Experts will tell you that animals have no reasoning power...that their brain is not capable. I am OK with that because I know that they will run in front of an automobile.....and if they realized they were going to get smashed flat they would not. But...how about my Kami Kamelot!! Sometimes in the mornings when I am busy around the house trying to get Piper to eat and then attempting to coax Kami to eat things get interesting. Kami isn't much of a morning eater so she just conveniently disappears. No matter how much I call her or how many sweet things I call out to her she just doesn't appear. When I look for her she has disappeared. I check every known place that she hides and still no Kami. After Piper has finished eating her food and I am preparing her insulin shot I am talking to her. I tell her I need to give her a shot in her "scrunchy" which is that area of her shoulders that I was instructed to give her the injection. Kami is some where within hearing of this conversation....somehow!! As soon as Piper gets her shot in her "acrunchy" and is rewarded with her treat guess who magically appears for her treat! Yep, it is Princess Kami who could not be found when I was looking for her.
Just another morning in the life of an old, old woman and two schnauzers!!
Friday, August 16, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
MOS ( or More of the Same)
One certain legislator will not let it go when it comes to harassing liberals on social networking sites. He can be rather irritating. There comes a time when we need to shut our mouths and I plan to do that soon, I promise. It would be nice if he did the same. He just hasn't gotten his fill of giving it to teachers and the NCAE. He is so proud of himself and his other legislative "overhaulers" for getting rid of teacher tenure. It seems as though they think that is why educators are upset about the budget doings. So while they are wallowing in all of their glee most of the educators I have talked do could care less about tenure except that it seemed an effort to disrespect the profession.
There is an effort to push merit pay. While it may seem like the answer to making certain that good teachers are rewarded,it is a system resplendent with holes and gaps. Some years ago Wake County instituted such a plan. Teachers could opt in or not. Certain evaluators were trained from a core of educators and visited unannounced (supposedly) to the classroom of participating teachers and did evaluations. Based on what they saw and recorded after a certain number of visits teachers received an amount of extra pay. Watching this fiasco occur was an experience. Most teachers who participated prepared by learning the format being used for evaluation and designing their lessons to match. By and large teachers do plan and do follow the curriculum! They understand their subject(s) and how to teach it/them to meet the needs of their students. If lessons do not work or accomplish their purpose good teachers back up and come in at a different angle to try to nail the instruction. In the ways mentioned all instruction in Wake Schools was improved as all teachers received training in better methods of organizing and presenting materials. As will happen soon some folks being assessed tucked a lesson plan away in a convenient place with all of the bells and whistles an evaluator would love to see. When the evaluator arrived unannounced and the lesson in the natural rotation for that day didn't have the exciting factors evaluators loved to see, the teacher could pull out the special plan and put it to use, thus receiving a higher score. (This did happen!) Then there are some folks who have
personality conflicts. It happens and folks are not able to see beyond those factors when evaluating. Sometimes there are favorites and they are evaluated in that context receiving consistently high scores. These things actually happen in such a merit type situation. For those reasons those who work in the field do not receive news of the use of a merit system with open arms. However, I do believe that the lack of enthusiasm is falsely interpreted as being due to other factors.
Just my view....not yours!! Again, my blog....my opinion!
There is an effort to push merit pay. While it may seem like the answer to making certain that good teachers are rewarded,it is a system resplendent with holes and gaps. Some years ago Wake County instituted such a plan. Teachers could opt in or not. Certain evaluators were trained from a core of educators and visited unannounced (supposedly) to the classroom of participating teachers and did evaluations. Based on what they saw and recorded after a certain number of visits teachers received an amount of extra pay. Watching this fiasco occur was an experience. Most teachers who participated prepared by learning the format being used for evaluation and designing their lessons to match. By and large teachers do plan and do follow the curriculum! They understand their subject(s) and how to teach it/them to meet the needs of their students. If lessons do not work or accomplish their purpose good teachers back up and come in at a different angle to try to nail the instruction. In the ways mentioned all instruction in Wake Schools was improved as all teachers received training in better methods of organizing and presenting materials. As will happen soon some folks being assessed tucked a lesson plan away in a convenient place with all of the bells and whistles an evaluator would love to see. When the evaluator arrived unannounced and the lesson in the natural rotation for that day didn't have the exciting factors evaluators loved to see, the teacher could pull out the special plan and put it to use, thus receiving a higher score. (This did happen!) Then there are some folks who have
personality conflicts. It happens and folks are not able to see beyond those factors when evaluating. Sometimes there are favorites and they are evaluated in that context receiving consistently high scores. These things actually happen in such a merit type situation. For those reasons those who work in the field do not receive news of the use of a merit system with open arms. However, I do believe that the lack of enthusiasm is falsely interpreted as being due to other factors.
