Category Archives: Random Thoughts

>I want to ride my bicycle!

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>I don’t have an entry for Scribbit’s write-away contest this month, but the topic, My First Bike, is intriguing. I searched my archives just for fun, and even though I didn’t find anything suitable for this month’s contest, I did find these bike references. Ride on, and enjoy!

(From Shoulds are bogus: The Sequel)
I should use the minivan less, for both financial and environmental reasons.
Reality: I use the city bus with El Grande occasionally, but I could walk more or ride a bike. I don’t have a bike – yet.
End result: I will buy myself a bike with the money I saved by ending my YMCA membership.

(a few weeks later, from No More Excuses)
We (Husband and I) now have “matching” his and hers bicycles!

In a later post, I talked about how close we lived to Lambeau Field when the kids were young, and how La Petite learned to ride a bike in the stadium’s parking lot. She still tells that story, and she’s in college now. It’s part of why she lives, breathes, and bleeds green and gold.

Amigo rides a recumbent three-wheeler to accomodate his vision impairment. We took his three-wheeler and our his ‘n’ hers bikes to Canada last June on our lovely new trailer hitch mounted bike rack.

The same bike rack got in the way and had to be removed as we changed a flat tire on the highway between Lockeporte and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

No, I don’t have time to write about bicycles, mine, Husband’s, or otherwise, but there are plenty of posts that include bikes as part of their stories. Go on, enjoy!

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>It’s Lincoln’s 200th, but I’m not that old.

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>It’s not my birthday. It’s not even my half birthday. But right now, on Friday the 13th, I need a little fun to lift my spirits. Plurk buddies were enjoying this version of a Birthday Calculator, so I tried it, too.

I won’t insult you with a copy and paste (that would be wimpy, too), but I’ll share the highlights and my reactions.

My virtual fortune cookies says, “Today is a lucky day for those who remain cheerful and optimistic.” Okay, I’ll try. It’s tough to remain optimistic in the midst of creepy kids who keep trying to sneak out to their lockers to plan their next bully attack on the poor awkward and annoying kid who really doesn’t know any better.

My birth tree is the Ash Tree. I’ve always loved the folk song The Ash Grove. Coincidental? Probably. It’s a lovely melody.

My age (in dog years) is the equivalent of a dog that is 6.88688845401174 years old. By now, of course, a few of those decimal places have changed. How quickly we age!

I knew JFK, Jr. shared my birthday, but I didn’t know that Donovan McNabb and Joe DiMggio did, too. Ricardo Montalban, too? May I live as long as he did, and maybe spend part of it on a fantastic tropical island!

I knew that I was born in the year of the Rat, but I didn’t know that my Native American Zodiac sign is Owl and my plant is Mistletoe. Ironic: I’m more of a morning person than a night owl. Mistletoe? I do enjoy Christmas, especially the music. That’s a better fit.

Lucky numbers are more complicated. I may need to do some research to find out just what each number means. My life path number is 7, my golden number is 4, and the epact number for my birth year is 2. Epact? I had to look this one up. In the definition link, epact is “the moon’s age at the beginning of the calendar year, or the number of days by which the last new moon has preceded the beginning of the year. ” Oh-kay. I think I can stop there.

All these numbers and signs mean very little without background, but it was fun to see “my” stats come rolling out of the birthday calculator. I wonder what Husband’s report looks like? He’s two weeks younger than I am.

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>Measuring Up!

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>

Earth Muffin sent me a virtual award. I Measure Up! Since she’s from Illinois, I’ll presume I measure up in the Standard measuring system, not metric. My Canadian friends would measure otherwise. But I digress. Accepting the award requires three steps: here they are.

1. Say something special to the man in your life.

Honey, thanks for putting up with my football fanaticism and my growing green goals. And most of all, for making me laugh when things are down.

