Wednesday, October 31, 2007

This information supports...

...some of why my kids don't and won't go to public school. Somewhere down the line I think we lost reading, math, spelling, science, etc. for crap that has nothing to do with academics.


The public school teacher convention is going on and here are some of the workshops they are offering:

"The Unbearable Whiteness of Being: Dismantling White Privilege and Supporting Anti-Racist Education in Our Classrooms and Schools." Designed to help educators identify and deconstruct their own white privilege and in so doing more deeply commit themselves to anti-racist teaching and critical multicultural teaching.

"Talking About Religious Oppression and Unpacking Christian Privilege." Will examine the dynamics of Christian privilege and oppression of minority religious groups and nonbelievers as constructed and maintained on three distinct levels: individual, institutional and societal. God help us .. now there's not only white privilege, but Christian privilege as well.

"Beyond Celebrating Diversity: Teaching Teachers How to be Critical Multicultural Educators." This session will start from the premise that multiculturalism's greatest danger "comes from educators who ostensibly support its goals, but whose work - cultural plunges, food fairs, etc. - reflects a compassionate conservative consciousness rather than social justice. This session focuses on preparing teachers, not for celebrating diversity, but for achieving justice in schools and society."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.multicultural30oct30,0,4084309.story

How about worrying about students learning the basics and learning them well. Gee, I guess that's not what's important in school anymore.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

My lose is heaven's gain.

Grandma Overstreet passed away last night around 1 am. I had even been called last night by my sister to tell me I probably had a week or two to get back down. I heard the answering machine and my Dad said to call him when I got the message. I ran downstairs to get the phone, but I knew.

Please pray as my family mourns this lose. She needed to go and she is in a better place.

The show is over.

The musical closed Sunday. It was fun, but I really miss the many new friends I've made. John Durrill of the 60's band The Five American's was soooo fun to work with. I danced, I sang, I was embarrassed by one of my costumes, heck I even cartwheeled over a guys legs (thanks for not dropping me Nathan). If you want to see pics you can go to my myspace page (linked to the side and check the album of back stage pictures and cast party photos).

It was nice to return to the stage after 10 years. I won't make the mistake of taking that long again.

G.I. Joe

This article is frustrating, but inspiring. Read it all.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Production Week

Well, I will apologize for lack of posts and responses to e-mails. Life should be back to normal shortly. Our musical runs 2 shows. One Saturday at 7pm and one Sunday at 3pm. Wish us luck...oh, wait tell us to break a leg. lol

We had our first rehearsal on stage tonight. We have been practicing on the 9th floor of the state college here in town. Today we had our first tech rehearsal (setting the lights, BIG props, etc.). What will take less then 3 hours for the show, that has taken slightly longer then 3 hours in rehearsal took 5 1/4 hours (3 to 8:15). I thought I would be home before J and the kids got home from church, but I was about 45 minutes behind them. I had planned on making dinner and having it ready for them. I felt terrible about that.

I will try to post pics and maybe some blackmail worthy rehearsal video from my new camera.

Thankfully the choreographer will be back tomorrow night (she was gone ALL of last week), so my dance captain duties are over. I must have faked it well to make dance captain, b/c I am not a dancer.

Friday, October 05, 2007

And the hits keep coming.

It's been quite a day.

Updates. Jonathan's Great Aunt Marie, passed away this morning, she had a heart attack. My grandmother is in a nursing home down the street from her apartment so grandpa is close by.

The FedEx man paid me a visit and brought me Snappy Jr. I took some pictures and then I put the battery on the charger. Here are the first 4 pictures. I could have taken better ones, but I wanted the 1st four pictures to not be deleted and used in this post. So here are my lovely children.

Victoria has lost 2 teeth. I'll take a better picture later I promise Mom.

Jackson playing in the office. I love those blue eyes.
Owen is almost walking, but he climb better then Alex. He also loves shoes.


Big Al loves unplugging the monitor so it's never on when I need it. He runs now.



Thanks again Wai for the recommendation. I am impressed with this camera.
Thanks again for all of your prayers and I hope you have a safe and wonderful weekend.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Grandma O.

Okay, here is a better bit of information. I was in a hurry when I posted the last one.

Last week Grandma was taken to the hospital because of dehydration and a bladder infection. They had been struggling with keeping her electrolyte levels up and gave her some blood because her blood counts were low. On Sunday afternoon I had been told that Grandma would probably be released Monday and put in rehabilitation care before going home.

Sunday night I received another call from my Dad. He had just driven back to Texas from Norman and seeing his mom. They determined she has intestinal bleeding, probably from a tear. After talking to 3 doctors the same information was given. To do the colonoscopy she would have to be flushed, which would drop her electrolytes, which she can't keep up anyway. If surgery was needed putting her under anesthetic would cause her to go into cardiac arrest. The electrolytes are what keeps your heart going and hers would be too low. The options were to go ahead and try and let her die on the table (something she expressed earlier in life she would rather not go through) or to let her go into hospice and let her go that way. The decision for hospice has been made. Blood transfusions have been stopped, but electrolytes are still being give and she is on a full liquid diet. On top of the above issues Grandma is also diabetic and has mild dementia. There is a lot that needs cared for.

Dad and I both drove to Norman on Monday. Dad is still there and we came back late yesterday afternoon. It was hard knowing this is goodbye. Victoria sang "God Bless America" to her and recited her memory verse for the week. Jackson was sweet and wild. The babies were just sweet. I got the chance to hold Grandma's hand and pray with her. I broke down more then once last night at musical rehearsal, but I kept going.

Please keep my family and the people helping us in your prayers. Everything is a bit strange. It's hard knowing what the outcome will be. We haven't lost anyone in dad's family since Aunt Karen when I was 9.

On a positive note, grandma was on the same floor as the women's and children's center at Norman Regional. I got to take the twins down to the NICU to see their nurses. It's hard to believe that 15 months ago my boys were hooked to machines and being primarily cared for by women who weren't related to them. The NICU was home for 2 1/2 weeks. It was nice to go back and say, "Hey, thanks again." They couldn't believe how big they are.

Monday, October 01, 2007

We're off.

My Grandma O isn't well and is in the hospital. Things don't look good right now, but we'll see.

Please pray for my Grandmother, Grandfather, the Doctors and the rest of my family.