ahhhhhhh..........

This is my favorite picture from last night.







No,wait, it's this one:




No,wait, it's definitely this one:

I never could have just ONE of anything.
Except my vote.
I am glad I used it on this guy.

OH yeah...

I will say that pics will be forth coming from the rally, because the whole time I kept saying to my self: "I am soooooo blogging about this!"

Thanks for patience while I only thought about blog posts recently. I was *ahem* busy - setting up classroom, back to school night, all that crapola. Ya know!

Notes to self

1. Don't run toward a secret service officer under any circumstances.
2. Don't believe snot nosed rich kid volunteers who tell you how to get in to a rally.
3. Don't lose your mom.
4. Don't drink wine and take codeine cough syrup.
5. If you violate note number 4, make sure you have a strong babysitter who will hide the phone.
6. Don't stand in the rain, under a tree during a thunderstorm in a thin white cotton blouse while wearing that oh-so-sexy see through white bra.
7. Unless - you want said secret service officer from number one to let you go on your own free will.
8. Don't bother trying to protect the disabled.
9. Ok, ignore number 8, you know you'd do the same.
10. Don't promise your mom a front row seat at an Obama/Biden rally, make her work all day, leave her precious dog, deal with a befuddled husband, and let her stand in the rain waiting for you for 4 hours.
11. Never be lulled into the thought that you will ever be "done" with being a parent or worrying.

Live and learn.


All that being said - Obama and Biden were great. And almost worth the case of bronchitis/asthma/pnuemonia or whatever shit I have.

History Repeats Itself?

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b68a5475513a61f02593
This is a pretty cool teacher video on the concept of history repeating itself. It leaves out social history, focusing on war/peace, and it bases its concept on the fact that events change, but human emotion and human nature stay the same.

I didn't intend to get too personal on this blog, but events of late have me rethinking that.

In 1982, I was working at Macy's and going to college when I threw my life away on a loser.
In 2008, my daughter was working at Macy's and going to college when she threw her life away on a loser.

Is it my fault? I thought I had done all I could to prevent this, but failed in the end. I raised her differently from how I was raised. First off, I did it alone - while I had two parents. Secondly, I kept her pretty much in a stable environment -only moving a couple times so she pretty much lived in this house since 3rd grade. I moved many more times, and went to 11 schools. But enough of the comparisons. In her case, there is some blame to be laid down and I need to get it out there so I don't entirely blame myself - or her - all the while I do understand that much of the blame does rest with me and with her.

Three years ago it was a pretty good year. We finally saved enough money to take a wonderful vacation to California, the place that feels like home the most to me. I got to show my family the places that I long for. K was heading into her junior year in high school in a gifted program called Commonwealth Governor's School. She had won a silver medal in the National Latin Exam and was getting good grades. She may now say that it was different, but at the time she was very much anti-drug, calling herself a "straight-edge punk." She had dyed black hair, dressed funny and was hanging around with a couple people I didn't like, but no alarm bells were going off.

Then IT happened. She met HIM. He seems nice, very quiet, kind of mousy and his mom is very friendly. Romance blossoms. For one month. Then, she and he ran away together. Missing for 8 days, then revelations of drugs (dangerous ones) sex, and other secrets. Since then, its been a rocky road. But since the standard of living for her became only that "Hey, she's alive, and I know where she is..." things spiraled downward. I wasn't happy with HIM, but to make matters worse, his family was torn up - a second divorce between his parents, two remarriages, conviction of his mother for stealing - YES! wedding presents from the father's new wife, and all the while, they looked down at me for being -- ahem -- a Democrat. A Heathen. They are evangelical conservative Jerry Falwell loving people. I am the antichrist to them. I usually just laughed it off - and yet they on their high horses need to know that I am placing a huge chunk of blame for K's recent decisions squarely on them.

