Reflections

The Moon in My Back Yard

2011-06-08T22:47:00.002-05:00

It started innocently enough. With this question, "If you got your tax return in the fall, would you spend it any differently?" This question was posed to me by someone who had a vested interest in what is the most commonly associated event with autumn - the falling of foliage in the yard. Now let me be clear, I am not afraid of yardwork. It's just that 6 months of raking does seem excessive. Not exaggerating...6 months.

The answer to the originally asked question is a resounding YES. I would pay to remove the offending trees from my back yard. Proceed to the solution. 10 estimates later, I have my tree removal guy and a removal date. As Tony and I talked dates and cost, he cautiously mentioned, "There will be some yard damage when we bring the Bobcat in here." I casually glanced at the random tufts of grass in my back yard and stated confidently, "I'm not too concerned about that. Just want the trees gone."

My wish was granted. 5 trees gone. And so is my yard. It's like a giant sandbox back there...literally. The dogs are confused - where did their grass go? As Tony says, it's like walking on the moon. Thick layers of fine powder...and no grass, no weeds, no green anything. A barren landscape with only the hammock trees to give it life.

Was it worth it? Definitely. Am I daunted by my next unforseen project of grass planting and raising? Certainly. Am I entertained by the fact that I get to walk on the moon in my own back yard? Unspeakably so. All in all, a truly memorable occasion.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

2008-10-04T13:39:00.002-05:00

I have learned that it takes hard times for me to realize how blessed I really am, specifically with friendships where I can be who I really am. Where I don't think twice about wearing jeans and putting my hair in a ponytail. Where I can be silly, say something stupid, laugh about something frustrating, or cry about something overwhelming. Where I am listened to and heard. Where I am prayed for and encouraged. Where I am loved for who I am, not who I might be. I don't know how I would have made it through this last month without you - you have truly been witness to the good, the bad, and the ugly. I love you and thank you from the depths of my heart.

A necessary weekend

2007-10-07T16:28:00.000-05:00

So here it is...Sunday afternoon. How do the weekends go by so quickly? Amazing really.

What a great weekend it was too: drinking coffee downtown, taking the dogs on a walk in the park, viewing We Are Marshall, buying a beautiful bridesmaid dress, touring select art studios, and even - brace yourself - cooking a few meals! Full and fun!

Weekends keep things balanced. Sometimes balanced in that it's the only time I have to do laundry - other times in that it's the only time I have to have fun. Regardless, Saturday and Sunday have a funny way of bringing things back into perspective and preparing me for another week doing what I love to do. I feel ready for a new week ... ready to face Monday as it bring its regular challenges and fatigue. What would I do without weekends?

nonsense

2007-09-29T23:59:00.000-05:00

Do you ever get what you wanted and realize it's not what you thought? And then it ends and you know that the end is what needed to be? Even though it doesn't bring the relief you thought it would?

I did.

Do you ever look at what God has been and is and realize you are no longer the same? And then something happens to make you stop and look at what things really are? Even though it brings the pain and guilt you didn't think it would?

I did.

Saying goodbye to yesterday. Embracing today.

Back in business

2007-09-17T19:40:00.000-05:00

After a healthy dose of family "guilt," I have decided to renew my blog entrying with a new resolve.

I just went home this past weekend to participate in a family-wide cleanup effort. The sisters were each responsible for their own rooms. Thanks to Dad, we were armed with dust masks as we tackled the years' accumulation of gray matter on and behind all our "treasured" objects. Some of the things we kept! Fish supplies for fish who met their demise long ago. Hand sanitizer that was a dark brown watery liquid. Apology notes from sisters that end with: Your friend (I hope). Rules explicitly outlining appropriate sister interactions in a car driven by a sister.

Truly an amusing and sentimental trip down memory lane (although it's dustier than I had imagined:)). How loved and cared for we all were. The depth of our family's committment and devotion to each other is both settling and rebuking at the same time. Especially as a teacher, I can personally vouch for the rarity of a family like mine. Something to be humbled by, really.

It's good to be back - thanks faithful blog checkers!

Cannibals

2007-03-15T20:05:00.000-05:00

Sorry it's been so long...and no, I'm not going to bore you with the whys:).

