Life in the Middle

Happy February Break

2010-02-19T08:30:00.001-05:00

I've been really out of touch with this blog...too much work!

Happy February Break, everybody!

On Living In Sivas

2009-08-20T07:44:00.018-04:00

I realize this blog is now out of chronological order, but that can't be helped. I still have not gotten to download the pics...computer problems...but will eventually. For now, we'll just have verbal descriptions.

Our little company that travelled to Sivas from Istanbul included mil (Elif-anne), DH's grandmother (Yeter-anne) {"anne" means mother...they attach this to the first name, as we do with "aunt" and "uncle}, sil (Fatma), uncle's wife and 2 kids (Guler, Ulas and Sidal) and DH's aunt (Nilufer), Little Sir and I. DH's uncle, Ali, met us in Sivas, as he was coming from somewhere else. Seems like a lot of people for a 2 bedroom house, but it worked!

When we arrived in Sivas (a city, and also a province), in the "city" of Zara (a very loose term, here,) we then had to take a "service" car...a 15 passenger van, with all our luggage and food packages on the roof...for an hour and a half ride to the house, out in a pastoral village nestled in the mountains.

As all of Turkiye has interesting history, Sivas, in Central Turkiye, east of the capital city of Ankara, certainly has enough tales to fill a history book, all on its own. It was an important city of Asia Minor under the empires of Rome, the Byzantines, and the Seljuk Turks. In 1400, it was sacked by Tamerlane, and fell to the Ottoman Turks (the next empire) after that. The winding roads through mountain after mountain after mountain, have periodic deposits of its historic past. From our house, we made daily excursions, mostly by foot, to explore the beauty of the natural scenery and soak in the history, as well.

At 1275 meters altitude (approx. 3825 ft.), I often felt my ears popping on the bus ride, and also as we climbed some of the higher peaks. Sivas is the highest city in the Central Anatolian region of Turkiye, the most mountainous in this mountain range.

I have always loved mountains, from my childhood days when my father would take us on spontaneous trips upstate New York in the summer. Although I have grown up on Long Island, and have salt water in my veins, I have always said that I could leave the sea...the ocean, bays, etc...if I was in mountains with water. I was delighted to find that our little house had absolutely gorgeous mountain views from every angle. Out of the kitchen, bathroom, and 1 of the bedroom windows, you could see the mountain at the rear of the house (I don't know the mountain names now.) You could see another tiny village (and I mean tiny...villages have anywhere from 20 - 200 houses) nestled at the foot of that mountain, going about a quarter of the way up. From the living room and other bedroom, and the front porch, 4 or 5 other mountains were in view, in every direction.

In front of the house is a small stream, which comes directly out of the rock of the mountain's base, about a mile and a half away, and meanders its way through the village. This stream is wonderful, potable water...in fact, much of the water in this region is bottled and sold...and Turkiye supplies water to many countries of the Middle East...perhaps its greatest national treasure. This water source had also been tapped, below ground, in a well, for the house water.

At the end of the road, there was a fountain, where this water was piped in, and locals would use this to carry water to places where it wasn't piped yet...the concrete workers, for example, would fill water tanks in their trucks, and take it to cemeteries or new construction sites.

Other similar water sources, fresh from the rock at mountain bases, and cold from melting snow, untouched previously by human hands, were sprinkled all over the region, and we got to know which ones we thought tasted best. Many times we would go on excursions with empty 2 liter bottles and bring this delicious water back to the house.

European Toilets - To Pay or Not to Pay

2009-08-13T12:55:00.002-04:00

I have a vague memory of pay-toilets in Italy in 1983. I dıdn't have much need for them, so it wasn't much of an issue. On our road trip to Sivas, it was another story. Every time the bus stopped on our 14 hour Metro-bus trek (very nice, made by Mercedes Benz), we'd all troup out and use the potty. At each one, there was someone in a little booth collecting coins. It's cheap...probably about 20 cents, but still...what if you don't have any money on you? I haven't actually seen any homeless, but what about them? And, for having to pay for it, you'd think they'd always be clean and well-stocked. Not so. Just like American publıc restrooms, some were nice and some were really horrible and stinky.

Anyway, a word to the wise. In many European countries, you have to always have money in your pocket, just in case you hafta go!

Back in Istanbul!

2009-08-13T04:51:00.000-04:00

We are back in Istanbul, and ınternet-land. Lots to write about once I get caught up with everything else. Keep posted.

Going to Sivas

2009-07-26T06:34:00.003-04:00

It has been unbelievably hot in Istanbul. I talked to my dad on the computer (webcam) and he did the conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit...said, "That can't be right...it's 103!" I said, "Yeah, that's about right. And it's humid, too." You just about get out of the shower and dressed, and you have rivers of sweat running down your face and back again.

But, after massive packing and re-packing we are on our way to Sivas, to Zara, the mountain village where mıl and fıl are from. Even though we are going to a house, it's like preparing for camping. I dıdn't realize before, they take food, too, as the house is pretty far from markets. Local farmers come regularly with milk and eggs, but I don't think much else. We'll see.

I'll be without internet for 10 days or so, but I'll keep a journal, and post blog entries, hopefully with pıctures, later!

Castle-Hunting

2009-07-26T05:41:00.007-04:00

On a visit to Refiye Yenge's (aunt from the father's side), Thursday, her 17-year-old daughter, Özge, was showing us pictures of some high school field trips. We came across pictures of Rumeli Hisar (castle), and were reminded of how beautiful it is. On our last trip, we got to view this from the water on our tour-boat trip with other cousins. (I have tried to insert pics here, but this computer is kinda old and not cooperating.) Little Sir and I became enamoured of it from a distance.

Özge's father, Huseyin (Amca..."uncle"), offered to be a 2 day tour guide on his days off and we had a glorious time - probably our best in all of our Turkiye excursions to date.

Thursday eveniıng, we went to the "telefırik" (cable cars) up to the top of one of the "hills" of Istanbul (it's a city buılt on 7 hills, just lıke Rome), overlooking the Bosphorous. At the top, there is a restaurant\tea garden, Pierre Loti, after the French poet who built it late 1800's. He rubbed elbows with all the bigwigs of the time, including Attatürk. After relaxing at the tea garden, overlooking the sea, we chose to walk all the way down the ancient steps (real ankle-killers.) These have been there for hundreds of years...maybe more, as there is a cemetery on either side, where many historic notables are buried.

We dıd some evening-strolling and window shopping, and finally ended up at a "government" restaurant where Huseyin, a civil servant (engineer for the water district) got a really nice discountç. The food was lovely - everything from zeytinyağlı (olive oil drizzled cold appetizers, stuffed green peppers, stuffed grape leaves and eggplant, spicy eggplant salad, green bean salad) to grilled chicken and sea trout with pilaf and bread...ending, of course, with tea, and chocolate dondurma (ice cream) for Little Sir. Our delightful evening ended with a long bus trek back to their house, during which Little Sir fell asleep and had to be carried home the last leg by Huseyin Amca. He woke up and mumbled, "When are we going to the castle?" and konked out again.

Refiye Yenge put all of our clothes in the washer while we showered and donned borrowed clothes to sleep in. Since Turkiye doesn't have clothes dryers, I was afraid the drip dried clothes would still be wet, but the next day, the hot morning sun had dried them by the time breakfast was over and we were ready to leave.

Homemade breakfast is a big daily affair. Huseyin made an omelet: potatoes, tomatoes, assorted peppers, onions, served with black Turkish olives (meaty, strong flavored and quite salty), cucumbers & tomatoes, several cheeses, cherry preserves, pastries (not sweet: stuffed with cheese, peppers, spinach) and fresh bread. (Turkish bakeries run about 16 hours a day, so there's always fresh bread...the Turks demand it fresh at every meal.)

Then, we headed off on our full day of tours with our very professional guide. Really, Huseyin should do this as a side job. He knows all the facts, history, funny stories about so many places, the best routes to take, etc., and, as a government servant, got in free or cheaply in many places. We went to Boğaziçi Universiti, where I'd love to work, the Balikpazarı (fıshing wharf), then Rumeli Castle until it closed and they kicked us out. We excitedly explored every staircase, every turret, every tower, cannon, peephole, the amphıtheater in the middle, and every incredible view of the Bosphorous. Truly breathtaking. The water is so blue - deep turquoise, similar to the Mediterranean, but a little greener.

The history of the castle was just as interesting as the view was gorgeous. In 1451, it was ordered to be built by the Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed II, in an effort to control the water route into Istanbul (then Constantinople) from invasion from the Black Sea, and thus crucial inland waterways. Literally "under the gun" with the loss of control of Turkiye ımmınent, the Sultan made it a contest between his top pashas (generals), to see which regiments could complete their section fastest. This ımmense castle, I think the largest fortress of its kind in Europe, was completed in just over 4 months...really an amazing feat. It is still in great conditıon, not a ruin at all.

Our trek into history ended, and we went back to the fish wharves where we dined at another government restaurant...a fish restaurant right on the docks, with water running beneath it. Little Sir kept hanging over the railing by his chair to feed the fish bread in the water below. We each had different local fish, from appetizers to soup to entrees, and even without the employee discount, it was very very reasonable. Cheaper than McDonalds in the U.S. Even without famıly, Istanbul is definitely a vacation spot I'd recommend!

Shopping Inconsistencies

2009-07-22T10:01:00.004-04:00

I understand all about world trade (in theory), import and export taxes, costs of shipping and all that, but sometimes the drastic differences in prices between U.S.A. & Turkiye is remarkable. Bıg name brands from the States like Nike, Converse, Levis, etc. can be upwards of a hundred dollars more in Turkey, while other products are really cheaper here.

Case in point: suitcases.

Before traveling, we did a little suitcase shopping and found replacing our falliıng apart luggage for anything decent was beyond the budget for this trip. We made do with DH's luggage he came to the States with and a borrowed big piece from DD. Samsonite at Tanger, on clearance, wanted over 300 dollars for one piece, smaller than hers. DH suggested İ try in Istanbul. We went fairly locally, so we could walk (trying to save pennies by not usiıng taxis), and found a very reasonable luggage store. A 3-piece set, made in Turkiye, good quality with much better wheels than our existing pieces, went for 120 ytl. (1 American dollar is approximately 1 1\2 ytl - Turkish lira). So, about 80 dollars...for 3 pieces. DH said I should go back and buy 2 more bigger pieces for the next trip. Crazy not to, as what we have is really finished.

I don't know what gold is going for an ounce in the U.S. It seems really prıcey here, right now. Have to check out the comparison of that. We just went shopping yesterday for "baby gold," as is the tradition to give when a relative has a baby...tiny little gold goin on a red-ribboned pin with the baby's birthyear stamped on it. These get cashed in, as they lose their value after the year (don't ask me...I still don't quite understand that.) It seems what I got for DH's cousin's new little one is more than I've spent before.

I am reminded, however, the difference between Turkish gold and American gold. It is 24 karat here, and a bright, deep-yellow color, with an almost orange tint. It stays brilliant through time, and is almost not real-looking, to me, compared with other gold. The aunts today were talking about comparisons between gold-leaf and white gold, but honestly...they were talking so fast, I couldn't quite follow the conversation. (It's tiresome to keep saying, "Lütfen, daha yavaş konoşur musunuz"..."please, talk a little slower.")

more on shopping later...

To Dance In The Streets

2009-07-21T06:47:00.005-04:00

We danced in the street last night, 18-year-old nıece, Gizem, DH's childhood buddy, Ali, and I, to the wedding music down the steep hill. The others watched, clapping and grinning at the American doing the folk-dance steps in these circle dances. As is Turkish and Mediterranean custom, the evening before and the day of the wedding, folk musicians set up outside the couple's parents' house and play for hours, while friends, family and neighbors (and uninvited guests like me!) come to join in the festivities and dancing. It's like a big public well-wishing for the new couple.

I was glad I remembered the steps from last visit! I'd like to learn others. (I taught them the Cupid Shuffle...not quite a fair trade, but...maybe we'll do the Alley Cat, too. Certainly not the Hokey Pokey. The girls know samba & some ballroom from dance group.)

The Aspiratör

2009-07-21T06:16:00.011-04:00

My favorite new Turkish word is "apiratör" (ya gotta rrroll those 'r's), meaning "room fan". It's been so hot, we borrowed a large oscillating fan to sleep at night. I love the aspiratör.

It's funny, it depends what time of day it is, which windows are opened in the house. In the early hours, all the windows are open, but by 9:30 a.m. or so, only those on the waterview side of the house are opened. The side getting sun always has windows closed and curtains drawn. (Most Turkish homes have layers of white cotton curtains, the one facing the room being lace. Turkish lace is really something. I haven't seen anything like it since my grandmother's. Haven't priced any yet, but it is gorgeous.)

In the earlier part of the day, there is a beautıful breeze coming through the windows of the kitchen and the little bedroom. These windows overlook the Bosphorus, or Istanbul Straıt. This strait forms the boundary between the European side (Thrace) and the Asian side (Anatolia). There are other straıts ın Turkiye, such as the Dardanelles, which have been used for internatıonal trade for centuries. The Bosphorus (Istanbul) connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara (whıch, through the Dardanelles, is connected to the Aegean Sea, which ıs connected to the Medıterranean...)

("The hip bone's connected to the...thigh bone...the thigh bone's connected to the...knee bone..."...I digress...)

Later ın the heat of the day, these windows are closed with the rest...they only let ın hot air, which is oppressive. They're reopened in the evenıng, when the breezes are cool again.

I love looking out the bedroom window at the water, the bridge connecting 2 continents, imagining all the history that's happened here. And at night, the city is all lit up, looking ancient and exotic, yet modern at the same time. Istanbul: it brıdges past and present as it bridges Europe and Asia.

Each time I come, I understand the language, the culture, the people, the history a little bit better. I feel less of an outsider, an observer, and more of an active participant. All that is in my brain, lessons from school and lessons from life, have prepared me for this time...for such a time as this. And it is quickened to me, "Embrace the culture you are immersed in."

Melek Teyze

2009-07-19T13:07:00.005-04:00

In a family as large as this one, there seems to always be someone sick, or a funeral somewhere, a baby expected, a wedding being planned. This trip, one of mıl's sisters Melek (her name...meanıng "angel") Teyze ("aunt") has her husband in the hospital. He was to have an operation on his liver, but the dr. accidentally nicked his lung. We visited him in the hospital yesterday, and he's recovering slowly. Melek Teyze comes daily by bus to be with him, then comes here to the house for dinner and a rest before going back to the hospital, then the long trek home.

Today, Sunday, when it was time to go back to the hospital, she lıngered for awhıle, enjoyıng the cooler evenıng air outside. The family was sıtting on the tiled terrace at the front steps...Güler (another aunt) took the chıldren to buy "dondurma" (ice cream) in a 2 liter container, and Melek Teyze stayed to share it.

Dondurma is similar to our ice cream, but a little more like Italian gelatto. It came in a 3 flavor package: chocolate, vanilla , cherry. It's very good.

Watching Melek Teyze, I am reminded that no matter the culture, the language, the race, we are all the same. Joy & laughter, sickness & heartache know no borders.

The Pazar

2009-07-19T09:51:00.006-04:00

That ıs not a typo. The Turks call it a "pazar". I think that's where we got the word "bazaar" from. There are several different versions of this.

