Hand-written Comments

When I received a paper back from a teacher, the first thing I did was look at the grade. But I barely hesitated before reading the comments all over the piece. Indeed, I barely breathed as I read them. As I read those comments, I learned so much. My favorite teachers of writing were those who wrote a lot on my papers. That was where they proved themselves to me: I can still picture some of those comments. I took that advice and improved.

This is my second post about grading papers. Different ones today, of course. But my own experience leads me to believe there may be other writers just like me, hungry for the ability to communicate clearly and beautifully.

I say go ahead, use red pen!--make the paper bleed! I will try to resurrect it.

What I Am Doing vs. What I Want To Do

Joella texted me today to notify me that she and Becky had made it safely to the outback of Ontario. I was sincerely happy for them. May they enjoy themselves.

I have been grading papers all this glorious day. It's been so hard to concentrate. If you, reader, are or have recently been in any education courses, you'll be happy to know that I am using a purple pen.

Also, I have self-diagnosed inattentive ADHD. Back to grad--

Evening Study Hall

I didn't realize so many students were watching shows and movies with their evening study hall time. But I saw one kid, Yang, watching a TV show in Chinese with his headphones. I was interested in the story line. I wasn't there to scold him, although I could have been there to scold him: he and Tong had been especially loud for a library.

 

About Yang: he's a social fellow, but quiet with authority, willing (at least outwardly) to bend. His sense of humor is somewhat delayed. Dry humor is lost completely. 

I sat down next to him and became engrossed in the show, sans sound. He turned to look at me. He looked at Tong. He looked at me. I kept watching the show. He kept watching me. Finally, unexpectedly, he said, "okay, I'll go back to my seat."

Hahaha! I love this job.

Babysitting a McKalips, by Stephen (Part III)

Contact Lists


--(NOTE: We do not have a land line, or "home phone," so it will be necessary to have a cellular phone and charger)

List A: Emergency
Fire, Flood, Loss of Life

#911

List B: Questions
Who, What, Where, When

...Meg
...Steve
...Staci
...Staci Cell

List C: Yellowbook
Food, Fun, What Have You

(Refer to Cabinet A in Fig. 1 Kitchen)

A: Random things, batteries, pens, screwdrivers, phonebooks, takeout menus, misc. medicines
B: Glasses, baking dishes, aluminum foil, plastic wrap
C: Coffee cups (random), measuring cups, random set of old dishes
D/E: Fiestaware (all dishes one might need)
F: Misc. spices, vinegar, oil, baking supplies, extra condiments
G: Snacks, crackers, cookies, poptarts, misc. junkfood, tea
H: Cereal
I: Pasta
*J*: Baby food, canned vegetables, canned soups, peanut butter
K: Broom & Swiffer
L: Toaster, crock pot, extra tissues, paper towels, pots and pans
*M: Pots and pans, *baby formula, blender, strainer
N: Forks, spoons, knives, utensils, pot holders, misc. cooking things
O: Chips, pretzels, misc. junk food
P: Tupperware, plastic food storage containers
Q/R: Swiffer pads, cleaning supplies, trash bags (white and black)
--Coffee filters can be located in drawer under coffee pot.
--Any questions pertaining to Figure 1 (Kitchen), consult Contact List B.

Babysitting a McKalips (Part II), by Stephen

I. Rest and Relaxation

--Rest and relaxation, also known as "R&R," is key to a person's morale and wellbeing.
There are many ways to rest and relax.
Many of them are legal in the United States.
--Television is a widely accepted way of relaxing.
703 Fairfield Avenue is equipped with a 42"-high definition TV with well over 250 channels.
There is also a modest library of books in the living room.
--Consuming moderate amounts of alcohol is also a widely used method of relaxing.
Drinking alcohol (wine, beer) to "excess" is generally frowned upon and carries a social stigma.
(NOTE: It is illegal to furnish alcohol to people under the age of 21.)
Keeping this in mind, there is a bottle of wine in the refrigerator not shown in Fig. 1 (Kitchen).

II. Rest and Relaxation

There are many ways of entertaining oneself on the internet.
The internet, or "worldwide web," is a network of computers.
It is regarded as the peak of human collective knowledge.
The pin for our computer is *****.
If you have any questions or comments concerning Rest and Relaxation, please refer to Contact List B.

