What little things make your day? Here are a few that make my day...I try to remember the little things when I come upon what I perceive to be a major thing that threatens to steal my cheeriness.
*The Starbucks crew that not only knows my name and my drink...but even stuff about my life so they can ask me questions...I know it's a way for me to keep coming back to buy overpriced coffee and milk...but it still makes my day sometimes
*Jacob who EVERY day says goodbye to me and wishes me a good day when he leaves my class
*My dogs who greet me EVERY day as if I hadn't seen them in ages and they thought I was never coming back
*Good friends who know me so well that their emails are perfectly worded and perfectly timed
*Not just a full bank account on pay day...but a stack of PAID bills and the calm satisfaction and gratitude that we have jobs...jobs we like...jobs we've been blessed with
*Things Sean and I laugh at that NO ONE ELSE laughs at
*Being able to quote any Friends episode ALMOST word for word
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
What are you worth?
So...this post is supposed to be for Monday...so pretend it says Monday on the bottom.
Do you ever wonder what you're worth? No, I don't mean philosophically...like what is your value to God or your loved ones or whatever. I mean what is your time worth? What are your talents worth? A wise mentor once told me that there is an old saying among runners. I'm not a runner...I don't think I've quite got the saying correctly remembered...but here goes: "Never ask how much further your race is while you're going up hill." Does that even make sense...hmmm...it looks much less philosophical in type than when he's counseling me in his office...hmm. I digress :-)
I think it basically says that when you're in the middle of something that is challenging it does no good to muse, complain, or otherwise whine about the challenge because you are still going to be challenged. So...with this new job I'm trying not to complain or wallow in my realization that some days my worth dips way down. You know those days...the days when you've stayed at work for going on 12 hours...and you realize that with every tick of the clock your hourly wage goes way down and the value of your time descends along with it.
Instead I try to remember the real value of who I am...who I am as a teacher...who I am as a wife...who I am as a friend...who I am as a daughter of the Most High. Because when I remember that then my wage skyrockets...and that's much better than dipping after a twelve hour work day :-)
Do you ever wonder what you're worth? No, I don't mean philosophically...like what is your value to God or your loved ones or whatever. I mean what is your time worth? What are your talents worth? A wise mentor once told me that there is an old saying among runners. I'm not a runner...I don't think I've quite got the saying correctly remembered...but here goes: "Never ask how much further your race is while you're going up hill." Does that even make sense...hmmm...it looks much less philosophical in type than when he's counseling me in his office...hmm. I digress :-)
I think it basically says that when you're in the middle of something that is challenging it does no good to muse, complain, or otherwise whine about the challenge because you are still going to be challenged. So...with this new job I'm trying not to complain or wallow in my realization that some days my worth dips way down. You know those days...the days when you've stayed at work for going on 12 hours...and you realize that with every tick of the clock your hourly wage goes way down and the value of your time descends along with it.
Instead I try to remember the real value of who I am...who I am as a teacher...who I am as a wife...who I am as a friend...who I am as a daughter of the Most High. Because when I remember that then my wage skyrockets...and that's much better than dipping after a twelve hour work day :-)
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Everything old is new again
So, I haven't been to a Great Prosser Balloon Rally launching since I was in High School. For the past ten years I've never seen them lift off on a Friday because I'd always be on the road headed to school before they were up. Then, every year Sean and I ditch the Nightglow because seriously, we wager, how much different can it be each year. I mean, once you've seen one evening of lit-up tethered-to-the-football-field balloons you've seen them all, right?
But then on Friday morning I was headed out to get my Friday morning Starbucks before school and there they were...in all their glory...lifting off gracefully...almost silently (I even turned off the car radio)...just like my friend Jacki had reminded me they would be. I got all giddy...just like those first few years...to see the balloons launch.
So; I let myself sleep in on Saturday but then this morning I woke up and drove out to Starbucks and parked my car across from Chukar Cherries and snapped away on my little digital camera. I followed the crowd to the bridge and smiled quietly as they cheered the balloons that dipped down to the river. I don't know if it has inspired me to go every year like some of these die-hard balloon chasers...but it sure was a nice spot in my weekend!
But then on Friday morning I was headed out to get my Friday morning Starbucks before school and there they were...in all their glory...lifting off gracefully...almost silently (I even turned off the car radio)...just like my friend Jacki had reminded me they would be. I got all giddy...just like those first few years...to see the balloons launch.
