My Everything Tree

I have this tree in my living room.  It’s a skinny tree, fake of course, or it would be dead. . . It stands in the corner.  My sister got it for me several years ago for Christmas, but it's not a Christmas tree.  It’s my Year-Round Tree.
I saw it in a catalogue. In the catalogue, there were  kits you cold buy to decorate the tree for every month.   I thought that was  a neat idea, so my sister bought me a tree. 
I do change the decorations by the season.  Last Saturday, I put all my FSU stuff on it.  September starts college football so it gets my FSU decorations. 


In October, it gets bats and monsters.
In November, fall leaves and  Thanksgiving things.
In December, I put my special ornaments on it that might get lost in my big tree.  ( Or sometimes I make it my purple tree and only put purple stuff on it!)
In January, it’s gets snowflakes. (Yes I know, we live in Florida – pretend snowflakes on a tree are as good as it gets!) February, on go the Valentine hearts.  In March I sometimes do Easter and sometimes do spring.  April gets lambs and more spring.  May I usually just ignore and summer time gets flip-flops and sea shells.
But I have some special ornaments that stay on all the time.  They are my favorites. 
I have book ornaments, and old keys just because I love them.  I have a teacher ornament.


This one I got from my sister when we got her annual pass for Disney World. 


This is my Bubba cat. I miss him, even though he was mean and no one liked him except my Daddy and me.

This is my newest ornament. It’s my Feed the Birds ornament.  I love Mary Poppins and I got this at St. Paul’s Cathedral when we were in London last month. (It cost a little more than “tuppence.”)
 
This is my pearl S.  My friend Jennifer had a “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” themed birthday party and these told us where to sit. 


My sweet friend Ashley found this set in her Christmas stuff and gave them to me. It’s  a whole set of Dr. Seuss ornaments!


There are several ladybugs, because my Daddy called me “Bug” until the last time he talked to me.

This one may be the most special.  My Daddy told us for years that when it was time for him to go, to call Kersey’s and let them take care of him.  Kersey’s is our local funeral home.  They did a wonderful job taking care of all the stuff for us.  Every year, they have a memorial service for all the people that they have taken care of during the year.  They have ornaments made and decorate their own Christmas tree. The year  my Daddy passed away, we were all just too raw to attend the service.  It was in December after Daddy died in September.  A few days after the service, I got this in the mail. I don’t know why it came to me instead of Mrs. Betty, my daddy’s wife or even my sisters. But it hangs on my year round tree. 



I love my tree – and I love the stuff on it. Maybe you need a year round tree.

The Proms at Royal Albert Hall

Beautiful music in a beautiful space.

So today we went to Royal Albert Hall for The  Proms.  I have seen these on BBC and had no idea quite what it is. The Proms are a concert series in the summer.  They are mostly held at the Royal Albert Hall, although according to my research, some are held elsewhere.  “Proms” is short for “promenade concert,”  and comes from the practice in the past, of strolling through gardens while an orchestra plays. 

Today was a Ten Pieces Proms.  It’s a program designed to teach children about classical music.  Today, we heard these songs:

• No Place Like by Kerry Andrew
• Anthology of Fantastic Zoology – Sprite; A Bao A Qu by Mason Bates
• Symphony No. 1 in G major – Allegro (1st movement) by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
• Rodeo - Hoe-Down by Aaron Copland
• Symphony No. 9 in E minor, 'From the New World’ – Largo (2nd movement) by Antonín Dvořák
• ‘Enigma’ Variations – Theme (Enigma), variations 11, 6 & 7 by Edward Elgar
• Carmina Burana - 'O fortuna' by Carl Orff
• Abdelazer – Rondeau by Henry Purcell
• Finlandia by Jean Sibelius
• The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers and Russian Dance by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

I wish I could show you what a beautiful space Royal Albert Hall is. . . It’s simply breath-taking. It’s HUGE – it holds up to 5,272 seats and opened in 1871.  You wouldn’t believe all the people who have appeared there = every musical act you can imagine as well as important people.  From the Spice Girls to Muhammed Ali, everyone has been here it seems.  Classical musicians to sumo wrestlers to Cirque de Soleil, it’s amazing. 

