Oh, Evolve!
In desperation I've been known to say (aloud or, more often, silently to myself) "Oh, grow up!" , but I know that growing UP does not necessarily mean growing BETTER!
I wonder what people will say when I tell them to evolve?
I wonder what I will think when people say it to me?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Endings and Beginnings
Much like the groundhog on February second, I arose from my hibernation in the basement late yesterday afternoon and found a whole bunch of things have been going on in my "absence."
First of all, the reason for my hibernation was an August first deadline to turn in my revised handbook for the "Conversation" seminar. Seems I was told it was due September first but they thought they had told me June first....so we compromised on August first. As a result, other than water aerobics and mother visits, I've pretty much been attached to my computer for the past few weeks. But it's done! It's in the mail! The end of that project and the beginning of the next work project....but the next project can wait just a bit.
Today is my grand-nephew's first birthday. A year ago he was born with an infection that landed him in the NICU for the first week of his life. He recovered fine, is totally normal and wonderfully healthy. Thanks be to God! End of the first year, beginning of the next 99 or so...and today they celebrate!
Six weeks after a horrific car accident, my cousin's wife was moved from the trauma hospital to a convalescent center to rest for a few weeks prior to the final skin graft surgery. Incredibly, the fire fighters who saved her life at the accident scene last June volunteered to transport her from the hospital in Seattle to the convalescent center in Redmond for FREE on their DAD OFF! The end of her critical/crisis stage of recovery, the beginning of re-hab....and I'm sure the beginning of a long bond between my cousin's family and the Redmond fire department!
We have chosen someone to be our new pastor! Our call committee is excited! The various necessary "hoops" are easily being jumped through and we expect to present him to the church council next week. If all continues to go well, he will be approved by the council and the congregation will vote to extend the call. End of a long time of uncertainty for the congregation, beginning of all sorts of good things!
As much as I'd like it to be, life isn't a neatly organized "to do" list where I can scratch off completed tasks but it is nice that during my "hibernation" a few biggies did resolve themselves!
First of all, the reason for my hibernation was an August first deadline to turn in my revised handbook for the "Conversation" seminar. Seems I was told it was due September first but they thought they had told me June first....so we compromised on August first. As a result, other than water aerobics and mother visits, I've pretty much been attached to my computer for the past few weeks. But it's done! It's in the mail! The end of that project and the beginning of the next work project....but the next project can wait just a bit.
Today is my grand-nephew's first birthday. A year ago he was born with an infection that landed him in the NICU for the first week of his life. He recovered fine, is totally normal and wonderfully healthy. Thanks be to God! End of the first year, beginning of the next 99 or so...and today they celebrate!
Six weeks after a horrific car accident, my cousin's wife was moved from the trauma hospital to a convalescent center to rest for a few weeks prior to the final skin graft surgery. Incredibly, the fire fighters who saved her life at the accident scene last June volunteered to transport her from the hospital in Seattle to the convalescent center in Redmond for FREE on their DAD OFF! The end of her critical/crisis stage of recovery, the beginning of re-hab....and I'm sure the beginning of a long bond between my cousin's family and the Redmond fire department!
We have chosen someone to be our new pastor! Our call committee is excited! The various necessary "hoops" are easily being jumped through and we expect to present him to the church council next week. If all continues to go well, he will be approved by the council and the congregation will vote to extend the call. End of a long time of uncertainty for the congregation, beginning of all sorts of good things!
As much as I'd like it to be, life isn't a neatly organized "to do" list where I can scratch off completed tasks but it is nice that during my "hibernation" a few biggies did resolve themselves!
Friday, July 24, 2009
With just one more surprise.....
A semi-contemporary hymn called "Borning Cry" almost always reduces me to tears in spite of it's sappiness. It tells of God being here for our "borning cry" and each verse goes through how God is with us through succeeding stages of life. The last verse says something like, "In later years I'll still be there with just one more surprise".
God does love surprises!
I was reminded of that this morning when I found out that my mother's verbally abusive roommate had been moved to another room. Yesterday the roommate did something abusive in full view of the nursing home staff and finally, with indisputable proof, the administration imposed a real consequence. We are all extremely relieved.
The funny thing is that this situation which has seemed so hopeless for many weeks made me do something different. I started to pray regularly for the ROOMMATE. God obviously cares about my mom, but I think this prayer was answered for the roommate. It may be that this event will bring her the assistance she obviously needs with emotional issues.
On another topic, Kevin is having a wonderful summer in California...playing great music in a beautiful setting with ample opportunities for lessons, practice, bike-riding, and regular treats from the "rich divorcees" who have "adopted" the percussion section. He has nothing on his plate when he returns in August. I'm less worried than in the past because I've seen God "surprise" Kevin over and over again.
I'm past praying that Kevin win a certain audition and more into thanking Him for past "surprises" and trusting that God's got some great new plan.
I'm not saccharine and do wonder what "one more surprise" God has in mind for unemployed family members or friends, for very ill family and friends, and for the new young widow at our church. I do know that I have to stop "telling" God what to do in all those situations and trust in the message of a sappy....but true....hymn.
God does love surprises!
I was reminded of that this morning when I found out that my mother's verbally abusive roommate had been moved to another room. Yesterday the roommate did something abusive in full view of the nursing home staff and finally, with indisputable proof, the administration imposed a real consequence. We are all extremely relieved.
