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Monday, September 7, 2020

Happy Labor Day! Today is the last day of summer vacation for many, including my students at Albemarle High School. Tomorrow I will host Zoom meetings for the 56 (and counting?) students on my rosters. The weirdest summer of my life is now behind me, and now I embark on what will no doubt be one of the most challenging job experiences of my life.

I will have to punch that time clock tomorrow–it’s actually an app on my phone. Wow. I have set alarms on my device to remind me of this, and I will ask Alexa to likewise remind me, since I have not really worked since March and I have to re-learn old habits. I have set up a desk dedicated to school business only, and I have filled my binders with fresh sheets of paper, but I don’t have to worry about packing a lunch, or about picking out my first-day outfit, or about determining where the closest faculty restrooms are located. But I am worried about whether my students will be able to connect with me via their laptops, and whether I can motivate them to work, and whether I can anticipate their needs.

The sun is setting on my summer vacation, and yes, I am a tad anxious about what the rising sun will bring.

This drink is my version of a Rum Sunset (a cousin to a Tequila Sunrise).

In a measuring cup, stir together 6 ounces orange juice with 1 1/2 ounces light rum. Pour 2/3 of this into a tall glass filled with ice. Add 1 tablespoon of grenadine into the remaining liquid in the measuring cup, mix, then slowly pour this down the side of the tall glass so you get a layered effect. Garnish with a citrus slice.