Miscellaneous Missives

I am quite excited about it being Friday. The only thing better would be if today was Saturday. It's been a long week full of meetings and other evening events. Today I walked into school and truthfully told a colleague I felt like I was 110 years old. Soooo... Instead of being productive during my prep hour, I am eating candy left from yesterday (I should never buy candy I like as a treat for students), reading, and posting to my blog. Someone should remind me of this as I complain this weekend about the school work I need to get done (or not). April Book Connection Today is the last day of the literacy challenge, so it will be the last day I leave an area to write about what I am reading. This morning I had two kids pick up the book that was sitting on my desk and tell me it was good. Since it comes recommended, I have decided to read it during lunch/my prep. It seems like it will be good. The prologue was quite intriguing. The prologue ends with an empty plane or at l...

Today was Poem in Your Pocket day (PiYP) day. I have started calling it PIMP (poem in my pocket) in my every day life. Last night I tried to decide on one poem and ended up with three (one by Rumi, one by Mary Oliver, and "Keep a Poem in Your Pocket"). Since I put all three on one sheet of paper, I think it's legit. The day went fabulous! Only three of my students forgot their poems (97+% damn good). After polling teachers, it seems like this was close to the average across the building. They were excited to share their poems in my class and other classes. At lunch we made a wall of all the poems. Some students didn't want to give up their poem which was endearing. Eighth graders (students from last year) were approaching me showing me that they had a poem in their pocket. At the of the day, I even had teachers come to me disappointed that no one had asked for their poem. One even e-mailed, so I knew she had one in her pocket all day. My principal also sto...

I have officially switched from Bloglines to Google Reader and am a bit overwhelmed. Bloglines obviously was not able to pick up all of the current articles and blogs. Even if I looked at Google Reader once an hour and marked summaries as read, I still would have 90+ summaries each time I looked. Maybe I should narrow my list, but I would be afraid that I missed something. After all if it wasn't for the Google Reader and my Star Tribune feed, I wouldn't have know that Freddie Hoiberg was going back to ISU to coach the men's basketball team before it was posted officially on Cyclones.com. April Book Blog Today I started reading When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present. I think there are a lot of things I take for granted because women before me fought for things I take for granted. One thing is wearing pants to work. It seems like something small, but it wouldn't have happened 70 years ago. Who knew that at one time...

Today I sat down to read Half Broke Horses . My goal was to finish at least half the book. I did this and found it underwhelming. This book sucks. It needs more emotion, more dialogue, more everything. I do not connect to the characters. I don't even care. Actually I was reading as my reading group was reading. A student came up to me and said she didn't like her book. "Then get a new one. Don't read boring books are books you don't like," I reminded her. After I wrote her out a pass to the media center, I took my own advice and put my book in my bag. I will not finish Half Broke Horses . It will remain half done. Anyone want to read it? April Book Connection Tonight my adult nurture committee at church met in the church's library. I love it when we meet in the library. During the meeting I periodically got up and check out books I've spied on the shelves. My choices tonight were poetry books (Billy Collins, Rumi, and Francis of Assisi...

Today was the last meeting of the language arts steering committee's three year process. Needless to say this is a great feeling. It hasn't been horrible, but a couple of the high school teachers (not my feeder high school) drive me insane. At the end of the meeting I asked if I could throw out the binder of materials accumulated over the last three years. The answer was no. I was convinced yet commented that I was one of those who likes to purge. When I returned home, I tried to find a place for this binder. Looking at my "school" bookshelf I decided that I had a lot of materials that could be thrown. I made four trips to the dumpster and purged materials that I haven't looked at in the last five to ten years. Not only do I have open shelves to buy more books, I also decided to put the steering committee binder in the basement. Yea! It is a good day. 1) More room to put reading material. 2) It looks like the district will purchase the materials I wante...

Last night I was reminded that today's service would be a combination of two services (Big Church and Sacred Journey). Driving to church this morning, I wondered what big name guest speaker was bringing these to services together until I noticed the sign and remembered... Earth Sunday Celebration. Sometimes we spend Earth Day (week, whatever) concentrating on the negatives, but perhaps it should be a celebration. On the actual Earth Day, a colleague (world's greatest science teacher) concentrated on the positives (composting with Earth worms and what could be done) instead of the negatives (plastic pile in the middle of the ocean). Of course today's service also concentrated on the positives and our responsibility. My favorite readings were from Chief Seattle (“Man does not weave this web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”) and from Psalms. The Psalms reading was part of the children's sermon and the children ne...

