Cleaning out the garage

I was up at 6 watering.

It took 3 of us almost 20 hrs to clean out the garage. It yielded treasures and 6 bags of trash and recycling. We started at 7. Fortunately, it was cool till about 10. Miriam came at 10 for 6 hours and by half past 6 we were done. One of the perils of living in the same house for nearly 27 years is accumulation. I saw things put in in 1983. I found papers I was looking for just in time for summer school and got rid of things I just didn't need but once found so important. I need to file some inside in my office filing cabinets for better access. I found my watches I had looked for 3 yrs. my carpool sticker and transponder that I was seeking for 9 mo., money, unmailed wedding cards, 2 returned cards one to Bob that were returned undeliverable, a radio, my adding machine to name a few. I save so much stuff. The garage was cleaned out right before I got Gloria and we tossed tons then. Now, I can actually put my lawnmower in it again!

I helped my friend Kim clean out her mom's garage after she died with a shed and house after they had lived there for 50 years. I guess Mom and Mary Helen did that with grandpa's house too. She said she was going to throw out incriminating things.
My friend Marilyn in Trinidad, has already tossed stuff because she was convinced she was dying and didn't want others to see stuff. I have journals I want tossed unread. Even Oprah had made her friend vow to toss her journals.

I marinated green and yellow peppers and zucchini, BBQ ed corn and marinated pork chops. YUM! It was so good. It was 2 or so though and too warm to be grilling. I got this new BBQ fork though that helped. I also used a light the bag charcoal. While I went to the farmers market for more Japanese eggplant and long beans it was ready.

I also got a case of raspberries to make jam and a peach, nectarines and apricots.

I was so tired I laid down and conked out for an hour from 7 to 8. I ws actually on the computer with my laptop on my tummy and was out. Now I'm up again and after my bath ready to make jam.

My Spanish is improving.

Summer school starts tomorrow. I start at 1:30. since I'm a creature of the night and have a hard time with mornings, I appreciate that. It will be different having kids that "pay" to come and Vietnamese on top of that.
I certainly am more prepared for these classes than ever before. I guess I may have missed teaching. (Did I say that!?)

My vacuum cleaner belt broke and the store I went to for years closed. Then I went to the grocery they only have the one I have. Now I need to find another vacuum cleaner store or maybe Sears. Who has carpet in their garage anyway? Just me.


The mornings have been gloriously cool. The breeze picks up and the fog rolls in. It had burned off my 7 but still....SUMMER IN ca IS NO HUMIdiTY WHICH i STILL AM THANKFUL FOR EvERY DAY. I THOUGHT I would roast in SC in April!

George Herman W

Born in NYC 7/7/21 to Bessie and Jacob. They owned a soda shop in the Bronx till it dies with the crash along with grandpa from a heart attack and grandma from breast cancer shortly thereafter. Older brother Leonard, and George, Florence and Harold were sent to the Hebrew Orphan Asylum. Harold was in foster care. Aunt Francis came to visit and take them out occasionally. Dad was a strong, athletic boy and a great dancer. We have a picture of him as a teenager lined up as shower monitor in the hall of the HOA. (see www. HOA.com)

Out they came one by 1 at 18, and dad followed Leonard to DC where he had married and set up a boardinghouse. Dad went to work for the government and later for Equitable insurance which took him to FL, and MI. He met mom at a dance in DC where she was a secretary. He married Jean Catherine Cavanaugh of Des Moines in DC. They lived in DC and had a rooming house for awhile. Mom cooked meals for boarders. They moved in with John Edward for awhile at 1614 22nd st. in IA. Bob was born in Chicago, IL. in 43 Mickey in Des Moines, IA in 47 and Jane in D.C. in 53.


They raised their children in DC and VA. He became a grandfather of Bob's Emily and Mickey's Gwen and Michael.

He read the same book over and over again to Gwen and walked her to the park to play.
He loved the sleep overs and babysitting.

Sadly, we lost him to a stroke in August of 1985 in Durham N.C. Bob, Mickey and I gathered to take him back to VA. His last sad drive in the beautiful green summer.


We miss you.

Feliz Cumpleanos a ti mi papi.

Today the housekeeper comes yeah!

What a difference 10 hrs of house work makes. Sadly, she just did the kitchen,family and dining room,LR,MBR so far.

The heat has eased off and this delightful breeze comes in about 7 to cool things off to about 65 until it burns off at 11 or so.

Happy Birthday Dad!

You are 86 years young tomorrow where ever you are. I'm think about you. I miss you a lot. There is no substitute for your mom and dad. They were too young gone and I had them for too short a time and didn't appreciate them enough. We were lucky they were very loving. Your granddaughter may even give birth on your birthday! Summertime and the living is easy.

Went to the farmers market today. The one downtown is bigger and better in addition to selling fresh fish, Indian food, crepes and to order Indian food including Nan right out of the tandoori oven I got corn, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, nectarines, my personal favorite, apricots,tried my first fig,tomato's,organic romaine, zucchini, yellow squash, a yellow and green bell pepper and radishes. Yum! I could live the summer long on fruits and veggies. I also got potato and spinach nan and some sun dried tomato stuff to put on the samosas. I'm gonna put up some raspberry jam next week. This is the height of their season and they still are 2.00 a pt. :-(

I went to Gilroy early this morning to the outlets. I had to stock up on undies for the new school year. If you go v. buying online they take 20 percent off and there is no shipping then I found an impulse buy of pants a t and shorts that made up for not finding anything at Coldwater Creek.

I need a trip to Big Sur. Maybe I'll take Yessica or Richard.

I filled out the loan papers for my kitchen remodel today. Hum, I guess that means I have to take everything out of the cabinets since I'm getting new cabinets and counter tops. I can have a pantry built too. I have the building permit process and the remodel always takes longer than you think it will.

I don't know if I have the energy to be the general contractor on this one. My bathroom was hard enough.

I went to school today to do some copying for Monday. It took over 3 hrs. I always underestimate the time it will take. It's funny to me that they five you 5 hrs to prep. I take at least double that. Looks like I have 10 6th graders, 20 in 7/8 and 20 in 9/10/11. 6weeks, 3 hrs. a day, 4 days a week. Then, the joy of being an English teacher is I get to grade all that writing and there will be lots of essays.

I just got back from a walk to the park. Considering my feet ache from doing copying and shopping in flip flops it was a herculean effort but one I need to begin again especially after seeing myself in the wedding pictures. We three are on our way to a massive coronary. Let's amend and not do that.

Service

After another night of no sleep I took the car in at 7 for its 30k service

then at 9 I got a call to ok a hepa filter and a fuel injection tuneup and a this and a that to the tune of almost 600.

Does the car really need all that or are they jerking me around?

Then, in 97 degree temps I got a tutorial on the navigation system....sorta.
ok I concede I need to spend the 139. for the fuel injection tweaking and I will once Bob's birthday comes around on the 27th and I get my 1st summer school pay check.

I'm gonna take out a home equity loan and finish redoing the oven, counters sink, faucet and lighting in my kitchen oh yeah the new cabinets too,

I thought it would only be 10k but I'm adjusting my estimate upward to 25. 10 was approved today.

I want to be back in Trinidad where its cool and foggy till noon and then 70.

Marilyn says the weather is perfect. I'm jealous.

I ordered the prints I wanted from snapfish of m and m wedding pictures.

One of Richard's math tutor was on a motorcycle and a drunk 61 y o MD ran over him in his SUV killing him at 22. Since they are Muslim, the men took the body, washed it and wrapped it in a cotton cloth and had a direct burial.
So young. Such a waste. So stupid.

I hadn't realized the Muslim religion again like many others Jews included of course believe in simple preparation and immediate interment.

I think we're gonna have a community garage sale to raise money for his family.

Kudos to cousin Bruce on his new job. I know a lot more house can be bought in Charlottte than NY. What a difference it will bring. Fortunately you have cousins close.

Happy 4th of July

My pictures were bad I need access the wedding proofs on snapfish to order.
Then I want to learn how to upload pictures to my blog.

Off to see Michael Moore's documentary on health care and to see fireworks at 9:30 with ribs and corn and coleslaw with apricots, cantaloupe, cherries, strawberries and my personal favorite raspberries. NO WATERMELON thank you.

Happy 4th of July everyone. They are illegal here because it's so dry. We have planned public shows though.

Breakfast Club

Well after being up all night I went out to celebrate Peggy's birthday, She is one of 4 members of our breakfast club. We went to Hobees. I left an hour and a half early even though I was going over surface streets because when I took the freeway at a similar time last week it took be an hour then I got lost for nearly another hour.

Amazing I still got a job offer!

After returning fron Humbolt I am so aware of the processed food choices here v Santa Cruz. You really have to go way out of your way to find places in San Jose that serve vegetarian or natural food.

I love the coop up there I bring all my empty bottles to fill up on everything bulk from spices to laundry detergent, oil,flour,oatmeal to nuts.
So why don't they recycle in Trinidad and we do?


On the way home I stopped by the car dealer to see if they could do my 30k service to learn it takes 4 hrs.
I thought I would have them drop me at the library but 4 hrs was too long for me sleepless. I guess I could have had them take me home too but eventhough it wasn't I got it in my head that it was too far. I'll go back thurs-sun.

