...with the four year olds. One of which was not even remotely interested when I went to get him out of the classroom to read today. He simply said he did not want to read, or write or color, and wanted to go back to the classroom. You cannot Make Them, so I took him back.
The other one was really interested in the book. About animals and what they might really mean when they make their animal sounds. You know: moo, baa, hissss, quack. A cute and amusing book, with lots of repetition, to help the readers learn sounds, as well as identifying different animals and associating the word of the sound with that illustration. Asking us to imagine what that animal really meant when it said 'cluck' or 'neigh'.
I think this was the third week of a series of volunteers going to the school, retrieving a child from a pre-K classroom and reading a book to each little person. There is always a work sheet of some sort for them to color, draw a picture related to the material in the book, to reinforce what they have learned. Today, that little guy just was not interested. Maybe he thought they were doing something that was more fun in the classroom? If so, he did not miss much, because our session was pretty short.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Monday, February 6, 2017
mistooken...
...in thinking today would be an opportunity to find another sub. teaching job to add to the sadly miniscule number accomplished since mid-January. I had expected that I would be scrounging around to find a bit of work today that would get me to the half-way point towards the total needed of ten for the semester. And nearly committed myself to a position as a replacement for a kindergarten teacher when perusing the listings on Saturday night.
But something made me hesitate to follow through. When undecided, the best policy is: don't. It might have something to do with age and caution, but my thought is there will be fewer regrets if you listen to that small voice in your head that says: don't. Plus I had to work on Sunday, and put in a long day on that hard floor, so came home too tired to think. So I did not make any effort to see what sort of options there were to pick up a teaching job for today.
Because I need to educate myself on the Enviroscape to be able to demonstrate in a manner that will inform four classes of nine-year-olds. Teach them about the water cycle and how they can impact and preserve the purity of the water we drink. This large three dimensional landscape in a box has been sitting in the carport for a couple of weeks, waiting for me to find the time to devote to learning how it works.
I have looked at a Youtube or two, and understand the concept. But need to review and get the specifics down, now that I am up against the wall with a looming deadline. So I will 'practice' today, have a dress rehearsal. I agreed to go to the school on Tuesday morning and have a little show and tell with third graders.
That's my project for today. Along with some routine house work: laundry, floors, etc.
But something made me hesitate to follow through. When undecided, the best policy is: don't. It might have something to do with age and caution, but my thought is there will be fewer regrets if you listen to that small voice in your head that says: don't. Plus I had to work on Sunday, and put in a long day on that hard floor, so came home too tired to think. So I did not make any effort to see what sort of options there were to pick up a teaching job for today.
Because I need to educate myself on the Enviroscape to be able to demonstrate in a manner that will inform four classes of nine-year-olds. Teach them about the water cycle and how they can impact and preserve the purity of the water we drink. This large three dimensional landscape in a box has been sitting in the carport for a couple of weeks, waiting for me to find the time to devote to learning how it works.
I have looked at a Youtube or two, and understand the concept. But need to review and get the specifics down, now that I am up against the wall with a looming deadline. So I will 'practice' today, have a dress rehearsal. I agreed to go to the school on Tuesday morning and have a little show and tell with third graders.
That's my project for today. Along with some routine house work: laundry, floors, etc.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
millenium gate...
.. is actually a museum. A beautiful stone arch in the middle of the Atlantic Station development, housing a history of the state as well as quite a bit of information about the founders, early entrepreneurs of the city. It was like a Cliffs Notes version of Georgia history. Comprehensive, but condensed into a small space, starting with the native peoples who were here before the European invasion.
A good bit of the space inside the arch was devoted to telling the stories of many of the families who were original settlers in the city. People who came in as traveling salesmen, with their goods in wagons, likely bartering and trading more than receiving cash payments. Gradually accumulating financial stability to open shops and stores in small settlements in the area. Becoming the earliest merchants, building homes, growing families and providing all the accompanying establishments needed as their communities grew. Schools, churches, post office, livery, railroads and other industries to meet the needs of the villages as they grew and spread. Interesting note: many of the street and place names date from the earliest European inhabitants who built homes and businesses, where there were fords to cross creeks and rivers: Howell's Mill, Pace's Ferry.