Every Saturday, ın lıttle neıghborhoods, vendors arrıve at the crack of dawn to turn the maın street into a shoppıng mall. First, they tent the whole area in, then set up to go untıl about 9 pm. There are farmers' stalls with all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, cheeses and olives, toys, shoes, household items like small electric appliances and vacuum parts, and lots and lots of clothing vendors. I have always done very well at these. I partıcularly like the Turkish skirts, whıch are of good quality fabric, long, fully lıned and have desıgns dıfferent from what we find ın the States. Most cost between 5 and 15 American dollars. Each time, friends gıve me orders to buy some for them.

Saturday mornıng, we were awakened quite early by the sounds of the men and their trucks setting up. Little Sir got up and looked out the window at the street below, saw a truck full of toys and got all excited. He could barely wait until they were all set up and we could go shopping.

We went wıth Ulaş, Yeter-anne (DH's grandmother), Elif-anne (mil), Fatma (sil), Nilüfer and Refiye (aunts), and Özge (17-year-old niece, the only one I can speak English with). I was lookıng for bedding and towels, for the "new" house. I didn't find what I'd had in mind exactly, but I did like what I found. Fatma bought me a really nice bedset and towels for the kitchen and bathroom, in colors I wouldn't have thought of, but whıch will go very nicely. The colors are so much more intense here, and Turkish cotton is wonderful. Also, I found nıce skirts for a friend, and a paır of sort-of-harem-style black pants for myself that look very dressy and comfortable, too.

Elif-anne bought lots of fresh fruit...aprıcots, peaches, cherries, grapes, nectarines. It ıs the custom here to sit out on the "balkon"...beautıfully tiled balcony wıth chairs for all...and eat fruit and drink tea in the cooler summer evenings. Family and friends will sit and talk and laugh for hours. Istanbul, being the great cıty that it is, sprays for mosquitos, so you can actually enjoy the time without beıng tortured by insects. "Karpus" (watermelon) is also very plentiful and popular.

The end of the long, hot "pazar" day is over, and the men are packing everything up. Once the stalls and tents are gone, the town sends the street cleaners. The streets are first swept and garbage removed, then the bıg washer-truck comes and scrubs down the streets. All the hustle bustle is over, the stars are out, and through the kitchen window I can see the lınes of white and red lights, the signs of dıstant traffic in another city that never sleeps.

Istanbul

2009-07-18T15:55:00.006-04:00

We are safe and sound ın sunny Istanbul. Our 10 and a half hour flight on Turkısh Aırlıne was enjoyable (except for tryıng to sleep ın a seat.) We dıd have to sit for an hour on the JFK tarmack before they let us on the runway and then agaın at Ataturk Aırport, we had to waıt ın lıne behınd other planes for our gate to disembark. Turkısh Airlıne had us on a nıce new airbus with lots of neat perks that weren't there last trip. On the back of the seat ın front of you, there is a screen with a remote...you can choose to watch a movıe from a list of about 25, or cartoons, or news, or play vıdeo games, or watch from cameras mounted on the outside of the plane. Very interesting. Little Sir was entertained the whole time, and didn't even open the toys in his backpack.

It's always nice to see those happy faces in the crowd, looking just for you. 10-year-old Ulaş, Little Sir's cousin, ran around and found us first. We got a fırst-class ride in DH's cousin's new van...very comfy.

More later...relatives stopping in to visit by the dozens...

Virus- Free At Last

2009-07-16T04:53:00.002-04:00

Thanks to a lovely lady in India, after 7 hours total of tech support ( not kidding!) I am finally virus-free, and the computer is up and running again. Just in time to go to Turkey! I'm not ready yet. Ack!

The Last Summer (of You & Me)

2009-07-11T21:08:00.002-04:00

I am taking a short break from organizing our closet, while DH is out doing a side security job. He dragged out everything that was so tightly packed in there since we moved in in December, after we found a moldy leather belt. Stuff is strewn all over the bedroom in a manner to best take advantage of the day's sunshine and wind. Now, I have to sensibly put it all away, and get back to organizing my stuff. Tomorrow, or maybe later tonight when he gets home, we'll start packing suitcases. So many decisions to make when you're leaving for a month. One suitcase just for gifts and hand-me-downs. What to take, what goes together, what do I still have to buy? Don't want to take too much, don't want to get stuck without something I can't buy there...

sigh...

And so, I spent 20 minutes reading the beginning of Ann Brashares' The Last Summer (of You & Me), loaned to me yesterday by DD, for the trip. I didn't want to save it totally for the airplane, just in case I didn't like it. But I do. So, now I am forcing myself to stop reading it and putting it on the "carry-on" pile. So far, it gets a thumbs-up from me. I'll keep ya posted.

Happy July

2009-07-10T13:55:00.006-04:00

I haven't blogged in awhile. So much has been happening. The college year and school year came to a successful close, Little Sir graduated from kindergarten, DH, No. One Son and DD are busy with summer work and I am joyfully not working, except for a few private summer music students.

The evening of the last day of school, June 29, we started work on the house. Serious work. We had been doing little jobs on the weekends, as we could, redoing the kitchen step by step, installing ceiling fans in the bedrooms, shopping for supplies for summer construction. The family has pitched in as they could. Now the big stuff starts. DH is going to be ripping out the kitchen floor and laying a new one. Various contractors are coming with estimates and we're doing prep work and as much as we can on our own. Ripping up the wall-to-wall carpet was a chore, to say the least, but now the hall has clean hardwood floors, and freshly repaired and painted walls. The carpet is removed in the living room, and work has begun there as well. The sliding glass door will be replaced, and the flooring repaired where condensation and termites have taken their toll. The front of the house is getting a facelift, too.

Getting a mortgage was enough. We don't need another loan for home improvement (although that was offered...no more loans, thank you!) So, we've been really careful, spending lots of time researching options, what's the best flooring, kitchen choices, etc., seeing what we can do ourselves, what we can afford to hire out. The big thing is getting all the decisions made and prep work that require me, because Little Sir and I are going away for a month, leaving DH and my dad (Papa) here in the construction zone.

I am going to attempt another travel blog on our trip to Turkiye, but I may not be near a computer as much as last trip. We are planning to go to Istanbul, where you fly in, and stay with family for a few days, then with DH's mom (Baba-anne), grandmother (Yeter-anne), sister (Fatma), and a few others, we are headed to the village where the family originally came from. (They're not really city people. DH's parents came to Istanbul when they got married.)

When Little Sir was born, DH's father celebrated by building a house on the family property in their village. We were supposed to go see it last trip, but he was not feeling well enough to take us. (After we returned to the States, his health took a turn for the worse and he eventually died that August, saddening us all.) This will be our first opportunity to visit. Everyone tells us it's in a beautiful place, with a mountain stream flowing through the property, deep enough for wading and swimming, with fish ready for the taking. Little Sir is looking forward to lots of cousin-time, playing there at the new house and getting in lots of hours playing soccer.

5 more days to get the house-planning and prepping done, paperwork squared away, life-stuff to deal with, as well as our trip-shopping and packing. And then, we're off!

Delaware

2009-04-07T08:22:00.002-04:00

DH and I just realized we are both off, unexpectedly, for 3 days...that SAME 3 days. Amazing. This has not happened in a really long time. So, what are we to do? Work on the house? NO!!! Get caught up on real life stuff, erranding, etc.? NO!!!

We need to get away, DH, Little Sir and I, someplace where we can just BE, relax, have fun, enjoy each other, have no responsibilities or stresses, no work-related issues, someplace a little warmer than here, but not too far to drive.

DH is thinking Delaware, but neither of us has really been there. I've driven through on my way to D.C., but not stayed there, ever. Never even eaten a meal there, I don't think. Been doing a little net surfing, and so far have only come up with the Great Delaware Kite Festival, which sounds interesting.

So, dear Blogworld...does anyone have any ideas? Someplace good for a 5-year-old, too? Not too pricey, not too fancy. Please respond.

Tired of the Virus Cycle

2009-03-23T00:59:00.003-04:00

Ugh! I have spent most of the past winter fighting one virus after another with Little Sir. The last one went on and on and on...and the doctors? Don't get me started.

The on-call ped. ""No point in bringing him in. It sounds viral, so just give him Motrin/Tylenol..."

ER dr. "After 4 days of 104, should be on antibiotic...prob. strep...we'll do a culture...also bloodwork for cocsachi, mono, etc., follow up on tonsillitis."

ENT: "Def. not tonsillitis. Yes, they're really enlarged with white spots, but that's just 'debris'"("debris?!??") "Culture's pos. for strep...here's a diff. antibiotic."

Ped: After 7 days 104 fever "Yay! It's not strep!" (but the ENT said it was and we're on another antibiotic.) "Ok, come in."

Ped. After 8 days 104 fever, "Yes, you do need to see someone else..." hook up to Infectious Diseases.

Inf. Dis. "Well...it wasn't strep. Never should've been on antiobiotics..." (after 3 rounds of that)..."prob. mono, but you're past the worst of it now , anyway. After 2 days fever-free can go back to schl. No recess or PE, tho', for a few weeks. Keep following up with Ped for liver/spleen check."

Are we done yet?

On the upside...we've been fever free for over a week now, he's eating again...lost about 7 lbs, ane when you're barely 44 lbs. to start with, and underweight, this isn't a good thing.

It's spring. I declare Health reigns!

IRS

2009-02-21T21:10:00.002-05:00

After struggling with a computer program to do my taxes, determined not to spend $500 to pay someone to do them for me, I ended up at the IRS office. I have found the workers there to be very helpful, patient, understanding...real people!

I recommend that if you are not sure of what to do, or have any questions at all, trot on down there to the Riverhead office. I'm sure you'll be glad you did!

My Life Really Is In The Middle

2009-02-17T13:03:00.002-05:00

When I first called this blog "Life in the Middle," I meant because I am chronologically in the middle of my family. But lately, it is abundantly clear to me that I am the only one who understands the separate people in this family of mine...I can empathize, sympathize, see each one's point of view. But none of them seem to see each other's point of view. I feel like I am the hub of a wheel, with each spoke facing in a different direction, only joined by me.

It ain't easy bein' a hub.

All Moved In - Sort Of

2009-01-23T22:40:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been awhile, but I think it's ok to take a minute and blog.

We are all moved in...sort of. If you can say that sleeping in a bedroom that's freshly repaired, spackled, painted and very clean, yet with suitcases and assorted storage containers piled up "moved in", then we are.

So much has been accomplished, yet there's so much still to do.

So, how did you spend your Christmas vacation away from school?

We spent ours MOVING!

And I think it's safe to say we'll spend the February break UNPACKING and trying to settle in.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T21:33:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas, dear Blogworld! I am so happy to have a day off from moving!
We did our annual family dinner on Christmas Eve, which is just the way I like it, allowing little
people the chance to play with new things in relaxation, not amidst scurryings to get ready for
something.

I have hauled a ton of stuff curbside, and am hoping the town's gonna do the Friday pick up
tomorrow. I still have some stuff at my dad's for sale if anybody's interested:
waterbed $100
upright piano $200
30' Silverton cabin cruiser $200

and, in Calverton
full size schoolbus converted into an RV...absolutely perfect inside, outside needs work. Please come and buy this severely reduced baby so we can move! No reasonable offer refused!

Merry, Merry, Christmas to one and all,

and a Happy Hanukkah, too.

Cleaning, Sorting, Blah Blah Blah

2008-12-13T16:36:00.003-05:00

So, I'm trying to get ready for the Big Move. Yuck. I absolutely hate moving. As if December doesn't have enough going on, already. I wish I could just fast-forward to the first week of February, and all this was just a memory of great success!

You never realize how many things you save, until you look at those things and say, "In my deepest heart of hearts, is this thing worth packing and moving and then finding a new place for?" As a teacher, I do accumulate a lot of stuff, all to be used for school projects. I also have 3 sets of encyclopedias. One set we actually bought for No. One Son many eons ago, and two I inherited when another school was throwing them out. (I just can't stand to see good books thrown away.) So, I've decided to regift them to the school I'm currently working in. (I recall a 4th grade teacher recently bemoaning to me their lack thereof...so...Happy Holidays, Mrs. M., hear ya go! The last set will be used for my students.)

My goal today, after I'm done with a mountain of paperwork I am currently taking a break from, is to fill up two big garbage cans outside with non-give-awayable stuff. There shall be freebies on the curb soon, too.

ok

back to work

sigh

Again?

2008-12-12T14:31:00.001-05:00

So, yeah, I'm whining again. About precipitation, again. I know we need rain for all the various reasons, but a big chunk of my day is spent outdoors, schlepping from building to building on our campus. I have been soaked to the skin repeatedly. My shoes all look like the dog chewed on them, I'm getting an earache from the wind pounding me on that side, and my hair??? I'm trying to remember the last Good-Hair Day I had. So, yes, I am thankful we don't have drought, and that it's not hail or sleet, or feet of snow, but...

sigh...

I'm sorry, I'm just so tired of being soggy and cold.

brrrr

Precipitation

2008-11-30T22:22:00.002-05:00

Ummm...

Can we please knock it off with the precipitation, already? I left the house this morning in snow, which turned to hail, then rain, then sleet, then rain again...oh, no...sleet...back and forth, back and forth...driving with the wipers on, with the defroster on...getting soggier with every stop...

I'm tired of walking around in soggy clothes and squishy shoes.

Just sayin'...

Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T09:49:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

I am feeling very bittersweet pangs on the morning of this, our last Thanksgiving in this house. In the middle of complex issues, we will be moving very soon...less than 20 miles away, but a move is a move. This little house has been a godsend to us in so many ways. A blessing. As annoyed as I got with its 100-year-old issues, the good has far outweighed the bad.

I am thankful for my little family, and my extended one. We have weathered many storms of late, and have survived.

I am thankful that I have successfully entered my new career field and become gainfully employed, and that I have gone from student to teacher, both K-12 and college.

I am thankful for my health, and that of most of my family.

I am thankful for the many friends, contacts, and resources that have been here to help during recent crises.

And I am thankful for the food in my kitchen, ready to share with loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!

Forgiveness

2008-11-20T00:24:00.002-05:00

I am currently dealing with a complicated and complex family issue which is consuming 'way too much of my time, energy and resources. Got an email from an old friend that, along with co-miserating, suggested that this season of my life might be a time used for dealing with forgiveness...of issues that go back many many years.

And, I agree.

But I find that forgiveness is a process, not a one-time act. And, for me, there seem to be layers, like with an onion. You deal with one forgiveness issue, and then a memory pops up, which presents its own bitterness baggage, and I must face and forgive that incident, that thing that created specific problems, started dominoes falling...and then, SMACK!, there's another memory of another incident that requires forgiveness, which leads to another layer...and so on...and so on.

And, I find this whole process rather uncomfortable.

Just thought I'd share.

Still Alive

2008-11-17T02:25:00.003-05:00

Yikes! It's been a whole month since I've posted. Doesn't feel that long. Life is just zipping by.

Been absolutely swamped with family paperwork issues...I hate this, dread this...taxes and forms for all kinds of things, that shoulda been done a while ago, but I kept putting off...appointments for things I don't want to deal with. Yuck. It's a full-time job trying to do this part of my life, on top of the 1 1/2 full-time jobs I already have!

And, thanks to new medical benefits (yay!) we are all going to lots of doctor appointments for things that have been put off 'til we could afford it. (How do you say, "I love my new root canal?" like you mean it?)

