Barkaline

You can thank my clever and kooky Mudda for that term.  She coined it when I mentioned that Char and I should start compiling dog waste, produced by the 3-6 dogs present in our home at any given time, and use it for alternative fueling.

In other news, in case you missed this one ---> A colleague's response to my mention that I have a student named God in one of my classes:

"...And I thought I was special because I had Beyonce and Shakyra in my class."

I hope you enjoy this commentary from a precious childhood - and - now - precious - adult - close friend:

“I had to run to Wal-Mart at lunch today and I must say it was the most entertaining trip I have had in quite some time. In fruit and veg we have the sweet little lady with a handicap whose cart died and she can't get herself out of the cart. She had others assisting her so I went on my way as they were trying to figure out how to "help" her. Then I was entranced by the married couple who decided the meat section was an ideal place to have an argument. As I make my way from dairy I run into the young mom who has her 5 year old strapped into one of those car seat apparatuses that are built into the buggy. I mean this kid couldn't budge. The kicker was her (I am guessing here) 6 month old was sitting in the buggy seat chewing on the buggy handle with nothing to hold him in. No seat belt what so ever, just slobbering away. Lastly I get to the check out where there are gobs of folks at the bank. There are black and pink balloons and a big sign that reads Happy Birthday, etc.. The check-out lady informs me the bank is 15 years old, and as she is finishing her sentence out walks one of the very pregnant employees in a tight fitting hot pink prom dress, with a big crown on her head. As I was leaving the parking lot my thoughts were this: only in Palestine, and, how much easier it would be to find salad dressing if the bottles were on the shelf in alphabetical order...”

Lastly for today, are a few images that struck a banjo chord with me this week, including what I feel is one of THE best photos of Mr. Green, ever.  He is super photogenic of course - hmph - but this one, where he is seen with Fuzzy Cakes, our sixth foster success, mesmerizes me.  You be the judge of which is Mr. Green and which is Fuzzy Cakes (A. Brim - I'm still thanking you for that laugh.).  One of the images below will tickle those of you who are sisters in second-hand shopping with me.  

Enjoy your Sunday, folks!

I don't always request friends to vote on a random school fundraiser website...

...but when I do, it involves my school, money, and Target.  Please click here if you're inclined. No log-in is required, and feel free to vote - as they do in Louisiana - often: http://givewith.target.com/school/15789

"I’ve found a career and a calling where I’ll never reach mastery. I’ll never exhaust the possibilities for improvement."

Dear Jessica,

Your article hammered home with eyes wide open clarity my precise sentiments on bettering my craft as a teacher, learning as much as humanly possible about my profession, and retaining my particular talents where I passionately feel they are most beneficial - in the classroom.  Unlike you, I selected my graduate studies avenue prior to entering education and completed those studies at the onset of my teaching career, so I'm not pursuing an administrator's credentials, and may elect never to do so.  Like you, though, I am a sponge for information on why policy decisions are made, what drives district directives, and, as you stated, "I want to empathize with my school leader."  I'd much rather pursue the why/when/what-ifs, than sit back and negatively harp on decisions made above my pay-grade. ***  I'm geeked up with each new professional article or book that crosses my path, or classroom opportunity for ME to learn.  I want to participate in the process that directly affects my role, and my students, but I don't want to leave behind the motivation that drives me each day to BRING IT for the reasons that waltz past me each period of the day, five days per week, the reasons we're all here:  the kids.

Thank you for your insight.  You nailed it, for me (and many others, I'm betting)!

Article - Confessions of a Soul-Searching Teacher: Why I'm Pursuing a Principal License (I'll Probably Never Use)


***I have no idea why my line spacing took a wonky dive right around this point.

Article of interest, no matter your politics, religion, or birth stone color

It's a long one, but I suspect once you begin reading you'll want to finish it, even if piecemeal.  It covers situations from near my Mudda's home in east Tejas, to West Philadelphia, and back to Arizona.

Link:  http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/08/12/130812fa_fact_stillman?currentPage=all

It's the end of an era

My beloved has moved on from the relic that the Smithsonian is feverishly seeking, to a sleek version of telecommunication.  So now we are fully a Galaxy, AT&T family.  I would say that he grew tired of the outdated nature of his primitive - yet trusty (if it ain't broke, don't fix it) - BlackBerry, but the real motivation (I suspect) stems from his newly acquired knowledge of a highly praised traffic notification application known as Waze.  I'm no more a fan of commuting glitches anymore than the next gal, but if you happen to recall the, ahem, two-speeding-tickets-in-fifty-minutes-in-the-same-California-county story, then, well, you see where I'm going with this.   Charley is serious about his traffic expediency.  So, we bid adieu to BlackBerry, hello Galaxy - applications, easier obtained sports scores, better photos, oh my!

Picture evidence:

Cape May

The Texas heat ramped up just in time for our departure to the annual Green pilgrimage in Cape May, NJ. The family has been enjoying this getaway for four, or five (?) decades. Cape May is navigable by way of exit zero from the Garden State Parkway.  I adore this destination!  Charm, history - the original American seashore resort town, sea breezes, and book ending the excursion on either end in Philadelphia is lattice topping on the cherry pie. I snapped photos with my big girl camera, and even though some have a ghost mark (which turned out to be a fingerprint smudge - forehead smack), here they are for your viewing pleasure:  https://piangenti.shutterfly.com/pictures/1192

Ruthinator, you should be pleased with the appropriate photo captions.  Smile.

The Craft

Three of my aforementioned (supposedly must-accomplish) items on my summer to-do list are completed and since they each turned out nicely, I'll share in what is hopefully a humble brag from a gal who underestimates her creative abilities -

1) Re-purposed burlap wreath turned all-season (I think, anyway) front door decor:

2) Singly saving wine bottles from the landfill, in lots of mini sips:

3) Shabby chic frame containing one of the best photos from our engagement portraits:

I didn't make this item, but it's darn cute: