tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74150650523731500622024-02-20T08:09:04.233-08:00House of BooksWriting, Reading, Family, LifeSeshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-53605309845556571162011-06-23T02:59:00.000-07:002011-06-23T03:08:44.290-07:00Insomnia with a PurposeI'm taking a workshop this week for teachers of writing. It got me thinking about when I actually used to write a bit. So of course I had to get up at 5 a.m. or so and dig through a file drawer in a file cabinet in the attic in my robe and slippers to look at stuff I had written 15 years ago. Some is missing..maybe on an old computer in the basement..maybe not. Don't know if there are hard copies of everything. This stuff was from 15 years ago..I was in my...er..depressed, bohemian writers stage...reading about Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table, Anais Nin, Henry Miller..yuck, nope, not going back there, but probably did some of my best writing when in a state of narcissism..but not really narcissism, because I sure didn't love myself! Maybe it is time to take it up again, a different and better person..between grad school classes that is.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-62873523463489228662011-03-30T21:57:00.000-07:002011-03-30T22:03:59.516-07:00Spring Break, Oh Really?Spring break..what is that anyway? Not a break this time, but I really can't complain. I shouldn't have expected it to be any different. After all, it is NCAA time...it could be tornados, but instead it's wintery cold and even a few flakes of snow. I can't complain for another reason. I'm having to finish up a research proposal for my current class which involves a massive read of quantitative and qualitative research articles and my own proposal driven from the readings, which fortunately I don't have to act upon in this so-called survey class. I feel a little better having attended class tonight and receiving some answers to my many questions about how to proceed from here. I've done little but sit at the computer during this break. I always mentally work ahead, I stress over it, and usually discover as I did tonight that I'm actually a bit ahead of myself, thinking the rough draft was due for a peer critique this coming Monday, only to be reminded by my peer that it isn't due until a week from Monday. Ahh..relief. My so-called Spring break has thus turned out to be a gift of time I desperately needed. Now, to keep working plus get my school plans in order. I've got my eyes set on the trip to New Orleans I recently won. This will all be over then, making it that much more enjoyable.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-26697902150198664532010-11-14T11:11:00.000-08:002010-11-14T12:00:31.966-08:00Bad, Bad, Bad Blogger<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8ZVhvnlpzgiYNeBd5PmN_4ueUJFruDdVJMgt0pLXKxAqi0U-Y6y8EQw7HNgThNQsYSrYntHT1xvFw0SUkzfoEG96obdNEZZbdTZ3nRMP3w_mJSlF2PkaC5nexnhqsC4OHNICUXbKuflY/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539491879266980210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8ZVhvnlpzgiYNeBd5PmN_4ueUJFruDdVJMgt0pLXKxAqi0U-Y6y8EQw7HNgThNQsYSrYntHT1xvFw0SUkzfoEG96obdNEZZbdTZ3nRMP3w_mJSlF2PkaC5nexnhqsC4OHNICUXbKuflY/s200/IMG_2876.JPG" /></a> I seriously wrote last on July 4? It was a bad sign when I was reading my daughter's blog from Australia and I realized <em>Oh yeah, I have a blog too</em> and proceeded to link to it from there. So no one really wants to read blogs about not having blogged and why, but I guess I'll do it anyway and move on. It will be good therapy.<br /><br />I've been a caregiver for my mother-in-law since last spring, along with my sister-in-law, my husband to the extent he can, and in time there was also a person we hired during the day. Kelly (the caregiver, not my daughter..we call her Nurse Kelly) was a lifesaver to me. Not only did she help care for my mother-in-law, but she helped care for me as well. I'm not going into everything about being a caregiver because it is very hard and it is very depressing, and I grieved in a lot of ways; at the same time it is a blessing to be privileged to care for someone that way (and only a caregiver would understand what I mean by all of that.) The feelings are illogical but they are real. About a month ago, my mother-in-law had another stroke (her third I believe in the past eight years or so) and she has been in rehab since then. She is at our house today as I write, sleeping in her recliner behind me. She is very weak. We can barely get her to take a step or try to move. She is also very noncommunicative. Her speech was impacted. I can't imagine her recovering to where she was before the stroke, and she needs to show some substantial improvement to be back here in her home. I of course have mixed feelings about that. She's 89. She deserves to do what she wants, and if that means she just wants to eat and sleep, then she should be allowed to do that, but I don't think it will happen here, because there is a lot of heavy duty care involved in getting her to move about. 'Nuff said. God is good and I know he will take care of her and me and everyone. It has been a tough time on me emotionally...I was going through my own level of depression from the loss of my freedom, and started seeing myself from the outside in..and I had lost my positive nature and my smiling face. I'm trying to get it back. I'm trying to prepare myself for the possibility she could come back too, and I'm determined to be ok with it. The whole process is one of evolution.<br /><br />I'm also only take one class next semester.<br /><br />Right now I cannot wait for Thanksgiving. Mary will be home from Australia and I miss her so much. I'm just holding my breath until she is safely back home and I get to hug her. Her term there has been amazing. I can't wait to have my family and good friends (who are a part of the family) Kathy and Joe, around me on that special day. I have so much to be thankful for, so I keep mentally smacking myself and reminding myself of that. How dare I be depressed about anything in my life.<br /><br />What perked me up a lot was my good friend Debbie who visited from Chicago Friday night and Saturday. Together we had a glass of wine and talked about good times. Where do the years go? Her little boys and my little girls are almost all grown up; it seems just like yesterday they were running down the backyards, playing dress up, running through a sprinkler; and Ed and I might be found sitting in their hot tub on New Year's Eve with icicles hanging from the ends of our hair. Debbie and I spent some of Friday evening and most of Saturday (with Ed's help..thank you!) boxing up packages of supplies to be sent to her nephew in Afghanistan and my school's secretary's nephew (also serving in Afghanistan). As I said, I have NOTHING to be sad about when I think of what it is like for them in that desolate place and for their families left behind at home. I watched Mrs. Miniver on T.V. last night...surprisingly I've never watched it since I am a major old movie fan...and it brought home the same idea, only the story took place in England during WWII.<br /><br />That's it for now. I'll try to catch up and get back in the swing. I wish I could have kept writing through the past few months. I know it would have helped me a lot; but I literally have spent every waking moment on the computer doing work for my classroom or work for my classes...and there are just some things you can't blog about anyway.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-73582449515586954752010-07-04T10:03:00.000-07:002010-07-04T10:10:45.680-07:00It Will Happen To YouWhen we got home from church today, it went something like this:<br /><br />Me: I need to run to the store for a couple of things I forgot.<br /><br />Ed: When you go, would you pick up some hand soap refill? You know...it's on the hand soap aisle.<br /><br />Me: REEEAALLLYYY? WOW! They keep the hand soap on a hand soap aisle? Gee, someone is really thinking.<br /><br />Ed: (now sheepishly grinning) Yeah, isn't it amazing how they do that?<br /><br />After the trip to the store and at lunch time, I prepared a sandwich for his mother and asked him if he wanted one. He said maybe half. I said ok, if his mother only wants half (which she usually does) he could have the other half. I made the sandwich, delivered her half, and told him his half was ready. He came to sit down and there was more conversation.<br /><br />Ed: (lifting up the top piece of bread) What's on this sandwich?<br /><br />Me: (perplexed..I mean look at it) Well, it has lettuce, tomato, mayo, cheese....