Summer school starts on the 9th.

Still haven't heard from Bev. regarding my letter. After my lessons from Lynn, I actually noticed today that yes we too have digital photography here at rite aide like cvs. Now all I need is a digital camera.

Everyone is heading to Columbia to be standby birth people and to watch Clare.

We may have an Independence day baby.

Maybe 2 will make it to dad's bd. Cool!

New Job

Back from Trinidad

I miss the cool sea air

I don't know how I's do living in a small town.

Traffic here is unreal.

I got a job offer for the next school year to be a librarian.

I like that better than teaching.

Summer school starts on 7/9-8/16.

I'm glad I took a break.

I may go down to Big Sur, take my car in and see about getting a new oven to complete my kitchen. Then the countertops and lighting need doing.

How exciting to have Gwen be about ready to give birth

Trinidad Fish and Jazz Festival

Grilled halibut, fish tacos, petrale sole sandwiches, clam chowder and everything in between was offered along with live jazz on the village green.

The grocery was offering grilled BBQ chicken and tritip and corn.
Yum!
Fun in the sun and cool ocean breezes, Fantastic!

In the afternoon if Marilyn can make it we try and walk over to the cafe so she can lie on the couch, read the paper and get out.

Today we took her 1st trip in 2 yrs to the azalea grove with a view of the ocean wildflowers as far as the eye could see, elk and a big growth redwood forest complete with a tinkling brook. Awesome.

Arcata Oyster Festival

Sat. was the bivalve festival and farmers market. There were every kind of grilled oyster you can imagine: tequila and lime, vodka and cranberry, watsabi and soy, BBQ, blackberry,jalapeno on and on. Marilyn eats them. I stand in tine. There is philly cheese steak, fish tacos and grilled chicken and limpia.

Then, after rocking out with the family friendly crowd a flash back to the 60's and all the kids from Humboldt State I dashed to the coop for organic everything; loaded Marilyn on her mattress in the back of her station wagon for the trip home.

Trinidad

6 hours later at 9 p.m. I watch the sunset over the Pacific as I drive by the ocean on Clam Beach and pull in exhausted, to Trinidad. This tiny coastal fishing village perches above a lovely cove and lighthouse with two rock formations, little and big head and a beach. It is exquisite. The morning is cool and the days have a breeze and temps. are perfect around 70.

San Francisco

I keep forgetting what a great city this is. Going through and across the Golden Gate Bridge I was blown away by the views. It is so beautiful. Marin is cool as is the city and green not golden. It was such a pleasure to drop into the 60's from 91 when I left San Jose to drive N at 1:30.

The last day of school was a joy only 3 8th graders called me a bitch and threw things at me.....I took their diplomas to the office.

When did we have cops on campus and 8th grade diplomas? I don't even remember a trip to King's Dominion.

Things they are a changing.

Too darn hot Heading N to Trinidad

Another day of scorching temps. I'll risk it and drive up to see friends on the ocean in Trinidad.

Even when it's warm here the ocean and the fog help a lot. I watered, planted a few black eye Susan's and some more sunflowers then went into school.

I can't believe how much prep 6 weeks of 6 classes is. I was always amazed before when a teacher came with all his handouts done for Algebra, Now I'm not done but after 2 days, I've got a close handle on the material. My books are ordered,

The dictionary order went in today.
I was going to rent a truck and drive a refrigerator up to her but for a 6 hr. drive on windy roads thru the redwoods I think I'll pass.

I'll be back on Thurs. in time for a teachers luncheon.

Summer is here

IT WAS 95 TWO DAYS SO FAR THIS WEEK. AS GWEN TOLD ME WHEN SHE WAS VISITING THE HILLS ARE BROWN NOT GOLDEN. I MISS THE GREEN. With a lot of water my garden is growing.

One the other hand the farmers market is open cherries, apricots and strawberries are in season. Jicima and Japanese and globe eggplant is out and Green Beans are ripe.

The kindergartners are practicing their graduation songs. Funny and cute. Their choreography is the best.

Today I was in 8th grade history and they were tired of movies while all their classmates went off to Great America so we did trust walks where I blink folded one and assigned a partner and had them walk around and see what it would be like with a disability then answer questions and write a paragraph.

Surprisingly for the last week of school I've gotten 3 calls.

I'm glad I don't have to do the end of the year checkout!

Then I had them list important events 2000-2007 and make a collage.

My feet are aching after standing making copies to prepare for my summer school classes.

Summer School

I am teaching 6,7,8,9,10th and 11th grade English this summer.
I have ordered my books and am now doing the lesson plans so that the 80 kids will have their syllabus and stuff mapped out against standards.

Taught 6th grade on Fri. 1st today and Kinder tomarrow. Last week I had a pre k sdc class and a 3 y.o. who ran away screamed and said no all afternoon. Magnify that by 5. (for me, without my aide) We went in from recess early had they lie down on the rug, seperate and put on soft music for time out. They are in diapers and all have special needs. There are some non verbal and some almost normal. yikes!
Today I had a first grader who said no then preceeded to empty his desk, ponds his feet against the desk and cry while sucking his thumb. We tried to ignore him until I took away his recess gave him time out and ignored his tantrum. School is out on Friday.

I'd like to carve out a week to go to Trinidad and see a friend before the marathon starts. First 30k maintenance.
I was sad to read Honda will discontinue hybrid production. I think I would have liked it better.

Come on people global warming remember!?

In the meantime, I had a huge cavity filled for $200. and hope it will not become a root canal. Ouch. It was hurting and sitting on a nerve. Get out the dental floss!

I'm reading a great mystery by John Sandford called Invisible Prey.

Memorial Day

I remember going to my brother Michael at age 26 or so and assuming I had learned all I needed to know. wrong.................

and he told me so
my epiphany wasn't all.

Since then, there have been many lessons by life and trial and error.
1. Of course we know, you can choose your friends but not your family
2. life holds dissapointments
3. happiness is illusive and fleeting
4. friends provide love and support
5. women tend to support each another despite relationships and everything else
6. I am blessed to have 4 or 5 very good friends I can always count on
7. I lost my parents too young
9. I wish I had known them better
10. We can only control ourselves and our expectations of others. How we react to their actions is our choice.

Jersey Boys

I want to see the play Jersey Boys in S.F.

My pictures are bad its a good thing there was a photographer. Mine stunk

I think I have I.B.S.

I'm still walking.

Geometry

Boy am I in over my head. I could write the problem down and copy it off the page but design a 3 dimmensional structure that incorporates at least 3 plane figures, 2 soilds and is no bigger than 5" tall and 5" wide. Then write a paragraph to explain the design. Yeah right.

I'm back in 5th grade....the same class.

This morning I walked 4 laps while the kids ran getting ready for their mile run. At least I could go the times tables to their warm up exercises.

The good thing is that I'm back eating oatmeal with raisins for breakfast. That beats English muffins or granola bars. I love raspberries and I need to get some more bannannas. They are so convenient to grab and go. I've started on canned peacheds in Splenda. A can is 90 calories, easy to grab and go and comes with a pull top opener.
This weekend we made a veggie frittata with green pepper, onion, zuchini, potatoes and mushrooms with some parmesean cheese on top. Sounded better than it was. I'm back to the bed and breakfast book. So much for low fat alternatives. I'll keep trying. I finally got it in my head that 8 0z of o.j. is too much and have cut that back.

Tomorrow I go to 1st grade not today.

Earthquake

We had an earthquake today around 4. We were reading the paper and napping. I know it's above 4 when the closet glass doors rattle or the lampshade. They barely moved.

Yesterday my housekeeper and I spent 8 hrs cleaning the bathrooms and digging out my bedroom. The piles of paper filled a whole recycle bin.
I'm off to 1st grade tom arrow. I need to collect papers to send to Abby and Ethan from k and 1st. There are some fun worksheets.

Hopefully our whales in the Sacramento River will find their way back out to the ocean under the Golden Gate Bridge. The mama needs to feed and their are few fish for her in the delta.

I got another 5 books on the Holocaust and Kristallnicht to finish Richard's paper. He lost the 1st one. Now it's overdue.
We went to see the play The Cruicible by Arthur Miller.

I'm really angry about this postage hike.

Basketball

I'm learning to coach basketball. I really remembered very little from h.s. and rarely watch on t.v. The one h.s game I went to in IN with Michey's friend was in 72.
The kids are teaching me and I remember a few things about centers, guards and fouls, traveling. Now I know there are 5 on each side and I remembered about tip offs.

I walked with the kids, we did warm up exercises and I coached basketball.

Horror! I discovered the choc. milk I was getting at school is 180 cal per 8 oz container. I'd been blidely drinking 2 without realizing 360 calories just slithered down my throat. On a 1000 calorie a day diet that is lunch.

I'm going to take my car in for service tomarrow for it's 30K service. Then on Sun., my housekeeper comes back. Since she left early last Sat. this time I hope she'll get to the bathroom and my room. I did the bathtub. It is a grand involved process with 2 tubs of water bleach and a rince tub with the whirlpool running for 20 min. on each.
I planted some roma tomatoes and white marigolds this morning.

