Last evening driving home there was a picture perfect moon in the sky: just a sliver, waxing, with a fuzzy glow all around. I looked carefully for the Dreamworks boy with the fishing pole, but couldn't quite see him.

 

  Yesterday in class there were another two students with birthday parties. It makes for a restless afternoon. I have art scheduled for Fridays and it usually works well; a couple of weeks ago with two parties we did painting, on another rainy day I had them paint, and yesterday we painted again. The principal thinks I'm slightly mad. Sometimes I wonder myself. It goes fine, though! The glitch yesterday was one of the boys who started chanting at 2:30, "Party day! Party day!..." I told him he wasn't helping and please cut it out. He managed to do so until 3:00.... It kinda went downhill from there.

 

  I've noticed in news and around town that the immigrant families we come from have emerged from their farming and labourer roots and immigrant names from our circles are now prominent in leading roles. Even last night, on a prime TV show, a key witness to the investigation had a Dutchie name. See? We're everywhere now!

 

  We've had lots of birthday celebrations in the family lately and therefore lots of opportunities to eat cake. A friend needles us a bit about "more cake?!" I'm not tired of it! We only have one piece at a time, generally. Tomorrow we get more. And next Sunday some more. I'm looking forward to it!

 

  They say that exercise is good for you and the more you exercise the more energetic you usually feel. Mostly, They are right. I have known this but try to forget it as I despise exercising. However, I've decided to listen to They again, because the needle keeps creeping up on the scale.... I've given myself some incentive: I tape some episodes of the new Dr. Oz show and while watching one of the shows during an evening, I have to exercise through the whole thing. I got myself a little trampoline for the purpose (recommended by... Dr. Oz!) I can jog for quite a while on the thing and do other exercises like squats and lunges and punching bag thingies. I rotate around and use my large ball or floor mat for various exercises, lift some weights, pushups and curlups, some yoga and pilates moves. Every once in a while my exercise routine is a yoga routine. My basement room is now an exercise room. Useful, eh? It works well especially at this time of the year when darkness comes so soon there's no opportunity to go for a walk or bike ride. The only trouble is, when I come home at 6:30 and am feeling a might peckish, do I stop to eat first and then exercise, or exercise and eat later. On the one hand I'm exercising with a full stomach, and on the other I'm not eating until much later which means the stuff just sticks to the ribs. If I eat first the risk is, after a busy day, if I sit I'm usually down for the count. Goal: to get rid of the rolls around the middle.

Note: this assignment's focus was to vividly describe something from memory incorporating the 5 senses. This is not a specific event, but a mixture of memory. Word limit: 500, but, true to form, I exceeded that. Age group: 8-12.

 

Grandma and Grandpa’s House

  Squirrels were busily searching for their treasure beneath the great oak in the back yard and their scuffling stirred up the perfume from the mounds of lily-of-the-valley as I walked around to the back of the house. Climbing the steps to the back porch I detected a faint whistling coming from the depths of the toolshed and when Grandpa emerged with cobwebs frosting his ears, his grin of welcome stretched a mile wide. I embraced him, relishing the mixed scents of sawdust and motor oil and sweets. A sudden whirring beside me startled me, causing Grandpa to laugh, which frightened off the jay that had tried to snatch seed from the feeder above our heads.

  Wiping the machine grease from his callused hands, Grandpa picked up from the porch bench a basket loaded with tomatoes and led the way to the patio door, gallantly allowing me to enter first. Brimming cups of tea stood steaming on the kitchen table, sugar pot and milk jug nearby, next to a plate of gebakjes. Setting the basket on the counter we then helped ourselves, automatically pouring a little tea down the sink drain to make room for the milk. Absently stirring the sugar into his tea, and spilling a few drops unnoticed onto the carpet, Grandpa squeezed a gebakje onto his saucer and offered the plate to me. He shared about the day’s tasks in the yard and garden, how the tablesaw in the basement workroom had given him a little trouble, but also how he had figured a way to get it running smoothly again. In the living room Grandpa settled into his usual chair by the front window as I greeted Grandma with a hug and kiss, her fresh scent of simple soap and hand lotion and baking washing over me. Relaxing in her chair near the kitchen door, she gave a tug on the yarn stretching from the basket at her feet to the knitting needles in her hands. The clickety-clack of the needles rhythmically accompanied the conversation. Grandma grumbled good-naturedly at Grandpa’s story-telling, stating that she’d had to vacuum twice that morning due to all the sawdust tracked up the stairs into her kitchen. I chuckled.