They are dishonest, criminal, judgmental and extremely dysfunctional. Their son needs to be healed and fixed. And, who is there to throw her dreams away, to walk away from her family and friends? That is right. K. Just like I did in 1982. I threw it away and tried to fix a broken person. And all I did was break myself.

In spite of all this, I still believe she is the smartest, most articulate, funniest, most beautiful person I know. And somehow I have to trust that she will come through it all. I did. It's just that I thought I did all the suffering so she wouldn't have to.

Since the running away incident, I have had PTSD. I have tried to drown my emotions in cheap wine. (some not so cheap) and have come to the brink of suicide and murder (really) a few times.

But, today I can see more clearly. I know that I can have a glass or two of wine during the week and enjoy its flavor without using it to drown my feelings. I can express my feelings here, with family and friends and it will work out. I see my psychiatrist for medications, and know that when I am feeling better it is because they are working and not because I am cured. There is no cure- only coping.

I wanted to spare my child from a life of pain and regret, but I suppose that isn't possible.

This year - at school, I am starting to get rejuvenated and feel like teaching again. Almost.

Suggestions?

the white cliffs of dover
sheep dotted hills in ireland (while wearing a woolen sweater)
stonehenge
roman baths
colisseum
parthenon
venice
eiffel tower
the hermitage
heidelberg
stockholm
hagfors
copenhagen
madrid
seville
rota
puerto de santa maria
sistine chapel
david
victoria falls
capetown
an elephant/lion/tiger in natural habitat
giza
mayan pyramids
machu pichu
the qin emperors terra cotta army (should be higher on the list)
the great wall and hong kong and beijing
the ganges and mumbai
hanoi
sydney
yosemite
yellowstone
maine -coast of
carmel river beach


these are all the places i want to go in my life. I am just realizing that I will perhaps not make it there - except for Carmel River Beach (and of course the European places I went when 6 months old). What I need to know is if I am now 43.5 and at best I have 40 more years left of travel in me and that as of now I have no travel money/plans....fuck I don't even have a passport anymore.... will any of the above dreams come true???? It would seem that if I work hard and make a decent living I could perhaps do those things....but my priorities are intermingled with the priorities of another human being (and I'm pretty sure his list of places to see would be shorter than mine).

How should I try to achieve my dreams of world travel?

There must be a way.

oops

home dye job gone bad - again - this is the after after pic after I tried to fix it. The picture really doesn't give the color justice --its more burgundy.

Oh, and if you were wondering...yes, I am the queen of frizz. I don't fight it anymore...I just give in to it and go with it. When you live in a sauna like it is here in VA in July (and August and September...) and you have curls...

The most common definition for Insanity:

A state of mind by which a person repeats the same actions over and over again expecting different results.

so....what about this...huh?

"IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN. Don't give up too easily; persistence pays off in the end. The proverb has been traced back to 'Teacher's Manual' (1840) by American educator Thomas H. Palmer and 'The Children of the New Forest' (1847) by English novelist Frederick Maryat (1792-1848). Originally a maxim used to encourage American schoolchildren to do their homework. Palmer (1782-1861) wrote in his 'Teacher's Manual': 'Tis a lesson you should heed, try, try again. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.' The saying was popularized by Edward Hickson (1803-70) in his 'Moral Song' (1857) and is now applicable to any kind of activity." From "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996, Page 154). source

Diet log: day one

1 cup of coffee with splenda (and a dash of half and half)
not changing my coffee habits yet - although I did get the "skinny" latte at SB yesterday.

I hate dieting. Its a very complicated issue for me. I've done Weight Watchers about 17 times in my life. I think I lost a total combined weight of .6 lbs. I've done pills, curves, the gym, home plans, book diets (Dr. Atkins, Dr. Phil, Oprah, The Zone) and others I can't remember. All of them combined with other factors then led me to a whopping over 300 pound tub of lard, stretch marks, and arteries that were giving out before I was 40. There are other joys of being a tub of lard such as hygeine and breathing and sleep apnea and sex...oh and infertility thank you PCOS. So I was motivated, but after a year (documented of WW + Curves) I had lost 11 pounds!