We are doing a unit on animal life cycles in Science. Part of the kit we get includes live caterpillars and their food so we can watch them become chrysali and then butterflies. It's really amazing to see, and I'm so glad the kids can witness this beautiful transformation.

When we first get the caterpillars we put 2-3 in each little cup with food for them. During the chrysalis stage, they get moved to a butterfly box where we observe them briefly before releasing them. Each morning I come to school, I check the caterpillars to see what kind of progress they have made over night. Well, I look in Austin's cup. Yesterday he had 3, but now there are only 2 and a piece of one. I knew immediately what had happened - the 2 caterpillars had become cannibals. Now, to tell Austin the truth without traumatizing him. So I say, "Austin, I think one of your caterpillars is dead." (Really? Think? Just because there is a blood spattered midsection lying in the middle of the cup?) I proceed to say, "Remember that's why you got more than one, in case something happened to one of them." Austin seemed to take it pretty well. No tears, just confusion. I'm actually proud of him.

About 20 minutes later, Austin raises his hand and says, "I think the other caterpillars ate the dead one." Unfortunately, he is a pretty smart guy. At least he still thinks the caterpillar was already dead which isn't nearly as graphic as the truth.

I keep waiting for the animal rights activists to come and shut our operation down. It really does make me a bit quesy sometimes - what we do for education!

Snow day

2007-02-01T13:33:00.000-05:00

Ahh...one of the simple pleasures of being in the school system...

SNOW DAYS

I woke up at 6 this morning to see if I needed to stay up or not. When I saw "Greenville County Schools - Closed" flash on the screen, a jolt of joy shot through me. Who doesn't like an unexpected vacation day?

Then I looked out our window over "the lagoon" to see huge, wet, brilliantly white snowflakes plummeting to the ground. As I watched, freezing rain started mixing in to create a glistening display of winter wonder. So I got about 6 blankets (no exaggeration) and moved my sleeping area to the couch. I opened the blinds and positioned my pillow so I could watch the unusual precipatory effect. Then to celebrate my snow day according to my timeless tradition, I fell asleep. Who could ask for a better start to a day?!

Fairy tale rewrite

2007-02-01T13:25:00.000-05:00

This week in second grade (the way all good stories start:)), the miniature masterminds are writing fairy tales. Very amusing.

For example, Vincent writes,
"Then the mermaid girl dies. And they all live happily ever after."

I explained to him that having a good character die at the end of a fairy tale is not true to the genre and probably wouldn't aid in everyone else's happy existence.

Then there's Joi who wrote about "Snow White and the Seven Drawers." This led to a great vocabulary discussion about the minor differences between "drawers" and "dwarves."

Bet you've never read fairy tales like the ones I've been reading.

National Hero

2007-01-25T18:20:00.000-05:00

Today at lunch, Vincent asks,

"How did Jr. Luther King die again?"

A student across from him tells him as I valiantly try not to chuckle.

Vincent responds, "I read a book about him when I was a special friend* and it's still in my thoughts."

Sometimes I am sure they are little grownups!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*What is a special friend? 3-4 students get to be special "Friends of the Day" one day each week - they get to sit in chairs when everyone else sits on the floor, bring special things to share, and read from a special book basket with seasonal/thematic books in it. Not really important to the story, but I thought I'd be proactive.

Belly button insight

2007-01-16T11:33:00.000-05:00

So I was shopping at Kohl's on Saturday (thanks for the gift card Mom!) and saw a display "For the Kids" containing these great book and CD combos of kids songs. I got the one entitled: "The Imaginary Musical Revue - Philadelphia Chickens." I am previewing it right now for my kids and absolutely LOVING it!

Here are some lyrics from my favorite so far entitled, "Belly Button"
"So round. So profound. So great to contemplate.
OOO, Belly Button,
I'm so happy you're mine.
A tummy without you
Just wouldn't be right.....

Patty pat pat, baby fat.
Itty bitty button in the middle of that."

The best $5 I ever spent!

Cold days

2007-01-14T19:44:00.000-05:00

Last week on one of the colder days at recess, Erika comes up to me:

"May I go in to get something?"

"What do you need to get?" I inquire.

"My ears are cold so I need my ear muffins."

Great word picture!

Last day of school

2006-12-20T15:32:00.000-05:00

So here I sit. In a quiet classroom, listening to my Christmas CD. Why is it that the end of holidays seems so sad? Yet it does. Funny how saying goodbye to my kids today felt like the end of Christmas.

