What a week

The days of the week seem to slowly pass. Things are not normal here yet. Who am I kidding, things have never been known to be "normal" at my house.

I'm still working on organizing my classroom. Each day it gets a little better. I'm about to finish organizing my classroom library and let kids start checking out books. We played Scrabble with our 100 most commonly used words. Thanks to Linda, a teacher I adore working with, she drew up our own classroom version of the board. I wasn't ready to let the kids loose with the real boards and tiles. Not yet, maybe not for a few more times.

I got 2 new students last week, lost 2 students on Friday, and found out that I've just become the classroom with the second ESL cluster of students. We cluster so that they students can be serviced together by the ESL teacher. That's Linda, the ESL teacher; so I'm hoping that we'll be able to work together again. Things will hopefully pan out by Friday and then the "normalicy" will start with the schedule. Of course these students are coming out of transitional so they're used to 50% of their curriculum & day being taught in Spanish. I guess I don't know what I'll be expecting. We'll soon find out.

I've not been taking any pictures lately. I've not been doing any digital scrapbooking lately. I've not knitted much but have my yarn and needles for a hat I'm going to make. I did actually have it started before a couple stitches fell off the double pointed needles (dpn) and I decided to frog it so I could start over.

I did go hang out with my friend Marybeth and did some scrapbooking with real paper and scissors. OMG for those who know how into digital I am. I did 3 more pages in my Christmas Journal. Yes, that is the journal that I started almost 2 Christmas's ago and still aren't finished. Marybeth has forbidden me to do any other projects (that doesn't include digital or knitting) until I finish this dumb book. Woops...did I just call my project dumb? Well let's just say I'm quite tired of it and would love to move onto another project. So with all the rain we had yesterday and today... I decided to get my supplies back out and head to the LSS (local scrapbook store) and continue to work on it again. I got another 3 pages finished. 6 pages completed in the weekend. There are 35 different prompts and I've got over 20 finished. I'm trying to be postive about getting it finished. When it's finished I've got to find the album for it. That will be another big issue. I know what I want, but really haven't been able to find it.

Well it is really late here. Way past my bedtime actually and I didn't leave Marybeth's house until 2:00 am this morning. I've got a big week and I have to come home tomorrow and make up a quiz for my tuesday night class.

Here's hoping you have a good week.

It's been a while

since I blogged. I can say that I have been busy. I know, that's the typical response, but it is truly my excuse. I guess I knew having my full-time teaching job was a lot, but when I undertook teaching night school I figured it wouldn't be so much of a big deal. It really is like preparing to teach just like I do during the day. I realize that my least favorite part of teaching is grading papers and maintaining the grade book.

Another thing I've been working on is trying to get my room at school organized. When I asked to change rooms, I knew I would have to pack up the old room and move and unpack. That I knew, I was prepared for that. What I wasn't prepared for was how many things were still in the room. I've been cleaning out and donating things to a bunch of new teachers. It feels good to start making this room my own, but I also felt really great being able to give things to new teachers.

I'm trying to employ the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)method and the OHIO (Only Handle It Once) method together at school. Right now neither are going too well. I've changed files from two file drawers once already, now I've got to do it again. But when you combining 2 classrooms of things down into one, I've got to pair things down and truly decide...do I need that? Have I used it? Will I use it..if so when? Is this book above my students' reading level? Is this in my curriculum?

By keeping this in mind I've been able to start to weed a bunch of stuff out and donate it.

In other family happenings, Doug is at school just as happy as a clam. Don is trying to find study times and get his homework schedule fixed so he'll be able to keep things flowing smoothly. Brian has started school and had his first behind the wheel day in drivers ed. We've been letting him drive and hopefully he felt comfortable when he had to drive in the big honkin car with the teacher.

The dogs are shaggy beasts and are in desperate need of grooming. The extra expense of grooming 2 dogs stinks. Right now that's not in the budget. Any ideas how to groom dogs yourself?

Well laundry and grading papers and placement tests is screaming for some attention. If I get it done, I'll be free for the rest of the weekend.

Toodles people!

Breathe Deep

It all begins and now the schedules change. We won't have a set schedule for a couple weeks until Don's 12 week classes start. But we will have to get something set up with getting him to work and me getting home early so he can get to school.

Last week was hectic but not unbearable. Training for me was interesting. Lots of things about how the brain remembers and learns. Remember this was very teacherish, brain research talk. We talked about how the brain craves novelty. How the cooperative structures we use are novel, but then there are so many different learning structures that are so common to one another is because it also loves repetition. We also talked about that you can only hold 10 things in your working memory and they need cleared out/moved into other memory to remember them and learn more. We also learned that you remember episodes best and that is your episodic memory. The brain also remembers the first & last things best.

We also used a mnemotic device to remember 10 things our partner told us. It was a visualization thing but we both remembered 10 things each without seeing one another's list.

We learned about the 4 different types of memory too. We also learned 3-4 new structures for use with out students. Also about the aymegdale and how it can cause kids to be anxious and fearful. If it fires then you have a more difficult time remembering and learning things. The goal is to keep kids happy, fearless, and calm so they can learn more. If they are relaxed and not in a state of fear/anxiety they should be able to learn more.

I can see that if I can remember all of this when 25ish new personalities all come into a new environment. Not that the environment is conducive to learning just yet. That was what I worked on Friday, unpacking my class. I rechecked and had 84 boxes. Over 50 of them were larger boxes and were put up on the new counters. They were stacked 4 high and they needed moved. So I moved them all and opened them all and sorted them. They are now on the longer counter, 2 high, and sorted by contents. So when I get to work in my room tomorrow I can keep going. My desk is I'd say 90% complete. I need to work on bulletin boards, covering an old, yucky, green chalkboard, and before I can put away tons in the closet I need to clean out what the retired teacher left. She is a wonderful lady, but yikes she left a lot. I guess after 19 years in 1 school you acquire a lot.

Brief mention about a few other events of last week. We got Doug moved back to school. You could just see that he was back in his element. Everyone say a prayer that he finds a job.

Don worked 3 days last week as a produce guy at one of the local supermarkets. He also started college. He took his first math class. I could tell before we left that he was freaking out. I could tell that everything was good when he got done because he said, "I'm the teacher's pet." He chatted with the instructor for about 15 minutes after class then came by my class. Then on the way home he was talking, talking, talking. Chatty Cathy there, he was non-stop. More than he'd talk about something in a long time. We bought 2 of his books yesterday. Yikes 2 books, one used was almost $200. Books are such a rip-off.

For my class, I can't believe I only have 7 students. That is like an ideal scenario, but for book discussions it doesn't work as well as I'd like. Hey, deal with what we are given and I can help these 7 become better readers.

This next week Brian heads back to school. YIPEE!

I hate this time of year because there are so many expenses. I know asking for money to grow on trees is a bit much, but could my tree in the back just sprout about five 100 bills? Just enough to get Don's car fixed? I know the extra money would just make things a little less stressful around here. I'll keep praying and I know God will take care of us, but just not as quickly as I'd like. I know it's on God's time, not my time.

As things change and start falling into place, I know I just need to remember to stop and breathe. Some deep breaths and remembering to pray will get me through.

