ArtSeesDiner, Coffee and a Talk With ME

War on inaccuracies fabricated by MoveOn.org and other organizations on both sides of the Aisle!

2012-02-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

What our 3 branches of government have done to our country. Who leads all 3 branches of Government? You finish that out.

War on infant's right to be born.
War on women's reproductive rights and sanctity of life in every area.
War on the right to own guns and again limit the rights of the American people.
War on those who believe in the sanctity of life.
War on those who are Christian, ie, war on the Freedom of Rights as outlined in the Constitution.
War on working mother's rights to pay less taxes due to payment to women who will not work.
War on freedom of speech as witnessed with the Obama attempt to silence NPR, internet censorship in the event that he deems it necessary to shut down the internet.
War on desegregation when there is an obvious movement to promote all black schools in urban areas, taught by specially trained educators from the University of Chicago and other highly liberal agenda promoting institution. Again, violating labor laws.
War on the conservative party, including those who do not espouse radical fundamental agendas.
War on the tea-party movement which if fact is a movement, (albeit sorted at times.) to lower the power of the government, as in the liberty fighters which the more liberal colonists would have in fact supported.
War on State's rights, and alienation of powers set forth by the constitution.
War on the middle class, when an educator earning less than 45k a year has to pay out gross a third of their income in order to support an overburdening taxation, along with the necessary liberal union supporting program, then yes, the middle class are in fact shouldering the majority of costs.
War on State and local government's inability to manage the rapid influx of immigrants. While the financial strength of State and Local governments are drained in order that illegal immigrants are allowed to benefit from every aspect of those who are legally participating in civic responsibility it is in fact a war on the rights of the American people.
War on Education.
War on the rights of people capable of working both physically, academically, and morally from working because it is deemed a child labor law. At the same time the very party that is misinterpreting said child labor laws have supported the rights of fourteen year old girls to obtain the “morning after pill” in order to abort the baby conceived, yes, illegally.
War on the number individuals who are voting in places without lawful documentation. In some cases no evidence of citizenship, or right to vote.
War on terror was in fact a mutually designed program. War on Islam and Islamaphobia, who authorized the murder of Osama?
War on the right for a fair trial and due process, as evidenced by the increased presence of the United States Military in Urban areas.
War on misinterpreting the history of this country for the spread of the same liberal agenda from institutions such as the University of Chicago. While we should never, ever forget the harshness of our history, there is also an amazing beauty in our history.
War on the Constitution and the powers held within the words as outlined by a supreme law of the land.
War on State's rights.

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Cutest Couple Contest, WGN

2012-02-01T17:49:00.001-08:00

He Almost Had ME at...

2012-01-25T11:42:00.001-08:00

Last night's State of the Union almost had me. Obama almost had me. He almost convinced me that maybe he would be the best choice for the next term. Then it happened. All of his smooth retelling of achievements, and talk of fairness and establishing a society of the future and growth, and, and...then it happened!

He failed to deliver. He brought up good points like; why should billionaires not pay their share of taxes. Why does being wealthy protect you from paying what you can afford. IF I can be forced to pay upwards of 20% of my salary to support the Federal Government, why shouldn't Mitt, or any other fortunate individual. I do not have anything against a person who has money, on the contrary, I wish I could learn how to do that. But, I do have a problem with the lopsided way in which we do tax our people. IT is backwards! Those making the most should pay more! They should at least pay the same, but in theory, they should pay more. Trust me when I say that if you give the 98% of Americans making less than $250,000.00 a year, 2% more of their income, they will either invest it, or save it! Those making less than $250,000.00 with no means with which to invest in property or savings need that 2% far more than a millionaire or billionaire needs it. They are making their money off of said investments.

Obama said nothing about changing tax codes other than making it so those over $250k would pay what I pay. No where did he say that by making us all pay the same percentage, would make it so that our taxes would go down. You see more of the smoke and mirrors! He was telling us all how he intended to pay for bigger government.Not how he was going to make living in this country more affordable for those of us already carrying more than our share of the burden.

He almost had me...

What Party Do You Belong to, Public or Private?

2012-01-22T09:45:00.000-08:00

Here is my thought of the day.
As we face the next presidential election it is becoming more and more clear that the names of the 2 political parties might need to change from the Democratic party and the Republican party to the Public and the Private party. Every American should feel welcome at either party, right? Do you feel welcome at either party? Which one would you be accepted, invited to?
Then we need to look at the concept of what it means to be "moderate," "liberal," or "conservative." After watching Sunday morning television i heard those terms defined. So, let's define them... Moderate: Average, intermediate, medium, cautious, conservative, fair and kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits, no extremes, excessive or intensity. Conservative: traditionalist, modest, unprogressive, (not to be confused with retrogressive) Disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, to restore traditional ones and to limit change. Liberal: civil, libertarian, fair minded, generous, giving.
What surprises me are the conflict in terms, in meaning, in labels. I am stunned at times, by those who claim labels without really know what they mean, but rather, they adjoin themselves to affiliations without looking at the big picture, without understanding the meaning, or background behind the formation, and following. As I throw my 2 cents into the ring of understanding, I am confused by a few things. I will not spend too much time looking at President Obama, because, well he is arrived. I will spend time on those who seek the arrival zone. Gingrich, Santorum, Paul and Romney.
Gingrich is a moderate even a liberal. His only claim to a conservative role is that he is a by all accounts a self-serving and at one time affiliated with the old Washington club. (Again, private or public party? Would you ever get invited?) His character is not in keeping with a definition moderate , liberal, or conservative. So where does he fall? Simple, he is a self-serving, non-public servant. So therefore, being of a non-public entity is of the private party. Can you shop at Tiffany's? What Christian organization supports the like of Gingrich? Oh, I know, Television Evangelicals, they are all about the “show.”
Santorum is a conservative yet, he is a Catholic Christian, and by all accounts evangelicals will never accept that a Catholic could possibly be a Christian or truly conservative, even though Catholics are a very conservative group of people, but wait, let's look at the definition of liberal, moral, conservative. I guess actually Christians are all of those things, that is if they are following the New Testament, the book of Christ. The bigger question is this. Is Santorum of a private party or a public party? Would you be welcome to a Santorum shindig? Would staunch Republicans ever in their wildest dreams support a Catholic? (excuse me while I clear my throat)
Romney is a moderate by all accounts. He is, medium, cautious, conservative, fair. He is a conservative, he is moderate, temperate, a traditional man filled with American values. He is generous with his knowledge, abilities, (oops, you mean he got paid for a job well done, shame on him!) Oh, wait, one big problem, he is a Mormon! Mormons are not Christians, seems as though he would have a hard time being invited to a private party. Public party maybe, but, never a private party, right? Would hard-lined Republicans ever completely support a person who reflects all of their platform without being a Evangelical, or even a Protestant?
Paul is a very liberal individual by all definition. He is also a Moderate and a conservative! Oh no, how is it possible that this man could be all 3 definers? It is easy, because he is a Moderate, he is middle, medium, cautious, conservative financially. No, wait, he is conservative, because he believes in traditional values and is relatively non-progressive when one looks at the original intent of the constitution. No he is liberal when one realizes that he is fair minded. Libertarian, civil-minded. Problem with Paul is that he generally refuses to discuss religion. He may not be an Evangelical Christian. Maybe he believes in the separation of church and state. (isn't that an interesting concept for a presidential candidate) Would staunch republicans ever consider a non-public believer, or (excuse me I am choking) a non-believer? The bigger question is this; Public party or Private party? Would you ever be invited to his party, or would you be overlooked?
You see it is time for people to begin asking the hard questions. Who is public, who is private? It is not a matter of liberal, moderate or conservative. It is about “of the people, by the people, for the people,” . It is about all of us being invited to the party. We are the party. We are the people. We can no longer elect presidents who would never ever invite us to their party, or come to ours. Who running for office in 2012 will be the most likely to be fair, open-minded, generous, modest, progressive, but not so progressive that core values are undermined and trampled under foot? Who has the vision to protect while nurturing what it is to be American? Who is cautious enough to protect while bold enough to stand against the forces that seek to destroy? Who are you really? Are you willing to accept anyone to your table, or are you private? For once, shed the concept of labels and answer boldly and honestly, are you of a public party or a private party? What does that really mean? In short, I am calling for the Republican party to open up their doors and say come on inside. We are the party for all people regardless of affiliation, creed, race, gender, financial status. Show me that you can be “of the people, by the people, for the people,”