The funny thing is that this situation which has seemed so hopeless for many weeks made me do something different. I started to pray regularly for the ROOMMATE. God obviously cares about my mom, but I think this prayer was answered for the roommate. It may be that this event will bring her the assistance she obviously needs with emotional issues.
On another topic, Kevin is having a wonderful summer in California...playing great music in a beautiful setting with ample opportunities for lessons, practice, bike-riding, and regular treats from the "rich divorcees" who have "adopted" the percussion section. He has nothing on his plate when he returns in August. I'm less worried than in the past because I've seen God "surprise" Kevin over and over again.
I'm past praying that Kevin win a certain audition and more into thanking Him for past "surprises" and trusting that God's got some great new plan.
I'm not saccharine and do wonder what "one more surprise" God has in mind for unemployed family members or friends, for very ill family and friends, and for the new young widow at our church. I do know that I have to stop "telling" God what to do in all those situations and trust in the message of a sappy....but true....hymn.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Noise
My ears are tired.
As I write, our neighbor is mowing his lawn right outside the window and a very large tree is being chopped down in the other neighbor's parkway. Smash, bang, buzz, grind!
When I visited my mother yesterday they were mowing the lawn at the nursing home. Throughout our visit on the patio I kept saying "Huh?" to everything Mom said because I was competing with multiple leaf blowers.
As "homework" for the church call committee, I recently listed to a sermon on-line. In order to hear better, I used external speakers. This person said some things very loudly then spoke very softly to emphasize an idea. Unfortunately, in order to hear the soft speaking I had the volume so high that the loud comments physically hurt!
My husband snores. Usually I push on his shoulder, he turns on his side and the snoring stops, but sometimes I give up and go sleep on the couch.
Yesterday a 50-something man from our church who was receiving chemotherapy simply didn't wake up in the morning. I can't imagine the grief of his wife waking up to that quiet.
I'm not complaining about noise any more. Quiet can be tragic.
As I write, our neighbor is mowing his lawn right outside the window and a very large tree is being chopped down in the other neighbor's parkway. Smash, bang, buzz, grind!
When I visited my mother yesterday they were mowing the lawn at the nursing home. Throughout our visit on the patio I kept saying "Huh?" to everything Mom said because I was competing with multiple leaf blowers.
As "homework" for the church call committee, I recently listed to a sermon on-line. In order to hear better, I used external speakers. This person said some things very loudly then spoke very softly to emphasize an idea. Unfortunately, in order to hear the soft speaking I had the volume so high that the loud comments physically hurt!
My husband snores. Usually I push on his shoulder, he turns on his side and the snoring stops, but sometimes I give up and go sleep on the couch.
Yesterday a 50-something man from our church who was receiving chemotherapy simply didn't wake up in the morning. I can't imagine the grief of his wife waking up to that quiet.
I'm not complaining about noise any more. Quiet can be tragic.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The "Kitchen King"
I just returned from helping serve at the soup kitchen where I was blown away by one of the employees.
This man's title is probably something like "kitchen assistant" but it should be "kitchen king". He had the food we brought put away before we even set it on the counter. He had every utensil we needed for food preparation already in place. With gentle assistance, he cheerfully taught us the most efficient way to cut watermelon. He moved quickly but with amazing efficiency.
Then it was time to serve the people. As I dished out sloppy joes I watched him interact with the people. He seemed to be everywhere at once, keeping order, seeing needs, treating people with great dignity. He cleaned away used plates and wiped tablecloths in exactly the same manner as a waiter in a classy French restaurant.
He worked as though he owned this restaurant and was going to make it the best restaurant in the city.
In any service situation, I always get more than I give. Today the "kitchen king" gave me a tremendous example of what it means to serve with grace in a humble setting. Reminds me of a certain carpenter who did the same sort of thing 2000 years ago!
This man's title is probably something like "kitchen assistant" but it should be "kitchen king". He had the food we brought put away before we even set it on the counter. He had every utensil we needed for food preparation already in place. With gentle assistance, he cheerfully taught us the most efficient way to cut watermelon. He moved quickly but with amazing efficiency.
Then it was time to serve the people. As I dished out sloppy joes I watched him interact with the people. He seemed to be everywhere at once, keeping order, seeing needs, treating people with great dignity. He cleaned away used plates and wiped tablecloths in exactly the same manner as a waiter in a classy French restaurant.
He worked as though he owned this restaurant and was going to make it the best restaurant in the city.
In any service situation, I always get more than I give. Today the "kitchen king" gave me a tremendous example of what it means to serve with grace in a humble setting. Reminds me of a certain carpenter who did the same sort of thing 2000 years ago!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Adventures Await
Today the long awaited BER letter arrived....my list of locations for seminars next year.
Being my fourth year of this BER adventure means I'm returning to some places. I even know some of the hotels I'll probably be staying at.
Old Favorites:
Burlington, VT--one of the prettiest places in the country....but I'll be there for a second dreary November visit. The hotel looks out on the lake, there are lots of cool shops in this college town, and there's a nearby restaurant where you can get lobster rolls! Last time it rained and we couldn't see the lake. We arrived after the shops closed and couldn't shop on our way out because we had a long drive to Portland ahead. I see that this year I'm driving in from Portland, so once again we'll miss the shops! Oh, well, I probably don't need a thick Vermont sweater or Vermont Teddy Bear anyway.
