Alphabet Lists

I like Alphabet Lists especially to brainstorm topics.  My kids seem to enjoy them, too.  I always say if you can't think of a word skip it come back later.  If you have time try a dictionary or encyclopedia for ideas.

I like to write about the funny things in life.  Most of the time I have lots to draw on the last few days I struggled with topics.


So I decided to create a gratitude list

A - Angels

B- Books

C- Cell Phones, CT Scans

D - Doctors

E - Emergency Rooms

F - Friends

G - Gratitude

H - Husband

I - Inquiry

J -

K - Kidneys functioning ok

L - Laughter and the Little People

M - Miracles

N -

O

P - Prayer, perspective

Q - Quiet

R - Reflection

S - Supportive Friends

T - telephone conversations

U -

V - Volunteers

W - Warm days

X-Rays

Y -

Z - Z's



Ida one of my library volunteers told me she heard one of the little kids talking, "She's not here because Mr. Librarian got hurt."

I love my kids! They make me laugh. And now he has a new alias.

Spring Is Nearby

The other day on the way home I observed a couple of cottontails chasing each other.  This morning I passed a local park and noticed the wild ducks had already paired off.  I am thinking with our warm
weather the plants and animals think spring is here.  Yet it is only early March.  We often have snow through April.

I am ready for spring!  I long for the sunlight, the color.  I am ready to celebrate a new season.

Guardian Angel Working Overtime

March 10th was a day of miracles for my family.

Dan, my husband, and Fred, a friend were taking the 4 wheelers to ride up on Pryor Mountain. I called about 3 and they had stopped for a break and were sitting still.  The day had been warm.  He sounded good.

I was still at school when the phone rang at 4:25.  Dan said they were loading up and heading home would I have the mobility-scooter in the driveway?  He told me had a wreck on the 4-wheeler and was hurting really bad.  I packed up and headed home.  I moved the scooter to the drive way knowing he was still at least an hour away.  I was hoping that Fred was driving.

I called his cell at 4:46 hoping to get more information.  The call dropped. I called back.  Dan told me that he had been catapulted over a 15-20 foot embankment.  He was hurting and he was the one driving.  I told him I would talk to him when he got here.

5:48 called him again.  He was within a couple of blocks to the house.  Fred unloaded the 4-wheelers and unhooked the trailer.  Dan argued with me about going to the hospital.  Finally he agreed to go to same day clinic.  I left and didn't think about taking either a book or my ipad.

Fred's phone met water recently.  So Terri had called me.  I told her Dan had got hurt and were heading for the hospital.  She asked if he was ok.  I said he was going to live from the accident.  I was worried and scared and said I would wait till he got better to "kill him".

Fred drove us to the hospital.

Dan's son calls and Dan tells him what happened.  He gets checked in.  A series of medical personnel talk to him.  Each time a new medical person came in they asked him what happened.  Finally, they took him to the Emergency Room.   We met him there. They admitted him.  Fred waited in the waiting room.

They found a room for him - did vitals and then moved him to another room. 6:48 I text Dan's daughter. 7:25 I start calling subs. 7:41 I text my principal.  Eventually they take him to X-ray and for a CT scan.   I go tell Fred what's going on.

The tests come out positive - No broken bones, not internal injuries, no head injuries.   Fred drives us home it is now after 11:00.  We are home talking.  I am on the computer working on what still needs to be done.

Dan, "When I talked to you about the wreck, you didn't ask if the 4-Wheeler was ok."

"Honey, it wasn't even on my radar.  I was worried about you."

Yesterday Dan's Guardian Angels worked overtime.  We were truly blessed.

SOLC #10, Technology That's Good, No That's Bad

We are on cable.  Recently the remote had not been working.  I had replaced the batteries still nothing.  When I called my husband before heading home he mentioned that he had been to Charter and had gotten a new remote.  (That's good)

I asked, "How did it work?"

Silence, "I wish I had left the TV on before I left.  The girl said that it was preprogramed and to get the codes was easy.  I couldn't get anything to come on." (No, that's bad.)

My inner-voice says that is never a good sign when a tech person says its easy.  "I'll look at it when I get home."  I did.  there were instructions in English. (That's good.)  I didn't understand them. (No, that's bad.)

I played with the buttons.  The screen stayed black.  Dan says, "The girl said we could call and they would walk you through it."  (That's good.)

"Yah I know.  We have a DVD hooked to it.  I don't know enough to understand the wiring to be able to answer their questions."  (No, that's bad.)

"Dan, why don't you call Pat and see if he has time to come over?" (Dan's nephew-in-law) (That's good.)

He won't be home until later. (No, that's bad.)

Later he comes by.  Reads the instructions.   Gets a picture.  (That's good.)  Picture goes away. (No, that's bad.)  Continues to work.  Occasionally assisted by Tank our Dane/Lab mix.  (That's Good?)

Finally he is satisfied.  The picture stays on.  You can change channels.  (That's good.)  I asked what did you do?"

"I don't know."  (No, that's bad.)

I take the remote to make sure I can successfully change channels and turn the machine off and then turn it back on.  I try.  Some of the things I'm doing works.  Some not so much.  Finally I think I have the sequence down.

Yes, I can successfully run this remote. (That's good)  And there was a time in my youth that you could get up turn a knob and change the channel (all two) or turn it off.  The power of technology.

SOLC #9 - How to Play Marbles - Found Poem

Kids playing marbles,
Drawing a ring 
Throwing marbles in the ring.

The first player knuckles down.

Shoots his marble.  Hits both -
Marble and target,
Out of the ring!

Keep the marble and shoot again.

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ncl2004001138/PP/ 

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/fsa1997005704/PP/

Found Poem from – How to Play Marbles

Read more on FamilyEducation: http://fun.familyeducation.com/games/outdoor-games/45758.html#ixzz3TlN4xqFK

SOLC #8 - My Shadow Watches the Future

My Shadow Wears

A battered felt hat, with a wide brim
Trousers dusty from work 
Farmer boots. 
And he knows
The order of things.
His hair is like
Short spiky stalks from the stubble field.
My shadow is a worker 
Watching the future approach 
Finding unlikely solutions 
To common problems.



This picture can be found at the Library of  Congress http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/99614663/

The Child Sobbed

                                                         Sobbing Silently, the Child Cried

I asked the moon why it was blue
And it winked and laughed softly
I asked the water why it was blue
And the waves crashed
I asked the child why do you cry?
And it sobbed silently
I asked the shoes to dance
And it tap, tapped, shuffle, stepped
I asked the shoes to dance
And it did and the world echoed
I asked the rabbits why do you dance
And they sashayed and boxed
I asked myself where am I going
And the road twisted
The  shoes danced
                                                          The  child sobbed
                                                          And I kept quiet.
                                                          And everything was the same.    

          
*Photograph http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003654924/