Perspective

Pausing on this Thanksgiving Weekend, I fell into some deep thought.

How grateful I am to be alive. 
Now, in the 21st Century.
Here, in America.
To be educated.
To be able to be independent.
To be healthy.
To be strong-willed and stubborn.
To be a provider.
To be quirky.
To be intelligent.
To be sarcastic.
To be myself.

I have watched countless documentaries, videos, History Channel specials, movies to remind myself of the horrors that humans can place on each other. 

What destruction Mother Nature can commit.
What illness and disease can do to a population.
What emotional turmoil can be created by one person's words.
What constant verbal abuse can do to a child.

Not that these things don't happen here, today, in our society - but I am thankful that we have some safeties in place to prevent and protect when they do.

Thank you America for my freedoms - for being a person, a woman, a parent, a teacher, and an independent thinker.  I appreciate those who came before me to pave the way for me to be me.

Now, how will I pave the way for the next generation...

Thank You Veterans

Thank you to all the Veterans who sacrificed time, family, safety, health and their lives so that ours may be free.   

God Bless America!

Blessings

My life is full of blessings, and I wish that those blessings would compensate for the stresses.
I'm going to work on documenting those blessings in these posts.

• I'm blessed with two enthusiastic and creative boys.  Even when one prefers to be holed up in his room designing a new CosPlay outfit and the other can quote the Disney Channel at the drop of a hat.  One of these days they won't want to snuggle with their mom... and they'll grow up, but I want them to always know how much they mean to me!
• I'm blessed with a boyfriend who is doing his best to provide for our family.  A little axe welding in the side yard has resulted in several cords of wood ready for the newly installed wood stove this winter.
• I'm blessed with parents who support me in all of my endeavors - including setting up and tearing down my craft booth this weekend and letting my kiddos hang out at 'the farm' rather than sit with me.
• I'm blessed with the ability to explain difficult math concepts to reluctant students.  Even when they don't want to listen... at all!
• I'm blessed with colleagues who give of themselves more than they get.  And often don't know how much they are appreciated.
• I'm blessed with a roof over my head that provides me a safe haven.  
• I'm blessed with good health - and should remind myself of that every day!

Yes, I'm blessed with many things - and need to focus on those to help get through those tough times.

Bourbon Orleans - Rest In Paws

It amazes me how I am mourning the loss of my dog.  I suppose I'm over-analyzing things, but having to make the decision to euthanize her was by far, the hardest choice I've had to make.

Her appetite got the best of her.  She was left on my sister's New Orleans' front porch, hooked up to Domino Dog's tether while my then-husband and 3 year old son were visiting.  Natalie said it was fate, that she was meant to be our dog since we 'found' her on our sixth anniversary.  Therefore, she, once I agreed, went on the quest to bring her to us.

Her arrival later that summer was coordinated with the airlines and gave Natalie an excuse to come home to visit.  Our older dog, Daisy, didn't quite know what to think of the new arrival.  Our cat had been killed by a car the previous fall and in my opinion, she enjoyed being an 'only pet'... but three-year-old Austin was ecstatic.  We named her "Bourbon Orleans" in honor of the city she was found in...and people who meet her thought she was a 'Katrina' Dog (or a Dixie Dog)... even though she wasn't.

Occasionally, my parents would take both Bourbon and Daisy to 'the Farm'.  Walks with my dad allowed her to experience new smells from the 'wilderness' of Petersham, even a run in with a bear during a walk.  Fortunately, the bear was at the end of the road and Bourbon was following the scent of a chipmunk and didn't even see the bear.  Not quite sure if she would have registered what it was - a big dog, maybe?  She did venture into my neighbor's horse pen one time.  It only took one hoof to the head for her to realize that a horse isn't something to mess with.  She also learned quickly after rolling in a turtle carcass... and being sprayed by a skunk.  Most animal mishaps only occured once.  

