Penny's Next Phase

I Had to Leave for a Few Days

2012-01-20T21:39:00.001-05:00

As we go through the mundane of winter and the end of the quarter grind, I had to take a break from blogging daily. It has been such a busy week, and one night, we decided to have family night and watch Dolphin Tale. After the movie was over and the kids were put to bed, I didn't have it in me to blog. None of my experiences of the day were speaking to me. Sharing a computer is difficult also. I can blog from the tablet or the iPod touch, but I like the feel of keys under my fingers. I also like to see what I am writing and feel that I can go back and edit without messing up the whole post.

Although the reading testing is done, the math is not. Report card weeks find me running here and there. Do I plan for class and teach or assess and do grades? I did get some assessment/report card comp time from the principal. The first day I entered all my grades on the report cards. Today, I started on the comments and did some planning for next week. I am on a quest to write better comments on my report cards and was given a hand by a colleague who let me borrow her Timesavers for Teachers Book 2. I love the examples of comments that it gives, but it is taking me longer as I search for the words that express what I want to say. I wish that I could have kept on task and finished my math testing also, but there is always next week. The problem is that the longer I take, the more out of routine my class gets. I am ready to change some of the routines in my classroom again and need to set higher expectations for my students to get the best work out of them. At the end of the month I have a student teacher coming. I enjoyed having a student teacher for the first time in the fall and hope that this experience will be just as enjoyable.

The Grocery Store Took Two Hours!

2012-01-16T22:59:00.001-05:00

I used my new app, Grocery Pal, when I went to the grocery store today. I actually had a grocery list, some coupons downloaded to my loyalty card, and I was armed with my stack of coupons. I took my youngest with me. We had to go and look for a special cart. We didn't find one, and we were at the other end of the store so we started out in Health and Beauty and worked our way backward. I think that Eat This, Not That! suggests that you do the perimeter of the store first to make sure that you get the things that you really need. So, we started out in Dairy, then Meats, Bakery, and Produce. As we were doing the middle of the store, I realized that we forgot the minced garlic so we had to go back to produce. Then, Reese really liked the imitation crab, so we had to go back for another sample and to pick up a pack for home. We were almost done with frozen foods when Reese had to go to the restroom. We ended in cleaning supplies and then had to wait in line because we got the after work shopping crowd! Whew! Glad that is over!

For all that hard work, I saved almost $37.00, which is cool because in this day and age, groceries are expensive and packages are getting smaller and smaller! I think that I just realized that if you download a coupon to your loyalty card, they do not double it, but if you have the paper coupon, it comes up as scanned coupon and bonus coupon, meaning it is doubled!

Three Day Weekend

2012-01-15T19:24:00.001-05:00

I am so glad that this is a three day weekend. We have spent the last two days doing other things. Tomorrow will give me the opportunity to do the housework and laundry that still needs to be done. I also had some goals for household organizing that I would like to complete such as labeling the LEGO boxes and finishing up the cleaning up after the holidays (yes, I realize that we are 15 days into the new year) and some things that I need to complete for work. I have trouble doing things during the week. Once I go to work, come home, cook dinner, and do homework, I am beat and do not feel like doing any extras. I know that part of it is my ADHD, but the other is that I like to watch TV and play on the computer also.

Interpreting

2012-01-14T23:42:00.000-05:00

Well, I believe that I did a pretty good job today. It did help that I did some research ahead of time on the Internet. I did find that the information that I found on the Internet was a great deal more user-friendly than 20 years ago when I was trying to find out more about Buddhism and came away with a bunch of talk about Nirvana, but no real knowledge or understanding of Buddhism. Some of the website that I found the most useful were: Buddhism in Thailand, Thai Buddhism, and An Interview with "Phra Frarang".

We went to pick up the monk today, and he brought along his assistant. He has been in the States for 10 years and a monk for 20 years. He is a Thai monk, but he lives in a temple run by the Laos people. We ended up being the first speakers after introduction because we needed to leave shortly after 11am so that the monk could eat before noon.

Some of the words that were used by the monk, I was not able to directly translate into English, but I believe that I got the gist of what he was saying across to the audience. My reading on the 227 tenets and the most important aspects of Buddhism helped me when the audience asked what some of the 227 tenets were. The monk related the four most important tenets which were no lying, cheating, or stealing, no killing of animals, even insects, no sexual acts, and living your life peacefully with an open mind and heart.

The audience was from the Lifelong Learning Institute and consisted mostly of elderly members of the community, but also included the mayor, the fire chief, and members of city council. The local newspaper people also attended.

The Buddhist expert members of the panel were a Jew turned Catholic turned Buddhist and a Catholic nun who had experiences in predominantly Buddhist countries in Asia. I did not get to hear them speak, but would be interested to know if they agreed with me with regard to my translation of the monk's words.

Scrabble with My Hubby

2012-01-13T21:48:00.001-05:00

When Scrabble first came out on Facebook, we use to play on the same computer using different browser to play the same game together. For awhile we would get out the real turntable board that we own and use the computer for the dictionary and to keep score. We then graduated to playing a few games on Facebook whenever we are on there which for me is daily. In the past two days we have started playing our three games with him on the laptop and me on the iPod touch. We sit next to each other on the couch and play back and forth. My Scrabble skills have improved immensely since I started playing with other friends on Facebook. There was a time that I would not play with my husband or any of his family. Now, I can hold my own and I sometimes win!

Another Attempt of Interpreting

2012-01-12T22:14:00.000-05:00

My Thai language skills are pretty good considering that I have never lived in the country for more that three and a half months at a time. I can speak the main dialect and understand three different Thai dialects, the main one, the Northern (Phrae) dialect, and the Southern dialect. I can also understand some Lao and Cambodian people because the languages are similar.

I have been called upon to interpret a few times. I have done mostly volunteer work for family friends by going to the hospital for a circumcision and speaking to English classes at schools in Thailand. I had one paid opportunity for a family friend who had clients in Thailand come to visit the US. For me that was an enjoyable and easy opportunity because it was mostly conversational and just interpreting for the clients landmarks as we passed them.

This weekend, I am the substitute interpreter for a Buddhist monk who is going to be speaking about Buddhism near where a Buddhist temple is going to be built in Central Ohio. He is going to be speaking to students at a school. Now, schools and students, I am comfortable and have experience; Buddhism, not so much. I know enough about it to know that it is a way of life, not particularly a religion. My parents are Buddhist, and my mother is pretty religious, but she raised me on the basic tenet that if you do good, you will get good. Her belief is that all religion is good, so when I married a Catholic and have two children that I am raising Catholic, it is not a big deal.

I think that I am going to have to do a crash course of reading up on Buddhism sometime between now and Saturday!

Big Red in the Big Ten

2012-01-11T21:55:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Big Ten Nebraska! We were warmly welcomed by the Cornhuskers in Lincoln, NE. We were "lucky" enough to sit behind the cornhead and were told to try a Runza; we ended up having two!

The Beginning of My Life

2012-01-10T22:06:00.001-05:00

I was born by C-Section at Grant Hospital at 5:25pm. I was born with my umbilical cord wrapped around my neck three times. The doctor had to cut a slit in my neck so that I could breathe. I still have a scar behind my left ear. Obviously it worked because I am still here today to blog about it!

Mirror Frame Tutorial

2012-01-09T22:42:00.000-05:00

We have lived in our house for 11 years, and I have not changed very much in the house nor decorated that much. I have gotten to the point that I want to start to make my house look better and have some sense of what I want to do. Most of the interior of the house has been repainted except for the bathrooms, the small hallway that connects the bedrooms, and the master bedroom.

I now have a real itch to paint the bathrooms and apply the mirror frame tutorial from Impatiently Praying for Patience to the mirror in the bathrooms. It looks really cool even though it may not be easy. I was wondering at first if I would be able to do it because the mirror in the master bathroom is so close to the wall, but then I realized that the frame is actually applied to the mirror. I would not mind a smaller mirror with a bolder impact. We actually already own a miter box, and I know how to use it from when we finished the basement. I don't want to spend a great deal of money or put up with taking the old mirror down, looking for a whole new mirror that would fit the space, fixing the holes in the wall, etc. So, adding to the old mirror sounds like a wonderful solution!

iTouch

2012-01-08T23:05:00.000-05:00

I got an iPod touch for Christmas. I wanted it mostly for the kids to have something for long trips, but I did not want to invest in their own personal ones. It has worked out wonderfully because it seems that one likes the tablet we have better, the other one likes the iPod touch so they do not fight over the gadgets. They also still have their own gadgets if they choose not to play either of the ones that their parents own.

When I went to a conference in July, one of the technology presenters recommended The Missing Manual series of books if you want to know more about your piece of technology. I did not really think anything of it at the time. Then, I got a Canon Digital Camera and an iPod touch for Christmas. The Canon Digital Camera came with an instruction manual, but was easily usable without reading the manual. I do need to go back and read it to find out how I can get the camera to work faster, or not take so long to be ready for the next picture after taking a picture. The iPod touch came in a pretty box with a small pamplet that helped to get it set up and ready to go. I had no trouble getting it started, hooking it up to my computer, or buying apps. But, I was left with a sense of I know this machine can do more than what I am doing with it, but I don't want to find out by trial and error how to work it. I got on the library's website and reserved the missing manual: iPod 8th Edition and My iPod touch Second Edition by Brad Miser. I started with the missing manual and I liked it, but then decided to switch to the other book because it is specific to the iPod touch. It is telling me some things that I already know, but I am learning a great deal about my new iPod touch. I may not use it all, but at least I will know what it is capable of doing!

Decluttering

2012-01-07T22:39:00.001-05:00

For me, the significance of being able to park in the garage is huge. It represents hard work that has paid off. I keep seeing a few ideas on Pinterest that have really interested me. One is from The Family Handyman that shows a way to store bins on the ceiling of the garage. This idea appeals to me because we have a really tall ceiling in our garage and with two bigger vehicles, we need to minimize the things that are on the ground on the sides of the garage.

Another idea that I have gotten from Pinterest is how to store LEGOs. We sat around one Saturday morning and organized all of our LEGOs by color, but the bins were different sizes and not easy to put back where they belong. In fact, my son has not been able to play with them since we have separated them. I want him to be able to play with them, but also put them away in an organized fashion. This is the idea that I copied from Heather J's Life. I would like to add this idea from Better Homes & Gardens and make a LEGOmobile for the LEGO plastic shoe boxes.

