Have not been here for days. It is funny that while many thoughts have been rattling around in my mind the urge to put them dow has not been there.. Is it vacation? Maybe.
Recently had a student do a paper on mindfulness which means to be in the present. In this very moment and not to be distracted is a tall order. Then I picked up a book by M J Rose THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES only to find it was speaking of being in the present which of course is a zen concept. Interesting overlap to say the least and then I read THE LITTLE WORLD OF RUTHIE LEMING by
Ros Dreher( spelling? as I do not want to break the moment and get up) which is a man's journey within himself and his family as his sister battled cancer and lost. Once again he began to be aware of the moment more than the big picture. I have begun to wonder if these events have been not accidental but some type of plan by the man above.
The smell after a rain, the sight of a flower,coffee brewing, these things have always stopped me in my tracks and wiped my mind of all else. Nothing mattered but that moment. It did not last long but it was enough to carry me through the day. However these readings stressed the need to make such a moment last longer , to think of the specific moment without going to extensions such as telephone calls,lists of to do's. To Just Live. Is that possible in this tech rich harried world we live in? Not sure but I am going to give it a try this summer. I will keep you posted.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
may baskets
May 1st. May day. As a child I spend days before the event making construction paper baskets to old flowers, cookies and such and praying for nice weather. That day I would jump form the warm covers and often in pajamas run to place the baskets on neighborhood porches, ring the bell, and hide. The point was to give cheer without hope of reward though there were always some baskets at our door. We did something at school but no indelible memories exist of those events. It Was the thrill of giving with the sense of getting away with it unnoticed. Anyone else remember those paste and crayon covered creations?
The French give bon chance or good luck on this day by presenting people with muget de bois or lily of the valley sprigs. A low cost cheer up that makes the day a special one. I often used these blooms in my baskets and at times would pick them early and place them in food coloring. The color would stripe the white blooms,and so they were a bit more splashy if less natural.
Does anyone remember the military parades in Moscow on May Day with huge displays of tanks? And the corresponding parades in our cities to counter their big day? I think they called it law day? This was in the same era that we went under our desk curled into balls during atomic bomb drills. Even then I wondered about the effectiveness of this action?
Still the idea of giving without reward is the one that it perks up my thoughts. How often do we do something without thought of benefit to ourselves? I truly hope it is often. Selfless reaction to a crisis such as marathons are inspirations for all of us but there are professions that include this giving on a daily basis. Teachers, nurses. policemen, and firemen give of themselves daily as do parents. think of a time when one of these made your life better without thinking of what they could get from it.
The giving does not have to be much-- a pat on the back, a willing ear, a smile as you pass someone. Such small actions can carry a big impact on someone else and often we do not even realize that we have done it. One of the students in my school always has a smile and a high five and sometimes whispers woody's as he passes me. While the woody's is a private joke, even without that his smile makes my day happier. I hope my return of the greeting also lifts him up.
There is a Bible verse that says judge not lest you be judged and I guess that is what I am thinking of here. People are so quick to judge ;often without knowledge of the facts. We need less of that and more of the small kindnesses to others regardless of their gender, color, religion and sexual orientation. We are all humans with ups and downs. We all need acceptance and kindness; we all need to pass the small things on and brighten someone's spirit and day.
So Avez le bon chance-- have a good day.
The French give bon chance or good luck on this day by presenting people with muget de bois or lily of the valley sprigs. A low cost cheer up that makes the day a special one. I often used these blooms in my baskets and at times would pick them early and place them in food coloring. The color would stripe the white blooms,and so they were a bit more splashy if less natural.
Does anyone remember the military parades in Moscow on May Day with huge displays of tanks? And the corresponding parades in our cities to counter their big day? I think they called it law day? This was in the same era that we went under our desk curled into balls during atomic bomb drills. Even then I wondered about the effectiveness of this action?
Still the idea of giving without reward is the one that it perks up my thoughts. How often do we do something without thought of benefit to ourselves? I truly hope it is often. Selfless reaction to a crisis such as marathons are inspirations for all of us but there are professions that include this giving on a daily basis. Teachers, nurses. policemen, and firemen give of themselves daily as do parents. think of a time when one of these made your life better without thinking of what they could get from it.
The giving does not have to be much-- a pat on the back, a willing ear, a smile as you pass someone. Such small actions can carry a big impact on someone else and often we do not even realize that we have done it. One of the students in my school always has a smile and a high five and sometimes whispers woody's as he passes me. While the woody's is a private joke, even without that his smile makes my day happier. I hope my return of the greeting also lifts him up.
