Winter Wonderland
I got a most unexpected gift for my birthday: snow!
SInce Dallas falls apart with the mere mention of the word ice, we were sent home amid flurries at 1 today. We do not have to report tomorrow until 10 a.m. Best birthday ever!
Eric andI were supposed to go out tonight, but since that's not likely, I stopped at the store and bought firewood, champagne, fancy cheeses, chocolate dipped cheesecake and other yummy sundries.......yeah 29's alright so far.

End of the World As We Know It
If you believe the newscasters, that is what is headed our way tomorrow. The temperature is going to drop, and an entire city has lost its collective mind. Welcome to the Big D! They are predicting snow, ice, plaugues of locusts! I doubt we see a thing (That of course is the surefire way Dallas will get a blizzard).
Actually it did drop 30 degrees on my ride home today. Perhaps there is something to this artic blast (cue laughter from people in Northern states).

Dona Nobis Pacem
First I must send a shout out to the Turtle Creek Chorale who blew my mind on Sunday night. We saw their Christmas show at the Meyerson, and there were several songs whose beauty made me tear up. Amazing. Their version of Silent Night is one of the most heavenly thing I have ever heard. Concerts like that always make me feel better about being a human being. If we are capable of such grace then surely there is hope for the world.
A lesser item of beauty: I have reduced my 5K time to 31 minutes and 12 seconds. I am proud of the job I've done reshaping my body when every step has been so difficult. I suppose it would be less fulfilling if it came easily. Each pound, each inch off my waist, each second shavd off my running time is evidence of hours of work and buckets of sweat. There is something satisfying about that.
Finally I've been thinking a lot over Thanksgiving and as my birthday approaching about where I am in my life, and I am truly happy to be here. Not every day (who is?), but enough of the time. That's something

Meep
I got to hang with my chica j. last night which I get to do all to little. After a perfectly lovely meal at Mi Cocina, we met up with Jen and e. at Lee Harvey's which continues to be my favorite place in the city. They had a campfire going, and when I returned home I smelled like I had been out in the woods all day. That rarely happens in a bar. Anyway all of this is to saythat I love Thanksgiving week.
Today we hit the Kasten abode. Perhaps I should rethink my fitted pants.

Thankfulness
We had a lovely Thanksgiving in Austin, and Eric's parents were really glad we had made the effort to come down. I also got to see some old friends, and that was important too.
Tomorrow we do the big Kasten shindig, and I've been looking forward to that for a long time. We're ending the feast with the Turtle Creek Corale concert which should be amazing.
Anyway I am very gratful for family, friends, my job, my students, Clementine, and especially Eric without whom the rest of it wouldn't mean nearly as much.

Pithy Epiphany
This probably has been said many times by people much smarter and eloquent than I, but as I sat in the break room during the 20 minutes of unscheduled time in my day, I had somewhat of an epiphany. Perhaps I should back up. We only have one more day of school this week, and the kids are complelety uninterested in anything I have to say. In addition I am trying to teach grammar which I really am having issues caring about either. Anyway, since I am giving a test tomorrow, I decided to create this really cool Power Point game as a review tool. I spent hours on it. The kids didn't give a crap and had the nerve to do other homework while I was trying to get them to play the game. I was unamused.
It is in this context that I had my pithy epiphany. The most apt analogy for teaching has got to be marathon running. It is not so much important that any given day be brillant or even that every day be as close to perfect as possible. The thing about teaching is that you keep going. We are judged not so much by the work of a day but by the ability to work every day. We have shrug off the lesson plans that bomb. We have to put a smile on our faces when we feel like bursting into hysterical tears of frustration. We have to be nice to the students we feel like strangling. What we accomplish is not measured in days. Indeed my mom said that someitmes the effect of what we do is not seen for years. This is of course not saying that I do not try my hardest every day, but perhaps it is comforting to know that even if today I did not get through tomorrow I might. In addition along the way a lot of cool stuff happens, especially when we are not looking.
Interestingly I was wrong--it is silver iodide, not silver nitrate that is used to cloud seeding. There, I admit it, Petey!

Zigurat
I reverted to childhood habits this weekend at the lake. It used to drive my mom nuts, but as a kid I would continually pick up interesting rocks or shells or acorns or even bits of unusual trash. The problem would come when I would forget to empty my pockets and ruin the washing machine. I have gown a lot. I now empty my pockets.
I had a great time searching for fossils and shells at the beach. I found so many remnants of sea creatures embedded in rock. THe more I got into the search, the bigger my specimens became. I drug a small boulder about a mile back to the lake house. That is really only a slight exaggeration. I was actually inspired by this guy who gardens with rocks and found objects. He makes forgotten items beautiful. I have decided to try the smae thing. i have begun with about 10 new fossils and mother of pearl pieces that glow in the sunlight. I am no longer too old to put bits of this and that into my pockets.
I also built a huge structure on the jetty at the lake using rock and shell and pieces of sea glass to create a walled tower. Against his better judgement Eric helped. I wish I could see the look on the next people's faces when they discover this odd piece of art extending into the lake.

