Good things:  former students visiting; much of the classes actually worked or listened to me give instructions on the last day of school before the Christmas vacation; reading a fascinating book on the history of Hungary while planning a trip to the father country; a great night seeing the Nutcracker at the Community Theatre in Morristown with Gary Fagin and the state orchestra.

Bad things:  drama and events at work that make me sad and realize I cannot possibly make it to retirement in this place; missing a visit from a former student; getting to be sick as a dog on the first day of vacation.

My throat is sore as hell, my mouth hurts because my Invisalign has sharp edges and I just can't file them down more right now with my leaky, drippy nose.  So my teeth are wrapped in plastic and wax and I look like I have a mouth full of marbles.  Fabulous.  But I guess I could use the down time to get art done.  I have a bag full of bone, bug and felt work.  I have the grand idea of making casts of my hands for mounts but using the plastic mold making thing instead of plaster.  Then I want to work in the darkroom this coming week - if Millie allows.  She always yells from upstairs right as I get everything set up.  Might as well leave the chemistry out in the trays like at work so I can just rush, black out the windows and get moving.  Perhaps bang out a print or two before the crying starts. 

The ICP winter schedule came in the mail.  I think, if scheduling allows, I will finally take a two day workshop.  I see a few in alternative processes that I would love to do.  I need to get more things done to enter into shows. 

Speaking of shows, the A.I.R. Gallery Generations VIII closing reception on Wednesday was nice.  Although I posted information online, no one showed.  But I did get to meet the woman who runs the gallery and couple of the other artists in the show.  Then we went to Rice, a restaurant around the corner from the gallery.  Super nice place for such a rich pert of Brooklyn and hubby's green rice dish was super good, as was my curry and basmati dish.  Now if only I could get off my butt and get more work in shows....

So I was going to type up the minutes from this week's Historic Preservation meeting - I am the secretary - but the events of that evening were so anger inducing, I just want to be happy today and not relive it.  To top it all off, the last three months' meetings have been so long they have run into the 9.00 pm airing of "Foyle's War" on NJN and that is a mystery that is broken up into two parts.   And I miss the second half all the time now.  So I thought the show was not on this week.  But.... I walk onto the porch and see through the living window that, yes, indeedy, there it is on the TV screen with hubby and Millie snuggling on the couch in Masterpiece Mystery bliss.  While I sat at Town Hall groaning at the stupidity of people who cannot stay on topic and suffering with open windows... and I just can't convey the anger.  I love having the students know how much I volunteer but I can't lie, sometimes it is not fun. 

I am reading a book I bought down in DC.  It is about having teachers make stronger bonds with the community to help strengthen schools.  So far, the points jive with what I have wanted in PV for many years.  I think we could get the parents/guardians more interested in their kids' schooling if we welcome them and I am eager to learn tangible methods to use.  Let's see how this goes....

Progressing...

The house all decorated inside.  I decided to go with a "Bows & Balls" theme this year.  I used Christmas ribbon that my grandmother had but never got the chance to use.  I made bows for the first floor windows.  I picked up my parents' old pre-lit tree last night.  I am tired of our tree and want a change.  I do hope it will fit the height of our rooms but I may have to finagle something.  The tree we have is a circa 1950's tree we picked up at the curb about 13 years ago.  I love it but it is time to use another one.  I really wish I never let the one in my grandmother's attic go.  I could use a tree that meant something then... but I will be using her Christmas balls.  We have so many tree decorations that I can decorate the rest of the house with tons of balls.  My ideal would be to spray my dry hibiscus branches with silver or gold and suspend them from the ceilings in the dining and living room and then hang balls from there.  Perhaps next year.

I have a photo in the Generations VIII exhibit at the A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn.  The opening was last week - skipped it b/c I cannot take a trip to Brooklyn twice in one week.  But I will be attending the closing reception.  I posted the information online in the hopes that some friends will show up.  But only one friend ever showed up to a reception of mine.  Two have said they went to see the work in a gallery show, but they probably skimmed through.  Ah well... one can hope for more...

Oh, and Millie snagged a swipe of my pumpkin pie and now wants pizza and pie nearly every night.

Eye openers...

So I have had to attend a couple of work or family gatherings in the past month.  Let's just say I feel like I either live at school or the Brownstone.  Some of the events made me happy I went, while others made me realize what I do not like about life.  At one event, I was able to talk a bit with someone with whom I never knew how much I had in common until relatively recently.  At another, I realized why I only associate with certain types of people. 

We work in a school district like so many others - a broad spectrum of society lives in the sending districts.  We have lower and middle class families and students; there is no one here who is a part of the real upper class.  There are students who are homeless, parent-less, living in grand mansions, small apartments, wondering when the parent/guardian will finally find a job, never realizing what anything costs because mommy & daddy pay for everything.  Quite a wide array of life situations.  And I have a great deal of trouble living my life being wasteful.  I hate to throw food out.  The hubby and I feel bad if we have a fruit or veggie that rots before we eat it.  Of course this only ends up being composted.  But, you get the idea.  I am mindful of the fact that wasting and being a pig is poor manners and insensitive.  Unfortunately, I came to the realization that I am in the minority in this respect in some of my life situations.

So what do I do to challenge this?  I am not quite sure yet.  I do not to avoid those social situations in the future.  No one wants to hear someone question their choices.  But I can't stand the insensitivity I see.  Not all students are like this, but I fear they are learning by example.  Just very distressing....