In these days of abundant conspiracy theories including anything from laboratories to turkeys, the question is "What is truth?" People are grasping for something that will answer their questions. They are grasping for anything that will give them a sense of "knowing" what is going on.
This is not a new question. Pilate asked Jesus that same question.
I will not enter into a discussion about whether or not the governor and other authorities have done the right or wrong thing.
I will not enter into a discussion about conspiracy theories: accuracy or fallacy.
That is not the point of this blog.
I have decided that although I would like to know what is going on, it is better for me to focus on things I KNOW are true.
1) The truth is God is sovereign. He has everything past, present, and future under His control. All of history and all of prophecy center on Him and His plan. No one gets the upper hand with Him. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and many more attributes.
2) The truth is that His Word is truth. If we want to know the truth and focus on truth, we must focus on His Word. How does the time I spend reading the news compare with the time I spend reading THE Truth of God's Word? That has been a challenge for me.
3) The truth is God is not surprised by the coronavirus or any other event that comes along. We didn't know this was coming. We had no idea when we left school on a Friday back in March that we would be finishing the school year online, that there would be no senior trip, the banquet and graduation would be anything but normal, that weddings and funerals would be private affairs, that businesses would be shut down for months causing some to close permanently. But God knew all that. He knew every detail about the Coronavirus that scientists have been trying to discover. He knew how we would respond to being shut down. He knew the challenges that would arise between people who disagree about what they think is happening. God was not surprised.
4) The truth is God knows His children and promises to be with them. This is one of the most comforting truths. We don't know the future, but God does, and He promises to walk with His children through whatever comes.
5) The truth is my life has to be surrendered to the Lord Jesus completely, with no reservations, for all time, in every circumstance. I will only be able to find comfort in His presence when I am surrendered to Him. Anytime I am not surrendered, I am trying to take things into my own hands and my own control. I am not omniscient nor omnipotent nor the other attributes of God; that is true.
6) The truth is that our responses to our circumstances are teaching those around us how to respond. Children and teens learn more from how we respond than from what we say. Case in point: a school three miles or so from my house was shut down along with all the rest of the schools back in March. The school house is empty, doors closed, shades drawn, no one is there. However, just weeks after the shutdown, they started having school in an empty house nearby. Next week they will finish their school year at that "empty" house. What did those students learn this year? Among other things, the truth is that they learned to deceive their authorities. When we don't like what the authorities say, we find a way around it and do what we want to do (and just hope we don't get caught).
7) The truth is that we can learn from this experience. As I focus on the truth, I want to understand more who God is, I want to trust in His presence, I want to grow wiser in my responses. There is so much I do not know, but I do know where to go for truth. Will you join me on the search for truth?
Saturday, May 09, 2020
Memorial Day Hike
I may revive this blog for the summer.
On Memorial Day, two of my friends and I completed hiking the Horse Shoe Trail that we started back in 2012. It was one of Mary's goals to hike the entire trail. I thought it was appropriate for us to finish it on Memorial Day.
On Memorial Day, two of my friends and I completed hiking the Horse Shoe Trail that we started back in 2012. It was one of Mary's goals to hike the entire trail. I thought it was appropriate for us to finish it on Memorial Day.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Lessons to Be Learned
Earlier this week I posted a comment on a particular social media site that received quite a few comments. I have decided there are several possible responses to those comments. 1) I can be offended and get angry and seek retaliation by adding cutting comments. 2) I can become discouraged and wish to give up. I invest my life in students and then have them turn around and lambast me. 3) I can learn and develop through the experience.
I have made the choice to take the third option. So what can I learn from it. Here are a few lessons I have been thinking about since the event.
Lesson #1 -- keep your thoughts and frustration to yourself. When the student informed me in the middle of class that she was leaving for Florida the next day, I could have refrained from making this comment: "I wish sometimes parents and students realized how unhandy it is to have students going on vacation when there is school. I had yet another student inform me today that she is leaving for Florida." You have to understand that she was the fifth student to be leaving for vacation in two weeks. You have to also understand that although the papers requesting an excused absence for the trip had to be turned in at the office two weeks before, she waited until the day before the trip to tell me she was leaving. Even at that point she did not specifically request her homework although she did come to me at the end of the day and expected me to have it ready for her. You have to also understand that it was the day before I had to have grades for third quarter turned in at the office and had gone the second mile with my creative writing students and given them longer on their autobiography than I should have. I was up until midnight that night grading papers and got up again the next morning at 4:30 to finish so that I could meet my deadline of 8 AM for having grades in the office. That was the day she announced she was going to Florida--my 4:30 to midnight day. If she had come two weeks before when the papers had to be turned in at the office, I would have gotten her homework ready in the next day or two, she could have done it before she left, had a classmate grade it while she was gone, I could have recorded the grade along with all the other students' grades, and there would have been minimal extra work. Most students don't realize how unhandy it is to have to get missing assignments from them after they come back from a trip. Typically the first three days they are adjusting to reality of being back home and in school and trying to figure out what is going on in class because they have missed a week of instruction. Some students never recover the gap. Most students will eventually get most of the homework or quizzes completed after a reminder or two or three--all of which take more of the teacher's time. Some few never get it finished regardless of how many reminders they are given. With each homework assignment or quiz that is turned in separate from the rest of the class, the teacher has to find the answer key, determine how many points there were, locate the correct place in the gradebook and record the grade--all of which take more time. I simply stated that I wish parents and students realized how unhandy it was. Obviously, I have not learned Lesson 1. Let's go on to Lesson 2.
Lesson #2 -- Don't jump to conclusions. Almost immediately after posting, I was receiving comments from people who jumped to conclusions. I never said that families should not go on vacation during the school year. I never said school is more important than family time. Some people who read my post jumped to those conclusions. The lesson for me is to think, read carefully, listen closely, understand what the person really is saying before I add to what they have said and get all upset and defensive about it. How many times do I jump to conclusions and become defensive without really hearing and understanding what a person has actually said? I think of the verse I have chosen as my life verse: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" Proverbs 4:7. The lesson for me is to develop understanding of what a person has said.
Lesson #3 -- Recognize what makes me defensive. It seemed to me that a number of people felt the need to defend themselves for taking vacation during the school year. When I become defensive, is it because there is something that is right, moral, Godly, Biblical that is being violated. Or do I become defensive when a choice I have made is called into question. What makes a person become defensive? A licensed mental health therapist says in his Kellevision blog that "Defensive people may become completely irrational in their attempts to deflect perceived blame or criticism. The dictionary defines defensive as "a state or posture of defense." It is a reaction to someone else that comes from anxiety, fear, guilt or insecurity. Defensiveness is an emotional response rather than a logical one. Someone has hit a nerve. Someone has pushed a button. And off you go. You are reacting rather than acting. Look at the last time you snapped at someone, withdrew into a deadly silence, or played the blame game. You were probably being defensive. Defensiveness is an overreaction to the actions of another. It's taking things personally which are not. Why do people get defensive? People can get defensive for a variety of reasons and I cannot possibly cover all of them here. But I will cover some of the broader reasons and give some specific examples. Some of the more common reasons are; denial, guilt, insecurity, fear or trauma. Usually, defensiveness comes from feeling unsafe or threatened. If someone feels attacked, unfairly criticized or judged they may snap." So what really is the underlying issue that makes me defensive? It probably has nothing or at least very little to do with the issue at hand. I would be wise when I feel the urge to defend myself to look for the underlying issue of guilt, insecurity, etc.
Lesson #4 -- Gift of encouragement. While there were a very few who lambasted me, and some who felt the need to defend themselves, there were many who chose to post publicly or private message me words of encouragement. As I reflected on those comments and the effect they had on me, I realized how valuable the gift of encouragement really is. In our busy world, we need to take the time to give other people a word of hope, agree with them in prayer, or simply lend a listening ear.
As followers of Jesus we need to be sensitive to the needs of others. Jesus teaches us that mercy and compassion will be shown to those who also show mercy and compassion to others. (Matthew 5:7) We must speak the right words at the right time whenever God sends someone across our path to encourage them and be their friend. I want to learn to take the time to give words of encouragement, words of life, words of hope to others.
I have made the choice to take the third option. So what can I learn from it. Here are a few lessons I have been thinking about since the event.
