tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35353815333157655122024-02-19T07:20:12.540-08:00Persistent School LibrarianReflections on teaching, parenting and whatever else I feel like talking about.Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-24315195514836166082020-09-14T15:23:00.000-07:002020-09-14T17:55:32.315-07:00Our Teachers
<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1N5BPGsbV8TOtdGJBLnYLusvqjKjBSP-E" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1N5BPGsbV8TOtdGJBLnYLusvqjKjBSP-E" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was really struck this morning with how amazing our teachers have been and are in this remote learning environment. I’ve read and listened to so many stories from so many platforms, but I hardly think the true dedication of educators has been expressed. The teacher in these pictures is amazing. She’s not the only amazing teacher on our faculty but I want to focus on her because she has been pulled from both sides like a thanksgiving turkey wishbone and has exhibited grace, patience, leadership and dedication to all of it. She is not only an amazing teacher, but an amazing athletic director. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1BgWF0F1q8HRk_ShyxZJS8Hdq13ME1YJ2" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1BgWF0F1q8HRk_ShyxZJS8Hdq13ME1YJ2" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">In this picture, she is talking to students on a webinar running through the laptop, while she demonstrates a problem using her document camera and one screen of her computer, and consults her role on the second computer. She doesn’t have specialized training or support for making this set up work. In fact, she tends to be a little uncomfortable with new technology. She worked with other teachers and administrators to find the correct cables, download the correct software and learn a brand new delivery platform for students and teachers. Everyday, right up until the students returned remotely, she was given new and changing information, new protocols and troubleshooting help. On the first day of remote learning, she logged on to meet her students who were seeing their classes on this platform for the very first time ever. It took about a week for everything to smooth out, at least smooth enough to get through class. I walked in this morning about 10 minutes before class time, beginning our 3rd week. She was frazzled because her webinar program kept going to sleep, her keyboard wouldn’t work, the document camera wouldn’t come up and she was working with a student who couldn’t get logged in from home. We started working everything out and during the midst of the chaos, she put on her headphones and opened her class on time and began teaching algebra. There would’ve been no way her students could’ve known what she had just been through minutes before. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">That is enough to deal with for anybody, but this teacher is also managing the sports programs at school. The decision whether or not to play sports was not made by the local school. Let’s be clear, we did not make the decision to play sports and have remote learning at the same time. The school, however, is responsible for carrying out this decision. Running a high school sports program is difficult and time-consuming under normal circumstances. The school is required to keep</div><div style="text-align: left;">up with eligibility, equipment, physicals and whatever else for every athlete as well as information, training, promotion and the finances of each team. There is paperwork to make sure a coach is eligible and forms for volunteer coaches to fill out. And schedules! There are so many events going on simultaneously. The AD has to make sure each team has what they need, whether it be volunteers to work the gates or reminding the BOE to turn on the AC for the Saturday volleyball tournament. There’s the expectation of attending as many events as possible and making sure it all runs correctly. This teacher/athletic director doesn’t do all of this alone, it’s a team effort, but she takes responsibility for all of it. Then, throw in the protocols for prevention of Covid, which are extensive. Everything has to be cleaned and sanitized, masks worn, and buses loaded correctly. Ticket sales are completely different and event attendees aren’t always nice. It’s too much, but she manages it all. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">What’s most remarkable is that there are teachers everywhere doing the same things. She or he might not be an athletic director, but she might be a band director or he might be a theater director or a coach. The routine meetings haven’t stopped either. There are other teachers who, in addition to their regular job, are writing yearly school plans, supporting struggling students, answering additional technology questions or figuring out how to compete in state career tech events. The work is consuming. The fear and unknown is consuming. Answering to so many different school stakeholders, parents, central office staff and state BOE people is consuming. But right on time, the teacher in this picture opened her online class and began teaching. </div>Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-9607418743436457602015-06-30T09:32:00.000-07:002015-06-30T13:51:48.320-07:00The Unreunion<br />
This week I went to see the Pixar movie <i>Inside Out</i>. I didn't think it was Pixar's finest when I left the movie, but I have found myself thinking about the themes several times over the week. Instead of a classic good vs evil plot, the movie has a joy vs sadness plot. Each of the main character's memories are represented by a marble and are colored according to what kind of memory she has; purple for fear, green for disgust, red for anger, blue for sadness and golden for joy. Joy, the emotion, has to rescue the golden core memories from being touched by Sadness, which changes the colors of the marbles. I know that sounds confusing but stick with me. What the moviegoer finds out in the end, of course, is that joy and sadness are not exclusive, and the core memory marbles<br />
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Over the past thirty years, I have looked back on the "high school years" as fraught wit.....(cue needle scratching across a record.)<br />
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Wait right there, I'm stuck! I wanted so much to be able to express what the 30th year Unreunion of the Battery Creek High School Class of 1985, with special guests form 1984 was like, but I can't. A reunion is a collective experience not necessarily meant to be shared with everyone else. What we experienced together is unique to any other group.<br />
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We are a group of kids that understand the implications of being raised by a Vietnam Veteran.<br />
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We are a group of kids that love the sound of screaming F-4's over the marsh.<br />
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We are a group of kids that inhale deeply when we are around pluff mud, and the same group who discovered in 9th grade that the smell was caused by rot.(Thanks Mrs. Eberhardt) But we still long for the smell. (Love it is a stretch.)<br />
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We are a group of kids that remember dancing around the school yard before the bell rang to keep the sand fleas from landing in our ears.<br />
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We are a predominately white group of kids that went to a predominately black school, which I think enriched our character in different ways.<br />
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We are a group of kids that marched with the band in yellow shirts and blue dickies pants with the fingers cut out of many pairs of white gloves.<br />
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We are a group of kids that understand the changes that have taken place on Hunting Island. It is very difficult to explain to someone who didn't know that beach before how much of it has washed away. <br />
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We are a group of kids who grew up in a Beaufort that offered a 4 screen movie theater and the Hardee's parking lot for entertainment. And the drive-in. <br />
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We are a group of kids who remember when Frogmore was Frogmore, Land's End was not marked by a brown park sign, and Fort Fremont was not for the faint of heart.<br />
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We are a group of kids that understand 125% humidity.<br />
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And now we are a group of kids who have grown into interesting, mature and beautiful adults raising a generation of interesting and beautiful children who we hope have the privilege of friendships that transcend time and location such as ours as they make collective memories of their own.<br />
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Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-83484429968861392852014-11-27T16:27:00.002-08:002014-11-27T16:27:26.386-08:00Gratitude RepeatI have really enjoyed reading all the posts about Gratitude over this past month. I have posted a couple of times, but am undoubtedly grateful for so many things. This is a list:<br />
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I'm grateful I have a nice car that won't break down, hasn't been impounded or at risk of being towed to the Quik Pawn Shop. There was a time...</div>
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I'm grateful that I have more than a job, but a calling and a career. There was a time getting hired for minimum wage as Christmas help was a difficult task for me.</div>
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I'm grateful the electricity is on, and I can afford to run the heater. I've been cold.</div>
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I'm grateful that I can walk up and down stairs without fear of falling. There were times I was shaking so bad, I couldn't grip the banister.</div>
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I'm grateful that this warm child is snuggled up to my side. I've never had anybody love me like he does. I've never loved anybody like I love him.</div>
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I'm grateful I have a home. There were times I was couch surfing. </div>
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I'm grateful I have a relationship with my Dad, there was a time we were estranged.</div>
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I'm grateful I have dozens and dozens of friend, and a few very close friends. There was a time I worked hard to destroy the ties I had to anybody who loved me.</div>
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I'm grateful for my husband. There were times I thought I would die young and alone.</div>
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I'm grateful for plenty to eat and choices. I lived a whole summer on cheese sandwiches. Cheap cheese, like Generic Kraft. (Ew)</div>
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I'm grateful I can answer the phone without fear it will be a bill collector. There was a time I didn't even have a phone to answer.</div>
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I'm grateful I can wave at police officers when I pass them on the road. There was a time I feared they were going to pull me over and send me to jail.</div>
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I'm grateful I don't have to visit the Jefferson County Courthouse once a month. Yes, there was a time I had to do that.</div>
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I'm grateful I have sock choices. There was a time I only bought white athletic socks because I could manage to match them.</div>
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I'm grateful I lived yesterday without harming anyone, including myself. There was a time I tore through people like a tornado. </div>
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I miss my Grandmother so much, but I am grateful she saw something worth saving in me and lived to see me sober, married and teaching. There was a time I couldn't bear to look at the disappointment on her face. </div>
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I am grateful that through my difficulties, I found a God of my understanding. And I am grateful that at this time I am learning about that same God's Grace on this miserable sinner. There was Time when I was morally, spiritually and physically bankrupt. I did not know God.<br />
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<i>Updated November 27, 2014</i><br />
