Words In My Head

I'm cold why do we keep the house so cold. I'm glad I walked it warmed me up. i have to go start the car soon. i hate driving to school in the cold. my classroom better be warm. if it isn't i'll make me a cup of tea or hot chocolate. what do i have to do today. i have my lesson plans done for next week. got the big meeting tomorrow. hope we don't have snow where i have to cancel it. i hate rescheduling it. hope they bring my 2 new computers to my classroom today even though they promised to bring them 2 weeks ago. i hope the other teachers don't drive me crazy today. hope the kids are good today. no faculty meeting today. hooray! not gonna cook tacos for dinner tonite since we went to a mexican restaurant last nite. i so don't like mexican food. the things you do for love. hope don remembers to go to the bank today to make the house payment. hope nothing happens major today. i so want to retire. like today. i'm just tired. maybe we will go to the chatauqua meeting on saturday to see PT Barnum. it sounded interesting. have to talk don into going. he might not want to go hiking if it is too cold. i wish it would warm up. i want to do some gardening and play with my worms. oh well. time to go heat up the car.

Words in My Head

Blog Prompt: Write for at least five minutes any words that come into your head. Forget punctuation, spelling, syntax, even meaning. If you get stuck, keep writing the last word you wrote until a new one comes.

cold walking driving starting up car keys coat paperwork lesson plans meetings dishes make up bed snow wintery mix sleet freezing rain frozen pipes rental house tenants heat painting students classwork colleagues email class newsletter heating car heating car heating car heating car worms gardening warm weather sun hiking chatauqua weekend tired sleepy yawning words words words words brain hurts can't think no more all worded out

Love Letters

Blog Prompt: Do you have a box of old love letters stashed away somewhere? Who are they from? If they're not from a current significant other, why have you kept them? Any quotes you can share?

I know I have love letters from my husband back when we were dating but I have no idea where. Of course we have an attic full of papers and a storage building full of boxes of "stuff". We don't throw out anything. But during our almost 4 years of dating, he has written me love letters that would make your heart melt. He also writes me love letters on Valentines Day. And lately he has been sending me love letters by email. Not bad for almost 25 years of marriage!

Monday MeMe

Two Names You Go By:
1. loony
2. Pat
Two Parts of Your Heritage:
1. Chinese (my dad)
2. American (my mom who was half Chinese and half....?)
Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. Cranberry Blazer
2. Black Pants
Two Things You Would Want in a Relationship:
1. Love
2. Trust
Two of Your Favorite Hobbies:
1. Hiking
2. Scrapbooking
Two Things You Want Really Badly At The Moment:
1. Nice spring weather
2. Another weekend
Two pets you had/have:
1. Chow
2. Cockatoo
Two people you talked to today:
1. No one because hubby is still asleep
2.
Two things you did last night:
1. Watched TV
2. Scrapbooked
Two people that live in your house:
1. Me
2. Hubby
Two things you ate today:
1. Shredded Wheat
2. Diet Pepsi
Two people you miss:
1. My mom
2. My oldest sister
Two Things You’re doing tomorrow:
1. Lesson plans
2. Cooking dinner
Two vacations you’ve been on:
1. Caribbean cruise
2. Las Vegas
Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Easter
Two favorite Alcoholic beverages:
1. Miller lite
2. Margaritas
Two bands you have seen live:
1.New Kids on the Block (with my teenage daughter)
2. Jimmy Buffet
Two things you will do after you finish this survey:
1. Turn off computer and TV
2. Drive to work

AHA moment

Blog Prompt: What has been your biggest AHA moment while blogging or journaling? What have you learned about yourself???

My biggest AHA moment is when Kim Liddiard taught me to use the control+G for grouping. I love that ability to do things. When I learned how to do that, for some stupid reason, I felt like a REAL scrapbook person. I have no rational reason for this feeling but it sure felt good. I don't use the control + G as much as I would like to because I forget about it sometimes but I like making my own alpha with it.

Packing for a Weekend Trip

Blog Prompt: You're packing for a weekend away from your family. You're going to be seeing a bunch of online friends for the first time at, oh I don't know, maybe a CHA tradeshow in California.What do you pack? What do you wear???

