Xavier's second soccer game of the spring season kept me from my Weight Watchers meeting again, but that did not deter me! My weight this morning was 205.5...that is a 2.5 lb loss! I am happy to see that I recovered from my 1.8 gain. I am only .5 off from meeting my weekly weight loss goal of 1 pound, as per stated in my Winning Outcome aka SMART goal...
My Winning Outcome/WW SMART goal:
I will loose 11 pounds through the Simply Filling technique and a minimum of 4 days of treadmill time a week, at a rate of one pound per week as verified and recorded at my meeting weigh-ins, so that the 10% goal of 200 pounds is met by Saturday, May 19th.
I feel a recap is in order!
Week 1 - March 10 - 206.2 - Winning Outcomes
Week 2 - March 17 - 208 - Storyboarding
Week 3 - March 24 - 205.5 - Empowering Beliefs
I was on Spring Break this week and had hoped to work harder at my WW SMART goal. I did meet the minimum exercise requirements and am enjoying the addition of the leg work along with the stability ball crunches I have been doing. I feel I could do better with the Simply Filling foods. That seems to be my biggest difficulty, sticking to those foods. I am not giving up though, I am sticking to my SMART goal and making this a way of life so that I can have long term success. I don't want to lose weight to only gain it all back. When it is gone I want it gone for good and I recognize that means life changes.
Tool for Living #4 - Mental Rehearsing
From the WW Site: "Mental Rehearsing is practicing in your mind ahead of time, being in a challenging situation. Our minds and bodies are one system, so your mind can help you behave or act a certain way."
I feel like I am beginning to do this, namely when I am faced with a dining situation that would cause me to veer off my weight loss course. I am not perfect by far, but I find myself making small steps to avoid situations that don't provide me with the foods I should be eating and if I do end up eating something that is less than ideal, I do so in moderation, and know that more exercise is in my future! One of my biggest obstacles on my weight loss journey is depriving myself. I LOVE sweets, and while not every sweet is one I want to eat, there are certain ones I do. When faced with them, I do want to be able to partake. Denying myself that sweet treat makes me grumpy. Perhaps in time, when I have made more progress on this life change I won't feel that way, but for right now, depriving myself of sweets I enjoy at all times is something that will irritate me into failing. I know this because it has happened to me before. So by being aware of this I am able to better work with it and not let it derail me again.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
So busy!
I am not making excuses, but this past week was insanely busy for me. Long hours at work, soccer practices, conference...I was exhausted. So what does all that mean? No treadmill time and it shows. My weight was up 1.8 lbs this week. Due to an early morning soccer game, I was unable to go to my WW meeting, but I did get a NEW WW scale just like I said I would and it confirmed my old scale was 3-4 pounds off. So I trust my new scale to be more like the official weigh in scale. My new scale said I was 208 this morning and I believe it. A busy week, no treadmill, and *that* time of the month = 1.8lb gain. Am I bothered by that? Discouraged? Not at all. I am officially on Spring Break and plan on hitting my treadmill hard this week as well as add in some leg work. Presently I do 30-40 minutes of jog walking on the treadmill, plus arm exercises during the "walk" portions as well as crunches on a stability ball before I even get on the treadmill. My legs have long been an area I have wished to improve. I don't like their shape. I can't think of a time in my life where I EVER liked how my legs looked. Fortunately we have a "workout room" in our house that my husband has equipped with various devices, one being a Smith machine. I plan on starting out light, but I am going to be adding in squats and calf raises to help shape and tone my legs. Now I do realize that this could slow my weight loss, but I am not going to let it deter me. I am going to start easy and see how it goes.
So onto the Tools for Living! Tools for Living Step 3 - Empowering Beliefs
I think this step is self explanatory. It reminds me of a student of mine. His head is FULL of his own negative self-talk. We all have those moments, but it seems particularly strong in this child and I am working with him on turning the negative self talk into positive self talk. Empowering Beliefs are just like positive self talk.
So onto the Tools for Living! Tools for Living Step 3 - Empowering Beliefs
I think this step is self explanatory. It reminds me of a student of mine. His head is FULL of his own negative self-talk. We all have those moments, but it seems particularly strong in this child and I am working with him on turning the negative self talk into positive self talk. Empowering Beliefs are just like positive self talk.
- "My weight goal is desirable and worth it."
- "I am capable of achieving my goal."
- "I deserve to achieve my goal."
- And as Stuart Smalley would say "I am good enough, I am smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!"
