Miscellaneous Missives

Today was the perfect summer day... golf, lunch with friends, reading in the sun, the gym, a gift of cherry jam, enough calories left for ice cream, Olympics... Unfortunately, tomorrow is Sunday.  A friend refers to summer as the weekend.  June is Friday since we work the first half.  July is Saturday, perhaps the best day of the week.  August, therefore, is Sunday.  Tomorrow is August 1, Sunday.  Sunday is the day I usually use to prepare for school.  Instead of waiting for Sunday, I did some today by purchasing 60 glue sticks, 60 mechanical pencils, and six boxes of tissues (all for $25... savings of $59).  During the month of August, I will peruse the ads searching for deals.  I'm not happy about tomorrow being Sunday, but Saturday was awesome. 

My window is soooo clean that one can see the reflection of the inside plant. Testimonial- someone will testify that the advertised product did help them or is a good one to buy because they tried it, and it worked Miscellaneous Missives may turn into one testimonial after another.  For the second testimonial in July, I would like to introduce Norwex products. When I moved into my condo (07.08.08), I cleaned everything including the windows.  The truth is I'm not someone who likes to clean (no one does).  I'm good at picking stuff up and keeping my mess behind doors, but I don't dust or do windows.  Perhaps this has changed.  Recently, I bought the window cloths (enviro cloth and window cloth) from Norwex .  My windows have never been cleaner.  Since I hadn't cleaned them in the last four years, they were filthy, but I didn't realize how filthy until I actually cleaned them.  First, I wet the enviro cloth and rung it out....

"Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce."  ~anonymous "Pay attention.  Be astonished.  Tell about it."  ~Mary Oliver "Even the smallest dog can lift its leg on the tallest building."  ~Jim Hightower "If you don't speak out when it matters, when would it matter for you to speak out?  ~Jim Hightower As I walked up the steps to the Sacred Journey service, I remembered (the music helped) that it was " Blue Grass Sunday".  Immediately I wished I had stayed in bed listening to the rain.  My plan was to leave after the blessing of the space.  Each time I tried to leave, I noticed the joy in the faces of those around me.  Even the kids were tapping their feet and bouncing in their chairs.  What was I missing?  After each song we were given more of the message which came in snippets and quotes from "regular folks", and they did indeed carry the message.  Even the music began to g...

4.5 hours!!!  Are you kidding me?  Although I think London did a great job, Matt Lauer and his co-anchor were boring.  I appreciated what London did with the history of the United Kingdom and even became teary eyed when the kids were singing songs from each country, especially the hymn from Wales.  The music section was fun although Sir Paul McCartney should give it up.  And... Where was Sir Elton John?  The bicycle butterflies were also kinda cool, but 4.5 hours?  The good news is that my time was not completely wasted.  Twitter updates and GoogleReader feeds were followed while  I used my time to go over the materials from the various workshops I attended this summer.  Plus, I went through my schedules from each unit I taught last year and tried to figure out the chronological order of what I taught last year.  Although it doesn't necessarily prepare me for this year, it gave me something to do and think about. I also though...

I've been helping with a friend's house while they are out of town (easy explanation).  The house is for sale, and tomorrow there are two showings.  When I went over today to water their beautiful backyard flower gardens, I noticed weeds popping up all over in the brick patio (?).  Although I know nothing about weeding flowers (or weeding in general really), I decided to pull the weeds of the patio.  It seemed impossible to do it incorrectly since I didn't have to distinguish between the flowers and weeds.  Many say that gardening and weeding is therapeutic.  My guess is it is more of an addiction than therapy although I'm not really sure how to explain this belief.  After my weeding experience, I decided to get a manicure and pedicure.  Speaking of addictions, even though I brought my own polish from home, I decided I wanted a new color.  Since I chip my nails frequently, I tend to purchase the color they're using if I don't bring my own....

Creating a shorter playlist for my biking/jogging for July was helpful, so today I made a new playlist for August.  It seems jogging is out, but I am spending at least thirty minutes a day on my bike and/or the elliptical.  I am trying to figure the best mix, but it seems to be a difficult progress. Here's the list for August: *Raise your Glass-  P!nk *More- Usher *Enter Sandman- Metallica *Welcome to the Jungle- Guns n' Roses *Makes me Wonder- Maroon 5 *Dream On- Aerosmith *Firework- Katy Perry *Disarm- Smashing Pumpkins *Should I Stay or Should I Go- Clash *You Really Got Me- Van Halen *Til the World Ends- Britney Spears *She's so Mean- Matchbox Twenty *Where Have You Been- Rihanna *Starships- Nicki Minaj *Good Feeling- Flo Rida *Girlfriend- Avril Lavigne *How Far We've Come-Matchbox Twenty *Feel So Close- Calvin Harris *If Today was your Last Day- Nickelback *Til I Collapse- Eminem

As I mentioned, I went canoeing while at the Praying with the Earth Retreat.  When we were putting the canoe back, my canoe helper asked me to sit on the bow/stern/??? to steady and even the vessel.  Sitting on the bow/stern/??? I remembered a picture from when I was little.  It seems we went in a canoe sometime although I don't remember it.  To my recollection my total times canoeing is two and kayaking is three.  Perhaps it happened more as a child, but I'm guessing this was a rare photo.  Anyway, I'm contemplating buying a kayak, so I can kayak during the summer.  It is probably a silly idea, but I need silly ideas to keep my mind going.

