Seminary... done!

I have taught Seminary for 4 years and I am retiring this year. Everyone is wondering if I am going to miss it. The answer is NO! All four years have been difficult because my day job is hard and adding a morning job makes it harder. I don't think anyone who has not taught Seminary understands that the hour in the morning is the fun part... that the other 23 hours are the torture. Anyway... it is like grandchildren. Glad that Seminary was in my life... but glad that it is gone.


Here is Cindy... the drama queen.

and here we all are...doesn't katie look good?

73 days of bliss...

Yes, it summer vacation. And in case you are wondering how I know it is a 73 day vacation, it is because one of my first graders wanted to know how many days we had off. In fact she kept asking until we stopped, found a calendar and counted them. And 73 it was. But now... oh no, it is now only 68 days. I definately need a vacation...and to stop counting the days.

THE BIRTHDAY WEEK

I have always had such chagrin over my children's multiple birthday parties when, in fact, there is only ONE real birth day. I admit it is my fault, of course. I always say "We don't let the day go by"... in case we ended up having the party on the weekend because of family work schedules. And it began with maybe going to Taco Bell on the actual day and having the big party on the weekend. It has evolved into going out to dinner twice in the week with everyone going. We used to have the real party at one of our houses with home cooked meal. But not any more. No one wants to cook the meal, much less eat it. We ALL seem to want to go out.

And now, much to my embarrassment, I have done nothing but celebrate my birthday this entire week. We are going camping on Thursday, which is my actual birthday. And so Sam and Angelee took me out to lunch yesterday, today I am going to dinner and a movie with Laura, Chris and Susan. And who knows what tomorrow, the real birthday, will bring. Chris managed to buy my lunch, not to mention the huge pot and azalea for my front corner on Monday. I seem to be having a birthday, this year, that keeps going on and on and on... I am happy that so many people seem to love me. I will be glad when all this "celebrating" is over. But I am glad that we have "occasion" to celebrate... in other words, I am still here to celebrate.

10 DAYS OF BLISSSSSSSSSSS

Here I am at the end of Spring Break... Easter vacation. How can 10 days go so fast is what I want to know. But I have accomplished everything on my list EXCEPT I never made it to Lake Tahoe but I am going as soon as this weather clears up. I feel bad that I am not a braver driver but I am California Valley driver... not a winter mountain driver. And so... is everyone so surprised at the weather. I thought that we were into spring... but remember, the groundhog did see his shadow...

We had a very nice Easter dinner today. Everyone who could come, came. The food turned out good... SURPRISE! It was nice to have a house full of family and friends.

Hey... another earthquake. You all know what this means... and it is getting closer to home... 9000 tweets a minute.

FYI...47 days of school (and Seminary) left, but who is counting?

A LADIES LUNCH

I was invited to a "ladies lunch" which turned out to be a 70th birthday party for a lady who worked in my classroom last year as a volunteer. I met her through Laura and since she was also invited we went together. We both had a very good time. The lunch was catered by "Lots--java and so the food was excellent. Wine was offered to Laura and she declined (probably because I was there). They told her it would be okay for her to have wine "since no men were there". Laura still declined the gracious, thoughtful offer.

This is my new friend but I don't remember her name. The music was provided by a "live" (barely) band called "Just Us".

Laura and I took flowers and of course they were lovely. This is Fran... the birthday girl. She is really a lot of fun... the rest of the attendees were not as lively as Fran. Maybe they got a late start on the wine.

Anyway... Laura and I are available to attend any birthday lunch (catered) if needed. Just call us and we will check our schedules.

Angelee.. I blame you for this stupid blog. Why are the pictures like this?

