More CSAP Garbage

Well, I've now taken to carrying a tape recorder with me when I pick my son up from school.

Last week my son was very ill and out of school the entire week. We took him to the ER Sunday and he was diagnosed with Bronchitis and sent home on a nebulizer and codeine cough medicine. Monday morning I received a phone call from the ER doctor and was told Ben had strep. So antibiotics were ordered and I called the school to makeup work ready to be picked up.

I was put on hold by the school secretary and suddenly the principal was on the line. Asking me how Ben was and how much he was missed (I started at that point to get suspicious as she's never inquired as to his illnesses that kept him from school before). She then immediately went into another spiel telling me why Ben should take the CSAP (that was coincidentally going on while Ben was sick) It was just a regurgitation of everything covered in the meeting the week before. I said "I'll talk to my husband about it" and hung up.

Later that day as I was picking up Ben's work from his classroom teacher, the teacher accosted me too. Only her approach was much worse. She stated that Ben not taking the test is going to jeopardize the rest of the field trips for the year and the class's participation in an upcoming play. I asked why? She stated that it had to do with percentages of kids taking the test. All I said in response was "Well, maybe the school or class needs to come up with different criteria for participation, especially since the test results don't come back until next year. Then she patted me on the back and said "Well dear, it's your decision".

This conversation took place in front of my son's entire class.

Ben will not be taking the makeup CSAP and I will now begin recording each and every conversation the principal and the teacher has with me.

Organics!

The link provided today is a site called PickYourOwn.org. It's a lists of organic farms in your state.

I want to try to make it easier to buy local for everyone.

What exactly is organic you ask?

For meats it means the animal was given no growth hormones or antibiotics. Which means you and your children are not getting unnecessary hormone or antibiotic exposure.

For vegetables it means that the vegetables are minimally processed and without artificial ingredients or irradiation or toxic fertilizers

I found a site that will help with the meanings of the labels you find it's calledEco-labels.org, which will help you discern between state's labels
Eco-Labels


The other side of the coin is finding foods produced as close to your place of residence as possible. You want to eat as closely to the source as you possibly can. Which means buying from local farmers whenever possible. Many farmers have situations where you can buy shares of their season and be provided with fresh fruit and vegetables all season long.

To get closer to your meat products there is one site in particular that can connect you with local meat producers who graze feed their animals. EatWild


There are many options to bring you and your family closer to the source living. Do some research!

Aging, cafes, eating and kids

Birthday number 44 is fast approaching and this one seems to be the toughest yet. I didn't have a problem with 39 or 40 or 41, but this one is throwing me for a loop.

I think that some of it is due to the fact that I started a second family later in life and am having to wait even longer for my "life" to start. I've been a mom since I was 16 years old, not that I don't love my kids because I do. I'm a better and more patient mom this time around and I wouldn't trade this time for anything. I'm just ready for another phase. I do however, keep hearing my mom's voice in the back of my head telling me that I gave up my life when I decided to have kids. More specifically when I decided to have one at 16, but that's another story.

Patience has never been a virtue of mine and I am so ready to start my cafe or mobile food cafe. I know I can do this, I know I can make this work. I know that I can support myself and my family with my talents. I even think I can get my siblings involved somehow too. I just need that break. I need to figure out how to fund this and I need to do it soon. Before I am old and gray and don't have the energy to pull it off.

I realize that age is just a number but 44 is a shitty, shitty number I'm so afraid that it's going to quickly turn into 45, then 50 and then my kids will be out of the house and Dan will be ready to retire and I still will not have realized my goals.

I am making positive steps, I'm researching menu items and getting ready to sign up for a business plan course, but I'm also afraid that doing all this is just an exercise in futility. I'm at a point of wanting to get on with it or just give up. Not a good place to be, not at all

CSAP Drama Unfolds

I would like from the beginning of this note commend Ben’s teacher and the school’s principal for taking the time to discuss the CSAP testing issue. While I don’t think the conclusion of the meeting was to their liking, they were most gracious and put forth excellent arguments for Ben taking the test.

We had a lively debate regarding the bad and good of standardized testing and standards in general.