Portland, Maine---Ken and I loved this city while on vacation. When I returned with BER two years ago I was looking forward to lobster and ocean and cute shops. Not to be! We were at a crummy Holiday Inn in a strip mall far from water. "Dinner" was a soggy tuna sandwich from the grocery store in the shopping center because there was NO restaurant open at the ghastly late hour we arrived (maybe 9:00 p.m.)
The seminar in Portland was notable, however, as I had a dog as a participant! Seems a woman was training an assist dog that was sitting under the table--unknown to me. As part of one of my audience participation stunts, I tossed a koosh ball at her. She missed and it landed on the dog...who handled this disturbance pretty well considering. I'm a little more careful about the recipients of my ball tossing these days.
If I'm again in that crummy hotel, again miss a lobster dinner, and again have a four-legged participant...Portland still has a WONDERFUL perk. In the tiny Portland airport there is a Maine tourist shop and it carries Moose Mania calendars. Life will be good if I can have my fourth year in a row with my happy Moose calendar! (Two bought in Minneapolis, two in Portland)
Providence, R.I: Maybe this trip I'll actually SET FOOT in Rhode Island. On our family trip to Boston and Cape Cod we drove through Rhode Island fully intending to stop, get out of the car, and STAND ON Rhode Island (the necessary step to claim official "I've been to...." status.) Unfortunately, we blinked and were out of the state. Last Spring I returned with BER...except we actually stayed in Seaconk, MA which is located a few feet from Providence. Once again, I didn't actually set foot in the state. Maybe this time!
In Providence (AKA Seaconk) we stay at the Johnson and Wales Inn which is quite interesting. It's totally run by students at the famous hospitality school there. It's an interesting building with places where you have to go up a level to go down two levels. I'm also told it has a ghost. Oooooooooooooo,,,,
The rest of the repeats are not inspiring. Various midwest and various upstate New York and New Jersey sites. Boston, Seattle and Portland,OR are cool, but all are mid-week, so not much chance to see anything. The three new places will be interesting: Edmonton and Calgary in Canada and San Jose, CA.
Of course, I was hoping they'd send me mostly to places I had not yet been - maybe the south in February? Maybe Hawaii? Maybe Texas in March? Maybe a Monday or Friday to "stay over" in Maryland near my niece, or Denver near my brother and sister-in-law, maybe South Carolina near friend Donna, maybe San Antonio near brother-in-law Bill, maybe Boise near sister-in-law Kris, maybe Florida near Mickey Mouse!
But maybe they're on to something. Maybe BER knows that Newark will be the new "in" destination, that New Hampshire will be sunny and warm in November, that Minneapolis will be snow free and balmy in February, and that we'll stay in the North End above an Italian restaurant in Boston.
A girl can dream, can't she?
Being my fourth year of this BER adventure means I'm returning to some places. I even know some of the hotels I'll probably be staying at.
Old Favorites:
Burlington, VT--one of the prettiest places in the country....but I'll be there for a second dreary November visit. The hotel looks out on the lake, there are lots of cool shops in this college town, and there's a nearby restaurant where you can get lobster rolls! Last time it rained and we couldn't see the lake. We arrived after the shops closed and couldn't shop on our way out because we had a long drive to Portland ahead. I see that this year I'm driving in from Portland, so once again we'll miss the shops! Oh, well, I probably don't need a thick Vermont sweater or Vermont Teddy Bear anyway.
Portland, Maine---Ken and I loved this city while on vacation. When I returned with BER two years ago I was looking forward to lobster and ocean and cute shops. Not to be! We were at a crummy Holiday Inn in a strip mall far from water. "Dinner" was a soggy tuna sandwich from the grocery store in the shopping center because there was NO restaurant open at the ghastly late hour we arrived (maybe 9:00 p.m.)
The seminar in Portland was notable, however, as I had a dog as a participant! Seems a woman was training an assist dog that was sitting under the table--unknown to me. As part of one of my audience participation stunts, I tossed a koosh ball at her. She missed and it landed on the dog...who handled this disturbance pretty well considering. I'm a little more careful about the recipients of my ball tossing these days.
If I'm again in that crummy hotel, again miss a lobster dinner, and again have a four-legged participant...Portland still has a WONDERFUL perk. In the tiny Portland airport there is a Maine tourist shop and it carries Moose Mania calendars. Life will be good if I can have my fourth year in a row with my happy Moose calendar! (Two bought in Minneapolis, two in Portland)
Providence, R.I: Maybe this trip I'll actually SET FOOT in Rhode Island. On our family trip to Boston and Cape Cod we drove through Rhode Island fully intending to stop, get out of the car, and STAND ON Rhode Island (the necessary step to claim official "I've been to...." status.) Unfortunately, we blinked and were out of the state. Last Spring I returned with BER...except we actually stayed in Seaconk, MA which is located a few feet from Providence. Once again, I didn't actually set foot in the state. Maybe this time!
In Providence (AKA Seaconk) we stay at the Johnson and Wales Inn which is quite interesting. It's totally run by students at the famous hospitality school there. It's an interesting building with places where you have to go up a level to go down two levels. I'm also told it has a ghost. Oooooooooooooo,,,,
The rest of the repeats are not inspiring. Various midwest and various upstate New York and New Jersey sites. Boston, Seattle and Portland,OR are cool, but all are mid-week, so not much chance to see anything. The three new places will be interesting: Edmonton and Calgary in Canada and San Jose, CA.