Tonight a couple of my teacher friends and I had dinner then went to a concert put on by the Steeles . The concert, entitled "Working to Make a Better Love", was a fundraiser for the Dignity Center . Dinner started out with conversations about health care, education, taking care of other... the typical liberal politics and way of life issues (peace, love and justice). These themes were continued in the music of the concert. I felt pride as I a sat in my church listening to phenomenal voices talk about helping and loving other people. Why is this such a "liberal" conversation? Shouldn't we all care for each other? One song's lyrics said, "We gotta do what we do to make a better world." Duh! April Book Connection I am still trying to read Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls and am only ten to twelve more pages than I was last time I posted about it. Since I'm not enjoying reading it, I should either sit down for an expanded period of ...

Bloglines is the aggregator I use to keep my blogs and news feeds in one place. Yesterday morning when I went to check my Bloglines, it was "down temporarily." Throughout the day I kept checking. Last night it was still "down temporarily," and I began to panic. I should have a list of the blogs and news feeds I follow, but I don't. My posting on FB showing my concern led to a comment with this link . Of course this made it worse, what if Bloglines was down forever? How would I find my links? For example, one of the blogs I follow is by a friend who doesn't frequently post yet is building a house. What if she decides to post a picture of the progress, and I miss it? Today Bloglines came back, but now I'm nervous about this aggregator. My tech savvy friend suggested Google Reader. It seems like a good choice. After all Google is going away (at least not in the near future). Now I have a decision to make. Do I spend the evening watching the d...

Tuesday while reading other people's blog (and listening to a wonderful literacy podcast), I was intrigued by Poem in Your Pocket Day . After looking briefly at the link Tuesday night, I e-mailed my principal, the literacy lead, and another colleague. Since we had MCA testing Wednesday morning, my e-mail was of no importance. At 11:39AM my principal replied with the following e-mail message, "I love the idea - how would it look with only a week to plan?" This was obviously a good question for which I really didn't have a firm answer. As soon as I had a break, I went to find the literacy lead. She was teaching and came up to my room when she was done around 12:30 pm. Next I spoke with the other colleague (my 7th grade LA counterpart) and the media director. As I was walking through the hall, I ran into (almost literally) my principal again. By 2:20pm we had Poem in Your Pocket Day completely planned, including prizes, ideas for upcoming news shows, mentions ...

This morning for no apparent reason I woke up with a cold sore. Typically I get them if I'm nervous, upset, or sick. Life is actually fairly peaceful, so I'm not quite sure why I have this mass on my lip. Maybe I'm nervous about this evening's first golf outing of the season. My clubs are still dirty from last year. My intentions to complete my shoulder exercises surpass the reality of doing them. My golf game isn't that good when I practice, and of course I haven't picked up a club since last year. My hope of 70+º weather has diminished. Playing golf is one of those things that I enjoy even though I suck. Actually sometimes I dread going out, but I always have fun once I'm on the course away from everything (especially if I'm hitting the ball well and out driving the boys). April Book Connection Today is yet another day of proctoring the MCA test. Basically it's a two hours segment where I sit and read. Periodically I get out of my seat, ...

Last night as I was waiting for my Bodypump class, and old lady (70s?) came in the gym and asked to use one of the steps. Everyone let her. Most of us stayed back and tried not to watch as she started doing step aerobics. She was wearing a jog bra and shorts. Part of me was appalled by her old lady skin. Honestly, it was a bit difficult to watch. As I thought more about it, I began to admire the lady. I'm younger than her, and I don't think I could show up at the YWCA with my belly showing. Obviously she was fit, but her old lady skin... Then again, I can only hope that when I'm older I'll still be working out and feel comfortable in my skin. April Book Connection Today I finished the YA book I started yesterday ( Alabama Moon ). It's actually a book that I would recommend to students. Although it has nothing to do with redneck Republicans, I couldn't help but see them in the crazy law enforcement and main character's father's hatred of the go...

Some days it's difficult to post. I have nothing. Unfortunately the only thing worth noting since yesterday's post is my dinner last night. I bought a piece of cake and some ice cream. This was my dinner. I was so excited until I realized the cake wasn't that great and the ice cream was really frozen yogurt. April Book Connection Today I partially read through three books. One was a poetry book which I skimmed through. It was a book of poems written by twenty-something authors. One poem made me laugh (less edgy than most in the book). do you think if you left your house emily dickinson your poems would have titles? I also started reading a YA (young adult) novel which I can't remember the title. The main character's parents have died. Before his father died, he told him to move to Alaska because there will be people like them who hate the government. Each time this is mentioned I can only think of Sarah Palin and the Teabaggers. The third book I have st...