Saturday, March 10, 2012
I am my own entertainment
It is weigh in day today! So I go to my meeting...which is in Redlands at 9:30am on Saturdays. It is the 3rd meeting location I have tried in both attempts at WW and the one that finally "clicked" with me. The leader is a goofy but lovable red head who keeps us all chuckling. The room is large and there are tables and chairs, it is an American Legion banquet hall and I really like it. I rather enjoy the drive as well. I used to go to a meeting in Rialto 5 mins from my house but was completely underwhelmed and squished. The meeting location was so TINY. A tiny room full of big girls is suffocating. Anyway, I LOVE to drive...fast (I have a few tickets in my past to prove it) and I LOVE the wind in my hair and rockin tunes. So a Saturday morning freeway drive is a breeze as I pump myself up for the meeting. Just feels right.
So anyway, I cruise in my pimped out PT Cruiser (ok I had to say that because one of my girlfriends had the nerve to LAUGH at how much I love my PTC and dubbed it my "pimped out PT Cruiser" which I was SOLD on! SO TRUE!). Where was I? Oh yes, cruising down the 10 freeway from Colton to Redlands in my bad ass pimped out PTC, windows down, music loud, ready to face the scale.
The moment comes and of course after WEEKS of not attending, who do I get to weigh in with? THE LEADER! Ugh. I had to acknowledge that, which all the ladies there thought was funny and stepped on the scale for my Biggest Loser moment. I hear the tell tale beeping in my head and here comes Alison...
"Melanie, last week you weighed 211 on your scale at home. Your official Weight Watchers weight is..." *a bazillion agonizing beeps later* "206.2! You have lost 4.8 lbs!"
Ok, so I have known my home scale is about 2 pounds more than the WW scale which I was ok with before, but now it seems to be approaching 3lbs! I am so on Amazon after this for a WW scale, which I oh so conveniently saw in a WW magazine ad! Anyway, my home scale totally had me freaked out that I had gained more than I thought. I last attended my WW meeting on 1.14.12 and weighed 204.4. My home scale was telling me at the most I was 211, turns out in all the weeks I was gone I only gained 1.8lbs! I was so happy! I am committed to my SMART goal though! A less than accurate scale isn't going to lull me into a false sense of security. I WANT MY 10% WW KEYRING! What is that you ask? Some lil trinket that I CANNOT get out of my head. I have two little WW charms I earned for it sitting in their lil baggies, staring me in the face, that I cannot put anywhere except on that keyring! I earned the 16 week charm for attending 16 weeks in a row (like two years go) and the 5K charm for doing a 5K walk. I asked them if they had one for a bike marathon (I do those with Dom every year in Long Beach and LOVE IT) and they said no. LAME! Anyways, I want to reach my 10%, earn my keyring, make a new former-principal inspired SMART goal and keep on losing! I WILL be the biggest loser! *laughs* Oh and there are more lil charms to go on this keyring, for 25lbs, 50lbs, 75lbs, and so on. You can see photos of them and descriptions on this gal's blog: http://jazzieandtahlia.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/02/my-key-chain.html
Tools for Living Step 2 - Storyboarding
From the WW site: "Storyboarding helps you identify the steps you need to take to make your Winning Outcome a reality. Break down your long-term goals, i.e., your Winning Outcome, into a list of shorter-term goals or steps. Then draw or write out each one, Goal One through your Winning Outcome."
My Winning Outcome/WW SMART goal:
I will loose 11 pounds through the Simply Filling technique and a minimum of 4 days of treadmill time a week, at a rate of one pound per week as verified and recorded at my meeting weigh-ins, so that the 10% goal of 200 pounds is met by Saturday, May 19th.
My Storyboard
I much prefer writing over drawing, so here goes...
So I am feeling great and optimistic once again, I hope this isn't a mood swing... *laughs*
So anyway, I cruise in my pimped out PT Cruiser (ok I had to say that because one of my girlfriends had the nerve to LAUGH at how much I love my PTC and dubbed it my "pimped out PT Cruiser" which I was SOLD on! SO TRUE!). Where was I? Oh yes, cruising down the 10 freeway from Colton to Redlands in my bad ass pimped out PTC, windows down, music loud, ready to face the scale.
The moment comes and of course after WEEKS of not attending, who do I get to weigh in with? THE LEADER! Ugh. I had to acknowledge that, which all the ladies there thought was funny and stepped on the scale for my Biggest Loser moment. I hear the tell tale beeping in my head and here comes Alison...
"Melanie, last week you weighed 211 on your scale at home. Your official Weight Watchers weight is..." *a bazillion agonizing beeps later* "206.2! You have lost 4.8 lbs!"
