tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36009596719187751812024-03-13T19:42:05.596-07:00dinodoDinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-57299206984206864642011-07-09T10:59:00.000-07:002011-07-09T11:00:42.540-07:00Masaya and jesusDinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-20814520782739060952011-07-09T10:41:00.000-07:002011-07-09T10:43:27.346-07:00Meet jesus and masayaDinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-2107475701258109062011-01-13T15:13:00.000-08:002011-01-13T17:07:30.319-08:00Spinning round and roundI was 10 in 1968. What started like any other spring morning turned into a crazy day. I loved spring. My father had gotten 200 baby chicks. I so loved to spend time watching them. We kept them in a brooder house that was just a small 12 ft. by 12 ft building. The chicks arrived through the mail and we started them out in a cardboard circle in the center of the room. They had a heat lamp they kept them warm in the cool spring. I would dig small worms and put them in their pen. I would tap the floor and the chick would think I was their mother and come running. they would grab the worm and go running. Before they had gotten far another chick would grab it away from the runner and take off in a different direction. they would spin and run through the crowd. It was a real bonus when two chick would grab opposite ends of a worm and play tug of war. I could spend a hour watching chicken football. Earlier that spring a farmer has two new born lambs that the mother would not take care of. He offered them to my dad and of course I thought it was Christmas. We got to bottle feed the little guys and I named them Mike and Mary Ann. I milked a cow twice a day which I didn't mind. We got about a gallon of milk twice a day and we used the milk for our family use. Mom often made cottage cheese and at times butter. Most was just used for cooking. It was my responsibility to care for the cow and I enjoyed having another pet. <br /><br />So that spring day I got off the bus, quickly changed into my play clothes left my shoes next to my bed and headed out to the farm yard bare footed. I got to the barn and hallared for the cow. Sick cow I would yell at the top of my lungs. It didn't mean the cow was sick. It was just what we yelled. It was long before the cow came from the pasture. Usually after a yell or two she would answer me with a bawl. I let her in the barn and she walk to her stantion and put her head in the stall. I grabbed a scoop and grain for her and threw in down. Then grabbed my T shaped stool that was made out of 2 X 4's and got to milking. That spring the cow had given birth a large black calf and I milked what milk I need then let the calf have it's share. I have to muscle the calf back into it pen and then let the cow out. <br /><br />Mike and Mary Ann had gotten big enough to that they were exciled from the house. Their new home was in the temporaily abandoned hog shed. As I ran across the hog lot. The lamb heard me and baaaa 'd I gave them some of my milk mixed with grain and headed for the house. The rest of the milk by put though a strainer and then put in the fridge. I headed out to the brooder house checked on the chicks then headed for the house. I didn't really think must of the calm that had come over the farm until a few days later. When I got in the house a storm was coming up which wasn't unheard of in the spring. This storm was nasty. My sister had us sit in the middle of the living room in a circle. My mother was out wall papering for a neighbor a few miles away. My father wasn't home either. He hadn't returned form town yet. As we sat in the circle the house shook. I screamed and ran for the basement. My sibling followed me. The basement was an unfinshed dug out basement. our world now was two small windows that turned green. I screamed with fear and my sisters comforted me. When it was over we younger kids were told to stay in the basement as they check out the farm. My 16 year old brother Dale who was an awful kidder told me that Mike and Mary Ann were up a tree. I screamed again. but they were fine. The brooder house was moved several feet and my brother s brought wet little chicks to the basement to dry off. Only about a third of them survived but I spent the night trying to do what I could. Those chickens grew up to be the tamest chicken we had ever had. I had a couple that would sit on my shoulder. I think they were grateful for our efforts. We did finally get out of the basement. The living room windows were blown out. Our farm actually faired well. We didn't go back to school that spring and we had church in the highschool until the church could be repaired. We spent the summer getting paid to pick up twisted metal and other objects out of fields. That to me just seemed like another adventure.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-73254269667533359512009-02-15T06:18:00.001-08:002009-02-15T08:19:49.665-08:00bleeding heartsHave you ever had a dream that was so clear that you had to think to be sure it didn't happen? Being the 7th son or the 7th son I was always told I could fortell the future, right? I don't believe that but every so often something happens and I freak myself out. A few months back I dreamed that my niece was going to have a baby boy, and she is. When my boys were growing up I would have mini panick attacks and when I'd find them they would have a cut or scrape or whatever. So just wierd little things.<br /><br /><br /><br />The other night, I thought I woke up but it was a dream. I woke up to the smell of spring flowers. You know the smell when early in the morning and the dew is still on the ground. It was a light smell that had tough or bark or wood chip smell. I hadn't opened my eyes but was just breathing in the fresh smell. I climbed out of bed, went to the kitchen and grabbed a cup of tea, and went out to sit on my front step and enjoy the fresh morning breeze. <br /><br />It was very peaceful and quiet. The sun was just coming up and was sending out rays of sunshine. It was kind of a woodland feeling but I was right here in Clinton, Illinois. Everything looked green... like super green ...... like the green before a storm. When my eyes focused I realized that the plants around me were bleeding hearts. Their red flower shaped like a heart split at the bottom to expose a white tear drop. To me they have always been a reminder of the tears I shed as I remember those we have lost. In my flower garden I have bleeding hearts they bloom all summer long. In this dream they were everywhere. The wonder I felt at their beauty was replaced by sorrow as I realized that each one was a symbol of a lost love one. <br /><br />I walked through the flowers and took time to think of each one of my friends or family that had crossed over. All too soon. Then I thought for a moment of my own mortality. Just as I felt the panic of the moment, a wave a peace came over me. I felt the presense of my people. Then as if I was in some old movie of a christmas carol, I looked down on an unmarked grave. Where the headstone should have been I saw a small plant breaking through the earth. It was the beginning of a bleeding heart. <br /><br />I woke and began checking myself to see if any part of what seemed to be happening had happened. I stretched as I walked through the house and grabbed a cup of tea I walked at side and it was freezing. There was no plant life at all. There was still snow on the ground. I went back in the house and made my breakfast.<br /><br />The reason I thought this was worth writing down is my wish. When I die I don't want flowers. I don't want a casket only a pine box. I don't want a mass. Only a opportunity for my friends to confort each other. What I would like is for each person who felt I made a difference in their life to plant a bleeding heart somewhere as a reminder that even though the tears may fall, life will go on. <br /><br />It will be totally freaky if I die on a cool spring morning. I guess it would be freaky no matter when I die......... I mean from my end of the experience.