The dogs

In a few short days it will be 2 years since we became the mommy and daddy of Coco. I have had some time this break to really watch Coco and Mickey interact. They are definitely a sight to see! Mickey loves Coco and Coco loves Mickey. They nap and sleep near each other. They go outside together and if Mickey dares to stay outside longer then Coco deems necessary, she will definitely remind me of this. Sometimes I think that Mickey views her as his own personal toy. If she is getting loved up by a human and he wants to play with her, he will bark till she comes to him.

I also think they have helped each other. Coco has helped Mickey become more assertive-he knows what he wants and is much more willing to express his needs to us. Mickey has helped Coco get over her shyness. She use to be quite loud and would bark for an hour after someone she didn't know came to visit. Mickey, on the other hand, is friendly to all. Coco has observed him from afar and has slowly come to see that family friends are not the enemy that she once thought they were.

So once again, a heartfelt "thank you" goes out Dave and Heather for giving us our Mexican wild girl. She completed our canine family. Heather-she will never forget you! She, to this day, still favors women to men. It was your love and nurturing that made her what she is today.

Goals

It is time. Time to get myself together. Time to assess, evaluate and change! I weighed myself today after doing the Wii fit-first time in 23 days-and I wasn't super-duper mad at myself. I am about 5 pounds lower then my last weigh-in. Not bad considering I haven't really been watching my diet and exercising as much as a I should be. But I really would like to lose some significant weight for Ben's big day next January. I have watched several of my family and friends drop sizes this year and now it is my turn.

So... route me on cause down I go!

No thanks...

Ben brought up a topic yesterday that was so interesting I thought I could blog it. The topic was... what are you not thankful for

...cancer-we have seen too many friends and family suffer from this horrible disease. Let's find a cure for this, ok?

.... My parents getting older and Jay's too. This has not been such a fun sight to see.

.... The bad economy

.... sick children

.... the stomach flu

.... infertility

.... bills

.... not getting raises-ever!

September Mourn

Yes... I am in mourning! Over summer, that is. The last several weeks have been all about getting readjusted to school-for both Ben and I and schedules, schedules, schedules. Hebrew school, football practices, homework, and lots of changes at my school new computerized attendance, completing lesson plans from online resources and emailing them, new staff members-we are a merged school. The hardest for me is the having 32 children in my classroom that I am responsible for and we aren't yet done growing. It has been told to me that we are going to opening a 3rd Kindergarten class. Let's hope so.

So.... reality, at this point, has been a bit overwhelming. Here's to it getting easier!

The Swan Song

I am sitting here on the last evening of my summer vacation just wondering just how I got here so quickly. Rewind....

June 18th-I am outta there! Off we go to Traverse City to raft on the Platt River and enjoy life on this first fun weekend of summer!

June 24th-Reno-bound for Larry and Eliza's nuptials. Four blurry-eyed days later we were back exhausted and super glad to be home.

July-Classes for me and camps for Ben. He loved his week of basketball camp! Football camp we learned after the fact, was for beginners to the flag football scene. It was okay, though! He was used a teacher/student mentor to the little people. His fav this year was Heritage Park. He played sports, got wet at the splash park and just plan hung out. He swears he wants to spend all of next summer there! We'll see, Ben! And I passed my 3 classes and now have my 6 credit hours for my recert!

August-Off to Kalahari water park with our buddies. Good laughs, slides and food were a major part of this wonderful weekend. Rock onto the next crazy weekend in August-Nikki and David's wonderful wedding. Our little cutie pie was a Junior Groomsmen and he almost looked too grown up-see picture! Dream cruise followed and we got to observe it way on top of the 555 Building. Very cool!

Plus so many other memories-baseball game where our cousin got whacked in the head while trying to protect her son, Ben's laptop purchase for 6th grade, my learning the game Mah-jhong, movies and so much other stuff! I am exhausted just writing about it.

And then-Boom-Fast forward to tonight. Summer is all but over! Sad-but my pocketbook needs me to be occupied during the daytime. Ben too! It was a fun summer but very costly!

As old doors close; new ones open

My sister told that to me as I comiserated to her that my 2 buddies who worked next door to me and across the hall, were going in different directions for the 2010-11 school year. One of them left the district and took on a directorship position in a Jewish pre-school and the other one won't be teaching Kindergarten in the Fall-she will be teaching a foreign language. It looked as if it was going to be a lonely year for me!