There is a Bible verse that says judge not lest you be judged and I guess that is what I am thinking of here. People are so quick to judge ;often without knowledge of the facts. We need less of that and more of the small kindnesses to others regardless of their gender, color, religion and sexual orientation. We are all humans with ups and downs. We all need acceptance and kindness; we all need to pass the small things on and brighten someone's spirit and day.
So Avez le bon chance-- have a good day.
Friday, April 26, 2013
odd bits
Meet Winston who fills my life with joy, fun and odd moments of terror. The other day he got out the door without a lead and headed to the street. Luckily Crescent is not busy at 5:30 in the am, and also he knows my command voice. So he is safe to lay once again on his back and dream of the birds he can not catch.
Both socks are now done. Never thought I would actually finish a pair but I did . Wonder of wonders I am actually thinking of a pair or two for people on my Christmas list.
It was part of a dare and since I am, done a dear pal must finish a sweater for herself. Do I feel smug? Just a little.
Started a baby jacket for a new one due in July. It is nearly all done now. Body done. just sleeves and button band left. It is a Ravelry pattern and looks rather like an old prof's favorite cardigan. I will post the finished photo soon. At the moment I am doing a dishcloth for the once a month eat out and exchange a dish cloth group. I must say I love these eco-friendly cloths. they do not get scummy or smelly and wash Like a dream. here is one in progress. oops I changed phones and I did not update so the photo will have to wait.
This short but I have to grade things as this is the end of the year.Last full Friday today. Two more class days two final days and the hard part of the year is over. C'est fini until fall.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
So it is time to jump out of the slough of despair and back into life. Life Bunyan's pilgrim I must make progress. The example set by the people of Boston and of America's population as a whole does not allow one to go down spiritually. We will pick up the pieces,support one another and move on.
Except it might not be that easy. America has always felt safe and protected from invasions and riots and mass anything. But since 9/11 we have learned differently. It has not been an easy lesson and some are bitter. Bitterness is an easy emotion as it fills a void without any reasons behind it. Going forward is tougher as we have to put fear, blame,and distrust to the bottom of our priorities and climb back up to hope and forgiveness. I am on my way. Are you?
But enough said.My last blog dealt with this stuff and the helpers than help us. A happier topic is watching the school year end. I love my profession but am glad for the respite. It is another time to rebuild and recharge the inner batteries. The students also need this change. At the moment they are so ready to leave it is hard for them to settle down and focus on the final assignments of the day. Do you remember how you were when it was near the end of your school years.?
French 1 and French 2 have video assignments due for tomorrow ( 1/2 their final grade).
One is in and the others well one is still finished and the rest are editing. Several of the students are upset that I am sticking with the due date but it is the end of the year. At college last night a student challenged me when I said her paraphrase used too many of the original words in the original order. Despite these things the results of the majority are good and and the students are great. they make life interesting and keep my eyes open and my mind also.
So from today on it is rebuild time. May and August are pretty much non working months and June/July schedule is not yet decided. time for a house clean ( volunteers) and of course writing and knitting. I Intend to add waling the tunnel and the machines in the cardiac unit. But the spiritual rebuilding will take time and perhaps more effort. Recently I have begun to lector again at Our Lady. It s an activity that causes me to focus once again the messages of faith and this in turn gives me strength.What strengthens you?
Except it might not be that easy. America has always felt safe and protected from invasions and riots and mass anything. But since 9/11 we have learned differently. It has not been an easy lesson and some are bitter. Bitterness is an easy emotion as it fills a void without any reasons behind it. Going forward is tougher as we have to put fear, blame,and distrust to the bottom of our priorities and climb back up to hope and forgiveness. I am on my way. Are you?
But enough said.My last blog dealt with this stuff and the helpers than help us. A happier topic is watching the school year end. I love my profession but am glad for the respite. It is another time to rebuild and recharge the inner batteries. The students also need this change. At the moment they are so ready to leave it is hard for them to settle down and focus on the final assignments of the day. Do you remember how you were when it was near the end of your school years.?
French 1 and French 2 have video assignments due for tomorrow ( 1/2 their final grade).
One is in and the others well one is still finished and the rest are editing. Several of the students are upset that I am sticking with the due date but it is the end of the year. At college last night a student challenged me when I said her paraphrase used too many of the original words in the original order. Despite these things the results of the majority are good and and the students are great. they make life interesting and keep my eyes open and my mind also.
