tis the season

hope this finds everyone well and happy...
life here in the desert is chilly, busy and joyous. We are patiently counting down the days of Advent and looking forward to a visit from Santa...

C. continues to develop a whopping vocabulary, complete with sentences- "Where did it go?" and "Here you go, mama!"

My computer has been struggling, so I have some posts I would like to put up, but they will have to wait another day or two. Cousin Jen did a great one on her blog I want to copy and I finally have a picture, so I can give a special shout out to my best friend of 25 YEARS- Kimberly! So...coming sonn!

gratitude attitude

this was taken a year ago...time goes fast, doesn't it?

i am thankful for my mooklettes
the love of a very good man

friends who care and lift eachother up

relatives who live close by-especially those I'm not related to-
who are so good to me

relatives who are far away- i carry them in my heart
and appreciate that we stay in touch

books, words, pages-
the creations of others that transport me

Wednesday in November

it will be 90 today, yet crisp and clear this morning as I walked K. to bus stop in my jammies
c. is napping this am, so i will clean bathroom, bedroom and kitchen
papers still need grading-hate the pull of the ungraded work
want to curl up in room and read, read, read
fried egg sandwich for breakfast- ten pounds to lose- doubtful!

saturday post

Things on my mind on a Saturday...

-Happy Veteran's Day and thank you to all Veterans who have served our country. In wartime, or peacetime, your valor and service is certainly remembered and appreciated! (Especially you, my hubby!)

-got in a 5 miler today with Kath-she is just great, can't even describe her!

-had an email I sent in read on my favorite radio program! that was a trip!

-made a mix disc and wrote a new manifesto for our 3rd grade team. we are hanging tough together, making it work for us and the kids, and bringing it every day

-the Fergie single "Clumsy" and the Britney single "piece of me" both have me movin' down the road...

life is so good, hope this finds you happy in your corner of the world

a duck, secret service, a doctor, and a teenager

No, no punchline- just Halloween. C. donated her candy to Joe, who was feeling too old to participate this year...

37 is grand...

how can it not be??
on my night stand this week:
love in the time of cholera (Oprah, or no Oprah-i've wanted to read it for awhile)
eat,pray,love-next month's book club
three cups of tea
feast of love- an absolutely great book-so happy to have rediscovered it
pontoon- prairie home campanion, anyone
body surfing
already finished Celebrity Detox- amazing, singular, wonderful

back to the running this week, too...

happy, happy, happy

I am Woman...

that would be the tune that came up at mile 11 during the half-marathon and thoughts of the gals who encouraged me along the way got to me...#10355 was crying as she trotted down the road with the stomach flu!

most importantly, i finished, and i even made it under my goal time: 2:56! i am really happy about that, but I am even happier about the 250 miles i ran to get ready and the friendship with kath and the encouragement and support from my friends. i couldn't have done it without any of that OR without my body glide!

Cara

let me tell you a bit about Cara McDowell:
-when I am with her, I am at my best!
-we've known each other since 1991 and hit it off immediately
-my husband once danced her into our kitchen and she still has the scar to prove it
-she taught me how to play Set
-some of our best days were spent in the Westchester house eating take out Mexican food and hanging out
-she is K's godmother
-she is the reason we call C., Cara
-she is the teacher I try to be
-I am so happy she has such a full and wonderful life in TX with her awesome husband and darling boys
-when we are together, it is as though not a moment has passed
-she is much,much older than me :)
-when we part company we say "see ya' next week", because otherwise I cry inconsolably at the thought of how long it will be until we are together again
-I miss her every day!

Ten Miler

managed to do 10 miles this week- all by my lonesome! It took me just under two hours, so I am hopeful that I'll be able to do the half in just under three, but we will see. the kids are amazed that I have run nealry 250 miles in order to be able to run 13.1 successfully on Sunday.

this is my early b-day present and it has been quite a journey. i started it because i wanted to prove to myself that i could finish something i started, and to lose weight. well- one goal down(i am finishing) and one to go(have not lost a single ounce). i find great humor in the fact that i qualify for the CLYDESDALE division! Just call me Bessie! I think the absolute best things that have come out of this 20 week journey are: the clothes (comfy and cute), getting to a place where I can actually run without thinking about it, becoming familiar with products like BODY GLIDE

...and most especially: getting to know my running buddy Kathleen on a whole new level. If you ever want to find out how great a person is, run long distances with them. you can't imagine how great it is to have someone who is not competing with you, but rather inspiring you, pushing you and rooting for you. besides, even when I'm slow, she sticks with me, what more can gal ask for??

and she's back...

with a lot of support from my friend and running buddy, Kathleen. (Who, may I just say, is awesome! She hung in there through my mental breakdown and was all smiles and support this morning when I showed up at her back gate at 7am- she is incredible!)
two more weeks to go, and for the first time, I actually think I might finish the race with my wits intact!

in other news, hoping to see Cara today in San Diego- K's godmom and fabulous friend! She is one the people in my life that, no matter how long we go between chats or visits, it is like not a day has passed.

right now, I am off to deal with some chaffing issues- have a great weekend!

hello, it's me...

okay, it has been awhile since i last posted- real life takes over occasionally! hope all is well in your corner of the world...
what have I been up to? well...
-meeting and getting to know 18 new students. it is a nice group of children, however, they have many needs that we will spend the year working on. thank goodness janine and i love a challenge
-chasing after precious c. who walks everywhere. she is such a gift-always happy!
-getting three kids to three different schools. a first for us. each is doing well and working hard already.
-we had a nice shower for my niece andrea, who will be married in Oct. it was great to see everyone and catch up with them.
-book club- what a great evening! Can't Wait to Get to Heaven and recipies from the book-FUN...
-NOT running- seem to have developed some sort of mental block and have abandoned it altogether. not sure what that is about....
-trying to sneak in some moments with my husband. we are lucky to have older kids- we can go out and grab a quick meal here and there...

tonight is family night in America. we are lucky, as most nights mean all of us at the table for dinner together. we have started to say no to things that interupt our dinner time- we decided that it is sacred and comes first. don't get me wrong- it is not ozzie and harriet pleasant, but we are all together, each with our part to play, and it is only a matter of time before it will be impossible to call everyone to dinner and have them show up! life goes fast, and it is great to appreciate being together as a family- even if it means I have to cook!

a turtle sees herself for real

Well, it has been a really busy couple of weeks. Just like CPAs have their busy season, teachers spend many, many hours getting their rooms ready and attending meetings. Unfortunately, the only paid part are the meetings!

