Miscellaneous Missives

My bum was sore to quite sore after yesterday's ride.  Although I didn't wear bike shorts, I figure I should be make a short ride without wearing padded shorts.  Today I went back to the bike store to purchase a new bike seat (saddle).  Why am I posting about this?  Did you watch the video?  Who knew one could actually be measured for a bike saddle?  The bike guy had more advanced equipment than the guy in the video.  I sat on this padded piece.  He checked and measured the indentations.  Viola!  We knew which size seat I needed.  I took my new saddle/seat for a ride.  My sit bones were still painful to quite painful, but I think the pain is from yesterday.  Tomorrow will be my rest day before I bike 30 days in April (#30daysofbiking). PS I don't like wearing bike shorts. PSS  Bike shorts are supes expensive. Today I am thankful for... 1) I let PK "sell" my seat at church since I played hooky and went to the ...

Last night Iowa State fought the good fight and lost.  Earlier this week students viewed a picture of the KHS girls during a basketball game.  It was the game before they made it to state.  Most of our students will attend this high school.  One of our eighth graders plays on the team.  They lost the game at state.  When the seventh graders looked at the picture, they couldn't help but mention the lost.  I explained that even though it was a tough loss, it was a great season.  "Only one team doesn't lose the last game of their season,"  I explained.  "Of all the 64 teams in the NCAA tourney, only one team will win its last game, but that doesn't mean that all of the teams didn't have a great season."  As I watched the end of the game last night, I tried to remember the words I had shared with my students.  Both the ISU men and women had great seasons this year.  I'm proud of their efforts. Today I met with some pals fo...

Dear Winter, You suck!  Please leave and come back when you will be more appreciated like perhaps next December.  A white Christmas is delightful.  Snow at the end of March is not. Much hate, MM I haven't blogged, taken pictures, been grateful, or followed my Lenten practices all week.  This means I have not forgiven someone, had an internet diet, changed one light to a compact florescent (most of mine are!), or checked out morning and evening prayer.  Tomorrow I will probably not ask for help.  It is also doubtful that I will tell someone what I am grateful for on Saturday... well by Saturday the weather might be better, and I might be a better person. The weather is horrible, and I have been sick this week.  The last two nights I went read then went to bed without even going or thinking about going to the gym.  Do you notice my negativity?  It's snowing outside (or it was... I shut the blinds, so I didn't have to watch).   ...

Yep, it's true; I haven't had a mix since October.  Part of the reason is I've been doing a lot of classes like RIPPED, BodyPump, and BodyFlow at the gym.  Plus, I listened to a couple of audio books.  Most importantly, my October Mix rocked.  In fact, I transferred two songs to the May mix (Work Bitch and Girl on Fire).  In fact since I'm going to do some twenty mile rides in April, I'll probably listen to both October and April. Here's the list: Basket Case by Green Day Best Day of My Life by American Authors Blue (Da Ba Dee) (Dance Mix) by D.J Disco Dance Get Back by Ludacris Girl on Fire by Alecia Keys Happy by Pharrell Williams Hella Good by No Doubt Hey Brother by Avicii It's Tricky by Run-DMC Juke Box Hero by Foreigner Jumpin', Jumpin' by Destiny's Child Let There Be Love by Christina Aguilera Love Don't Die by The Fray Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar The Middle by Jimmy Eat World Neon Lights by Demi Lovato (...

I'm sure most have already seen this video, but it only makes me love Jimmy Fallon more! As I mentioned, instead of going on the weekend retreat, I'm staying home, watching basketball, and doing schoolwork.  It's 1:45, and I've had a fairly productive day, so I think I'm going to take a nap before the Iowa State Women's game at 3:00. Today I am thankful for... 1) sunshine (even though the high will only be 20º) 2) the birds chirping loudly as I left the gym 3) youtube videos and time to relax

After searching through my channels, I have found TNT, and I am ready to watch the Cyclones first game.  I hope they fare better than Duke and Oklahoma State although I'm supes excited to see Duke out of the tournament.  My plan is to watch the game and work on lesson plans for the multi-paragraph essay.  During a team meeting today, a colleague showed me the best bracket site for checking and watching games.  Let the games begin. Today I followed the Lenten practice which was bringing my own mug.  Actually, I do this 95% of the time, so it wasn't anything new.  Bring your own mug people.  We don't need all of those coffee cups with plastic lids out there in our waste sites. Today I give thanks for... 1) Deciding to skip the retreat and stay home watching basketball. 2) an afternoon nap 3) helpful colleagues 4) Iowa State men and women in the "Big Dance"