So from today on it is rebuild time. May and August are pretty much non working months and June/July schedule is not yet decided. time for a house clean ( volunteers) and of course writing and knitting. I Intend to add waling the tunnel and the machines in the cardiac unit. But the spiritual rebuilding will take time and perhaps more effort. Recently I have begun to lector again at Our Lady. It s an activity that causes me to focus once again the messages of faith and this in turn gives me strength.What strengthens you?
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Roger's wisdom
" Look for the helpers "
Fred Rogers
This phrase has been repeated often in the past nineteen hours since Boston. It is a legacy of wise words by a man that saw children as future adults to be developed with gentle kindness. In this time it brings us comfort and it caused me to think of the helpers of our world.
First response people are hero helpers. The firemen, the emts, the doctors and nurses n the er, the police and the federal investigators rush in and do their job without thought of personal safety. In 9/11, at Sandy Hook, during hurricanes and tornadoes they deeds have inspired us with awe and with pride in their accomplishments.They deserve all the medals, praise and respect that they are given.
But there are other helpers in each of our lives that have lifted us up, supported us and shown us the way to better ourselves. Some do all three;others do the one thing we need at the time. Dorothy Thompson was helper in my teen years. Terrible in math geometry was a panic class for me. Even when I knew the answer I panicked. Miss Thompson small and dark wren like she taught the class and noticed me. I am not sure what she did but Geometry made sense and for once math was fun. I can recall they day she asked me to come in as she had made an error on my quarter grade. Trembling I went to her room after school expecting my B+ to become C+ or worse. Instead she changed it to an A- and gave me the confidence that i could do math until I hit trig in college. she pointed the way for me.
Joyce is another helper.A mother of one of my students and a town librarian, she and I became close because of a shared love of reading. when my marriage broke it was her support that allowed me to survive the turmoil of a divorce. She has been there for me during illness, disputes with children, job moves etc. She has become my sister and to this day seems to sense when I need a call or an email to say hey girl you are going to be ok. I only hope the support has been mutual.
Another helper though he might not know it was Father Ron Garry. At a time when my church was not giving my faith anything, he invited me to mass not knowing that I had attended Catholic grade school and all that that such schooling meant such as mass, stations, rosaries, and catechism. That mass was a homecoming and once again my faith was fulfilled. I have not regretted changing to my childhood teaching. As the twig is bent does hold true.
There have been many helpers in my life and there still are. The ladies at Yarn make me laugh, teach pride and humility and have become my community. Ex-Students are another community; some are nearly family. Fellow teachers support me every day.
Look at your life. Find your helpers. Thank them and if you can return the favor. Also thank Fred rogers for his insight on the need to find the helpers during times of national and personal crisis. and pay it forward.
Fred Rogers
This phrase has been repeated often in the past nineteen hours since Boston. It is a legacy of wise words by a man that saw children as future adults to be developed with gentle kindness. In this time it brings us comfort and it caused me to think of the helpers of our world.
First response people are hero helpers. The firemen, the emts, the doctors and nurses n the er, the police and the federal investigators rush in and do their job without thought of personal safety. In 9/11, at Sandy Hook, during hurricanes and tornadoes they deeds have inspired us with awe and with pride in their accomplishments.They deserve all the medals, praise and respect that they are given.
But there are other helpers in each of our lives that have lifted us up, supported us and shown us the way to better ourselves. Some do all three;others do the one thing we need at the time. Dorothy Thompson was helper in my teen years. Terrible in math geometry was a panic class for me. Even when I knew the answer I panicked. Miss Thompson small and dark wren like she taught the class and noticed me. I am not sure what she did but Geometry made sense and for once math was fun. I can recall they day she asked me to come in as she had made an error on my quarter grade. Trembling I went to her room after school expecting my B+ to become C+ or worse. Instead she changed it to an A- and gave me the confidence that i could do math until I hit trig in college. she pointed the way for me.
Joyce is another helper.A mother of one of my students and a town librarian, she and I became close because of a shared love of reading. when my marriage broke it was her support that allowed me to survive the turmoil of a divorce. She has been there for me during illness, disputes with children, job moves etc. She has become my sister and to this day seems to sense when I need a call or an email to say hey girl you are going to be ok. I only hope the support has been mutual.
Another helper though he might not know it was Father Ron Garry. At a time when my church was not giving my faith anything, he invited me to mass not knowing that I had attended Catholic grade school and all that that such schooling meant such as mass, stations, rosaries, and catechism. That mass was a homecoming and once again my faith was fulfilled. I have not regretted changing to my childhood teaching. As the twig is bent does hold true.
