Where is Spring? Yesterday was shorts weather; today it's an ice storm and 3 inches of snow. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE snow, but as we approach April in just another week or so, I am ready for bluebirds, flowers and lots of sunshine. As well, this weather only hampers my ability to quickly get the car loaded and ready to make the drive north today, as we head home later this afternoon.
Many friends have asked how I do it, how do I drive that 7 1/2 hour trip so often? As crazy as it may seem, it's one of the only times I get "me" time without worrying about if the laundry has been done, the house is clean, are these lessons to teach, etc. While it's putting too much mileage on my van, it's giving me mental mileage that is freeing. It's also a time I relish knowing that my boys are happy to watch kids videos as we drive, as I know there will be a time when that's the last thing they will want to do.
Traverse City .... here we come!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Heathcare, Healthy eating, Healthy hair ....
Health. It's a topic that is effecting every moment of my day, almost every day. Naturally, the biggest news is that the Obama administration finally was able to get a bill passed for revamping health care in the United States. YEAH!!! After living in Canada for so many years, it's about time the US started to deal with this issue. There was such a sense of peace knowing that you have that basic human right.
Since January, I have been focused on healthy eating. Over the last few years, I had put on almost 30 lbs. THIRTY! Ugh. Who cares why, because yes, I have a lot of reasons why I put on the pounds, but the point here is that I have lost almost 20 lbs in the last 2 1/2 months. My every moment of the day centers around getting enough fiber, veggies, protein and staying away from bad carbs. It really is a change of life in my style of eating. Never in my life would I have considered making sure spinach was part of my breakfast! Now, I make sure it is and if for some reason I don't have it in the morning, it will be Incorporated in another meal later in the day. This strategy has really worked and I am starting to look like the "me" I know.
I need a hair cut/trim pretty badly, but it was Sam that got a hair cut this weekend at a Sports place designed just for the guys. He needed one even more than I. He picked out a picture, got the cut along with a shoulder massage and a hot, damp towel on his face. He loved it. (That makes me giggle!). He now uses "Crew" hair lotion to make his style just perfect. Guess this is the beginning of really growing up. I look at his beautiful hair and then look at mine. He wins. His is what mine used to be ,which made me think of what it was like to be in fourth grade, where he is now.
Fourth grade was in Flint, MI. I couldn't seem to remember the name of my school or my teachers name, but I do remember there wasn't enough room for all the classes at this new school and we were first in this room with modern, stained glass windows that was supposed to be used for some other reason rather than a classroom. Then at some point, they moved us to a large room off the side of the gym. I sat next to a little boy of color, named Michael. He always had treats in his desk, like Milk Duds. He'd always offer some to me, but he also had a bad habit of picking his nose, which totally grossed me out and therefore, I never accepted his offer.
This was also the year I made it into band playing the clarinet. My end of year solo was "I love you truly", which was really bad as my parents rushed to get me to the concert after a dance concert rehearsal. I never had time to warm up and squeaked and squawked through out the entire piece. I'm sure my music teacher (also can't remember his/her name) was mortified. The next year, when we changed school systems due to our move to the suburbs, I didn't make band. But not because of my playing, but because of a standardized music test. This test was very popular at the time, but was later found to be totally flawed. Apparently, my test score must have been pretty bad, as my parents later received a letter stating that "Lynne has no musical talent". I laugh at it now, but at the time, I was devastated. Wish I could remember that teachers name, too.
It's been bugging me that I couldn't remember the name of my fourth grade school, so I googled it. The Flint schools website says it is "Bunche Elementary", but for some reason, I didn't think that was the name. The picture tells me that is the school. Maybe they changed the name. Before that, I went to Pierson Elementary, which I can't find at all on their website, but looking at the pictures, I wonder if they changed the name on that school as well. I'll have to do some digging.
Since January, I have been focused on healthy eating. Over the last few years, I had put on almost 30 lbs. THIRTY! Ugh. Who cares why, because yes, I have a lot of reasons why I put on the pounds, but the point here is that I have lost almost 20 lbs in the last 2 1/2 months. My every moment of the day centers around getting enough fiber, veggies, protein and staying away from bad carbs. It really is a change of life in my style of eating. Never in my life would I have considered making sure spinach was part of my breakfast! Now, I make sure it is and if for some reason I don't have it in the morning, it will be Incorporated in another meal later in the day. This strategy has really worked and I am starting to look like the "me" I know.