To all of you...breathe deep. You'll make it through too.

By this time next week...

all the Henager's will be back in school. That's right I said all! Big D, who is my oldest son, who is a sophomore goes back to NIU (Go Huskies!) on Wednesday after I get home from training. He's paying the extra to go back a day early, and let me tell you, it is soooo much less hectic and well worth the $50 to take him and move him in a day early.

Mr. B, which is Brian starts his junior year of high school next Monday. I registered him today. You wouldn't believe how expensive high school registration is! So much for a free and public education.

Last but not least, Don registered for college today. Luckily things were filling up so fast, and were already full, he got into all the classes we wanted him to be in. Two are 12 week classes which start in about a month, 1 is a class where the classes are done at home, and 2 are on campus in the evenings. He's got about 15 semester hours, so he truly is a full time student.

Then there is me. I have part-time college faculty meetings tomorrow afternoon. On Wednesday & Thursday I have my full-time training. Next Monday and Tuesday are teachers' inservice days at my full-time job, then kids come on Wednesday. The college kids come this Thursday.

So when you see all four of us together and you ask how's school, you may just get a response from all of us.

2nd Place

My oldest son plays on the church softball team. They play in a church league all summer. Well near the end of August is the league tournament which determines the winner of the league. Doug's had a lot of fun and a few injuries playing. I have to admit, it is a much more laid back team and it has been great being able to go and watch. As much as I don't miss the scheduled practices, 3 or more games a week, tournament after tournament, being the taxi mom to the fields, I do miss watching him play.


This is his life. He wants to play and coach sports. He loves it so much that he's determined that being a P.E. teacher is a way to take what he loves and help others find it meaningful too. I give him credit, I think we all need to find what we absolutely love and do it. Whether or not we make it our career, we all need to love something fun. I know I need to follow in his footsteps just a bit.

Well the tournament was yesterday. Don and I didn't get to watch the first game in the morning, although we did get to watch him hit. We had to drop some stuff off at the field before heading out to the college for Don to take some tests.
With 4 or so hours in between their first and second game, we were able to finish testing and get back to watch the final 2 games.

The outcome of the tournament was pretty good. There was 1 or 2 bad calls by the ump against us, which could have meant the game went the other way, but they came in 2nd. Pretty good considering the 1st place team only lost 2 games all year.

Well here's to the 2nd place team. They're all good sports and really nice people, so it's nice to be able to congratulate them here.

All the time in the world

As if! If you read my to-do list, no where do I think it said to finish a scrapbook page. I was going to sit down and to the tentative class assignment list but read a creative team board and remembered I should do a challenge page for the new challenges over at the Chirpi blog. Use the link to check it out, there are some amazing prizes!



Well now I really must go and get work done!

So much to do - so little time

Yikes, summer is flying by. August is flying by is more like it. Oh yikes, it felt like I had so much time off from the time I left for my cruise until school started again. Around mid-July I met with a co-worker to work on a project for school this year. Also in the midst of some stressful situations here at home, I was also thinking it was about time to get back on a schedule and get back to school. Then I applied to teach part-time at the local college along with my 4th grade position and now I've got so much to do and so little time.

I've got to go check out new phones and get a new phone plan. (Tomorrow I think)

I've got to get a tooth pulled a week from next Tuesday.

Help Don get registered for school.

Register Brian for school next Monday.

Take Doug back to school next Wednesday

Tonight is a paid discussion group about snack food. Thankfully it's a paying gig!

Doug has a softball tourney on Saturday.

I have a part-time faculty gathering at the college on Tuesday.

Next Wednesday & Thursday I have 2 days of training at my school.

I start teaching at COD next Thursday.

I have to finish my syllabus and send to the printer at the college. Hopefully by today or tomorrow.

Oh and how can I forget that there is a classroom that needs to have at least 75 boxes unpacked and set up. The office staff just got into the school yesterday and they don't have phones or computers. The principal has no idea how soon they'll be able to let us in the building. I guess I'm expecting that I can maybe get a few boxes unpacked the first couple days when teachers have meetings. Unfortunately that Tuesday before the kids come back on Wednesday I have to have a tooth pulled at 2:00 and then go teach at the college that evening.

Like I said, I've just got way too much to do. I know I have blocks of time where I have nothing planned, like today, until tonight. I think I need to do a bit of laundry, some work for school, and hopefully get a turkey cleaned and prepped because I'm going to be cooking it on the grill. That will free me up for 3 dinners this week and next week with leftovers.

I hope that you are able to sit back and enjoy the last few days of summer. I know many moms are ready for the school bell to ring and the kids aren't. The summer here has been tremendous. The humidity hasn't been unbearable and the temps lately have been in the mid to high 70's. We've had the airconditioning off for at least a week.

Make sure you get out and do something fun this weekend before the summer slips away.
Ciao!

I got the job!

At today's interview, I was offered and accepted a position as a part-time adjunct professor at College of DuPage. I'm still in a bit of shock because it all happened so fast. I've lugged home a bunch of textbooks because I have to pick my textbooks to use for the course. The class starts 2 weeks from tonight! EGADS!


Also for more good news, Don got the part-time position at the grocery store. He'll be working part time and hopefully we'll be able to afford for him to start taking classes too.

I'll leave you with a couple of new scrapbook pages I've recently done.


full credits here




full credits here

Yikes what might I have gotten myself into???

I know things here over the summer have been hectic. I officially have about 20 days left of vacation and in that time I have to get my hair cut, doctor's appointment, get a root canal, register my youngest for high school, take my oldest back to college, and at some point try to see if I'll be able to go unpack my new room at school. The last is very doubtful.

But on top of all of this, I've been looking for ways to subsidize the college tuition payments, especially since Don is still unemployed. Well I've been praying to God daily about the financial situation. I'd come up with a list of things I could do extra at school. Those seemed like good ideas. I've been trying to get Don to find a part-time job to supplement the unemployment. I also considered trying for a liason position for the new reading cohort through the school district. Then one morning I woke up and thought about something my girlfriend and I joke about, teaching at the community college. One of my professors I had during my masters program mentioned it. At the time my friend, Chris and I said yeah, we teach kindergarten and 4th grade, who would want us to teach college kids? It's just been an ongoing joke. That is until last week the idea popped into my head to try to find the professor's email and ask her if she was serious about us teaching at the community college.

She got back to me almost right away, she wasn't joking in the least bit. Well to make a long story short, I sent her my resume, which she forwarded on to the head of the department. They were actually looking for someone to teach a reading class, and that afternoon, while Doug and I were driving back from NIU, the head of the department called me. She said she'd love to talk more to me about the position but couldn't unless I had a job application on file. We detoured to the college and got the application. I was going to fill it out over the weekend but was too busy. I worked on it Tuesday morning and was going to take it back out Tuesday afternoon. In the mean time, I get an email saying they are wanting to set up an interview, could I make it today, meaning Tuesday. I could have easily except I had to bring a copy of my college transcript with my most recent degree. I didn't have one so I made the interview for Thursday and headed into work to get that copy yesterday.

