"I Spent a Week There One Day"

The John Denver lyric about Toledo comes to mind this week. I'm only working 2 1/2 days this week, but yesterday and Wednesday felt like a week each--both days leaving the house at 6:30 am and not returning home until 10:00 pm. Yesterday was particularly draining. I had an incident with some administrative deceitfulness at one school that I should confront and am trying to decide whether I should according to my four criteria--is it true? is it kind? is it loving? is it necessary? Then off to my other school where it was "hit the ground running" with my students and then a potentially difficult after-school meeting for and about a student (that actually went very well). Then it was back to my first school where a parent meeting was held to announce the lay-offs for next year, including mine. There the president of the school board announced that they would not be renewing the contract with Lutheran Special Education Ministries (that would be me) because my caseload went from 12 students last year to only 5 this year. Where they got those numbers, I have no idea, but again--not true! It's more like 14 last year--and 11 this year. So I sat in the meeting and wondered if non-confrontational me should say anything to clarify those numbers in the meeting. I did (as if it makes a difference). Needless to say it was a very draining day! Unfortunately I still have the first incident of yesterday to decide upon and one more potential confrontation to face. Pray for me.

I'm Still Here

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! I'm still here. I've really been bad about taking pictures, and about thinking about anything worthwhile to blog about. Let's see....what have I been doing? School stuff, college class stuff, choir stuff, some time with grandchildren stuff, and that's pretty much it.
Friday night my mom, Heidi, Emily, and all of my granchildren except Lucy went to see the Saline High School production of "Beauty and the Beast". Sandra, from our church, was Belle--what a beautiful voice! The kids, for the most part seemed to enjoy it--particularly Avery and Sophie. Ella fell asleep. Saturday, I spent the day working ahead in my on-line class and watching the snow come down. Sunday, Mary invited us over to celebrate Opa's 84th birthday. Great food and a good time--Thanks, Mary! Yesterday and today I stayed home from school. One school is on winter break, and the other offered to let me stay home a couple of days when they announced my lay-off for next year. I didn't take them up on it at the time, but decided to now. I've been working on some tax stuff and generally wasting time.
Well, that's about it for my exciting life here on this earth right now. Have a great day everyone!

The Eagle Has Landed

Quinn called twice yesterday before he finally got a hold of us. He begged to come over so that he could fly his new eagle kite--even though there was no wind and he's rushing the kite season a bit. As you can see he got it up for a minute, but....

The eagle has landed!



The others made attempts also...

Snowy Woods

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening (Sunday Afternoon)
by Robert Frost (edited by me)

Whose woods these are I think I know.



His house is in the village though; (across the river)
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow. (filled up)



My little horse must think it queer (four-wheeler)
To stop without a farmhouse near (my sunroom)



Between the woods and frozen lake (river)
The darkest evening of the year. (warmest afternoon)
He gives his harness bells a shake (I; the throttle a turn)
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake. (chain saw)



The woods are lovely, dark, and deep. (bright)
But I have promises to keep, (homework to do)
And miles to go before I sleep, (lots of work)
And miles to go before I sleep. (lots of work)

This is Tom’s new exercise regimen. The neighbor had somebody come in and cut lots of walnut trees in his woods. They took the big logs and left the scraps. The neighbor told Tom to take whatever he wanted –that he wouldn’t be doing anything with it. Look what Tom has done!