Lesson #1 -- keep your thoughts and frustration to yourself. When the student informed me in the middle of class that she was leaving for Florida the next day, I could have refrained from making this comment: "I wish sometimes parents and students realized how unhandy it is to have students going on vacation when there is school. I had yet another student inform me today that she is leaving for Florida." You have to understand that she was the fifth student to be leaving for vacation in two weeks. You have to also understand that although the papers requesting an excused absence for the trip had to be turned in at the office two weeks before, she waited until the day before the trip to tell me she was leaving. Even at that point she did not specifically request her homework although she did come to me at the end of the day and expected me to have it ready for her. You have to also understand that it was the day before I had to have grades for third quarter turned in at the office and had gone the second mile with my creative writing students and given them longer on their autobiography than I should have. I was up until midnight that night grading papers and got up again the next morning at 4:30 to finish so that I could meet my deadline of 8 AM for having grades in the office. That was the day she announced she was going to Florida--my 4:30 to midnight day. If she had come two weeks before when the papers had to be turned in at the office, I would have gotten her homework ready in the next day or two, she could have done it before she left, had a classmate grade it while she was gone, I could have recorded the grade along with all the other students' grades, and there would have been minimal extra work. Most students don't realize how unhandy it is to have to get missing assignments from them after they come back from a trip. Typically the first three days they are adjusting to reality of being back home and in school and trying to figure out what is going on in class because they have missed a week of instruction. Some students never recover the gap. Most students will eventually get most of the homework or quizzes completed after a reminder or two or three--all of which take more of the teacher's time. Some few never get it finished regardless of how many reminders they are given. With each homework assignment or quiz that is turned in separate from the rest of the class, the teacher has to find the answer key, determine how many points there were, locate the correct place in the gradebook and record the grade--all of which take more time. I simply stated that I wish parents and students realized how unhandy it was. Obviously, I have not learned Lesson 1. Let's go on to Lesson 2.
Lesson #2 -- Don't jump to conclusions. Almost immediately after posting, I was receiving comments from people who jumped to conclusions. I never said that families should not go on vacation during the school year. I never said school is more important than family time. Some people who read my post jumped to those conclusions. The lesson for me is to think, read carefully, listen closely, understand what the person really is saying before I add to what they have said and get all upset and defensive about it. How many times do I jump to conclusions and become defensive without really hearing and understanding what a person has actually said? I think of the verse I have chosen as my life verse: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" Proverbs 4:7. The lesson for me is to develop understanding of what a person has said.
Lesson #3 -- Recognize what makes me defensive. It seemed to me that a number of people felt the need to defend themselves for taking vacation during the school year. When I become defensive, is it because there is something that is right, moral, Godly, Biblical that is being violated. Or do I become defensive when a choice I have made is called into question. What makes a person become defensive? A licensed mental health therapist says in his Kellevision blog that "Defensive people may become completely irrational in their attempts to deflect perceived blame or criticism. The dictionary defines defensive as "a state or posture of defense." It is a reaction to someone else that comes from anxiety, fear, guilt or insecurity. Defensiveness is an emotional response rather than a logical one. Someone has hit a nerve. Someone has pushed a button. And off you go. You are reacting rather than acting. Look at the last time you snapped at someone, withdrew into a deadly silence, or played the blame game. You were probably being defensive. Defensiveness is an overreaction to the actions of another. It's taking things personally which are not. Why do people get defensive? People can get defensive for a variety of reasons and I cannot possibly cover all of them here. But I will cover some of the broader reasons and give some specific examples. Some of the more common reasons are; denial, guilt, insecurity, fear or trauma. Usually, defensiveness comes from feeling unsafe or threatened. If someone feels attacked, unfairly criticized or judged they may snap." So what really is the underlying issue that makes me defensive? It probably has nothing or at least very little to do with the issue at hand. I would be wise when I feel the urge to defend myself to look for the underlying issue of guilt, insecurity, etc.
Lesson #4 -- Gift of encouragement. While there were a very few who lambasted me, and some who felt the need to defend themselves, there were many who chose to post publicly or private message me words of encouragement. As I reflected on those comments and the effect they had on me, I realized how valuable the gift of encouragement really is. In our busy world, we need to take the time to give other people a word of hope, agree with them in prayer, or simply lend a listening ear.
As followers of Jesus we need to be sensitive to the needs of others. Jesus teaches us that mercy and compassion will be shown to those who also show mercy and compassion to others. (Matthew 5:7) We must speak the right words at the right time whenever God sends someone across our path to encourage them and be their friend. I want to learn to take the time to give words of encouragement, words of life, words of hope to others.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Musing by the Fence
First, let me clarify that it was not the fence that was doing the musing rather I was musing as I was beside the fence.
First musing -- "Good fences make good neighbors." At least that is what Robert Frost said in "Mending Wall." But was he right? Do good fences make good neighbors? I especially wonder about the validity of that statement when the fence serves no purpose as a clear demarcation of property line nor does it keep any livestock where they belong. Does it only make good neighbors if I keep it in good repair eliminating any risk of devaluing the properties in the neighborhood. If the fence serves no purpose but as an ornament and my neighbors are annoyed if I don't keep it in repair, do I live in a neighborhood that is too affluent? It seems there are many things more important than a fence in good repair. However, I spent much of my day painting our fence.
Second musing -- If I compare our fence to our neighbor's fence (I know comparing yourself among yourselves is not wise but I am comparing fences-or am I?), I come to several conclusions about us: (1) We are lazy. It certainly doesn't take as much work to keep us busy as it does our neighbors. They are always finding more things to do at their house. So comparatively speaking, we are lazy. (2) We have no imagination. While our neighbor's fence has gone from brown to black and now to white, ours has been painted only half as frequently and always the same tone of red. Is it a lack of imagination that causes us to always paint our fence red or is it a well-developed imagination that prevents us from having to paint it different colors visualize it white, or grey, or a darker grey--or purple for that matter? (3) We don't have as much money. We could not afford to do as many things to our house as they have done to theirs. But maybe these are all connected. They bought four older houses and remodeled and resold each one. That gave them more work to do. They chose a different theme for each house they remodeled--more imagination. They sold all four of them for significantly more than they bought them. I guess that is why we are still paying on the house we bought from them, and they are living in the house they built with the profit from the other four. (4) We are more contented. Maybe we are not as busy, as imaginative, or have as much money because we are more contented with what we have. Those were some of my thoughts while I spent much of my day painting our fence red.
Third musing -- After I finished painting the fence, I started painting the basement wall/foundation. Last summer on a very windy day, I saw the paint literally blowing off the basement wall. We used a pressure washer to get the loose paint off the wall, but then we realized that the old stucco was coming loose too. We removed all the loose sections and redid the stucco. It has been curing since then. Today I started coating that wall with Drylock. Now the interesting thing about Drylock is that when I opened the can, the top was very watery. I started stirring the contents of the can. I stirred, and I stirred, and I stirred. Suddenly the epiphany! That can of Drylock is much like a person. On the surface it is just a bunch of liquid--nothing of any substance. But, under that is the grit. And it is the grit that makes the Drylock worthwhile. If the whole can had been the liquid like at the top without the grit, it would have been useless. I had to dig deeper and get to what was the good stuff. Too often in life, we may be satisfied with the liquid on the surface rather than digging deep and getting the value of the grit. And in case you are wondering, the basement wall will be the same boring grey that it was before.
I am enjoying my summer days with times of solitude when there are fewer demands on my time, and I can muse by the fence about the nitty-gritty issues of life.
First musing -- "Good fences make good neighbors." At least that is what Robert Frost said in "Mending Wall." But was he right? Do good fences make good neighbors? I especially wonder about the validity of that statement when the fence serves no purpose as a clear demarcation of property line nor does it keep any livestock where they belong. Does it only make good neighbors if I keep it in good repair eliminating any risk of devaluing the properties in the neighborhood. If the fence serves no purpose but as an ornament and my neighbors are annoyed if I don't keep it in repair, do I live in a neighborhood that is too affluent? It seems there are many things more important than a fence in good repair. However, I spent much of my day painting our fence.
