https://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?32568-title The largest classic literature discussion forum on the Internet. Read Write Teach Share. en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:56:24 GMT vBulletin 10 https://www.online-literature.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg https://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?32568-title https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?11227-Yeah-I-m-a-rock-star Sun, 12 Dec 2010 21:44:07 GMT I have discovered that being a teacher is much like being a rock star. When I go out I'm chicken pecked with excited "Mrs. Arnold! Mrs. Arnold! Over here!"

What can I say? I don't blame them for being excited :cool: ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?11227-Yeah-I-m-a-rock-star https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?11176-I-now-know-why Mon, 15 Nov 2010 02:58:32 GMT working women stop after two children. My job is really kicking my rear. I love it and hate it. tonight I'm more hating it than loving it. I'm ready for a break. 7 school days 'til Thanksgiving.

I miss being here and visiting with my good cyber friends. I don't know how to juggle my responsiblities.

I looked to see who was on line tonight and only recognized two names.

In addition to everything else that's going on, I'm having a little procedure a week from Wednesday that will render some of my female organs ... well, dead. I wasn't having anymore children and I have constant problems, so it's a good thing. I'm excited to get some work done, but dread being knocked out for it. Maybe I'll get to log on during my recovery. I do miss being here. ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?11176-I-now-know-why https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10588-Ajigaba!! Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:52:57 GMT Mason made up a magic word, AJIGABA. It's been my very favorite word. He uses this word to stop me from telling him to do something. If he says it with just the right magical flair it works. It cracks me up and I forget what I'm telling him to do. Since Mason has had such great success with this magic word we have all taken to using it. If the kids are fighting I can do a fancy ajigaba and they stop. I think it would work for you, too, but you'd have to master the magical flair delivery.

However, there is one problem with the word. Last weekend I finished a book called The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. I learned that there is a similar sounding bad word, jigaboo. If, like me, you are unfamiliar with the word it akin to nigger. This knowledge has really effected my use of the magic word.

Mason is unfamiliar with the bad word and I don't want to tell him about it. We have a long list of bad words at our house that range from shut-up and stupid all the way up to curse words. I don't have a problem explaining how we don't use certain words. I just don't want to explain to my seven year old son that people are nasty to others and that can make innocent things appear bad.

It makes me sad that there is so much hatefulness in the world. ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10588-Ajigaba!! https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10495-I-saw-my-new-classroom-today Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:16:05 GMT It's the first time I've been in it. I'm very excited to have everything I need. I'm ready to get to work! ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10495-I-saw-my-new-classroom-today https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10415-Graduation-Part-2 Tue, 18 May 2010 16:37:16 GMT I graduated from Arkansas Tech University at Russellville. It was mandatory that I participate in the ceremony. We left the house at 9am and... I graduated from Arkansas Tech University at Russellville. It was mandatory that I participate in the ceremony. We left the house at 9am and didn't get home until 6pm. It was a long boring day. Russellville is about 90 miles from my house, but it's a very curvy road. Mason got car sick on the way there, but we know to take an ice cream bucket or coffee can when we travel. They all slept on the way home. I was worried about the kids being restless in the stands. My folks weren't able to come because of Mom's illness so my husband had them on his own.

We ate out twice and that was fun. I can't believe how much the kids ate at lunch! We all ordered kids meals for dinner and the kids weren't able to finish theirs.

I graduated Cum Laude, even though I have to look up how to spell it every time. I was .008 away from Magna Cum Laude. I should be proud but I keep thinking how just a little extra push would have been enough to get me there. I had a fancy gold cord that I was really proud of. The kids were well behaved and when I looked at my husband sitting in the stands I could see that he was very proud of me. I had to stop looking at him or I would have cried.



4 ½ years behind me. That's nearly all of little Max's life. He's so happy that I'm done with homework.

