Jules's Notes

And it has started

2011-09-05T17:45:00.001-07:00

Soccer season officially starts next weekend. Alex is playing on two teams. The rest are just playing on one team each. Dave is coaching 3 of the 5 teams. My job is kid switch at practice one night a week and chauffeuring and texting game updates on the weekend.

19th Anniversary

2011-09-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

On top of the White Tower in Thessaloniki, Greece

Having had two sets of grandparents who were married for more than 50 years, 19 years seems like a short time. But this week I heard of yet another friend whose marriage is ending. That is five friends in less than a year. Now, I have no problem with people getting divorced. Really, I don't. But it does make these 19 years seem like more of an achievement.

My parents share our anniversary. (They, too, got married and left for grad school the next week.) This year is 47 for them. That is amazing.

Last Day Off

2011-08-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

I go back to work on Monday. I do like my job, but I love being at home with my kids all summer. So today I decided we would have a fun morning.

I took the little people to Build-A-Bear Workshop. They had never been there before. Sam made a monkey, and Amy made a heart bear. Then we went to McD for lunch. We don't do that a lot, but we did it today.

This afternoon, the boys all need to go for a celiac test. Not so fun...

More Thessaloniki

2011-07-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

It seemed to me that Thessaloniki was a city of apartment buildings. Once you got away from the waterfront, there was very little open space in the city--just tall buildings and roads. So, here is a gas station. Right there, under someone's apartment, is the Shell station.But, then, you come across something like this...

These ruins are surrounded by apartment/shop/restaurant buildings. And people just walk by like they aren't there. I wonder how long you have to live with these to stop noticing them. (Kind of like I don't notice the Civil War era cemetery I drive by a few times a week.) How many times do people walk under this arch ...

and miss this detail?

Apple Camp

2011-07-28T06:23:00.001-07:00

Ed is attending a three day camp at the Apple Store. It is 90 minutes each day, and it is free. Well, we didn't pay anything for the camp, but so far we have bought a new app for the iPad and I am sitting here eying accessories for the iPad, my MacBook, and my iPhone. I think Dave was tempted to bring home a new iPhone 4 yesterday. I am pretty sure the only reason he didn't was because he was trying to decide if the white one was girly. (In case you're wondering, yes it is.)

I think I am going to wander over to the Genius Bar (which is not a bar and is not staffed by geniuses) to inquire about a mouse for my Mac Book. Oh, and which color iPad cover should I get? (I am not going to ask the geniuses that one.)

(and why are other camp children wandering around the store not paying attention?)

And they got me... I got a much needed cover for the iPad and a much wanted wireless mouse for the MacBook. I told the "genius" that they got me in for the free camp, and I made the purchase. He thought that was really funny.

The New Whole Foods

2011-07-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

Our new Whole Foods opened today. I have been waiting for over a year for this place to open. I used to have to drive 10 miles to get to one. Now it is right around the corner.

I braved the crowds this evening, and did a bit of a shopping. It is going to take me some time to get used to it. Everything is in a very different place. I need to go sometime when it isn't so crowded to get my bearings.

I am so happy to have my Whole Foods so close!

Thessaloniki

2011-07-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

The first week of summer vacation, Dave and I went to Thessaloniki, Greece and Rome, Italy. Dave was invited to give a talk at a conference in Thessaloniki, and he invited me along. Now, Thessaloniki is not a tourist destination. It is not Athens. It is not an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a port town, kind of like Baltimore. But it has its own charms and some old stuff.

I spent my mornings wandering around the city while Dave attended his conference. I spent my afternoons lounging by the pool reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and The Grapes of Wrath, the former for my school's summer reading and the latter for Alex's summer reading. I had a great time.

Here are a few pictures:

Statue of Alexander the Great

The White Tower, built around 1534

Me at the top of the White Tower

Ship being towed by a tug boat into the harbor to be unloaded

Ear Piercing

2010-04-15T16:29:00.001-07:00

I had my ears pierced in early elementary school, maybe first grade. I LOVE earrings. Maybe it is the eighties girl in me, but I absolutely love wearing earrings, and the bigger the better. Unfortunately, I am allergic to most earrings, so I can only wear most earrings for a couple of hours. But I continue to buy and wear them, and I suffer the consequences.

Amy is starting to ask about earrings. She is five and will start kindergarten in the fall. So, should I let her get her ears pierced?

Five and a half weeks

2010-04-14T18:04:00.001-07:00

That is what is left of this school year. That is all.

Whoops!

2010-04-13T17:40:00.001-07:00

I should read my own blog before I post!!!

Dinner Party Palooza

2010-04-13T17:39:00.001-07:00

Way back in December, we were invited to an aquaintance's house for dinner. We knew this couple through soccer, and Dave coached with Jon for the fall season. The other two coaches and their wives were also invited. We went and had a wonderful time.

Since then, we have been to two other dinner parties with these three couples, and a few nights out or in with a subset. It has been a long time since Dave and I have had couple friends. It has been a long time since we had a social life at all. And, it is so much fun!

This weekend, it is our turn to host the origian dinner party group. I am making angelhair pasta with a fresh tomato and blue cheese topping, and fresh bread. Ok, I may just buy the bread. Appetizers, salad, and dessert are being brought by the other couples. I have several bottles of wine. I am not a wine enthusiast, so I am hoping what I have is ok.

Soccer Coaches Dinner Party

2010-03-31T17:42:00.001-07:00

Back in December, we were invited to a dinner party with all of the coaches and wives for Ed's team. The four couples got along really well, and it is now a monthly affair. We are hosting the travelling party in just over two weeks, and I have no idea what to cook. I do know that I want to use the wonderful altered casserole dishes that my friend Paula made. In fact, I need to see if I can buy a couple more. So I am trying to plan a meal around beautiful handmade casserole dishes. I'll post a picture soon.

Our New Soccer Game

2010-03-28T18:21:00.001-07:00

Amy, Sam and I spend a lot of time watching soccer. We do this activity in beautiful weather, cold weather, rainy weather, you name it. (Although we do not play when it is lightning.) Today, Amy and I played a new game at Ed's game. I said, "What number is Ed?" Amy replied,"Seven." Then I said, "Spence is Ed plus two. What number is he?" "Spence is nine." "Chris is between Ed and Spence." "He's eight." "Jack is Chis times two." "He's sixteen." Amy and I went through all nine players like that. The only operation she doesn't do us division.

This Weekend

2010-03-19T18:31:00.001-07:00

Plans for this weekend:
Soccer
Alex attend birthday party
A little shopping for something new to wear to the next two items
Dinner out with Dave and another couple
Fiddler on the Roof
More soccer

I hope to fit in some pillowcase-making and some Round Robing messing around.

I need to write lesson plans for the next three chapters of Outliers. I need to design graphic organizers for the rest of the AP Calculus review.

Oh, and I need to grocery shop.

Bike Riding

2010-03-18T18:05:00.001-07:00

Every year, the my little people's school has a Tryke a Thon to raise money for Children's Healthcare of Altanta. This year, both kids have new bikes to ride. Sam took to riding a bike instantly. Amy was a little slower to get it. After dinner tonight, I took Amy out to ride her bike. Sam was riding circles around her, but she finally got it. I think they will both have a great time riding around the gym.

I took pictures, but I need Dave to get them out of the camera for me.

Teaching English/Language Arts

2010-03-17T17:39:00.001-07:00

The Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) had four parts-- English/Language Arts (ELA,) Math, Social Studies, and Science. I am teaching the ELA and math reviews this week. We are teaching the kids to take notes and highlight while reading. I am addicted to annotating now. I can't read without a highlighter in hand. It is crazy.

Since I am going to see Fiddler on the Roof this weekend, I wanted to read some Russian history. So I borrowed a book from the AP World History teacher. I went to read it last night, but realized I couldn't highlight it. Today I copied the pages so I could annotate.

Our school's literacy coach thought that was pretty funny. However, she got very excited when I explained my multivariable calculus students were reading and annotating and generally working with Outliers this week.

So I have learned a lot from teaching English this week.

Number 77

2010-03-16T17:44:00.001-07:00

This week, school is consumed by graduation test review. We call it The Blitz, and all juniors participate. Since blitz is a football play, (which play I could not say,) we had a football theme the first day. I got to wear a football jersey. I wanted to be 77, which is the number of one of my students. However, it was the largest jersey, and I am not the largest faculty member, by far. So I got to be 58, which is the number of a kid I had last year. However, we wear jerseys again on Friday, and the coach is conspiring to get me 77 on Friday. Keep your fingers crossed.