2. List six ways to measure success in life.
a. In this economy, keeping the bills paid and food on the table. I feel very fortunate that we’re not struggling when so many others are.
b. Keeping the family intact. We argue, we rant, and then we all hug. We make time for each other and spend time together. That’s no easy feat when one kid is in college and the other in high school. It’s worth the effort.
c. Maintaining a driveway free of snow. Oh, wait, Husband does that. See number one.
d. Slowing down. I’ve been working on dropping responsibilities and commitments instead of taking on more (see note b).
e. Caring for the earth, acting locally in order to make a difference globally. It really is easy being green, taking environmentalism seriously and integrating it into daily living.
f. Seeking that elusive life balance, and maybe someday finding it.

3. Assign this award to five other bloggers.
Passing on awards is always a challenge – not because I don’t know enough deserving bloggers, but because many of them have already been recognized. I’ll give the list a whirl and hope I’m not doubling anyone. Then again, being awarded twice is a good thing!

Margalit at What was I thinking? She faces more challenges than I can imagine with twins the age of my Amigo, she did a great job designing the template for Compost Happens, and she is even more liberal than I am, if that’s possible. I read her every day.

Susan at Farmgirl. Her blogs show the beauty of a life that many of us only dream of, and most of us wouldn’t have the energy and enthusiasm to maintain. She has a wonderful guard dog named — Daisy! How can I not love her?

Kelly at Mocha Momma. We connect over our mutual loves for coffee and for teaching and our respect for Barack Obama. She reminds me that I do make a difference. I hope my students find a mentor like her when they reach high school.

Michelle at Scribbit! Awarding an A-list blogger is a risky business because she’s so busy and so popular, but she’s also very deserving. I enjoy her sense of humor and her unique Sunday recipes. Her tundra is really frozen, not just a metaphor like my Lambeau Field, and she shares great stories of living in the truly frozen north.

Janet, who writes at The Planet of Janet. We chat through Plurk, we contribute to Mid-Century Modern Moms, and we commiserate about the challenges of raising kids who got out of diapers long ago but find other ways to make us clean up their messes.

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>A Friday too strange to be fiction

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>Amigo knew the answer to final jeopardy. Neither of his Wise Old Parents did. The category was Music Legends, and he knew that the People Magazine obit for Johnny Cash was titled “Fade to Black.”

The principal can take one look at me and ask, “What did (insert name here) do this time?” She knows my class so well that I can leave a note on her whiteboard saying, “Wardrobe Malfunction” and she’ll know what’s going on – or what had to be turned inside out.

Two kids kept telling me they had to go to the office because they got in trouble the day before. Problem was, they timed this strategically so that they’d miss music, then math. They never said, “Let’s go to the office at recess.” Uh-uh. Tricky? Not.

I was the only intermediate teacher gutsy enough (or crazy enough) to sign up for the Teacher Act of the talent show…until my neighbor in 6th grade joined me. Don’t tell me to break a leg, though; I’m very literal.

Husband woke up with a rather severe backache and tummy ache. He, um, managed to clear it up before leaving for work. He arrived at the station’s satellite office to find that the sewer was backed up and he needed to call Roto-Rooter to come in and fix it. If this isn’t coincidence, it’s mighty scary.

Honestly, it was the week from you-know-where. Monday is coming much too soon, and carries with it the trauma of a full moon! I hope the upcoming week brings relief – of one type or another.

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>Linky love.
Memes.
Bloggy awards.
Respect. Sharing. Respect.
Oh, I said that already.

I’m a casual blogger, one who writes for enjoyment and because it’s cheaper than therapy. I thrive on the writing process and the feedback (albeit light) in comments. I read many other blogs, too, most of them personal in nature.

Back to respect. I wouldn’t dream of quoting another blogger without credit. If I think enough of a statement that I want to quote it, I’d better credit the blogger and provide a link. Better yet, I’ll send a quick email to the blogger. I’m not a gossip, a tattler. Any dirt I’m digging is real, not figurative (and right now it’s covered with a thick blanket of snow and rabbit tracks). If I refer to other bloggers, they’ll be proud to find themselves here amidst the snow-covered compost.

