tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82702447801439547492024-03-05T23:16:36.699-08:00The Rural OmnivoreIn observance of who I am, what I do, and what I eat I shall explore and share the enviorns I frequent.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-2329531165157656252014-11-16T19:12:00.001-08:002014-11-16T19:12:33.797-08:00Homemade???Marie Callendar's is one of my favorite frozen stuff to eat. I have never thought of their products as homemade. But a recent commercial touts their homemade gravy! Really? How exactly does that work when it is created in a FACTORY? That doesn't make their pot pies any less yummy, but I am tired of businesses trying to pull the wool over peoples' eyes.<br />
Currently I am formulating what to bring for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm thinking homemade potato chip cookies, maybe creamed onions though I'm the only one who eats them, and something else maybe my favorite veg fresh brussel sprouts. Getting hungry already. Oh and maybe some ginger snaps since I can almost pull them off now. Oh and maybe even my first try at divinity this season. I have may fails in regards to divinity.<br />
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<img height="213" id="irc_mi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKPt_B2vbptk4B32-cXy-WBpJQ1fTZJ0nNMHQZlkGlmKS0U6OhS-SVUdiKYhdK4bhs9w_9F5tW6FNbbZ844KLM4mtt4RFJ4zTIZIRcQFDJ-j5OnVsOIUYv1aK-EBSP39KuVUCb4UFrKm_/s320/Potato+Chip+Cookies+1.JPG" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-8915952496225152042014-10-18T18:29:00.000-07:002014-10-18T18:29:20.306-07:00Two blogsWith the creation of Grammy Tales, I am moving all my nonfood bloggings to my new blog and keeping to my original idea of talking about food to this blog.<br />
I am still relatively unhappy with the fresh pickings here in Northeastern Oregon. I know I am probably not looking hard enough, but then that is sort of the point now isn't it? Hermiston wants to bill itself as "You Can Grow Here." Well you can't really, the lack of easy access to fresh food of any kind, no destination restaurants, destination things to do here only happening in the summer just make a mockery of the statement. Main Street looks and feels like it is dying. When I look at how McMinnville has created its main street, I think it's 9th, into a destination I wonder what the fuck is wrong with Hermiston?<br />
Make Main Street appealing with trees, vegetation, clean and refurbished original facades. But nope they spend 10,000 on painting the water tower and supposedly another 10,000 will go to helping business refurbish their facades, so far, I haven't seen anything. The street still looks like you are going back in time to the 70's.<br />
But back to food or the lack thereof here in Hermiston. Only two places to grocery shop, three actually and none really have great selections of fresh meats or seafood. Sigh... The only produce stand nearby doesn't really have great selections of fresh fruits and veggies. Not sure if it will change, but I am still hoping.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-28618581278495484922014-08-24T10:43:00.002-07:002014-08-24T10:43:35.713-07:00First day of 2014 school year starts tomorrowAfter spending four days with just teachers, assistants, support staff I am ready for the larger challenge of the students. Teachers always spend a week or so attempting to motivate themselves and be motivated. I sometimes hear from my noneducator friends that this first week must be great with no students. To them I say, "HA!" They have no idea.<br />
When administrators get together to plan this first week, for them it may be just like the first week with students is for us. They have to navigate what they must present to us, along with our trying to reboot for the coming school year. Which is just like the first week of classes with students.<br />
Each inservice week here in Hermiston we have had great motivational speakers. For two years now we have been motivated by Dr. Cruz. Dr. Cruz also spent that evening with our 9th grade parents introducing Hermiston's Parent University. I truly have no idea what goes on there as I teach Night School so I can't drop in. The concept is an excellent one, get the parents to school once a month and help them navigate our wonderful High School. They have two sessions, one in English and one in Spanish. Lisa being Lisa immediately thought what about those who don't speak either language. That's just me being alternative.<br />
This year my co-teacher and I have been tasked with teaching in our direct instruction classes using a proficiency model. Not only are we going to post these proficiencies, but our students could all be working on a different proficiency at the same time. I am still wrapping my mind around this concept. I'm not at all resistant in the sense of implementing this new model, my reluctance comes from not teaching content. I'm a Social Studies and Language Arts teacher, my passion is the Social Studies and to not dig deep into content just doesn't sit well with me. I love the idea of the students choosing a topic and then through that topic researching, writing, and presenting their topics. However, I am supposed to only do the direct instruction part of the period for 15 minutes then turn them loose to work on their individual topics/projects where I mentor/monitor them for the rest of the period.<br />
So my passion is being diminished, in my opinion, to barely an echo of what it could be. That is why, unlike all of the past first weeks of school I have taught, this one is not as exciting as the others. It tops only one and that one was a dark hole I only climbed out of when I left school at the end of the school year.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-89710699974259380052013-11-17T16:38:00.005-08:002013-11-17T16:38:50.984-08:00Foodie?I am not a foodie, but I do enjoy food. But since moving to Hermiston in 2011 I have discovered a dearth of local restaurants to spend my whopping teacher's salary on. There is no Italian, no truly good steakhouse, no fish place.<br />
I have yet to try The Bistro at Bellinger's, but those I trust have said it is a good place to eat. The restaurant a block from my apartment is also rumored to have good burgers. But that is it. Jonesing for some fast food, you have the standards Taco Bell, McDonald's, etc. No KFC, if you want some good chicken you have to go to the Midway Tavern, so don't bring the kids.<br />
Hale's was promoted to me as the best place for a burger. The burgers are ok, but the environment is dark, dingy and dirty. They also take no pride in the prep of their food. I got avocado quarters on my burger that I had to cut so I could actually take a bite of my burger. Their salads are huge, but they don't slice onions, peppers, or hard boiled eggs into slices you can put in your mouth. I have a big mouth that seems to expand when I am eating good food, but not enough when eating at Hale's.<br />
Unfortunately, the restaurant had a huge fire a few months and I'm not sure they have reopened. I hope if they have they have changed how they prep their food.<br />
To get good fresh produce I have to drive 25 miles and to another state to Yokes Fresh Market. I love fresh veg and fruit, but here in Hermiston my choices are limited to Safeway, Walmart, and Fiesta Foods. Actually, Fiesta has fairly good produce. Safeway can't be relied on to have a good selection or a selection of fresh produce period. Walmart despite its promotion on Masterchef has the worst produce within 25 miles. I have on more than on occasion rolled the dice and bought produce at Walmart and every time I have had at least part of my purchase turn up moldy or old by the next day.<br />
I am a lover of coffee and love grinding my coffee at the store, but both Safeway and Walmart have gotten rid of their grinders. Have I missed something? So now I have to buy ground coffee. What have I missed has there been some change? Sigh.<br />
I discovered Bob's Burgers and Brews in Kennewick and they have great burgers and a great selection of brew. Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and IHop are also in Kennewick, but not in Hermiston or Pendleton. I have also discovered Prodigal Son in Pendleton, great burgers and some wonderful brew.<br />
As I explore further afield I hope to find some other good places to eat. Prodigal Son is on the list to take my family when they visit.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-31647854379697306262013-11-16T17:49:00.001-08:002013-11-16T17:49:57.134-08:00Bullying HooplaRead a blog yesterday by Stephanie Metz who basically calls any child who is bullied and feels bad enough to do harm to themselves a pussy. Ok, she doesn't use that particular word, but she is saying nearly that in a rambling nearly incomprehensible post that begins with her son deciding he shouldn't bring an action figure to show and tell because the drill it held looked like a gun. My own children are older than she is and when they were in school they couldn't bring guns for show and tell either. I didn't have a fit about it, I just made sure they didn't bring them to school. What is the big deal?<br />
I'm still not sure how she got from show and tell to bullying. But bullying is of particular interest to me because I teach at an alternative high school and I have had more than one student sent to me because of bullying. Surprised? Oh, did I mention these students were sent to me because they were the victims of bullying? Schools have a difficult time dealing with bullying, especially when the bully is involved in sports.The victim stops coming to school to avoid the bullying and the athlete goes on to play sports.<br />
We are not raising a population of wimps because we, as parents, come to the defense of our children when they need us to. My children never asked me to intervene preferring, I guess, to battle for themselves. Neither got suspended for fighting, but that is a good point brought up, not by Metz, but by someone responding to her post. The problem with not dealing out consequences to both parties in a fight is that if one gets off because of defending himself against a bully, then just about every fight from there on out will involve someone being bullied whether that is the case or not. So both get suspended, usually if the administration digs down, one less of a suspension than the other if bullying is involved. But the problem remains and bullying happens on a daily basis to some extent in every school.<br />
Grit, tenacity, strength of character all must play a part in our children's education at home and in school. But our children must be able to feel comfortable going to someone for help and if they are witnesses to bullying feel safe in giving help.<br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-26517879768577827702012-11-18T12:58:00.002-08:002012-11-18T12:58:34.427-08:00Wow!I believe I have said this before, but I am a terrible blogger. I also suck at journaling regularly so I guess the two sort of go together. Nearly three months into school and I am losing my edge. I have probably one of the top four or five assistants of all time working with me this year and that makes things somewhat easier. What doesn't make things easier is not knowing what going on from day to day. Yes I have control of the night, but the afternoon is totally out of my control. Partly due to me and a huge part due to my co-teacher who thinks he is the "big boss" to quote him. He recently emailed me and told me I was taking over for him while he went on a fundraising run with the Kiwanas. He told me that I now have my chance to be the "big boss." Still not sure how to take that other than he thinks he is the boss and I am his peon. He certainly thinks of me in that way, again because of my inability to articulate myself.<br />
Just when I thought we were moving out from under administrative scrutiny, we are back under the magnifying glass. This time because he didn't follow procedure, his excuse of course was that he only found out about the fundraising opportunity over the weekend and the Kiwanas meet on Tuesday and Monday was a holiday. Then we find out we can use our budget for what he was fundraising for. I am so very confused. But now I have to be forceful because it is likely he will try and consume my budget along with his for his choices without consultation from me. I dug myself into this, now I have to dig myself out.<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-26797756512939265922012-08-12T11:31:00.000-07:002012-08-12T11:31:17.721-07:00Two posts in one day!This morning I woke up and as usual spent some time just laying in bed and thinking about stuff. The first thing that popped in my head was when my parents fostered a girl in the hopes of adopting her. Unfortunately for me and for Wendy, my mother wasn't very good at mothering two daughters. Also I sucked as big sister. I could say I was thrust into the role, but I that doesn't quite work for me. I just sucked at it. I had been an only child for 12 or so years, not too sure of the exact timeline, I was still at St Vincents so I know it had to be before Junior High, which was 7th to 9th grade in my time.<br />
I just totally sucked, I didn't know how to sister her and as a family we weren't in any kind of counseling. My parents, ok my mother, wouldn't have gone to counseling. I know my dad didn't want to give up on working to be a family of four, but he always gave in to my mom no matter what.<br />
The day the person came to get Wendy was a very hard time for me. My mother and father were not there for me, I didn't want Wendy to go once I realized what was happening. But I though she was sent away because of me, now I think it was because my mother just sucked at dividing her attention. If there were behavior issues with Wendy I wasn't aware of them and it was my parents' job to get her the help she needed. But for my mother to admit she was at fault or doing something wrong or letting me do something wrong, would have meant that hell was freezing over and zombies were walking the Earth.<br />
Since that day, each time I had to give up a pet I have felt extreme anger at my parents. To this day I didn't realize that maybe it was that day so very long ago when my Companion was taken away from me. I know that I always felt her removal was my fault and my parents never said any different. Perhaps that was also the day that began the rift with my mother. If it had been just me and my father we would have muddled through and I would have a sister. But because of my mother I am an only child. My mother spent her life trying to arrange the right friends, activities, and even husband. None of that worked once I hit high school. She wanted me in cooking 4-H, I did that, and I did Horse 4-H and then joined FFA and raised sheep for a time.<br />
I would have to say that the most support I ever got, that was given freely without reservation was when I moved home pending my divorce. Ok, sort of freely, because they hated my husband/exhusband. But they loved my children and helped me get my teaching degree. I know my mother was not at all happy with my choice of profession, but by this time she understood that I really didn't care about her opinion. I no longer craved or sought it out. She was my mother, she raised me, and I loved her. <br />
Did I stay single because I didn't want the hassle of dealing with a man and my parents? Maybe, initially it was because I wanted to make I didn't make the same mistake. My kids were little and I wasn't willing to have a train of men in and out of their lives. I am also pathologically shy, so that holds a very close second. Would our lives had been different if I had gone husband shopping? Maybe, but we muddled through. I do wish I would have found a man who could show my son how to work on cars and other manly things. Actually, an old boyfriend did show up, but because of his brain injury from a motorcycle accident he remembered the old me and not the new and to this day he continues too. Yes, a symptom of the brain injury, but also one of his unwillingness to listen to the words I say in response to his inappropriate sexual questions, the latest high, or low depending on how you look at it, was to ask me if I ever had sexual thoughts about my male students! Really? Was he just stupid or crass or both? My instant response was of course, no. My second response was why would you ask that? He really didn't have a response and just changed the subject. Yes, brain injury, I get it, but I guess my response to the people who may say, "Oh Lisa, you have to give him leeway," is bullshit I don't! If you know you have short term memory issues, then you f...ing journal every moment you want to be sure you remember. Just a thought.<br />
The good thing about being an only child is that now so far away from home, I may ache for my family, but I can deal with the solitude.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-80569995831519953202012-08-12T11:01:00.001-07:002012-08-12T11:01:32.973-07:00Are you a Whovian?I think to be a Whovian you have to be a fan of Dr. Who from the beginning. So I guess I am a Whovian2. I have only been watching since 2005 with the reboot and the 9th Doctor. I really have little desire to go back and watch the older Doctors. A curiosity for sure, but no obsession. One reason is that I have this OCD need to start from the beginning, so once I found the old Who episodes, if they exist on streaming Netflix, I would at least have to start with the rejuvination to the 8th Doctor. Then I would wonder about the 7th, as well as, finding my favorite Companion Mary Jane and the faithful K-9.<br />
I say Mary Jane is my favorite because of my introduction to her in whatever spin offish program she was in and then her reintroduction to the 10th Doctor. I especially liked her sparring with Rose as to who had the most unusual adventure with the Doctor. My favorite Companion? Maybe Donna. I don't consider River a Companion, but she would be my favorite for all the reasons that others speak about. She is the perfect foil to the Doctor before he knows who she is and because of that. It was a brilliant move to have her be the daughter of Rory and Amy. That she was Amy's companion as a child is something that I find intriguing on a somewhat evil level.<br />
I'll keep watching Dr Who and the change in Companions that is coming. "Spoilers," are annoying and that it has already been broken that a new Companion is coming and who she is, is somewhat irritating. I figured Amy and Rory's tenure was coming to a close, new spoiler there, but giving us all a look at he new Companion is annoying. Perhaps BBC America has done this all along, I have only had it for close two years, so maybe they always do this. Patience is a virtue. I could care less if younger fans have a need to know, it is just annoying to be given nearly complete plots before they become available.<br />
On that same note, True Blood is becoming stupid and insipid. I could care less about the young's obsession with vampires, the books are based on Sookie, not the freaking vamps or weres. True Blood needs to get back to its roots and stop rewriting entire swaths of who Sookie is to her devoted readers.<br />
I am seeing close to the same thing with Longmire, but so far the scripts are still revolving around Walt. I so very much hope the writers of Longmire don't deviate from Craig Johnson's vision. I am still waiting for Dog to show up and tonight is the season finale. Dog is a cool dog and Walt's relationship with him in the books is so real that if the f it up I may stop watching altogether.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-84870863033362179732012-07-29T14:14:00.002-07:002012-07-29T14:14:59.178-07:00Travelling with Andrew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Andrew and I went to the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge. It was a very educational day and I think he actually had a bit of fun. I wish it wasn't so far away from Hermiston, a nice field trip, but not when it is a four hour round trip, just driving.<br />
I had Andrew with me for a little over a week and I so enjoyed his company. It was unfortunate that the apartment manager closed the pool because some residents are idiots. We did go to McNary Park, but the mosquitoes were absolutely crazy and we didn't stay very long. He can say he swam in the Columbia River, so that's cool.<br />
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We also went to Tamastsklit, not sure I spelled it correctly, it was really nice and we were able to take our time. I wanted to visit the Village, but my heat issues were not supportive of being outside in 90 degree weather. <br /><br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-75228937936789094702012-06-26T20:43:00.001-07:002012-06-26T20:43:13.400-07:00NeglectI have been doing a lot of writing. Hence, I have done little writing here. My three weeks with the Oregon Writer's Project is nearly up, only two days left. My writing over the last three weeks became more of soul search. I wrote about fathers, daughters, and Andrew. I presented a lesson on Japanese Internment and the novel Farewell to Manzanar. I have learned so much about writing and responding and sharing. I am also two assignments behind, this is a fairly typical state for me when taking a class, so I am not stressed. I have had a cold for five days, yes five, the directions on the package of DayQuil say to consult with a physcian if you are sick for five days. I wonder why that is? Since I don't need a doctor's note to miss work, I'm not gonna spend money on a doctor.<br />
I think the dogs are pissed at me, we haven't gone a walk for over five days, yes not surprising, but they like the walks. I like the walks. But, unlike when I just feel lazy and then guilty because I don't take them for longer walks, I am fairly guilt free this time. My tinnitus is driving me crazy. When I get a cold, like this one, my ears get plugged and the ringing is so loud at times that I have to turn up the TV or radio or iPod. And though I have become used to the always present slight ringing, so I am never in silence, ever; the extra loud ringing is driving me crazy. Ok, not literally crazy, but it is very annoying.<br />
I hope my family comes to visit me soon. The only one who has seen my new apartment is Andrew and that is because I came and got him. I miss them. I think it will get worse once I am through with the Writing Project because I really don't have any friends here. It's all me, but no interaction will be lonely.<br />
I really miss my family.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-55110553734032792942012-06-12T10:05:00.001-07:002012-06-12T10:05:27.193-07:00In class :-)Here I am in my second day of the OWP Institute! I am loving it, loving my new computer, and generally in a very good mood. I bought a new desk yesterday and almost broke it so bad I would have had to buy another. Good save on my part. Tonight I have the assingment of Madmening myself! I am excited.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-67691429333533957032012-06-10T15:39:00.002-07:002012-06-10T15:39:48.256-07:00New ComputerI hesitate to tell you all that I have purchased a new computer, because in about two months I will most surely be lamenting that I am bereft of funds. I should be just fine, but in case I'm not, just warning you ahead of time.<br />
I start with Oregon Writing Project tomorrow. I am excited, I am scared, I am renewed. Yep already feeling the overwhelming need to start creating great lessons. Of course, I have to get Microsoft Office on this computer so I can actually edit and modify my old lessons and begin creating new ones.<br />
It is a beautiful day and I think it is about time to take the dogs to the park for a walk. Stocked up with water in the car and ready to battle the blinking ticks.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-75734347808279722282012-06-05T10:26:00.003-07:002012-06-05T10:26:50.800-07:00How the voicing of annoyances help them go awayOk, so they don't go totally away, but they move to the back and become less pervasive. It isn't that this hasn't to me in the past, it is just the realization of continued annoyances that have suddenly calmed. Yesterday I spent a portion of the afternoon venting with a colleague. It is sometimes a very, ok most times, bad idea to voice concerns, annoyances, etc to a colleague especially when it is about a mutual colleague. But since I have no friends here to vent to, she became the person I had to talk with. The worst part of being annoyed with a colleague is that what annoys you is sometimes previous baggage. But with the baggage unloaded the annoyance seems so much less irritating. When people do things because their heart is in the right place, it is difficult to be a critic, but sometimes the heart overrides the good sense. Sometimes it is the heart that is the issue, it is the mind. When we are just generally surly about everything that can effect everything we do while the attitude is with us. When that attitude bleeds over to others that have nothing to do with reasons for the surly attitude then that is a problem. I try very hard to not let my negative attitude spill over to my students. That is usually an advantage to the problem student of the day as I don't jump down anyone's throat. Which is not always a good thing, because students need to have throats readjusted from time to time.<br />