My last day at the Praying with the Earth (prayer and yoga) retreat was not disappointing.  As we started yet another day with yoga, I realized that I really need to make yoga a weekly practice for my mind and body.  A week ago during my writing institute, I started to write about what sustains me.  When I balance practices for my body, mind, and spirit, I am healthier, and I was reminded of this during this retreat.  I also need to stop and pay attention.  This morning I opened the door to check the status of the current storm and was greeted by the sound of loons, so I took time to stop and listen.  Later in the morning after chapel, I walked the outdoor labyrinth .  Once again I was silent in mediation and walking.   The labyrinth is the size of a baseball field, and it took thirty minutes to enter the circle.  Although I don't have access to a labyrinth or loons, I think I could spend some time walking near the lakes each day (at ...

Sooooo... I'm blogging from the iPad, so this will be interesting. Today is the first full day of my prayer/yoga retreat. Since we get meals at 8, 12, and 6 plus a snack in the evening, it's a great thing I put the bike in the back of my vehicle. My bike ride was followed by yoga and breakfast... Perfect! Next came the days challenge. We were in silent meditation (walking for me) with instructions to avoid words of the mouth or in print (no reading or writing). We are sharing the retreat center with a grandparents- grandchildren's retreat. While our lunch was silent, theirs was boisterous. When one grandparent announced the need for silent time after lunch, I could only think of the need for conversation. The solitude and quiet was good . Although I didn't talk, I did have unexpected conversations with God. Conversations with God followed by a canoe ride... Life is good.

In a scene from Beloved , Baby Suggs is preaching in the clearing... "She did not tell them to clean up their lives or to go and sin no more. She did not tell them they were the blessed of the earth, its inheriting meek or its glorybound pure. She told them that the only grace they could have was the grace they could imagine . That if they could not see it, they would not have it." This quote was used during church today, so I had to use the interweb and Google to find it's origin.  First, let me say that it kinda makes me want to read Beloved again, but my stack of books (list on Kindle) disagrees.  The quote resonated with me throughout the service.  Isn't it true?  We need to imagine something better in order to have something better.  The other truth is we need to do something besides imagine.  If we are not active, we can't make a difference.  Perhaps that's my I'm disgusted that in lieu of the latest killings little is being done abou...

Testimonial- someone will testify that the advertised product did help them or is a good one to buy because they tried it, and it worked My closet door hinges need some work.  Actually the screw holes have become "worn and stripped", so I can no longer insert the screws without them falling out leaving the closet door to hang on one hinge instead of the required three.  This week I've been busy with class, so my closet door has remained open.  Since I don't typically clean my house, I'm not worried about this lack of neatness resulting from the closet door being open, but I am worried about the cat that likes to sleep and leave cat hair on my shoes.  After consulting my father, Carol, and another friend, we decided my idea of moving the hinges up 1/2" was not the best idea.  Honestly, they decided; I still think it was genius.  Dad and Carol suggested using wood fill to fill the holes, letting it dry, filling again, letting it dry, until I had the hole...

Writing down the Bones: Feeling the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg Composting Our sense by themselves are dumb. They take in experience, but they need the richness of sifting for a while through our consciousness and through our whole bodies. I call this “composting.” Our bodies are garbage heaps: we collect experience, and from the decomposition of the thrown-out eggshells, spinach leaves, coffee grinds, and old steak bones of our minds come nitrogran, heat, and very fertile soil. Out of this fertile soil bloom our poems and stories. But this does not come all at once. It takes time. Continue to turn over and over the organic details of your life until some of them fall through the garbage of discursive thoughts to the solid ground of black soil. When we are raking our minds and taking our shallow thinking and turning it over, if we continue to work with this raw matter, it will draw us deeper and deeper into ourselves, but not in a neurotic way. We will begin to see the rich ...

Tomorrow is the last day of class, and our inquiry project is due.  I did an average to sub-average job, but I'm content since we were given little to no time to work on it.  My inquiry dealt with helping students write/ask better questions.  One thing that came to mind is that most people have a difficult time asking the questions that supports finding the best answer.  Another thing I thought about during my inquiry was Bloom's Taxonomy.  Teachers are taught Bloom's to ask better questions.  Perhaps sharing it with students would help them with better questioning.  It seems I need to do more research, but for now my project is done allowing me to go to the gym or ride the trails or eat ice cream or...