So....I had a gastric bypass.

That was 3 years ago. I reached all the goals I wanted to with the surgery. Perhaps I'll write about the surgery another time because it is indeed a fascinating story. All I was after was good health and to buy clothes in a normal store. It had reached the point that I had to order clothes online or choose from 2 stores in my town. The famed Omar the Tent Maker (I think someday I'll really have a store called that) and Lane Bryant. So, I couldn't even just have a normal pair of levis and a t-shirt. That is my preferred wardrobe. Well, now I can wear those things, but I have realized that I am slipping into my old ways.
[oh, and there is this nasty business of a wedding coming up and I have to put this dress on again, and I am worried...so before I even try it....]

I don't binge anymore. I don't crave ice cream and chips and dip. I just have a way of finding the most calorie rich foods that will fit in my stomach pouch. I mean well - on my road trip (another story I'll get to) from which I returned yesterday...I had a fast food lunch. Instead of a kids meal which makes me sometimes vomit (fun!) and always feel crappy...I had the chicken salad wrap at Arbys. It had whole wheat wrap, chicken breast, apples and pecans and lettuce. And grapes! It was delishhhhhhhussss. I could only eat 1/2 and that is after taking off a bunch of the wrap part. I called the hubs to tell him I was embarking on a healthy eating plan and was proud of myself. And, the wonderful hubs (jerk!) looked up the nutrition facts for me. Let's just say it ain't really healthy considering I could have just had the Arby's beef and cheddar for less. Oh well.

I do have my addictions: pita chips, vitamin water, wine, and cookies. I like to nibble. Oh, and crackers (Triscuit Rosemary and Olive Oil!).

So, today I am going to be more conscious. I bought a ton of organic veggies at the new Wegmans!! And I am going to make that great Weight Watchers cabbage soup, a yummy salad of my own with pecans (just a couple) and forego the wine. I'm having light yogurt with my own blueberries in a little while.

I pondered doing a "cleanse" like other bloggers, but I don't have the stamina for that. Nor the iron count (a side effect of the GB is anemia). And, alas I am not naturally thin and gorgeous like that other Obama fan blogger that I love. And, is it just me, or is Oprah fat again?


Oh, and I'm also going on a bike ride and vigorously clean the hell hole litter box I live in. That stuff plus work on my school work (yet another topic because I am soooo retarded I think I am smart) and get my cell phone fixed because it died! Oh, and I was reminded that the fancy gym membership I have is not being utilized, so I may have to visit the Starship again soon. (the trainers wear outfits that look like ST Voyager uniforms!)

Ciao!

butterflies and ants....

Well, I am back from my mom's home in the land of no high speed internet. I am so glad to have my high speed. I literally could play an entire game of solitaire between pages loading - so I didn't do much on the internet. Sometimes that can be a good thing.

My husband is a slob. He says he cleaned up but considering the case of ants we have now, and the amount of pet hair that is clinging to everything, he didn't really do anything. He keeps the money flowing and the computers running, but his slobbish ways are annoying. So, today I will clean the house (dishes and pots from 3 days that he didnt' do, bathroom -I won't mention the mess there, the vacuuming and mopping --something is sort of slippery on the kitchen floor - I don't want to even know). I don't do laundry, mainly because my basement is the home to very large and very hairy spiders and I will not survive another encounter. Consequently, to get laundry done I have to do a lot of nagging and then very slowly a basket of clean will come up for me to fold. If I had the machines upstairs, I would do the laundry myself. Enough bitching.

So, I have been thinking quite a bit of my turning points in history. I feel quite certain that given the nature of the class - the prof is expecting just the typical ones I picked - the sixth grade ones if you will. However, I do get that there are more interesting small events that sort of started a chain of events that led to big changes. I also get that many events include several turning points within themselves. When I teach turning points, I usually explain that when a turning point happened, the course of events that followed were opposite to the way they were before.