Of course, I was hoping they'd send me mostly to places I had not yet been - maybe the south in February? Maybe Hawaii? Maybe Texas in March? Maybe a Monday or Friday to "stay over" in Maryland near my niece, or Denver near my brother and sister-in-law, maybe South Carolina near friend Donna, maybe San Antonio near brother-in-law Bill, maybe Boise near sister-in-law Kris, maybe Florida near Mickey Mouse!
But maybe they're on to something. Maybe BER knows that Newark will be the new "in" destination, that New Hampshire will be sunny and warm in November, that Minneapolis will be snow free and balmy in February, and that we'll stay in the North End above an Italian restaurant in Boston.
A girl can dream, can't she?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Drama and Pathos at the Pool
Just before water aerobics began this morning someone noticed a duck and her eight babies on the opposite side of the pool. Everyone, of course, ooed and ahhed about how cute the ducklings were.
As we entered the pool, Mom Duck jumped in also, followed shortly by all eight of her ducklings. They were happily swimming along (maybe they liked the Jersey Boys tape that was playing for our class?) but the life guards had to spring into action and "rescue" these poor ducks before they were hurt by the chlorine. So six teenagers armed with the giant nets and kick boards tried to catch the ducklings. The ducklings freaked and took off all over the pool. Mom duck, meanwhile, has jumped out of the pool and stands watching her babies, terrified.
Then the aerobics instructor gets into the act. She takes a kick board and is able to put it under a couple of the ducklings and lift them to the pool side. Mom duck, however, jumps back in the pool followed by her recently rescued babies and we're back to square one.
Meanwhile we're jumping, cross-country skiing and doing jumping jacks with our eyes glued to the pathos on the other side of the pool.
Eventually one of the guards caught one of the ducklings in a net, but it jumped out of the net almost instantly and took off for the landscaped area near the kiddie pool. All the lifeguards (minus the one who is making sure that ten women don't fall over dead from the excitement) go to the kiddie pool in search of the errant duckling.
Meanwhile, more drama is unfolding. Mom duck is out of the pool and her remaining ducklings are in the water near her. They are jumping like crazy trying to get out of the pool....but the ledge is just a smidgen too high. They jump and jump and jump and eventually one makes it to the ledge. A roar from the aerobics crowd goes up....Touchdown!! One by one the rest of the ducklings eventually get out and rejoin Mom Duck. When they are reunited, they waddle off towards the diving well, leaving behind the baby still by the kiddie pool. Oh, no!
Fifteen minutes pass. Suddenly one of the guards appears cradling baby duck in his hands. He walks to the diving well area, finds the other ducks, and Mom Duck welcomes back her last duckling into the fold.
All's well with the world!
As we entered the pool, Mom Duck jumped in also, followed shortly by all eight of her ducklings. They were happily swimming along (maybe they liked the Jersey Boys tape that was playing for our class?) but the life guards had to spring into action and "rescue" these poor ducks before they were hurt by the chlorine. So six teenagers armed with the giant nets and kick boards tried to catch the ducklings. The ducklings freaked and took off all over the pool. Mom duck, meanwhile, has jumped out of the pool and stands watching her babies, terrified.
Then the aerobics instructor gets into the act. She takes a kick board and is able to put it under a couple of the ducklings and lift them to the pool side. Mom duck, however, jumps back in the pool followed by her recently rescued babies and we're back to square one.
Meanwhile we're jumping, cross-country skiing and doing jumping jacks with our eyes glued to the pathos on the other side of the pool.
Eventually one of the guards caught one of the ducklings in a net, but it jumped out of the net almost instantly and took off for the landscaped area near the kiddie pool. All the lifeguards (minus the one who is making sure that ten women don't fall over dead from the excitement) go to the kiddie pool in search of the errant duckling.
Meanwhile, more drama is unfolding. Mom duck is out of the pool and her remaining ducklings are in the water near her. They are jumping like crazy trying to get out of the pool....but the ledge is just a smidgen too high. They jump and jump and jump and eventually one makes it to the ledge. A roar from the aerobics crowd goes up....Touchdown!! One by one the rest of the ducklings eventually get out and rejoin Mom Duck. When they are reunited, they waddle off towards the diving well, leaving behind the baby still by the kiddie pool. Oh, no!
Fifteen minutes pass. Suddenly one of the guards appears cradling baby duck in his hands. He walks to the diving well area, finds the other ducks, and Mom Duck welcomes back her last duckling into the fold.
All's well with the world!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sometimes We All Need to Whine
There are tines when life just gets way to complicated. Although we are (finally!) having wonderful summer weather there's just too much on my plate to enjoy it.
Things I can do nothing about: (1) I'm still waiting to hear from the publisher and am very anxious to know if all the various corrections have been made to our projects downloads. (2) My mom has had another episode of verbal abuse from her roommate. I'll talk with the social worker...again....today, but honestly I don't know what they can do. The roommate needs a long "time out" but they don't exist in a nursing home. But no 86 year old should be subjected to being sworn at, being given the finger, or being told that the roommate wants her dead. (3) I read my cousin's daily updates on his wife's recovery and my heart aches for all they are going through while simultaneously rejoicing in how far she has come.