I need a hair cut/trim pretty badly, but it was Sam that got a hair cut this weekend at a Sports place designed just for the guys. He needed one even more than I. He picked out a picture, got the cut along with a shoulder massage and a hot, damp towel on his face. He loved it. (That makes me giggle!). He now uses "Crew" hair lotion to make his style just perfect. Guess this is the beginning of really growing up. I look at his beautiful hair and then look at mine. He wins. His is what mine used to be ,which made me think of what it was like to be in fourth grade, where he is now.
Fourth grade was in Flint, MI. I couldn't seem to remember the name of my school or my teachers name, but I do remember there wasn't enough room for all the classes at this new school and we were first in this room with modern, stained glass windows that was supposed to be used for some other reason rather than a classroom. Then at some point, they moved us to a large room off the side of the gym. I sat next to a little boy of color, named Michael. He always had treats in his desk, like Milk Duds. He'd always offer some to me, but he also had a bad habit of picking his nose, which totally grossed me out and therefore, I never accepted his offer.
This was also the year I made it into band playing the clarinet. My end of year solo was "I love you truly", which was really bad as my parents rushed to get me to the concert after a dance concert rehearsal. I never had time to warm up and squeaked and squawked through out the entire piece. I'm sure my music teacher (also can't remember his/her name) was mortified. The next year, when we changed school systems due to our move to the suburbs, I didn't make band. But not because of my playing, but because of a standardized music test. This test was very popular at the time, but was later found to be totally flawed. Apparently, my test score must have been pretty bad, as my parents later received a letter stating that "Lynne has no musical talent". I laugh at it now, but at the time, I was devastated. Wish I could remember that teachers name, too.
It's been bugging me that I couldn't remember the name of my fourth grade school, so I googled it. The Flint schools website says it is "Bunche Elementary", but for some reason, I didn't think that was the name. The picture tells me that is the school. Maybe they changed the name. Before that, I went to Pierson Elementary, which I can't find at all on their website, but looking at the pictures, I wonder if they changed the name on that school as well. I'll have to do some digging.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
After the homework
Kids are fed, homework is done and the kids are peacefully watching a cartoon called "Stoked". Sometimes I worry about these cartoons, but I used to worry about Sponge Bob and have come to find him a welcome addition to our family. He and his pet snail, Gary.
Looking through the graded homework and tests that came home today, I was very sad to see my oldest son, Sam, had received a "D" on his math test from last week. Now, Sam is a smart kid and I don't say that just because he is my kid. He gets good grades in math and has always excelled in it. However last week, his 4th grade class was given a test to cover a chapter on geometry. They were to do the review in class on Monday and Tuesday, but their teacher was out. Actually, he was out all week and they had a substitute, who was actually the mother of one of his friends and someone I have come to know and like very much. But I wonder, did she do the review? Sam told me his whole table (they sit in groups within the classroom) received either grades of "D" or "F", that most of the class received those grades. His teacher graded the tests on Monday and Tuesday (hence we got them home today), but I have to wonder what the average grade was on these tests. The kids were under the impression they could use their math books, but were not allowed. Upon showing me this test, Sam had tears in his eyes and was clearly upset at the grade. My heart broke for him. However, I guess this is a lesson that not always is life fair.
I told him of a time, when in college, I decided not to take the final test in a class in which I was already getting an "A" in - regardless if I failed this quiz or not. We actually were allowed to skip one quiz within in the semester and I hadn't missed one yet. So I skipped it. Imagine my sup rise when my parents get my sophomore year grades and there is an "E" in the letter slot for that class! I almost threw up. Called the Professor and he told me that while it was true we could skip a quiz, we were not allowed to skip the last one. (Why?) If you missed the last quiz, you automatically fail the class. Again, almost threw up. I was a good student; things like this didn't happen to people like me. The Professor held firm. I could take the class again in the fall as independent study - just retake all the quizzes all over. That was one quiz per week. Shssssh. But I had to do it; it was a required class.
So now as a University instructor now, I realize I must be so very clear in my expectations from my students. Even though this is spring break, I am re-writing my class syllabuses in order to fulfill this expectation of myself. But then, how detailed to get? Guess we'll find out.
Now off to pick up a missing Nintendo DSi left at a play date yesterday. Back to being a mom.