So tomorrow, Thursday, I have an interview with the head of the department at College of DuPage about a part-time adjunct position. I've been thinking to myself, "what ever did I get myself into?" I asked my former professor what she thinks I'll be asked about, she told me some things, thankfully, and I've been rereading a bit of college textbooks. I've got 24 hours to prepare. The silly thing is that I wasn't nervous until I went out for a pedicure today with my friend.

She's under the impression that this job has my name written all over it. I made one email and somehow it snowballed into them calling me, emailing me, and setting up an interview; all without my application being in. This crazy idea popped into my head and the funny thing is...I didn't chicken out on writing the email! It's almost like God has known how many hoops I've been jumping though lately with our financial situation that his one is kind of being just handed to me. It's like he's managing all of this without much of my help. I know that is how he works sometimes, but it just really seems ironic that 3 years ago, I thought of this as just a joke, and it has been a running joke between Chris and I, but now it could become reality. I've never wanted to teach junior high/middle schoolers or high schoolers, but I could soon be the teacher of college students.

If things work out, I won't be leaving my grade school position, but I'll be adding college into my schedule. That last part really sounded funny. I've been going to school 7 out of the past 10 years. Now I could be going to college but not having to study, but prepare the lessons for others to study. Frankly, I could be teaching kids my oldest son's age. I could be teaching people my age, or I could be teaching my husband if he decides that he really wants to go back to college. YIKES, see what I mean...what might I have gotten myself into????

I love writing to authors

I've written to authors of books I've enjoyed a couple of times. Each time I think, "nahhhh, they'll never write back." But each time they have. Today I wrote to Ellen Klages. Ellen is the author of the book I just finished.



So I've been trying to find a book with a strong girl main character. This does, it actually has two, but this is about things I know my kids have no background knowledge about; WWII and the building of the atomic bombs. I am hesitant to do it as a read aloud and I emailed the author explaining to her the make up of my class and the issues to get her feedback on doing it as a read aloud.

She was kind and gave me her feedback and that of what she's heard from others. I'm just not sure about the read aloud. I just don't know if I can expel that type of energy in conversations each and every day about the short amount of time we get to read.

I just want to say try writing to an author of a book you read lately, especially if you loved it. Tell them why, ask them questions about the book. Really, I had my students write to an author. They all asked about the questions the author left them hanging with. She not only answered all their questions, she sent her own photos of the town that inspired the book.

I'd really love to write to Kate DiCamillo. I LOVE her books!

Hello...is anyone here?

I know I'm not one of those ultra exclusive, gotta visit kind of blogs but hey a girl needs a bit of love.

If you stop by, please leave a comment. I'd really love to know who stops by.

I'm trying to determine if I should put a sign up for an update thing on the sidebar, or if it will be a complete waste of time.

Do you watch your favorite movie over and over?

I don't think I've ever blogged about favorite movies. I do have a list of my all time favorite movies. But I find that although I own most of my favorites on DVD, I usually find them somewhere on cable and watch them there. There are some movies I fixate on and will watch over and over and over. Most of my favorite movies are older movies. Some are from high school. Isn't that really when you really start getting into movies and start marking milestones? Oh I was a junior when that song was popular, or I saw that 3 times with friends my sophomore year. Don and I so that a lot. Well what has really inspired this blog post is one of my favorite movies...Remember the Titans.



The first time we saw this movie it was in the theater with both boys. I was so moved and emotionally upset by the movie that I had to stay in the dark theater through all the credits and still walking to the car, the boys kept saying, "What's wrong mom, why are you crying?" I still cry every time I watch this movie. Every time!

Don and the boys are used to it by now, but others I'm sure are wondering if this movie makes you cry every time, why do you consider it one of your favorites? Well it's an awesome, true story of how an African-American coach is put into one of the first segregated high schools in Alexandria, Virginia. The football team is given a new head coach, and becomes integrated. The white football team is forced to deal with new players, new coaches, and has to face race issues head on. I love it when the characters Gerry Burtier and Julius Campbell go head to head trying to learn about one another, in a not so positive fashion. Julius stands up to Gerry, the team captain, and tells him he's out for himself because the captain is the leader and he isn't leading. By the end of football camp away at college these two are begining to bond and a true friendship is starting to form. Gerry wants Julius to come meet his mom and stay for dinner. Julius is met in Gerry's neighborhood by the police. Julius thinks he'll be in trouble for being black in a white neighborhood, but in the end, the officer tells him he played a heck of a good game last night.

You know it is a true friendship when after coming together and winning the game, Gerry's girlfriend says why are you down here with "them" meaning the black guys and he chooses his "black" friends over his girlfriend.

This team comes together to pull out the state championship after facing the adversity of race and a tragic accident that paralyzes Gerry.

I absolutely love how the community supports this team after they begin to see if these boys can see one another as just people and not just by the color of their skin. I love how even the "dumb jock" raises himself up with the help of others to be successful. I love the relationship between Gerry and Julius. I love when Julius hugs Gerry's mother and she finally comes around. Even though I know this movie like the back of my hand, I cry like a big wus. If you know me well enough, I am just a big bag of emotions and this movie gets me every time.

Today I said to Don and Doug, "You know, this is the kind of movie that all people should be made to watch." If people can see how this team makes it through the difficulties and the adversity dealt to them, then the most of the world could too. It makes me hopeful that at some point the world can be a much better place. I almost see it starting to happen with Barack Obama and the potential of the first African-American president in U.S. history.

If you've never watched Remember the Titans find it on cable, borrow it from the library, put it in your Netflix cue, or rent it from the video store. It's the kind of movie that will make you laugh, smile, cry, and think. Take my advice on this one. You might find it's one of your favorites too.

Heck, I didn't even mention Denzel Washington is in it. I usually like his movies.

The Beach Boys with John Stamos

Tonight we, Don and I, met my dad and his girlfriend at Ravinia to see the Beach Boys. We had lawn seats so we couldn't see the stage without moving forward towards the pavilion but we could hear perfectally. The lawn seats were sold out but the pavilion wasn't. As the Beach Boys start, they sing a song or two then they start talking. You know when some concerts are soooooo loud you can barely make out what they are saying, well even being outside of the pavilion it wasn't like that at all here. While they talk, they start discussing something, then all of a sudden they start talking about John Stamos Well low and behold, who walks out and then ends up playing with the Beach Boys most of the night.

I figure he's either got the summer off and has nothing to do or ER is filming in Chicago and he came out to play a gig with them. Wouldn't ya just know it that I was in a big hurry to try to get out of the house and I forgot my camera. My zoom could have had a couple nice shots; oh well.

Now I've got the hicups for the second time tonight and I'm really pretty tired. I no longer can keep those late hours any longer. Old age is setting in I guess.

Jammies Day

Ever have those, a day where you stay completely in your jammies? That's today for me. I know if I decide to go to the softball game to watch, I'll have to get dressed that's for sure. I've been trying to get some things done I've been avoiding, like laundry. I know I've got to wash some rugs still and want to throw the shower curtain but that means shower first!

It's hot and humid outside. I have no real desire to go out. I should really bring the dogs in. I know they enjoy it outside but they're black and absorb the heat faster than other dogs.

Doug went to the theater and tried to pick up hours. The kitchen manager wanted him back desperately, but the facility manager who was originally the thorn in his side said they are rediculously overstaffed. I told him he's going to have to get mighty creative to make money the last few weeks of vacation.