Second musing -- If I compare our fence to our neighbor's fence (I know comparing yourself among yourselves is not wise but I am comparing fences-or am I?), I come to several conclusions about us: (1) We are lazy. It certainly doesn't take as much work to keep us busy as it does our neighbors. They are always finding more things to do at their house. So comparatively speaking, we are lazy. (2) We have no imagination. While our neighbor's fence has gone from brown to black and now to white, ours has been painted only half as frequently and always the same tone of red. Is it a lack of imagination that causes us to always paint our fence red or is it a well-developed imagination that prevents us from having to paint it different colors visualize it white, or grey, or a darker grey--or purple for that matter? (3) We don't have as much money. We could not afford to do as many things to our house as they have done to theirs. But maybe these are all connected. They bought four older houses and remodeled and resold each one. That gave them more work to do. They chose a different theme for each house they remodeled--more imagination. They sold all four of them for significantly more than they bought them. I guess that is why we are still paying on the house we bought from them, and they are living in the house they built with the profit from the other four. (4) We are more contented. Maybe we are not as busy, as imaginative, or have as much money because we are more contented with what we have. Those were some of my thoughts while I spent much of my day painting our fence red.
Third musing -- After I finished painting the fence, I started painting the basement wall/foundation. Last summer on a very windy day, I saw the paint literally blowing off the basement wall. We used a pressure washer to get the loose paint off the wall, but then we realized that the old stucco was coming loose too. We removed all the loose sections and redid the stucco. It has been curing since then. Today I started coating that wall with Drylock. Now the interesting thing about Drylock is that when I opened the can, the top was very watery. I started stirring the contents of the can. I stirred, and I stirred, and I stirred. Suddenly the epiphany! That can of Drylock is much like a person. On the surface it is just a bunch of liquid--nothing of any substance. But, under that is the grit. And it is the grit that makes the Drylock worthwhile. If the whole can had been the liquid like at the top without the grit, it would have been useless. I had to dig deeper and get to what was the good stuff. Too often in life, we may be satisfied with the liquid on the surface rather than digging deep and getting the value of the grit. And in case you are wondering, the basement wall will be the same boring grey that it was before.
I am enjoying my summer days with times of solitude when there are fewer demands on my time, and I can muse by the fence about the nitty-gritty issues of life.
Monday, November 12, 2012
View from the Top of Another Mountain
We have gotten into a hiking spree lately. I'm not sure if it is because we are in better physical condition than we have been for years or if it is simply the beautiful fall weather. At any rate, we have been on a hike every Sunday afternoon for the last month. The most recent one was yesterday when we planned to hike the Pulpit Rock/Pinnacle trail near Hamburg, PA. We had been planning for a week. We asked two friends that we thought would enjoy a more difficult hike to go with us. We packed snack packs; we bought good hiking shoes; we watched the weather forecast; we printed out a map of the trail and got directions to the trail head. All systems said go.
We followed the directions we had to the trail head and started hiking. We were supposed to go around a yellow gate and in .52 miles be at the Appalachian Trail which we would follow for most of the 8 1/2 mile hike to Pulpit Rock and the Pinnacle and loop back to our starting point. We didn't get to the yellow gate. We walked a mile on a really nice bike trail and didn't find the Appalachian Trail. Finally, we turned around and walked back to our starting place. We knew this was the wrong trail. We looked at a map and decided to try another parking lot farther up the road. However, that was not the right trail either. We did meet two couples there who were familiar with the area and knew where we wanted to be. They gave us directions to the correct trail head, but also told us that there was no way we would be able to hike all the way to the Pinnacle and back before dark. We had lost too much time in finding the trail. We decided to try just Pulpit Rock this time.
We drove to the right parking lot, found the yellow gate, and found the Appalachian Trail .52 miles from the parking lot. We were on the way! It was a beautiful day with warm sunshine--probably nearly 70 degrees. We didn't need our sweatshirts on the way up the mountain. We stopped a few times to eat some of our snacks and rest a bit, but the farther we went the more we realized that we had to keep moving if we were going to get to the top and back before dark.
We reached a summit and were taking a few pictures when we realized we were not really at the top. We had just a little piece to go to get to the real top. It was quite a workout to get over all the rocks to the top, but it was well worth the hike when we finally arrived.
We spent about twenty minutes taking in the view and then exploring the site of the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society's telescopes. About 4:40 we headed down the mountain.
We moved faster than any of us was really comfortable with on the way down the rocky trail. We were all envisioning ourselves spraining an ankle or otherwise falling down the mountain, but we made it safely. It was rather dark when we finally got back to the car.
We came home and enjoyed the casserole that was in the oven, salad, and tiny cupcakes before going into the hot tub to relax our muscles and eat our dishes of fruit and yogurt. It was a great day, but we all want to do the intended 8 1/2 mile loop on another day when we have more daylight hours to do it.
After church yesterday, we ate our lunch at church and then picked up our two friends on the way home. We stopped in at home for a few minutes to place the casserole for supper in the oven, change clothes, and get the dog who was excited to go with us.
--all eager to get started--
We followed the directions we had to the trail head and started hiking. We were supposed to go around a yellow gate and in .52 miles be at the Appalachian Trail which we would follow for most of the 8 1/2 mile hike to Pulpit Rock and the Pinnacle and loop back to our starting point. We didn't get to the yellow gate. We walked a mile on a really nice bike trail and didn't find the Appalachian Trail. Finally, we turned around and walked back to our starting place. We knew this was the wrong trail. We looked at a map and decided to try another parking lot farther up the road. However, that was not the right trail either. We did meet two couples there who were familiar with the area and knew where we wanted to be. They gave us directions to the correct trail head, but also told us that there was no way we would be able to hike all the way to the Pinnacle and back before dark. We had lost too much time in finding the trail. We decided to try just Pulpit Rock this time.
--the view from about halfway up the mountain--
--we are going somewhere up that pile of rocks--
--Pulpit Rock juts out in the middle
of this picture taken from the false summit--
--group picture on the false summit--
--finally at the top!--
--well worth the hike!--
--Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society--
We came home and enjoyed the casserole that was in the oven, salad, and tiny cupcakes before going into the hot tub to relax our muscles and eat our dishes of fruit and yogurt. It was a great day, but we all want to do the intended 8 1/2 mile loop on another day when we have more daylight hours to do it.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Sanity Sustained
One week ago I was feeling a bit stressed and hoping to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. What a difference one week can make!
All the book reviews are graded (all 105 of them), lesson plans for all but one class are complete for the next week, the garden is cleaned out for the season, and this weekend should be refreshing although busy. We were home every evening but one. Mary started work every morning at 5 except for Monday and Wednesday. Those early mornings and being home in the evening have been a tremendous blessing.
Last Sunday afternoon we hiked Neversink Mountain with a group of friends. They were at our house for lunch (they each brought something to contribute), then we hiked the mountain; we came back and enjoyed a quickly thrown together supper of pizza and salad and whatever else we could find in the house and some relaxation time in the hot tub. The hot tub was intended to keep them from getting too stiff muscles from the rugged 4.5 mile hike we took them on first.
Monday morning I was all geared up to clean out the garden as soon as we got home, but it was raining. Tuesday it didn't happen either because we had plans right after work, but Wednesday we tore into it as soon as we were home and were finished in two hours. It is so nice to have that done. After school starts my garden is routinely and severely neglected.
Tonight is the BBQ Bash at school. I plan to be here most of the evening. Tomorrow we are both going to a seminar and then have to clean a section of the school. Sunday we should be able to relax again unless, of course, we make plans between now and then.
Anyway, my sanity has been sustained (thanks to help from several important study hall supervisors and newspaper staff) and the world looks brighter.
All the book reviews are graded (all 105 of them), lesson plans for all but one class are complete for the next week, the garden is cleaned out for the season, and this weekend should be refreshing although busy. We were home every evening but one. Mary started work every morning at 5 except for Monday and Wednesday. Those early mornings and being home in the evening have been a tremendous blessing.
Last Sunday afternoon we hiked Neversink Mountain with a group of friends. They were at our house for lunch (they each brought something to contribute), then we hiked the mountain; we came back and enjoyed a quickly thrown together supper of pizza and salad and whatever else we could find in the house and some relaxation time in the hot tub. The hot tub was intended to keep them from getting too stiff muscles from the rugged 4.5 mile hike we took them on first.
Monday morning I was all geared up to clean out the garden as soon as we got home, but it was raining. Tuesday it didn't happen either because we had plans right after work, but Wednesday we tore into it as soon as we were home and were finished in two hours. It is so nice to have that done. After school starts my garden is routinely and severely neglected.