I came to lit net to see what people had to say about the things I was reading for school. It was helpful, but not really that much. Mostly I found lit net to be friendly. There are many of you that I feel like I know personally even though we are just cyber friends. Sometimes I feel silly when I talk about one of you as if you are my neighbor. I love you guys. Many of you have been so supportive of me during the difficulties I've face balancing family and college. I appreciate every kind and encouraging word. ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10415-Graduation-Part-2 https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10408-backward-graduation-weekend-part-1 Sun, 16 May 2010 20:01:32 GMT I started this Friday, but there was a storm and I lost it when the power went out. Now I think I'll do this in parts like my friend Rich :)

I've been crying all week. I finished college and Graduation was Saturday. I keep thinking about the sacrifice that my family has made. It's not the big things, but all of the little things. I tried to stay on top of motherhood and school work, but I always felt like everything depended on my performance. I felt like I was juggling sharp objects while standing on a ball. If I had messed that up I would have been left holding nothing. I think it's been hard on my family. But, I'm sure we will all enjoy the money come fall :) I just hope that the sacrifice wasn't greater than the income. None of us place a huge value on money, but it will be nice to have some.

My mom has bronchitis again, and is in the hospital. She went from work to the ER on Friday and was admitted. I think she'll come home today, but I also thought she would go home yesterday. She'll be fine, and she hasn't had a cigarette since last Sunday.

Bailey wanted to go hang out at the coffee shop with her friends, one of whom is a love interest. I needed to get groceries and go see my mom at the hospital she she was allowed to visit while I took care of these things. When I got to the hospital my mom was asleep on her side in her hospital gown giving me a nice view of her back. To my surprise she has a tattoo on her shoulder! She and dad had talked about getting matching tats, but I didn't think they really would. Well, they did. I'm not being judgmental here, I just don't like them. It's fine with me if you have one and I hope you always love it. I can't tell you how I felt in that moment when I saw her tattoo. I guess I felt backwards. I think that it's usually the parents shocked by the child's tattoo, not the other way around. Anyway, the color was so bright and pretty. They looked like they would smear. When I touched them I was kind of surprised that they felt like regular skin. I went to school with the guy who did them. He was such a stoner, but a nice guy.

Bailey called while I was there to check in. She was listening to a Cat Stevens record and having a good time. She's such a good girl.

After getting groceries I went to get Bailey. I had NPR on the radio and Pink Floyd was playing and I enjoyed it. Again I had this backward feeling. My parents got matching tattoos, my 15 year old daughter was listening to Cat Stevens, and I still knew the words to Pigs on the Wing. ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10408-backward-graduation-weekend-part-1 https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9564-placement Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:33:45 GMT I have been placed for my student teaching. I will be in a second grade class and the teacher is a friend of mine. I did not request her, but I was... I have been placed for my student teaching. I will be in a second grade class and the teacher is a friend of mine. I did not request her, but I was praying that I would be placed with her. She's very knowledgeable and I believe that I will learn a lot from her.

I start three weeks from today.:alien:

The week before I begin I plan to get some help making a making a resume. I have such limited work experience so I don't know what to do with it. I've had one job in the past ten years. I hate to put down that I waited tables in 1989 but I'll have to go way way back to find some work experience. I'm sure they will be able to help me, though. I'm getting letters of recommendation together. Maybe I should get a professional picture made to go along with the resume. After getting my test scores and a great placement I feel very confident about finding work and things going well.

My only concerns are with managing family responsibilities. I'm worried about being late to pick the kids up from school, but I think Bailey and I can work together on that. I'm worried about cooking and cleaning and taking care of those kinds of things. I'm doing good to get everything done as it is and I'm home most days. We'll see how it goes. ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9564-placement https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9520-teacher-blog-praxis-results Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:14:19 GMT I've been putting off this blog, the next about becoming a teacher. I had to take a big test last month and I have to pass it before I can begin my student teaching. I mentioned that I have test anxiety so I've been really concerned.

