List 20 Random Facts About Yourself

20 Random facts about myself:

1. I collect Asterix comics.
2. I watch the Rodeo and know the rules to all the events.
3. My favorite game is Clue.
4. I swam Butterfly.
5. I speak French and German.
6. I know how to spin wool and harvest flax.
7. I love Harry Potter.
8. My favorite pizza is Hawaiian.
9. I don't like chocolate.
10. I am always cold.
11. I consider myself buddhist.
12. I believe strongly in civil rights and will stand up for instances where I feel people need me to be an advocate.
13. I own a canoe.
14. I can roller-skate backwards.
15. I love coloring books.
16. I like to read aloud to people.
17. My favorite song is "Escape: the Pina Colada Song".
18. I often wear inappropriate shoes.
19. I'm not sure I ever want to have kids.
20. I rode a camel.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

I am currently reading "The Road" as part of the tutoring I am doing with a really awesome girl who is between grades 10 and 11. I was hesitant to read the book because it totes itself as "post apocalyptic". I am not into that kind of thing at all! Yucky. But the book is rather interesting and a relatively easy read. It is written in a prose-type style and it is very descriptive and full of imagery.
On the whole I am enjoying it, even though there are very graphic descriptions of cannibalism and torture by one group of people in the book. Slightly disturbing but interesting in that it explains the relationship between a father and a son and that a parent's love is beyond life or death.
I recommend people reading this book. Not for everyone but give it a shot.

Fermented Watermelon

So I got up this morning when my alarm went off. Thinking I would start the day in a zen mood. I found a meditation that I liked the look of and then as my sense of smell began to wake up, I smelled cat puke. After a hunt to find the cold lumpy cat puke I grabbed it and threw it in the trash. This took two trips for both chunks. It was then that I went to eat the cut up fruit I had in preparation for breakfast in an attempt to be healthy. That is when I moved the comforter only to smell a rant hot-boxing fart which was mildly reminiscent of a dead animal. But the emissary of this anal smell, was still fast asleep. So I got up and made coffee and grabbed the fruit. When I returned to bed I found that the watermelon is starting to ferment and not really tasting quite how I hoped at 6:30am.
So looking forward, I am thinking that I am going to go the dental appointment that I have, at which I will inevitably be told that I need to floss more. Floss more?? How about floss at all? I forgot to floss.
Then I need to figure out how to eliminate three or four leather arm chairs which have been destroyed beyond repair by Len and his dogs, but that cannot be taken to a charity store. Thinking that maybe there is a dump? But I don't know where to determine a dump in this area.
Regan's family arrives tomorrow and so there is lots that needs to be done before then and I have to get some things done for Special Olympics as well.
No rest for the wicked. But I will definitely read my meditation for coffee and opening the curtains this morning:
I open the curtains on this new day. I look upon this morning as a rebirth and understand that only this one day exists.
I drink this cup of coffee in mindfulness. I hold the present moment in my hands.

Busy Wednesday

While waking up today, I sat in front of the window and watch the animals in the yards out front. I saw three rabbits playing and two squirrels. Wondering how these animals can get along so well, when others cannot and humans have a difficult time with everything else. I really enjoyed the time watching the rabbits this morning.
Trevor was banished to the bathroom this morning as he kept meowing in my face this morning at 6:00 am . So I finally just took him to the bathroom and left him there until I was awake. I am not sure he understood, but maybe he did.
Going to look for a Sparknotes book for "The Road" this morning and then off to tutor for a bit. After which I need to pick up the car keys and come home and pack for my overnight at Harrisburg.
So, in order to get started, I should have a cup of coffee and begin my breakfast and start the day.