Anyway, my sanity has been sustained (thanks to help from several important study hall supervisors and newspaper staff) and the world looks brighter.Friday, October 12, 2012
Going Crazy
The last few weeks have been crazy, and, I fear, they have had an adverse affect on me. We have been to the cabin the last two weekends to loaf; however, that did little to alleviate the work load that I have had. I am nearing the end of the first round of book reviews--a major cause of stress. In the last few weeks, I have had 105 book reviews to grade ranging in length from 2-10 pages. We are slightly more than one week away from the end of first quarter--another major cause of stress. I am a half lesson ahead of the students in two of my classes--a third stress factor. I must have the quarter final exams ready for next week--why am I spending any of my time writing a blog. . .
This week Mary has been starting at 5 AM each morning which gets me to school by 4:45 each day. I have made significant progress most days with that early start, but it has not allowed me to have the amount of sleep I would like. In addition to starting early, I have been trying to increase the length of time on the treadmill to walk off the excess calories I consumed over two cabin weekends. That has done little to avoid the sleep deprivation.
This weekend will not be a catch-up weekend at all. We are going to the Warmth and Light benefit supper this evening to enjoy a Russian meal and program, but only after we load the trailer for tomorrow. We plan to be at school Saturday morning by 5 AM to set up for the annual yard sale. We really hope to sell lots of the things that have been taking up space in the garage, shed, and enclosed trailer. When we get home from that we must do our cleaning and mow the lawn. I hope to finish grading book reviews some time on Saturday. Sunday morning we are going to another church for communion since we were not able to be at our own church for it. Then we are having company for lunch, followed by a hike up Neversink Mountain. I think we will crash Sunday evening.
Not all of life has been stress. Last Sunday was my birthday. This week I got a card that made me laugh. It is a parody of the "Red Hat" poem:
This week Mary has been starting at 5 AM each morning which gets me to school by 4:45 each day. I have made significant progress most days with that early start, but it has not allowed me to have the amount of sleep I would like. In addition to starting early, I have been trying to increase the length of time on the treadmill to walk off the excess calories I consumed over two cabin weekends. That has done little to avoid the sleep deprivation.
This weekend will not be a catch-up weekend at all. We are going to the Warmth and Light benefit supper this evening to enjoy a Russian meal and program, but only after we load the trailer for tomorrow. We plan to be at school Saturday morning by 5 AM to set up for the annual yard sale. We really hope to sell lots of the things that have been taking up space in the garage, shed, and enclosed trailer. When we get home from that we must do our cleaning and mow the lawn. I hope to finish grading book reviews some time on Saturday. Sunday morning we are going to another church for communion since we were not able to be at our own church for it. Then we are having company for lunch, followed by a hike up Neversink Mountain. I think we will crash Sunday evening.
Not all of life has been stress. Last Sunday was my birthday. This week I got a card that made me laugh. It is a parody of the "Red Hat" poem:
When I am an old cat I shall wear
a diamond collar and shall leave my footprints
on white couches; I shall drink my cream
with a touch of brandy and spit out my vitamins;
I shall sit on the laps of dog people
just to irritate them; I shall nap on top of the
neighbor's petunias and perch on top of
birdbaths and grow charmingly chubby.
But for now I must tolerate the dog
and use my litter box and not sharpen
my claws on the sofa, so no one can doubt
the truth that cats are superior to dogs.
But every once in a while I wonder
if I should be naughty now and then
and nip a few toes, so my humans
won't be too shocked when suddenly
I become an old cat and
start to wear a diamond collar.
I think I will postpone going crazy for now, but don't be surprised if I do a few crazy things along the way. . .Like last night when we were ready to go grocery shopping. I could not find my purse. That was a problem since my paycheck and all of our cash was in there. We decided I must have left it at school; we made a trip to school to look for it. It wasn't there. . . We searched at home again. Finally, I told Mary to call my cell phone so that we could find it. I knew my phone was in there and turned on. We heard it ringing but she had to call the second time before I could locate it in--of all places--a closet! What was it doing in the closet? Then I remembered that I was ready to go shopping before Mary was, had my purse on my shoulded, decided to get something out of the hall closet, my purse fell off my shoulder and I set it down. I never picked it up again. . . until an hour later.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Diet Pays Off
Just a little over a year ago, my insurance company said they would insure me, but they were charging me 80% more for my premiums because of my weight; I could appeal the rate increase in one year. That was the motivation and the deadline I needed to really work on losing weight. I had lost about 20 pounds before that, but had hit a plateau. It has been a battle between calories consumed and calories burned ever since.
In August I started checking into what I needed to do to have my rates reduced. When I was at the doctor for my regular appointment, I had him sign a statement of my height and weight as of that date. I completed all the necessary application papers, but then waited to mail them until it was more than a year since my passing out episode. I mailed them the beginning of this month. A few days later I received an e-mail asking for an explanation for the claims I had due to the fainting. I thought maybe it sounded good to them that I fainted because I was trying to lose weight--evidence that I really was trying to do what they wanted me to do, wasn't it? I didn't hear any more from them until today.
Today I have reaped one of the rewards of that effort: denying myself food I would have enjoyed, walking miles and miles (wearing out a pair of shoes in the process), and filling out all the forms they requested. When I got the mail today, there was a check from my insurance company. It was a refund for 30% of my premium increase. That gives me about $77 a month for something else. I have already reworked my budget and applied it to a different category that was weak and needy. We shall strengthen the feeble.
This does not end the calorie counting. I am still paying 50% more than I should be for insurance. Once again, I can appeal the rate increase in one year. So I have another goal and another deadline. I hope that a year from now I am at my goal and not paying anything extra. But, right now I want to eat something and not walk an extra three miles to burn it. Anybody for celery sticks? Just wondering . . . Are there celery sticks that taste like chocolate peanut butter ice cream?
In August I started checking into what I needed to do to have my rates reduced. When I was at the doctor for my regular appointment, I had him sign a statement of my height and weight as of that date. I completed all the necessary application papers, but then waited to mail them until it was more than a year since my passing out episode. I mailed them the beginning of this month. A few days later I received an e-mail asking for an explanation for the claims I had due to the fainting. I thought maybe it sounded good to them that I fainted because I was trying to lose weight--evidence that I really was trying to do what they wanted me to do, wasn't it? I didn't hear any more from them until today.
Today I have reaped one of the rewards of that effort: denying myself food I would have enjoyed, walking miles and miles (wearing out a pair of shoes in the process), and filling out all the forms they requested. When I got the mail today, there was a check from my insurance company. It was a refund for 30% of my premium increase. That gives me about $77 a month for something else. I have already reworked my budget and applied it to a different category that was weak and needy. We shall strengthen the feeble.
This does not end the calorie counting. I am still paying 50% more than I should be for insurance. Once again, I can appeal the rate increase in one year. So I have another goal and another deadline. I hope that a year from now I am at my goal and not paying anything extra. But, right now I want to eat something and not walk an extra three miles to burn it. Anybody for celery sticks? Just wondering . . . Are there celery sticks that taste like chocolate peanut butter ice cream?
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Lessons Learned
Monday I gave one of my classes their first test. They didn't do very well on two of the sections: composition and Dewey decimal. I know they will be faced with questions from the same sections in at least three more tests this year: end of quarter, end of semester, and end of year. If they don't know the information now, they will struggle with those sections every time the rest of the year. So, I devised a plan. They will have a quiz on those two sections every day until they learn them. As soon as they know them, I will stop the daily quizzes and give them one maybe weekly for a while just to be sure it goes into their long term memories. I hope they learn that lesson soon or I will get very tired of making multiple versions of the same quiz.
Last evening we walked from school to Shady Maple Smorgasbord for supper. It was seafood night and Mary was due a free meal for her birthday. We decided to walk from school to Shady and then back to school so that we would burn off some of the calories we ate. I enjoyed the meal tremendously and wished I had room to taste a few more types of seafood. I wanted some grilled salmon but simply didn't have the room for it. You have to understand that since I have been losing weight, I simply do not eat as much as I used to. By the time I stopped last evening, I had not eaten as much as I did other times that I was at Shady, but I realized that I had eaten too much. The walk back to school was kind of miserable but was probably the best thing I could have done.
