Looking back

I seem to have developed a new time line: before this last hospital stay and after.  It is possible that this stems from my "stroke like activity" that resulted in a brain swelling and memory loss.  That said, today I went through a few of my saved posting drafts and found 2 of them post worthy.  They reach back to February.

If you prefer not to look back, feel free to skip all of these and wait for the next new post.  If you want a glimpse into what I was thinking right before the hospital stay, well then - read on!

Be well!

Look back- #2

I have returned from my blogging conference. It did what I hoped it would. I feel inspired to write again with passion. If you enjoy my writing that should be result in more of it once again. If you do not I have to wonder why you are reading right now.

My goal for the weekend was to leave with a notebook full of at least 50 potential blog post ideas. I made it to the upper 30s and wrote down five more when I sat at the computer this morning. This post is an idea that began staring me down on Sunday after a man grabbed my chair and pushed me over to Hubby ignoring my requests that he stop. The thought is this: when entering a room full of people do you prefer to have them made uncomfortable by the chair so all their glances seem to indicate you are invisible or do you prefer to enter a room becoming a focus of attention with people jumping to push you to a "good"spot, pulling out chairs or asking people to move over and earnestly asking about your comfort.

The conference this weekend was held in a very large hotel with heavy padded carpet and wide staircases that meant if you did not do stairs you found an elevator at the end of a long hallway and hoped it went to the floor you were headed to. I ended up using Hubby as my driver. After every session he showed up to get me to the next happening and then had 90 minutes of freedom until his services were once again needed. Again because things were noisy and Hubby was battling a terrible cold that included stuffy ears he was doing his absolute and sweetest best to make sure I was where I wanted to be in a room. His help sometimes meant that my attempts to appear independent and thus conversation worthy went awry.

We drove down early Thursday morning to insure time to register, visit the blogger's market and attend the newbie mixer. When I got in line to register line had at least 25 folks ahead of me. Not sure how folks would connect at this conference I waited in line making myself as small as possible. Around me folks chatted, many of them greeting friends they had only previously known online. No one picked up my attempts at conversation. I choose to think that because the room was very loud and my voice is very soft and those attempts were too soft for human ears to pick up. After several folks stepped over me or butted in front of me a very sweet woman came back and lowered herself to my eye level and spoke with me. Charming and kind it turns out she is a physical therapist in her other life and was not the least uncomfortable with my disability. She remained a friendly face throughout the conference. There were a few others I spoke with then that continued to be sure and say hi for the next few days.

10 minutes after the mixer's scheduled start time I entered the room. The conference had many many folks who were distinctive with ribbons on their name badge. Ribboned folks had the job of insuring everyone had someone to connect to at the mixer or later any time people entered a room and seemed alone. The declaration prior to the conference was something like: "No one cries in the bathroom at Blissdom". I did find myself mulling over the idea that crying in the bathroom must have happened frequently in past years. The mixer, which was very loud and crowded already offered a panoramic view of butts. The extremely cheerful greeter quickly introduced me to the other wheelchair user in the room. A nice woman but clearly not new to the conference (in its fifth year). Contrary to popular belief all of us in chairs do not have an intense and profound connection to each other. I have chair friends whom I love and connect with in a way special way but presence of a chair is not in any way a "gimme". I left a few minutes later.

The next day played out in similar fashion. I was often alone or if my table in the session ended up full most of the table mates struggled to hear me. This resulted in my comments being repeated by others for greater volume and with them getting the credit for my wit or sarcasm or many times my excellent advice (I add that so that you know that I know I am quite often known for my brilliant wit or sage advice).

The Saturday morning session had me heading out fighting back some old fashioned sad tears. I used the next 2 hours as free time. I engaged in some retail therapy and taking some time to center myself back "home"*. I went to lunch, a sit down affair that could not have gone better. I entered the final session, first one in and choosing a table in the back by the door, A small group of people came in and went to the tables up front sporting signs like "Don't Niche Me In" and " Electronics, Twitter", and other things I can't remember. A sweet woman with a ribbon on her badge and a camera in her hand came back to my table and somehow (I don't remember how it happened) got me to a table in the front of the room. It turned out wonderfully! I connected with folks at the table, learned something useful. I left the room with someone whom I enjoyed conversing with. She also happened to push my chair down the hall to where I was suppose to meet up with Hubby.

The conference turned out to be a big ole mixed bag. I think there might be some interesting lessons here. It was too bad that I came to the conference literally after just a lone week of feeling healthy-I battled pneumonia for the best part of three months. My illness may have effected my ability to maneuver myself the way I prefer to. Being sickly also sucks up some confidence. I am struggling to make my new hairstyle look cool or edgy. The old hair style made me look like the fifth wife of a minor character in "Big Love". I have not yet learned to love Twitter. It appears that tweeting was a regular way of connecting throughout the conference. I also am no Facebook expert. That was another method of bonding conventioneers prior to attending. Go figure.

What I did take from this weekend was important to me. I was able to truly and concisely express what my blog is about. Want to hear?

I write a blog that deals with my efforts to make a life from a wheelchair. Now that the focus is no longer primarily on my physical self it is time to enjoy my life, make something of myself. I want my audience to be chair users who will hopefully see themselves in me and that encourages them to leave the house. I want my audience to be folks who know and/or love someone in a chair and my voice encourages them to connect or to deal with the chair user is a way that points out the obvious- the chair is an accessory and the person in it -a person.

If you don't seem to fit my target audience stay for the for the writing or just until you decide that my blog has no opinion of interest to you. It is not a bad thing to read a blog outside of you regular interests. The world is a big place maybe it will work like it does when you are pregnant-as you learn of being pregnant the world somehow becomes a sea of expectant mothers. Reading about a wheelchair life may allow you to blink and see all the chairs around you. Maybe you will become an advocate.

So those of you who knew me before the chair and love me still, thank you. For those of you who met me after the chair and have only known me this way and love me, thank you. For those of you who deal with me at school as if I am a real person, thank you. For everyone who came up to me at the end of the conference telling me they so badly wanted to talk to me about the wheelchair person in their life, I beg you, next time, sit next to me and start a conversation. To everyone at the conference who responded to my efforts to chat with a response or even an actual conversation (the five of you know who you are), way to go you.

Next time I head to a conference I will understand the importance of connections prior to the weekend. Knowing how conferences play out will remove that feeling of being the only brunette conference mostly comprised of blond sorority sisters attending with their chapters while you are the lone dorm rep.

I will spend some time tweeting. I will work to be good at it. And I will have a cup holder on my wheelchair so that when someone wants my blog card I can retrieve it without needing the skills of a circus worker to dig it out. AND those cards will be thoughtfully and skillfully created to reflect my blog in an appropriate way (what that means is for me to decipher and somehow squeeze onto a card). And I will use the cards I collected this weekend to develop a list of blogs I follow and comment on so that next year I will have honest excitement in my voice upon reading the name tags of my fellow attendees. Maybe more than 3 chair users will attend next year. Or maybe there are folks out there who spend the year learning the person in the chair is a person first-when you have that attitude the bonus is that you get to laugh at the antics that reveal themselves from chair users. Never forget that a great reason to befriend us is we are fun to watch. If you aren't friends with the person in the chair and you laugh at them spilling, knocking, juggling, or getting stuck you run the risk of looking like an insensitive jerk. My loved ones laugh away, resulting in me laughing too.