In my thoughts I remembered that phenomena "The Butterfly Effect" which is basically a scientific idea, but is fascinating. This guy at this website thinks we are doing it wrong though.

I found a person who believes that some photographs changed history here. I don't really agree that the photos changed anything, but I do believe that they illuminated and made the events more real to the masses. I have seen all those pictures before and usually use them in my teaching.

I especially like this list of books that changed history. I think these did have an impact, and in fact I was going to list Common Sense as one of my turning points before I thought I needed bigger events. I am going to have a second list of turning points to share and I am going to include Common Sense, and The Feminine Mystique.

I also found this great website that spotlights an event that changed history every Monday. It's not limited to U.S. history like I am for this assignment, but is fascinating anyway. I am looking forward to the world history part of the class, I think the article on the Qin emperor is very good. I hope to someday see the Terra Cotta soldiers. Oh, and the Great Wall.

Well, I better get busy cleaning this pig sty in which I reside. On a side note, I am making collages as suggested by Oprah and "The Secret" because if I make a collage about the places I want to see someday, and think really hard and positive about them, then I will be able to go, right?

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!

bikes and flights

You probably already know that before they made an airplane, the Wright Brothers made bicycles. Back then (late 1800's) bikes were the main mode of transportation for people everywhere. Then, along came a little article, “Wheeling and Flying,” in the Aeronautical Annual, in which James Howard Means suggested a link between flying and riding bikes.

It's easy to see the connections:
The central importance of balance and control.
The need for strong but lightweight structures.
The chain-and-sprocket transmission system for propulsion.
Concerns regarding wind resistance and aerodynamic shape of the operator.

Let's look at these in regards to my life now.

The central importance of balance and control. Hmmm. Totally off balance and out of control. Maybe a bike will lend these things to my life?

The need for strong but lightweight structures. Strong? Sure. Lightweight? Hardly.

The chain-and-sprocket transmission..what???

Concerns regarding wind resistance and aerodynamic shape of the operator. I'm pretty sure I am not aerodynamic and I am also sure I provide lots of wind resistance.

So....what started me off on this tangent are the developments of the last few weeks. In the midst of my anxiety/panic attacks my husband decided now was the perfect time to begin to realize his boyhood dream of a pilot's license. So, off he went to the local airport and took a lesson. He actually flew a plane that evening! I secretly followed him there, thinking I would for sure see a spiraling out of control plane smoking to the ground, but he didn't crash. Woo hoo!

After the lesson, he did more investigating and discovered a pesky little thing called a medical clearance. So, a new reason to try to get in shape!!

All the while, gas prices climbed several pennies each day...making my commute a rather costly endeavor -and well, that has nothing to do with this, because my work is 40 miles away and I am not riding there. But, husband's is only two miles away and he might...and that will save money, right?

Sooooo, somehow we decided to start riding bicycles to get in shape. We trudged all over town to find bikes that wouldn't break the bank, and that we would be able to get our fat asses on. We landed at Target and I got this one:

After some adjustments and air to the tires, off we went on our first ride. I haven't been on a bike in years, but just like the old saying...it was easy. Just as I rounded the corner, I felt the wind in my hair and &$%#@$%^! A loud crunching and heard some metal jingling. My new bike was broken! Long story ...but another trip to Target, an argument with the customer service people, and I came home with this one:








And, by the way, this is not a bike, it is an "alternate form of transportation."

Husband got one, too, and we had a nice, although short ride around the neighborhood. My thighs hurt!

So, that Means guy was right, there is a connection between wheels and planes, but in our case, the connection is more cardio-vascular than aerodynamic.

windows

I've been looking outside from inside lately. Figuratively and literally. On a glorious weekend weather-wise, I've moped around, sleepy, not bathed, and slightly depressed only sneaking glimpses of the bright green and blinding sun. The cacophony of birds has been intriguing. I don't feel like writing about the junk on my mind, because it is not all settled yet, and that is well, unsettling.