They were so good today! And cute too. They all wore their pajamas and slippers to school. "Why?" you might ask. "To take a ride on the Polar Express, of course!" would be the answer. They sat in chairs arranged to be like train seats, drank hot chocolate, and ate cookies while watching the movie about a boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole. It's amazing how contagious children's laughter is. I firmly believe that you should be required to watch children's movies with children. They help adults see humor in scenes where none seems to exist. I laughed all the way through a movie I never thought was particularly funny! Not that this idea is particularly novel - isn't that how "Peter Pan" came to be so successful (cited reference: "Finding Neverland")?

Well, I must not procrastinate any longer. I have desks to clean and decorations to remove. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

Thankfulness

2006-11-20T22:53:00.000-05:00

I know, shockingly creative that I would choose that subject line for this, the 4th week in November, but I have. Sorry I checked out for a while. I was house sitting with no internet access (just imagine!) for a week and then well, life happened:).

Today our writing prompt for my class of "7 year old wonders" was "I am thankful for..." In our brainstorming, we made a list of as many things as we could think of that we were thankful for ranging from hairbows and shoes to God and family. I started thinking of how much God has taken care of me. My family, not just that I have one...that I have one that loves me and shows me they love me. My friends who show the healing power that listening can bring. My dog who exhibits unconditional love and devotion. I could go on and on - my health, a jacket, a bed, music, laughter...but that's not good writing, or so I teach my second graders;).

Isn't it ironic that it takes a day set aside for giving thanks to make me realize how UNthankful I am? How overwhelmed I am by God's unmistakable goodness and work in my life! What a great time of year.

Surprise ending

2006-11-01T19:13:00.000-05:00

For our most recent 2nd grade writing prompt, the students were instructed to write about something in nature that they could describe well using all their senses.

Here is Vincent's response:

There was a mom bird with eggs. She went to get food but when she was getting food, the eggs hatched. The new birds was in my backyard. But two weeks later I ate them and they taste good and sound good and looked cute.

The End

by Vincent

While desperately trying to surpress my laughter, I ask Vincent, "This is a make-believe story, right?"

"No, it's real."

Hmmm... Still haven't figured this one out.

Sick siblings

2006-10-26T19:17:00.000-05:00

Joi (one of my students) comes to see me during recess.

"I'm not riding the bus today. I'm riding in a car."

"Really?"

"Yeah, when my little sister is sick, I ride in a car."

"Oh, she's sick?"

"Yeah, she's got the chicken pops. But my mom gave her some pink lotion to dry up those pops."

Facing Fears

2006-10-19T15:11:00.000-05:00

To my readers who may not know me so well: I do NOT do well with scary things like suspenseful movies... or cockroaches. For example after being "forced" to see The Ring, for months I couldn't stand to be alone in a room with a TV. I just knew someone was going to crawl out of it. Just thought you might need to know that to be fully impressed with the following story.

So my friend Lisa found out about a corn maze in Enoree. She even found coupons online and had us over for dinner before the event. Well, I was pretty sure I had clarified with the girls (Heidi, Katie, and Lisa) that it wasn't haunted...and that I could have a personal chaperone the entire time. Half of that was right.

As we were eating dinner safely in the daylight, I asked again (for reassurance): "Now this trail isn't haunted, right?" An uncomfortable silence fell on my three friends as they all looked away. "Well, it may have some spooks." Turns out it WAS haunted. As fear settled in my heart, all appetite for my barbeque sandwich dissipated. What could I do? I had to go. There was no choice.

Upon arrival, we learned that there are 2 trails - one with no spooks and one with. Guess which one I voted for:). As a compromise, we did the no-spook trail first - it took us over an hour to complete. After getting over the eerieness of a cornfield at night, I actually started enjoying it. And then we finished.

Time for the spook trail. Well, I kept telling myself they were just kids from a local church's youth group - but my eyes told me they were monsters, witches, and serial killers with weed whackers. The part I really didn't care for was when they would walk behind you quietly until you turned around and saw them. True to their word though, my friends stood by me (or was it that I had a death grip on their sweatshirts?). I had to keep reminding myself that no one really dies in a corn maze. But do they go crazy? - I found myself wondering. The smart maze planners made the spook side only about 20 minutes instead of the hour non-spook trail. All of a sudden we were finished - alive, untouched, sane, victorious! To celebrate our near brush with death, we took a picture to forever engrain the moment in our minds. Although I do not ever plan on going on another haunted trail, I do feel stronger and braver for having faced that fear. Thanks girls, for pushing me to do what I never would have done on my own!

