I saw this blog prompt, and I realized how frustrated I am that entertainment is so expensive. I don't even long to go traveling around the world. I really want to explore some places right here in my backyard. Unfortunately, it will cost close to or over a hundred dollars to take my family to any one of the places listed below. I just can't see spending that kind of money on just a few hours.
1. Butterfly Wonderland- think zoo for butterflies. There are several interactive workshops and educational opportunities, as well as the beauty of observing the butterflies in various habitats. They even designed a tropical rainforest! Now, if I could just figure out how this works into our 6th grade science curriculum, I'd be set. At this point, I can't figure out how it ties in to any of the units we are expected to do, but give me some time. I'll figure it out!
2. Out of Africa Wildlife Park- lions, tigers, and bears.... oh my! Out of Africa offers an experience that is close up and exciting. Daniel and I visited during our honeymoon (13 years ago), and the park has since moved. It is supposed to be three times better than it was. Unfortunately, the cost is about three times more than it was, too. I would love to do the African Bush Safari ride, one added feature since we last went.
3. Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center- This is a park that is just what it sounds. Animals from the desert have been brought here to live due to illness or injury. They try to get the animals ready to be released back into the wild, but some have to live their life at the center because they are never well enough to go back home. I really want to go see the porcupine.
4. Bearizona- a drive-through park featuring bears. They also have wolves and bison. This is in Williams, Arizona, where Daniel and I got married at....
5. The Grand Canyon Deer Farm- Yep, Daniel and I got married among the deer. One was literally eating my bouquet as we said our vows. It was so unique and so us. Unfortunately, we just don't get up there to visit often enough. I would love to beat the summer heat and go feed the deer.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Autobiography
I recently saw this question posted on Facebook: What would you name the autobiography of your life?
I decided that I would name my autobiography "Challenge Accepted." Boy, would that be accurate! It seems like every experience in my life has been one where I have had to tackle some challenge or another. Here are some highlights (well, not really highlights until I came out the victor on the other side, but you get the point) I would include in my autobiography:
-At age 19, I walked in to find the bodies of my best friend and another friend splattered across the wall and on the floor after one of the guys decided he couldn't live anymore and killed both himself and my best friend. This single event TRULY changed the path of my life in an instant.
-At age 22, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I was told I would more than likely not be able to have children. By the time Daniel and I got together when I was 25, a very blunt doctor told Daniel to decide very quickly how many children he wanted with me and to start making them. The doctor wasn't very confident that I could have children to begin with, and each year added scar tissue that made conceiving even more unlikely. As you all know, I have two beautiful, healthy girls.
-At age 33, I decided I was going to go back to college to get my teaching degree. If anyone tells you that attending college full-time (I maintained a 4.0 GPA, by the way) while raising two small children, working part-time, and helping a spouse run a business is easy, they are lying. This is probably at the top of the list for accomplishments I am proud of.
-At age 36, I came down with a case of shingles that developed extreme complications. After four days in the hospital, I spent four months on the couch recovering, not really knowing if I was going to fully recover. Being sent home with strict instructions to use a walker like an elderly person, and having nerve damage in my feet, sure did change my perspective on life.
-At age 37, my husband was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Some may say this is his challenge, not mine. Oh, so not true! A mental illness really does affect an entire network- family, friends, employers. This is the moment I realized the support group I have surrounding me.
It's funny how some of the most life-changing events didn't even make it into the highlight list. I've been divorced, but that seems so minor compared to the other challenges I've been through. Maybe this really would be a pretty good book.
I decided that I would name my autobiography "Challenge Accepted." Boy, would that be accurate! It seems like every experience in my life has been one where I have had to tackle some challenge or another. Here are some highlights (well, not really highlights until I came out the victor on the other side, but you get the point) I would include in my autobiography:
-At age 19, I walked in to find the bodies of my best friend and another friend splattered across the wall and on the floor after one of the guys decided he couldn't live anymore and killed both himself and my best friend. This single event TRULY changed the path of my life in an instant.
-At age 22, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I was told I would more than likely not be able to have children. By the time Daniel and I got together when I was 25, a very blunt doctor told Daniel to decide very quickly how many children he wanted with me and to start making them. The doctor wasn't very confident that I could have children to begin with, and each year added scar tissue that made conceiving even more unlikely. As you all know, I have two beautiful, healthy girls.
-At age 33, I decided I was going to go back to college to get my teaching degree. If anyone tells you that attending college full-time (I maintained a 4.0 GPA, by the way) while raising two small children, working part-time, and helping a spouse run a business is easy, they are lying. This is probably at the top of the list for accomplishments I am proud of.
-At age 36, I came down with a case of shingles that developed extreme complications. After four days in the hospital, I spent four months on the couch recovering, not really knowing if I was going to fully recover. Being sent home with strict instructions to use a walker like an elderly person, and having nerve damage in my feet, sure did change my perspective on life.
-At age 37, my husband was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Some may say this is his challenge, not mine. Oh, so not true! A mental illness really does affect an entire network- family, friends, employers. This is the moment I realized the support group I have surrounding me.
It's funny how some of the most life-changing events didn't even make it into the highlight list. I've been divorced, but that seems so minor compared to the other challenges I've been through. Maybe this really would be a pretty good book.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Haiku About Bipolar
I was on a chat board the other day, and they challenge people to write a haiku about living with a bipolar family member. Here is mine:
You tried to steal him
You tried to steal him
But I wouldn’t let him go
We are stronger now
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Bipolar Update
It's been awhile since I've posted an update on Daniel and how he is doing with his bipolar treatment. Things are pretty good. He's been stable with some minor ups and downs, but we all have a bit of mood swings. I'd really worry if he was perfectly stable every minute of every day. That would be like living with a robot or a zombie.
Over the past couple of months I have seen one change in Daniel that was surprising and a little difficult to get used to at first. He has become independent, not in a bad way but it's just different for him. Daniel has formed some friendships that he really seems to enjoy. More often now he wants to hang out with those friends, either alone or with me, but these are plans that HE is making. It is so strange to see him schedule time for recreation on our family calendar! Since I have been used to being the planner, it's been a little awkward when I assume we have free time, and Daniel has scheduled something else.
Our disagreements have become so much more "normal." If we do fight it's been about things other couples deal with on a regular basis- how to spend our money, how to handle our (almost) teenage daughters, household chores, etc. We've never disagreed about this stuff, because I mostly handled everything. The burden being taken off my shoulders is great, but it is difficult to give up control a little bit. Frankly, it's a bit scary, too. I've always known exactly what was happening in our finances and had a plan for getting things done the way I wanted to do them. In some ways it's like I was an independent woman living in the middle of a family. Now I actually have to share decisions and roles, and it's not always the most comfortable process.
The hardest change I've had to make is learning to trust. I need to learn to trust that everything IS okay, and when we hit a bump in the road it doesn't mean we are careening off course completely. I need to trust that Daniel IS thinking intelligently when he chooses to spend money or to hang out with friends. I need to trust that it's okay to let go of some control. If we fall, we'll get back up. Daniel needs to make some of the same mistakes I did when learning to run an efficient household. His way may not necessarily always be my way, but it's not the end of the world. In many ways it is like we are first married all over again. I am growing with a whole new person, one with a lot more confidence than the guy I knew a little over a year ago. It's a little strange, but there is a lot to be excited about.
Over the past couple of months I have seen one change in Daniel that was surprising and a little difficult to get used to at first. He has become independent, not in a bad way but it's just different for him. Daniel has formed some friendships that he really seems to enjoy. More often now he wants to hang out with those friends, either alone or with me, but these are plans that HE is making. It is so strange to see him schedule time for recreation on our family calendar! Since I have been used to being the planner, it's been a little awkward when I assume we have free time, and Daniel has scheduled something else.
Our disagreements have become so much more "normal." If we do fight it's been about things other couples deal with on a regular basis- how to spend our money, how to handle our (almost) teenage daughters, household chores, etc. We've never disagreed about this stuff, because I mostly handled everything. The burden being taken off my shoulders is great, but it is difficult to give up control a little bit. Frankly, it's a bit scary, too. I've always known exactly what was happening in our finances and had a plan for getting things done the way I wanted to do them. In some ways it's like I was an independent woman living in the middle of a family. Now I actually have to share decisions and roles, and it's not always the most comfortable process.
The hardest change I've had to make is learning to trust. I need to learn to trust that everything IS okay, and when we hit a bump in the road it doesn't mean we are careening off course completely. I need to trust that Daniel IS thinking intelligently when he chooses to spend money or to hang out with friends. I need to trust that it's okay to let go of some control. If we fall, we'll get back up. Daniel needs to make some of the same mistakes I did when learning to run an efficient household. His way may not necessarily always be my way, but it's not the end of the world. In many ways it is like we are first married all over again. I am growing with a whole new person, one with a lot more confidence than the guy I knew a little over a year ago. It's a little strange, but there is a lot to be excited about.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Happy Anniversary Daniel!
How in the world am I old enough to have been married for 13 years already? How is Daniel old enough for that? When I first met him, he was just a boy of 17 years. We got together romantically when he was 20. We have both done so much growing since then!
This year we haven't had a whole lot of exciting moments, and that's just the way I like it. This year has been about settling down and settling in. I finished my first full-time year of teaching and have fallen in love with my school and district. I couldn't have done it without Daniel's support and encouragement. Oh, how many nights I got home just in time to eat dinner and fall into bed this year! Daniel started a new business with his friend, and that is going really well. I'm glad he doesn't have to work alone anymore. Like me, he's had plenty of nights of getting home just in time for bed. Hey, that's the way it goes sometimes when we're trying to build something new.
In the coming year we will be growing on the careers we have set up for ourselves, and we will continue to grow as a couple. As usual, I don't really know what's to come, but I know it's going to be fabulous TOGETHER!
I love you, Daniel. I truly don't know what I would do without you.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
What I Am Really Looking Forward To
I know it seems like we just got out of school yesterday, but I am SO excited about starting next school year. After working on the curriculum map most of the summer, I know what is coming, and I can't wait. We have a great curriculum, and there are nothing but positive changes coming!
So, this big project I've been working on all summer is for my school district. My job has been to map out each subject for the school year to be sure we are covering all we need to. Not only are we making monthly and weekly plans, but we are planning down to the day. Lesson planning is going to be so easy next year!
So, this big project I've been working on all summer is for my school district. My job has been to map out each subject for the school year to be sure we are covering all we need to. Not only are we making monthly and weekly plans, but we are planning down to the day. Lesson planning is going to be so easy next year!
Saturday, June 22, 2013
A Picture I Love
I can't believe how much like a teenager Andrea is looking! I can't believe she WILL be a teenager in less than six months! Like a typical teenager, Andrea is spending more time with her friends and her own activities and doesn't always want to do what the rest of us are doing.
On a rare evening last week, though, Andrea wanted to go fishing with Daniel. I'm so glad she went! He sent me this picture not too long after they got out to the lake. Look at that fish!
Wow, Andrea is looking like Daniel. His hair looked pretty much exactly like this when he was a teenager. Our kids are really growing up.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Something I'm Afraid Of
I am absolutely terrified of scorpions. I hate the things! Unfortunately, I live in a house that seems to invite scorpions at this time of year. So far this month we've killed four of them. This week we put down some diatomaceous earth, which is the best at killing scorpions. It takes a few days up to a couple of weeks to really work, in our experience, but last year once we put it down and it took hold, we didn't see another scorpion until it started to get hot this year.