I took some pictures at Williamsburg last weekend, and since this is a history blog, I'll provide some historical context.

These are colonial guard fife and drummer guys. They saw us taking pics of the governor's palace and exclaimed, "We'll give you a nice photo!" They promptly posed for us and all the other tourists. Is it bad that for some reason, I couldn't concentrate on the history?

Yes, I am sick.



Anyway, we toured the palace, which was awesome, but I was disappointed to learn that it was a rebuild. The original burned down. Other useless trivia: The first governor ( a royal appointed governor) was Spotswood (we named Spotsylvania for him - you know, the mall http://www.spotsylvaniamall.com). The lovely brick pattern is called "Running Flemish" and Thomas Jefferson used it on Monticello.

Inside the palace, I was all about being on the inside looking out:

This photo is of the front garden while we were in the orientation session.




And this photo was from the grand ballroom. I've been burned out on Colonial history for a long time, and the prospect of teaching it again as they shift our curriculum is not a pleasant one. Oh, it would be cool if I could teach what I wanted to about colonial times and the architecture, gardens and kooky stuff, but of course, I'd have to teach stuff I don't care much about.

We got lots of great pictures in Williamsburg, it really is a very photogenic place. I'm sure I'll post some more later as our trip included a torch lit fife and drum parade and ghost tour.

I am going to try to get outside today instead of just looking at life from the view inside here.

fifes and drums!

Our recent journey to Williamsburg was filled with fifes and drums and yankee doodle dandy and all that. We experienced a torch-lit night time jam session of drum geeks that was impressive, and loud, and well, kind of weird.

I have not blogged, but I have plenty of topics to blog about:

living with 21st century hippies (my kid who hates to appear on my blog... and her cohort)

timeshare sales experiences (such fun! ha ha -- we did not get suckered in--- well, sort of)

colonial history (I know we're all waiting to read this fascinating topic as if it hasn't been rammed down our collective throat all our lives in Virginia) hey, I learned new stuff in Williamsburg!

restaurants...and gps systems...gas and grocery prices...dog neutering (side note: all our animals are fixed) marriage sometimes can be affected adversely by bad gps systems and hard to find waffle restaurants.

leaving two teens in charge of the house for the weekend and wondering on a Monday evening what that strange odor is that permeates everything....

joy of all joys it is SOL week (s) ......which in Virginia means that the only thing of importance is the fucking SOl tests and making sure that we meet AYP. and like the kids probably now feel -- I could not care less.

Oh...and my husband has decided to use *his* disposable income to take flying lessons. He doesn't have life insurance. Nice.

I now know why it is my destiny to live here instead of the California coast which I love so much: no cliffs with crashing waves and rip tides in which to throw myself.

And in good news: I got a $28 bottle of wine!!! Ain't no better than the 7-10 I typically enjoy.

I found out that Thomas Jefferson (my colonial, Virginian, American, male, red-headed, gardening, gourmand, architectural, educated, liberal hero) has over 5,000 biographies dedicated to him! I walked along streets he did, I touched (even though I wasn't supposed to!) surfaces he once may have touched! And...I forgave him a little bit more for his enslavement of servants. If he freed his slaves, they would have been homeless and jobless in an at best hostile environment. I think he'd vote for Obama (like we all should) if he could.

ciao for now!

my mom

Once upon a time there was a little girl...
who grew up in Cranford
who was naughty
who was the smartest
who was chubby
who was funny
who was tough
who was kind

She grew up and was still all those things, only add "er" naughtier, smartester, chu(well, she lost the baby fat -see above pic) funnier, tougher and kinder. She raised us (almost singlehandedly but not quite) as her primary function. She can do anything, and has seen a lot of the world. She's been lucky and unlucky, loved and not so much loved. I am quite sure that she is better than your mom.

