Miscellaneous Missives

It comes as no shocker that I have an addictive personality. Unfortunately I do a lot of unhealthy things in excess. My latest addiction is a game called "Angry Birds". As with most of my addictions, this is not my fault. Without the help of others (dealers), I would never have found this game. In fact initially I had no desire to play this game. In fact the first time I looked at it, it seemed dumb. Heck, maybe it is a dumb game, but it's super addicting. Again, it's not my fault. Peer pressure led me to give the game a try. Others could have stopped this addiction, but they merely fed it. Tonight I played until the battery on my iTouch died. The person (dealer) who first shared the game (drug) with me suggested I plug in my iTouch and play. For some reason, I had enough strength to know this was crazy. When the iTouch was charged, however, I played some more. I would recommend that you download this application, but I am a better person that to sugges...

One of my writing assignment for my spiritual memoir class it to write about a turning point in my childhood faith. This is what I wrote: Writing about a spiritual turning point in my childhood is difficult for a couple of reasons. First, my recollections of my childhood are sketchy. Second, I always was part of a church community, so it's difficult to think of a turning point. A couple of instances come to mind. Yesterday I posted about one. Today I am posting the other one that come to mind. This helped me realize I was more than a number/member in church. I was an individual whom was cared for and important. When I graduated from high school, the reverend came to my graduation with a gift. He held out two hands and asked me to hold out mine. Excitement filled me until I felt the gifts in my hands. One of my hands held a small smooth stone, and the other hand held a walnut. I looked up puzzled. "Thanks," I probably muttered. "What are these?" Of...

One of my writing assignment for my spiritual memoir class it to write about a turning point in my childhood faith. This is what I wrote: Writing about a spiritual turning point in my childhood is difficult for a couple of reasons. First, my recollections of my childhood are sketchy. Second, I always was part of a church community, so it's difficult to think of a turning point. A couple of instances come to mind. Since I really have nothing interesting to post about, I'll post one turning point (kind of turning point) today and the other tomorrow. When I was finished with confirmation class, getting ready for "confirmation Sunday", controversy hit our small group. Half of the group was shopping for their Sunday best while a couple members couldn't afford new clothes. Sunday best was not a possibility. Someone made the decision we would wear choir robes instead. Of course I had been busy walking in my new heels and was disappointed until I realized that pe...

This afternoon the language arts PLC (professional learning community) met after school for our bi-monthly (twice a month) meeting. We typically start with a game or something entertaining. Today we started by discussing times when people used phrases incorrectly such as: a moo point, an old wise tale, and a mind bottling experience. It was entertaining, and a great opener for our meeting. We then took time to discuss the upcoming mandatory language arts meeting about standards. Since the state has adopted new standards, our recently adopted district standards need to be revised. I was asked to explain and started by saying the district people would visit all five secondary schools; then the steering committee would put the results together. As I was trying to explain that we would be differentiating between essential, important, and enhancing standards, I had major difficulties. Instead of saying essential, I said something like essentual (similar to sensual and sexual). Of cou...

Today was the second of my three spiritual memoir classes. Class started with a discussion about how personal writing is easier than public writing. I knew the answer to a fellow classmate's question although I can't remember the exact question. It's all about revision. The instructor showed a diagram she had made with the stages of writing. This diagram had a protective bubble around personal writing before the revising and publishing stage. Later we were asked to think of a question we were chewing on. I started to write, "As I sit and listen, I wonder about my blog. Have I popped the bubble around my own thoughts by making it public? Does my writing suffer because I make no attempt to revise before I publish?" As I was writing about this, she gave us the true assignment. What memory do you have that centers around when you first faced this question? What memory might help you answer this question? My memory was of a first writing class in college. Al...

