A long week...and stay away from Butler Street

It has been a long week for me. 
On Tuesday I attended our resident's meeting and got up and spoke about the upcoming craft class.  It seemed to go over well.  I posted the sign up sheet.

On Wednesday...I looked at the sign up sheet....no one had signed up.
On Thursday...there was one name and she stopped me and paid for the class...she is my next door
neighbor.
Today...no one else has signed up.

It gave me second thoughts.  Maybe no one really wanted to do crafts.  What if no one else signs up?  Do I do a class with just one person?  Or do I cancel?  So last night I got to thinking that maybe I should take a bright post it and put a deadline for signing up.  That way I will know if I should continue or not.  People who live here are a strange lot.  They complain that life is boring...there is nothing to do....but if you offer them a solution they disappear.

So tonight I just had to get out of my apartment.  I decided to get a new fall top.  As I was returning a lady was sitting outside.  She was one of the people that I had talked to in the Spring about the class.  She asked me how many did I have to have to go on with the class.   She says that she intends to sign up.  (ok...so why hasn't she?).

I guessed I am bummed about it now.

On the brighter side.  Hardly a day doesn't go by that one of my 1st graders doesn't ask me about whether I have a husband or not.  Today was no different.  Each day two students are chosen to have lunch with me and then after lunch we play board or card games.  Today the little girl asked whether I had a husband.  I said no.  She said...."Are you looking for one?"  I said,  "Sometimes, do you know someone?"  She said,
    "No, but stay away from Butler Street."   I am guessing that is the street she lives on.  So out of curiousity I asked why....and she said that an old mean man lives there.  He won't let them pick his flowers and says he is going to call the police on them.  I told her thanks for the tip. 

I am really enjoying my time at school...the children are amazing and we have already formed a bond. 

Well, have a good Friday night and a lovely weekend.  I have no plans so it should proved to be a relaxing two days for me.

Where were you 11 years ago?

Today marks the tragic day when the United States of America was attacked by terrorists.  It started out like a lot of other mornings for me.  I was then married and my husband was a truck driver.  He had headed out the night before for a long haul.  I was working in a real estate office.  That morning we were having our weekly meeting and then off to view new listings.  I was one of two new realtors and it was mandutory to be at the meeting.  I, like always, arrived early and we were just sitting down after getting our coffees or teas and I looked around and didn't see the other newby.  I wasn't surprised because she was late lots of times and sometimes didn't make the meetings at all.  I was patting myself on the back (mentally) when she came rushing in.  She was the one who broke the news to all of us about the attacks.  I can still remember the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach...and we were are frightened and concerned for the people in the towers....then word of the missing plane, and the pentagon came in and we were all sent home.

After getting home my husband called to make sure I was all right and told me to stay indoors.  Looking back I think then we were overdoing it a little, but it was better safe than sorry.  Everyone was glued to their tv's.  Mostly I noticed the absence of planes in the sky.....if there was one it was watched very closely.  Once I saw some military planes fly over the farm.  In the days that followed I noticed how almost everyone had a flag outside their homes....and people seemed closer...knowing that we were all in this together.

So where were you on 9-11?  What are your memories? 
Do you think it brought us together as a nation...or is it just something to look back on?

New Endeavor

A few months ago I thought that too many people where I live had nothing interesting to do.  I live in a senior apartment community.  I see folks sitting in the main floor lobby just watching people come and go.  So I thought maybe I could begin a craft class.  The main activity in the building is playing games...Monday is Bingo....Tuesday is game night....one night is Euchre....but I thought maybe crafts would be something interesting for them to do.

I talked to the building manager and she thought it would be a great idea.  So then I started the search for an interesting craft for the first class.  This is what I came up with.  The picture doesn't really do the pins justice...I think they are cute.  They are made from Polymer Clay.

 

 

Let me know what you all think.....do you think a $10.00 charge for 2 pins and having a light refreshment  is reasonable?

 

Any ideas for easy crafts?

 

Today was our second day of school.  I am enjoying my new students.  For those that don't know I volunteer in one of our public schools as a foster grandparent.  I help 1st graders with reading and writing and interact with them since many don't have real grand parents that are with them much. 

I love listening to their stories and hearing about what their lives are like.  Today at lunch I actually got to see my kids from last year....they look so mature, and told me that 2nd grade is going well.  

I love my time at school and would recommend it to everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Labor Day weekend!

Just got the call from the automated system that there is a 2 hour school delay today.  I woke up around 3 am and it was very foggy.  I couldn't see the mall from my balcony window.  It is still a little foggy now at 6am but I guess the country roads are worse than here in town.  Lots of children are probably excited to start their school year and will be disappointed to have a 2 hour delay.  It means that school will start at 11 am....then lunch is at 11:30.....it will be a strange and short day.

My Labor Day weekend was fun.
Saturday was just another Saturday....ran some errands and loafed around the apartment.  Sunday was a cook out at my daughter's.  It was also a celebration for her finance, Chuck, who just graduated from nurses training at the University.  Now he will take the test and get his license in about six weeks.  I wonder why they make them wait the six weeks?  Anyway, it was a great party and there was about 50 people there....the food was good and there were 4 cakes.  Needless to say my daughter sent me home with a couple of pieces (which I didn't really NEED) and a cup of the taco salad which was delicious.  Sad to say, although I made sure my camera was in my purse, I completely forgot to take it out and take pictures.  Didn't even think of it until I was on my way home.  Bad me.

Yesterday I got up early and headed out to meet up with my gal friends, Vicki, Gratia, and Deb.  We went to South Haven, MI and enjoyed the beach and shops there.  Deb refused to have her picture taken but here is one of Gratia, Vicki and me.

Here is the beach (this is early in the day...later it got real crowded)

and here is Gratia...slattering on the sun protection

and of coure, here is the lighthouse....

I hope you all had a good holiday and as much fun as I did.