Parking in the Garage

2012-01-06T21:50:00.000-05:00

Tonight, as I was driving the van into the garage, Reese says, "Ooh, I have never done this before." When I thought about it, she was right. I don't think that in her whole lifetime we have parked cars in the garage. It has always been a storage unit for mostly restaurant things including a 6 foot grill with a trailer hitch. Even though we have not had the grill in the garage for awhile now, the garage still never got clean enough to put a vehicle in last year. We still had kid outdoor toys and other storage items including some of my work crates and boxes that got in the way. Through dilligent cleaning, storing, and donating in 2011, 2012 is the year we finally accomplished what was for many years impossible.

I did offer the one space that we have in the garage to my husband because he drives the older of our two vehicles (although mine has more miles on it). He said that it was for me because he has time to warm his truck and scrape in the morning because he has to wait for the kids to get on the bus anyway. Score for me!

My New Interest: Pinterest

2012-01-05T22:24:00.001-05:00

My student teacher was the one who told me about StumbleUpon and Pinterest. At first I was hesitant to get started with these new "research" sites. I tried StumbleUpon first and I liked it, but once I got my Pinterest account, I loved it. The ideas that other people pin are awesome. They are mostly from blogs that I may not find in a regular Google search. I have found things that I would use in my home as well as professionally. The problem I had with StumbleUpon was the websites, where it sent you, were mostly pretty crappy and very random. You cannot see where you are going prior to getting there. With Pinterest you can see what you are going to pin before you find out where it is from.

I Love My Book Club

2012-01-04T22:56:00.001-05:00

Tonight was the first book club of the year. We read Night Road by Kristin Hannah. Previously, we read Firefly Lane by the same author. Although we could all relate to both books on many levels, across generations, most agreed that they like Night Road better. It was a quick read, and there were many different points of view with regards to how issues were seen in the book. We all cried through the book even though it was fiction; it could happen to anyone. For our book club the overreaching themes are forgiveness will make your heart lighter, justice and revenge are two different things, and "Man makes plans; God laughs."

Trying to Develop New Habits

2012-01-03T20:54:00.000-05:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to eat better. I have not been that good at this resolution, but I believe that with our routines go back to normal tomorrow, and I go back to work, I am hoping that eating better will become easier. Routine means eating breakfast in the morning and not getting up so close to lunch that skipping breakfast is easy. All the cake is gone from the house, and most of the Christmas sweets are thrown away. I have to start drinking more water, and that is a tough assignment to start considering that I cannot go to the restroom when I have the need. Going to continue trying to develop these new habits, cannot go on like I am invincible of all health problems.

Tournament of Roses Parade

2012-01-02T20:48:00.001-05:00

I ended up watching most of the Tournament of Roses parade this year. I think that my interest was peaked by The Bee Movie. We have watched this movie many times this year, and it was really interesting to see what can be done with flowers. The theme was Just Imagine.... I was excited to see many travel destinations as floats such as Thailand and Indonesia as well as the organ donation float. This parade presentation is more subdued than the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade where the big items are the character balloons.

Bowl games on Monday ended up making it seem like two New Year's Days. Tomorrow, it is back to real life.

Beginning the Year

2012-01-01T20:42:00.001-05:00

In our house we always start out our year with a birthday celebration! My husband is born on the first day of the year. We contemplate the past year and make goals for the coming year. He feels that 2011 was not so great and so has big aspirations for 2012. My feeling is that 2011 was a mediocre year; does not go down as the best year, but not the worst either. I am thankful for a job, pretty good health, and healthy and happy kids. There are things that I want to accomplish in 2012, but don't feel that 2011 was a complete waste.

Always the Last Gift of the Year

2011-12-31T11:30:00.000-05:00

Our last gift of the year is always the celebration of our oldest's birthday. This year, he turned the big NINE. Next year will be double digits for him. We celebrated in style by having his birthday party on his birthday as we did last year. We invited his friends and for the first time, one of his sister's friends and her family. The group that celebrated with our son was the same as last year so the kids all know each other and had a great time. It was fun. In some ways, I would like to put some space between Christmas and his birthday, but in other ways, I am glad the celebrating is over all in one shot between Christmas and school starting after the new year.

What Do I Look Forward to in the New Year?

2011-12-30T16:00:00.000-05:00

I look forward to travelling in the new year. We are trying to get to some places in the United States as well as travel overseas. My son is really into American history and would love to see some more of the historical sites in the Eastern United States. I would like to take him to Boston again to see the sights near there. I have not been to Thailand since 1998 and am excited to see my family and friends and share Thailand with my husband, son, and daughter. We will see where opportunities lead to travel later on in the year.

Looking Forward to the Gift of a New Year

2011-12-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

The NaBloPoMo theme for January is Beginnings. As this year ends, I am looking forward to the beginning of another year. The year ends with a celebration of life for a relative of one of my close friends, the celebration of two more birthdays, a family lunch on New Year's Eve, and some one-on-one time with my husband to ring in the new year.

As I look back upon the year and look at the goals I set for 2011, I realize that my goals changed as the year passed.

1. Participate in three 5Ks and run at least one. (I did not achieve this goal. One of the 5K we normally do was on a weekend that we were out of town. Instead of walking another one, I volunteered with the kids' activities.)

2. Help Riley organize LEGOs and finish LEGO table. (This is a half-done project. The LEGOs are sorted and binned by color, but the table is not complete. This project also became organization of the whole house rather than just LEGOs. I spent the summer reading organization books/websites and trying to apply some of the tips to my life. My goal became to declutter and use what we have and get rid of what we did not need.)

3. Finish garage so that cars will fit. (Another almost complete project; we decided that rather than store some of the items, we would sell them. Need to get them posted to sell; then cars will fit.)

4. Clean out crawl space. (This is one that did not get accomplished. The main floor and the garage are mostly clean/organized, but the crawl space still needs work.)

5. Keep up with laundry. (Not particularly successful at this one. I find that I can gather it up, take it to the washer, wash and dry it, and carry it back upstairs, but lack motivation to fold it and put it away.)

For 2012 most of my goals are the same with some tweaks.

1. Participate in three 5Ks. I would still like to do this one, but I have no desire to run in one anymore. When the weather gets warm and the days get longer, I will start to walk the neighborhood again or hopefully, invest in a bike so that I can ride with the kids.

2. Organize the house. I will continue to use what I have learned and read to keep my house in better shape. I will work on the daily chores of laundry and dishes as well as continue to declutter and get rid of what we do not need. I will teach my children how to play and put away their LEGOs and toys properly.

3. Eat better. For many years I have been able to eat what I want, but I have found that I need to eat healthier so that I feel better. Plus, I could lose about 15-20 pounds and watching what I eat would help me to do it.

The Gift of Time to Read

2011-12-28T20:20:00.001-05:00

Below is the list of books that I read in 2011. There are many books that I started and did not finish, and maybe even a few that I finished and did not list. I have found that I do not get to as many books as I use to, but that does not mean that I am not reading. I read all the time whether it is the newspaper or the headlines on yahoo.com. Sometimes, I read for professional reasons, and those books, I tend not to finish. I also reread both The Blind Side and In A Heartbeat after reading I Beat the Odds....

My favorite book was Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, but I enjoyed all the books that I read this year. Some of my book club friends went onto to read more Jodi Picoult books after we read My Sister's Keeper. Although I liked the book and enjoyed the discussion, I have not read another Jodi Picoult book, but I have found that author in Kristin Hannah.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness to The Blind Side and Beyond by Michael Oher with Don Yaeger
The Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe
Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Family Affair by Debbie Macomber
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach by Anthony Bourdain
Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

My goal for 2012 is 12 books, one book for pleasure a month. With technology at my disposal in an e-reader and an itouch as well as regular paper books, I hopefully will exceed this goal!

What Was My Favorite Gift?

2011-12-27T21:58:00.000-05:00

My favorite gift is definitely the ipod touch. I really enjoyed having this piece of technology and it is working out the way that I intended. I wanted it for myself as well as for the kids, but did not have to buy them their own individual ones. I also decided that I am done buying kid speciality computers; my kids are old enough to use the adult versions if they are taught the proper way to use them. I bought a Fisher Price iXL last Christmas for Reese, and she loves it, but will also grow out of it. Now, we have a tablet and an itouch so the kids have their own devices, and we can share them all.

Ron's Gift

2011-12-26T21:54:00.000-05:00

My husband's gift is the ability to host and cook. He is in his element and loves to entertain especially his family and close friends. He always gets rave reviews for the dishes that he makes. Christmas dinner included prime rib, wasabi crusted salmon, crab stuffed mushrooms, grilled asparagus, spinach salad, and creme brulee for dessert. We hosted Christmas dinner last year and again this year. Next year, we may have to go on the road, but what matters is that we are together. This year's dinner numbered 19 and next year we hope that more family members will be able to join us.

The Boys

The Girls

The Adults

Santa's Gift

2011-12-25T21:08:00.002-05:00

Reese made Santa a card for Christmas. We did not have any cookies so we left Rice Krispies Treats, white chocolate pretzels, and a candy cane. Santa snuck in while Mommy was wrapping gifts last night and ate some pretzels and one-half of a Rice Krispies Treat and took the card.

On Christmas Eve...

2011-12-24T20:37:00.001-05:00

I am blessed with a great family and wonderful friends. As our Chrismas dinner table gets fuller and fuller, I think of what fun tomorrow will be just to be able to spend time with the family. There will be three generations of family here tomorrow, and time spent together is precious because we never know when it may end. The oldest is 78, and the youngest is five. May we continue to be able to have good health and peace in the new year to spend time together.

My Gift to Myself

2011-12-23T20:43:00.003-05:00

I have decided that my gift to myself will be a clean house for Christmas and the New Year. I stopped mid-cleaning to get this post off tonight. I have really the kitchen, bathrooms, basement floor, and the rest of the great room left to do. It is still a lot, but I am trying to clean and throw things away at the same time plus put things back where they belong rather than just shove them in a box, basket, etc.

Tomorrow will be for making beds for guests and probably cleaning the bathrooms so that they are nice and fresh for the guest coming Christmas Day. It will also be my wrapping day as I have not started that yet!

