Lands o' Goshen

I had a great day today at work. We had inservice, the constant joy of a teacher's life. BUT! My day was good because I got to do something I really enjoy, sharing with others and I got to do my last bit as an ORBIT anchor. Bill Byles and Susan Brooks came from Internet4Classrooms. I didn't get to participate in their inservice, but everyone was very complementary and I just basked in their sunshine. Susan is a wonderful person. I'm sure Bill is too, but Susan and I have become email buddies over the summer. I was glad to finally connect personally.
I have a great day at work most days. I do come home tired, but I usually feel like I was able to impact someone in a positive way. That is enough for me. Today, and days like it, almost seem like a sugar rush.
I'm glad to be getting back to my hall with "my girls" who are ALL such wonderful neighbors and friends. It helps that a big percentage of us were elementary teachers at one time.
Lyn caught a snap of Deputy and Bea rough-housing. My grandcritters are a constant source of laughter.
So, life is comfortable right now.

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8:00ish(am) Gene just called to ask Scott if it would be a worthwhile stop to go thru the PA HD factory tour. What were you thinking, Gene? Harley tour? WoW! Even I'd go for that one! By the time Beckie and I got on the phone the service was breaking up and the only thing I heard her say was, "Vir-fssk-ia fisssksk fisskk-boulous!" Yes, Virginia is fabulous! Aren't you glad you took the Blue Ridge? God knew what he was doing when he created the Smokies first. Those Western and European tourists will have to wait centuries to see what we have out the back door.
Scott is in school in Effingham, SC. Never heard of it till now and he says the place is huge. They are staying at a Marriott. No free breakfast. No free wireless. No free nothin. Nice hotels really stick it to you. The last really nice hotel I stayed in even had valet-only parking unless you walked to the parking garage down the street-where you still had to pay. I believe I'll keep my Super 8 toll-free number handy, at least when I'm the one paying.
This is it. As soon as Lyn gets up we are going to put my stuff back in my classroom. Then tomorrow it all starts for real. Inservice all day the rest of the week and then school starts Aug 1. I really do love the year round schedule, but geez Louise, it came early this year.
I'm almost finished with Jeremy and Amanda's afghan. (If you kids read this, surprise!) But, now that school is starting, I'm not sure when I'll get it all together. I also bought 2 books Saturday at Great Escape. I think it might have been wishful thinking. The only thing I've done all summer is knit. I told my sister-in-law I believed it was my way of grieving. I've basically ignored all my other projects. Like painting the house. Or cleaning. Or exercising...Things that only get done in the summer, didn't. But! I've knit 2 afghans and a 6' wrap!
Aaron has another date with the ex-girlfriend tonight. I know he keeps telling her there is no chance of them getting back together, I just hope she is hearing that. She's a sweet girl, just not daughter-in-law potential, apparently. Aaron as a heartbreaker- who knew?
Lyn is saying "how long will it take you to get ready?" so I suppose I'd better do something constructive toward leaving.
BTW, I didn't get to do the white trash tour, yet. My cousin had to go back to Atl before we could do it. SO...come on girls. Bring your Dolly dress-up duds and let's go!
6:23p
Lyn and I just got back from school. She helped me so much. My drawers are organized. She put stuff in the filing cabinet I'd been hoarding for 2 years. We checked out the computers. We got all my gizmos working again. I'm ready for tomorrow. Altho, I don't remember where I'm supposed to be at 8:00. Hope it is my building, cause that's where I'm goin!
So...we made a stop at Goodwill, too, OK. I'll confess. $20 for around 11 T's and 2 buttonups. Fun times. Also found a IPOD shuffle car adapter for Lyn's roomie. I love Goodwill. It is usually cheaper than therapy.