Ironically, my husband's zodiac sign is Scorpio. It is, of course, represented by a scorpion. He once had a terrible tattoo on his chest that he couldn't stand. For at least 10 years he has wanted to cover it. Last year, around Christmas time, the tattoo shop down the street was having a 50% discount sale. We couldn't pass up that opportunity, knowing that we may never pay full price for the tattoo. After a lot of time looking through books and websites, Daniel finally settled on getting his zodiac sign. It is a scorpion, and in the scorpion's tail is my zodiac sign, a set of scales. It is a really nice tattoo. I'm glad this scorpion doesn't scare me as much as live ones do!
Ironically, my husband's zodiac sign is Scorpio. It is, of course, represented by a scorpion. He once had a terrible tattoo on his chest that he couldn't stand. For at least 10 years he has wanted to cover it. Last year, around Christmas time, the tattoo shop down the street was having a 50% discount sale. We couldn't pass up that opportunity, knowing that we may never pay full price for the tattoo. After a lot of time looking through books and websites, Daniel finally settled on getting his zodiac sign. It is a scorpion, and in the scorpion's tail is my zodiac sign, a set of scales. It is a really nice tattoo. I'm glad this scorpion doesn't scare me as much as live ones do!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
A Place I Have Traveled
I REALLY, REALLY dislike travelling. I don't sleep well in strange places, and frankly, I've never been in a position to really spend the money freely on a vacation. Daniel and I have been on just a handful of day trips and weekend get aways since we've been together. Most of those were before we were married or engaged.
One of our fun trips, though, was to Bedrock City, in Williams, Arizona. Bedrock City apparently started out as an RV Park for Grand Canyon travelers. That's a pretty neat place to stop! I might actually consider traveling in an RV if that's the kind of places we could stop regularly.
Bedrock City is the home of the Flintstones. The whole town is set up to look like stone buildings, just like in the cartoon. I have pictures of the time my parents took my brother and me. We were at the dentist's office. I have more pictures of the time Daniel and I went, sitting in the school house. My favorite part of the town is the movie theater. They play, of course, old Flintstone cartoons.
I hope to one day take my daughters to this iconic location. I've heard it's run-down, though, and not worth seeing much anymore. That's okay; we'll take a look and find out. And... if I win the lottery some day, maybe restoring the park can be my project!
One of our fun trips, though, was to Bedrock City, in Williams, Arizona. Bedrock City apparently started out as an RV Park for Grand Canyon travelers. That's a pretty neat place to stop! I might actually consider traveling in an RV if that's the kind of places we could stop regularly.
Bedrock City is the home of the Flintstones. The whole town is set up to look like stone buildings, just like in the cartoon. I have pictures of the time my parents took my brother and me. We were at the dentist's office. I have more pictures of the time Daniel and I went, sitting in the school house. My favorite part of the town is the movie theater. They play, of course, old Flintstone cartoons.
I hope to one day take my daughters to this iconic location. I've heard it's run-down, though, and not worth seeing much anymore. That's okay; we'll take a look and find out. And... if I win the lottery some day, maybe restoring the park can be my project!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Favorite Films
I'm so glad this challenge put this in plural form! I have several "top choices."
1. Music and Lyrics:
2. The Wedding Singer:
3. Edward Scissorhands:
All of these movies have one thing in common. I LOVE the soundtracks!
1. Music and Lyrics:
2. The Wedding Singer:
3. Edward Scissorhands:
All of these movies have one thing in common. I LOVE the soundtracks!
Sunday, June 16, 2013
My Favorite Things
1. Daniel- my wonderful husband
Here we are playing an egg race game on Easter.
2. Andrea- my oldest daughter
Andrea is on the right. Her music taste definitely leans more towards my husband's, but I love how she is definitely Andrea. No one can tell her what she likes or doesn't like. That's Amber on the left.
3. Amber- my youngest daughter
My mom recently discovered this picture on her computer, and I stole it. Here's Amber when she was only 2 years old. The dogs definitely look much older now, too!
4. My mom
5. My dad
Here's another older picture my mom came across. I'm thinking the girls are about 2 and 4 in this one. That's my dad with them, of course.
6. My brother
My younger brother- Fred. Isn't he good looking? Sorry ladies.... he's taken by....
7. Lisa- my "sister-in-law"
Don't they just make the cutest couple ever?
8. Teaching
9. Herons
I enjoy bird watching, but I REALLY love the Herons. They are just so neat to watch- especially when they are hunting!
10. Hanging out with friends
11. Giraffes
My favorite animal
12. Unicorns
I am SO glad a friend told me to get a unicorn tattoo when I got my own and only tat. He said a tattoo should mean something. That's the ONLY reason I don't regret my tattoo more than I do.
13. Coffee
I don't know when I actually started liking coffee, but I really don't like starting my day without it. I LOVE International Delights creamers- especially the ones that taste like candy bars.
14. Running
I really miss running. The nerve damage in my feet has pretty much ended that as a regular activity. I do still hop on the treadmill and get a mile or so in once in awhile, though. I don't see any organized events in my future, though.
15. Reading
16. Trees
For some reason I am fascinated with pictures of forests, and I think the running/ walking paths are amazing. The only things that can make this better is a beautiful bench for sitting to read and a disc golf course.
Well, I was supposed to come up with 20, but these are the things I truly enjoy. I can't think of any more, but I'm sure there are plenty. There is so much to enjoy in life.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Old School Blogging A-Z
A. Attached or Single? Attached- very attached. We will be celebrating our 13th anniversary on June 24.
B. Best Friend? When it comes right down to it, my husband really is my best friend. We have been through entirely too much together, it seems.
C. Cake or pie? I like pie better than I like cake. Banana cream is my favorite.
D. Day of choice? I like Sundays. It's the one day when I have a shot of not having to get up and get things done by a certain time.
E. Essential Item? Computer. I have become quite attached to my computer. I love Facebook, blogging, and other opportunities to connect to people, even when I don't have time to get out and about in the world.
