Christmas in Memphis

Fun time being with family. Most time has been spent planning and working on the kitchen renovation. We had Christmas dinner from the microwave, but managed to come up with a good vegetarian one: cashew patties, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy and steamed broccoli. All was cooked in the microwave. We had to really time each item to end up with everything warm to eat! We have had to wash dishes in the bathroom, so have used lots of paper/plastic ware. Today the first cabinet was installed. A&C are doing all the work themselves, >so it is taking quite a bit of time. Thankfully, A has a long winter break from school and I'm sure they'll have it all done by the time his next semester begins.

Memphis is an interestingly different city from others I've seen. There are few skyscrapers and most buildings are low red and/or yellow brick and stone. St. Jude's Children's Hospital is here in Memphis. We walked up and down Beale Street last night and I enjoyed feeling the rhythm of the place, listening to the streetside blues and looking at all the music notes in the sidewalk revering the music stars. I don't know if they're all called rhythm & blues artists or what. Just goes to show you I haven't been very cognizant of this particular subculture of America! Of course Elvis' Graceland is here too, but I'm really not interested in seeing it. Now don't go all huffy, but I've never been a big fan of Elvis. I have enjoyed learning about the city's landmarks. I haven't had much chance to visit many places with all the house renovations going on, but I'll just make another trip! I've taken the opportunity to walk around the local neighborhood, too. I'd like to visit some of the Civil War monuments and other museums, but that will have to be another trip.

The weather is cool to warm, 50's and 60's. It is partly sunny and nice. Christmas was dark and rainy, though. I swept up all the leaves and cleaned off A&C's patio this morning, while my adorable "Granddog" tried to chew up the push broom, her thinking it a giant monster to destroy!s

Christmas Break...at Last!

I can't believe I've been here for half a school year already. I think I've settled in, but then, who knows what the next (weather?) crisis will bring? We've had the hurricane level windstorms (2X), snow (rare here), and resulting power outages multiple times. At this point, we have two extra days of school to make up at the end of the year because of the missed days due to weather.

The teacher whose place I took has resigned, so I'm first up for consideration for the job for next year. We'll see what happens. Somehow I'm not ready to jump in so fast and hard this time. Maybe I'll be a wandering teacher for my last few years.

I stayed healthy all the way through the semester. Then Tuesday night, I didn't feel really well and woke up with that malaise-feeling and chest congestion. Wouldn't you know it? On the last day before our break! If parents would only keep their sick kids home......or recognize when they ARE sick!?! We teachers would stay healthier!

I leave on Saturday to visit my kids in Memphis. Yahoooooooo!

We return to school on Jan. 2, 2007.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, EveryOne!

Survival of the Fittest: Battery Operated

Well, guess what gang? Another powerful storm. I heard this one was hard on you in River City, too! We had 99 mph wind gusts and rain..sideways. My power was out for 25 hours. We had no school on Friday, but the school phone tree was pretty useless. Most did not add their cell phone numbers to the tree. Frankly, I was glad for my storm prep. I had battery operated lanterns and radio, sterno canned heat for cooking (I did have to make a run for a larger base for the canned heat and I had to get ice to put refrigerated items in, although I think it was as cold in my apartment as it was in the fridge!

Lilo stayed warm under the covers with me last night. Years ago, I would have been aghast at having a cat sleep under the covers with me (what germs!). Age mellows me.

Power is back on now. Time to get on with life, rather than just survival.
Hope you are all well and survived the storms in one piece.

Christmas Parade

We had a Christmas Parade here yesterday. It lasted all of 12 minutes. No floats, no bands (although four or five high school band members played carols in the doorway of our antique mall.) Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on a Pirate Ship.....Okay, I so think that's laughable. Here's a few pix:







PS. The town Christmas tree blew over in the wind. :o)

Tired and Numb

This was a particularly busy week at work and the kids were really squirrelly. It happens when they have not been able to play outside and a holiday is approaching. Plus, two of my most high strung kids are moving within the month and their anxiety is heightened greatly. One assistant took a day off, so we had a sub...who was useless, by the way! I've spent at least three days this week with one child following me around by hanging on to the back of my shirt, another (who's not verbal), continually punching me in the back to get my attention (no matter how many other alternatives I gave him) and a third who interspersed her day with screaming at ear piercing levels. Add to that I've got two more in potty training. There were green runny noses all around so you can see the bedlam. Oh yes, and a fire drill...for children whose sensory systems cannot stand loud unexplained noises and disruptions in routines. Then I've had extra meetings during lunch and after school: wheelchair repairman, postobservation (of my teaching) results with principal, updates for parents' who are moving and video-ed one child to send off somewhere for more help with communication boards. Its all great and wonderful because we are moving Forward, but it is exhausting. By yesterday afternoon, my body and mind were on automatic. We did get to play outside a couple of days and we took advantage of it for more than our usually allotted time. The weather has been mild and we all needed the fresh air. The kids needed the space to run, ride trikes and just 'be.'

I guess even Lilo is feeling house-bound, as she has begun a morning weekend ritual of sitting in front of the door, pawing at it and meowing. Where did she get that? I've "created a monster" by allowing her to go onto the landing a few times!

Help Wanted

Things are finally on a 'normal' track again since the snow has melted, temperatures are in the 40's F and our school schedule is regular. This week began with weather crises and ended with family crises. You know how holidays bring out crises in families. We've found out about those, offered some help, dealt with a behavioral therapist who came to observe a student and I had one of my 'new teacher' observations by my principal.

Help Wanted: I want to put a special request out there in hopes someone may have a way of doing this: Some of you with banking experience or connections with charities may know how to go about setting up an ongoing fund to help with the Barnes' expenses of caring for James (remodeling their home, rehab care, etc.). Could this be done? Let me know.