Who's the fool now??

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself.
There is a microscopically thin line between
being brilliantly creative
and
acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth.


So what the hell,
leap.

Cynthia Heimel

Simple enough...

”Treat people as if they were what they ought to be
and
you help them to become what they are capable of being.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

It's all coming back to me now...

Inspiration

When I initially became an educator, I was ready to take on the world. I was young, passionate, resourceful and naive. I was assigned children who were diagnosed with learning disabilities and behavioral disorders only to have them become exemplary students within a few months time. Believing in the children & their capabilities was the first step.



Mr. Esquith was able to demonstrate what a wonderful experience education can be. In his writings he tells tales of co-workers who feel his classroom is an exercise in chaos. Oh, if only I could work in the same facility as him & tap into that energy & dedication!



Rereading his books has begun to re-ignite my passion for education again. My adult brain had been cluttered with legalese, licensing regulations, policies and procedures that were "conventiently applicable" in prior employment venues. With that melee aside, I will now replace it with the inspirational words of educational professionals that demonstrate the passion that I once did to create a future society of caring, well-educated citizens of the world.



Peace to you, Rafe!

3 decades...

A high school friend pointed out today that we have known each other for 30 years! That seemed unreal until I did the math.

She & I have gone through so many milestones together; crushes, rejection, teenage drama (not staged), college years (ooh, more un-staged drama), weddings, births, raising children (I actually managed the preschool that her children attended for a few years). This was comforting knowing that despite the lack of constant contact that we thrived in the younger years, we are able to maintain a friendship with less frequent contact (thanks in most part to adult responsibities and hectic schedules of our kids). We have recently begun recalling silly high school memories since our kids are in that age range (mine son is finishing his Junior year, her oldest is a Freshman & her youngest is starting middle school next year).

I cannot even fathom what 40 + years will have us sharing... I look at the list above and feel a tad overwhelmed with the list. The circle of life, I suppose.

Aha!

I'm feeling pretty good about my creative side stepping out today. Perhaps it was the fact that I started my day with Highlander Grogg... best brew evah!!

Anyway... I have not been inspired in a creative sense for quite a while. I have a plethora of various craft supplies that I have considered putting up for bids on eBay. I miss the joy that my handiwork gave me, mostly when I made things for others to enjoy. I sternly reprimanded myself (geez, I can be a real bitch!) and made a promise that within 6 weeks I would make 1 project per week or off to eBay we go.

In an effort to get some mileage out of my stash, I created a couple of ribbon organizers, much like the ones sold at craft stores for $15 +.

I gathered:

• shoeboxes with lids
• eyelet punch
• hammer
• dowel rod
• Xacto knife
• ribbon mess!

Granted the end result was a bit wonky! The slot was a bit slanted, I think it only adds to the charm of it all.

Here's how the final product turned out:

Death & Taxes

Today, it takes more brains and effort to make out the income-tax form than it does to make the income.

~Alfred E. Neuman

With "TAX DAY" less than a month away, I felt compelled to complete filing my taxes. Paranoid as I am, I need to review the paper copy although I complete the FREE online version. Amazed that my son was much more expedient than I & has received his return. Ah, the exuberance of youth!

Happy filing everyone!

Sping!! **

This bud's for you...

This is one of my favorite times of the year. The world returns to it's vibrant color palate of bright green, yellow, purple, pink and blue from that drab grey that enveloped us for 4 months.

There are many new projects with the arrival of spring, looking forward to the challenge.

**The title is deliberately misspelled (A poorly titled bulletin board I will NEVER forget, we laughed for a week)

Chicken Gyros...YUM!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chicken-Gyros-with-Cucumber-Salsa-and-Tsatsiki-351874?mbid=rss_epinr

Sounds delicious... always need new ideas for the versatile chicken!! Can't wait to make it.

Sir, you are doing it all wrong...

While working on some projects in the comfort of the local coffee shop, I can't help but overhear this gentleman who is apparently in sales for some type of software. He has a call list, highlighter & cell phone armed and dangerous... he seemed organized.




Then the calls began, his approach was brash, cold and seemingly unsuccessful. I shake my head quietly and see where things are going wrong.



This guy must have a reputation around town as he can't seem to get past the receptionist via telephone. The guy's boss shows up to compare notes on his progress & he has an impressive list (probably 40 +) of who he has contacted but no action on follow ups. He talks about problems but doesn't come up with solutions...it is evident that this company is hurting.



Shall I step over & introduce myself?? HA!