I am in the office of Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, the folks who provide my internet service.  I was passing by and figured I would stop in and ask a question.  Our internet service is slow or intermittent.  Why not just ask?  They are busy so I thought I might squeak this in while I wait.  If they don’t get to me in a minute I am, as my brother used to say, outee.

I spent most of the day at Champlain Valley Union High School.  I was a community panelist for Grad Challenge.  All seniors have to do a Grad Challenge project and this is the day when they all present to faculty, students, family, friends and a community panel.  It give me a chance to learn about some new things.  Today I learned about the following:

• Cosmetology, including the dangers of dying one’s own hair from a box kit
• Child care at a home day care
• Building a coffee table
• Yoga positions and why one might practice
• Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity
• Working with kids at the King Street Youth Center
• Making a film about Civil War reenactments

The idea is that seniors get to choose what to study and get a chance to speak publicly about it.  I think it is great preparation for what they may need to do after high school.  I saw a few people I know and got to contribute a little to my community.  Everyone passed just fine, even the students who were really nervous.  The presenters have the tough job.  For me it was easy.  Sit and listen, learn some new stuff, give some feedback.  Not a bad day’s work if you ask me.

And so I wait to get some more speed when I get home.  I’m not sure how long that will take.  I still have to pop into the hardware store to buy a new rake.  Ours fell apart, broke, sits in pieces with no hope of repair.  I’ll need it to do some planting tomorrow.  I won’t need much speed for that task.  In fact, I hope it takes some time.  I could use a little reflection on the week, and I haven’t taken up yoga yet.  Maybe this summer…