Smarty Pants

Guess who made Honor Roll? Yep, my favorite third grader and my favorite sixth grader. One was sweatin' it that the 89% in writing would bounce them from National Honor Society. And the other was over joyed to hear that Honor Roll meant time with the Reading Specialist would be short lived. All in all a great quarter for two great kids.

The Fire of Friendship

photo courtesy of Paulo Coelho

A man called Ali is in need of money and asks his boss to help him out. His boss sets him a challenge: if he can spend all night on the top of a mountain, he will receive a great reward; if he fails, he will have to work for free. The story continues:

When he left the shop, Ali noticed that an icy wind was blowing. He felt afraid and decided to ask his best friend, Aydi, if he thought he was mad to accept the wager.
After considering the matter for a moment, Aydi answered:
‘Don’t worry, I’ll help you. Tomorrow night, when you’re sitting on top of the mountain, look straight ahead.
‘I’ll be on the top of the mountain opposite, where I’ll keep a fire burning all night for you.

‘Look at the fire and think of our friendship; and that will keep you warm.
‘You’ll make it through the night, and afterwards, I’ll ask you for something in return.’

Ali won the wager, got the money, and went to his friend’s house.
‘You said you wanted some sort of payment in return.’

Aydi said, ‘Yes, but it isn’t money. Promise that if ever a cold wind blows through my life, you will light the fire of friendship for me.’

This passage comes from Paulo's new book Aleph. The man is a genius, and one of my favorites. The Alchemist is one of 4 books I would take to a deserted island and read over and over.

I haven't always felt like there was someone lighting a fire on the next mountain top for me. But that doesn't mean they are not there. I realize I have missed many kindling fires being kept while I looked for a bonfire on the mountain behind me. More than once I secretly hope in times of great frustration or despair there will be a fire for me on the mountain top, but have never sought to ask.

It's a gift, the asking and the climb and the discovery that awaits. Everyone needs to see a fire burning for them somewhere on their cold mountain tops and dark valleys. As someone once told me, "kindness will cost you nothing."

Don't Smash The Screen

Are you sufficiently Hebe-gibed out just from looking at it? Yeah me too. Especially when in the last month we have found 10. In the house. On floors, walls, and closet doors. I'm freaking sick of it. With Arizona having the hottest August on record in the history of the state, these nasty little creatures have been finding reprieve from the heat and making babies in everybody's houses. Well no more. Finding one on the wall above this little girl's dresser was the last straw.



I smashed it so hard, the shoe print still remains. It's my own personal mark of victory. The crib is pulled away from the wall. The crib skirt is gone exposing the ugly underbelly of the crib (so sad). The legs are in glass jars since it's the only material scorpions can't climb. Did you know a scorpion can go 4 to 5 months without freaking water. Water. They can go even longer without food. Ewe. I asked Nathan if we could just build a house made of glass to solve the problem. He said that might be a little extreme. So instead, the guy with the killing spray stick comes tomorrow. Because everyone knows - I. must.win. So long little nasty creatures of stinging pain. But before you go, I need to know - why is it exactly you were even invented?