tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36487322012-01-04T22:43:04.905-06:00This will be my effort to be a primary source of information. I actually see things that other people don't. It might not be interesting to anyone but me, but I see what I see!abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comBlogger991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-72822277037619092512012-01-04T22:42:00.000-06:002012-01-04T22:43:04.917-06:00

Wow, major memory flashback. I love bacon, I always have. When my father was dying at the VA hospital in Memphis we went to visit. They brought him bacon with his breakfast and I admired it. He offered it to me and my mother fussed because I'm sure by that point he was under a hundred pounds. I know now that she wanted him to eat because it would make him stronger. He wanted me to have it because

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-43454679980188095792011-11-18T20:53:00.004-06:002011-11-18T21:15:31.324-06:00

Today, I'm not seeing, I'm thinking about the people in my life and feel that I should tell them why I'm thankful to know them.AAMy sister. AA I wish I knew you better. I'm sad that we only ever lived together before you were five. I wish that I had so much experience to draw on to tell you why I'm thankful for you. I really don't know you. I never had the privilege. We are siblings yet we

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-44874470207347497272011-10-26T20:50:00.003-05:002011-10-26T21:39:44.456-05:00

I have more projects. My head is going to get exponentially harder. I'm not used to this. I'm not used to being challenged inside my classroom. I'm very chill and will give you the best goodies if you are willing to just come in and work. We will talk about ideas. Just don't be hateful.Please don't come up in here and contradict EVERYTHING I say just for your own perverse pleasure. It

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-56938855806344556572011-10-21T21:14:00.003-05:002011-10-21T21:20:56.067-05:00

I love teaching. I get to learn so much and I get to teach so much and a lot of what I teach is not in the art curriculum. Every year I have "projects." Those are students that are hard-headed and resilient. They have what it takes, they are just directionally challenged. You know who you are. I thank you for pushing me to be a better me. I love your spirit and your willingness to be

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-64250025238284646812011-09-30T22:46:00.002-05:002011-09-30T23:13:17.441-05:00

I was recently reminded of an experience in my past and I wanted to share it. I was driving one of my VW's. I don't remember which one. I was on I-35 headed from Denton to Garland and the car just quit on me in the middle of the highway. I walked across the northbound lanes of 35 to get to the gas station to call home. I called my dad from the pay phone and he told me to figure something

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-53820568382562594582011-09-09T21:33:00.002-05:002011-09-09T22:14:43.338-05:00

I've been going into work extra early. Starting a new job with a new district it seems like the thing to do. I am learning the lay of the land and the territory and I want to be on top of my game.After three weeks I have noticed a few kids that are dropped off early. They are there when I get there at seven. I've talked to Ashanti because she's also there when I leave after five. I'm not sure

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-4141443711865809372011-05-30T21:00:00.002-05:002011-05-30T21:08:47.818-05:00

There are so many folks I know with a birthday today. Today was my father's birthday. Today is my ex-husband's birthday. Today is the birthday of a son in law's father. Obviously, I'm somehow drawn to men born the end of May. What are they like? They all have strong personalities. They all like an audience. They all have disappointed and been disappointed. The next four days bring a bunch of

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-56875717920119654582010-10-18T22:03:00.002-05:002010-10-18T22:17:58.454-05:00

I'm working hard to be a better teacher this year. I am pushing myself and surpassing last year. I feel good about what I'm doing and I know that I am pushing my students to excel.I'm doing bellringers this year. If you don't understand a bellringer, here it is..., my students come into the class with a question posted on the board that they have just a few minutes to answer before we begin

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-61864002139349390082010-09-11T20:52:00.002-05:002010-09-11T21:20:05.082-05:00

One of my best friends in all the world has a birthday today. I'm so sad that the day has gained such a sad connotation.Most years, I've been really good about calling on his birthday. However, the heinous events of 2001 seemed to make it a sad day and not a joyous day. I didn't call for some years.I just talked to him and I'm grateful. He seemed so happy to hear from me. We both have been

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-65967747583537460402010-07-30T23:48:00.002-05:002010-07-30T23:54:47.024-05:00

I feel so lonely sometimes. I have a great family. I'm so grateful for them so much of the time. Sometimes though, I'm left out, I'm shoved out to the edges and I am disregarded and not included.Why?I've worked hard over the years. I have struggled to overcome adversity. I have worked three jobs while going to college and supported four children and a spouse who was supposed to die.I want to be

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-5570407107848007822010-07-30T22:34:00.004-05:002010-07-30T22:44:12.820-05:00

My mom is 70 today. She's freaking awesome on a million billion levels.I have been looking for ways to celebrate her birthday. I sent an email to my sister and my daughters and asked what we could do to make the birthday wonderful.I got a lukewarm response from my sister who lives on the left coast with my mom.I didn't know that umpteen family members had planned to go be there and celebrate

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-83371914348485536932010-07-26T21:04:00.001-05:002010-07-26T21:06:10.697-05:00

Your name has been bandied about a bit among folks of my acquaintance. You left marks on all of us. We are all sore sad to know that you are not there to hear us jeer you. You are not there to hear us celebrate and elevate and berate you for leaving us. Tragedy? That's what we hear. Tragedy? That's what we feel.