There have been many helpers in my life and there still are. The ladies at Yarn make me laugh, teach pride and humility and have become my community. Ex-Students are another community; some are nearly family. Fellow teachers support me every day.
Look at your life. Find your helpers. Thank them and if you can return the favor. Also thank Fred rogers for his insight on the need to find the helpers during times of national and personal crisis. and pay it forward.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
shawled in beauty
Shawled with icy lace
The trees bend and crack
Victims of adorning beauty
Mother Nature’ double gift
Wonderment and pain in one
Crystallized in freezing rain.
Last night I learned rain had texture as I drove home form teaching my night class. Torrents if heavy woolen drops obscured my vision and made clench the steering wheel. Misty mini drops like delicate lace webbing followed the torrent and so I relaxed my clenched fists. There even patches of dry road where the rain had ceased and only the wind remained and pushed against my car with Olympian force.
The sky danced with light and rocked with thunder during the night. Rain fell forcefully and fitfully in alternating patterns. As storms are more or less my metaphor of life, I enjoyed the sky show and fell asleep lulled by the miracle of needed moisture.
Today I awoke to soft rain but with pellets sounding on roof and road. Ice was raining and trees were being wrapped in their lace shawls of the frozen moisture. The beauty was awe inspiring even though I knew it would spell death for some of those so dressed in beauty. One-quarter inch of ice will break branches to the ground and rip them from the parent plant. The cost of a moment’s glory can be a heavy toll.
Life like the iced trees can have moments of glory and beauty. Most are just that beauty and the memories give us joy forever. But some a dreadful few hide an ulterior purpose and these leave behind scars. We all have them---disappointing loves, lost careers. Illness. Life touches us with both and we, mere humans that we are, must learn to cope, to seek balance, to survive. This survival is what endows us with compassion for the plights of others and to help them with the scary moments even when we are in our happiest. This is what makes us truly human to be able to feel the needs of others and to respond.
For me my faith gives me the strength to bear up when life is not as I would have it and to rejoice when it exceeds my expectations. To be an atheist it seems to me is to be a boat without a rudder aimlessly tossing at each new event with nothing outside your own thoughts to sustain you and give you comfort. But each of us must determine how to face the beauty and the pain of life in our own way. I choose faith,
T
The trees bend and crack
Victims of adorning beauty
Mother Nature’ double gift
Wonderment and pain in one
Crystallized in freezing rain.
Last night I learned rain had texture as I drove home form teaching my night class. Torrents if heavy woolen drops obscured my vision and made clench the steering wheel. Misty mini drops like delicate lace webbing followed the torrent and so I relaxed my clenched fists. There even patches of dry road where the rain had ceased and only the wind remained and pushed against my car with Olympian force.
The sky danced with light and rocked with thunder during the night. Rain fell forcefully and fitfully in alternating patterns. As storms are more or less my metaphor of life, I enjoyed the sky show and fell asleep lulled by the miracle of needed moisture.
Today I awoke to soft rain but with pellets sounding on roof and road. Ice was raining and trees were being wrapped in their lace shawls of the frozen moisture. The beauty was awe inspiring even though I knew it would spell death for some of those so dressed in beauty. One-quarter inch of ice will break branches to the ground and rip them from the parent plant. The cost of a moment’s glory can be a heavy toll.
Life like the iced trees can have moments of glory and beauty. Most are just that beauty and the memories give us joy forever. But some a dreadful few hide an ulterior purpose and these leave behind scars. We all have them---disappointing loves, lost careers. Illness. Life touches us with both and we, mere humans that we are, must learn to cope, to seek balance, to survive. This survival is what endows us with compassion for the plights of others and to help them with the scary moments even when we are in our happiest. This is what makes us truly human to be able to feel the needs of others and to respond.
For me my faith gives me the strength to bear up when life is not as I would have it and to rejoice when it exceeds my expectations. To be an atheist it seems to me is to be a boat without a rudder aimlessly tossing at each new event with nothing outside your own thoughts to sustain you and give you comfort. But each of us must determine how to face the beauty and the pain of life in our own way. I choose faith,
T
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
tuesday ---busy day
Cheesecake breakfast day for French Club. three flavors await those who can get up and still remember. This will be the last event of the year. Next year we will have to see if it ( the club) is still going. Mostly did eating events this year as there is a ban on outside of Reno county trips and having the members pay for a bus. also to be truthful not many films that are not full of sex and nudity that are French. I plan on looking all summer.