Back to School

Well, summer's over. What did I get done? Lots of knitting. A little reading. Carpet ripped off the stairs. The ceiling on the porch removed. Screens on the porch replaced. Meeting with my contractor nephew who totally revised my plans for the porches. New carpet? No. New ceiling in kitchen? No. New stairs? No. Oh well. There's always next summer!
I start back to work tomorrow. Conference in Franklin for 3 days. (BW, that's 5 miles further than the bridge) This is the conference I'm being sent to by a county other than my own because they appreciated the work I did for them on a consulting basis last year! Is that neat or what?
We had friends in from Palm Springs yesterday from the movie days. They still dabble in the "biz" and still live "the life," but mainly are retired. Sweet wonderful people. Two of a handful of people Scott keeps up with anymore. There were a few you'd be proud to meet your parents or your children. Most of them are "old Hollywood" types who still hold to moral codes and values. Rare these days. Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be actors. Or grips. Or PAs. Or best boys.
One last thing we'll try to do before the 24th and my first official day back at work. My Nashville cousin and I are going to take my Germany cousin on the Nash Trash tour. She's considering moving to TN when she retires and is sort of thinking of Nashville. We thought we'd give her something to think about. The Nash Trash tour occurs on a pink tour bus with 80's tacky hostesses who serve cheese whiz on Ritz crackers to the passengers. Passengers are encouraged to BYOB. One of the destinations is the parking lot of the Davidson County jail where many of country music's finest have been known to spend the night on occasion. http://www.nashtrash.com/nashwhat.html has a cute video with Al Roker taking the tour recently. We think we'll dress for the day (if I can find my denim mini and red boots...) and embarrass everyone we know. There's just so much to do in NashVegas. Think lunch will have to be the White Trash Cafe. Hey, Reagan! When do you get home? This is the cousin who does Sweet Potato Queen!

Love of a good woman

Went early to visit my dad today. When I got there at 8:30 or so, Mother's best friend Pauline was there weeding the flowers. She and Daddy have leaned on eachother in their grief and today I think he figured out why it is really OK for them to spend time together. He said they work together well because they were in love with the same woman. It is so true. Pauline came along at the perfect time in Mother's life, she was about to lose her last sister, and we all thought she was about to lose Daddy. So, for about four years, Pauline was the sister of the heart my mother needed so much. Pauline needed her, too. Her son lived hundreds of miles away and she needed a girlfriend. It is amazing how much they were alike. Today, she said she felt so comfortable with me because I am like my mother. That was great praise to me. Sure, I saw Mother's faults, at least some of them, but she was still the biggest influence on my life. I do aspire to be my mother in so many ways. It is strange that I feel so close to Pauline after only spending a few hours with her over the short time I've known her. She's like a favorite aunt.
On to other things. My son just got back from a trip east to a comics convention. He wants to be a comic book writer. Who am I to say that dream is just a dream? He is a good writer. He is a devoted comic fan. And, the thing that keeps me sane, he has promised to finish college with a degree in English and a secondary certification to teach so at least he will be able to eat, pay his student loans, and have insurance while he pursues the goal. OK. Suits me. There are worse things in life than teaching while you reach for another dream.
One of the counties I worked for this last year is sending me to an administrators conference next week. I doubt there will be any representatives from my own county but myself. What is odd is that I'm still just a teacher with no likely prospects of becoming an administrator. At one time, I was very much at peace with that. After 28 years, I can honestly say I'm a much more energetic, knowledgable, interesting teacher than I was even ten years ago. I can also say, believe it or not Ripley, Mississippi, that I still like middle school students. I think I'll start my EdS this fall and when I finish, the pay raise will amount to the same as an administrator in a small school, but I'll not have the responsibilities or the hours. Makes me wonder if I really want to leave the classroom. I'm smart enough to know I'm basically a lazy person and I already know enough to keep up with my subject area fairly easily. Why would I want to take on more? (One of these days I'll talk myself into that speech)
This sounds like I'm slightly blue, doesn't it? I think it is just the mosquito bites. Not to worry. I have knitting and chocolate, just not a good book!