Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Personalized Cubicle

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How does a cubicle-dweller give the space an personal touch? We teachers are more accustomed to decorating an entire classroom with the help of students. It’s a little different when the class is virtual. My cubicle has a few odd pieces on the walls.

Cookie Fortunes!

My Favorite Forgotten Terms

My Favorite Forgotten Terms

Select pages from my desk calendar grace one wall. Coworkers sometimes stop in to read my new words and the comments I’ve added.

Forgotten English: The Calendar

Here it is: the cover to the calendar. If you can’t quite see it, the word of the day was “flurrigigs” the day I took the picture. Don’t recognize the word? Look it up: if you can.

Meanwhile, I’ll reboot the computer one more time and plan to pick up a Barrett for Governor sign after school. Did you really think I’d make it through an entire post without mentioning the looming election? Hah. 

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What will I tell the grandkids?

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It was 2011 or 2012, you youngsters. I forget which year, but I can never forget what went down. And oh, boy, did it go down! 

Wisconsin’s newly elected governor decided to take a piece out of all the people who worked for the state in any way, shape, or form. His goal was to destroy our unions’ rights to bargain, to cooperate with our employers and negotiate. He focused in on teachers, but we (yes, that included me back in the day) weren’t alone by any means. All public employees began to feel like public enemies as he vilified (look it up, honey, there are still dictionaries in this home) vilified us for daring to earn a living from a public source, a.k.a. tax monies, instead of a private company.

As the recently-elected Governor Walker introduced and tried to pass his union-busting bill, claiming it was a budget issue, he needed a quorum in order to call for a vote. Sweetheart, do you know what a quorum means? No? What are they teaching these days…. never mind. A quorum is a set minimum number of people in a voting group who need to be present in order to vote on important issues. Budget issues, those that involve money, need a quorum. If that quorum is not present, the bill cannot go to a vote. 

So, my dears, in order to prevent this bill from reaching the floor for a vote, the Democrats in our state senate made a run for the border. They traveled to Illinois so the Wisconsin state police couldn’t come after them and force them to come back. Without the Democrats, the Republicans had their hands tied. They had to just sit there and look smug while the protests raged in and around the capitol. Clever, eh? It’s not that first time in history this runaway tactic was used, either. But back to Wisconsin’s drama –

Walker, it turned out, was acting as a puppet for his billionaire backers and a dangerous think tank named Alec. Or was the billionaire named Alec?  But anyway, he wasn’t doing his own thinking. His goals included not just destroying public unions, but putting women’s rights back a good forty years. His motto was Divide and Conquer. 

So what did we do? We did what Wisconsinites have always done: we looked at our progressive history, said to that guy in Madison, “Oh, no you don’t!” and we took to the streets. Thousands marched on Madison. Hundreds more participated in local marches and demonstrations. Ask your elderly neighbors about the demonstrations in downtown Appleburg. They were there. They were there sending a message: “Governor Walker’s got to go. This isn’t Wisconsin. If he thinks the citizens of our fair state are going to just lie down and go gently into that good night, he’s dead wrong. We won’t go quietly. In fact, we won’t go at all.”

And that’s when the recall effort began. 

Okay, kidlets, it’s time for my nap. I’ll tell you later about the tactics. It was an exciting and scary time to live in Wisconsin…zzz… it was the best of times, it was the worst of times…zzz. 

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Pure Matters –

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Early last week, a package was on the porch: a product review sample left by FedEx. While overnight shipping has a significant carbon footprint, I understand the need for marketers to get their products out to their bloggers quickly. Within its protective packaging, I found small samples, a cloth shopping bag, and two full-sized bottles of product.

I sampled the combination pro- and pre-biotic for digestive health. I gave the kids’ multi-vitamins to La Petite. She’s 25, but she’s still my kid.

I grumbled about the over-packaging, and then I settled down to read the enclosed information in order to write a review. When I stopped grumbling and actually read the information, I decided that the combination pre-biotic and pro-biotic was safe for me to take and might just counteract the, um, er, stomach distress I’d been feeling lately. Replacing Wisconsin’s rogue governor will make my stomach feel better, too, but our chance to do that is still 22 days off. I’ll stick to Pure Matters to regulate my digestive health.

This product is a Complete Biotic, meaning it’s both prebiotic and probiotic. Probiotics replenish the good bacteria in the digestive tract. One commonly known probiotic is lactobacillus sporogenes, or the live bacteria that makes yogurt, well, yogurt. Prebiotics are supplements that help support the growth of probiotics. Pure Matters’ product is shelf stable, too.

Pure Matters also sent a few sample packs. Their gummi-style vitamins for kids are delicious. I did not try the sleep formula or the green tea extract yet.

Pure Matters sent me samples in order to facilitate my review. I had reservations about their over-packaging, but I liked the product in the box. In the end, I guess that’s what matters. 

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Romney: none so blind

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My son, known to readers as Amigo, stands with his white cane and tells a good joke.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, isn’t funny. Mitt is gaining notoriety for his bullying behavior in high school, behavior he calls “dumb things.” I’d take it farther than just dumb or dumber.