Some days I write an email

2010-03-15T17:23:00.001-07:00

The President of the Smithsonian, Dr. G Wayne Clough was the Dean of Engineering at Virginia Tech when I got my BS degree. He was the President of Georgia Tech when I got my MS and PhD. I was the first person he ever handed three diplomas to, and he hugged me when I walked across the stage when I received my PhD. My parents and I had lunch with him the day before graduation.

Whenever I have a rough day at work, I fantasize about working somewhere else. Some days, it is just at a different school. Some days it is at a college. But many days it is at The Smithsonian. And on a couple of particularly stressful days, I have even composed an email to Dr. Clough asking for a job.

What would I do at the Smithsonian? I could curate science exhibits. I could do research. I could meet First Lady Michelle Obama. (I really like her!) I am sure Dr. Clough could find something for me to do.

But for now, I will keep on at my school.

And fantasize about opening a bookstore cafe on North Hutchinson Island in Florida.

Outliers

2010-03-14T16:15:00.001-07:00

I am reading the book "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. I know, I am late to the party. Actually, I am reading it because I needed something independent for my multivariable calculus students to do this week while I am teaching graduation test review. It is a very interesting book, and I have had no problems coming up with activities for my class to do based on the boom.

However, I think what I am really learning from the book is that I need to work hard to give my kids every opportunity that I can. My kids are pretty smart, which helps, but will only take them so far. The opportunities we give them are also extremely important.

Another interesting idea I have gleaned from the book is how important little teaching moments are. These little teaching moments help kids learn to navigate in life, how to deal with people. Little things like how to talk to doctors and authority figures, how to "customize" your environment, all of these things need to be learned.

Anyway, I am not quite halfway through the book. I don't agree with everything he says. However, it has given me a lot of food for thought.

From my phone

2010-03-13T18:18:00.001-08:00

I thought I would try something new. I am posting from my phone. I cannot do anything fancy, yet, but if I download the non-lite writer, perhaps I could do more.

In case anyone is interested, here us what is going on in my life:

Three of the four kids are playing soccer. When we do not get rainouts, we can have 7 games in a weekend. This weekend was completely rained out.

I am still teaching high school math. I am also working with a local university on a grant to change their teacher prep program.

We have started a "dinner club" (for lack of a better phrase) with three other couples. Once a month we have dinner together, and we rotate houses each month. It is a lot of fun. April is our turn to host. I have to figure out what to serve. The host makes the main dish, and the other couples bring salad, appetizers, and desserts. We may grill steaks and/or shrimp.

Next weekend we are going to Fiddler on the Roof with one of the couples from above.

For my birthday, my older sister flew in from Chicago. We went shopping and to a comedy club. Then Amy and I went to see the ballet Cinderella by the Atlanta Ballet. It was a great weekend, even if there was a snowstorm.

Amy is reading. A lot. It is fun.

Sam is growing. He carries around a pillowcase the way other kids carry blankets. The pillowcase is named little sheet.

Ed is having a good year at school and at soccer. He just downloaded Treasure Island onto his Kindle app on his iPod.

Alex is a high school freshman. He us doing well in school. Soon he can get his learner's permit. I am not sure how I feel about that. Certainly he can't be that old?

Well, that is all for now.

This week, and last

2010-02-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

Last week, I spent Monday and Wednesday at a Learning Focused Schools conference. WOW! I learned a lot. I got to hear both an AP teacher and math teachers. Usually at these conferences, I get to hear neither.

This week--Tuesday I get to hear Molly Elkind at Fiber Art Fusion. Friday I turn 40.

Knitting

2010-01-31T11:10:00.000-08:00

So yesterday morning, a friend facebook-ed me (is that a verb?) and said to meet her and her knitting group at Panera. So I grabbed the only pair of knitting needles I have and a ball of yarn and went. My friend Kristin from Fiber on a Whim was there and she showed me how to cast-on and knit. It is fun and relaxing and portable. I have been knitting a few minutes here and there ever since yesterday. I know I said I was going to do this a couple of years ago, but this time, I really think I mean it. Maybe next week I can learn to purl. My biggest issue right now is that the part I already knit keeps getting in my way. I need to figure out how to hold it better.

More fiber news--I get to go to Fiber Art Fusion this month. Yea!! Molly Elkind is going to be the speaker. I am excited.

Left-handed

2010-01-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

My youngest is left-handed. At first, I just figured he was ambidextrous, but, no, he is left handed. He does everything with his left hand. He is unique in our family. And I don't know how to teach him how to hold a pencil. Now, anyone who has seen me write in real life knows that I do not hold my pencil correctly. As much as my parents and teachers tried to get me to hold a pencil correctly, I just reverted back to my way of holding a pencil. I can write very neatly. I can write pretty quickly. But I don't hold my pencil in the normal fashion. And neither does my oldest child, who is right-handed. Sam, the youngest, still holds his crayons in his fist. I was just trying to convince him to try to hold it right, but he is just not interested. I don't remember ever teaching the other kids. Does anyone know anything about teaching kids to hold pencils correctly? Or even at what age they are supposed to do this task?

Operation Pillowcase

2010-01-18T11:00:00.000-08:00

Debra is hosting Operation Pillowcase. Today I made four pillowcases to send to the troops through her efforts. It was easy and fun and used up some fabric that I already had.

A Different Kind of Goodie Bag

2010-01-18T10:38:00.000-08:00

One complaint I hear from many moms these days is about birthday party goody bags. Now, I don't care what you put in your kid's birthday party goody bag. Really, I don't. But I hear a lot of complaints about candy and stuff to throw away. So here is what Ed's friends took home with them yesterday:
A pillowcase (it was a sleepover)

and a book and a journal.

I made the pillowcases and covered the journals. It didn't take very long at all. Of course, the journals are not as fancy as the ones my friend Rebbecca makes. (Her's are gorgeous!) But the kids loved them. And yes, it did cost more than the candy would have. I will admit that. However, the items will last longer, too.

A New T-Shirt Quilt

2010-01-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

I finished this quilt before Christmas for a friend's son. I really like how it turned out.

Summertime and the livin' is easy

2009-06-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

Here are the kids on the playground. I cannot believe they are all growing up so fast. When we moved into this house three years ago, Alex was starting middle school, Ed was starting elementary school, Amy was not even two, and I was pregnant with Sam. Now Alex is starting high school, Amy is going into kindergarten, and Sam is two and into everything.

We are having some beautiful weather. Hopefully we can play outside today.

Second Swim Meet Tonight

2009-06-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

Our second meet is tonight. So far I just know that Ed is swimming the individual medley. He is at the upper end of the age group this year, so he is one of the stronger swimmers. (Although his freestyle looks a little off for some reason. He looks like a caveman swimming. No offense to cavemen.)

I am scoring the meet. When I score a meet, I think of my friend Linda who died the day Amy was born. (And then Amy almost died on her birthday 16 months later.) Linda used to do the ribbons for the meets. The scorer sits next to the ribbons person as we share data. Linda died of ovarian cancer. She fought it for a long time. The last summer she was alive, I was pregnant with Amy. She and I were not allowed to work swim meets that summer because she was not healthy, and I was not having a healthy pregnancy. So she and I were both dropped off at the pool gate and we sat in the shade. People brought us water and food. And we sat and talked. And talked. Her son was our coach, and he was 18 when she died. I got a lot of great mom advice from her that last summer. She knew Alex well because she was the aid in his kindergarten class.

So tonight I will be missing Linda.

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER!

2009-05-28T15:43:00.000-07:00

That is all.

Update

2009-05-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

We made it through the first meet. Our team won. Alex had three first place finishes and two third place finishes. The meet started with some excitement, but not in a good way. First, there was a huge thunderstorm right when warm-ups were supposed to start. Thunderstorms and swim meets do not mix. Then, a swim team mom fell and broke her ankle coming down the stairs to the pool. It was a compound fracture. We called 911, and they sent the fire truck. The fire truck sent for the rescue truck because they needed paramedics. They then called for an ambulance because Cobb County Fire Department does not do patient transport right now. (They are working on changing that, though.) Meanwhile, an older gentleman in his great big caddie sideswiped the fire truck. So, two police cruisers came to take care of the accident. Now, at this point, no one is in the water because it has thundered in the past 20 minutes. We finally started the meet about 30 minutes late. We didn't get home until almost 11. I was exhausted. My plan to run this morning didn't happen. However, I will go tomorrow.

Ed made the academy soccer squad. Yea!! (I think I am happy about it. It is a big commitment.)