Ahh, not everyone is awake this morning. It's only 8:00, and I already have ten less books on my to read pile. I made the decision to get rid of nine books I probably will never read and take them to Steeple People . The other book I actually read (see April Book connection). This move was prompted by my lack of shelving and my new Bookmarks magazine (For Everyone Who Hasn't Read Everything). My day is going to be fantastic. April Book Connection This morning I read Michael Pollan's Food Rules . I was trying to decide if it should go in the pile to Steeple People or if I should take forty-five minutes and sit down and read it. My decision was the right decision, and the book will remain on my shelf. Nothing in the book was new to me, but the book was a good reminder of how I should eat. My biggest fault is chapter 35... "Eat sweet foods as you find them in nature." He states, "So don't drink your sweets, and remember: There is no such thing as...

Each Saturday I walk the Greenway to the Uptown YWCA for Bodypump. The last couple weeks has been wonderful. It's easier to walk when things are blooming than it is when it's icy and cold. Even with my iTouch playing this morning, I could hear this man and his anguish. "I don't see any vibrant color or..., " he complained. "Hmmm," I thought, "Is this man blind?" Maybe there isn't "vibrant color," but things are blooming all over the place. This evening I retraced the beginning (1/6) of my walk on the Greenway and took pictures. Maybe I view things differently. April Book Connection Wow! This evening I finished The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. On page 401 of 405 I realized the meaning of the title. "So God just leaves?" John asked, angry where Emilio had been desolate. "Abandons creation? You're on your own apes. Good luck!" "No. He watches. He rejoices. He weeps. He observes the ...

When I opened my e-mail at school today, I noticed an e-mail from my brother. He sent me the pdf of a Harper's Magazine article from 1964. Immediately I realized this was something I needed to read when I was home and it was a bit quieter. After reading this article, I tried to find a link and happened upon a Firedoglake blog entry . Political paranoia and the Republican party... then and now. "Events since 1939 have given the contemporary right-wing paranoid a vast theatre for his imagination, full of rich and proliferating detail, replete with realistic cues and undeniable proofs of the validity of his suspicions..." Does any of this sound familiar? April Book Connection Today my morning classes were being productive and quiet in the computer lab. They really didn't need me, and I was getting a bit bored. Actually I was also being a bit loud and disruptive, so I decided to check out a book from the media center. The first page of this young adult book talke...

The reading MCA test is done, so today I was able to teach... full classes all day. Needless to say today was much more enjoyable. All of my classes went well after the students were in the computer lab typing their poems, but the beginning of class was not exactly smooth. One class started out fairly rough, not surprising after two days of testing. Finally I stopped class and announced, "This is NOT clown school. No one received red noses on the way in the door today. Clown school is down the street. This is an educational setting. We're here to work hard and learn." Thinking about this later as they were working diligently, it made me laugh. How did these cheesy tirade about clown school actually work? April Book Connection Today I surpassed my goal for reading a chapter a day in my RTI (response to intervention?) book. I actually read two chapters. As I was reading these during my reading advisory group, one student kept coming to mind. My principal stoppe...

from The Swallow (novel place circa 2060) "Cubs fan," John muttered. The Chicagoan's curse. Sandoz pushed a towel aside, eyes wide. "How bad?" "Anybody can have a couple of lousy centuries..." "You're not hopeless, Emilio." "John, I could tell you things about hopeless that even a Cubs fan wouldn't understand." Ok, this passage really has little to do with the Cubs, but it humored me. Growing up in Iowa, one is either a Twins fan or a Cubs fan. I became a Cubs fan although I am becoming a bit of a twins fan too. Anyway, Cubs fans don't get excited about winning the World Series; they get excited about winning pennants. I love the brevity this part added to the book. Today as the Twins were playing in the rain, I was talking to a fellow colleague about the awesome field. I commented that most Cubs fans are as excited about Wrigley Field as the Cubs. We need something legitimate to have pride in. April Book Chal...

This afternoon I spent some time reading on my deck. It's not the same as reading on the beach in Mexico, but it is a sure sign that spring is here and the weather is tolerable. Actually I love spring. Today on my walk I marveled at the flowers starting to open. Even the trees are getting fuller. I even saw a dandelion... not sure what to think about that. Thanks to my tech savvy friends, my pictures from Mexico have been transferred from my camera to my computer. If you've seen my cheesy Animoto videos I made before break, you've seen most of my pictures. Zihautenejo hasn't really changed since the last time I visited. I absolutely love it. April Book Connection Today the students completed round one of the MCA (NCLB) testing. This meant I spent two hours this morning proctoring the test and reading. As the kids were settling down for the test, I explained that I would be reading while they were testing. One student wanted to know if I could watch them, be re...