  Settling myself onto the sofa,  I took a bite of the gebakje and savoured the flavour of the sweet cake melting in my mouth. Licking icing off my fingers, I accepted another eagerly from the offered plate. Grandpa, a man with a true sweet tooth, took another as well.

  Conversation flowed as we shared about busy, full lives, about family events, and items of interest in the news. Soon it was 11 o’clock, the designated time for a favourite game show on TV. We resettled ourselves in our seats and took part in the show, trying to beat the contestants at their own game.

  Afterwards, there was a flurry of activity at the back door: goodbye hugs and kisses, a wrapped plate of treats to take along home, and best wishes sending me out the door.

  Today there were 2 birthday parties scheduled in my class. Kids were a little zooey coming in this morning. One, a boy, invited all the boys in SK, 1, and 2. The girl had invited everyone else in the class. All things considered, with kids still hyped up on Hallowe'en sugar, the day went well. We even painted for art this afternoon. And surprisingly, that part of the day was the most peaceful. We've got some nice paintings lined up on the floor waiting to dry up - which reminds me, the janitor is probably trying to sweep in there.... off I go....

 

Oh! Aha, I got it! There was quite a foofaraw in my classroom on Friday!

 

  This afternoon among the chickadees (who are quite audacious, sitting in the tree right over my shoulder chick-a-dee-ing at me while I clean up the bird feeder), sparrows, house finches, and doves I had a pair of juncos. Peaceful little things! I've also been quite diligent today in water-gunning the two squirrels who try to steal from the birds. I don't mind if they eat off the ground... but to filch from the feeder is unacceptable.

  Yesterday I had the chance to go to see the annual mum show here in town and took lots of beautiful pictures. I've started an album in the left column of the wonderful colours.

  The fall colours here are now in full array - I love the look. And yesterday when I was on my way to my massage there was such a wonderful fall smell in the air, of leaves, and cool air, with a hint of rain and mud. By the time my massage was over the scent was whipped away by the gale winds that had come up. Alas.

  But while I enjoy the fall colour I try not to think that in a couple of weeks all the trees will be bare again. I so much prefer them full and lush. It's also getting increasingly darker. There is now not time to try to squeeze in a walk after work before the dark descends. Not that I was doing very well in the excercise department. But to try to get up the energy to pace in the living room is just not as successful as going outside in the fresh air.

Let us give thanks

To God our Father

For all of His gifts

So freely bestowed upon us

 

For the beauty and wonder

Of Your creation

And earth and sky and sea

 

For our daily food and drink

 

Our homes and family and friends

 

For minds to think

And hearts to love

And hands to serve

 

For health and strength to work

And leisure to rest and play

 

For the brave and courageous

Who are patient in suffering

And faithful in adversity

 

And for all valiant seekers

After truth, liberty and justice

 

We thank You, dear Lord.

 

Came across this fun word:

Word of the Day for Wednesday, October 7, 2009

foofaraw \FOO-fuh-raw\, noun:

1. Excessive or flashy ornamentation or decoration.
2. A fuss over a matter of little importance.

It reminds me of froofroo (frufru?) for definition 1 and hullabaloo for definition 2

  Passes. Flies. It's been many days since I've posted something interesting. But now I'm really tired. I felt like laying my head down on my desk and sleeping all afternoon. This morning while driving to school I thought of something interesting to write about but now I can't remember what it was. Trust me, it was fun. I've just finished making 18 phone calls, one to each parent from the class. I've been procrastinating all month, but told myself I could do 5 today, then after five "I can do one more.... one more...." I have 3 to follow up on, but otherwise the task is complete. I've started making notes for report cards. I have to plan for tomorrow yet. I think we'll watch a movie on insects in the afternoon. That would be good. Tonight I hope to go to bed on time, if not a bit early.