It's Wednesday, and I'm exhausted.  I don't know if it's the 90+ minutes of sitting on the bus all day or the humidity, but I don't know if I will be able to finish this week of class without a minor break-down.  Of course I came to class today prepared with my writing, but we're not doing anything with out writing until tomorrow.  If I didn't know and respect one of the facilitators, I'm quite sure I wouldn't be able to make it to class for the remainder of the week.  My fear is they're trying to accomplish too many tasks in a week's time.  The class has been somewhat of a disappointment.  Maybe it's because I'm tired, but I really wanted more time to write.  For some reason I thought it would be more of a writer's group with educational information and ideas splattered in as we wrote. The good news (and perhaps bad because it's humid and I'm exhausted) is that I am on my way to play golf and clear my head.  Summer s...

Working on Wheelchairs in Guatemala Part (and I would say an important part) of this week's institute is becoming part of a writing group.  Without going into detail, I do not have faith in my writing group.  Yesterday we were instructed to remember a good norm is to remember that everyone comes with good intentions (or something similar).  I left the first meeting with my group thinking, "Yeah, but that doesn't make them smart and/or insightful."  Without discussing the individuals in my group, I would say I was disheartened after our first meeting.  For various reasons neither can share online and/or print out their writings.  This doesn't necessarily mean they will not give worthwhile feed back, but I am not counting on tomorrow's meeting to be productive.  We did set up three guidelines (give positive feedback, give suggestions to help better the writing, and help figure out what to do next).  The idea for my first writing came to mind ...

First, I would like you to know that I am disappointed in the lack of response to yesterday's question.  It is disheartening.  I will need to think about the future of this blog.  As I mentioned yesterday, we were asked to bring a "meaningful" picture today.  I knew it would be an activity that involved writing.  To be honest, I wasn't excited about this activity.  It, however, turned out to be something I will probably use in class next year.  Without giving too many details, we were given sticky notes and asked to go around the room.  We were to look at the pictures around the room and write down questions about the pictures.  I chose picture #2 (sorry MC).  People's questions were interesting.  Why were all these people here? How did you feel at the inauguration? Do you know any of the people in the photo? Why did you make the trip here? When/where was this? Are you in the crowd? Did you use a porta-potty? It see...

Tomorrow I will be attending an Open Institute (not invitation only) with the Minnesota Writing Project.  Last week we were sent an e-mail that instructed us to, "Please bring one picture that is meaningful to you.  It could be any picture and meaningful in any way."  Today I spent at least thirty minutes trying to figure out what picture to bring.  I narrowed it down to six (in no order).  What do you think?  No.  Seriously.  What do you think?  Let me know by tomorrow morning. #1 Obama's inauguration... when I really did think there would be change...  #2 Same as #1... different view... #3 I am always drawn to water.  Lake Okoboji #4 Lake Okoboji with amusement park and roller coaster #5 Change #6 Pro-Union Rally in Saint Paul

My Grandfather (Myron) passed away on Friday the 13th. Did you know six months ago today was also Friday the 13th?  I know this because my hip surgery was on Friday, January the 13th.  Incredible!  This morning I sent a text to my dear friend who stayed with me the night (and a couple days after) of my surgery.  The night of my surgery was a bit unfortunate since I refused to move the rugs in my apartment causing me to fall three times with the crutches and awaking my friend each time.  While she wanted to move the rugs, I would only let her move them one at a time.  Each time I tripped and fell on a rug, I'd let her move it.  Eventually all of the rugs were taken up off the floor.  Today as it's Friday the 13th again, I realize it was Friday the 13th and not my being stubborn with the rugs that caused all my falls. 

Millenium Force Cedar Point  When I first started teaching in Bloomington, one of my teams had four other women that loved to ride roller coasters.  Even though I'd worked with them less than a year (and every other day), I took them up on their offer to go to Cedar Point during the upcoming summer vacation.  We had a blast and started a lasting friendship.  Each summer for several years we would go to a different amusement park and ride coasters.  This evening we went to Valley Fair.  It's no Cedar Point (no amusement park is), but we had a great time.  Besides riding roller coasters (and giant swings), we reminisced about our previous trips.  Perhaps we'll go again one of these summers.   If this doesn't work out, spending a couple of hours at Valley Fair is still fun. 

