Please Pass the Dust Rag

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Lots to do. Decisions to be made. Do we want to meet as the whole family for the traditional meal with the traditional lack of enthusiasm? Do we want to break off and begin our own tradition with just our immediate family? (D0 we even want to cook?) Whatever is chosen, I have a house to clean. You see, a spotless house is not a high priority with me. But when a holiday such as Tday comes along, I become nervous about how others will perceive the house. In all actuality, people come to eat my delicious food, not find my latest dust bunny. At least that is what I keep telling myself.

The Devil Made Me Do It

Our minister, Bob, preached on "what the devil can do" in church yesterday. Bob started out with a devil mask on his face. He stated that most of us think that the devil looks like the mask. If you saw someone coming at you that looked like the mask, you would run or at least head in a different direction. The devil's appearance is not frightening but more appealing. That is how he can get to us. I never thought about that. Guess I am like most people who think that the devil will appear in a red suit carrying a pitchfork. Bob further stated that the devil is called the prince of the air. He can never become king UNLESS the king (Jesus) dies. Thanks, Bob, for another insightful sermon.

Zippity Do Whoa

I'm hurting all over physically. Went to a women's retreat, had a good time, stayed up too late for me, walked lots of hills and hollers, AND rode the 700 foot long zipline. Yes, this old woman decided she could do it. What a thrill! The hardest part was waiting at the end to gear up, walk up the 700 ft incline, then the stairs to the top of the tower. I was one of the last to go so decided to do something a little different. Instead of sitting down to push off, I stepped off the 30 foot tower. Yes, my daughters, your mother did it. Instead of the 5 foot drop I had a 12 foot drop before the line caught. Actually, it was easier because I didn't see the ground below, and I didn't get my blue jeans dirty on the ledge. And I am not afraid of heights.

Dressed for Halloween

Today is our "Fall Party" at school. Teachers are encouraged to dress in costume, but not be scary. I have pondered whether to dress in costume or not, then wondered what that costume should be. Well, as I was digging for more fall/winter clothes in a container in our upstairs, I came across my senior cords skirt. Suddenly I knew exactly how I would dress. I brought down and pressed my senior cords skirt and located my cheerleader sweater. I'll go as a senior cheerleader who is actually a "senior". The children will not understand about the cords, but the adults will enjoy it. Many will marvel that I can still wear the skirt. I don't think I will tell them that I actually made the skirt about 8 years ago to attend a county-wide school reunion. After all, this is a costume party.

Fire Drill

Watched our granddaughter last night for a while. When I picked her up from daycare, one of her classmates pulled the fire alarm on the way out the door to recess. So we all had to evacuate the building in the cold wind. Didn't seem to upset the children at all nor any of the daycare staff. I didn't realize that a three-year-old could pull the alarm so easily. Before we went out for supper/dinner, we asked Tootsie where she wanted to go. She rattled off the name of her new favorite restaurant, Mexican, of course. She ate lots of chips and salsa along with nearly a plateful of rice. Don't know where she puts all that food. Then she wanted to visit her favorite place to shop, Wal-Mart. Did I say she is just three?

Blanket Project

My good friends from Cincinnati have been featured in the newspaper for their work in the Linus Project, a program of making and supplying blankets to children in crisis. My friends' dedication is phenomenal. I so excited that now more will know about this wonderful project and may choose to become involved in some way, big or small.

So Sheltered

I took my fourth grade class on a field trip to a state park recently. At one point we took a restroom break. One of my more sheltered students needed assistance since the child was afraid of going in the bathroom that might contain a "stranger." When it was time for the child to wash hands, the child jumped back when the assistant turned on the hand dryer. The child had never seen one and was afraid of it.

Corn Shark

Check out the corn shark in Indiana. Maybe Jimbo and Dellmo have spent too much time out in the sun. At least they are harmless.

Walk to Defeat ALS

The ALS Walk is today in the Big City. This will be the seventh year in a row that my family has walked in honor/memory of my brother who had ALS. Joe passed away in March of 2004, just 19 months after being diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease . We continue the fight to raise money for research to defeat ALS so others do not have to suffer this fatal disease.

One of Those Frustrating Days

Yesterday was one of those frustrating days, one where it is hard to keep from exploding and lashing out at someone. No, I was not at school. We had early dismissal because I had camped out at school the whole evening before to meet with the parents. The frustration came with taking my father to see a neurologist, the one who had drilled 4 holes in his head in March, in the Big City, far, far, away. Now, taking dad somewhere is a major production. It took the nurse's aid and my sister-in-law to shower and dress him. Then, it took two of us to transfer him to his scooter, then to the van. So, after driving at least 1 1/2 hours, we are nearing our destination. My sis had already called to receive more clear directions. Didn't get those. So I took a turn. Lady on the phone said I could let him out at the circle drive, go in and ask for further directions at the information desk. I let dad and sis out and then parked in garage #2 as directed. Only then did I see that the professional building that we wanted was ADJACENT to the hospital, and IT also had a CIRCLE drive. GRRRRR. Well, after parking, finding my family at the hospital where I had dropped them off at the CIRCLE drive, we walked to the professional building by means of a long hallway. Arriving at the designated office, we sign in, surrender insurance cards, and begin filling out the book of forms. Only then did someone from their office come out to us to say that the nurse-practitioner was in the ER trauma room and we would have to wait at least 4 hours. The lady also said to just leave the CD of his last brain scan and that should be enough. That's what we wanted to do in the first place. GGRRRRR! My sister was very patient and understanding while I bit my tongue. We left.

Your Child Is a Model Student

IT went well, that dreaded time for parents to meet with the teacher of their children during Parent/Teacher Conferences. I'm not sure who dreads IT the most, the parents or the children. At least half of my students appeared with their parents. Wonder if the children were afraid of what mom/dad would hear? (And I didn't make one threat of what I would say.) I had positive comments for the most part. Parents were surprised and pleased, even with the grade cards. Let's just say that I am thankful that conferences are not closer to the beginning of school or else the comments would have been, (how do I say it?) less flattering.

Do Re Mi

A person who laughs a lot is said to extend his/her life by 8 years. A person who sings will extend his/her life by 15 years. Just think, if you can't sing, do it anyway because you will gain 15 years and help someone who is laughing at you gain 8 years. Ha!

Say It Isn't So

Heard a terrible story on the news yesterday. A man shot his exwife 7 times, abducted their 3 children plus one other child, and then led police on a chase on a major interstate. When the man finally stopped, it was only then that the police noticed the 4 children in the car. Through negotiations the man released all but one of the children. Later, the man threatened the child and was shot once and killed. The children are reported to be safe physically. Motive? It was all over a $200 child payment.

Things To Do

Things to do at school today:

• Type the Health test.
• Copy test.
• Give test.
• Check six-weeks' grades.
• Send grades in by computer.
• Complete parent/teacher conference forms.
• Send home forms.
• Collect homework.
• Reward those who completed homework.
• Revamp morning schedule.
• Worry about revamped schedule.
• Figure how I can teach on revamped schedule.
• Teach.
• Check children's work.
• Breathe.
• Take pain reliever.
• Discuss inappropriate behavior.
• Perform song and dance to keep their interest.
• Eat lunch.
• Copy papers for English.
• Breathe.
• Begin the afternoon.

(Must stop at this point or the blog will be too long for today, and I don't really want to think about this afternoon just yet!)