I have been overwhelmed by reading my 7th graders "I Believe" lists! HOLY. Some really deep stuff. Those kiddos are full of truth, if only everyone would listen!
I truly believe I have THE best gig in town. How many people get to read the hearts of so many people? I feel lucky, and I appreciate that my kiddos trust me enough to share how and what they really feel.
This is my 7th year teaching in Okanogan, and my 13th year teaching. I still pinch myself that I have the opportunity to do what I do ever day. I LOVE TEACHING!
I had to have a sub last Thursday, as I had to attend a meeting in Chelan. I had THE best substitute, thank goodness. I really respect him, and I feel so lucky when I am able to have him in my classroom, when I have to be absent. He left me the best note ever...it ended with him telling me how much my students appreciate and respect me. HAPPY MOMENT, indeed :) It's those moments of truth that define why we are in the business of teaching.
KISS!
2011/02/01
2011/01/31
Sick-o
I do not like being sick, I do not like it one bit! I am battling a sinus infection, AGAIN :( Still go the dizzy going on, too.
Even with that, I was in a good mood today! There was lot to celebrate! Today was the first day of our second semester. I can't believe that half of the school year is over!!! HOLY! Seems like only a blink. Before you know it, summer will be here! I can't wait for this summer; it's going to be a biggie!!!!
And, January is now over! YAHOO! I love February :) It's a busy month, but I still love it! This month means a move, the holiday of hearts, a couple of events, a couple of auctions, the production of my play, lots happening :) Let's hope that the goundhog does NOT see his shadow, and that we can kiss winter good-bye!
So, even though I don't feel super hot, I loved today being the end of January. I actually felt quite a bit of moxie!
KISS :)
Even with that, I was in a good mood today! There was lot to celebrate! Today was the first day of our second semester. I can't believe that half of the school year is over!!! HOLY! Seems like only a blink. Before you know it, summer will be here! I can't wait for this summer; it's going to be a biggie!!!!
And, January is now over! YAHOO! I love February :) It's a busy month, but I still love it! This month means a move, the holiday of hearts, a couple of events, a couple of auctions, the production of my play, lots happening :) Let's hope that the goundhog does NOT see his shadow, and that we can kiss winter good-bye!
So, even though I don't feel super hot, I loved today being the end of January. I actually felt quite a bit of moxie!
KISS :)
I heart the weekend!
Though this weekend felt like it zoomed by...it was a good one!
Friday night I was able to spend a couple of hours with my good friend Lorri. I always love our girl time :) I am excited to spend time with her and the family on Sunday for the Super Bowl!
Saturday was spent with lots of packing, sorting, and some moving. UGH. And, then I also finished reading the second book in the series I am reading right now. Uglies, check. Pretties, check. Specials, started!
Rick and I also found some fun tv reality shows to watch The Last American Cowboy and Boomtown, both on the Green Channel. We liked the Cowboy show more. But, it was fun to relax and discover these two new shows.
Sunday was spent doing much of the same as Saturday. So much work to move, ya know?! Then we have done a bunch of organizing at Rick's, and rearranging. We put up some bunk beds that I had at my house, and those are a chore, but well worth the smiles when it was all done!
I didn't recharge as much as I would have liked, but that won't happen for a couple of weeks. This upcoming week: WOOOO WEEEE, busy!
READY?
Dinner at the Breadline with my good friend Kris, and we are going to buy our hockey tickets! I am so excited!!!! Brownies, and we are kicking off cookie sales at the end of this week, oh my! Fiddle practice in Tonasket. Chiro appt (trying to still get the neck in order). The official move on Saturday. Cleaning and painting on Friday night. Dealing with all the loose ends (PUD, cable, etc.). Making treats for one of my classes (I owe them), and for my advisory group (but, I must confess, I am feeling like I will just be buying some sort of yummy). Monthly grocery shopping and meal planning. Benefit auction on Saturday night for Carol Downey (gotta make a lottery tree that I am donating). Super Bowl on Sunday (gotta make yummy food for that party). And, don't forget play practice (gathering props and painting set, too) and just normal life stuff like cooking, laundry, dishes, working, grading papers, you know! And, I am hoping to squeeze in a doctor's appointment for this sinus bit. Maybe reading...at least as I fall asleep.
