TSS: Broken Record.....

I feel like I am sounding like a broken record - and even I am tired of hearing it.  Being the ever impatient person that I am, I just want to develop this new back-to-school routine and get on with life.  But alas, adjusting to anything new takes time and no amount of kvetching is going to change that.

I did manage to survive this first week of school.  I was, however, totally exhausted by Friday evening to where the only thing I managed to do was sit on the couch, put my feet up, and mindlessly watch television until 9:30 when I finally decided to go to bed.  I did not wake up until the dogs barked out at 7:00AM Saturday morning.  My legs have almost grown accustomed to standing 6-7 hours a day, and my voice no longer sounds like a frog at 3:00pm.  We are making progress.

This is my 7th year teaching at this particular school and I have finally learned how to start the year gradually -- allowing myself and the students time to acclimate to a rather rigorous work schedule.  Very little homework was assigned this week, and I had no papers to grade.  Next week a few worksheets will need to be reviewed, but I have two terrific Teacher Assistants who can be my first set of eyes.  It will not be until the week after Labor Day that tests and essays will need my undivided attention.  I am hopeful that between now and then I can find the time to do them justice, while allowing myself personal time to rejuvenate.

I have not had time to read much these past couple of weeks, but I have found a terrific YA novel that is quite similar to my personal writing project.  I plan to start reading this a little each night and hopefully make copious notes to which I can refer.  The name of the book is Marie, Dancing by Carolyn Meyer.  While our two stories are quite different, they do take place in the same time period and involve several of the same characters:  Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Marie van Goethem.  It should be a wonderful way to rest and relax at the end of each school day.

I have not worked on my novel since July, but I have done quite a bit of research and have tried to maintain a daily journal, which I find enormously satisfying and often quite practical in working through the issues of life.  In the college level English Comp class this year, as well as the Creative Writing class, I have had the opportunity to teach students the value of becoming keen observers in order to be effective writers.  I have encouraged all these students to keep a journal to record these daily observations.  For now my journal entries focus on morning meditations, but I soon hope to begin to take time for walks and begin to observe the world outside the four walls of my home.  

The Creative Writing class is rather small, only four students, and I am hoping that we can take advantage of this and perhaps go on a few field trips to local coffee houses or shopping malls and use our powers of observation to jot down memorable conversations (to help with dialog skills) or interesting people (to inspire believable characters).  This is one class in which I know I will learn far more from my students than they will learn from me.  I am very much looking forward to this year with them.

I apologize for the repetition of subject matter on this blog lately.  I hope to soon rectify that; at the very least I want to carve out enough free time to participate in Carl's RIP challenge.  I already have several books put aside for that event!  AND....bestill my heart....I want to set aside the weekend of October 9th for the annual Fall Dewey Read-athon!!

Until then I hope to start visiting your blogs on a more frequent basis, and hopefully find the time to write a few blog posts of my own.

I miss my blogging friends....

I am alive, truly I am.

The first two days of school have been terrific!  The students have been attentive and we have had lots of laughs.  Of course it does help that I do not assign homework on the first day.

The past two days I have had my alarm set for 5:15AM.  I somehow manage to get out of bed, drink a cup of coffee, and have some quiet time before I get ready and leave the house by 7:15.  I spend from 7:30AM to 4:00PM at the school (on my feet the majority of the day), and when I finally arrive at home it is all I can do to make it to the couch before I fall into a comatose state.

I have dealt with this experience for a number of years, however, and I know that it will quickly pass.  My feet will become adjusted to the added hours of standing vs sitting, and my voice grows stronger with each passing day.  The new schedule becomes routine and I eventually find time to do the activities that I enjoy most -- like reading and blogging.

However I also know that these first two weeks of school are a huge adjustment and must be a top priority.  That means that I will still need to sacrifice reading and writing blogs for at least a few more days.  I look forward to catching up with all your news and events some day soon!

TSS: A New School Year

I have been rather silent on the blog this week.  It's not that I planned this little hiatus, but there just wasn't enough time in the week to accomplish all on my to do list.  I anticipate this same predicament over the next two weeks as I settle into a routine of teaching, grading, writing lesson plans, and updating websites for 9 different classes.  It is very easy for me to develop tunnel vision - and to think that 'I will never have to time to do anything fun again' --- but I am trying to maintain perspective.  I know that once I settle into a schedule, that I will find pockets of time to do the things that I want to do, like reading, scrapbooking, and blogging.

This week was spent giving review sessions and administering tests for the grammar pre-requisite mandated for all new students.  On Tuesday I had 18 students take the test, of which about one-third passed.  On Wednesday we had teacher meetings that lasted from 8:30 to 3:30.  While I love the in-service topics and the opportunity to become reacquainted with colleagues, it does make for a mentally exhausting day.  On Thursday I spent from 9:00 - 3:00 setting up my classroom (YES -- I actually have a classroom with a window this year, rather than the chapel which was nicknamed "the cave" by students due to do its dark, cavernous environment).  I returned to school Thursday night for the Open House which lasted until about 9:30.  Many families came - which is always a positive sign - but again, it was a physically and mentally draining evening.  Friday was spent making necessary copies for the first day of school and finalizing lesson plans for the first week.  I also decided that I would do the bi-monthly Walmart and Sam's Club shopping before life became too chaotic.  Now I can at least rest in the fact that we do have food and toilet paper in the house.

Many of you were quite encouraging about the school's declining enrollment situation.  In July I shared that numbers were low and it appeared that despite the fact that I added two classes to my schedule, I was actually going to experience a dramatic cut in pay.  I am very pleased to report that while the final numbers are not yet tallied, it does appear that my class sizes will generate a salary very close to what I earned last year.  This is truly an answer to prayer.