(I stopped to look at him lifting the bread)...oh...I forgot the meat. Your mother just ate a cheese sandwich not a turkey and cheese sandwich (and the turkey was still sitting on the kitchen counter...I just had forgotten to put it on). She must not have noticed or I would have heard about it.<br /><br />Ed: Uh, now you might be able to understand why I was explaining to you where you could find the hand soap.<br /><br />Me: Ok, you got me...this time.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-4655204569770347882010-07-01T10:21:00.000-07:002010-07-01T10:34:21.735-07:00The Pain of MotherhoodUgh...it never really goes away..the pain of motherhood. And I'm not talking about giving birth. I'm talking about doing what you as a mother are supposed to do..let go. I appear to be good at it, but I don't know. I have to be brave, but I wonder how much of it is a facade. <br /><br />There's a tightness in my belly, an ache around my heart, and a tear in my eye. My youngest, Mary, is leaving the country. I've been through this before, but not for such a long journey and for such a long time. She is going to Australia to study abroad for a term via DePaul University. She will be housed at a university outside of Melbourne. I know it will be wonderful. I know she will work hard, and I know she will have fun. Kelly (daughter number 2) studied abroad in Ireland...I went through it then.<br /><br />I really should be able to get used to this. The first occasion was dropping the first born (which is always the hardest because it is freshest for you as a parent) (at only eighteen years old!) in New York City. But somehow, it never gets any easier.<br /><br />So whenever I hear a young mother talking about labor (as I also did), I just smile, nod, and think to myself<em>....just you wait.</em>Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-51002904222245757412010-06-30T05:45:00.000-07:002010-06-30T06:32:51.873-07:00Addiction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjKmH39Q-90uqQola97EAqqp9pDAawYBk1RTW4_70TWK85_fm8Z5FT-XqvxXtJDDEovM0ac-cdo-clx2ZeSvmxur4cOwDRJeTksJevHO1rSQczY6MLfeXbItYKWwDnxdhjYrei9IkYqv_/s1600/84,_Charing_Cross_Road.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488556249511935010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjKmH39Q-90uqQola97EAqqp9pDAawYBk1RTW4_70TWK85_fm8Z5FT-XqvxXtJDDEovM0ac-cdo-clx2ZeSvmxur4cOwDRJeTksJevHO1rSQczY6MLfeXbItYKWwDnxdhjYrei9IkYqv_/s200/84,_Charing_Cross_Road.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAqkCRjGA5Nyc_0masC9ID4N2uFR3bY_M2N9kw5EkNQD-Odeymn0Tx06azJt1gShNEgGzfKfeiMfj8qTL7C_ZwhZ0lafpCRE3H_ambcajDMf62dhFhGAht1OgZWVKU7Jw59xlIlYy6QM6/s1600/Roald+Dahl+Boy.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 81px; HEIGHT: 129px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488556533967733058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAqkCRjGA5Nyc_0masC9ID4N2uFR3bY_M2N9kw5EkNQD-Odeymn0Tx06azJt1gShNEgGzfKfeiMfj8qTL7C_ZwhZ0lafpCRE3H_ambcajDMf62dhFhGAht1OgZWVKU7Jw59xlIlYy6QM6/s200/Roald+Dahl+Boy.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div><br />I can picture myself at the meeting. It would go something like this.</div><div><br />Me: Hi, I'm Lisa and I'm a....bookaholic.</div><div><br />Everyone: Hi Lisa.</div><div><br />It's true. As with most addictions I choose to ignore it, just hope it will go away and then the desire hits me again; like yesterday when I was driving through a county seat, a small town of an adjacent county...you know...the kind with a court house square, charming, to have lunch with a friend. It was only a small storefront, but they had one of those easel type sidewalk signs, plus the windows were painted advertising a sale...20% off all children's. That did it.</div><div><br />Yes, I did it. I bought books. At least I only spent around $6.00, and they weren't even children's, and they were paperbacks, and they weren't antiquarian (love that word) or rare.</div><div><br />No. 1: 84 Charring Cross Road (didn't even know it was a book and didn't know it was true)...wonderful. The movie is great. See it if you haven't. I happened upon it because I love Anthony Hopkins, and of course Ann Bancroft is fabulous......and OF COURSE.....it's a sort of love story between a writer and someone who.....I won't tell you....just see it and you'll understand why. I can't say more. The thought of it is making me have the urge again.<br /><br />No. 2: Boy. This one is a memoir written by Roald Dahl.</div><div><br />I'm worried. Not only does this addiction continue, but lately I've been buying books about books and books about writing books, and books about bookstores and books about libraries.</div><div><br />As I wrote my check, I asked the owner if he wanted my driver's license. His reply was "No thanks, I already have one." Then he asked me if I had seen the movie (84 Charring Cross Road) and purged all sorts of information about it; followed by more information about Roald Dahl which was that he died not long ago (I knew that) and that he had been married (at least at one time) to the actress Patricia Neal (I didn't know that). In my mind I gasped..."He's an addict too. And he WORKS here...how can he manage?" At one time while browsing I realized I didn't have cash, only a credit/debit card or a checkbook, so I asked what they took, and all he said was "We'll do just about anything to sell a book." and left it at that. I didn't know exactly what that meant...would he trade for my watch, some earrings, some velamints?</div><div><br />Just for today........</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-13334279504440205732010-06-29T07:25:00.000-07:002010-06-29T08:14:06.931-07:00SummerSummer didn't officially begin until June 21 so I'm looking at my summer that way. From a teacher perspective, I guess we are close to half way through.<br /><br />It hasn't felt like summer because of the chaos around me..which I actually am learning to appreciate. It takes my mind off of other things. Here is how it has gone.<br /><br />1. We traveled to NJ the weekend after school let out to attend a family wedding.<br />2. Daughter No. 2 stayed behind in NYC with Daughter No. 1 to drive back with her. She moved home and will be teaching in Indianapolis. After they returned, a truck arrived a couple of days later and Daughter No. 1's stuff was unloaded into one of our three garage bays. Another of the three garage bays was already full of my mother-in-law's furnishings. So currently, we can only actually park in one spot.<br />3. Daughter No. 4 was at the wedding, but had to fly back to Chicago where she goes to school. Daughter No. 1, after arriving home on Wednesday, left on Friday to pick up Daughter No. 4, with a van load of HER stuff, which also was unloaded into the garage.<br />4. Daughter No. 2, who had recently closed on the purchase of a home, went that same weekend and picked up a UHaul and drove it into our driveway to take some of her grandmother's furnishings and Daughter No. 1's furnishings to use in her new home.<br />5. Daughter No. 1 began induction at Marian University the following week, repacked what she needed, and drove to Chicago for Teach for America training and to teach summer school in Chicago.<br />6. Daughter No. 2 is still organizing, painting, and cleaning at her new home, and I haven't had a chance to help her except for one day. I'm hoping to get back this week and next.<br />7. Daughter No 4. is getting ready to leave for Australia on Thursday, so this week has consisted of me helping her buy some things she needs in the way of clothing, make sure her communication devices are ready and planned, that financially she is set, etc.<br />8. Oh, Daughter No. 3 is around, but is working and spending quite a bit of time with her boyfriend; but her life is the most calm and normal at the moment. She is taking a class for the 2nd summer session. She lives at home...most of the time.<br />9. Oh, did I mention there is sort of a Daughter No. 5? This is a friend of Daughter No. 3 who needed a place to live until she gets married next spring. We offered. She was living with her sister, but her sister's husband is being relocated. Don't ask me about her parents. I don't really know the situation, but apparently they don't do a lot to support her financially or otherwise. I have to admire this young woman, as she works full time, goes to school, and has been on her own for awhile. When the idea came up for her to live here, I thought why not? What's another person in this house? I just told her as long as she lives here, she needs to let me know if she isn't going to be home (same rule of thumb for my other daughters) so I won't worry about her.