Into the Wild Wood and Home Again

It's Sunday morning, still pretty dark out, and it's 19 degrees. A light coating of snow covers all the messy bits still, and we are expecting some mixed precipitation later today. In fact, it's already spitting snow, so I think they may have the forecast right.  After church and breakfast, I will buckle down and grade the stack of papers I brought home. I've put it off-- classic procrastination-- and it must get done. We have a three-and-change stretch of time before the next holiday break, and I do not want anything lingering. I want a real break. So do the students, I'm quite sure, but with all of the start-and-stops, we are a little behind. We'll see what we can knock out over the next few weeks. I wouldn't worry about it so much, but the reality is, when we get back, we'll have just about three weeks left, and the semester ends. For all that it has felt like a slog at times, it's going to be like a rocket on rails now.  So how to relax through t...

We got a half inch of snow overnight; just enough to coat over all the stuff that is unpleasant (mud, dead grass, blown garbage). What is still outside to put away will have to be done asap. I can't hint/nag anymore. Mostly, it's just a few things that need to be stowed, like the long-handled fruit picker and the sundial. And the random mess in my neighbors' yards. You'd think people would not stuff their coffee cups into my hedge, but there we are. I'll deal with that in the spring. At any rate, it's looking almost festive. I have to pull up one set of snowflake lights; they are dead. Other than that, it's pretty much done. I will buy my wreath tomorrow. Probably put up the candles today. I was all about moving some furniture this morning, but what I was hoping to achieve can't be done without causing inconveniences, so meh, thing are fine as they are.  Today, I'll head out to Lisbon for the craft show. Maybe there will be something fun and interest...

I am really quite tired, it seems, from the whole crazy busy-ness leading up to this more-than-needed break. Yesterday went pretty well; yes, the four year old got bored and a little grumpy (but some games and projects helped), but other than that, the food was good, and it was relatively peaceful. Five of us made a huge dent in that 18 lb. turkey, but I'm pretty confident I'll have enough to parcel out leftovers for dinner for the next two days. We'll see about whether there's enough to bother with for soup; probably I will manage that, too, on Sunday.  It's a day of reprieve today. I've opted not to go downtown at all. I don't need anything, and as lovely as the parade is likely to be, it's cold, and I'm just not up to standing there on the sidewalk for any long period of time. Age has crept up on me, I guess. Or rational thought. Could be both. And Meg and Tim are taking Holly to see Santa, but they don't need me along for that. I'll see t...

To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything. --Thomas Merton I am grateful for so many people and so many things, but most of all for the opportunity to try again every day.  Have a blessed holiday. Surround yourself with good people, good things, good food, and most of all, good moments.  C

Would you believe I woke up around 4am with a decent line of poetry in my head? Maybe the calcification of my imagination is going to crack.  AND...today, Holly, G, and I are hanging out in our pjs for a bit, then she and I will bake for tomorrow. We are going to spend the day slowly. I am so pleased to be able to do this. I'm grateful for the wisdom of the school board to give us a full day before Thanksgiving off. Probably it had something to do with "why bother"-- high absenteeism, etc., but I'll take it.  Enjoy your day, be safe, stay warm (it's cold and wet here-- supposed to clear up later, though).  Hold your loved ones close.  C

I'm supposed to be writing. As in, every day. Well, I do- this- but I've run dry. Maybe it's because teaching lately has required more braining than usual. And I guess I'm feeling fairly prose-y, rather less poetic than usual.  At any rate, I write. It's awful stuff. It's dreck. But it's words.  I will allow the process to work itself out.  What choice do I have? Maybe tomorrow words will come, when I'm not so concerned about essay revision and comma splices, and sentence fragments and irritable parents and lackadaisical kids and AP Language, and and and... Teaching can be pretty antithetical to being creative in the scant few off hours. Have a good day, and yeah... talk about mundane... today, I get my exhaust fixed on the car.  Hug your loved ones. The winter is cold and dark. So is the news. C

A quick note from chilly, damp, slippery New Hampshire.  Two more days. Well, today and tomorrow. Then, we have the Thanksgiving break at school.  I can only hope that there isn't huge absenteeism; there's work to be done, regardless of the impending holidays. I wish the kids understood that my heart and mind are on my own to-do list, but I'm there... and they should be, too.  O, good news! Holly got in at the last minute to start pre-K basketball. That will be a fun interlude over the winter months. Meg didn't play basketball, but Holly wants to give it a try. So, Saturday mornings for an hour, one of us (maybe me) will be at the gym with her. If it's me, I'll try to bring some papers to grade-- but likely, I'll just be distracted by the hilarity of it all.  We'll see how it goes. Gotta find something to be excited about during the cold, dark days. Speaking of which, the news. Ugh. Now we can't trust the CDC website, either. Sigh. And please, suppor...