Miscellaneous Missives

"The heat sandpapers his skin. Don't scratch , my grandmother warns.  Be he does and the skin grows raw beneath his fingers. The pollen leaves him puffy eyed, his small breaths come quick, have too much sound around them. He moves slow, sickly now where once he was strong." ~Jacqueline Woodson    brown girl dreaming   p. 64 I started getting a rash on my face Friday.  It's hideous and itchy.  Since I am also feeling "under the weather", not necessarily sick but crummy, I decided to go to urgent care to see if the two are related.  It seems the two are related, and my allergies are a bit out of control.  The doctor gave me a prescription for some cream to use and recommended to keep taking the Benadryl.  He says the rash is Eczema.  I don't really care what it is, but I would like it to leave my face. Today I read Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson.  It's an autobiographical novel written in verse.  Althou...

Bookmarks:  For Everyone Who Hasn't Read Everything Bookmarks is a magazine that comes out once every two months.  It always causes me to order at least one new book.  Recently, it was said that I'm tough when it comes to my five stars on Goodreads.  As I have mentioned before I think my scores would be kinder if I could do the 1/2 star.  Today I noticed that I typically give one star lower than the average.  When I looked at Bookmarks  tonight, I realized my grading fits their scale. 5   Classic          A timeless book to be read by all. 4   Excellent      One of the best of its genre 3   Good             Enjoyable, particularly for fans of the genre 2   Fair               Some problems, approach with caution 1   Poor              Not worth your time Yep, I think it's fittin...

These train conversations are passing me by And I don't have nothing to say You get what you paid for  But I just had no intention of living this way I need a phone call I need a plane ride I need a sunburn I need a raincoat Raining in Baltimore  by the Counting Crows Although it's been a busy week, I've found time to ride my bike twice.  The first time was yesterday morning, and it was absolutely beautiful.  Since we had conferences at night, we had a flex day and had an 11:30 start.  Today's weather was a bit misty, but I had my raincoat and was able to avoid any downpour.  The biggest problem with workshop week is the amount of sitting required.  A bike ride at either end of the day is the only real sanity. I can always hear a freight train, baby, if I listen real hard 'Cause I'm lonely for the big towns I'd like to hear a little guitar I guess it's time to put the top down I need a phone call I need a raincoa...

Today was the second day of workshop, and although we were given some room time yesterday, today was about meetings.  During our morning meeting, I sat and cut out pictures of the Seedfolks characters and glued them on bright paper for my bulletin board.  When that was done, I check school and home e-mails.  Next, I moved to my Feedly and looked at the news and blogs of the day.   KC posted pictures of her wonderful room.  When I saw the last picture, I was super impressed.  In fact it led me to steal and other bad behaviors.  Not only did I steal it.  I started printing out pages with words and left the meeting to get my copies.  Finally, I cut out the words and pasted them on more bright paper.  Some would say I was a bit of a distraction to those around me, but I love my new bulletin board made from the idea that I filched while sitting in a meeting.  Thanks KC!

Today was the first day back to school, and it was a bit overwhelming.  I think it went well, but I stayed too long.  Instead of leaving at 3:15 as I should have, I stayed to do one more thing and another.  If I would have left at 3:15, I may have been able to get a bike ride in on this beautiful day before my Connected Learning meeting.  Instead I've been sitting at home (with windows open) pulling together some activities for the first day of school. What have I been working on?  Thanks for asking.  I've solidified my plans for next week.  Tuesday we'll talk about community, prejudice, and culture.  Although it's a bit of an introduction for Seedfolks , I think it will be a good way to discuss Ferguson and its effects on our students.  Wednesday and Thursday students will write a letter to themselves.  I changed the format this year after seeing signs on the Midtown Greenway.  What's your story?  Where are you headin...

Everyday I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me  like a needle in the haystack of light. It was what I was born for- to look, to listen, to lose myself  inside this soft world- to instruct myself over and over in joy,  and acclamation. Nor am I talking  about the exceptional, the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant- but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, the daily presentations. Oh, good scholar, I say to myself, how can you help but grow wise with such teachings as these- the untrimmable light of the world, the ocean's shine, the prayers that are made  out of grass? by Mary Oliver Respect = to see things a second time.  I like this definition! Yesterday I sat at the end of the dock with a dear friend.  We discussed everything from family to politics.  We were serious, silly, and sarcastic.  For three hours we talked about our world, b...

One of the preparations I needed to make to go back to work on Monday was to get the plants ready to go back to school.  Since I already had the mess, I decided also to attack the Clivia which needed to be separated into two plants.  The plants are now ready to go back to school.  They are sitting in bags next to the school supplies in the garage.  Also, the Cliva has been separated although I'm not quite sure how either plant (original and/or separated plant) will do in the future.  From the looks of the roots, I may have waited too long to perform this operation.  It's happening people.