I look forward to doing more direct instruction in the coming school year. I am excited to give the students some motivation to come to school. At least I hope the direct instruction gives them the motivation. I worry about having to align my class with what my teaching colleague is doing. I am so very anal about my lessons, about making sure the information, activities, etc. follow as I planned and him, not so much.<br />
I am excited about attending the Oregon Writing Project Institute in Pendleton the next three weeks. Watch lessons that work and scary thought teaching one. I just have to find one I have used in the past that I felt was successful. It's been two years, but I hope that as go through those old lesson plans that I will find the ones that worked. I know some teachers are so invested in their lessons that they don't want criticism, good or bad, I relish it! I want to give my students the best that I can.<br />
Today is gloomy day environmentally, I hope the school day is bright.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-79806669002799620112012-05-19T13:08:00.000-07:002012-05-19T13:08:18.325-07:00Senior DaysGraduation is the 2nd of June and my Seniors are working their tails off, ok not all of them, but most of them. Right down to the wire and I still get the questions, "Do I have to do this?" The answer, "Yes you do." I am still amazed at how a student can come in after being gone for 8 or 9 days and ask me if they are going to graduate. If they had been working on their work during that time, it would be the easy answer of "maybe." But it usually the ones who don't work from home that are so amazed that they aren't going be done in time to walk at graduation. The students who are working really hard, but are so behind, that is always hard. But the ones who think that they can magically walk if they have half a year of credits to get done, not so much heartburn over them. It, of course, make me sad that they can't walk, but they made their bed by not coming to class but every 9 days or so, so they don't get dropped. But work from home, or come in every day and work, heaven's forbid.<br />
On to other annoyances, yellow jackets. The darn things come in the apartment because I leave the sliding glass door open so the dogs can go sun themselves, and the damn things fly up to the skylight windows. I can't wack them with a newspaper when they are way up there. It is very annoying.<br />
Let's see, another annoyance is people at the apartment complex who don't pick up after their dogs! The management has even put up poop stations to help out with the poop-picking-up and people still don't do it. I saw a cartoon a really long ago showing an alien landing at a dog park and watching the people walking following their dogs around and picking up the poop. The alien figuring it knows who the intelligent life is, addresses the dogs. Too funny.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-14387147740119039162012-05-15T22:30:00.003-07:002012-05-15T22:30:33.724-07:00So beautifulEach day brings a new kind of beauty to my new home here in Hermiston. The weather has been a bit on the hot side, but the beauty is just sigh worthy. With the lengthening days I miss star gazing when I take the dogs out for their night walk. I assume, not being a student of the stars that one of the stars I still can see is the north star, mainly because it is the brightest star and it sits in the northern sky. It is these times that I wish I had an IPad with the astronomy app. It is also a really nice computer, that I can't afford. I do need a new computer, my trusty old lady is getting slow and I can't update anything.<br />
My students are working hard to get their work done so they can graduate. Ok, a few of them. Of course, most are only realizing that their slacker attitudes the rest of the year has come to bite them in the ass now. I have one student working on his last half credit; a couple on their last two, and most on their last four or more. I so want them all to be done. They want me to "help" them out by skipping assignments or lower my standards. I just can't do that. I just can't. It is sort like how many of them wouldn't "snitch" on a friend. It is so a part of who I am.<br />
It is important to me that my students get the knowledge that a grade in Communications 4 says they have. I don't get so off track with them that I don't get through the content. Just because they are in alt school doesn't mean that it is more important for them to get "soft" counseling instead of the course content they need for whatever class I am going to give them credit for. I mean really, every other student has to do the content.<br />
But back to the beauty that surrounds me. As a rule I don't like poetry, but I see it everywhere around me. I remember this poem from a drive to Willamina during my last year there.<br />
It peeks at me, as I drive<br />
It follows me glancing around the trees<br />
It hides behind the mountain<br />
I drive having to follow the road<br />
It jumps out from behind the mountain and smiles greyly at me<br />
Behind me, the other glows orangely red<br />
I can see it trying to make the other go away<br />
It hides and the peeks slyly at me<br />
Ah in full view it almost waves as it dips below the mountain range<br />
It says goodbye, as the other waves hello<br />
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Lame huh? No rhyme scheme, no meter, just words. But that is poetry, not what you see, but what I see.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-325240886158464452012-05-06T13:22:00.002-07:002012-05-06T13:22:18.305-07:00Hat RockRemember how I said I hate trash? I especially hate trash strewn along the paths and trails I walk with the dogs. Hat Rock is a fairly clean place, except for one pernicious problem, idiot fisherman who do not make sure all of their fishing line is picked up and put in the trash. This is what happens<br />
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One dead gosling and one live one. The dead one was attached by the fishing to this poor guy.<br />
