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Funk up your Summer at Carlsbad's TGIF Concerts

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Nothing says San Diego Summer like a Carlsbad TGIF concert in the park: a sunny ocean breeze, green grass, bronzed skin, a sea of Costco’s Tommy Bahama umbrellas, chairs, wagons and coolers, Table in a Bag, smiling faces, picnic food and drinks, raffles, kids laughter, dancing and live music. Carlsbad’s TGIF Concerts in the Park are a must do every Summer.

In its 34th season, TGIF is a well oiled machine moving about 30,000 concert goers over the course of nine Friday evenings through varied locations and sounds. The series takes you to four of Carlsbad’s parks to enjoy ten bands playing R&B, Soul, Reggae, Salsa, Latin and /or Era music. This smooth operation is thanks to the hard work of many from City Staffers and Departments to a huge army of Volunteers from The Carlsbad Friends of the Arts, the Police Department and many Sponsors.

Music isn't all you experience here. There is an opportunity raffle at every concert and local businesses offer up some very generous and exciting prizes. Buy more must have festival gear here at discounted prices. I bought my Table in a Bag over ten years ago and use it at every TGIF, festival, and camping excursion I attend. Also you'll find wine glass holders and the new and exciting GOVERRE colorful silicone/glass/sippy cup top wine glasses. I bought them in four colors. These "to go", no spill, no break glasses were conceived right here at one of these concerts by two local entrepreneurial gals. Their ingenuity won these ladies the backing of three investors on Shark Tank. You'll also find yummy food at the vendors tents and catering trucks. Kids will enjoy balloon artists and the Family Open Studios where they and you can create art pieces to take home. You will enjoy a safe, open space environment for your family, where your kids can run free like wolves with a pack of other kids, howl with delight and be fiercely protected by watchful eyes all around.

Let us begin our evening. We unload our car and join the Costco Tommy Bahama Gear (CTBG) Train -- hundreds of people armed with umbrellas, oversized chairs, coolers, carry all wagons, rattling its way often uphill and some distance to the venue. (If you don't wish to join this train, you can take a free shuttle). We enjoy the adventure of this train. Young Explorers patrol volunteers and Police Officers direct us safely across roads, paths and into and through the venue. We find our perfect spot on the grass and set up our Table in a Bag, CTB umbrella and chairs, lay out our communally prepared spread and enjoy a frosty beverage. We toast, feast, laugh, relax and converse. . . and people watch. The music begins, the dancing begins and we people watch some more.

This is my favorite part--watching people outside enjoying our lovely San Diego weather; spending quality time with family and friends; discussing politics, their days, their families; joking and laughing; sharing food and drink and enjoying music and life. There are many memorable moments to take in: Kids on Daddy’s shoulders; Mommies multitasking: pouring a glass of wine with the left hand; feeding baby a bottle with the right; Raffle ticket winners running to claim their prizes; swing dancing; young and old couples in love; kids laughing, dancing, doing gymnastics, playing, fighting and, yes, crying. Meltdown hour comes a bit past intermission: a chorus of tears begins, a mass pack up and an exodus equal to about half the CTBG train weaves its way out. We watch without envy, rest and enjoy the extra space and then we head to the dance floor and join the party.

Tonight’s band was Uptown Funk, as the name suggests they play the funky soul beats of Bruno Mars. The massive crowd sang along, danced with their kids, danced as couples on the dance floor or danced to their own drummer. Intermission ushers in the Raffle drawing and echoes of “Winner, winner; chicken dinner” and “It’s me, I won!”. We witness lucky raffle ticket purchasers claiming their loot; goody envelopes full of coupons, gift cards and items from local businesses who donate their services, time or products to support this worthy event. The music begins again. It’s time to spin out. Tired little people begin to run in circles, rumble and tumble until they expend their last bit of energy and fall into a tearful, whining heap and yell their last battle cries “I don’t want to!”

And then it happens: “crack attack!” (we witness at least one at every show), just visible in the space between the back and the seat of the nearby Tommy Bahama chair-- a glimpse of someone’s ”butt cleavage”. It receives giggles all around and a post to Facebook and Instagram. You think us cruel? Many snaps were taken by those around; it probably went viral.

