La correspondencia de mi alma

January 8, 2012

2012-01-08T22:29:00.000-06:00

Yard Work... and I try not to complain too much as I never thought I would ever own my own home.

3 Notes of Gratitude

1. My cozy little home that protects and shelters me, my dreams, and my family.

2. Weather that's not too cool nor too hot.

3. A feeling of belonging-- it's lovely to belong.

January 7, 2012

2012-01-07T22:31:00.000-06:00

Cedar Fever.

Is there anyore to be said?

3 Notes of Gratitude:

1. Medicine and better living through pharmaceuticals.

2. Delta Kappa Gamma and the wonderful ladies who inspire and uplift me.

3. Memories- they are wonderful to take out and polish in my mind's eye.

January 6, 2012

2012-01-06T22:40:00.000-06:00

Dinner at Cheddar's. Good food. Good company. Beautiful sky.

3 Notes of Gratitude:

1. Patio dining.

2. Being comfortable in my own skin.

3. Having a home to return to at the end of a long day.

January 4, 2012

2012-01-04T22:36:00.000-06:00

My students are back and although they are not quietly doing their work, thay are quite happy to see each other and me.

3 Notes of Gratitude:

1. My job- I love it and feel that's it is so important.

2. My students- while not always easy or fun to deal with, on the whole they are treasures.

3. Love- it just multiplies geometrically, doesn't it?

January 3, 2011

2012-01-03T21:16:00.001-06:00

An odd photo to be sure... underneath my sink. Well, let me assure you, it looked far worse at 5:00 a.m. which is when I started to work on it. I had pinned an idea to store all those bottles and supplies that normally reside under the sink into a shoe holder which I hung in the laundry room. LOVE IT! Now, I have room for a trash bin, recycling AND the paper towels I was storing at the other end of the house in the bathroom. AND I can easily reach to get all those supplies without fumbling in that deep, dark cavern. In my book, that's nothing but good.

(And yes, this is what I do when I get up at 4:30. I clean.)

3 Notes of Gratitude:

1. The energy of an early morning-- I am quite tired when I get home in the evening, so waking up early is my way to get something done around the house. (Well, I also meditate.)

2. Pinterest- where else would I find all these brilliant ideas that I don't come up with on my own...

3. My friends-- who love me even though I cannot bowl to save my life.... or theirs.

Thank you.

January 2, 2012

2012-01-02T21:06:00.001-06:00

Yes, it's the first day back at work. Yes, it's 6:50 a.m. No, we don't have to be here until 8:00 as the students do not attend today. Yes, I'm crazy... I already know that.

3 Notes of Gratitude:

1. My work-- to me it's important and although I probably put too much cream on my tacos and obsess far too much about it, it is very satisfying. Most days.

2. The people who work here with me-- they are simply amazing and they are people that I truly admire and enjoy.

3. Molly-- who else would get me here at 6:50 a.am.?

Thank you.

January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T20:52:00.001-06:00

And so begins my attempt to take one photo a day to track my life during this year...

Normally Zoey and I are out much earlier than the 8:00 shown here but I slept in and I did some housework before we went out because hey, it was the last day of my Christmas holiday.

3 Notes of Gratitude:

1. Zoey-- my little ragamuffin dog who is such a good companion to me.

2. My legs-- right, they're a bit heavy right now but they always get me where I'm going and inevitably where I need to be.

3. Cool Texas mornings-- I still remember, all too vividly, the heat of this past summer.

Thank you.

Day 2 ...and No, I'm not going to keep that up much longer...

2011-08-16T22:38:00.000-05:00

Good grief! How do I get myself in this much trouble??? I make all these super secret plans and right about the time I have committed internally to doing something, someone walks by, asks an innocent question and B-L-A-H! There's my super secret plans out there for everyone to see. Not so super secret anymore. Now it's no more excuses and I've GOTTA do it... That's how I roped myself into that 5k... ugh...

(But I'm still kind of proud of that.)