<i>And every year there is so much more:</i><br />
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<i>Over the past few years, the dynamics of my family have changed, but I'm grateful that I married into a loving family and can make new holiday traditions. I was afraid I would be lonely.</i><br />
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<i>I am grateful that I have a beautiful, healthy, charming, intelligent son. I'm so afraid he will be riddled with the family illness, but then I'm grateful he has a loving father who will always be there for him!</i><br />
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<i>I am grateful for the new friends I have made this, I have made many and I'm still astounded that anyone would want to be friends with me. </i><br />
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<i>I am grateful for all the friends I have had for years who allow me to be part of their lives. Especially Christy Cubelic who has been my friend through everything. </i><br />
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<i>I am grateful for the connection for the connection with high school friends through social media. There is a bond there that is strong, although we haven't seen each other in 30 years.</i><br />
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<i>I am grateful that I get to work with kids, there is no greater gift than to be able to touch and influence their lives. It's amazing.</i><br />
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<i>I am grateful for my church family. This is still a new concept for me, but they have embraced my son and I and have helped us grow spiritually. </i><br />
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<i>So, until next year...</i></div>
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Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-66889161163029406302014-11-13T18:11:00.000-08:002014-11-13T18:11:51.272-08:00Yeah, I'm a LiberalSince the past mid-term election, I have been chomping at the bit to talk about why I'm a liberal. Why I feel like I have to defend my position shouldn't even be a thing, but here in the buckle of the Bible Belt right ring conservative South, I often feel on the defensive. In fact, at bible study last week, three days after the election, I felt like an Auburn fan right after the 2012 Iron Bowl. The fans for the other team were laying in wait to remind me of the resounding defeat. No less than three people told me that night that I would come around. What? I'm 47, I've worked and paid taxes for more than 30 years and I've voted in virtually every election since I was 18. I may have missed a couple of times during the lost decade, but that may have been for the best, anyway. Point is, I'm around, no more coming.<br />
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Also, it's not a game. It's people's lives. Let me tell you a little story about a scare I had today. Sometime before lunch, one of my youngest sister's friends contacted me to see if I had heard from my sister, that nobody had heard from her since 7:30 Tuesday when she talked to her brother and said she would be home in 5 minutes. Keep in mind, she has 3 children ages six, five and three. They were at home with their uncle and grandfather. She never showed up and all attempt to reach her had failed. When her friend contacted me, she was on her way to the police station to file a missing person's report. I called the local hospital to see if she was there, and the sweet, patient, receptionist said she was not but she gave me the phone numbers to 7 hospitals in the Beaufort-Hilton Head area. Things got real, my mind went everywhere, all I could see was her wrecked somewhere hurt or dead. Thankfully, I didn't have to call 7 hospitals, and her friend did not have to file a report. My sister made contact and informed her friend that she was ok, that she had felt overwhelmed and suicidal so she drove to Charleston to stay with an old boyfriend until she felt back in control.<br />
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What does this have to do with being a liberal, you may ask? Because if my sister had access to basic mental health services with consistent care, she might not be in this position. When I talked to her this evening the first question out of my mouth was, are you taking your medicine? She said kinda, mostly. I asked her if she was seeing a counselor, and she said she was, but she owed over $300.00 and couldn't go back. I asked her if she had medicaid, and she said, yeah, but they don't pay for that shit. My sister has a history with mental illness, she has struggled since she was 12 or 13, but she can't afford the care she needs.<br />
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Ok, I can hear the grumbles and complaints, let her buy her own insurance like the rest of us! She shouldn't have had all those kids, they aren't our responsibility, she needs to take care of them! She needs a job and needs to quit living off the system! How much does she expect us to pay for? On and on, arguments I've heard again and again.<br />
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Well, here's the rest of the story. My sister had a rough upbringing. Not the worst, I'm sure you, your daddy or somebody you know had it worse and did better, but it still wasn't easy. My Mom suffered from the same mental illnesses and was basically incapable of caring for her (or me and my other sister for that matter). Her dad is just a case. I have no explanation. However, she went to school nearly everyday, she HATED missing school. When she was a senior in high school, she had to come live here in Birmingham to finish high school. And she did! With good grades and a job at a dentist office. Two months after she graduated, not long after she got pregnant, unwed, our mother died. That's a blow for a 17 year old. She moved back to South Carolina, got married, had the baby and started college. (She was able to attend because she kept her grades high and had a Palmetto scholarship, money provided through the state lottery...another liberal and progressive idea we will never see in this state). Along the way she had baby two, but still continued attending college and graduated magna cum laude.<br />
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Since graduation, she has worked. Not in her field, because she needs a master's to be certified, but she has had a job mostly in doctor's offices. She's paid her taxes and tried to raise her kids. She benefitted from WIC and food stamps, but still has struggled. Two of her kids are now in public school, but the third goes to daycare. They weren't able to attend Head Start because they are too bright and there are no real alternatives to pre-k education for the working class and poor. And now for the last two years, her illness has been rearing it's ugly head on a regular basis. Not long ago, she did attempt suicide, therefore today's scare was very real. It shouldn't be difficult for her to receive the care she needs. We don't cut a patient off dialysis if they get behind on the bill.<br />
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I don't want to paint the picture that she is perfect or a victim. She has made some pretty questionable choices that haven't helped her situation in the least, but I don't want to dwell on how the cart got in the ditch. But I am sick and scared over this. I'm helpless in this, just like I have been my entire life living with this illness that has riddled my family for generations. I can't talk, yell, counsel, hold her hand, not hold her hand or fix any of this. I don't know if it will ever get any easier for her. But I can continue to support and vote for programs that might offer that hand up. I can expect our extremely wealthy country to take care of all of it's citizens and welcome in others who want to be here so bad they would risk their lives and their children's lives. I can support legislation that protects human rights, even sometimes at the cost of individual rights. I can continue to support and encourage inclusion of all people, no matter race, sexual orientation, religion or ethnicity.<br />
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I can hope that mental illness is viewed as a genuine disease that needs to be treated, not cured by trying harder. And I can pray for a society openly or privately, to whatever God I want to worship, for these things to happen.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-47285792412740656692014-05-14T18:42:00.002-07:002014-08-30T07:53:52.863-07:00Summer Reads Curation<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been dying to try that word out. Curation, the one I used in the title. I suppose I'll get just as tired of curating things as I did of un-packing things, but for now that's my new jargon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wait, that's not why I'm bringing the ole Blog out of the closet. (not that closet). Just the closet where things need dusted off and tried on again. Today's discussion at the lunch table was about books we've read, and certainly dominated by my opinion and comments. I can't help myself, I've read so many wonderful things, I can't wait to tell people about them, but I don't often get the opportunity.. But then, if I feel just a little bit of interest, I'm off to the races, my brain starts firing and recommendations just jump out of my mouth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, probably in a effort to get me to shut-up, one sweet teacher suggested I make a Summer Reading List. So I spent the rest of my day with a part of my brain subconsciously engaged in "curating" the perfect summer list. I tried to take into consideration the tastes of my colleagues and friends and come up with a crowd pleasing list that also had literary and social value. Wait, don't stop reading here, the list is of AWESOME books mostly well-reviewed in the mainstream. No weird, creepy, intellectual obscure sub-genres only known to librarians. These are crowd-pleasers. So, without further ado, this is my Top 10 recommended Summer Reads for 2014, curated from popular adult and young adult fiction. (see, i used my word again)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Book Thief</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by Marcus Zusak. A remarkable book set in wartime Germany during Hitler's reign, this books shows the power of reading and books, but is much more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh, by the way, I hate writing book reviews, so I won't be going into much detail. You're just going to have to trust me that these books are worth the time. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Life of Pi</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by Yann Martel If I were ranking these books by favorites, this may come in at number one or two. This is a good read if you like adventure but also a new and incredible look at one human's struggle with spirituality. I love this book. And the movie is good, but don't cheat yourself by not reading the book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Fault in Our Star</i>s by John Green</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> WIthout becoming too sentimental like Nicholas Sparks lifetime movie drivel, Green deals with the reality of kids fighting terminal illness. You will not forget these characters anytime soon. This is a young adult novel, but is a great read for people of all ages. This will also be in theatres, I think in August, so put this one close to the top of your list. And if you love it, John Green has some other awesome young adult novels such as<i> Looking for Alaska </i>and <i>An Abundance of Katherine</i>s. He's also the coolest history teacher around. Check him out on Youtube or follow this link to his website: http://johngreenbooks.com If you have teenagers or pre-teens in your household, turn them on to this guy and you will be a hero. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Circle </i>by Dave Eggers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> This is what I am currently reading. It is a dystopian novel that asks the question, what if our lives were transparent? Unlike other dystopian novels, this one has really made me think about the influence of social media on our living habits. It's not the best written novel either, it's not lyrical or beautiful like Life of Pi, but it's a good little mind bender. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Gone Girl </i>by Gillian Flynn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Now if you want an escape murder mystery page turning experience, this book is for you.I read this in something like two days. Take this one to the beach. It is so much fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Olive Kitteridge </i>by Elizabeth Strout </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I included this on the list even though I don't think everybody will love it, I think everyone will be able to recognize the characters in this book as someone you know. It is devastatingly honest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Goldfinch</i> by Donna Tartt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book is getting a lot of attention right now, in fact it just won the Pulitzer Prize. This is a long epic story of a boy and a girl that experience the same catastrophe in an art museum and what happens after. The first book I thought about to compare this to was <i>Crime and Punishment</i> by Dostoyevsky and the way his conscience destroyed him. Dare you to read both this summer. Extra gold star for you if you do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Eleanor and Park</i> by Rainbow Rowell</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now this is a beautiful love story as well as a coming of age novel. Both main characters are faced with some harsh situations and decisions to make while still high school students. It was also good to read as a teacher as a reminder to have compassion and empathy for all students, but also as a reminder to be a good human. I really liked this, it left me with that little buzz I get from hearing a good story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Alchemis</i>t by Paolo Coelho</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ran across this little gem two or three years ago and was carried away by the story of a boy following his destiny and the adventures he has along the way. This, to me, was like a folk tale or fairy tale for adults. It's a short read and very well worth the time. It doesn't really fit into the tome of most of the other books on the list, but give it a try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bel Canto </i>by Ann Patchett</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I did not want this novel to end. Set against a backdrop of an extremely violent situation, the reader gets to see how relationships can be formed in the most unusual circumstances. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bonus Material:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe</i> by Fannie Flagg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yeah, I know you've seen the movie, but it does not compare with this gem of a novel. All Alabamians should read this, and all Birminghamians should be required to read it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Poisonwood Bible</i> by Barbara Kingsolver</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is for those of us who love epic novels and exploring family relationships.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Middlesex</i> by Jeffrey Eugenides</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When you look up the reviews for this novel yourself, don't turn away. This is another great family centered epic and you will care for these characters, particularly the main character more than expected. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Secret Life of Bees by</i> Gina Prince-Blythewood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a coming of age story set in the 1950's south and the relationship that develops between a white girl who has lost her mother and a black family of very strong women.This is just a beautiful story. A real cry out loud book. Actually, this is a pretty good movie, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Cutting for Stone by </i>Abraham Verghese</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is not light reading. It is a very intense novel about twins born to a nun and a surgeon in Ethiopia and their search for belonging and success. This is great if you want to do some deep, serious reading. I learned a lot about Africa, missions and even surgery and the price of coming to America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Round House </i>by Louise Erdrich</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is another pretty heavy read. It is set on an American Indian reservation and is about how a son deals with his mother's molestation. This is strong and gritty, but opens up questions about the Native American experience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As i've written this, of course I've thought of many others to add. Let me know what you are reading, and by all means, lets talk about these together! </span><br />
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Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-39128182520361443142014-01-23T18:42:00.003-08:002014-01-23T18:42:59.402-08:00Art<span style="font-size: x-large;">Have you ever seen, heard, read or felt something so achingly beautiful it just stays in your mind and works it's way into your soul? I heard a piece on NPR this week that has simply haunted me.This caused me to think of other works or pieces that have had the same overwhelming feelings. I am completely untrained in the Arts except for an entry level music appreciation course I took somewhere around 1986, so my list may seem less than extraordinary but these are the things that have endured in my memory through many years and many lifetimes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Books (so many, these are the tops)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Bridge to Terabithia</i> by Katherine Paterson </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Sophie's Choice </i>by William Styron</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>A Moveable Feast </i>by Ernest Hemingway</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Life of Pi </i>by Yann Martel</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Six of One </i>and <i>Rubyfruit Jungle </i>by Rita Mae Brown</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe </i>by Fannie Flagg</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Movie</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Life is Beautiful</i> starring Roberto Benigni</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Paintings/Sculpture</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The original Claude Monet Water Lilies and studies at a special exhibit at the Tullieries Gardens, Paris in 1999.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Music( again, cannot be just one)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The Wall</i> by Pink Floyd</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The White Album </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Unchained Melody</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>I Am Weary Let Me Rest </i>performed by the Cox Family</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And now this, Der Leierman performed by Dietrich Fishcher-Dieskau from Franz Schubert's Winterneise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have no idea what he is singing, but I can feel it in my bones. It is so rare to just come across something so beautiful and haunting. I have played it over and over again. Maybe I heard it just at the right moment. I wonder if it will persevere? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Enjoy for yourself. </span><br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/12/13/143579090/winter-songs-bill-t-jones-picks-schuberts-winterreise" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">http://www.npr.org/2011/12/13/<wbr></wbr>143579090/winter-songs-bill-t-<wbr></wbr>jones-picks-schuberts-<wbr></wbr>winterreise</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What haunts you? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-23540206573481265612014-01-21T18:02:00.002-08:002014-01-21T18:02:49.705-08:00I think I know my purpose in life<span style="font-size: x-large;">If anybody is keeping track, I'm two days late writing. It is January 21st, 6:56 pm and COLD! If I had written on Sunday I would have written about a beautiful Alabama Sunday in January. Missed it by two days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have had a bit of a hard time focusing on one topic this week. I wanted to write about my progress in Weight Watchers (again) and kind of give a little spin about the pressure that media and society puts on people to look, dress and act in a certain way. I was feeling all irritable and hungry and needed an outlet. Then I started noticing how I judge people. In just a few minutes after thinking about societal pressures, I caught myself wondering why the traffic girl on the news was wearing <i>that </i>shirt. (You know, because I'm a fashion diva.) I saw an old rusty car at the thrift store and I thought, aww bless them, they have to shop at the thrift store (where I was shopping). And the meanest thought, wow, if I had that overbite, I wouldn't even smile. Now, these are unfiltered thoughts drifting through my mind, and I would never, well I hope I would never say these things out loud. But I wonder if everybody has this vicious inner dialogue going on. And I wonder what influences these thoughts? I would guess every movie, book, magazine, article, discussion, friendship, commercial or any other social interaction I havc digested over the past 46 years. I wonder if I can change it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">But finally I settled on talking about Week 3 of The Next Big thing, my new membership class. This week's session was title "Who Is God?" Easy, right? And as a tool to explain God and define our beliefs in the Christian Church, we started studying the Apostles Creed. According to Luther, the Creed should be used by the head of the family to teach our beliefs. (Remember, he was a Reformer, and wanted to bring the teachings of the Bible to everyone, not just ordained members of the Roman Catholic Church.) So the First Article of the Creed states, "I believe in God, The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." Here is how Luther explained the meaning of this Article.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> " I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from evil.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> All this he does only out of fatherly divine goodness and mercy without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> This is most certainly true."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Isn't that beautiful? Only thing is I wanted to know about the people who don't have land, animals, are not safe, are hungry, neglected or scared. So Pastor simply said, it is our duty to use our blessings to bring these blessings to others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ohhhhhhh, it's starting to sink in this thick head. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Flashback to one of my first study classes at this church. The discussion surrounded the notion that you can't good yourself into heaven. Well, I thought you could. At that time, the point was made that we also had to accept Jesus as our savior and understand that we were unworthy sinners that didn't deserve heaven, but that this guy had died a bloody, awful death for us so that we might see heaven. So I'm thinking, that's it? I've just got to believe that and I can go to heaven? I can worship and thank Jesus for dying for me by being a good person,even though that wasn't contingent on my salvation. Well, it is and isn't. It seemed there should be more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Alright, back to this week. I understood that the way to accept Jesus was to share with others my blessings by using my God given talents and gifts in the service of others. And then I had a glimpse of the path I have been led down. I'm a teacher, a servant of students. When I show compassion, love, empathy and understanding to my students and others associated with my profession, I am doing what God wants. Perhaps, through me, others will have the blessings promised in this Creed. What do you think? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Source:</span><br />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">Luther's Small </i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -48px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><i style="line-height: 32px;">Catechism</i><span style="line-height: 32px;">. St. Louis: Concordia House, 1991. Print.