“When one dies…another is born”

This is our Gabezookey. He was born just a day before my brother passed away. It’s as if whoever was in charge of that just knew we would need him in our life after losing the one we didn’t have very often.

Here’s his birthday party. Noah? He’s now 7months old and just as chunky and funny as ever.

She *thought* she could fit:

But only birthday boy’s get that privilege:

And baby brothers:

Who has discovered the art of the face grab:

And the snatch and smile:

“umm, excuse me, genius at work”

Trying to work on my perspective shoots. The toy actually belongs to the *little* kids, not the big one. I see this:

Before I saw this:

No Princess Brat because she was doing this (hopping on Joe, who is a Tennessee Walker):

And this:

While Snowy was at home, doing this:

~~Toni

I’ve just received a pretty awesome review for my article in Shriek Freak Quarterly!!

(technically, he was just proud to be nestled in between my and Renee’s bosom’s–er, our articles. )

This dude: Scott’s Bookshelf   check out his site.  I’ve also added him to my blog roll.

And if you are interested in ordering: Shriek Freak’s Lulu Ordering Page

~~Toni

As our story unfolds, Snowy the Guinea Pig is lounging in his world-famous igloo home:

“You can’t see me”

“Excuse me, Mr. Snowy? I believe you have my…”

“What!? What do you young’ns want now?”

“Oh! Camera! Strike a pose”

“Or is this side better?”

“No, this side maybe?”

“Workin’ the guineawalk.. yeah, baby..”

“Thud! Ouch! Too Close! Too Close!”

“Now Freeze!”

~~Toni

(I’ve typed that so many times that it’s now available as a quick type in my drop down box. )

His name is Snowy. He’s not actually new as we owned him some 5 years ago. Princess-Brat-in-Training had a major (as in hospitalized) bronchial issues then and we thought the Guinea was the cause of it. My nephew (whom one can see his sneaky face in one photo) was the sweetest ever to take him for us while we figured it out. Unfortunately, she ended up not allergic, but by that time, Nephew grew attached. Also unfortunate is that Nephew just lost his own Guinea (Oreo) last week and he couldn’t handle any more loss, so we took our baby back. He’s fat, he was well taken care of and the Princess-Brat-in-Training is happier than a pig in shit.   He’s still as lovey as ever and loves giving kisses.

This makes (clears throat):

2 Basset Hounds

2 Cockatiels

2 Turtles

6 Hermit Crabs

15 Fishes

and 1 Guinea Pig

(c’mon you know you were singing it)

~~Toni

He has officially graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Master’s Degree in Space Science.  Tonight was a “celebration” for all of the Manatee County Teachers who were selected to be part of this grant (and have their Master’s paid for). Now, let me explain something. The school board wasted money to give everyone a tie-dyed lab coat for this, simply because they thought it was “cool”– you know, science and all that. Here I sit in this auditorium that confirms why these students don’t have updated books and this is what we get:

• A program that lists the names of all the students where a full 3/4th of them were from elementary schools!
• The knowledge that this Master’s program is only good for my husband because of the name “Embry-Riddle” attached to it because the county thought it would be too hard to get elementary teachers to sign up if they told them they would have to do 12 classes for it. Yes, you heard correctly. Thirty teachers took the “easy” courses (5 classes all taught from the same book), and they were rewarded with the same recognition as my husband (and 9 others) who took all 12 courses in less than 1.5 years.
• The whole point of this program was to get elementary teachers! They are the ones who needed this type of science course because Manatee County identified the problem that kids who go on to Middle and High School science with nothing but a rudimentary knowledge of the definition of the word “science” is because the elementary school teachers “hate teaching it” (and this is not an exaggeration, every one of those teachers all said, in their announcements some form of “I hate science and I hate teaching it, it’s so hard but this course helped me teach it”)
• BUT!! They had awards for peer-voted favorites and guess who won these awards? Yep, the elementary school teachers. The awards ranged from “Most Awesome to be around” to “Most Friendly” (no, I am NOT kidding).
• The highlight of the night? When they gave an award to an elementary school principal because he was “Most Supportive”.  Why? Because he sent the highest number of elementary teachers from one single school to this program. And he got “Most Supportive Principal” for it. Somehow, something in the back of my brain tells me this is not something you want to actually brag about.
• What’s sadder still is that *I* could have done those 5 classes in my sleep. And they were all out of a book about “space science”–not my strongest subject (not a subject I know anything about).
• Not one of the high school teachers got a single note of recognition. Those 10 teachers sat in on these courses with those same elementary teachers and had to listen to them whine about their homework and how they were going to implement such homework when “we covered that 6 weeks ago and all I had them do was paint a picture of the planets. Just how am I supposed to do this lesson?? They will be so confused”. Seriously. These elementary school teachers could not figure out how to incorporate a lesson on how to build a $5 walmart brand rocket into their studies on space travel!
• I forgot to mention one thing: those 10 teachers who took all 12 classes had to do it from TWO different schools at the same time. Embry-Riddle AND Nova-Southeastern.  The 5 class group only had to do the classes from one school, one class at a time.

I honestly have nothing against elementary school teachers, honest. But now I know why so many people don’t take them seriously. Especially when, in front of a room full of strangers, you break down in tears because you were given the “Most Awesome” award.

Doesn’t matter now. It is done. DONE. ALL OVER. His graduation ceremony is at Embry-Riddle in May. His pay raise kicks in next paycheck.

Anyway, here are the pictures:

With Manatee County Superintendent of Schools:

His recognition certificate:

His DIPLOMA!

Here are two pictures I took yesterday, out my back door. Paintshop did nothing but clarified and darkened them a bit. No other photoshopping was done. We had a killer fog rolling in early, thought pictures would be cool.

~~Toni