As always, I'm really quite impressed with my daughter's artistic abilities. How cool is this?
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Pride Picks At Target
22 hours ago
Friday, September 21, 2012
Just a Little Doodle
September 21, 2012
As always, I'm really quite impressed with my daughter's artistic abilities. How cool is this?
As always, I'm really quite impressed with my daughter's artistic abilities. How cool is this?
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Alright, Alright...I'll Go to the Doctor
September 20, 2012
Several weeks ago I threw caution to the wind, pretended I was the age I am in my head (somewhere in the mid-twenties), rather than the silly numerical age I actually am, and took on a few forward flips with my sister on the trampoline. "We can totally do this!" said the voice inside my head. "POP! SNAP!" said the ligament in my knee.
Despite not being able to put any real weight on it for a couple of days, a little ice and a lot of Advil set things to right (mostly), and I decided to ignore the signs and pretend it never happened. It was mostly easy to do, except for a slip-slidey kneecap that occasionally clicked and crackled and then felt like mushy applesauce. What's a little loss of strength? A little loss of movement? A little loosey-goosey limb? It turns out, a lot. kneeling down to get cans out of my lower cupboard was not a problem. Standing back up again didn't so much work. A few situations like that made me realize that my knee was not healing on its own as much as I hoped it would.
So when Danielle's soccer coach advised me to get Danielle's knees checked out (she had been complaining of aches and pains), I decided I might as well get myself checked out as well. Danielle, luckily, has no serious injury. A little ice and Advil and strengthening exercises will get her back on track. The popping in my knee, however, gave my doctor some concern. After examining my knee, she called for some x-rays and an MRI and determined that a torn ligament was likely the cause of my problems.
So now we wait for the MRI for the final verdict, and then I find out where we go from there. I figure a little physical therapy and we'll be good to go--back on track. Or maybe even back on the trampoline.
Several weeks ago I threw caution to the wind, pretended I was the age I am in my head (somewhere in the mid-twenties), rather than the silly numerical age I actually am, and took on a few forward flips with my sister on the trampoline. "We can totally do this!" said the voice inside my head. "POP! SNAP!" said the ligament in my knee.
Despite not being able to put any real weight on it for a couple of days, a little ice and a lot of Advil set things to right (mostly), and I decided to ignore the signs and pretend it never happened. It was mostly easy to do, except for a slip-slidey kneecap that occasionally clicked and crackled and then felt like mushy applesauce. What's a little loss of strength? A little loss of movement? A little loosey-goosey limb? It turns out, a lot. kneeling down to get cans out of my lower cupboard was not a problem. Standing back up again didn't so much work. A few situations like that made me realize that my knee was not healing on its own as much as I hoped it would.
So when Danielle's soccer coach advised me to get Danielle's knees checked out (she had been complaining of aches and pains), I decided I might as well get myself checked out as well. Danielle, luckily, has no serious injury. A little ice and Advil and strengthening exercises will get her back on track. The popping in my knee, however, gave my doctor some concern. After examining my knee, she called for some x-rays and an MRI and determined that a torn ligament was likely the cause of my problems.
So now we wait for the MRI for the final verdict, and then I find out where we go from there. I figure a little physical therapy and we'll be good to go--back on track. Or maybe even back on the trampoline.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Spirit Days
September 18, 2012
I just love it when kids get into spirit/dress up days at school. I adore Miss Maddy and Miss Cara, the lovely Winnie the Pooh and Eyeore.
I just love it when kids get into spirit/dress up days at school. I adore Miss Maddy and Miss Cara, the lovely Winnie the Pooh and Eyeore.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Back To School Night
September 17, 2012
This is one of the days of the year I dread the most: Back To School Night. This is when I spend two hours talking to a group of adults and trying to make it seem like I feel like this:
When in fact, I actually feel like this:
Anybody who knows me knows how much I dread public speaking. One of the great dichotomies of my life, since I love to talk in general, and I stand in front of students all day long talking. Speaking in front of a whole group of adults--especially ones I don't really know--is a whole other ball of wax. In the early days of Back to School Nights I used to be literally sick to my stomach for the entire weekend beforehand. Now I can manage the evening without Pepto Bismol, so I guess that's progress.