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-61189018876358965722010-07-01T23:26:00.006-05:002010-07-02T00:52:35.165-05:00

Well, I've heard the story told all my life. I was, I was I was an infant. It was cold, the car was dicey and was reputed to NOT be reliable. My mother left me sitting in the car and went inside. I was a good kid but she could have realized that I paid attention to things. I engaged pattern recognition. I don't think there were seat belts then. I can picture a million times in my life where

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-48379454196192752512010-06-13T22:01:00.002-05:002010-06-13T22:05:10.746-05:00

I have spent some amount of my life riding in an combine. I was young. The only time I ever got to spend with one uncle seemed to be riding on the combine. He would take me along and talk to me about farming stuff when I was a small child. He told the other children that he didn't get to see me very much, so ... he had to see me when he could which is why I got to ride in the combine. The other

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-3432394911863708502010-06-13T20:29:00.002-05:002010-06-13T20:32:19.331-05:00

Okay this is part of the pity party. I was feeling raw. I love you too ****. My objection is to lies being purported as a Christian truth. That is offensive to me. I would think it would be offensive to you as well as I would hope a lover of honesty. Either that, or you believe gossip that is unsubstantiated and spread the misinformation further without seeking the truth of the matter. That's

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-53670922474660178972010-06-11T21:05:00.002-05:002010-06-11T21:10:55.046-05:00

I'm just having a pity party. I feel overwhelmed and underloved. I come from just about the most awesome family on the planet. I just wish that they included me when they did things. I get left out a lot because of various reasons. I read about all the wonderful and fun things that they do and I'm NEVER invited. Maybe they think it's kinder to just not TELL me about the things they do

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-43084530994345328312010-04-16T22:57:00.001-05:002010-04-16T22:58:27.254-05:00

I was walking out to my car Wednesday and heard a kid sitting on the brick wall say "Hey bitch." (Not to me--to a girl of his acquaintance) I winced and went on. Yesterday I heard the same kid do it again and I stopped and said "Sweetie, do you know what appropriate means?" He said he didn't. I explained that it meant... there was a time and a place for everything. I asked the

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-37338659392172738332010-04-06T23:16:00.004-05:002010-04-06T23:28:07.827-05:00

Today has kind of a sad note. I saw things that made my heart hurt. Someone or group of someones came into the courtyard behind my building and perpetrated destruction.Being an art teacher, I'm a creative individual. I'm spending a lot of my instructional time working on creating art decoration from trash. It hurt me to see that someone busted out windows and tore off bumpers and flattened

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-35744127354550254602010-03-10T00:58:00.004-06:002010-03-10T01:08:54.948-06:00

Okay, I really don't think I am so old. I'm kind of old because I've been around a half century and I've had the chance to observe younger folks. I can read a watch that only has tic marks. Most of my students cannot. They cannot read any kind of analog watch. They can only see a digital representation. More to be revealed.

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-66860458318102119072010-02-22T20:00:00.003-06:002010-02-22T21:17:39.273-06:00

Wow. I had a very seriousreminderof my own business. It was all good and fun. We went to San Antonio to visit my best friend who had moved there after 8th grade. I'd certainly been down there a bunch of times. This was my adopted family. I didn't know what it felt like to have siblings. I learned to love Mona and the boys. My boyfriend with a car impressed my parents and his parent enough

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-75080532959828671522010-02-11T22:06:00.002-06:002010-02-11T22:08:09.718-06:00

Hey, there were some meaningful lessons learned. Snow is cold. One should wear a coat and hat and have a scarf and gloves. I saw a kid go by today and he had a new scarf. I'm guessing his momma cut very neatly the length of a blanket. I'm thinking she sacrificed a blanket so that her children had scarves today. What a great mom. We had children who came to school today with no coat. A LOT of

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-54529777838092551652010-01-26T01:08:00.003-06:002010-01-26T01:20:28.017-06:00

I had a conversation today with Juan. He's one of my son's friends. He graduated from a local school. He was in the green and white striped band. I told him some of our recent crazy stuff. He can't imagine that folks are rude when we try to ask them to follow the rules.I was just talking about my current issues.I got a new student Friday morning. It was very apparent very quickly that she was

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-36201791086185274292010-01-01T01:26:00.002-06:002010-01-01T01:33:53.409-06:00

What can I say? Today has been pivotal. I've gone from the status of parent to grandparent.It's so wonderfully awesome. There is a new human that is alive that is one quarter me. I say now, I cannot wait to meet this person. Welcome Leah Elizabeth Ayers. I can only imagine your potential as a human. I think you will be kind. I think you will notice humankind going by in all its peculiarity.