Just my view....not yours!! Again, my blog....my opinion!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Lamentations on Education
Most folk here in the Ole North State are somewhat sick of hearing about the behavior and actions of a certain group who met here in this city over the last six or so months. If that is the case with you then you just want to close this blog at this point.
Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am pretty much a "middle or the road" type with a conservative bend. I am just supposin' that we are what we are at heart and it is very hard to change our minds especially when you are old....I mean ancient, like me.
Lots is being printed and said now regarding the actions of this legislature just past due to legislation being put into place and a new school year looming not too many days away. As an educator my antenna is always tuned to "talk about education." One irritating issue is always the amount of money educational institutions receive as appropriated by the legislators. It would seem common sense to assume that as the cost of living rises each year so does the need to increase the amount of the appropriation to educational institutions. These folks must pay some of the same type of expenses we as individuals must pay to maintain daily life. It seems we would understand. There is so much opposition to increasing the budget each year.
This legislative year saw funding cuts for teaching assistants with the exception of kindergarten, funds withdrawn for extra pay for graduate degrees, funding cut and a program killed that funded education for academically gifted youngsters in exchange for a number of years of service to the state of NC, no raise or pay raise step for educators, and a number of other cuts.
The behaviors that just inflame one looking at these cuts is the knowledge that the governor and others (in his cabinet) have given their appointed cabinet members and some appointed state employees raises that sometimes totaled twenty thousand dollars or more claiming that this is needed to get the appointee to stay on the job or bring the pay up to a desired level all the while telling teachers you have no worth or need for more money thus not even a cost of living increase. Teachers start at a level and for some years their rate of pay qualifies them for food stamps and their children for subsidized lunches. Check it out. It is especially irritating knowing that in Wake County for instance a high number of teachers are not only certified by the state of NC but also have National Board Certification. This is evidently not important when you look at the fact that the legislature also passed a bill allowing charter schools to employee teachers without certification. One point used to rationalize this action indicated that there were people with skills from a trade or other vocation or field whose skills in math or some other subject could be used so --- why not---without certification as a teacher.???????? Go figure.....if it works for you...I would assume you are as they.
Another bothersome point to me has been the conversation from the governor and those in his cabinet and the legislature used to defend their actions. The words go along the lines of trying to introduce merit pay into the conversation rather than discuss why the cut to the various programs. The issues they are being asked about are as mentioned above ( i.e. cuts of assistant positions, lack of funding for graduate degrees, cut to pre-K programs, etc., etc.)
and these law makers want to defend with a conversation about merit pay.
Again, it is all lame. Their argument doesn't answer the concerns or questions.
I am an educator, it is in my blood. I love teaching and the teaching process, thus I care!
Again, my thoughts, not yours -- probably my opinion, not yours. And more importantly, my blog!
But I do wonder how other folks have filtered all of this.
*An after-thought.....I am beginning to note that the governor is sending his "boy-servant" out to run interference because he and his advisors know they have p_ _ _ the teachers and the entire education core off royally. He sat on his hands without challenging the legislature as they put all of those cuts in place. Not once was he known to have called them in or visited them to champion for students, schools, or educators. It has become evident with a display of educators that trouble is brewing for the next election. Will the teachers remember and keep their word on election day or will they be swayed by promises and "sweet talk?" Only time will tell about that.
**The BIGGER issue is whether something will be done do remedy cuts made to programs that impact students. That is the saddest part of cuts to programs. Some students really do need textbooks for learning. Those funds have been cut. Some students need the extra help teacher assistants can provide. Smaller class sizes really do make a difference.
Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am pretty much a "middle or the road" type with a conservative bend. I am just supposin' that we are what we are at heart and it is very hard to change our minds especially when you are old....I mean ancient, like me.
