Inspiration-less

I'm having writer's block. Most things I do all day could become their own blog, but I can't seem to take it apart enough to write about it. So my blogs have been sparse (or absent, depending upon your perspective!). I have stayed very busy and sometimes I think that is why I stumble. Too much going on up there.

I know that today at some point I must go over to school and do lesson plans for next week, as I was gone Thursday and Friday to a conference. My hesitation for going over might be what I will find. I have a challenging class this year, and they make some decisions that are not always in their best interest. But I love them dearly. I continue to guide them in the right direction.

I have to mow the lawn but we have been having a bit of drizzle and the lawn mower tire needs air, something I haven't mastered with the big mean air compressor thing. It growls at me just when I walk by!

And then there are bills to pay and organize. I have been neglecting those.

So I sit here making my list instead of getting things done. I just don't want to run out of things to do or I might just have to sit around and get bored (ya think?).

Another cup of coffee sounds good!

Dog Days

My book club is reading an excellent novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and it has led me to ponder quite a few things about dogs, of all things. You see, this book is told through the eyes of a man's dog, with all of the thoughts and opinions that any dog might have with what he sees from his master on a daily basis.

I begin to ask myself if dogs really do wonder what's up with us. Do they understand us possibly better than we understand ourselves, and yet can't give us the advice that maybe they would like to? As the dog in the book laments, "If I just didn't have a flat tongue and could make the sounds that I would like to, I could tell Denny (his owner) my thoughts and help him out a great deal."

I sometimes have my students write an essay from the point of view of a fish swimming in an aquarium. I always get interesting feedback on that one. But dogs seem so much more human. You hear so many stories about dogs saving people's lives, predicting epileptic seizures, and of course helping the blind. Studies have been done about the calming presence dogs have on the lives of those in the hospital or nursing homes. What is it they possess?

While reading through this book, I recall many instances when our favorite dog, Nick, was as much a part of the family as any pet could be. What he must have thought of us, six crazy people in one family, chasing him around the yard, loving, feeding, and caring for him! I miss him. I wonder what kind of book he would write.

An Uncluttered Calendar

Today is the first day of my 10 day hiatus from work, it's 9:15 AM and I am sitting here in my robe sipping on a cup of coffee. The joys of down time! I have no real agendas to tackle for the next few days, just things I must put on my calendar because I have been putting them off too long.

I have some leaking pipes in the basement. Every time we want to do a load of clothes I have to go down there and turn on the faucets for those pipes. Maybe it's time to get them fixed. And my oven hasn't been working right for about a year now, time to get that done! The house could use a thorough spring de-cluttering.................not sure about that one. I think I will take my mom on a surprise outing (put it on your calendar mom, if you're reading this). And then I have a lovely day of shopping planned with my friends

None of these are earth shattering have to get dones (except lunch with mom), so any phone call that promises me an adventure will fly right to the top of my list.

I just fixed my heart rate monitor so I should probably pursue my walking habit that I have missed. There are some books calling my name which should not be neglected, and of course the NCAA tournament will entertain this weekend. During that I have a baby afghan I'm working on.

Bored? It's not in my vocabulary!