specific link love

I am not a sports page reader: I never read the sports section without looking for something specific, nor do I read sports blogs. I do, however, read Joe Posnanski regularly. He is a sports writer, but that's not why I read him. I read him because he is an amazing writer, and he often writes about things other than sports, and when he does, it's really, really worth reading.

This post of his is definitely worth reading. Anyone who references Storm Troopers and Malcolm Gladwell in the same post knows how to bring it.

hitting the fan

Stay tuned, dear readers, for I know not what this week brings. Remember that intervention I mentioned a few weeks back? Well, it never happened because people kept showing up late or not coming to school, so all the requisite players were not in attendance at the right times. Today the fecal matter hit the proverbial fan, but at the very end of the day, so the only resolution was one student leaving before the conversation was finished. Tomorrow we somehow attempt to pick up the pieces. I do not have high hopes that this can be solved in a day, or even solved by me. Some issues are bigger than a classroom, and this is one of those issues.

Scariest part of all this? It never even crossed my mind once that this job isn't worth it. I still can't see myself doing anything else. If budget cuts get to me, look for me in your local bank branch, because I think I've gone too far off this cliff to come back into a regular classroom safely.

***UPDATE***
We had a chat, which was really more that I did the talking and they did the listening, and while things aren't totally resolved, the tension level is better. The issues are bigger than they seem-- it's not really about someone getting mad about a mess, but about respect, and a lack of coping skills when things get heated. So it's better now than it was. That's really all you can hope for...

so much to say

but not enough energy...

Amity came to visit today. I forget how gross this place is until someone new comes over. Sorry for the mess-- it's easier when it's late enough for whiskey.

This election just needs to end. I know how I'm voting and I can't cope with even NPR's coverage. Just vote already and lets move on.

The end of the quarter wreaks havoc on all of us. While I haven't had Mike's troubles, the kids are all a bigger mess than usual. One student is now calling me nightly. What do I say? Yes, your life does suck and I have no solution at all. 'I care' just doesn't solve everything. But it's all I've got, so it'll have to do. It still breaks my heart to have nothing more than that.

Whiskey is good for what ails you, just in case you were wondering. Soccer is over and life should get better. Only 10 days 'til voting and 6 days until Halloween. Things should look up soon....

just keep talking

I had the opportunity to take a trip with a few students last week, and the time in the car was at least as valuable, if not more so, than the event to which we were headed. At one point we got talking about relationships and marriage, and I gave them my big secret to success: keep talking. Talk about the weather, the game, who's getting the kids, what we need for dinner, politics, music, tv shows, favorite colors, the meaning of life... as long as you keep talking, you will grow together, and chances are good you'll make it.

This advice, while intended for the lovey-dovey type of relationship, is true for any. When teachers talk to kids they understand each other more. When administration and teachers and school board members sit down together, there's less fighting. When the community talks about why they're afraid of higher taxes and hear why teachers are afraid of smaller budgets, consensus is possible. Not guaranteed, but possible. Possible is way better than not.

In light of our recent budget woes and the realization that jobs will most likely be lost this year, I find hope in the conversation.

end of the season

Sadly, I think I've hung my last load on the line for the season. StormCenter tells us we may have snow tonight or tomorrow night! I hate using the dryer, but I don't have a good space to hang a line in the house. I need to try to find some place to put one...

UPDATE: No snow, at least that I could see. Lots of rain, but I might be able to squeak out another load or two....

geeks unite!

Today we did a trial run of the costumes. They look great-- we totally did the right thing by 'hiring' Upideet and Shannon to make Boy and Girly's costumes too. Once we got everyone suited up we headed into the forest to take some pics. The Evil Wizard battled hardily against the Elven Ranger, Changling Warrior, and Woodland Fairy.

It is terribly cute to watch these guys take Halloween costumes so seriously. They take on the characters and pose with requisite expression. We got some awesome shots today, and 2 more hours of wear out of the costumes. If we're lucky, the amount of time wearing them will equal the amount of time it took making them!

I knew he could do it.

I am not a baseball hater. I enjoy a good game, especially early in the season. But by October, I guess I'm just sort of over the drama. The beloved Sox haven't been playing well recently, and I was really ready on Thursday for them to just let the season go. I sent Boy to bed with the words "It's the 3rd inning. They're down 5-0. Say goodnight to the team, see you next season." He went to bed, content in the knowledge that they were just not playing well, and sometimes you don't win it all. Great life lesson, right?

We all know how this story ends. I head up to bed at about 9:30, heated rice sock in hand to try to "sweat out this pain" (it sort of worked) and WB stayed up to watch the bitter end of summer. I awake to a note on the door: you have got the magic. The Boys of Boston Summers weren't ready to get their Halloween costumes out of storage yet and came back in the 8th inning (or something like that) to win it and force game 6. Humph.

I had wrapped my head around weekends based around which NetFlix had arrived and not what time the game started. I was so excited about the next 4 episodes of Dexter, which now have to wait for heaven knows how long because we're on a 3 week series of booked Friday nights. (Richard Thompson concert last night, Peter Mulvey concert next Friday, then Halloween followed by a Great Big Sea Concert.) I was excited to not have any excited utterances floating up the stairs late at night as someone either had a great at bat or horrible inning. I was ready for the vacation we take from the end of Red Sox games until March Madness. Wll, it's not so much a vacation as it is a respite from following a specific team's every move. We'll have hockey on, football sometimes, soccer when we can find it, gymnastics, pool, skating, skiing... pretty much anything that's on, but the difference is out of season NetFlix arrivals have priority over the random golf tournament. Anyhow, I was ready to possess the clicker again. Humph indeed.

