(no subject)
I had a most marvelous weekend. A few happy images remain fresh in my mind: Neal's I-am-trying-not-to-make-a-face face as he ate a bowl of oatmeal, which apparently he hardly ever eats. The Madison/Capital skyline from the spot on the snow-covered lake that we skied out to. The paper napkin model of the Vellema's farmplace on a little table in Bradbury's cafe. Neal sitting fully clothed in the bathtub to contain the trimmings as I cut his hair. This list could get really long, so I will just stop. You get the idea. Warm and fuzzy.
Today I got out my bike and rode it for the first time since the first blizzard of the winter in Sioux Center. Just under a 7 minute ride to the school. Not bad at all. When I got home I gave it a bubbly spring cleaning ( knowing that the weather is just a teaser and that the winter isn't really over...) and greased up the chains and anything else that turns or spins.
This weekend my mom is coming up to Madison. Saturday I am taking her van up to Waupun to interview for a middle school language arts teaching position at a Christian school in Sheboygan, WI, which is right on Lake Michigan. First interview for a real job ever! I am glad it is supposed to be pretty laid back and informal. I am meeting this school administrator at a Pizza Ranch. Hmm. Yug.
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A lot of times I am really bothered by the throw-away mindset that surrounds celebrations such as kids birthday parties, Valentines day, etc. (paper streamers, balloons, colorful napkins, foil-y greeting cards and so on). I have ideas about making decorations that can be used for the rest of my life such as cloth banners. I have also tried to make a wise choice about what I'm giving to all the kids I teach for Valentines day. I handmade them all little cards with scraps of red construction paper, paper doilies I had from forever ago, red and pink tea packets and gold and silver foil from chocolate bars I've saved . Then I bought them each a pencil with hearts on it from the drugstore and tied it all together with a bit of yarn. I'm proud of how the valentines turned out. I'd post pictures, but Neal accidentally stole off to Iowa with my digital camera.
Side note: I have decided that as a teacher I prefer non-toxic glue, paper clips and sticky tack that can be re-used to tape that is plastic and disposable and staples that can't be re-used. And pencils that are wood instead of pens that are plastic and disposable. Speaking of which, can anyone recommend a type of pen that has good flowing gel ink and is reuse-/fillable?
Today I'm digging the New Pornographers My Rights Versus Yours. So much of that song agrees with today.
Today I got out my bike and rode it for the first time since the first blizzard of the winter in Sioux Center. Just under a 7 minute ride to the school. Not bad at all. When I got home I gave it a bubbly spring cleaning ( knowing that the weather is just a teaser and that the winter isn't really over...) and greased up the chains and anything else that turns or spins.
This weekend my mom is coming up to Madison. Saturday I am taking her van up to Waupun to interview for a middle school language arts teaching position at a Christian school in Sheboygan, WI, which is right on Lake Michigan. First interview for a real job ever! I am glad it is supposed to be pretty laid back and informal. I am meeting this school administrator at a Pizza Ranch. Hmm. Yug.
____
A lot of times I am really bothered by the throw-away mindset that surrounds celebrations such as kids birthday parties, Valentines day, etc. (paper streamers, balloons, colorful napkins, foil-y greeting cards and so on). I have ideas about making decorations that can be used for the rest of my life such as cloth banners. I have also tried to make a wise choice about what I'm giving to all the kids I teach for Valentines day. I handmade them all little cards with scraps of red construction paper, paper doilies I had from forever ago, red and pink tea packets and gold and silver foil from chocolate bars I've saved . Then I bought them each a pencil with hearts on it from the drugstore and tied it all together with a bit of yarn. I'm proud of how the valentines turned out. I'd post pictures, but Neal accidentally stole off to Iowa with my digital camera.
Side note: I have decided that as a teacher I prefer non-toxic glue, paper clips and sticky tack that can be re-used to tape that is plastic and disposable and staples that can't be re-used. And pencils that are wood instead of pens that are plastic and disposable. Speaking of which, can anyone recommend a type of pen that has good flowing gel ink and is reuse-/fillable?
Today I'm digging the New Pornographers My Rights Versus Yours. So much of that song agrees with today.