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-35450428361745573802009-10-08T22:46:00.002-05:002009-10-08T22:51:06.036-05:00

I had an unfavorable interaction with a kid today. He's a big kid and he first used profanity and then after that made threats.I've been hurt by several students. I was assaulted three times while I was at Hillcrest. I don't imagine that the kids will be much better now. I looked into this child's background. He's a smart kid. He's in a cluster. I want to help him, but he was threatening to

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-2176053647045213072009-08-17T23:51:00.001-05:002009-08-17T23:53:59.775-05:00

I have more grandmothers than most folks. My father died when I was 3 and my mother remarried so I got an extra set of grandparents plus an extra set of step grandparents.Both my real dad's mother and my step dad's mother died of liver cancer.It is a MEAN UGLY BITCH. My suggestion is to get to her and be near and say everything that you need to say and do it FAST. Don't think that there will be

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-90067645872298383792009-07-26T22:02:00.004-05:002009-07-26T22:16:30.092-05:00

Died: July 20, 2009 in Afghanistan Sgt Gregory Owens Jr, of Garland Texas joined the Army in January 2007 and arrived at Fort Drum in June 2007. Greg was a field artillery automated tactical data systems specialist with the 4th Battalion, 25 Field Artillery Regiment. His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-12028077742538309002009-07-04T02:19:00.008-05:002009-07-04T14:27:02.303-05:00

We finally got home tonight from an astonishing road trip.We left here last Tuesday and headed for Oberlin, Oh. for the ArtMetal Shindig. We went across Arkansas and met my friend Gregg who is an attorney in Little Rock. We wrestled over the lunch ticket. You've met Gregg but you were possibly six at the time. He was my road trip buddy in college and I rode with him to a LOT of out of town

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-54257272244705509922008-11-03T21:51:00.002-06:002008-11-03T22:01:28.079-06:00

I just had a frightening flash forward.It's not frightening because it's a bad thing. It's a wonderful thing, but it will leave me with a taste of ashes, and a sense of pride and a woeful sense of remorse.I've got a great bunch of kids this year. There is a group of them that I've had for 3 years now. I've seen such growth and character out of these guys. I've been a harpy to get them to take

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-60183982805993309682008-09-16T20:21:00.003-05:002008-09-16T20:57:34.534-05:00

Every once in a while one has moment of clarity. I didn't say sanity, I said clarity.For someone who lives in a house where a TV is on 24/7 I don't care so much for it. I've seen every episode of I Love Lucy at least 20 times. I've seen every Star Trek, I cut my science fiction teeth on the original run. A few years back though I added HBO to the mix and I asked Mark to watch the Sopranos.

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-39268662879550108532008-09-14T23:12:00.009-05:002008-09-14T23:28:41.038-05:00

I've been reading about St. Mary Magdalene. I just think this whole "history" is fascinating. I would love to go to Vezelay. The whole concept of the descendants of Christ hanging out in France should be warm fuzzies to the French. I've grown up around conspiracy theories. I live in Dallas and just this last week there was some other evidence about bullets in the JFK assassination.

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-66312177653039138742008-08-24T21:31:00.002-05:002008-08-24T21:34:18.640-05:00

I've run away from my blog because of fear. I sorta kinda got outed to the local media and I've been trying to fly under the radar for a while.On a normal day I tend to annoy people. I just wanted to let the dust settle.I've totally TOTALLY lost count of my books, although I've been very good about reading a lot.I'm guestimating that I'm over 60 books by now. I finished Fried Green Tomatoes

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-9241688223338743852008-06-25T23:04:00.004-05:002008-06-26T20:24:12.754-05:00

I'm trying to be a team player. I'm trying to take things from my training that will make me a better teacher. I've gotten a few things that I think will be helpful. It will help me refine what I already do. I look at all the objectives and see that I teach at a high level already (with the kids kicking and screaming all the way because they don't WANT to work).We're supposed to teach lessons

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-70848958933183037082008-06-25T00:13:00.007-05:002008-06-26T20:28:03.746-05:00

I started off writing this letter to my principal a couple of times today during staff development. I didn't send anything yet, but I 'm going to work it out here.Mr. W.I appreciated seeing you this morning and I was very glad to see you. It made me happy that you said that you were happy to see me. I appreciate that you were dispatched to counsel with me and the other "bad" art teachers

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-21287966121697451482008-06-19T23:06:00.002-05:002008-06-20T00:29:37.935-05:00

I was about ten minutes into a professional development session today when I was compelled to rip a page out of my sketchbook and do this.What was really horrible is that I held it up for the rest of the participants to see and EVERYONE nodded. Art teachers are such bad children. Seriously, teachers of each discipline have such varied personality qualities. Math teachers are very methodical

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-24979457990621391512008-06-09T23:32:00.006-05:002008-06-20T00:43:49.293-05:00

My porch has assumed a greater importance to me this year. I've been really good. I've not smoked in my house at all this year. This has led me to some very uncomfortable bundled up smoking quickly times when the temp was down. I'm sure it will lead to more of the same on the hot end.One of the wonderful things is that I get to see the world around me in my neighborhood. I never realized before

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-78597405290139557292008-06-05T22:50:00.002-05:002008-06-05T23:10:10.679-05:00

I've been negligent about posting. I've been very self-absorbed and selfish. I've totally lost count of my books for the year.I'll try to make up for it briefly.I finished Geisha, A Life today. It was very interesting and reminded me so much of Memoirs of a Geisha which was one of the most stunning books I've ever read. It was so beautiful. I checked out of school today. I'm so relieved. I'm

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-34123931773116791522008-06-04T00:56:00.000-05:002008-06-04T00:57:52.316-05:00

Happy Birthday to Me. I live in a tree.I had my hearing today. It's my 49th birthday. It has been an inauspicious day.I was so sad today. I went to work and only two of my friends happened to remember that it was my birthday. I'm so good about such things. I make sure I make cards for my friends and stir up other folks to celebrate and make a big deal over their birthdays. I'm the one who

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-23960330232433138722008-05-21T00:38:00.001-05:002008-05-21T00:40:15.199-05:00