In the stretch...

2011-12-22T18:43:00.000-05:00

At this point I am pretty much done with Christmas shopping. I have a few gift cards to pick up and all my wrapping, cleaning, and Christmas cards still left to finish. Hopefully, the house will be mostly clean tonight, and the Christmas cards will get finished! Loftly goals, I know, but I need a sense of accomplishment. I have to work the next two days, and then we have guests for Christmas. I love watching the kids open their gifts on Christmas morning. I hope they like what they get! If not, the money they get for Christmas will be used to fill in the gaps especially since Reese is not always really clear in what she wants.

Two Surprise Gifts

2011-12-21T22:21:00.002-05:00

My husband and son took off for New York tonight to go and see Fort Niagara. My daughter and I had some bonding time finishing up the Christmas cards.

When my husband got to his father's house, his oldest brother showed up as a surprise from Maine about 10 minutes later!

A Christmas of special gifts, Merry, Merry!

A Lesson in Gift Receiving

2011-12-20T21:16:00.000-05:00

One of my students got excited because she traded one of her friends the book that I gave her for the book that she really wanted. She went to show her other friend the "new" book, and I could overhear her telling her friends. Here comes the lesson of the day: when receiving a gift, act gracious and trade in secret. It is not polite to trade gifts in front of the person that gave you the gift. One of my students asked why, and I told them as a class that when someone gives you a gift, they pick it especially for you. Sometimes they are right, and sometimes they are wrong. Whichever it is, be nice and say thank you. Then, you can return it to the store later or trade with your friend without the giver knowing. Lesson in etiquette and manners complete!

The Gift of Kindness and Generosity

2011-12-19T22:32:00.001-05:00

Today, our Adopt A School, Huntington Bank, came to deliver their Christmas goodies. I have been in conversation with the department that was paired with our classroom and told her our needs/wants. Some were just wishes; others were things that I felt I should ask for since we are short on funds this year.

They say that those who can teach. Well, those that can give do so from the heart. My students got many things for the classroom, but also for themselves to take home. They each got a gift bag with a Crayola Kit, toothbrush and toothpaste as well as some snacks and goodies. I was able to send home with them in addition to that a puzzle each, a package of socks, and a Chapstick. Snack was provided, and we have extra snacks to get us through the winter months.

For the classroom the kids got to replace their crayons in their boxes and got new glue sticks, the big ones that I love. We also got modeling clay, a set of markers and coloring books for each student, composition notebooks, pencils, pens, floor puzzles, games, tissues, hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, LEGOs, flash cards, magna doodles, books, and some extra items that I may not be remembering right now. I got a digital camera for the classroom as well as some really nice pampering items.

Thank you does not adequately express my appreciation for the items that we received. I was speechless when I saw what these people were willing to provide for my classroom and students. They were really generous with their time and money, and we will use our things wisely!

The Gift of Saying Goodbye

2011-12-18T21:51:00.000-05:00

When my mother in law died, someone told me that it is a gift to have the privilege of saying goodbye to a loved one in person before they die. Most people do not have this chance. Over the years I have reflected on this statement and have found that this wise person is right. Since we do not always know when we are going to die, it is impossible to know if when we say goodbye today, it may be the last time we see that person. As you go through life, remember that we cannot predict the future and the only thing that we can control is the present. If given the chance, go and say goodbye; it will be something you will never regret.

Thirty-One Gifts

2011-12-17T22:22:00.000-05:00

Until last March I had never heard of Thirty-One Gifts. Then, one of my friends started as a consultant, and I was looking for a Vera Bradley printed type bag that was not cloth. I also wanted a new school tote that was not a canvas tote. I love my canvas totes from Lands' End, but the tote itself is heavy without adding books to it. I decided to have a party, and my love of their products was born. I have found that I do not like everything, but the things that I do like, I really like.

The most useful tote is the Organizing Shoulder Tote. It holds just enough items inside and can stand mostly straight up for files, and is durable. I have only one and I use it everyday. I have bought many more for gifts.

I also love my two Large Utility Totes. I use one for beach/swimming gear, and the other one for library books. I like that it is open and has a frame that makes it stand up. I also like that I can keep my library books in the bag when I get home because it is easy to get into and the tote is pretty enough to keep out.

I just bought two All-In-One Organizers for my children. The idea is that they will use them to help pick up their things every night. They will hang on their bedroom doors for things that they need to put away or just need to know where it is.

The purse that I bought is the Organizing Shoulder Bag. It is a crossbody bag, and I love it. It needed to be washed was the only reason why I stopped using it. It holds just enough and lays really well. I would buy another one except that I have not seen a print that I like in the Fall/Winter fabrics.

There were a few products that have not been satisfactory. I bought the Picnic Thermal Tote specifically to take on a trip to Walt Disney World. I wanted to carry in water and snacks so I could spend money on meals and souvenirs. For the amount of stuff that I could put into it, the strap was too flimsy. It made the bag heavy, and it was not easy to carry either on one shoulder or crossbody. We ended up either putting it in the stroller or hanging it from the stroller which didn't really work. (Next time I will buy a backpack cooler, and not for $76.00.)

I bought a Mini Zipper Pouch and did not use it for many months. When I finally found a use for it, after a few uses, the side stitching came out. The Mini On-The-Go Organizer was okay as a little wallet, but when I tried to match it with a previous print that I had bought, I felt that the black and white print that they have currently is too big for that little of an item.

I would love to be able to buy some of their higher priced totes, but.... Maybe some day!

All in all, I have to say I like the totes, but I still want a Vera Bradley!

Peter and the Wolf

2011-12-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

My students got the opportunity to see Peter and the Wolf today. It was performed by the Phoenix Theatre. Until I got the book last night at the library, I did not know that it was a musical in which each of the different instruments were the characters in the story. The music teacher arranges these performances for the whole school to see, and she does a wonderful job of preparing them for the event. I wish that my students would get more opportunities to experience the arts.

Secret Santa Gift Exchange

2011-12-15T22:59:00.000-05:00

Secret Pal, Secret Santa, everyone calls it something different. At one of my old schools we use to have year long secret pals. You gave one gift a month and you would reveal yourself at the end of the school year in June. At the school I am at now, they do Secret Santa, five gifts over five days for $5.00 each. I did it last year, and I am doing it again this year.

Last year when I did it, one of my friends said that she didn't do gift exchanges or secret santa because it just added to the stress of the season. For me, even though I sometimes feel stressed by it, I also like to do it. I think that it gives me something to look forward to leading up to the holiday. I also like to get to know someone who I might not know otherwise.

This year I had to pick three times. The first time I got myself; the second time I got the person I had last year; the third time I got a person that is the polar opposite of me. Her favorite thing to eat is peanut butter, and I put on my form at the bottom that I cannot eat peanuts, but can eat things that are processed in a factory with peanuts.

So far, I have given Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Reese's Pieces in a gift bag and caramel corn with peanuts. I have another gift that I forgot to get out and give today. Then, I think a Tim Horton's Gift Card and a non-food item from the list of favorites will round out my gifts! I have gotten a bag of Chex Mix, a jar of Jelly Bellys, and Mint Truffle Hershey Kisses, all of which make me very happy!

The Gift of a Great Teacher

2011-12-14T22:34:00.001-05:00

Most of our teachers, the good ones and the bad ones, we remember for life for the way that they make us feel. I hope that, to most of my students, I am the good one worth remembering.

Today, my son's Archery teacher told us at the end of open archery that she would not be back next year. She has taken a job in western Ohio. Although we have only known her for a short time, she has had a great impact on our lives. Riley started Archery in September. He was so excited, but did not want to shoot right handed. I allowed him to shoot left handed in order for him to be comfortable in the class and not have a meltdown on the first day. He made it through the beginning class and onto intermediate we went. The teacher suggested that my son switch and shoot right handed because he is right eye dominant. I insisted that he switch, and although he resisted at first, practice paid off, and he could finally see that he was a better right hand shot.

After the intermediate class, the last three weeks have been open archery. My son has gone to every session and stayed the whole two and a half hours. That is five hours at the archery barn a week. He has spent a great deal of time with his archery teacher, and she has taught/tutored him a great deal. It has worked to his advantage in that he has mostly been the only one there or one of a handful of kids. He really didn't have to take turns and could shoot every round. The practice has paid off, and the last two days, my son has been shooting balloons from 10 yards. With five shots, most of the time he can hit all four balloons on the target!

Thank you Miss Ronda for helping my son to realize that he has a talent, can be athletic, and giving him confidence in himself and his skills. Although we will continue to come to the archery barn and take classes and lessons from others, things will not be the same without you. You will be missed immensely!

Which do you enjoy more: receiving or giving?

2011-12-13T21:10:00.000-05:00

I enjoy giving more than receiving. I like to think of people and their delight when receiving a gift as I am picking out their gifts. I feel that sometimes, when receiving a gift, I may seem unappreciative if I do not "act" happy enough or excited as I am opening the present. I guess I think there is more pressure to receiving because you want the person that has given you the gift to believe that you truly love the gift.

Sharing Our Gifts

2011-12-12T18:31:00.001-05:00

I love to work with Shutterfly and have for many years now made a calendar for my husband's father. I wrapped up the calendar yesterday in order to get it ordered and in by Christmas. In the past I have been able to post my work from Shutterfly onto my blog, but that option is not available for the calendar. I like to make photo books also and the kids' from 2009 is already here and ready for Christmas. This is a gift that I like to share. I like to make scrapbooks by hand also. but this is just easier sometimes especially since my son's and daughter's are identical; it is easy to make two copies with different covers.

In addition, I make photo collages for graduations and Christmas. I usually make one with both of my kids and individuals of each of them for my own wall as well as for each side of grandparents. This year, since my duaghter made our Christmas cards, I make photo stickers instead of wallets to go on the cards.

What fun it is to share this gift!

The Gift of a Little Girl

2011-12-11T20:52:00.001-05:00

When my son was little, he asked for lights in front of the house. I bought the bush lights and the candy canes and put them up in the front of the house, and he was happy. This year, our daughter asked for lights on her house. She wanted them to be hanging from the house and wanted lots of them. She would have preferred colorful lights, but any lights were better than none. The thing about her is that she was willing to help, and she brought the family together to get the job done. Both her dad and I helped each other, and I made trees out of our tomato cages. There is only one up right now because the lights on the other one did not work. Looking good!