My horoscoppe says "a relationship problem may need to be rehashed or mended"...no kidding. Well the new one overshadowed the old one in my mind and journal.

Gas is $3.33 a gallon here. In Carmel near Monterey, an hour south it's $5.00! I was meaning about gas on my trip. Now I hear that South Carolina has the cheapest gas around. Sometimes I found it at $265. Those back roads v. interstates were funky through. I was sometimes not aware with the signs even with directions that I was on the right road and then it was one lane. At night with no lights it felt really strange. The only place to stop and ask we at convenience stores which were few and far between. Even loaded with maps and tour books along with mapquest directions it was not always clear. I'm glad to be home as all the hoards get ready to hit the roads and beaches. I don't like crowds.

I investigated librarian jobs in Myrtle Beach. They don't consider it to be a professional position although the graduate program in Columbia is in place. I think the pay difference between CA and SC may be $15. an hour or more. That surprised me, Maybe the cost of living is lower.

The house I found that I liked in Beaufort would be the same at $659o,ooo. but it did have a guest apartment above the garage and a club house with a pool, liquor cabinet that you could lock and bar. I guess these are dry parts or Jim Crow laws?

The weather has been spectacular. Next week though I hear we go from perfect in the 70's to the 90's. Too hot for me.

Meanie

I made a kindergirl tear up today. I asked her to copy the word root from the board to her paper as we pointed to it.
She had not been to school for many days due to lice and other things so so had little practice developing those motor skills to print her letters or write on a line. Finally, I printed the words on her paper and she could copy it. Success.

I have a lot to learn about skills for 5 and 6 yr. olds. Some in the richer school districts have kids more advanced. Today I tried to do math and the concept one plus one was OK until you put it on paper.

After school I faxed in all my papers, resume, credential, transcripts, cbest, letters of reference and cover letter to teach summer school in the place I taught last year. Tomorrow after the same 6th grade I had on Mon., I am interviewing for an adult ed. teaching job. I used to do that in HI.

I went walking again today.

Richard came over again today. He lost his research paper. I have it on the computer. His last assignment is due typed tomorrow, He is supposed to do all his work with no accommodation and only having his aide read it to him. I understand grades have to be in but what are they going to do for the rest of the year?

Bummer

I went walking again today.

At least I reconfirmed I can do most of 4th grade math. Those acute angles et al still throw me, Fortunately some girls in class and the teachers answer book helped.

Tomorrow I go back to kinderworld.

I tried to do something nice and got myself caught up in the midst of a family feud. Hopefully I can fix things and get everything back to the way it was.

I think Jason would be ideal for this internship at San Jose Mercury News for 6 mo.
It would get him paid and to CA.

Today is Mikie's 29th birthday. Along with her graduation and wedding do you think she had enough to keep her busy this month when you add in a honeymoon and batmitzpha in NY?

I tutored Richard again tonight out of the goodness of my heart and I am about to stroke out. You can't yell because he wouldn't understand my frustration. Getting angry is useless. He is trying but needs more help. He is here to help teach me patience. Tonight we did a time time and poster of the 60's. I drug out my old Beatles album for him to copy. Boy, is he an excellent copier. He tries so hard.

I am a Pizza

Can't seem to get that song out of my head. Today I am back in the land of kinder.
I like the hours 8:30-3. I'm getting good at all these songs. Since the kids are going to a farm we did a lot of work on animals. Snack time is all important.
I finished my salad. I didcovered the salad dressing spritzers, one cal. a spray. Cool, even at 10mspras it's good. I like the balsamic vinegar one and the rasberry, poppyseed.
I prepped 42 purple folders, cut as many green papers and colored a nursery rhyme cover and laminated it for Clare. Now all I have to do is get the inners between now and Sept. or maybe July when the new baby arrives.
I am not an artist and was hard pressed to draw a horse or a chicken to introduce the letter h. I was told I didn't write on the right line. My handwriting is not great either. My Valentine was better as was my apple tree and egg.

Tomorrow moves me to 4th grade.

I interviewed for a summer school h.s. English teaching job today too. I like when my commute is a mile.

I went walking tonight with my neighbor for an hour ...yeah! That meant I put Richards tutoring off till tomorrow.

Island of the Blue Dolphin

Today finds me in 5th grade. I actually got some exercise leading warmups and free shots.

All weekend I was singing kindegarden sings..."I am a pizza...with extra cheese." scary.

Today I looked in the paper for marketing jobs for Jason, Walter's stepson. I also looked online at the LA times. He wants to go there.

In my area, there are a couple things. a 6 mo. temp. job in marketing with my at the newspaper, S.J. Mercury News. That would be good to get him some experience and give him the caance to be working in CA and look further. He could start with me and find a room or an apartment to rent from there. He's need his car, so he'd need to drive out. There are also some things in commercial sales another way in. One for Comcast and another for AT+T. check careers at attcareers.com

I took the extension cord back and found they did not have one with out a notch so I came home and cut it off with my butcher knife and then discovered that the old cord was to flayed and ended up borrowing one from my neighbor until I go back tomarrow and get another cord.

Having mowed the lawn, as tiny as it is, I remember why I have a gardner. I don't like to wow..you get all grassy.

Happy Mother's Day

to all you mother's out there. Congratulations on all your good, hard work.

As a non mom I got up put the ham and cheese strata in the oven to bake and went out into the garden.

Yesterday, I went to Orchard Supply for their non tax day and rather than give the state their 8.75% tax bought an eclectic mower and bag. It's a mulcher..is that the same as a mower? I have a tiny yard but the gas one was such a pain I've had a gardener come regularly.
I got the mover home dragged it's heavy box out of the car and tried to assemble the upper and lower handles. I think I only have one toggle bold and screw though. I can do it but I'd like a house husband or a rental, maybe a honey do.

Also, it's heavy I may have to turn the box over to get it out.

Then I realized I didn't know where in the garage my yellow and orange extension cords were so I pushed everything in the garage and came inside. It was 6 after all and I'll continue the search today.

We went out for Vietnamese BBQ of shrimp and marinated pork on rice with salad of dikon and carrot a tiny green onions.

In the garden in back I planted 2 kinds of cherry tomatoes, sweet william, impatients, violas, pansies, gerber daisies, sunflowers, hollyhocks, knee high sunflowers, gerabaldi, and in the front bed one other type of cherry tomato. I've got 4 more kinds of sunflowers to put out.

Then, the strata was ready and I cut a piece, placed it on my grandmother's china and poured a glass of freshly squeezed o.j. and mint tea with lemon from my tree and crawled back into bed with the paper and a book for breakfast in bed.
The strata made of 4 oz breadcrumbs, 5 eggs, 2.5 c milk. 3/4 c. cheese and minced ham was good...not great in addition to salt and pepper and onion powder I'll try dill. The nice thing is that you put it together the night before. Layer the crumbs, some cgeese , milk and eggs and rest of cheese and refrigerate, Then the next morning we added the ham and baked.

Next, I'll tackle the garage for the extension cord and maybe find the skateboard I know is in there for Richard.

Well we got it out of the box and the handles on. The I went to buy another 50 ft. extension corn. Found one. The issue is that the place to plug it in on the handle and the extension cord don't fit.
I'll take the 100 ft. cord I got just in case back and look at it one more time. Today it took 3 sales people to figure out the handle.

Why is it that any project needs so many trips to the hardware store?

I also got some kitty grass, cucumber, radish, plum tomato, green beans, zuchini, yellow squash,snow peas, assulum, catnip, marigold, and more sunflowers and sweet peas to plant.

I changed the sheets again after Lacey threw up...is that like a kid?

Planting

I planted my Williamsburg historical seeds today and got out anf watered my lavendar and peutinas that came back or wintered over alone with my roses and spidar plants and geraniums. The seeds were of snapdragons,larkspur, mint,tomatoe,and I will put in some small other plants.
Snapdragons here are already over a foot or 2 tall.

My housekeeper is here and she had spent 4 hrs so far just in the kitchen!

I was out picking up freefall lemons, doing my 3rd load of laundry...Lacey threw up on my just changed sheets when I went from flannel to cotton earlier this week.

I made this great scrambled egg and cheese recipe with mushrooms and green inions, milk and breadcrumbs from the bed and breakfast guide to the low country. Tomarrow a ham and cheese strata. Lots of eggs tonight I'm making a veggie fritata with 2 eggs, 4 whites, zuchini, green pepper, onion, mushrooms...we'll see I haven't been too successful in the past with my fritatas. It's the almost setting them stove stop them in the oven at 375 for 5 minutes.

The Rain Forrest

I did a play today with my 1st grade class on the Rain Forrest. This is the third day they performed. They did well all the little toucans, anteaters, sloth, macaw, monkeys, snakes, butterflies, bees, mice, frogs, porqupines, and rain forrest singers. They were so cute. A visiting school came to view.

We made flower pots that we painted and covered a pen with florest tape added some moss to the pot and stuck the pen inside. I like this better than the magnet picture frame. I would have liked the hot holder and will give this pot to RIchard for Gloria. One year we planted the pots with marigolds and pansies, another just the seeds like we planted in the egg shells for Easter.