I, of course, was the boisterous contrast to my husband’s laid back, “authority” figure. He and I compliment each other well and make a pretty good team. His ability to command attention is the opposite of mine, but most effective and will serve him well in his pursuit of administrative positions in any educational environment.

The pressure for the school in getting the students all on board is immense and the pressure to pass is even more so. And I fully sympathize with the administration’s almost desperate situation. Control of the school hangs in the balance if more and more parents decide that their child shouldn’t be taught to a test.

I will at this point make the point that Ben’s school does a fabulous job balancing teaching the test and including other subjects not covered, providing a good all around education. That is precisely why Ben is attending that particular school. But the principal even conceded that there are many schools who spend their entire day and year teaching children how to and what’s only on the test exclusively.

Ben’s teacher has a heavy emphasis on Science in her class, something that isn’t taught on the test. And my husband and I appreciate that. It’s the fact that not all teachers are as conscientious in this area.

The punitive nature of the testing itself is enough for me to say no to it. There is no reward for doing well on the test. There is only the promise of continued autonomy as long as you are up to par. Not to mention the amount of money it costs to administer and grade the tests.

There are so many reasons that Ben will not be taking the test and the situation would have laid less heavily on my mind had his principal not been so reasonable and agreeable.

What it comes down to is that it’s the principle of the matter, a matter of differing philosophy, an unwillingness to work within the system if working within that system means my child will be taught to take a test. It’s the fact that Federal mandates are bullying our children’s districts and schools to adhere to punitive and negative policies that will keep my children from a full and liberal education.

CSAP Drama Begins!

Well, I just got a phone call from my son's principal regarding the letter sent her last week. She wants to meet with me and Dan regarding Ben's not participating in CSAP testing.

In the phone conversation she started the pressure tactics. Intimating that I don't understand the impact that his not testing will have on the school. But as I have stated before, the school exists for benefit of my child, my child does not exist for the benefit of the school!

To be continued...

Weddings and Moms

My eldest child Todd, is getting married this July. I'm so proud and happy as he picked a delightful young woman to spend his life with

I am trying to come up with something that I can make for them as a keepsake. Something that screams DANDY!

Here's what I don't want

Cute frilly crap! Like in the clipart I just uploaded I don't do cute

I was thinking an altered book of wedding life, but I'm not sure which book to use. Maybe a Maya Angelou (though I feel guilty about even touching or using her words in that way. Kind of a blasphemy) But she's so wise and I could use lines from her books so easily.

I need to find the perfect book. The book that has enough of a love story with enough good lines to make it sweet and enough sappy lines to make it smartassable.

Or I am very good at embroidery but I can't find sort of design that isn't frilly and makes me want to puke.

Anyone who reads this, (though I see few do) with an idea, please post!

Bagels

I have a hankerin' for bagels. Real, chewy doughy bagels. Last night I was reading a comfort foods cookbook and ran across a recipe for bagels that looked fairly easy and made only 18. Eighteen seems a manageable amount to me for a bagel recipe.

I like my bagels rather traditional in flavor. Egg, or plain with sesame or poppy seeds. No fancy shmancy chili bagel with cheddar jack mixed in. A nice plain bagel with a smear of good cream cheese.

In search of a recipe!

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CSAP A Big NO

Today I will be writing a letter to my son’s school opting him out of the state assessment test, The CSAP.

I realize that I am part of the silent minority on this issue, but I’d like to be heard. Finding any sort of support or group of people that feel the way my husband and I do is near impossible. Mainly because most people are blindly accepting the CSAP as a way to make schools “accountable”

I would like to outline my reasons for not allowing my son to take the test. First and foremost among the reasons is the fact that my son does not exist for the school’s benefit; the school exists for my son’s benefit.

My son gains absolutely no benefit by taking this test. The results cannot be used to assess my son on the level he is currently, because the results don’t come back in time to make any personal adjustments for my son. If there were a test that was taken at the beginning of the year and then repeated at the end to measure his progress, that would be a different ball of wax. But that is not the case.

Another reason for opting out is that the anxiety suffered by the children and the emphasis or “teaching to the test” aspect. The pressure for children to pass is very high and the children are being forced to think and literally write inside the box. Emphasis placed on how to take the test, takes away from my son’s learning time. Not to mention the emphasis on “core” subjects that are featured on the test to the neglect of subjects such as Civics, Music, Foreign Language, and most importantly Physical Education.