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;">(this cite may not be perfect, I would have had to drag out the ole APA manual and look up every exception to get this one right. If you are interested in more information, visit these websites:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;">http://www.gardendalegoodshepherd.com/</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 32px; text-indent: -48px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;">http://www.lcms.org/</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-42830921122804047392014-01-12T18:04:00.001-08:002014-01-12T18:04:16.545-08:00My Pastor Wears a Star Trek T-Shirt or Week 2 of the Next Big THing<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here we are already at the second Sunday in January, the 12th, it's 6:56. The weather is typical for an Alabama winter,meaning it's chilly but not cold and expected to get a little chillier this week and then a little warmer. In the background, my husband is watching football and my son is singing in the shower. I've just returned from the second week of new member classes, and feel even more strongly that I have chosen the right church. (Or God has sent me to the right church.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It could get boring really fast for me to write a summary of each week's lesson, mostly because I don't know enough to make it interesting. This week we covered the Bible in one hour and 45 minutes. That's pretty amazing, huh? Really we talked about the history of the Bible, how it came to be and how we should use it. Primarily, the Bible exists to bring people to Jesus and salvation. That in itself is a great deal to think about.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Also, from this morning' s message, we talked about our obligation as a follower of Christ, and Pastor made the point that anytime we are talking with others about God, we are witnessing for Him, which gives this blog some sort of responsibility. I've been thinking about that all day and hope that I do a good job with whatever I write. But remember, these are my thoughts and observations. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What I really want to write about this week is the Pastor of this church who so passionately brings the message of Jesus to his flock.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's why. When I think about religious people, I have an awful stereotype in my head of people with a great deal of arrogance, a really buttoned up kind of person that makes you feel like you need to filter everything that comes out of your mouth. Or sort of an older, somber, quiet guy who only shows passion behind the pulpit. Or maybe a bible-thumping judgemental, you are going to hell type. No, not this Pastor. He wears a Star Trek T-shirt, and that says it all for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This weeks disclaimer-he does NOT wear a Star Trek T-shirt behind the pulpit. There, he looks like one of God's biggest angels. </span><br />
<br />Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-4872438720673443952014-01-05T16:40:00.001-08:002014-01-05T16:40:30.985-08:00New Member Classes Week 1This is the first Sunday in January in the year 2014. It's 5:28 in the evening. The weather is drizzly, the current temperature is 56 degrees, but we expect a low of 18 degrees with a wintry mix.<br />
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I was so excited about starting new member classes tonight, I wanted to get a new binder, with fresh new paper and a pack of my favorite pens. I resisted, however, because I didn't want to look like a total nerd teacher's pet on the first day. I'm sure without even trying the finer points of my personality will be revealed. (I did download the most used version of the Bible for this congregation for iPad, and I carried along my Small Catechism.) Fortunately Pastor D had some nice little packets made for us that can be added to as we go along.<br />
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Although everyone in attendance, except Pastor D, was female, the group is still diverse and interesting. We have a college student, a retiree and two mid life school teachers. I think the discussions are going to be brilliant once we get to know each other and get comfortable.<br />
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Tonight we discussed the history of the Lutheran Church. If, at any point in school you studied the Protestant Reformation, you studied the history of the Lutheran Church. Seems this guy, Martin Luther, in order to avoid being a lawyer undertook becoming a monk. After a couple of years, he may have been doubting his decisions, but he stuck with it and gave it his whole self. That's when he discovered something was seriously wrong with the Roman Catholic Church. So called Holy Men were taking advantage of the very people they were charged to serve in some most grievous ways. Luther said, hey guys, this just isn't right lets talked about it. This prompted him to post a list of the 95 things he wanted to discuss, otherwise know as the 95 Thesis. Well, the Church, as it often does, couldn't abide anybody with different ideas than their own, and they told Luther he was not welcome anymore. This started the most sweeping revolution in religious history since the Coming of Christ called the Protestant Reformation. Luther wrote some general guidelines for the Church, some folks adopted them, and lo and behold, the Lutheran Church as we know it happened.<br />
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This all happened in the 1500's, just when the world was waking up from many years of darkness. Skip ahead about 300 years to the Industrial Revolution and the influx of Eastern Europeans to the United States. A group of Germans and Saxons settled in the midwest bringing their religion with them. Several congregations got together and formed what is now known as the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. And it is in this structure, and a member church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, that I find myself. ( I love history!)<br />
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So?, you say, What are these people all about?<br />
Well the Lutheran Church's beliefs can be explained through six parts: The Ten Commandments, The Apostles Creed, The Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession and the Sacrament of the Alter. These six parts are encompassed in the three Principles:Word Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone.<br />
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This church has four objectives in their Mission: Reach, Connect, Equip and Send. The Vision of GSLC is to be a place where anybody (ANYBODY) can come in to learn Jesus without being judged or condemned by the church.<br />
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So why am I attracted to this Lutheranism? Because, I can easily read about, study and understand the Three Principles of the Church, and I can understand the way to worship through the six parts of the the religion. I get it. I'm not saying I'm anywhere near practicing, these things are not ingrained into my daily actions or thoughts, but it's something I can work with without being confused by outside issues that seem to cloud other religions for me.<br />
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And why am I attracted to Good Shepherd? Because this Church has a clearly defined Vision and Mission based on the teachings of Jesus.The Church supports and is active in missions in our community such as a local women's mission, supporting a foster mother, the Firehouse Shelter and other practical things that support all of us. And the Pastor vehemently supports making this Church a place where <i>anybody </i>can come to worship Jesus.<br />
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Disclaimer: Please be aware that I have paraphrased and added my spin to the history of Martin Luther and the beliefs of the Lutheran Church. For more information go to:<br />
<a href="http://www.gardendalegoodshepherd.com/index.cfm">http://www.gardendalegoodshepherd.com/index.cfm</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=190">http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=190</a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-47720019398940183702014-01-04T12:12:00.000-08:002014-01-04T12:12:30.802-08:00When I was a kid...I don't think I was ever any happier than I was a school aged kid growing up on military bases and transient neighborhoods. This upcoming frigid weather has jingled some memories of stuff we did when I was a kid.<br />
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<a href="http://oldroads.com/zwfl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://oldroads.com/zwfl2.jpg" /></a>I learned to ride a bicycle when I was 5. Santa Claus delivered a bicycle to my house in North Carolina from my PawPaw in Alabama. It was red, white and blue, with dangly things on the handlebars and a banana seat. It was, by far, the best gift I ever received. I don't think any 16 year old getting their license can match the experience of freedom I felt when I learned to ride this bike. I cannot understand why my almost 7 year old will not take the time and trouble to learn to ride his without training wheels. Hell, I don't even if they made training wheels in 1972.<br />
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Well, anyway, I digress. I bring up the bike because truly, this thing gave m e wheels and I went just about anywhere I wanted to on this thing. As I mentioned before, I lived on military bases, which are actually pretty safe and quiet places to raise kids. But every once and a while, the lure of the big city would make us want to ride into town. (a strictly forbidden activity.) So one afternoon, my best friend and I, at about age 10, hop on one bike, one, her on the handlebars, and ride into the little town of Millington to have lunch at McDonalds. We just tooled down the sidewalk along a five lane highway during lunch traffic like nobody's business. We had lunch, scored some really cool Space Invaders toys, and rode back home.<br />
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I also learned to swim around this time. One really cool thing about living on base, is the fact that we had access to a pool, pools rather. There was an enlisted pool (I could go there with my military ID and my Dad's SSN), the officer's pool (where I was often the guest of my friends) or the indoor pool. We walked or rode our bikes to all of the above places from 3-6th grade without parental supervision. (well, they had lifeguards). I cannot remember a single time we were accompanied by an adult. To the pool. No supervision. We signed up for Red Cross swimming lessons, and all became fish.<br />
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I have many more memories like that, but my favorite memories during this time are the things we did when it snowed or iced. Several things stick out in my mind from these times. One year, we played relentless games of war. We had snowball fights in teams, and you were not able to use whatever part of your body was hit by a snowball until you were rendered totally useless. So in essence, you could be laying in the snow, throwing snowballs with only one good hand left. Oh, man that was so much fun. Another memory of that time is of my Dad tying a piece of plexiglass to the back of a Volkswagen and dragging us all around the ice. The best strategy was not to fall off! We built snowmen, snow caves and snow forts, and slid on anything that would slide.<br />
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And all this gave me an idea. How could I give my new millennium child the same thrilling and exciting adventures I had as a kid? I have a wonderful sidewalk that goes straight down hill into my driveway. What would ya'll think if I sprayed it down with the hose tomorrow night and turned it into an ice slide. I wonder if that would create the kind of nostalgia I have for when I was a kid or a run to the emergency room.<br />
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I'd love to hear your memories!<br />
<br />Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-71524056946133141912014-01-01T13:05:00.001-08:002014-01-01T13:05:04.872-08:00the Next Big Thing<h2>
It's remarkable the we get so many chances to reflect and start over. In fact it is an inherent quality in humans. Socrates is quoted as saying "the unexamined life is not worth living." So here again, we are at the beginning of a new year, thinking about what we did last year, and how we can improve this year. </h2>
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I have spent the last few weeks reflecting, deciding what I wanted to write about, and how I want to live this year. Turns out, while I had a year filled with blessings and good things, it was actually pretty mediocre. It's almost as if I've been on auto-pilot. I'm a little bored, overly distracted by electronics and social networking and in a lot of ways just kind of unmoored. So here is my obligatory list of ways I want to improve, ending with my Next Big Thing.</h2>
