Let the MADNESS begin

Short on time – and inspiration – tonight.

How am I going to get it all in now that March Madness has begun?

So much for my Thursday and Friday evenings – and part of my weekends.

Does anyone else feel my pain?

Quote of the day:  "It is most difficult, in my mind, to separate any success, whether it be in your

                              profession, your family, or as in my case, in basketball, from religion."

                                                                                                      ~John Woodel

Basal Cell Carcinoma - Ain't Nobody Got Time for That

OK folks - WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN AND HATS.
I am a convert.
Just came away from my dermatologist appt. with the confirmation that I probably have a basal cell carcinoma (one of the most common forms of skin cancer) on my forehead.
A biopsy was done to be sure.
Surgery to remove it will undoubtedly be scheduled.

I am worried, but not scared, as I had been prior to the office visit.  The doctor was able to calm my nerves.
Fortunately, this type of cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body and is very treatable.
I guess this should come as no big surprise to me -
I grew up in Tucson, AZ - sun all year round - and while my mom slathered us with sunscreen as children, I too often ignored this step as I grew up.  As most of you who have read my posts in the past know - I LOOOOOVE THE SUN AND THE HEAT.
But, now - I just have to love them - with caution.  Lots of sunscreen and hats for me I guess.

Please, if you have the time and inclination to shoot of a small prayer or wish that this is treatable and that I'll be RID OF IT for good soon - I would be so appreciative!  Thanks friends.

Quote of the day:     Our body is our temple.
                                 We should therefore respect it,
                                  understand its importance
                                  and always return to it:
                                  it is our refuge.

                                           ~Thich Nhat Hanh

The Clan of Calm

 I love it when students, especially ones from whom I am not expecting much, blow me away with their creative written expression.  It serves to remind me that I should always give kids more credit – you just never know when they might craft a superbly written sentence, or turn a phrase with skillfully chosen descriptors, or – as is the case I am highlighting – develop characters that set the imagination afire.

Today I read the rough draft of a constellation story (students created a new constellation and wrote a myth about it) by a student who is quite intelligent but who struggles with ADHD and some other motor issues.  The mechanics of writing are a real challenge for him:  letter formation, placement and organization of text on the page, writing on the correct side of the paper, spelling, holding the pencil correctly – it’s all a struggle.  Using a computer has not proven to be a great solution.

However, his ideas – that is another thing altogether!

Most of his stories tend to involve elements of science fiction, interspersed with mild warfare and violence.  I’ll admit to having difficulty reading and conferencing on these kinds of stories – it is hard to redirect some kids away from the appeal of battles and killing.

However, this story was not too bad in that regard, I thought as I read it.  His main character – God of the Punk – was mainly a skateboarding, Dr. Pepper drinking dude!

He met up with some other characters who I just fell in love with, however.

The gods of the Calm Clan:  there was the Yoga god, and the god of Quietness.  Their leader was the King of Calmness.  But my favorite one was the god of Sitting Still.  He was cursed to sit still for all eternity.  Apparently, he could teleport – but if he ever moved – even flinched (which is what happens in this story), he disintegrates!

Who comes up with this kinda stuff???

Apparently – this kid.  I just love it.

Quote of the day:  To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day,

                              to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human

                              being can fight; and never stop fighting.   ~e.e. cummings

Controlled Chaos

Uh Oh…… our calendar is getting FULL:

Niece’s 16^th birthday (still need to buy present and card)

SBA testing starts for 8 days

Daughter’s podiatrist appt.

Mom’s dermatologist appt. (please say a small prayer things are OK)

Baseball practice – so much for Tuesday nights

Track practice (times 2)

Dance practice

Sub day – must make plans still

Daughter’s first track meet

Baseball practice (so much for sleeping in on Saturdays)

Palm Sunday

Mom’s podiatrist appt.

Son’s first track meet

Baseball, track, dance practice – again

Son’s first baseball game

Easter

Twin sisters’ birthdays – need to get cards still – YES, I STILL SEND CARDS

More practice, more track meets, more games

Granddad’s birthday

Son’s IEP meeting

Art & Dessert Night at mom’s school

Mom’s class goes on field trip

Son and daughter’s dentist appts. – rescheduled once already, now must do it again!

Daughter’s trip to Californina for DECA National competition

……….and somewhere in there I have to schedule an appt. with an ENT specialist and an allergist – plus – eat, sleep, teach, grade – dare I hope, exercise

WHEW!!!!!!  I’m not complaining – really – but, summer can’t come too soon.

Quote of the day:  When we remember we are all mad,

                                    the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.   ~Mark Twain

Lucky, The Leprechaun

Several years ago, our family leprechaun, Lucky, informed us that he was going to "retire."  He was an old leprechaun and it was time to hang up his clover and relax.  Lucky had been visiting our house ever since our kids were about 1 and 3.  His retirement was met with more sadness and regret than I would have anticipated, given the rather advanced ages of my kids at the time.
They held cherished memories of Lucky's annual visits on March 17th.  Preparations were made days in advance - becoming more and more elaborate as the years progressed.  A bed was made for Lucky out of doll house furniture and scraps of material.  Tidbits of food were left out for him, which he happily ate during the day.

