Monday, September 29, 2008

Kids...Sheesh

Mr. D and I let students sit in our classroom during the lunch period. We'll take turns eating and helping students with work on most days.

During lunch today, some little twit seems to have grabbed my binder. It held my logs detailing all the days I've attended Buttress, various handouts, and school information. I'm not saying I'm not happy, but I am saying, I'm not happy about this.

On the Blessings of the Cow, I

I like cheese, but it sticks to things
Bowls, forks, plates,
and presumably,
My arteries.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Seasons Still Change

I walked out of Kroger tonight, and the cool breeze hit me, both soothing and invigorating. I ached for a rifle in my hands and the deep woods.

Someday. Someday soon.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Alternate Beginnings

I dash
Into the early morning chill
My mind shrieking in fear
And my soul, in exultation

My long strides eat up the dawn

I
Pant,
Struggle,
Wheeze

I must find my pace again

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Liberals

I don't know if I've taken this particular test before...

You are a

Social Liberal
(80% permissive)

and an...

Economic Conservative
(78% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Libertarian




Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid
Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

and The Walls Came Tumbling Down!

We had a field trip Friday. Thirty-one students and Mr. D and I went to the oldest house in Augusta, and then to the local history museum. Our time was cut somewhat short by discovering that our bus driver had to be at another school by 1430. Still, the day was lovely, sunny but with just a tiny, beautiful taste of early Fall cool.

There was a faculty meeting after school. Dr. R. had the dubious privilege of finding he was being transferred in the Augusta Chronicle yesterday morning. The Richmond Country superintendent spoke after Dr. R. announced to us that he was being moved. Doctor Super reminded everyone that Buttress hadn't made any of its academic goals last year, and combined with the numerous fights this year, he claimed there had been many calls for action. DS also apologized for what he characterized as an unintended leak to the press.

I really have to say: if I were in the Super Shoes, if I was forced to confirm that one of my employees was being moved in this manner- and that employee hadn't been notified yet- you'd better believe I would be on the phone to that employee as soon as the press hung up. I suppose that's just too Super Simple.

Disappointment

Every day I expect less,
But still too much, I guess

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Coming

A Gray Day
A cool day
Autumn's soft embrace begins
And I am glad again

Sunday, September 14, 2008

A Veteran's Thoughts

I usually avoid talking a lot of politics here. I also rarely surrender to flag-waving emotionalism. The following is an obvious political plug, but the creator of the video earned the right to speak his mind about the subject.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Lizard Licks

Lest anyone think the previous was just an iguana story, here's the proof.

After securing the iguana.



Ready to ride.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Long Arms on the Lizard

I had arrived back at the house after work, and was sitting in my car listening to the radio for a minute. As I climbed out, movement caught the corner of my eye, and I turned and looked to see a 3 foot plus lizard stalking slowly through the grass of the lawn across the street! I walked a little closer and was bemusedly looking at it when a red Ford pulled up to the house. I waited until a middle-aged gentleman got out, and called over:

Hey! Did you know there's an iguana in your yard?


He looked confused, and walked closer. "What?"

An iguana. There's an iguana right here.

"Where?

Look at the base of that tree.


"Holy $%^."

Well, iguana aren't apex predators, so I felt fairly safe from the big guy, who actually looked to my eyes to be about 3'5". I called my brother Randy and spoke with him for a few minutes to be sure I wasn't looking at something like a monitor. I told my neighbors that the iguana wouldn't hurt anything, and that I would probably just wait until he came down the tree he had just climbed and then call animal control before it got too cold this Fall, but they'd already called the cops.

I went across the street, and inside. A few minutes later, there was a knock on my door, and when I stepped outside, a sheriff's deputy from the Augusta County Sheriff's Department was there.

"Sir, do you have an iguana?"

I spoke with the deputy for a couple of minutes, and then offered to pick up Iggy for him. I snagged a handy piece of PVC to hold his head down, and was slowly sliding it over and past his head to hold him down when the deputy told me that animal control wasn't actually on its way, and that he wouldn't be taking the thing out of his car! I stopped my efforts until another, very young little deputy showed up.

We were told animal control was indeed on its way, and I helped Deputy Wilkerson catch the iguana, and then he carried it to his cruiser and made the call:

"10-31 to dispatch. I have one iguana in custody."

Additions

I had a lovely conversation with Roberta X today. She has been added to my blog links.

On a somewhat connected note, it's wonderful to find people who actually love English.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Palin's Speech

I had not been at all excited about this election. This changed with the selection of Sarah Palin for VP candidate.

Here is the full text of Palin's speech to the RNC last night.

HallowE09