http://gertrude.wordpress.com Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:11:27 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ en hourly 1 http://www.gravatar.com/blavatar/29b2498578d713feb35a0d7d742c01f3?s=96&d=http://s.wordpress.com/i/buttonw-com.png http://gertrude.wordpress.com http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/661/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/661/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:11:27 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/?p=661 ]]>

1. I wish I could dream of some adventure.
2. I wish I could knit an earflap hat.
3. I wish I could defeat injustice.
4. I wish I didn’t think about food so much.
5. I wish I lived on a farm and could take in stray shelter cats.

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/661/feed/ 0 gertrude http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/658/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/658/#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:35:05 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/?p=658 ]]>

1. Chris, Melissa and Michael are all moved in. (unpacked no, but moved in, yes.)  They have a nice house, and I think there will be some fun hanging out times to come!
2. Opened yesterday going to the school community choir practice at 7:30 am and finished with the chamber concert at 7:30 pm.
3. So very glad that it is vacation time!
4. I’ve been enjoying seeing “V” back on tv, and was very glad I made it back home in time to catch most of it, though am now angered that it will not be on again until March.  I do hate the people who run the TV.
5. Our usual day before break flag football game had to be postponed because of the weather.  Instead, during that double activity period we had all the groups in the gym and had games.  Tug of war, cracker whistling, bubble gum blowing, crab walks, and a relay where they ran though the hall carrying an ear of corn that had been liberally slathered with butter.  Oh, and a yelling contest where each class screamed as loud as they could and the physics teacher measured the decibel with his handy decibel meter.  My favorite parts of it, aside from the beautiful joyful atmosphere, were the bicycle helmets that were issued for the relay, and that we opened by singing the national anthem.  And that, my friends, is what school should be about.

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/658/feed/ 2 gertrude http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/655/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/655/#comments Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:46:18 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/?p=655 ]]>

1. Very happy today to wake up and realize it was Saturday.
2. Today is November 21 and a very special day for all the world, but especially those with Cute Overload Page a day calendars.  Violet and Kevin are today!!!!
3. There might be some sewing today.  Thought I would make a batch of Java Jumpers, or coffee sleeves, or whatever you want to call them, for the holiday season at Stelmos.  Not putting the pocket on it this year.  Too much extra work.
4. Chris, Melissa and Michael arrive tomorrow.  Pretty exciting!
5. Paul and I went to see 1984 at school last night and it was quite good.  I am always so impressed with what the kids do, especially in those black box productions.

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/655/feed/ 0 gertrude http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/651/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/651/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:33:44 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/?p=651 ]]>

1. My friend Jeff has joined the communion of saints.  That is fancy Episcopal talk for “that bastard of a beast cancer roughed him, and he  fought as hard as he could, but he died.”  He was a fun and good friend. So many things have been said about him lately, I really don’t even know what to say anymore, except I don’t like thinking about him not being in the world.
2. This event, which I was privileged to witness, has thrown the fragile balance that was school into a bit of a flurry, what with missing a couple days, and then the vacant staring.  I also just wonder, and maybe I’d be wondering this anyway, even if Jeff was still here, if I am doing any good, or if it is all just a charade, and all the students will remember someday is some vague fact that doesn’t really matter.  I mean, “infill and smart growth?”  Really?  How important is that?  I find it interesting, but do they really care and are they paying attention?
3. I feel very lucky to be in the communities I am in.  My crazy school with the children, who make you breakfast to make up for their behavior at a dance .(The “Apology Brunch” I heard one kid call it.)  My Church, where we eat food, and love Jesus. Paul who wakes me from where I have fallen asleep on the couch, coat still on after returning from vestry, and sends me up to bed.  My friends who understand pretty much everything.  My family, who I hope know that I love them, even when I don’t write.
4. I have a great life.  I know that. Still feel bad though.  I guess that is ok.
5. Ali says life has been standing still and that is an apt description, even in the bustle.  Standing still.  Waiting for a bus, a flower, a rain, a spark, a reason.  Something to get things moving again.

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/651/feed/ 5 gertrude http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/649/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/649/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:00:51 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/649/ ]]>

1. I
2. am
3. a
4. little
5. lost.

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/649/feed/ 3 gertrude http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/646/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/646/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:00:01 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/?p=646 ]]>

1. About 10 trick or treaters last night.  Little kids from the neighborhood mostly.  A few teens.  No students of mine which is too bad because I made cupcakes.  Great restorers of faith for me were the folks across the hall who left a bowl of candy even though they weren’t there (excellent), and the trick or treaters who each only took a few pieces of same and didn’t empty the whole bowl into their sacks.  It restored my faith in Halloween and America.  I did feel a little lame about making the cupcakes, but none of them (my students) coming.  Oh well.  Cupcakes for teacher lunch on monday then.
2. Went to the dedication of the new Organ (hee) and it sounds great.  It was a really nice service, and nice to see the results of all that planning.  “Organ!  Awake!”  (hee, again) 
3. In the last few days I’ve watched Ice Age, The Happening (only a little, even though I had seen it before it was too scary) and The Village.
4. Chris left Afghanistan today and should be back with his family by the end of the week.  Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!
5. Paul and I did some singing last night.  Very fun, though I am not tremendously talented.  Still fun though.  I think I would be better, never great but better, if I sang more often.  For a person who likes music, I sure don’t listen to much.