So, today I was talking with a friend in the hallway and I asked why I hadn't seen her son in the Pegasus room. (I promise I'm not stalking the Pegasus room... it's just that they're two door down the hall from my classroom and they have such sweet adorable faces and eager, smiling attitudes and cute, light up shoes...) She tells me he's not at school yet because he's going into KINDERGARTEN this year??!!!??? WHAT!!??! He just arrived and now he's old enough for Kinder? Where the heck (See that? I'm getting ready for school-- I didn't even say the OTHER "he_ _" word...) does time go? Anyway, we continued to chat about this and that and somehow we got on the topic of report cards and grades... and she asked me what I thought of those. Well, duh! There should have been red lights flashing in my head and that robot from "Lost in Space" should have been flailing his arms saying, "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!" But, since I'm convinced that yellow means accelerate and not "caution", I walked right into that one and told her exactly what I do think of grades and report cards. She knows me well enough to know I have an opinion about everything... and I know myself well enough to know that if someone asks me a question, I am sure going to answer it... {sigh}

So, my intention this year is to do joint parent/teacher conferences with the student and I discussing their progress with their parents. The student will talk about their learning and how they are feeling and doing in each subject area (as well as we can distinguish between them because I like to integrate things...) and I will record annecdotal notes on what I see. I will use the form that we used in Scotland as a starting point but I'll have to tweak it to some how get our state standards in there. I'm sure I'll still have to give checks and pluses on the regular report card because that's the District policy. But what the heck is a plus? It tells me even less than a 92 or 76... Whatever they mean...

I hope parents will leave the conference knowing where their child is on the educational spectrum and proud of their incredible, genius child. But more importantly, I hope my students will feel empowered and will take charge of their learning. If I've learned anything after 20 years of teaching, it's that I can't do the learning for them.

I truly believe that kids can and need to take responsibility for their own learning and one way to do that is to begin a conversation that lets them know that they are capable. With guidance and support, kids can do A LOT! They really are quite amazing.

Day 1

2011-08-15T21:04:00.001-05:00

So, today I got to see my friends and even got a few more things done in the classroom. Half the day was spent with the entire faculty in an ice-cold library while we went through the basic beginning of the year business. The afternoon was spent next door congratulating our sister school for their academic achievement of obtaining a "Recognized" status; a portion of the afternoon was spent with the First Grade team outlining curriculum for the first nine weeks of school; another part of the afternoon was spent wandering the halls and talking to everyone catching up on events that occurred during the summer and finally, a small part of that 3 hours was spent in the classroom working on my endless to-do list.

By far, the best part of my day was watching the wee ones come in for their first day of school this morning. We have what's called "The Pegasus Program" which is designed to be a teacher daycare that also models behaviors and learning for developmentally delayed 3 and 4 year olds. Since the teachers had to be at work today, their children started school today. The other students will come on Tuesday with all the other students. Still, it was astonishing that so many babies that I remember being born just last year (or so) were suddenly old enough to be in our program! How did that happen???? Time flies... I just wish MY students were walking through the doors today.

Everything that I wanted to get done today is finished and I have a few more things that I should be able to fit in during tomorrow's meetings. All in all a lovely day. I am feeling like I would like to begin planning lessons but I must confess... I am tired.

I think it was my wedges...

Back to Work

2011-08-14T20:45:00.000-05:00

I've laid out my clothes and I've packed my lunch. I am so excited to go back to work! Molly is picking me up at 6:45-- we'll go to Starbucks and get coffee before heading up to school. She must not be excited either because we don't have to be there until 8:00...Maybe I'll even order a Caramel Macchiato in celebration instead of my usual tall, black and bold order...

Ah yes... my job... I love it-- as much as I complain at times about the difficulties, I L.O.V.E. it. True, I spend all of June mourning because I miss my students. In July, I decide to look for another job. After a few days, I decide that changing fields is too much work. I then become resigned to starting all over again. I usually have my family around so I can forget about work but right around the end of July and certainly by August 1st, I'm itching to get back to work and ready to fall in love with a whole new group of amazing children. I'm telling you, my job is the greatest. It's the whole heartbreak when you say goodbye in June...

This year, I'm teaching first grade, again. I've had a 7 year hiatus whilst being the librarian and a second grade teacher but tomorrow, I'm going back to my roots. First grade is where the rubber meets the road. There is a lot of prep work done in Kinder. There's much review and refinement in Second grade but First Grade... well, there's nothing else like it. It's here they learn to read and write. It's here so much of their educational outlook is formed. A good first grade year can easily carry a kid into third grade if not beyond... I am determined that my students will have the best first grade experience they could ever hope to have. Not coincidentally, I am also hoping to take these first graders into second grade. Yes, that is my evil masterplan! Then I don't have to say goodbye in June, it's just "See you in two months"... Of course, it'll be miserable the year after but I am not thinking about that now.