My personal goal this academic year is to "work smarter, not harder"  As I shared before, I am prone to tunnel vision, which manifests itself into workaholic tendencies.  While there is a certain amount of preparation  that I MUST complete in order to be an effective teacher, I also know that I have gone overboard on more than one occasion, at the sacrifice of my personal life.  I have investigated the concept of Holistic Grading this summer, and I think this will aid me in this pursuit.  This is  the one area of teaching English that I truly loathe - giving a quantitative grade to written assignments.  I enjoy reading the students' work, just not grading it.  Hopefully this will help me reduce the stress of this aspect of my job.

Another way that I hope to accomplish the goal of "working smarter" is that I have enlisted the help of two stellar students to act as my teaching aids during 2nd and 6th hours.  While delegation is a personal weakness, I have decided that I must hone this skill if I truly desire to have more free time.  It may take me a while to learn to let go of some of the control - and to learn to manage others' time - but I am committed to making this work.

So this is a summary of how I plan to spend the remaining days of August.  I will probably not have as much free time as I would like to update my blog - or to visit your sites - but please bear with me.  I am committed to developing a schedule that allows me to be efficient, responsible, and happy --- and that definitely includes participation in the book blogging world.

Weekend Cooking: Lamp Post French Toast

When I decided to attend Gettysburg College I knew that the small town was known for its University and the famous battlefield, but I soon discovered that it was also known for its unique breakfast confection.

The Lamp Post Inn was a small restaurant located within walking distance of the college - a definitive advantage for the underclassmen who did not have cars on campus.  Within my first week of school I was told that I simply must try their "French toast"  Now I enjoy a nice breakfast of pancakes and French toast every once in a while, but these college co-eds would make a special trip to the restaurant to partake in a half-order of French toast at any time of the day or night.  After one bite, I was an avid fan and ate countless "half orders" in my four years residency at the school.

Once I was married and had settled into a new life of being a Midwest stay-at-home mom of three children, and had also discovered the vast resource of the world wide web, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at making this decadent delight at home.  I searched numerous recipe sites as well as played with a variety of terms with the vast search engines, but I was never able to find any reference to the restaurant or the recipe.  Not to be daunted by this temporary set-back, I decided that I would try to recreate the dish myself.  

It took several attempts and numerous failures, but I have finally managed to recreate a reasonable facsimile that satisfies both Geoff's and my tastebuds.  Mind you, this is not low-cal nor low-fat, and it is definitely a meal that you would want to fix only every once in a while, but it is absolutely delicious and fills you up for the better part of the day.  Without any further ado here is my homage to the great Gettysburgian classic:

Lamp Post French Toast

Ingredients:

• 6 slices Texas Toast bread (thick slices are essential)
• 2 cups Bisquick mix
• 2 beaten eggs
• 1 cup milk

Directions:

1. Measure the Bisquick into a large bowl.
2. Add the egg and milk and mix until blended.
3. Dip one piece of bread into the pancake mixture - making sure that both sides are covered.
4. Place prepared bread slice into a deep fat fryer set at  approximately 300 degrees and cook until golden brown (I must admit that I have never actually timed this - and I adjust the heat as I cook).
5. Remove from fryer and drain on paper towel.
6. Keep in a warm oven until all the bread slices have been "toasted"
7. You can dress it up with a dusting of powdered sugar, but I think it is best served with warm maple syrup with just a hint of melted butter.
8. One slice of toast = half order; Two slices of toast = full order

Wordless Wednesday: End of an Era

Today my baby will start her senior year.  This is the last "back to school" picture that I will take after 25 years.  There will be a lot of "the last" pictures taken this year.

Review: Lift

Lift

by Kelly Corrigan

published by Hyperion

copyright 2010

rating:  3 out of 5

I have not yet read The Middle Place, although the positive reviews have kept it on my TBR list for months.  When I noticed that the same author had a new book released, and it was available at my local library, I spontaneously grabbed it and brought it home.  The book is short (82 pages) and sweet (a letter written by a mom to her two young daughters).  The message is sincere and one to which all mothers can easily relate.

The book's title is derived from hand gliding terminology, which the author explains on page 44:

Turbulence is the only way to get altitude, to get lift.  Without turbulence, the sky is just a big blue hole.  Without turbulence, you sink.

Really puts our trials and tribulations in proper perspective, doesn't it?  Instead of trying to avoid turbulence in life, we should welcome it.  It is through these trials that our character is honed and we are able to expand our horizons.

Of course the message that Kelly writes to her girls is far different than my message would be to my own children, but that is the point.  Time is fleeting and while we think we will "never forget" this moment, the reality is that there are far too many moments for anyone to fully remember.  It is important to write these down - the facts as well as the emotional feelings - and to pass this living legacy on to our children.  It is important to document the milestones, as well as the everyday routines, for they will all be special memories years from now.

I heard once that the average person barely knows ten stories from childhood and those are based more on photographs and retellings than memory.  So even with all the videos we take, the two boxes of snapshots under my desk, and the 1,276 photos in folders on the computer, you'll be lucky to end up with a dozen stories.  You won't remember how it started with us, the things that I know about you that you don't even know about yourselves.  We wont' come back here.  (page 4)

This is the message I taught when I was a Creative Memories instructor.  I have always taken photographs of family events, but then I promptly put those envelopes of pictures (yes, this was in the age of film cameras) into plastic tubs to only be reviewed when a childhood photo was needed for an elementary school project.  These memories are precious - and need to be treated as such.  Not only should they be easily accessible, but while a picture may be worth a thousand words, a picture only tells half the story.  It is important to write the narrative that accompanies each memory so that the family his-STORY may live on.

