The View from Here

Like riding a bike.

I’ve had bicycles on my mind this week. On Sunday when I drove the car Gary asked me what it was like. “Like riding a bike” was my reply. Even though I hadn’t driven a car in months and months, and it felt a little awkward to be so close to the ground, I was soon driving with confidence.

Riding a bike is one of the first truly complex tasks that we learn as a child. It requires strength, skill, coordination, and determination. If we are lucky we progress from tricycle to training wheels to real bike without too many injuries. I remember struggling to ride the neighbor’s bike. He pushed, I fell. He pushed, I fell. The bike was too big for me, and it was a boy’s bike! Eventually I mastered it. And once mastered, the skill was mine for a lifetime. Our brain stores most complex tasks and remembers them when we need them. Hence the saying we so often use.

My students have been talking about their bicycles this week. Warm weather has prompted them to be out enjoying the sunshine. A few already have scrapes, but they assure me they are having a great time riding around their neighborhoods.

I saw two children pushing new bicycles out of WalMart the other day. Birthday presents, I overheard. I don’t remember having my own bicycle as a child, but I suppose I must have had at least one. I do remember riding with friends. My cousins and I rode around the high school in Selma, CA one day when I was supposed to “stay near the café and ride around the block” where Gran and Dad were working. That was and is one of the parental nightmares of bicycles- too much freedom, too many possibilities. Ironically on my way out of the parking lot at WalMart three young boys sped across the lot on their bikes and one nearly hit my truck.

My own children have had a series of bicycles. Of course they have also had problems and injuries. Karen probably suffered the most serious scrapes and bruises from an accident. But like most kids, she was back to riding in just a few short weeks. We’ve also had bicycles damaged and stolen, and some left behind when we moved.

Gary and I have ridden quite a bit over the years. Of course he participated in triathlons and did some very serious riding and training for those. We both owned bikes when we moved here, but sold them when we realized we couldn’t ride “racing bikes” on dirt road.

As proof that bicycle riding has been a joy for many generations I recently found this photo of my grandmother on a bike! (She is the one in the dark dress.) Aunt Martha is in the middle. I don't know the other woman. Thank you to my Aunt Betty for letting me scan this!

And here is one of my brother, Dan.

 

I don’t think you will see me on a bicycle any time soon, but it is nice to know that I could probably remember how to ride it!

Have a great day!   

 

The good with the bad...

We got over an inch of rain yesterday. Yes, most of it is sitting in puddles on top of the ground because our soil was already so saturated that there is no place for it to go. I’m hoping that the benefit will be strong healthy trees. At least at the end of the storm there was this great rainbow. I didn’t get the other side of it because the camera suddenly failed. Probably operator error. Anyway, Gary clicked a few buttons and got it going again, but by then the clouds had covered the rainbow.

I’m not thinking very clearly this morning. This is my second morning to awaken at 2am in agony. For some reason I am having back pain and spasms. I’ve managed to take ibuprofen, slather on some Theragesic cream and go back to sleep by sitting up on the couch.  Thankfully the pain only lasts about two hours after I get up. It is just a dull ache now. That leads me to believe there is something wrong with my mattress or the way I am sleeping. I’m trying to think of anything I’m doing differently. I’m sure it has nothing to do with recently turning sixty!

So…not much insight today. Just be thankful for your blessings. Have a great day!

Little Things Add Up

(Katrina- You can skip this blog. Nothing here pertains to you! J)

I love mayonnaise! (See, Kat, I told you not to read.) I control my passion and do NOT put it on French fries or pizza or do anything crazy like the woman I saw on television who carries little packets in her purse. Yep, opens them up and sucks it down as a treat! Yikes! However, I‘ve never found a pasta salad or deviled egg or much of anything else that includes mayo that I won’t at least taste.

For those of you who don’t know Katrina that well, she hates the white stuff! In fact she hates almost anything you can add to or put on top of food. We used to wait an eternity at McDonald’s so she could have a “plain cheeseburger”. And once we went on a picnic and I forgot to make her a plain sandwich. (I’ll bet she can tell you the place and date!)

There was a time in my life when I even made my own mayo because the taste and texture was so much better.  I’m too busy, or maybe just too lazy, to do that anymore.

I also like mustard and ketchup and BBQ sauce and salad dressing and lots of other “toppings, condiments, sauces, etc.  So I thought I would investigate the dangers of adding too much “stuff” to our foods. The following items are all currently in my refrigerator and being used at least weekly. I didn’t include anything sweet because, believe it or not, we don’t add anything sweet to our food except syrup on pancakes and occasionally some honey on a biscuit. I don’t even have honey in the cupboard right now. And I didn’t worry about anything that can be sprinkled because, again, we don’t use anything except pepper.

