When the alarm goes off on Monday morning, August 25th, I will be excited to start a brand new year...but will likely stumble through the front doors of White Oak in a semi-conscious stage of awake.  Just kidding; but really, we start a bit earlier this year (in case you hadn't noticed, the first bell rings at 7:08 A.M.). Yet, it's sure to be an advantage in the long run, especially if you've become hooked on old re-run sitcoms on TVLand and need to be home by 3:00 to catch an episode you've seen a million times already. So let's all go to bed early and rest up for the adventure...can't wait to see my veteran students and to meet the newbies! Sweet dreams, all.

Are you an Olympics fan? Do you know someone who is in the Olympics? Many of you may already know that there is a great deal of controversy over the decision of the Olypmic committee to choose Beijing, China for these world events. I went to Beijing a year and a half ago (that's me getting ready to go into the Forbidden City) and it was a very enlightening experience.  It is a country with so much history. The history of our United States, 200 years or so, is a blink of the eye compared to their history. But no one can argue that the "one child only rule" in China disturbs many. And of course, that's not the beginning of the alleged civil rights violations.  I'd be curious to hear your feedback on the matter.  Do you think the world was wrong to choose China for the Olympics or do you think the media uproar is an overreaction?  Email me on the contact page and let me know.  And...stay tuned for monthly surveys on this website come fall.  (Me standing on the Great Wall of China below)