Patience, Grasshopper

I didn't realize it's been 55 years since the Giants have won a World Series. 1954. Only the Cubs have been waiting longer. The Senators/Texas and the Expos/Nationals have never won one, thought they have only been in existence for 49 years. Interesting to note that the city of Washington, D.C. is common to both of those franchises. There is a story there somewhere.

Just Finished a Book

Normally I don't get to read much for pleasure during school as I'm reading papers, or avoiding reading papers. I just finished The Tortilla Curtain. I liked the book and after reading The Grapes of Wrath this summer I find many similarities.



The jest of the story is a "Yuppie" couple living within a soon to be gated community in Topanga Canyon get included in the lives of an illegal immigrant and his wife when the Naturalist Yuppie husband runs his car into the darting immigrant man one evening.

The book asks more questions than it answers, but does open the discussion on immigration, stereotypes and how immigrants influence our society. Some of the mindsets, thoughts and actions are clichéd, but the dialog they should start need to take place if our society is to move on successfully. These thoughts reminded me of the words and actions used against the migrants in The Grapes of Wrath, just a new race and time in history.

The horror and wrongfulness of these actions, words and thoughts are the same though.

Inter- & -Session Don't Add Up

This could be one of those "Fill in the caption" pictures.

"What do you think the Giants chances are in the World Series?"
"I was thinking of planting some apple trees. . ."
"What do you think would happen if you crossed a salmon with a flying fish?"

Actually it was one moment in a wonderful weekend celebrating my mother-in-law's 80th birthday.



Some of the Derrs, Kelloggs and Garvers gathered in Three Rivers at the Bullene's bed and breakfast, Sequoia River Dance B & B, to wish Betty a happy birthday and to see each other. Great weekend and fun times as always.

Half of the Garver's living at home, Annie and Dad, are "off" this week for Intersession. Curious wordsmiths will note that intersession is much like interstate. "Inter- "meaning the connection between two things and "-session" which is the sitting for a course or period of lessons. A short teaching or learning course between two bigger sessions or time periods. Our time off is neither. It is a vacation for some. Originally it was designed for short courses to either enrich or help students catch up in their studies. No learning is going on at school. In fact the office is shut down and teachers are encouraged to stay away to save on electricity.

The problem is if you are playing a sport or coaching, the games go on. Some athletes think it is vacation and don't show up for practice, or games. Some families take their vacations now, and why not. October is great weather in these parts and few others are off at this time. Between coaching baseball and water polo, the Garver's usually have a staycation during intersession. Which isn't so bad, but isn't so great either.

It's just with the break in routine and it is hard to get back into the routine when we return next week. And the students think they are coming back from summer vacation, so a day or two is spent growling to get them back in the "learning" mode.