Last set of favorite quotes from Till We Have Faces can be found here. Be warned: the quotes might give away plot points.

My school year is now all but done. I have some final grading to do and a homeroom to keep for a few more days. Classes wrapped up yesterday with some last-minute talking and some game-playing. (I had to teach them a low-cost game before they become poor college students!)

Today was interesting. After homeroom, I worked on some financial records and requests for three different groups that I work with. I spent time tallying a run-off election. I tried to clean my desk(s). Then I made my way up to the senior area in order to get paperwork-owed from some students. It was a good time, actually, seeing them all mull about in the knowledge that it's all but over for them.

I've had some interesting moments these last couple of days that have reminded me of how great it has been to work with these seniors. Yesterday afternoon I got to walk with a student down to the lower parking area. It was a senior that I've worked with all year, and I think we have a pretty good working relationship: running jokes sprinkled throughout serious conversation and all. It was good to have what amounted to one last walk-and-talk, one last time just shooting the breeze.

I had plans during my afternoon non-class to visit a co-worker or two and catch up on some interesting news. That didn't happen because almost as soon as the bell rang, five seniors walked in with their lunches and proceeded to sit down and talk story. Saying it was a nice time is an understatament. Sure, they had no where else to go, and they knew that I'd be free. But still. We talked about past, present, and future. I found out about even more odd connections between students and their pasts. Even got a couple of hugs out of the conversation (hugs being a big deal for me). It's strange, really, feeling this connection with students I never thought I'd know. What a blessing they have been!

Tomorrow will come and most of them will probably not be around. So it's going to grow a lot quieter in my life at school. Types of conversation will change, perhaps feel diminished for a while. I'm not graduating, but part of me feels like it. And even though it's a sad thing, it's also a good feeling.

Finished my "first season" of 24 last night. I've heard great things about it for the last few years, but only this season did I take the chance on it. I'm amazed at all of the things they can pack into one 24-hour period! I know it's one of the weaker seasons; everyone has said so. There were even a couple of episodes that I missed totally and will probably never see. Still, it was good to watch. Had a little (one last?) gathering to watch the 2-hour finale over Papa John's Pizza, which was nice.

Jack Bauer. Interesting guy. That last scene was pretty interesting for him. Don't know what to make of it. I do, know, that I should be back for the next season. . . I mean, the next day.

You can find some of my favorite quotes from Till We Have Faces here.

Today has been one of those days where you don't know how all of the stuff got packed in. You just never know where the day will take you.

The morning started out with singing a duet at church. This is pretty much the first time I've sung in church in years. I have my reasons. They may not be good, but I have them. Having said that, I couldn't say "no" in this situation, as I was asked to sing with the sister of a good friend who might have beaten me up otherwise. It went well. Ironically, I spent most of the morning thinking about how God is glorified in our weaknesses and how often at church it's all about playing to strengths and how unwilling I can be/am to be perceived as weak but how that's when God would get the most glory. Or something like that.

Then it was Sunday School, which, thankfully, I didn't teach. Then it was a nice lunch at Zippy's with a friend. Sundays are for a hot dog covered in Zippy's chili, let me tell you. Then it was to Ala Moana to do a minute or two of shopping. Somewhere in this part of the morning I finished Lewis's Till We Have Faces. I had totally forgotten the ending of the book, so I was pleasantly surprised by the wrap-up.

This afternoon was time spent at the pool. Did my requisite laps and then the hot tub for a bit before getting out and just relaxing in the shade. A little later, some friends came over and partook of the facilities as well. I am thankful to have a place where I can entertain. So had some good conversation there, which is always welcome. Somewhere in there I started reading (for like the fourth time) Lewis's The Great Divorce. Not a new copy mind you (like the image on the side). This one is crinkly and such a product of the 70s. Great story. I'm trying to use this story and the one from Faces to get a handle on what God might want to say to me about this coming Sunday.

So now I'm washing pants and ironing shirts and trying to get ready for tomorrow. School is mostly a wrap this week. Most of network TV is, too. Bring on the summer?