Things I can do something about but don't know where I'll find the time: (1) BER work is progressing but there is just so much right now. I finished one handbook, did a rough "script" and a preliminary Power Point. I need to do the long boring thing of actually "presenting" the seminar to myself so I can figure out the timing, then finalize the script and PP and be ready to present in Georgia. Then I get to do the other handbook. All by August 1. (2) I'm happy that we have a second interview with a pastoral candidate on Saturday, but need to spend a chunk of time going over notes and getting back up to speed on that process. (3) I'm happy that Ken's brother Bill is coming for the weekend but need to find the time to move a lot of Kevin's stuff out of the smaller bedroom so that Bill can use it and, oh yeah, get some food in the house. (4) I'm glad I have the opportunity to teach my Art of Spain series to two different adult ed. groups in the fall, but they both want information now. (5) I need a couple hours to prepare for our hymn selection team meeting on Sunday. (6) I need a nap...or two.
Last January I was very restless because I didn't have a whole lot to do. That may happen again in September. That is the weird thing about retirement--something I also found true in my at home Mom days. When you work full time, you go to work every day, it's regular and somewhat predictable (as predictable as middle school can be :-). When you work part time or as a volunteer, life loses its predictability and you're either too busy or not busy enough.
So now I've whined. Now I need to get to work!
Things I can do nothing about: (1) I'm still waiting to hear from the publisher and am very anxious to know if all the various corrections have been made to our projects downloads. (2) My mom has had another episode of verbal abuse from her roommate. I'll talk with the social worker...again....today, but honestly I don't know what they can do. The roommate needs a long "time out" but they don't exist in a nursing home. But no 86 year old should be subjected to being sworn at, being given the finger, or being told that the roommate wants her dead. (3) I read my cousin's daily updates on his wife's recovery and my heart aches for all they are going through while simultaneously rejoicing in how far she has come.
Things I can do something about but don't know where I'll find the time: (1) BER work is progressing but there is just so much right now. I finished one handbook, did a rough "script" and a preliminary Power Point. I need to do the long boring thing of actually "presenting" the seminar to myself so I can figure out the timing, then finalize the script and PP and be ready to present in Georgia. Then I get to do the other handbook. All by August 1. (2) I'm happy that we have a second interview with a pastoral candidate on Saturday, but need to spend a chunk of time going over notes and getting back up to speed on that process. (3) I'm happy that Ken's brother Bill is coming for the weekend but need to find the time to move a lot of Kevin's stuff out of the smaller bedroom so that Bill can use it and, oh yeah, get some food in the house. (4) I'm glad I have the opportunity to teach my Art of Spain series to two different adult ed. groups in the fall, but they both want information now. (5) I need a couple hours to prepare for our hymn selection team meeting on Sunday. (6) I need a nap...or two.
Last January I was very restless because I didn't have a whole lot to do. That may happen again in September. That is the weird thing about retirement--something I also found true in my at home Mom days. When you work full time, you go to work every day, it's regular and somewhat predictable (as predictable as middle school can be :-). When you work part time or as a volunteer, life loses its predictability and you're either too busy or not busy enough.
So now I've whined. Now I need to get to work!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Dulce and Sharon and Diane and Pam and......
This morning my mother and I were visiting in the lobby at Rosewood when, suddenly, Dulce the receptionist jumped up, ran to the door and was yelling, "Albert, stop!"
Albert, a very tall man who uses an electric wheel chair, was trying to enter the building through only one of the double doors. Since his chair is so big, it naturally got caught on the door frame and was actually beginning to climb up the side of the door with the immediate danger of throwing Albert backwards on the back of his head. Dulce's quick action saved him from severe injury or worse.
But the story doesn't end there. Dulce spent the next ten minutes calmly but intensely telling Albert how upset she was that he had put himself in such a dangerous position. Her message was the same that a mom would give to a three year old who had just tried to play Superman off a porch. Albert's response was that of a repentant three year old, "I'm sorry. I won't do that again." HOWEVER, Dulce carried out this toddler-type discipline in a way that in no way hurt Albert's dignity. That's a gift!
Watching Dulce "in action" reminded me of other people I've been privileged to work with---primarily school and church secretaries. They are the people who are at the front line. Someone comes in the office with a concern that must be dealt with RIGHT AWAY and the secretary just does it.....while simultaneously answering the phone, handing something to another person, pushing the button to let someone in, putting a bandaid on someone's literal or figurative owie, and dealing with someone else who also wants something RIGHT NOW!
The Dulces and Sharons and Dianes and Pams of the world hold together our schools, churches and nursing homes yet rarely get the top salaries or recognition they deserve and that's a shame.
On my way out, I wished Dulce a calm rest of the day and remarked, "Someday you'll be a great Mom." She looked at me quizzically and I complimented her on how gracefully she spoke with Albert. She broke into a big grin and said, "Yes, maybe I will be a great mom when I have kids."
Because that's what great school and church secretaries and their ilk actually are - great Mom-like people who deal with multiple competing demands with great grace and compassion. So this is just my public thank you!
Albert, a very tall man who uses an electric wheel chair, was trying to enter the building through only one of the double doors. Since his chair is so big, it naturally got caught on the door frame and was actually beginning to climb up the side of the door with the immediate danger of throwing Albert backwards on the back of his head. Dulce's quick action saved him from severe injury or worse.
