BEFORE:

AFTER:

Tadaaaa!!!  Last week I realized I had a gazillion boxes in my classroom storage closet.  Things tend to accumulate in my Art room (and I imagine in most art rooms), with the unsure intention of using them at some later date for some, yet unknown purpose.  So with the gazillion boxes, I decided to have all of my kids create 1 or more pieces however they wanted.  The cutting, tearing, drawing and painting began, and by the end of the week the gazillion boxes had been transformed into a bazillion individual pieces of painted cardboard.  I glued them all onto about 14 or 15 large mat boards, hung them above the lockers in the (sterile, boring, cold) hallway outside my room, and...voila!  Large, collaborative wall hanging to brighten things up.  We're going to keep it up semi-permanently (maybe do a new one at the end of the year next year).  Some of the teachers in our hall have requested that the entire length of the hall be covered with these wall hangings.  

Speaking of beautifying the school, I spoke with my principal yesterday and she is all for changing the look of our building.  So they're going to pay me to come in and paint all over the place this summer.  I'm excited, because I couldn't agree more about the currently drab state of our building. 

Gabe and I will be spending the whole weekend getting ready for house guests next week, so if I don't get back to the blog, have a FANTASTIC weekend everyone!

our internet is healed, and pretty views

Well, I said I was going to post these yesterday, but it seems our area's internet was not internetting so well yesterday.  It's been fixed and now we all have our internet back.  A small part of me wants to hug the computer, but that seems a little foolish, maybe if it had been two days, not just one.

Anyhoo, here are a couple of pictures from the reservoir last weekend with Gathering friends. It was a fun day of bocce, grilling, taking turns walking in the water with Naomi, and Ultimate Frisbee.

My camera doesn't quite capture the mtns in the distance, 

but in real life, it was a very pretty view:

Actually, just one picture from the reservoir, I couldn't get anymore to load.

Moving on.

Here are a few from the Springs, hiking with the Knipps:

On our way down the mtn Gabe and Janae decided we were going to slow, and the best remedy was for Gabe to give Janae a piggy back ride down the trail as fast as he could go.  They disappeared from sight for quite awhile (I couldn't get the picture of them galloping away to load either), and this is where we found them when we finally caught up:

Trying our best to look awkward around each other:

Were you listening for something, Vickie?

So, that was our weekend.  This weekend we're getting ready for Nate and Jen's visit.  They arrive Monday.  I think we'll take them camping or hiking, and go on the Coor's tour (which I've still never done after living here for seven years).  Two and a half more days of school!!!!!  That thought keeps barging in on any and all other thoughts I have.  

Enjoy your Friday, everyone!

ATTN: YOU

I found my camera. It was in a sweatshirt pocket all along. In fact, it was a mere 5 feet from me when I typed about needing to find it. So, when I get home I'll throw on some pictures from this past week.

***ATTENTION all readers: If you're reading my blog, I urge you to comment or just say hi. Lately I've been getting a lot of traffic from different towns, many of which I can't figure out who I might know there (that was an awkward sentence). It's a mystery. Maybe you like being mysterious. That's probably fine. I surf around to all sorts of blogs belonging to people I don't know and rarely comment. But I would really enjoy knowing who's reading this blather every week. Here are some of my guesses: Emily, Fauchiersss, someone belonging to the Latimer family, Granny...and I don't know about Chicago, Cincinatti, Englewood, St. Louis, Los Angeles, some of the dozen Indiana towns, or Des Moines. SO, not to beat this to death, but I'd love to know who all of you are. If not, well then, enjoy being your mysterious self.

In the immortal words of Jack Handy, "Maybe in order to understand mankind we have to look at that word itself. MANKIND. Basically, it's made up of two separate words "mank"and "ind." What do these words mean? It's a mystery and that's why so is mankind. "

Here's some more, just cause they're funny:

Instead of a trap door, what about a trap window? The guy looks out it, and if he leans too far, he falls out. Wait. I guess that's like a regular window.

Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights,even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door.