Looking through the graded homework and tests that came home today, I was very sad to see my oldest son, Sam, had received a "D" on his math test from last week. Now, Sam is a smart kid and I don't say that just because he is my kid. He gets good grades in math and has always excelled in it. However last week, his 4th grade class was given a test to cover a chapter on geometry. They were to do the review in class on Monday and Tuesday, but their teacher was out. Actually, he was out all week and they had a substitute, who was actually the mother of one of his friends and someone I have come to know and like very much. But I wonder, did she do the review? Sam told me his whole table (they sit in groups within the classroom) received either grades of "D" or "F", that most of the class received those grades. His teacher graded the tests on Monday and Tuesday (hence we got them home today), but I have to wonder what the average grade was on these tests. The kids were under the impression they could use their math books, but were not allowed. Upon showing me this test, Sam had tears in his eyes and was clearly upset at the grade. My heart broke for him. However, I guess this is a lesson that not always is life fair.
I told him of a time, when in college, I decided not to take the final test in a class in which I was already getting an "A" in - regardless if I failed this quiz or not. We actually were allowed to skip one quiz within in the semester and I hadn't missed one yet. So I skipped it. Imagine my sup rise when my parents get my sophomore year grades and there is an "E" in the letter slot for that class! I almost threw up. Called the Professor and he told me that while it was true we could skip a quiz, we were not allowed to skip the last one. (Why?) If you missed the last quiz, you automatically fail the class. Again, almost threw up. I was a good student; things like this didn't happen to people like me. The Professor held firm. I could take the class again in the fall as independent study - just retake all the quizzes all over. That was one quiz per week. Shssssh. But I had to do it; it was a required class.
So now as a University instructor now, I realize I must be so very clear in my expectations from my students. Even though this is spring break, I am re-writing my class syllabuses in order to fulfill this expectation of myself. But then, how detailed to get? Guess we'll find out.
Now off to pick up a missing Nintendo DSi left at a play date yesterday. Back to being a mom.
St. Patrick's Day
Well, told you so: I am new at blogging. Yep, forgot all about it and not one post since my first initial go at it in July this past summer. Let's see if I can try to be a bit better about this.
So why blog? Seems like everyone these days does it. Is it because we all want some sort of notoriety? Is it because we spend so much time on computers these days that this is a way for us to connect, even if we are only talking to ourselves? Surely, I don't have the answer. What I do know is that for some reason, it must make us feel good to write. And read.
Considering reading blogs, I have yet to tell anyone about this one yet. But looking at that first, initial posting, I wonder if I should. It read OK. It will be nice for my kids to read someday. Wonder what Rick will think. Think I'll mull it over for awhile before letting on to my secret, new found, fun (?) blogging.
Last time I wrote, I was sitting in the beauty and comfort of our Traverse City home. Today I am in our small, comfortable enough townhouse in Ohio. Rick is the one sitting at home - LUCKY! We are spring break from WSU, yet Sam and Jackson have school and here I sit with them until the end of next week. The boys have been good for me - except for the occasional battle of getting homework done sooner rather than later. They seem to fight more with one another when both Rick and I around. I've read this is common - pit the parents against each other for attention purposes.
Speaking of homework, one is calling for help now. So much for starting the ramblings of a blogger to be.
So why blog? Seems like everyone these days does it. Is it because we all want some sort of notoriety? Is it because we spend so much time on computers these days that this is a way for us to connect, even if we are only talking to ourselves? Surely, I don't have the answer. What I do know is that for some reason, it must make us feel good to write. And read.
Considering reading blogs, I have yet to tell anyone about this one yet. But looking at that first, initial posting, I wonder if I should. It read OK. It will be nice for my kids to read someday. Wonder what Rick will think. Think I'll mull it over for awhile before letting on to my secret, new found, fun (?) blogging.
Last time I wrote, I was sitting in the beauty and comfort of our Traverse City home. Today I am in our small, comfortable enough townhouse in Ohio. Rick is the one sitting at home - LUCKY! We are spring break from WSU, yet Sam and Jackson have school and here I sit with them until the end of next week. The boys have been good for me - except for the occasional battle of getting homework done sooner rather than later. They seem to fight more with one another when both Rick and I around. I've read this is common - pit the parents against each other for attention purposes.
Speaking of homework, one is calling for help now. So much for starting the ramblings of a blogger to be.
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