He allegedly cut off a fellow student’s hair. No matter what the reason, holding a person down while cutting his or her hair sounds like assault to me. If Mitt instigated this attack because he suspected the classmate was gay, this assault falls into the hate crime catalog.

Mitt might claim ignorance with the excuse that he was a prankster, one who was mischievous and liked to push boundaries. Gang-tackling a classmate and cutting his hair while he cried and screamed is more than pushing boundaries. It’s mean. It’s hurtful. It’s traumatic. None of the members of this wolf-pack can pretend they didn’t know they were hurting their classmate. I said he might claim ignorance; I didn’t say anyone would believe it.

There’s a sequel to this story we might call The Tale of Mean Mitt. While at the same privileged private boarding school, Mitt the Mean tricked a blind teacher into walking into a closed door – while other students laughed. He took advantage of a disability for his entertainment. .

So far we’ve established that the teen Mitt preyed on young men with long hair and took pleasure in the discomfort of disabled adults. Do you see where I’m going, readers? I’m sure you can.

I’m both a disabled adult and a teacher. I’ve taught long enough to notice that a person’s character shows in his interactions with those he considers his inferiors. Think about it. Teen Mitt didn’t respect people who were gay or people who were blind. The adult Mitt doesn’t respect people who are poor or people who are female. I’d wager a guess that he hasn’t changed his mind about long-haired men or disabled teachers, either.

Friends and family are saying Mitt “…doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.” I don’t believe them. I don’t want him near me or near my blind son. And I most certainly don’t want him in the White House.

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The Compostermom Returns

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I know some of you are thinking “Daisy! Enough of the political posts already! How’s your garden?” While I ponder the symbolism of the grass roots that can’t be contained…. okay, I’m back in the dirt.

We had major rains for several days, bringing Lake Okaybyme back to the backyard. After a few breezy days and dry nights, Lake Okaybyme and its counterpart, Swamp NotsoOkaybyme, have receded far enough that I can wade through the grassland and reach the compost bin. I found, unfortunately, that someone small with opposable thumbs had gotten to the bin first. This bandit had pulled open the access panel and spilled decomposed matter and some not-yet-compost all over the ground. Growl. To make matters worse, the masked avenger had opened the opposite access panel from its previous forays into my compost.

In more than ten years of composting, last year was the first time I’ve ever had a problem with a fuzzball or two in black, white, and gray. Now they’re back, the dang varmints. I told you last year, you. Get outta my compost, punk!

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Rock Garden Re-do: The Finale

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Okay, readers. All of you who doubted me: here it is. The finished rock garden! Keep in mind that the soil in the foreground will host more mums, and the small patch next to the porch is home to daffodils and lilies. I didn’t feel like I needed the rocks to be deep; they just needed to cover the barriers and the space.

On the right and toward the left center are two planters that fit the rock garden decor theme. I’ll find something appropriate for those two later – after the danger of frost is (mostly) past.

Oh, you wanted a close-up? Sorry. I thought the long shots would do. I’m sure I’ll post a coda later in the planting season. After all, gardening truly rocks.

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>Concussion: more than a headache

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>There they were, my Green Bay Packers, getting close to the end zone and scaring the New England Patriots because a touchdown would have put the Packers in the lead. Then Matt Flynn’s pass was tipped…

Readers, I hear your questions. “Matt Flynn? Daisy, what are you talking about? Aaron Rodgers was the starting quarterback for the fantastic Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, not Flynn, was the MVP in that incredible Super Bowl win!”
Yes, readers. Aaron Rodgers, starting quarterback, had been hit hard in the helmet the previous week – hard enough to suffer a concussion. He hadn’t recovered sufficiently to be cleared to play, so Matt Flynn, his back-up, started in his place.
Concussion is the term for an injury: an injury to the brain. When the brain is shaken, spun, or suffers a blow (such as a blow to the football helmet), it moves rapidly – too rapidly – inside the skull. Symptoms of concussion vary, but some key signs of a concussion are:
  • appears dazed or confused
  • can’t remember events immediately after or prior to the hit or fall
  • double or blurry vision
  • concentration or memory problems
  • any change in the athlete’s thinking, behavior, or physical functioning
I didn’t list loss of consciousness, although even a momentary loss of consciousness is one of the most common clues that a concussion has occurred, because a concussion doesn’t always result in blacking out. It’s not safe to assume that a young athlete is “fine” because he or she didn’t see stars or pass out. Even a “bell-ringer” or a “ding” to the brain can be serious.
In fact, my caution list is woefully short. Since many young children play under inexperienced or untrained coaches, parents shoulder the burden of watching over their children’s safety.
Aaron Rodgers had the entire Packers’ training staff examining and treating him, including doctors and physical therapists and professionally trained coaches. Young athletes don’t have that advantage. The CDC has several resources aimed at coaches, teachers & school personnel, and parents.
If the Super Bowl MVP can miss a game in order to recover from a concussion, anyone can. It’s better to miss one game than the whole season.
This is not a paid post. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) asked me to help publicize this important topic. If you’d like more information, the CDC’s home page for Concussion is here.

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>Gifts that matter – gifts that speak

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>I’ve mentioned the Nature Conservancy.

