satisfaction

Many of you loyal readers will not appreciate the magnitude of my joy upon the completion of Phase One of this project, but let me try to explain. I have been wanting to clean out our shed for at least the last 3 summers. Now, our shed is Where Things Go to Die. Since my recycling is a sickness, I could never throw out the kids old toys, or clothes, or broken gas grills, or plastic seed pots, or just about anything else that someone, someday, might find a use for, if they tried really hard. So I'd put it in a bag in the shed. Our shed is fairly large-- maybe the size of Mike and Katie's garage-- so I had plenty of space to put a second bag on top of the first. Multiply exponentially, and you get a sense of the job I just tackled.. Or to put in a way that might evoke more of a picture: I opened boxes today that have not been touched since we moved in. Seven years ago. Before we were sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq. Yea. A long bleepin' time ago.


Weather Boy kindly offered to do the first dump run today so I could keep working. It looked similar to this pile, which is going to be a huge pain to deal with since it is raining, again.... but whatever. I'm on a mission. I will succeed.

The back of the van is filled to the max with boxes of clothes to donate. I don't have the energy to yard sale that-- I'd have to sort them by gender, size, quality, and I need to conserve my energy for the rest of the stuff that needs to go. And it is all going, one way or another.


The bright pink door that you see to the right has not opened fully in years. Today, I can not only open it but I can also walk behind it! There is still a fair amount of stuff to put out there for the masses to come and pick through (which will probably be July 11&12, if you're interested). Whatever is left at the end will be taken to the Free Store, or some other similar location. I figure every thing that someone else takes away is less for me to haul off.


I am celebrating with a Lemon Drop Martini (Ina Garten recipe). Satisfied, indeed!

since you know everyone

For awhile now, Mike has used me as his personal phone book. "It's easier to call you than to look it up" was the answer to my question of "why?" We've laughed a lot about my ability to remember phone numbers, and chalked it up to local folklore. Well, turns out this talent of mine is well known, but I really don't know how it happened.

Just about a year ago my then principal called me after a board meeting to ask my ed tech's home phone number. That seemed odd to me, since he should have had access to the office records of not only home numbers but emergency addresses, but whatever. Maybe it was easier to just call the person who worked with him all the time and assume I knew the number. (Turns out I did, along with his cell numbers.)

Last week I got another call from a friend's husband. "Since you know everyone in town, do you know the number of the animal control officer?" Yes, in fact, and I have it committed to memory. Don't ask me why-- there really is no good reason.

I guess I should take comfort knowing that if my day job ends I'll be employable as an operator, and have lots of solid references.

updates

I said I was going to add pics to my whale watch post. I have finally done that. There's also a pic of my graduates on the 'in the books' post.

I also think it's time for a gathering of RVB-ers, live and in color. Any ideas?

life in the slow lane

Life around here is delightfully low key. Laundry when it's not raining (and I love that my helpers are actually getting old enough to help!) Today did yield us about 16 lbs strawberries, which are now awaiting pie and ice cream and margaritas. Girly helped freeze 3 bags of berries while Boy shucked 4lbs peas. We headed to the Dixfield Coffee House for yummy desserts and Jim Gallant playing his guitar. He played perhaps my favorite song of all time, 1952 Vincent Black Lightening by Richard Thompson. I love the story of the song, the honesty, and, it turns out, I have a thing for DADGAD tuning.

The best part of today? It's still June. Yes, it's summertime and the livin' is easy!

let them eat cake!

Girly decided she wanted a flip flop fun summer half birthday party. (For those of you not in the know, her birthday is between Christmas and New Years, and not a good time for little friends to come celebrate.) I'm not good enough to make a flip flop cake, but I figured I could do a sun. I'm quite pleased with it, actually! Two years ago she had a kitty party and I was proud of that cake, too. I enjoy making the kids cakes part of the party-- and that I make them myself brings more joy than maybe it should. Boy had King Cake for his Mardi Gras party this year, and ice cream cookie sandwiches to go with his sliding party last year.


Today was also the end of her cheering camp experience. Check out that jump!!


Boy brought his sunglasses to this week's game. He really looks like a first baseman now!

100 tidbits

Because I love a challenge, and like playing along, here are some things you may or may not have known about me.

1. My first grown up job was teaching special ed at Peru Elementary School.
2. I am the only one of my siblings to move north.
3. It's one of the smartest things I've ever done.
4. Marrying Weather Boy is another.
5. I actually like spending time with my in-laws.
6. I never had braces.
7. I've had glasses since 7th grade.
8. I love wearing glasses.
9. I tried contacts in the early 90s, but they drove me nuts.
10. I have a blind spot in my left eye.
11. I used to make teachers "disappear" when they were yelling at the class.
12. I hate getting in trouble.
13. I never had a detention as a student.
14. The irony of whom I now teach is one of my little joys.
15. I did not have a female best friend all through high school.
16. I only correspond with one of my high school classmates, through Christmas Cards.
17. I only see one friend from high school regularly.
18. She was in my sister’s class, and her best friend.
19. I have no idea if anyone has planned a 20th high school reunion for this year.
20. If they have, I honestly don’t know if I’ll attend.
21. When I tell high school kids they won’t remember their win/loss record in sports 20 years later, I’m not kidding.
22. I was a gymnast in high school.
23. I still see myself as one, although I am certainly not any longer.
24. I ran cross country because my 6th grade teacher asked me to join the team so we’d have 5 runners.
25. And because the girls and the boys teams rode the bus together and all my guy friends ran.
26. I made cookies for the teams every week.
27. But I hated every step.
28. I got my first Mac in college.
29. I liked that I could get a program to sing “I love trash”.
30. I still have it somewhere.
31. The first computer “lab” at Peru School included Eddie Tech’s and my Mac Classics.
32. We brought them in every Monday and home again on Fridays.
33. All our students made HyperCard stacks.
34. It was cutting edge learning in 1994.
35. I am very sensitive to smells.
36. It will come in handy if the kids ever try to lie about what they’ve been doing.
37. But I don’t think they ever will, because they know we’ll follow up.
38. Anyone who thinks parenting is easy isn’t doing it right.
39. I think playoffs in coaches pitch youth baseball is insane.
40. But Boy loves playing, so we endure.
41. I much prefer individual sports-- running, gymnastics, dance.
42. I might have played soccer if we didn’t grow up in the late 80s in a football town.
43. My high school team was co-ed, and not really advertised.
44. I loved playing pick up soccer with all ages before we had the kids.
45. Weather Boy organized it, but it was easy: show up Sunday night at 5 and we’ll divide into teams.
46. We so need to do that again.
47. We go to a lot of concerts.
48. The kids come with us most of the time now.
49. I treat making mix CDs as an art.
50. It’s easier to make playlists and burn them.
51. I have to make some this summer.
52. I also need to make a new quilt for our bed.
53. The one we have now I made in 1994, and it’s falling apart.
54. I tried to be too economical with seam allowances.
55. I also need to make Mike and Katie’s wedding album with Katie.
56. I’m excited to do that.
57. I love it when my kids truly smile.
58. Actually, I love it when anyone truly smiles.
59. I have pierced ears but don’t wear earrings anymore.
60. Too much hassle.
61. I also don’t wear make up, unless I’m going on stage.
62. I thought about going to Broadway to try to ‘make it’.
63. I decided being a good wife and mom was way more important.
64. My mom wouldn’t let me join the competition gymnastics team when I was 6.
65. If she had, and I had stuck with it, I would have eventually competed against Mary Lou Retton.
66. I really don’t like being alone for long periods of time.
67. I end up shutting down emotionally.
68. I enjoy cooking and baking.
69. Especially when I can do it without a strict recipe.
70. Someday we need to do Iron Chef.
71. The kids have offered to be judges.
72. I’d go mostly vegetarian if I wasn’t married to a meat lover.
73. I’ve taught myself to like seafood.
74. And asparagus.
75. Brussel sprouts too.
76. I still don’t like clams though.
77. Too slimy.
78. I’m working really hard to pay off our debt.
79. I think I’m doing a pretty good job, especially since the price of gas has doubled.
80. I don’t like to be too hot or too cold.
81. It’s one of the many reasons I don’t ever want to move out of Maine.
82. My body works better when it’s hot, though.
83. My toes lose circulation when it’s cold.
84. I hope my body doesn’t force us to relocate someday.
85. I really don’t like to travel.
86. Flying makes me feel horrible.
87. I also panic about losing tickets.
88. Or missing connections.
89. If we ever go overseas, I think I’ll need a valium to make it.
90. The only time the kids have seen me out of control was on a plane.
91. That was totally not cool.
92. Driving isn’t so bad.
93. (I know, I have control issues.)
94. My sugar cookies are still requested by my former co-workers.
95. It’s my grandmother’s recipe.
96. I need to learn to make her fudge, too.
97. These family recipes are as important as pictures.
98. I wonder what the kids will cook someday and think of me?
99. All 4 of my grandparents died within 4 years of each other.
100. This was fun!

so much for the Summer of Rach

...unless it's the summer of Rach hanging with a lot of different doctors. I have strep, again. Three weeks later, for those of you counting (and I certainly am). I have stronger drugs this time which will hopefully kill it. I need to stop back into the office in about 3-4 weeks to be cultured again to see if I'm a carrier. If I come down with strep again, I'll be sent to talk to a surgeon about having my tonsils removed. Good times.