<br />10. As soon as Daughter No. 1 finishes her summer in Chicago she will be hired and working for a school in Indianapolis teaching secondary English. She plans on living at home until she decides what to do. I don't think it will take long for her to decide she can't function here, and I don't blame her, so she'll probably find a place of her own. TFA is a two-year commitment, so I am relishing the idea that she will be nearby for the first time in several years.<br />11. My mother-in-law lives here and has a caregiver who comes daily until at least 3:30 or so (sometimes longer when available), but then in the evening I need to be here, or my sister-in-law comes over.<br />12. I'm trying to have a garage sale in a couple of weeks to empty the house of all the stuff it has accumulated, or at least as much as I can gather. We've only lived here five and a half years but somehow the house has filled up. I still have a lot of kid stuff in the attic although we did dispose of a lot of things before we moved here. There is some kid stuff I will hang onto for grandchildren one day (I can hope), like the little rocking chairs they used, etc.<br />13. I am presenting in the fall at an education conference and need to start on that.<br />14. I am changing my curriculum and need to do a little planning on that.<br />15. I attended a three day workshop on reading comprehension.<br />16. Ed and I were to travel to Michigan with some older friends who don't travel well alone. Our friend is in the hospital and will not be able to go. We've been worrying about him. Our friend had brain surgery and is going to be in rehab once he gets out of the hospital to get his strength back. Ed and I changed the reservation to a one bedroom condo (fortunately there was ONE available) and are still planning on traveling to upper Michigan in a couple of weeks). I'm VERY sorry they won't be able to make it with us, but also looking forward to getting away. We both need it. We've never been to Charlevoix and hear the area is beautiful. Ed's sister will be flying in from Taos, New Mexico, to spend the week with her mother here.<br />17. I've been trying to get all my dentist/doctor appointments done over the summer as well...mine and some of the daughters.<br />18. Oh, and in the midst of all this, Daughter No. 1 had a graduation party (she did most of the work and cooking...it was delicious..she's a great cook) on a Saturday; also Daughter No. 4 had an "I'm going to Australia and won't see you for awhile" party (for which "I" did most of the preparation...which means I bought everything to avoid cooking except for throwing burgers (frozen patties) and hot dogs on the grill. That happened the following Friday. And I also had a gathering on a Sunday to celebrate Father's day, my father's birthday, a brother's birthday, a brother-in-law's birthday all at once.<br /><br />In a nutshell (I know that's much more than a nutshell) that is what my summer has been like so far. I haven't read a single summer read yet, but I'm working on it. I usually read at least 10 novels.<br /><br />I don't know what all this sounds like to someone who might be reading it, but it is not a vehicle for whining or complaining. I actually thrive in this atmosphere...well, as long as I can see the end in sight. I find I do much better caring for my mother-in-law with chaos around me. I had four children. I'm used to chaos. Don't let anyone tell you it goes away once they graduate from high school, or even college.<br /><br />Right now I'm going to go have lunch with a good friend at her house and look at her beautiful garden. That's a start, an attempt at actually doing something that feels like summer.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-81675573081418297862010-06-29T07:19:00.000-07:002010-06-29T07:24:51.155-07:00ReturningI'm going to make an attempt to return to my writing. I'm a teacher on summer break, but it hasn't felt much like summer break. My husband and I continue to care for his mother. We've adjusted. That doesn't mean I haven't had, and won't continue to have on occasion, a melt down. No more whining about that, however.<br /><br />Actually I'm back because a friend who is much more tech saavy than I hooked me up with google reader so I could attempt to organize the blogs and other websites I frequent (which actually I haven't frequented much at all lately). So it prompted me to actually look to see when I last wrote. When I first saw March, I was thinking it had been a whole year. It hasn't. Only around three months; that isn't as bad as I thought. It "feels" like a year though.<br /><br />I'll see what I can do here again.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-83960205777777709382010-03-24T21:42:00.001-07:002010-03-24T21:46:14.677-07:00UpdateMy, that last sounded firm didn't it? I'm stopping this one...now. I honestly don't even remember writing it. That's how my life has been lately. February doesn't seem so long ago, although March is about over. <br /><br />I guess I'll try to keep this up, but maybe it will evolve into being a little more focused, or at least more regular. Life has gotten in the way. One of the rules is not to overdo it with talking about family, but let's just say this is a very hard time of life at the moment.<br /><br />I just got a little freedom meaning even my youngest child is now in college, and suddenly I am hit with helping to care for an aging parent, and not my own, but my husband's, which of course is different. I'm assured that it won't impact my life, but that isn't realistic. I can't really go into it all in a blog, and I won't...I'll save that for my prayers, which I'm doing a lot of these days.<br /><br />Just know...it is very, very difficult.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-63291117152651291892010-02-07T13:30:00.001-08:002010-02-07T13:33:07.167-08:00Following the RulesHaving begun as someone completely unfamiliar with blogging, and really just wanting to make myself write a little, I am realizing that I have consistently broken the rules of blogging. My name is too complicated and difficult to remember and spell. I can't do anything about that now unless it is possible to close this one out and direct followers (few though they are) to another.<br /><br />Second, my posts are way too long, so I'm stopping this one....now.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-86715281651210176842010-02-06T06:07:00.001-08:002010-02-06T06:18:16.803-08:00Winter BeautyAnd so it came...the one thing I wanted before winter is truly over. I wanted that one winter storm that would make the trees coated and sparkly, would be beautiful, and would give me excuses to slow down and just be at home. <br /><br />I'll maybe come back and add some pictures, but right now my computer wants to close Internet Explorer every time I try to link to something...like to insert a picture. It says it is trying to protect my computer. Huh? From itself?<br /><br />Anyway, I didn't get a snow day from this since it didn't start falling after midnight as predicted. It really didn't start until the afternoon. It was pretty heavy during our all-school volleyball game and then it was time to come home. Fortunately, I live very close to school; even so it was very slick. So, we didn't get a snow day out of it, but a workshop I was to attend Saturday morning was cancelled, postponed actually.<br /><br />Superbowl is Sunday and as I write from Indianapolis, the Archbishop of the Diocese declared Monday a day off for Catholic Schools. We will have to make it up, but at least it is an extra day. I'm wondering about Tuesday. The snow on the ground isn't going anywhere as it is not supposed to warm up, and more snow is predicted for Monday. <br /><br />Plus, the groundhog (at least the one who is supposed to be the most reliable...Punxtawhateverhisnameis) says six more weeks of winter. I wouldn't be surprised since Indiana is notorious for having either blizzards or twisters during the NCAA championships in March, BUT<br /><br />It's ok..I'm ready for spring soon if anyone is listening to me.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-24247943315149919612010-01-29T08:59:00.000-08:002010-01-29T09:05:51.704-08:00Winter BlahsI've been absent. Hibernating I guess. After claiming..actually proudly announcing..that I never get sick, it has hit. Sinus infection. I made it to school on Thursday morning only long enough to sit through Mass with my first graders. It was their first one. There was no way I would have missed that. Two of my students who were involved were also ill. I was prepared for one so had another student take her reading (thankfully the student taking her part has about an 8th grade reading ability! She read not only her own part, but the absent student's part). The other absent student was unexpected, but he was only carrying the lectionary, so that one was pretty easy to substitute.