Sunny CA

That is the biggest misnomer there is. I have been in Southern CA for 3 days now...first day..smog...second day clouds....and third day...well..it's 5 am, so not too sure on that one yet. Weatherbug says lots of wind, so you would guesss that the clouds would just be blown away...but probably not with my luck. I can't complain too loudly because when I left MI it was like 5 degrees and we were shoveling several inches of snow off the ground.
Anyway..I am here because my middle son was performing in his "New Kids Show". That is the show that the newest Young Americans do for the rest of the group(and their parents). Now the kids are rehersing for the "Christmas Show". Man am I glad that I don't have to go through these paces everyday. Watching Josiah was sometimes like watching his older brother, facial expressions and the hamming it up. He is his own performer too, but there are glimpses here and there.

That's my kid....with the red shirt and yellow pants. He has his arms up and is making sure everyone can see him at least once. In a group of very talented kids (110) in all, everyone has some trouble getting noticed. So for 2.5 hours on Fri. night...I searched and searched the stage over and over for where my kid was. Now instead of having to look for just one kid, I'm going to be having to look for two.

If you are wondering who these "Young Americans" are: they have a website.

www.youngamericans.org


But back to CA....it hasn't been sunny and warm must be a relative term, when you pack for 70 and its the low 60's...it's chilly. Should have packed for the 50's....I never even got to get my shorts out. :=(

I fly back to the frigid temps today though....and I'm sure that I m going to wish it were 60.

I have to get better at this

So...life is nuts. My full time job is still sapping all my time. I am still planning this week during this week. Now it's MEAP. That's an anachornism for Michigan Educational Assessment Program. I say it's short for Educational Stupidity. But that is probably for another day. At least it's over next week. My third graders are in the midst of 7 different tests. That means that my second graders spend an hour a day in someone else's room. I have spent at least 7 weeks trying to build a classroom that doesn't distinguish grades with these kids and in the space of a week, the state rips it apart.

At my second almost full time job, things changed again. I really want things to stop changing, but given the current climate in the world...i am gussing that is not going to happen. I have been working hard to get things I am responsible for on the right track...and not taking on the other stuff. We'll see how well that works.

The store is going great guns. 7 nights of magic, lots of games, lots of people. I am not there as much as I want to be. Gas is too expensive, it's a long drive back and forth and I have to be up way too early.

Yesterday was FIsh Day. I couldn't have furry animals in my room. One of the kids are allergic, so I got fish. I started with 5....and am down to two. Went to the store tonight to get a replacement one to try and fool the kids tomorrow. So for Fish day, I wore my fish pants and we did fish writing and fish art and watched a fish movie. I think the kids had a good time and learned some cool things along the way. I just don't want my year to be a waste. :-(

Anyway...More on things later....

Been a while

So..it's been a while since I've been back here. School started with quite a bang and I jumped out t of the frying pan and into the freaking fire. I have a huge classroom with 21 kids. They are evenly divided between the 2nd grade and 3rd. They are all of the out of the box thinkers...which in the end is good since I am not exactly a by the book kind of teacher, but for now, it's a bit hectic. I am spending long days at school...then the store...then home and just crash. It's Fri at 11 and I am so tired I can hardly see. My austic student is doing all right. He pretty much loses it after lunch, so I need to structure things a bit more then...but that's okay too.
Things on all other fronts are going through upheavals again, but I will leave that for another day....

Tag I'm It!!

Okay...so I am a bit slow on the uptake these few days. I'm going to blame it on having to teach a class of 21 8 and 9yr olds starting on Monday... Gee thanks..Hayden

Ten Years ago, 1995-08-26

Well...that would mean I am the mom of 5 kids at home. The oldest Josh would have been 12. That means 6th grade and at Pattengill Middle School. Next was Beth, she was in 5th grade at Fairview Elementary. Josiah is in 2nd grade, Jon is in 1st grade and Ben is in preschool 3x a week all morning. I am going back to school now to get my teaching certificate, but I am trying to fill in all the holes that were created by my lack of wanting to take core classes in college the first time. I am in Algebra. I haven't taken a math class since I was a junior in HS...and it is not making me a happy camper. My oldest and I are getting a lot of the same type of homework. What did that tell me about the state of education in Lansing???

