after dad's monster entry, i feel the need to write at least a LITTLE something!
it's been a good week--thank God thursday is over! it is my most difficult day because i have to see 20 kids in the morning before lunch (in case you don't already know, ideal is to see 7 kids in the am, realistic is to see 12 or 13) and then go to a ridiculous charter school in the afternoon, where i have too many kids to see (and am therefore out of compliance every week). so ahhhhhhh...breathing a sigh of relief now.

we had a fun time with joel-had some good food, chats, and he and matt got to bond with surfing and cigars. then we'll go to san francisco on feb 14th. i can't wait! it will be the furthest north i have been on the west coast in my life!!! just a sidenote: joel shares the same hatred of L.A. that we have, therefore, many comments were made about that city of trash. and i have a powerful statement to make in regards to that issue: I WOULD RATHER LIVE IN ANY TOWN IN OHIO THAN LIVE IN L.A. to those who know me well, you understand how much i hate ohio and how taking that over l.a. is HUGE....

best quote from a kid today:
i was reading a book to a little 6 year old autistic boy named rex. the book was about a dragon and a boy and i came to a line where i put on my best dragon voice and said, "I'M GOING TO EAT YOU UP!". i looked at rex so he would comment on what was happening in the story but he reached over, held my hand, and whispered, "don't be scared-i'll take care of you. i won't let him eat you."

and now for the personal messages:
dad, that was a good word--matt and i have felt like that a thousand times--i think me, moreso than him, but there's nothing like a glimpse of poverty to make you (well, me) want to throw off everything in this life in the u.s., just go simple, and give the extra to those who need it.

by the way emily, i would go with the glue stick--i, too, used to have fears about the items peeling off, but not so with these new-fangled glue sticks! they really work. just make sure it is acid free, that always helps.

oops, i'm running late, i have to go pick up matt so we can get adjusted by our chiropractor!!!
byebye
tracey

i can finally tell the exciting news that i have!!!
my brother ryan and his wife michelle are expecting a baby!!!
so now it's aunt tracey and uncle matt over here...
i had to wait to tell because they wanted to tell grammy and granddad in person and i didn't want to spoil the surprise. so now they know they'll be great grandparents and i can open my big mouth. yay! i'm so excited!

everything is great, as usual, here in san diego.
joel is visiting from san fran and we'll be heading up his way in a couple of weeks as well.
welp, i'm out.
tracey

the surf report, by tracey edwards
8th grade
mrs. sanford's class
2-1-03
i ended up getting a wetsuit yesterday and matt and i hit the waves at mission beach. when we first looked at the water the waves were 2-4 feet, evenly spaced, perfect for just learning. then 30 minutes later, after i got my suit, the waves were 4-6 feet and one after the other. it was pretty hard to paddle out, but i did, and instantly got wiped out on my first wave--and totally in shock b/c of the freezing water. after the first dunk, however, the wetsuit kept me pretty warm and i didn't even notice the temperature. the lifeguards kept coming out on their jetskis, warning people about the ripcurrents and the water was really rough. i coasted in on my stomach a few more times, practiced paddling out, and then got pulled one too many times by the undertow before i decided that i'd try again tomorrow. matt took a few waves in, got up a couple times, but instantly flew off. i stood giggling on the sand and he stood up and waved his arms to show me he was okay. all in all, a fun first day of surfing. the end