The Turkeys

The Other Turkeys

Check out this year's hand turkeys.

The Holiday

I'm feeling grateful. Kinfolk are here. We're heading out to Fossil Beach. Tonight's the famed "Festival of Lights" on our downtown square. The dinner yesterday was first rate. The big exciting news is...we got tickets to an IMAX movie about the Nile. Though some here have asked why would anyone care to see this film, I'm heartily charged up. As my dad always says, I couldn't be better. My goal today is to spy a bald eagle down by the lake. Brother In Law says, "And so it shall be. You shall see one." I love the upbeat attitude and optimism that surrounds me.

The Steps

I got a new pedometer and I'm on the 10,000 steps per day program. I'm up to 9,000 and it's not even 2pm.

The Note

Driving in to the compound yesterday, I felt great anticipation. I knew the note from the substitute teacher waited for me on my desk. I had discussed with the sixer/cinco crew my vision for the sub note. I told them how I dreamed of a note that praised their courtesy and their work ethic. A sixer told me with confidence, "We can arrange that." I was not sure what he meant, but I just let it drop.

Reading the note with trembling hands, I was charged up to read the beginning paragraph which included a plethora of compliments about los alumnos. As I read on though, the note detailed myriad transgressions and named names of the usual suspects through each of the four periods, over two days. Something's not right here, I thought. It occurred to me that some type of arrangement had actually taken place. I guess I'll never know. Cutting my losses, I put the note away and moved on down the day.

The Truth

I saw Inconvenient Truth last weekend, the Al Gore movie about global warming. Now I'm thinking ...Gore in 08. The movie's excellent, so you might want to check it out.

The Rink

#1 Son just left for the ice rink, a new Saturday night ritual. Last week, Husbandman and I were driving by the rink when we decided to stop in to watch #1 skate. We found him surrounded by a group of friends. He was friendly enough, but didn't talk much. We left after a short chat. The next morning, #1 laid down a few groundrules about the rink. The long and the short of his message to us was this: We're basically not to enter the rink area when he is there with friends. He found our visit "confusing" and "unnecessary." Also, somewhat "annoying."

The Relief

I know I shouldn't expect too much of the new kids on the block, but if those results hadn't gone as they did, I'm not sure you would have heard from me again. I probably would have just started walking away. Who knows where?
Hoping hoping hoping for the Senate.
Low expectations, low expectations. These are the words rolling around, going back and forth.

The Vote

We voted this morning. Maybe things will go our way and the war will end and we'll save the country from ruin. So optimistic am I about our democracy. Not sure why since I, in my insomnia, listened to the radio all night long and heard tales about our problematic voting machines. I'm pushing that behind me and looking ahead. Don't wanna be nosy, but you voted today, right??? If you need a ride to the polls, let me know. I have the day off.

These almond joys were gifts from the sixers and cincos. I told them they were my favorite. They hate them so I got a ton and just kept eating them all day in class. The sixers and cincos didn't mind a bit. And I was pleased of course because Almond Joys are so indescribably delicious.

The Camera

When I was in college, I got into the habit of asking people for their possessions from time to time. If I liked something, I would just suggest that my pal should give it to me. I was often pleasantly surprised to find that people would accomodate my request. So when Menosky was showing off her brand new coolio camera at lunch yesterday, I said, "Hey what about your old camera? What are you going to do with that? Should I have it, do you think???" Sure enough, that baby's mine. AWESOME! MENOSKY ROCKS! Husbandman's appalled, but I say, try it sometime, ask for what you want. It's like David Byrne always says, "Be a little more selfish, it might do you some good."
Adorable Alice as LRRHood. Foto credit: Janet

The Conferences

27 conferences down. 3 to go. They're going okay. Most people want their kid to have more homework. But they add, "Don't tell him I told you that."
Foto of cute Kateland by Sam.