Why do I write about these two seemingly different topics? I think there is a connection. Just as my class didn't do too well on the test of Dewey decimal and composition, I didn't do too well with the test on my control of my eating. I will have to have to learn my lesson well before I am faced with another birthday celebration in three weeks. I will be quizzing myself with every meal between now and then.
Last evening we walked from school to Shady Maple Smorgasbord for supper. It was seafood night and Mary was due a free meal for her birthday. We decided to walk from school to Shady and then back to school so that we would burn off some of the calories we ate. I enjoyed the meal tremendously and wished I had room to taste a few more types of seafood. I wanted some grilled salmon but simply didn't have the room for it. You have to understand that since I have been losing weight, I simply do not eat as much as I used to. By the time I stopped last evening, I had not eaten as much as I did other times that I was at Shady, but I realized that I had eaten too much. The walk back to school was kind of miserable but was probably the best thing I could have done.
Why do I write about these two seemingly different topics? I think there is a connection. Just as my class didn't do too well on the test of Dewey decimal and composition, I didn't do too well with the test on my control of my eating. I will have to have to learn my lesson well before I am faced with another birthday celebration in three weeks. I will be quizzing myself with every meal between now and then.
Monday, September 03, 2012
Third Annual Apple Butter Boil
We gathered with our apple sauce and sugar in hand. The fire was already going and the copper kettle hot when we arrived. It was set up inside the shed again this year because of the constant threat of rain all day.
We all sit around the fire watching it cook and taking turns stirring the kettle. It is a relaxing way to spend the holiday. This year we added making s'mores to the festivities.
By lunch time we had finished cooking the apple butter and took it off the fire to cool while we ate our lunch. After lunch we divided our portions and went home again. Our portion was twelve half pints and nine pints of apple butter from the two gallons of apple sauce we contributed to the cause.
It was a success once again. The time spent together is worth as much or more than the apple butter.
We all sit around the fire watching it cook and taking turns stirring the kettle. It is a relaxing way to spend the holiday. This year we added making s'mores to the festivities.
By lunch time we had finished cooking the apple butter and took it off the fire to cool while we ate our lunch. After lunch we divided our portions and went home again. Our portion was twelve half pints and nine pints of apple butter from the two gallons of apple sauce we contributed to the cause.
It was a success once again. The time spent together is worth as much or more than the apple butter.
Sunday, September 02, 2012
New Shoes
This week I replaced the shoes I bought in February. Those were worn out--completely. It doesn't seem like I had them all that long, but I put many miles on them in the months I had them AND never liked them. They were on the clearance shelf at Weaver's Store, and I thought they were a good deal. Reebok brand. It took me weeks to get used to them. I never wore them to hike Old Rag which was the trip I bought them for in the first place. Now, they were shot. The soles were paper thin. The insides were in shreds. Like I said, they were worn out.
I replaced them with a brand new pair of Sketchers sport. I liked these better on their maiden voyage from home to Allegheny Meetinghouse on Thursday evening than I ever liked the Reeboks. One day this week my students were asking me about my walking excursions. I raised the question about how many miles shoes are rated for lasting. You know tires are rated for 60000 miles or whatever. How about shoes? I told them that I may walk 25 miles in a week. They figured out that if I walk 25 miles every week, I will walk over 1000 miles in a year. Are these 1000 miles shoes? We will see.
I replaced them with a brand new pair of Sketchers sport. I liked these better on their maiden voyage from home to Allegheny Meetinghouse on Thursday evening than I ever liked the Reeboks. One day this week my students were asking me about my walking excursions. I raised the question about how many miles shoes are rated for lasting. You know tires are rated for 60000 miles or whatever. How about shoes? I told them that I may walk 25 miles in a week. They figured out that if I walk 25 miles every week, I will walk over 1000 miles in a year. Are these 1000 miles shoes? We will see.
Monday, August 20, 2012
I lived.
So what are you going to do this summer? (tone of voice implies that the speaker is envious of three months of VACATION!) Do you get a summer job? (tone of voice implies that the speaker assumes either that I do or that I should) Do you have any trips planned? (again tone of voice implies the speaker expects to hear of some exotic trip around the world: a cruise to the Carribbean, followed by a safari in Africa, followed by perusing bookstores in London or exploring castles in Europe, and maybe just throw in a visit to the penguins in Antarctica).
Those are the questions people ask at the beginning of the summer--the beginning of every summer. It was a busy summer, but I didn't do any of the things most people expect school teachers to do with ALL that EXTRA time in the summer.
I didn't do anything spectacular. I mowed lawn; I weeded flower beds; I did some housecleaning; I had a garden that I tried to get a few vegetables from before the wildlife ate it all off (that was my version of a safari). I removed the daily dirt and grime from my house a few times(castle explorations). I made a few dresses for myself and for Mary (after having done the yearly mending). I went to about a dozen weddings. I read through the Bible (perusing of books). I went to prison a few times (nearest I got to visiting the penguins--they all wear the same thing in cold, hard surroundings). Simply stated: I lived a fairly normal life this summer. That was a blessing.
I guess you can say I had a summer job. I scrubbed and waxed the floors at school again (that was the nearest I got to a cruise--walking around on wet floors all day). I put in between 90-100 hours doing it. The board seemed happy enough with the job to pay me what we had agreed upon two years ago. Maybe I should have more of a summer job, but when would I ever get the things done that wait for summer? The flexibility of this job is a blessing.
I didn't go on any trips, in fact, I was not so much as out of the state this summer. It has been a homebody kind of summer. I have enough debt on my house to keep me from spending for big trips or cruises like some people do. And it isn't getting paid off very fast since I don't earn what I could with an Ed.D.; but I am content with where God has called me, and I'll keep plugging away at the debt. Having a home and contentedly being there is a blessing.
So, I didn't do anything spectacular, I wasn't committed to a regular work schedule, I didn't go on any trips. What DID I do with the summer?
I lived; I worked; and I hope I blessed others with some of my time. Now, on Thursday, school starts again and people will know what I do from 8AM-3PM Monday-Friday. A few people will know that it IS what I do most of the time from 5AM-9 or 10PM Monday-Saturday. But, I will still be asked, "What did you do this summer?" I think my answer will be, "I lived. What did you do?"
FYI - I was not incarcerated. I went to prison for Bible studies on Friday evenings and those ladies wish they were home living a normal kind of life. I'm beginning to think the normal kind of life I live isn't really all that normal. I've been blessed.
Those are the questions people ask at the beginning of the summer--the beginning of every summer. It was a busy summer, but I didn't do any of the things most people expect school teachers to do with ALL that EXTRA time in the summer.
I didn't do anything spectacular. I mowed lawn; I weeded flower beds; I did some housecleaning; I had a garden that I tried to get a few vegetables from before the wildlife ate it all off (that was my version of a safari). I removed the daily dirt and grime from my house a few times(castle explorations). I made a few dresses for myself and for Mary (after having done the yearly mending). I went to about a dozen weddings. I read through the Bible (perusing of books). I went to prison a few times (nearest I got to visiting the penguins--they all wear the same thing in cold, hard surroundings). Simply stated: I lived a fairly normal life this summer. That was a blessing.
I guess you can say I had a summer job. I scrubbed and waxed the floors at school again (that was the nearest I got to a cruise--walking around on wet floors all day). I put in between 90-100 hours doing it. The board seemed happy enough with the job to pay me what we had agreed upon two years ago. Maybe I should have more of a summer job, but when would I ever get the things done that wait for summer? The flexibility of this job is a blessing.
I didn't go on any trips, in fact, I was not so much as out of the state this summer. It has been a homebody kind of summer. I have enough debt on my house to keep me from spending for big trips or cruises like some people do. And it isn't getting paid off very fast since I don't earn what I could with an Ed.D.; but I am content with where God has called me, and I'll keep plugging away at the debt. Having a home and contentedly being there is a blessing.
So, I didn't do anything spectacular, I wasn't committed to a regular work schedule, I didn't go on any trips. What DID I do with the summer?
I lived; I worked; and I hope I blessed others with some of my time. Now, on Thursday, school starts again and people will know what I do from 8AM-3PM Monday-Friday. A few people will know that it IS what I do most of the time from 5AM-9 or 10PM Monday-Saturday. But, I will still be asked, "What did you do this summer?" I think my answer will be, "I lived. What did you do?"
