Did I mention that health class has started up again? I just taught week three, which was on puberty. It's one of my favorite lessons, at least in part because of how much the kids squirm. Story of the week from health class:

(Background information: this was a conversation that happened at home between a student and his/her parent. This student has one sibling.) 

Student: So we learned about condoms in health class. And, um, I don't understand why anyone would use a condom. I mean, sex is to have babies. So why would anyone have sex and use a condom so that they didn't have babies? 

Parent: ... Um... well, honey, sometimes, um, sometimes people just have sex because it's... fun. 

Student: ... Wait. Does that meant that you've had sex more than twice?

In other news, I have tried to stop purchasing things in preparation for trying to fit all my things into my car for a cross-country move. In fact, I have started selling many of my possessions on Craigslist, or giving them away to friends. The three things that I have allowed myself to acquire (other than food) within the past few weeks are: books about gardening in the Pacific Northwest, wool sweaters, and a really nice pair of rain boots. I almost feel like these are helping me to get into character.

I've been reading my Pacific Northwest gardening books. I recently finished reading Empire Falls, by Richard Russo, which was a beautifully crafted small-town novel. I am anxious for my book club-mate to finish reading it so that I can talk with him about the ending. I am still not quite sure what to make of it. My current fiction reading is The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, which I read in high school and enjoyed. I am testing out whether I'll still like it. So far, so good, but I'm only on page 17.

This weekend was an odd one. Originally, the plan was for Ryan to come out here this weekend, because I had Columbus Day off and we could spend lots of time together. My sister even made plans to come down and meet him. But then he bought a house a couple weeks ago, and he's all caught up in the work of moving, completing paperwork, etc., so visiting this weekend became a terrible idea. My sister still came down, though, and we had some family hangout time. She planned to leave Sunday morning, though, and I realized that I was looking at two days of unplanned time that, if treated correctly, could become an adventure instead.

I decided to head to Twin Oaks. It was my first time down there in a while-- I think it was my first time back since the spring. I took down a car-load of stuff to donate/give away, most notably the ~18 bottles of wine I realized weren't worth schlepping across the nation. I spent some quality time with two excellent friends of mine (Keegan and Tim). We talked about life, what they've been up to, what I've been up to, what we plan to be up to, etc. I learned a bit about fences from Keegan. I slept last night in the bedroom of a member who is off the farm, and I reveled in the true darkness outside-- no street lights!

I am so psyched to live in a place where there isn't a street light outside my window. Let's add that to the already lengthy list of reasons that I am excited about this enormous life change.