<br /><br />So I'm home sick on Friday, on meds, and will be better on Monday. While I'm feeling lousy, have no energy, no voice, and a sort throat, I thought I'd catch up on reading the blogs I follow and write just a little. <br /><br />Nothing exciting is happening around here other than I'm waiting for Captain to sneak somewhere and poop in the house since all he wanted to do in the yard this morning was chase back and forth along the tree line looking for a squirrel. Oh, and Erin has no classes today, so she is home with me. She is very excited that she made a fried egg without breaking the yolk.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-53417030578259964192009-12-28T07:40:00.000-08:002009-12-28T07:58:20.186-08:00Christmas Over??? NOT!In my book, Christmas is not over until around Epiphany. Part of that is because I'm Catholic and part of it is because I refuse to buy into the way things are done in the popular culture. <br /><br />Think about it. Christmas displays start going up around Halloween, and it seems much of the world dismantles Christmas trees, takes down decorations, and moves on as soon as December 25 is over. What a shame, when in reality the timing should be in reverse.<br /><br />I find the best days of Christmas are those which follow December 25. Part of that is because I am a teacher and don't return to work until early January. I believe the rest of the world should take the week off as well. In leading up to the day, it is so stressful and busy and the pressure is on (mostly on women) to make everything perfect. At least in my house, Christmas simply wouldn't happen without me. It's a good thing Ed has four daughters too. If I'm ever unable to accomplish Christmas they no doubt would take charge.<br /><br />While gift shopping and grocery shopping, I have to feel a bit sorry for those who have to work to make gift shopping and grocery shopping possible for me...cashiers, clerks, truck drivers making deliveries, etc. We all take it for granted. I ran to the grocery store for a few last minute things on Christmas Eve and told the young man who was cashier I hoped he didn't have to work all day...he said he did; at least he would have Christmas Day off. <br /><br />I can't imagine having to go back to work a day or two after Christmas, not with the fatigue I always experience a couple of days after. It's a wonderful sort of fatigue...sitting in a chair reading, drifting off, somewhere between a deep sleep and a semi-wakefulness...a sort of drugged state of being. <br /><br />I'm gearing up again though, as we are hosting Ed's family party this year. It will be fun. We are older. With the exception of two, the cousins are at least high school/college aged, so we parents aren't so exhausted. We will get to enjoy each other's company, eat and drink hearty, and play games. My meal will be simple and one which we can graze on throughout the day. I'm making Ed's mother's fabulous Italian Beef, which consists of slowly cooked roasts, sliced thin, and marinated in a mixture of broth, green peppers, oregano, and more (I'll post the recipe later). From that we'll make sandwiches au jus on hard rolls. That plus sides and desserts will make a meal. <br /><br />We don't do a lot of gifts. The cousins still exchange through college, or opt in as they wish, through a drawing, but that's it. The focus is food, fun, and games. So, I'm gearing up a little and will do some baking this week, something I didn't get to enjoy as much the week before Christmas. For me, Christmas isn't over and I'm happy about that.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-71085938660173214062009-11-24T19:15:00.000-08:002009-11-24T20:27:33.150-08:00O Christmas Tree(s)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbxQISZgZHld_TiB9qIAiGiN0bwAzvyBR_bwZsPQGxxnw0MykByJSGZ8dP7H573-g5IJf75sWq8MEkCR-ojFJlHlI9Fllaaih5OvGIgEc8BY7-OJMcjPGwTzk03U2sJk5BbiVglyfh1iS/s1600/pine5.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407891901366455714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbxQISZgZHld_TiB9qIAiGiN0bwAzvyBR_bwZsPQGxxnw0MykByJSGZ8dP7H573-g5IJf75sWq8MEkCR-ojFJlHlI9Fllaaih5OvGIgEc8BY7-OJMcjPGwTzk03U2sJk5BbiVglyfh1iS/s200/pine5.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div>Ed and I have not yet succumbed to purchasing an artificial Christmas tree. I know that day may come. We are still holding out and purchasing a fresh tree already cut, or occasionally, selecting one from a tree farm. We have a lot of Christmas tree stories in our family.<br /><br />There was a time that Ed and I attended an annual Christmas party hosted by one of his clients. Somehow on the way to these parties we would talk about stories to share and what evolved were stories surrounding Christmas trees. It became a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tradition</span> for Ed to share a Christmas tree story at this holiday party.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div>One such story was the year his father purchased an enormous tree, too large to stand up on its own. It had to be wired to something to stand up (we've had to do this very thing ourselves on a couple of occasions). In any event, what happened that year was that his older sister brought her boyfriend's parents over to meet her parents. The story goes that when they arrived the tree came loose and fell on his mother which was embarrassing and hilarious.<br /><br />A tree story we were just remembering this evening was around 15 years ago. Ed had a client whose parents had sold their home and land. At one time someone had planned to raise Christmas trees. Apparently the trees were planted but had not been kept up, so there was a number of acres of trees that had not been trimmed but had been allowed to grow wild. Since the land was going to be used for commercial purposes and the trees would be lost in the development, we were invited to come and pick a tree. Being a younger single-income household with four children, we took advantage of the offer.<br /><br />Off we went all bundled up to traipse all over trying to find THE perfect Christmas tree when none of them were even close to perfect. We also didn't do a very good job of judging the size we should get because (since again the tree was going to be free) we found the largest tree we could find (picture the Clark Griswold tree from National Lampoon's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3522429721/"><em>Christmas Vacation</em></a>). We could barely get it in the house and then we could barely walk into the living room where we positioned it.<br /><br />While searching for our tree the girls came across the carcass of a dead deer..just an anecdote to add to that year's life experiences. While we were searching for our tree, and as is typical of a family searching for THE tree, all the girls found their own favorites and were fussing a bit over which to take home, when Ed and I suddenly realized we could take five trees if we wanted, and well, that is exactly what we did.<br /><br />Each of the girls had their own tree. Since we didn't have stands for five trees, we hammered boards across the bottoms of the smaller ones and since they wouldn't be getting a source of water, didn't allow the girls to put electric lights on them. They had to make paper chains, etc. to decorate their trees, but yes, they each had a tree of their own in their bedrooms.<br /><br />A great memory.<br /></div><em></em><em></em></div>Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-71381258098271185172009-11-19T14:01:00.000-08:002009-11-19T14:23:02.585-08:00Am I Being Tested?I have had a couple of rough days. They happen infrequently, thankfully. Heh! That's it...a number of my family and friends are posting on Face book what they are thankful for, so maybe today's should read I'm thankful that days like the last two don't happen all that often.<br /><br />I got snapped at about a little thing (at least it was to me) that was an error of omission on my part and unintentional (those are the most hurtful kinds of snaps to receive), one daughter was in an accident (her fault) and I fear the mother of the other driver is going to be one of those who has her son go around wearing a neck brace. I quite by "accident" found out from the officer at the scene that when I left the scene, the mother of the young man (who was positively a gentleman, even though his mother is apparently not a lady) followed him around trying to convince him he was hurt. <br /><br />I talked to another daughter at around midnight last night, sobbing because of her nasty roommate who has absolutely no respect for the fact that my daughter also lives in the dorm room, bringing people in at all hours, out drinking, never brushing her teeth or taking showers, making the room smell because she smokes and is dirty...you get the picture?