RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

MONDAY MUSINGS

We have had rain, not light rain, but thundershowers for over ten days in a row now, and it is “getting old.” However, my yard looks glorious, and we are not letting the rain stop us from the vital trips, going to church and the grocery store.  I have been cooking for “therapy,” and we are having beef strips smothered in gravy, mashed potatoes, lima beans and wheat rolls for lunch. I also have a lemonade ice-box pie for dessert or a snack later. If things clear up enough after lunch, we’ll make a trip to Half-Price Books, or go on a “Retail Adventure.”

I have have done all my grading and lesson plans for Wednesday’s class, and as noted in my Sunday (Evening) Post yesterday, I have several books “going.”  I’ve read a chapter here and a chapter there since six this morning. It is a slow, lazy day, and the best kind ever.

I hope your day is as leisurely and pleasant as ours is here on the Texas Gulf Coast. Let me know what you are thinking about on this Monday, September 10th, 2018, even if you don’t get around to it until Tuesday or Wednesday. HAPPY READING!

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13 responses to “MONDAY MUSINGS”

  1. Luanne Avatar
    Luanne

    It sounds like a lovely day indeed. But please stay safe!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      I ended up not going out. but instead putting on a pair of rainbows and walking to the back of my subdivision to deliver an Italian casserole to a friend who had asked me to come see the “Italian kitchen” she had created in her house through ordering from a mail-order catalog and from various Italian jars of Italian wines, spices, olives, etc. she had “collected” over the years arranged on a wrought-iron baker’s rack she already had. (It even had her microwave on the waist-high-level shelf!) She had done a lovely job, and although she had bought her dining room furniture years and years ago while living in Japan. (Her husband had been in the military, then overseas with an oil company whose home office was here in Houston, but he was assigned to the office there.) It was black with much carving at the top, arms and legs, and dark seats and backs in fabric. It would have been right in place in an ITALIAN restaurant. We had a good visit, and walking home, it just began to sprinkle again, which made me speed up my pace. I badly needed the exercise I got on the “trip.” Thanks for your concern.

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. Rae Longest Avatar
        Rae Longest

        rain boots…darn that autocorrect!

        Like

      2. Luanne Avatar
        Luanne

        Oh, what a lovely kitchen! And what a fun special thing to do. Her kitchen will never be new to you again, and it will be a fond memory in the future. AND you didn’t get TOO wet, I imagine .

        Liked by 1 person

  2. carhicks Avatar
    carhicks

    I liked thinking you were wearing rainbows, the power of positive thinking. We have been having storms and drizzly days as well. The weather has really cooled and it is nice to snuggle up with a book while recuperating.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Praying daily for complete and rapid healing.

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      Reply
      1. carhicks Avatar
        carhicks

        Thanks Rae. The prayers are working because I feel so much better everyday.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Herminia Avatar
    Herminia

    Hope you have a great semester!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      It’s shaping up to be the best yet!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Rae Longest Avatar
        Rae Longest

        It could be my last semester…leave ’em laughing!

        Like

  4. sjhigbee Avatar
    sjhigbee

    I hope you had a good day, despite all the rain as Monday was a special day – it was our wedding anniversary. Himself and I have now been married for 23 years:). Has it stopped raining yet?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Congrats on 23 years. It only gets better when you reach 54! It is still raining (steadily and hard at times. People are already reporting road and yard flooding. A few neighboring towns are seeing water in houses. What is heartbreaking is these houses were the same ones flooded in Hurricane Harvey about this time last year, and owners had just fixed up things. Awful!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. sjhigbee Avatar
        sjhigbee

        Oh, I’m so sorry, Rae – as you say, that’s dreadful…

        Liked by 1 person

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