I am so weary of the 24 hour news cycle. Here's how it works...first John McCain is outraged that Barack Obama is not outraged at the Iranians stealing elections. Then the governor of South Carolina disappears over the weekend and Iran disappears from the headlines. We learn by Wednesday that the lying bastard was in Argentina cheating on his wife, his four great sons, and the whole state of South Carolina with a mystery woman who was just a friend in the beginning, but then something "sparked". Before he could finish apologizing and comparing himself to King David. who sinned something awful, but went on to do great things for the Lord, poor Farah Fawcett succumbed to the cancer that she had been fighting for so long. We had only seen Ryan leaving the hospital about forty times and been through her life as far as the Tri Delt house at UT where a publicist saw her in the Top Ten Beauties pix, when breaking news shocked the World. The King of Pop was transported from his rented Holmby Hills mansion unconscious and probably DOA to a Los Angeles hospital.
That's how it's been this week on the cable and in the blogosphere. Busy week, huh? We can be so enraptured by the martyrdom of Neda on the streets of Tehran one day and by the end of the week she is forgotten as the street people dance on the grave of Michael who hadn't had this much publicity since his acquital on charges of child molestation.
And don't forget the ever present "Houston connection". The doctor who was with Jackson when the 911 call was made, debunked when the paramedics arrived. No one has seen him since. We've seen his car being impounded by LA homicide and the high powered criminal defense lawyers he has retained were on Fox news at 9:00. He has a clinic and a sister in Acres Homes, so Local 2, Khou and ABC13 will no doubt be at the forefront of the story.
It is a sick society that runs on the 24 hour news cycle. Reporters disrespect the Chief Executive at press conferences because they need a sound byte by the time Oprah goes off the air. One sick, but talented song and dance man dies after a life of psychological abuse, medical procedures gone past the point of being ethical and misuse of prescription medications and we begin a continuous reel of pictures of the ambulance, the doctor's car, the star on the walk of fame, the likeness made from sand, and his performances from age 5 to the present, cue Thriller.
Enough already. Who do the cable channels think is watching this crap around the clock?
We haven't even had a funeral yet....oh my. The rest of the summer could be taken with Jacko lying in state with millions of his fans filing past to pay their respects and then the memorial service where the cameras will focus on the grieving Liza Minelli, the ex-wives and the unmasked children.
We have some serious public policy issues that should be the focus of the nation's attention. But that shit doesn't sell. Who cares if we become an impotent debtor nation with substandard health care and no economy? With leaders who are following their impulses to Argentina, and busily scoring points with mindless opposition and barely concealed racism, we have to depend on the media to keep us distracted. Otherwise, Americans might wake up and realize we are in a pretty precarious position.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Dance Duty
Last night was the big night. Prom night. I lucked out for years and never had to go to the prom, even though I teach seniors. I was always glad because it was held downtown and I never wanted to drive in to Houston at night by myself. But I drew one of the short straws this year and it was my turn in the barrel.
In recent years the talk has been about how poorly the kids have behaved...come drunk, slip into the bathroom for a cigarette or a sip...dance like hoochies, leave early to go to orgiastic parties at rented beach houses in Surfside.
We even had to go to "training" for chaperones on Thursday morning. So the AP could tell us where to stand and what to expect from our charges. And believe me when I tell you I was expecting the worst.
But last night I had a pleasant surprise. Oh sure, there were a handful of the "popular crowd" who had to uphold the reputation for being hardcore hellraisers.
However, the majority of the kids were clean and sober and having a great evening.
I enjoyed meeting my students in the foyer and seeing them in their evening wear before they sweated off their jackets and makeup on the dance floor. They were a sight to behold. When you only see them in shorts and tee shirts with their hair sticking out in every direction and a pair of flip flops for footwear, these sleek, elegant creatures were hardly recognizable.
The food was excellent, you cannot beat an ice sculpture seashell full of boiled shrimp, prime rib and caesar salad for free. Who says teachers don't get paid enough?