I have about five other things, that I have moved to next week's list, because this week's is just toooooooo busy, which goes directly against my KEEP IT SIMPLE motto!
I can't wait until Sunday at the Super Bowl. AHHHHHH...that will be RELAX time :) KISS!
Friday night I was able to spend a couple of hours with my good friend Lorri. I always love our girl time :) I am excited to spend time with her and the family on Sunday for the Super Bowl!
Saturday was spent with lots of packing, sorting, and some moving. UGH. And, then I also finished reading the second book in the series I am reading right now. Uglies, check. Pretties, check. Specials, started!
Rick and I also found some fun tv reality shows to watch The Last American Cowboy and Boomtown, both on the Green Channel. We liked the Cowboy show more. But, it was fun to relax and discover these two new shows.
Sunday was spent doing much of the same as Saturday. So much work to move, ya know?! Then we have done a bunch of organizing at Rick's, and rearranging. We put up some bunk beds that I had at my house, and those are a chore, but well worth the smiles when it was all done!
I didn't recharge as much as I would have liked, but that won't happen for a couple of weeks. This upcoming week: WOOOO WEEEE, busy!
READY?
Dinner at the Breadline with my good friend Kris, and we are going to buy our hockey tickets! I am so excited!!!! Brownies, and we are kicking off cookie sales at the end of this week, oh my! Fiddle practice in Tonasket. Chiro appt (trying to still get the neck in order). The official move on Saturday. Cleaning and painting on Friday night. Dealing with all the loose ends (PUD, cable, etc.). Making treats for one of my classes (I owe them), and for my advisory group (but, I must confess, I am feeling like I will just be buying some sort of yummy). Monthly grocery shopping and meal planning. Benefit auction on Saturday night for Carol Downey (gotta make a lottery tree that I am donating). Super Bowl on Sunday (gotta make yummy food for that party). And, don't forget play practice (gathering props and painting set, too) and just normal life stuff like cooking, laundry, dishes, working, grading papers, you know! And, I am hoping to squeeze in a doctor's appointment for this sinus bit. Maybe reading...at least as I fall asleep.
I have about five other things, that I have moved to next week's list, because this week's is just toooooooo busy, which goes directly against my KEEP IT SIMPLE motto!
I can't wait until Sunday at the Super Bowl. AHHHHHH...that will be RELAX time :) KISS!
Monday already?
Not feeling to full of moxie this morning, especially since I awoke with a headache! Dang sinus stuff.
I am in a decent mood, even with the pain, and I have lots to jabber about. I will write more tonight :)
KISS!
I am in a decent mood, even with the pain, and I have lots to jabber about. I will write more tonight :)
KISS!
2011/01/28
Fav-or-ite!
My escape would be reality tv shows. I love them! I know they are not real. But, it's still fun to watch. Here's my most top ten list, though not necessarily in any order.
Biggest Loser
Pawn Stars
American Pickers
Flying Wild
Real Housewives (all the cities)
Bachelorette/Bachelor
Top Chef
Top Show
Sister Wives
Sarah Palin's Alaska
And, other shows I enjoy :)Though don't always watch, thank goodness for my DVR!
Glee
Bones
House
48 Hours
American Idol (I realize these last two are probably technically reality shows, but I consider them a little different)
CSI
Law and Order
Two and Half Men
Raymond
The Office
Lie to Me
The Good Wife
Favorite series
Weeds
Tudors
Deadwood
Dexter
Dead Like Me
Spartacus
Californication
Prison Break
6 Feet Under
Big Love
Thank goodness for an escape when my mind needs a break :) I love a good story! KISS
Biggest Loser
Pawn Stars
American Pickers
Flying Wild
Real Housewives (all the cities)
Bachelorette/Bachelor
Top Chef
Top Show
Sister Wives
Sarah Palin's Alaska
And, other shows I enjoy :)Though don't always watch, thank goodness for my DVR!
Glee
Bones
House
48 Hours
American Idol (I realize these last two are probably technically reality shows, but I consider them a little different)
CSI
Law and Order
Two and Half Men
Raymond
The Office
Lie to Me
The Good Wife
Favorite series
Weeds
Tudors
Deadwood
Dexter
Dead Like Me
Spartacus
Californication
Prison Break
6 Feet Under
Big Love
Thank goodness for an escape when my mind needs a break :) I love a good story! KISS
2011/01/27
Feeling rather thankful :)
It's been a thankful sort of week! Last Friday night at the Cascade vs. Okanogan basketball game, the National Honor Society group that advise ran a Duct Tape Dollars fundraiser for Marty Staggs, who has recently been diagnosed with cancer.
