My friends Stephanie and Matt and I travelled around Maryland yesterday, driving through the countryside and along scenic byways to go antiquing. I bought a stool to use as a plant stand, and I also bought this awesome entertaining book by Betty Crocker. I love the images and as a book that was published in 1959 on entertaining, it is a really neat look into what life was like then. Pretty cool!
Make garlic olive oil by smashing garlic and stirring in olive oil - stir so oils in garlic are released. Chop tomatoes, mince basil (fresh) and drizzle oil in mixture.
The bread:
French loaf, cut in rounds
Brush garlic olive oil on rounds
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese
Cracked black pepper - light
Broil until golden
Add Bruschetta and salt as desired. Delicious!
What are your favorite tomato recipes? I have them coming out of my ears! :-)
The Save Our Schools rally on Saturday was about sending a message that teachers do more than "just" teach and that there is a fundamental misunderstanding about what exactly teachers do. People who view teachers as just "babysitters," or "get the summers off," have no idea what it means to want to teach children and young adults.
From the Save Our Schools Website:
We, a collection of people from all walks of life and every corner of this nation, embody a mixture of ideas and opinions regarding how we can improve educational opportunities for all children. We stand united by one belief – it’s time for teachers and parents to organize and reclaim control of our schools.
As concerned citizens, we demand an end to the destructive policies and rhetoric that have eroded confidence in our public schools, demoralized teachers, and reduced the education of too many of our children to nothing more than test preparation.
A well-educated society is essential to the future of the United States of America. Our students must have access to a fully funded, world-class public education system, and it is our responsibility to hold our government accountable for providing the means to achieve it. Please join us!
I want anyone who thinks they can just step right in and become a teacher to try it. Yes, I dare you. It takes a person who truly cares about their subject, and most importantly, their students. It's not for everyone. I work incrediblely long hours during the school year. I am at school at 7:30 and don't leave until 5:30 or 6:00 every night. During the day, I am constantly "ON" - in front of a classroom of students - being held accountable for the lesson I am presenting everyday. When I am not in class, I am still available. Available for spur of the moment student meetings, study sessions, sometimes crying sessions and kleenex are involved. I then take work home with me, grading, lesson planning, committee work - all the other "stuff" I need to do and didn't get time to do because I have an "open door policy" for my students. If they need me, I'm there - that's how I roll. :-)
Being a teacher is like no other job. There is no other job that allows you to influence so many people. It just so happens that teachers inspire and kindle a love of learning. Isn't that what makes an "enlightened citizenry?" Citizens who are global thinkers, who care about their community, have empathy for others, and in turn when they become lawyers, or doctors, or stay-at-home-moms, they think critically about issues in their community and make change for the better.
Sure, doctors, and lawyers, and police officers are all important for society. Absolutely. But TEACHERS. Teachers can motivate, empower, build self-confidence, make students think, and all of this is for a better FUTURE. Because after all, it's the kids that will be running the world, right?
Here is an article written in the Washington Post about the Save Our School rally last Saturday. Please read Matt Damon's Speech.
Those nay-sayers need to think back to their favorite teacher. What did that teacher do for you? How did that teacher change your life? Lawrence O'Donnel tries to make a point about why teachers have become targets instead of other public servants. I think he gets a little off track, but I see his point. What do you think?
Well, if one more person tells me that "these are the joys of home-ownership" I will slap them. How many of them have to deal with Squirrels, termites and bats in the span of 4 months. I didn't think so, now shut up.
Bat hanging outside my bathroom.
At 3:30am on Friday night/Sat. morning I woke up to Cooper barking ferociously. I panicked a bit because my phone was downstairs and if I needed to call 911 I was out of luck (good lesson). Anyway, I listened (really only hearing Coop), and when I got out of bed, that was Cooper's cue to go running out of my bedroom, down the stairs and into the living room. I waited, thinking that if there was an intruder, I would hear other noise, and since I did not, I peaked my head around over the railing and saw Cooper standing in the middle of the living room barking at a flying object circling the room. I could tell right away this was not a bird, that it was probably a bat. Oh joy.
So I called Cooper up into the bedroom, shut my door and hoped the bat would disappear. Did I need to mention I didn't get to bed until 2am because I was at a concert? So I was tired and not about to deal with it at that moment. (Besides the fact that I was a little freaked out)
So to make a long story short, this bat, after several attempts each evening to get it out of my house, remained in the basement in some nook or cranny until last night when I left the basement door open for 3.5 hours. I had some bat guys come this morning and they couldn't find him.....honestly, it doesn't mean he's gone, I guess I'll know tonight.
Bats are so good for us - benefit the environment, cut down on the bugs, I'm happy there are bats in Baltimore, but I am not happy I couldn't get this one out of my house for 3 days, and I was even less happy when he/she swooped and flew around my head. Be gone with ya!
That's been the adventure of the last several days. Oh the joys of home-ownership.