Other than that, Don's gone and that car he was driving broke down a second time. Seems to be a huge suggestion that someone wasn't supposed to go on this trip.
I'm also thinking about taking the spiritual gifts class again. It is a 2 part class that starts on Sunday. I think Brian will be away next week also.

Enjoying summer and the decisions I can make to either do something or not do something. How about you, what do you have planned this weekend?

Another new scrapbook page

Credits Here

I've done another scrapbook page today. I had it almost finished then things came up that I had to leave and go deal with. Today started calm, relaxing, the kind of day I thought I'd have all day then around 2 things got crazy. By the time I'd gotten home, it was after 5:30 and I said to Doug, "Is it really 5:30?"

Fixed dinner, took Doug to finally register to vote, and got home just before a horrible line of storms. Doug left with my car...whaaaa...then the hail started. Thankfully pea sized and stopped really fast.

Brian called into work and had to go work. Glad he's someplace safe during this storm too. He gets off at 9:00ish.

Ok, I think that's all for now. I will shut down the computer, although I think the storm is just about passed, and sit and knit for a while.

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!

Cross another thing off my summer To Do List

I can officially cross something else off my Summer to do list. I make a list of things I want to try to accomplish every summer. This entry has been on the last 3 To-Do Lists, and has not been crossed off. Actually the two big things that have been carry-overs have been crossed off.

The first I finally got crossed off was to have a garage sale. Here's the proof!



The second big thing off my list was to make jelly. I've grown up with homemade strawberry jelly. It is really the only jelly I will eat. If I run out over the winter, I'll force myself to eat store bought strawberry jelly but really hate it. My kids love this jelly too. It makes the BEST peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!


Credits here

So now that two of the biggies are done, I'll have to start wittling down the list by trying to get done the little things. I'm waiting for a rainy day to backup all my photos onto DVD's. I've got a lot of scrapbooking projects on the list to get finished too. I think I need to give my girlfriend a little jingle to see if she's home and wants to get together and scrapbook so I can finish a Christmas journal she tells me I have to finish first before moving on to any other projects. Hear that Marybeth, I'm ready to tackle the Christmas journal!

New blog header

Here is my new header. It is one of my favorite memories from Copenhagen. I couldn't believe how many bikes there were in the city. You didn't smell exhaust, see smog or feel like you were breathing in polluted air. Everyone rode bicycles. People had child seats and baskets. You'd see men biking to work in suits. Women would be in longer dresses, pants suits, or short mini-skirts with tights. Age wasn't an issue either. Young and old, everyone biked. I loved that they were the old fashioned looking bikes too. Rarely did you see the 15-speed mountain bikes. It would first appear that they didn't lock their bikes either, but after looking further, they have a unique locking device that would be back where a rear brake would grasp the tire, except it was a lock that went through the back tire.

One other observation I made in Copenhagen, most people I saw were in great shape and looked very healthy. I should take note of their exercise advice, ride a bike!

What a coincidence that the G-8 summit signed an agreement to lower greenhouse gas emmissions by 50% and I'm blogging about bicycles. What is so unfortunate is that the agreement won't be enforced until 2050, 42 years away. I guess that more people should visit Copenhagen to see how great it is not to have to deal with exhaust, smog, and car emmissions to understand why we should not wait another 42 years.

Happy 4th of July

I'm glad to be home on the 4th of July. I think it would just feel a bit odd to be away from home on America's Independence day.

Not that we have any spectactular plans or anything. Right now, Doug's at work. Brian works from noon until close, which is 6 pm I think. Don is going to a car show with his hearse. I guess I can either go and sit at the car show ::::yawn:::
or I can stay home and do laundry. Super choices don't you think? Laundry is important because I'm just about out of summer clothes and definately underwear. This is what I dread, I hate being home alone on a perfect day. I love being up alone in the morning while it's quiet while everyone else sleeps, but I hate being home alone with nothing to do.

It is beautiful here today. Super blue skies, a little breeze, and temps that are in the 70's. I think this is PERFECT summer weather. Not too cool to sit outside and read and get some sun to try to keep up what little bit of tan I have started, and not too hot to cook yourself until you're a pool of sweat.

So I guess I'll end this post before it starts to have that "feel sorry for me that I don't have anything to do on the 4th of July" kinda feel. I hope you have a fantastic Independence Day. Lots of fun, food, friends, and fireworks!

Ok...I'm home, tired, and now have lots 'o laundry

Monday night, around 10:00 pm the luggage was finally delivered. I have to say it was 100% in tact. Nothing lost, nothing damaged. It was just a good feeling to finally know you had all your stuff back. The kids & Don got their little souviners yesterday. We tried this candy my friend Susanna gave me as a little Welcome to Finland gift. I can't remember the name but it is a salty licorice. Well it must be an acquired taste or something you must eat from a very young age but we all got that look on our faces. You know that look...the one where you are shocked at the taste and you really don't like it. Well it was that one!

My in-laws made it into town yesterday and we got them to the airport for their flight on time. Unfortunately, their flight was delayed several hours after a storm passed through the area. They are safe in Las Vegas now.

Today I am getting a hair cut. I tried at the last minute before I left but she was booked. Today, I'll be a bit lighter on top. I'm sure it's going to be short and sassy. I'm to the point where I can't really stand taking the time to worry about my hair.

Trying to decide what to do on the 4th. We don't have any major plans. We've talked about where to watch fireworks that is about all.

I've downloaded all my photos but haven't done any editing on them.
But I'll include a few in this post for you to see where I went on my fantastic trip.

Technically I'm still not home

that is according to Don. He said that since my luggage is still not here...3:17 pm on Tuesday and I arrived home Sunday at 6:15 pm that I'm not fully home.

So does this mean that I'm still on vacation??? I think not. Let me tell you why.
I've been on the phone with India, ummmm, I mean United Airlines at least 6 times because they can't get their act together and get me my freaking luggage. I never once had to call India, I mean United on vacation. Also, I didn't have to take any child to the ER on vacation. I was the child on vacation and my mother didn't even have to take me to the ER on vacation. Heck I didn't even hardly think about children on vacation! Then today a quick request from my mom "show me how to work the weed wacker" somehow turned into cutting/mowing/raking thistles and ground cover out of a huge garden plot. Loads of work and a sunburn too.

So I think it is plain to see that I am most certainly NOT still on vacation. Although I am not technically at school I feel that I'm not on vacation anymore either.

So if you are United reading this.... DELIEVER MY STINKING LUGGAGE THAT HAS BEEN IN CHICAGO SINCE LAST NIGHT AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT. EITHER THAT OR GET ME THE STINKING NUMBER TO THE LOST LUGGAGE CLAIMS DESK AT O'HARE AND I'LL PICK IT UP MYSELF!

Rant over...maybe

4:40 a.m. and I'm wide awake

I am really tired, yawning a bit, but I have to jolt myself back into "real" time. Chicago time, central time that is. I've been through so many time changes in the past 12 days that I don't really know one from the other right now. It does feel a lot like Copenhagen time, which is 7 hours ahead of central time, so it feels like 11:40 a.m. to my body.

