Letting Kids Be Kids

As I was packing and preparing to leave for California earlier this week, I found it necessary to make a run to the Mart of Darkness . I had a couple of items that I needed to get, so I expected a short and uneventful trip. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened.

I walked in, grabbed what I needed, and got in the express line, standing behind a father and son. The father was probably about my age and his son was probably about my oldest nephew’s age – ten. I glanced at their items and realized the dad was buying a couple of child-sized polo shirts; shorts; a kid’s toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash; a small carton of chocolate milk, and sunglasses for both the father and son. None of that seemed particularly unusual, but the father’s behavior struck me as very odd.

The father kept making comments to the little boy about how expensive everything was and how he felt like he was spending too much money on him – when the sunglasses that the father was buying for himself appeared to cost more than pretty much everything else put together. (It almost seemed like the father had suddenly gotten totally unexpected custody of the child and had to buy things to get him to school the next morning.) I watched as the happy light faded out of this little boy’s eyes. You could tell that he was excited to be getting new things, including a cheap pair of sunglasses, but the father’s words and actions were really hurting this little boy. In just a few minutes, he went from happy and excited to very quiet and somber. It was just incredibly sad.

As the father and son left, the father did put his hand on the boy’s shoulder and seemed to say something to him that made him a little happier, but I doubt that little boy easily recovered his excitement. The father seemed to kill his happiness with just a few sharp and misguided words.

It just really makes you think – we’re all children at one point and, as an adult, I can’t even begin to guess how many times I have wished I could go back to my childhood. Since we all seem to want to go back to those easy days, at least at one point in our adult lives, shouldn’t we let kids be kids and be happy before they have to deal with real-world issues and problems? I think so. I’m not a mom, but I am an aunt. I also am the first to admit that there are times that I’ve snuffed out my oldest nephew’s excitement (my youngest isn’t old enough to care yet), but I’m resolving to never do that again. He’s just a kid – and he should get to stay that way as long as possible.

The Learning Channel?

Years ago, the television station TLC was aptly named The Learning Channel. A few years back, they dropped their lengthy moniker and became known as TLC. Along with their name change, they changed some of their programming – truly, for the most part, for the better. I’m a longtime TLC fan and have enjoyed many shows on the network. After what I heard earlier this week, though, I’m afraid that’s going to change.

Early this week, Discovery (which owns TLC) announced that they had decided to purchase the rights to an eight-part documentary series featuring Sarah Palin. I was more than slightly surprised. Discovery and Sarah Palin? It just seemed…wrong. Discovery, which prides themselves on providing learning opportunities, has picked up a show that’s sole purpose essentially seems to be to promote a woman who should be well past her 15 minutes of fame. Sure, they say it’s to promote Alaska, but using Palin as a host? Come on!

Does Alaska intrigue me? Absolutely. Would I enjoy learning more about it? Sure – I’d like to learn more about all of our states. I’m not, however, interested in listening to Sarah Palin’s nasal voice extol the virtues of moose hunting. I truly think they could have found someone who knows Alaska better than a woman who chose to resign from an elected position, for no reason other than to promote herself and make more money. Had they, I’d definitely be more interested in actually watching the show.

Now, is everything on TLC a learning experience? Heck no. I’ve got to admit that I’m (ashamedly) addicted to Toddlers and Tiaras and that I used to watch Trading Spaces and, sometimes, even Jon and Kate Plus Eight. But for some reason, this just doesn’t sit well with me…and I’m strong enough to admit that it’s because I just flat do not care for Sarah Palin.

Larger Than Life

Early yesterday afternoon, I received word that my first grade teacher had passed away in a tragic accident. As I fought back tears, for just a few minutes, I was transported back to her classroom, more than 20 years ago.

At the tender age of six, I thought she was an old woman, as she had steel gray hair and that was how I best judged age in those days. On the first day of first grade, I remember being somewhat scared, as I’d heard she was mean – after all, she was the one teacher who still kept a paddle in her classroom. I did know that she’d been my sister’s teacher, and since Jill had survived, I figured that I would, too.

What I didn’t know but learned throughout my year with her was that, while she could be stern and strict and ruled her classroom with somewhat of an iron fist, you would be hard-pressed to find a teacher who loved her students more. She was a relatively short woman (I’m guessing she wasn’t a bit over 5’2”), but she was larger than life. She played the piano and we sang at the top of our lungs. She read us books and we all listened to her as she gave life to the different characters. She introduced us all to the “super duper smiley face” and we all worked hard to have one of those placed on our assignments, as they were way better than ANY gold star!