The play last night by Francisco Lorca, Blood Wedding was good. Richard needed to go for drama. It was in Spanish with English translation. I needed Victor to explain the finner points. The story was about a bride who married then ran away with her married ex-boyfriend. Spanish scandal or one anywhere. Nothing was consumated and she returned to her other in law to overcome shame and hatred and offer comfort. The groom and boyfriend end up dead. I need to read the play.

When I first started at Biblioteca LatinAmerica 8 years ago I was weeding the collection and didn't know any of the Spanish or Latin authors.
I still don't know many. I would have discarded 1/2 of the non fiction collection because it hadn't circed. To overgeneralize, the Hispanic population are not big readers. They rent a lot of videos as does everyone else.

This weekend the cleaning lady come and we tackle cleaning the refrigerator, bathroom and my bedroon, office and garage.

I need to weed and get all the freen fall fruit picked up. The put the tops of strawberries out yesterday and somethong ate them. I think it was a possum. I saw a lot of those as road kill in the south.

What a difference a day makes

The fog rolled in and cooled us off. The windows and doors were closed, almost.

I tried the grilled chicken, honey mustard snack wrap and Mickey d's. Not bad caloricly for a quick grab and go.

I seem to be saying this for 30 years but after seeing the wedding pictures I'm determined to get out walking. Seeing the pictures of my brothers and me spoke volumes.

The apricots and cherries are in the market.l The love the fruit season. Add nectarines and cantaloupe and I'm happy. Time to get the grill out.

Today I'm back in kinder talking about the Very hungry caterpiller and butterflies again. This class had a parent who bought all the supplies for both am and pm kinger and came in to decorate them with clay rosettes in the corner of picture frames.
The last class made a picture of their mom with a face and hair and their body. in a card.

I'm heading to the Mexican Heritage Plaza with Victor and Richard tonight to see the play Bodas de Sange or Blood Wedding.

I should have checked shows on Brodway in NYC too. Alas, Shoulda, coulda...didn"t.

Wedding Proofs

I really like the Don Mears wedding proofs. I haven't been through all of them yet but so far my favorites are Mikie and her Mom before the wedding , two of Clare,Mike and Mikie at the door of the chapel and the tree shot at the entrance.
The ones at the reception of the first dance/kiss,Gwen and her toast, I never saw her so animated, or crying in the church when Clare screamed out Mommy when she was whisked out the side door; M&M were nasty cake feeders. I don't know what the foot photo was for except to show off pedicures. The tulips around their year book and the cake were nice. Michael looks dazed as the center of attention at the best party ever.It's nice they were sprinkled with rose petals.
I remember Leonard throwing almonds at Bev. Ouch!
There is a nice mix of black and white and color prints. Can't wait until they go on snapfish. My first roll were not great. Those boys "got down" as they great music at the Williamsburg Winery went on. I'm glad they had such a good time. Abby danced my feet off and the next day I could barely get out of bed or straighten my back and almost had to crab walk to the bathroom. It took an hour to straighted up.
That's the same reaction i had when I was setting up my classroom and moving books in August. Then, I got workers comp.

I taught kinder today and we made mother's day pot holders with the child's hand in paint and on the back they wrote "I love you mommy." They also did cards with Happy Mother's Day. I wanted to make one for Gwen with Clare's tiny hand print. Maybe now that she drops into the day care center they will have those shortly.

Richard came over to be tutored. I don't know how we're gonna get him through the final. Now we're making a poster of the 60's. That he can do. I had a kindergirl that was autistic today too. I do agree mainstreaming is a good thing but it does provide teacher challenges, but class empathy and understanding.

Home again

Back to the library and the weather was 90.

I turned the lawn sprinkelers while I went to the grocery store and ran a load of laundry. Boy is it hot. All my plants are fried.

I can hardly believe I had a scarf, jacket and gloves on for a night walk in Newport last week.

I needed a shawl for the bat mitzvah too. Long Island Sound is lovely, but even with a plastic windbreak on the patio the breeze was chilly.I liked that neighborhood. The summer I would melt though.

Here in the evenings it cools off to 60.In the East it stays right up there. No fog rolls in. I was always bringing a jacket anticipating the cool down.

Greenwich and Pamela's Bat Mitzvah

What a poised accomplished 13 y.o. is Pammie. She read better than many of my 10th graders.

After her amazing reading in English and Hebrew we we off to the reception. We flew. Trying to keep up with the people ahead...scary.

But we arrived...The theme was a south sea paradise complete with tiki torches and beautiful long island sound as the background at the Conleigh club in Rye. All Pam's friends got flashing jewelry, visors, a chance in the money blowing cube and kid's food.

Adults were out on the patio with the bar, HUGE shrimp, salmon, humus and flat bread and grilled veggies. They also had a carving station of corned beef and roast beef I finally got my Cosmopolitan. One of many.

We went into dinner finding out tables with shell rings around the napkin rings, beach towels on dowels on the walls and crab runners in orange on the tables. Dinner was halibut or filet of beef with potatoes and harcouts verts. We had tiny key lime pies and fruit tarts along with sorbet and strwberries and cake for dessert.
Pammie lit candles to everyone and they came up to help her light her candles.
Everyone went up but she forgot me.
I felt bad and left out.

They had these great dancers and the band was really good. The video guy got it all on tape.

All the kids got beach towels tied with raffia as a favor. Pammie did a really good job and wore a beautiful pink princess dress. Jennifer got to wear her bat mitzvad dress again too.

The next one is Stephen in 2 years.

The trip home went on forever. I came over the Tribourough Bridge , Garden State expressway and worked my way to 95 into Maryland. There I went over the tunnel, past Annapolis again, dropped stuff off at Karen's in Woodbridge and hauled down 66 to 28 and Dullus.
After a 7 hr. drive back to VA and a 5 hr flight I'm glad to be home. My friend Gloria picked me up. She had used my car and put 835 miles on it.

But, she also had my cleaning lady in to clean my kitchen, the gardener to do the lawn and checked on my darling cat Lacey. It was a pleasure to come home to a clean home. She left flowers, I didn't even realize it till this morning.

Lacey has been glued to my side. I missed her.

There is no place like home.

Newport

Newport is beautiful. After visiting with Walter, Lynn and Alexa in Md, I slugged my way through PA, NYC, CT and it's spring again.

There are these spectacular mansions everywhere or summer "cottages". They were only used for 6-8 weeks a year from the last 1890's to the start of WWI.

I just took a tour of the Breakers, the Vanderbuilt mansion. It's 10,000some sq ft. with marble and beautiful parquet floors, stand in fireplaces, 10, music room, breakfast room formal dining room,seats 34; grand hall, informal dining room,music room, library, game room and the upper floor for bed and bathrooms. It took at staff of 40 to maintain. There are over 10 to see but one was enough.

I'm going for a walk on the ocean's cliff walk that skirts the Breakers, Marble House and many other properties not open to the public.

Only one more day and I head to CT for the festivities.
I haven't decided if I can take Jimmy up on his offer to stay with him or not.

I went into Providence briefly with an error in my directions.

I thought I had every mapquest direction and map AAA had.
Off to America's Cup Drive and Ocean to see the waterfront and all the boats.

No lobster now either. I did have some lobster bisque last night. Not my favorite though.

I truely did not hit this season right. I hear they are expensive here too, even for lobster rolls.

I'm back on 6 de Mayo at midnight. I'm ready.

Ashville

The NC mountains are cool and beautiful. I can see why Vanderbuilt built a mansion here and F. Scott and Zelda F came to play and live.

I've had enough of beach life and am driving back to No. Va today.

Thanks to my wonderful nephew Mike and his beautiful new bride Mikie for letting me stay at their condo.

The boiled shrimp is good , crab is out of season and frozen and mushy as are crawdads and I must get away from everything fried.

It is so humid.

I walked off and left my purse at the library for about ten minutes a few days ago. I was fortunate and it was still there.

I'm going to see my cousin Walter and his wife Lynn and daughter in MD.

Charleston

Well I hear you have to boil that nasty ham so I did, then it's tasteless and still yucka.

Charleston is beautiful and the River plantations great. Went for a tour through town. The humidity is getting to be and even at 79 I know I wouldn't last. Michael tells me the rain is coming though.

I went to Myrtle beach last night land of the Volcanoes and Gator farms and mini Disney and gold Land and could not stand it. There are some beautiful properties and McMansions on Ocean Dr but I'm glad to be in N. Myrtle Beach land of calmer people.

The swelling of my feet may have gone down. It still hurts to put in my tennis shoes but they are new.

VA Ham

God is it salty! Yuck!

My cousin Bev said she used to see mom soaking hers and rinsing. I only remember a John Morrill.

After arriving in Myrtle Beach I look a brief look at the beach, and drove to meet a friend from Annapolis June week days who went to Sweet Brian and Married a lawyer and is also a librarian in Columbia. After lunch with Patti I dropped Clare's package off on their porch and drove back. I should have stayed at Patti's. It took close to 8 hrs round trip. I was exhaused.