Other reasons include the fact that the CSAP’s connection to NCLB takes control of my child’s education out of a local level and to the Federal level…with no funding from the Federal level for these initiatives. It costs between 14 and 17 million dollars for the state of Colorado to fund the CSAP. That is taking a great deal of money away from more important school issues, like music education, physical education and school lunch programs, or even higher teacher pay.

The letter went out into the mail this morning, so we should be hearing something soon. Because based on what I’ve heard of the principal, she won’t let this go at a letter.

In conclusion, I’d like to keep the idea and my options open on this issue. I’m not quite clear on how I’m going to follow through with this yet as there does not seem to be a group yet, of parents like me in this area. So, if you read this and are part of District 51 in Colorado, give me a holla'!

Get Your Political Brawl On

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Hand To The Ear

Today's gripe is regarding cell phones. I don't own a cell phone and have no intention of "correcting" that "lack" in my life.

The observations of the uncellphoned are interesting as there are so few of us. I have a few petty grievances regarding the issue, but my main gripe is a social one.

People drive their cars attached to a telephone, walk through the parks attached to cell phones, they even navigate busy grocery stores with one hand on their cart and one with their cell phones to their ears.

I have come to the conclusion that part of the reason, at least, is the fact that those who are unable to go anywhere not connected to a cell phone are at least partially socially inept.

The cell phone keeps you from having to interact with the human beings around you. it's an effective tool for those who are uncomfortable with people. It's also an incredibly rude tool. It keeps the person with who has it attached to his/her head from interacting with real live people in front of them. It minimizes and is insulting to the person that real live thoughtful attention should be directed at.

I honestly do not want to hear any one's cell phone conversation. I don't. I don't care who they are talking to or what they are talking about. I don't like being trapped into listening to personal conversations or even arguments when standing in line.

Before the advent of the cell phone, there weren't long lines at pay phones. What is so urgent that it can't wait until you are in the privacy of your (preferably parked) car? We survived and lived perfectly efficient lives before this invention.

I'm not advocating the loss of cell phones. I am advocating that the cell phones be used as any other phone is used. In private places where your attention divided isn't endangering me and my family and where I don't have to hear your personal conversations.

So, give us non-cell phone users a bit of consideration, and your fellow world traveller. Turn the damn things off at stores, theaters, meetings and doctor's offices and give some attention and consideration to the real life people standing next to you.

On Our Justice System

Years ago I became keenly interested in the death penalty cases and the abuses and oversights used to get our poorest citizens executed. We live in a society that does not value all it's citizens, nor does it treat it's citizens equally in the judicial system.

Recently I began reading The Innocent Man by John Grisham and this book has again sparked my interest in the inequities present in our justice system. This book points out blatant abuses, abuses that have destroyed one man in particular.

Before reading this book I didn't realize that the indigent really don't get fair trials. I knew that they sometimes got less than star representation, but I didn't realize how far the inequality went.

I learned in this book that indigent defendants are only allowed what defense the judge allows, not the same level of representation the state has in pursuing the prosecution of the accused. The state can have paid witnesses and experts, the defense can only have such things, if the court allows for it, which generally has a great deal to do with the economy in the area. So, in other words, the prosecution can bring on big legal experts on a very specialized science subject, but the defense very often is not allowed to use the state's money to find an expert of their own to help defend against the claims of the state.

All these things I find very disturbing and am going to research further.

I'm flabbergasted at the lackadaisical attitude so many court appointed defense attorneys face their clients needs with. I'm blown away that in capital murder cases, some of these defendants are not given access to the money nor the people necessary to defend themselves. That's not just not right, it's unAmerican.

Justice isn't served when people accused of crimes are not given the means to defend themselves.

The new Grisham book has inspired me to do some research on the subject and I found a few organizations dedicated to the rights of the accused. And in the face of our current "victim's rights" agenda regarding our justice system, I say...Thank the stars these organizations exist. Organizations such as The Innocence Project
The Fair Trial Initiative
and American Bar Association's Policies and Guidelines on Indigent Defense

and their August 2005 on needed reforms.

