We finally commenced building of the set which makes me extremely happy! I purchased the lumber and  adult ministry youth guides came and measured and began the cutting. Also Mr. O’Grady from the history department/chaperon in London/fellow new teacher and American (they’re aren’t very many American teachers here) is helping too. So all is well in the neighborhood.

All of a sudden the weather has turned cold! Burrrrr! I had to buy some sweaters today. Purchasing clothes; I do like that though. Mo is now baking cookies for a bake sale tomorrow. Mo also gave his bagel money today to charity. What a lovely boy. Speaking of lovely, the ministry group that is helping me with the play just does voluteer work for a living. The one girl who is my stage manager has a degree in theatre and she is a youth minister and gets to work in theatre doing good deeds. I love it, good deed doing for a living! And in theatre! They are all Americans too.

My rehearsals are now down to needing scenery, costumes and lighting. Tomorrow is our first as-semblance of a costume parade. I hope everyone has at least something! The posters and tickets are made, the program is almost done, in two days Sam will be here, then Gregg, my friend who does art work for Johnny Depp (he designed my set). Soon when the play is over I will have so much spare time I won’t know what to do with myself except for exploring Europe and learning more about theatre. I LOVE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THEATRE! you probably didn’t know that.

Oh one last thing. For all those who know how I teach the emotion “disgusted” (think back on it)  here’s a new emotional recall for you…I was watching Judith’s dogs right, and the dog walker for the afternoons while I am at school was ill, so didn’t take them out on the last day. So I get there thinking I may get a surprise. But Mo and I check around, and nothing. Good deal right? Well when we got ready to go to bed, we went upstairs, and all of a sudden there was this waft of a smell. (I didn’t think to check upstairs as I barricaded the entrance). Well somehow the dogs had gotten in and crapped, not just on the bed Mo and I had been sleeping in, but IN the bed! Had messed up the covers to the sheets! I told the story to my students to illicit the disgusted emotion. That is one real emotional recall!

Mo and I took the train to Brussels to visit the Grande Place, the Mannekin Pis and relive some of my favorite memories as a youth. My brother and I would take the train and go to the movies, and buy records, and explore. Those were the days when my family seemed happy. Morrison wonders why I like to revisit these places. I said someday when I am no longer around you will remember fondly the things we did together like this. I had a family once and that was great.

London was a learning experience. We saw some incredible shows, Marry Poppins with the most outstanding special effects (such as a moving Victorian house, tap dancing on the procenium archway 100 feet in the air etc) I have ever seen in a show, along the likes of Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera and Wicked, as well as another musical called War Horse with the most amazing Bunraku puppetry ever!!!! I loved that show!!!! We also had great workshops that taught us all a lot. Teaching IB theatre is soooo complicated, but I feel better about it now.

My students did misbehave though and that was a total drag. A group of boys got caught throwing water balloons out the hotel window at 2:30 AM and almost got us all kicked out. So I had to deal with that, as well as the consequences back at school. Each year it’s another bad word for me such as TENNIS BALLS, HOT GLUE and now WATER BALOONS! Someday I will laugh about it.

Now on to the next task, finishing my show.

I feel free now that I have my new car and I love it.

Mo is getting on fine and had a good visit with grandparents in England.

James family you are welcome anytime, I do already have company from October 26th through November 12th, but if you came November 16th or 17th you could see my show!!

Love to all.

On Friday the school had an International festival sponsored by the mothers. There were at least sixty different booths with food from each country, decorations and costumes as well as a costumes or traditional dress parade. It really was fun and interesting. Thses things are so cool that it makes this journey worthwile. I keep having to think that. All is well and Mo and i are doing great, but I still am ever so homesick. I dreamed of you all last night, being back in musical theatre with mrs. Turely. I miss Taco bell. I am cold, I miss Arizona heat.

I finally got car insurance so I hope to have a car in a week or so. My computer at home is toast so I can’t update from home. We leave for London next Wednesday. Crazy busy, but the play rehearsals are going great. I miss you all so much I just want to come home sometimes, but I know I have a job to do. Mo is doing better with his organization and his birthday is next week. He will be going to the UK with me and his grandparents will pick him up and take him to their farm while I have workshops and plays with my students. check out the ISTA site. http://www.ista.co.uk/