Thankful Thursday

Just like a couple of weeks ago, I have many things to be thankful for, but I am going to focus on just one.

First, some background: in addition to The Books Nook, I have a classroom blog. I write at the end of every school day about homework the kids have or about upcoming events or about interesting things that have happened during the day. I use it chiefly as a communication tool with parents, keeping them informed of what goes on during those seven or eight odd hours during the day that their kids have lives that don't always involve parents.

Yesterday, when I sat down to do my classroom post, I logged on to our blog and found my latest Books Nook post - on my classroom blog.

Yesterday morning I had dashed off a post quickly before I left for work, and I had accidentally posted it on the wrong blog!

My first reaction was complete and utter mortification! I hurriedly deleted the post and sat, holding my chest for a moment as my heart ran a sprint.

Then, as my mind cleared, I began to analyze the situation. First, I checked my statcounter. As my luck would have it, I had had more visitors that day than usual.

Next, I thought hard about the content of my post. It was a really quick post about a computer game I've discovered on addictinggames.com , and the only personal editorial comment was that discovering a new game could be dangerous for me this time of year. Okay...deep breath...that's not so bad.

And that's where Thankful Thursday comes in. I am so very grateful that my accidental post was not this or this. I think I might have been looking for a different position for the fall if that had been the case!

By the way, my new obsession is a game called Lucky Balls. Give it a try, but don't say I didn't warn you - it is fairly addictive!

This time of year...

...seems to bring out the real craziness in my business.

A few weeks ago, a friend from the university told me that one of her profs had speculated in class that in the next five to ten years there will be a new designation of student requiring special ed help. This student will be labelled "The Pampered Child" and will require special ed help because they possess no problem-solving skills.

At first I thought she was joking, but then I encountered the following.

One day last week a parent of four told one of my colleagues, "Every day when my children get home from school I ask them how their day was."

Okay, I know what you're thinking - probably the same thing I was at this point in the story - "That's nice."

Just wait...

She continued on, "If any one of them can't tell me something positive, I call the school right away."

Wow! Think of the problem-solving skills those kids must have!

Thankful Thursday

This week, I am thankful for many things, but I will write about one particular one.

A week ago today, I was frantically getting a C. V. together. I had not applied for a job in 18 years, but I was going to take the leap and apply for a new job.

First, I need to establish something: I love my job. I had not been scanning the employment pages for weeks, desperately seeking a way out of my dead-end job. That was not my situation at all.

However, a job had materialised that I was interested in. It was with the same school division I have been teaching in for almost 20 years, and it would mean no report cards to fill out, no parent-teacher interviews to smile through, and virtually no marking to take up my weekends. It was an itinerant position in which I would visit six specific schools and help their staffs design and carry out "literacy programs". Basically, lots of work with teachers, some work with students, and none of the stuff listed above which is burning me out. There would be a fair bit of driving involved, but I like driving. And in this position, I would get paid for my mileage, as driving is a requisite for the job.

I worked really hard on getting this job. My Mother's Day weekend was completely engulfed in preparations for the interview: buying just the right outfit and shoes (not easy among all those Pussycat Doll shoes!), reading up on theories and methodologies of teaching reading and writing, anticipating questions and preparing the perfect answer for each one.

Well, folks, I didn't even get an interview for the job.

And I can honestly say that I am grateful.

As I already wrote, I love my job. I really do. And I think I love my job even more now.

Every day the kids I work with make me smile.

And over the past few days, every time I've smiled at work, I've said to myself, "How could you have considered giving this up?"

Really, how could I have considered giving it all up?

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful...

... for the safe travel of my dad, his wife, my sister and her husband. They have been in Europe since early April. We received an email last night from Paris, and it sounds as if they are having a spectacular time and that the weather has been perfect. They arrive home on the weekend.

... for the hard work and dedication of #2's Cub leaders and #3's Beaver leaders. I know I've mentioned my gratitude to them before, but it bears repeating. The wind-up night was earlier this week, complete with order-in pizza and potluck salads and desserts for the whole family. It was a veritable smorgasbord of good food and goodwill.

