The Final Day of the Decade

We're back from our sojourn to New Orleans, Louisiana and McDonough, Georgia.  In New Orleans, we visited the Ogden Museum of Southern Art where we flipped over the art of William Christenberry.  On our drive to Georgia, we stopped in Montgomery, Alabama to see the extraordinarily powerful National Memorial for Peace and Justice. In Georgia, we all celebrated to see my dad doing so well.  I'm grateful to my siblings who help him every day.  

Our drive home yesterday was relaxed and easy. We listened to the Talking Heads and I read a book by Richard Sullivan aloud to Husbandman. We crossed over rivers and stopped at some of our nation's finest rest areas. We arrived home at dusk and proceeded to lounge around listlessly. I finished Ann Patchett's excellent Commonwealth.  It was the kind of book where I found myself muttering, "Slow it down, slow it down. You're reading too fast," but I couldn't.  I zipped through the second half of that book like there was no tomorrow. Now we're home again, home again, jiggity jig. Husbandman is going to make fondue for dinner. Then we're heading to Comedy Attic. Hoorah.  Happy New Year, my friends. 

The Chips

 I'm down here with my family in McDonough, GA.  It's a crazy old time with family dynamics just running wild hither thither and yon.  I talked to my dad tonight about some genealogy research he had done a few decades ago.  Come to find out, one of my ancestors died at age 71, from "softening of the brain."  It's right there on his death certificate.  Sometime in the year 1886, my ancestor's brain softened, and he died. Another ancestor died of "arsenic poisoning during an episode of temporary insanity." Another ancestor was killed by Native Americans. This is my past, my friends.  I can't escape it.  Bottom line?  Let the chips fall where they may.

The Read In

Yesterday was probably the grandest end of semester day on record.  We had a Read In, with a buffet of breakfast foods --- bagels, yogurts, fruit, juice, cheese.  We read and snacked most of the morning.  Free access to the snacks really helped keep everyone engaged.  One Thirdlander finished 3 books.  Another told me, "I loved the quiet."  I jostled between several books and a New Yorker.  And now we're all on winter break.  Life is good. The moral of this tale is:  More Snacks for All.

The Line

 When I was at the post office this week, there were 30 people in line.  No one was talking except for one person on her cell phone sharing information about some unpleasantries with her ex husband, but all the other people were just standing there quietly and patiently.

No one touched anyone else.  No one cut in front of anyone else.

If I were a postal worker, I'd feel some satisfaction looking out at the silent people waiting in the line. I'd appreciate the calm order that required nothing of me and allowed me to focus on individual transactions in my own time.

My job's quite different.

The Dentists

Today I took the morning off to go to the dentists.  First the periodontist, then the regular dentist.    Both appointments were on time and, hopefully, successful. The injections of novocaine hurt a bit, but not overly so.  The periodontist used a technique that involved wiggling my lip back and forth as he inserted the needle into the gums near my back molar, repeatedly.  I was curious if he had read about that in a journal somewhere, or perhaps made it up on his own. Later, I got the opportunity to look at x-rays of my mouth and could see that the bone graft I had this summer worked out, for the most part.  The periodontist actually thinks I might need an additional gum graft in that area, but that's down the line. On the back burner, so to speak.  His niece is currently studying to be a periodontist. I met her during my appointment and was able to listen in on periodontal knowledge being passed from elder to younger. One of the assistants talked to me about her son, who is procrastinating at school and not earning his prize points.  I encouraged her to go easy on him. Thought about recommending Kohn's Punished By Rewards, but decided against it.  The periodontist took a screw out of my implant and gave it to me to keep in case anything else goes wrong with my tooth in the future.  It's in the junk drawer now.  Let's not forget that.  The morning went well, and included some interesting and unique experiences I'll not soon forget.  Now I'm heading in to the school site to educate the Thirdlanders about measurement again. 

The Kilograms

The Thirdlanders are super excited about the holidays, as evidenced by a bouncy inattentiveness and a pervasive NO CAN DO attitude.  We have four more days together and I'm hellbent on teaching measurement like it's going out of style.  I'm heading in to the compound to hammer out extra-engaging, creative lesson plans on MEASUREMENT like nobody's business.

Yesterday I joined shoppers in our downtown square and bought a few items for dispersal.  In short, gifts.  To get these wrapped and mailed off today should be my Sunday goal. And yet, our youth need to learn how to measure.  And how to line plot.  So a very few of you who probably don't even read this blog won't be getting your gifts on time for the big day.  If our box is late to you, just think of the Thirdlanders in Indiana mastering the essential standards 3.M.1, 3.M.2 and 3.M.3.  You might wonder how all that can be mastered in four days.  Stand back and watch, my friends.  Stand back and watch. And feel joyful.

The Spirit

It's the holiday time of year, but you'd never know it if you followed me around.  No tree.  No haystack cookies.  No festive music of Michael Bolton.  Just the same old kind of stuff.

Today I have the afternoon off because I have to drop in on our local periodontist.  I've taken time off every few weeks for dental appointments this school year and everyone including me is getting sick of it. A kid asked me today if I have a problem with cavities. I just answered, "No, but I don't want talk about my dental situation."  Who wants to really hear about cadaverized bone grafts and lasering off gum tissue?

Time away from the school house grind gave me some extra time at home this afternoon, so I decided to climb out of my rut and crank up the holiday spirit. In short, I ventured up to the attic to release the Santas. I was cheered to reunite with Frogman Santa, Ghost Santa, Serial Killer Santa, Wee Little Santa, etc. I bought a new Santa this year from Global Gifts.  He's from Kenya and made from solid ROCK so I'll call him The Rock Santa.  Welcome, The Rock Santa.  Soon, I'll be listening to a holiday CD on my way to my dental care visit.

The Walker

My dad has been in and out of poor health the last few months. He had a fall, a hospital stay and now he has to use a walker to get around.  Honestly, I don't think using a walker is a negative.   I frequently search on the internets for different kinds of walkers that I plan on buying as soon as I can reasonably walk around using a walker. I also like to go look at the walkers when I'm at the drug store.

Dad sounds better this week and we've had some good chats lately.  Yesterday I told him that Husbandman and I plan on going out to eat this weekend.  Dad said, "I wish I could go out to eat."
I replied, "You can.  What are you talking about?" 
Dad yelled into the phone, "I'm a cripple for God's sakes!"
This sent me into hysterics. Could not stop laughing.  Dad said he was happy that I found the situation amusing.
  Dad's not a cripple.  He's getting around fine and has lots of great help down at 90Cab. I heart my dad.  He's a good guy.

The Return

Reporting to you all from basecamp.  Husbandman is not here.  He has flown to Vienna for a math conference.  Basecamp is quiet. Holiday festivities have come to an end.  On my To Do list today is writing a review about our rental site.  When I first saw the site, I was super disappointed.  The living room furniture was badly stained and falling apart. We also became aware of an ant problem in the kitchen area. Upon entry, I was royally PO'd  and I let it be known by complaining vociferously to all within earshot.

Over time, I came to appreciate some pros of the site.  We watched Harry Potter on a big screen, crafted hand turkeys on a large table, cooked several awesome meals and played a new board game with plenty of space for setting up our European train routes.  Everyone had a fairly comfortable bed and the showers, while lacking basics like soap, were well functioning. Come to find out, we were able to enjoy the holy heck out of each other in that space. I'll therefore probably give a good review.  The owners may be doing their best and forgetting the rest.  I suppose I can do the same.  If you read my review and end up staying there in the future, I apologize, but just try to relax about what you see around you when you first enter.  Focus on what's important in life.  Fun family free time.  Also, know that there are a ton of cool things to do outside in that neck of woods.  Get outside as much as you can.