Skipping Town . . . .

By the time most of you begin reading today's post, Bill and I will be in Seattle racing through the airport to catch a flight to Los Angeles.

With luck, we'll catch that flight and touch down at LAX around 9:30 a.m. We'll claim our rental car and then head off to who knows where. I'll just leave our ultimate destination as a teaser for now.

And, a disclaimer: as i'm trying to post at 3 a.m., a blogger glitch has played havoc with the text color and brightness. So, apologies for the readability.

If you stick with it there's some fun stuff about education, and the readability does improve. Mama said there'd be days like this!

Many thanks to our daughter Annie who generously offered us some airline tickets, which she has earnedthrough the many, many miles she travels from one part of the world to another.

So, that's all I'm telling about our trip today.

We do expect to see some sun and more importantly walk more than ten steps on dry ground. Annie thought this idea might be pretty therapeutic for her folks, and we agree.

Thanks to our friend Elisabeth who is watching the beloveds and the Lovestead. We always appreciate her help.

So, rather than muttering any more, I'll simply share some fun stuff about home schools, public schools and a downright nice guy who wrote a letter to the editor this week saying something nice about an educator.

Seems like we read a lot of the opposite about our local public education in the letters, so I found Ernie Schoeffel's letter very refreshing and true.

He wrote about Paul Anselmo, whom I've known for a number of years. I've known Paul's wife since she was a toddler, and she's a dedicated educator too.

So, enjoy, and maybe tomorrow, you'll see where we end up, hoping.


First, my friend and editor Helen sent me this, and, yes, I can identify. I do wonder, however, if any of these sound familiar to our generation's kids.

Most of our generation of 60+ were HOME SCHOOLED in many ways .

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.

"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.

"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My father taught me about TIME TRAVEL.

"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My father taught me LOGIC.

" Because I said so, that's why ."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC

"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.

"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My father taught me IRONY.

"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS

"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.

"Just you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.

"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone, there are starving kids in China!"

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.

"This room of yours looks as if a tornado hit it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.

"If I told you once, I've told you a million times, don't exaggerate!"

13. My father taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.

"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out..."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .

"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.

"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.

"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.

"You are going to get it from your father when you get home!"

18 . My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.

"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My father taught me HUMOR.

"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.

"You get that from your fathers side."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.

"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.

"When you get to be my age, you'll understand.

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE .

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

This should only be sent to the over 60 crowd because the younger ones would not believe we truly were told these "EXACT" words by our parents…;


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And, in the realm of contemporary public education, my friend Julie Reister-Keaton recently sent me a note telling me that Panhandle Alliance for Education (PAFE) is sponsoring a Teacher Appreciation Night (TAN) at Pour Authority this upcoming Wednesday, March 7 from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Pour Authority owner Jon Hagadone will have Payette Brewery serving beer and raffling off donated items.  Proceeds will go to PAFE educators’ grant money.  SHS instructor John Hastings will be performing some tunes.

Julie adds that lots of snacks, conversation and laughter should abound.

“It’s a time to gather former teachers, teachers in the trenches and supportive community members,” Julie says, “AND earn a bit of grant money.”

PAFE sponsors this event to show appreciation for what all the teachers, administration and support staff have done and continue to do for local students.  

So, educators and friends of education, here’s a chance to have some fun and earn some grant money.

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Finally, the Letter to the Editor, submitted by my old friend from SHS Cedar Post pop machine days, Ernie.  Ernie supplied us with inventory for our vending machines, which helped support the student newspaper.

I always respected and appreciated Ernie, especially his professionalism.  So, it was neat to see him write about an educator I know and respect.  

Anselmo held in high regard by staff, community

February 28, 2018 at 5:00 am |

I have never written a letter to the editor; there is a first time for everything. It’s nice to think at my age I can do something for the first time.

This letter is in support of Paul Anselmo, our superintendent of the West Bonner County School District. I have known Paul his entire life. Actually, I know his entire family and they are all fine people.

Mr. Anselmo does his job and he does it well. He is held in high regard by his teachers and students as well as educators from other districts.

Every time I see Paul he always takes the time to say hello and shake my hand, and believe me, it’s a good handshake, not one of a wimp. I like that. You can tell a lot about a man by his handshake, just like his dad and grandpa. 

His dad was also a highly esteemed educator in Newport. Paul takes right after his dad and that’s a good thing.

Paul Anselmo has the support of the West Bonner County School Board. I feel our schools are in pretty good shape morally. A good attitude is a positive one.

I applaud and thank Mr. Anselmo for a job well done and hope that he will hear it from others as well.

ERNIE SCHOEFFEL