tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143513912011-04-21T18:53:18.160-05:00Pure, unadulterated ramblings.Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1162656637935555762006-11-04T11:04:00.000-05:002006-11-04T11:18:15.203-05:00

Guess who's back? Back again. Nelly's back. Call a friend.Fourth grade part deux is coming along nicely. Aside from losing great gobs of hair over a few of my kiddies, the group as a whole is a refreshing change from last year. Of course, it always helps to have one year of experience with a particular age group. I'm starting to build friendships (yay!) at my new locale, and I feel as if life is

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1157219400392801682006-09-02T12:41:00.000-05:002006-09-02T13:31:32.703-05:00

Okay. I do realize that entering pictures from a dog show, a trip to Spain, and a breakfast with friends does not a blog make. Life got in the way for a while, but I'm back, b****!Chris is currently digging out ninety years' worth of junk from our root cellar. I'd love to say he's found something of great value which will reduce our need to work and make a living. No such luck. Much evidence of

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1153182919114464112006-07-17T19:35:00.000-05:002006-07-17T19:35:19.140-05:00

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1153064941047578972006-07-16T10:49:00.000-05:002006-07-16T10:49:01.800-05:00

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1147981341287992652006-05-18T14:36:00.000-05:002006-05-18T14:42:21.300-05:00

BarcelonaRonda

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1145486678399285922006-04-19T17:44:00.000-05:002006-04-19T17:44:38.406-05:00

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1145486351060837992006-04-19T17:39:00.000-05:002006-04-19T17:39:11.753-05:00

Bcn

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1143395742119442982006-03-26T12:55:00.000-05:002006-03-26T13:03:25.513-05:00

Detroit dog show (moblogged)

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1139777217005912092006-02-12T15:40:00.000-05:002006-02-12T15:46:57.023-05:00

What a great song, and how true!I especially disregard this day of the week when having an allergy attack. Yes, I know it's the middle of winter. Only a truly talented person can whip up an allergy problem in February. I had been participating in a self-created medical study: What would happen if I didn't take allergy medications for over a week? The results have been astounding. There appears to

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1138580581413861812006-01-29T19:14:00.000-05:002006-01-29T19:23:01.440-05:00

So it's been a month of highs and lows.Highs: a four-day trip to Toronto. For business, of course, if you can call an educational conference business. It was a great opportunity to get to know my colleagues, get re-inspired about my career, and completely break all diet rules. However, Toronto in January--not so tropical as one might think.Lows: a seemingly unworrisome bump on Patches' (the fat

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1137346986863729712006-01-15T12:35:00.000-05:002006-01-15T12:43:06.873-05:00

So, it's only mid-January, and I'm already dying for April to arrive. That's how I always view January, February, and March--they are the year's dead zones. They are the months that teach us about endurance-- about simple, animal survival. If you can make it through these months, you are rewarded in April with rainy days, muddy yards, and hope. Hope that you will someday not only see the sun, but

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1136419744072710462006-01-04T19:02:00.000-05:002006-01-04T19:09:04.080-05:00

Okay, someone please tell me this: When is the last time we saw the sun? I read today that in December (in Michigan), we typically have 36% sun exposure. This December, the number is closer to 13%. Now, I may be making up the numbers and the facts (I have been known to do both), but if it's true, I'm wondering why the murder rate hasn't gone up any more than it has! Come on! I'm actually

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1136045252470496832005-12-31T10:55:00.000-05:002005-12-31T11:07:32.493-05:00

I'm looking forward to tonight. A quiet night. My husband. A good friend. And, most assuredly, good food. Salmon, spinach, bread, rice, and pie--who can beat that! I'm looking forward to great conversation, too.I'm not looking forward to going back to work. Early mornings (who in god's name decided that the work day should begin around 8 am?), too many meetings, and the stress that comes with the

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1135375819346707192005-12-23T17:00:00.000-05:002005-12-23T17:10:19.360-05:00

I always hate thinking of a title. The whole thing implies that I have to have some sort of overall plan, theme, etc. All of it gives me an intense case of writer's block.Wow, Jenelle, you might be thinking. It looks like you've had writer's block for about, say, two weeks! I know. Where did December go? Wasn't it summer just yesterday? I'm pretty sure that it was, because I remember wearing

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1133726714440398382005-12-04T14:46:00.000-05:002005-12-04T15:05:14.450-05:00

