Something different

Space, Place and Soul



Something in this landscape calls out to me.

The prairies my vagabond parents

Ceased to call home after they wed,

But the weekend visits, holiday celebrations and

And long indolent summer vacations

Turned this red dirt into the

North Star of my existence.

Something in this landscape calls out to me.

The clouds shadowing the rolling wheat fields

Turning from a hint of green to the waving gold.

The scents of the seasons, each distinct to its

Own time and memory.

Something in this landscape calls out to me.

As I leave the interstate and turn onto the shoulderless

Two lane highway with its arterial dirt roads and

Tractors left in the middle of the fields and

Cattle lazily welcoming me with their stares,

I hear the deep interior response as my soul

Answers, "I'm home! I'm home!"

Homa

Firing the Canon

My mother graduated from high school in 1949.  I finished in 1969 and my three children graduated in 1996, 1998 and 2001.  All of us read Dickens' Great Expectation as well as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and Hamlet.  I lucked out of the Scarlet Letter when my eleventh grade English teacher assigned Wouk's The Caine Mutiny. As much as I love to read and write, I hated my English classes.

 For all of us the math courses came in the same order as did the science classes.

Now I understand that there is something to be said for all of us to share in similar educational experiences.  It connects the generations and provides a common language.  That reasoning is sadly outdated and irrelevant.  So much has changed and the educational canon needs updating.

Admittedly I am not a fan of Dickens but the rest of my family enjoyed reading the ninth grade assigned novel.  I just think that there have been new books written since his day that would appeal to the modern student.  Allow students to choose what they would like to read and introduce them to what is happening now.  Maybe they will be moved to read the "classics" in order to understand some of the literary references. 

Let students work through the science and math courses in the manner that suits them.  Allow them to pace themselves and own their learning.  Offer more courses that would meet the state requirements.  If students take a class and don't have the necessary background, let them take the time to acquire it, even if their learning path resembles a wandering path. 

The factory model of education no longer serves its population and ideas from the homeschooling, private and charter school sectors need to be incorporated into public education.  The time for change is now.

Hunger Games

As a rule, I do not read Young Adult literature.  Often I find it shallow so it was with some hesitation that I began the Hunger Games series.  And I loved it. A great story well written and so I proceeded to finish all three books in quick order.

Friday my younger daughter and I saw the movie.  It was everything the pre-release hype promised. The cast was perfect.  The pacing felt right.  But I do have a few complaints.  I know that there are always changes when a book goes to the big screen.  Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.  In the Hunger Games film, the small changes were unnecessary.  For example, the way Katniss received her mockingjay pin is better in the book, ties the three books together and would have taken the same amount of time in the movie as the change took.  Also the cornucopia differs from the book.  Again a small change that wasn't needed.  The audience didn't need the visual change to remember that the setting was in the future.  And why was Peeta's last injury omitted?  Again it is something that ties Katniss and Peeta together in the series.

Still my recommendation is to read the books and see the movie.  They both are way better than the Twilight series.

Back Again

Returning from helping my mom recover from surgery, I was sure I would have a job offer and be working.  When that didn't happen, I went into a stall.  All I could think about were finding a job and not slipping into a depression.  As some of you know, I suffer from major depression disorder and worry that I'll slide back down into that gray abyss.  So between job-hunting and taking my mental temperature, nothing much was done.

Last week some energy and hope returned and I started writing again.  In fact, I plan on posting more than once a week. 

Not too bad

Out of all the months, February is my least favorite. Valentine's Day isn't the reason because I like celebrating it. November through January usually swallowed my money with birthdays and Christmas so by February I was broke and tired. It also seemed that the really cold icy weather happened early in February.
This year hasn't been too bad. No cold weather helped. But I'm finding that there is still a part of the month that irritates me and it is leap day. I think it is a prime example of how men have messed up the world. A woman would have put the extra day in a warmer month. June 31st sounds nice, doesn't it?

"That was a great spit!"

I hope all the grandparents in the world love their grandchildren as much as I love my granddaughter. The world needs this kind of love. Not only do I love little K, I am fascinated by her and thoroughly enjoy seeing the world through her eyes. She is almost 4 and still very innocent.

There are so many stories I could share but I'm going to leave you with just one. Saturday we had a sleepover at my home and spent the afternoon and evening with the usual variety of activities. Finally it was bedtime and I watched as she brushed her teeth. She stopped halfway to show me the correct way to brush. Then she spit. She looked up at me with a big smile on her face and said, "that was a great spit!" And it was.

Happy Valentine's Day

As someone who has been single for a very long time, I refuse to allow this day to just belong to pairs.  I love the people in my life.  I love myself. I urge all women to find a way to celebrate this day of love.  Here are my suggestions:
l. Go get a massage or a pedicure or a manicure;
2.Buy a new book (my personal favorite);
3.Go to a movie;
4.Buy yourself a new item of clothing; or
5. Buy yourself flowers and candy.

Or do something for a friend or family member who is also alone on this day. Celebrate your friendship.  Love doesn't belong to Twos!

Now I'm off to treat myself.