I went to Lebanon Elementary for a professional development day on the use of smart board technology. OMIGOSH! I am so excited about the possibilities. They can do everything except cook your dinner. I don’t have my own for the library, but I can wheel one in when I need it, along with the requisite laptop and projector. I will work on my lessons at home, load them onto my mp3 player that will not be named, and take them to either school to present. I will astound the children with my technological ability and trick them into reading BOOKS instead of playing video games. And then I will TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

I got up early today and spend time doing menial chores at Kelley Ridge before driving to the Valley to join Mombo and the Greystone bunch on Ms. Susan Toad’s Wild Ride to Campbellsville. We made it in time to witness Bub sponsoring Deutsch as Aiden in his Confirmation in the Faith, even though he (Seth) almost threw up on Grammo’s head on the way and was in pain from his recent wisdom tooth removal. The latter lead to a story in the van about her (Grammo’s) trip to Chicago with Leo Gels and upchucking on the fancy woman passenger’s fancy hat. It’s one for the Mombo Blog. It was inspiring to see Glenda, Bertha, and Millard sponsor other Sacred Heart Harris kids–it’s a real community. We also got to touch base with Jerome and Janet before they wento off to their adoption picninc in Danville. When we got back to the Valley, Mombo and I made flower arrangements for the graves, visited with Jerusha and heard about the boys’ nature adventures, and talked to Fron about health insurance recommendations. Some good Progresso soup and a sandwich, filling out employment forms, discussion with Peat about ALIAS and 24, and borrowing a Jodie Foster video from Jay and Glenda rounded out the day. Life in the Valley is good.

I went to see one of my students perform at Singletary Center in the Blugrass Youth Ballet’s production of “A Tail of Tales.” The young, beautiful French director of the ballet composed it from the stories “The Three Little Pigs,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” and “Peter and the Wolf,” the common thread being the character of the wolf, of course. I went to see it because Shannon asked me to (she played Peter), but was amazed at how wonderful it was! Down to every detail a professional production and worth every penny. I’m so glad I went. The off to Cardome (used to be a Catholic girl’s center and is now a community center) in Georgetown for Lindsey and Chris’s wedding. Caitlan and Kyle were both attendants in the wedding party. The ceremony was held outside under the trees in perfect weather with a string trio of female musicians. Everyone was young and gorgeous. It was nice to see many of their friends that I had know when they were at Central. I took lots of pictures for KK. The food was great, and I left right at the right moment when the new couple was dancing to “Always” and I was sucker punched by unexpected tears of remorse for a marriage that ended way too soon.

OK–this is nonsense. I have no idea what I’m doing! Are 56-year-olds even allowed to take new jobs?

I accepted a position with Marion County Public Schools as an itinerant library/media specialist in Calvary and Lebanon Elementary Schools today. I have my first inservice day tomorrow. Thanks to Jerome and Jenny Lewis for this job.

Stayed over at Rachel’s again last night. Drew let me in since I was late. Rachel gets up at like 3:30 or some ungodly hour so she was already asleep. Drew looks so much like Nicholas, it’s uncanny. This time I slept in the loft. It was neat up there. Then I worked all day at B&N in the kids’ dept. I like it there–I got to put up diplays of new picture books. The former manager of that department died of cancer over the weekend so everyone is in mourning. The funeral is tomorrow in Louisville, and they are all trying to figure out how to get to the visitation or funeral and keep the store covered. It is a tight-knit crew. That is good.

Worked at St. Mark all day and still didn’t get everything done. Have to be out by Thurs. Won’t be here tomorrow since I have to work. I feel so badly that all I have left for this place is disdain. Chris and I cried a lot again.

Yesterday Alice and KK spent time at the Valley and went to church in Lancaster. I got off work and went back to 4th St. The transformation of the bed and bathrooms was phenomenal. What a great thing a little paint is. They hauled old doors from the barn at Kelley Ridge to 4th St., and KK and I washed them while Alice did the touch ups on the painting. Today we screwed those suckers to the walls of the entryway to look like panelling. It was grueling work, and we never could have done it without Alice. Even our neighbor Maxine, came over to help. Now we have to caulk and paint them. It looks a little weird right now, but when finished I think it will look appropriate to the period of the house. We ate supper and sent alice on her way, later than planned, with so much gratitude. The great think about Alice is that she has no idea how much of a blessing she is to others–it comes so naturally to her. Now we have to continue the work she got us started on while the energy is still flowing.

I got into Rachel’s late last night to spend the night. I slept in Drew’s room since he was staying with his dad. Rachel and Frank live close to Hamburg Place where I work and since I had to work late on Sat. and early on Sun., it was convenient to stay there. She was the hospitable hostess despite the fact that she had lost her voice. I awoke to find her on her patio, having her coffee, reading her devotional, and eating a pancake. She invited me to join her, and she filled me in on the mission trip that she and Frank will be taking to Bolivia. I had to leave to get to Mass, and Frank was getting his guitar ready to leave and play at church so I didn’t get as much time with her as I would have liked, but it was one of those times that will stay etched in my memory, and I’ll go back and revisit it when I need fulfillment. What a gift she is.

Then i went to Pax Christi to Mass. It is the newest church in Lexington, and I had not been there yet. They actually have an 8:30 Mass on Sunday, which is now rare. I loved it. I don’t know the priest (Fr. Richard), but his homily hit directly home, and again I praised the Holy Spirit for speaking to the longing of my heart.

Alice is here. YAY! She inspires us to do work! We got started on the entry way on 4th Street–tore down a wall and revealed a staircase. How invigorating it is to sledge hammer holes and crow-bar down chunks of drywall. It’s why some people like to watch “This Old House.” Alice and KK had already bought some bargain paint for the downstairs bedroom and bath so we mixed some of it to lighten it and make our own color spectrum. Then they painted the bedroom and bath because I had to get ready for work. It’s looking better and better.