i hope you all have a

happy holiday.

self-portrait tuesday: peace-out 2005

second week of v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n!

i need to relax.
lay on the sofa for a day
and watch movies and
try to kick this
cold that has been
trying to take over my lungs.

i wonder what the shorties are doing.
i see each face and try to picture
how their christmas was.
how their break is going.
i miss them.

looking at the pictures
from december,
i am so proud of how
far they have come since
the beginning of third grade.
now we are halfway through fourth and
they are truly embracing
our only class rule:
"we take care of each other".

they worked so hard together
to learn "o little town of bethlehem"
in spanish.
they worked even harder to perform it
in a round.

we filled our pinata and whacked at it
until it exploded everywhere.
and they shared.
they actually offered candy to one another
rather than greedily stuffing their
pockets.

we made tacos and they all waited until
everyone (including me) was seated with their
food and ready to eat.
that takes willpower for a ten year old!

we practiced our sign language song
with a passion.
each child worked on their part until
each movement was perfect.


they have grown to value peace.
to value friendship.
to really understand their part in
a peaceful community.

i know that i have to teach them
academically, too.
but if you can't get the peace-thing
down...then none of the rest matters.

but my shorties...they have it all down.

have a peaceful new year.
everyone.

december challenge: reflective surfaces.

self portrait tuesday

ms. kathleen's photos

jingle all the way

walking in a winter wonderland

i went to see mike errico in new york on wednesday.
the city was so quiet with the absence of busses and the subway rumble.

i walked from penn station to the village, where i spent hours walking around, people watching and taking photographs.

i overheard someone talking on her phone while walking down bleeker street,
"i have been shopping all day and i only got a present for lorna," she whined, "and then i talked to greg and HE got her a BIG present. so now i am going to have to give her cash, too! god...this christmas is killing me!"

i just don't get that whole scene.
it is just ugly.

the other conversations i heard were at the corners while waiting to cross.
"i had to walk 80 blocks to get to work! and it is going to be hell getting back"
"i walked for an hour and a half. it was a workout! i am not even going to the gym today"
i heard a story about a girl who walked for two hours. upon reflection she said,
"that is how long it takes me on the subway. maybe i should walk every day!"

there were skateboarders, rollerbladers and bikers scattered among the walkers.
and i was there, too.
it was a beautiful first day of winter in the big apple!

self portrait tuesday - empty hall syndrome

the shorties are gone.
the halls echo with the
whirring of the floor polisher.
christmas decorations will have to come down
before we come back in january.

"when you come back,
KNOW your multiplication tables!"
yeah right.
"practice figuring out elapsed time!"
i'm sure they are doin' it right now.

watch t.v. all day?
not my shorties!
buy as much junk food at the
corner store as their piggy-bank
chang will allow and eat it all
'til they're green?
nope. no way.

yesterday, we had our
meeting where the staff
reflects over the last session.
it is always intense and emotional
as we discuss
what is working, what is not?
who is in critical need of help?
what can we do?
what philosophies should we follow?
are we staying true to our mission?

when i went to leave
with all of my bags and books,
a group of shorties were there.
"ms. kath-A-leeeeeeeeeeeeen!"
it's only been since
last friday that i saw them.
they acted like it had been forever.
and, even though i need this break,
it had been.

i am officially a teacher on vacation.


december challenge: reflective surfaces
selfportraittuesday.blogspot.com/

how flakey can you get?

this is out of control.
i spent an hour, last night, making virtual paper snowflakes.
check it out!
(and thanks, cousin suzie for getting me hooked!)

happy winter!

another round

we are not pregnant.

"your results came back negative.
call us on day one of your next cycle".

that's it. period.

sitting in my classroom,
the shorties gone home to start their winter break,
those words wrapped around
all of my sadness, anger, frustration and grief.

paul and i are going to eat sushi and drink champagne
when he gets off work tonight.
if i can't be pregnant, then i will indulge in
what i can't have when i am pregnant.

so this weekend calls for:
hot baths.
running until i am spent.
bourbon in my eggnog.
dancing until the morning with my friends.

i have hope.

SPT 12/13/05 december challenge: reflective surfaces

this is a picture of me in fourth grade.
i always say, to the shorties, when they are trying
to fool me,
"please don't act like i was never in fourth grade...
i know ALL the tricks!"
and they roll their eyes as i put my hand on my hips
and try to show as much attitude
as i can muster.
and then we all laugh at what a dork i am.

this is the time of year that is
the most exciting for children.
i remember being in fourth grade.
i still believed in santa
but was afraid to tell my friends
cuz i knew they would tease me.
i had no proof.
only faith.

the children cannot focus.
can't sit stop wiggling.
and who blames them?
there is WAY too much going on
in their creative minds!

so i take a deep breath.
plan to jump around a lot.
and am thankful that i have them
to make me smile so much.

most importantly, i remember
their strong faith in
everything that has to do with the
magic of christmas.
and i know that life is
truly good.

selfportraittuesday.blogspot.com/

seven days

i got the call.
"ms. mccullough...we need you to take the blood test NEXT friday.
this week was too soon."
i explained that the lab slip said to go today.
"yes...i know...but it is too soon. we will need you to go again in seven days".
i am going to get my doctor a calendar for christmas.
doesn't he know he is dealing with
an intensely emotional person here?
argh!

deep breathing.
i will go to yoga tomorrow.
i will get ready for the holidays.
i will drink tea and write my christmas cards.

second by second, i will get through the next seven days.

stillness

it is 3:30 in the morning and i cannot sleep.

it is absolutely still and quiet on the streets
as the sky tucks in a thick blanket of snow over baltimore.
if i close my eyes i can pretend that i am in the mountains
where there is only animal traffic.

my first snow day.
i can imagine the shorties excited faces when they wake up
and realize the freedom of the day before them!

in a few hours, i will go have my blood taken.
by the end of the day, i will know
elation for the small being growing inside my belly
or disappointment of another month
not having concieved.

i keep imagining that the snow is mother nature's
way of wrapping me in a thick, safe blanket
to nurture me regardless of the results i get today.
there is a reason for this snow day.

self-portrait tuesday 12/05

december challenge: reflective surfaces

this picture was a complete mistake.
i accidentally had the zoom on when i released the shutter, but it turned out to be one of my favorite pictures from this trip.
this is my best friend, keno.
he was my inspiration to start photographing.
this picture, to me, is stellar because it is
obvious how much i simply adore him.
i love the reflection in his glasses.
we laugh immensely when we are together, drink way too much coffee, and chat about everything from plaid patterns to banana creme pie.

flakes

okay.
so it wasn't a blizzard.
it wasn't even enough to get excited about a possible snow day.
but it was enough to ditch the classroom and run outside !
happy winter everybody!