Conferencer Smonference

I am 2 days into a conference where I am supposed to be getting an ed-ji-mi-ca-tion. And I am, but not in the things I am supposed to. Two days and here are 10 things I have learned:



1. do not... I repeat DO NOT give a crazy person a microphone and an audience of over 1000 people

2. you may want to screen your keynote speakers before you give them six hours of classes

3. no matter how much someone busts their behind to create a cohesive presentation for a group of 9 very different women to present, someone will criticize your hard work

4. eastern idaho's mall is a pitiful specimen

5. keep your reciepts

6. you can always glean one item from any presentation if you go in with a positive attitude and a (very) open mind

7. one friendly person can make any situation bearable

8. puppies can brighten any day

9. a few deep, mediative breaths and a quiet room can repair a damaged spirit

10. hard work pays off.... $20,000 is our precise amount!!!!



Explanation:

here is beginning of the short, editted version. last year, a group of us were asked by the school to help implement this program called SIOP. we did and a year later, we were recogined by the State Board of Education as a school of excellence. We were invited to come to this conference (the one I am currently at the hotel for) and present our grant and SIOP and how we addressed Title 1 concerns and all that sha-bang. I love conferences, they have been such a wonderful way for me in the past to rejuvinate and re-evaluate myself. This one has not been the shining example of "wonderfulness" I would have hoped. Our first presenter was an author who told amazing stories and was very inspirational. So i went to his class and the 3 hours there were a perpexing maze of the odd and odder with sanity sprinkled through. This was the beginning of an interesting experience.
TBC... (dum dum dum.....!!!)

Now, that is running away

So I read a news article today about a boy that ran away. He took his parents' truck, horse trailer, a whole load of stuff. It got me thinking. If I was to "run away", using this boy as my example, I would take:

A tent- but not any tent... a tent like this

With an amazing closet


with some killer shoes

A Mac Laptop

With wireless internet

And solar cells to keep everything powered

including a fully stocked fridge

stocked with ice cream (phish food) and chocolate

I always want books, books, books

My craft stuff (yeah... i don't have this sewing machine, I wish I did...)

And since I'm dreaming

Recent Readings

So, I thought I'd drop a short post about my recent books:

For the book club I'm involved in we were to read a Jeanne Williams title- I read The Island Harp. I was pleasantly surprised. It took maybe 100 pages to really get into it and get pas the regional colloquialisms of Ireland at that period of time, but besides that it was quite enjoyable. I've surprised myself in that I actually think back on the story now and then, and I do that quite rarely.

I also read the book Blindness by Jose Saramago. I was interested because of the commercials for the movie (rated r so I never saw it). I must say, the writing style was intreguing. He was writing this fantastic story in a very calm and factual way. The characters could have been hysterical and the plot blow up with exclamations, and instead everything was so demur. There was a truely horrific plot twist, so this book is not for everyone. The apacolyptic feel of the story pair with the passive writing style really made this book unique.

I perused the book Twilight: the Director Notebook which was a fun way to spend an hour one night.

I read the sixth book in a seven book series by one of most favorite young adult fiction writers Garth Nix. The book was Superior Saturday and the series Keys to the Kingdom. Hopefully, you have deduced that each book is named after a day of the week, and Nix creates an incredible world within our world (possibly without our world) when one being has power over the world on their day of the week. Monday belongs to Mister Monday, Tuesday to Grim Tuesday, etc. This series is absolutely a guity pleasure. I'm so excited to read the last book about sunday.

I'm currently reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. I quite enjoy this one too, though the language is demanding and I have a bit of reach because there are social rules for the time period it was written that I don't know. At times I have to pause and reset my thinking.

I'm also reading The Edge Chronicles: Beyond the Deep Woods. Not my favorite ever, the kids seem to like these, but I find the writing somewhat tedious. I'm really close to being done and then I will start....

Northanger Abbie by Jane Austen. This is going to be embarassing so bear with me. I have never read a Jane Austen book before. I know... I need to strung up and whipped with wet noodles. I'm working to mend my ways. The ladies in the book club decided that we were to read this one and I am going to do it. I found a reasonably priced copy at Barnes and Noble and I 'm going to probably start on Monday. The blurb on the cover is interesting. I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I enjoy most things I read.

Anyways. Thanks for bearing with me. One last treat. Our new wood floors:

This was the room at the beginning of demolition

Look- the dogs are helping!

Our neighbor Andrew lent us the tools and expertize!

Look at how pretty!

Even I can do it

I still need to tile by the front door

The flooring goes up to the carpeting in the closet

Dave installing the brand new front door- No more pushing to get it to shut!

DONE! (ish..)

Even Dave is excited

From the other direction