<br /><br />Today I had to rush in and have some of my mid-quarter Progress Reports rerun because I had mistakenly misread or something...the cutoff date for having grades entered into our program and therefore had to adjust some grades. I was in the process of doing that yesterday when my daughter called me to come to the scene of the accident. <br /><br />I have been quite a bit behind in some things at school. It happens. I'm used to that; but today I fell even further behind when our priest came to visit. Now don't get me wrong; I am thrilled our new priest wants to be involved in the school, but someone needs to explain the situation to him. We have a schedule, we have lessons to teach; time is always the enemy to a teacher. It is THE most challenging thing when it comes to teaching...time management. Even five minutes makes a huge difference to a teacher. Minutes are EXTREMELY VALUABLE in a classroom. He visited my classroom for about 45 minutes or so; he wanted to answer questions from my students. Do you know the kinds of questions first graders come up with? <br /><br />They are frequently:<br /><br />1. Not questions at all, but stories or statements (like my mom's cousin's birthday is on Thanksgiving).<br /><br />2. Questions they couldn't understand even if the priest could answer them himself (like when was the universe created...and being a former engineer, our priest actually tried to answer all the questions like that, in length...like taking five minutes to ten minutes to answer...and by the time he finished he had long lost that child's attention).<br /><br />3. Repetitive...and even so our priest didn't point out that they were repetitive but answered them again...and at the same length.<br /><br />4. Embarassing....(I got REALLY lucky this time)<br /><br />This didn't just happen to me. I think it happened to at least three other teachers. It was exhausting. Oh, also...we had our little letter cards out spread all over the tables getting ready to practice some spelling and by the time he left the kids had theirs all mixed up with their neighbors. <br /><br />While he was there, one little girl kept putting her foot up on her chair and you could see her underwear, a little boy kept doing what boys (and men) do, and adjusting himself...making me think he had to desperately go to the restroom, some of them became totally uninterested and pulled out a book to read, etc., etc. <br /><br />And OF COURSE...I didn't know what to do...to say...do I stop him, do I tell him we are out of time, do I tell him they have to probably go to the bathroom, do I cut him off? I mean after our principal, he is sort of the big boss. Will she say anything to him? I think he is a good guy. I just don't think he understands...and.....again...he is a former engineer...they sort of think like lawyers and that is something I know about.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-69800967461803947882009-11-18T14:45:00.001-08:002009-11-18T14:47:26.807-08:00Well, Maybe NotDid I not write yesterday that my dogs are my new children? I don't think I should have said that.<br /><br />My dogs don't wreck cars.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-10116200737237602692009-11-17T17:27:00.001-08:002009-11-17T17:37:41.873-08:00I Confess: My Dogs Are My New ChildrenIt occurred to me tonight how much my dogs have become my children. I had an appointment to get both of them groomed. I'd do it myself but both of these dogs require professional grooming really...a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Goldendoodle</span> who is fairly curly and mats easily, and a Mini-Schnauzer who likewise needs a specific kind of cut to not look weird and also can get matted...of course it is nice to have the hair pulled out of the ears so they won't get infections, get their claws trimmed, etc.<br /><br />To make a long story short, I messed around at the book store, ran some errands, ate dinner and read by myself in a nice quiet booth and returned to the groomers around the time they thought the dogs would be done. <br /><br />As I pulled into a parking spot right in front of the grooming place, I could see Roxie standing on the table through the big picture window. She sort of looked like she was looking out to see who was out there as I pulled in, turned off my lights and engine. Right away I said to myself there is no way I'm going in there. If she sees me she'll start having a fit. It reminded me of preschool. <br /><br />Just a small thing, I know; but it's a fact. There are other things as well...loving it when they come and greet me when I get home, getting excited over a treat, doing little tricks..doing what I want in order to get a treat...yeah...they are just like kids. <br /><br />They've recently gotten into the habit of sneaking into bed with me too when I'm asleep. Well, sometimes I'm aware. I don't sleep that soundly; but there have been times when I've been completely unaware too. They must be very careful getting on the bed because I honestly don't wake up if they jump up. The other morning I opened my eyes to find Captain with his head on the pillow...one more good reason to keep them groomed.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-75697359775006352122009-11-16T15:05:00.000-08:002009-11-22T20:45:23.522-08:00Holiday Yard Decorations<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>..so after you read this, if you are mad at me, please don't be...but then I guess if I am going to blog, I have to not worry so much about that.<br /><br />For some reason I really dislike the recently popular (by recently I mean the past few years) yard decorations that consist of a blown up figure...a football player, a giant Santa, a Thanksgiving turkey, etc. I don't know why, but they strike me as cheap imitations of real holiday decorating...the kind that requires dad to climb a ladder and hang lights (hopefully not staple holes in their house the way Chevy Chase did in <em>Christmas Vacation</em>, one of my favorite holiday comedy movies).<br /><br />I'm not such a scrooge that I think they should be outlawed or something. If I had young children now, I'd probably put one in my yard too. They are in my neighborhood where there are small children or day cares. I'm not going to go by and shoot a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bebe</span> gun at them or anything.<br /><br />I also worry about the environment. Are they recyclable when they no longer work? Or are there landfills out there full of deflated <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Santas</span>, Frosty the Snowmen, turkeys, Halloween pumpkins, and numerous pro football team players or mascots?<br /><br />I think it comes from having been born in the 50's and coming of age in the 60's. It's about making memories. One of the best holiday memories I have is my dad hanging lights on the frame of our house and on the bushes. You know, come to think of it we did have these stand up plastic (but hard plastic not the blow ups) lanterns that would light up when you plugged them in.<br /><br />Oh <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">never mind</span>..Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-18045394520928955692009-11-13T17:26:00.000-08:002009-11-14T13:38:52.858-08:00A Book Lost, and Found<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8IhuccAKb1HgS7huzms-pu3Ulp7vpxA-ayglhu_T26VHvLRuxIV6UAq6Fwct4tFfNfrqvZy9-6wUiziwAMbl5AeQ22DRgCsgyaYeZ7vqmuqSPtvUXRYMGhfh_pJHbVJGD_m-IeJMFkpb/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403801150387574306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8IhuccAKb1HgS7huzms-pu3Ulp7vpxA-ayglhu_T26VHvLRuxIV6UAq6Fwct4tFfNfrqvZy9-6wUiziwAMbl5AeQ22DRgCsgyaYeZ7vqmuqSPtvUXRYMGhfh_pJHbVJGD_m-IeJMFkpb/s200/001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div>As an elementary school student I recall vaguely a field trip to The Indianapolis Children's Museum. I don't remember the details clearly, but have an image of the space I was in, including the huge model of a dinosaur. At the time I would have visited, the museum would not have been what it is today at all. My visit would have taken place at the same site, but at that time the museum would have been housed in the St. Clair Parry mansion. There are some books around that travel the history of the museum and it is pretty fascinating in that it really began with one woman's vision. She was Mary Stewart Carey, a civic and social leader who had the vision and inspired the founding of the museum in 1925. It was originally housed in an old carriage house on the near north side, in the Garfield Park shelter house, and then in the actual home of Mary Stewart Carey from 1927 to 1946. After that it moved to the site where it is now located, but was housed in the St. Clair Parry mansion, eventually demolished and replaced by the current building, which has also been expanded and improved.