I got home last night and I swear the flight from Heathrow was the longest 7 hours, which turned into more like 8 to 8.5 hours. They lost one of my bags. Of course it was the one with all the souvineers in it and Doug kept saying "what did you get me?"
The boys are at the age where it is so hard to buy souvineers for. A tee-shirt is always good, but when the price gets converted to US dollars, paying $50ish for a tee-shirt is rediculous.

Well I'm cutting this post short. I seem really hungry or thirsty and I'm going to try to head back to bed to get back to the regular time things.

I'll update on the trip in the near future. Until then, please cross your fingers that my bag arrives today!

Hello from Copenhagen

A quick hello from Copenhagen. It is 12:45 pm here and barely 5:45 am on the 19th in the US. We, my mom and I are nearly ready to head to the cruise ship. We got in on time and were exhausted. We did visit the trendy shopping spot Strøget. Unfortunately all the stores were closed. Things I have noticed close early here. I'm most impressed by all the bicycles and that it is pretty clean here. All the taxi's I've seen are Mercedes. Shocking to me, nothing like that in the least bit in Chicago. The airport was so Ikeaesque. Now there's a new word for you. The keyboard on this computer is also a bit different. Where the apostrophe is, is the ø.

I think I should end this as we are probably looking for a short jaunt (maybe) then grab our luggage out of holding, grab a taxi and head for the cruise.

BTW - the new fashion accessory is summer scarves! I'm on the lookout.

Bon Voyage

In less than 24 hours I'll be leaving for my trip to anywhere in the world. You may remember that 3 years ago my mom gave me a wonderful Christmas present. She gave my sister and I a trip to anywhere in the world. They could be together or seperate. Well They are seperate, my sister went to Banff, Canada. I'm going on a Northern European/Russian cruise.


Not only will I get to see 7 magnificent cities, I'll get to meet my good friend Susanna. We've been online friends for quite a while now. We met at 2Peas and connected with a bunch of other ladies whose goal was to have pages published in scrapbook magazines. I've met a bunch of great people this way who I feel have all become best friends to me.

So I'm 99% sure that I won't be updating the blog until I get back. Then, I'll have a ton of pictures and stories to tell.

Until then...bon voyage!

the Garage Sale!

We decided to take a garage sale working break most of the day yesterday and it felt good. Today on the other hand was garage sale mania. I had a meeting at work for 4 hours and decided to take the train versus driving. The price of gas man! So anyway I woke up not feeling so hot but Don was up and outside getting things started for the garage sale. We decided to have it for 3 days and start on Thursday. Garage salers know...good sales start on Thursday.

We didn't advertise in the local paper. We didn't even get the listing up on the local Craig's List. We just used some good old fashioned neon poster board and about 6 stakes. We've always had great luck with my trusty signs.

Well Don practically ran the garage sale himself today. Brian was around and Brian's girlfriend Liz helped a lot. She even brought homemade cookies! At one point Don said people were parked 7 houses down the street and on both sides. The old guy who lives next door was out watching almost all day. Don said Al was sitting there in amazement because he'd never seen that many people at a garage sale.

Well as I promised I said I'd post a couple pictures.
Good news is...we've cleared tables. We started with 13 tables and Don says there are some empty now. They'll be full again tomorrow because there was some stuff that was never priced and put out. Better news...I've got spending money for my vacation next week ;)

It's only the first week of vacation...

and I'm lost on the day and date already. I've had to sit and think ok, it's Tuesday. I have plans on Thursday. It's not Wednesday. I guess I've been so busy getting up and going to class the past 3 summers that I really haven't had this problem.

Ok so we're working on this garage sale. Can I tell you, if you're close you NEED to come by and buy something. As of now we have 13...YES 13 tables of stuff. Saturday we started with stuff that was cluttering the main part of the garage and I did a whole table of adult clothing. Sunday Don started digging through deeper recesses of the garage. Yesterday the garage was totally cleaned out. Today we opened up the shed. We had 3 large rubbermaid bins full of older kids clothes and 2 storage boxes of little kids clothes. Can you believe I found 3-6 month old clothes in the bottom of a box??? My kids are 18 and 16 years old! We also dug through about 5 large rubbermaid bins and a toy chest full of toys. You know the toys they don't make anymore and you hate to part with? Well we kept the Thomas the Tank Engine stuff, the Darda track, the Lincoln Logs and army men, the Tinker Toys, Potato heads, Lite Brite, the train track with the mountain and the fisher price pirates with ship and cannons and stuff. Heaven help me that I'd better have grandsons to pass this stuff on to.

Doug cleaned out the sports bin and got rid of probably 15-20 soccer/basketball/volleyball/footballs. You know my kids are athletic and he kept every baseball bat, and adult glove. He also kept a few of each of those balls listed above too. I didn't get rid of the roller blades or wrist guards (see previous post) or my tennis racquets.

My list over things to do before I leave on the 17th is ever growning. I have errands I keep putting off. I skipped Doug's softball game. I did stop to read for about 45 minutes before starting the shed detail and that felt good. Today was absolutely beautiful and I've been wanting to sit outside and read in the shady backyard where just bits of sun splash over you when the breeze blows. Last year that didn't happen because of the cicadas. So today I stopped and took a bit of time for me.

Well I need to get ready and hang up some laundry. I guess I can manage one load a day. Literally I've been outside of the house for 80% of my day. Feels good with the weather being so nice and I know I'm getting one major job accomplished. It really does feel pretty good to purge.

So if I get my errands done tomorrow, I think I might go through some of my scrapbook paper and the games in Brian's closet. I knew when I moved into my smaller house that I needed to clean out and purge. My friend Ursula Page is really great at getting rid of stuff and purging.

So I'll try to update tomorrow with a picture or two of all the stuff I've got out on tables for sale.

Garage Sale anyone??

That's been one of the first things to accomplish on my Summer To Do list.
I create a list at the beginning of each summer of things I want to accomplish. Sometimes I carry things over from the previous summer's list and there are times that I do things that aren't on the list so I add them to the bottom to see how much I did or didn't actually accomplish over the summer vacation.

This is my To Do List as it stands right now.

2008 To Do List

1. go on vacation
2. make jelly
3. read books
4. scrapbook
5. finish Christmas journal
6. back up all photos onto dvd
7. finish altered puzzle pieces
8. work on Oprah book
9. finish knitting sweater
10. file and organize paper work
11. have garage sale
12. put stuff on ebay
13. alter and create photo cubes with cubes
14. finish altering 2 more H’s
15. find a shelf and put it up over couch for H display
16. clean out the top of Brian’s closet
17. learn to roller blade
18. make “believe” book
19. exercise more
20. remove wallpaper and paint kitchen
21. move old stove out and new stove in
22. make mom’s scarf
23. find knitting pattern for boys’ hats
24. visit farmer’s market more often
25. use chalk/pastels to color floral drawing
26. update the new phone book

Ther are some fun things, some things that are mandatory and somethings I keep moving on from year to year. I think learn to roller blade has been a carry over for 3 years and make jelly for 2. Oh the Oprah book has been on there for a while as well. Some can be done in combination like read more/vacation/knit mom's scarf. I plan on taking my books and knitting on my vacation. The flight to England will give me good uninterupted time as will the sea days on the cruise.

