So here's the short of it, 
Happy New Year!  (we lost Mom for awhile tonight)

And here's the long

Happy New Year to everyone! 

It's hard to believe the first decade of the 2000's is coming to an end.  It has really been an amazing 10 years.  I can hardly even imagine what the next 10 will bring. 

Tonight we scheduled to celebrate with Mom and cousin Mia with an early dinner.  Neither of us - well three of us counting Mom, have any great plans to stay up to see the ball drop - so early dinner and then an early bedtime was the plan.  We were going to be at the house at 5:00 and plan to eat about 5:30.  As Mia would say we put together a small feast, and both she and Mom were bringing things.  I asked Mom to bring some Raspberry sherbet which is usually pretty easy to find this time of year.....

At a little after 5:00 Mia arrived - before Mom, now that's unusual.  A little later Alan said he saw Mom's car and went out to the driveway to help her carry in some things, but she wasn't there.  We both wondered if she had gone to the grocery store.  I called her cell phone and got no answer.  It actually went straight to the voice mail!  By 5:30 I was starting to get a little anxious since she wasn't answering the phone.  We waited until about a quarter til, and Mia offered to go see if she saw Mom's car in the grocery parking lot; it wasn't there.  Alan got in his car and started checking to see if she was stranded somewhere on Brainerd Road.  It was dark... I couldn't imagine where she could be and it was 6 o'clock. 

My phone rang, Alan said he had just seen her pull out of the parking lot at Bi-lo!  She arrived a little after 6:00 much to my relief and a little fussing!  She had gone to Bi-Lo to get the sherbet and then she realized that she had forgotten her pocket book.  So she went back home to get it.  That must have been when Mia was at the grocery.  Then Mom went back to the grocery store and got the things she went for.  Her phone didn't have a charge, so she had plugged it in at home and didn't have it with her. 

I'm so grateful that she was OK and that it was just a mix up.  We ended up having a nice dinner and a nice visit, and it's almost 10:00 and everyone is gone.  I'm going to try to get to bed early.  I'm still feeling pretty yucky.  I know that it will take another day or so for the medicine to kick in and I know that if I get plenty of rest it will help the healing process!  So no ball drop tonight.

So Happy New Year. 

So here's the short of it, 
I drove!  and I'm yucky sick. 

And here's the long

Well, I tested out driving today.  I went to WalMart, where I probably spent too much time on my feet although it was certainly a short trip for this woman who usually spends too much time in any grocery store I'm in. (that might be post worthy someday).  Anyway, I got in a few things to fix up a nice New Year's dinner celebration and a can of the obligatory black eyed peas for tomorrow.  Mom went with me - I think she needed a few things as well, and she wanted to make sure I was driving OK.

My second stop was to my doctor.  By the way, I just absolutely love my doctor.  She's pretty young, which is what I was looking for because I hope I'll be able to stay with her the rest of my life - of course she may retire when I'm in my late eighties.  I'll cross that bridge then.  Anyway, it was quite a project, as I thought it would be.  Get into the car, take off the boot.  Drive to the destination..  Put the boot back on before getting out of the car. So I had an extra stop in there to stop at home and drop off the refrigerated things before going on to see my doctor. 

Now the reason for this doctor appointment.  I have an awful cold!  With the holiday weekend coming on, I thought I'd just better get myself some medicine and right now, this doctor won't prescribe any antibiotic without an exam.  My head is full of that awful dark, viscous mucous.  I'm having trouble sleeping because no matter which way I put my head I get stopped up and can't breathe.  My throat is sore, and I'm a bit headachy.  So I'm starting a prescription for a penicillin drug tonight, and hopefully I'll be very much on the mend by the time we are scheduled to go back to work on Monday!

Right now, I'm going to bed.

So here's the short of it, 
I've had a full day and am already imagining sleeping in....

And here's the long

Two doctors today.  First with Alan for his Botox shots.  I tease him that he has the youngest looking neck and shoulder of anyone I know.  Actually the Botox is the only treatment that has given him any relief from the neck and shoulder pain that began after our car accident that year.  Gosh it's been awhile.  Then this afternoon I went with Mom to see the PA at her hear doctor.  She's been having pain in her back which radiates down her arm and what she describes as a "pinchy" feeling in her chest near her heart.  He determined that it is not her heart, but most likely a problem with her rotator cuff.  That was a big relief to hear.

This afternoon and evening I finished up what we hope/think is the last proof reading of Dad's World War II memoir.  I've been working on it for several days. I'm glad to have finished it.  And I'm eager to have it available for people who would be interested.  It's still so hard for me to believe that he is dead.  But I will have to say I'm one lucky woman to have had Gene Howard for my Dad - and really lucky that he took time to write down so many things.

I don't have to get up tomorrow!  Let's see if I can sleep in.    

So here's the short of it, 
I graduated from the knee walker to a cane!

And here's the long

Right now I'm sitting with my foot propped up and iced without my boot on and being very thankful for my great doctor's appointment today.  Dr. Robertson is very pleased with the way my ankle is healing.  He says that it looks great!  At the beginning of my appointment, the nurse was taking all my information and she said "now, have you been making sure not to put any weight on it?"  I thought, Oh No.  I understood that I could put just a little weight on it if I was very careful and I had the boot on, etc.  So I got worried that I had misunderstood and that I might have done something to hurt my ankle.  So I was so relieved when he looked at the X-Ray and told me I was doing well!  He showed us the spot where the bone is beginning to knit and graduated me from the knee walker!

Yes, I can get rid of the knee walker - and with my boot and a cane I can do pretty much whatever I want.  I'm not supposed to put more than 50% of my weight on my foot.  I've got some foot exercises I'm supposed to start doing when I take off the boot in the evening to ice it which I'm still supposed to do every evening.  I'm also supposed to keep it propped up when I can.  Of course walking with the cane is a whole lot slower than whizzing around on  my knee walker, but I'm so glad,  Yes, so glad. 

Now here's the very best news.  I can drive... I CAN DRIVE!   I'm so excited.  I know Alan is relieved too that he no longer has to chauffeur me everywhere.  I have to take off my boot to drive and then put it back on before I get out of the car.  So driving will certainly be a project.  I'll have to give myself extra time on the front end of every trip to make sure I have time to get into the car, get my boot off and then when I get to my destination, taking time to put the boot back on and get into the building. I have a few days to figure that out before heading back to work next week. 

So here's the short of it, 
Warmer weather is coming and company is heading home.

