Saturday & Sunday events

Monday, September 20, 2010

Well, I only had a few minutes on-line yesterday cuz I went to bed at about 10:30 and actually SLEPT!!!

I went to school and planned almost my whole week, and then I went to the Local Talent Show (10th annual). They had a country & western band and people were jigging and singing and they had a laughing contest and a moose calling contest and there was going to be fiddling, but I left so I didn't have to walk home in the dark.
RE; Bannock - Pat I was even asking people if it was a Cdn. term since Terri didn't know what it was... Scottish, eh? Well, there were a lot of Scots came over her and intermingled with native peoples so maybe that's where it comes from. I think of it as being pretty much the same as baking powder or Tea biscuits.... Anyway, the meal was chili and stew and bannock and many different types of desert. The bannock was the only disappointment.... The entertainment was wonderful and I met a 77 y.o. lady there who looked younger than her 61 y.o. son......She's the grandmother of Koo-kum) of one of my students.

So, today I cleaned house and my company arrived about 1pm and I took my mother over to see my school and she was quite impressed and told my brother, school isn't like it used to be...(I showed her a few things on my Smart Board). Since her and my brother are fussy eaters I didn't know what to serve but frozen lasagna with garlic toast and Greek salad went over well. Then we played a card game called "Phase 10". I actually won, and that has to be a first.... I've only ever played it with them. It was fun. My mother doesn't think she wants to take an hour and a half bus ride to come here on Thursday so she may not be going to the city to see her grand-daughter and 2 great grandchildren... disappointing...

But, then I wasn't in the mood to go finish up at school .... oh well! I got the homework all figured out, just have to copy it and put it together in their folders tomorrow. Hopefully I am not on duty and will have time to do that!! ttyl.... (snow's gone!)

So, it's short and sweet here, I gotta get ready for bed... where did the day go?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NORASPAT 9/20/2010 10:10AM

LILA- BANNOCK is a memory for many and that is why it is popular. Of course it was a disappointment you have no attachment to it. It is a bit like Newfie hard tack. Awful till you dump it in the stew, When you are hungrey soup and hard tack tastes great, Irish peopl used Soda bread they had access to Soda for leavening. Bannock is unleavened bread I guess like the wafer in the communion at MASS. Just so you know its origin you can understand why it is there. Many older generations never had a sweet tooth and that was not a bad thing . YOUR blog is the most UPBEAT in a very long time. I feel certain you are getting the hang of positive thinking and i am happy for that Pat in Maine. Please re- read your blog, youmight see a different Lila. Sorry about the trip, the children are the losers there i do hope she changes her mind, It is of course her loss also. Love you Pat in Maine. Comment edited on: 9/20/2010 10:18:09 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRI289 9/20/2010 8:10AM

Sounds like a wonderful day!!! Thanks for telling me what bannock is-I thought that it might be fish!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MOMMA_BEAR_69 9/20/2010 1:17AM

Congratulations on spending time with your family and having a memorable weekend. Hope your mom will change her mind. Have a great week!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MONTY68 9/20/2010 1:11AM

Hi Lila Overall, you had a pretty good weekend, first getting some much needed sleep. Well at least your mother came to your home and you got to show off your school. It is sad that she can't or won't travel to see the her Granddaughter and the great grand children. Maybe she will change her mind. Never heard of Phase 10 but I am glad you won. So congratulations on a better weekend and for sharing with us. Monty Report Inappropriate Comment

The White Stuff!

Friday, September 17, 2010

It was here this morning when I woke up... SNOW! Yes, it did melt but it's still summer, how can this happen? Well the day went well, I know I always panic if I don't have things adequately planned because I expect the very best I can be and lately, this "trying to be" a perfectionist has been taking its toll on me... I am afraid I won't plan it RIGHT... so I've been paralyzed and unable to plan at all... horrible way to feel..