personally I do not feel that our current president is a public party goer, I definitely do not feel that Gingrich is a public party person. Something tells me he would be looking at a potential donation, of one kind or another, while his wife scoped out the authenticity of my jewels. I would probably not feel welcome at Santorum's party. Romney, I would feel accepted and challenged to become a better me. Ron Paul, I would feel welcome, invited, accepted and valued. I think Herman Cain would have invited me over for a good meal, but, well, he definitely did not fit in with the private party.

Love, Life and Sacrifice...Why?

2011-11-06T11:24:00.000-08:00

Why is it necessary to leave so many of the thing you love in order to leave that which you do not love? Love, it is a word which identifies for some a word which describes the ultimate emotion, for others it is as ambiguous a word, one can imagine. In reality, it does not matter. The fact remains, in order for me to leave a marriage that was destroying me emotionally and spiritually, I would have to leave the man that I promised to love, honor and cherish til death do us part. Well, death did cause us to part. The death of who I was, who I wanted to be, who I felt I had been designed to be. I did love, honor, respect, and cherish the man that I met when I was only 16. I loved, honored, cherished, respected and care for to the best of my ability all that we shared together. It came to an end. The long drawn out period of neglect and abuse that I suffered in the name of loyalty and love could no longer be ignored. I had developed a duality as a coping strategy. I put me up on the shelf and stifled my growth at the age of 16. Only weeks before my 17th birthday. When most girls were experiencing the joy of being a Senior in High School, I was struggling to stay alive. I was humiliated to the point that I turned over control of my life to someone much more powerful than myself. I do not wish to spend too much time beleaguering this point, but, what I do want to address is the loss that I have suffered as I sought to gain my life back.

Divorce does something terrible to the individuals involved. The individuals extend to households that no one could imagine that it does. I was born and raised in Kankakee Illinois. It was my home town. I knew the cracks in the sidewalks that led to downtown Kankakee, the cracks that led to Cobb Park. These were the places that I walked with regularity. I knew the church that I would long to sing in, the smell, the color of pinks and golds that adorned the walls. I knew the statuary. My children knew them too. I made sure that they would know them. They would respect, love, and honor the church for the beauty that she is. My home town would not be mine anymore. As easy as he took my innocence at the age of 16, he would take all that knew from my earliest memory of me. To say he stole it is in my heart the truth. I did not give it to him. I never imagined that I would not remain in the church, in my neighborhood, in my community. The reality is, I had to go. Constant harassment, defilement, fear, drove me away. I left after 2 years of being divorced. Leaving him actually caused more distress for me than I imagined. I had hoped that he had become stable enough for me to start my life over. There was only one way to start my life over, to leave.

As a Catholic Christian, I had done the ultimate sin against the church for a lay person. I was no longer in keeping with the sacrament that I took when I was only twenty five years old. I was married in a civil ceremony when I was only twenty years old. After some time, I felt in order for my children to be raised in a solid Catholic home, our marriage would need to be blessed by the church. The irony here is that if I had never had it blessed, the church would not have recognized the marriage as a sacrament. But, I did it to ensure that my children would be easily able to make their sacraments.
I remember feeling as I stood before the priest with my now ex-husband, that the Lord would bless this marriage. That somehow my ex would have a change, a profound change. That now I would be treated better, that I would be a honorable Catholic wife. I would now be able to sing in the church that I grew up in. That my children would complete which was denied me when I was a little girl. I was taken away from the community that I loved, my friends where I was quite popular, and accepted at the end of third grade. I would become a public school kid. It took a long time before I attained acceptance, and it only lasted a few years before my ex would defile my understanding of myself.

I committed my life to many things, to being a mother, a friend, a sister, a wife, a music minister, a community activist. These were the things that I believed defined me. At the core of this definition was my role with the church. My relationship with Jesus Christ and my understanding of my role in that relationship. I was special because I could sing to Him. I could minister with something that most could not. My voice. I had no idea that leaving a destructive marriage would destroy that which I loved most. I had no idea that I would no longer minister in front of my children, or now my grandchildren. I would never have imagined that leaving him would deny my grandchildren from seeing their grandmother in her sweetest light. In her role as a cantor in the church. All the weddings, funerals, masses that I sang on a weekly basis were gone.

This is all heavy on my heart today because today I will go to church with one of my students who has sought me out because he knows I am Catholic, and he wants to become one. He sees the same beauty in the church that I see. He asked me to take him to church. I want to show him the absolute beauty, I want to minister to him. I want back what I once held so dear and was equally able to express. How can I tell Sister, the liturgist, the RCIA director that I am divorced, and now living with a man out of marriage. It is sad that in order for me to be who I am and love how I love that I cannot minister in the way that I love to minister, through my music, in the church. What journey am I on, and where is the One that I love taking me? Today I will sing from the pew, in the church that I love and trust that He knows my heart.

Wind Blow Some Solace in My Direction

2011-10-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

It has been a week of high winds and with it great upheaval. The northeasterly that blows through the farthest southern tip of Lake Michigan is a force to be reckoned with. One cannot imagine the strength and depth with which the wind and water combined does to not only our shoreline, but to the minds of those caught in its path. So it was over the past 2 weeks in the life of an educator. While I struggle to understand the multitudes of personalities that I encounter in one day, I also struggle to understand me and the role I have in each of the lives that I encounter. I want to understand, to get into the minds of, all the while settling my own mind. Like you, this is not an easy task. How to maintain peace in the midst of the northeasterly, that is the greatest of all tasks. I am getting better at maintaining my resolve while I turn face into the wind and accept the strength and conviction found in the power of nature. While I teach my integrated chem/phys course, I am constantly reminding my students that it is the law of the universe to constantly find stability. Nature does what nature does. It does not read books, or go into lengthy discussions about how to stabilize, it just does it. Unbridled freedom dictates how it will go about stabilizing itself. Human nature does not quite have it that easy. Rather, it takes into consideration things such as individual rights, due process, history, condition, circumstance, all the while taking into consideration, cause and affect. So it is that the great northeasterly does what it does best, spirals the onlooker into an unpredictable spin. The good news is that eventually it will land. As it was with Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, she knew that she was who she was, and knew where to rest her head, where to find that peaceful solace.