Lots is being printed and said now regarding the actions of this legislature just past due to legislation being put into place and a new school year looming not too many days away. As an educator my antenna is always tuned to "talk about education." One irritating issue is always the amount of money educational institutions receive as appropriated by the legislators. It would seem common sense to assume that as the cost of living rises each year so does the need to increase the amount of the appropriation to educational institutions. These folks must pay some of the same type of expenses we as individuals must pay to maintain daily life. It seems we would understand. There is so much opposition to increasing the budget each year.
This legislative year saw funding cuts for teaching assistants with the exception of kindergarten, funds withdrawn for extra pay for graduate degrees, funding cut and a program killed that funded education for academically gifted youngsters in exchange for a number of years of service to the state of NC, no raise or pay raise step for educators, and a number of other cuts.
The behaviors that just inflame one looking at these cuts is the knowledge that the governor and others (in his cabinet) have given their appointed cabinet members and some appointed state employees raises that sometimes totaled twenty thousand dollars or more claiming that this is needed to get the appointee to stay on the job or bring the pay up to a desired level all the while telling teachers you have no worth or need for more money thus not even a cost of living increase. Teachers start at a level and for some years their rate of pay qualifies them for food stamps and their children for subsidized lunches. Check it out. It is especially irritating knowing that in Wake County for instance a high number of teachers are not only certified by the state of NC but also have National Board Certification. This is evidently not important when you look at the fact that the legislature also passed a bill allowing charter schools to employee teachers without certification. One point used to rationalize this action indicated that there were people with skills from a trade or other vocation or field whose skills in math or some other subject could be used so --- why not---without certification as a teacher.???????? Go figure.....if it works for you...I would assume you are as they.
Another bothersome point to me has been the conversation from the governor and those in his cabinet and the legislature used to defend their actions. The words go along the lines of trying to introduce merit pay into the conversation rather than discuss why the cut to the various programs. The issues they are being asked about are as mentioned above ( i.e. cuts of assistant positions, lack of funding for graduate degrees, cut to pre-K programs, etc., etc.)
and these law makers want to defend with a conversation about merit pay.
Again, it is all lame. Their argument doesn't answer the concerns or questions.
I am an educator, it is in my blood. I love teaching and the teaching process, thus I care!
Again, my thoughts, not yours -- probably my opinion, not yours. And more importantly, my blog!
But I do wonder how other folks have filtered all of this.
*An after-thought.....I am beginning to note that the governor is sending his "boy-servant" out to run interference because he and his advisors know they have p_ _ _ the teachers and the entire education core off royally. He sat on his hands without challenging the legislature as they put all of those cuts in place. Not once was he known to have called them in or visited them to champion for students, schools, or educators. It has become evident with a display of educators that trouble is brewing for the next election. Will the teachers remember and keep their word on election day or will they be swayed by promises and "sweet talk?" Only time will tell about that.
**The BIGGER issue is whether something will be done do remedy cuts made to programs that impact students. That is the saddest part of cuts to programs. Some students really do need textbooks for learning. Those funds have been cut. Some students need the extra help teacher assistants can provide. Smaller class sizes really do make a difference.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
My View: The Obama Factor and the Legislature
What a political mess, nationwide and in this state! With all of the happenings as the legislative session ended here, one could not help but reflect on how we arrived at this point. When trying to unravel the events you find that state politics and national politics are intertwined as one impacts the other so drastically. But at this point in this long entry let me get one point straight initially, I am not a Jesse Helms type right winger but neither am I a Clinton type left winger. I suppose most people would call me the person on the fence and since I don't give a flip what people say that is OK with me!! I can do my own thinking, thank you.
North Carolina has always been somewhat conservative due to its agricultural holdings. However, with that being a fact in the time I have lived in this state the majority of governors have been Democratic. The Republican governors elected in the years with which I am familiar have been more middle of the road Republican. In addition to that the legislative body has never had a Republican majority until now.( In my day, anyway.) Therefore, I found myself pondering how this came about and how a Republican governor was elected, as well.