Here's to new beginnings:*a "new" home (if 1917 can be considered new)*a "new" job (if a move from middle school to elementary school fits the criteria)*a preparation for a change of status (from four--husband/wife/two cats-- to possibly five?)It's the time of year to think about where you've been and where you're going.I'm thankful for where I'm at, and I'm excited for where I'm going.A recent

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1133232367095900772005-11-28T21:45:00.000-05:002005-11-28T21:59:25.530-05:00

I knew as they approached me that something was off--askew. The woman, in baggy sweatpants and oversized shirt, approached me with a quiet, "Excuse me, miss." I glanced up and down quickly. She wore some sort of cloth over her head--not traditional Muslim dress, but more like a chemo patient might wear. A man stood three steps behind her and let her do the speaking."I was wondering if you might

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1132187854920777702005-11-16T19:28:00.000-05:002005-11-16T19:37:34.930-05:00

Why is it that whenever you are having an incredibly deep and portentous thought, there's never anyone else around to witness your stroke of genius? I find that I have my best, most earth-shattering thoughts in the morning--the thoughts that could, say, solve world hunger and the lack of tasty Chinese takeout food. I'm usually on my way to work, so I need to squeeze in all the deep thoughts I can

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1131416371184834272005-11-07T21:09:00.000-05:002005-11-07T21:19:31.196-05:00

Okay. So I've been assured that I have "several" visitors a day by my tech-loving husband. In this case, "several" must apply to himself, cbuck, and perhaps our friend the wolfmeister. Now I love you all, but "several" views a day by loyal, tech-loving friends does not a popular blog make. Sigh.Perhaps if I actually updated the site once in a while. That's an intriguing possibility that I have

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1130114025233141362005-10-23T19:28:00.000-05:002005-10-23T19:33:45.240-05:00

Along with SundayComes a dark, oppressive veilA suffocating sense of panicLonelinessA need to get out, touch someone, anyoneMake a connectionIt's like a tunnelYou must pass through itAnd come through the other sideBlinking in the sunshineLeaving behind that person you wereJust one day beforeWhy is it that everyone hates Sundays? It's like some biological impulse that forces us to fear fire or,

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1129505851606810752005-10-16T18:30:00.000-05:002005-10-16T18:37:31.613-05:00

Life is a freight train, speeding out of controlSo you're the conductorBut not reallyAnd you get impatient for something--ANYTHING--to changeAnd you make it soBut then you look back and regretThat you didn't cherish what you had when you had itBut the train has already moved onScenery changedAnd even if you go back to where you were beforeThe mountains will never look the same as when you left

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1128814792729729462005-10-08T18:34:00.000-05:002005-10-08T18:39:52.733-05:00

Okay, here's the dealio, my peeps. (Can I keep this up for a whole blog? Let's see, shall we?)So there's this offer, see, on our hizzouse. Will it fly? My oh my. They are getting an inspectizator, and then we shall see. Oh yes, we will see.Okay, I've reached my Snoop Dogg limit.Is it possible that we may be rid of our "cottage up North"? Since we have been dubbed land barons by our so-called

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1128381295147650572005-10-03T18:10:00.000-05:002005-10-03T18:14:55.153-05:00

Okay, so I have a few minutes, in between cleaning up from dinner (fresh pesto and pasta--yum) and going to tai chi class (not as yummy, but even better for me). I tried to blog this weekend, but the site was down for maintenance. Maintenance? What terrible invention is this? Since when is it acceptable to close down a website when I intend to visit it? Inconceivable.Wouldn't it be nice if we

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1127696963391011682005-09-25T19:58:00.000-05:002005-09-25T20:09:23.403-05:00

...at least for a short while. I'm heading back into my yoga phase, where I'm motivated and interested in practicing. Perhaps it's the persistent, nagging pain spreading from my head down through my shoulders that is inspiring me.Anyway, my deep thought for the week occurred as I was waking up (or maybe falling asleep--I can't really remember. And does it really matter?) this weekend. At least

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1127257457391290282005-09-20T17:58:00.000-05:002005-09-20T18:04:17.396-05:00

Have you ever had a string of weeks when you just did not feel motivated in any way, shape, or form to accomplish anything of note, including regular housecleaning-type activities, exercise, healthy eating, and/or self-improvement?I'm completely in that place, and have been. If you're still recovering from my first sentence, you might also note that I'm well into a William Faulkner novel and have

