A Good Life

Sometimes I think my life is not as glamorous as it should be. Maybe there needs to be more mystery, or more drama, or more wonder, or at least a tinge of tragedy. But then I am reminded to look around me at other lives, compare them a bit, and re-adjust my thinking to keep perspective. There are many others that have their share of mystery, drama, wonder, and tragedy and their lives are anything but glamorous. When I look at them, I gain a new sense of satisfaction about my life. Are you feeling the same way? Then take a look at these lives and feel better about your own...

The Baudilaire orphans: their parents perished in a fire (supposedly), an evil count wants their fortune, and they are constantly without happiness. Most recently, Sunny is forced to do chores and cook for Count Olaf while Violet and Klaus attempt to solve the mystery of their missing parents.

Charlie Bucket: he is the poorest of the poor and nearly starves to death and freezes to death (he does get a lucky break by winning a chocolate factory, but still...)

Luke Skywalker: grew up all his life thinking his dad was a hero, only to find out he was the rottenness villain ever. Luke is nagged to "feel the force", not act on emotions, etc. As a result, he lives his whole life in a state of depression, always battling something internally evil.

Winnie the Pooh: he never has enough honey to eat, and his house gets flooded (talk about a hassle), and he's always needing operations to replace his stuffing.

These are just a few examples to compare your life too. See? Life is always worse for someone else!

I Love to Laugh!

With Halloween approaching, I've been trying to find my inner scary laugh. I believe as the month comes to a close, I may want to reveal a more sinister side of myself to my students so that they'll know that their dear sweet teacher has such a side. But I am not sure which scary laugh to claim as my own.

Gruff Monster: "Haw! Haw! Haw!" (deep in the throat)

Musing Witch: "Hee! Hee! Hee!" (while rubbing my hands together in feindish glee)

Mad Scientist: "Hahahahahahha! Ahahahahaha!" (with head tilted back)

Dark lord: "Bwaa-ha-ha!" (masked behind a cloak)

A Walk to Remember

Contrary to assumptions made by the title of this blog, this is not a tribute to the book by Nicholas Sparks or the movie starring Mandy Moore. No, this is a tribtute to real-life individuals who have been spotted walking along the streets of Santa Maria. It's a bit ridiculous to be so enamored by people walking as a part of their daily lives. Pretty much on every other continent of the world walking is the number one method of commuting. But here in America it has almost become a nostalgic activity. Power to those of the footage!

Professor ?: Almost every morning as I head to work, I pass an elderly gentleman walking down Jones toward Bradley. He is dressed in a tweed suit and is always reading a hardback book as he walks. Is he a literature professor walking to his class, reading the great works of Faulkner? Is he a political science professor reading Virtual War?

Mr. and Mrs. ?: Today I saw an elderly couple walking up Santa Maria Way toward Hillview. When I returned to campus, I saw they had made it halfway up Hillview and were passing my school. The man was dressed in a suit and tie. The woman was very petite and wearing a blue floral dress and red velvet blazer. Are they members of some cult, spreading their cultish ways in the neighborhood? Are they out for a reminiscent walk in their Sunday best?

Firemen in Training: Sometimes on my way to work I see some firemen-in-training jogging across Hancock campus. Rain or shine, they're running. Some look like they were born to be firemen, while others will have to work harder. Props to our future preservers of the earth!

A New Seat

This afternoon after school, I rearranged the seating in my classroom. I moved every desk to a new spot in the room. I did this for a couple reasons: 1. some children needed to be moved away from certain other children so that they could study better. 2. I simply got bored looking at the same faces in the same spots of the room. 3. It's good for kids to be moved and have a different view of the room. I'm kinda excited for Monday to see them all in new areas, although it will throw me off for a day or so. I'm sure I'll call Chloe's name and be staring blankly at Jordan. Or lose my equillibrium when I hear Emma's voice on a different side of the room. But it will still be something new and exciting. Change is always good.

Which made me wonder, as I dragged desks all around, that maybe these are the reasons God moves us around in life. Maybe we need to be removed from certain other people who are not good for us. Or maybe He just gets bored seeing us complacent in the same spot. Or maybe we need to be challenged with a new view of life. I guess I shouldn't fuss so much when He does move me around and change things in my life.

I sure hope my students don't make a fuss come Monday morning!

A Bit of Finn

This cute little face has graced my blogs before. For those of you new to my world, this is Finnian, my little second cousin who lives in Salinas. He is the life of the party, even at his young age. Here are some glimpses of his latest adventures taking place in the clothes dryer and in the garden!