There is a great interactive “map” here that shows you people who have appeared: http://appearing.royalalberthall.com/

So here are a few pictures I took today before it started.

B

A New Adventure

In January of 2007, I started a program called Project LEAD to become a media specialist.  To say that this changed my life is an understatement. I think I blogged about it before. . .

Part of that adventure involved  a 6 week stay in London in the summer of 2008.  One of our professors was teaching two classes that we needed in London in the summer.  I decided to go – I had never even stayed in a hotel room by myself before so flying to another continent was really out of my comfort zone. It was fabulous! I don’t even have enough words to say what a wonderful experience it was.  I started this blog during that trip – it was actually an assignment. 

I spent a weekend in Paris and a weekend in Scotland, saw the white cliffs of Dover and  walked through the home of CS Lewis.  We saw castles and cathedrals and buildings still showing damage from World War II. . . 

So, my professor has taught in London many times since then. I’m always fascinated when she goes and follow along on her journey through social media.   Before Christmas, my friend Harry (my professor’s husband) said  “We’re going to London again this summer – you should come!”  I thought I’d love to, but then just sort of let it go.  But it kept sticking in my head. 

So here, I am in a flat, in London, with Dr E, Harry and my sister. We are having a fabulous time.  A new adventure is here!

Summer Project 1 Done!

I sometimes have a problem finishing projects.  This year before school ended I had 3 projects going on at the same time. It makes my dining room table a mess but that’s sort of how my brain works.

My first summer homework was to fix my letter box. I need to explain. I have a slight obsession with bulletin board borders and bulletin board letters. I’ve taught for so long, when I first started, my school did not  have an Ellison machine. For those of you who don’t know, an Ellison machine is a letter cutter.  It’s not a Cricut or a Silhouette cutter by any stretch of the imagination.  It’s the most simple thing in the world: you put the paper under the die cut, pull the lever and it cuts your letter. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.  When I started teaching we didn’t have one. So, you had to trace and cut your own letters. . . It took a LONG time. I still have a tracing kit somewhere.

So I started buying letter sets.  Teacher stores and Hobby Lobby  sell letter sets. They usually have to be punched out but they come in cute patterns.  I have a huge weakness for bulletin board borders and letter sets. I almost can’t contain myself or stop buying them. I know – it’s a sickness. There’s just so many cute sets and I never know which set I might need.  Here are just  a few of my my sets: 

 

Several years ago, while my school resource deputy was teaching my class, I made little envelopes for all my letters, sorted them and stored them in a box.  It makes it really, really simple to find the ones I need.  My box looked like this:

And this:

I  made those envelopes at least 6 years ago but I think it was longer.  They were looking a little worse for wear.  And  I have so many sets, they wouldn’t all fit in one box. So, . . I found these great Ziploc type packets from Amazon. . . and found new boxes.  Here they all are. 

The new packets/envelopes are almost pencil case sized. The only thing is, my M’s and W’s are too tall and they won’t zip.  But it’s better. it’s much much better. I can check one thing off my summer “to do” list.    And now, I think I’ll work on another part of my to do list – naps!

My friend, Mr. Al.

Last Wednesday afternoon, I got a phone call that no one wants to get. My dear friend Susan Smith (known to most people who know me as “Mrs. Smith) called me to tell me that her husband Al had unexpectedly passed away.  To say that this shook me was a bit of an understatement.  I was and still am a mess.  I love words, but I’m not even sure I can find the right words to tell you about my friend Mr. Al.

In 1994, I started as a full time 6th grade Social Studies teacher at Westwood Middle School.  At that time, we were on teams – a group of teachers all taught the same kids and those students rotated between them.  I was the Social Studies teacher and a woman named Susan Smith was the Science teacher on my team.  Who knew that she would end up being one of my dearest, closest friends?

We found out through that year and many more how much we have in common. We were born on the same day – October 15.  Different years of course, but we shared a birthday.  We both are horrible losers, and ridiculously competitive.  Neither one us believes in doing something the easy way, if there’s a hard way.  We spent many, many nights together alone on our hallway.  We walked to the car together many, many nights. The day she left school on her last year, I didn’t think I would be able to teach without her. I’ve only felt so lost a few other times in my life. 

