...running a home. Buying groceries, setting the air at whatever temperature I want, having my own space, creating memories with my husband.
...ice cream. And treats. A little too much probably.
...feeling productive.
...spending time with my family. Honestly, my best friends are my family.
...having money to spend.
...being crafty.
...gardening.
...working with the youth at church.
...clean sheets.
...taking long hot showers and not having to worry about a long line of people after me being upset that the hot water is gone.
...reading.
...being silly.
...thinking about a hopeful future.
...traveling.
...vacations.
...my pet ferrets: Roger, Benny, and Mo
I don't like:
...being too cold or too hot.
...struggling with infertility.
...dirty dishes.
...drama or people who are unkind.
...having to make decisions.
...having bad breath (so i am going to brush my teeth right now!)
April 22, 2013
April 3, 2013
Fish
We recently got fish in my classroom. We started out with 2 sucker fish, two blue &orange fish, an orange fish, and a black &white striped fish.
The blue and orange fish didn't last long. One died after about a week and the other went 3 days later. I scooped out the fish that died last Thursday and was going to go flush it down the toilet while the kids were at recess. I scooped the dead guy into a cup and... Forgot about him. Friday, Saturday, Sunday. They all went by as the dead, forgotten fish sat in that little cup I the counter. When I got to school Monday morning my classroom smelled REALLY bad. Turns out decaying fish smell foul. I always figured they would, but know I know without a doubt that they do. Nasty!
Well with those two fish dead that just left our tank with two sucker fish (who hide most of the time and are pretty boring), an orange fish, and the striped black and white fish. The orange fish is a bit bigger than the striped fish.
I imagine that life as a fish can get pretty dull. The orange fish chases the striped fish from time to time and I thought that was fun. It came up in a class conversation. One student stated that they noticed the chasing. The next kid commented that the orange fish was being really mean to the striped fish. The third kid agreed and suggested that we kill the orange fish. She is such a sweet kid and she said it so casually that it really threw me off. Shockingly, lots of the other kids thought that was a sensible solution.
Kill the fish?! Just because he's chasing the other one?! A little rash, right?... And strange that a room of 7 and 8 year olds thought that was a good idea.
The blue and orange fish didn't last long. One died after about a week and the other went 3 days later. I scooped out the fish that died last Thursday and was going to go flush it down the toilet while the kids were at recess. I scooped the dead guy into a cup and... Forgot about him. Friday, Saturday, Sunday. They all went by as the dead, forgotten fish sat in that little cup I the counter. When I got to school Monday morning my classroom smelled REALLY bad. Turns out decaying fish smell foul. I always figured they would, but know I know without a doubt that they do. Nasty!
Well with those two fish dead that just left our tank with two sucker fish (who hide most of the time and are pretty boring), an orange fish, and the striped black and white fish. The orange fish is a bit bigger than the striped fish.
I imagine that life as a fish can get pretty dull. The orange fish chases the striped fish from time to time and I thought that was fun. It came up in a class conversation. One student stated that they noticed the chasing. The next kid commented that the orange fish was being really mean to the striped fish. The third kid agreed and suggested that we kill the orange fish. She is such a sweet kid and she said it so casually that it really threw me off. Shockingly, lots of the other kids thought that was a sensible solution.
Kill the fish?! Just because he's chasing the other one?! A little rash, right?... And strange that a room of 7 and 8 year olds thought that was a good idea.
March 21, 2013
The Power of Words
I have a newish student. He is clever, reads well, loves to talk, and enjoys attention. In addition to that he is manipulative, has a hard time following directions, and frequently does the opposite of what he's asked.
Today, within the first 3 hours of the day he managed to make poor enough choices that he ended up in the principal's office and had to spend the remainder of the day in another room. As the final bell rang, he walked into my classroom to return the work he had done. He had his head down, didn't want to look at me, and looked angry and sad. He tried to sneak out without looking at me or saying anything. I stopped him, put my hand on his shoulder, looked him in the eyes and said "You are a good kid." He had a strange look on his face and I repeated myself. He was looking at me so intently and then his face transformed. He got a HUGE smile on his face as he left.
It was simple. It was just a few words. It didn't take long for me to say. But to him it changed his whole mood. As I think about his reaction, I realize that he doesn't hear those kinds of words often enough. He is really good at stirring up trouble and seeking negative attention, so I think he is used to being chastised and receiving negative attention. It made sad to think that those may have been the kindest words he has heard in a while. (And maybe he has heard them recently, I just don't think he gets that enough). Making that tiny difference in his life, that made my day.
