Cathy's Grace Notes

Sunday Evening Blips and Dots

Seems like what most of what I do are blips and dots these days - because I can't think any further than that.

• I walked with a walking group here in our little town - it's been a while since I have walked the trail. But it was a good walk, though it did get a little hot towards the end.
• saw a movie last night - Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona - meh.
• We had the office of Morning Prayer this morning. Makes for a shorter service.
• Fall Break begins for us at the end of this week. I am excited. No plans firmed up, but I hope I can get some R&R.
• Busy day tomorrow with meetings.

That's all folks.

Friday Five - Johnny Appleseed

(The Johnny Appleseed song is one we used to sing for grace before our meals at school in the early 60s - just the first verse).

Raise your hand if you know that today is Johnny Appleseed Day!

September 26, 1774 was his birthday. Johnny Appleseed" (John Chapman) is one of America's great legends. He was a nurseryman who started out planting trees in western New York and Pennsylvania, but he was among those who were captivated by the movement west across the continent.

As Johnny travelled west (at that time, the "West" was places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois) he planted apple trees and sold trees to settlers. With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew. A devout Christian, he was known to preach during his travels. According to legend, Johny Appleseed led a simple life and wanted little. He rarely accepted money and often donated any money he received to churches or charities. He planted hundereds of orchards, considering it his sevice to humankind. There is some link between Johny Appleseed and very early Arbor Day celebrations.

So, in honor of this interesting fellow, let's get on with the questions!

1. What is your favorite apple dish? (BIG BONUS points if you share the recipe.)
My grandmother used to make a killer apple cake - and if I can find the recipe I WILL post it. 

2. Have you ever planted a tree? If so was there a special reason or occasion you can tell us about?
Yes, I have. One of the most special trees I planted was a vytex tree someone gave me in memory of my dad.  In terms of apple trees, the don't grow down here - the weather is too warm.

3. Does the idea of roaming around the countryside (preaching or otherwise) appeal to you? Why or why not?
I enjoy traveling down country roads to see what is there, where they lead to, trying to put the pieces together of the lay of the land.

4. Who is a favorite "historical legend" of yours? Well, to be perfectly honest, none really come up to me other than Santa Claus, but I am not going to claim that one. That one is way too easy.

5. Johnny Appleseed was said to sing to keep up his spirits as he travelled the roads of the west. Do you have a song that comes when you are trying to be cheerful, or is there something else that you often do?

When I watched the Johnny Appleseed video, I couldn't help but think of this song and it DOES cheer me - and I hope it cheers you!

It's falling down and going boom

Our small town had a major employer announce they were closing their plant in October. 250 employees will be without a job in a month. I know of two in our school whose spouse will be unemployed next month. Our jobless rate is already 8%. It will now be even higher.

Another friend of mine whose husband works in an adjacent county- they just laid off 75% of their work force and they were blindsided - didn't see it coming.

I'm nervous and scared for these folks. I hope they can find jobs. I knew that our economy would slow down, but I didn't expect it to fall down, go boom.

I am thankful for my job. May I be ever so aware that there are others who are scared, as they don't know what they are going to do in the upcoming weeks when the job they thought was secure, is no longer. Praying ....

Let it all hang out or fall down

Went to jury duty today. Didn't last long. The man was to represent himself in a trial which accused him of assault, child endangerment, and obstructing an emergency phone call (or something like that).

Personally, if I was going to court and was in the hot seat, I don't think I would have worn britches that were holding on for dear life. Ya know what I mean?

The other day I was driving down the road, and saw a woman with jeans on, however, her zipper was all the way down in the front, her underwear was showing and her belly was sticking out. T-shirt as up high enough to show her belly button, and more.

Isn't there some sort of expression "Let it all hang out?" - I think that expression came before all this hanging out. Just sayin'.

The Neck

Neck status - there are days that it is fine, in fact it has been better. This weekend has not been on the status of "it's better" phases. I had my last chiropractor's appt on Friday, and it has been a LOT better. This weekend, for whatever reason, my neck has wanted to hurt. I really shouldn't be whining, since there are a lot more people that have pain like this and worse. So I will just be quiet about it and take some ibuprofen and hope it will heal.

Work has been consuming this year. Lots going on with different students. In some ways it is a good type of consuming. I feel like I have been able to focus. There are some aspects which have been quite frustrating, as in "I am going to have to bite my tongue big time" - no fun.

Facebook - Interestingly I have reconnected to people who I have not seen in over 30 years. That has been really fun in catching up with their lives.

I feel a real need to go to the beach and spend a couple of days. Nothing more than to regroup and refresh and enjoy the quiet.

Books #23 & #24

#23

Here If You Need Me: A True Story by Kate Braestrup - this is the read for September's Revgalblogpals. Braelstrup shares her story as she works as a chaplain for Maine's Game Wardens in search and rescue. Very interesting read. Glad I read it.

