Frustrations and Fortitude

It's during weeks like this that I am eternally grateful to the boy for wanting to be a "farmer man." I teach 12th grade English and am responsible for making graduation and all senior activities go off without a hitch. In the past few days I've received emails from parents that:

• The way I dealt with tickets to graduation was a "pain in the butt."
• I obviously didn't consult the parents when I scheduled graduation for 10:00 AM on a Wednesday (BTW, this date and time is given to us by the county).
• The county website has us listed as graduating at the civic center and we're graduating at the arena.
• My choice for a videographer is not whom this parent would have chosen.
• The senior dinner didn't last long enough.
• I was ignorant in instituting a dress code for senior dinner (apparently teenagers don't own ties anymore).
• I needed to get input from all parents before making plans for any senior activities
• A mother is upset that all of the students will be dressed the same at graduation and her cat could do a better job of picking the date and time (refer to above).

And best of all

"God would bless [me] and [my] children" if I'd give her student 20 extra points and ignore the three essays and four homework assignments her daughter didn't turn in, in order for her to pass my class.

I had half a mind to tell the ticket, location and time, and cat lady that they were welcome to hold their own graduation ceremony in their back yard at the date and time of their convenience. "Pomp and Circumstance" is easily downloaded from their computer and the students could all dress as they pleased and they'd have a grand old time. Of course, they'd have to have a parent committee for all 446 of the prospective graduates in order to approve it.

I didn't, but that didn't stop me from wanting to. Never mind that it's finals week and I have to make sure I've prepared my students for their exam.

By the end of the day, I was ready to call that momma's cat and seriously felt I had the fortitude to drown myself in the water fountain. Either that or call up John for a BM...John, I'd take one electronically if you don't mind. :)

Then, I came home, walked out into the garden and saw:
My eggplant forming out of the blossom...it's a little white instead of purple. Do you think it will make it or is it poor pollination?
The tomatoes in their full glory.

My black radishes topped out 1 lb and 10 oz

My banana peppers starting to form.

The beans are starting to climb their hanger and will be at the deck soon.The purple beans are almost ready to blossom.

And put together a plate with a few carrots, the red radishes and black radishes that I pulled.

It didn't hurt that I could visualize these mommas as I ripped the radishes from the ground. I'm now peaceful, serene and content. I must say the martini helped me achieve this frame of mind. Now the 2 yr old girl is holding the boy's hand and kissing and hugging him singing the Barney theme song.

All is right with the world.

Although, I seriously am going to have to institute a Barney Free Zone in this house.