And here's the long

It's beginning to get warmer, the snow is leaving, and I'll have to say, I'm getting pretty tired of this hobbled existence.  I'm eager for my appointment with Dr. Robertson tomorrow.  I'm hoping to hear that I can have a little more mobility than I've had so far.  I'll have to admit that over the last couple of days I've not stayed on my knee walker like I could have.  Especially when I've been in the kitchen, I've spent some time "walking" on that right foot.  I'm pretty sure I'm OK. I just have this feeling that my bones are healing fine.  I did have trouble getting comfortable to sleep last night.  I'm hoping that tonight I'll get a better sleep. 

Tomorrow Russ and Greg head back south - Russ to Florida and Greg to Montana.  Liga is headed for a week in Colorado, and Alan and I will be right here! I'm glad that I've got the rest of the week before heading back to work.  If I can get permission to put some weight on my foot, I've got a list a mile long of things I want to get done.  We'll just have to see.

I had a great e-mail tonight.  Several years ago, we hosted Christina, a young woman as an exchange student from Germany.  Then the next summer, she and her sister came back and spent a few weeks with us.  We kept in contact from time to time but it's been quite awhile since we've had any contact.  Today I had an e-mail from her including pictures from her wedding last spring!  What a treat to be back in touch with her.  I'm looking forward to staying in touch. 

It's getting late here in Chattanooga - I think I'll head to bed.  

So here's the short of it,
What a nice day after Christmas. 

And here's the long
 Well, Greg and Russ are still here at Mom's til Tuesday.  Today Betsy, Elizabeth, and Elijah drove up for the afternoon.  Mom made a great late lunch.  Real Christmassy.  Chicken, dressing, garden green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce - pumpkin pie, pound cake - just a great feast.  Valdis and Mia were both able to join us.  We missed Josh, but he had some reports that had to be done for work and needed to stay and get those completed.  Of course the afternoon wasn't all about Elijah, but as far as good pictures that I was able to capture on my phone, those of him in the superman PJs over his clothes and of his Uncle G helping him "fly" were the ones that came out.  It was a nice afternoon.

 

Superman, Elijah, flies courtesy of Uncle G!!

It was a great day after Christmas.  

We are thinking about Shelley, Lou, and Max, and Daniel, and all of Marjorie's family.  They are in Philadelphia for the Bris for their cousin, J.D.'s new baby Mose Abraham, and it is snowing up a blizzard there.  Be safe all of you!

So here's the short of it,

A white Christmas here in Chattanooga - almost unheard of!

And here's the long.

And so this is Christmas!

 It began to snow early this morning.  Alan was up at 5:30 and it hadn't started yet, but by the time I got up we already had more than an inch!  I didn't even get out in it.  I sure don't need any more opportunities to add to my injuries!  Thank goodness Alan took Sophie out for a few minutes and later this afternoon, she got a one time around the circle walk with Valdis and Kalie.  I cannot wait until my ankle is healed enough that I can take her out for her daily walk again!

At  Mom's this morning before the snow was over. 

Out our front door, not long after I woke up.  We ended up getting about 3 or 4 inches.  It's still there and we are expecting more tonight and tomorrow.  The main roads are mostly clear tonight, but they will freeze and make driving difficult.  Liga's work shift is over and she's here for the night with Dexter.  




Merry Christmas all my blog buddies! 

So here's the short of it,

Today we made a quick trip to Atlanta for a Christmas Eve visit. 

And here's the long.

For the first time in lots of years, we drove down to Atlanta on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day.  Neither Liga nor Valdis was able to go tomorrow - but Liga could go today since she had the day off.  So we went today instead.  We had a short visit with Betsy and Wayne.  Elizabeth and Josh and Elijah were there and there were a few neighbors who dropped by as well.  Then it was over to Steve and Pat's house for a short visit with everyone there.  We got to see everyone except Ben, Meredith's fiancee as he had already left to make it home to his family for Christmas.

We went to Pisgah Methodist Church for one of their 6 Christmas Eve services at 4:30  - one of those really big new churches, with a huge choir and an orchestra  It was an impressive service.  Then following the Steve Howard family tradition, we went to a Japanese steak house for Christmas Eve dinner.  Wayne and Betsy and all came to join us and we had a great evening.  Elizabeth and Josh came in a bit late.  When they got to their seats, Josh just insisted that Elijah take off his coat.  He was standing up on a chair and off came the coat and there he was with a shirt that said, "I'm going to be a big brother".  It was a great Christmas Eve announcement!

We missed having the rest of our crew there.  Shelley, Lou, and Max; Daniel, and Valdis - but we were glad to have as many of us together as we did. 

We're back home now and have snow in the forecast for tomorrow.  If it snows, it will be the first Christmas since I've lived in Chattanooga that I remember us having a "white Christmas".

Merry Christmas to everyone.

So here's the short of it, 
It's Honey Nut Stollen time.  

And here's the long

 So I got started about mid-morning.   I use a quick rise method - combining the yeast with a third of the dry ingredients and then adding the warm liquids and beating it very well. 

Yes, this recipe used every one of those eggs!  It's a very rich wonderful dough!

Then all the rest of the flour is added and I let the dough hooks go to town kneading the dough for about 10 or fifteen minutes.

Next the dough goes into a huge greased bowl and gets covered. It's allowed to rise in a warm place until it doubles in bulk.  Today Aunt Joyce and Daniel came by for a visit and we went down to Mom's for lunch, so I punched it down once and let it rise again while we went for lunch since I wouldn't have had time to finish it up.

After it rises, it's time to make the loaves.  It gets punched down and divided.  Today I doubled the recipe and wanted fairly good sized loafs, so I made it into 8.  It could also make 10 or 12 just depending on the size you wanted.

The honeyed nuts go on the inside before it gets folded over and sealed up!

It has to rise for another 30 - 45 minutes, and then it goes into the oven and cooks at a fairly low temperature for 30-35 minutes.

After coming out of the oven, it needs to cool for a bit.  Now the trick here is to make sure that Sophie doesn't decide that she just wants to have one for a snack.  She's the first dog we've ever had who was big enough to counter cruise!  She's on very good behavior, but if you leave her in the room by herself, she will help herself to whatever she finds.  Some of my loaves cracked today.  It will still be really good, and the icing will cover the crack, but I like it better when they all come out like that third one - all sealed up and nice.

The loaves have to cool down quite a bit before the icing goes on, or it just runs off.  Once the icing is on, the decorative nuts go on.  This year, I decided to make extra honeyed nuts and use them on top.  Usually I just put a few whole pecans on the top.  I think I like this better.