So; I let myself sleep in on Saturday but then this morning I woke up and drove out to Starbucks and parked my car across from Chukar Cherries and snapped away on my little digital camera. I followed the crowd to the bridge and smiled quietly as they cheered the balloons that dipped down to the river. I don't know if it has inspired me to go every year like some of these die-hard balloon chasers...but it sure was a nice spot in my weekend!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Two for the Road
This came from my friend Susie...simple fun...the key word being simple...and fun:-)
Two names you go by:
1. Michelle 2. Chellie Bell (from my dad-in-law)
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Creation 2007 shirt 2. My favorite Crocs
Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. To have a completely planned semester of 8th grade Language Arts
2. To have 13 hours of sleep
Two things you did last night:
1. Grocery Shopping
2. Planned Curriculum
Two things you ate today:
1. Left over home-made pizza
2. Safeway Signature Potato Soup
Two people you last spoke to:
1. Connie 2. Sean
Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Going to the PHS vs. EVHS volleyball game
2. Going over my youth group lesson
Two longest car rides:
1. Prosser to Waldport, OR via the "scenic route"
2. Prosser to Oregon Coast to Sunriver to Crater Lake and back
Two favorite beverages:
1. Coca Cola
2. Iced Venti Non Fat Vanilla Latte
Two names you go by:
1. Michelle 2. Chellie Bell (from my dad-in-law)
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Creation 2007 shirt 2. My favorite Crocs
Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. To have a completely planned semester of 8th grade Language Arts
2. To have 13 hours of sleep
Two things you did last night:
1. Grocery Shopping
2. Planned Curriculum
Two things you ate today:
1. Left over home-made pizza
2. Safeway Signature Potato Soup
Two people you last spoke to:
1. Connie 2. Sean
Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Going to the PHS vs. EVHS volleyball game
2. Going over my youth group lesson
Two longest car rides:
1. Prosser to Waldport, OR via the "scenic route"
2. Prosser to Oregon Coast to Sunriver to Crater Lake and back
Two favorite beverages:
1. Coca Cola
2. Iced Venti Non Fat Vanilla Latte
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Blog Stalking
Blog stalking...what is it...who are its victims? It starts innocently enough with you checking up on a couple of friends of yours and pretty soon you are surfing the wonderworld of blogs. You don't even know who they are...just people who are listed on your friends' blogs and BAM they're on your list of people to read, too.
The interesting part is when you click on an unsuspecting blogger and discover you know said blogger...refer to my post below about people being connected via blogs:-)
The interesting part is when you click on an unsuspecting blogger and discover you know said blogger...refer to my post below about people being connected via blogs:-)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
What were you doing this day...
I know this day makes a lot of people think back to seven years ago. And rightly so. For the record: I was driving on my way to school in Yakima when I heard a blip of a report that a plane flew through one of the Twin Towers. I remember thinking how stupid could one pilot be to NOT be able to miss hitting that kind of huge building. Then, that morning I was in the UNOFFICAL faculty meeting in Cos' room and I watched the tower fall...LIVE. I remember thinking "Am I really seeing this?" The rest of the morning was a bunch of disbelief mixed in with curiosity. Later that night I remember thinking "Have I scarred my students by having the news on in my classroom?"
However...and I hope I'm not considered too un-American for saying this...but "9/11" is not what I automatically think of on "9/11".
On this day 15 years ago...
*I had spent a good 20-30 minutes picking out the "perfect" outfit...my Camp Ghormley "Topher" shirt and a pair of jean shorts (why it took that long to pick out jean shorts...I don't know).
*I had spent OVER AN HOUR making sure my hair was perfectly curled and styled and my make-up was just right
*Sean opened the door to his red Chevy Cavalier for me
*I was watching "So I Married An Axe Murderer" at the $2 Theater next to Chuck E. Cheese (I picked out the movie...not him)
*I was searching for the right thing to say when an uncomfortable silence came up
*I was nervously excited when Sean suggested we go back to his parents house for a homemade chocolate milkshake
*Sean scared me on the windy roads through Whitstran
*Sean drove me home from his house and dropped me off at my door
*I was bummed that we didn't kiss...but later glad that he was old fashioned enough to NOT kiss me on the first date:-)
On this day 9 years ago...
