The Perfect Day Off

Doug: One of the great boons of teaching is the built-in break every so often. Sure, I often fill those times with work-related activities (lesson planning, summer school, teaching at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, etc.), but certainly not all the time. Today we'd like to hear about your perfect day off -- and the conversation is even better if you add some details concerning the time of year when this fabulous day off might fall.

Doug: For me, there's no better day off than the anticipated-and-now-it's-true snow day! A little unplanned sleeping in, followed by some time on the treadmill and a "no worries" breakfast just spent watching the snow fall. That... is a great start to a day off. Follow it up with a little time spent clearing the driveway and sidewalks and an opportunity to read and it's as if it were heaven sent.

Doug: In the fall or spring, when it can be cold in the morning, I like to follow the same early routine of working out, showering, and then having some coffee while I enjoy the outside scenery. If I'm on top of my game, I've already chosen some comics to read and write about. I really enjoy that 1-2 hours of solitude, just studying the comic art, reflecting on the story, and the nostalgia of it all. I may follow that time with some more reading (books or comics) just for fun. Once afternoon hits and the day has warmed, a brisk walk somewhere outside is great -- either around the neighborhood or at a forest preserve.

Doug: Things are a little different when my wife plans the day off. I, as you might tell, am a homebody; she would prefer to get out and go and do. If she's in charge, we're probably going to make the 50 mile trek to downtown Chicago. Her idea of a great day off is to pack a lunch, take the lawn chairs, and head to the museum campus on the shores of Lake Michigan. We set up shop with our goods and a radio, a couple of books, and sit and enjoy the skyline and the sunny weather. If we are in the Loop, we will just walk around for hours. We did a weekend stay downtown a couple of summers ago and walked almost 20 miles during the 36 hours we were there. Those are great times, too!

Doug: So how about you?

Summer's Over -- What Do You Have to Say For Yourself?

Doug:  Well, that was nice while it lasted.  With yesterday's celebration of Labor Day here in the States, Summer 2013 came to its unofficial end.  You might recall that we ran a post back around Memorial Day where many of you offered up your summer plans.  Some of you spoke of films, some of books to read, others of vacations or household chores.  Go ahead and make that jump backward and check out what you said (those of you who commented -- you other lurkers (and we love you all) are welcome to take a look as well).  Today let's report on what you did accomplish.

Doug:  Most of what I had planned did indeed come to pass.  My wife and I were able to celebrate our 25th anniversary twice, once on an overnight to Chicago where we dined at Geja's Cafe' -- a spot where we'd eaten during our brief honeymoon in 1988, and again in July for four days at the Osthoff Resort in Wisconsin.  I did programming for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and Chicago.  Summer school, way back in June was fun, and I did begrudgingly finish the training for teacher evaluations.  I caught a White Sox game with my younger son (birthday presents to us from the oldest) and we took a quick two-day trip to Cincinnati to see the Reds play the Giants (the night before Homer Bailey's no-hitter -- our luck).  That trip allowed us to check another ballpark off the family list.  I think among the four of us we've seen 19 major league stadiums.  I also managed to do a landscaping project on the west side of our house that had been needed for several years, and we redecorated our master bedroom/bathroom.  And finally, as far as the itinerary goes, just before school started my oldest son and I went to Wizardworld Chicago.

Doug:  As to the reading, which I always try to enjoy during the summer months, I still have not conquered Tim Snyder's Bloodlands.  I don't know why -- it has been highly recommended by many of my colleagues at the USHMM.  So it remains on the to-read list.  I did purchase a short book for my youngest son to read while on his soccer team's two-week tour of Europe:  The Last Survivor: In Search of Martin Zaidenstadt, an inquiry into what life in the German town of Dachau is like today for those who lived through the war years and the stigma of being associated with the concentration camp of the same name.  As Munich was one of the stops on my son's team's trip it seemed fitting; I was able to read the book in just a few hours so that I could recommend it to him.  One of the highlights of my summer was receiving a Kindle Fire HD from my wife for birthday #47, and I am very happy to report that I subsequently got back to some childhood favorites (Amazon offers at no cost tons of old books that are now in the public domain) by reading Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar and four REH Conan short stories:  Red Nails, The Hyborian Age - Conan's World, The Phoenix on the Sword, and The Scarlet Citadel.  I did get about halfway through Frankenstein, but somehow it got pushed aside.  Of course I did the usual reading for this blog, including some stories from Back Issue magazine.

Doug:  But enough about me -- how about you?

School Daze

Doug:  Well, I've had to go back to work these past three days.  I mean, it's not like I didn't work all summer -- my wife and I were conversing last week and I think I determined that between my high school and the U.S. Holocaust Museum there were only 10 days over the summer that I didn't do significant work for someone.  Now that's a nice vacation for most folks, but let's face it -- having an 11-week break is a source of envy for many people!

Doug:  But enough about that.  Today I want you to reflect on your school days, from when you were just a tot all the way up through whenever you want to stop.  Fashions, homework, fave or not-so-fave teachers, cliques, sports, fine arts, whatever -- it's your day to reflect on all things education-related from your personal backstory.  And, if anyone wants to say a word toward their fave school-related film or TV show that would certainly be fine as well!


NOTE:  You know Karen and I always include a little art, or a video clip in our posts.  I wanted to post a scene from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but it said on YouTube that there was no embed code due to request.  Well, not to be completely stymied, you can check out what I was going to post by clicking here.  Thanks!

Hot Town, Summer in the City

Karen: It's been a hot, nasty summer all over...talk about what you did as a kid to keep cool, or what you do now! Swimming pools, the beach, lakes, heck, the sprinkler in the front yard, cold beer, whatever made/makes you happy!

Discuss: Summer Plans

 

Doug:  Whether it's a book you plan to read, a trip you're taking, or some good ol' fashioned popcorn fun, let's hear what's on your agenda up to Labor Day!

Discuss: Hot Fun in the Summertime

Doug:  June's dawning is as good a time as any to bring back those wonderful memories of summers gone by.  Tell us what your summer days were like when you were a kid in the Bronze Age!