... for soft overnight spring rains that help coax the eruption of green but do not dampen daily life.

... for yesterday's rejuvenating book day.

... for strong early morning coffee.

... for last night's American Idol show, which helped me appreciate my own life so much more. It was more of a telethon than an Idol episode. I hate to admit that, as I watched it, there were times I had tears rolling down my cheeks. I hate when I let shows like that manipulate my emotions. Did any of you watch it?

... for the patience of my church council colleagues. I was elected to church council in February and I attended my third meeting earlier this week. I'm not sure I've said anything out loud at any of the meetings yet. I've sat back though, and tried to pick up the rhythm of the meetings, and hopefully, I'll be able to contribute something soon.

Literary Heaven

Today I get to spend the day at a book display.

I will be in a large, hushed room with few people and myriads of books.

New books. Shiny books. Perfect books.

Picture books. Fiction. Non-fiction.

Hardcovers. Paperbacks. Graphic Novels.

It is my idea of heaven.

The only downfall is I must decide which ones I can afford in my library budget and which ones I cannot.

I've always been a very inclusive person. It's just not fair that I have to exclude some of them!

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful...

...that I'm starting to see the light through my two whirlwind weeks of work. This bout of report cards and interviews is almost over. Whew!

...that I made it through half my parent-student-teacher conferences and no one has yelled at me yet.

...that I made it home last night. By the time we were finished interviews at about 8:00 p.m., a wicked spring blizzard had blown up. Many teachers on staff had decided to stay overnight in the small town in which I teach. I was determined, though, to make it home to my family. I have to admit that I am more than slightly resentful of these evening interviews. I work so many hours beyond school hours already that I really resent being told that I have no choice about these interviews. I have a six-year-old, dagnabit! He needs his mom around.

...that#3's jazz band is performing at a festival this evening. Of course, I'm unable to go see the performance (I have the last half of my interviews.), but I'm grateful that he has the opportunity.

...that I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow. I always get a new lease on life with a new haircut.

...for the church St. Patrick's Day Irish Stew night coming up on Saturday. It's a hoot! They even serve Guinness. I go to such a cool church!

...for what we hope to do after the church stew night. Main Man and I have plans to go to our favourite Irish night-time establishment and celebrate St. Patty's Day in true Irish fashion. We can't wait!

Have a great week, everyone. Thanks for hanging in there with me through the rough times.


9:20 p.m.
Addendum: I am ever so thankful to be all finished parent-student-teacher conferences. I'm enjoying a glass of wine, preparing for a bubble bath to celebrate. Hip-hip-hooray!

Just a Quick Note...

...to check in and say hi to everyone out there.

I've been working really hard. Reports go out tomorrow, and I will be ready.

I was out at the school from 8:15 a.m. until 6:45 p.m. yesterday and I got so much done. Still, I have comments to finish up on the cards. I hate writing them, but, as a parent, they're my favourite part to read on my own kids' reports, so I will keep slogging away.


Just wanted everybody to know that all is well, and that I really appreciate those who are still stopping by and are still commenting. Sorry I haven't had a chance to reply here or to return the favour on your blogs.

This will be another busy week, with Book Fair in my library all week, and with Parent-Teacher Interviews Wednesday and Thursday evenings, but I do get Friday off in lieu of working both those evenings, so #3 and I have big plans. He keeps asking, "How many more sleeps 'til you get to spend the morning with me?" He'll be in kindergarten in the afternoon, so we have to jam all our fun into the morning.

Anyway, the long and the short of it is: if you don't hear much from me this week, I'm fine, just busy, and I am thinking of all of you.

Take care.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful...

...for my job. At this crazy, hectic report card time, I often forget how much I truly love it. There isn't a day goes by that these students of mine don't make me smile.

...for my husband. Again, he often bears the brunt of my busy-ness at this time, but I do truly appreciate how he takes up the slack with things around home, even though it's often a busy time for him, as well.

...for #1. Last night I was telling him that I was getting too much attitude from him, but, all things considered, we probably get a lot less than the average family.

