Rail or Road & megalopolis April 12, 2008

As I often observe school buses in my career life and on the roads; I think of these cheese wagons as the symbol for being part of “the machine”.  Many important events in our life have been scheduled around the school calendar; births, surgeries, vacations and weddings.

Way back in 5th grade, our class debated transportation systems.  Rail or Road?  I was on the “rail team”. I still remember the fun I had gathering information and making a “case” for trains.  Our teacher also impressed upon us that the eastern seaboard corridor would become a megalopolis in our lifetime.  Now living further south in this corridor, I see that she truly had foresight. (PS- There won’t be too many more school stories- I guarantee it- not that memorable or worth regurgitating.)

Virgina Lee Burton wrote The Little House in 1942.  It is a timely picture book with thoughtful implications for those of us living in “suburban sprawl.”  What is “progress” anyway? Her philosophy is still applicable today. http://www.virginialeeburton.com/books.html

Several family members asked me if I was going to retire soon. (due to my last posting.)  No.  It’s just that if I had followed the traditional path, I could be planning retirement  this very moment.  I’m not because I can’t and have had enough time off over the years with our young children that I am not ready yet anyway.  I am proud of our choices and lifestyle.  Still plugging away at being a working person.  Sometimes, I find it hard to believe that I am part of the “education machine.”  I still feel subversive deep within. Luckily, because I have left the classroom, I don’t have to do report cards or parent conferences anymore.  Being a librarian is  fun for many reasons.

I started teaching at age 21.  Oh my!  So much responsibility at a young age.  At age 22, I was married and had 2 half-day kindergarten classes; which meant 45-50 parent conferences and 45-50 report cards every 9 weeks; without the help of computers.  (Remember when Kindergarten was either morning or afternoon?  Students were assigned a time by neighborhoods; not by convenience for parents.)

Bear with me, I am going to make a point here.  Another classic children’s book that remains timelessly popular is The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.  I still find it inspirational! How many times have I read these two books aloud to classrooms of eager listeners?  More than I can count.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Engine_That_Could

Chug- chug-chug- Choo-choo! I think I can- I think I can- I think I can……

Little Red Wagon April 9, 2008

As you may or may not know,  I could be “retiring” from teaching this year.  My career started in 1977.  Many twists and turns later, I have not collected 30 years worth of retirement benefits. (wink)  This dawned on me quite recently when others have asked me “Are you e-ripping”?  I love this term.  It means adding on an extra year to your state retirement benefits..if you can stand it.  E-ripping sounds ominous…doesn’t it ?!!? (Do I look like I’m e-ripping? ha ha he he)

I like having moved and changing jobs as needed; plus meeting new and different people and students along the journey.  I was able to juggle some part-time jobs with young children and our own children plus have the benefit of working at home when our kids were small.

I can’t imagine still being in the same school building that I began to teach in 30 years ago.  Some people actually do this!  Oh my! ( How boring!) I have some fond memories and some creepy ones too.  30 years ago, I considered myself “technically” advanced aka “saavy”; by having a child sized red plastic Sony tape recorder in my car and taping records to listen to.  Just think how far we have come! The “din-o-saur” days are over…way over!

Here is what I ponder occasionally as I look back over an interesting career in the education field:

1. Lots of people get booted “upstairs” for administrative positions. Sometimes it is a reward and other times it might be considered a punishment.  Some are competent and others are incompetent. Anyone can get into Administrative graduate programs.  Sure, colleges and universities love to take your hard earned $$$$, but you may never  become an administrator.  ( My opinion…do you really want to be the one to put out all the fires????”)

2. Silence is Golden.  People very often prove themselves to be total hypocrites and stick their feet in their mouths without much effort.  Sit back, watch and listen.

3. Gossip- not worth it.  Close your ears and walk away.

4. repeat this mantra…”not in my sphere of influence”

5. amusements: 

sayings such as:

“Flagpole meeting in the gym”,  “you rock” “at the end of the day”  “when all is said and done” “my own personal fave…KMA.”  “Go figure”  “You got that right”.  “As is our custom” 

6. Technological advances: Even with all our many  “new” cool pieces of  “AV” equipment and cords and other gadgets, there are always snafu’s.  I’ve seen many snafu’s during national televison press conferences, at universities, author visits and professional workshops.  This soothes my spirit.  Thanks for fumbling like I do.