There was no drama...Mrs. APEuro said that there were tears on the cheeks of one girl who spied a dress twin, but other than that, no problem.
Kize got to break up some suggestive smooching on the dancefloor...that's her strong suit. The kids got to see their principal, who many don't know because she's seldom out of her office. The cheerleader from second period got to come to something at school drunk, which I think is probably the height of her ambition. All in all I'd say everyone had a great time.
I know I did...I found a $99 dress that has three-quarter length sleeves, and hides back fat. You cannot do better than that.
There are only two weeks of school left. We have to hand out final exam reviews, autograph yearbooks, and turn in textbooks...that's all that's left to do. I absolutely love this time of year. The slide downhill to summer vacation. Who cares if the state legislature doesn't deal with the minimum grade situation or give retired teachers a cost of living increase. All those problems and causes can be taken up again in August. For now dance duty is done and I'm thinking about all those weeks of being able to stay up past my bedtime.
In recent years the talk has been about how poorly the kids have behaved...come drunk, slip into the bathroom for a cigarette or a sip...dance like hoochies, leave early to go to orgiastic parties at rented beach houses in Surfside.
We even had to go to "training" for chaperones on Thursday morning. So the AP could tell us where to stand and what to expect from our charges. And believe me when I tell you I was expecting the worst.
But last night I had a pleasant surprise. Oh sure, there were a handful of the "popular crowd" who had to uphold the reputation for being hardcore hellraisers.
However, the majority of the kids were clean and sober and having a great evening.
I enjoyed meeting my students in the foyer and seeing them in their evening wear before they sweated off their jackets and makeup on the dance floor. They were a sight to behold. When you only see them in shorts and tee shirts with their hair sticking out in every direction and a pair of flip flops for footwear, these sleek, elegant creatures were hardly recognizable.
The food was excellent, you cannot beat an ice sculpture seashell full of boiled shrimp, prime rib and caesar salad for free. Who says teachers don't get paid enough?
There was no drama...Mrs. APEuro said that there were tears on the cheeks of one girl who spied a dress twin, but other than that, no problem.
Kize got to break up some suggestive smooching on the dancefloor...that's her strong suit. The kids got to see their principal, who many don't know because she's seldom out of her office. The cheerleader from second period got to come to something at school drunk, which I think is probably the height of her ambition. All in all I'd say everyone had a great time.
I know I did...I found a $99 dress that has three-quarter length sleeves, and hides back fat. You cannot do better than that.
There are only two weeks of school left. We have to hand out final exam reviews, autograph yearbooks, and turn in textbooks...that's all that's left to do. I absolutely love this time of year. The slide downhill to summer vacation. Who cares if the state legislature doesn't deal with the minimum grade situation or give retired teachers a cost of living increase. All those problems and causes can be taken up again in August. For now dance duty is done and I'm thinking about all those weeks of being able to stay up past my bedtime.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Mother's Day Gifts Have Arrived
On the Monday after Mother's Day, we received a UPS package containing the awaited Mother's Day gifts. We had heard that they arrived in Big D on Saturday, so we had a hint that these gifts were personalized. Mind you we are now very easy to shop for, anything with a picture of the Kid is a winner.
In December for her 80th birthday GiGi got a 2009 calendar with a collage of pictures from the MP's first year artfully arranged for month by month enjoyment. I haven't had anything since my "All About Me" hard cover edition from last June. I coveted that calendar.
But here it is spring time and our ship has come in. This time the UPSman came bearing little styrofoam packing boxes within the big brown box. Ummmm, breakables.
They were carefully inscribed: GiGi and Grandmom. Ummmm, same but different.
I got Mother out of the dishwater and we opened simultaneously so no one's surprise was spoiled. And what a wonderful surprise....Happy Mother's Day Grandmom and GiGi coffee mugs complete with pictures of Miss Priss doing her big baby stuff.
Mother got the big girl in her birthday swing and one pushing her wagon...she holds her mouth like my Daddy did when she does that job.