But, today, I took advantage of a couple of changes at school to adapt... I asked our TA/Cultural teacher to teach an art class today with pastels. I've never had any art lessons ever, ever, so this was nice. Kids want "instant", and don't want to listen, and say, I'm done, I'm done, but I persevered and kept repeating "If we don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all". We finished and we displayed our pics and new skill learned (for me, at least!)

BTW, I won a prize at the trade show yesteray (so the kids told me) it was a T-shirt and a "toy" bus (not sure about that yet)... probably we'll be able to pick up prizes on MOnday, the office was closed today.

My brother called tonite and suggested he will bring my mother down on Sunday, I told him my idea about taking her into the city to see her grand and great-grand children. It doesn't seem to work with his schedule, so we'll have to see. There is a "Talent Show" and "Bannock and Stew" supper for $10 here in the community tomorrow and I really feel like I need to go. I suggested it to my brother to come down tomorrow r/t Sunday, but as I said, "We'll see." I called dd and told her my idea.... so, "We'll see".

It's another weekend, and wish everyone an extended summer, not an early winter...

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NORASPAT 9/18/2010 8:42PM

Lila i always thought bannock was a scots term not Canadian, It is unleavened bread we used to make it in England also. Hope you enjoy it Lila. I hope your relatives cooperate , that would be nice, hopefully they will take interest in your community. Great you were a winner, Just remember you are always a winner in my book. Try to go with the flow and enjoy yourself, laugh and be merry just sit back and enjoy. Especially enjoy the stew and Bannock, I hope they also have real, BUTTER, its the only way to go. Pat in Augusta. Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRI289 9/18/2010 10:13AM

The snow is still THERE!!!!! EEEEKKKK!! Hope it melts. Busy day as usual, congrats on the prize!! What is Bannock? Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRI289 9/18/2010 10:07AM

The snow is still THERE!!!!! EEEEKKKK!! Hope it melts. Busy day as usual, congrats on the prize!! What is Bannock? Report Inappropriate Comment

Trade show and BBQ

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Well today was the twice yearly big show. They all come into town and set up in the hall and give away lots of swag... I got 5 bags, about 35 pencils, 20 pens, a couple of slinkies, a couple of little flicking lamps and balls etc etc.... Then you have a big BBQ... BEing out in the middle of the boonies, this is a big deal. Anyway, I bet the burger was 1000 calories, it was so HUGE!

Well, it's almost the end of the week and I need a rest. I would much prefer if I could magically get into a mood to figure out how to do all this planning I need to do, but I can't see that happening...

My mother is coming from the east coast out here to AB. to visit my brother, I haven't heard from them, but maybe she will even see me. I was thinking I'd take her to the city to see her granddaughter and her great grandson who was born on her 65th birthday, but with the dysfunctional family I have, that may not happen, and I have to remember not to get upset about it, it would be her loss not mine.

Well, at this trade show I always have luck with the draws.... wonder what I will win this time? Pat, is that positive thinking?????

well, didn't go to school tonite, talked on phone with dh, sister and g.kids and played computer card games.... nothing strenuous, I am fighting off the bugs the kids have been bringing to school and sneezing all over the place....

I took a pill had such a good sleep that coming back from the bathroom in the middle of the night, I banged my little toe on the bed and it was sore all day... when I got home, I checked it is very purple, red and swollen.....

oh yeah, and the big news, we had SNOW today... imagine the white stuff already here! and it's supposed to be summer still. At one point, it looked like a blizzard out the window. Then it rained and then it sunned and we had huge puddles...What a year! CRAZY!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MONTY68 9/17/2010 11:14PM

Hi Lila Glad you enjoyed the trade show and the BBQ. Sometimes families are hard to deal with, not sure of the circumstances around yours. perhaps you can open the door to some communication. I really don't think you can make any great plans until you get some good rest. Your writing sounds tired, maybe this weekend you can get some rest and leave some other things go. Our poor little toes take such a beating at times, hope this finds it feeling better. Snow? I have heard that word somewhere, is this just a bit early? I really think we got to start paying attention, our weather is doing strange things. Well, again my suggestion is to rest, rest, rest, you need more if you are catching anything from the kids. Monty Report Inappropriate Comment