It turns out my ipod needs to be calibrated and I have not been running as much, or as quickly as I thought. I found this out the hard way when I ran a 4miler with Kath- 52 minutes is a 13 minute mile and I thought I was running closer to 11. Today, I headed out to do 8 and quit at 4.5...Joe was with me and he could walk as fast as I could run!

the kids are savoring their last hours of summer and so are the teachers in the house! our rooms are ready, the kids have their books and schedules and some new clothes to wear. we wait on school supplies until after the kids go to class- in the upper grades, each teacher wants something different and in the lower grades, most things are provided. (Did you know that kids need a 140.00 calculator these days??)

C. is waking up and ready for breakfast and then it's off to church, home to finish up summer homework and then, perhaps, to Hemet as grannie fell last night and broke her wrist...

take care of yourselves and travel safely is you are on the road!

What constitutes a failure?

There is a story in the Washington Post today that reveals there is a report issued by the Government Accounting Office that is currently being reviewed by the defense department. The significance of the report (done by the Investigative arm of Congress) is that it details the failure of the US to meet all but three of its own benchmarks in Iraq. The official who leaked the report to the Post did so out of concern that it would be watered doen prior to being released to the public next week.

So, out of 18 benchmarks, three have been met. Does that mean we have a long way to go and need to dig in deeper, send more troops and spend more money? Or does that mean it is time to pack it in, and start bringing poeple home? I am not the one to answer that.

What gets me about all of it is that somehow, this administration will highlight only its successes and downplay the abject failure of it all. Of course, the case could be made that it is human nature to highlight your strengths, etc...

So how come yesterday, I had to sit in a meeting where I was told that because our students' test scores slipped by one point we had better figure out where we went wrong and what we were going to do about it? Why, across the country, are thousands of schools being labelled as "failing" by this administration and facing sanctions and take over by the government when they don't meet their benchmarks? (They can even be making improvements and showing growth, but still be labelled failing!)

Every day, hundreds of teachers and students are told that they are failures on a field where the goal post is moved every year, yet this administration will defend its choices in Iraq and paint them as successes- SAD!

Daddy's Girl- Lisa Scottoline

This is a fun legal thriller that I got i at the library the other day. This is the second book I have read by this author and her stories are tight, funny, action packed and smart. She writes strong women characters and took the plot of this one someplace I did not expect. If you like Evanovich, Stuart Woods, etc. check out this author.

lucky number 7

seven, seven, I would never have thought that I could accomplish it...
the first two miles were out of whack-kath noticed i was doing something funny w/my right foot the other day and so now I am hyper aware and trying to fix it...
at mile 4 i needed hammer gel (YUM to the chocolate!)
at mile 5, i dropped my water bottle cap and had to hop off the treadmill
at 5.5, the treadmill went into cool down mode, so I had to restart it
and mile 6 and 7 were sweetly serene...as long as I kept on with my affirmations-
i can, i will, i'm able
si se puede
don't be a baby

as someone who lives in "her head" a great deal- always thinking, always worrying, always wondering, running is lethal because so much of it is internal debate: keep going or turn around?, push harder or take it easy?, you can do it or who really cares?

so, as you all head into the weekend- whatever challenges you may be facing (big or small) I hope you are in touch with your inner fierceness- you can, you will, you are able!

Fierce

I was fierce today!



wOw-sry its hrd 2type whl pattin myslf on the bck..

chaffing

oh, i know u don't want to talk about it, but i'm tired of suffering in silence...chaffing...trying to run, thighs too big, contact, rubbed raw....who'd have ever thought i'd be thankful for spandex?

if anyone needs a fire started, the friction from my little thighs going down the road might help you out...

HP# 7

well, i finished it yesterday morning and I can't believe it is all over. I feel like so many fans who have had to say good-bye- we knew the 7th book was coming, we always knew there would be 7, and yet it is hard not to have another to look forward to.

Don't worry, I am not going to give anything away! J, K and I meet in a quiet corner to discuss our reactions, so as not to ruin it for Joe.

I will say that i am pleased that, once again, JK Rowling returns to her orginal premise that love is a saving and protecting power. this idea has always been the core of these books and the singular idea my kids and I took away from them. (That is why I marvel at people who won't let their kids read them: parental love as eternal protection and guidance is a great lesson for kids)...

"Tell me one last thing," said Harry. "Is this real? Or has this been
happening inside my head?"
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should
that mean that it is not real?"

DC pics

this has to be one of my favorite cities...joe and I could have sat all day in the senate gallery and watched the senators speak....

the kids were great travelers and they are still my favorite companions at museums, as they love to stop and look and read

i think their favorites were probably mt. vernon, the capital building, and the art museum

we also enjoyed using the metro to get around and took in a nationals game, too

most importantly, we were somewhere all together, and it does not get better than that!

home again, home again

back from dc- such a great experience for our whole family
will post some pics in the next couple of days

Harry Potter Hangover

This is what you look like after you stay up until midnight reading Harry Potter #7...

In the past three days, J. & K. have put in about 5 hours a day, trying to beat the other to the finish line!

Joe and I are waiting patiently, avoiding all media accounts, and anyone who looks remotely like they would like to tell us how it ends...unless you are Joe's "special friend" who has told him everything- but, because it is her, I guess it is okay with him :)...he has been threatened with death if he tells me anything!

ed note: J. has, in fact, finished first. mooklettes is encouraged, as he is not crying! he did, however, say he can't believe it is all over...

