Happenings

I so miss the days when I could lay around leisurely and read…all day if I wanted to! That hasn’t happened in such a LONG time! I always begin the summer with the intention of reading several great books-but this summer I’m having a hard time making it through even one. Not for the reasons you might think though. This summer I’m reading Marley and Me. For those of you who don’t know me that well, I have a soft spot in my heart for dogs, especially big dopey dogs who get into trouble. I’ve owned them and loved them for most of my life. Marley and Me is the story of just such a dog. A dog who creates havoc simply by entering a room, but who never the less is loved and adored by humans who appear to be completely oblivious to his character flaws! It’s a fantastic book! I have laughed, cried, sympathized (with both the humans and the dog!), made personal connections, and on and on. So why, you ask, if it’s such a great book, can’t I finish it? Well, it’s not for the reasons you may think. It’s not about the time, it’s not about a lack of interest. Truth be told, I’m afraid to finish it. If I finish the story, I will be reminded that even the funniest, orneriest, most obnoxious yet lovable animals don’t hang around forever. You see, I only have two chapters left…and in those two chapters I know there will be a sad ending to the story…an ending that I have lived through too many times to count, an ending that brings tears to my eyes just by thinking about it. An ending that I don’t want to see come. Can’t I stop here and remember Marley as a vivacious dog? Do I have to finish the book? Can I bring myself to do it? I’m not sure…it hits awfully close to home.

One thing I have tried to avoid in myself and my kids is to NOT become a slave to technology and all of it’s “gadgets”. That’s the reason why 9 times out of 10 you won’t be able to reach me on my cell phone because I can’t seem to remember to turn the darn thing on or to even charge it for that matter! That’s one of the reason why I’ve avoided the numerous hand-held gaming devices for as long as I could. That is until recently…I gave in last Christmas & got the kids (and my husband) a PS2…we don’t have too many games for it though, and the one the kids use the most I actually like as well (DDR) because it’s good exercise (and fun!!!!). Well, a few weeks ago my kids (and husband again) convinced me that the kids needed Nintendo DS Lites for our upcoming trip (and the future road trips we always take). I held out as long as I could until I was ultimately defeated by the three “gamers”. I really struggled with myself on this one. After all, as a teacher I know that when the kids have more electronic gadgets to play with they are less likely to sit down and read. But in reality, my kids don’t do a lot of that anyway-much to my dismay! So in a last ditch effort to encourage more summer reading I decided I’d hold the DS’s HOSTAGE! I told the kids as we walked out of the store that “A chapter a day gets them the DS to play!”…bribery I know…but it’s working! My daughter is about halfway through her Harry Potter book now & my son is getting up in the morning and reading before he ever even asks to watch TV. WOW! They even agreed that they couldn’t have new games until they had finished their chapter books. So, I guess the realization that I have come to is that in today’s electronically centered society…I can’t keep my kids from wanting the latest trendy object…but I guess that’s not so bad if I can find a way to make it work in a positive way for me…err….them I mean!

On Thursday I will be taking my 10 girl scouts on their first trip…it’s a mother-daughter trip but it will be the first time we leave town for more than a day trip together. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I’m a bit obsessive when it comes to organizing (not that you can tell from the appearance of my classroom right now), so this trip has provided me an opportunity to really test those organizational skills. I can’t believe how much information there is to organize and share with the group-how many details there are to be taken care of, and how worried I am that something will go wrong. The weather hasn’t been cooperating much lately either…not only here in El Paso (what was up with that downpour today????) but it’s been raining in San Antonio & Houston as well. The forecast for Friday in San Antonio is 30% chance of rain…that’s the day we are going to Sea World so I really really hope the forecast is wrong. Funny, it seems like the weatherman is always wrong…except when something important is riding on the there being good weather and then the forecast usually turns out to be accurate!

Anyhow, Seaworld itself isn’t a new experience for most of my girls, but we will be taking them to the Alamo as well, and then on to a scout camp in at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. That should be fun as it is someplace that none of us has ever been!

I just hope that the weather cooperates!

Another something new for me today. It seems like this summer is all about learning new things in technology. But I am having fun with it.