But the story doesn't end there. Dulce spent the next ten minutes calmly but intensely telling Albert how upset she was that he had put himself in such a dangerous position. Her message was the same that a mom would give to a three year old who had just tried to play Superman off a porch. Albert's response was that of a repentant three year old, "I'm sorry. I won't do that again." HOWEVER, Dulce carried out this toddler-type discipline in a way that in no way hurt Albert's dignity. That's a gift!
Watching Dulce "in action" reminded me of other people I've been privileged to work with---primarily school and church secretaries. They are the people who are at the front line. Someone comes in the office with a concern that must be dealt with RIGHT AWAY and the secretary just does it.....while simultaneously answering the phone, handing something to another person, pushing the button to let someone in, putting a bandaid on someone's literal or figurative owie, and dealing with someone else who also wants something RIGHT NOW!
The Dulces and Sharons and Dianes and Pams of the world hold together our schools, churches and nursing homes yet rarely get the top salaries or recognition they deserve and that's a shame.
On my way out, I wished Dulce a calm rest of the day and remarked, "Someday you'll be a great Mom." She looked at me quizzically and I complimented her on how gracefully she spoke with Albert. She broke into a big grin and said, "Yes, maybe I will be a great mom when I have kids."
Because that's what great school and church secretaries and their ilk actually are - great Mom-like people who deal with multiple competing demands with great grace and compassion. So this is just my public thank you!
Monday, July 6, 2009
My Two Babies
No, I'm not writing about David and Kevin....though they'd be much more pleasant to write about!
Baby #1 I've been working pretty much non-stop to finish the revision of my handbook for my seminar on differentiating instruction. I just felt that the order of presentation was awkward in some spots and, of course, I have picked up various enhancements over the year that I wanted to add to the presentation. The revision is not due until September 1, but I am presenting "Differentiating" twice at "on-site" seminars in August and I'm hoping that BER will be able to print the new handbook before then. If not, those seminar attendees will just have to roll with seemingly random page numbers for topics.
Anyway, after about 800 proof-readings and minor corrections, baby #1 was burned to a CD (ouch!) and is on its way to Seattle! Yeah!
Baby #2 Not surprisingly our editor on "Projects...and Beyond" was not happy with all our concerns about the errors and less-than-stellar examples in the on-line projects. She did admit that somehow the Spanish projects had not been proofed! She was a bit testy about the high quality of their proof-readers making me feel like I don't know Spanish and am ridiculously picky. I certainly appreciate where she's coming from and how she's probably facing some consequences at her end...but the bottom line is I'm really, really anxious about my professional reputation and I'm really, really not good at dealing with conflict!
And I guess I'm really, really going to have to wait a while for Baby #2 to be healthy and able to face the on-line world!
Baby #1 I've been working pretty much non-stop to finish the revision of my handbook for my seminar on differentiating instruction. I just felt that the order of presentation was awkward in some spots and, of course, I have picked up various enhancements over the year that I wanted to add to the presentation. The revision is not due until September 1, but I am presenting "Differentiating" twice at "on-site" seminars in August and I'm hoping that BER will be able to print the new handbook before then. If not, those seminar attendees will just have to roll with seemingly random page numbers for topics.
Anyway, after about 800 proof-readings and minor corrections, baby #1 was burned to a CD (ouch!) and is on its way to Seattle! Yeah!
Baby #2 Not surprisingly our editor on "Projects...and Beyond" was not happy with all our concerns about the errors and less-than-stellar examples in the on-line projects. She did admit that somehow the Spanish projects had not been proofed! She was a bit testy about the high quality of their proof-readers making me feel like I don't know Spanish and am ridiculously picky. I certainly appreciate where she's coming from and how she's probably facing some consequences at her end...but the bottom line is I'm really, really anxious about my professional reputation and I'm really, really not good at dealing with conflict!
And I guess I'm really, really going to have to wait a while for Baby #2 to be healthy and able to face the on-line world!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
It's Traditional!
Today we will celebrate the 4th of July as we have for over 30 years. We will gather with our Des Plaines teacher friends in the late afternoon and chat over drinks and snacks. About six o'clock everyone will pack up and drive over to the Glenview Park District golf course where we will lay out blankets and set up our picnic. There will be chicken supplied by the hosts and lots of side dishes provided by everyone else. We'll listen to the North Shore Concert Band concert, talk some more, watch the sky for the threat of rain, and then finally at about 9:00 see a spectacular fireworks show. It's not the fourth without this tradition!
Of course traditions develop and change. This year, gasp!, our usual hosts are still in France. So Beryl and Dave stepped up to the plate and will host the afternoon soiree. The group varies a bit from year to year as people's family needs occur. We actually missed a few years when our kids were in high school marching band and seeing the marching band contest that used to occur in Northbrook was a priority.
Routine, yes, but boring, no. We have so many tales to tell and retell. There was the year when our boys were about one and three when the fireworks blew up at the beginning of the show setting off what we thought at the time was a major disaster. Ken scooped up David and I madly pushed Kevin in his stroller as we ran from the golf course explosions. There have been too many thunder storms to count. Again, scoop up belongings and run to the car which is several blocks away. Then there was the time we didn't even go to the golf course because of early rain. We picnicked at the house and, when the rain did stop at fireworks time, we drove to a under construction housing development to watch...and got in trouble with the police. We've moved from an event filled with our children to an adults only event....but sometimes adult children join us. Time marches on but tradition remains!
We're blessed to live in this free country and blessed to share our country's birthday with friends....and tradition!
