We ordered dinner from Papa John's tonight. I always order it online, now, so I don't have to talk to the cashier, pretty pathetic, huh. I was still surfing the web when it arrived, incredibly quick. We devoured it just as quickly.
But the pizza got me thinking how we used to have pizza every Friday night. It started on the farm where my goal was to make homemade pizza taste just like Pizza Hut's. That didn't happen. But I learned a few tricks along the way, until we moved to Hays and could order Pizza Hut any time we wanted it and it came right to the house!
Its not a Friday tradition anymore, the kids have all moved on and I don't even think they eat pizza that much. We order it occasionally, or we go to Papa Murphy's and bring the pizza home to bake in our own oven. Never would I have imagined that you could get me to pay for pizza that's not even baked! I'm not knocking it, its pretty good pizza!
Its sad that we have to drop some traditions and I think that was what I was really missing tonight. Its not Friday and its just Glen and I and the dogs, no family around the table, wolfing down the pizza before it all disappears.
But pizza isn't all that healthy for us. I would settle for family dinners every Friday night. Maybe we should start Salad Night!!!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Ebony and Ivory
This picture was taken on a different sleepover. If dogs could talk I would ask them why they mirror one another, but seem to distance themselves, not fully giving in to true companionship and camaraderie.
When Adrienne first adopted Maddie I thought, Wow! I hope Adrienne knows what she's doing, that dog is not very lovable! She was easily 20 pounds over weight and not all that interested in me. But in just 7 months, she is at her proper weight and a great match for Royal. Maddie runs to me and always hopes for a small treat, but she is wonderfully bonded to Adrienne. Maybe they both compete for Adrienne's attention, so they have figured out its best to hold out on each other. At any rate, she is a beautiful dog with a great personality!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
What's in my blood?
The doctor finally convinced me to start taking a cholesterol-lowering medication and I have been taking it for one month. A pharmacist at Wal-Mart puts it in a little white bag and charges me $24 because it is a knock-off of Zocor, 80 milligrams, the highest dose. I share this because it is not my diet that caused the high-cholesterol, it is my genetic propensity.
I have tried to eliminate bad fats from my diet by visualizing the little chunks of fat swirling around in my veins, sticking to the walls of my arteries and clogging up the works so that they eventually cause a heart attack or a stroke. But each year the numbers went higher, so it is time!
Age 53 is my first milestone, the mark put there in my future by my father and his brother, who each died of a massive heart attack at. or about that age. In my family, me and my surviving siblings have passed the first mark. There is no excuse for inaction.
In two more weeks, I have my blood rechecked and I am hoping that those numbers have started down so that the dose can be lowered. I don't want to become dependent on this drug to do for me what I may be able to do for myself. You see, High Cholesterol has a twin demon...High Blood Pressure!
Sorry to be "Debbie-Downer" but facts is facts and three other people share these genetics with me, so I guess I'm being pro-active with you even though I know your reasons for eating right and being fit may be different right now. It will help you in the future to think about The Twins now!
I have tried to eliminate bad fats from my diet by visualizing the little chunks of fat swirling around in my veins, sticking to the walls of my arteries and clogging up the works so that they eventually cause a heart attack or a stroke. But each year the numbers went higher, so it is time!
Age 53 is my first milestone, the mark put there in my future by my father and his brother, who each died of a massive heart attack at. or about that age. In my family, me and my surviving siblings have passed the first mark. There is no excuse for inaction.
In two more weeks, I have my blood rechecked and I am hoping that those numbers have started down so that the dose can be lowered. I don't want to become dependent on this drug to do for me what I may be able to do for myself. You see, High Cholesterol has a twin demon...High Blood Pressure!