100 miles

WoooHooo! I officially logged my first 100 miles today on my IPOD/Nike thingamajig. I can not believe I have run that many miles! I know there are lots of normal people out there who have run more and done it in a shorter time period, but for me,it is shocking...from not being able to run half a block when I started to regularly logging 5-6 mile runs- that is truly something I did not think I could do!
I hope your day starts off as good as mine!

new blog

as many have read, politics are becomming a bit more than a passion for mooklettes;perhaps a bit of an obsession??
that being said, i am spinning off those topics to a new blog:
mom with a poliblog
enjoy!

summer tuesday

good morning mooklette readers...hope this post finds you in your little corner of the world, doing well and feeling inspired and enjoying the company of the people you love.

i need to send out the love to some special people today, so here goes:
happy Birthday, Jenn! Love you!
way to go Avery, on your way to earning your real estate license!
thanks amy, adam and lucy- you made this weekend's journey totally worthwhile!
jen, you are an amazing artist and a great momma!
kath- u r so in my thoughts this week- u will b awesome on ur race and i am sending u positive energy :)
k. what a girl- a liberated girl mathematician! u rock my world with ur courage and willingness to try new things- i love u!

from my hot and humid corner of the world to urs- have a great day!

6 miles and a message from Lance

here is the graph of our 6 mile run this morning...
imagine my surprise when Lance Armstrong congratulated me on reaching a personal best; how sweet of him to think of me!

Treadmill Run

This is for Kath- who wanted to see what a treadmill run graph looks like :)

Four Things About Me

u know those emails u receive? forwards, we call them...i thought this one was interesting, so i decided to post my answer here...u can answer in comments (although I know this makes cousin jen want to break her computer) or post ur answers on ur blog:

4 jobs i've had:
kmart- men's and boy's wear
valley wide recreation accounting clerk
school district receptionist
teacher

4 places i've lived
independence, mo
hemet, ca
banning, ca
san bernardino,ca

4 tv shows i watch
sex and the city
i love lucy
curb ur enthusiasm
american chopper

4 places i've gone on vacation
carmel,ca
rouge river, or
mount rushmore, sd
hawaii

4 favorite foods
watermelon
licorice
salad
anything chris BBQs

4 places i'd rather be right now
the coast
camping
snuggling any one of the kids
hanging with the girls

4 place i like to shop ( i hate shopping)
barnes and noble
borders
macy's clearance racks
old navy

Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz and Other Things on My Mind

as many of you may know, i am a fan of radio of all sorts- i eat, sleep and breathe our xm radio- particularly the "old time radio" channel. (What other family has a child dress as Lamont Cranston from The Shadow for Halloween??!!) so, imagine my thrill when the desert finally merited a "progressive" talk station all its own.

Stephanie Miller is back in my universe- I used to really enjoy her on KFI and I am so glad to know she has found a larger forum. She is funny, quick, insightful, off color and intelligent. Think Kathy Griffin and Gloria Steinem in one.

She is followed by Ed Schultz, whom I discovered on XM last year. I started listening to him because he originates in the midwest, and both coasts are over represented in the radio world. The thing I like about him is that he does not use a screener, so while he has an independent view point, you hear from a variety of people.

if you are looking for a great way to hear the news that leaves you laughing and informed- check out bill handel on KFI. his "handel on the news" is probably the funniest 45 minutes of radio. I listen to him on the net, via podcast, so that I avoid all the commercials and breaks. It is great and you don't need an ipod- you just listen through your computer. his 5 o'clock hour is great, too; as it is an hour of the group sitting around chatting about their lives.

if you noticed the ticker at the top- it is pathetic, but I am desperate. I am the only person I know who is legitimately exercising and gained 13 pounds. don't try the "it's muscle, not fat" thing- 'cause it is FAT and it is SAD. somehow I am going to get my weight back down so that my clothes fit!

it is cloudy this morning, and i am loving every minute of it. living in the desert and its nearly constant sunshine makes me crave a cloudy day. it is hot, humid and 100 degrees at 9am, but at least it's cloudy!

here at mooklettes we will be tackling the laundry today-my least favorite chore. it has been awhile since i reviewed a book, so i will get some thoughts down later today, time permitting.

then, its off to chapman to teach- tonight it is painting. how to do it in a way that is easy (seriously- all my art is limited in prep and clean up, so that i will do it!), why painting is a gate way to comprehension for kids, how sensory images effect comprehension and deeper meaning, and how painting helps build class community.

Eleven Months

Hello People! As you can see- I am now 11 months old. Let the countdown to the party begin. I am standing now, climbing up on things, falling off of them and I yell at the top of my lungs (I'm a mooklette- you have to be loud to be heard around here!) Also, I love the pool and try to swim twice a day. One of my favorite things is to push buttons- on the VCR, XBOX or computer- I especially love to push them when my family is in the middle of using them- they get really excited when I do that.

I still nap twice a day and I use a bottle and a cup. I also play with dolls: I like to cuddle them, pat them and put them to bed.

Occasionally, I will sport a pony tail and my mom had to trim my bangs to get them out of my eyes.

Well, time to head out to the pool...Take care, XOXO- C.

God Bless America

An early wish that you will enjoy this very special day with friends and family. Be safe and take a moment to remember how very lucky we are to live in this incredible country.

My hope is that we will get back to John Adams' fervent prayer very soon. He had the following carved in the mantel of the White House: "May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." AMEN!

Slow, but steady...

...finishes the race without a heart attack! I ran the 6, very slowly- Chris stopped at THREE garage sales, shopped, negotiated, bought, carried the stuff and caught up with me each time. As the teen girls say- WHATEVS...

It took me an hour and fourteen minutes and I averaged a 12:20 mile- I can live with that!

Worst Run to Date

This is the graph of our 5 miles from this morning- Kath was awesome, as usual- I just wasn't feeling it. We were supposed to do 6 miles, but I wimped out. You can tell i walked a lot- those are the down swings on the graph.
Well this is the point in the training where the outfit and the gadgets don't cut it.I will dig in this weekend and complete the whole 6 at a nonembarrasing pace!