Including, after the devastating fire in the 1860's destroyed stores, factories and warehouses that were providing supplies for the Army, the Atlanta Foundry. The foundry was rebuilt and expanded to become Atlantic Steel Industries. After the business closed, and the site was sitting unused, it was purchased by a group of investors, who spent millions to clean it up enough to meet federal EPA demands before redevelopment. The area is now the multi-use development of Atlantic Station with hundreds of homes, eateries and retails stores, spread out across the acres where a steel manufacturing business once thrived.
In talking to the guy, Michael, who let us in, we found there is event space available for rent. I think he said he was the business manager, a recent graduate from GA Tech. He would not allow us up in the arch, where the party space is located, due to some (secret) special event prep. going on. This place has been on my bucket list since I first noticed it a couple of years ago. It sits in a beautifully landscaped park in the median, with traffic whizzing around all day and night. Located right in the middle of the street, one of those things you could drive by daily and never really notice: certainly not realizing it houses some fascinating history and family artifacts from centuries past.
A nifty little hidden gem, right there in the middle of the commercial/residential development. Well worth the price of admission. Glad I went, and since I could not take it all in, expect I will go back again.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
thought-full quote...
...from a most unlikely source. I was in a business office, speaking to an employee and read this posted on her wall. It was so well-worded, succinct, and useful if you take it to heart. I asked if I might have a copy. It's the sort of thing you find in some small publication, tiny book of inspirational messages designed to motivate you to 'reach higher than your grasp'.
When I got home and looked at it again, I was quite surprised to discover the source, written in small type at the end of the larger-font message. If you are familiar with American culture, it would seem most unlikely this individual would have something so thought-y and profound to say about life circumstances. Reminding us there is usually much more to a person than appearance, and to judge someone on sight, what you see on the surface, is always a mistake. We do not know the circumstances, back story or goals of anyone on first introduction. Therefore, misjudgments will easily cause us to jump to inappropriate conclusions if we take others at face value, making assumptions based on initial impressions.
"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
I am not 100% in agreement with all the above. It seems to be my nature to trust people. Meaning I am hopeful to never immediately assume the worst - choosing to not think the planet's population basically dishonest, grifters from the get-go. But there is a lot of truth in the quote. Much of it is spot-on accurate, though only fully understood in retrospect.
There is another quote, though I cannot relate verbatim, that has been hanging around in my brain for years. I read it in a book by Tony Hillerman, when I was so fascinated with his characters I consumed everything he wrote . Something like: 'If you think things happen at random, you are looking at life from the wrong perspective.'
The above quote (in bold print) is from Marilyn Monroe.
When I got home and looked at it again, I was quite surprised to discover the source, written in small type at the end of the larger-font message. If you are familiar with American culture, it would seem most unlikely this individual would have something so thought-y and profound to say about life circumstances. Reminding us there is usually much more to a person than appearance, and to judge someone on sight, what you see on the surface, is always a mistake. We do not know the circumstances, back story or goals of anyone on first introduction. Therefore, misjudgments will easily cause us to jump to inappropriate conclusions if we take others at face value, making assumptions based on initial impressions.
"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
I am not 100% in agreement with all the above. It seems to be my nature to trust people. Meaning I am hopeful to never immediately assume the worst - choosing to not think the planet's population basically dishonest, grifters from the get-go. But there is a lot of truth in the quote. Much of it is spot-on accurate, though only fully understood in retrospect.
There is another quote, though I cannot relate verbatim, that has been hanging around in my brain for years. I read it in a book by Tony Hillerman, when I was so fascinated with his characters I consumed everything he wrote . Something like: 'If you think things happen at random, you are looking at life from the wrong perspective.'
The above quote (in bold print) is from Marilyn Monroe.
Friday, February 3, 2017
half-a-job...