F. Favorite color? Greens and browns.
G. Gummy bears or worms? Hmmmm..... I really don't jump for joy at either, but I guess if I had to pick I would go with bears. I like to suck on them, then chew them like gum for a bit.
H. Home town? I was born in Woodstock, IL. I have called the Phoenix area home since 1986 when my parents moved us out here when I was 11 years old.
I. Favorite Indulgence? I love to make all sorts of fun finger foods and have a movie night. It's even more fun when we drag our mattress into the living room and throw it on the floor to curl up on.
J. January or July? January. In Arizona it is one of the BEST months for weather. It's usually not TOO cold, and there are lots of days off school so I can go disc golfing.
K. Kids? I have two girls. I can't believe the oldest is going to be a teenager in six months!
L. Life isn’t complete without? I must have a good book with me at all times. I can't remember a time in my life when this was not true.
M. Marriage date? June 24, 2000
N. Number of brothers/sisters? One brother. He is 2.5 years younger than me.
O. Oranges or Apples? Apples. I can tell if I have gone a day without one. I used to love oranges, too, but I haven't had one in three months since I found out I'm allergic to all citrus.
P. Phobias? I don't know that I have anything that actually qualifies as a phobia. I certainly don't like scorpions, though.
Q. Quotes? "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened" -Dr. Seuss. I recently wrote this on the final postcard I mailed my students. The last day of school was pretty emotional for some of them.
R. Reasons to smile? Knowing I've done a good job on something that was hard work and challenging.
S. Season of choice? Fall is my favorite. I love the atmosphere. When it's fall, you can just tell.
T. Tag 5 People. I don't even think I know five people! LOL
U. Unknown fact about me? Wow, I think I'm pretty transparent. There is not one thing I can think of that people don't really know about me.
V. Vegetable? Bell peppers.
W. Worst habit? Biting my fingernails.
X. Xray or Ultrasound? I’ve had both multiple times.
Y. Your favorite food? I don't actually have a favorite food. I know... I'm boring. I like different things depending on the circumstances.
Z. Zodiac sign? Libra
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
My Favorite Quote
"Let the Wild Rumpus start!"
For my 35th birthday my family bought me all the "Where the Wild Things Are" stuffed characters. We went to see the movie at IMAX which is a HUGE deal for us. We generally see movies once or twice a year, if even that often. I fell in love with the main character, Max, all over again.
I'm sure I read "Where the Wild Things Are" over and over as a child, but it just never stuck with me the way it did when the movie by Spike Jones came out. There was something powerful in this portrayal. Maybe it was the way that Max's journey was brought to life in a way that was only implied in the original book, or maybe it was that I have come to relate to Max so much. Either way, when I need a stress relief, yelling, "Let the Wild Rumpus start!" is a good one. My kids and husband all know what kind of mood I'm in if they hear me playing the "Where the Wild Things Are" soundtrack at top volume.
Unsure of the story of which I speak? Oh, PLEASE, PLEASE spend the four minutes to enjoy the story below. It is truly one children's classic story that you just CAN'T not read in your lifetime.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
My Favorite Book
I really don't have a favorite personal book because I very rarely go back and reread once I've finished. I just have so many on my To Be Read list that I don't really spend the time to enjoy a book a second time. I do have a few favorite authors, though, that I follow very closely.
The first is Jodi Picoult. Her writing flows in a way that makes a book easy to read, yet it is thought provoking. Each of her stories have an element of controversy, and she is wonderful at making the characters come alive. It really feels like the reader knows the characters by the time the book is finished. I have read every book by Jodi Picoult.
My second favorite author is Debbie Macomber. This writer is classified as a romance writer, but she has a couple of series that are less romance and more women's fiction. You can check out any of Debbie's series by going to her website.
Lastly, an author that keeps me grounded in my criminal justice roots is Karin Slaughter. Hey, she just plain has a cool name! I haven't met anyone named Karen (even if she does spell it wrong) that isn't a neat person. Ms. Slaughter also has a couple of series that I enjoy. Her characters are true to life, with flaws and all. There is, under the crime/ mystery story, a bit of romance happening. Again, the characters are not perfect, and sometimes I want to throw the books out the window. That's the sign of a good read!
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The first is Jodi Picoult. Her writing flows in a way that makes a book easy to read, yet it is thought provoking. Each of her stories have an element of controversy, and she is wonderful at making the characters come alive. It really feels like the reader knows the characters by the time the book is finished. I have read every book by Jodi Picoult.
My second favorite author is Debbie Macomber. This writer is classified as a romance writer, but she has a couple of series that are less romance and more women's fiction. You can check out any of Debbie's series by going to her website.
Lastly, an author that keeps me grounded in my criminal justice roots is Karin Slaughter. Hey, she just plain has a cool name! I haven't met anyone named Karen (even if she does spell it wrong) that isn't a neat person. Ms. Slaughter also has a couple of series that I enjoy. Her characters are true to life, with flaws and all. There is, under the crime/ mystery story, a bit of romance happening. Again, the characters are not perfect, and sometimes I want to throw the books out the window. That's the sign of a good read!
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Monday, June 10, 2013
My Favorite TV Show
I fell in love with Grey's Anatomy when I was sick with the shingles. For years I had avoided the show, thinking it sounded dumb and way too romancy (yes, that is a new word I just coined) for me. But, after sitting in my house with nothing to do for days on end, I decided to give it a try. I was hooked in the first episode! Thank goodness for Netflix and the ability to catch every episode starting in the first season.
Watching Grey's quickly became a family activity (yes, I let my children watch the show, too), and we were caught up to the newer episodes within a couple of months. Then, on my husband's and my anniversary, we saw the musical episode. Oh, how I cried and I cried. This was perhaps the most powerful of them all, and we watched it on a day when I was struggling to see the positive side of life.
In this episode one of the characters almost dies in a car accident. She is outside of her body, watching all that is happening to her. She is singing the song "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol. The song hit me like a ton of bricks. I literally had a hard time breathing through my sobs. The song was perfect for the situation we were facing with my shingles and related complications.
