Wednesday, February 2, 2011

150 Followers! WOW!

Here I am, home on a snow day, having gotten the call at 4:20 this morning. I just came in from my first shoveling session of the day (about 1/2 foot of fresh heavy snow so far, and probably another 1/2 foot left to come). They say the snow will stop by 7:00am tomorrow, so maybe we'll have a delay tomorrow. Unlike those of you in other regions, this snow won't stop us for long. Some of our high school students were talking yesterday about using the snow day (which was strongly anticipated) to ski at Gore Mountain, a nice ski center about 1/2 hour away from the school. So try to understand this parent philosophy: the weather isn't safe to run the buses, but what the heck, give the teen the car and let him drive (with a few friends) 1/2 hour on hilly lonely country roads to go skiing!
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Anyhow, I figured I'd take a computer break, and I clicked on my blogger dashboard and voila! 150 followers!! I can't believe that 150 people actually think that what I say is worth reading. Thanks! I'd like to do something special to thank you -a random give-a-way or something, but I need a few days to figure it out. I hope you'll check back and see what I come up with.
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Here's my worry though - I feel like I've gotten to know some of you pretty well after almost a year of blogging, and I worry that I can't keep up. I read/follow a lot of blogs, love them all, and also like to take the time to comment and to respond to comments left on my blog. So bear with me if I don't get back to you right away. I have to remember my primary responsibilities are to my family and my job (and today, to my sidewalk!).
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A word about the sidewalks, family, and human nature. I used to love my cozy neighborhood, but over the years a number of houses have become rentals and the tenants are a disappointment. Today shoveling was hard work; I was trying to toss shovelsful (or is it shovelfuls?) of snow onto banks that reaching toward my 5' height. And a neighbor across the street was snowblowing (we don't own a blower; my husband refuses), and had his blower aimed... you guessed it; over a snowbank right onto me and my newly shoveled sidewalk, as well as my husband's car. I stood there and stared at him as my sidewalk filled in and he kept right at it. I didn't realize my husband, who was shoveling in the back, had seen this, until he told me he called the police when he saw the snow hitting ME (I was so bundled with hat/scarf/hood that I didn't realize it was landing on me at first). We've been on the street about 25 years, and this was a first. We used to help shovel each OTHER's driveways.
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I've noticed this change elsewhere too; you stop when driving your car and wave to let someone cross a street and they amble across without nary a hand up to say thanks. Or a kid talks back to you in school the way you wouldn't have DREAMED of speaking to an adult when you were a kid. I'm sure you know what I mean. I hope my 22 year old son, as he makes his way in the world, remembers that he was brought up to be respectful and kind. Hopefully he and his friends can counteract the wave of disrespect that I seem to see in society these days.
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OK, didn't mean to seem so grumpy. It's beautiful outside, and I have a lot I want to accomplish today with my extra time. Meanwhile, my next post, I promise, is finally going to be about Lucy, my dragon. Enjoy the weather, whatever yours is like!

10 comments:

  1. Phyl, Congratulations on all of your followers. I am sure that is a great feeling. I just started my blog in December and was excited to see I had 9 followers. By the way, I teach in inner city akron ohio and see your change in the way people are and are brought up on a daily basis. It can be disheartening that they have no "home training" Maybe you will check out my blog sometime smartypantsjohnston.blogspot.com

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  2. I know what you mean about community! I was a little disappointed when I first moved in my house. I picked a house a block from the school on a neighborhood street with a cul de sac. Thought I would be investing in the community. We moved in and no waves, nice to meet you or welcome to the neighborhood cookies (I'm old fashioned.) BUT in three years I think we've really been able to melt some people (there were a few icicles on the block.) Even though one of my neighbors calls the dog warden on us (the dog warden and we laugh) we still help her with leaves and snow. My husband snow blows and when he has time does our neighbors walks and driveways. We are always quick with a smile and hello. Nick often puts down his shovel and takes a trip down the hill on the neighborhood kids sleds. Now we have some good connections. But these people OWN their house and are between 40 and 50 (not kids renting). Congrats on 150! You've got your own little ONLINE community.

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  3. Congrats Buddy! I know what you mean about 150! It is fun to see our online community growing. We are sharing such fun projects and ideas.
    I know about how sad a neighborhood can change. We moved to our neighborhood 3 years ago. Have been fixing up the house a lot. Every home is on a large lot so we put up a garden shed to hold all of our tools. Had it approved by the "association" the architectural committee loved it. Our next door neighbors complained about it behind our backs, while taking baskets of fresh vegetables that I had grown {we were told they complained but the "association" took care of it said we could build it. Now mind you half the neighborhood has one, Everyone likes it, says it looks great, one member from the association said it looked like a doll house! But this neighbor still has a rude tone (icicle) to them even told o another neighbor they would hurt their dog if it comes into their yard.

    When the snow melts we will be planting even more trees! We have already planted at least 30 bushes and trees! Not to get off topic just wanted to make you feel better that everyone has a bully on the block!
    Congrats again! :)

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  4. Phyl,

    Congratulations on your 150, you deserve it as you foster our online community of art ed bloggers by always putting a kind word or bit of advice, I haven't been posting lately cause I am so busy with my job and my four sons who I also hope will be raised to shovel the snow off their neighbors driveways( not onto them) . Stay warm and dry! Hopefully if we ever have school again I will get some posts in soon.

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  5. Phyl,

    Congratulations!! I hope my blog will reach that awesome number! 41 currently for me! Always looking forward to viewing your ideas!

    eehh neighbor bullies! We had a ton of snow also..Northwest Ohio...Our neighbors about 5yrs ago went into our back yard to retrieve their dog who had jumped the fence, which happened allll the time! They left our backyard with their dog and left our gate wide open. Well our dogs got out and the one got hit by a car and did not survive :( This had been an on going problem where we asked them if they would just lock the gate when they left. ...so back to the snow day! We were outside shoveling and snow blowing and even though there is constant tension we still cleared their sidewalk for them because they do not have a snow blower...neighbors helping neighbors. They did come out and say thanks tho! We were thankful for that!!

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  6. I'd have been speechless, too, if someone were blowing snow actually ON ME!!!!! Unbelievable! Hope you put it behind you and had a great day. Congratulations on your growing group of followers -- it is so much fun the share ideas with others who do the same work. I love it!!

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  7. Love hearing all our stories! Great reading on these snow days! :) Phyl,Hope you are as warm as a bug enjoying a cup of tea in this weather :)

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  8. Before I bought my little electric snowblower this year, I read tons of reviews. There was even a video one on Amazon. I was dumbfounded as the guy described how powerful his machine was but that unfortunately it blew the snow onto his neighbor's driveway and how the neighbor didn't appreciate it. He just said that next time he needs to just wait til his neighbor isn't around. Really? Are you kidding? Who would do that??????????

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  9. Congrats from your newest follower! I just got started and have zero followers for now. Love seeing what other art teachers are up to!

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  10. The Brazilian artist NEWTON AVELINO shows the Brazilian culture and art to your blog



    www.aartedenewtonavelino.blogspot.com

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