Her insatiable appetite was her demise.  I believe she was either a runt of her litter or underfed in her first six months, as she gobbled up any food she could find, even if it was out of someone's hand, the trash, or her sister's dinner.  She was stealthy, too.  Our younger son, Cameron, would have food in one hand, turn to the right, and Bourbon would sneak in on the left.  When I forgot my lunch on the counter, she helped herself to it while we were gone.  She artfully ate an entire plate of devilled eggs one Easter - we felt the wrath of those eggs the rest of the week as her digestive system reminded us of them...  I also think she enjoyed the Filet Mignon she stole from the counter, and rolled in on the dining room carpet.  She slept for two days after that feast.  I think that her girth was partly due to the fact that she would eat her food, then sneak upstairs to eat Daisy's food.  Daisy was wasting away and Bourbon was doubling in size.  Until we caught on to her act.  We dubbed her the 'Sausage Dog'.  However, years of damage had already been done.  Her liver failed, diabetes surged, and in the last two weeks, she lost seven pounds, wouldn't eat and was extremely lethargic.  Her addiction to food

I knew she wasn't herself, because the typically was the fierce barker.  In the past, she forced the mailman substitute to leave a note saying he wouldn't leave the mail unless the door was closed (the glass storm door didn't keep the fierce dog at bay).  She would let us know whenever someone was at the door or in the driveway.  We really didn't need a doorbell.  However, if you entered the house, she'd run the other way.  Guard dog - well, maybe not.  But as long as she was in the safety of her own yard or house, she let everyone know.  Including our neighborhood dogs as they paraded around the block. 

Older son Austin wanted to ensure that Bourbon had her 'Last Walk' around the block.  Felt a bit like the Green Mile...and certainly it was the farthest Bourbon had walked in the last two weeks.  But she made it, and I'm glad that Austin got to be a part of that.  They didn't come with me to the vet, and I'm glad that was the case.

I'm thankful for the time you spent with us Bourbon.  Please enjoy Heaven chasing Pogo Cat with Domino Dog and going on a walk with Grandpa Allen in his 'Rascal'.

Mother Nature's Wrath

Dramatic weather is hitting the world all over.  Tornadoes in Kansas and the first Tropical Storm of the season (two weeks early...), wildfire season has hit in Arizona and strong earthquakes in Italy that took out old brick buildings as well as new steel factories.  According to the news, thankfully, only four deaths have been reported in ALL of these... though I'm sure the fatalities will increase in the Earthquake affected area.  Of course, this is giving me pause to be thankful of where I am, and also to gather my supplies for the crazy summer season... 

The snowfall of the 2010-2011 winter was record-breaking and the crazy storm of last Halloween certainly caught us off guard so you would think that I've gotten all my ducks in a row and am ready for the carnage Mother Nature will throw our way, but alas...I'm behind the eight ball.

Though it's summer, I am working on getting a wood-burning fireplace insert and the eco-biobricks (paper & wood pulp smashed into a cylindrical shape) ready for fall and prepping the garden soil for the tomatoes and all.  I hope to expand the canning to strawberry jelly and more pickled veggies... hopefully to even get the pressure cooker going for chili and stews.  We'll see how things go and if I can get the items ready before the power goes out or the tornado touches down or the snow falls...

STEM is the wave of the future!

STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, is the future.  As I always laugh about, the geeks of the world will take over the world...and they certainly are!  How can we excite kids about science and technology?  How can we spark that enthusiasm and curiosity for learning?

Hands on methods and connecting to student's real life work.  The Boy Scouts STEM-NOVA project seems to be doing that by connecting Merit Badges and Technology and Career Expos for their ranks.  I'm very curious to check out these Expos, especially since they're not too far from my house.  I also am constantly looking for outlets for my own older scout, who's not the 'sportsy' or 'outdoorsy' guy, but is coming into his own - as he's finding things he connects to... he's constantly surprising me, and himself!

Stress

I am quite overwhelmed and need a stress release.

I get a hug and a kiss from my kiddo and that makes me soooooo happy.

I realize that work and it's related items are exhausting, but it's so nice to be appreciated.

Now...I have to get back to my piles of goodies...(ie: papers)