The Talens' Tales

In my last post talked about our Tomato Tree. Though after some reflection, I have come the conclusion that it is nothing that we did that making this ginormous plant grow (it is still getting bigger by the way). It has to with where we live. In the mid-west, people like things big. Big farms, big tractors, big houses, big plants. Sheesh... even the people big. And not in a grossly obese sort of way, but just a big, tall bone structure way. I am 5' 7" and I often feel short and little when I am in a crowd of people out here. Maybe it because it feels like there is so much space that people, plants, animals, or whatever have the space to become bigger. Maybe they feel like they even need to be bigger to fill in this space, to not be so alone or so microscopic that they are missed. Whatever the reason, things are big out here. Even the bugs. Yuck! That is one big fly I killed. And I also killed his bother, sister and maybe even his parents. Apparently big in this case does not ...

It is the second year we have had a garden. Earlier I posted about the plants I started inside. Well, the tomatoes worked out so great. So great in fact, I think we are growing a tomato tree. Here I am standing behind the tomato tree. Yes, I know I am squinting, but notice that the tallest branches come up to my shoulders. It is tall! And, even better, there are lots of tomatoes and soon to be tomatoes on it. I can't wait until they ripen up. I will keep up updated on the garden and how tall the tomato tree gets.

1) It is cheap. ($5 a person) 2)It is only 20 minutes away. 3) You can bring your own snacks and drinks. 4) It is open every night, so Thursday is a good night to go because it is not very busy 5)New releases play there like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. 6) It makes for a great date. Hurray for the Drive-In!

Check all of the pockets of Wilbert's shorts. Yet another pair lost today to ink from a pen in the cargo pocket. Grrr!

One thing I know I inherited from my mother is my non-procrastination. I do not like to put things off. I always had my homework done on time. I finish my chores right away so I can spend the rest of the day how I want to. I don't like to let papers pile up and not be graded. Students have commented on my quick turnover of paper and tests. It is a good thing, until you get to that one point in time where you do let them pile up and then the students get crabby because you are taking too long. That drives me nuts especially when I know other teachers have stuff from way further back that they have to grade yet. Another non-procrastination thing, I think, is that I do not like to be late. I always allow myself plenty of time. I would rather be early then late. Well, today I was late. To the professional workshop class I am taking. It takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to get to where I was taking my class. I had it in my head that it started at 8:30 am. So, I woke up at 6:30 am ...

Next week I will be taking my first post education class in order to keep my teaching license. I choose to take this class because it is about writing, which is something I feel is my weakest area of teaching. It is a workshop style class and it meets for just two days. I figured it would be pretty easy. After I signed up for the class I got the materials for the class. It was just three pieces of paper with some more information about the class and on assignment. I needed to take copies of student writing with me to class. So, being the non-procrastinator that I am, I copied student essays right after school was out. So, I thought I was all set. Then came the e-mail yesterday. Attached to it was a 10 page article and the e-mail said I had write a paper. What? I didn't think I would have to do homework. And I have to write for a class about writing! That makes me feel a bit of pressure. What if my own writing is not good enough? Should I be teaching other people to write if I can...

We said "I Do." So we did some fun stuff to celebrate yesterday. My husband had the day off of farming due to all of the rain we have been getting. The weather was looking pretty nice, so we headed out to Falls Park in Sioux Falls. It is a lovely park full of history. The other wonderful thing that this park contains is the start of a 20 mile bike loop that travels along the rivers and parks that go through Sioux Falls. We have been saying every summer since we moved that we should ride the bike trails in Sioux Falls and now we have finally done it! My husband was extremely proud of me that I made it the whole way, because I am typically not one up for biking I would rather walk if I have a choice. Especially when it is windy and it seems like it is always windy here. But these bike trails are great. The loop allows you to bike without having to cross any busy streets and it is a relatively flat trail. And it is just pretty. We didn't really know how nice of a city Sioux...