I doubt the wallpaper/paint job will get done because Don's unemployed and that's just extra money we don't have right now. Hopefully the guys can surprise me by moving out the old stove while I'm on vacation.

I should just get some dvds and back up one per day. I have started my scrapbook more yesterday I did a page. Boy I'm out of the loop on this because it took me hours to finish this simple page.



Credits here

Other than that, nothing big and exciting happening since I started summer vacation on Friday. Just looking forward to getting out, doing things, and spending time with friends.

1 freaking hour!!! I'm so EXCITED!!!

Everything is packed. 99% of all my stuff is moved into my new room! We have ONE hour until SUMMER VACATION!!

Yesterday Don came and helped me move stuff and finish packing up. He took the train in and we rode home together. Actually he was not only industrious with helping me, he walked to the train and walked to the school. Those were both about 30 minute walks too.

Today Don got roped into coming on the zoo field trip with me and my class. It was stormy last night and got really hot and humid today. We both have some sunburn too. The kids seemed to enjoy it.

I actually today something that has never happened to me. We lost a kid. Well actually I think he lost us. We were lined up, all accounted for and we literally walked out of the underground dolphin viewing center and around a corner to go eat lunch. I must be a really BAD teacher but the kids and I didn't notice that the boy was missing for almost 10 minutes. We back tracked, found another teacher and she told me that a third teacher had my kid. We rode the bus with his class so I knew eventually we'd catch up. We never did find the other teacher but did find him at the bus line. I really didn't worry after I knew he was safe and ok.

What is funny is what some of the kids told Don as to what should be this boy's punishment. One girl who is so nice, honest, and a cutie tells Don that this boy should get yelled at 8 times and have a detention after school today. Wouldn't that be a nice for me to sit through on the next to last day.

I'm so glad that school is going to be over. I'm overly excited!!! Can I just tell you that I'm EXCITED!!!! This is my first summer in 3 years that I DON'T have classes to stress over.

Life calls for ice cream!

That's right, ice cream. Tonight I'm splitting a container of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Don. Although today was stressful enough I easily could have eaten a whole pint myself. Do you do that, binge on some sort of food when your life is stressed and crazy busy? I'm horrible about it. I also do it when I'm bored and God knows that does happen. For someone who's overly busy, I do get bored.

I have 4 more days until the class has to be 100% packed and until the end of school.
Today was the roller skating party and I hope we never go back. Kids wouldn't listen, didn't understand things, were dropping food all over the floor and not cleaning it up. I swear this particular field trip gets harder each year. I do have to say I think it wore them out because I actually called Don on my cell phone, on the bus on the way back, and he said you're on the bus, with kids?

After we got back we chilled with a bit of a read aloud. One of my end of the year stories is You're a Brave Man Julius Zimmerman A great book because it starts with the boy starting his own summer vacation, goes to intense summer language school, starts a baby sitting job and have many other situations arise. Definately not my all time favorite read aloud but I'll save that for another day.

There were other situations come up today with my own child, but that is too long and too drawn out to put into this blog. Let's just say, if the field trip wasn't enough to drive me to the ice cream, my child did!

I have some scrapbook pages I need to work on but I have to make it through the week. Tomorrow is the ice cream sundae party I used as an incentive for the kids to really learn their multiplication tables. Believe me, I owe at least 40 scoops of ice cream. Lots of sauce, candy, sprinkles and about 18 cherries. Had to buy 2 of the big gallons of ice cream.

Ok, the ice cream is gone and I feel my pillow calling my name. Have a good week!

Long overdue

Wow I didn't realize it had been so long since I updated my blog. I can't say it's been because I've been relaxing or staying off the computer. I can say that it's been because May is always an extremely busy month at my house.

Since my last update:

Don and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary.


Brian turned 16.




Don and I went to St. James Farm the dairy and horse farm from the McCormicks who were the orignal owners of International Harvester.







and Don and I went to the zoo.

We are also trying to get ready for a big garage sale. I have 9 more days of school.
I'm trying to pack my entire classroom because we are getting air conditioning (YIPEE), I'm changing classrooms, I've been working on putting together a movie for a co-worker's retirement party this Friday, trying to keep up on grades, and trying to get some movement in each day aka exercise.

If I'm not back until June, you'll know why!

Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day and here it is such a gloomy, rainy, windy day. It's pretty yucky actually. It's so dark, not the day you want to spend doing something fun in the warm weather. I don't know if our long, cold winter is ever really going to loosen it's grip from our weather. We get a warm day or two then a string of cold days. I have one window in my classroom that opens, and I've only really needed to open it maybe 2 or 3 days. We're in the middle of May and still we've had only a handful of nice days. I keep seeing flowers for sale everywhere and they are tempting but I don't usually buy flowers until my anniversary. So I can start looking at flowers on Friday. I'll probably only buy a couple of hanging baskets because flowers are so darn expensive and I really can't justify flowers when Don's not working.

Doug will be finished with school this week and he's started bringing stuff home. I'll be glad to have him home but that means double the food bill and more garbage. Those are the two things that we significantly noticed by having him gone. The food lasts longer, we eat healthier (he won't eat fish at all, and is a very picky eater), and we only have to take the garbage out every other week. We do put out 3-4 recycling bins each week though. He will be working, hopefully a few days a week and for sure weekends.

Brian wants a job too, he can start looking after Friday, when he turns 16. Friday is Brian's golden birthday. He turns 16 on the 16th birthday. That is he'll turn 16 on the 16th if I don't kill him this week first. He's on the bubble of earning driver's education for first semester next year. He could have had it this year,
2nd semester, but he decided that the number of credits he earned last year wasn't important enough and the school punished him for not having at least 7 credits before taking it. He will have enough if he passes all his classes this semester, but now he's failing 2 classes and d's in two more. He's got 2 weeks left of school and he'll have to raise all the grades AND pass all the finals to pass. We also found out that he's been ditching his last period resource. A mandatory class, but since his advisor was out on maternity leave with his wife, that Brian felt that meant it was optional and blew it off. Don said last night that Brian should be sent to summer school without any choice but again, here goes that money thing. For a whole semester of summer school it was $360 last year. One semester is $180 and last year we made Brian pay for most of summer school as his punishment. He was right on track to NOT to have to go but again he's totally screwed up passing school. This whole thing makes me sick, but Brian is Brian and he'll never change to be the responsible kid that Doug is. Can I feel safe letting him behind the wheel of my car? He doesn't get that it's a responsiblity thing. Don also feels that Brian isn't going to put in the effort to study the Rules of the Road book to be able to pass his test on the 20th. They want kids to have some driving time over the summer since they'll need 50 hours of behind the wheel practice and have successfully passed the class before the kid can get the license.

Oh well, we missed our normal 2nd church service so we've got to get going to make third service. Then we are going out for lunch somewhere, I haven't decided yet.

So I hope that if you are a mother, that you have a Happy Mother's Day.

