T-Dawg’s Blog

Slice of Life Writing Challenge Day #31

It’s my last official day to slice and I have to say, I will miss it. Thanks to all of you who responded, and thanks to all of you who wrote a daily slice. I really looked forward to reading your pieces of writing, and I appreciate the efforts of those who bothered to read what I wrote. It’s interesting to me — there were people who responded almost every day and there were people I wrote to many times and  never heard back from. It’s all good… .

Without the deadline, I don’t know how much I will push myself to blog now, even though I do write almost every day in my  journal. This has been a great way to communicate with my family and friends (Thanks for responding, I love you!) and for making new friends whom I’ve never actually “met” in person.  (I wonder what y’all  look like!)

Thanks to the “Two Writing Teachers” for making this wonderful site happen. YOU ROCK!

Peace out… T-Dawg

Slice of Life Writing Challenge — Day #30

I love the SOLC — it’s made me be a writer every day… and I’m sorry it’s ending, but I won’t miss the days like today when I have nothing to say because I am completely fried and I just want to lay on the couch and watch the bad, bad season of American Idol! Ugh.

Tuesdays are the most tiresome day of the week for me. If I had my way, Tuesday would not be a allowed! I’m soooooo tired, my friends. I promise to try to go out with a bang tomorrow…

Slice of Life Writing Challenge — Day #29

It’s all over the news — nine high school students in a sleepy little college town (near the sleepy little college town I work in) have been indicted on criminal charges for their bullying of another student who ended up killing herself to get away from it all. How weird to have it pop up my Yahoo mail –  and Diane Sawyer just covered the story on National news. Wow. This is  uncomfortably close…

…and sad for everyone involved. But I’m not sorry they’ve been apprehended. I was bullied in junior high, and I have not forgotten how awful it felt. It never goes away, and I can still remember the exact names of the boys who hassled me for ridiculous reasons. It was always stupid and insipid, often an attack on some physical characteristic a kid had no control over.

The self-titled “Mean Girls” (and boys)  thought they could get away with it and now they’re going to court.  I feel sick inside, remembering the shame I felt when those 8th grade boys humiliated me.

I want the mean kids to pay.

Slice of Life Writing Challenge – Day #28

March in New England is not all fun and games. It’s brown, cold, muddy, and not the most beautiful time of year by any means. However, there is one activity that cheers us up and that’s the Sugar Shacks. For eight weekends, the maples are tapped and the shacks are serving up pancakes, waffles, French toast, bacon, and sausage — all drenched in fresh maple syrup. It’s a steamy, sticky extravaganza that brings out all ages and walks of life — and it’s definitely a rite of passage in these parts on an end of March weekend.

We drove way out into the country to get to the Red Bucket in Worthington this morning. Miles of creeks, cows, and corn-stalks lined the roads. The Ipod cranked out Grateful Dead tunes, and the sun kept trying to come out and push the temp into the 40s. It was as beautiful as things can get this time of year, and even though I don’t have a sweet tooth, I enjoyed my slurpy-syrupy plate of French toast and sausage. After we finished eating, the owner stopped by our table and told us the whole history of the place — a story she seemed to enjoy telling even though she’s probably recited it many, many times.

Outside the air was smokey and cold, and I knew I’d need an extra long walk with the dog to walk off the damage. T’was a  very sweet Sunday, indeed…

Slice of Life Writing Challenge — Day #27

It seems like a lot of people are having trouble sleeping lately — myself included. I’ve heard stories of insomnia, waking up every hour, not being able to fall asleep, and a constant feeling of tiredness throughout the day. My scenario is the “waking up every hour” one. For some reason my head likes to really focus on lesson planning around 4:30 in the morning. Ugh! The recent time change hasn’t helped this situation.

Today, however, I hit the couch  to watch a little March Madness, pulled the blanket up around my neck,  and the next thing I knew, it was two hours later. The Nap — what a delicious thing! I finally found that deep, REM sleep that is so conducive to crazy dreams and mental peace. Nothing could touch this light sleeper today. Not the phone. Not the roaring crowd. And not the clicking dog nails on the wood floor. I feel light-headed, rested, and strangely nourished. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Slice of Life Writing Challenge – Day #25

Five years ago I was prone in a hospital bed for six days, in traction on a morphine drip. When my senses started to return to me, I realized what I missed. It wasn’t memories of a day at Disneyland or a swim in the Caribbean. It was the mundane.

