Still Alive

I haven't posted much (it's been a month!) This was the bonfire we had over a week ago. The sign for the town of Hubbard has a story behind it; the kids were told NOT to steal a city sign from the town we were playing. So the kids had one made. Not everyone knew they had the sign made. The principal did and he agreed to be in with the kids on how much trouble they were in for getting the sign. Many people thought the whole senior class (50 kids) had ISS on Monday!
A parent and even the cops thought the sign was real. The parent complained but that's normal in a small town. The cops were glad the sign was a fake.
Anyway, I'll try to post more often. Try, don't hold me to it.

Number One

Our school won a national award. Of all the schools in the nation that participated in a certain survey, we came in with the highest percentage: 149!
(A student could take the survey any number of times.)
Our reward was an assembly with an NFL player (or which ever group the Cowboys play for.) Tashard Choice, a Cowboy's running back, visited. The topic was underage drinking and Tashard spoke of losing a friend to drinking and driving.
Tashard is the man on the left. Next to him are our senior class president (in blue) and one of our best all-around students (in white.) The lady next to them is our guidance counselor.

I hope the kids get the message: Under 21? Don't drink.

I know these boys have it.

What have they been waiting for?

(I tried to publish this a few days ago but my pics wouldn't load. Obviously, this is Bremond and not Butler. )

14 years ago we moved out of this building. Last year we voted to tear it down. Then a group got together to Save Our School! This is the shape it is in as of May 2010- windows gone, roof leaks, vandalism so bad they put a fence around it.
I understand history and the desire to keep mementos of the past. But 13 years on disuse is not good for a building. After a request to listen to the SOS group at a school board meeting, it was realized that the plans to tear it down must continue. Why? Because the citizens voted to tear it town and the vote must be honored. Some one could sue the board if they didn't. (Hmm... I've never brought suit against anyone, yet.)

Lesson learned: don't wait until the wrecking ball is at the door to start doing something

Prom 2010

Teaching in a high school has its ups and downs. One major down is raising money for the prom. We do most of it in the concession stand during football season. Our class got to do it two years in a row! :-( The result was a lot of money. So we spent money to have a GREAT prom. The prom committee chose the theme and all the decorations. I have to say it was the best prom ever! Which means, yes, that the prom is one of the ups of teaching high school (especially when the prom is over.) This year the prom took place on the 24th of April.

Our location in Bryan, the the country club, was a dream. Great food, excellent service, and they cleaned up when we were done!  The lower picture is of the background used for prom portraits. Kids showed up at 8am to put this all together. Lovely.

Doors of Inspiration

Since before Easter I have had door issues. OK. The problem goes back beyond that. I hate screen doors. I *really* hate them. They close on my heels. They grab my sleeves. They annoy me. So one day, as I tried to get in the house, the kitchen door caught my foot; I kicked the lower panel on the door and it gave. And the storm door, the heavy one, would stick when shut. It stuck so well that, on Easter morning, I had to go out the front door and walk around the house to kick open the kitchen door. I said a few words that nice old ladies are not supposed to say.
I told the world’s best landlord about my problems and he sent help. On Friday night and Saturday afternoon Roger K. fixed my doors. The screen closes without help. The storm door fits perfectly- I can open and close it with ease.

I like my doors. (OK, I still hate screen doors; but, I’m glad it closes so well.)

Again, this time with feeling

It snowed again. We've learned to doubt forcasts of snow in our area. The last one glittered on us a bit but nothing to worry about. Today we got INCHES of the fluffy white stuff.

This is my house at 12:45 today. School got out at noon and begins again tomorrow at 11am. The teens used the football field as a snowball fighting rink. I have had my days of playing in the snow.

My neighbor and her adult son, however, have not had too many days in the snow. They built this snowman, minus a head. When the head got slammed on top, the poor thing crumbled. I'm sure there are snowmen all over town today.

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).

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.

Sky

Sometimes the sky is just amazing! Taking a good picture is a pain. The good thing about digital cameras is instant availability of one's shots. I tried different settings before I got a good one. I think this goes with the 'contrast' theme for today.
I may keep posting about Bremond for the next month. If it is possible, I will do it.