I've looped before when I was teaching 5th grade. I looped into 6th with my students and after a half hour of discussing our summer, we were ready to get down to work. That second year with my students was amazing! I knew who could do what, I knew families and strengths as well as weaknesses. You just don't hear, "We didn't learn that last year.", because you know what they learned. That whole first four weeks when we learn about students, classroom rules and learn about each other is over. It's astonishing how much progress you can make in one GOOD year but it's pure dead brilliant what you can do in TWO years! I want that again. And so I've gone through the ordeal of moving rooms and learning new curriculum because I have a plan. Famous last words, to be sure, but stay tuned for the wonder of my working life...

In the meantime, I have picked out an outfit that should say "stylish" but not "trying too hard". I've packed a lunch consisting of a bowl of soup, salad, and cantaloupe because I cannot believe what damage two measley scoops of ice cream for dessert every night can do to my body and I'm ready.

I'm really ready.

I hope I can sleep tonight...

Grief

2011-07-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged.. yes, I've wanted to... it's just that what's on my mind isn't just about me. It's about my family and there's no way I'd want to hurt them-- even inadvertantly. But I don't think anyone is reading this so maybe I can just get some things out there so it's not all muddled up in my mind, weighing me down...

My son-in-law is dead.

No, we didn't always get along... he was actually cruel many times in our relationship... but my daughter loved him and his boys loved him. I could see the potential he had and although I don't weep... there's a deep gaping hole where he should be and is not.

When I got one of the first frantic messages telling me to call my younger daughter, my heart froze and I thought that he had killed my daughter... It's been my worst nightmare since they married. I have his social security number... I have his license number.... My daughter insisted that he would never hurt her (she lies) and so I have a full description of him set aside in the event that my biggest nightmare would come true...

But he was dead instead.

He shot himself in the driver's seat while my daughter sat in the passenger seat. And I truly think that he was only playing mind games with her-- he was like that-- but the alcohol impaired his senses and I think he did not expect to actually die.

But, really, who among us does?

My Morning Addiction

2011-03-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

'Virgo
You are refreshed and ready to go. So be sure to take time to go to your kickboxing class or jog through the park or just walk around all morning long. You'll really feel the difference between what it's like to feel good and what it's like to feel great, when you take a good mood and add a healthy, active lifestyle. Today could be the beginning of some fantastic new habits. Good for you!'

Yeah, see even my horoscope is giving me props! Love that! And yes, although I am technically a Libra, I have so many planets in Virgo that I may as well admit I am an uptight, perfectionist. I am.

So, most people who know me, know that I have to have Starbuck's Cafe Verona to really start my morning right. I've tried Starbuck's regular House Blend, Sumatra, and even Maxwell House (which comes surprisingly close) but as long as my budget can afford it, I drink Cafe Verona in the morning. Yes... and I've gotten very good at taking care of my addiction. I travel with a tiny portable coffeepot and a baggie of Verona when I'm on the road--- except when I go to North Carolina. My daughter and son take care of me there. I have a Starbuck's card tucked in the back of my wallet for emergencies and I have the "Find the nearest Starbuck's" app on my iPhone. I'm covered. As a result of all this coffee drinking, I have LOTS of empty bags.

Now, if you look closely at a bag of Starbuck's coffee, they tell you that each time you bring in an empty bag to a shop, they will give you a free tall coffee. LOVE THAT!!! So, I do. I brought those bags in my luggage when I went out to San Francisco. After walking on the pier for hours, Mom and I sat down to two tall coffees at Starbuck's (I paid for the pumpkin cake.... yum!) for FREE! I took them when we went out to North Carolina in the airports and got more free coffee. Yes, I do love my Verona but my mom was starting to think things about me... I mean maybe it was tacky to drag those empty bags around the U.S. just for free coffee. But hey, why pass up FREE COFFEE!!!?

It's been Spring Break which means that I don't have to go to work early in the morning so I've been running beside Lake Pfluger. I know, I know, it's wasteful to drive out to the lake just to run beside water but it's Spring Break and I really miss water so I drive out there every other day just to listen to water lapping against the shoreline and watch blue heron hunting in the shoals as I struggle to look good as I run. (Although, I think my red face and huffing and puffing give me away despite my best intentions.) On the way out to the lake, I pass a Starbuck's. Not like thats unusual in America anymore. Even in my small town, we have four Starbuck's quite close and several other coffee shops as well. So I started thinking... I have all these empty coffee sacks... I pass by a Starbuck's... are you seeing where my mind went?

Yep. So this week, after I finished my run, I've been swinging into Starbuck's-- not the drive-thru (I, at least, try to minimize my carbon footprint that far.) and get myself a free tall.