When you spend that much time with a person, you meet their spouse. I don’t have any recollection of meeting Mr. Al for the first time.  We probably ate together.  Since 1994, we’ve eaten many meals together.  Mrs. Smith always laughs and says Mr. Al and I have the same palate.  We both are not particularly fond of many vegetables and both have a tendency to eat the same thing at the same restaurants.

We have eaten countless meals together, been to the movies many,  many times, and watched hours and hours of college football together.  When I found out I was accepted at FSU, I went running down the hallway to tell Mrs. Smith first. I was in her room when I called my sisters!  It was a Wednesday, so I had church, but the next night, Mr. Al and Mrs. Smith took me to dinner. Mr. Al said “they” had a present for me. It was my little library, and my very first FSU anything.  You see, they both got their Bachelor’s degrees at USF (just like me)  but then Mr.. Al went to Law School at FSU.  He was very excited that I was going to be a Seminole.  Mrs. Smith was with me at school all day, so “they” was really him. I used to tell him he should teach husband lessons – he was the sweetest, sweetest man.

Mrs. Smith and Mr. Al got married the same year I was born. Age-wise, they could have been my parents and in some ways, they acted in that capacity.  They were at my graduation from FSU.

I called Mrs. Smith first when my mother passed away.  We had our Mom’s funeral on Monday,  and on Tuesday, I left to go to the beach where Mrs. Smith was staying.  She fed me, listened to me and cried with me. When I left, I was better. I wasn’t OK yet, but I was better.  I’ve house  - and dog-sat for them 100 times.  We’ve had long conversations about any number of topics. We didn’t always agree and we’ve had some very loud discussions. We’ve spent Christmases, Thanksgivings, and birthdays together.  My daddy, my nephews and Mr. Al – some of  my most favorite men in the whole world. 

 

We’ve spent so much time together. It’s been a little more difficult lately, because I’m still working Mrs. Smith has retired and Mr. Al has cut back a LOT on his work hours. I am irritated with myself for letting time slip away.  .  .

Here’s what I know about Mr. Al..  He would  be your biggest cheerleader, but he didn't hesitate to tell you if you were being stupid.   He loved Mrs. Smith, their boys, and the girls that his boys loved.  He loved golf,  tennis , FSU and the law.  And for whatever reason, Al Smith loved me – and I’m  better for it. 

In the musical Wicked, one of my favorite songs is “For Good.”  Part of the lyrics go like this:

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime.
So, let me say before we part:
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you.
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have rewritten mine
By being my friend.

Who can say if I've been changed for the better
But because I knew you.
I have been changed for good.

Al Smith left handprints all over the hearts of everyone who knew him.  And because we knew him, our lives are better. 

Banana Puddin’

I don’t cook a lot. I don’t have a signature recipe.  My friend Chris makes a bacon-wrapped meatloaf that is apparently incredible! I've seen it, but I’ve never eaten it.  He’s known for that meatloaf.  My sister is a great cook. She makes the best biscuits I’ve ever eaten.  My friend Donna Moody makes lemon blossoms – these little  2 bite size cookie things that are just fabulous. I know other people that everything they make is just wonderful – my friends Kathy R, and Debbie C and Sharon D.  I’m not that good at anything. 

However, once upon a time I made my sister Robyn’s recipe for banana puddin’.  Yes, it’s  puddin’ not pudding. . . At a school where I once worked,  we had a “cooking contest” and I made Robyn’s banana puddin.  I won.  The person in charge had to give me the first place prize and she wasn’t happy about it.  This banana puddin’ ROCKS!  There is French vanilla pudding involved and heavy whipping cream and whole milk and cool whip and a few other things.  It’s so thick and creamy, you can’t POUR the pudding, you have to scoop it.  It’s pretty good, even if I do say so myself. 

So, the day I won that cooking contest, I had leftovers. I took  the bowl to church for my AWANA leaders. They loved it – which was very satisfying. They bring goodies quite often, and I simply can’t do enough for them, so it made me happy when they liked it.  I felt like Sally Field – “ They like it, they really, really like it!”

On Monday, my sweet friend Mrs. Dawn’s husband went home to be with Jesus.  She’s beside herself, as you can probably imagine.  Her friend, her husband, her sweetie – is gone away from her.  She’s got an empty spot inside.  