The next day I got an early start and headed for Beaufort and toured. A lovely town, historic and charming.
I really liked a house on Lady islady. Screened in porch 2 car garage. Guest apt. over the garage, lovely kitchen, fireplace lovely oak floors and 3 bedrooms all with custom closets. All the homes have steps up and they kill me. Even with 6 steps it's a lot to lug groceries. This has a club house with pool, bar and so forth for 650 plus assn fees. I'd melt in the heat. Even in April it was getting on 84. It does not really cool down at night either. There was one house that backed up to a swamp down yonder...if I let Lacey out a croc could eat her! I don't think so!
-
My poor feet in flip flops are all swollen up and ache. I need to elevate and ice them. Even after resting for 7 hrs they were still swollen.

I ate seafood in Port Royal, decided I don't like their crabcakes, maybe just my own and shrimp is out of season but I ate it and the she crab soup and hushpuppies and clam chowder I can pass on.

Then I drove to see Hilton Head I'll pass All clear cut and the same.

From there I went to Savannah and took a trolly tour . I likes Water street and the city market and might have taken a tour of a house or two but my feet hurt. So I headed out.

I stopped for lunch and got a shrimp salad. Finally something not fried! Thshrimp were grilled and not those tiny salad shrimp either but nice ones, an inch or so.

There I discovered the frozen daiquires in every flavor from white Russian to Cherry blast look promising at 4.50 for a small. I may try one tonight. I decided I didn't need one for my long drive back. I had to stop 2x for short naps since I was up at 4. I got in at 8 or so and was horrified to find the lower lock locked and couldn't get. I called the locksmith who sprayed a bit of gunk on it and the same key for the upper opened the lower and I was in. I gave the poor man a hug I was so relieved.

Today I'm resting, doing laundry and maybe driving on the beach. I don't sit out in the sun. I may get a few groceries and find some fish.

Virginia

I arrived and drive an hour to get to my friends house in 4:00 traffic on the back roads! Yuck. It was so good to see my friend Karen and we ordered in Chinese and crashed at 9.

The next morning up my 9 and to the library to stock up on book tapes for me.
I left by 11 or so driving towards Richmond for Williamsburg. I got in about 3:30 and got a corn beef sandwich on rye from the NY Deli NOT! After checking in I ran aroung Williamsburg a bit and found a beautiful bed and breakfast accross from campus on Jamestown Rd. and changed to that the 2nd night. I love all the wreaths on the doors and the white lights like mom used to put in the windows for Christmas on in so many windows.

The reception where I met the bride to be Mike was lovely at the hospitality house.We had dessert, wine, water with their names,date and Williamsburg Va label. then 20 or so or my realtives from MD, VA, NT, CT, NJ. It was so nice to see all the babies.

Mimi Arnold and her husband and son came down on Sat.

The wedding was lovely. The bride had a dress strapless, scrunched in the back and a veil in her hair.

Clare was the flower girl and walked down with her dad holding a basket. She saw her mom at the alter as the pregnant attedant of honour. Clare wanted to go to her and cried Mommy when her dad wisked her out.

The music was lovely the old organ and a guitar and singer and Pachabel as an entrance hym and Ode to Joy as a ressisional.

The reception was lovely and I got to meet Clare for a moment.
Gwen ran at every opportunity to talk to me although she was 3 feet away talking to my aunt for almost 10 min.

I'm heading to Columbia from lovely Myrtle beach today to drop off a present for Clare. The I will leave her alone.

Tomarrow Beauford and Port Royal.

The gardens and Colonial Williamsburg were lovely filled with tullips, azaleas of every hue and dogwood in bloom the state flower.

My grand niece Abby danced my feel off and it was good to meet her and t



Clare was the flower girl walked down the aisle by her dad.

it was good to meet her and Ethan my grand nephew.

A good time was had my all.

Hats off to all good teachers

I do not have the patience or aptitude.

I'm packing but need more time.

The sin came out this afternoon and despite a brisk breeze and despite my hat and a turtleneck I think my face may have gotten sunburned.

I was totally frustrated at a 6 y.o. today. I feel so guilty. I snapped at him. Bad teacher. I needed to motivate him while 20 others were playing.

It was still cold here tonight.

I need a digital camera.

I cleaned out the car,
Still didn't find my sunglasses.

To top things off, Richard came over for more tutoring. He is unable to look up a term in the glossary and put it on the paper and even if he knows how to spell a word he asks me 3 or 4 times. He can't tell me where his papers are either.

It drives me crazy.

I need a bath and a book and sleep. 5 will come early and we leave for the airport at 5:15.

No. Va here I come ready or not.

My suitcase weighs a ton, filled with books. I'm glad it has wheels. I still can't find one of my sandals.

Lessons

Tutoring Richard who can't find his papers or tell me where they are and is unable to provide information on when something is due is a lesson in patience. When he comes over and had left his papers at home I want to scream.

Today I learned to trace templats of clouds, butterflies. bumblebees, sunflowers and planting seeds on egg shells in kinder. Ouch, it hurts the back to run the sissors over the paper then trace the pattern.
Then I taught p.m. kindergarten.

The word of the day is patience.
I am not equiped. What do you do when a girl skips the first 4 mo. of school and now can't write her letters even wjen they are on the wall and you write the sentence for her to copy; or the boy who sits so long doing nothing drspite sitting next to him constantly prompting him?

Then I interviewed at San Jose H.S. Academy for a teaching job. They always have these panels and set questions.

My l ear is still filled w/ water. Tonight I shampooed with cotton in and a pan to dump water over my head. Hope it clears by Thurs.

My phone 5/1 in Newport is 401-369-0243.

Hope it warms up. It was freezing here today; sweater weather.

Yesterday was beautiful.

One more day of work...

Voodoo

I'm off to teach kindergarten.

Tomorrow I have an interview for a h.s. English teaching job for next year.

Picked most of the oranges off my 2 trees and squeezed most this a.m. in a try in get vitamin c in me.

The E. coast...Northeasterners...shootings yikes!


Last night I finished the papers tutoring Richard in 11th grade history. I would fail.

His mom tried a Bolivian folk remedy to clear my ears. She made a cone of newspaper, cut it to about 6 inches and had me insert it in my ear and hold it while she lit it. The idea is that the heat draws the moisture out. My l ear is still hurting but we may have helped the r one. We did this 3 times. I heat did feel good, I can still feel the fluid in my r ear though and I still can't clear it. Hopefully I will be able to to by Thursday. At least my hair didn't catch on fire.

It does smell of smoke though.

The luggage came out. Lacey is sitting on the suitcase as if to say "You can't go."

Looks like I'll be in do IAD dullus on Thurs, 3:30 drive to my friend Ksren
's for the night
The next day, 4/20 off to Williamsburg and the reception
4/21 the wedding
4/22 off to Myrtle Beach where my dear nephew Michael has offered me the use of his condo.
4/23 lunch with my friend Patti in Columbia
24th...Beufort and Port Royal and Charleston
25th Savannah
26th St Simeons
28 Va Beach for dinner with my friends Adm. Jay and Mimi Donnely who were in my wedding
hopefully in No VA to visit relatives in MD if they can make time to see me
4/30 PA Ironmasters mansion Gettysburg
5/1 Rhode Island Newport
Hamptons
5-4 Greenwich dinner and services
5/5 Greenwich Pamelas barmit... 5:45 and reception
rtn to ca 5/6

More kinder tomorrow. Jack to this once a month teaching paycheck. I thought I lost one since the city pays twice a month.

Williamsburg has lots of events listed for this weekend in the newspaper including a tour of the campus and the Farmers market.

Travelers Checks

Did you know AAA doesn't sell or issue travelers checks any more?

Apparently they aren't used much any more.

I'm starting to pack.

I got wedding wrapping paper today since my gift is extremely fragile I chose not to send it. Cash is easier.

I think I may have an ear infection now that I have my voice back.

I hope I can clear my ears to fly. Tonight I couldn't. Once before I couldn't and had to take the train overnight to Portland.

5 days to go....

My itinerary has changed and I've deleted Galax,VA.

Property taxes

are in

Easter

I taught the kids the song
here comes peter cottontail hoping down the bunny trail
they were so cute

Measure of a Man

Im reading Sidney Poitier's The Measure of a Man.

You can make money in the stock market and the tax rate on capital gains in lower than taxable income but it's still taxed. I think it should be exempt.

Maybe if you make less when you cash in stock the tax penalty would be less.

Banking

Why is it that transfering money takes a week between two banks?

Just finished my taxes wrote the checks and will mail them on sat....painful.

Spring break is here Happy Easter

douala

I always thought I'd want a drug free home birth and a Douala. The my friend Mimi had complications and I was glad she had the facilities available. Now since this is not Gwen's first baby she has a much better feel for her delivery process. Having Baily and Miss Clare there are more of an issue.

Now I'm older and would want drugs.

I'm still sick but sleeping sitting up helps and the crackling in my lungs has eased and I don't seem to be drowning in fluid or hacking out pieces of my lungs every 10 min. Having this weekend to sleep and rests helps.

Radio

We watched the movie Radio as a 6th grade monthly reward. It was really good. Considering I still have no voice it was a good filler.

Who knew 6th graders do geometry? I sure can't teach it.