Misprint

2008-10-17T23:08:00.003-04:00

For some very odd reason, the title last posted here for my blog, on NorthForkBloggers, came from a partial blog-post I never finished and never posted...and the last one I did post, on The Shoe Books, never showed up on NFB. If you click on the misprint title, you get told it doesn't exist.

Very odd. Very, very odd.

So, sorry for this misprint. Please read about the Shoe books, and comment!

The Shoe Books

2008-10-15T23:15:00.007-04:00

Ever since I saw You've Got Mail (the first time) I've wanted to check out the "shoe" books. Remember the part of the movie, after Meg Ryan's character has already lost her little bookstore to the big Barnes and Noble-type, where's she's just browsing around, like a customer and ends up in the children's section? A customer asks one of the sales-kids (who has no knowledge of anything bookish whatsoever) about the "shoe books," and Meg pipes up with the author and the titles.

Well, I finally got to them, I don't know how many years later. (I love that movie, and I've seen it several times.) Even tho' I am still plowed under with necessary reading for my school jobs, I just had to squeeze them in.

So far, I have read Noel Streatfield's Ballet Shoes and Theater Shoes. (Sorry, I can't figure out how to underline these titles with this program.) I got them through interlibrary loan, of course, and you can, too! I am waiting for Dancing Shoes to come in, but I expect it to be just as lovely as the first two.

I recommend these books particularly for girls (altho' Theater Shoes could be for a boy,) probably between the ages of 8-13, depending upon reading ability. They're really good stories, intelligent, and moral without being preachy, if you know what I mean.

j-m's rating: **** (4 stars!)

:)

Ahhh - Choo!

2008-10-13T22:02:00.003-04:00

I have been sneezing and sniffling and itchy-eyed for days. I thought I was sick with an early cold, but then bumped into a few people (and, quite literally "bumped" into them...my head is in such a fog I can't think straight) who are complaining about their allergies. And since the roof of my mouth and my eyes are so itchy, it must be allergies. But I don't usually get allergies now. What's up with this?

And I apologize to everyone to whom I have been excessively cranky (particularly those closest to me), and I'd like to say that I'm as disappointed as everyone else that our lovely plans got ruined (by more than just the allergies.) And I would like to apologize to the poor drivers stuck behind me for the past few days. I keep forgetting where I'm going, and practically veer off the road when in the middle of a sneezing fit.

I would like to thank Kleenex for their generous support, and would like to tell all the pharmaceutical companies that they really need to get their collective act together and make a product that will remove the effects of allergies without making one into a zombie.

And I would like to know why I left my wallet home when I went out to the store on an errand that absolutely had to be run and which I absolutely did not want to go on. I knew, when I took my wallet out of my purse, to check my library card for the phone number of the library, that it was a stupid thing to do, and that I would end up forgetting my wallet, which I NEVER do, and leave it on the computer desk...which is exactly what I did. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot of said errand-destination, I realized the wallet was home. And realized, forthwith, that my pockets were empty, there was no hidden change in the little pockets of my purse, and the cupholder was empty as well. With a deep sigh of frustration (for now I had no time to re-run the errand, which I had barely time to complete as it was), I headed back home. And, as soon as I pulled into the driveway, I realized that I had a bank envelope in my purse containing $30 cash, which would have been plenty of money for the errand-running.

Sigh.

Just thought I'd share.

Sniff.

Statue of Liberty

2008-10-09T21:02:00.003-04:00

Ok, little Readership, whoever you are...

I am looking for info and can't find it on the huge Web. I want to see if the Statue of Liberty will be open on Columbus Day. I'm assuming it closes on holidays.

Anybody know or can help???

More Farm Outings

2008-10-07T22:10:00.003-04:00

D.H., Little Sir and I tried to go peach picking at Davis 2 weeks ago, but the crowds were insane! By the time we got through the lines, they'd closed the U-pick peach orchard, and had the next section roped off. Those weren't ready yet. We coulda picked plums, but we figured out the price per pound and it was definitely NOT worth it. Plus, it was just wall-to-wall people. Sort of puts a cramp in that whole going-to-the-farm feeling.

So, since we'd had our hearts set on picking, we decided to find SOMETHING to pick. We settled on a smaller farm which had tomatoes, eggplants and peppers $1 a pound. We had a great time, and there were lots of varieties...much more than we'd planted in our garden, which is pretty much done for the season, with the exception of a few tomato stragglers who will be used as fried green tomatoes (mmmmm!) The cherry tomatoes were especially yummy, and have kept well in the fridge. Still haven't used up all of the eggplants, but the bigger tomatoes have been turned into sauces and soups.

But I keep thinkin' about those peaches. I really wanted to pick a big basketful and make compote and things. Think there're any peaches left on trees around here? I think we'll try again.

Apple Picking

2008-10-05T19:17:00.004-04:00

I can't believe it's been over 2 weeks since I've written in this blog! The school/work schedule has kept me runnin', in more ways than one. I have been very grateful for the Jewish holidays, (altho' our school only gave us 1 day off last week, and then this Thurs. coming up.) Have to be back on Fri, then off Mon. Isn't that crazy? Why can't they just give us Fri. off, too, since most of the kids won't show up anyway and the teachers won't really do a full teaching day, due to that, and give us a 5 day weekend. Would that kill anybody?

DD, Little Sir and I had a glorious day on our day off, apple picking. We crammed so much into that one day, but it was absolutely worth it. We went to our favorite apple orchard, White Cap Farm, which belongs to the Milk Pail's Halseys.

After picking (and eating!) our favorite varieties, we headed back to the Milk Pail. They were just making fresh batches of their incredible apple donuts, so, of course, we bought a bag. We also got a few gallons of their fresh pressed apple cider and amazing cheddar. DD liked the softer one, and I love the hard, sharp cheddar. Both go great with fresh sliced apples. We also bought something new, an apple cinnamon maple syrup, with a cinnamon stick floating in it. I can't wait to try in on apple-stuffed french toast. Mmmm.

We enjoyed some apple-peach cider and warm apple donuts in the car on the drive home. (Little Sir ate 3! Guess he really worked up an appetite.)

I went back to work refreshed and feeling like I could deal with all the stresses there again.

I've also noticed that Little Sir has been happily eating those apples. He was never great about eating fruit, but since he picked these, they seem more appealing to him. Nice perk.

Happy Autumn, everybody. Enjoy these beautiful days ahead, luxuriate in the foliage, and bask in the sunshine while you can, before the daylight hours shrink down too low. I feel like making a happy little pumpkin arrangement. How 'bout you?

First Lady?

2008-09-18T20:25:00.006-04:00

Reading some others' blogs lately has gotten me thinking. Of course, politics is on everyone's mind these days, as well as Shearson Lehman's demise, AIG and all that other scary stuff. But I have recently been thinking of the media coverage of Michelle Obama. It suddenly occurred to me that, all other issues aside, if I had to vote solely on who was to be First Lady, my choice would be abundantly clear.

Now, who would YOU want in that role? Michelle Obama or Cindy McCain?

And my mind runs to other of the world's women of power, or women of special significance (politically, spiritually and otherwise,) in no particular order, but the one they've popped into my head in:

Golda Meir
Benazir Bhutto
Eleanor Roosevelt
Margaret Thatcher
Angela Merkel
Michelle Bachelet
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Mother Teresa
Indira Ghandi
Gladys Aylward
Catherine Booth
Corrie ten Boom
Maya Angelou
Lady Diana
Joan Baez...

I could keep this up for hours...

Whether or not you react in the same way I do when you read these names, is not the point. I am not holding any up to be objects of perfection. The point is, each of these women has had a particularly significant role to play, and has touched the lives of untold numbers of people. Which of the two listed above shall we add to the list? Would one of them even be worthy to be mentioned in the same breath?

(My apologies for any misspellings in this post...too tired to check anything at the moment.)

Batten Down the Hatches

2008-09-13T22:38:00.002-04:00

Watching the news from storm to storm makes me wonder. Are we gonna get hit this season? We've had some particularly brutal thunderstorms over the past few months, with some pretty heavy winds. And they were just storms. One ripped our shed right off the foundation and threw it across the yard...everything inside scattered in twenty different directions. Now, we have noplace to hide the garbage pails from the raccoons, who'll even rip into the paper recyclable pail...you'd think they could smell which one really holds food. Anyway...get ready, it's hurricane season!

School-Dazed

2008-09-09T22:16:00.002-04:00

I have been incapable of blogging since school started (Aug. 21st, actually, for me, as our crazy school required teachers to be back then!) I thought I was busy before, but now I am teaching until 4 pm, then off to my other 2 jobs. Yes, two. I just accepted an adjunct-professorship, last-minute (in addition to my private music students.) This is absolutely crazy. But I have been trying to get into this college for awhile now, so when opportunity came knocking, I gave it a very warm welcome, shoved lots of other stuff aside, and...take a deep breath...diving into the deep end of the pool.

Wow. I are intelligent and I are a college professor!

Highlights of Summer 2008

2008-08-23T20:30:00.002-04:00

Here's my list of this summer's highlights:
1. Memorial Day at the Bronx Zoo with DH and Little Sir (seeing them ride the camel together was the best!)
2. Running on the beach in the evening with DD and Little Sir.
3. Little beach get-togethers with DD and Little Sir, sometimes with friends, in between work shifts for us ladies.
4. DH getting a promotion!
5. Getting free tickets to Splish Splash and going spur-of-the-moment with DD and Little Sir...his first time!
6. 4th of July fireworks on the River front (on the 5th of July!) with friends.
7. BBQ with my Stony Brook grad buddies and all of our kids...I actually made a bunch of new career-friends, who will be my professional contacts for many years to come.
8. My birthday celebrated by an amazing dinner (DD's treat!...she shocked me) at Edgewater Restaurant in Hampton Bays, with my dad and his girlfriend, DD, DH, Little Sir and me. (No. One Son was away in Chicago at a wedding.)
9. DH getting an incredible deal on a used car.
10. Finishing my first-ever job of teaching special ed ESL summer school. I made connections with some awesome kids, learned a lot about this kind of teaching, and about myself!
11. The Long Island Game Farm with my dad and his girlfriend and Little Sir. (His little face, as he got to pet and feed the deer, sheep and goats was priceless!)

One not-highlight, but a prayer of thanksgiving:
Number One Son walked away from a terrible car crash with only minor injuries. The Jeep is dead, but it's replaceable. He is not.

Now, it's your turn. What are your Highlights of Summer 2008? (No fair just reading and not commenting.)

Last Day Off

2008-08-23T10:26:00.002-04:00

Well, I had planned to do lots of fun things with Little Sir before I had to report for duty, but his allergies kicked in something fierce, and he ended up a very sick little boy. After living with the nebulizer, followed by steroids to get the lungs under control, he's now on Singulair which is better than previous meds. We lost a week of play time, tho', and he hasn't been to karate all month.

But, Wednesday was my last day to play, and we took my dad up on his offer to take us to the Long Island Game Farm. He's been asking us to set a date all summer. Wednesday's weather was perfect, and we had such a good time. I haven't been to the game farm in years, and I was surprised at how much they have there, now. The tiger show was great, and Little Sir was thrilled at how close he could get to all the animals. (We'd gone Memorial Day to the Bronx Zoo, and so many of the animal habitats there, while great for the animals, allow them to hide really effectively, making it disappointing as you trek across that campus to see your favorites. "All the good animals are sleeping!" he said.)

Probably the most fun was being able to pet and feed so many animals. He wants to go back really soon! I'm going to see if we can book it as a field trip for his school (it's $8.95 pp, group rate...about half price.) I'd definitely go as a chaperone for that one!

If you haven't been there recently, you should go. It's so close, only the Manorville exit, it's a shame not to.

Freedom

2008-08-15T18:11:00.002-04:00

I hereby am thrilled to announce that I have completed teaching summer school 2008! Yay!!! I can't tell you how relieved I am that it is over. And sad that there's so little of summer left to celebrate in.

And, I have a "Professional Development" to attend in my school Aug. 21st. Sigh. Not much of a break in between.

I am starting to get a little excited about September, my little brain whirring with ideas, making lists, planning to clean out my school cabinet (at home) and get busy sorting and planning.

BUT...I want some summery break first!

I am so tired. Have to find something fun to do tonight with Little Sir.

Painting

2008-08-09T00:15:00.002-04:00

I just finished one of those spur-of-the-moment projects. My back and knees are telling me they don't think it was such a hot idea.

DH and I have been planning to paint the house (inside) by the end of the summer, but our schedules have been hectic, and we're rarely together. Others I could enlist to help, also seem on the opposite schedule from mine. So, this afternoon, fresh from work, I decided that, since the weather was kinda cool and crisp for August, it was a good day to start painting.

The bathroom is the smallest room of the house, so I figured I'd tackle that and be done before DH gets home from work around 2 or 3 a.m. So, off to buy spackle and paint, rollers and all the necessary tools. Get home quick. Read the spackle container. Has to dry for 4 hrs. Perfect. I could spackle the few spots that needed it, then run Little Sir to karate class, go do my music lessons, and be back just in time for it to be ready to paint on.

So far, so good. Back home, spackle's dry. Make a quick dinner for Little Sir, and get started. Of course, he doesn't want to eat when I'm doing something much more fun, so, after making him eat a little, prepped the room and handed him a paintbrush and instructed him in the art of painting the low areas. I got busy with the roller.

Three hours later, both of us with more paint on us than I wanted, sore and sleepy, we are done! It's not perfect. It's gonna need a second coat, probably (even tho' the can says it's a 1-coat-er), and I have to re-do part of the trim and put the fixtures back up. And paint the little shelf and remount that. Then do the window.

But, not bad for a work-day project.

Blahhh

2008-08-02T11:51:00.004-04:00

Well, July has come and gone, and it's all been a blur. I distinctly remember going to see the 4th of July fireworks (on the 5th of July), but, other than that, all I actually remember doing is working, working, working and spending a little occasional down time with my kids.

I did have one visit with a friend, but it was to prepare me for an upcoming interview (she very professionally grilled me on my interviewing techniques, and gave me a mock interview. Very helpful. Constructive criticism is a very good thing.)

My summer job has taken up way more of my time than I had thought it would. I had wanted to go to the beach after work yesterday, but the reports from everyone on excessive jellyfish at the bay, and really scary rip currents at the ocean made me think twice. So, we visited my dad instead (haven't done that in a long time, either) which is always a good thing, and Little Sir got to mosey around his yard, watering everything in sight (including shooting the hose at a woodpecker at the suet feeder. Tsk tsk.)

On the one hand, DH and I have been doing a pretty good job of achieving our debt-erasure goals for this summer...paid off one loan, and are chipping away at my college loans. That eases the burden, that ever-present weight on our shoulders. (It felt reallllly good to make that one final payment!) But, on the other hand, summer is supposed to be memory-building family time, and we've missed doing so many things I used to find time for. Now that it's the beginning of August, I have to make a conscious effort to get to free stuff we like...the outdoor concerts, library events, parks and beaches as weather permits. I do not want this to be remembered as the Summer-Mommy-Only-Worked.

I am open to suggestions...if you hear of any good free family things, let me know! (Yes, I do check out North Fork Parents!)

The Garden Fairy

2008-07-28T20:53:00.005-04:00

Sprinkle, sprinkle...
Sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle...

sigh

Sprinkle-sprinkle-sprinkle-sprinkle-sprinkle...