Here they are.  Eight Honey Nut Stollen Loaves.
They're going into gift bags - some to Atlanta.  And yes, one is right in our refrigerator - nice for breakfast on Christmas morning. 







This recipe came from one of my very first bread cook books, and it's a recipe I've been making at Christmastime for many years.  When I look for Stollen recipes online, I don't really find anything like it, but it's a favorite, so I keep on making it.

So here's the short of it, 
There is some sadness in this joyful time of year.

And here's the long

This afternoon, Mom, Russ, Greg, and I went to the Cemetery.  It's still so hard.  Christmastime was one of Dad's favorite times of the year.  When we were children, he would take his big army boots and go outside and make "Santa Footprints"  around the chimney.  Some years there'd be bits of hay strewn about, or what looked to a child's eyes just like reindeer tracks in the snow.  And for sure we'd try our best to stay up to see if we could catch Santa.  And it seemed that just as we nodded off, there Dad would be whispering that if we'd be really quite and tiptoe downstairs, we might just catch Santa.  We'd dash downstairs to see all the toys left under the tree, to hear him saying, "you just missed him".  Oh how magic he made it! 


Mom made a beautiful arrangement for us to take to the cemetery.  It's made entirely of plants from the house here in Chattanooga that the two of them made into a wonderful home once they moved -  Nandina berries, Holly, and a bit of Hemlock.  Greg was the first to say how much Dad would like that - that all the things came from "their place".

So here's the short of it, 
To blog or not to blog.

And here's the long.

I've been giving some thought to ending this blog.  It was such a good place for me to detail the days of my life as I struggled with the effects of chemotherapy and radiation.  I had such a hard time talking about what was going on with me, but the words came easily enough on the blog...so it was a way to share what was happening without having to talk about it.  Those days are becoming more distant and the memories are fading - life is much more normal and the blog has become more like just an end of day check in.  Of course because of my work, I write little about it.  My interactions with children and parents are confidential, and I can't/won't write about my interactions with teachers because most of that is not for public consumption either - so I'm left to write about my day minus the real meat of work details.  I end up writing about my mood, our family, or the season.  So I'd been thinking that it's time to put an end to the blog and do something else each evening during what's become "blog time".  But today my sister-in-law, Myra, called to check in because I haven't blogged for a few days.  So one more time, I'm pulled in and make at least a short term commitment to continue blogging for another length of time.  I'm not sure what direction this will go.  That we'll have to see.

So here's the short of it, 
Little Katie is married. 

And here's the long

Today I've done lots of reflecting.  Of course with my boot and either crutches or knee walker to help make everything I would want to do a project, it's easy to do less and reflect more.  Not long after we moved here 23 years ago, we got new neighbors across the back yard - the Marlers.  They've been such nice neighbors over the years.  You know the kind you can always count on to put the dog back in the fence if it gets out while you're not at home, or to call and tell you if something doesn't look quite right. They had an adorable little girl, and Joy was pregnant with their second little girl, Aimee.  Today Katie - the oldest, got married.  It was a lovely wedding and Katie was a lovely bride- and today is a lovely day to have a wedding.  Wow, little Katie is married.  She's the same age as Liga and Valdis.    

Her groom, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was 17 months old.  Don't you know his parents must have wondered in those months following his diagnosis if they would ever live to see this day.  So this was a celebration and time to take a moment to think about the crusaders against cancer - those people who spend their days and weeks chasing the dream of a time when every young person who has cancer will also have a day when they can stand with their partner and make a promise of a life together.  I am grateful for their work!

So here's the short of it, 
Work is done for two weeks.  

And here's the long.

Today was the last day of work for two weeks.  How nice to work a teacher calendar! I'll have to say that today was not particularly productive.  I'm in a stuck place on a project and can't really get unstuck-- so I'm thinking that all the time to cogitate and just be away from it over the break will be a good thing.

What a great time - the looking forward to a series of days where I don't have to think of work.  Of course, I'm miffed that I'm all hobbled up by this broken ankle so I won't be able to do most of the things that were on my list - that list in my head that I'd been toying with. So maybe I'll get in some more relaxing - or maybe some reading -- or maybe a movie or two -- suggestions???

So here's the short of it, 
We had another snow day today -- well I guess ice day.  And I had a good report from my oncologist.

And here's the long


Hamilton County Schools were cancelled today.  We had what the weather people call freezing rain.  And today I had a lesson in the difference.  Sleet freezes in the air and falls to the ground as ice.  Freezing rain falls as rain, because there is warm air above cold air.  It doesn't get cold enough to turn to sleet, but when it hits the frozen ground, it turns into ice.  Well, that's what we had around here!  And we didn't really get it nearly as bad here in Brainerd as in some other areas of the county.  It was nice on two counts - an unexpected day at home, and a 1/2 sick day I didn't have to take. 

Today was my 6 month check up with my oncologist, Dr. Schlabach.  It was really a pretty good visit.  My blood counts were normal.  He checked the bone density that had been done at the end of my treatments in light of my broken ankle, and said it was very definitely in the solid normal range, so the break isn't because of weakened bones. I felt like my appointment today was at an optimal time - he was just back from his yearly oncology convention and had the latest information to share.  I left feeling very well taken care of.  I didn't really learn any more than in previous visits -- but there is something so calming and present about Dr. Schlabach's manner.  We stopped over in the infusion room and had a quick visit with Lori.  She was a really great source of strength for me during my treatment time. 

This afternoon, I was home, instead of my expected work.  That was good!

So here's the short of it, 
My broken fibula is healing well according to the doctor.  

And here's the long

I had my first follow-up appointment with my broken ankle doctor, Dr. Robertson this afternoon.

When they took the splint off, I was so surprised to see how swollen my ankle, foot, and even toes were.  Of course my whole foot and lower leg has been encased in all that wrapping so I couldn't even see anything.  Dr. Robertson explained that all the tissue surrounding the bone excretes liquids when an injury to a bone occurs.  In addition there is apparently lots of under the skin bleeding - well not lots, but more than us lay people would imagine.  This all serves to swell the appendage and make a "natural splint" designed by our amazing human body to keep us from moving.  Anyway, I'm all swollen up. 

Here's today's x-ray.  I don't really know what I'm looking at, but here's what I was told.  The small bone is the fibula - I actually do remember that from high school biology.  Coach Adams made us memorize all the bones of the body, and there was a real skeleton in the back of the room - one of the two rooms on the front lower floor of the high school.  Those two diagonal lines are the break, he says he can tell it broke from a twisting motion.  Of course, I don't even remember it twisting.  He says it should hurt quite a bit.  It does hurt some, but not to the extent that he seemed to indicate it would.