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-51666796629947048382009-02-07T09:41:00.000-08:002009-02-07T12:13:23.569-08:00Just AnotherMy new great nephew is named Justin Other Droke Jr. after his father Justin Other Droke. Just another Droke ......good gravy..... I started thinking about this and thought I bet when I started school they thought just another Karr. I was the 14th child. Little did they know I was like no other. <br /><br />One day when a neighbor visited our home the elderly woman looked over my sisters admiring their beauty. She said "Rozanne you have such beautiful daughters and they all look alike, except this one, pointing to Peggy, she doesn't look like them at all. Apparantely she wasn't just another Karr girl. The other girls where brown haired, Peggy was a blond. Peggy took this to mean that she wasn't beautiful and that she didn't belong to the family. She was convinced that mom had adopted her. She asked me and I told her she was a loon. I asked mom after she cried and Mom said "Peggy do you really think I would adopt my 13th child?" Peggy didn't take this as an answer. She pointed out that mom takes in strays off the street all the time. We did from time to time have people stay with us. Since I was just younger than Peggy I couldn't attest to anything about her birth. The older girls teased her and she became convinced she was left on the doorway. <br /><br />I was born early and grew slowly. It never stopped me from talking. My older sisters took advantage of my small size and pushed me around in a buggy. Of course I was moving, so I was happy. They would dress me in their doll clothes. I'm sure I was adorable. When they would get bored with me, I climb out and go visit the animals. I remember one cow who must have thought I was a calf 'cause she would lick my hair. It didn't take much to amuse me. I would spend hours digging in the chicken yard with one of my mother's spoons. The chicken pick the ground clean of vegatation so great place to make roadways . My sisters also loved to teach me things they had learned in school. Then they would stand me on an old stump and I would give shows. The shows consisted of me reciting a poem or stomping out the answer to a math problem. Nothing that a trained monkey couldn't do. Cookaberra sitting in the old gum tree, merry merry king of the bushes hee. laugh cookaberra laugh how gay your life must be. I can remember all the words 47 years later. <br /><br />i was always anxious to see what there was to see. One time I followed the ducks down the creek to pasture a couple miles from home. I was sure I was columbus discovering new land. i must have been missed 'cause mom found me and took me back home. She told me that I was to stay on the 40 acres. so I would walk the parimeter of the farm. and scare up rabbits from the multi-flora roses that filled the fence around the farm. My dog cootsy was usually at my side. I just laughed at myself. The dog was everyone's dog. She was a beagle and they had named her cutey but I couldn't say it so her name became cootsy. a quarter mile from the house I wouldn't ask mom to kiss my wounds. Just a good licking from cootsy and I was good to go. <br /><br />on our few outings I was more than happy to talk to strangers. Not only talk I would dance, sing, and recite my abc s. If they would take me home with them I was more than happy for the adventure.<br /><br />My grandmother had lost her husdband when I was 3 and she often would come and get me for company. She cheated and cards, smoked too much. Actually she usually lit a cigarette then left the room to do something else. I got good at putting the out without damaging the cigarette. She had a tv but I never saw it on. She had a piano but I don't ever remembering anyone ever playing it. The breezeway was my kingdom. I had 2x4 blocks that I could build anything my imagination allowed. It is funny what you remember. Grandma was a wide as she was tall. She wasn't very tall. She would chew on cooked fat that would cut from meat. she made tea but it wasn't wonderful. If I remembered I would bring a quart jar of cream from the farm so I could put that in the tea. but when I was with grandma it was wonderful 'cause I wasn't just another Karr. I was her favorite for the day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />We assume that children today know so much outside their small world they experience first hand. We think well they have have TVs, Internet, Movies, but all too often when we ask children to connect a book or article to their own experiences they have a hard time making that connection.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-40005121274174519932009-01-25T16:17:00.000-08:002009-01-25T16:58:47.679-08:00My Baby is 26Married less than one year and our first child was on the way. I did a happy dance every day. Cathy was terribly sick the entire pregnancy. She took motion sick medicine just to function. <div>We had taken Lamaze classes before Josh was born. The weekly trip to the hospital with pillow in hand. We called them the pillow people. One of the things they said was that a lot of new parents rush into the hospital after the news goes off and the contractions start. They cautioned that if we waited til after midnight we wouldn't have to pay for two days. I was at a meeting at The Baby Fold. We had one every Monday night. When your mother called. I got excited and ran right into the door Jam. I about knocked myself out. Everyone laughed at me lying on the floor and helped me up and I was rushing home. Cathy was feeling "funny". She didn't think they were contractions but and after a couple we started timing them. We didn't wait until midnight. The classes said you were suppose to pack cookies for the husband, in case the delivery went long, (Cathy had them frozen in a zip lock in the freezer) and suckers for the woman. Once labor started they would let the expectant mother eat but sometimes they would allow suckers. So off we go in our little compact car through the streets of Normal, Illinois. I had to stop at Krogers for the suckers. I had the clasical music (my smart son was gonna be born to it) I had the instant camera (Poloroid instant brand new, we wouldn't have to wait to delevope them just shake. Cathy got it with coupons of some kind) We had new born clothes and packed clothes. You were a month early so it was a good thing Cathy was a great planner. So I leave Cathy in the car as I run into Krogers. I yelled at the cashier. Where are your suckers. She said "what" I said suckers you know you lick them. I said "my wife is having a baby in the car and I need suckers. She said "your wife is having a baby" I said yes. I started running up and down looking for them. There they were hanging on an end cap. They had the ones that are all strung together with plastic. I grabbed a bunch and thew them on the counter. The manager said "are you alright" I said sure sure, here is the money. and I ran. When we got the hospital I stopped at the emergency door. Cathy was so patient. I ran around and got her out. Then I couldn't decide if I should walk her in or park the car. I leaned her on a pole and away I went to park the car. Jumped over a curb and down so grassy area and was back in a flash. We were all pre-admitted. Thanks to Cathy so that part was easy but I was still spinning. music, camera, cookies, clothes, I was so excited I couldn't breath. We got one of the new room with the birthing chair which was wonderful. You came without complication at 2:28 a.m. I had the classical music playing. I had the camera ready. It was wonderful. I waited until they cleaned Josh up for the first picture. When I clicked the Poloroid Camera all 10 pictures/flashes went off at once. flash flash flash flash flash. I got one of Josh and 9 of the room as I was trying to figure it out. The second roll I took all 10 of Josh and they also all fired at once. I was prepared with 5 packs so I got 10 pictures of each of 5 poses and I'm sure Josh was blind for days. When we called you grandmas neither could believe that we didn't call them when we went in. But both were happy. I called everyone I knew at 3 a.m. to tell them about my new arrival. When we took Josh home I demanded that he be put in a car seat. The nurse said no honey he is too small, let the mother hold him. I got my way. He was strapped down safely. My how times have changed. We had to make a law to make people be safe.