Thursday, January 30, 2014

365 Days of Giving Thanks - Year 2


Day 73 - Thursday 1/30/14 - Thankful that the parent meeting today went smoothly.

Day 72 - Wednesday 1/29/14 - Happy about the extra cupcake I bought yesterday.  It tasted good with this morning's breakfast.  Well, the half I ate, did.  The other half made dinner yum!

Day 71 - Tuesday 1/28/14 - I'm thankful for the extra day off for it allowed me to have an extra session with my therapist.

Day 70 - Monday 1/27/14 - Love my therapist.  Even when she pisses me off.

Day 69 - Sunday 1/26/14 - Happy to have finally finished report cards!  That's a load off my plate, finally!

Day 68 - Saturday 1/25/14 - Grateful for the day in.  Haven't had one of those in a while.

Day 67 - Friday 1/24/14 -  Appreciate the "You always have such cute clothes!" compliment from the MA today.  Made me smile, despite feeling like crud.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

365 Days of Giving Thanks - Year 2


Day 66 - Thursday 1/23/14 - Grateful for a short commute on icy mornings.

Day 65 - Wednesday 1/22/14 - Appreciative of the fact that while my childhood was unsettling, it was nothing compared to what one of my kiddos deals with.

Day 63 - Tuesday 1/21/14 - Grateful that I was able to help someone with technology today, sharing my expertise to help them learn the program :)

Day 62 - Monday 1/20/14 - Thrilled to have a clean bill of heart health - don't have to head back to the cardiologist until next year!

Day 61 - Sunday 1/19/14 - So happy that I was able to help volunteer to help an incredible organization today.

Day 60 - Saturday 1/18/14 - Grateful for the quiet nap that blessed me this morning, snuggled on the couch with the Pup.

Day 59 - Friday 1/17/14 - Thankful that the impromptu family dinner while my car was getting fixed turned out to be a peaceful and tasty one!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Choices

I love this image and quote.... It reminds me of something my therapist often says--
You don't deserve to be hurt.  No one does.  

See, somehow I trained myself to believe that if someone could possibly be hurt, I will be the one to get hurt.  If someone should suffer, it should be me.  Somehow, I've convinced myself that I deserve the "bad" and "hurt" from the world.

Reality?  No one deserves to endure pain and suffering.  The sun doesn't say "I'll shine on you, but not you, you don't deserve it."  Sure, the sun can only shine on part of the Earth at a time, but even then, it does so in a predictable pattern, with everyone getting plenty of sunshine throughout the day.....

Something to chew over......

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Week 3: Inspirations and Influences

Well, I gotta think about this one a bit.  I wrote a whole post out and then realized it doesn't fit this week's topic!  Saved for another day, I suppose......

Anyway, inspirations and influences is the topic of the week.  Inspirations and influences I have plenty.

Inspirations and influences..... this may sound a little funny, but I am often so inspired by my students.  I mean, some of these kids, not even teens, have experienced so much in their short lives.

Just this week I visited a student in the hospital with a new cancer diagnosis.  A few weeks ago I was talking to a student with a very, very severe case of something similar to cystic fibrosis, as she readied for her second major surgery in six months.  Before the holidays, I had a lengthy conversation with a student who is struggling with the fact that her father left the family, moved across the country, yet still wants to be "dad" to a child who doesn't want to speak to him.

These kids have been through hell and are barely old enough to tie their shoes.  Yet, they still have such a positive attitude, that they inspire me.

Often, after a rough day at school, I will look at some of the notes students have given me over the years, and remind myself that this is why I teach.  These kids.  They let me into their lives for one short year, and they likely never realize the mark they leave on my heart.......

Thursday, January 16, 2014

365 Days of Giving Thanks - Year 2


Day 58 - Thursday 1/16/14 - So thankful for my health, as inconsistent as it may be, especially when others close to me do not have their health at the moment........

Day 57 - Wednesday 1/15/14 - Grateful for teamwork, and patience, which both came in very handy at school today.

Day 56 - Tuesday 1/14/14 - Appreciate the painful insights acquired today in therapy.

Day 55 - Monday 1/13/14 - Happy that the first official day back was much smoother than last week!

Day 54 - Sunday 1/12/14 - Enjoyed a nice quiet day at home.

Day 53 - Saturday 1/11/14 - So happy to see my dietitian today!

Day 52 - Friday 1/10/14 - Grateful for the two day work-week, it was a nice transition back to reality.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Be Kind


I particularly like this Sketches in Stillness image because it is such a great reminder for this time of year.... Especially as we begin to think about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and his peaceful premise...... something that seems to be frequently forgotten these days......

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Week 2: Favorite Childhood Memory

It's been over two years since I responded to this prompt, way back in 2001.  A lot of memories have surfaced over the last two years, some good, some not so good.

But this is about a favorite childhood memory.

So let me tell you about the times that my mom would go out for the evening.  I can't say how frequently this happened, but I do remember it happened often enough for me to look forward to our daddy-daughter date nights.

It was when I was between the ages of four through six.  My mom would go out for the evening, and as a special treat, my dad would let me stay up a little later than usual.  He'd put my brother to bed, and then the fun began.

We had this really old wooden chess and checker set, one where the pieces stored inside the board.  We'd sit in the kitchen, which was mostly white, and covered in white wall paper with a pointillism-like cloud pattern in greens, reds, blues, and yellows.  We'd sit at the kitchen table, which is the same kitchen table still present in my parents house.

And we'd play checkers.
Just me and my dad.

Even more special was the treat my dad gave me while we played.