Sick Day

I am home sick today. My head is pounding and I am so tired. Thanks to Angelee who is taking her life in her hands by subbing my first graders. Most people think... "oh, first grade, how fun!" But those people have not taken THEIR life in THEIR hands by visiting room 1 at Bird Street School. But those people are mostly correct. Generally speaking, first grade is very fun... but sometimes the sun and the planets line up to create a most unnatural force in the atmosphere that causes some phenonomens here on earth and my class is one of them. I have several groups... the Baby Boys, the Bossy Girls, the Yakkity Yakkers, the Blessed Ones and the Psychos. I spend my days trying to motivate these various groups to bring their behaviors closer to what is expected in public education these days. With 25 children in the classroom the various groups need to bend to the direction of the teacher so that learning can take place. I don't merely want to survive... I want to see that every child in my classroom is ready for second grade. And herein lies the problem. Most of the children that I have don't want to listen... oh I shouldn't say that. They DO want to listen, if they have time after doing what they are consumed with, at that moment. The bossy girls are telling everyone what to do, the Baby boys are rolling on the floor or playing "I'll poke you and then you poke me", the Yakkers are having conversations with everyone around them, the Blessed are sitting there ready to learn (thank Goodness for them... all 6 of them) and you don't even want to know what the Psychos are doing... (who knows what they are thinking)

Anyway... why am I discussing this on my sick day!!!!? All I wanted to really say was, "Thank you Angelee... and Becky" (who babysat)

And since I have a blog that noone reads... except for Angelee... and maybe Sam... and maybe Ben... but surely noone else... I would like to say that I love my Seminary class. I love teaching the Book of Mormon... but in the midst of all this gooey love and tenderness... I am feeling a tad of nonsupport from some of the parents of the students in my class. At least 3 weeks ago I mailed a letter to each of them (which I am very proud of doing because I am notorious for having good ideas but doing nothing with that good idea) but I actually wrote the letters, made copies, addressed them, stamped them, put in a self-addressed stamped envelope, went home to get them when I forgot them, turned around at school when i forgot to mail them and actually MAILED them. WOW! Yay for me. I asked in this letter for a letter from them to their son or daughter... kinda like what Alma said to his sons... Helaman, Shiblom and Corianton. And yes, I have most of the letters at this point... but guess whose letters I don't have... my FRIENDS letters. Yes, that would be Jagodas, Robertson's and Hancocks. Oh well... maybe they have been on a cruise or maybe they ran out of paper or maybe they are more busy than any of the other parents who have dutifully returned their letters to me. It is not up to me to judge... Each time I have talked to Annette she says, (hopefully), "Am I too late?" Oh no, you are not too late. (I wish I had a letter from my mother.)

Hey... I found my camera!!! I had lost my red camera, my new red glasses and my new grandchildren necklace from Christmas. Angelee found the glasses and the necklace and I found the camera this morning. I am not publishing where I found it.

Birthdays

This is Kate and Cyndi in Lake Tahoe.  Kate turned one... and it was so fun to see her.

This is MaRee, Charlee and Joshua sitting on the lawn at Angelees house.  We had just returned from a shopping trip to Costco so we were all eating cookies.  This is a landmark picture because Joshua is actually sitting on my lap VOLUNTARILY... (probably because I brought the cookies. :) )

Angelee... I definately need blogging help.

A good time was had by all at Casa Lupe on Thursday night.  We were all there for Nick's b'day.  Of course we weren't ALL  there.  We were missing the Sacramento Acebos and Darryl and the Lake Tahoe Acebos are rarely at our functions.  But we managed without them.  No one got drunk and disorderly... so it was all good.

My first grade class is difficult.  It is taking a toll on me.

My Seminary class is fun.  They are good kids who are actually ALMOST on time.

My teacher peers are worried about me.  I guess I look bad.

I need more $$$ but who doesn't?

I love to sit in my tan chair and do nothing.

Walt volunteered to teach Seminary for me on Friday.  I was greatful.  Any other takers?

It is almost November. Wow!

Things could be worse.  The balloon boy idea could have been my bright idea.

America's Top Model is my favorite show... How stupid is that!

Nephi is an amazing man.  I wonder what he thinks of the events of 2009

I love the weekends...

A Funeral in Salt Lake City

Well... we have lost another mortal to the spirit world.  Yes... my sister Bonnie has left her mortal body here on Earth and has decided to live painlessly in Paradise.  And yes, we know she is in Paradise.  She spent the last 3 years of her life making amends and getting ready for her entry into the next stage of her journey.  

