Why am I fat? Just a little chuckle...

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

I figured out why I'm fat! The shampoo I use in the shower that runs down my body says "for extra volume and body". I'm going to start using "Dawn" dish soap. It says "dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove".

This was copied (with permission) from a friend's FB page... wish I had thought it up myself.. I'm still giggling.

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daily blog #1- Beware the

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

I am going to try and take a page out of Tina and Jen's books and get something out here everyday. This is a stretch for me, I usually blog when I have a "big" thought or feeling to get out. But may be putting a little something out everyday will help me stay focused on my healthy lifestyle choices... we'll see.

So the title.. Beware the "Wides of March"
Why am I back at it again? Well I have come perilously close the the weight I started at when I became an active sparker.... that is "not okay" as I tell my students. I know I have been cocooning in this coldest and snowiest of winters. I was a little frustrated with some personal things and very busy.. it was not hard to do.

I can make good food choices, I can exercise 5 times a week. I can do my back exercises and avoid the pain I was in at this time last winter.

I CAN avoid the" Wides" of March (and April, May and June for that matter) and I WILL.

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patience of a 2 year old

Monday, February 28, 2011

Okay, I've been logging, exercising and eating right for 3 days now. This is not my first time 'round the block' as far as getting back on the horse. I have been active on "Spark" for about 3 years...

Why do I feel I should see results already?

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Wake Up Call

Thursday, February 10, 2011

I have been fairly quiet lately...
Having personal struggles that are not revolving around weight and fitness. (But, also not helping it...) I have recently, with the help of others, here at Spark, among my family and friends, and a counselor, determined that I need to take some time for myself and "slow it all down a little". That is what I have been trying to do. This will help my overall health and wellness.

I know I am fortunate, I know that the difficulties my family have faced pale in comparison to others I know and know of. Wonderful folks who, have financial, health and/or personal problems that are tearing at their very selves/souls.

As I said to my sister-in-law recently... I feel like we are turning a corner in our family, we have a ways to go, but are finally turning the corner...

Then, today, the loudest wake up call.. again from one of my kindergarteners. Here is some perspective...

This young man (I was going to say "Little Guy" but he is a "Big Boy" and on his second run through Kindergarten is new to the class. He joined us in the middle of January. He came on a Friday, and on the next Monday had somehow knocked the sink off the wall in the bathroom. (It was during an inside lunch... I wasn't in charge LOL.) On Tuesday, assistant told me to "keep an eye on him" as she had seen some "shady" behavior (and my assistant is among the gentlest and most positive women I know) when they were in Art class. So, I watch.

He watches, too. He sees that some of the other kids hug me. He sees that I hug them back. After about 5 days, he's done watching. I come back from lunch and he hugs me, I hug him back. Then next day, he comes in, and hugs me first thing in the morning. I hug him back. Then he's hugging me 3-4 times a day, occasionally he throws in "I love you, Mrs. O." I tell him "I love you, too, Buddy."

Today, I return from lunch and there he is with my now daily "post lunch hug", I hug him back and he says,

"Can I come home with you? I wish you were my Mom." (Kindergartners think this is the highest compliment they can give ... which it is... and others have said this to me before. I tell this, not to brag, but to explain why I have a "standard response" to this high compliment. )

I say, "I would be proud to be your mom, but your mom would never let me have you, she loves you too much."

Then he takes my breath, and a good piece of my heart, he replies, "Oh, I think You can have me. She already gave me to my Auntie, that's why I came to this school."

I try to explain (what I think happened.... as nobody has bothered to explain to me what his actual situation is), "Oh Buddy, that must have been so hard for you, and your Mom. Sometimes Moms have troubles that kids don't know about, and I'm sure she thinks that the very best thing for you is to be in a safe place and a good school living with your Auntie."

He's not having it, "Nope, I don't think so. She sent me and my sister away (2nd grader) but she kept the 'little girls' with her. So, you can have me if you want."

So, I respectfully submit to you, what I have determined for myself today, if you have made your way to a computer and are able to spend time on Spark, count your blessings.. .they are there, no matter how frustrated you are with your husband, your kids, your boss or yourself.

There is a six year old boy in my class, who is trying to find a "better place" for himself. He has weighed the options and is actively trying improve his situation . Surely we can find a way to do better for ourselves, and perhaps while were at it, try to do better for those around us.

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Reflection and Preparation: Advent

Saturday, December 11, 2010

I have been having a challenging Autumn.

My husband is finishing up his internship in bio/medical technology, but alas hospitals in Michigan are finally catching up to the rest of our sapped out economy here. Though he got 99% on his midterm and 97% on his final evaluations! But, they are laying off personnel at his hospital, and others in the area. I am proud and sympathentic, but also frustrated and tired of carrying the ball.

My school district (where I teach) is divided in almost every way. The teachers have no contract (and have not since Sept. of 2009). They disagree about the way to go about being fair; ,but also requiring fairness from the school board. The school board is disrespectful and rude; but in over their head and so afraid to make mistakes that they compound them. The elementaries have received excellent ratings and put out excellent test scores the secondary is in the bottom 5% of the state. The community members are fighting amongst themselves about what they think the problems are and how they should be solved.

Personally, I have been struggling, the above are certainly understandable reasons, and I also have (I teach kindergarten) on of those "once in a lifetime" students who is very engaging and cute, but also has problems (from prenatal drug exposure and very loving, caring and involved but inexperienced cousin who is raising him but overwhelmed). He is, despite my best efforts, disrupting my classroom and rocking my personal world.

So, this Advent I have been trying to find my way back to a center place, at least within myself. I try to remind myself that I cannot achieve this on my own, but that I must open myself and change my life to make internal change and calm possible. To that end I have been planning to reread a book I bought years ago. This book is about making the miracle of Christmas part of you life and not seasonal. I made a diligent effort to start this morning,

I had only gotten through the forward prior to this morning. In chapter one I was already blown away. So after a long preamble... I offer you this.

From: Starlight: Beholding the Christmas Miracle All Year Long by John Shea

"Christmas is not a moveable feast. It belongs in December, a hodgepodge of faith, and culture. It is true that there have grown up around the simple birth of Jesus Christ the extravagancies of the feast of Christmas. Most certainly, the center of the celebration of Christmas is the faith appropriation of the birth of Jesus through Word and Sacrament. But clustered around the center is a sleighful of traditions, the cultural heritage of Christmas. We do not have to see these traditions as rivals and eliminate them until only the simple birth of Jesus Christ remains. They can be viewed as refractions of the Light at the Center. Some of them need to be modified and reminded of their place. Other need to be enhanced. But most should be treated generously as attempts to extend the Spirit of Christmas."

So, I am going to start by remembering that my decisions and actions... for Christmas and in general are REFLECTIONS. And by remembering what it is that I desire to REFLECT.

Happy preparation!

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