We have two tumblers now. One has recently been designed by BKB and it is pretty clever.  He used two cat litter buckets.  We save our coffee grounds, egg shells, fruit and veggie peels and put them into the tumbler.  I have never had a green thumb and I can say that compost is the key to our recent successes in the yard & garden.  Love those worms and organic matter!

Yesterday, while driving up good ole’ I-95, there was an entrance ramp closed due to a tractor trailer spilling its contents; PIGS!!!!! I am so sad that I missed the round-up.  Oink! Oink!

This week in Richmond, federal authorities arrested 30 illegal aliens who were on the construction crew for the almost completed new Federal Courthouse.  I find it troubling that its OK to let these people work in the elements for unscrupulous construction companies and then when the job is almost finished, to do a “round-up”.  Give ‘em a brake!  The illegals just want to persue the American Dream and are willing to work for it; unlike some who would prefer to tap into the welfare state. I realize it is much more complicated than this, but I had to point out the irony of the situation.

Concerning Jenna Bush and her wedding today:  I have kept a vague eye on the situation.  I have a bit of jealousy that she can get published, but both of her books are a worthwhile contribution to reading.  I have read them. I am proud that she is having a private wedding and trying to lead a normal life.  Can you imagine being the daughter of Bimbo?  I hope the press will leave them alone.  Down with the paparazzi. The irony is not feeding the paparazzi as the primary candidates must do.  And aren’t we sick of the primary drama?

While running errands late this afternoon, I saw this saying on a license plate frame.  There was a picture of a spilled wine glass.  It tickled my sense of humor.  White Zinfandel is my favorite pink wine too! (wink!)

Daughter K convinced me to visit The Body Shop.  I had visited one across town a few weeks ago.  Today I visited a quieter shop nearby.  Wow, I like their eco-friendly products and feel good about my cosmetic purchases.

Middle School update: some kids have already finished the school year.  Behavior is “not so good”.  Teachers are still trying and yet with some students who could care less; it is pointless.  The last day of school is Friday June 13th.

We are enjoying a beautiful spring.  BKB is making rapid progress on the privacy fence aka The Sanctuary. The weather has been cooperating.  I don’t want to jinx anything…but we still have the windows open.  It’s cool at night.

We will be traveling a lot this summer.  I am grateful to be on the school calendar.  I am hoping for a new job opportunity/project and clarity in regards to the future.  Aren’t we all?

Listen to the birds and have a glass of wine.  Stop and smell the flowers. I saw the current Life is Good products today. ( t-shirts and hats)  My favorite is the cap that has a flower and it says Grow.

So, here it is Friday and I wish to share a bit of “humor” aka stupid crooks.

“Charles County, MD sheriff’s deputies  arrested two men this week who say they stole more than $500.00 worth of soap and shampoo from a CVS store and lead police on a chase in a Good Humor Ice Cream Truck.  Arrested were blah & friend.  Blah is the driver of the ice cream truck….

The suspects lead police on a chase that reached speeds of 80 mph Tuesday night before the truck crashed into a Chevrolet Avalanche” ( you know those big SUV’s?)….”

This just tickled my funny bone.  Can’t you just see some 36 year old guys flooring a Good Humor truck with the police in hot pursuit after stealing shampoo & soap from CVS?

We had dueling ice cream trucks in our neighborhood the other night. Usually it is the same old Rag time music with a recording of some ding-dong shouting HULLO!.  The added bonus was a new soft lullaby in contrast from the other unknown vendor.  I wonder if they met somewhere on their route and had a territorial “discussion”?

It is a happy childhood memory anyway.  I do enjoy the thought of drag racing ice cream trucks though.

 For more info on the history of Good Humor Ice Cream Trucks:

http://www.icecreamusa.com/good_humor/history/

Have a fun weekend!

So here goes the explanation for discussing feminism. I returned “that” book to the library after giving it the 50 page limit.  Sometimes I give books 100 pages and if it hasn’t grabbed me, it’s done, finished and outta my life. This combo biography/women’s history just didn’t grab me.