I know what I use and when. I also see from the list that I could make some better choices and use less of some items or use them less often. But I’m not giving up mayo. And I’m not going to use the fat free mayo. Been there, tried that. A woman has to have some indulgences.

Mayo- 1 T, 90 calories, 10g fat, 0g sugar, 90mg sodium

Hot Spicy Mayo (Gary’s choice)- 1T, 100 calories, 11g fat, 0g sugar, 85mg sodium

Yellow mustard- 1 tsp., 0 calories, 0g fat, 0g sugar, 60mg sodium

Spicy mustard- 1 tsp., 10 calories, 0g fat, 1g sugar, 50mg sodium

Brown mustard- 1 tsp., 5 calories, 0g fat, 0g sugar, 120mg sodium

Horseradish sauce- 1 tsp., 15 calories, 1.5g fat, 1g sugar, 40mg sodium

Salad dressing- 2 T

    Caesar- 130 calories, 12g fat, 1g sugar, 380mg sodium

    Asian- 60 calories, 3g fat, 6g sugar, 320mg sodium

    Italian- 60 calories, 6g fat, 2g sugar, 310mg sodium

    Ranch- 120 calories, 13g fat, 2g sugar, 250mg sodium

Red Hot sauce- 1 tsp., 0 calories, 0g fat, 0g sugar, 200mg sodium

Worcestershire sauce- 1 tsp., 0 calories, 0g fat, 1g sugar, 65mg sodium

Soy sauce- 1 tsp., 10 calories, 0g fat, 0g sugar, 920mg sodium

Ketchup- 1 T, 20 calories, 0g fat, 4g sugar, 190mg sodium

BBQ sauce- 2 T, 60 calories, 0g fat, 13g sugar, 460mg sodium

Salsa- 2 T, 10 calories, 0g fat, 2g sugar, 240mg sodium

Butter- 1 T, 100 calories 11g fat, 0g sugar, 95mg sodium

Soft margarine (with olive oil)- 1 T, 60 calories, 6.5g fat, 0g sugar, 45mg sodium

Sour cream (light)- 2 T, 2.5g fat, 2g sugar, 25mg sodium

Cream cheese (soft, tub)- 2 T, 90 calories, 9g fat, 1g sugar, 125mg sodium

  

 

 

Windows down...hair flying.

Our weather has turned sunny and warm at last, so Thursday and Friday afternoon I drove the first few miles of my trip home with the window down and my hair flying around my face. Doing so brought back so many memories, both good and bad. For years I drove a car that did not have air conditioning and I was forced to drive with the windows down. That was when I started letting my hair be its naturally curly self. J There were days when I had to brush my hair at least a dozen times.

When I was a kid we not only drove the car with the windows down and hair flying, but often rode in the back of a pickup with everything flying!  I hope my grandchildren don’t read this: I’ve even ridden in the back of a pickup, standing up, holding onto the back of the cab, and letting my hair dry on the way back from the lake. Don’t you dare!

Friday as I turned onto our road there was a woman in a convertible headed toward me. We’ve owned a couple of convertibles and they are indeed fun. Now I’m too old and cautious to drive one in the blazing summer and freezing winter. But what is it about the very sight of one that makes us smile, and brings out a tinge of envy?

I’m enjoying the warmer weather and actually got out in the yard yesterday. I didn’t do much because our ground is still soggy. Just pruned a bit and raked and enjoyed my first crocus. It was also great to have a few windows open in the house. Time for fresh air!

I just finished a birthday present…for myself! My Dad gave me some money for my birthday so I used it to make a 34-page photo book at Shutterfly . It was difficult to condense sixty years into 34 pages, but I managed to include the highlights. I’ll finish the rest of the story when I’m ninety!

I plan to ask Gary to take me for a ride today in his new car. I haven’t even sat in it yet!

Hope you have a great day!!

 

 

My VERY Happy Car Guy!

Teaching the Teacher

I’m getting ready to attend a staff development workshop this morning on curriculum alignment. Many parents don’t realize that teachers spend many hours trying to improve their teaching methods to meet the increasing demands of state requirements, parental expectations, and societal changes. We are also expected by our superintendent, principal, and colleagues to change and improve our teaching methods from time to time just so we don’t all get bored! My principal doesn’t want to see me teaching the same lesson the same way year after year, any more than I want to be doing it. I don’t even keep my lesson plans from one year to the next because I want to create them each week based on the needs of the current crop of students and their individual needs.