Ok, so I have known my home scale is about 2 pounds more than the WW scale which I was ok with before, but now it seems to be approaching 3lbs! I am so on Amazon after this for a WW scale, which I oh so conveniently saw in a WW magazine ad! Anyway, my home scale totally had me freaked out that I had gained more than I thought. I last attended my WW meeting on 1.14.12 and weighed 204.4. My home scale was telling me at the most I was 211, turns out in all the weeks I was gone I only gained 1.8lbs! I was so happy! I am committed to my SMART goal though! A less than accurate scale isn't going to lull me into a false sense of security. I WANT MY 10% WW KEYRING! What is that you ask? Some lil trinket that I CANNOT get out of my head. I have two little WW charms I earned for it sitting in their lil baggies, staring me in the face, that I cannot put anywhere except on that keyring! I earned the 16 week charm for attending 16 weeks in a row (like two years go) and the 5K charm for doing a 5K walk. I asked them if they had one for a bike marathon (I do those with Dom every year in Long Beach and LOVE IT) and they said no. LAME! Anyways, I want to reach my 10%, earn my keyring, make a new former-principal inspired SMART goal and keep on losing! I WILL be the biggest loser! *laughs* Oh and there are more lil charms to go on this keyring, for 25lbs, 50lbs, 75lbs, and so on. You can see photos of them and descriptions on this gal's blog: http://jazzieandtahlia.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/02/my-key-chain.html
Tools for Living Step 2 - Storyboarding
From the WW site: "Storyboarding helps you identify the steps you need to take to make your Winning Outcome a reality. Break down your long-term goals, i.e., your Winning Outcome, into a list of shorter-term goals or steps. Then draw or write out each one, Goal One through your Winning Outcome."
My Winning Outcome/WW SMART goal:
I will loose 11 pounds through the Simply Filling technique and a minimum of 4 days of treadmill time a week, at a rate of one pound per week as verified and recorded at my meeting weigh-ins, so that the 10% goal of 200 pounds is met by Saturday, May 19th.
My Storyboard
I much prefer writing over drawing, so here goes...
- I will get on the treadmill at least 4 days a week.
- I will stock my kitchen with Power Foods.
- I will apply the Simply Filling technique.
- I will lose at least one pound a week.
- I will attend my weekly WW meeting.
- I will meet my goal on or before May 19th.
- I will blog after every WW meeting to solidify my commitment to my overall health and well being.
So I am feeling great and optimistic once again, I hope this isn't a mood swing... *laughs*
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Winning Outcomes - SMART Goal for weight loss?
I have been kind of grumpy lately, mainly due to my lack of forward progress in meeting my weight loss goal. I came so close to my 10% Weight Watchers goal, to only go backwards. I have been too busy with work and life in general to take a strong stance against this backward movement. I feel like I am slowly sliding downhill, losing the weight loss battle again.
I thought for a while that budget restrictions would cause me to cancel my online subscription to Weight Watchers. After re-evaluating things I have found this is not the case and I am glad. I recognize when I am making excuses and cutting the only thing that keeps me thinking about weight loss would be giving into my excuses.
I have been highly unmotivated to exercise of late and I feel like today I am finally able to break that. I would work out right now if it were possible, but it isn't. I am blogging on the go as this weekend as been a very busy one. As soon as I am home, I am going for a jog on the treadmill. I found that I have been viewing working out as yet another chore, and when I get into my overwhelmed mood I cut off things that make me feel overwhelmed. I wish I found solace in exercise more. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Today I have gotten so grumpy and frustrated, only a brisk job on the treadmill until I am sweaty and tired can lift my mood.
I have been reading the Weight Watchers site more on my lunch breaks this past week, and I keep coming across the "Tools for Living" list. That list is:
1. Winning Outcomes
2. Storyboarding
3. Empowering Beliefs
4. Mental Rehearsing
5. Motivating Strategy
6. Positive Self-Talking
7. Reframing
8. Anchoring
I figure I have not really made Weight Watchers a "way of life." It is just something I do to try to maybe lose weight. So I am attempting to make it a way of life. I HATE tracking. Let see how many ways I can say HATE and emphasize my point...abhor, detest, loathe... Get my drift? So then that leaves the "Simply Filling" Technique. No tracking and only eating power foods. As far as I understand it, you get your weekly bank of points, but don't adhere to the daily points.
After reading the page on the WW site about the "Tools for Living" I thought I would take more steps to make WW a way of life. A friend of mine from guide dogs (Laurel) really stands out to me as an example of making WW a way of life. She did it and you could see her body change, it was amazing. I would like to be able to do that too.
