NEW YEAR, NEW SCHOOL, NEW ME! It's about DAMN time!! :-) YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!
WELCOME to my new classroom! Today is DAY 1...only 179 more to go! :-)
I'm excited to be at a new school and so lucky to be there with a lots of new folks and tons of old friends too! Had an excellent first four days of work- setting up my classroom and getting to know the staff. So today is the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Let the marathon begin!!
This is my first classroom with a "tech wall"... with the three white boards that move to expose hidden storage. That's about as high tech the 'tech wall' gets. This room is soooo big!
There's some technology! I think it's 52" of TV back there. Don't be jealous!
That's my desk area in the back. Now you know I teach math not science, but I use the skeleton poster to teach ratios...you know, like your foot is the same length as your forearm from elbow to wrist, so that's a 1 to 1 ratio. Your nose length is 2/3 of your index finger or another way to say it is 3 to 2. You'd need 3 nose lengths to equal 2 of your index finger lengths. Anyway...from this perspective it looks like the clock is the skeleton's head...but not quite. Maybe I'll adjust it so it does! Ha!
This is the view from that white board wall. I share a huge room with James, who is hella cool. We've have an accordion wall that will close just behind my green-topped table at the back of my room. Accordion walls suck because of the noise factor and the kids often in the back of the room bang on the wall to disrupt the other class, but I think sharing a room with James is going to be great!
Another view.Me on a work-day before first day with kids.
AND...TA DA! This is how I'll be getting to work and back 3 days a week! Just got that beautiful thing yesterday! (of course a former student working at the bike store sold it to me! Former students are everywhere!) That's me after my trial ride from my place in Golden Hill/Downtown to my school yesterday (9.73 miles). [It only took 45 minutes--this is at my brother's afterwards which is only about 5 minute bike from my school].

Yahoo! It's gonna be a great year!!!!!

NEW DIGS!
Here's a few pics of the before and after of where I'm living in Golden Hill. It's got the most amazing view of downtown! I LOVE IT! Oh yeah, and just for your info...I'm only subletting this place for 3 months and then I've got to find a new place to live. I've already got a couple things I'm looking into. One is a studio on the second floor of an older home in Kennsington and the other is a boat in San Diego Harbor! :-)

Before...with all her stuff in the loft/desk area. This loft was cutting off 1/3 of her window view...
This is looking from the windows towards the front door. Yes, those two double doors are the WALK-IN closet! How awesome!!
Again this is before; the wall opposite the wall of windows.
And another view-a before shot as well. On the right is the open door way to the kitchen.
Here's what it looks like before...
And with a few choice pieces of furniture...I found this groovy couch at a thrift store. It's sooooo comfy and it fits perfectly in the space!

Here's what it looks like NOW! The AFTER shots. TA DA!!!

Let's see what's in this closet!I hear angels singing! Do you hear them too? :-)
Very small bathroom, but the tub is an old clawfoot tub. View from inside my closet of the studio. I know, it's small, but it really works. Everything has a place. (That's the secret!)

Plus, the view can't be beat!
Noon.Sunset, 7:30ish pm.
Trying on a few things for work...I start back tomorrow! August 18 is first day with kids!!!

And a little artistic flair...playing with the photos.Not for work, but I love the earrings...found those in a market in Puerto Escondido while shopping with my two very good friends, Katrijn and Zoe. :-) Yup...there's Katrijn and Zoe (l to r) - awesome girlfriends! - (business partners maybe?...girls?...)

Man!...What an amazing trip it all was!!!

Stay posted...I've got more adventures planned so check back every so often!
Ciao!
Jaime