I woke up yesterday and I quickly realized that something was not right.I generally stumble first thing into the bathroom and brush my teeth. I couldn't hold the toothbrush which was a minor annoyance.I couldn't hold the hairbrush which was another.My right hand was asleep and uncooperative.It didn't wake up.I performed my usual ministrations with my left hand which was inconvenient and not very

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-76051235829045936262008-05-18T02:54:00.002-05:002008-05-18T03:14:04.572-05:00

Fiction is such a nice relief from the real world. Historical fiction is the best in my opinion. I'm biased. As a genealogy buff, I have researched my family tree back to Adam (it's a long story but quite amusing). Reading historical fiction pleases me because I can often relate to my own ancestral line.I finished Priestess of Avalon and enjoyed it very much. My own ancestor Old Kind Coel was

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-9495487587117403192008-05-18T02:46:00.005-05:002008-06-26T20:31:04.567-05:00

The following is based on a response to local reporters who were debating black and white."I can only offer you my own perspective. I was raised color-blind. And by that I mean that I didn't learn to assign value to anyone based on color. I learned that people were people. I wasn't taught to recognize that skin color meant anything. I'm going to be 49 in two weeks. I grew up in the

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-27736794316473091082008-05-16T01:04:00.002-05:002008-05-16T01:07:10.717-05:00

Okay I finished book 27. It was the weirdest thing known to mankind. It was not a easy read. Am I glad I read it? I think so.I'm working on 28. It's a lot more fun. Gawd I love fiction. SQ

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-19918798596338883012008-05-15T23:56:00.002-05:002008-05-16T00:14:29.529-05:00

This is an edited version of an email I sent to someone that strikes a chord in my heart. Hi! Again, you are kind and apparently a person after my own heart. I bet you love to go to parties where you don't know anyone and you still have a great time. I love to do that! Sometimes, though, I do take a Wilsonian approach and try to make the Web safe for democracy...or at least basic human

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-31885831175371643802008-05-08T00:33:00.003-05:002008-05-08T01:22:35.331-05:00

I had a horrible night last night. I was filled with apprehension.I had to have an arthogram of my knee today and I knew that involved big needles. I'm a wimp that way.I was very agitated and having a hard time settling into my "chill zone." Mark was being antagonistic and was having control issues. He wouldn't get out of my chair.I went to bed after scrubbing cabinets in the kitchen (not my

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-8294487147496895542008-04-29T22:25:00.001-05:002008-04-29T23:32:05.426-05:00

Hmm which should I do first? Report on my recent books or describe today. Oy.Books first. . .23 and 24. . .23- Not bad. From Our House to Bauhaus by Tom Wolfe. I'm posting the links to reviews I've done to give more information about the book should my reader be interested in learning more.This book is witty and sarcastic and quite fun. It's short and is a quick read. I've read Tom Wolfe

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-16034891770305683242008-04-24T00:16:00.003-05:002008-04-24T01:11:37.886-05:00

I'm sitting here right now being given a very thorough bath. I recently had a bath, but apparently Algebra (momma Siamese) thinks I need another one. She's bossy and she doesn't take "no" for an answer. She's a no-nonsense kind of cat. I suppose if I'd had five litters I wouldn't have much patience for foolishness either.She's had a birthday in the last week. I'm trying to do the math and I

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-1017051827134731282008-04-20T20:09:00.002-05:002008-04-20T21:09:39.673-05:00

I think I'm ahead of my goal of 52 books this year. I just finished 21 and 22. Since Yesterday.I picked up Remember to Say "Mouth" and Face by Omar Casteneda. It was strange and compelling, not unlike watching a train wreck at times. After I put that down, I still felt like reading so I rooted through the pile of books in Rachael's room and pulled out House of the Scorpion that she's been

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-68681689035455616142008-04-17T23:51:00.001-05:002008-04-17T23:53:03.910-05:00

I just came in from the porch. There has been a deluge. I won't know until tomorrow if the grass seed we so lovingly sowed two days ago has again washed into the street to grow tufts of rye in the organic matter left by the live oak trees that shed volumes. We just want grass. We cut back the tree limbs to give some view of sunlight. We fertilize. Our soil is so bad. Two days ago, James and Mark

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-48507619412803827212008-04-16T00:07:00.004-05:002008-04-16T00:38:51.983-05:00

I should have known that any author willing to satirize Chaucer and Arthurian Legend in one fell swoop would share my zodiac sign. I finished this afternoon Rude Tales and Glorious by "Nicholas Seare" I tell my students that if one of their answers makes me laugh out loud that I will give them a giggle point. Some of them push their essays to the limit in the effort to wrangle a giggle point.