Morning by Mary Oliver Salt shining behind its glass cylinder. Milk in a blue bowl. The yellow linoleum. The cat stretching her black body from the pillow. The way she makes her curvaceous response to the small, kind gesture. Then laps the bowl clean. Then wants to go out into the world where she leaps lightly and for no apparent reason across the lawn, then sits, perfectly still, in the grass. I watch her a little while, thinking: what more could I do with wild words? I stand in the cold kitchen, bowing down to her. I stand in the cold kitchen, everything wonderful around me. from New and Selected Poems, 1992 Beacon Press, Boston Until this moment I did not know that Mary Oliver had a "cat" poem. Since I wanted to share the adorable pictures I took of Kitty Klaus and realized it didn't fit the post I was thinking of writing, I searched Mary Oliver + cats and came up with "Morning". The other post will be written, but this poems is actually fitting of the pho...

This morning as I walked into Caribou the line was crazy. Soon I realized that the computers were down. They were taking order by hand and filling them without charging. Everyone was getting their beverage, oatmeal, or breakfast sandwich without charge. I immediately put a couple of dollars in the tip mug. Although it didn't cover the drink, it was the least I could do. While I was waiting, I also took the opportunity to help move a display that was in the way as they tried to talk on the phone and get to the back of the register/computer. No one else helped. In fact most people had a difficult time getting out of the way. As I stepped out of the way to wait and watch, I soon realized no one else was tipping. Are you kidding me? The workers were super busy and giving out free drinks. The patrons received a free drink (etc.) and couldn't leave a dollar in the tip mug.

Fall Song Another year gone, leaving everywhere its rich spiced residues: vines, leaves, the uneaten fruits crumbling damply in the shadows, unmattering back from the particular island of this summer, this NOW, that now is nowhere except underfoot, moldering in that black subterranean castle of unobservable mysteries – roots and sealed seeds and the wanderings of water. This I try to remember when time’s measure painfully chafes, for instance when autumn flares out at the last, boisterous and like us longing to stay – how everything lives, shifting from one bright vision to another, forever in these momentary pastures. ~ Mary Oliver ~ Today is the Autumnal Equinox which is marks the beginning of fall. Although I love fall with the change of colors and crisper temps, I was hoping for a week of Indian summer before fall emerged. This weeks weather has been a bit dreary. A week of sun and abnormally warm temperatures would still be be welcome. Maybe I should enjoy the rarity of tonig...

This is the time of year I typically get sick. Since I don't want a repeat of last year's walking pneumonia, I have a plan of attack. My plans is to S ilence the illness. S oup-liquid, warm, soothing S leep- going to bed after I post (7:30) S hut down- turning off all screens (computer, phone, iTouch, television) S ucking on Sweets S illiness-- I think I attempted this with my lame attempt at a post. Ok, that's all... S orry

I wonder if "starve a cold" is factual. Yesterday I started feeling miserable while at work then I went out to eat with lovey friends. Today I continue to feel horrible. Tonight I am going out to eat before Talking Volumes . If "starve a cold" proves to be correct, I better watch my eating habits for the remainder of the week since I am completely uncomfortable and using boxes upon boxes of tissue. It's too bad it isn't "feed a cold."

This morning I took the first of three classes based on writing a spiritual memoir. I have no desire to write a spiritual memoir, but I thought the classes might be interesting. Actually, a little bit of guilt was also involved in my participation although I do not regret being part of today's class and look forward to the next two. Our first exercise was simple. We needed to write an extended metaphor about our spiritual journey. I compared my spiritual journey to road construction. The second exercise proved difficult to quite difficult. We were to write about a childhood sacred object. An object full of mystery, love, and/or energy. I started the writing by saying, "One of the difficulties I have is not remembering my childhood. When asked to remember an object from my childhood, only two objects come to mind, a bar of soap and a box cutter." Unfortunately this is true. I decided to write about the bar of soap. I wrote, "I'll write about the bar of...

Let me be honest. I am not a fan of my "honors" class this year (actually I am NEVER a fan of my "honors" class). Most of my dislike is not the students' fault; it is their previous teachers and perhaps parents. Many of the kids have no right to be in an honors language arts class. Although they can read, they can't write or think. This year to ease my frustrations, I started about by giving the students a contract stating that they must receive a B- or higher and that assignments could not be redone (amidst other criteria). Wednesday I discussed the assignment they would receive Thursday with the reserve teacher. I even gave them an oral example and showed them a sheet in their journal that would help write their first paragraph of the year. After discussing my example and the journal sheet, I told them they were not to ask questions since they would have everything they needed to be successful. We talked about what a paragraph looks like and that ...

