>Benjy didn’t make it. Amidst the many missing persons stories on tonight’s news came this update: Seven-year-old Benjy Heil’s body was found in a creek less than a mile from his home.
So many searchers, so many caring people — and such a sad ending to this story.
My heart goes out to his parents, his siblings, his extended family, his friends.
>
One fun thing about having a fireplace is decorating the mantle. Well, you know I’m not exactly a conventional decorator. My mantle is currently “decorated” in two themes: bunnies and baseball. Yes, one of the bunnies decided to take a swim in the martini glass. I’m more of a wine cooler or gin and tonic person, so the pretty glass, a gift, serves a decorative purpose instead.
We’re still working on the baseball side of the display. I know we have bendables of three other racing sausages (directly to the right of the cap, the Hot Dog guy), so I’ll keep looking. Amigo and husband brought home the bobbleheads last year. The plastic souvenir cap was either filled with ice cream or nachos (yes, I washed it) at another game in Miller Park.
Well, bratwurst, Polish, and Italian sausages, you can run, but you can’t hide. I know you’re around somewhere!
>According to the new family everyday site, I am most like TV Mom Carol Brady. Huh? Moi? Some quizzes are better than others. I’m still waiting for my Alice to show up and cook for us.
According to this one, I am a Pundit Blogger. Pundit? Oh, Mr. Word Person (aka Husband), is that accurate? I’ll let you decide. If I answered the questions correctly and honestly, I guess i could take this as a compliment. I don’t know about “truly appreciated by many” because my readership is loyal, but limited. Insightful? Maybe. I like to think some of my posts might show insight of a sort.
| You Are a Pundit Blogger! |
 Your blog is smart, insightful, and always a quality read. Truly appreciated by many, surpassed by only a few |
>It was said jokingly, at least the first time. Husband looked at me, trying to balance three or four hours of errands and chores and quality time within about 60 minutes on the clock, and announced, “Supermom just met her Kryptonite: time.”
It’s true. I buy extra underwear for the entire family just in case the laundry doesn’t get done. While not rigid, we do have a routine to make sure homework gets done and rabbits get fed, not to mention the people in the house. If I blogged an entire day during the workweek, some would be amazed, and some parent-type bloggers would say, “Me, too!” because their days are as chock full as mine.
A typical timeline starts at 5:30 with my alarm. To make a long story short, because who has the time to read every detail, I usually fall into bed between nine and ten at night, earlier if the day has been difficult and tiring. The hours in between play host to everything from watching for Amigo’s school bus to figuring out a simple supper that doesn’t take much energy to cook or clean up. Oh, yes, I teach full time, too. I spend a very intense day with those pre-adolescents we call 6th graders. They can be delightful, but they can also be a drain on my energy. Whether I’m planning, teaching, refereeing, scoring papers, recording scores in my gradebook, or cleaning my desk, it’s a busy and high-energy day at school.
Where does the time go? I’m not sure. I just know it usually goes too fast. After all, time is money and money is time and, well, I can’t spare much of either.
But as long as everyone has drawers in their drawers, life is good.
Now if only I could teach the pet rabbits to do the laundry….
This blog blast topic suggested by Light Iris: the best of Google for moms and the Parent Bloggers Network
>I grew up in a district that was an anomaly; we had no hot lunch program. We packed a lunch or went home to eat.
My students eat lunch at school, and very few go home. Since my sixth graders are the oldest students in the elementary building, they have the privilege of ‘working’ lunch as well. They beg to do this! I like to think it’s altruistic on their parts, but I think a large part of the attraction is the thirty minutes of class that they miss when their crew is on duty.
It’s definitely a point toward their social status to be able to “work lunch”. When the crew needs subs, the kids often take care of it themselves. They’ll notice, “Hey, Mrs. Teacher, Mike’s absent. Can I work for him?” I have very little to do with the whole picture other than picking the next group off my list of volunteers. These eager kids are learning about work ethic and self-motivation outside of the classroom. It’s real learning, and all around lunch.
