Summer To-Do List: Done

Welp, I did it!  My summer to-do list is complete. Here's the low-down:

1) Eat a banh-mi.  SO good. I actually had two this summer, and both times I probably embarrassed the company I was keeping by loudly exclaiming how happy I was.  The other thing that is great about a banh-mi is that they are CHEAP! This tends to come in handy when you switch to a new school district and forget that your first paycheck won't come until September.  Oops.

2) Read a bunch of good books. I would say 6 is "a bunch," yes? Here are all the good books I read this summer, in order of when I read them:

Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (the first one)
Letters to Children by C.S. Lewis
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
What's So Amazing About Grace? by Phillip Yancey
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

I also read two books that were stupid, but I won't say them in case they are books that you love.

3) See a puffin in person.  Check! Did you know puffins are only slightly larger than robins?  I was thinking they were big enough for me to hug, like a penguin.  However, I still have hope that I could one day cuddle one up under my chin.

4) Go on a dinner/movie date by myself.  I got all gussied up (well, maybe not "all"-- probably closer to a half-guss), reserved a table for one at a fancy sushi place, and then saw To Rome With Love.  It was lovely!  I will try to continue doing this during the school year every once in a while-- it really slowed me down, allowed me to think through things that I've been trying to ignore (or "think" by talking to others), and allowed me a few hours to be introspective.  HOWEVER, I did realize how unacceptable aloneness is in our culture! The waitstaff at the restaurant seemed to pity me when I told them it was just me, and twice I was approached by other restaurant patrons and asked if I would like to join their table.  After thanking one couple for their kindness but explaining that I was eating alone intentionally, the woman said, "Well I could never do that."  I wondered if it was the idea of being seen alone, or actually being alone for an hour-- why would either of those be un-doable? Nobody approached me at the movie theater, though-- I suppose it's more socially acceptable to be alone there.

5) Open a bottle of champagne.  I didn't like it, but I did it.  (I am also afraid of balloons popping and the popping that occurs when opening refrigerated biscuit dough.  I am not afraid of unexpected noises, though, like doorbells or thunder. Any psyche majors out there that can tell me why I'm a freak?)

6) Do something nice for a stranger for free and don't tell anyone about it, ever.  As one of my readers pointed out, you wouldn't know if I did this or not, since I'm not telling anyone about it, ever. 

7) Do something artistic.  I drew a self-portrait.  It was terrible.  I mean, it was a pretty solid portrait, but it was obviously of someone I've never met before.  It did take me over an hour and left me feeling artistically exhausted, though, which I think was the goal.

8) Make some fun posters for next year.  Done did it!  See previous post.

What a great summer! Three weeks of training for my new school starts tomorrow, and even though I could always use another week of reading and relaxing, I think I'm ready for a new batch of weirdos.

Did you finish your list?

Love,

Teach