Be well.

A look back-Post #1

My 10 year anniversary of the accident is this Wednesday (the 8Th). That time holds lots of terrible memories. It also is an incident that I don't think about too much anymore. For a long time my wish was to be able to wake up and have the chair just be a thing. You know, not the defining thing about me, just something about me. I think most days- it it exactly that, a thing. I get treated as though I am bright or funny(according to the kids I am not as funny as Hubby) or irritating or, well you know, just another human. Yeah normalcy.

Saturday was a painting class with "You Are the Artist" So much fun we are now planning a birthday party with this teacher! Aside from having a handful of folks stand up so I could get to my work area and again for my bathroom break, I sat at the table chatting and joking and painting with everyone else.

So my new wish is probably impossible but here goes: I have been so sick last night and today. Sore throat, fever, shakiness and more have had me jonesing for the ability to get out of bed and grab a drink from the fridge or make tea curl up on a big chair with a cat and a blanket. Hubby has been so sweet and caring but alas he has human characteristic that had him sleeping thus making him less hop to it for certain hours last night. All this sickness first makes me think I'm dying (I always think I'm dying when I am sick for over 24 hours)and then, worse, has me upset at being a quad.

I know this will pass one way or another. I am thinking that I have been a bit sickly over the last 6 months. Pneumonia and pretty much a chronic sore throat or cold. If I spend 3 or more days at school, I am always sick that Saturday!

Enough whining! I am going to read or play "Angry Birds"-I could have just written about the birds! My sickly self encourages all of you to intake lots of vitamin C, stay away from folks like me and just generally-

Be well.

In honor of Mother's Day (sort of)

Note: I wrote this on May 10.  I don't know why I held up publishing it other than I was looking for a photo of my kids to add to the post.  So here it is, 20 days late.  

It will come as no surprise to anyone who reads this blog that my relationship with my mother has been both the source of some of my greatest strength and greatest grief.  An extraordinary person, I miss her so much every day that I struggle to believe that we buried her on her birthday 4 years ago yesterday.  The day passed with no one noticing or commenting to me.  But that is not the reason for my post.

It is seldom that as a parent you know if you are doing it right.  As a wheelchair bound parent that question is more troubling.  You often feel that your needs, requests and well, times you show your vulnerabilities don't somehow cross the line and end up making you the child in the relationship with your children.  No matter what their age.

10 years ago the car crash that caused my paralysis had my daughter in the passenger seat and my son in the car in front of me.  In the time that followed they spent many hours caring for me, learning to transfer me, suction me, and all sorts of other things you should never have to ask of your 16 year old son or your 18 year old daughter or the even the older 20 year old daughter.  But you do and you hope that you can somehow have a place in their life that makes your life worth it.

My oldest daughter and her wife spend time traveling with us and going out to dinner, movies and such fairly often given their work schedules and the fact that they live an hour away.  Son and his wife are very busy with grad school (she graduates Sunday with a masters in social work) and multiple jobs and preparing for a month long trip to France - they are spinning many very full plates.

That said, last week Kristi (the daughter in the car during the accident) sent me a link to the following newspaper article and I got to feel good about being a parent.  I intend to savor that feeling and brag on this moment as much as possible.  Take a minute and see how our "Sunshine on Feet" made her mama smile. Here's the link to the article.

What happened to March and April?

I went off to the blogging conference in February, had a terrifically inspirational time.  Came home full of ideas and knowledge.  Came home with a notebook full of ideas for postings (perfect for whenever I wanted to post but lacked inspiration).  And then just 2 days after being back home, went to the emergency room (I base these tales on what I have been told because I remember nothing after the drive back from Nashville, TN).  I spent a full three weeks in the Adult Critical Care Unit of  the hospital and have spent the next  weeks home attempting to recover from those three hospital weeks.  The most optimistic home health care nurse suggests it takes 3 days for every hospital stay day.  If that is the case I should recover after 9 weeks- just counting the days until May 9.  Is it a sign from the universe that my recovery day is also my late mother's birthday?  I will spare you the drama of my hospital experience and the dramatic telling of the day of seizures and incidents of stroke like activity and ..well the stories of "House" worthy action.  I just want you to know that my lack of posting stemmed from a legit medical excuse.

My hospital stay was populated with very kind nursing staff and lots of loving friends and family.   I was so very seldom alone.  My brother, and daughter and son, and daughters in law, friends, brother in law and his family, my best friends, my in laws, they all came to make sure I was well taken care of and to make sure I wouldn't get too blue.  It worked, it helped.  It was my first lengthy hospital stay since my Mom had passed away and that was tough whenever I had time to think about it- luckily not too much time while in the hospital.  And then I got out.  I was happy to see the dogs but with the exception of home health nurses and an occupational therapist - professionals that I have become incredibly fond of- my visitors have been so very few.  Hubby was on Spring break the first 2 weeks and then returned to the crazy kiss you good bye Monday morning/see you Friday night schedule that defines our time during the school year (Monday and Wednesday are night school nights and so the days are at minimum 14 hours long).  My son spent the Monday after my birthday with me (all day and it was wonderful).  My brother came up one of my first days out-a very pleasant day.  My in laws spent a morning with me early on and have visited twice since - they have offered up a regular weekly visit on one of my long days and I am so glad.  A friend came by for a few hours one day.  For the most part my days are spent alone.

Hubby said to me from the beginning that this drama was different.  I'm not sure how but I know he is right.  He commented on how he would be "stuck" with me for the long haul.  And again he's right.

It is now May 10th.  Maybe we can consider this posting the first true sign of recovery.  I think the next posting is the real sign.

Heading for the hills

Of Tennessee that is. I am off to attend a blogging conference. Despite my sporadic postings and struggles to determine the identity this blog should take, I take blogging seriously. I don't know exactly why or what got in the way of my almost daily posting. I seem to have lost my gumption. Maybe it was video games. Maybe just something else. Whatever it was it managed to bring my posting down to about twice a month. That is 15 postings a month less than I would prefer.

Years ago I thought about going to Blissdom. But I discovered only days before it was to be held and the spots were gone. This year I signed up as soon as I could (it was actually in the Fall of "11) and reserved the hotel room. It took very little asking for Hubby to arrange for the sub and begin making plans to drive me. The van has been serviced, eating up half of the tax refund, and the radio/cd player replaced. Dog sitters are hired. I have even printed up new business cards!