So now I attempt to make WW a way of life. I don't like the way I feel or look and I want to be healthier. So WW Tool #1 - Winning Outcome aka SMART Goal! I had to laugh reading the WW page on winning outcomes and thinking of my former principal. He was a SMART goal-aholic. Winning outcomes are SMART Goals. For those of you that don't teach with me a SMART Goal is...Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
I watch the Biggest Loser, it is one of my favorite shows. I was thinking the last time I watched it how much courage it took to stand there for the world to see, all the rolls of fat and cellulite, and then your weight... I have avoided stating my weight publicly, though I have admitted it to friends when I talk to them about weight. So I make this blog my own Biggest Loser scale. I started WW about 2 years ago, with Kerri in May, and I want to say this May will make 2 years since rejoining WW.
*Does her best Alison Sweeney (hostess of the Biggest Loser) impression*
"Melanie, when you started your weight loss journey nearly two years ago with Weight Watchers, your starting weight was 222 pounds. Your current weight is..."
*insert dramatic scale music here*
"211 pounds."
*Melanie sighs heavily and rolls her eyes*
For a while I was holding at 204 pounds and have been gradually climbing upward, it is aggravating. For my height (5'6") I am told I should weight 150 - 155 pounds. I have not weighed that much since I was 16 years old. I don't believe this to be a realistic goal for myself. In preparation for my wedding, I got my weight down to 170. I think that is a much more realistic goal. For now I will focus on my 10% WW goal of 200 pounds. I am presently 11 pounds away from it. I will do as my former principal had our grade levels do and make a short term SMART goal.
My Winning Outcome/WW SMART goal:
I will loose 11 pounds through the Simply Filling technique and a minimum of 4 days of treadmill time a week, at a rate of one pound per week as verified and recorded at my meeting weigh-ins, so that the 10% goal of 200 pounds is met by Saturday, May 19th.
That seems to get in all the aspects of a SMART goal and does not seem unrealistic to me. I am trying very hard not to feel negative about this and quit. I HAVE to do this.
I thought for a while that budget restrictions would cause me to cancel my online subscription to Weight Watchers. After re-evaluating things I have found this is not the case and I am glad. I recognize when I am making excuses and cutting the only thing that keeps me thinking about weight loss would be giving into my excuses.
I have been highly unmotivated to exercise of late and I feel like today I am finally able to break that. I would work out right now if it were possible, but it isn't. I am blogging on the go as this weekend as been a very busy one. As soon as I am home, I am going for a jog on the treadmill. I found that I have been viewing working out as yet another chore, and when I get into my overwhelmed mood I cut off things that make me feel overwhelmed. I wish I found solace in exercise more. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Today I have gotten so grumpy and frustrated, only a brisk job on the treadmill until I am sweaty and tired can lift my mood.
I have been reading the Weight Watchers site more on my lunch breaks this past week, and I keep coming across the "Tools for Living" list. That list is:
1. Winning Outcomes
2. Storyboarding
3. Empowering Beliefs
4. Mental Rehearsing
5. Motivating Strategy
6. Positive Self-Talking
7. Reframing
8. Anchoring
I figure I have not really made Weight Watchers a "way of life." It is just something I do to try to maybe lose weight. So I am attempting to make it a way of life. I HATE tracking. Let see how many ways I can say HATE and emphasize my point...abhor, detest, loathe... Get my drift? So then that leaves the "Simply Filling" Technique. No tracking and only eating power foods. As far as I understand it, you get your weekly bank of points, but don't adhere to the daily points.
After reading the page on the WW site about the "Tools for Living" I thought I would take more steps to make WW a way of life. A friend of mine from guide dogs (Laurel) really stands out to me as an example of making WW a way of life. She did it and you could see her body change, it was amazing. I would like to be able to do that too.
So now I attempt to make WW a way of life. I don't like the way I feel or look and I want to be healthier. So WW Tool #1 - Winning Outcome aka SMART Goal! I had to laugh reading the WW page on winning outcomes and thinking of my former principal. He was a SMART goal-aholic. Winning outcomes are SMART Goals. For those of you that don't teach with me a SMART Goal is...Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
I watch the Biggest Loser, it is one of my favorite shows. I was thinking the last time I watched it how much courage it took to stand there for the world to see, all the rolls of fat and cellulite, and then your weight... I have avoided stating my weight publicly, though I have admitted it to friends when I talk to them about weight. So I make this blog my own Biggest Loser scale. I started WW about 2 years ago, with Kerri in May, and I want to say this May will make 2 years since rejoining WW.