Summer's Here

How do I know?
...it's 90 degrees at 6am
...I've read three novels in the first week
...I've put more miles on my car this week then I did all school year (geez- I love the school bus)
...there are wet towels hiding things on the bathroom floor
...9 times out of 10 the phone rings for the kids, not us
...I'm helping J. read Count of Monte Christo- also helping him "think" about it :)
...board games...library...crafts...LOVE IT!

Father's Day 2007

I want to take a moment and thank the two greatest men in my life- my father and my husband, for loving me unconditionally, showing me the way and being outstanding examples of what it means to be good men...

I also want to take some time, here in this space, to remember those killed in the war in Iraq...

3682 men and women... 3682 too many...3682 families and friends missing loved ones today and every day...

Way to Go, J!

He finished middle school and is on to high school next week! Our darling boy is certainly a young man, now. And darn it, if he isn't good looking, to boot! xoxo-mom

Happy Ten Months!

SNORT!
It has been a great ten months...I am so busy that I barely have time to write this blog entry for my mom.
I crawl everywhere, I get into things and I play alot.I say many, many things, but my family is only smart enough to pick up on mom, dad, Joe, brother, bottle.
No worries- I still bite, spit and snort. Someone has to keep these people on their toes!
Life is great people- get out there and enjoy it!

Sweet Sarah

You would have to meet Miss Sarah to believe that she is for real-
kind
beautiful
loving
smart
funny
fashionable
heart on her sleeve
goodness personified

Sarah you are loved more than you'll ever know!

A Monday Morning Rant

Okay- Saturday's party was great and a good time was had by all. The most poignant moment, however, did not center on the anniversary couple, but on one of our cousins. You see, he is being shipped off to Iraq next month. So, his children 11,9, and 4 got up in front of the entire family and performed "God Bless the USA" for him. Very brave and touching of these sweet kids.

Now, you may be thinking, well he volunteered, he knew the risks, etc. Well, let me tell you, the man is a grown up who served in the National Guard and did his weekends and two weeks a year. Now he has been called up and by the time he returns, his kids will be two years older- for what?

Will our country be any better off or any safer because of his and his family's sacrifices? I truly believe this is an unjust war and has not advanced the causes of freedom around the world.

The most important election of our times is on the horizon: war, education, the environment, the debt this nation now carries, the export of good jobs, the crunch of illegal aliens- all hang in the balance. We need serious people willing to do serious work on our behalf and it starts with getting out of Iraq.

How can a man (Pres. Bush), who joined the National Guard in order to avoid going to Vietnam, now turn around and send our citizens to Iraq? He has no credibility in my book. He and his right hand people have sent thousands to die, based on fraudulent evidence. his inner circle has made millions, while our troops struggle to have good equipment. He has decided that we can't see pictures of the soldiers coffins coming home, but torture and denying ALL citizens of civil liberties is okay.

It is my fervent prayer, and will be each day, that Todd comes home to his family safe and unchanged. I honor him for our service to this country,and I have nothing but contempt for the man who is sending him there.

OMG- I did it- but not without help!

I ran 5 miles today with the excellent coaching of Kath! You are a superstar Kath! As I gasped for breath and grabbed my side "chipper" Kath talked me through the whole thing. Isn't great to have friends who support your goals??

More running news: the IPOD is up and running again and it talks to my shoes. The lovely female voice tells me how I'm doing and keeps track of how far I go and my pace.

Later today we will be off to the dreaded mall to find some Joe clothes for the 8th grade dance. Then we will head to Ken and Cheri's 25th anniversary party for some dancing. Hopefully, I'll still be able to move!

couldn't have said it better myself....