They look something like this:

*paint * write* volunteer* cook* read* sew* garden* kiss* sing* vote* shop* see a movie* play music* take a class* start a blog*mentor* smile*www.rollerwriter.blogspot.com*discover NPR*Jane Flis support a cause*call a loved one*write a letter*adopt a pet*bird watch*sew* play cards*race the aisles of a home improvement store* throw a party* enjoy every day *learn a language*take lots of photos*fall in love*smile*

Don’t Just Sit There*live*

I am off to fold up some laundry and pack my bags. I will spend the next 4 days trying to become a blogger worthy of your time. In my heart I believe that somehow I am destined to write a blog that explores life from a chair. Not because of the chair but because of the life surrounding it. The idea of sharing possibilities and adversities with others either in or facing life in a chair but also as a way of connecting with those who have no experience with folks in a chair. Encouraging people to see the person in the chair not the chair surrounding the person. Encouraging hope to those whose lives somehow include a chair. It is a pretty good life most of the time and I thank you for letting me share it here. If you didn't I might be forced to try to put it all out there in a holiday letter.

I am going to try to become so excited while I am gone that I will make the effort to post from my phone. Here is hoping for inspiration and dedication and a chance to connect with some folks. My hair has been cut and colored for the occasion. I look as good as I am able right now. Think warm thoughts!

Be well.

Because the state KNOWS that anything we can do they can do better!

They can do anything better than us.

Yes they can.

No they can't.

Well I guess we will find out. At the end of this school year our dear school will become part of Charter Schools USA (but not as a charter school). The state takes us over and hands the reigns to a for profit corporation that is looking to expand its base of schools out of Florida and into Indiana. News of this takeover has made volunteers scarce. My base of 45 active volunteers is down to the low 20's with the potential pool drying up! So far this school year has had not one adult volunteering in the classroom.

So this week the city of several take over schools hosts the Super Bowl. Our city is lovely and we are happy to be sharing it this week. I think people will be surprised by how clean and joyful the city is. It is the rare neighborhood that gives you pause regardless of the time of day.

I'm not exactly sure what the Super Bowl and school takeover have to do with each other but I am thinking that it is serving as a glaring testament between the haves and have nots. Lots of dollars are changing hands this week. It is hard not to recognize that most of our students can not afford the parking that would then enable them to walk to Super Bowl Village.

Our students tend to be a bit damaged- and I mean that in the kindest way possible. It would be virtually impossible to avoid all the damage in the air when your family has to deal with unemployment or serious illness or abandonment or the hours required to support a family on minimum wage jobs or the sacrifice running a single parent household full of children you intended to raise with another person. This week I got to see a teacher open her heart and take on the task of finding a young man, now 18, a home where he would be taken care of for the first time in 5 years. He had fallen through that "safety net" one of the Republican presidential candidates tells us is the reason the Republicans are not overly concerned about the poor. It is a very holey net from where I sit.

As we deal with the repercussions of school takeovers and the vilification of teachers by our state's elected officials, those same candidates who will spend so much on getting elected with money that could be put toward bettering schools and maybe avoiding those pesky takeovers, I just keep reminding myself of this: there are more of us than them and that thought is very very scary to them and very very hopeful to me.

Be well.

Sometimes I'm the butterfly, sometimes the...

I feel stunted these days. I struggle to come up with writings that I want to share. We continue to plod our way through all the films nominated for Oscars. We have reached the point where we will begin watching those films we would not seek out if they were not nominated.

We will have the chance to see all the animated and live action shorts- with no sign of documentaries long or short popping up. We did manage to see one of the nominated documentaries "If a Tree Falls" at the Traverse City Film Festival. It was good. Several theaters are hosting Oscar best picture marathons usually over two days. On Oscar day a view select theaters are hosting all 9 pictures over 24 hours! Now that is my idea of fun, I would go see all of the 8 I have already seen if I could do it that way! Indianapolis is not one of those cities. We host the Super Bowl but don't rate the Oscar marathon. Guess which event I would have preferred? (I think I'm kidding, I am proud of how the Super Bowl hosting is playing out.)

All that said I have two very lovely treats for you. The first is a movie I stumbled upon as I am trying to rebuild my blog favorites (new computer). You can watch "The Butterfly Circus" here.

It is only 20 minutes. Grab a drink, take the time to make some popcorn and gather your loved ones or feel happy in your own company, and watch this film.
Appropriate for everyone.

Then when you are loving the art of film and are not quite ready to walk away go to this site. Continue munching that popcorn while you are treated to a festival of previews of nominated films. Years ago a theater chain did a free showing of dozens of previews of summer films (best trailer ever was the Stallone film "Cliffhanger" with its magical use of opera music). This is just about that much fun. You get to watch not only Best Picture previews, but Best Screenplay and Actor and... go have some fun! Hubby looks to the screenplay nominations for his hidden gems. Me, I just like the movies. I don't read reviews or check Metacritic or Rotten Tomatoes. I do love a good preview. I am very picky about my previews- I would prefer not to learn the ending of the movie from the preview. I would like to discover surprises watching the film not the trailer (just watched the trailer to "The Beginners" again and find myself anxious to see it again). I am so loving watching these trailers. I have seen many of these movies throughout the year but watching these trailers is just making me happy-hope they do the same for you (OK, now I'm laughing at the "Bridesmaids" trailer.

If you just made your popcorn in the microwave while you just added several movies to your NetFlix que, well then it is time to upgrade your popcorn methodology. If you love movie style popcorn then this is the popper for you:

Some Crisco butter sticks,local popcorn (we stock up by the gallon jugs at a local farmer's market) and with some generous shakes of salt come together with this popper to make theater worthy bowls of one of the world's perfect foods. Yum - thinking of making some right this minute.

If you don't relish the idea of using Crisco sticks then think about this popper. Adorable to look at and it makes up some very tasty popcorn. I spray it with butter flavored Pam so the salt will stick. Maybe I will make some popcorn with this one instead (yes, we have and use both).

You can find both of these wonderful poppers here, at Target.com.

I am off to make popcorn and finish watching trailers. Some days are just perfect that way.

Happy viewing and joyful snacking.

Be well.

Oh Christmas tree oh...

NOTE: I have been writing this post on and off for 2 weeks and during that time the tree came down! The outside lights remain. My tree is still up and the lights on it are illuminated 24 hours a day. So are the lights in the garland on the stair railing. The wreath on the front door with its crazy multicolored flashing lights also stay lit until the batteries run out and can be replaced. There are lights up and down the wheelchair ramp (think airplane landing strip) and in the tree outside our bedroom window. And not just because I am too lazy to take them down-really.

I love the lights in the gray days of winter, so cheerful. Our holiday season has not had its big day yet, that is this weekend, so I think of our season as still being ongoing. The tree didn't get put up until just a day or two before Christmas so I'm no where near tired of it yet. All these things may be true but something else is also true: when you have no demands on your time it is tough to get things done!

