Summer Done List

I've come to really enjoy this tradition, and since my academic year contract begins tomorrow, it's time for the summer done list!

As always, it seems like summer has gone too fast, but it's been a great one! I made a list of things I'd like to do this summer, in addition to the "19 for 2019" list I made in January. Neither list is finished, and I did things that weren't on either, but it was helpful to have some goals in mind. Here are some highlights:

Work

Like last year, I had a summer contract and placement testing budget do continue my work as ESOL Program Director and oversee the placement testing for incoming international students this fall. My summer hours were reduced by a third compared to last year, so I was committed to reducing my work proportionally. It meant that I spent a lot less time at the office in June, which was so refreshing! Also like last year, August so far has been a blur, and the next two weeks will continue to be intense. At this point, the bulk of the testing is done; next week, our office is focused on getting the results communicated to students and getting them enrolled in the required classes (and possibly making adjustments to our course schedule--we might need to add a section or two--plus tracking down any late arrivals to get them tested and placed). After that, classes start on the 26th, and by then, the office will be dealing with loose ends, and I'm looking forward to being back in the classroom and working with students alongside the admin work.

I already posted about my conference travel earlier this summer in the Washington, DC area, which was definitely a work highlight for the year--it was such a great event! I've been able to incorporate some of the ideas into my fall course planning, and I've reached out to a few people I met there with follow up questions--they've been very generous in responding and sharing materials.

me at the Washington Monument

In June, I submitted two proposals to the 2020 TESOL International Convention in Denver. I should find out if either is accepted by the end of this month. In July, I reviewed proposals submitted by others, which I really enjoy (though this year's process wasn't very smooth...it all worked out in the end).

The biggest work news of the summer isn't mine, but Mark's--in July, he learned that the guy who had been teaching BGSU's drumline left that job, so he reached out to the marching band director, and he got the job on August 1! He had paperwork and a couple of meetings after that, and he's just a few days into their band camp now. We're really excited to have Mark working back at BGSU. (He did have to quit his job at the high school in Wauseon in order to accept, which was difficult. He was able to keep his fall teaching at Bluffton and Defiance. He'll have a full plate this fall, but the BGSU opportunity was too good to pass up, and we're eager to see if it opens other doors for him there over time).

Home

I didn't accomplish much in this area, though I meant to do more cleaning out/reorganizing. I did manage to take care of the pantry, and I'm working on eating up stuff from our freezer this week (I'm making plans to go to a Hatch chile roasting in September, so I've got to have some space!). I also took apart and cleaned out our dishwasher, which was gross but obviously overdue.

I tried a couple new recipes, though nothing that's made it into our regular rotation. And I went totally overboard when cherries were on sale in July--so delicious!

I've made an effort to spend time hanging out on the balcony (either working or reading), and I've gone to the pool a few times, often meeting up with a friend. I should try to get over there again this week if I can make some time.

on the balcony with iced tea and a pile
of books to read...what could be better?

Travel & Family Visits

We didn't have a big vacation planned this year, but we have had some visits from family and a few smaller trips, most of which I've already blogged about.

The first was Mom & Dad G coming to BG and taking us to Detroit.

with Mom & Dad at the
Swan House Tea Room

Julie & Ben also came down to BG for a day (their first time to our place!) during their trip to see Ben's family in Michigan (only about an hour and a half from us). I didn't get any pictures, but we had a good time catching up and showing them around town a bit.

In July, we saw Mark's family in Missouri.

Cook family photo

And I made a weekend trip to visit my good friend Angela in Kentucky.