This movement to Respect the Blogger is spearheaded by Kelly at Don Mills Diva. You can read the basic post here; find the back story of her experience with so-called mainstream journalism here.

Blogging can be fun, casual, intimate, personal, and a whole lot more. But if you’re quoting the Compostermom, you’d better give me at least a link.

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>The Bucket List Chain Email

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>A few dear friends shared this with me, and it just seemed like the perfect thing to pass on to the blogosphere. It’s not a meme, so I won’t tag anyone. Join in if you wish!

The Bucket List
X means yes, I’ve done this.
(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school. Shhh…teachers aren’t supposed to admit to that.
( X) Watched someone die Do pets count?
( X) Been to Canada Yes, most recently to Nova Scotia with family last June.
( X) Been to Mexico A day trip to Tijuana when I was 12, that’s all.
( ) Been to Florida
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost I keep trying to convince Husband we need a GPS unit.
(X) Been on the other side of the country Well, both coasts at one time or another. I haven’t seen the Northwest; that’s on my list.
(X ) Gone to Washington , DC
(X) Swam in the ocean Does wading count? The ocean was c-c-cold in Nova Scotia in June.
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
( ) Played cops and robber
(X) Recently colored with crayons Once in a while I join the class in coloring. It’s therapeutic.
() Sang Karaoke I haven’t; Amigo has!
() Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? More likely, failed to do something I thought I would.
() Made prank phone calls
() Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain or run through summer puddles
(X) Held a baby long after it fell asleep because it felt so good? Snuggling babies was one of the joys of working in day care!
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
() Been skinny dipping outdoors in the lake at dark
(X) Gone to the movies
Any nicknames? None that I know of.
Favorite drink? Obama Blend Coffee!
Body Piercing ? None now. Ears as a teen; they became infected and closed up.
How much do you love your job? On a scale of 1 to 10? Varies with the day!
Birthplace? Shawano, WI
Favorite Vacation? Any with my daughter; she’s growing up so fast, I want to treasure those memories.
Ever been to Africa ? No, but I could catch a glimpse of the shoreline of Morocco when I was in Spain. Hey, it worked for Sarah Palin (not)!
Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? Dinner, no. Lunch or Breakfast, yes. They go great with coffee!
Ever been on TV? I’m often called upon to speak on TV as an advocate for disabilities, especially blindness & autism.
Ever steal any traffic signs? Nope.
Ever been in a car accident? Nothing more than fender benders
Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? Minivan!! 5 doors, total
Favorite pie? Key Lime: I wish I could make it myself!
Favorite number? 7
Favorite movie? Always, anything Harry Potter, almost anything featuring Tom Hanks.
Favorite holiday? Christmas, especially the music. I listen to Christmas tunes year round.
Favorite dessert? Brownies.
Favorite food? Chocolate, of course.
Favorite day of the week? Sunday: laundry is done, thick newspaper to read, time to sleep in.
Favorite brand of body wash? Anything with a subtle lilac scent.
Favorite toothpaste? No preference.
Favorite smell? Either coffee brewing or fresh-turned dirt.
Favorite sound? Silence. Really.
How do you relax? Gardening, reading, blogging
How do you see yourself in 10 yrs? The question could be paraphrased: will I have any hearing remaining? I think so. The loss has progressed slowly in the last 10-15 years.
Furthest place you will send this message? It’s on the blog, it could go anywhere!
Did you ever get a speeding ticket? Not in a long, long time.

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>Action assessment

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>Action. I chose this for my Word of 2009 because I’m good at thinking, I’m good at espressing my ideas, but when it comes to implementation, many times I back off or freeze. One month into the year, how is Action coming along?

I realized that action doesn’t always have to mean activity. I took two sick days last week to see a doctor, rest, and heal. The action involved meant putting in for sick days, writing sub plans, and mentally letting go of my class for a couple of days. That’s easier said than done, made a little more accessible because my sub was a retired teacher from my building who knew my students well. I was sick enough not to mind if he couldn’t make it, but very, very relieved when I found out he could.

