check, check, check

Chirstmas - check - (back in the box all but the outdoor lights)
Cardboard Santa - Check - recorded, measured for possible makeover/preservation project, and tucked away
Bills paid - check
Coffee flowing - check
Photo project - check - 2010 uploaded

I love organizing, being organized! I just don't usually have the time to do it!

ORDER - take 2

OK - obviously, order is good and unless you are OCD you should probably have more of it. Ben struggled with it, I struggle with it, and desire it. BUT, as far as trying to acheive it, it seems to me balance is what it's about - having enough time to tend to all the things that are important to you. Yeah, needing to find a better way to maximize my efforts at order for the biggest bang for my buck. This will always be a work in progress sort of virtue. Happily, I will spend the bulk of my time in the next 4 cold winter days with the time to focus on order.

The little gremlins that threaten my productivity need to be beaten back anyway. I find myself in the familiar position of hurry up and wait regarding a job, and getting the rest of my life getting back to routine.

Is that a Christmas decoration I see? Your outta here! Back in the box!

I'm employing the use of a timer - always works well for me. 1 hour here, 1 hour there. Orders kinda like dieting for me - I feel like an expert (unfortunately). Reporting back at the end of the week, when the new virtue will be "Resolve". Perfect, as I will be trying to up the ante with work out schedules, and many many new and old commitments.

Order - week 3

In ORDER to do this right (get it), I think I'll sit this week out. Merry Christmas! Temperance was a success, Silence was too - but I know the results were NOT typical ;)

OK, see your next week - go watch my smilebox Christmas greeting - sheesh.

SILENCE! - week 2

SILENCE – ut oh – I don’t like the sound of this one. “Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.” If I can pay attention to this one a full week, it will be a constant battle. As the author of Ben and Me says, the medical term for what I have is A BIG MOUTH. Having said that, this is something that I will definitely learn from and an exercise that if even a fraction of it sticks, will make me a better person! Monday – we’re on Vacation – up skiing with just the 4 of us (I caught a break!) My husband is not one for idle chatter. My cell phone and laptop have been tucked away as we have no internet, we’ve been playing card games, chess, etc. instead of turning on the t.v. – and today we skied all day. I even rode up alone a few times so I actually had 3-5 minute bouts of SILENCE! Wow – give myself a gold sticker! Except, I only did so well because of the odd situation I’m in; where I actually lacked the opportunity to gossip and prattle. By this evening, I’d forgotten all about it and the first opportunity I had (family discussion I STARTED about the late-teen couple at the hot tub), I was funny, I told them what I heard them saying, I made fun of them, and I encouraged my husband and children to carry on in the same way. We all had a good laugh, and I forgot all about it until this moment, when I look back at the day and say oops. Given the chance, I LOVE to gossip. It gave me a warm fuzzy feeling and let me connect with my family. I would share the amusing things I said here, but then I would have been guilty TWICE today! So I won’t. Not that it was horrible hateful stuff, but it definitely falls into this category.
No, take away the gold star sticker – I only lucked into this one! The moment temptation hits, I dive in! NEEDS WORK

Silence – Speak not but what may benefit others, avoid trifling conversation
M T W T F S S
Temperance
Silence * * * * * * *
Order
Resolution
Frugality
Industry
Sincerity
Justice
Moderation
Cleanliness
Tranquility * * *
Chastity
Humility

Temperance - week 1

Temperance – with the bar obviously set so low, I was sure I would do well. In fact, I find I am all about temperance theses days, if nothing else. Don’t drink don’t smoke don’t gamble, don’t stay up late. . . The only trap I could fall into is binge eating. And the only time I do that is when I’m dieting, so I carefully avoided that activity this week (haha!) and I was fine. (By the looks of him, this is probably something Ben did as well.) 2 times I had the thought oh no, this is SO decadent it MUST be overindulgence (both times drinking hot chocolate). But no, this isn’t about not enjoying food/life, it’s about enjoying it in moderation without overindulgence. So, this temperance week was a great week for me to start on. My goal was to eat more vegetables and less cookies and the only time I almost faltered was when I was tempted to punish myself by limiting something for the soul reason of feeling like this virtue should be harder. Now the others that I’m sort of tracking as I go along are all over the place; so I happily go onto the next, thinking YAY! At least I have a handle on one thing.
Temperance - 12/10/10
Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation
M T W T F S S
Temperance * * * * *
Silence
Order *
Resolution
Frugality *
Industry
Sincerity *
Justice
Moderation * * *
Cleanliness * *
Tranquility *
Chastity *
Humility

Free ecard made with Smilebox

Ben and Me - week 1 - TEMPERANCE

I've been mulling this over for awhile now and have found a place to start. As a way of honoring and remembering my dad, I decided to occasionally try to be a better person. At the funeral and after, several people made comments that I've summed up as "he made me want to be a better person". And it's true. Dad didn't have a lofty, self important style and yet, he always strove to be do the best he could. In generational comparison, I think that's something I (and my peers) forget to do. Anyway, it's something I've been thinking about alot lately - and as I was looking up Ben Franklin to see what he considered virtues - I stumbled upon this book, "Ben and Me" where the author is doing exactly what I want to do. As Ben said about his self help course - I certainly haven't reached moral perfection, but I am definately a better person for having tried. (Something like that.)Anyhow, I'm loving this book and having company as I take them one at a time.