Today, within the first 3 hours of the day he managed to make poor enough choices that he ended up in the principal's office and had to spend the remainder of the day in another room. As the final bell rang, he walked into my classroom to return the work he had done. He had his head down, didn't want to look at me, and looked angry and sad. He tried to sneak out without looking at me or saying anything. I stopped him, put my hand on his shoulder, looked him in the eyes and said "You are a good kid." He had a strange look on his face and I repeated myself. He was looking at me so intently and then his face transformed. He got a HUGE smile on his face as he left.
It was simple. It was just a few words. It didn't take long for me to say. But to him it changed his whole mood. As I think about his reaction, I realize that he doesn't hear those kinds of words often enough. He is really good at stirring up trouble and seeking negative attention, so I think he is used to being chastised and receiving negative attention. It made sad to think that those may have been the kindest words he has heard in a while. (And maybe he has heard them recently, I just don't think he gets that enough). Making that tiny difference in his life, that made my day.
March 8, 2013
Future me
I often think about the future. I have been asking myself a lot lately what I want to do and be.
Here's what I have come up with: (I realize it's not proper to end with a preposition, but 1} I don't want to fix that and 2} it just doesn't sound right to me)
* Mom. The kind that raises kids who know they are loved, can make good choices, and are kind to others.
* Gardner. I would be delighted if I could grow most of the produce we ate. I love the idea of being more self sufficient.
* Crafty. I want to feel comfortable with tools/saws/drills/etc. I would love to whip up a hutch or ottoman. I would also love to repaint/make over furniture.
* Artist. I recently started playing around with watercolors. The biggest problem is that I want to be really good right now. I don't want to have to put in the time. Lazy, I know.
* Well rounded. I'd like to know a bit about enough things that I could relate to or connect with anyone.
* Fit. This is kind of like being an artist; I want to be amazing, but I don't want to put in the time. I'd love to enjoy running. I would love to be able to say that I have run a marathon. Yet I don't want to have to experience any discomfort or exert myself. (I should probably add 'motivated' or 'dedicated' to this list...)
* Happy. Seems easy enough, but that can be really tricky. It's really easy for me to focus on the unjust depressing or sad things that come my way.
* Rich. Honestly, I know I would make a superb rich person.
* Fun. I feel like I'm not as fun or crazy as I used to be. I don't know how much of that is due to age, and how much is because of other factors.
It is so easy to fall into the monotonous routine of life. I go day to day. I go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch Netflix, think about the productive things I could or should be doing, spend time on my church calling, occasionally go to the gym, go to bed, repeat. And then when I am not content I wonder what I should change. I guess I need to start working on the things on my list. But first I think I am going to take a little nap.
Here's what I have come up with: (I realize it's not proper to end with a preposition, but 1} I don't want to fix that and 2} it just doesn't sound right to me)
* Mom. The kind that raises kids who know they are loved, can make good choices, and are kind to others.
* Gardner. I would be delighted if I could grow most of the produce we ate. I love the idea of being more self sufficient.
* Crafty. I want to feel comfortable with tools/saws/drills/etc. I would love to whip up a hutch or ottoman. I would also love to repaint/make over furniture.
* Artist. I recently started playing around with watercolors. The biggest problem is that I want to be really good right now. I don't want to have to put in the time. Lazy, I know.
* Well rounded. I'd like to know a bit about enough things that I could relate to or connect with anyone.
* Fit. This is kind of like being an artist; I want to be amazing, but I don't want to put in the time. I'd love to enjoy running. I would love to be able to say that I have run a marathon. Yet I don't want to have to experience any discomfort or exert myself. (I should probably add 'motivated' or 'dedicated' to this list...)
* Happy. Seems easy enough, but that can be really tricky. It's really easy for me to focus on the unjust depressing or sad things that come my way.
* Rich. Honestly, I know I would make a superb rich person.
* Fun. I feel like I'm not as fun or crazy as I used to be. I don't know how much of that is due to age, and how much is because of other factors.
It is so easy to fall into the monotonous routine of life. I go day to day. I go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch Netflix, think about the productive things I could or should be doing, spend time on my church calling, occasionally go to the gym, go to bed, repeat. And then when I am not content I wonder what I should change. I guess I need to start working on the things on my list. But first I think I am going to take a little nap.
October 6, 2012
Hawaii!