Today I received my Oprah Magazine in the mail. Although I love to get something in the mail other than bills and junk mail, I'm not as excited to get the Oprah Magazine as I was when I first subscribed. In fact, I will not renew my subscription although I will miss the book reviews. No, this is not the impetus of my post. After reading the entire magazine (at least what I wanted to read) in one half hour (or less). I went back to take the " How Charismatic Are You? " quiz. It turns out I'm not! My score was 44 out of 72 which translates to "Most people fall into this category. You are likely to be quite accomplished in your interactions but your success is often due to intelligence and social skills you've learned-- not charm. You may be good with nonverbal techniques (varying expressions, using gestures), but you don't excel at all of them." Let's translate. You are boring. The word, "...not charm" hurt. What do you mean I...

Since I returned home late last night merely to eat and get ready for book club, I didn't have a chance to look at my comics on mycomics.com. This morning I was able to check out the political cartoons from yesterday. Some times a picture with a caption is worth 1,000 words.

When one leaves at 6:45am, they should return home before 5:45 pm, but this was not the case today. It's not as bad as it sounds. After all, I'll be paid time and one half overtime. Oh wait, I won't receive overtime. The good news is that my "overtime" was productive to quite productive. A colleague and I spent the time planning and making resources for the students. Actually we started out as a group of six working on an essay program and ended with the two of us "hammering out the details". It's ironic because as colleagues left or stopped by to see what we were doing, most mentioned they would talk to us later. This translates to, "You two do the work, and we'll get copies and needed help when you finish." We continued working and are prepared for the week after next. When we were almost finished she mentioned that it wouldn't be safe if we continued working. I thought it would be safe, but it wouldn't be sane sinc...

“Education is not filling a pail but the lighting of a fire.” ~William Butler Yeats Unfortunately this year I feel that I am doing a better job filling the pail than lighting the fire. Today I made participation cards hoping it will a) allow more students to speak b) help me learn names c) remind students that learning is more than merely sitting in class. My hope is if I get more participation, I will be closer to lighting the fire... no guarantees.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com. The story is that I have spent the last two or three years (maybe more) watching the Harkin Steak Fry on CSpan. This year I decided I wanted to drive to Iowa to attend. Yesterday a friend and I drove down, stayed overnight and attended today's event. I left feeling uplifted and proud to be a Democrat. Several times as candidates were talking I became a bit emotional and a bit giddy. David Plouffe and David Axelrod spoke. Both truly belive in the Democrat party and more importantly individual Democrats. Of course Harkin spoke. He always has my attention. Today he talked about taking over Kennedy's Chairmanship, and I truly believe he deserves it. The entire day my friend and I talked about how nice it was to be amongst "our people". I talked to a congressman on Obama's education committee and expressed my disgust with Arne Duncan and "Race to the Top". He not only agreed with me, but told me to ...

Today is the anniversary of 9-11. This may be blasphemous, but I am tired if hearing about it. Actually the entire post is probably full of blasphemy. The latest media coverage of the lunatic in Florida has enraged me. Although this would be a great place to talk about Florida and Texas in general, I will abstain. It's not necessarily the media coverage that bothers me; it's the fear and hatred that fills our country. Instead of raging about the idiocy of the belief that Muslims bombed the World Trade Center, let me mention the success of the bombing. The bombing didn't merely kill thousands of Americans. It left our country full of fear and hate which as lasted almost ten years and will probably last longer... job well done.