OMG! I am posting before I go to Bodypump which seems absurd since I can't sit down without being in pain from Saturday's session. As I was warned, the latest version is a bit tough. OMG! Today was my first day after break. Let's say getting up to an alarm is not as calming as getting up to no alarm. I felt a bit tired and out of sorts all day. A student in my last class said my tan made me look like a burnt marshmallow. Of course he didn't stop there, he continued with, "You know you're white and..." April Book Connection My book connections follows the OMG category. I am half way through The Sparrow by Mary Dora Russell. This book came recommended in a discussion about my top ten favorite books. As I have noted before, a high school classmate who runs an independent bookstore said it would be in her top ten. She also noted that she had read it for two book clubs. One of which did not bring up religion or God. This seems strange to me. The...

North Country by Mary Oliver In the north country now it is spring and there is a certain celebration. The thrush has come home. He is shy and likes the evening best, also the hour just before morning; in that blue and gritty light he climbs to his branch, or smoothly sails there. It is okay to know only one song if it is this one. Hear it rise and fall; the very elements of your soul shiver nicely. What would spring be without it? Mostly frogs. But don’t worry, he arrives, year after year, humble and obedient and gorgeous. You listen and you know you could live a better life than you do, be softer, kinder. And maybe this year you will be able to do it. Hear how his voice rises and falls. There is no way to be sufficiently grateful for the gifts we are given, no way to speak the Lord’s name often enough, though we do try, and especially now, as that dappled breast breathes in the pines and heaven’s windows in the north coun...

I loved my morning walks in Mexico even though I always came home dripping in sweat. They were full of vibrant flowers and green foliage. Today my morning walk did not leave me dripping with sweat, but it did leave me with images of green foliage and the realization that those vibrant flowers are coming. Spring in the midwest if always exciting. More people are walking and biking on the trails and around the lake. Everyone is enjoying the sun and the budding trees. When I returned from my walk, I opened my windows to let the fresh air inside. This was short lived since I am a wimp, and it brought too much cold air inside. It reminds me that it is still spring not summer. April Book Connection "It's the birthday of a writer who said, 'You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.'" Yesterday I place a challenge on Facebook for people to come up with a list of their top ten books....

Yesterday after my marathon plane trip home (Zihaut to LA to Detroit to MSP), I drove to Iowa without taking a nap. This was not one of my brightest moves, but I was able to stay awake by talking with friends and loved ones on the phone. Tomorrow I’ll start blogging about the current day instead of the previous day (although I’ll still have little to say). This afternoon I should be back to the hum drum, boring, mundane world. SIGH:( I will return home to laundry, grocery shopping, and the daily necessities. YUCK! Is spring break really almost over? Pictures from Mexico? HELP!! I am going to elicit help from my tech savvy friends for this one. I can see the pictures I took on my camera. The cord and camera do not bring up iPhoto. My other memory card that plugs into the computer does bring up iPhoto. I bought a card reader. Using the card reader, iPhoto does not engage, yet if I use the card reader with another card (from my father’s camera) iPhoto engages. Obviously the...

It's official. When I arrive in Minneapolis, my trip home will have taken me through four time zones. Maybe that says it all. Oh wait, there's more. This afternoon I will drive to Okoboji. It doesn't seem as though this was the best plan, but after a nap, I should be ready to go. April Book Connection During my return home flights I finished Crooked Little Heart by Anne Lamott. I absolutely love her wit and writing. Crooked Little Heart started a bit slow, but soon I was quite involved with the characters and their problems. Maybe the NPR book review I read yesterday (while reading the book) says it best.

Normally on vacation I'm ready to go home the last day. This vacation I could stay at least another week. Today I have to be off the beach by 1:30, so I can shower and check out of my room. It's sad. I absolutely love it here in Zihaut. Maybe I'll come back in November for my birthday! April Book Connection Yesterday I read Game Change . My goal was to get half way through it, but I finished it. It was exciting to relive the election process. The background knowledge on the candidates was also quite interesting. The Iowa Caucuses process game back to me. I saw Edwards, Obama, and Clinton in Iowa. When I saw Edwards, he seemed "down to earth" wearing jeans and a fleece. At the time I really wanted him to be Obama's VP. Obama made a great choice with Biden. I ♥ Joe Biden. Hillary's event was a production. Now I understand her desperation. I also saw Bill and still think he has the persona of a rock star. When I read the Republican side, I wa...