This is a grand evening out-- family, friends, food, drinks, people watching and music-- it is outside and it is free. It gives you a chance to use all that Costco outdoor gear you purchased. Pack a picnic, grab some local fare or visit the on site catering trucks and enjoy a meal and some great music in beautiful Carlsbad, for free for nine Friday evenings throughout the Summer. Go quick because now you only have seven evenings left. This concert goer suggests you plan your next Friday out here: http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/depts/arts/events/tgif

Sir Paul McCartney at Petco Park

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Love, Love me Do, yes Sir Paul, we do love you! At age 77, the Sir Paul McCartney experience has aged like the finest whiskey-- oh so velvety smooth, mellow with a just bit of heat and an good ole fashioned a#* kickin the longer you imbibe. He truly embodies the terms: musician, artist, multi talented, star, legend and the title, Sir.

Petco Park could not do this legend justice. I've never been to Petco, so I was initially impressed when we arrived and found the grand new structure melded to the old existing buildings of downtown. To my dismay and that of thousands of others arriving early to the show, it was jam packed with a miles long security entrance line serpentining like Axl Rose around the city. Once inside and up to the top, the views of the city and the bay are impressive. You are at no loss to find a fine restaurant, bar, craft drink or the usual ball stadium fare. At first it appears that every seat is decent, until you actually sit and realize you are forced to sit at an angle, facing the home plate, the opposite direction of the concert stage. This place was built to be a baseball stadium, not a concert venue. You are forced to sit at an angle and cannot move your legs to the opposite direction or even in the middle direction, the spacing between rows is tighter than a cave crevice and the rows are mountain goat steep. It is no easy task getting up and down, trying to exit over everyone in your row or sitting the wrong way for over three hours. The back pain and leg pain that ensued left me cursing the designer of this seating all night. But by far the worst thing about Petco for concert going is the horrendous echo that travels around the park rendering the artists speech and their slow songs sounding like the town ice cream truck playing garbled hurdy gurdy music.

Now Paul McCartney holds the title the best concert I have seen in my nearly 40 years of concert going, so I looked forward to another and have been informing my husband for years this will be the best concert he has ever seen. As Sir Paul opened, I thought: oh hell no! It took the first two songs for the sound booth to make the appropriate adjustments for the sound to be recognizable. Finally, the third song "Cant Buy Me Love" came on and the magic began to unfold.

Not only is this band simply stellar, they are a delight to watch, each member a stand out personality and incredible musician. You can see and hear they have played together a very long time. The three piece horn section and their perfectly synchronized steps, the very animated, facially expressive and dancing drummer, two amazing guitarists/vocalists, an incredible keyboardist and Paul on bass and piano are perfection together. They performed a repertoire of Paul's career to perfection. Part way through the show, Paul informed us (with an echo) that they knew which songs we liked- their oldies, because they looked out at a sea of twinkling lights that did not appear when they played new songs from Egypt Station. He added, but we don't care we're going to play the new ones anyway. The stadium lit up like a galaxy when they played the next new song. San Diego knows how to respect royalty.

Sir Paul and his band delivered a 3 1/2 hour perfect cocktail of 32 songs and 6 encore songs from the new album Egypt Station, expected classics from The Beatles and Wings, interspersed with personal and Beatles' stories, funny gestures, dances by band members, audience participation, an incredible light show . The show ramped up to a seeming finale of Live and Let Die with a bang of sound, fireworks and lights. Was it over? No, Hey Jude came next. They said goodbye and then returned for 6 more encore songs including Helter Skelter, again with an incredible rocking sound, light show and big screen images to rival any rave. Like I said, a perfectly aged, mellow, smooth, a bit of heat and a good ole fashioned rock and roll a#* kickin from everyone's favorite Sir, Paul McCartney and his Band.

A Vegetarian Samples A Taste of Vista

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 04:00:00 +0000

On a sunny, mild summer San Diego afternoon, I entered Downtown Vista with a commemorative glass, Sip & Taste Stop map and a gold coin in hand to an array of sounds-- live music drifting through the air; sights-- a sea of colors, a bustle of people, strollers, and kids dancing to Greg Douglas Band's rockin jams and, finally; smells-- a cornucopia of culinary delights and libations served up by local chefs, craft brewers, distillers and wine makers.

