August 1, 2008

1. OK. Now I am rested and coherent.
2. Nice trip on the train from DC to Boston.  A brief fracas as the Bostonians have no sense of honor when it comes to hailing cabs.  Say what you want about Washingtonians (and Arlingtonians) but we make a line, or at least that is my experience.  I prefer to close my eyes to any other reality in my town.
3. Our friend Karin picked us up and we are staying in the rectory of her church.  We met Karin in Germany when I was in high school.  And she is totally hilarious. (and no I am not just saying that because my mother instantly told her about this blog.)  From the initial glance Rockport seems very nice and tiny and cool and we will be gadding about town today.  Daddy arrives later, I am sure lobsters will be eaten at some point.  And fried clams.  And apparently, this is the home of the donut.  Hello!  We might go see whales too.
4. The rest of the trip will be recorded on Twitter.  I played around with this a trip to Georgia.  I can send messages by cell phone.  The challenge, a good one I think, is that it is limited to 140 characters.  This could be a good literary exercise.  Maybe the total lines will turn out to be a form of the American Long Poem, like Robert Lowell, though of course with less depth and more references to food.
5. A Challenge of the Twitter updates, is that when texting using predictive text, the phone can sometimes insert a word that is not what you wanted, and I don’t always notice it, OR I do and I like it so I go with it.  For example, when sending Ali a message yesterday about the aforementioned Bostonians and their Taxi etiquette, it predicted “Bostonhams” instead of Bostonians, and of course that is a much better word, so I went with that.  So that may explain some of the word choices in my Twitter Updates.

July 22, 2008

1. Well, things are looking really good to get the Christmas ornaments put away this week.
2. It always gets worse before it gets better.  I had the my sitting/craft room/command and control center pretty much sorted, but now I have to attack the storage room, so I dragged everything out of there into this room, and now it is three kinds of chaos.  But it will get better.
3. Only six weeks of summer left.
4. I have lots of little chores and appointments that need doing in that time.
5. Coffee time now.
6. I want to write something, but I don’t know what.

March 10, 2008

1. Our Music Director inspired me, with the mention of the Stations of the Cross as art or poetry, and now I must get this out of my head, before I buckle down to writing my station for the year.  Ahem.  There once was a man from Cyrene; (pronounce it sigh-ree-nee) Who stumbled upon a bad sceney.  He took on the cross, and said “I’m just at a loss; That Pontius Pilate is sure a big meany.
2. Sorry Lord.  Really.
3. So I said I would do “Burdened” Station # 2.  The word “burdened” is why I chose it, I was feeling burdened at the time, but I am not sure where to go now.  There is alot about that word to work with, but it is all about my burden, not Jesus’, and this should probably be more about Jesus.  On the other hand, I don’t like to try to get into his head, that seems presumptuous.  Must.  Ponder.
4. My goal for the week is not to get on the children about little things (I’ll save it for the big stuff, and I would rather not even do that.)  One day down, four to go.  Breathe deeply, avoid trouble situations, be prepared, have some fun stuff to do.  This my friends, is how we get to spring Break without killing anyone.
5. The crew leader thing was fun, and enlightening, but very tiring.  I have this ginormous piece of linen to wash.  We are talking yards of fabric.  I picture trying to wring it out in the tiny sink, and then it to turns on me and attacks.  They’ll find me wrapped in swaddling linen and lying in the sacristy.

January 28, 2008

1. Excitement today was a power outage while everyone was doing their grades at school.  Fortunately the grade program automatically saves, so I only lost a few things, and I had it written down anyway.  But the break in the power gave me time to pick up a little and plan for tomorrow.  I only have some papers to look over tonight and then enter tomorrow, and then I will be done with that.
2. The only minor problem, is that I am feeling unsettled in my stomach and a little feverish in my head.  I rarely get sick, so these feelings usually up and get nasty, but it is simply not allowed at this moment.  I have to export my grades before 3 pm tomorrow.  There can be no illness, thank you very much.
3. One of the computers was delivered today, but neither Paul or I was home to take delivery, so I will have to go pick it up tomorrow.  Of course I want to run out right now and get it, but I must grade.  MUST. GRADE.
4. I hate grading.
5. Note to self.  Write about the nice church history that CB wrote that was given out at the Annual Meeting.

January 14, 2008

1. I took the afternoon off today.  I found myself in short foul temper and a substitute was possible,  also, it was one of the rare days where I could safely do this, as everyone was either watching a video or writing their essays.  I just needed a moment to regroup.  I don’t know that I have regrouped, but I enjoyed lunch with a friend and an afternoon of Office reruns and crafting, and that pleases me.
2. The sweater felting project is nearing completion, though in a tragic turn of events the parents of the lucky child who will receive the jumper/dog bed, asked for no presents for her birthday.  They must have seen the pictures.  So now it is not a present, but a “hand me down.”  A marvelously crafted one I must say.  I am about to tackle the hardest part, attaching the lining to the dress.  I only had to rip out the hem twice, so I am feeling good about the next move.
3. I like writing a lot, and I might buy a new computer.  Those are partially related.
4. I finished the scarf for M’s BD and it was well received.  I forgot though to take a picture for the Angry Crafts archive of Craftiness.  It was a nice blue/violet and white vertical stripe.  Not sure what my next knitting project is.  Maybe a few infant hats.  My assistant prinipal has been after me for that, for a charity.  Time to break out the “Big Mexico!”
5. Chili Bowl a smashing success as always.  Good turn out.  I tried to institute a drawing to select the next chili master and only kids put their names in.  Oh, and some chucklehead put my name in.  But finally Ali put her name in and now she is the Chili Master elect.  With a committee of six year olds.  I think that idea can catch on, but it may take a few years.
6. Most awesome about the chili bowl was that a couple who have only been coming to church for a month entered a chili.  They thought it was a good way to meet people and I think they were right.  Several little old ladies were throwing elbows in their quest to meet and greet them. 