</div><br /><div></div><div>Some time later in my elementary school, fourth grade to be specific, my teacher (Mrs. Mary McCarty) gave me a book as a prize. Inside she wrote a dedication to me as the winner of the good citizenship award. That meant so much to me. She was a pretty strict, conservative teacher and it was my favorite grade. One of the things that stands out in my memory is the unit of study we did on Switzerland. We had a celebration and had hot chocolate, tasted chocolate from Switzerland, etc. It was much like what today would be called a project based or virtual learning experience; given that this would have been in the mid 60's, she was a teacher ahead of her time no doubt. </div><br /><div></div><div>You may be wondering how the two paragraphs above are related. I'll continue. As it happens, I kept the book into my college years. I finished school, got married, started my family, and went back to school to earn an education degree. I ended up working part time at the Children's Museum coordinating birthday parties in the computer lab on weekends. One weekend I went to the gift shop and picked up a history of the children's museum. As I read it I learned about a woman, Grace Golden, who directed the museum from 1942 to 1964. It mentioned a children's book she had written, <em>Seven Dancing Dolls. </em>It was then it hit me that this was the book my fourth grade teacher awarded to me and that it should be around somewhere. It was no doubt out of print, and I'd like to be sure I kept it as a keepsake and collectible. (My passion for children's books was already there, even before I was actually teaching...thanks to my mother.) To be sure I went to Central Library and it was listed as being in the rare book room. I was allowed to go to that room to see it (it was a noncirculating book), but the librarian discovered that it was missing. That's a shame. I don't know if they ever found it. </div><br /><div></div><div>I asked my mom to look around and she said I could come over and check the boxes in the attic. I never found it. Then I thought perhaps it had gotten mixed up with a former roommate's possessions and contacted her. She couldn't recall it either. Whatever happened to it, it disappeared. I did start looking for another copy though and eventually ran onto one from a rare book seller somewhere. I didn't pay too much, probably no more than $20 but it was worth it to me. The copy I have, the one you see above, is in excellent shape. It has the dust jacket intact and is library quality but with no stamping or marks anywhere. Regretfully, it isn't the one my teacher inscribed to me, but it still holds the memory for me.</div><br /><div></div><div>Grace Golden wrote the book as a result of a year she spent in Poland studying museums. Her story takes place in Poland when it was divided. It is about a little princess who lived in a palace. Whenever her father would travel, he would bring this princess a present. One present was a set of tiny dolls. When the dolls were placed on a piano and the piano was played, the vibration would make the dolls dance. The princess gave all the dolls names, and one of them was named for Frederic Chopin after visiting and playing the piano for the princess and her family. When he left, one of the dolls accidentally fell into his pocket. Eventually he returned the doll to her along with some special music he wrote for her...her very own waltz called "The Waltz of the Seven Dancing Dolls." It is really a sweet story; perhaps not a classic or famous or well known, but it holds such memories and meaning for me and it has some historical significance, at least locally. </div><br /><div></div><div>So this is just a little story of an experience with a book, and how it wove itself in and out of my life, and back in again; how I lost it and found it again (albeit not the original), and in doing so reconnected with a very important memory in my life. </div><div><atomicelement id="ms__id412"><atomicelement id="ms__id34"><em></em></atomicelement></atomicelement></div><div><atomicelement id="ms__id413"><atomicelement id="ms__id35"><em></em></atomicelement></atomicelement></div><div></div><div> </div></div></div>Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-48002672223581770322009-11-10T20:02:00.000-08:002009-11-10T21:04:42.565-08:00Reading TastesI guess you could call me eclectic when it comes to what I read. First, I don't have as much time to read during the school year as I do during the summer, but I do make sure I am reading something all the time.<br /><br />I read a wide variety of things. Whether this is normal or not, I don't know. First of all, I read a lot of picture books. I collect picture books, old and new, and hope one day to have those to share with grandchildren or just to pull out and enjoy myself. I know some of the books I have held onto meant a lot to my girls when they were growing up. It's funny how a book, like music, can send a person zooming back to a certain time, place or event...association.<br /><br />I also read, and enjoy doing so, professional books. They just keep publishing them. I wish they would stop, but that wouldn't be good. There is always something new to learn as a teacher. I particularly have a passion for professional books about literacy...anything reading and writing. I have a number I have purchased but haven't yet read. Like fiction, I just can't keep up.<br /><br />When reading as an adult, I think I have rather quirky tastes. For one thing, I don't mind reading stories that my husband would call "depressing" meaning that they have sad parts. Sometimes they don't even end happily. I like these types of reads because I believe they have things to teach me. For instance, I loved reading <em>Angela's Ashes </em>and <em>Teacher Man</em>. I love stories about people who were born into adverse circumstances and yet made it, likely because of those very circumstances which made them strong.<br /><br />Every once in awhile I discover a particular author and stick with him or her. When on a trip during my 25th wedding anniversary, the condo we rented had a few novels of Joyce Carol Oates sitting around. I started in on one of those which led me to another and another. I still have a lot of hers I could pick up. She is extremely prolific, and I have to say when I saw a picture of her on the flap of one of her novels, she looked exhausted. No wonder. If anyone was to ask me what her novels are about, I really wouldn't know how to answer. So I guess I like fiction that doesn't necessarily fall into a particular category like romance (blech) or mystery.<br /><br />The other day my daughter posted a comment on Facebook that she had met Colum McCann and that was very strange because I just bought <em>Let The Great World Spin</em>. I started it a few weeks ago and then put it down for lack of time. What I read did intrigue me and my daughter's comment reminded me to pick it up again. On the surface it is about a tightrope walker who walked between the twin towers in 1974. It's about a lot more than that of course. I don't always read off the New York Times or any bestseller list. In fact I prefer not to do that. I've never read Dan Brown.<br /><br />I like memoir and biography. Even though I said I don't usually read the latest fad, I did recently buy a few Jodi Picoult books because they were on that table with the signage buy two get one free. I read her first but haven't read another. Everyone is reading them, but not me. I suppose I'll get around to them but since they are a bit of a fad I'm not all that interested. I'm not trying to be a literary snob; it's just how I feel. I'd never judge anyone for what they are reading.<br /><br />On occasion I don't want to read what is a great piece of literature. My sister and I took a trip a year ago to Amish country in northern Indiana. It was a quiet, peaceful, and fun getaway. I picked up a trilogy by a not well known and not famous author who writes simple stories about the Amish life. They are sort of Amish romances I guess, and I actually have enjoyed those, although I certainly won't continue to read that author. There was something about them that made me appreciate the simple things and they were very relaxing to read. They made me want to be "plain."<br /><br />I also like books about animals, most recently the one about the library cat and the one about Marley. We all know how those are going to end, but I read them anyway. Of course as a child there was <em>My Friend Flicka, Black Beauty </em>and <em>National Velvet.