Day Forty-Seven

Visit to Chicago, Part two

We also celebrated Maggie's Christening.
Auntie Em gets to be her God mama.
She got Mary Jane's.
Does it get any cuter?

Day Forty-Six

Visit to Chicago

So many things to celebrate... On October 23rd, Willy will be two. We celebrated while the Wilcox clan was here. Lucky boy blew out his candles about 12 times. "Blow, blow".

He also got lots of presents... including book from his auntie em. That's all he gets from her... she's a teacher after all.

Day Forty-four

Greetings from Chicago-land. I have no pictures to post today, but I am having a fun time visiting the family... and am taking plenty. Mom and I woke up at 4 a.m. to take the 6:00 flight and arrived here at 7:00. I just enjoyed family nap to try to recooperate from this little bug that has found its way into my nose and throat. Six hours sleep (if I got that many) is not very much.

I had a great classroom week last week, but am tired out by trying to keep up with my crew. I am finished now with all my parent "listening meetings", so things should slow down a bit as I settle them into their routine. If anyone out there has a dead bees nest or animal dwelling, I am in the collection process. Anyone?

Day Forty

Highlights from a fun week-end, Part Three

I was finally able to give baby Joey and his family the quilt that I worked on this summer. Nina, Grace, and Johnny sang "She's a Grand ole quilt" and opened their gift that was full of love.

I love watching people open presents, especially ones that I have created.

Day Thirty-Nine

Hightlights from a fun week-end, Part Two

Saturday night was pure fall fun. A fire in the chimney outside on a cool evening, surrounded by friends, stars, and darkness. We ate yummy peanut butter cup smores and roasted marshmallows. Grace was a chatter box until her eventual crash. Then quality adult time with good friends.

Day Thirty-Eight

Highlights from a great week-end, Part One



I just had the greatest week-end with some of my greatest peeps.
Thank you to Nina for having a baby Joey so that I could come to your craft-filled fun shower. You took very good care of me.

Thank you also for letting me stay and play with my favorite big girl.

I am so in love with little Grace. She played fun games and cuddled up for good stories... and gave me an excuse to eat apple pie for breakfast... Along with an amazing frittata.

Thank you, Kevin, for putting on a great concert. I loved hearing you sing. I am happy that we got to have some QT.

Thank you mother earth, for a beautiful fall day.

Day Thirty-Five

Okay, so I got a forward today... and while I decided to spare you all the forward, I wanted to honor Alison's request... so here it is, just for fun.

1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A SECOND HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
If I wasn't working, I'd split between two houses in British Columbia and Costa Rica... If I had to realistically choose... I'd have one house here in the Berkshires and a second in Vermont.

2. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?
My overalls.

3. THE LAST CD YOU BOUGHT?
None at all... but I have bought songs online... the most recent of which were Lea DeLaria singing Blondie's "Call me" and Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl".

4. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
5:00 if I am going to the gym, 6:00 otherwise.

5. IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I'd like to leard guitar to play in my classroom, it seems like ot most practical instument to play solo.

6. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER?
Lilac ot Hydrangea

7. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR OR SUV?
Neither. I'd go for a hybrid.

8. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTERLIFE?
I believe in many.

9. FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK?
Tough one for an Elementary school teacher... Probably anything Eric Carle.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
Summer now that I am a teacher.

11. IF YOU HAD ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
The power to change minds... any mind...

12. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?
A rose with wings.

13. CAN YOU JUGGLE?
Heck no

14. THE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK TO:
I've been trying to reach an old friend, just for fun... but I am pretty at peace with the past.

15. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DAY?
Any day off... Saturdays... Summer days... Random Jewish holidays.

16. WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR?
I strive to keep it empty... The spare and jack are in there, though I wouldn't know how to use them if I had to.

17. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?
I'd like to say sushi... but really, I love a good cheeseburger... blue- cheeseburger.

18. FROM THE PEOPLE YOU WILL EMAIL THIS TO, WHO'S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST? N/A

19. WHO'S LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? N/A

20. WHO DID YOU RECEIVE THIS FROM? Alison

21. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
My new obsession is Friendly's Orange Sherbet and Vanilla swirl.

22. DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?
Love is what you make it.

23. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM JOB?
I am leaning towards librarian for the quiet and organization...

24. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL?
Breakfast, suasage biscuits with eggs over medium.

25. WHAT ARE YOUR TWO FAVORITE MOVIES?
Stand By Me and Best in Show

26. WHAT'S THE MOST ENJOYABLE THING YOU WILL DO TODAY?
I went in the sauna at the gym and ate homemade salsa.

27. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY?
Christmas morning...

28. IF YOU COULD HAVE JUST TWO HOURS TO YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH YOUR TIME?
Sew... one of my many projects on my list... or maybe just nap.