Anyway, I'm doing so well, that he's put me in a "boot".  That should make showering easier.  Actually, not the project of getting ready to shower, since I have to take off the book; take off the ace bandage; get into the shower without putting much weight on my foot; and reverse the process when I'm done.  It's just that while I'm in the shower, I won't have to worry about getting the cast wet and I'll be able to wash my foot and leg! 

I haven't figured out the boot exactly yet.  Pretty soon after I got home, I redid it because my toes were cold and I wanted to put a sock on.  It's too tight - I've loosened it a couple of times, but don't have it just right yet.  I'll work on it tomorrow some more, and if I still don't get it, I'll call or go by for some help. 

We've got icy conditions here in Chattanooga.  No school tomorrow.....

Maybe tomorrow it'll work out to sleep in. 

So here's the short of it, 
This broken ankle makes almost everything a project!

And here's the long

Mom made us dinner tonight; her always good salmon patties, some scalloped potatoes, and mixed vegetables.  It's really nice to have that kitchen stuff done.  This foot in a splint really makes everything I do such a project. 
So here's how to have cereal.  I put the cereal and milk into a small corningware bowl with a lid.  I put the milk in and put the lid on.  Check the seal twice!  Put the covered bowl and the spoon into the bag I have on the front of my knee walker and push myself to the table or the den whichever place I've decided to eat.  If I want something to drink, I put it into a thermos and put it into the bag as well.  Once I've arrived at my eating destination and get off the knee walker and at the table, I fish out the bowl, the spoon, the thermos - and there I have my cereal.  

Here's another - unloading the dishwasher.  First of all I get the knee walker in a position so that I can get the dishwasher door open.  I sit on the kneewalker and unload the dishes putting them on the counter.  I put them in sections so they are easier to put away.  Then I close up the dishwasher and work in sections getting stuff put away. 

I'm know that I'm learning lots from this experience, and one of the things I've learned is how much I've taken for granted my ability to physically do things.  I can't even really take out my compost now. 

Thankfully, I don't really have to do any of these things.  Through all my illness last year and even this year as I've not been "back to normal" and now with this stupid leg thing going on, Alan pitches in and just does anything that needs to be done.  I just like to try to do some things - no I feel like I need to do some things. 

I'm hoping that tomorrow when I see Dr. Robertson I get some good news about the progress of this ankle. 

So here's the short of it, 

Comcast is back up and running. 

And here's the long

Today we finally had a Comcast service call from a young man who actually knew what he was doing and got us up and going!  He was diligent and really seemed to care about getting us back up and going - a first from all the interactions we've had with them since this went out.  I believe his name was Greg.  They need to promote him to train the other service people! I can't believe I'm really on my computer now instead of making do from the phone!

We had a SNOW DAY today!! And I did really sleep in.  I made it until 8:30 - sort of.  I was up about 4:00 with a leg cramp - in both my legs.  I was able to stretch out the one that's not in a cast, but I just had to let the one that's in a cast ease out on it's own! It's ached all day long from that cramp, but this evening it seems to be gone.  Finally, about 6:00 I got up and took some Tylenol because my ankle had started hurting.  That let me doze off and on for another couple of hours. 

I didn't even poke my nose outside today.  Chocolate Sauce for the neighbors is done.  Laundry is done.  A little pick up in the back room is done.  A bit of sitting around and putting the heating pad on my back is still going on.  It's been a good day.  Tomorrow we get an hour delay.  Snow days and bad weather delays, certainly not one of the reasons I wanted to be an educator, but one of the benefits for sure.

We are supposed to have more really bad weather coming in on Wednesday, but at this point it's not predicted to arrive until afternoon.  Then it's going to warm up on Thursday, so we may not miss any more school this week. I've got a full day tomorrow, and lots to get done to make up for missing today. 

I'm keeping busy.  I'm trying really hard not to let this bummed up ankle keep me too inactive.  It's amazing what all I use my foot and let to do.  I'm so glad to have a week and a half of the original 6 weeks gone! 

So here's the short of it;
What a good day.

And here's the long.

Well, the sleeping in didn't happen, but it was a good day nonetheless.

It's amazing how much longer everything takes with this bummed up ankle!! This morning I got beef stew going in the croc pot and then took a long shower. What an ordeal showering is! But it felt great. I've been doing just a real quickie so I felt somewhat indulged!

By early afternoon the snow had started and by late afternoon school had been cancelled! I'm looking forward to a "snow day" tomorrow!

Mom, Liga, Valdis, and Kalie were over for supper and a nice visit after.

Wonder if I'll be able to sleep in tomorrow.



-- Post From My iPhone

Here's the short of it;
Still no Internet... Grrr.

And here's the long.

Still no Internet! Alan called Comcast yet again. He's talked with them at least 4 times and he's been over there twice. Today after being on hold for many minutes and getting no satisfactory service offered - he told them we would be finding another provider.

Liga also called tonite with a story about bad customer service with Comcast. It's too bad she has to use them in her apartment complex!!






-- Post From My iPhone

Here's the short of it;
Home today

And here's the long.
I took a sick day today and stayed home this morning - then to a doctor appointment this afternoon. I went to a meeting that's been scheduled for about an hour.

I think I needed that time away from work. I'll get back at it next week!


-- Post From My iPhone

Here's the short of it,
It's only Thursday and I'm so worn out!!

And here's the long.

Liga was my assigned chauffeur this morning. She took me to work and hung out because I was supposed to go to a meeting in Red Bank. It got cancelled- thank goodness I checked email before leaving. So she just hung out with me and drove me over tonite central office before she went to work. Then Mom did pick up duty to get me home. We spent the evening at a Christmas thank you celebration at Elmcroft with Mommy Anne. Now I'm home and am absolutely exhausted!! I'm going to take a sick day tomorrow. I have a quick meeting in the middle of the day, but I'm sleeping in and taking my time in the morning!


-- Post From My iPhone

Here's the short of it;
Another internetless night!
AND more complaining.

And here's the long.

I feel pretty unproductive with this cast/splint whatever it is. I was able to work at the office all day today, but just having it be a project to pick up something from the printer is a pain in the ankle.

Lunch - if I had been able to go out to grab lunch and had decided to have something from my stash of soup and crackers it would have been nothing. But having to eat soup and crackers because I can't drive a half mile to get a take out makes it a pain!!