The following August, when I moved on to second grade, I was sad – I’d loved my first grade teacher, but I knew it was time to grow up. I went on to have numerous other teachers, including those who were wonderful (Clara Margaret McCluskey) and those who were not so great (who shall remain nameless).

While I continued to grow up and finish out my elementary, middle, and high school education in Fredonia, any time I saw Ms. Harris, she greeted me with a smile. Even during my junior and senior years of high school, if she was in the grocery store where I worked, she made a point to say hello to me.

At the end of my senior year, when I had decided that I wanted to become a high school language arts teacher, Ms. Harris was still highly involved with the Fredonia Unified Teachers’ Association, from whom I received a scholarship. I received a card from Ms. Harris, along with a check for the first half of my scholarship, in May; in addition to wishing me luck, the card told me to come see her in December, once I had my first semester’s grades.

When I stopped to see her before heading back to college for my spring semester and showed her my grades, she didn’t denigrate me for receiving a “C” my first semester. Instead, she invited me in and asked me how my semester went and listened to my explanation of my “C”. She didn’t demand an explanation, as my grades still were high enough to retain my scholarship, but somehow, she seemed to know that I felt the need to explain. After several minutes, when I finally quit talking, she told me that she was proud of me, “C” and all. I also felt the need to tell her that I’d decided that teaching wasn’t my calling – and again, she was supportive and reassured me that I had a bright future, no matter what career path I chose. She handed me another check and told me to stay in touch.

I hadn’t seen Ms. Harris in several years, but her death still hit me pretty hard. As I read her obituary this morning, I discovered that she wasn’t quite as old as I thought all of those years ago – she was only 64 when she passed away. And even though she’d retired from teaching a few years back, she still was extremely involved in the community.

I don’t know much, but I do know that Fredonia has lost a giant. Rest in peace, Ms. Harris. I’m sure you’re somewhere playing jazzy tunes on a piano and singing your heart out.

Good Friends, Good Food, Good Fun

My friend Tracy and I had a girlie party last Friday night. While I wish that some of our other friends could have joined us, we had an absolute blast! Good friends, good drinks, good fun, and good food….mmm…good food. Below are recipes for a couple of things that I made to take; I’ll add another post later with a couple of recipes that I was planning to make and take, but didn’t, simply in the interest of time.

Spinach Brownies

Ingredients:

10 ounce package frozen spinach
½ cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
½ cup milk
¼ cup melted butter
½ onion, diced
½ medium red pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, diced
2 pieces of bacon, chopped
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 317. Lightly grease 8x8 inch pan.
2. Place spinach in medium saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Lower heat to simmer and cook until spinach is just cooked, which should be about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, drain thoroughly, and set aside.
3. Sautee red peppers, onions, garlic, and bacon in frying pan over medium heat, until vegetables are slightly softened.
4. In large bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir in egg, milk, and butter. Mix in spinach, pepper mixture, and cheese.
5. Transfer the mixture to prepared baking dish and bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Notes:

This is similar to a quiche – only you can hold it in your hand. As the recipe author suggested, I initially served mine chilled, but think they’d be much better if slightly warmed.

I doubled this recipe and didn’t have the best results ever. If you decide to double it, bake it in two 8s8 pans, not one larger pan, and I think you’ll be happier. I also think I should have baked mine a little longer, but they still were pretty good. I’m excited to try it again with some spice additions.

Uncle Bill’s Sausage Balls

Ingredients:

2 boxes Stove Top Pork Dressing
1 ½ cup hot water
2 pounds sausage
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup chopped celery
1 chopped onion

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line several cookie sheets/jelly roll pans with foil and spray with Pam.
2. Mix all ingredients together with hands and shape into small balls. Place balls on pans.
3. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 30 minutes.

Notes:

These things are seriously like crack to me. Seriously. One recipe makes a TON, though, so unless you’re planning on serving a lot of people, you might cut it in half. These actually freeze quite nicely, too.

Nervous Nellie

I'm excited that I've got a day off tomorrow. I'm not so excited for the reason I'm not working tomorrow. I've got an appointment for some tests tomorrow to see if we can get to the bottom of a little problem I've been having for the past five weeks.

I hate to admit this, but I'm nervous. I'm actually even a little scared at what we might find, but yet, I'm ready because I want some answers. Because, with answers, then we can figure out a way to start fixing things...right?

I've just got to remember that, no matter what, there are other people out there who are dealing with way worse problems than me. No matter what, I'll make it over this little speedbump in the road of life.