29. FAVORITE SOUND? Laughing

30. FAVORITE WORD? famously

31. WORD YOU HATE?
"Emily...???..." (said in whine tone)

32. FAVORITE SMELL? Lilac or fresh cut grass

33. FAVORITE NUMBER? 69, but not for the reason you think.

34. FAVORITE SPORT? Baseball... if I had to pick.

35. WATER OR SNOW SKIING? Snow, of course.

36. FISHING OR GOLF?
Gouge my eyes out before I'd ever stick a hook in anything alive... so I guess it would be golf... to play... but not watch.

37. BOXERS OR BRIEFS? boxer briefs... mmmm....

38. HOTEL OR TENT?
Its really dependent on a lot of things, but I will go tent.

39. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? The Blue Benn Diner in Bennington, VT

40. ARE YOU GLAD THIS SURVEY IS DONE?
It was really quite fun. I am a test-taker at heard.

Day Thirty-Four

It is Wednesday and I am over the hump.

Phew. As crazy busy as I am and as crazy as I feel, the days pass more quickly than I can keep track of... Except that each morning I have to write a morning message that reads "Good morning. Today is Thursday. We have Music and Spanish. Matt is out star." Hence, I am reminded.

Today felt great- like the kids were finally 'N Sync, and functioning normally. It feels good to be hitting our stride. I am getting more comfortable... They are getting more comfortable...

At the end of the day I went outside to take photos of the garden that we "observed" for science yesterday. I entered the butterfly garden, recognizing it solely by the swarm that fluttered around my head. It was amazing and beautiful. It was a great finish to a great day.

As a side note, Mollie has learned how to read. She can read a book called "Doggies" by Sandra Boynton. I bought it for Willy, but read it to Mollie and because each page features a dog bark, she read along with me.

She has also learned to sing a new song. "Feel So Good" by Chuck Mangione. The high swells moved her.

Day Thirty-One

Just sitting down with my morning coffee, getting ready for a day of planning and preparation for the week ahead. Next to Monday, Sunday is the worst day of the week... waiting, anticipating, anxious about the week ahead. I hope soon that I will hit my stride with this class and we will be off and running... without so much of this worry.

Todd and I went kayaking yesterday. Up to the Deerfield River in Charlemont. I hitched a shuttle ride for the first time, a job that has always scared me a little... but the only people you ever ride with are other boaters, so there is really no reason to be nervous. Then we had a good time, pushing our limits, doing lots of rolls, in and out of current... I even practiced my "off side"... rolling on the side that I am not accustomed to, and that felt great to be successful. I had only one missed roll at the end, after successfully making it through Zoar Gap (the largest rapid on this section of river)... and it is because I was trying to do a pass the the paddle trick. Fortunately, Todd was there and I used him to "T-rescue" rather than having to get out of my boat and swim. For any of you that don't understand the contents of this paragraph, I will have to explain kayaking fun to you sometime. It really is fun for me now. I am working on changing my attitude about what makes a fun day. I used to measure its by success having no swims... Now I am working to remind myself that its is a successful day when it is a fun day on the river... and sometimes that might involve a little swim that bruises up your shins.

After watching Napolean Dynamite last night, I had a dream that I was watching a couple meet for the first time at a bus stop. The girl was now a woman, but she was a girl that I mentored in college. I was a big sister, in a way. She was a teenager that was running away from her residential program, performing sexual favors to get rides and drugs. In my dream, she looked good... Not quite a LaFawnDuh, but good... and that made me happy.

I also spent the night, about two hours or so, revamping Todd's resume to get it ready to apply for a caretaker position that we found on line. The hunt is beginning for a new place... but slowly and with patience so that we can find the right place... We figure if we start looking now, hopefully in three years, we might find a place to settle for a few more years. Now, I love the guy... after writing his resume, I want to hire him. Listen to this:

Profile:
Responsible and mature property manager, skilled and experienced in all aspects if on-site caretaking including landscaping, snow removal, painting. plumbing maintenance, and basic carpentry.
Efficient, diligent, flexible, professional, and productive in all aspects of a job.

It's just dripping, isn't it?

Day Twenty-eight

Sometimes I fight being social, i.e. this is the first time I have really hung out with people from work. I guess I did once in the Spring, but I felt like a newbee to the group tonight when a few of us went out for drinks after work. We had a great time- and it feels so good to laugh with these people who understand my stress, and know my children. We had a great time, but the work I had hoped to do tonight is now set aside... and who knows what I will be in for tomorrow... a bit underprepared... It is also past my bedtime now. (Todd had to keep me up past 6:30 last night).
On a positive note, I have gone to the gym twice this week, which feels great and its a slow start back to getting myself back in shape. Light weights. Shorter runs. Lots of stretching and water, lots of water.

Good night, moon. Good night, stars. Good night, room. Good night, friends.