Tomorrow is my last day of work until August. That I KNOW I am happy about. Friday I need to shop for a dress to wear to the wedding on Sunday. I also need to shop for a new "Mom Bag." I looked today at the Flashy Frog, but nothing was quite what I wanted. So off to Casabella Friday. Or tomorrow. But probably Friday. I like shopping in local shops. (So please don't tell me Casabella is a chain...)

On tap for this week

2009-05-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday--Work. Ugh. Although these are days we can go out to lunch, which is rare for teachers. And we can never come up with anywhere good to go!

Tuesday evening--swim meet Alex and Jules, soccer try-outs Ed and Dave, little kids home with Unkie

Wednesday evening--Jules dinner with Sheree (She was the person who guided me through the certification process the last two years.), soccer try-outs--Dave and Ed, little kids home with Alex (I will owe him big.)

Thursday evening--tennis practice--Dave

Friday afternoon--lunch with Patricia

Saturday morning--Dave tennis

Sunday--Dave and Jules attend wedding

Studio work--Owen's quilt, sew strips together for AIDS project

Keep walking every day. Keep doing yoga every day. No eating fast food all week.

One more thing

2009-05-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

I think I have mentioned in the past that I have a fear of parking. Not driving. Not driving in Atlanta rush hour traffic. Not sitting on South Cobb Drive when Lockheed lets out. I have a fear of parking. So I try to get everywhere early. I got to graduation so early today that the graduation before ours was still letting out, and I couldn't go in to park. So I went to Red Hen Fabrics. I got a book by Valori Wells. I am very excited about it because it has lots of circles. YEA!!

Saturday

2009-05-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

Today was graduation, the last time I will see most of the students I had this year. It is a little sad, but more happy. These kids are going places. My refrain has been, "I expect great things." And they take it seriously.

Tomorrow I will start on the t-shirt quilt. I hope to get it done this week. That may be wishful thinking, though, as I have to work three days this week. But I would love to get it done by next Sunday.

Academy soccer tryouts are this week. I am such a laid back kind of soccer mom that the whole academy things is scaring me a little. But Dave will still be one of the coaches, so I guess it will be ok.

The first swim meet with the new team is this week. I will be scoring the meet. I hope I remember how to do that! Alex is swimming. Ed will be at soccer tryouts.

Chimney Repairs and Trees Gone

2009-05-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

Our chimneys both need new caps and pans. It is an expensive fix. But, with the drought over, we need to be protected from the rain.

We had 4 trees taken out today. They were all touching the house. We had them trimmed last year, but they grew back, as trees do. So now they are gone. I think the house looks better, and I can see the play ground area from the back deck. We do have to plant something new in front of the house, but we have to wait for them to come back next week and grind the stumps.

Today, let's see...

2009-05-20T17:57:00.001-07:00

Today started time trials at swim team. Alex has a beautiful stroke thanks to a wonderful swim coach years ago. I often wonder where that coach is. I saw him a little over a year ago working at Trader Joe's. He was very important in Alex's life for a couple of years. I made this quilt for him when he quit coaching. (Bad picture, I know. And what a messy room we had.)

The boys are swimming for a team near our new house this year. I am getting to know new people. We are going to join the pool over here. It should make for an interesting summer. Sam is big enough for the floaty suit to work now. Amy is about ready to swim unassisted.

Plans for this summer include:

cleaning up and out the house
t-shirt quilt for a friend's son
AIDS quilt panel with Rebeca and Paula
AP Calculus BC course (courtesy of a nice scholarship from College Board)
time at the beach with my parents (my mom is having surgery next week, and I am going to go help my dad take care of her in a couple of weeks, my sisters are going next week)
join the AP English Lit class at Starbucks for a lit discussion (I will have most of these kids, too, next year)

Well, off to check on my little ones.

Isn't she lovely?

2009-05-19T15:37:00.001-07:00

Here she is at her first ballet recital. She signed herself up for the class at the beginning of the school year. And she had so much fun. She even got to do tap, which I never did. It was so fun to watch them dance. I love being a ballet mom. (And I learned how to put her hair in a bun. It wasn't easy, but I did it!)

The school year is winding down. I have three days of school and then three days of post planning next week. Then it is swim team for four weeks, and then hopefully a long trip to the beach. However, we have to be back in time for soccer camp, and for the Milan vs. US game at the Georgia Dome.

Almost done

2009-04-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

I should be fully certified as a teacher in about two weeks. All that is left is some shuffling of paperwork by the powers that be. 8 days until the AP exam. I'll see you all then...

Sunday Drawing

2009-01-25T10:54:00.000-08:00

I did this drawing today. It was inspired by Notes from the Voodoo Cafe.

Last night at Fiber Art Fusion

2009-01-14T16:23:00.001-08:00

Last night, I went to my monthly Fiber Art Fusion meeting. We had a drawing workshop taught by one of our talented members, Mary Akers. Click on her name, and you can see her beautiful portrait work.

First of all, I don't draw. I really don't. I love making stuff with fabric, but I don't draw. So, I was a little nervous going into last night. Mary put us all at ease, and within no time, we were all drawing and sharing our drawings. It was a ton of fun, and I will try to take pictures for you all soon.

I really had a lot of fun, and am going to go purchase some charcoals soon. We used vine charcoal, and it was much less dense than I thought it would be. I am not sure what I was expecting, maybe to be drawing with some Matchlight or something. I even got my fingers dirty, which is not something I enjoy.

It did bring back memories of middle school art class, though. For three years I drew, painted, sculpted, did rubbings of, and other stuff I cannot remember of a dried out sunflower. If you went to my middle school, you, too will remember the sunflower in the art room.

Last night we drew peppers, fruit, wine bottles, pitchers, and bread. Well, those were our choices. I didn't draw all of those things. Peppers are a lot of fun to draw. They have lots of highlights and dips and curves.

I had a great time. Mary was an awesome teacher. I cannot wait until part II of this workshop.

Stuff and Nonsense

2009-01-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

I am listening to Earth, Wind & Fire on my iPod. I love my iPod, but I have to be conscious about not using it to block out other people. I am very shy. I tend to need to escape from people, and an iPod is a great way to do that. I started using it at the grocery store for a while because I got tired of defending where I worked when people asked. No one asks you questions in line when you are wearing earbuds.

Yesterday, Alex and I attended the Lego Robotics Super Qualifier in Warner Robins, Georgia. I took my iPod and calculus books, planning to find a corner to hide in to plan next week. I was going to watch Alex's rounds, but I was planning to hide otherwise. Instead, I ended up talking to a couple of other moms. I had a great time. I spent all day talking to two women I had never met before. Both were very interesting people, and they were interested in me, too. I am glad I didn't hide behind my calculus books and iPod.

Alex had a great time at the event. They did not do well enough to move on to the next round. However, this is the furthest any team from his school has gone. And they made vast improvements to their bot during the day. And the boys did ALL of the work without adult intervention. Alex was just excited to be there. And he was a leader to the younger kids. He was impressive, if I do say so myself. I love my kids' schools, and the teacher in charge of this is just one more reason. He was wonderful. I hope he is still there when my little people get to middle school.

Have a great week.

Wii Fit

2009-01-04T16:18:00.001-08:00

I have been Wii fitting for five days now. It is a lot of fun, and it is a good workout. It keeps track of my weight (dropping), my BMI (also dropping), and my workout time (increasing). I have been skiing, ski-jumping, boxing, running, hula hooping, doing some yoga, some strength exercises, and playing a game where I have to navigate in a bubble down a river. (I haven't been able to complete that one, or the tight rope, yet.) And, it is really easy to hook up. Lots of fun. I hope I can keep it up when I go back to work tomorrow.

It's almost 2009

2008-12-31T12:41:00.000-08:00

This year has gone by quickly. Sam turned 2, Amy turned 4, Ed started 2nd grade (thank goodness, because 1st grade almost killed all desire he had for school), and Alex became a teenager. I started my second year of teaching, and, starting next week, I'll be teaching AP Calculus all day long. Dave started a new job, and it is keeping him busy.

My goals for next year...

Learn to knit
Make more fiber post cards
Read more with the kids
Do Wii Fit 5 times a week
Read every day
Make 3 at least lap-size quilts

Why do I think this will be the year to learn to knit? I thought that last year and the year before, too. I don't know why. But I have to keep trying...

Fiber post cards are fun to make. I can explore lots of things while doing these. I should send them to people though...

I really need to encourage Ed to read more. And Amy and Sam love to be read to. Alex likes for me to read the same books he does. That is a lot of reading... Maybe Alex can read what our AP Lit classes read because I try to keep up with them.

Wii Fit is a lot of fun. I did it today for a half an hour. It is brutally honest, but it is god for me.

