Monday Thoughts

Another rather sleepless night...ho hum, I am sure you are getting quite tired of me talking about my sleepless nights, well so am I.  But I definitely blame myself for last night.  I slept quite nicely 2, yes 2, nights in a row....I thought I was on a good roll.  But then, yesterday afternoon while stranded at home because of "the car" as I read my book (The Language of Flowers, quite good, I am enjoying it) I tended to nod off and I nodded off for rather long periods of time.  So thus, time for bed and with one too many nod-offs I had trouble falling asleep.  OK done with that thought.

And while I am relating some Monday thoughts I am inserting "barn" images from the Saturday drive when I did NOT drive my car.

And speaking of the car....I called the dealer first thing this AM to find out what happened, how much it was gonna cost me and to ask them to change the oil prior to me picking it up.  Well 1) there was a bolt loose or missing that held the transmission in place YIKES!!) 2) there was no charge...whew!! and 3) they changed the oil, let me use a coupon, re-programmed my blue-tooth which had not been done since I bought the new I-Phone and removed oil that had splashed all over the front of my car when I ran over a can of oil in the garage.  So this whole episode with the breakdown, the towing, the fixing, the oil change only ended up costing me $21.95.  I'll take blessings like that everyday...thank you very much.

Next thought...this mornings Chicago Tribune's headlines were Teacher's On Strike, the first time in 25 years.  I hate (strong word) reading that teachers are on strike, denying our children the education they need.  The issues or disputes are....Salaries - the school day has been lengthened so the teacher's wanted a 30% raise over 2 years....30% come on...who has seen a 15% raise in a year in the last few years??  I guess the teachers think that because their hours at school have increased that due compensation is expected.  But what I hear from the work force is that when there are cut backs, and your work is increased, you are just thankful to have a job.  Job Security - yeah we would all love that and Teacher Evaluations.  Teachers don't want student performance tied to their evaluations.  In my feeble mind I would think that would be a strong indicator of how well the teacher is doing if the students do well.  So....in other words, I have little sympathy nor do I offer my support for these teachers.  Get back to work and do the job you are supposed to do, teach and teach well.  OK...that was a strong thought.  I have probably angered some of you that are teachers, but I am just offering my thoughts, you do not have to agree.

No support for teachers but this little barn/shed sure could use some extra support...

To calm myself down after getting all up in arms over the Teacher's Strike and after picking up my car, I drove to the Arboretum which offers calmness to all who enter.  Being Monday it was slight on automobile traffic, but heavy on bicycle traffic, something that I should be doing.  But instead I parked the car and went wandering down the paths and luxuriated in the peacefulness.  Definitely praying and thanking God as I walked for his continued blessings.  As I left the Arboretum I was in a better state of mind.

I guess I kinda felt like the cattle in the fields and the birds in the sky....no worries.

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?"  `  Matthew 6:26

Linking to Trish's Barn Charm....

Until next time....