I had to go to Publix yesterday so I called another friend who I knew would be with her. I asked her what Mrs. Dawn needed.  You know that in the South, when someone passes away, we bring food. My friend Mrs. Turner is from New Jersey and she doesn’t get that.  She asked me once “What’s up with you people? The day my mother died, there were people knocking on my door with food.”  But, that’s what we do!   She didn’t need food, but she did need some plastic cups!

I asked Mrs. Debbie if there was anything Mrs. Dawn needed or wanted.  Mrs. Dawn told Mrs. Debbie she didn’t need anything but she sure would like  some of my banana pudding.   

So tonight, I made a banana puddin’ and delivered it to my friend Mrs. Dawn.  It’s not a  big deal  - she’s already gotten lots of stuff from other people.  It’s not going to keep her company in the night when she turns over and her husband isn’t there.  It won’t make having to go the funeral home and get through the next few days any easier.  But she smiled when I took it to her and she enjoyed it while she ate some of it.  For a minute, she smiled and ate banana puddin’.  And that, my friend Mrs. Turner is why we do it.

Bus Duty Games

So I may have mentioned that I have bus duty every afternoon. I certainly don’t do it alone. . . We  have been called several things so far this year. One bus driver call us “Mrs. Dennis’ Minions.”  We are usually called the BB’s: either the Bus Brigade or the Bus Babes (we are mostly all females – OK, sometimes we call ourselves that. ).  I think someone has called us  something else that starts wit h a B, but we won't go there. We all work together really well and if everyone would just listen to us, we’d have that bus situation whipped into shape. 
BUT, we are not in charge of the world.  We can’t make anybody do anything we want them to. . . So, we spend a LOT of time together. There are moments of pure pandemonium and chaos, followed by periods of absolute boredom, while we sit and watch for buses to pull in.  So to combat the wait, we make up dumb games. We are not going to patent these or make board games but we make up stuff.  Here’s some of the stuff we do. 
1. We are always on the lookout for cars in the bus loop. Hardly a day goes by when at least one car completely ignores the sign that says “buses only” and pulls into the bus loop. Anybody listening to our radios nearly always hears “Car in the bus loop!!”  Today the car drove in completely the wrong direction, stopped and the driver said “I’m hear to pick up ______” and only said a first name.” There are so, so many things wrong with that I don’t even know where to begin.  A) YOU”RE IN THE BUS LOOP.  B)  You’re going the wrong way. C) There are 1940 students at our school – right off the top of my head, I’ve got no idea who  or where _____ is.  D) How do we know you ‘re allowed to pick up ______?  Do I need to go on?  I think not.
2.  We try to be the first one to spot the buses. We can see them on Highway 27 before they turn onto our road.  Sometimes, the ones we see aren’t our buses.  That’s heartbreaking when we see a bus and it never turns.
3. We play the guessing game with substitute buses.  Every day I get an email from my principal with bus changes. Today bus 847 rides bus 1682.  Those are not really our bus numbers, I’m just making stuff up.  So, we mark it down on our little bus sheet, get out to the bus loop, only to find that that information may or may not be correct – and the buses may or may not have the correct number on them. Last week one of our buses was a different number and the bus driver had a new hair do and she looked just like another one our buses. That was confusing. 
4. We measure how long it takes the bus to pull into the loop and how long it takes to load. One bus takes a long time, because we have to send the kids in groups, because they want to get home so quickly, they run over us. It takes them longer.
5. We make bets on which bus will be last.  We have one bus that is ridiculously late all the time – and it does two runs.  So if  you are really late for your first run, obviously your second run is going to take a while too. . . Apparently our game has rubbed off onto others.  We have one bus driver named Speedy  (obviously, that’s not really his name, but that’s what we call him. . . ) who now “races” another bus. Today he stopped on his last load to ask if the other bus had been back yet. When we said no, he gave us a thumbs up and drove off.
This isn’t a game, but it’s my favorite part. Our school is huge. We have a huge staff and huge number of students. While we wait, we talk to each other and to some of our students. And we get to really, really talk. . Sure, sometimes we have to stop and load a bus, but we finish later. 
Who knew bus duty could be (almost) fun???