On test day I left the house three hours early to drive the half hour to the community college that is the testing center. I didn't want have to worry about having a flat or being late. I stopped at wal-mart and then I read a book in the parking lot until it was time to go in. They placed me in the back row and my best friend in the row just in front of me and slightly to my left. It's a two hour test and you can't leave until the two hours is up no matter how early you finish. You are also not allowed to read or entertain yourself in anyway once you have finished. I was able to see where my friend was on her answer sheet and she was about five questions ahead of me through out the test. I couldn't see her answers, just where she was on the answer sheet. The test was not so bad. I finished with nearly an hour to spare. I felt really good about the test and I decided not to even look back over the answers.

So I tap my toe...

I look around, but not too much so as to appear to be cheating...

I pray a little... well, a lot...

I decide to go the restroom and really take my time about it. I signal to let the test official know I'm going to the restroom. I walk real slowly. I take forever washing my hands. I get them really, really dry. I look at my teeth in the mirror. I slowly stroll back up the testing room looking at everything distracting on the way...

I sit and lotion my hands, twice, all the way up to the elbow...

I still have 40 minutes to sit there and do nothing.

When I looked up to my friend she is looking back over her answers. I decide just to look a little, but only to pass the time. Well, I changed a few answers here and there. Then I realized that I had a lot of erase marks. When I added them up I found that I had changed 10% of my answers! What have I done?! :eek2::eek: I can't believe it. I went back to the first change and start to erase thinking I'll change them all back. But, they call time and I can't.

For the past month I've prayed and worried and wondered why I went back and changed so many answers. I've been absolutely sick over it.

The test schedule says scores will be posted on the fifteenth of December, but if you want to call on the 11th they may be available if you want to pay 30 bucks. Well, I decided that I would not pay the 30 bucks.

The problem is that I have to pass the test before I can start my student teaching. The next test is three hours away and the deadline to register is the 17th. The scores for that test won't be available until the 5th of February. Student teaching begins on the 11th of January. A lot to worry about. I have to make a 157 to pass. People who score a 181 or higher receive special recognition. I didn't want to blog and admit that my score was below a 157 and I would not be able to graduate in the spring.

This morning I got an e-mail from a classmate that said she and another classmate were able to access their scores on the internet. I checked and they were not there. Then after lunch my best friend called me and told that her scores were there and she got a 183 (woohoo). She logged in as me and nothing available. I came home and checked and nothing. I'm just sick with worry and fear and hope and dread. Then I realized that I had not put all of my personal information into the computer. Once that was done I was done I got my score...

192

It's the highest score I've heard of so far.

Now I need to match my thanksgiving to my begging for a passing score. ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9520-teacher-blog-praxis-results https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9231-A-blog-about-becoming-a-teacher Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:21:22 GMT A blog about becoming a teacher

It's a little strange, almost surreal, right now. All I was ever going to be was a stay home mom. Getting an education and working toward a career is not something I imagined myself doing. I've decided to start a blog about becoming a teacher. I thought it might be interesting to tell about the things I see and experience during the next eighteen months or so. During this time I will be taking test, student teaching, becoming licensed, and going through my first year. That is if I pass a test on Saturday, a big test. If I don't pass it I won't be able to start my student teaching in the spring. The pressure is really on. People say the test is no big deal, but I have test anxiety and it's weighing on me. Sometimes I think I've learned a lot over the past four years. With only three exceptions I've been a straight A student. But, what if I'm just full of crap and I haven't really learned anything? This really could be the case. I suppose we'll find out as soon as the test results come in. ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9231-A-blog-about-becoming-a-teacher https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8710-MH-family-and-farm-update Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:34:31 GMT I really have so much to tell about that I don't even know where to start. It's been a while since I blogged about my little farm and family. We've had a busy and productive summer.

