Month: February 2018

Best Day

Work today was great.

I went in today, and was assigned to a self-contained classroom. If you are out of the loop, a self-contained classroom has students with Aspberger’s syndrome and Autism.

Today was a class of fourth graders. They were really good students. Two of the students had to go to a different classroom for social studies, My fellow teacher was a buddy: we used to sub together. He was teaching the Revolutionary War and development of New Jersey. Jesse started, and I normally would work the back of the classroom. I’d walk to make sure children are on the right page and paying attention.

I started chiming in, and Jesse knew that I used to be a National Park Ranger, and I was stationed at Independence National Historical Park. In short, I know my revolutionary war history. Jesse motioned for me to take it, and so I taught fourth graders American History. The class was attentive, and peppered me with questions.

God, it felt good.

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He’s Back….

You can run but you can’t hide if you have been a reader of the posts for a while.

You followed the trials and tribulations of Jim as “Shingleman.” Then, I followed it with “Compostman” to follow his gardening life.

Now, he has decided to go completely cold-turkey off of wheat to see if it’ll relieve some of his arthritic pain….Enter, “Quinoa Man.”

I admire him for this, but as I said to a neighbor last night, I need to put a big toe in the waters before converting. The picture immediately above is the bowl of quinoa he made for himself for breakfast yesterday morning. He decided he wanted to add blueberries (organic, of course) to jazz it up.Gotta love him.

I’ll keep you posted!

Total Recall

I am the first to admit: I have been trying to wean myself off of Facebook and only view it sporadically. Here is one of the reasons why I still check in.

My buddies tell me there’s websites to check, but I usually catch dog food and dog treat recalls on Facebook. The fact that they exist break my heart. I love both my girls forever and try to be careful with whatever they ate.

Normally I’d make breakfast, because usually I’d choose that meal to fold any needed medication into: quite simply, it was the easiest to work with. Any treats or other meals of the day were closely scrutinized. I really know people can’t all do what I do, but maybe dog owners can do one thing- COMPLAIN!

For the price of a postcard; or even an email, you can contact the conglomerates that put this so-called dog food on the market, and let them know they need to do better: our pets, our four-legged families deserve better.

Class Times

Working this week had me in my usual school of late, but with a twist. I have been taking a lot of third grade, but today for the first time, I worked the fourth grade.

It has been sad due to the shootings in Florida.They have been having lock down practice for a few years, but yesterday, I participated in a lock down practice and in the darkness and quiet of the classroom, it was sad to see the students with their hands in their faces. I don’t know if the shootings were covered in the classroom, but the drill was taken with a lot more of intensity.

Sure, there were other moments too: I worked with students one on one and that was quite rewarding.As the classes were third and fourth grade, I had a few chuckles with the classes also, but to help a few of the class that were struggling always leaves me with a good feeling.

It is quite good to be back in action.

Back Up

I had been down for a little bit, but now that I am a little better, and take daily Zircam, guess who’s going to work tomorrow? You’ve got it: me!

I have to admit that I enjoyed being around while the weather has been spring-like.Tomorrow, of
course, the front is due to come through and I’ll be with the kids.I have to admit I miss when I am not in on a regular basis, but on the other hand, working during the Titanic of Flu seasons, well, sometimes I was happy to hide out here.

Remember your umbrellas, gang, and stay dry!

Summer in the City

Kasia spent a good part of the day relaxing, or should I say on bed rest.

She aggravated her back paw again, so I have unfortunately realized that we walked a little too much last week.

We took advantage of the summer -like temperatures we had here today. She spent a good bit of the afternoon in the sun on our back deck.

When we had gone out this morning, I looked by our gate and saw that my spring bulbs are coming up. No wonder why the two of us weren’t up for a long” hot” walk. We saw a lot of folks out in their shirtsleeves today. I didn’t want to take a chance got a quick drop in temperatures if they are coming down the pike. Kasia just agreed with me to take a pass today.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Simpler Days

It’s the Presidential Weekend holiday coming up this weekend here in America.

In the old days, about 50 years ago, there were two holidays: one in commemoration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, and one for George Washington’s Birthday. As the years went on, the government decided to consolidate the days into one federal holiday. Thus, the President’s day holiday came into being.

Part of me still thinks of a simpler time.

I remember shopping with my parents and stopping at F.W.Woolworth and in the store,they had a candy counter. Jars on top of the counters had jelly beans and the like in big glass jars. What we always got this time of the year?

These, technically, are now marketed as cherry lolly pops. When my Mom would buy them, they were Washington’s cherries. The real job was breaking the stems apart. The green stem was made of plastic. I remember having to twist them around and around until finally the stems would wear out and you would have two separate cherries on two stems.

As F.W.Woolworth’s store is out of business and has been for a while, you can imagine how shocked I was to actually find these candies still around. I have to remember- everything is on line.

Have a great weekend if you are here in the states. If you are reading this outside of America, well, have a good weekend, too!

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

It’s St. Valentine’s day and I am hoping all of you had a wonderful day and great evening. Kasia and I are here and we are a little tired, as the weather was pretty good today, so we gals did over a mile walking today.

Jim has to work tonight but we will make up St.Valentine’s day on his day off.Technically,though, every day is St.Valentine’s day when you are married.

