Well, I am considering today to be the first real day of my summer vacation as last week was a blur with the trip to Chincoteague. The kind of vacation where you sleep really late and just do the things you want to do. Today I have sat around a couple of hours in my pajamas, and now I am getting ready to go out to lunch with Cathy.
This afternoon, I may take a nap - or not - that's what I love about summer vacation.
Let's hope I don't get bored too quickly.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Ponies
Here are some pictures from Tuesday. We are just getting going this morning, but I wanted to upload some pictures, for my loyal readers, to ease your hearts, because I know you were worried that the whole trip was a storm like Monday night.
Things here are so beautiful, and it's nice to not have anything to really do.
Going to the beach today on Assateague. May see some more ponies.
Things here are so beautiful, and it's nice to not have anything to really do.
Going to the beach today on Assateague. May see some more ponies.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday Night on Chincoteague
Okay, today -- Tuesday -- was wonderful. Last night, not so much.
Here is a video of just a small taste of the storm that blew through. More later.
Here is a video of just a small taste of the storm that blew through. More later.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Vacation
Well, tomorrow at the crack of dawn - well a little later, but that's not the point - Brent and I will be leaving for our official summer vacation.
I have been wanting for years and years and years to go to Chincoteague and Assateague to see the ponies. The ones Marguerite Henry wrote about in Misty of Chincoteague and Stormy Misty's Foal and Sea Star. I read those when I was in 5th and 6th grades, and I decided I wanted a pony - like a lot of little girls do - and I wanted to go to Pony Penning Day, which is the last Wednesday of July on Chincoteague, when the fireman go over and herd the herd over from Assategue to Chincoteague for an auction. The ponies swim over, and it's something to be seen, at least that's what I have read.
So we are going up for four days, three nights, and we are going to see the ponies, and we are going to fish, and we are going to swim, and so on and so on.
So, expect few reports between now and the weekend, but expect pictures and such later.
I have been wanting for years and years and years to go to Chincoteague and Assateague to see the ponies. The ones Marguerite Henry wrote about in Misty of Chincoteague and Stormy Misty's Foal and Sea Star. I read those when I was in 5th and 6th grades, and I decided I wanted a pony - like a lot of little girls do - and I wanted to go to Pony Penning Day, which is the last Wednesday of July on Chincoteague, when the fireman go over and herd the herd over from Assategue to Chincoteague for an auction. The ponies swim over, and it's something to be seen, at least that's what I have read.
So we are going up for four days, three nights, and we are going to see the ponies, and we are going to fish, and we are going to swim, and so on and so on.
So, expect few reports between now and the weekend, but expect pictures and such later.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Woods They are on Fire
For those of you that don't know, Eastern North Carolina is on fire. Yes, I CAN say Eastern North Carolina, because a huge chunk is smoking even as I type.
The local tv station has a story here http://www.witntv.com/news/headlines/19456249.html
We have been hearing about this for a while, but the winds changed direction yesterday afternoon, and in two hours, smoke was reaching as far west as Greenville.
Brent says that they have declared a code red air quality warning in Raleigh. RALEIGH. That's not good. Not good at all.
So, needless to say, it's been hazy, smelly, and your eyes and throat stay irritated. But, thankfully, the temperature has dropped some, and the wind will shift this weekend.
The local tv station has a story here http://www.witntv.com/news/headlines/19456249.html
We have been hearing about this for a while, but the winds changed direction yesterday afternoon, and in two hours, smoke was reaching as far west as Greenville.
Brent says that they have declared a code red air quality warning in Raleigh. RALEIGH. That's not good. Not good at all.
So, needless to say, it's been hazy, smelly, and your eyes and throat stay irritated. But, thankfully, the temperature has dropped some, and the wind will shift this weekend.
Here we go again . . .
Well, Daddy had some pain on Tuesday and ended up in the emergency room. He couldn't - as he says - make water. Not a drop. And felt like he really needed to.
Well, they couldn't do anything in the emergency room, so they took him up to surgery around ten that night, knocked him out a little, and catheterized him. The doctor said he had a little infection and a swollen prostate, so that had cut off his "water."
And the next day he went home.
Not.
No, the next day - no "water." They did a CAT scan and found a kidney stone which they went in and took out - ouch - and he spent another night in the hospital.
Today he is home. Thank God. I know he is much happier.
Well, they couldn't do anything in the emergency room, so they took him up to surgery around ten that night, knocked him out a little, and catheterized him. The doctor said he had a little infection and a swollen prostate, so that had cut off his "water."
And the next day he went home.
Not.
No, the next day - no "water." They did a CAT scan and found a kidney stone which they went in and took out - ouch - and he spent another night in the hospital.
Today he is home. Thank God. I know he is much happier.
Mimosa Tree
A couple of years ago, I guess, a mimosa tree began growing out of the neighbors flower/tree bed into my "space" you could say. I love mimosa trees, so I never did anything about it.
It is now over ten feet tall, and blooms with beautiful pink flowers.
Have you ever looked at a Mimosa flower close up. Totally worth it. Very cool.
Photos on Flikr
I have uploaded photos from our Memorial Day trip to Charleston here to avoid having to load them up on Blogger.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Monday, June 09, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend
I know I really shouldn't write anything until I have pictures to upload, but I want to go ahead and tell everyone what a wonderful time Brent and I had in South Carolina.
(Of course the sad thing is that the only people who read this blog are those people we went to see. Hi, Y'all!)
Let me tell you folks, I hate traveling on a holiday weekend, but since I got an extra day off, and since I know I will not be able to afford to do much traveling after the 20th of this month, I packed my husband up and we went down to see friends in Myrtle Beach and Charleston.
