Work is definitely starting to pick up more now. Last week we had our staff retreat and were given our tentative travel schedules. Now I can start planning out the schools that I will visit and I know what college fairs I will be going to. Looks like I will be traveling a week in the U.P., and week or two in the lower peninsula, 4 days in Ohio, and another 1/2 week in Indiana. It is already less than 3 weeks until I fly to Cincinnati! Time will fly by from now through the end of the school year. Once I got to schools and fairs, then I have students that I will be working with throughout the rest of the year, until they arrive on campus as freshmen. I am excited to start the travel season and am really happy that I will get to visit my grandparents, brother and mom and dad while I am doing it! The college pays for my plane tickets or provides a car and pays for the gas, the hotel, and 3 meals a day when I am on the road! Sweet deal. And I have a laptop and Blackberry for traveling too. Can't complain. We also started moving students in today. It is so awesome to watch the incoming freshmen as they move all of their things into the dorms. Kind of makes me wish I was starting college all over again. It is weird to think that I would be at teacher in-services right now in Alaska if I were going back for another year. Even though I loved the kids, I think I made the right choice. I am still enjoying the sun too much to be back up there!
This past weekend, my friend Megan came to visit me. We had an awesome time. I had only seen her 1 time since we were in New Zealand together. Friday night we looked at each other's New Zealand scrapbooks and caught up on life. We were up until 2 a.m. when we decided we should probably go to bed. Saturday, we got up and drove North up the shore to Friendly Valley beach. It was gorgeous and Lake Superior was actually bareable to stand in! You know the water must be "warm" when people are actually staying in it rather than jump in and jump out. It was perfect! We then drove up to Bayfield to get some ice cream and check out the little shops. I love Bayfield. It reminds me of a bigger version of Copper Harbor, near home. While we were up there, I talked Megan into going with me to get my nose pierced. I have wanted to for ages, but thought I probably shouldn't as a teacher. I told myself that I would do it when I got a new job. Well, I still hadn't done it yet. So I called the tattoo place and they were open for another 1 and 1/2. We hopped in the car, drove back to Ashland and I did it!! I am extremely needle-phobic, but it wasn't bad at all. It is still a little sore, but I am really happy I did it!
Saturday night, we just hung out and watched a chick flick. Sunday morning, we got up pretty early, bought muffins at the grocery store and headed to the beach again. I wish I had more beach time. But I was so thankful to have had 2 great days to spend out there! It was a wonderful, hot, sunny weekend! I have to get out and enjoy them while I can!