Happy 321st, Johann!

So, to celebrate, Mustard Seed had a Bach Festival--hosting the American Boychoir and other various artists, including a 10-year-old violin prodigy. AND one of my seven-year-olds, who played a delightful Minuet.

(Upon further research, I find that his birthday was actually the 21st. Oh well. He won't complain.)

A Wedding at Trunk Bay

A Wedding at Trunk Bay
Originally uploaded by grbecca.

This is the view from the turnoff where Ed stopped the taxi. If you look really (really, really, really) closely, you can see a black speck and a white speck next to each other...they are the bride and the groom. Just believe me. The three specks to the lower right of the black and white specks are probably the cameraman and witnesses.

On the way to Cinnamon Bay...

Taxi Stop
Originally uploaded by grbecca.

Ed, our taxi driver, stopped here so that we could take pictures of Trunk Bay.

In the foreground is Galen, the child from Ithaca and son of Claire, with whom we shared a taxi, and who, among other things, got very sunburned, took pictures and video of random donkeys and "skimboarded"--which involves riding a wakeboard type thing out onto the ocean after a wave breaks on the shore.

That was most definitely a run-on sentence. Sorry. No time to edit.

Whistling Cay

Whistling Cay
Originally uploaded by grbecca.

We kayaked here, and then snorkeled partway around the island. It was pretty windy, so it took us quite a while to get there, but once we got there, we were glad we took the time.

Lenten Discipline

So, my Lenten discipline for this year is to spend (MUCH) less time on the internet...which is one of the reasons I haven't updated very recently. I've actually been doing pretty well with the discipline, which surprised me...and so I can anticipate that I won't be posting super-frequently.

I hope everyone's well...and that you're having a peaceful and reflective Lenten season.

I sort of wish I was still here...

View from 2/3 of the way up the Cinnamon Bay Trail
Originally uploaded by grbecca.

Part of me can't help but wishing I was still in St. John...but the other part of me is quite content to be back at my school, with my kids, in my classroom.

Today was the 100th day of school, and in first grade, that is a momentous event. However, I would love for it to be the 90th day of school, and I would love to know that my USVI vacation was still to come. In that respect, a Groundhog Day-ish existence might not be bad (as long as it lasted for about a week instead of a day).

Don't get me wrong, I love my job and I love my kids...but I also love trees and woods and clear water. And there just isn't enough of that in Jersey City.

This photo was taken about 2/3 of the way up the Cinnamon Bay trail on St. John--a very lovely, albeit steep, mile from our campground.