This is just one of the many issues I hope to explore in this blog. Feel free to inspire me with some suggestions or comments.

Turkey Day

Turkey is my least favorite of holiday meals. There are numerous points that I find tedious and pointless in it's preparation. I will try to explain my dislike of this holiday tradition here.

Growing up we always had 5 bajillion people at our house for Thanksgiving and of those 5 bajillion people at our house 3 or 4 of them did any preparation, clearing or cleanup of that celebration. I, was always one of the unlucky ones to drudge through the day.

I'd be up early, excited, as children often are during the holiday season. Anticipating mostly, my uncle Jim and his contribution to the party, which was always booze and junk food! We rarely got junk food at our house and this was a treat, treat, treat. We loved Uncle Jim.

That anticipation and sense of excitement would soon die as my mother put me to work (during the Macy's Parade) on the "relish" tray. YUCK. Slicing pickles, opening cans of ripe olives, smashing up the cranberry sauce. Blah! Then when my uncle showed up with the pate' and caviar and exotic I had to plate and make that attractive.

Then on to the cheese tray, another of my duties. Cutting and arranging various cheeses, pepperonis and an assortment of crackers on trays for everyone else to wolf down in five minutes only to be refilled again by me. And again when my uncle showed with the expensive and exotic (at least to my family, at that time) cheeses and crackers I would have to add and arrange those in the display.

All this time smelling a wonderful HUGE turkey roasting in the oven with it's sausage and sage dressing. It smelled so wonderful!

That is until I didn't notice the smell anymore cuz I was busing helping my mom make the rest of the dinner, setting the table and bringing everything into the dining room.

Then, while I had 4 able-bodied brothers in an incredibly socially enlightened house, who do you suppose did the cleaning up and dishes? The females.

Oh yes, lots to be thankful on Thanksgiving. Shit, I'd love it if I had someone completely cook my dinner, supply me with appetizers, set the table for me, serve the food and clean up.

Unfortunately, that isn't how it worked in my house growing up.

Thanksgiving SUCKS!

Jell-o Pastel Cookies

I made these earlier this week. Very easy. I made cranberry cookies with cherry jell-o sprinkled on top. The recipe made quite a few and they were very tasty

Jell-o Pastel Cookies

3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 pkg. any flavor gelatin, divided
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix flour and baking powder; set aside. Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar and 1 pkg. of the dry gelatin, beating until light and fluffy.

Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well blended after each addition. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with bottom of clean glass.

Sprinkle lightly with remaining pkg. of dry gelatin. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely. Store in covered container at room temperature. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

That Special Yearning

Ever have the nagging feeling that you have something in your life that you are supposed to do or be?

I've always had that feeling, then I found that I am supposed to be an owner of a diner, cafe or catering truck. Now, that dream is still a few years off, but I know it is to be. The thrill I get when I see an old fashioned cafe or diner, the way I feel when I eat somewhere and think "I can do better than that".

I just yesterday watched a show on Foodtv about great Diners in the U.S. and that old feeling came flooding back. The "I can do that" and "I know I'd be great at that" feeling. The feeling that motivates me.

I often wonder if fellow life travelers have those same feelings? Those feelings of just knowing that you are "supposed" to do something special?

I know how nagging that feeling was for me, and how much it made me crazy until I figured out what it is I was supposed to be and until I started taking steps to get me to that place.

Now that I've identified that thing I'm supposed to be, it's not quite so bad having those feelings, especially knowing that I am working toward that goal.

Food to me, is not just nourishment, it's love, it's not enough to satisfy, I have to inspire the senses.

Now, I'm not a fancy-schmancy cook, I'm not all about presentation, though I am pretty good at that too, I am about the flavor and the comfort. The velvet smoothness of a good cheese sauce, the texture of the perfect meatloaf, the warm feeling of an exception chili or soup. The just the right ratio of mash to potatoes. That's what cooking is to me.