My conclusions were and remember this is only my opinion: North Carolina still remains anti-minority / integration -- whether Black or Hispanic, or Asian. North Carolina always favors and votes for the Republican candidate for president -- even Mitt Romney. In spite of the northern population influx here, there is really intense dislike for Obama so much so that the state swung right in most cases. For the first time in more years than anyone alive remembers NC wound up with a Republican governor and a Republican legislative majority. My thinking is that it all happened due to that one factor -- Obama.
The Republican politicians in this state had an agenda --I called it their Grudge-Bucket List. They had been threatening and complaining all while putting their list together and collecting grudges from their contributors and their supporters. All of those went on the G-B List and they just laid in wait for their day to come. Let me make it clear that I see nothing wrong with some of the items passed that were included on their G-B List!! I am just writing what I believe happened and trying to keep abreast of this argument I am trying to make.
I don't believe that John Q Public believed that those elected legislators would come to town and achieve what they have. Perhaps the citizenry believed all was idle threats or they were just not as attuned as they should have been. Some became convinced as the session moved along, but it really didn't matter. The legislators had an agenda and they were hell-bent on making it live!! And they did! Now comes the whining and the crying. The next several elections will tell the story in terms of results of what the majority believes, thinks and commits to in this state.
I still say, what a mess, folks!!
North Carolina has always been somewhat conservative due to its agricultural holdings. However, with that being a fact in the time I have lived in this state the majority of governors have been Democratic. The Republican governors elected in the years with which I am familiar have been more middle of the road Republican. In addition to that the legislative body has never had a Republican majority until now.( In my day, anyway.) Therefore, I found myself pondering how this came about and how a Republican governor was elected, as well.
My conclusions were and remember this is only my opinion: North Carolina still remains anti-minority / integration -- whether Black or Hispanic, or Asian. North Carolina always favors and votes for the Republican candidate for president -- even Mitt Romney. In spite of the northern population influx here, there is really intense dislike for Obama so much so that the state swung right in most cases. For the first time in more years than anyone alive remembers NC wound up with a Republican governor and a Republican legislative majority. My thinking is that it all happened due to that one factor -- Obama.
The Republican politicians in this state had an agenda --I called it their Grudge-Bucket List. They had been threatening and complaining all while putting their list together and collecting grudges from their contributors and their supporters. All of those went on the G-B List and they just laid in wait for their day to come. Let me make it clear that I see nothing wrong with some of the items passed that were included on their G-B List!! I am just writing what I believe happened and trying to keep abreast of this argument I am trying to make.
I don't believe that John Q Public believed that those elected legislators would come to town and achieve what they have. Perhaps the citizenry believed all was idle threats or they were just not as attuned as they should have been. Some became convinced as the session moved along, but it really didn't matter. The legislators had an agenda and they were hell-bent on making it live!! And they did! Now comes the whining and the crying. The next several elections will tell the story in terms of results of what the majority believes, thinks and commits to in this state.
I still say, what a mess, folks!!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Playing Political Football
Throughout this legislative session I have commented on the crazy seemingly outlandish 'doings" and behaviors of the representatives participating. Their job has been a difficult one in determining what to do in attending to the needs of the state while balancing a budget in difficult economic times. However, it has been obvious that the majority of this group had an agenda or a bucket list they had been saving for decades to reform and undo the laws of the Ole North State. It makes one wonder why people have flocked to this state to live and work since the 1950's if it had so much that needed correcting!!
Some of the laws that have been undone and some that have been passed seem to be part of a political agenda that is vindictive. It makes me think of a "Gotcha Plan." One is left to wonder how long it will take the other party to undo what this group has spent so much doing in this session.
I do not pretend to be an authority on politics or economics but I am not exactly stupid either. Considering myself more of an Independent politically, I often can see both sides of an issue while trying to weigh which side has more to gain and which more to lose when a bill is passed or changed. It would seem to me that this would be the job of those elected. However, as constituents, we all feel our area or district will profit more if legislation goes our way rather than looking at the big picture of what is best or better for the state.