Lucky was a practical joker for sure.  He would make his presence known throughout the day, met by squeals of joy from one or both kids.  "Moooom - look what Lucky did now!!!"
Chairs would be upturned, trails of toys would wind down the hallway, pillows would be stacked in towers.  Green footprints always seemed to mess up my clean bathroom and kitchen. Messages were written on the bathroom mirror.  Toilet water was green, milk was green.  Green sticky notes adorned with silly messages or greetings decorated walls and books and furniture.
Less "damage" was done on years when the 17th fell on a school day....but he always made his presence known.  Little gifts were left for each child - a 4-leaf clover, green beads or pins to wear, green cups of green candy.  Finally, after a day of shenanigans, Lucky would retire to his temporary bed (he did not have manners enough to make it in the morning!) and return home to Ireland the next morning.  A card and small gift would be
left for the kids.
Over the years, the pranks would become less elaborate, the gifts fewer, until finally in the final years Lucky would only be able to pull one small joke and leave a nice card with a green gift of $$.
The kids missed Lucky for awhile - but we have moved on.  Lucky sometimes sent a card with a picture of the warm beach he and his other retired leprechaun friends were visiting.
This mom, for one, is grateful for his retirement...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Quote of the day:  May the saddest day of your future

                              be no worse than the happiest day of your past.   ~Irish blessing

Blessings

A quick gratitude list to start the second half of this Challenge ~

I am grateful for:

• family time - actually have to make this post quick so I can go to dinner with my "peeps"
• the good health and intelligence of my kids
• potato chips - I rarely indulge, but when I do - I remember how much I love them
• the small pink blossoms emerging on our peach tree in the back yard
• the kind comments made on many of my posts by my fellow slicers
• the creative minds involved in this SOLSC - you all inspire me daily
• laughing babies
• a husband who is willing to make changes

• the promise of Easter                                                          
• a warm sweatshirt
• a warm shower
• cobalt blue
• the easy strains of a Vivaldi concerto
• the excitement of March Madness basketball
• the anticipation of summer
• the possibilities of my OLW - "create"

Thank you - now, off to dinner

Quote of the day:                      All things bright and beautiful
                                            All creatures great and small
                                            All things wise and wonderful
                                            The Lord God made them all.
                                                           ~Cecil Frances Alexander

WHAT ??!!?

Sometimes people just astound me - in a jaw-dropping, shake your head kind of way.  This happened twice to me today as my daughter and I went grocery shopping.
I will recount these strange events in reverse order -

Strange Event #1  While wandering the aisles of Whole Foods this afternoon, we passed an elderly woman, shuffling slowly along with a large, plastic bag held up with both hands in front of her face.  I try not to stare - really I do - but I was confused.  As she pulled the bag away I saw it contained a complete, and quite huge, loaf of Irish soda bread.  She returned the bag to her mouth and continued gnawing away at the side of the loaf as she shuffled past.

Daughter and I exchange glances - and shake our heads, giggling under our breath.

Strange Event #2  As we drove to the grocery store we had to stop at a light near a popular neighborhood shopping area.  On one corner of the intersection stands a large tattoo and piercing shop.   This was formerly a restaurant, so there is a large outside patio facing the intersection.  I noticed that shoppers and strollers across the street were gathered looking over at the tattoo parlor.  There in the patio, surrounded by at least 20 other on-lookers was a man, naked from the waist up hanging from a tree.  He was suspended there via a contraption that was attached to a rope which was held by another man, who would raise and lower the hanging man via the rope.  A third man held onto the hanging man's legs and pushed so he would swing back and forth.  The man was hanging from - THE SKIN OF HIS BACK.  About 6 piercings lined his shoulders, which were attached to some wires that were connected to a bar.  His back skin stretched abnormally from each hook.  Hanging man was smiling and talking with the crowd.

Daughter screams and covers her eyes.  My hand shoots over my mouth - "Don't look, don't look" I say.  "No no no no no no....." is all daughter can scream.  Hand remains over my mouth and daughter's eyes remain covered for at least a mile down the road.

REALLY?????????

Quote of the day:  Do not follow where the path may lead.  Go, instead, where there is no path
                               and leave a trail.                ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Inertia

Foggy days meld into one another

Unsure where one leaves off, a new one begun

No structure or routine

Blissful disarray

Late mornings

Late nights

An uneasiness lingers beneath all movement

          all activity

This will not last

You are not free yet

Mere intermittent assuagement

Nagging thoughts

    Guilt, melancholy

Effort is cumbersome, weighted down

Release is unattainable

Unsettled spirits

Careful avoidance

Goodwill a fallacy

Quote of the day:   "I am tired of myself to-night.  I should like to be somebody else." ~Oscar Wilde