Trans-species Grievances

Tracey says:

Sometimes Lucy gets so obsessive about sniffing the ground that I have to physically poke her to get her to snap out of it. One good finger jab to the shoulder is often not even enough to return her to the present reality and get her to pay attention to me. Dogs!

Lucy says:

Sometimes Tracey gets so obsessive about looking at the computer that I have to physically poke her to snap her out of it. One good nose punch to her leg is often not even enough to return her to present reality and get her to pay attention to me. People!

A Blessing or a Curse?

It seemed like such a good idea.

My pepper guy forgot to put the half-bushel I ordered on the truck to bring with the last CSA delivery of the season. How can I make it right? he asked. He vends at a market about 30 minutes away, and so we agreed to pick up our peppers there. In consolation? We would get a free box.

That's right. I have a whole bushel of peachy peppers.

Stay tuned!

Positive Feedback

It was the puppy that made us stop.

On the way out of school yesterday afternoon I passed a young woman wrangling an adorable white and black puppy spinning in circles at the end of the leash. She made exasperated eye contact as the puppy pulled her toward us.

As I leaned over to pat the unruly pup, the owner gasped.

I looked up in alarm.

"How are you?" she asked.

It was then I looked more closely at her. "Shireen, right?" I said.

"Oh my God! I can't believe you remember me! You have so many students. " she answered, tears literally shining in her eyes, and stepping forward to give me a hug.

After 14 years, I was glad I recognized her, but I also remembered her well. She was a good kid, serious and hard-working. We spent a few minutes catching up. Besides a new puppy, she is applying to law school and waiting on her clearance for a Justice Department job, and she is happy.

I congratulated her and continued on my way, pleased that I had played a small part in her success.

Vicious Cycle

We have a colleague who complains all the time. Nothing suits her; nothing anyone else asks or does is valuable or useful. In the space of 45 minutes yesterday she explained why 2 suggestions and one routine would not be of any help to her or her team. She informed us that what we were working on was not a good use of her time and also outlined all her grievances against a co-teaching situation with a teacher who wasn't present.

And when she left what did we do?

We complained about her.

Lettuce Consider that Question

"Why do always smell like salad?" a student asked me today.

"Uh--." I replied, "I'm not sure. What kind of salad do I smell like?"

He shrugged. "Just salad. All the time."

"Is it a good smell or a bad smell?" I asked.

"it's ok," he answered. "if you like salad."

Unforeseen Complications

I have never been an early bird, and yet:

The older I grow, the earlier I rise, and this year, getting out of bed at 5:30 doesn't even seem a hardship. I am easily able to shower and dress and pack lunches and take the trash by 6:40. Then it's time for the chore that founded this very blog: walking the dog.

Unfortunately, although I am ready for the day, the day is not ready for us.

It's still really dark!

End of a Long Day

It was 6:45 when I finally left school today. As I pushed through the plate glass doors a soft breeze warmed my refrigerated skin. The pale blue sky was awash with apricot clouds and every single playing field was filled. Soccer players, basketballers, tennis aces, skateboarders, and jungle gymmers laughed and called to each other in at least five different languages. For them, work was over and play time was on. I took a deep breath and felt the tension leave my body, and realized that the same was true for me.