We have had very bad luck with our bunnies in the past. The babies die after just a few days. We did some research and found that our nesting boxes were too small. My husband built me some new boxes and now we have around ten babies that! They will be a week old tomorrow. I have to say that they are so cute that I'm worried about my ability to butcher them. If my husband can do the killing I can do the dressing. This is the first time I've doubted my ability to do the tough job. But, other animals are not so cute and fuzzy soft:bawling:. I'll know how it goes in another month or so. Wish me luck.

My house is really coming along:thumbs_up. This may be the most exciting news! This month we finished my office and the dining room. I spent the morning cleaning and moving furniture. My house is really amazing. In fact, it's like a magazine house. I don't have it decorated, but I just do a little at a time. This is something I've take a little flack over. We've been working on the house for nearly five years. I still have two bathrooms and trim work in the new house and I need to repaint the kitchen, reface the cabinets, and redo the bathroom in the old house. When we moved in we decided to do what we could afford as we could afford it. I'm glad we didn't take out a loan to get it done quickly. I've enjoyed the work, and the time spent working on it, and I don't have a load to pay back. It seems like everyone I know wants everything right now regardless of the debt it brings. I really hate that.

School starts a week from tomorrow. I'm very excited. I can't wait to do my best work. I've been researching different teaching methods, watching videos, reading books, trying things on my kids. It's pretty amazing! Next semester I'll do my internship and I really want to knock my socks!

My husband's job is going well. He has been out of law enforcement for just over ten years- at least on a full time basis. He's worked part time and tried to keep his hand in. It's funny because a lot has changed. When he left everything was DOS, now it's more advanced. And not just computers, all of the equipment is high tech. He's like a dinosaur. I don't know if any of you have ever been married to an investigator, but it has it's challenges. The last time he worked in CID I felt like I was constantly being interrogated:flare:. I warned him about how that happened before and how I didn't want to experience that again. So far he is managing things very well. It just has a way of polluting a person. They deal with the same people everyday, and they are the same people that he was dealing with ten years ago plus their children. A lot of what he has to see hurts his heart. I hope he doesn't have to take too many of those kinds of cases.

Out of time. Love you ~ bye :D ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8710-MH-family-and-farm-update https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8626-Lilly-Poor-but-generous Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:59:41 GMT Lilly had nine children. Rena Joe, the fourth, strongly resembled the sixth child. Before she died her kids asked about looking different than the... Lilly had nine children. Rena Joe, the fourth, strongly resembled the sixth child. Before she died her kids asked about looking different than the others. She said, “Well, that boy 'us back in town. Ya know, womens want some jus' a same as mens.” Many Lilly stories are sexual, very sexual. I would love to figure out how to go about telling them. I wish everyone could have known this lady.

Nine children means dozens of grand children. My friend, Lilly's granddaughter, is one of six children. If all nine children averaged six that would be 54 grandchildren. I know that sounds unlikely, but it's really not. Some may have had four or five, but that was made up for by others. Remember that poor farm families tend to be larger than wealthy town families, especially in times past. I always wondered how town families managed to not get pregnant. I imagine that there are other forms of entertainment in town. I know that there are large families in the city. Poverty is still the biggest influence on family size. But, back to the story.

Lilly was as poor as pauper, but she had a generous heart. She always gave each of her grandchildren a gift at Christmas. She managed this by doing most of her shopping at the city dump where things were free. Sometimes she would find a good bargain at a yard sale but mostly it was the dump. She loved to go out there. It was like treasure hunting. She would collect odds and ends all year for Christmas, or whatever other occasion or need called for stuff.

Once she gathered several partial gallons of paint, around 45 cans collected over a period of time. Her house needed painting so she just mixed all the paints together and used that to paint her house. It turned out to be an unusual, unnatural, and unsettling shade of green. She didn't mind; she was proud of the bargain.