Read every day. Just to calm my mind.

And I miss quilting.

And one more thing... I spent 4 weeks at the beach this year. I want to go for five next year...

Some Fiber Fun This Weekend

2008-12-07T18:43:00.001-08:00

I just finished this piece. I used a lot of beads from Margaret. It was a lot of fun to do. Just a little bit of whimsy. The piece is 5x7 inches.

I don't do things like this...

2008-12-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

A friend and I are going to the Billy Joel and Elton John concert in March. She got us tickets this morning. I am so excited! I don't do things like this. But I always want to. So now, I am going. And I will not spend the next three months stressing out about where we are going to park. Really, I don't mind driving anywhere, I just don't like to park. I am SO EXCITED!!!!

And I have learned a lot about friendship this week. I am not going to elaborate, but I am happy that I have friends on whom I can depend. And, I think a couple of people learned that they can depend on me, too.

I just finished reading...

2008-11-28T18:26:00.000-08:00

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. I was born in 1970. In history class, we never quite made it to the Vietnam War. I have never seen Platoon. I have watched M*A*S*H, though. (I know it is about the Korean War.) This book was one of those I wish I could have stopped reading, but I knew I had to read it. I had to finish it. I started it because the 10th grade lit classes were reading it. I like to keep up with what my students are reading. I finished it because I had to. It was an important book for me because it linked me to my brother-in-law, who will be going back to war in the upcoming year. It seems like we just got him back...

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T09:50:00.000-08:00

I am preparing a gluten-free Thanksgiving meal today. We are having chicken instead of turkey because I like chicken better. I am better at cooking chicken. So that is what we are having. We are also having corn bread dressing. I made the cornbread with garbanzo bean flour instead of wheat flour. It tastes just fine. There will be green beans and a green salad, along with some kind of potato dish. We haven't decided on that, yet. We are having a fourless chocolate torte for dessert. It is from a Williams Sonoma cookbook.

I am thankful for...

Steady jobs for both Dave and myself
Healthy, happy children
The gluten-free section at Whole Foods
Good food
Good friends

I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving.

I just finished reading...

2008-11-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading an interesting book called Persepolis. It was written by Marjane Satrapi. Ms. Satrapi is the same age as me. She grew up in Iran, and this book is a story of her life. In a way, it is the history of my life, but from a different perspective. The same news events, different views. Here is the trailer from the movie, which I have not seen.

Baby It's Cold Outside

2008-11-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

It was 19 degrees Fahrenheit this morning. That is cold to me. That is all.

Exhaustion has set in

2008-11-20T16:16:00.000-08:00

That it has been a rough week is an understatement. I am very tired. But, we get an entire week off for Thanksgiving. I am ready for it. I plan to be creative. I plan to relax. I plan to play with the kids. On the other hand, Dave plans to paint, repair the garage door, and... I really wanted to go out of town for at least a few days. The littles and I might head to Savannah to see my sister. Or we may just stay here.

She's Four!

2008-11-16T17:26:00.000-08:00

Here she is in a new dress from Mimaugh. Note that the baby doll also has on a new dress from Mimaugh. The doll dress is one of a pair (you know, Bitty Baby has a twin) and both are hand smocked, just like Amy's dress. Don't you just love grandmothers?

I found gluten free doughnuts for her breakfast. She had french fries and fruit for lunch. She picked the local Mexican restaurant for dinner. It is easy to do gluten free at Mexican restaurants. There she had her first restaurant Sprite. Until now, she has had to drink juice in a sippy cup from home. Now she is a big girl and has transitioned to getting a Sprite every once in a while. Then we came back to the house for gluten free chocolate cake. She was excited for everyone to have gluten free cake. (Every once in a while she says, "Mom, do you remember when I was a gluten girl?")

This Week...

2008-11-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

Dinners:
Sunday: Georgia Shrimp with gluten free past, gluten free home made bread (a first), salad
Monday: Hamburgers on the grill (local beef), salad
Tuesday: Free Range Chicken in the crock pot, fruit and cheese
Wednesday: Fast food due to tennis
Thursday: Chili (although not Margret's complicated one)
Friday: Chicken salad, gluten free bread
Saturday: Probably Los Arcos

On the calendar:
Sunday: Championship winning team soccer party
Monday: LEGO Robotics work session
Tuesday: Fiber Art Fusion
Wednesday: Tennis
Thursday: NOTHING
Friday: Soccer game
Saturday: Hair cut

A documentary I cannot wait to see...

2008-11-08T10:56:00.001-08:00

A high school acquaintance of mine is producing a documentary about the campaign of President-elect Barak Obama. I am glad we have HBO, and not just for Bill Maher, although he is reason enough.

I VOTED!

2008-11-04T13:28:00.001-08:00

I voted. There was no line. I got there at 3:10 and was done at 3:20. I love voting!

A House Full of Kids

2008-11-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, I have to work, but the older kids don't have school. Amy has school, and Sam will go to his sitter's. However, my husband just said something about having a house full of kids tomorrow. I don't think having the older two constitutes a house full of kids. He assured me that normal people think that two kids is plenty.

Ed is excited about going with his dad to vote. I will vote on my way home. Have I mentioned how much I love voting? And I heard a couple of rumors...Krispy Kreme will give a free doughnut to people who vote. And Starbucks will give free coffee to people who vote.

Baby Quilt Pictures And a Hodge Podge of Other Stugg

2008-11-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

Here is the baby quilt. I tried to channel Debra Spincic when I was working on it. I love her fabric combinations, and I was trying to go outside of my box a little on this one. I was planning on a piano keys border for the last border, but I ran out of time. It was going to be pink and ivory. I wish I had found the time to do that. The mother-to-be was thrilled with the quilt, though.

Thanks for all the nice emails about Amy. I think she was less hurt than I was. I am a little overprotective of her because she does have fragile health. I know it is not right to do this, but I worry every day that she will show symptoms of juvenile diabetes. The celiac diagnosis has made my worry more intense. I know I can do nothing to change the future. If she is going to have diabetes, she is going to have it, and there is nothing I can do.

On a totally different note, I went out with some friends from work last night. We went to a tapas bar in the western part of the county. Whenever I get that far west, I feel like I am in Alabama. (No really, it isn't that bad over there.) There was a live band playing eighties covers. I had a couple of martinis. One was a pineapple upside down martini. The other was key lime pie. My friend had a manderin one that was really good, too. I have become a martini fan. The food was pretty good. The dancing was pretty bad. I had a really nice time. I need to get out more often. One thing that bothered me, though, was the waiter kept rubbing my back when he was taking our order. Maybe that is ok? I don't know. I am just not that touchy-feely, I guess.

And one more thing, I found a gluten free bread machine mix a Kroger today. It was really good. We had it with gluten free pasta for dinner. I used to make the Publix Apron meal most weeks. Most of them have gluten, so I have stopped that. I am feeling a little more in control of things right now, so maybe I will start searching out some new gluten free recipes.

Lastly, does anyone else remember watching "Hodge Podge Lodge" on PBS when they were little?

I don't have the strength to be a mom to a little girl

2008-11-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

Amy and I went to a birthday party today. The other little girls decided to be mean to my child. One of them spit in her face. And the other moms just stood there. No one said anything. Anything. I could not believe it. So we left. And I had to make someone else move their car so we could leave. I am so hurt for my child. Is this a typical little girl thing? I hope not.

I made a quilt this weekend

2008-10-27T18:39:00.001-07:00

And at some point, I will upload the pictures. It is a baby quilt. I just thought I would pop in and say hello.

Someone to clean the house

2008-10-23T21:36:00.000-07:00

I am seriously thinking of paying someone to clean the house. I just can't do it all. With three kids playing soccer every weekend, one taking ballet, one playing chess, and one playing tennis, doing robotics, playing the cello, etc. I just cannot keep up. So I think I will give up cleaning toilets and mopping floors. Is that ok?

That said, in geometry tomorrow we are starting a unit on similarity and proportion. I am kicking it off with a short clip from a DVD about the making of Star Wars. It is about how they used scale models to do the special effects. I hope the kids like it. They are also doing a project where they have to enlarge a piece of art. I gave them several choices, including pictures of both presidential candidates. Many of them would rather draw than eat, so I think they will have fun with it.

Well, I should try to get some sleep.

My First Memory

2008-10-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

Jane Ann wrote about her first memory. Here is mine...

