School for the Gifted

It's a known fact that I'm not terribly bright, despite attending Pine View School for the Gifted. That was the actual name of my school from 5th-12th (but when asked, I always muttered the "gifted" part under my breath). There's a certain expectation of a gifted student and I'll be damned if I'll be held to that standard.

The original Pine View was torn down in 1996 and relocated from Sarasota to Osprey, Florida. After 27 years of what was originally a campus dotted with portable buildings for classrooms, Pine View was transformed into a permanent facility with athletic fields, cafeterias and miracle of miracles - hallways. Gone were the days of tornado drills (under the desk and prepare for the Lollipop Guild!) and walking to the neighboring elementary school cafeteria for corn dogs and brussel sprouts (today Shepherd's Pie is served in fancy restaurants - $10.95 and still disgusting).


I drove by the other day - on a Sunday when the nerd alert level was low and checked out the "new" campus. It doesn't have the same sentimental attachment. There are less pine cones and thus less ammunition for bully nerds. And the walkways are not only paved but covered, which eliminates the "it was raining and I didn't want to get my viola wet" excuse that kept me from practicing. It's just not the same.


One thing that had not changed was my inability to comprehend something that seemingly I should have. As I drove around the student pick-up area, I noticed this sign. And I just can't quite explain the intention.
Is it an inspirational suggestion implying forward movement is progress? If so does this confuse parents pulling into the loading zone? Or is it warning of a potential parking violation? If so, how does one pick up their childif they are in constant forward motion?

I'll put the question to you - you may leave your comments anonymously or otherwise by clicking Comments below. That would be clicking "Comments", which is below this. I wouldn't want anyone searching for the "Comments below" link.

March Madness

Rare are the people that join my safaris that really, royally, horrifically irk me. Today was my first since returning to EDS and he was a doosy.

Just like VINS camp, I need to make sure that all of my people or kids are where they're supposed to be. Today was no different. I had 12 people and they were getting on the Everglades National Park boat tour with other people so I did a head count. My nemesis, whom I will call Mr.Dumbleton, steps onto the boat in his loafers, pressed pants and polo shirt and says to me, "bet you never thought you'd be using your college education doing this!" I just looked at him with wrinkled brow and a menacing gaze and then said with a whiplash smile and sprightly cheer "Every day's an adventure!" and kicked him in the pants (but the last part was only in my head).

I guess it wasn't so bad. People say awkward things all the time.

In the afternoon, Mr.Dumbleton decided not to go on the airboat road. He'd been on one before. I have too. But I love going every chance I get. There was no room for me today, so yaay, I get to hang around with this guy for an hour!

The boat departs and there we are, two peas from two clearly different Mendel (Estelle click here) pods.

"You must get bored doing this" he asks.
"Na - there's something different everyday" I replied.
"You do this every day?" he said, asking the most often asked question."
"Just 2 times a week during the busy season"
"So what do you do for a real job? This obviously isn't what you do full time"
I, clearly showing the recessive trait of decency, politely explained that I'm the Director of Operations and this is in fact my "real job" and then I kicked him in the pants. But not really.

Since I don't have any pictures to post of this exchange, I thought I'd post a picture of an owl guarding its den/nest, sent in by Wayne in Phoenix, who described it as terrifying and dangerous - "It made me scream like a girl" - he said...or...something like that. I can't remember.

But to be fair - it was a HUGE owl.