Tag: Work
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Best of: The Virtue of Mundane Tasks
April has arrived, signaling spring along with the promise of budding trees and flowering bulbs. Normally, those of us in the northern hemisphere would feel the beginnings of hope, knowing that sooner rather than later, winter would release its hold. Yet, here we are—gripped by a global pandemic and wondering if the normal we once…
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My Strange Way of Living: Tales of Boarding School Life
I’ve been teaching English for thirteen years now. Six of those have been teaching seventh grade English at The Stony Brook School, a day and boarding school. Before coming to this place, I knew very little about boarding schools. I didn’t know anyone who went to one until college. And that person was a missionary…
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August, Again
It’s that time of year. School starts for my family on August 23. Ever since I returned to teaching, I refer to August as a transition month because it contains both summer days and school days. At my house, back-to-school preparations are in full swing. This got me wondering how many times I have written…
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The Virtue of Mundane Tasks
I spent part of two days cleaning my kitchen floor last week. The linoleum flooring is ancient and hasn’t looked clean in the five years we have lived in this house. Don’t get me wrong, the floor’s been mopped before, but this time I did it the old fashioned way—on my hands and knees with…
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A New Year, A New Word
Happy New Year, friends! I took down the last of the outdoor Christmas lights today and saw a school bus rumble past, signaling the end of Christmas Break and the return to normal life. Tomorrow is the start of my “normal” with classes and activities resuming. The other day, while chatting with my parents on…
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The End of a Run
Hello, friends! I’m back! I haven’t written anything since August and it feels good to sit in my writing spot this morning with my favorite coffee mug, reflecting on the past few months. A quick recap: During the summer I accepted the position to coach the girls’ cross country team this fall. In addition to…
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Surrender to the Season
AlwaysOrange readers—you’re in for a treat! The post you are about to read is written by Lindsey Watson—wife, mother, and author extraordinaire of the blog, Running in Circles. I first met Lindsey in 2005 when I taught a lesson in her class at Live Oak Classical School as part of my interview process. Seems like…
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August Reflections
School officially begins August 26; yet, in many ways, I am back to work. I’ve been telling people, “I’ve turned the corner.” Last weekend, while painting the front door, I was consciously aware that the paint brushes and other house projects will sit for awhile. Time to start preparing in earnest for upcoming classes and…
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Sharing Stories
This past Wednesday I spent the evening in Manhattan at the Yale Club, attending a regional event for Stony Brook. Every so often the school hosts events around the country, providing an opportunity for alumni to gather and to connect with one another. This was my first time to attend one of these events and…
Alicia Brummeler 