I do try to keep myself focused on all the good. It's a break, but not a bad break. It hurts, but not too much for Advil or Tylenol to manage. I can't just go somewhere, but the knee-walker makes it much easier than it could be - and I'm getting a bit better on the crutches! I'm pretty limited, but family, friends, and colleagues are really pitching in to make it as easy as possible on me. AND - if all goes well only 5 more weeks!

-- Post From My iPhone

Here's the short of it;
Still no Internet here at home!

And here's the long.

I think I must have more lessons to learn about something. Maybe I'm supposed to be working on patience - or maybe it's about not being so stubbornly independent.

Today one of my colleagues who was going to the same meeting in our most northern elementary school came and picked me up and took me there. She dropped me off at our Hickory Valley Office. Then at the end of the day, Alan picked me up. It's not even been a week.

Here at the house Internet has been up and down all day Alan says. Unfortunately, tonite it's been just down. I'm not happy!




-- Post From My iPhone

Here's the short,
Comcast is not making me happy.

And here's the long of it.

Our Comcast computer service has been spotty all day Alan says. I had it up for awhile this evening, but not long enough to blog!

EPB is looking pretty good about right now. Everyone I know who has switched to EPB is really pleased with it.






-- Post From My iPhone

So here's the short of it, 
I really don't like this ...

And here's the long

I can't believe the weekend is already almost over!  I suppose I'll be complaining for 6 more weeks about this bummed up ankle.  No weight on it at all means that I'm really handicapped!  Thank goodness I've got a great family to pick up the slack and help out.  Alan really steps up to the plate when I'm in trouble like this.  Liga came over today and was a a big help.  At dinner last night Valdis really pitched in and helped with everything as well.  Mom made dinner for us again tonight - her wonderful vegetable beef soup.  And Mia cooked an extra chicken so we have dinner for at least a couple of nights this week.  How wonderful. 

I'm not allowed to get this splint wet, so I haven't been in the shower this weekend.  Yucky, right!  Well, I've been doing the old fashioned bath like our folks used to do with the Water Pitcher and bowl - except I have hot running water and a sink with a drain!  I'm going to wrap this splint up really good tomorrow morning with a garbage bag and get a really good shower.  I'm looking forward to that for sure. 

Tomorrow I'm planning a full day in the office.  Alan will take me and pick me up.  I'll be there without a car.  I don't like this.....   I guess my independent steak is going to make this no driving rule pretty difficult. 

So here's the short of it, 

Tonight was the 4th night of Hanukah...

And here's the long

  

Tonight we had a nice Hanukah diner.  Mia and Clyde joined us and brought a wonderful roasted chicken and root vegetables.  Parsnips, carrots, celery, mushrooms - I loved the parsnips.  Mom came and brought green beans from this summer's garden - they were yummy.  We provided the latke's - there were lots and not many left over!

 We had such a nice time.  Liga came as well as Valdis with Kalie.  They were both such a big help, since my foot really has me handicapped.  After a great dinner and gifts, we had a rousing game of scrabble.  Liga beat us all by a pretty big margin.  We are demanding a re-match!

Lots of love around our house tonight - wishing the same at yours. 

So here's the short of it, 

 I'm the lucky recipient of so much medical genius this last year.

And here's the long

Another genius! Crutches are really hard for me.  I'm not very steady on them and they hurt my hands and my underarms.  But this Knee Walker is another story altogether.  It's not perfect by any means.  My knee actually hurts, and I can tell it's taking a toll on the weakness in my back.  But it is so much better than trying to do it all on the crutches.  So kudos to whoever the person was who was playing with their kid's scooter and had a lightbulb! 

Thanks to Liga and Alan and my assistant principal friend today who made sure that I got to all my work locations today.  I'm tired, my foot hurts, my leg is achey and I've taken advil that's making me sleepy.  I'm going to bed and hope that I can get some good sleep tonight.

So here's the short of it, 
I am Sophie's job.

 And here's the long.

Today at work, I was describing Sophie's reaction when I fell the other night.  I think I said something like ...she was really useless, she just kept walking around instead of barking or running off to get Alan like Lassie used to do when Timmy fell in the well.

My colleague, who is quite a dog person, said, "Lynn, she was just doing her job.  If you were a sheep and got injured out in the woods or the pasture, she would have stayed with you and kept the wolves and bears from getting you!"  That gave me a new appreciation for Sophie's response.  My sister-in-law, Myra and I were talking tonight and she and I got a good chuckle out of that.  For sure Sophie made sure no crickets got me while I was there on the laundry room floor!  Anyway, I'm pretty sorry for saying that Sophie was useless.  She was just a three month old puppy and I was pretty sick when we got her;  she took me on as her charge immediately.  She definitely thinks of me as "her job", however she defines that including sleeping right next to me every night and keeping guard over me when I've fallen and can't get up!

I actually had a pretty good day today.  Although there's just a hint of pain at the edge of my mind - mostly the Tylenol and Advil are keeping me pretty comfortable.  I have a knee walker and I'm certainly better at getting around on it than I am with the crutches.  I'm not very good with the crutches AT ALL!

This morning Alan took me to my office, and I cancelled my afternoon meeting that was somewhere else.  I've got tomorrow covered, so that will get me to the weekend!

So here's the short of it, 

It's fractured.

And here's the long

Last night at 10:30 my right foot slipped out from under me as I made the step down into the laundry room.  I took a pretty nasty fall.  I couldn't get up and Sophie was pretty confused about why I was on the floor.  Alan had been asleep for awhile - but  he heard me yell about the third time and came running.  I think it scared him to death! 

Dr. Robertson

I decided to try and make it through the night instead of sitting all night in the emergency room, so Alan helped me to bed and got me settled in with a big ice bag and a couple of Advil.  I was able to sleep off and on, but found it almost impossible to get to the bathroom - which "someone of my age" has to do at night.  Anyway this morning my doctor wrote an order for an x-ray which I had done at Memorial Hospital.  Not long after that I had a call from my doctor sending me to The Center for Sports Medicine.  Dr. Jason Robertson looked over the x-rays. 

Here's the result.


Fracture in the Fibula just above the ankle joint.

No Driving for 6 weeks - maybe 4 if I'm lucky.

No weight on the foot to avoid surgery.

Come back in 2 weeks.  


All in all I'm pretty lucky. 



We were out from about 10:30 until nearly 5:00 this evening.  Mom saved the day by making potato soup for dinner and bringing it up to the house.  Great to have her so close by at a time like this. 

So here's the short of it, 
It's always good to have a Plan B....and C, and sometimes even a Plan Z.