  Oh, I just thought of something good:

  Last night was choir (one of the reasons I'm so tired; it's a late night) and the director told me it was a delight to have me in the choir because I follow direction and try to do exactly what he says. He said it's refreshing to have someone who finds joy in music. It was very nice of him to say so! I did thank him and told him that although I've been involved with music most of my life, I'm still learning things from him. We had a mutual admiration moment.

 

  OK, onward. I have all my planning and marking to do yet for today.  Then pick up my photographs. (I've gotten tired of waiting. I borrowed from Peter to pay Paul and just got them developed.) Then cook something decent for supper - I'm not allowed to get take out today (now you know so I'm accountable!). I'm looking forward to a new episode of NCIS tonight. And sleeping.

I'm waiting for the perfect opportunity to use this word!!

 

Word of the Day crapulous \KRAP-yuh-lus\, adjective: 1. Given to or characterized by gross excess in drinking or eating. 2. Suffering from or due to such excess.

  First some updates:

  1. I've got the accelerated dial-up up and running and it's working well - once it stopped shutting down my start-up programs. It is faster than regular dial-up. But readers should not take that as carte blanche to send me very large photos. It's not that fast. Yet.

  2. First two days at work with students have gone well. But I still haven't figured out the juggling between 1 and 2 reading, phonics, spelling/words, etc. We've been doing things together so far. Today's great accomplishment: got the whole class to figure out how to open, insert papers, close, and use a DuoTang. Yippee! Mind you, they may not remember tomorrow. And the science and Bible lessons they belonged to definitely didn't get done. But they used a DuoTang!! My voice and feet are tired. Today in gym I had to crawl on the floor. In a skirt. Ouch, my knees.

  3. And for all the scare tactics, I haven't caught the H1N1 flu yet from my students. But one of my class was home today sick with flu-ish symptoms. Hmmm.

 

  My dad mentioned that when they were travelling in Newfoundland this summer they saw a vehicle with Hawaii plates. How odd, I thought. There's no ferry that far, is there? And why would anyone ship a car that far? (To Newfoundland? From Hawaii??) If it's vacation, just rent a car. If you're moving, wouldn't it be cheaper to sell the old car and buy another one once you're on the mainland? I couldn't figure out the reasonings of it.

  And then today, on the highway all the way home, I was behind a Ford Expedition from Hawaii.

  The questions remain.

  Wouldn't it be freakish if it's the same vehicle my dad saw in NL? Maybe they're taking a Continental Tour.

  It raised other questions as well: Why are Alaska and Hawaii states of the US, but not Puerto Rico? It's closer. They already use US money there and have traffic problems, and there's more states that have the mix of English/Spanish. They'd fit right in.

  My only thought was that They (Those That Make Decisions) don't like the number 51. It is odd (although not prime). Let's say they give Alaska to us, make PR a state, and they still have 50!

  It was one of those drives where I couldn't tell ya what was playing on the radio, or if I followed all the road rules. I know I arrived home; the rest is a blur.

 

  I'd like to go to Hawaii.

  Today is the last day of living life freely before the students arrive tomorrow. I know that by 9 am tomorrow morning everything will be fine and good. I've already had some "love letters" from my students for this year declaring how pleased they are that I'll be their teacher this year. I just hope I sleep tonight.

  Some may think I hate my job - I don't. I do enjoy it. And I'm good at it. I just strongly dislike how it takes every smidgen of energy and time from September until July. This past week I've already had difficulties making those business calls that have to be made between 9 and 4, and I've got two notices that I'm going to need new photos for liscence and health card. For the liscence, if I rush out of school one day I can probably make it before they lock the doors, but for the health card I think I'm going to have to take an afternoon off in order to get it done. Ugh.