What about those who do not know where to lay their heads, or those who are incapable of finding peaceful solace? That is the million dollar question, and what we as educators face daily in our school environments, how do we handle the young lady who has not slept in 2 days because her familial dysfunction? How do we tell her that the most important thing in the world is that she graduate from High School, and question why she would dare to skip Spanish 101? Do we teach her a life lesson by throwing her into sweep room, the place where those discontent with school go for punishment? Do we suspend her, because she is insolent and disobedient? Do we hug her and say, "wow, you have shown great character by coming to school anyway, even with your eyes so swollen due to lack of sleep and tears." Do we escort to the counselor where she can find a peaceful solace? Do we feed her as Jesus would have done? Or would we throw stones, "she is just one more we will have on welfare-row?"

Yes, this young lady is real, and I encountered this yesterday. This beautiful young lady was one of my first encounters coming to Michigan City Area Schools in August of 2008. I had her every morning, and she was a tough cookie. Our relationship escalated one day when she became physically and verbally threatening to me. I could not understand why she had such dislike for me. I didn't really want to know why, I just wanted my peaceful world back. I wanted her gone. I loved her as I do all of my students, I cared for her, but, I couldn't reach her, so I thought. I held my resolve much like I do as I face the northeasterly. She was subsequently suspended for 3 days for "intimidation of authority."

We got through the school year, and she went on to high school I taught 2 more years at the middle school. Mid-way through her freshman year, and my second year at the middle school, I got an email from her. I did not respond, as I did not believe that she should be emailing me from her class at the high school, nor did I want to get involved. A couple more months went by and a teacher from the High School wrote me and said, "this young lady wants me to let you know that she is going to juvie, (juvenile detention) and that she thinks of you, and wants you to know." I was shocked. What impression had I made on this girl, what do I do with this information? I assured the teacher that I would be praying for this young lady, and to please keep me informed.

Speed ahead to 2011. My second day of school this young lady sought me out. She heard rumor that I had come to the high school She made sure she came up to greet me and gave me a huge hug. She does not have any classes near mine, nor is her locker, but, she seeks me out. I know when she is troubled as she will be in my corner of the world. She has come to my room a couple of times when she is hungry. I feed her a breakfast bar, or whatever I happen to have. She sought me out, you see, she knows I will ask if she is ok. Is it possible that we are the port in the storm? How often am I the storm? Either way, it is okay, you see, the universe is constantly in a state of stabilization. Like the northeasterly, it has its purpose. Call waters for too long create a state of complacency, and stagnation. Far too often only the bad bacteria grows and it devours those things that allow for flourishing life-forms.

I have begun to read a book titled "Five Percent." It is written by the Peter Coleman of Columbia University. It is helping me understand that it is considered that 5% of all conflicts are irreconcilable and the reason behind this phenomena is that there are 57 areas that prevent conflict resolution. When one begins to understand that there are those factors embedded in human function, one comes to understand that maybe the only thing one can do at times is to stop, listen, and nurture a person through until nature has time to stabilize.

This is a repost from a couple years ago, it still applies!

2010-04-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

Title: Is Russia gearing up for a fight or just propping up a scarecrow?

Is Russia gearing up for a fight? Is it just acting as the eastern world’s scarecrow? Why would Russia seek to act the scarecrow for Iran? What it is the overall purpose of a military buildup and by what financial means is a recently struggling country able to build up a military strength?

Russia is the stop gap between the Western world and China. It is the provider of a logistic land mass that can protect China by land access as well a provider of the necessary nuclear commodities for Iran. Russia supplies nuclear materials to Iran, Iran supplies oil (energy) to China, China supplies financial support to Russia, Russian builds up as a “junior power” under China, Iran becomes the dominant power in the Middle East, and China continues to consume the world’s energy resources while it continues to build up economically to become the world’s superpower.
The evidence that identifies a Triad in the East including Russian, China and Iran has grown in significance. As the United States continues to trade and enable an emergence of a capitalistic mind-set for the purpose of economic growth for a few key United States investors, we begin to see an emergence of a middle class in China and India. This consumerism extends to the excessive need for precious metals and raw materials found in Russia and Africa. In order to put these materials into development an excessive amount of energy is necessary to do so. The triad of Russia, China and Iran is all a part of the “bigger” plan. That “bigger” plan is to unseat the United States, disabling it and creating an AXIS that can shut down the US.

It is believed that the United States is not included in the end times, and part of that is because the United States as we now know it will no longer be in existence. The United States as a global infant is experiencing what many believe caused the fall of Rome…a disproportionate cost to fuel ratio through "synchronous failure." (Thomas Homer-Dixon, The Upside of Down)

As for this writer, I believe that Russia’s threat should be taken seriously as it has the support of its neighbors and supporters. What does it mean in relationship to the “end?” Well, the end will first be a systematic end to many, and then to all. Like dominoes there will be a starting point and then an “end” point. Many question why would the “triad” align as there is a grave difference in ideologies? Well there is one common factor, they are all non-Christian.

• "There are a number of factors driving the record gains in world commodities and materials prices, but no factor is greater than the demand from China. Asia's most populous country accounts for a rising percentage of worldwide demand in all commodities. To meet its growing consumer and industrial demand, China imports large quantities of gold, platinum, nickel, silver, oil, copper and iron ore. Now is the time to take advantage of the growth opportunities provided by China's insatiable demand for these commodities and basic materials. For example, in 2003 Asia consumed 19 million barrels of oil daily, with a population of about 3 billion. By contrast, 285 million Americans consumed 22 million barrels of oil a day, a per capita consumption more than 10 times higher. Led by China, which overtook Japan to become the world's second-largest oil consumer after the United States, Asia's demand for oil is growing steadily and should result in higher energy prices going forward."
• "China's demand for precious metals continues to gain momentum with the opening of its gold market to retail investors. China's culture has an acute affinity for secular and religious precious metal jewelry, which, when combined with increasing per capita consumption, will be a powerful engine for growth. Not only are gold and silver experiencing increasing demand, China now accounts for more than 50 percent of platinum demand worldwide, up from 30 percent in 2000. This growth largely comes from the popularity of platinum jewelry."
• "China's consumption of industrial raw materials continues to grow as a percentage of world demand. Higher relative GDP and industrial production growth in China are critical factors in explaining this phenomenon. China's demand for iron ore and nickel has been largely driven by the country's need for large amounts of steel in constructing additional infrastructure to meet the needs of its people. Copper also requires measurable importation to meet the country's needs for construction pipe and wiring."
http://freedomswings.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/so-what-if-china-russia-and-iran-want-to-be-friends/ article highlighting the triad relationship

The state of the axis is good, strong – and strengthening – and mutually beneficial, particularly for the Iranian regime in the short term. I have and will continue to refer to Russia and China as the Iranian Protectorate. No nation at the UN Security Council has been more steadfast or consistent in resistance to US and Western sanctions efforts there than either the bear or the dragon.
The reasons for this are quite simple: Synergistic strategic advancement against a common enemy, oil and money.
Iran is rightly portrayed as one of the most pressing threats to the United States and her interests. But Iran remains in many respects a piece on the chessboard of a greater Russian and Chinese game.
Iran seeks greater power and regional dominance and enjoys the support of both Russia and China in its pursuits. Both afford Iran the protection of cover and interference at the UN Security Council and other diplomatic endeavors, allowing Iran to continue its nuclear efforts under a fairly comfortable security blanket.
For Russia, already sitting atop a major portion of the world's oil reserves, the gains are monetary and psychological, with Iran as a major arms client as well as its principle client in Russia's lucrative nuclear construction and supply market. The Bushehr plant construction alone was a $1 billion dollar deal, with the potential prospects of more in the relatively near future.
For China, the issue is one of energy. Just as the Russian supply of nuclear fuel began transit preparations within hours of the release of the December Iran NIE, China in turn immediately signed a massive long-term energy deal with Iran worth billions. But, before the NIE, there was hesitance from China in signing an open deal. The United States in particular had made specific demands for more sanctions against a recalcitrant Iran as well as public calls for other nations to specifically stop making energy agreements until Iran complies. Signing the energy deal before hand would have meant strained relations with lucrative trading partners and potential economic damage. China was patient, as it always is. And the NIE afforded them the diplomatic cover necessary to ink the deal, affording the oil-starved dragon energy relief and enriching the Iranian regime during economic plight.
All seek to weaken the United States to the point where each is enabled to act on their respective interests. Iran seeks regional dominance in the Gulf, the continued export of its Khomeinist revolution, and the destruction of Israel. Russia seeks the restoration of its pride, re-acquisition of the states lost in the breakup of the Soviet Union and restoration of its superpower status. China seeks to establish itself as the next superpower, to subdue and consume Taiwan, ensure its energy supply and to dominate South Asia and the Pacific rim. Each of them and their chosen paths are impeded by a sufficiently strong America.
http://freedomswings.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/so-what-if-china-russia-and-iran-want-to-be-friends/

ArtSees Diner Audio Welcome, featuring Lullabye of Birdland

2010-03-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

ArtSees Diner Audio Welcome, featuring Lullabye of Birdland

Another Day another Dollah, Makes you Wanna Hollah!

2010-03-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

Seriously, that is about the extent of it all.
Today, has been one big crisis after another. Not for me personally, but for this country that we are living in. So, in keeping with the crisis mode that I have been in all day, I decided, rather than try to make some eloquent, creative essay of said events, I would create a bulleted, talking points, overview of the nightmare, called, March 23rd!
1) Whilst showering, it came to me, like a bolt out of the blue, (or maybe it was the rapid turn from perfectly warm to chilly cool, upon partner's flushing)education, teaching, how it should all be handled. Clearly, something needs to be done. It is a sad state of affairs. Two major union groups all fighting for the money of its members in order to demand what is fair and equitable. Because, god forbid, anyone do the honorable thing in the first place and demand a quality work place for its professionals. (Okay, I digressed...give me a break, I am in education!)So, education is compulsory. Every child in this country has a right to a public education, a free education on top of it. The Federal government has enforced its will upon the smallest of school districts in an attempt to level the playing field. I don’t know if it is because they are really concerned about Johnny being able to read, as much as they want to be superior to other countries. Regardless, the reason, it is what it is. So, the government regardless of branch is mandating all children be taught to read and write and meet certain standards. Yet, and this is the kicker, every school district is relatively different. From district to district, teachers are paid different. From state to state, different expectations are in place for the teachers, which explains why you need certification from state to state, yet the Feds, are saying all children must be able to pass what they deem is a “standard.” So, then, why not make teachers government employees, much like postal workers, military, police, firefighters? All educators have to pass through the same rigid standards as the military. As they progress on, they climb in rank. As they continue on and they fail the standard of excellence, then they are asked to go back to training, regroup and come back, and are rewarded as such. As they have done their service in the trenches, they are rewarded for good service and are allowed to retire with a good pension, and a retraining. This keeps the blood fresh, moves educators ahead and equalizes all aspects of the profession. They are a part of a huge pool of professionals, and as a result benefits, become extremely affordable. This also guarantees a fair and equitable way of ridding the system of the “fat.” It also ensures that there is equitability in the delivery of the product.
2) On my way to work, I was listening to WLS, and the guest announcer Jonathon Hoenig’s interview with Jesse Jackson. He was asked if Nancy Pelosi’s carrying a gavel in was (imagine the imagery that came into my mind, puke!) equal to the Civil Rights passage. His answer, “absolutely!” I thought to myself, “What?” (listen here ) Hoenig recalls that we have spent 17.6 Trillion dollars on welfare since Johnson. Then he identifies the illegitimacy rate amongst blacks, as being at 70%! As Hoenig points out to Jackson these statistics and asks if healthcare isn’t just another enablement, Jackson quickly points out that it is not a race issue. Well, anyway, after I was stunned at the statistics, and Jackson first equating it to the Civil Rights passage, and Martin Luther King, he advises Hoenig that it is not about race. At that point I arrived at school and had to get to work.
3) My day was filled with the daily frustrations of being an educator in this current climate. I filled my student’s heads with as much knowledge as I could in a 6 hour day. Touching on every content area I could. Spinning around on my heels faster than our computer system (outdated mind you) could spew out new data. Then I resigned my day with a meeting of the minds with my 2020 Challenge team. The refreshing part about that is that there are a couple of future leaders in that group. The day was filled with fear, concern, uncertainty about the impending RIFing that I am sure to be handed on the 15th of April. You see, I have only been in the district for 2 years. Although I am a veteran educator with honors, experience, and multiple endorsements, I am viewed in MCAS as a newbie. Go figure!
4) Next, my travels bring me home. Nothing bad there, really, although, I have been inundated with all the ramblings of the day. Healthcare this, Education that, IRS this, Divorce settlement that! What I really want is to literally shut my brain off for a while. I don’t want to think, to worry, to try to grasp the reality of my world.
My world; All in all it is a wonderful thing. Many times it is quite beautiful. But the larger world, the really big picture ain’t so good. I mean, daily we uncover how out of control our government is. How out of control our commerce is. The reality is that there is so much wrong out there. I have many answers, most people do. The sad reality is this, we have no say! Oh, one more thing…today I went to apply for a job at another district. The anti-RIFing CYA! Guess what, before they even wanted to know my credentials, my ability, my track record, they wanted to know my gender, my age, my social security number, and yes, my race. So much for Federal laws! I will count that district out. Any organization that puts that before my credentials, the credentials that matters, would do anything they wanted, even cover up pedophilia in their sports program. In the future, you can run my social security number, after you have offered me an interview, not before! Jesse, we need to talk!
Goodnight!

The Kiss

2010-01-24T12:15:00.000-08:00

The Kiss is a watercolor painted by me yesterday. I am fascinated with trees. Trees hold all the knowledge in the world. As they stand guard over a neighborhood, forest, city town, they are witness to all the comings and goings of man. The things a tree must see totally intrigues me. So it is with my "Lady Tree" she is my queen, what I long to be.
A couple of months ago I began painting her as I painted my dear friend and step-mom's Christmas gift. It was a simple tree with dogwood blossoms and the sign of life, renewal, and friendship at the core. As I witness her emerge, there she was in the midst of the design a graceful lady. Just like Nancy, graceful, non-waivering, consistenct, strong, proud beautiful.
Later that day, I painted a smaller version of the original painted for her. From that I created a summer, fall and winter version of the same tree. I was transfixed as I without intent created the tree morphing through the stages of a woman's life. Someday I will reproduce that for you my reader to see. Until then, I merely use the forward of this blog as a introduction to my Valentine present to myself. The Kiss.
The Kiss was painted yesterday to honor Klimt's The Kiss. I love that painting. Every Valentine's day I cast my sights back to any pictures on-line that I can find of it. So, it is that I decided to create a nature's kiss. The Kiss by M.E.LaLuna as featured at the beginning of this blog takes the lady and shows her gracefully dancing with her lover, hands entwined.
Love is nature's dance. A Lady full of grace, stands watch over lovers and dreamers.

December 16th...another day in paradise

2009-12-16T20:39:00.001-08:00

Seriously, it was. I am here. It is good. Not much more than that. Oh except that I met up with two dear friends. One of these days I will get all of my good friends together at the same time and have a total friend extravaganza! Until then, it is nice to know that I have some.

Peace! Oh, Happy birthday Ricky!

December 15th...Teach me...

2009-12-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

Teach Me, by M.E. LaLuna, 2009

Teach me how to say “I Can”
I never really learned that phrase
It is something practiced everyday
For most…
Teach me how to reach to stars
I never really stretched that far
It is something reached for
Far away…
Teach me how to sail the seas
I never really set my sails
It is something only sailors dream
Isn’t it…
Teach me how you live each day
I never really took that breath
That fills and expands
A life…
Teach me how to be myself
I was never really introduced
Robbed at birth and forced to be
Someone else not me…
Teach me how to love
I only know how to say
Three words,
I practice everyday…
Show me that I can,
I am
Me…

December 14th...just another day...

2009-12-14T19:55:00.000-08:00

It is/soon to be a was just another day. Waking up this morning, was not a pleasant experience. I was in a fog. I didn't want to get up. Mornings are hard enough for me, normally. I like to take my time, slowly wake up. I resent being rushed in the morning. I despise it. The perfect job for me would be one where I do not have to arrive until at least 9a.m. So what do I do? I get a job as a teacher, and my day begins at 7:15a.m. That all means that I have to awaken by 5:45 just so that I can get my keester out of the door in time to arrive by 7:15. The problem is that I do not get my nice slow pace. In order to do that I would have to be up by 4am! That is never going to happen. My bio-rhythms just will not allow for that. Seriously, I have been this way from the time I was a little girl. Me and mornings are just not friends. The perfect schedule is one where I wake up, when I wake up. No alarm clock, the natural way. If I was allowed to do that, I would wake up naturally at about 6:30. So, you see that would allow for a nice slow pace in the morning, with still enough time to get ready for work, and arrive on time.
But, today was just another day, and I woke up at 5:30, slowly stretched, made my coffee, showered, dressed, and ended up racing for school. The dress I chose, well, it was a little shorter then I remembered, so instead of a carefully layed out plan, I had to do a quick change, which made me rush all the more. Sometimes best layed plans are best layed aside. So, for Me it was just another day. Has anyone seen Santa?

December 13...See the power in the manger...

2009-12-13T21:11:00.000-08:00

Passionate Sunset, that is the name of the my most recent watercolor. You see it has been a long held desire to capture the colors or the sky, the sea, the world around me. It is a labor of love if nothing else. This is based on a photo that was taken two summers ago. Sunsets are timeless, the sun will rise, and it will set. The power found in Lake Michigan is unmatched with the power of the sunset. The color, the radiance. The human eye can see the color, hear the roar of the waves, feel the power of the wind upon the face. If I were a blind woman, I would not see the sunset, yet, I would know that it exist, you see it would exist if I trust the seer next to me who described it to me. They would tell of the color, the power, the vibrancy, they would share with me, that the warmth I felt on my face was from the warmth of the sun. The glow that was reflected off of my face could be witnessed from on lookers, even if I was unable to see it, those gazing upon me, could see what I was unable to see. If I was deaf, I would not hear the roar of the waves, yet, I could sense the vibration. Others would explain that the sound was almost deafening, yet, it would not mean anything to me, as my existence is that of deafened sound. Sound would be a non-reality. So it is with faith.

You see, just as a blind man, cannot disprove or prove that which is seen by other, so it is that non-believers cannot disprove, nor can they prove the existence of God. Science cannot prove, or disprove. God defies logic, therefore, science cannot relate. For over 2,000 years man has bot been able to disprove Jesus Christ. Faith has grown. In over 4, 000 years man has been unable to disprove Abraham and Moses. Attempts fail over and over again. You see there is power in the manger.

December 12th...Santa lives in Kankakee!

2009-12-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

It is true, I have come to this conclusion after 49 years of witnessing Christmas, and pondering the true existence of the fat man in the jolly red suit! Santa lives in Kankakee Illinois, United States of America. Now, I am sure beyond belief that many of you will heartedly disagree. But, rest assured, not only do I know what I am talking about, I have 49 years worth of evidence.

This very day as I was putting together a new recording of Christmas songs, and a reading or two, it hit me. Suddenly stories that I had read in the past to my children, students, and to myself were falling flat. "where in the world is my Christmas spirit that stories that use to fill my eyes with tears were now so trite, so flat, so unemotive?" It was then that it dawned on me. They were in fact far too cliche. It was then that I recalled the last time I had a true Santa moment. Evidence that Santa lives in Kankakee? The last Santa moment was in Kankakee.

I came to realize when I was a little girl that Santa did not exist, well, that is what my girlfriend's mother would try to make me believe. IT is sad, for as you stop believing, it does stop existing. We can make things disappear you know simply, by no longer believing in them. This is science ya' know.

I was so sad that year, what would I do, how could I go forth into another Christmas without the Santa spirit. It was upon discussing this problem with my Mom that she told me "as long as you believe, Santa will come." She was wise, and so it goes, that I have held that belief.

I moved away from Kankakee in the summer of 05' after living there for almost 45 years. I was born and raised there, raised my children there. I was for financial, post-marital, and professional reasons forced out of my home.

I swear since I have moved away from Kankakee, I have no longer had my yearly encounters with the jolly old elf. Seriously, every Christmas by the 23rd of December, I would have an encounter, that would convince me that he indeed still exist. Well, it is now the 12th of December 2009 and I have not really had that special kind of encounter. It does not exist anywhere else in the world, so therefore, Santa must in fact reside in Kankakee Illinois.

I remember all too well, the year there was no Santa..., I could simply say, "well ME, it is time for you to grow up and walk away from childhood fantasies" or, I could simply say, "ME, it is time for you to believe again."

December 11th...short and sweet...

2009-12-11T20:38:00.001-08:00

Yep, that is what tonight's post is, short and sweet. Considering that I do not know if anyone is really reading this, I can kind of trust that it is like my daily diary. I promised myself that I would write everyday until the 25th of December. I am not sure how well I will be able to do this as I am going to be moving about the countryside, and I am not certain if I will have internet access. Either way, it is my mission to just that, get back into writing for the pleasure of writing.
Today was relatively uneventful, well, that is unless you take into consideration the multitudes of things that I did, and successfully accomplished.
The highlight of today? My fortune found tucked away in a cookie obtained at my new favorite restaurant in the Michigan City area. The Pearl, a quaint little chinese establishment. Oh, the quote, " you will be showered with good luck before your next birthday. Hmmmm, yep, short and sweet...

Peace

December 10, 2009...She would have been 80 today!

