The Good Old Days

We note the passing of Barbara Bush today. One may not have agreed with her on all things, but it was definitely impossible to fault her for her grace and civility. Even when, during the 1984 election, she famously snapped that Geraldine Ferraro was something that rhymed with "rich", she later regretted the harshness of her words and apologized. She showed us how to disagree courteously and with integrity.

My! How far we've come.

In the Van Guard

I needed a new pair of sneakers for the spring, so I ran up to the big box shoe place on Sunday to look around. Years ago when I lived at the beach, my signature summer kicks were white slip-on Vans, and I actually bought a pair of gray canvas Vans last spring. This time my eye was drawn to a black suede pair with white trim, and when I tried them on, they were so comfortable I wanted to wear them out of the store. I resisted, mostly because of the rain, and it rained again yesterday, too, so my new shoes had their official debut today.

Oh my goodness! You might have thought I found a cure for homework! There were so many compliments from so many kids, even some I didn't know. With my jeans and black crew neck sweater, it seems like I was rocking the look. In fact, when I looked around my third period class I saw two girls who were wearing a variation of my own outfit down to the Vans.

Fashion has never been my thing-- I like what I like and I like to wear it regularly-- but after a day like today? At least I understand the fuss!

To the Highest Power

We use some of our team meeting time to touch base and see what everyone is working on in their subject area classes. Today I started. “In English, we’re doing poetry and the daily poetry challenge,” I reported. “How about science?”

“Science fair,” one of the science teachers said.

“We’re doing civics and the appellate courts,” the social studies teachers told us.

“And math?” I asked.

The math teacher gave us a deadpan look. “State tests are coming,” she answered, “we’re praying!”

Second Wind

I think the pups are all worn out. Haha. Cooper is laying on the couch arm rest, Theo is in my lap, and Lucy is laying on the lobster bed, the text read.

It was hardly surprising-- Lucy and her buddies had been playing for at least 90 minutes, so Heidi headed over to pick our puppy up from her playdate. But the minute she appeared, just after Cooper's person, the dogs were in full swing again-- running and tumbling and wrestling throughout the small condo.

As she told me the tale, I laughed. "Don't you remember that from when you were a kid? You could be bored out of your mind with your cousins or your friends, but the minute your mom showed up to say it was time to go home? There were soooo many things left to do!"

Arigato Francis

Tonight was the family dinner for my brother's birthday. What can I say? The guy likes dumplings, and so as I was planning the menu, I figured a lobster potsticker might be a good appetizer. I have made filled wontons and dumplings in the past, and although they are generally successful, there have been some notable fails. Plus, I don't make them regularly enough to have a go-to recipe, or wrapper, or technique. As such, I did what many 21st century cooks do: I turned to the internet.

Recently, I noticed that whenever my sixth grade students search for something, they automatically start with images. To me that makes no sense whatsoever, but most of the kids in my class are very visual, and they are actually rather adept at finding useful information by clicking on a picture link. "Why do you do that?" I asked a student the other day.

"It's easier than reading," he told me.

Today I was looking for old-fashioned written recipes, and I had actually found a couple of promising leads, when I saw the website "Cooking with Dog". I couldn't end my search without at least a look there. It turned out to be a YouTube show hosted by a French Poodle named Francis. Francis narrates the videos in heavily accented English as a Japanese woman cooks from her kitchen. I know right? It's a nutty concept, but I must tell you, Francis and that lady really know their gyoza! There were several tips and tricks that helped me make some delicious potstickers.

And hey kids! I didn't have to read a word.

National Humor Month

April is many "national" months-- poetry, of course, and also lawn and garden, grilled cheese, soft pretzel, garlic, jazz appreciation, and humor. My students speculate that the last is because of April Fools Day, and whether they are right or not, I like that they're thinking.

Yesterday's poetry challenge was to write a cinquain about an animal, and today the Jolly Rancher Challenge was to tell me a joke about an animal. If I laugh, you win!

I spent the day laughing! Here are some of the best:

Where do killer whales play music?
the Orca-stra

Did you hear I'm moving to Australia to work in a zoo?
Don't worry, I'm koalified.

Why can't T-rexes clap their hands?
Because they're dead.

Why did the sheep get a ticket?
illegal ewe turn

What do you do when your dog eats your pencil?
Use a pen.

Why are pterodactyls so quiet in the bathroom?
Their p is silent.

Knock knock
Who's there?
Cows go
Cows go who?
No! Cows go moo!

You would think a snail without his shell would be a little quicker,
but actually he's more sluggish.

Home Teams

As the warm weather arrives, that long walk to my car when I leave school is definitely enhanced by all the soccer practices, baseball games, tennis matches, pick-up basketball one-on-ones, runners, dog walkers, and play grounders that I pass along the way. So much energy is energizing, and it feels good to be in the middle of it all.