phone calls

Kudos to Alexander Graham Bell! The phone is a wonderful invention. I had two lovely conversations last night: one with my sister and another with a friend in Vancouver. That couldn't have happened a hundred years ago. The connections were much needed after a rough day. Teaching is very relational.

I read half of trito-Isaiah (Isa 55-66 or thereabouts). It's pretty intense but very beautiful. Reading the Bible provides context for all the mundanity of life-- there is a big picture-- and our decisions do matter.

I'm in the midst of planning (classes, new jobs?, summer, teaching a class at church, vacations, etc). It's exciting and stressful. A good stress-- I want to make good decisions. I'm straying away from the concept of the right decision in these types of decisions.

S'wonderful

As I was driving my 89 yo friend home from church, Diana Krall's version of "S'Wonderful" started playing and Virg started singing along between complaining about all the jackasses on the road. I'd been mildly annoyed all morning, but that impromptu sing-a-long did way more for my soul than "Come Thou Font" and "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross". Whenever, I'm annoyed at church it always reminds me of The Screwtape Letters. I think my annoyance level is directly linked to the fact I haven't run in nearly two weeks. I've been sick, and it's been stinking cold. Yoga is not substitute for running. And, I need to journal.

You'll be relieved to know that I'm deliberating on what writing courses (and cooking) to take. Travel, writing for healing, entertainment and journalism. Dude, this blog might get good. Crazy. Don't hold your breath.

happy new year

Things are crazy hectic here. And, my mental climate is especially good. I'm really looking forward to this year. All the uncertainty feels kind of exciting. I'm trying to decide what trips to plan-- where to work-- what classes to take (cooking, writing, dance)-- what books to read-- what magazines to subscribe to. I feel like the 14 year old I used to be. Boisterous and silly. Unincumbered. I worked on some new slacks with Geneva today. I'm getting ready to meet AL for an early dinner.

School is going well. I got observed yesterday. It was no dog and pony show, but it went well. I'll see what the AP thinks soon enough.

I'm finishing up Elizabeth Strout's Abide With Me. It's quite good. Subtle and thought-provoking. A sneaky profound. I talked to some long lost friends, which always puts a spring in my step. I loaded up some holiday photos onto FB, which made me smile.

Somebody done stole baby Jesus

The lead story in today's Gaston Gazette: "Gastonia man laments theft of baby Jesus from yard" . This is good stuff, folks. The plastic Baby Jesus cost $25 bucks. And, somebody stole it. Symbolism, anyone?

wimp!

Back in the summer, my brother and I decided to train for a half marathon where we wouldn't have to travel. So, I dutifully signed up for the Thunder Road Half Marathon in Charlotte while it still only cost $55. Meanwhile my brother backed out. Then, a cold front slams through doing its best impersonation of New Hampshire. I wimped out. (I'm not in half shape due to a full time job and taking a class. And, if I got pooped, I'd get chilled walking. At least that's my excuse.) I took my exam for my human development course instead. Then, I sewed my Christmas dress-- navy satin not Rudolph.

birthday cake

Last night after dinner, my friend asked me if I would like a piece of cake, and, of course, I said sure. It was thawed birthday cake... and her birthday's December 19th. It was a pretty cake, but it tasted a lot like freezer. I ate most of the icing, but the actual cake was rough going. I ate over half of my piece so not to be rude. My friend was talking about how great a packing job had been done (3 layers of heavy duty aluminum foil). So afterwards, G asked me how it was, and I replied, "Pretty good." As she was wrapping it back up in the foil, she told me it was from her birthday in 2000. She then added she had a piece yesterday and it hadn't made her sick to assure me that I wasn't her guinea pig. When I related this to the Chief, she responded, "She's German."

a thanksgiving heart

One of my students came up to me during a class change and asked me if he could keep his turkey heart in my window since Mrs. E was not in her room. I said okay. When the dust had settled and the kids were seated, I found a greyish, purplish, flaccid organ on the open window. I picked the bag up, closed the window and placed it next to the window.

When he came back from lunch, he took the turkey heart, now swimming in cold water, and placed the bag in his desk. He'd occasionally pull it out to check on it as if it were a goldfish and had some entertainment value. I just give him "teacher-eye" and he'd put it back in his desk.

While waiting for his bus at the end of the day, turkey-heart boy yelled at another kid, "You're weird." I started laughing. Turkey-heart boy looked at me. I told him, "You have to admit that's a bit ironic coming from a kid who brought a frozen turkey heart to school." He acknowledged my point with a smile.