Perhaps I have a one-sided or lopsided view of Education and how it has been dealt with by this legislative session but I prefer to think otherwise. I spent many years in a career in the field. Personal experiences carve their meaning on your soul. I have had experience(s) teaching school in three states. I started so many years ago that I can remember difficult days that teachers today can only fathom. Pay was little, materials were few, support was meager at best if at all, yet we loved what we were doing. Some of us were born with the desire to teach hidden deep, deep, inside of us. Thus, we persevered throughout difficult days and years. Today due to advances of society in regard to women, teachers are not sticking with a difficult career but are ready to move to another field when their expectations flounder. The handwriting is on the wall yet politicians refuse to see. In this legislative session tenure has been pulled from teachers. Why?? My view is that teachers having tenure presents evaluators with the task of not just appearing in a classroom and flipping out an evaluation or perhaps not appearing and flipping out an eval but documenting a number of times a weakness or problem, of or, with an individual after having met with him or her individually initially and providing an avenue for training and or correction and then re-evaluating. The preferred way is to fire an individual on the spot without due process. The latter leaves open avenues to be discussed in another post.
Another issue is the removal of increased pay for advanced education. I can visualize teachers fleeing with this their plight. Who wants to further their education and skills at considerable cost plus an investment of time and energy when it doesn't seem to matter? What happened to the talk about improving teaching techniques for the benefit of students or the ever popular Quality Education??? Apparently it doesn't matter to these legislators. Another "bragging point" has been the number of teachers in North Carolina with National Board Certification proving their abilities. Not important, now!!
Another sore spot is the encouraging of parents to find other means of educating youngsters with the implication that public schools are not desirable. The insinuation is that better education can be found by accepting vouchers to charter and private schools and that the state should fund these by taking these funds out of the public education funds. While legislators have lots of jargon and rhetoric to support this, it is difficult to understand. It would seem that they might have considered taking funds from another source rather than the public school allotment to support privatization.
What a convoluted mess!!! Who has an answer for this??
Some of the laws that have been undone and some that have been passed seem to be part of a political agenda that is vindictive. It makes me think of a "Gotcha Plan." One is left to wonder how long it will take the other party to undo what this group has spent so much doing in this session.
I do not pretend to be an authority on politics or economics but I am not exactly stupid either. Considering myself more of an Independent politically, I often can see both sides of an issue while trying to weigh which side has more to gain and which more to lose when a bill is passed or changed. It would seem to me that this would be the job of those elected. However, as constituents, we all feel our area or district will profit more if legislation goes our way rather than looking at the big picture of what is best or better for the state.
Perhaps I have a one-sided or lopsided view of Education and how it has been dealt with by this legislative session but I prefer to think otherwise. I spent many years in a career in the field. Personal experiences carve their meaning on your soul. I have had experience(s) teaching school in three states. I started so many years ago that I can remember difficult days that teachers today can only fathom. Pay was little, materials were few, support was meager at best if at all, yet we loved what we were doing. Some of us were born with the desire to teach hidden deep, deep, inside of us. Thus, we persevered throughout difficult days and years. Today due to advances of society in regard to women, teachers are not sticking with a difficult career but are ready to move to another field when their expectations flounder. The handwriting is on the wall yet politicians refuse to see. In this legislative session tenure has been pulled from teachers. Why?? My view is that teachers having tenure presents evaluators with the task of not just appearing in a classroom and flipping out an evaluation or perhaps not appearing and flipping out an eval but documenting a number of times a weakness or problem, of or, with an individual after having met with him or her individually initially and providing an avenue for training and or correction and then re-evaluating. The preferred way is to fire an individual on the spot without due process. The latter leaves open avenues to be discussed in another post.
Another issue is the removal of increased pay for advanced education. I can visualize teachers fleeing with this their plight. Who wants to further their education and skills at considerable cost plus an investment of time and energy when it doesn't seem to matter? What happened to the talk about improving teaching techniques for the benefit of students or the ever popular Quality Education??? Apparently it doesn't matter to these legislators. Another "bragging point" has been the number of teachers in North Carolina with National Board Certification proving their abilities. Not important, now!!
Another sore spot is the encouraging of parents to find other means of educating youngsters with the implication that public schools are not desirable. The insinuation is that better education can be found by accepting vouchers to charter and private schools and that the state should fund these by taking these funds out of the public education funds. While legislators have lots of jargon and rhetoric to support this, it is difficult to understand. It would seem that they might have considered taking funds from another source rather than the public school allotment to support privatization.
