How long is a Decade?

Okay, I know that a decade is 10 years, but it certainly doesn't seem like a decade has passed since the year 2000.  However, the calendar doesn't lie.  Let me take a quick look backwards at some things that have happened around and to me over the past decade.

• In the year 2000 ( do you hear the music from Conan here like I do?), everyone was was worried about Y2K.  I nervously awaited for my computers to stop working, car accidents, and bedlam to ensue--but none of the above happened.  Thank goodness.
• I graduated with two bachelor's degrees, summa cum laude,  in May, 2001.  It was a satisfying accomplishment for someone who quit school in 9th grade and got my GED a few years later. Many people have a negative connation towards people who have GED's.  Some of us, though, are pretty smart.  
• I had been teaching less than a month when Sept.11, 2001 and later an anthrax scare happened. How to deal with 9 year olds scared out of their wits wasn't covered in any of my education classes. I guess instincts take over at a time like that. 
• In this decade, I've taught in 2 different schools and I have taught both 4th and 5th grade.  I have worked for 4 different principals.  
• My daughter spent 5 years living in South Korea, then spent a year as a missionary serving all over the world.  I saw her maybe a couple weeks per year. 
• I obtained a Masters degree in Education, and started (and then postponed ) working on a doctorate. 
• In 2006, I gained a new son-- a son-in-law to be exact.  He has been a blessing to my life. 
• In 2008, I became a grandmother of the cutest little boy  ( some bias is allowed--- it is *my* blog) 
• I developed some medical problems which I attribute to some trouble at work.  Some of the problems have been resolved both medical and work.  I am forced to take medication to control the more stubborn medical problems. 
• My father passed away in November, 2008 thus showing me the circle of life.  A significant male in my life was taken away and a significant male in my life was given to me---in the span of 3 weeks.  
• With both my parents gone on to the great beyond, I am sometimes feel as an orphan.  I struggle with wanting to become closer to other family members and staying my distance to shield myself from pain when we are eventually separated.
• I stopped going to church because of {insert excuse here} although I never left God.  In 2009, I connected again to a church and have tried to be more faithful.
• I've cried, I've laughed, I've loved, I've been annoyed and been annoying.  

This, of course, is not an exhaustive list.  It is just a snapshot of the past decade. I will undoubtedly think of more things in the next coouple hours.  That is just the way it is!   I have lived in 6 decades.  Man, that must make me OLD!  May I be around to blog when the next decade rolls around! 

Mischief

I had a visitor to my classroom last week after all were gone. I was gone this day and the visitor came between the time the sub left and the custodian came to empty trash. The picture above is the result of my visitor. Papers were scattered on the floor, covered by coins used in math. On my chair, a bottle of hand sanitizer was emptied then covered with beans from a cup to hold pencils. Thankfully it could all be picked up with nothing permanently damaged.

The culprit was discovered after reviewing tapes. Another classroom had also been violated with candy taken. Consequences were applied. Another day in the life.......

New Dishwasher

Unlike my amazing sister who seems to figure out how to fix anything, my fix-it strategy is usually "buy a new one." I put this strategy into place when my dishwasher showed signs of leaking.

My son and I went window-shopping for a new dishwasher at 3 places. The first place the prices were all much higher than I was willing to spend. The second place had moderate prices and the salesman ( Who we found out later was the owner of the shop) spent about 30 minutes with us showing us all the features of various brands and models. The final place we went to was a big box store and the prices here were the lowest. Yet, as we stood looking at what was available no one ever came to help us or ask if we had questions.

I decided to go with the little more expensive product from the local shop with the customer service. When I called the next day to purchase the dishwasher over the phone, I was sure to tell the owner that his service is what sold me. The dishwasher was installed that afernoon and I couldnt wait to dirty enough dishes to use it!

Knowing What to Do

I was in a quandry earlier this week. There was something I wanted to do, but felt a reservation about doing it. I fretted for more than a day waffling between doing this and not doing this. I thought about the possible consequences pro and con about it and I thought about what I might miss out on if I didn't do it. ( I tend to over think things *sigh*) "What shall I do? What shall I do?" I repeated several times over the course of a few hours.

"You know what to do" was the inaudible voice in my being.

"But that doesn't help me, " I argued. "I don't know what to do--I want to do this but I don't know if I should right now!"

"You know what to do." The feeling persisted.

I decided that the time was not right for what I wanted to do and that I would pass for now, regardless of any missed opportunity.

And a peace fell over me. The anxiousness rolled away. All is good.

I guess I reallly did know what to do.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philipians 4:7

The Blogs in my head

Do you find yourself writing blogs in your head? I do. If I actually wrote our every blog I think up this blog would be overflowing--or at least daily.

Usually these blogs write themselves in my head while I am busy doing something. I make a mental note to "get this on my blog." But sometimes I don't get to my blog until hours or days later. By that time I have either forgotten what I wrote or the idea doesn't seem as relevant as it did when my mind crafted it. Occaisionally, the topic will show up on here but more often it doesn't.

Is this something that happens to others who keep a blog? Do you write blogs in your head?

Supreme Court Nominee Sonia

I had a bit of a bias against Sonia Sotomayor when President Obama nominated this Hispanic woman to the Supreme Court and asked that the confirmation hearings be rushed to let her join the court before the next Session in October.

I felt that Obama merely nominated her because she was both a woman and a minority. If confirmed Judge Sotomayor will be only the third female Supreme Court Justice ( the first two being Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg) and the first Hispanic.

Some controversy surrounding Judge Sotomayor some of her rulings and her speech that implies that she is biased towards people of color and towards women. Senate confirmation committee hearings have been taking place this week and Judge Sotomayer has been on the hotseat in front of a bipartisan panel of Senators.

I have been watching the hearings and although I don't know if my feelings have changed towards her nomination, but I do know that I have a respect for her. Sonia Sotomayor is intelligent, cool under pressure, and classy. If I am to take her for her words, I feel she would make an excellent Justice. The question is whether her words match her true nature.

New Words

A book my students like to read is Frindle by Andrew Clements. In short, it is the story about an upper elementary boy trying to create a new word after he finds out that the English language is dynamic. It is a great book--a favorite of not only my students, but of mine too.

I am reminded of Frindle this week after seeing that Merriam-Webster has released a sampling of the new words they are adding to the 2009 Update of the 11th edition of their dictionary. Just like the character in Frindle discovered, when people start using words and they become a part of the vernacular-they may just become "official" and be placed in the dictionary.

Here are some of the new words and their definition.

• staycation - staying home or close to it for vacation
• carbon footprint - the negative impact someone has on the environment
• frenemy- one who pretends to be a friend, but is actually an enemy
• locavore- one who eats foods produced locally whenever possible
• webisode- an episode that may or may not have been telecast but can be seen on the web
• zip line - a cable that is suspended above an incline, with a pulley and harness attached for a rider
• cardioprotective- serving to protect the heart

Now you can use these words formally and not be worried!