So now it's 3 innings further than it was when I gave up on the season Thursday night, and the Heros are in the lead. I guess I just have to accept that it could be well into November before I can watch the next episodes.

just read

So the kids have spent most of the weekend reading. Most of it is Book-It! inspired: if you're not familiar, teachers set the bar and if kids reach it every month (for 6 months) they get a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. Now, we're lucky parents because when the kids learned to read, they liked it, and so we've never needed external motivation. They play Book-It! for the pride of doing it. Girly loves it. Takes it seriously, every month. Boy... not so much. I think he doesn't like to be bothered keeping track. (I don't keep track for them. The charts go on the fridge and it's up to them to fill them out.) Anyway, he's decided to make it this month, anyway, just to prove he can. He needs to read 600 minutes in the month of October. This weekend, he's read at least 400. Girly has reached her classroom goal of 300 minutes, but on she reads. I came downstairs this morning to find them next to each other on the couch, reading. No TV even for background noise. Just reading.

I know. We're very lucky parents.

altright already, I got it!

It's been quite a week... strep followed by a massive head cold followed by the worst episode ever (in my experience, anyway) of having put my back out. Yes, Cosmic Energy, I hear you. I need to slow down. I can't do it all. The world can survive without me. I got it-- you didn't have to yell.

(OK, maybe you did.)

Introducing!

My newest nephew! Girly maintains her position as the sole girl of her generation, on either side of the family. Both sets of cousins have 3 brothers. I'm sure there's some cool math in that...

I hate that they are across the country and that it will be months and months before I get to hold him, but as I don't have the cash to hop a plane, I'll have to be satisfied with pics. Time to make a quilt and a CD and all those Nanny rituals that I do for my babies.

enough already!

So I do have strep, again. Third time in as many months. I guess it could be classified as the second time in three months, since I got it in June, treated it and turned out to be immune to the base level antibiotic, so it came back 11 days later. But this is three times of itchy ears, wincing with every swallow, and general throat related annoyance. I know that on the hierarchy of what I could be afflicted with this has a treatment and I (currently) have one that works, but I do not enjoy the regular addition of antibiotics into my system. I mean, I've had to use them a lot throughout my lifetime and am immune to some, for Pete's sake! I'm part of the problem! I never enjoy being able to say that.

So, if anyone has any thoughts on how to build up a resistance to a bacteria that attacks me annually, I'm all ears, itchy as they may be.

my turn

I think I, too, need to go all Flowers and Sausages on my class. We have some new friends this year who need it quiet, and some of our old friends need it loud. Somehow, we need to reach a compromise.

Last year we had 3 rooms at our constant disposal, so it was easy: the ones needing quiet could head to the little room, and the ones needing to be loud could move away and get rid of some aggression. This year, we have one room. One round room, with few windows and no corners in which to escape. So the ones who need the noise tend to dominate the ones who need the quiet. Today it got bad enough that it's obvious it is time to do something about it.

I hope it goes as well as it did for Amity and Ms. Mimi. Stay tuned...

got sun?

We're watching a NOVA on harnessing the sun. What I wouldn't give for $25k, give or take, to invest in photovoltaics for our southern exposure roof. Probably not the best time to try to get a bank loan, however...

Saturday nightlife

So tonight I got in a discussion with my friend about the current state of education. There are a lot of things on which we disagree, but it was a great conversation nonetheless. I enjoy that kind of conversation-- one with passion and feeling behind it. She is a great elementary teacher and I have no doubt that all the kids who pass through her room are better for it. It was certainly a much more engaging evening than if we'd just watched Runway reruns all night... although, to be honest, I'd have enjoyed that, too. But definitely not as much. Intelligent conversation beats mindless video every time...

don't you forget about me

So I covered Friday DT for a friend tonight-- my plans canceled as hers ramped up to include interviews. I asked for the list of players and was shocked at some of the names that appeared-- three kids who probably haven't even had a regular DT in all their years of school. Turns out it was a joke went bad that landed them in a 2.5 hour Friday afternoon session, and there is no doubt that the real punishment was just being there, in that room, with the other kids who'd done other kinds of wrong. I mean, they probably would have spent at least that much time working on homework over the weekend, so that wasn't a big deal at all. At one point, as I was talking to another kid about what he was doing potentially landing him in another Friday, one poor girl broke out laughing and put her head on the table-- and the "oh my heavens, I can't believe this is happening to me" look was unmistakable. Twenty years from now I would not be surprised to learn this was a monumental moment in their development. I hope it turns out to be, because otherwise it was just an afternoon spent with John Bender and Claire Standish.

democracy is not pretty

We went to a special town meeting tonight.... and they were certainly accurate in naming it 'special'! Six articles, approximately 50 people, a new, not very good moderator, and the same question asked a bazillion times over again got us out of there in two and a half hours. It was brutal. It was ugly. People left mad. But out of the 1000? 500? registered voters in town (I really have no idea how many voters we have) 5o of us showed up and made some decisions. At one point our speaking selectman said something about "the great turnout" and I almost jumped out of my chair. Are you even kidding me? That's minimally 1 in 10 represented, probably closer to 1 in 20. If I was giving it a grade we'd be thrilled to get a 10-- which is definitely failing! What is it going to take to get Americans to just go vote? Getting rid of town meeting certainly helps-- 300 voted in the referendum last summer. But even that was a low turnout. How do I convince my government students that voting is where the power lies? Yes, it's inconvenient but it is part of our job. Just do it. Suck it up, buttercup. Whatever works for you, but stand up and be counted!

