Seriously???

Grrr....seriously?  Did that mom really just speed through our icy-covered, Kiss-n-Go lane?  Did she really pass 10 other cars, who by the way were there first, and scream at her child to get out of the car and CROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC?  Yes.  She did.  And she almost hit me, and numerous children, in the process. But wait, it gets worse.  This poor child did not get out.  Thank goodness. This infuriated her mother.  I could hear this woman screaming at her child inside the SUV.  She was apparently furious that her daughter, who is in 1st grade, would not get out.  This little girl, bless her heart, knows and obeyed our Kiss-n-Go rules.  That can't be said of her out-of-control mother!  In her maniacal state, this woman zoomed by me and pulled her car over (blocking a lane) and jumped out of the car.  Still screaming, she grabbed her daughter and not-so-gently 'helped' her out of the car.  Then she had the audacity to tell her sweet little girl to 'have a great day, honey'.  Seriously?  Ugh...I can feel my blood pressure rising just talking about it. 

I have crosswalk duty three days a week.  For the most part I enjoy it.  It is nice to get to greet the kids and wish them a great day.  Most parents are nice.  Some are simply cordial.  But some are just down right rude.  That makes me angry.  That makes me want to do not-so-nice things with my STOP sign. 

And today, oh man was I upset.  I just cannot fathom what could possibly be so important that you would risk your child's safety, and the safety of others, just so you could be on your way.  Can someone help me understand?  Can you explain this to me?  The passive-aggressive side of me hopes that this woman might read this blog and feel just a tad bit sorry for her behavior.  But then again, I don't think people who act this way tend to recognize their faults. 

My heart aches for that little girl.  My blood boils for that mother.  My stop sign quivers when I see these senseless acts of reckless behavior.  Maybe I need to demand hazard pay!

I think I just needed to vent.  However, if any of you have any suggestions (legal or not) on how I can handle this in the future, I'm happy to hear them.  Please, comment away.  For now though, I'm going to curl up on the couch with my hubby, sip a glass of wine, and watch a movie.

Enjoy your weekend (Francis Ford Coppola~Rosso 2009)!

~Cab Lover

Raring to go!!!

So, I would be lying if I said I haven't absolutely, completely, emphatically enjoyed having TWO (yes, TWO) snow days in a row!  I was able to edit and organize photos from a maternity shoot Matt and I did on Sunday.  I blogged, Tweeted, read, and basically just hung out!  You might not believe me (or you might just think I'm nuts) when I tell you that I am raring to get back to school tomorrow.  I have so much to do.  I have kids to teach!

Tomorrow, I start 'Roaming' with my new Reading Recovery students.  Roaming is one of my favorite things about Reading Recovery.  I get to spend 10 days (lessons) just getting to know the kids.  I get to learn what they know~what they can do as readers.  We spend this time building a relationship so that the environment is ripe for learning!  It is a glorious time. 

The hardest part about Roaming is that I can't actually 'teach'.  That is hard. Our time together is strictly meant for 'roaming the known'.  It is designed for me to see what reading behaviors the children have in place.  Teaching is forbidden.  Seriously.  I cannot introduce any new learning.  That is much harder than is sounds!  And, truthfully, I blow it sometimes.  After all, teachers are experts (hopefully) at seizing a teachable moment.  Not so during Roaming.

After two wonderful days of rest, I am raring to go.  I have a brand new writing book for each student.  The alphabet books are bound and ready to go.  A new roll of white tape is waiting.  I'm excited.  I'm anxious.  I'm hopeful.  

I'm raring to help these struggling readers make sense of that mysterious printed code that awaits them.  I'm raring to help them see how truly smart they are.  I'm raring to boost their confidence.  I'm raring to see that sparkle in their eyes when they have that glorious ah-ha!

Yep, I can't wait for school tomorrow!

Cracked open a REALLY yummy bottle of wine tonight.  The first glass of wine in a few weeks (Kendall Jackson ~ Highland Estates ~ Napa Mountain Cabernet, 2006)!

~Cab Lover

Shovel please...and some wool socks!

Snow day!  Well, sort of...it's really a cold day.  School was canceled due to extreme cold and a wind chill factor of -40!  BRRRRR...thank you National Weather Service!  In spite of the lack snow, I find myself needing a shovel.  You see, I have managed to bury myself in technology.  I'm enjoying myself under here, but I may need to come up for air soon! 

If you come here often, or even now-and-again, you may remember that my body was recently taken over by an alien (or aliens)!  I am a different person than I was just a few short months ago.  And I like this new me.  But...I'm a bit overwhelmed with my new self.  The biggest change for me has been this new interest (my husband might call it an obsession) with all things technology.  Let me give you some examples.  I now blog, tweet, chat, Ning and post...constantly!  I have my own blog, I'm trying my hand at TweetDeck, I recently 'attended' my first online conference (Educon), and built a website (albeit very basic) for a new photography business my husband and I just started.  Whew!  I can tell you that a PLN is a 'personal learning network' and yes, I have one (or do I belong to one?  I don't know...).  I can watch a streaming conference presentation and Tweet my thoughts at the same time (well, okay, I can't really, but I did TRY)!  And...I am totally infatuated with Google Docs!

I am having so much fun!  It has become difficult, I confess, to budget my time and remember to do things, like eat and go to work, but that's okay, because this is what lifelong learning looks like.  Right?

The best part of this new self is that I have made new 'friends'.  Okay, followers.  Still, I have my own people now.  People I can go to, out there in cyber space.  People I can learn from and collaborate with.  People who can help me become a better teacher.  A better blogger.  A better Tweeter.  A better web designer.  A better 'me'.

So bear with me as I navigate my way through this technology maze.  Be patient as I try new things and make a mess of it (Twitter has not been easy for me).  Celebrate with me when I get excited (usually over little things...like the blog button that I FINALLY got to work)!

Oh, and never mind the shovel.  I think I'm okay for now.  Just check back with me soon to make sure I have air.

It's morning (way before noon), so I'm sipping coffee (Boyers~Rocky Mountain Thunder est. 1965).

~Cab Lover