My 6 Picks

Ok, so for my new class I have to pick six events of US History that were major turning points.

Without doing any reading or research - just using my own thoughts, these are my picks and why. I have seven, and can't part with any of them.

Establishment of the House of Burgesses

Although they were rich, white, male and land holding, they were representatives and set up the first representative government in the New World. And they are still up and running (now called the General Assembly). And they are still mostly rich, white and male!


Revolution
This is kind of a "duh!" pick. Of course, we didn't really win the revolution as much as the British lost it, but still, it was a major turning point. Of note, the British were an organized traditional bunch determined to squash those rebellious insurgents, mostly unorganized and rag tag soldiers with little experience on the matters of war. (Kind of sounds familiar).


LA Purchase -- that is Louisiana Purchase. I may be biased on this one, but it expanded our territory immensely. I am biased due to my reverence for Mr. Jefferson, but I don't think our country was the same after it as they were before - which is a turning point.

Civil War
Another "Duh." It tested whether we would be a unified group of states or two separate unified groups of states. Sometimes I think we should have gone with the two - especially when I think of South Carolina.

WWI
This, not the Spanish American war, in my opinion, really put the US on the map - the world map that is. We for the first time really showed the world that we had a strong military and strong leaders. Not only that, but good old Woody Wilson tried to effect the lasting peace with his Fourteen Points. Perhaps had the world listened to him more closely, we could have avoided the next one:

WWII
I pick this war because of the dramatic changes to government, diplomacy, and society that took place as a result. I don't include the whole greatest generation thing, although that is nice. Diplomacy changed - ushered in the Cold War, women's roles changed, racism --err the spotlight on it as wrong changed, and the way we look to our government (GI Bill, Marshall Plan) really changed. Oh, and music and Hollywood changed, too!

Civil Rights Movement
When I teach this I call it the Civil Rights War. I set the beginning with the development of the NAACP and the growth of the KKK. The peak of lynching, the deaths associated with Freedom Summer, Emmett Till, MLK, Malcolm X, and marches being the campaigns along the way. It also influenced and was influenced by the Women's movement and the so-called sexual revolution.

So, that is it, what I picked and I'd like to hear some commentary - I am sure I've left off some glaring thing, or included something **wrong** This was relatively easy for me, but the World History section won't be I am sure.

vuboq style

Good day Kittens!

Ellen realizes that it's fantabulously humid today so the hair is even more unruly. Oh well!
No work to do today, so its a good day for just blobbing on the couch watching recordings of Shear Genius. I may make something delicious from the garden later, probably with my basil left after I made some basil and dandelion martinis. *yum*

speaking of not so *yum* I made a beefy Italian pasta casserole thing last night, but it was too, *cough* beefy. Beef is like that.

Before I make my delicious dinner, the NSHH (not-so-hot-hubby) will be coming home and we'll celebrate our 9th Anniversary! Probably not with butt-secks, but perhaps with some other kind. Doubtful, though, its is too messy and the humidity tends to kill the mood.


More later....
*smooches*


Ok, its later and guess what?!? The hubby came through with the secks!!

...off now for some Friday minty vodka! *yum*

long time

no bloggie!

I've been very busy. Ok, that is not true. I have been a combination of busy and lazy. Sort of. Ok, no excuses.

I read so many really good blogs (bossy, vuboq, goingofftheshallowend, wouldashoulda, thepioneerwoman, dooce, of course, and many more) that what I have to say is not worthy... but, I am going to try to get over that fact and just do what I do - and remember that I am just a history teacher, not a professional writer with any training.

So, this will be a rambling post of various thoughts. I'll try to categorize, but no promises.

Politics
Is it bad that I cried over Tim Russert? That I refuse to watch Meet the Press without him (yet)?
Isn't it funny (not the ha ha kind) that McCain has an aide who admitted a terrorist attack would do McCain good. Like their hoping for it. Goodness knows he has to hope for something...he's got nothing else. Obama continues to impress me with his decisions. I hope he continues to do so with his VEEP pick. I do admit that I am sick of debating and wondering who it will be. In the words of my mother (she is so prophetic) "Time will tell."

History
I am taking a class! It is just a prep class to take the Praxis II, which will beef up my licensure and open the possibility of teaching in high school. I am even excited that I get homework. I'll blog about that later, and hope to get some feedback. I have to choose 6 turning points in U.S. History that I think are major and be prepared to defend my choices. Oh boy!

Animals
If I total the weights of all the four legged animals in my house right now, it would be nearly 200 pounds. If I total the weight of the poop those animals leave in my house (or near it) it would be 200 tons. The latest resident is Che - the ferret - who may or may not stay permanently. She belongs to my daughter and although I am simultaneously repulsed and enthralled with her, I am letting her stay. She only weighs a few ounces, so you can imagine the weights of the other creatures.

Gardening
There are a lot of bugs out there! They love to eat me. There are even more weeds. And not even the good kind. I am also simultaneously repulsed and enthralled with gardening. So far, my tomatoes are successfully growing but no fruit yet. My roses are dormant for a while between blossoms. Hostas are thriving, as are other things I don't remember the name of.

School
This is really why I haven't blogged. The last few weeks were awful. Not the kids so much, but the coworkers. I am glad I don't have to see most of them for the summer. I am not sure non-teachers are aware that at the end of the year, we have to close out paper work, but also dismantle the entire classroom. Even if we're coming back in August, we have to empty all shelves, walls, and apparently drawers. I left my desk drawers crammed with stuff. My classroom AC broke in mid-May, and so the room was nearly 90 most days. I could barely teach in there, let alone climb ladders and all that junk.
It is also a bittersweet time, saying goodbye to wonderful kids that I will miss. And a time to wonder if I did all I could for those others that I won't miss so much. I had a hate mail from a disgruntled parent, and although I think she is misinformed and deluded, I do wonder if I could have done more for her son. If I didn't have so many students, perhaps I could help more of them....an oxymoron I know- but teachers would understand.

TV
Ahhhhhhh..... I love me some day time TV. Court TV, Regis, The View. And my newest crush: Anthony Bourdain. I love him. He is my TV husband:


ok - that is it for now. I'll try to write more in the coming days and not worry so much that my blog sucks compared to most all others.

Don't be jealous.....
it was just an empty stage....
no big deal really.
















Then, Gov. Tim Kaine gave a little speech.






Then, Sen. Jim Webb said a few words....


then, who is that over to the left?










Oh. My. God. I saw OBAMA!!!






I was so excited, I forgot to focus the camera!

But, I finally managed to get it right:




His speech was inspiring. He outlined real plans, and I was very priviledged to get to go. It was.....historic!