(How long will it take me to calm down tonight? I'm betting I'll be full on exhausted by Friday...)

perspective

Let me say right off the bat that I love my job and truly enjoy coming to work. I had a good day today-- I think we actually did some creative stuff (especially when I look back on what I was left with when I first took the job 4 years ago) that enhanced the kids understanding of the subject matter. Not bad for a Monday, no? Add to that kids coming to school when sick because they don't want to disappoint me by being accused of skipping (I sent one home because he really was too sick to be here, the other was able to suck it up and get through the day) and my vocational life is looking good.

My life as a parent.... well, not so much. I've got a kid afraid to go to one of the specials, and a parent meeting in the morning to figure it all out. Contrary to the public face I put on, I do not enjoy being "that mom" always complaining about the way things are going. Unfortunately, things are not going well and people need to know. Said child deserves to go to specials and not be afraid of why they'll be yelled at today-- especially in our "anti-bullying" environment.

I want to love my school system, but right now I just can't. Don't worry, we're not yarding them tomorrow or anything. It's certainly better than most alternatives, and is far from the worst one around, but this stuff is just getting old. At least we get free parking spaces and don't have to worry about William Inspections. It's all about perspective, I guess.

put me in Coach

I coached my first soccer game ever today. The deck was stacked against us from the time we left home: I knew we had only 13 kids on our team and The Enemy would have at least 16, but probably more like 18. The Enemy is a team that I can't stand in HS track-- they have a snooty-ness about them that makes me nuts, and, unsurprisingly, they teach that in their pee-wee leagues. I am not the type of parent/fan that usually blames our loss on the other teams' behavior, and I certainly don't today either (we were totally out played out there) but they were full of cheap, dirty plays. Add a Homer ref, and, well, you get the picture. We lost 8-0. We only had about 2 real opportunities; it just so happens that the second was Boy's, with about 2 minutes to play. He received a pass in their territory without being off sides, and pushed it beyond the defenders. He was outside of the 18, but closing fast. Someone pushed him from behind, and he went sprawling. It was blatant, and obvious, and wrong.

The good news is I think our team played out of their heads. No one complained about having few subs, and everyone was good about coming in and out and helping each other. Some of them really got the idea of passing to the open spaces and looking for support. We still need to work on not crossing the ball into the middle and some of us need to work on not criticizing our team mates, but they really stepped up and did their best. I'm proud of them. They also learned about being the Bigger Person and not giving in to cheap shots. I have no doubt that in 5 years the girls HS team will be The Team to Beat. Those girls are awesome players and quality kids. It will be loads of fun watching them get to that point.

While I may not be a great coach, I'd step in and do it again. I had a lot of fun.

I love trash!

So I got us an offer to pick up trash behind the skate park today. A few of my kids need to log their community service hours, and it was a nice, sunny, warm September Friday, so what do you think we did? We gathered 2 bags of trash and a bag of bottles. A nice couple was sitting in their front lawn and thanked us as we went by. We came back to the cooked apple crisp we had made out of the apples we picked Wed. All in all, a very satisfying teacher afternoon.

tomorrow

We went to see james last night, and even though I am EXHAUSTED today, it was a great show. I'm too old now to stand on a cement floor in a club with hundreds of other fans until 11:30 PM on a work night, so if this was the last show of this type we attend, it was a good one to end on. They played a great mix of old and new (they came on to Laid, which totally set the tone of the night). I could link you all sorts of great songs, but if you're interested, go to youtube and watch 'em. I love them. So does Boy and Girly and WB. We have such hip kids.

Their new album is awesome, which we've talked about before. Waterfall has probably the most relevant message to my life of any of my current favorite songs. It's chorus asks "How much junk in my life do I really need?" Want less. Great goal. I'm trying. Not there yet. Maybe never will be, but it's a great goal, no?

Off to bed. (And I'm not even lying. I'm too old for this nonsense, even if it's fun.)

when I'm 64

So it was certainly an interesting family weekend. After the Phone Call from my uncle on Friday, I talked to my mom. She and my flying biker brother* were heading off on an overnight hike this weekend and would be stopping in on Sunday. My dad was set to ferry them from where they came out back to the car. Now, without knowing my parents, you wouldn't automatically know that said ferry vehicle is a motor home. My dad loves that thing. He drives it everywhere he can. Coming up to watch Boy shoot arrows in Auburn? Drive the RV. A soccer game? A car would be too small and confining. Were we going to be home Saturday night, because if so, dad would like to come sleep in the driveway. We were, and he did. Girly slept out with him (Boy decided that 2 single camper beds was 1 to few-- no wonder he's earned a scholarship already!). He arrived around 5, took us to dinner, went to bed around 8, and left before 9. They did come visit as promised, and my brother gave the kids cash, just because he can.

