Miscellaneous Missives

My first hour class sometimes proves to be frustrating.  Today was one of those days.  I often try to figure out if their apathy, confusion, and/or spaciness is a result of my teaching, the time of the day, or their lack of attention and/or motivation.  My frustration was heightened this morning.  After discussing why I chose the colors for the three note sheets and showing the above notebook slide, I asked the students to hold the first sheet of notes in their hand.  Five student held up either red or yellow.  Really?  After explaining first place was typically blue, second place red, and third place yellow (sometimes white) and showing the sheets in order with the picture of the ribbons, five people could not hold up the blue note sheet.  Honestly, I don't know where to go at this point.  How will seventh graders that can't figure out the first sheet is going to be blue after the explanation be able to comprehend and paraphrase informati...

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S2915006.shtml?cat=12196 "Yep, sometimes I even surprise myself" was my status update on the way to the gym.  I spent at over and hour debating whether or not I was a strong enough person to deal with the weather (below zero wind chills) and make the trip across town to the midtown gym for class or merely go to my gym (closer) and hit the treadmill.  While some Minnesotans embrace the cold weather, I merely tolerate it.  Finally, I decided that tomorrow was going to be colder and that I needed to work my core, so I headed to Midtown.  As I drove home, I was rewarded for my efforts.  A text from my neighbor stated that we were without power.  From the time of the text, it appeared that it had been out for at least thirty minutes.  When I sent a text to see if it was still out, the answer was affirmative.  The extent of the outage was also apparent as I realized most everything west of Hennepin was also out. ...

A couple of days ago when I checked in at the YWCA with my card (25 times in January win a prize), the guy behind the desk said, "You're almost there."  I asked about the prize.  Although I don't remember his exact words, he reminded me that they were a non-profit.  Honestly, I appreciate and embrace the non-profit status, but it helped me to realize the my prize probably wouldn't be a million dollars as another desk attendee had told me a week ago.  The mixed messages did not keep me from making sure I made my twenty-five visits.  Tonight was my twenty-fifth visit to the gym.  I handed my card to the attendee and asked for my million dollars.  Mr. Tattoo (This super nice guy even has tattoos all over his head.) told me I could exchange my card for a water bottle at the back desk.  Even though I was a bit disappointed in my prize, I had noticed more water bottles around, so I had a feeling it would be my prize.  When I received my water bo...

Although I still have to make two trips (tonight and tomorrow) to the gym to collect my prize for attending twenty-five times in January, I'm considering January finished.  I've been listening to my December Mix for two months, so I made a new mix for January February yesterday.  Obviously, January has gone a bit too fast for me since I entitled the mix January Mix instead of February Mix.  It is, however, the February mix, and I'm looking forward to it.  I even found my Spin Doctors CD for one of the songs. Kryptonite                            3 Doors Down Let's Go                                Calvin Harris (feat. Ne-Yo) Paint it Black      ...

This trailer is a bit of a spoiler. As I was leaving church, one of my favorite church members told me I had to watch this documentary.  I'm not a movie person.  In fact, I'm not sure that I can remember the last movie I watched.  When he told me I had to watch it, for some reason I wrote down the title and looked it up.  Since the movie was only 90 minutes (or so) long, I decided to rent it via iTunes and watch the first half while on the treadmill.  Before I left for the gym, I rented it from iTunes.  My account said that I had downloaded it, but I couldn't find it on my iPad.  Obviously, I don't rent movies very often.  Finally after at least thirty minutes, I called a friend for help, "I can't find the movie I rented."  Of course she was able to tell me how to find in less than thirty seconds.  Thanks to the help, I was able to watch the first half at the gym on the treadmill, now that's how to watch a movie.  The movie was g...

cokesbury.com I'm on the adult nurture committee at my church which is a bit interesting since I rarely attend the classes we plan and talk about.  Occasionally I will join a writing class or meditation class, but I basically show up at the monthly meetings and share my ideas about classes and events I don't attend.  Last Sunday we met to talk about the upcoming Lenten season.  We talked a lot about prayer and how it fits the Lenten theme (which I think has to do with breathe?).  I talked about having something that was more creative and kinesthetic.  Of course I also expressed once again that I wanted another devotion like we had a couple of years ago that we could color.  S mentioned that she had a book called Praying in Color that might fit the creative and kinesthetic functions.  At the end of the meeting, I asked if there was anything we could do.  Honestly, I think I was merely trying to be supportive and wasn't suggesting that I wante...