Today and tomorrow are block days due to science and social studies assessment testing. All my classes actually meet today but tomorrow we have a 6:30 breakfast of choice award students so I must be here. My impact class is fifth hour so I am here until 11:30. these are great days for project work but some students still tend to make little progress. It is interesting to see how the groups work and who contributes. I make mental notes about students and their work ethic. If the chairperson is serious they usually do better unless she/he takes it over completely. group projects reveal many things about students.
The end of the year also reveals much about students and attitudes. Many roll up their learning about two weeks before classes are over and teachers have to pull and pull to get them to do the least little thing, Others do nothing but some (and these are the ones who succeed in school and life) keep doing what is necessary even though it is a chore. Maybe this is why a C student in High school is often a better college student because they have learned to study and work while the A student who is not challenged has not developed the tools or habits so badly needed on campus.
Life is not easy. The tools to survive with grace are often hard won. Once a person leaves the security of a home where nothing is asked of him or her and the reality of rent, taxes, food, and going to work to afford these hits life becomes a challenge. every generation despairs that the youth of their era will meet the challenges. From Plato to today the words " these youngsters" have bemoaned the state of the world. Yet, we are still here and that should prove that the majority of those "wild" "irresponsible"
youngsters do grow up and keep things on a more or less even keel.
Still this last year has shown me that there are more and more students who feel they need their and A and the teacher should provide without effort on their part or at least the littlest possible effort by them. They want study guides which are the test so they can memorize the answers without understanding the meaning or process behind them.
These same students expect and often have every new tech toy, the in clothes, etc and damn the expense to the household budget. they complain about the freedoms to do as they like when they want to. Yes, these are age old complaints but the abundance of them is different.
But the majority of them will grow up but not without bumps in the road. They will find the world is not centered by them, and they will survive. They will do what they have to and learn the process of being an adult even if the lessons taught by life are a bit harsh. It is after all the way of the world.
Life has taught me lessons and now I accept that there are things that i can not change. My faith makes life is easier. I know that I will survive His power will keep me Maybe not the way I hope for but in the long run it will be the best result.My hope is that today's youth has the faith or gets the faith to help them live , love and laugh their way through life.
Today and tomorrow are block days due to science and social studies assessment testing. All my classes actually meet today but tomorrow we have a 6:30 breakfast of choice award students so I must be here. My impact class is fifth hour so I am here until 11:30. these are great days for project work but some students still tend to make little progress. It is interesting to see how the groups work and who contributes. I make mental notes about students and their work ethic. If the chairperson is serious they usually do better unless she/he takes it over completely. group projects reveal many things about students.
The end of the year also reveals much about students and attitudes. Many roll up their learning about two weeks before classes are over and teachers have to pull and pull to get them to do the least little thing, Others do nothing but some (and these are the ones who succeed in school and life) keep doing what is necessary even though it is a chore. Maybe this is why a C student in High school is often a better college student because they have learned to study and work while the A student who is not challenged has not developed the tools or habits so badly needed on campus.
Life is not easy. The tools to survive with grace are often hard won. Once a person leaves the security of a home where nothing is asked of him or her and the reality of rent, taxes, food, and going to work to afford these hits life becomes a challenge. every generation despairs that the youth of their era will meet the challenges. From Plato to today the words " these youngsters" have bemoaned the state of the world. Yet, we are still here and that should prove that the majority of those "wild" "irresponsible"
youngsters do grow up and keep things on a more or less even keel.
Still this last year has shown me that there are more and more students who feel they need their and A and the teacher should provide without effort on their part or at least the littlest possible effort by them. They want study guides which are the test so they can memorize the answers without understanding the meaning or process behind them.
These same students expect and often have every new tech toy, the in clothes, etc and damn the expense to the household budget. they complain about the freedoms to do as they like when they want to. Yes, these are age old complaints but the abundance of them is different.
But the majority of them will grow up but not without bumps in the road. They will find the world is not centered by them, and they will survive. They will do what they have to and learn the process of being an adult even if the lessons taught by life are a bit harsh. It is after all the way of the world.
Life has taught me lessons and now I accept that there are things that i can not change. My faith makes life is easier. I know that I will survive His power will keep me Maybe not the way I hope for but in the long run it will be the best result.My hope is that today's youth has the faith or gets the faith to help them live , love and laugh their way through life.
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