Miscellaneous Missives

The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before. It is not possible to keep it from coming, because it will. That's just how Advent works. What is possible is to not see it, to turn just as it brushes pas you. So stay. Sit. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon. ~Jan L. Richardson Today is the first Sunday of Advent. The theme for Advent this year at my church, which I am excited to pursue, is "Welcoming the Wild One." Sometimes the beginning of winter seems dark as the days become shorter and shorter. This is a time to remember that each week, as we light the Advent candles, a little more light appears bringing us closer to "the light," the celebration of the birth. Advent also reminds me that I often spend too much time worrying about the small things inste...

This morning I woke up early to start my day. First I checked weather.com to see what type of layers I would need for my walk. As I started to pull clothes out of my drawer, I was dismayed; it was a complete mess. Since it was Saturday, I took the time to organize the drawer. Next I decided while I had already lost focus of my goal, I would weigh in. My heart dropped as I looked at the scale. The scale showed nothing but ugliness. Most people would have looked at the large numbers and immediately went for the walk and/or to renew the YWCA membership. I chose another option and took a nap since I was feeling sorry for myself.

I spent last evening at the Cmon Inn in Park Rapids. It was fantastic. This morning I walked downtown and checked everything out before returning to my room to read some more before my adventures in the wilderness. As it turns out I didn't really need to walk this morning as we had the opportunity to hike and get exercise this afternoon. Let's say I am not strong enough to pull a sled full of wood (not even strong enough to help pull a sled full of wood). Lucky for me there were less challenging tasks such as swinging (it seems lighter people-- 6 year old-- go higher), stapling cards to trees (obstacle for the deer), smashing pumpkins (Gallagher does a better job), and cleaning up trash left (for at least twenty years???). Being in the woods was peaceful especially since it was too cold for the ticks. Life is good!

Grace This is a day for thanks. A day in which we see or hear or feel the wonders of the other moments of the year. This is a day for time. A day in which we think of pasts that make our present rich and future beautiful. This is a day for joy. A day in which we share a gift of laughter warm and gentle as a smile. Above all, this is a day for peace. So let us touch each other and know that we are one. For these and other blessings, we thank Thee, God. ~Daniel Roselle I do have a lot for which to be thankful. Words can never express my full gratitude, but I agree with this poem. Sometimes holidays become a time of stress instead of a time of taking a deep breath and being peaceful and gentle. Holidays should be a time of family, friends, and yes, laughter. Today I spent time with my dad's significant other's family. They are a motley group, but they (most in the group) know how to laugh and engage others in conversation. When I arrived earlier than my Dad and Carol, I felt...

It has always been my choice not to have children. I've always said that it was because I was too selfish. Tonight the true reason was evident. I returned home to find three boxes left out in the rain by UPS (thanks dumb ass). As I opened the door, I knocked Kitty Klaus (KK- only child) over as I was trying to get the boxes inside. Later as I was trying to get directions for my trip tomorrow, I realized I hadn't yet fed KK. Then as I was trying to look at weather.com and figure out which days I would be up north, I realized I had made no arrangements for KK. Luckily, L is in town and able to watch him. Many parents get their children pets to teach responsibility. My pet is all the responsibility I can handle. Maybe it has less to do with selfishness and more to do with lack of responsibility.

I come from a small family, so Thanksgiving dinner was never a grand event. We never had to figure out who was bringing what, where the meal would be, or at what time people would be seated. This Thanksgiving I will be going to dinner with thirty plus people which will certainly be new to me. When I asked about the time of dinner I was a bit perplexed. Everyone needs to be seated by 1:00. This is confusing. Isn't Thanksgiving dinner always between the two football games? What's up with everyone seated by 1:00?

Friday I posted two truths and a lie as my Facebook status: Two Truths and a Lie: I am thinking about the holidays because: 1) I need a vacation... now. 2) I have most of my Christmas shopping done. 3) I am eating nuts in the shell... cracking them give the holiday feel. The lie was that I needed a vacation... now. In reality I felt good about how life was going and had the majority of the weekend to myself to get the ordinary life tasks completed. My Christmas shopping is basically complete (if M & H would send any type of list it would be complete... different post). As I geeked on FB, I cracked nuts and felt at peace with the world and felt ready for the holidays. Today I spent nine hours and work without breaking for lunch and felt good about what I had completed. It helps that I work with wonderful people ("for the most part"). My meeting this morning "was typical" while my meeting after school was fun and productive. Driving home I decided to spe...

