Asparagus

Blog Prompt: What's your favorite vegetable and how do you like to eat it? Or do you have a favorite dish that hides a vegetable that you don't like?

My favorite vegetable is asparagus. I love to eat it but it is so expensive. I love to steam them and just sprinkle salt on it. But I found out that after you eat it, it makes your urine smell funky!

Passing on Knowledge

Blog Prompt: In what areas do you feel you have knowledge you can pass on to others?

I feel I have a lot of knowledge in the field of teaching. Now that I've retired, I've decided to be an educational consultant. Next week I will be doing a professional development seminar for the county literacy association. I was also asked by the school district to evaluate 3 new teachers so I'm excited about that. Plus tonight I had a parent of a former student call me and ask me for advice. I'm also writing a blog called Successful Teaching which gives strategies and ideas for teachers to use in their classroom. I hope I'm able to help someone out there who is new to teaching or frustrated with their current situation.

DSP prompts week of 10/22/07

Monday 10/22 blog prompt: What is the first thing you'd go out and buy if someone handed you one million dollars?

I would buy an huge RV and a driver to take us all around the United States.

Tuesday 10/23 blog prompt: Tell us--in glorious detail--about something you're embarrassed to admit you like...

I like to swing on the swings in the playground. Of course I only do that if no one is around and can see me (other than my husband). I love to feel the air go by my face and freedom that surrounds me. I love feeling like a kid again.

Wednesday 10/24 blog prompt: Fill in the blank to make this old quote fit you: 'I _____; therefore I am.'

I hike, therefore I am. I know that doesn’t surprise many of you but it is true. I love to walk and hike. Hiking keeps me physically and emotionally fit so it is an important thing in my life. While I’m hiking I think about many things that are going on in my life and helps me sort out my priorities. I also feel very close to God when I’m out in nature and I feel that all is right with the world.

Thursday 10/25 blog prompt: What books have you abandoned (without finishing) and why?

I have to admit that I haven’t abandoned any book that I was reading, no matter how bad it is. I usually think that surely the book will get better. It must have some redeeming quality and I never give up hope until I’ve read the last page. Usually I end up complaining about how I wasted my time reading that book but I never give up on it.

Friday 10/26 blog prompt: Is there something that you dream about doing? Being a dancer? Traveling around the world? Learning a new skill? Have you taken any steps toward achieving that goal?

Since I’ve recently retired, I’m in the process of fulfilling my dream of traveling. I think my short term goal is to learn how to roller blade. Two years ago I bought roller blades, pads, and a helmet. I tried it once and thought I looked ridiculous. Then I gave the excuse that I would do it when I retired because it won’t be good to teach with broken bones. Now I say it wouldn’t be great to travel with broken bones. I’m trying to get enough courage to try again. I may try it in my backyard on the grass.

DSP prompts week of 10/16/07

Monday 10/15 blog prompt: In NO MORE than 30 words, describe your favorite food.
I love baked ziti filled with cheese and covered in meat sauce. It is served piping hot and the aroma can be smelled from far away.

Tuesday 10/16/07 blog prompt: Describe in detail an object you use every day, but don't tell us what it is.
It is rectangular in shape and sometimes provides a night light in a dark room. It is my closest companion next in line to my husband. It knows my deepest desires and fears. It may be an object but I really think it is alive and we just don’t know it.

Wednesday 10/17 blog prompt: Write one or more meaningful sentences where each consecutive word starts with the same letter as the word before it ends with.
Our respite ends soon now we enter real life! (Our cruise is ending today!)

Thursday 10/18 blog prompt: Creatively describe the weather in your area right now.
As I look at the sunny sky and feel the warmth upon my skin, I prepare for the little beads of sweat as they begin to form on my skin. My clothes begin to stick to my body and my skin begins to glow in the sunshine.

Friday, 10/19 blog prompt: Write your own tongue twister.
Pat plans on playing poorly.

7 Wonders of the World

Blog Prompt: The Seven Wonders of the World were recently agreed upon. Have you been to any of them? Which one would you most like to visit?