Angela & me at the Old Friends Horse Farm

Also family related, but on a sad note, we had two grandparents pass away in June: Gran (on Mark's side) and Grandpa Lucero (on my side). We were able to go to Gran's service in July; Grandpa's was just last week in ABQ, and I wasn't able to be there (but Julie and Mom both told me it was really nice). Each loss is hard in its own way, but I do find myself feeling so blessed to have had these grandparents in our lives and to have good memories to share. When I think of Gran, I remember how much she loved walking, and how she invested so much in creating long-lasting connections among all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren through the annual Bunker Hill trips. And how she welcomed me to the family right from the start. When I think of Grandpa Lucero, I remember his laugh and how he spoiled us as kids. I'm so thankful we got back in touch around Julie's wedding and that Mark got to meet him a few times over the years.

Friends

In June, I really focused on getting together with people. There were a few events, like Sophia's graduation party, my summer tea, and Terry's going away party that helped, but I also really enjoyed smaller gatherings, like inviting Holly and Sophia for dinner, joining the Jordan's for a baseball game, meeting people at the pool, and my birthday outing with Chad.

Here are some pics from Terry's party, which I co-hosted with our mutual friend Sheila, giving us a few extra times to spend time together in the process. We served tea, fruit, and cookies (which I made). By the way, if you're ever needing to make cookies for a crowd (and don't have time to do drop cookies, and don't want the oven on all day--converting a regular recipe to a bar cookie worked really well with the Cook family oatmeal cookies. I followed these guidelines from King Arthur Flour). 

food tables

magic cookie bars, brownies,
sugar cookie bars, oatmeal cookie bars

Mark, Terry, & me

Me, Jane, Sheila, & Terry

Two out-of-town friends also came through town for a visit--Angela in June (no pics...) and Julie in July.

with Julie and some other BGSU folks

Entertainment

In June, I actually watched some of the NBA finals games with Mark. I decided as far as sports go, basketball is pretty watchable--there's a lot happening! 

I watched some TV and movies, though I didn't ever really get into a new series (I tried a couple, but nothing stuck). I did watch a couple of movies that I enjoyed, including Won't you be my Neighbor (w/Mark) and On the Basis of Sex (about Ruth Bader Ginsberg). Recently, I decided to watch more PBS Masterpiece Theater.  Little Women has been my favorite of those from this summer. 

What did work out was my summer goal to read more children's literature. This was inspired by the work of two colleagues who teach children's literature at BGSU. I looked up a couple of awards and got the last few years of winners/runners up from the library. I also read through a list of books about refugees. A few of my favorite picture books were: La Frontera, Dreamers, My Two Blankets, Alma & How She Got Her Name, Thank You, Omu, A Different Pond, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, Grand Canyon, Leave Me Alone, They All Saw a Cat, and Freedom Over Me.

My favorite young adult novels were: Hello Universe, The Inquisitor's Tale, Merci Suares Changes Gears, Long Way Down, and The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

And I read lots of other books, too. My favorite non-fiction this summer included: Bad Food Bible, Habits of Grace, and There is no Good Card for This. And a couple of novels I loved: Unsheltered and Where the Crawdads Sing.

Miscellaneous

Besides all that, I tried a bunch of new workout videos, especially body weight, ballet, and yoga. I found a few that I'll probably return to.

We've had a ton of construction in town, on campus, and on the interstate. A couple of the campus projects that interfered with my commute have wrapped up, so that's great! And in July, the new roundabouts on the BG exit from I-75 opened, which has been helpful (especially for Mark, since he's the one who actually drives). Downtown BG is still a mess, but perhaps in another month or so it'll be mostly done?

And Mark and I went to our second Homecoming Pagent in Wauseon, mostly to see Oliva, the daughter of the band director. She's a fantastic dancer, and she won the pageant!

Olivia in the evening gown portion

We know the winner!

The last thing I can think of is to mention that this July was our 15th wedding anniversary! That seems like a notable milestone, right?! On the one hand, it feels impossible that we've been married that long; on the other, I can't imagine it any other way. Mark was at band camp on the actual day, but we managed to exchange cards and, the next week, go out for a celebratory dinner. Here's what we looked like then:

And now...(we're a bit older, sure, but still pretty cute, I think! ;-)

So that's it for summer 2019. Welcome, fall!