I was three years old. We drove to Colorado to spend a week at a cabin in Estes Park. I don't remember driving to Colorado, although I am told that my older sister had a colorful language experience in my grandparents' car looking for a hotel in Kansas somewhere. She was five at the time. Anyway, I do remember spending the week in the park. I had my first pair of genuine Levis jeans. I went "fishing" in a stream with a stick and yard. The yarn was aqua, so my grandma must have been knitting or crocheting something aqua. My aunt and uncle were there. I remember brushing my aunt's really long hair. I remember feeding chipmunks. I remember there was mud outside the cabin when we arrived and that my grandma didn't want her shoes to get muddy.

I wish I could find my pictures. They are in a box in the basement in a photocube that my aunt and uncle gave me. That photocube sat beside my bed for many years. A couple of years ago, Ed saw it and thought I was him in the pictures. I was hair-challenged when I was young. I didn't really get hair until I was three. My almost two year old has more hair than I did in those pictures.

Anyway, that is my earliest memory. I love the Rocky Mountains. My aunt had us singing, "America, The Beautiful" while we hiked in the purple mountain majesties. And everytime I hear that song, I think of that trip.

This week

2008-09-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

Let's see...This week I proctored a math tournament on Monday, I went to a class on teaching exceptional children on Tuesday, Wednesday I tutored calculus after school, Thursday I made an incredible salad for dinner, Friday I went to a fun party, I went to two soccer games on Saturday, and today I got Alex his required reading book and some new shoes and boots for me. That is my week in a nutshell.

A couple of weeks ago, I was buying Amy ballet slippers. This week, I bought little Mia Hamm shin guards and soccer socks. She had her first game on Saturday. I was really worried that she would just stand around, but she did not. She played pretty well. She dribbled the ball down the field. She passed to a teammate. She scored a goal. She had fun. I have to get a picture of all the kids in their uniforms for you all.

In other news...
Alex participated in the math tournament on Monday night. He starts tennis team this week.
Ed is bored in school, as usual. However, he has been taking extra work with him and doing that instead of coloring. He is participating in chess again this year.
Amy is still loving ballet class. She likes to demonstrate her dance moves, although sometimes she segues into Camp Rock moves.
Sam likes to tell people he is a "big BOY!" It is pretty funny.

Another week gone by

2008-09-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

It was a busy week at school, and I am taking a class one night a week, so that takes up some time, too. I suspect this week will be busy, too.

This morning, the littles and I went to an antiques festival in Marietta Square. I found a great table made from an old barn door. I should have bought it. I am sitting here regretting that I do not own it. I really am. And I didn't even pick up a card from the dealer so I could call him later. I want that table. It was gorgeous. So now I am thinking that I need to drive to Ohio and see if the people who bought my grandparents' barn will sell me the door. Which would be so much more expensive than the table was. And what are the chances that these people would sell me the door? They might just think I was completely off my rocker. (And they might be right.) Of course, my parents are there this weekend. My dad might just be up for the adventure, but I don't know how they would get the door to me. And my mom would definitely think I was odd. And I don't know how to make a door into a table. I mean, I could probably figure it out, but it certainly would have been easier just to buy that table. And perhaps my grandparents barn has been long since knocked down because it was in tough shape when we sold it. Maybe I could just haunt antique stores until I find one. Or look for a closer barn to find a door.

Other than that, we are just waiting for the guys to get home from tennis/soocer/soccer so we can have some dinner. It has been a pretty lazy afternoon.

My Sweet Little Girl

2008-09-12T18:06:00.000-07:00

This week at Amy's school, they started after school ballet classes. When I picked her up, she was talking all about this ballet class. I asked, and the teacher just said that they let her try it out that afternoon. I asked Amy if she wanted to take ballet classes, and she said she did. So I got the sign up information and went to get Sam at his sitter's. The sitter asked me if Amy was signed up for ballet. I said she wasn't currently, but that I was going to fill out the form and mail the check the next day since she loved the free trial-class so much.

Turns out, it was not a free trial-class. My precocious daughter had convinced a group of four adults that she was indeed registered for ballet class, and that they must have made some mistake. They actually believed her.

So now Amy is officially registered to take her second ballet class on Monday. I get to go buy ballet shoes this weekend. I hope they still come with the elastic not attached so I can sew it on. I took ballet for 8 years, and I am very excited that Amy is taking it.

You see, I am one of those people that other people thing over-schedule their kids. They all do a couple of activities. But we still have dinner as a family every night of the week except one. And that one night is because I have a class on teaching exceptional children for seven weeks. After that, we will be back eating together every night. (The class is required for certification as a highly qualified teacher in Georgia. It is actually rather interesting.) Well, Sam is not scheduled for any sports, yet, but I am sure he will play soccer in a couple of years when he is old enough.

Edited to add: The ballet slippers already had the elastic sewn on. It is not quite in the right place, but the shoes would come unraveled if I took it out to move it. So, it will stay where it is.

Interesting Times

2008-09-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

One cool thing a high school teacher gets to see is kids who are getting ready to vote for the first time. Every day, the discussion is interesting, deep, and well-researched. These students watched all the prime time coverage of both conventions. They are not only opinionated, they are well-informed. It is exciting to see people excited about an election.

I remember the first time I voted. It was the Democratic Primary in Maryland in 1988. I voted for Al Gore. I vote for Al Gore a lot, even when he is not on the ballot. (Not more than once in a single election, though. I wouldn't want you all thinking I am doing anything wrong. Unless you think that voting for Al Gore is wrong, and certainly that is your prerogative.) Back to 1988, my parents were both home from work sick that day. I drove them to the polls (in our white Plymouth Reliant K Car that you had to turn the AC off to have enough power to turn left, but that is another story) and made them vote. I voted absentee in my first general election, and not for Al Gore, because I was at school in another state.

So I realized that I have been voting for 20 years. I have never missed an election. I was 8 1/2 months pregnant when I voted in 2004. I got bumped to the front of the line because I am pretty sure the elderly gentleman working the polling place thought I was going to drop that baby right then and there. She arrived two weeks later to the day, and was 9lbs 3 oz, so I probably did look like I was ready to give birth. I was also pregnant when I voted in 2000, although not quite so far along. However, I did get bumped to the front of the line that time, too. Elderly gentlemen working polling places are very kind to pregnant women. I am happy to say that I will never vote pregnant again. In 2006, for the gubernatorial election, Sam was only a couple of weeks old. I had to take all of the children with me to vote. There was no line to speak of, so no getting bumped that time. I imagine that I will get to stand in line this time.

Using up scaps

2008-09-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

I love a big piece of fabric. Once I cut into a piece of fabric, I tend not to want to use it again. I don't know why, but I love yardage. If it is less than a half a yard, I don't think about using it. So today I decided to make something using only things I have cut into previously. This is what came out.
I squared-up some pieces of fabric, and then I started sewing them together at random. Then, I squared again, added a few pieces here and there, and made this thing. I was thinking of adding some appliqued circles, but now I am not sure. It is about 36 inches on one side. It looks like a baby's lovey to me. So it may be going to one of my many pregnant friends and colleagues. (It seems like I know a lot of pregnant people right now. Weird.)

I like this post

2008-09-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

I like to read the Mental Multivitamin blog. This post is one I enjoyed this morning. As someone who has been called an education snob more than once, well, let's just say I liked this post.

Margaret DOES have a blog

2008-09-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

My beautiful friend Margaret, who gave me all those gorgeous beads, and whom I adore with all my heart, has a blog. I cannot wait until she puts up pictures of the wonderful things she makes. So here it is: Fiber Dream Diva.

This is Peter Salett, a guy I knew in middle school

2008-08-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

Busy Saturday

2008-08-30T09:27:00.001-07:00

After a crisis at school this week, I didn't think my piece would make it to Breaking Traditions. There just wasn't a day I could leave early enough to get to the post office. Luckily, Lynn Krawcyzk, who curates (and everything else) the show, allowed me to mail it today. So the little people and I got to the post office at 8:30 this morning when it opened. A Tree Grows in... is safely on its way to Michigan. This is the fourth time I have had a piece in a show, and I am thinking I should try to make something for a juried show next. I am still thinking on that.

After the post office, I realized I needed a file off my computer at school to write a test this weekend. So we drove over to school because usually someone is there on Saturday mornings. Well, someone had a flat tire, so the school was locked. No file for me this weekend. That will teach me to put EVERYTHING on my jump drive.

Next, we made a quick trip to the Target. I decided to go to the one by school in case the flat tire got fixed and I could get into the building after all. Well, that is the last time I go to that Target. I live in an affluent area, but my school is on a totally different economic plane. It makes a huge difference in what Target stocks, the attitude of the employees and security, and just the general cleanliness of the store. It was kind of sad.