But yesterday, my spirits lifted significantly. As I came into school ladened with purchases from the summer, I heard a very famliar voice. It was my friend Diane. And she was moving in next door to me! About 5 years ago, she had been forced to transfer to another school down the road from us. We were sad to see her go! That school that she was transferred to is now closed and when her department placed her, she was sent back to her old school and ironically her old classroom.

So... welcome back, Diane!!!! I am so glad to have you as my new/old neighbor. Hopefully the curse on that room be lifted now that you are back in it. Actually, I know it will!

Mahjing

Ok. It's official! I have turned into my mother. I now play mahjong. It started about a month ago when my friend Renea invited me to join her for an evening of mahj. She actually started inviting me at the beginning of the summer but I kept coming up with excuses. You see, I grew up hearing the clicking of the mahj tiles being shuffled around on the card table and the strange language of it being uttered by my mother and her friends. Here are some examples of this: 2 bam, 6 crack, red dragon, soap. This language was one that I always mocked, laughed at and never understood, until about a month ago. By the end of the first evening, I attempted my first hand and by the second evening I mahjed-which means I won the game.

I am hooked. It is a fun game that requires strategy, a leap of faith, and patience. I am not sure I will be able to stay with this group once school starts-we play till about 11:30 which is way too late for me when I am working. But-I want to continue playing and I want to teach it to my friends. So... Mahj- I win!

Falling off the planet...

No, I didn't! Just took a blogging break. I am not sure really why but I guess I needed one. But I am back! I have been quite a productive little bee this summer! After the wedding in Reno, I spent several weeks working on my recertification credits. The courses I took weren't too bad and I was able to earn 3 credits with in several weeks of dedicated work time. Ben has been at camp for a good part of this summer. He has enjoyed learning basketball and football techniques as well as general day camp fun. I have spent my time not as effectively as I would have like to but I am relaxed and actually have a decent sunscreened tan. I am starting to have my back-to-school dreams and I know the final push to get everything done is approaching rather quickly. I better getting hustling or else whatever I don't get done will be on the list for next summer!

So, fellow bloggers, glad to be back and hopefully I will be posting on a more regular basis! Feel free comment! Miss you guys!

Out and about

Filling in the days....

Reno pics

Mountains...

Reno

Ok... so we are in Reno, NV right at this particular moment in time. My cousin Larry is getting married so my family flew into Reno to be guests at this milestone event. My impression of Reno can be found in one of my favorite French sayings-com-see-com-sa or just ok. Today is the first day that we have seen the sun. It has been cloudy and 80 here feels like 70 at home. Lots of pics to come!

Proud and Sad

Ben has been a student at Meadowbrook Elementary since the middle of his Kindergarten year. I remember walking in and thinking that I would never be comfortable at that school-it was so big and so foreign to me. But that was so not true! Jay and I have been active parent participants and have enjoyed watching Ben move through each grade. As I write this on the cusp of 5th grade graduation day, my heart is filled with pride and sadness all rolled up in one. I am proud of Ben and how he took on the year, participating in every thing a 5th grader could-safety, newsteam, student council, CI classroom volunteer, Battle of the books reader, a smart part in the school play Aristocats, going and having fun at science camp and so much more.

The sadness comes in waves for me. I am sad to see this stage of my boy's life ending. How did the years fly by so very fast? I am sad to say goodbye to a wonderful school with nurturing and caring teachers and staff. I am sad because I know that the teenage years are getting ready to knock on my door and soon the boy will be spreading his wings and leaving the nest. I am also sad for the next set of 5th graders because Ben's awesome teacher is retiring at the end of this year. Actually there are 3 of them leaving this year!

So... goodbye Meadowbrook. We'll be seeing you!

in closing.....

Edith and Jack Weiss, Jay's parents and my "outlaws" closed on their house yesterday. We moved them into their posh senior apartment located at 13 mile and Halsted roads Saturday and they are extremely comfortable and happy there.

It was a very long process that started back in early fall. We worked from October to January getting the house ready to go on the market. When it finally went up, it was a popular sight. Lots of interested parties and several bids. The person who bought the house is an african-american single woman who had never owned a home before. She saw so much potential in this house and despite a few setbacks, finally got the house of her dreams.