This is it.  The first day of spring, and tomorrow the forecast is for snow in the morning.  Stop it!  Winter, you are no longer welcome.  It's spring's turn... step aside.  We'll see you next year.  Bye.  Don't let the door, well you know...   Today I used Prayers in a Song for my journal listening activity and supplied the students with the lyrics.  First, I talked about the word assimilation.  The first line talks about latent assimilation.  Most of the students didn't know either word, so we talked about how many people feel America is a melting pot.  I explained how a melting pot is assimilation.  Everyone blends together.  Then I mentioned that some would prefer to call America a tossed salad everyone keeps their culture, religion, language...  The lettuce stays lettuce.  The tomatoes stay tomatoes.  The cucumbers stay cucumbers...  Eyes were wide as I asked if they would rather be a mel...

Today was a digitize day at the district.  I'd been dreading it since I signed up.  After talking to others that had gone through their digitize day, I was certain it was going to be a colossal waste of my time.  Begrudgingly, I went to meet the other 7th grade language arts teachers at the district office.  Of course, it was not as bad as I had thought, and it was actually productive and fun.  One task we took was sharing resources for our media literature unit.  It's a good thing I teach it after spring break because I'm going to revamp the entire process!  Anyway, I was also able to find the embedded video that shows not only women are objectified in advertisements.  IMHO, it was an incredible find (educationally of course).  I'm also going to try to put together a Youtube Channel for my school videos starting with Media Literacy.  Does anyone have videos I should add? Today's Lenten suggestion was to read Psalm 139.  I read ...

It's snowing again.  This is the winter that will never end.  Argghh!  Actually all of today was a bit of argghhh...  Honestly, it's only Tuesday, and I'm feeling a bit negative.  Nothing majorly horrible is happening, but...  Anyway, I'm only blogging because I feel I should be posting my gratitudes and keeping up with the Lenten suggestions.  Yesterday's suggestion was to phone an old friend, and I actually followed through with no answer.  Today's suggestion was to pray the news.  This is something I've been doing a lot of this since the news is serious and crazy. Yesterday's gratitudes... 1) Guest instructor at RIPPED was awesome. 2) It felt good leaving a message for "old friend". 3) Free time after school Today's gratitudes... 1) Kind words from an unexpected person 2) Snow cleaning off my windows... JK 2) Unexpected positive conversation with a colleague 3) Making difficult decisions and sticking with them (I hope.)

My plan was to do schoolwork during last night's Iowa State game, but it was too exciting and tense to do anything but watch.  Today I started to work on schoolwork during the selection show, but they CBS folks decided to reveal Iowa State's region last, so I didn't get much done.  Maybe it's not meant to be.  Actually, I don't know why I even bother.  I should wait until the entire bracket is revealed and look at it leisurely.  Iowa State is a 3rd seed playing a team that I don't know.  I look forward to playing and beating the Tarheels.  Actually, it may because I'm a 'Clone fan, I like their chances in this section. My guess is a) I'm the only one that watched the video. b) I'm the only one that had tears as he/she watched the video. c) No one else really cares about Iowa State and this year's success. I apologize, but it's supes exciting to be a Cyclone fan. Today I give thanks for... 1) my church friends 2) March Madness/...

I didn't blog yesterday which is OK because once again I didn't follow through with the Lenten suggestion which was "Do someone else's chore."  It was Friday, and I was having a difficult time doing my own chores.  Today, however, I did all of my chores and have had a very productive day.  I also followed through with today's Lenten suggestion by purchasing $5 gift cards from Mc Donalds.  As I was leaving Mc Donalds, I gave one away, As I venture out, I'll give the remaining cards away.  It feels good.  Today I went to a new hair stylist because I couldn't get to Iowa (Dad's sewer is frozen, so he has no water).  It felt weird since I've had a high school friend take care of my hair most of my adult life.  The stylist was good, but it still felt as though I was cheating or something.   As for cheating, I did it yesterday (thanks to Happy Hour) by going over by 600 calories.  Today I've knocked it back where it needs to be, so all ...