There's also a picture that I love of the Shrink and me at the Hunan restaurant last Christmas...the big baby doesn't want her Gram to forget who's really the grandchild here.
My mug has the famous crying birthday baby on it and one of the bluebonnet pictures. There are several pictures on each one and they will be wonderful for helping us to recall the baby at this stage. We've learned how important that is because of how fast this first year has gone. Now that she's got those bangs, there's no stopping her. She's swinging and swimming and eating finger food, and when she finally realizes that she can turn loose, she will be walking. My mug runneth over!
End of the School Year
It's the middle of May and the natives are beyond restless. The students in my classes who were sitting for the AP exam were finished with me and my class the minute the testing period was over. The good news is that they all seemed to think the exam was easy...they felt prepared. Hope that's true and not just their tendency to be overconfident talking.
I assigned a project to all my classes and made it due on the day after prom. They are all whining and carrying on like infants about that. They think that the Monday after prom is a national holiday.
Speaking of the prom...I have to chaperone this year for the first time. I'm all set with my "prom dress", if it will still fit. I've been eating like a starving person for days, no make that weeks.
I saw some pictures from the MP's first birthday party and the pictures don't lie....grandmom is a chubette. So, I may look like ten pounds of meat in a five pound package when I get to the big dance.
Thank the good Lord it's only at the civic center and I don't have to go downtown to the Hyatt. The concern of the other adults involved is the behavior on the dance floor. I say that problem is easily solved. If they don't want horney teenagers simulating sex acts on the dance floor, turn off the music and turn on the lights just as soon as you spot the first "dirty dancers". Call the parents of the offending couple and have them picked up at the door. Then for good measure, don't let them "walk" at graduation. I guarantee that the class of 2010 would be so appropriate at their prom, it would look like a Baptist social.
Why is it that the people in charge of the decision making don't seem to possess the key ingredient: common sense? They take up text books before final exams even start. They schedule things like bus evacuation drills when most of the district's busses are tied up with field trips. They don't seem to grasp the concept of the carrot or the stick and that the biggest carrot they have is the almighty parking space.
When I'm Queen of the Universe, some of this stuff is going to be straigtened out once and for all.
Beginning with getting those project graduation volunteer moms out of the teachers' lunchroom.
I assigned a project to all my classes and made it due on the day after prom. They are all whining and carrying on like infants about that. They think that the Monday after prom is a national holiday.
Speaking of the prom...I have to chaperone this year for the first time. I'm all set with my "prom dress", if it will still fit. I've been eating like a starving person for days, no make that weeks.
I saw some pictures from the MP's first birthday party and the pictures don't lie....grandmom is a chubette. So, I may look like ten pounds of meat in a five pound package when I get to the big dance.
Thank the good Lord it's only at the civic center and I don't have to go downtown to the Hyatt. The concern of the other adults involved is the behavior on the dance floor. I say that problem is easily solved. If they don't want horney teenagers simulating sex acts on the dance floor, turn off the music and turn on the lights just as soon as you spot the first "dirty dancers". Call the parents of the offending couple and have them picked up at the door. Then for good measure, don't let them "walk" at graduation. I guarantee that the class of 2010 would be so appropriate at their prom, it would look like a Baptist social.
Why is it that the people in charge of the decision making don't seem to possess the key ingredient: common sense? They take up text books before final exams even start. They schedule things like bus evacuation drills when most of the district's busses are tied up with field trips. They don't seem to grasp the concept of the carrot or the stick and that the biggest carrot they have is the almighty parking space.
When I'm Queen of the Universe, some of this stuff is going to be straigtened out once and for all.
Beginning with getting those project graduation volunteer moms out of the teachers' lunchroom.
Monday, April 13, 2009
After the Party
The MP's First Birthday was Sunday. The rest of the Christian World thought it was Easter.
The trouble started two full weeks before the event. The child's mother called me to tell me that she had tension in her body and the only way it could be relieved was to talk to me about "some issues". Now, I've been in this game long enough to know the translation of that statement is: Mother, you are such a bitch and a failure that I can't cope with life.