To me, it's a good idea to always carry two sacks of something when you walk around. That way, if anybody says, "Hey, can you give me a hand?" You can say, "Sorry, got these sacks."

sushi

This is an old picture from a few months ago, but this is what I wish we were having for dinner tonight.  A couple times a year, G and I make sushi at home.  This particular time it got a little out of hand, and by the time we were finished eating we still had almost 30 pieces of sushi left.  It was sooooooo good.

I have some Memorial Day pics to put on here, but first have to locate my camera.  It may or may not be in the Knipp's car in the Springs.

Hope everyone's weekend was great!

hold on people, i get a little riled

We're getting ready to run a couple of errands and then meet up with some people at CC Reservoir this afternoon.  There should be food and bocce ball, maybe volleyball and hopefully sun.  So far, so good. 

I've been crossing off day-by-day on my school calendar and realized this morning that I forgot to cross off yesterday.  Since the calendar is on my desk at school, I won't be able to cross it off until Tuesday.  That means I'll get to cross off Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  I am looking forward to this.  That will leave 4 and a half school days left.  To say I'm excited is an understatement.

That boy with the violent plans has been suspended through the end of the school year.  He left a threatening note on a teacher's computer, clearly intended for her specifically.  Now I don't know what happens with him.  Big sigh.

I mentioned in my last post that I would be talking about our country in all its power.  At the awards ceremony the other night, the lieutenant governor spoke about how powerful and well-off our country is.  Essentially he was telling the students about how we need to continue dominating the world, and that it will soon be in their hands.  It made me think about what God says about that.  A lot of times Christianity and conservative patriotic politics go hand-in-hand.  I am not saying this is wrong, and I am not saying this is right.  I really don't intend to start a political "conversation" in writing this.  I just think sometimes (okay, a lot of times) American Christians (most of our country classifies themselves this way) emphasize more the need to be on top and to stay true to our country (our wallets, ourselves) over the vision of Jesus: to give, love others, focus not on yourself, etc..  Benjamin Franklin coined the "God helps those that help themselves" motto, NOT Jesus.  This could not be more contrary to the message of the Bible, and yet this is how many of us live.  We're Americans.  We have an American dream.  Catholics worry most about abortion.  Protestants worry most about homosexuality. Others worry about higher taxes, or socialized healthcare.  I must have missed those great commands. (I realize those are incredibly sweeping statements that I know aren't the case for every Catholic, every Protestant, every Christian.) The way I see it, we're called to love God, love others.  We're not called to worry about how to get ahead, or stay ahead.  We're not called to make it our life's goal to tell others how awful and wrong they are. We're not called to "help ourselves."  So in this Christian nation, how is it that we've managed to become so wealthy and so unhelpful?  Some will say that that statement is inaccurate and unfair.  I know a load of Christians, and non-Christians that do a wonderful job of living out (what I believe to be) our true calling, but on the whole, I don't believe it to be an unfair statement.

Let me reign it in a little, because as I mentioned earlier, I really don't want this to be a long political/religious rant.  I want to teach our kids and our nation that God doesn't help those who help themselves, He challenges us to help each other (next door and across the world).

Alright, I'm going to click on Publish Post before I chicken out and delete this whole thing.   I love our country, I love Jesus, and I try to love others (and a lot of days I miss the mark).  

415!

Whew! I did it.  Last night I spoke in front of what I counted to be 415 people.  I sat on stage facing them for almost two hours, so naturally I counted them.  I have never spoken to that many people at one time before.  I was pretty nervous most of the afternoon, and regretfully snapped at Gabe for no good reason just before leaving the house for the ceremony.  It was really fun to see all the kids so dressed up and on their best behavior.  As the various awards were presented, I kept thinking of Gabe as the students walked across the stage past us.  Very often, when Gabe and I are in public, he enjoys embarrassing me by walking without moving his arms. It's actually pretty funny to watch.  This is exactly how 90% of the kids walked across the stage to accept their awards.  Once on stage my nerves calmed, which seems weird, and returned only briefly when it was my turn at the mic next. It was a really nice ceremony. The former lieutenant governor gave the opening speech, the school band played, the choir sang, and my kids loved receiving their plaques. A couple of them mentioned that the plaque was the best surprise of the night (as opposed to the acknowledgment or the honor).  So, all in all, a great evening.