According to the Lenten practice suggestions (or whatever the official name is...), today was no bitching day.  I didn't look this morning, so I didn't really know this until now.  As I look back at my day, I'm almost certain that I bitched at some point.  For certain, I yelled at one of the after school boys who decided to take a handful of treats instead of one.  Actually, I'm not sure that I actually bitched about anything although I'm sure I did. This evening I saw that a friend had taken a clown aptitude test .  I decided to take the test myself.  My response: "Our ruminative responses provide incredible indications of decided diversity! Your particular predispositions include: celebrated clowning awesome aerialism" I realize I should have something better to do than take clown aptitude tests (and I do), but I'm a bit unmotivated. Today's Gratitudes: 1) The Hennepin County Library has changed the limit to 50 books instead of 3...

Top row third over is also good (he's attractive), but it doesn't fit my plans. When I was in college (way, way back in the day), we actually had an audio/visual class.  Not only did we learn about inlays in transparencies (or something like that), we also learned how to use a film projector although I never used one in my teaching.  Anyway, how the heck did I teach before Youtube?  Today I used a clip with a cheesy figurative language song to introduce figurative language.  At the end in the montage of video clips, I saw a clip that looked interesting.  In fact, I'm going to use it on Friday.  I was going to use it tomorrow for a listening activity, but Maya Angelou trumps figurative language. Today's Lenten practice suggested giving five pieces of clothing to the Goodwill.  I really don't spend a lot of money on clothes and frequently clean out my closet for the Goodwill (actually Steeple People).  Although I looked in drawers and close...

Today is a grey day with that wet kind of chill in the air.  It is also a workshop day at school.  Although I often find fault with our administration, I am pleased when they send out an e-mail saying the afternoon is set aside for grades (on or off site).  Since I spend hours doing work at home, I chose off site.  I also tried to look for beauty that I had not noticed before on the way home as for the Lenten suggestions .  A bright pink skirt walking down the street caught my eye.  It was beautiful and sunshiny on this grey day.  I also noticed a bird nest in the bare branches of a tree.  The traffic behind me didn't allow me to stop and take a picture.  Then, the tree with leaves still hanging on caught my attention.  How have these leaves survived the harsh winter?  Yesterday I bought tulips.  It's that time of year when I love fresh cut flowers while I wait for spring to arrive (real spring not merely a calendar date). ...

Today's Lenten practice suggested five minutes of practice at noon.  At noon I was eating lunch with a friend, so I saved my five minutes of silence until I returned home.  My friend that I was dining with is an amazing woman.  She's survived chemo and a double mastectomy as she prepares for radiation.  Although they did find cancerous spots in her lymph nodes, she remains strong and positive, a true warrior.  Even though she's not yet cancer free, she is a fighter and will continue the fight.  When I arrived home, I was thinking about her conversations feeling blessed to have her in my life. The weather outside is as beautiful as her spirit.  My silence wasn't exactly silent since I was listening to the melting snow through the open window.  Even though it was only in the 40s, the sun warmed the room allowing an hour of the open window.  I also tried to make a Vine.  It was my first try, and I guess I have a lot to learn. Today's...

My friend JP and I had planned a trip to the Larson Creek Farm Bed and Breakfast and the Lake Superior Ice Caves last weekend.  After part of 35W was closed due to a fatal accident, we checked to see if we could postpone for a week.  Plus, the temperature last week was a high of zero with crazy a crazy windchill.  Since there was an opening for Saturday night, we made the trek last night for Wisconsin.  We left this morning around 7:30 loaded with chocolate chip cookies and amazing cherry torte from the wonderful folks (Woot! Woot!) and friends from the bed and breakfast.  Even though we arrived a bit before 8:00, we were about the 100th car.  It was an amazing day.  We walked and slid the three miles of ice caves.  I ended up with 179 pictures (some posted on FB).  Not only was it beautiful, but the people along the way were fun and kind.  They say the ice caves may be open for two more weeks, but there were some cracks and crackli...