I have not been into school this week. (I have only been to school once in the last 2 weeks) A combination of a scratchy throat, a bit of a skin wound and a lack of enthusiasm for this semester have all had me erring on the side of caution trying to heal before this weekend. We have rented a house in Bloomington large enough to gather our son, daughter and their spouses (our middle daughter and her significant other won't make it this time and I am feeling that tinge of sadness). With a hot tub, pool table, large kitchen we can use to cook together and a view of the lake has me excited for those 2 days. I try to understand that with spouse's families and my ex the children have lots of folks wanting their presence (not to mention they are charming & fun & witty so who wouldn't want them around). Some family gatherings seem to press for their attendance but I only beg for 2 days a year-this January date and May 9th. We had a terrific time; we played games and ate and did our gift exchange and all envied Josh's new remote control helicopter. So much that next year's theme is remote control & batteries!

Today is one of my favorite days of the year. The Oscar nominations are announced. With the list we plan for movies we want to see either on Netflix or in theaters. We try to find out if there will be best picture marathons and special chances to see the short films, both live and animated, before the Oscar's air. It also means that very soon Turner Classic Movies will be showing, 24 hours a day, movies that somehow tie to the Oscars (don't know how yet) beginning Feb 1 and continuing for 31 days (you can get the schedule at TCM.com)

My Christmas gift from hubby was a 1/2 cello. I love it. I got to use the bow the first day. I am learning slowly by do not care. I love the cello. Doing this makes me so very happy. And it gets me out to school so that I will stay out and go to my lesson even when it is cold and dark. Otherwise I give excuses and struggle to go out - even worse is snow and ice are involved. Totally worth it when I do.

My son once told me that everyone should have the responsibility to be somewhere every day. He was so right. Being needed anywhere changes everything. Right now I do not have to be anywhere. I can promise you that my house is no cleaner nor my stack of craft projects dwindling. I do understand why I am considered disabled- today's pain would have stopped any plans. Not so every day.

It is now 2:30. I am hoping to finish my post (looking good), mop floors, bake muffins and do some reading - and maybe even eat some lunch and fix dinner. I'll let you know how I do.

If you haven't discovered Pinterest give it a try. Lots of fun (would love it if you were to follow me).

Be well!

Stop whatever you're doing and go...

Seriously if you have not watched every minute of Season 1 or the 2 hour first episode of Season 2 of "Downton Abbey", go do it right now. I'll wait. Really! Or maybe I'll go re watch it now too. See you in a few hours (9 hours actually).

The PBS series may be the best thing I have ever watched on TV. Understand that there are times I love TV. There is some awesome stuff that comes to us through the small box (or not so small if a man has chosen your TV-sorry for the stereotype). I anxiously await or awaited episodes of such things as "Dr. Who". "Fringe". "Alias", "Wonderfalls", "The Big C". "Big Love", "X Files", "Homicide", "Lost", "NYPD Blue", "Moonlighting", "MST 3000", "Sex and the City", "St. Elsewhere", "The French Chef" and many more. So you now understand that my TV watching opinions come from many hours of research. Making the list of shows where I would anxiously wait for new episodes to broadcast brought me to the realization that I can say conclusively that "Downton Abbey" is totally crush worthy. It is a combination of addiction and love and awe that brings me to this understanding.

The scenery is beautiful. The characters are complex and compelling. When I finished watching the DVDs from the Season 1 box set (purchased for less than $20), I was virtually crazed wanting to know what happened next. Would Mary and Matthew work things out? Who would be going to or not coming back from the war? What about the other daughters? What about Bates and Anna? So much excitement-then I learned that originally the series was conceived as a mini series of a total of seven hours. It was suppose to end with the start of WW1! Oh the horror!

The day I finished the original 7 hours and began moping about the house, Hubby (the keeper of all knowledge of popular culture) shared with me the news that Season 2 would be starting soon (it began on Sunday) and that a Season 3 was to start filming in February. Oh the joy!!

Has my gushing convinced you to at least take a look? Have a Netflix account? If so you can stream Season 1 immediately. Like to own your DVDs? Amazon has Season 1 for $29 and you can pre-order Season 2 for $19.99 (what do you think I did?). If you have Amazon Prime you can stream the show for free!

Join in the fun of this lavish, period drama. Feel superior when you talk about the show on Monday because it is on PBS so it must be for smart people. Drink in the English accents and the manners and bygone life style. There is even a countdown clock on the web site (everything is more exciting with a countdown).

Watch a few minutes or a whole episode now. Bet you'll be hooked. Watch episodes online at PBS.org. After you get used to watching "Downton Abbey" maybe we can discuss "Sherlock" or "Zen" or some of the other fun PBS has to offer.

Be well.

Watch Downton Abbey, Season 1: Ep. 1 on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

As the end nears

The end of the year of course. In our house that means movie season is in full swing. The "best" films are released this time of year. They open up in a way that should be described as making themselves "Oscar bait. After keeping our eyes averted from the summer blockbusters with their loud booms and alien life forms to wade through the celluloid that was gathering dust for some time waiting for one of the bit actors to become famous, past the good not always great late in the year but still not Oscar season we finally reach this time. The time when in the battle between art and commerce art is often a winner.

OK so it is now clear to all that I am a movie snob. I can enjoy a movie that is popular but often will not bother to waste time or money on them. We keep a list of all the movies we see in a year. One of our vacations is spent at a film festival where we cram in at least 15 movies in 5 days and try to see the rest of the festival films from home. We pride ourselves on watching the Oscars each year having seen all nominated films including the short films. Yes, a real movie snob.

You will have to decide for yourself if I am a good source of movie recommendations. However I hope you will give me a chance to encourage you to spend you time and movie dollars wisely. I think movies are an art form. When done well the movies can educate, thrill, transform and move you. A true perfect movie is rare, But the experience of sitting in the dark and sharing the film with a group of people enjoying it as much as you is just magical. So while the end of the year is still 10 hours, 35 minutes away, I feel safe creating my top ten list of 2011 and commenting on a few movies out now generating some buzz but so disappointing.

I put together my list based on movies seen in theaters this calendar year, regardless of when they were released. To make the list the movie had to stay with me long after I left the theater, I wanted to be somehow better for the experience. Here goes:

10. Super 8 - They had me at JJ Abrams. I loved the kids, the story and couldn't wait to learn what that train was carrying. Great popcorn movie! Excellent trailer.

9. Bridesmaids You have probably seen it too, but if not or even if you have, give the site a chance to convince you it is worth watching.

8. Hot Coffee. The only documentary on my list. The one movie I wish everyone would see. Think you know the details of the famous McDonald's coffee lawsuit? You don't. But you should. Not convinced? Follow the link and watch the trailer and maybe the Colbert Report interview. You'll be convinced to watch it then.

7. The Princess of Montpensier. French, pretty, sweeping, sexy, romantic-oh and did I say "French ?

6. Beginners A true unforgettable love story.

5. Crazy Stupid Love

4. Midnight in Paris Woody Allen at his best which is pretty darn awesome. I love this movie and can imagine watching it over and over on rainy Saturdays.

3. Even the Rain (Tambien la Lluvia) I can't describe the film in a way that is fair to it. Watch the trailer. Watch the movie. You will be transformed. You will be better for watching the movie.

2. Win/Win We loved the director's two previous films and were so anxious to see this one. We were not disappointed. You will see yourself in these characters. You will be shocked at the heart of this film. This is great stuff. This truly is a movie for your whole family.

