Truth...stranger than fiction!

There are friends who can bring back the laughter of days gone by...funny experiences in the classroom while sharing the joys of teaching. Back in the late 80's, I taught fourth grade for two years and shared the curriculum with fellow teammate, Helen. After convincing her at the end of the first year that as gracious as she was to coach me in Science [see Oct 25, 2009...The March of the Crayfish], it would be better [ both for me and the kids] if I taught two Social Studies classes and she would do two Science classes. The Social Studies Curriculum included local history and how the community progressed from the 1700's while interacting with the Native Americans, and the Revolutionary War Battles that were fought in and around the area. I had ordered a PBS Series that were 15 minute videos of related topics and invited Helen's class to join us. We were seated on opposite sides of the room as the tape shared 'housing-related' and shelter-type issues after clashes with the enemies, especially when their quarters had been set on fire leaving them homeless. Imagine our surprise when it was stated that within the hierarchy of housing, the chicken coop was included...AND ...that since it was considered most favorable, it was often occupied by military higher-ups! Well, Holy Mackerel!! We both knew that we couldn't even look at each other in fear of bursting out in laughter. No disrespect intended...merely surprised at its 'reserved status'.

Helen called me on Sunday to say that she had heard on the TV that a retired teacher had been living in a chicken coop. I promptly responded,

"Are ya kidding? Are you really thinking that I'm going to believe that? "

We laughed, reminisced about the movie, and that was that.

Then days later while watching TV, a commercial began explaining how AARP was begun by a woman who had witnessed a retired teacher living in a chicken coop because that was all that she could afford!! The founder of AARP determined that she must help people to make things better.

Helen had not made it up! It had not been a practical joke which we have been known to orchestrate upon each other. I had to phone her immediately with the words...

"You were right. I was wrong. It'll never happen again!"

I was so surprised that she had been telling a chicken coop truth!

Good thing I didn't bet the ranch.

Mother Nature: Return the birds!

If this is not what you see when you look out your living room window, then count your blessings!! Even the birds are hardly seen in this frigid weather. We do the dance of joy when one finally appears...

"Look! A bird! We have a bird sighting!"

Add a hot cup of cocoa and ommmm...how many days are there until spring?

American Idol

The new season of American Idol has begun. While each season has always started with an odd assortment of 'the good, the bad, and the ugly', this year differs in that there is no Simon Cowell as a judge. The word in the media was that the show would suffer an immeasurable loss. In theory that it would be the end of the show because Simon WAS the show.
Simon was blunt, provocative, outspoken, controversial, and spoke with his British accent that made him sound so important. He was difficult to please, but people couldn't wait to hear what he had to say. Myself included.

However, the show goes on and the concept remains that it is a singing competition. There are two new judges and now all three have a background in performing music.

My intention is not to put Simon down. He certainly recognizes talent. Someone once told me that no one is irreplaceable. The show will go on. There are people who don't have any desire to see it. Some watch from the point of where the final twelve singers have been chosen. The people who have already decided what the outcome will be without Simon...have already decided. I'm willing to give it a chance. For the entertainment and ...oh yeah...the possibility of winning the pool.

You've Got the Day Off!

Yesterday was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's celebratory day, and yet unfortunately, there are many who will never see the light. While he is most known for the four words, "I have a dream", I tried very diligently to impress upon my students the powerful words that followed those...that day when people were judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.
Some people have Martin Luther King's government holiday off, and others do not. Yet, Columbus Day seems to be different somehow. Celebrated for 'discovering America', it is now known that he was a barbarian of sorts...and...I'm thinking that the Native Americans were already here. 'Nuf said.
Perhaps the newly crowned Miss America can lead the cause of being judged by more than your appearance. Aside from being born with her physical beauty, I'm guessing that her musical expertise was the crowning glory.
I have a wish...that people treat each other kindly, slow down and smell the roses, and be a part of returning some sanity to the planet!
Now I am off to teach a safe driving class to help restore some sanity to the highways and the byways. TTFN [ta ta for now].
P.S. I apologize for what appears to be my editorial's blatent sarcasm...I hate sarcasm...I really do.

To Do...or Not To Do

There are often times when a thought will cross my mind, and I think...'That would be a good thing to do.' It can be as mindless as walking by something, realizing that it belongs somewhere else, and taking it there at the moment the thought occurs. Or it may be a change of behavior that I want to be successful at regardless of its inconvenience or importance.

