It was sunny and warm this morning...in the 50's.  Then it got cloudy and the wind shifted...started blowing from the North.  Don't know what the wind chill was, but the thermometer said 42...and it was not comfortable with just a light jacked (over sweatshirt and jeans).  Our outing to the elementary school playground didn't last very long due to the weather.  

We had tacos, refried beans, blackbean & corn salad, & tacos for supper.  It was tasty and everyone (except Jax...he had his own food, which he enjoyed) seemed to enjoy it.  

Since we will just be back from California on Easter, we decided to celebrate early.  Jax liked his "boogie dog"...it walks and wiggles.  He also likes to climb stairs.  And he likes it when his mom & dad act goofy.  

I hear thunder rumbling to the west.  Rain is in the forecast, along with rumors of snow. A good night to stay inside and enjoy family.

Dennis put the broccoli out to "harden off" today.  We'll bring it in when it gets dark. Even though it got up to 70+ today, it's supposed to cool off dramatically tonight and only be in 40s with north wind tomorrow.  Rain and 40's on Sunday.  40's as highs all next week.

The Jonquils are looking good. 

Today was calmer at work.  It's been a crazy week. Glad there are only 4 more days of school until Spring Break.  I think we ALL need a break.  Today 6th grade students who MET (not exceeded, did the minimum) their reading goals got to go bowling or skating this afternoon. This kind of reward always bothers me.  I DO like the idea of rewarding students who go above and beyond...like the students who are going to the Children's Literature Festival on Monday---because they read at least 12 books that were Mark Twain Award nominees and blogged on them.  This all since the beginning of the school year. THAT was above and beyond their regular school work.  

It's Friday night.  Dennis is off chaperoning the Kiwanis sponsored St. James Middle School Dance.  I'm staying home to do laundry and clean house.  Have to have things ready for Jax (and his parents) to visit us tomorrow. 

It started today.  In the 60's.  There is still one small pile of snow on the northeast side of the house.  I'm sure it will be gone tomorrow.  It's supposed to hit 70 degrees.  WOW.  Unfortunately cooler temperatures and rain are forecast for Saturday.

Minimal food shopping after work.  Getting ready to feed Matt, Sara & Jax on Saturday.  Needed milk and Honey Nut Cheerios for Dennis' breakfast.  Kroger had their brand cheese on sale for $2.99 a pound, so I got sharp cheddar and some pepper jack. Got some lettuce and tomatoes for tacos Saturday night.  Also taco shells.  I have some salsa I put up this summer.  Debating on refried beans or Mexican rice.  Maybe some guacamole and chips.  Maybe some slightly sweetened peach tea to drink.  

At the very end of school, there was a report of 2 parents duking it out in the student pick up circle.  The principals all ran out.  I didn't hear the end of the story...whether blows were exchanged or if it was all "Huff and Bluff".  No wonder so many of the students don't know how to behave.  I read more of Every Day is a Good Day during lunch.  I am impressed with the thoughts and wisdom of these native American women.  They speak often of people not being able to  tell the difference between Need and Greed.  For quite I while I've blamed greed for the problems we are facing today--national deficit, welfare, lack of decent health care, especially dental care, at a reasonable price, and even the dumbing down of our education system. UGH.

I watched Project Runway tonight.  What a train wreck.

I'm not Catholic but am glad a new Pope has been chosen.  I like the idea of a Pope who chose St. Francis as his namesake.  Years ago, a friend gave me a St. Francis "saint card" (She was Catholic) and I still have it.  On one side is an artist's rendition of the saint, with his arms held upwards and birsds surrounding him and even landing on one hand and a shoulder.  On the other side is a prayer for Peace.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon,

where there is doubt, faith,

where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darknes, light,

and where there is sadness, joy.

Good words to live by.

There was a glaze of ice on the remaining water puddles this morning, but the sun was shining.  I think it made it to 40 degrees.  

Wop Wednesday.  Not only did I have pizza for lunch (it was a fund raiser for the RMS Relay for Life team), I made a pesto & bean soup for supper.  With some store bought breadsticks.  

Fortunately today was less busy than Monday & Tuesday.  I had a few errands to run after work.  I made the soup and still managed to get the absolutely had to be done engraving finished tonight.  Now I can focus on the weekend and visit by Matt, Sara & Jax.   Definitely making tacos for Saturday supper...but more details need to be worked out.

there was frost on everything this morning...the steps were a bit slick.  At some point it did indeed get up to 40 degrees.  Tonight back into the lower 20's.  The almanac was kind of hit/miss.  It said March 7-12 "rainy periods; warm.  Ok there was some rain and some warm, but there was also COLD and FROST and FREEZING drizzle.   I'm losing faith in the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Another busy day at work.  No rest for the wicked. Not getting a lot accomplished at home either.  Procrastination reigns. 

I woke up to winter. There was a freezing mist.  I had to scrape  the windshield of the VW before I headed to work...in the dark.  I had to stop and scrape the windshield twice before the windshield (defrosters) got warm enough to keep the ice off the windshield.  It was dreary and cold all day.  Cold tonight.  It's supposed to warm up tomorrow afternoon. 

Lots of sick students today.  At least I was busy and the time went by quickly.  I have to go in a bit early tomorrow and get the first aid bag ready for a field trip.  

Dennis donated blood after work and they fed him well.  So I didn't bother cooking.  I had a sandwich.  

Since there were no programs I wanted to watch on TV, I watched "Miss Firecracker".  Wonderful cast with Mary Steenbergen as Elaine, the older cousin of Carnelle (Holly Hunter) and sister of Dermount (Tim Robbins).  The first time I watched it, back in the 80's, I was so engrossed in the story of Carnelle and Elain, I didn't appreciate the secondary story of Dermount and Popeye (Alfre Woodard).  In the end, we are all just looking for love, or as Mac Sam (Scott Glenn) put it  "eternal Grace".  It wasn't exactly as I remembered, but worth seeing...more than once.

Between losing an hour of sleep, it still being dark out, and the sound of rain on the roof, it was hard to drag my weary bones out of bed this morning.  I can't say I've been a ball of fire, but I keep plugging along and things do get crossed of the list.  Slowly but surely.

The Fine Linen Drama production of "Oliver!" was superb.  FLD is made up of several home schooling (large) families and members of the Rolla community.  Every spring they do a big production with lots of kids (which is handy for them). Opening scene with the orphans singing longly about having enough food to eat.  No photography was allowed, so I got this from their home page.  

The redhead in the deep red dress is one of RMS upstanding teachers, playing the part of Nancy.  Not "type casting" at all.  A community member, Dan Goff, who usually plays humorous and heroic characters, also stepped outside his usual roles, making a very frightening Bill Sikes.  

We had 13 bean soup, seasoned with polish kielbasa, and cornbread for supper tonight.  A little bit of sunshine is peaking through the clouds, just before the sun goes down. 

Between losing an hour of sleep, it still being dark out, and the sound of rain on the roof, it was hard to drag my weary bones out of bed this morning.  I can't say I've been a ball of fire, but I keep plugging along and things do get crossed of the list.  Slowly but surely.

The Fine Linen Drama production of "Oliver!" was superb.  FLD is made up of several home schooling (large) families and members of the Rolla community.  Every spring they do a big production with lots of kids (which is handy for them). Opening scene with the orphans singing longly about having enough food to eat.  No photography was allowed, so I got this from their home page.  

The redhead in the deep red dress is one of RMS upstanding teachers, playing the part of Nancy.  Not "type casting" at all.  A community member, Dan Goff, who usually plays humorous and heroic characters, also stepped outside his usual roles, making a very frightening Bill Sikes.  

We had 13 bean soup, seasoned with polish kielbasa, and cornbread for supper tonight.  A little bit of sunshine is peaking through the clouds, just before the sun goes down. 

If I were a suspicious person, I'd think some RMS student shared a stomach virus with me. No details.  I'm to the point I'm wondering when/what I should try to eat.  

I expanded my current reading/interest in WWII occupied France (Reading Blood of Free Men) by watching "Inglorious Basterds".  Of course the movie is NOT historically correct, but I enjoyed it. Reality be damned; justice and revenge were served in the theater that night.  

Today is Matt's 27th birthday.  Happy Birthday Baby Boy!  Hope all your wishes come true. 

Woke up to the sound of rain; and went right back to sleep.  Slept until a little after 8 AM.  It looks like the sun is trying to peek through the clouds now.  We need the rain.  I hope we don't have another hot dry summer. 

The snow is off the garden.  None of the seeds we planted have made an appearance yet.  The broccoli we started is looking pretty good. The jonquils are blooming.  I got a photo of 2 geese flying over the house.

I made the mistake of looking at some new SLR digital camera reviews on-line and would like to upgrade.  It's been a few many years since my EOS20D was at the top of the digital camera list.  Just from reading the reviews, I would like to do some side by side real life comparing of the Nikon D6000 and the Canon D6.  I'm sure I'd be happy with either.  The Nikon edged out the Canon in sharpness and autofocusing, although the Canon had a higher rating over-all.  At this point it is just wishful thinking.

Off to boil some eggs to make tuna salad for sandwiches for lunch.  Left-over potato salad and dill pickle spears.  Maybe pickled beets.  I think I am now officially hungry.  

It got up to 43 degrees today.  The sun was also shining.  A nice day. Tomorrow we are supposed to see temperatures in the 50's.  60's on Saturday and then rain.  Followed by highs in the 40's all next week.

Middle school kids don't have the best social skills.  Some have even fewer than most.  Today one such boy came into my office absolutely beaming.  His new best friend is a girl.  She liked him yesterday and she still likes him today.  I suppose that makes this is a long-term relationship.

Tomorrow is Friday.  I dug the RMS green St. Pat's t-shirt out of the back of the closet--I will wear it with my jeans tomorrow. And again next Friday. Tomorrow is also "mustache" day--for 25c you can wear a mustache tomorrow.  It's a fund raiser to supply "care packages" for children who are taken away from their parents by DFS.  New pajamas, toothbrush & toothpaste, stuffed animal, etc.

Daylight Savings time starts this weekend!