That night, as we were preparing for bed, I asked Daniel if I was going to die. We honestly didn't know where the complications were leading, and it seemed every time I started to get better I would get worse. He was so honest when he answered, "I don't know." The words to the song, "If I just lay here would you lie with me and just forget the world" were the only reply I had. I didn't know what else to say, but somehow that thought and the Grey's Anatomy episode gave me comfort and hope. Every once in awhile, when times are tough and I really don't know how I can stand another minute of life going the way it is, I will still text Daniel with those lyrics. His answer, always, is "You know I will." It's nice to know that there is one person in the world who understands my need for the world to just stop and let me catch up.
It is because of this song that I will forever be a Grey's Anatomy fan.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
My Favorite Song
I don't have a favorite song. It changes, depending on what is happening in my life. One song that can always make me smile, though, is "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison.
My brother loved this song when he was in high school. Whenever I heard him singing it, it just lifted my spirits. My brother has introduced me to a lot of interesting music I wouldn't have otherwise chosen for myself. I don't know of any other songs by this same artist, but I really do enjoy "Brown Eyed Girl."
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Life with Karen- The Meaning
This blog didn't start off as Life with Karen. It was originally Karen's Healthy Lifestyle. I started the blog because I thought maybe my friends were getting tired of hearing about my trips to the gym and the healthy food choices I was making. I wanted to find others who enjoyed the same interests I had so we could swap tips, ideas, and stories.
Along the way my life changed. I was hit hard with a case of the shingles that led to extreme complications. Two years later I am still feeling the effect of those complications in the form of nerve damage in my feet and forehead. Yep, the shingles got me from head to toe, though the actual rash "only" wrapped from my face, along the top of my head, down my back, and into my armpit area.
The lifestyle I had been building for myself was crushed. I could not exercise the way I was used to, and to be honest the idea of healthy eating was the last thing on my mind for the four months I spent wondering if I was going to recover enough to ever see my dream of teaching as a reality (I walked in my college graduation ceremony in the midst of the shingles episode).
I decided to change my blog name to Life with Karen. Like true life, this blog never quite knows where it is going. I share what I feel like sharing, with no real theme. This is truly the place I can turn when I want to talk about things I'm not sure anyone really wants to hear about. Sometimes I get great responses in the form of comments, sometimes I wonder if anyone is ever reading at all. But, in the end this is for me. About me, and for me. The one place in the world I can feel completely selfish- and that's okay!
Along the way my life changed. I was hit hard with a case of the shingles that led to extreme complications. Two years later I am still feeling the effect of those complications in the form of nerve damage in my feet and forehead. Yep, the shingles got me from head to toe, though the actual rash "only" wrapped from my face, along the top of my head, down my back, and into my armpit area.
The lifestyle I had been building for myself was crushed. I could not exercise the way I was used to, and to be honest the idea of healthy eating was the last thing on my mind for the four months I spent wondering if I was going to recover enough to ever see my dream of teaching as a reality (I walked in my college graduation ceremony in the midst of the shingles episode).
I decided to change my blog name to Life with Karen. Like true life, this blog never quite knows where it is going. I share what I feel like sharing, with no real theme. This is truly the place I can turn when I want to talk about things I'm not sure anyone really wants to hear about. Sometimes I get great responses in the form of comments, sometimes I wonder if anyone is ever reading at all. But, in the end this is for me. About me, and for me. The one place in the world I can feel completely selfish- and that's okay!
Friday, June 7, 2013
Geocaching Fun
One of my goals for this month was to try geocaching. For those of you who have never heard of it, geocaches are small containers that hold anything from a small log for others to sign all the way up to large boxes that hold items for trade. Geocaches can be tracked at geocaching.com. There users can find caches to hunt, and they can hide their own boxes for others. It's basically like a treasure hunt.
The first time I went out with my friend Mira we started to get a bit frustrated. We weren't sure exactly how to use our GPS programs, but we figured it out pretty quickly. The geocaches are hidden using latitude and longitude coordinates and are hidden in and around bushes, trees, and other structures. Our first find was actually hidden INSIDE a hole in a tree! Once we signed the log, we took a small trinket, left something in return and headed off to our next location.
One neat thing about geocaching in our area is that there are literally hundreds of caches within just a few miles of us. We didn't have to drive far, then we were off on our search again. We've even thought of starting our own cache with a birthday card for Mira's husband inside so other geocachers can find and sign the card. Then we'll send him on his very own hunt to find his surprise. Now we just need to get a box, a card and pen, and figure out where we want to hide it.
I was hoping that geocaching would lead us to some interesting places around town that we may have never seen before. In just two outings we have definitely discovered some local history and seen some sights we have never noticed- right in our own backyards!
A destination that was exciting to me was at the Riparian Preserve. I've been to the preserve many times and walked the trails, but I've never gone in this entrance. I found a spot that would be wonderful for bird watching, writing, and reading. It has a few benches for sitting, and there are a lot of signs to read about local birds, butterflies, and bats.
Another place I've been to several times is Freestone Park. Through geocaching I got to see a whole area I've never explored. There was a beautiful lake with a tiny waterfall, and there were all sorts of ducks playing in the water. We even got to see my favorite bird and some turtles.
This summer we are going to have several opportunities to go geocaching, and I can't wait to find out what else we will discover!
The first time I went out with my friend Mira we started to get a bit frustrated. We weren't sure exactly how to use our GPS programs, but we figured it out pretty quickly. The geocaches are hidden using latitude and longitude coordinates and are hidden in and around bushes, trees, and other structures. Our first find was actually hidden INSIDE a hole in a tree! Once we signed the log, we took a small trinket, left something in return and headed off to our next location.