...for #2. Somehow, without our realizing it, he has grown into the most responsible of the three. He is meticulous about getting his homework done, he is usually patient and guiding with #3, and he actually cleans his room when he is asked to. Who'd 'a' thunk it?

...for #3, who can make me smile through anything. Last night I was at the kitchen table, books spread all around, red pen in hand, when he came in and asked me for a snack. I snapped, "Please get your father to get you a snack. I'm too busy." Seconds later, he was by my side, asking in his wee voice,"Are you too busy for a hug?" Priorities, priorities...

...for my dog. I often have trouble sleeping at report card time. You know, you've all done it - you wake up and you stew about unfinished things, will you have enough time, will you find that paper you lost, blah, blah, blah... Anyway, I have found that if I can touch the warm fur of my dog, it relaxes me and helps me settle back into sleep. And luckily, he's a bit of a cuddle-pup, so it works well for him, too.

Have a great week, everyone, and take some time to ponder what you are thankful for.

Energy Boost

I went to a seminar yesterday on "Increasing the Effectiveness of Your School Library Program". It was spectacular. I always consider a professional development opportunity a success if I learn one thing I can use the day I go back to work. I probably learned at least a dozen at this one.

The presenter was dynamic and had us rolling in the aisles with some of her stories. She works in San Diego, California, but she is actually, in her own words, "a Southern Belle from South Carolina." The best part? She actually is a teacher librarian. She actually knows what she is talking about. I think that is what made her stories so incredibly funny; we've all been there, done that.

We each received a handbook of ideas she had compiled to help with all aspects of teacher-librarianship. I expect it will be dog-eared and well loved.

This handout includes pages and pages of lists of great books for kids. I've already started putting some on hold at our public library so I can preview them. I'm so excited!

It was great to have an energizing day like yesterday to get me through this terrible period of report cards. 5 more sleeps - if you can call them that. I didn't sleep very well last night. I just have to keep telling myself - this too shall pass. In a little over a week, when parent-teacher conferences are over with, I'll be sleeping like a rock.

Wasting Time

I snuck out of the house this morning before anyone else was up.

Report cards go out in ten days, so I'm in cramming mode. I wanted to get out to the school early to get some serious work done.

I worked for a couple of hours and I found myself very hungry, so, even though it was only 11:10, I decided to have my lunch. Well, it's now 11:30 and I'm finished my veggies and dip and my rice cakes and tuna. With a lunch like that, I'm going to feel like picking up a burger at about 2:00!

I'm not quite ready to delve back into the books, so thought I'd visit good ol' blogger and say hi to everyone. If you're reading this, please leave me a comment. I'm looking for lots of little diversions today.

Sitting here in this isolated classroom crunching numbers, I'd really like to know that someone's thinking of me.

Thankful Thursday

This week, I am thankful...

... that our Oscar party is over for another year. After 17 years of putting on a certain type of party, you would think that it would be just a mere hiccup in your week, but it's always a major cough, almost a gag, no matter how successful. It's so much work.

... that Main Man is making more of an effort to turn lights off when he walks out of a room.

... that #1's braces are more manageable for him now. I was getting a little worried about the number of Advils he was popping.

... that #2 had a fabulous time on his Cub Scout ski trip, and that, unlike his father on his first foray onto a ski hill at age 10, he did not break his leg!

... that #3 had such fun on his first sleepover Saturday night. I think the family might be vegetarian. He said they had peanut butter soup for supper. He wasn't all that impressed with that, but had a great time otherwise.

... for movie nights with the girls. Even if the movie isn't all that great, it's nice to get out.

... for supper out with the girls. (Yes, I've had a big week!) Last night a group of us teacher-librarians got together and attended a fundraising dinner for the Willow Awards. It was an evening of delicious food, delightful conversation, and divine literature.

... that March has arrived, which must mean that spring is just around the corner. We did, however, have a major snowfall last night, so that corner may still be a little far away yet.

... that, even with report cards less than two weeks away, panic hasn't set in yet. I'm sure it will soon, though.

Have a great week, everyone!