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-68835550348784290362008-04-13T15:42:00.003-05:002008-04-13T15:55:22.660-05:00

I picked up New Spring by Robert Jordan at Dollar Tree for a dollar. It's a first edition first printing hardback. Boy howdy!This book is the prequel to a very long series that I first started reading at least ten years ago. I ran through it pretty fast as this was not a new world to me, I am well acquainted with this place and these people.This book is a "back story" meant to give some more

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-30374373401597739702008-04-07T00:12:00.002-05:002008-04-07T00:28:14.332-05:00

I wandered in to the bookshelf after I finished Pillars of the Earth. I sighed as I wondered what I could pick up that could make me so happy.Okay, I snagged another repeat. Bellwether by Connie Willis. I love this book, it cracks me up and I get more out of it every time I read it. Life's experiences change us and every time we read something again, those experiences change the reading. I

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-56104000604014382822008-04-05T23:42:00.002-05:002008-04-05T23:56:34.934-05:00

I'm reading this book again for about the sixth or seventh time. I don't know about you, but any book that bears the additional read for me does so for some profound reason.This is certainly the case for The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. This has got to be one of my top ten ever. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand is up there as well. I teach Art History and that means that I'm a twisted

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-42463004483642867512008-04-05T01:39:00.003-05:002008-04-05T14:40:32.256-05:00

Today was a relief after yesterday. I did write one referral. I had a senior girl tell me that she didn't care about my class and that she didn't want to spend the money for supplies because she didn't need the class to graduate.OMG, let's just press my "rhymes with rich" button.I have an issue about kids not working in class. I want them to do something to get a grade. I don't pay them for

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-29220945505138096112008-04-01T22:34:00.004-05:002008-04-05T01:39:19.318-05:00

Today was rotten. No joke. April 1, 2008 ranks up there with election day in November of 1980.There may have been worse ones, but not so laughably awful.Perhaps I should compare them. . . .Election Day, 1980.I was living in Las Cruces, NM. I was newly married (to my ex-husband) and a student at New Mexico State University. I can remember that I was pretty disgusted with the presidential

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-13492809751633701182008-03-29T20:45:00.006-05:002010-10-08T16:00:42.375-05:00

I got back from Spring Break and my friend the school nurse told me about something she'd read over the break... Towing Jehovah by James Morris.What she described was pretty strange, so when I got home I ordered the book. It came in a few days and I put it on the stack to read next.I had an arthrogram on Thursday which kind of laid me low and put me off work for a couple of days. I started

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-16155332834881683242008-03-27T17:51:00.002-05:002008-03-27T18:55:58.776-05:00

I picked up another from the "marginal" pile. I saw that it was written by Ben Bova and knew that I had read one of his Mars books as well as the fact that he had edited Omni Magazine. Faint Echoes, Distant Stars gives a lot of information in a very objective manner.Much of what Dr. Bova touches on is controversial at the very least. He talks about the origins of humankind's perceptions of our

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-78201497789987628102008-03-23T22:54:00.003-05:002008-03-23T23:25:22.002-05:00

Okay, I picked this book up off the trash pile. I was 2 seconds away from chunking it, but I opened it up and looked. I saw three greek words that applied to me, so I set it aside for POSSIBLE later perusal.I've got a book coming in the mail, but I finished the archeology book and had some time to kill. I picked it up off the about to be trash pile and looked at it. I read this book in three

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-73622838171846498462008-03-21T17:54:00.004-05:002008-03-21T19:09:17.924-05:00

Well, I didn't mean to read this, but I picked up Frontiers in Archeology by Robert Silverberg. I've read a lot of Silverberg over the years, mostly fantasy and sci-fi stuff.Since I teach art history, I already have an interest in Ancient Civilizations, but sadly most texts are like death to get through. I had read one of Silverberg's other history books in my college American History class a

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-33763840546675543112008-03-18T23:32:00.001-05:002008-03-18T23:34:23.252-05:00

Today I am frustrated. I wonder why we really need men. I'm thinking I could be so happy with my daughters. We have been in car hell for a while. A monsoon came today and Mark crashed our only working car. Granted someone else was stupid and he evaded hitting the other car and hit the concrete wall instead. He's fine. I'd be less mad if he was hurt. I've been saving to get the

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-48261902891793777652008-03-13T22:33:00.002-05:002008-03-13T22:41:36.357-05:00

I finished up Bless Me, Ultima today. It was really a quick read. It was magical in so many ways. I'll have to read it again later this year as it is the Academic Decathlon book for next year. At least I CAN read it again. There are very quotable lines in this novel. I couldn't get past chapter one of the book for the current year. It seems to go that way for me, every other year there is a

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-79353186894004659672008-03-05T23:36:00.002-06:002008-03-05T23:47:10.527-06:00

This is what Brain Death looks like.Today was TAKS testing in Texas. I sat in a room with 28 sophomores and a really nice Chinese man.We have to maintain test security, so we are not allowed to get on the computer or read. The result is like watching paint dry or grass grow.Having ADD and ADHD, this is almost a fate worse than death. I observed children for the better part of nine hours. I

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-85065373761632581092008-03-05T23:07:00.003-06:002008-03-05T23:30:08.130-06:00

I've let down my reading effort. I've been playing golf on my phone instead of reading when I go outside to smoke.I did enjoy the book by Ms. Clinton. It touched me in so many ways. I had no idea that she was second generation American. I always thought she was from big money back east. I'm so impressed by her commitment to the education of our children in America. I'm impressed that she

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-14241881426310617222008-03-04T01:05:00.003-06:002008-03-04T01:18:17.738-06:00

C*** came to class today. She's a beautiful girl.. I had her last year in jewelry. She's a returning kid but has been less than motivated this year. I still love her, she's very sweet. She mentioned a month ago that she was getting married. I was astonished. I straight up asked her if she was pregnant and she blushed and said "Oh no!" I asked her when she was getting married and she

