Singing the Sky

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In our Geography books, we reached the Middle East today. I expected it to be a section, but no, it’s a chapter. One chapter in a book that has 36 of them. So we wonder why no one seems to have a clue about the Middle East, do we? Needless to say, I’m going to extend this chapter for at least three weeks, which will still be an inadequate representation.

While we were talking about how the Israelites had pretty much relocated out of the area and then began to return in the 1800’s, one of the kids said, “So it’s like I got up out of my seat and then Jose sits there and I come back and say, ‘Hey, that’s my seat.’?”

That’s how it seems to me. I try my best not to express too many opinions so that the kids can form their own. That is HARD. At any rate, it’s fun teaching this group I have now.

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I got a note in Sage’s agenda today that informed me that he was “making paper airplanes out of the work” yesterday, and “refused to do the math test” today. Apparently, he has heard me discuss his attention issues too much, because today, the first thing he started talking about was how he couldn’t pay attention. Of course, it was someone else’s fault. I let him know that I’m not buying it, and the no TV, computer, Gameboy or friends consequence has been extended throughout the weekend. Man I hope G. takes him fishing. This is looking like a long weekend, although I’ve already told him that I do not feel sorry for him if he is bored.

The good side? He is occupying himself by looking at piles of books…:-)

Tags: , add, adhd

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I am just fooling myself if I think that my job doesn’t have anything to do with my state of mind. Yeah, there are some good days, and days when I see the value of my being there. Today, one of my 15 year old boys was in a state of panic because his 14 year old girlfriend is pregnant and he has to tell him dad. He knows his dad may kick him out and he’s scared. So at least I was someone he could talk to instead of his coming to school and being told, shut up, sit down, blah blah.

Still, there are such mixed messages. My principal is wanting me to do the same novels as one of the high schools we serve, and well, my kids aren’t there for long, they are in different grades, and they don’t usually read all that well, so I come up with a curriculum that serves them all. Yet, in spite of this sudden enthusiasm for reading the novels with the kids, she wants me to just put down that others have finished whatever courses they needed so they can just get out and graduate. Really, it’s all one big game, and doesn’t have jack to do with a real education.

Anyway, gripe, gripe, complain complain.

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Last night I was tucking Sage into bed. He reached up, grabbed his dreamcatcher, and proceeded to give it a few good whacks.

I asked him what he was doing.

“I’m cleaning out the bad dreams so that there will be room for some more,” he said.

I didn’t ask where the old ones went. I imagined them, dried and shriveled, floating to the floor to be vacuumed up later.

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I believe that Varmint is smiling. She likes it here. We have a lovely fenced backyard that is perfect for her to enjoy. And yes, she has three legs.

You know how digital cameras (unless you have a good one) take the picture when they darn well feel like it? That’s what happened here.

Sage thinks that this one looks like she’s saying, “Bring it on!” Who knows?

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Photo: bradleygee

Yesterday, I heard a soft knock at the door. I opened it to see a large black guy standing there. I figured he must be one of my neighbors.

“Ma’am, I’ve ran out of gas just up the street here,” he said, motioning around the corner to Church Street where I couldn’t see. “Do you have some yardwork I could do so I can run up the store and get some gas?”

“I do need my lawn mowed,” I said, “but I don’t suppose you have a lawn mower with you right now.”

“Naw, but I’ll come back with it if you’ll just give me a few bucks so I can get the gas.”

Still wondering if he was a neighbor, I asked him where he lived.

“Oh, I live over by Lanana Creek, in the Black section.”

When he said that, I got the feeling that when I had stepped out the door I had entered some sort of time portal that had carried me back to the 1950’s. In this house, anything feels possible.

I went into the house, found five dollars, and handed it to him. He promised to come back and mow my yard. Of course he didn’t come back. I didn’t expect him to. The thing that is currently bugging me is that I am wondering if he thought I expected him to. I can just hear it now…”That white bitch thought I was going to mow her damn lawn for a lousy five dollars! Sheeet no…”

Or not.

I do know that there was never a car that was out of gas. I saw him walking down the street today, so there is no car at all, most likely.

I don’t regret giving him the money for two reasons. One, anyone who is desperate enough to come to your door and beg probably needs the money, even if it’s to get drunk. Two, if it ever happens again,with him or anyone else, I can say, “Nope, done been there. No money here for yardwork that doesn’t get done.”

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I don’t do many memes anymore, but I really liked this one! Discovered at Fearfully Made. What you do is go over here to make the mosaic. You enter the URLs of photos from Flicker to create it.

Here’s mine.

1. Michelle, 2. Blueberry Bowl, 3. Marathon Dolphins, 4. soft fuchsia, 5. More Johnny Depp…, 6. tea, 7. The Face of Morocco, 8. pick-me-up, 9. The Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast, 10. The Way Home, 11. End Of The Day, 12. Linguine Grooms Robb

How do you make it? Well, just answer the following questions with your favorite pic from the first page that comes up when you enter your answer into Flickr’s search. If anyone’s wondering, my answer to number 10 was “Sky, Sage”. I love that New Mexico land came up, since I have some that looks about like that. Weird, but it makes sense.

Here are the questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10.What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your Flickr name.

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The chiminea has been over at G’s house for the past 2 1/2 years. Yesterday, Sky and I got it and put it in the backyard. It feels just like having it new again.

I had a photo almost exactly like this on the blog I deleted. I’m still kicking myself for that one. Oh well, here it is again.

It was 90 degrees and we had a hot fire going, so we stood around it and roasted marshmallows. Makes sense, right? I did have to burn up some limbs that G. had cut out of a tree. I particularly like this pic of G. and his marshmallow.

The next time I buy a camera, I am not even going to look at how many megapixels it has. Taking candid shots is an impossibility with this one, since it waits about three seconds from the time you point the camera. Well, I guess if I had 10 megapixels and a good optical zoom, I could stand across the street or something. Sage is such a ham.

Sage and G. are going to New York next month. I’m so glad that G. goes on these trips with him every summer. I tried to explain to Sage why I don’t, and ended up saying that I felt like the cat does when she rides in the car. He told me to take some medicine and bring a lot of books. Sigh. Maybe some heroin would do the trick.

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Just checking out what all is closed here in town while we repair the damage…

Tyson Foods - Center Processing Plant employee work schedule for Monday. 1st shift evisceration, cut-up & debone will not work. 1st shift blasting, labeling & shipping will work. All 2nd shift employees will work.

So does this mean they’re shipping out the chickens bones, guts and all? And what, exactly, is blasting? I don’t think I want to know.

The best thing on the list? School is out for two days! Yea!

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