Miscellaneous Missives

I knew I wanted to go on a ride tonight, but I wasn't quite sure of my path.  At least I wasn't sure until I received an email from Zap Twin Cities .  It seems I've zapped enough that I earned a light set (head and tail).  My prize was available at Move Minneapolis located in the Minneapolis Visitor Information center.  The guys were super nice and funny.  On the way home, I tried a different route which took me to the Loring Park Trail.  Let's say it was an interesting ride that probably won't happen again.  The good news is that I had my new lights, so cars could see m downtown as I encountered some rush hour traffic.  I do love free stuff and prizes.

Little Bird Eating a Cheese Curd at Last Week's Happy Hour OMG!  It's only Wednesday .  How can this be?  It's been a week of meetings and appointments, and I've had enough.  At least my meetings have gone well.  Today I had the post observation with my new principal.  It's the most positive meeting I've ever had with an administrator, and I appreciate her encouragement. Like the little bird in the picture, I've been eating too much this week.  I think it needs to stop, but I don't think it will stop until next week.  The good news is I think I'll have time to get on my bike tomorrow.

I love that I posted this to FB and Instagram today and no one commented about the ridiculousness of taking this picture while driving merely because it looks kinda cool. As I was drinking my coffee this morning, I remembered something I had forgotten to take care of this weekend.  Something that was important for my first hour class.  Something that could be done from home.  Something that would put me behind a bit for the day. Driving to school a bit late caused the traffic to be a bit slower.  Slower traffic allowed me to take a couple pictures of the beautiful morning drive.  Slowing down, even when someone's a bit behind, is good. It seems a bit behind, actually works.  I thought my pre-observation was at 11:15, but it was at 11:00.  My meeting was with my new administrator who hasn't necessarily seen me teach and doesn't necessarily know much about my planning.  The meeting, however, went well, leaving me excited about tomorrow's obs...

The truth is we've had less rain than most.  My prayers go out to my Iowa friends who are sandbagging to save their towns.  Lately I'm having a difficult time blogging because I want to have a picture to go with my blog.  It's not really that difficult. Let's be honest, it's not like I didn't blog at all this week.  Remember Monday?  I kicked ass on my list, so I was able to hang out with my RAGBRAI friend on Tuesday.  Plus, I was able to go to Carl Hiaasen on Wednesday.  I was ready to ask him about his female characters.  Why are your female characters stronger than you adult book female characters?  As he spoke, I realized he's less ignorant and chauvinistic than I had imagined.  He's actually intelligent and funny.  Although I did ask my question, I realized reading satire when our country is struggling makes me crabby instead of entertained. The other news is that we have a tentative contract.  My guess is that it's...

Britt Britt on One of Our Weekend Walks Time is something that I need to manage.  In order to balance my work and my life, I need to make decisions.  Yesterday my decision was to ignore grading, so I could finish the book for Wednesday's Talking Volumes.  When I planned everything out, I knew tonight was my initial LYFE group (We're reading We Make the Road by Walking by Brian Mc Laren), but I knew I could use tomorrow to grade the remaining assignments that I ignored this weekend.  Since I had the entire night free (I already called to say I would not be at book club, another reading group), I would be able to grade the procrastinated papers and the papers coming in tomorrow... perfect! Unfortunately, sometimes life gets complicated and decisions must be made.  Today I received a FB message from a fellow Wimp (my RAGBRAI team member).  "How do you feel about drinking on a weeknight?  I'll be in Minneapolis tomorrow night and would buy you a beer...

Reading Time with Britt Britt Britt Britt and I are hanging out this weekend while her family is out of town.  I've learned a lot about Britt Britt.  She likes my potted plants that sit on the floor (dirt and leaves), tissues, and the lotion that I put on my legs.  She also likes most humans. Those two leggeds on cycles, walking, and running are wonderful even when they don't stop for her (although many actually do).  Two leggeds walking dogs (even those with puppy pugs who are way smaller than her) are also likable to quite likable.  She, however, is not a fan of the attractive man on his skateboard.  Luckily, this two legged was enamored with her, so they became friends.  He even left walking his skateboard to make her feel more comfortable.  It seems she, like most puppies has two speeds.  She's going full speed or hanging out peacefully near me.  I'm confident that she will ask to stay with me again soon. Britt Britt After Mo...

Last night was the first Talking Volumes.  The author was Elizabeth Alexander.  I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I really didn't know anything about her.  Although I read her book, I didn't look into the author.  When we were sitting waiting for the discussion to start, J said she was a poet.  Instantly I knew what made her memoir so beautiful.  She was a poet.  As she started speaking I was enthralled.  She was is intelligent and kind and a true beautiful human.  Her memoir is about her loss, but it is really more of a love story.  I fell in love with her as she spoke.  It seems I should have known Elizabeth Alexander.  She read and inaugural poem at Obama's first inauguration (I was there!  BTW, Kerri asked if she was shaking.  "Yes," I whispered, "It was cold.").  Of course, I used the Google machine to find it as she spoke.  I knew the poem and not her.  Now, I know her.  When I get a cha...