So while I will probably not letters to my children, as Kelly models for us, I will write the stories of their lives in scrapbooks for us to relive again and again and again.

TSS: 8.15.10

What a lovely way to spend the final week of summer!

As many of you read earlier this week, I was offered the opportunity to use a friend's lake house this week and after much internal debate, I decided to accept that offer.  Both of my daughters joined me and it ended up being a delightful two-day girls' get-away.  We left around 9:00AM Wednesday morning and returned home around 4:00PM Friday afternoon.  We stayed up late talking and watching movies, we slept in as late as we wanted, and we ate nothing but junk food.  I did a little bit of research reading for my novel project, and even had the girls help me brainstorm a variety of story lines that I can now work on as time allows.

One of the goals that I had for this mini-excursion was to practice taking some landscape photographs with my new camera.  Unfortunately, it was too hot to do much of anything outside, and the walk down to the water's edge included a wooded section that literally buzzed with swarming bees.  I am not of fan of any insects and had no desire to risk stinging pain for a photography lesson.  However, my desire to accomplish the goal, along with my new resolve to embrace life's adventures, helped me to think a little outside the box.

On Friday morning I woke up at 6:25, quickly put on my clothes, grabbed my camera bag, and headed down to the shore.  I surmised that the bees would not be fully awake at this point, and even though I could imagine all kinds of creepy crawly things hiding under the rocks and weeds, I kept my adventurous spirit and sprinted to the lake.  I was not disappointed.  The sun had just crested above the horizon and I was able to capture this photo.

I spent about twenty minutes down there, trying to experiment with horizon placement, depth of field, wide angle shots, and water reflection.  I took about fifty photos before deciding to go back toward the house before the heat was too oppressing and the bees were fully awake.  As I drank my cup of coffee I felt a sense of pride of following through on personal commitments, and a sense of awe of the simple beauty of nature.  It was a wonderful way to end the get-away.

Last night I had to pick my son up from the airport.  He flew in from Nashville to attend the wedding of a high school friend.  The weather in Kansas City was horrible.  Thunderstorms moved in around 6:30PM and then did not let up for nearly six hours.  All planes were delayed and some completely cancelled because of the dangerous lightning.  Fortunately Brian was able to land - about 90 minutes late - and we arrived home without incident.  The wonderful benefit of this storm, however, is that in less than one hour the temperature dropped from 104 degrees to 74 degrees.  The rest of the weekend is supposed to be sunny, mild, and low humidity.  Perfect weather to allow for great family activities before the start of a new school year.  I am indeed blessed.

Weekend Cooking: Lemonade Pie

It is still the dog days of summer here in Kansas which means that the heat and humidity suck the energy out of every living thing.  This past week temperatures have hovered around the 100 degree mark, with heat indexes of 110 or above.  I am most grateful for central air conditioning!

Of course in weather like this, who wants to cook?  I tend to have the hubby grill steak (if it is on sale) and chicken on Sunday afternoons, and ensure that we have enough for weekday leftovers. Chicken salad, steak nachos, and a quick vegetable stir fry are menu mainstays.

I do have a sweet tooth, however, but have no desire to heat up the kitchen by turning on the oven.  We tend to eat a lot of ice cream during the month August, but every once in while I like to have something a little different.  That is where this recipe fits the bill:  it is an easy, no-bake pie that is light and refreshing --- the perfect accompaniment for any summer fare.

Lemonade Pie

Ingredients:

• 6 oz can lemonade concentrate - partially thawed (I like using pink for a nice festive color)
• 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 4.5 oz cool whip 
• 9" graham cracker pie shell (store bought if ideal for this hot weather)

Directions:

1. Whisk together lemonade concentrate with sweetened condensed milk.
2. Fold in cool whip
3. Pour into graham cracker crust
4. Chill at least one hour

This pie can easily be served as is, but if you desire to make it a bit more fancy, cut the pie in eighths and place a small dollop of cool whip in the middle of each slice.  Cut four thin slices of lemon (leave peel on) and then cut each slice in half.  Gently twist the lemon slice and place on top of the cool whip.  A quick, elegant, cool, delicious summertime dessert!

For other weekend cooking ideas, please visit this post by Beth Fish Reads.

Unexpected Get-away

clipart found at:
designedtoat.com

On Sunday night my Facebook status said something along the lines of "This is the last week of summer and I want to make it count.  Any suggestions of what I should do?"  I really didn't expect too many replies, except maybe a few well-wishers and sympathizers.

On Monday morning I woke up to an email message from a school family whom I have known for several years.  She had read my status and offered the use of their lake house for the week!  I was quite speechless.

They are currently in California, the house is lying vacant, and she wanted to offer its use as a gift.  It is located in a small, quiet town about 3.5 hours from Kansas City.   There is no cable, no phone (limited cell service), and sporadic internet.  It sounds like the perfect get-away to me!

After careful consideration (it is difficult for me to accept gifts and compliments --- and I had to find care for the dogs), I decided to take her up on this kind and generous offer.  The girls are going to join me (Geoff has to work) and we leave this morning.  I am taking my camera (in the hopes of venturing on several photo shoots), my "research" books for my writing, and my laptop.  I will pack only a  few clothes, a swimsuit, and no makeup.  I am NOT taking school work (outta sight, outta mind is what I am hoping for - at the very least it will prevent me from focusing on curriculum the entire time).  We will relax on the dock, eat simple fare, and sleep in late.  

This is a most unexpected get-away, and I feel very blessed.

I will post again this weekend.

I am organized? Who knew.....

For those who know me at all - the results of this quiz should come as no surprise.  Sometimes it's nice to have these kinds of tests validate our existence though.

Thank you, Cathy, for sharing the link on your post today!

