Max and Esme

We got to attend Esme's first college production last weekend at St. Lawrence - The Penelopiad, by Margaret Atwood. The play gives voice to Penelope, the long-waiting wife of Odysseus, through an series of integrated scenes and narrations from the afterlife. The all-women/nin-binary cast did an amazing job with a script full of difficult topics (murder, rape, slavery) tempered with moments of humor. The set was really clever, and there were songs stewn throughout the play with music written by students. Esme played Eurycleia (the nurse) who ultimately sanctions the killing of Penelope's handmaids. She was wonderful to watch - transitioning from servility to resentment in a single look.  We weren't allowed to take photos, but I'm hoping Esme has some official ones she can share. 

Peter and I are in the North Country this week to be in the path of totality for the solar eclipse. The beach on Lake Ontario was mostly deserted yesterday and provided a lovely walk for us with mom and dad. The skies are not so blue as this today of course. 

Max and Violet are in China for a two-week spring break. They started their trip in Beijing, visiting the Great Wall and the Forbidden City (one of many many buildings pictured here). Most of the photos he has shared so far involve food!

I didn't take many photos during my trip to NC last week - I left that to the professionals - but here's a shot of NYC in the distance as I flew into Westchester County airport.  Ryan and Matthew - if you had only shown me how to post an image in the actual size!

Start of semester two! I'm happy to be back at St. Lawrence and back in zero-degree weather (though it feels like -8) I am back into my routine of derailed study dates, night walks, and lesson planning- I'm currently creating a reading analysis unit using Rick Roerdin's  The Red Pyramid.  It is absolutley cathartic to lesson plan around one of my favorite books growing up.   I've also started all of my new classes for the semester-- geology, American history since WWII, comparative political science, and the history of biology, all of my teachers seem lovely so far, although having daily quizzes this semester is brutal. A couple *very* important life updates:  I am currently deeply invested in keeping my friend's marigold alive-- I'm failing miserably at the moment, but I have hope.  My rock collection has finally made it up to school with me so now I'm one of the crystal girlies and I can't wait to tell everybody that they're only frustrated with me...