I can smell it. I can feel it. My brain is beginning to wrap up the school year and decide how I want to leave my room. It's summer. It's coming. 15 1/2 more days in the countdown. Come on down, summer!
In some ways I cannot believe it is summer already. It seems like just a week ago I was planning my syllabus and looking up new lesson plans for the coming year. I had 2 classes of juniors in the fall along with a class of freshmen. In the spring I had two classes of sophomores and a class of freshmen. We work on a block schedule. The kids take 6 classes a school year; 3 in the fall and 3 in the spring. I personally love this schedule. With only 3 classes a day the periods run from 95 to 110 minutes each. There is a ton of time to really get involved each day. We can do reading and a grammar lesson and then still do the curriculum every day. We have time to get in groups and work or go to the computer lab and really spend some time to get a project accomplished. And because I only have 63 students for each fall and spring, I get to know them better. We become a cohesive group. They know what to expect from me and what I expect from them. I like it.
The first year I taught I was at another school in the district; I may have mentioned that before... Any who...that high school had the regular 6 period day of which a teacher taught 5 and had a prep period in the middle of the day. Each period was only 50 minutes long. I always felt like I was behind and also that there were things unfinished everyday. The days went quickly but the year seemed to stretch on forever.
So, where was I? Oh, yes, summer. Yay! It's coming. I have so many things I want to do this summer. Every year I have a long list of items I have put off "until summer." I think most teachers do this. I usually get about half of the things accomplished that are on my list every summer. This summer I would really like to take a long trip back east, but if we do that I won't get all the other things done from my list. What to do, what to do? So, you ask, what does Jody have planned for her summer? Here's the list:
Read at least two books(I have several dozen on my list to choose from)
Tear out a planter in my back yard.
Build a pergola and plant wisteria to vine over it someday.
Replant some of my succulents.
Plant an apple tree and a peach tree (already have...just waiting).
Write 3 blogs a week (yeah, right)
Finish 2 or more quilts I have as UFOs (for those of you who don't quilt that means Unfinished Objects).
Perfect a vegan cookie recipe.
Experiment with making my own gluten free crackers.
Download a list of songs I have collected over the past 6 months and sync my iPod.
Get my syllabuses ready for classes in August.
Take lots of naps.
Go to the movies in the afternoons and eat popcorn.
Get pictures to go with all the numbers on my phone.
Do the tutorial for Windows 8.
Do a PowerPoint on plagiarism.
Paint some patio chairs I bought at an estate sale last month.
Go to estate sales every Friday.
Visit my son and daughter-in-law in San Francisco.
Visit my best friend in Bakersfield (yes, I know it will be hot).
Take lots of naps. (oh, wait, I already said that.)
Work on getting a caterer for an quilt auction we're having in September.
Schedule a walk through of the venue for the auction.
Contract a security guard for the auction.
Make some small items for the boutique at the auction.
Replant a wine barrel out in the front of the yard.
Lay down some walking paths in the backyard.
Prune the rosebushes.
Clean out and vacuum out my car.
Watch all 6 seasons of Northern Exposure.
Catch up on the whole last season of Merlin.
Work on novel. Get at least two chapters done.
Take car trips every week with Doug so we can listen to our books.
Sleep in; (not to be confused with taking lots of naps).
I'm sure I have left things out. And the funny thing is that I will get stuff done that is not ON the list. But I guess that's o.k. They are things I will want or have to do any way someday. As long as they don't interfere with my naps.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
Odd & Random
In the past couple of years I have come upon odd and unusual sightings. Some of them I have been able to document with a camera. Some I just store in my brain. One of those "Uh?" moments.
For instance: I drive a particular route to school every day. In our neighborhood I drive by a green house that sits on a street corner on the bend of the road. As one comes to the ever-so-slight turn, there is a picture window, in that house, that looks right out onto the street. The curtains are never closed, and in front of this window is a couch, set at an angle. Beyond the couch is a dining room table with a crystal light fixture hanging over it. The inhabitants of the house are very often up early and you can see their white-haired heads as they sit on the couch and read their newspaper. Along the back of the couch lies a dog. He's (I think he looks like a boy) a Jack Russell Terrier, although I can't really tell if he is a pure-bred. He lies behind the couple's heads with his head on his paws, stretched out, and looking out the window. Mr. Terrier is there every day; without fail. Watching the world go by.