After all this, I find myself seriously pondering what form of craziness will I embody after I turn 60?

*My brother went flying off a mountain bike trail this summer, leaving him with some broken vertebra, strained wrists, and other random injuries. Since he didn't like the medical instructions to lay low, he pretends they don't exist. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of the two of them heading off to tackle one of the hardest stretches of the AT at this point in time, but it was useless to even suggest they rethink the mission. Luckily my fears were not justified.

who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

I don't know why, but I'm really captivated by Cold War history. I'm fascinated by the willingness of normally sane people to suddenly stop thinking for themselves. Someday I'll treat you all to my Cuban Missile Crisis expertise, but that is another post for another day. I have not (yet) proved my mastery of the Rosenberg trial, but that is about to change.

So it turns out that Ethel Rosenberg did not get her day in court. She spent a bunch of time in a courtroom, but no one actually cared what she had to say in her own defense. Morton Sobell, a fellow defendant, admitted this week that he believed that while she knew her husband was a spy, she was not involved. Pretty high price to pay for making a bad choice in husbands.

Ethel's brother, David Greenglass, was involved in spying for the Ruskies. He stole documents about the atom bombs and gave them to Julius Rosenberg, who in turn gave them to the Russians. Greenglass, in an attempt to protect his wife and children, told prosecutors that Ethel typed the documents first, although the reports were of handwritten documents. Greenglass went to jail, but his sister was executed. Go figure.

This trial encouraged Joseph McCarthy, which brings me to the point of my rant: blind following of an idea, that in the light of day, turns out not to make so much sense. Was America really in the midst of a Red Scare? I'm sure, coming out of the Korean War, it made a lot more sense than it does today. I mean, really, how can some jewish housewife be such a threat to society that she needs to be executed? Sadly, though, we haven't really learned from our past. Substitute "Middle Eastern Terrorists" for "communist Russian spy" and there we are again. We have enacted all sorts of laws infringing on civil rights in the name of protecting America.

Today we're not afraid of the Ruskies... or are we? Recent events have me wondering if we're all just happier with an obvious enemy. I mean, we had plenty of opportunity to have a common enemy during the Cold War, right? You're either for Democracy and The American Way or you're a Commie Pinko Fag. Simple. Effective. Unless you're not actually a Commie Pinko Fag, but someone accused of being one, or someone who is friends with one, or just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And, in the worst case, you end up like poor Ethel, vindicated 55 years too late.

holy *bleeping* moly!

Now, this is one of these times where you may not believe that I sensed this occurrence, but I did. I didn't know exactly what was happening, but when the emails bounced back from my uncle as undeliverable, I knew there was a deal brewing. I thought about calling, but then figured he'd email when he got his new address. Right church, wrong pew. He called me tonight, from LAX, getting ready to move to Europe! Yes, this is the same uncle I went to see in August because his health isn't the best. He decided that instead of waiting around to die, he was going to live his life. And what he really wants to do is live in the south of France, speaking the language until he thinks the language. (I remember Haikey telling me she started thinking in Spanish, even when she was speaking English, and that was a cool development.) He has no idea when he'll be back. No idea where he'll live, or how long it will take to get settled and reconnected to the world. He's in the air now.

It's like a movie script-- an indy one at that. Dying uncle, suddenly summarizes his life into 10 boxes, donates his furniture to consignment shops, sells his beloved car ("I'd have sold my child first, if I'd had a child"), and hops a plane to the unknown. I'm so impressed with his courage, so awed by his raging against the dying of the light. I have maybe spent 2 months with this man over my life span, but he has influenced me nonetheless. He always sent us Christmas presents and birthday money, and would write back to my dutifully sent thank-yous. He was this cool uncle living across the country who never had kids (I eventually learned why) but loved hearing from me anyway. He moved in with my grandparents and took care of them because he could, and someone should. He worked in the San Fransisco hospital that identified AIDS, worked as the volunteer coordinator for sexually abused kids (usually poor and Mexican) and adults with AIDS. He believes in being who he is without making a big deal about it. When my students talk about queers ruining their lives, I think of my uncle and try to help them realize they're people first, and what's it matter what they do in private. I have a lot of respect for my uncle, and this situation is no different. He's going out on his terms, speaking the language he wants to speak. I'm lucky to have had his influence on my life: instead of it being across the country, now it's across an ocean. We can do that.

I am so thankful I knew to go see him this August, even though I didn't know why. I hope I get to see him again... who knows, maybe next summer the family will take a trip overseas...

the morton's salt of commentary

http://petersagal.com/wordpress/?p=149

I guess it really does make sense... and proves the point WB has been making all month, which is McCain has effectively killed his best argument against Obama by picking Pallin.

So ha!

dancing with myself

Actually, that's not true-- at least not tonight. Dance is back, along with all my friends. There is a group of us--a core of eight-- who've met once a week during the school year for the last 8ish years to tap away our troubles and laugh our way through the winter. Fellow RVBer Katie joined us last year, and I'm thrilled she's come back to our crazy world! A few others mix in and out depending on the year and their schedules. I believe we started tonight as a group of 12, which is as many advanced dancers as we've ever had. It might not be the song we stick with BUT I LOVE THIS DANCE. I cannot say it more emphatically. It is hard, it is going to be a challenge, but man, is it going to be fun. I'm already tapping in the shower, waiting for the tea water to heat up, reviewing the steps I just learned a few short hours ago. Dance nights rock my world!

