Cooking the NYTimes and Other Assorted Retirement Activities

  Hastings, Minnesota: Candidate's child became target in school board election - CNN Sadly, oh so so so sadly, not in Hastings? I retired as Director of Community Education for the Hastings Public Schools almost five years ago.  When I first took the job, my dear friend Jackie, also a Director of Community Education, told me that I would be better for them than they would be for me. Yes and no. First, an aside: my Minnesota readers are familiar with Community Education.  To those of you who reside elsewhere-- Community Education is an integral component of every Minnesota school district, providing education and school-community linkages.  Programs are funded primarily through user fees.  In a school district organization chart, the Community Education Director is a member of the Superintendent's Cabinet and s/he is the Community Education Director's direct report. Back to that yes and no.  Yes, Jackie was right.  The administrative structure in the ...

  with thanks and appreciation to Rusty Douglas, who reminded me that I am an author and that maybe I should write a little more often Every once in a while, the planets align and Mercury is not in retrograde and the stars shine brightly, meaning the best of energies filter into your systems and those you love and you experience a couple days of exquisiteness. That was this past Thanksgiving weekend.  It was nothing short of exquisite.  And since the universe is full of what all too often to me feels like apocalyptic times, I'm gratefully seizing the opportunity to share what filled my heart and soul. Thanksgiving Day, I cuddled in bed,  jammies clad, with my youngest daughter, Bridget, and granddaughter Sloane while we watched the Macy's Day parade.  Sloane was entranced by the Broadway snippets; her little brother marched along with the bands; both thought the balloons were magical.  While we lounged under the covers, my youngest granddaughter, Georgia, F...