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-28975008073621558242008-03-03T22:20:00.003-06:002008-03-03T22:27:24.285-06:00

It's snowing at my house.You can tell that I'm southern because such a thing is even worthy of a mention. Snow is such a novelty for southern folk that we go outside and stare at it to capture every random flake in its fleeting beauty.My tiny magnolia tree is gathering a fluffy covering. I stood on my porch, just behind the glare of the streetlight and I could see illuminated streams of snow

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-77162110471442477742008-02-29T00:37:00.003-06:002008-02-29T00:50:09.811-06:00

Today was a long day. We started off with a faculty meeting that assigns our testing partners for TAXS. I don't know my person, but I will get to know him better real soon.The teaching day was long and filled with students who had not taken care of business. It's at the end of the six weeks. One issue today was the board of trustee meeting. There were some interesting discussions and some crazy

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-51473329747832697462008-02-19T21:50:00.002-06:002008-02-19T21:59:09.388-06:00

Today I saw a head nodding. It even nodded with some enthusiasm. This brought joy to my heart. This student is one who easily slips through the cracks. He has personal issues that I don't know about but he's wounded and is suspicious of the world. He's a bright guy and I think that he isn't used to folks thinking that or telling him that. I've had him in my class for more than a year now and

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-25714195006076937242008-02-07T23:20:00.000-06:002008-02-07T23:58:26.981-06:00

I actually got to drive to work today. That was very different. We've been in car hell for so long, I'm just glad I remember how to drive. Especially a standard.I was about to pull out this morning and in the Easley's yard I thought I saw Pickle. I looked hard and realized that it was Pickle's sister Nova. Nova escaped some months ago after moving back up here from San Antonio. She looks

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-38138829811597853062008-02-05T00:02:00.000-06:002008-02-05T01:05:29.812-06:00

I've been waiting for this book. I paused two years in my life to get back around to this one. I finished A Feast For Crows yesterday and I want the next book badly and I'm grateful that I don't have as long to wait as I would have if I'd gotten this one when it first came out.I'm going to have to chase George R. R. Martin about the room with a sharp stick. I'm appalled, I'm dumbfounded, I want

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-20477080320927943512008-01-26T21:32:00.001-06:002008-01-26T21:54:18.950-06:00

I decided to pick up the other Jane Austen. I've got a volume of the complete novels plus Lady Susan but I'd just never read the shorter piece.This book was one I picked up at Barnes and Noble the other day. This one is called Lady Susan, The Watsons and Sanditon.Today has been one of my low key Saturdays spent in pajamas. I really should have gone to the doctor. I just did not want to get

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-74961914468276122972008-01-23T21:25:00.000-06:002008-01-23T22:24:07.049-06:00

Today I saw my gradebook. I saw papers that less than thrilled me. I'm just astonished that students think their teachers are so stupid. They share information on a take home assignment and I can see the degradation and transcription errors that mount.Holy Sepulchre became Tidy Sepulchre. Minaret became minoerots. Through four students' chapter handouts, I could see who copied whom. When

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-76723421482553086812008-01-21T13:10:00.000-06:002008-01-21T13:48:53.461-06:00

I saw some ducks today. James was in the back seat and he hollered that there were turkeys by the road. They were strange looking ducks. I wish I had a camera. The coloring was similar to mallards that are certainly familiar to me, but their heads reminded me of turkeys. I commented that the prettier colored one was likely the male, but Mark insisted that it was about to lay an egg.It

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-27027126043397836252008-01-16T19:49:00.000-06:002008-01-21T13:52:58.846-06:00

Okay, I'm trying to stop sniffling. I just finished Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog. I was a little ambivalent about starting it. I mean, I don't do non fiction, and I couldn't imagine wanting to read a book about a dog. The book was a gift from my friend Jane, and because I believe that she wouldn't steer me wrong, I took a leap of faith and opened it up.I was sucked in very

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-8417370109106226372008-01-11T01:12:00.000-06:002008-01-11T01:19:08.766-06:00

Actually 26 years ago just about right now I was wandering about downstairs at my mother's house saying, "Mom, I think we need to go pick up Mark and get to the hospital."There was an ice storm going on and the roads were coated with about an inch of ice. In Dallas that is doom.Mom was putzing about upstairs and I stalked around downstairs getting very impatient.She hollered down that we

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-68724112980290826612008-01-10T20:07:00.000-06:002008-01-10T20:25:04.465-06:00

I've finished book #3 for 2008. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris is sarcastic, funny and sweet. I laughed out loud any number of times and will take one of these stories to my book club next week to read aloud.I've already started #4. I'm moving pretty well for today only being the tenth. This book is a gift from my friend Jane. I would have never in a million years picked this one up

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-54921832512276892602008-01-08T22:03:00.000-06:002008-01-08T22:35:32.001-06:00

I finished book #2 for 2008 this evening. Wow, I think I'm ahead of 2007 by about three months. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris is funny, irreverent and reminds us that we should be grateful not to have such a sibling. If I had such a brother, I would pour him into a column at the new Cowboy Stadium. I love Sedaris and I'm now reading another of his tomes which will

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-38380128512035866892008-01-06T20:56:00.000-06:002008-01-06T21:08:43.470-06:00