I think it fits the Rules

So my makeover has taken on entirely insane proportions. Not only have my children decided I should look "cuter", but my friends have jumped in as well. While at a conference this summer with some work friends, we went shopping. My school's social worker peer pressured me into buying this dress... I thought it wasn't terribly flattering on me, but she insisted WB would love her for making me buy it. Since it was something like $10 I gave in... and wore it this weekend for a friend's wedding. I felt a bit exposed in it, but looking at this picture I guess I don't look that bad! The kicker to all this is the number of teachers and students around school who have noticed I've changed my wardrobe, and commented positively. My only worry now is winter-- I'm not sure I can go a day without a turtleneck and sweater!

writing out loud!

There is something about a sharpie marker that just makes me happy. I don't know what it is, especially since they are not scrapbooking appropriate. Once they started making them in colors, well, my little heart skips a beat every time I walk by a new package. Lucky for me Mardens had a shipment in. Now, every time I open my desk I am greeted with a giggle-inspiring sight. In honor of the event, I wrote my name on all the sharpies with my favorite colored sharpie. Yes, I am settling into my new classroom in style!

with a nod to Amity

I was recently alerted my baby sis is blogging again. Seems a good time for some link love!

http://krazykaroline.blogspot.com/ It is my sister's voice, no doubt about it. Makes me feel like I'm sitting next to her instead of being across the continent.

http://alwayssomeonecooler.blogspot.com/ My loyal RVBers know this one, but the link is for the newbie on the block.

99 more just like that one...

..and Boy's college will be paid for! Today we found out that when the Sea Dogs said "finalist" what they meant was "winner!" Yes, he is now a scholarship recipient at the age of 10. I couldn't be prouder of him-- for doing what I asked, for doing it well, and for being humble about it all once he'd won. Girly is to be commended, too-- she also wrote an essay, never once complaining that she didn't win, and is as proud of her brother as we are. We are lucky to parent them both.

For those who care, here is the $1000 essay:
If I had to choose between going to the Olympics and taking a college baseball scholarship, I would need more information. How much is the scholarship? Where are the Olympic Games being held? How much will it cost me to get to the Games? Would I be able to go back to college and still play on the baseball team? There are a lot of questions that would need answering!

Going to college on a baseball scholarship would mean I would not have to pay for my degree while being able to play college baseball. I would become a better baseball player while being able to learn what I need to be successful in life. Major League scouts go to college games, so there would be a chance of me playing in the Major Leagues-- which would be pretty cool!

Going to the Olympics would also be pretty cool. It would mean I would be participating in a once in a lifetime experience. I would get to meet people from other countries and compete with them. I would also have the chance to earn an Olympic medal, which would mean a lot to me. Having an Olympic medal would increase my chances of playing in the Majors.

This would be a very hard decision. Ultimately, though, I would choose going to the Olympics. Even though going to college is important, I can do that anytime. This could be my one chance at the Olympics, and I’d have to take it.

first day

Here they are, ready to go... Boy pointed out that instead of getting a pic of them boarding the bus, getting in the van made as much sense. Since I'm one of those mom's who drops her kids at school, he's right. Now, my reason for this is purely selfish: the bus comes by at 7 AM, and if I drop them on my way to work, I can SLEEP until 7. No brainer there. Honestly, the only thing I hate about my job is that it starts at 7:50 AM. I dislike getting out of bed at such an early hour, and resent having to go to bed long before Letterman's Top Ten hits the airwaves. Otherwise, I do love what I do.

It was good to see my sunshines again this week. Some changes in their personal lives, but they all came back on day 1. I'm not sure if that is a record, but it's darned close. I feel pretty good about that. And they told me their stories. We're adapting to our new space-- it's different being around people again, but I think it's going to work. Life is good in our little fishbowl.

But tonight I get to stay up a little later and sleep a bit longer in the morning... although not much, because we have soccer practice at 9 AM. Humph.

I'm here... really....

I've had lots of plans to write this week, but by the time I get home and settled, I'm just too tired to think. If we could start school at say, 10 AM, I'd be a much happier woman. I wonder if I'll ever pull *that* one off!!

More this weekend, I promise. Three day weekend! That means.... wait for it.... SLEEP!

oh, why not?

Another fun little show and tell... thanks Katie and Amity!

Nine things I want to do before I die

1. own a camp

2. have gotten to know my grandchildren

3. perform a tap dance with Boy and Girly

4. retire in good health

5. own a pool and a hot tub

6. convert to solar

7. be debt free!!

8. visit New Orleans

9. see the kids grow into happy, contented adults

Eight things I'm wearing

1. life is good tee shirt

2. tank top

3. shorts

4. barrette in my hair (I really can't cope without one)

5. glasses

6. engagement ring

7. wedding band

8. mother's ring

Seven things I appreciate

1. my family

2. my friends

3. good writing

4. modern comforts: electricity, heat, running water....

5. sweaters!

6. my sunshines

7. flexiblity (of all sorts)

Six things I touch everyday

1. WB, Boy, and Girly

2. kitty

3. dishes (clean and dirty)

4. laundry (ditto)

5. my laptop

6. food!