I'm not a counter...

but today I did count how many more days there are of school. There are 19 days and 18 with students. I sat down with another co-worker to figure out what we were doing the last week of school. Then I worked out next week's lessons. After that I'll have 2 short weeks to plan for. Next week will be end of the year testing to show progress. I've also planned a couple of fun things for next week. We'll be starting a project that has kind of evolved out of several projects, and a science activity that is more like a game of rolling dice.

So my activity. When I student taught we did these comic strips that got copied onto transparancies then colored and each student did a presentation on the overhead.
My first year at Roosevelt, we made shadow puppets from cardboard and went behind the sheet so it looked like a play and we did it with fairy tales and reader's theater scripts. Last year I don't remember if my class did a big end of the year fun project, surely we did but nothing as sophisticated. Well I read in the Reading Teacher about doing shadow puppets in a smaller scale and put on popcicle sticks for the overhead.

Well in my afterschool reading group, I merged the two activities. The students got into pairs, they wrote stories, then they drew the characters and setting. I ran them off on transparancies then they colored them in and read their plays with the stick puppets. I'm going to have my classroom students do the same thing. They will pair up and write a story and kind of turn it into a play/puppet show for the overhead projector. I haven't decided if I'm going to do the transparancies or if I'm going to do it as solid shadow puppets. Both are cool, the kids love to see how the transparancies evolve, but to have them all color them takes forever because I only have one set of Sharpie markers. Those are the only ones that work, and they are expensive.

Ok so now that I've totally rambled on about a goofy school project, I've got a couple of pictures to share. LOL, I don't know if you've heard but the ladies of our bunko group (we don't play bunko, and we get together as couples) we've been having a traveling martini bar. We've been trying a lot of different flavors, even mixing our own "purple" martinis. I bought good vodka this time and the 4 or 5 martinis kinda put me in a happy mood! So I thought I'd give you all a good chuckle with these pictures.







I have to clarify the last picture. My girlfriend, Carmen, and I came across this car once not too long ago that all of a sudden the window was cracked open and a gloved hand shot out and pointed. We looked at each other shocked and just laughed. Then we got behind that car, it happened again. We figured out that the guy was using hand signals because he had no turn signals. While both cars were driving in the left lane, the gloved hand popped out again and signaled to change lanes. By then we were dying of laughter in the car. Well a few weeks later, my friend Carmen emailed me saying she saw the same guy using hand signals again. Well we were reliving the story at my house last Saturday and this picture clearly shows I know how to hand signal! Yes a bit sloshed, and you definately can tell, but yet still signaling.

This group of people have been getting together for about 13 years. Each month we move to another house and have so much fun. There are certainly some subjects that we reimeinice about more than others, but there is always fun and laughter.

Ok on to other news: It appears that although U-Haul tried to fight Don's unemployment, the adjudicator seems to believe our story and we're pretty sure he's ruled in our favor. He said if there were any more problems he'd call back and he never did. Also, Don's been cast as an extra in Johnny Depp's movie "Public Enemy". He'll be a prisoner. My brother, who is also out of a job, other than waiting tables, has also been cast too. It's a period piece so costumes are given and sizes were very strict. I'm going to try to get Doug to apply too. The director Michael Mann hand picks his extras so Don's picture got him selected.


If you read my post and said prayers for us about unemployment and other things thanks so much. I won't even get into the fact that a man who was angry that I wanted in his lane to turn left threw a big rock at my windshield tonight. I'm just so glad that it didn't break. I swear how has our morals got to the point that if you're mad at someone you throw a rock at someone's windshield. So I said a prayer for that man.

If I'm not back here over the weekend....please mothers, have a Happy Mother's Day.

Almost to Hump Day

Yes, I've been known to refer to Wednesday as hump day. Not my favorite name for it, but sometimes just making it to Wednesday and getting over the middle of the week hump is so exhausting and this week has been one of those weeks.

This is my last week of extended day reading so I'll be free from students one hour earlier on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We still have mandatory teachers' meeting on Wednesdays but I think something is cooking for tomorrow's meeting. We were told to bring socks. We're thinking sock hop or bowling since it is teacher's appreciation week.

I've got a million and one things on my schedule and it seems like not nearly enough time for it all. I can't even imagine how I ever got things done when both boys were in sports, I went to school, and worked. Now there is more free time, or time that I allow myself to slack. I have a zillion papers to grade, and I'll tell you that is the absolute WORST part of my job. I hate to grade papers. Usually I have the students correct their work as part of our period but there are just some assignments they can't. Of course they are usually the big projects that are so subjective and take forever to read and grade. Well there are about 3 big stacks of those in my school bag tonight. I'll let you guess how many I'll actually be grading tonight!

Earlier tonight, we, Don, my mom and I, took the money and donations over to the family shelter. It is a brand new facility that has offices, counseling, and a live in facility. It is really nice and for women who need that time to heal and get on their feet, the facility allows someone to live there up to 6 months. We did get to go into the living quarters, but we didn't go upstairs to the bedroom areas. I talked to the head of the facility about my volunteering idea and she loved it. It probably won't start until July, they said they'd like me to go through some training and I need to get through school and then take my well deserved vacation. My idea for them is that I would come in and read the kids a story and do some type of activity that is related to the story. I also figure I could ride my bike there and get some excercise in too. I've got some time to sort this all out but if things work out, this is something that could even last through the school year.

Last night I went to a friend's house. We played "beauty shop." It was quite relaxing. I put highlights in her hair and she helped me color the gray out of mine. Mine is slightly lighter and a bit more red. No one even noticed so I think we did a good job.

This post does sound all upbeat doesn't it?? Well in an earlier post I mentioned that Don was fearing losing his job. He did in fact lose his job and we are waiting to hear the outcome of unemployment. We should find out tomorrow. I hope it comes through because this is his pay week and we are used to having a paycheck each week. Please say a prayer that he's able to find something he enjoys and pays what we need.

Well I need to go take a picture of Don, he's applying to be an extra in the new Johnny Depp movie that is shooting locally. My brother already has an extra part so he told Don about it.

Hope you have a good hump day!

News Article about the Little Give

Yesterday the photographer came to the school for the newspaper article, today it was in the paper.

If you're interested in reading a bit more about my experiences with the little give, the Downers Grove Reporter has published an article. You can read it here!

200th Post

Who would have guessed that when I started this little ole' blog that I'd have 200 posts. I didn't that's for sure!

Let me give you a bit of an update on my Little Give Experience. It has been quite a week. I was on the radio again Tuesday morning to report how much money I was able to raise. You can download the April 22, Eric and Kathy Podcast to listen to me on the radio here!

I can't remember if I mentioned how much I earned in my last blog post, but I was able to raise $4,000!!!!! In 24 hours I was able to do more than I thought I could. People were amazing. This even caught the attention of the local newspaper and one of the ministers at church. Today he brought up my email and the amount I was able to raise in church.

I need to finish collecting the money, just a few people more and a couple more schools to collect from, get everything together and go to the facility.

Things are getting crazy-busy at school. It always does between April and June. I have am volunteering at the book fair tomorrow for a bit, then into a meeting (all after school), Reading group for 2 more weeks on Tuesday and Thursdays afterschool, Wednesday meeting too, and I've got to start getting organized to pack up my entire room. I wish I knew if I was staying put in that room or moving. I have requested to change rooms to the front hall but don't know yet if I'll be moving. We should be knowing soon, usually by Memorial Day.

