Cheshire Cat

One thing I'm going to miss in 7 days is my daily serving of hot chocolate. The Life Skills class at school brings around hot chocolate and coffee to us every morning around 10:30. In exchange for their services, I pay them with a "$1 bill" printed on a sheet of paper. They collect this money from alllllll the teachers and then are able to use it to purchase things in their own little community! My love for this process is two-fold:

1. I get hot chocolate no matter the outdoor temperature!! (watered down and soapy tasting as it might be)
2. They bring me the money to pay them with. And I don't even technically work for it!! (I like to pretend it's my own trust fund. Provided by the LMS Life Skills students.)

For some unknown reason, they have begun drawing designs on my styrofoam hot chocolate cup. It's always been labeled with my name. BUT NOW is has a picture of.......wait for it.......the Cheshire Cat!!! (I know what it is because they always label their pictures.)

Only problem: I can't for the life of my figure out what this animal has to do with me or my hot chocolate. Any ideas?

(If I'm supposed to be offended by this, please enlighten me.)

Think Again

Next time you're thinking that water is not that powerful, take a look at this video. In. Sane.

Gifts

Everybody has their own little way of helping out. For T. Swift, that means donating $500k through the telethon. For my minister, it means making phone calls and providing mental health services to flood victims. For police officers, it means asking each person turning into the River Plantation subdivision (which was devastated beyond belief) if they need directions to somebody's house to help out. For me, it means being "in the trenches".

I want to rip up the floor, pack the china, and lay the clothes out to dry. I just do.

Everybody has their own gift. Mine is not organizing clothing drives, baking copious batches of delicious sweets, or giving money. I want to be there, getting my hands dirty and helping to pick people up.

That's why today was so difficult for me personally. In fact, it was probably the most difficult day for me since we realized how bad the flooding was really going to be. I had to report to work, but my students weren't there. I want so desperately to see each one of them, give them a hug, and be assured that they are, in fact, okay. And I know that some of them aren't.

If I'm not able to hug and speak with them, then at least let me be out helping people I know who have lost so much.

I am infinitely grateful to have not lost any personal belongings in the flood. But let's not pretend that this means we're all okay.

Nashville will recover, and I want to be out there helping to make it happen.

Why don't we?

Too Much Water

Donavon Frankenreiter

I went to a party.
We were having a good time.
And people were talkin'.
And drinking some wine.
But the best thing that happened...
I got lost in my mind

Too much water in one place,
Not enough somewhere else.

Too much water in one place,
Not enough somewhere else.
And then she called me on the telephone.
It was late last night.
Ah, she sounded so strange.
I said, 'is everything alright'?
She said,

Too much water in one place,
Not enough somewhere else.

Too much water in one place,
Not enough somewhere else.

Ah, there's so much we can give.
Ah, there's so much life to live.
So why don't we, ah, why don't we?

And then I fell asleep and had a dream.
It was the 4th of July.
And there were kids runnin' round and round.
Ah, the ground was so dry.

Too much water in one place,
Not enough somewhere else.

I Love Nashville

Enough said.

Other Situation 2010

Television message from the Government

Schools are closed, water is being conserved, and emergency messages are all over the television. Earlier in the year, we had "THE Situation 2010". But the "Other Situation 2010" that has just occurred has been significantly more devastating than anything you could imagine. This is truly something I never thought I would witness. Many people have lost power, possessions, and even life.

If you are interested in seeing pictures of the Nashville area, take a look at the Tennessean Photo Gallery (photo #48 is the Kroger across the street from our house). Luckily, our house and property made it through unscathed. Now, I'm anxiously awaiting news on friends, coworkers, church members, and students.

Refrigerated section at Publix
(the only store open of the three by our house, but they lost power yesterday morning and could sell non-refrigerated items only)

Landlocked

It's things like this that make me love, love, love Nashville.

(Not the biblical rainfall--the songwriting.)

Memphis Tiger Basketball

If there's one thing my hometown loves, it's Tiger Basketball. This love of mine has been well-documented here, so I know this comes as no surprise. One of my favorite Commercial Appeal columnists, Geoff Calkins, has a pretty entertaining story about the city's love for their Tigers. This is SERIOUS BUSINESS.