School is REALLY underway

Today was the walkathon fundraiser at St. Joseph's, where the three girls attend school here in Mountain View. Gabby walked 35 laps (over 9 miles!), and raised $265: most of it from a parental lapse of judgement which led to a pledge of $5/lap. Gabby is the major fundraiser in the family this year, she has also brought in seven magazine subscriptions to date in the subscription drive.

School is going well for everyone on campus in our family: Rachel is adjusting to 7th grade, gradually building enthusiasm for the social events of the year. She is more popular this year because classmates have discovered the Twilight series of young adult novels, which she has been reading for years. She reports constant comments of "OMG, Edward is so hot!" and "Rachel this is so cool!" She has mixed feelings about the gushing, because these girls were real pains last year and are still incredibly petty. At the same time she is less alone than last year, with something to share with the other girls at last.

As I remember, the world ended in sixth grade and from then on I lived in constant heartache. I wouldn't go back to seventh grade for anything.

Rob's school year has started well. He is teaching high school Chemistry, and this is his first real year as a teacher. He loves it, is able to keep on top of the grading and all so far at least, and even gets a full nights sleep almost half the time. His school requires everyone, even teachers, to have a period of quiet reading every day, and for teachers it cannot be subject-matter content. No reading Chemistry Today journals! So I've bought him a copy of "Up the Down Staircase" and "To Sir With Love." Time to open his mind to literature beyond traditional karate books and chemistry journals.