Book 1 of 2008 is done. I've worked on it for a couple of weeks as it was 1128 pages. Tedious in places, it forwards a good story in the 3rd of a series called "A Song of Fire and Ice."It's made me glad, made me sad and furious in some spots. George R. R. Martin cannot be relied upon to kill off a character. They have annoying way of showing back up alive. Just when you get used to a beloved

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-66885899682125124892008-01-06T00:11:00.000-06:002008-01-06T13:36:26.469-06:00

I've been laying low. I count a good weekend as one that I don't get out of my jammiesWe are starting a new year. I have a few small goals.I'm not going to smoke inside my house. I've gone outside to the porch to smoke. I don't want Rachael and Becca to gripe that their clothes smell like smoke when they come home to do laundry.I'm going to rid myself of any clothes that do not fit. My

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-47659381005126262762007-12-20T23:40:00.001-06:002008-02-18T19:41:26.968-06:00

Part of a rant to a long, long, long time friend. . ."Some major school shit is about to go down around here. Thank the shrubbery for leaving no child behind. I guess one reader in thefamily is enough. I just don't understand why they want to slap ineffective bandaids onthings. Children learn critical thinking skills from fine arts education.If children can't read, they can't solve

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-18372509920943554242007-12-20T00:36:00.000-06:002007-12-21T00:08:59.243-06:00

24 years ago today Rebecca was born. She's grown tall and lovely and brilliant.At school, I hugged a neighboring teacher who has a birthday also today. I tell her it is my daughter's birthday and she says it is no wonder thatwe get along. Ms. E. is one of the nicest people and she's a good neighbor. I forgot for a small time that it was her birthday also and told her I waswracked with the

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-36740975450738935422007-11-27T22:00:00.000-06:002007-12-21T00:12:27.306-06:00

Dateline: November 18, 2007Mark and I anxiously went to DFW somewhat in advance of our flight to Gatwick.We got there really early so that we could check in and then chill inthe international terminal.It was fun. We went to the duty free shop and then went to the pub thereand had some spicy cheese and potato dish. We were sitting there eatingspicy cheese and potato thingies when we saw a fellow

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-91945286902683225172007-11-10T23:45:00.001-06:002007-11-11T00:11:13.592-06:00

I just went to the coolest wedding ever. Two of my former students who hooked up in my class got married tonight.I coach Academic Decathlon and almost every year we have an "AcDec Romance" Well our AcDec Romance from 2001 got married tonight.In March of 2000 we all went to France. So many of the folks that were there tonight were on that trip to France. The bride and groom were on the trip

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-21073025953707677402007-11-05T21:13:00.000-06:002007-12-20T23:57:41.633-06:00

(sent to a friend in response to an email forward thing that involved Mother Theresa)Dear Friend I Love you! I didn't think so much of Mother Theresa. She caused a lot of people suffer that didn't need to suffer. I would not deny dying people morphine to let them be closer to God with their suffering. That does not follow my logic. I would not have denied my grandmother the only shot of

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-17493632277262101692007-11-02T19:47:00.000-05:002007-12-21T00:04:24.198-06:00

I will put about a week's worth into this entry. I've been busy and have had lots of experiences.I'll start with Monday. I got to school and walked in and surveyed the graffiti sprayed on the building over the weekend and was astonished to see a thirty foot long blue penis spray painted on the side of the Automotive building. (Monty said it was longer) To be honest, I came in from another

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-14525886129336039772007-10-23T22:54:00.000-05:002007-12-21T00:01:22.687-06:00

I fell week before last up a flight of concrete stairs. I'm too old for this. My body hurts.I went back and looked later because I couldn't imagine how I missed that first step and Isaw that there are pieces of rebar sticking out of the bottom step. I feel sure that is what I caught my foot on before I indecorously bit the dust.Since then, I look at the steps with great trepidation. I feel

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-48763981398515522962007-10-18T21:14:00.000-05:002007-11-06T22:51:12.802-06:00

I've created a monster. I made this senior boy a deal. He's in my art one class, but he was in the architecture cluster and has learned all the skills that are taught in this class. He's cutting metal and is liking it. He's got a good eye for detail. Well, here's the deal. All the freshmen see Lennyn sitting over in the corner doing something cool. They KNOW it's cool what he's doing

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-7731634430961489112007-10-07T01:23:00.000-05:002007-10-07T02:08:03.990-05:00

I'm at the end of the day, looking backwards. I just watched Hidalgo with Viggo Mortensen. I want a mustang. I love horses, I grew up around them and I want just one mustang. I last rode a horse about a year ago. My friend Mandy lives out in Poetry, TX and she has horses and was kind enough to let me ride one of hers. I'm old and out of practice, but mounting a horse is so easy for me and

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-21947394962363445382007-10-03T22:35:00.000-05:002007-10-03T23:02:44.904-05:00

I was practically soaked by the time I got to school. We had a deluge. Every morning I go through McDonald's and I get the same thing. A breakfast burrito and a large coffee. I'm there almost the same time every day. Mark took me today because he had to go get a new tire for the car and get the oil changed. We sat in line and I realized it was Wednesday. I glanced over to the Waffle House

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-81567206139976778772007-10-01T00:05:00.000-05:002007-10-01T00:14:47.157-05:00

If at all possible, I don't even get dressed on Sunday. I stay in my pj's and lurk about.Today I was wrested out of my somnambulent state and rode on the back of the scooter with Mark up to the parking lot at school. I rode around the parking lot on the scooter and tried not to kill myself. I had a crazy time. Someone dropped a shiny bracelet in the parking lot and I wanted to pick it up.