10 Gifts

2011-12-10T21:45:00.001-05:00

On this 10th day of the month I am sharing some of the gifts that I have already given myself this month.

1. A working toilet: I bought the parts and helped to fix the toilet. What a fascinating piece of machinery!

2. A working sump pump: in the spring I thought that I had a drain clog when water backed up into my basement. Called the drain people; they said no, the sump pump was not working. They got it to work, but were not sure how long it would keep working. We have gotten so much rain that I have been keeping my eye on the sump pump. When I spotted water coming up the drain again, we took the sump pump out of its well and figured out how to fix it. Thank you internet for the directions.

3. 200,000 miles on my van: thank you for a reliable vehicle.

4. A new battery: it's been five years since I replaced it, can't really complain.

5. Four new tires: much needed for the winter, but timing will see that this is my Christmas present as well.

6. Mental Health Day: just had to have one.

7. My Adopt a Classroom friends from Huntington Bank seem to want to make Christmas and the rest of the year better for my students.

8. Book Club Dinner: my gift to myself, plus my dinner became my lunch for the next two days.

9. A sister in law who aims to please; I have spent many hours on the phone this week with her helping her to pick out gifts for my family that they will like.

10. A semi-clean garage: still hopeful that I will get cars in it this winter!

I am glad that I have the gifts to be somewhat handy. I also appreciate that gifts do not have to be tangible items, but sometimes the tangible is nice!

The Gift of Words

2011-12-09T21:53:00.001-05:00

As I continue to embark on my second month of NaBloPoMo, I started to think about my great aunt. For all the year that I knew her, she would write daily in a hardcover daily planner provided by some bank in Thailand. She would write happenings of the day, who borrowed money and how much, and sometimes poems or short stories. In her car she kept a separate notebook to log her gas usage: the kilometers on the odometer at fill up, how many liters were bought and at how much? The one thing I remember most is that she had the best handwriting I have ever seen both in Thai and in English. She liked specific pens, no ballpoint! In English, she wrote in cursive, and it was so neat and perfect. I remember watching her one day practice her signature so that it would look the same all the time and people would not be able to forge it! She was an accounting educator for vocational schools as well as for junior college students.

Which brings me to this thought... do the words lose their personalization by not being handwritten? When my great aunt died, she left 60+ years of diaries in her own handwriting as tangible proof that she was here. When I leave this Earth, I will leave my words/stories, but in typewritten form on a blog. They will not be written for someone to hold unless they want to print them out. But, I know, from past experience, that if I were to handwrite my memories and stories, they would not get written down. I am better at typing my words and love the blog format. So, I have to rely on the words that I have written expressing the feeling and personalization for me. As in, you can hear me talk as you read my words. It is as if I am talking to you.

What Was My Favorite Gift Before the Age of 10?

2011-12-08T23:14:00.001-05:00

I don't remember my exact age, but one of my favorite gifts was a Cabbage Patch Kid. I never thought that I would get one because people were standing in line for hours to get one. My mom and dad both worked all the time and didn't have time to go and stand in line for a toy. On Christmas Day that year I was so surprised to open up a Cabbage Patch Kid. He didn't look anything like me. He had blond hair and a green outfit, but it didn't matter because I got one. His name was Louie Wilton, and I chose not to change his name. Eventually, I ended up with a girl with brown hair named Lea, I believe, but Louie was always special because it showed me how much my parents cared for me.

By the way my mom arranged for her friend to go and stand in line for her to get me one.

The Gift of Books and Friendship

2011-12-07T21:53:00.001-05:00

Over 10 years ago my friends and I went out one night and as we were talking, we decided to start a book club. At that time we decided on six members, myself, my friends and their mothers, and a former coworker of one of my friends. We decided to meet on the first Wednesday of every month. From the original six, five of us still remain. We have had some friends come and go, some come and stay, and one go and come back.

We all love our book club for different reasons. Although I don't always read the book, I always try to go to book club. This is the one thing that I have kept consistent and fought for the most over the last 10 years. It is my time to explore my interest in books and to read a few that I may not have read otherwise. It is also a time to get together with friends and learn from their lives and share mine with them as our book club ranges in age from close to 70 to myself, the youngest at 37.

The one thing that we have done over the years is discuss the book. There may be side conversations or other dinner time conversation, but, at some point, the discussion questions come out and we actually talk about the book. We still rotate houses and everyone hosts once a year. We use to meet year round and gave that up a few years back as it got harder and harder to schedule around vacations. We were up to 10 members at one point, and right now, the nine that we have seems just right. We don't meet in July and August, go out to eat in December and have a potluck in June.

We have changed the way that we pick books. When we started, we chose books month to month, then quarterly. Presently, the host for this month picks the book for the next month. The new system seems to be working out and is fun!

We don't know the big secret as to why we have remained a book club for so long. But, we do know that we hope to continue meeting long into the future!

Do you like to try to guess your gifts ahead of time?

2011-12-06T23:16:00.001-05:00

No, I do not like to try and guess my gifts ahead of time. One year, when I was about 12, I found all my Christmas gifts in my parents' closet. On Christmas Day I was so disappointed because all the things that I found were the only things that I got. There were no other gifts and no surprises, teaching me that sometimes, it is better to wait. Ever since then I never go snooping and try to give lots of ideas so that I will not know exactly what someone is getting me.

What Is A Gift that You Have Made for Another?

2011-12-05T22:23:00.001-05:00

The most memorable things that I have made for other are when I take the time to make scrapbooks, not by computer, but by cropping and using real pictures. A good friend of mine turned 40 and I arranged for some of her friends and her mother to help me with a scrapbook for her. My best friend turned 30 about the time that the grade school that we met at closed down. I found our old uniform skirt and used it for the border on one of the pages. My most recent project celebrated the 20th wedding anniversary of my brother and sister in law. I stayed up all night finishing the album and was really pleased with how it turned out. The way their faces lit up when they saw the album made it all worthwhile.

A Van Full of Memories

2011-12-04T18:05:00.001-05:00

Today, at just shy of 8 1/2 years, I got to 200,000 miles on my van. We bought it in mid-June 2003 when Riley was 5 months old, and we were travelling to Cleveland a great deal. To be honest I cannot remember where I was when the van got to 100,000 miles. But, I do know that the van was the second vehicle in which I was the original owner and I saw the 100,000 mile mark. The other was my Ford Escort, who only had five digits on the odometer and so went back to zero. We traded the Escort in for a Honda Civic that we had for almost four years before we got the Honda Odyssey.

The van has been on numerous trips to Cleveland and around Ohio as well as just the average everyday driving. It has been the kid mobile as well as a delivery van for the flower shop and Sticks. The distance trips that the van has seen not in any order are: Orlando = two times, Atlanta, Arkansas, Boston/Maine = 3-4 times, Chicago, Atlantic City, Ann Arbor, Port Canaveral, and maybe a few more that I missed.

Ironically, I ran into an old high school friend this summer who drives the same color, year, make, and model of my van. Her van is only eight; she has 54,000 miles on it. I asked her how she was able to keep it so low. She said that she lives/works on the east side, all of her and her husband's families live in town, and with four kids, they could only go on one vacation a year which would be the only long distance they travel. More power to them...

Go baby, keep on going!

The First Day of the Weekend

2011-12-03T21:39:00.001-05:00

Saturday did not bring the gift that I wanted. I wanted a clean house, inside, that is. Instead, I got the outside clean. That would include sweeping up after the man who mowed the grass and cleaning out under the lawn mower so that it can be stored for the winter. The flower beds are clean of leaves and as ready as they are going to be for the winter.

The gift to myself would be if I can really get cars in the garage this winter. I tried last year. I was out on New Year's Eve cleaning the garage out. I threw lots of things away and even took some things to the scrap metal place, but it never got beyond that. The vehicles never did make it in the garage last winter. It was a mild day, close to 60 degrees. This year, today was the day to put up the things that we do not need for the winter, bike, balls, etc. It was also time to throw away some things that have not been used and are not useful anymore. Finally, it was time to put those things that need to go to Goodwill in the truck.

We are almost there. Most of the garage floor is clear. Some of the things need to be hung up and we should be good to go. Pray that the rest can be done; with the vehicles getting older, it would be a lot easier if they could be in the garage at night.

Friday Night and The Gift of the Weekend

2011-12-02T21:32:00.001-05:00

TGIF, Thank Goodness It's Friday, is something that most people can agree sounds so good! This week, especially, I have been looking forward to Friday. The week of work seemed long, and I was somewhat tired from entertaining my children during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The children both had after school activites this week, and I had an after school meeting so there was a great deal of juggling. I needed to work late last night planning with a colleague. We didn't get much done, but it was a start.

I also need this weekend to recover from last weekend. I have a laundry list of things to do that I did not get done last weekend with a few things added on like putting up Chirstmas decorations and going to Breakfast with Santa. I still have high hopes that I will get most of what I want to get accomplished done with the gift of two days without work.

Friday nights, though, I never get much accomplished with regards to housework. I am usually beat from the work week, and the children are usually happy to just chill in front of the TV and watch videos or play the Wii. Tonight was no different. I guess I still had school on my mind and brought it home with me. On the computer tonight I went researching for free resources on Teachers Pay Teachers. I found some really good things that I can use right away in the classroom. Then, I went searching on SMART Exchange for writing mini-lessons. I got lucky there also. I know, I know, I should have taken the laundry downstairs and gotten the first loads started, but that is where the gift of the weekend comes in!

What was the first tangible gift you remember receiving?

2011-12-01T22:53:00.001-05:00

I don't know what the first tangible gift that I remember receiving was. I do know that one Christmas when I was about nine or ten years old, I went with some family friends to their relatives' house. They were not my relatives, and they were not expecting me to join them for Christmas. As they sat and opened their gifts, I looked on longingly until the mother of the house came down the stairs and handed me a gift to open. It was just a Mickey Mouse paint and marker book with a set of markers to go with it, but it was so special to me because it was so unexpected, that someone would think of me, an unexpected guest and have something just for me. To this day, I remember the warmth I felt receiving that gift and remember the mother fondly. May she rest in peace.

I Made It!

2011-11-30T20:21:00.001-05:00

What did you learn from doing NaBloPoMo?

