My Curious Job

Sadly, the recession has swept my library aide away in its wake and I'm going to need help this year to be able to stay on top of everything that needs to happen daily in the library. One of my childhood friends emailed me the other day and said there was an announcement made at church that help was needed at my school, including in the library. Knowing that I'm the library teacher, she emailed me and said she'd be willing to help for about an hour a week but she'd have to be careful about not missing too much work lest they think she is dispensable. In other words, she didn't want to jeopardize her own job in helping me with my job.

What a curious job I have. We teachers ask other people to leave their own jobs and other responsibilities to come and help us. When have I ever come and helped any of you do YOUR jobs? When have you ever asked me? I know one of my sisters-in-law has helped out in her son's school library. And many of you moms have probably helped with class parties at school, substituted, helped cut out things, put up bulletin boards, helped in class during centers or rotations, or in a myriad of other ways. But have you ever asked your children's teachers to help you out with your job?

I'm grateful for the thousands of adults who are willing to volunteer to make sure that schools are successful...especially since I am personally the recipient of that help. But I still think it's rather strange that mine is possibly one of the only jobs where people will leave their own jobs to come and help me do mine! It makes me think that schools are underfunded but people REFUSE to let them fail because of the lack of funding and are willing to step up and fill in the holes. People are amazing!

Seattle vs. FREE Utilities

I replaced 4 sprinkler heads today (dad would be proud of me!) because the inevitable is coming...dastardly hot days. I've heard many people complaining that Salt Lake is beginning to look and feel more like Seattle with all the rain we've had in the past few weeks.

When was the last time you saw my lawn so green? Thank you, Heavenly Father, for watering my lawn! Notice anything missing in the back...like a BILLION tomato plants and corn that should be knee-high by now? There ARE 4 plants in the garden, but not on the grand scale this yard is used to seeing.

My take on this rainy season is not "this is WAY too much rain" and "when will this ever end?". I look at it as FREE UTILITIES!!! Have you looked at your water bill compared to last year's? Way down! How about your electricity bill? Way down! No A/C needed yet. In fact, I just plain turned my furnace and A/C off about a month ago and haven't paid for the use of either one. I'd be good with this weather most of the summer. But alas, the smothering heat is on its way. Never fear, I'm prepared...

Just an FYI: this site http://wildlife.utah.gov/peregrine/ has a webcam on the 2 juvenile peregrine falcons that are supposedly going to "fly the coop" any day starting June 30. They're fun to watch!

Connecting

I went to a barn dance this weekend in Hooper. It was a blast!


EVERYONE got involved-old, young, VERY young, moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, youth, dancers, non-dancers-stomping around out in the dirt-packed arena, twirling together and LOVIN' IT!

People gathering together to spend a Saturday evening of good, clean, country-style fun. Lots of good food, dancing, and sitting around shootin' the breeze with friends and neighbors.

Yes, it was a real barn with real horses.

And don't forget the "horse races" for the little buckaroos on their stick ponies.
As my friend and I drove back to the big city, we were thinking about how this kind of old-fashioned get-together makes people feel so much more connected than the way we tend to connect with each other today...electronically. It's kind of like the old-fashioned way that city folk used to get together on their porches in the evenings. I'll take a barn dance or porch sittin' any day over Facebook, emails, Twitter, or even blogs (like THIS one!)