Today I had to take my trip to Africa off the calendar.  Although I was a bit concerned about staying sane during the plane ride, I was really excited about the opportunity to help kids in Africa and, of course, see Africa and go on safari.  Even though I've known for several days that cancellation was possible, I was holding out for another opportunity.  It looks like it will need to be next year.   I was going on the trip with a group called Hope Haven (the group I went to Guatemala with last summer).  They make wheelchairs in South Dakota.  We fit the children with these wheelchairs.  Wheelchairs are delivered to the countries with the help of the Navy.  The ship with the wheelchairs was sent back to sea because of terrorist activity and won't be able to continue until November or December. 

“This being human is a guest house. Every morning is a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, Some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all. Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” ~Rumi This morning I awake feeling completely relaxed as I listen to the sound of birds.  Some of the sounds are unfamiliar.  I am a guest in a wonderful house.  As others are stirring inside, I sit on the porch.  My intent was to read, but I have found myself spending too much time on the computer and watching the horses in the adjacent field.  While reading another's blogs, I found this quote by Rumi.  I d...

Today we left the Iron Range for Lake Superior.  After spending some time in Duluth, I finally understand people's love of the city.  We left Duluth to visit Port Wing this afternoon.  Our tour guides graciously took us to wonderful art, pottery and book locations.  Plus, we were able to walk on the beach of Lake Superior.  It's the perfect end to our vacation.  Life is good! 

It was another lovely day with family in friends.  The weather was beautiful, so we were able to sit outside and converse.  Plus, we took in some local sights.  After a lovely boat ride on Long Lake, we went to Vince Shute Bear Reserve.  At first I found it similar to watching bears at the zoo (more freedom to come and go at the reserve), then we were entertained by three cubs and mama bear.   Later another larger bear climbed a tree next to the observation deck with dexterity and grace.   Carol and Dad also graced us with plenty of local eats (malts at The Stand plus pizza and wings at Bimbos).  Although the visit was short, we are ready to head to Duluth and Port Wing tomorrow.

truck with topper in Hibbing with sheep (multiple) in the back Today we made our trip north to the Iron Range to visit my family and friends.  I checked the weather before leaving Minneapolis and felt confident in my clothing choice.  Traveling in the summer is made so convenient with sundresses and sandals.  As we arrived at our first stop, The Buckhorn Bar and Grille in McGregor, for grilled ham and cheese plus Diet Pepsi "on the gun", I realized that my clothing choice may not adequate.  We arrived in Hibbing, and I understood that even with my jean jacket, I was going to be uncomfortable.  One of our first outings was to L & H Fleet Supply for a new outfit... smashing!  Leaving Dad and Carol's place in Chisholm, we were entertained by twins and their mama.  The twins were frolicking in the meadow while Mama was keeping a close eye on the visitors.  Later we enjoyed spirits and the Friday fish fry at the Highway 5 Bar.  Lif...

I started MyFitnessPal to calculate my calories in and calories out.  It started as a game, but I'm afraid it's becoming a compulsion.  Basically I've figured out that I can eat a lot and still lose weight as long as I exercise.  With my new bike helmet, I've realized I can bike first thing in the morning and still work in gym time.  This became a problem yesterday when I wimped out and didn't bike in the morning.  Today my alarm was set for 6:00 am, so I could bike before going to the gym and continuing my day.  Instead of biking, I have been checking the weather and feeling guilty about remaining inside.  Instead of merely feeling guilty (and a bit lost), I'm also blogging about not biking...  Maybe it really is a compulsion (at least it's a healthy compulsion).

Happy 4th of July!  It's 101º (feels like 107º) at 3:30.  Although I set my alarm for 6:15 this morning to bike, I decided the heat, humidity, and dew point were not conducive to outdoor exercise (I'll go tomorrow morning).  Instead of exercising outside, I went to the gym.  Typically 4th of July activities happen outside, but this 4th I am basically hanging out inside and reading.  It's not like I haven't been outside.  I watered friends' flowers in the sun and grilled.  Although it's a pathetic July 4th, I'm content not joining the crowds in the heat.  Part of my wants to complain about my pathetic inside life, but I still prefer this heat to the below zero temperatures of January and February.  Have fun everyone (inside or outside)!

I have this cool blown-glass vase.  Although the vase is beautiful, it contained ugly flowers.  Today friends allowed me to cut some of their sage.  It seems the sage looks better.  What do you think?  Plus, I need some advice.  The other flowers were sprayed with hair spray to make sure that they could stay in the vase for years.  Do you think I should spray the sage? 

Even though it was 91º outside today, I decided I should do some type of exercise.  Instead of heading to the gym, I decided to sport my ponytails and new bike helmet while biking down the trail.  It was a disappointing ride as many passed me, but it felt good to get out of the air-conditioning.  Since I haven't biked for at least six years, I'll need to figure out how to get faster and better.  My alarm is set for 6:30 am to try again.  It was also set for 6:30 this morning, but I did not get out of bed.  I can do this, right?!