I would dress in my favorite blue jeans and nicest shirt. I want to be comfortable when I meet new people because I stress out about it so much. The main thing I would have to pack is my laptop. Even if my luggage was lost, as long as I had a credit card and my laptop, I would be okay.

My Favorite Childhood Activity

Blog Prompt: Between the ages of 5 and 10, what was your favorite activity?

I was big into Make Believe. My sisters were so much older than me that usually had to amuse myself. I loved to play school and I also loved to pretend that I was in some TV program that I watched. Of course I was the main character! I had a very active imagination and when I learned to read, there were no limits to what I could be or do!

Toilet Paper

Blog Prompt: Which camp are you in: Should the toilet paper be hung so the paper dangles over or under the roll?

Paper has to dangle! If you try to unroll it and can't find the edge, the edge always ends up in the back. So, of course if you dangle it, it will be in the perfect spot to be visible. That's the way God intended it to be!

Tuesday Meme

Blog Prompt: Meme
This Moment: I just got done walking on my treadmill.
Your Shoes: tennis shoes
Craving: Banana Split made with butter pecan, black cherry, and chocolate ice cream.
The State of Your Home: A mess because I'm either walking, reading, or playing on puter.
Annoyed By: guilt feelings about needing to do housework and having to get ready to go to work
Noise In the Background: TV
Really Want To: go hiking
Thinking about: going hiking
Smelling: the great outdoors
Favorite Product In Office Supply Aisle: I like all little gadgets and doodads
Don't Ever Want To: sky dive
Your Eye Color: brown
The Weather: cold (32) and cloudy
Have Never Tried: to rock climb
Think Everyone Should Try: hiking
Last Vacation Destination: cruise to Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel
The Last Thing You Had to Drink: water at dinner last night
Your Bad Habit: Putting off doing things I should be doing
What You're Going To Do Now: Go get ready for work.

My Geekiest, Nerdiest Moment

Blog Prompt: share your geekiest, nerdiest moment.

My husband and I attended a Nascar race one year, because he was really into them at the time. In fact, we were going to 5 or 6 races a year which was extremely expensive (about $1000 per weekend which included hotel, food, race tickets). I was not into car races but we do everything together (quality time) so I went with him. Like a little kid, I have to bring things that keep me amused so I had a bag of goodies with me (goodies usually implies lots of books!). At the time I was studying for National Board Certification in teaching, so during the race I pulled out my books and studied. Meanwhile people were getting drunk and/or rowdy about the car race while I tuned them all out and studied some more. I got some weird looks but was finally ignored but hubby said I really embarrass him when I do this kinds of stuff. I told him that we had two choices: either let me do what I want to do there, or we don't go at all. He never complained again and finally his interest in Nascar racing went away.

Dining in Restaurants

Blog Prompt: have we done anything about ordering at restaurants? do you get the usual each time? do you sample food from your friend's plate? are you adventurous? and most importantly, do you save room for dessert?

We eat out so much that the wait staff has our drink ready for us when we walk in. We usually get the same thing to eat but we talk about getting something different. Then both of us usually cave in and get the same old thing. Our rational is that we know we like what we get so why change it.

I don't like to eat after anyone else, even my hubby. I don't like to eat off his plate because he seasons things so differently than I do. Yesterday we went through Sam's Club and got the free samples. He ate a bite off the london broil and wanted me to eat the rest but I wouldn't. He asked me why I wouldn't eat after him if I kiss him and I couldn't tell him why. He will always taste the food on plate. He has to try whatever I'm eating and I don't mind it at all. We usually never get dessert because we eat so much for dinner. Growing up, we never had dessert so I never offer it after dinner either.

I think I've gained weight because we eat out so much so I'm trying to cook at home as much as possible. Last week I actually cooked at home 5 nights out of 7. On nights we have late meetings, we end up going out to eat because hubby can't wait for me to cook. I try to have dinner ready about 30 min. after he comes home from work (around 5:30). But of course, there is no dessert!

