True Story!

Weighing me down

This past week in the pool, I've been using these two devices.

The first, as you can see, are ankle weights.  They are made of some kind of styrofoam and strap tightly around your ankle.  There is a foot strap that goes across the bottom of your foot so you don't have the weights bouncing up and down on your leg during your workout.  The second is a water belt.  It helps keep you in better postures while you are swimming.  I wasn't ever planning on use the ankle weights, but the class instructor, Becky, knows I've been coming for quite some time and she called me out! I had used the belt before and didn't really like it, however, if I'm gonna be using the ankle weights, its fairly necessary.  The weights completely throw off your center of gravity in the water!  haha its the strangest thing, but makes sense.  You have a whole new core workout when wearing the ankle weights because you have to engage your muscles to control your legs.  Who knew?!  I was sore before class was even over last Saturday lol  So for today, I'm grateful for Becky, the water aerobics guru, who called me out to take it up a notch :)

Best Email of the Year

My "boss" just sent out this email.  It should give you a look into teacher world:

"In professional development we discussed that we were running 1^st quarter grades for 2 weeks.  I have had a lot of questions about it.  Some teachers must not have listened.   I realize my mistake so at the end of this email I will do a little formative assessment.  If you score a 0, 1, or 2 you will need to report to my office after school for some reteaching. 

I ran 2^nd term grades yesterday, and "Bob" and I decided that 2 weeks was too long, and that starting Monday we would run 2^nd quarter grades.  I was going to put it in the weekly bulletin, but some of you are very impatient so I sent out this email.

Formative assessment

1.        Where was the info given out for plus time schedules.   A. faculty meeting  B.  posted on the faculty restrooms. C. web site  D. Prof Devel

2.       Where should you meet if you don’t pass this quiz           A. my office        B. "Bob’s" office   C.  "Toommer’s" office   D.  the middle of 7^th West

3.       Teachers listen ______ than students.  A. better  B.  worse  C.  the same  D.  huh

4.       What does the term there is a storm approaching mean.  A.  I should have raked my leafs.  B.  I should have brought a jacket  C.  Oh I get it.

By the way there is a storm approaching.  Have a good weekend."

 

I've changed some names to protect the "not so innocent."  Best email ever... I'm still laughing.

Thoughtful!

Today I am grateful for the cute thoughtfulness of some of my students.  Last night my soccer team went down in flames.  My kids know I'm a big fan and that I was there last night.  They were also at the game, apparently, as they came in this morning bearing a gift to cheer me up from the loss.

What they don't know is that I don't set my life my the wins and losses of my team haha however, they were so cute about it and the excitement they had was adorable.  "We saw this and KNEW you had to have it!  Do you like it?!  Do you love it?!  We do!"  haha  I will use it with RSL pride and keep it forever because it was just that thoughtful :)

Grateful for...

Good students :)  Good subs :)

The Snacks of Life

Today I am grateful for Special K... LOL I can still have my sweet and salty fix without killing my calorie count.  And they're actually really tasty!

Jumping on the bandwagon

So... its November, month of gratitude.  Between facebook, instagram and blogs, I've been bombarded with ways to express my gratitude.  I never really like to just jump on the bandwagon with the latest and greatest way to get more attention on those sites, but I kinda like the idea of doing some pictures throughout the month of things I'm grateful for.  It more than likely won't be a daily thing, as I'll forget and get busy and simply won't have the time.  But I'll add what I can and remember to be mindful of the blessings in my life.  Here's today's:

That guy in the white shirt is my old boss, Marsh.  I went to work for him when I was 17. I actually wanted to work at the grocery part of the store, but they didn't have any openings, so they referred me to him.  Marsh ran the deli and meat department, with catering on the side.  I just didn't want to work on Sunday, so I took the job even though it wasn't what I wanted.  Today I am grateful that I did. I'm grateful for Marsh and Tory, Carrie and Dixie, Jack and Jud and sometimes, even Karl.  I'm grateful for Lisa and Matt and Marie.  These are all originals of "the deli."  I ended up working for Marsh until I got my teaching job almost 8 years later.  I worked mornings, nights, middle of the nights- shifts of all sorts.  I met famous people while we catered movies.  I traveled to places no one should ever try to drive a 55 foot kitchen truck.  I have so many recipes in my head that sometimes I'm amazed it can hold them all.  I learned all about food and meats and catering and life.  Marsh is more like a dad than a boss.  I blame him for my back aches, my foot problems, my college degree, my inability to go to a party and not critique the way the food is set up, my need to question the type of potato salad an establishment sells: "Gourmet or regular?"  I say "blame" but mostly I mean "grateful." There are some days I just want to crawl back into bed with the deli and work Christmas hours while that stupid "Feliz Navidad" plays every 2 hours in the background. 

I am especially grateful for the skills I learned while working for Marsh.  I can whip a family party into shape in no time.  I can call him as my "connection" and have him cater for me for conferences, ward parties and just because I'm too lazy to do it myself.  As I mentioned, I was called as RS president this past week.  We've already had a death in the ward so I've been on funeral planning duty for the week.  I'm so grateful for my catering skills that have helped me get the food in order.  Atleast that part hasn't stressed me out.

Yes, I'm grateful for the deli.  Its grown into much more than when I first started.  But I'm grateful that I can still call Marsh and "go home" for a minute and rub his feet and talk about life and have a brownie and some potatoes.  :)