This afternoon I head back to my OB/GYN office to have an ultrasound to figure out if we need to have a hysterectomy conversation. And my other foot has been driving me nuts all week.

Good thing we delayed our trip to MT to see my sister until next summer.

**UPDATE**
We had a great visit with the OB today. Surgery is the last option on her list, which makes me feel very comfortable working with her. We're going to try some hormones for awhile and see how that goes. And as the day goes by my throat hurts less.... but I still think I'll take Mike and Katie's advice and indulge in some frozen treats.

proof

If there was any doubt in my mind that I was forming solid connections with my students, it's gone now. I got a letter from the new mom in my class, along with a baby pic of my grand student. It was a short letter, but she talked about how she sort of misses school and is looking forward to fall. She also told me how the baby is doing, and signed off saying I could come visit her anytime this summer. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say she considered dropping out of school a year ago. Yea, I'm feeling pretty good about what I do right now...

inspiration

Today Weather Boy got a burn permit. No, he did not have unclaimed student art of which to dispose, but we did have a huge pile of rotten wood to deal with. We side with Joe on this one: flame is much more fun than manual labor.

As I was sitting there, I saw this picture. It makes me happy.

Mike and Katie came over. Turns out Mike loves playing with fire too. Weather Boy has declared we'll start no more fires without bestfriends in attendance. Works for me.

Katie is feeling better, and was up for dinner. I created a pretty tasty meal, if I do say so: basil and sun tried tomato chicken sausage and broccoli rabe pork sausage over whole wheat and multi grain penne mixed with sauted mushrooms and onions and a can of sun dried tomatoes in oil. I didn't take a picture, but I may send the recipe into Cooking Light.

Not bad for having no plans for the day. Summertime, and the livin' is easy.

enough!

I thought I had split the rain wickets today, but turns out Mother Nature is still in charge. My load of towels is soaking wet on the line. They will just have to wait until it stops raining for me to take them down, run them back through the spin cycle, and re-hang. Grrrrrr

Remember Me?

So I finally started (and finished) Sophie Kinsella's Remember Me? that SJ had paid forward from Beth, who had won it from bookbabie. It was a quick read-- I started and finished last night. While I found it a little bit predictable, it was a perfect book for the start of summer.

So... anyone want the book next? The rules say I'm supposed to pass it on to another blogger. Weather Boy has already kindly acknowledged that it's not his style of book. Katie? Amity? Wendy? I don't think I have a huge list of people reading me, so really, speak up if you're interested in playing along in our roving book club.

the toughest job you'll ever love

Weather Boy and I faced a rough parenting decision tonight. Boy had a baseball game, and WB was asked to ump. At the very end of the first inning, we saw lightening, and so the game went to a 30 minute delay. The coaches, however, started the game up after about 15. We decided it wasn't proper to be playing, and so we removed ourselves from the game. Boy took it very well-- talk about a kid having maturity way beyond his years- not even one "but please, why can't I just play"-- but I still feel a bit sickish to my stomach that our actions affected him possibly negatively. The coach called us a little bit ago, and we're all good, but still... these events are not in the parenting manual.

I do feel proud that we stood firm on our beliefs on safety, and I'm hoping that both kids will translate this lesson on doing the right thing even when it's hard to their own lives. Its rough on the playground these days, and the bystanders are the ones who make the difference. We talk a lot to kids-- I do it every day at work-- about standing firm in our beliefs and not being afraid of what someone else thinks. Peer pressure is real and standing up to it is incredibly difficult. As hard as it was to actually pull him from the game, I'm glad we had the courage to do what we thought was right, even when no one else agreed.

it's in the books

Another year has come to an end, and as excited as that makes me, there are certainly things I will miss. Life is change and change is life, I get that, but that doesn't mean it's always easy. My classroom is all boxed up, as is my favorite school of all time. I've said goodbye to my principal and my teaching partner from this year. There are parts of today that were certainly bittersweet.

It is summer, however, which always means good things. Places to go, people to see, things to do. I take comfort in these family summers, because I know we are lucky to have them, and that they, too, won't last forever.

The best job in the world.

So I had 3 sunshines graduate today. Each of them thanked me, as did all of their families. I don't do this for the personal glory, but it is wonderful having people acknowledge the struggle and what it took us all to help them overcome it. I was astounded to look out at a private graduation ceremony an see a packed house there for 3 kids-- current students, past students (who hated school and couldn't wait to blow town), and probably future students along with family and high school teachers... a very impressive sight. My graduates deserved every ounce of attention they got, and I'm teary remembering the day. I am one proud teacher today. This is why I do what I do.

As one of them posted to the student lounge: I just want to thank Mrs. Buck for helping me get threw school.
Clearly I done good, huh? Spelling is so overrated....

a day with the sunshines

My favorite part of my job is when I get to spend some time with my sunshines outside of our classroom. Change is not something they handle well, but when they let themselves trust us enough to take the risk, it goes well. This trip was no different. A few of the kids had never been on a boat, and those that had hadn't been on one in the ocean. This was definitely going to be worth it.

We headed out on the two hour bus ride, having established with the district school health coordinator that no, there is no air conditioning on school buses. How kids can ride in the very back seat of the bus I will never understand, but they divided nicely: HS in the back, MS in the middle, and us old teachers in the front.

Once we got on the boat, they were a little freaked out by the number of strangers also heading out to see some floating mammals. Most everyone found a seat upstairs, while the kids went under deck. As we started moving, they headed to the front of the boat-- a small space which limited the number of strangers around them but kept them in the fresh air to reduce nausea. All was well.

For the first time in my existence, we saw whales. I didn't get great pics, and I'll upload them to this later, but it was quite impressive. Weather Boy and Weather Lad are beyond jealous, which means I'll be heading back at some point soon, I'm sure :) The sunshines were really excited about seeing the whales-- and when they smile for real, it confirms why I love this job. To see these wise-beyond-their-years teenagers giggling and running for the edge of the boat to see a whale swim by-- yea, it's quite a moment.

Two kids got sick-- one was so green the whites of his eyes looked funny-- but we made it back to shore with no other incidents. We let them walk around for a bit, looking at the shops and getting their land legs back before heading back on the bus. We were back in town by 6, as promised. They were tired, sunburned (I didn't exactly say I told you so, but those words did leave my lips), but refreshed after spending a day on the ocean with friends.

Many people ask how I can work with these kids all day. I don't know why it makes sense to me, but it does. I enjoy helping kids transition between hating school and every authority figure in their lives and into kids who recognize they have different strengths and learning styles than the average kid. I am teaching more than math and science. I guess at heart I'm teaching them to make peace with the cards life has dealt them, and to keep working to make the best hand they can with what they've been dealt. It's not always easy, and sometimes I only start a process that they have to finish on their own after they've left, but if I leave them knowing there's someone out here who always wants to know how it's going, someone who isn't afraid to be seen with them in public, then I've done my job. They make me happy, they make me proud, and I love working with them every day, even on the days I don't love it. The cool part is if I read that last sentence to them, many of them would understand what I was saying, but all of them would believe me.

if you don't vote...