...is what I have today. I found a position for going to substitute teach in a kindergarten classroom, but it is only for a half day. It would be nice to believe I will get 'credit' for a whole day, but expect it will only add up to 4 1/2 towards the minimum of ten. Not so much a concern that the pay for the effort will amount to less that what is granted for eight hours in the classroom. I'd almost rather not get the funds, and be granted an acknowledgement it is a full day of work, inching closer to the goal.
I don't have to be there until noon, which is unusual. Most of the half day positions will have the replacement on the job early in the day, and leaving at twelve o'clock. But this one is twelve to three. With only three hours of being on the premises, no hope of it qualifying as an entire day towards ten. Hopefully I will find something I can tolerate on Monday, inching closer to getting this monkey off my back.
I don't have to be there until noon, which is unusual. Most of the half day positions will have the replacement on the job early in the day, and leaving at twelve o'clock. But this one is twelve to three. With only three hours of being on the premises, no hope of it qualifying as an entire day towards ten. Hopefully I will find something I can tolerate on Monday, inching closer to getting this monkey off my back.
he did it again...
...making me think the (now adult) children are not the only ones who are convinced you can walk in the back yard and pick more fresh off the tree. If your funds run low, just go get more at the ATM, right? Out of money? Step out the door and harvest another crop.
I am beginning to think that they might have absorbed that 'let's just go pick more' lesson from the Man Who Lives Here. He is such a consummate worry-wart there is no need to ask if he has concerns about finances - he never runs out of something to fret about. Personally, I confess to being a little towards the 'Pollyanna' end of the scale (or maybe 'Scarlett' would be more apropos) but there is no doubt the Man Who Lives Here can dream up new things to add to his list of fret-worthy items.
He knew before the end of the year he was in need of a set of tires for his over-large gas-hog vehicle. Had mentioned he would be in the market for tires, plus brakes, as the light on the dash was often coming on to alert about a problem with braking system. We had lots of rain early in the year, so I asked: have you made a tire purchase? He confessed to dragging his feet on the matter. I suggested he should do some pricing, what the younger generation calls 'research' (though they do it on the Internet, and us geezers tend to drive all over town for comparisons.)
I was insistent he should talk to the man at the tire store where I get oil changes and the like. He agreed and did, got an estimate, but then went to the store owned by a man he likes to think of as 'good friend', and asked if they would match that remarkably good price. They agreed, and he bought his tires at the price my tire guy offered. Instead of buying from my tire guy, who obviously really wanted his business. If he had not had that price for comparison, I expect he would have paid several hundred dollars more.
So, now he decided to get the brake work done. And went to the dealership to have computer diagnostics/evaluation. He reported they said it would take five hundred dollars to get the problem resolved, and ordered a replacement part. When I heard this story I said: you should price it around, now that you know what the problem is. He replied: 'no, I've already paid for the part'. I suggested that 'yes he could' if he would get what he had purchased and take it someplace else to have it installed, thus avoiding a $60 an hour labor fee.
But what do I know? Apparently, nothing. It's done. He admitted back in the fall when he started talking about needing to invest funds in his vehicle the money was in hand, he just did not want to spend it. Then said he was thinking about buying another van, instead of spending a little on the one that is already paid for. What do I know? Apparently, a minuscule amount, as he is still driving he vehicle that is paid for, instead of trading like he planned....
I am beginning to think that they might have absorbed that 'let's just go pick more' lesson from the Man Who Lives Here. He is such a consummate worry-wart there is no need to ask if he has concerns about finances - he never runs out of something to fret about. Personally, I confess to being a little towards the 'Pollyanna' end of the scale (or maybe 'Scarlett' would be more apropos) but there is no doubt the Man Who Lives Here can dream up new things to add to his list of fret-worthy items.
He knew before the end of the year he was in need of a set of tires for his over-large gas-hog vehicle. Had mentioned he would be in the market for tires, plus brakes, as the light on the dash was often coming on to alert about a problem with braking system. We had lots of rain early in the year, so I asked: have you made a tire purchase? He confessed to dragging his feet on the matter. I suggested he should do some pricing, what the younger generation calls 'research' (though they do it on the Internet, and us geezers tend to drive all over town for comparisons.)