*I was wondering if I spoke too soon when I told Rene what I thought was going to happen on that night
*I was sitting in the dining room of Sean's new "bachelor pad" eating his specialty...baked Teriyaki chicken
*I was thinking how grown up I felt eating dinner, drinking wine, and listening to Classical Music with my boyfriend
*I snuggled with Sean on the couch to watch "So I Married an Axe Murderer" on laser disc
*I watched Sean get down on both knees
*I almost cried as he kissed both of my hands
*I giggled while he reminded me that we said we'd wait until we both finished college
*I still giggled while he opened the ring box
*I continued to giggle as he asked me and slid the ring on
*I remembered to stop giggling so I could say YES!
*I commented how I wished my mom was there...and Sean said she was:-)
*I sat on the couch with Sean for what seemed like hours admiring the beautiful ring he picked out all by himself...and dreamed together of what would be!
However...and I hope I'm not considered too un-American for saying this...but "9/11" is not what I automatically think of on "9/11".
On this day 15 years ago...
*I had spent a good 20-30 minutes picking out the "perfect" outfit...my Camp Ghormley "Topher" shirt and a pair of jean shorts (why it took that long to pick out jean shorts...I don't know).
*I had spent OVER AN HOUR making sure my hair was perfectly curled and styled and my make-up was just right
*Sean opened the door to his red Chevy Cavalier for me
*I was watching "So I Married An Axe Murderer" at the $2 Theater next to Chuck E. Cheese (I picked out the movie...not him)
*I was searching for the right thing to say when an uncomfortable silence came up
*I was nervously excited when Sean suggested we go back to his parents house for a homemade chocolate milkshake
*Sean scared me on the windy roads through Whitstran
*Sean drove me home from his house and dropped me off at my door
*I was bummed that we didn't kiss...but later glad that he was old fashioned enough to NOT kiss me on the first date:-)
On this day 9 years ago...
*I was wondering if I spoke too soon when I told Rene what I thought was going to happen on that night
*I was sitting in the dining room of Sean's new "bachelor pad" eating his specialty...baked Teriyaki chicken
*I was thinking how grown up I felt eating dinner, drinking wine, and listening to Classical Music with my boyfriend
*I snuggled with Sean on the couch to watch "So I Married an Axe Murderer" on laser disc
*I watched Sean get down on both knees
*I almost cried as he kissed both of my hands
*I giggled while he reminded me that we said we'd wait until we both finished college
*I still giggled while he opened the ring box
*I continued to giggle as he asked me and slid the ring on
*I remembered to stop giggling so I could say YES!
*I commented how I wished my mom was there...and Sean said she was:-)
*I sat on the couch with Sean for what seemed like hours admiring the beautiful ring he picked out all by himself...and dreamed together of what would be!
Do you ever wonder...part two
...what could've been done with the 5+ billion dollars it cost to build that big atom-smasher?
...why must we smash atoms anyway?
...if there will be a show as funny or quotable as "Friends"?
...who decided that corn would be a good vegetable to make a bread out of?...seriously...what was that first batch of cornbread like?
...how cute can one kid be?
Last weekend I saw my niece Maddie. She found a coin on the floor of the restaurant we were eating in. Sean commented to her that it was too bad she couldn't find a $100 bill. Without missing a beat Maddie said "I don't think you'd be finding that in a fast food restaurant!" Then one time Sean and I were visiting Wenatchee. He and I were sitting on the love seat playing with Mark's laptop and Cooper climbed in between us. He announced that "this is kinda fun". I said "Yeah! A little bit a coffee--a little bit of BBQ chips". Without missing a beat he said "a little bit of laptop."...too cute!
...why must we smash atoms anyway?
...if there will be a show as funny or quotable as "Friends"?
...who decided that corn would be a good vegetable to make a bread out of?...seriously...what was that first batch of cornbread like?
...how cute can one kid be?
Last weekend I saw my niece Maddie. She found a coin on the floor of the restaurant we were eating in. Sean commented to her that it was too bad she couldn't find a $100 bill. Without missing a beat Maddie said "I don't think you'd be finding that in a fast food restaurant!" Then one time Sean and I were visiting Wenatchee. He and I were sitting on the love seat playing with Mark's laptop and Cooper climbed in between us. He announced that "this is kinda fun". I said "Yeah! A little bit a coffee--a little bit of BBQ chips". Without missing a beat he said "a little bit of laptop."...too cute!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Do you ever wonder...
