Surfing in the morning, surfing in the evening

When I heard "six feet at ten seconds," I was out the door in the dim light of morning. Andy and I had some fun at tenth street this morning. It finally glassed off. The waves were lumbering and fat, but every now and then a sneaker set would rear up outside and take us by surprise. It made me think of Trestles. Andy's first one was a gorgeous right that he took all the way inside.

The water is already so warm. The forecasts are calling for an ugly hurricane season. Let's have one like '95, when the storms rolled up the Atlantic just close enough to keep us in waves for days on end, back to back, and then turned, churning off to the north, away from land.

In the afternoon, I went out again at the same spot. Hardly anyone was out at 3:30 pm when I got there. The lines were still distinct, ruffled only slightly by a light NE wind. Soon, I saw someone paddling over to me from the north. It was Tom Harding! I hadn't seen him in so long. We had fun, laughing and catching up on everything. The fish that were all around, an osprey diving for dinner. One school of fish, with blue bands on their heads, raced up to the surface toward me, and then dove away and disappeared. A turtle popped its head up near someone. I stayed out for a couple hours, until the crowd grew and there seemed to always be someone in the way.

The waves were just what I needed after today. There was another fruitless interview at a high school far, far away. I guess it's good practice, but it seemed like such a waste - in more ways than I care to count. I didn't try too hard, and was honest to seal the deal. I have no experience teaching a high school reading class, nor do want to gain any. What will be will be. That job would eat into my surfing time, anyway.

Today's other challenge: I was asked to substitute for a first grade teacher this afternoon. Now, that is something that appeals to me, oddly enough. I read them a story about a Panda who opens a restaurant. They listened, and answered all the questions so sweetly. They made books and drew pictures. And I got goosebumps, looking at the artwork they did. This is where I need to be. I only hope, somehow, a job opens up before summer's end...