I have been to the Great Wall of China, Rome's Colosseum, and Mexico's Chichen Itza. All of those were great! I was in awe of standing where so many people in history have stood.

I would really like to see Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal. I remember studying about the Taj Mahal when I was in grade school and the colors and the history always fascinated me. I want to hike up to Machu Picchu because the whole story of the architecture and history amaze me. Hopefully now that I'm retired, we will get there in the near future.

Traveling Companion

Blog Prompt: Who is your favorite traveling companion? Or is there some historical figure or fictional character with whom you would like to share a trip?

My favorite traveling companion is my husband. He is so much fun to be with because when things get messed up, he always makes it into a fun adventure. Never losing his temper about stuff, whenever there is a change in our schedule or I get us lost (which is a common thing), he just finds something good about what is happening. Also when we get stranded or something terrible happens, he always has a level head and doesn't get hysterical (which I tend to do). He is firm and insistent to whomever is in charge but never nasty or threatening. This usually works in our favor.

We were stranded in Jackson Hole, WY when our luggage didn't arrive when we did. We were supposed to camp in Yellowstone so our tent, backpack, and gear was all missing. This means we had no place to stay and no clothes other than the shorts and tshirts we were wearing. We were told that if our luggage appeared they would send it to our hotel but we had no hotel because our tent was our hotel and the airport closes for the night. After talking to the airline personnel, we ended up getting a room (a pilot was kicked out and had to share a room with someone else), we had our rental car and went to a local outfitter to rent new gear. The outfitters rented us all new stuff and before we left the next day, we checked with the airport and there was our backpacks! The wonderful outfitters took back all of their stuff and refunded all of our money! It is so nice to know that there are such nice people in the world!

We showed up in Paris, France without a hotel reservation, not knowing that it was Pentecost - the busiest time there. Walking around with our rolling luggage, we hunted for a hotel. One wonderful hotel was full but got us a room at their other location. I tried to give them my credit card number to hold the room but they insisted they didn't need it and the room would be waiting on us when we got there.

God takes care of drunks and fools so since I'm the fool, my hubby must be the drunk! LOL

Mode of Travel Preference

Blog Prompt: Planes, trains, autos or boats -- which is your preferred method of travel?

I love all of them because I love to travel. Of course, all of them have their own perks.

We travel mostly by car because our new car (7 months old) gets 50 mpg. We visit my parents alot in Palm Beach, FL and my sister on Long Island, NY. I also have to go to Washington DC three times a year for meetings. Once a year our annual convention is in different places so last year was Louisville, KY and this coming year is in Boston. The best part of traveling by car is that I can pack whatever I want and not worry about weight or having to cart it from transportation to hotel and back.

We haven't done any long distance traveling by train but my hubby loves trains and we hope to go across Canada someday on a train. I have taken Amtrak from SC to FL when I was in college and it was not a good experience for a young girl who has never traveled alone before.

Boats are fantastic. We are getting ready to go on our 14th cruise so does that tell you how we feel about them? I love the all you can eat food the best!

Planes are fun because they get you from one place to the other and fast. My problem is that your bags can only way a certain weight. Since my hubby is into public transportation, we usually take a subway or metro to our hotel and wheel our suitcase behind us. I also have a backpack with my laptop, junk food, digital camera etc. so I can't pull anything else except the suitcase and backpack. I love to read or listen to my IPOD and my hubby loves to look out the window so we both enjoy the trip.

As you can tell, I'm happy with any of them as long as they take me somewhere else.

Travel Horror Story

Blog Prompt: Everyone has at least one travel 'horror' story. Share your worst experience(s) with us.

Gee, I have so many I don't know which one to pick but this is the one that comes to mind first.

Years ago, my hubby and I drove to Orlando to go to Disney World and of course we are watching our finances closely. I'm not saying my hubby is cheap but we were being frugal. This meant that we did not stay in a 5 star hotel of course but we did get a room on the second floor. I also have to mention that my hubby does not sleep with any clothes on, which has never been a problem before. (No, you really don't know where this is going so read on...)