Peaceful Easy Feeling
It's just too bad that this feeling is accompanied by cheesy Eagle's lyrics. Take the good with the bad I suppose. Perhaps my optimism has been set off by the fact that Thanksgiving is soon upon us. Not only do we celebrate the big turkey day, but in my family it is also the time that we celebrate all of our birthdays. A very happy time of year indeed.
Determined to relax, we're headed to Lake Whitney with Petey to sit by the water, listen to music, watch movies, drink some beer and eat food that is bad for us. I need to get one of those "Life is Good" tee shirts or something. Or as my Minnesotan dad would say, "Pretty Darn Good." His farmer brother would respond, "Pertynear."
I am looking at the bottom of this blogger page, and it is encouraging me to put a label on this post, but their example is "scooters." Do people really have enough to say about scooters that they need entire threads dedicated to this topic? That being said, at dinner last night we were discussing the new wheelchair segway which apparently can go up stairs. Bad ass. It's a segway that does not make you look like a total dork. In addition I still have a jonesing for a hot pink Vespa, but I imagine that I would make everyone traveling behind me on the highway at 40 miles per hour really, really angry. That in and of itself might be worth the price tag.

Sweet Emotion
Two tickets to see Aerosmith $189.00
Dinner before the show $33.00
Vastly overpriced tee shirts $80.00
Beer $17.50
A rocking night out with my lurvely birthday girl sister: pricless.

Also, Eric is home! His boss was so happy with him that not only did he give him a $100 card to take me out to dinner, but he's giving Eric a $1000 bonus! I am so proud of that boy.

Finally the CKS Crusaders have made it into the Catholic Bowl where they will be battling the ferocious Bear Cats. Rock on!

Dude, I'm Getting A Dell
I am typing this on my new and long awaited computer. I am happy it arrived but really irritated with UPS. It was supposed to come yesterday, so Eric was home in the afternoon to sign for the package. It did not arrive before he had to go to the airport, but when I got home I saw the slip saying that they had come but could not deliver without an inperson signature. I knew I could not be here this week, so I called UPS and rescheduled delivery for Friday when Eric could be here. Anyway, imagine my surprise when I returned home this afternoon and the computer was just sitting on the porch. Apparently that signature is more of a suggestion rather than a rule or something. In any case I guess I should quit my whining because I have it now. I love being able to sit in front of the tv and type. Yes, I know, welcome to the 20th century. I'll have to work up to the 21st century!
Eric is still out of town, but he should be back in time for Aerosmith tomorrow. I just feel bad that I need to uninvite my sister to the show.
I wanted to scream "Wake Up" at my students. They just were not in the mood to learn or open their minds. I just have to keep reminding myself that I have to take them where they are at any given moment. Besides I was talking to mom, and she pointed out that you never know when you have gotten through. I have my post-conference with my boss tomorrow. I am worried because apparently she will always have something negative to say. Very nerve racking.
I'm just writing because I am all alone in the house, not because I have something important to say. As I say to my student, lazy writing is lazy thinking. I had better go find something to occupy my mind.

105
I just got through grading 105 papers. I feel as if there should be some sort of reward, perhaps a parade? Maybe even some sort of plaque would be in order. I am waiting.
Last night Eric and I went to see Stranger Than Fiction which I thoroughly enjoy. Dustin Hoffman makes the movie. My favorite line had to be, " Aren't you happy that you're not a Golem?" Genius. Anyway do not believe the tepid type: see this movie. It will make you smile. I came to the realization that I really want two things from movies at this stage in my life. I want to feel good when leaving, yet I do not want my intelligence insulted. A film that gets both right is few and far between. Anyway we also went to our favorite Thai place, and then compleley breaking with my diet, we got ice cream. Pumpkin Pie Gingersnap makes me giggle like a school girl.
Tomorrow I will be abandoned--Eric heads to Virginia. I am sure to be hopelessly pathetic. See, don't I really deserve a parade?

This is The End
I just finished the last Lemony Snickett book which was rather lovely although the exact meaning of V.F.D. was never fully revealed. I suppose I'll just have to deal. I bought the entire box set for my classroom so the students can enjoy it as much as I did.
Lasst night we hung out and did some volunteering at a board gaming convention followed by the faboo Margarita Ranch, home of the suicide margarita--lime, strawberry, mango, and prickly pear all in one enormous schooner. Most excellent.
After my Wordsworthian sort of day on Thursday I did indeed find my way again by scrapping my lesson plans and having a heart to heart with the students. We practiced being affirming people, and I think everyone left feeling good. I also had a parent come in to tell me how happy she was that I was teaching her student. If there is anything I have learned over the past few weeks it is the power of the compliment. So, to everyone I know and even those I do not: you rock!