NORASPAT 9/17/2010 7:14AM

sounds like you hd a good day with the BBQ and goodies, Nice diversion for you I am glad it went well. SNOW! I am with TERRI, I not only just want to hibernate, I actually do it. So scared of falling, have done it too many times. I am glad you are getting some sleep, you have a lot of sleep deprivation to catch up on. TRY not think of your family as dysfunctional, honestly most every bodies is that way these days, I know mine was but it was my family.Somebady coined the phrase and everyone latched on to it. Think of them as FAMILY and just go with the flow but you are right, be looking out for yourself knowing you might not like how they behave, enjoy the visit if you possibly can. You might be surprised. Back to school colds are the pits, take care, make schicken soup and take ESTER C It will not make it go away but it will boost your immune system and help shorten its duration. Thats how it works for us. I hope your planning of your "things to do" gets better, I am thinking I am tidying up the clutter in my head and it does help the clutter in my life. Stay in touch, you know you are important Pat in Maine. Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRI289 9/17/2010 6:48AM

YOur poor toe!! SNOW????!!!!!????? Thank god it melted. Snow makes me want to hiberate! HOpe you can stay healthy with the sneezy children everywhere!! The butterflies are a draw but I would really like to come visit you!!! Have a great day!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Rainy Wednesday

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

No news is good news.... had an all day PD day today, overwhelming, came home and made a nice supper, spanish rice with mushroom and olives in it and a fish fillet. Capensis... anyone ever hear of it>? I bought them really cheap at some store in the city and all I did was pan fry with no extra fat and some lemon garlicpepper, and was it ever good! I even ate a muffin and the humburger they gave for lunch and I did not go over my count today, pleasant surprise...

Even got home in time for my "talking" appt. with counsellor... really looked forward to it..

Had lousy sleep and a headache all day. There is even more to do than I was imagining when I got overwhelmed at begining of year, but I have to stop and write down the postives I did this week, called my friend and talked for 3 hours the other nite, had AWESOME long term results from diabetic checkup, read a couple of good books, went to church, went to town and bought fresh fruit, .... I know there were a couple more, but am trying to finish up here quickly so I can be home in less than 2 hours, it's almost dark out there and as I titled my blog, raining again.... tonite calls for a sleeping pill

It was mentioned at our PD day how many teachers (in our division at least - if not everywhere) are on sleeping pills (a male teacher there even acknowledged it), anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety meds.... something's very not right!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MONTY68 9/16/2010 10:40PM

Hi Lila I will start at the end, perhaps the health department or someone should investigate your schools, not a good description of a number of people. head ache all day and bad sleep, you are really put into a stressful position with your school. even with that you did have some good positive things this week and looks like you ate well today. Well, the weekend is almost here, time to have some real Lila time. Monty Report Inappropriate Comment

NORASPAT 9/15/2010 10:49PM

Hi there for a moment I thought you had read my blog-THE power of POSITIVE THINKING. I really do beleive it is of the greatest help to many people. I never have been a very positive thinker but I am totally convinced this attitude change i am making towards the positive is helping me in so many ways. Pat in Maine. many hugs for my Spark Friend LILA Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRI289 9/15/2010 9:44PM

Wow, you are experiencing a serious case of overload!! It does sound like something is wrong. It sounds like your jobs are even more stressful than regular stress jobs!! Hope you rest well tonight. More tomorrow, hugs, Report Inappropriate Comment

Great News!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

well, it's been a year since the mobile diabetic clinic was here in community and they called me to come back. So I had my last food at midnite cuz I had to fast till 11:30 today and then they gave me breakfast there while I awaited the results... cheese, crackers, carrots, fruit, granola bar....

Well, I don't know how these Cdn. numbers compare with the US, so I'll give you the normal adult range and what mine were..