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I have GOT to get in better shape. It's really not something I need to keep fooling around with. I haven't been diagnosed with diabetes, but I have recently had some blood sugar scares. I don't want to be sick. And changing that is all in my hands. I have some great new ideas for getting in shape this year, and I will post more if the initial plan is approved. </h2>
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I need to produce more at work. I haven't had any kind of Big Idea, fun program, club or anything that has really stood out at work and possessed me to the point of obsession. (I know, but I live for the adrenaline.) I believe part of the reason is because I spend too much time worrying about Facebook. I think it is stunting my growth. Really. So I plan to spend less time on Facebook. Ya'll don't really want my opinion on gay marriage, religion or teacher pay. Not really. So I am going to spare you. I plan to fill in the time reading professional articles and blogs, writing better lesson plans and spending more time with my son. Oh, but you can still find plenty of photos of the little guy on Instagram. You can find me at violanders. </h2>
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And now for The Next Big Thing:</h2>
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First read this, it's from a post I made on September 28th.<br /><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> Then there is religion. I'm trying to come to grips with religion. I want to bring my son up in a caring, responsible way, and I want him to find God of his understanding without having to crawl into the bottom of a bottle. The only way I know how to do that is by sending him to a local church and setting a good example for him. So I find myself once again at a crossroads of whether or not to attend church and what I hope to gain from that.</span></i><i><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">This is what I'm thinking. I want Sunshine to identify strongly with his community, and I want to be a permanent part of a community.I want to do good works. I would love to be part of missions, particularly to serve the poor or mentally ill. I want to be part of a group of people that are trying to live the best life they can by exemplifying the teachings of Christ. I want to learn how to lead a better life and develop the kind of relationship I had with God when I went to AA. I want to be a good example fro my son.I do want to sing loudly and joyously.</span></i><i><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I don't want to be put into a box where there is only one way to believe and one way to get to heaven. I don't want to be judged because my religious and political views are a little different, my personality is a little odd and my clothes look a little funny. I don't want to feel nervous or pressured.</span></i></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I think I may have found the church I was looking for. I have been visiting since about mid October, and I plan to start new member classes on Sunday. So this year, I want to focus on my spiritual growth.I plan to spend a good bit of time learning to pray, meditate and discover what it means to be a Follower of Christ. I hope ya'll will take the journey with me by reading and commenting on my posts and supporting me through your prayers and love. </span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year!!</span></span></h2>
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Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-57639678402429275972013-11-25T04:30:00.001-08:002013-11-25T04:30:24.884-08:00What gratitude means to meI have really enjoyed reading all the posts about Gratitude over this past month. I have posted a couple of times, but am undoubtedly grateful for so many things. This is a list:<div><br><div>I'm grateful I have a nice car that won't break down, hasn't been impounded or at risk of being towed to the Quik Pawn Shop. There was a time...</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful that I have more than a job, but a calling and a career. There was a time getting hired for minimum wage as Christmas help was a difficult task for me.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful the electricity is on, and I can afford to run the heater. I've been cold.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful that I can walk up and down stairs without fear of falling. There were times I was shaking so bad, I couldn't grip the banister.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful that this warm child is snuggled up to my side. I've never had anybody love me like he does. I've never loved anybody like I love him.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful I have a home. There were times I was couch surfing. </div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful I have a relationship with my Dad, there was a time we were estranged.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful I have dozens and dozens of friend, and a few very close friends. There was a time I worked hard to destroy the ties I had to anybody who loved me.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful for my husband. There were times I thought I would die young and alone.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful for plenty to eat and choices. I lived a whole summer on cheese sandwiches. Cheap cheese, like Generic Kraft. (Ew)</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful I can answer the phone without fear it will be a bill collector. There was a time I didn't even have a phone to answer.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful I can wave at police officers when I pass them on the road. There was a time I feared they were going to pull me over and send me to jail.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful I don't have to visit the Jefferson County Courthouse once a month. Yes, there was a time I had to do that.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful I have sock choices. There was a time I only bought white athletic socks because I could manage to match them.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm grateful I lived yesterday without harming anyone, including myself. There was a time I tore through people like a tornado. </div><div><br></div><div>I miss my Grandmother so much, but I am grateful she saw something worth saving in me and lived to see me sober, married and teaching. There was a time I couldn't bear to look at the disappointment on her face. </div><div><br></div><div>I am grateful that through my difficulties, I found a God of my understanding. And I am grateful that at this time I am learning about that same God's Grace on this miserable sinner. There was Time when I was morally, spiritually and physically bankrupt. I did not know God. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-14346512680559063112013-09-28T15:35:00.000-07:002013-09-28T15:35:50.606-07:00More About ReligionI know I have written about religion before, so I was reviewing my past entries to see what I had written. I talked some about moral and ethical issues, but not so much about where I stand on religion. It's a sticky topic, but I spend a great deal of time thinking about it, so I wanted to write about it. Maybe get an idea of where I stand.<br />
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A little over 18 years ago, I had a spiritual experience where I felt God convince me that I had to leave the life I was living. I had a burning bush experience. It is etched deeply in my memory, and I can attest to a strong and unshakable belief in Gad. I would not be here today otherwise. Immediately after that experience I was introduced to AA. The first 2 or 3 years I was a member I attended anywhere up to 11 meetings a week. I learned to pray and think about God in a way I could understand in a roomful or people from all walks of life, poor and homeless to wealthy steel heirs, from followers of Islam to Christians, to Jews. I attended meetings that were predominately gay,only women, newcomers, in mental health centers, the veterans administration hospital, the Birmingham City Jail and at the Salvation Army. Some meetings I went to, I was one of the few white people there, many meetings I went to, I was one of the only woman there. I went to meetings when I went out of town in New Orleans and even in Paris. (yes France). I was a regular in meetings in Beaufort, SC. Occasionally I went to meetings where I may have been only one of two people in attendance not locked up.<br />
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All 12 Steps are necessary for recovery, but none are more important in my view than the first 3 as written in the 2nd edition of<i> Alcoholics Anonymous</i>:<br />
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1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable.<br />
2. Come to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.<br />
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God <i>as we understood Him. </i><br />
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That brings me to what's been on my min and<i> "as we understood Him." </i>This is what I know about God. He is a being of my own understanding that guides me. I learn how he guides me when I am vigilant about morning prayer and meditation and I listen to or feel His guidance. That's the whole thing for me. It's really very simple.<br />
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Then there is religion. I'm trying to come to grips with religion. I want to bring my son up in a caring, responsible way, and I want him to find God of his understanding without having to crawl into the bottom of a bottle. The only way I know how to do that is by sending him to a local church and setting a good example for him. So I find myself once again at a crossroads of whether or not to attend church and what I hope to gain from that.<br />
<br />
This is what I'm thinking. I want Sunshine to identify strongly with his community, and I want to be a permanent part of a community.I want to do good works. I would love to be part of missions, particularly to serve the poor or mentally ill. I want to be part of a group of people that are trying to live the best life they can by exemplifying the teachings of Christ. I want to learn how to lead a better life and develop the kind of relationship I had with God when I went to AA. I want to be a good example fro my son.I do want to sing loudly and joyously.<br />
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I don't want to be put into a box where there is only one way to believe and one way to get to heaven. I don't want to be judged because my religious and political views are a little different, my personality is a little odd and my clothes look a little funny. I don't want to feel nervous or pressured.<br />
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So tomorrow I go.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-77568158619480977532013-09-10T17:18:00.001-07:002013-09-10T17:18:31.977-07:00I'm Mad I'm mad and I'm going to tell you why. I'll start with an anecdote then explain what I mean. Last year I earned and was awarded what is often recognized as the highest honor in the teaching profession, National Board Certification. At the beautiful reception the President of National Boards talked about how teachers should be treated more like professionals, such as doctors and lawyers but we had to present ourselves as professionals and fight for that treatment. Oh, I agreed wholeheartedly when I was listening, I surely did. I swallowed it hook, line and sinker, but the obstacles are invisible and in this society nearly impossible to hurdle.<br />
So here is why I am mad. Maybe you see all those funny Memes on Facebook and Pinterest about how a teacher brings her/his work home and is always working on lesson plans or whatever. THAT IS NOT A JOKE! I read countless emails, professional journals and websites on nights when I don't have any other work to do. I communicate with parents and teachers on my off hours daily. I work on newsletters, websites, promotions and planning hours and hours a week, and I'm not even what you would call hard working. My colleagues do all of this, and grade papers, and papers and papers. Their life is consumed with their work, their practice, their career, however our compensation and level of respect is cursory at best. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, we do this because we love it. We love kids. But heaven help, people need to realize we are professionals.<br />