Teachers' Convention

Today was the first day of our two-day convention. I know that the event takes hours and hours of work for the organizers, and I do appreciate their efforts, but I still wonder what the point is.

The day consisted of greetings from various important people, a miserable motivational speaker who shrieked at us about living our dreams and remaining positive, a business meeting in which the powers that be really did try to make the discussion pertinent to the four hundred or so attendees, and then one more motivational speaker who actually wasn't bad.

By the end of the day I was numb. I missed my students desperately.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...


... life.

One of my colleagues was home sick this week for three days. The woman filling in for her was a mom from our school community (I've taught both of her kids.) who is now a retired teacher.

We had the chance to renew our acquaintance this week. We chatted over lunch and I helped her with questions she had on our school routines. She filled me in on what her kids are doing now; they're in their late teens, early twenties. She told me excitedly about her upcoming trip to Puerto Vallerta. She had recently celebrated her sixtieth birthday.

This morning, on her way to substitute at a different school, her car was struck on the driver side full force at an uncontrolled rural intersection by a car driven by a seventeen-year-old boy. She is fighting for her life as the doctors struggle to control her internal bleeding. I think the boy and his mother, also in his car, are doing well.

Evidently, the first vehicle on the scene after the accident was a school bus full of students. The scene was horrific. Counsellors were called to the school to help the kids deal with the trauma.

All I can think of is the look in her eye as she told me about how much she loved Mexico.

Just a lesson, I suppose, in making each and every day count.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful...

...that yet again, after our furnace shut down in the middle of the night, I managed to get it started again yesterday morning. I'm especially thankful for this because the temperature was -28 degrees Celsius outside.

...that I survived having my teaching observed by my principal on Monday. I know I'm a fairly good teacher. I've never really had complaints - at least nothing serious - from students, parents, colleagues, or administrators in all of my eighteen years of teaching. Still, I experience nervous shakes whenever I'm observed. One more lesson to have observed, and I'm done for four years or so.

...for books on CD. I've been borrowing them from the library and listening to them as I drive to and from work. It's so great! There are only 2 downfalls: my car CD player skips when it's really cold, so I miss the occasional word and phrase - at least until the car warms up. And I have to choose my audio-books carefully or I could make a fool of myself. I was listening to Mitch Albom's For One More Day, a story in which the main character is contemplating suicide and is taken on this spiritual journey to spend one more day with his mother, who had died years before. Well, as I mentioned in my comment on the previous post, I tend to be a weeper, so there I was, bawling my eyes out on the highway to work. Luckily I had a touch of a cold at the time, so when people at work asked, I chalked up the red eyes to that. Not sure what that trucker who passed me on the road was thinking, though.

...for#1's band teacher, who has encouraged him to join the jazz band. He couldn't play earlier in the year because the practices were the same time as his volleyball games. She needled him and needled him until he finally joined last week and he loves it! I told him it was an honour to be so persistently recruited by a teacher. He said, "Well, she kept telling me that she was sure I would like it, that jazz is in my bones, whatever that means." I think it means that she knows him very well.

...that #1 still gives me a hug and a kiss and tells me he loves me before he goes to bed. He's 12 now, and I expect that may stop soon, but I sure hope it doesn't.

...that when #2 asks what's for supper and I reply, his response is almost always,"Yes!" He is by far the least picky of the three.

...that, on cold mornings like we've had for the last week or more, my little car still starts. It's an amazing little vehicle.

...that when my blogposts are few and far between, as they have been lately, people still drop by to see what I have to say. I'm especially thankful that some see fit to drop off a little comment. Thanks, folks!

Have a great week.

Streams of Consciousness II: The Return

Sunday...#2's first guitar recital. He's taken lessons for two and a half years, but his previous teachers didn't "do" recitals. I was so proud! He played a song he wrote himself. It sounded bouncy and Spanish, so he called it "Bouncing Ball", only he used the Spanish translation that he painstakingly researched on the internet.

Monday...Teachers' work day. It's what they call "Turnaround Day", the day between the first and second semester in the high schools. Students across the division get the day off, and teachers get to use it for catch-up or prep for the future. I call it "Breathing Day", and I worked hard. Still not caught up, but not quite as far behind now.