One neat thing about geocaching in our area is that there are literally hundreds of caches within just a few miles of us. We didn't have to drive far, then we were off on our search again. We've even thought of starting our own cache with a birthday card for Mira's husband inside so other geocachers can find and sign the card. Then we'll send him on his very own hunt to find his surprise. Now we just need to get a box, a card and pen, and figure out where we want to hide it.
I was hoping that geocaching would lead us to some interesting places around town that we may have never seen before. In just two outings we have definitely discovered some local history and seen some sights we have never noticed- right in our own backyards!
A destination that was exciting to me was at the Riparian Preserve. I've been to the preserve many times and walked the trails, but I've never gone in this entrance. I found a spot that would be wonderful for bird watching, writing, and reading. It has a few benches for sitting, and there are a lot of signs to read about local birds, butterflies, and bats.
Another place I've been to several times is Freestone Park. Through geocaching I got to see a whole area I've never explored. There was a beautiful lake with a tiny waterfall, and there were all sorts of ducks playing in the water. We even got to see my favorite bird and some turtles.
This summer we are going to have several opportunities to go geocaching, and I can't wait to find out what else we will discover!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Disc Golf Still Going Strong
The picture above was, however, a terrible shot. There is a water drainage pipe here that is blocked off with this locked fence. This poor disc wanted to go back home to where we found it. Just a couple weeks ago Andrea was looking in the gate and saw this disc. My dad was able to fish it out of the dungeon, as I call it, with his Golden Retriever tool I bought for his birthday. Apparently the dungeon is a magnet for this particular disc.
We all love playing this game. It is a time we can be active, be outdoors, and socialize. I am most excited that I have the summer off work so I can play often. The key is to beat the heat and get out early. Monday we were done playing by 8 AM, and the time and temperature reading at the cemetery across the street was reading 89 degrees. We finished before it reached 90. Awesome!
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
June Currently
Listening: to Andrea watching "Extreme Couponing," which I have dubbed as "Extremely Selfish People." I'm sorry to any extreme couponers who read my blog, but I find the practices illustrated on the show to be strange. I think these are hoarders in disguise.
Loving: the extra time to play disc golf since I'm on summer break.
Thinking: about everything I have to do this month. I won't get much of a summer break, but I'm not complaining! At this time last year I was teaching summer school, then frantically racing off to up to four job interviews daily. What an exhausting summer! This year I am so thankful for knowing that I am heading back to a job I love in a few weeks.
Wanting: my feet to stop hurting. I know, I know... this is nothing new. The hills on the golf course do play havoc with the nerve damage in my feet, though I don't want to admit it. I'm not willing to give up golfing, though, so I try not to complain.
Needing: new shoes before school starts again. I saw some really nice all-black ones on the New Balance website. Now I just need to go to the New Balance store to make sure they feel good.
3 vacay essentials: my laptop, a good book, and some quiet, alone time.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
June Goals
Personal: Drag myself out to the New Balance store and find (and actually purchase) shoes that will work for school for next year. I HATE shoe shopping!
Family: Take Andrea out shopping for shorts for home and school and cook with Amber at least twice.
Health: Exercise at least three times per week, either using the treadmill, a walk aerobics video, the Wii, or disc golfing.
School: Complete all tasks required of me for the curriculum committee. I am SO excited to be part of this group!
Blog: Post at least once per week to get back into the swing of writing. So far I have posted every day this month.
Read: Oh, what DON'T I want to read! LOL My June goal is to read at least two books for recreation and two professional development books. I want to read "The Book Whisperer" and I am required to read "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" for work.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Just One
Around Spring Break I had a student transfer out of my class. She felt like I didn't respect her, and her mother felt that I didn't care about her. The truth was, I cared very much for the success of this young lady. She just wanted to be handed grades and to not have to do the work. She later admitted to the teacher whose class she had transferred into that she had not read a book all year. She faked all of her book reviews that I required and had wondered about many times.
In this case, I honestly don't feel like I failed the child; the child and parent refused to help the child by wanting to skate by. It did hurt tremendously, though, at the time. It didn't help that the emails from the mother were so demeaning that I would often cry for hours at a time, and administration actually made a rule that any communication with the mother had to be done through either the principal or vice principal. It got quite ugly for awhile.
At the same time that this student transferred out of my class, a student from the other teacher was moved into my class. I guess you could say that we made a trade. This student, a boy, had a personality conflict with the other teacher. He was a bit much to handle, but he was a hard worker and a natural leader. I knew he and I would be fine together.
After a few weeks in our class, the young man (I will call him Y.M. from here) continued to get himself into relatively minor trouble, mostly on the playground and away from my classroom, until he was placed on a behavior contract. At our school, a behavior contract is the last step before a student is expelled. The behavior contract spells out exactly what a student must do to stay at the school and how discipline will be handled going forward. In this case, we only had about seven weeks of school and everyone agreed that the main idea was to get Y.M. through sixth grade so he can move on with dignity.
Y.M. served two weeks of work detail after school. He pulled weeds and reflected on how he was going to keep himself out of trouble. He checked in daily with the principal for this assignment, and we had weekly meetings to see how things were going. Y.M. was removed from work detail when he had "done his time," and our weekly meetings were slowly forgotten.
In the second to last week of school, however, Y.M. found himself yet again unable to control his behavior. He was constantly talking in the classroom, shouting across school grounds when he should be walking silently in line, and acting wild on the school bus during a field trip. It was agreed that Y.M. would go back on work detail for three days of the last week of school.
Working with Y.M. was one of the highlights of this school year. He is a great kid; he just needs some guidance on behavior. He doesn't act out to purposely frustrate adults; he just doesn't think through what he is doing and the potential consequences. In other words, he is a typical 12-year-old boy who just seems to get caught way too often.
One thing I admire about Y.M. is that he is always honest. If he does something wrong and deserves punishment, he will accept it without argument. He is always respectful of me and our principal. He knows he needs some encouragement to make the right choices sometimes. On the other hand he will NOT let an adult talk him into admitting to being wrong when he is not.