Stress

Having both parents under one roof
Sorting things that are in this house
opposing my father
Calling him out on crazy decisions that he makes
sweaty humid weather
His anxiety
his behavior irritating to everyone around him
impolite
throwing things away
setting mice traps
worried I might see a mouse
feel like everyone needs everything when I just want to hide and let this weekend disappear

Independence Day

I don't know what it is about the 4th of July, but it puts me in a great mood just knowing it's here. What a great couple of days I have had. I babysat for a friend last night and it was great. What a little cutie, Jillian is! She was so well behaved and sweet. Then today I got up and Regan and I went for a stroll to downtown Bethlehem for a breakfast bagel. When we got back, I went out to lay on the hammock and listen to music, but that didn't last long for me. I wrote out a its of things we could do with Regan's parents when they visit in 2 weeks and then I got busy cleaning up the backyard. I organized and sorted. Then I went in the back door and started on the mud room. I threw things away and found all sorts of items that I am interested in using for crafts and to make nicer so that we can use them. It was dirty work, and I was sweating, but it was fun. And another room at Len's is cleaner. This is the best part of the whole day.
It was then that I decided that I wanted to get my bike out and get it in shape for a ride. I got the bike out of the basement and then blew up the tires and gave her a spin around the block. First time on a bike since I was 15! That is impressive.

I set up the bed in my mom's room and then ran to Artsquest for a sale on Musikfest tickets. We got 2 tickets for GooGoo Dolls and for Jane's Addiction. Should be fun. Also while there I bought a gift for Regan's nephew since it was on sale today with our Artsquest membership.
I negotiated a price for a newer car. A yellow SlugBug! It's going relatively inexpensively and I think it would be good for me to do it! So I am a Slug Bug girl now for real!

When I got home this afternoon, I started right away making ham and pineapple kebabs, wok seared asian brussel sprouts and salad. I also made myself a little vodka root beer float! Delish!

Ham and Pineapple Kebabs

I seriously love days like this!
And fireworks later on tonight! Today was created just for relaxing and having fun!

In Search of Better Self

Since I don't want to always be hard on myself and the people that I love I have decided to do some things for myself daily to make me a "better" person.
I have decided to  do the following daily:
Exercise 30 minutes
Read for 30 minutes
Meditate for 10 minutes
Clean for 30 minutes
Contact a family member or friend
Drink 3 bottles of water

In addition to these things I am also planning on conducting random acts of kindness. I'll tell you about them as they occur. I will start tomorrow.

Me and my love getting ready for a ride at Dorney Park. I promise to be understanding and kind. <3

The Story of English in a 100 Words by David Crystal

Wow! I just started this book and I already love it. :)
The premise is that the author goes through the centuries chronologically adding words that have developed and are pertinent in the development of the English language for each era. I have already read about roe, lea, and, loaf, out and street. And I am only up to the 9th century.

The book merges archaeology and linguistics. And is a fabulously interesting read. I highly recommend this book to any and everyone.

Centering

Katie Kup V- Royal Manchester Golf Club 6/24/12

We attended the Katie Kup V this past weekend and we are so grateful for such good friends and to be a part of all the good things that the Katie Herb Foundation is doing to support families and children with Congenital Heart Defects.
This annual event was fabulous and the weather was beautiful. Regan golfed with my cousin, James and they enjoyed the day with some other interesting guys.

Diane and Lia at the Katie Kup

Then we drove from Carlisle PA to Milford DE. I love coming here. It is a relaxing time of just being schedule free and calm, and I get to be with my dearest friend, Alison and her beautiful family. I absolutely love both of her sons with all my heart and have a deep connection with them.
What a fabulous week. It was busy, taking care of children and relaxing and napping and living simply. I am so grateful for this fabulous time. I always leave here with a little more clarity and a little more self-assurance in my own progression through life.
We got into a routine of going to bed after watching a fabulous show on the food network called "Chopped".

Bike riding in the late afternoon

In the tent

Nathan, my newest love

A morning with my Loves

At the movies with Regan

What a week. Although I miss home and miss my normal routine, I always feel calmer. Alison asked me the question "Why does that bother you?" and this was something I wanted to remember. To ask myself why something is bothering me and to remember that I can answer myself those thoughts. She also stated that she noticed that Regan is very hard on himself. We need more fun in our lives and less hard on ourselves. This is something that I need to be more cognizant of as I progress forward.
And so as we are getting ready to leave on Sunday we are thinking about the things that have been relaxing and our own reactions. Not a bad set of meditation thoughts for my future days.

Getting ready for relaxation

So tomorrow Regan and I travel to Carlisle PA to visit with friends and gold in the annual Katie Kup in memory of my friend, denise's daughter, Katie. We will be staying with a friend and her family, and then heading to Delaware to spend the week with one of my dearest friends and her husband and boys. I am excited to get a way for a little bit and to relax. 


