There Oughtta Be A Law!

I like Ben Franklin. I really do! For many of us in Philadelphia, he is a hero. He started our libraries, our Fire Department, our University and our first hospital, which was also the first hospital in the country. He gave us better indoor heating, homeowner's insurance, and the bifocals which allow those of us of a certain age to read.

HOWEVER.......I really wish that Ben had not written "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise". There are some people who just take this saying TOO MUCH to heart- like the neighbor who decided that 7:30 this SATURDAY morning was the perfect time to use his very loud gas mower on his lawn.

It was a killer week at school. I have a graduation party this afternoon and a retirement dinner tonight to attend. I am exhausted. I need to be able to stay awake late tonight. I should be ASLEEP!!!! But no....thanks to my neighbor, who would surely quote Ben if confronted about the ungodly time he chose to mow his lawn, I have already been up for over an hour and a half. I hope people understand tonight at the banquet if I fall asleep in my soup!



Next weekend I hope to get up early- but I will try NOT to disturb any neighbors who wish to sleep in. I am hoping to get to the National Constitution Center to see the exhibit about Napoleon.

During college I spent a year at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. It was a wonderful year full of experiences that I treasure. One of the courses I took was a history class simply titled "Napoleon". It was taught by the fabulous Professor Bonfils, who was a delight. He spoke exquisite French- lovely sounds but with an enunciation that allowed even the American students to understand evey word. I had taken Professor Bonfils' "Histoire de la Suisse" (History of Switzerland) in the fall semester and signed on for Napoleon just to have another class with him. Every history teacher I have known since I have judged against the standards of Professor Bonfils and few have measured up.

Courtesy of Professor Bonfils, I have maintained a lifelong interest in Napoleon. So, the new exhibit is something I have to see. If you are in the Philadelphia area, check it out!

In the meantime, I am STILL working on that pile of papers I showed you last weekend- or more accurately the ones that didn't fit in last week's picture plus a bunch of new stuff from this week. So, off to read and grade.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!