FYI - I was not incarcerated. I went to prison for Bible studies on Friday evenings and those ladies wish they were home living a normal kind of life. I'm beginning to think the normal kind of life I live isn't really all that normal. I've been blessed.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Mid-summer Post
With my summer vacation half over, it is a good time to evaluate how far I have gotten with my summer projects: housecleaning, sewing, school prep, and summer job.
Housecleaning -- I have completed the housecleaning on the main floor of the house with the exception of the library. I have my reasons for not completing that at this point.
Sewing -- I have finished five dresses and have another one cut. There are two more pieces of fabric waiting to be done. I have also made the new curtain for my classroom.
School prep -- I am mostly on schedule with that although there is more to be done in the next month or so.
Summer job -- This morning I finished scrubbing and waxing the floors after pulling an all-nighter to do that last section. This evening I am going back in to put things back in place in that section, clean up the floor machine, buckets, and mops, and to write my annual report of supplies used, supplies remaining, and time spent. That will complete the summer job again for this year.
I think I am on schedule for this point in the summer, but I know I will not get everything done that I had hoped to do this summer. That never happens.
Housecleaning -- I have completed the housecleaning on the main floor of the house with the exception of the library. I have my reasons for not completing that at this point.
Sewing -- I have finished five dresses and have another one cut. There are two more pieces of fabric waiting to be done. I have also made the new curtain for my classroom.
School prep -- I am mostly on schedule with that although there is more to be done in the next month or so.
Summer job -- This morning I finished scrubbing and waxing the floors after pulling an all-nighter to do that last section. This evening I am going back in to put things back in place in that section, clean up the floor machine, buckets, and mops, and to write my annual report of supplies used, supplies remaining, and time spent. That will complete the summer job again for this year.
I think I am on schedule for this point in the summer, but I know I will not get everything done that I had hoped to do this summer. That never happens.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Summer Job Revisited
Once again I am scrubbing and waxing floors for my summer job. I like my summer job in spite of the fact that it is extremely hard work. I don't need the sympathy of people who say five or six or maybe nine or ten times, "I'm sorry" when they hear I am scrubbing and waxing floors again.
My job has its advantages.
1) I can start whenever I wish. Three days so far I have started about 4 AM to beat the heat.
2) I can quit whenever I wish. If I want to go home at 10:30, so what. If I stay until 2, who cares.
3) I don't have to tell anyone when I am going to be there and when I am not going to be there. Now, there may be a few exceptions since they depend on me to have the door unlocked if the plumber is coming to do some repairs or the UPS truck is bringing scads of boxes filled with textbooks for next year.
4) I can take a break (even a nap) whenever I wish and don't have to keep track of the time.
I like my summer job because it allows me a freedom in my schedule that few jobs allow. My only requirement is that I get the job done before school cleaning begins in August. That takes about 100 hours sometime in July. So far this year we have about 65 hours on the job. (Mary took two vacation days to help me get a jump start on the job.) I should be able to finish next week.
1) I can start whenever I wish. Three days so far I have started about 4 AM to beat the heat.
2) I can quit whenever I wish. If I want to go home at 10:30, so what. If I stay until 2, who cares.
3) I don't have to tell anyone when I am going to be there and when I am not going to be there. Now, there may be a few exceptions since they depend on me to have the door unlocked if the plumber is coming to do some repairs or the UPS truck is bringing scads of boxes filled with textbooks for next year.
4) I can take a break (even a nap) whenever I wish and don't have to keep track of the time.
I like my summer job because it allows me a freedom in my schedule that few jobs allow. My only requirement is that I get the job done before school cleaning begins in August. That takes about 100 hours sometime in July. So far this year we have about 65 hours on the job. (Mary took two vacation days to help me get a jump start on the job.) I should be able to finish next week.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Grey Lane Dress Shop Reopened
We started the summer with no dress fabric on hand. I was saying that I wasn't going to do as much sewing as I did last year. Well, maybe not quite.
Several weeks ago I went shopping for wedding gifts to keep me supplied for the wedding invitations that are currently hanging on the bulletin board for this summer. While I was shopping anyway, I decided to look at the fabric. After all, I did have time to do a little sewing this summer. Let it suffice to say that I came home with five wedding gifts and three pieces of fabric.
Last week Mary discovered that I was in the mood for sewing and thought I had time to do some for her too. She went fabric shopping and came home with four pieces for some new work dresses. She has been throwing some of her old rags away finally.
Last week I also decided this summer would be a good time to make new curtains for my classroom. I made a stop at Goodville Fabric Outlet yesterday and spent $7 for new curtain fabric.
Dresses #1 and #2 are now in progress. I hope to have at least one of them finished by this evening. I will need to get some current measurements from Mary before I can finish hers. Since she has been losing weight, the measurements I had are no longer valid. I have the curtains cut, but I want to double check on some of the measurements there too.
As I work on the dresses, I am grateful again for the customized patterns Ann made for us several years ago. They make sewing so much more enjoyable.
Several weeks ago I went shopping for wedding gifts to keep me supplied for the wedding invitations that are currently hanging on the bulletin board for this summer. While I was shopping anyway, I decided to look at the fabric. After all, I did have time to do a little sewing this summer. Let it suffice to say that I came home with five wedding gifts and three pieces of fabric.
Last week Mary discovered that I was in the mood for sewing and thought I had time to do some for her too. She went fabric shopping and came home with four pieces for some new work dresses. She has been throwing some of her old rags away finally.
Last week I also decided this summer would be a good time to make new curtains for my classroom. I made a stop at Goodville Fabric Outlet yesterday and spent $7 for new curtain fabric.
Dresses #1 and #2 are now in progress. I hope to have at least one of them finished by this evening. I will need to get some current measurements from Mary before I can finish hers. Since she has been losing weight, the measurements I had are no longer valid. I have the curtains cut, but I want to double check on some of the measurements there too.
As I work on the dresses, I am grateful again for the customized patterns Ann made for us several years ago. They make sewing so much more enjoyable.
Friday, June 08, 2012
Diet & Exercise
More years ago than I wish to remember, I crossed the last frontier in weight gain. Then I stayed at that point for a long, long time. I was not really gaining any more weight, but neither was I losing any. Sometimes I would attempt a diet and lose a few pounds, but they always came back on within weeks.
About two years ago I got a bit more serious about it and lost twenty pounds. Those twenty stayed off, but it was a constant battle to keep it that way. I had reached a plateau. But I had backed away from the last frontier and was going to stay away.
Last summer when I had to find my own health insurance, my weight caused a problem. I was turned down by two insurance companies. And that was after I had lost twenty pounds! The third company accepted me but told me they were charging me 80% more for my premium because of my weight. That put my health insurance premium skyhigh. Speak of providing motivation.
Last August I was determined to get off that plateau. I decided that when school starts I will cut back on what I eat. Isn't that how a person loses weight? Well, that landed me in the hospital for two days because I passed out in the morning when I was getting ready for school. I told them right away that I hadn't eaten enough the day before. They determined there was nothing wrong with me. I thought my blood sugar had probably dropped, but they didn't think that was happening either.
Still determined to get off the plateau, I decided that there are two ways to lose weight. The other is to increase the exercise. I doubled what I was doing on the treadmill. I started getting the same light-headed feeling that I had when I hadn't eaten enough. I was stuck on the plateau.
It seemed hopeless to lose weight until one lady at church suggested that I may be low in iron. Now, that made sense. There have been times in my life before when I was low in iron. I clearly remember playing softball in phys. ed. class in tenth grade. I hated to play because by the time I swung the bat to hit the ball, I was too dizzy to see first base let alone RUN to it. The teacher thought I was making up excuses for not playing until the day I swung the bat, hit the ball, and promptly passed out at home plate. There were days when I was a teen that I would sleep for 12-14 hours a night and still be tired all the time. So a bit of anemia made sense.
I took a few iron tablets for a few weeks and went back to the full exercise program. That got me off the plateau. The middle of March I started counting calories and tracking my exercise using Livestrong.com. Since then, my weight kept bobbing up and down because there are always events coming up that make it hard to count the calories (writers conference, senior girls weekend, Grenada, the end of school treats on the faculty table, etc); but I have managed to have more losses than gains. I lost another 20 pounds. I have lost weight that I have been carrying around for probably twenty years.
