This is LaWanda Eckert's Typepad Profile.
Join Typepad and start following LaWanda Eckert's activity
Join Now!
Already a member? Sign In
LaWanda Eckert
Houston Texas
Love is what matters. Master of English.
Interests: I'm interested in travel, writing, education, Native American literature (Simon Ortiz, Joy Harjo, N. Scott Momaday) the work of John Steinbeck, and I like the outdoors...just not enough to live there.
Recent Activity
Image
Living with Gladys and Travis is like having a couple of criminals around. No matter what the rescue tells me, I know that I was scammed. They knew that if they brought Gladys to me that I would not be able to give her back. She's just too cute and... Continue reading
Posted 7 days ago at WestieDogDaze
Image
Members of my family used to give me ride alongs in their big trucks down to the Houston Ship Channel to dump massive loads of grain for export. A skinny and long-legged preteen, my biggest joy was to wake up with the seagulls and step out into the gravel-like oyster... Continue reading
Posted 7 days ago at The Red HOT Pen
Image
This year I am going to try and complete two National Board components. Last year I successfully sat for the Component One exam and that provided evidence of accomplished teaching. Component Two is designed to prove that I fairly provide differentiation for all of my students. My worry is that... Continue reading
Posted Jan 19, 2023 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Today I went out to the Ulta store on my pre 2023 makeup run, and I am sad to report that I got pushed aside like an irrelevant old lady. It's true, I am getting kind of old, and I have been sick with some kind of stuff that might... Continue reading
Posted Dec 31, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Meaning in Life Whenever I look to find meaning in my life, I not only access my spiritual side, but I also think about the wonderful work that I do everyday. All of my life, I've been an employed person, sometimes more than one job at once. I think of... Continue reading
Posted Dec 28, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
My health went down when I worked on my subject area masters. Different than an M.Ed, a subject area masters requires you to become an expert, contribute to the academic discipline, and develop a thesis and area of study. As an undergrad, my interest in composition theory, education, and recidivism,... Continue reading
Posted Dec 7, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Okay, it's true...I did it again. I adopted another unstable and abused rescue Westie, and I couldn't be happier. I honestly believe that Gladys and Travis shared a secret past history because they are like little book ends, lovely little white book ends with wagging tales. They love me to... Continue reading
Posted Nov 29, 2022 at WestieDogDaze
Image
Thirty-nine years ago I took a cold shower in the middle of winter in a men's restroom in North Dakota. I dried myself with a dirty shirt while standing in grayish water that had backed up from the drain. My long mousy hair covered my skinny frame, and my bare... Continue reading
Posted Oct 20, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
When I think of a "real" man, I imagine a figure that forgives and evolves fearlessly, that carefully chooses the battles that define his character, framing his life in a positive light, while refusing to punish or overpower someone in a weak and harmless position. Real men protect their own... Continue reading
Posted Sep 28, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Months into a record breaking heatwave and drought, the drunken sots behind me run a lawn sprinkler morning and evening; I suspect because neither one of them are employed or employable, so I think they sit there in the misty rainbow hoping they don't have to cool the house. The... Continue reading
Posted Jul 11, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Sunday, time to reflect on the things that make your life worth living. I don't know what floats your boat, but I am happy to see bees in my garden. There is clover growing in sunny spots in the yard and the bees are visiting there. But what makes me... Continue reading
Posted May 17, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Russia, a petulant, whining child, complains about the consequences of something that is entirely its own fault, the bloody invasion of Ukraine, an invasion based on obvious lies and foolishness. The rest of the world, according to the Kremlin, must capitulate and give them Ukraine. Why? Well, because it once... Continue reading
Posted Apr 26, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
I'm sitting here in Babin's Seafood place thinking about all I am grateful for: the wonderful little rescue Westie; the cozy, modern apartment; my wonderful friends and coworkers; the job that keeps me in society when I'd rather immerse myself in a massive writing project, alone and crazy. I'm grateful... Continue reading
Posted Apr 15, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Travis likes his new status as an only child. I guess my terrible guilt about Bob passing away morphed into a type of overprotective indulgence, so I bought Travis new everything. He now owns two handmade leashes, one that even glows in the dark. I bought him a FAFO collar... Continue reading
Posted Apr 14, 2022 at WestieDogDaze
Image
I think it is amazing how you have managed to side step this genocide and unfairly and inaccurately minimize the impact on all nations and all free thinking people. For the first time in history we are experiencing this version of horror in real time on video and in the... Continue reading
Posted Apr 4, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Travis, the little dog man with a mind of his own, elevates my mood to blissful happiness--most of the time. We journeyed off together in my little sports car to Austin a couple of weekends ago and spent the night with my adult son at his musician colony. The night... Continue reading
Posted Mar 22, 2022 at WestieDogDaze
Image
All of these years we have sat around as a country and let Putin unleash genocide and terror on humanity with no consequences to him or his oligarchs. We enabled him to rise to this level where he can get away with threatening us with nuclear weapons and we sit... Continue reading
Posted Mar 22, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
I wish I could find a way to write about Bob and not start crying, but I'm just too sick and tired to fight. I never expected Bob to die like Bill did; even though I could see that he was failing in just a few short days, I just... Continue reading
Posted Feb 7, 2022 at WestieDogDaze
Image
A friend of mine recently theorized on the weird book burnings and bannings that are happening around the country, and all I want to say on the subject is that it is only a form of intimidation meant to conjure up images of Nazi boot lickers, and such, so that... Continue reading
Posted Feb 7, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Travis enjoying his Hulk shirt. I learned quite a bit about him in the last few days. I learned that he is terrified of anything being pulled off of his head. He fought back incredibly hard when I tried to take his sweater off, biting and twisting and snarling. After... Continue reading
Posted Jan 18, 2022 at WestieDogDaze
Image
JUST GO BUY A BOAT ~ Professor Lee Hester, author Due to personal stuff I haven't posted much... but I'll post this note out of frustration concerning people who are against Federal vaccine/masking mandates. I don't know why there is even a question, legally. Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11... Continue reading
Posted Jan 13, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
The Dog and the Water Lily Originally by William Cowper (1731-1800) and selfishly "remixed" by me. No Fable The noon was shady, and soft airs Swept the Brazos' silent tide, When, 'scap'd from literary cares, I wander'd on his side. My Westie, most majestic of his breed, And high in... Continue reading
Posted Jan 2, 2022 at WestieDogDaze
Image
I'm tan. It's true. This is January, but I have a golden blush on my skin, and I'm worried. Even though I live in a warm zone, I'm not supposed to look like I've been vacationing in Mexico, so my tan feels and looks unnatural to me. I don't mean... Continue reading
Posted Jan 2, 2022 at The Red HOT Pen
Image
Last January, my precious dog died. He was a nine-year old West Highland Terrier named Bill, a best friend to me. He helped me survive the early days of my new career by giving me unconditional love and companionship. He was a strange dog with some human characteristics, a sublime... Continue reading
Posted Dec 13, 2021 at WestieDogDaze
Image
It is impossible for me to quantify the many various ways that Bard College IWT has helped me become a more effective teacher. In the past, I participated in three week-long summer workshops on their campus that guided my pedagogy and introduced me to a bevy of other teachers from... Continue reading
Posted Jul 12, 2021 at The Red HOT Pen