January 3, 2008

1. Super success on the felting! 
2. It sounded like a cocktail party in the class next to mine today.  During the break, my classroom is deserted, except for one student.  I am happy about that, because that noise would (and kind of is) driving me crazy (even though it is just the joyful exuberance of youth etc.) But they seem to know that I won’t put up with it, and the other teacher will.  I am definitely not as popular, but at moments like this it is ok.
3. Spell check is wonderful.  I just figured out that you can right click on a word and it give the spelling choices.  My favorite replacement offering is for ”definitely,” which I always misspell.  The top choice is “defiantly.”  I like the potential that has.  “I will definitely be there.”  “I will DEFIANTLY be there.”
4. Back to the workout today.  I did not do my homework, push-ups and sit-ups, over the break.  Oops.  My dog ate my sit-ups?
5. FREEZING in the building today.  My hands are like chunks of meat.

December 29, 2007

1. I went to a movie today.  National Treasure 2.  Not bad, though there was for me some confusion about the Ed Harris character.  Was he a bad guy, or just along for plot development?  I got a coupon for free popcorn AND there was a cartoon before the movie, so it was a pretty exciting time.  Also, at the concession counter there was a guy who looked exactly like Raj from the old TV show, “What’s Happening.”
2. My breakfast party this morning was very nice.  I have really nice friends and family, and I am not just saying that because some of them read this blog.  I did have to retreat to the kitchen occasionally, but I tried to be a good conversational partner.  I realized my fallback is to talk about myself, which is pretty weak.  Paul is really good at kick starting conversations, and getting people to talk about themselves, or various interesting topics. I need to follow how he does that.
3. I went to the book store after the movie.  I wanted to buy the short story for “I am Legend,” which I did.  As I was walking through the store, I saw Joel Osteen’s big face looking out at me, and the title of his book was “Become a Better You.”  I found something about that very galling. For one, I am not  into his whole prosperity gospel thing. But I think the main thing is that title.  I know I have weaknesses, but it seems entirely presumptuous that he is telling me and everyone in the book store that we need mending. Or maybe he is very well intentioned and is simply, like Dr. Phil and Oprah, wanting to share some good advice. Or maybe they are being presumptuous too.  I guess I can’t quite put my finger on it, but that title struck me bad the moment I saw it.  I showed him though, in addition to I am Legend, I also bought “Bright Lights, Big Ass” which looks very promising.  (This same author also wrote “Bitter is the New Black”  and if that doesn’t sound like the title of a self improvement tome, I don’t know what is.)
4. New England is behind in the 3rd quarter.  Though I don’t follow football much, I have noticed all the Patriot hoopla, which makes me amused, because I remember in the 80s, that they stunk.  Circle of Life, don’t you know.
5. For the party I made the Egg Casserole and Coffee cake that are both in my family cookbook.  The food and the cookbook received much praise.  It has not only recipes, but family pictures and a genealogy.  I am glad that people like looking at it, and it really is a labor of love from my aunt.  It was nice to be reminded of that by others admiration.

December 27, 2007

1. I really would like it if I could stop waking up at 5 AM during vacation.  By 8 PM I am beat.
2. The fact that I haven’t been exercising and eating right could be adding to the beatness.
3. Suddenly I feel like this blog is dumb.  I feel like my writing is getting too brisk.
4. AB and I went to the Portrait Gallery today.  This was good, but museums are so physically exhausting.  It’s like I have no bones after a while.  I feel like lying down to rest in the hallway.  I think this is because my brain in processing all sorts of input, but my body is moving at a snails pace.  This combination combines to equal big tired Eleanor.  I think since I live so near, I should take lots of little trips to the museums, just concentrating on one or two things, rather than a day trip trying to see everything.  This would definitely mean going down town more than once a quarter of course, but the idea has promise.
5. Good news to get through the writers strike.  PBS is going to show The Complete Jane Austen starting in the middle of January.  Six Jane Austen movies.  Hello!  This could really liven up Sunday nights.

December 15, 2007

Things to write about tomorrow:

1. What makes a great funeral.
2. Possible plot reveals on the Movie “I am Legend” and punishments necessary if this is so.
3. The movie “Atonement”
4. The cocoa crisis of 2007.
5. Tomorrow.

December 7, 2007

1. I finished my Taming of the Shrew “Nothing” citations.  Hooray!
2. One of the girls in my morning class came over today and said “You are really pretty, I just thought I’d say that.”  It was awfully sweet.
3. No more will I be paralyzed about whether to put colored lights or white in the tree.  I am doing BOTH.  Then I can unplug one set if the mood strikes me.  (This has been a mental battle, me in front of the light display at target, for years.) I was inspored by the tree at Paul’s coffee shop, which has both.  And, for some reason a wreath hanging off the top fo the tree.  Interesting.
4. Hallelujah for the weekend.
5. Christmas tree purchase tomorrow I think.