Summer has been going quickly and I still have so much stuff to do that needs to get done and I feel that we are running out of time. I need to sort and prep some things for a yard sale and also to clean the house and to plan a trip to Florida for a friend's wedding. I can't wait to go on a vacation to Florida. There may be time to get to DisneyWorld!!

I am extremely grateful for the time that I get to spend with Regan and the way we try to be better and be the best we can for each other. I love the fact that we try to make ourselves more and more intentional in our actions. Regan is sweet and kind to me and so I am grateful to get to spend time with him, even if it is only doing the mundane things that need to get done everyday. 


Not only is it that, but it is also how brave he is to move this far away from his family and friends to be with me and my family. He cares about me and tells me. 
I cannot wait for this week to bring the worlds of my friends into the world of my relationship with Regan. He is so sweet, educated, silly, fun, participatory, supportive, and adventurous. He is respectful of me and my family even when I don't always tell him.
He is the best thing for me right now, we'll see if this is something that we can continue and commit to for the future.

Brussel Sprouts, Good Friends and Healthy Living

Finally feeling a little better about being here in PA. Having good friends and people to spend time with  it essential to happiness. We all need down time. I am grateful to have been involved with Special Olympics in Northampton County, even when faced with some opposition. I love the women whom I have met though this organization and I love helping the athletes. Not often do you see that kind of joy on a child's face, as when they are participating in sports. And the group of girls that I get to spend time with through the organization are some of the coolest, sweetest, smartest most caring and fun women I have ever come in contact with. I am truly grateful for them! I just wish the same thing for Regan... Hopefully soon he'll find some people that he matches with as well.
Today, I went out for a sushi and drinks lunch with two fabulous women from work. I had an amazing time and tried new things. It is a good thing to eat something that you think you don't like and then find that you LOVE it! Thanks for getting me interested in trying the Brussels sprouts, Natalie! I came home and found one on goggle:

Wok-Seared Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients

500 g Brussels sprouts
1 tbsp peanut oil
2 tsp grated ginger
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp toasted sesame seeds 

Preparation

Trim the Brussels sprouts of their darker green outside leaves and cut the sprouts in half.

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook them for 4–5 minutes.

Heat a wok over a high heat. Add the oil, ginger and cook briefly. Add the drained, hot Brussels sprouts and toss quickly to coat them with ginger and oil. Add soy sauce and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently to allow the liquid to evaporate. Add the sesame oil and sesame seeds, and serve.

**************************************************************************

DELISH!

Looking forward, I think I may want to go and paint some pottery at  Color Me Mine. Delish!

ANd I have also been walking every morning since summer vacation started and I feel much better. I am sleeping better and looking forward to tomorrow's walk. I only hope to keep this up.

And then a party for friends to celebrate their engagement. And Father's Day and then we go for a week to the beach! Life is good. really good. 

Summer and why it's important

I LOVE summer.
Summer is the time that I get caught up on sleep and have less anxiety. It's typically when I get to do my taxes and clean and sort and organize. It's when I can read for pleasure and it's when I nurture my soul. I don't feel that I have much time to do that when I am working all year. 
Summer is for trying new recipes, watching movies, naps and barbecuing chicken for a late night dinner. I get to go the public library, I get to sleep on lazy afternoons in the hammock and I get time to sew and craft. 
This summer is a little bit of heaven in my house because not only are all the tennis grand slam tournaments happening but also the Summer Olympic Games are being held in London, and London is a little bit of home for me as well. 
Since I have my "Bucket List" for life I usually use the summer to choose a couple things and complete them, but this year, I created a shorter list of things that I want to accomplish this summer:
1. Ride a horse.
2. Canoeing.
3. Camp in a tent.
4. Read 40 books.
5. Grow herbs inside.
6. Meditate daily.
7. Finish paying my undergrad loans.
8.Buy a house.
9. Spend a week without tv.
10. Visit Pittsburgh, and Fallingwaters.
11. Zip-linging.
12. Buy a new bed.
13. Bicycle around town.
14. Tell those I love how much I appreciate them.
15. Make my own pickles.
16. Do spring cleaning in the house.
17. Yard sale.
18. Spend a weekend in Atlantic City.
19. Make one item of clothing for myself.
20.Go hiking.
21.Go to the Aquarium.
22. Get a new passport.
The purpose of these items is that they are perfectly possible to complete within the summer. 
We are also planning on having some visitors this summer. Regan's parents are coming for 4 days after their return from France for the Tour. And Erika and John are coming to visit during Musikfest. I think at some point I'd also like to take away trip into NYC to see some things and be in the city.
And so on that note I am going to go back outside and read a little more of my book in the sun and swinging on the hammock.