Job Description

Blog Prompt: Take the most boring job you've ever had and write a glowing job description for it.

Great opportunity to work in the fashion industry. Ideal chance for hands on experiences. Tropical work environment and experienced colleagues to share growth experiences.

(Actual job: As a college student, I worked in a sweatshop where I inserted knit belts into heavy knit coat sweaters. No air condition in factory even though it was the summer. Elderly ladies encouraged me to continue my studies to finish college so I didn't end up like them.)

What Inspires My Art

Well, I'm still new to all of this. Until last January, I had never scrapped with paper or digitally. I'm also learning that its okay to develop my own style and I learned this from DSP. I guess I would have to say that my friends at DSP have really inspired me. I learned so much from the challenges and the kits. I joined DSP right at the time they started New Kids on the Block, which got me totally hooked. I was able to make mistakes (big ones) and no one ridiculed me or asked me why in the world I was trying to do this when it was obvious I didn't know what I was doing. I was given wonderful suggestions and encouraged to grow. You can't imagine how this ability to express myself has made an impact on my life. Now I look at different things and imagine how I could scrap them. I look at events that happen and can't wait to do a layout on them. I've never done anything artistically before this and I feel so good about myself!

Singing

Blog Prompt: Do you think you can sing? In front of people or just in the car?

I KNOW I can't sing!
It is like a Dr. Seuss poem:
I can't sing in the car, I can't sing here or there,
I can't sing in front of people, I can't sing anywhere!

A Childhood Friend

Blog Prompt: Describe a favorite childhood friend and something you did with her or him.

I had a best friend in high school, Bunny, that accepted me the way I was. She didn't seem to judge me or try to change me. My family was very overprotective and strict but she was understanding the entire time in high school. Many other friends would have encouraged me to rebel but she never did. A lot of people weren't my friends because my parents had too many "rules". Bunny was always there for me and really listened to me. I truly trusted her with my feelings and never felt like she would ever betray my friendship or treat me poorly. I don't know how I would have survived my high school years without her.

I remember one occasion where seniors were allowed to leave school during lunch time if they had parental consent. I left with Bunny because no one was checking that day and we went to her house for lunch. We laughed and had a great time but when it snowed while we were inside eating lunch and we never knew it. When we walked out to the car there was snow all around and in a panic, we got on our hands and knees and dug the snow out from around the tires. Luckily she was able to get on the road and we got back to school in time.

Unfortunately, we have grown apart but still exchange Christmas cards and maybe a letter once a year. We had such a good time together in the "good ol' days!"

Faith

Blog Prompt: What do you have faith in?

I have faith in the basic goodness of people. I know this may be a naive outlook on life but I can't help it. I really believe that God made good people and that they make bad choices sometimes. This drives my husband crazy because he says I'm too trusting of people. I believe what they tell me (until I find out that they lied). Since he became a judge, he hears so many hard luck stories that he hardly believes anyone.

Frozen Time

Blog Prompt: If you could freeze time for less than an hour, and you’d be the only living thing that’s “alive” in that moment: What would you do? Why you wouldn’t be able to do it if everything were normal and the time weren’t frozen?

I would do some scrapbooking on my computer while I was at work because it would relax me tremendously. I couldn't do this normally because I teach school and there is no way I could use class time to do this. I would be more relaxed and happy when time started up again.

Isn't it funny how our lives are constantly evolving. A year ago, I would never have said this and a year from now I don't know if the answer would be the same. But for right now, I wish time would stop for just a little while.

Getting Dressed Up

Blog Prompt: Do you like to get dressed up? Why/why not? When's the last time you had a chance to dress formally?

I liked to get dressed up formally but I don't usually have a lot of chances to do so. We just went on a cruise at Christmas and there were 2 formal nights on the ship. I usually wear the same gown because it is my favorite and it makes me look slender. This past year we also dressed up to double date for the prom with my two mentally disabled students. It was a lot of fun because they never dressed up before and we saw everything through "fresh" eyes.

Dreaming

Blog Prompt: What do you dream about lately (literally or otherwise)?