So, today’s topic will be curriculum alignment. That’s a fancy way of saying that what I teach in my classroom must meet state requirements and also prepare my students for a smooth transition to the first grade. I can’t let them play with puzzles and play dough all day and then send them on to first grade to read and do addition. I must teach them the basic language and math skills that will enable them to understand what is taught next year.

I’m sure that many people think kindergarten is a “wing it” sort of class. I think you might be surprised by the sixteen pages of state requirements for kindergarten! If I have a parent who complains too much about the workload or homework or writing, I send the state requirements home. I’ve never had a parent complain again after reading them! Here are just a few examples of what students are required to know:

Grammar/Usage and Mechanics - The student will demonstrate appropriate practices in writing by applying standard English conventions.

Geometry and Spatial Sense - The student will identify common geometric shapes and explore the relationship of objects in the environment.

*Measurement - The student will explore the concepts of nonstandard and standard measurement.

Civics- The student will explain the importance of individual responsibility.

Visual Art History and Culture - The student will recognize the development of visual art from a historical and cultural perspective.

Music Appreciation - The student will learn to appreciate music and expand their listening beyond music currently familiar to the student.

Each of the above requirements has four or five detailed components listed below it. Here are the details for Measurement:

*1. Measure objects using nonstandard units of measurement (e.g., pencil, paper clip, block).

2. Compare objects according to observable attributes (e.g., long, longer, longest; short, shorter, shortest; big, bigger, biggest; small, smaller, smallest; small, medium, large).

3. Compare and order objects in graduated order (e.g., shortest to tallest, thinnest to thickest).

4. Identify the appropriate instrument used to measure length (ruler), weight (scale), time (clock: digital and analog; calendar: day, month, year, season), and temperature (thermometer).

5. Tell time on digital and analog clocks to the hour.

6. Identify the days of the week and months of the year.

7. Identify the coins penny, nickel, dime and quarter.

 

Yesterday I tested my children to find out how many could identify their coins. Half could NOT identify a nickel. Two cannot identify a penny. A third cannot identify a quarter. We will continue to review coins for a couple of weeks, but to meet the requirements for the last nine weeks of school I must move on to addition and subtraction.

I’m looking forward to the workshop and hope to gain further insight into how to prepare my students for first grade.

 

Happiness

Everyone these days seems to be concerned about happiness. My daughter is conducting a book club review of The Happiness Project. Yesterday I picked up the April issue of Woman’s Day and found out they are doing a series about happiness, also based on the book. My first thought was that I’d probably be a lot happier if I had written the book and gotten the money and publicity. J But jealousy is an ugly emotion. I try not to waste time on it.

I haven’t read the book. (Yes, Kat, I will.) But I hope that the author makes a distinction between happiness and joy, between satisfaction and contentment. To my way of thinking happiness and satisfaction are temporary conditions brought about by the whims of your current situation. Joy and contentment are more permanent- a sense of peace with who you are and your ability to cope with whatever comes your way. Joy and contentment come from faith in the Lord and an understanding of your personal journey.

I’m generally a happy person. I’m a morning person. I’m a “life happens” person. I don’t have a lot of emotional ups and downs. I try to take things as they come and deal with them as well as I can. “Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have” serves me pretty well.

I don’t know what makes The Happiness Project so special. I don’t know why everyone is all excited about it. But since I’ve lived sixty years now, I thought I might throw in my two cents.  Here are two things that have helped make me a happy person:

1.    Mind your own business. The most unhappy people I know are the ones who try to control the behavior and/or attitudes of other people. Can’t be done. You can lead a horse….well, you know. You can observe. You can listen and emphasize. You can pray. You can make suggestions. You can model great behavior and attitude. But you can’t control anyone else except yourself. You can’t even control your own children. Can’t control your spouse, sister, brother. Can’t control your co-workers, boss, neighbor. Nope. Nada. If you think you can, then you are setting yourself up for failure and unhappiness. I find that if I take care of my business, take care of my problems, take care of my needs, and take care of my journey, I don’t have a lot of time and energy for controlling others.

 

2.    Help others as much as possible. No, I have not lost my mind and this doesn’t contradict #1. Charity, helpfulness, reliability, and responsibility are all traits that lead to happiness and that are admired and respected by others. I try to help people when they ask for help. I try to offer help when people need my time or money. I make suggestions if people ask me for advice.  I think I finally understood this concept when I took a class about witnessing to others about Christ. I finally “got it”- my part is simply saying “I believe in Jesus and this is why I do”. The rest is up to the person and their own relationship with the Lord.