Sorry to be "Debbie-Downer" but facts is facts and three other people share these genetics with me, so I guess I'm being pro-active with you even though I know your reasons for eating right and being fit may be different right now. It will help you in the future to think about The Twins now!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Team Time
Yesterday and today we met with our SFT Teams for most of the day to share goals, expectations, and engage in icebreaker activities to get to know one another better. My team is named Team Courage and my fellow teammates include seven other SFT teachers and 85 of our eighth graders. Its been really fun to work with other teachers and actually get to know these students in a different way. Normally, I would only see them when they come in as a class for a quick lesson on research, or to check out books and textbooks yada, yada. But we did really cool activities like "a team handshake, logo, motto, rap, etc." Our team includes an art teacher, P.E. teacher, math, social studies, english, science, librarian, and resource teacher. Now that we have all gotten to know one another, we will not meet as a complete team for several weeks. Instead, I will spend every day from 2:40 until 3:10 with my core teacher and our 25 students. We have a fun group of students and a good diverse group, too.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Rain in the forecast!
Well, it wasn't a big, drenching rain, but it was still welcome as its been nearly a month with no moisture and scorching temperatures. I have busted my butt watering every single night since sometime in July and it was getting old. I got to take a break last night and tonight, but the weather man says its going to be hot again near the end of the week.
Today we had just the 7th graders for half a day and meetings in the afternoon so the routine was exactly the same as yesterday. Our principal wanted to reward us for making AYP in most areas of Reading and Math, so there was a "sundae" bar in the lounge after the meetings.
When I got home, Glen reminded me of his Parent meetings with 10th graders tonight, so Royal and I left at the same time he did for a very nice walk. We were almost home when we passed a house just a few spaces from our house. The parents were outside working on one of the cars parked in the driveway when one of the kids let their black lab and another large lab mix out of the house. They both raced right for Royal and that is one thing he really doesn't handle well, esp. after he was attacked while on a leash about a year ago. It turns out the dogs were both really friendly but it took the dad a few tries to get them away from Royal, who was crouched in fright with his hackles raised and his tail between his legs! Poor guy.
If you think today sounded exciting, just wait until tomorrow, NOT!
Today we had just the 7th graders for half a day and meetings in the afternoon so the routine was exactly the same as yesterday. Our principal wanted to reward us for making AYP in most areas of Reading and Math, so there was a "sundae" bar in the lounge after the meetings.
When I got home, Glen reminded me of his Parent meetings with 10th graders tonight, so Royal and I left at the same time he did for a very nice walk. We were almost home when we passed a house just a few spaces from our house. The parents were outside working on one of the cars parked in the driveway when one of the kids let their black lab and another large lab mix out of the house. They both raced right for Royal and that is one thing he really doesn't handle well, esp. after he was attacked while on a leash about a year ago. It turns out the dogs were both really friendly but it took the dad a few tries to get them away from Royal, who was crouched in fright with his hackles raised and his tail between his legs! Poor guy.
If you think today sounded exciting, just wait until tomorrow, NOT!
Strouds
Adrienne suggested we should come over and help her with the new front door color on her house and also, go out to lunch at Strouds while we were in the neighborhood. It was our first time so we didn't really know what to expect. Stroud's specialty is their pan fried chicken, homemade pan gravy w/mashed potatoes and rolls that they call cinnamon rolls, all served family style (the green beans are good, too). Wow! If you are into old fashioned, just-like-grandma-made-every-Sunday-chicken, then Strouds is the place to go! We got there just ahead of the church crowd because the place was busy but nothing like 45 minutes later! I liked it alot, but it isn't the kind of thing one should eat very often. The food has a very retro, home cooked quality that you just don't get nowadays at a very reasonable price. We were all stuffed and all we ate was one chicken breast apiece and the sides.
After we got home it was time to get in the "school" mode, but we do that so easily its not a big deal. Monday was 1/2 day with just the incoming 6th graders. We got to watch a little of the WEB presentation (Where Everybody Belongs), and then returned to the library to try to get some work done. Around 10:30, groups of 6th graders started touring the building with their WEB leaders, so we just quit what we were working on and greeted each group that came through.
That evening Glen had to go back to North for Parent meetings with the incoming 9th graders, so Royal and I took our walk then watched TV until he came home. We took our nightcap out on the patio and enjoyed the cool evening, so refreshing after upper 90's and 100 degree days we've had this month.
