Friday, July 31, 2009

Today's glitter



I cracked up when I saw this!!! I thought I'd created this idea! I've told my friends that I wish when people farted, that glitter, rainbows, and butterflies would scatter out from their butt. That is the world I want.

Last school year, after I read the book "If" to my students, we did our own "wonder ifs...." I shared with them, "wonder if when you farted, glitter, rainbows, and butterflies flew out? Then, instead of waving your hand and saying 'phew', you'd say, 'Oh, how pretty that was!' Can you imagine how 3rd graders responded to that idea?? We had huge giggles and laughs (I know..... the teacher shouldn't say the word "fart", but, come on, it's a funny word!!!)

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Plans change/historic decisions

1980....

In 1980 I was working in the Santa Cruz Mts. I was a naturalist for an Outdoor Ed. School. I loved it. My days were spent outside, from 8 am to 10 pm. I took 6th graders on hikes, teaching about the redwood forest, the chaparral, the stream, nature in general. I held creatures that children handed to me. I licked the slime on banana slugs (why? because that is what naturalists did). I pointed out wood rats (nicknamed "pack rats". very cute if not indoors). I caught newts, and showed them to my students. I had a talent for finding trapdoor spiders. I taught about the night sky, and I was able to point out a number of constellations. I lived in and with nature.

I loved this job, but it wasn't a year-round position. I felt guilty because my dear daddy had completely funded my college education. I had a BA from Cal Poly and a teaching credential, but I was not making much money. Certainly not enough to support myself. I lived at the camp. I worked from January to May 1979, then I went back to San Luis Obispo to complete my credential, and returned for another season in Santa Cruz. In May of 1980 I knew I had to find a teaching job. It was time to "get serious."

No one put any pressure on me. My parents never asked "When are you going to get a real job?" I put the pressure on myself. But, secretly, I was very frightened to enter the adult world of full time employment. A career!!!! I had the documents that claimed I was capable. The state of California deemed me worthy of teaching children. I was qualified!

I drove home from Santa Cruz at the end of May. I was going to stay in Lemoore for a week or two, then try to get a job in Visalia and live with my friend, Roberta. Easy, plans for fun, and it seemed right, since I'd lived with Barbara while going to COS, then lived with Gail during our Cal Poly years... so, it was Roberta/Gina time! I didn't have a concrete long-term plan, but this would definitely do for the time being.

Plans change.
Within a week of my return, disaster struck. My dear daddy had been diagnosed with brain cancer the previous November. He'd had surgery and they'd removed the tumor. Later, I was to be reminded that I had been sitting in the hospital waiting room, with my mom and siblings, when the doctor said the tumor was malignant, and would likely grow back. My brain did not, would not, hear that. I think my brain only processed that he made it through surgery, blah, blah, blah. Now, the tumor had returned. He'd just had a clear check up 3 months prior, but it was back..... growing quickly and growing large. Plans changed. I stayed in Lemoore that summer. I was not prepared, nor mature enough to handle this dark cloud of death. I selfishly avoided the issue as much as I could. On August 16, 1980, my dad died.

What I'm getting at is this... at the age of 23, I made some decisions that plotted the course of my life! Plans changed. I was devastated, scared, and empty. Within 3 weeks of my dad's death, I came down with mono and hepatitis A (from working with the feces of gypsy moths during that summer.... another story). I was so sick, very sick for 3 to 4 weeks, then another 2 weeks bouncing back.

My course changed in 1980.

*Instead of remaining open to working almost anywhere in the state, I wanted to stay close to home. (historic decision)

*I was offered a 2nd grade teaching job at Island Elementary School in Lemoore. Great little school. After some thought, I turned it down. I did not feel I had the emotional strength to do a good job as a classroom teacher. Not yet. (historic decision)

*I got another naturalist job. This time in the foothills above Springville. I taught the Bird Study. Loved it there. A totally different experience than my Santa Cruz job.

*There were different boys/men during this time. Still working at unwrapping myself from Gary (that too, is another story), meeting some new people, having pseudo-fun. Really a transition time, now that I look back.

*In May of 1981, I decided, again, to try to get serious about a classroom teaching job.

*I was hired to work at YMCA Camp in Sequoia Park. I decided not to do this. (historic decision)

*I got a job as a waitress in a new restaurant/bar in Hanford called "The Bastille" (historic decision)

Because of these decisions....

*I met Anthony while working at The Bastille.

*By turning down a job with Island School, I was hired, a year later, to teach 4th grade at Stratford School.

*I am still living in Lemoore.

I was 23 at the time I was making these youthful decisions. I don't remember struggling much with them. I just followed the flow of the river. I had no idea that I was being led to "my life"..... I was led to lifelong committments, a lifelong path, a plan that would color who I am.
Guess who has been experimenting with blog backgrounds?!?! I stayed up late last night, searching backgrounds and cutsie additions for blogs. Be patient with me while I play with color and designs. In the end, I'll probably have a very subtle, earthy blog page.... but, I want to try on a lot of colors before I commit.

Yesterday I had my eyelid surgery. I was feeling pangs of vanity guilt about an elective procedure that would take a few years (or maybe just months!) off of my overall appearance. I'm not very swollen............ Myles is diligent about reminding me to "ice up, Pookie". I'm happy to report that I'm already experiencing an improvement in vision! I know that insurance covered this procedure for that reason, but I really didn't expect a clearer range of periferal vision. I wanted to look less tired. I'm realizing that those drooping eyelids were truly interferring with some vision! A serendipity.



The surgery was really easy. The anesthesiologist told me that the most discomfort I'd experience was the insertion of the IV needle. He was right! He put me into a deep sedation, that lasted just a short time... long enough for the doctor to use needles to numb the area around my eyes. Thank you, modern medicine!!! Good meds for sure! I woke up during the procedure, and chit chatted with the doctor, while she stitched up my eyelids. Only the best drugs can make you THAT relaxed.

I won't post pictures, but I'll tell you, I look like Cleopatra, if she was drunk while applying her eye make up. Heavy blue/red/purple eyeliner and shadow, that extends out past the eyebrow line. This would have been great if I'd done it around Halloween. My students would have loved it! I look all creepy and beat up.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The photo

Jake took this picture. He'd just purchased his camera and was playing around with the different settings, and this was one of the pics he took. He was at Jill and Wayne's. I like the black and white, the kitty, the sunlight on the floor, and the splash of yellow on the chair.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Introduction

I don't know if I have anything to write or not, but I know I have thoughts. Lots of thoughts, ideas, questions, philosophies, and a constant universal inquiry of "wonder if....."

I love glittery, shiny, pretty things. Anything that dances in my eyes (that includes people!), in my brain, in my heart, in my ears..... glitter me!! How can someone NOT stop and drink up a rainbow? A baby's laugh is like warm chocolate melting inside me. An eye to eye look from a love.... whoosh. Music that stirs me. A friend to share secrets.

That is my pixie dust, glitter, and sequins.