Day 30 Let There Be Smiles All Through the Day

Here is a list of 10 things that made me smile today.

1. Backing out of the garage this foggy morning to see a line of birds sitting on the highline wire this morning.

2. The pure glee in the voice of a listener on the radio when the DJ told her she had just won $10,000.

3. Finding a penny in the parking lot as I walked into school. (I always think of pennies as blessings from heaven.)

4. A hug from second grader Anticia and the question, "When you going to come be my teacher again?" (I haven't been in to work with her since before Thanksgiving because of a crazy schedule.)

5. The oohs and ahhs from the first graders as they passed the Christmas tree in the hall just as I plugged in the multicolored lights.

6. Children singing their Christmas program in the gym. I'm not sure if it was children's voices singing or the fact that I don't have to rehearse them for the program that made me smile.

7. Having lunch with good friends. Some one always has something to say that just makes me glad to be a part of *the group*.

8. My husband calling and ordering a pizza for supper.

9. Feeling needed when Amy called to ask, "Mom, what do you take for an auction at church?" The real question was "Mom, it this a good idea?" and it was. :)

10. Knowing that tomorrow is December 1 and I don't have to blog unless I just want to. And that this blogging everyday thing hasn't been all that bad.

Day 29 In Perfect Harmony

Tonight Robert and I attended a dinner/concert given by the Coastalairs, a thirty voice men's barbershop quartet. What fun! They sang old fashioned barbershop, Christmas melodies, and a couple of more modern tunes; acted as the waiters bringing out bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy, chicken fried steaks, green beans, corn and dinner rolls followed by peach cobbler; and performed skits. Some serenaded in small groups while we ate. We ate then they sang then we ate some more. It was a wonderful night. I wish I had a picture of them --- I think the youngest man was at least 60 and the oldest closer to 90 than anything else, but boy could they sing. The dinner/concert is the way they raise money to travel to different competition throughout the year. And they had more costume changes than Cher. :) Of course all they were changing were their coats, but everyone managed to have the same outfit on each time at the right time.
Tonight I sleep with the melodies of Sweet Adeline and When Johnny Comes Marching Home drifting through my dreams.

Day 28 Long Day Just Waiting

When I got to school a group of teachers were gathered in the hall talking, I cheerfully greeted them with a quip about them having an unofficial teacher's meeting. But I could instantly tell something was wrong. The school secretary's son had been in an car vs. train accident the afternoon before and was in critical condition with a 1% chance of making it. We heard rumors off and on all day about his condition, but nothing official came until about 4:00. Chris did not survive. The young man with him had died at the scene. Many I work with had taught both Chris and Robert. My heart is heavy for both of these families as they deal with their losses. I ask that you keep them all in your prayers.

Also my brother -in-law, Lydell, was scheduled to have open heart surgery this morning, but just prior to being taken to the OR he suffered some sort of episode. The doctors cancelled the surgery off saying they wanted to do some further test so they would know what had caused the episode. (Episode is the word my dad left on phone message. I'm not sure what exactly it was.) Anyway a second message from Daddy said that Lydell's heart wasn't the cause and surgery would be tomorrow at 11:00am. At about 5 I got a email from L's oldest daughter who said Lydell had had a fainting spell with the nurses right there and he is now in ICU. I don't know if he will have surgery or not. Please keep this family in your prayers also. They are all pretty scared at this point.

Now on a lighter side -- Robert and I went shopping for Christmas lights for the outside of the house this afternoon. We didn't buy any. We just couldn't decide if we want to put up colored lights, white lights, icicle lights, colored icicle lights or what. Maybe instead of lights we'll just get a giant inflatable something and put in the front yard. We'll see.

Day 27 Ramblings on My Day

Three things about today.

1. I had an email from a friend who was telling about her fiancee needing shots for the next 5 days and the doctor thinking she would be a fine candidate to give the shots since she has given shots to cattle before --- she isn't as confident as the doctor --- she didn't mention the fiancee's position on it. All that said to tell about the one and only time I've ever given a shot. Donna had to have allergy shots for a while. The doctor said there would be no problem with me giving the shot and so I thought, "Heck I can do that." I discovered that human skin is tougher than I thought and I used the wrong technique to get the needle to pass into the skin. I thought I should just push and the needle would slide in --- so push it did, but when the needle did finally penetrate I was so startled I yanked the needle out ---- that's right without dispensing the medicine. I was fired from shot giving. (YEAH) I think we paid to have the shots given after that.

2. Today I went and endured the yearly physical all women should have. I believe in getting it all over with in one visit so I had the mammo. and the pap exam. If you have not had your yearly exam please go have one. These test, though a nuisance, are life savers and I encourage each of you to take care of yourselves this way. And I love my doctor. He didn't even mention that I have gained 5 pounds since he saw me last year and 10 since I've started seeing him. I wonder how much I can gain before I get a lecture. Should I risk another 5 pounds????

3. That was my couple, but I have one more. The TAKS test was different to give this time. I was put with two students that require the test to be read to them. This was the math test. I could read the test question only without any inflection on any of the words then I had to sit and watch them agonise over what to do. This was better than just sitting and not getting to talk, but it was hard not to do a little teaching and prodding. I know they have had instruction on some of the stuff they couldn't/didn't answer correctly, and to watch them work and then come to the wrong conclusion was just painful for me.

Day 26 Tomorrow's Forcast --- Boring

Tomorrow at school we being three days of giving a pre-TAKS benchmark test in math, reading and writing for fourth grade/science for fifth grade. This should tell us where are kids are and what we need to do to get some of them over the hump for the real TAKS in March and April.. Next to the actual TAKS test it is the most boring three days in existence. I will have a group of 4 or 5 students and all I am allowed to do is walk around -- supervise breaks, to keep them from discussing the test (like these kids are going to discuss the test -- get real -- I have the lower students, the ones who don't discuss test and since they are with other students they know are low too, they don't even try to cheat) and in general be bored.
I have been giving the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills since its conception back in the 1980s. I have seen its name change from TABS to TEAMS to TAAS to TAKS. Each name change brought minor changes in the test.
I used to fuss about giving the test and hated to feeling like I had to teach to a test. I didn't really teach to a test. I felt that if I just did good teaching then prepared the students for taking a standardized test they would do well and for the most part that was true. I was luck enough to teach in school that didn't put extra pressure on teacher to over prepare students. I know that it has changed --- it is that change that has a job for me now. I tutor at risk students.
I don't lobby (quietly in teacher lounge) anymore for the test to be dropped. It is because of that test that I get a pay check. :) So now when teachers are fussing and letting off steam, I just sit quietly and smile to myself glad that my name isn't on a bottom line anywhere.
Funny how circumstances change your perspective.

Day 25 Let the Christmas Season Begin

I love my Christmas tree! Donna and I put it up this morning before she had to go. You can tell that it is all Santa Clauses or balls with Santa on them.

I am hosting a party on Friday the seventh and I wasn't sure when I was going to get the tree up and the house decorated, but with Donna's help I got the tree up and most of the other items placed around. I don't really go all out, but I like a happy Christmas feeling with the Nativity on the mantle, a Christmas candle centerpiece on the dining room table, that kind of thing.

Robert said he would get the outside done on Tuesday or Wednesday --- the weather is supposed to be warmer. So soon wreaths will grace the outside and maybe lights.

May I be one of the first to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. Enjoy this wonderful season and be blessed.