There is a season that falls between summer and autumn. You can identify it by the sound of acorns falling on the roof and lawnmowers on the same day. It happens when the nicely spaced and staked tomato plants explode out of the top of their cages and droop over onto the patio, while still bearing an abundance of fruit. The neatly caged cucumber plant has crept out of its enclosure and is trying to pull the tomato plants back into the garden. The carrots that were planted far too abundantly have grown into a thick border, with hundreds of mishapen carrots underground. And over it all the volunnteer hummingbird vine has appeared and woven an all encompassing net which is far too attractive to pull up.
Whatever it is called that season is here, at least in my backyard.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Another summer gone already
Well, somehow my 6 week summer break has flown by already. I go back to work on Monday at my new school. Don't tell anyone, but I am a little scared about the move. There are many new co-workers to meet and names to remember, training to receive and training to give, procedures to learn and procedures to establish. Overall, I think I'd prefer to crawl back under the covers and sleep for a few more weeks.
What if I forgot everything I know? What if nobody likes me? What if I mess up? What if I let my boss down? What if...
I suppose I would check my notes, like them anyway, get used to messing up, and apologize and move on to the next project. That's what I've done so far and it has worked out pretty well.
One of the best bits of advice I got about my job was passed down to me from the previous secretary who wrote it down when it was passed on to her by her predecessor:
"You will always be interrupted. You will always make mistakes. Get over it."
Most useful secretarial hint around.
What if I forgot everything I know? What if nobody likes me? What if I mess up? What if I let my boss down? What if...
I suppose I would check my notes, like them anyway, get used to messing up, and apologize and move on to the next project. That's what I've done so far and it has worked out pretty well.
One of the best bits of advice I got about my job was passed down to me from the previous secretary who wrote it down when it was passed on to her by her predecessor:
"You will always be interrupted. You will always make mistakes. Get over it."
Most useful secretarial hint around.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Thoughts on social networking
First we started blogs to keep our friends up to date with our lives. We usually used them as a journal of sorts to share about our activities and thoughts. Posting once a day or a few times a week was keeping pretty current. Entries could be long and thoughtful or short and sweet. Then you could throw in some pictures of the new house or baby. People could leave comments and share their thoughts. Kind of like an ongoing Christmas card.
Then we had our social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. Now we could share more details, find old friends and update our status several times a day. We could connect with old friends and show the world what they looked like in fifth grade. This seemed more like having friends over for coffee and some good conversation.
Now comea Twitter, the ADD network. You are supposed to share snippets of your day while on the go, and do it in 140 characters or less. I think that is more like opening the window while driving and shouting at people on the sidewalk as you speed past.
The funny part is, I have all three.
:o)
Then we had our social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. Now we could share more details, find old friends and update our status several times a day. We could connect with old friends and show the world what they looked like in fifth grade. This seemed more like having friends over for coffee and some good conversation.
Now comea Twitter, the ADD network. You are supposed to share snippets of your day while on the go, and do it in 140 characters or less. I think that is more like opening the window while driving and shouting at people on the sidewalk as you speed past.
The funny part is, I have all three.
:o)
Monday, June 22, 2009
Unexpected Changes
This fall will be the first time in 14 years that I will not be at McGavock Elementary. All three of my children have attended there and for the past three years I have been on staff as the secretary/bookkeeper. I assummed I would stay there at my neighborhood school for the next 20 or so years, but I was wrong in my assumptions.
The MNPS superintendent decided to "Fresh Start" several schools that were not progressing academically. Now, McGavock has been progressing very well, thank you very much. So well that our Principal is moving to Napier Elementary School, and I am going with her.
I am very sad to be leaving McGavock. Over the years it has become home and the staff and teachers are part of our extended family. I am sure that the move from my neighborhood school to an inter-city school is the right one for me at this time. It will be an adventure and calling that will definitely stretch me and all of the team that is signing up to be part of Team Napier. However, it is a very bittersweet time as well.
Someone asked me the other day if I was happy about the move. After thinking about it I don't think "happy" is the right word. I am excited, scared, energized and content, but it makes my heart ache to leave my McGavock family and my neighborhood cocoon.
Please pray as we go through this time of transition and ask the Lord to cover everyone effected with peace and vision for the future. And don't forget to volunteer at a school, wherever you may live.
The MNPS superintendent decided to "Fresh Start" several schools that were not progressing academically. Now, McGavock has been progressing very well, thank you very much. So well that our Principal is moving to Napier Elementary School, and I am going with her.
I am very sad to be leaving McGavock. Over the years it has become home and the staff and teachers are part of our extended family. I am sure that the move from my neighborhood school to an inter-city school is the right one for me at this time. It will be an adventure and calling that will definitely stretch me and all of the team that is signing up to be part of Team Napier. However, it is a very bittersweet time as well.
