Kindle

I bought a Kindle. It's a new way to read novels, magazines and newspapers. Material is sent by wifi, or a cable from my computer, to the Kindle and I can read it almost everywhere. It is only available from Amazon.com as is the reading material. It is less than a quarter the size of the Waco Tribune-Herald. It can hold 1,500 novels! Now, if only I could get the books I have in the house put on the Kindle and removed from my space.

Heat

I don't mind the cold or the rain or the hints of snow. Actually, I like the changes in weather. However, I don't like lighting the gas space heater in my bedroom. Once it is lit, I don't have to light it again until next fall. You see, it has a pilot light. This picture is of the matches I used to try to light this bugger. Notice the matches are not burned down very far? They burn out early. I think they got wet or something. And the box is giving me trouble, making it hard to light a match. I have one other space heater in the living room. It has to be lit everytime because it does not have a pilot light. At least I keep warm and dry. Eventually.

Ren Fest 2009

Saturday I went to the Texas Renaissance Festival near Plantersville. Some of the people present are in costume or garb and are quite nice about having their pictures taken. This man is holding his tail. He is a wolf. A wolf with knives. We spoke to him for a few minutes and found him delightful.

I say we because my friend Cara and her son Jeromy went with me. They had never been to the Ren Fest. Let me say it was like introducing television (satellite tv at that) to someone who had not seen it before. They marvelled at the costumes, buildings, entertainment, and beer.

At dusk we attempted to leave. It took three hours to get out of the parking lot due to 2 accidents.
Still, we plan to go back next year.

Hope for better days

Several years ago I planted Morning Glories. They were a mix of blue, pink and purple. Only the purples return, unaided, every Spring. Our recent rain and nice weather have caused the flowers to return now. I'm taking this as a sign of hope for better things. I know they are going to die. But they came back when I needed hope the most. See you, my friends, in the Spring.

Oh, by the way, happy Thanksgiving everyone. Thanks to Donnie and Cara I only had to bake a pumpkin pie (that I bought, frozen, from Schwann's).

Bad Week

I don't have a picture today. Last week was a bad week and no picture could convey that. Let's start with Monday. One of my students suffered a head injury when he surfed on a friend's car and fell on his head. he suffered a concussion and spent two days in the hospital.

Then on Thursday, after school, two students were in a wreck at the school entrance. At first I was the only teacher in attendance. The police took 30 minutes to arrive. Ems, parents, super, principal, everyone else was there first. End result: the passenger in the student's car has whiplash and a concussion, both drivers are ok (one was a grandma the other a junior in high school.) The student's car is trashed.

Then I heard about the tragedy at Fort Hood. Hard to believe a serviceman would do that. Again the ugly Anti-Muslim sentiments from the misguided. The fort is not too far from me (anyplace less than 150 miles away is 'not too far' in Texas lingo.)

Then, on Friday, a former student posted an idiotic comment on Facebook. This was before lunch but I heard about it after lunch. Let's say NEVER mention a school district and Columbine in the same sentence. We had parents drive to the school to check out their kids. If this guy wanted to shoot anyone, many of these people would have been in his easy line of fire. Classroom doors were locked, the front door was manned and locked, and office phones rang off the wall. Why would parents call their kids (who's phones should be OFF) and ask them what's going on? To scare them half to death?

Anyway, the pep rally was cancelled. But, in true Texas fashion, the game was on. Ok, the idiot who posted the comment was in custody before school was out. I work the ticket booth. And that night I accidentally knocked the stick out of the way (the one that holds the window up) and it tried to cut off my fingers. Lucky me, I suffered a bruise finger and a cut cuticle. One band-aid and bag of ice later and I was back to work selling tickets.

Any wonder why I went out for ice cream? And was on the verge of tears?

Halloween 2009

My neighbors loooove to decorate for the holidays. And I get the best view! This was their yard for this year's Halloween. This is the busiest night of the year for our poor little roads. Parents drive their children around in cars, trucks, flatbed trailers and anything they can get a kid to sit on. Ah, the TinyTown life!

bazaar

Today is the day of the second largest celebration in town- the catholic church bazaar. And I didn't go. I just didn't feel like going anywhere.

However, a few weeks ago I took this picture of a map in the city park. This was a great idea. The chamber of commerce collected a rock from every state. (Would you believe some states were difficult? Whoever was called did not know if they were 'allowed' to mail a rock?!)

Anyway, I think it's pretty neat.