Monday, May 19, 2008

The end is near.

This weekend was fantastic, wasn't it? True tourist weather, warm, bright, dry and breezy. Two of those fleeting days that make me glad to live in the Ohio Valley. We had Shayla's grad party on Saturday and a cookout at Courtney's on Sunday, lots of family time with few issues. The adults were pleasant and the kids played well together; what more could I ask for? I am blessed. Or blind?



We had MORP for 7th and 8th grade Friday night. It was a great success; no drama, lots of food and music and the art classes helped with turning the cafe into a Hollywood premiere. Parents rushed us at 9:00 for pix of the royalty. but the kids quickly recovered and danced for awhile longer. I was so proud of everyone. They cheered and clapped for each contestant and seemed to be genuine in their support of the winners. Our "penny wars" voting took an ugly turn late in the week when parents got too involved. However, the kids rose above it and all is well. And SADD has a wheelbarrow full of loot to pay the bills. Win, win.



I worked in my gardens some this weekend. Is there a real purpose for weeds? We are blessed with wild mint that runs rampant over any cultivated ground.Smells wonderful but smothers out everything in its path. I pulled masses of it and by this AM, it is back. My roses are lovely this spring and the Carolina lupine is gigantic. I cannot grow true lupines, so have to be satisfied with a look-a-like. I can't do hollyhocks either. Go figure, hollyhocks can grow on stone, but not for me. I put sweetpeas along the southside of our garage this year, I'm hoping for complete coverage, or we have to paint. If I were an artist, I'd create a sweetpea mural to cover it. But my siblings got all the artistic genes. So I depend upon brute strength and my gardening skills to create beauty. I do love sweetpeas, tumbling over each other along a path or climbing up a wall or fence.Have you seen the art work of Tasha Tudor? An amazing woman, lived alone in a cottage well into her 90s with her Corgie dogs and her flower gardens. She does simple scenes of cottage life, gardens, animals and stone houses. Inspiring. I believe she has a caretaker now, but is still productive.

I just came home from a SADD Cafe, a take-off on the 50's Beatnik joints. The kids sing, play instruments. recite their own poetry, or do comedy. Tonight everyone was dark and gloomy, heavy angst stuff. Such adolescents!! The Germans were right; storm and strife. I told them to come see me in 15 years, they would be singing a different tune. I certainly hope so, at least. Such talent they all have, I don't remember ever being so deep and musically driven. But I could pull quotes from literature with the best of them. Books were my love then. Of course, I hadn't met Stephen King then. The author or the husband.

I am positively dizzy with the fact we have on 3 days of classes left. I was not sure we would make it at times this semester. It is still quite tense. One of my co-workers told me today to stick my 'sunshine' where it wouldn't shine. Obviously she isn't buying into my new anti-complaining line of thought. I hope summer is all we need, but things do not look good for fall either. Our super "P" is pulling rank and people are ticked, even the other Ps. I just look on with P envy, and bide my time.

Speaking off; do any of you do class trips? Say to DC or Chicago? Our middle school staff want to adopt a class, follow them for 3-4 years and take a trip with them. We've been shot down on overnighters, but hope to change that. I took the freshman to the 2000 Inaguration and it was terrific. But they wouldn't allow it for next year. Have you heard, I do not like schoolboards, administrators or parents? I just think we (educators) have to do more for kids, we must expose them to the world, or at least our own country. I really agree that we are dumbing down America and it is a scary thought. We cannot afford not to have the best and brightest. Share your travel secrets with me, please. I'm giving up SADD and need another project. Although an alternative school for Orange county is really nagging at me. We decided to retain several kids this year that just cannot cope with regular school but so not qualify for other considerations. I think most might thrive in a good alternative school. Anyone game to move south and join ranks? Between us, the Gaggle has the expertise in all areas of education, I do believe. And Rex could be our token P.

Hopefully you all will be outta there soon and enjoying a glorious summer. Take care, everyone.

5 comments:

anna said...

Where is everyone at??? I know it is hectic this time of year, but I need to hear from the gaggle! So I just had to let you all know David and I broke up. It was my decision and it sucks, but I feel it was the right thing to do. Other than that there hasn't been much going on here except end of the year crap at school. I am still looking for a place to live in lafayette if anyone knows anything. If you know any single guys...you could throw that in too :) Sorry, I am trying to cheer myself up!

Hedy King said...

OH Anna, I'm sorry to hear about you and David. I know it must have been a difficult decision for you.
I take it that your school year did not improve; are you going back there? You will find your right man and place, sometimes we have to kiss a lot of frogs, ya know. This year has almost made me rethink my decision to be a counselor; there's gotta be a better way to make a living. But then a former student sends me flowers and wishes me a good summer. I guess if you touch one person, that is enough to cancel out the 1000 you lost. :-) Not funny.
I, too am wondering where everyone is this week. Let's plan to do something. Want to go to Alabama with me and my kiddos? We have an extra bedroom/bath, private pool and all the noise you can handle. We leave June 13, a Friday, for Heaven's sake.
Really, Girlie, call me if you want to talk.
It is raining here today, we are having a pool party at my niece's. I may chicken out and stay home and prepare for my last week of work. We still are short two teachers, do not have the schedule finalized and no one seems to care. Public education at work.
Why Lafayette? I know you are single and young and beautiful, but I've heard Lafayette is full of Purdue people, yuck. HeHe. Love

Hedy King said...

OH Anna, I'm sorry to hear about you and David. I know it must have been a difficult decision for you.
I take it that your school year did not improve; are you going back there? You will find your right man and place, sometimes we have to kiss a lot of frogs, ya know. This year has almost made me rethink my decision to be a counselor; there's gotta be a better way to make a living. But then a former student sends me flowers and wishes me a good summer. I guess if you touch one person, that is enough to cancel out the 1000 you lost. :-) Not funny.
I, too am wondering where everyone is this week. Let's plan to do something. Want to go to Alabama with me and my kiddos? We have an extra bedroom/bath, private pool and all the noise you can handle. We leave June 13, a Friday, for Heaven's sake.
Really, Girlie, call me if you want to talk.
It is raining here today, we are having a pool party at my niece's. I may chicken out and stay home and prepare for my last week of work. We still are short two teachers, do not have the schedule finalized and no one seems to care. Public education at work.
Why Lafayette? I know you are single and young and beautiful, but I've heard Lafayette is full of Purdue people, yuck. HeHe. Love

anna said...

I would love to take a vacation just to get out of here for a while, but I don't have much money. Where are you going in Alabama? Things at school are okay and yes I am going back next year simply because I don't want to look for a job again this summer! I am glad I made it through my first year and I am excited for next year because I will actually know what I am doing. I am ready to have a few weeks off for summer. Of course now that I am single, I have nothing to do! If anyone else is bored, please call me! Hedy, I should just come down and visit!

Kirstie said...

Anna, I will check with my grandma in Lafayette about renting. I am sorry to hear about David. You'll have to come down to the lake this summer.
Today is my last day at school, just wrapping things up in my office. I guess the blessing of working in an elementary school is no scheduling!! To end the year on a good note I had the first ever "kick off your shoes" Bainbridge Ele. PE shoe drive. Kids could donate their gently used PE shoes. Great Success!!! I won't be scambling next winter for the kids that can only afford flip flops!!
One week from today I will be in Myrtle Beach!! Can't wait, the ocean is calling me. Pat and I will be gone for about 11 days. some beach, some camping, form family reunion!!! Woo Hoo!