Happy New Year, everybody! The new decade is upon us, and how happy I am! The past decade was a toughie and in so many ways I'm glad it's behind me. Still, I cherish all my memories of my kids growing up. There were times when I grumbled about having to attend 3 or 4 winter concerts in one season, about weekend long wrestling tournaments spent sitting on hard bleachers, about too much time spent chauffeuring my kids to cello lessons and violin lessons, to orchestra rehearsals and Boy Scout meetings. About too little time for me. Still, looking back at it all now, I wouldn't change a thing. Our "boys" are now young men, off on their own and living in their own apartments, forging a life for themselves. If we do our job right, wrote Neil Gaiman, they leave us (not his exact words).
Yet I did make some time for myself. When I turned 40, I bought a gym membership and began working out. I built muscles I never knew possible. And it felt good. I also began taking drawing classes, something I have never regretted. I discovered I still loved to draw and found it relaxing, yet challenging. I still take drawing classes. Somebody who's proficient at his/her craft is forever a student of it. Or so I believe.
And if I hadn't spent all those hours sitting on the bleachers during my son's wrestling tournaments, I may not have found my way back into writing. Out of boredom, I began to compose poems during those tournaments. It helped pass the time. And after years of reading tons of children's books to my kids as well as my students, I decided to try writing my own. All those years of reading had developed my feel for plot, characterization, and setting. In short, for story.
Life is too brief to spend it regretting the past. All we can do is to make the best of what's happened and look forward to the future.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2009
Five Things On a Friday
I have neglected this blog for far too long. Time to check in. Maybe I should call it quits until my life simmers down. Anyhow, here's what's been going on.
1. A librarian in our district retired at the end of November. Instead of hiring a replacement for her, as we all expected they would, the district decided to make the rest of us cover all her classes. Result: I'm now working in 3 libraries and have been saddled with 17 new classes in the middle of the year. Aaaarghhhh!
2. I've been working hard on cleaning up a library that's been neglected for the last 5 years - perhaps even longer. Lots of junk has accumulated and I'm trying to declutter it. I came across 4 tape recorders (only 1 worked), a broken book-binding machine, 8 free mugs from a library supply company (two of which had the skeletal remains of spider crickets in them - ugh), boxes and boxes of spiral book binders, a complete set of childhood biographies of famous Americans that nobody has read in ages, a set of Biography Now (most of them published in the 60s and 70s) and all sorts of useless racks, cd holders, cassette tapes and things that I can only describe as worthless crap. The collection is pretty solid, although many of the books need to be replaced due to wear. I am also reconfiguring the layout of the library and replacing the dusty, uninspiring pictures with more kid friendly artwork and posters. The administration is trying to get us a nice bright area rug and I'm hoping we can get the library a fresh coat of paint sometime over the next few months. It's a challenge but it's gratifying to see how much better the library is already looking. I'll take a picture and post it soon.
3. After weeks of mild fall weather, winter descended on us in a furious blast of arctic air. After enjoying temperatures in the 50s, we're now shivering! Brrrrrr!
4. Speaking of shivering, I'm currently reading Maggie Stiefvater's YA novel, Shiver. What a beautifully written and intriguing love story. Hat's off to Maggie!
5. Anybody know what to get a husband who claims he has everything he needs? I wish I could knit.I'd make him a scarf and gloves. I used to knit and crochet but it's been years and I've forgotten how, sigh.
Enjoy the weekend, everybody!
1. A librarian in our district retired at the end of November. Instead of hiring a replacement for her, as we all expected they would, the district decided to make the rest of us cover all her classes. Result: I'm now working in 3 libraries and have been saddled with 17 new classes in the middle of the year. Aaaarghhhh!
2. I've been working hard on cleaning up a library that's been neglected for the last 5 years - perhaps even longer. Lots of junk has accumulated and I'm trying to declutter it. I came across 4 tape recorders (only 1 worked), a broken book-binding machine, 8 free mugs from a library supply company (two of which had the skeletal remains of spider crickets in them - ugh), boxes and boxes of spiral book binders, a complete set of childhood biographies of famous Americans that nobody has read in ages, a set of Biography Now (most of them published in the 60s and 70s) and all sorts of useless racks, cd holders, cassette tapes and things that I can only describe as worthless crap. The collection is pretty solid, although many of the books need to be replaced due to wear. I am also reconfiguring the layout of the library and replacing the dusty, uninspiring pictures with more kid friendly artwork and posters. The administration is trying to get us a nice bright area rug and I'm hoping we can get the library a fresh coat of paint sometime over the next few months. It's a challenge but it's gratifying to see how much better the library is already looking. I'll take a picture and post it soon.
3. After weeks of mild fall weather, winter descended on us in a furious blast of arctic air. After enjoying temperatures in the 50s, we're now shivering! Brrrrrr!
4. Speaking of shivering, I'm currently reading Maggie Stiefvater's YA novel, Shiver. What a beautifully written and intriguing love story. Hat's off to Maggie!
5. Anybody know what to get a husband who claims he has everything he needs? I wish I could knit.I'd make him a scarf and gloves. I used to knit and crochet but it's been years and I've forgotten how, sigh.
Enjoy the weekend, everybody!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now (Live, 1970)
One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite songbirds.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Random Thoughts
It's been far too long since I've updated this blog. Here are a few random thoughts.
1. The last few weeks have been stressful. One of the librarians in our district is retiring November 20th and the administration isn't replacing her, putting a lot of stress (and work) on the rest of us. Now we'll have lots and lots of classes, but no time to attend to our libraries and their collections. So frustrating! I'll be working in three different schools with many new students. This is one of the worst educational decisions I've ever witnessed.
2. It's fall, my favorite season, and this year, fall lingers in all its radiant, glowing colors. It's been a pleasure driving home along the parkways and going for walks and runs with the leaves floating down around me.
3. My niece, Holly, will be celebrating her Sweet 16th birthday. How did she get this old?
4. I immerse myself in my novel for weeks or even months at a time, but find it refreshing to come up for air and a taste of poetry from time to time. I just finished writing a poem I really like, for a change.
5. Monday was my mother's birthday. She would have been 81. I still miss her.
1. The last few weeks have been stressful. One of the librarians in our district is retiring November 20th and the administration isn't replacing her, putting a lot of stress (and work) on the rest of us. Now we'll have lots and lots of classes, but no time to attend to our libraries and their collections. So frustrating! I'll be working in three different schools with many new students. This is one of the worst educational decisions I've ever witnessed.
2. It's fall, my favorite season, and this year, fall lingers in all its radiant, glowing colors. It's been a pleasure driving home along the parkways and going for walks and runs with the leaves floating down around me.
3. My niece, Holly, will be celebrating her Sweet 16th birthday. How did she get this old?
4. I immerse myself in my novel for weeks or even months at a time, but find it refreshing to come up for air and a taste of poetry from time to time. I just finished writing a poem I really like, for a change.
5. Monday was my mother's birthday. She would have been 81. I still miss her.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
An Autumn Windfall
I've been informed that the PTA is concerned about the state of our library. All I can say is, hooray! I've been concerned for a long time now. When I first started working in my present library, I told our principal it was the most stripped down collection I'd ever seen. And it was. I couldn't believe it!
I pleaded with the administration for more funding. And they did increase our funding, but only by $1,000. which brings us about even with the level of funding we received for books in 1992. Very sad.
Anyhow, the PTA wants to help and is going to donate about $1,600 for new books. I was under the impression that I'd have to purchase all the books from Scholastic but today they told me no, that I could order the books from a library book company (such as Follett or BTSB). So, now I'm really excited! Since my wish lists always far exceed my funding, I have plenty of ideas on how to spend this little windfall. Three cheers for the PTA!!!
Our annual pumpkin decorating contest is underway and this year's entries are the best ever! I'll post some pictures later this week, if I can figure out my new camera.
I pleaded with the administration for more funding. And they did increase our funding, but only by $1,000. which brings us about even with the level of funding we received for books in 1992. Very sad.
Anyhow, the PTA wants to help and is going to donate about $1,600 for new books. I was under the impression that I'd have to purchase all the books from Scholastic but today they told me no, that I could order the books from a library book company (such as Follett or BTSB). So, now I'm really excited! Since my wish lists always far exceed my funding, I have plenty of ideas on how to spend this little windfall. Three cheers for the PTA!!!
Our annual pumpkin decorating contest is underway and this year's entries are the best ever! I'll post some pictures later this week, if I can figure out my new camera.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Barking Dog
A dog has been barking all afternoon, disturbing our normally quiet neighborhood. I put on some music and shut the windows, but I could still hear him. It made me think of this poem by Billy Collins.
Another Reason Why I Don't Keep a Gun in the House
The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.
He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark
that he barks every time they leave the house.
They must switch him on on their way out.
The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.
I close all the windows in the house
and put on a Beethoven symphony full blast
but I can still hear him muffled under the music,
barking, barking, barking,
and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,
his head raised confidently as if Beethoven
had included a part for barking dog.
When the record finally ends he is still barking,
sitting there in the oboe section barking,
his eyes fixed on the conductor who is
entreating him with his baton
while the other musicians listen in respectful
silence to the famous barking dog solo,
that endless coda that first established
Beethoven as an innovative genius.
Another Reason Why I Don't Keep a Gun in the House
The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.
He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark
that he barks every time they leave the house.
They must switch him on on their way out.
The neighbors' dog will not stop barking.
I close all the windows in the house
and put on a Beethoven symphony full blast
but I can still hear him muffled under the music,
barking, barking, barking,
and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,
his head raised confidently as if Beethoven
had included a part for barking dog.
When the record finally ends he is still barking,
sitting there in the oboe section barking,
his eyes fixed on the conductor who is
entreating him with his baton
while the other musicians listen in respectful
silence to the famous barking dog solo,
that endless coda that first established
Beethoven as an innovative genius.
Friday, October 9, 2009
When the Music Died
For ten years or more my library was situated next door to the music room. When Barbara moved into the former science room, I have to admit, I was not happy. Having music as a next door neighbor seemed a bad marriage. A library was suppose to be a haven of quiet, a place where children could come to read and think and make connections with books. A music room, on the other hand, was a place where boisterous children burst into song accompanied by piano music, where kindergartners danced the freeze dance and the bunny hop, 5th and 6th graders rehearsed for chorus week after week, banged on drums and tambourines and belted out songs the whole day through.
At first it drove me batty. Sometimes I had to go next door and kindly ask Barbara to close her doors (which she always did) or to tone it down a notch or two. Sometimes, while I was reading to the kids, they'd sit on the floor doing hand gestures to the accompaniment of the songs. It was a major distraction. Eventually Barbara learned to close her doors and turn down the volume and I learned to love the music that drifted beneath the door and seeped through the walls of my little library.
I learned to like "The Cat Came Back" and "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing" and the theme from "Beauty and the Beast", developed an appreciation for "The Monster Mash" and the bubble gum song (which I don't know the title of). Around the holidays, it was "The Jingle Bell Rock" and "Over the River and Through the Woods" and as spring burst into bloom and the rains came whipping across the parking lot, I learned to love "Button Up Your Overcoat" and the classic "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Most of the songs were old, but some were new, gleaned from recent movies and hit lists. What swept beneath the door and through the walls with all these songs was a lovely poignancy, a kind of poetry that I learned to adore. Often the songs seemed to reflect the mood of the book I happened to be reading or to mirror my own personal feelings.
Four years ago I was yanked out of my library and plopped down into somebody else's. No music room next door. Instead, I'm now next door to the gym. The air is punctuated by the thud of basketballs, the occasionally screech of a whistle, the scream of children playing tag or some other fun game.
I never thought I'd be saying this, but I miss the music.
At first it drove me batty. Sometimes I had to go next door and kindly ask Barbara to close her doors (which she always did) or to tone it down a notch or two. Sometimes, while I was reading to the kids, they'd sit on the floor doing hand gestures to the accompaniment of the songs. It was a major distraction. Eventually Barbara learned to close her doors and turn down the volume and I learned to love the music that drifted beneath the door and seeped through the walls of my little library.
I learned to like "The Cat Came Back" and "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing" and the theme from "Beauty and the Beast", developed an appreciation for "The Monster Mash" and the bubble gum song (which I don't know the title of). Around the holidays, it was "The Jingle Bell Rock" and "Over the River and Through the Woods" and as spring burst into bloom and the rains came whipping across the parking lot, I learned to love "Button Up Your Overcoat" and the classic "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Most of the songs were old, but some were new, gleaned from recent movies and hit lists. What swept beneath the door and through the walls with all these songs was a lovely poignancy, a kind of poetry that I learned to adore. Often the songs seemed to reflect the mood of the book I happened to be reading or to mirror my own personal feelings.
Four years ago I was yanked out of my library and plopped down into somebody else's. No music room next door. Instead, I'm now next door to the gym. The air is punctuated by the thud of basketballs, the occasionally screech of a whistle, the scream of children playing tag or some other fun game.
I never thought I'd be saying this, but I miss the music.
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