1. Hugo. A young boy who lives in a train station. Directed by Martin Scorsese. The use of 3-D is fantastic. Every character is spot on. Beautiful to watch. One of those magical theater experiences. Hurry and see it in the theater before it is gone. In most places it is down to very few daily showings. Worth every penny for the 3-D. Enjoy-I wish I could see it again for the first time.

So there they are. My favorites for the year. The 10 out of the 50 or so films I saw in the theater this year (we have slowed down our movie going). I am sure some of these will show up in our little outdoor theater next year.

So here is looking forward to the excitement writing a new number when we write the date can bring to our life. If you having been waiting for this day to begin a new chapter in your life, well, then, good luck.

Be well.

A television dream post and a "hail Mary" effort

This post stems from a night with no sleep and several day's efforts to complete the entry and get it out there. So rather than just give you a post that looks and reads like a short essay I offer up some photos that have absolutely nothing to do with anything in this post. They are fun photos and are unlikely to relate to any other post so I hope you enjoy!

1. Hubby posing next to a sign offering a trip to Moab (where our daughter lives) and beer - two good things for Hubby.

2. That is me (in the wheelchair) approaching Michael Moore (my secret crush) with Matthew Modine and someone I don't know, during the TCFF.

3. First picture in this post of Kris (she likes posts that focus on her and her birthday is coming up this week) showing her trophy for winning the triathlon! Amazing - she works so hard at this. Not that her training is as clear in the next photo of her.

4. A giant Taco Bell sauce package-they make me laugh even in the little form so the idea of someone walking around in this outfit continues to tickle me.

5. Darling daughter Kris (the one who lives in Moab) showing off her decidedly not vegan meal choice!

And now the post:

Are you a Grey's Anatomy fan? My daughter in law is. My son would call me on Thursday nights when he was making the long drive home from Northern Indiana if it happened to coincide with when the show was on, his dear wife loves him but preferred to talk to him any other hour of the week. My son never missed watching it with her when he was home. I like the show. It is full of very pretty people doing interesting things but while I watched regularly for a few years when they moved the show to Thursdays I just wanted to watch something else more.

Now lest you think I have lost my mind and am writing the most random of posting (which is still possible) hang in there with me and let's see if I get to my point. If I don't I may never publish this post anyway! Lifetime shows Grey's in reruns weekday afternoons. I frequently can't sleep so I have begun to DVR the show for middle of the night viewing.

On Thursday I was awake all night. My pneumonia antibiotic is kicking my butt! The nausea kept me awake while I was laying in bed from 9pm to 7:30am. I watched a lot of TV, including a few episodes of Grey's. If you are at all familiar it was during the story line that had one regular character stricken with brain tumors while another main cast member was killed off. I watched those episodes and cried.

Now for some reason I tend to really like the medical dramas. It may be because I have spent enough time in hospitals that the environment is familiar and I love to listen for the mistakes that get shouted about in the E.R. scenes. But I think there may be something else to it. Hospitals are ideal drama settings because for most of us the greatest dramas of our lives play out there. Those moments where everything changes, where we are our most vulnerable and lost, where we have least control, where even the good moments have elements of fear, those moments are a regular part of business in hospitals.

So back to these particular Grey's episodes. At the end of the episode with the dead friend and the miraculously alive other friend the voice over said something like: "as surgeons we are given many lessons on how to save a life but not one on how to live it." And that's the reason for the post. (Hope you're still with me).

Choosing your best life, noticing little moments, spending time doing more of what you like and less of what you don't, stopping to smell the roses, etc. all make nice refrigerator magnets but what do they have to do with real life? There in lays the rub. If you are the one with the miraculous life, the one who no one thought would make it but you did, the brilliant talented one that everyone believed could do anything, the oldest or youngest or middle child that your parents believed would take the world by storm - how do you live your life worthy of the enthusiasm?

I keep meaning to live this great life, but the day to day things keep getting in my way. Things like a messy house or lack of energy. But we all know those are excuses. Living a full life is scary. It is set up with tremendous potential for failure and likelihood of embarrassment. It is so easy to sit with friends or even easier with acquaintances and be silently sure of the areas in their lives where if they would just do what we told them they would certainly rid their lives of the wrong partner or job or raise a better child or .... Our own strongly voiced opinions when directed to our own selves don't seem to have the same "voice from on high".

So what do you do to clean up your life and focus its direction? Do you remember to be kind to yourself for your efforts? Do you remember to be kind to others as they try to navigate life also? Do you have a secret for following your passion? Do you have a secret for supporting loved ones who may have put others before their own desires? Have you discovered the way to balance it all?

I read so many blogs, usually by women younger than me (I'm 50) with small children and they accomplish so much. Their lives look perfect from out here. I am fairly certain that I will not have the opportunity to turn a lens on my life and show you a moment where all the pieces are working perfectly! But if it happens, you will be the first to know.

AND NOW- THE HAIL MARY PASS

I am the volunteer coordinator for a school scheduled for takeover at the end of the year. The reasons and politics can be saved for another day. This takeover has been responsible for many of our volunteers and donations drying up. Not so the kindness from a neighborhood church. Small with only about 65 families, they have approximately 20 volunteers in our school who have taken on projects from refillable water bottles for band kids marching in last summer's heat to compliant uniform clothing for students new to school or in need or who need a change to avoid being sent home and now to items needed to stay warm (including beautiful hand knitted items) and many other projects that directly benefit our kids.

In a meeting last month with a handful of volunteers from the parish, a volunteer there for the first time, presented an idea. Knowing our kids most all qualify for free and reduced lunch, knowing many of them eat their only full meals at school and fearful for them while on a two week break from school, she presented what we now call Project Snack Pack.

She offered to spearheaded a program to send every child, all 650, home with a large bag full of healthy snacks on the last day before break. That is at least 15 hearty snacks for 650 kids = 9750 snacks. She has been running nonstop for the last month shopping with monetary donations or sorting snack donations. They are scheduled to bag the snacks in six days.

We know this doesn't solve the hunger issue. Some kids might eat everything in the bag over the first weekend. We know that the next break will be just as scary. I would like to think that isn't the point. The point? We are trying to make hungry children less hungry for a while.

Here is the "hail Mary" part. The church started this project a month ago. I have spent the last 4 weeks with pneumonia-barely in school and certainly not holding up my end of the project to get the word out. And now we are on the last week to gather money or snacks. We are over 2/3 of the way there. If this idea touches your heart please consider contacting me about ways to give.

This is one of those projects that require just a bit from many. If the majority of people who read this and other efforts to spread the word would each contribute $5 we would be able to easily make this happen. There are so many needs and this time of year seems to shine a light on so many. However I love the idea that this impacts children who are housed in bigger bodies and rarely looking like someone you put on an envelope to entice you to give. But high school students get hungry too. Some of them work hard to keep the little ones in their lives fed (either their own children or younger siblings). These are good families and every parent's nightmare is having hungry children. I can remember being a very poor single mother but my parents made sure that my kids never ever went hungry.