*Does her best Alison Sweeney (hostess of the Biggest Loser) impression*
"Melanie, when you started your weight loss journey nearly two years ago with Weight Watchers, your starting weight was 222 pounds. Your current weight is..."
*insert dramatic scale music here*
"211 pounds."
*Melanie sighs heavily and rolls her eyes*
For a while I was holding at 204 pounds and have been gradually climbing upward, it is aggravating. For my height (5'6") I am told I should weight 150 - 155 pounds. I have not weighed that much since I was 16 years old. I don't believe this to be a realistic goal for myself. In preparation for my wedding, I got my weight down to 170. I think that is a much more realistic goal. For now I will focus on my 10% WW goal of 200 pounds. I am presently 11 pounds away from it. I will do as my former principal had our grade levels do and make a short term SMART goal.
My Winning Outcome/WW SMART goal:
I will loose 11 pounds through the Simply Filling technique and a minimum of 4 days of treadmill time a week, at a rate of one pound per week as verified and recorded at my meeting weigh-ins, so that the 10% goal of 200 pounds is met by Saturday, May 19th.
That seems to get in all the aspects of a SMART goal and does not seem unrealistic to me. I am trying very hard not to feel negative about this and quit. I HAVE to do this.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Ramblings on Blogging and Family
I have been thinking a lot about blogging and why people do it. As those who read my blog know I don't blog very often. There are a few reasons for that. One is not for lack of being at my machine. Again, those who know me know I find my Mac to be a source of great enjoyment and entertainment. I have often likened it to television. Some people love television and movies (like my husband for example) and will watch hours of it. Some love computers and will spend hours in front of one (like me) doing any number of things.
So back to blogging. Why do people blog? If they are like me, it is to just talk to yourself. A way to sort through thoughts and frustrations, not really expecting a reply, knowing a few might see it, but more as an outlet for thoughts and feelings. I believe there are levels to this as with most things. I think of it simply as high, medium, and low. I am a low level blogger. I blog when I have the desire or the motivation. I blog for Mary, when she points out I haven't blogged and try to come up with something witty, or something that lets me get my Latina out. I am generally pretty laid back, but some will press my buttons just to see me get riled...not in a bad way, but to see the other side of me, the Puerto Rican side. It is rather humorous and enjoyable for all who witness it or trigger it.
I write about blogging because something has been troubling me. My husband reads my sister's blog on a regular basis. I do from time to time when she links it to Facebook and I am on Facebook to see it. This gets back to what I do with my computer time. I am not constantly on Facebook as those who know me know. Anyway, my husband loves to read all the goings on of friends and family on Facebook. He is a regular reader of my sister's blog and often gives me the synopsis of what is going on in her life, which I generally enjoy.
Like all sisters...or siblings for that matter...my sister and I have had our ups and downs. We are in a down period at the moment due to a recent disagreement, that I choose to not go into because blogging about it would do nothing for me. My sister has blogged about it, and this issue aside, is a very regular blogger. I have been very impressed with her dedication to daily blogging and her desire to chronicle the goings on of her family. I have long known I cannot blog with that much regularity. It is not something I care to do. I do however enjoy blogging, on my terms. I enjoy writing, sharing my thoughts, ideas, and opinions. As a matter of fact that is what I do most with my computer time. Write. I have always enjoyed writing...creative writing. Writing for my National Boards was a nightmare because I had to write so clinically. But when it comes to story telling...that is different. The irony of my National Boards is not lost on me. It took me THREE YEARS to achieve it because of the section on WRITING. Teaching writing is a huge task and had long been a source of frustration in my teaching. Knowing I LOVE to write and then not being able to effectively teach children to write was a huge disappointment. So the National Board journey taught me that, forced me to find a way, so I could achieve my goals of achieving certification, and more importantly teaching children to be effective writers.
My parents are very loving and raised my sister and I well. There are various sayings I recall from my parents as I grew up. Two of which I will mention now. My mother often said to us on various occasions "I don't make no ugly babies!" I smile thinking on all the times she has said that. She always says that with pride and conviction, and I always took that as a confidence booster. My sister and I are strong women, confident in who we are, and I think that simple statement my mom would say to us captures that sentiment well. The other saying I am not sure which parent to credit it to...it could have been one they both shared, but I recall a time when I may have said too much at school one day, and one or both of my parents were in my face, talking sternly pointing to the double door entry of our condo at the time "What happens behind those doors stays behind those doors!" That sounds very ominous and I assure you I was not harmed as a child in any way by my parents. They simply meant that the goings on of our family were meant for our family alone, not to be broadcast. This is the saying that comes to mind when I think about blogging. In this day and age so much is shared on the internet. My sister shares more than I would, but I consider her a high level blogger where little to nothing is censored and she blogs her mind freely. I often censor myself, this saying of my childhood heavily ingrained as well as supported by my husband. So I blog within reason, not revealing too much, careful of what I write even when venting as to not hurt or offend those closest to me.