...you can't complain. At least that's my rule. So, everyone out there remember to vote, even if it does feel like a foregone conclusion.

put a fork in me

Track is done! It was a long day at the state meet, but not horrible. I did end up enjoying the season-- I'm planning on doing it again next year-- but I am sure excited to not have practice on Monday.

Too bad it's my first Leadership Team meeting.

democracy is not pretty

Guilt sent us scrambling to get to the district budget meeting today. I had sort of forgotten about it until after school, and by then Weather Boy was headed to the dentist, and I had not prepped for a speedy dinner. So we inhailed in marathon time and turned around and headed for the SCC. Twenty-five or so hearty souls showed up, along with a few out of district administrators. After two hours of question and explanation, we passed the thirteen articles by an average of 22-0.

I guess the part that bothers me is the rote nature of it all. We have to vote because our country is a democracy, but because we're a representative democracy, we don't have much say about what we are voting on. The general sense of the few of us in the room is we would have paid to put at least some of the cut positions back into the budget, but that is not an option. We either say yes to what the school board has determined, or no. No suggestions, no changes. They have to ask us what we think, but can't really do much with any response beyond the lowest level of Blooms'. (Is anyone else with me on the irony here?)

There are other articles on which we have to vote, but we're really committed to the money, weather we say yes or no. If the rest of the towns in the vocational region say yes to paying their share, then even if we say no, we pay anyway. So why add a fifteen minute argument about something we can't change to an already lengthy evening?

So now, we all get to vote in our respective towns on Tuesday saying we either agree or disagree with the decisions of the twenty-five (brave? foolish) souls, who said we agree with the decisions of the thirteen members of our school board. If the majority of people in our communities say they agree, then we're done. If not, well, I'm afraid to ask what that process will look like.

so much for that

How pathetic would I be to have to call in sick with 8 student days remaining? I'm afraid that could be what happens. We'll see what John says tomorrow, but I have a bad feeling about my making it the week. Grr.

*************UPDATE***************
I've seen the doc, self diagnosis of strep confirmed. Give me 24 hours, my amoxicillin, and some yogurt, and I should be fine.

I hope tomorrow is like today

Sticking with the musical theme of my posts this week, I can't get this Guster lyric out of my head. It is absolutely gorgeous at our Little Piece of Heaven. Sun is shining, birds are chirping, breeze is blowing, music is playing... and soon 4 little bestfriends will be running around laughing and playing and loving. Yes indeed, life is perfect.

consider this my radio player thingy

Amity and I had a moment to chat in the halls today, and we got talking music. I mentioned a few half full bands I thought she might like after she said she loved Weather Boy's sidebar thingy (so 21st century of me, I know). Here's a list for anyone interested in googling a few cool bands who are mostly happy about life. I can't promise everything on this list is classroom safe or that it would pass any family values tests, but I can promise you it makes me hop up and down.

Cowboy Mouth
Guster
Barenaked Ladies
Ben Folds
Wonderlick (one offshoot of Too Much Joy, to which Weather Boy refers.)
The Hold Steady*
james
Erasure
Great Big Sea
Ben Lee
The BoDeans

*definitely NOT family values appropriate, nor do I condone the drug induced life style mostly sung about. I do love the stories, though, and can't help but turn it up and sing at the top of my lungs....

I'll play!

So my darling Weather Boy, through his 7th graders, posed a new challenge for us: what is your theme song? I find myself at a disadvantage because all I keep singing is TMJ's Theme Song, which is definitely NOT my theme song. So as I struggle to get those lyrics out of my head, I find myself stuck. Like my darling hubby, some songs that spring to my mind are not appropriate for mixed company (this is a family blog, of course!).

For tonight, I have to go with Glad to Be Alive by Cowboy Mouth:
When you're walking down the street/Feel the rhythm in your feet
All the life that's crashing by/Aren't you glad to be alive?
Nothing ever goes as planned/Get your head out of your hands
Scream and shout like you were five/Aren't you glad to be alive?

Having heard Fred sing this live helps, and it fits right in with my "Suck it up, Buttercup. Life isn't fair, get used to it" mantra. Throw in a healthy does of half full theory, and I think we have a winner.

(I'm also a sucker for do do dos and la la las :)

As with my husband of 13 years, I'm happy to field any suggestions from the stands!

Sunday Morning Taped

I woke up today thinking about this video. It has nothing to do with my day, but when you get an idea in your head, you go with it.

time flies

It came to my attention tonight, at the annual school talent show, that I have been in the River Valley for 15 school years. I have a student this year who was born in that same school year. It makes sense, since my 20th high school reunion is this summer. I don't feel like I've been around that long, but I'm sure my math teacher friends would agree that the math doesn't lie!!

bonus points for me!

So way back when we all first moved to town, one of Mike's colleague's taught us to play Near Brush With Greatness. It's a simple game: the goal is not to have encountered a famous person, but to know someone who had, and the further removed you were, the more points you'd earn. Well, I'm proud to report my sister and my nephew were in the room at a Barak Obama speech, and made it onto the front page of the local paper's website! (They're pic 21 of 24 of the slideshow.) They're not mentioned by name, nor is Obama seen in the shot they're in, but they were there and I wasn't, so bonus points for me.

There are definitely benefits to working on a college campus. SJ, when you move on, don't forget us little guys!

my powers of 10

Encouraged by Katie...

As of May 18, 2008, at 8:45 PM...

10 years ago I had just earned my Master's Degree. I had almost quit the program with one class to go because I left teaching trying to have the baby who turned into Ben. He was 3 months old, and present, at my hooding.

10 months ago my sister lived in CA, my brother in Chicago, and my other sister in Portland, OR. I lived here. Now, my sister is in MT, my brother in CO, and my other sister moving to CA. I am still here.

10 weeks ago I was basking in the glory of my short lived tenure as a cheering coach having come to an end.

10 days ago was Weather Boy's nephew's birthday. We still haven't sent a card.

10 hours ago we had the house to ourselves.

10 minutes ago I LOL'd at The Office marathon on NBC. I had no idea his name is Michael Scott.

10 seconds ago I saw how big Girly's pipes are. That kid is a house. We've got to call a gymnastics gym for her, soon.

10 seconds from now I'll have finished typing this sentence.

10 minutes from now I'll make a pot of tea.

10 hours from now I'll really wish I had 10 more hours to sleep. I hate getting out of bed.

10 days from now I will have been married for 13 years and 1 day. What I want my kids to know-- both my own and my students-- is that it is not always easy. But it is always worth the effort.

10 weeks from now I will be getting ready for my trip to the CA desert. My uncle lives there, and it is time to visit him while I still have the chance. It's a quick 4 day journey, but it is what I need to do while I still can.

10 months from now I should be prepping for 5 students to graduate from my program, and thereby DHS.

10 years from now Boy will have just come home from his sophomore year of college, and Girly will be about to graduate from high school. We will be making some major decisions about how we want to live as Empty Nesters. How's that for a mind trip?

what was I going to say?

Mike came over for a visit last night while Katie was out of town the the kids were having a sleep over. While watching the Red Sox double header, we came up with a few great blog topics, but I can not for the life of me remember them now. I know one dealt with a commercial, but that's as close as I can come. For any of you who know me, that fact in and of itself is blog worthy: I remember EVERYTHING. But these great ideas yesterday? They're playing dodge ball in my mind, and as soon as I get close to nailing them they run away. I'm going to blame it on the adult beverage I was enjoying while the conversation happened and not that I'm getting old.

silence is not golden

At least not in this case. Where are all the RVBers this week? Except for Beth, we've grown amazingly quiet. Hope you're all ok out there... I sure miss our regular 'chats'!

number of the day

In the shower tonight I realized we have 3 more Mondays left in the school year, 4 if you count workshop days. Those are very manageable numbers.