<br /><br /></div>Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-27906584472604982002009-01-09T17:43:00.000-08:002009-01-09T17:50:57.321-08:00oh ya gotta love plumbing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SWf9VDc9SAI/AAAAAAAAAB4/Yx2SoaIbSQM/s1600-h/100_1318.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SWf9VDc9SAI/AAAAAAAAAB4/Yx2SoaIbSQM/s200/100_1318.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289474825515780098" /></a>This is under my house the pipes for the bathtub sink and toilet. It also is for the toilet and sinks in the upstairs. Since I took out the floor of the bathroom that was an inch and a half thick. And the floor I'm putting down is only 3/4 of an inch the pipe for the toilet is too high. Also these pipes are not vented so when the bathrub drains you hear it in the sink. not a major problem but it does slow down the drains slightly. Well I'm no plumber but I did fix this when it cracked at the bottom with a rubber boot. So before I finish the bathroom I have to figure out this quandry. <div><br /></div><div>Gotta love a challenge.</div>Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-12714573356313346792009-01-09T17:35:00.000-08:002009-01-09T17:42:27.338-08:00wonderful bathtub<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SWf7n4MJoRI/AAAAAAAAABw/YlXsvGDUJZA/s1600-h/100_1315.JPG">Too crazy. The first tub I got home with </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SWf7n4MJoRI/AAAAAAAAABw/YlXsvGDUJZA/s1600-h/100_1315.JPG">was the wrong one so I got up early and went to lowes to switch before going to work last saturday. My brother Dick came down and redid all of the plumbing . When he got home he said the good new is that it's installed. The bad news is that there is a leak. We I didn't spend a small fortune for a tub with a hole in the pipes. heavens. I'll called whirlpool who basically said if we fixed the hole we would lose our warrenty or I could wait 6 weeks for them to send me a patch. I worked sunday and when I got home said "this is for the birds" Decatur didn't have another tub so I called Bloomington. I took out the installed tub put it back int he box and took it to bloomington and exchanged. A few hours of argueing and explaining and then home again. By 10:30 at night I had it installed and guess what. I took a bath!!@! </a></span><div><br /></div>Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-91869492609177216912008-12-31T18:35:00.000-08:002008-12-31T18:48:49.496-08:00I'VE ONLY JUST BEGUNToday, New Years Day I finished gutting the bathroom. Like all remodeling, the little job grew and grew. but the good news is I got lots of exercise carrying all the plaster out to the dumpster. I was able to keep one and 1/2 walls in tact. I had to completely tear out the three walls around the tub. My nephew Dillon came over today and helped me finish that part of the project. Now I have to decide on a Tub. After I install that I can do the floor and walls. I opened up the area above the tub. I will still have the storage area above the cabinet. I'll have to reframe that in of course. So I met my first goal of getting everything torn out before my break was over. I'm sitting in my TV room and looking at the paneling and have to keep myself from tearing this room up too. One room at a time my friend........i haven't had to use my tread mill the last few days 'cause I've put the time in on my room. ..... New year how wonderful.......At this age people start asking when I will quit working. I think that is funny. I've got a good 10 years of the joy of teaching ahead of me.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-39903145978434779802008-12-29T10:36:00.000-08:002008-12-29T10:52:39.200-08:00i think it's going to beat me.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVkZGkVCwII/AAAAAAAAABo/kphZBwTaFd8/s1600-h/100_1309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVkZGkVCwII/AAAAAAAAABo/kphZBwTaFd8/s200/100_1309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285283238317834370" /></a><br />Well I've been banging on my bathroom for about a week now. I think it is winning. I'm glad I have other bathrooms. I have a wall and a half left. My arms won't work anymore to hammer. ....... The dumpster I ordered is suppose to come today. I'll feel better when I'm not climbing over the stuff on the floor. 5 gallon buckets hold about 50 lbs of stuff I'm guessing. I have 4 full in the garage and 4 garbage cans full or plaster/concrete/tile. <div><br /></div><div>NEW QUESTION ....... DO I TEAR OUT THE STORATE ABOVE THE TUB TO OPEN UP THE AREA???? Joel and Josh both thought I should. It makes a big job bigger but if I don't do it now it will never happen.</div>Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-27887629026230865702008-12-26T11:23:00.000-08:002008-12-26T11:31:12.503-08:00pink tub cast iron monster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVUvg3DHxpI/AAAAAAAAABg/XElwqhVTqZw/s1600-h/100_1307.JPG">I'm not done banging. bam bam ....... I feel like bam bam from the flintstones........ I had be pecking away at the walls........ looked over at the tub and decided it was time for it to go....... I still have 3 days until I get the dumpster but what the heck.......on insulation on the outside wall. .... maybe that is why the tub was always cold. ........ That is a heater under the window...... I'll use the elctrical wire to run the hot tub.........I've never used the heater.<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVUvg3DHxpI/AAAAAAAAABg/XElwqhVTqZw/s200/100_1307.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284181979368507026" /></a>Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-84732524012939373172008-12-24T10:40:00.000-08:002008-12-24T10:42:45.140-08:00sink go bye bye<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVKCmEepSNI/AAAAAAAAABY/_U_gyKy-nG8/s1600-h/100_1299.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVKCmEepSNI/AAAAAAAAABY/_U_gyKy-nG8/s200/100_1299.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283428903407929554" /></a><br />growling screaming a couple of tantrums and a shower thanks to the sink. but I won! The sink is history. Next is the built in mirror that has already cut me a few times. Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-79106136594714753452008-12-23T08:08:00.000-08:002008-12-23T17:16:40.765-08:00I'm such a hick<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVGMq49sujI/AAAAAAAAABQ/FF1aSWkz7HY/s1600-h/100_1298.JPG">Hammering away at this floor good night I thought I would never be done. but a</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVGMq49sujI/AAAAAAAAABQ/FF1aSWkz7HY/s1600-h/100_1298.JPG">t last i am of course I have every garbage can i own full of concrete and tile dumpster is suppose to come next week because of course I didn't plan ahead. Plan ahead what is that i don't know why this is all underlined it is quite frustration. but maybe I'm just saying important things. not. Now I'm starting on the walls. I have to go to the hardware store to get caps for the water before I can yank out the sink. Remember I have a one year deadline to put this back together. lol</a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';"><br /></span><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVGMq49sujI/AAAAAAAAABQ/FF1aSWkz7HY/s1600-h/100_1298.