I could write more, but the morning has vanished and it is time for work. Live for today. Enjoy the moment you are in. Look for the little blessings that are all around you. Simplify your life. Don’t hold a grudge. Don’t gossip. Be kind to yourself.

Have a great day!

Grateful

Yesterday I was getting my room ready for the morning and I heard bits and pieces of conversation as other members of the staff arrived. It occurred to me that my current school is one of the happiest places I have ever worked. There is always laughter and teasing and sharing. There are concerned conversations about health and families and problems. There are “promises to pray” that you know will not be broken.

Sure, there is occasional tension. There are misunderstandings and disagreements. However, they are temporary and usually resolved with dignity and professionalism. I don’t hear a lot of resentful gossip or see evidence of grudges.

Even if the current situation is an illusion created only by comparison to the schools where I have observed “open warfare”, I will accept it with gratitude. Laughter and teasing and sharing is a great way to start each day!!

Tuesday- This and That

First of all Happy Birthday to my son-in-law, Rob!! Your card is probably going to be there tomorrow. I didn’t forget! LOL Have a good one.

One more sunrise photo. I forgot that I took this one from the truck just before I left for work. I just couldn’t resist capturing the outline of the tree.

Here are a couple of photos of the paper dolls made by my students. If you want to see more they are on my kindergarten blog .

I’m going to be having more eye surgery. I have a couple of cataracts that have to be removed. I’ll have a consult with the surgeon on the 22^nd and will keep you posted.

My daughter is trying to get me to try “green smoothies ”. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Yesterday was National Pig Day!! How could I forget? Sorry Taylor.

Have a great day!

Failure is not an option!

I have been deep in thought this weekend about my failure to lose weight. Today is March 1 and I have lost six pounds. Pathetic. I think this is what happens to me each year. I start off the year full of enthusiasm and then I get discouraged because the weight doesn’t dramatically disappear. By April I’m back to my old eating habits. Well, not this year folks! Not this year! Thursday night something dramatic did happen and it was a turning point for me.

Thursday night, parent-teacher conference night, is also our “potluck” dinner night. We bring lots of food, spread it out in the tutoring/testing room, and then wander in and out between conferences and eat our dinner, snack, whatever. I contributed a big tray of veggies- broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini- plus cheese dip and garden dill dip. At dinner time I got a small sandwich, five corn chips, veggies, and dip. I drank water with my meal. Later I walked down to check out the desserts and a colleague commented that there were only regular sodas on the table, but she had some diet Dr. Pepper in her room if I preferred it. I said, “No thanks…” my next words were on the tip of my tongue and would have been “I don’t drink soda”, but I did a quick mental edit and thought that sounded a bit harsh and superior, so instead I replied, “I really don’t like Dr. Pepper. I have some ice water in my room.” Then I got a small puff pastry and took it back to my room.

I almost danced when I got there!

“I don’t drink soda.” That was the response that popped into my head! Not, “I’m trying to quit.” Not, “I haven’t had a soda since December.”  I don’t drink soda! I have turned into a person who doesn’t drink soda.

If I don’t do anything else this year, I think that one accomplishment will do wonders for my health.

We ate out twice this weekend- unusual for us, but Gary was off and we went shopping in Texas. Friday night we had pulled pork at the local café. Saturday we went to a buffet for lunch. Except for dessert, which we would not have eaten at home, both of us ate reasonable meals. I think that is also a permanent and good change. Instead of considering a buffet as an opportunity to “eat as much as possible” we see it just as an opportunity to eat different foods. We each had salad, I had fish, and Gary had enchiladas. It will be a month before we eat out again. That is also good!

I know some of you are wondering why I don’t talk about my exercise plan. That would be because I don’t have one! I’m at a standstill right now, literally, because I have developed a more or less permanent case of plantar faciitis. I’m trying all the standard remedies and nothing seems to be successful. However, I have read that the standard treatment is usually successful within nine months to a year. Yes, that said 9 months! This is my second round of trouble in the last two years, so I have to figure out a way to adapt to this. Right now I also need some good weather so I can get outside. Every inch of ground is soggy and more rain is forecast for today!

So, where does that leave us on the first day of March? I am resolved to continue the struggle. I have made a giant leap toward better health and my body is going to be stronger because of it. On to the next challenge! Portion control is still my nemesis, but failure is not an option.