The LONGEST night

So tonight is suppose to be the longest night of the year.

I'm always glad to see this night come and GO! Especially GO!  lol!  I love LONG day light hours.  (but not necessarily the heat or humidity).

So to ease my "distress", I tend to order seeds that I can plant in a month or so in pots to transplant later. Well this year, I've got a set up in my classroom.  I've already got coffee and agave seeds going in there. And several "carnivorous" plants for future lesson plans.  These ones take WEEKS to germinate.

During this break, I will be setting up several lesson plans on genetics and DNA.  I hope to get MORE of the kiddo's interested.  More 'hands on' stuff and more research for them.  Got Chromebooks for them.  However, several students are destructive and that may control the usage of them.  sigh.  so senseless.

Anyways, the days will be getting longer and I love that!  

Not sure what's up with blogger

I have been trying to post on several of the blogs I follow and NONE of my comments are "sticking"!  they are drifting off (or shooting into) cyber space ....never to be seen again (for now).


Sometimes I hate blogger.

update: Still cannot leave comments on anyone's blogs.  which sucks! ugh!

Smore's WITHOUT CHOCOLATE?

Are they INSANE!???

Oh yes -in case you haven't heard, the government now wants us to drop the chocolate from our smores.

AND most of the marshmallow.

Come on now... how often to you eat these creations?  like maybe two or three times a YEAR?  I eat more chocolate and marshmallow in my hot cocoa!

Ok, truthfully, I've NEVER had a smore.... the roasted marshmallow never made it long enough after being toasted.  And I'd rather dip my graham crackers in milk.

But STILL I KNOW PEOPLE who DO love their smores and I just think this is another way the gov is trying to completely conform this country to a nanny state.

And people are following along like meek little sheep.

Speaking of which, one CAN be meek like a sheep and still NOT follow the stupidity of the government.

Just sayin'

A GOOD Day!

Today was a good day.  The weather was very nice and my students were fairly well behaved except for one class period.

And of course, I'm happy cause I had pizza for supper!  Pizza always makes me smile.  Especially WELL MADE pizza.... yes I'm a pizza snob.  hahahaha!

Some day I want one of those awesome brick ovens things in my home and then I will be able to make my own ...the stove just is not the same.  ;)

I hope I seem my Bugs (grandkids) this weekend.  They always exhaust me but in a great way.

I do wonder about the messes that our "fearless leader" seems to ignore.  ISIS seems to be the fearless ones.  And the picture of their flag in front of the white house SHOULD have shook SOME certain persons up.... but seems that golf can make anyone forget what their jobs is.

hmmm..... too bad I hate golf.  LOL!

But I like putt putt golf...... :)

ok I guess all I can do is HANG ON and do what I can do as I can do it.

I hope your day has been a blessing to you.  Remember tomorrow is a clean slate!

I have to agree

“Man has dominated man to his injury.” (Ecclesiastes 8:9)

Number 301

This seems to be my 301st post.  LOL!  I'm not sure if that is a good or bad number.... I've had this blog for years and IF I was posting everyday...that is a bad number.  But then again, it could be lower.  So shame on me or Yippee!  whichever applies.

Still surviving my "new career" at teaching high school.  And still loving it!  It's a whole nuther job just connecting with these kiddo's!  But I am determined to not give up.  I did come into this career knowing that I'd be facing apathy and maybe not being fully supported by the admins but so far things are going about how I envisioned.

Truly teaching is NOT for all.

Some of my students are truly delightful and make me laugh.  

Will be updating as it goes, I'm sure I won't be posting any truly bad stuff...this IS the internet after all.  LOL!  And I want to keep as positive as possible anyways.  :)

I survived

Well I survived the first week of teaching and it was close!  lol!  I tend to be stubborn so I'll wear those kiddo's down.

I hope.


hahahaha!   I hope everyone else had a great week!  Round 2 begins tomorrow!  poor things, I have so much work for them.

a new world

Gonna be a whole new world tomorrow... with me right in the middle of it all.

Start teaching "for real" 10th graders tomorrow....


... If I don't die, I'll be back! ;)

what is it with asking for donations?

Ok, I've had this blog for a LONG time.... and so far it hasn't ever cost me one penny.


So why are so many blogs asking for donations?  I'm not talking about those blogs which are FOR some specific need... like those that inform us about a kiddo that needs special medical attention.  I read a couple of blogs that have that.  One is where a gentleman and his wife have taken in a couple abused women.  That is great and I have NO problem with that at all.  Blogs ARE a great way to help that way.

I'm talking about blogs like mine, where someone is just posting their own opinion on things and their own observations on things.  One blog I read is a political blog and the guy just jabbers about politics.  THAT is the kind I'm wondering about.