7. Multi-tasking… fun…distracting, annoying and fatiquing.  Watching so many bad drivers talk on their cell phones on the highways makes me wish for regulated speaker phones, headphones and hands free cell phones. No, I do not want one of those earplug phones.

8. “Be kind to the people on your way up…cause you’re gonna meet the same people on your way back down.”  Be humble and grateful and never assume anything.

9. Change is good and inevitable.  You might as well accept it.

10. Be flexible, open-minded and listen.  You are not “entitled” to anything you haven’t worked for.  And even if you have worked for something, you still aren’t “entitled” to it.  If you are stubborn and unwilling to change or listen, it will bite you in the butt.  Aspire higher. Grow.

In conclusion, I have had a marvelous journey with most students.  I have met many wonderful, dedicated teachers over the years and only a few rotten apples.  I am not ready to retire because I still find it enjoyable for the most part. Life long learning and feeling called; fulfilled.. .whatever.

On a side note:  BTW: I recently taste tested the best granola ever!  It is Little Red Wagon Granola of Chapel Hill, NC.  Mocha flavored with almonds!!!!!

Richmond 10k and Red Lobster April 6, 2008

It was raining this morning.  We ventured out to do our part in Putting Cancer on the Run. ( It was a sort of “command performance” for BKB”S work. )The 10K is a fun event and even the rain didn’t dampen our spirits too much. After all, we had cool neon glow in the dark mesh t-shirts…right??? It is fun to participate and enjoy the live music and cameraderie; plus look for people you know. and see the wacky costumes.  My favorite this year was the Tooth Fairy!! Adorable!  It is also fun to walk in the middle of normally very busy streets with others.  Forget the jogging.  Not gonna happen with us.  I had a “moment” just before mile 2, when I wanted to go back to the car and say forget this! It was raining steadily.  Then I brought out the bag of chocolate chips and all was well again.  Just a little chocolate can do wonders for the weary traveler.  The park where the race concludes has many free food and beverage giveaways.  If only the port-o-potties still had TP and hand gel at the end. The sun came out!

We came home and I took a luxurious nap.  There was no Advil in the house. However, BKB suggested we go out to eat; a wonderful, rare treat.  I suggested Red Lobster because of this book I had read over winter break in Houston.  It is called Last Night at The Lobster by Stewart O’Nan.  A good read!  Delicious dinner.  We bought some Advil on the way home. He was starting to feel the 7 miles in his back.  I feel it in my hips and knees. We had to walk a long way from where we parked the car.  Spring is happening along Monument Ave and it was glorious to see the clouds clear!

We are busy preparing to create a privacy fence in our backyard next weekend and make travel plans for the summer wedding and anniversary trip plus our son’s most likely move to Phoenix, AZ.   Oh my!  A lot of excitement going on.  Life is good. ~~~~~~~~~~~

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

April Fool’s Day April 2, 2008

Oh my! Not only did I not participate in Dark Hour on March 29th, I didn’t pull any pranks yesterday.  However, I did read a marvelous Roald Dahl poem aloud to students.  It was fun and had just the right amount of “shock” value.  When you least expect it….giggle, giggle

Here ’tis!

“This famous wicked little tale
Should never have been put on sale
It is a mystery to me
Why loving parents cannot see
That this is actually a book
About a brazen little crook…”

“…Now just imagine how you’d feel
If you had cooked a lovely meal,
Delicious porridge, steaming hot,
Fresh coffee in the coffee pot,
With maybe toast and marmalade,
The table beautifully laid,
One place for you and one for dad,
Another for your little lad.
Then dad cries, ‘Golly–gosh! Gee whizz!
‘Oh cripes! How hot this porridge is!
‘Let’s take a walk along the street
‘Until it’s cool enough to eat.’
He adds, ‘An early morning stroll
‘Is good for people on the whole.
‘It makes your appetite improve
‘It also helps your bowels move.’
No proper wife would dare to question
Such a sensible suggestion,
Above all not at breakfast–time
When men are seldom at their prime.
No sooner are you down the road
Than Goldilocks, that little toad
That nosey thieving little louse,
Comes sneaking in your empty house….”