You see the MP's birthday is an occasion when potentially all of her numerous and assorted grandparents will be thrown together and the younger generation does not have faith that we will all be on our best behavior. I'm surprised they were even willing to give the Kid a birthday party...it's so scary to have to have His Mother and Her Mother at the same place.
Question number one is who gets the guest room. Answer: hotels for everyone.
Crisis averted...
The day of the big gala, everyone arrived and performed beautifully. Hell, I hugged the Ex and Number 2 like they were a rescue party. I took along the requested beer and dips. I may be an unpredictable behavior risk, but I'm dependable for food and beverages.
You have to understand that when the Mother-in-Law is present, she is the center of the known universe. We are all at her son's home. She sits closest to the infant and generally directs all goings-on. This is when I know that my kid is really well brought up. She actually gets along with this woman. With my unpredictable sharp-tongued problem, it's a wonder, I haven't created a brawl.
The MP had an optimum birthday experience. She had cake in her hair and toys out the wazoo and was not even scared by 50 pointy hatted people singing "Happy Birthday". In fact, when we finished she clapped her little chubby hands!
A great night at the LaQuinta down the block, breakfast at Denny's, Easter at the nondenominational rock and roll church, a hasty ham dinner and we were home again by dark Sunday night.
Thank God it's over...
The trouble started two full weeks before the event. The child's mother called me to tell me that she had tension in her body and the only way it could be relieved was to talk to me about "some issues". Now, I've been in this game long enough to know the translation of that statement is: Mother, you are such a bitch and a failure that I can't cope with life.
You see the MP's birthday is an occasion when potentially all of her numerous and assorted grandparents will be thrown together and the younger generation does not have faith that we will all be on our best behavior. I'm surprised they were even willing to give the Kid a birthday party...it's so scary to have to have His Mother and Her Mother at the same place.
Question number one is who gets the guest room. Answer: hotels for everyone.
Crisis averted...
The day of the big gala, everyone arrived and performed beautifully. Hell, I hugged the Ex and Number 2 like they were a rescue party. I took along the requested beer and dips. I may be an unpredictable behavior risk, but I'm dependable for food and beverages.
You have to understand that when the Mother-in-Law is present, she is the center of the known universe. We are all at her son's home. She sits closest to the infant and generally directs all goings-on. This is when I know that my kid is really well brought up. She actually gets along with this woman. With my unpredictable sharp-tongued problem, it's a wonder, I haven't created a brawl.
The MP had an optimum birthday experience. She had cake in her hair and toys out the wazoo and was not even scared by 50 pointy hatted people singing "Happy Birthday". In fact, when we finished she clapped her little chubby hands!
A great night at the LaQuinta down the block, breakfast at Denny's, Easter at the nondenominational rock and roll church, a hasty ham dinner and we were home again by dark Sunday night.
Thank God it's over...
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Tax Revolt
I just came home and turned on the news to learn that thirteen of the bailed out corporations are in arrears to the IRS for 200 million dollars. We all know that if you owed the IRS $200 they would impound your bank account and hold your first born for interest and penalties. For God's sake America, when are we going to stop sitting on our hands and act on our outrage?
I propose that we all put a hold on our 1040's until some one in Congress figures out what the hell it is they are doing and who it is that's picking up the tab.
I cannot believe that the United States Congress has its collective head so far up its collective ass.
It's bad enough that they've made federal law to favor this kind of idiocy, but they've loaded them up with all this so-called bail out money and they seem incapable of making any rules for its receipt or its use.
The highlight of this story is that no one can know who these companies are...federal law prohibits the IRS making the identities known. I say it may be time for Congress to stay up late and change the law, after all aren't they the ones who made it in the first place.
The GOP wants to blame this fiasco on Obama, but I say there is way too much blame to go around to make one old boy who just got moved in the scapegoat. What I am going to be sick about is if Chris Dodd dropped the ball and if Tim Geithner can't get his act together pretty damned quick.