We made $452 in under ten minutes! It was so awesome to see people participating!! It was cool that Cascade folks added to the tape, too!! It made me very appreciative.
I am also thankful that I was able to give two twin beds away to a family, who recently added an extra teenager to their home. We loaded them up yesterday afternoon, and I'm excited that the beds have a new, and much needed, home. As well, it's one less thing I have to worry about in my house that I am packing up!
So, today I slept in an hour :) I have a meeting in Chelan. I am thankful for the extra sleep, for the different schedule today, for the fact that I have a GREAT substitute, and that the meeting is at Campbell's which has super yummy food!!
It's all good! Remember find the thankful in your day! KISS
We made $452 in under ten minutes! It was so awesome to see people participating!! It was cool that Cascade folks added to the tape, too!! It made me very appreciative.
I am also thankful that I was able to give two twin beds away to a family, who recently added an extra teenager to their home. We loaded them up yesterday afternoon, and I'm excited that the beds have a new, and much needed, home. As well, it's one less thing I have to worry about in my house that I am packing up!
So, today I slept in an hour :) I have a meeting in Chelan. I am thankful for the extra sleep, for the different schedule today, for the fact that I have a GREAT substitute, and that the meeting is at Campbell's which has super yummy food!!
It's all good! Remember find the thankful in your day! KISS
2011/01/26
What's in a name?
I love words, as you know by now. I am a word nerd, and proud of it! I think words are fun. I love to learn new words, and I especially love to learn their etymology. Sometimes the history of a word is even more interesting than the word itself!
The problem when you are a word nerd is that if you use words that other people have never even heard of they think you are showing off or they simply don't know what you are talking about.
I was also thinking about the power of words. I think so many words have been used and abused that they don't mean as much as they are supposed to mean. Like, "sorry." How many times do we hear that in a day, and how many times is it even genuine? I save my "sorry" for when I really need it, really mean it.
How about when people ask you how you are? They expect a simple answer, and are they REALLY wanting to know how you are doing? I remember when one day I decided to answer the how are you question with, "My pet parrot died." Of course, I did not have a pet parrot, nor did it die. But, you would not believe how many people initially responded with something like, "That's good." Or, something to that nature, and then realized after they spoke what I really said. Definitely words can be used mindlessly :(
Or, how about when we make a word have more power than it deserves? When we use words to hurt people? I can think of all sorts of examples, none that I choose to use right here, but you know what I am talking about. What if we made all those words lose their power? What if we decided that they meant the opposite of what they mean?
I also think Old Shakes had it right when he questioned about the rose, and would it not be a rose, have rose qualities, smell so sweet, if we called it something else?
Oh, words, you are so complex. How do you make my life more simple, I wonder? I guess you allow me to communicate, even if sometimes I am misunderstood. Well, with that I will use one last word: KISS!
The problem when you are a word nerd is that if you use words that other people have never even heard of they think you are showing off or they simply don't know what you are talking about.
I was also thinking about the power of words. I think so many words have been used and abused that they don't mean as much as they are supposed to mean. Like, "sorry." How many times do we hear that in a day, and how many times is it even genuine? I save my "sorry" for when I really need it, really mean it.
How about when people ask you how you are? They expect a simple answer, and are they REALLY wanting to know how you are doing? I remember when one day I decided to answer the how are you question with, "My pet parrot died." Of course, I did not have a pet parrot, nor did it die. But, you would not believe how many people initially responded with something like, "That's good." Or, something to that nature, and then realized after they spoke what I really said. Definitely words can be used mindlessly :(
Or, how about when we make a word have more power than it deserves? When we use words to hurt people? I can think of all sorts of examples, none that I choose to use right here, but you know what I am talking about. What if we made all those words lose their power? What if we decided that they meant the opposite of what they mean?
I also think Old Shakes had it right when he questioned about the rose, and would it not be a rose, have rose qualities, smell so sweet, if we called it something else?
Oh, words, you are so complex. How do you make my life more simple, I wonder? I guess you allow me to communicate, even if sometimes I am misunderstood. Well, with that I will use one last word: KISS!