“…(Here comes the next catastrophe.)
Most educated people choose
To rid themselves of socks and shoes
Before they clamber into bed.
But Goldie didn’t give a shred.
Her filthy shoes were thick with grime,
And mud and mush and slush and slime.
Worse still, upon the heel of one
Was something that a dog had done.
I say once more, what would you think
If all this horrid dirt and stink
Was smeared upon your eiderdown
By this revolting little clown?
(The famous story has no clues
To show the girl removed her shoes.)

Oh, what a tale of crime on crime!
Let’s check it for a second time.

Crime One, the prosecution’s case:
She breaks and enters someone’s place.

Crime Two, the prosecutor notes:
She steals a bowl of porridge oats.

Crime Three: She breaks a precious chair
Belonging to the Baby Bear.

Crime Four: She smears each spotless sheet
With filthy messes from her feet.

A judge would say without a blink,
‘Ten years hard labour in the clink!’
But in the book, as you will see,
The little beast gets off scot–free,
While tiny children near and far
Shout ‘Goody–good! Hooray! Hurrah!’
‘Poor darling Goldilocks!’ they say,
‘Thank goodness that she got away!’
Myself, I think I’d rather send
Young Goldie to a sticky end.
‘Oh daddy!’ cried the Baby Bear,
‘My porridge gone! It isn’t fair!’
‘Then go upstairs,’ the Big Bear said,
‘Your porridge is upon the bed.
‘But as it’s inside mademoiselle,
‘You’ll have to eat her up as well.”

( note: This is not the entire poem…You will have to search further to find the comment about her “fat butt“.)

hahaha hehehe

credit goes to roalddahlfans.com

April Fool’s Day March 30, 2008

Tuesday is the big day!  We used to play “amusing” tricks on our kids with “odd” breakfasts on April 1.

Now that they are grown, it is hard to figure out what to do that is original.  I found a few sites to share that might help with ideas.  However, I will not be revealing my plan for 2008.

Just to keep the tradition going and inspire you here are a few sites to visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fool’s_Day

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/

Be Prepared ! Have fun and be careful! 

hallmark.com has free AFD cards.

If you happen to know which city &  state this photo was taken– let me know! (I do know already.)

Earth Hour- tonight- March 29th March 29, 2008

Tonight from 8-9 pm we all have an opportunity to participate in something magical.  Notice Google’s dark background today?  Read more on Earth Hour and participate! http://www.google.com/intl/en/earthhour/

 My maternal grandfather was quite the frugal man.  He initiated dark nights once in a while to remind his children how lucky we all are to have electricity at our disposal.

 BTW, it is almost National Turn-off the TV week!  Another way to pause and reflect on our lifestyles and advantages/disadvantages. April 21- 27, 2008

http://www.tvturnoff.org

On the flip side, a friend and I watched The Kite Runner DVD last night. This is a must-see!

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson March 28, 2008

Charlottesville was hopping last night.  Not only were the frat boys partying on their front lawns and enjoying a fine spring evening at UVA, but a week long literary event was being held.

If you have not read this inspiring book, please do ASAP. My good friend R and I went to hear him speak about his school building projects in Pakistan.  If you have ever felt moved to join the Peace Corps or volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, hearing this humble man speak will give you much pause for thought.