The funeral was very nice, as expected.  She has been talking about her funeral for the last 40 

years.  She always talked about her beautiful blue dress.  She was very excited and proud of the fact that everything was paid for.  It was not that she didn't trust her kids... but at that time only she was in the position to pay for a funeral and so she arranged it the way she wanted.

I feel truly blessed to have met Bonnie.  She was 17 years older than me.  I was so surprised to find out... at the funeral... that she was only 1 year younger than my mom when she died.  My mom seemed old... and Bonnie didn't so I guess this means that I am old and don't know it.

Anyway, Bonnie was a force of nature... like a hurricane or a tornado... nothing to be reckoned with.  Pete, Jo and I just stood back and watched, and listened to her in action.  Oh, the stories she could tell.  We were from the little town of Oroville, under the thumb of Paul Budd Rose.  He had already abandoned the little family in which Bonnie was born and so she had the genes of my dad but was not at all influenced by him.  She was amazing.  Her raucous laugh and flowery language mesmerized us.  

One amazing story was of her buying a brand new Buick from a dealership in Salt Lake.  EVerything went amazingly well.  She walked in... picked out her car... (oh did I mention this was in the 1970's) and then the time came for the signitures.  She signed and then they wanted to know when her husband would be in to sign.  She looked them in the eye and explained that her husband would not be signing.  SHE was buying the car.  They explained that they needed her husband's signature.  She explained that he would NOT be signing.  They had to make several phone calls.  She ended up driving the car home.  Oh she was so proud of that.

Anyway,  no one was more self centered than Bonnie.  It was always about her and we loved it.  She told us amazing stories.  She had heart break and lost a favored grandson is a drug sale gone wrong gang shooting.  But everything about her was larger than life and we were  like little kids with big eyes watching an "R" rated movie.

My brother was a pall bearer.

This is me, Pete and Jo.  This other man is the Bishop who gave a very nice talk.  You could tell he actually knew her.  It was very nice.

The flowers were actually very nice.  I always notice the flowers.

Anyway, I came home sick.  Really sick.  And I also had dead battery.  And a hair appointment.  And a doctor's appointment.  And I had to make sub plans.

Every day has been better since then.

Bye Bonnie.  I will see you later.  And I will miss you.

Seminary, 2009

I love my new Seminary class... not that I didn't love all the others... but fear grips the heart of all Seminary teachers as they approach the new year.  The questions just pop up in my mind.  Will they like me? Ans; of course not, it is Seminary, Stupid.  Will they listen?  Ans:  of course not, it is Seminary, Stupid.  Will they be on time?  Ans: of course not, it is Seminary, Stupid.  Will I make it through the year?  Ans: of course, you always do.   So with all those questions now answered I can tell you that this is going to be a great year.  I will just settle in with my customary schedule... teach Seminary, teach first grade, study, go to bed, teach Seminary... and so it goes. 

 I have decided I like to teach Seminary.  I have feared it for three years and this is the year I am going to enjoy it.  For some reason I am no longer fearful.  Oh my class this year would tell me with confidence that it is because of my wonderful students this year.  But I have to admit I have had wonderful students every year and some of them are either on or are going on missions... Anthony, Bruce, Sean, Hardwick.  Of course, none of them write to me, but then again I don't write to them.  One of them is married... Kara.  One has marriage plans... Becca.  Many are at college...

Anyway... here are this years Seniors... 2009.  They have already had their last "first day" of Seminary... (thankfully).

Janne and Jorge both go to Butte for College Connections.  We all envy them as they walk out the door 10 minutes early.

Jimmy... a nice, quiet boy.  He definately belonged in last years "quiet class".

The cutest boy in my class... Chue (who happens to be Thao's little bro)... doesn't like his picture taken. How ridiculous... he is very photogenic.

Dennis... one of the brothers

Charlie... the other brother... and also very photogenic.  Both work at Taco Bell.  One works at the one by the movie and the other works at the good one.  I can't remember who goes with which...

Cody and Katie...   more on Cody at a later date when I have more dirt on him...