All that being said, I have been troubled hearing what my sister has blogged, not sure how to respond to her, not wishing to make things any worse, but not sure how to make them better. So I come to my blog, much in the way she comes to hers, to say openly that I do care about her, her feelings, her family, and her soon-to-be born son. Our lives are so full of work and family, I really do enjoy visiting with her, just she and I at a restaurant, talking. No kids, no husbands, just sisters.
I have my own mottos in life...one of which is everyone is entitled to their opinion. I don't say that with malice, I say it as a simple fact. We all have our opinions and perspectives, as well as our reasons for them. I respect that, and I expect it respected in return. Another of my mottos is the Golden Rule...Do unto others what you would have them do unto you. Those two mottos come up most in my life and I have found that if I life by them, life is often quite peaceful.
So back to blogging. Why do people blog? If they are like me, it is to just talk to yourself. A way to sort through thoughts and frustrations, not really expecting a reply, knowing a few might see it, but more as an outlet for thoughts and feelings. I believe there are levels to this as with most things. I think of it simply as high, medium, and low. I am a low level blogger. I blog when I have the desire or the motivation. I blog for Mary, when she points out I haven't blogged and try to come up with something witty, or something that lets me get my Latina out. I am generally pretty laid back, but some will press my buttons just to see me get riled...not in a bad way, but to see the other side of me, the Puerto Rican side. It is rather humorous and enjoyable for all who witness it or trigger it.
I write about blogging because something has been troubling me. My husband reads my sister's blog on a regular basis. I do from time to time when she links it to Facebook and I am on Facebook to see it. This gets back to what I do with my computer time. I am not constantly on Facebook as those who know me know. Anyway, my husband loves to read all the goings on of friends and family on Facebook. He is a regular reader of my sister's blog and often gives me the synopsis of what is going on in her life, which I generally enjoy.
Like all sisters...or siblings for that matter...my sister and I have had our ups and downs. We are in a down period at the moment due to a recent disagreement, that I choose to not go into because blogging about it would do nothing for me. My sister has blogged about it, and this issue aside, is a very regular blogger. I have been very impressed with her dedication to daily blogging and her desire to chronicle the goings on of her family. I have long known I cannot blog with that much regularity. It is not something I care to do. I do however enjoy blogging, on my terms. I enjoy writing, sharing my thoughts, ideas, and opinions. As a matter of fact that is what I do most with my computer time. Write. I have always enjoyed writing...creative writing. Writing for my National Boards was a nightmare because I had to write so clinically. But when it comes to story telling...that is different. The irony of my National Boards is not lost on me. It took me THREE YEARS to achieve it because of the section on WRITING. Teaching writing is a huge task and had long been a source of frustration in my teaching. Knowing I LOVE to write and then not being able to effectively teach children to write was a huge disappointment. So the National Board journey taught me that, forced me to find a way, so I could achieve my goals of achieving certification, and more importantly teaching children to be effective writers.
My parents are very loving and raised my sister and I well. There are various sayings I recall from my parents as I grew up. Two of which I will mention now. My mother often said to us on various occasions "I don't make no ugly babies!" I smile thinking on all the times she has said that. She always says that with pride and conviction, and I always took that as a confidence booster. My sister and I are strong women, confident in who we are, and I think that simple statement my mom would say to us captures that sentiment well. The other saying I am not sure which parent to credit it to...it could have been one they both shared, but I recall a time when I may have said too much at school one day, and one or both of my parents were in my face, talking sternly pointing to the double door entry of our condo at the time "What happens behind those doors stays behind those doors!" That sounds very ominous and I assure you I was not harmed as a child in any way by my parents. They simply meant that the goings on of our family were meant for our family alone, not to be broadcast. This is the saying that comes to mind when I think about blogging. In this day and age so much is shared on the internet. My sister shares more than I would, but I consider her a high level blogger where little to nothing is censored and she blogs her mind freely. I often censor myself, this saying of my childhood heavily ingrained as well as supported by my husband. So I blog within reason, not revealing too much, careful of what I write even when venting as to not hurt or offend those closest to me.