Bubble gum.

The real, pink, sugary, bubble gum.  Something my mom never let me have.

We'd play a few games, with me happily chewing on a piece of gum, and then I'd get tucked into bed before mom came home, so our evening's events remained a secret just between me and my dad.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Saturday Smiles: Theo and Beau

December 28, 2013
I don't know about you, but there is a recent piece of "news" with which I have become quite enamored, to the point where I follow it, and talk about it when I get the chance.  And...... well...... I may not be interested in celebrity gossip, but this?  This I follow.  Daily.  This continues to bring sunshine to my day, and my students and I enjoy peeking at the daily dose of cuteness!

Meet Beau Shyba.
Two-year-old Beau lives in California with his older brother Jack,
older sister Zoe, mom Jessica, dad Justin, and cat Charlie. 

Enter Theo.
Theo is an adorable Shar Pei German Shepard mix puppy rescued from the Santa Cruz SPCA.

December 11, 2013
(Which makes this story even closer to my heart since the Pup was a rescue, too.)

I can't even begin to explain what Theo has brought to the whole the Shyba family.  

But you can see for yourself...........

Even more cuteness can be found on Jessica Shyba's blog, Momma's Gone City.  You'll also want to follow her on Instagram for your daily dose of adorable!


November 24, 2013
January 3, 2014

November 29, 2013 
(click image for video)
The trailer for Theo and Beau; a Love Story - Anna Meyer
(click image for video)

Thursday, January 9, 2014

365 Days of Giving Thanks - Year 2


Day 51 - Thursday 1/9/14 - So glad to get back to work.  I'm hoping that the return of the work routine will help my miserable melancholy mood lift.

Day 50 - Wednesday 1/8/14 - Thrilled to finally have a tow truck, with a helpful, friendly driver, take my car for it's new battery.  Even more thrilled it was all done in time to get to therapy this afternoon!

Day 49 - Tuesday 1/7/14 - Thankful that while my car may be dead, at least it died in my driveway and not on the side of the road.

Day 48 - Monday 1/6/14 - Grateful that I had a "bonus" appointment with my therapist scheduled for tomorrow, especially now that today's appointment was canceled thanks to the snow!

Day 47 - Sunday 1/5/14 - Grateful for a relaxing day inside, where it's warm.

Day 46 - Saturday 1/4/14 - Thanks to a schedule adjustment, I now won't have to leave the house tomorrow!

Day 45 - Friday 1/3/14 - Appreciate my psychiatrist's patience.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

OverReacting

I don't know about you, but I'm really, really masterful when it comes to overreacting.  Like, I could have a PhD in overreacting.

Take today, for example.

The midwest got pummeled with snow.  I mean lots and lots of snow.  We're talking 12 inches (or more, in some areas!)  So Monday's therapy session was cancelled as the roads were impassable.  Totally and completely.   (I will add that school was cancelled, too!)

Then today comes along and brings sub-zero temperatures with even colder wind chills.
No worries, though, therapy was scheduled for this morning, the roads were clear, all good, right?

Wrong.


My car decided it didn't want to start.  Not even a slight roar of the engine.  So therapy was cancelled again.

What did I do?  Burst in to tears, sobbing uncontrollably, for quite a while, actually.  I was such a wreck, I couldn't even call my therapist.  We communicated by text, which is usually a rare occurrence, reserved solely for schedule changes.  Today?  I broke that rule.  I whined and cried and essentially threw a temper tantrum.  All via text.  Not cool on my part.  Missing therapy two days in a row?  In the state I've been in?  Not cool.  So not cool.

However.
Neither was my reaction.
I mean, in the grand scheme of things, missing therapy here and there is really no big deal.  It's a small blip in life.  As my therapist said "Missing your therapy appointment is a survivable event."  And she's right.  Except I didn't handle it well this morning.

And as I sit here, nine hours later, still waiting for the tow truck to come get my dead car, the horrible headache is still lingering from my morning breakdown.

Guess I know what I need to add to my "to learn" list this year.........

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Week 1: What is Beauty?

My view on beauty has changed.  A lot.
Didn't realize it before, but society defined beauty for me.
And I accepted society's definition without question.
Never liked the definition.
But I accepted it nonetheless.

I'm still not sure what beauty is.
But I do know it is NOT the models of today.
Sickly skinny.  Bones jutting out.  Never smiling.
It's much closer to the days of Marilyn Monroe.
Did you know she was a size 12?
Or that she had an IQ of 168?
Or that she loved to cook?

Not that I'm a "Marilyn" or anything,
But she sure knew how to rock the curves.
And boy.... was she beautiful in her day.
I think she's pretty beautiful by today's standards,
too.


Thursday, January 2, 2014

365 Days of Giving Thanks - Year 2


Day 44 - Thursday 1/2/14 - Thankful for my therapist's patience while I muddle through this mess.

Day 43 - Wednesday 1/1/14 - Thankful for cookie dough.

Day 42 - Tuesday 12/31/13 - So grateful for the Pup....... he truly makes every day better.

Day 41 - Monday 12/30/13 - Thankful to be reminded that this too shall pass..... if someone could call me every day until this passes and share that reminder, that'd be awesome.

Day 40 - Sunday 12/29/13 - Happy to have spent the evening with my BFF and her family - the girls always make me smile!

Day 39 - Saturday 12/28/13 - Grateful for the unseasonable weather which allowed the Pup to enjoy a few walks today!

Day 38 - Friday 12/27/13 - Appreciate that my friend came to see Catching Fire, despite the fact that she hasn't seen the first!