Is it sad that the beauty in my life comes from such minor details? The sound of water, blue heron, mountain laurel in bloom, Zoey running beside me, AC/DC on my iPod, free coffee? Perhaps, but I am more than content with my beautiful life.

Salud!

A New Identity

2011-03-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

So, I'm a runner now. Well, maybe not quite yet BUT I am training for a 5k and in my mind that makes me a runner. It's interesting, though, this evolution into a new identity. After I left the Army, I swore I would never EVER run again and here I am, training for a 5k. Of course, I blame it all on my friend, Kelly. She was standing in her doorway with a wrinkle in her forehead saying that she really wanted to sign up for this "Diva Dash" event coming up but Erin hadn't agreed yet... but she really wanted to do it. She had a new app on her iPhone that was taking her from the couch to a 5k but Erin didn't know if she wanted to do it.... angst. I fell headlong into it. "I'll do it with you, Kel!" Was that my mouth those words were coming out of? Well, must've been because Kelly was doing the happy dance in the hallway and showing me the app I need to get so I can start training....

And you know what.... I'm not making any mileage yet but I like heading out to the lake and jogging/running around it! It feels good and that's amazing to me. Granted, I'm not wearing my boots and running up hills in South Korea, but maybe that's why it feels easier. It's a lovely lake I run around and I have a nice mix on my ipod that makes it easy to move. Seriously, who wouldn't move with AC/DC, Kid Rock, Van Halen and GnR pounding your eardrums.... Kinda crazy though, right? Me, a runner.

Well, you know what this means. I can run the Schlotzsky Bun Run on May 1st. It's on my bucket list.

(Check)

Spring Break

2011-03-15T20:12:00.005-05:00

[The title is a link to DaltonSherman's speech at Dallas ISD Convocation... Click on it!]

Yes, it's Spring Break 2011 and I have been spending a lot of time in political action. I am not happy about it. I was sure that after I left college my protest marching and sit-in days were over but here I am on a much needed holiday playing politics with people who haven't the slightest interest in protecting children. (sigh) Sometimes doing the necessary is... well... necessary.

On Saturday, I marched with 11,000 people to the capitol of Texas to protest the huge cuts in education that were being demanded by the state of Texas. Here in Pflugerville, we are faced with cutting 20 million dollars. 20 million dollars. I can't even fathom that amount and yet for me, it comes down to class sizes getting larger which means even more students falling through the cracks. It's like Reagan-omics all over again. Every study ever done in education has consistently reported that lower class sizes raise achievement for students. Every study shows that early childhood education levels the playing field and helps children living in poverty to learn and to be successful. Hell, even our early Texas forebears felt that education was so important that they instituted a land grant policy to provide for and fund public education. Maslow has told us in our child psychology classes that until basic needs like food, shelter, and love are met, NO ONE is able to focus on learning and yet we are looking at eliminating each of those items through raising class sizes, cutting preschool programs and raising the cost of education. It's discouraging.... So there we were, me and my buds, hoofing it off to the capitol to protect our kids and their hopes for a quality education.

We listened to inspiring speakers; we closely scrutinized the representatives that were standing in front of us to show their support; we even wept a little as a young boy from Dallas asked us if we believed in him. Oh yes I do, Dalton, and that's why I stood there shouting and raising my sign. I am a teacher for all children, Dalton, but you did us proud.

On Monday, I got into my work clothes (and my shit kickers, again) and went back up to the Capitol to talk with some representatives. Our representative, Mark Strama is a good friend to education. My students still remember his visit to our school where he spoke in an assembly. We met him in the hall and thanked him for his support. We stopped by Dawna Dukes' office and spoke to her assistant about our concerns for education, but she has supported education in the past and we are confident that she will continue. We headed off to Representative Gonzalez' office and actually had a long visit. While he was open to using the "rainy day fund" to allay the huge cuts which will hack into education, he also had other items on his agenda and felt that local school boards should be responsible for their budgets. I agree, in theory, but happens when you have a lousy superintendent and a lackadaisical school board? Where's the protection for schools and their students?