The flat tire still wasn't fixed, so I headed back towards this side of town. I wanted to pick up some goggles for a college freshman that I know who needs a good care package. I know which ones she uses, and I know they carry them at a local swim store. (These goggles are a little beyond what Target carries.) The swim store was supposed to open at 10. It was almost 11 when I got there, and it was closed. So no goggles this weekend.

Then I had to go to four different stores before I could find something that Dave had requested. The crappy Target didn't have it. The nice Target didn't have it. Publix and Walgreens didn't have it. Finally, I found it in Rite Aid. And I bought every one that they had. (I am hoping by typing this, in a couple of months when I need to find the item again, I can remember I found it at Rite Aid.)

By then, the little people were hungry, although they were not whiney. The second part may have had something to do with the toys they got at the crappy Target. So we made a quick trip through the McDonald's drive through. The two split a Happy Meal, with Sam eating the chicken nuggets and gluten-free Amy having the fries. We add fruit and yogurt at home, and they are both happy, although they are beginning to argue over the toy. (Which will wind up in the trash by the end of the day.)

So now, it is not even 1:00, and we are back home from our somewhat successful morning. Dave and the big kids are at soccer practice. The littles will go down for a nap soon, and I am going to go play in the studio. I want to do some more dimensional work.

A Mid-Week Post

2008-08-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

That probably doesn't need a hyphen, does it Kory?

It is another crazy week here. I was at school until almost 9 last night for Open House. This event is when the parents come to school in the evening to meet their kids' teachers. I attended the two for my boys last week.

I have been thinking lately how much my kids are growing up. My oldest is in eighth grade. Some days I wonder where the past 13 years have gone. Other days, I think I can feel every second of it. Sam is almost two. Sam and Alex are 12 years apart in school years, so when Alex is a senior in high school, Sam will be in kindergarten. We have quite the spread. (And we get asked if we are Catholic a lot. We are not. We just cannot get pregnant when we want to, and cannot not get pregnant when we don't want to.) Amy is growing up quickly. She wears a lot of her cousins' hand-me-down clothes. She had on a dress today that was my niece's. My niece is not a freshman in high school. Ed is one of those kids who is brilliant, a great athlete, and most things just come easy to him. And if it doesn't come easy to him, he can be very persistent.

Other random thoughts... I just finished Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I am glad she is wrote a sequel, which will come out next year. I really was never single as a grown-up. I married Dave when I was 22 and had Alex at 25. When I read about some of the things single people get to do, I get a little envious. But, I love Dave and love my kids, so I am where I want to be. However, I really want to go to Italy. (Except when I remember Rian's experience.) Someday, I will. Maybe. But for now, a relaxing couple of weeks at the beach condo is what I really love to do on vacation.

Have I mentioned how much I love teaching AP Calculus? I really love teaching AP Calculus.

Well, that is all. I have many other random thoughts. Some I am not allowed to share. One that I can share is that I want a chicken biscuit for breakfast tomorrow, so I may have to go to Chick-fil-a on my way to school. Another is that the Fresh Produce store in the Avenue in East Cobb gives teachers a 20% discount every day. I saved $27 this weekend. So my sister-in-law got a better present and I got a new Vera Bradley Puccini backpack and key/cellphone case. I want to be a cross of Sharon, Rian, Rebecca, and Debra when I grow up. And Margaret, but she doesn't have a blog!

Time to put some little people to bed.

The plans for this week

2008-08-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

Well, food plans fell apart a little last week. With Dave going out of town, soccer practice starting, and two PTA/Back to School meetings, life got a little hectic. So this week, I concentrated on crock pot type meals for the week. Oh, and one day of gluten free mac and cheese.

Dinner Plans:
Sunday--Los Arcos for SIL's birthday
Monday--Chicken and mushrooms in the crock pot
Tuesday--Mac and Cheese
Wednesday--Ribs in the crock pot
Thursday--Turkey and black bean chili in the crock pot
Friday--Baked chicken (maybe for a salad)

To accomplish:
Birthday present for A
Mail A Tree Grows In... piece
Pick up art from Margaret
Get UTEE pot (maybe, but really, I loved making those beads...)
Some sort of art
Tuesday--PTA at OHS (yes, I am a member of 3 PTA's and 1 PTO), A soccer practice
Wednesday--Tennis Meeting
Thursday--E soccer practice

A Tree Grows in...

2008-08-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

Here is the piece I just finished for the Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit at the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan. The show is September 26-28 at the Rock Financial Center. Last year, Family Values: Nursing Mom was in the show. This year, the show is a little different. All the pieces will be the same size and hung next to each other to create the illusion of one giant quilt. Pretty cool. And, the proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society in conjunction with Fiber Art for a Cause.

Here is a silk ribbon butterfly.

A silk ribbon flower and a leaf turning colors.
More silk ribbon flowers.

The silk ribbon came from Nicholas Kniel's shop, always an exciting and pleasant adventure. The flowers are in his book, which is to die for. It has directions for all sorts of incredible ribbon flowers. The trunk is a bunch of different kinds of yarn couched to the background of hand-dyed blue fabric.

Now if I can figure out how to ship it without the flowers being crushed.

The theme this year is Celebrating Care Givers. Trees provide many of the same things care givers do. They provide shelter, life giving oxygen, shade, fruit, and beauty. The one turning leaf represents all of the care givers who give all of themselves. So many care givers give so much, that they neglect their own needs. The butterfly represents hospice. Well, I am still working on the artist statement.

And here is a picture of Amy.

The Second Week of School Plans

2008-08-17T12:25:00.001-07:00

Dinner:
Sunday: Salmon on the grill, salad
Monday: Barbecue beef in the crock pot
Tuesday: Pick up Wendy's on the way home
Wednesday: Grilled chicken salad
Thursday: Baked Ziti
Friday: Eat out
Saturday: Baked chicken

To Accomplish:
Monday: At school early to watch first GT class, EK dentist
Tuesday: HTMS PTA meeting and Open House, DK NC
Thursday: EK Soccer, TES PTA meeting and Open House

A little bit of nothing

2008-08-10T16:58:00.000-07:00

So I was back at work all week. I really like teaching high school math, but I also loved being home all the time, but I really love saving money for college tuitions and retirement, but getting six people out of the house in the mornings is hard, but... Well, I could go on forever. It is what it is.

I have been walking 5-6 days a week. It feels really great. I have dropped about 10 lbs in the last month. I am also doing the 8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise. It is quick, easy, and a good work out. I definitely see the difference.

With my daughter having celiac disease and my oldest having high cholesterol, we have really had to change how we eat. Having a plan for the week is helping there. Part of the problem is that Alex cannot lose any weight. Most people, when they lower their cholesterol, also need to lose weight. If anything, Alex could afford to gain a few pounds. We are working at it. Reading the chapter in the You the Owners Manual was very helpful to both of us. When we went shopping for lunches today, he picked out turkey hot dogs, Sun Chips, and low fat yogurt. I was proud of him for being able to do that.

School starts tomorrow. I better pack back packs and lunches. Have a great week!

Next Week's Plan

2008-08-10T16:54:00.000-07:00

Well, this week went pretty well. I got all of the reading done, and none of the sewing or yard work. Oh well.

Dinner plans:
Sunday: Baked chicken, potatoes on the grill, apple slices
Monday: Crockpot turkey chili
Tuesday: Fresh tomato spaghetti
Wednesday: Salmon, salad
Thursday: Chicken Salad
Friday: Grilled chicken salad
Saturday: Turkey burgers

To Accomplish:
Finish Tree Wall Hanging
Mail Tree Wall Hanging to Breaking Traditions
Frame bird picture
Attend FAF
All kids and mom have a successful first week of school

Planning this week

2008-08-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

Dinners
Sunday--turkey burgers, grilled potatoes, salad
Monday--fresh tomatoes on spaghetti
Tuesday--grilled chicken salad
Wednesday--grilled salmon, green beans, baked potatoes
Thursday--turkey chili in the crock pot, frozen veggies, salad
Friday--fruit, cheese, crackers, salad
Saturday--tuna salad over mixed greens

Things to accomplish

ribbon flowers for tree
read 1st chapter of Elegant Universe
finish The Mysterious Benedict Society
read first chapter of You the Owners Manual and discuss with Alex
first lesson in Latin
get one beaded jewelry book and supplies to make a project
get bird picture framed
weed bed at end of driveway

Tomorrow is the day

2008-08-03T13:27:00.001-07:00

I go back to work tomorrow. I had so much fun being home this summer. We played. We learned. We went to the beach. We did some art. We spent a lot of time in doctors' offices and waiting for test results. We are still waiting for some test results. We also got organized so that this school year should go more smoothly.

