Author Archives: ramblingsofaperforatedmind

Waiting for the Storm

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Nebraska has been experiencing some wild weather today. The weather channel had my attention for quite a while.

My friend called me before the storm hit our town. She was getting ready as we chatted. I didn’t do much in the way of preparation. I managed to fill the bathtub with a bit of water, but that was all. I couldn’t help watching the sky. I thought about going out storm chasing, but once the rain hit, I decided to stay in with my pets.

The first “wave” of thunderstorms has come and gone. We had thunder, lightning, hard rain, high winds and some hail. Tornadoes have hit in some places. There may be more severe storms tonight. I’ll be watching the skies….

Groceries

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I learned long ago never to apologize for spending money for groceries, even if I had to spend some of the bill money to do it. After all, we have to eat, don’t we? Checking prices in the store today made me feel like someone should be apologizing to shoppers! A large pack of shredded cheese was $19! Did I buy it? That would be a HECK NO! Meat prices were also outrageous.

In spite of the crazy prices, I ended up getting some supplies—it looked like more household things than human food, though. I had coupons in my pocket, but I forgot to use them. I discovered it after I got to the car and loaded my groceries. I trudged back in on aching feet to find a manager. I wondered if it was worth it. (I had worked all morning.) With my $6.50 securely clutched in my hand, I decided it had been worth the effort. That money was spent at the discount bakery a few blocks away. 🙂

The bottom line is that I will be doing more cooking. I didn’t buy much junk food either. Now if I can just start planning meals!

Rodeo Day!

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For some reason, I woke up before the 6:30 alarm went off. I spent a few minutes taking dogs out, feeding cats and reading a chapter over a cup of coffee. I had been anticipating rodeo day, so maybe that’s why I was earlier than the clock.

Since I was at the fair grounds by 7:40, I had time to observe some of the preparations. There were a lot of riders in the arenas warming up. One big space had been divided in half to be able to have two events going on at once. Goats, horses and steers were unloaded and penned for the events. I had time to roam around and snap some pictures. There were plenty of beautiful horses on the premises, that’s for sure.

Sometime after 8, someone in the crow’s nest started the country music blaring. I could almost feel a subtle change in the atmosphere as the riders (and horses) made the mental shift from warming up to competing. The power of music is amazing.

Crow's nest

Crow’s nest

I was all set to work one of the gates for goat tying. Things started close to on time at 8:30. Girls were making good time on their runs—some of them at least. If I tried to dismount while the horse was still running, I’d end up flat on my face. Kudos to these talented, determined kids!

Storm brewing!

Storm brewing!

Rain was starting to fall, but the show went on for a bit. As soon as the lightning started getting serious, the announcer told us all to take cover. I didn’t need to hear it twice; people scattered and put their horses in the trailers to wait out the storm. Many were ready for rain—yellow-clad people were all over the place! Even saddled horses had rain slickers on because, as my friend Laura said, “Nobody wants a wet bum!” After about an hour, the rodeo events started again. The goat tying event had 37 girls lined up to compete, but it went by quickly. My gate time was up before I knew it.

Rain slickers were everywhere!

Rain slickers were everywhere!

The Chicken Chick

Now What?

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I am already thinking about what I’ll do after this last grad class ends in June. The degree will certainly open more doors professionally like teaching dual credit classes, but my real question is: what will I study next?

I get bored quickly, and I’m not afraid to try new things, so I’ve been taking a mental inventory of my interests other than Spanish. Fortunately, I love to read, so that will serve me well in any endeavor. I spent some time browsing the MOOC database, and I found all kinds of options. The courses are free. The down side is that no credit is given. That really isn’t my major concern. I want to learn new things about a variety of topics, and I want to learn from experts. So far, I haven’t zeroed in on a class, but I’m sure I’ll find something to hold my interest. History? Forensics? Arabic? French?

Life after grad school can feel like a bit of a let down. The last two years have been filled with homework, reading and pressure. I imagine I will breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the course, but I’m not sure I’ll know what to do without a text book in my hands. I’m on my way to figuring it out! Life is a journey!

https://www.class-central.com/

Small Town

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There’s a saying in Mexico: pueblo pequeno, infierno grande. That means small town, big Hell. Based on my observations both in Mexico and the U. S., I would say it’s quite accurate. The rumor mill cranks up at the slightest hint of “news.” The rumors themselves spread at the speed of light, each version getting more outrageous. I think people make up things to fill in the blanks.

Shortly after moving to Mexico, two ladies with a Chihuahua showed up at my gate. She wanted me to take a look at her dog. There was a spot on his back that looked like maybe an insect bite or something. I was understandably puzzled by her request. I looked, told her I had no idea and sent her to the local animal supply store for a better answer. Turns out, she had “heard” I was a vet. It made sense to her, I figure, because I did move there with some pets.

The gossip changed periodically, but I was a hot topic for quite a while. My neighbor and friend, Marta, kept me updated. It’s a good thing I was paying attention because they knew things about me that I didn’t even know! I went from a veterinarian to a drug dealer overnight! I just laughed it all off. When someone finally asked me, I was happy to tell the truth: I am a teacher. I must not have had any street cred as a “narcotraficante” (drug dealer) because I was teaching English classes soon after.

The thing about a small town is that threads of kinship, friendship or work connect everyone. I just like to listen; it’s amazing what can be learned by being silent. At least that way I don’t stick my foot in my mouth!

our humble Mexican abode

our humble Mexican abode

All Work and No Play

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I had a chance to go to my first branding this week. This was—and still is—on my bucket list. My body pulled a fast one, and I had to stay home. I was (understandably) quite disappointed. I hope I will have another chance to experience part of the sandhills tradition.

I have realized that most of my time is spent in my books. As a matter of fact, I have read two murder mysteries in the last day and a half. I read for pleasure (obviously) as well as for my grad classes. I work during the school year and pick up extra hours at my second job in the summer. I need to do something else. Something for me. I must find a way to have fun besides reading. I will be selfish with my time when I find out exactly what I want to do for fun. I’d better figure it out fast, though, because my last grad class starts June 9. Even if I don’t figure out my fun outlet before class starts, I’ll still have July and part of August to do something….

Homeschool Possibilities

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Homeschooling can be accomplished in many ways. Some families unschool, others use boxed curriculum, many use an eclectic mix of materials. The possible combinations are endless. That’s the beauty of it, in my humble opinion. One curriculum doesn’t have to fit all.

I was brainstorming recently, and I came up with some things that might fit my child’s learning style. In the past we used Saxon Math. She loved it, and so did I. Math is my weak area, so a tutor might be a wonderful resource as well. For other subjects, she could take some dual credit classes either online or on campus at the local community college. There are science videos, tutorials on YouTube and some cool science websites that have great ideas for projects and experiments. Reading lists are available for classics to study for English; some can double as outside readings in history. Virtual tours and Google Earth can provide hours of learning time. Local museums are often overlooked as learning resources, too. In some communities, professional artists (potters, musicians, dancers, etc.) are available and willing to give lessons under the right circumstances. It is common for homeschooling families to trade off some teaching duties. My specialty is Spanish, so I could teach someone else’s kids Spanish while another parent expert taught mine astronomy, for example.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that parents don’t have to break the bank to teach kids at home. Once you start looking, you’ll be amazed at what you find!