What a convoluted mess!!! Who has an answer for this??
Friday, July 12, 2013
How Do You Think
How often do you allow someone else to take over your free agency? How often do you allow someone to exercise dominion over you? Do you ever allow anyone to use persuasion on you to the extent that you change your way of thinking about something? Do you ever consciously allow anyone to do your thinking for you? Do you ever give someone permission to control you?
I am assuming as you read this you are thinking, "No, woman, are you crazy? What would make you think that?"
This is what would make me think about that! I sometimes see people (I know) being blindly led along by people they know basing their reasoning or thinking on someone else's brain power! People don't do their own thinking! It is alarming and at times can be totally disgusting. Some folks hear about a heated issue, political issue, or just an everyday issue with which we all deal, and rather than doing their own study of the issue, its pros and cons, they listen to all of the other voices in their circle(s) and at times the community to make decisions. It makes for much misinformation and at times undesirable consequences.
I find it really disturbing. I see folks I know and consider fairly grounded in basic principles coming across as very narrow minded and taking the path of those without a full knowledge. I sometimes want to shake them really hard and say. "THINK!" "You have not thought this through and have hastily made judgments without looking at the big picture. You are not basing your judgment on all of the truth available to you."
Just the thoughts of an old lady on a rainy day!
I am assuming as you read this you are thinking, "No, woman, are you crazy? What would make you think that?"
This is what would make me think about that! I sometimes see people (I know) being blindly led along by people they know basing their reasoning or thinking on someone else's brain power! People don't do their own thinking! It is alarming and at times can be totally disgusting. Some folks hear about a heated issue, political issue, or just an everyday issue with which we all deal, and rather than doing their own study of the issue, its pros and cons, they listen to all of the other voices in their circle(s) and at times the community to make decisions. It makes for much misinformation and at times undesirable consequences.
I find it really disturbing. I see folks I know and consider fairly grounded in basic principles coming across as very narrow minded and taking the path of those without a full knowledge. I sometimes want to shake them really hard and say. "THINK!" "You have not thought this through and have hastily made judgments without looking at the big picture. You are not basing your judgment on all of the truth available to you."
Just the thoughts of an old lady on a rainy day!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Jes Rambling!!
This is just rambling --- if you don't like rambling -- don't bother to read a word of it!!
So....this is my entry on a July day from the glorious steamy south. I think I shall write about whatever comes to mind on this day ---because this is my blog and I can! How is that for an attitude! The attitude is so "bad" that it closely resembles that of the legislators of this state now in session for the umpteenth week. I have lived in this state more years than I have lived in any other and having lived in the capital city have witnessed a lot of legislative sessions. Of all, this is the wildest ever!! These folks are just undisciplined and crazy. There is really not another adequate way to describe them. At the moment they are reforming abortion laws in the state. The governor (and this is significant because the governor and legislative majority are of like parties) keeps telling the legislators that he will veto their bill the way it is written should they pass it and send it to him. Last night they re-wrote the bill and tagged it onto another piece of legislation while most of their constituents were getting their sleeping hours in. Today the governor again reminded them of his intentions. He keeps saying there is a fine line between safety and denial of access.????? Go figure! While I personally feel abortion is morally wrong there are a few instances in which it might have to happen -- and I don't know for a surety exactly when life begins so I will not debate that here.
On to other issues -- the Brunswick County beaches are under attack for safety because folks keep swimming out and getting caught in rip tides, Last week was especially deadly. It seems many, many swimmers don't understand what to do or how to swim parallel to the coast to get out of the current, panic, and perhaps do all of the wrong things. Several have died trying to save others. Then last night another deck fell from a condo second floor onto a concrete patio injuring a majority of the twenty-five people located on it. According to hospital reports lots suffered broken bones, lacerations, trauma and shock. They were fortunate the injuries weren't worse. It would be wonderful to have a nice quiet rest of the summer but knowing the nature of the human spirit .....well, I rather not say more.
