Lesson 585: Aghast

Once in awhile there are weeks with news that leave one aghast,

sucking in air at the mere shock of the unexpected.

Aghast is a good word,

although I always have to think twice at the spelling.

English/Language Arts Lesson for the week:

Here are some synonyms for aghast.

I'm still marveling over the fact that my baby is 12!

A dozen candles to blow out this year.

As long as the winter seemed,

I'm amazed that spring is here.

The bluebirds have returned,

and so has baseball season.

I love the photos from early spring--

the bleak skies,

leafless trees,

and boys in cold gear.

It's still sinking in.

My former babysitter has not one child,

but two of her own!

Thanks to Grandma for this lovely gift.

We've have had lots of fun leaving this guy places,

leaving the finder sucking in wind

and clutching the heart.

It's been in the kids' beds,

my coffee cup,

and now my keyboard!

The high school isn't aghast over this news,

it's in an uproar!

'Creekers are surprised and dismayed!

NEWS

Sheetz to Permanently Close Harborcreek Location

All employees will be offered employment at other Erie-area Sheetz stores.

Thursday, March 28th 2019, 7:58 PM EDT by Mike Ruzzi

Updated: 

Thursday, March 28th 2019, 10:42 PM EDT

CLICK HERE for the full story

Eloise is halfway through her book club selection.

It is just an incredible story--

leaving me awed at the end of every chapter.

How can someone rise above this strange childhood

and successfully function in life?

The best suck-in-air stories involve

our Honorable? Secretary of Education,

Betsy Devos.

Appalling!

My parents always taught me if you don't have anything nice to say,

don't say anything at all.

So I won't.

Instead I'll just show you the videos.

Betsy on cutting funding for the Special Olympics.

 And Betsy on the benefits of larger class sizes.

I refuse to ever end this blog on a sour note,

so I'll share a story of worth.

Elizabeth Smart on forgiveness

and overcoming a painful past.

Now this, Readers,

should leave you aghast for good reasons.

Have a nice weekend,

Eloise

Lesson 584: A Dozen Reasons

There are countless reasons why we love Sam,

our surprise child,

born today.

In honor of his 12th birthday,

here are a dozen reasons.

Sam, you are full of love!

For animals,

your family,

and holiday celebrations.

You love sports more than anyone else I know.

You play hard,

inspire the bench,

and are a good sport.

You are willing to broaden your horizons,

even when you don't want to.

Don't worry, Sam.

Your friends will always be there to support you.

You aren't afraid to show off your unconventional side.

And best of all,

your big heart fits well inside the space 

your very broad shoulders create.

We wish you the best of all that is to come 

during your 12th year.

Here are some highlights from the year that has passed.

Happy birthday!

Love,

Mother Eloise

Lesson 583: Educated

 Happy weekend, Readers!

Spring has officially sprung.

We've had a few brighter days in Erie,

enough to motivate Eloise to begin her spring cleaning.

Looks like the glass on the windows is next on the checklist.

We had a beautiful moon this week.

The evening really was that blue.

The geese have returned to the pond

and other places.

And the pigeons--

they are still walking the traffic light poles on Peach Street.

I had plenty of time to sit there and watch them.

What's up with the timing of the lights?
Only three cars could cross the intersection at a time!

Spring on the Lake Erie shoreline

is a beautiful fog much of the time.

The following three photos were taken about five minutes apart.

When you are outside this spring,

don't forget to look up.

It's amazing what you can find

when the leaves are off of the trees.

How do these manage to hang so tightly?

St. Patrick's Day fell on Sunday this year.

Although the Lamp Posters are pretty much

we celebrated anyway.

I told Ellen to grab the goods for Grandma's house,

and we were headed to make some Irish coffee

and reuben sandwiches.

No ice on the driveway means time for outdoor hoops.

Hazel gets some extra sniff time outside.

Ellen is off to Edinboro University this fall,

so we've been getting educated on all things college--

curriculum,

classes,

and costs

 top the list.

Rather than focusing on stored up knowledge

that can be flaunted with the recitation of facts and figures,

stress training in THINKING.

I think the best educational lessons come through experiences.

Some of my younger students were able to view

the high school video announcement broadcast this week.

They have not stopped talking about the experience since.

The more real and rich we can make an education for kids,

the more lasting the learning.

We are all learners.

Learning never stops.

Eloise likes to continue learning lots of ways,

and one of my recent favorites is through listening to podcasts.

Oprah's Masterclass and Oprah's Super Soul Sundays are my favorites.

They are just long enough,

and the guests are always so interesting.

Oprah has a gift for bringing out the best stories.

This was a favorite of mine this week:

Diane Sawyer on her interview with a world leader:

"I thought isn't this fascinating?

When you become a (*leader)

it is psychologically true

 that you'll start hearing 

only what you want to hear.

And so you become increasingly ignorant of the real world.

And gradually this became a kind of anger,

a kind of rage,

so that there was more and more control necessary

 to feel less and less beleaguered.

She was interviewing Saddam Hussein.

*dictator

Who did you think she was interviewing?

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

A total loser! https://t.co/vm3Vv2f9jf

Mar. 19, 2019, 8:34 a.m.

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

Joe Biden got tongue tied over the weekend when he was unable to properly deliver a very simple line about his decision to run for President. Get used to it, another low I.Q. individual!

Mar. 18, 2019, 9:14 a.m.

So what is Eloise reading this spring?
This!

I am loving it so far!

Read along with me

and let me know what you think!

Educate yourself this weekend.

Find something new and good

and share it with someone!

Eloise