Tag Archives: making the days count

Let it snow!

winter 2012

When I logged on this past Monday morning, the weather app thundered at me. It makes the thunder sound to alert me to a weather event; a watch, a warning, or worse. Often, it is an event in progress like a thunderstorm. This was warning me of the impending winter storm forecast to hit the region Thursday and Friday. Well, the storm came through last night. We got rain all Wednesday night and Thursday morning, then it got cold and started to snow. It was nice to watch, but it didn’t snow near enough, just enough to coat the grass and cover the ground with a thin white layer and not even enough to shovel off the driveway. But, it is a start and that means I can turn on the snow, on the blog that is.

Today is the day before Winter Break at school and the kids were wound up yesterday. Today is gonna be a letdown, because they were hoping for snow day. It didn’t happen, regardless, it is gonna be a great day! I know it, it’s the solstice and so much more. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, one snowflake at a time.

What are you gonna do to make today a great one?

Numbers

christmas tieIt’s 12-12-12 and it is the 73rd day of the school year with 99 to go, counting today. Though, my students are more worried about how many days it is to winter Break and Christmas and I am on day 3 of the ten days of Christmas ties! I wear Christmas ties to school the last two weeks and I have just enough to make it ten, this year. Maybe next year it will be twelve, who knows? It sure beats those gaudy Christmas sweater I remember from my grade school teachers, but I guess I trade it for gaudy Christmas ties! It’s all about perspective!

Last night on our way home from O’s basketball game, she and I got a quiz question on the radio; ‘How many presents would you get if you got all of the presents in the song “Twelve Days of Christmas?”’ We worked on it and had the right answer when the song was over and the announcer came back. We gave ourselves a high five! She scored two baskets for four points, way to go O! Regardless of the numbers, today is gonna be a great day. I know it. So, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Today is gonna be a great day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time.

What is your number for the day? 

Clothing tags

my sweatshirt was made in Pakistan

When I was a kid, I read a lot. I still do. I read when I can and I have been known to sit down, lay down, curl up and read a book in a day, or two. Sometimes my reading keeps me from doing something and I get the look, and guilt sets in. Over Thanksgiving break, I came home from school with a book I checked out, Safekeeping by Karen Hesse. I started reading in the LMC (library) when I picked it up, and when I got home, I sat down on the couch and read. I read until I was about to fall asleep. I climbed in bed and read some more. I read a bit the following day and finished reading it as the turkey roasted, Thanksgiving morning. It was a good read.

Most of what I read now is related to what I teach, and I teach kids, seventh graders, so I read adolescent literature. Some of it’s good, some not, but it is always interesting. Sometimes I find books for kids that have a similar adult book, almost a match, or similar theme to books written for adults. I truly dislike the term ‘adult book,’ but you know what I mean. As a kid, I read non-fiction and an occasional novel. I read about football, World War II, and occasionally I’d find a good read in a disaster book Continue reading Clothing tags

The watch

It’s Saturday morning, again and I’m sipping coffee and thinking. Thinking about all I have to do and all want to do. They do not line up it’s not even close.

I didn’t win the lottery last night, but I didn’t expect that I would. Yet, that reduces my options to the realistic ‘to dos.’ Grading papers, planning, balancing the checkbook, paying bills, decorating outdoors, cleaning the house, etc., and in no particular order. And, the list goes on.

We chose to stay home this holiday weekend and so far it’s been restful and what we needed as a family. I’ve been working on a few ‘to dos’ that have been ‘to dos’ for far too long and I am making progress. The kids have been kids. They marched in the parade holiday last night and W had wrestling meet Wednesday and another this morning. My girls, B and O, went shopping at the mall last night, and I went to the bookstore for three books and came home with four! Continue reading The watch

The turkey….

roasting and getting ready for dinner!

It’s Thanksgiving morning and the turkey is in the oven. There are yams cooking on the stove and it’s pretty quiet. Ivy’s been out a couple of times and she had a treat to start her day. I mixed chicken broth, warm chicken broth, with her dog food this morning and she enjoyed it.  Actually, she’s in the doghouse with B, because Ivy woke us up just as the sun was peaking over the horizon. She had slept at the top of the stairs just outside our room and let out a yelp and short bark to let me know it was time to go out. I felt the warm spot on the carpet when I went downstairs to let her out and start the day. Unfortunately, B’s sleep was collateral damage and she followed me downstairs.

It’s my job to cook the turkey and it’s in the oven. The smells are just now wafting through the house and before long; the aroma of Thanksgiving Continue reading The turkey….

Saturday morning sunrise

a great way to start the day…

It’s great when I can sleep until the sun rises, usually I am on my way to school, and dropping W off on the way as the sun peaks over the horizon and new day begins. I would have missed it, but I set my alarm to get up early this morning, but I let it snooze and slept in. I needed it.  I really needed to get a good night’s rest.

It was a treat to see the pinky-orange sky reveal a lightly frosted landscape this morning. It’ll burn off and I’ll get out, rake up the last few pockets of leaves, cover the lawn furniture, Continue reading Saturday morning sunrise

Veterans Day – Semper Fi

Today is Veterans Day. It is celebrated on the eleventh day of the eleventh month; the day also marks the remembrance of end of the First World War. There is no coincidence.

Private Robert N. Watkins, USMC, my dad

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

As a young child, there were two topics, which I constantly read – World War II and football. I could not read enough or learn enough about the war. I was fascinated, and I still am intrigued by history. My dad helped foster this learning and I remember watching Patton at the Palms Theater in third grade. At the time, I thought it was a great movie. I have watched it many times since and have the soundtrack in my music library.  I am listening to it as I write this morning. I still think it is a great movie about a great man, who like many was flawed, but did what was needed when it was needed most. Continue reading Veterans Day – Semper Fi

6th grade, all over again

STRESS CITY. It is that time of the year, November and the push at school, home, and everywhere else. This past week was full: parent conferences at school – two full days, parent conferences for O, the election, and the kid’s activities – sports and scouts. I am grateful for B who handled scouts this week; otherwise, I might have burst. And, this week ends with my birthday. Yep, I am officially one year older today – Happy Birthday to me. Continue reading 6th grade, all over again

Election Day 2012

The alarm went off at four this morning and I noticed we had a visitor in bed this morning. Sometime after I crawled in bed and fell asleep, Ivy came upstairs and jumped into bed with us. She usually sleeps downstairs, but it is comforting to have her lying at my feet warming my legs, even if she isn’t supposed to be our bed.

Today is Election Day, Continue reading Election Day 2012

It couldn’t happen to me….

Being a parent isn’t easy. And, being a teacher of middle schoolers isn’t any easier, either. Because when they move on, I do not. I am stuck in seventh grade. There is something about growing up and growing old. I want to share my mistakes, in an anonymous sort of way, with others so they won’t make the same ones I made. I want them to avoid the scrapes, the pain, and I want them to listen, to mind, to take my advice at face value. I want them to grow and learn, but try as I might; kids just have a difficult time learning through other’s mistakes, because it won’t happen to them. Continue reading It couldn’t happen to me….