All that being said, I have been troubled hearing what my sister has blogged, not sure how to respond to her, not wishing to make things any worse, but not sure how to make them better. So I come to my blog, much in the way she comes to hers, to say openly that I do care about her, her feelings, her family, and her soon-to-be born son. Our lives are so full of work and family, I really do enjoy visiting with her, just she and I at a restaurant, talking. No kids, no husbands, just sisters.
I have my own mottos in life...one of which is everyone is entitled to their opinion. I don't say that with malice, I say it as a simple fact. We all have our opinions and perspectives, as well as our reasons for them. I respect that, and I expect it respected in return. Another of my mottos is the Golden Rule...Do unto others what you would have them do unto you. Those two mottos come up most in my life and I have found that if I life by them, life is often quite peaceful.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Another One!
Ok, so I am trapped at a ski lodge with limited internet...so why not blog? I have already Facebooked and Skyped and Tweeted. I was thinking on what might make a good hook for my blogging, then my phone lit up...my Dictionary app delivering the Word of the Day. I love words. Why not use one as a theme for my blogging? It's worth a short right? I think Mary from work would approve. It is very teachery of me to use a new word each day to guide my blogging efforts. Any child who has ever been in my class knows I love words. I harp on vocabulary and word choice all the time. So it seems the thing to try when trying to get myself interested in regular blogging. I almost typed "daily" just then...had to delete that...I don't want to commit to daily blogging...maybe weekly and for sure monthly. I am going to try to avoid the 8 month gap again. Mary would appreciate that. ;)
Ok so what glorious word did my Dictionary.com app deliver to me today?
Adventive - adjective - not native and usually not yet well established, as in exotic plants or animals
What the.... Ok, so maybe today was not the day to start my new blogging hook...
Well that is what I thought at first, then I remembered that I am a creative and insightful individual and I can make it work. So...adventive...not native...exotic. Being Puerto Rican is exotic right? I am not native to California, though most would find that surprising I think. I was born in Brooklyn, New York and have been in California since I was 5 years old. I consider myself native in the sentiment of the word if not literally. Not well established? Well that wouldn't describe me...I do consider myself to be pretty well established in a general sense. I am where I want to be in my profession, I am married, have a happy healthy son, have a home, a car, I enjoy my life on many levels, so yes I would consider myself established. So adventive is not a word I would use to describe me and seems the definition aims at it being an adjective for plants or animals. Hmmm...teacher mode here...how would I use that word in a sentence?
Polar bears are adventive in Southern California.
Not my best, but it will do. I could always switch to the Spanish Word of the Day....hmmm...then I would have to blog in Spanish...Oh my, the Spanish Word of the Day is:
claro - adjective - clear, obvious, light
There is no way I am blogging in Spanish, no matter what message Spanish Word of the Day is sending! Claro que si!
Ok so what glorious word did my Dictionary.com app deliver to me today?
Adventive - adjective - not native and usually not yet well established, as in exotic plants or animals
What the.... Ok, so maybe today was not the day to start my new blogging hook...
Well that is what I thought at first, then I remembered that I am a creative and insightful individual and I can make it work. So...adventive...not native...exotic. Being Puerto Rican is exotic right? I am not native to California, though most would find that surprising I think. I was born in Brooklyn, New York and have been in California since I was 5 years old. I consider myself native in the sentiment of the word if not literally. Not well established? Well that wouldn't describe me...I do consider myself to be pretty well established in a general sense. I am where I want to be in my profession, I am married, have a happy healthy son, have a home, a car, I enjoy my life on many levels, so yes I would consider myself established. So adventive is not a word I would use to describe me and seems the definition aims at it being an adjective for plants or animals. Hmmm...teacher mode here...how would I use that word in a sentence?
Polar bears are adventive in Southern California.
Not my best, but it will do. I could always switch to the Spanish Word of the Day....hmmm...then I would have to blog in Spanish...Oh my, the Spanish Word of the Day is:
claro - adjective - clear, obvious, light
There is no way I am blogging in Spanish, no matter what message Spanish Word of the Day is sending! Claro que si!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
It really has been too long!
Mary at work is great when it comes to my blog. Periodically she will ask me "When are you going to post next?" I smile and say "Soon." Well as I log back in to my blog and see that my last post was at the end of March, I have to chuckle. It really has been too long. I blame the National Boards. That took so much mental power and writing out of me, I just had to veg for months! But now that we are at the end of another year, and I am off work with time to myself I feel inclined to write.
