Tag: summer school

Cloister Commentary, Day 69: Weaver Bird, Weave!

It was a nose-to-the-grindstone day. We both put in a full day of school work. Nicole will be “done” with 2019-2020 after tomorrow, though the dust of this school year will billow forth into the decade, and though a public school teacher’s work is never truly done. She had several virtual meetings. My summer school work starts Monday, and my on-line classroom is ready after I hammered on it one last time.

We’re far away, but we welcome Madison and Logan Dickens’ new child Presley into the world. This is not the most worry-free time to become parents to a newborn, and we wish them the very best. They are made from tough stuff, and they’ve got terrific support, too.

The Hulu limited series Mrs. America has ended–and did it stick the landing on the final chord it strummed! If you love modern United States history, have an interest in women’s political movements, and just appreciate smart writing and talented acting, you should watch its nine episodes. They’re inspiring, and we can’t wait to read the book that served as the creators’ road map (Divided We Stand, by Marjorie J. Spruill). And, yes, I promise, I won’t mention it again.

Streaming for Shut-Ins:

Soundtrack for a landscape.

“This morning I woke up in a curfew
O God, I was a prisoner, too.
Could not recognize the faces standing over me.
They were all dressed in uniforms of brutality.

How many rivers do we have to cross
Before we can talk to the boss?
All that we got, it seems we have lost–
We must have really paid the cost.

That’s why we gonna be
Burnin’ and a-lootin’
Tonight…

…Weepin’ and a-wailin’ tonight!
(Ooh, can’t stop the tears!)
Weepin’ and a-wailin’ tonight!
(We’ve been suffering these long years!)”

Cloister Commentary, Day 61: Mind-Body Togetherness

I haven’t exercised much during this mess, but a) I did stretches yesterday, and b) without really thinking of it this way until yesterday, my writing is getting such a workout that I think it is getting stronger–not so much here, where I’m just logging, mostly, but in my other project. Funny how that happens.
With some of the bat-shit craziness flying around, I wonder if one day I will take incoming for simply indicating I am cloistering. Some will need to look that word up.
The on-line summer comp class I’m teaching for Stephens is a go. My students will mostly be incoming Stephens freshmen and possibly some dual-credit Missouri high schoolers. I don’t want to Zoom MTWTh for eight weeks, but I’ll get used to it.
I will miss Battle High School’s Vehicular Valedictorian Victory Caravans. As a driver, I participated in three over the past week, and they were joyful. We made all five stops yesterday, which isn’t easy when the caravan numbers 20+ cars.
Is there a difference between denying someone is no more and simply reflexively forgetting that fact? It’s almost a mind-body separation issue, and I don’t really believe in that divide. Maybe I’m bat-shit crazy…
Streaming for Shut-Ins:
Musically, I’m still in Texas, though I’ve gone west over the last few days. There are few if any West Texas albums that top this one, especially for top-to-bottom excellence. Killer band, killer songs, killer atmosphere–and an emotionally rangy front man.