Happy Mother's Day

I was treated to coffee with whipped cream after being allowed to sleep. I love coffee with whipped cream-- it's not something I do every day, and it's so decadent, and it just makes me happy. How wonderful that my kids know that, and pay close enough attention to treat me on my special day! They also made strawberries and cream waffles (actually, I think Weather Boy did the cooking) and got me a six pack of Coke, and wanted to get me Jax, but couldn't find any. I love these gifts that show they know what I like: it's totally about the thought, not about the cost. They are wonderful kids, and I'm lucky to be their mom.

you couldn't pay me enough

to be 15 again. No way, no how.

For those of you loyal RVB readers, you may have spent the day trying to figure out the identities of those referenced in Beth's post yesterday. (For those of you who didn't, way to not care about gossip! Nicely done!) I learned the identity today, quite by accident. It was boy trouble of the kind only a 15 year old girl can have, without the happy ending of a sit com or afterschool special.

I have hope that, in the end, she'll be stronger and wiser, but getting to that point is not fun.

I say again: no way, no how.

Blame SJ

This is the one I remember watching as a 6 year old. It is definitely a family identifier.

Boy's favorite at about 18 months. We'd sing this before bed. I was getting to be very preggo, and he'd "spread out the cape" and everything. Those were good times.

As lifetime president of the Cookie Monster Fan Club (started at BHS in 1987), I'm a sucker for the classics.

For my hubby...

Girly didn't latch onto one skit so much as all of them. We'd sing this one a lot, in the tub, and do the little dance too. Our kids do love the catchy tunes...

I could go on all night. You get the point. I can't find a complete set of the Bert and Ernie Gift of the Magi retelling, but I'll keep looking. It is what makes Sesame so brilliant: a classic story told in a way 4 year olds will understand and parents will enjoy watching. I honestly think Sesame Street is my favorite show ever.

not this kind of spring fever!

So I guess I've caught the cold going around the school: sore throat, congested lungs, runny nose. Not a fun time, but it most certainly could be worse. I am not planning on using a sick day though, because one more day off kicks me out of the bonus money. Granted, the bonus money for missing 3 days isn't that much, but it's equal to one day trip somewhere this summer, so it's worth plugging on.

winding down

No matter when it is, recital weekend marks the beginning of the countdown. It means free time, which means summer is around the corner. I start counting things like how many Mondays, which is usually a different number than the rest of the days remaining. How many LAWs? When I get to how many trips between my building and the high school, we've definitly hit the home stretch.

For those wondering, the recital went well tonight. A few techie issues that were out of our control, but the dancers all did well. There were only 2 big groups this year, which made it a lot easier. Looking forward to tomorrow... after about 1PM :) Bring on summer!

Postscript:
Day 2 is in the books. One minor technical glitch, but otherwise, a great day. I think the adult groups looked the best ever. But it's done! Wahoo!

speedy quick!

So I got on the bus today to bring us to lunch, and I was happily chatting with the driver, as I always do. I said something about "8 more weeks" and he looked up at me in his huge mirror and said "You need math help. 7!" I quickly looked at his calendar and realized I'd double counted this week. 7 weeks until summer vacation, when I can sleep in and laze around and enjoy my family-- and still get a paycheck every 2 weeks! It was like magic, that moment of realizing I am that much closer to every teacher's favorite day of the year. I can do that, my friends. Almost with my eyes closed.

home

My boys are home. Arrived in New England around 3, ME around 8, and the front door at 9. Bestfriends were here to welcome them with us. All is right in the world again. I missed my boys for sure.

U. Charley

Today Girly and I headed off to Uncle Charley's memorial service. My sister in law and her youngest two carpooled with us to Lunenburg. It took just over 3 hours to arrive, and was a pretty easy drive down, especially since her boys slept most of the way :). As an interesting aside, they were worried their mom was going to have to wake me up, as I didn't get up until 10 minutes before we were scheduled to leave: they've never witnessed my ability to motivate in the morning, which allows me as much sleep as possible. Girly and I were dressed and ready to go as promised. Your Aunt has some skills to teach you boys, if you're paying attention.


The service was nice, complete with a flag ceremony courtesy of the Navy. Although my boys were greatly missed, everyone agreed that it couldn't be helped, and are looking forward to their stories when next we meet. I told Boy I took a few pics, so here they are. Hope you found an internet hot spot before bed.


For those loyal followers out there, they officially entered the Northeast (Penn) tonight, and I was on the phone with them when they crossed into New York, which is officially close enough for a rescue mission if it became necessary. And more good news: they're logging 15 miles per gallon now! Weather Boy is feeling motivated to spend the last night of vacation on his couch and in his own bed, so there is a major push to be back tomorrow night. At 9 PM, they were probably 8 hours from Albany, which we figure is 8ish hours from home. I bet they're going to crank out some serious mileage tonight. Stay tuned...

missing you

Just talked to my boys, and man, I can't wait for their return. Truth be told, neither can they. They're doing well, and are in IN now, resting at a hotel with free wireless, and very excited about shower facilities. I selfishly just want them home. Saturday is our goal.

Call me whenever you want! I love talking to you!!
:)

I love it when they really smile...

Weather Boy posted a pic of Boy in MN, and it made me verklempt just looking at it. He looks so happy about life... it's so great to see your children truly happy. Between appointments today, Girly asked me to take pics of her playing in the tree. Here are the highlights.

it doesn't get better than this...

I love everything about this: clothes on the line while there is still some snow in the shadows and daffodils blooming in the sunshine. It's April vacation. Add Weather Boy's way cool Bert and Ernie bike shirt, and life is truly grand.

Now all I need is the boys to make it home in The Beast and life will be perfect. Maybe for only one day, but that's all anyone really needs.

It's Saturday Night!

Some days I think I'm married to Will Ferrell. I don't think there is a person on the planet who makes me laugh so completely over absolutely nothing. Tonight he had a little cramp, and I just about lost it. Granted, a Will Ferrell commercial had just aired, and Dave's "oohing" reminded me of how Will would react. I felt bad laughing at him, but he was just being so goofy about it. I know I shouldn't blame him for me being cold and heartless, but it really, if you'd have been here, you'd have done the same thing.

I love my man very much, and lucky for me, the feeling is mutual. I guess I just wonder if he thinks Cheri O'Terri when he thinks of me... and if so, is that a good thing?

waterfront property?

So I wandered around the house this afternoon, mostly to see if I could get to the clothesline. It's going to take some work. A huge chunk of ice ripped it off the side of the house sometime in March, so I'll need new hardware to get it up and running. I love hanging clothes on the line. I love how clothes smell after being in the breeze, and the rabid recycler in me jumps for joy using natural, free energy to dry my stuff. Anyhow, when I walked around back, this is what I found!
I half expected to see some ducks out there swimming around.

YEA ME!!!!!

There was actual hopping in my kitchen. Weather Boy's comment: "I didn't realize you were really worried about not passing." I was totally not kidding, but I made it, well above the minimum score required.

We celebrated with chocolate shakes (under 21) and mudslides. SJ, we so need to celebrate our accomplishments over break.

What a relief. I say again, yea me!!!

entropy

So it seems there are lots of changes happening around me these days. My mom and mother in law are both retiring this month (although MIL is taking back her old job at Mt. Blue State Park for the summer, so I'm not sure you can call it retiring as much as switching jobs, but I digress). People all around me are pursuing Masters Degrees in Education-- including Weather Boy himself! My sister is pregnant with her third, my friend from high school just had her third, and an old friend is getting married this summer! So much going on.

Me? I'm just plugging along, living my life, enjoying the place I'm in. I know it won't stay in status quo forever, but for now, it's just where I want to be.

one more week

It's a busy week ahead, which will probably mean it will fly by. Two recital rehearsals, track practices, scrapbooking, and then life in general fill it up. I need to remember to make an appointment for the van to get it's mileage check, too. Must do that tomorrow...

I can not believe that it is time to deal with April vacation. Where has the year gone? I mean, really? Time is just flying by, and our lives along with it. Nine more weeks and then we will be blissfully on summer vacation. This summer will take us to the Cape again, and I hope to get to Western Mass to see my high school friend. If my Dropout Prevention conference in Orono survives the budget massacre, I think we might also take a trip to The County. Perhaps we'll roll a yatzee on the Marden's challenge before SJ and The Music Man do!

weekend

It was a long week, my friends. Long week. My biological school clock says this is the first night of April break, but it turns out this is the weird year of an early Easter and a late break. And so I must content myself with an overnight trip to visit our friends on the coast where the kids will have a sleep over in the living room while we talk the night away.