One of the things hat has been on my mind this holiday season are societal expecations. As I get older I find I am less inclined to do much for the holidays. I am not completely sure why this is, but I do know this does not make me a bad person. I know I have a 7 year old son, and I don't deny him the festive fixings. He wants lights and decorations? We do lights and decorations...on a small scale. He picked out his very own lil tree and decorations, and we put it on an end table by our door. He was thrilled to do it, and it wasnt taxing for me...a win-win!
Then there is the craziness of shopping and holiday cards. Let me address shopping first. Any who know me know I LOVE TECHNOLOGY. I hate shopping. I hate crowds. Does that make me a scroodge? No. Due to finanaces I can only afford to get gifts for the kids in my family and my parents. Unfortunately the amount I can spend on each is not a huge, but I do what I can. In the end that is what the holiday is about right? Showing your love and appreciation for loved ones? Huge expensive gifts should not be a requirement. I was asked several times this season if all my shopping was done or my house decorated. I smiled and nodded not engaging in much of a conversation over it as it isn't something that is a huge deal for me. I do what I can for those I love and they know I love them. Is my house done up in lights? No. Do I have a huge tree with a ton of gifts spilling out from underneath? No. Do I love my family? Of course I do.
Now cards. I officially stopped doing them this year. I used to do them here and there, but in the end the stress of doing them was too much. I will not be penalized for not doing them. Will my friends think less of me for not doing them? Maybe. And if they do, then I imagine we are not very close. Will my family think less of not getting a card in the mail from me? They shouldn't. We get together, give gifts to the kids, spend time together. Again, they should know I love them whether or not a card arrives in the mail. I get less cards now that I stopped sending them and that is ok. Holiday cards seem like an obligation. Do I think less of people who don't send them? No.
So why write about all this? Because it has been on my mind. Why ask rhetorical questions? Because I want to. ;) This is my blog, I can say what I like and that is awesome.
So Mary, I hope you have enjoyed the holiday entry of my blog. Now that I have my thoughts on societal holiday norms off my mind, we shall see what I blog about next. I plan on trying to blog again before 8 months pass.
Oh and by the way for any who did not know, on November 18th I learned that I did achieve National Board Certification. Thank goodness. That THREE YEAR journey was a painful one, but in the end it inspired me to be a much better teacher.
One of the things hat has been on my mind this holiday season are societal expecations. As I get older I find I am less inclined to do much for the holidays. I am not completely sure why this is, but I do know this does not make me a bad person. I know I have a 7 year old son, and I don't deny him the festive fixings. He wants lights and decorations? We do lights and decorations...on a small scale. He picked out his very own lil tree and decorations, and we put it on an end table by our door. He was thrilled to do it, and it wasnt taxing for me...a win-win!
Then there is the craziness of shopping and holiday cards. Let me address shopping first. Any who know me know I LOVE TECHNOLOGY. I hate shopping. I hate crowds. Does that make me a scroodge? No. Due to finanaces I can only afford to get gifts for the kids in my family and my parents. Unfortunately the amount I can spend on each is not a huge, but I do what I can. In the end that is what the holiday is about right? Showing your love and appreciation for loved ones? Huge expensive gifts should not be a requirement. I was asked several times this season if all my shopping was done or my house decorated. I smiled and nodded not engaging in much of a conversation over it as it isn't something that is a huge deal for me. I do what I can for those I love and they know I love them. Is my house done up in lights? No. Do I have a huge tree with a ton of gifts spilling out from underneath? No. Do I love my family? Of course I do.
Now cards. I officially stopped doing them this year. I used to do them here and there, but in the end the stress of doing them was too much. I will not be penalized for not doing them. Will my friends think less of me for not doing them? Maybe. And if they do, then I imagine we are not very close. Will my family think less of not getting a card in the mail from me? They shouldn't. We get together, give gifts to the kids, spend time together. Again, they should know I love them whether or not a card arrives in the mail. I get less cards now that I stopped sending them and that is ok. Holiday cards seem like an obligation. Do I think less of people who don't send them? No.
So why write about all this? Because it has been on my mind. Why ask rhetorical questions? Because I want to. ;) This is my blog, I can say what I like and that is awesome.
So Mary, I hope you have enjoyed the holiday entry of my blog. Now that I have my thoughts on societal holiday norms off my mind, we shall see what I blog about next. I plan on trying to blog again before 8 months pass.
Oh and by the way for any who did not know, on November 18th I learned that I did achieve National Board Certification. Thank goodness. That THREE YEAR journey was a painful one, but in the end it inspired me to be a much better teacher.
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