Retired English Teacher Still Working

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Not working today...
Now that is a phrase that takes some understanding, or does it. The title describes who I am. I am a retired English teacher who is still working.
I just finished a wonderful home cooked meal of split pea soup, crusty French bread and red wine. Now, who can ask for a more satisfying meal than that? I feel completely satisfied. I don’t even want a piece of chocolate! If I were not a retired English teacher, I could not have made split pea soup from scratch today. That is a bonus that comes when one doesn’t work on a regular basis. One can actually cook. If the day starts out gloomy, cold and rainy, as today did, I always think I want to stay home and make soup. Today, I was home, so I made soup. There is something that is good for the soul about making homemade soup and then eating it.
Retired English teacher, who didn’t have to work today also spent almost all of the morning on the computer reading emails, posting a few things on Blackboard for her class she teaches this coming Wednesday, and talking to a daughter who need a listening ear. Since this retired English teacher also needed to make it to Pilates by 1:00 p.m., she had to kick into high gear and get a few things done around the house. Actually, there are a lot of things to be done around the house, but I only had time for the most serious jobs that wouldn’t take much time to do. So, while my dear hubby vacuumed, as he always does, I cleaned mirrors, glass doors and then mopped the floors. Whew that was done just in time to get into my workout clothes and head out to Pilates.

My Pilates class was awesome. I just wish I had been doing this on a more regular basis over the last 20 years. Maybe if I had been doing yoga or Pilates, I wouldn’t be in the shape I’m in. Oh well, there is nothing I can do about the past, so I must be more focused on using the present to get this old body in better shape.

In The Mix

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It has been quite a week around here. Last Saturday night, we went to a Black Tie Dinner with Amy Tan as the guest of honor. Some of you may not know that her brother is the owner of the Abriendo Inn where we had our family pictures taken last year. He had just purchased it last year, so I didn't know he was the owner when we were there. She was here for a family reunion and as a guest of honor for the All Pueblo Reads selection of The Joy Luck Club. As our family did when they were here, Amy Tan's family was also having a portrait done by Leslie in the backyard of the Inn.

Now the Big News: Obama came to town for the second time in about six weeks. This time we decided to go down and be a part of the mix. History was being made after all. I wasn't sure if we had the stamina, but we actually did the whole rally thing and were able to survive it. We got to the line to get in at about 11:00 a.m. It was 81 degrees out, so it was quite warm. The line went from "D" Street on Main, up over the Main Street bridge to nearly Abriendo. We hiked up the hill on to the end of the line and took our place. I had fun talking to the people in line while Jim wandered around talking to friends he saw and etc. The gates opened right at 1:00 p.m. Everything was very well organized. The stage was built to span Union at "D" Street. We were not very far back from the stage, but he chose to go to the north side of the street, which happened to be behind the bleachers for the press, for two reasons. There was shade, and the porta-pots were right behind us. (Men of a certain age will understand why that was necessary.) Actually, we had a nice place and nice people to visit with so the time went by quickly. Obamas, Michele first and the Barack, were finally on stage around 3:15. I caught much of the speech on my camara, but haven't quite figured out how to download it. Anyway, it was a great day and quite exciting.

After the rally, we went to get Mexican food, but decided to go to El Nopol instead of our usual place. But, if you were here, where do you think we would take you? Jorge's right? http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2008/11/02/news/local/doc490d424f5b505269340235.txt Go to the link to find out why we should have gone to Jorges!

I am posting a cute picture of Buster trying to get Jim's oatmeal that I took yesterday and then one of Jim after our long day.