I love this friend of mine. I met her when she taught at MVHS for a year, partnered with Mike. She is so full of life, and truth oozes from her pores. I always feel centered when I'm with her, which is just what I need after a week of drama at school. Weather Boy the Introvert is staying home this trip to recharge his batteries the way that best suits him. I will miss him, but know he needs a night home alone the same way I need to get out of dodge and laugh with my friend.

connections

So I bumped into a fellow RVB-er today and we shared a laugh over the joy of finding a new post on a friend's blog. There really isn't anything like it-- except for finding a comment posted on your own post! It's not really my life philosophy, but the idea of connectedness certainly influences me a lot. I mean, I still send a Christmas card to MY 4th grade teacher! Since becoming an Alt Ed teacher, I've made it the focus of our classroom: connected to our classmates, our school, our community. This little conversation (as I was leaving a concert in which my bestfriend's daughter was singing) is just another example of how important connections in our lives are, however we get them. I would not have missed her concert unless I had no other option, because connections with non-parental adults are so important to growing kids. I would not have walked by my friend without stopping to talk and laugh unless I was late for wherever I was headed next. And as cool as our little online community is, knowing each other personally makes it even cooler for me. I only regularly read one blog of someone I don't know in my real life, and that's just because it's such a cool math idea that it makes me happy.

Then, at the end of track practice, we were waiting for the straggling parents to arrive (the last kids left 30 minutes after practice ended). A local boy who will probably be in my class in 5 years was hanging around the front of the school. Dave made a point to talk to him, once he figured out who this kid was and why he was out about town at 7 PM on a school night. Instead of just yelling at him to go home, we talked to him while waiting for all the rides to come. It's obvious he's got it rough, and more obvious that one 30 minute conversation with a few random people isn't going to make much difference. But maybe it will. Maybe we won't see it until he's in school with our kids, or in our classrooms. Or maybe when we see him again and say hi, just because we can. Connections, baby.

jedi mind tricks

So for the first time all year, I beat Mike to the kids drop off point on a LAW. Now, I should not have to point out how difficult it is for me to get out of the house by 7:15, drop the kids, and get to school by 7:30 on the dot. I so hate getting out of bed, and once we spring forward, well, it's really not pretty. (For those of you who've played along since the beginning, this is truly the main reason I hate EDT.) So what's a struggling night owl teacher to do? The same thing struggling high school and college kids do: set the alarm clock ahead. Yes, I know the clock is fast, and I have more time than Mickey says, but when you look over and see 7: 12 staring at you, adrenaline kicks in and you get up. Once you're up you remember "Damn, it's only 7:00" but you're up, so you get moving. (And yes, it really does only take me 15 minutes to get out the door. It's a skill I've been mastering since 1985-- and my kids have learned to do the same!)

So anyhow, the last quarter of the year is notoriously difficult for me to just get up. Without the mind games, I might get a nasty gram left in my personnel file. I still love my job as soon as I get to school, but if we could somehow start the day at 10, my life would be the best place ever.

What I Should Wear

Day One of New Birthday Clothes (which are nothing like the Emperor's New Clothes), and who knew how many people look at what I wear! I had 3 compliments on my new pants (Gloria Vanderbilt, petite's section of JC Penny) before 8:30 AM. My new shoes (Keen, on Weather Boy's suggestion) also got high approval ratings. Maybe Clinton and Stacy are right, and buying new clothes that really fit make a difference. I can't see me going completely cold turkey from Goodwill, but I guess it doesn't hurt to live high on the hog every so often.

Only one reason to leave

I went to the Maine Mall today with my mom for some birthday shopping. Having read Beth's recent post about melting in all points south, I thought to bring my camera along to document it for myself. It's true: there is way less snow in South Portland than there is up here.

But that is not what would get me to leave this beautiful, small town valley. The only thing that would get me to move, baring a major catastrophe that vaults us into spaces of which we can't conceive, is a decent radio station. I can cope with WCLZ, but it's not perfect-- a little too much Steely Dan to really call it mine. CYY just got too screamy about 7 years ago, and JBQ is too teeny-bopper. I end up rotating through these 3 stations, time determining who plays lead: JBQ for my morning commute (yea, I know, work with me here), CLZ afternoons, and CYY as a random hope for something good.

Now many of you out there must be wondering why I don't just plug in my iPod and call it a gig? My iPod is great for walks and moving wood, but to me, a car needs a radio. I like the unexpected joy that comes from hearing a song I didn't know I wanted to hear, or the thrill of identifying a new song by a favorite artist. I like learning who has a new release and who is coming to town. I am a child of the 80s, and I like my radio. I'll put in a CD when all options just plain suck, but I like to roll the musical dice most of the time.

And so today, my heart skipped a beat when, in Auburn, I randomly checked 92.1, the "Mt. Rialto Radio" of my youth turned into a NH based satellite of FNX out of Boston. It was coming in, loud and clear! Normally I have to be past USM before I can listen in, but the gods were with me today. So as I drove out of the snow and into the musical promised land, I realized that the weather does not bother me-- it was cool to see the difference 75 miles makes in melting, but cool in a science experiment sort of way-- but a really good radio station-- not just a passable one, but a really, awe-inspiringly good one-- would be really nice. And since I'm too old to travel to some club 150 miles away on a random Tuesday night just to see Cowboy Mouth or someone equally as exciting, living in a real radio area would mean maybe I could make it if it was only a 50 mile drive.

I know that leaving town just for a radio station is pretty silly; you'll all notice I have happily been a River Valley citizen for 16 years, and if I was going to relocate based on music, I'd be already gone. But when I fantasize about retirement, and where we might end up, radio waves influence me way more than their liquid counterparts.

singing down memory lane

There are 2 albums out now that I am really excited to get my hands upon. (What do you call digital downloads?) The singles on the radio now (yes, I do listen to the radio in the car. I'm old school, remember!) get me grooving and cranking the rockin' Toyota sound system every time. I was waiting on the new BoDeans until this week's release of the new REM album, but I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer. Turns out MLTI images don't have the latest version of iTunes, so I need someone with a personal machine to pull the trigger on said purchase. I don't know why Mike, Michael, and Peter need me to be fully updated, but they do, and so I must content myself with the single on the airwaves. Lucky for me, they rocked the Colbert Report. The new BoDeans is sitting in my shopping cart, waiting for me to push the button.

I guess now all I need is some new U2 that rocks like old U2, and my trip back to the best decade of my musical life will be complete.

floored

So tonight, after getting home from dance at 6:30, I'm standing in the kitchen while Weather Boy cooks our dinner. (Yea me!) We're talking about our respective days, when the door opens, and in walks my friend carrying a birthday cake. "Happy Birthday! I had Nana make you a cake!" Now, this friend of mine used to work in my classroom with me, and left about a year ago for a new job. She and I are very different in many of our opinions on things-- Sports Done Right being the most obvious one-- but we both value the same things: friends and family and making someone else feel special. She certainly succeeded tonight. I'm speechless. I expect my bestfriends will treat me well (as they more than did this weekend), it goes without saying my husband and kids will, but this was unexpected, and just so thoughtful. I am lucky to still have this woman (and her family!) in my life.

So tomorrow, I will crack open my famously delicious Nana's chocolate cake, and think about how blessed I am. Yes, Aimee, life is f***ing great!

In response to SJ...

What My Shamrock Says About Me:

You are well balanced and good at taking charge. You have good judgment.

Sometimes you take on too many projects at once. You get stressed out rather easily.

You don't really consider yourself a lucky person. In your view, people create their own luck.

You are traditional, easy going, and appreciative of the simple things in life.


I do believe in luck, however. Sometimes it's all about who you know, which family into which you were born, or someone leaving your dream job 2 weeks after your youngest starts kindergarten. It is luck when a nice person drives by and helps you after an accident instead of the rapist coming by 15 minutes later. Luck, and lack thereof, is the only explanation to why some people float through life and others struggle for every penny. Yes, we all have some control of our own destiny, and can work to change out luck, but when there are 25 qualified canditates for 1 position, luck is the deciding factor.

