it's time to draw

There's only so much one person can do, and there are only so many people in a small town. Subtract the number of people who have a computer, subtract further those who know how to network a computer, and then divide that by the number of people who understand the Mac, and its creative capabilities - in a school with less than 550 students. Then cut the budget by half, because the enrollment is down at the lower grades, so six teachers will be jobless next year.

Tech support needs support. That's a dangerous situation to be in... for the techies, for the teachers, and the students are just not understanding how much they're getting shafted. They're too busy lurking on Myspace - but not in my classroom!

Sometimes, when I see the paycheck and realize that both of us teaching here nets only 600 a month more than just hubby teaching in California... and that 600 and more goes to pay for daycare... ; when the expectations on teachers go beyond what is expected in any other larger school; ... when it takes six weeks to get an hour-long tech job near completion - but not complete; when both cars die in the heat; ...I wonder if it's worth the move. Nevermind the vapid absence of creativity.

I have not yet made up my mind. I just don't have enough information to decide yet.

This is a strange place, indeed.

personal time

Hubby and I are taking a personal day, and boy do we need it. Time needs to be taken just to be a person. Personal Days. :-)

I have no idea where the day will take us. I'm afraid it will end too soon - but I am elated we're taking a day away from everything that is demanded of us. This is wonderful.

Amidst all the demands, the muse has decided to visit. She is just beyond my reach - like a word on the tip of the tongue. I find myself reaching out for the charcoal and pastels, but held back by the reality of time and demands. This is a fortunate problem. I like to marinade in ideas, and flesh some things out in my head when there are too many ideas flooding forth. I know that once I'm ready, I'll draw, paint, and build as if I were consumed by the drive to do so.

It's a great feeling. I'm beginning to see the spark in others, in my students, and I'm seeing with that sense of wonder and imagination.

Now for a bubble bath, painted toenails, a sketch or two, and time to be a person.

a new direction - east!

I survived and conquered the California Credential dragon, and in the interests of my family's safety and well-being, we have fled the ghetto. My credentials were reciprocated here in Arizona, and we found a nice small town to teach in, and a dinky town right next to it to live in.

We're almost three months immersed in our new environment. Culture shock is an understatement. It's more like I've been stunned. I miss my "'hood rats". I miss all my friends who represent all corners of the globe, and all speak more then one language. Some of the things that I miss really surprised me. I absolutely miss being around people in the paint department at The Home Depot who know what gesso is.

The nearest art supply store is 50 miles away. The next-bigger one is 100 miles.

My VW (with original aircooled engine) has succumbed to the Arid-zona summer, blowing out 2 cylinders. And I left a HUGE VW community. Anyone with a VW understands - yet the air-heads are hard to find out here.

I'm a fish in the desert, without a bicycle - yet.