FizzyLizzy

Exactly to whom are you going to give 16 wallet-sized photos of your prom pic?

As part of my bi-yearly blogging regimen, today I am blogging about nylons. Some of you may know them as pantyhose. Today at the Mall of America I overheard one woman telling another (and I'm thinking they were probably mother and daughter) that nylons "dress up an outfit and complete the look." I just had to glance over and see how old this woman was. When I saw that she was most certainly under 50 I wondered to myself, "What cave has she been living in?" Hasn't it been over a decade since sheer nude hose have been considered fashionable legwear? (Now I do realize that some conservative offices require legs of employees to be covered. But that's a uniform, not fashion.) The young woman seemed moderately incredulous, but I really expected her to say something like, "Are you kidding, Mom?!" In fact, she seemed to be buying into the idea. For a moment I wondered if I was the one who was out of touch but then remembered a conversation I had a couple of weeks ago. It was the day before Katherine's birthday and I was talking to Marla about rites-of-passage into teen-hood. She said when she turned 13 she was allowed to wear pantyhose. One of the girls with us had absolutely no idea what Marla was talking about. Katherine wasn't even rock solid but said she thought they were like tights. If 12-year-olds don't even know what they are, they are old-fashioned. In other words, out of fashion.

"Leave it to William to find the oldest book in the school library." That's what Katherine said after we found out that the book he brought home this week was published in 1953. The school was built back in the 1930's so there is a chance that an older book is still waiting to be discovered. The book is Ships of Our Navy. I'd say it's unlikely that any of the ships featured in that book are still in commission.

This was our learning year for the Pinewood Derby. William's "Ratmobile" came in last place in all the heats save one...the one in which another car had flipped off the track. I'm sure he wasn't thrilled with his car's poor showing: "I think the ears slowed it down." But he seemed to take it in stride, getting the most enjoyment out of what you're supposed to--making the car and hanging out with his Cub Scout friends.

This afternoon I brought Katherine and her friend to see Marley and Me at Southdale Mall. I was running a little later than I wanted to, and it being MLK holiday the parking lot was packed. So I decided to drop Katherine and her friend off to get their tickets and snacks while William and I found a place to park. I drove down one of the aisles to the drop-off zone, and there's a mall security van stopped right in the middle of the aisle. I'm waiting for him to move and notice that he is shaking his head at me in his side view mirror. There does not appear to be any sort of situation going on so I'm starting to get confused. I tried to indicate that I would like to get around him and he gets out of the van. I roll down my window and he says, "There's no way you're going to triple park here." Dude. Wow. Not even sure where you got that from. So I said, "I'm just trying to drop them off for a movie." He then got back in the van and moved aside, but his attitude still reeked of smugness for having prevented a parking violation. It's rare that you run into someone that dense. I'm just glad he's only protecting Southdale and not my public safety.

Katherine has some fairly time-consuming science homework due Friday, during an already hectic week. The assignment is to draw three Twin Cities' bridges (for a "D"), label the structural elements (for a "C"), draw three additional examples of bridge types (for a "B"), describe under what conditions an engineer would choose such bridges (for an "A"), and for extra credit find real-life examples of the second three bridges including a picture, location, length, and date of construction. (Whew!) So we brought in the big guns to help her out: my father, the semi-retired civil engineer.

Yesterday afternoon, he came over and had already planned out an itinerary of a few bridges to visit. As they were making the "tour", I was receiving e-mailed photos of the bridges from his phone. This frightened me as one appeared to have been taken as he was driving. I later found out that he had pulled over, but that he also had Katherine out on the highway shoulder. (And I'm only telling you this because I know you will not bust him to Mom. You know who you are.) Who knows what grandfathers are for, if not to do crazy stuff with their grandchildren.



















When they got back he started going all Civil Engineer on us, to the point that even my eyes started to glaze over. He called on his way way home with more bridge knowledge. Then again from his cell phone in his "office" (my old bedroom) to tell Katherine he had e-mailed her more bridge pictures. I think it's hilarious that he sits up there with his laptop and cell phone and makes calls as if there isn't a land line in the house. I'd call it his Man Cave if it weren't still painted canary yellow from stem to stern. But I digress.

This morning when I checked e-mail, he had sent a link to the ASCE Bridges 2009 calendar. (That's American Society of Civil Engineers for those of you not in the know.) It appears to be the engineers' version of Hot Girls of the Big Ten calendar or whatever. And once again, I am only telling you this because I know you will not razz him about it. It is totally adorable. And I think it's awesome that he was able to help Katherine. I think she learned a lot more than she would have without him.

Yesterday we received an e-mail from the principal at Katherine's school about an incident: the discovery of a colored, plastic toy gun outside of the school. I read the e-mail, dismissed it (am I too nonchalant?), and deleted it.

Fast forward a few hours. After picking up Katherine at school, she tells me that she and a friend saw a plastic toy gun outside the school and reported it to one of the teachers when they got in the school. Apparently there is quite a rigorous process for the reporting of a potential "weapon". I thought I was listening to the plot line of CSI. OK, now I'm exaggerating.

I found out that they are planning to "renovate" our neighborhood library. While I can appreciate the need for some updating, I'm a little worried. The Nokomis Library feels cozy to me--like a neighborhood library should be, unlike the behemoth Southdale Library. I like the "old fashioned" architecture of the Nokomis Library.

Facebook has sucked all the energy out of this blog.

I just finished putting on my makeup, and then this e-mail about William's kindergarten teacher arrives. So much for my mascara.

We would like to share the following article which was part of our MPS weekly employee newsletter:

Ruth Lotzer: Kindergarten, start to finish by Lisa Ramirez

In 1995, twelve years into teaching, Ruth Lotzer arrived at a life-altering realization. One that would renew her journey with the class of kindergartners with whom she began her career—and those lucky enough to follow.

Lotzer recollects, “I just thought, ‘Oh my gosh, *this is the year* my first class is graduating! I wonder where they’re at?’”

The question might have stayed a rhetorical one, had it not been for the secretary who overheard her and suggested, “Let’s find out.”

So it happened. The roll call of students from Lotzer’s Morris Park kindergarten class of 1984 was sent to all MPS high schools, with a note asking if any of the students might possibly be graduating seniors in the class of ’95.

Soon “yes” replies came back and Lotzer wrote a letter to that very first class of kindergarten students who knew her as “Miss Goodman.”

The experience was an emotional one and Lotzer considered not doing it again, much the same way she tells herself each year that she won’t cry when her kindergartners leave her for first grade. “But I always do.”

And, so it is with the letters. In this, her 25th of teaching, Lotzer has already sent letters—13 years running—to every graduating student she can locate from every kindergarten class she’s had since. “Each year I say, 'I can’t do it.' Then I say, ‘I have to.’"

Lotzer does more than just write a letter. She includes a copy of the class picture, complete with self-portraits drawn by the kids in their first academic year. "It's such a good feeling. You start them off at the starting line, you want to see them off at the finish.”

The payback is rewarding. "I send the letters at a chaotic time of year. I don't expect letters back. But when they come, it's a bonus."

From the class of 2008, Lotzer received a special bonus, one of her kindergartners, turned Edison graduate, will be attending Lotzer's alma mater, Gustavus Adolphus. "She wrote me the nicest letter and now I'm making arrangements to attend my reunion this fall and I hope to see her there."

Lotzer also receives letters from parents, notes from former students and with tears in her eyes, Lotzer remembers the time she returned to a classroom filled with roses from a grateful student.

“I just want the students to know they made a difference in my life. We’re all in such a hurry, we don’t express what’s important and I want them to know I’m proud of what they've accomplished.”

Ruth Lotzer began her teaching career at Morris Park. Today she teaches at Hale Elementary--the same school she attended as a child; the same school her mother attended as well. She is now getting ready for her 25th class of kindergartners. The senior high school class of 2009 will graduate her 14th kindergarten class.

Dear Flickr,

The word "embiggen," as in "Embiggen small things to fill screen," is not a word. Try using the word "enlarge".

Thanks,
FizzyLizzy

If you think your future sister-in-law is kidding when she says she's using your screen name on your place card, you are mistaken. : )

"But it was the Hungarians who ultimately introduced the first modern perfume. Made of scented oils blended in an alcohol solution, the first modern perfume was made in 1370 at the command of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary and was known throughout Europe as Hungary Water."

--from Wikipedia

Somewhere deep in William's brain are images of the video replayed over and over on the news. But while he was alive at the time, he will never remember.

The taupe-ish vehicle "belonging" to the young woman in this Dunwoody ad is my parents' car. Their actual car. Unfortunately during the taping, a light pole fell on the hood and dinged it.