I am not at my goal. In fact, I have a long way to reach my goal. Walking works. I hiked Old Rag Mountain. I have walked the seven miles home from school. I have walked an 8-mile circle from here to Adamstown and back. I frequently walk 3-4 miles a day. I learned to enjoy walking outside in the beautiful weather we have had this spring. If the weather isn't ideal for walking outside, I have the treadmill and can do 3-4 miles on there. The other day I was planning to use the treadmill because there was a threatening thunderstorm overhead. I was hunting for my ipod because I said that when I walk outside God provides the entertainment, but when I use the treadmill I have to provide my own.
From my observation, I will just have to continue eating my thousand calories and burning my thousand calories to continue the downward trend I started. I am not ready for another plateau.
About two years ago I got a bit more serious about it and lost twenty pounds. Those twenty stayed off, but it was a constant battle to keep it that way. I had reached a plateau. But I had backed away from the last frontier and was going to stay away.
Last summer when I had to find my own health insurance, my weight caused a problem. I was turned down by two insurance companies. And that was after I had lost twenty pounds! The third company accepted me but told me they were charging me 80% more for my premium because of my weight. That put my health insurance premium skyhigh. Speak of providing motivation.
Last August I was determined to get off that plateau. I decided that when school starts I will cut back on what I eat. Isn't that how a person loses weight? Well, that landed me in the hospital for two days because I passed out in the morning when I was getting ready for school. I told them right away that I hadn't eaten enough the day before. They determined there was nothing wrong with me. I thought my blood sugar had probably dropped, but they didn't think that was happening either.
Still determined to get off the plateau, I decided that there are two ways to lose weight. The other is to increase the exercise. I doubled what I was doing on the treadmill. I started getting the same light-headed feeling that I had when I hadn't eaten enough. I was stuck on the plateau.
It seemed hopeless to lose weight until one lady at church suggested that I may be low in iron. Now, that made sense. There have been times in my life before when I was low in iron. I clearly remember playing softball in phys. ed. class in tenth grade. I hated to play because by the time I swung the bat to hit the ball, I was too dizzy to see first base let alone RUN to it. The teacher thought I was making up excuses for not playing until the day I swung the bat, hit the ball, and promptly passed out at home plate. There were days when I was a teen that I would sleep for 12-14 hours a night and still be tired all the time. So a bit of anemia made sense.
I took a few iron tablets for a few weeks and went back to the full exercise program. That got me off the plateau. The middle of March I started counting calories and tracking my exercise using Livestrong.com. Since then, my weight kept bobbing up and down because there are always events coming up that make it hard to count the calories (writers conference, senior girls weekend, Grenada, the end of school treats on the faculty table, etc); but I have managed to have more losses than gains. I lost another 20 pounds. I have lost weight that I have been carrying around for probably twenty years.
I am not at my goal. In fact, I have a long way to reach my goal. Walking works. I hiked Old Rag Mountain. I have walked the seven miles home from school. I have walked an 8-mile circle from here to Adamstown and back. I frequently walk 3-4 miles a day. I learned to enjoy walking outside in the beautiful weather we have had this spring. If the weather isn't ideal for walking outside, I have the treadmill and can do 3-4 miles on there. The other day I was planning to use the treadmill because there was a threatening thunderstorm overhead. I was hunting for my ipod because I said that when I walk outside God provides the entertainment, but when I use the treadmill I have to provide my own.
From my observation, I will just have to continue eating my thousand calories and burning my thousand calories to continue the downward trend I started. I am not ready for another plateau.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Dress Shop Closed Until Further Notice
Each summer I attempt to get a little sewing done because (1) I never have time to do much if any sewing during the school year (2) sewing is not a favorite hobby (3) by the time I get the mending done, I am frustrated enough with the idea of sewing.
This summer as I was housecleaning the closet in the library I realized how much fabric was waiting to be made into dresses. Before I got started sewing, Romaine gave me another piece for my birthday (which isn't until October). I decided that sewing had become a priority for the summer. Making that decision brought me to the realization that I had just two weeks to do it before it is time to begin the summer job of stripping and waxing floors. I set my goal to be finished by the end of June. I counted out the pieces of fabrics and discovered there were nine--three of mine and six of Mary's.
I started with cutting one for each of us and sewing them at the same time. I thought it seemed to go faster that way. By the end of the first week, I had four dresses finished and one more only needed buttons on the sleeves. I was working on dress #7 when I found another piece of fabric in a box in the basement. I have no idea why it was there, but there it was. It must have been in that box when we moved six years ago because I know someone had given it to Mary before we moved.
The three to the left are mine. The other seven are Mary's. The last three on the right are new work dresses for her. Maybe she can get rid of some of the rags she has been wearing. Four of the pieces of fabric were given to us. Three of them Mary bought at a yardsale for $1 a yard.
This morning I finished dress #10. Tomorrow is July 1, and I begin scrubbing floors.
This summer as I was housecleaning the closet in the library I realized how much fabric was waiting to be made into dresses. Before I got started sewing, Romaine gave me another piece for my birthday (which isn't until October). I decided that sewing had become a priority for the summer. Making that decision brought me to the realization that I had just two weeks to do it before it is time to begin the summer job of stripping and waxing floors. I set my goal to be finished by the end of June. I counted out the pieces of fabrics and discovered there were nine--three of mine and six of Mary's.
I started with cutting one for each of us and sewing them at the same time. I thought it seemed to go faster that way. By the end of the first week, I had four dresses finished and one more only needed buttons on the sleeves. I was working on dress #7 when I found another piece of fabric in a box in the basement. I have no idea why it was there, but there it was. It must have been in that box when we moved six years ago because I know someone had given it to Mary before we moved.
The three to the left are mine. The other seven are Mary's. The last three on the right are new work dresses for her. Maybe she can get rid of some of the rags she has been wearing. Four of the pieces of fabric were given to us. Three of them Mary bought at a yardsale for $1 a yard.
This morning I finished dress #10. Tomorrow is July 1, and I begin scrubbing floors.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Bible Quizzing 2011
My blog has long been neglected. I decided to post about Bible Quizzing although that isn't the only thing I have been doing since I last posted.
Keeping Score
Last fall the principal asked me if I would be interested in coaching a quiz team this year. He knew that I liked going to the quizzes whenever I had half a chance, but I had never coached before. I told him that I would be interested, but I didn't know anything about coaching. He promised that he would give me a team of quizzers who knew what they were doing and they could teach me.
We were the THMH Adventurers.
There were seven other teams from THMH: Encouragers, Vision, Divers, Lights, Earthquakers, Glorified, and, of course, the Confused.
The Encouragers
The Divers
The Lights
The Earthquakers
The Glorified
The Confused
Keeping ScoreLast fall the principal asked me if I would be interested in coaching a quiz team this year. He knew that I liked going to the quizzes whenever I had half a chance, but I had never coached before. I told him that I would be interested, but I didn't know anything about coaching. He promised that he would give me a team of quizzers who knew what they were doing and they could teach me.
We started quiz practices and eventually I got my team of three senior guys. They were self-motivated and knew how to quiz. They memorized Acts 13-20 and were all able to quote the entire passage in one sitting with almost no errors--that is about 300 verses! I learned a lot from them and had fun with them.
We were the THMH Adventurers.There were seven other teams from THMH: Encouragers, Vision, Divers, Lights, Earthquakers, Glorified, and, of course, the Confused.
The EncouragersVision
The Divers The LightsThe EarthquakersThe GlorifiedThe Confused Thursday, September 23, 2010
Refinancing Saga
August 31 we applied to refinance our mortgage with the bank that currently holds the mortgage. September 9 we got a call to set up the appraisal for September 13 at 1 P.M. The same day the mortgage officer from the bank told us to have the property in tip top shape for the appraisal. That found us painting, grooming the drive, weeding and mulching flower beds, and doing other miscellaneous clean up projects Friday evening and Saturday. We worked from 6 A.M. until 11 P.M. and did not take many breaks even for eating. We each had a banana about 8 A.M., a sandwich about 2 P.M. and a bowl of soup about 9:30 P.M. We rested on Sunday. Monday morning we were up at 2 A.M. to clean the main floor and basement of the house. By the time we left for work at 6 A.M., the place was ready for the appraiser.