About a month ago I sat down and spent 2 hours writing an amazing post with detailed stories of my trip to Hawaii. I finished it up, went to post it, and it disappeared. That made me so mad that I almost divorced my blog... but I didn't...and now here I am. Although blogger deleted all my hard work and writing it did save the pictures I had uploaded [in a weird order] and the first 3 sentences to a draft. So that's what I'll be posting along with a lits of what I did on my trip to Maui.
My husband wasn't able to get any time off from work this summer. I had the travel bug and even though Tanner wouldn't be able to join me he game me his well wishes in planning and taking a trip! Such a good man, that husband of mine!
Here's what my trip consisted of:
- Crossing off 2 life goals--going to Hawaii and riding on a Submarine
- Eating a LOT of REALLY tasty food and desserts
- Hanging out on the beach (although I only got wet once!)
- Going snorkeling
- Reading a lot (while on the beach)
- Going to a swap meet
- Driving the Road to Hana which was incredible!
- Going zip lining on Haleakala
- Visiting a black sand beach
- Being squished on the plane because I'm so tall
- Driving around in my zippy, yellow rental car
- Going to a Luau
- Visiting an aquarium
- Getting familiar with my map as I adventured in a new place
- Wearing my new purple and orange swim suit
- Going to the movies 3 times! And seeing the strangest movie: Moonrise Kingdom
- Sleeping a lot
- Having an incredibly hard time finding the church building, then going to church
- Eating more. The Shave Ice is to die for. And I ate the most amazing fish taco of.my.life.
- Face-timing with my family while they were together for Sunday dinner. Thank you Apple!
It was a good, good time!
January 14, 2012
Tidbits
Here's a recap of my life through the holidays and last couple months:
My brother got married to the most WONDERFUL girl that we just love!
I got some TOMS. 2 pair actually. These beauties and a pair of brown herringbone. Love them!
The DOZENS and DOZENS of rolls my mom and I made for my brother's reception.
Thanksgiving at my great aunts. Eat lots of food. Play volleyball. Repeat. (Intermingled with random things like stacking 3 people on top of each other...)
Made gingerbread houses per our annual tradition. Our pretty much rocked this year!
* * *
I've also been really busy with church, eating healthier, loving my nephews, work, and being a good wife!
January 6, 2012
Against my consent
You know that saying "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"?
That Eleanor Roosevelt was a pretty brilliant woman. And yet I am confident that she never took her car to the mechanics...
Those blasted mechanics don't seem to care one bit about my consent!
My car (Stella) has been leaking and leaving oil in my driveway (at least it sure looked like oil to ME).
A couple nights ago--after a warning light appeared on my dashboard--in the dark of the night, with a flashlight, I went out to check the oil in my car and is was LOW LOW LOW. I asked my husband to pick up some oil on his way home and put it in. He obligingly did so. (Over the summer my car basically ran out of oil and I was paranoid that it had happened again.) Much to my pleasure the oil he added caused the 'Maint Req" light on my dashboard to turn off. I thought I was finally starting to gain a little mechanical knowledge.
Well... I took my car in for an oil change after work today. That puddle that I just KNEW was oil in my driveway... fluid I was SURE was oil... Was actually transmission fluid... That plus the fact that I misread the oil stick (I don't even know what that thing is called. Why did I think I knew anything about cars?) made for a car with TOO MUCH oil.
Too much oil + broken transmission + mechanics looking at me like I didn't know a thing + not my consent = me feeling inferior.
That Eleanor Roosevelt was a pretty brilliant woman. And yet I am confident that she never took her car to the mechanics...
Those blasted mechanics don't seem to care one bit about my consent!
My car (Stella) has been leaking and leaving oil in my driveway (at least it sure looked like oil to ME).
A couple nights ago--after a warning light appeared on my dashboard--in the dark of the night, with a flashlight, I went out to check the oil in my car and is was LOW LOW LOW. I asked my husband to pick up some oil on his way home and put it in. He obligingly did so. (Over the summer my car basically ran out of oil and I was paranoid that it had happened again.) Much to my pleasure the oil he added caused the 'Maint Req" light on my dashboard to turn off. I thought I was finally starting to gain a little mechanical knowledge.
Well... I took my car in for an oil change after work today. That puddle that I just KNEW was oil in my driveway... fluid I was SURE was oil... Was actually transmission fluid... That plus the fact that I misread the oil stick (I don't even know what that thing is called. Why did I think I knew anything about cars?) made for a car with TOO MUCH oil.
Too much oil + broken transmission + mechanics looking at me like I didn't know a thing + not my consent = me feeling inferior.
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