I have a friend named Troy who is a regular blogger. We met when our boys were in the same Cub Scout troop many years ago and have managed to stay in touch. Today Troy had a post that I decided I wanted to try. So thanks Troy! She was asked to name 20 things that she loves about herself. Considering I just asked Bud to give me some adjectives for my dating profile, this fits amazingly well with my problem. I can't describe myself. Do a great job of it with others, but come up with a very stilted and nearly blank list of words for myself. And I am NEVER at a loss for words as both Troy and Bud can tell you!
So here goes...20 things I love about myself...in no particular order (that is a task all of its own).
1. I love that I am a mom to two wonderful, nearly grown children.
2. I love that I had the guts to go back to school and get my teaching certificate and my Masters Degree.
3. I love that I had the guts to cut up my credit cards and to pay for everything in cash...even though some months I swear I am working on an ulcer to do so.
4. I love the fact that I am a voracious reader and that I seem to have picked up my reading traits from both my parents.
5. I love that I have a secret vice...playing Farmville and Zoo World on the internet...both have become addictive. Not so secret anymore!
6. I love that I have a big heart for animals. I got this from my dad. And though sometimes it is hard, the good times far outweigh the hard times.
7. I love that I haven't let my hearing loss keep me from doing anything I've wanted. Sometimes it makes things difficult and harder to obtain, but it has never stopped me.
8. I love the fact that I have taken the time to reflect, own up to and understand as best I can what happened to my marriage. I am not afraid to look inward.
9. I love the fact that I am learning to be less hard on myself. I am my own worst enemy - if you've thought it about me, don't worry, I've beat you to it.
10. I love the fact that I love to travel, even though I don't get to do too much of it right now. I have a bucket list of places to visit.
11. I love the fact that I have learned to leash the crockogator and only let her out when needed...well, most of the time!
12. I love the fact that I love to write...even if I never get the great American novel written.
13. I love the fact that different people perceive me in different ways. I am much more than I seem to anyone. In fact, I don't think anyone has seen ALL of me...only those portions I want to share.
14. I love the fact that I love to learn. I'd be a permanent student if I could - that second Masters in Bio-Ethics is looking really good right now.
15. I love the fact that I can multi-task and keep lists in my head of things that are important.
16. I love the fact that I can let minor, seemingly unimportant things excite me...it is good not to have lost some of that child-like wonder.
17. I love the fact that I am in a good family and that I like my family. Not everyone can say that.
18. I love the fact that I am very much a creature of habit and that I don't mind being alone - in fact I love the fact that I enjoy a quiet day by myself.
19. I love the fact that I am open minded and that I don't try to push my beliefs on others. In fact, I suspect that most people couldn't tell me what my beliefs are...and that is the way I like it.
20. I love the fact that I analyzed what I just wrote and find it interesting that I've not mentioned anything about physical traits. Ooops!
Ok, Troy. This was much harder to write than I thought it would be...I don't like describing myself. Maybe that is why I am having problems coming up with a description for my dating profile. Thoughts to ponder....
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Back in the Saddle Again...
Yes, back in the saddle again. Not literally, of course as I don't own, nor wish to own a horse. But back to blogging. I've been gone way too long. So long that I can't find my earlier blogs. So I guess this is start-over time.
When I last blogged I was teaching at an elementary school near my home. Close enough even, that had I wished, I could have walked to and from each day. That has since changed. One of the downsides to the state budget woes is changes in the classrooms. The enrollment at my school kept dropping as a result of the massive foreclosures in the area. Low enrollment equals teachers moved to other schools. In all, nine of us were transplanted. Of the nine, four were from my grade level.
I was one of the lucky ones...so I thought. I got to choose which school to go to and I chose one four miles from my home. I had heard good things about the site and had been there as a reporter when it first opened and was dedicated. I figured this was a good omen. In fact I was as cheerful as I could be leaving the only school I had taught at and where both my kids attended.
Since I didn't find out where I was to go or what grade level until the day before the last day of school, I was only partially packed when the movers came the following morning at 9 am. As a result, I had to move myself. Fortunately, I have two strong teens, and strong teen friends with pick-ups. When I got to my new school, my classroom wasn't ready for me - the teacher in there was frantically trying to move her stuff as we ALL were in the same boat. I made arrangements to stack my stuff along one wall.
By the end of the day all my stuff was in the new classroom, haphazardly stacked. I was told I couldn't come in over the summer break, and I couldn't get my keys until the start of the new school year either. On my drive home from my new site I cried for the first time since this all started.
The school year ended up being the worst I've had as a teacher. Unruly students, not knowing where everything was in my classroom, lack of grade level direction and collaboration from the start. A student that hurt other students deliberately, a student that clearly needed to be in special education, and 21 of 25 students whose home language was not English. No sense of belonging, no sense of working together and clear feelings that my boss disliked me. UGH!
I decided I couldn't do another year like that even if it meant moving to another school site.
I approached my boss in March and asked for a grade level change for this year. Fortunately he was receptive and I was able to request 2 or 3, but would take anything except K. The school year wound down and in the last couple of weeks I was offered a 3/4 combo class, which I accepted before the words were completely out of my boss' mouth.
So...like the Queen of England I had an annus horibilius, but survived.
When I last blogged I was teaching at an elementary school near my home. Close enough even, that had I wished, I could have walked to and from each day. That has since changed. One of the downsides to the state budget woes is changes in the classrooms. The enrollment at my school kept dropping as a result of the massive foreclosures in the area. Low enrollment equals teachers moved to other schools. In all, nine of us were transplanted. Of the nine, four were from my grade level.
I was one of the lucky ones...so I thought. I got to choose which school to go to and I chose one four miles from my home. I had heard good things about the site and had been there as a reporter when it first opened and was dedicated. I figured this was a good omen. In fact I was as cheerful as I could be leaving the only school I had taught at and where both my kids attended.
Since I didn't find out where I was to go or what grade level until the day before the last day of school, I was only partially packed when the movers came the following morning at 9 am. As a result, I had to move myself. Fortunately, I have two strong teens, and strong teen friends with pick-ups. When I got to my new school, my classroom wasn't ready for me - the teacher in there was frantically trying to move her stuff as we ALL were in the same boat. I made arrangements to stack my stuff along one wall.
By the end of the day all my stuff was in the new classroom, haphazardly stacked. I was told I couldn't come in over the summer break, and I couldn't get my keys until the start of the new school year either. On my drive home from my new site I cried for the first time since this all started.
The school year ended up being the worst I've had as a teacher. Unruly students, not knowing where everything was in my classroom, lack of grade level direction and collaboration from the start. A student that hurt other students deliberately, a student that clearly needed to be in special education, and 21 of 25 students whose home language was not English. No sense of belonging, no sense of working together and clear feelings that my boss disliked me. UGH!
I decided I couldn't do another year like that even if it meant moving to another school site.
I approached my boss in March and asked for a grade level change for this year. Fortunately he was receptive and I was able to request 2 or 3, but would take anything except K. The school year wound down and in the last couple of weeks I was offered a 3/4 combo class, which I accepted before the words were completely out of my boss' mouth.
So...like the Queen of England I had an annus horibilius, but survived.
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