In the middle of the night, I wake up to hear him saying in the dark, "Call the front desk and tell them we need help!" I look towards his voice and can see in the shadows that he is pushing on the door. Of course, something outside is pushing the door back towards him. Now, the wonderful wife that I am, I immediately scrunch down in the bed and pull the covers over my head.

By now, my hubby is very angry with me and whispers again to me to get my butt up and call the front desk for help because someone is trying to break in. I turn on the light and see the whole situation. I also have to warn you that when I get nervous I start to giggle and can't help it. This only makes the naked man INSIDE my room angrier so I finally call the front desk and tell them that someone is breaking in my room.

Within minutes, we hear a commotion outside and the door stays shut. My enraged hubby turns towards me and commences to fuss at me and now I really can't stop laughing. Finally, when I stop laughing and he stops yelling, I call the front desk to find out what happens.

Apparently the hotel doesn't change the card keys and this thief knew it. He uses his key to rob people while they are asleep. Luckily my hubby had put the chain on the door and heard him. The hotel had the thief in custody and was waiting for the police to arrive. Now wherever we go (even if it is a 5 star hotel), the chair goes in front of the door!

On the Road Again

I'm still in Washington DC in meetings but had time to go through the 300 photos I took and made a scrapbook page. (This helped my stress level!). On the way here, we started out on the Blue Ridge Parkway. One night we stayed at Doughton Park and another night at Peaks of Otter.

Lupus Foundation of America

"Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. Normally the body's immune system makes proteins called antibodies, to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens.

In an autoimmune disorder like lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself. These antibodies -- called "auto-antibodies" (auto means 'self') -- cause inflammation, pain and damage in various parts of the body.

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) estimates between 1.5 - 2 million Americans have a form of lupus, but the actual number may be higher. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women. Symptoms and diagnosis occur most often when women are in their child-bearing years, between the ages of 15 and 45."

My oldest sister died from lupus in 1974 at 27 years old and my mother passed away in 1989 from lupus. My middle sister has been diagnosed with lupus and is in and out of the hospital often. Many of my cousins also have it so I see more and more people being diagnosed with this and hope that in the near future a cure can be found. It scares me every day that I might end up with this.

October 1-5 DSP prompts

I'm sorry that I've been MIA this week, but I've been hiking and camping on my way from SC to Washington DC. To make up for it, I've done all of the prompts at once.

Mon. prompt: You can tell a lot about a person by the keys they carry. What do yours say about you?

You would be able to tell that I’m retired because the only keys I carry are my car keys, my house key, and my post office box key. I hate to be in control of anything more than that.

Tues. prompt: You can tell a lot about a woman by how she grooms her fingernails. Tell us how yours look today.

I used to bite my nails until after I was married and then finally decided to stop. My nails tend to break easily though so they are not very long. I like nail polish but I don’t have the patience to put it on as much as I would like. I have never had a manicure.

Wed. prompt: You can tell a lot about a person by the state of their desk/workspace. What does your say about you?

My workspace is very cluttered because I’m lazy and like everything I need at my fingertips. I have my printer, a scanner, my laptop, my digital camera, and my external hard drive all around me. My big screen TV is in front of me and my cordless phone is behind me. Ah, isn’t life grand!

Thurs. prompt: I think you can tell a lot about a person by their laugh. Do you agree?

I only know that some people have this phony laugh that makes me not trust them. I usually like most people who know how to laugh and have a good time, but not at the expense of other people or their feelings.

Fri. prompt: You can tell a lot about a woman by her purse (and its contents). What do you think?

You would be able to tell that I would be a winner on the “Let’s Make a Deal” game show. I don’t know if it is on or if they ever show reruns of it, but Monty Hall (the emcee) would ask someone to show him a specific item, usually an odd one and he would pick someone who had it. They, in turn, would have chance to win a prize.