   Last Wednesday we had our N. Family of Schools breakfast with an inspirational speaker. The message was good: about finding time to rest and take care of yourself and your health, not letting the job consume you. Good message, but it really made me feel tired before we had even started. And I know from experience that, like many good things, it's easier said than done. Like exercising.

   Since I've been back to work full time the last couple of weeks, I've stopped reading for pleasure. Don't have the mental energy for it. That bugs me. Maybe this year I'll be able to work, leave work at a decent hour, and read, and craft, and get my correspondence course done en punto, and get to choir, and eat healthy, and get a good amount of exercise, and.... and get to bed on time every night by 10. A good goal! Yeah! Sheesh.

  The public has finally decided that teachers are professionals and that we carry on a profession. Sooooo, I can now officially sign my name with my professional initials after it: 

 

 

Yahoo! Can I sign passport applications like engineers can? I've always thought that odd: is the engineering profession more distinctive than any other?

Word of the Day for Wednesday, September 2, 2009 abecedarian \ay-bee-see-DAIR-ee-uhn\, noun: 1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a beginner. 2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet. 3. Pertaining to the letters of the alphabet. 4. Arranged alphabetically. 5. Rudimentary; elementary. I guess that's me and my students this year! What a dumb word. Who came up with that one?

  Last Friday night I awoke from a dream and clearly remembered it - a rare occurance.

  Dad and I were walking on the roadside and Grandpa pulled up beside us in a green car, similar to a Dodge Dart. Dad and Grandpa chatted for a few minutes and Dad asked about the bouquet of flowers sitting on the front passenger seat. Grandpa smiled, "Just a little something I'm bringing to your mother." Dad and I watched him drive off.

 

  Heaven?

  I arrived back home last Saturday after a two-week whirlwind tour of the Maritime provinces. I count Nova Scotia and Cape Breton as 2, and we didn't get as far as Newfoundland (way too far!) so we covered 4 provinces, plus drove through 2 more.

 

Sat., Aug. 8 - up at 4 am, got ready to go, picked up J. and hit the road. By day's end we were in Montmagny, PQ, for a stop at a very nice hotel. Montreal is a nightmare of crumbling concrete bridges and elevated highways, a disaster waiting to happen

Sun., Aug. 9 - up early again to get back on the road. By day's end we were setting up camp at Fundy National Park in NB. It was cool, threatening rain, and the park personel warned us about bears.

Mon., Aug. 10 - it rained all night, but the tent didn't leak - yay! Hiked the Caribou Plain trail - very foggy and wet, like walking through a rain forest. Went to Cape Enrage - still foggy so we couldn't see much of a view, but we heard the foghorn sound every minute or so. Walked down at the bottom of the sea cliffs at low tide. Also went to Pointe Wolfe, an old logging mill site, drove through an old covered bridge and saw a wooden dam. Hiked down to a beach at high tide. As we were leaving the fog rolled in again and we could no longer see the cliffs opposite us. Campfire, but soggy and smoky, wet wood.

Tues., Aug. 11 - rained during the night again, so packing up a wet tent... after packing the car, set out for the Hopewell Rocks. The day cleared of the fog. Walked down below the rocks at low tide, after lunch watched the water rising. Drove to Halifax and arrived at King's/Dalhousie University where we stayed for the next 3 nights.

Wed., Aug. 12 - a sunny day, 25C. Drove the Lighthouse Route to Peggy's Cove, toured around there. In the afternoon we headed to Lunenburg and were able to tour the town, have a tour in an old museum house, and board the Bluenose II. Later, back in Halifax, stopped at Walmart for some supplies and dinner. Packed up the tent, now dry, which we had draped over our dorm room during the day. Earned a bit of a sunburn today.

Thurs., Aug. 13 - another sunny day. In the morning: Pier 21. In the afternoon: Grand Pre - one of the historic sites of the Acadian people who were deported by the British in 1755. Interesting history! The French Acadians made dikes and wore wooden shoes, too. Both places had excellent video presentations, both inside ships!