Someone asked me the other day if I was happy about the move. After thinking about it I don't think "happy" is the right word. I am excited, scared, energized and content, but it makes my heart ache to leave my McGavock family and my neighborhood cocoon.
Please pray as we go through this time of transition and ask the Lord to cover everyone effected with peace and vision for the future. And don't forget to volunteer at a school, wherever you may live.
Father's Day
It's a wonderful testimony to my dear husband that when he asked them what he could do to be a better father their only response was that they would like to hang out with him more. As Katie put it, even if we aren't doing the same thing it just feels better when we are all in the same room.
The down side is that we got so busy that I missed speaking with my dad. Hopefully I will catch up with him this afternoon. I love my Daddy!
The down side is that we got so busy that I missed speaking with my dad. Hopefully I will catch up with him this afternoon. I love my Daddy!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Melinda Knott's update on John
Dear Friends,
God is good 24/7. As most of you know, John was to come home this week. When I arrived at the hospital this morning, we were told that today was the day! I was not ready. Our home was not yet set up with the necessary furnishings for him to recuperate in our living room. I was frantic! But, we accepted the situation knowing that God would help us find a way and provide the necessary help.
We were packing up. The bandages were changed and the new wound vacs that insurance would cover at home were in place and we had spoken with the home health care folks. As the wound care nurse was putting away her supplies and cleaning up, social services came in (12:00 noon) and said that Blue Cross Blue Shield had approved John for in-patient rehab services at Skyline Medical Center! We were both pleasantly surprised. This was something that John felt he needed from the very beginning.
When we arrived (5:20 p.m. you know, hospital time) he was admitted and given a thorough evaluation by the doctor in charge of rehab services. We were told that everyone would put their heads together and come up with a plan to get John up and going again. The doctor said that he would be at Skyline a week and a half to two weeks. He has his first session tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. and will have 3 hours of rehab each day. They will also train me on helping him get up and down and moving from the bed to a chair. He is not to try to get up on his own, mainly because of balance problems. We are so relieved. We feel that this will give John a much better chance at a full recovery. If you want to drop him a card, he is in room 206. Again thank you for all or your prayers in his behalf.
Sincerely,
Melinda
John and Melinda Knott
God is good 24/7. As most of you know, John was to come home this week. When I arrived at the hospital this morning, we were told that today was the day! I was not ready. Our home was not yet set up with the necessary furnishings for him to recuperate in our living room. I was frantic! But, we accepted the situation knowing that God would help us find a way and provide the necessary help.
We were packing up. The bandages were changed and the new wound vacs that insurance would cover at home were in place and we had spoken with the home health care folks. As the wound care nurse was putting away her supplies and cleaning up, social services came in (12:00 noon) and said that Blue Cross Blue Shield had approved John for in-patient rehab services at Skyline Medical Center! We were both pleasantly surprised. This was something that John felt he needed from the very beginning.
When we arrived (5:20 p.m. you know, hospital time) he was admitted and given a thorough evaluation by the doctor in charge of rehab services. We were told that everyone would put their heads together and come up with a plan to get John up and going again. The doctor said that he would be at Skyline a week and a half to two weeks. He has his first session tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. and will have 3 hours of rehab each day. They will also train me on helping him get up and down and moving from the bed to a chair. He is not to try to get up on his own, mainly because of balance problems. We are so relieved. We feel that this will give John a much better chance at a full recovery. If you want to drop him a card, he is in room 206. Again thank you for all or your prayers in his behalf.
Sincerely,
Melinda
John and Melinda Knott
Monday, June 15, 2009
John Knott Update
Good News! John had successful heart surgery last week, and is actually scheduled to go home from the hospital tomorrow. Hurray!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Broken Window
Well, all those years of telling the kids to not play ball in the house apparently didn't quite sink in. Nicholas spent the night at a friend's house last night and he broke a window while, you guessed it, they were playing ball in the house. No one was hurt, other than being really scared. (As well they should have been!)
Nick apologized and they were gracious with him, but the fact is they still had to spend time and money to replace the window. (Nicholas now owes them several hours of yardwork.)
And this is not a characteristic limited to boys. Katie learned this lesson the hard way, too. The one time she played around with the boys at home she knocked over a glass vase which broke into a million or so pieces.
Let me repeat it again for all of you, "DO NOT PLAY BALL IN THE HOUSE."
Nick apologized and they were gracious with him, but the fact is they still had to spend time and money to replace the window. (Nicholas now owes them several hours of yardwork.)
And this is not a characteristic limited to boys. Katie learned this lesson the hard way, too. The one time she played around with the boys at home she knocked over a glass vase which broke into a million or so pieces.
Let me repeat it again for all of you, "DO NOT PLAY BALL IN THE HOUSE."
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