To find out more visit: www.threecupsoftea.org

To donate: Central Asia Institute PO Box 7207 Bozeman, MT 59771 phone #406-585-7841 www.ikat.org  www.penniesforpeace.org

The event we attended is called  The Virginia Festival for the Book.  It’s the 14th year of many interesting author events held in C’ville each March.   VABook.org

The Root of All Evil March 25, 2008

Lewis Black has a new show on Comedy Central.  Due to its late hour, we have not watched it yet.  However, during a time of insomnia recently, I visited  comedycentral.com and watched a few video clips from the first two weeks of the show. One segment was about the “evils” of St Patrick’s Day.  It was hilarious! http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/arts/television/12blac.html

On a different note concerning evil: In today’s local newspaper, I read a fascinating article about Mary Badham, the now 55 year old woman who played Scout in the movie To Kill A Mockingbird.  She is part of the Virginia Arts & Letters Live event this upcoming weekend.  This initiative is part of the National Endowment for the Arts focus on The Big Read. 

http://www.neabigread.org/index.php

Her timely comment was ” All of the issues that they deal with in the book (TKAM), we deal with right now. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the United States or Afghanistan or South Africa or Iraq or Iran, it all comes down to the same thing. And to me, that is that the root of all evil is ignorance, because ignorance breeds hatred and bigotry and contempt and racism.  This is a very simple, from-the-heart beautiful book that is about life and making a stab at trying to uphold the things we believe in as Americans and tolerance is the base of that.”

Marsha Mercer, national columnist, also wrote a timely column yesterday called “Reading is the First Step in Writing our Own Destiny.” “For people to believe they can write their own destiny, they must be able to read.”  And she goes on to comment….imagine if we had put all the money we are pouring into Iraq into the war on illiteracy….

FUND EDUCATION…NOT WAR!

Weeping Willows March 23, 2008

Spring has arrived! What a glorious time of year. Not only do I love to see all the blooms, I also love to see the “green” returning. Willows have a wispy way of reminding me of many joys.

We are In Delaware right now. It is cold and I look forward to going south via the Eastern Shore later today. Hoping to celebrate spring by going kite flying at one of our favorite VA state parks.

I have been listening to Robert Fulghum’s latest book in the car. It is called What on Earth Have I Done? This man is a Unitarian minister who lives in Seattle, Utah and Crete. His office is a houseboat. Generally, I would call him an observer/philosopher of life and all things amusing and mundane. I enjoy hearing him go on and on. ( sometimes) I loved his Kindergarten philosophy so many years ago. So, I am a follower. The rest of my family (traveling companions) voted not to listen to him on our drive to the beach yesterday. Oh well. (But they listened and laughed on the way home, while in a traffic jam near Williamsburg!) http://www.robertfulghum.com/
We watch CBS Sunday Morning many weekends. I love the nature meditation at the end. The stories are upbeat and interesting. Today they featured Peeps. There are now Peeps diorama contests and numerous websites featuring Peeps!  Have fun! ( And consider roasting them over a campfire too!)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/25/sunday/main683276.shtml?source=search_story

http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/index.php

 The Monument Ave Easter Bonnet Parade occured yesterday also.  Love those photos! Thanks Richmond for being a great home town!

Asparagus Quiche- FYI March 18, 2008

Spring break is coming! Spring break is coming!

I am starting to dream about camping and warm weather; despite the fact that I feel chilly and am in need of comfort food.  I have found these delightful frozen whole wheat pie crusts and at times of fatique, I like to make quiche or chicken pot pie.  Tonight it is asparagus quiche.  What a lovely spring veggie! Thin, fresh and green are the only type invited.

For some reason, I have switched over to free-range brown eggs.  Why?  They seem to taste better.

Have you ever noticed anything “odd” about asparagus?  While searching for a photo, I came upon this question and answer on Yahoo.  Here’s the answer—- you figure out the question.

“The odor of urine after eating asparagus is due to the volatile sulfur-containing compound methanethiol. A study of 800 volunteers in 1987 reported that 43% produced a smell similar to rotten or boiling cabbage after eating asparagus.

It is also interesting to note that just because you don’t smell anything foul in your urine after eating asparagus does not mean your urine doesn’t stink. There are polymorphisms (variations in a trait) in the human population for the ability to smell that compound. Some people are not able to detect it while others are hypersensitive and are able to smell the compound even when diluted.”  Don’t you just love “statistics”??