thoughts

In just two days from now,

tomorrow will be yesterday.


A bartender is just a pharmacist

with a limited inventory.


The statement below is true.

The statement above is false.

BOO-BEES!

Happy Halloween
Boo-bees

so what did you think you were going to see......
it's HALLOWEEN time :-)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

HAD TO SHARE

“Why dogs don't have to live so long”

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little six-year-old boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.


The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember,

if a dog was the teacher

you would learn things like:

-When loved ones come home,

always run to greet them.

-Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

-Allow the experience of fresh air

and the wind in your face

to be pure ecstasy.

-Take naps.

-Stretch before rising.

-Run, romp, and play daily.

-Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

-Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

-On warm days,

stop to lie on your back on the grass.

-On hot days,

drink lots of water

and lie down under a shady tree.

-When you're happy,

dance around

and wag your entire body.

-Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

-Be loyal.

-Never pretend to be something you're not.

-If what you want lies buried,

dig until you find it.

-When someone is having a bad day,

be silent,

sit close by

and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Handle every stressful situation like a dog.

If you can't eat it or play with it,

tinkle on it and walk away.

FALL

Even though summer was short, I still looked forward to the fall season.

I love the changing colors,

the crisp, cool air,

the sounds of band practice,

choir working on holiday songs,

auditions and rehearsals for theatre,

and school in full swing!

This year fall has been even more beautiful

-- no packing --

wondering

when we'd move in the new building;

finishing many "chores"

waiting to be finished;

spending weekends

sleeping in;

watching

the grandGodchildren

play soccer!

Most importantly,

waiting

for the newest Mumaugh

-- Amy and Bryan

are due with #5

in December --

has made fall even more brilliant!

One of my FAVORITE holidays is

Halloween!

Everyone can be silly,

play like a child,

and enjoy giving out treats!

ENJOY!

BRICKS

"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation
with the bricks others have thrown at him."

Robert Mills, former student and current director of the Oklahoma City Ballet, posted this on his Facebook profile. When I first read it, I thought, "How profound."

No one has it easy. Every single person has "road blocks" or "brick walls" to conquer. Randy Pausch, in "The Last Lecture," says that the brick walls are there not to keep us out, but to let us know how badly we want something.

Everyone has had moments where it seems the world is throwing the bricks at us! Having taught "forever," I can safely say that No one is exempt from some type of label, sterotype, harrassment, bullying - whatever name you wish to give it, the bricks are thrown. [Most of the time, thrown quite hard!] Just as Randy Pausch reminds us the brick walls remind us how badly we want something, Rob reminds us that catching those "loose bricks" and building a strong foundation can only mean success!

A LITTLE BIT OF HOME

Most of you know that I'm not born and bred Hobartite; however, I've lived here longer than ANYWHERE and have been bleeding purple and gold for a long, long time!

I have delighted in watching growth in what I consider MY hometown. Yesterday, I witnessed the "birth" of the type of place every hometown should have. BRICKWORKS BREWERY,

the dream of a former student, Tom Coster, opened to previews! Cannot describe what joy this city has had with this opening! Just in case you aren't familiar with some "beer" quotes:

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, 'It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.'"

-- Jack Handey

AND ON (9-5-09 ) TOM SPOKE AND HE SAID 'LET THERE BE BEER' AND THE TOWNS FOLK WHERE PLEASED!
--Dan Barrasas

"This is grain, which any fool can eat, but for which the Lord intended a more divine means of consumption. Let us give praise to our Maker and glory to His bounty by learning about... BEER."
– Friar Tuck, "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, 1991

“Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.”
--Proverbs, Chapter 31 verses 6 & 7

“Do not cease to drink beer, to eat, to intoxicate thyself, to make love, and to celebrate the good days.”
--Ancient Egyptian advice

"Beer he drank - seven goblets. His spirit was loosened. He became hilarious. His heart was glad and his face shown."
--The Epic of Gilgamesh, 3000 B.C.

“It's deeper than that. Think about the farmers that grow the barley & hops. The seed & fertilizer companies that thrive with the farmer. The manufacturing that builds the equipment the farmer uses. The steel companies that supply the steel. The miners that mine the ore for steel & glass. And lets not forget about the packaging manufacturers, the label printers, and the distribution channel of drivers, warehouses, and the final retail outlets. It really is a beer driven economy when you think about it.”
--Brian Kellogg

"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
-- Benjamin Franklin

"He was a wise man who invented beer."
-- Plato

"A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it's better to be thoroughly sure."
-- Czech Proverb

"You can do very little with faith, but you can do nothing without it."
-- Samuel Butler

“BRICK WALLS ARE THERE FOR A REASON; THEY LET US KNOW HOW BADLY WE WANT SOMETHING.”
– Randy Pausch in The Last Lecture

2009-2010

I start another new school year on Wednesday.

Now, I have been doing this for A LOT of years, so what makes THIS year special?

Maybe it's because EVERY year brings

new faces,

new personalities,

new challenges?

Maybe it's because I'm more prepared?

Maybe it's because we START in the new building?

OR,

maybe it's because I've FINALLY figured out

that they will learn

"in spite of us" -

YES, "in spite" of

everything we may offer,

every single student

will learn

what THEY need.

I have seen students completely WOW me with their insight.

I have seen students be prolific writers.

I have seen students express compassion and joy.

I have seen students become advocates

of important, compassionate issues.

I have seen students who will be the

leaders,

politicians,

doctors,

dentists,

nurses,

teachers,

PARENTS of the future.

I have seen students become

ADULTS

who I would be proud to call friends.

I am excited as to what is next.

As teachers,

we often don't recognize the

greatness

that is right in front of us.

Luckily, the students do.

We are fine for the future!