My little friend has left wdc. It is a sad day for me.
 

Elder's Meditation of the Day - April 29
"The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to a mothering power...The soil was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing..."
--Luther Standing Bear, OGLALA SIOUX
Have you ever noticed the relationship between children and the soil? Watch how happily they are touching the dirt. The children play in it and eat it. If you are stressed, go to a spot on the Earth, sit down, put your fingers in the dirt, dig in it. Wash your hands in the soil. When you touch it, notice what it does to your hands. Our bodies love to touch the Earth. Sometimes we get too busy and forget these simple things. Maybe you'll even want to plant a garden or flowers. These things are mentally healthy.

Great Spirit, today, let me touch the Earth so the Earth can touch me.

 

Elder's Meditation of the Day - April 13
"Once you make a friend, a friend never leaves you, even to death. So a friend is really hard to find."
--Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA
Once, an Elder told me he made a decision to be my friend. He said this friendship wasn't based on my behavior or how I acted; he said the friendship was based on his decision. He decided to be my friend. This friendship has happened like he said. Even if I don't see him for a long time, or if I get mad at him, he has never changed his decision. This is true friendship.

Great Spirit, I'm glad you are this kind of Friend.



 

Yes, I know Paypal tells us that by using their service, that it is the safer, easier way to make an online payment. Well, obviously, you did not read some of the print, such as "In general the Seller Protection Policy is intended to protect the seller from certain kinds of chargebacks or complaints if seller meets certain conditions including proof of delivery to the buyer. PayPal states the Seller Protection Policy is "designed to protect sellers against claims by buyers of unauthorized payments and against claims of non-receipt of any merchandise".

We use Paypal to make online payments. We thought it was to protect US from fraudenlent sellers. Not the case. We recently bought some items we never recieved, we could never reach by phone or email. We made a report to Paypal who told us how "happy they were to have us as a member, but unfortunately, they could do nothing about a fraudulent merchant who sold "air". They were very sorry. They had no way of recouping our loss. That helped my bank account not one whit!!!! Excuse me, but I thought Paypal was supposed to help protect us against any business that used their services.
 

A friend--ok, so I actually taught her in the 6th grade eons ago--lives in Wyoming and sent some really good tips for weather emergencies. Since we had to deal with the Ice Storm from Hell, these ideas are great ones for anybody in any part of the country. So, Thanks Michele Barrelle for sharing.

Something that is great to have for emergencies is a hot water bottle or two, along with covers. They are great to tuck down into your bed for added warmth too! You can put extra heated hotwater into a few thermos' for at least one warm up re-fill inbetween heating water up on kerosine stoves or whatever...Or when the electricity first goes out before the hotwater heater cools down...Fill them up too!

I actually purchased several hotwater bottles and covers on Europes E-bay...From England. Lots of businesses there sell these and it is really easy to pay for these items on E-bay and then have them shipped over. I have never had a problem. Through E-bay you get buyer insurance and all to protect your purchase anyway. Plus, they make the neatest hotwater bottle covers over there to help to insulate the heat in longer when using them and to help to keep your feet from touching a cool water bottle at the foot of your bed in the morning! They are still a big deal in England, I guess, for bedtime and warming beds, as opposed to electric blankets and such used more over here. And...A lot of people in different countries in Europe actually tuck them underneath of their coats for added warmth in the winter months too.

As I said, I purchased several on E-bay...To give to my kids for their camping equipment and for emergencies too. We discovered that they are a great camping item for the kids to put into their sleeping bags at night when we are in the mountains in the spring or fall months when the nights get a little cooler. Like I said, you can heat up hot water on the campfire to put into them (The kids don't have a travel trailer like us yet!) and then fill a few thermos' with extra heated water for an exchange. They work great. I also got a few for my Mom's emergency kit too and for us. I used them when the power was out this storm too. Great to cuddle up with. I have actually found several really neat emergency items through the years that we have on hand...

I will have to tell you sometime about the neat electronics too! We have things with extra back up batteries for music and DVD movies and such too. They are great for camping or traveling and such though I have learned. After all, we don't run the generator non-stop if we are camping in the mountains and such. And, we also have a few special emergency winding flashlights with a crank and built in radios that can be used to recharge themselves for the light, or to recharge cell phones, DVD players and the like. Of course, auto cell phone charges are a must too these days. Especially around here where you could drive for miles and never see a soul! You can find excellent deals on all of these kinds of emergency types of things online on E-bay or elsewhere too. They are great to add to your supply over time. Plus, always check online for coupon codes too for businesses before checking out online and making purchases. You can always find a way to get an additional discount that way.

We always plug our carbon monoxide detector in one of the working outlets too when running the generator...As a safety back up.

 

This is not my work, but forwarded to me on the internet. I like it and thought I would pass it on.

Hope you enjoy how this very wise teacher rebutted a CEO.WHAT TEACHERS MAKE: The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. "To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie, be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?"

(She paused for a second, then began...) "Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 minutes without an I-Pod, Game Cube or movie rental."