I was insistent he should talk to the man at the tire store where I get oil changes and the like. He agreed and did, got an estimate, but then went to the store owned by a man he likes to think of as 'good friend', and asked if they would match that remarkably good price. They agreed, and he bought his tires at the price my tire guy offered. Instead of buying from my tire guy, who obviously really wanted his business. If he had not had that price for comparison, I expect he would have paid several hundred dollars more.
So, now he decided to get the brake work done. And went to the dealership to have computer diagnostics/evaluation. He reported they said it would take five hundred dollars to get the problem resolved, and ordered a replacement part. When I heard this story I said: you should price it around, now that you know what the problem is. He replied: 'no, I've already paid for the part'. I suggested that 'yes he could' if he would get what he had purchased and take it someplace else to have it installed, thus avoiding a $60 an hour labor fee.
But what do I know? Apparently, nothing. It's done. He admitted back in the fall when he started talking about needing to invest funds in his vehicle the money was in hand, he just did not want to spend it. Then said he was thinking about buying another van, instead of spending a little on the one that is already paid for. What do I know? Apparently, a minuscule amount, as he is still driving he vehicle that is paid for, instead of trading like he planned....
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
wondering if...
.. it.is possible for a person to volunteer her tail off? If so, I came pretty close today, but I just looked to be sure, and find that my backside is still right where it was this morning. I went to work at 5:00 a.m., to get the three hours I gave up yesterday. Tuesday was a day when there were various opportunities on my calendar, things I had agreed to when I thought I would only be working one day a week for the entire month. Three time/hours were there for the taking, so I took it. Went in again early today to get that extra time on my paycheck.
Left work at 8:30, to go to the elementary school to read the 'Silly Sally' book with a couple of four year olds. And then went back home. To meet with the man who supervises the landscaping at the golf course across the street. Talking about some thoughts I had for adding some perennials and colorful blooms to the area around the sign, by the entrance. He will get some of his 'free labor' (prison trustees) to trim some of the overgrown shrubbery back. I will put out the word and round up some plants people are ready to divide and relocate them in the bed around the sign.
Met a friend for lunch and laughs. Then I went to Sam's Club to do the shoppping for weekly church needs, delivered and had a quick visit with an amusing friend on staff. Sounds like a busy day, huh? I came home and took a nap!
Went back downtown to the Girl Scout office for a Gold Awards introduction/training. There were eight teens there, high-school-aged girls there who are thinking they might want to pursue higher awards. Ready to know how to start the process and what to do. I thought it was very interesting, informative. Not enough for me to wish I was fifteen again, but helpful for knowing how the program works. I hope those young people will want to make time in their busy lives and put forth the effort to invest in this program. Pretty impressive when they do achieve, reach that goal.
So: literacy tutor, church shopper, Girl Scout volunteer. Busy day.
Left work at 8:30, to go to the elementary school to read the 'Silly Sally' book with a couple of four year olds. And then went back home. To meet with the man who supervises the landscaping at the golf course across the street. Talking about some thoughts I had for adding some perennials and colorful blooms to the area around the sign, by the entrance. He will get some of his 'free labor' (prison trustees) to trim some of the overgrown shrubbery back. I will put out the word and round up some plants people are ready to divide and relocate them in the bed around the sign.
Met a friend for lunch and laughs. Then I went to Sam's Club to do the shoppping for weekly church needs, delivered and had a quick visit with an amusing friend on staff. Sounds like a busy day, huh? I came home and took a nap!
Went back downtown to the Girl Scout office for a Gold Awards introduction/training. There were eight teens there, high-school-aged girls there who are thinking they might want to pursue higher awards. Ready to know how to start the process and what to do. I thought it was very interesting, informative. Not enough for me to wish I was fifteen again, but helpful for knowing how the program works. I hope those young people will want to make time in their busy lives and put forth the effort to invest in this program. Pretty impressive when they do achieve, reach that goal.
So: literacy tutor, church shopper, Girl Scout volunteer. Busy day.
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