AMANDA GUINZBURG

Split Scene

Every time Rosie O’Donnell would walk on stage during The View’s opening, she made a gesture of feigned shock that there were all these people wildly applauding for her. She would turn her hands upwards and furrow her brow in exaggerated confusion and then as she’d continue out towards the table (trailed by the other consistently waving co-hosts), her open Irish face would break into a bright wide smile. She was, it seemed from the very start, saying to everyone who watched: I am going to take you with me now, into the land of bright lights, quick touch-ups and major league pretend.
But doing that while still following the rest of the rules of network television proved ultimately an impossible balancing act for a woman who has remarkably balanced a great deal. Or rather a task whose compromises, not just of time away from her beloved family (a family, it can safely be said, she made a natural part of morning conversation despite the fact that it is unconventional by traditional — and it would seem now, in large part thanks to her — almost archaic standards) but of her fiercely held moral standards of what is right and what is real.
Television has taken almost every ounce of reality away from the very genre so named. We are all supposed to be in on the joke now — that everything we see is edited and manipulated to serve some larger narrative. To wit: the debauched kids on MTV’s Real World: The Moon! (Not really, but they’re seriously running out of places to house these drunken whores), the wrecked and weeping women riding away mascara-streaked in limousines after being dumped by the latest Bachelor, or the ever available desperados of afternoon talk shows. Jerry Springer is still perhaps the most extreme, and even he now has his own meta-show, The Springer Hustle where we see that guests are so heavily prepped by producers they’re actually told at what point to physically attack their cheating spouse (when the lie detector or DNA test comes back positive) or racist neighbor (when he or she inevitably and often gleefully uses the “n” word)
For Rosie what is real is synonymous with the truth and the truth is as precious a commodity as it is rare, at least in the realm of show business. On her heavily trafficked website, she often writes about things like feeding geese, befriending squirrels, baby birds hatching in a corner of her roof, her wife’s conservative family, her children’s small triumphs and the ordinary people she encounters’ various struggles to survive. She puts her money where her mouth is and consistently gives it away, threatening to fire her financial advisors should she ever wind up on a Richest Celeb list. But she’s also fully recognized and taken advantage of the national audience she regained by joining The View this year, speaking out and devoting whole hours to issues like depression, autism, and the devastating illnesses now ravaging the 9/11 first responders.
Then there is The War. Rosie has relentlessly, with unmistakable rage and palpable grief refused, despite Barbara Walter’s awkward discomfort with it, to stop speaking out about this criminal administration and the Iraq War it made up, dressed up, and sold to our nation. “WAKE UP, AMERICA!” Rosie has, for years now, commanded from within the sometimes-confusing typographical trenches of her blog. Despite the fact that the media’s manipulations drove her from the very show she reinvented, Rosie’s fights with Elisabeth Hasselbeck did nothing if they did not wake us up. They were riveting in their rawness and to the extent one side of them ever seemed prepped, Rosie made no attempt to hide her disgust with such executively borne machinations. On what O’Donnell has since called Nuclear Wednesday, Hasselbeck made an analogy about a deadline for pulling out of the war and a timed football pass. Nothing could have articulated more clearly what Rosie seemed to find so anathema about this woman’s politics and ultimately her personal comportment. While Elisabeth appeared to almost relish the supposed gamesmanship of their political throw downs — going off to do sound bytes for the nightly “entertainment” show after Wednesday’s meltdown and assuring the public she wasn’t “mad” and that they would most definitely remain friends, they wore Rosie O’Donnell so far down you could literally see it in her eyes. They grew distant long before that eventual (and perhaps inevitable) dénouement.
Rosie said it was the split screen that was the final nail in her View coffin. It makes sense. The split screen implied that these feelings and ideas Rosie holds so dear and was trying, so very hard it seemed, to communicate to Elisabeth (but also to anyone who had ever twisted her words to serve their personal agenda) about truth and justice and loyalty and humanity could be turned into an empty gesture of celluloid commercialism: Selling Rosie as the worst and most dishonest caricature of herself, one side of a two dimensional screen. Kind of like what the government has done to our nation. Every day veracity is under siege in America as the current administration tries to warp what’s actually happening while the vast majority of our mainstream media remains complicit with their systematic airbrushing of the bloody facts.
We who compulsively tuned into the video blog she began a few weeks ago with her quirky long time producer-cum-mustache artist and giant-turkey-wing-eating hair stylist saw that Rosie was clearly far more at ease back stage, behind closed doors with a face naked of all concealers, singing along to Amy Winehouse or Tina Turner and answering some of the thousands of questions she gets daily than she ever would be out on that carefully orchestrated studio set.
I am confident, however, that Rosie will return. Not to The View, but to the unmatched power that is television. She’ll don the necessary war paint and head out under the hot white lights and blinking audience signs. She may act more or less surprised that people still love her, despite and because of her rage. The fact is this: A steadfast quest to reveal what is really real requires Rosie stay out here, on the front lines of truth.

Rosie

I have been a fan of Rosie O'Donnell's for a very long time because she is gutsy, honest and funny. She has been out front on the mess in Iraq for several years now and I admire that she has worked to make returning troops' lives better, as well as providing a safe place for preschoolers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She is a woman who walks the walk...the following is from her blog in 2005:

here is what I think

teachers need to be paid more
the war in iraq is wrong
george bush is a disaster - dangerous for the world
racism exisits and sucks
nurses rock and derserve more respect
too few people have too much of the money
and most of them don't want to share
shocking
to me

i believe in democracy
in freedom
in peace equality and art

choose the light
be claimed
declare yourself
with grace if possible

Week Three

Things I have learned this week:

• running with a crummy stroller is a pain and throwing my time off, so I am not really keeping track of my times right now.
• I can actually run further than I thought- Chris took over the stroller for awhile today and I made it much farther than I thought I could.
• I ruined my ipod, so hopefully the computer tech will be able to fix everything
• Sports bras are on sale at Target- Happy Memorial Day to me...

Week Two

My milage is low this week for a couple of reasons: minor surgery required me to skip exercising for two days and a bad pair of shoes derailed my running partner for my long run. So, i will try for a longer run tommorow see how it goes...

Good Times

We had a great time with the whole family on sat.! Thanks to everyone for making the trek and enjoying the desert with us! xoxo

Week One

You might have noticed a new list on the side labeled "mileage"- and since I am pretty much the only person who reads this, I'll say, "Why, yes, I did notice that! What is that about??"

I am committing to doing a half-marathon in October in Long Beach, and the numbers in the column tell me how often I got off up my backside and got busy.

So, not a bad week. Here's what I've learned-

• Kathleen is the best support system you can have because even if I told her it took me two hours to go a mile she would still tell me, "Right, on- at least you got out there". I love her and I love the book she gave to me that is just friggin' awesome.
• Like the book says, tell everyone, because then you won't wimp out.
• Shorter strides lead to less pain.
• C. is a great bodyguard and companion at 5:30am.
• Stopping to cross the street sucks.
• Madonna has a true purpose...
  

Big Girl

C. went to the Dr. today and weighs over 20 pounds and is 29 inches tall. Dr. commented that she is as tall as most 15 month old babies...we here at Mooklettes grow 'em big!

Digging to America

This novel, by Anne Tyler, captured my interests immediately. I have only read one other book by her: The Amateur Marriage, which is a favorite of mine. I know she is most famous for Breathing Lessons (Pulitzer Prize) and The Accidental Tourist.

This work follows two families who are drawn together because of their simultaneous adoption of Korean babies. This singular event, leads to shared holidays, child rearing and two families that become intertwined through friendship. It also reflects a great deal on what it means to be American, to be included, and examines the various degrees to which people give up their culture, or hold themselves separate.

I was struck by the similarities to The Namesake. Although the focus in that book was on Indian immigrants, and this one features Iranian immigrants. Still, the struggle to fit in, to know what to let go and what to keep, to recreate traditions in a new country, to watch a new generation become solidly American are all represented in both works.

Anne Tyler does a wonderful job of giving her characters voice. She creates a world of imperfect people who are very careful with one another, lest they give offense. This is the heart of the story: how being so careful keeps them from expressing their truth to each other.

Tyler has a wonderful sense of narrative and quickly drew me in with her uncomplicated language and deft story telling.


PS: Short Straw by Stuart Woods. He never fails- good, dependable, fun mystery- easy to enjoy!