There are places in the neighborhood that will be offering meals at no cost throughout the break. Not every day but they will happen. Just ask yourself this, have you ever been around a teenager who was not hungry? Ever met a teenager who did not want a snack before eating?

Please help me to make up for my own short falling efforts to raise funds. It is extraordinary to be part of a community coming together to solve a problem. Join us if you can.

Good luck to all of you in your efforts to make your world a bit better.

Be well.

I'm Back

I have no idea how to communicate my return to blogging. I have no idea if readers will trust this new commitment to posting. I am going to post my return on Facebook, that time sucking app that lets me communicate with so many people at once. I feel hypocritical making Facebook announcements-I am so quick with the superior attitude about not caring for Facebook and the short snips of life it contains. But here's the kicker, those short snippets are better than the total silence that is so often the communication between me and folks I do not see every day. I feel I am not being loyal to my Mother when I do not write a note or letter to loved ones, but I rarely do. I have many small gifts (including a July birthday gift bought in time to ship for her birthday) for a cousin and all of them sit in a bag next to my computer,

So, I'm not perfect. I don't have small children or a daily craft habit. I love to think about food but do not cook very often anymore. So why would anyone read my blog? I am a middle aged blogger in a sea of younger bloggers. I am an empty nester. I am trying to succeed in an urban school slated for state takeover at the end of the year. I run a volunteer program for that same school (looking to go out in a blaze of glory). I am a mother of grown children and the struggles that includes (none of whom moved back home though). And as you may already know, I am a quadriplegic (feeling it right now as my fingers are getting numb from typing).

I try to lead a happy life. The trying is what makes it interesting. And I will try to be interesting. I love movies and food and crafting and animals and (don't let the order of this list make you think it is in any way in order of importance) my adult children and their partners and learning new things and working with volunteers and trying to have a good marriage with all the other stuff that gets in the way and am trying so hard to be a vegan but am effortlessly a vegetarian always. That may sum it up.

So I hope you'll join me. I will offer up movie reviews, book reviews, craft projects and views in general. When you realize that if I can do something with all my "hurdles" than you have a good shot of doing it too and (maybe even better) you know I am not going to be one of those intimidating blogs that will make you feel tired just by the time you read the end of the post.

For those of you who have read me before and became frustrated with my 5 month hiatus I offer this proof- I just spent $500 on registration and hotel for a blogging conference in Nashville, TN. I need to get my money's worth so that means lots of posts over the next several weeks. I need to be blog focused. But the biggest reason is selfish. When I blogged I felt as though I had found a place to belong. So if you don't read this for yourself, read it for me.

I want to take more pictures, blogging gets me to do that. I want to be a better writer, I think my blog writing improves with regular posting. I want to have the hopes and dreams of a much younger body and blogging helps me to do that.

So I am going to try to juggle (yes children your mother who tossed one ball from hand to hand and declared it was a kind of juggling) maintaining home and all that means, running an active volunteer program, writing grants for the Global Peace Initiatives, Indianapolis, staying vegan and loving all the wonderful people who make me want to make them proud of me and I really hope you will read about my efforts to have some fun along the way.

Please comment. Call me out if I waste your time with no new posts. No matter what you do,

Be well.

I have a dirty little secret.

Here it goes: I am disabled. Oh I know that most people look at the wheelchair and assume that I do not hold a real job. By real I mean a 9-5 or some version of that kind of job. So untrue for so many, in fact the majority, of my friends in chairs. They are out there drawing pay checks, paying into social security rather than waiting anxiously for the money that barely even covers actual costs of medicines and gear I need to survive. And I am not a free kind of handicapped individual. I like to do things, buy things, throw money at things.

So you would think with all the out go I am behind that I would get a for money kind of job. And yet I don't. Here comes the dirty secret part.

I am feeling older. I get tired easily and can not keep up with a day after day schedule. I can not face 8 hours of back to back high function. I forget names and why I went into a room. I am noticing why I qualified for disability and continue to do so.

So please leave me a parking spot close to the entrance. Provide me with slanted floors (going gently down only whenever possible) to get around. And feel free to ask me politely if I could use some help. After a day like today the answer will probably be yes.

Tomorrow, you should probably get out of my way (in the morning before I'm worn out again)!

Be well!

Is there anything better than good news before 9am?

Before 9a.m. this morning it began to rain in that way that makes you happy to be home folding laundry watching TV that you recorded. Then the texts started to arrive: I have help coming this week both students to do some painting and a college student to help around the house and my previous late twenties assistant to do some more treacherous tasks such as assembling a shelf and hanging a picture in the entry way and more. Then a text from my friend the principal to check my email. On email the joyous information that funding is available for some training I have been attempting to put together for teachers, parents and volunteers. AND my mother in law has agreed to a get together at an area lake for Father's Day. All this before 9a.m.

Hubby let me know before he left that he and Darling Daughter, Kris, attempted to negotiate seeing her this summer. They seem to be working hard to find a way to make it happen. It is starting to feel possible.

So we might be headed to Moab with all it's amazing parks and arches and Darling Daughter and her wonderful boyfriend or Darling Daughter could be joining us in Traverse City for a triathlon in Northern Michigan followed by a week at the film festival. Shaping up to be a not too shabby summer.

And a not too shabby day. Looks like I will be spending a lazy day cleaning house, doing laundry, the basics but this evening has a friend bringing over dinner and having a nice long chat.

Can't wait to see what happens next.

Be well.

I have a new crush.

I don't know how I happened upon this but am so glad I did. Once I listened to this first video I couldn't stop until I had listened to ten more. If I had nothing else to do today I would happily be listening to as many others as I can find.

Before I offer you the Taylor Mali poetry I should explain that I love being read to. On our honeymoon Hubby and I took turns reading Tony Hillerman's "Thief of Time". We both love Garrison Keillor's poetry during the Writer's Almanac each morning. We seldom drive without a book on CD in the car (now that Hubby has to do all the driving we do not read aloud in the car. The current book is Sarah Vowel's "Unfamiliar Fishes".

Mr. Mali's "What Teachers Make" is angry and easy to love but I confess it is the painful telling of his wife's suicide that gave me the most of an emotional tug. So I feel confident you will enjoy the anger of this reading but hope that what I end up hearing is that you too have developed a crush.

I am struggling to embed this video so please take a little trip to YouTube and enjoy some of his work. Start with "What Teachers Make" and stay for a few more. I like poetry. Poetry is cool. And if you got that reference, you are too.

Be well.

I am a happy vegan, really.

This is another attempt to revive my blog. At one time I loved it. I often wanted to post every time a thought crossed my mind. Then I went blank. Well, I no longer feel blank. In fact I think if I could pitch the story of a middle aged (if we all live to be 100), quadriplegic, vegan, with a colorful intelligent family, and an interesting volunteer life it might just make a decent basic cable short season TV show. Instead I think I will use the material to try and make an interesting blog read.