So... goodbye Oak Park, MI. Our memories of you are forever ingrained in us. Peace out!

Gone but not forgotten

Ernie :(

That was my facebook status this morning. Our beloved radio broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers passed away yesterday. I can not remember a summer without hearing his voice. My grandmother was a major baseball fan. She use to crack me up because she would watch all the Tiger games on her tv and turn down the volume and listen to Ernie calling the game. She even did this when we went to our family ball games. I can envision Grandma and her little handheld radio watching and listening at the same time.

So Ernie, peace out and say "hey" to Grams for me.

How and Why?

How could a little girl of the very young age of 11 die of cancer just a few hours ago? I knew very little about this little angel. She was the daughter of a friend of a friend. Since age 6 she has battled for her life. Radiation, chemo and an unfaltering spirit. She was a daughter, a twin sister and a big sister, a best friend, a middle-school student, a dancer and... a little girl.

Why????? It just doesn't seem fair that someone so young, my son's age, has lost her life. Not fair, not fair, not fair. The words on this post will never match my exact thoughts but I definitely feel that the world changed today. Isn't it time that a cure for cancer be discovered?

Rest in peace, little one. You did make an impact on this world and those who surrounded you. Even me who hardly knew you.

Aristocats

After several months of before and after school practices, tonight is the premier of Meadowbrook's version of the musical, Aristocats. No, Ben is not the star of the show, but he does have a 5-line speaking and singing part. His character's name is Vichy and he is a member of the dog army. So... Vichy/Bennyboo... break a leg and all that. Can't wait to see you and I hope that I don't cry from being so proud!

Howls of laughter

About a week ago Ben and I were just arriving home when we both heard howling. Now, although there are tons of dogs in the neighborhood, we were convinced that it was a coyote and quickly high-tailed it inside.

When Jay arrived home, I told him all about the howling and what we believed it to be. He told me that I was crazy and then went about his business. When he came upstairs for bed, he told me that he had received an email from neighbors of ours and that they had actually caught the coyote on film. The above is the pic he gave me.... I am still chuckling!

45 years!!!!!

Dick Purtan is a name that all metro Detroiters know. He has been on the air for 45 years. I use to be a listener but other venues peeked my interest. But, this morning when I heard that today was his last day, I felt a bit nostaligic and sad. It is definitely the end of an era. Good luck, Mr. Purtan. I look forward to reading your book!

Lost...

So... in my rush to stay on top of the world and get Ben out the door early for play practice, I forgot my cell phone. I feel incomplete and somewhat lost without it.... See you in a few hours dear friend.

Fish tales

So... it was not the nicest day outside yesterday but Ben and his bud Jake really wanted to hang outside. They went to gather some of the other neighborhood kids but when no one could join them, they decided to walk up to the park just the two of them. On their way, they walked by our pond that sits behind our house and saw something, something that they just had to share with me!

Ben came rushing in screaming my name and inisists that I must come and see something. I went outside and saw Jake holding this branch and at the end of it was a gross, smelly very dead sunfish. I asked them how they managed to capture such a fine specimen of aquatic life. Their answer was that they saw this extremely dead fish laying in the shallow grasses of the pond and they just had to get it. They used a fallen branch and picked him up and brought him right up to show me. Anyone care for fish for dinner???

Spring is in the air...

Wild horses could not keep Ben inside today. At 50 degrees he was ready to take off his jacket, which I wouldn't let him, and go off with the guys. However, his great buddy and longtime friend wasn't really interested in tossing the football around with Ben. He was with another guy friend and they were hanging with 2 young ladies. I think puppy love is in the air as well....

Kayla

Dearest Kayla:

I can not believe that I am writing this to you now. It seems too soon. But, it is what it is. I remember going with your family to pick you out. You were the puppy who loved our little guy, Ben. We all knew you were the one for this family.

The years went by. Your human daddy did a great job training you. I dare say you were better trained then our canine family members. You were polite and did not beg or grab scraps from the table. You came when called and you were quite a sight to see when you were off running, a beast of great beauty and agility.

I loved petting you. Your fur was so soft to touch. I loved your hugs on those just because moments. I loved the way you would run out to our car when we came a-call'in. It was your special way of saying "Hi! Glad you came to visit me! Can you come out and play?"