8 Months

C. is 8 months and crawling, pulling to stand, still mac'n on Cheerios and goes to bed at 7 every night! Bonus: she says "brother" and has her /b/ and /g/ sound down...

She is also extremely attached to her blanket crocheted by Grannie.

PS This post is very late, as she will be 9 months this next week.

Happy Birthday, Big Brother

Wow! 14- every parent says it, but it has gone so fast. J, you are an awesome young man and we are tremendously proud of you! XOXO

testing, 1,2,3 testing

If you wondered how a teacher feels about the current atmosphere of high stakes testing...this pretty much sums it up...listen here. For those that don't want to wait for the download- here are the lyrics:

Not On The Test by John Forster & Tom Chapin© 2007 Limousine Music Co. & The Last Music Co. (ASCAP)

Go on to sleep now, third grader of mine.

The test is tomorrow but you'll do just
fine.It's reading and math.
Forget all the rest.You don't need to know what is
not on the test.
Each
box that you mark on each test that you take,Remember
your teachers. Their
jobs are at stake.Your score is their score, but don't get
all
stressed.They'd never teach anything not on the test.
The School Board is
faced with no child left behindWith rules but no funding, they're caught in
a
bind.So music and art and the things you love bestAre not in your school
'cause
they're not on the test.
Sleep, sleep, and as you progressYou'll
learn
there's a lot that is not on the test.
Debate is a skill that is
useful to
know,Unless you're in Congress or talk radio,Where shouting and
spouting and
spewing are blessed'Cause rational discourse was not on the
test.
Thinking's
important. It's good to know how.And someday you'll
learn to, but someday's not
now.Go on to sleep, now. You need your
rest.Don't think about thinking. It's not
on the test.

Bill Moyers

Every once in awhile, I am reminded that TV can be important and valuable. For example, having Rosie on something fluffy like the View, has elevated the program to something of importance. Agree or disagree, she is asking the questions others don't want to. So, along comes Bill Moyers, in a return to PBS. He is making an effort to draw our attention to the relationship between our government and the media. If you have the time watch his incredible interview with Jon Stewart here.

all things english

seems to me, I have read a great deal of books centered in England of late- not sure why, just what I grab from the shelf at the library...so i was thrilled to discover that target is offering products from boots drug store. specifically- a very nice $10.00 lipstick that goes on great, doesn't dry my lips and doesn't taste like anything. i have just been saved a trip to the clinique counter.

pretty soon we'll be getting a tesco, which is a british grocery store- similar to Trader Joe's- can't wait and I hope they have "penguins" which are a really great tea biscuit

my last british item is: the queen, for which Helen Mirren won the academy award this year. splendid! loved it! would love to know how much of it is true. apparently this movie has made the queen once again beloved in her homeland as it shows how she has dedicated herself to her country at her own personal sacrifice.

of course it goes without saying, that I am fond of many english exports, including, but not limited to: Bridget Jones, Shakespeare, the Office, John Cleese, R. Dahl, Mary Poppins, Lewis Carroll, John Locke, William Blake

three down, three to go

Well, out of the first three books from my library outing- one is a hit. I expected so much more from Burning Bright, by Tracey Chevalier, as I have read all of her books. This one just left me cold, and I am unable to finish it. Perhaps I will have another go at it, but if a book doesn't grab you by page 100, when will it, really?

Don't Look Down by Cruisie/Mayer is another disappointment. I have had this on my fun/trach list to read for awhile now. I have read all of Jennifer Cruisie's books and enjoyed them for what they are- a fun, adventurous, sexy ride. I was intruigued with the authors' attempts to write main characters from their own perspective: Bob Mayer writing the male lead, Cruisie writing the female lead. I have been following their process on their blog, and enjoyed their sense of craft and humor, but it just doesn't work here. Again, with a book like this I give it 50 pages...I just wasn't feelin' it.

A Spot of Bother, by Mark Haddon: loved Curious Incident of the Dog at Midnight, especially since I have had autistic students on my classroom. In this new novel he looks at a modern English family whose father is in the midst of nervous breakdown, the wife an affair, the daughter not ready to committ, but planning the wedding anyway and the son at loose ends with his own love life. Haddon writes so convincingly of the breakdown that I felt like I was going mad. There were many times when I wanted to tell the other characters to get over themselves, but for the father I had a great deal of sympathy. This is a great dark comedy, that shows how far the "stiff upper lip" of the British can take them down the wrong road. A word of caution- if you are squemish about homosexual sex scenes, avoid this book!

Now I am in the midst of McDermott's After This, and so far so good...

photo finish

here we are crossing the finish line...yes- i look lonely, that's because I was close to LAST!

Bliss

Just got back from the library...

a spot of bother, by mark haddon
digging to america, by anne tyler
short straw, by stuart woods
after this, by alice mcdermott
don't look down, by crusie/mayer
burning bright, by tracy chevalier

a little piece of heaven on earth... I'll let you know how they are...

And we're back!

Great weekend- lots of fun, lots accomplished!
I was so impressed watching Kath and Sarah cross that finish line- really neat!
Way to go ladies (all of you) you rock!

And they're off...

We are off to La Jolla for the 5K/Half-marathon. Most of us will do the 5K and then cheer Kathleen and Sarah at the finish line of the half. Today we pick up our materials and have a girls' night celebration for Karen's birthday!
I'll post pics on our return!

The Higher Power of Lucky

This is the Newberry winner for Children's literature this year, and it is an extraordinary book. The heroine, Lucky, is a ten year old girl whose mother has died and whose father has abandoned her. In their place is Brigette, the father's first wife, who came from France to care for Lucky. Set in the desolate, wind-swept high desert, the reader is along for Lucky's struggles with loss, her desire to be good so nothing bad will happen, and her search for her "higher power".

As part of her search for her "higher power", she eavesdrops on the town's various 12-step meetings. During one such meeting, the participants are discussing when they "hit bottom", and someone shares the story of almost losing their dog due to a snake biting it on the scrotum. Lucky does not know what this means, but knows it sounds serious...Serious, indeed, as this is the reason most children will not be exposed to this book. How does one read this aloud in class, for example?? It is pretty hard to send a note home explaining it to parents, without the benefit of the context of the story.