Some of Lilly's great junk yard Christmas finds include:

a collection of assorted, unmatched tube socks
a radio shell
old 45s
twine
half a jar of green beans (I'm sure this one didn't come from the dump)
panties, some of which still had a little spring to the elastic
books and magazines
various tools
rags that she cut into quilt blocks
a little pink sweater with a bunny on it (given to a little boy, and it was just a little small)

Not all of them were bad, but nobody wants panties from the dump even if they have been boiled in lie soap. However, there was only one response to whatever gift you received. “Oh, thank you grandma Lilly, I really love/needed/wanted that.” This gratitude must be delivered with all sincerity. If you showed shock, disappointment, or disgust you could count on a whipping to remember.

When my friend's oldest sister Tammy was about 14 Grandma Lilly handed her a Christmas package and said, “Honey, you're gettin' to an age where every young girl needs one a these. Now, I found it at the dump so you'll need to take it home and boil it real good. Then it'll be jus' fine.” She opened her package and found an old douche bag. The other five children watched for Tammy's reaction with wide eyed stone faces. Tammy looked up and smiled the most grateful smile and said, “Why thank you Grandma Lilly. That'll be so useful and I didn't have one already.” ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8626-Lilly-Poor-but-generous https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8615-Lilly-a-woman-scorned Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:43:09 GMT Life was rough for Lilly as a young bride, but it was the social norm. She was subject to her husband who drank and womanized. In many cases this... Life was rough for Lilly as a young bride, but it was the social norm. She was subject to her husband who drank and womanized. In many cases this is still a social norm. The wife is not to worry with what the husband is doing. He takes care of his business and she needs to worry more with keeping the house and children. Head of the family... A woman's place... Get them young and train them up right... Yada yada yada

Henry was still handsome in his mid 30s, fair hair, bright blue eyes, and strong from farm work. He took up with another woman on a more than part time basis. Rena Joe's husband had run off two years earlier and she had been looking hard for a replacement. Divorce was unheard of in this area, but who could blame a man for taking what was offered? And didn't the story of King David justify getting a little on the side? As far as he was concerned if children had food and his farm was kept his responsibilities were satisfied. The whole town knew about the debauchery. The women privately sympathized with Lilly, but no one spoke to her about it. However, the situation did merit its fair share of gossip.

Lilly was a shapely blond of 19 when she had had her fill of knowing her place. She had three children, no money, and no resources. She did not even own pair of shoes. There was no way she could question, protest, demand, or beg. She had to be clever.

A young Native American man was in the area looking for work doing odd jobs. He would pass through about every three years, only staying long enough to earn the money to get him to his next stop. Lilly found his smooth dark skin, shiny black hair, and strong facial features attractive. She took him as a lover. By winter he was gone and Lilly was pregnant. Lilly couldn't be sure, but she felt certain who the father was. She did not share these thoughts with her husband.

The baby came in the spring. As is the custom, all the women, including Rena Joe, gathered to the house to help Lilly with the birth. She had a more difficult time with this child than she had had with her others, but at last a daughter was born. Unlike the three older towheads, this child had warm brown skin and thick black hair that stood up straight from her head. Lilly was very pleased with herself. The women stood silent looking from the dark colored baby to Lilly's smile. Finally someone asked her what they should tell Henry. Still smiling Lilly pointed her finger at Rena Joe and said, “You go out there and you tell him that her name is Rena Joe.” ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8615-Lilly-a-woman-scorned https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8608-Lilly-the-child-bride Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:03:57 GMT I'd like to tell some stories about my best friend's grandmother, but I'm afraid her family will kill me dead! This woman is unbelievable! The stories are so irresistible that I will share them with you, but I will change the names to protect myself. As you will see, no one is innocent in these stories.

I'm not a grand storyteller. I wish I could do these justice. Use your imagination- I'll just tell you the way it was told to me.

Grandma Lilly was a child during the Great Depression. Many of the best Ozark stories have roots in the depression which had such a profound effect on the people here. She was from a large family. The boys went to work for the CCC or had run off, but the girls were younger and little more than a financial burden on the family. The crops were bad and game was scarce, there was not enough to feed them.