Then we were off to visit with Representative Schwertner from Georgetown. Okay. Wow. Well, this is where I knew I would never be cut out for politics. (Not like I ever had any illusions or even aspiration. Yuck!) Rep. Schwertner continually referred to the degeneration of the nuclear family as the root of all the ills of public education. Well, you know what? The nuclear family was an invention of the 1950's and it was then that society began to have one crisis after the other. The nuclear family was never referenced in the bible that Rep. Schwertner seems to live by. And, guess what else? I cannot refuse a child entrance into my classroom when he or she does not come from a family background i.e. a mother, father and children, that Rep. Schwertner seems to feel is the only one good for raising children. Not that I would EVER refuse a child, but isn't THAT the whole point of PUBLIC education? To give everyone an education so that they are able to participate in our democracy which relies and is dependent upon an educated electorate? OMG!!! Having said all that, I believe that Representative Schwertner has a good heart and good intentions. I still have hope that our words will encourage him to look beyond his rose-coloured glasses and realize that children do not get to choose who they live with and how those adults choose act. Someone needs to defend and protect our wee ones. Rep. Schwertner would be a good man to do that... if he steps up.

And there's more. On Thursday we're meeting to plan the strategy for the next board meeting. Somewhere in all this I am still trying to train for the Diva Dash, clean up the classroom and get the class library organized, and spring clean and organize my house. Good grief. There are just not enough hours in the day for my life.

Ah well, I'll rest when I'm dead...

in 114 years or so...

:p

Acupuncture

2010-07-19T23:33:00.002-05:00

Needle #1 slipped into the top of my left foot with a small, short sting and a rush of energy that swirled through my calf to my knee. Wow. That was completely unexpected (although I wasn't sure exactly what TO expect). Needle #2 went into the top of my right foot in the corresponding area but this time the energy swirled past my knee into my lower back. I felt as though I was elevated off the table cushioned by a pillow of air. A few more needles placed at key points on my body and I was flying. By the time my intern finished, I had 4 needles in my feet, 4 in my knees and four in the elbow area of my arm.... And I had the best head rush I have had in a very long time! The intern asked if I was comfortable then left me to lay quietly in the room listening to soft, chiming music and the buzzing of my body. I wish I knew I would feel this way earlier! I'd have thought up any reason for an appointment. After about 20 minutes, the needles were taken out and I was advised to start eating alkaline foods, take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar twice a day, try 2 different herbal remedies and to come back in a week. OKAY! I sat in the car for about 5 minutes just to be sure that I was back in my body and that I could drive.

Suddenly, I feel very grateful that my allergies have escalated to the point where I felt I needed medical attention!

M-e-l-l-o-w...

The Bitchy Blog

2009-08-10T03:17:00.002-05:00

Okay, so here I am in Edinburgh Scotland. LOVELY!!!! And I can't fit into any of my clothes! They're all just THAT much too tight. How many desserts DID I eat in DC? And what am I going to do since I have a limited wardrobe here... and I have zits... WHAT!!?! I am how many days away from being 50 and I have zits on my face???---A perfect introduction to all the new people I am meeting (sigh) and of course I have my period so I'm emotional again... Didn't I just go through this-- has it really been 28 days already and can't I be done already???!!? So now I have to find a store because you know I didn't bring supplies.... sigh... At least it's raining and I can wear my new raincoat... even if it's tight... I will never be able to wear it in Texas...

I hope my headteacher likes me....

Last minute fun!

2009-07-29T07:31:00.003-05:00

I know I should be finishing up all the last minute details but there is a daughter and 3 boys here that need a little of my attention as well. And, considering that I won't see them for 5 months... I deserve some family time... right?

We watched the bats come out last night from under 620 (?) bridge in Round Rock. That was fun. There were clouds and clouds of them for a half hour! I've seen the bats under the Congress Street bridge but this was cool and ... much quieter.

Today we are going to see the Harry Potter movie in 3D at the IMAX...

I am still managing to get stuff done. But before I mow the lawn one last time, I need to update the Project Linus website and I am going to do that right now!

Da Website...

2009-07-23T19:59:00.003-05:00

Well I continued work on the website tonight. I needed something that would settle me down and there's nothing like the endless fussing with a website that will calm you down and bore you silly. It's the sheer amount of detail necessary to make it look good and function well! Now, I'd LOVE to have a kickass website like Mrs. Bainbridge or Mrs. Meacham but honestly folks, I'm not sure that I have the stamina for that. This little piddly thing I got going is enough for me.

The site is actually up and live and I could sure use some feedback. If you look at it and you notice things that need to be fixed or MISSPELLINGS (!) puleeze let me know! I have two more sections to work on but I feel like a Bollywood movie right now so maybe I'll just take short break and live it up in the land of tons of eye makeup and belled ankle bracelets...

http://web.me.com/geniaklein/An_American_in_Edinburgh

My Lucky Day....