Action meant setting aside anything optional and focusing on the most important impending deadlines. Action meant instead of agonizing over time missed at school, I filled the vaporizer and slept on the couch to breathe in its moist air. Instead of jumping up to answer the telephone in mid-nap, I took my hearing aids out and let the answering machine screen all calls. Action meant that I actively pushed fluids, ate oranges and grapefruit, and didn’t feel guilt for not cleaning the house since I was home all day.

Action is beginning to mean choosing the actions, making my choices fit the time and fit the priorities in my life, whether home or work.

As for a goal word in the coming year, I think Action is going to be good for me.

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>What else can go wrong? No, don’t answer that.

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>I haven’t cooked all week, except for oatmeal, and that really doesn’t count. When I’m feeling sick, I know I have to feed the family, but I’m so tired I just want to collapse on the couch and nap instead of making meals. Our menu has looked something like this:
Monday – frozen pizza (with apple rhubarb crumble cake for dessert)
Tuesday – tuna casserole
Wednesday – Pizza Hut delivery
Thursday – toasted cheese with baked beans and canned fruit on the side
Friday – brats (under the broiler, the grill is buried in snow), a can of soup, and yogurt.

Breakfast was a little easier. Amigo isn’t fussy, for a teen. I threw oatmeal or toast at him each day and sent him off to school with a pocketful of cough drops so he wouldn’t feel left out of the cold (virus). Lunch? Leftover chicken soup on Monday and Tuesday, after the morning nap. The rest of the week, I tossed a PBJ and an orange in my lunch bag to eat at my desk while I caught up on plans and my gradebook.

In keeping with my neo-frugal outlook, I’ve made my own coffee many days and filled my mug from the office pot on others. I haven’t visited my favorite beverage kiosks once during the month of January. Oh, no, did I hear they’re closing stores? And it’s my fault for not providing stimulus? Never mind.

Friday, I thought I’d treat myself to a hazelnut at Jo to Go. Then I realized the temperature was a balmy 1 degree above zero. That matters, you see, because my minivan doesn’t like the cold weather. I can’t open the driver’s side window if the thermometer reads lower than 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Already a little down, I made myself a small batch of coffee while I was getting Amigo out the door. Then I realized I’d left my favorite insulated mug at school, and I felt mildly depressed. I filled my backup mug (of course I have a backup insulated travel mug, doesn’t everybody?) and headed out to school.

I sat down at my desk, checked email and reveled in the fact that there wasn’t much, and then started attacking the mess on my desk, when my neighbor teacher came in with a mocha latte from Starbucks! I burst out in a smile for the first time that morning, thanked her, and then told her about my forgotten mug which was still lost. She remembered seeing it in the library next to the computer printer. w00t! I zoomed down the hall to ask the library media specialist, and sure enough – there it was! Oh, the day was looking up now.

So for a short while, my desk sported three coffee cups. Yes, it did. Three.

And the day, although hopeful, did not improve. I remember muttering under my breath (to the same media specialist who’d found my mug earlier in the day) something about the desire to invent the Ritalin Salt Lick.
She didn’t let me hide under her desk, but she did laugh out loud and chase my kids into line so I could take them back to class. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if I have a rough day, I don’t want to have it anywhere else.

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>In the headlines, for better or for worse.

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>It happened. The man who put the Goober in Gubernatorial got his just desserts. (I stole that punch line from Public Radio. Blame me for repeating it, not for creating it.)

Multiple risk factors, anyone? The mother of the California octuplets may already have…six kids.

Arizona Cardinals’ Nation? It doesn’t have a ring to it – yet. People don’t sign up their newborns for tickets at birth, do they? Oh, wait – when the retire and give up on tickets, Packer fans move to Arizona! That’s it!

I may have to carefully plan the mailing of my paperbackswap books if the Post Office cuts down its service days.

Grammar police are still active! Does the leader of the free world dare to split an infinitive?

I think I’ll set my newspaper aside and read a book until the Super Bowl commercials start. Sing it with me…”Feelin’ Kind of Sunday!”

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