You Are an Organized Worker

You are a very private person. You don't open up easily, and you don't open up to just anyone. You draw a lot of inspiration and energy from your own internal world. You get bored easily around other people. You like to edit and revise. You are always improving your work, and you never turn in the first draft. You are down to earth and practical. You achieve success one step at a time, by paying attention to details.

What Does Your Desk Say About You?

Blogthings: Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

Review: Trust the Process

Trust the Process:  An Artist's Guide to Letting Go

by Shaun McNiff

Published by Shambhala

copyright 1998

rating 4.5 out of 5

Over the weekend J. Kaye asked if I ever review the books that I read on art and photography.  My initial response is, no.  Primarily I do not review them because I do not see myself as having enough time to do the review justice.  Right now I seem to be in an acquisition mode, that is, I want to learn as much as I possibly can in the short amount of time that I have.  I really do not want to take the time to review a book (I think to date I have read in excess of 30 books on these subjects), when that time can be spent advancing my learning.  Somewhat selfish, I know.  

But I also choose not to review these books because I am afraid that there is a limited audience for these kinds of posts.  Most of the book bloggers that I read tend to read fiction - either contemporary or classics.  While a few review a non-fiction book here or there, the book itself seems to be more mainstream, that is, appealing to a wider audience.  Art and photography books are definitely a select niche.

I have decided to break my silence, so to speak, with this book:  Trust the Process.  This book has opened my eyes in more ways than one.  First of all I must confess, I did not start reading this book from the beginning (egads!!)  Now for those of you that know me, you know this is a major deviation in my reading routine.  I am someone who cannot read a series out of sequence, so how on earth could I start reading from the middle of a book?  

Well, I had tried starting at the beginning - twice - and I was just not drawn in.  But for some reason I felt as though I was supposed to read this book (I can't explain why -- but it simply would not let me go).  So I sat there thumbing through the pages when I came across Chapter 4:  Create With What You Already Have.  The title instantly caught my attention, and here is the opening paragraph:

One of the first steps in the practice of creating is to identify areas in your life where the artistic consciousness is already at work but not fully appreciated - writing letters to friends, decorating your house, arranging things in your living space, interactions with people at work, managing the flow of paper on your desk, gardening, walking through the neighborhood, cooking, playing a sport, exercising, driving the car.  It may be more useful to further your creative practice by beginning with things that you already do. 

.....As a way of beginning, I suggest becoming a witness to your life as you live it.   (page 141)

While I was struck by the first sentence (you mean organizing my desk is creative?!  Cooking the evening meal is creative?!) --- it was the last sentence that caused me to stop and meditate.  For years I have lived my life as an efficiency  machine.  I have been ruled by the to-do list and if I accomplished all the tasks in a given day, then it was a good day; if I failed to accomplish all tasks then it was a bad day.  I have never taken the time to be a witness to my own life.  What value is there is observing life around me?  That is wasted productivity.

Well, is it any wonder that my creativity has lain dormant for all these years?  Good grief, I am my own worst enemy.

Suffice it to say....I have taken countless notes from this book and I plan to re-read these notes long after I have returned the book to the library on August 13.   While the author tends to focus on sculpting and painting  as expressions of creativity, I found it very easy to substitute writing, photography, scrapbooking....whatever aspects of creativity that I already possess.

This book resonated with me; it met my need for this moment in my life.  For that reason alone I would heartily recommend it to anyone who is also anxious to get in touch with their creative side and desire to let go a little - and live a lot.

TSS: Last week of summer

This has been a good week.  I was able to focus a little on school preparation, I was able to focus a lot on personal reading and writing, and I was able to go out to dinner with visiting relatives and laugh and talk and close down the restaurant.  It was the right balance of work, play, family time, and personal space.

I learned that enrollment numbers for the upcoming school year are slowly but surely on the rise.  While I will still probably experience a cut in pay, it will not be nearly as drastic as I had originally feared.  This is an answer to prayer.  With this happy news I was inspired to work on some back-to-school projects and managed to update and/or write all 9 syllabi for upcoming classes and post them on the new school communication website.  I have read all material for the first two weeks of class (which brings us to Labor Day weekend) and I have organized all handouts that I plan to use in those classes.  Next week I will focus on my newest course, English Comp, and try to annotate all the pages for first semester.  This will simplify life when school starts, as I will only have to skim the marginalia in order to prepare for class.

Another aspect of preparing for back-to-school is to organize all my library books and decide what I can feasibly read before the end of summer, and what I should postpone for another time.  I discovered that I had about 6-8 books on art and photography that are due next week and so this past Friday I decided that I would focus my attention on that subject matter.  The photo at the left is my August Break submission in which I tried to compose a still life shot that represented the day.  Truth be told, this submission could easily represent all the days of my life - it is just the topics that change.

I love to gather all my books together and surround myself with their knowledge.  I quickly skim the table of contents and based on first impressions, I begin reading one book and place the others close by.  Typically I read straight through a book - marking interesting passages with sticky notes to return to later.  Once I have completed the book I go back to those passages and write down significant quotes or ideas in a notebook.  I have several notebooks (a new fetish that I have acquired this summer) and I have them color coordinated:  pink for my YA novel in progress (and anything having to do with Impressionism); blue for tips and suggestions for writing discipline; red for art appreciation and photography tips.  I believe in the concept that if you write something down you are twice as likely to remember it, and I am keen on remembering - and learning - how to do all these things.

I also have my computer close by because I want to have access to the internet when an idea strikes me.  For example, many times in reading these books, other authors and books are suggested.  I immediately go online and request the book from my local library.  I may not have time to read the book immediately - but at least I now have a record of a future resource.  Or....I my reading may prompt me to look up a definition for an unfamiliar term, or the location of particular landmark, or ....Well, you get the idea.  The more I read, the more I want to learn and discover more --- and the internet is my lifeline to that knowledge.