2009-07-22T19:56:00.003-05:00

Those of you who know me, know that I can be incredibly perfectionistic. I hate it. It stops me from doing things because I always want to do them right, but sometimes you just have to do stuff and get it right later on... but I hate doing that.

Anyway, I've been working in the classroom trying to make it accessible for my exchange partner. You know, dragging stuff out of the closet so she can see what is available. Have a few bulletin boards up already so she won't spend her life in the classroom like I do... things like that BUT at the same time, not trying to lay it out so there is no room for her to come in and make it HER classroom... it's tricky. I spend a lot of time second guessing myself... and I know Lorraine is not going to care... I just really want her to love Windermere Primary School as much as I do.... but the Texas educational system is a harsh task master.... I just don't know. What if they no longer allow Fulbright Exchanges from Texas?

So what brought on these doomsday projections into the future? Well today, my principal waylaid me with a yardstick. (The foreboding music should be crescendo-ing right now...) There is to be NOTHING hung within 24 inches of the ceiling unless it's non-flammable. No curtains, nothing hanging from the ceiling... no pretty fabric to dress up the ugly paint. No microwaves, refrigerators and only one lamp allowed. I was absolutely struck dumb. How do I teach with nothing on the walls? No curtains to soften up the space and no lamps? Wasn't that a big part of the whole "Brain friendly" environment we are supposed to create for our students so the classroom is a warm loving space to grow and take risks in????

When I look at how much time and money I invest in my classroom each day/year and then somebody who has no idea of what I do each day comes in to make an arbitrary rule and cites "safety" as an excuse ... Please show me the data on how many students are injured each year because their teacher has things hanging up the walls and off the ceilings? C'mon, show me! BRING IT!

... I THOUGHT I was handling it well but apparently my poker face is not in working order so my principal felt compelled to take us out to lunch to make up for the bad news. That made me feel even more ridiculous....

I am trying to be gracious and amenable but I'm stressed --

I worked until 5:00 today taking everything down and repositioning it.... Then it started to rain so I left and bought a Lotto ticket. It's gotta be my lucky day.

Another task to be checked off

2009-07-20T15:00:00.003-05:00

Well, Molly dragged me out of the house this morning to get up to school. There are some things I wanted to put up--- mandatory things that will help my exchange partner so she doesn't have to spend days in the classroom-- but it was really beautiful on the patio and it was hard to leave.

It's hard to remember to not do too much. I want her to feel that the room is hers and at the same time, I know she will be so overloaded by all the information coming at her... We put the tables and chairs in the same place as last year. I liked the layout, but it will serve to get her started on HER room arrangement. I hung up the monthly writing sample board so all she'll have to do is to remember to put the monthly writing samples up there-- but if truth be told, I've been doing this display for years and I'm better some years than others-- we'll see what happens. The word wall is up because it has to be. And we got the paper put up for the Math board. Then we went to get the title for Molly's car and Teacher Heaven. (Did you like how I snuck that in there?) $104.00 poorer I emerged and am now eyeing my loot scattered about on the floor. There's stuff to take to Scotland like a Texas flag and a U.S. flag. There are stickers, books and borders. I bought a new Calendar chart that I will put up in the classroom tomorrow along with the rest of the Calendar Math things. Then I'll double check the desk area, hang the curtains and I think I am finished. It's all yours Lorraine-- I hope you have as much fun each day as I do.

Yay, one more thing!

All I want to do....

2009-07-19T08:42:00.005-05:00

I emailed a friend this morning, one I hadn't seen in ages. It was wonderful to get back in touch with her! But as I was giving her a brief synopsis of my life and family up until now, I mentioned this poor neglected blog and thought perhaps I should write something... anything. And too, I have been a little teary lately. Between having my period and getting ready to leave friends and family for 5 months, I suppose there's reasons. BUT if I would blog, then perhaps my heart wouldn't be so full that it needs to come out through my tear ducts... Although, I'm just grateful I got it now instead of in Edinburgh. I could just imagine myself walking about sobbing as I took pictures... yechh. I get very emotional at this time. I remember once crying at a stop light listening to a Buddy Holly song mourning that he died so young... Where is menopause when you want it?

I mentioned to Ada that my modus operendi for the past 10 years is to start school and have no time whatsoever to clean because there are always lessons to be planned and web surfing to be done and so I push off the cleaning business until the summer when I have more time ... but then summer comes and I usually teach summer school which, even though it's a half day, again demands preparation and then... well it's summer and I deserve some time off ... so I take road trips and next thing you know it's August and I'm back in the classroom getting ready for a new year and school starts and itsallablurforthenextninemonths but I'll clean during the summer when I have more time... and what a viscious cycle! FOR 10 YEARS!!! I have boxes in the garage that I didn't unpack when I moved in 10 years ago...