The last week of school was a perfect opportunity for that to be demonstrated. A teacher thought Y.M. was in a group of students who had sprayed fruit juice all over some books. Because I had been working with Y.M., I asked the teacher if I could talk with him. I explained the situation, and he swore to me that he was not involved. I got to have a moment with him that I am glad we had an opportunity to share. I laid it on the line, being very honest myself. "Look, Y.M., I'm going to bat for you here. If you are telling me you didn't do this, I am going to tell the other teacher I don't want you to be disciplined. I need you to be honest here." He again swore he wasn't involved, and I truly believe him. The old Y.M. may have been involved, but I do think this new Y.M. would have walked away.
This moment, though, was more than just finding out if Y.M. had sprayed juice in the classroom. I took the time to tell him how happy I was that I got to work with him. I told him how proud I was of the changes and that he was always going to make mistakes in life. Taking the consequences with such grace is an amazing quality. Standing up for himself is just as important. I told Y.M. that I have learned a lot from him since Spring Break, and I told him I see a bright future. By the time I was done, I did what I had promised myself I wouldn't do with my students at the end of this school year- I shed a tear. I told Y.M. I was going to miss having him in my class and that he made this year brighter. He truly did. It's amazing how that can happen, even while working with a child whose behavior is difficult.
Y.M.'s eyes weren't exactly dry, either, and he looked at me and said, "Thank you, Mrs. Greenberg. No teacher has ever done what you have for me. I am glad I got to be in your class, too." THESE are the moments that make teaching so worth every frustrating moment. I reached this student, I helped him to feel good about who he is as a person, and I let him know that his teachers DO care about where his life is going.
In our final behavior contract wrap-up meeting with the principal I didn't have much to say as I had already shared with Y.M. but I did remind him that I was proud of him. After Y.M. left our meeting, I shared the moment from the day before with our principal. She said, "There is your one. This year you made a difference in a child's life. You aren't going to reach every single one of them, but every once in awhile there is going to be one who you will truly touch. You will change that life forever. You did well, Mrs. Greenberg."
Yes, Y.M. was my one this year. I went into teaching thinking I could make an impact on every single child, and in many ways I did. This one, though... this one made me feel like a superhero.
In this case, I honestly don't feel like I failed the child; the child and parent refused to help the child by wanting to skate by. It did hurt tremendously, though, at the time. It didn't help that the emails from the mother were so demeaning that I would often cry for hours at a time, and administration actually made a rule that any communication with the mother had to be done through either the principal or vice principal. It got quite ugly for awhile.
At the same time that this student transferred out of my class, a student from the other teacher was moved into my class. I guess you could say that we made a trade. This student, a boy, had a personality conflict with the other teacher. He was a bit much to handle, but he was a hard worker and a natural leader. I knew he and I would be fine together.
After a few weeks in our class, the young man (I will call him Y.M. from here) continued to get himself into relatively minor trouble, mostly on the playground and away from my classroom, until he was placed on a behavior contract. At our school, a behavior contract is the last step before a student is expelled. The behavior contract spells out exactly what a student must do to stay at the school and how discipline will be handled going forward. In this case, we only had about seven weeks of school and everyone agreed that the main idea was to get Y.M. through sixth grade so he can move on with dignity.
Y.M. served two weeks of work detail after school. He pulled weeds and reflected on how he was going to keep himself out of trouble. He checked in daily with the principal for this assignment, and we had weekly meetings to see how things were going. Y.M. was removed from work detail when he had "done his time," and our weekly meetings were slowly forgotten.
In the second to last week of school, however, Y.M. found himself yet again unable to control his behavior. He was constantly talking in the classroom, shouting across school grounds when he should be walking silently in line, and acting wild on the school bus during a field trip. It was agreed that Y.M. would go back on work detail for three days of the last week of school.
Working with Y.M. was one of the highlights of this school year. He is a great kid; he just needs some guidance on behavior. He doesn't act out to purposely frustrate adults; he just doesn't think through what he is doing and the potential consequences. In other words, he is a typical 12-year-old boy who just seems to get caught way too often.
One thing I admire about Y.M. is that he is always honest. If he does something wrong and deserves punishment, he will accept it without argument. He is always respectful of me and our principal. He knows he needs some encouragement to make the right choices sometimes. On the other hand he will NOT let an adult talk him into admitting to being wrong when he is not.
The last week of school was a perfect opportunity for that to be demonstrated. A teacher thought Y.M. was in a group of students who had sprayed fruit juice all over some books. Because I had been working with Y.M., I asked the teacher if I could talk with him. I explained the situation, and he swore to me that he was not involved. I got to have a moment with him that I am glad we had an opportunity to share. I laid it on the line, being very honest myself. "Look, Y.M., I'm going to bat for you here. If you are telling me you didn't do this, I am going to tell the other teacher I don't want you to be disciplined. I need you to be honest here." He again swore he wasn't involved, and I truly believe him. The old Y.M. may have been involved, but I do think this new Y.M. would have walked away.
This moment, though, was more than just finding out if Y.M. had sprayed juice in the classroom. I took the time to tell him how happy I was that I got to work with him. I told him how proud I was of the changes and that he was always going to make mistakes in life. Taking the consequences with such grace is an amazing quality. Standing up for himself is just as important. I told Y.M. that I have learned a lot from him since Spring Break, and I told him I see a bright future. By the time I was done, I did what I had promised myself I wouldn't do with my students at the end of this school year- I shed a tear. I told Y.M. I was going to miss having him in my class and that he made this year brighter. He truly did. It's amazing how that can happen, even while working with a child whose behavior is difficult.
Y.M.'s eyes weren't exactly dry, either, and he looked at me and said, "Thank you, Mrs. Greenberg. No teacher has ever done what you have for me. I am glad I got to be in your class, too." THESE are the moments that make teaching so worth every frustrating moment. I reached this student, I helped him to feel good about who he is as a person, and I let him know that his teachers DO care about where his life is going.