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After securing the dogs a safe distance away I was able to disentangle both goslings. The one still alive dashed off across the pond and eventually found a group of goslings with two attentive adults.<br />
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Most fishermen, I hope, clean up after themselves and make sure all of their lines are safely stowed in the trash or their tackle box. Luckily for the little guy these two adults seem to have kidnapped half the goslings on the pond and welcomed him in to their brood.<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-49963016240407661072012-05-03T21:12:00.001-07:002012-05-03T21:12:50.714-07:0010 Best ListsAre you as tired as I am of all of the 10 Best of ...? Smithsonian magazine has a new list out, "America's 10 Best Small Towns," now normally I don't get emotional about lists. But this one caught me at the end of my first of two days of sick leave and maybe I am just in a negative mood. When I saw the title on the cover of the magazine I thought, "cool," then I read the blurb on the title page, "Looking for richest cultural offerings in the most charming settings..." I wanted to barf. I have been to one of the towns, Gig Harbor, WA, and I would have to agree it is a nice town. It would have made my 10 best list a few years ago, but not now that I have changed my chi or whatever it is I have a different outlook. Some of the change has happened very recently and as I am reading Meeting Faith. I have already spoken about the book here, so I won't go over it again, too much. I have to admit that when I first started reading the memoir I was thinking, "oh ick, this have been part of some Phd thesis or something." I am happy to say, reluctantly, that some of the things Faith is writing about is actually making me think. One of the things she talks about is "contemplative thought," or something like that. So I have been doing a bit of that, without the meditation piece or the maechi assistance. But back to the article. It is, of course, targeting the upper echelon, not the homebody. That the 10 best in America must have, as tasked by the Smithsonian to the research company Esri, "high concentrations of museums, historic sites, botanic gardens, resident orchestras, art galleries and other cultural assets common to big cities." I nearly hurled my newly baked snickerdoodle. Why are those things so important? Not a one of them, except maybe the gardens, free to the average traveler. Why aren't things you can do outdoors just as important? Now that I think about it nearly all of the things listed as "cultural" are sedentary or nearly sedentary activities. Ok, watching a rodeo or a car race on a dirt oval is also sedentary for the watcher anyway. Ok, again, you walk around a museum and a garden and an art gallery, but really?<br />
Hermiston may not be a cultural center of such activity, but here you can go to a rodeo in the morning and a car race in the afternoon and still have time to take the dogs on a walk to McNary Dam. Just a thought Smithsonian, why don't come you to northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington and take a look around? The landscape is breathtaking, in my humble opinion, and there are things to do here. Things that don't cost you an arm and a leg to take your family to and you can even camp at park where Lewis and Clark came by and even commented on, "... SW. 14 miles to a rock in a Lard. resembling a hat just below a rapid at
the lower Point of an Island in the Midl: of the river ..." [Clark, October 19, 1805, first draft]. <span style="font-size: small;"> No really, they did comment on Hat Rock and even Ship Rock. They missed the basalt Cayuse Sisters, which have coyote to thank for their existence. The park, the sisters, the Dam all free. And all amazing.</span><br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-65246290002724313392012-04-29T18:50:00.001-07:002012-04-29T18:50:38.845-07:00TrashI get really annoyed when on our walks around the apartment complex I have maneuver around dog poop. It is even more annoying now that the management has sprung for two poop stations so you don't even have to bring your own bags with you anymore. I really don't get people.<br />
I know trash is a big a deal, I see it all over the place here in Hermiston. Today on our walk at the dam, there was a lot of trash everywhere. Like people came out to fish or picnic and just left their trash behind. I think I am going to start bringing grocery bags with me and pick up what I see. It's bad enough that people don't pick up after their dogs, but to just drop pop cans and sandwich bags along the trail or by the ponds is ridiculous.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-22650422387772316062012-04-21T16:46:00.001-07:002012-04-21T16:46:21.057-07:00Turtles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think that one of them is hiding inside its shell. The walk was wonderful and I met Maureen and her dog whose name escapes my puny brain. We met last Saturday in nearly the same part of the park. Weird, and weirder still a guy fishing in the same spot that he was last Saturday. Ok, a fishing spot repeat really isn't that weird, just weird that we were all in the same place at the same time, again one week later.<br />
Two posts in one day! Yep, I may be doing somewhat better.<br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-11264022195287725162012-04-21T16:12:00.002-07:002012-04-21T16:12:51.407-07:00I would like my family with a side of baconThere is a blog I subscribe to that is named something like, "I'd like cheese over my entire family please." My really bad, for not being able to hold the name in my head with any type of certainty. I do love cheese, but I also love bacon. Ok, I love a lot of different kinds of food. Right now I am cooking, in my oven unfortunately, a beer can game hen. Since I still haven't forked over the cash for a BBQ at my new home, I have heat up my apartment. The good thing is the aroma is wonderful. I use Kona Brewery's Pipeline Porter when I can. It is only produced between October and January so I have to stock up. Which isn't hard since I am not a huge ale drinker. I think I have touted Pipeline Porter before, two of my favorite drinks a dark ale and COFFEE in a nice smooth ale. Yep you got it! COFFEE! I am not a fan of their ale with coconut, I do not like coconut at all. But hey, if anyone is reading this and they love coconut, Kona's ale for Spring is the one to buy. I don't the name but their website is, www.KonaBrewingCo.com, just in case your mouth is watering. Mine is not as I am drinking the rest of the ale that I didn't pour into the Pepsi can, so I guess it is actually Pepsi/beer can game hen. No, I rinsed out the can so no Pepsi in there, though now that I think on it.<br />
