Beautiful Day!

I finally finished calculating final grades. It has been a very interesting and challenging semester. The formula I use is very useful when calculating final grades because these grades reflect the effort students put into this course throughout the semester. Some students write well, but others do not understand how to synthesize information. I also managed to respond to all Email messages which I had not read over the weekend.


At 3:30 p.m. my companion came home and I decided to go outside to work on my garden. I removed weeds and planted some flowers. It is almost impossible to do this with crutches, but I managed to do some work by sitting on a stool. I often place my left foot on a foot stool or elevate it as much as I can and that minimizes the pressure I feel on my toes. I have noticed that if I walk outside with my crutches, my left foot begins to hurt after a while. The downside of moving around with crutches is that it hurts a lot under my arms, especially if I walk back and forth. I cannot wait to get rid of this heavy boot and hope the surgeon allows me to walk without a cane or boot. At the moment, I have to avoid putting any weight on my left foot. I hope that this is over by May 12th.

Another Rainy Day

I was looking forward to walking outside this evening so that I can regain my strength, but the weather is not cooperating.

My spring 2012 schedule is ready for departmental review. I have to finish preparing my finals and complete the manuscript I began writing in January. I have not been able to resume my work because of other pressing assignments and recent physical challenges.

The new neighbors moved in on Monday. I am delighted that they are MSU students. I hope they become active in the neighborhood association and participate in town-wide activities. This town surely needs young people's energy. It has tremendous potential if only we could change the tendency politicians have to hire their own friends, relatives, and those the machine anoints.

Busy Week

I walked outside for the first time this past Wednesday. I was the first person in my district to cast a vote for the best candidates for the Board of Education in Bloomfield. It felt great to be outside if only for 20 minutes.


Sunday was sunny and bright only in the a.m., but I had a chance to go outside for about half an hour. I do not like walking outside without someone to watch over me because I have fallen three times already and cannot risk hurting my left foot. I have to wait until May 12th for the surgeon to allow me to start physical therapy. I cannot wait to be able to walk normally.

I can honestly say that I have spent the past four weeks working 24/7 on course-related activities, responding to emails, and trying to complete my own research. I thought I could rest for a while, but that did not happen. However, being sidelined gives one an opportunity to reflect on what has happened in the past few years. It is time for me to make some changes and focus on the things I enjoy doing and researching. Life is too short to be wasted on petty concerns because it is over before we have had a chance to accomplish all our goals.

The BEST Team Wins in My Town

(Unofficial results: Bumpus, Smith and Zaccone clinch seats By Lia Eustachewich) April 27, 2011

This morning I managed to get a ride to Berkeley School in order to cast my vote in crutches. I was the first person voting in my district. Though I could not walk around distributing fliers to neighbors and friends in the Third Ward, I did the next best thing. I emailed all my contacts and urged them to go out and vote to support Bloomfield schools by electing intelligent and highly qualified women candidates that know something about the value of public school education.

The well-oiled "Machine" had put up three unknowns so that they could hijack the BOE once again and play dirty politics as all "machines" do. This time, though, a coalition of people from different political parties and wards rallied on behalf of our children. Our children deserve the best type of public education we can offer them, free of interference from damn politicians or charter school ideologues. I feel so encouraged by the results.

If only all students who are studying to become future teachers could understand the importance of registering to vote and being ACTIVELY involved in politics, we would not have to go to Trenton begging for school funds or making cuts in vital programs. Cut administrative costs and RAISE TAXES ON NJ MILLIONAIRES! Let us remember John F. Kennedy's famous biblical quote (Luke12:48) in a speech to the Massachusetts State Legislature, January 9, 1961: "For of those to whom much is given, much is required. And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each of us, recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state, our success or failure, in whatever office we hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions: First, were we truly men of courage… Second, were we truly men of judgment… Third, were we truly men of integrity… Finally were we truly men of dedication?" (Sexist language used at that time.)

How about it greedy politicians of all stripes!

Environmental Awareness - Volunteerism

It seems to me that everyone appears to be interested in environmental preservation and green spaces. Unfortunately, people talk about these wonderful concepts and our need to reduce fuel emissions, but when it comes to practicing what many preach, there seems to be problem.

In my own neighborhood, Norma, our Beautification Coordinator, has been in charge of environmental issues. We rarely see her now because her husband was unemployed for a long time and she had to work at two different jobs until 9:00 p.m. every day. Instead of relaxing at home after a very long day, Norma now has to take care of her mother, whose husband died three years ago. She is afraid of being alone and often asks Norma to stay with her. Since Norma is not around, no one bothers to pick up the litter around the pond or the bottles and McDonald's containers that inconsiderate children and adults discard. I used to go around picking up trash, but I am unable to walk until the second week in May. It is very frustrating trying to get around with crutches or a walker. I wish the children would help us maintain the park grounds.

The only way we are going to change people's habits concerning the environment is by making this part of the school curriculum. It is wonderful when one hears young children (below the age of 12) reminding adults and older children not to dispose of trash in the park. This is something new and we need to encourage these young people to organize activities that raise awareness for our environment. Without green space and eco-friendly ways of being, we are not going to reduce destructive forms of energy consumption or environmental contamination.

Future Neighbors

My next door neighbor, Mike, is moving to New Brunswick to be with the one he loves. I am very sad to see that a wonderful neighbor is moving away from my neighborhood. He has decided to rent his house and not sell it until he is ready to make that move. He was tired of commuting back and forth from Manhattan to his girlfriend's house in New Brunswick and then back to Bloomfield several times a week. It became very stressful for him. Fortunately, after interviewing several prospective tenants, he decided to rent to three young students from Montclair.

I am very pleased because my dream was to populate most of my neighborhood with Montclair people. We can car pool and in times of emergencies, such as snowstorms or floods, we can help each other. It is also fun visiting colleagues and chatting about different things. There are now seven MSU professors who live in Halcyon Park. I am really thrilled about this. Although we are all extremely busy, we do get together for holidays or to celebrate someone's birthday. We also take turns picking up newspapers and mail when one of us is away during the summer months. It is really important to look after everyone's welfare.

I am looking forward to meeting these young women in May.

Tax Preparation Deadlines

April is a very stressful time of the year for me because I have to go through all my receipts and gather the paperwork I need in order to prepare my income taxes. I always keep receipts for education-related expenses and all the contributions to charity. Tax preparation is relatively easy with Turbo Tax.

Saturday was unbelievably stressful because I had to slowly lower myself downstairs to look for documents I was missing and then go upstairs the same way at least five times. I could not believe it, but I had forgotten to set aside bank statements and copies of credit card expenditures before deciding to work on my income taxes!