I don't mind being traditional, easy going, and appreciative of the simple things in life. At one point I thought I didn't like tradition, but it turns out what I really didn't like was being like everyone else.

Taking charge? Um, yea, never had a problem there.

3 is a magic number

I have always believed in the "things happen in threes" adage. Good or bad, when there are 2 things, it's extremely rare that I don't happen upon a third in the series. This year, it seems, has a lot to do with babies. I have 3 grandstudents either here or on the way, and in the last 48 hours I have learned of 3 babies coming this fall, one of whom is my nephew!

I had a dream earlier this week that a dear friend was also pregnant for the first time, which brought much rejoicing among everyone who knows her and her husband. This is the second such dream I've had about them being parents, so I have a pretty good feeling that this too will come to pass. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if my dreams match those of Allison-- and if this could be the third set of baby magic to pass my way this year.

inspiration

So Cheer Chick and I lived on the edge today, and hopped onto the haircut bandwagon. The others had cut their hair over Feb vacation, but I wanted to be sure we were really sure. She went for an adorable bob, and I went big and cut off... 8 inches? It's hard to say, since I always have it up in a pony.

When Miss Patty started cutting, I didn't flinch. It occurred to me that maybe I should be a bit nervous-- I mean, I was going radical and could end up looking a bit silly-- but really, I was just excited to do something different. I'd also had a conversation with the sunshines recently about how mad they get when their girlfriends cut their hair, and that was the push over the edge I needed. Well, that and having two different hats for each of my dances this year, and I just had too much hair to deal with such a costume change. We'll see if I keep it up or let my usual apathetic, cheap self skip hair cuts and end up back with long hair hidden in ponytails constantly.

The only downside to all this change? I look in the mirror and see my mother looking back at me. Perhaps it's time for some hair color...

do as I say...

Every year I say 'something has to give' and every year I take on too much. I'm tired, and getting too old to run around like someone in their 20s. The hard part isn't knowing this, but knowing what to leave behind. Scrapbooking and dance are as non-negotiable as motherhood and teaching. What does that leave me? Usually dishes, laundry, and housework. Anyone who has been here knows I've already left those chores in the dust, so I guess I have to dig a bit deeper (and I do, evenutally, need to do the shortbread/nutella speedy quick dessert dishes from Sunday!). Coaching may not make the cut next year. Giving up a one night per month book based mentoring thing won't really save me much time. That leaves me with 10:00 TV shows, but I can't resist being sucked into Runway and Medium.

As a good friend of mine once said, "Humph!"

Happy Easter

We hosted a Dickvale gathering last night, and, as always, it was a wonderful night. I always awake feeling refreshed and renewed after these gatherings (although still exhausted; I've given up hope of ever not being tired again). It is truly amazing to be part of a group of friends who accept people as they are, without pretense. The kids run around, join in conversations and songs as they go, a part of the fabric of our lives. I can't imagine ever living anywhere else and leaving these beautiful people behind. And so I will stay, happily, forever. Enduring winter and mud season are minor sacrifices and more than worth it.

Today we are coloring eggs, finding presents left well hidden by EB himself last night, and sharing a meal with the kids' grandparents. What a wonderfully lazy Easter Sunday! I must go find a dessert recipe to try out... I'm thinking some sort of shortbread with Nutella spread. I wonder what I'll find?

the measure of a good day

I can't find the words right now to explain what I'm thinking, but it has something to do with knowing deep in my soul that the connections I have with people matter so much more than how clean my house is, or how perfect my lesson plans, or how bad I am at 'looking like a girl'. Talk about feeling blessed...

Power of 10

I learned in January that my mother-in-law's family has it's own decade birthday phenomenon thing. Her oldest sister was born in 1928, she was born in 1938, Weather Boy in 1968, and Weather Lad in 1998. It's not quite as cool as Mike's family, that currently starts at 8 and counts by 10s to 48, but you have to admit, having a 'decades party' would be kind of fun. 80, 70, 40, 10. Grandma told me over the weekend that she realized her parents would have turned 110 this year, adding them into the equation. (Turns out they were born on the exact same day as well. Talk about partners for life!)

Doing the math has also highlighted the magic of 30 in parenting in their family: her parents were 30 when her sister was born, and both she and her son were 30 when their sons were born. 20 years seems a long time to wait and see if the pattern continues, or if it's just a random bit of luck, but it's kind of fun to think about isn't it?

Even fancier math tells me that 20 years from now is the magic time for both the boys to keep the trend going. Granted, Mike's brother and nephew have to play their part first (no 18 year old dads allowed, thank you very much!), but isn't that really freaky, don't you think? It's at least fun to think about when I feel the need to think about something over which I have no control.

Roger Daltrey must have had parents

We met up with my parents today. They drove up to Auburn, we drove down, and we met at Central Maine Archery to watch Weather Lad shoot some arrows. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that they'd arrive in their RV, but it totally took me by surprise. After the shooting, they took us to lunch-- which was great-- but we then got to hang out in the parking lot eating popsicles while smelling the dog's breath. Good times.

I'm not sure what happens after the age of 60, but I'm really not looking forward to it. I love my parents, and I am so thankful that they love each other enough to want to spend weeks on end squished into their bedroom on wheels with only each other and their smelly dog for company. Will Weather Boy and I feel the same in 20 years? (That we're only 20 years away from that is a separate post in itself.) Equally importantly, will Weather Lad and Cheer Chick feel the same about us? When their Bestfriends ask how our visit went will they say we're "as insane as ever"? My guess is the odds aren't in our favor.

My parents are members of their generation. I'm glad they didn't die before now-- I'm pretty sure they are too. So I guess if insanity is a part of longevity, then bring on the RV!

that sucked

Well, the Praxis gods are not on my side today. First of all, my buddies at DOE refuse to acknowledge at Alt Ed should be it's own certification, and not just whatever regular ed cert you hold. Since I don't hold a high school certificate yet, I get to jump through the hoops to be social studies certified (it's what I was closest to). Which means, Praxis II. Yea me.

So I decide to go for it March 15. Why not? Seems like a fine day. Turns out it was another one of those snowy Saturdays we've been having of late. Not a fun drive to farmtown at 6:30 AM, but whatever. The plows weren't on the road, but no one else was, either. I do arrive in enough time to prove that everybody does run on Dunkin, so at least I'd had my sip of coffee.

Now these Praxis people have lots of silly rules. Like no coffee in the testing room. Not cool. Also you have to report at 7:30, but they're not scheduled to start testing until 8:30! Um, that's my extra hour of sleep you just consumed, but no worries. And when you're done, you can't leave. Why? How are you going to influence the people in the room if you're gone? Whatever. Then there's directions to read after everyone is done... and based on the random selection of social studies questions today, I'll get to repeat the process in June. Yea me indeed.

At least I hadn't wasted a ton of time studying things that weren't even on the test. That really would have put me over the edge. Note to fledgling educators out there, pursuing history positions: know your economics well!

disclaimer

Since yesterday I told you about my delightful son, and in fairness I need to also tell you about my darling daughter, so neither of them can use it to get me to pay for therapy in the future. I don't believe you always have to be equal to be equitable, but sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.

Cheer Chick has certainly inherited my nervous qualities. She has started to get stomachaches from nerves, and last night reported a headache for no obvious reason. She is a pleaser; if any of you out there share the malady, you know it's not always a great thing. I hope she learns to manage it better than I ever did.

She is also stubborn. Family lore still tells of the 2 year old who refused to apologize to Mike, and sat on the stairs for close to half an hour before she finally realized I was more stubborn than she. Now, she will not speak to someone new unless she decides it's ok. NO ONE can force her to change her mind-- she must change it for herself. A great quality on the playground, but not so great when, say, meeting Great Aunt Millie for the first time.

So far, her school experience has been easier than her brother's. I hope that remains true for her, and that her brother is able to enjoy increasing peace in his adventure. Since I know schools are not created for boys, no matter how smart or sensitive, it is likely her journey will always feel easier. I also know, someday, she will no longer delight in making everyone happy all the time, and will start demanding attention herself. Again, that will not be a horrible thing, but it probably will cause me to go a little bit grayer.

