homeless, unite!

very recently my brother, with whom i have been living, decided to move three states away. in three weeks he will be packing up and leaving, which means that i will very soon be without a home. i find the entire situation rather humorous, because the same week that i found this out, i also agreed to participate in the 5K hillcrest walk for the homeless on may 19.

hillcrest transitional housing is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping families move from homelessness to self-sufficiency. the families are offered rent-free housing for 90 days, and are required to get full-time jobs and to attend weekly classes on such topics as case management, budgeting, nutrition, and life-skills.

i have pledged to raise $100 for my walk. if you would like to sponsor me this saturday, or to simply learn more about the program, you may do so online at www.hillcresttransitionalhousing.org. i am participating in the platte county walk.

thanks so much for your support!

better times collide with now

i spent the last three hours driving down the highway with the windows down, listening to johnny cash and neko case, and watching clouds until the one shaped like a rabbit lost its head. about once a month i go back home for a weekend visit, and each time i fall even more in love with my kansas. i make the drive back to kc wishing that i could somehow pack up all of the lovely people i have met here and move them down to wichita. but until i find a way to make that happen, i will be content to make the occasional three hour drive to sit by the pond and revel in the sight of the heavens being more expansive than the earth beneath my feet.

life is good

"better times collide with now
and better times
and better times are coming still" - neko case, "a widow's toast"

rainy day wednesday

it seems that no matter how many times they are proven wrong, children still think that their teachers are simpletons who will fall for the story of the day, whatever that story may be. on monday one of the middle schoolers turned in a note from his mother. problem was, the large and illegible handwriting resembled that of a kindergartener. still, the student looked the principal in the eyes and said, "that is the way my mom writes". and again, today at lunchtime a student insisted he was too full to stuff another bite in his mouth. he had obviously eaten very little of the healthier foods on his tray, and i was trying to get him to eat a bit more. when he told me that he had eaten ten chicken nuggets, i eyed the small mountain of nuggets on the tray, raised my eyebrow, and replied, "they don't give students that many nuggets". then i stared him down until he admitted that, yes, he had eaten just one nugget. we negotiated. he ate two more.

matter of perspective

it is incredible, and at the same time slightly ridiculous, how very little it sometimes takes to inspire awe in the hearts of middle schoolers. last month i wowed them with my 'artistic abilities' by drawing simple pictures on the paper table cloth for a baby shower our class had for a teacher. all of my old drawing teachers would have been amused to see how impressed the kids were with my shabby drawing skills. today the exciting news that had to be shared was that i, miss king - or miss 'anna, as one of the kids calls me - outraced two of the sixth grade boys...while wearing a skirt...and while barefoot. i'm talented that way.