I got a nice offer ftom Michael to use his condo. That will help a lot.

not a good idea

I know admininstators don't want you to call in sick with a cold but when you have no voice it's better. You don't infect the other staff and students and get some rest. At least when I was vertical I could breathe better and not hack my lungs out trying to clear flem. The class today was 7th grade foods. Fun....not.

My lungs fill up with fluid this is the first time I haven't drugged them with sudaphed.

I am sick and tomorrow is 6th grade.

Patience

O.K. I got It I'm here to learn patience.

After bring up all night hacking and blowing I went to teach a p.m. kindergarten class. They only come from 11-4 so the morning was spent on prep, making little booklets, no I'm not any good st it and all you have to do is cut the paper in two and then put a cover on and staple it 22 times.
My throat was killing me and mint tea and lemon barely stayed down not to mention a banana or oatmeal.

The good part was I had no appetite.

I helped the other teacher with centers and she helped me. I got things that come from an egg like a snake and a fish. then they drew a picture. Fortunately there was a model because no I can not draw snake or a fish.
Then play and math and recess and snack.

My taxes are coming down as I give money to every one.

Subtraction was tough for them.

those little germ factories got me

I knew all that sneezing, coughing then wanting to hold my hand would get me sooner or later. First in Sept and again today...those schools are inubators. I had my flu shot too.

At least i have no appetite and my troat is so sore only ice cream works. Then it revisits me. Water and juice hurt.

Can I claim Lacey as a deduction?

1st grade and Kinder teachers have a lot of patience

I don't have any. I can not believe the amount of time it takes them to do everything.

My patience was gone by math and then the actually had to write a paragraph on the beach. Now granted they have two prompts on the wall and they have to list first,second,third...but do they really have to show me every single change our of 10 x 20? Then there is math. Now this is not my best subject but addition and subtraction I've got and it's really hard for some of them.

I needed a nap.

They write huge. That's why they have that 2 line paper.

I need a printer.

I've decided all the money I owe Uncle will go to Autism, James Madison Univ,SPCA, Town Cats and Am M. H. Assn.

Why is it that AAA does not have East Coast state maps? Why can't they get them?

Kristallnacht

The essay Richard has to do plus a bibliography challenges me. History and Geometry too how can he keep up?

It took me an hour or two to knock out this essay plus bibliography and footnotes.

He was still working on his outline and does not understand the concept of crystal night despite the pictures and films and explanations.
Can she really expect a 7 pg. paper out of this kid?
If we got 5 paragraphs I'd be happy. That's what is needed for his h.s. graduation.

Oh and this needs to be typed in 12 pt font and double spaced.

After 4 hrs. I have no patience and I'm ready to scream...time to stop.

He wouldn't understand why I was upset ot what he couldn't do that frustrated me. It's not his fault. My expectations are too high? Help me Lord...this is a trial maybe that"s why I keep going

Back to first grade

tomarrow...
I better rest up.

I go back and forth on whether I can afford this trip.

I don't get a lot of family time.

Life is short
You have the time or the money not always both at the same time.

Fresh squeezed O.J.

Nothing better.....

When dad would come to stay with me, since he was always an early riser, he'd get up, pick oranges off my trees and squeese them. Then rinsing his hands but nor drying, he'd drip his way to my bedroom, knock on the door and try and tempt me up with a big freshly squeezed glass of o.j. and say "I hope you lie the service in this hotel."

What is it about gardening that is so good for the soul. It makes me feel good to pull weeds, plant impatients, petunias and marigolds and seeds in the form of tomatos, basil, and cut freesias. They look so pretty and they are good for the soul and my spirit. They make me happy. They will probably all die while I'm away unless I have Gloria come over to water. The rain has already all but stopped. We didn't have much this year.

There is a cat living under my house. I think. Lacey follwed her under today. I've got to replace that screen when I'm sure she's out. She goes under to escape from Brutus, a big neutered Tom, that slinks thru my yard looking for handouts. He likes it when I clean out my frig. Brutus once jumped up on my legs to attack...I hosed him. Then the next day he lets me pat his head, the next pick him up and today pat him them growls and hisses at me, I can meow, growl and hiss back louder...sorry cat I am the alpha not you. I pay the property tax.

Strawberries are in season

I can't eat enough strawberries, asperagus or artichokes.

I've been working on my itinerary.

Here's where it is at the moment.

I arrive 4/19 at Dullus
then the next day
4/20, I'll leave and drive down to Williamsburg and hopefully have some time to tour the campus. I've been through the old town but I would like to have tea at the Williamsburg Inn.
Then we meet for dessert and drinks
4/21 the wedding
4/22 breakfast and leave for Charleston
4/23 Charlestown, Beauford, Hilton Head and Savannah
4/24 Savannah to St, Simons island
4/25 SSI to Charleston
4/26 Charleston to Ashville, NC I'll forgo VA Beach, been there done that.
4/27 Asheville to Galax, VA I love tese mountains.
4/28 Galax to Woodbridge, VA
4/29 Woodbridge, Alexandria, DC, Visit MD cousins
4/30 Depart Woodbridge for Gardner PA
5/1 Depart Gardner for Quakertown, PA
5/2 Depart for NYC, Hamptons to Newport, RI
5/3 Depart Newport to New Haven and Hartford, CT
5/4 Depart Hartford for Greenwich, CT services and dinner
5/5 Pamela's bat mit
5/6 Depart Cady Stanton House for Va, Karen's and IAD (Dullus) fly home

Now I'm off to play with 6 and 7 y.old's. They actually weren't too bad. My expectation of understanding two numbers is still beyond their capability but for those thst finish earily I still give then a few problems to try adding. The trick in these classes is the teacher has the kids doing the student teaching, I like that. It helps a lot.

I had an aide today. Now I know an aide knows the kids but she came in during lunch;

Glad the weekend is here. I was on my laptop making reservations in RI and I felt guilty. After school I'm so wiped out I don't even contemplate the store stop for more than a few minutes.

Doesn't bode well for hiking and travel.

Big brother to the rescue again

Bob tells me there may be a way to reduce some of my tax liability. I've funded my Ira so that won't help but I can put in some handeling fees from by retirement and annuities as small as they may be.

So far this history gig is not so bad. They want to run wild but at least they are at the level of reason even if they are posturing. These hormones you know and they all go wild.

Once on task they seem to go well. We are reading a play and several girls refused to take parts. Ok fine, AI can't remember doing that as a kid but I won't push it.

There are enough good kids to override the others and when you ahve a grade level class it's a whole different story than at risk and low functioning like I had all last year and for summer school.

Today there is an assembly which means I have 1.5 hr off. Good deal one more class then lunch.

After that 2 more hours and I'm out of here. Not too bad.

All in all it was a good day for my 4 hrs. tomarrow I'm back in hell with first graders. I'll miss kids over the age of reason.

I'm going to interview with Milpitas H.S. for a librarian position next week.

The blossoms blowing from the trees look like snow

It's a bit blowy out there and the white blossoms loosened by the rain have been picked up and it looks like a snow storm --cool.

I'm going to be really brave tomarrow and take a middle school history assignment. We'll see how I survive the day. I've enjoyed going over history with Richard even though I suspect he doesn't really understand when I'm talking about or we're reading about or what the films are about.

A run on the bank is still about people running to him even with a picture, and explanation and memorization of a bank holiday. Two days later he doesn't remember.

Unfortunately, I know how much teaching goes on in a 50 min. class time, then there is an assembly and the good point or bad is they are gone in 50 min and a whole new 5 groups come in.

As I told my 8th graders last year about Harriet Tubman and slavery and WW 2 they really didn't relate untill I whipped out Shindler's List and shocked them into consciousness. By the end they were numb and horrified.

I took a haul of stuff to Goodwill and Back to work a professional womans career closet that helps women get business suits and blouses and shoes to wear to work.

I hate to dump it when it was all on hangers in plastic just back from the dry cleaners. At least I got to say see attached list and include my itemized list on the reciept.

Gas is over $3.08.

I picked my 1st roses of the season today and the freesas are in bloom. They smell so good,

Lacey doesn't seem to have been affected my the pet food scare. She snuggled up to keep my feet warm last night. She gets one treat a day.

I owe a lot in taxes this year for the first time. I shouldn't have sold stock. I need to dump a looser this year. I need more deductions. I am so screwed.

Spring

The trees are all in bloom including my orange trees and they smell wonderful. The pink plum are beautuful and the tulip I love. The white ones look like delicate snowflakes.

Libby will be 1 y.o. in May. I just got her these peek a books.

I'm reading Obama's book: The Audacity of Hope.

I'm not so sore this morning, just exhausted since I was up reading till 2 after tutoring. Even with my afternoon nap I was zonked. One of my students yeaterday told me I looked like her grandmother and my hair was kind of like her's too. Once I was at the hospital to visit a new mom and they thought I was the grandmother and that was 15 years ago!

I think I will stay on the East coast from 4/19 through 5/7. It really doesn't make any sense to fly home Monday and turn around and fly back on Fri.