Why do they need the money?  Are they hiring people to find information for them??? well if so, that is their decision.

You won't ever see a donation button on any of my blogs.  This is just me but I really don't understand it.

Emotional Overload

I really think this country is on overload... emotional overload.

I know I am.

Just think about all the scandals that we've been dealt these past five years.  Or even go back to 9/11.  I think it really started there??? maybe.  Maybe it began with JFK being killed.

Or heck 1914 WWI.  Yeah we could say there.... (maybe even as far back as the Eden?)

But for the past half dozen years, I've noticed that it has just been one thing after another that WE THE PEOPLE are expected to swallow.

Just think, we have 100's of MORE taxes NOW than when we dumped the tea in the harbor.

Try to count how many times YOUR income is taxed.  Just try.  I gave up at 34 times.

It doesn't stop at your paycheck with holding.

And the scandals from the IRS to Fast and Furious to the pitiful actions of the current president.  (hey that was a key word, I'm sure the NSA will now be alerted)  We have KIDS coming over the border illegally because they were sent by those who think they will have a better life.  What kind of parents put their kids in the hands of CRIMINALS AND RAPISTS AND DRUG CARTELS??????? Seriously what is WRONG with these parents????  There has been no increase of bad stuff down there.

Are you numb yet?  Because that is what they want.  They want you numb so when they come and take your home and stuff to give to those who have nothing, they don't want a fight from you.

You'll be of the mind "if you can't fight them, join them".

It's disgusting what is happening all over.  It is upsetting and frightening and unwanted.

What can a person do?

Join the military?  that won't work.  they fight for the wrong thing now.

I'm sure I'll be killed because I am NOT numb.  Each and every single scandal breaks my heart and strengthens me to be a better person, rebel when and where I can and keep a low profile.

I'm not numb because I see HOPE and I see a brighter future.  To me, all these things that are occurring mean that the end of all this wickedness is near and I can't wait.

Ps 35:10  All my bones will say: “O Jehovah, who is like you? You rescue the helpless from those who are stronger, The helpless and the poor from those who rob them."

Ps 37:10 Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more;
You will look at where they were,
And they will not be there.
11 But the meek will possess the earth,
And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.

Two things, then I'll leave ya alone

First, I found THIS blog very interesting yesterday.  He talks about how we humans are tribal and not really hard wired for society today.  You may want to subscribe to his blog...it is usually interesting.

Second, for all you MadMax fends, I mean followers.... here is the trailer for the new movie:

Mad Max: Fury Road

oh what can I yak about today?

There is so much going on in the world today.  So many scandals that I wonder exactly what is it that the government is trying to numb us to?  Seriously we are all going through desensitization with the dozens and dozens of scandals.  Just one HALF of one of them should have gotten the pres impeached or forced to step down.  Heck look at how we 'hate' Nixon for ONE lie.  

Then again, maybe we simply do not want Biden for president???  LOL!  

There is no doubt in MY mind that things are going downhill fast.  

And as for all those kiddos coming into the country illegally; hey all you liberals who are demanding we "care" for them... go down and get ya one or two to take care of.  

Yes they SHOULD be cared for, but their PARENTS are the ones who are responsible for them.  

Heck if every liberal goes down and gets just one, why there will be many liberals left over to get one when the next wave of kids get over the boarder.  

Oh btw, the child trafficking law is NOT the law we are saying Obama and his admin is breaking, it is ALL THE OTHER LAWS that deal with the border, like the one that says it is suppose to be SECURE.....

It's sad that liberals just want to throw money (OTHER peoples money, not their own) at problems instead of actually FIXING problems. 

You conservatives are not much (if any) better.  

The whole lot of ya should be tried for treason to the people of the USA.  But that is just my opinion which is not worth anything to anyone but me.

But then I'm not surprised at how it is all going down and how it is all crashing.  Soon it will all change and most people will be dumbstruck wondering what just happened.  

Then it will really get nasty.  That will be the time to disappear from all humanity.  Not there is anywhere on this earth one can hide from what is coming.  Everyone is going to be affected, so don't lie to yourself.  

However.... all this does not mean there are not GOOD people out there.  Heck look at the MILLIONS that has been raised TO help those kiddos!   Yes MILLIONS!  There is no doubt in my mind that Americans are also the MOST generous people on earth.  

I've seen single parents donate their last dollar to someone who had no dollar.  I've seen SO much generosity and this tells me that there will be survivors of what is coming and I have no doubt it will be these one's with so much love AND COMPASSION in their hearts.  

Thanks for listening to me vent and rant!  I do hope you have a great day/weekend/life!  :).  

what kids are missing today

I was reading the Hermits blog today about how kids to day may not ever use pencils and it got me to start thinking about what other things kids today miss out on.