.the 3 musketeers... and carpoolers... Katie, Kelsey, and Kelsey.  Their strength is CHATTING.  I wonder if one can major in that at college because they would do very well in that field.  The career choices would be teaching, president of the USA, greeter at the Walmart, sales of some sort, blog masters,  office managers, Dentists, lawyers and car salesmen.  Good Luck, ladies.

My home teacher, Brandon and Janne, again.  She is in College Connections and so she has the added pressure to look good every day because of all those older men she is around...

MaiKue... this is her first year at Seminary because she is a new member of the Church.  She is a friend of Kimberly, who is attending BYU, Idaho and rooming with Shannon (both of whom are former students of mine.)  MaiKue brings a light, an excitement and a wonderful spirit to Seminary every day.  If I had favorites, she would definately be nominated, but since I don't, oh well...

I apologize to my class for all the misspelled names.  I sometimes get better later on.  And sometimes I don't...

Hell on Earth!!

Yes, it is true.  There truly is a Hell on Earth.  If you would like to see this phenomenon for yourself, come to Bird Street School, Room 1.  I will be there, but I probably will not be available for chatting because I am like a rat in a cage, running, running, running, running, talking, begging, threatening, helping, dragging, pulling, sweating, sweating, sweating, etc.  I am sure you think you understand, but until you have walked a day in these Keenes of mine, you do not know.!!!  I look like I am smiling in this picture, but there is a crazy gleam in my eye and spittle dripping from my lip.

Fortunately, God loves me and has taken pity on me.  In addition to the miraculous infection of the Monte Vista building which delayed Seminary, the powers that think they are in charge, are hiring a new kindergarten teacher and so all my kinders will be in ANOTHER ROOM... THE ONE NEXT DOOR... ROOM 2... OUT OF ROOM 1.  I, however, know who the real POWER is and I am so thankful for his tender mercies.  You may think I am making light of sacred things, but I assure you, I am not.  Anyone who has been to Hell and survived, knows who to thank for their escape!

By the way, do you think that looks like a lot of 4, 5 and 6 year olds?  4 are absent...

Shopping at the Walmart

Here we all are on our daily trip to Walmart... at least it seems like daily.  I suppose everyone has seen those double carts, called the "family cart".  Well, how many of you have ridden in one?  This could very well be Sam's claim to fame.  Here we have Josh and Sam riding side by side on the bench portion of the cart, with Charlee in her bucket riding in the basket.  I guess you can guess who would rather take the picture than be seen with this motley group.

Can you see the barrettes in Charlee's hair?  Oh yes, she is now a "clip girl". 

I don't think the length of the Walmart shopping trip was the reason for Joshie's quick 40 winks.  We might have been there during nap time.  And the bench seats are so much more comfie without Sam.

What a fun trip!   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELEE!!

Twenty nine years ago... a baby girl was born

And now my baby is having babies...

She is a great daughter, sister, mother and auntie.

And she has found a wonderful man to be part of the family.  

Thank you Nick for taking her off my hands.

HELP, HELP, HELP

I need help from all you seminary grads.  

You all remember the good ol' days of Seminary.  Well, guess what?  It is still going on.  There are a number of LDS youth, ages 13-17 , and teachers (mostly old), who continue to get up at the crack of dawn and and attend a morning meeting that ranges from highly spiritual to exhaustingly boring  (depending on who you talk to).

Most of you are glad that it is still happening.  It is kinda like some awful kind of initiation.  "If I had to go, then so should everyone else."  "If I had to go through that kind of daily pain, torture and boredom, then SO SHOULD YOU!!!  Shut up and go."

But now that you have it out of your system, just think.  What could have made it better, (besides having 3 days off a week)?  Help this teacher avoid mistakes that are so obvious to you but may be not so obvious to me.  What would have made it better, what is the best and what is the worst thing a teacher can do.

Help me, please.

10 more days...

Well.... this is my farewell address.  I have to start getting mentally ready to give up my life as I know it and go back to the life of a droid... seminary, school, study, sleep.  (Hey, did you notice that my droid activities all start with "s".)  

Anyway, so long sleeping til 10:30 AM.  So long, Dave (Letterman).  So long, blogging.  So long beautiful house.  So long Chico, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Oregon...  So long trashy novels.  So long Priests.  So long shopping with Angelee and Jo.  So long weedless yard.  Hello weeds.