Ah--ah--chooo!

sigh

sprinklesprinklesprinkly-sprinkle--sprinklety-sprinkle

sigh

(The work of the Garden Fairy, liberally dispensing cayenne pepper, is never done. Particularly after rainstorms.)

2008-07-28T20:53:00.001-04:00

Quote for the Day

2008-07-28T20:44:00.002-04:00

"So many hats, so little time"

(Pop Tarts wrapper wisdom)

How many hats are you wearing today?

Little People and Picnics

2008-07-22T01:57:00.002-04:00

I don't know if it's the idea of the blanket and the picnic basket and all the visions conjured up by Yogi Bear and other cartoons, but little kids always seem enamored of picnics. Even the most simplified ones, just out in the yard. Little Sir has been asking for a picnic for quite awhile...he's even satisfied with one on a blanket on the living room floor. So, the other day, after a particularly long stretch of busy-ness, where I kinda felt like he was getting the short end of the stick, real-mommy-attention-wise, I decided to have a real picnic out on the front lawn. We had so much fun, just we two. And it really wasn't any more work than eating in the kitchen. Somehow, we talked more, too...in the kitchen, he always wants to take 2 bites then run off and play, and I have this ongoing battle of keeping him in seat to eat a little more. (He thinks 1 baby carrot is enough for dinner.) So, we tried a new twist...one of these really hot, muggy evenings, we had dessert outside in the yard, where it was 'way cooler than in the house. We stayed out in the yard 'til the fireflies started their light show, and the bats just started to be visible. So peaceful out there. Nice. Very nice.

What Tickles Your Funny Bone?

2008-07-20T00:02:00.002-04:00

Well, it's movie night again, and I had decided to actually read a little instead of watch a movie, so Little Sir was watching Alice in Wonderland (the Disney version) on the computer. I wasn't paying much attention, until I heard him giggling. The giggling soon turned to full-throated laughter (which always makes me laugh for some reason, it's contagious or something.) So, I went to see why he thought it was that funny.

He had reset the language button to French. I can't really tell you why it's funny, but the scene with Alice and the white rabbit arguing in French, quickly followed by her growing huge inside of his house and destroying the whole thing was very funny.

So, the next time the kids get bored, try resetting the language on a movie they already know...see what happens, and let me know!

Gardening Update

2008-07-17T21:28:00.002-04:00

Well, the mystery-peppers, that I was really hoping were bells, seem to be turning out to be jalepenos and another hot variety. Not much of a hot pepper type, so I guess these'll be lots of give-aways. Figures. The most prosperous part of the garden!

The eggplants have gorgeous lavender flowers, and the cucs came back after being pillaged by the woodchuck. (Thanks, Anon. Blogger, for the tip on cayenne pepper...seems to be working there!)

Unfortunately, he seems to be willing to brave the cayenne to get at the tomatoes, tho'. They just start getting about fist-sized, still hard and green, when I find them half-eaten on the ground. sigh. Think I'll double dose the cayenne...

The strawberries were an absolute flop. I'll never buy from that company again.

Ticks seem to have been losing their side of the battle, altho' the weeds are suddenly growing very quickly and I'm gonna have to tackle them before they become hiding grounds. I'm pushing back the borders, in regards to the poison ivy. Seem to be making some headway there, too.

All in all, I like the progress we've made and have been able to maintain. I'd like to conquer new yard-territory, but the work schedule has been too all-consuming lately. As long as we maintain, I'm ok with it.

Now, I am waiting to actually EAT some of these rewards (...um...except for the hot peppers.) Anybody want some?

Quotes For The Day

2008-07-13T08:11:00.002-04:00

Gottfried Leibniz
(1646-1716)

(German philosopher, mathematician, and diplomat, he invented the binary system—the foundation of modern computer architecture—and accomplished major breakthroughs in calculus.)

"Music is a hidden arithmetic exercise of the soul, which does not know that it is counting."

Sir Francis Bacon
(1561-1626)
(English philosopher who established scientific empiricism with his method of observation and experimentation, which laid the foundation of modern scientific enquiry.)

"Knowledge is power."

Phish Food

2008-07-12T02:00:00.003-04:00

I love how Natasha says she's a "Wine connoisseur. Gourmet coffee drinker. Chocoholic. Cheese snob. "

For many years I've thought of myself as all of the above, plus a list of other-snobs, insisting on the freshest fish, freshest local veggies, etc., as well as something of an ice cream snob. For years, I was a Breyers-only (all natural ingredients!), then graduated to Haagen-Dasz when the budget allowed. I'd heard about Ben & Jerry's, but quite honestly, the names of the flavors sort of turned me off, and I didn't check them out any further. I assumed that with names like those, they had to be full of all sorts of chemicals, blah blah blah.

Well, the other day, we had a play date at the beach, which went all wrong...as soon as the blankets were all spread out right, everyone properly sunblocked, toys sorted, etc...it started getting dark, and there was this ominous booming, and then the lifeguards blew the whistle and people swarmed to their cars, getting pelted with cup-sized drops of rain. I had to quickly come up with a Plan B for two 4/5-year-olds and accompanying grown-ups. Hmmm...came up with a picnic in a place that I knew had covered tables. Then, the other mom offered ice cream, and a particular one was reccommended, which, I discovered when delivered, was B & J's. Huh. My first try. Ok. I'm a sport.

And I was hooked.

So tonight, DD and I had a movie night, first one in ages and ages, and she wanted B & J's. So, I actually went to the grocery store and bought some. Coffee Heath Bar Crunch for me (mmmm) and Phish Food for her. Now, again, thrown by the name originally, I wouldn't have tried it. But I did. And it has actual fish-shaped dark chocolate chunks. I loved it. Delicious! And then, I read the label ('cause I read absolutely everything) and found out all kinds of other stuff, like, what percentage of sales went to what charity, and how they came up with the name, and that the coffee extract was Fair Trade Certified. Very cool.

Ok, so, this mom, always struggling with the weight loss thing, now has a new secret-treat love...for that once a month movie night when ya gotta have something other than salad...it's B & J's.

4th of July Weekend

2008-07-06T18:22:00.004-04:00

We have been enjoying the goings-on this 4th of July weekend, Little Sir and I. I didn't want to
travel all the way to Southampton or Southold for fireworks on the ACTUAL Independence Day,
but we did have a leisurely breakfast at Bagel Lovers on Main St., in Riverhead, followed by East Enders for coffee, where we met an old friend of mine, did a little shopping and general putzing
around, followed by a fun play day. Eventually we checked out one of the local free outside
concerts. Then, on July 5th (why did they do that???) we made the choice between the fireworks
on the riverfront and the ones at Riverhead Raceway. We shared a blanket under the cloud-
canopy (as opposed to the stars) with some old friends and their visiting relations, and ooh-ed
and ah-ed in all the appropriate places. (I personally think they should have collaborated and
had the river front fireworks after the free outdoor concert on the Arts Council grounds on the 4th, but I wasn't asked...) It would've been nice to have 2 nights of fireworks!

Today, the 6th, the last day of the weekend, Little Sir came teaching with me in the morning,
and then we dooziebotsed around...went to East Landing for a few hours, then Stotsky Park,
then to our favorite local farmstand for fresh corn and tomatoes for dinner, and home again.

So, happy Independence Day weekend. I hope you got to do some fun local things.

Biography: Robert Redford

2008-07-02T22:15:00.002-04:00

In my latest library movie hunt I found a new purchase: from the program "Biography" (I think from A & E) they had a few in the series, so I picked up the one on Robert Redford. I learned so much about him I didn't know, and was glad to see it wasn't full of things I already DID know. I like him even more, now, after watching it. If you like Redford, this is a good summer movie watch.

The Mod Squad

2008-07-02T22:08:00.002-04:00

Since I go to the library once a week for my Sat. movie night dose, I'm always looking for a little variety. I like to see new movies with favorite actors, older movies with favorite actors, discovering new actors, sometimes foreign films, sometimes off-peak type films like Sundance festivals and such, some documentaries, even DVDs of seasons of old t.v. shows. (They have new ones out, too...I've seen a few of the latest ones that way so I'm not completely out of touch.) But every so often I find a real treat...an oldies t.v. show.

One of my favorites in elementary school was The Mod Squad. I thought Peggy Lipton was the coolest, hippest thing...and the guys were great, too. I wanted to be part of that team! Well, the library had the first season on DVD, so of course, I checked it out. I got to see the very first episode, which I don't think I ever did before...how the Mod Squad got to be.

Those of you who were fans...ya gotta check this out!

My next one to track down is the original Mission Impossible series. I think that was my absolute favorite in elementary school. I definitely wanted to grow up and be one of them!

More Battles With Nature

2008-07-02T08:55:00.002-04:00

So, I had decided to make our poor, sad neglected yard prettier this year, safer to play in, and more productive! It's been a battle with the various creatures and nuisance plants, but we've carved out a few garden areas with some veggies and flowers, and it's starting to look like we've done something!

Well, 2 nights in a row, I heard distinctive munching noises outside the window by my computer, which just happens to overlook a garden. I turned on the outside lights, and it stopped. Another time, I actually went out and yelled and lectured. I had pretty good idea it was the woodchuck that had taken residence under our porch...hibernated for last winter, I think, and decided to stay.

So, this morning, I went out to water, and noticed my 2 biggest tomatoes, still very green, were half eaten. Then, I saw ALL my beautiful cucumber leaves...the best part of my garden so far...they were perfect, and just starting to flower...had been eaten off. All I have is a sad empty vine!

Grrr!

So, I went through the phone book for nuisance animal pest control. The town doesn't deal with woodchucks (didn't think so,but it was worth a shot.) The other guy who called back said it's about $550 to remove it.

$550 to be able to grow my own veggies...do I really think I'm gonna raise $550 worth of vegetables? No.

Ok. On to plan B.

I don't have a plan B.

Does anybody out there have a plan B?

(and please don't suggest I buy a dog or cat. No thanks.)

I just want to keep my garden that we've worked so hard on.

Anna and the King

2008-06-28T21:43:00.003-04:00

My, but it's been a long time since I've written here. The end of the school year rush, summer preparations, and still rounds of interviews, waiting to see where I will be in September.

Tonight, I gave myself the evening off and borrowed the DVD, "Anna and the King." I've wanted to see this since it was originally in theatres, 9 years ago! It was everything I'd hoped it would be and more. Absolutely beautiful, and touching, and thought-provoking on so many levels.

If you haven't seen it in a long time, or never did in the first place, check out "Anna and the King." You'll be glad you did.

Public Service Announcement

2008-06-10T20:43:00.006-04:00

We regret that the Gardening and Back-To-Nature moment must be interrupted...
by Nature.

Grrr...

Let me explain.

Little Sir and I have been happily puttering around our little garden, and trying to get the rest of the yard in shape, little by little. I'm always careful to take the necessary precautions, as is DH, to wear long pants, have socks pulled up over the pant legs, and spray us with Deep Woods Off, even all over the shoes. I am not messing around with ticks and all their little friends. (We have found about 10 so far this year, but none actually biting us.)

DH does the mowing and heavy stuff, Little Sir and I are exploring our garden. We've also done a little spring/summer cleaning, bringing out mattresses to be aired out and all that. Cleaning out the shed. Fun stuff, let me tell you. (The garbage men must really love us by now.)

Well, Saturday I found 3 ticks...one on a mattress I was bringing in (...unpleasant thought...), one crawling up the front door, and another on a shirt. One of these was a lone star tick (those are the bearers of Rocky Mt. spotted fever. I thought they didn't come this far north!)

Then, Sunday, Little Sir and I are out erranding and he says, "Ow Ow!"

"What's the matter?"

"Something's biting me!"

"Biting you where?"

"Inside my underwear!"

I quickly pulled over, told him to get out of the carseat, come up front, pulled down his pants. Yup. A deer tick. In a very sensitive area I was not about to attempt tweezers on.

Ok, gingerly pull back up the pants, leave the fly open on the shorts, gently get rebuckled into the carseat, and head for the emergency room..
That adventure went better than most of its kind, and we were on our way, with pages of instructions on follow-up.

I noticed today my left elbow has soreness I've never experienced before..for about 3 days, now. Might as well get a Lymes test for me too. Tried to do that today, got a nurse on the phone who argued with me, trying to tell me I just have a virus that's going around,blah blah blah. (Why do they have these posters up in the doctor's office about the symptoms of Lymes, etc., and to contact your dr. right away, if they're just gonna pooh-pooh you when you call?)

Anyway, today it was too beastly hot for DH to mow before his evening shift at work, so I decided to tackle it when I got home around 7:30 pm. Did the regular tick preventative measures, just like always. I took the recyclables to the street first, pulled some more stuff out of the shed to go out, and noticed a wasp buzzing around my head. Further investigation found a new nest just above the shed door. Very nice. Carefully inspected all around the perimeter of the house, and found a few more. Lovely. Made a mental note to deal with that tomorrow...suypposed to get thunderstorms again tonight. Don't want all that lovely poison to wash away.

Got the mower going (we have a new-to-us antique mower which needs a little coaxing), and busily roared along, semi-uneventfully...

And then I noticed it.

Creeping along the borders of the property where it wasn't before...and in a few places I did spot it last year and tried to hard to get rid of it...

poison ivy.

sigh.

Will we ever have a yard that's safe to play in?

p.s.
Oh, and, the house is over-run with ants, of various sizes, inside and out. Bought some special traps today, set them up tonight after everything else was done for the day. Then I noticed in fine print, "not effective against...carpenter ants..." Great. So I'm only killing 2 of the 3 kinds. How do I kill carpenters, short of an exterminator, which I can't afford right now, what with tick spraying and all.

Gardening

2008-06-07T22:05:00.004-04:00

I keep promising myself that I will successfully have a little garden this year...haven't had a decent one in a few years...lots of obstacles, including t-i-m-e. But I hate weeds and areas of no flowers or anything. So, today, after previous prep work, Little Sir and I got the patio tomatoes in the ground, and some bright yellow marigolds, which, I hear, keep the rabbits from eating your veggies. Hope that's true.

The hanging strawberry plants I bought at a fundraiser haven't shown signs of life yet. It sounded like a good idea, but what arrived was a bag of dead-looking plants and this tablet of instant peat-moss or something, that, with a period of watering, grows up to fill the basket with potting soil of a type...including some stuff that looks like what's inside disposable diapers...those silicone-looking beads that absorb the liquid. Hmmm. We'll see.

We have a groundhog, or whatever you call those beaver-otter-ish looking rodents that pop up on the side of the road, eating grass and stuff, that hibernated the winter under our front porch. I only discovered it in early spring, when at dawn, he was out scrounging around for something green to eat in the lawn. Periodically he can be seen at dawn or dusk, but quickly scuffles away back under there whenever something startles him. Anyway, I hope he doesn't like my garden, either.

Concerts In June

2008-06-03T21:43:00.007-04:00

I just read the upcoming events at Stony Brook for the beginning of the summer season. The Emerson String Quartet is sponsoring an intensive week-long program for 3 winning string quartets, which includes full tuition, room and board, travel expenses. The intensive study includes some events open to the public, and "culminates in a pair of free public concerts in which the young performers will have a chance to show what they've learned." (according to the SBU blurb.)

This is a great opportunity to bring the kids (or just go alone!) to see and hear some amazing music, and perhaps broaden their horizons a bit. Some of my students have been so inspired after these performances, to take up a new instrument (particularly cello, for some reason.)