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SVGMq49sujI/AAAAAAAAABQ/FF1aSWkz7HY/s200/100_1298.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283158506355866162" /></a><br /><br /></div></div>Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-13474089602362341092008-12-22T08:11:00.000-08:002008-12-22T08:25:59.665-08:00The pink bathroom must die.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU--CRdrtQI/AAAAAAAAABI/mclnZY5qck4/s1600-h/100_1291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU--CRdrtQI/AAAAAAAAABI/mclnZY5qck4/s200/100_1291.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282649834185798914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-92WEVkFI/AAAAAAAAABA/kFD2tp1UYW8/s1600-h/100_1290.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-92WEVkFI/AAAAAAAAABA/kFD2tp1UYW8/s200/100_1290.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282649629263237202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-9cxzng7I/AAAAAAAAAA4/FUDdjqeTFC8/s1600-h/100_1292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-9cxzng7I/AAAAAAAAAA4/FUDdjqeTFC8/s200/100_1292.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282649190032704434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-8teUR4qI/AAAAAAAAAAw/ASOIgbwDO3o/s1600-h/100_1295.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-8teUR4qI/AAAAAAAAAAw/ASOIgbwDO3o/s200/100_1295.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282648377347138210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-8hUQ8ZdI/AAAAAAAAAAo/QO72TkX_pm0/s1600-h/100_1296.JPG"><br />The toilet chose it own death a few months ago. It refused to work properly. So it was replaced by a beautiful new high toilet. I love this toilet. It will come back to the new improved bathroom. I'm not big on pedistal sinks. It will go. I like the eruoopean sink that has a small cabinet and the sink in big and roundish. The tub will die. I'm putting in a new jacuzee tub. and the cabinet has already injured me twice so it will go.</a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The floor is beautiful but it is pink. uh yuck and more yuck. I started and the wall by the door and of course it in backed by concrete so it only took me an hour to do a 3ft square. and the floor is going to make me wish I hadn't started. but it is going. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I now need your opinion. do I replace the tile with tile or plaster and paint?</div><div><br /></div><div>do I tile around the tub or do and insert?</div><div><br /></div><div>What kind of vanity do you like?</div><div><br /></div><div>lights above the vanity? what kind.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok now I spend my christmas vacation killing the bathroom. only to hope it rises from the ashes new and improved. I do promise you it will not be pink.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-8hUQ8ZdI/AAAAAAAAAAo/QO72TkX_pm0/s1600-h/100_1296.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-8hUQ8ZdI/AAAAAAAAAAo/QO72TkX_pm0/s200/100_1296.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282648168490362322" /></a><br /><br /></div>Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-20187697038455871672008-12-22T07:16:00.001-08:002008-12-22T08:11:47.539-08:00Josh destroyed my kitchen<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-8GOnVsZI/AAAAAAAAAAg/QubgjoEioSY/s200/100_1297.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282647703117214098" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-wFPCr2EI/AAAAAAAAAAY/JsuB8sodaJI/s1600-h/000_0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N16LXzkLwgU/SU-wFPCr2EI/AAAAAAAAAAY/JsuB8sodaJI/s320/000_0031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282634491912509506" /></a><br /><br /><br />a year ago Josh came down and got interested in fixing my pocket door. I purchased a kit online that was suppose to replace your pocket door track w/0 tearing up the wall. ahhh yeah sure. didn't happen. <br /><br />I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and replace the range hood with a microwave. of coourse in order to do this I had to shorten the cabinet and rewire the electricity and retile part of the wall. So one year later I have the project done. or relatively done.<div><br /></div><div>Then of course I had this dream of having a moveable counter on the opposite wall as my sink. My sons made a bar for thier college apt. They gave it to a friend upon graduation. The friend no longer had room for it so they gave it to me. I shortened the bar by a foot to make it counter height and put a larger top on it. Now joel is working with his heat press to make tile counter top with a design in it. My goal for this project is christmas 2009 but I have hope. </div><div><br /></div><div>the interesting thing about my energy is I will work around the clock for a week and then not touch the project for another year. haha I did tell myself that I had to finish last year's project before I started this years. and I did. I've had surplus energy for two weeks now. so the projects are moving along. I'm going to start another blog to tell you about my next project. <br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-3796431037859688882008-11-18T11:12:00.000-08:002009-01-01T19:13:50.197-08:00Just hang him in the closet.I was the shortest 1st grader in the world. I knew I was small but really didn't realize how small until I watched my son go through the stages being incredibly small for his age. When I was 6, I had the body of a 3 year old. I was the 14th of John and Rozanne's 19 children. I was a talkative little character. I was very impulsive and rarely listened to directions. To give you an idea of how active I was when I got to third grade, Ms. Harris took away my chair and made a masking tape square around my desk as a boundry for my movement. My teacher in first grade was Ms. Falley. She was a wonderful lady that wore lots of bright colors and smiled when she asked me to listen for the 100th time. As outgoing as I seemed to be I was also afraid of many things. I was quick to misinterpret simple things that often got me into trouble. <div><br /></div><div>First grade was my first year of school. My younger sister Elizabeth was the first to go to Kindergarden. At Wapella grade school the first grade classroom was in the "new" wing. It is part of the building that was kept as a community center after the building was torn down. There were two classrooms in the wing. Ms. Falley and Mrs. Clark's. Mrs. Clark was a contrast to Ms. Falley. She wore very conservative clothes. She pulled her hair back. When I heard her, she spoke is strong strict tones. The class had been introduced to Mrs. Clark on the first day of school. I was afraid of her, more because I didn't know her, because she was a lovely lady.</div><div><br /></div><div>Growing up in a large family I knew the importance of getting places quickly. The last name Karr put me smack in the middle of the line. In first grade it seemed we were lining up all the time. I was always anxious about where we were going. I constantly talking. I wanted to follow rules, and with the exception of talking I did what I was told. My mother rarely had to discipline me because I was always afraid of what might happen.