Eyelashes

Someone I once worked with told me city kids had thicker lashes than kids in less polluted environments.

The leprechaun around the corner...

What's up? I got hired on for real. Had a real interview at a different school for a real job. We went to the opera - Puccini. Lost my voice today - sick day tomorrow - too bad. ;)

St. Paddy's Day is tomorrow! She wants to make a leprechaun trap. I told her she was part Leprechaun and she's not sure she believes me. Smart kid.

We had a nice day and she got the idea from Emily B. about making "monster brew" with chalk in the driveway puddles... and that was that!

Mud

Do we remember the smell of mud? The squishy sound of it between the treads of our boots on the kitchen floor? Is it so unpleasant? I moved some snow away from the hibernating plants and gave them a sniff. Nothing. Another snowstorm looms. As much as I love snow, I've had my fill this season.

Life with tripod...

is way better than without.

These were taken with the new tripod on a grey day under the bushes and under a pile of snow. These are the lo-res versions for quicker upload. I finally have low-light control back! Wahoo!

It was a dark and snowy day... at the Bristols

THAT was a lotta snow we got. We still have a few glaciers at the bottom of the driveway.

Fun for kids


Not so bad on the bird feeder


Branches were pretty heavy


Our guy Hogeye was looking good


The Bristol 'bors got it, too


And it's always exciting when the snow plow finally gets to your street (and plows you in)

We were watching old people at the grocery store and she says... "Mommy, please, please don't get to be an old lady." I will try, dear.

The job is a lot better and I hear they are trying to create a full time position for me. I'll believe it when I see it, but for now I've adjusted to the rotten kids in my class. I even laughed all last week at the ridiculous things they do. They can't help it, but they're so bad I can't help it either!

We finally booked a little vacation for spring break. It's refreshing to keep it in the back of my mind while I get through these grey days. California here we come!

Uh Oh

Her: Mom? You like bands?
Me: Yes.
Her: I like bands. You like rock n' roll bands?
Me: Yes, A LOT, why? What kinds of bands? Kid rock n' roll bands?
Her: No! Grown up rock n' roll bands with guitars!
Me: Do you talk about music with your friends at school? Or in Mr. B's class?
Her: No. I just love rock n' roll bands. Not like the stuff from the library in my kids section... like, REAL bands.
Me: OK, well the library cds we get are real bands.
Her: They are?
Me: Kind of - they're real bands who make kid versions of their songs. Would you like me to pick out some rock n' roll cds of mine that are appropriate for you?
Her: YES!!! (Wide eyed.)

There must be something going on in that little brain. Last week she was obsessed with my Bob Marley cds. Good grief. Isn't she a little young for this? I guess I started with some glam rock Bowie when I was 6ish (I also loved Muskrat Love!). She's not even interested in ear-bleeding Disney soundtracks, thank goodness. I guess she really is part me. Look out, Daddy!

Rainy day in the past

I should be doing homework now. Do people in Alaska catch colds as often as people in the midwest do? How about in Hawaii?

Can't remember which camera I used for these. Maybe the old Olympus, which is a totally underrated camera. Has a live LCD that rocks. A rainy day. A funny kid. She makes life good.

7 weeks left

Some days are better than others. It's taken nearly 3 weeks but, today, I'm not so shocked by what happens in my classroom. Most interesting potential discussion bombs of the day...

Kid 1: Why do you have more than 2 earrings?
Me: Ummm. Same reason why you only have 2?

Kid 2: Are you Christian? Are you Christian? HUh? Are YOU??? Are you Christian?
Me: Ummm. Not exactly.
Kid 2: Oh so you're Jewish??
Me: Nope.
Kid 2: So you're NOTHING? Wow. Why don't you get yourself a pair of Uggs like us?

Kid 3: What are you ordering for yourself at the McDonald's party tomorrow?
Me: Coffee.
Kid 3: Coffee??? Son of a bitch!
Me: Hahahahaha (oops). That was inappropriate. You're losing a point.

Late summer in Chicago...

All Around Fripple Town

That's the name of my kiddo's favorite video game. Here are some photos from around my Fripple Town. I like the Jesus sticker machine in the Mexican laundromat.

Yikes, Part II

Today I got the full story of two of the 6th graders I've been teaching and got to see their disaster-on-legs parents. As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

And now here's a nice little marbleized and sparkly geode.

Day 11

It's day 11 of working. Three of us teachers for just six kids. Working with these kids is a lot like working in day care, which is something I never ever ever aspired to do. Eight weeks left and counting.


Like puppets (not the political kind) as much as I do? http://www.puppetbike.com

So long ice, uh, blobs

It was nice while it lasted.

New Year

To me, time is just another weird invention. I think about it all too much. It's obvious Faulkner was pretty concerned with timelessness and time. I am a chronic clock watcher and prefer to forget it when I'm not working.

A good thing about New Year's Eve is that people get sappy and start recalling the past. It's also great to spend an extra day off together. I was archiving some old photos and ran across these.

A fun day at the farm


A campfire with Ben's family - Robert blabbing and Glen lurking


Back yard drawings


Harley dude on I-88

Crazy, dizzy in 28mm

Some things make the head spin. For me, it's heavy patterns and contrasting colors. How 'bout you? Here are some pretty abstract mistake shots since I can't seem to take any real ones this week. It's nice to call them abstracts, don't you think? Argh. My eyes are bleeding.

Didier Farm wagons


Pretty colors

I used a 28mm lens on loan from dad - good in low light, but not that great, right? I'm glad I didn't waste my money on this thing. I tend to forget about the focal length conversion. So, what normally would be a nice wide angle lens for a 35mm camera won't be that for me. Why was I thinking wide angle for this anyhow? I just like the perspective. Some day I'll be full frame! We were in Best Buy this weekend and I picked up the 5D. Lovely, but it seems huge now that I'm finally used to the wee Rebel. I still love my female friendly camera. I kinda wish I'd gotten the black body, but for $40 less I'm happy with what I have. I'm not ready for that investment just yet. Maybe at age 40? I guess I'll need a job. ;)

Snow

It snowed last night. Here are some pictures with a normal lens. The snow wasn't great - just hard specks pelting the ground at about 60 degs. Not too interesting, but it's only the 2nd snow - plenty of time to get something good and get in some flash practice. Flash is something I really haven't worked with much outside of my flip-flash camera in first grade - that was cool. I know how to turn it on, off, where to find it, how to bounce, but that's about it. :)

Snow

Christmas lights

Ice

My friend Cheryl asked if I took pictures of the snowfall yesterday.

icicle


icicle starbursts

It's still fall, remember?

It's funny how kids equate certain things with certain seasons. Right now there's snow on the ground so it must be winter. Winter starts on the 22nd. What?! Anyhow, here are fall pictures taken in the yard and on the farm.





On Oct. 19th, on a whim, my little assistant came with. I noticed these clouds on the way back from grocery shopping and knew we had under 5 minutes to get out to the field down the block.



The inevitable always happens. That's why it's called inevitable (get out of the frame please, giggles). :-)


I like this picture because this is what life feels like for me some days while my child laughs her head off.