In the teaching world, August is like Sunday night.  Monday is coming.  Well, this coming Sunday will actually be the Sunday before Monday work day, and I'm not sure I'm ready.  Although I typically get up early in the summer (7ish), today I awoke at 6:00 to leave for God's Country.  This is still later than I will need to awake once school begins.  My guess is that it's going to be a rough start.  I know..  I know... Many are back, and many have to work all summer long.  I get it.  It's not going to make it any easier for me. This evening as I was returning from the Taco House ,  I saw this orchard near my across from the vast corn field at my Dad's.  When he mentioned getting apples from it a week ago, I had no idea it existed.  As I stopped my car on the little gravel road to let three deer hop by, I looked over to see if anyone else was in their group and saw the apples.  Maybe tomorrow, when it's less buggy, I'll...

I gave blood today thanks to the kale and molasses in my smoothies (yay iron).  As I registered, I was given a card for a free pint (adult beverage).  Give a pint.  Get a pint.  After giving blood I ate the cookie as suggested although I was saddened that the shortbread cookies were absent.  Plus, the potato chips were baked.  No one should ever eat baked chips.  As I left, I told the receptionist that no one should give blood without short bread cookies.  She explained the budget restraints which I knew and left to get me shortbread cookies.  I left with one less pint of blood, two packs of shortbread, and a coupon for a pint.  Life is good!

August June Summer afternoon-- summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.        ~Henry James Perhaps truer words were never spoken.  As I left for my afternoon bike ride, I felt a bit tired.  My ride, however, was exhilarating, and I returned with a new attitude and energy.  Plus, the scenery is changing.  The tan wisps of this field have now become brown.  While some people are back at school, and others are ready to go back, I'm enjoying the time to ride.

Tent city set up on the Midtown Greenway for the Powderhorn 24.  Fun stuff. Today was bike day at the farmers' market .  The first booth upon my arrival was giving out free t-shirts (from past events) and promoting the upcoming Minneapolis Bike Tour.   I might do both the Minneapolis and St. Paul bike tours and am looking for fellow riders.  Not only was it bike day at the farmers' market, it was also the Powderhorn 24 , so bikers were everywhere!  Realizing I said it last year, I'll say it again, "I really need to get a group together for the Powderhorn 24."  Anyway, Saturday's trip to the farmers' market is always grand, but today's trip was a little more grand (grander... grandeur... grandiose).  Plus, today I hit my goal of 1200 miles, but I'm riding more!

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds, I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.  I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.  For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free I am part of a Sabbath group which is really four of us that get together once a month to reflect on something.  Last month it was a work by Maya Angelou.  We've discussed books, poems, and other verses.  It's a good touchstone.  Tomorrow is our next meeting day, and we are discussing rest.  Maybe it's because of my personality, but I find rest to be more than meditation or taking a nap.  For me rest is ...

According to LH, today is Organization Tuesday.  I was disappointed to find out that "it was not a thing."  However, I have done well with Organization Tuesday.  First thing this morning I voted.  Plus, I went to both the dentist and the physical therapist (golf is out for the remainder of the season).  More importantly, I organized.  All of my iPhoto pictures are not downloaded to Picasa (now Google Photos?).  The information on my computer is backed up to the external hard drive.  Finally, I have two crates of CDs sitting in the middle of the living room floor.  This may not seem organized, but my plan is to download each CD to my computer and then back up my iTunes once again.  Organization Tuesday... check!

Sometime in the spring, I used the iPad commercial "Your Verse" as a listening activity.  It's as much Robin Williams' voice as the poem that captivates.  Two of my favorite movies, and I can name less than five total favorite movies, are Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting.  Tonight I've been listening to CNN and their breaking news coverage.  His family wants him to be remembered for his talents.  He is such a phenomenal actor I'm sure he will, indeed, be remembered for his talents.  Chris Rock tweeted, "So sad so funny."  I hope those brilliant people who suffer from depression and addiction are able to get the help they need.

Today I participated in an Apps Camp as part of our district's tech week.  The morning sessions were a bit of a wash.  One was on add-ons and the other was on apps.  Both were good, but I knew much of the content.  I did find a new extension which is a timer and an app, Fotor, which will be helpful, so it wasn't a complete waste of time.  My plan is to do memes with my students in the beginning of the school year.  I used Fotor today to make a meme for app camp.  The afternoon sessions were a bit more interesting.  Since I've never done a hang-out in Google, I found it interesting.  Instead of Skyping with two other friends, we can do a Google hang-out without paying the additional fee.  (The two friends I'm thinking about need to set up an Gmail account!)  Although I've used Google forms, the last session gave me some new ideas.  Basically, I survived sitting inside all day and picked up some usable bits of information. ...