Five things I do everyday

1. love

2. laugh

3. think

4. plan

5. eat

Four songs on my mind

1. A Different Kind of Love by Too Much Joy

2. Waterfall by james

3. Certain Songs by The Hold Steady

4. that Olympic song that plays at every comercial break...

Three things I think of when I wake up

1. ten more minutes

2. ten more

3. not yet...

My two favorite foods

1. summer veggies fresh from the garden

2. low salt Lays potato chips

One person I love more than any other
1. WB, although Boy and Girly are right there too

wowie wow wow!

Boy had asked last week about a scholarship essay he wrote this spring for the Portland Sea Dogs. I said we hadn't heard yet, so he probably didn't get it. Well, I checked messages today, and the Sea Dogs had called. He's a finalist in the K-5 group! He is very proud, as are the rest of us. I'm also really pleased from a "mom is always right" standpoint, as he resisted writing the thing in the first place. All age groups (k-5, 6-9, 9-12) had to write a 200 word essay about whether they'd go to college on a scholarship or play for the olympic team and possibly lose their scholarship. I did think his was pretty good, but I have an obvious bias. We have 4 tickets waiting for us for the Aug 31 game and we'll find out the winners there!

Way to go Boy!

acceptance

I headed into school today for a few hours. I had been planning on spending a good 5 hours there, but then I was able to get a massage in mid afternoon, and with the 10 cord of wood hanging around, I decided discretion was the better part of valor. I logged 3 hours of moving and unpacking boxes of books. Girly came and helped, which was a really nice treat. Some furniture needs to be swapped with other programs in the district, so it's a good thing I couldn't do my full stint today. I'll head in for another 3 hours post camping, and will be ready for next week.

Mentally I'm getting there, too. I'm excited to see the sunshines again. I'm excited about the new room and spending more time with my east campus buddies. Don't get me wrong, I love living a life of leisure, but it's not the hand I was dealt. So I'll enjoy the next 6 days off and be ready on day one (or something like that).

inspired

Tech Camp (known as Summer Tech Institute to most participants) was a personal success. I actually think it was a team success-- my fellow buddies seemed to also have a productive week. I learned some new things, and really had some time to think about what I wanted to teach and how I wanted to teach it. That is always a cool thing-- and not always a guaranteed thing. I will remember these days in the dead of March when I'm in desperate need of inspiration!

thinking of SJ

Looking for some easy, fun ways for my students to figure out their political affiliation. Who knew I was a liberal :)

http://typology.people-press.org/typology/

Have fun!

warms you twice

Our load of wood arrived last week... or should I say loads! Four, to be exact. Three by the wood burner, one by the swingset. We now have 10 cord waiting to be stacked. Now I don't mind stacking wood. It's sort of a zen activity for me, combined with puzzles: which piece fits best where, and when you're done for the day you can see the dent in the pile. Satisfying work.

Now if it would just stop raining long enough for us to get back out there we'd be good to go!

live and in color

How delightful to see all my RVBs and other teacher friends today! As much as I love my summers and living the life of the rich, I do enjoy spending my days with these dedicated, smart, and very caring individuals. Good to see you all! And remember, party at our place Saturday night! Hope you can come!

welcome home?

So I'm back from my little trip. Nothing at all like the trip Joe just took, but it was a big deal for me, a self professed hater of travel: coast to coast in a long weekend. I went to Palm Springs, CA, to hang with my sick uncle. I literally sat on his couch for 3 days and watched movies with him, listening to stories. It was certainly worth the trip, especially since I wasn't flying out of LAX when the American Airlines flight had to return to the gate because it was on fire. Mike is to be commended for not calling me with the news update on that one :)

When the fam retrieved me at Logan, we headed to the Cape to see WB's Aunt. We've been visiting her summers since I entered the picture-- I think we only missed one summer of the last 15. (Fifteen years? Is that even possible???) We had a nice visit, and missed out on all the rain back home: two perfect beach days, one ok one. No complaints. We arrived home at 1 AM this morning.

Katie commented that we had brought the sunshine back with us, and we were grateful. After stories of flooded basements and rotting gardens and canceled trips, it was good news indeed. I had a fleeting thought about power outages, but nothing formed into a cohesive thought. Well, I needn't have worried. As if on cue, the heavens opened and the wind rose and just as we were about to watch synchronized diving... cut to black. Indeed, I am so sick of this.

Good news is it was only about 60-90 minutes without Olympic coverage. I wonder how many personal interest stories we missed out on?

I like what I see out my windows

http://www.eattheview.org/

Thanks Wendy for the link!

What do you all think?

in between outages

I think this one makes number 6 or 7 since March. Number 4 of the month of July. We lost less power in January! Whatever. At least we're not cold. This outage only lasted about an hour... but the thunder is still rolling, so stay tuned.

staying calm

I shouldn't panic about flying to Southern California this weekend, right? So what that there was a small earthquake, right? There's already been after shocks, so no worries? Getting to my uncle will be worth all the effort, but it is going to take some deep breathing to make it happen.

heading in and out of coverage

Hello, gentle readers...
Just a little notice that I'm gallivanting around for a few weeks and my ability to post will be spotty at best. I will hop on when I can!! Hope you're all enjoying summer bliss!!

people let me tell you 'bout my best friend...