Pink

On my walk the other night I saw this plant. The rain has brought a lot of color to this little town; much of it is in this kind of plant.  I especially like the brightness of it next to the darkness of the night. Love what a flash can do!

Good Luck

I will bet that most people in town have no idea this stone exists. And that is sad. It is located in the city park next to the post office. I haven't touched it, yet.

I will be posting some other pictures from this park in the days to come.

Also on Main Street

On Main Street we have several benches. Now, this street is not very long and many of the businesses are closed (and have been for years.) So why do we have benches? No idea.

I do like the art work. Vandals have left these alone, so far.

Paul Bremond

This is history. I believe Mr. Bremond never set foot in Bremond. Oddly, that happened in Butler, PA as well. (That's the family center.)

mosaic

I needed some pictures. I needed some exercise. So Nanna and I took a walk up to Main Street and looked around. Just up the street, beside the Specialty Shop Mall (a variety store), I spied this bench. Mosaic is a favorite from of art for me so I had to take a picture. Mosaics are a lot like life; all manner of broken things make up our lives and it is the inclusion of the broken things that makes it complete.

Looking Up

With autmn comes the leaves. This is one of the trees in my yard. I can identify only a few trees: pine, mimosa, palm and ones with leaves. This falls into the last category. Pin oak is common in the area. I also have pecan trees. They are in the backyard. This is in the front. Anyway, this tree is one reason my house cannot be seen from above.
I really, really need to get out and take some pictures!

New School

This is the 'new' school. It opened in 1996. In this photo we see the high school side at the office entrance. The old school was a collection of permanent and temporary buildings connected by covered sidewalks. Here, everything from pre-k to 12 is in one building.

Old school

This is the old high school. Notice the open windows. Thank vandals for those. This was the front entrance. My room was upstairs and in the back. I do not miss the steps at all.

Cinderella in Bremond

Homecoming includes a parade, a football game, and beautiful girls in gorgeous dresses. Five senior girls vie for queen while one girl from each class grades 9 to 11 is the duchess and a representative of her class. Several organizations have sweethearts who are presented as well. Each girl is walked on the track by her father or other escort. It is a lovely time and an honor for the girls involved.


This year the freshman class had as a nominee a girl who wasn’t used to dresses and makeup and high heels and jewelry. She did not decline the nomination. To her surprise, she was elected Freshman Class Duchess. She did not decline the honor. After years of being teased she knew this was a joke; maybe someone was trying to make fun of her. With the current economy, her family did not have the funds for gowns and frivolities. Would she be able to represent her class?

I’ll call her Cherri. She is quiet. She does not cause trouble, nor does she raise her voice. She is not a fighter in the physical sense. But this time she decided to push on. She was elected and therefore she would be duchess. Teachers encouraged her as did her older sister and friends and family.

This is where the fairy godmothers appear. I don’t know who they are. But I know what they did. Someone took Cherri shopping for a gown and jewelry and shoes (high heels!) She received several beauty treatments; eyebrow waxing, pedicure and manicure. She got her ears pierced. On homecoming day she had her hair done and was given earrings. A teacher, who also sells makeup, made up her face and gave her the makeup. For the parade she rode in a black mustang convertible owned by an upper class girl (sophomore.)

The beautiful duchess walked down the track with her daddy. She felt like Cinderella. When her name was announced she was sure the audience cheered more for her than they had for anyone else!

I love the people of Bremond. It is the people who make a town a home.
(Thank you Mrs. Y for the use of the picture!)

goats at school

In 1996 we moved to a new school building. The old buildings are still there; ok, some of the old buildings are still there. The main high school building has been left to rot over the years and has suffered a lot of vandalism. To combat this a fence was erected around the building. To keep the grass and weeds down, two goats have been given a home behind the fence. Before anyone calls the pet police please note that they are owned and well cared for.

I drove to the old school (it isn't far from the 'new' school-- nothing is far away in TinyTown!) to take pictures of the bonfire set up and decided to take pics of the remaining buildings. The goats happened to be on the road side of the high school so I took this picture.

A three part bond that passed this past spring included funds to remove the old school. It also included new technology so we have electronic white boards (by Promethean). Money-- got to love it.