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1126716129013019392005-09-14T11:32:00.000-05:002005-09-14T11:42:09.020-05:00

Ah, mental health days. Those days when you're not quite sick, but not entirely healthy either. Those days when you really NEED to stay in your pajamas all day, refuse to brush your hair, and eat potato chips straight from the bag. Those days when you look at job postings online, entirely sure that the perfect position for you (NOT the one you have right now) will pop up, with an amazing salary

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1126359751657472562005-09-10T08:33:00.000-05:002005-09-10T08:42:31.663-05:00

Wondering what I've been up to this week? Of course you're not. That's okay, because I'll fill you in anyway.Tuesday: half day of school, with meetings in the afternoon. Left school feeling great! Knew that the next day would suck, accordingly. Was right.Wednesday: both cats opened the door leading into the attic, into which we had cellulose insulation blown this summer. Both cats waded through

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1125856942316544882005-09-04T12:53:00.000-05:002005-09-04T13:02:22.323-05:00

It's good to be alive...again. I successfully recovered from the sinus situation, although I'm still draining like a mofo. I managed to obtain a quick, 24-hour stomach bug while I was at it. Damn kids. I might as well be slogging my way through the jungles of Malaysia, with the amount of virile bacteria I'm exposed to on a daily basis.So I'm having a work crisis again. I MISS MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS!

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1125172822940289432005-08-27T14:54:00.000-05:002005-08-27T15:00:22.946-05:00

Oh, antihistamines. Why must you treat me this way? All I asked of you was to relieve my scratchy throat and stuffy nose and you--you had to take it one step further and relieve any sources of energy I might have.Welcome to mold season in Michigan. It's muggy, it's rainy, and the spores are out in force. This is the time when my body turns against me. I get cranky, tired, achy...Wait a minute.

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1125016658501613412005-08-25T19:27:00.000-05:002005-08-25T19:40:50.786-05:00

I can't believe that it has been almost two weeks since my last blog. I truly apologize, loyal reader. Will you ever forgive me?I have re-entered the wondrous world of education. The past two weeks consisted of professional development meetings, making copies, and copious amounts of panicking.Then the herd arrived. A whole snaggle of fourth graders. I'm sure that it's obvious to you that a

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1124063220630938742005-08-14T18:37:00.000-05:002005-08-14T18:47:00.636-05:00

Stripping.Caught your attention, huh?Don't worry; I haven't changed professions. I've just been stripping the wood off of an old, Berkie (sp) and Gay radio cabinet that will eventually go in our dining room.Okay, here's my complaint. If you buy a wood stripper that claims to remove up to 15 layers of paint, you really shouldn't have to do too much more work after applying it, right? Wrong. Steel

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1123882618251915842005-08-12T16:29:00.000-05:002005-08-12T16:36:58.256-05:00

Yep, that's right. Some half-witted psychologists educated at sub-par institutions like, say, Harvard (read that with a heavy dose of sarcasm) will try to convince you that the fear of failure is something to avoid.Fie on that, I say. Fie!The fear of failure is the thing that helps us strive towards greatness. It's at those points when you look at the person next to you and think, "Hey, that guy

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1123549768201365602005-08-08T19:58:00.000-05:002005-08-08T20:09:28.206-05:00

She wondered how many others did it. Hide behind work, that is. Not just the 9 to 5 daily grind kind of work, either, but the everyday meaningless tasks that people use to fill up every space in their lives. It's kind of easy to hide in a list.She knew this, because she'd been doing it for years. She defended her lists. She loved her lists. It mattered not that everyone else felt angered and

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1123209201886943012005-08-04T21:31:00.000-05:002005-08-04T21:33:21.893-05:00

I just lost half of my blog. I hate laptops. Below is the text I was able to save. Poop.Okay, so I've been gone for a week and I know that my loyal viewers (fine, you caught me--viewer) will be going through a pretty tough withdrawal.So where have I been, you ask?Well, we started out in North Muskegon, at the illustrious home of Pipe Major F. Mahar Lewis, aka Papa, aka my grandfather. A character

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1122402884279515162005-07-26T13:19:00.000-05:002005-07-26T13:34:44.286-05:00