Friday, June 6, Stony Brook

8:00 pm	PUBLIC CONCERT, Staller Center Recital Hall

Saturday, June 7, Southampton

4:00 pm	PUBLIC CONCERT Duke Lecture Hall Southampton

I'm planning on taking Little Sir on Saturday, perhaps after a picnic lunch at Agawam Park. You should come! (It's free!)

No Assembly Required

2008-05-31T21:11:00.002-04:00

Ok, so, I just spent about an hour and forty-five minutes helping Little Sir put together some of the many little pieces that came with the accessories to his new castle. (The castle itself is mostly assembled, with the exception of the drawbridge, flaming torches, flags, and a few other sundries.) Normally, this would be fun. Except that some of these little pieces don't exactly fit where they're supposed to, and some things just don't go the way they look in the pictures. (The brackets for the flaming torches keep popping off the wall, the armor rack doesn't hold the armor the way it's supposed to, etc.) The visors were pretty easy to snap onto the helmets, and the horse's gear went together fairly easily.

I haven't even attempted the catapult yet. I need a break. Mostly because, I have learned, that these new "green" lightbulbs don't give off enough light to work by. I haven't had to do any real close-up work since we've started using them, so I've put up with the annoyance of never feeling like I have enough light (except for in the kitchen, where it drives me crazy. I want to SEE what I'm chopping!) But now it's really starting to bother me. I even checked the closet to see if we might have any of the old lightbulbs left.

Of course not.

Ok. Enough venting. Back to the world of knights.

Happy Birthday, Little Sir!

2008-05-29T21:11:00.004-04:00

Well, it's official. Little Sir's name must change again. He is no longer Little-Sir-4-Year-Old. He is now Little-Sir-5-Year-Old. Somehow, it just doesn't sound as cute as "3" and "4" did.

I loved him being 4. It was perfect. Potty trained, semi-independent, yet still snuggly and I-love-you-y. 5 seems so old. sigh.

So far, the birthday week has been a success. (Yes, "birthday week." We are rarely all together at the same time, so events seem to come in increments.)

Monday was the parent-gift, a day at the Bronx Zoo with the two of us, complete with camel rides and everything.

Tuesday and Wednesday, mostly uneventful.

Today, he had a little time with DD before work, and spent half the day with his big brother, getting spoiled, getting to choose their activities...he chose:

1) a few rounds of Rock Band (he likes to play guitar AND sing at the mic)

2) breakfast at the bagel shop

3) then, Number-One-Son took over the choosing and surprised him with
a trip to Toys-R-Us where he was allowed to pick his own gift. (He picked the first thing he saw, a Spiderman swim set: goggles, fins, and gloves that shoot water instead of webs.) Number One encouraged him to tour the entire store carefully before making his actual selection. He ended up with a Playmobil castle...and the Spiderman set. (I guess
that's what big brothers are for.)

4) then, I picked him up after work and we had play time before picking up a pizza and meeting DH at the park for dinner al fresco.

5) now, he's in the tub with the Spiderman gear.

What a day!

I kinda wish I could be 5 again. Just for a little while.

Quote of the Day

2008-05-28T20:04:00.002-04:00

Just read Msn's "75 Skills Every Man Should Master." (I know, I know...I am not a man...but I had a tiny bit of downtime at work, and it was on the cover page , and I was a little bored, and curious, sooo...) Mostly, I agreed with things on the list...and many things woman should master as well. I just happened to like this, so here's the quote:

Describe a glass of wine in one sentence without using the terms nutty, fruity, oaky, finish, or kick. I once stood in a wine store in West Hollywood where the owner described a pinot noir he favored as "a night walk through a wet garden." I bought it. I went to my hotel and drank it by myself, looking at the flickering city with my feet on the windowsill. I don't know which was more right, the wine or the vision that he placed in my head. Point is, it was right.

Memorial Day

2008-05-24T19:49:00.003-04:00

I realize the solemnity of Memorial Day, and I do honor those to whom honor is due.

But, this year, contrary to my normal practice, I think I will actually take some time off. Not the whole 3 days, but at least one. I'm cooking up a plan...
I'll keep ya posted.

What are you doing this weekend? (And please, don't everybody say "working"!)

Characters and All That

2008-05-18T18:38:00.002-04:00

We had an interesting experience yesterday, that gave me one of those deja vu-ish moments. Chase bank on Rt. 58 (Best Buy shopping center) was having their grand opening, and I had one of those coupons that came in the mail, offering a nice bonus for opening a new account. So, Little Sir and I traipsed off, coupon in hand, to do our banking business, and see what the "grand" opening had to offer.

The young "personal banker" I was directed to, Heather, was very sweet and intelligent and managed my various money issues efficiently. Meanwhile, several layers of "manager" came over into the little booth where her desk was to introduce themselves and shake hands. Little Sir was inundated with balloons (both the regular helium kind and those made into little animal and toy shapes by a clown lady, with minimal make-up and normal hair,) pretzels, hotdogs, juice boxes, cookies, you name it. There was a bouncy house, which was quite a hit. Great free fun.

Everything was fine...until...

enter "Chase", a 6' 5"-ish adult in a blue dog costume, the kind of costume one sees worn by someone standing on the side of the road in front of some business, waving as the cars drive by. Seemingly innocent, non-verbal, waving in a friendly manner, when "Chase the Dog" was brought over to my son, fear instantly registered on his little face. He tried to be brave, and when the lady who was doing the introductions asked if he'd like to shake "Chase's" paw, he very politely, with quivering lip, said, "No, thank you," turned to me and said, "Can we go home, now?"
I picked him up and he was shaking from head to toe.

And I remembered. DD had similar reactions to clowns when she was little. (Still doesn't like them, actually.) I was instantly transported back to Disney World where I witnessed a surprising melt-down in my normally courageous little girl.

Shortly thereafter, I saw another child freak out when approached by Mickey Mouse.

So, what is it about people in costumes? I explained to Little Sir that it was really just a person in a costume, just like when he puts on his Spiderman costume, or his Eeyore. Do these costumes instantly give him the ability to swing from skyscraper to skyscraper by webs, or make him a literal donkey? No. Logically, he understood, and even asked to be taken back again a little later, to try to approach "Chase" again. We tried again. He still shook. Couldn't do it.

Why do costumes thrill and excite some, and terrify others? I just don't know. What do you think?

Leave Replacement

2008-05-08T03:46:00.003-04:00

Under the category of "Be Careful What You Wish For," I'll now enter, "wanting a FT job in my new certification."

I haven't been blogging, or doing much of anything else, since I started my new job, sort of suddenly.

I should back up. After "Enough is Enough!" and my speaking blessings and positive things, we had a wonderful trip to sunny Florida to go to DD's college graduation. Everything I'd been dreading, fearing, things that potentially could go horribly wrong, did not happen. We, and our luggage, all arrived at the right places, at the right times, together! Amazing. Never had THAT happen before. Our ride was there to pick us up, after a minimal baggage-claim wait. Weather was perfect. We had some R and R time and good visiting time with family and friends. I got some excellent one on one time with DD, and got to see some of her special places (and, we being the crazy ones we are, decided to alter her graduation dress the night before!!! Shoulda taken pictures of that!) I didn't get lost on the long drive from our friends' house to her school and back again, and Little Sir was a real trouper (even when he got sick. Apparently, croup likes to travel, as well.) Thank You, God, for a reprieve from horribleness and giving me some blessing time to bask in.

As soon as we got back, I signed a contract, and Boom! Life as I knew it changed dramatically. I am now a FT ESL teacher. No more subbing. (Yay!) I am in the same school every day, teaching my own students, making my own schedules, learning the ropes of this particular place. But it was definitely diving into the deep end of the pool. I was handed quite a mess, with multiple problems of all different kinds, seemingly right from the beginning of the school year. I am attempting to salvage what is left of the school year, straighten out the mess, assess all those in my care, get them services they've been lacking, target what skills each individual student needs to focus on to be academically successful, and give meaningful instruction. It ain't easy. (Plus, I seem to have picked up a bug early last week, which is hanging on, leaving me drained and with little energy left for the rest of my life, after school.)

Still teaching my private music students, most of whom are headed to NYSSMA. Some are doing excellently, sure to score well, others haven't put in the time they should've and scores will probably reflect that, too. After a frustrating day at Job #1, it is often pleasurably relaxing to sit beside a music student and help them tweak their pieces. There are many times where I think, "I get paid to do this???" Which is good, because it balances out the other, which makes me think "I am not getting paid enough to do this!"

And so goes this next little phase of my life.

How's yours?

Enough is Enough

2008-04-19T00:06:00.002-04:00

Right after my last blog post, a series of really crappy incidents occurred...a sort of ratwheel of unpleasant events that just keeps spinning and spinning. I've thought about different ways to blog about it, and have come up dry. So, I'll just gripe a little.

It all started when my dear friend/surrogate mom, Carole Rucci, finally lost the ultimate fight with cancer. I will write another whole entry devoted to her, as befits the absolutely incredible woman she was. But for now, suffice it to say, the night I got the call that she was really at the end this time, was the beginning of the dominoes going down.

One thing after the other, until tonight, when the carwash guy drove my car off the carwash machine-rollers and slammed it into a 5-day-old Prius. Yeah. Insurances companies are gonna have a field day with this one. (And, it was only a few weeks ago, I had to call mine to tell them I'd been smashed by a hit-and-run while in the pediatrician's office.)

So, I am now officially saying, Enough Is Enough! I am ready for the next phase to begin, the one that brings positive events, thoughts, feelings, blessings, you name it. It's time, already.

My To-Do List

2008-04-04T22:10:00.003-04:00

I suddenly feel the urge to make a to-do list. Not the kind of errand-ing to-do list...you know, "pick up the dry cleaning, get milk, go to the post office, clean the oven, fix the screen door..." kind of list. I mean, an Eventually To-Do List. Things I've always wanted to do but either couldn't afford, or didn't have time for yet, or needed the right person to do it with, or some other qualification. So, I'm gonna start one right here. It may be updated periodically. Feel free to start your own here, or add suggestions to mine. It's so much fun to share.

1. Go cross-country skiing (Always wanted to do this...actually, when I was younger I wanted to do downhill, but after back injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome, I figure cross country is safer, and better exercise...and easier to share with.)

2. Scuba dive in Hawaii

3. Really learn Turkish well (have made so many half-hearted attempts...)

4. Get back the French and Italian I've lost, then increase fluency

5. Get published in a scholarly journal (maybe TESOL???)

6. Learn how to reallly play "Blackbird" (Paul McCartney)

7. See the Swiss Alps

8. Finally reach my ideal weight/fitness level

ok. your turn.

Taxes

2008-03-27T14:41:00.002-04:00

Taxes.

This one single word is an instant stress-bringer.

Every office job I had, working on the taxes, whether gathering the information to be used in the preparation, or actually filling out forms, was always a little bit scary. Maybe it's because there's so much on the line. If you make a mistake, it could be very problematic later on. I did have two stints working at H & R Block, and that helped me see it all in black and white, understanding how the whole system works. But still, when it's MY taxes, it's personal.

So. We're done. For one more year, I can breathe until it's time to do it again. Did I remember all the things to claim? Do I have this receipt, that bill, that form? Can I claim this thing this year? Ugh.

Not one of my favorite activities. Not at all.

Spring is Here!

2008-03-24T11:25:00.002-04:00

It seems, Spring has come early this year. Partly, because "they", the decision-making powers that be, moved Daylight Savings Time up so that it's earlier than ever, and partly because Easter was the earliest in something-like 93 years (or so I've been told.) So, we had D.S.T. , quickly followed by Easter, with St. Patty's Day sandwiched in between. And, now, we're off and runnin'...

Little Sir and I were treated to a visit to the Aquarium in Riverhead on Saturday. It was totally unexpected, and totally delightful. Got a text with the invitation, and who could pass that up? (Thank you, thank you, again, "B"!) So, right after my morning lessons, I picked him up and met our friend there. They were having a "penguin egg" hunt, and there were lots of little kids there with their families. The lovely weather made seeing the outside exhibits, penguins, sea lions and seals, all the more pleasurable. It was Little Sir's second visit there (it is pricey), and last time he was petrified of the sharks. This time, that exhibit was the first one he wanted to see! There is a big maturity-level difference between 3 and 4-years-old, I guess, in the fear-factor area. It was almost exactly a year ago that we went for the first time, with my dad.

Being at the Aquarium brought back all those old feelings from childhood and adolescence. I had so wanted to be a marine biologist and work with someone like Jacques Cousteau, diving in all those wonderful places, like the Great Barrier Reef. Ah yes. But the Federal funding had been cut, and the programs were gone by the time I got to college-choice time...and so...on to other options...and life changes, taking different paths. One always wonders what life would be like if one had taken an alternate path. Would I be a marine biologist, having dived all over the world (without a weight problem!), or would I have been unemployed within my field eternally after graduation with a useless degree and lots of loans? So, instead, I started out a writing major, taking a scholarship, music minor. Later flip-flopped that. On to other degrees in other disciplines.

All of these experiences shape our lives, making a many-faceted stone. Who knew, all those years ago, when all I wanted to do was swim with dolphins, and explore the depths of various seas, and learn and learn and learn about different species of animal and plant life, that I would one day end up a music teacher with TESOL certification, headed to speak at the international TESOL convention in 2 weeks? Life's crazy sometimes, huh?

March 17th

2008-03-18T07:30:00.004-04:00

March 17th is very special to me. Yes, it is St. Patty's Day, and yes, I have an Irish heritage (1/4 Irish,) and yes, I am partial to green, and Celtic music makes my blood tingle...
but the best part about March 17th is that that's the day my Dahlink Dawtah was born. My little girl. Not so little any more...she's taller than me! She takes after my two grandmothers, who were both taller than their husbands. She is beautiful, both inside and out, and smart and talented and sweet and generous and has a heart of gold, truer than any at the end of the rainbow.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart...I love you!

Ooouuuch...

2008-02-29T20:32:00.002-05:00

After being politely pestered and nagged by my son's karate teacher, who loves to enlist positive peer pressure, to try out their adult kick boxing class, I finally gave in and went, on my only real night off in ages. I was a little nervous about going. I know a lot of the other parents go, and they look pretty in-shape to me. I have not been particularly successful in getting back to my pre-baby body, and Little Sir's 4 now! But, after staring critically at myself in the mirror in my exercise pants and t-shirt ("You look beeeyoooteeful," said Little Sir sweetly,) off I went.

It really was a great work-out, although not quite what I was expecting, and the instructor was very careful to repeatedly tell me not too push too hard my first night. I surprised myself by aggressively punching and kicking my imaginary attacker (the bag) in choreographed moves. It was fun! I can definitely see how this is a stress-buster, in more ways than one! The self-defense is a good skill to have, just in case...

Even tho' I didn't push too hard, and didn't try to do exactly what the class models did, I am sore today, in places I didn't think I would be. But I am proud of myself, and I think I just may stick with this, if I can just just figure out how to reasonably schedule it. It's important. I have to do this for myself (4 years of trying it my way, always putting my body last, has not worked.)

But...Oooouuuch....