So Boy chose to leave his friends (who are really more like cousins) at our house and come for a walk with me. He worked really hard to keep up with my strides. (I must admit, it's a bit weird to be the one with a long stride length! That hasn't happened to me in, well, ever!) The cool part was that he chose to come walk and talk with me instead of continuing the LOTR ongoing game they play. I guess I haven't crossed over into totally uncool authority person yet...

who's got the Morton's salt?

So as SJ alluded earlier, today's weather had you wishing you had a boat nearby... just in case. It rained like you only read about, and no one 'round here was heard sayin' "... God willin' and the creek don't rise..." We get flooding every spring (and that winter storm a few years back that flooded Canton-- that was a real scary spring!) so this isn't (yet) a 100 year flood or anything, but it's as high as we've ever seen the water. Dave planted a new flower down by the banks as it likes 'wet feet', but we're hoping it's still there, as it was completely submerged this afternoon. Nature has a way of working itself out though, given enough time. I wonder if we're patient enough to wait her out?

another one from SJ, through Beth

43% Geek
43%
I'm not geeky enough to get this to show up well, but it's 43% geek. Respectable, but I'll guarantee my friends are all higher than me. Just like our Miller's scores...

(Sorry, flashback there to my insecure past. Moving on!)

Created by OnePlusYou

who knew

Which Famous Artist Are You?

It's a tie!

	You are part Ansel Adams. Your artistic tool of choice is the camera, but you've got lots of other skills as well. Spoiled when you were young, you grew up to be a loving person and you have a deep affinity for nature and all things black and white.
	You are part Paul McCartney. The most popular and succesful musician in pop music history, you have never lost your passion. Music is how you live and your great productivity over the years shows that. You're known for your kindness and affability, but you're still a rebel when it counts.

upside: no crowds

downside: lots of rain

We headed on a Family Field Trip to Reid State Park on Sunday. The hope was it would clear off by the time we arrived... it actually moved in the opposite direction. No worries though-- like good Boy Scouts, Mumma's always have extra stuff on hand. We each loaded up with an umbrella (ella, ella) and walked on the rocks for a bit. It was coming down hard enough that we ended up making sandwiches in the van too. Oh well. We drove around Georgetown a bit more, and then stopped for Blizzards, which, unsurprisingly, we also ate in the car. We stumbled upon a local vendor selling fresh fish at amazing prices, so we came home with 2 lbs haddock, 4 ear corn, and a couple zucchini for dinner. Add in fresh beans from WB's garden, and it was a good day.

passing it on

Today WB and I were talking about finding new music. He has always sought out new stuff-- I don’t even know where he found it all, but he did. He thinks that part of his life is now over, and he is only listening to Too Much Joy from now on. I reminded him that he has remained in the parked car dancing away to the new Old 97’s song, and that was not the act of a fuddy-duddy. Perhaps his lack of seeking is due more to brain cells trying to figure out physics problems than to old age.

Flash forward to later in the afternoon, when he was in his classroom working on said learning and I went to help a friend retrieve her car from the shop. “Oh, you have to listen to this song!” Hey Ma is the soundtrack to our summer of 2008. All four of us listen and hum it’s choruses all day. james rocks. But not many people know that. So I played it for her, and she was tapping along between the first and second choruses. “Good job finding me a good new band I had never heard of!” Perhaps, as with all things in life, we are about to switch from finders of new music to transfer-ers of music that is old to us but new to others.

informal invite

This was sent by email to friends far and away... but it seemed quicker to hit all our RVBers this way. Hope you can come!

In honor of Dave's 40th birthday last spring, we're throwing a party August 16. Come just Saturday night or come for the weekend, camp in the back yard if you'd like... but we hope you can come. Bring something to share or just yourselves. There may be a band, but there will definitely be guitars by the campfire. Who knows how many kids will be running around... but no matter, it should be a good time for all.

Please let us know if you think you can make it!

preview

So we're enjoying (another!) night without the kids in the house. They have spent a lot of time with friends this summer, and a fair amount of it away from here. They're not to the point where they're trying to leave nightly (I remember being there, and it was not fun for either me or my parents: they seemed to think I should stay home some. I did not see the logic in that argument.) but I'm sure this summer is foreshadowing summers to come. The good news? We're having more date nights than I think we've ever had.

Like tonight. We decided to get a couple of lobsters and cook them on the fire. Lobsters were cheaper per pound than haddock, and we've sort of been hankering them for a few weeks, so... why not splurge? They were soft shell, and quite yummy. We sat outside in t-shirts, squirting ourselves with lobster water. Romantic? Heck no. Comforting? I postulate that you really can't enjoy a lobster unless you're totally comfortable with those indulging with you. WB commented that we'll do ok when the kids are gone... but we're in no rush for that to happen. Date nights are great when you know the munchkins will be home tomorrow :)

where does it take you?