My own troubles as of today consist of two areas but first let me comment on one area for which I am eternally grateful. It is summer time and the time of year when I usually make those annual appointments for a physical and all of the other components required therein. So thus far, I have had the physical part from my family doctor, seen the dermatologist for needed attention and treatment and had that annual mammogram. The next visit scheduled is the dreaded colonoscopy since the tenth year has rolled up since the last one!! Let's just get it over this month and get on with whatever. I have been blessed with very good health and often have feelings of guilt wondering whether I have used my days on this earth as I should. I retired several years ago after dislocating and breaking my shoulder and tearing the muscles off the rotator cuff. That part of me is put together with a little titanium and I am on go again! So...I would love to get a job and just go back to work and work for the rest of my life -- if I productively could. I love being busy and "anxiously engaged" in something I enjoy doing. I enjoy doing service for others as well. I taught school beginning at age nineteen until a few years ago. Seems I need to do something related but what???????? I worked with gifted students, regular classroom students, remedial Math deficient students and teachers. I am thinking....what to do....!
My other area of concern is the health of my older schnauzer girl and learning how to manage diabetes in a canine It is a daily puzzle. I am learning - - but perhaps slowly. I lost my first schnauzer to cancer -- a mean one that entangled itself into the blood vessels and muscles of my little girl. It was hard to watch her and then have to make that dreadful decision for her. Life is full of tough decisions.
I am finished ramblin' for now! No more -- gone!
So....this is my entry on a July day from the glorious steamy south. I think I shall write about whatever comes to mind on this day ---because this is my blog and I can! How is that for an attitude! The attitude is so "bad" that it closely resembles that of the legislators of this state now in session for the umpteenth week. I have lived in this state more years than I have lived in any other and having lived in the capital city have witnessed a lot of legislative sessions. Of all, this is the wildest ever!! These folks are just undisciplined and crazy. There is really not another adequate way to describe them. At the moment they are reforming abortion laws in the state. The governor (and this is significant because the governor and legislative majority are of like parties) keeps telling the legislators that he will veto their bill the way it is written should they pass it and send it to him. Last night they re-wrote the bill and tagged it onto another piece of legislation while most of their constituents were getting their sleeping hours in. Today the governor again reminded them of his intentions. He keeps saying there is a fine line between safety and denial of access.????? Go figure! While I personally feel abortion is morally wrong there are a few instances in which it might have to happen -- and I don't know for a surety exactly when life begins so I will not debate that here.
On to other issues -- the Brunswick County beaches are under attack for safety because folks keep swimming out and getting caught in rip tides, Last week was especially deadly. It seems many, many swimmers don't understand what to do or how to swim parallel to the coast to get out of the current, panic, and perhaps do all of the wrong things. Several have died trying to save others. Then last night another deck fell from a condo second floor onto a concrete patio injuring a majority of the twenty-five people located on it. According to hospital reports lots suffered broken bones, lacerations, trauma and shock. They were fortunate the injuries weren't worse. It would be wonderful to have a nice quiet rest of the summer but knowing the nature of the human spirit .....well, I rather not say more.
My own troubles as of today consist of two areas but first let me comment on one area for which I am eternally grateful. It is summer time and the time of year when I usually make those annual appointments for a physical and all of the other components required therein. So thus far, I have had the physical part from my family doctor, seen the dermatologist for needed attention and treatment and had that annual mammogram. The next visit scheduled is the dreaded colonoscopy since the tenth year has rolled up since the last one!! Let's just get it over this month and get on with whatever. I have been blessed with very good health and often have feelings of guilt wondering whether I have used my days on this earth as I should. I retired several years ago after dislocating and breaking my shoulder and tearing the muscles off the rotator cuff. That part of me is put together with a little titanium and I am on go again! So...I would love to get a job and just go back to work and work for the rest of my life -- if I productively could. I love being busy and "anxiously engaged" in something I enjoy doing. I enjoy doing service for others as well. I taught school beginning at age nineteen until a few years ago. Seems I need to do something related but what???????? I worked with gifted students, regular classroom students, remedial Math deficient students and teachers. I am thinking....what to do....!
My other area of concern is the health of my older schnauzer girl and learning how to manage diabetes in a canine It is a daily puzzle. I am learning - - but perhaps slowly. I lost my first schnauzer to cancer -- a mean one that entangled itself into the blood vessels and muscles of my little girl. It was hard to watch her and then have to make that dreadful decision for her. Life is full of tough decisions.
I am finished ramblin' for now! No more -- gone!
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