Latest Project-"Uplifting" or "Rising"?

I admit, I had very little to do with the latest addition to the middle school campus. I have no aptitude for painting, and I'm not a fan of working outdoors in 104 degree heat. However, Jeff would not be deterred. He forced me to endure a little of both. His goal was to create art that would remind students to rise above the status quo. He has also been on a "wing" kick since returning from Italy.

The clouds are whiteboard cut-outs. Provided the messages remain encouraging and positive, we expect that students will be allowed to make contributions throughout the year. Here's "El Jefe".

Wildlife Week

It's been a busy week in our courtyard. We don't have sharks, bears, or cormorants...but we do have wild dogs and mid-sized feral pigs. Happily, the coyote snacked on some ground squirrels.

Welcome back...

Prior to the start of school, I decided to do a bit of cleaning in my classroom. I found these guys hanging out underneath a bookshelf.

Remember kids, always wear leather gloves!

Yes, tonight I think I'll have...

the Fuuuusion. Thank you.

Hold on to yer hats...

Real live video...that's right--movin', breathin' action shots. Liddy girded her loins (ewwww) and plucked up the courage to do some water-skiing. With the proper coaching from her father, nephew, and husband she managed this...



She wasn't done, however. Oh, no. This two-time DCHS Athlete of the Year wasn't going to let something like "sore muscles" or "inexperience" stop her.




Boo ya.

Magic Dancing

Every summer we take our drive around the Leelanau peninsula. We usually start the day with the donuts from the Crescent Bakery in downtown Frankfort.

The really amazing part of the day was when Liddy did the legendary "Feather Dance". We were touring around the Grand Traverse lighthouse and, out of nowhere, a magical feather fell in front of Liddy. She seized the opportunity to perform the sacred ritual.




To really appreciate this beautiful event, you really have to scroll through the pictures quickly. Enjoy.

Movie Night

Pita, goat cheese, popcorn (buttered and caramel), and Mr. Bean. Rock on, party people.

A good time was had by all...

Being a good father and uncle--Dave and I decided to take the kids out for a short trip around Portage Lake. Things started well.
Kate was excited.

Ben was content with his refreshing beverage.

Nick had been bribed with the prospect of ice cream.

Dave made plans for pirate attacks.

We left the marina--the sun on our faces, the wind in our hair, and the sails were full.  Well, perhaps there was a bit too much wind in the hair...Kate took a moment to thoughtfully consider her circumstances.

Ultimately, she decided she was not a big fan of the conditions...or sailing.

Perhaps next summer will go better.

Sadly, no 4x4 on the Civic

We've both arrived in Michigan and made our way north. Unfortunately, our road condition report was a bit inaccurate. This used to be the 'back way' to travel between Pentwater and Onekama. Stupid rain.

Wait a minute...

So, I was supposed to help my father-in-law do some packing early this morning. I went out to the truck at 7:15-unlocked the driver door...and said,"This doesn't look right..."




So, I checked the other side and sure enough...something wasn't quite right.


Then, I figured out what was wrong with the truck...

There was a 35 pound rock inside. So, I started to look around the truck because I didn't really think that a 35 pound rock could conceive of the idea to steal the truck all on its own. Then, I found the rock's accomplice.


Bastard...bastard in ecco shoes. Aren't those "old-man shoes". Ha, the loser has reeeallly bad taste in footwear.

We have a new home.

We finally did it. We needed a summer cottage. A nice little place of respite that could calm our souls and renew our energy. So, we finally bought one.

What's that you say--"just a door"? Au contraire!




That is our new little best friend. A 6500 btu Frigidaire. We now have a new living/dinning/bedroom to decorate.

Tucson Sidewinders

Minor league baseball on a Thursday night?  Staying out past 9 pm?  Well...the school year must be over!  We watched the Tucson Sidewinders out-hustle, out-play, and out-class the Las Vegas 51s in a 4-1 stomping. 


Our friends, Heather and Noah, couldn't resist the siren song of AAA baseball.


Disclaimer: Liddy hates the last photo. I'm posting it despite strong protest at home.

Hmmm

Liddy doesn't think this is worth posting...or she thought posting it would make me look crazy. These feet were next to us during the ball game. Seriously...look at the disparity in toe length! The tip of the pinky toe compared to the others?! I'm not crazy....I don't have a weird fetish...how could someone not notice those toes?

How could I forget?

Office Depot had a booth outside the ballpark with the Guinness World Record holding rubber band ball. We passed on the opportunity to have our picture taken with it. I'll live with regret for the rest of my life. However, as a consolation, the good folks of Office Depot passed around small rubber band balls to just about everyone in attendance.

Liddy was pretty excited.

Noah? Not so much.

Update on the mosaics

We've finished the grout work on our mosaic/planter. Well, we actually finished slopping the grout all over the tile. The work of actually buffing all the excess off of the surface isn't quite "there" yet. But, not too bad for a bunch of seventh graders.

 

I swear this thing jumped at me!@!1!!!!!

I hate spiders. Hate hate hate with the burning passion of a million suns. Hate hate hate. I discovered this horror while grading essays at the kitchen table. It was on the wall across from me. After taking the photos I went to swat it with a flip-flop. I would have used a 16 foot 2x4 if one had been available. Anyway, when the sandal was about an inch over this monster it JUMPED (NOT "FELL"--LITERALLY JUMPED!!!!!!) off the wall in an attempt to evade death. I have no doubt that it was a last ditch attempt to jump on my face and kill me. Hate hate hate

Rome Day

Not much news to report, but I'm trying to stay in a routine. So, I'm forced to report on events at school. Not too exciting.
     We (the Latin and History classes) celebrated Rome Day last week to commemorate the 2,761st birthday of Rome's founding by Romulus. In celebration, my students planted a Roman garden near the Latin and History classrooms. Also, they covered a concrete planter with mosaics. Here's the progress:

Here's Acestes the archer and the wolfhead.  Below are the mosaics of the Colosseum and Trojan Horse.  

At long last

Our sabbatical from blogging must end. When an obsessive-compulsive culinary epicurean (who happens to moonlight as a pediatrician and mother of three) begins to mock the dearth of postings on Danandliddy, something needs to change. We'll have to start with something light and easy. Our new laptop has a built-in camera. What could be easier than a self-portrait?

Happy now, cupcake lady?