Women like Carly Simon, Carole King and Joni Mitchell are not in my age bracket, nor are they mentors or role models for me.  I learned of the book from watching a biographical piece about Joni Mitchell on the CBS show Sunday Morning.  All of these women have had hard times and also times of great success. I just can’t relate to them.

I would like to propose that the younger generations come up with some newer “hip” vocabulary to explain feminism and being liberated in the year 2008.  I don’t even like those words. They remind me of hygiene products and degrading  commercials I prefer not to acknowledge.  The connotation reminds me of Jane Fonda vs Phyllis Shaffley at the WWE; wearing pink boxing gloves.

There is a new hip free magazine in Richmond called SKIRT.  I enjoy it as much as I enjoy Natural Awakenings and Style Weekly.  The May issue has a contest going on  “I’m a Feminist because…”    And there is an article by a young lady from Princeton entitled…”How Can You Be A Feminist without Anyone Knowing?”   It’s a good article.  I am just waiting for  new words to appear and  be promoted other than the “F” word and the “L” word.  Maybe I should ask Stephen Colbert?

I do think this a good time in our history to revisit and recreate contemporary meanings for equality and valueing humans; female and males.  

Thanks for listening.  I promise not to go down this path again without the chocolate and big stick!

Daughter A & I had the opportunity to attend our first Chocolate Festival this past weekend at the University of Richmond.  It was a tasting event by local chefs.  Some Chocolate Festivals are fund raisers for charity organizations. It’s easier to attend this type of function if it is “guilt-free” in some way. Delicious!

I am beginning to read a new non-ficiton book called Girls Like Us- Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and the Journey of a Generation by Shelia Weller. These women are about 10 years older than me. As I peruse it, I can not really relate to their life experiences and so I may give up before it gets too dull. We’ll see. It is like I am of a different generation.

There was an article in this week’s Newsweek called The Feminine Mistake by Jennie Yabroff under the theme of CULTURE. I realize I may be rambling, but bear with me, I am going to make a point. It focused on the “mommy wars” that have been around for many years since the “revolution” began.

I am talking about the “revolution” that Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and Carole King promoted with their successful singing careers and influential business ties.

I believe there are different stages of life span opportunities. I don’t and didn’t need or ask Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinham, Hillary Clinton and other “successful” women to clear the road for me. I can do it on my own. Thank you very much. I’ll do it my way, without your approval or commentary on being “liberated.” I am already liberated because I know I can support myself and know I can pay the mortgage if pressed into duty again. I am liberated because I have been able to make educated choices along the way. I don’t feel guilty because of those choices. I did what was right for our family during the children’s growing up years. I have no regrets.

The “mommy wars” is mean-spirited. If you want to work, well then work. If you must work, well, pull up your boot straps and make the best of it. If you do not want to have paid employment outside of the home, then scale down your monetary needs/desires and make the best of it. “Sequencing” is a term for making choices that work for your individual family situation and being able to tweak those choices as things change. Children do grow up. Opportunities present themselves. Life goes on. All women can be kind and respectful to each other regardless of choices made. Mother’s Day is actually every day. Pause, reflect and think about it. Rejoice if you have healthy children and a healthy marriage or partnership. Eat chocolate and carry a big stick!

I have recently discovered the Post Secret phenomenon.  Luckily, I was able to check out all 4 books from the library.  Thanks Frank for taking on this healing art project and sharing it with the world!  I love the concept!

For more info watch this short video clip:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6rTkp1dek4

For your viewing pleasure and moment of nature appreciation, please open the Google main page and see their font today! Also, take a moment to read the comics today.  Many cartoonists featured Earth Day themes.

The sun has finally returned.  How many days of gloom can we stand ?  Repeat this mantra…” Well, at least we don’t live in…..( pick a city of current doom.)

Have you heard of hulu.com? If you want to view some old movies and vintage TV shows for free, check it out.

We watched Sunday Morning this past weekend.  There was a feature about a documentary called Young At Heart.  It was a bunch of seniors singing at a jail “venue”.  It was inspiring!