The seventh graders finished their "Moment in Time" (mini-memoir?) today.  Part of the assignment was to color code aspects of the Six Traits (basically sentence fluency and word choice).  While some students struggled to finish their assignments, others finished early.  My classes that sandwich lunch (sandwich, lunch, hee hee) are the most difficult.  Both classes struggle with behavior.  I often feel as though I spend most of the hour asking them to pay attention, sit down, be quiet, listen, be quiet, listen, pay attention... It is tiring having to "be on them" all the time.  I'm sure there's a better way to handle this class, but I'm also sure it's not in my personality.  Today during this class, one of my tough students (hot and cold) finished early.  When she finished, I asked her to either sit quietly and/or read.  Of course, I felt the need to follow up, "What did you decide to do now that you're finished?"  I asked.  She ...

This evening the Minnesota Writing Project Meet-Up was at the Walker Art Museum.  Although our group was small we didn't necessarily know each other.  The Minnesota Writing Project brought us together.  I'm not officially part of the writing project because I've never done the full month although they still let me hang out.  After our museum tour, we gathered at the restaurant inside the museum for an adult refreshment.  While we conversed, a connection was made.  I met (or re-met) the lady I hung out with this summer during Joe Biden's visit.  Both of us had individually rode our bikes into the event and met while waiting in line.  We were both alone and started conversing.  Tonight after being together for the tour and part of Happy Hour, P recognized me.  It seems as though she was trying to figure out where she knew me from, and I had been doing the same.  Finally, she ascertained our connection, "We stood together while Joe ...

youvebeenhooked.wordpress.com I hate workshop days, especially those which start with three hours of sitting on my ass.  To be fair, we had renowned speaker Thomas R. Guskey.  He, however, was not as captivating as I would have appreciated on this freezing cold morning.  Guskey spoke to us about grading.  While I was listening to him, I realized that I am getting old and crabby.  Although I agree with a lot of Guskey's ideas, I sat in the back and wondered how much it cost to bring him to our district.  My questioning continued because that's what I do.  Since the district has already made the decision to go to 70-30 (70 summative/30 formative), why spend money to bring in someone to tell us its merits (not his exact message)?  Maybe spending money on letting teachers work together and figure out the system would be a better option.  This poses a problem because the administration in my school does not want to listen to everyone.  A...

  “One Today”  by Richard Blanco, the inaugural poet.   One sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores, peeking over the Smokies, greeting the faces of the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth across the Great Plains, then charging across the Rockies. One light, waking up rooftops, under each one, a story told by our silent gestures moving behind windows. My face, your face, millions of faces in morning’s mirrors, each one yawning to life, crescendoing into our day: pencil-yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights, fruit stands: apples, limes, and oranges arrayed like rainbows begging our praise. Silver trucks heavy with oil or paper— bricks or milk, teeming over highways alongside us, on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives— to teach geometry, or ring-up groceries as my mother did f...

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/martin%20luther%20king%20jr?before=60 We shall overcome, we shall overcome, We shall overcome someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe,   We shall overcome someday. Today we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in our worship service.  As service was started with some of the words from the I Have a Dream speech, I was a bit teary eyed realizing the words that meant the most to me were the same the students picked out of their listening activity in class this week. Our scripture today (I Corinthians 12:4-1) discussed how we each had a gift to share for the greater good.  The gift of the Spirit is in each of us.  When we work together we are greater.  Sankalpa allows us to realize our I Am.  If only everyone could realize their I Am and work together for the greater good...  May each of us be more than what we're called to be.   This Sankalpa challenge has been somewhat enlightening.  After today's ser...

At the End of the Day: A Mirror of Questions by John O’Donohue What dreams did I create last night? Where did my eyes linger? Where was I blind? Where was I hurt without anyone noticing? What did I learn today? What did I read? What new thoughts visited me? What differences did I notice in those closest to me? Whom did I neglect? Where did I neglect myself? What did I begin today that might endure? How were my conversations? What did I do today for the poor and the excluded? Did I remember the dead today? Where could I have exposed myself to the risk of    something different? Where did I allow myself to receive love? With whom today did I feel most myself? What reached me today? How deep did it imprint? Who saw me today? What visitations had I from the past and from the future? What did I avoid today? From the evidence - why was I given this day? Today I spent time with two dear friends.  Both are high school friends and know me as well as ...