2009-12-10T20:43:00.000-08:00

My birth mom, Mary Caroline Link, it is hard to imagine her 80. I wish so much that I wasn't wondering, but holding her hand. My momma's hands. What would they feel like wrapped in mine? I would be able to be a much better daughter to her now that I am facing the age that she was when she left us. Only 51! Damn it! That is way too young, way too young. Her beauty left us way too soon! I didn't hold her hand enough, I didn't think I would ever not have it to hold on to. I learned way too young that life is not fair.
Her curly strawberry blond hair, her green eyes, her strong, but lovely features. I still hear her voice singing through mine now and then. Not too often, but when I do, I just want to hold it put it on pause, and listen for a while longer. It passes so quickly, and I wonder if I will get to hear it again.
I am not only remembering her soft hands, her grace, but the love of those that she loved, and loved her in return. In particular my Uncle Chuck. She was the love of his life. A bachelor, he never really ventured too far from her, from us. A free spirit, he roamed, but guaranteed on the 10th of December he called his Mary. After she passed away, he would call on one of his nieces or nephews, anything to be close to her. To hear some semblance of her spirit. He is gone now too. He departed from us this past spring. It was hard to see him suffer, to go. We made sure he had soft hands to hold.
Well, Uncle Chuck, you don't need to call us tonight, you are with her. Hold her hand, and if there is anyway that you can, let me know how soft it is. Tell her I sang you to sleep with Dougie, and let me hear the two of celebrate her being 80 today!
I will love you forever, and ever, and ever!

Little Lizzy

December 9...the circle of life

2009-12-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

The text message said, "I am sitting in the Doctor's office waiting." I, of course, did not expect a text at 11a.m. this morning from my daughter Elyssa. I typically do not look at my cell at that time of the morning, but today I did. Doctor? Why is she at the Doctor, is Bella sick? Bella is my one year old granddaughter. I text back to discover, that no, no one is ill. It was already time for another ob/gyn visit. You see, I am going to be a grandmother again. Bella is going to have a little brother or sister in June. I received another text this afternoon letting me know that the baby's due date is June 29th. Somehow I knew that that would be the special date. The 29th's have a huge significance in my life. The 29th of June? Well, aside from just having a gut feeling about that date, it is also the date that my beautiful mother passed away. She will have been gone 29 years ago on that day.
Elyssa assured me that this baby would not be born on that day, as more than likely they will induce, and quite possibly, this baby would be born on the 18th or so, and could be born c-section. Regardless, my first response was, "well you will have to name her Caroline after her grandmother." It just came out. It was the first reference to this baby's gender. I am still not completely convinced that Elyssa will give birth to a girl, but somehow a June baby being a boy does not seem right. Silly, I know. Then I thought, oh, Carrie for short, and middle name Ann, Caroline Ann, Carrie Ann. What a wonderful gift to have one of the next generation named after my birth-mom. Just when I was feeling so sad, that my memories of my mom seemed like they were fading. Only last night I was feeling that, then the text today. Then as I was driving down Center Street on my way home today it hit me. Tomorrow is my mother's birthday.

December 8, Not too much to say

2009-12-08T20:44:00.000-08:00

Like the title states, not too much to say, but considering that I have made a commitment to blog every night until the 25th, I must. So many thing happen in a day. Seriously, my day begins at 5:30 in the morning and goes until, well, it is now 10:46p.m. I am exhausted, seriously tired. What am I waiting for, why am I not in bed? Well, I am not in bed, because I am not done with all that I set out to do today.
Some of the day's achievements are simply this. I had successes. Successes with my kids at school, seriously, I believe I had almost 100% engagement of all of my kids all day! I heard only one student using profanity in the hall. (one kid too many) I recorded a video along with my co-teacher in the hopes of getting kids on board with the importance of "follow through" and following the 12 step design process. I made dinner, special no bake cookies, rerecorded a Christmas song for my school. Enrolled in another Master's program, practiced singing with Steve, and well, everything that came along. Oh, did I go to the bathroom at all?
Seriously, I am tired. So with that said, I am off to bed.
In truth, I have a lot to say, I just did, but the lesson learned today is this: never underestimate your power and ability. Never assume anything, and give the greatest gift that you can at Christmas, believe, then claim it, and proclaim it.

December 7, show me that I can, and I will...

2009-12-07T16:57:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days. It was a Monday. A Monday, sadly, it was not a Monday that was unique to itself. It dawned on me today that I do not like Monday, because for me it is like starting all over again at something that you didn't really like in the first place. It is like coming home from a long vacation, but your home is not really a good, happy, safe, amazingly wonderful place. For me starting back on a Monday is a reminder that I am not really teaching the subject that I have a passion for, nor that way that I believe it should be taught. It is a reminder that I do not like getting up before the sun rises. It is actually not that I do not like it, it is that seriously, it is like an allergy or something. Like the person who is allergic to chocolate, it will surely break them out with zits, so they don't eat it. But, imagine if they were told that they had to.
I mentioned a similar analogie to my students once and a smart young man said, "then why are you a teacher?" Well, he was right on point. The problem is, I never thought about the time I would have to wake up in the morning when I was setting out to make a difference in young people's lives.
Now that I am solidly into this career, (well I am this year) then I have to make the best of it. Making the best of it is close to impossible on a monday morning. Especially when you look out the window and see that it has snowed and your car is covered with the lovely white stuff. You are not sure how bad the roads are, you know you are running short on time as it is, all because you have to make biscuits and gravy for a group of people all against your wishes. Who ever heard of having a food fest when you have to work with kids all day? Seriously, I can barely cop a squat and go peepers, let alone mix and mingle! So, I am facing an entire day of being off kilter. I made it into work with barely a minute to spare. Roads were bad and unfortunately people in this town panic at the slightest snow fall! I was greeted with nonsense, absolute nonsense at every turn. I sank deep into "why in the world am I here" distress.
Well, I made it through my day. Believe me, I could go on and on about the lamentations of ME. Now as I sit on my sofa, Christmas trees lit, supper served, Steve happy and content, (he just made me happy too, as he cleaned up supper ; {} ) and me typing away. It was just a little bit ago as I was putting together my team's quarterly newsletter, just why I am a teacher.
I actually should apologize for being such a scrooge today. I was totally over the edge with intolerance. Now, do not get me wrong, a few of the students that I had to reprimand had it coming. Seriously, they did! But, in hind sight, I want to be like one of my bosses, except for positive emotions, you are not aware that he has any. Only once did I see him really mad. Oh, he makes kids tow the line, but he does with without an emotional change.
I came across this poem, I wrote it about me. It speaks for itself. This poem is the reason I am a teacher. It is why I tried to be a good mom. It is why I struggle so much to just survive at times. It is why at the age of 49, I still do not know what I want to be, really, when I grow up. I guess it is a sign that like my 14 year old students, I am just trying to get by. Like them, I resent being pulled away from my comfortable home, and bed too soon in the morning. It is why sometimes I just need someone to teach me, show me, help me...

Teach me how to say “I Can”
I never really learned that phrase
It is something practiced everyday
For most…
Teach me how to reach to stars
I never really stretched that far
It is something reached for
Far away…
Teach me how to sail the seas
I never really set my sails
It is something only sailors dream
Isn’t it…
Teach me how you live each day
I never really took that breath
That fills and expands
A life…
Teach me how to be myself
I was never really introduced
Robbed at birth and forced to be
Someone else not me…
Teach me how to love
I only know how to say
Three words,
I practice everyday…
Show me that I can, I am
Me…

December 6th, Make a joyful noice!