So, how will I share this moving, humorous, real story? With my daughter for one, who thanks to my in-laws, was lucky enough to hear the author speak and discuss her choices. Beyond that, I will share with my sons and students I come across whose parents are interested in the value and impact of good literature. (Of course, I'll tell the parents to read it first and decide for themselves).

It is too bad that many kids who have experienced loss and longing for security will miss out on this book. I would love to teach it in my class as there is so much worthy of discussion, and the writing is beautifully phrased and rich with metaphor and symbolism. However, for 5th and below, I wouldn't be willing to put it out there without prior approval. It would be great to examine the author's right to choices and how it effects their audience- fascinating !

Good Morning, George, How Are You??

Forgive the Veggie Tales reference- I am in a veggie tales sort of mood with the approach of Easter and that's what I sing to C. every morning when she gets up. She watched that episode for the first time yesterday and started to laugh and smile when the song came on...

C. is 8 months old today and it has all gone so very quickly. She is sitting, crawling, eating Cheerios and, yesterday- wait for it- she said MAMA! She continues to be happy, healthy and a big ol' bundle of love.

Today Big Daddy will continue to build out back and we will get to church for services. It has been a good break, but has gone waaaaaay too fast! Decorating eggs tomorrow and, hopefully, the bunny will pay us a visit on Sunday.

Grading is complete, laundry is done, and now I need to write a lesson for my observation on Tuesday- probability...

The Double Bind
by Chris Bohjalian

Well, well, well- I do love Spring Break and the chance to ignore the pile of grading that needs to be done so I can READ...This is the second book I have read this week. The first, The Thirteenth Tale, was as disappointing as The Double Bind was stirring.

The Double Bind, the title refers to a previously held theory about the effects of parenting on schizophrenia, opens with the attack of a young woman and follows her journey as she works with the homeless. One of her clients passes away and it is revealed that before mental illness claimed him, he was a successful photographer. The young woman, Laurel, is charged with researching his photos and his past. The reader is along for the ride as laurel tries to discover the truth about herself.

This books is so profound as it looks at mental health, the plight of the homeless, what kind of support systems exist to keep people from taking to the street. The author was inspired by actual photographs that came from a man in a homeless shelter and his love for the novel The Great Gatsby. The author prompts the reader to think about the capabilities of the human mind to protect itself, why people become homeless and consequences of violence.

This is the second book by this author I have read. The first was, Before You Know Kindness- a treatise of sorts on animal rights, gun control and parenting. An excellent book with a first rate sense of humor. In The Double Bind, the author proves extremely adept at capturing female characters and writing dialog that is genuine. Further, Bohjalian is a master at not telegraphing what is coming next in the plot and allowing the reader to savor their arrival at the conclusion of the book.

If a feel good book is what you are after, this is not for you. However, if a well crafted story, an engaging and thoughtful plot line and stirring characters that you can care about are what you are after- I can highly recommend this book.

Louisa

Visit this story to find out just a portion of why Louisa C. is so wonderful!

Teacher extraordinaire
Mommy fabulous
Wife- Hot!
Friend amazing

love her deeply...

Welcome to the World Yuriko!


My cousin was born today and I am celebrating by wearing my Japanese PJ's. Mom came in and took this picture of me to document my outfit and the fact that I have become a champion sleeper.

Anyway we are all thankful that Y. arrived safe and sound and that Jay, Yumi, and Hannah have a wonderful new girl to love!

Happy Birthday Big Daddy!

Hope you had a fabulous day and that it is the beginning of a great year for us all!

You are simply the best! Where would we be without you???

XOXOXO

Seeing Spots????

No, I'm not trying to gross anyone out- but what to do?? Is it something she ate? Shampoo? Lack of moisturizer? Grass? Is she just bored and trying a new look??

Dr. says no worries...we will see!

PS- yes the blog looks a bit different, just felt like a new template- I've had enough spots for a bit!

Continuing my theme from yesterday...

Unity '08 is a grassroots movement you might have heard about, if you watch political talk shows. Their goal is to draft a bipartisan presidential ticket for '08, via a web convention. It seems that political dialog has become so divisive that there is no longer room for intelligent debate of the issues: eg- if you disagree with Pres. Bush you must be a flaming liberal, unAmerican, or pro-terrorist... What happened to legitimate discussion of the issues and the demand that all citizens play an active role in their government? Doesn't Democracy presuppose that the people represented stand up and be heard? I believe it is time we take the government back from an administration that has removed our civil liberties while we have blandly looked on. There are so many important things to be debated and problems to be addressed!

I thought Unity '08 was a creative solution to a serious problem in this country: the corrupting influence of $$, corporations and lobbyists on our political system. I give them credit for attempting to do something!

Cross Roads

It is one of those weeks- choices to make and things to be decided on...
here at the mook house we are taking steps to lessen our carbon "footprint"- changing light bulbs is the first step, chris is adding an overhang to cut down on the massive influx of heat to the back of the house which should help with our a/c usage and we are in the beginning stages of talking about growing some of our own veggies, because we were floored at how difficult it was to find produce grown in the US at the local Sam's Club...(don't even get me started on my hatred of Wal-Mart and Sam's Club- sometimes a girl has to defer to her husband for the sake of the marriage!)

in the world of education, one year begins before one ends...it is time to start making decisions about the 2007-08 school year. will i go back full-time?? tough choice- and trust me, i am glad I have the luxury of making a choice. It just seems odd to be talking about Sept in March. One way or the other, it'll be 3rd grade, or part-time and Carolyn will be well cared for...I'll miss teaming with janine- it has been really smooth and satisfying and great for our students...and fabulous for US- she's the best...

conferences are this week-some to look forward to and some to use as an opportunity to guide parents in making the correct decisions for their child. If you have ever wondered about parent-teacher conferences from the teacher's POV- I look at is as a dialog, come with questions and be open to the answers, don't make excuses for your child and don't look to lay blame- let's work together to solve the problem at hand...

things to look forward to this week : Kathleen's b-day, AJ and Nat's party, lunch with my mom, Mom's, Chris' and Dad's birthdays, getting my hair colored and hopefully in two or three weeks another new family member!