In Blackwater Woods  by Mary Oliver Look, the trees are turning their own bodies into pillars of light, are giving off the rich fragrance of cinnamon and fulfillment, the long tapers of cattails are bursting and floating away over the blue shoulders of the ponds, and every pond, no matter what its name is, is nameless now. Every year everything I have ever learned in my lifetime leads back to this: the fires and the black river of loss whose other side is salvation, whose meaning none of us will ever know. To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.  "In Blackwater Woods" by Mary Oliver, from  American Primitive . © Back Bay Books, 1983.  Let's be honest.  Blogging and trying to incorporate Sankalpa is getting difficult, but I'm super close to the twenty...

Is anyone following the Te'o story?  It seems it's a story of "letting go," letting go of the truth and/or reality... crazy.  Is anyone following the gun control debate?  It seems it's a debate of "letting go," letting go of the truth and/or reality... crazy.  I could continue this by talking about my post observation today and my after school meeting, but I will let go of that madness.  Do you notice how I'm talking about Sankalpa without following its true meaning? It also seems to me that there was something in the beginning of this blog challenge about not making purchases.  As I recall, books were OK.  My guess is that it is also OK that I "let go" of some money today to book a flight to Puerto Vallarta for spring break (six days and five nights... bring it). 

HURK by Shel Silverstein I'd rather play tennis than go to the dentist. I'd rather play soccer than go to the doctor. I'd rather play hurk than go to work. Hurk? Hurk? What's Hurk? I don't know, But it must be better than work. Sankalpa Day 20 AKA Doctor Pants BTW- Yesterday I went to the dentist.  Today I went to the doctor and stayed back with the "naughty kids" hence the poem. Last year I had soooo many doctor and PT appointments.  Since I needed loose fitting clothing for these, I always wore my Nike workout pants to school on these days.  The students began to know when I had doctor's appointments because I was wearing my "doctor pants."  Sunday marked a year since my hip surgery.  I did yoga and was able to do the pigeon pose.  This was super exciting because it had been well over a year since I had been able to do and even attempt this pose.  Today I received a call at school from my hip surgeon's office wondering if I c...

    “When you say something with your whole being…. it can transform the world” -Thich Nhat Hanh    My latest Sankalpa research brought me this quote from Thich Nhat Hanh.  Although I'm not actually practicing and/or have figured out my Sankalpa, I believe in much that I've read.  Today my students listened to a snippet of the I Have a Dream Speech by Martin Luther King Jr.  They had three columns to fill in as they listened (I hear, I think, I have a dream...).  In the last column I asked them to write their dream for our school, our nation, or our world.  The answers were heart felt.  Perhaps their words can't "transform the world", but their hearts and souls can make an impact.    

Sankalpa teaches us that we are both being and becoming.  There is that part of us that doesn’t need anything and a part of us that comes into life with a purpose and that is always becoming. Rod Stryker, founder of ParaYoga says “It’s vital for happiness that you walk both paths simultaneously.  Direct your energy with intention, but be mindful that your nature is unchanged whether you achieve your goals or not. Live as contentedly as possible in between the goal and realizing the goal.” Yes, I did copy and paste this from LH, but I think it's fitting.  Besides, I told her when she posted this that I was going to steal it and use it at some point.  Part of living as "contentedly as possible between the goal and realizing the goal" is living the threshold and realizing I am always ready for something new.  Today I was observed by a peer.  When she came in the room, she asked where she should sit.  I told her that she could sit anywhere. ...

Anna and Joachim parents of Mary, mother of Jesus Blessing of Rest ~ Jan L. Richardson Curl this blessing  beneath your head for a pillow. Wrap it around yourself for a blanket. Lay it across your eyes and for this moment cease thinking about what comes next, what you will do when you rise. Let this blessing  gather itself to you like the stillness that descends  between your heartbeats, the silence that comes so briefly but with a constancy on which  your life depends. Settle yourself  into the quiet this blessing brings, the hand it lays upon your brow, the whispered word it breathes into your ear telling you all shall be well all shall be well and you can rest  now. At the retreat, Jan L. Richardson's poem "Blessing of Rest" was placed upon our pillow along with two pieces of dark chocolate.  I had a wonderful weekend at the retreat.  Although I should have come back rested and peaceful, I couldn't he...

Today totally fits the Sankalpa theme. We are talking about thresholds and transformation. The first step is "letting go. After a brief discussion, we were asked to discuss our thoughts with someone near us. I told my new found friend that I was either really deep or really stupid. When I explained how I came to this conclusion, she agreed. The retreat has been interesting to quite interesting. I've had the opportunity to talk to wonderful women, participate in yoga twice, walk the labyrinth, and learn (used loosely) to knit, color, and decoupage (no clue how to spell). Now I'm trying to post using my iPhone while we watch The Help. My guess is I won't make it through the whole movie. My plan is to leave and find a place to read.

