Dear So and So

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear Veronica,

I know its hard and often crappy. But you're making a huge difference to your students and its so rare to see people who make that effort with kids at all, these days. Your students are incredibly lucky to have you. Keep going.

[Desert Tortoise]

Veronica, thank you so much for your drive and focus. Our kids have so much to battle and having less than stellar support from those you need it most is disheartening.

It's teachers like you that have helped my little boy so much. He's only 5 but had special needs in preschool and through the help of dedicated teachers and work at home, he has tested out and is in regular school.

Going into kindergarten I thought he would not have the same attention as in preK because of the larger class size, fewer resources, etc and might have a hard time.

I was very wrong. Despite the cutbacks and all, his teachers are very dedicated and the individual attention shows in his work. One day my son pulled a fast one on his teacher, and then again later. I wanted him to learn the consequences of his behavior. He was to apologize to his teacher, pay for his actions (out of his chores money) and at home at have to deal with the consequences. He lost his electronic toys and tv for a long time. I did not expect the teacher to do anything other than an ok, got it type of thing. Not only did she understand but she offered to work with me in helping him learn from this behavior. Wow! Like she doesn't have enough to do? I really appreciate that.

You are a gem and your students are so much richer for having you.

dt

[oldwhatshername]

Dear Sir,

I understand that you have to sit next to me for the next hour so please turn your face around your breath is killing me!

[Anelia]

oldwatshername, it's horrible. I have a student, a smoker and he doesn't take a shower often. But the most disgusting thing is his breath I feel it even from a distance. Oh, my nose is very sensitive and somethimes I wish it weren't.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear makers of triathlon apparel for women,

Putting on a one piece tri suit should not involve possible dislocation of my arm attempting to wrestle the built-in sports bra on. Neither should it require the help of a second person. Please stop building sports bras into one piece tri suits. There's no logical reason for it, really.

[Crankin]

Indy, you will find your cycling mojo. I've been through this more than once. During the most severe bout of it, I found doing lots of fun "errand" rides on my heavier bike got me out there more than I would have been on my road bike. I learned all about all of the local farm stands and met some interesting people. I probably did about 300 miles over a season this way. I was still riding on the weekends with DH and friends and doing occasional group rides, but I put no pressure on myself. In fact, I still don't. I haven't gone as far as not using a computer, because I like to use cadence and distance, but I rarely look at my average speed anymore. I'm not saying I never do, but once I took the pressure off of myself, I actually started improving a little.
The winter after the season I did all of those little errand rides, I went on a group x country ski outing with someone I knew from rides I had lead. She brought a friend, who lives in my town. She said, "Oh, I know you... you must commute all year round," and she went on to describe my bike, and even what color cycling jacket I have! She had seen me shopping many times in west Concord, and thought I didn't have a car. So, I guess I was out there enough to have someone recognize me. To me, that was just as good as having a 16 mph average (which is fast for me).

[indysteel]

Thanks for the encouragement, Crankin. I rode 20 miles yesterday (my first ride since November). It was nice. My sit bones are sore, but I otherwise felt good. Part of my problem is that I used to ride with a big group of friends all over town. It was a strong group and I was motivated to ride a lot simply to keep up. I also liked the diversity of where we rode. Now I mostly ride with DH from our house. I think I need to mix it up a bit more this year. I need to do some hill work and go out of my way to ride with friends. Mentally and physically, I've been more motivated this past year than I was the year before (I've been running and working with a trainer on resistance work) so I'm hopeful. I'm just not patient when it comes to the bike. When I first started riding in 2006, I got strong pretty quickly thanks to some serious determination. I want that person back, but I keep glossing over how much work it took to get there. I think it would help if I went a little easier on myself.

[withm]

Dear Delivery Person:

It's 4:30 on a beautiful sunny, 70oF Friday afternoon. For a change there is no wind.

And I'm stuck in the office for another HOUR waiting for you???? Please get un-lost and get your stuff over here so I can lock up and go ride my bike!

[ultraviolet]

Dear graphic designer,

You don't have to illustrate a company's entire business model in a single logo. For reference, please see...well, any of a number of logos for brands you know and love. You went to school for this, so I'm sure you have, or have seen resources you can reference. And even if you don't have resources, you can go outside and look at the signs and billboards all over the city we're working in.

When I said, "Wow, there's a lot going on there. Let's look for some ways to simplify and abstract some of those concepts," it wasn't meant to signal that it was time for you to describe the company's business model to me again. That meant it was time for you to go away and utilize the skills I assume you were hired for...namely, visually communicating concepts in clear and compelling ways. If all the client wanted was a literal graphic representation of their business model, anyone with Powerpoint and a reasonable clip art library could have done that.

Thanks,
Your new team lead (who, by the way, isn't very patient)

[Eden]

To whom it may concern:

I now know more about lard than I *ever* thought I would....

(anyone need a mason jar full.... I made more than I needed)

-the making empanada machine

[emily_in_nc]

To whom it may concern:

I now know more about lard than I *ever* thought I would....

(anyone need a mason jar full.... I made more than I needed)

-the making empanada machine

Make some suet for the birds! That's what we used to buy it for...

[Eden]

Oh dear.... I don't think I could waste it on the birdies.... I rendered it myself from local organic leaf lard.... too much work just to feed the birdies.

[Owlie]

To whom it may concern:

I now know more about lard than I *ever* thought I would....

(anyone need a mason jar full.... I made more than I needed)

-the making empanada machine

Empanadas? Can I come over?

Pie crusts? I know a number of people who insist that lard makes the best ones... Other pastry?

[Pax]

Dear Rick,

The lady that blindly turned left in front of you the other day didn't know that you were riding your motorcycle to see your gravely ill sister, she couldn't be bothered to look around before she turned her 6000lb. SUV right in front of you, she was busy, or distracted, or disinterested.

She killed you because whatever she was doing was more important. Your beloved wife of 31 years, your three kids, all the hundreds of friends you've made over the years, we'll all miss you terribly.

And to think, all she had to do was look where she was going.

Signed,

Your lost friend

[alexis_the_tiny]

To whom it may concern:

I now know more about lard than I *ever* thought I would....

(anyone need a mason jar full.... I made more than I needed)

-the making empanada machine

That sounds delicious. Make some pie crusts?

Pax, I'm so sorry about your friend.

Dear friend, today marks the 2nd year of the day some idiot drunk put an end to all your adventures in this world. Wherever you are, I hope you know how much of an inspiration you have always been and still are.