I have some more to write about retirement (not mine, yet), our country in all its power, and probably a few other things that will pop into my mind, but we're about to eat dinner, so I'm signing off for now.

***Gabe laughed at me when I got home last night because of the ridiculousness of my snap at him.  He then enjoyed bringing it up a few more times as the night wore on. I deserved it. It was pretty funny.

goodbye, art club and my life comes full circle (sort of)

Hmmm...what to write about? I'm sitting at my desk at work for "Art Club" which has evolved into a pretty lack-luster weekly event in my life. Art Club used to be cool. Today is the last day we'll meet for the year, and I have to say I have completely indone myself with our finale. There are six devoted kids here, and two of them are actually doing some art. Three are doing projects for other classes, and one is making a sign for the 8th grade dance--which does involve some cutting and gluing. Basically I'm hosting a glorified homework club, minus any glory.

Tonight my life will come full circle. Kind of. I had to really push to be a part of tonight's 8th grade awards ceremony. I was told a number of times in a number of ways that traditionally this has always been strictly an academic awards ceremony. And over and over I said as tactfully as I could, that I simply didn't care. I will be awarding five outstanding art students of mine with plaques this evening. A) I received a plaque for artistic achievement at my 8th grade "graduation" fifteen years ago (hence the "full circle" comment), and B) just because Art is not recognized as one of the scholarly pursuits of middle school, there are students here that have blown me away with their talent, creativity, depth and intelligence displayed in ART. Einstein said something about creativity/imagination being much more valuable than knowledge because knowledge is finite. Especially in this day and age when anyone (including their grandmas) can obtain just about any information their little hearts desire on the internet. If scientists and mathmaticians and writers and teachers and doctors aren't able to approach their work/fields with creativity, then nothing new comes to be known. I don't mean to devalue academic achievement, but I also won't allow students who have acheived a great deal in the visual arts to be devalued for their successes. So, after ruffling a few feathers, I am happy to say that five students will be honored for their brain's ability to create and inspire. Stickin' it to the man any way I can, sort of. Actually I really dislike rocking any proverbial boat, and generally try to avoid any and all boat-rocking and feather-ruffling. An exception just had to be made this time.

bzzzzzz

This morning I arrived at school, made my way to my classroom, sat down at my computer to check my email. A minute later, I heard a bee at the window in front of me, shooed it out the door to the courtyard (couple yards from my desk), sat back down, heard a bee, shooed it out, heard another bee, shooed it out...repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, etc., etc., etc.. Around the fifth or sixth time, I began to think this was no coincidence. I looked outside and saw that one story up, near the window directly above mine was a swarm of bees. Somehow they were entering the building through the brick wall and making their way into my classroom, as well as the one above me. All day I repeatedly heard a bee, or three or four or five at a time, and calmly shooed them out the door. My AP came in a little panicked asking if I wanted them sprayed. I told her no, it really wasn't a problem (they just wanted out) and I wasn't too concerned, they were all at the back corner area of the room away from the students. I kept thinking about the bees of the world mysteriously disappearing and didn't want to contribute to the world being unable to grow food because all the bees have disappeared and therefore stopped pollinating plants. So all day I shooed bees back out into the world, and I suspect many of them flew right back into the building and into my room. Either way, my conscience remained clean by the time I shooed my last bee and left around 4:20. I estimate I either saved (at least until tomorrow when the district comes and napalms their little beehinds) upwards of 100 bees today, or I saved the same 5 bees over and over and over.