Today's Offerings

Today I made a chocolate mint cookie. I used a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe to which I added 2/3 cup of Ghiradelli cocoa, min extract and Ande's Candies Baking pieces. Easy peasy

This week has been hectic and full of drama. More on that later

A quandary

As I was sitting on a bench in a local park, watching my 8 year olds team practicing soccer, I'm listening and occasionally participating in the conversations of 2 of the moms. They were discussing "teaching homosexuality" at school. Now, I was busy dealing with my 4 year old, who was meandering too close to the road and only caught bits and pieces. But the parts I did catch were disturbing.

Mom, number 1 who is an avowed conservative, says "Yeah, in California, they even make kids do homosexual role playing". Where the other mother, the avowed christian, says "Gosh, I hope they don't teach homosexuality here too". Mom #1 replies "Oh, I'm sure they do, but I don't think it's as bad as in California".

Within a few moments of this conversation I point out a young couple walking down the road, saying (being the smartass that I am) "Well, isn't that an attractive couple?". To which Mom #1 replied "God, look at the wiggers". I had absolutely no comment I could make that wouldn't start an argument in front of little kids, so I pretended I didn't hear it. My reasoning for pointing out the young couple was one of purely cosmetic issues, they were sloppily dressed and none too clean. I'm a snob about stuff like that, but her's was of a totally racist and personal nature. I just didn't get it.

So, my quandary is now, how do I deal with mom#1. She's very bright and funny and edgy, but she's a total pig too. Mom #2 is a religious nut who doesn't know any better so I can kind of blow her silliness off. But Mom #1 is just a blatant bigot.

I'll be blogging regarding my issue with this woman and how I react to it over the next few weeks. It should be interesting.

Apple Pies

As I type this, in my oven is an apple/cranberry pie. We bought the last of the apples at our local stand. The stand is closed for the season now and that is rather depressing, no more fresh veggies.:(

Today I am also making an icebox type cookie, the recipe follows. It really is a very, very tasty and easy recipe. I originally got the recipe from a Southern Living cookbook, but have tweaked it a bit. I hope you enjoy

Cinnamon Pecan Icebox Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsps cinnamon

Cream butter gradually adding 3/4 cup sugar and brown sugar, beating well. Add egg and vanilla, beat well.

Combine flour baking powder, and salt, add to creamed mix, beating well. Stir in pecans. Cover and chill 2 hours

Shape into (2) 6" logs. Wrap in wax paper and freeze until firm.

Combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon on a shallow plate. Unwrap frozen logs and roll in sugar.

Slice frozen dough into 1/4" thick slices, place on flat edged, cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 12 - 14 minutes. Cool on wire racks

Why I don't feed my kids supermarket meat

I recently found this article in YahooNews and it was not news to me, but I added it to my reasons for not walking into Walmart and buy their meat.

FRIDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Could a turkey sandwich or a bowl of chicken soup be hazardous to your health?

Poultry has that potential, according to research that suggests people who eat drug-treated poultry may be at increased risk of developing antibiotic resistance.

Still, the findings are preliminary and shouldn't make anyone stop eating chicken or turkey, the study's lead investigator said.

"We don't want to suggest to anyone that they should alter their diet based on this," said Dr. Edward Belongia, director of the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation's Epidemiology Research Center in Wisconsin.

But federal regulators should consider the results as they make rules about the kinds of drugs given to poultry, the investigator added.
Yahoonews

Now take that and imagine what they are feeding your kids in school lunches? Your children might even be ingesting this shit at home.

I was looking for a way to segue into the Whole Food, Organic aspect of my blog and I think I just found it.

If you don't find this sort of situation frightening, you are obviously not paying attention.


There are very simple ways to combat the feeding of your children (or even you)this sort of thing. Don't buy your meat at chain grocers (unless it's an organic or whole food chain). Find a local meat monger, get to know him, ask him about the source of his meat?
http://www.maverickranch.com/ is a good place to start and they sell to many chains and mom and pop stores. Their chicken, while a little smaller than your average SUPER market chicken, is so much more tasty.

The same with your veggies, know where they come from and in the summer months seek out local organic farmers. AND FOR CHRIST'S sake support them! They need you to survive and your bodies will thank you for not adding pesticides to his/her diet. And if you can't find Organic local buyers, at least buy local produce and ask them for a list of pesticides they use.

That is all for now, I shall be researching a good source for finding local, organic farmers and ranchers.