I have learned that I can blog everyday. I have something to say everyday, some days are more profound than others. Some days are worth more in the memory bank than others, but all are worthy of being written about. I am glad that I was able to stick it out. I did not do what some thought was the best course of action, get up early to make sure a post got in everyday, but I still managed to sit down every evening and write something.

Blogging everyday also encouraged me to download my pictures to my computer more quickly so that I could use them in my posts. My camera's memory stick is grateful!

I am going to go for it again next month. I like the topic of gifts, but we'll see if I stick with the prompt or strike out on my own!

Presents

2011-11-29T21:07:00.001-05:00

Do you like to buy presents ahead of time or right when you need to give them?

I use to like to but presents right when I needed to give them so I could have a particular person in mind while I was shopping. As time has gone on, I have found that I like to buy some presents ahead of time because I do not always have the time to shop when I need something. I like to keep lots of general things around so that I have a choice when I pick a gift from the things that I have on hand. I also find that the gift stash is convenient when trying to keep the cost down when buying gifts for my children to take to their friends' birthday parties. When they do not go to the store and pick out something, I can better control how much is spent on the gift.

Alone v. Social

2011-11-28T21:38:00.001-05:00

Do you enjoy being alone? Would you rather be around other people?

I go through phases of liking both. I am an only child so I can be alone; it does not bother me. Now that I have a family, I do enjoy the time that I get to spend alone because those moments are few and far between.

I mostly don't mind being around other people especially if I know them. My husband comes from a big family, and I love to be around them when we get the opportunity. I can get along at a party of strangers, but don't always feel like I particularly have to be social. I don't have to be the center of attention and can float back and forth between talking with people and standing around observing the scene.

I do need my down time each day for myself. After school when I have been with students all day and after I have decompressed with colleagues, when I get home, I need about a half an hour to do what I need to do before we can start homework or dinner. My alone time gets me through the social times.

Despite My Good Intentions...

2011-11-27T17:58:00.001-05:00

At the beginning of the five day weekend I had good intention of getting some work done for school as well as doing some reading both for pleasure and for professional reasons. Now, we have come to another Sunday night and of course, I did not do what I intended to do, but I have to put it in perspective with what I did do this weekend.

1. I was reminded that I said I would edit a master's thesis for a friend of the family. I have been reading the thesis to edit it. It is due on the first and is 86 pages long. I have only finished about 1/4 of it. Trying to get to page 40 tonight so that I have two days to complete the other 46 pages.

2. I spent time with family and friends during the holidays.

3. I kept up with writing for my two blogs daily through the holiday. Only three more days to go!

4. I spent time with my children by taking them to lunch, the movies, and the library.

5. I helped to decorate for a wedding reception.

6. I raked the leaves and put fertilizer and grass seed down for the winter.

7. We went to buy our gifts for the giving tree at Church.

8. We went to Church this morning and then out to lunch.

9. I started the laundry so that we will have clothes to wear next week.

10. The reading that I did get done was reading the news on the computer, catching up on friend's blogs, and reading the ads to see if I wanted to go shopping on Black Friday.

Work will always be there when I get around to it. Time spent with people and doing the things that need to get done around the house are important also. As for my pleasure reading..., I usually find some time to get it in although with Christmas coming, it may not be until after that!

National Parks Visited

2011-11-26T18:28:00.001-05:00

These are the National Parks that I have visited before I even knew I should/would want to keep track:
Statue of Liberty National Monument
Delaware Water Gap National Reserve Area
Appomattox Court House National Historic Park
New River Gorge National Reserve
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
First Ladies National Historic Site
James A. Garfield National Historic Site
Grand Canyon National Park
Lake Mead National Reserve Area
Haneakala National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Lincoln Memorial
Washington Monument

I look forward to sharing in many more National Park adventures with my family in the years to come.

Black Friday

2011-11-25T22:01:00.001-05:00

Well, it is the day after Thanksgiving and one of the first in many years that I did not go shopping. When looking at the ads yesterday, it seemed like there were not many deals. Add that to the fact that we were leaving early in the morning, and it was not worth getting up.

This afternoon I did stop at Office Max for a portable hard drive that I have been eying for awhile now. The flyer prices for the various stores have been the same since the summer. When I went to Office Max, there was a sign on the door that said that there is a shortage of portable/desktop hard drives because of the flooding in Thailand, so customers are limited to one per purchase and of course, the ones on sale were already gone. On top of that the prices are not going down, but going up because of the shortage. I was going to buy another portable hard drive that had less gigabytes and was more expensive, but then just decided to buy a 16GB flash drive instead.

I also ended up at the Dollar Tree today looking for containers to store games in at school. I did not find the containers, but found magnetic cookie sheets and some decorations for the Christmas cards that I think I am going to have my children make.

Lunch, Movie, Library, and Dinner with grandparents rounded out Black Friday!

A Thankgiving Prayer

2011-11-24T12:26:00.001-05:00

Courtesy of Dear Abby:
Oh, Heavenly Father,
We thank thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank thee for health and remember the sick.
We thank thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service,
That thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen

I am thankful for many things this Thanksgiving especially the gift of the love of family and friends. May we all continue to have good health and make happy memories together!

Passport To Your National Parks

2011-11-23T20:25:00.001-05:00

We visited the First Ladies Historic Site today. I bought my Passport To National Parks book today. The last park we visited was the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, and I bought the Kids' Passport To National Parks Companion. Once I bought theirs, I decided that if I am going to take the kids to the national parks, I wanted to collect cancellations also. And, once I had flipped through their books, I realized that I have been to many of the parks and not even realized it!

I like the kids' books because there are checklists for the national parks, whereas, the adult one just has a map with the places listed at the bottom and blank pages for stamps and cancellations. I wish that their books had blank pages for cancellations, and my book had the checklist. Oh, well I will make it work.

Iris' Angels

2011-11-22T01:14:00.001-05:00

Fellow graduates of my high school lost their daughter Iris on Monday. I have been following the story on facebook and am sorry for their loss. Children are a special gift that we should cherish each day. The words under Iris' picture touched me deeply.

Goodbyes are not forever.
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I'll miss you,
Until we meet again.

Please visit Iris' Angels

May she rest in peace.

Tailgating

2011-11-21T19:00:00.000-05:00

I have to say that this is one of the coolest things that I have ever seen at a tailgate! I didn't have the nerve to participate but I enjoyed watching other guests play as teams. At one point there was a game of home v. visiting fans! They won both the game here and the football game, but it was all in good fun!

Jeff Foxworthy

2011-11-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

Jeff Foxworthy takes me back to my high school days. We use to have Ski Club on Tuesday nights. We would leave after school and get back close to 11pm. On the bus someone usually had a boom box and would play Jeff Foxworthy or another comedian for the bus ride to the slopes.

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Ohio...

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you may live in Ohio.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't even work there, you may live in Ohio.

If you've worn shorts and a jacket at the same time, you may live in Ohio.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Ohio.

If "vacation" means going anywhere south of Columbus for the weekend, you may live in Ohio.

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Ohio.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Ohio.

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again, you may live in Ohio.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Ohio.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both doors unlocked, you may live in Ohio.

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Ohio.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Ohio.

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -you're going 80 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Ohio.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in Ohio.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you may live in Ohio.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in Ohio.

If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you may live in Ohio.

If you actually understand these jokes, you definitely do live - or have lived - in OHIO!

Ironically, most of the things he has said are true, which probably makes a comedian's job easier!

Joe Pa

2011-11-19T11:15:00.001-05:00

Last year I took this picture thinking that Joe Pa may retire and this would be the last time I would see him as a coach. At the beginning of this year I thought I was wrong. How could I know that by the time Penn State came to town Joe Pa would not be coach anymore?

WOW! What a way to go out!

I Can...

2011-11-18T22:00:00.001-05:00

My life has become a series of I can statements. We are suppose to state academic objectives in kid-friendly language. I can... I have charts up around the room stating what students should be doing when they are at each station. Thought I would list some to face the other aspects of my life right now.

I can...

clean the kitchen and the house before Thanksgiving
make sure that Riley practices his math everyday as well as finishes his Social Studies Project and regular homework
apply for field trips, programs, and grants for school related things
evaluate my student teacher
plan for the next few weeks of school
prepare reading lessons and evaluate and assess reading and writing
find and return most of the library books I have borrowed
think of things that my children really want for Christmas
get some pleasure reading time in over the holiday weekend
take the family to visit a National Parks Service Site soon
visit COSI to see the Dora and Diego exhibit
start and finish the holiday shopping
start and finish Christmas cards
meet with some friends and family to share in the holiday joy

I can do all of this and more if I put my mind to it because there are a bunch of things that I know I am leaving out! I think I can; I think I can.

Student Teacher

2011-11-17T20:18:00.001-05:00

Last year I decided that it was about time that I gave back. I have been teaching about 10 years and have never had a student teacher. There seem to be many student teachers floating in and out at my school that the next time there was a request for teachers to mentor student teachers, I signed up. It may not have been my brightest idea in that I am teaching a new grade level this school year that I have never taught and so it is a learning curve for me also, but she came along for the ride.

I got my first student teacher about a month ago. This was only a five week experience; she will do her real student teaching, where she teaches solo for four weeks, in the spring. In this experience she was to teach two social studies lessons, two science lessons, and get use to transitions and see how different classrooms at different grade levels run. She has been wonderful, and I can totally see her in a classroom of her own someday. We have gotten along well, and we have been able to transition smoothly when teaching/handling the class.

Her last day is next week, and I will miss her. I do realize now that I somewhat miss having an assistant no matter who that person was. I like someone in the room to co-teach with me, to help me out with individual students, or to lend a hand with projects that need completed. I was lucky to have a good experience with my first student teacher.

The Pile of Books

2011-11-16T20:27:00.001-05:00

The list of books that I want to read and have to read just keep getting longer and longer. I should be reading for professional growth and have an assigned reading right now, but have not started it yet. I go to the library often enough that I see things that I want to read all the time. I also have my book club book to read for January that I should get started on soon or I will not finish it! But, I find that my time for reading has diminished. Some of the reason is I find that I am reading more online. Another is I am participating in NaBloPoMo and have spent time writing and reading other blogs. And, finally, I am reading so much to do my job that I do not find the time to read for pleasure as much or am too tired to read for pleasure except for the People magazine that I just started getting weekly this fall. I love getting People, but only have the subscription because of expiring frequent flier miles. I don't love it enough to actually buy the subscription.

