulder strap for my camera. There, we had lunch at Bubba’s Burgers. The rest of the day, I spent experimenting with my camera. I should mention that I don’t carry a tri-pod…
Back “home” in Kauai: Day 1 (Write Every Day, 26)
The wind is howling and the skies are stormy, but it’s Kauai and I’m sitting on the lanai, enjoying how the skies light up over the ocean. Yesterday was a long travel day, and we sat on the tarmac for 2 hours before take-off, but the flight was smooth. And worth it. We’ve come here…
Barbara Ganias Comstock 