I may go though the Shenendoah Valley. I'm thinking to stay in the D.C. area for the weekend of the 30th then drive up through PA, NJ, and NY to the beaches, then CT and maybe to the cape. I've always wanted to see the Hamptons and I really like the Cape. The Clam Chowder and scallops are great. From Va I'll stay in this mansion of an iron master in PA that was a underground rr stop during the Civil war. In Charleston and Savannah and Greenwich I will too. I love these old houses turned into b and b's. CT fasinated me. Especially when they go back to the 1760's.

When I lived outside of Hartford in 77, the year Gwen was born, I didn't go to see Twain's home or that of Harriet Beecher Stowe.

I remember going to the Poconos to check out the honeymoon hotels with Jeff. Boy were they sleazy. Those heart shaped tubs and round beds looked good in the Bride magazines but shabby in person. I was glad we looked before we booked. Actually since that engagement was called off, it was moot. I just had a flashback on the tour and camping in 72 the year Emily was born.

Joe and I lived in Groton, Michael called to tell us Gwen was on the way, we went to Mystic but never to the cape and to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard till Jimmy's 2nd wedding in 1988 we only went to Boston. We did take weekend trips to Boston and Montrael and Vermont once.
I never even explored Groton much I was still commuting back to East Windsor to teach rather than find a new job for 3 months. One morning everything was coated with ice, the trees and the roads. I didn't hear the cancellation since I was out of the area until I rented a car and called the principal after I drove all that way in dangerous conditions for nothing. Nancy and I went ice skating. I don't miss that.

During Jonathan's bar mitzvah I was facinated by the history of CT and Greenwich and loved the Cady Stanton House. I loved seeing all the crocus poking up.

Spring in each part of the country is different. In the east, Utah and CO more so since it is so hard won.

Sometimes appreciation comes with age, knowledge or experience.

Tutoring

I'm not patient enough to teach. I just had a 3 hr session with Richard. I asked him to put the trash out first. He had a hard time putting the recycles next to the trash. Then when he had to go back and put the cart out I gave him two more envelopes to recycle and he put them in the mailbox. I wonder if he knows how slow he is?

He doesn't remember the 3 definitions we did on sat. Now we have 25 more.

I'm also supposed to teach him to do a bibliography. Yikes! Yeah right.

After all my walking yesterday, I was sore this morning. You have to get through the pain to get the gain.

I had a combo 4/5 class today. I enjoyed the reading but keep me away from 5th grade fractions.

Tomorrow I go to a 4th grade class.

I turned in an application for summer school today. They wanted to know my experience in teaching at risk kids. (clue here)

The Cavalier

After 80 years this venerable VA Beach hotel got a face lift. I wonder if the indoor pool is still as wonderful as I remember as a child.

After taking a 5 hr. test today I walked all over downtown San Jose today. It was beautiful out.

I misplaced my electronic key so left the car ready to steal...sorry to say it's not the first time. I can start it with a push of a button but anyone else can too. On my lunch break I went back and searched and found them on the front seat. I searched my tote bag in vain and in a hurry and a panic and 7:45 sure they were in there but...they weren't.

I've done it at school a few times too.

If thieves only knew they could push a button and drive away it would be gone. I've got to keep better track of my key. It took me a month to discover I didn't have to put it into the slot!

My closet and garage donations to good will keep growing I'm up to 7k now and I need the deduction!

It's asparagus season and I can't get enough. I wouldn't touch the stuff or zucchini either when I was a kid.

It's been so dry I had to go out and water. The oranges are falling off the trees so I guess it's time to pull out the ladder and pick em for juice and pick up the drops.

Strawberries are ripe and plentiful too. There's a person on every corner trying to sell you a crate.

Invitations

I got the invitation to Pamela's May 5th celebration in Rye. I get to stay at the Caty Staunton house again this cool bed and breakfast in Greenwich.

It doesn't make sense to fly home Mon. and back Fri. Maybe I'll go to the Hamptons or Boston or the Cape.

Another black tie event....hum could I get by with a white evening suit?

Emily and her family are coming to the wedding...yeah! It will be good to see her again and to see all the kids together.

I cleaned out my closet and so far have over 5k of professional clothes to donate. Yikes. The closets are not done yet but they are lighter.

I tutored Richard in History for 3 hours. I wanted to scream. He did manage to memorize bank holiday although he thinks a run on the bank is when people go running but he can nor tell you they close the banks to avoid money taken out. Two other definitions took him over an hour. An 18 question fill in the blank quiz another 1.5 and a short essay, impossible. I don't think there are enough hours in the week to get this child to pass.

For example, I told him to write two words short answer on the top of his paper and pointed to the spot and wrote out the words. He wrote the definition for bank holiday.???

I asked him to put an envelope in the mailbox, put up the flag and put some weeds in the street . He put them both in the street. One thing at a time.

I asked him to take some strawberry tops down to my neighbors 2 houses down for their backyard chickens. He could not count two houses. I'm frustrated and it was just 3 hrs.


We went to Safeway to return a salad. I told him to ask the manager for help. Then he gave him a note and they helped him exchange it, he came out and crossed the street to the car.

Money

Do you remember how you first learned about money? It took a lot of practice in 1st grade. We played with coins then dollars like Monolopy money.

Now I'm teaching the concept to 1st graders and interestingly an 19 y.o. autistic boy. Richard has no more concept of money than the 1st graders. When you ask him how much something costs he says $20.00 his favorite amount. If you asked him for 4 dollars he could give you a one, five, ten or hundred and not know the difference.

Then there is history and English. His Individual Instruction Plan says he will pass both and be able to write to pass the exit exam. I worked all summer with him to get him to be able to do a paragraph.

History is tough. He does not understand what he reads. He can memorize. It's like a picture to him. I get him movies. We talk but he cannot respond verbally to "what were the causes of the great depression"?. However, I make flashcards and he can drill and memorize the facts.

I'm frustrated. How do you get through?

Lord save me from from from 1st graders that break into tears because they don't have their homework or are called bossy and need to go to the office because they scraped their knees or their eyes hurt because of the flower pollen. All day long they tell me about their imagined slights....someone is my friend not hers.....et al.

It's 86 degrees today. No such luck for my East coast people....and here I was wishing I could come earlier and that I'd miss spring...maybe not.

On my trip I'll go from No. VA on Fri. to Williamsburg. Then after the wedding, I'll head to Charleston then Hilton Head and Savannah the next night. Beauford sounds like a nice area to explore so once I finish with the plantations and the gardens I'll head down, then on to St. Simons' Island.

On the return I'll go throughSC, NC to visit my friend Jane in NC, then VA Beach to see a college friend, Mary, and head back Richmond to see my friend Kathy from high school and into Northern VA by Fri. get to visit with family in MD and my friend from high school, Karen.

I want to see the Holocaust museum, I'm rereading Night with Richie, and wander through Alexandria a bit.

I head out Mon at 6.

I'm reviewing for a test on Sunday. I thought my days of having to calculate those word problems of a car draveling x at y speed.

Now, I'm learning radio jargon and terminology. Greek to me.

Wedding Outfits

I pulled out the evening suit I assumed I'd wear to the wedding......nope.

Can't wear white to a wedding.

Guess I'm going to have to find a coat to take too.

It will be Gwen's birthday.

I dug in to find another outfit glad I didnt wait.

I wonder If I can just forgo the garment bag.

I'm purging my closet of all those 8, and 10's I'll never use again.

Another beautiful day and I spent it writing an IEP and conservatorship papers for an 18 y.o. autistic boy.

Sure is a long involved process.

Tomarrow I'm back in 1st grade.

Smoking ban

CA is the first state to ban smoking in restaurants and now on sidewalks and apartments.

I hate it.

I can't stand to walk by someone outside smoking.

Today it was 82.

My tenure in 1st grade is done. It was painful. 6 and 7 year olds are cute but 20 at a time need a lot of one on one attention.

I changed my 7 day trip to 10-11. I had too far to go and to little time to do it in. Now I will have time to spend with my friends and see some family.

A week isn't long enough

I am planning my Southern Oddessy.

I will be in VA on Thursday 4/19 then on Fri. head to Williamsburg. The wedding goes on Sat. them I head to Charleston and from there to Beauford and Hilton Head in Route to Savannah; then a quick trip over to see what all the fuss is about in St. Simon's Island and it's time to head back.

Not enough time.

It was 84 today. Time to find the sun screen.

Below the age of reason

I've been teaching 1st grade. They are driving me crazy. They ask the spelling of everything and want to show you their papers everytime they change a character.

It takes a lot of patience. I don't have a lot for this age.

I am introducing the quarter and we are adding coins. You never realize how much you know until you see what they don't.

Bless the teachers that have the patience for this.

Chinese New Year

San Francisco has the largest Chinatown and the largest Chinese New Years parade complete with this great 60' dragon and fire crackers galore. The crowds line the streets waiting to see the floats and dragon and bands pass by.

I taught 2nd grade on Fri. decided that they are too young. They can;t do stuff indepently. Third grade may be my favorite so far.

I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love. http://amazon,com

it's pouring

its raining, its time for all the daffodils to be out and the hills are so green. Mustard is starting to bloom in the fields, it's really pretty.

