Family Reunion 2009

It means going through your recipe file to find that dish that will both taste good and travel well. My family hits the highway and travels to the middle Tennessee town of Camden. We rent a lodge at the local state park, enjoy the beautiful countryside, good company, and lots of food.

We have been meeting at this lodge for about 14 years. Lots has happened over the years. We have watched the children grow up and a couple of times gathered together to mourn the passing of a loved one. Right after 9-11 we gathered at the lodge and were able to escape the horrors of terrorism for a weekend. We were so far in the hills we had no TV or cell phone reception. For a weekend we were able to sleep without nightmares.

Memorable or average, a reunion is a nice way to spend a weekend.

A Good Tired

Long days, rushing through books and lesson plans, trying to be two places at the same time--I am back in a classroom again. Since I have been out of work for a year, I was worried about being rusty. Well, teaching is like riding a bike. You don't forget. We have all ready had an insect zoo and used the microscopes.

In a school district that has publicly announced that no primary students will be retained, the children at this private school have higher standards. I have to have a higher standard, too. With God's help, I think we will be okay.

Technology!

It's always something!

Last week my computer crashed. Fortunately, I was able to save most of my manuscripts before the last rites were given.

At a nearby restaurant, I sat with friends Sunday after church, and discussed how to get me back into the 21st century. They discussed ram, rom, bits, and bytes. I had no clue what they were talking about. I admit, I don't know much about computers and the technology is totally over my head. What will I do? Don't really know--but somehow I will have to find a way to get plugged in.

After all, my son hates it when I use his computer. To him it's about like sharing a tooth brush.

About Julie & Julia

No, it wasn't Gone With The Wind, but if you are a writer or a blogger or want to be either, you will find Julie & Julia a very interesting movie.

If you are a woman who feels that sense of panic that your life might not be headed the direction you want, you will certainly identify with the main characters in the story. I enjoyed the movie. Whether you get your girlfriends and go to the theater to see it, or wait for it to come out on DVD and make a party night of the movie, it is worth seeing.

In honor of Julia Childs, I plan to poach an egg for dinner and serve it with some asparagus. I insist upon wearing pearls and heels as I prepare the meal. Bon Appite

When Did Vet Care Stop Being About The Animals?

I sat in a little room away from all the other clients at the Munford Animal Hospital and listened as a kid in a white lab coat, about the age of my own son, explained the policy of the hospital by using some unfortunate words:

"We believe in our policy of testing yearly, no matter what. We are willing to lose a sales, before we will compromise."

My expression must have shown my surprise because he continued to explain. "After all, I am aware that you could simply take your business elsewhere."

What I wanted to say was that I didn't realize that my beloved animals were simply a sales to this hospital.

You see, my animals are rescue animals. They came to me with heartworms. I faithfully give them there necessary medicine, because my sister went through the dangerous heartworm treatment only to have her dog die from the medicine.

I have just started a new job and money is so tight that it was difficult to find 50.00 to buy a 3 month supply of the medicine. When the vet said he wouldn't even sell me 3 months worth without the tests, that made no sense. It was like withholding insulin from a diabetic. The doctor knows that without the heartworm meds my dogs will die, but refused to sell them to me until I got the updated tests--even though I can't afford those tests at the moment.

I remember the old days, back in the 1070s when we could take the dogs to the vet and make payments for their treatment. Sometimes it might be only 20.00 or 30.00 a month, but we made sure the vet got paid. Just as important, dogs and cats weren't turned away because their owners fell on hard times.

Remember that charming old book by James Herriot, All Things Bright and Beautiful? How would Herriot and his vet friends have handled things today?

An Emotional Week.

This has been a very emotional week! One minute I am working at a daycare center. The next I am preparing to teach in a classroom.

Tuesday was my last day at the daycare center. As stressful as that job was, as difficult as it was to stay motivated when you knew you weren't going to be paid enough to keep up with the bills, it was still hard to leave. I especially thought my job with the babies was important. I know that interacting with them was important to stimulating their little minds.

The staff lured me out of the school age classroom and the kids were proud that they kept my little party a secret. Some even cried about my leaving. I cried too.

Then the next day, there I was moving crates of supplies to my new classroom. It is all so surreal. I know I will soon be as attached to these kids as I was to the ones at the center. I will have a little more control of my world at this job.

I am hopeful.