Happy 4th!
Of course traditions develop and change. This year, gasp!, our usual hosts are still in France. So Beryl and Dave stepped up to the plate and will host the afternoon soiree. The group varies a bit from year to year as people's family needs occur. We actually missed a few years when our kids were in high school marching band and seeing the marching band contest that used to occur in Northbrook was a priority.
Routine, yes, but boring, no. We have so many tales to tell and retell. There was the year when our boys were about one and three when the fireworks blew up at the beginning of the show setting off what we thought at the time was a major disaster. Ken scooped up David and I madly pushed Kevin in his stroller as we ran from the golf course explosions. There have been too many thunder storms to count. Again, scoop up belongings and run to the car which is several blocks away. Then there was the time we didn't even go to the golf course because of early rain. We picnicked at the house and, when the rain did stop at fireworks time, we drove to a under construction housing development to watch...and got in trouble with the police. We've moved from an event filled with our children to an adults only event....but sometimes adult children join us. Time marches on but tradition remains!
We're blessed to live in this free country and blessed to share our country's birthday with friends....and tradition!
Happy 4th!
Friday, July 3, 2009
#*&%@^+$%!!!!!!!!!
Yesterday the CD containing the full set of projects arrived and I feel embarrassed, mortified, and generally awful!
In my last post I was upset by the "magazines to cut pictures OUT OF", the grammatically incorrect title of one of the projects, and the lack of any information about the project for the potential purchaser. Well, to use a totally ungrammatical expression, "I ain't hadn't seen nothin yet!"
When I opened the Spanish projects I became sicker as I saw each one. Problem #1: Rather than use the excellent, imaginative student projects we had submitted as examples, they have a series of boring, unimaginative, incomplete, and generally amateurish and sloppy projects made by someone at the company. It's possible that it's illegal for them to use real student work, but why not tell us that and let us make good projects or hire someone who can do a good job? Not only are the project examples awful, they are on the very first page. But wait, it gets worse!
In spite of a big check mark and notation saying "proofread" on each page, I found multiple egregious errors in the Spanish projects---and these are first year projects! Let me illustrate with just one example that is so awful it's funny. In a vocabulary section I had given the Spanish word for "short". Now, in Spanish it is customary to indicate the masculine (ending in -o) and feminine (ending in -a) forms of an adjective by writing the word with the -o ending, followed by a slash, and the letter a. So "short" was written as corto/a. In this project, the person wrote the word
cortola. She replaced the slash with an "l" and wrote a non-existent word---and , obviously didn't have a clue she was wrong, wrong, wrong!
Two caveats. The text we wrote seems to be untouched and fine. The French projects are more carefully and accurately done. They are not great, but probably are acceptable. I await Jill's evaluation of the French language.
(Jill and Donna - No wisecracks about the French being all around better at everything. Thought, in this case that seems to be true!)
Naturally, our editor must have taken a long weekend because there has been no answer to the long e-mails we've sent. I can't imagine that a reputable company would not want to correct these errors....but I couldn't imagine before that there would be these errors.
Stay tuned til Monday when we will hopefully get some resolution. Until then I feel like my professional reputation has been violated and I've been shamed in front of the whole foreign language profession.
Now I'm going to the basement to do the FOURTH proofread of the revised handbook for one of my BER presentations. That's because I'm obsessively careful about anything that is published with my name on it That's how important my professional reputation is to me!
In my last post I was upset by the "magazines to cut pictures OUT OF", the grammatically incorrect title of one of the projects, and the lack of any information about the project for the potential purchaser. Well, to use a totally ungrammatical expression, "I ain't hadn't seen nothin yet!"
When I opened the Spanish projects I became sicker as I saw each one. Problem #1: Rather than use the excellent, imaginative student projects we had submitted as examples, they have a series of boring, unimaginative, incomplete, and generally amateurish and sloppy projects made by someone at the company. It's possible that it's illegal for them to use real student work, but why not tell us that and let us make good projects or hire someone who can do a good job? Not only are the project examples awful, they are on the very first page. But wait, it gets worse!
In spite of a big check mark and notation saying "proofread" on each page, I found multiple egregious errors in the Spanish projects---and these are first year projects! Let me illustrate with just one example that is so awful it's funny. In a vocabulary section I had given the Spanish word for "short". Now, in Spanish it is customary to indicate the masculine (ending in -o) and feminine (ending in -a) forms of an adjective by writing the word with the -o ending, followed by a slash, and the letter a. So "short" was written as corto/a. In this project, the person wrote the word
cortola. She replaced the slash with an "l" and wrote a non-existent word---and , obviously didn't have a clue she was wrong, wrong, wrong!
Two caveats. The text we wrote seems to be untouched and fine. The French projects are more carefully and accurately done. They are not great, but probably are acceptable. I await Jill's evaluation of the French language.
(Jill and Donna - No wisecracks about the French being all around better at everything. Thought, in this case that seems to be true!)
Naturally, our editor must have taken a long weekend because there has been no answer to the long e-mails we've sent. I can't imagine that a reputable company would not want to correct these errors....but I couldn't imagine before that there would be these errors.
Stay tuned til Monday when we will hopefully get some resolution. Until then I feel like my professional reputation has been violated and I've been shamed in front of the whole foreign language profession.