WEEK 1 - Temperance.
"Don't eat so much you can't move, and if you drink, don't throw up on yourself." - that's not Ben's version that's Cameron Gunn's verson. I'm thinking I've got this one. I love the low bar start. I can eat, I can drink - just try not to go nuts.

I made this for Nana to send out - first draft

A free invite by Smilebox

YOU DO THE MATH

Story Problem:

On Monday, Colleen promises to make 48 cookies for the class Halloween goodie bags. She makes 48 cookies that first day. By Tuesday, 1/2 of the cookies are gone. Thursday morning, there are only 13 cookies let. At this rate, how many cookies will Colleen have by Friday morning? (answer: -11)

Wait! There's a moral too

Geez, I better go make some more cookies!

Deja Vu

Yep, if I'd had that book at 3:30 a.m., I probably would have read it. Picking it up today.

Kids back to school today, I'm over at moms - first time since we returned from vacation.

Just me and my Thyroid

3:30 a.m. - I'm told this is a thyroid thing. I need to get the book "why am i still having thyroid symptoms when my lab tests are normal", because I grow weary of this insomnia. It used to be a productive thing with studying (my with honors is probably a direct result of it), but combined with job hunting - it's counter productive.

So much to do - and I'd rather do it wide awake!

The opiate of the people

The opiate of the masses . . . maybe it used to be religion. If my own getting through on automatic pilot existence is any indication however, I think Television is now the numbing/albeit not too happy making - drug of choice.

I'm actually trying to induce a good cry lately, but mostly I'm getting numb.

Now I'm up with a wicked case of insomnia.

It is Labor Day weekend, and again I have the feeling that we are all letting the holidays go by with just a little fanfare. No parties, just having mom over for a bbq and going to the pool.

Maybe Ill get mom to come along for a visit to meet her nieces grand baby . . . what would that be in the second cousin twice removed category? Anyhow, Roberta is going through a similar bout of hanging in there.

The girls are swimming, Caitlin is doing karate, abi is doing speech and tutoring - we are kind of girl scouting, and I am about to start working out 2 hours a day to get myself out of the doldrums. Oh, fall break starts tomorrow - 3 weeks off, planning to see King tut, Pikes peak train, Royal Gorge? and Kansas City for the week.

So, why not try going back to be now? Excellent suggestion. Good night!

OK, I'm trying to shrink this picture to put it in the header... and it's not cooperating!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

So my chipper little facebook post said " happy fathers day", but I wanted to say: Happy Fathers day and I will probalby end up blubbering all day long. Sorry Kevin.

My mom is coming over today. Kevin is working and dad resently passed away. So obviously we will be making cookies and going shopping.

Observations While Camping

Camping - Ridgway Colorado is a beauitful Colorado State Park. This is the view from walk in tent site 153, and those are the San Juan Mountains Back there.

Timing - Don't go camping the week after your fathers funeral if he was an avid hiker/skier/camper, unless you plan to spend the whole time on a private emotional roller coaster ride and you have an understanding spouse and family.

Tents - why again? Camper, Cabin's, condo's, YURTS! These are the words we need to embrace.

Childhood - It's alot more fun to be the kid camper than the adult camper.

Telluride - How sad that your beautiful little city has become an overpriced tourist trap.

Silverton - I hope you can stay a beautiful little city and escape your probable touristy fate.

Lilly - Lilly is a good little camper (dog). She just needs to lean alittle more to the neighborly not guard doggily side.

The Girls - need to get out of the subburbs more often!

Kevin - Is a great guy I don't appreciate enough. He is also in annoyingly good shape, and us 3 girls (4 counting Lilly) could stand to take it up a notch.

That's all for now - I'm doing my Research project: Facebook post about the fabulousness of the table of contents template. Going over to moms again tomorrow. It's good that it's summertime.

 
 
 
 

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"Are we there yet?"

It's kinda hilarious reading that last post! I forgot how long I'd been feeling that way about my student teaching stint. Things are better now, and I'm busy crossing the i's and dotting the t's. . . (that's more special ed humor for you. O is for awesome - it's FUNNY! live it, know it, love it.)