...if you stare at the computer screen long enough will your retinas burn out?
...if each person on this planet could truly be connected to every other person just by a string of strategically placed blogs?
...if it's okay to plan how early you can get to bed tonight before your feet even hit the floor this morning?
...if a giant atom-smasher could swallow the earth in a man-made black hole?
...the one thing you said today in passing was either a make-it or break-it comment for someone else?
...how funny one movie preview can be? (I busted up tonight about a trailer that I saw months ago---maybe even a year ago)
...if Meredith and Derek will find their happily ever after?
...how many times do you have to re-commit to DAILY reading your Bible--seriously--DAILY--with my great DAILY Bible?
...why dogs are so weird?
...why sleeping feels so good---mmmm---sleeping?
...what could they possibly make in the scrapbooking industry that is the next "must-have"?
...how much money is being saved by journaling this way instead of the old-fashioned paper journals?--mmmm---but I do love a pretty book!
...what it would feel like to truly have NOTHING on your To-Do List?--we're talking even a months-down-the-road list
...if each person on this planet could truly be connected to every other person just by a string of strategically placed blogs?
...if it's okay to plan how early you can get to bed tonight before your feet even hit the floor this morning?
...if a giant atom-smasher could swallow the earth in a man-made black hole?
...the one thing you said today in passing was either a make-it or break-it comment for someone else?
...how funny one movie preview can be? (I busted up tonight about a trailer that I saw months ago---maybe even a year ago)
...if Meredith and Derek will find their happily ever after?
...how many times do you have to re-commit to DAILY reading your Bible--seriously--DAILY--with my great DAILY Bible?
...why dogs are so weird?
...why sleeping feels so good---mmmm---sleeping?
...what could they possibly make in the scrapbooking industry that is the next "must-have"?
...how much money is being saved by journaling this way instead of the old-fashioned paper journals?--mmmm---but I do love a pretty book!
...what it would feel like to truly have NOTHING on your To-Do List?--we're talking even a months-down-the-road list
Sunday, September 07, 2008
To Do...
tonight or tomorrow:-)
*clean desk...check
*put away bills file folder...check
*email neglected friends...check
*copy Europe photos for Kate...check
*copy Europe photos so I don't accidentally lose them...check
*do enough laundry to last the week...tomorrow
*lesson plan for the week...tomorrow
*scope and sequence for the semester...tomorrow...hopefully
*GRADE PAPERS...tomorrow
*pick up the dogs...tomorrow
*plan the meals and go shopping for the week...tomorrow
How do you know when the ToDo list has reached capacity?...Hmmm...good question!
*clean desk...check
*put away bills file folder...check
*email neglected friends...check
*copy Europe photos for Kate...check
*copy Europe photos so I don't accidentally lose them...check
*do enough laundry to last the week...tomorrow
*lesson plan for the week...tomorrow
*scope and sequence for the semester...tomorrow...hopefully
*GRADE PAPERS...tomorrow
*pick up the dogs...tomorrow
*plan the meals and go shopping for the week...tomorrow
How do you know when the ToDo list has reached capacity?...Hmmm...good question!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Differences
Some differences between my new school and my old school...A.K.A. New things I need to learn!
*The sound of the telephone ringer in my room
*The bell/class schedule
*The grading software program
*The attendance process
*The number of lunches
*The classroom instruction model
*The office TA policy
Hmmm...I figured learning a new way to do curriculum would be difficult...but you know it's bad when so far every time my phone has rung a student has to remind me that the sound I am hearing is in fact the phone:-)
That being said...what an amazing opportunity to challenge yourself...it makes me feel alive in my profession...seriously!
*The sound of the telephone ringer in my room
*The bell/class schedule
*The grading software program
*The attendance process
*The number of lunches
*The classroom instruction model
*The office TA policy
Hmmm...I figured learning a new way to do curriculum would be difficult...but you know it's bad when so far every time my phone has rung a student has to remind me that the sound I am hearing is in fact the phone:-)
That being said...what an amazing opportunity to challenge yourself...it makes me feel alive in my profession...seriously!
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