Keep up the good work, Patti! I like what you're teaching those kids!

Kathi, how long has Neil's sister been living with you? I didn't realize that's the sister-in-law you were talking about who's been looking for a job. I thought you meant your brother's wife for some reason.

Just curious if you wore the "slutty" shirt to chaprone? With our without steeltoed boots? Or maybe with the pink sandals...interesting when grown children are giving their opinions about their Moms. Mine is packing and moving to Concord, N.H. tomorrow. He is transferring to the Best Buy Store down there and his girlfriend has a job in Manchester....so they are settling in together. They seem serious so guess this will tell. I'm having one of those Mom moments when you realize they are really adults. He gave me a big hug this morning before leaving for work which made me remember the "little boy". Neil and I are almost alone again.....if his sister moves out soon! She is going to NC this week for a job interview....keep your fingers crossed! Please!!!!! and Happy Thoughts ...............

I was just asking my son Colin who is 23, if the shirt I have on is too slutty for the dance I'm chaperoning tonight. He laughed uproariously and said he couldn't possibly answer me. I think that means yes but I'm just not sure.....

Wow Richard I went right to the site. Her work is magnificent. She is quite an artisan. My goal has been to teach the boys that there is as much room in wood working for women as men and the very same to the girls. But for the girls, well I guess also on a smaller scale to the guys, the concept that wearing steel toe boots doesn't take away from your "femaleness" it just shows you want to protect your feet from falling tools and lumber! I have great photos of my girls in pearls and heels running the radial arm saw other such machinery. It's wonderful stuff. It's mainly a problem of gender identity in the work place. There are no more male bastions.

For me, well I just prefer clean clothes and cute shoes. At least my nails are in good shape!! Enjoy the weekend everyone...............

ya know i got part way into what i was going to say and had to post and run. that is how my life is going. what i was going to say in my last blog is that young women are changing lots- working out with weights to hit golf balls farther, tennis balls harder, and eclipse many male accomplishments of our generation, for example. soooo my point was headed toward saying that we are setting examples for new, striving people that may not find value in the old way to do anything. instead of looking feminine (not that there is anything wrong with it!) letting young women know about the striving women of our generation that broke the ground for them would be a great thing to do. patty, my favorite woodworker is judy kensley mckie (http://www.artworksfoundry.com/artworksgallery/mckie/index.htm). No man has come close to her work as a personal fav for me. that's all. sorry for being smelly and stinky.

We were getting worried that you disappeared, Richard. Good to see you're still around! I don't mind the sitting on the beach by myself eating food with my fingers and reading poetry, but I'll leave the leather jacket at home for now! Patti can speak for herself.

It's really nice that they honored your brother like that, Kathi. Have you heard anything else about the documentary movie?

i care a lot about the challenges you all have expressed. however, it seems like lori is asking for a kick in the ass but has very carefully covered access (is this fair?). hmmmmmmmmm okay lori here it is- fear factor style. you need to put on that sexy leather jacket, go to the open-air market in santa monica beach this saturday. buy some food that you eat with your hands, sit on the grass by yourself reading a copy of ginsberg's "howl" and count the looks that you get from men that are intrigued. let me tell you, if i was there i would be drooling. then you need to write a blog that convinces patty to take the same kick ass attitude with her students. teach by example. come on people! sure we are fifty but . . .

Thanks for the kind words people. I got a kick out of the fashion statements too. Here we have many opportunities to garden with many species both northern and southern I am planning a patio aand small deck finally and the challenge of what to plant as I have much acid in the soil where I am. I am going to the Southern Baptist National Convention in Greensboro next week. It should be informative as well as exciting as we are electing a new President and there are many controversies brewing about canadates etc. We launched our 1st church plant last week and had about 200 attending the service. Its contemporary with full rock band. I loved it. We have a lounge (sort of ) out front first with contenental breakfast etc and media tools to aide in learning. Hope all's well with ya'll.

I like digging around and having things look pretty. Having a gardener is out of the question, so if I want it done...well, guess I have to do it! Today was the dedication for Kevin at the High School Auditorium. It went very well and was tastfully done. This was done as an assembly during school. The Military Science Club was instrumental in getting this in motion and going to the school board to get it passed. It was a very tough fight from what they were telling us. But they worked hard to achieve this goat. The LT Gov was there...he was quite elequent with a message to the kids of getting out and learning about the world around us. One of the guys who was Kevin's truck partner and roommate, and very badly injured spoke. He told the human side of Kev, he made us both smile and tear. I then hosted a "lunch" for family, some friends of Kev's and some of his military buddies. It was really nice to get together with everyone. It was very low key and I could talk with people who knew Kev differently then I did. I think Kevin would have been very humbled by this honor. I am glad the day is over, though! So, Happy Thoughts to all and pray for those soldiers on duty now. Thanks for listening....

So you're teaching them more than the actual subject matter. That's good!

Kathi, it sounds like working in your garden is therapeutic for you. A lot of people say that. I guess I'm too lazy--I just like LOOKING at a beautiful garden!

Interesting. Yes, on boot days I deliberatly dress more "feminine" on the top half of me. With a sexy pair of pink shoes the whole package changes and my personna is more feminine without thinking about it.

I try to show my students that working in the machine tool industry of "shop" related industries dosesn't mean you give up any part of your femininity. I want them to realize that women can do anything men can do and they should (the girls) look at possible careers in these areas. It's good money and very rewarding in many respects. It sometimes takes the boys a bit of time to acept my role in this classroom. My former students are challenged by the switch in roles. The boys and I have had a little conflict but I've managed to win them over for the most part. The girls get over it much more quickly. After this year it won't be as much of an issue because all of the students returning will have been in my classroom. The incoming 6th graders don't have any prior experience and so don't think anything of it.

Isn't it strange how clothes and shoes can change us. Its fun pretending! I have spent the last 2 days doing yardwork. It feels so good to get outside and do things. It has been in the 80s here and sunny. Prefect weather. I planted and weeded and mowed. I would start in one place in the yard and get distracted by doing something else. I still have a flower garden to weed out and plant some more annuals. I made potato salad and we had hamburgers on the outdoor fireplace. Tasted yummy. I hope everyone stops and remembers and wishes for peace for this Memorial Day. It has taken on a whole new meaning to me. Happy Thoughts............