Good morning, everyone! It's 82 degrees, overcast, and 97% humidity in Orono, Maine, at 9am! They are saying mid-90s today once the sun comes out. As we say in New England, it's gonna be a scorch-a today! Once DH is ready we'll head to work and the a/c. I'd planned to stay home to grade today (end of summer session) but without a/c? Not happening!!
DC was lots of fun and the JT/Eagles concert was amazing! JT's age is starting to show in his voice, but the songs were set to be in his range and it was great to hear him. The Eagles were INCREDIBLE. Glenn Frey's son, Deacon, took his place in the band and did a pretty decent job of filling his dad's shoes. They played ALL the old songs we could ever have wanted to hear. Watching them (on the big screen) play the acoustic guitar parts at the end of Hotel California was incredible- totally amazing. They closed with Desperado, under a full moon at Nationals Stadium, and it was... inspiring. Terrific concert, and an amazing way to celebrate turning 62! We ate good food, drank good drink, did a bunch of touristy things, and it was over too soon. The weather was pretty damned hot, but at least the rain stopped. Looks like it's raining again in DC, so I guess we were there at the right time.
Now I'm planning two more jaunts before school starts in September. DH and I are seeing the Beach Boys on 8/10. He needs to be in work for the weekend, so I think we might go down to the Boston area on Wednesday evening, spend Thursday in Boston, see the concert on Friday and drive home at the crack of dawn on Saturday. My other journey this summer is to WDW with DD. We'll be there 8/22-8/28, staying at AKL to celebrate DD's 25th birthday. I got a killer rate from a TA (about $195 a night, including tax), and it's always been a dream. I've asked for partial savanna view, so we'll see. We have dinner reservations at Sanaa, Boma (our favorite, never-to-be-missed), Biergarten, Raglan Road, and Narcoosee's. We've only been to Boma and Biergarten before, so it should be fun. We also have a breakfast at Boma and will be going to the MK fireworks dessert party. I don't usually do that kind of thing (bariatric surgery has left me with neither the desire or tummy space for desserts) but DD's up for it and we'll get a decent view of the fireworks. This may very well be our last mommy/daughter trip (she and her boyfriend are saving to go when Star Wars opens, and then he said they probably won't go back until they have kids), so I decided to do it up. Having $1200 in Visa rewards points and $450 in gift cards makes it easier, too. We are both VERY psyched for this trip; we are going to take it easy and stretch out park days with afternoons by the pool bar, hahaha!
Today is the last day of summer session; I am giving an organic chemistry final this afternoon. Fortunately it's multiple choice; once it's over, I'll have to grade 16 quizzes, 16 finals, and 16 lab reports and then I AM DONE. Of course, then I have to stock the labs, fill the student glassware drawers, and get the chemicals ready for fall. Classes start on 9/4, and as of now we have about 185 kids signed up. we have space for 210, so I have quite a bit of work ahead to be ready for 9/4. It seems like a long time, but I KNOW it'll fly, especially with being away. UGH. I like the job and the big increase in our income, but I DON"T like working 50 hours a week. That's gonna have to change; I am contracted for 40 hours, specifically, even if I am salaried. I just need to get my feet under me and be there for a bit longer (only started 1/1/18) before I start making waves.
Anyhow... that's what I am up to. Hopefully everyone will have a terrific end to their summers; even though it's still warm, daylight is getting shorter and shorter. That's OK- I love fall; it's what happens after fall that I am SO not looking forward to!!