On this particular day I also had my camera close by because I wanted to see for myself what was being described in the book.  I am visual learner - and my learning is always reinforced if I can see a concrete example of an abstract thought.  That is actually another way that I used the internet on Friday.  A concept was discussed, let's say still life photography, and I wanted to learn more.  I searched the internet for online tutorials of still-life composition (of which there were few, I am sorry to say) and that enabled me to attempt my first set up for this picture.

It is very easy for me to lose track of time when I am in this frame of mind.  I often think I should set an alarm so that I can remember to take a break to eat and visit with family members.  But I suppose that is how I know I am a true introvert - as nothing brings me more pleasure and peace than to be alone in my nook, surrounded by books, my computer, and my personal desire to learn.

Weekend Cooking: A Dream....

Weekend cooking courtesy of Beth Fish Reads
For other culinary posts,
click the above photo.

When I was newly married and commuting from Connecticut to New York City each week day, I would pass the time riding Metro North by reading Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines.  I would pour over the recipes, envisioning the cooking process and the finished product.  I would nearly drool on the scrumptious photographs.  And I vowed that I would make at least one recipe each month.  Two years later, when we moved into the city and the plethora of specialty food shops was but a subway ride away, I began to expand my culinary interests.  Martha Stewart was my hero.  I loved preparing and eating gourmet food.

My...how times have changed!  While I still appreciate a fine gourmet meal every once in a while, I am really more of a family style, comfort food junkie.  Perhaps it was the move from cosmopolitan NYC to barbecue capital Kansas City.  Maybe it was the change in family dynamic from DINK (dual income - no kids) to SAHM (stay at home mom of three kids):  disposable income was drastically reduced and picky eaters take the joy out of cooking.  But whatever the reason, I now find that my culinary hero is no longer Martha, but rather Guy.

If I were born in another place and time, I would love to have Guy Fieri's job on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.  I could travel across this great country of ours, visiting folks who are the salt of the earth, and eating some of the best stick-your-ribs food in the world. While that dream is no longer viable, I can do the next best thing.

It is my dream to travel to all 50 states, using Guy's cookbooks as a road map (and imagine my total excitement when I discovered this link that has marked all the restaurants on this google map!).  I envision living the life of Margot and her husband --- putting furniture in storage, packing up the RV, and hitting the high road.  We would venture South in the winter - North in the summer - East in the fall - and remain in the Midwest during the spring.  Hopefully I would have honed the photography and writing skills that I am focused on now so that I could document the trip with pictures and narratives.  I might even dedicate a new blog to the event:  Guy is my Co-Pilot, to use as a resource to store (and share) my restaurant reviews.  Of course, eating all this heavy fare would necessitate a bit of exercise be added to the routine - so my plan is to visit the museums across the country as well.  Walking through the exhibits would not only help the heart, but also the mind.

Yes, that is my long-term dream.  But fortunately I do not have to wait until we retire to begin this adventure.  There are a number of Dives within a few hours drive of Kansas City, and Geoff and I have visited a couple this summer.  Most recently we ate at Amato's in Omaha, Nebraska.

I saw the repeat episode (it was first aired about two years ago) in mid-July and immediately knew this would be a place that Geoff would enjoy.  Sam Amato is the owner and he has prepared the homemade Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and ricotta cheese for decades (homemade ricotta?  I had never heard of such a thing).  Geoff managed to eat there on a business trip one day and said the food did not disappoint.  He ordered a Sausage grinder and said he could close his eyes, breath in the spicy aroma, and be transported back to his grandmother's house in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  Let me tell you - that is about the highest praise that any Italian restaurant can achieve in our household.

In talking with the Sam (he apparently spends the entire time visiting the tables and chatting with the customers - which is an authentic Italian trait) Geoff learned that the restaurant will be closing soon.  Apparently the University of Nebraska is purchasing the space, and none of Sam's kids have a desire to re-open elsewhere in the city.  This news is what necessitated our impromptu visit to Omaha last weekend.

Amato's is only open for breakfast and lunch and the menu is somewhat limited to eggs, pancakes, and sandwiches.  The special of the day was homemade ricotta pancakes with peaches.  I firmly believe in the adage, "When in Rome....." and so I ordered the special.  The short stack included two pancakes (one too many, in my humble opinion) and grilled to golden perfection.  The ricotta gave the cake a creamy consistency, but the flavor was quite mild.  The peaches were roughly chopped and generously distributed to allow for a few choice chunks with every bite.  A drizzle of maple syrup was all that was needed to bring this dish to perfection.  I am afraid that this pancake experience has ruined me for anything I might order at IHOP again.

Not everyone at the table ordered the pancakes.  My youngest ordered an omelet filled with salami, capacollo, and prosciutto -- which was stuffed with meat and cheese and the egg was as thin as a crepe.  My son-in-law ordered biscuits and gravy Italian style, which was heavy on the sausage and, I was told, as delicious as it sounds.

We  finished the meal around 11:30AM, visited the Omaha zoo for about four or five hours, and I did not feel the need to eat again until 8:00PM that evening.  It definitely stuck to our ribs - and our taste buds - and increased our desire to live near a authentic Italian grocer.

August Break: Back to School

Since the time I was in preschool, I have always looked forward to the start of a new school year.  At that time I was anxious to socialize with friends and see who had the greatest show n tell.  When I was a young mother I relished the thought of back-to-school so that I could have a bit of time to myself after a summer of chauffeuring children to various outings.  Now I actually look forward to meeting new students and teaching familiar lessons.

