I knew I wouldn't get this one done until after 2009 was done. Here are my Top 5 Moments of 2009. This took so long because it was kind of hard to think of 5.
Damn you liver! Okay, not really; I must honestly say I do love having a liver and I hope it continues to work properly. I'm not actually sure when all these beerfests were. The first was High Country in Boone, NC. This was the smallest and shortest, but I had the best beer I've ever had in my life there. It was a homebrew from an App State professor and I can't remember what it was called, but it was mint chocolate and it was amazing. Then there was Brewgrass in Asheville, which is a HUGE deal, but the planners keep it small. It's also a family affair. :) The last was Octoberfest in Charlotte, which was actually really big and ended with me falling asleep on a friend's couch at like 8, then waking up periodically and falling back asleep again. Yes, there were definitely people there seeing this. Embarassing, but it was my third beerfest.
4. Seeing Smitty
Smitty was my soccer coach in high school and I hadn't seen him in a long time. I got an email from him letting me know that his boy's team would be playing against Reynolds, a school in Asheville, and asking if I had any scouting info and telling me to come out and say hi. It worked out perfectly because my friend Adam was in Asheville that weekend too. He had also played soccer for Smitty and we both got to go out and see him. Awesome.
3. Find out Social Distortion was going to be playing in Charlotte
I'm pretty sure I wish I had a video of my freak out when I discovered this on the internet. Granted, the show ended up not being that great. But the moment I found out I was finally going to get to see one of my favorite bands was totally priceless.
2. Having 98% of my students pass their state test
Standardized tests are kind of BS. But I have to get my kids to pass them. This last school year was really, really iffy. I had a TON of special ed kids and a group of really unmotivated "normal" kids. I usually get really good numbers of students passing, but I was really worried about last year's group. They ended up doing a great job, however, so either they're smarter than they let on, or I'm a better teacher than I think I am. For my sanity's sake, I think it's probably the latter.
1. The general success of my first student trip overseas
In April, over Spring Break, I took a student group to Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Trips like these are not school sponsored, so it's completely up to parents as to whether they want to send their children. I was REALLY nervous about it, but it turned out fine. Better than fine, really. There are definitely some things I will do differently next time, but in general, it was a lot of fun. I was also really scared that I would be bored out of my mind. I usually travel on my own schedule and plans. These was with a tour group... on a bus... But it actually turned out great. See, I go for free as a group leader, so I got to see cool places, spend a lot of solo time wandering these cool places (which is really, really fun), and watch some teenagers grow just a little bit into adults in just a week. And I did it all for under $400. Sweet!
So there it is. Three cheers for 2010; it will probably be better!
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