Wow!

Kate ran a 7:46 mile yesterday. The PE coach was so proud, he picked up the phone to call me and tell me...She never stops impressing us!

In other news...Carolyn slept all night! AMEN!

Seven Months!

Here she is, with her hair done, no less...she is doing great: she sits up, scoots, says "Hi" to us, BUT she does not sleep all night, yet. Oh well, I am pretty sure she won't start kinder without sleeping all night!

On another front:Joe is beginning to plan his Freshman year- He is gearing up for a challenging year: honors English, honors Physics, honors Latin, Algebra II,Jazz band, and PE + summer school. We are tremendously proud of him for being willing to take it on and for showing the initiative...some of our rants must be sinking in!

Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe

The Last, Great Dance on Earth

We decided to take on the remainder of the Josephine B. trilogy for book club. Can't wait! Josephine's story is so satisfying and intruiging. It has been fun discussing the role of destiny and fate in one's life- especially in light of having viewed the video "The Secret"... Also great discussions on how little knowledge we had of the French Revolution and Josephine, herself. Ms. Gulland's writing draws the reader into another time and place. She makes you feel as though you are privy to the actual diaries of this (in)famous woman.

Since we are taking on two books- we'll meet again in April!

Enjoy!!

Life is Good...

Even though we seem to have caught every "bug" out there this year, with the birth of Little Lucy we are again reminded how joyous life is! We are thankful that the sweet girl arrived safe and sound. She is such a smart soul to have picked Adam and Amy as her parents...(Also thrilled that she shares her special day with our John!)

The 3rd grade teachers continue to prepare for the La Jolla Half/5K, depending on which one of us you are talking about. I really appreciate how we go out of our way to share our triumphs and struggles and cheer each other on- can't wait to take the show on the road. Great idea, Sarah!

Now that all three older kids are double digits, a bitter sweet moment for Mama, they headed out to fly John's birthday kite. It is so fun to see them do things together. It is especially great when they take a break from sniping about each other and just enjoy...

Graded some papers this weekend and was struck with how much growth our little ones have shown this year- they are really mastering math and grammar- two things that will serve them well as they go on to bigger and better things.

In order to document some of our science learning this year, I am going to try my hand at movie making- we'll see how it goes and I'll keep you posted!

Karen

Stylish
Savvy
Sophisticated
SMART (understatement)
well-Spoken
Super-Seller
Stellar Mama,Teacher,Friend

Two Tickets to the "Gun Show"...

Look at those biceps! Goofy girl is sporting a daring racer back tank from "Auntie Sarah"...She is inspiring mom to keep exercising so our arms don't look identical :)

The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B...

What a title...What a book! This is actually the first book in a trilogy on Josephine Bonaparte. It is written in a diary form and incredibly well researched. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is that genre at its best. The author does a great job of capturing her voice and her place in history. What is interesting to me is how one discovers a different personality from the one that has traditionally been portrayed regarding Josephine. In the first book, the reader is taken on Josephine's (actually, her name is Rose) journey from the Carribean to France where she is caught up in the French Revolution and later jailed. Against the backdrop of disorder and chaos, Rose meets Napoleon, a man she detests- at first...

The other two books continue to chronicle the rise and fall of her relationship with Napoleon. They also delve into her children's lives and all the political intrigue of the day. I was sad to say goodbye when the trilogy ended, so I have read them three times. Gulland's writing is excellent and her research is solid. The reader gets the feeling that they are getting an accurate, exciting glimpse into the period.

Three Day Weekend

One of the perks of being a teacher: three day weekends...Don't get me started on the whole "teachers are lucky- they get the whole summer off" thing. Truth be told, on my day off, I will be grading three or four different assignments, writing curriculum for science (on Dolphins, no less) and putting together the class' science fair project board. You don't even want to know the amount of school work I do during the summer in order to prepare- I know- BLAH-BLAH-BLAH...

Hopefully, I will be posting new pictures of C. this week, too. I'll try to get some here and some on FLICKR. She is sitting up, when you put her there and her tummy troubles seem better. Still, we are up at 2 am most every night.

Joe is off making a video on the Bill of Rights and the concept of double jeopardy- something involving fake blood!

I logged 6 miles this week- so that is a big plus for me! 3rd grade is doing a 5k (Karen and I) and a half-marathon (everyone else), so we are in training. You have to admit, working with people you have fun with is just about the best thing in the world!

One of the best things I have been able to do lately is listen to my friend Marcy on KGO AM radio. She has been doing fill in spots on Sunday mornings and she has just been fantastic. I love Marcy and I love talk radio, so two of my favorites are in one place! The station comes from SF - huge market- and I can listen on line...I'll keep you updated here on when she fills in... here is a link to the station : www.kgoam810.com

Lisey's Story- Stephen King

Ummm...I have been collecting my thoughts on this read for a week or two. Still not sure what I think of it. First, I am reluctant to recommend it, as it is so unusual. Still, that makes me want to recommend it! I have never read Stephan King before and picked this one up because it is supposed to be a more personal work and marriage was the basis of the story. That said, I loved the main characters' relationship- it was honest and powerful and life saving. There are times, in the real world, where one wonders what might have become of oneself if your spouse had not come along. That is certainly the case with these two... This book is terribly graphic, with disturbing scenes of violence and mutilation. This would usually be a deal breaker for me. However, what redeems it, is that at the core, Lisey is a true heroine and is bent on saving her husband, her sister and ultimately herself. In a kind of modern day fairy tale, Lisey must enter a dark and dangerous world in order to prevent herself from being consumed in this world. Kind of an interesting juxtaposition and I was mesmerized by King's ability to turn a phrase and to capture the short hand language of two people who had been together for a very long time.