Today is my birthday. 45...wow 1/2 way to 90. It is official that I am now standing on the hill looking out over the past and future. Thinking about that can be overwhelming, but also encouraging. The past can be painful and I am feeling like it will become less painful as I creep down the other side of the hill.
I can remember when I was about 12 I decided I would not hold my older sister's hand in public. The reason to me at that time was that I did not want anyone to think I was gay. My sisters 12 years older and you can imagine how many times she had to babysit me and take care of me. She stated that it really hurt her feelings. 12 twas the age, for me, not wanting anyone to have a reason to criticize me. Clothes, hair, makeup, music and interests were all tailored to what was acceptable for pre-teen years. Oh, how I have been repaid not only by my own children when they entered these years of public humiliation, but the fact I am in purgatory teaching middle school.
My children were totally humiliated by me. Being a teacher tends to erase those boundaries of when to correct other people's children and when not to. The grocery store, mall or an amusement park were areas they dreaded most because I had no problem correcting whomever was around. Singing in the grocery store, or complaining in a restaurant would send them under the table to hide. However, my kids have gotten even.
As they grew out of the awkward don't look at me don't say that in public phase they have gotten even. The most laughable and embarrassing time was shopping with both of them in a Yankee Candle store. Both would either pick up a candle and state, not in a whisper, "OMG this smells like ass", or they would shove the candle in my face saying "MOM, smell this it smells like ass". Geeze, I couldn't be more proud. Or the time we were walking out of Famous & Barr and I hear behind me "butt hole licker". I whip around and snarl "TARA". Tara yells, "WHY ARE YOU BLAMING ME? IT WAS NIKKI". I look at my oldest daughter (20) and with the most precious innocent face smiles. Touche.....
Now that I am a Grammy, the past is the past and I am looking forward to the future. Birthdays, Christmas, baseball games and school events. Bring it on....the more I slide down that hill the less I will see of the past and will be able to focus on the future. I want to focus on being healthy, good to others and happy.
Bring on the next 45, I have learned from my mistakes and this will be the best 45 yet.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Dancing, Weight lifting, Grocery Shopping and Snow Days.
I have been reflecting a lot this past 2 weeks. Reflection is good if you are doing it for positive results. Yesterday would have been my 25th wedding anniversary. I truly meant to blog yesterday with those disappointed feelings, but decided to think on it instead. I want this blog to be positive and the more I thought of it, my divorce was positive. I have grown as my own person so much since it, but it is hard not thinking about what could/should have been. So, I want to talk more about what has been going on the past two weeks. I do not have any one deep thought so I will be jumping around a bit.
Exercise is going well for me. I have discovered Zumba. Zumba is an awesome workout combining
Now, I want to tell you that I am very dance challenged. This class gets you to move and feel sexy even if you are so far from looking it. The music is a cultural mix of beats, sounds and speed. At one point I stopped to see what everyone else looked like and I almost fell on the floor laughing. Not one person was even close to the little hottie running the show. So....when I get really confused I just move around like I know what I am doing checking everyone out. What a hoot. I have even gotten my principal to agree to Zumba as an energizer for our next Professional Development day. (well, it is culturally diverse, hee hee)
Once I discovered Zumba, I turned my attention to another class I was curious about (Body Pump). I show up to this class only knowing it was some sort of barbell lifting class. Basically, you have a step bench in front of you with a mat, a barbell, and weights (2.5, 5, & 10 lbs). The class is a lifting class choreographed to punish every muscle in your body. My back was killing me, but that is an area I am trying to strengthen. It was not necessarily the next day, but 2 days later I was popping Ibuprofen to function. So, I kept repeating a friend's comment "pain is weakness leaving the body". Riiiiggggghhhht.
What is every one's idea of the price of groceries. OMG...just when you think you are cutting corners the prices rise again. This Sunday, Bob and I discussed groceries. Sooooo, I made the comment about going to Sam's and biting the bullet and stock up on all the things we buy every week. Planning with Bob was fun. We share the cooking so it really has to be a team effort. 350 painful dollars later we are successfully stocked up for at least 3 weeks worth of meals. If this plan works, we should only have to spend about $50 a week on odds and ends.
Snow days...hmmmm....nice when they are here...but when the end of the school year is here I want out and I want out NOW. My school district has 6 days built into the school calendar. Therefore, if we do not use them we get out of school earlier. Whooo Hoooo. We already have a school calendar longer than most schools so why not? Yesterday, my peers and students were walking around praying for snow. Now, I love being able to have a day off that sub plans are not needed, but I cannot help think about the end of the year. When the end nears, peers and students will be, again, complaining about the length of our school year and what districts start after us and end before us. All I keep thinking is that if we had not used those stupid days we would be out and I could enjoy the awesome wonderful fabulous summer weather. I wish we could have year round school. Now wait a minute. Think about this....teach 9 weeks off 3 weeks with a nice winter break and a break in the summer. I have not had a fall vacation in 17 years and that is my favorite season. My burnout level would be greatly reduced. Just a thought.
Love ya,
Lisa
Exercise is going well for me. I have discovered Zumba. Zumba is an awesome workout combining
high energy and motivating music with synchronized dance movements designed for any fitness level. |
Once I discovered Zumba, I turned my attention to another class I was curious about (Body Pump). I show up to this class only knowing it was some sort of barbell lifting class. Basically, you have a step bench in front of you with a mat, a barbell, and weights (2.5, 5, & 10 lbs). The class is a lifting class choreographed to punish every muscle in your body. My back was killing me, but that is an area I am trying to strengthen. It was not necessarily the next day, but 2 days later I was popping Ibuprofen to function. So, I kept repeating a friend's comment "pain is weakness leaving the body". Riiiiggggghhhht.
What is every one's idea of the price of groceries. OMG...just when you think you are cutting corners the prices rise again. This Sunday, Bob and I discussed groceries. Sooooo, I made the comment about going to Sam's and biting the bullet and stock up on all the things we buy every week. Planning with Bob was fun. We share the cooking so it really has to be a team effort. 350 painful dollars later we are successfully stocked up for at least 3 weeks worth of meals. If this plan works, we should only have to spend about $50 a week on odds and ends.
Snow days...hmmmm....nice when they are here...but when the end of the school year is here I want out and I want out NOW. My school district has 6 days built into the school calendar. Therefore, if we do not use them we get out of school earlier. Whooo Hoooo. We already have a school calendar longer than most schools so why not? Yesterday, my peers and students were walking around praying for snow. Now, I love being able to have a day off that sub plans are not needed, but I cannot help think about the end of the year. When the end nears, peers and students will be, again, complaining about the length of our school year and what districts start after us and end before us. All I keep thinking is that if we had not used those stupid days we would be out and I could enjoy the awesome wonderful fabulous summer weather. I wish we could have year round school. Now wait a minute. Think about this....teach 9 weeks off 3 weeks with a nice winter break and a break in the summer. I have not had a fall vacation in 17 years and that is my favorite season. My burnout level would be greatly reduced. Just a thought.
Love ya,
Lisa
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