http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish recent pleonast.com entries by user nontradish en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=601575 Here are my lovely students...I can't wait to show this to them! Send your own ElfYourself eCards 2008-11-21 http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=600815 No big kaboom interrupted our school day. Two boys have been determined to have orchestrated and carried out the hoax. We had hoax as a vocabulary word today. The teachable moment. Even though it was determined to be a hoax, over 200 students in the elementary, middle, and high schools did not come to school today. I'm not sure what to make of that. Today was filled with prepositions, making change, Canadian Polar Bears, food chains, physical and occupational therapy, new objectives, and Pee Wee Herman. All of my students not only came to school, but they also participated in Crazy Hat Day. I wore my husband's Amish hat for a few minutes to show my sincere support of my school. Tomorrow is Pajamas Day, and, no, I won't wear mine...maybe my cozy slippers, though. My second observation will occur during 3rd period...more multiplication and money. It's feeling like winter in these parts...highs in the low 30's and about 6-8 inches of snow on the ground. I'm feeling envious of ... 2008-11-18 http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=595123 I could not let this morning go by without a note. Those who have not voted yet have their last chance today, on this actual day of the election. I dropped off David's and my absentee ballots yesterday, and the office was crowded with early voters. Did you vote? If not, you essentially voted for the winner, and I hope you're OK with that. Voting gives you the privilege of sharing in the success or bemoaning the outcome. I don't allow my students to say, "I was gonna ___________," and I don't think non-voting Americans should say that either. I have a concern for our country when citizens choose not to vote...and other things. I'm not sure that most people think that their one vote matters, and if enough people think that, well, you know.... 2008-11-04 http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=594370 The weather and the colors are amazing. Getting an extra hour of sleep was a bonus. The drive down to New Philadelphia was a bit over 2 hours, but I cannot complain one bit. It was so lovely and relaxing. The wedding was at Tall Pines Lodge, and I definitely want to go back there some day for a weekend getaway. Trace and Kait's wedding was the first I'd attended where the attendees actually sat in their reception seats and looked on at the ceremony. This is highly efficient; whey do more people not do it this way? If I had another wedding to host, I'd push for it. The bride and groom looked just perfect. The groomsmen wore matching shirts and ties, and the bridesmaids were in various styles of dresses of a rich green. The flowers were all colors of fall, from creamy yellow to bright salmon. (Over all the color scheme was not unlike a certain wedding 36 years ago.) There were three lovely young sisters, dressed in white, serving as flower girl and junior bridesmaids, and the... 2008-11-02 http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=592841 The first snow of our fall fell last night. It was starting when I got home, and this morning there is a thin carpet, kind of indoor/outdoor, over the grass and dusted over the remaining leaves. Pansy's morning constitutional looked a bit odd. 2008-10-29 http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=592338 I saw this "mantra" in a runners' magazine, and I think it is a good motto for me to think on each day. "One day I will not be able to do this (insert an item you do that is sometimes difficult...teach, parent, work, exercise...whatever); today is NOT that day." Several months ago someone told me that in running the 2nd mile is the hardest. I've been struggling with that 2nd mile for several weeks. Tonight I ran through it...3 miles in 36 minuites. I actually experienced my very first "second wind"...can you have a 1st 2nd wind?? Anyway, I did. It was quite thrilling. Could it be that new music Jim Bob sent me? There's some energy in that stuff. So I'm feeling quite proud. 2008-10-28 http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=590286 This is the first morning of this fall that I've had "loading the woodstove" on my agenda...first thing. The blower is faithfully spreading the warmth as I type. We have more firewood set aside for the winter than we've ever accumulated before. Hopefully we will make it past the end of January. Pansy is a bit perplexed by the change in setting, but she is enjoying chewing on the ubiquitous bits of bark and wedges of wood that dot the floor around the stoves. Life has its puzzles and concerns as well as its amazing joys...as usual. I sure love my family and my friends. ***** S-S-S-S-s-s-s-s-s-s-snow???? In the forecast for tomorrow???? Yikes!! 2008-10-22 http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=586245 Jennifer and Zadok will be coming home soon. Here's a photo of her last night with her three sons. So sweet! 2008-10-11 http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=580191 The ancient Mercedes of the refrigeration world cooled its last Brita pitcher after the storms of Ike passed through Chardon. It was always a sort of monument to eccentricity in our home since we moved into Providence Farm in 1989. So many things about this place were (in my opinion) odd, tasteless, inappropriate, too big/too small, creaky, wobbly, unsafe, etc. And then there was this Sub Zero fridge unit in the kitchen that probably cost several thousand dollars, even back in the 70's when it was purchased and installed. It originally had front panels that matched the kitchen wall cupboards, stained a sort of pale aqua. The other appliances were coppertone, the counter-tops were and still are robin's egg blue (I know...I'm working on that), and the floor is that multi-color earthy fieldstone tile. Absolutely nothing matched. During our inhabiting period, I have replaced the other appliances with the ever-popular black, painted the cupboards a farmy cream color, replaced all of ... 2008-09-26 http://www.pleonast.com/user/nontradish?l=5&entryID=564085 I'll be heading home in a few minutes. I've had a wonderful trip. This part of the country has something historical for just about anyone, I'd guess. We roamed around the National Marine Corps Museum on Thursday, a beautiful structure with many inspiring exhibits, plus real planes and helicopters to examine. Then on Friday we visited Mannassas, hiking for several miles through the preserved battleground. On Sunday we took a trolley tour of DC, spending extra time at the National Cathedral, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Arlington National Cemetary. Finally, on Sunday, we spent an enjoyable time exploring Mount Vernon, the buildings and the grounds...especially relaxing on a short cruise on the Potomac River. Sunday night I had the best meal of my entire life...I think. It was at a small restaurant in old town Alexandria, called The Wharf. I must describe the food: seared gigantic scallops, lobster succotash, broccoli au gratin, and mixed berry creme brulee. Wo... 2008-08-18