I'm at another prayer/yoga retreat, Living on the Threshold. Twenty some of us converged on Koinania around seven pm. There is little to no cell reception, but I'm still attempting to post via cell phone. As ilooked at the schedule I was disappointed that I didn't bring papers to grade. Soon I was happy to let it go... Sankalpa?

My picture is lame, but I had to go to the gym after a day of school and evening conferences.  I have challenges to complete! Although I haven't looked at LH's slideshow on Sankalpa, I'm almost certain that Sankalpa would not embrace extrinsic motivation, but I have to say lately I think I'm extrinsically motivated.  Actually, it could be Sankalpa since I am realizing who I AM.  When I said I would do a blog challenge for 24 days about something I knew nothing about, it was my first clue.  Next, I signed up for the President's Challenge .  Today I asked for a punch card for the contest at the YWCA.  If I go to the YWCA twenty-five times in January, I get a prize.  Let's be honest, it has nothing to do with the prize;  it's the challenge.  It's something that is recorded.  Perhaps it's not purely extrinsic, but a challenge or competition always seems to motivate me.  I AM motivated by challenges. 

Part of Sankalpa is letting go.  Sankalpa is really about having one focus, but I'm not truly following Sankalpa.  Of course, I'm still blogging Sankalpa (half way done).  Today the focus is letting go.  It started last night when I came home to a furnace problem.  I have home warranty and started the process.  After some stressful phone conversations, I realized no one could come out until today, so I "let it go".  To be honest, when I woke up this morning it was still 65º inside, so I really couldn't whine.  At lunch today I received a phone call from the furnace people saying my 3:00 appointment needed to be canceled because the technician had the flu.  This caused more stress as I tried to deal one more time with the home warranty people and another company.  My entire lunch twenty-five minutes (not hour) was spent trying to get someone to fix my furnace.  Finally, I had an appointment for 2:45, someone to finish my last clas...

Sankalpa is about I am instead of I want, or so they say.  From what I've read, it's a type of affirmation and a way of getting rid of and letting go.  Yesterday the seventh graders started writing their "Moment in Time" story.  The emphasis is on the moment and not a super long boring story.  I showed part of clip by Kevin Kling (until 1:26... short moment) and shared my moment with them.  It was a neatly typed class set placed on all of the desks.  As I read, the students followed along.  At the end we discussed both stories and the focus.  During the discussion, one of the honors' students raised his hand and asked, "Is this your story?"  I explained that it was my story, my moment while the student interrupted, "You mean you wrote this?"  Without trying to figure out his intention, I stated that I had indeed written the story.  "It's good.  Props," he exclaimed.  For some reason this affirmation from a twelve year ...

According to Rob Stryker , founder of ParaYoga, “'By definition, a sankalpa should honor the deeper meaning of our life. A sankalpa speaks to the larger arc of our lives, our dharma—our overriding purpose for being here.' The sankalpa becomes a statement you can call upon to remind you of your true nature and guide your choices." I did more research today about Sankalpa, but today I was looking for something that allowed me to be who I (really ) AM.  Yesterday, I painted my nails with the color "I'm Suzi, and I'm a chocholic."  Since OPI has wonderful names, reading the names helps me decide on the color.  Basically, like Suzi, I am a chocoholic.  Actually, I am a sweetaholic.   Most of my calories in a day come from sweets.  It's a good thing those fruits and vegetables don't take up a lot of calories, so I can have more sweets.  In fact, I often workout more, so I can have more sweets.  As I've been posting about sankalpa ma...

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle . The other is as though everything is a miracle .” ~ Albert Einstein   If you are not following Anne Lamott on FB and/or Twitter, I feel that you are depriving yourself of a combination of wisdom and humor.  She starts out today's post with "Remember when you were a child and everything was so amazing and new?" One truth that has nothing to do with Sankalpa is that I've never been on a treadmill.  In fact, treadmills kinda scare me.  Today after my time on the elliptical, I decided to ask the trainer for instructions since the gym was fairly empty.  Even though I'd already done my workout, I played around on the machine.  It was "amazing and new".  No really, it was fun and will be added to my workouts.  It's not necessarily a miracle, but it will add something new to my workout.  Doing the elliptical every time will get old by the end of February....