This is one of the days of the year I dread the most: Back To School Night. This is when I spend two hours talking to a group of adults and trying to make it seem like I feel like this:
Saturday, September 15, 2012
All the Way Across the Big Pond
September 15, 2012
A former student from about ten years ago has been living in London with her husband for the past five years. This weekend she came home for a visit with her family, and she organized a little get-together with some of her friends and former teachers. I have kept up-to-date with Erin via Facebook over the past few years, but it was wonderful to catch up with her in person. There are a lot of people who bemoan the oversharing and seeming superficiality of Facebook, but I love it for the ability it gives me as a teacher to see where all of my wonderful and talented students have gone once they leave high school. Even better, I love that it occasionally allows me to meet up with them and connect with them as adults.
Me, with Erin, Karen Boone, and Heather (another former student--good friend of Erin)
A former student from about ten years ago has been living in London with her husband for the past five years. This weekend she came home for a visit with her family, and she organized a little get-together with some of her friends and former teachers. I have kept up-to-date with Erin via Facebook over the past few years, but it was wonderful to catch up with her in person. There are a lot of people who bemoan the oversharing and seeming superficiality of Facebook, but I love it for the ability it gives me as a teacher to see where all of my wonderful and talented students have gone once they leave high school. Even better, I love that it occasionally allows me to meet up with them and connect with them as adults.
Me, with Erin, Karen Boone, and Heather (another former student--good friend of Erin)
A Good Saturday for Explosion
September 15, 2012
Danielle's soccer team played an excellent game on Saturday and came out on top with a 2-1 win. Danielle told her coach that her knee was bothering her a bit, so he chose to put her out on the field instead of giving her the extra strain she'd put on it in the goalie box. Although it's been years since she played forward during the game, she fell right back into position and even garnered a pretty impressive assist for one of the team's goals.
Unfortunately, Team Explosion suffered its second major injury of the season. A couple of weeks ago one of the girls hurt her knee during a pre-season scrimmage, and will possibly be out for a few weeks to come. During today's game, another one of the girls went flying over an opponent after an on-field collision near the goal box. After the game we got the update that she'd broken her collar bone. They say she'll be out for three or four weeks at least. Poor thing! Soccer is a tough girls' game. I'm just hoping for an injury-free rest of the season!
Danielle's soccer team played an excellent game on Saturday and came out on top with a 2-1 win. Danielle told her coach that her knee was bothering her a bit, so he chose to put her out on the field instead of giving her the extra strain she'd put on it in the goalie box. Although it's been years since she played forward during the game, she fell right back into position and even garnered a pretty impressive assist for one of the team's goals.
Unfortunately, Team Explosion suffered its second major injury of the season. A couple of weeks ago one of the girls hurt her knee during a pre-season scrimmage, and will possibly be out for a few weeks to come. During today's game, another one of the girls went flying over an opponent after an on-field collision near the goal box. After the game we got the update that she'd broken her collar bone. They say she'll be out for three or four weeks at least. Poor thing! Soccer is a tough girls' game. I'm just hoping for an injury-free rest of the season!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Is This Thing On?
September 13, 2012
All day yesterday, I felt like I was talking to a wall. You know, just not getting through to my kids. It happened over and over again.
"Okay guys, you should have two handouts. Make sure you've got them both."
"Mrs. L--are we supposed to have two of these?" Yes. I believe I just said that.
"So let's take a look at the first handout. This one is for brainstorming. It's pre-writing for the essay you'll be writing, so it won't be graded, but you'll be turning it in with your essay."
"So you're grading both of them?" No. Not the brainstorming. I just said that. I did say that out loud, right?
"Hey Mrs. L--do we need to put our names on these?" Were you just in the room 30 seconds ago? How did you not hear me?
At the end of the period: "When you're finished, please turn in your essay and brainstorming right here on this chair." (Pointing, showing.)
"Where do we turn these in, Mrs. L?" Seriously??
And so on and so on, all day long. No, it was not loud and noisy in the classroom so that the kids couldn't hear. I ask that the kids all look at me as I'm speaking, especially when I'm giving initial instructions on something. These are high school kids, by the way, not elementary kids. On a normal day, there might be one or two kids who spaced out on a direction or misheard a step. It happens. Yesterday, though, was almost comical in the frequency of missed information, except it wasn't comical. I was ready to pull my hair out. I was exhausted by the end of the day.