I’ve blogged about Mother Nature Network’s creative gifts for quirky people.

Change.org has a holiday gift guide that outdoes them all.

The guide starts with five categories: Gifts that Create Change, How to shop Ethically and Responsibly, Giving Volunteer Time and Donations as gifts, Cause-Specific gift guides, and (in case anything was left out of the others) Additional Resources.

I started with the Cause-Specific guides and checked out the Sustainable Food Gift Guide to see how I can support the locavore philosophy at Christmas. There are five links for information – food sources within a 100 mile radius, guides by zip code, and more. I moved into the next category, a “random but good assortment” of “food products and paraphernalia.” Foodie t-shirts or bird-friendly coffee? Organic chocolate or heirloom beans? There’s so much to choose from, it made me hungry!

The final section makes the random paraphernalia seem frivolous. Here, you’ll find links to organizations like Heifer International, Oxfam, and the Mercy Corps.

If you have more time than money to give, this page also gives ideas for volunteering to make a difference. Community gardens, soup kitchens, and organic farms can use assistance at times. I would add to that: food pantries, adopt-a-family programs, and homeless shelters.

About ten years ago a wealthy family gave me (their son’s science teacher) a unique gift; in my name, they donated school supplies to a school in India. What a thoughtful and generous investment!

So go, if your shopping isn’t done, and check out Change.org. You might find it a good respite from the holiday hoopla. If nothing else, it puts our privileged lifestyle in perspective.

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>Are your favorite books on the Banned lists?

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>I recently dropped out of several committee assignments at school. One committee slot I preserved is the Book Challenge Committee. I get to read and review and defend any book that is challenged by a parent at school. After reading this guest post, I think Josh would be right at home on that committee with me and my colleagues. I’m excited to introduce his guest post on Compost Happens.

Three Books I Couldn’t Put Down And What They Have In Common (or not)
by Josh Hanagarne, World’s Strongest Librarian

I’m constantly getting asked for lists of my favorite books. When I give them, people are often surprised by how scattered the lists are. There’s very little apparent rhyme or reason—it can be hard to draw connections between the books I love.

Let’s try to connect some dots. Here are three books I could not put down.

1. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding

You probably know the story. A large group of children are stranded on an island after a plane crash. They try to govern themselves for a while but it doesn’t go too well. Eventually they splinter into two groups—you could call them the “savages” and the “civilized.”

By the end of the book one group is actually trying to kill the other. Now remember, we’re talking about children here. This is why someone is always trying to remove Lord Of The Flies from library shelves. And I get it, to a point: this is nasty stuff.

And yet, I read this book every year. I’m not interested in the Cold War parallels or the lofty commentary on violence, our primitive instincts, the failure of governments, etc.

So…why? Why do I love it? I just do. I read it every year because I can’t figure out how not to.

2. Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Again, this is one I read every single year. If there is a book with more hidden meaning out there, I haven’t found it. Lewis Carroll was a mathematician, a lover of riddles, a playful wordsmith, and a genius. It’s that simple.

It’s fun.

I can flip to any page of this book at any time and find something new. Something that makes me say, “Hmm…” Or that makes me laugh out loud.

I love the art. I love the images. The characters are, for me, the most unforgettable and striking in all of literature.

The Caterpillar with the hookah. The White Rabbit. The Queen of Hearts. The Cheshire Cat. Just thinking about it again makes me smile and also makes my hair stand on end.

Oh, and this book was banned as well, in China. Seems they didn’t take kindly to talking animals. Representing animals as having human traits is a big no-no.

3. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Catch-22 sort of has a story, but that’s not the point at all. The experience of reading it is all that matters. I’ve never been so constantly surprised on every page. Or even in every paragraph. This book took a long time for Heller to write, and it shows in the craftsmanship.

I read it at least once a year because, again—I can’t figure out how not to. Catch-22 makes me feel good. It’s that simple.

It also happens to be the funniest thing I’ve ever read, with the possible exception of A Confederacy Of Dunces. But this is so hard to talk about coherently—I know as many people hate Catch-22 as those who love it. There are people who think it is the least funny thing they’ve ever read.

The story, as it were, is about a group of people during World War II. Seriously, that’s about it. But what a group of people! Catch-22 is satire personified. Every single character is an indictment of some ludicrous aspect of humanity, war, bureaucracy, and language.

The book is occasionally challenged on the grounds of inappropriate language or anti-war sentiment.

What We’ve Learned (or not)

The books I can’t figure out how to put down are usually:

  • Banned or challenged
  • More revealing the more I read them
  • Like a drug. If a book makes me feel good, I want it. I’m a sick man.

Good luck making sense of all this! But seriously, go read these books, for the first time, or just one more time.

Josh Hanagarne

Get Stronger, Get Smarter, Live Better…Every Day

About the Author: Josh Hanagarne is the twitchy giant behind World’s Strongest Librarian, a blog with advice about living with Tourette’s Syndrome, kettlebells, book recommendations, buying pants when you’re 6’8”, old-time strongman training, and much more. Please subscribe to Josh’s RSS Updates to stay in touch. He’s bookmarked on my laptop; it’s worth your time to visit his blog.

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