whoopsie, float building, life

How embarrassing that I've been so lazy and depressed and then I read about Syria. Seriously blessed over here in the US of A and dragging our feet.

Depressed? I guess more like discouraged. Stupid Facebook. People accusing the school of making bank off of students. Seriously? It makes me want to clock in clock out and see how many volunteers you get then. Please just stop people. Not nice. If you have a question ask the right people not Facebook. Negative Nancys are all going to say amen and those of us who know the answers aren't allowed to engage school questions like that on Facebook. Poopy people.

And then there is float building... a great American tradition. Where the parents need to learn to let the kids do something on their own.... Painful to watch but a necessary right of passage.

We tell our kids to behave online and then the parents are the ones out there blasting each other, making accusations instead of having a question and going to the appropriate person to get answers.
I wonder why we can't get volunteers....

This post started days ago but I just keep holding off on posting so LAST DAY!
I put out new bookmarks on Monday and today I noticed they are all gone.. what a rewarding feeling. They weren't even up front; because they were so large I put them in the back of the basket and today I went to get one and they were all gone. Little lovelies found them and helped themselves just as I had intended.

Webinars

Aug 4
Participating in webinars all day today. Should be interesting. 

measure

I'm trying to pull together evidence to support the high school library and my job as a professional librarian. Not in response to anything recent so don't panic, I just know I need to be doing this in general as a professional. It's not like I can present test scores or adequate student progress so how do I measure or prove that my salary is well spent on a certified librarian. Today as I was reviewing some things students were pouring in and when I sat back down I thought here's the dialogue of the last 15 mins in the HS library.

I need a book
I need a book
can I renew
can I check this out
I don't know what to read
I don't like this
I'm thinking of doing my English project on like the end days or like the breakdown of the government- what do you have in here on that?
wanna see my grades
wanna see my drawing...
Thank you Mrs. Lovin

That last one made me tear up a bit. It's from the kid who comes in everyday. He does homework beside me at my desk. We check his grades and discuss what we are going to do about that. His artwork had some really personal stuff going on. I paused my work of trying to put my job on paper and poured over his art project he brought in just to show me. We talked about what was in there. As he walked away he muttered Thank You Mrs. Lovin. And I know it isn't just for doing my job. It's for paying attention. We all do it. I'm not the only one. I'm just trying to figure out how you put a price on that. How do I measure that? How do I include that? Rambling I know but it's my struggle lately. And I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to book talk and work collaboratively alongside teachers and students doing phenomenal work.

Conversation

Morning conversation with English teacher about today's YA author, censorship and reality...
I'm uncomfortable with the edginess of today's YA fiction but also thrilled that the writing has been elevated. What I worry about are the parents and administrators who are not readers regulating what we should be reading or allowing students to read. It's heartbreaking.

Guy student conversation about not liking YA but adult has stuff in it he shouldn't be reading... So therein lies the rub right? So YA authors have heard this complaint and upped the ante on their writing and then we censor it.

Guy student conversation about Winger and sequel- this is a kid just like me. He talks like me, he does stuff I think is funny. It's relatable. I've never read a book like this. That makes me want to sing but these are the books that make me worry about my job if a non reading administrator or parent picks up one of these and reads one edgy page.

Guy student who said The Lightening Thief was the first book he picked up and chose over video games. He smiled. Ahhh, really the best job in the world.

A girl reading a book I recommended- I hurried up on my English test today so I could read this it is soooo good!!!

I am so excited about going to the Country Living Fair on Saturday.  The first time I went, I came home and told Hubs- these are my people. It is so inspiring and beautiful, full of wonderful ideas and lovely items for sale and just perfect to take in all the sights. The food from a local food truck is healthy and unique and delicious. After going for the last few years I look for my favorite venders. They know how to style a booth. It's inviting and an experience.

I can't even explain how important and indepth our conversations in the library are.
Stephenie's classes are doing a project where they pick a topic and read nonfiction and fiction to support and explore their topic. This has led to amazing conversations from deep thinking students.

And so it begins...

First 2 days of school.... work days, but a baptism for sure.
Talked to an administrator today who sees the future of education way different than I do. Yikes.
People do not change. Maybe that's why I wonder if I will. Adults come in say they know I'm busy too and then continue to ask for something right now that can wait.
Love the teenager. He has made a bad choice and he is suffering for it. Painful to watch.
Gonna miss Summer Sonics....

Sat.ur.day (sing it)

Watching a few Hallmark movies today... I know I'm surprising myself. Undercover Bridesmaid, The Good Witch, The Good Witch Garden...

The boys are fishing and the girls are spending the day at home.

I've started laundry, cleaned house and am now sitting down to paperwork. Oh ok I'm gonna blog a little first.

On my birthday Hub's came home with these...

 the girls are adorable together

 Hub's ordered my birthday cake from my favorite cake ball lady. I should order more, more often.

 We went to Enoteca Emilio for my birthday dinner with two of our couple friends.

 This week this saying became relevant. Again. Seriously can't believe 15 years into this job this is still an option. Dodged the bullet. Again. For now.

 Yolanda thinks she's sooo funny. Ok well she is but still. Poor Stella girl so discriminated against. 

 Spent last Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning at The Ranch for Bub's fishing kickoff. 

 My sleeping quarters with the dogs

 The main house

 Stella fit right in

 Got a little reading done

 Took a ride on the terrain vehicle and saw a bird drying his wings

 Instead of camping we slept in the barn loft

 The boys slept in the other barn loft

 Stella crawled on top of my purse for a nap 

 Back home

 Smart Talk women's lecture series hasn't been so good this year but the restaurants are great. This is Nada's. First time I've seen a TV projected through the mirror.

 Last week's work hysteria made me rethink writing as a career. Of course I identify a little too closely with this to make it happen.

 Our church small group is a God sent. These are the kids. Doing life.

 BED BUG!

 We saw a coyote last week in the lake, Friday we saw deer on our way out.

 Working hard training the new girl.

 Hard work chewing up toys.

 Bub's fishing season began today.

I finished The Mitford Series some time ago and so finally started The Father Tim novels. Home to Holly Springs is delightful. Comfort read. 

Then finished 101 Things You Should Do Before Your Kids Leave Home. Its an ok list. 

Made a Goodwill stop Thurs. Picked up some shoes for Hub's, crop pants for me, 3 books, a Banana Rep sweater and 2 necklaces for $27.

The Personal Plan Goes Awry

I have a personal plan in mind for everyday but then... life just happens. We decide to eat together at a restaurant in order to see each other since the boys are headed to practice and I'm headed home. We decide today is a good day for bub to visit the barber. Craziness ensues and i barely get laundry started and things put away before the boys are headed home. So be it. I do think I've gotten so much better at handling this and not being so hard on myself.
I decorated the library for spring yesterday. Sometimes people make no comment about a display but yesterday numerous people said "Oh Spring!" when they visited yesterday. It's sad when even the students don't want to see one more snowflake!
I picked up Jon Katz My Year With Dogs yesterday and I couldn't put it down today. I like my dog more than i like most people so it comes as no surprise i love this book about a guy musing about the dogs in his life, especially since they are labs!
Reading Eccless. currently and it finding wisdom in all those proclamations. "4:6 Better one hand of tranquility..." "4:9 Two are better than one" "4:12 a cord of three strands is not quickly broken." I've also been reviewing my prayer book I've had since 2003? amazing how many prayers have been answered and yet how little things change. One reoccurring prayer is "Father help me to understand what is keeping this person from knowing you..."