We went to the dam today, it is so nice and warm, perfect for walking. I saw my very first actual wild turtles, pictures to follow after I download them from my phone. They were sunning on a log in the middle of um... I think it is "Social Security" pond, don't ask me I was wondering the same thing. There was also a kid's fishing derby happening at one of the other ponds. A very populated park, but they still don't have Spillway Park open for the season. Weirdness.<br />
Since my apartment is already steaming I think I will make some mashed potatoes to with the game hen. No bacon today. Sad.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-66950674687981343322012-04-18T10:26:00.000-07:002012-04-18T10:26:42.915-07:00Hump DayIt is another beautiful day here in Hermiston and the other good part of this Wednesday? One week until payday! Yeah! My trip home for only two days sucked the money right out of my bank account. Not because I lavished presents on my beautiful grandchildren, but because of the darn gas prices! Here in Hermiston, at that time, gas was about 3.87. At Biggs junction 2 hours away it was 3.99. In Portland it was over $4. In Salem, hometown, it was 4.06! Craziness! When I drove through Hermiston to the dam over the weekend the gas at the Chevron station was 4.16 and the gas at the Shell station just down the road was holding steady at 3.99. According to my son Chevron has the "best" gas, but at nearly .20 cents more a gallon I'll stick with Shell or the Space Age station on 84 where, I think, the price was 3.89 last week.<br />
Argh! The good thing is, I don't really have to drive anywhere other than work so I don't have use my minuscule remaining dollars on gas. To the dam this weekend, avoiding the ticks if we can, and then the slide to payday.<br />
One of my colleagues asked me what I thought about working at Hermiston High School yesterday. The easy response, "A dream," with the qualifying how horrible my last year at Willamina really was. Having administrative support, even if it is a polite "no," is far superior to the feeling of no support but increasingly more time consuming demands with no training.<br />
But enough of the dark thoughts. I have found Hermiston School District to be very supportive, the community too. I relied on DonorsChoose.org to fund my classroom library in the past, as soon as I posted a project on the website I got a call from the principal that a school board member had seen my post and wanted to know why the school wasn't giving dictionaries and thesauruses. I was amazed, and also chastened by the concern, how very refreshing! But that is why I think I have found my dream position, now nearly at the end of my first school year, I feel invigorated to expand how my program works next year. I am not overwhelmed by mandates, I am motivated to do ever better by my students. As I always have been.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-47994664607162107072012-04-15T17:41:00.000-07:002012-04-15T17:41:00.526-07:00Lack of writingI really have no excuse why I haven't been writing lately. Just lazy. I am loving the Spring here in Hermiston! I am sitting here with my sliding glass door open and in a sleeveless shirt, how cool is that? I have just finished reading a wonderful book <i>A Silence of Mockingbirds the Memoir of a Murder</i> by Karen Zacharias. Ok, the subject matter isn't all that wonderful, but the read is.<br />
I am also reading <i>meeting faith An Inward Odyssey</i> by Faith Adiele. Also a good book, not as wonderful as Karen's, but the kind I like. It also has a whole different take on religion and faith, for me that makes it a good read.<br />
I am sitting here watching Mouse sink into the carpet face first as he falls into a deep sleep. As my colleague Becky says, "He is getting under my skin." I wanna squeeze that black pudgy guy every chance I get. Emma is splayed on the couch dreaming of going after some critter. Today we went to the Dam. I am leery of some spots there after our encounter with a horde of ticks on one of the trails. My head still itches when I think about it. Today we walked up to Spillway Park, which is still closed to cars, but seems open to those walk in. I really love walking up to the dam and seeing the water crash from the spillway to the river below. I let loose of Emma and Mouse, though they trailed their leashes. Emma went nuts dashing around the trees and Mouse. Poor guy can't keep up with her, his legs aren't designed that way. He finally gave up and laid down and panted as Emma dashed around. It was a great walk and we encountered no hordes of ticks.<br />
I always say this, but I will say it again, I am going to try and discipline myself to write more. Every day would be good, but probably won't happen. So until then, happy trails and eating and reading and writing.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-46267652722264527832012-02-18T20:27:00.000-08:002012-02-18T20:27:23.735-08:00Mouse and Emma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlLVI8CNX-NGzfQLfOrOalcf7QOvZHu034ajsfCah4xOQtEpa17-m1T9TQ9WwE7_u_1D0hrpivFh06wndMAIrrVAE0RMmZHcXbty89az-7IhkGtzQUz0xyn_YKwsYRiq-ITFQELmtbGY/s1600/IMG_6597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlLVI8CNX-NGzfQLfOrOalcf7QOvZHu034ajsfCah4xOQtEpa17-m1T9TQ9WwE7_u_1D0hrpivFh06wndMAIrrVAE0RMmZHcXbty89az-7IhkGtzQUz0xyn_YKwsYRiq-ITFQELmtbGY/s320/IMG_6597.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I was worried about Emma not liking Mouse, but she is slowly taking to him. Could be because he is male, or young, or blind, or just not confrontational. Though the little guy is pushing the limits, he is now going into Emma's crate and sneaking out her squeaky toys. Emma isn't a big squeaky toy kind of dog and she doesn't seem to care, though she keeps her eye on him when he is playing with her toys. He does have his own toy and this pay day he will get another. He'll also get another on the day he lose his balls, I don't fully sexed dogs or cats so he will have to go under the knife. I really don't understand why people keep their male dogs fully male. Ok, I personally think it is because if they are male and own a male dog they sort of have tranference issues about the whole emasculation thing. Get over it guys, if you aren't a breeder you don't need to have unneutered dogs or cats.<br />