Life in Zihaut is wonderful. I have no complaints. When I left I downloaded some school work to my computer. Many thought looking at student work over break was ridiculous. I figured I would rather read 100+ poems about students definition of Valley View at home or next to the ocean. Besides, since I am traveling by myself, I really don’t do a lot after it gets dark outside. Last night after cocktails with my sun friends, I read through the poems. They actually made me feel proud of my students. Tonight when I have to copy and paste them all to the website, I might feel differently. Then again how bad can it be working and listening to the waves crash against the beach in warm weather? Hey, where are the pictures? I know. For some reason I took some pictures and video the first day, but my camera is not connecting with my computer. Instead of bringing my obnoxious camera which says tourist needing attack, I brought the one I haven't used since the Iowa caucus. Needless t...

As noted yesterday, I decided not to walk in for Easter mass because I wanted to procure my place in the sun. Since I was here four (?) years ago, they have put up more huts to shade their guests. Everyone gets a shaded ocean view. I wanted a sunny ocean view, so this morning I decided to find the perfect place with NO shade. I actually found two sights that would do and left my towel as a safe guard. When I went to the front desk to see if the clerk had better advice, she looked at me as if I was muy loco American. Si! The good news is I am not the only muy loco American. My chair was still safe when I was ready to spend my afternoon in the sun. Another lady (about my age), her husband, and their daughter had also occupied the only sun spot. Their room is eight feet from the chairs. It seems they come twice a year. We chatted about the new shade huts, and they promised to save me a place for today. I can look over now and see the towel they put out for me! April Book Conn...

I will admit I am not going to Easter mass. Instead I am trying to scope out the best chair for sun. Wish me luck. My blogs seem a day behind since I'm posting in the morning (don't want to lose sun time), so today I'm really talking about yesterday. Yesterday morning as I was running to get another tissue, I declared, “I’m the person you don’t want to sit next to on a plane.” This was after my Friday acupuncture session and a Saturday morning session full of antibiotics, probiotics, Advil Cold and Sinus, and nasal spray. As I found my seat on the plane, I wondered what was worst my sinus problems or the four second graders on each side of me including the seat next to me. The second grader next to me was playing his psp (or whatever the heck it was) with the volume extremely loud (don't they have headphones?). His father must have noticed my disgust and had him sit next the window as if this could lesson the sound of the machine. Luckily this was short lived,...

Last night Keith Olbermann read from James Thurber. Earlier this year as his father was going through his end of life passage, he read Peacelike Mongoose by James Thurber. Yesterday I spoke with a friend who mentioned getting paper work together for her end of life wishes even though she is not yet in that stage. I have my own health care directive that explains my wishes. As Mr. Olbermann (deserves respect) started to read A Box to Hide in last night, he shared how he read Thurber to his father as he was in the final days of his life. It was touching and poignant. We all need someone who loves us enough to let us die in the manner we choose and to read to us even when we are adults. Gratitudes (difficult to get three at 8:30 am): 1) reading and Keith Olbermann 2) ready to board my flight 3) my blanket! April Reading Connection See above. Actually I am so thrilled that I only had to pack my iTouch instead of packing ten books. Last night I downloaded yet one more book to my T...

Of course Good Friday services are always somber. I always leave contemplative and sober. Instead of merely concentrating on the events of Jesus' Crucifiction, today's service discussed our obligation in today's society. Helping those less fortunate and promoting peace were the messages. We were asked to show kindness, compassion, love and mercy. Today, as always, I left contemplative and sober, but also filled with hope. I can make a difference. I can be a better person. I can show more kindness, compassion, love, and mercy. Giving thanks today for... 1) probiotics (who knew one should take probiotics with antibiotics) 2) acupuncture and entertaining stories 3) great friends (watching Kitty Klaus and taxiing me to and from aeropourto) April Book Connection Maybe I shouldn't be writing today since I couldn't make a "connection" to the book I finished ( Game by Walter Dean Myers). It's not a bad book, and I think students (especially boys) who...

Late this morning I started spring break. Today is Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday). It is significant to the Christian calendar because it commemorates Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. Many churches remember this with communion and foot washing (Jesus washed the feet of his disciples). In remembrance of this I decided to get a pedicure today. When I mentioned this to a friend last night, she said it was blasphemy. Although I realize it's not truly in the spirit and has more to do with my toes being out of shoes, I don't think it's necessarily blasphemy. Today is also the first day of April. This morning I read a blog. A group of people are having a contest to see if they can blog each day in April. The theme is literary posts. Although I'm not officially part of the contest, I've decided to give this a try. Each post may not be completely about reading, but I will try to give a literary blurb each day named the April Book Connection (ABC). Apri...