While I love ALL the back-to school shopping and stocking up on the necessary office supplies, there is somehow nothing as symbolic of a fresh start as a new box of crayons.  The uniform points ensure that all marks will stay within the lines; the vibrant colors are reminiscent of the rebirth of spring and the bounty of summer; and the varied assortment opens the imagination to unlimited possibilities for creativity.

I have never been much of an artist, but I have always enjoyed crayons.  There is something very soothing and meditative about shading the empty space with a pastel wash or a bold splash of color.

The other day I could not remember what I enjoyed doing when I was ten or eleven years old besides playing school, but now I remember that coloring was high on the list as well.  Perhaps I should try to find a holiday coloring book the next time I am out and begin to reconnect with that inner child.

Vera Bradley

The August Break challenge is all about using the month of August to learn how to live in the moment and documenting that moment in photos.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this break so far!

In addition to this photo documentary focus, I discovered another monthly challenge to join while reading Belle's post yesterday:  Laurie Halse Anderson's WFMAD challenge (Write Fifteen Minutes a Day).  I have yet to develop a writing routine and summer is nearly over.  I decided that it is either time to put up - or shut up, as the old saying goes.  Fifteen minutes a day is nothing, right?  And if a very well-respected, bestselling author is endorsing this challenge I would be a fool not to hop on this bandwagon.

So now that you know the background, let me explain why Vera Bradley is the topic for both of the challenges.  Yesterday was the 101st Birthday of Miss Vera and the stores were having a day long celebration with specials every two or three hours and chances to win prize give aways all day long.  Now many of you have been fans of these lovely quilted handbags for years.  What you need to know about me is this:

1. I hate to carry a purse (I prefer to carry keys, money, and credit card in my pocket and leave my cell phone in the car)
2. I had not even heard of Vera Bradley until last year when I was preparing for BEA and all the tweets were about the new VB bags purchased for the occasion.
3. I am a sucker for anything that is remotely considered a "bargain"
4. While I like to pride myself on having a mind of my own and a healthy dose of will-power, I am apparently easily swayed by popular opinion.

So....yesterday I decide to visit the store for the open to noon promotion:  the All-in-One Wristlet for $20 (regular price $32).  That is nearly 40% off and this is actually one of the three VB items that I own and use.  I immediately thought of the possibility of Christmas gifts.  When I arrived at 11:35 the store was definitely crowded, but the selection of wristlets was still good and I decided to purchase only one (rather than three for each of my "girls") for Christmas.  I left the store feeling very proud that I did not over-buy, that I found a great "bargain",  and that I purchased a Christmas gift before Labor Day.

However.....the seed of temptation had been planted deep within my brain and before I arrived home I had already plotted my return visit later that afternoon when the Mailbag would be on sale for $49 (retail value $68) AND it included a FREE mini-zip wallet (retail value $27).  OH MY!   This was an even better deal than the wristlet.  I like the idea that the mailbag can be slung across your shoulder (alleviating some of the uneven distribution of weight and causing severe shoulder pain when lugging around half my possessions on a weekend trip).

So, at 5:00pm I was on my way to the store --- again.  It certainly did not help matters that my daughter and her friend were there:  Megan having already purchased the mailbag special and lauding its versatility and her friend declaring that it is her most favorite VB bag in the collection.  I had twenty minutes to decide and the checkout line was getting longer by the second.  Soon my hands began to sweat.  If I was going to take advantage of this most amazing special then I needed to make up my mind quickly.  Which fabric pattern?  Would I really use the purse around town (or simply for those future vacation trips that are not even a remote possibility for the next several months/years)?  Do I really like the wallet style?  Fifteen more minutes....oh no...what do I do?  Would I regret the purchase decision once I got home - or would I regret not saving all that money?  Ten more minutes, it was going to have to be either now or never.....

I decided to forgo the "bargain"  I really did not like the wallet (so the savings of $27 was not accurate) and I just wasn't sure the mailbag was the right handbag for me.

Well, I certainly felt better.  I looked temptation in the eye and said "NO THANK YOU"  I was feeling quite proud of myself for the second time that day.

But wait.....the final special of the day was indeed the best.  For from 6:00 to close you could choose any one item in the store for 20% off!  I tell you, at 6:01 the women literally came out of the woodwork!  The store was busy at 5:59 --- it was impossible to move at 6:01.  The line formed at the cash register and snaked down one side of the store, across the front doors, down the other side of the store, and to the far back!  I do not exaggerate - I bet there were over 75 women (many with their school age daughters) waiting to take advantage of the sale.

I am not sure if it was the lack of oxygen in the store, the hypnotic effect of the fabric patterns, or the pull of mob mentality, but suddenly I found myself transformed.  I was no longer the strong-willed, independent women who cares less about fashion; I was this VB connoisseur who helped others make purchase decisions (I notice a lot of women today are selecting that bag for their child's lunch), who envisioned my wardrobe filled with all styles of VB purses (the Knot Just a Clutch in the Night and Day print would be the perfect accessory for those rare times that Geoff and I dress up for a night on the town; the Mini Hipster in Hello Dahlia is the perfect little bag for those European trips I plan to next within the next decade), who somehow miraculously had memorized not only all the different handbag styles, but all the festive names of the fabrics:  Very Berry Paisley - Symphony in Hue - Poppy Fields.  The names are so whimsical and the colors so vibrant and full of life that that you can't help but smile and feel good about the world.  Suddenly spending upwards of $80 for a purse seems reasonable (this coming from a woman who hesitates to spend $12 on sale).  For, after all, you can't put a price tag on happiness, can you?

Before I know it, I have stood in line 50 minutes and it is my turn to check out.  In a rather zombie-like state I notice that I have handed the cashier the Vera bag in Sittin' in a Tree fabric and have gladly allowed her to charge my card the $72 retail price - minus 20% of course!  I gratefully take the package from her and make my way to the front door.