I don't usually remember what I dream about if I did dream anything. Now I do daydream alot. I dream about myself in different situations such as I'm in a foreign country teaching young children and their mothers how to read. Other times I'm hiking around the US and meeting lots of new and interesting people. I guess I read too much fiction because sometimes I dream about what I'm reading with me as the main character. Most of my dreaming occurs after I've retired and having lots of wonderful adventures.

Arrival Times

Blog Prompt: Do you usually arrive on time or late?Do you get annoyed when other people arrive late or you really don’t care?

I am usually early for everything! I don't have to be at work until 8:15 because my first class begins at 8:30 but I'm usually at work by 7:15. I hate to be rushed and I hate traffic. If there is a meeting I'm usually the first one there and I try to help the presenter pass out materials. (I guess I'm just a "butt kisser"!)

I get annoyed when people are more than 10 min. late without calling me. I think this stems from when I was a teenager and I had to depend on other friends to take me places. My father went to work in the afternoon and didn't come home until 2am and my mom didn't drive. People would promise to pick me up and then never show up because they forgot. I get pretty paranoid about that now so I usually drive myself and meet people there. Of course I'm always early and spend the time worrying about whether or not they will show up.

What really bothers me is when I am on a group tour and people are late. Since I paid my money, they are using up MY time that I have paid for. We were on a tour in China and this couple was usually 30-40 min. late every morning and whenever we had to meet again later in the day. This caused a lot of hard feelings which was bad since it was a 30 day tour. Before we do another one we want to have the group agree that anyone more than 10 min. late will be left behind (including me if I'm the one late). That is the only fair thing to do for everyone.

A Stranger's Kindness

Blog Prompt: Describe a time when you have benefitted from the kindness of a stranger.

There have been so many times that a stranger has been kind to me that it is hard to pick one instance.

My husband and I was on our way to Chattanooga, TN one weekend when our tire went flat on the interstate on a Sunday afternoon. We called AAA to come change our tire (my hubby's back was broke when he was a teen and refractured in a car wreck 6 years ago so he has a lot of trouble bending over to do stuff like this) but you have to wait for hours for them to arrive. This very nice young couple stopped to help us change the tire. When we told them that we had already called AAA, the young man told us that he could have the tire changed before AAA would ever get there so we let him. Then we tried to pay him but he wouldn't take our money and hoped that if their parents needed help, that someone would help them.

To continue with the kindnesses of strangers, we got to a WalMart right before it closed and they were going to fix our tire but it could not be fixed. So, we had to buy another tire but they didn't have one in stock. The tire manager called another WalMart in another town to see if they carried it and they did. (Keep in mind now that it is Sunday evening!). We drove about 30 miles to this other store to find that the man kept the garage open just for us so he could put another tire on our car. We tried to tip this man too and he refused any extra money and said he was just glad to help us. He hoped that if he was ever in this situation that people would do the same.

It really warms my heart to know that there are so many nice people in this world!

This Weekend I...

Blog Prompt: Make a list in which you repeat the same form of words to introduce each item.

This Weekend I...talked my hubby into hiking with our hiking club.
This Weekend I...hiked 7 miles with my hiking club friends.
This Weekend I...enjoyed a beautiful sunny day in the woods.
This Weekend I...glued an old diningroom chair (given to me by my parents) back together so it looks like a chair even though no one better sit in it or they will be sitting on the floor.
This Weekend I...went to the movies to see Night at the Museum.
This Weekend I...went shopping to get things that I've needed but kept putting off.
This Weekend I...bought my hubby a new watch that also takes his heart rate which will help him exercise more effectively (or so HE says!).
This Weekend I...was lazy and didn't fold one bit of clothes even though I should have!

Blog Prompt: Describe your sleeping style. Are you a side sleeper, snoring on your back sleeper, wake at the slightest sound sleeper, sprall across the bed and sleep through an earthquake sleeper? Spill your secrets! (Keep it family friendly, girls!)