Today it was summer. I don't know when the calendar says summer begins, and I don't care. Today was BEEEEEAAAAUUUUTIFUL. I love summer. Nine and a half days until vacation!!! Yeah, baby.

ducklings, parent phone calls, and a clean closet

Yesterday, after I finished my lunch, I gave Gabe a ride to the church. We had just turned off of our road when up ahead we saw some guy walking really slowly across the street and he looked to be dragging something behind him. As we got closer we realized the guy was a mechanic from the auto shop on the left (he was probably in his early 20's, he had on a grimy baseball cap and coveralls) and wasn't dragging anything, but rather escorting a mama duck and her dozen or more ducklings across the street to safety. They were SO tiny, and it was so sweet to see this guy taking the time to walk at a snail's pace in order to make sure some wacko didn't mow a dozen ducklings over with his car.

A number of you have asked me how my student with the murder plans is doing. He was doing really well for about a week, but was out of class the last couple of days. He had befriended two nice boys in my class. All three of them really enjoy drawing, so I let him pull his chair up to their desks and they had daily been talking and laughing and drawing together. I spoke with the behavior (problems) teacher yesterday and he said that A was really emotional the last few days and refused to leave the behavior ed room all day. Bummer. He seemed to be adjusting so well. I guess everything needs to be taken in stride. Hopefully he'll be feeling up to coming back next week.

I spoke with one of my student's mothers earlier this week regarding the ATTITUDE her son has been giving me the last two or three weeks. It finally was too much, so I gave his mom a call. I explained that Jamal had, since the beginning of the semester been one of the most polite, helpful students in that class. I was basically calling to say, "WHAT THE HECK?!" only in much more diplomatic, parent-friendly terms. She (home for health related issues, by the way) explained that J's dad was in and out of his life on a very sporadic basis, and currently (for the last few weeks) had been back. Apparently this disrupts the whole family's balance (totally understandable) and that she has been having trouble with him disrespecting her because Dad-of-the-year tells his kids they don't need to respect mom, because she's only a WOMAN! So am I! So thanks J's Dad for attempting to turn your son into a chauvinist, but I'm sorry, he actually gave me a very sincere apology yesterday and is back to his normal nice self. Your poison has been rendered ineffective. Maybe you should stop messing with your own kid.

I have made two other parent phone calls in the last two weeks. Both were from the same class as the boy in the story above. All of the parent conversations were wonderful and completely enlightening--which does NOT always happen. One mom explained that she is a single mom raising these two twin 8th grade boys who are increasingly testing their limits. She said she felt like she had always been too easy on them and now they're turning into little monsters (not so little), so she was cracking down and they weren't loving it. She had taken away their video games until they both brought up their grades, and they were now expected to share in housework and cooking. Yeah Mom! I encouraged her to stay strong and consistent and that she'll thank herself later when they finally start to realize she means business and is not caving.

The other was about a boy that is so hot-and-cold with his behavior it drives me a little nuts. I spoke with who I thought was his father, but actually his uncle who, along with his wife are raising this boy. Apparently they told him he is not going to the 9th grade unless he brings up his grades and matures enough to be in high school. And he's getting a job this summer. To pay for his own summer school. Explanation for M being in a pretty bad mood. So now M and I have talked and he's mostly on board for raising his grade in my class.

Since speaking with all of these parents, this class with all these boys is doing much better (translation: they are back to being nice to me again, which is what all teachers really want :)--which means I spend less time disciplining and more time teaching, which means their work is better, which means their grades are getting better, which means their parents are happier, which means they get to be happier, which means everybody wins. The end.

Now, it's Saturday, so I'm done talking about school.

Last night I reorganized and cleaned out our office/guest room/storage closet. It was a mammoth task, but it is done. This morning when I got up, before I even when down for breakfast, I had to go look at the pretty closet again. Sigh. Consequently, I discovered I have accumulated enough art supplies and craft materials to start my own store, so be looking for that in the summer months.

Gabe has finally started a blog, so I'm going to give him the computer now. Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!

quick bit

Home for a quick lunch, and I'm tired of opening my blog to check for new comments and seeing the brown snake. So I don't have time to write much, but thought I would write a quick little bit before I head back for the afternoon. Later skaters.