"You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.) ''I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write."

"Keyboarding isn't everything. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator."

"I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America."

"Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.
"(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE!"

"What do you make Mr. CEO?" His jaw dropped, he went silent.THIS IS WORTH SENDING TO EVERY TEACHER YOU KNOW. Even all your personal teachers like mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and your spiritual leaders/teachers - Pastor's/Priests/ Clergy. Make a difference today and e-mail it to everyone on your mailing list, for that matter!

Teachers also make; CEO's, Presidents. Nobel Peace Prize Winners and other award winners, Senators, Doctors, Lawyers, etc.
To the teachers in our lives. A salute to them; past, present, and future.

 

Givers sleep well; takers don't.
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.
Our minds are all like parachutes. They only work when open.
The greater the obstacles, the more glory in overcoming it.
Pain and suffering are unavoidable. Misery is optional.
Do your best, God does the rest.
If you can't stand up, Stand out!

 

"And there are Four Corners of the Earth that we talk about, the Four Colors of people, and the Four Winds. You see the winds-they are spirits."
--Grandfather William Commanda, ALGONQUIN
The Elders teach us about the four directions. If we learn about direction, we also learn about attention, about focus, and about power. Each direction has spiritual power. In the morning, go outside, face the east and get still; then, listen to your thoughts. After you have done this for a while, turn and face the west. Get quiet once again and listen to your thoughts. Did your thinking change when you changed direction?

 

Last week another student brought a knife to school. He had it open on the bus and cut a seat. He was a junior high football boy. His penalty: 1 day of IN school suspension. Same superintendent, same principal as in Part I and Part 2. Travesty Rules!!!
 

This piece of wisdom I share below was in my mailbox this morning. What a wonderful thought to begin my day. I would like to share it with you and keep it in my heart. Rolling Thunder, you are filled with wisdom.

If we have bad thoughts or poison in our minds, they will eventually show up in our bodies in the form of headaches, pains, and stomach problems. It works this way because we are interconnected. Our minds and our bodies are one system. So when we start to grow, or commit to the Red Road, we need to start cleaning up our thoughts and start showing respect for our bodies. We start purifying our minds by prayer and meditation, and we start cleansing our bodies by getting the right amount of sleep and developing good eating habits. Today, I'm going to observe my thoughts. Will my thoughts be clean today?

Great Spirit, let me focus on Your love today so my mind will be pure.

--Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE


 

Yesterday, a 12-year-old boy in the elementary school took his brother's knife to school. This young man has Down's Syndrome and probably has a mental age of half his living age. This young man is one of the sweetest children you could ever meet. He would not hurt a flea.

He took the knife out at school to clean his fingernails just like he had seen his brother, daddy, and granddaddy do many times, I would imagine. This child had no clue that he was doing anything wrong.

His punishment was six days of Out of School Suspension. The same superintendent that handled the case in Part I was the oversear of this case. I believe the young man's name will also be turned into the Probabion Officer. Wonder how long he will be on probation? Wonder if he even knows what that is?

His parents have made sure that he understands that taking a knife to school is unacceptable. I am sure it will not happen again. I just hope the poor little guy has no clue about what suspension or probabiton means or that it is even going on.

I suppose the education of those wanting to become Superintendants does not have a required course in common sense or equality.
 

I teach school in a place where everybody knows your name. Our kids are raised without a city mentality. They are mostly basketball players or farmboys.

Last year, a couple of junior boys were involved in an incident. These boys were good frineds and just playing around. Boy #1 gets his pocketknife out and has it open. Boy #2--not knowing the knife is out or open--accidentally turns and swipes his forearm against the blade. Boy #2 needed instant help and eventually went to the hospital to receive care. Boy #1 was in school next day. This is the young man with the knife! I suppose "public opinion" eventually forced a reevaluation of the stituation and Boy #1 may have been suspended for a day about a week later.

End of story. See tomorrow for the conclusion of this great drama.
 

I know nothing about art. I either like something or I don't. Many years ago I was introduced to the work of Beverly Doolittle. If you are not familiar with her work, do yourself a favor and visit her website: www.bevdoolittle.net

Here is a little about her and her work from her website: "She is often called a "camouflage artist" because her distinctive use of context, design and pattern help viewers discover meanings which seem hidden only until they become obvious. "I use camouflage to slow down the storytelling in a painting. But my messages about our wilderness and native peoples are never hidden." As proof of her dedication to these issues, a portion of the proceeds from sales of Doolittle prints is donated anonymously to environmental and other causes each year."

Her primary subjects are Native American. But, nature plays a huge part of it. Be sure to enlarge the pictures as much as you can because there are sometimes many pictures present.


 

I always take things personally. It is not a healthy thing to do because we who do this worry about stuff---I love being able to use that word---that sometimes has little to do with us. I believe the reason we do this is because we truly want to help someone solve their problem and because we become angry when we feel like people are mad at us about something we might be able to control.