</div><div><br /></div><div>One day in the fall we were lining up in the hallway to go out for a recess before the bus arrived to take us home. I was my usual self and was asking Tina Johnson where we were going. Mrs Clarks class was joining us. Mrs. Clark saw me talking and called me over. She told me that I needed to learn to stand quietly when in line. She asked me to follow her to her room. The room was small and had a cloak room at the back of the room. This large closet with a door at each end was were children would hang there coats and leave there lunch buckets. At first Ms. Clark had me stand by the door while she worked at her desk. I squirmed around so she walked me to the cloak room. She had me step up on the bench and she hooked my collar on a coat hook. She told me that I was to stay put and that I was not to make a sound. I did as I was told. I stood there and stood there and stood there. I counted nail holes. I watch a spider on the wall. Every time I started to squirm I could hear Ms. Clarks words inside my head and I'd stand still. I'm sure I could have unhooked myself but the longer I stood the worse my imagination got me thinking that bad things would happen.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The busses left and some time later when the others 13 children arrive home without me my mother got concerned. She drove to Wapella and found the school locked. She was finally able to get a janitor to let her in the building. She walked down the hallway to my classroom calling my name and I answered. I don't remember if I teacher was with her. </div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't expect any sympathy from my mother and I didn't receive any. She told me to march right out to the car. The station wagon was full on family. I had to climb over the back seat to the area for the "little kids". There wasn't a lot said about the incident. </div><div><div><br />Some time later when I was sharing with my older sister Dottie that I was afraid of Ms. Clark. My mother told me that Dorothy Clark was my god-mother and that her son John was my<br />god-father. I was outraged and screamed "did you run out of people to ask by the time I was born" She said no that Ms. Clark was a good friend and good teacher. I was born early with small birth weight. I was baptised shortly after my birth. <br /><br />Of course I did learn to love Ms. Clark. She had retired before I got to high school and helped<br />out with grade school classes, but I would stop by her house for tea every so often and tell her<br />about my dream of being a teacher. She would share many stories of her early years of teaching. I loved her stories. <br /><br />I believe She taught her entire career on a two year certificate, which was all that was required when she started teaching. She was such a lovely lady. I got a card from her, when I graduated with a BS in Business Education. When I got my masters in Special Education, I went by Dorothy's and she hugged me and said she thought I would make a wonderful elementary teacher. After a long conversation I left ready to take on the world. Dorothy had a wonderful way of letting you feel god love in very simple ways. She would share her "blessing" and I knew that teacher was a way I could change children's lives.<br />That was the first time I felt teaching was a calling from God.<br /><br />I don't ever remember having a conversation with Dorothy's son<br /><br /></div></div>Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-68205979188295635562008-11-08T06:23:00.000-08:002008-11-08T06:50:07.588-08:00Dip Dip Dip DipI'm not sure if more nutty things happen to me or if I just enjoy the things that happen to me more. <br /><br />Two weeks ago I was walking my dogs about 10 blocks from home and saw a pond liner that was sat out for trash. I threw it over my head and walked home with the two dogs and a pond liner. I figured I could find a home for it. I have a 6 foot wide 2 foot deep pond in my patio area. I was sure I could get the one I picked up set up for someone else. Well when I started catching my goldfish to move them in to aquariums for the winter I realized they had babies and there were tons of them. So I set up the pond I garbage picked at the end of my garage as a winter home for my goldfish. Pretty boring so far huh. Well I woke up on Friday and thought that I would just scoop a few of the fish to make sure it was good for everyfish. <br /><br />My dog pippen is a 9 lb boston terrier. He is hearing impaired and isn't very bright. I love him to death but they poor thing sometimes forgets to jump when he wants on the couch and literally bangs into the side of the couch. Freeda, my Morky (Maltise/Yorky) is 7 lbs of terror and keeps Pippen in line most of the time. Pippen has the love for brooms and rakes. He loves to bark at them when you use them. He will see my raking and zoom from whereever he is to attack the rake.<br /><br />Friday morning when I decided to go fishing in my little pond I put on thick sweats and started scooping for fish. Well, evidently my swishing the net looked like a rake to Pippen, cause he came running. One bark and splash. Pippen doesn't swim any better than he walks. His doggy paddle looked more like a suiside attempt. I reach for him. He moves. I stretch and go head over heels into the pond. Cold Cold Cold Cold omg Cold. My sweatsuit soaked up so much water. Pippen in hand I laughed and cried at the same time. Freeda stood on the side of the pond and barkes and barked. She was the only sinceable one there. Did I mention this was at 5:00 a.m. poor fish thought there world was coming to an end I'm sure. Talk about the sky falling. <br /><br />I finially got myself out of the pond. dropped my clothes in the garage and pippen and I ran in for a hot shower. Poor Pippen was shivering and shaking. After I dressed and got Pippen all wrapped up in a towel I went out to put my clothes in the washing machine. I picked them up and a goldfish fell out. After giving the fish mouth to mouth I put it in the indoor pond. (I didn't really give the fish mouth to mouth but I did have to swish it around a few times to get it swimming again. Fortunately this morning it was still alive and swimming. <br /><br />All of this and I still made it to work on time. <br /><br />Welcome to the life of DeanoDinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-76622096267601189432008-04-11T06:37:00.000-07:002008-04-11T09:10:05.364-07:00Oh The Lord's been good to me!When I was in college one hundred years ago, christopher columbus and I used to take marathon walks. Ok Chris wasn't there, I usually walked by myself but it wasn't uncommon for me to walk around Normal late into the night. It would clear my mind and I could solve all of the world's problems. One night I walked past The Baby Fold which was a residential program for children. I heard a tiny voice singing. I couldn't hear the words but the melody stuck in my head. I was always looking for a second of their part time job so a week later I went by and applied. The interview was grewling and you had to do a phycological screening. Needless to say I didn't get the job. But a month later they called me and asked if I would interview aqain. I had made an impression on one of the interviewers. The second interview was role playing. I felt like I was applying for a theatre group rather than a job working with children. one of the role plays was about abused children. <br /><br />The scene they discribed was like children in the attic. I got so wrapped up int he role play that I started crying. I became that unwanted child whose world was tied in knots. The I'm sure highly educated observers began asking me questions as if I were the child. It was difficult to shake that experience. I admire actors that can take on difficult roles and then walk away from the. I got the job. I was hired for 16 hours a week (two weekend shift) but many times I subbed for others. They gave me the group of abuse children who chose not to communicate. That talked to themself or not at all. They rocked, they swayed, they hummed. These children were drawn to me like insects to the light. I was assigned to work with two children. but I would sit on the floor to read a book and I soon at 8 children in my lap.