Weather Change

Today at exactly 5:40 p.m. a cold front blew across my neck of the woods. I was running and I felt the wind blowing across my body drop in temperature as it blew over me from north to south. It was the oddest, coolest (literally) thing I've ever felt. The right side of my body was cold and the left not as cool. Now, two hours later there's frost on my windows.

Beautiful Winter

Lately our winter days have been so beautiful. Cold, dry, gray, and eerily still. Naked branches laying contentedly against the hushed sky. It is visually breathtaking and spiritually soothing. Have you noticed it too?

Popcorn's Profession: In, Then Out, Now In

I can teach. I like to teach. I'm often teaching someone something. This semester I've agreed (signed a contract) to teach World History at the high school where it all began many many many years ago. Here's the weirdest thing. I've been gone from this building 11 years. Last week when I was in the Social Studies office pouring a cup of coffee, I noticed that the "coffee kitty" can that I made when I worked here right out of college is still being used!!! This was 26 years ago people!!!!! I looked at that can and my jaw dropped. Can you believe that? It is as if time had literally frozen. Strangest thing. I've lived a gazillion lives since then. I can't help but wonder what my life would look like if I had stuck around. For one thing, I'd be able to retire in two years. Full teacher retirement, in two years! My friends are retiring, one by one....but not me. Oh well, we all make choices through the years that we later wonder about...don't we? All I know is that there came a time in my life when I just couldn't hang in another day trying to get up at the crack of dawn, get self cute, get kids cute, make lunches, fix pony tails, make sure they had all their crap, make sure I had mine, make sure car had gas, make sure I was patient and loving and kind when I was exhausted....make sure they had their homework, make sure I had my lesson plans done to perfection...make sure I was a loving and in shape and beautifully coiffed wife...I had to let go of the rope and let that boat charge on without me. So I'm back at it now that things are much easier. Kids big, baby boy driving, live three miles from school. Not sure how long I'll hang in this go 'round....I've only let self commit to this one spring semester. We'll see. Gotta go give a final exam.....

Phineas Herbert: The Baby Tree

My daughter is so refreshing. Do you know what she asked Santa for? A tree. Yes. You read that right. A tree. A red oak to be specific. She wanted a tree to plant. She met with the parks and recreation department lady who is in charge of trees here in our neck of the woods. Together they chose a spot in a local park for her tree and marked it off. Popdaughter took her posse to the tree farm, chose the tree, bought the tree, hauled it to the park, unloaded it, hauled it to the chosen spot, planted it, mulched it, hugged and kissed it. She's visited each day since. Here are some pics that chronicle the whole thing.