I am always amazed at the cost of health care. Yesterday I stood behind two people at the pharmacy. Although both had insurance it did not cover their prescription. The first gentleman was purchasing some type of cream. His cost was almost $300. He opted for an over-the-counter cream for $7. Behind him was a gentleman whose prescription was nearly $700. He opted to try to contact his insurance company. I am amazed at the cost of medication. I was lucky because my prescription was completely covered by insurance even though I was ready to pay for the entire prescription using my health saving account. Last night the senate voted to continue debating the health care bill although today four members are already speaking out against it. Even though the "negative Nellies" are speaking out, I am looking for some kind of bill to pass. Health care and the political power over health care was also discussed today in church. One of our members (pictured on front page of ye...

Today one of my male honors language arts students entered my class with his bangs in pigtails. He was also acting quite juvenile (younger than most seventh graders). As I approached his desk he was obviously trying to get me to comment on his hairdo. I gave him the comment he wanted, "I am going to ignore this situation because I like to imagine that my honors students are indeed both bright and mature, so this is really not happening." The girl next to him asked me a question that caught me a bit off guard, "How many students are in this class?" "Twenty-Seven," I replied a bit confused at her reasoning. "Twenty-Six isn't bad," she added with a smile. "Nice! I should give you extra credit for that quick response," I told her with pride. She is indeed the kind of student I want in my honors class, bright, witty, and able to think. A bit later as I was walking around the room, I looked to see the pigtails were gone. I also cau...

Yesterday I had two meetings back to back. After school I started with a two hour language arts steering committee meeting. With barely enough time to make my church meeting, I was feeling a bit crazed. As I walked in (a bit late) to my church meeting, my pastor kind of gasped as she saw me. It seems I looked a bit worn out. Our meeting was in the church library which didn't work out well for me or the adult nurture committee. Since I had already been sitting for two plus hours, I was a bit antsy. In addition, I had never been in the church library. I continued to be an active member of the group as I occasionally bounced out of my seat to check out a variety of books. When I saw Kate DiCamillo's new book, I decided to take it with me. Did I mention I have never been in the library before? I didn't know how to check out the book. It was bothering me, so in the middle of a conversation about the Advent study, I asked my pastor how to check out books. Kindly she ...

Tonight I started opening a box from Holly, Michael, Asterisk, and Umbra. From the beginning it was wonderful and engaging. I need to wait until I open the contents, but merely opening the box and card made me giggle. This is a tough task since I had two meetings after school and this evening. The card says, "Palin can see my ass from her house." Hee Hee!

Typically, I am not a fan of having highlights added to my hair because it takes forever. Sitting in a chair for any period of time is not easy. Why add more time to an already long process? This last time I asked Sheree to add red highlights. Although she was hesitant, she said she would. When she said she'd bring out the swatches (or whatever she called them), I told her to choose whatever color/shade she wanted. Leaving it totally up to her was less stressful than trying to make the decision on my own. My intention was to change things up an add a something different to my mundane life (not that changing hair color necessarily does this). A friend asked for a picture, so I decided to make it a blog. BTW- Reactions have certainly been mixed.

I have had "gunk" in my throat and sinuses for the last three weeks (probably a month). Since my temperature was 97.1º, on Thursday I canceled my doctor's appointment. Instead of going to the doctor, I opted for a couple rounds of acupuncture figuring I could go Friday in Iowa and Monday in Minneapolis. While I was at my appointment with my acupuncturist in Iowa, she gave me a brochure for NeilMed sinus rinse. After reading it, I decided to give it a dry. It is the same idea as the Neti pot which for some reason I am not talented enough to make work. After two days of using the sinus rinse, the gunk in my throat is gone. Unfortunately I am still blowing my nose, but at least it's an improvement. Why am I sharing this? It is my attempt at an advertisement for NeilMed sinus rinse. It's available at Walgreens, Target, CVS, etc. The experts can't be wrong, and I consider myself an expert with sinus problems.

Sometimes I like listening to the radio on the way to Iowa because the stations often play older songs. Today I listened to Better Days. The lyrics are wonderful especially as the commercialism of Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier. It's not that I don't enjoy shopping for loved ones during the holiday season, but it shouldn't start before Thanksgiving.

Today I have been looking for a poem that stresses community with no luck. I need a poem to go with a quote and picture I am using next week. As I looked through various poetry books and online, I thought about community. Community is more than the neighborhood in which we live. This morning a group of reading and language arts teachers came together in community in a 7:30 morning meeting. We are amazing together. Each of us brings strengths and weaknesses to the group, but together we are phenomenal. No one in the group planned on working on this project for four hours, but we did. I am impressed with everyone's willingness to "go with the flow" and "do what's best for the kids."

Today I had enough of being tired and with the gunk in my nose, sinuses, and throat. After being sick for at least three weeks, I made an appointment with the doctor. It seems as though I've tried everything. After all for three weeks I've been foregoing my morning smoothie for oatmeal with no milk and orange juice in attempts to avoid milk products. I've also ingested a healthy diet of Mucinex D and Benedryl. My fear is that the doctor will laugh when she reads my temperature. I've been taking it periodically for the last week. It's been as high as 97.9º. Normal, for me, is 97.1º. Tonight it read 97.3º. Am I completely wasting my time and money? I certainly hope this is not the case.