<br /><br />I met Bonnie, the little girl whose singing I had heard on my late night walk. You have seen poor little abused dogs that cower and will not make eye contact and don't like you to look at them. That was Bonnie. Bonnie wore shift dresses and would shred them in her worry. She would work at a hem of the dress between her fingers until it was threads. Her hair was a bundle of knots where she had twisted it. She ate with her fingers and preferred to be under the table. Her walk was more of a monkey walk, very cautious as if the next step might be a land mind. She used a system of grunts and points to make requests. Bonnie loved my stories and would scurry into the room but stayed at a good 10 ft distance from me. She would make high pitch noises if anyone came close to her. The other children avoided Bonnie. She would listen while she sat on her knees with head down and her hands over her head. Much like a child in a storm drill. At night Bonnie would sit on her knees on her bed and rock from side to side. Eyes closed hugging herself. Late into the nigh she would sing "Oh the lords been good to me, And so I thank the lord, Oh the lords been good to me and so I thank the lord Oh the lords been good to me and so I thank the lord. Her tiny voice was high and the melody would dance with her words.<br /><br />Of course just as a child I wanted to help the poor little animals I found around my father's farm. My heart went out to Bonnie. Baby Fold had rules about not becoming too attached to a child, and Bonnie was in my group but not one of the children assign directly to me. So I played the game and did not initiate any contact with Bonnie. but Bonnie loved my stories. either from a book or just one of my how I got sprayed by a skunk stories. As I would finish a story Bonnie would become agitated, so I told as many stories as my time and other duties would allow. <br />My story time was during freeplay and children could choose what they wanted to do during the time. So I didn't always have a large audience but I always had Bonnie. One Saturday we had a zoo person bring in a snake and talk about snakes at the zoo. While the other chidren were excited and huddled close to see. Bonnie retreated to her room. I took a book and went to a different part of the living space and read a book to myself. I was baiting Bonnie. When I saw Bonnie peaking around the corner of her bedroom door I turned my back to her and continued reading. I could hear Bonnie sloppy footsteps creaping closer. I kept reading. Bonnie came right up to me and sat with her back against mine. When the story was finished she said "I am five" I said "I am twenty-one". She said "My name is Bonnie and I am a good girl" As long as we were back to back she continued to share. From that day on anytime I was sitting on the floor. Bonnie was sitting behind me back to back. She always listens closely to stories, then she would share what she liked or didn't like. What she loved to do was tell me what everyone else did when I wasn't there. Always about other children never about herself. The behavior modification training at The Baby Fold was trying to make Bonnie request things the proper way, sit at the table the right way. eat with a fork or spoon. She had pages and pages of goals to socialize her. Bonnie one day asked a question I was always a listener I didn't ever question her about anything because I wasn't her "special person" they called them. I was not allowed to spend time with her when I wasn't working where I was encouraged to spend time with other children that were assigned to me. Bonnie's question was Why? I said "I don't know why she swallowed the fly I guess she'll die" She said Why fork, Why chair Why comb Why bed Why oh why. Sitting there with her head down her tied up hair falling around her tattered dress. I said "my lovely Bonnie they want you to play the game" She said Oh it is a game. Oh I like games (she really didn't but I didn't argue with her) But that was the turning point in Bonnie's willingness to socialize and learning to follow those silly rules about eating and sitting and talking. Whe she would retreat we would say It's ok Bonnie it's a game. That spring our group spend a lot of time outside. Bonnie did not know what grass was. A flower had texture it wasn't flat. If you squished it you hurt it. She went to bed with a violet squeezed in her fist wanting it to last forever. She knew the noises but did not realize that they came from different birds. She knew them only as morning noises. <br /><br />We didn't have to worry about losing Bonnie she was stuck to me like glue. I couldn't hold her hand or pick her up and she didn't like to me to watch her when she didn't say "Watch ME" She would even say I didn't say "watch me" Her vocabulary was growing by leaps and bounds and she wanted to experience everything in her own cautious way. She didn't like when other children interacted with me and I told her she had to share my time. So when I would tie a shoe or help a child on the slide. She would sing "I'm sharing I'm sharing I'm sharing" She would still sit back to back when I read a book to the group. I would say Bonnie don't you want to come around here so you can see the pictures and she would say I like my minds pictures better. So I would describe the pictures in the picture books and she would purr like a kitten when I read. <br /><br />At the end of my first summer working at The Baby Fold I started working the night shirt during the week and day shift on weekends. I don't know when I slept I'm not sure I did. A man and a women worked in each "house" (really more of a floor or section of their buildings. <br /><br />One night I heard Bonnie start into her repeated chorus of The lords been good to me. I sat in the hall and started singing it with her. It was 2 a.m. I sang with her for about 30 minutes and then she went back to sleep. She only repeated the first two lines over and over so I went to the library and looked up children songs. The song was a mealtime praise song used at camps. "OH the lord's been good to me and so I thank the Lord for giving me the things I need The sun and the rain and the apple seed. <br /><br />The next night I when I heard Bonnie restless I sat outside of her room and softly say her the whole song over and over until I could hear her breathing deeply agian.<br /><br />They say all good things must come to an end. And so too my relationship with my little Bonnie and learned so much and done so well that they were looking for a home for her. She hair was still wild and her dress still worn and torn. But now where before her eyes had no sparkle they now sparkled with delight. She still would perfer to eat spinach then try anything new. She still growled her disaproval very quietly and purred when she was happy ever so quietly. If she initiated the tough she would allow you to touch her but only for a moment.