And here's the long

What a chilly, rainy day it was.  My work day was not as productive as I had hoped it would be.  I had a task sorted out and time set aside to do it, but there were some complications with the data I was going to use, so I was stuck.  That work didn't get done, and it got me distracted for a bit until I got a plan B going.  Plan B was good, and I got some preliminary work going...a bit of a headstart on something I thought would take longer. 

Tomorrow is a really early morning for me.  I always think when I have to be up at 5:00 AM that I should just stay up all night and be ready to go.  That would be so much easier for me on the front end than getting myself out of bed at that time of day.  Of course, I'd crash and burn by lunchtime!  So I'll work on getting myself to bed at a decent hour and maybe I'll be able to roll myself out of the bed -- with a smile.  

So here's the short of it, 
Today I was at the National Cemetery.

And here's the long

Today my friend Delane buried her Mom.  There was a graveside service at the National Cemetery.  It was in the same pavilion where Dad's military service was held.  Even though there was palpable sadness, it seemed  that Delane was very much at peace with her mother's passing. 

This afternoon, when the funeral began it had grown chilly and was overcast.  The service was a lovely tribute and made me feel like I knew Mona Owens just a little bit. Although knowing that she raised Delane makes me know that she was a fine woman. 

After the service I made a stop by Dad's gravesite - his absence is still such a great loss in our lives. 

So I end the day with my friend Delane in my thoughts and prayers -- and with thoughts of my Dad.

So here's the short of it,

What do you do with green tomatoes...

And here's the long

I suppose I picked about 12 pounds of green and "pink" tomatoes the other day when I was trying to save them from the frost.  Today I decided to figure out what I was going to do with them.  Why go to the trouble to pick them and bring them in and then just wait until they got bad to throw them away -- right...

So Mom gave me a recipe for green tomato bread and butter style pickles. 

Cut them up -  make sure to cut away any blemishes.

Keep cutting them up, til you get 4 pounds worth!

Thinly slice 2 big onions.  The recipe actually called for a lot more, but I decided to go light on the onions. 

Layer the tomatoes and onions, salting each layer with canning salt.  Let sit for 1 1/2 hours.

Go down to Mom's and borrow the spices that are used for pickling that you don't keep in your house, because you don't usually make pickles. 

After supper, drain and rinse the tomatoes and onions, put them in sterilized jars, with the pickling "juice", and process them in a hot water bath. 

Stand back and think how beautiful they look and hope they taste really good too.

Plan to make the green tomato preserves tomorrow night!

So here's the short of it,
A trip to the Barn Nursery today with Mom and then a trip to Ace with Alan.  

And here's the long

Today Mom and I went to the Barn Nursery and got pansies.  Mom got a blue and yellow.  I got maroon and yellow.  As I was saying how much I liked the maroon and yellow, Mom reminded me that those were my high school colors!   It's such a great place to shop - Mom and I need to go back with the truck.  She wants to get her Christmas tree there I think, probably a live one.  And I just love to see all the things they have . 

Later in the afternoon Alan and I went out to the big Ace Hardware on Highway 58.  We had a couple of great coupons and came home with a huge poinsetta for Mom and a birdfeeder for the backyard. 

The backyard birdfeeder and  pansies look great!

So here's the short of it, 
Green tomato pickles?  and a car...

And here's the long

It's getting colder here in Tennessee.  It rained last night and sprinkled this morning, but by mid morning it had really stopped raining.  The sun was supposed to peep out and warm up the afternoon, but that never did happen.  Since we are supposed to have a frost tonight, I spent some time in the garden harvesting all the usable green tomatoes.  I have a pail full and am trying to decide what I'm going to do with them.  Mom is going to give me her bread and butter pickle  recipe and I'm going to do a batch.  Then I may make a green tomato preserve?  We'll see. 

Liga and Alan spent the afternoon car shopping.  He's been eager for her to get into another vehicle for about 6 months now.  I guess the volvo has served its time well.  They didn't find anything at any of the nearby car lots, but she found a Jeep on Craigslist.  They went almost up to Cleveland to look at it, and they put a downpayment on it!  They'll go back to get it tomorrow! She's pretty excited, and we are excited for her.  I'm eager to have a ride in it.

So here's the short of it, 

Gratitude.

And here's the long

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. 

It turns what we have into enough, and more. 

It turns denial into acceptance, confusion to clarity. 

It can make a meal into a feast, a stranger a friend. 

Gratitude makes sense of the past, brings peace for today and a vision for tomorrow.

So here's the short of it, 
Wild Dog Sophie showed up today!

And here's the long

I usually take Sophie for a walk in the afternoons.  I take her off leash and we walk around the circle several times.  She runs around and visits other dogs who may be out - she has a couple of really good doggie friends who live on the circle.  She doesn't take off like Hank or Suni would have and we have a lovely evening.

This morning I decided that I'd take her out for extra exercise.  When I let her out the door, I spied a boxer mix who's been hanging out around the neighborhood from time to time.  He's collared - so he must be getting out of his yard.  He was a terrible influence on her this - and I should have taken her out the door on leash so I could establish that everything was OK first!  He was a pretty bad influence on Sophie.  She ran all over the circle and would not come when I called.  She got through one of the two places on the circle that has access to the back yards behind the circle!  She was so out of character!  The boxer mix ran across the circle and into Winston's back yard where his owners had him tied out while they were gone -- Sophie ran over and made sure that the boxer didn't bother Winston too much - but whenever I approached her, she would get out of my reach.  I sure did get moving this morning! She finally headed down toward Mom's house, and I followed along.  She spent a few minutes visiting with Hershey through the fence and then she headed out toward Brainerd Road.  I just knew she was going to get right in traffic and end up being hit.  Then she ran into the yard next door to Mom and the little feisty dog that lives there came running out barking, growling and not giving an inch.  Scaredy dog, Sophie, took off running and finally headed for home.  I was so relieved to get her back home, and pretty baffled about her behavior.  This evening, she had to go out on leash!  We'll have to see what tomorrow brings. 

So here's the short of it, 
This afternoon at 3:30 I thought how wonderful it is that I work a teacher calendar!

And here's the long

I'm having a relapse of the respiratory gunk that had me sick over fall break.  I've been coughing and feeling very tired and yucky for a couple of days.  Today our team was in a school for grade level meetings all day long, and I was really pretty worn out by the time it was done and glad to get home.  And how glad I am that this week was a two day work week.