I sleep on my back and love the covers pulled up to my neck. Even in the hot summer, I have to have some kind of cover over me. This drives my hubby crazy especially when we are camping in our tent. I have to bring a sheet to cover me or I can't go to sleep. I snore and thankfully my hubby snores so we must drown each other out. Of course people don't dare camp near us because we keep them awake all night. My hubby has to have the TV on to fall asleep so I'm used to sound but I put the timer for on for 90 min. so it will cut off. If it stays on all night, it wakes me up and I can't go back to sleep. When we are camping, I sleep with my Ipod because I'm afraid of the dark and it drowns out the other noises. The noises don't bother hubby because he pretends it is the TV. No matter what time I fall asleep, I'm awake around 5am even on holidays and summers. So when we are camping, I'm usually sitting outside the tent with a flashlight reading and waiting for the sun to come up.

Before My Life is Over...

Blog Prompt: What do you sense you're supposed to do before your life is over?

I think the reason I was put on this earth is to make a difference, maybe not a huge major cataclysmic change all at once, but more like little ripples that can affect life even after I'm gone. I really believe that is why God chose me to be a teacher and the reason I love teaching so much. I feel that in some small way I am showing kids that there are choices in life and what decisions they make affect everyone else in some way or another. All of our lifes are interconnected whether we know it or not. Just by reading the blogs of my dsp friends, they are affecting my opinions, thoughts, and outlook on life, even though they may never realize it. I may not even realize it at the time but I notice that other peoples comments creep into conversations that I have. I hope that my teachings will influence my students even though they may not realize it at the time. That is why I try to be good at what I do because God doesn't choose carelessly. This is a big responsibility and I try to take it very seriously. Now that I'm retiring, I wonder what God has planned for me next.

Collecting

Blog Prompt: Does anyone you know collect unusual things or have an excessive amount of something? Do you?

My husband collects anything that he thinks will be worth money in the future. He calls them investments or antiques or Americana. I call it "junk"! We have glass conductors attached to a huge piece of wood with wires sticking out. We have old signs, and stuff that most people wouldn't look twice at because they are old, or odd.

Depending on what mood I'm in, I collect Tom Clark gnomes (if I can find them at yard sales and flea markets). I also collect Christmas ornaments at after Christmas sales. My biggest downfall are books. I love books and I collect all kinds on all different topics or by different authors. I never know what mood I may be in and will want the perfect book to read. I have wall to wall books in 2 rooms. I also have about 40 boxes of books in the attic to the point that they are dangerously cracking the ceiling. I also have a storage building we rent by the month filled with books (and hubby's junk).

Our problem is that we don't throw anything away. You never know when or how you can use it or if it will be worth something someday (maybe not for money but definitely sentimentally). I never plan to go through this stuff because I will die rather than move and I will let the relatives clean up this "mess"!

Meeting My Goals

Blog Prompt: Most major goals are achieved through small victories. What little things can you do to meet your goals?

I'm going to work on my goals from day to day rather than looking far into the future, which overwhelms me.

Physical Goal: I was on vacation for 2 weeks and practically ate my way through the vacation (being on a 7 day cruise with 24 hour food didn't help). I want to lose 15 lbs. by April (when I go to Kentucky for a conference). I will not weigh myself until April so I don't focus so much on the weight. Instead I want to exercise more and eat less. I will not go back for seconds (but that doesn't mean I need to pile my first plate with enough food to count as 2 platefuls). I will also walk regularly each day on the treadmill and at least 3 times a week, I plan to walk twice a day. If I can burn off more calories than I eat, I have to lose weight. I will also keep a daily log of when I walk, how long I walk, how many calories I burn. In my log, I will also note what I eat each day.

Relationship Goal: I plan to be more positive with my husband. I am to picky and critical. I am a perfectionist and want others to be one too. My hubby is very laid back and it tends to get on my nerves. It was one of the things that attracted me to him 25 years ago and I need to remember that.

Career: Since this is my last year of work, I'm going to enjoy it all. I'm going to remind myself when I get mad or aggravated or annoyed at paperwork due annually, that this will probably be the last time I will need to do that and not let it upset it me. I'm going to appreciate my colleagues and administrators more because this time next year, I will not be working with them.