<br /><br />And the day came, they had found a relative that would take Bonnie. We were forbidden to have any further contact with her as they wanted to give her every opportunity to build a relationship with her new family. <br /><br />But this time the staff and given up trying to keep Bonnie and I apart. They could tell her that the other staff was the person she would build a relationship with but She had chosen me. <br /><br />I told Bonnie that it was going to happen. I told her she would have a new place to live. Bonnie asked "New Game???" I said yes new games She asked "Dino playing??" I said no you are going to a new home and I have to stay here. Bonnie began to twist my hair (somewhere along the line she had stated tisting my hair and shirt when she was nervious as well) She started rocking and ever so quietly she said Bonnie don't like to share. She was standing and I was sitting in the middle of the grounds in the grass. It was early fall and the leaves had just begun to fall. I started crying and I said "Bonnie I know" I said "Bonnie things change" Bonnie ran around and around me. Exhausted she finially sat behind me back to back We sat for awhile saying nothing then she began to sing. "Oh the lord been good to me and so I thank the lord for giving me the things I need the sun and the rain and the apple tree. She paused and ever so quietly she added and dino and I said and Bonnie.<br /><br />That night I had to say my goodbye I had to trust that Bonnie was in the hands of God. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. We had mashed potatoes and spinach for dinner under the table eating with our fingers. <br /><br />I read Bonnie's favorite book. The Cat IN The Hat She sat against my back and when it was over. she hugged my back. <br /><br />I've always worn my emotions on my shirt sleeve so everyone knew I was having a difficult time. I was told I had to leave at 8 p.m. I had already said what I could say. That night I sat in the parking lot and when I heard the familiar squeeky voice at 2 a.m. I say with her adding and Bonnie my dear Bonnie.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-52226111909122935432008-04-11T06:22:00.000-07:002008-04-11T06:26:43.646-07:00I just finished my bio for the Karr Family Record. My aunt Nola has published several book on our family's ancestory and is now getting ready for a sequil.<br /><br />Since my bio is a story in itself I thought I'd share it for what it is worth.<br /><br /> Dean graduated from Wapella High School in 1977. He graduated from Illinois State University at Normal and later obtained a Masters Degree in Special Education from that school. While attending ISU he was employed by the Financial Aid Office at ISU where he met Cathy. He later took a parttime job at The Baby Fold which developed into a full time position. He then transferred to the agency’s school. Dean also worked with PATH crisis center and Big Brothers. He taught one year in Kankakee, Illinois. He now teaches in Clinton, Illinois at Webster Elementary School where he has taught for over 20 years. In 1990 Dean was awarded the Teacher of the Year award by the Clinton Teacher’s Association. He received Honoral Mention at the State level. He has be recognized as a Master Teacher by Illinois State University and is a Mentor Teacher for his school as well. Dean has hosted over 20 student-teachers who have become his extended family. <br /> Dean credits his grandfather Frank for his patience and his fathers cow for his education. When Dean was two years old, Frank would stand him on a fence post in the garden while he worked. Frank talked while he worked and Dean didn’t know how to get down, so he learned to stand and be patient. After milking a cow for 10 years, Dean swore once he left for college he would not return home to that cow. Each time he college was more than he could handle, all it took was a weekend trip home to convince him he needed to try harder. Dean’s hobbies include yard work and baking sour dough bread, both of which he learned from his Aunt Alice.<br /> Cathy whose parents emigrated from Ireland in 1950, grew up on the south side of Chicago and later moved to the suburb of Oaklawn. She graduated from Mother McAuley High School, Oaklawn, and from Illinois State University at Normal. Cathy work as several part time jobs while her children were home. She now work for a brokerage firm in Bloomington. <br /> Dean and Cathy divorced in 2002. Dean continues to be involved in his community and keeping up with his son’s many projects.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-88374234972733517972008-04-09T07:23:00.000-07:002008-04-09T08:21:28.507-07:00Who Says I'm SpecialYesterday my students were given the opportunity to view the Jr. High building and classroom as a way to dispell their fears of next year. I enjoyed it because I got to see students that I've had in years past. They greet me as a celeb and it is great. A couple caught up with me in the hall and told me that their year was going wonderful. I am always proud of them. Smiles for everyone. <br /><br />We stopped in one of the Classroom and I saw my buddy Brock(named changed to protect the friends of Mr. Karr) Brock is the highest functionin Down's child I have ever taught. The students had a worksheet out and were studying science. The teacher gave the directions to take out a pencil. Brock looked around and said "I don't have a pencil" The teacher said Brock that is your responsibility when I done with my instructions you can sign your name and check out a pencil. The teacher handed Brock a pen and said "Use this until I get done" Brock put the pen up to his nose and said This is not a pencil. The teacher continued with his instruction. He said "the first word you will use one time. The second word" Brandon broke in. Two two two You use the second word two times. you use the third word three times. The teacher said no Brock the second word is used three times. Brock said that doesn't make sense. The teacher continued his instuctions. When he was done he said Brock lets get you a pencil. Brock walked up to the teacher podium and placed the pen on it. The pen rolled off on to the floor. Brandon continued across the room to sign his name for a pencil. He put the pencil behind his ear. The teacher said Brock where is my pen. Brock said your desk has issues. The teacher said "OK???" Where is my pen. Brock said I put it right here pointing to the podium. He said "The rest is a mystery". I am rolling inside with laughter and totally composed on the outside. I have to remain professional. Brandon sits down and starts to work but can't find his pencil. The teacher is picking up the pen and says "Brock you ear" Brock says "You talking to me" Teacher says Yes. Your ear" Brock says "I'm listening" The teacher walks over takes the pencil from Brock's ear and hands it to him. Unfortunately we had to move on to our next classroom. The other classes were wonderful not as amusing but wonderful. The kids noticed the important things. "Kids chew gum" "Lunches include chips" "Kids sit whereever they want" "The bathrooms are clean" "The principal is short" "They have computers" "P.E. every day" "The doors only open one way"Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-20258408820126937992008-04-07T07:50:00.000-07:002008-04-07T08:10:20.464-07:00Did I lose something?This morning bright and early I was walking the dog when I noticed plants breaking though the ground in my flower garden. It made me smile and my eyes began to examine all of my flower beds. The columbines are wonderful and I'm trying to remember what color they were. Then I see my bleeeding hearts. My Aunt Alyce loved bleeding hearts. As I bent to pull out a dandylion my mind rushed backs to walkes I would talke around Alyce's yard when she would show me the wonders of the beautiful plants. before long I was on my hands and knees pulling weeds and parts of last years plants that were no longer needed. I saw a plant I didn't recognize popping through and I laid down on my stomach to see if I could get a closer view. Nose to nose with an ant and I heard someone behind me say "did you lose something" I thought yes I did "MY MIND" but I rolled over taking care not to squash any plants. I couldn't tell him I was staring at plants. I thought quick. I said "just waiting for the grass to grow" har har har. The guy said "what ever trips your trigger" I said "beautiful morning isn't it?" The man said "nothing to complain about" He then walked on. Freeda this whole time was just walking the length of her leash sniffing and exploring. I asked her why she didn't warn me that a stranger was behind me. She said he didn't look as strange as I did.