Once upon a time there was another little girl who grew up everywhere and nowhere, who was naughty -- hell, downright bad, the smartest --but didn't believe it -- but the above mentioned little girl always did, was the chubb--no surpassed that achievement to the fattest ever, is funny, is very tough and tries to be kind.

Although I'll never have as much artistic talent -- my mom can do art ha ha!! And I'll never play Beethoven --my mom CAN ha ha, I'll never crosstich across America one little x at a time, I'll never know the latin names for all the foliage not only at my home but the homes of the founding fathers, and I'll never be as tough and as kind as it has taken to stay with and be a loving loyal wife to my dad for 51 years and counting...the biggest "I'll never..." is the one that is the hardest to admit: I'll never be as good a mom. I'm the best I can be and I have made it the most important thing in my life, because she taught me to, but I can't top that one.

I can't claim it as my achievement, but I can offer this small gift to my mom, you now have one grandchild who has successfully completed one year of college. (Today, well tomorrow actually on mother's day, we'll go pick her up and bring her here.)

Mission accomplished!

Today I set out to do yardwork, clean my car, and run errands. I did them all in my disgusting, chewed up brown flip flops.

I got them all done! Well, one of my errands was to go to Borders and find a new book – but cancelled that one in favor of Target for some spring clothes splurges. I have a book to read – but I am reluctant to read it. I don't know why. Probably because I am obsessed with Inspector Banks, and Peter Robinson needs to write a new one each month. But, Donna Tartt, The Secret History is up next, and it's been on my shelf for a long, long time. My mom recommended it, and gave it to me. So, I will read it.

I managed to sqeeze in a pedicure, but I opted for the new OPI Chicago style color, and it may have been a mistake. I'll try it for a day or two, then decide. My feet were very calloused, and I was embarrassed for the nice pedicure lady because she was obviously wanting to puke. Oh, well.

The flip flops do have a history – I acquired them (there were originally two pair one for me and one for Kaiti – don't know where hers are) from my dad of all things. He was making one of his infamous trips to Wal-Mart (my folks live in the boonies of VA and Wallyworld is THE store to go to –everyday) My dad will buy anything if its on his list. So, I cleverly put “flip flops, size 7, and size 8, any color) on his list one day last summer. They arrived promptly along with the ice cream and assorted goodies (not wine – don't ask him to buy me wine – but he probably would).

I wore the flip flops to Sandbridge – a hidden, sort of, beach that mostly local VA Beachers go to. It was a sickingly hot day, with the sand burning my feet, and the warm water barely giving comfort from the stagnant humid air. But, Fun! Despite my 4 applications of Bull Frog Waterproof for Babies SPF 6000, I got a sunburn. But it came only in weird stripes where I must have missed some application.

I didn't wear the flips flops to school, as they are against the dress code, but I wished I could. They managed to live the rest of the year after September, until now, with only a few visits to the inside of the house. (My dog, Max, loves the flavor of flip flops). I discovered them when cleaning my car, buried under sweaters, Scott's dress pants to take to the cleaners for his conference last August! And under the beach towels used for the beach trip. Yes, they were still in the car. Along with 3 Santa hats, and several empty Vitamin Water bottles. (Add Vitamin water to the list of addictions if it isn't there yet).

I'm off tomorrow! Woopee!!! Oh, yeah, I'm off to have a root canal. I guess it's sad that I'd rather have a root canal than teach these days.

Adventures in Dog Sitting

This history of is more like the history of the last couple days in my life vs. something with a real historical connection.

I was asked to dog sit my friend's (we'll call her Sheila) doggies. It was fun, and gave me some time all to myself, and so I took pictures and pondered many things.