Speaking of pencils, I've found that many schools no longer teach cursive writing.  What? How are these kids gonna sign their name to anything?  Yes I know one can electronically sign but that is so easy to forge! And why should kids today NOT suffer through all those letters and the teacher making us be perfectionists?

Riding in a car with no seat belt and standing next to the driver?  yep, I did that as a kid.  And I use to stand up in the BACK of a pick up truck holding on the cab going down the road at 60 mph.  I felt like I was flying!!

Dodge ball.  How I hated that game but it made me quick on my feet and I got a LOT of exercise!  lol!

Tag.  I never see kids play this anymore either.  In fact, I rarely seen kids OUTSIDE anymore playing in any way, shape, or form.  I know there are kids in the neighborhood because I see a whole slew of them at the bus stop every morning.

Kids miss out on discovering nature.  They may learn about it in school, but the backyard/neighborhood nature walks of discovery are way down.

I do have a couple young "men" (teenagers still in school) come and help me with the yard work and they found a cool looking critter transplanting some blackberry bushes.  It was a species of salamander.  They never saw anything like it.

The thing is, use to be many young people of that age, boys and girls, "competing" to do yard work for some extra money.  These are the only ones in the whole neighborhood that do this.

And speaking of the yard, few kids grow anything today.  I think back to my younger years and we always had a garden and us kids spent time in that garden weeding and 'checking it'.  I always had a small space of my own to plant a few things in. Usually green peppers and snapdragons.  Not all my friends did this but they all knew about gardening.  Fresh corn from the garden in summer, yum!  Some of my favorite spring and summer memories revolve around one garden or another.  Both my grandmothers had a garden, one was much bigger than the other but she lived out in the country.  My "city" grandmother grew a few things in her small backyard.  When visiting my step-grandmother in the summers, I'd follow "Uncle Bud" in the garden and we'd "graze".  LOL!  I was a little squirt and could not see over the plants....so following the rows made me feel like I was in another secret place.

Eating green beans and cherry tomatoes  out of the garden while IN the garden is another thing many kids are missing out on.

Camping out in the backyard.  We did this almost ALL summer long.  I did it so much that my Grandma (the city one) would buy me a new two man tent every couple years cause I would wear them out!

Building forts outside.  Do kids even build them INSIDE with blankets?  A winter time activity for me along with snow forts outside.

Having their PARENTS teach them to read and write BEFORE school began for them.  I could read and write at 4.  I taught myself to read from Dr. Seuss' "Put me in the Zoo" book.  I still remember it "clicking" when I would recognize words and know what they meant.  I've been an avid reader since then.  Now I've got grandkids who barely know what a book is let alone how to take care of it.   I read to my kids and taught them to read and write.  I try to help my grands, buy them what they need to write and books to read and work with them when they are here.  Send home books.  We shall see how that turns out.

Only four channels of TV.  And being only able to watch a 1/2 hour a day.  Which I liked to save up for Saturday morning CARTOONS!!!  I checked recently, they don't have any...ok no good ones.  ;) I loved to sneak up at 6am or earlier in the summer and watch Scooby Doo and those little "School House Rocks".  I still can sing some of those songs.

"Go outside and PLAY" was a frequent command from my parents.  And I already spent much of my time outside.  In all seasons.  Thinking back, my parents were very 'hands off' and 'let her discover on her own' type of parents.  I was not coddled or cuddled.  Which I think are good things.  But I also was not 'babied'.  What I think is a bad thing.  Yes there is a difference.

Which brings me to a MAJOR thing that kids are missing out on: taking responsibility for their actions.

If I fell and got hurt, I got cleaned up, doctored (usually with that PAINFUL iodine), and then told to be MORE CAREFUL or DON'T DO THAT AGAIN.  If I got a bad grade, I got in TROUBLE.  Usually grounded or extra chores ...yes we had chores back then.  And that grade better go up.  Once I got a C+ in a very hard class and in no uncertain terms, my dad insisted it would be at least a B+ next grading term.  It was an A.

Kids do not have to take responsibility for their actions today.  It has gotten so bad that recently there was a case covered in the news about a kid who KILLED someone and used the defense of basically "I never had to take responsibility for my actions, so I should not have to now".  And he WON.  Just think about that for a moment.

Now of course we should love our kids but part of loving them means teaching them to be responsible so when they grow up, they are thoughtful, loving, and responsible adults.  We want them to pursue their dreams but not harm anyone on the way.  We want them to be able to fix their mistakes with as little damage as possible.  We want them to be happy as they travel through life but if they don't know how to take responsibility, life will hit them on the kester very rudely.  Even that kid who literally got away with murder will someday have to face up to his actions.

Responsibility is tightly tied in with MORALITY.  And this country has a huge problem with having a lack of morals.