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-83888648756963667132007-09-29T22:35:00.000-05:002007-10-01T00:15:48.810-05:00

Hmmm today. I saw lots of things. It was mostly Dallas going by from the passenger side of a car. We took Becca to her Region 10 thing this morning and then went over to Half Priced Books to get some books for me to take to school. (I operate a "free book box" outside my room. We sent 3000 books home with students last year)Half Priced Books is wonderful. On Saturdays they have a "donation"

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-75187970836318359362007-09-29T00:45:00.000-05:002007-09-30T15:26:41.814-05:00

And I have an ANVIL. It was in the trash pile. Can you believe it? The Electrical trades teacher came to me today to tell me about it and got his boys to carry it over to me. It's a BIG anvil mounted on a pedestal. It's got a square hole in the end for stakes. (I saw some stakes under a table in the plumbing room, I'm going to go grab them) I didn't have a chance to really look it

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-71846617432761862082007-09-20T00:21:00.000-05:002007-09-30T15:10:55.390-05:00

Today I was a lucky teacher. A very fine fellow Nicholas Santella came to give a demonstration to my classes. Nicholas is an armorer. He brought armor that he started when he was in high school.My students were in awe. They saw a suit of armor and couldn't believe that someone their age started such a project. Nicholas demonstrated several metalsmithing techniques which was a good thing for

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-68016392099998491902007-09-17T23:14:00.000-05:002007-09-30T15:25:11.151-05:00

We went to DFW to pick up Rachael. She'd been in Italy for six weeks. As we were driving into the airport we see a huge storm cell right over the airport. Anyway we get to the terminal and find out that she can't land because of the storm. THEN we hear that they were about to run out of fuel so they rerouted to OKC to refuel. She was delayed about 3 hours. We sat there by the exit of

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-1161398272265710362006-10-20T21:37:00.000-05:002007-09-30T15:12:54.845-05:00

We're here in Texas where the gubernatorial race is a freaking dog and pony show. In my spirit, in my soul, I hear what Kinky Friedman is saying. I've not seen him get past a one-liner though. It doesn't help when your "secretary of energy" gets busted for weed and mushrooms. I don't know, I know Willie and all his faults and I'd give the dude credit for trying to do something worthwhile. . .

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-1157597699975065722006-09-06T21:54:00.000-05:002007-09-30T15:14:05.688-05:00

What I Saw TodayWell it happened this way. I was almost asleep as it was midnight. Rachael comes in and says "Mom, you need to come here."She and James are hovering near the front door. They look very concerned. I'm tired, so I want to know what the heck is going on. So I ask what the heck is going on.Rachael points toward the front door. I open the door and find a box on the doorstep.

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-1151866831406182762006-07-02T13:54:00.000-05:002006-07-02T14:00:31.420-05:00

A young blue jay and a young cardinal were in the bush right outside my window having a conversation. They were cute, both of them showed juvenile feathers. The jay was much bigger than the cardinal. I think the conversation boiled down to which one of them had the rights to these particular bushes. I've seen the jay get bigger over the spring. I put some bread crumbs and some dead cereal out

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-1090106505874502742004-07-17T18:20:00.000-05:002008-01-26T21:59:14.514-06:00

I went to a party at the McGahan's last night and it was strange and wonderful. As we walked up, a person in the dark started exclaiming my name and telling his companion that I was a teacher at his school. He seemed astonished that I was invited to the same party that he was. He hugged me, so I guess it was okay.Inside I saw many people who are very dear to me, and then it got really strange as

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-1058312145304911562003-07-15T18:35:00.000-05:002008-01-21T13:51:15.998-06:00

OOOPS This is from July 29, 2002 I've been on the road, having adventures as I normally do. That's what I call experiencing life--having adventures. It sure seems to perk things up anyway. My particular recent adventure involved going to California. For those who live there, I sure hope they appreciate the view, because here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area, views are in very short

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-1058311824209099472003-07-15T18:30:00.000-05:002008-01-21T13:51:16.014-06:00

Ahem. Funny how the topic of a blog would come up today, it's been almost exactly a year since I started one. I sure haven't written in it very much. Once again I'm going to my AP Art History conference in Ft. Worth. Today I went to the new Ft. Worth Modern Museum. It made me want to dance and write poetry and be one with the art. I think I will!

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-835619042002-10-26T13:29:00.000-05:002007-09-30T15:14:42.950-05:00

Manners--A RantPrincess manners or Goat manners, one does have a choice. Many Europeans find Americans to be quite rude and without decent manners. How can that be? When one enters a shop in France, one always says hello first before saying "Gimme whatever" In fact, if you are speaking the language you would say "I would like ----, please?" Things seem different here. You walk into a 7-11

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3648732.post-791618912002-07-19T14:45:00.000-05:002008-01-21T13:52:15.075-06:00

I was listening to NPR and there was some discussion about primary sources, and I thought about what I could be a primary source for today.I am quite easily amused by what I observe and I suppose I've seen some things today that were interesting to me. It's certainly possible that not another living human would give a rat's derriere. That's okay too!Today was the last day of a week long AP

abhaillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086000957539374474noreply@blogger.com