A Very Pleasant Surprise

2008-02-24T07:02:00.006-05:00

I am not someone who wins things often. As a matter of fact, the last thing I remember winning was a giant pumpkin, 'way back in 1978, I think. I was with my mom in one of the past-glory-days big box stores, that's long gone now, and she'd bumped into an old friend there. As I was standing there, bored out of my mind while they yack-yack-yacked about things of no relevance to adolescent me, I spotted this sign nearby about winning awesome prizes. Intrigued, I checked it out. All you had to do was guess the weight of this enormous pumpkin. Ok. It was something to do while I waited impatiently.

Not being a mathmatical genius by any stretch of the imagination, I took one uneducated guess, judging by the sheer girth of the thing, and wrote it down on the slip, with all my info (name, address, telephone.) The ladies were still at it, so I continued to fill out slips. I just threw a set of random numbers down, with a decimal point somewhere in the midst, slip after slip, until I got writers' cramp. Finally, Mom was done and we left the store, with the pumpkin promptly forgotten.

About a week or so later, I got this call from the store, asking for me. Confused at first, I couldn't imagine why they'd call me. I hadn't shoplifted or anything, and certainly hadn't applied for a job. You guessed it...I won! I was all excited, hardly believing my ears.

"Which number won?" I asked.
"Excuse me???" came the reply.
"Well, I made more than one guess, so which one was right?"
Turns out it was one of those random numbers, about twenty digits long.
Huh. Go figure.
Probably made me look exceptionally brilliant.

"So, what did I win?" I asked.

I won a "fabulous turkey dinner for two, including 2 complimentary glasses of wine" at the store's attached restaurant (whoo hoo!) and...
the pumpkin.

Ok. So I dragged someone with me to redeem the prize, ate the semi-edible turkey dinner in the ambiance-free setting, too young to drink the wine (even tho' the drinking age was 18 back then!), and loaded that pumpkin into the back seat of the car (no small feat!) Triumphantly, I brought the pumpkin into the house, where it sat in all its orange glory on a table in the living room for quite some time, the conversation-starter of the decade, until it was time to butcher it and turn it into many, many dinner-time experiments (and a freezer-full to last a very, very long time.)

Ok. Fast forward to yesterday, 29 1/2 years later.

One of my music students gave me a beautiful big coffee mug for Christmas, with this really pretty wintery scene etched on its clear glass, the envy of the household. Everybody wants to drink out of it. It was filled with Lindt truffles (mmmm) and a Starbucks gift certificate. Very nice. Very thoughtful gift to a music teacher who's on the road a LOT, and who's always pinching pennies, so I don't treat myself to this sort of thing very often. I have been doling out the precious cups, trying to make it last as long as possible, seeing how many beverages I could get with it.

Last week, I used my last of the gift certificate, a bit sadly. It was a bittersweet moment, when I surrendered the card, remembering fondly the cute little boy and his sweet mom who had bestowed it lovingly upon me. As I stood on line, I noticed a chalk board with the trivia question of the week. Apparently, you could guess at the answer, put it on your receipt with your name and telephone number, and you'd win free coffee or something. Ok. I had noticed this board before, but the questions were always something I didn't know...based on nuclear physics, or some rock idol, or which celebrity shared a birthday with Lewis Carroll or some such. But this day, I happened to know the answer! Yippee. So, after placing my order, I asked how to supply my try at the prize, filled out the slip, and was on my merry way, the question now forgotten.

Yesterday, I had a very long day of teaching ahead of me, so I stopped mid-way through to purchase a cup of the brew that I've begun to enjoy (especially now that I have finally learned HOW to order there...sooo complicated!) When it was my turn, I looked up to see the flavors of the day, and saw my name in big bold print on the chalkboard.
"Hey, that's me!" I said.
"What?"
"Up there...that's my name!"
"Can you prove it?"
"What???"
"Can you prove it?"
"You mean like with i.d. or something?"
"Yeah...I gave a prize to someone once who said it was them, and then the real person came in to claim the prize and I'd given it to the wrong person."
"Oh. Well, my pocketbook is in the car (dumb move, I know), but I can go get it."
"Is that your mail you're holding?"
"Yes."
"That'll do"
So, I handed over a piece of mail with my name on it, and was given a card that said "Customer of the Week" with stamps for 7 complimentary beverages...any type, any size, anything I wanted. Wow!

So, now, I will slowly savor this card, allowing myself hot, comforting, caffeine-laced beverages to get me through long teaching days that stretch into evenings, without pinching pennies, for a little while longer.

Ahhhhh.

A Perfect Meal

2008-02-22T12:14:00.008-05:00

Every so often I happen upon a wonderful, memorable meal, and I just want to savor the moment. Yesterday, sick to death of the same old, same old round of meals (no more chicken, please! tired of spinach, green beans, blah blah blah) I went to the fish market looking for inspiration. They had scallops (ocean scallops and bay scallops) that looked pretty good, so I bought some, thinking they cook up pretty quickly, and I could throw something together after Little Sir's karate class.

The result was mmmmmmmmm...

Here's what I did:

Mediterranean Scallops
serves 4

Ingredients:
2 TBL butter
1 1/2 lbs bay scallops (could use sea scallops)
3 medium-sized tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 lemon
1 package pilaf
(flavor or your choice)
1 large loaf Italian bread

Prepare rice (plain or pilaf, your choice. As it's cooking, based on how much time it will take, start the following.)

Put about 2 TBL butter in a large shallow (fry) pan, on low heat to melt.
Cut up 3 medium-small sized tomatoes into about 3/4" chunks, add to melted butter.
As the tomatoes are sauteeing, slice 2 sections of garlic and set aside (for maximum potency or flavor and nutrient-absorption, they're supposed to "rest" for at least 10 minutes after slicing/chopping, before cooking.)
Rinse a big bunch of parsley (we like Italian parsley) and pull off the leaves...about enough to fill a dinner plate 1/2 - 3/4" high. Discard the stems. Set aside.
Rinse the scallops and set aside to drain.
Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon, set aside.

Once 10 minutes has passed since slicing the garlic, add garlic and parsley to tomatoes. Once garlic is soft, add lemon juice, and a minute later add the scallops.

Once the scallops are fully cooked, white all the way through, it's ready to serve!

Serve the scallops and mixture over the pilaf with some warm Italian bread. Bon appetit!

**you could substitute olive oil for the butter. I usually do use it instead, but sometimes the garlic burns too quickly, and the temperature needed for the rest is too high. Butter works better for me with this recipe.

Help Me Make A List

2008-02-21T10:31:00.001-05:00

I have decided to compile a list for myself and other teacher-friends of important things to do (and NOT to do) to inspire creativity, true learning, even greatness in our students. I am looking for good ideas. What did your favorite teacher(s) do? What did the worst teacher (s) do? What do you wish a teacher had done?

This may be something updated, revised, and revisited here on the blog. So...let me hear your ideas!

It's The Little Things

2008-02-17T17:22:00.002-05:00

Saturday afternoon was cold, but sunny and not windy, so Little Sir and I took advantage of the mildness. After playing whiffleball for awhile, we took his bike (me walking, him pedaling) down the road to visit the neighbor's horses. We brought a bag of windfall apples from a tree at DH's job...not particularly edible for people, unless you bake them to death in something, but a nice equine treat.

On the way home we had a nice chat. Little Sir decided he really wants a horse. I explained that horse ownership requires a lot of money. "So, can you give me lots of monies?" he asked sweetly.

"Well, I don't have lots of money, Love."

"Pleeease..."

"It's not a matter of 'please'...I just don't have it."

"So...how do you get lots of monies?"

"Ah. Everybody wants to know the answer to that question."

"So...what's the answer?"

"Well, first you have to get a job."

"Why do I have to get a job?"

"You work for someone, and they pay you for what you do."

"Oh." "What can I do?"

"Well, you need a job that pays very well. Maybe you could plan to be a doctor."

"Or a soccer player?"

"Yes, that would pay you a lot of money."

"Ok."

"Ok."

Problem solved.

Since We're Talking About Kids' Stuff...

2008-02-16T20:01:00.002-05:00

Maybe it's because I have been reading more kids' books lately, partly to prepare for upcoming lesson plans, and partly to see what I want to add to my personal classroom library, but while Little Sir and I were on our weekly library video/DVD hunt, I was looking for something a little different than we usually get. Sometimes I get him things that are purely educational, like wildlife flicks, or more along the line of The Electric Company, and sometimes I'm aiming for widening his literary/cultural horizons, broadening the base of his culture-acquisition, like last week's The Adventures of Robin Hood, with the incomparable Errol Flynn.

This week, I just wanted something different...not sure what...

And then I saw it, and I knew this was the one. Did you ever read Beverly Cleary's books? She was one of my favorite authors, as a child...I love the Beezus and Ramona books (even tho' I wasn't sure I particularly liked either sister), Henry and Ribsy, and especially The Mouse and the Motorcycle. It was made into a movie many eons ago, so the animation of the mouse isn't as high-tech as Stuart Little, but it's still good. Little Sir was absolutely laughing out loud at several portions...deep, belly laughs. I was laughing, just listening to him laugh! And it is funny.

It's a cute flick, which the box says for "ages 4-11, adults" ... whatever THAT means.

For a little light fun, innocent, nonobtrusive, and worth even comparing to modern computer-animation techniques, check it out.

Another Book Review

2008-02-11T09:50:00.000-05:00

My current job has some lag time, which permits me extra reading time. I have not found any wonderful grown-up books to report (I have started and left many, not worth finishing, and one I did finish left me very disappointed at the end.) However, I have discovered two more for elementary kids, probably more for girls than boys, but not necessarily so.

Me and the Pumpkin Queen, by Marlane Kennedy. A delightful book that follows a girl through several years in elem. school. She's not prissy prim, but more interested in successfully growing a giant pumpkin to enter the Pumpkin Show (there are lots of details in this process) than nail polish and clothes. She is also dealing with the recent death of her mother, and has a wonderful relationship with her dad and grandparents. Her best friend is a boy, which is another healthy relationship. Probably appropriate for ages 7-12, depending on reading ability, I give this 4 stars.

Lucy Rose, by Katy Kelly. There are at least 3 of these out: Lucy Rose Big On Plans, Lucy Rose Busy Like You Can't Believe, and Lucy Rose Working Myself to Bits and Pieces. This character is delightful, intelligent, a little quirky, a breath of fresh air. She and her best friend, Jonique, spend a lot of time coming up with ideas to help other people, from the residents of a retired-people's home, to Jonique's mom's struggling to open a bakery business. Lucy Rose's parents are going through separation/divorce, but are doing so with a healthy supportive relationship with their daughter. Both sets of gradnparents are also available, which adds much flavor and humor to these books. Lucy Rose gets 4 stars from me, probably appropriate for ages 7-10, depending on reading ability.

Ya Hadta Be There

2008-02-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

Life from a 4-year-old's perspective can be very interesting, and the communicating of life's experiences often needs a translator (transliterator?) to sort out the details. Case in point: our first real field trip, tagging along with East End Homeschoolers at the Long Island Science Center. Little Sir was telling his big sister all about it on the phone. It went something like this.

"Guess what? We had a chocolate class today!"

"Really! Was it fun?"

"Yeah. And we ate yucky beans." ("cocoa beans," I prompted)

"And it was hot."

"The room was hot?"

"No. The chocolate. It was hot. It came in a cup. And we made shapes out of it."

"Oh! You made chocolate to eat?"

"Yeah. And there were bugs!"

"Bugs in the chocolate?"

"No."

"You used a candy mold shaped like bugs?"

"No." ("We were at the Science Center." I whisper.)

"We were at the Science Center."

"Oh! The Science Center had bugs."

"Yeah. They were in a cage. There were lots of them!"

"Oh."

"And a snake!"

"A snake?"

"Yeah. He had a really long tail."

"Oh. That's nice."

"Yeah. And I got a yoyo."

"Did they do something with yoyos at the Science Center?"

"No."

"Did they show you how to use one?"

"No."

"Was it a chocolate yoyo?"

"No. It's here! Wanna see it?" He holds his new yoyo up to the phone.

Deep sigh... "I gotta go now. I love you. Bye!"

Sometimes I wish I had it all on tape.

Locked Out

2008-02-05T08:27:00.000-05:00

Little Sir is very very happy. He has a story to tell, and he doesn't care who he shares it with. The fact that it might bring embarrassment upon his mommy somehow makes the whole story-telling that much more pleasurable.

It all started like this. I had come home from substitute-teaching on one of those particularly brutally windy and cold days last week, just in time to kiss DH good-bye as he rushed out the door for work. As we were scurrying around the house, grabbing coats, hats, Little Sir's backpack, etc. , yelling questions back and forth ("What did Little Sir eat for lunch?" "Who's babysitting him today?" "I have to drop him off at K's after karate so I can go teach lessons." "Did you fix the flat on your car?", and so on.) These days, this is basically how DH and I communicate in person...on the fly. We actually speak more on the phone than face-to-face.

In the midst of all that, Little Sir is yelling, "Someone's knocking on the door!" "What?" "Somebody's knocking on the door!" "NO! Not now! Who is it?" "I don't know. There's a "Stranger's" car in the driveway."

Sigh loudly. Grumble, grumble. It better NOT be a JW or something, or someone trying to sell us something. NOT today!

I open the door to see 2 ordinary-looking young men standing on the porch, obviously freezing to death. "Are you selling that bus out there?"

Oh no. Not now. DH and I look at each other. If he does it, he'll be late. I have about 15 minutes leeway before Little Sir and I absolutely have to roll out of the driveway. Ok. DH leaves, and I play saleslady.

I grab the keys to our converted schoolbus/RV (which IS for sale...anyone interested?) and take the young men on the tour. "It's fully self-contained, has all new kitchen appliances, tub as well as shower," blah blah blah. They are suitably impressed, as everybody is. Discuss the engine, price. Blah blah blah. "We'll be back..." They never are.

I stick the bus keys in my coat pocket, run back in the house. , "Are you ready, Honey?" I ask Little Sir. He's all bundled up like a snowman, over his karate clothes. I briefly think I should either change his pants into something heavier, or pull sweats over them...second guess myself...no, we'll only be outside for a second, then in the car, heat on, he'll be fine. Make sure the back door is locked, lock the front door behind me, check my coat pocket for the keys, and race to the car. "Ok, Hon', let's get buckled quickly. We don't want to be late!"

I reach in my coat pocket for the car keys, pull them out and, "Oh, no! NO!"

"What's wrong?"

"These are the bus keys!" I frantically search the other pocket, my pocketbook (where I KNOW my cars keys are not...my keychain, the one with the HOUSE key on it!)

I quickly close Little Sir into the car. At least he won't be out in the wind. Ok. I can figure this out. I am an intelligent woman.

I check the back door, even tho' I know I just checked it from the INSIDE to be sure it was locked. I check all the windows, but they have these security stops on them...can't open them more than an inch from the outside. Sigh. Ok. What do I do now? DH is already too far away to have him come back. What do I do? I don't have my car keys, so I can't drive to get help.
Think! Nothing. No ideas.

Ok. Call DH. "I'm almost to Southampton. Do you want me to come home?" "No. That's crazy. Then you'd be really late for work. I'll figure something out."

Back in the car. Tell Little Sir what's going on. "Try the window." "I did...they're all locked." Well, actually, I didn't try ALL the windows. Not the ones in his bedroom. Ok. Couldn't hurt to check.