While in Charleston, I finally bought something from the ladies that weave the seagrass into baskets. I couldn't afford the baskets - Geezus Gawd they are expensive - but I did buy a beautiful bouqet of roses which I have displayed in my dining room.
Also, while in South Carolina, we ate some of the most delicious food. If you are ever in Surfside just below Myrtle Beach, you must eat at Nibbles. It's right on the pier, and they have the most delicious seafood.
Hopefully I will be able to afford the gas down to Myrtle Beach again. My sister and her family will down there for a week in July, so Brent and I may take advantage of the free place to stay with a pool. Know what I mean?
Charleston was fun, but a really quick one day shot at a visit. I would love to come down for a long weekend, but I don't think I will be able to make it this summer. Sorry, Rob!
But Memorial Day weekend was fun. We spent time with Sally, Rob, and Todd. Just looking around, talking, and eating. Sounds like the perfect vacation to me.
(Of course the sad thing is that the only people who read this blog are those people we went to see. Hi, Y'all!)
Let me tell you folks, I hate traveling on a holiday weekend, but since I got an extra day off, and since I know I will not be able to afford to do much traveling after the 20th of this month, I packed my husband up and we went down to see friends in Myrtle Beach and Charleston.
While in Charleston, I finally bought something from the ladies that weave the seagrass into baskets. I couldn't afford the baskets - Geezus Gawd they are expensive - but I did buy a beautiful bouqet of roses which I have displayed in my dining room.
Also, while in South Carolina, we ate some of the most delicious food. If you are ever in Surfside just below Myrtle Beach, you must eat at Nibbles. It's right on the pier, and they have the most delicious seafood.
Hopefully I will be able to afford the gas down to Myrtle Beach again. My sister and her family will down there for a week in July, so Brent and I may take advantage of the free place to stay with a pool. Know what I mean?
Charleston was fun, but a really quick one day shot at a visit. I would love to come down for a long weekend, but I don't think I will be able to make it this summer. Sorry, Rob!
But Memorial Day weekend was fun. We spent time with Sally, Rob, and Todd. Just looking around, talking, and eating. Sounds like the perfect vacation to me.
Teach to the Test?
Okay, sorry I haven't been here in a while. I need to take a minute to explain something to everyone - and by everyone I mean my one true fan Rob - about the end of the school year.
Well, first of all, in middle school in North Carolina we give what are called End of Grade tests. We give every grade Math and Reading EOG's, and 5th and 8th grades get an extra dose of Science EOG's. These tests take up a good chunk of the morning at school and make everyone tired, from the kids taking them to the teachers administering them.
Well, I have administered, in the last month, the Reading EOG once. The Math EOG's (one calculator inactive and one calculator active) twice, because if you fail it, you have the chance to take it again. I have also been the proctor for an EOC, which is an End of Course test because it is a high school level test we give our 8th graders smart enough to be in Algebra class.
And this makes you tired, and you don't get as much done, which is a serious problem when you have 8000 books to get straight along with computers, overheads, calculators, blah, blah, blah.
So, I have been coming home and napping. And then I get up and Brent has dinner ready, so we eat. And then I watch some mind-numbing television. And then? Well, then I go to sleep.
Now, besides testing, we have had other things going on.
My fifth graders went to the county Battle of the Books competition and beat two 7th grade teams and one 8th grade team by a bunch of points, which makes me want to holler every time I think about it. So there were days when I spent a couple of hours practicing with the kids to get them ready. And let me tell you something. These fifth graders - they are going to rule the world - they are supersmart - seriously.
And then there was a Character Education celebration, and the yearbooks had to be handed out, and a dance, and athletic physicals (I do height and weight), and a meeting I got to take off half a day for (YEAH!), and last but not least an EOG carnival where over 400 students were rewarded with rides and games outside in the hottest weather we have had in years in June. But they had a blast, and we got pictures, and it's done.
So I've been busy.
But I promise, Rob, to do better.
Well, first of all, in middle school in North Carolina we give what are called End of Grade tests. We give every grade Math and Reading EOG's, and 5th and 8th grades get an extra dose of Science EOG's. These tests take up a good chunk of the morning at school and make everyone tired, from the kids taking them to the teachers administering them.
Well, I have administered, in the last month, the Reading EOG once. The Math EOG's (one calculator inactive and one calculator active) twice, because if you fail it, you have the chance to take it again. I have also been the proctor for an EOC, which is an End of Course test because it is a high school level test we give our 8th graders smart enough to be in Algebra class.
And this makes you tired, and you don't get as much done, which is a serious problem when you have 8000 books to get straight along with computers, overheads, calculators, blah, blah, blah.
So, I have been coming home and napping. And then I get up and Brent has dinner ready, so we eat. And then I watch some mind-numbing television. And then? Well, then I go to sleep.
Now, besides testing, we have had other things going on.
My fifth graders went to the county Battle of the Books competition and beat two 7th grade teams and one 8th grade team by a bunch of points, which makes me want to holler every time I think about it. So there were days when I spent a couple of hours practicing with the kids to get them ready. And let me tell you something. These fifth graders - they are going to rule the world - they are supersmart - seriously.
And then there was a Character Education celebration, and the yearbooks had to be handed out, and a dance, and athletic physicals (I do height and weight), and a meeting I got to take off half a day for (YEAH!), and last but not least an EOG carnival where over 400 students were rewarded with rides and games outside in the hottest weather we have had in years in June. But they had a blast, and we got pictures, and it's done.
So I've been busy.
But I promise, Rob, to do better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)