In our final behavior contract wrap-up meeting with the principal I didn't have much to say as I had already shared with Y.M. but I did remind him that I was proud of him. After Y.M. left our meeting, I shared the moment from the day before with our principal. She said, "There is your one. This year you made a difference in a child's life. You aren't going to reach every single one of them, but every once in awhile there is going to be one who you will truly touch. You will change that life forever. You did well, Mrs. Greenberg."
Yes, Y.M. was my one this year. I went into teaching thinking I could make an impact on every single child, and in many ways I did. This one, though... this one made me feel like a superhero.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
School's Out for Summer!
Whooo Hoooo! I made it through my first full-time year of teaching. Around Christmas time I would have told you this year was no different than the one before when I taught part-time. I have quickly revised that thought, though!
Last year I had it made; I taught Social Studies, which was not tested on state testing. Preparing students for the big test is demanding, both emotionally and physically. Last year I was lucky; our school had final exams on the last day of school, keeping students engaged right up until the very last minute. This year, however, was challenging in many different ways. I was so exhausted on Friday night that I was in bed by 7:30 and was asleep shortly after.
If I had to sum up my experience this year in one phrase, I would have to say, "But Mrs. Last Year's Teacher...." Sadly, on the last day of school I realized that my entire experience this year was wrapped up in "Mrs. Last Year's Teacher." All of the frustrations with my students and their parents came from the fact that I could never live up to her. Even on the very last day of school I was explaining to students that the activities I had planned for them reflected MY personality and the way that I wanted to wrap up the year. The students pouted that I didn't have the same events planned and stated that I was not fun. It hurt. Truthfully, I was so thankful that I would never have to hear that statement again that it dawned on me that I didn't enjoy this year as much as I could have due to the ghost of "Mrs. Last Year's Teacher." This was not simply a case of missing 5th grade; these kids honestly thought "Mrs. Last Year's Teacher" was perfect in every way.
I'm not going to tell you that I didn't enjoy this year. I did. I learned a lot, and I really do love teaching. But it was challenging emotionally, and there were many times I wondered if I was where I was meant to be. Me being me, though, I am already excited for next year to start. I can't wait to meet a whole new group of students and have a fresh start. I will still be the teacher I want to be, but I do have some new ideas for building a community of learners. I can't wait to see what next school year will bring!
Goodbye 2012-2013. I really do hope my students learned as much as I did this year.
Last year I had it made; I taught Social Studies, which was not tested on state testing. Preparing students for the big test is demanding, both emotionally and physically. Last year I was lucky; our school had final exams on the last day of school, keeping students engaged right up until the very last minute. This year, however, was challenging in many different ways. I was so exhausted on Friday night that I was in bed by 7:30 and was asleep shortly after.
If I had to sum up my experience this year in one phrase, I would have to say, "But Mrs. Last Year's Teacher...." Sadly, on the last day of school I realized that my entire experience this year was wrapped up in "Mrs. Last Year's Teacher." All of the frustrations with my students and their parents came from the fact that I could never live up to her. Even on the very last day of school I was explaining to students that the activities I had planned for them reflected MY personality and the way that I wanted to wrap up the year. The students pouted that I didn't have the same events planned and stated that I was not fun. It hurt. Truthfully, I was so thankful that I would never have to hear that statement again that it dawned on me that I didn't enjoy this year as much as I could have due to the ghost of "Mrs. Last Year's Teacher." This was not simply a case of missing 5th grade; these kids honestly thought "Mrs. Last Year's Teacher" was perfect in every way.
I'm not going to tell you that I didn't enjoy this year. I did. I learned a lot, and I really do love teaching. But it was challenging emotionally, and there were many times I wondered if I was where I was meant to be. Me being me, though, I am already excited for next year to start. I can't wait to meet a whole new group of students and have a fresh start. I will still be the teacher I want to be, but I do have some new ideas for building a community of learners. I can't wait to see what next school year will bring!
Goodbye 2012-2013. I really do hope my students learned as much as I did this year.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Encouraged to Continue
It happens EVERY time. Each time I think I'm going to shut down this blog for good, something happens that makes me want to keep writing. This time it was incredibly ironic, as I had already hit the "delete blog" button and said goodbye in my mind.
The other day at work another teacher said, "I found your blog and I really like it." I thought she was talking about my classroom blog, and we talked for a few minutes. I suddenly realized she was talking about my personal blog- this one! For just a moment I was silent with fear. I never really expected anyone I know to stumble here, even though that has been my concern for the past couple of years.
Thank you, C.H. for your kind words and your encouragement! This coworker reassured me about several of the thoughts I've had, and she didn't even know I was thinking about those things. She said I did a great job of staying positive and not mentioning names that could be privacy issues. She enjoyed my writing style and felt like I had interesting stories. Whooo Hooo!
Here I was, ready to give up writing because I didn't really have anything interesting to say anymore. I wonder how many others have read this blog and not commented. So, I'm back again. It's amazing how I keep arriving at this exact point. As always, it is with encouragement that I am here. I can't wait to share my summer with you!
The other day at work another teacher said, "I found your blog and I really like it." I thought she was talking about my classroom blog, and we talked for a few minutes. I suddenly realized she was talking about my personal blog- this one! For just a moment I was silent with fear. I never really expected anyone I know to stumble here, even though that has been my concern for the past couple of years.
Thank you, C.H. for your kind words and your encouragement! This coworker reassured me about several of the thoughts I've had, and she didn't even know I was thinking about those things. She said I did a great job of staying positive and not mentioning names that could be privacy issues. She enjoyed my writing style and felt like I had interesting stories. Whooo Hooo!
Here I was, ready to give up writing because I didn't really have anything interesting to say anymore. I wonder how many others have read this blog and not commented. So, I'm back again. It's amazing how I keep arriving at this exact point. As always, it is with encouragement that I am here. I can't wait to share my summer with you!
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