Crystal Lee Sutton

Crystal Lee Sutton whose fight to unionize Southern textile plants with low pay and poor conditions was dramatized in the film Norma Rae, has died.
Sutton, 68, died Friday after a long battle with brain cancer.
In 1973, Sutton was a mother of three earning $2.68 an hour folding towels at J. P. Stevens when a manager fired her for pro-union activity. In a final act of defiance before police hauled her out, Sutton, who had worked there for 16 years, wrote "UNION" on a piece of cardboard and climbed on a table on the plant floor. Employees responded by shutting down their machines.
In 1974, a union won the right to represent workers at seven plants in northeastern North Carolina.
"Crystal was an amazing symbol of workers standing up in the South against overwhelming odds," said Bruce Raynor, president of Workers United, who worked with Sutton to organize the Stevens plants.
Despite what many people think, Lee got little profit from the movie or an earlier book written about her, said her son, Jay Jordan.
"When they find out she lived very, very modestly, even poorly, in Burlington, (N.C.), they're suprised," Jordan said.
Hopefully, we can all learn from Sutton and help right some of the wrongs that we see around us.

Monarchs not multiplying!

I know that many people loved this summer's temperatures. It was lovely, rarely putting on the air conditioning, not needing to shower several times a day to cool down, being able to eat indoors and not sweat buckets. Unfortunately, as I am fond of saying there is always a yin and ying to things. Monarch butterflies did not do so well in this weather.
The summer's cool temperatures have had monarch butterflies giving each other the cold shoulder and that means far fewer of them passing through the GTA this week on their annual migration to Mexico.
In fact, some researchers say the number overwintering in Mexico this year could be the lowest since 2004. Cool and rainy periods in most of the breeding areas this summer slowed down their metabolism and reproduction.
Experts who track monarchs say the number being seen in Tommy Thompson Park, at the foot of Leslie Street are far fewer in number.
Monarch butterflies usually live six to eight weeks. The ones that leave Canada in the fall are two or three generations removed from those that first arrive in Canada. In March, they'll start north again, following a trail of milkweed-the sole food source for monarch caterpillars.
Who knew-milkweed. Much like Pandas but migratory!
We need to make sure that milkweed thrives in order for the Monarchs to continue their annual migrations.

US Open further posts

My goodness, what is the biggest news about the US Open! Not the fantastic shot that Roger Federer managed through the legs. He shot, not looking since his back was to the net. The ball was still in. Wow, that was a shot to behold and close to the end of his semi-final match.
No, the talk of the games is Serena Williams behaviour at the end of her match with Kim Clisters. Okay, lines people are not supposed to call foot faults at the end of a match, an unspoken rule but how does the lines person know that it is the end of the match or near the end? To threaten an official in such a way is no longer sportsman like. The penalty of $10,000 is meaningless to her and she still played her final ladies doubles with her sister.
Hopefully, the tennis federation will take time to consider the situation carefully and exact a punishment that fits the situation.

Continuing US Open

Yup, you guessed it, I am watching the US Open when I am not at school teaching. Yes, you read correctly, I am back teaching. I will retire, I promise but not this year. Going to take another year before, I finally put the chalk on the ledge and hang up my baton.
In the meantime, it is time to watch the US Open, the last of the majors of the year. Looking forward to hearing how Kim Clijisters played against Serena Williams. Each has her virtues and I will not be disappointed with either one of them winning.
The men are not as exciting this time. Federer will probably win, he is playing so well.
Time to get back to photocopying. Break is over.

US Open

Was wondering what took up my time lately and it came to me. The US Open tennis tournament. I am not a great tennis player but I do have fun. There are a few times a year that I watch faithfully to see if my favourite players win or if they go down to defeat. Still waiting to see if Nadal won his match against Mon-Fils (think that I spelled it correctly). It was tight and I was watching during the tie-break at the end of the first set. Mon-Fils won that but there were many sets to go. I had to go to sleep. This working is hard!
Today, I will watch some more tennis hopefully it will be as exciting as yesterday. Might learn something. The most important is that a point is not over until it is really over. Too often, I stop after a good shot and my opponent gets the shot back. Must watch and learn.

I survived!

Well, I made it through my first day. I will make it through the year. It was a test! Could I survive after retiring, working part-time and then not working for months at a time.
I must admit that working full time at the high school level is very different from elementary. There is no comparison and I am not sure why elementary does not complain. I have a feeling that there is very little communication that occurs between the two levels.
Time to go and relax and get ready for the next day which is even easier.
Wow, not sure that I can make it.

Labour Day Approaches

As Labour Day approaches, I am torn this year. I am heading back to school full-time. Do I really want to do this? After three years of working part-time and for many months not at all, I am returning to work full-time. This year because Labour Day is so late we going to work tomorrow and the next. This will help me get into the rhythm of getting up early. Must admit that I have become used to sleeping late and working at the computer once I get up. However, one day a week, I do get up and play tennis.
Nearly two weeks ago, I hurt myself playing tennis during a lesson so I am still trying to decide if I will go out today and play social tennis. My arm is better but after Sunday and not being able to serve well, I am thinking that I will do better just staying at home and getting work done. The house cleaned, that would be nice after all this time.
I think that I will tie up loose ends, clean and get organized for the coming year- let's start with the weekend.