Jonathan Franzen is the first author of this year's Talking Volume series. I will admit I knew nothing about him until I saw his name on my tickets. Since his book wasn't to be on store shelves until August 31st, and he speaks on September 21st, I didn't know if I was going to purchase the book. When President Obama was given an advanced copy before he went on vacation, it piqued my curiosity. I downloaded it to my Touch and began reading it. In the beginning I wondered, "Is the President really reading this, or did he start it and refuse to finish it?" As I continued to read, I began to appreciate the story and understand the characters although I get the critique by many predominant female authors. One day after I was more than half the way through the book, an Amazon box was delivered to my door. It seems I ordered the hard cover book edition and forgot. Bummer! Today, still having about one-fourth of the book left, I have another disappointment (bumm...

I will be the first to admit that I have been tough on Obama lately. Yesterday in class I showed a clip of Michelle Obama talking about education and success. She mentioned the world as it is and the world as it should be. It reminded me of why I voted for Barack, but I feel as though we are in a bit of a quagmire with our politics. Of course I need to remind myself that this is mainly because of the Repbulican party. This morning as I was looking at my news clips, I read a part of Obama's Labor Day speech. This is not the stuff that makes mainstream news, but it's the stuff that should. This is one of my favorite sections. My hope is that I remember this when I'm getting frustrated with Obama. "So basically, they're betting that between now and November, you'll come down with a case of amnesia. They think you'll forget what their agenda did to this country. They think you'll just believe that they've changed. These are the folks whose polic...

Typically the first day of school is smooth with few behavior problems. Today I actually had to call a student out in the hall to discuss that his obnoxious behavior was not going to work in my class. It didn't go as I had wanted, but said student was somewhat receptive. Later in the same class we were discussing obstacles to education. Said student mentioned the death of a family member. Ahhh.... I think this talks volumes to his earlier disruption. If only some of our representatives and naysayers of the current education system could spend one day in the classroom. Teaching is more than get the book out and turn to page one.

I have a complaint that I would like to put in the weather's complaint box. One should not be forced to close one's windows in the summer because it is too cold. This is only secondary to having to close one's windows because it is too humid. If I was to open my windows as I should have the opportunity in the summer, I would have to turn on the eat. This is unfair!

Before A little over a week ago, I used my blog to solicit horticulture help . I was blessed with immediate feedback although I was still a bit perplexed. Instead of trying to heal the plant myself, I elicited actual help. Today I went to Auntie K's Garden , and K, a sage with Sage, helped me with the plant. It gave me a chance to visit and take a tour of her gardens. Not only was the time quite enjoyable, I also have before and after pictures to show the amazing recovery. Plus I have the knowledge needed to alleviate such problems in the future. It's not like I didn't do anything; I did purchase a pot that matches the Hen and Chicks plant . After

After sitting in trainings all day (Two of the three were worthwhile... someone telling how to read a textbook not worthwhile.), I decided I needed to knock something off my to do list that didn't require thinking or sitting, so I decided to repot my plants. I started with three plants that sit together in diverse pots. My decision was based on wanting their pots for the plants that will go to school and wanting to plant them in matching pots. Next I conquered the six plants that will make the trip back to school. This was followed by the plant that looked great but hadn't been touched for years. It ended up in the dumpster since it didn't really have any roots, and by then, I didn't really have any patience. Sunday I will elicit the help of a garden goddess to repot two other plants which I have neither the knowledge nor patience to do by myself. My other plants deserve the same treatment, but I really don't see anymore repotting happening. Maybe with a lit...

Since we had to be at school today from 11:00am to 7:00pm, and I ate breakfast at 7:30am, I decided to go out and get a sandwich from Jimmy John's around 1:00pm. As I was telling the secretaries where I was going, someone recommended that I have it delivered. I explained that I felt guilty about the waste of having it delivered. They helped me rationalize it. Either I drive to Jimmy John's, or they drive to me; there's actually probably more fuel waste if I drive because they might have more than one delivery. My plan was to drive to SA for my fountain Diet Pepsi the retrace my steps to go to Jimmy John's which is in the opposite direction. Now I only had to drive to SA. It sounded reasonable to me, so I placed the order, conversed a bit about them being freaky fast, and left. The Jimmy John's delivery vehicle was actually driving up as I was leaving for my soda. They are freaky fast. I thought they would be there when I returned, but they were actually the...