The Diagnosis

2011-11-15T20:26:00.001-05:00

I found out today that my co-worker is going to be out for another two days. She had a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and needs to rest for at least the next two days to make sure that she does not have another attack. If she has another attack, she needs to go the the ER immediately.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an episode in which a person has stroke -like symptoms for less than 24 hours, usually less than 1-2 hours.
A TIA is often considered a warning sign that a true stroke may happen in the future if something is not done to prevent it.

Scary....

Scary Day

2011-11-14T20:12:00.001-05:00

At lunch today one of my coworkers was in the office with me. She asked the secretary if the nurse was here today. The nurse was not in, and we were wondering why she wanted the nurse. She said that the episode was over now, but she felt her body go numb on the left side from her fingertips all the way up her arm into her shoulder and even the left side of the face. I immediately thought stroke; the secretary thought heart condition. After talking to her for a few minutes we let it go. I worried about it some during the afternoon, but became really concerned after school when she came to talk to us. She said that things seemed to be surreal and that she was going to call her mother who was a nurse and see if she needed to go to the emergency room. She ended up in the emergency room, and it was not a stroke, but I am not sure exactly what the diagnosis was. She is to take time off to rest tomorrow and see her family doctor.

A few months ago I was listening to Sunday morning radio and the program was on the signs of a stroke. It talked about an acronym to remember, which I could not today. I looked it up at www.stroke.org under signs and symptoms. It is important to act within three hours in the case of a stroke. The acronym is FAST.

Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms? Does one arm drift downward?

Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?

Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Black Friday

2011-11-13T14:41:00.001-05:00

I only started shopping on Black Friday since I have had kids. I figured out one year that it was the perfect time to shop because I did not have to ask anyone to babysit and I could go by myself and not have to worry about dragging the kids along. Everyone in the house is asleep, and by the time I get back, they are just waking up.

I never go for anything that is a doorbuster. I still think that I get some good deals. I spend Thanksgiving Day after dinner combing the ads and plotting my route. The only year that I did not go Black Friday shopping was the Thanksgiving we went to Maine. I usually start out at Toys 'R Us and let the ads lead the way. I left Target last year because the line snaked around the store. Nothing is worth waiting that long in line.

Last year I woke up at 4am and was in my first store by 5am. I was home by 10am. I think that I went to a total of 7 stores. With Black Friday starting at midnight this year, I might be better off just staying up and going shopping!

E-reader or Real Paper Book

2011-11-12T20:24:00.001-05:00

I enjoy reading books on my Sony Reader, but, if I have a choice, I like to choose my books by physically holding them. I really like my reader when we are going on trips because I can take lots of books, but they do not take up space or weight up my luggage. But, I still like to go to the bookstore or library and browse the books that they have. I like being able to look at sections that I may not consider if I am looking for books on the computer and looking at the new titles.

When I go to the library, I still come home with a few paper books and sometimes, I jot down titles to find when I get home on my e-reader, either to borrow or buy. More often than not, nowadays, I take pictures of books that I want to read on my cell phone to keep them in mind for later. This happens most often at Target when I have the chance to look at their books. I have found quite a few books browsing here.

Mostly, though, since I am at the library at least once a week, I tend to read paper books as oppose to books on my reader, especially if I am reading professionally. I like to have the references on hand to be able to flag ideas if needed.

It's 11-11-11, make three wishes!

2011-11-11T20:36:00.001-05:00

I wish for good health, love, and happiness for all those that I love near and far.

I wish for my family to be able to continue to travel and see the world.

I wish for my parents to be able to retire and enjoy long life.

100 Places to Remember Before they Disappear

2011-11-10T20:41:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I was browsing at the library and picked up the book 100 Places to Remember Before they Disappear which I also realize now has a website. As I was flipping through the book, I came upon #58 which was Bangkok, Thailand. As I read about Bangkok's situation and the fact that it is a sinking city, I just thought about our impending trip there next year. Now, it seems ironic that just a few weeks later, the city has mass flooding that does not seem to be getting better. In addition, there is a story that is spreading through the Thai community that the King of Thailand wrote a speech about 30 years ago predicting that the type of flooding could occur in Bangkok and providing solution to the problem. Unfortunately, he was not taken seriously, and people could not work together for the betterment of all leading to the problems that we are seeing today.

Full Moon

2011-11-09T20:00:00.001-05:00

The last two days have been a challenge with both my own children and my students. There is something about a full moon that causes more energy than normal. The children are more talkative, hyper, and just in general, LOUD!

Today, I had an activity planned that would require manipulatives that I just could not do. The extra equipment would have caused mayhem in the room, and I just couldn't handle the extra chaos in the room. We had to go with a quiet activity in order to bring quiet to the room. The rest of the week will probably not be any better due to changes in routine. Tomorrow, there is a coat giveaway and on Friday, a fire drill!

How I look forward to the weekend this week and starting over again next week!

Couponing

2011-11-08T21:17:00.000-05:00

This past summer I started couponing. I collected coupons in the past, but never really used them because I would misplace them or they would expire before I got to them. I asked one of my friend's how she couponed and she said with an index card box with tabs for aisles in the grocery store. My neighbor told me that she used a binder with baseball card sleeves. I tried the index card system first, then researched the baseball card sleeve system online and decided that it was the better system for me. I already owned a zipper binder so I only needed the baseball card sleeves, some plastic pockets, and some plastic pocket dividers.I now keep all my coupons in one place now. I usually keep my binder in the car except when I need to file my coupons or plan my grocery list. Then, I bring the binder into the house. I also take my binder into the grocery store and Target just in case there is a coupon that I may need once I get in the store. I have found that by just using coupons minimally I can save $ about $20.00 per shopping trip, which is good for me because I do not have a great deal of time to devote to couponing.

Where Does the Weekend Go?

2011-11-07T20:18:00.000-05:00

It's amazing how one thing can throw off a whole week's schedule. If we are out of town for the weekend, then the laundry that is usually done on the weekends may get done during the week or sometimes has to wait until the next weekend. I blame it on the fact that the washer and dryer is in the basement and therefore, not in my line of sight. Some of that is true; the other side of that argument is that I am good at separating the colors, getting it downstairs, into the washer and dryer, and back upstairs, but I hate folding and/or hanging and putting away. I have tried to solve this problem by paying my son for putting his laundry away. It works sometimes. I fold it for him and put his clothes in a basket. He actually does a pretty good job of putting it away. My daughter will put away her socks and underwear in her bottom drawer, but that is about it.

This past weekend the sink was out of commission. Now, I have a sink full of dishes waiting for me as well as a clean dishwasher. I know, I know, all I have to do is empty the dishwasher and put the clean things away, and then I can just load the dirty things in the sink into the empty dishwasher, which brings about that putting it away aspect of which I am not so good!

Mission Accomplished

2011-11-06T20:32:00.000-05:00

I went to buy the plumber's putty today, and the new garbage disposer is up and working! Every once and awhile we are able to complete our own home improvements. The things that I am hoping to get done this winter are a window seat in our bay window, painting the master bedroom, and new blinds for the bedrooms!

This coming week is suppose to be warm so it is time to finish working on the outside of the house, raking, mowing for the last time, cleaning up dead plants and putting winter fertilizer down. Fun, fun...

Stop the Dishes!

2011-11-05T16:51:00.000-04:00

Last night while I was doing the dishes, the sink started to leak. I was not sure where the leak was coming from, but after emptying out everything under the sink, we figured out the leak was coming from the bottom of the garbage disposer. We have lived in our house more than 11 years so it has come to the time that lots of appliances need to be replaced.Breakfast at McDonald's and a trip to Lowe's this morning brought a new garbage disposer home. Ron unhooked and removed the old one. We worked together to get the electrical cord off the old one and onto the new one without the help of marked red and black cords. A stopping point came when we realized we didn't have any plumber's putty. Taking a break now to do some housework before making another trip to Lowe's. Will update later to let you know if our DIY project worked.(Side note: I wrote this post on our tablet so I apologize in advance for typos that I cannot see.)

Pen or Computer?

2011-11-04T21:48:00.000-04:00

I have decided to use the NaBloPoMo prompt tonight because I had to work late and wanted to get in a blog post to keep my commitment to a blog a day.

When you are writing, do you prefer to use a pen or a computer?

I like to do is a little of both. I can blog directly on the computer, but for more elaborate writings, I like to at least write out an outline before I sit down at the computer to write. I think this is because my blog writing is more conversational and I can type like I speak, but when I write a paper, I have to have a plan of where I am going.

They Are Only Young Once!

2011-11-03T10:27:00.000-04:00

My words to live by right now are: they are only young once. I want to be able to experience what I can with my children because one day, they will be able to go and do whatever they want without me.

I use to think that I could miss this event or that event because they would not notice that I was not there. I don't anymore because I don't know how many events they will have. With school funding cuts I may not get to go on the field trips that I use to go on. Last year my son told me at the last minute that he wanted me to go on his field trip. I made the arrangements and went. I am glad that I did because this year, there are no field trips.

This year, my daughter had Kindergarten Share Day. I wouldn't have missed it for the world! She was so excited to show me her classroom and what she does there. She also loved that she was able to ride the bus home, which she cannot do everyday.

Today is my son's musical day. He is just part of the chorus because he did not want to try out for a part, but I know that he wants me there and I will be there to see him and cheer for him.

Whirlwind April

2011-11-02T06:03:00.000-04:00

(Although much delayed, I wanted to document this event in my blog because it happened to me directly and I also want a log of my husband's status updates from facebook.)

April started out innocently enough. Just 15 days to go until Spring Break. Report cards were done; packing started for trip to Florida; camping items bought. Then..., on Wednesday, April 6th, I woke up with a stomach ache. I was trying to shake it off to go to a meeting, but couldn't. I had the chills and couldn't lay down. Tums and Maalox did not help. Chicken soup did not help. The kids went to school, and Ron went to work. I laid around dozing and in pain, still thinking it was a stomach virus. About 11am Ron called to tell me what the symptoms of an appendicitis were; I asked him to check what the symptoms were for a gall bladder attack. (I really didn't think that I had either.) He asked me if I wanted to go to the hospital again, and I finally agreed mostly to get him off my back. I got dressed and sat down to wait for Ron to come home. Off we went to the hospital.