I was discouraged about the situation, but now I'm plain ol' pissed off. They've allowed a handful of pirates to bilk the rest of us out of our savings, our jobs, our homes and our way of life is on the line. I'm sick of partisan politics and politicians and I think it's time for "we the people" to realize what we stand to lose if we don't start paying attention.
If they can't collect two hundred million dollars from those who are too big too fail, then they don't deserve the support of a public school teacher.
I propose that we all put a hold on our 1040's until some one in Congress figures out what the hell it is they are doing and who it is that's picking up the tab.
I cannot believe that the United States Congress has its collective head so far up its collective ass.
It's bad enough that they've made federal law to favor this kind of idiocy, but they've loaded them up with all this so-called bail out money and they seem incapable of making any rules for its receipt or its use.
The highlight of this story is that no one can know who these companies are...federal law prohibits the IRS making the identities known. I say it may be time for Congress to stay up late and change the law, after all aren't they the ones who made it in the first place.
The GOP wants to blame this fiasco on Obama, but I say there is way too much blame to go around to make one old boy who just got moved in the scapegoat. What I am going to be sick about is if Chris Dodd dropped the ball and if Tim Geithner can't get his act together pretty damned quick.
I was discouraged about the situation, but now I'm plain ol' pissed off. They've allowed a handful of pirates to bilk the rest of us out of our savings, our jobs, our homes and our way of life is on the line. I'm sick of partisan politics and politicians and I think it's time for "we the people" to realize what we stand to lose if we don't start paying attention.
If they can't collect two hundred million dollars from those who are too big too fail, then they don't deserve the support of a public school teacher.
Spring Break
It's already Thursday of my Spring Break week. YIKES!! How the time flies when you're supposed to be having fun. Instead of the usual spring break stuff, I went to Big D to stay with the M.P. while her mom went to work.
She is eleven months old and more fun than all the monkeys you could ever get in the barrel. Her mother provided me with an elaborate daily schedule complete with colored pictures, so there was no guesswork about what to do when. We ate finger food, yuck! We napped as scheduled...what a good kid. Just plug in the pacifier and drop her in the crib, say sleep tight and she's out!
Between all the eating and napping, we managed to get in some excellent play time.
Munchkin can crawl and pull up and she has a playroom full of toys. She goes straight to the toy basket when you put her down. She pulls out the "baby", a stuffed bear first. He always gets a hug and a big open-mouth kiss. Sometimes he even gets rocked a bit. Then she checks out the rest of her junk. She is partial to books and her pianos. One plays all manor of tunes and sound effects when she presses the keys. You can make grandmom dance when "Rockin' Robin" comes on. She loves to make grandmom dance...it's way funny!She has this little thing she does with her hand up by her face. I think she thinks she's snapping her fingers. Whatever it is, it has something to do with rhythm.
We stayed for three nights and that is long enough I suppose. I cry like a baby when it's time to leave her. I get pretty tired picking up twenty pounds of wiggly girl all day.
The rest of Spring Break looks pretty boring compared to keeping the baby. The new AC is being installed today. I'm going for a stress test with the cardiologist. I'm having drinks with Betsy and Nick this evening, and the rest of the week is a complete surprise. The one thing I know for sure is that someone has to pay her taxes...we don't want to run out of money for bailing out AIG.
She is eleven months old and more fun than all the monkeys you could ever get in the barrel. Her mother provided me with an elaborate daily schedule complete with colored pictures, so there was no guesswork about what to do when. We ate finger food, yuck! We napped as scheduled...what a good kid. Just plug in the pacifier and drop her in the crib, say sleep tight and she's out!
Between all the eating and napping, we managed to get in some excellent play time.