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/646/feed/ 0 gertrude http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/644/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/644/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:44:38 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/?p=644 ]]>

1. Slept late, took a nap, going to bed early.
2. Dinner with AB.  Good.  She travels a lot.  We’ve been friends for a long time.  I’m lucky.
3. Rain. Needs. Too. Stop.  Also boo to the coming daylight savings.
4. This summer I want to get an RV and travel around the US visiting National parks, family, friends, and state fairs.
5. Chris should be leaving Afghanistan, Sunday!  Hooray!

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/644/feed/ 2 gertrude http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/642/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/642/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:15:34 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/?p=642 ]]>

1. It’s “lentil-ganza” around here as I just spent hours chopping and dicing and boiling etc and now have lentil soup for tonight, and lentil salad to take to school tomorrow.  The soup is pretty good.  I just wish I had a giant loaf of bread to dip in it, but I am trying to lay off the bread for at least 10 minutes.
2. If you yell across the courtyard to the people (who you’ve never met) playing with their children: “Hey are you coming to my house for Halloween?  I’ve got candy!” you become “that crazy lady whose house we are not going to.”  Also: yelling out the window on Halloween “come up here!  I’ve got candy!” yet again makes you a character of some suspicion.  I’m so conflicted over Halloween.  I know I could go to other places that have more children, like Paul’s family, and get the Halloween vibe, but I cannot desert my post!  It is my duty to hand out candy.  What is unfortunate is that those household who do not pass out candy, and those who do not send children to trick or treat mess up the delicate balance that is America.
3. This was the first weekend since school started that I didn’t have any responsibilities/activities.  Was very nice. 
4. One thing, I did have to write a recommendation for a kid for college.  That’s a lot of pressure.  I don’t know how the high school TAs at our school survive, because they have to do a jillion.
5. Tired again.  and here comes the monday.

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/642/feed/ 0 gertrude http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/631/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/631/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:46:33 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/?p=631 ]]>

1. I spent more than one moment today wandering around in tired confusion.  I need some down time to recharge, because all is haze and nuttiness.  My headaches still linger and the water problem has not really been addressed.  Must drink more. (water.  Other drinking might not be as helpful.)
2. Just a little salute to my pal Liz, who makes staff meetings fun.  Also lunch.  If we could install some sort of dumb-waiter, or pneumatic tube system that would enable us to send jokes and odd objects back and forth between our classrooms, that would be great.
3. We probably won’t get to do that, since there will likely be pretty strong budgets cuts this year, I found out at  a county teacher meeting yesterday.  Could get a little ugly, and of course, pneumatic tube system innovations will be the first to go, I don’t have to tell you.
4. The chorus concert last night was great.  My favorite part was when the high school men’s chorus sang with the middle school men’s chorus.  The contrast between those little sixth graders, that are just pocket sized and the senior boys, was so amazing.  How can they grow so different in just 6 years?  The instrumental concert is tomorrow.  I am going for perfect attendance this year, so I feel committed to doing it, but it is not helping my overall frazzle level this week.  On the plus side, I have a little found time since our early release activity was postponed.  I hope a little lunch and coffee shop run will help me have some good productive hours before the concert.  My classroom is in serious need of cleaning.
5. Still waiting for my TV to come back from repair.  The store hints it may be soon.  That would be helpful.  I am actually going to bed extra early tonight, not only because I need the rest, but so I can get up early and watch Glee online before I go to work.  Yes, I am the saddest no tv havingest person ever.

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/631/feed/ 2 gertrude http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/628/ http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/628/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:29:23 +0000 Eleanor http://gertrude.wordpress.com/?p=628 ]]>

1. My little cat violet is lying across my arms purring and napping.
2. It’s time to go get some lasagna, but who can move such a sweet kitty?
3. My TV might be ready by the end of the week.  Or it might not.
4. Up at 5:30, out of the house by 6:50 (hit the snooze several times) very busy weekend, it’s only Monday and I am tired already.  If I can go to 10 I can get 8 hours of sleep, get up at 6 and do it again.  Getting in two hours early is very helpful.
5. Violet jumped down.  Time for lasagna.

]]> http://gertrude.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/628/feed/ 0 gertrude