When we got to the hospital, Ron dropped me off at the door, and I walked in by myself to stand in line behind two people who walked in right before me. I was not able to stand up and when Ron came in, I made him stand in line for me, and I sat back down. When the registration man called me, I was able to tell him my information, and we sat down and waited to be called back. Once we were called back, I explained to the nurse what my pains were and how they were spreading and what started out as pain under my rib cage became pain down near my pelvis and down my sides and my back. They took blood and put in an IV which I insisted the tech put in my left arm. (I honestly hate IVs and have only had one a few times in my life, but with the birth of my first child learned that I am very right hand dominant and do not like them in my right arm.) Then, they came back with some pain medication and when it did not work, came back with stronger stuff. The doctor decided that they wanted to do a CT Scan with contrast and had me drink some liquid with raspberry Crystal Light. They wheeled me to the CT Scan and they results came back: appendicitis.
At 3:30 as they were wheeling me to pre-op, I was calling my colleague to help me out with sub plans, and Ron was calling the principal to have a sub called for me for the next two days. By 5pm I was in surgery. These are Ron's status updates from this day.

My poor wife was in pain this morning. At first she thought she had thestomach flu.4 hours later we found ourselves at the hospital. Shehad a CT scan performed and it revealed that she has appendicitis. She will begoing in for surgery soon. I'll follow up post surgery.

Penny is out of surgery and all went well. She is still snoring andshould be in her room soon. She will have to stay overnite and hopefullyreleased tomorrow AM. Thanks to everyone for all of your kind thoughts andprayers. Penny will be back on FB soon enough.

True enough I was released the next day! Went back to work on Monday, took Tuesday and Wednesday off mainly to rest and for a post-op appointment, worked Thursday, and left Friday morning for our Disney camping trip.

NaBloPoMo

2011-11-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

Last summer when my son was taking swimming lesson, I ended up talking to one of the mothers and she mentioned NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where people commit to writing a novel in a month. It takes place in November and for some reason, I thought of this at the end of October. I signed up for NaNoWriMo and then thought, "I don't have time to write a novel in November, and I don't even want to write a novel!" What I really wanted to do was keep more current on my blogs. So, I started researching if there was some type of program out there for blog posting and found NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). I decided that I wanted to participate because I like to write, but have absolutely no desire to write a novel! The goal is to write a blog post everyday for 30 days including weekends.

In addition, I have been reading 52 Things Kids Need from a Mom by Angela Thomas. The 24th thing is "To Keep a Family Blog". Many years back I started individual blogs for each of my children. I have not been able to keep up with either of them and have found that many of the things that I would put on one, I would put on the other also. I have now decided to start a new blog for our family history and memories. I can tailor individual posts to the development and memories of each of my children, but also write to both at the same time. Through labeling my children can find the posts that are only about them if they would like or read the post chronologically.

Welcome to my first NaBloPoMo post!

Books Read in 2010

2010-12-26T22:19:00.000-05:00

I have to say that I am sad that I only got to 11 books this year. These are the actual books that I completed. There were many more that I started and did not finish for one reason or another. At least I can say that the majority of the books that I read were really worth my time. I also got an e-reader to use in 2010 and read 9 out of 11 books on it. I don't mind the e-reader except that I wish I had a electric plug to charge it rather than having to use my computer all the time. The books with the stars are my favorites and ones that I highly recommend.

In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving by Leigh Anne Tuohy & Sean Tuohy With Sally Jenkins
*The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Between the Sheets by Robin Wells
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan
Sweet Devotion by Felicia Mason
*The Help by Kathryn Stockett
*Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
The Bride's Baby by Liz Fielding
Knitting Under the Influence by Claire LaZebnik
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
*Under the Cajun Moon by Mindy Starns Clark

Shutterfly is a Gift Giver's Best Friend

2010-12-10T20:44:00.000-05:00

As I was contemplating what type of photo card I would like to do for Christmas this year, I got the Shutterfly 2010 Holiday Cards and Gifts catalog in the mail. In the past I have done 4x8 photo cards and used 4x6 pictures in the cards where you can insert pictures. This year the card that caught my eye was the Top Ten Moments Christmas card. I liked this card because it was flat. I also liked the newsletter format of the card where I could highlight certain aspects of our year. What really caught my attention was, in the example, the #1 moment was celebrating our 10 year anniversary, and my husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary also this year. I really like how my card turned out and enjoyed thinking about our year and trying to determine what events were the best ones to add to our card.

I have used many shutterfly products in the past, but this is the first Christmas card that I have done. I make a yearly photo book for my children that is the same on the inside, but I am able to customize the covers to match their personalities and their favorite colors. Recently, I tried another photo site because shutterfly did not have the size photo book I wanted for that particular project. Never again will I stray from shutterfly! The quality was not as good as I am use to with shutterfly, and my pictures that I thought were cropped correctly when I made the book were cut off when I received the book.

I started making a calendar for my father in law many years ago and it has now become a Christmas tradition. Thankfully, all of the relatives help out and send me their pictures to be included in the calendar.

If you need photo gifts, shutterfly is the place to go!

Christmas Card 2010

2010-12-10T20:13:00.001-05:00

Top Ten Moments Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly for unique, personalized Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Becoming a Runner, NOT!

2010-10-22T22:15:00.001-04:00

Last year, when Ron's annual office 5K came around in August, I decided that we were going to participate rather than just donate to the cause. Without any preparation we got up on Saturday morning, took our double stroller and our two kids and went downtown for the walk. It was only 3.1 miles, a breeze, I thought. Well, I was wrong! It was tough, and I was not even pushing the stroller! We finished close to last and were very tired!

This year, Ron is involved with Central Ohio Men Against Prostate Cancer and as their fund raising director decided to host an inaugural 5K to raise money. I decided to run in the event, but also decided to train this year. I started a couch to 5K type program and got to the point that I was running between 2-3 minutes and walking 7-8 minutes when I developed shin splints. I didn't know that they were shin splints, but they felt like my shin was cracked. I tried to run through them, but it did not work. I just decided to give up running and continued walking three times a week.

The most noticeable difference was that this year, the 5Ks were not as difficult. In the Bull Run I walked the whole race in about 50 minutes and did not feel like I needed to rest and could go on with my day. In the Race for a Pro-State of Mind, I finished in about an hour while pulling a wagon with my daughter in it and encouraging my son to finish walking. I felt good about finishing both races and was very proud of my son for walking a 5K at seven years of age and my husband, who ran a wonderful race and finished with a personal best time for this year.

What's for Dinner?

2010-04-01T21:37:00.001-04:00

Hot cheesy french fries

Teriyaki chicken wings

Coffee ice cream cone

Recap of 2009 Books Read

2010-01-01T23:34:00.002-05:00

I am proud of myself for reading all of these books this year. My favorites for this year were: Sarah's Key and Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige.

Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge
a most uncommon degree of popularity by kathleen gilles seidel
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil
The Diary by Eileen Goudge
Among the Free by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Barons by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Imposters by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard by Mawi Asgedom
The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake
No One You Know by Michelle Richmond
Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige by Kathleen Gilles Seidel
Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
They Did It with Love by Kate Morgenroth
Good Night, Sweet Dreams, I Love You Now Get into Bed and Go to Sleep by Patrick C. Friman, Ph.D.
The Fold by An Na
SPAM The Cookbook by Marguerite Patten
Beach Road by James Patterson
Wait for Me by An Na
A Step from Heaven by An Na
Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs by Elissa Wall
Hope's Boy by Andrew Bridge
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Catching Up

2009-12-01T22:57:00.003-05:00

I know that it has been a long time since I have written. I left off in the middle of summer vacation in New England so to recap...

We went to Chinatown in Boston for dim sum on Monday.
On Tuesday it was raining, but we still stopped for some outlet mall shopping in Kittery, ME on our way to Kennebunk. We ate lobster dinner that night!
On Wednesday we went to Freeport to the LL Bean Outlet where I found all sorts of bags and backpacks. We also made it to Gooch's Beach that day.
Thursday brought the highlight of our trip: my brother in law came home from Afghanistan and we sped back to Boston to meet him at the airport. What a great day!
I went to the New Balance Outlet on Friday to return some things and my daughter ended up with Bert and Ernie tennis shoes. She loves them! I also took my kids to visit a friend in Salem, MA. We went out to Marblehead Point.
Saturday was our last day and our Maine relatives came down to meet us for a day on the beach near Gloucester, MA. The perfect ending to a wonderful trip.

Real life after vacation brought the set-up of a new classroom for me and 27 wonderful kindergartners for me to teach! No wonder I have had no time to blog, plus my two beautiful children at home and their activities (Cub Scouts and religion class). The change has been tough! Having a classroom there is always so much to learn and so much to do. Even in the two years that I was gone, some things have changed drastically. I am always playing catch up in some arena of my life!

The ironic things that have happened are: I have already attended the funeral of one of my student's mother's and today, a first in my life: I had a student bite another student on the ear a la Mike Tyson! So much for my rule of only food, drink, and candy go in your mouth! What can I say: life is never dull with children around!

The Scariest Ramp

2009-11-19T21:31:00.001-05:00

10 years later, the memory doesn't fail me...

The ramp from the 405 North to the 105 West on the way to the airport has the feeling that you are driving into the sky. It is very high, and even in a car it is scary!

Boston Day Two

2009-08-01T00:49:00.003-04:00

We ended up staying home on our second day in Boston. My sister in law, my niece, and her boyfriend came down to visit from Maine. They learned how to play Mahjongg while the guys went to play golf, and my children relaxed at home.

The evening was once again a huge meal of chicken and ribs!

In the middle of the night our room was so dark that Reese woke up and yelled out to me, "I can't see!" I had to go and get her from her mattress on the floor!

Boston Day One

2009-07-18T22:16:00.007-04:00

We got to Boston at 1:30 am. It was a long trip, and it rained most of the way from home. The kids were very good and well entertained by movies. Thank goodness for the DVD player!