Today I had the other half of my block classes, and let me tell you, I was not looking forward to a repeat. Same assignment, same kinds of classes. But my seniors today restored my faith. Students were given the same instructions and directions, and they got it. They listened, they heard me, and they followed through. What a relief!
What happened yesterday? I have no idea, but I'm so glad we were back on track today!
All day yesterday, I felt like I was talking to a wall. You know, just not getting through to my kids. It happened over and over again.
"Okay guys, you should have two handouts. Make sure you've got them both."
"Mrs. L--are we supposed to have two of these?" Yes. I believe I just said that.
"So let's take a look at the first handout. This one is for brainstorming. It's pre-writing for the essay you'll be writing, so it won't be graded, but you'll be turning it in with your essay."
"So you're grading both of them?" No. Not the brainstorming. I just said that. I did say that out loud, right?
"Hey Mrs. L--do we need to put our names on these?" Were you just in the room 30 seconds ago? How did you not hear me?
At the end of the period: "When you're finished, please turn in your essay and brainstorming right here on this chair." (Pointing, showing.)
"Where do we turn these in, Mrs. L?" Seriously??
And so on and so on, all day long. No, it was not loud and noisy in the classroom so that the kids couldn't hear. I ask that the kids all look at me as I'm speaking, especially when I'm giving initial instructions on something. These are high school kids, by the way, not elementary kids. On a normal day, there might be one or two kids who spaced out on a direction or misheard a step. It happens. Yesterday, though, was almost comical in the frequency of missed information, except it wasn't comical. I was ready to pull my hair out. I was exhausted by the end of the day.
Today I had the other half of my block classes, and let me tell you, I was not looking forward to a repeat. Same assignment, same kinds of classes. But my seniors today restored my faith. Students were given the same instructions and directions, and they got it. They listened, they heard me, and they followed through. What a relief!
What happened yesterday? I have no idea, but I'm so glad we were back on track today!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A Check Mark On My Life List
September 11, 2012
Well, I've done it. I've managed to put a little check next to one of the items on my Life List. (A Life List is basically a Bucket List, but Lisa and I have had our Life Lists much longer than The Bucket List movie has been around, and I refuse to give credit to the movie for our idea. Plus, I just don't like the word 'bucket'.)
Anyway, one of the items on my Life List is to submit my photography to a photography competition. Last year at the Fresno Fair, Danielle and I decided that she should enter some of her artwork and I should enter my photography to compete at the fair, and today I dropped of eight pictures to be judged and displayed this year. (Danielle's Junior exhibits--two photographs, two pencil drawings, and one acrylic art piece--are due to be dropped off this Saturday.) Now, I don't expect to actually win anything; that's not what my Life List goal is. I'm just proud of myself that I followed through and did it finally. I'm really proud of the pictures, too, and I think it's going to be pretty cool to walk through the Fine Arts Exhibit this year and see my work up there on the wall next to some really interesting and beautiful photos.
Anyway, one of the items on my Life List is to submit my photography to a photography competition. Last year at the Fresno Fair, Danielle and I decided that she should enter some of her artwork and I should enter my photography to compete at the fair, and today I dropped of eight pictures to be judged and displayed this year. (Danielle's Junior exhibits--two photographs, two pencil drawings, and one acrylic art piece--are due to be dropped off this Saturday.) Now, I don't expect to actually win anything; that's not what my Life List goal is. I'm just proud of myself that I followed through and did it finally. I'm really proud of the pictures, too, and I think it's going to be pretty cool to walk through the Fine Arts Exhibit this year and see my work up there on the wall next to some really interesting and beautiful photos.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Sanger Palooza Gig for Cut Shot
September 8, 2012
Cut Shot had a gig at a big, outdoor end-of-summer bash out in Sanger on Saturday. It was a family-friendly gathering, with kids out playing by the creek, potluck offerings out on the table, and a bounce house. Most of the time the band plays in bars on Saturday nights, so it was great to let the kids come out and listen to the band show off their talents. I wish we could go out and do that every Saturday night.
Cut Shot had a gig at a big, outdoor end-of-summer bash out in Sanger on Saturday. It was a family-friendly gathering, with kids out playing by the creek, potluck offerings out on the table, and a bounce house. Most of the time the band plays in bars on Saturday nights, so it was great to let the kids come out and listen to the band show off their talents. I wish we could go out and do that every Saturday night.
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