Miscellaneous Missives

January- In January I bought real boots for the Minnesota Winter and participated in my first University of Okoboji Winter Games. February- Last year we actually had multiple snow days.  It was crazy! March- I bought a new bike last year (1700 miles from June to November).  A friend and I also visited the ice caves on Lake Superior which were amazing.  The Iowa State Men's basket ball team was also Big XII champs although I didn't personally contribute to this victory. April-   I gave Hoot away for World Book Night.  I also started 30 Days of Biking, but then crashed my new bike on April 6th.  For me it was 6 Days of Biking (2015 will be 30). May- I started spin classes at the Y since I couldn't ride my bike outside.  May was also a big month for PT, but let's be honest, most of 2014 was filled with PT (ankle, shoulder, knee).  May also brought a math blog challenge (What?!).   I also went  to Art-a Whirl for the ...

I WISH I didn't have to use my break for work related endeavors, but alas, I decided today I would tackle my next unit.  Although I didn't make a ton of progress, I formulated some ideas and made some changes.  Of course, I still have fables to grade, but I have no intention of tackling that until next week.  Tonight a couple colleagues also came over to discuss the first half of Notice and Note by Kylene Beers.  Maybe we didn't discuss the details of the book, but we had great discussions about school, education, and learning.  All in all, I would say I spent the majority of today eating, sleeping, and doing school related activities. I also played Trivia Crack.  I WISH I hadn't mentioned it in an earlier post because KC invited me to play.  When I saw her invite, my look was similar to Kitty Klaus' look in the above picture.  Do I really want KC to know how inept I am at this game of which I've become addicted?  I DREAM of getting a b...

Away in the Manger Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And fit us for heaven to live with thee there. Merry Christmas!  Yesterday I attended two Christmas services and was overwhelmed with emotion.  Loved ones in my life are experiencing struggles this year.  As I listened to Away in the Manger sung by the cutest little singers (all under the age of 5?), I found the last verse fitting for all.   It made me DREAM of a world in which everyone looks out for everyone and lives in peace.  "Bless all the dear children in thy tender care."   Children of all ages are blessed and dear. It seems the holidays make the struggles more intense (if that is possible).   A couple of weeks ago, I had dinner with a friend.  We were discussing heaven, and I admitted that I'm not sure there's an afterlife because I think heaven is on Earth.  My belief is one...

It's 10:22, and I've been up for three hours.  Alas, in the three hours I've completed very little.  At 7:30, I sprayed the shower down, so I could clean it before I took a shower.  While I was waiting for it to do it's magic, I started geeking on the internet.   I played a little Trivia Crack (even though I don't like it) and watched another Mona Pants video.  When I finally sauntered to the bathroom to clean the shower/tub, I realized I didn't have cleanser for the tub.  Without much sense of urgency, I went to the story to buy cleanser.  On the way, I called my dad, so I then sat in the parking lot talking to him (I didn't want to be that person on the phone in the store).  Of course, I decided to stop by Caribou on the way home, and now I'm drinking a dirty chai and spending more time on the internet.  I WISH the cleaning products would get to work on clean the shower for me, so I could take a shower before noon.

It seems many are addicted to the game Trivia Crack.  Personally, I find it disengaging because I always win.  Unlike others, I find it easy not to play.  When someone doesn't play their turn or the game takes away my lives (What is this?), I don't get disgruntled.  Entertainment and science are my two favorite categories.  I do especially well with entertainment because I typically watch 365 movies a year and watch many television shows.  It makes the category a bit too easy.  While others are playing Trivia Crack, I'll spend my vacation watching more movies and binge watching my favorite television shows.  For those whom I have played with, I apologize for NEVER losing.  I can't help it.

Last week a leader of our worship service asked me if I would speak about being a Mary during the Christmas season.  Although I didn't really know what I'd say, I said that I would speak.  I joked with him about not bringing up the "Virgin Mary" part of the story.  Throughout the week, I thought about what I might say and wondered if it was blasphemous.  I also WISHED I had declined the offer. When I came across a writing, I knew I could figure it out, and I did.  I was satisfied speaking without notes, but I WISH I would have brought my glasses to read the quote I had brought.  Without glasses, I struggled through the reading, but all were patient. Basically, I started by talking about my name.  My mother was named Mary Ethelyn, but changed her name to Lynne when she was old enough because she didn't like her original name.  I talked about how I always thought my name was a burden as I thought perhaps the baby Jesus had been to Mary.  A...

I DREAM of reading 100 books in a year, but I'm not sure it will happen.  Since I read quite a bit of young adult during the summer, it should be a possibility.  Over the last couple of years (maybe this year), I switched from Library Thing to Goodreads, and I'm pleased with this switch.  As of today, I've read 87 books in 2014.  My hope is to complete one or two books before 2015.  In 2009, I read 98 books, but from my stats page, it seems I average 75 a year. Today I finished Let's Go Crazy:  Prince and the Making of Purple Rain .  I'm sure I will rent the movie over break and watch it again.  As I read the book, the songs lyrics and tunes came to my mind as the titles and words appeared.  It was not an autobiography, so I found myself constantly wondering what Prince would think about the author's comments.  I do love Prince, and I hope he would want me to read the book.  If not, perhaps he could invite me to Paisley Park to ...