What prompted me to pick today to begin? I am going to a wedding this weekend. Dressing up in a wheelchair is challenging to say the least. So if I manage to pull if off (I will take photos so you can decide if I did) I want to share the experience.

(Gentlemen I realize this paragraph might run the risk of boring you silly so you can feel free to skip ahead. If you feel cheated on content I offer up this to "beef" up your experience. Warning: contains some blue language but makes me laugh like crazy). I have a couple of dresses I bought for the cruise 2 years ago. The prettiest one, a green one, requires a strapless bra and a strong will-Hubby and I almost came to blows getting me in it last time. No pictures exist in that dress despite all the ones taken of our family that night-my mother in law struggled to look her best in any of them. So we dressed up another night. That time I wore the black dress. Less struggle but also not the same response to the ensemble. I just bought red open toed shoes to wear so it looks like the black dress is the betting favorite. It shows a lot of cleavage. Maybe no one will notice the wheelchair. I wonder if I can cover up with a jacket in church! Both dresses require a scarf to hide the neck hardware. Dressy scarves pose their own challenges but I do have a few that would work. Scarves with the green dress would be tougher but that green dress is beautiful. The debate rages on.

I also have the usual wheelchair concerns. I need to make sure I have a back up outfit in case of accidents (done since we are staying in the same hotel as the reception) but that means of course figuring out the back up outfit. Also of concern is the safety of others on the dance floor once the wheelchair starts spinning.

Sunday is suppose to be beautiful weather (high 70's low 40's) so I hear the day will be spent at a festival. The will also be lots of vegan restaurant noshing. Including the required visitation to the altar of the pizza god. Chicago people take their pizza seriously.

Before I pack I need to finish the Spring cleaning (if I finish before the 22nd it still qualifies as Spring cleaning) so the house is OK for the dog sitter this weekend. I am also working on some projects involving my work at school.

I promise pictures and stories. So if anyone is out there listening drop me a comment.

Be well.

p.s. In the mood to win some freebie cute stuff? One of my most favorite blogs My Paper Crane is having a give a way. Why not give it a look? She's talented, witty, down to earth and kind. I always enjoy her blog.

If he reads this there will be no living with him!

My husband is brilliant. I don't just mean he is a smart guy (as I am sure after reading this others will comment and concur). I am smart. I am often one of the smartest people in the room or rather I was before I aged past 34 and began to decline. Hubby makes me look average. He is the king of trivia in a way that makes him virtually unbeatable at family games including when we all watch Jeopardy, a better guesser than Ken Jennings (which is part of what made Ken great- his ability to guess and bet well but that's another topic). He is brilliant enough to be Ivy League. He is brilliant enough to have developed a finely tuned E.Q. to go with his I.Q.


I could go on but I did have a point to make. My hubby is a high school teacher. One of those people that just a hand full of years ago school systems were begging for- highly qualified (folks who had extensive education in content area not just in the field of education)individuals. And he was, is, highly qualified. More math education than most of his colleagues. Smart enough and secure enough to know he isn't the answer for every student.


He has continued his education well above his masters. 1/3 of his reading and 1/2 of his discussions revolve around school. He sleeps < 5 hours each night so as to have time to prepare for the next day's lessons.

I tell you all this because all of a sudden teachers are the bad guys. They are to blame for what is wrong with education even though they now have very little control over their classrooms. The state legislature, not a group known for its advanced degrees, has issued mandates regarding content and testing and data (and don't forget No Child Left Behind). Those same legislators who are not pleased to find out they do not have the power to make folks jump just they way they thought they should.

Education is a complicated issue. There are parents involved. Sometimes those parents can not be bothered to register their child for school or wake him up in the morning or check his homework or feed him breakfast or make sure he gets some sleep. But it isn't only the parent's fault. Classrooms have gotten crowded (when did we stop worrying about student/teacher ratios). Children are expected to know more ( how many legislators could pass the current graduation exams?). Teachers are held responsible for the number of "F"s they hand out regardless of student efforts so sometimes a "D" is given when it hasn't been earned. Right? I don't know but I know that measuring and reprimanding teachers based on one piece of data for a complicated issue is not right. And like I said, this is complicated stuff.

Don't forget the school administration. Sometimes they behave like the old joke, "the beatings will continue until morale improves". Sometimes they are all touchy feely and excuse all student behavior. Often their behavior seems to be focused on preserving their own job. Hubby use to tell new teacher hires that a teacher's first responsibility was "to facilitate administrative paperwork".



I tell you this to point out two things (and you were beginning to think I had no point), 1: Hubby could have gone into a far more lucrative field but felt a calling, and 2: if you think unions are to blame with the flaws in education you are simply wrong, it's more complicated then that.



Back in the day (before we became a country all about money) the teacher's union was there to bring in the best and the brightest and to make them want to be teachers. To stop administrators and the public from trying to control a system that needed autonomy to be extraordinary. Ask a good teacher what they like best about teaching. I bet they all tell you that they like their job when they get to teach. When a student asks a deeper question and they get to "teach to the moment". Ask what they like least and you will have to go very deep before they comment on the students-despite the attitudes and behaviors. The job is still the same one that 5 years ago had folks saying, "I could never do your job. You have a tough thing going." The kids, well they are still kids.

Students need to be inspired and learn to read and count and do geometry and advance algebra and government and econ and write an essay and read a book and think critically and ... School isn't easy, is it suppose to be? Money is tight and programs get cut. Everybody knows someone who stayed in school because of theatre or basketball or some other activity outside the basics. And most of us know a high school graduate not trained for any career that doesn't involve cooking oil.



If you think what is happening with the states trying to remove teacher bargaining rights isn't about money- well then (I don't know a better way to say this accurately) you are an idiot. My Hubby, he followed his calling because even though he makes a good living and could have made a much better one doing something else, he traded money for stability. States busting unions has everything to do with electing Republicans and very very very little if anything to do with students. The kids who live in rich districts will find their schools getting even better. The kids whose parents don't understand the real issue will find their schools getting smaller and offering fewer options. Oh some dedicated folks will hang on and try but the inner city public school will have little to offer. They will be the dumping ground for those students no one else wants to educate and those students who have no where else to go.



By now if you think I'm full of crap then you need to start reading legislation and more importantly, start volunteering in a school. And reading U.S. history. Understand the role unions played in our nation. Ask yourself if you want to be a nation that is about production or money. Do you choose people or money? Notice how those who most need to be protected seem to vote with the ones who are trying to take their protections away.



I often wondered why so many poor voted Republican. It couldn't just be the idea of being pro-life since the Republicans so often disregard caring of the already born. Some of it might be habit. I have decided it is because everyone believes that they will have the chance to be on top, with money and power. They think they will be up as part of the wealthy elite (everything is possible in America, right?) and when they are, they want it to be sweet!



I am so tired of our country being for sale. I want us to be better than that! It is time to get angry. To draw the line in the sand and realize that education is complicated but one thing is not, if you want to attract good people to a tough job you need to offer them something - decide what it is going to be. If you think our country will never have an improved economy then do nothing and watch those with money and power get some more of it. If you think there is a chance it will ever get better maybe it's time to remember the effect a good teacher had on your life or you child's. Remember that education is complicated and spend time reading up on the issues- heck dedicate 5 minutes for every hour you spend watching TV or on the computer. Then write your state reps.