Welcome to the 10th Annual Taste of Vista, where each chef hopes visitors will ultimately cast the gold coin vote for their culinary sample as the favorite bite. On June 20, 2019 only one will be named the favorite-- winner of the Golden Fork award.

Last year, I reluctantly attended for the first time because I am a vegetarian. If you are a local you know that our town is heavy on meat themed restaurants, so I usually give these events a pass. I found however, this event offers up a fun night out with live music, an occasional veggie option, delicious desserts and drinks, great conversation with chefs, drink masters and fellow “gastro buffs”. As was the case last year, I turned up late at 6 pm, with aching feet from work and hungry, hoping for some vegetarian tastings.

Luckily, right away the live music had me bopping along and I found Ciao Ristorante offering ziti and sauce with capers and olives, bruschetta and a light, tasty cream puff with chocolate sauce. Next I hit Mothers Provisions where I had a peppery, savory seasoned bruschetta on a crispy crusted bread- It was delicious. I almost gave my coin here. But having just arrived, I saved my final decision for later. Out on the street I heard ravings about the “waffles”, so I headed to Sunrise Cafe for a fresh, hot waffle with strawberries and cream-- just like home.

I passed many Taste Stops with long lines and people raving about the sample. I watched with jealousy as my friend enjoyed sample after sample of marvelously presented, exotic samples containing meat. I should mention and am sorry that I missed the entire “new downtown“ area of offerings because of my aching feet, I forgot there was a shuttle and was pressed for time. What I didn’t miss, and to my vegetarian delight, was the CSA where I signed on for local farm fresh produce delivery right to my door.

I came upon Vista Way Cafe for bread pudding with buttered rum sauce-- one of the best bread puddings I’ve ever had--on my list for a coin. Next Flying Pig, to my surprise, I wasn’t offered meat but instead a fresh banana “pudding”. Each sample was beautifully presented in a little cup, a healthy dollop of light creamy pudding with a fresh banana floating inside and finished with crumble topping. Expecting a pork entry, I asked why there was no meat entry. They replied everyone expects they offer pork. They chose to showcase their ability to create “delicious, freshly made meals using locally sourced ingredients in the Southern style”. This meticulously prepared dessert did exactly that. Oh my goodness!-- I placed my coin.

Resigned I wouldn’t find more veggie options in the area, I moved onto the Sip Stops. To my dismay, the wine stops had very long lines and with limited time, I opted to move on. I sampled beers from Booze Brothers, Eppig, Belching Beaver, Prohibition, Wavelength and Ebullition, meade and cider from Twisted Horn, and a rye whiskey from Henebery. My favorite sip stop was Ebullition. They offered 2 delicious options: a strawberry honey Pale Ale and a chocolatey Porter aged on fresh vanilla which could be poured together for a “Neopolitan” -- so clever and delicious! This place aims to please, “give them a shout out, state the area you hail from with the drink you miss and they will work on it”. For example those from UK or the East coast can find a classic Black and Tan or a Snakebite.

I enjoyed a mild Summer night in town complete with sounds from 3 different live musicians/bands, talked to many creative, passionate chefs and libation masters, signed up for CSA farm fresh delivery to my door and tasted some good food and drink. This vegetarian went home drunk on sugar from carbs, desserts and beer and ate a quesadilla. I will attend again next year, perhaps having eaten something first.

So did a meat inspired dish win this year’s award? No, a good old fashioned just like home cooked option did-- the one I had heard so many murmurings about that I sought out their booth. This year’s Golden Fork winner is Sunrise Cafe and their fresh, warm waffle with strawberries and cream-- Taste of Vista, taste of home, yum!

Flight Safety

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000

One of our littles returned from a 4 week stint in Italy. On his first day back I asked him what fun things he did while there. He exclaimed in his 4 1/2 year old manner: "I saw a movie on the plane!" Thinking he saw a newly released kids film, I prodded for more detail. He excitedly recited: "we saw a movie about the plane making a water landing!" I almost peed my pants, tryng to hold in my laughter. He went on to say the air masks would fall out of a little hole in the ceiling and his seat cushion could be used as a flotation device in the water.