So here's the plan - sleep tomorrow until the sun is way up (yep - totally missing the possibility of one of those beautiful sunrises we have so often)- we'll see if that one works out!  I'm hoping to move through the day at a fairly leisurely pace, but still get some Thanksgiving preparations done.  We're doing Thanksgiving at Mom's with just a small crowd.  Cousin Mia is bringing the turkey and Mom, Liga, and I are doing the sides. It should be a great meal, even though the crowd will be small. 

By the way - my Hold Tite bandage kept up the fabulous performance yet again today!  I even wrote a note to Curad USA at their website.  The knee is continuing to heal and having a way to keep the bandage in place with the neosporin ointment is a real benefit. 

So here's the short of it, 
There is a genius working at Medline.

And here's the long.

I have been having such problems with keeping my knee wound bandaged, but I can tell that it's healing better because of the bandage.  The tape solution wore out pretty quickly; I just couldn't tolerate the adhesive even on the paper tape which is supposed to be non-irritating. The next thing I tried was an ace bandage.  It was pretty funny to wrap a big ace bandage around the "non-stick pad" because it didn't stay well and I had to keep adjusting it to keep it in place.  I started thinking that I needed to cut the foot out of a tube sock and use that, but it seemed like that would be awfully hot and cumbersome under my work pants, so I never got around to doing that.

Yesterday when I went to my regular grocery store - not one of the big box stores that has everything you never wanted - just my regular Bi-Lo grocery store, right there in front of my eyes was something called Curad Hold Tite Tubular stretch Bandage. 

This stuff is absolutely amazing.  Here's their own description of it. 

"CURAD Hold Tite is the perfect product for areas where tape
application or removal would be difficult such as elbows, knees, ankles, heels, etc... Made of rayon/polyester, this knitted elastic net tube can be cut to fit any body part holding both dry and wet dressings in place. Its soft open weave is low linting, does not constrict, and allows for maximum airflow."

When it comes out of the box, it's in a roll that they say is 5 feet stretched.  It's about the circumference of a large man's thumb.  But boy does it ever stretch! 

I put my own "unpetroleum jelly" on the part of the wound that's beginning to heal and the leftover adhesive irritation; then the part of the wound that is still open and yucky gets a generous squirt of generic neosporin ointment with a large "non-stick pad" covering it. 

Then today, I cut off about 10 inches of the Hold Tite, stretched it open, and pulled it up over my knee.  It is so lightweight; it doesn't bind; it doesn't slip; the bandage stays put; it doesn't cut off my circulation; and I don't have the skin irritation from adhesive.  Tonight I'll sleep in it - we'll see how that goes.  All my previous solutions didn't work very well during sleeping.  I think this is going to work well! 

So I think Medline, the company that owns Curad, has a genius or maybe a bunch of them on staff.  This stuff is amazing.  I don't know if I'll have any more leg or arm wounds, but I'm going to buy another box of it next time I'm there because if they ever figure out how valuable it is they'll probably double the price! 

So here's the short of it, 
Dan's dog Sampson died yesterday. 

And here's the long

Dan and Sampson

There is something about a dog. Something that enlarges us and makes us better than we would have been without them.    

It's awfully hard to lose a good dog. It's especially hard when that life is cut short. 

Dan lost Sampson to kidney failure yesterday.  I understand that he was a great dog with an amazing spirit and was well loved by Dan's many friends.

So here's the short of it, 
Today was a great Saturday for me! 

And here's the long.

Today I didn't leave the house for anything, I was rather well rested, and I vanquished the clutter in the Kitchen - at least except for the really high up stuff.  All the while, I was working on several loads of laundry, and even made it to the den for a bit of cleaning up in there. All  I think I had more energy than I've had in many, many months.   

Both Liga and Valdis came by for a bit this afternoon.  Valdis is helping out with some yard work, and Liga is just getting over the crud that made her sicker than she's been in a long time.  Her Dad suggested that she sit out in the sun, so she took a book and did just that!  It sure was nice to have them around.

This evening, Alan and I had dinner with a couple of dear friends and it was lovely to have the feeling of having accomplished a good chunk of work - almost as if I'd earned the reward of dinner and visiting with people who share some of the same life views. 

I highly recommend The Big Table.  The food suits me to a tee and it's a small cozy place.  It's a great spot to be with friends.

There was something very normal feeling about today......
             and then there are the foot cramps that I've had all day long as though I just need a bit of a reminder.

So here's the short of it, 
Mom had a second epidural steroid injection today. 

And here's the long.

I took a 1/2 sick day today to take Mom for an epidural for her back pain.  

Here's a description I grabbed from a doctor in Fort Wayne who has it posted on the web (not Mom's doc!)

She did just great with it.  She forgot that she was not supposed to eat breakfast, so they weren't able to give her the twilight sleep and she endured it without anything except some local numbing.  She said that it wasn't so bad at all, and seemed to feel some relief right away.

This evening when I checked on her the local numbing had worn off and she was experiencing some pain 

So here's the short of it, 
This evening we went to hear Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, speak at UTC. 

And here's the long

 I really enjoyed the evening with Alan at UTC.

There were several things he said that just resonated with me. 

He said when he was growing up, his parents spent a lot of time teaching him that he had an obligation in the world. They told him, "All the privilege that you have young man was paid for by someone else, you drink deeply from wells of freedom and liberty that you did not dig. You eat lavishly from banquet tables that were prepared for you by your ancestors. You have an obligation; you have a burden - a righteous, glorious burden, because this nation is not finished. We have so much work to do. So this was the charge of my brothers and my life."  They told him that he could earn that freedom by going out and continuing this work.  I really like that!

Another one of his themes was the choices we make every day, no every minute.  "Every moment of our lives, we make a decision to accept things as they are or to begin to change it." He also said something that may have energized me and given me another burst of energy for my work.  He said his parents always said to him, "If you could not fail, what would you do." 

This is just a bit of my take away for the evening. 
I think I'd vote for this man if I had a chance.

Oh yes,  I had several other favorite sayings from his talk, "You can learn more from a woman on the fifth floor of the projects than from any of those fancy professors."  - attributed to his father.  And he said that his mentor Mrs. Jones taught him that "the world you see outside of you is merely a reflection of who you are inside."

A good evening was had by all......

So here's the short of it, 
More thoughts about Dad and Mom.

And here's the long

Today Mom's PEO book club met to discuss Dad's book, A Name in the Sand. She had let them read one of the draft copies and after several times of having to reschedule it, this morning at 10:00 o'clock.  I took a personal leave 1/2 day so that I could join them, and Alan came as well.  I really enjoyed having an opportunity to hear the comments from these very bright, articulate women. 