Note to any future maze goers: Shining a flashlight directly into a monster's eyes is very effective for making him/her leave you alone.

Country Relief

2006-10-14T22:18:00.000-05:00

Nancy (my good friend and fellow teacher) and I were chosen to be the "suffering" attendees for a Math conference in Myrtle Beach on Thursday and Friday. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and made for a relaxing few days for the mind and body. Oh, we learned a few things too:).

On our way back to Greenville, we took an emergency bathroom break on a solitary exit at a gas station surrounded by rolling countryside and open space.

Upon arrival, we couldn't help but notice the pick-up trucks that filled the parking lot and the sign taped to the glass doors which stated: NO DOGS (or other animals) ALLOWED IN THE STORE. Hmm. Has this been a problem in the past? Next we notice that everyone in the gas station is wearing camoflauge something (hat, pants, etc.). We began to feel a little out of place being that we were in a Honda with no animals or camoflauge. Nevertheless, we remained true to our mission.

Into the bathroom. Now please let me encourage you to read further - I promise to use discretion;). Upon first entering, you almost walk into a toilet. There are two other toilets with stalls for privacy if that is what you prefer. Well, Nancy and I wimped out and opted for the enclosed areas.

In surveying my surroundings, I observed a beautiful golden twirly item hanging from the ceiling. As I looked more closely, I saw that many a fly had met its demise in that golden goo. Who knew a fly strip could be so aesthetically pleasing?

Being the sanitary person I am, I then go to wash my hands with ....Dawn? Yes, dish detergent was the soap of choice at this fine establishment - a little drop'll do ya.

Hmmm. A handle for the faucet? Apparently overated because all that was left was a needle sized stick to carefully move up for water and down to turn it back off.

After successfully washing our hands and feeling much relieved, we left that memorable little gas station full of joy and sweet memories.

Fishy materials

2006-10-02T17:42:00.000-05:00

Today was the last day my students presented their habitat projects and reports on an animal of their choice. They all did such a great job! I never cease to be amazed at the creativity of each new group...and that of their parents.

After a brief presentation of their project, the presenter takes three questions from the captivated audience. The most popular question by far is "Where did you get the _______ that you used in your habitat?"

Common answers include: Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, oh, and one Dollar General Tree.

However, when Vincent was asked where he got the materials for his project, I was unprepared for his reply:

"Well, I got them from Long John. Uh, Long John something. Oh, it was Long John Silver's."

Who knew they sold materials for Science projects? And all this time I thought they just sold fish!

Circulatory Lesson

2006-10-02T17:32:00.000-05:00

So Erika (one of my students) plops down on the bench next to me at Recess.

I ask, "Did you need a break?"

"Yeah, my heart is beeping too fast."

"Really? How do you know your heart is beeping?"

"I touched it and it feels like a baby is under there trying to get out."

Apparently, our unit on body systems will be particularly informative, perhaps a bit disappointing, to this blooming cardiologist.

"Quirk"

2006-09-25T20:37:00.000-05:00

"QUIRK"

So, I'm house/dog sitting for a great friend of mine. I sleep on the couch - feels safer for whatever reason. It's about 11:00 at night and there it is again.

"QUIRK"

Sounds almost like a duck. Lily and Gandalf (the pups) take a much-needed break from their boisterous kitchen play to listen as well.

"QUIRK, QUIRK"

What IS that? So I used some logic - the noise was definitley from some sort of creature and it sounded like a creature that I could overpower, in other words, not a cockroach. Being the brave sitter that I am, I get up to investigate.

"QUIRK"
Getting closer.

"QUIRK, QUIRK."
Ahh, I found it.

You see Stacy also has a pet tree frog named Mork who apparently now feels comfortable enough to let his voice be heard with me, a stranger in his home. I guess I should feel honored, but I really struggled as I listened to his night-long "song" during my precious few sleeping hours.

Has anyone ever met a "Frog Whisperer"? I could use some amphibial psychology right now.