Journey of the Magi  ~  James Tissot Many people take down their decorations today on Epiphany.  In the Christian church Epiphany is the day we tell the story of the three magi (wisemen/kings) visited the baby Jesus.  Basically they followed the star and brought the baby gifts.  Herod used them to get information of about the baby, but when they arrived the had a dream that Herod was bad news and did not return to him.  In church today we celebrated Epiphany with the story and images.  As we were reminded of the story, we were asked to think about it in three ways:  signs, wondering/wanderings and awakenings.  The magi were not alone; they traveled together.  It seems this is also fitting of the Sankalpa Blog Challenge.  We are in it together looking for signs, wondering with a bit of wandering, and awakening. Epiphany = Sankalpa The image for today's blog was one shown today in church.  I recognized it from my last tri...

Go Pack Go! Of course I'm trying to get a better understanding of Sankalpa, so today I did yet another search of the interwebs.  Wellness Yoga talked about Sankalpa as a resolution.  Part of the President's Challenge that is going to give me difficulties is the healthy eating.  I started with the goal of half of my plate being fruits and/or vegetables (so far this has been a good choice).  According to my interweb article, "... In the beginning, most people do not know what Sankalpa is or which Sankalpa they should make. Therefore, they should wait until their understanding develops. To come to this state, begin with something very basic: changing the habits; changing the limitations that inhibit your growth. Try to understand yourself, observe yourself, find the blocks, and overcome one thing at a time..." I think I am doing the basic by changing my eating habits.  Today's grocery shopping kept me on the perimeter of the store with the focus on th...

"The juicy, precision sankalpa is the resolve , determination and good intention that resonates precisely in your core and aligns sublimely with your essence ."   Yep, I'm starting with the same quote I used yesterday.  Basically, the intention of my post is also the same.  Feel free to stop reading now and enjoy a cup of tea.  Yesterday I blogged about liking to workout/go to they gym.  I really think I AM meant to workout.  It makes me a better person, and I'm sure it "resonates precisely in your (MY) care and aligns sublimely with your (MY) essence."  On Fridays I leave school as soon as possible.  Today when I was leaving, I couldn't help but notice the warmer temperatures.  My phone said the temperature was 28º and immediately I knew I was going to layer up and get on my bike.  At first my bike ride was a bit challenging.  I didn't really expect a combination of icy and wet spots.  Plus, I felt as though I was goin...

Notice the birds fluttering in the bushes?  Nope, they flew away as I rolled down my window to take the picture. "The juicy, precision sankalpa is the resolve , determination and good intention that resonates precisely in your core and aligns sublimely with your essence ."   It seems I really do like to workout and/or go to the gym.  Who knew?!  One of the instructors of my BodyPump class is a sweetheart and seems to have a good spirit.  A couple of weeks ago, we were talking about her classes, and she suggested I come to a class at the Downtown YWCA.  It meets on Thursday evenings.  Tonight I drove downtown to attend this class.  When I arrived, the YWCA was closed... closed because of some water main or something.  At this point I surprised myself by driving directly to the Uptown YWCA without even questioning if I should go home and forget it. 

Today I went back to the interweb to find out what I could post about that would relate to sankalpa .  "...Sankalpa has the potential to release tremendous power by clearly defining and focusing on a chosen goal."  My chosen goal since May has truly been on being physically active.  Since it's cold and miserable out, I've been being active inside instead of outside.  December 6th (or something like that) was the last time I ventured outside for physical activity.  I, however, have still been going to they gym and focusing on being physically fit (or at least burning enough calories to eat more food).  Yesterday I received an early morning text from a friend in God's Country .  President Obama was talking about "The President's Challenge" .  Today (I tried yesterday and decided to put it off until today... forget out it... let it happen... put it aside... clear my mind of it... all probably sankalpa) I formed a group.  The...

  "And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been." "Let life happen to you. Believe me: Life is in the right, always." ~Rainer Maria Rilke HAPPY NEW YEAR! Today we celebrate a new year.  I celebrate this new year by doing a quick review of the old year.  Of course, I used my blog as the source of my review. January- My first completely under surgery... A dear friend came to help me and other dear friends continued making sure all was going well. February - I traveled to New York for my uncle's funeral.  It felt good to be with family. March - Do you remember that baseball blog challenge... now that was a challenge.  I ended March and began April with a trip to Mexico. April- April brought World Book Night and my opportunity to share free books with struggling readers. May- MyFitnessPal became an integral part of my life in may forcing me to workout more and think about what I eat.  A friend also passed in May b...