I taught 3rd grade today, a really nice class. They are old enough to understand and still young enough to want to please.

I was glad to see that Helen Miren won an Oscar for the QUEEN along with Jennifer Hudson for Dream Girls.

Drug seeking

It makes me crazy that the pharmacy treats you as though you are drug seeking when you ask for a refill before it's time.

I lost the second bottle of my meds. I looked for 5 days and was without during that time. Finally, I got in touch with my doctors. They called in another prescription yet when I went to pick it up I had to fight with the pharmacy staff, wait 30 min. then talk with the pharmacist before she would fill it. This is not a narcotic or class 3 drug. You'd think they were protecting the vault in accusation to a addict.

I finally found the other bottle under the bed.

My friend had major surgery and she had to go from Safeway to her Dr's to turn in her drug that was not strong enough then back to another store that had the dosage and have her insurance co. called before they would fill it. She was barely walking. They think she's gonna OD or sell them? She was in pain.

My other friend is at the Mayo clinic and since her dr's haven't found anything they think she's drug seeking too and want to report her dr to the drug control board.

Aye......

There's snow on them there hills

After a rain on the flats I look out my window to the hills in the distance and there is snow. They say 2 inches. Everyone is taking their kids up to play in it. It beats a 5 hr drive to Tahoe.
I haven't been up there to ski in a couple of years. I remember driving up listening to Dad's tapes while at the Pritikin Center and having the snow come down and people slip and slide all over. I was glad to get over Donner summit and start heading down lower. I hate to put on chains. Usually, thank goodness, there are people to put them on for you.Then, hopefully I can figure out how to get them off again.

I went to look at granite for the kitchen counters. There is a lot to choose from.

I made steel cut Oatmeal. It beats Quaker Oats. Then I add rasins and cinnamon and vanilla...yum. I used to make it for Gwen and Michael when they were little. The I would pretend yogurt was like ice cream to get them hooked. worked!

Ah, the webs we weave when we practice to decieve.

House ownership

Its always something. Houses require upkeep.

I need to paint the outside.

Having redone one bathroom and part of the kitchen the rest remains.

I got a quote today on kitchen cabinet refacing. I also want to replace the counter tops, sink, faucet and put in recessed lighting. Then I've just got the ovens to replace. All it takes is cash.

I know resale will increase but in the interim....ouch.

I also want to demolish my existing fireplace and replace it with marble and new mantle.

Fat Tuesday

and now Lent starts. One of these year I will go to New Orleans. I've been close to Baton Rouge and on the coast where they gamble bit it was on business and I was with someone and although we were 2 hrs away it was his car and I didn't rent one after dinner of shrimp and craw fish and drive down. I love the Parishes though. We stopped in several throughout our day and the Cajun names and towns like Natchoches. It was in Feb. right before Mardi Gras too. Gaberdine suits, silk blouses and nylons were almost too much even then with the humidity.

I got to visit with my friend Kim yesterday and her daughter Breanna, 9. We finally exchanged Christmas and birthday gifts. Hers is in Sept. and mine Dec. She's so busy with her work at Cisco, Breanna and life that we visit by phone mostly. She's been out a lot for medical issues this year and last so ironically we've had more time. They have this amazing, 4 story home in the hills with turrets on acres with sauna, wine cellar et al. We met over 21 years ago when she and I worked together. Her family shared many a holiday with me. Her mom who passed 2 years ago was very special. We miss her a lot. She was so loving and never had a bad word to day about anyone or anything. A gentle soul.

After working 3 hrs, I came home so exhausted. My back and shoulders were killing me, it's usually my feet. We were very busy.I stopped by Trader Joe's for some of my favorite French Onion soup, took a bath, had bowl and read until I passed out at 8. I wanted to get up and watch something at 10 and although I opened my eyes it was for a moment and back with Morpheus. My girl Lacey came to snuggle up too. Now at 4 we're up.

After the wedding

After Michael's wedding I'm going to go to Charlotte, maybe the Outer Banks, perhaps to see my friend Jane in Chapel Hill, Charleston, Columbia, St Simon's Is. and Md all in a week after Thurs. in No. VA Fri. and Sat. in Williamsburg for the wedding. I'd like to see Savannah too.
Hopefully I can see Gwen too.

I fly in Thurs. to Dullus arriving at 3:30 and will stay with my friend of 39 years, Karen.

Maybe I can see Michael. Once the wedding hoopla gets going it will be more difficult to visit. All family will convene from MD, NY, NJ, VA, IN and CA, and CT. Over 33.4 in all not including our Iowa family.

There will be over 150 at the wedding. I'm looking forward to going back to Williamsburg. I love the place. I always intended to go back for the kids graduation from Wm. and Mary but I never heard when it was until after the fact.

When I sometimes feel so issolated I realize that. I'm just on the l coast. Fortunately , I have good friends as a surrogate family.

It was 70 and sunny all the trees are fruiting and the plum blossoms petals floating off in the breeze. The tulip trees are beautiful.

When I was traveling a lot in sales I used to kove having spring here then again in Salt Lake, Seattle and Denver.

La dia de Presidentes

Had a nice two hr. breakfast with some friends from the library this morning.

I got there 1/2 hr, early misunderstanding the time.

I had just convinced myself it was the wrong day when they arrived.

It was good to catch up.

We are the birthday club and meet respectively on each birthday 4 times a year.

Afterwards, I went to finish my taxes. It sure helps to have a good person help.

Mine are quite complicated and it takes some work to come up with a refund this year.

My dear friend Carolina fortunately is quite skilled. Caro and I met in business school.

She's got quite a little tax service run out of home.

Then I met my friend Karen. She has a 9 y.o. son.

I often spend passover Seder (we eat but don't do the reading or have the horseradish, but she does have the traditional plate) and Thanksgiving with them.

Last Thanksgiving I made the pumpkin pie while visiting and forgot to put the sugar in!

We like to cook and have a lot to visit and catch up on.She's an immigration lawyer and we used to work together.

Communication

Why is it that Communication is so difficult.

I have always wanted to know what's going on with people.

(Maybe noisy, but I don't see it that way) I'm interested. I want to have a relationship. I care.

I want to share.

Guys don't share as much I guess.

This may be a generalization but my experience has been unless I ask the questions and pull information out I remain unconnected and uninformed.

Frustrating.

It is especially curious to me that family can be spectacularly unconnected.

People can get hurt or ticked and go for years and not talk to one another.

Sometimes they don't even know why.

I have a person who has not talked to me in 12 years and although I've asked, I don't honestly have a clue why she has chosen not to talk to me.

At one time I thought we were close I still love her and always will.

Then there are acknowledged family feuds.

It seems like a waste of time and love and connection.

Why can't we just get along.

Isolation is not good.

Exclusion hurts.

Why can't we just love one another.

Ironically, I think that under the hurt and hate there is still love?

Oye

Started taxes today. I even have a preparer. I'll go back Monday.

I was sure I had all my stuff together. Then, there is always something else.

I even had my stock capitol gain calculation done from the sale of stock!

They stopped giving carpool stickers for hybrids 2/14.... Happy Valentine's.

Now all I need to do is find the transponder and the stickers.

Went on eBay to find baby coupons.

I used to get them and send them to Gwen and she sold them.

Now, these new parents of Brianna are supplementing with Silmilac, so even at 6 days they are looking for bargains.

Death and Taxes

My dear friend Tommie Lei died of asthma. She leaves behind a beautiful daughter AJ.

I'd change placed with her if I could.

She was so young at 54.

Tommie gave love and light wherever she was. I was lucky to have her in my life.

She is the second death of a friend.

My boyfriend Bill Brown died of a heart attack at 37.

All that's left that we're sure of is taxes

Reading

I'm reading John Grisham's new book The Innocent Man, not to captivating so far and I'm 1/2 way through.

I went over and saw Brianna a new 4 day old baby about the size of Brandon. She was so tiny. I'm looking for that breast pump of Dad's.

I saw it recently, just can't find it again.

I finally have a new mom to give it to. I was saving one for me but that's most unlikely.

She's feeding every 4 hours.

I told her dad not to give her honey. (Saw that on ER)

I'm making up a list of my financial assets and account numbers for my estate et al.

Taught 5th grade today. There has to be an easier way to make a living.


Next, I'll do some monthly expenses and retirement calculations.

Selling

There is a law that can save 125k on your house if you turn it over after 55.

I'm looking at it and thinking about it and reverse morgages.

Michael says I need to look at the laws.

The internet info is outdated.

Now the level is 250,000. one time deduction at any time. No longer do you have to wait till 55.

It was 72 sunny and warm today.

We have a new cousin from Tina and Denzil, another boy, Brandon, born before Valentine's Day.

How great! Congratulations to you all! We're thrilled and happy to hear of your new home in Clarksburg, MD.


I'm also looking to sell my engagement ring. I need to figure how to load pictures on the computer from the camera.

I think I need to run some software.

I've been exploring ebay.

Valentine's Day

I need a Valentine.

I had breakfast in bed.

I had a nice bubble bath

The day was sunny and warm.

All the trees are in bloom.

Like cupid I went out and delivered my Valentines.

I got some in return too.

Had some chocolate.

Now for dinner.