By some miracle, one of those opened! Yay! But it's over my shoulders. Ok. Go get Little Sir. "You have to help me, Hon'. I'm going to put you through your bedroom window, and you go unlock the front door, ok?" (Normally, he is NOT allowed to unlock the doors!) "Ok!" HE'S got a big smile on his face. HE thinks this is an adventure. HE is laughing as I put him through the window, and drop him on the other side, ever-so-carefully. I hear his footsteps through the house. I hear his little voice on the outside of the front door, "I did it!"

I am so happy, so proud of him! "You did such a great job! I'm so glad you were here with me!"

Oh no. I check the time. Too late to get him to karate, now. He would've missed half the class. No point. "I'm sorry, Love. That took so much time, we can't go to karate today."

"That's ok." he beams back at me. "I saved the day!"

On our way to K's now, to drop him off for a few hours of playing with her kids while I teach music, he is happily chattering in the backseat. "I did it! I went through the window. I opened the door all by myself. We were locked out and I saved the day!" I call DH and let him know, and let Little Sir tell his exciting news on the phone.

And as soon as we got to K's, he had to share his story.

It's great to get to be the hero sometimes. Even when you're only four years old.

(Many thanks to Luna for sharing her story, and inspiring me to blog about mine!)

Amber Brown

2008-02-03T08:24:00.000-05:00

I am a read-aholic. Ok. I admit it. My husband often teases me for it (and I quickly retort with my minutes reading = his hours reading news/politics/finance on the internet...somehow, he doesn't see the equation.) I enjoy reading many different genres, written for various age levels.

My newest discovery (well, I personally did not discover her, the publishing house did that all on its own, but you know what I mean) is the "Amber Brown" series of books by Paula Danziger. I've only read the first 2 books, but so far, I am hooked. In the first book, "Amber" is a 3rd-grader, coping with different stresses in life, including her best friend moving away, with humor and intelligence. She's a 4th grader in the second book. I don't know how old Danziger has let her grow so far.

I would definitely recommend the "Amber Brown" books, probably for 3rd-5th graders...depending on how old "Amber" gets. Maybe older! And for anyone else who, like me, reads "eclectically."

I have a stack of other books (grown-up, mostly) to browse through to see what I'll read next. Riverhead Library has a winter reading club for adults now, so I may even get a free dinner out of it!

What are you reading?

"Your Majesty"

2008-02-02T19:54:00.000-05:00

As we were driving home from errands, Little Sir was chattering away in the backseat (as usual), and said something about "Your Majesty." So, of course, I had to take advantage of the "teachable moment" and asked him what that meant, and when do you use it, blah blah blah. Since he got the t.v. series Prince Valiant on DVD from his big brother for Christmas, he's had lots of time absorbing medieval protocol and customs.

It got me thinking. Different cultures attach similar titles and phrases ("Oh King __, may you live forever...") Some believe their royalty is descended from, or currently exist as, gods. (This can caused all kinds of terrible repercussions when, as in the case of Japan, the people were subjected to the rude awakening that their sovereign was, indeed, merely human, and able to be conquered and made subject by other powers.)

"Your Majesty." Just think about what that means. I mean, of course you cannot address royalty by their proper name, title-less. I am not up on when it is appropriate to say "Prince So-And-So" and when you use "Your Majesty", but still..."majesty", from whence we get "majestic"...makes me think of awesome nature scenes, like the power of the ocean, or an incredible mountain view. To give that title to a human? I suppose there have been those deserving of the title. In general those in positions of honor and respect get titles thrust upon them, whether they deserve them or not. "Your Lordship"...meaning, you have lordship over me in my mere lowly state. But "Majesty"! Wow. It really is something to think about.

How about "Your Awesomeness"?

I suppose, growing up in the U.S., rather than in a monarchy, say, I don't fully get the significance of these things. But it does give me cause to stop and think.

"My Mere Ordinariness..." me

Brain, Child

2008-02-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

At the library (one of my regular hang-outs,) after finding the required items on my list, I had a little extra time, so I browsed the children's room a bit while Little Sir played with the puppet theatre. I'm always looking for early childhood/pre-K/K-2 ideas for projects & educational boosters to do with him.

I ended up at the magazine display, and stumbled upon a publication I haven't noticed before. It's called Brain,Child. The self-titled "magazine for thinking mothers" has lots of interesting articles I enjoyed, and I would highly recommend it to any of you who regularly stop by at my blog here. Definitely not for women only, it's about parenting...but different than all the other parenting magazines I've read over the years. I can't quite put my finger on why, just yet. I'm still dabbling in my first 3 issues, dipping into articles here and there, as a title strikes my fancy. I'll keep ya posted.

Band-Aids

2008-01-28T22:20:00.000-05:00

"Take that, you Band-Aids!"

jibber jabber jibber jabber

galloping-around-the-house noises

"Pow, pow.....pow-pow-pow!
Look out! The Band-Aids are hiding behind the door!"

scurrying, rustling noises somewhere behind me

"Look out! Those Band-Aids are really bad!"

Ok...Suddenly these words start wafting through into my conscious mind, as I work on the computer on an important presentation. Bad Band-Aids? All I can remember having in the medicine cabinet are Elmo and Big-Bird bandages. What is he talking about?

"Pow. Pow. Pow-pow-pow!
Look out, Tonto! Here they come! Look out for those bad Band-Aids!"

I clear my throat. "Hey, Honey, come here a minute."

"Otay."

"What are you playing?"

"Dere's bad duys over dere."

"Bandits???"

"Band-Aids."

"Who are you right now?"

"I'm de Lone Ranger. Dis is my friend, Tonto. Say, 'Hi, Tonto!'"

"Hi, Tonto. Are you chasing bandits?"

"Ummm. I fink so."

"Ban-dits. Not Band-Aids."

"oh.
Come on, Tonto! Let's go!"

Galloping noises recede...

Chalk

2008-01-27T12:38:00.001-05:00

With all this interviewing, and reading lots of books and articles to prepare me for upcoming teaching seminars, I am in a "teaching" frame of mind. To keep within the current mood, I borrowed a DVD from the library from the "new" shelf...sorta just jumped out at me.

At first, I thought it was a documentary, and only at the end do you figure out they're actually actors. It's called Chalk and it reminds me of a podcast I had to watch for one of my grad. online courses, on the NYC Teaching Fellows. That followed a group of professionals who'd agreed to join the Teaching Fellows...in exchange for a free MA, they'd teach in a NYC school for 2 years, I think. It was a way to get teachers into the NYC schools, who really were suffering a teacher shortage. By going into the professional world (anyone with a BA or BS in anything qualified) to bring people in, the idea was to plump up the workforce, and breathe new life into a really stale and suffering school system.

Anyway, Chalk follows a group of 1st and 2nd year teachers & one administrator in one particular school for one year. They are taped in their classrooms, faculty rooms, meetings, and also speak into a web cam at home. It really seems very authentic. I was very surprised to find out it was scripted, and I know there must've been quite a bit of input from real-life beginning teachers. It was very interesting to watch, especially as I'm entering this work force, myself, after an adult life outside of the "system."

I'd recommend this movie for anyone at all connected with teaching or with the schools in general (BOE, panel members, coaches, PTA, parents in general, etc.,) and anyone outside as well. It's an insightful look into how different personalities deal with the stresses of teaching in a public high school, how some survive and how some do not. I came away with some thoughts of how to make myself better as a teacher, a professional, and in dealing with difficult situations. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Peter and the Wolf

2008-01-24T19:15:00.000-05:00

Wanna come visit my world for a minute? I'll give you the guided tour.

I am sitting at the computer (obviously) after a looong day, hot cup of tea nearby to warm me up after freeeeezing myself outside running stupid errands after all my professional appointments. (My feet never stay warm in dress shoes, even tho' I blast the car heat on them in between stops.) The tea is also a good remedy for jangled nerves, the result of professional-and-other related events of the day. I am checking the professional email, and dealing with all those messages. Then on to the personal email, getting rid of junk (just as much as in my regular mailbox!), answering who I can briefly.

DH is off at work, and Little Sir is bopping all around the house, occupying himself with one thing then another.

All of a sudden I realize, he is humming, at the top of his lungs (yes, this is possible) the various tunes in "Peter and the Wolf".

Ah, yes. I have succeeded in raising a cultured 4-year-old. Well, pat me on the back.

sigh

I deserve this tea.

The Substitute

2008-01-23T21:46:00.000-05:00

Well, while I am waiting for my real grown-up job to materialize (the one with benefits...medical, retirement, paid sick days and holidays, etc. etc.)
...not that being a private music teacher is not a grown-up job, it's just that I have so much fun with it, and it can be quite unstructured, or student-structured/tailored, answering their personal needs, not some artificial "standards"...(I digress...)

I have been coerced into being a substitute teacher.
Yeah.
You remember her. The one who came in when your "real" teacher was out, who never really knew what was going on, mostly because the "real" teacher neglected to leave anything resembling a lesson plan or hint of what the kids were working on. This was the one you either loved because they were fun and soft on you, and let the class chit chat and hang out, or hated because all they did was punish the ones acting up. The substitute...the one everybody tries to pull something over on.

Yes. Well, that would be me.

Ugh.

NEVER thought I would do this.

On the other hand, it hasn't been all bad. Certified pre-K through 12, I get my pick of a list of teachers and levels to replace for the day or however long they're out. If I don't like a class, I don't have to go back. What a concept!

I got to proctor the English Regents this week, among other things, which was very interesting from the other end of the exam. The listening portion I had to read aloud was actually worth the read.

Some classes are tougher than others, some make you want to scream, or pull your hair out, or are soooo boring you almost fall asleep (not a good thing.)

I'm remembering all kinds of movies...
Sidney Portier's To Sir, With Love
Stand and Deliver
Dangerous Minds
Mr. Holland's Opus

Ah yes. Time for a new teacher flick. Any suggestions?

Resumes and Applications

2008-01-15T21:34:00.001-05:00

I learned something about myself today. I have always sort of dreaded filling out forms, doing paperwork, doing them as quickly as possible just to get it DONE. But, now that my MA is finished, the certification is in the process of being worked out, it is time to begin job hunting in earnest. Once the resume was polished up, and I got the info. I needed to begin (references' addresses and all that,) the leg work started. For the past few weeks, I've been finding the application process to each of my chosen school districts (within reasonable traveling distance,) which can be very different from district to district.

Well, I picked up my final (I think) application. I had a little extra time, so I went to Starbucks with my handy-dandy gift certificate from Christmas (courtesy of a sweet music student,) got a grande non-fat no-whip mocha (sigh---what a mouthful), settled into a nice table for one, and got busy. Fifteen minutes later I was shocked to find I'd vanished down memory lane, as I was writing all those "previous non-teaching experience" items. Wow. I really have done a lot of different things. Secretary for an electrician's office, tax preparer, waitress, etc. etc. The list of hobbies and non-teaching-related interests did similar things to me. I remembered people and places I haven't thought about in years!

I couldn't believe it took about an hour, even with my resume in hand to copy from, to fill out the whole thing. I actually enjoyed the process, and the memories it brought to me. So much life, so much variety, so much to sum up on those tiny little lines. What should I divulge? What will reflect well on me in an interview? What's not such a good idea? How much is too much? Should I mention previous sports I've done and coached, when I am obviously not in tip-top shape now? If I mention proctoring the National Geography Bee, will they want me to get it going in this school? It's a lot of work. Do I mention international quizzing? What items will open lines of conversation I'd rather not pursue? So many questions!!!

sigh...

Blog Support

2008-01-15T20:56:00.001-05:00

Nan Patience, of North Fork Parents, decided to drop the "Bloggers World" section of the website, which has thrown some of us into a tizzy. Nan got me started on blogging, and led me by the hand until I got going (if you recall, I am the self-named "Technologically Challenged One.") She has been absolutely wonderful, both with her website and to me personally, and I will be forever grateful to her for introducing me to this facet of technology. However, I feel like a virtual orphan, now! (waaaah!!!)

I hope to post links to other blogs I loved from there, but I have to find you first. Six, Natasha, Nicole, momof3, Melissa...I'll be emailing...then have to navigate my way around here. (Believe it or not, I couldn't even find my own blog at first! Had to go back through old emails I'd sent to friends, telling them about the blog. Thank God, I am a virtual packrat, as well as a literal one!)

More later...

Looking For An Echo

2008-01-04T23:07:00.000-05:00

So, there I was,
standing in front of the DVD collection at the public library,
midway through the Day-Quil cycle,
'cause it was too early for Ny-Quil,
feeling all stuffy-headed and blegcchy,
just wanting some movie that I could veg out with,
not requiring too much concentration,
nothing scary or creepy,
nothing too violent or R-rated in any way,
nothing too cutesy,
sophomorish,
or full of irritating-humor-which-I-don't-find-funny-only-stupid,
just about ready to give up and just watch a little kid movie with my 4-year-old,
when I saw it.
"Armand Assante" sort of just jumped out at me.
Now, I am no expert on Armand Assante films, but I've seen a few.
Mostly, I have liked what I've seen. There's just something about the guy.
I feel almost like I know him. He's like so many guys I've known in real life, sort of.
So, anyway, I got the movie, "Looking For An Echo."
And it was perfect.

First of all, it starts with lots of black and white pics of Brooklyn in the early '50's,
with doo-wop music in the background. You see, my mom grew up in Brooklyn, and so I grew up on her stories about Brooklyn...she was a die-hard Brooklyn Dodger fan (and those fans could never really appreciate another team once they defected to another state.) The music was from her era, her time, and it reminded me of that series we used to watch together, "Brooklyn Bridge."

So, that got me hooked.

The rest of the movie was good. Not too anything-I-didn't-want. I cried a little in the sad part, and wished my mom was with me to share it. Or my Grama. An authentic Brooklynite, she would've liked it, too. And the theme song was awesome...as was Edoardo Ballerini, playing Armand's son.

So...my rating of this movie is a solid 4 stars. It's not tremendously flamboyant about anything, just a good, solid story, about some characters I felt I could relate to.

Whether you have any kinds of roots in Brooklyn, or just like Armand Assante, or doo-wop, or a movie about growing up and dealing with what life gives you...check it out.

The library movies are free.

Memories of Christmas 2007

2007-12-29T23:59:00.000-05:00

- Little Sir insisting that his stocking was a slipper, wearing it, and wanting the mate

- Yummy delicious fish feast with fresh marinara and filletto di pomodoro

- An amazing puzzle book from DD for Little Sir on the continents...very cool!

- Nothing burned, ruined or forgotten at dinner. (But I did find out that my dad doesn't like calamari...oops. I never knew!)

- No arguments.

- Time to laugh.

- Time to talk.

- No. One Son's gift to Little Sir of Prince Valiant on DVD. Also, very cool!

- 3 gift certificates from students of mine to Starbucks. (Hmmm...now, I have to think of exactly how to order...soooo complicated.)

- DH surprising me with a gift, after we'd agreed to go shopping together after Christmas for each other's gifts.

- Quiet time to read...books of my own choosing, not homework!!!

Now, if only I didn't always have to pay for the good times. Little Sir woke up around 2 a.m. Christmas morning with a rip-roaring fever. Croup turned into an asthmatic episode, nebulizer and all that. Then went into a stomache virus. Night after night of high fevers. Cranky, cry-y, whiny boy, alternately very snuggly cuddly, "I love you"-y.

No more sickness! I declare 2008 the Year of Health!