Five Years ago, 2000-08-26

So...now I've been teaching for 3 years....and it's time to move again. My son Jon has decided he wants to come live with me and so I pack everyone else up, move to East Lansing and start teaching at a new school. I haven't found a new place yet, but I am already working at my new job. We won't move til labor day weekend. I remember that the kids will be starting school as soon as I can get a lease signed. It seems I wait til the last minute a lot....not too sure why that is, but it makes for an exciting life.

One Year ago, 2004-08-26

Third school in the past 7 years, but at least I am spending 2-3 years at each one. I am getting ready to start another year in the computer lab. It's going to be the last one for awhile, but I don't know that last summer. I still don't have a place to live again. My sons have decided to live in GL with their dad...it's fine with me, but I don't think they are going to be too happy in the long run.(turns out I'm right). We all have to learn lessons though. :-) I have just gotten back from Gen Con, where I judged worlds for Rings. Little do I know the changes that will happen there.....last minute again for me... :-)

Yesterday, 2005-08-25

Pam came down and we painted desks until dark. I am now going to teach a multiple age class. I have 10 2nd graders and 11 3rd graders. It's a daunting enough task, to move from teaching one subject to everyone to all subjects to one group. It's made a bit more interesting by the fact that I have an austic student in my class as well. He's a great kid and already knows me, so that parts easier. It's just so much to do....here I am waiting again to get things together. I really do need to learn this lesson.

Tomorrow, 2005-08-27

I am leaving in the morning to drive up north to see Josh perform in his last dinner theatre. He's not going back up north next summer, so this is it for him. I am so proud of his ability and what he is doing. I just wish I had more people to share that with. I guess it's a mom thing, just sometimes it's hard for me. I'm going to do it all in one day, so I can get back to work on the last minute things and spend some time at the store before school starts on Monday.

Five snacks I enjoy:
Diet Coke, Chex Mix, potato skins, snackers from olgas, fresh fruit

Five bands that I know most of their lyrics:
Dashboard Confessional, Kansas, Savage Garden, Styx, Dixie Chicks

Five things I'd do with a million dollars:
pay off my loans and my parents, buy a condo with a dog, downpayment on a building for RIW, pay for my kids to go to the schools they want, bank the last $100.00 :-)

Five Places I'd Run Away to:
Southern CA, Ireland, Greece, Boston, Chicago

Five Bad Habits I have:
waiting til the last minute, talking on the cell when I really shouldn't, taking blame for things that aren't my fault, not speaking up when I need to, not being organized

Five things I like doing:
watching crime shows, spending time at RIW, sleeping in in the morning, watching my kids perform, walking anywhere hand in hand.

Five things I wouldn't wear:
a bikini, pants around my hips, a cumberbun, a fur coat, spike heels

Five TV Shows I love:
any CSI, any Law & Order, West Wing, Cold Case, Bewitched

Five Movies I love:
You've got mail, Lord of the Rings, Chorus Line, High Society, My Fair Lady

Five Famous people I'd like to meet:
Princess Di, Tom Hanks, Jan Brett, Susan Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt

Five biggest joys at the moment:
watching any of my kids perform, hanging out with Pam at the store, watching TV with a cat in my lap, being with friends anywhere, seeing kids in my class happy to be there

Five Favorite Toys:
Arwen miniature, legos, anything winnie the pooh, coloring books and crayons, barbie camper

Five People to Tag:

David E
Tania
Royce
Justin
Michael

Getting ready for school

So...I just get back from GenCon...and I have to get ready for school. Teachers come back tomorrow....so I came back today. Painted desks for several hours, hung paper, organized books. I haven't been in a classroom for 4 years...and man it shows. I am feeling very lost right now. Okay...so a couple of days have past. Pam came and helped me paint desks for the past two days. They are blue, green, yellow and red. Teachers are coming by...telling me to group them as all one color. My instinct is to make a group of 4, one of each color, but since I haven't done this in so long, I see their points. I doubt it will stay this way, but that's okay too. I have most things done with the physical space, now I have to deal with the mental place. That's tomorrow's blog. :-)

Still Hot and Muggy

So...It's still hot and muggy here. Makes it hard to sleep. I can't imagine how hard it is for my cats during this time. I have two black cats, Ricco and Elvis. I call them Big Head and Shaggy. At least I know that Elvis is not alone when I am not home.