Which, I guess, is really the job of my kids: to figure out who they are, drive me nuts in the process, and grow up to be strong, independent thinkers. These 2 are certainly on their way.

in my day....

My darling son, dubbed by a fellow RVB as Weather Lad, is driving me insane with his school work. Turns out, on this front anyway, he's got more of his father in him than he does me. I was the 'perfect' elementary school student: If we got a project assigned, it was finished the first night. I saved all my drafts, just in case, and followed whatever format I needed, no matter how seemingly ridiculous. Weather Lad, not so much. He questions everything: "Why do I have to do the math this way? My way makes just as much sense." "Why should I save my rough drafts? She didn't say I had to." I'm sensing a few battles breaking out over the next few years.

The kicker at the moment, though, is his multiplication tables. "Why do I need to learn these? I can just look them up."

HA! Gotcha! "Multiplication and division are so much easier if you can just rattle off the answers."

I wasn't expecting the I-told-you-so moment so soon.

Fractions. Reducing them, to be precise. 42/63 is much easier to do quickly if you know your 7s by heart. His resigned look was satisfaction enough. I helped.

I think mumma is going to have to turn into a task master on this one. We need to master these facts, and quicly. It's not likely to be fun, but that's ok. He'll thank me for it when he gets to Algebra.

there's a little Buddhist in all of us

We have been making small changes to our lifestyle to try to be more conscious of our environmental impact. Honestly, the changes we've made are insignificant on the face of all that's happening, but it's as much about changing the thought process as anything. We got an external wood furnace longer ago than I like to think about, and finally got it hooked up this year. As other River Valley Bloggers (RVBs from hence forward) have posted, our oil consumption for the month of January was 19 gallons. As in less than we pay for cable. It's been exciting to put it mildly.

As a result, of course, we've had to gather ourselves some wood. This being the first year, we really didn't know how much we'd need. We probably had 3 cord left from last winter, cut and split, but it's better to use longer, tree sized logs. (They burn less quickly so you have to fill it less often-- which is a bonus, since you have to go outside to fill it.) We had been given a bunch (I have no idea how much it equated to in cord terms-- none whatsoever) of scrap wood and left over pieces from some friends building a new house, and then my dad brought up a huge truckload of ends from his mill work business. In addition Weather Boy had cut down 3 or 4 trees. So we had a lot of wood out there, but no idea how long it would last. We figured we'd have time to figure it out before it snowed.

And then it snowed for the entire month of December, and most of January and February, too. All that wood was buried, many times over. Eventually I took it upon myself to dig out the wood. Not because I had to, or wanted to make anyone feel guilty, but because I could, and it needed to be done. It became part of my daily routine: go through my regular day, and then either after lunch or after school, head outside with my iPod and work for about an hour. I'd exercise, get some fresh air, and accomplish a task all at once. When I reached the End of the Pile a few weeks ago, I actually felt a void in my day. What would I do now?

We have burned through all we had to start the winter, but winter is showing no signs of ending. And so Weather Boy has cut a few more trees, creating more wood for me to move. This project involves cutting it at the edge of the field and hauling it in on the kids' sleds. Some days we fall through the 3 feet of snow, and have to pull ourselves out before we can move forward. It's become a zen-like project: bundle up, bring the tools, figure out the setbacks, and get it done. My own little meditation session. Zen and the Art of Wood. I like that.

6 words to describe me

When faced with challenges such as this, I find myself trying to be as brilliant as Hemingway. "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn" carries as much emotion as anything I've ever read. I'm not a professional writer, however, so I guess I need to just start where I am and see if I ever get there. Here's the best I can do at the moment:

happily devoted wife, mom, and friend

*for those of you reading along who are under the age of majority, realize that when I say "mom" I really mean MummaNanny, but that just doesn't flow well in my phrase. As I've said before, I consider all 4 of you mine.

updates on the sunshines

So I just read through last year's posts (meaning last school year-- I really think in school year terms) and have a few updates on life in my classroom.

I lost both my ed techs and gained one new one, a former teacher and administrator looking for a change. The shift in staff was monumental! I think the sunshines needed that last visual reminder that the old way was finished and I have a completely different view of how our classroom should run. We laugh a lot this year. A lot. Yes, they whine and moan about work and still hate school, but I don't think they hate being in my room. A subtle difference, but a big one. There is a sense of community this year that just feels good.

I think we've also had some real learning happen this year. It's still not in the higher levels of Bloom's as often as I'd like, but we're making progress. Credits are being earned, for real. They can all talk intelligently about To Kill a Mockingbird. That is no small task, my friends. The "tree hole" on my desk is filled with candy, which they can partake of whenever they want. I've been dubbed with a nickname. We're really having a good year.

Three of my seven seniors from 06-07 graduated on time with their class. 3 others returned to finish up during this year. (The last one dropped out the day before school started last year. No GED yet, but I keep harassing, because I can.) Of the three returning as 5th year seniors, two graduated in January. Now that was a good day. Turns our they really do like me calling them 'sunshine', and taking them into my circle of people I care about. One of them got me flowers, and sincerely thanked me for my help. He came back to visit this week, and took my gentle yelling about getting-a-job-and-getting-off-the-couch with a shy smile, promising to look for a job this spring.

I also have two students this year becoming parents themselves. While it makes me sad to see their childhoods end so abruptly, I am proud of the way they are "stepping up" and being as responsible as needy teens can be. My goal is to watch their kids graduate without ever needing to be in my room, and they know it. I think it's their goal too, and I think they know I will always be here if they need help reaching it.

Once a student enters my program, he or she enters my world. I have the ability to ask questions and have conversations you can't have in a regular class. It's why I teach Alt Ed-- I like the line between academic and emotional learning being blurred. I like watching them grow up,and having some influence on what that looks like. I love being invited to their bridal and baby showers, having them come back and visit me, and still being able to give them grief about less than smart choices they are making. They know about my life and I know about theirs. I hope I always do.

Spring Forward

I have to say, I'm not a fan of Daylight Savings Time. That's not entirely true-- I guess it would be more accurate to say I don't have an opinion about it. My husband is, as I type, joyously proclaiming the benefits of it being 4:00 and looking like 3:00. I just don't get it. Never have. I am not bothered by shorter days nor do I get riled up about longer ones. There are 24 hours in a day, every day, and I use them as I desire, sunlight or lamp light.

I realize I am in the minority on this one, and that's ok. My father used to say "Ten thousand Frenchmen can be wrong." I never quite got why it was the French who were followers, but that was always beside the point. What matters is I'm at peace with my ambivalence about the whole time change thing.

Every year I come back to the central question: what's with all the switching? Can't we just go to daylight savings and stay there? I understand why we switch now, but why do we switch back? Why bother?

So Happy Extra Hour of Daylight to all of you out there who care. As for me, well, I guess the best thing about today for me is a good reason to take an afternoon nap.

I'm back....

So I took a little vacation from the blogging world.... ok, maybe more like a 1 year sabbatical. Anyhow, Mike has insprired me to start this thing up again, so here we go. Maybe he'll post comments to mine as much as I do to his.

So we've collectively been sent down this "7 things about me" path. I think I'm as facinated by watching the friendship links unfold as I am by the facts revealed. (Am I remembering right that Beth tagged Sarah who tagged Amity who tagged Mike who indirectly tagged me? How fun that I know all these people, although some better than others.) I also checked Mike's link to Chad, whose friends thought 50 things was way cooler than a measly 7. Must be the difference between city and country life.

So here are 7 things about me that might not be well known. Since I'm not known for keeping things to myself, there is a chance that none of this is news.

1. My best friend in first grade was a boy named Mike who had mild CP. He used to "mess up my hair". This was 1976, so the Children witih Disabilities Act was newly enacted. As I remember it, we hung out together every day. I cannot remember any other friends from school in Hampden, at all. We moved at the end of my second grade year, and I have no idea where Mike ended up. In high school, when I was realizing that special education was the place for me, I suddenly remembered my old friend. That friendship helped solidify my college path. While I'm no longer technically in education, I'm still hanging out on the fringes. I guess I'm happier there. (Thanks, Mike.)

