So here's the short of it, 
I'm having another bout with e-mail.

And here's the long.

After being out of town for three work days with little time to take care of e-mail, I got back to work to find myself in e-mail prison once again!  And this time it took me way too much time to get out!

I do have a new system though.  One of my lead teacher colleagues introduced us to One Note the other day.  So today I spent a bit of time getting that set up and starting to move my "can't delete" stuff over to binders.  Actually I only have one binder at this time, but I have lots of tabs within the binders already.  I think this may actually save me!  I'm going to have to invest some time in it though, and I'm having trouble figuring out where that's going to fit into my schedule between now and the break!

Anyway, by this afternoon, I was out of e-mail prison, but I'll be back again pretty soon if I'm not careful.

So here's the short of it, 
I'm home ... and happy to be so!

And here's the long.

Today was a long ride home from Memphis.  It was sure nice to have a colleague with me.  It's never such a long drive when there's someone to visit with.  This was such a great opportunity to be with someone has the same core values in education as I do --- and to attend a conference that reinforced those values.

But it's always so good to be home. Sophie was really excited and running around all over the house.  Lola curled up in my lap to welcome me home.  I had lots of good food while I was gone, but home to a nice cup of my yogurt and strawberries -- YummY!

Another couple of days of work - but Shelley's arrives with the boys tomorrow.  Can hardly wait to see them all.

So here's the short of it, 
I had a wonderful day in Little Rock, Arkansas.  

And here's the long.

The second day of Facing History and Ourselves  today was in Little Rock.  I got up really early; Wendy wasn't feeling well enough to go, so I headed out myself. We started out at Central High School.  Yes THE Central High school, where in September 1957, 9 really brave young African American teenagers walked up the sidewalk to go to school, and walked right into history.

Today Central High school is a vibrant very ethnically diverse school.  I had an opportunity to interact with two students who were acting as docents - wow! was I ever impressed.  And the two young ladies I encountered in the ladies room were just as nice as they could be!

We heard, 3 of the Little Rock Nine as they've come to be known, as well as two other adults who were students at Central High school that year speak on a panel about that year.  It was quite interesting to hear the things they had to say, and it gave me lots to think about.  One of the things I've thought about all evening long is about how the parents knew that their children were really soldiers on the front line of the desegregation movement.

I was so glad to see Central High the way it is today.  And I know that there's much work left to do.  I hope I can be some small part of that work.

So here's the short of it, 
Great dinner tonight! 

And here's the long.

My colleague and I had a wonderful day at our conference today.  We learned lots about some of the latest research into urban education.  At the end of our day we heard Sonja Sohn from The Wire - that TV show on HBO that I've never watched, but now think I will.

This evening Lauren met us with Madison Claire for dinner.  It was SO nice of her to travel into town to have dinner with us.  I brought a pair of fairy wings for Madison - and had so much fun watching her flit around the restaurant!  We had a great visit with her Mom as well!

So here's the short of it, 
Veteran's Day

And here's the long.

Here's Dad!  He volunteered for the army shortly after he turned 18.

There was D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Varsity.  And many, many small towns and villages along the way.

World War II shaped Dad in ways that I don't think I can even imagine -- and I really knew little about it until we were all gone from home, he had retired, and the stories began to emerge.

In a moment of great clarity Dad decided to write his story down for his children and grandchildren.  We are so lucky to have it in his words.  He spent many years remembering, writing, and editing.

Dad, on this veteran's day, I thank you for your service.
I also thank you for giving us A Name In The Sand.  

So here's the short of it, 
Crunched up weekend!!

And here's the long.

Today is my weekend.  Tomorrow I'm driving to Memphis for a conference.  So Saturday and Sunday got crunched up into today.  I didn't get it all done, so I'll be up really early in the morning.

But we did move Sunday Family dinner to Saturday Family dinner.  It was nice to have everyone together for the first time since Liga's return.

By the time I return from my conference Shelley will almost be here. Can't wait to see her and the boys.

So for now, it's climbing in the bed for some zzz's so that I can get up way early!!!

So here's the short of it, 
It is sure good to have a Friday evening!

And here's the long.

Well, work is done for another day.  And that closes down another week.  This week I learned that two more of the people I work with will be retiring this year.  I remember when I first started out I really didn't know many of the people retiring at all. So things change.  And someday I'll be one of those folks!!

Next week I'm traveling to a conference on Urban Education - and I've never before travelled with the colleague who's going with me. She's really one of my favorite principals and I'm eager to have some extended time with her -- gonna pick her brain about bunches of stuff!!

This evening I'm wondering why I feel like it's almost midnight and it's really not even 8:00 PM.  I think it's that dratted time change that gets so much more difficult every year! I'm glad to have tomorrow before I go on my trip to get a bit of relaxing in.