Now, I have had dogs and I have had cats most of my adult life. This behavior is not particularly unusual. But I have to wonder; how many people actually see the dog every day? Do they smile and wave at the dog? Have they stopped and knocked on the door, wondering what his name is? What all does the little dog see every day? People walking other dogs, cats prowling, cars busting through the stop sign on the corner? Certainly he sees the kids that walk to and from the elementary school down the block. Do they smile and wave? Does he wag his tail at them, or bark? Hmmm. I wonder.
Another thing I've noticed recently has been in restaurants. Have you been in a restaurant lately? You can't go past a table without noticing that people's phones are all laying on the table. They have almost become part of the table setting. To the right of the spoon, please. Or if someone happens to be left handed; to the left of the forks and below the butter dish. Thank you, very much. I don't often hear one ring, so they must all be muted or on vibrate. I think it is strange that we are so connected that we cannot even sit through an hour or two dinner with friends or family without being able to see if we are being called, or our e-mail gets a message, or our Words With Friends opponent has played. I understand getting an emergency call, but most of the stuff that comes over my phone is not an emergency. Why do we have to have our phones ON the table? Isn't it good enough to have them in a coat pocket or purse? Could we not excuse ourselves and check the phone outside if we are expecting some tid-bit of important information? Nope. Guess not. The phone must be on the table. It is almost as if they have become a status symbol, like drinking water out of a water bottle used to be.
Just two little observations for the day. Look around. What do you notice?
For instance: I drive a particular route to school every day. In our neighborhood I drive by a green house that sits on a street corner on the bend of the road. As one comes to the ever-so-slight turn, there is a picture window, in that house, that looks right out onto the street. The curtains are never closed, and in front of this window is a couch, set at an angle. Beyond the couch is a dining room table with a crystal light fixture hanging over it. The inhabitants of the house are very often up early and you can see their white-haired heads as they sit on the couch and read their newspaper. Along the back of the couch lies a dog. He's (I think he looks like a boy) a Jack Russell Terrier, although I can't really tell if he is a pure-bred. He lies behind the couple's heads with his head on his paws, stretched out, and looking out the window. Mr. Terrier is there every day; without fail. Watching the world go by.
Now, I have had dogs and I have had cats most of my adult life. This behavior is not particularly unusual. But I have to wonder; how many people actually see the dog every day? Do they smile and wave at the dog? Have they stopped and knocked on the door, wondering what his name is? What all does the little dog see every day? People walking other dogs, cats prowling, cars busting through the stop sign on the corner? Certainly he sees the kids that walk to and from the elementary school down the block. Do they smile and wave? Does he wag his tail at them, or bark? Hmmm. I wonder.
Another thing I've noticed recently has been in restaurants. Have you been in a restaurant lately? You can't go past a table without noticing that people's phones are all laying on the table. They have almost become part of the table setting. To the right of the spoon, please. Or if someone happens to be left handed; to the left of the forks and below the butter dish. Thank you, very much. I don't often hear one ring, so they must all be muted or on vibrate. I think it is strange that we are so connected that we cannot even sit through an hour or two dinner with friends or family without being able to see if we are being called, or our e-mail gets a message, or our Words With Friends opponent has played. I understand getting an emergency call, but most of the stuff that comes over my phone is not an emergency. Why do we have to have our phones ON the table? Isn't it good enough to have them in a coat pocket or purse? Could we not excuse ourselves and check the phone outside if we are expecting some tid-bit of important information? Nope. Guess not. The phone must be on the table. It is almost as if they have become a status symbol, like drinking water out of a water bottle used to be.
Just two little observations for the day. Look around. What do you notice?
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Hangers vs. Hooks
It is amazing to realize how much we change over the years...and just how much we don't change, really. We have always lived in a small home, up until 3 years ago it was only 1010 square feet. At that time we added 200 more square feet as a bedroom, onto the back of the house.