Another point, I tend to a liberal political view, but this whole pay fast food workers a living wage is bullshit. I'm barely paid a living wage, in fact I would be hard pressed to make it on a single income and I have two master's degrees and am Nationally Board Certified. Pay me a comparable wage! And no, I did not have the benefit of a loving, supportive family that helped me achieve my goals. I worked for them! I paid for them! I am still paying for them! And no, I'm not shocked at the amount of my student loans, I signed the papers. If the bleeding heart commies want people to make a better wage, why don't they work for dully funded schools that offer alternative job training and leave the fast food jobs to teenagers, who need to work and stop living off their parents!<br />
So often I see little quotes about how precious our children are, how they are the future, we must educate them! YES! But put your money where your mouth is! Fund schools! I spent all day telling kids they couldn't afford to buy things in my book fair because they didn't have enough money. Why the hell do I have to run a book fair anyway to buy library books and electronics? Aren't the nations's future leaders in my hands? I should spend 30 hours running a store and dressing up like a funny character to raise money when Nick Saban (yes, I'm attacking the Almighty Saban) makes 5 and one half million dollars a year to coach football! Really?<br />
This whole idea of an educator working in any kind of public school setting just being grateful they have a job is wrong! Teachers as a lot are taken advantage of because we are care-takers, we just want to teach, we don't want to rant and rave. Heck, we don't even mind so much all the extra time we spend preparing for our job. But we are educated professionals, and we should be treated as such. Remember, we are teaching the future. We shouldn't have to fight to be recognized as professionals, but revered because we teach. Every single parent who has enrolled a child in a public school, and has uttered the words I want what is best for my kids, should be fighting for us to be valued as professionals.Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-82194149572720084502013-08-29T04:01:00.001-07:002013-08-29T04:01:16.276-07:00Let Freedom RingYesterday was such a remarkable day in American history. Bells for freedom rang all across the United States as we commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Martin Luther King, Jr delivered what I consider the most moving speech I've ever heard. As I listened to the reports and the coverage of the event yesterday I was moved by the speakers yesterday and the people,who remembered the original day. Here are a few things I heard as I also taught school, cooked supper, ran errands and other little things we do on a daily basis.<div><br></div><div>Bells rang all over the US at 2:00, the bell that rang at the Lincoln Memorial was the bell that was in the 16th Street Baptist Church when the church was bombed less than a month after the original demonstration.</div><div><br></div><div>Former President Carter remembered visiting separate schools when he returned from WWII. He said there were many more black schools than white schools, because their schools had to be close to home since they didn't have bus service. I can't quote exactly, but he remarked that they met in churches, homes and sometimes even barns and their books were old and worn out, and every book had a white child's name written in the front. </div><div><br></div><div>Former President Clinton remembered watching the March on TV alone in Arkansas at age 17.</div><div><br></div><div>Oprah tried, but she was out leagued.</div><div><br></div><div>President Obama spoke about the people that are still marching by their actions to continue moving toward equality.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result of the Civil Rights Movement JFK, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr, Medgar Evars, and four little girls were killed. </div><div><br></div><div>Two Civil Rights bills were signed in to law in 1964 and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act was passed. Other Civil Rights groups have seen progress toward equality including women, gays and other minorities. Our government has more color and flavor and for the most part represents all the people. But we know there is more to do. </div><div><br></div><div>This is a great time to reflect on what has happened in the past 50 years and look to what me need to do,to continue progressing in the next 50 years. At the 100 year commemoration, nobody will be alive who remembers hearing MLK Jr. I wonder what the reflections will be at that time. Maybe equality won't even have to be a discussion. </div><div><br></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-86037853760762096392013-04-13T19:13:00.000-07:002013-04-13T19:13:50.770-07:00The Cluttered Gardener I've wanted to write a post about my garden for a while, but I have been waiting until it is complete and ready to grow. So, a month later, I came in here into my office to write. And I noticed something that is a thread through everything I do. Clutter. I don't hoard, I don't by any sense mean you can't walk through my house or are going to be grossed out at the sight of it all, it's just cluttered. I have clothes and puzzles to give away, a bass amp, pictures, statues, papers, school bags not in use right now, books, you name it, just in my office. <br />
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If you were to walk in my library today, you would also notice it's cluttered. The classroom and circulating part are not, but the office, oh my. Books to catalog, fix or get rid of. Those three or four paper plates and cups left over from the countless events I've had. Art supplies, paper, binders of binders, teacher guides, an old Sears Heading List book from whenever. (I'm going to take it to Antiques Roadshow, lol), posters, batteries a cabinet full of small electronics, glue. I have two tubs of glue.I have a bean bag couch and seat cushions and pictures and posters my students have made over the years hanging in the window. <br />
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What, you may say, does this have to do with a garden? I'm going to tell you the story of my garden, mostly in pictures, then I'm going to tell you why it related to my clutter.<br />
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I always want a big project over Spring Break. I guess I like that sense of starting something else and not being able to finish it. (sarcasm button). So I bought a book called <i>Gardening for Dummies</i>, yes I did. Then consulted with a Facebook friend/soccer team Mom, the lunchroom ladies, and Pinterest. We were ready.<br />
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Step One:<br />
Buy a hand tiller and a kid shovel at Lowe's<br />
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Step Two:<br />
Layout the plot. I though a 10x10 plot would be perfect for what we wanted to grow. We measured, set up our stakes, and started removing sod.<br />
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Step Three, make friends with the underground creatures. Sunshine named this little guy Wormy. He's very creative. </div>
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Step Four, pick out seeds and plant them. This seemed like a great idea. The investment, with starting soil, trays and seeds was probably less than $50.00 and enough to plant an acre.It was really great fun planitng them and watching them grow. The seeds germinated and took off very nicely. <br />
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Step Five, add dirt and mulch to the red, rocky soil underneath the sod. <br />
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We bougt 20 bags of manure, and 20 bags of topsoil. So far, the most expensive part of the garden. This cost about $120.00. The I realized I was going to have to use that hand tiller to sow all that dirt and manure into that beautiful red soil, then add more stuff to the soil to make anything grow. Well, I'm by nature lazy. And my Facebook friend had just posted a picture of her beautiful raised beds that were ready to receive plants. Hmmm, I thought maybe I could build a raised bed. I went to my favotire do it yourself website, Pinterst, and found all kinds of plans to build a raised bed. I had a list with my materials and I headed back to Lowes.<br />
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It turns out, Lowe's had these beautiful cedar kits, 4x4, that cost $40.00 each. I said give me two. <br />
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Step Six: assemble and fill the new boxes. This only took us two afternoons They look greatt, though.</div>
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Step seven: Build a scarecrow. Sunshine and I made a trip to the thrift store and picked out a suit of clothes and hat for the scarecrow. You can't see it, but Sunshine drew a great picture of mad eyebrows and spelled out go away crows on the face. This cost another $15.00, but it was better than a new toy. <br />
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Step eight: mulch the extra area abound the boxes to make them look neat to keep the Husband from mowing too close. <br />
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Step nine: Add the seedlings.<br />
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Step ten: This is where I had to completely re-think the garden. See, all those little seedings died. I didn't follow the proper procedures for hardening, it rained and stormed, and then got cold. I think it was a combination of those things that killed them. So today we went to a most delightful little garden store in Mt. Olive called Roo's Place. (again on the advice of a friend.) There, I found a wonderful assortment of bedding plants, grown in Alabama at a really good price. I decided one bed would be a salsa garden and we would try out some canteloupe and watermelon in the other bed. I put all of thes things in this evening, alone, because Sunshine's allergies are in full gear and now we are ready for veggies! A little bit more money, $34.00, but these girls were awesome, go see them! <br />
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Now, back to the clutter nonsense. See,I couldn't plant in this nice little scheme and vegetables only. In the back you can see a pot, and the scarecrow. I also put a tomato plant in that pot. In one corner is a lantana, and throughout the bed are marigold seeds. Along the back of the boxes, I planred sunflower seeds, and in the front right corner there is a garden stone shaped like the United States. (Sunshine's choice.) So in June and July, when this garden is in full swing, I hope it will be beautiful, bountiful and cluttered! <br />
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Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-84458475111743801742013-03-31T17:17:00.000-07:002013-03-31T17:17:19.866-07:00Easter SundayI don't really love to cook on a regular basis, but I do love to cook a great holiday meal. I don't aspire to be a gourmet cook, but to make everyone happy with food. So today's blog features our Easter Dinner.<div>
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We started the morning with a traditional Easter breakfast of bunny ears.</div>
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We had plenty of ham for Sunshine. He loves this kind of "steak". This is a Smithfield picnic ham baked with brown sugar in the crock pot It doesn't make the prettiest presentation, but I cooked it over-night and didn't even have to slice it. The ham tasted like the ones my Grandmother used to bake. Delicious!</div>
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Christy is also a big fan of my Grandmother's cooking, so I made sure we had plenty of southern style potato salad. This is just potatoes mixed with dill pickles, onions, boiled eggs, mayonnaise a quick dash of mustard, salt, pepper and dill. No measuring, this is a by instinct recipe, so results may vary. I did get the thumbs up today, though.</div>
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Chris loves Deviled Eggs, so I took these up a notch by dyeing the whites a la Pinterest. The cute plate came from Christy. Thanks! (See the salt and pepper chicks?)</div>
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Another favorite around here is broiled fresh asparagus. I just lightly coated the stems with olive oil, salt and pepper and broiled for about 5 minutes. The cup behind the asparagus has homemade hollandaise. The asparagus was delicious, the hollandaise was a novelty. </div>
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Dessert was something called a Magic Cake, again a la Pinterest. The cake bakes into layers and tastes like an egg custard with a crust. Very good. It's light (not not in calories, just in air) and not too sweet. </div>
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And my favorite people ready to dig in! </div>
