The Latta Family

We have been traveling up and down I-85 the past few days and while on the road, we have some seen some interesting folks.   Like this one: I mean, really dude?  The real question here is: does canoeing really make him horney or is that a reference to a movie?  And, according to my computer, "horney" is misspelled.  Is that on purpose, or is he driving around with this bumper sticker misspelled to be ironic, or because he doesn't have a clue?  I think the sexy lady in the left corner is super cool too.  I bet this guy picks up all kinds . . . of ladies cruisin' in this truck. The other truck we saw, was even more interesting and yet too frightening to actually take a picture.  As the truck passed us, I happened to notice the stickers.   I commented to Doug, "Yikes! What's up with that car?!"  He said, "Yeah, the license plate on the front was pretty weird too, it said, "Cannibal."  WHAT??????  Doug sped up to pass him, s...

I've started this blog before and abandoned it because I didn't have enough evidence and I didn't know how to write this without people thinking I am being politically incorrect, a jerk, or insensitive.  But the more I think about it, the more clear it's becoming to me.  Here's my disclaimer: I am not being a jerk to anyone. I don't mean anything I say to hurt feelings. Lately I am starting to think I am either: turning into an old fart or a Special Needs person.  I am developing some very rigid personality characteristics.  They say the longer you teach in the Special Needs area, the more you develop their characteristics.  So maybe I'm not an old fart. Evidence #1: For awhile at the beginning of the school year, I ate lunch in the cafeteria where I could keep an eye on my students.  I have since stopped, they're high school students, they deserve independence. Although, they don't really have it because there are several administrators in there...

Andrew was asking some hard questions tonight.  Thankfully NOT the "Where do babies come from?"  "Is Santa real?" variety!  They were more thought provoking like, "Who is the person who has been the meanest to you?" (Doug- he fluffs the covers after I'm burrowed down in them, and then lets in huge wafts of cold air and I have to get them all settled again the way I want them.  It's quite an ordeal)  "Who's been the nicest?" (Doug again.  He puts up with a lot) and then finally, "What is the most generous thing you've ever done?"  I immediately thought of this one particular time . . .  except then I answered Andrew with, "Huh. That's a hard one, because what may have been really generous to me, may not have been to the other person."  So I explained with this story. I was in maybe 8th or 9th grade, which meant my sister was in maybe 3rd or 4th grade.  I am 100% certain my sister does not remember this sto...

It's a good thing I can laugh at myself.  I mean, it frequently puts others at ease, but mostly I put my own self at ease.  Like tonight.  Doug's out of town.  He traveled on a charter bus with 45+ teenagers and 6+ adults to Louisville, KY for the National FFA Convention. Last night I said, "Doug do you have any idea how much I HATE the National Convention." "Yes, Kate.  I know." "But do you know why I HATE the National Convention?" "Yes, dear.  I know you hate it because the Boogey Man is going to come get you, while I'm gone." "YES!  That's exactly why!  Plus this year is even worse because it's over Halloween!!!!  And that means I'll have to give the dog one final walk, in the dark, on Halloween night, all by myself!!!!!" "I'm sorry dear."  (I'm pretty sure he's not sorry at all.  His tone of voice indicated that he thinks I am over reactive and dramatic, as if you can imagine that...

You should know, I have blogs that roll through my head all the time.  But it's only the really good ones that I share.  Or not. Before you read any further, you should know this blog is not going to be appropriate.  At all.  It is not.  If you're not comfortable with talking about masturbating- stop now.  If you think this topic is hilarious- read on.  You're in for a . . . treat.  ;-) My parents have had a bummer week and called me to entertain them (uhhh, what could my parents and masturbating possibly be doing in a story together?!  Read on, it's not scary, I promise!).  I happily obliged. I entertained them with stories of their grandchildren first, and then I remembered the Special Ed teacher meeting I went to on Tuesday.  I had to share that story because it's too funny and it definitely entertained them and you too. I was not happy to be at this meeting. I mean, it was after school for one thing.  The other thing ...

I personally think I have the best teaching gig.  I don't really have a curriculum that I have  to follow. Therefore, I have the ability to be creative.  That is one thing about the direction of education in the last decade, there is hardly no creativity allowed.  Especially at the elementary level- they're teaching what the district tells them and how the district tells them to teach it.  They want consistency.  Remember that when you're complaining about what your kid is learning- the teacher isn't choosing that, the teacher is being directed to do that.  So anyway. . . back to the purpose of this email (that was just a side tangent).  I am supposed to teach my students life lessons, which means we get to cook.  We LOVE to cook!  Last year we cooked weekly.   We got started back this week.  When I asked the kids what they wanted to fix, someone said "Sloppy Joe's!"  and everyone enthusiastically agreed.  I can't rem...

The brain is so weird.  The way neurons fire is so random.  You just never know the direction your thoughts are going to go. I was standing in the kitchen this afternoon, fixing myself a snack.  A peach in cottage cheese.  Man do I love a fresh, juicy peach in some cottage cheese.  It brought me back to right after Alexa was born.  For weeks after she was born I had the most absurd craving for fresh peaches in cottage cheese.  I thought it was the most fantastic thing EVER! This memory made me wonder, why was it after I had a baby that I had these intense cravings?  It made me think I must have needed the protein or something.  Which made me think, why?  For reasons I will not get into, I did not breast feed my children.  This lead to a memory from after Andrew was born. A few days after I had Andrew, I became a "bit" engorged with all the unused milk I had.  Someone said that I could relieve the discomfort, by putting f...