Take Your Slander Elsewhere

Wow, was yesterday a serious Monday for me. I woke up ready to take on the week, but by noon, I was not a very happy girl -- and it was all due to the fact that someone I know decided to slander me.

Without going into too much detail, I learned, through a friend, of the things this person was saying about me. Needless to say, I was shocked, horrified, distraught, and most of all, pissed off. There wasn't a shred of truth (at least not as far as I know) in any of the things he was saying about me.

I don't take too kindly to having my character and work ethic attacked. I'm a hard worker and most anyone who knows me probably will tell you the same. Do I have days when I don't give it my all? Sure, but I think that we all have those days. Do I like to have a good time while I'm working? Absolutely! If you don't take a few minutes here and there to laugh and enjoy life, then I think you're less productive.

If I was a different type of person, I would consider hiring an attorney and going after this jerk for slander. But, I think I'll pass...at least this time. After all, I'm a firm believer in this little thing called karma...and, while she's a bitch, she has yet to fail me.

Professor John Lehman

In college, I double majored in English and communication, with an emphasis in public relations. I was fortunate enough to have several amazing professors who taught me a great deal – both about the subject at hand and about life – but I truly can say that there was no one quite like John Lehman.

Ah, yes…Professor Lehman. The communication professor to be feared by many, revered by most, and respected by nearly everyone in the division. I heard stories about Professor Lehman and, honestly, was kind of scared to take his courses. Horror stories – stories of seniors having to delay graduation because of not passing his classes, stories of memorized speeches, stories of no one, and I do mean no one, passing the first exam in each of his classes. So, I did the smart thing: I waited until my senior year to take the three required courses that were taught only by Professor Lehman. Just a few weeks into the semester, I figured out that waiting to take his classes was not intelligent; in fact, it was one of the biggest mistakes of my collegiate career. Why? Because I was afraid I wouldn’t pass? Nope. It was because of the amount of knowledge this man possessed – knowledge that would have benefitted me much earlier in my academic pursuits.

I took one of his classes the first semester of my senior year and was planning to take the remaining two during my final semester. We were approximately a month in to the first class (Theory of Communication) and he announced the first test. In his rough, gravelly voice, he proclaimed that no one ever passed his first test. Well, if you know me, you know that I took that as a challenge and set out to prove him wrong. Amazingly enough, one of my classmates and I DID prove him wrong, by passing. He lauded us in front of everyone, which embarrassed both of us, but secretly, deep down inside, we were proud of ourselves.

Fast forward to the end of that semester and the class (significantly reduced in number by those who couldn’t hang with Lehman) filed in to take our final. We waited…and waited…and waited. No Professor Lehman. Was this some kind of joke? Was there really not going to be a final? The class had gotten easier over the semester, so dare we hope that there wasn’t going to be a final? The door opened and Dr. Katt, the division chair, walked in and stood before us. As he looked us over, swallowed hard, and managed to not look any of us in the eye, we all knew something was wrong. He told us, in a hushed voice, that Professor Lehman had suffered a heart attack the night before. He was alive and expected to live, but was not in good shape. Dr. Katt would be giving us our final.

A few weeks later when the spring semester started, I walked into my first Professor Lehman course of the semester and found a stranger for a professor; he announced the Professor Lehman was out for the semester to heal and would not be back until the next year. I was crushed -- no more Professor Lehman; this man was my nemesis in that he made class incredibly difficult, but he was my sage, knowledgeable professor who taught me so much. While I was excited to realize that this might mean that my final semester would be easier, I was broken-hearted that I wouldn’t be learning from such a great mind. In the end, the two courses I completed that semester, which were supposed to be taught by Lehman, were taught by two stellar professors and I look back on those memories fondly. I learned a lot from both professors and have one of my best collegiate classroom memories from Advanced Public Speaking, taught by Dr. Joseph Rosillion.

So, why the long soliloquy on Professor Lehman – the gruff, old, stubborn professor? I learned this morning that he passed away on Friday and I’m overcome by a huge sense of sadness. When I first learned of his death (posted by Roger Heineken on facebook, for those of you ESU’ers who remember Roger), I sat in my office with tears in my eyes. Even though I knew that his health most likely wasn’t great, especially because of the heart attack, he somehow seemed like the giant who would live forever. ESU will not be the same without him. Professor Lehman, if you’re somewhere that you can read this, thank you. Thank you for helping make me the communications professional I am today. The future students of ESU truly never will know what they missed out on without you.