I went to school today to check things out. My room is a mess, there is stuff everywhere and its all 2nd grade stuff. Kyle came in and fixated on the mirror. Kyle is austic and will be in my room this year. He comes with an full time aide, and his own set of challenges. I wanted to take it down, but I think we are going to try and cover it first.

I have a dream class...all the kids that are independent workers...no behavior issues...I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed though...I only have a couple of days to get ready for school. I think I am going to get things from mom's tonight. I'm not sleeping well, so I think I will just use the time to do other things...sleep is overrated.

Long weekend

So...i drove about 500 miles this week with my kids to see Josh again. Met my mom up north so she could go to the show too. She and Howard have been cruising in the UP for a month. I think they are ready to go home. The weather here can't make up it's mind. One day is hot and muggy..then it's just beautiful....now next week the 90's are back. At least I don't have a ton of electric bills coming at me. There is one good thing about never being home.

Home...seems to be an overrated concept. Not sure how your really define a home. If it's the place that you feel comfortable and accepted.... then i don't really have one. If it's the place you sleep...I have two....

I really want to have a home...where i go and put my feet up and can be just me.....

why does it have to be so hard? Latson Rd before my apt. was built.... :-l

Who am I anyway?

As I was thinking about the images that I could use to describe myself, I found myself having difficulty finding things that I was comfortable using as symbols. I think I have a pretty good sense of the kind of person that I am. I know what makes me tick, what makes me mad and what I can do. I am not always very confident in those things. I find myself struggling with my abilities, not with the things I believe about myself, but my ability to carry them off. When defining myself, I decided to look at the things that are most important to me and use symbols to convey those things.
The most important thing about me, to me, is that I am a very outgoing person. I love to be around other people. I enjoy directing and organizing and helping others to achieve something great. I thought about myself as a cat, but decided that cats are too much loners for me. They pick and choose the people that they will associate with and that choice changes all the time. I am not like that. I thrive around all kinds of people and only shy away when feel threatened or judged. I chose instead to identify with a Golden Retriever. They are beautiful, graceful animals that are active and love to be around people. They do what it takes to please those around them and are active all the time. The one word I could think of to describe a retriever is faithful. They stick by their families at all times. They are also faithful to themselves. They retain the things they have learned and work hard at whatever task they are performing. I believe that I am very much like this. The opposite of this faithfulness is a snake. It is sneaky, hiding and will turn on anyone at any time. It slithers on the ground, not wanting to be seen by others. It does not call attention to itself or try to improve the area it is in. It stays in the shadows, watching and waiting for an opportunity to strike out and destroy whatever strikes it’s fancy.
I chose the color orange as most descriptive of me. It is not my favorite color. Yet it suggests vibrancy and activity. Orange is the sweet color of fruit, the warm color of the sun. It is heat and motion. It draws attention to itself. It is the color used to warn us of construction or change. I am always moving, wanting to be in the spotlight. Sometimes even to my detriment, wanting to be the center of attention. Orange is a creamsicle that satisfies you in the hot sun, and a sweet yam at Thanksgiving dinner. The opposite of this is grey. The dull, drab motionless grey of low hanging clouds. Grey drags down your spirit and dulls your senses. It robs you of the life that you are building up inside. It is like the inside of a prison or the old feeling of dull paint.
Finally, I am water. Fluid, always moving, flexible and refreshing when it’s cool. Water can be scary and vibrant though when pushed by the strong winds of a storm or out of control when flooding an area. Water is necessary for life. I want to be fluid and refreshing and when I am in control, not overwhelming. I strive for the control necessary for being a positive influence on those around me. Is the opposite of water really fire? Fire is fluid, moving flexible. It doesn’t care where it’s going or what is in its way. It can be as destructive when out of control as water is. I guess that’s a thing to ponder.