Leaves for the Blind

2006-09-21T18:56:00.000-05:00

I have been noticing that Melinda (a 7 year old student) has found a new recess hobby. She collects fallen leaves from trees and brings them to the teacher of her choice - you may be surprised what an honor it is to receive one.

I have observed though that the leaves she brings me have dozens of tiny holes in them. I assumed they were evidence of hungry bugs - I assumed incorrectly. Today, I saw firsthand what occurs just prior to the leaf gift-giving. She picks up the leaves, carries them to and places them on the blacktop. She then takes a stick and proceeds to poke tiny holes in each one. Now knowing her meticulous effort, I complimented Melinda on the artistic value of the leaves:

"Wow, Melinda. I love the texture of these leaves! You probably had to work pretty hard on them."

"Thank you. I really make them for blind people. They're in Braille."

She has such insight - every blind person's dream come true is a leaf...in Braille.

A Bug's Life

2006-09-14T19:20:00.000-05:00

So Roberto comes up to me at recess today and says,

"A bug just flew in my eye. I saw it fly out, but I think it left an egg in there. I feel it."

Definitely cause for concern. If I had a bug's egg in my eye, I would be worried.

Feline Romance

2006-09-13T20:43:00.000-05:00

Kendra (one of my 7-year old students) and I were talking after school recently. Apparently, her parents really stress family values because a concluding remark to her weekend summary was:

"...and my cat found a husband and she had babies in our yard."

Recent Ramblings

2006-09-04T20:19:00.000-05:00

Wow! I'm a bit embarrassed by the months that have lapsed since my last post. My apologies to you regular checkers - you know who you are ;). This post will be a miscellaneous compilation of important updates since our last meeting.

Just got back from an amazing weekend at the farm in Robbinsville, NC. My family has a tradition of meeting at "the cabin" every year for Labor Day. So fun with lots of love and laughter! Nothing like a weekend away with home-cooked meals (unfortunately, I cannot receive credit for any of those), "tablet" crosswords, Rummikub runs of 2,3,4,5,10, feeding the fish, swinging on the porch, and getting absolutely NO work done. It was a true vacation, refreshing me to the very soul.

School has started. Although I currently have 25 students, within the next week we will have another 2nd grade teacher which will lower my student number to about 16. I really thought I would be excited about having some of them go to her, but I've recently realized I am not. I know that it is best for everyone, but it's amazing how attached we all are to each other already after only 2 weeks of school. I know that I will have plenty of stories to share as things settle down. For now, I am adjusting:).

FOOTBALL SEASON has arrived! Phrases like "action pass," "personal foul," "tight end," "interception," "flag down," - what can I say? My heart quickens and my stomach flutters at the anticipation. I love fall! I love football! Although, I am prepared for a disheartening season following the Green Bay Packers, I do look for Carolina to have a good season. Super-Bowl bound, or so I've heard. On a Packers note, poor Brett Favre. It will be interesting to see how this year (hopefully his last) plays out. Even now, I watch the FSU/Miami game - the sound is relaxing, the action is exhilirating, the excitement is contagious. I'm ready for NFL games to count, to mean something - enough preseason already. All I have to ask is, "Is it Sunday yet?"

So, do you feel caught up? I feel a bit disjointed after typing this entry that covers SO many topics, and I do apologize. I am, however, trying to meet the needs of my ADHD friends. They may be the only ones who have a clue about what I have written:).

Familiar traits

2006-07-11T19:26:00.000-05:00

Some of you may know that in March I suffered the loss of a treasured CD player from my car. She lived a long life of happiness and selflessness until the fateful Disc 4 of 11 for the audio recording of Hard Times (Dickens) was inserted as the last disc she would ever recognize. I had to remove the said disc from the lifeless body of JVC despite tears of sadness and regret.

After an acceptable period of mourning (approximately 2 days), I was ready to rediscover love in the stereo section of Best Buy. I purchased a sister JVC to ease the grief of such a tragic loss (it also helped in that the price was easier to bear).

So, about a week ago, I was getting tired of listening to Wow Purple Disc so I decided to switch CDs. Are you getting ahead of me here;)? So, I pressed Eject... Okay... um, Eject... EJECT! JVC is desperately trying to communicate with me using the only 5 English words/symbols she knows: EJECTING, READING, PLAYING, 00:00, FM1 in that order, continuously. It's obvious she has the same terminal illness her sister contracted. I should have known that the disease was likely to be carried in the family genes.