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Happy Easter! </div>
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Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-79154751287145763662013-03-29T05:02:00.001-07:002013-03-29T05:02:42.457-07:00Blog Teaser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Stay tuned...</div>
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<br />Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-33858384832897399132013-03-27T18:33:00.002-07:002013-03-27T18:33:35.553-07:00We AgnosticsWhen I started thinking about this post last night and this morning it looked very different from what I think I may write. (No, I'm not always sure.)<br />
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Several things have happened this week that have caused me to question or at least examine my views on certain issues.<br />
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1. This past weekend I witnessed a non-traditional public joining of a couple. They did not use the word marriage, but instead called the ceremony a binding or handbinding. It was no less than a public commitment ceremony between two people who love each other than what I would traditionally define as a wedding.<br />
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2.The United States Supreme Court has heard two cases this week concerning gay marriage. Another non-traditional view of a public declaration of commitment between couples. In the first case, the Supreme Court listened to arguments to determine if the repeal of Proclamation 8 in California was constitutional. Essentially, California legalized gay marriage, a bunch of people got married, then the government said, never-mind its actually illegal, leaving many couples in limbo. The Court is also hearing arguments about DOMA, Defense of Marriage Act. This Act restricts who may receive federal benefits in a marriage. For instance, if Massachusetts has legalized gay marriage, DOMA will still prevent a spouse from receiving any kind of social security or death benefits for a spouse, and insurance companies can restrict family coverage.It will be a while before we hear the findings of the court, but many view this as important to Civil Rights as the Civil Rights Act of 1964.<br />
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3. A dear friend of mine expressed concern for my eternal life. She is not the first, but is one of the few that I take seriously. She is not a Jesus Freak trying to convert everyone to her view, rather she is a humble and Godly woman with strong faith in her beliefs.<br />
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4. At school today, a very tricky situation arose. I knew in my heart how to handle it, but still waffled when I felt like I might upset someone or cause an uncomfortable situation, maybe at the cost of kids.<br />
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So what in the WORLD could these four things have in common. Quite simply, they all required me to search my moral and ethical belief system. They have all caused me to look at myself and evaluate whether or not I I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth to keep everyone around me happy or am I standing up for what I believe is right. Here is as honest an answer as I can give.<br />
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1. I was extremely skeptical about the handbindng ceremony. I did the same thing I so despise in others. I judged a person's faith and personal religion. I will be the first to defend the United States Constitution and Freedom of Religion. I'll pat myself on the back and brag about having Jewish friends and attending Catholic Mass. I expect all of my friends and family to simply accept my views as my own. However, I have been guilty too often of not giving these folks the same consideration. As I thought more about the ceremony, it occurred to me that I was scoffing at another's beliefs. Then I realized how brave and true they were to stand up in a very public place among friends and family and proclaim their love and commitment to each other in<br />
an honest way. Oh.<br />
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2. I support Gay Marriage and Gay Rights. I support Civil Rights for all people. I hope I have always lived that. I do not plan to wear a PFLAGG shirt to work tomorrow, but I will answer this question honestly. I think that's right. I'll leave the red equal sign on my Facebook page until I have such an adorable picture of my son that I can't stand it, and I'll change the picture. I don't care if it's contentious. It is an incredibly small way to show my support. I can't wait until Nina Tottenburg reads the Court's decision on the radio in a few months.<br />
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3. I love my friend dearly. When she initially commented on my after-life, I was tempted to edit my response about the after-life to conform more to her beliefs, because I respect her and don't want to cause any reason for her not to "like" me. Please, that is so high school. After I pondered it last night, I answered her as honestly as I could. Without blubbering detail or rationalization. That was an epiphany, too. I don't have to defend everything.<br />
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4. And last, at school. I made a promise to myself a few years ago to protect kids when I felt like they were in a bad situation whether it had to do with a teacher, parent or whatever if I saw something difficult happening. I don't seek these situations out, but there have been too many times that I have sat on the sidelines and watched something happen that shouldn't have. Because I plan to post this publicly, I do not want to go into any detail. I would just like to say it took me more than 20 minutes to react to a situation. Twenty minutes a student should not have had to experience because I did not want to cause a scene or make anybody uncomfortable. I plan to work on my reaction time.<br />
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I feel like I should make some proclamation or some kind of summary here. Instead, I think I'll just leave alone.<br />
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<i>Note: I took the title of this post from the Chapter 4 of the 2nd Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. This chapter has probably made more of an impact on my spiritual belief system than any other one thing.)</i>Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-15235065543625777432013-03-26T17:34:00.000-07:002013-03-26T17:34:09.967-07:00This song remains the sameIf you are a friend that wonders where I am and why I have not posted all kinds of wonderful news about the tons of weight I have lost from my resolve to stick to a plan this year, I bet you can resist the cookie or the second helping.<br />
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If, however, you know where I have been, I can just bet you are a little bit like me. Perhaps you have decided to just be happy with your size. Or maybe you decided you are too grouchy when trying to diet, screw it, it's not worth it. Or maybe, because the weather has been so grim, you just couldn't possibly exercise. It's too cold for heaven's sake. Or maybe you're just tired, hungry, or think oh a nibble won't hurt, give me the whole damn piece,I can't stand to make such a careful grocery list and cook evERY NIGHT WHEN LITTLE CESAR'S PIZZAS ARE 8 BUCKS I'M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND, GIVE ME A DAMN COOKIE AND A PIECE OF CHEESE...<br />
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Well, maybe that's where I've been.<br />
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But I bet you could've guessed that.Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-89675096800021403272013-02-27T18:46:00.001-08:002013-02-27T18:46:41.161-08:00WanderlustI was fussing the other day about something, and a friend of mine commented it was just because i was had "wanderlust." I know this word and have used it on occasion, but I looked up the specific definition. Google dictionry defines it as "a strong desire to travel." Dead on. So I started refelcting on all the different places I've live and different jobs I have had. Following is a brief and probably inaccurate timeline of my wandering. <br />
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1967-1968<br />
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I lived in a small trailer with my Mom and Dad on Parris Island, SC<br />
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1968-1970<br />
I lived with my Mom in the same trailer across the street from my Grandmother in Mac's Chapel while my Dad was on deployment to Vietnam<br />
<br />
1970-1972<br />
I lived with Mom and Dad in a trailer park in Jacksonville, NC. I'm not sure if it was on base or not, but there was an interesting old man who lived next door who had a white beard and a cane. He gave us cookies and told stories. <br />
<br />
1972-1973(?)<br />
We lived in a trailer park in Cherry Point NC. My sister was born while we lived here. I got my first stitches, learned to ride a bike and bought a plastic peace sign at a yard sale for 15 cents. I have a horrible memory of kindergarten, but I remember a very sweet 1st grade teacher.<br />
<br />
1973-1975<br />
We moved to a place called Daisy City outside of Graysville AL while my Dad delpoyed to Japan. My parents divorced for the first time during this period. I remember learning to suck the nectar from honeysuckle, playing red light green light in the field, Brookisde Elementary and phonics, and buying ice cream from the truck. I also checked ou Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from the library<br />
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1975-1979<br />
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My sister and I moved to Millingotn and lived in an apartment with my Dad until we moved the trailer up from AL. Or did we buy a new one? Can't remember. I have great memories of this time. We had races in the road, built forts in the woods and played out until the last minute always. I remember watching Elvis Presley's funeral on TV while I changed into play cltohes. I had sweet teachers, except 4th grade, and my librarian turned me on to <em>Bridge to Terebethia</em> and Judy Blume books. I kissed a boy behind the coat racks in 6th grade. No idea who.<br />
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1979-1984<br />
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My parents remarried, and we were transferred to Beaufort, SC, back to where I began. I lived in a house on base with my sister and parents until they divorced again in 1984. I have too many memories from this time, but I can still smell the marsh and wish I could still ride my bike to the river to get some crabs. I also had my first of many jobs here. Babysitting and working at a convenience store. <br />
<br />
1984-1986<br />
I lived with an older man in Beaufort Not going there.<br />
Worked at convenience store, started and failed out of college. <br />
<br />
1986-1989<br />
I moved in with my Grandmother for the first time and started UAB. I worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield for a bit, then Sam's Wholesale Club on Lakeshore Drive.<br />
<br />
1989<br />
Fluff Chick and I rented a house in Minor for a while. It was like all the movies you've seen about college. Wild! I worked mainly at Sam's during this time, but also part time as a convenience store clerk.<br />
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1990-1997<br />
I lived in a great little apartment on Southside just up from UAB. I have the fondest and the worst memories of this time. This was the period that my addictions grabbed me, chewed me up and spit me out. I loved that little aprtment, though. It had a claw foot tub. I worked first at Sam's, then Western Supermarket in Mountain Brook, then Bruno's in Irondale and a short stint at Toys'r'us in Hoover. I moved from here to my Dad's house, to my Mom's house in SC, back to this apartment, thne finally back to my Grandmother's. Oh, I forgot all about Re-Print, the school supply place I worked at for 3 years. They took really good care of me. Thanks Ray Pate.<br />
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1997-1999<br />
Moved back in with Gran, finished that degree! I wroked off and on at Re-Print during this time. I started teaching full time in August of 1999 at Minor High School as the FACS teacher. I had the best mentor teachers ever, and this was before we had "mentor teachers."<br />
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February 2000-July 2000<br />
Lieved for a brief time with a friend in Cottondale. Bad move. Long story. <br />
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2000-2002<br />