Sewing Adventure

Last week I sewed again for the first time in a long time. Ayden (Pam's 3 yr old nephew) wanted a superman cape. Pam (wanting to be the good aunt) said that she would make one for him. Kim (being the good friend) agreed to do the sewing, esp. since I know that she can't sew to save her life. She bought the supplies and I sewed. The cape is cool. As soon as I can get a pic., I'll put it up. Anyway,
it took me a couple of days to get it all cut out. It went together quite quickly...and it looks good. It's red on the outside and blue satin on the inside. I found a cool superman T-shirt at target with a raised emblem on it. I put that on the back. I think the adults like it better than the kid does. I find that happened a lot when my kids were little too. They wanted stuff from me...I would take the time to sew it...and they would wear it once and then be done. The only thing that really had long term value...the Star Trek Uniforms I made as Halloween costumes one year. Live Long and Prosper

Everyday Sacred

My mom gave me a book a few months ago called Everyday Sacred. Reading time is such a premium these days, so this is a good book for me. It's all little entries, sort of a blog. It has been an interesting thing to carry around and read.

Sue Bender says:
"Stories move in circles. They don't move in straight lines. So it helps if you listen in circles. There are more stories inside stories and stories between stories, and finding your way through them is as easy and as hard as finding your way home. And part of the finding is the getting lost. and when you're lost, you start to look around and to listen."



I think this is also life. Life is circles and finding your way. I know that it is important to go with the flow of life, but sometimes, the getting lost is scary and hard. I wish it were easier. They say that anything worth having is hard and takes work, but why can't the things worth having be easy?

Circles.... http://www.goldeneye.clarityconnect.com/images/grafzvizion/circles.jpg

round without end....life would be so much easier if it had a defined beginning and end again.. :-)

It's late

I was up north watching Young Americans Dinner Theater. My son was amazing...and I am not just talking as his mom...but that's another day. Now I am home alone and I am just not wanting to be here with two cats. I love the cats, but i have figured out that I am just too much a people person. I want to talk to people...know someone else is there. Not sure if that just because for so long, that's all it's been...me as a daughter, me as a roommate, me as wife and mostly me as a mom. This is a publicity shot of Josh a few years ago. I felt old this weekend..really old. My son is growing up. He is going to Scotland again..I haven't even been outside the country except to Canada, and he is touring Europe for 4 months this fall...I have missed a lot...i have a lot... I just need to concentrate on that. :-)

Night all

K

Home From Columbus

So...I got home from Columbus at around 4:30 in the morning. I was sick almost all the way home. I didn't get dinner til around 10pm...don't eat Italian subs from McDonalds, esp. at midnight. I thought i would feel something more than I did..maybe it's just cause i was sick...maybe it's because i have been away a bit now...and maybe it's because I didn't see the people that I associate with convention attendance. All i really know is that I am done now... No more will i be working as a tournament hall lackey. I enjoyed my dinners at Boca (Thanks David and WK :-) ) Now I am at home with my sons...and can't seem to get motivated to clean and such. Oh well..It's coming..slowly and surely.

Con Time

Today I spent in the tourney hall in Colombus Ohio. It is a big, noisy room with lots of people and lots of empty spaces. Tomorrow is my first real work day....and I had better get it right. Things are a bit strange this year. I guess you can say the one thing I have learned this year is that nothing stays the same. As much as you want to things to be the same, they change. Change is not good or bad...change is neutral. How we perceive that change is what we see as good or bad. I guess it's part of that glass half empty, glass half full thing. I want the glasses to be half full...hell, I want them to be all full. Reflection just has to bring about something good.

Only time will tell.

watch out for me

Here is me a couple of years ago at Gen con. This is my Gamling sword, signed by Daniel from Weta. Now I just need to find a place to hang it. I got the hooks last year at Gencon...maybe it will go up by this years Gen Con.
My sword

Here's our front table. I've been spending a lot of time there these days....working on store things. But it's sure beautiful.
Front Table

What Time is Dinner?

I really wasn't as bored as I look here. After spending an entire weekend, watching LOTR games, I was a bit zoned. We'll be doing that again this weekend, but it will be good.


In it's heyday..LOTR rocked. We had great tourney's here...border wars and pre releases. Wish those days were here now, but everything changes.

Hot and muggy

It's hot and muggy in the mitten state. It's ironic to me that the symbol of cold and snow would have a heat index of 94 and humidity of 98%. I am trying to decide what to do about Ohio. This is becoming more and more difficult for me to figure out. The air is running almost non-stop. Now I know how my dad feels in southern FL. I will have to read this again in Jan...when I am buried under 4' of snow and we have no power. :-)