Fin.

Nothing like a weekend full of rain to officially close the book on summer. As the credits of "Borat" rolled last night (Alison and I rented it), the realization hit me that I had just enjoyed my last bits of summer. Now it's back to the grind, with children coming in 2 weeks.

In those two weeks, I need to get my schedule straightened out with my boss (who currently doesn't realize that my schedule is currently almost the exact opposite of what we discussed, and I have no prep hour), prepare for 3 bands and 2 grades of General Music, and sit through a lot of meetings. With the exception of the teeth-pulling that will be the whole schedule debacle, I'm ready and excited to start round two of teaching.

For the first time ever I get to do things over again. For the first time ever I will know a majority of the students on the first day. There are relationships, expectations and routines that are pre-established. I made some mistakes last year, and with any luck, I'll avoid them this year. But, I will no doubt have a whole new batch of mistakes to learn from. A fellow trombonist who taught band with my cooperating teacher at Northstar told me, then in his seventh year, "I can't believe how much I sucked for about the first five years. I look back on what I did then and think 'what the hell was I doing?'"

Inspiring words, no doubt.

So what the hell am I doing?