Now I'm going to the basement to do the FOURTH proofread of the revised handbook for one of my BER presentations. That's because I'm obsessively careful about anything that is published with my name on it That's how important my professional reputation is to me!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Delayed Gratification???
Beginning somewhere in the mid-nineties, the "Jill and Alice" show became a staple at our Illinois Foreign Language teachers' conferences. We gave seminars on all sorts of things that we did in our classes at NBJH and actually developed a small "following". Somewhere around 2000 the conference title was something like "Languages...and Beyond". At that time we both were doing a lot with projects in our classes and had developed all sorts of ideas for follow-up activities to use when the students finished their projects. It made total sense to give a seminar on the projects and, so, "Projects....and Beyond" was born.
Fast forward to 2005. I was thinking about what I'd do when I retired the next year and we both were thinking that maybe there was a market for selling "Projects...and Beyond." We spent a lot of time that summer of 2005 writing up projects for possible publication. In August we sent them off to a company that sells all sorts of supplementary classroom materials. Then began the wait...and the wait....and the wait. In the past four years we have gone through something like ten different editors...some who wanted to move on the project immediately but then were transferred or something else took precedence.....some who had it on a back burner....some who quit or changed positions seemingly within weeks of getting the job. It was frustrating to say the least.
About a year ago, another new editor came on. She actually got us contracts...finally...and was excited about the project. But again, we'd have contact with her and then six months would go by without contact. Would these projects ever get published?
Seemingly out of the blue a couple of months ago, the editor contacts us with the information that "Projects...and Beyond" is ready to be published and that it will be published as individual downloads. That means that rather than producing a book of projects, the individual projects will be sold on-line for a small fee per project. That seemed like a good idea....and we waited some more.
Last week we heard that the projects are ready to go and are excited but feel strange at the same time. In my former writing life in the 70's, I always got "galleys" - actual paper copies of the book which I looked over and corrected if necessary. In this new modern age, we haven't seen anything! They have done all the proofing.
Yesterday, I finally saw the projects on line...but really didn't see them because only a few are actually pictured when you click on "preview". They are still coming.
The weird thing is that all they show on the website is the title page. There is no information about the actual project. In e-mail conversation with the editor she said that they can't show the actual project because people will just copy it and not buy it. I totally understand that. I did ask her, however, if they could add some information in addition to the word "project" so that people would know what they were buying...maybe just "project with rubric and follow-up activity". I haven't heard back from her on that. I don't think I'd buy something that just said "House project".
The other weird feeling is that so much has changed since we submitted the manuscript four years ago. Jill, still in the classroom, has incorporated much technology into these projects. In my BER seminars I also have talked about incorporated technology and have expanded upon the follow-up activities.
So while it is very exciting for our "baby" to finally be born, it is sort of like developing the newest I-Phone but selling the old model. Our names are going out there on work that was the "new model" in 2005 and, at the moment, I feel a little weird about that. The editor is sending us a CD so we can see all the finished products. I hope I feel better after I see them!
Meanwhile, our baby is finally born and maybe you'll soon be able to buy some neat projects for Christmas gifts for family and friends!
Fast forward to 2005. I was thinking about what I'd do when I retired the next year and we both were thinking that maybe there was a market for selling "Projects...and Beyond." We spent a lot of time that summer of 2005 writing up projects for possible publication. In August we sent them off to a company that sells all sorts of supplementary classroom materials. Then began the wait...and the wait....and the wait. In the past four years we have gone through something like ten different editors...some who wanted to move on the project immediately but then were transferred or something else took precedence.....some who had it on a back burner....some who quit or changed positions seemingly within weeks of getting the job. It was frustrating to say the least.
About a year ago, another new editor came on. She actually got us contracts...finally...and was excited about the project. But again, we'd have contact with her and then six months would go by without contact. Would these projects ever get published?
Seemingly out of the blue a couple of months ago, the editor contacts us with the information that "Projects...and Beyond" is ready to be published and that it will be published as individual downloads. That means that rather than producing a book of projects, the individual projects will be sold on-line for a small fee per project. That seemed like a good idea....and we waited some more.
Last week we heard that the projects are ready to go and are excited but feel strange at the same time. In my former writing life in the 70's, I always got "galleys" - actual paper copies of the book which I looked over and corrected if necessary. In this new modern age, we haven't seen anything! They have done all the proofing.
Yesterday, I finally saw the projects on line...but really didn't see them because only a few are actually pictured when you click on "preview". They are still coming.
The weird thing is that all they show on the website is the title page. There is no information about the actual project. In e-mail conversation with the editor she said that they can't show the actual project because people will just copy it and not buy it. I totally understand that. I did ask her, however, if they could add some information in addition to the word "project" so that people would know what they were buying...maybe just "project with rubric and follow-up activity". I haven't heard back from her on that. I don't think I'd buy something that just said "House project".
The other weird feeling is that so much has changed since we submitted the manuscript four years ago. Jill, still in the classroom, has incorporated much technology into these projects. In my BER seminars I also have talked about incorporated technology and have expanded upon the follow-up activities.
So while it is very exciting for our "baby" to finally be born, it is sort of like developing the newest I-Phone but selling the old model. Our names are going out there on work that was the "new model" in 2005 and, at the moment, I feel a little weird about that. The editor is sending us a CD so we can see all the finished products. I hope I feel better after I see them!
Meanwhile, our baby is finally born and maybe you'll soon be able to buy some neat projects for Christmas gifts for family and friends!
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