</em><br /><br />I grew up going to the library almost weekly and bringing home much more than I could ever read. Now I do that when I go to a bookstore, an expensive habit but one I don't feel guilty about. I must admit I don't visit the library the way I used to. Libraries aren't the same anyway. I like the old ones, with hardwood floors and rooms that echo with your footsteps, and drawers you could pull out and sit on a table to search through cards for books; I like it when librarians stamp the back of your book with the return date, etc. I'm just old fashioned that way; I miss those things. I do miss smelling books. I use to love the smell of library books. Am I weird? The main reason I don't go often is that I want to see what is newly published and they aren't always available at the library. At the bookstore I can look in the sections that show recently published fiction and nonfiction, and I can see what employees recommend. I guess the library has tried to do some of that.<br /><br />There is only one thing I haven't done yet, and it is something I would REALLY like to do...be invited to, or start, a book/reading club.<br /><br />P.S. I collect. I have some out of print children's books. I have a volume of letters Louisa Mae Alcott and her father wrote back and forth (very rare I think), old school books, my own primers, and even some of the Little Golden Books and Elf books with which I associate some childhood memories. When I look at one of my old Little Golden Books about a drum majoriette, I can feel myself sitting on my mother's lap and I can hear her voice reading to me.<br /><br />P.P.S. Some of my favorite books: <em>Alice in Wonderland</em> (makes me really relate to how much kids loved Harry Potter...fantasy, <em>Little Women</em>, Carolyn Haywood <em>Betsy</em> books, <em>The Bounty Trilogy</em> (if THAT isn't quirky for a teen to love, then what is...but I did..still do...love the story of The Bounty), <em>Rebecca</em> (gothic romance is just fine), <em>Forever Amber</em>, the <em>Clan of the Cave Bear</em> series, oh dear I'd better stop now.<br /><br />Did I mention I love to buy interesting looking cookbooks, even though I'm not much of a cook? I'd love to hear about anyone else's reading life and interest in starting a reading group.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-26814391315967143922009-11-09T20:33:00.000-08:002009-11-09T20:49:15.498-08:00Random Weird Websites<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PqLtudt0lSrHvsFTXSq9AqLdHZFIlxctmwBQBlmGLy5crR3NGgFjxoUVw3XlpFCfmyUJhgc_fK-DMHMgx8LxIcAMZ9XUbcY1Jo4dsqkMRH_0oZb0Lm3InBxY5wox6RZLBNtwB_0KTqr1/s1600-h/hillary-clinton-toilet-brush-788086.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402328993633729186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PqLtudt0lSrHvsFTXSq9AqLdHZFIlxctmwBQBlmGLy5crR3NGgFjxoUVw3XlpFCfmyUJhgc_fK-DMHMgx8LxIcAMZ9XUbcY1Jo4dsqkMRH_0oZb0Lm3InBxY5wox6RZLBNtwB_0KTqr1/s320/hillary-clinton-toilet-brush-788086.jpg" border="0" /></a> I can't imagine what you are thinking. Did you ever just type in something in your google or other search engine box and see what you come up with? Only someone with too much time on her hands, or in my case someone who is avoiding being productive, would do such a thing.<br /><br />Over the summer while on vacation, my silly daughter Kelly showed me some really hilarious websites that had some really hilarious products. I found one myself recently called <a href="http://www.strangenewproducts.com/">Strange New Products</a>. Yes, I found there what you see above, the Hillary Clinton Toilet Bowl Brush. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, I guess if you are a Republican this would be funny. Don't worry if you are a Democrat. They have a George W. Bush...er brush..as well. There are some other items of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bathroomesque</span> humor at the site.<br /><br />What else? How about paying $24.95 to not have to go to church or donate or offer your time, talent, and treasure in order to purchase up front a Reserve a Spot in Heaven Kit. No kidding...who buys this stuff? They even offer a refund if heaven renegs on your reservation. I wonder how you collect and what difference it would make anyway.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-35963064542393584192009-11-08T05:09:00.000-08:002009-11-08T05:24:03.298-08:00It's Not Happenin'....I often told myself when my girls were little that one day I'd have an organized home. It helped that we actually had to go through the process of leaving one home and moving into another. We built almost five years ago. When we went through that process we got rid of so much STUFF. Well, it has happened again...the accumulation of stuff over time. I don't get it...well, I guess in reality I should.<br /><br />I may not have young children any longer, BUT I do have the stuff that comes from having daughters move into college, out of college, into dorms, out into apartments; plus I have a mother-in-law who moved into assisted living so we have a lot of her stuff here too.<br /><br />One of the things I wanted was an attic space. I love our attic space. It is the kind of attic you can imagine loving as a kid. I am hoping that one day my grandchildren can go up there and dig through boxes and find what they think is cool stuff. Right now it does have some cool stuff, but it also has some not-so-cool stuff...in other words...junk.<br /><br />I thought that when my kids grew up I'd be better at staying on top of clutter. Maybe I am a little better, but since I actually had a weekend of no commitments, I decided to get to some of the projects I set aside. I've started attacking some already junky drawers and such. How does that happen...even though I don't have any little ones any longer?<br /><br />Big announcement: I have to face the fact that it is ME...not my daughters...and ED (who is much more of a keeper than I am). I managed to attack the drawer in my bathroom vanity where I keep make up and jewelry and such. Since it took me quite awhile to get that done and figure out what to do with the stuff I didn't need (much of it got thrown away), it is seriously clear that it will take weeks and weeks of having no commitments to get through it all.<br /><br />It's probably not happenin'....by the time I get through them all, the first ones will be full again.<br /><br />Hmmm...what I really should have done? Gotten rid of a bunch of Ed's junk since he is out of town. He'd never have noticed.<br /><br />While I want my attic to maintain it's "cool appeal" for future use, it does definitely need some cleaning out, trips to donation centers, and organization. Maybe I'll take a before picture of it and get it posted...who knows whether the after picture will ever get posted in my life time.<br /><br />It's not happenin'...at least not in the near future.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-44982777042753475452009-11-04T14:24:00.000-08:002009-11-04T19:08:40.219-08:00Halloween '09<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMIF9bKeUGzMN1sx61uxBNUcureQ4diKzio2PWuqy9JG5lvHpp3AiLK-xhEB3X6F0QIo5DLcYSfK90uZtWyfGoYXbCqkz0sj3K3TKTQQJoPvBx8K_ZdGi9xryJcoN15HDPGE8zPP6y8kc/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400378730113505586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMIF9bKeUGzMN1sx61uxBNUcureQ4diKzio2PWuqy9JG5lvHpp3AiLK-xhEB3X6F0QIo5DLcYSfK90uZtWyfGoYXbCqkz0sj3K3TKTQQJoPvBx8K_ZdGi9xryJcoN15HDPGE8zPP6y8kc/s320/013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He'll kill me. Well, he doesn't blog and he doesn't read blogs, unless I put it in front of his face and say "Read this" and then only when he gets around to it. That said, here we are in our Halloween costumes, which we haven't done in years. We are fire and ice. I guess you can probably figure out which is which. He started it all.<br /><br />On Friday night he set his agenda and expected Erin and me to follow it. As he was leaving to go and work at the local Halloween haunted hayride, he mentioned that Erin and I should make zombies for the front porch. He did bring in some old jeans and shirts of his, and left it to us. We both stood looking at each other, a little frustrated. Our expressions said it all. Here he goes again...giving us a job to do and then removing himself from having to be involved. Not that we had to do it (and I mostly did it myself), I started stuffing the clothes to make bodies.<br /><br />When he finally returned, he had brought some masks from the hayride which weren't being used, and we added those for the heads. He even got an old stuffed bear out of the attic and put a mask on it. We ended up with two male zombies, a female zombie which sort of resembled Mrs. Bates from Psycho, and a zombie faced stuffed bear. So that started it all.