We also have a difficult situation facing us, Don has the feeling that his time with U-haul is nearing an end. Often the case with middle management when a new president comes in, he tries to bring in his own people and with Don being so qualified and really should have gotten that job, the new 24 year old boss feels that Don is a threat and has demotted him and has told his new manager to get rid of him. This is truly an unfortunate situation but I feel that God will reveal a plan and somewhere a window is open for Don to find. Thankfully the college and high school tuitions are paid and we have a bit of reprieve from those. If you are the praying type, please keep us in your prayers that Don can find a job that pays pretty decent that will help us stay afloat, and that it is something that he likes and can do well.

I've got to go start on some papers to grade or starting my grocery list for a quick trip to the store. Tons to get done because we are thinking of volunteering at St. James Farm. This was the private, farm retreat of the McCormicks, of Chicago and International Harvester riches. Their farm has been purchased by the county's forest perserve and it's about to open to the public for the first time ever. You can read more about the interesting history of this in this newsletter. I was quite surprised at how much I learned about Illinois and Chicago history that I didn't know.

I hope you've found something intersting in this 200th blog post. I guess that is about an average of 100 posts per year or once every 3.5 days. Hey not so bad when you consider that the title of my blog is "My Busy Life." I think I sort of let you know that I'm pretty busy. I hope you're not too busy to leave me a little comment.
Thanks!

Give Big with a Little Give

Today was an emotional roller coaster. But before I can tell you the story I've got to give you some background. There is a radio station here WTMX 101.9 that did a promotion the first week that Oprah's Big Give started. Eric and Kathy, the morning show hosts, I think DJ's are not the appropriate job title any longer, did something called Eric and Kathy's Little Give. They gave 3 "players" $100.00 each to do something good with; donate it or help someone else out who could use just a little. Their objective was to do a similiar thing to what was happening on Oprah's show. After hearing them give away the money and hearing the outcome of the three people's gives I felt compelled to write the radio station to compliment them and tell them that this should be something to continue. A week or two later, I heard they were going to continue it but were changing it slightly and were picking communities to focus on. Jump ahead to today. I got up and on my way to work earlier than normal. Next they, Eric and Kathy, were talking about it being the last time they were doing their Little Give project. They were taking text messages to determine the community but I missed that part. Low and behold the community that was selected was mine, Downers Grove.

What a coincidence that just last night I was spreading the virtues of this great program with my mom. We talked about it so much that I actually missed the finale of Oprah's Big Give. Well after they announced my town and they said they were looking for 2 callers, I called. First I got a busy signal so I hung up and tried one or two more times. Sure enough, I got through and was selected!
I was put on the radio and one of the two people who were going to be given $100 to use and try to grow to make more. I was picked and now I had to scramble to figure out what organization. I selected the Family Shelter Service

Once this was actually put on my shoulders I immediately felt I wasn't going to be able to do as well as some of the others have done. I had to teach all day. How could I make this $100 turn into more in 24 hours? I swear do you know how quickly 24 hours is? I started to freak out and one of my close friends at school told me just do what you can. I called my family and asked Don and my mom to help me out. My mom called my brother whose field of work is donations! Geesh how could that have slipped my mind? I think it was a foggy, Monday morning brain. So I started sending out emails to everyone I knew. Sure enough I started getting some back saying I'll give you $25 or $100 or some other wonderful amount.

I got the kids in my class involved. Hey we did a bit of spelling, reading, and math today. I figure they got a chance to go above and beyond a "normal" day at school. They got to be involved in something big that was titled "little." It wasn't little. Can you believe that all my students went room to room collecting donations from all the teachers at Roosevelt School? After that my class worked all afternoon and popped popcorn to sell after school. We popped close to 200 bags. Try keeping some sanity with 18 kids and 200 bags of popcorn! I laugh now thinking back. Well tonight I came home and had over 40 emails from teachers from other schools.

Jump ahead to right now, I've finished calculating how much we've earned. I say we because I could have never done this without my students, the staff of Roosevelt School, the teachers of Cicero District 99, my mom, dad, brother, and husband. I have such wonderful friends who are willing to go above and beyond. The ladies who work at Beauty Company of Chicago who graciously donated $175 after my haircut. The people at my Weight Watchers meeting tonight gave over $50.

Ultimately, as of right now, I am going to be able to tell the Chicagoland area that my peeps were able to provide Family Shelter Services almost $4000.

To my peeps, YOU ROCK!!!! I cannot express my gratitude and thanks. If you feel you can contribute and the first 24 hours is over, keep it going because this shelter can always use "stuff" besides money. They can also use you. Consider being a volunteer there. Give them some time, sometimes that is worth more than money.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

A Saturday and a layout

I took yesterday off earlier in the week as a personal day because Don was going to be off and we were going to have a garage sale. The week got crazy and they kept calling for rain on Friday and Saturday. So we decided on Thursday when they kept saying rain, rain, rain that we would hold off for a couple weekends. Well yesterday was beautiful and although it rained a bit last night it's been cloudy but dry again today. I guess the weather people aren't always capable of predicting God's weather. So I'm thinking I should go out and price stuff to get ready for when the right weekend does come along.

I have been such a slacker with my Creative Team duties. I've been so swamped with work, which only gets busier from now until the end of the year, that I've not been doing much scrapbooking. Well today I was feeling super guilty and instead of going out, or actually going to my girlfriend's to scrapbook on her monthly scrapbook day, I just sat and did it in my quiet house.

The fruits of my labor are here:



Credits here

So I hope that you are having a funfilled weekend. I'm happy to see spring is here. We finally have some dafodills and a few tulips. Next week the tulips at the mall should be in full bloom and might deserve a little trip to see them, and maybe some shopping.

sometimes you feel like a nut...

and sometimes you don't! Well I decided to figure out what kind of nut I really was! Some will say I'm seriously cracked, some know I'm just a bit nutty. Then there are my close friends who I love to be around and the nuttier the better!

You Are a Brazil Nut

To most people, you seem exotic, unusual, and even a bit scary. But you're really quite normal. You're just hard to get to know. If people leave you alone and let you do your thing, you really shine. But you tend to get lost in a crowd, especially if it's filled with big personalities.

What Nut Are You?

Thinking about your thinking

is one of those wonderful educator things. We call it metacognition. It truly is thinking about your thinking. It gets deep and kind of weird because it can keep going. Anyway, I digress because I was just coming to post about my own thinking and what kind of thinker I am.

Your Thinking is Abstract and Random

You are flexible, adaptable, and creative. There's many ways that you can learn - and you're up for any of them. You relate well to other people, and you do well working in groups. You can help people communicate together and work with each other's strengths. You don't work well with people who are competitive or adversarial. You prefer to work toward a common goal... not toward conflicting goals.

What Kind of Thinker Are You?

I guess I have to say that I'm not surprised. I'm kind of a go with the flow, then get down to business when urgent. I want my stuff to show my creativity and my unique personality and to blow others away, yet I want it factual.

So after reading about my thinking, and thinking about your thinking, take the quiz that tells you about your thinking!