If you are a teacher, especially a young teacher-join the union. If you are a good teacher with options to follow another career path stop bitching about the dues (I remember how much the money upset me in the beginning). Demand the union be better. Show your state you are part of something big and student focused (and make sure your union is). Look around and figure out what unions have done for this country.

If you are not a teacher, if you don't have school aged children then your job is different. Your voice is more powerful because you don't have a direct interest. No one can point a finger at you and claim self interest! You know what to do. If you aren't sure how to do it, I offer you these links:





http://www.michaelmoore.com/

http://www.in.gov/legislative/legislators/

Remember not everything should be for sale. That includes your vote.

Be well.

For the first time ever I miss my 20's

OK not the first time but darn if it doesn't run across my mind several times a day lately. I keep trying to remember what it was like to plan on staying awake all night to complete a project. I had three kids in my 20's so it is possible that I spent most days cleaning up baby messes and tending to those constantly demanding little ids. Instead I remember being divorced, working out every morning and most evenings and going back to school studying creative writing.


My thirties are a blur of soccer games, working at the bank and time with attorneys. My forties were slated to make up for my 30's. I had begun the cello, started my catering business and deciding to be happy. I remember energy and still believing that I could change my life, there was still time. Then the accident and time spent waiting for things to change and get going again.


Now I'm looking at 50 in a few weeks. I am not unhappy. Going vegan is working for me. I am losing weight, slowly but headed in the right direction. I enjoy Hubby. We are older, settled and even boring but given the choice I would choose to spend my time with him, and he seems to feel the same way. I get to spend time with my oldest, youngest and their significant others. I miss my middle daughter but all evidence points to her being happy. That goes a long way to calming a mother's heart.


So why the coveting of being in my 20's It's simple. Energy. It's 8:30pm. I have cooked dinner, packed lunches. And that was after I dropped the first dinner across the floor. I cleaned up all of that. I spent a few hours today working with my niece on a quilt she is giving to her sister. I also talked to my brother for over an hour as he tries to navigate the wild ride that is a high school senior girl. I also washed my hair and combed it out. I did Internet research and lots of other little things that are slipping my mind right now. I have projects I haven't finished yet (I started the volunteer newsletter a week ago and still haven't sent it out). I haven't even touched my list of fun. Things like reviewing my giant stack of craft books, sewing new kitchen curtains (this is where I stopped last night on my way to making a point)

Today is a new day. The newsletter went out, the antibiotics have kicked in, and I even cleared a few more things off my desk. I still haven't uploaded my photos or added my book reviews, but that will wait for the weekend. As for tonight, it is almost 7:30 - the Jeopardy witching hour. I have typed enough today to be dealing with cramped wrists. I shopped for the coffee house/poetry lounge I'm helping with tomorrow. I think I will put that age and experience to use and go kick some Jeopardy butt,

Be well.

I get by with a little help from my friends...

I love that song. One of the many reasons I love what I am doing at school is the fact that I get to work with friends. Some of who made my life possible and bearable after my accident. Two of them are women whose friendship had proceeded me by many years. When I got to know them I so badly wanted to be part of their group. I had lost several friends who could not handle my new physical realities. These two women, whose laughter on Friday evenings I had so envied, became my friends. Amazing women, I love them both.

Yesterday staffing changes in the school were announced. As the state attempts to "fix" education one of the mandates required our principal replace 51% of our staff. One of these women will not be in the building next year.

She isn't the only friend who will be gone. One of our social workers is being replaced. She and I have an easy bond. She has been a strong supporter of the volunteer program. I have loved the successes we have had together. I can not imagine what it will be like moving forward without her.

Still not the only friends going. I also have many friends who will be there next year helping to right the ship. Not the least of which is our principal. She is an extraordinary person and a good friend. I am excited to be part of her vision.

So today I am digging around in the rubble attempting to determine where resources should be allocated. I need to recruit more volunteers. I need to be sure volunteers in the building working with staff all understand what happened. It is time for hard work and time to help friends move one.

I have been doing one thing fun and frivolous- I have been checking out craft books and forming opinions about them. And I don't mean one or two, I mean at least 2 or 3 dozen. So I think it may be time for some book reviews and projects.

It is also time to share some movie opinions. Been busy there too (after all when one watches the Oscars one would hate to have not seen all the nominated movies - including the shorts).

But that will be the next post. Today is about hanging on to a vision.

Be well.

I went out for vegan pizza-really!

Happy Saturday! My day started with a final wake up time that was four hours later than my usual weekday rise and shine. My actual rising started with a shower that made good use of my Dead Sea salt scrub and my hair, which has gotten past shoulder length and become a pain to deal with, requires conditioner if I hope to ever comb it out.

The sun was shining, the air wasn't freezing, the library sale was open and the evening ended with pizza. A local pizza place sports a vegan co-owner. Thanks to or because of her being vegan, the pizza crust and all the bread is vegan. You even have the option of adding a vegan cheese to your pizza.

We ate olive bread with vegan garlic butter dip, and chopped salad with vegan poppy seed dressing (sensing a theme here?) and a pizza with thin crust and slightly sweet dough and homemade sauce that is some of the best I have ever had and tomatoes and onions and broccoli and artichokes and mushrooms (with spinach and vegan cheese on Hubby's side). Oh, so much food but oh was it good.

We had spent the afternoon volunteering at the library sale. I love the resale shop, called Second Hand Prose. Sales take place eight weekends a year-two weekends back to back four times a year. The place is crowded but surprisingly well organized. As a volunteer you fall into working certain sections and begin to think of them as yours. Folks are territorial which makes it tough to break in but pays off when you have put in some time. You begin to think of a section as your own and take pride in the way it looks and how it sells. This is beneficial especially considering the place is run totally on volunteer labor both to stock it and to man the sales.

I worked up front at the tally/checkout counter. At times business lagged and I could chat with my coworkers. Since my head was lower than the counter and it was difficult to see me as well as a bit of an effort for me to unpack and repack people's books, I relied on the kindness of strangers. And folks were kind. And friendly. It became quiet enough that I spent twenty minutes doing some shopping at the end of the day.

A very satisfying Saturday. A due to the miracle which is the days getting longer, we were able to come into the house before the sun had set. I am hoping to be under the covers by 9 and watching Fringe at 11. Good stuff.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and planning something Presidential for Monday. If you haven't decided how to spend the day I offer the following "artistic" expressions:






If making a complete presidential cupcake artwork is a bit out of your league how about just some cupcake picks (these are by paperNplastic, available here)





And certainly not least, check out Heidi Kenney's book Every Day's a Holiday with this presidential craft. *
















*Heidi's blog "My Paper Crane" is terrific. Be sure to give it a look (I just bought several of her fabrics from Spoonflower and will share the result of that purchase with you soon.)

Be well.