Untitled

Thirtysomething problems:

How do you fix a hurting heart?

How do you stop the feeling of stress in the air?

How do I ensure that I stay calm and fair?

How do I remember to breathe?

When can I stop taking care of others?

It is sad to feel like a jellyfish.

The Burn Journals

This is an assignment which I am trying to use for a class I am taking at Moravian College on Literacy. I was thinking students in high school may like to use QR codes to link to their own blogs where they can post their book reports or their ideas about a specific author.

Those QR Codes can then be placed on a bulletin board or around a library and offer other students options for recommended books.

iRead

iWrite

iLearn

iAchieve

iGraduate

Hunger Games Weekend

So this weekend has big plans, or big plans compared to what we usually do. Today I am meeting my friend, Sarah, to watch a matinee of The Hunger Games, then I will return to tutor an eighth grade student in mathematics. Who knows what will happen this evening, but I am thinking of making a pineapple sheet cake and shrimp Alfredo, cheddar biscuits and tomato and pesto baked slices. Tomorrow we are up early in order to be volunteers for the Eastern Regional Special Olympics bowling! I am very excited to work with the athletes and to help out.

Monday, I am working with a fabulous team of educators and administrators on a project in a middle school. The school was chosen to work with Erik Carter of Vanderbilt University on creating a "peer support" program in their school for students with disabilities. This is a fabulous project and the possibilities are endless. The middle school is doing a great job, and I am lucky to work with them. Monday is dress down day for Autism Awareness and I am excited to participate. Let's see how Monday goes.

Little Bee is coming along. This book has beautiful language, but the story is really sad. I love how the author chooses words and describes pieces, but I am enjoying how the book itself is written.

I started taking cardio kickboxing with Joana at a local community college. It was so much fun! I am looking forward to taking my next class on Thursday and also to practice the things we learned last week. It makes me feel more powerful and also work out my aggression! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Still on the house hunt and still looking at ways to finance.

On the whole life is good!

ASCD 2012

Having spent the last two days in Philadelphia at the ASCD conference, I have had a blast. I love the invigorating feeling of being surrounded by other educators who are interested in learning. I have gathered great ideas for creating literacy plans, integrating 21st century technology skills into teaching and my trainings, purposeful lesson creating, bridging the digital divide, PLC development. Listening to famous speakers and now wanting to read the book the checklist manifesto... I have had a wonderful time.

Eating at the Reading Terminal Market, and El Vez, have both been highlights and I love sleeping in a quiet room with the AC cranked up.

It is time for sleep and one more day to do some professional learning.

I am reading a book with beautiful language and a haunting story. I am not very far, but I cannot put it down. Little Bee is my current story. Amazing how I have only been gone since yesterday morning, but I so miss Regan. I can't wait to tell him about the sessions and to see him. It will be soon enough. He'll be there when I get home tomorrow about 4-5pm. I cannot wait to be in my own space.

What a wonderful experience! Giving me ideas of my new foci for professional development.

Good sleep and getting work done

I woke up today and was awake. That never happens. Ready for work early and went in to begin some things that had found themselves on the bottom rack lately.

Good day at work, got lots done and had a good annual evaluation and meeting with my new supervisor. Waiting to see if R gets a job he has applied for. Please keep your fingers crossed. He'd be so good at it if given the chance.

Then I went tutoring and came home to prepare for my trip tomorrow to observe some classrooms and to coach the teachers in using the literacy pieces we have been providing for the teachers. Tutoring was good and got some good data and I am really impressed with the student I tutor. She is so kind and smart and works hard at learning her subjects and her homework.

But gotta get some sleep soon, busy weekend starting tomorrow.

Sinuses and Classes

So today, I got lots done. I went to the doctor about my congestion and got a prescription for a sinus infection. She was able to send it straight to my pharmacy through an app on her iPad. So cool. It's amazing how technology can change how we do things so quickly.