Munchkin can crawl and pull up and she has a playroom full of toys. She goes straight to the toy basket when you put her down. She pulls out the "baby", a stuffed bear first. He always gets a hug and a big open-mouth kiss. Sometimes he even gets rocked a bit. Then she checks out the rest of her junk. She is partial to books and her pianos. One plays all manor of tunes and sound effects when she presses the keys. You can make grandmom dance when "Rockin' Robin" comes on. She loves to make grandmom dance...it's way funny!She has this little thing she does with her hand up by her face. I think she thinks she's snapping her fingers. Whatever it is, it has something to do with rhythm.
We stayed for three nights and that is long enough I suppose. I cry like a baby when it's time to leave her. I get pretty tired picking up twenty pounds of wiggly girl all day.
The rest of Spring Break looks pretty boring compared to keeping the baby. The new AC is being installed today. I'm going for a stress test with the cardiologist. I'm having drinks with Betsy and Nick this evening, and the rest of the week is a complete surprise. The one thing I know for sure is that someone has to pay her taxes...we don't want to run out of money for bailing out AIG.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Saturdays
I love Saturdays...you don't need the alarm clock. I had a plan to get up and get started cleaning house this morning, and I am happy to say it happened. I have gotten into a bad habit of letting things go just a smidge too long and the dust was piling up.
My significant-other-in-law came for coffee around ten. She has been through another bad episode with MS and is going to begin an Interferon-type drug therapy very shortly. This girl is brilliant and she is so good to my son, who is not the world's easiest person to deal with. I am thankful for her every single day and pray for her health and well-being.
After lunch, I did my favorite Saturday activity of all...no not a nap! I went to the Target store. I got myself a cart and I went up and down every aisle. First I did health and beauty. I got a new nail polish and some barrettes for Miss Munchkin's hair. Then in home organization I found some baskets to fit the bookcase shelves...they make a good stash for all those little pieces of paper that you are afraid to throw away, but don't have anything to do with. I found a picture frame that looks like Brighton jewelry for a 4x6 of Dr. Daughter and me. And finally, after only 36 years, I bought a frame for my diploma. I don't think I worked hard enough in college. I have been terribly cavalier with this important piece of paper. There's no telling how long after I moved into this house that it was in a cardboard box in the garage. In Houston, you don't leave anything in a garage, unless you just want it to be mildewed. But now it is handsomely, if not expensively framed, and all I need is a nail and it's on the wall.
The weather is about to change. The azaleas are blooming and the grass is starting to green up, and it's Valentine's Day. But the clouds are gathering and I don't think it will be long before we are having rain. I just don't want it to get cold again. I don't like winter anymore...
I'm not sure what the next thing on my Saturday agenda is going to be, but I know that I'll enjoy whatever it is because it's Saturday and I'm off the clock.
My significant-other-in-law came for coffee around ten. She has been through another bad episode with MS and is going to begin an Interferon-type drug therapy very shortly. This girl is brilliant and she is so good to my son, who is not the world's easiest person to deal with. I am thankful for her every single day and pray for her health and well-being.
After lunch, I did my favorite Saturday activity of all...no not a nap! I went to the Target store. I got myself a cart and I went up and down every aisle. First I did health and beauty. I got a new nail polish and some barrettes for Miss Munchkin's hair. Then in home organization I found some baskets to fit the bookcase shelves...they make a good stash for all those little pieces of paper that you are afraid to throw away, but don't have anything to do with. I found a picture frame that looks like Brighton jewelry for a 4x6 of Dr. Daughter and me. And finally, after only 36 years, I bought a frame for my diploma. I don't think I worked hard enough in college. I have been terribly cavalier with this important piece of paper. There's no telling how long after I moved into this house that it was in a cardboard box in the garage. In Houston, you don't leave anything in a garage, unless you just want it to be mildewed. But now it is handsomely, if not expensively framed, and all I need is a nail and it's on the wall.
The weather is about to change. The azaleas are blooming and the grass is starting to green up, and it's Valentine's Day. But the clouds are gathering and I don't think it will be long before we are having rain. I just don't want it to get cold again. I don't like winter anymore...
I'm not sure what the next thing on my Saturday agenda is going to be, but I know that I'll enjoy whatever it is because it's Saturday and I'm off the clock.
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