Once outside I take a seat on the park bench and begin to catch my breath.  I am a little light headed and decide to take it easy.  Slowly I return to my senses....WHAT HAVE I JUST DONE?!  Instant buyer's remorse hits me like a ton of bricks.  "I can't afford this?"  "What on earth do I need with another book bag? -- Sure, I'll use it for school and it will be great as a carry-on bag for all those adventurous European vacations I will take - but did I really NEED it now?"  Of course not.

And so now today's focus will be:  Do I return the bag and chalk up the experience to temporary insanity - or do I keep the bag and use it as a constant reminder of the power of mob mentality?

What to do for fun?

It is a good thing that the August Break Challenge does not have rules to follow, because if it did, I would be breaking every one with this post.  The two pictures posted today were not taken by me, nor were they taken in this century.  These are pictures of me when I was ten years old.  Now why would I be posting pictures that are over 40 years old during a challenge that is supposed to help me focus on living in the present?  Well, let me explain.

I started the day by enjoying my typical morning routine of leisurely reading the blogs.  While I have not yet read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, I have been following her blog off and on for the past several months.  Today's post was a vlog entry in which she focused on the topic of fun:  how we all need to add fun to our lives; it is necessary - even vital - to the pursuit of happiness.  She also pointed out a life-lesson that she has learned along the way:  someone else's idea of fun may NOT be fun for me.  It is important to discover what fun means to each of us individually - and then be sure to include time in our schedules to enjoy those activities.

But what if I don't know what is "fun" for me?  What if I have lost sight of that important ingredient in life - focusing all my time and energy on serious responsibilities and duties and constantly putting the "frivolous" projects on hold?  

Well, Gretchen advises reflecting back on my childhood.  What did I enjoy doing when I was 10 or 11  years old?  What I enjoyed doing as a child are likely the same things that would bring me joy today.  But even with that great suggestion, I could not really remember what fun I had at that age (I have often thought that I ceased being a child when I was eight).  In looking at this photograph of Christmas morning 1969, it appears as though I enjoyed playing Barbies.  Not so...I thought that was what ten-year-old girls were supposed to like doing, so I tried very hard to fit in. 

She also suggested looking at how I currently fill my free time (yes, we all have free time, we may just choose to deceive ourselves).  Truth be told, I spend most of my free time surfing the internet:  blogs to discover new books to read; teacher sites to discover new ways to bring literature to life; youtube to watch photography tutorials. 

I always remember liking school (I guess I really am a true nerd) and when I was not in school, I liked playing school:  lining up all my stuffed animals and teaching them math lessons on the chalk board.  I never enjoyed the pressure of taking tests, but I always loved the educational process (research papers were my absolute favorite assignment --- again, I did not like worrying about the grade, but I loved digging deep into a subject and writing my results).  And how do I use the internet?  To educate myself!  

This picture shows me on Christmas evening - after all the packages have been opened and the festivities have died down.  What did I choose to do for fun?  READ.  (and if you look closely at the previous photo you will see about 3 or 4 books that Santa gave me that year).

So, I am really not quite sure that I have resolved this issue of finding fun in my life - but I am well on my way.  And what a wonderful blessing to discover that my vocation is what truly brings me happiness.

Thank you Gretchen, for helping me to focus on me today.  

For those of you who might be interested in her recent video ---- ENJOY!!

H-O-T

I thought a fitting photo today would be one that captured the weather here in Kansas.  The local news tonight informed us that the official high was 99 degrees in the city - with a heat index of 114 degrees!!!  

So I decided to test the adage:  It is hot enough to fry an egg.  And while the finished product (after about 45 minutes in the direct sun) is more translucent than I prefer my cooked eggs, it is apparent that the heat from the sidewalk, combined with the direct exposure to the sun did indeed congeal the egg white.  Yep.  It is H-O-T.

So....what better way to handle the heat than to see a movie.  Mandy and I treated ourselves to the matinee showing of Toy Story 3 at the Forks and Screens theater.  While we paid $12 a ticket, we also received a $7.50 food voucher (enough for a popcorn that is refillable OR two drinks) and  extra comfortable seating.  What a glorious afternoon it was.  We were cool, we were entertained, and we ate junk food.  The trifecta!

Mandy is in that elite demographic group that is actually Andy's age.  She was about three when the first Toy Story was released, and she will be packing up to go to college next year.  While we both enjoyed the movie, I am assuming that she related more to the optimistic teenager, while I related to the misty-eyed mom.  While there are scenes that are definite tear jerkers, there are plenty that provide laughs and humor like only Disney can deliver.  I marvel how many different uses they can find for a single toy, or how many double entendres they can interject.  This is definitely a movie that we will anxiously wait to  purchase when it is released on DVD.

Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be just as hot and humid.  I am thinking that my pocketbook probably cannot afford another matinee so perhaps homemade ice cream will be the way to cool off.  Yummm.....

TSS: The First of August

It is August first which signifies a couple of things for me.  First of all, the August Break challenge has officially begun (yippee!!) and secondly, my carefree summer must begin to include some back-to-school planning or I will be significantly behind in a very short while.  So I have found myself in a rather pensive, reflective mood today.  Not sad or depressed, but rather purposefully thinking about ways to simplify my life so that I can enjoy the journey that fall will bring, rather than becoming my typical workaholic self.