This week, Dave is home with the kids while I go to pre-planning. This semester, I am only teaching one new class, AP Calculus AB, and I have a lot of help with that one. I am also teaching geometry, but I did that last semester and feel pretty good about it. I have made some changes in how I will teach it based on last semester's results.

I am going to try to keep up with my art and my blog this year. I missed doing art last year, and I think my life suffered a bit because of it. My art plans include:

Finishing my tree piece for Breaking Traditions
Learning to make beaded jewelry
Making fiber books
Doing an exploration of 3-D fiber art to prepare for next year's Fiber Art Fusion show.

I have the kids' afterschooling plans made out.

Alex

Latina Christiana I
You The Owners Manual by Dr. Oz and Dr. Rosien
History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer
Classical Writing Aesop using the older beginner's workbook

Prima Latina
Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer and supplemental books
Classical Writing Aesop and the workbook
Copywork based on Barak Obama speeches

Amy

Get Ready for the Code
Counting lots of stuff

Sam just gets lots of hugs and stories read to him.

I will try not to fall off the face of the earth again. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I go into this next school year.

The Fiber Art Fusion Show

2008-07-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a post that Virginia Greaves did about our Fiber Art Fusion Show.

What Fun!

2008-07-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got to help hang Fiber Art Fusion's show at The Art Place gallery in Marietta, Georgia. The title of the show is Transformations. There are some incredible pieces at the show. It will be up until August 22. If you are in the area, stop by. I have three small pieces in the show, and one that my geometry classes made.

New Work and the Kids

2008-07-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a 4x6 piece I did. You cannot see it very well, but there is a map of Europe stamped on the lutridor. The charms are stamps on shrink plastic.

And here are my two youngest children.

Gifts from Margaret

2008-07-15T11:47:00.001-07:00

Here are pictures of my wonderful gifts from Margaret. Thank you very much. After I post this, I am going to add beads to something...

Another 5x7 and a Trip to Margaret's House

2008-07-14T17:11:00.001-07:00

Well, blogger won't let me upload any pictures right now. Suffice it to say, I worked on another 5x7, and I was going to show it to you.

My three youngest and I visited my friend Margaret this morning. I wish I could point you to a site with Margaret's beautiful work on it, but I don't think her work is on the internet anywhere. Margaret, we need to fix this problem. Margaret does the most exquisite bead work and crazy quilting. She is an important and integral part of Fiber Art Fusion. And she is one of the most generous people you could ever meet.

I mentioned in an email that I wanted to go bead shopping and asked for suggestions for bead stores. Margaret invited me over to shop in her home. (I would love to show you pictures of the beautiful beads Margaret gave me, but blogger won't let me.) Not only did she give me beautiful beads, she also gave me some sweet little ceramic pots, and some gorgeous velvet that Nicholas Kneil had given her. (And in my mind, it is leftovers from some beautiful designer gown that Nicholas was involved in making. Probably not, but I can pretend...)

Margaret also entertained my children with matchbox cars, colored pencils, an electric pencil sharpener (Sam is finally clean, Margaret,) and Mardi Gras beads. We have all been wearing bead necklaces all day.

So thank you a million times Miss Margaret. You are one sweet, classy, and wonderful lady!

Abstract??

2008-07-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

At Fiber Art Fusion, a friend said she was going to try to work in non-abstract (I know there is a word, but it is escaping me) for a change. Well, I decided to try something more abstract. So I am trying some 5x7 pieces with different techniques. On this one, I just sewed various blue-green fibers onto a black piece of fabric. The black fabric was fused to a piece of interfacing to facilitate sewing. I used invisible thread and my darning foot with a small zigzag stitch. Then I fused it to a piece of Peltex for stability. Here is a close-up shot.

I think this could make a good ocean background. I was going to add some shells, but I really like it the way it is.

Chicken Mummy Day 1

2008-07-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

Here is our chicken mummy on day 1. I hope this works and doesn't just make a smelly mess. So far, we washed him, put him in a plastic bag, and covered and filled him with salt. Then we washed our hands really well. Ed, Amy, and Sam are involved so far. I think Alex will get in on it before the end.

Next step in our history study is to put a time line up. I am trying to figure out the best place. I think we will use the upstairs hallway. If anyone has done this, please let me know how long your time line was, and if you did all time on it, or divided it up by what you were studying. I know I cannot put Big Bang on one end and today on the other and just divide time because everything would happen in the last few inches. I was thinking of starting around 7000 BC and going to now, and put an arrow on the end saying 5 miles to the beginning of time or something like that. Any opinions?

Another day, another appointment

2008-07-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

Now that I am teaching, I make a lot of doctor and dentist appointments for the summer. Today I took my oldest to the dentist. I just realized that on all the millions of forms I had to sign, I put yesterday's date. Ugh. At least they let me fill out all the paper work for the middle two who go in 11 days today. (Or yesterday, I guess.)

I ran two miles the morning. Well, I walked about 1/4 of one mile up hill. Those hills are killing me. Tomorrow I am going to add in some distance.

Today, I am going to work on a 5x7 piece for the Fiber Art Fusion show at The Art Place on Sandy Plains Road.

Fractured Quilt

2008-07-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

Last night at Fiber Art Fusion, we had a new member. He has just moved here from Northern California. (He told me the town, and now I can only remember that it was 2 hours north of San Francisco.) Anyway, he and I were talking about doing a fractured quilt. So if any of you Fiber Art Fusion ladies are reading this, think about it. He said we could just do one with the two of us if no one else is interested.

One of the things I teach in geometry and algebra is proportions. To hook the kids on the first day, I do a fractured artwork piece with them. This first one is of a Picasso. It was done by my Algebra I students.

This second one was done by my geometry students. It is an Ellis Wilson print.

Thunderstorms

2008-07-08T06:21:00.000-07:00

When we were in Florida, there were storms almost every day. Now that we are back home, the same phenomenon is happening here. Just as Dave and Alex were going out to play tennis last night, a nasty storm came in. We were even under a severe thunderstorm warning for a while.

Tonight is my Fiber Art Fusion meeting. I have to remember to attend the meeting. Actually, remembering to attend is not the problem. It is remembering where the meeting is located that is that problem.

Off to work on the round robin piece for this month. One of these days I am going to work on it in advance...

P.S. I ran again this morning.

Monday Monday

2008-07-07T13:53:00.001-07:00

Have I mentioned how much I am enjoying being home for the summer? I really enjoyed teaching, but I am having fun relaxing with my kids, too. And I found the Natural Market today which has the mother lode of gluten free food. Even chicken nuggets. Yipee!

First some beach pictures...
Here is Sam on the beach his first day. He is running from the ocean. By the end of the two weeks he was running towards the ocean.

Amy loved the ocean from minute one. She loves boogie boarding and being out with the big kids, hence the life jacket.

This is Ed and his sand Sphinx. (I bought the chicken and salt for the chicken mummy today...)

Alex and his sand structure.

So before noon today, I managed to run two miles (well, I probably walked about 2/3 of a mile during it,) drop off a check at the sitter's, go to the bank, go to two grocery stores, and feed everyone lunch. This afternoon, the other calculus teacher came over and we set up a time line for the course. And now I am thinking about dinner. What should we have?

Oh, and if anyone runs, can you please tell me, am I going to start loving it soon? I did use the time to think about a lot of things. I had a little panic attack about calculus, but I am now over it. (It comes back, though, every once in a while.)

The part that makes me the most nervous about teaching is finding a way to fit everything in before the test. In Georgia, End Of Course Tests are given with about two weeks left in the semester. Considering the semester is 18 weeks long, and we lose about a week to other school activities, I have 15 weeks to teach 12 chapters of Geometry or Algebra I or whatever before that EOCT. We teach calculus year round, so I do have plenty of time for it. We plan to finish new material before spring break, and take the time after spring break to review for the early May AP (Advanced Placement) Exam. In geometry, I have to do a section a day to have any hope of keeping up. In calculus, I can take a couple of days per section and still have plenty of time to review. I am feeling better about it every day.

Fort Pierce

2008-07-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

I just got back from two weeks in Fort Pierce, Florida. We stayed in my sister's beach front condo. I'll post some pictures soon. I am trying not to fall back off the face of the earth. But, we don't have internet access at the condo. My husband did go into town to the Panera to do some work one day and use their Wifi. However, I didn't think it would be nice to take my gluten free child to Panera, so I didn't go.

Right before I left, I finished the t-shirt quilt. I forgot to take a picture before I delivered it. But, it went to the home of a professional photographer, so I am going to ask for a picture of it. Do you think that would be ok?