After a leisurely breakfast with family and laundry because our clothes got soaked on the top of the car, we took off to see the sights of Boston. We saw Fenway Park and stopped by the Prudential Building. We then set off on a walk through the city that included a walk down Boyston Street passed the Boston Public Library and Trinity Church. I liked the saying that was inscribed on the Boston Public Library Building. "The Commonwealth requires the education of the people as the safeguard of order and liberty."

We walked through the Public Garden and the Swan Boats to Charles Street and along Charles Street through Beacon Hill to a foot bridge near the Longfellow Bridge. We passed the Community Boat House and walked back toward the Prudential Center along the Charles Street Esplanade. It was fun to see a different side of Boston than I saw on my last trip to Boston, but I wore the wrong shoes that day and was not prepared for a long walk. The top of my sandal dug into my foot and gave me a blister that is still tender today. (I thought that we were just going to look at the shops along Newbury Street.)

We left for home after this trek and a stop at the candy store in the Prudential Center. Then, it was off to the Sam's Club, Lowe's for a grill, and Stop and Shop for groceries for dinner. What a tiring day that ended with a yummy taco meal!

Update

2009-07-18T21:54:00.003-04:00

To bring everything up to date, we have had some changes the last few months. I haven't been blogging much due to other obligations. In the spring I took two classes to maintain my Intervention Specialist license in case I needed it for my tutoring position next year. In May I got a kindergarten teaching position and am very excited about the prospect of working full time again with children.

With the end of the school year comes the start of festival season. We did two festivals this year and I think that we might be done. I have not done well in the past in the fall and do not anticipate that this season would be any better.

We had some family friends visit in June, and I had a great time taking them to Amish country. It was the best trip that I have ever taken to Amish country. We had lunch at an Amish restaurant, visited the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center, and ended the day sampling cheese at Heini's.

Father's Day weekend brought Ron's two best friends and their families to our home. I had a great time catching up and getting to know the wives while the kids played. The kids had an awesome time playing together and playing on the water slide that our neighbors brought out.

July brought the 4th and time spent with family. We had a great weekend with parties and fireworks. Now, comes more time with family as we visit Boston and Maine!

I wish I could have seen The Sound of Music in the theater

2009-06-18T10:06:00.001-04:00

A little bit of history with song and dance. A reall quality production.

Relax, what is that...

2009-05-15T23:37:00.001-04:00

But if I have the time, I enjoy talking on the phone with friends and family, reading a book, and blogging.

Family Culture

2009-05-05T23:17:00.001-04:00

As part of an assignment for one of my classes, I was asked to write about my family culture as if I were going to share it with my students. I thought that it would be a nice addition to my blog.

I am a first generation Thai American. I am an only child, and my parents are from Thailand in Southeast Asia. In my home we spoke mostly English although English is not the native language of my parents. I grew up with an understanding of Thai, my parents’ language and perfected my Thai language knowledge when I spend over three months in Thailand at the age of 10. I speak Thai in the main dialect and understand it in three dialects, the main dialect, the northern Phrae dialect, and the southern Yala/Pattani dialect.

My religious background is Buddhist. My parents grew up Buddhist and passed along the basic principles of thought to me. I was taught if you do good, you get good and if you do bad, you get bad. In addition I was taught to have great respect to elders and not to call them by just their first names. Therefore, I grew up with many “aunts” and “uncles”.

Education was very important to my parents and family. I went to private Catholic schools even though my parents were Buddhist because they felt that good education mattered more than the religion that was taught in the school. I was taught to do well in order to achieve my goals. I had cousins that came here for their higher education as I was growing up, and I was told that if they could do it, I could too. There was no question in my family about going to college. I was going, and I was going to get a master’s degree. Which I did!

Usually, we ate rice at one meal a day, most of the time, it was dinner. We also ate American foods and went out to dinner a great deal when I was growing up. We were not a family that had to eat traditional Thai food everyday.

I married a first generation Filipino American. He is the sixth out of six children. In his home they spoke mostly Tagalog, their native language, and he has an understanding of the language, but does not speak Tagalog fluently. He grew up with a Catholic background, and it was very important to his family to follow the church’s teachings. Through his culture he was also taught to have a great respect for elders just like I was.

My husband attended public schools even though they were very religious. Education was very important in his family also, and he was highly encouraged to go to college. In his community the Filipinos gathered together for social events, have a cultural center, and many social organizations that are based on their shared culture.

As he was growing up, my husband ate mostly Filipino food with rice as the basis. I believe that they mainly ate at home although they would sometimes go out for other types of Asian food. Foods that they ate that were American were ones that were easily paired with rice such as fried chicken, hot dogs, and SPAM.

As we raise our children as Thai/Filipino Americans, we combine our values and our culture. Our children are taught the same respect for elders that we grew up knowing. They are baptized Catholic and are raised Catholic although they are still influenced by Buddhist teachings because all religion is inherently good. They have grown up learning only English because it is the language that we are most comfortable speaking. Hopefully, one day, they will be able to travel to Thailand and the Philippines, and that will spark their interest in learning the languages. We raise our children to aspire to be all that they can be, but they have to go to college first! Both of our children love rice and will eat it plain as well as with chicken, SPAM, and bacon. We mainly eat American when we are out because it is convenient so the children are chicken nugget lovers, but rice is still an important part of our lives and we eat it a few times a week.

Sarah's Key

2009-04-30T00:38:00.002-04:00

I read this book a few weeks ago and could not put it down. It is about how the Holocaust affected France and the round up of Jews in Paris. It also connects to the present in that a journalist is researching the Vel' d'Hiv' for its 60th anniversary. I agree with the review on the back of the book by Risa Miller, author of Welcome to Heavenly Heights, who said, "This book will stay in your mind long after it's back on the shelf".

A haiku about Marley & Me

2009-04-10T12:17:00.001-04:00

See Marley and Me.

A dog who is family.

Silly dog, well loved.

I could eat nothing but Asian food for a year

2009-03-30T22:13:00.001-04:00

I believe that I could eat all things Asian for a year. Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, etc.

Don't say 'Dang It' around me

2009-03-25T00:41:00.001-04:00

Dang It
It seems so country. Just say the real thing, damn it or dog gone it!

My Former Teacher, My Present Boss

2009-03-08T00:55:00.002-05:00

I am a tutor at a school where the principal is my grade school French teacher. I had told a few of the teachers at the school that I am a former student of the principal, but was wary of mentioning it to the principal herself. One day I was in the office with a parent consultant and the topic of the principal's former students came up, and I mentioned that I am actually one of her former students. She said that I should tell the principal. I still was wary about letting her know.

Well, the parent consultant took care of it for me. One day when I got to school, the principal asked if she could see me in her office. I was wondering what I had done. When I got into her office, she asked me if I recognized this green satin box with lace overlay. It did look kind of like the box I had my ring bearer carry for our wedding so I said yes. She said that the box was one that I had given her after I went on a trip as a student of hers. She still kept the box on her dresser and uses it for her earrings. I was amazed! The principal said that once the parent consultant jogged her memory, she knew exactly who I was and could even spell my maiden name to this day.

I have to say that it was nice to be remembered so fondly over 25 years later. The principal did not remember some of my former classmates, but she did remember me and in a positive light!

An Na

2009-03-06T22:07:00.005-05:00

Some of you may have noticed that I am reading all of the An Na books that I can find. She is the author of teen books, but I find them interesting because they focus on Korean Americans and their immigration issues. I like how she focuses on the problems that some families face when they choose to come to the United States. It sometimes seems like the American dream is always within reach and easy to achieve, but many immigrants face difficulties when they come to the US that are sometimes overlooked.

For an interesting read from an Asian perspective, read An Na's books.

LEGO Pirates

2009-02-16T21:40:00.003-05:00

Riley got a new LEGO set with the money that he saved from his piggy bank. He really enjoys playing with LEGO sets and loves to look at his LEGO catalog. I had fun putting together Riley's Soldier's Fort. He was okay with me putting it together over two days; the first two buildings on one day and the other two buildings today. He played with it both days and loved the LEGO people and the cannon and crane.

Now that Riley has moved onto littler LEGO sets, I know that I will have to spend more time putting them together. In some ways I don't mind and enjoy doing something for Riley. He actually does really well not destroying what I have just built. But, on the other hand, I look forward to the time when Riley can put together his own LEGO sets. He actually needs the fine motor practice, but, with a two year old, it is easier to put the set together before all the pieces walk off. I know that one day, I will look back and wish that he would still need me to put together his LEGO sets for him, but I will also be happy that he has found the independence and maturity to treat his LEGO sets well.

Until then, Mommy is the LEGO builder, and Riley is the LEGO player.

With Love and Fond Memories Always

2009-01-24T23:41:00.003-05:00

For older members of my mother's family it is a tradition to publish a memory book for the cremation of the family member. Family members can write whatever they like: memories, stories, lessons learned, etc. This is the first time I have felt that I really needed to write for a family member, but, at the same time, I was at a loss as to how to go about my writing. Originally, I wanted to write about a bunch of individual memories, but then I couldn't think of a memory for every time that we met. Some memories were also too private to be share. Below is what I created for the book.

When you are young and you leave, you take it for granted that you will see each other again. I don’t take it for granted anymore. I always thought that Yai Pat would come to my wedding and meet my children. I thought that I would continue to have opportunities to go and visit my relatives in Thailand, but time and distance sometimes get in the way.

I first met Yai Pat in 1982 when I was seven years old. My parents and I were visiting Thailand for my first time, and Yai Pat was there to pick us up from the airport. I remember Yai Pat had a Volkswagen Bug that I wanted to ride in because my mom was riding in that car. Yai Pat insisted that I ride in the pickup truck with my dad because it was air conditioned. During this trip, I celebrated my eighth birthday in Phrae. Yai Pat sent me a telegram that was typed in English that said, “Happy Birthday Love, Pipat”. I wish I still had it today.

Throughout my young life I spent a great deal of time with Yai Pat considering that I live in the United States. When I would visit Thailand, I would always sleep in Yai Pat’s room where we would share stories as we lay in bed at night. Yai Pat made sure that my time in Thailand was fun. She arranged trips for me to places around Bangkok as well as to visit relatives and friends in Phrae, Yala, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Surin, Singapore, Koh Samui, etc. Because of her I got to spend time with family and see sights that I may not have known I wanted to see. I appreciate all the lessons she taught me, and all the memories I have with Yai Pat. I only wish that she could have lived until we met again on Earth.