I will admit it's been difficult for me to post lately. It seems as though I have been sick for a month. Today I had every intention of posting something witty until I found this video of the "slow loris." If you go to youtube.com, you can find more videos. I know this because I looked. As pathetic as it may be, I also did research on the slow loris. "Movement is typically slow, with three limbs almost always in contact with whatever the loris is moving on (Wiens 2002; Rigel 2004). Slow lorises are capable of quadrupedal movement, both above, and while suspended from, a support in their environment (Ishida et al. 1986)." http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/slow_loris/taxon The post still may be pertinent since I kind of feel like the slow loris as I struggle with this crap in my throat and sinuses. Maybe next week I'll go back to the doctor.

This evening I ate at Galactic Pizza for the first time and was quite impressed. They are "pizza with a conscience." The list of "value led activities" impressed me before I even ordered my pizza: * When conditions allow, our food is delivered to your door using 100% electric vehicles. * All of the power purchased to run our restaurant is renewable wind energy. * All of our mozzarella cheeses come from cows not treated with rBGH. * We have incorporated a number of organic items into the menu. We ordered the "old school pizza" and were not disappointed. I love a local restaurant that not only serves good food, but is like minded. In reality I love everyone who is like minded. My only regret was that I was facing the street instead of facing the door that the pizza cadets were exiting with their tights and capes. Next time I will choose my seat more wisely. Did I mention the meal was concluded with Muddy Paws cheesecake?

Today I went to an African American literacy conference. One session I went to was on the spoken word. We were each given a some words (form poem) to get us started writing a quick poem. It was to show the ease at which someone can start a poem. I will probably use it this year as my students write poems. I'm from God's country corrupted by meth and corporate America where people always visit but rarely stay The lakes' beauty is bountiful. The lakes' shores are dwindling. The lakes' charm remains. I'm from summer sun sitting on the beach winter white shoveling the snow I'm from a tourist trap. A place that thrives in the summer and dies in the winter The sky knows my name. People know my name. I'm from home. God's country where people know my name.

This is one of the view rides that still gives my "butterflies in my stomach." I'm sad to see it leave Cedar Point. At least it's not being demolished.

I love my church book club. This evening we discussed the book, Listening is an Act of Love . As we discussed the StoryCorps stories, we also shared stories of life, love, and community. The conversation was serious, thought provoking, and uplifting as we realized everyone has a story. In my head, tonight's stories were juxtaposed with the stories of my students. They are writing the story of a picture they brought from home. Some are silly and some are heart felt. One particular young man is telling a rather difficult story. Although it has taken him a week to have the courage to write it, he started it today. May we remember that we all have stories to tell, but some are more difficult than others. It reminds me to take the time to listen to the stories of others before I make judgments.

Voting today was somewhat stressful. Even though I was given great advice by someone who has the same political beliefs, I was confused looking at the ballot. My confusion was about the park board initiative. I hope I voted correctly. Of course voting for mayor was easy... R.T. Ryback. Since I was sure about that vote, I didn't even look farther down the row to see the humor... not really sure the ballot is the place for this cleverness.

I am often amazed at people's lack of intelligence. 1) Did you hear about the woman from Wisconsin who was driving drunk and called to report that she was driving drunk? They asked her to pull over, so the police could come arrest her. She did. 2) Did you hear about the Halloween part that ended with some stabbings? They promoted the party on a public Facebook page and wondered how it "got out of hand." 3) Did I tell you about the difficulties of my honors class today? Each student was supposed to write the who, what, where, when, and why of his/her story on a sticky note. They would label who, then write the who. After teaching this lesson to my inclusion special education class and two other classes, it was my honors class that didn't get it. "What do we put for the what?" Yes, this is an actually question. Happy Monday!

Worship was a bit different today since Walter Wink was speaking at the 9:30 service in the sanctuary ("big church"). The Sacred Journey (my service) met for a half hour in celebration of All Saints Day. Then we went into "big church" to hear Walter Wink's message of peace. It only took me a couple of minutes in big church before I was tense and not relaxed as I am in Sacred Journey. I think it's the attitude, the music, the organ and perhaps foremost the choir (which goes with attitude) that makes me feel uptight. The feeling is quite conservative although that is not at all true. Fortunately the children's sermon brought relaxation and laughter as the paster at one point commented to the children, "You are not working with me." I was please to be able to hear Walter Wink since I have read one of his books. When he started talking it reminded me that big church is certainly not conservative. One thing he pointed out was "the only...