The park is finally back to normal, with water, but whatever they are building in front of the dam is freaking me out. Maybe it is my love of science fiction, but it looks crazy. I think it is some kind of water pipe, maybe something to do with the fish ladder? It is just weird looking and they, of course, aren't letting people get close because of "construction." Yes they are constructing something, but really? I'm not going to walk out on the dock they built, it would be cool, but I think most, ok, maybe only a few won't walk out there. It's too bad there is no longer any, "Go farther only at your own risk." We are becoming a society of wussies. Every kid on the team has to get a trophy or star even if they sucked the entire game. What are we teaching kids? In real life there are winners and losers and if you are playing a sport someone is going to win and someone is going to lose and playing a game that praises both winner and loser is just stupid. It teaches our children nothing about pride in doing a good job, in working hard toward a goal even if you don't win and always doing your best and knowing that and doing better the next time out is what makes for champions. Getting praise for sucking at something isn't teaching anyone anything. Really it isn't. Unless it is teaching other countries why we can't make decisions about serious issues anymore because somebodies feelings might be hurt. I so got off track. Oh well.<br />
I'm not a political person, but this week's discussions regarding contraception is scaring me. I don't believe abortion should be used as birth control, but I do think birth control medications should be available to everyone. Having Senate Hearings without female voices about contraception is wrong-headed and sure to put Obama back in the White House. Yes I said it. While I don't think Obama believes abortion should be used as birth control, I do think he think believes it should be available to those who need it. Contraception is a personal issue and shouldn't be legislated or restricted by the government. As Catholic the issue is only in a long line of reasons why I no longer practice the Religion I was baptized into. But then I never took part in Confirmation, so maybe I'm not even a "real" Catholic. Which brings up another item on my list, sacraments as the only way in.<br />
I shall stop now, because I have gotten way off track and I only wanted to post a pic of Emma and Mouse.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmIkSaP96O8OB5nXhe-09WwDc9vDJcsY80V2T5rW4GonFl-rquy5VU870WwJeHuNC3uldLRyTxEYn1Y45n32ugfZd_dah5cYyDIh5zL8-VDx60V7Icj6nxghLXloJ_-9x6TY6tirYx7A/s1600/IMG_6600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmIkSaP96O8OB5nXhe-09WwDc9vDJcsY80V2T5rW4GonFl-rquy5VU870WwJeHuNC3uldLRyTxEYn1Y45n32ugfZd_dah5cYyDIh5zL8-VDx60V7Icj6nxghLXloJ_-9x6TY6tirYx7A/s320/IMG_6600.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-50576660445620873992012-02-04T10:15:00.000-08:002012-02-04T10:15:07.809-08:00Inclement weather days revisitedI thought I would share some photos of the ice rink that was my parking lot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf08R4fZYNVr3yI-q56AqthhrVqXvWE3RuiH8BsSwuL9XbaRNQ1pLMafvUb04oI7KZxU9ih8QkpEdYPCGETREBz-JW1KsokZKo5ab5-HtQc8nVqGkNh_vd1XsoIfcNu_fP3MXAzcFdPMo/s1600/IMG_6572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf08R4fZYNVr3yI-q56AqthhrVqXvWE3RuiH8BsSwuL9XbaRNQ1pLMafvUb04oI7KZxU9ih8QkpEdYPCGETREBz-JW1KsokZKo5ab5-HtQc8nVqGkNh_vd1XsoIfcNu_fP3MXAzcFdPMo/s320/IMG_6572.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpdTyQI90xXxi4whE60synk9BdMSVzmXvEwMeYUd2wh1U2AoVenRLHrfiNyZ5E0jcVi_vq84qO_Ir1pGCiUp-aSqKTx22GMQSyLi3dyYwsaMEXOhhHF-9yW6kH36gW-U3Rf9XgYQd1Ug/s1600/IMG_6576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpdTyQI90xXxi4whE60synk9BdMSVzmXvEwMeYUd2wh1U2AoVenRLHrfiNyZ5E0jcVi_vq84qO_Ir1pGCiUp-aSqKTx22GMQSyLi3dyYwsaMEXOhhHF-9yW6kH36gW-U3Rf9XgYQd1Ug/s320/IMG_6576.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrCWmfYtdzq8imdebRcj3U2iPEtlMrrdy8-IPRsmEwBR6SyOqWGO1qrhrC2C7xxW9YAwqX1TyY-oVwHPzDap3OkyVBn15zYnUcJByeldcXE4i2NNxAb_0Harj59x4ZCofJSCVrauy3Tg/s1600/IMG_6569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrCWmfYtdzq8imdebRcj3U2iPEtlMrrdy8-IPRsmEwBR6SyOqWGO1qrhrC2C7xxW9YAwqX1TyY-oVwHPzDap3OkyVBn15zYnUcJByeldcXE4i2NNxAb_0Harj59x4ZCofJSCVrauy3Tg/s320/IMG_6569.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The ice was crazy, you can see it shining in the second photo, sorry about the orientation. You can see how even dirt clots that fell off cars can't brave the ice and have slid down from a car to the center of the parking lot.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8270244780143954749.post-85390700448839801892012-02-01T20:11:00.000-08:002012-02-01T20:11:12.225-08:00McNary DamTook the dogs to the Dam today and low and behold the water in the ponds and creeks was nearly gone. Freaked me out, I was afraid poor Mouse would topple into the goo as walked over the bridges, but the guy did great. Nearly blind and he has yet to run into anything lethal. He just jets along, or tries to as Emma has to pee on every bush we pass by. He peed maybe twice and pooped once. Emma peed about 20 times and pooped twice, the last time all over her ass. She was a very unhappy camper on the drive home because I put her in Mouse's travel crate. I think she was more angry about Mouse looking at her from outside the crate.<br />
I'll post pictures of our new family member as soon as I connect my phone to my computer at home. The sunset was so very pretty tonight, cotton candy pink clouds, lined by silver grey interlopers. Still beautiful. I am really loving my new home here on the north east side of the mountains.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05701928728864559509noreply@blogger.com0