And here’s to the parents who are looking for good child-friendly web sites, too. Schoolmenu.com and Familyeveryday.com are two that may satisfy your taste for safety while fulfilling your kids’ appetite for fun. Games, nutrition and fitness suggestions, and fun cartoon art are just a few of the links. There’s an email newsletter and a contest or two, and several other information and enjoyable links. I took the quiz to see which TV Mom I most resemble. Carol Brady? Me? Where’s my Alice?
Check out School Menu and its parental counterpart Family Everyday, two sites that work together with School Food Services Directors to provide and promote healthy eating and physical fitness for kids and their parents. Enjoy!
>La Petite wanted to make a jello mold for her boyfriend’s birthday. It’s a long story, but she watches the show “The Office”. Never mind.
She’s handy in the kitchen. I can trust her with the boiling water needed to make this fine cuisine. The only problem is: we own no jello mold. Not one. None.
I owned two such molds at one time in my life. In our first year of marriage, we used to go Rummage Sailing, and I picked up the cutest little jello mold for a dime. A dime! It was just the right size for one box of jello with a little canned fruit. How cute is that? Later on, my mother-in-law (or was it my mom?) gave me a nicer quality mold, complete with pretty flowers or stars or some other shapes. I don’t recall, exactly.
After years (I tell you, years) of non-use, I finally gave in and either donated both or sold them myself for a few quarters. I no longer own a jello mold.
La Petite went to WalMart. She went to the grocery store. She checked the Dollar Store on the same commercial strip. The only jello mold she found wore a $10 price tag, too high for an underemployed college student.
She called Goodwill. Success! She looked over the three molds, bought the cheapest, and came home.
I can’t wait to see what she puts in it.
>Tradition! Tradition is the new topic for Scribbit’s Write-Away Contest. The June prize is the cutest darn moose you’ve ever seen. I won’t mention its Moosie talents; you’ll have to go here to read about those.
I entered this post from last summer. It seemed to fit.
So get out your violin, head up to the roof, and let’s go!
>PBN (Parent Bloggers Network) has done it again. They have arranged for a Blog Blast with an irresistible topic. This one is co-sponsored by PBN and marriage.eharmony.com.
You know you need a real date with your husband when…
>…or More Working, Less Waiting
Accomplished so far this morning:
I slept in! (Sort of — my normal “up” time is 5;30, so anything after 7 is a major sleep-in accomplishment)
Fed all three bunnies
Made coffee, had breakfast, read newspaper
Sorted laundry, including that of the college student now home for summer
Started laundry
Finished rough drafts of progress report comments!! Woo-hoo!! With 29 students of all levels, behavioral issues, and academic needs, that’s a big accomplishment.
Yes, I’m still dressed for success in my pajamas. I’m sitting on the deck with my laptop with a cup of half-caff coffee by my side, rejoicing in my accomplishments thus far. I hear a lawnmower down the block, a weed-eater nearby, chickadees, sparrows, and an occasional cardinal. What a mix!
Amigo is up and dressed, listening to Public Radio and eating frozen waffles for breakfast. Husband looks ready to go outside and attack the yard with his weed-eater and/or play with the rabbits. I know which one would be more fun!
My plan: start another load of laundry, begin recording math grades on the progress reports, and stop using the blog as an excuse to stall.
I think I’ll make more coffee, though. Full strength this time. Hazelnut, perhaps. Mmm…
Update:
Third load of laundry is in.
Math grades are done.
Dishwasher is unloaded and reloaded.
I am still in my pajamas. Is this a new record? Accomplishments in PJs?
>It’s actually a mock cherry. The fruit isn’t edible, but the blossoms are gorgeous in the spring. I like to think it is putting on its best and brightest colors for Mother’s Day.
Now if you look closely, in the shade at the base of the tree, slightly to the right of the railroad ties, you’ll see a little visitor. She’s not one of our pets, but she seems to know that our yard is a safe place for bunnies.
(Photo credit: Husband, who admits to enjoying watching the wild rabbits)