Salut

Yesterday I had lunch with my mom's college roommate Fran who I haven't seen in 21 years! So technically, I've never seen her, because the lord knows I have no memory from when I was 1 years old. My precise cognitive awareness didn't kick in until I was 2. It was a heck of a year!

Anyway, Fran lives in St. Paul and treated me to brunch at Salut. It was the best. Just what I needed. It was so nice to be around a mom and to have someone say the types of things like, "Don't work yourself too hard," "Make sure you make time for yourself," "Ya know, kids can just be brats, can't they?"

Sigh of relief.

Breath of fresh air.

I've only been working for 5 weeks? Yikes.

So, during the week I eat terribly. PB&J, pretzels and coffee is my diet. Throw some Chex Mix in for good measure. I know, it's super bland and bad and boring and I'm gonna pay for it.

But, on the weekends, I've been making up for it. As I said, I went to Salut, and it was bom-chicka-wow-wow good.

I had the eggs florentine.

I didn't get the french fries.... but there's always next time.

We sat outdoors because it was such a lovely fall day with a bonus of sunshine - image via

Went to Starbucks to grade homework and got a pumpkin spice latte. Fall is here. And it feels so right.

Braids and Cuckoo Clocks

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{image via}

It's raining outside. How calming. Our front lawn needs to be mowed. I wonder if our neighbors don't like us because we've let it go. I'm sure the leaves will start falling soon and you won't even see the overgrown grass. Problem solved. I'm currently writing math lesson plans and trying to figure out Minnesota's state standards for all the subjects I teach. Complicated. Can't someone just email them to me all neat and compiled nicely in a PDF format? Teacher troubs. Yuck.

Wondering: If I will ever learn to make a decent braid. So far... fail.

Missing: My friends from home. Sitting on Anne's porch and being cuddly in a plaid blanket sounds ideal. Throw some apple cider into the mix and we have perfection.

Listening to: Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue"

Craving: Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory

Wishing: I was watching Aladdin or The Lion King

Happy: That one of my students made me and another teacher a copy of his football schedule so we could go to his games

Reading: Oh, The Places You'll Go (short but sweet... and quite relevant for my students... well at least I think so)

Need: More cozy socks and more flats to wear to work (On Friday, a student said, "Ms. B, you must really like those purple shoes. Because you wear them, like, allllll the time." In my head I thought to myself, "Stop concentrating on my outfit and start concentrating on these vowels!")

Thinking about: How nice the ticking of a clock is when the house is empty and quiet. Also, thinking about getting my paws on a cuckoo clock. It would make a lovely addition to my bedroom.

Sitting still

{all images found via}

SPECIAL GARDEN (A Child cry to his Daddy)

In my garden, I will plant some of Daddy's things 


The hat he wears for his favorite baseball team.


His special notes he wrote to me.

His favorite songs he likes to sing.


His special collect cars he bought last spring.



His favorite tie that has grease stains.


His favorite fishing pole, even though he has never caught anything.



And I'm going to plant some of my tears, these come from me.


Every night before I go to sleep, I will go out to my special garden


and pray over Daddy's things.



(c)copyright Natasha Flowers 2002 


This poem is so simple and yet so poignant. I read it for my students today during our discussion on 9/11.

A few students liked it so much they asked if I'd make copies so they could share it with their families.

I had plans to have my students write a journal entry on where they were on 9/11. Then I remembered that they were only 1 when it happened. Then I felt really, really old.

We remember.

Gray or Grey ?

Either way. Digging this.

{via Anthro}

Crisp

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{image via ildiko neer}

It feels like Fall. It sounds like Fall. The house is empty and quiet. Just some breeze through the window and I'm wearing a sweatshirt and knit socks. Drinking water and writing math lesson plans.

Missing: My family

Listening to: Mumford and Sons ("Winter Winds" ... on repeat)

Craving: Strawberry Licorice

Wishing: I was lying in a pile of leaves or getting ready to go to a Badger football game

Happy: That my cousin Sean and his girlfriend Sarah are visiting me in a month :)

Reading: The Girls Guide To Hunting And Fishing

Need: More weekend time and more organization

Thinking about: Wyoming and mountains