Benazir Bhutto

2007-12-27T12:35:00.000-05:00

I just had the strangest thing happen to me. I opened Yahoo, and the top news story was today's assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Tears filled my eyes as I read.

Who was she, and why is this important? you might ask.

Part of my job as student teacher in the high school placement, was coming up with regular journal assignments for the kids, based on current events. I had them write about natural disasters in the news, and other things, trying to find stories relevant to their lives here and back home.
My last assignment to them was on women world leaders. I gave them brief bios on Hillary R. Clinton, Angela Merkel, Michelle Bachelet, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Benazir Bhutto...all very intelligent, politically powerful women, all very significant on the world scene. In writing these bios, I had to do a lot of research, then boil it down to bite-sized pieces, on 4 different levels (differentiated instruction.) I learned a lot about them, and gained new respect for each.

This morning, when I read the headlines, I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. This woman, educated in Harvard and Oxford, former prime minister of her country, following in her assassinated father's footsteps, with so much to say, and so much yet to do, recently returned from self-imposed exile, who knew she may be killed for coming back, did so anyway, for the betterment of her Pakistan People's Party, and for her people.

And now she's dead.

You see, 6 months ago, she was barely more than just another name in the news to me. But, in becoming an ESL teacher, I am learning in order to teach my students, to make them more knowledgeable about so much more than just English. I am growing as a person, discovering more about this world of ours, from biology to earth science, geometry to algebra, history to current politics.
Now, I wish I was still in that classroom with those kids so we could have a follow-up lesson on Benazir Bhutto. I hope they remembered what we learned about her, and that when they see or hear her name on the news, it will strike a chord.

So this is what being an ESL teacher is all about, huh?

Bogged Down in Paperwork

2007-12-22T22:51:00.000-05:00

I just realized it's been over a week since I've posted anything. I had no idea how time consuming all this certification paper-processing could be. Just when you think you're finished, there's another stack to deal with. Ugh. I just want to clear off my desk already! I have company coming!

My last day of student teaching at Sachem High School East was yesterday. I have some nice photos, and the kids gave me a card that they all signed, and a gift certificate to the teacher supply store. (I also got a Starbuck's gift certificate from Secret Santa!)

I am soooo glad it's over. All in all, both my placements (elementary and secondary) went pretty smoothly, and I met some great professional people and some pretty cool kids, too. There are some who are ESL success stories...like little Vietnamese Tracy who came in 9th grade not speaking a word of English. Now, she's out of ESL, in 12th grade, and taking AP Chemistry and other challenging stuff. She's on her way to a medical career.

But there are others, SIFE kids, mostly, (Students with Interrupted Formal Education) who came with little or no prior educational experience. Some of these are just biding their time in school, bewildered by the work, wishing they were elsewhere. The system as it is now is not doing them any favors. Take the Regents? Are you kidding? Why not just give them a trade...anything...so they can function in the real world.

As in any career, there are real frustrations, and rewarding moments, too. I'm glad I've landed in this profession, and trust I'll have a full-time job soon. Until then, I have time to reconnect with people and catch up on my life. I also have to prepare for the April TESOL convention, where I am going to be a presenter (ugh.)

Happy Holidays, everybody. I hope 2008 is wonderful for all of us!

Done With Grad School!

2007-12-13T22:28:00.000-05:00

Yippee! Yay! (You may now envision me singing and dancing.) Last night I had my very last grad. school seminar class at Stony Brook, to finish this degree for certification to teach ESL. I feel like a tremendous weight has been taken off my shoulders. There is still a ton and a half of paperwork to do, things to process, official errands to run, blah blah blah, but one really big item has been crossed off The List.

Graduation is Sunday. It's probably strange, but that ceremony and all the pomp and circumstance does not mean nearly as much to me as the little get-together I had with my friends and co-survivors last night, AND that little piece of paper that's coming really soon saying that I am certified! (no...not certifiable...)

this is me heaving a great big sigh of relief...

Fact For The Day

2007-12-02T17:01:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought I was caught up with the latest in whether-it's-a-planet-or-not, I learned something new in our first issue of National Geographic Kids magazine. Here goes... the order of the planets now includes 3 dwarf planets (Ceres, Pluto, and Eris.) Here is the official order:

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Ceres Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Eris

They're having a contest for a slogan (mnemonic device) to help us remember them. They've suggested
My Very Excellent Mother Can Jump Slowly Under Nelly's Plastic Elephant.

Enter the slogan contest at kids.nationalgeographic.com, and click on planet contest.

Thanksgiving, Part II

2007-11-29T00:22:00.001-05:00

Well, just to complete the air travel adventure package, DD's trip back to college was not uneventful. She was fogged-in. The flight kept getting delayed and delayed, and finally cancelled altogether. She got her luggage back (again,) I went to the airport to pick her up (again) and we went home for a 4 hr. night's sleep, got up and out before the sun to be back there bright and early. The lines of people on rescheduled flights was pretty incredible. I've never seen so many people there, before.

But, she is back in college-land safe and sound, back to classes, studying, and waitressing on the side. So life returns to normal (??). Or our version of it.

Home for Thanksgiving

2007-11-18T23:55:00.001-05:00

My Dahlink Dawtah is home for Thanksgiving. Her university has one of those extended Thanksgiving breaks, which is lovely, especially since she comes all the way from Florida for this visit!

I had been listening to all those warning shows about the airlines and holiday travel, what to do and what not to do. Well, DD had a great deal...she'd finally logged enough miles with her rewards program to earn a free ticket (yippee!)...so, there were really no decisions to be made. She flew back, we stood by the luggage belt to pick up her bags and...
only one bag. Wait a minute. There were two.
Suddenly, we are aware that several other people have that same look on their faces, and are making the same sort of comments were are. Hey! Look at the luggage carts of people going around...maybe somebody grabbed yours by mistake (or NOT by mistake...that's another whole topic for a later blog.)

Ever notice how many people have BLACK luggage? Makes everything look awfully similar!

So, anyway...the airline's story is that it's the government's fault. Ok. I know we like to blame everything on them...but, this? It seems the feds have to check every piece of luggage, but they have a limited amount of inspectors assigned to each airline, and if not all the bags are examined, then only the approved ones go with the flight. The rest stay behind until checked out, then go on a different plane.

Does that sound stupid to anybody else?

So, the airline gave us 2 options: either we could come back when they called us in several more hours to pick it up, and get a nifty $40 travel voucher for our troubles, or have it delivered to our doorstep for free.
DD wanted the delivery. It was promised (in a later phone call) by 11:30 pm. So, by 12:30 we were in bed and snoozing.

3:30 a.m. I am awake. The porch light shines around the edges of my bedroom blind and drives me crazy. Call the airline again. Get a machine. Leave a message. Is it possible they dropped it off at the wrong house?

Turn off the light. Go back to bed. Get all warm and snuggly and just about to drift off, when...

Knock, knock, knock. It's the luggage delivery guy (parked up on my LAWN.) Here's the bag. What about 11:30??? Yeah, well, that's about when they called him to come get all the bags. God only knows where all those other people live, and where on the list we were.

So, DD is home, safe and sound, with both suitcases.

Another holiday's travel adventure over.

New Advice

2007-11-15T21:28:00.001-05:00

I was just talking to one of my student's moms today, and she was telling me her tale of woe concerning her 3 kids' medical issues. It started sounding very familiar. Everywhere I turn, I am hearing stories much like ours, and...if I had stock in Albuterol, I think I'd be a really happy investor right now. After some really horrendous experiences, this mom came to a conclusion, which she shared with me as the advice for the day:

When your child has any kind of medical problem, go straight to the specialist. Call the pediatrician, get the referral (if that's how you have to do it with your insurance), and head straight out...tell them to send it, fax it, phone it, 'cause you're on your way. She saved her daughter's life that way, after 2 pedes said she "just had a cold"...weeks of it...5 minutes with the pediatric pulmonologist and mom's gut feeling was confirmed...the tonsils were so enlarged, the girl was slowly choking to death. Whizz, bang, up to the OR, out they came...and she's ok, now. Other scary stories, too.

So, that's my second-hand advice for the day. I think I'm gonna check out who the specialists we may need are, have their numbers ready, and, if God doesn't choose to spare us from another round of medical problems, we'll be ready.

A New Concern

2007-11-11T14:43:00.000-05:00

My Little Sir has been prone to different allergies, and has had "allergy-induced asthmatic episodes" in the past, sometimes accompanied by croup. Anyone familiar with this sort of thing knows how scary it is to sit with a small child in the emergency room as they gasp for air and cough their lungs out.

We've been back and forth to the pediatrician in the past few weeks, with what was first diagnosed as "just a cold." We had to go to the emergency room one night, with Little Sir using a nebulizer/oxygen/steroids, etc. Then, the ER doc. prescribed an inhaler of Albuterol, along with an antibiotic, which he said I could use, or not use, at my own discretion, since the x-ray showed no pneumonia so far. (So far???) The ER doc and our regular pediatrician do NOT agree on almost all the treatments. (oh, goody.) Back and forth, back and forth, phone calls galore...thank God, CVS has a drive-through. (What a concept!)

Anyway...long story, shortened...

Talked to another mom of a 4-year-old (this one's in kindergarten.) Her son's been through the same thing...she brought the inhaler (with the spacer...I'm learning all kinds of new skills here...oh, joy...) She said she got a prescription for an extra one to keep at the school nurse's office. When she brought it there, the school nurse opened the closet and showed her BASKETS full of the same thing for many other children in younger elementary grades.

Ok. So...the media tells us about the killer viruses around, particularly the one in Rochester area which manifests itself as an ear infection in little kids, but does not respond to any antibiotic known to work on pedes. Only works with a specific adults-only antibiotic, and the only way to tell if your child has this, is to request the pediatrician do an ear tap. (Ouch.) If not treated properly, deafness results. (Again, oh joy.)

My school mailbox is almost daily manifesting the latest warning from the administration. It MRSA, it's scabies, it's______...you name it.

The "experts" say we are over-run with all this because of overuse of antibiotics, and the viruses just get stronger. The mom I spoke about was wondering if her son's school might have particular environmental issues, as well, as soooo many little kids are sick enough with lung problems to need inhalers...the school nurse said, "Hmmmm...never thought of that. Maybe I should bring it up to the administration." (Ya think???)

It's not my imagination. The bugs are getting stronger and more diverse. The international community does not necessarily agree on how to treat these things. (When we were in Turkey, they seemed to use stronger drugs than we do here (when I brought our scrips back, the pediatrician told me we couldn't even get that stuff here, but that it was really good.) And, my mil was told not to let the U.S. hospital but him on any kind of inhaler (???) because it would cause other lung problems. I asked the dr. here, and he had no idea what I was talking about. (Nothing like discussing 4th hand info...))

So...I am exhausted from running from dr. to dr., dealing with medicines and treatments, making nutritious remedies like chicken soup, herbal teas, honey & lemon drinks, shower treatments, Vicks Vapo-rub...take him outside so he can breathe...no, he's cold...take him in the bathroom with the steamy shower running...make sure you dry his hair right away...
Oh, and DH has been sick with several viruses too (including gastro-intestinal. That's just loads of fun.)

Everywhere we go, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands...

sigh

Interviews and Other Surprises

2007-11-03T14:26:00.000-04:00

Got a call back to another round of interviews, yesterday, which I hear is a good thing. One is a leave replacement (not really what I want...only get sub-pay, no benefits, etc.) and one is a real job opening in Sept.

The same day, I got an email which flattered and terrified me. Let me back up a bit...

Last semester, I had the blessed fortune to bond with 3 other ladies in my program, who had pretty much the same college schedule. 2 are also married mommies, the other an engaged-mommy-wannabe. As this department is especially fond of assigning group projects, we decided to get ahead of the professors and make our own group. (We've all had the horrible experience of being assigned to a partner(s) who does no/terrible work, and have had a stressful time of it, with grades suffering because of it.) It worked out great for us, as our talents compliment each other, and we had a blast working together (at someone's house over wine and cheese...doesn't get any better, right?) Sometimes the kiddies came along and had their own fun time in the other room. Well, one particular project took us months to do, as it counted as 40% of the grade, and was to be part of our professional portfolio...we wanted it to be awesome. We designed a high school math curriculum for English language learners of multiple levels of English proficiency and from diverse first languages. It was very involved, with lots of hands-on, kinesthetic learning, different technology media and translated/adapted texts.

Well, our professor (who, it turns out, is in a very influencial position in this particular discipline's international community) was quite impressed, and instructed the rest of the class that this was the model lesson, what to strive for. She asked us a lot of questions, how we did each phase, and seemed very pleased. Afterward, she took us aside and told us she was on the committee for 2008 international convention, which happens to be in NY this time, and asked if we would present there. Wow! My friend (very quick on the uptake) said, "Sure, if you give us all letters of recommendation!" She said she was already doing that, this was beyond that. Ok ... sure, why not?

I promptly put it on the back burner, and got on with my life, on to the next assignment for the next class, etc. Didn't exactly forget about it, but really didn't think about it. I figured it was going to be a small thing off in a corner room, not so important.

Ha! Well, got an email from the organization, saying our proposal (what proposal???) had been accepted by the committee and that they were very excited about our presentation, blah blah blah...did we need a projection screen, any other tech. devices??? Lots of info, etc.

sigh

so, it's for real.

ok.

I can do this.

You see, I do NOT like being watched, don't
like being front and center, don't like being judged...and here, we will be on display before hundreds of people. Oh, goody.

Procrastinating Again

2007-10-30T23:18:00.000-04:00

Ok...I've read everybody's blogs and commented where I found something vaguely appropriate to say. I've cleaned out junk email and done a survey. I went through the mail from the real-life mailbox (mostly junk) and done a load of laundry.

I am tempted to reread the blogs to see if anything new's posted.

I have homework to do and I just don't wanna do it. I just can't make my mind settle into it, much less open the required books, plug in the flashdrive, put paper in the printer, and ink, or anything else required to do this chore. If I was one of my kids I'd get on my case about this. I just don't wanna do it. I know I will be sorry tomorrow.

sigh.

On Posting

2007-10-29T22:58:00.000-04:00

Ok. It's happened again. I published a post, and it didn't show up. But then, there it is on the list on the side, but not in chronological order.

I't s On Writing. Can you see it?

White Tornado

2007-10-20T16:36:00.000-04:00

Does anybody remember the White Tornado? Not sure, but I think it was an old Ajax commercial from when I was a kid..you'd open the bottle, a white tornado would come out, swoosh around your house, and leave everything sparkling clean in its wake.

When my older kids were little, I'd suddenly yell out "white tornado!", and we'd go scurrying around the house, picking up, vacuuming, dusting, etc. Usually this was when someone was about to drop by, with little warning.

Well, right about now, I'd really like the original kind. With my school/work schedule, and DH & I working opposite shifts, the house is in desperate need of a white tornado to swoop through. I saw a spider in the bedroom this afternoon, in the corner of the ceiling, so I dragged out the vacuum and went to work...did all the ceilings, corners, etc. in the house. Then, I saw how dusty it was behind the dresser, so DH & I started dragging everything out, shaking stuff outside, cleaning behind everything, etc. with the windows wide open. (It was one of those gorgeous sunny days.)

I feel so much better about my bedroom, now. And I'm outta time...the real life schedule is back, and the rest of the house is still waiting to be rescued.

Where is that white tornado, now that I really need it?