2009-12-06T18:27:00.000-08:00

Silent, Holy Night is a collection of Advent/Christmas songs written by Mark Friedman and Janet Voigt. I was first introduced to the collections of songs at a National Pastoral Music conference. I quickly scooped it up with the intent purpose of sharing it with my faith community. I was the music director for a small, loving church in St. Anne, Illinois. The four years that I spent there were indeed four wonderful fulfilling years. This collection of songs contributed to the experience. The song "Mary's Child" still brings a tear to my eye when I first hear it every year. I had three of my male choir members sing it. Mark Beaupre, Ed Beaupre and Doug Burling. All three of them had unique, beautiful singing voices. In particular Mark's voice melted my heart. To this day, I long to hear him sing it again. The other songs were equally as touching, and I had the pleasure of writing, and directing children at St. Anne church, and St. Joseph Catholic School in a neighboring town. Along with the children of both communities, I had the honor the joy of hearing my children join in the singing, along with my nephews Michael John and Justin Hunger. Our Christmas pageant blended child and adult together to send out and receive the undying message of love and sacrifice as found in the birth of Christ.

Today, on the feast of St. Nicholas, I received a wonderful gift. Those songs were revived. This time with my daughter Aubrey singing. After she left, I grabbed ahold of the microphone and was taken back to a time in my life where the music of church and the season of the church embraced all of my comings and goings. No matter where I sing, what I sing, or when I sing, nothing, and I mean nothing compares to singing for the Lord.

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods Ps 95:1-3

December 5, a simple Saturday satisfies said soul...

2009-12-05T18:57:00.000-08:00

Seriously, it does. Sleeping in, let's go beyond the sleeping in, sleeping straight through the night is sublime. I cannot tell you when the last time was that I slept so soundly through the night as I did last night. I am sure it had something to do with the fact that I worked the entire week at a pace that no woman over the age of forty should have to, not to mention that I was as sick as a dog with a sinus infection the entire week. I am still sneezing, and blowing today!
After waking up at 8:20a.m., (yes, you read correctly, 8:20) I slowly readied myself for a day filled with relaxation, exploration, and gastronomic achievement. Steve, my Saturday partner in crime, announced that he had been waiting for me to wakeup, as he had a hankering for the Blue Plate french toast. The Blue Plate Diner is a favorite of ours. It is located in Lakeside Michigan straight up the Red Arrow Highway from New Buffalo Michigan. The food is wonderful, especially their caramel french toast, and the OOOhla omelete, with tomatoes, tarrogon and goat cheese. This place is so wonderful even their toast and jam is a gourmet delight. Anyway, it was decided, by the baton waiving partner of mine that we would be going soon.
We journeyed towards the east by northeast. The food was as predicted, amazing. Following brunch we traveled further north to St. Joseph, MI and through Benton Harbor. Spending the afternoon looking through a little antique shop called, Days of Yore left us relaxed and discussing how quickly time passes. It is all quite sad really, so much of the old and the simple was traded in for what was seemingly an improvement, but from what I can see, little has been improved. The current architecture is sterile, empty, cookie-cutterish, while the grandeur of the older buildings in Benton Harbor stand empty, neglected, calling out to better days. It was then that I realized that my own memory of the past, past Christmases, my mother, my playmates from childhood are fading from my memory. It was then that I realized the day would come, when memories of me too would be faded, and would be much like the old building we passed by today, fading, neglected and calling out to better days, hanging on by a thin hair of memory. By the time I was done lamenting over this reality of my contribution to the big picture, I sighed, and was satisfied that I am loved, and known. I try daily to contribute to something, to someone, and just be glad to be making memories.
Our journey back into Michigan City was filled with discussion of life, God, and the decision to keep it as simple as possible this holiday season. We settled back into our day, Steve did his thing, and me, I went on to Aldi's (I like to keep it simple, even Aldi's is a little too large for me). It was time to get groceries, time to restock the shelves following a wonderful Thanksgiving week. The grocery cart was filled with goodies. It brings me great joy to feed those that I love. To see the man that I love satisfied through my gastronomic achievement brings about glorious fulfillment.
Saturday was brought to an end with a round of simple songs. Waking up to the one you love, feeding each other's spirit, exploring days of yore, careening along life's highway, preparing feasts of fancy, singing simple songs of love and longing, and knowing, just knowing that today you are loved, simply satisfies, said soul...

“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear music.” – Angela Monet

December 4th, what a day, what a day!

2009-12-04T18:15:00.000-08:00

Fridays are always my favorite day. It is for all involved with school, it goes with the territory. Whether you are a teacher, a student, a custodian, it does not matter. Fridays are sublime. Today was a tiring day as it was "raceday" for my students. I teach STEM, science, technology, engineering and math, all combined in a problem based format. In other words, we make things. My students were responsible for making a balloon powered car. It was exhausting to say the least, but as most days are, it was rewarding.
As I sit here now listening to Steve sing and play the guitar, I am reminded about how lucky I am that much of my life is centered around music. It has always been this way. Raised in a music rich home, being a singer, and producing musicians, music lovers, and now surrounding myself with an extremely talented musician, it is truly safe to say that music is to a great extent my life. I just completed two new music videos thanks to Animoto. I uploaded a song I recorded last Christmas titled, The Snow is Gently Falling, and then one recorded by Steve and I that features my beautiful daughter Aubrey on a new classic written by Daniel Kantor. Listening to Aubrey sing with an innocence I was reminded of times now past, when my children would begin to prepare for their school Christmas programs. They were always elaborate productions with Mrs. Schultz at the helm. I learned much from Mrs. Schultz and the other teachers at Sts. Patrick and Theresa Catholic School. So much of who I am and who my children are was formed at that simple unadorning school, and the church connected to it. St. Patricks church is where I found my voice. So many times I sang for my supper. So many times I was healed and nurtured through the music at the church on the corner of Indiana Avenue and Hickory St. in the heart of Kankakee Illinois. Yes, the heart of the town that I grew up in and loved so dearly.
As I came to the close of preparing the video "Night of Silence" I found the deep longing in my heart and spirit to be connected to a church community this Christmas. It seems so unfair that in trying to find a place to fit in, I lost so much of what made me fit. My prayer for this Christmas? Well, it is in not much different than Christmastimes past. I pray that I will see Santa, I pray that I will see my children happy and healthy, I pray that I will be able to sing the Psalms of Christmastide, maybe even sing for a congregation of joy-seekers, "Night of Silence" in the tradition of days gone by.
December 4th, what a day, what a day, and thank you Lord for this day, soon the snow will be falling, and rose will wait frozen in the snow laying, waiting...

December 3rd, it snowed, well a little bit...

2009-12-03T19:14:00.000-08:00

This morning started out a little cold, and grey, and by the time I walked out of Elston Middle School at 3:35, it was snowing. Okay, flurrying, but all the same, the first snow flake. That snow flake was greeted with great excitement and anticipation. My first response was to quickly text message my daughters and proclaim that I saw it, I saw the first snow flake of the year. Right here in Michigan City! My text's were returned with even more excitement! You see we LaLuna women get overjoyed at the idea of missed school, staying home and getting cozy, making almond moo's, homemade cookies, and just remaining in warm pajama bottoms all day long. It is glorious to see that the things I started with them when they were babies is continuing on. Each one of them has their own traditions that have grown out of our traditions. Snow days would be days filled with giggles, cooking, and shear fun!
By the time I got home today from running a few errands, I could see a white dusting on my neighbors black shingled roof. The wind was howling in from the north. I was waiting for Steve to come home, so that I could share with him my excitement. After his arrival we went out for a bite to eat at a new restaurant, (well, new for us) called Hammers, a fun little place, actually very nice, with a fantastic wait staff. True Michigan City hospitality if you ask me.
Well, by the time we left the restaurant, the temperature dropped, the wind picked up, and in an instance, Steve and I were scrambling for the car. We had forgotten how darned cold Michigan City is! through our chattering teeth, our silly giggles, we asked ourselves, "now why did we move to MC?" The romantic aspect of winter died down real fast as we realized we had about 4.5 months of extreme cold to get through, and probably more snow than anyone person really wants.
Aww well, no matter how you slice it, there is excitement in the first snow flake, there will be in every potential snow day from here until May, and it reminds us what this time of year means. It means Christmas, the birth of our Lord, well, my Lord. It is about family, love, sharing, caring, and renewal. Maybe that is what it is, snow is nature's way of putting a brand new coat of purity on everything that it touches. "And I will wash you clean as snow" Isaiah 1:18

December 2nd, Is it going to SNOW?

