Don't mess with H1N1

From Jamie at the Mayo:

There are 50 people sick enough with the flu to be hospitalized in Rochester, 1-2 in ICU. Wash your hands! And your kids' hands!

M

My "issue" with hockey.

I LOVE to watch hockey. I am so grateful that Jeff Vizenor chose to coach the first HS girls hockey team (the Icebreakers) in St. Cloud. I'm grateful because that is how Jessica who was in 5th grade at the time became interested in the sport, asked for a pair of skates & well, the rest is history. Playing hockey has been a big part of her life ever since.

But look at this crap I just came home to on my deck!!! I can only assume that all of this has been stuffed in a corner in my basement since last May & this is Jessica's lame attempt to air it out on this humid day for the coming season.

Not only do I now know I need to disinfect wherever that stuff was sitting in the basement, I am reminded that I will have to remind Jess to make sure that she airs it out between games.

Do you REMEMBER going to the doctor last winter Jessica because you had a rash all over your body that itched? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Our middle... the hippie.

Tour De Fat 2009.

Over protective Mom?

I had to share this. Jamie was "tagged" in this picture by one of her friends on Facebook. That is Grace in front of Jamie in that HUGE life jacket thing.Connor is bending over to her left. I think that Grace looks like Humpty Dumpty!!!

Mary

I pity those traveling in the cities today!!

The Minnesota Twins play Oakland at noon Saturday at the Metrodome.

Obama will be speaking at the Target Center at 12:30 p.m. His plane will land at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport shortly before the speaking engagement. Drivers can expect roads and bridges to be blocked while the motorcade passes.

The president is expected to fly out of the Twin Cities by 2:30 p.m. just before pregame festivities start at the University of Minnesota. The Gophers football team will be playing its first game on campus at 6:30 p.m. in years.

Hi Ben.

Hello there Ben!!!

Just want to say Hi & tell you that you are THE luckiest baby in recent history. I have known your Mom & Dad for quite some time now and consider them to be smart, funny, fun, creative & quirky. The funny, fun & creative portions of their personalities will become apparent to you quite soon. As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet that your synapses have already begun to connect themselves to align themselves along these lines.

Now that leaves the definition or at least my interpretation of "quirky".

Your Dad's quirkiness includes such things as a complete & dramatic wardrobe change in the spring & index fingers that reflect the colors of the rainbow. He may , in fact, be from over the rainbow or maybe from Kansas. I'm not sure, but I have seen him click his heels ( or was that do the splits) on occasion.

Your Mom is a FANTASTIC teacher but she does have a few quirks herself. She does not like birds. I think she may appreciate birds, but she is not a fan of their wings and is NOT impressed with their ability to fly. She would probably LOVE penguins!!! Speaking of being a fan, she is a fan of the Minnesota Twins. I have seen her go so far as to wear T shirts in honor of the ones who perform well!! & Ben's Mom = Lists.

That's it, Ben. You have created quite a stir around here & we are all just so happy for you and your new family. Keep truckin' and suckin'!!!!

Looking forward to meeting you,

Mary, one of you parent's teacher friends :)

Back in the saddle again.

After a bumpy start I feel ready to teach. Why the bumps? Well let me count the ways:

1) Dan is home. This has been good and bad. The good is fairly obvious but the bad may escape most including myself until I thought hard about it. I have had NO alone time this summer.

Remember, I have had "summers off" since 1978 without Dan being around during the day. Kids... yes. Husband? No. He keeps himself very busy, but we are still TOGETHER... all day. It has been an adjustment & for the most part has gone very smoothly... until recently.

As school approaches it is normal for me to get pretty uptight/ moody & distant but this year I feel like Dan is in my face. It bothers me. We talked about it Th. night & agreed that this weekend would be a great time for him to go Rochester to see Jamie & Fam. Jessica left for Duluth yesterday. Dan & I sat around the bonfire last night enjoying at least an evening of just Dan & I alone time & after I buzzed his head this am he left... until Monday.

Whew. Just Buster and I chillin' out. I needed this. And I love Dan (and Jamie) for understanding it.

2) The science standards are changing... again. They have been in perpetual flux for at least 5 years. I believe the final draft will be approved by spring. They are once again different from the last 5 or 6 drafts but I am optimistic that these are the best standards yet. I like the direction they will lead science educators and their instruction.

I understand that I will be a part of their implementation but also that I will be out of the profession before real success is realized. This is a bittersweet realization for me. And the new standards mean work. Hard work. I am just so thankful for the excellent people in my department.

I guess those are really the only bumps. Oh.
3)I have a student teacher who is wonderful but she talks a LOT. Because of the new standards I am having to revamp my curriculum for the beginning of the year. This compounds the challenges of having a student teacher right away but I have to look at it positively. She is VERY good (has taught already & is a little older)& we click. She is funny & fun and is not very needy. She will be really helpful when it comes to figuring out Skyward too. :)

That is all I have to say for today.

FLASH & Buster.