Friday, August 29, 2025

Lesson 914: King Rodeo

Hello, Readers.

The Lamp Posters celebrated back to school week.

We knew it to be true by nature's clues. 

Cue the clouds


the moon


and the sunsets.


The whole week had a back-to-school feel.

Here is Big Man on Campus headed off to his first college class.


Here he is in his first college class.


Sam thought he had the wrong room,
but quickly learned college kids 
don't arrive at a 9:00 am class
a half an hour early.

I have hardly seen the resident puppeteer.


She's been a bit wiped out.
The first few weeks is overwhelming for a new teacher.
I said to Dear Daughter
It will get better......
in October.

Nephew Jack is headed out to help kids learn
and stay healthy
in the D.C. Public Schools.
He has a new placement this year
and he just had a birthday!


First day of school mornings are hectic.
We were searching the house for something
minutes before we had to leave.
The Mad School Rush had begun.
And what does Mr. Lamp Post decide would be helpful?
To help look while wearing a kilt.


We made it to school and had a great first day.
I even won the Last Teacher Standing game.
With all the beginning of the year introductions,
we often had to state our name,
subject area,
and years of teaching.

It is year


for me.

With this knowledge,
many asked if I had plans to retire soon.
Not really,
I said,
but I do have a request...

March 1st of every year,
a teacher can submit to the school district
a letter of interest
in a particular job.

A position doesn't have to become available that year,
but is a way of letting administrators know
of your willingness to try a new grade level,
subject area,
or school.

I'd like all 154 of my fellow teachers
to begin submitting March 1st Letters
for my job.

I want the admin office to look like this:

A hot tip from Teacher Amy
led Miss Natalie Jeanne
to Pop Luck
for Natalie Day!


She also had a banner weekend 
as a first timer at the Polish Festival.
She snagged this tee shirt
and a pierogi ornament.


It's getting cooler in the evening
and I crave an extra cup of coffee.
It's time to try new coffee!

Here is this week's selection.
It is whole bean
and very good!


Speaking of kicking horses kicking ass...

We went to the rodeo
at the Erie County Fair in Wattsburg
this week.


Farm animals are my favorite!




We have to finish this blog
with my new favorite song:


Godspeed, Uncle Bill.
Your paintings were wonderful.
You earned an A+.

Eloise











Friday, August 22, 2025

Lesson 913: A New Era

Hello, Readers!
Its Eloise, 
reporting in at the start of the
2025-26 school year.


It's the dawn of A New Era.


I knew at dawn's early light
that today was going to be a good day.
I found a shoe.
I haven't found many interesting things this summer
while out on my walks.


Just this shoe
and this tiny owl,
that is now found a home in the Lamp Post.


No more college classes for Ellen.
She has joined the ranks 
at her old alma mater.


She will be working with students who have
speech and language needs.

She's already made her therapy room
a happy place for kids to learn.


Reminding them that they have
important things to say.


As promised, 
here is the giant carnival prize
Charlie won for her.

It's a giant chinchilla,


All set up in the CHILL zone.


This is the first Friday night 
I have not been to a football game
in too many to remember.

Slam and Truck,
the force on the line,
on the court,
and on the diamond,
are now college roommates!


I see they are working on some really important skills

prior to the start of classes on Monday.


They get to see Natalie at work every day.
You are guaranteed to have a spotless table to eat from
if you dine at Dobbins between 10:30-2:30!


The era of Depot Road potholes 
is coming to an end.
The construction of the portion
near Clark school is starting to take shape.


I promise you,
Clark School still stands.
I was there this afternoon.


I always get supercharged at the start of the school year.
I love school
and can't wait to go back 
at the end of every summer.

This is a great idea.


And we have Parent Pick-Up Lanes!


The only bad thing--
this is the view of my favorite tree to photograph.


I went to the scrimmage last weekend
and looked at the new #51.
I hope he works hard


and wears the jersey with pride.
I don't miss the worry at the sound of every crunch!


When I come home from school,
there is no hungry, post-practice teen to feed.
Dobbins Dining Hall is taking care of that for me.

Still,
Penny and Hazel lie watching 
for my happy return.


Time passes,
and while it does,
we find things to do locally.
Erie is a great place to live.
Grandma, Erik, Natalie, and Ellen
walked the chalk murals last Sunday.






Friend Jen and I did yoga in the middle of a flower field
at Port Farms.





Time passes,
and so do loved ones.
I lost an Uncle this week.
He was the closest in age to my mother,
just a little over a year apart.
They were always the best of friends
who shared a corny sense of humor.


We will miss Uncle Bill's jokes most of all.



I was touched by the relationship of my mother
and her surviving brother.
He rode out to Harborcreek to see my mother.
They sat on the swing,
held hands,
and cried, then laughed.
We were all comforted by the stories
and fond memories.


My Aunt brought with her a copy of a lovely collection of words
that bring comfort to the grieving.
Maria Shriver read this at the funeral of her colleague, Tim Russert.


Isn't that just a lovely visualization?
Almost as lovely as the planets visible
in the early morning sky.



As a new day dawns,
so do new beginnings.
Cheers to remembering bygone days
and moving forward into something new.

Eloise