2009-12-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

I think if I could sum up the question of the day that would be it. I have spent most of my day thinking, writing, teaching, doing all the same ole stuff. I created a new zmag, a Christmas one, titled lovingly Christmas at ArtSees. Stop by, in fact, drop by and give me your favorite Christmas memory, poem, story, picture, song, or maybe just you.
Okay, sorry, I digress... I made a shepherds pie, a cherry cheesecake, watched a strange Orson Welles movie, titled, "F for Fake" did a few other things, and well, I dream of snow...

On my way home from work today, the sky was beginning to darken a little earlier than usual. The clouds were not just floating in, by moving in in a very irratic fashion. Winter's chill was settling in. Nightfall came much earlier tonight and with it, a longing to be snuggled in with no sounds outside except for the sound of a freshly fallen snow. I look forward to looking out my window, gazing across the street at the tree covered hill topped off with snow.
As I type this, I can hear the waves building, (it is amazing, we are 2500ft. from Lake Michigan and the sound of the waves can be heard inside of our house) the wind is blowing, I believe I hear rain tapping on my windows. For this dreamer, I am dreaming of a white December 3rd. Maybe, just maybe, there will be a late start tomorrow, or better yet, our first snow day!

Okay, so a little sentimentality for the 1st...

2009-12-01T17:40:00.000-08:00

It is a wonderful life, and I am very much looking forward to the next 24 days. After all, this is the birth month of the greatest human being ever born! Full moon tonight to, and it is glowing so amazingly bright over all of us! PEACE

It is all in a day's work...

2009-12-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah...you would think that on the first day of December I would be singin falalalala's and flinging mistletoe around like it was a pillow being fluffed before a long winter's nap. But, no not this girlie girl. Instead, I am sneezing, weezing, coughing and grumbling because once again I am sick thanks to work. Yup, while some people go deep into the ground and develop black lung as they haul out dark coal from the bowels of earth and others risk back injury as they climb up on roofs hauling shingles, I am one of millions of educators who exposed them to injury, illness, and more everyday as they go to work to take care of and educate America's children. While mommies and daddies everyday send their little Suzie and Johnny off to school they go on their way avoiding the reality that their child is ill, and they should probably keep them at home so that the rest of humanity does not succumb to their child's crud!
Sure, they go to work, and if they are lucky they work with adults and are capable of avoiding Fred and Fran's sneezing fits from their kids.

Seriously, this is the second time since September that I have been on Augmentin for a respiratory infection. Suprisingly, when I worked in the "adult" world, I was rarely ill. Never ill enough to go to the doctor. So, the way I see it, if this continues, I will be ill again in February, and then early May before I get a respite from the darlings.

So case in point; it is all in a day's work, teachers, especially those of adolescent age children and below are at a greater risk for chronic illness, (not to mention mental illness)and you would think that keeping that in mind, we would have enough sick days to make sure that we kept our sneezing, weezing, belly cramping illness in bed where it belongs. But, no, the truth is, it is actually more work to stay home and prepare a classroom for a guest teacher, who will undoubtedly not follow your well-crafted lesson plans!

Maybe tomorrow I will feel a little more like falalalala-ing and rejoice in the the season, after all Tis' the season to be "Mary"

Another Day, Another Dolla, makes you wanna scream and holla!

2009-11-29T19:02:00.000-08:00

As I ponder the reality that in less than 10 hours I will be back at the normal routine, all I can say is another day, another dolla makes me wanna scream and holla, but before I go to the point of screaming, and holding on to the front door as Steve pushes me out of it and says, "you have to go to work young lady..." I will revel in the bliss, the shear joy that was experienced the Thanksgiving of 2009!

Okay, so the past 5 days have been pure bliss. Seriously, bliss. It actually all began the weekend before Thanksgiving, as that was my special Thanksgiving with my daughters and their families. It was only yesterday, or so it seems, that I was their only real family. Now, when I try to make plans with them, I am no longer the only real that there is. Don't get me wrong. I find great joy in seeing that they are expanding the family. I am glad that they have cousins, in-laws, babies, friends, grandmothers, etc. It is just that, well, it has taken some getting use to. The past 6 years has been a whole lotta gettin' use to time. That is what happens when the family that you have known gets caught up in a wind storm of change as a result of deaths, divorce, movement about for jobs, etc. Women of the past did not have to worry about this. They were homebound. They were the nucleus. "A man shall leave his mother, a woman leave her home..." and I think there was a clause in there that said, the woman's mother gets all first dibs at holidays. I can honestly say that I never had that luxury. My family always came second to my ex-husbands. His branch of the tree made sure that the matriarchal covenant choked out this matriarch's branch. I think that that is what bothers me most of all. I was robbed of ever being a matriarch. I will never know that feeling. I did not get to see my mother be the matriarch, (or at least if she was, I was too unaware of it, as she died when I was only 20) and now due to divorce and the pervasive presents of my ex, and additional matriarchal figures, I am on the outside, sort of. Now do not get me wrong. I talk with my daughters everyday. They know that I am here, and I know where they are. I love them and those that they love deeply. I rejoice when I get to see them, and to be quite honest, I love being what I am the most for them, me, or as my grandchildren will call me, MeMe.

So it is with great joy that I do as my father once pointed out to me...if you let a bird go and them come back to you, then you know belonged to you all along...

Quite frankly, I would rather my children come to me any day of the year (not just because Hallmark proclaims the date as having some profound significance), know that my door is open onto them without judgement, expectation, and just because we happen to really like each other.

It is time to regain my title as "Queen of SoapBlogging"

2009-11-28T11:05:00.000-08:00

Soapblogging is a term I coined a couple of years ago. I have always loved he old way in which word was spread, political issues were discussed, and new theories engaged. It was through soapboxing. People would gather their soap box and place it in town square, on a corner, in a park, or anywhere there was a potential audience.

So it is that I take to my soap box, by way of a blog. It is my fondest desire to blog daily. Many blog away at random and this is a good thing. For me, I will blog my way into Christmas. Refusing to be a pansy and be PC calling it holiday for example. No for me it is Christmas. Not necessarily as Christmas has been in the past, but Christmas all the same. I still am fascinated by the story of Christ's birth. To me it matters not whether others choose to discuss the validity of the birth, the outcome is still the same. We gather together in love around the world to recognize the value in loving. So, I choose to love this Christmas. I will share over the next 25+ days random acts of love that I witness along the way. I might throw in a few other tidbits along the way for good measure.

Peace and thank you for joining me on my little journey as the soapbubbles rise forth from my soapblogging, I pray that maybe, just maybe we may experience a little temporal cleansing and come out refreshed, together!

Ciao Bella