The August Break challenge should be a lot of fun and by taking nearly 500 pictures yesterday at the Omaha Zoo, I don't think I will be lacking too much material this first week.  Since the challenge does not have too many rules (in fact, one could argue that there are really no rules), I have decided that I will experiment taking a few creative shots to post to the webpage, as well as several shots to document the events of my life.  While I will strive to post a photograph a day, and I want to challenge myself to take  pictures every day (that is the ONLY way that I will become comfortable with the camera), I will not pressure myself into posting a daily photo taken that day.  You may see some pictures taken last week, last year, or even a few years ago.  You may see a narrative attached to the story (in my effort to hone the Journalist Photo concept) or, as school starts and I am easing in to a new routine, you may just see the photo itself.  This rather laid-back laissez-faire attitude is quite a change for me, but hopefully this will be the beginning of a new lifestyle and mental attitude.

I have already started working on some back-to-school items.  I have all syllabi written and finalized about 90% of them, I have acquainted myself with the new communication software system, and I have read and annotated most of the text that I will be using in the new college-credit writing course.  Since I know my pay will decrease due to lower enrollment figures, and I know my free time will be reduced due to the addition of two new classes to my schedule, I have decided to implement a menu plan into our daily lives.  This is something that I should have done years ago, but somehow I never made the effort.  

Most of today has been spent pouring through favorite cookbooks and tried-and-true recipes in order to help me develop a master list of recipes.  I am typically very organized, and so in devising the monthly menus I have decided that I would try to assign a certain food group to each day of the week.  For example:

• Sunday = family meal day (roasted chicken, beef brisket, baked ham....etc)  These will provide leftovers to use throughout the week.
• Monday = slow cooker meals - since Mondays are the longest day of my work week.
• Tuesday = pasta night
• Wednesday = stir fry night
• Thursday = leftover night - or if no leftovers, then some kind of hot or cold sandwich
• Friday = pizza night (this has been a long-standing family tradition)
• Saturday = impromptu meal - either based on the day's activities and/or the weekly grocery circular.

Hopefully this will be a good start to a more healthy diet - both dietary and monetary.

I am not sure what the week has in store as far as reading is concerned.  I am hoping that my daughter and I can catch some matinee movies before school starts.  I am very interested in seeing Toy Story 3 and Inception.  I have a number of photography books that I have ordered from the library to coordinate with the August Break challenge, and I also have a few books on writing left to browse through before I am inundated with high school textbook assignments.  I have organized all of Mandy's photos and expect to receive the prints in the mail by the end of the week.  I need to scan about 8 more years worth of her pictures into the computer (so that I have a copy for myself) and then I am ready to begin her scrapbook.  I am hoping to spend some of Labor Day weekend focused on this creative activity.

All in all - it has been a good weekend - and I look forward to my last week of summer.

What does the month of August look like for you?

TSS: The First of August

It is August first which signifies a couple of things for me.  First of all, the August Break challenge has officially begun (yippee!!) and secondly, my carefree summer must begin to include some back-to-school planning or I will be significantly behind in a very short while.  So I have found myself in a rather pensive, reflective mood today.  Not sad or depressed, but rather purposefully thinking about ways to simplify my life so that I can enjoy the journey that fall will bring, rather than becoming my typical workaholic self.

The August Break challenge should be a lot of fun and by taking nearly 500 pictures yesterday at the Omaha Zoo, I don't think I will be lacking too much material this first week.  Since the challenge does not have too many rules (in fact, one could argue that there are really no rules), I have decided that I will experiment taking a few creative shots to post to the webpage, as well as several shots to document the events of my life.  While I will strive to post a photograph a day, and I want to challenge myself to take  pictures every day (that is the ONLY way that I will become comfortable with the camera), I will not pressure myself into posting a daily photo taken that day.  You may see some pictures taken last week, last year, or even a few years ago.  you may see a narrative attached to the story (in my effort to hone the Journalist Photo concept) or, as school starts and I am easing in to a new routine, you may just see the photo itself.  This rather laid-back laissez-faire attitude is quite a change for me, but hopefully this will be the beginning of a new lifestyle and mental attitude.

I have already started working on some back-to-school items.  I have all syllabi written and finalized about 90% of them, I have acquainted myself with the new communication software system, and I have read and annotated most of the text that I will be using in the new college-credit writing course.  Since I know my pay will decrease due to lower enrollment figures, and I know my free time will be reduced due to the addition of two new classes to my schedule, I have decided to implement a menu plan into our daily lives.  This is something that I should have done years ago, but somehow I never made the effort.  

Most of today has been spent pouring through favorite cookbooks and tried-and-true recipes in order to help me develop a master list of recipes.  I am typically very organized, and so in devising the monthly menus I have decided that I would try assign a certain food group to each day of the week.  For example:

• Sunday = family meal day (roasted chicken, beef brisket, baked ham....etc)  These will provide leftovers to use throughout the week.
• Monday = slow cooker meals - since Mondays are the longest day of my work week.
• Tuesday = pasta night
• Wednesday = stir fry night
• Thursday = leftover night - or if no leftovers, then some kind of hot or cold sandwich
• Friday = pizza night (this has been a long-standing family tradition)
• Saturday = impromptu meal - either based on the day's activities and/or the weekly grocery circular.

Hopefully this will be a good start to a more healthy diet - both dietary and monetary.

I am not sure what the week has in store as far as reading is concerned.  I am hoping that my daughter and I can catch some matinee movies before school starts.  I am very interested in seeing Toy Story 3 and Inception.  I have a number of photography books that I have ordered from the library to coordinate with the August Break challenge, and I also have a few books on writing left to browse through before I am inundated with high school textbook assignments.  I have organized all of Mandy's photos and expect to receive the prints in the mail by the end of the week.  I need to scan about 8 more years worth of her pictures into the computer (so that I have a copy for myself) and then I am ready to begin her scrapbook.  I am hoping to spend some of Labor Day weekend focused on this creative activity.

All in all - it has been a good weekend - and I look forward to my last week of summer.

What does the month of August look like for you?