Downtown Durham April 10, 2019Photo by Jim Rogalski Just exactly what is courage and where does it come from? Are we trained to act courageously? Is it instinct? Are we taught courage? How do we know whether or not we are courageous? I have my own thoughts about it, but first I would like to …
Category: friends
Needs vs Wants
Princess rotary dial phone: image courtesy of http://www.pinterest.com When I teach the French expressions for "I need" and "I want" (j'ai besoin et j'ai envie), to make it more concrete we make lists. As concrete as possible works best for 7th graders. I do indeed ask them if their parents have explained the difference between …
Just because
It's been one of those days. I woke up with a stuffed up head and a few aches. I put my tights on backwards, peeled them back off and put them on again. Had an early morning meeting so not much time for coffee or breakfast. Or even checking emails. Managed to spill half a …
One day at a time
Today a very dear friend of mine taught me a very valuable lesson. She probably won't take credit for it. That's just how she is. We have taught together for 30+ years. We can finish each other's sentences. Kind of like an old married couple. We sponsor a club for 7th and 8th grade girls at …
126,662 steps/ 55.1 miles
These New Balance cross trainers were made for walking... And that's just what they did. For six full days in Paris. Wednesday with Ghislaine (21,017 steps, 9.3 miles). It's no wonder that I have a sore muscle (or something) around my left ankle. No blisters, though, I am happy to report. One sore toenail, but …
The Banana’s Baking Adventure
Meet The Banana. She is Pretend Daughter #1's daughter. So, that must make her my Pretend Granddaughter #1, right? Maybe that is too much math for my brain on a Sunday morning. Pretend Daughter #1 and I go way back. She arrived in my beginning French class somewhere around 1991 or 1992 (more math). She …
Black diamonds
This is a trip back in time. Back to December 4, 2008, to be exact. I am not sure why I woke up thinking about this adventure while I was on sabbatical. Coincidence? Who knows. But what I do know is that once I pulled up this blog entry, I was transported back to the …
Casseroles and cakes
When there is a death in the family of a friend, Southerners head to the kitchen. We don an apron and heat up the oven. We get out the cast iron skillet, casserole dishes and cake pans. We need to feel useful and we know that there will be people who need to be fed. …
Give thanks
I am thankful for so many people and things. I have a good life. As I was stirring up biscuits for breakfast this morning, I started a list in my head. A: animals, Arles, apples, art, Aaron, Amelia, Andy, Appalachian Mountains, Abby, airplanes, Alex, adjectives, adventures B: Bertie, butter, bacon, baguettes, buttermilk biscuits, bluegrass music …
My friend, The Geezer
I read this book several years ago and fell in love with it. When I pitched my own (still unfinished) book to Algonquin, I was asked if I had read French Dirt. Oui. A couple of times. Little did I know that a few years later I would be introduced to Richard Goodman through a mutual friend, Jo Maeder, albeit …
the sabbatical chef 