Then I ran into work quickly and picked up some resources that I wanted at home, and saw my friend, Natalie! Working on her day off. That's dedication, or just having too much to do.

I then went to the grocery store and to Target for the script. Finally found bean sprouts at Wegmans. Pad Thai for dinner!

Class was going along well and we got to work in groups for our book clubs. I am reading "The Book Whisperer" which was a BRILLIANT book. Makes me want to be back in the classroom to try these things out! But the frustration at working through the group process is difficult. I need to work on allowing myself to go with the flow and allow the group to make the decisions.

Do I feel that this is a group project? Not really. But that is ok, and sometimes learning is not about me and my learning, but the learning of others and the learning that I need to do to deal with these types of situations.

I made pad thai for dinner and it was delish. I am starting to really enjoy cooking and making food as long as I have time to get the meal together.

Thinking about food for tomorrow night.

Reading "Of Mice and Men" and want to get a little further into the story. I currently am feeling very resentful at the character whose name is George. I am under the impression that he treats Lenny in a very subordinate way, due to his intellectual disability. Hopefully the characters will evolve and not leave me feeling such disdain towards this one character.

Off the King of Prussia tomorrow for a training on supporting students with complex support needs to learn grade appropriate content. Kinda a shocking theory but I believe it can be accomplished and all based upon the idea of "presuming competence". So my plan is to help groups get through to be able to work standards-based instruction into their lessons for students with complex support needs. Good stuff and exciting. Makes me think of how to introduce UDL principles to others.

But I'm tired and its taking over.

Monday Musings

This day I had off from work and spent the day doing laundry and surfing pinterest. I organized things and finished reading "Her Fearful Symmetry". Tomorrow I have grad class and need to do some things ahead of time for work on Wednesday. We ate some grapefruit and then some quinoa salad. I had a gyro for dinner which was delish.

Decisions are being made about the house hunt and I am aware that I should send in my taxes soon. This coming weekend will be nutty since I am going to be gone all weekend at the ASCD conference in Philadelphia.

Made some garlic chickpeas for snacking tomorrow and am planning on making pad thai tomorrow. The budgeting is coming along nicely and we are able to save money from the tutoring that I am doing and the help that Regan gives to his elder friend at Moravian Village. Every little bit counts.

But today's lesson for me to learn is that I need to be careful to be kind to Regan and vice versa. I like to treat each other well and I like to be treated well as well. So this is one of my goals that I am working on.

Sunday House Hunting

Today was another day. Woke up feeling crummy. My ears hurt and my sinuses and also in my teeth?? I took some serious cold medicine and decided to go to the grocery store myself and let Regan sleep. I got some good stuff at the store, but cannot find bean sprouts anywhere! I was hoping to make pad thai one of these days. I'll check again at Weis tomorrow.

Then when I got home we decided to go to a few open houses. We saw some interesting pieces that we liked and Regan fell in love with a home in Bethlehem with a finished basement! It was the first finished basement that he had seen. That home also had a 1950's retro kitchen which was super interesting.

When we came home, I crashed and then decided to read a book "Knucklehead" by Jon Scieszka. It was a great memoir and quite an inspiration for my own biographical information. A nap was taken and basketball and tennis were watched throughout the lazy afternoon. No good wins! Except Federer.

Things are good, but I should probably break down and do some more work for my class tomorrow and some stuff for special olympics and then head to the doctor. I need to do better about getting the allergy shots weekly.

Exciting times in our little lives, can't wait to find the dream home.

St Paddy's Day 2012

So today was spent trying to feel better from the fever that woke me in the middle of the night. I watch two fabulous March Madness Games last night and fell asleep dreaming of playing basketball against LeBron James. Who knows?

We had chicken breakfast sausages and fried eggs, and toast. Should have forgone the toast but I wasn't that successful.

Regan and I spent the day watching Moneyball and Flip this House. I made some quinoa and chicken curry which was lovely. Now onto some teavanna tea and bed. but I wanted to write down the food and healthy eating we were trying out today.

Glad we decided not to drive to Boston, too sick and it would have been a long trip.

I'll post more tomorrow about the book I am reading and if we decide to go look at open houses.

Should be doing better at blogging.

What a sad state of affairs if I am blogging about eating on St Paddy's Day. I have become truly a mad cat lady.