Moving things out of storage is no fun! It begs the question: Why am I hanging on to all this crap!!!? Sure, there is my photo & printmaking stuff... and my photo books (I'm glad American Monuments, by Lee Friedlander wasn't damaged) but some of the stuff I've saved has me questioning my sanity. Nevertheless, most of the storage in Salem is loaded. My friends Steve & Lee are coming down from Auburn to help me load the stuff in Portland into a truck. Then we haul that crap down to Salem to merge with the rest of my stuff. It will be nice to get it all loaded and ready to go to Logan. I'll then have the Boy Scouts from the 20th Ward to help me get it all into my home.

Tomorrow is the Hansen Family Christmas Party. As an orphan, I'm invited to attend again this year. My potluck assignment is salmon. I made an image and put it in a cheap frame for my $5 gift exchange item. I have kid's gifts & BINGO prizes too. Last year was fun but I felt a little odd singing Christmas songs dancing around the tree.

I'm listening to "C" songs on iTunes. Right now it's Carly Simon, "Clouds in My Coffee." Great tune.

I've got my hotel reservation made for Christmas night. The next day I fly out to Portland to unload my storage shed. I've got three days to load all the crap into a trailer. It's going to be great to have all my photo supplies again... and my photo books! I miss being able to browse through some of my favorite photographers, like Francesca Woodman, Ray Metzger and (of course) William Henry Fox Talbot. Some of the books will come in handy when I teach Contemporary Photo History next term. And having my press again will be nice. Who knows? Maybe I'll start making photogravures again.

My home has a great space to set up a studio. Hopefully this summer I'll be able to visit Jack, in Ohio, and get my NuArc too. It'll be a quick trip out before heading up to Sitka for the summer.

Today I have 2 1/2 Finals... a very busy day! First, one half of the morning class, then the afternoon class. Later in the evening, the Independent Class is meeting at my house.

Had a b-ball game yesterday. The work I work school ball, the more I like it. It is pretty competitive and a good little work out too. Which is good because I need to get back on track with my diet!

I've gained a little weight since I last saw my nutritionist. So we decided that I have to go back to writing everything down that goes down my gullet! Ah, carb counting again.

First Final is today... Digital Photography @ 1330. I'm excited!!!

Made some Christmas cards yesterday while watching football. Went over to Dave & Linda's to watch the Colts spank the Ravens. We tried to find the 1941 to watch but couldn't find the video. I blame the Germans.

Stopped by the lab to see who was working. Gave a chunk of salmon to Clapper.

Finals begin tomorrow. The kids are making some great stuff.

I hearing some good gossip about who's applying for the teaching position here. It won't be too bad driving a milk truck. I watch the bullshit the people have to do on tenure track and I wonder if it is worth it. I'm a good teacher; if I don't get the job, I'll be happy leaving knowing that is true.

Whew! Yesterday's game wasn't as bad as was predicted by my fellow officials. My partner DID make a few calls out of his area and almost "T'd up" an assistant coach but the game went smooth enough.

My evening girl's game went even smoother.

There should be plenty of toning and dry mounting going on in class today as the mad scramble before Finals Week comes to a head. Most of the work I've seen looks good and I think a lot of the kids are going to be pretty happy with their work.

Hubba is coming over tonight to pick up some photographs I made for him. He's kind of cheap and I don't really know what to charge him. We make $40 working a school b-ball game; I think three games is a fair price. He also wants some Cincinnati Chili that I made the other day... I saved him some (the lucky bastard)!

Ah, "No Test Week," (we used to call it "Close Week" where I went to school). It's a time for a student to do 15 weeks worth of work in one week! Unfortunately for them, it usually doesn't work out according to plan. But many try... God knows I did a few times (without success). There are some nice projects being worked on for my classes and i can hardly wait to see the final results. A couple of kids bit off more than they can chew but I think they're going to come through it A-OK.

Tomorrow I have a b-ball game. My partner is a notorious f&*% up. A few of my officiating friends are planning to come and watch the debacle. I want to turn the game back!

Well, I survived my first school b-ball game. There was one hitch though. I have probably lost 10+ pounds since I was fitted for my basketball slacks and when I went to work the game the pants were way too big. I keep having to run the floor pulling up my britches. After the game an 80 year-old man & his wife came up to me and said I did a good job... but probably had done better if I'd had spent more time watching the action instead of pulling up my pants! I got them taken in the next day sot hat for yesterday's game they fit... and I was able to concentrate on the play.

Next week is close week at school. All the kids are scrambling to get their work done. I'm only worried about a couple of kids in my classes. Most are keeping up and doing some extraordinary projects. Cannot wait to see the work!