I missed being able to walk. To make choices about what I would eat. To be able to sleep through a night without constant noise and interruptions. A room to myself. An open window. Freedom. Choice. The mundane.

I missed days like today, where nothing really happens. No highs. No lows. Just being. And I remember thinking that I needed to be more appreciative of times like this:  No drama. No ecstasy. Just a quiet ride home to a peaceful life. The use of my legs. A pain- free existence. A dog to pet. Some shrimp to saute. A welcoming, easy, life.

Thankful.

Slice of Life Writing Challenge — Day #24   

It passed!

The Prop 2 1/2 override in my school’s town made it through last night with a resounding YES vote. I already wrote a whole post about this and it (break my heart) just deleted itself. So, I’m keepin’ it short.

This is what I learned: The negative voices, often the LOUDEST, are not representative of everyone. (Don’t be fooled by their viciousness.) We (the teachers) gave up a $1000 raise to support this, and people still dissed us. However, we have saved some wonderful programs and the teachers who teach them. Our amazing school (for kids) caught a reprieve. It was a happy day in school-land…

(Sorry this post is not too articulate… my first one was better, but it went bye-bye!)

Slice of Life Writing Challenge — Day #23

It was state testing day in MA, and I had to proctor the 10th grade Long Essay writing portion this morning. They were such good sports, and they worked diligently for two and a half hours. I was impressed, watching them write a first draft and then revise to a final draft. They took it seriously, but the vibe was not stressful.

Downtown, it was election time. Our town is deciding today whether to vote for a tax over-ride, a move that would save some wonderful programs — culinary arts, clothing, jazz workshop, wood tech, and more… — in my school. And it would save the jobs of the teachers who are in charge of these courses.

Strange juxtaposition today… all their heads bent over #2 pencils, so earnestly working while voters decide the fate of their rich elective programs and more. I’ll never stay up late enough to hear the vote results… way too tired from getting through this confusing day.

Slice of Life Writing Challenge — Day #22

The rain is back and it’s cold again. I couldn’t wait to get home and burn some wood to take the chill off the house. Last week was a gift of sun and light, but I knew it wouldn’t last. And all day at work, I couldn’t stop thinking about tacos.

Some people like mac ‘n cheese, for others it’s meatloaf, and there’s those who must have ice-cream. It’s all about the “comfort” in comfort food. For me, it’s always been about tacos. Spice and salt are my main addictions, and I learned how to satiate that craving at an early age. There were times in my first year of college that I ate tacos every night! And one night in the dining commons, sophomore year at San Diego State University, I won the taco eating contest with a grand total of 21. I kid you not — it was effortless.

I can eat them forever as long as I don’t have to put lettuce on them. Hot lettuce is gross. Melted cheese is god.

So tonight, we enjoyed my latest trendy hormone and antibiotic free concoction — Bison Tacos with homemade tortillas. Yummmmmmmmmm….

Slice of Life Writing Challenge – Day#21

Last week at the lunch table, one of the teachers was lamenting the fact that her three-year-old toddlers have suddenly learned how to use the word hate. These kids are surrounded by love and positive attention, and they don’t watch TV, so how could they learn such a thing? She thinks they may have heard it at an event with other children. It’s a powerful word and they are experimenting with it without really knowing its implications. They can’t possibly understand how hurtful it is to be on the receiving end of it — even when spewed by innocents.

On my walk through the woods today, I was thinking about what I hate and how I rarely use the word. My inclination was to counter everything I hate with a list of what I love. I hate snakes, iceberg lettuce, and cream-corn. I love dogs, avocados, and limes. I hate child abusers and I hate vomit, but I love soft voices and I love epiphanies…

Other parents at the lunch table reassured the mom that her children would outgrow their “I hate you!” stage. She looked relieved, though still stung by it’s unintended cruelty. I hate thinking about how much that must have hurt her.