........................... Now........ Last Year
Wt. ........................ 201 ........ 212
AIC ....................... 6.7......... 8.2 (Normal should be under 7.1!!!!)
Fasting bs............. 7.45....... 10.76
Cholesterol......... 4.49....... 5.29 (normal less than 5.25)*
HDL .................... 1.67 ..... 1.70 (normal should great than 0.94)*
LDL ................... 2.21...... 2.72 (normal should be less than 1.95)*
Chol ratio.......... 2.69 (normal should be less 3.95)*
BP ...................... 130/75 ......... 120/73

Reason to celebrate for sure... (unfortunately I did with Smarties, the big box) but this brings my blood sugar levels back to what they were 6 years ago. Of course, in all fairness I am on a bit more medication now, but being diabetic for 14 years, they were really pleased.

*I know that the dr. uses a different set of values, and I am surprised that this special diabetic study through the university is not using the updated numbers - which are significantly lower than these.

But just when I was thinking there had not been any real measurable success this came at a perfect time to prove me wrong.... and show the long term effects have definitely improved. Just 3 or 4 months ago, my Dr. was ecstatic when I dropped my AIC from 8.2 to 7.2 and now down to 6.7.... I'm ecstatic too!!! I can't understand why my bs was 9.3 this a.m. at 8am and then at 11:30 it was down to 7.48...hmmmm?

And despite being off my exercise lately, I did walk around the school gym about 20 laps last nite, so hopefully I consider it a priority again and get back with the program. And the other positive at today's appt., I think she said my waist was also down about 7 cm.... (I know it's only cm, not inches, but this is a loss that is a positive as well)

Tomorrow we have no students and have to travel 40 km to our sister school for an all day Professional Development day. I sure hope it is worthwhile and I learn to fill in the blanks I fell lacking in..

Thank you to SP friends who have been standing behind me and hopefully the tides is about to turn and positive things are in the near future..

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ILLINITEACHER52 9/15/2010 9:59PM

You are making progress! Keep walking. It helps your blood pressure and also helps to relieve stress. After I walk for 20-25 minutes I can feel the stress draining out of me most days after school. Occasionally it takes 40 minutes after a really stressful day! (Better than sleeping pills though)! Report Inappropriate Comment

SWIMLOVER 9/15/2010 12:33PM

You did GOD BLESS! Louise Report Inappropriate Comment

MONTY68 9/15/2010 1:26AM

Hi Lila Yes indeed, this is a day to celebrate your numbers. It will show what you have accomplish in a year and the facts are showing that you have done quite well, lets call it excellent So I will point out to you, that with these past several months a disaster with what you didn't do. You are still better than a year ago, so your hard work last winter should show you that you can do it a be successful at what you do. Lets call today , September 14th, 2010, the day that Lila found her SPARK and will go forward with a new positive attitude, a excitement in her step, and the motivation to both eat healthy and exercise. NOW, understand, I am not saying anything that wasn't true last Spring, What I just wrote, was YOU in the spring. Congratulations and remember today!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Monty Report Inappropriate Comment

NORASPAT 9/14/2010 10:41PM

Great job LIla. thats the best blog from you in a long time. You are right it is time for positive things. My HUDDLE today was the power of positive thinking. It really is a plus when you find you can do it. Pat in Maine is Positively ecsataic over you much lowered A1c. Just shows you can do it. Way to go dear Spark friend. Stay motivated, keep at it because it is working for you now. Pat Report Inappropriate Comment

SLENDERELLA61 9/14/2010 9:07PM

Celebrate! Celebrate!! These numbers mean far more than those you see on the scale. BIG CONGRATS on all your healthy accomplishments. That is GREAT!! Report Inappropriate Comment

FLAMENM 9/14/2010 9:06PM

Great job on lowering the numbers! Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRI289 9/14/2010 9:00PM

Lila!!! That is great!! I am so proud of you!! The weight will come off, but you are so healthy. Wheeeeeee!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment