Obligatory First Day Of School Post

Today I had my thirty-ninth first day of school. I think--math is not my thing.

Thirty-nine years ago, I went to Kindergarten in Mrs. Sturm's class, and today, I welcomed the beautiful baby faces of the class of 2020. (PS--The class of 2020 is in seventh grade this year.)

The first day of school is so full of promise and hope. Lovely faces in new clothes and shoes carry new supplies into a classroom. They have visions of being a straight A kid. They all have visions of growing up and being whatever they want to be. They also have dreams of making such a difference in the world that one day their life story will become a block-buster movie. And on this day--the first day of school--I share that vision with them.

I know, realistically, that not every kid will have a block-buster life for any number of heart-breaking reasons. I know, realistically, that there will come a day--some sooner, some later--that we will no longer share a vision with each other. I'll want them to work, and they'll just want the attention of the cute co-ed sitting at the next table. They are seventh graders, of course, even the best of teachers just can't compete with hormones on those cold winter days between New Year's and Spring Break.

But, the beauty of the first day of school is that you get one every year. And that's a wonderfully hopeful thing. It's also the reason I have had thirty-nine first days of school to call my very own.

And now for the obligatory first day of school picture. The Daughters are in transitional years. Daughter 1 is in the eighth grade--the last year of middle school. Next year, she'll be in high school. HOLY COW!  Daughter 2 is in the fifth grade--the last year of elementary. Next year, she'll be in middle school. God save the queen. With me being the queen, of course.

Aren't they the smartest, most beautiful creatures?

Summer Slush

Did y'all miss my time on Tulsa Live! this morning? Well, you are in luck! I'm attaching the video here:



Plus, if you want to make Slime In A Baggie, here are some great instructions. And if you want to make ice cream in a baggie, here are some great instructions. And if you want to make fudge in a baggie, here are some great instructions.

And, if you want to buy my book, you can do so here.

How are you keeping your summer brains from turning to slush?

Winter Has Made Me Crotchety

Funny thing: I had to look up the word crotchety to make sure I was using it correctly. I've used it for years to describe various things.

My American history teacher in high school who lived with eight cats. She lived right across the street from the school and still drove to school every single day. She was crotchety.

My daddy when he said I couldn't stay out later than midnight because only crazy people are out after midnight which was exactly why I wanted to stay out after midnight. He was crotchety.

My neighbor two doors down  would sit at the edge of her front flower bed and pick a flower for me. Her husband would come from their house and "That's enough of that. Get in here." And she would. Her husband was crotchety.

So, I looked up crotchety and here's what I found.

bad tempered; irritable; grumpy; grouchy; short-tempered; testy; ill-tempered; ill-humored; cross; peevish; crabby; cranky; prickly; touchy; snappish; cross-grained; old

Old? Really? But you know what? I'll own it. This winter weather is making me crotchety. All of the words previously mentioned? I'm becoming.

I hear ya, I hear ya. You're saying but it's winter. This is winter weather. And that's the truth. This is winter ... but not the winter I'm used to in Oklahoma.

Go home winter, you're drunk.

Source

The winter I'm used to in Oklahoma is snowy, grey and icky one day and seventy degrees and sunny the next. Sure, I'll gripe about that too. The traditional Oklahoma winter will bring us three or four snow days--but not in a row. It will bring us snow, rain, thunder, earthquakes, sleet and a sunburn--all in one week.

I feel it in my bones, literally. My knees ache, my shoulder throbs. I bundle up in layers just to sit in my own house and watch TV. I say, "Ohmygoodness! It's so cold" everytime--Every. Single. Time.--I go outside.

I've even taken to balling my hand into a fist and shaking it wildly in the air at the meteorologist every time he says the words winter, wintery, polar vortex, snow or ice. Sometimes I even mutter, "Damn kids!"

So, until I get my bi-polar, fickle, completely all over the weather map Oklahoma winter back, I'm going to continue to be crotchety. And if you say anything about my complaining, I will shake my fist at you too.