After some more discussion we agreed nobody wanted to land a plane in the water. Little did I know, nobody wanted NOT to water land more than this poor little guy!

While this was very humorous, I later asked his Dad about why this was the only thing he seemed to remember. Was it because he was so tired from the trip and this was the last thing he remembered? Dad then reminded me how fearful his son is of water-- pools, getting his hair wet, and then shared that his son was so terrified when he heard the plane might land in the water, that a thorough review of the safety information was the only way to calm him down. It was clear it was a quite traumatic for his 4 year old.

Just a reminder that Flight Safety includes a little person's loving parent-- a little boy's very own flotation device.

Diarrhea Days

Thu, 16 Oct 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Has your pet ever woken you every half hour of the night to potty? Are you viewing a poosplosion in your house? Has your child's diaper exploded? Do you feel all you do is clean doodoo? Is verbal diarrhea annoying you? (the neighborhood dog or worse, yours never stops barking; the ignorant customer service phone rep who clearly is not going to help you rambles on about how sorry they are but offers no solution). Did you receive a" plan your funeral packet" in your mailbox? Did someone leave your cake out in the rain? (I digress). Do you ever just feel your day is S**T?!

These are Diarrhea Days. Dirty, dark days that just seem to go from bad to worse. No matter how much you clean up the mess, you find yourself in a quicksand of doody, slowly being sucked down into the mire.

What is the answer? One big FLUSH.

Cleanse yourself. . . of the negative thoughts, the verbal diarrhea, the poop that just keeps coming. Recognize it for what it is. . . my littles in daycare would point at it and loudly announce "DOODOO!"

Let go and then flush it away. How? Rehydrate with laughter, a nice hot cup of herbal tea or a glass of wine, yoga, a walk, song, dance, a child's smile, the wag of your pet's tail, or a hearty chat with a good friend, more laughter.

Diarrhea will make its quick exit and Tomorrow is another day.

Using Art & Music in Our Infant Curriculum

Fri, 10 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Using Art and Music in our Infant Curriculum

How does emergent curriculum work for our youngest learners? How can infants be included in mixed age group curriculum?

Infants can be included in many imaginative ways. A 3 - 4 month old is actively exploring with his hands, learning to grasp, hitting hanging objects to produce a desired effect, grasping using fingers, and holding toys and his bottle. He is starting to kick and push his body up and roll over by leveraging with his feet.

So this past week we've been focusing on Hands and Feet. Each day we look at the letters H and F. We trace the letters with our fingers in a sensory alphabet book My First Touch & Trace, First ABC and via using foam letters. We read books: Baby Einstein AlphaBooks: H-Hands and F-Feet; Dr. Seuss' The Foot Book, and Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. We read Sensory Books and touch the different textures: Baby Touch and Feel's: Farm Animals and Cuddly Animals. We sing rhymes and songs: This Little Piggy; This is Me; Handsome Hands (cleanup song).

Engaging in music, while practicing fine and gross motor skills is easy too. Small Maracas, rattles and egg shakers allow baby to hold various shapes, while using his arm and hands to shake them and produce music. Holding a tambourine at baby's feet, and helping him contact it with his foot while saying kick with your feet, produces a new sound. This creates excitement and encourages baby to kick on his own. A drum maybe used as well. We also use these instruments for baby's hands and say touch or push with your hand. We hang the tambourine from a play gym, where baby can kick on his own or hit with his hands and produce his own music, while practicing motor skills on a moving target.

At the end of this week we created a Mother's Day card. We painted baby's toes while saying we are making Mommy a present. We are painting your toes with green paint and we press it on the paper to start a butterfly. Next we say: "now we'll paint your foot with green paint"; baby curls his toes from the feel of the soft brush, Facilitator says: "It is soft and tickles! We press your foot and make the leaves and two caterpillars-- one, two. Now we clean your feet". We sing a song while we clean baby's feet. "Now we are going to make beautiful butterfly wings, we paint your hand with orange paint" Baby squishes the paint between his fingers and laughs. The Facilitator says: "Paint is soft and squishy in your fingers!" and "now we press your hand to the paper this way, up and now that way, down. Look how pretty!" We clean baby's hands and sing Handsome Hands.

