Life is Good

I had the most wonderful day. It started out with needing to acquire an official transcript from the UW Registrar’s Office in order to meet a deadline in my Human Resources office. I drove into Madison early to pop in and pick up the document. Arriving 5 minutes before the office opened, I read a sign on the door that stated the office was closed until 9:30 AM for a staff meeting. I was ready to scream! I had even read the Web site last night for the office’s hours to double check my timing. I walked down the hall and caught someone – a lovely woman in an orange sweater. I must have had a seriously panicked look on my face when I asked for help. Of course, I also played the teacher card – needing to be in my classroom in 20 minutes. She was soooooo gracious and walked me through the back offices, sat me down at the official station to make the transcript request, and asked another secretary to help me once the doc. printed. I rarely have experienced such support at the Big UW (except in my phenomenal graduate program – SLIS). My karma was offering positive payback for me today. So, whoever that woman was, I wish her much joy and peace.

On top of that comforting beginning to the day, my students were absolutely lovely in their curiosity, focus on topics, and generous support of each other throughout the whole day. Even the couple of students I had issues with yesterday were pleasant and respectful. My co-teacher (pre-service teacher) from the UW is doing a great job of engaging her students, holding them accountable, and maintaining a sense of humor throughout all the detail overload of the first days of the semester. Snaps to Kimber!

I found good movies to rent at the vid. store for the next week – Black Dahlia, Little Miss Sunshine, The Illusionist, and The Devil Wears Prada. That should be a good mix of relaxation through the cold weather expected for the rest of the week and weekend.

My girls were thrilled to see me as I walked in the door. I have a great book to finish. And, best of all – I don’t have any work for school to do tonight.

Life is just damn good today!

What to Do? What to Do?

Things to do this weekend:

1. Clean the refrigerator. The coffee creamer leaked.

2. Clean the bathroom. I leaked, but that's what we do in the bathroom.

3. Take the girls to the dog park. (Tillie here -- This should be #1 on the list! -- Woof!)

4. Finish re-reading Kindred.

5. Rent a good movie. I'm leaning toward Little Miss Sunshine or the The Black Dahlia.

6. Make sure I'm ready for the new semester to begin. I think I've got it under control.

7. Make a batch of lasagne for a friend.

8. Do laundry. Hmmm, clean flannel sheets are nice. (ShellieBellie here -- I agree.)

9. Add my African American book section to LibraryThing. This entry process is taking forever!

10. Start my taxes. Organize the paperwork until the w-2 arrives.

I was a middle-aged Drama Queen

Sometimes making a total ass out of yourself opens up doors to wonderful communication, sound reflection/self-discovery, and spiritual healing. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could always tell each other what we feel, what we need, and what we fear? Why can’t we do that? So what if we cry a little? So what if we are uncomfortable through the process? The laughter afterward is just all the sweeter. It reminds us that we are alive. We just have to hope that our friends can forgive us when we display our grizzly behavior.

A Hard Week

Wow, we’ve had a really hard week. Mom has been working a ton, but she’s still taking the time to get out for a walk with us late at night. Shellie and I are trying to take it easy on those icy sidewalks. We don’t want Mom to get hurt, so we try to take it slow. Shellie doesn’t always remember though, and I have a rough time with the leash getting wrapped up in my legs. It’s all good though. I hope it warms up a little this weekend. I really want to go to the dog park.

I’m a little worried about Mom. She’s working really hard these days and doesn’t seem very happy with her job. I bet teaching is really hard. I don’t think I could handle all of the multitasking and adolescent angst. It’s really nice that she doesn’t bring her frustrations home with her most of the time. Shellie and I try to make her laugh as much as possible. I don’t think that taking all of the stuffing out of my teddy bear was the way to do it the other day though. She didn’t seem that thrilled about that one. I thought all the white fluffy stuff looked kind of cool on the carpet. Shellie told me to do it.

Oooooh, gotta go. Mom's about to settle into the couch with a book. I want to get the good snuggle spot.

Later -- stay warm!
Tillie

You Must Read This Book!

You have to read this book! If you have ever read (and loved) classics like Pippi Longstocking, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, or The Secret Garden, you will thoroughly enjoy Ida B by Katherine Hannigan. The narrator's young perspective on school, creative freedom, and play are refreshingly and authentically told. While some of the vocabulary may be beyond the voice of a precocious 4th-grader, the world view and portrayal of inner pain, anxiety, and anger are not. Hannigan took me back to my own childhood. Through Ida B. I recalled my own desire to block out the world's disappointments. To find ways to soften my youthful loneliness with tree friends and drooling dogs in a world that allowed me no control or certainty. Any parent who has a son or daughter with a creative, free (or angry) spirit needs to share this book with his/her child.

Titles to Write Home About

I just reread Pearl Cleage's What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day. I've read this title at least 5 times, but it never ceases to make me laugh, cry, and think about my life views. I don't read a lot of happy books. I never seem to get the humor in them. This one, however, is a great comfort read that does cheer the soul. I need to use it more as a central text in my literature classes.



The second book I read yesterday, however, had very little cheer in it. In fact, it has been a very long time since I have read something that made me so angry. I made the mistake of forcing myself to finish it before I turned in for the night. It brought on a lot of tossing and turning. Patricia McCormick's Sold, a young adult novel about Himalayan poverty and a young girl's imprisonment within a brutal prostitution system, will certainly make you question your sense of cultural and economic entitlement, your views of male ethics (yes, male), and your views of women who support sexual slavery. Its lyrical, hard-hitting vignettes will keep you riveted to the narrative voice until the final page is turned. And then, you will want to learn more and take action. You will wonder at how resilient the human spirit can be. The story will haunt you.

"The House will come to order."

A woman's "place" is in the house -- the House of Representatives. Major snaps to Nancy Pelosi! It's about time!


Newly elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, is sworn in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007.
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Quarterback Anyone?

Hey folks,
Did you watch the big game last night? Favre rocked! It's nice to see that an old man still has his stuff. I must say that his receivers were also heroes of the game. It certainly wasn't a perfect showing, but a good effort. Now the speculation begins.... will he or won't he .... return next year, that is. The Pack might be looking for a new QB. Think I've got a chance? I've certainly got the look.

Happy New Year!
--Tillie