While I was grocery shopping, I passed by a variety of bagged apples and the thought occurred to me that my mom used to eat an apple every day... Add to that the magazine article I read that related how many nutrients were in the apple skins, and I decided to eat an apple a day. So far, it's great! I forgot how tasty apples really are and certainly are better for me than cookies. This is not an earth shattering, life changing action. It's an apple. I didn't say I was not eating cookies...I said that I am eating apples. It seems to be easier for me to try to do something than to NOT do something.

Some people make resolutions for the new year, and others choose not to go through the stress. The only resolution that I managed to start on New Year's Day and keep it going was twenty years ago and it was to quit smoking. I must credit my ten year old son's influence and pressure to stop. As I found myself smoking in the bathroom and blowing the smoke out the window because his behavior had kind of forced me to be a closet smoker, it was really becoming a hassle. Starting on New Year's Day, and building one day at a time, that was a hard habit to break. I had done it four times before , and even after two years, lost the battle. Now I am 20 years+ as a non-smoker.

Thanks, Jer.

Think...and then think again.

The tragedy that happened on Saturday in Arizona is beyond my comprehension. The fact is that six people are dead and nineteen are injured because one person was able to fire off rounds of bullets from a semi-automatic gun.
He bought the gun in November. For what purpose would a private citizen need or use a semi-automatic gun? Hunters wouldn't use it...would they? Seriously, what is the reason they exist?
I have seen the map of Sarah Palin's 20 'cross hair targets' that was intended to show the possible government seats that could be secured while the election campaigns were in progress. The visual that was selected should have been analyzed more carefully before it was put out there. My point is that everyone needs to think...and pause to think again...how might my actions and/or my words be interpreted by others? Actions speak louder than words, and words are repeated and have consequences.
In all aspects...in all conversations...at all events...whether it is personal occasion or conversation, or at a public meeting or sporting event.
Hindsight is 20/20. I cannot get the image of the smiling, cheerful nine year old girl who was killed on a sunny Saturday morning because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time... out of my thoughts.
Let us all be a part of turning the hourglass around.
Speak up when something is unnecessarily offensive or dangerous.
Help stop the insanity...for the children.

TV Becomes Reality

My, oh my! I am shaking my head!!
Let me begin by reaffirming that 'Amazing Grace', the wonder dog is absolutely the best.

She was adopted into the family when she was two years old and needing a new home because a fire had left her homeless. I merely went along for the ride to hold onto her on the ride home. She stared at me with those expressive, gigantic brown eyes of hers, and we've hung onto each other ever since. Grace has had an escapade or two, the kind you laugh about as you reminisce and share with others. For the most part, she hasn't changed much except that at some point she became very fearful of thunder and lightning. Unconsolable...

There must be some kind of association also to the 'beep' of a smoke alarm. While watching a pretaped episode of 'Modern Family' from TV [ a very funny comedy show], a smoke alarm beep happened on the tv show and the main character of the show couldn't find the offending intermittant beeper. I had to shut it off because at the very first 'beep', Grace spun around, joined me on the couch, lept up on the window sill, and back to my lap all while scanning the room with her ears on 'high alert'. So, when she went for a haircut and was out of the house, I got to watch the TV show that often causes me to laugh outloud. And Grace was spared the trauma. Mission accomplished!

Today, after volunteering at the hospital, Flo was snoozing in her recliner with the dog on her lap...and I was contentedly playing Scrabble on Facebook and Hearts on the computer when from somewhere in close proximity... there came a lone 'beep.'

The dog was immediately airborn and I knew there would be no peace until it was resolved. I managed to compound the drama while searching for the source of the noise by hitting the 'HELP' button on the link to life. Immediately:

"EMERGENCY...EMERGENCY...EMERGENCY! Sending notification."

When the voice connected with my phone, I explained that all was well, and I hit it by accident.

"Remember we are always here if you need us,"

I wanted to ask if they could please send help to find the source of the undercover 'beeper' !

Somehow despite the fact that I wasn't tall enough to reach the living room smoke alarm, and add the fact that my hands aren't the sharpest tools in the shed...I managed to pry the battery out of the fixture. Hurray! Whew!

I sat back down, and was feeling victorious, when...

"Beep'

Again ...dog in distress...owner now swearing.

It was a lot like the TV show except that I managed to remove the battery from the second floor alarm without causing property damage.

Back on the sofa...waiting for the third beep.

So far...so good. Silence is golden!

Taking a deep breath, and still shaking my head!!

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