Here's the thing. For the first 30+ years in this house it has always been cramped, especially for 4 people, and lacking in storage. The two original bedrooms were built without closets as houses of our age were not built with closets. People used armoires and dressers to store their clothes. So, in each of the bedrooms closets have been added that jut out into what was the original garage. Closets: 6 feet wide and just deep enough to hang a hanger. This scarcity of storage has created a sense of ...what shall we call it? "Creative alternatives."
Hooks. Love the hooks. 2 on each side inside the closet, for robes and belts and two for the back of the bedroom door for coats, sweaters and anything else one can hang on the hooks and still open the door to walk into the room. Hooks on the wall behind the door. Hooks on the back of the bathroom door. Hooks for towels inside the bathroom that is so small you have to close the door to get to the sink. Four towels can be hung in the span of one towel bar. Hooks inside the tub for puffs and loofahs.Hooks in my sewing room to handle the tools and assorted little things I want to look at while I sew. Hooks for completed little quilts, hanging in front of the windows, on other pictures hanging on the wall, by, you guessed it...hooks.
I have come to realize that, after all these years of being forced to use hooks, I really like them! As a matter of fact, I prefer them over hangers hands down. I use ALL my ration of hooks and most of Doug's, as he is so ready to point out every time he takes a shower. There are two hooks on the back of the bathroom door. One is for me and one is for Doug. One has my robe and a nightgown hanging on it. The other has several of my tank tops and t-shirts hanging on it. Doug just doesn't fight it any more. He puts his robe, for after his shower, on the toilet or sometimes draped over the items I have on the hutch that is in the bathroom. Picture: Fluffy man's robe on a ledge measuring 12" deep by 24" long filled with a box of Kleenex, a candle and matches and a small wooded decorative box my father made me. Poor man. But really, it is his fault. when the hooks went up, he didn't claim his fast enough and now I have squatter's rights. I don't know who invented hooks...probably some cave man (or woman not to be sexist, after all they were probably the ones that had to deal with the cave that was too small) as I doubt they were too difficult to imagine. I love that person. Gotta love the hooks!
Here's the thing. For the first 30+ years in this house it has always been cramped, especially for 4 people, and lacking in storage. The two original bedrooms were built without closets as houses of our age were not built with closets. People used armoires and dressers to store their clothes. So, in each of the bedrooms closets have been added that jut out into what was the original garage. Closets: 6 feet wide and just deep enough to hang a hanger. This scarcity of storage has created a sense of ...what shall we call it? "Creative alternatives."
Hooks. Love the hooks. 2 on each side inside the closet, for robes and belts and two for the back of the bedroom door for coats, sweaters and anything else one can hang on the hooks and still open the door to walk into the room. Hooks on the wall behind the door. Hooks on the back of the bathroom door. Hooks for towels inside the bathroom that is so small you have to close the door to get to the sink. Four towels can be hung in the span of one towel bar. Hooks inside the tub for puffs and loofahs.Hooks in my sewing room to handle the tools and assorted little things I want to look at while I sew. Hooks for completed little quilts, hanging in front of the windows, on other pictures hanging on the wall, by, you guessed it...hooks.
I have come to realize that, after all these years of being forced to use hooks, I really like them! As a matter of fact, I prefer them over hangers hands down. I use ALL my ration of hooks and most of Doug's, as he is so ready to point out every time he takes a shower. There are two hooks on the back of the bathroom door. One is for me and one is for Doug. One has my robe and a nightgown hanging on it. The other has several of my tank tops and t-shirts hanging on it. Doug just doesn't fight it any more. He puts his robe, for after his shower, on the toilet or sometimes draped over the items I have on the hutch that is in the bathroom. Picture: Fluffy man's robe on a ledge measuring 12" deep by 24" long filled with a box of Kleenex, a candle and matches and a small wooded decorative box my father made me. Poor man. But really, it is his fault. when the hooks went up, he didn't claim his fast enough and now I have squatter's rights. I don't know who invented hooks...probably some cave man (or woman not to be sexist, after all they were probably the ones that had to deal with the cave that was too small) as I doubt they were too difficult to imagine. I love that person. Gotta love the hooks!
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