<br /><br />The next morning when I stopped at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wal</span>-Green for a couple of things and noticed a ton of Halloween stuff on sale. I ended up buying a spider, a spider web, two large plastic images of skeletons you could hang in the windows, and some tombstones for the yard. I also started looking at the hair sprays and things. I hadn't decided to dress up, but got a little inspired. Ed actually went out on his own later and found the red stuff to be the opposite of me. If we were going to be at home alone I guess we might not have done so much, but we had two couples over for a light dinner and to help pass out treats. I was also expecting some of my students as well.<br /><br />It turned out to be a lot of fun. I guess we are now reverting back to childhood..kind of scary. Scarier than the yard and porch decorations we are. The fun thing is that it reminds me of when we were first dating. We went to a number of Halloween parties over the year. For our first I was a basket of dirty laundry. We cut holes in the bottom of a laundry basket so I could step inside, I stuffed the basket with clothes, laundry soap, etc. He went as Mr. Clean, all in white, and wore a skull cap. For another party we were The Blues Brothers.<br /><br />One year a friend had a Victor, Victoria party. That's definitely another post! Here are some more pics.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400382199695878162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMwStTJD1lrnFofACec-s1un5PElvAaGpzIl39dEfjF_n9WEdwgGLXy0b08l8iZ7VGGUWeLNTM6ZjFay7fwifmaQiWyXkJlTNkop1j7UWJWM1KCIOoNYCHLIJeG1wiOrI8vW8ybrF07lG/s320/004.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400383430574015522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vigcbD5ISph5ebKJE-Mbln7LZ0xSB9QGZESxfNMCzpR44hYQWA9fYa2rP7eaBT7bPKMDOoaKD1_a3Z8zwxs90bmBwvdwxqGQb3d1kn6OeDpNKh-41gRFOe6BbMJFa3nPK0L_DSo_USkF/s320/023.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400383900271132898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivksjoh_N-BV63R5KLpDW11madH2iQaHHeSJ-q8IlrOP-Ov7uh_jv9Fj6uc8-w0rKV0uqOWPOzqcRPpBJvcXH1adSTIYyC8XuW0p1agWy_NuE5zd0nnGBNg0_bVrs27PsMx1pTKC6p15Jc/s320/019.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400384395864953762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOcZwow8Y5xSYZ8ywyEv9EC8npihmjZlvmLF12aJriZpA7YJwYZP8zD2nJ8MCO9o6IKBQF8XICObz1jHEiJ63NvzNbPZ2gaphcOB_qYrK1apzt9Wfhl6jJvcUxUIas_-ijFAEDZ_99NB9/s320/024.JPG" border="0" />Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-37461169919342940552009-11-04T13:45:00.000-08:002009-11-04T14:24:19.669-08:00Copycat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVe33rYzrruFYt-pjVWl74nBKHH5w53YDmgqEEgDQFOEJBlyOL3QHgUPn5aWJc1d7-oXQiGZcB7EMXhdF5uQ3DanQe9k0RbztjiyR8CZA8EYNibpQAiE5xAgnOCPmf3gnhthrHRskg1TnA/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVe33rYzrruFYt-pjVWl74nBKHH5w53YDmgqEEgDQFOEJBlyOL3QHgUPn5aWJc1d7-oXQiGZcB7EMXhdF5uQ3DanQe9k0RbztjiyR8CZA8EYNibpQAiE5xAgnOCPmf3gnhthrHRskg1TnA/s320/005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400376784256885426" /></a><br />Ok, I'm going to be a copycat...or try. I just read my daughter's blog, which is much more interesting and hip and young than mine; also a friend mentioned to me yesterday that she noticed I hadn't posted much lately. It's twoooo. Not only haven't I posted, I haven't read those I follow either. I'm going to try to change that.<br /><br />As I mentioned, I just read my daughter's blog, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.morgendorf.blogspot.com">Morgendorf</a>, and she mentions it is National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo). Well she didn't call it DaNaBloPoMo (Daily National Blog Posting Month), so I don't know if I'll post daily (which is her goal), but I'll try to get going more regularly again. I might even do more than one a day to catch up.<br /><br />(One note of frustration: Recently I accidentally put Windows Vista on my computer....well, it wasn't actually me but that is or could be another post. Since that happened, I'm having a little trouble getting blogspot to do what I want. I can't just click in the body of the post and move about. If I get off track I have to click myself back to the title, tab into the body of the post, and use the arrow to move where I want to be...very frustrating and enough to make one stop posting!)<br /><br />Maybe my life is just too boring to post more regularly...but you know, I'm finding it isn't such a bad place to be.Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7415065052373150062.post-24145928865341408122009-10-21T21:30:00.001-07:002009-10-21T21:50:43.329-07:00Anticipating the HolidaysThis scene is no longer. I took this photo at my school's autumn gathering...our Chili Off. It took place at our kindergarten teacher's place, which is a beautiful area. She has a wonderful old farm house surrounding by fields. While we were eating great chili and playing games of Corn Hole and Croquet, I snuck over to get this shot.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7lK4yRA_lqwCfpizgFg9C9zTP0DaEtXawswxWumoXF-JK_G52e4-WGifB7_Yk9cwp2ADtlNWSZdKwEg8wop2jBErQB0NUw2C8Iszb3JU6Rk_XZqFImlLY0-ajmE2ZtgnH03m18-rPX3i/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395277729265844338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7lK4yRA_lqwCfpizgFg9C9zTP0DaEtXawswxWumoXF-JK_G52e4-WGifB7_Yk9cwp2ADtlNWSZdKwEg8wop2jBErQB0NUw2C8Iszb3JU6Rk_XZqFImlLY0-ajmE2ZtgnH03m18-rPX3i/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These fields are empty now. Only stubble remains, and I'm thinking holidays. How could I help it? I've already seen Christmas displays up in department stores when I was in Chicago over last weekend. I'll admit that I love the holidays...from Halloween on, but Thanksgiving and Christmas more so than Halloween. But that doesn't mean I'm game for such early decorating. I don't watch a lot of television but I'm sure the Christmas advertisements are there. I know some holiday movie trailers are out. The new release of A Christmas Carol with Jim Carey is soon to be out. Early November is just too early for a movie like that. I find that when all the hype starts so early, I get burned out around the time I should be in the throes of shopping and cooking and crafting.<br /><br />I have to admit though, I'm looking forward to this holiday season more so than I have for years. Why? If you read (and I really don't have a lot of readers..I'm basically just talking to myself here), I'm pretty much an empty nester. While I do have one daughter still at home, it's different. I have no high school children. I am free from all of the commitment it takes to be an involved parent. I loved every minute of it, but....<br /><br />I won't be planning a Madrigal dinner (although I plan on attending and enjoying it). So, I can cook, craft, shop and wrap to my heart's content. Another interesting change, my adult daughters are encouraging me not to do so much shopping, and I'm game...at least if I can still do a little. We'll still have a family exchange on both mine and Ed's sides, but we will try to cut down on what we are doing for each other and instead adopt a family to assist.<br /><br />We are having the big Thanksgiving meal (which I actually love because it is about food and not presents), but for Christmas we are planning on a more simple meal of soup/chowder, munchies, and desserts. We can have a lot less stress in the way of food preparation (Ed asked me..."When did this happen? Was I consulted?...he should know better), and more time for fun and games and holiday movies.<br /><br />I am going to enjoy this...for years I've gotten caught up in making sure my girls were happy, that they had enough, that I was fair with what I did for each of them, etc....I'm a bit like my mother that way, although I'll never do what she still does...buys for each and every one of her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren. It's just too much and I wish I could get her to stop, but it makes her happy. I've finally gotten her to buy gift cards. I've finally convinced her that is what the girls prefer, but beyond that I doubt that her insistence on buying for everyone will ever end as long as her health allows her to do it.<br /><br />I'm a Christmas fiend, so I'm sure I'll have a lot of posts about what I'm doing approaching the holidays. I've been away a lot due to a crazy schedule at home and school, so I hope to get back into the swing of things. And hopefully they won't be so all over the place as this one is (trying to catch up I guess).Seshathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651863743821753517noreply@blogger.com0