She had many likes and dislikes. In the "likes" category, there were frogs, hunting for frogs, eating frogs, and sticking her nose down dark, mysterious holes. In the "dislikes" category, there was following directions, the fact that she couldn't eat from the table, and African-Americans.I should probably explain at this point that Heidi was our family daschund. Short-legged, short-haired, and

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1122303449039554842005-07-25T09:46:00.000-05:002005-07-25T09:57:29.046-05:00

Yes, I realize that the grammatically correct version of the title would be "I have nothing exciting about which to write", but split infinitives have never been my strong point. I'm still searching for my strong point. Hey, I've only been on this earth for 29 years--who can figure out their strong points in such a short time?I just read my friend's blog. It's awesome! Now I'm in the depths of

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1122158633546825822005-07-23T17:31:00.000-05:002005-07-23T17:45:23.190-05:00

What's life like when you're weird? Good question. I'm so glad that you asked! See, I happen to be a bit of an expert on this topic. In fact, I earned a dubious "Most Unique" award during my senior year in high school. Hmm... upon reflection, that may NOT have been a compliment from my classmates.When you are weird, you...Tell stupid jokes, and then take it a step further by booking your own "(

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1121977754035346422005-07-21T15:22:00.000-05:002005-07-21T15:29:14.040-05:00

Today is a lonely day. I'm not sure why...the sun is shining, it's warm, birds are chirping...Summer is always a little bit lonely for me. I spend the fall, winter, and spring surrounded at least eight hours a day by students, parents, other teachers, and administrators. Life is chaotic, and I look forward to coming home to a quiet house with two quiet cats.Then summer hits. BOOM! All of a sudden

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1121793335310311602005-07-19T12:05:00.000-05:002005-07-19T12:15:35.316-05:00

I didn't realize just how much I want people to comment on my blog! I'm feeling sorry for myself because I can't tell how many people have at least read what I have written. Maybe I should add a counter to my site....Anyway...I was trying to describe a particular memory to my husband the other day, and had a difficult time doing it. See, I remember coming back "downstate" after spending a good

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1121704897780341082005-07-18T11:31:00.000-05:002005-07-18T11:41:37.780-05:00

Don't worry. This is not going to be one of those "freedom isn't free" speeches. I hate those. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read, "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a serviceman." Huh? Did I miss something in my history classes? Was there a time when another culture was imposing their views and language upon us poor, weak Americans? And the

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1121446557837990822005-07-15T11:45:00.000-05:002005-07-15T11:55:57.840-05:00

Okay, no word yet on contacting my long-lost people. This is going to be harder (and perhaps more expensive) than I originally thought. My fortune cookie yesterday was NOT right, by the way. Serious trouble has NOT passed me by. Oh well.Anyway, enough grumping. On with the blog.Do you ever walk by store fronts, coffee shops, and businesses, and wonder about the people working inside? Do you ever

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1121205827151161592005-07-12T16:59:00.000-05:002005-07-12T17:03:47.156-05:00

I used to be someone who said that I never looked back--never felt regret. I'm not sure when that changed, or why, but I'm not that person anymore.I woke up this morning from a dream about my piano teacher, someone I haven't thought about in a while but will always respect. Where is she now? What is her life like? Does she remember me?This leads me to the topic of regret. While I do not ever

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1121130114689041142005-07-11T19:50:00.000-05:002005-07-11T20:01:54.693-05:00

I really never thought I'd say that, especially since I'm in the midst of changing jobs (against my will--another story), trying to sell one house, settling into a "new" house (new being 1917), dealing with pigeons roosting on my roof, ridding the house of the bird mites brought on by the pigeons, dealing with crass workmen giving quotes on insulating a completely un-insulated house (a truly

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1121038563231414182005-07-10T21:33:00.000-05:002005-07-10T18:36:03.236-05:00

Okay, so I'm doing this blog mainly because I was put up to it by my husband and his co-worker. I assured both of them that I had nothing profound to say, and they heartily disagreed. My main problem with blogs (yes, I understand the irony of criticizing blogs IN my blog) is that they seem to be an avenue for all of the backseat philosophers. There's too much pressure to come up with something

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14351391.post-1120961575256386892005-07-09T21:11:00.000-05:002005-07-18T11:31:39.030-05:00

This is my first post. As you can see, I have a lot more work to do. First, I need to come up with something important, witty, and relevant to write. Then, I need to type it. Finally, people need to visit the site and read it. Whew!

Jenellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390535164480562073noreply@blogger.com0