A Wordsworth Sort of Day
THE World is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon, 5
The winds that will be howling at all hours
And are up-gather'd now like sleeping flowers,
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not.—Great God! I'd rather be
A pagan suckled in a creed outworn,— 10
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.


That pretty much sums it up. I am out of tune today and can only hope that tomorrow I find my way again. Thankfully no condition is permanent.

I Am, I Am Superman
I've got a little REM thing going in my head this evening. You can't go wrong with the good boys from Georgia every once in awhile. I wonder if they ever look back and think about the transition from country boys to something other than themselves. Perhaps this is all a sign that I should get more sleep.
Today is the election and early results have Perry by a landslide. Sometimes I just do not understand my nation, and I rarely understand my state. "Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down." Pay attention people! I think one of my biggest problem is that the right has claimed the moral high ground for itself when in fact they are trodding the poor into the ground the destroying the enviornment. Just because you are anti-aborition does not make you a savior of the people. But I should give it a rest because my complaints have been voiced far more eloquently by other people. I will just leave the topic by saying this: I fear people who are able to make snap decisions and then refuse to adapt or accommodate for new situations. Very little in this world is black and white. I am terrified that our government has blinders on.
Basta.
In other news I've changed my email. If you need the new addy, contact me.
My knees are throbbing from all the running I"ve been doing, yet I think I've become slightly addictive to running. Where is the real me hiding? I remember in P.E. Magan Mullino and I used to try to get out of running any way we could. We used to actually two step around the track rather than run it. I pity those poor teachers who had never seen anyone quite like us. Now I can't get enough. Perhaps there is some justice in the world after all. On an election night where Perry leads the polls I take a small comfort in that.

My Hero
Okay. I admit it. I'm obsessed with the show Heroes Here's how you can tell--I had a 20 minute conversation about it with my parents this afternoon, and I'm about to call again for the post show wrap up. So good! So very very good!
It's just about the best thing I can say about Mondays. So I've got that going for me, which is good.
What can I say about today? Worked my tail off. Then ran my tail off. Then I petted Clementine's tail.
That is all (except if you watch the show: what is up with Nikki? Is she evil? Not? Comments are welcome)

Lazy Gray
I love Sundays. It's the only time all week that Eric, Clem, Toby and I lie under the covers just snuggling, talking, and listening to a quiet house without worrying about what needs to be done or where we need to go.

Addendum
I forgot to mention some important things I saw--
A three foot tall wire chicken (that women were fighting over)
Thousands of boxes of discount trash bags
A quiet pommeranian (I just though it was worth mentioning)
Green glass doorknobs
Wrought iron reindeer
A Hanburgler glass
Nascar commemorative plates
An old sideshow bus
Yellow dog-eared copies of Louis L'Amour books
Funnel cakes
Guitars made out of bed pans and barbed wire

Granny on the Rack
Here it is, a moment that will go down in Kasten infamy:
Today we went on the long awaited family trip to Canton hoping to partake in fried foods (check), tube sock deals (check) and ridiculous items that no one really needs (double check). It was a perfect trip. Not only did I have fried squash for lunch, but we shared a big batch of kettle corn all day. In addition, I finally found the items that have really turned out living room into something cool. I went looking for some found art to decorate. At first I came across some cast iron candle holders that made me smile. As we were leaving, I found exactly what I was looking for: a giant petal shaped wheel that looked like it had been part of some wild old carriage. Awesome. It was also only $30. Anyway I happily shelled out my cash and headed, blissfully, to the car. When we arrived one thing became painfully clear-the massive wheel was easily 10 inches too big to fit in the car. After 25 minutes of fiddling, Eric and dad decided to go back because they had seen some carpet and bungee cords for sale. Meanwhile we moved closer to the gate by holding it out the window and inching forward at 5 miles per hour. As Jen, mom and I sat by the car holding the mammoth piece of wrought iron, a woman and her little girl passed by. The little girl surveyed the situation and said, "Mom, how are they going to get that in the car?" I wish the girl had been there when I decided to buy the thing. Anyway, dad and Eric finally came back with the cords and car carpet, and we began the process of securing the thing to the roof of my car. As we got about half way thoruhg the process, mom realized she would be trapped in the car and that no one else would be able to get in. We dutifully shifted adn rearranged. Finally Eric had to Dukes of Hazard it into the car, leaping through the front window and pealing away. I just wish we had been able to drive through a big pile of leaves. In any case, we drove back almost 3 hours with this thing strapped to the roof and the windows half down. Thank goodness it was not 30 degrees out. Mom told me I need to get up every hour on the hour and admire this damn thing.
And it does look good.
Besides the trip was already a success--I have 12 news pairs of socks. I love Canton.