This week:
Day 1 -- we received an e-mail from the bank. "The appraiser has concerns about the non conforming use of the property due to the print shop. The appraiser contacted the township and according to our rules and regs pertaining to the secondary market your home is not legal for their purposes. This only means that it does not fit the parameters for the low rates and that's why your home mortgage has remained with **********Bank. It is not a sellable loan, therefore, I cannot pursue this refinance any further. . . You could refinance within ***********Bank but when a loan remains 'in house' as we call it, rates are not that attractive and it would not behoove you to spend the money. So sorry ladies..."
Day 2 -- I e-mailed the bank: "OK, that raises some questions for us. 1) non conforming use -- How is it non conforming? Non conforming to what? 2) township--what did the township say that disqualified us? 3) rules and regs pertain to the secondary market -- in what way is our home not legal for their purposes?
The bank e-mailed us: "It is non conforming due to commercial use being a print shop. The secondary market does not allow for any use other than residential. . . The township merely confirmed that it is commercial in nature, they know it exists and that's OK, but not for secondary financing....Does that answer your questions. Let me know.
We contacted another local bank about refinancing.
Day 3 -- I e-mailed the bank: "That does answer our questions. We may look into other possibilities.
The bank e-mailed us: "Our corporate office ...had the underwriter review the portion of the appraisal that was done by the appraiser. We may proceed with your refinance providing: that the appraiser finds 1 or 2 comparable properties that have sold and settled that are like your property. Statement that the use of the garage is legal as per the township zoning officer. Statement indicating that the garage can easily be converted back to a normal garage. I'll keep you posted so just hang in there.
We complete the refinance application with the second local bank.
Day 4 -- I e-mailed the bank: Hmmm now that raises more questions and these are more along the lines of ethics. If it were not legal two days ago, how is it legal today? If it is legal, why were we told it is illegal?
I am waiting to see what the Lord has in store for us.
This week:
Day 1 -- we received an e-mail from the bank. "The appraiser has concerns about the non conforming use of the property due to the print shop. The appraiser contacted the township and according to our rules and regs pertaining to the secondary market your home is not legal for their purposes. This only means that it does not fit the parameters for the low rates and that's why your home mortgage has remained with **********Bank. It is not a sellable loan, therefore, I cannot pursue this refinance any further. . . You could refinance within ***********Bank but when a loan remains 'in house' as we call it, rates are not that attractive and it would not behoove you to spend the money. So sorry ladies..."
Day 2 -- I e-mailed the bank: "OK, that raises some questions for us. 1) non conforming use -- How is it non conforming? Non conforming to what? 2) township--what did the township say that disqualified us? 3) rules and regs pertain to the secondary market -- in what way is our home not legal for their purposes?
The bank e-mailed us: "It is non conforming due to commercial use being a print shop. The secondary market does not allow for any use other than residential. . . The township merely confirmed that it is commercial in nature, they know it exists and that's OK, but not for secondary financing....Does that answer your questions. Let me know.
We contacted another local bank about refinancing.
Day 3 -- I e-mailed the bank: "That does answer our questions. We may look into other possibilities.
The bank e-mailed us: "Our corporate office ...had the underwriter review the portion of the appraisal that was done by the appraiser. We may proceed with your refinance providing: that the appraiser finds 1 or 2 comparable properties that have sold and settled that are like your property. Statement that the use of the garage is legal as per the township zoning officer. Statement indicating that the garage can easily be converted back to a normal garage. I'll keep you posted so just hang in there.
We complete the refinance application with the second local bank.
Day 4 -- I e-mailed the bank: Hmmm now that raises more questions and these are more along the lines of ethics. If it were not legal two days ago, how is it legal today? If it is legal, why were we told it is illegal?
I am waiting to see what the Lord has in store for us.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Vacation - 2010
After I finished scrubbing the floors at school, it was time for my vacation. Most summers I take a few days to return to Virginia and visit people that I don't normally visit when I go for a weekend. Mary stayed home to work and take care of the home fires while I roamed about the Shenandoah valley.
My first stop was with Joel & Bonnie in Maryland on my way to Virginia. I arrived about 10 AM and stayed for lunch. My next stop was in Bridgewater with the lady who had been my supervisor on my work/study job in the library at JMU. We have stayed in touch throughout the years and this was the second time I visited her on one of these summer trips.
My next stop was the highlight of the three days. In 1979 when I moved to Virginia, I was working at CLP with Doug Cyzick. He and his wife Reba frequently invited some of his coworkers to their house for an evening. I learned to know Reba and their seven children. Since then, Doug has left the family and is currently living in Tennessee. His children have grown up. His wife is remarried. He has quite a few grandchildren. But, I had not seen the family since 1985 when I moved back to Pennsylvania. A year ago I noticed the one daughter's name on facebook and began communicating with her. She told me that she and her siblings would like to see me sometime when I come to the area. The beginning of the summer I told her that I will be coming sometime this summer. It took me until the beginning of August to get that accomplished. Wednesday evening the Cyzick family got together for a potluck supper because I was in the area. I was glad Regina had posted pictures of everyone on facebook so that I could recognize them when I got there on Wednesday. Here is a picture of Reba and the Cyzick children as I remember them. Next is one of Reba and her seven children today. The last one is Reba and her husband Garry, the seven children and their spouses (not all of them could be there) and their children.
My first stop was with Joel & Bonnie in Maryland on my way to Virginia. I arrived about 10 AM and stayed for lunch. My next stop was in Bridgewater with the lady who had been my supervisor on my work/study job in the library at JMU. We have stayed in touch throughout the years and this was the second time I visited her on one of these summer trips.
My next stop was the highlight of the three days. In 1979 when I moved to Virginia, I was working at CLP with Doug Cyzick. He and his wife Reba frequently invited some of his coworkers to their house for an evening. I learned to know Reba and their seven children. Since then, Doug has left the family and is currently living in Tennessee. His children have grown up. His wife is remarried. He has quite a few grandchildren. But, I had not seen the family since 1985 when I moved back to Pennsylvania. A year ago I noticed the one daughter's name on facebook and began communicating with her. She told me that she and her siblings would like to see me sometime when I come to the area. The beginning of the summer I told her that I will be coming sometime this summer. It took me until the beginning of August to get that accomplished. Wednesday evening the Cyzick family got together for a potluck supper because I was in the area. I was glad Regina had posted pictures of everyone on facebook so that I could recognize them when I got there on Wednesday. Here is a picture of Reba and the Cyzick children as I remember them. Next is one of Reba and her seven children today. The last one is Reba and her husband Garry, the seven children and their spouses (not all of them could be there) and their children.
Back row Shannon, Amy and Jody,
Front row: Andy, Ethel, Reba holding Stephanie, and Regina
Andy, Ethel, Stephanie, Reba, Amy, Regina, Jody, and Shannon
Thursday I went for breakfast with Sharon, a friend from my Rosedale days (1977-1979), who lives in Harrisonburg. Then I went to CLP and took a tour of the place guided by one of my friend Sarah's nieces. It was interesting to see all the changes that have been made since the mid 1980s. I also saw several people who were working there when I did and are still working there. From there I went to Rockingham Memorial Hospital to the Hahn Cancer Center and sat with Sarah while she finished chemo treatment #2. On our way home from the hospital we stopped at Costco and Walmart to get some of her prescriptions filled. One of those was for Emend, an anti-nausea medication, that Mary had also taken. We always wondered how much it cost because Mary's co-pay was $100 for three pills. Sarah does not have medical insurance so I found out how much it really is. Each pill costs just over $100. In the evening I went to visit Ralph and Evelyn Landes.
Friday morning I spent an hour with Hilda Harlow. She was as entertaining as always. She was talking about her dog that she had before she moved to the retirement community. She said, "Heather was everybody's friend. She was friends with all the burglars and everybody. I never had any burglars, but she would have been friends with them." She was also telling me that she has more money now than she did before she fired herself (retired). That's Hilda--unique and entertaining. On my way home, I stopped at the United Zion Campground near Manheim to help Mary Martin cook for the Youth Conference there. After supper, I came home and started unpacking.
Vacation is over, but I have a lot of pleasant memories from all the visiting I did with friends from 1977-1985. Today I am trying to catch up from being gone for three days, and Monday I will be going to school to begin the process of getting ready for the students to return in less than three weeks.
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