Anyway, at a teacher conference at the beginning of this school year, a speaker had a great idea. He said, "Quit Taking It Personally." Not very prophetic words, right? Well, it is because the acronym for for this is Q-TIP.

Therefore, I have a single Q-tip taped to my computer monitor at school. Every time I look at it I remember to Q-TIP......Quit taking anything personally. I believe this has helped me to chill out and look at things from different perspectives which is always good for folks. I much more likely to really help students through their problems by asking "smart" questions to lead them through to their own answers.

Now, I pass this on to you. Please let me know if it helps.
 

Today I decided to spend time in the yard it was so pretty outside. I got my old 4-wheeler, George, started and rode around the yard--about 8 acres--to give George and the two dogs a chance to stretch their running legs.

Stopping to fix the deer feeder, I turned my face toward Mrs. Sun and let here place her sweet tingling kisses on my cheeks and forehead. Mr. Wind played riffs in my hair. WIld onion plants marked their locations with good long tendrils and new grass outcroppings from my gravel driveway, laughed at me. "Bet you haven't gotten the Weed B Gone fired up this season," they dared me.

Checking on garden after garden and all the bushes and trees, I found the Valentine cards Mother Earth sent me. Tulip leaves speared their way out of the earth, and the irises begged for me to remove their winter coat of leaves. Forsythia buds danced up and down long dormant branches. My magnolia tree who lost so many arms and her head in the ice storm was smilling at me. What a trooper that tree is! The peach, pear, cherry, and apple trees had buds winking at me.

Oh, yes, it was a wonderful day.
Thank you, Mother Earth! I love you.
 

Books are like old friends to me and there are some I choose to revisit over and over. These may not Masterpieces to you, but they awaken in me an opportunity to be transported to other ages and other places. So, I thought today I would share my favorites with you. I know this list is not inclusive and that I will be adding to over the year. The one promise I can make to you is that if you read them, you will be entertained or perhaps even appalled by man’s inhumanity to man.

In no particular order they are:

Clan of the Cave Bear & Valley of the Horses by Jean Auel
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
A Knight in Shining Armor & The Raider by Jude Devereaux
Andersonville by McKinley Cantor
Blood & Money by Tommy Thompson
Windmills of the Gods by Sidney Sheldon
A Time to Kill, The Client, and A Pained House by John Grisham
Slipping & Dregs by Barri Bumgarden
Papillion by Henri Charriere
Hank the Cowdog #1 by Jon Erickson
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Showboat by Edna Ferber
Desiree by Annemarie Selinko
The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Oliver Twist & David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West
Roots by Alex Haley
Small Sacrifices & This Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
Watchers & Dark Rivers of the Heart by Dean Koontz
Fat Tuesday by Sandra Brown

**If you listen to audiobooks, anything by Jennifer Cruise is wonderful. While she is a good read, in audio, her books and marvelous characters just jumpout at you in 3-D. Her characters are, for want of a better word, real CHARACTERS. They are blown up characterizations that are entirely believable. When you just want to lighten your mood, go to the library and ask for any audiobook by Jennifer Cruise.



 

If you have read any of my various blogs or discussion topics on Wdc, you have probably discovered that I love to read about writing and the fact that I can't think of any topic or stories to write....subject or plot-wise. I have always known that this was my "excuse" for not being more productive.

Well, here is my newest epiphany! (I bet Diane is sorry she re-introduced this word to me this semester.) It is a fact that the more you write, the more you write and the more you WANT to write.

I am taking two classes this semester and the assignments have pushed me way out of my comfort zone. Having deadlines has made me feel like I have a 6,000 pound ball hanging over my head just waiting to crush what little brain matter I have out onto the sidewalk. I have had to think, think, think of ideas to be able to meet the deadlines and IT HAS DRIVEN ME CRAZY. It has also made ideas come tumbling in from out of the blue. It has pushed me to consider and do pieces I would never have done in a million years. It has gratified me beyond my greatest hopes.

So, take a class. I think there are many opportunities on this website for virtually free classes. That has not made them Rinky Dink classes by any stretch of the imagine. They are difficult, yet they make you grown whether you want to ro not. They truly are college level endeavors.

If not on this site, type "free writing classes" into Google or your favorite search engine and select your drug of choice. You'll be glad you did. I promise.
 

Following closely on the heels of The Ice Storm from Hell is the tornado season. I Thank God each day that I do not live in Oklahoma where they just twist and whirl helter skelter almost every day. I don't know which is more deadly, probably the tornado, but the ice left a hefty death toll in its quake.

We had several tornados spin through our area on the same day and it was terrible. I believe "they" said it had been on the ground for over 100 miles.

Spring in the Tornado Alley can be frightening. We should have a tornado celler, but keep putting it off as other desires and wants pop up. There is nothing more scary than the calm right before one strikes. As a child I remember my parents taking in a couple from Judsonia for a few days. That city was knocked totally off the map, as they say.

For all of those who have already experienced a tornado this year, my heart goes out to you. For all of in the Alley, be strong, be safe, and be smart!