I was miss you, dear friend. No, you were never my dog, but you were a part of my extended family. You spent time in my home and tolerating Maxi, Mickey and later Coco. I loved you too.

Ten years seems a little too soon for your passing. I thought you had a few more years to go but I am really glad that it was quick. Your family is missing you so much and I know next time I come to your house, it will hit me again that you are no longer with us.

So goodbye. I am glad when your time came you didn't suffer much. Say hello to Maxi and Belle. I'm sure you are already united with them running into the wind and having a grand old time. Peace....

Filling my bucket

February break has refreshed my soul. It's not like I went on a major wonderful vacation. I stayed home and just imbibed in life around here. It's those little things like exercising almost every day, shopping, getting my hair done, organizing and cleaning my home, and of course just hanging with the guys that resets me. So... all you travelers out there, be ware. My batteries will be re-charged and ready to go, probably more so then yours will because as we all know, coming home is just as stressful as leaving!

A bit too much for me this week...

In just this one week I feel that life just bit me in the butt and then ran around laughing at me...

... Monday-Jay sprained his ankle and was diagnosed with a sinus infection. We spent the morning in the ER. While we were waiting to see a doc, we were told by the staff that they were super busy for a Monday because of a school bus accident. Felt like we were living a scene from ER

... Tuesday-my sister calls me on the way from school to let me know my aunt's mother had died. She had been diagnosed just 12 days earlier with cancer.

... Wednesday-running around at school like a chicken with my head cut off. I was informed that this horrible testing process that we did with the children back in November was once again coming our way.

... Thursday-funeral in the frozen tundra that we call Michigan. It was very hard to see my peeps so sad. Of course, I was crying right along side with them.

Friday-after having a long conversation with my friend, she tells me that last week she filed for divorce. Twelve years and 3 children later... she will be looking at life as a single. G-d help her.

Saturday... Ben's team lost in basketball. My fifteen year old niece is now going on car dates and was asked to the prom.

Moms

Even at 42, I can not imagine life without my mother. She has always been there for me thick or thin. As a child, I worshipped the ground she walked on. As a teenager a believed she was the wicked witch of the west with all the rules that she imposed upon me. As an adult she not only is my mther but my friend, grandmother to Ben, driver and watcher of him as needed and just my overall emotional support. I don't depend on her anymore but I can't imagine life without her.

My wonderful Aunt Rena lost her mother yesterday to cancer (among other things). I confess that even though I have known Aunt Rena basically all my life, I really don't know much about her mother. I knew she was a wonderful baker back in the day and that she loved to cook. I knew that she deeply cared about her family, children and grandchildren. I knew that she stayed home with her own kids and was married to a mail carrier. Most importanly, I knew that she was the mother to my aunt.

I can not imagine the pain that my aunt is going through. I don't want to. So... here's to my mom being with me for many years to come. And also it is time to say goodbye to another mother. May Shirley rest in peace.

Live the dash

This week was one riddled with horrible news. Terminal illness for my aunt's mother, the loss of staff at my school, kindergartners getting a serious case of cabin fever and making some interesting choices in their behavior and a break-up are just some of the highlights of the fun I had.

But then there's a little voice inside my head that pulled this saying out, one that was said again and again by someone who I deeply respected and admired, Cantor Dubov. This was his saying, his mantra and he lived his dash. Unfortunately the dates between his dash weren't long enough and he was taken from us at the age of 52.

In entering this week, I need to keep this quote in my mind. I need to live my dash and not let everything get me down.

I am gonna try!!!

Ben 11

Another trip around the sun has happened and once again, it is January 24th. Happy 11th to you, Ben. A lot can change in a year.

Ben, your love of sports has grown stronger. You have successful completed 3 seasons of flag football, started your first season of basketball and will be starting your 3rd season of league bowling.

Your persuasiveness never seems to amaze me. You got me on your side when you argued why having a cell phone at 10 was necessary and then you talked Daddy into it as well. Just how many toys did I buy for you after you reluctantly went shopping?

You have worked very hard at school. You continue to keep up your grades striving to be the best that you can. Your involvement in school amazes me. You ran for VP of student counsel, and when you didn't get it, you served as rep for your class. You are on the safety patrol and news team. You spend time helping in a classroom with children that have special needs. You are participating in the Battle of the Books. Wow-is there anything else that you can sign up for at school?