Tuesday...Went to see Babel. Wasn't nearly the profound film I was led to believe it would be. Left me depressed and sad. Didn't really make me think, just left me empty. Some have compared it to Crash from last year. Now that was a movie! It made me think and reflect. Although it had its moments full of sadness and despair, it ended with a resounding note of hope. If you are vexed in the future about just which DVD to pick up at the rental place, and Babel and Crash are in your hands, please go for Crash!

There's so much more to write, but so little time. Stay tuned for Streams of Consciousness III, coming soon to a blog near you.

Streams of Consciousness

So...far...behind...

Been trying to get around to visit all of the kind people who have visited my way before I post again. Futile. Must get new post up, or people will think I've given up on the Nook.

Booktalk. Huge distributor treats roomful of teacher-librarians to lunch. Then inundates them with talk of newly published children's books. Woman drones on and on. Is it possible to be intensely boring? How much of a challenge is it to excite teacher-librarians with talk of books? Apparently too much of a challenge. Lunch was good.

Also good that booktalk finished early. (Good for several reasons.) Am in the kitchen waiting with snacks when the boys return from school. Feel like a stay-at-home mom. Nice feeling. Warm and fuzzy. Coincidentally, Oprah's show that day is working moms versus stay-at-home moms. Shouldn't have watched.

In middle of busy week, get email from principal that I am one of the lucky ones who is on the cycle to be observed and evaluated this year. I see the point, but I'm still not happy.

Furnace cuts out in middle of the night. No rhyme or reason. Luckily starts up on its own in the afternoon. What gives? When will it happen again? Hard to be thankful on Thursday.

#2's birthday party. Heaps of Harry Potter. Men's XL black t-shirts cut up the middle for Hogwarts robes. Sorting hat complete with hidden walkie-talkie so #1 can provide voice effects. Make-your-own chocolate frogs. Potions: coloured vinegar and baking soda, Kool-Aid and club soda. #1 acting as a Dementor. One guest so scared he's in tears. Quidditch complete with pool noodle brooms and a golden snitch as big as your head. All go home with a goblet, two "test tubes" (that look mysteriously like bud vases), and their chocolate frogs. Exhaustion! Main Man has outdone himself yet again in the party department.

Yesterday marked half-time for the school year. Where has the time gone?

In Honour of...

... Naughty Librarian Month, I've decided to change my avatar.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

... a car that will start even when the windchill is -47 degrees Celsius. Toyota Corollas rule!

... a cozy house where I can sit and drink hot cocoa with my family when the weather outside is crrrappy!

... my dad and stepmom having the opportunity to fly to Hawaii for a holiday. They've both worked so hard all their lives, and they deserve to enjoy their golden years.

... the opportunity to stand in front of a roomful of ten-year-olds and feel the excitement as they learn something new. It's palpable!

... how much my boys love tuna casserole. (That makes what-do-we-have-for-supper nights much easier!)

... my library assistant, who is not only one of the most efficient, hard-working women I know, but is also an incredible sounding-board and confidante.

... those times when I keep students in at recess so I can help them with their corrections, and they actually thank me when we're done.

... students who say thank you when I check a book out of the library for them. (Heck - for that matter, I'm thankful for kids who check books out of the library at all!)

... #2's teacher, who called yesterday to let us know that he had left his backpack at school. Unfortunately, we didn't get the message in time to get the backpack, but I really appreciate her efforts.

Have a great week, everyone!

Back to the Grind

Well, when my alarm went off at 6:00 this morning, I was not looking forward to going back to school.

And as I put on pantyhose for the first time in two weeks, I was not looking forward to going back.

And as I packed my boring lunch into my ugly lunchbag, I was not looking forward to going back.

And as I scraped the ice off my windshield this frigid morning, I was not looking forward to going back.

And as I battled traffic on the icy streets through the dark early morning, I was not looking forward to going back.

But you know, once I got there, listening to all the students' excitement about the holidays and comparing holidays with my colleagues, I was actually happy to be back.

Routine brings out the best in me, I guess...