View of Deck and Fence  Old Shovel (rusting out in the garage) As a condo owner, I don't really need to shovel.  Sometimes I'll shovel in front of my garage, but when it's a winter like this, it's nice.  I am, however, responsible for my upper deck.  Instead of shoveling it when it snows, I typically wait until I think the snow could be an issue and call to have it done.  Since it was bright and sunny today, I decided to buy a new shovel (not pictured) and take care of it myself.  The snow removal guy was going to charge $70 an hour for a two man crew.  It seems fair.  It took me 45 minutes accomplish the removal of 2/3 of the snow.  I had to lift it over the fence along the edge and throw it onto the drive.  My guess is the snow removal guys wouldn't have left it as I did, but it's in front of my garage and should melt by the end of the weekend.  When I return on Monday, I'll try to tackle the remainder ...

Day 4 of the 40 Ideas for Keeping Lent Holy suggests to give $20 to a non-profit of my choosing.  I chose Kiva.  It's fun to make all of the decisions.  Typically, I try to loan to someone in Latin America.  My other criteria typically is a female.  Today I chose to help with agriculture.  Besides she has a cocoa plantation.  It's seems important to keep a strong production of cocoa. Although it's early, I'm still going to take a shot at the gratitude list. 1) sunshine!! 2) plans for the weekend (leaving this afternoon) 3) a weekend without school work (time to read and relax)

Maybe I should have checked the line before I decided to pay for my car wash since I'm currently seventh in line, and I decided to follow my link from yesterday and turn off the radio on my drive home.  At least I have technology to keep me occupied. Plus, it's actually warner tiday, and the actual temp matches the feels like temp (24/24. Yesterday it was 29/14.) Thanks... 1) Word Mover app made the beginning of poetry supes productive. 2). Three day weekend with warmer temps 3). Blogging at the car wash ( http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fXXmeP9TvBg )

I participated in R.I.P.P.E.D class on Monday for the first time and was disappointed that at least one of the track is full of burpees.  In fact, since I am out of shape, I tweaked my ankle doing burpees on Monday.  Although I knew today wouldn't go any easier, I did my best.  Even when I'm in shape (rarely, let's be hones) and don't have ankle issues, burpees suck.  I tried to explain burpees to someone on Monday, so I decided to attach a video to my complaint post tonight.  When I was searching for a video, I found this weird "Burpees Suck" phenomena on the web.  Check it out.  Google burpees suck.  The good thing about doing (half-assed) burpees is that I burned enough calories to come home and enjoy a bag of sea salt and vinegar Kettle brand potato chips with my vitamin water.   Yep, this winter has made me resort to posting about burpees and potato chips :( I, however, might try this for Lent .  Day one didn't happen. ...

                 Ash Wednesday marks the first Sunday of Lent.  Normally I follow a practice during Lent.  Sometimes I give up something.  More often I add something.  This year the winter is beginning to "take its toll."  I've decided listing my gratitude so each day will suffice.  As I write this post, I am waiting for the Ash Wednesday service to begin.  Perhaps something more grandiose will form as I listen, but I doubt it.  The ashes might bring wisdom and creativity, but I also doubt that. Today I am grateful for... Birds singing The trickle of ice melting in the sun... It reached 23 today. Hot tea

My New Bike After riding the same mountain bike for 20 years, today I bought a new road bike.  Yesterday I pledged to ride 30 days in April.  Today I made it a bit easier although I'm sure it will be icy, wet, and cold.  Last year's #30daysofbiking . brought all of the elements.  With the solid layer of ice everywhere, I'm sure this year will be the same.  I did keep my mountain bike for the more miserable days.  After swiping my credit card, I had to sign a waiver that informed me that bike riding was dangerous.  It's a good thing I have a helmet.

Through the weeks of deep snow we walked above the ground on fallen sky, as though we did not come of root and leaf, as though we had only air and weather for our difficult home.                           But now as March warms, and the rivulets run like birdsong on the slopes, and the branches of light sing in the hills, slowly we return to earth.                         ~Wendell Berry Today is the first day of March.  I'm not sure if it's coming in like a lamb or a lion, but it's bitterly cold.  According to the weatherman, it's meteorological spring; however, I don't see or feel spring.  I guess it's time to endure a little more winter before "rivulets run like birdsong on the slopes." March 1st is also the day I promised to get on the scale and take care of these too tight jeans.  Although I knew I had gained wait, I was ...