2. I used to steal sips of my mom's Coke on a regular basis. I came by my addiction naturally: she always had a 2 liter bottle on the counter, in the corner by the sink. I was probably in fifth grade when I figured out I could steal a sip or two and she wouldn't notice. I've never asked her if she did.

3. I remember the day I decided to no longer see the world in black and white. I was talking to my dad in the basement (he still smoked then, and mom wouldn't let him upstairs when he did. We spent a lot of Friday nights talking in the basement while he drank manhattans and smoked Lucky Strikes.) He described me as a black and white person, and gave me a few examples. I decided gray was a pretty cool color, too, and think that shift in thinking has served me well.

4. I have more close girlfriends now than I ever did as a kid. I much prefered the company of boys my own age, or adults and young children.

5. I hate playing board games. I don't know why, but I do. Sometimes Scrabble is fun, but I always end up feeling stupid because I can't spell to save my soul. The only game I've ever really loved is Trivial Persuit. It's the one game we don't own.

6. I have a hard time leaving a major venue with everyone else. I am constantly feeling the need to turn around and swim upstream. I really hate being a follower, even when it's the most logical thing to do.

7. My whole childhood I swore I'd never live in a mill town, I'd never have a Christmas baby, and I'd never have 3 kids. My lifetime average should remain .334.

Thanks for the inspiration, buddy. That's what friends are for.
:)

January blues

I think everyone I know hits a teaching wall in January. It's just a rough month in which to teach-- second quarter isn't over yet, so you're trying to pick up the pieces left behind before vacation and holiday insanity took over the classroom. Kids are flipping out about grades and missing work; snow days creep in (or don't) upsetting the balance; and it's just so darned cold!

I find it ironic that the first month of the calendar year-- filled with resolutions and goals and beginnings-- is the antithesis of that in the classroom. It's just such a static month for me: not starting anything new but finishing up the last weeks of the semester; treading water until the days start to feel longer and it's not so cold and everyone has the energy to come out of hibernation. For all the talk of resolutions around me, I just can't get into it really. My new year is in late August, the week before Labor Day; this is just something to get through.

This is something I think public schools can take from the college model: set up the schedule so that when you leave for the holidays in late December, the quarter (and semester) is over. Be truly on vacation, able to relax and enjoy time with family. Get refreshed and ready to return to classes. I guess that means we'd have to start in early August, which would probably start a riot in my own household, but I think I'd make that trade for a January break. Something's gotta give, because this month is just a killer.

January is for...

... getting back into old habits! Not that 6 posts is a habit necessarily, but I took a few months off posting while I was taking 2 online classes for my certification. Because I just don't have the energy, I'll spare you my DOE rant, but I was focused on getting these courses done and out of the way so I could really focus on my classroom. So it's over, and now I have time to think.

I'm discovering that mid December through the end of first semseter is not a good time of year for my sunshines. (Yes, I do call my high school rough-and-tumble boys that, and yes, they do hate it!) Between poverty related issues intensified around the holidays and the fear of report cards bringing another reminder of how little credit they have, school is not where they want to be right now. If it wasn't so cold, they'd skip and just hang out in front of our local store. Today they shot elastic bands across the room at each other, and all attemps of mine to end this game were thwarted. Detention doesn't work (the middle school proved that!), suspension is really what they want to happen (because then it's not their fault), and giving more work just overwelms them (and "I just won't do it anyway"). So how not to repeat this tomorrow?

Since I can't call in a snowstorm on a dime, we'll have to take a different approach. I would rather reward good behavior than punnish bad. So... tomorrow we create a reward system. It has to be personal as well as for the group. Probably will need rewards twice a day until they get used to it-- and then some typical bribery as a class. Movies and popcorn, pizzas for lunch, candy.... those are easy. Perhaps a trip to a resturaunt for lunch one day? 15 minutes to sit and do nothing? I need to find out what motivates them (besides girls, of course) and use it to my advantage.

(Wish me luck!)

Today's Top Ten

Top Ten List for the Upside to Alternative Ed

10. I can do my assignments for college classes during study hall, and model life long learning.
9. "Can you help me?" When one of these guys says that, it's no small thing.
8. . Quibbling over points drives me insane!
7. When a student says "I need to go for a walk" I can say "OK, good idea."
6. When you truly respect these kids, they know it, and you have their respect for life. (Which comes in handy if you're broken down on the side of the road and one of them is walking by!)
5. Lot's of people do well with regular ed kids. Me, not so much.
4. I'm more a life coach than a high school teacher.
3. Conversations are based in real life. 'So you want to drop out? Then what?'
2. "I was going to go hunting today but I decided to come here instead."
1. I just get these kids. And I like being with them. Bonus!

I (And Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats) don't like Mondays.

So today was one of those days where flipping burgers sounds like an amazing job....

Although I haven't been sharing with you, my exponentially growing readership, the small success happening in my program, they have been happening. Students have been getting work done. Some very basic level learning is transpiring. We got a full sized refridgerator, allowing me to keep all our lunch leftovers for my homeless student. Said homeless student has not quit-- that in and of itself is cause for a party! But Mondays in my program-- it just sucks the life right out of you. Which is not a recommended way to start the week.

I started the day at the high school (we are about half a mile away from the school, in the basement of a social service agency) meeting with the school nurse about a new student. Turns out the medical issue is way more severe than I was originally lead to believe, and time was spent at a hospital treating symptoms. The important detail in all of this is the student knows how to treat the condition, and blatently chooses not to. Needless to say, I left that meeting in a bit of a panic about my ability to keep the ambulance away.

When I arrived, half an hour after the students, tensions were running high. I think there was a party this weekend, and something may have happened, or they were all still hungover and sleep deprived this morning. One got ticketed for public drunkeness for the second time in as many weeks. You get the general gist. Getting work out of them on a good day is hard work on the teaching staff: today, I looked to them like I was coming at them with bamboo shoots and pliers.

Lots of grumbling followed. I mean LOTS. "I hate this stupid place." "I'm quitting. I don't care anymore!" "I wanna go back to the high school and get out of this basement you've locked me in." (I have edited for language, this being a family blog.) I can handle all that. It's tiring, but expected. I mean, these kids hate school the way I hate raking leaves. When they started throwing peanuts at each other, however, I knew I was in over my head.

I was able to keep the 2 kids everyone else hates from getting beat on, and the 5 kids that hate the 2 from causing any physical damage. Emotional, well.... the ship has already sailed on that one. But it took a lot out of me. How do I change this pattern? What can I do to be proactive and create positive habits that lead to a Harry-Wong-would-be-proud Highly Effective Classroom? Sadly, I have no new tools in my box waiting to be tried out. This is what I got: I love these kids, and I truly want to see them get their acts together and graduate. Not much, is it, but I guess we'll have to figure out a way too make sure it's enough.

But first, I need a nap....

W8NG 4 SAT

Ahh, the first weekend of the school year. You could feel the collective relief in my home, from all four of us. My husband teaches middle school science, and our children are in third and first grades. We were all excited to not be tied to bedtime when making dinner, finishing a conversation, or choosing that after dinner beverage. And then-- pure Heaven-- to sleep on Saturday until we awoke... no alarms, no pressing place to be... yes, weekends are where it's at.

This week was also the first week of school for my nephew. He lives far, far away from us, so our only way to be a part of his life is to use modern technology. We called yesterday, and I asked him how the first week went. "It was pretty good, but we have some days off now. That's a good thing, because I sure could use a break!" It doesn't take long to learn about the wonder that we call The Weekend, does it? Five days of school and he's ready for some time away. Aren't we all, dear child, aren't we all! It takes a lot of energy to get through the mechanics of a school day, never mind the academics! Buses, rules, lunch money, desks and cubbies, pencil sharpeners, bathroom use protocols, new friends and teachers.... and that's in the first 15 minutes! I get overwhelmed by it all, and I've been attending school since 1975.

The weekend allows us all some much needed think time. It's a chance to take a little pause in pushing our brains to the edge, to let the week's information settle in and become a part of us. To think about what went right, and what went wrong, and how to make it all a little bit better in the coming week. It's a chance to be unscheduled for a few days, taking the moment as it comes. To cuddle on the couch as a family, staying up late watching a movie and eating from the communal bowl of popcorn. Yes, a break is a very good thing.