The hardest part of the cleaning is all that I'd LIKE to do. I'd like to install crown molding in the bedroom, but how bad do I want it? Enough to give up money that I might like to use on a once in a lifetime opportunity in Scotland? I think not. I wanted to lay flooring this summer (I have a mish-mash of painted cement floors, carpet, tile and linoleum now). Enough to give up a possible trip to Amsterdam for? Hmmm, probably not... A new fan for the office... a carpet for the livingroom... cabinets for the newly created craft room... a chic laundry room??? Yeah, none of that will happen this summer... for good reason. But, I guess that's also the joy of home ownership. There's always something I'd like to do to make my home more beautiful in my eyes... Yet, I do love to travel.... I'll have memories to savor as I go about selecting the perfect crown molding for the bedroom next year or that Craftsman-style ceiling fan I'll install when I get back-- IF I'm not maxed out on my credit!!! ;)

2009-06-26T07:51:00.006-05:00

Well, it happened. I knew it would eventually, but I was holding out for as long as I could-- and today it happened. I ate catfish. Now that might not seem like a big thing to you, but you see, I was born and raised in Minnesota. We have (over) 10,000 sky blue lakes here in Minnesota so we eat fish—on a regular basis. Real regular. Seriously, people go out in little shacks on the lakes in the middle of winter to ice fish in 30 below weather. We take our fishing-- and our fish-- seriously here in Minnesota. Heck, when I was coming back from taking Grandma home, I saw a “Girls Nite Out” at the river. Every one of those ladies had a pole and was baiting her line! In Minnesota, the catfish and bullheads are “trash” fish. We call them “bottom feeders” and we don’t eat them. We eat sunfish and bass and walleye, of course. (We don’t usually eat perch—we are a bit snobbish about our fish up here.) But when I moved down South, well the pressure was enormous! I mean EVERY restaurant in the south serves catfish. And recipes abound for “fried catfish”. I hung on stubbornly to my Minnesotan disdain for those lowly bottom feeders—until today. And I’d have never eaten it except my uncles made it for me….

Now I don’t see my uncles often. One lives in Mobile, Alabama and the other lives in Southport, North Carolina. They come up to Minnesota every other year or so to visit their mother and fish. But they fish all the time in their home states… which means that they eat catfish…

Now a Minnesota fish fry is a thing to behold. It begins when the fishermen pull into the driveway. Everyone springs into action as we pull out the tables and top them with wooden boards. We get pails, knives and spoons (to scrape the fish scales off) together with pans full of water because everyone has to pitch in to clean those fish. When they rolled in, we all swung into action... but my uncles brought catfish. Not even bullheads…

CATFISH.

THEY did the cleaning. I provided Toby Keith on the iPhone. (Good As I Once Was- for the catfish—implying, of course, that they’ve lost their mad fishing skills.) All they did was chuckle. And cleaned those fish. They filleted them after they skinned them. Did you know that there is a special tool called a catfish skinner? I found that out today, too. Big learning curve for me today, you betcha.

Then I witnessed one of the most beautiful things, I have ever had the privilege to see. My uncle opened up the back of his Performance Racing Toyota Tundra (he’s the one from North Carolina, doncha know) and pulled out a Coleman stove, 2 pans, Crisco oil, batter, salt, pepper, paper plates, silverware, the cooking fork and a spatula and was set up for frying in about 5 minutes.

Why, he even set up a gas grill and grilled a few of those catfish!

I was astounded at his efficiency and his self-sufficiency. I just had to ask why he even bothered to go home. My other uncle (from Mobile) grunted in agreement but I guess Uncle John loves his wife and family…. Heck, you wouldn’t see me for a good long time… So while I ran around photo documenting all of this as my uncles cooked and cooked.

Now, how may I ask, was I going to refuse to taste their work with any kind of manners or respect? I have my morals but I am not a cruel person so I did what any good niece would do, I ate catfish.

You know, it was pretty good.

Home

2009-06-25T11:02:00.000-05:00

I’m on vacation “up north”… in Minnesota... the place of my birth… “God’s Country” according to my brother-in-law…. Land of (over) 10,000 lakes and sky blue waters… Home.