It has now been 1 month and 2 days since dad has been in the hospital, turning my world on it's ear. Tonight I'm feeling I want to get a restraining order to prevent the doctors from speaking to my mother again, and my father - although he seems the more solid of the 2 at this very moment. Brother B just called reporting WBG2(dad) is as bright, engaging and lucid as ever. The nurses report he is still improving on the pneumonia, today he was already back on the wean mode trying to get him off the ventilator, and they where working on feeding him real food. So, .... again, we are continuing to be hopeful, despite the warnings of the doctors. Mom said he had a "what if" that she wasn't able to figure out, and I'm guessing dad is patiently awaiting my arrival tomorrow, so i can puzzle it out with him, and of course bring the "1776" book CD and CD player.

Mom locked herself out of the house today, ended up calling a locksmith and after 4 hours they got her, completely rattled, back inside. I'm going to spend as much of the weekend with her as possible.

Tomorrow is 80 degrees. I'm going to put the girls in aftercare, which should make their week, and not worry about it. Kevin will pick them up from there.

"Are we there yet" - is a favorite family line that dad spelled to me in response to my story about his GD Abi asking if 8 weeks was up the day after having her ears pierced.

That is my snapshot! and, watching Letterman, Damn - Courney Love looks GOOD! Robert Downey Jr. - See, people do get better!

So this student teacher thing, it's over soon right?

I gotta tell you, it's not that there a problem or anything - I actually feel quite lucky. BUT, i just really feel I've been there, learned that - 4 times over.

I'ts OK. (talking to myself now) I have 2 days off with the girls this coming week making for a 4 days weekend, and then a week off for me while they are in school. SO excited for that!

SKI INDEX 10!! in Loveland Colorado

That's all I have to say about that.

VENT!!!!!

Good News, Bad News

I got 4 maybe 5 MAJOR to do's done tonight, and a dozen little things out of the way!! I feel great. I am awesome!! I have SO MUCH MORE TO DO!!!!

I think I can safely say, that I will never go back to school again. Sure, maybe a certificate, or fun little refresher - but this? Never again. (And hopefully I won't need to and I know, never say never.)

One more, why not

Robert Schlesinger - 10-questions-about-the-supreme-court-ruling-on-campaign-finance

History. It's there to keep us from doing stupid things over and over.

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

-- U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864

I wish he hadn't said that

-
Hello blog! You're looking well. Me? Not much, hanging in there, you know - busy busy busy. I see you've gone orange. Very flattering.

On to the post: Today the hub voiced to me his nagging feeling that we are being sold a bill of goods by the industry of your child doesn't fit in the box and we're gonna wring every bit of guilt money out of you we can get.

I was telling him how "they" say having a tutor is the best thing you can do to help your child academically. He replied that "they" are the very "they" we are paying an arm and a leg too. The extra tutor to catch Abi up in reading. The speech therapist who's teaching Abi the correct way to make and hear sounds and process the English language. The orthodontist who's fixing things he admits may not be fixed until adulthood (at a ridiculously high rate). He's poised and ready to do it to her again in another few years. The doctors who have her on medication for ADD.

His comments sort of struck a "oh god, what if he's right?" cord in me. He might very well be right. Earlier in the day Abigail had made a lovely intricate pattern out of the "battleship" game pegs and boats. It was actually quite striking and finished looking, which made me think, what if she's just a creative kid who doesn't much care for school - just doesn't do well in school? What if all this helpful high price tag pushing, shoving and worrying isn't what's helping her. Maybe it's just happening all in her own time, and would be happening (off-schedule) without the drugs, hours and hours of tutoring, head gear, guilt and worry because she's plain and simple different. Of course I will never know because even if it might only help a tiny bit, we are going to try anything and do anything we can. All that mommy guilt keeps us on the verge of the poor house.

So the reason for my continued feeling of being had is; I just came down from my rain or shine nightly reading session with Abigail. Sometimes it's sheer agony, but tonight I was going with the flow and enjoying the experience of Abi. She was imitating a teacher I'm sure, and there were 4 colors of dry erase markers, bakUgon toys involved, and a very intricate social story revolving around finding the rhyming words, and seeing the pictures, etc. As usual I was painfully aware of the fact that she's barely noticing the words. "How can you work of fluency and then comprehension if you don't attend to what your reading!!!!" Can you picture how helpful it would be if I would scream that at her - yikes. Anyhow, I realized that poor Abi is sold short almost constantly. She has alot going on in her world and for I'm sure dozens if not hundreds of reasons, can't be bothered with reading.

I know that I'd be doing her a disservice if I didn't teacher her how to become like everyone else, and I know she can and will eventually do it. I just wish that WE weren't so hung up on everyone fitting in the same box at the same time. I wish it wasn't so hard on anyone who's even a little bit different. (However, she seems to be doing just fine, it's my fragile psyche and checking account that are complaining.)