You continue to be an awesome citizen. You care about everyone around you and your zest for life is infectious. You have strong friendships and you are very close to your extended family-even Ashley. You are fair and not judgmental. You see the good in everyone, even the WWE super villains.

So... Bennyboo... here's to the start of another trip around the sun. By next year, you will be in middle school. Can't wait to see what changes this will bring to you. Luv ya, kiddo!

Jane Cooper Elementary

Jane Cooper Elementary. Also known as Cooper "The Renaissance" School. This skeleton of a building is where my career as a teacher for Detroit Public Schools started. I was shocked to discover how Cooper had been basically robbed of it's beauty and charm in under a year.

I have so many memories of Cooper. I worked there from 1990 to 2001. I learned so much there not only how to teach in an urban setting but how to respect all those that I came in contact with. I definitely could say that the years I worked at Cooper were my childhood, if you will, as an educator. Children came to me from all sorts of backgrounds and I taught them. I taught them to love each other, to feel secure and to not be afraid when they were in the hall of Cooper. I gave them routine, stability and love. I taught them discipline minus the physical nature of it. I taught them their abcs and 123s plus a whole lot more. I loved this school but when the opportunity presented itself to me, I left never looking behind me. I knew that Cooper was much like the Titanic, a ship doomed and I had to get out of there. And I did way before it became dust in the wind.

When I came across this story from the whispers of the yesteryears, I could not believe it. I have been almost obsessed in finding my pictures. I even found my classroom. I didn't attach the really upsetting pictures-computers all on the ground of a once state-of-the-art computer lab that laid in a tangled mess, trashed beyond repair and the once beautiful and ornate auditorium where my students performed in many programs, and the thousands and thousands of dollars of materials that could have been used at another school. The pictures that I did attach are very meaningful to me. The classroom in the picture was mine. I recognized it by the calendar which was permanently attached to the wall. The other two are outside views from the front and back of Cooper. In the front view, my classroom was located next to the door on the second level to the right of the picture. The back view shows our unpaved parking lot and play area.

So goodbye Cooper. See you in a much better light in my memories!

The end of an era

Yesterday it was made official, plans that we have been working out since last year... My inlaws' put their house on the market. Their house on a little street in Oak Park was purchased by them 42 years ago. They were living in a changing community in Detroit and wanted to assure a good education for their daughter Pam who was high school age and their son Jay who was all of two.

There are lots of memories we all have about their cute little home. Read on...

... A car drove right into the master bedroom and threw Jay and his mom off the bed where moments before they were enjoying a tv program together.

... How the Wilds and the Weiss' built and maintained a friendship that has extended into adulthood.

...The dogs that were members of their household ... Champ, Pogo, Magic and of course sweet Belle some I knew well and some were members of the family before I came into the picture.

... Like how they all lived thru Michigan summers without central air until it was installed in 2004-I experienced many of these summers without it and learned how truly spoiled I am!

... Anything with liquor logos on it that you can imagine could be found in the basement or garage and I mean anything!

... Like the many holidays we spent in Oak Park as a family

.... Ben's baby naming we had at their home with our family celebrating our joy with us.

... About how all the kids in the neighborhood and neighbors were friends and watched each others back-let me assure you nothing like our neighborhoods today!

and there are many others...

The end of an era has come. My inlaws' next place of residence will be in senior apartments. They are both in their 80s and my father-in-law no longer drives and my mother-in-law never learned to drive so getting here and there has become a bit of a challenge for them.

So... Mom and Dad, good luck and G-d speed to selling it fast. And to the future owners, make wonderful memories of your own in this very special family dwelling...

Hoops there it is...

Here we go again...

Ben decided that his winter sport was going to be basketball. He has never played a formal game of it in his life. It has always been just the impromptu neighborhood boys shooting hoops. With Ben as tall as he is, he should be quite a natural. So... Go Badgers and good luck to you future NBA players.

Mickey's true love

Our dog Mickey is fixated on popcorn. I was making popcorn for us tonight and from the minute that the popcorn went into the microwave to when it was shaken into a bowl, Mickey watched and I could almost swear he licked is chops....