I attended a free bluegrass concert and storytelling event sponsored by the local public library on Sunday afternoon.  David Holt has an NPR radio show on Saturday mornings called Riverwalk Jazz- out of San Antonio, TX.  He lives in Asheville, NC.  In addition to his amusing stories about people he has met in Nashville at The Grand Ole Opry and being married for 38 years, he plays banjo, harmonica, several kinds of guitars , the paper bag, the cow rib mouth harp and has a slapping/clapping routine that is quite entertaining.

BKB taped the Hallmark movie for me on Sunday night.  It was called  Sweet Nothing in My Ear about a deaf family and cochlear implants.  I watched it last night and was glad to be able to fast forward through all the commercials.  Great movie!

We are busy making economical travel arrangements for trips this summer.  I am finally going to really see the Northwest and Southwest in person. I am grateful and psyched!

I might give a middle school update soon, but then again, I might not. Confidentiality issues, you know.  37 more days of the long commute.

As the years have gone by, I wish someone would de-mystify the job search process and nepotism in regards to hiring.  I know…you have to be in the right place at the right time and say the right things and dress for success.

I also wish large school systems would create simple misssion statements that specify their priorities.  (I am referring to basic supplies, security issues, salaries and benefits.)  For example: We believe all trailers should meet certain health and environmental standards.  We can’t lock school doors when we have trailers.  Therefore: We will insure your security and the security of the students by doing X,Y & Z. We believe all teachers should receive these important benefits and these salary upgrades.  We believe students deserve: paper, soap in bathrooms, doors on stalls, school security officers….library books…) We hope to maintain our staff by doing these things to promote and support teachers.  

It has come to my attention that school librarians no longer exist in California and are going extinct in Arizona.  We are on the chopping block in addition to instructors of the Arts.  How sad- over and over again.  This discussion is not new.

So we can pay over one trillion dollars a month to blast people in an oil rich area, but can’t put soap and toilet paper in our school bathrooms, can’t fund secruity officers? Can’t fund the Arts?  Can’t fund librarians?

Yes, I should be illustrating this post with me standing on a soap box; possibly blowing bubbles with messages in them.

Looking in the Employment Ads today and remembering a large highway billboard in Maryland recently advertising for teachers in a certain public school system, I have to chortle at the saying “What goes around…comes around”.  It used to be so hard to get a teaching job, and now systems are begging for us.  Treat us right and we may jump on the bandwagon once again.  Treat us wrong and we will glare at your false promises.  Recruiters going en masse to colleges looking for eager grads-  pffft.. ..We are right here.   And we have experience and wisdom.

If you can read this, Thank A Teacher!  Let’s Get Our Priorities Straight!

“The air is warm, and the sky is blue, the leaves are green-yellow, because they’re new,

Your feet go skipping, the birds all sing, the whole world is happy, because it is spring!”

As an early childhood educator, this memorable song has stayed with me for many years.  On days like this, I hum it to myself gleefully!  The song is actually from a Kindergarten “kit” from over 30 years ago. 

Our happy dog, Chloe, had a bit of spring fever tonight after her dinner on the back porch.  She ventured into the street where a bunch of sweet kids were bike riding.  As we were eating dinner, I shared how nice it is to have kids in the neighborhood.  Wasn’t it neat that they were all hanging out with that big dog by the Stop sign at the corner?  A few minutes later a neighbor from behind knocked at our door with her two little dogs.  She asked if that was our dog at the corner?  I said something about : Oh My- it sure is! and called Chloe.  She happily sprinted over as if to say…See I can make my own friends too!  Spring is in the air!

I have been listening to two different dog stories on CD during my long commute tp Petersburg/Colonial Heights.  Marley by John Grogan and Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz.  Both are funny and enjoyable!

Due to technical confusion, I will only suggest that you imagine a pink dogwood photo on this post.  Word Press has changed their scheme of posting pictures and I am enjoying the season too much to spend time on figuring it out ….again.

Think: pink dogwood.  ahhhhhh……..