Worked at Erwin High School as a special ed teacher, learned to drive the bus during this time. I rented my Great-grandparents house from my uncle in Mac's Chapel. <br />
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2002-2004<br />
Worked at Counseling Center as a teacher where I met Chris. During this time I finally moved back to Southside to a wonderful little apartment in the Highland Park area. It had a great tub, too. Then I married Chris and we moved to the most bizarre little rental house in Avondale. I finished my Master's and went to work at Fultondale Elementary as the EC teacher. <br />
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2005-2006<br />
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We moved back to Mac's Chapel and bought the house I had rented. I transferred to McAdory High School as the Work Instructor. <br />
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Spring/Summer 2006 <br />
We lived in an apartment in Downtown Birmingham where Metropolitan Gardens used to be while our house was rebuilt after a fire.<br />
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Fall 2006<br />
We moved into our new house in Mac's Chapel, Grandmother died, David was born, we started trying to sell. <br />
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Fall 2007 <br />
I transferred to West Jefferson Elementary as the school librarian.<br />
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Fall 2011<br />
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Landed in Corner Alabama, but I'm still the librarian at West Jefferson. <br />
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<h4>
My boots are dusty.</h4>
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Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-13219846335632392352013-02-24T17:17:00.000-08:002013-02-24T17:17:19.042-08:00Take the Pill!!I've written about the dieting failures of the last few weeks, but still have not been able to get re-motivated and re-committed. I feel like this week will be better. I want to talk a little bit today about the mental illness that runs through my family, and how just being lazy can affect me.<br />
<br />
I always like to say that I'm the sane one in the family. I used to only take a 10mg dose of an anti-depressant, but over the years that has increased to 40mg. It actually does lots of good things for me I forget about until I forget about taking the medicine. No, I'm not suicidal or violent, in fact I could pass as reasonably functioning, but I'm not really myself. Here is the story.<br />
<br />
I'm not exactly sure what problems my younger sister has, but she has been treated for bi-polar disorder. She occasionally goes off her medicine and ends up in some scary situations. My youngest sister began having panic attacks and depressive episodes in high school. She has been taking an anti-depressant of some kind since then. Her medicine has changed from time to time as she's gotten older and her insurance plans have changed. (Yes, the good ole insurance companies get to tell you what they think is best.) She has three children and had to stop taking her medicine each time. She was a basket case by the time she delivered.<br />
<br />
My Mom finally started treating her mental illness about 20 years later than she needed to. I would guess for several reasons. The medicine used to be pretty nasty and have lots of side effects, talking about mental illness was taboo, and she drank. When she stopped drinking, she finally realized what a mess she was and got some treatment and medicine.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, as this is happening, I'm getting sober, finishing college, marrying, building a family and all around doing the things I think I'm supposed to. Then I faced several personal tragedies and stresses in a short period of time.I February of 2006 I had been married just two year when our house burned beyond repair and we lost essentially everything. Thankfully, we were fully covered and able to build back our house and acquire everything we needed and more. However, while we were recovery from that, my Grandmother, whom I was extremely close to, was diagnosed with cancer and died just weeks before we closed on the new house in July of 2006. There were many changes in the way the family that I had always known reacted and some damage was done to those relationships that have taken time to heal. My Mom and sister moved to town into her house (next door to mine) after her death, and almost a year to the day, my Mom died of cancer in August of 2007. I also received my biggest blessing ever, my sweet, beautiful baby boy, two months earlier than expected in January 2007. Life was nuts. My emotions were shot. My OB/Gyn started me on a small dose of an anti-depressant somewhere in all this and said I could try to go off of it any time I wanted.<br />
<br />
Well, let me tell you, quitting those drugs is a new experience. The first time I really stopped taking them was in the Spring of 2011. four years is long enough to be crazy, right? However, doctors don't remember to tell the kinds of things that happen when you stop. The biggest issue is blood sugar levels. I was out of town when the blood sugar dropped happened. I actually snatched fruit out of my nephews hands to eat because I thought I was going to die. I totally bottomed out and remained shaky until I got home. My sister told me that's what happens when you quit. So I got home,a and went back on them and decided to wean myself off slowly. I did, without ill effects except for the raving lunatic I became. I was raging and Chris took Sunshine downstairs to get away from me. I could not believe he would do that! I really couldn't see clear enough to realize how I was acting. All that serotonin was firing in my brain, and I couldn't handle it. I swore I would never stop again.<br />
<br />
At the beginning of this school year, I started feeling a little weird. I wasn't handling things well and had no real drive to do anything. I though maybe my medicine was too strong, so I quit it and after an irrational crying fit I went to the doctor and he doubled my dose. Jeesh, now I guess I'll be nuts forever.<br />
<br />
This was several months ago, and except for a little PMS I've been fine. My medicine ran out last week and kept meaning to get it filled, and just never got around to it. The funny thing is though, this time as I detoxed, I was in a marvelous mood. We watched a play on Thursday that I thought was hysterical! I had dinner with some friends and was live and animated, maybe too much. I fixed up my library saw kids all week and just enjoyed being with them. I just felt great. So this time, I hit manic instead of depressive. Lord help a crazy person. I enjoyed it.l Okay, now the connection with weight loss. I had no resentment or reason I didn't feel like sticking to my diet this week. I ate pretty healthy, but then would be starving and craving sugar.Also, I had a hard time with my daily constitution and had stomach bloating and pain all week. I had headaches, and by yesterday my blood sugar was totally bottoming out. Then it hit me, "you haven't taken your medicine in a week, dope! In Wal-Mart I had to eat a Reese cup and drink a bottle of water before I could even finish shopping. Because now, remember I'm on twice the medicine so the blood sugar things is worse. I squealed into the pharmacy 6 minutes before they closed and got my refill. I feel better today, well, my mood is more even keel, I do kind of miss that high. I haven't craved sugar as much and the bathroom hasn't been an issue.<br />
<br />
All that to say, I think I'll do better this week on my diet, and Take the Pill!!<br />
<br />Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-42310579492966463462013-02-18T16:47:00.001-08:002013-02-18T16:51:27.566-08:00Reflection of my teaching practiceOver the weekend, I read one of those sweet lists about how to treat kids. I like to think I know how, but this thing affected me. I couldn't find it to share it, but one of the pieces of advice it offered was to remember how small they really are.<br />
<br />
I have failed at this. Lately, I have been doing several research projects with my students. I have been astounded at what I perceived as a lack of background knowledge to complete certain tasks. These are 8, 9 and 10 year olds I have been putting this pressure on. I forgot how small they really were. I'm the teacher, if they lack background knowledge, it's my fault. These kids have never had another librarian or lab teacher, so if its something they can't do, obviously I haven't taught them how to do it. These guys have barely even began their study of social studies and history, yet I've been expecting them to digest and process complex information while they perform complex operations using a computer. Well, hell yes I can do it, I've got a masters degree. They're 4th graders. Little guys. That trust me. I know my expectations should be high, but then they must be realistic, too. It's the process, not the product. I can think of time and again that I have made this mistake. I plan to resolve this and improve my practice. I wish I could write this into my EducateAlabama plan. <br />
<br />
Dieting: I ate with defiance and disregard today. I made a decision to,count my points this morning, but that oppositional defiance I inherited from my Mom reared its ugly head, and being a Gemini my self defied myself. Hahahahahahaha. One day at a time. Glad this one is almost over. <br />
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Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-79593990379190401872013-02-16T10:48:00.001-08:002013-02-16T13:31:53.921-08:00Drivel of a serial eater.It's been 9 days since I posted, and I bet I haven't stuck to my plan a single one of those days. I think it was the oatmeal that finally got me. I'm just not planning well. When I didn't have my family, I could rock weight watchers. Now, by no means would I rather not have my family, it's just such hard work. Seriously.<br />
<br />
Okay, I'm going to bitch for a minute. I work all day, and I have my sensible breakfast in the morning, pack my highly processed lean cuisine and two very healthy snacks such as a piece of fruit and a Greek yogurt for school(However I do sneak 3-5 pieces of chocolate from various stashes in other teachers' rooms throughout the day) and then I come home starving. And tired. So if I haven't already, I have to figure out what we are going to eat, if Sunshine will even taste it, prepare it, then clean up the kitchen. And another thing, healthy low point meals take way more prep time than spaghetti or hamburger or chicken fingers and fries...After about a month I'm just tired of it. So here I am. Again.<br />
<br />
Another thing, my dear friend posted on her blog that they took Valentine's Day off because, well, it's Valentine's soaked in high calorie sweets Day. We did too. However, she reported how guilty and sick she felt. Well, not this sister. I enjoyed every sweet thing I put in my mouth. I cooked a wonderful supper that included butter, rolls and cheesecake, and today we are officially going out for V-Day. I plan to have my favorite thing of all time, a juicy cheeseburger.<br />
<br />
I'm not even going to attempt to post what my plans for next week are. I will try though.<br />
<br />
Before I close, however, I did want to make a comparison with falling off the wagon and falling off the diet train. In AA, we always say things like "Keep Coming Back" and "it's the first drink that gets you drunk " We also talk about something called the phenomenon of craving. It seems that as long as we can keep from taking that first drink, well, we will be successful. I have heard many stories, too, about alcoholics that drink again without problems, for a period of time. But the disease always catches up with them again. I am simply too afraid to find out what would happen if I had another drink. I just don't go there. Plus, I'm prideful and like saying I've been sober for 17 years.<br />
<br />
My point, once I fall off the diet train, I always have a tremendously hard time getting back on. Food makes me feel so good. Guess Ill "keep coming back."Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535381533315765512.post-74212283535602674922013-01-23T17:36:00.001-08:002013-01-23T17:36:15.435-08:00SoToday was a train wreck. <br />
<br />
I stopped taking the Alli because it made me spacey, but I haven't done as well without it. Binged all afternoon and evening. I'm full, and my belly feels better, but I have that loathsome guilt that I'm not good enough and will never be able to do this. <br />
<br />
Danger! Danger! Danger! <br />
<br />
Planning to make tomorrow better. Jennifer Andershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03935664246002634036noreply@blogger.com0