Lilly was a beauty, but she was only ten when her father arranged for her to marry a friend of the family. One of his hunting buddies, Henry. They drank moonshine and swapped stories more than they hunted. Her mother protested, but to no avail. Her father had spoken. Henry owned his own property and was better able to feed her. Henry was 26 and liked women and drink. Lilly's mother woke her early the next morning. She had boiled her daughter's dress the night before and hung it near the fire to dry. Lilly did not question or cry as her mother washed and dressed her.

Lilly and her younger sister May hid in the barn and played with corn husk dolls that morning. They giggled about what marriage meant. Before noon her father called her to the house. Lilly stood up and handed her doll to May. May burst into tears and sobbed “Oh no, Lilly!” Lilly smiled apologetically at May and said that she didn't want to go. They embraced. Lilly's father called again and she skipped off to the house. Henry was there with the better of his hunting dogs. Henry and Lilly left together, but the hunting dog stayed behind.

This story has always struck my heart. Lilly turns out to be a strong and self determined woman. This story is sad, but the rest are shocking and funny. I just wanted everyone to know where she came from. ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8608-Lilly-the-child-bride https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8564-Family-feud Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:09:14 GMT During the Great Depression there wasn't a squirrel left in the Ozark Mountains. Squirrel is quite tasty, if you haven't had it. Small game was almost completely decimated by starving families. I know older people who still eat groundhog, which I can't imagine eating. Fortunately, there is no shortage for wildlife any longer.

I know a family, we'll call them Jones, who is still at odds with another family, whom we'll call Smith, after an unfortunate depression era instance involving a ham bone. The Jones family had a ham bone, a real prize at the time. They had used it to season their pinto beans four times. The Smith family did not have a bone to season their pinto beans. Being close friends and neighbors the Jones family decided to share with the Smiths, on the condition the bone be returned in two days time. The Smith family was so happy about the bone that they cooked a meal for the extended family. Cousins, uncles, aunts, and in-laws gathered, each contributing what they had. It turned out to be a fine meal, with potatoes, corn cakes, poke salad, and sweet milk. However, there were no pinto beans. The Smiths used the bone to season black eyed peas; it was all they had. After the meal they returned the bone to the Jones family who took it straight to the kitchen and plunked it into a pot of beans.

The beans did not turn out right. Once a bone has been used in peas it can't go back to beans without changing the flavor. It would have to forevermore be used in peas.

The Jones family confronted the Smith family about how it wasn't very neighborly to borrow a ham bone and ruin it in a pot of peas. This led to yard brawl with about twenty men and some women. There were black eyes and broken bones. For years the two families were at odds. Fist fights would break out between children in the school yard and adults in the town square. Many didn't even know why they were fighting, but knew it was a matter of family pride. To this day there is no friendship between the two families.

I wonder if Hatfields and McCoys fought for such a worthy cause? ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8564-Family-feud https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8549-changes Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:49:08 GMT We've had a great summer.

I've mentioned before that we are accomplishing so much on the house. I'm hoping to paint and floor my office at the end of this week. I'm cleaning out and going through a four year accumulation of crap and it feels so good to be organized. It makes cleaning my house easy and fun. Getting rid of the things we don't need always makes me feel good. I'm a minimalist;).

I guess it's a good thing to be. My husband accepted a new job last night that comes with a 20% cut in pay. He will continue to work at his current job for another year to make up the difference, so I'm not worried about the pay cut. He is returning to law enforcement after ten years of working a job he strongly disliked but that supported his family. I'm really happy for him. I'm also proud of him. I only know one other man who supports a family this size while his wife stays home with the children. Lord willing I'll go to work next fall and that will take the burden off of him a bit.

I've been thinking about writing down some area stories. Some are from my family, but many more are from neighbors and friends. I think they would be very entertaining. I know I enjoy them. Bailey has a work camp next week and both girls are going to Bible camp the following week. I'll type one up when I'm a little more prepared for that. ]]> motherhubbard https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8549-changes