After we got home it was time to get in the "school" mode, but we do that so easily its not a big deal. Monday was 1/2 day with just the incoming 6th graders. We got to watch a little of the WEB presentation (Where Everybody Belongs), and then returned to the library to try to get some work done. Around 10:30, groups of 6th graders started touring the building with their WEB leaders, so we just quit what we were working on and greeted each group that came through.
That evening Glen had to go back to North for Parent meetings with the incoming 9th graders, so Royal and I took our walk then watched TV until he came home. We took our nightcap out on the patio and enjoyed the cool evening, so refreshing after upper 90's and 100 degree days we've had this month.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Familiar Sunday a.m. feeling
Waking up this morning I recognized that familiar Sunday morning feeling, instantly...that feeling that tells me I have school tomorrow with KIDS. It is decidedly different from the feeling I have on any given summer vacation morning. These mornings are relaxed and unhurried, each day a gift handed to me with the expectation that I do whatever I wish, whenever I want!
But I am not exactly dreading August 16, it just feels like it belongs to someone else and that schedules and responsibilities must be met. I imagine everyone in my family feels the same way and three of them don't have the wonderful 8 weeks off in the summer that I have.
This year we have transitioned our ninth graders to the high school and inherited the sixth graders from the elementary school. My library is located in 8th grade hall, so I won't really be affected by the newcomers much except when they come to the library or when I have supervision. I am also part of the new "Teaming" philosophy at SFT, so I will be adopting a group of 25 eighth graders along with teammate Melissa, and will be advising, supervising, and bonding with these students each day from 2:40 - 3:10 each day. I am very excited about Teaming!!
So, it has been a pretty benign weekend for Glen and me. We both worked at our buildigs until lunch, then ate at Taco Bueno and came home and started house chores until evening. We love to mix a drink or pour a glass of wine in the evenings and sit out on our newly renovated patio and relax. Royal does the same after he checks the perimeter and continues to alert us to passersby.
Boys, I love that you document your days and don't really worry about writing an essay each time, so that's what I want to accomplish with my new blog. I realize I forget to tell you, ask you lots of things when I don't get to talk to you every day...and that's what a blog can do for all of us!
BTW, Ronnie and I have been emailing about the Larsson trilogy. He is really into the whole Swedish attraction of the books. You two better get on the bandwagon, Adrienne has already finished all three!
But I am not exactly dreading August 16, it just feels like it belongs to someone else and that schedules and responsibilities must be met. I imagine everyone in my family feels the same way and three of them don't have the wonderful 8 weeks off in the summer that I have.
This year we have transitioned our ninth graders to the high school and inherited the sixth graders from the elementary school. My library is located in 8th grade hall, so I won't really be affected by the newcomers much except when they come to the library or when I have supervision. I am also part of the new "Teaming" philosophy at SFT, so I will be adopting a group of 25 eighth graders along with teammate Melissa, and will be advising, supervising, and bonding with these students each day from 2:40 - 3:10 each day. I am very excited about Teaming!!
So, it has been a pretty benign weekend for Glen and me. We both worked at our buildigs until lunch, then ate at Taco Bueno and came home and started house chores until evening. We love to mix a drink or pour a glass of wine in the evenings and sit out on our newly renovated patio and relax. Royal does the same after he checks the perimeter and continues to alert us to passersby.
Boys, I love that you document your days and don't really worry about writing an essay each time, so that's what I want to accomplish with my new blog. I realize I forget to tell you, ask you lots of things when I don't get to talk to you every day...and that's what a blog can do for all of us!
BTW, Ronnie and I have been emailing about the Larsson trilogy. He is really into the whole Swedish attraction of the books. You two better get on the bandwagon, Adrienne has already finished all three!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
New Blog
When we moved to our current home I forgot to change the email address of my old blog and as a result, I can't access it as the owner, but I can view it. I got the bright idea to copy and paste all of the old blogs into this new one, but that didn't work either. Gotta figure out how I'm going to change it, save it, or scrape it and start new.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)