Monday, August 27, 2007

Meetings, meetings, meetings

What purpose do they serve? Sitting all day makes me so tired, I inevitably think is this what my students feel? No, I must be more exciting than the speakers I see. One of the speakers today made an observation that's stuck with me all day. He said that he's taught all ages from kindergarteners to middle school to graduate students to teachers and we all have one thing in common. When we come into a classroom, we sit as far back as possible. (Maybe not the kindergarteners.) His question is this:
What does this say about education? What does it say, that the
students always want to sit far away from the teacher?
Hmmm, that's an excellent question!

This afternoon, my second meeting was better. I learned at least two or three things I'll try this year, but that wasn't my favorite part. My favorite part was seeing that my friend Tim was still using the clipboard he made this summer in my introduction activity. It made me smile!

More meetings tomorrow! Wish me luck!!

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Hello from Beyond

Everything happens for a reason.


How true that is! Tonight, I climbed into bed and glanced out the window. The window that usually has the blinds drawn, yet not tonight. Anyway, as I look, I see the full, bright moon. I remember that Dad used to tell me that no matter how far away we are, we are always beneath the same moon. I smiled as I remembered that conversation. As I said, "I love you, Dad." Lightning brightened the sky surrounding that same moon. My breath caught and I froze. Again I spoke, "Dad, is that you?" And once again, lightning struck. Literally.

Heaven! Maybe instead of being beneath the moon, Dad is sitting on top of it. No matter where he is, I know that he's with me.

That feels so good...so true...so absolute!

Good Night!

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Sleep, where are you?

Can't sleep. It's only 10:21, but still...the house is still and I should sleep. Yet, sleep won't come. It's refusing, thereby forcing my brain to work overtime. Brain cells working late into the night (remember, late is relative) can lead you down dangerous paths that should be avoided. Sleep...where are you? I'm waiting!!!

Good Night
(hopefully)

M-

Monday, August 6, 2007

Body & Soul

What does a religious experience feel like? This afternoon began with a massage that helped me let go of stress and tension. A walk in the woods followed...alone, but accompanied by my new friends the chipmunks, moths, spiders, and mosquitoes. The rocky path led me through green shadows and cool breezes to God. I found St. Francis meditating by the gazebo. After visiting with him awhile, I continued and discovered the mysteries of the rosary punctuated the walk, each with a trellis and benches. The downhill journey resumed and each step brought me closer to a dream come true. Standing alone in the middle of nature...a chapel. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I entered. This is how I've always wanted to pray. And pray I did. Kneeling, sitting, crying, asking, thanking, talking...praying.

It doesn't get better than this.

I felt like I was seven, exploring the woods for the first time. Each stone led me to a new discovery, a new feeling, a new place. The outdoor theater hosted a waterfall with Mary and her son, Baby Jesus, looking on. We watched the water together. The return hike was uphill, and the humid air captured my breath every chance it got. This required more stops on the way home. I sat in the Trellis of the Anunciation. Wrote, sipped, breathed, walking again to the gazebo. There I watched a orange headed spider search for a way into the screened haven. Finally, to my temporary home at the Appalachian Lodge. Here, I am alone. My friends are outside the door.

Here I sit, writing about them.


Sunday, August 5, 2007

Clean House

What's it about a clean house? Clothes hung up neatly, shoes lined up, dog hair vacuumed...Ahhhhh! I enjoy my home when piles are cleaned up and papers are put in the correct binders. Dishes are washed and sleeping in the cabinets. This is a day when I look around and I can't believe that I live here. I love my cozy one bedroom palace. And tomorrow, I'll leave it for a week. But coming home will be so much sweeter...

Vacation

Tommorrow I am off to my very first vacation, all by myself! It's like walking to school on the first day of kindergarten. "Where are you going?" you ask. To a spa, in a secluded part of Pennsylvania. Massages and facials await. Hopefully lots of writing time too. I've spent the last two days cleaning and organizing and preparing to leave. I've been experiencing some unusual emotions too...anxiety. Is this because I am going on vacation by myself? Leaving my dog? Or is it because the Summer Institute is over? Hmmm...whatever it is, I know tomorrow morning as I hit the road, the excitement will replace the worry.

I must go and finish laundry, putting songs on my ipod, and organizing books and papers form this summer!

See ya!

Saturday, August 4, 2007



Thirteen Things
I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT


1…. Leo, my dog!

2. TiVo

3. Journal

4. Medium point roller ball pens

5. Laptop

6. 600 thread count sheets

7. Pictures of family and friends

8. My original childhood copy of Anne of Green Gables

9. I Pod!

10. Sandals

11. Gerbera Daisies

12. Tall ice cold glass of iced tea

13. ME!

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Did I mention this is my first blog?

Hmmm...so, as I mentioned in the title: this is my first blog. As I type, I wonder do I have anything of any value worth sharing? Who will read this? Does that matter? Will the readers mock my overuse of the ellipsis? Am I asking too many questions?

For now, my decision remains to write regardless of audience. I write for me.

But, I hope YOU read!!


Sleepless nights...

After quite a long night fighting with my computer and connecting to wireless...which was connected but said it wasn't connected: I am exhausted.

School, Summer Institute, School...I am in between these experiences and that feels...in between. Preparing to clean, pack, and vacation. Going to a spa!! For the first time, this is a vacation by myself. Relaxing and quiet, with LOTS of time to write. What will I do without contact to the outside world for two whole days? Exciting to discover...


Musings and thoughts...