Babysitting a McKalips, by Stephen

My mother once babysat my nephew over a weekend while Stephen and Megan went away. My brother, Stephen, handed my mom these instructions, which you also might find helpful when babysitting, as a general guide. They are extensive, so I shall give them in three parts.

I. Bottle/Nap Instructions


--6-7 oz. warm tap water
--2 scoops of formula
--every 3 1/2-5 hours

In the event that Holden cries/fusses after a bottle DO NOT GIVE HIM ANOTHER BOTTLE.
Instead attempt to "burp" him.
After five minutes if he is still hungry give him some baby food.
(Refer to J cabinet in Figure 1.)
Do not feed him baby food more than three times daily.
Do not give him more than one bottle in a 3 1/2 hour period, as it will cause unnecessary discomfort or vomiting.

II. Bottle/Nap Instructions Continued

To avoid prolonged fussiness ensure that Holden receives a 1 1/2-3 hour nap daily.
Be sure to give a pacifier or "binky" when administering nap.
Be sure to close door to the bedroom after turning off light.
(NOTE: Children often sleep better in dark, quiet rooms.)
In the event that Holden should wake up in less than 1 1/2 hours, (NOTE: You will be able to tell he is not asleep because of the loud screaming noise accompanied by shrieks emanating from his room) replace pacifier and leave room.

III. Bottle/Nap Instructions Continued

Holden enjoys warm, fuzzy blankets while napping.
The seafoam green one is his favorite.
Any questions pertaining to Bottle/Nap Instructions, consult Contact List B.

Outside Bethany

Dear Martha saw You from afar. She has been looking for You. She sees You and Your disciples. They cannot meet her strained expression and reddened eyes. You meet her eyes, and she falls into step beside You as You finish the last mile to Bethany.

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." She had been repeating it over and over as she hurried to meet You. But now she cannot leave it at this. She wants to berate You. How could You come late? She cannot find a voice for the pain in her heart. It does not well up. It is a fact, like the dry crust of earth she is walking upon. Her eyes are dry. All has gone terribly dry, and cracks. She cannot leave it at this. She loves You; she respects You; and even now she has not forgotten herself. So she tries to say something more: "But I know that even now God will give You whatever You ask."

Did she just say that? Martha wonders what she meant, exactly. Nothing is impossible for this friend. And now, as she tries to mend what might have looked like reproach, she has asked the Christ to raise the dead. She would have been silent now if You had not responded. She needs... oh, she does not know what she needs. But as she walks beside You, the duststorm of her soul begins to quiet.

You break the silence of her settling heart and the anxious men walking bravely around You, "Your brother will rise again."

Martha looks up with pleading--how could You say something so benignly conciliatory? How can You watch her heart break before You? You know her heart through and through, and this is Your response?

"I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Martha looks hard ahead. The details of the small houses on the outside of the town are quite visible; she squints at the patchy-looking walls where the clay has been built up, a colorful blue rug being used as a door in one house, a sack for a door on the next house. Coals are smoldering in that house where the smoke rises.

You stop walking. Everyone stops. You have been looking at her this whole time. You bring her to stand face to face with a motion of her shoulders. Martha can see something in your eyes she did not detect before: pain.

"I am the resurrection and the life. If someone believes in me, he will live, even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe me, Martha?"

Martha's heart begins to flood. The dry, cracked earth she feels will never be fit for life again--on that earth, drops of water fall. Many drops. And now, Martha finds voice through tears that well in her eyes and fall onto the rough garments she wears, "Yes Lord," with passion she did not know she could feel (she did not know she could feel) she takes Your hand, "I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

She is covered in tears. She releases Your hand and walks away, thinking of water and earth and green shoots and how those green shoots can lull her to sleep after more than a week of standing watch over her dying brother and receiving mourners. She walks ahead, to their home, the second street after the blue-curtained doorway, and the smoke rising.

You stand a moment, your hands at your sides. You lift your head upward, Your eyes full.

Hangers

Not long ago, this May, I wrote about the distinct discomfort of uncertainty. I had no plans for after camp. Shortly thereafter, I interviewed at LMH and was offered a job there. This came four days before camp began.

Camp is over, of course; school has begun, of course. Moving is done (for now). I have retained all necessary hangers (refer to May post, "The Twins Across the Street" for clarification). But even if I had not brought a single hanger, I would have discovered a closet full of unclaimed hangers in the storage room. Isn't that nice?