Here is how it began:




Just in case you can't read all those directions, complete with check boxes - I zoomed in on the funniest. This was for one night.
Note that Pete should have 3 green beans - not 4, and that Margaret should get 10. I diligently counted them out. Then I put the cut up chicken on the food and let it soak appropriately. By this time, I was thoroughly pooped (traffic was bad, long day at work, then I forgot the chicken!)

At 8:27 (not the 8:30 time on the dog's pink watch), I let them out, and back in. Then, a few hours later I got them ready for bed. There is a whole other page about the bedtime ritual - for dogs -

It was rather cute, as I retrieved the dog beds from the basement to carry up to the bedroom, I noticed something strange: no dogs!

As I turned the corner to the bedroom, there they sat in anticipation of their beds. And here I thought it would be a chore to get them tucked in properly. They obediently watched and waited while their beds were prepped, and then they snuggled in for the night.

Other observations I made during my alone time:Apparently, healthy cereal has some political connotations. What are "blossoms" when they come in a cereal box?? Surely, not blossoms as in flowers?? Scary. Of course, what would I know about eating healthy? I ate cookies with wine for dinner. (Hey, I was alone!)

Sheila is very crafty and creative and artistic, so I used her surroundings to try my hand at creativity: I call this "still life with bulbs":









I pondered my existence with the help of this character:
And, yes, he (she?) was sitting in silent judgement of my dinner choice. Fukking duck.

The dogs seemed to come out unscathed: Pete - in not-so-silent judgement

Then, Sam - who I was not allowed to photograph alone - according to Pete his all time protector:



And then finally, the very vicious dingo-like Margaret who will, in fact, kill you.

curricula....

Curricular
Curriculum...Latin, course, from currere, to run;

Watched Atonement yesterday. It was pretty good. Featured prominently was the evacuation of the British from Dunkirk. It was a major event of World War II, but American children don't get taught about it. In the UK it is integral to the study of the war (link if you don't know about it)
Recently when I was desperately searching for more stuff on the war to teach I ran across an activity that was created by a teacher in the UK. I quickly downloaded it and ran it off for my students to do while I was gone. I confess, I didn't really read it much, just wanted something quick and easy for the sub to do. Upon my return I scanned through the children's work and discovered that it had some errors on it, namely, the date of Pearl Harbor was wrong. Several of my students noticed it as well. I pointed out that it was from the UK, and my students were worried that the British students are not being taught about Pearl Harbor properly and it is so important to what we learn. I told them it was ok because they don't even know about Dunkirk.

It got me to thinking of how much of what we are taught - what is in the curricula - is perhaps wrong. Maybe even just watered down too much, the Virginia history curriculum (known affectionately as the Standard of Learning) leaves out lots of things I think are important (Douglas MacArthur - a Virginian and General during the war) and includes some stuff I struggle to get the kids to understand: "decreased regional variation in the latter half of the 20th Century." I don't "teach to the test" - I can't see the test anyway, but I do teach the curriculum, and try to enhance it where possible. I have tried to serve on committees that revise the curriculum, but I am usually not chosen, and even if I was, the process becomes so politicized as to be ridiculous.

My lesson plans are checked, my test scores analyzed ad nauseum, but no one really checks to see if what I am teaching is in fact accurate. So, that leaves me with little loopholes and things to entertain myself, such as answering students' questions very matter of factly as if I know for sure that it is the truth -- and you know what? They believe me!!! So, of late, I have been injecting some stuff for my own jollies; When studying the technological revolution of the 20th Century, a student asked very sincerely, "Who invented the internet?" I very sincerely replied, "Al Gore." When studying about reasons for various wars, I inevitably get asked "What is the reason for THIS war?" On my especially devilish days (normally, I say I can't talk about it until it's in the history books)... I say "Oil." They don't question me or challenge my authority at all. At least on that front.

Tomorrow I get to help revise the Code of Behavior Activity Package!! I think I'll have to keep my mouth shut on most of it.

BTW - Do you know what decreased regional variation is?