I got interviewed for an article for the Atlanta paper, but I was not mentioned. Oh well.

I am up to running a mile now. I want to be to three before school starts in the middle of August. It is hot, though. Right now, I run the first mile, walk 5 minutes, run another 5 minutes, walk 5 minutes, etc. until I have gone three miles.

I am currently reading The History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer. I am reading the children's version, Story of the World, to my seven year old. We are both learning a lot. He is fascinated by ancient Egypt. I can see a chicken mummy showing up in my life this week. He made the Sphinx out of sand at the beach.

I finished the calculus class. I am amazed at how much calculus I remember, and was surprised at how much you can do on a graphing calculator. Wow!

Quick Note

2008-06-19T03:31:00.000-07:00

I am taking a class about teaching AP Calculus this week. The first couple of days were pretty boring, but it has picked up as the week has gone on.

I quilted the t-shirt quilt last night. I will do the binding tonight. Then I will wash it, take pictures, and deliver it. YIPPEE!!

Today at the quilt store

2008-06-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

I decided that I didn't have enough of the fusible interfacing for the t-shirt quilt. So I did a "quick" run into Tiny Stitches. Did I say quick? Well, my good friend Sharon was working. I haven't seen Sharon in a while, so I had to talk with her. And then I fell in love with this line of fabric and had to get a couple of yards. I have no idea what I am going to do with it, but I like it.

When I got back, I got the mail. Our Latin curricula had arrived. We are all so excited to be starting Latin. Ed says we are going to sit around talking Latin so Dad cannot understand us. So far we have learned Hello is Salve, when you are talking to one person and Salvete when you are talking to more than one person. So I guess Caesar Augustus would say to the Senate, Salvete. Or maybe not.
And this is Amy eating her gluten-free waffle. They are kind of saw dust-esque. I need to go to the natural foods store to get some stuff for her.

Yesterday didn't turn out as I had hoped

2008-06-13T07:13:00.000-07:00

In the morning, I got a call from the kids' pediatrician. My daughter has Celiac Disease. This means she cannot eat gluten. Ever. Gluten is in everything. Everything. Ok, not everything, but a lot of stuff you wouldn't think about. Needless to say, it kind of threw me for a little while.

I did get the t-shirts cut out. I did not get them fused. That will happen today.

I didn't get to use the moon button. Maybe today...

A New Day

2008-06-12T05:21:00.001-07:00

I just finished my workout. I did a half hour of step aerobics to General Hospital. I can almost get all of General Hospital watched in a half hour.

Today I am going to do all the cutting and fusing for a t-shirt quilt. I don't really enjoy these, but this one is for a graduating senior who has been influential (in a great way) on the lives of my children. She saw another one that I did, and she thought it was more interesting than other ones she has seen. (She liked the lack of blank space.) So I said I would make it. And her mom is paying me, which will offset the writing curricula I am buying for the kids.

After I get the cutting and fusing done, I have this white button that has been sitting by my desk for a few days that is just asking to become a moon. So I am going to start a piece where it can be the moon. So here's hoping that whatever top it is from never needs its spare button...

It has been forever

2008-06-11T09:03:00.001-07:00

I finally finished something. My fiber arts group, Fiber Art Fusion, is having a show at the end of July. I finished my piece for it yesterday. And, Dave found the digital camera, so I could take pictures of it. It is a little accordion fold book. The theme of the show is Transformation. I took all of the same shapes, the house and the moon, and made them with different colors, textures, and put them in different places. In math, a transformation is when you move a thing to a new place. So it is kind of a geometry thing, too, since that is what I taught this year. The original idea for these little house pictures came from Deborah Boschert's book, Small Art Quilts, Creating a Series.

9 x 12 Round Robin

2008-01-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

Fiber Art Fusion is having a 9 x 12 Round Robin. 12 of us created a 9 x 12 base from which to start. Each month it visits a new person. That person will embellish the piece. The next month it will move on to the next person. Next January, we will have our finished pieces. It should be a lot of fun. I won't get to post pictures in progress, though, because we are trying to keep them a secret from their original owner. So here is mine at the beginning. We'll see what we get in a year...
I made this little journal to travel with the piece so people could write their thoughts.

Amazing Race Birthday Party

2008-01-12T17:47:00.000-08:00

Today, my Ed turned seven years old. Wow. That is hard to believe. He is my second child. (My first will be 13 in a couple of month. How did that happen?) We had 5 of his friends over for a birthday party today. We did our own Amazing Race. Each child was given a Magic Tree House reference book about space, and a map of the house with different rooms labeled the names of the planets, Pluto, and the Moon. (Some of the planets were outside, too.) Anyway, they were given clues and had to figure out using their books which planet they were supposed to visit next. Some of the planets had tasks for them to do, like bowl three frames of Wii bowling, or do 10 sit-ups. They all had a blast. One of the teams could read much better than the other teams, and they won. I did follow one team around so I could help them with their reading. But really, they all had a lot of fun. And, of course, no one was ready to leave when their mom came. And one mom said, "Leave it to Julie to have a birthday party game that requires reading!"

Here is a picture of my kids a the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

It is 2008

2008-01-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

Wow. I cannot believe it is 2008. I started thinking of my accomplishments of 2007, and I think I had a decent year. I sold a house, got a job, got accepted into a teacher certification program, and had two quilts hang in shows for the first time ever. I made it through my first semester of teaching high school, and had the highest End of Course Test average of all of the Algebra I teachers in my school. I also sent out Christmas cards this year, which I never managed to do last year. (Well, they went out yesterday, so I guess they are New Years cards.)

This year my goal is to be more organized. I hope I can manage it.

Happy New Year!

Last Night at Fiber Art Fusion...

2007-12-12T15:59:00.000-08:00

Last night at Fiber Art Fusion we did a 5x7 fiber art exchange. What a blast. First of all, everything was incredible. There were so many different techniques and fibers and... Everything was unique. Anyway, I had a great time. Here is the piece I made for the exchange. It went home with my friend Heidi, who does incredible work herself.

Here is the piece that came home with me. It was made by Hellenne Vermillion. I love it, and it is already displayed in my home.

Oh well, life goes on...

2007-11-15T16:33:00.000-08:00

Alex did not get a part in Seussical. He was relieved, but a little sad. Anyway, he has moved on to other things, such as learning tennis from his dad.

I had a great time at Fiber Art Fusion Tuesday night. I just love getting together with those wonderful and creative women. My friend Heidi Miracle-McMahill is going to be in a art show on Sunday and I am very excited about seeing her. She had these incredible felted vessels at the meeting and I am going to buy a few.

I am also hoping to go to the open house at Shades Textiles this weekend. The whole artist colony behind the bowling alley in SoLoNoDo (south of the loop, north of Dobbins, according to Stacy Michell) is having an open house, so I am hoping to see some really great things.

Well, that is all for now.

The Ballet Mothers' Guild Changes Names

2007-11-12T18:14:00.000-08:00

When we were growing up, my sisters and I all took ballet classes. Each year, for many years, we were in a local production of The Nutcracker. My parents volunteered for the production--my dad worked on the sets and helped run the production back stage. My mom sewed many costumes. One year, my dad even recruited my grandpa to help back stage. They needed someone to work the pulley to make the tree grow.

For some reason, the group of moms meeting about the production needed a name, and they were called The Ballet Mothers' Guild. Well, my mom was a college professor. She did not have a lot of spare time on her hands. Not that my dad did, either. So they split all of these parenting things pretty much down the middle. So my dad started attending the Ballet Mothers' Guild meetings. And it brought about the name change. It was changed to the Ballet Parents' Guild. And suddenly, a lot more dads started attending. My parents were pioneers.

Since I went back to work, my husband has been doing a lot more of the parenting things. He has taken kids for check-ups. He attends things at school when I cannot. (Although I must say my supervisors are very good at making sure I can attend many school functions.) While I don't think he will be making any costumes for Seussical, (if Alex has a part because he didn't check today,) I know he will volunteer in some way or another. Especially since it is in between soccer seasons.

Postcard from my dyed fabric

2007-11-11T16:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a postcard I made from the fabric I dyed a couple of weeks ago. I am sending it to the woman who taught the class. Since the fabric must cure for at least 12 hours, she doesn't get to see the results. So I thought I would send her a small sample of the results. The buttons are from the sewing table of my great-grandmother. I found all sorts of goodies in the drawers. I have decided to use them instead of store them.

We are still waiting to hear about the Seussical part. We should know tomorrow. However, there were 7 boys at callbacks, and there are 7 boy parts in the show, so I think the odds are in his favor.