<br /><br />I'm going to buy some concrete tonight. I want to make fake rocks or maybe a turtle statue for my yard. I down loaded information off the internet I'll see what I can come up with.<br /><br />I'm dreaming of a water fall with huge rocks. Kristen my classroom aide said she would pose if I make them look like the playboy mansion. <br /><br />I took a trip to turtle park in misouri> it was wonderful I thought I would make a big turtle. Of course it has to be something I can move if I move so that limits the size.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-805443518176626682008-04-06T09:50:00.000-07:002008-04-06T10:13:22.533-07:00Bird Dog?My two dogs are as goofy as I am. Pippen is a hearing impaired Boston Terrier. He weighs maybe 15 lbs. I call him the clap on clap off dog because you have to clap your hands to get his attention then he knows sign language. Last summer I got Freeda She is a Morky 1/2 Yorky 1/2 Maltise. She is all of 7 lbs and is Pippin's hearing/ear dog. When someone come to the door she goes and looks then runs to Pippen and barks at him until he runs to the door with her barking. She follows me from room to room as Pippens sleeps in my chair. When it is time for bed I put them in the utility room. I tell Freeda bed time and she runs barking at Pippen. She returns with Pippen and they both get a treat before going into their crates. Our evening walks (thank goodness for spring) are a one or two block walk for both dogs. After that Pippen is beat and we drop him off at the house then Freeda and I take our 2 mile stroll. The other night we returned for a walk and as I got in the house I kicked of my shoes and unhitched Freeda. I followed her through the garage to make sure there was water in the dish. When we got to the screen porch there was a bird in the screen porch. The door was wide open and the bird was flying back and forth and not getting out. Freeda ran out and jumped straight up 3 feet and caught the bird in mid air. I screamed Freeda no no. She took off like a bullet into the house. I stubbed my toe as I vaulted after her. She took the bird over to Pippen and put it down. I'm still screaming crying, running. The bird start flying around my living room. Now Pippen is in the act. Barking his fool head off. I trip over the coffee table. After I'm done blessing all that is holy. I see the bird has found the window. Freeda has brought Pippen to the bird and doesn't understand why he isn't jumping like she does. Freeda knows I'm screeming at her so she isn't jumping. Finially I get the poor little bird to the door and set him free. I now realize that I'm wounded and bleeding from my toe, leg and knee. In my scramble I left little red dots through the house. I bandaged myself (thank goodness for Earl Dickson, the inventor of the bandaid) I crawled from room to room cleaning spots Pippen thought this was his chance to like my face. <br /><br />And what do I answer when someone ask "How was your evening" I say oh nothing unusual.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-65282559286933160802008-03-29T09:49:00.000-07:002008-03-29T10:32:32.568-07:00At what point do poor decisions become a lifetime.Diet what diet, did I diet, isn't that a broad term that means meany things. see food diet?<br /><br />My friend Debby went on a liquid diet this week. Dean you should join me she said. I thought it might be extreme enough to work. But I know how to lose weight what would make me do that for more than a day???<br /><br />So if I make a decision every other day for 20 years to wait until tomorrow to start my diet. At what point does that become a lifetime. I think 20 years would probably be that.<br /><br />The key is at any time I can change that mind frame the possibility is there. <br /><br />I refuse to buy bigger pants so at some point all of the blood will be cut off from my lower half and my legs will get skinnier<br /><br />I don't crave the food. I don't even like the food. I just eat the food. <br /><br />Since I can't train myself (so much for a masters degree in behavior management) how on earth can I train my dogs. I can't or don't so I start each morning picking up their poo and mopping the utility room. just as I start each morning sucking in my fat guy and praying the button holds.<br /><br />I'm excited about my new position as resourse teacher. of course at anytime the district could choose to put me back in a classroom. for now I'm looking forward to it. When I force myself to change change can happen. <br /><br />Joel wanted to be a teacher but after traveling to Chicago to North Eastern and speaking with my sister Joann who is a full professor we were told that your lifetime gradepoint average had to be above 2.5 and Joel is not. He would have to take over 30 hours just to get his grade point up. So much for teaching. <br /><br />Josh got Joel a interview with his firm. Joel had 5 interviews in one afternoon for an internship which may result in a better. Joel says they kind of offered him the job but he isn't sure he wants it. The age old concern money or joy. <br /><br />Josh continues to thrive in Chicago. The real question is can Josh and Joel handle living together and working together. God love 'em<br /><br />Joel had T-Shirt due to be printed and had to go to Chicago for the interviews. So my sister Elizabeth and I took ont he challenge. Joel had made the screens so the hard part was done. We were working with black ink. and one little spot gets everywhere. So I am thankful that Joel ordered several extra Yellow shirts. Liz was wonderful. And we got the job done.<br /><br />I want to put a bar height counter in my kitchen. The cabinets made from two hotel dressers then I'm thinking about tiling the top. With Joel's new system he can put pictures on tile. So I was thinking a view of mexico. But after talking it over with Joel my mind is going crazy thinking of the dicision. to quote my sister Millie I don't want lots of suggestions I just want the right one.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-30064734445940600922008-03-02T06:30:00.000-08:002008-04-07T08:14:57.468-07:001st week, pretty weakDinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600959671918775181.post-91068597987967124302008-02-24T05:29:00.000-08:002008-02-24T05:39:52.865-08:00Fat TuesdayWell, today is the day. I begin today. <br /><br />The best thing about a new diet is the day before you start. Every dieter knows that you need to eat everything you can the night before you start a new diet. And if you can eat all you can for three weeks while you put off dieting another day that works too. <br /><br />Weight Watchers says only weigh once a week. The idea is that you won't see the ups and downs of your weight. But I'm not that bright. So this mornining after my mid night run to Steak n shake for a frisco melt, french fries and a chocolate shake. I weigh 225.4 lbs. <br /><br />I brought my favorite glass to work with me this a.m. I'm working at the hotel. The idea is I'll drink water. Waters doesn't to a thing for me mentally. I love diet coke. but health wise diet coke is not good for me.<br /><br />Now Weight Watchers gives a man of my age and weight 35 points for a day. but back in the day I lost all my weight eating 26 points in a day. So I'm starting there. <br />So it is oatmeal for breakfast 3 points. a piece of fruit 2 points. I brought a healthy choice lunch 5 points so lets see how my day goes.Dinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671408691086764514noreply@blogger.com0