Fri., Aug. 14 - packed the car again, set out for Cape Breton. Warm day, 30C. After 7 hours of driving arrived at Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Cheticamp. Made the decision to stay here 3 nights instead of 2, and skip the Caribou Prov. Park stop. Drive today was very long, arms tired from steering the car around all the curves and corners. Many parts of the roads are very poor, bumpy and patchy.

Sat., Aug. 15 - Planned to drive the Cabot Trail. The western view is spectacular!! Stopped at the Skyline Trail for a hike. Very sunny trail and temp of 34C - very hot. Didn't see any moose due to the heat. After passing Ignomish, the drive was long, tedious, and not very inspiring. Roads poor, bumpy and patchy. Arms achy again from driving and holding car steady over rough patches. Saw many cyclists biking the trail - slightly mad?? It was excessively hot and some of the Trail parts go for a 13% grade down or uphill for 8 straight km. Another long day of driving, but arriving back in Cheticamp felt good. Campfire.

Sun., Aug. 16 - Night was very warm. Took a leisure morning. Whale watching tour from 12-3:30, saw lots of fin whales and groups of pilot whales. Very nice to be out on the ocean. In the evening at our restaurant, listened to live music by local Sylvie LeLievre.

Mon., Aug. 17 - Rain overnight again so we got to pack up another wet tent. Drove to Pictou, NS, and caught the 2:30 ferry to PEI, arriving at Wood Islands. So different to use a PEI map!! After 30 min. of driving we'd crossed more than half the map and already arrived at our campground, Brudenell. Last time I was here I was 5 1/2 years old. Can't say as I recognized it. Nice park, but we're warned of skunks. Nearby town of Montegue very nice, had dinner there and walked around the harbour.

Tues., Aug. 18 - Woke up to many songbirds flitting about the campsite and sitting on the tent and "skiing" down its slopes - very cheerful! Another hot day: 33C. Drove to Charlottetown - how easy!! Parked at the Founder's Hall, took a guided walking tour, saw a wonderful live musical presentation outside Providence House called Abegweit which told the history of the island starting with the Mi'kmaq. Toured Providence House and saw where the process of Confederation started, walked back to Founder's Hall and toured that as well. Drove to Panmure Island on the eastern shore to spend some time at the beach there. Two colours of sand there: red on the harbour side, white on the sea side. This night I slept well for the first time since Aug. 6, 8 hours, felt good!

Wed., Aug. 19 - night very warm, don't need sleeping bags these days. Packed up campsite - dry! - and headed out for Cavendish and Green Gables. We'd heard mixed reviews of this National Park, but we really enjoyed it. Another very warm day in the 30s. Late afternoon headed over to Cabot Beach Prov. Park - feels like it's at the edge of the earth. Campsite is near the shore, but we have some shelter from trees. We did stake the tent for wind, though. Terrible mosquitoes! Warned again about skunks, and although we didn't see one, the neighbours did, often. The car is covered in fine red dirt. Our camping neighbours are here for the Canada Games, Triathlon. This evening we headed over to Stanley's Bridge to see a ceilidh (kay-lee) by the Ross Family. Excellent show!

Thurs., Aug. 20 - took a leisure morning; it was difficult to sit outside due to the mosquitoes, but it was too hot inside the tent. Drove up to North Cape where we saw wind turbines busily turning, and saw where the St. Lawrence meets the ocean, waves meeting in the middle. Stopped at Lennox Island to see some native culture, but that stop was a dud. We were mobbed by mosquitoes when we tried to hike a trail. Stopped instead in Summerside - got caught behind the barricades of the cycle races of the summer games, but decided to walk the boardwalk, find some supper... and on the spur of the moment bought tickets to see the musical Anne and Gilbert. Excellent show!! But returned to campsite late.

Fri., Aug. 21 - packed up the site and hit the road. Goal = reach Montmagny, PQ. Enjoyed dinner in a French restaurant, got to use our French.

Sat., Aug. 22 - drove the rest of the way home, arrived 7 pm. Whew!