After the picture dries, The Facilitator adds the body part names: Hands near the wings, Toes near the body and Feet near the caterpillars/leaves, she also adds some finishing touches, like defining lines and a flower with markers and writes a greeting from Baby to Mommy and reads it to baby. The Facilitator tells baby "let's take your picture for Mommy" she takes baby's picture holding the card and pastes it on the inside of the card with a special note to Mommy. Baby has experienced a culminating activity to all of his learning about Hands and Feet over the past week. He has experienced art and we have created documentation of this process through a beautiful piece of art, while creating a moment in time keepsake for Mommy.

Relax We're Camping

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

My husband, our dog-- Louis, and I went camping in Idyllwild in our "new to us" Aliner pop up camper this weekend. The phrase of the weekend: "(oh well or don't worry) we're camping". This is a new attitude from my hubby when it comes to his gourmet cooking style.

In our camping past we've tiffed over this topic, as I would exclaim: "just throw some veggie burgers or dogs on the grill, some beans in a pot and some potatoes in foil and be done with it". He won't hear of it and I admit this refusal is to my delight once his camping meal is delivered.

Even in the great outdoors he is a chef. We have a collection of exotic herbs, a collection of ingredients that mirrors those from home-- artisan bread and cheese, a hand held mini coffee frother and Bodum Travel French Press, every kind of pan and his favorite knife, which we forgot and should have been a tense moment to which he blurted out for the first time "Oh well, we're camping". Our meals did not suffer.

We tried out a fabulous new Nordic Ware omelette pan my Mom sent. It made an amazingly fluffy and perfectly shaped omelette. And it was delicious, which is nothing to do with the pan. But the ease of use and presentation were perfection.

Speaking of perfection-- Idyllwild. This is the quiet I seek when I take refuge in the great outdoors! It is absolutely beautiful with its twisted, smooth trunked Manzanita trees and towering Pines. We camped at the State Park within walking distance to downtown. It is a well laid out, small campground with exceedingly clean bathrooms and showers. The Ranger was a very nice man who stayed open when we arrived late to purchase firewood, because he saw us running up to the station.

A morning in downtown turned into a shopping frenzy where I purchased bags full of items for the daycare-- wind chimes, wind socks, garden spinners, a welcome flag and some personal items; a much needed purse, a dog toy for Louis and a fantastic sequined beret hat for our crazy karaoke nights. At the register, I commented on how much we spent, to which my husband replied again: "We're camping". And I relaxed and thought ah, yes, camping (and shopping!-- wink, wink, ladies).

Get a Dog

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 06:00:00 +0000

This is a tale, no pun intended, well ok it is, of a girl who dreamed of being a Mother when she grew up. Actually it is an ode to all girls, now women, out there, who foolishly believed that they would be a Mother one day. It is also a tale of a woman who was a cat person until a dog wandered into her life at the height of her quest toward Motherhood.

Practice Makes Perfect

She grew up reading the Little Golden Book “Little Mommy” over and over again. She was an expert swaddler with her dollies and her cat, Fluffer (she didn't know this word meant anything other than very fluffy). When her youngest brother entered the picture, she swaddled him and carried him around and dressed him up too. She was a natural caregiver-- she rescued baby animals and strays and still does.

Her Life Plan

Go to college. Graduate College. Get a job in Advertising. Travel. Get Married by 28. Own a home. Have three children. Travel. Become a writer. Become a Grandmother. Travel. Die, happy.

Teaching

Her students asked her on her first day; do you have any children? She said No, I'm not married! Her students said, so?! She was shocked. Later that year, they asked her if she was pregnant; again she said no; I'm not married. It was her beer belly. She went on a diet. One day she announced she was getting married.

When Are You Going to Have Children?

On the day she reported she was getting married to her family and her students, the first thing they all said was when are you going to have children? She replied; I'm not even married yet! She thought nothing of the fact that she'd be 33 by the time she actually married. People were having children at much later ages nowadays.

San Diego

She left teaching, got married, moved to San Diego and started a new life. Her husband was not ready for kids. Children could wait until she was settled, had steady income and a house of her own.

A Home of Their Own

They lay on the floor of their new home rejoicing at last that "we have something that is ours, a little piece of the world. We must build our nest and nest egg before fledglings can join us". They worked very hard on improving their home, developing their business and finally trying to have kids.

A Stray Dog

She sees a very cute dog wandering the neighborhood for a few months. On the day the giant Eucalyptus tree that has been threatening their home is being cut down; this dog comes on the property. She feeds him, he is emaciated and starving. He comes everyday. She plays ball with him. She feels she understands this dog. She asks him what he wants to be called. In her head she hears "Chester". People laugh at this name; they name him Oliver Twist.

They decide to take him in. They discover he used to live down the street. Another neighbor has known him since he was a pup; his name was "Chester".

The dog has wanderlust. They build their first fencing to keep him from running off. He begins attacking people who visit. They bring him to training.

A Doctor's Advice

There are still no children. She goes to the baby Doctor with her husband. The Doctor tells her: "Get a Dog". She wants to scream at him, but replies instead: "I have one!" He sends them to a specialist. He tells her we can implant a 20 year old's embryos for many thousands of dollars and MAYBE it will work. He tells her more things she would rather not hear. They decide they don't want a baby that bad.

Dog Walk

She has become very good friends with this dog. She walks all over town with him. The dog bites more people, but only at the house. They build more fences. Trainers come to the house. He sees vets. They build more fences. They justify keeping him, they must be bad dog owners. They implement other safeguards. He attacks more people. They change his diet. They get him medication. The vet tells them maybe they should put him down.

She feels that she has been given this dog instead of a child. If she had a child with issues, no one would suggest "putting it down" or giving up on trying. She resolves to do whatever it takes to keep the dog safely out of others reach, for his safety and theirs. He bites the one person he has known all of his life, twice in one summer!

DogWalk becomes GodWalk

They have never witnessed one of Oliver's attacks. It is quick, unprovoked and violent. She realizes that if it were a child he attacked, he would have maimed or worse killed that child. She thinks of all the friends and family he has scarred. It cannot go on anymore. He is getting worse. They make the worst decision of their lives.

He trustingly gives her his paw. The vet injects sleeping juice and then the poison. The dog gives her a look she can never forget and he fights it. She wants to yell; I changed my mind! But it is too late. He passes away peacefully in their arms at the vet. They cry for days, weeks, months. She cries now to retell it. She misses this dog very much; she struggles with the why-- why she would have to be given such a gift instead of another and then such hardship and hard decision.

She realizes it is the way of the universe. She has come to terms with being a cat person and an Aunt.

She has gotten another dog. He is a good, friendly dog and she is still a bad dog owner. . . .

Reflections of a Teacher 2

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 06:00:00 +0000

My philosophy on teaching sprouts from my childhood experiences in Connecticut with nature, exploring the woods, a backyard swamp and winding brook that surrounded our property; camping, crafting, gardening and being in organizations such as Girl Scouting, Grange and the Future Farmers of America.

Later, my work in art, organizing and design refined my thoughts on the importance the effect spaces we occupy have on us. My experiences with stewardship, being organized, remaining mindful, taking pride in one's work, creating, respecting nature, our planet, each other, and spaces we occupy, and enjoying the little things serve as invaluable life lessons I seek to employ in my teaching.

A more thorough understanding of the creative and natural process of things now plays into my methods. From chaos and even destruction comes creation. Build a tower, the little person knocks it down before it’s finished-- Cause and Effect. You build it again differently, the child helps, it’s down again-- Observation and Practice. One day the child builds a tower with a bridge on their own-- Mastery.

Learning and Creation take practice, patience and time. It is a gradual process. It is ongoing and lifelong. Everyone approaches life and learning differently.

Some little people are natural organizers, some prefer chaos, some paint, dance, or sing, some read or think in numbers, some make mud pies or collect bugs, some daydream; they all want to BE as they are and Become everything they can be. “The child has a hundred ways.” -- Loris Malaguzzi. And so this is how I came to be Reggio Emilia inspired.

Reflections of a Teacher

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 06:00:00 +0000

On my first day of high school teaching, one of my students yelled out "we'll sue you!" I replied "Go ahead, I am poor, I don't have a house and have college debt; see how far you will get." They never threatened that again. I quickly learned that I would be tested constantly and that I had to be one step ahead and never shocked by what they might say and that often they did not mean it. In fact I very often had turn away because I was laughing so hard and didn't want them to know.

I loved my first position as a High School English teacher who helped develop and run the Freshman Curriculum in the Inland LA area. My position was part of a government funded program called Classroom Reduction. I had classes between 4 - 20 students, allowing me time to work with each student individually. I fought to teach them the real version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet; rather than the easy reading version the school was using. I was so proud of my ESL students when they enthusiastically wanted to read aloud and were the only ones who performed scenes in actual Shakespearean language. I Co-Directed the school play, ran clubs, helped with Track & Field. I worked closely with the English and Counseling Departments and with the School Attendance/Discipline Director on a drug task force. I experienced great joy in my job every day. The funding ran out and my position was no longer available. Actually, I found out years later, what really happened was a higher up at the school was having an affair with the teacher who took the space available. . . .

Next I became an English Teacher in LAUSD. My first week I was in a trailer with 65 students sitting on the floor, at desks and on top of them. I was a young twenty something with over half of those students being 18 year old boys sitting within inches of and at eye level with my behind.

When the Department Head approached me to start up and run the Reading Lab Program as the Reading Lab Coordinator for the English Dept., I jumped at it. I had to scrounge for furnishings, books, computers, buy a blackboard and many of my own materials and supplies. My classroom was a tiny teacher lounge outside of a bathroom. Thankfully we were located in the Special Education Building where I sought out and received a great deal of advice on my students’ issues. I also worked closely with the ESL Department.

In this position, I encountered many students who had been failed by our system. Many of my fellow teachers took advantage by passing on their "discipline problem" students to me. I discovered the source of these issues. Many had unidentified issues in learning, such as: vision and hearing problems, dyslexia, non mastery of the English language and placement in courses requiring mastery; many simply were reading at 1st and 2nd grade level or were nonreaders and were 14 - 21 years old, trying to pass high school level courses. That was only the beginning of their issues, they had behavior/disciplinary problems at and outside of school, they had problems at home, were neglected, many were gang members. Most had experienced a lifetime of failure and had low esteem.

Every 8 weeks I had to try to help a new group of them. I loved these students, probably too much. They told me all of their problems. Together we worked on them. Many of them finally understood the reasons for the failure they experienced, others’ problems were identified and corrections offered-- sometimes as simple as wear your eye glasses in class; sit in the front of the room-- many just gained some self esteem, they all discovered the joy of reading. Somehow 8 weeks had to make up for a lifetime. . . .

Unlike my first job, I did not love the system I was working in nor the conditions I worked under. I felt I was putting a child sized band aid on a life threatening wound and became depressed and burnt out. I was pressured to "fix grades" so the school could receive funding. I was unsupported by my own department. I was beyond overworked. I cried everyday, I cried for my students and all the problems I could not fix, I cried at the unfair system we live in, I cried for the wasted time, the loss to our society, I cried because I was emotionally, mentally and physically drained. After only 2 years teaching here year round, 7 classes per day, I had to take a break from teaching.

I had a long hiatus from teaching during which I got married, moved to San Diego, become a mosaic tile artist and then partnered with my husband in our remodeling and design company and hoped to start a family. Unfortunately, we were unable to have children. So we spent our time with friends, neighbors, family and their children. I have always missed teaching. A long time has passed and after a period of having served as a Nanny to an infant for a year and hearing the frustrations friends had finding daycare for their children, I realized this was a niche I could fill and I decided to return to my original calling.

LittleLiving was hatched-- a Reggio Emilia inspired licensed home infant/toddler learning center and daycare. This time I want to experience the other end of the spectrum. I hope to work with children, full of the joy and desire for learning. I will build solid foundations, instill the joy of reading, identify any issues early, work together with parents and prepare these children for a lifetime of success. I promise to provide a homelike, safe, nature infused environment with a small student to teacher ratio of no more than 6 to 1. I promise to allow children to BE little and nurture them to Become all they dream to be!