As I prepare for the grief that I sense will soon ensue, I look ahead to branching out from this flawed family to find love yet again in a new name, a new face, a new life.

To love and its enduring power through technological difficulties...

It's a dog's world

2006-07-11T19:11:00.000-05:00

For all the animal lovers who, like me, slip into the deception that dogs have more than a little human in them - here is comfort for your beloved canine that many may not know is possible.

Yes, it's true that sometimes even the most responsible, dedicated pet owner must leave his or her furry friend behind to embark on a trip that may not be ideal for this faithful companion. Never fear, Best Friends Pet Care is here. Now before I proceed, I must assure you I am not being paid to endorse this agency...yet:).

For the right price you can board your buddy in a luxurious "Vacation Villa." It's true - when your pet cannot be at home, this pet hotel makes it as close to home as possible, complete with lambskin bedding, bedtime stories, cuddle times, ice cream treats, and of course daily maid service. For a mere additional $10, your pet can enjoy homemade dog biscuits as well as bottled water (surely you don't fill the water dish from the tap!).

You can also send your dog to Doggy Day Camp - it's great for keeping your loved one from becoming bored at home.

Now please don't think they overlook our feline representatives - this establishment also provides Kitty Condos with an optional Cookies and Milk OR Tuna on a Ritz.

So pamper your pet, and rest assured that while you are on vacation, your furry friend is probably enjoying life more than when you are at home.

Cruise comments

2006-06-16T20:13:00.000-05:00

So my family and I just returned from our cruise to the Bahamas on the cruise ship Fantasy. As my first cruise, I have many memories and fun stories from the trip. However my immediate time is limited in that I am with my family and want to enjoy each moment. So here is a preview, an appetizer if you will, of entries to come.

Comments made by our family of cruisers:

Will you please hold the TV so I can get a drink from the cooler?

You know that song, "Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee"?

I felt something move in the water so I picked it up with my toes and it was a squid. So I fed it to the sting ray.

"Meet me at our favorite place." "Which favorite place?"

I'm not hungry but I guess I'll eat anyway.

I was doing hard time on the Fantasy.

Hope you enjoyed these. Keep checking for more on the cruise:).

Connecting

2006-05-24T21:58:00.000-05:00

In an age of self checkouts, pay-at-the-pump, and instant everything, it's easy to lose a sense of community, of accountability in the day to day errands we run. How often do I leave a grocery store or gas station and reflect on the fact that it's very possible no one knew I was there? Sometimes I feel as if I live life in a cushioned bubble of my own making, interacting only with the people I know and with whom I am comfortable.

Yet today, Loretta knows I got my car washed.

Loretta is an amazing woman who in less than ten minutes time, shared her intriguing life story complete with military balls, grandma stories, the loss of her husband, and moving to a retirement home. Her positive, tender spirit left me speechless.

A divine appointment, I realized as I drove away. God knew from the beginning of time that we both needed that connecting moment to share and listen.

So, thanks God, for sending Loretta. The world seems just a little bit smaller.

Springtime woes

2006-05-10T18:05:00.000-05:00

As I reach for another Claritin and add yet another used Kleenex to the growing mountain in my trash can, I face the embarrassing reality that I am an allergy sufferer...in May.

I know many a dubious reader will ask, "How bad can they be this late?" I have to admit, I would have been a skeptic as well, BUT NOW my grave condition is testimony to the severity of the situation.

I look at the plants I have so tenderly raised from birth and suspicions cloud my thoughts:
"Could it be you, lovely Gerber daisy?"
"Or you, my delicate day lily?"
As of yet, no evidence has surfaced to directly implicate any individual.

There must be a botanical answer to this perplexing question. Until then, I will just keep breathing...and sneezing.

beginnings

2006-05-05T22:03:00.000-05:00

Hello! Welcome to my blog! After much deliberation and input from family and friends, I am cautiously entering the world of blogging. Despite great ideas for addresses such as sarah#%&reflections$$$!~.blogspot.com, I went for the more conservative route of sarahreflections. At the prompting of an anonymous source, I realize it is late, and I am tired. More later...