~from Dorothy Day:  Selected Writings (July-August 1940) There is poverty and hunger and war in the world.  And we prepare for more war.  There is desperate suffering with no prospect of relief.  But we would be contributing to the misery and desperation of the world if we failed to rejoice in the sun, the moon, and the stars, in the rivers which surround this island on which we live, in the cool breezes of the bay, in what food we have and in the benefactors God sends." Today I skipped church and went on a bike ride.  I have several reasons for skipping church, one being trying to get out before the rain.  In reality, I found today's ride a reminder of the beauty that abounds in this crazy world.  My ride today took me to the Mississippi River, around Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun, and through native grasses.  Even the trails were somewhat quiet as I traversed the varying scenery.  It was kinda like being in church.

I ventured out on a new trail today.  When I wasn't sure of my path, I stopped and talked to a group of four riders. They, too, weren't sure of their path. Last night at book club, one of the ladies started the conversation about the current book by saying that some people didn't want to read the next book.  Of course, there are times when not everyone reads the books, so I found the conversation annoying.  While she was ranting, I decided to look up the book, Half the Sky .  It's a book about the world wide oppression of women, and it's a women's book club.  Why wouldn't people read this book?  The answer because it would be a difficult reading about the harsh realities of women around the world.  What?!  Perhaps it would be easier to ignore these issues.  Of course, I immediately downloaded it when I returned home and finished it this afternoon.  I gave the book 3.5 out of 5 stars (I can't officially do this with Goodreads.  ...

Today I started feeling sorry for myself because my shoulder is aggravated causing me to miss golf tonight.  For some reason I also decided that it hurt bad enough that I didn't want to bike.   Instead I went to Caribou and bought a large dirty chai.     While I was out, I decided perhaps today was the day to clear the list that had been looming for a month.  The list included small items like calling the insurance company to update my policy and other mundane tasks.  With dirty chai in hand, I cleared the pile of papers off the counter and completed each task that went along with each paper.  I even took time to water the plants inside and the flowers outside. Of course, my cat, KK, was super helpful in the process.

Today I was stuck in traffic and worried about being late to my annual exam, so I called.  I was only five minutes late, but I wanted to be considerate.  Now I've been sitting on this table in a gown for 25 minutes.  Maybe they could have given me the same consideration and let me keep my clothes on a little longer.

This evening I went to happy hour at Vivo.  It's a great place.  We had wonderful food and conversation.  Everything was excellent.  When it came time to pay the bill (super cheap happy hour prices), the waitress came back and asked me if I had another card.  My credit card had been declined.  The first thing I did upon returning home was call US Bank.  The automated system took me through the last three purchases on my card.  One of the three was a charge (under $75)  at a grocery store in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  They had noticed one payment that didn't look like it fit and closed my card.  If it had been my charge, they would have immediately re-opened my card, but since I haven't been to a grocery store in Ann Arbor, they are sending me a new card.  I'm not a fan of big banks, but I was super impressed with the handling of this charge.  The customer service agent I talked to was also nice and helpful.  Now I sit a...

Being Human by Alixa and Naima I wonder if the sun debates dawn some mornings  not wanting to rise out of bed from under the down-feather horizon If the sky grows tired  of being everywhere at once adapting to the mood swings of the weather If the clouds drift of trying to hold themselves together make deals with gravity to loiter a little longer I wonder if rain is scared  of falling if it has trouble letting go If snow flakes get sick of being perfect all the time each one trying to be one-of-a-kind I wonder if stars wish upon themselves before they die if they need to teach their young to shine I wonder if shadows long to once see the sun if they get lost in the shuffle  not knowing where they're from I wonder if sunrise and sunset respect each other even though they've never met If volcanoes get stressed If storms have regrets If compost believes in life after death I wonder if breath ever thinks about suicide I wond...

Sir Paul McCartney is on tour and will be at Target Field tomorrow night.  I'm not sure where he is today, but he semis were here yesterday.  As I cycled by Target Field yesterday, I noticed all the semis.  It's amazing what it takes to set up his show.  Maybe I missed a huge opportunity when a friend asked me to get tickets with her for the concert. I also learned that after Saturday's show, McCartney will have played all three MLB stadiums in Minneapolis (the Old Met Stadium as a Beatle, the Metrodome, and Target Field). What is your favorite Paul McCartney and/or Beatles song?