Uphill Skiing

During the current Olympics, I pretty much followed a lot of the sports. My favorites have been ice skating and dancing, luge and cross-country skiing. Should I say cross-country skiing?…..

I have been following Winter Olympics since 1976. While watching these games, I was astonished to see the incline of the hills these cross-country skiers have to go up.

Yes-UP!

I know some cross- country skiers, obviously, not Olympians, but they would talk about the routes they take.

Uphill?

Whoa! I am impressed!

Momma and Daughter Time

It’s a quiet Monday night so what’s Momma and Kasia to do?

Why,put on the Westminster Kennel Club of course.

Kasia has shown no interest at being a sibling again, so I have been window researching breeds as she shows interest in anything but the dogs that I am calling out to her.I am chuckling to myself as I type this.I could almost read the thoughts coming from her head….”Over my dead body, Momma.”

I wonder about the sponsorship of this dog show, as most of the commercials are for Purina Pro Plan. In these days of kibble recall on dog food,I guess Purina feels invincible as far as customers go.

My buddy is ready for bed, so we are ready to go.Tomorrow night is best in show. That should be interesting.

Zush is Finally on the Sofa

This morning I met up with my buddy, Duch, who was in area. We settled up for Girl Scout cookies and she had a gift for my 💔heart…

She has my Zush’s image made on a pillow. Even Jim couldn’t get over how real she seemed to be on the pillow.

So between Zush’s foster Mom, making Zush socks for me, my buddy Juls keeping Zush going for me in Birthday gifts, and my Duch finally getting Zush on the sofa, well… I 💚you guys!

A Damn Good Day

Today I was with third graders.

They each were grouped into four, and worked on reports about breeds of dogs.

I walked through the class, monitoring their work, and naturally, I stopped and talked to the four boys working on Golden Retrievers. As I talked with them, the lead teacher said they should take advantage of my ” expertise “.

It was a pleasure to talk of both Zush and Kasia. I showed the boys pictures of them both, and it brought a smile to my heart. The boys were genuinely interested and laughed at some of their stories. It gave me the opportunity to think if Zush as still being with me. I wished I had Kasia with me to sit by my side.

What a blessed day!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Tomorrow is the alleged Super Bowl celebration parade in Philadelphia for the 🦅 Eagles.

Me? I kind of wish I would be there but then again, maybe not.

I remember the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies when they won the World Series. Sure, it was exciting. It was great. What I didn’t realize was the effect of the million plus crowd was going to make on me getting home. The parade was on Halloween day, and when we were in the city, we normally had a party Halloween night.

My neighbor talked to me and he was telling me how he wanted to go for the parade tomorrow for the Eagles.

For about five minutes I though of the excitement. Then, I remembered 2008 and was thankful I have to work tomorrow.

If you are going to the parade tomorrow, be safe and have fun. I’ll look for you on the news.

By the way, I do realize this is a screen shot of Jacksonville vs. Patriots game: I am putting this out there for Patriot fans.

February

It’s going to be a rough St. Valentine’s Day around here, since one of my Valentines’ is going to be celebrating in heaven this year. Kasia, I admit, will soak up all the ❤️ love- no doubt about it. Sometimes, though, I feel she misses Zush as much as I do.

Since Zush passed, I just have no heart for holidays. I usually did. Please don’t get me wrong: Kasia gets love every day. Holidays, though, well,it seems to be just another day. My heart just aches as I write this and think about it.

Thank God February is a short month.

The Day After….

Well, the Philadelphia Eagles won football’s Super Bowl.

The game was good, because my team won, naturally. What was difficult for me were the ups and downs of the game. I didn’t realize that I would feel the need for Valium. It made me feel for the genuine fans who followed every trade, every practice, every game for years only to be disappointed. I admit that I caught this season’s games and the anxiety hoping for a win is rougher as you get older.

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles on a job well done. I’m glad they finally will have a Super Bowl ring!

It’s time….

Windows have kindergarten Eagle artwork hanging on them. I have the green lights around Zush’s picture on.

We have our meal and snacks lined up, and we are happily watching the show at home.

I have my hand ready to go over my eyes just in case and am hoping I won’t have to use them. I have my green pants on, green tee shirt and green hoodie on.

I am drink lime seltzer, green naturally, from a can in my Eagles can cozy.

Seventy minutes left!

Let’s go birds!

Here an Eagle, There an Eagle…

….I had kindergarten two days last week, and there were Eagles 🦅 everywhere.

Sure. There was a classroom.

But in addition to little ones in Eagle shirts, hats and scaves; each class made their own handmade Eagles hat. To give credit, the back part of the hat had the groundhog on it. The air was buzzing with electricity, and it was hard to believe you weren’t in Philadelphia.

This was the highlight of the day.

GO EAGLES!i

Neither Job nor….

…other commitments kept me from my appointed rounds today.

I made my way over to a Philadelphia Soft Pretzel Factory in the area, and picked up my order I phoned in yesterday.

I had ordered two dozen mini pretzels, bald, with salt on the side. My great nephews, Nathan and Nicholas will be rooting for the birds 🦅 on Sunday In Minnesota with their grandparents, so I figured Jim and I would try to help out.

As for me, I’m sure I’ll be ready for Sunday, as I am working kindergarten tomorrow and Friday.<<<<<
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