We had to get some Coppertone spray on sunscreen this summer-- turns out I am immune to Banana Boat brand! (It is not cool to get a sunburn after spending 20 minutes dutifully applying sunscreen!!) Anyhow, every time I spray it I am vaulted back in time to the summers of my youth. It's not so much the smell of swimming lessons, because we always froze out butts off at like 8 AM in the Saco River, so mom didn't bother to lube us all up before the sun was even out. We did go to the ocean a lot, and there were a few summers we'd join my grandparents at the St. Lawrence River in upstate NY. I guess we must have only used Coppertone, because that's where I go when I put it on. Girly agrees. Her memories will probably include swimming lessons, since they get to go at 1:00, and trips to the Cape. I love family traditions :)

your friendly neighborhood tv reviews

Tonight Weather Boy and I are stuck to our new(ish) couch glued to our new television. (The couch died about 2 years ago and WB finally put his foot down in March, and the TV died as Wimbledon was starting. I've been watching the Fortnight since about 1980. I consoled myself with both purchases by doing our part to hold off the impending recession.) Anyhow, the summer season starts this week, and that means new The Closer, Saving Grace, and Project Runway.

Saving Grace (Mondays at 10 on TNT) is perhaps the best written, acted, and directed television show on today. Granted, I haven't watched them all, but this one is amazing. Yes, it's dark. It certainly belongs as a 10:00 show, and probably should air at 11. It's not pretty, and there are not always happy endings. But the characters are real. Flawed, but oh so real. If you can handle the thought of an angel who chews tobacco and a hard living police detective trying to live down the demons of molestation by her priest, then you owe it to yourself to check out this show.

If you can't handle Grace, you can definitely handle The Closer (Mondays at 9 on TNT). It's closer to Law and Order in it's premise, but better than the current incarnations. It'll make you laugh out loud, even as they're chasing an arsonist around LA.

Project Runway (Wednesdays at 9 on Bravo) is just plain fun. We've watched from the beginning. It's way better than Survivor or any of those other reality shows. And if you don't want to commit to every Wed, fear not: there is sure to be a marathon weekend sometime later this year.

satisfying, indeed!

I'll update with a pic tomorrow after it's all gone, but Day 1 of yard sale was today. Some of the stuff I thought would fly out is still here and some of the stuff Weather Boy was figuring out how to get to the dump sold!! Yard sales are a great way to live the "One man's trash is another man's treasure" adage. It is oft quoted for a reason, no?

All in all, I'm very pleased. I have a plan for much of what's left if it doesn't move out this weekend. Today I moved the returnables to their new corner of the shed (near the door for easy removal) and "installed" my new recycling center. I do so love a good re-organization!

When I started this project 2 weeks ago, this wall was burried. Now, it's the home of my recycling. The door opens all the way... there's light in there... yes, truly pleasing. And I still have over a month of summer fun left to go! Life is good!

now THIS is summer!

Swimming lessons started today, and we actually felt like sitting on the beach, taking a random dip as kids swam. Dinner on the fire, margarita going (Katie-- wish you were here!), looking at another one just like it tomorrow.

Yes, the livin' is very easy!

Hey Baby!

It's the Fourth of July!

Since I was a teenager, holidays have had a soundtrack. Sometimes the songs are obvious (U2s New Years Day the most so), sometimes events referred to in lyrics (again with the U2 and Pride on MLK day). When I met Weather Boy, my music collection doubled. He was inspired to make an actual holiday soundtrack starting with Cracker's Happy Birthday to Me, but it never got finished. I don't think there is a better Independence Day song for me than X's 4th of July. I think it's a cover, but one of those covers that is better than the original. It rocks. It's not about "America is great!" but that even in some pretty sad circumstances, there's still some hope. That's the anthem for me.*

So dry your tears and baby walk outside, it's the 4th of July!

*(Not that I'm depressed, hopeless, or wanting out of my life. I just get sick of all the America the Beautifuls out there.)

I am... playing along

I am...
committed to being the best wife, mom, and friend I can be.
I want...
too much. I'm trying to want less, but there's too much America in me.
I have...
everything I need to be happy.
I wish...
world peace wasn't just a theory
I hate...
intentional cruelty
I fear...
being alone. house fires, too
I hear...
the washing machine and the lawn mower
I search...
poorly
I wonder...
Who will the kids fall in love with? How will global warming change their lives? Will I ever have grandchildren?
I regret...
not going to San Fransisco with my uncle when I was younger.
I love...
my family and friends, my students.... and food and pictures
I ache...
too regularly these days!
I always...
try to avoid saying always
I usually...
laugh a lot during the day.
I am not...
mean
I dance...
with Patty during the school year, but also whenever the urge hits me :)
I sing...
along with every song on the radio, even if I hate it. I can't help it.
I never...
want to live anywhere else, although I may someday when I'm old and can't take the cold.
I rarely...
drink enough water all day. I need to get better at that.
I cry...
when happy, sad, mad, proud, blessed
I am not always...
neat. I live a cluttered life.
I lose...
very little. I'm the one who usually knows where things are.
I'm confused...
by science classes. Ironic, huh?
I miss...
my grandmother
I need...
touch
I should...
walk more

BFFs

They're having a sleep over tonight. They enjoyed the strawberry pie I made this week (although I think I need Beth's recipe, since this was more like jam on top of graham cracker crust) and now are watching Sydney White (and the Seven Dorks). This is the movie Girly and Lea watched at the Ramada when they stayed there for their birthday celebration, and Lea just gave it to Girly for her summer birthday present. (She's a good gift giver, that one!) They're more like cousins than BFFs, but no matter what you call them, their bonds are pretty darned amazing.

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.