Anyway, I have to start getting mentally prepared.  Summer is almost over.  I have a mere 10 days of hazy, lazy days.  I will not be depressed about having 30 kids in my classroom this year... because I am grateful to have a job.  I will not complain about Seminary... because this is my last year and I am teaching Book of Mormon.  

I have a blessed life... and who would even like summer if it lasted all year long!!! 

THE NEW ROOM

Well, it's not really a new room, its an old room.  But it is now BEAUTIFUL!!! (Thank you Sam)

Cleaned up, vacuumed, dusted, and 2 pieces of furniture gone.  Angelee says I am not to line every wall with furniture.  Witch!

Jo says, " I didn't know that room could look good."  High praise from Jo

New paint, new baseboards...

New floor

Old oak furniture on new cherry floors.

Are those lovely flowers real or fake?  And how many remotes does one old television need?

Sam is the miracle worker.  I was in Lake Tahoe visiting Kate when this serious miracle happened.  What a surprise!!  I can't wait for Ben to come and see everything that has happened to my mom's house and yard.  I have the best family in the world.  Sam was the project manager but everyone else has a hand (and an arm and a leg and another hand) in this transformation.  Nick, Sam, Angelee and Jo painted, D and Sam put down the floor and Darryl has done more stuff to this house than I have time to mention but includes the kitchen and deck.  

Mike and Shannon are the yard miracle workers.

Thank you, my family!!

NOT ANOTHER PATIO!!!!

OH YES... WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER PATIO IN OUR FAMILY AND WE ARE SO PROUD AND HAPPY TO SHARE OUR SPECIAL NEWS WITH ALL OF YOU.

OF course this is backwards... this is supposed to be the last picture.  Oh well... the almost finished patio of Jo and Darryl.  This is the third patio this summer.  And all of them are different.  We will be having a patio showing  of all three patios at a future date.  Check this blog for further info on this oh so interesting feature.

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The almost finished patio.  What is that pattern? I can hear you asking.  Oh, that would be "planned random".

So nice...   

Darryl had the easy part and the fun part... ok...not really easy but sorta fun.

The grunt labor... D on the rototillar...not much fun! 

More grunt labor...Sam replaces a sprinkler...

I have learned a lot this summer about patios.  The most important part is that the prep work is the hardest and takes the longest time.  It is not fun but it is so important to the finished product.  Shortcuts are not tolerated.  But nobody appreciates the work or the worker of this under appreciated slave labor.  There are many unsung heros out there who have sweat gallons of liquid and have drank, drunk gallons of liquid so they could then sweat more gallons... you get the point...   So a high five to all you slave laborists out there.  Just so you know... there is one person in this world who appreciates you. That would be me.  You're welcome.

Kate in the buff...

So... I am back in Lake Tahoe visiting with Ben and his family... 

Kate is not picking her nose... she is cute in her nightie nights.

We can almost see her 7 teeth... and look at those flowing blonde locks.

Oh my!  Is that a bug?

I am so cute... and I love my daddy!

Is that another bug?  My mom does not like them but I do...

Playboy called and I only pose for "tasteful" nude shots...

Who is that baby in the mirror?  I would like to meet her...

The Patio... done!

So... its done... 

I think this is the most beautiful patio ever (sorry Angelee,  yours is nice, but...) If any of you were watching news yesterday about Elizabeth Edwards you could have seen her entrance to her house and it was almost as beautiful as my patio... but I digress.

Anyway... how lovely is this.  And to think that Sam was foreman, supervisor, laborer, chief of the union and designer. 

Derek was the right hand man... #2 in command... necessary for all projects... and quality control

JG was laborer

Each stone was selected individually, placed lovingly, carefully leveled, and named (just kidding)

My favorite stone is in the middle... named tiger stripe.  Okay, we named some of them.

The walk way to the NEW GATE.

Do you see "California"?  

Another important job... "the sweeper of sand ".

The first stone.  (You know what they say about 'he who casts the first stone'.  It wasn't me, this time)