I always knew - even from the time I was a very young girl, that my Dad was a really special man.  Each day I have that confirmed in some way.  Today it was through the eyes of people who didn't know Dad that well, but caught his spirit from his words.  I thought about how he started, and sat there at the kitchen table in Middlesboro, Kentucky when the weather was too cold and dark to be working  outside.  All of us children had been long gone from home, and Mom was there encouraging him and helping him have the strength to craft his story.  She's told me that it was a very emotional time for him as he relived his experiences, and I have to believe that her support and encouragement helped him get the story on paper. 

So here's the short of it, 
I have itchy legs, but I'm getting stronger.

And here's the long

Today was a long work day.  Now that it's way late into fall and the time has changed, having an after school meeting that goes until 6:30 means that it's dark and cold when it's time to come home! And - I was all the way out in Ooltewah.  I'm glad I like to drive -- and that I don't mind driving in the dark!

It was a rainy and cold day - and I had to be out in it twice!  It looks like tomorrow will be warmer and that the rain will have passed by.  Sophie will be glad she'll be able to get outside without getting wet!

Last year while I was having chemotherapy I had no problem with my darned skin.  I think it's mild eczema.  Dad had it and I think both my brothers have it as well. We all have the "Howard itchy back syndrome", but this is lots worse.  So my legs are broken out - another step back toward normalcy - even though it's not one I would wish for.  Today I walked up and down the steps between my third floor office and the pre-school assessment center on the second floor.  I actually did real grown up one foot then the next!  I was really tired by the time I got to the top, and I'll have to admit that holding onto the rail was the only thing that gave me the confidence I could do it, but I'm going to try to do this at least once every day I'm in the office!  I have an appointment in December with Dr. Schlabach - I'll talk with him about how long it should take before my strength returns and if there's something I can do to help it along. 

So here's the short of it, 
I learned of a new drug today - Xeloda. 

 And here's the long

It was good to be back at work today.  The conference was great, but only great  because there's a way to bring back the stuff we learned and put it to work in our schools.

This morning we had a team meeting to start a discussion about what we might be able to do to prevent our high achieving kids from losing ground.  It's a beginning and we've got some folks pretty fired up!  Maybe we can get some work done on this before the end of the year!

I saw my work friend Amy this afternoon as she was leaving.  We share the same doctor, and the same oncology nurse.  I saw her about two weeks ago and she was anticipating that she would start on some kind of chemo in the near future, as her tumor markers had gone up considerably.  Today she told me that Lori (our nurse) called her late that afternoon and had her come in before quitting time.  She has started on the chemotherapy drug Xeloda.  It's a pill that she takes twice a day.  Actually she takes 3 in the AM and 4 in the PM.  She's having some side effects, but so far is able to come to work every day.  Amy is such an inspiration to me.  She has such an indomitable spirit and her influence kept me motivated all during last year.  I sure hope I can give her even a little of the support that she was to me.  She's already beginning to have some side effects - but this one won't make her lose her hair!  Take a moment and say a prayer for my breast cancer warrior friend Amy!  And say another for my sister-in-law Pennie, who continues her battle. 

So here's the short of it, 

Home is the best. 

And here's the long

I'm so glad to be back at home.  I'm so glad to have Mom back at home.

When I arrived in the driveway, Sophie just danced and barked and acted so glad to see me! And before I could get the car door opened, Lola came strolling across the alley and down the driveway just looking at me and mouthing a silent meow. It's great to see them.

Liga came over for a bit.  She's not feeling very well, and I'm really glad that I got back home in time to make her  some chicken soup and a good gargle.  Mom and Alan and I went over to Cracker Barrel for dinner - now it's good to be back home.  I haven't slept while I was away from home so it's going to be early to bed tonight with hopes for a good night's sleep!

Before I left, we had started Lola on a liquid antibiotic.  It's quite a bit of difficulty to get her swallow it.  It involves holding her tightly, getting the dropper in her mouth, and then getting her to cooperate - unless you are my brilliant husband.  Then it's just simply putting it in her CatMilk and letting her drink it at her leisure! 

So here's the short of it, 
Today was another great conference day!

And here's the long

Another really great day at the conference.  It just seemed that every session I attended held more than just information.  After having been out of pocket for a whole year, it was great to re-establish contact with folks who I only regularly see in places like this.  I'm so glad it was in Atlanta!

My travel companion's husband drove down from Chattanooga for the day and evening so we've split up and I have a hotel room to myself!  The biggest thing about that on this trip is that I'll get to have two cups of coffee in the morning.  They just have those little one cup at a time coffee makers in the room!  It's been a bit problematic.

I didn't get to visit with familly this time around.  My car's battery actually went dead.  Thankfully Phillip boosted me off when he got here from Chattanooga, and right now it seems to be fine.  It needs to get a check up when I get back home!!

Every year when I go to NAGC and visit the exhibiters hall I always stop and visit the whole movement booth.  This year, I finally bought one of the books.  This is an amazing booth that is all about math, art, and science in the geometry of folding circles!  The gentle man who has this booth just amazes me.  And the artistry of folding circles is so astounding to see.  Visit the whole movement website to take a peek at some of his work.  And fold some circles if you are so inclined.  I have a particular student in mind who will benefit from this and then I'm sure that there will be many others in the years to come.

Well, tomorrow I'm headed home.  It's been a good conference, but home is sounding mighty good! 

So here's the short of it, 
Today was a great conference day.

And here's the long

Today's conference sessions were really great.  Two of the sessions were on brain functioning.  One on executive functioning, the other on the science of how brain structure is related to learning styles.  Wow, the light went on - scientific explanations that suddenly made years of interactions with students spin into a new level of understanding. Then there was a presentation by Joe Renzulli about what makes the difference between really smart people who make a positive difference in the world and really smart people who focus on material gain, ego enhancement, and self-indulgence or even worse criminal behaviors.  That was really great. 

At dinner we got the together with a bunch of other Tennessee folks and found our way to the Hard Rock Cafe. 

NO DRUGS OR NUCLEAR WEAPONS ALLOWED INSIDE

This was the sign on all the bathroom doors - they weren't really stalls - little rooms.  There were several young teenage girls dressed in shirts with peace signs and other relics of the 60's.  They were laughing at the signs and saying "Do you think this is a joke?" I just had the notion that I wanted to gather them around in a little group and give them a history lesson about the anti-war movement and the peace and love generation.  But I washed my hands and went back to the table. 

And I thought to myself --- I guess I'm pretty old....

But I also thought, yep that's right -- no drugs and no nuclear weapons allowed inside.   And let's all imagine there's no hunger!