#24

Schuyler's Monster: A Father's Journey with His Wordless Daughter by Robert Rummel-Hudson. A father's story of his journey with his daughter who is unable to speak words. As a special education teacher, I found this very interesting from the standpoint of listening to a parent as they journey through the medical and educational system and advocating for their daughter. Took a while for him to get to what I thought was the nitty gritty of the book, but once he did, I found it a worthwhile read.

Because

My middle daughter called me and told me I was letting down my readers by not blogging this week. Thank you, dear one, for reminding me I need to blog. Though nothing in particular has been keeping me from blogging other than some unbloggables and focus on work, I just thought that whatever I blogged was probably repetitious and really dreadfully boring.

• There are times where an anonymous blog would be advantageous to write about some interesting stuff. For. real.
• I have had a really strong urge to get to the beach and do absolutely nothing but look at the water.
• We have updated to the newest version of Microsoft Office at school and I must say the calendar feature of Outlook is pretty cool. That calendar really saves me at school.
• I personally do not see how some people are making ends meet with the price of everything rising.
• I have a good friend who reads this blog who is suffering from depression. Please say a prayer for her.

I also just finished a book this week. I'll post that. I don't think I will get to 50 this  year, but I will keep on truckin'.

Today's Laura's day

About 20 years ago, little Laura (far right) is with her friends. Notice her velcro shoe on the wrong foot. Today she turns 24. Here is another picture when she was a
even littler.
 

and here she is with her Mom earlier this year.


Happy 24th Birthday Laura!
(All pictures were on her Facebook account, either uploaded by various folks!)

Goose Egg

I was eating lunch in the school cafeteria when I saw a teacher bring one of her students in to the principal. She said "It's bad".   The little girl was hoding her forehead. I know this little girl because my youngest daughter and the girl's mom are very good friends.  I saw it from about 25 feet and knew it was a doosey (sp?) of a bump. This was her second accident in a few weeks.

I went to go check on Olivia to see how she was doing. Her mom, who is great with child and ready to pop any minute, came in and got her. I was a little nervous because of how big the goose egg was, so I hung around to make sure MOM was ok. She handled it beautifully, and took Olivia on to eh emergency room. To find out more about it and see the goose egg, go here. Please say hello and let her  know you are thinking about her. She is such a cutie.

By the way, Olivia, you have been FIRED from going on the geodome on the playground now!

Friday Five - Back to School

It's time for a Back-To-School Friday Five!

1. Is anyone going back to school, as a student or teacher, at your house? How's it going so far?

Yes, as a teacher. Some of us go back to school EVERY YEAR as a student and then as a teacher. So far, it's starting off with a bang!

2. Were you glad or sad when back-to-school time came as a kid?

I enjoyed school as a child and MOST OF THE TIME I enjoy school as an adult. However, I must say I really enjoy the first month of summer. It's as though I am a "lady of leisure" (is that sexist? antiquated?) We are lucky that our paycheck is prorated over 12 months, so we still get an income during the summer months. Thank you!

3. Did your family of origin have any rituals to mark this time of year? How about now?

Actually, school here started for teachers on July 28 (that I DON'T like), students started September 11.  As of today, we have been here for 30 days (minus 2 due to Tropical Storm Fay)

4. Favorite memories of back-to-school outfits, lunchboxes, etc?
I had a lunchbox in 2nd grade. I was so proud of that thing. The first day of school, when I opened the thermos, it had all broken up on the inside (not plastic in those days).
Speaking of lunchboxes, I remember one year in elementary school where milk was 2 cents for a carton. Lunches I believe were 30 cents (I remember holding these coins - liberty quarter, Indian Head nickel, and Mercury dime.) How many of you remember those?

Funny, I really don't have memories of back to school outfits, but I do remember that up until junior high and senior high, girls wore dresses, and then at some point in the late sixties, we could wear pantsuits (please note these had to be actual pantsuits), then we could wear slacks. I am trying to remember when in high school we could start wearing jeans? I graduated in 1974, how about you all?

5. What was your best year of school?
I remember not liking the year I took geometry. I had a less than stellar teacher, and it never did seem to click with me. I generally LOVED math, so I really felt like something wasn't right.
I really enjoyed my senior year. I remember that 2 of my classes were in music, and what could get better than to sing for two hours. I also had a GREAT contemporary literature class, I remember the early morning classes, it was on the third floor, and windows faces east and we got the sunshine! Note we were in Florida and we did not have air conditioning at the time! However, I remember loving that class. Phenomenal teacher, and I remember it was a class of great students. I remember reading books by Steinback, Fitzgerald, Ayn Rand, Upton Sinclair, Theodore Dreiser, Remarque, Erich Maria Remarque.

Now, what are your memories of school? You can play on your blog, or you can share in the comments.