Busy Week, Nice Surprise

It's been a busy week, as is always the case in the days leading up to the beginning of a school year. We had district (conference) meetings Wednesday and Thursday that were filled with quite a bit of anxiety, as our superintendent decided that we all needed to have refresher courses in math and grammar. Now, being an English teacher, the grammar wasn't such a big deal to me, although we had to diagram sentences (which I have never had to do, believe it or not). But the math...oh, boy, did that cause me a LOT of stress! It was "only" 8th grade math, but...when you've not had math since 10th grade, and that was more than a few decades ago, well, let's just say that I was on edge for hours leading up to the "test" given at the end of the two sessions.

Happily, I can report that I did not fail the test. But there were a couple of questions I was blanker than blank on. The fun thing is that our teacher, a college professor, was a former student of mine (I won't say how long ago...). I am pleased to say he is an excellent teacher, and I enjoyed learning from him. Except it was math... And wouldn't you know, we spent hours on diagramming sentences, but ran out of time for that test...one I wouldn't have had to hang my head about...

We also had a session about blood-borne pathogens with a test at the end, which I aced =) So, school has started for me. I'm just glad I don't have to take any more tests!


Today, we had our first full staff meeting. We watched an excellent video, Good Morning, Miss Tolliver, about a middle grades math teacher from East Harlem. Quite inspiring. But...math again!!! No, really. If you're a teacher of any age and on any level, it's worth finding and watching. It got our staff all fired up for the new school year.

I'm encouraged by the interest in our school this year. Enrollment is up, our spirits are high, our courage is strong. I am optimistic about the days and weeks and months ahead. That's a good place to be.

I've been putting in looooong hours, though, so it was a nice surprise to come home, turn on my computer, and discover that my long-time friend Patty had awarded me with the "Nice Matters" Award. It truly is nice to know so many interesting and creative people out there in blog land. Patty and I go back long before blogging was invented, but I do enjoy connecting with her on a daily basis...something that our geographic distance would not allow without the magic of the internet.

In tracking back to other blogs giving and receiving this award, I read that you are supposed to recognize 7 blogs that you consider to be "nice," but I would have to say that all my blogging friends have nice and interesting blogs, so check them out! You will be inspired by beautiful pictures and meaningful words at each stop.

Red Clover, a Goldfinch, and a nomination

To make a prairie, it takes a clover and one bee.
One clover, and a bee.
And reverie.
The reverie alone will do
If bees are few.
~ Emily Dickinson

This little ED poem came to mind last week when I saw a fairly big patch of red clover growing along the path by the ocean. Years ago I learned it when I was doing a portion of William Luce's The Belle of Amherst for my students. In this Tony Award-winning one-woman play, Luce has Emily recount how she used to stay up nights writing poetry, much to her father's displeasure. One night he caught her up late and asked her what she was doing. When she told him the truth, he wanted to hear what she was writing. She reads him this poem, half fearfully, half shyly proud. If you like Emily Dickinson, you might enjoy reading or watching this play. Julie Harris did it live for many years, and I actually had the privilege of seeing her in Boston. You can get it on video now. I think it's quite charming and funny. Makes her seem like a real person, not the quack some people make her out to be.

Wednesday morning, I had to go to the bank to do some school business. As I pulled into a parking spot, I noticed a male and female goldfinch in the flowers at the head of the space. I thought for sure they'd fly away, but they were so busy eating that they paid me no mind and stayed long enough for me to pull right up, get my camera out and take a couple of shots of them!

Earlier today (very early), my good friend Patty at Morning Ramble nominated my blog for a Positive Global Change Award. That was a humbling thing to read. It sounds so...huge...to me, and I live in a very small world and often don't think I do enough. Truth is, I want to make a difference, and I do try to live my life that way. Working with young people the way I do, especially with teenagers, is daunting. And you don't always feel like you're getting through. I have to remind myself that change and growth sometimes takes years to reveal, so prayer and patience are key. I do a lot of praying in my day! A lot. Which is where the positive global change comes in. Only it's not my work, but God's. I am thankful for the blessing of a partnership with Him!

So, as with other awards, you are supposed to pass the recognition on. I looked at the origin of this one, and they originally meant to point out blogs that focus on the physical environment, but the blogs I'd like to recognize have everything to do with the emotional and spiritual environment. Actually, all the blogs that I go back to on a regular basis affect the blogosphere in an interesting and positive way. Some brighten my day by sharing beautiful pictures of flowers and birds and other scenic views. Others stimulate my thinking by forcing me to go deep inside spiritually. Some delight me in a kindred-spirit kind of way, making me smile or laugh out loud when I recognize some of my own interests or frustrations. Any way you look at it, these people (because of course the blogs don't appear out of thin air) have had a positive affect on my personal atmosphere =) Here are a few of them:

1) La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality takes every opportunity to bring peace and beauty to her blog. Whenever I read it, I feel soothed and inspired.
2) Mulberry Patch is a young professional in a hectic job that directly affects thousands of people. She struggles to find her way through the stress, and invariably finds strength in God.
3) Sandy at Garden Path is a fantastic photographer. I've learned so much about nature from her--from flowers to birds to dragon flies.
4) Inland Empire Girl is a teacher like I am. I enjoy her insights into our shared profession, but I also enjoy her love for the beautiful. The bouquets she posts of flowers from her garden brighten my living room even as they do hers.

Here's what the "rules" are for this meme:

1. When you get tagged, write a post with links to up to 5 blogs that you think are trying to change the world in a positive way.
2. In your post, make sure you link back to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Leave a comment or message for the bloggers you’re tagging, so they know they’re now part of the meme.
4. Optional: Proudly display the “Bloggers For Positive Global Change” award badge with a link to the post that you write up.

Blogland Musings

I spent much of yesterday reading blogs. It was a fascinating experience, going from blog to blog and randomly picking out blogs to read from their blogrolls. Before I knew it, much of my day had gotten away from me, but I wouldn't call it a wasted day. I learned a lot, was inspired a lot, found a lot of places I want to go back to visit regularly.

Every night after I've eaten supper, I settle in for my evening ritual of catching up with old friends in blogland. Until recently, all but two have actually been old friends--people I really do know. But yesterday I found people I wanted to get to know better, who will, with time, become old friends as well.

My friend Morning Ramble nominated me for a Thinking Blogger Award last week. I was really touched at what she said. We go back to high school days but, until blogging came along, only stayed in touch at Christmas time. Now, we visit with each other several times a week. I feel as if I know her better than when I saw her every day all those years ago. Same with my classmate Sunny, also nominated. Part of the rules of the Thinking Blogger Award are that you have to nominate other Thinkers. These two would be on my list if they weren't already awarded. So I will have to do more research before I put my list of five out there.

One thing for sure, though, my readership spiked after Thursday =) This was a kind of private blog until then. But now, I see readers from all over the world have found their way to May's Day primarily via Morning Ramble. It's humbling to think that there are people out there who are reading my thoughts. Even more so to know that some have come back, several times now. I wish there was a way to know who they are so I can visit them via blogland if not face to face.

Pictures: African Violets in my bathroom window. Cactus that a student gave me about 8 years ago. It's a little beat up because my cats keep finding ways to dump it from wherever I put it (as recently as last night!). It blooms 2-3 times a year.