More weekends

The boats were quiet as ghosts in the darkness as we walked on the beach in the foggy evening down the street from the school. The wind was glassy-calm and the sky was dense, sitting on the water like a yogi in mid-meditation. The statue of Budda on the nearby hillside was invisible in the skyline as our line of sight only traveled for about 20 meters before everything disappeared into mist. I wondered to myself how it could be the last Thursday in October and I was standing comfortably on a beautifully quiet beach, enjoying every one of the sixteen degrees that was keeping us warm. Halloween was approaching, so after a day of telling students about the western customs of Trick or Treating and dressing up in costumes, a few of the teachers from the school thought it was only appropriate that we tell ghost stories in a place that inspired just enough darkness and unfamiliarity to contribute to an eerie air. With full bellies and fresh air in our lungs, we slowly walked along the sandy beach before heading back to the school and back to the reality of lesson prep and marking.

The week was pretty quiet and other than too much eating out, nothing was particularly exciting. The weather began to turn yesterday and today met me with the slapping wetness of a cold, coastal rain. This is the first real day of miserable weather I've experienced, and it shook me out of the expectations that maybe, just maybe the good weather would last through the winter. Stupid thought, I know. Winter is most definitely coming.

I'm sitting cozily at D&M's (as per usual) on Saturday morning, pretending to work on school stuff while D&M both tap away on papers and projects. I should be doing the same, but I'm feeling a little too restless for work at the moment. I think the feeling with pass soon, but it's not gone yet. I have to go out and purchase the various pieces of my costume for tonight's Halloween outing with a bunch of the teachers. It should be a blast, and I have high hopes for my costume. I wracked my brain all week to think of something that would be hilarious and easy to assemble (and wouldn't cost too much), so all I'll say is that it should be the following: Flashdance meets a Richard Simmons Tribute. You'll have to wait to see the pics. For now, though, I'm going to make a noble effort to try to type up a worksheet or two so my Monday is silky smooth. Depending on the fun tonight, there might be more to report tomorrow. Until then, though...

T