soft opening, with grand opening to follow

The aforementioned new blog:

www.radiofreerexburg.blogspot.com

What do you think?

Oh hullo. How are you? I'm actually fine, but you wouldn't know that since I haven't posted anything for for-freaking-ever.

I go to school, and try very hard to teach the little darlings something about English or writing or life. Sometimes I feel like I make a difference in someone's life, and that is enough to keep me going back each day (hoping it'll happen again).

The wind came up on Thursday and melted most of the snow in our yard. The snow in the field next to us melted, and looked like a miniature lake. Then it froze again. I could probably skate on it, if I had ice skates. And wasn't afraid of falling down on bumpy ice.

Dave is restless. I'd say it's the wind, except he's often restless even when there is no wind. I used to call him Dan'l Boone (because he always wants to see what's behind the next ridge). He is working on his research study project, and will therefore get something constructive done towards his Ph. D, which is good. Some of the things he'd like to do would be possible if he had that piece of paper that said he knows Ph. D stuff.

I have three grandsons now. Each married child produced a grandson, most recently Jesse and Catherine creating Nikolai. I stole a picture of Nikolai from his mommy's blog. That's what you see up top. Precious, neh?

I am contemplating a new blog, that would be updated on a weekly basis (Saturday by noon is the deadline I'm toying with) wherein I will write about education and legislation and politics and . . . stuff. It'll be not as personal as this site. When I actually create it, I'll let you know. I want it to be up by next Saturday.

I grow old, I grow old--I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

a good time was had by all

This is Monica right after she arrived at her baby shower, held at Melissa's house. She was hot and tired and hungry, but she looked super cute and was nice as always. She is, indeed, heavy with child. We all thought that maybe she'd like to hurry up and have Jack, but no. Monica still has a lot of things she wants to get done before Jack makes his appearance. She has big dreams.

We all enjoyed being together, eating fruit kabobs, otter pops, and Trudy's yummy peanut butter chocolate bars. Oh, and watching Monica open her mounds of gifts for Jack-baby. Baby Jack. Who spent some time Saturday as a jumping Jack. Ha ha, I'm trying to get all my Jack puns out of the way now, so I don't ruin a family gathering in the future. If he's a cracker Jack, who gets the prize? ha ha ha ha. I kill me.

Sorry Jack. Abuela Juli loves you. And can't wait to see you. xxoo. Travel safely.

It's all about Tim

This is Tim and a friend in Mexico. Tim is no longer in Mexico, much to his chagrin and my great joy. He is working for his father, digging tree holes, planting trees, and etc. Dave has quite a long list of things he wants to get done and will gladly pay Tim to do them. If Tim continues to work for only 2.5 hours per day, however, he will be in our employ for a long time. I keep challenging him to finish it all so he can move on to someone else's payroll.

This is Tim and Dave at the Idaho Falls airport. Notice Tim's eyes are closed. Notice Dave is smiling. Both events are highly unusual.

This is Tio Tim becoming acquainted with Calvin. I think it's going well.

These are Tim's mission shoes. RIP, mission shoes.

it's been such a long time

This is Calvin. His head isn't really normal looking, because I'm holding him and trying to take his picture at the same time, while he is interested in taking my camera away from me. Calvin is my friend.

As far as posting on my blog, I'm starting to see a pattern here. I'm losing months at a time! I'm going to set a blogging goal and see if that doesn't jumpstart this sucker.

I have decided that my favorite month of summer is August. It has all the sweetness of summer, with the added urgency of impending doom--er, I mean, fall. The fields are golden or green (depending on the crop), the sky is cornflower blue, my farmer's tan is in full bloom. I enjoy June, but it's not really summer. Here, it's more like late winter sometimes. July is also good, but I'm usually so busy in July that it's hard to really sit down and enjoy it. Plus, things are still moving toward their peak instead of sitting on top of the peak and cheerfully waving 'hello' to me (like what happens in August).

There are apples on the red-apple tree, but only a few on the green-apple tree. There are 5 or 6 apricots, just starting to turn the proper shade of orangy-yellow (I don't know why we don't get more apricots, but we never do). The chokecherries are starting to turn but aren't ready yet. By the time they're ready, the birds will have eaten most of them. C'est la vie.

Where did May go?

Oh dear. There has been a lapse in my blogging that can only be chalked up to "end of the year frantic dash" syndrome. It afflicts teachers all over the world, I hear. I had a particularly nasty case of it this year. I'm getting better, however.

I have a hard time saying "no" to requests that either seem reasonable or smack dab in my skill set. Therefore, in addition to teaching three different preps at school, I am/was: the secretary/treasurer for my teacher association, with responsibility to get the Teacher Appreciation Week treats and the End of Year Thank Yous; on the Calendar Committee for the district; on the Negotiation Team for the district; appointed Chair of a group of 5 teachers who had to plan and present a full day of training on the Danielson Model, which will be used next year to evaluate all the teachers in the district; and the Relief Society President in my church ward, which basically means I am responsible for the women who go to my church. Additionally, my husband has been out of town for the entire month of May with very limited access the last three weeks, meaning I've had no one to vent to/bounce ideas off of/keep me safe from the boogy man. Truthfully, that last one is the kicker.

I could probably have pulled all of that off better if I'd had Dave around. There's just something about a long-term relationship that stabilizes and nourishes, both. The only benefit to Dave's prolonged absence is that I've had plenty of time to reflect upon exactly how much I need him, and how much I owe him.


Some of those responsibilities continue, but I've gotten through the one-timers and put out all the fires. All things considered, I did admirably. In the past few days, I've gotten new birdfeeders, taped off a wall that needs new paint, pulled much of the excess grass from the front planter, and got a couple of new glow-in-the-dark globes for outside. You see? I've done a lot. Now I'm ready to be a good little blogger again. Forgive me?

Toss, keep, or give away

One of my students said something interesting the other day. We were talking about TV shows, and she said "I hate that one show that goes in and makes a new house for people!" Well, that seemed uncharitable of her, so I asked why. It turns out that she doesn't think that making a new house will help people become tidy or organized or materially better, and so it's a waste of time and money to watch something that will ultimately be a failure (in her enlightened 17 year old mind).

But there is some truth in there, too. I jokingly said "You mean that if you cleaned up my classroom, you don't believe I could keep it tidy?!" Actually, not jokingly, more like self-mockingly. Anyway, she and the other students around her all snorted. I think that's teenager for "Not in my lifetime." And unfortunately for my organizationally-challenged soul, I think they may have been right.

In my defense, I do a lot of things and there's a purpose for each assignment and activity that goes on in my classroom. But sometimes I plan more activities and assignments than can be quickly tabulated and re-distributed, and so those assignments may end up on my table by my computer. And then a new set may be placed on top of the old set. And so on. :-(

I'm working on doing better. And I believe in my heart that if someone came and cleaned it all up, I could keep it clean. I just know it. Let's find out!