I thought I would have more time to blog but it’s certainly not turning out that way. I barely have time to update my Facebook status and I’m getting a lot of grief from my family for all the work I’m doing on my website. They’re calling me names like “nerd”, “techie” and I’ve even heard “cyber-junkie” being tossed around in reference to my camera, phone and computer use. (sigh) I’m just misunderstood…

Meanderings on Missouri

2009-06-16T21:29:00.001-05:00

I spent the night in Misery, oops, I meant Missouri. (Sorry, Steph) Missouri, where everyone talks with a southern accent. Missouri. Home of the Mason-Dixon line and a CONFEDERATE state—say WHAT!?!?!! Missouri, where you’re still in the south--- after driving through Kansas—which is not in the south. I mean seriously, how far North can you be located and still be considered “southern”? It’s a lovely state, I’ll give you that. It’s beautiful, gently rolling green hills and bucolic scenes along the highway are a pleasure to look at. But, it’s nickname is “The Show Me” state and the home of President Harry S. Truman….Some folks blame him for the length of the Vietnam War... I mean the Vietnam Conflict. Lovely wife, though. A man can’t be all bad when he marries a girl named Bess. Thoughtful people—they’ll correct your pronunciation in a heartbeat and not bat an eye. Lord, don’t tell them you’re from Texas! They’re all over that. I’m not much for pissing contests when I’m in Missouri. I’ll wait until I get home to Minnesota and have to defend my adopted home but I can’t do it in Misery—ummm I mean, Missouri. It’s just not worth it. Okay, so I’m channeling Andy Rooney right now, but when was the last time YOU had to drive through Misery? I mean Missouri.

The Story of Houdini

2009-06-13T07:57:00.002-05:00

Most of you know that I have pets. LOTS of pets. Mostly classroom pets, but I also have a few at home. I read somewhere that children who live with pets develop a greater sense of empathy toward all life forms, so we have classroom pets. Many of you also know that I am going to teach in Scotland for the first semester of the next school year, so I needed to find homes for my pets since I did not want to burden the incoming teacher with my menagerie. (She is keeping my housecat, Kato.) Well, Dawn took Charlie, the cockatiel. Kelly took Bunnicula, the dwarf rabbit. Mom took the aquarium and my sister will take Wilbur, the gerbil, and the Madagascar cockroaches-- although she will only allow them to stay in her garage. Which is fine... I happen to treasure my cockroaches and find them beautiful, but many other people find them repulsive.... different strokes and all that. Mikey took the Hermit Crab, Patrick.

The one animal I could not get a home for was Houdini, my mouse. Houdini was so named because of his extraordinary escape artist abilities. No one wants to take care of a mouse that could disappear into their home! The end of the year was winding down and I was still in a quandary about what to do with Houdini so I spent a lot of time talking with him (yes, I talk to my pets) and I noticed that his coat wasn't as glossy as it normally is. I also noticed that he was rubbing a bare spot on his shoulders from trying to lift off the locked cage lid. Finally, on our teacher work day I decided that I would release him into the open field next to our school. Now, I know that animals who are released have a shortened life span but it appeared that captivity wasn't benefiting him either. At any rate, I wrestled Houdini into his exercise ball (he doesn't like me to touch him) and I walked out across the playground, down the hill to the fence which protects the long, grassy, open field. A perfect habitat for a mouse. I bid Houdini adieu and released him in to the field. I quickly turned and began to walk away back toward the school. I had just stepped onto the playground when I heard two birds begin to shriek. I turned and saw them dive-bombing Houdini who was struggling through the grass, hopping toward me. I quickly ran back to him and put my hand out. He hopped onto my hand and looked at me with his little nose twitching. Now I was dumbfounded. This mouse would NEVER let me touch him. It was always a struggle to round him up and wrangle him into his ball just so I could clean his cage! And here he was, willingly jumping into my hand and sitting there quietly. I can't even begin to tell you how guilty I felt! I took him back into the classroom, put him back into his cage and decided that I could find someone to take him before I had to leave in August.

As I moved around the classroom, Houdini followed my every step. His eyes never left me as he ran back and forth in his cage keeping me in view. I loaded up the car with all the pets and plants that I needed to deliver to all the respective keepers. Houdini was going home with me until I could decide what to do. We finished and drove home. I put Houdini on the covered patio along with Wilbur and the cockroaches until I could take them out to Bastrop. My grandkids were thrilled. They love the pets and were busy talking to them and watching them while I went into the house to begin dinner. Soon Mikey came in and asked me why Houdini was sleeping. My heart sank as I rushed outside. Yes, Houdini had died. I must have scared him to death by releasing him.

I am the worst pet owner in the world.