Well, as soon as the Easter Bunny finishes his thing tomorrow before most people head off to church to "celebrate" the real reason for the holiday, spring break will have officially ended and rig-a-marow of work will dawn once again.
Yesterday, I was invited to go see a movie - the Surfer one where the professional surfer teenage girl got her arm bit off by a shark and how she overcame that to become a surfing champion with one arm - can't remember the name. It was a GREAT story - and a very CLEAN movie. It's been so long since a decent movie was played in a theater.
Last night, after being locked up at home most of the week being all lonely and bored and avoiding most things productive, I called Loralie to meet me at a Salad Bar we frequent for some much needed spinach and vegetables on a plate. I was grateful to catch her before she made it to the mall! I've missed working out with her this week and look forward to getting back into a good routine with her again!! She is always so positive and realistic - I love that I can just be me and it's ok. (Are you reading this, Loralie???)
I'm also grateful for another friend today - one I feel I haven't seen in forever although she lives 2 streets over. Susie offered up my photography skills to the Stewarts for their big family picture which we attempted to do at the park today. It was fun trying to get all the little grandkids to look in the right places and to try and get some good shots for them. I think out of my 70+ shots, only 3 were really usable due to so many people! Thank goodness Susie was next to me with their camera snapping some good photos as well - some of hers turned out great. Between the 2 of us, they might have some usable pics. Anyway, we returned to the Stewarts for lunch and some laughs and then Susie and I took off for a little shopping across town. It was "shoes" day - we both needed some sandals to make it through the next few months of teaching as it reaches 100+ degrees here very soon. We hit a few stores at the Outlet malls as well as Pennys up in Summerlin (twice - returned shoes bought an hour before!) and then went and got some dinner at BWW. It was nice to get out of the house and be social again - I think I've hermited myself up too much lately and realize how much I'm missing. I always enjoy visiting with Susie. So I'm grateful for someone who would invite me to hang out for a while. For someone who feels isolated much of the time, it meant a lot. (Are you reading this, Susie???? )
So the theme is...I need to quit being such a loner and get back out and be social again. I think as I get towards 40, I just don't like doing the same things over and over - I'm bored and want to do different things, try different places, expand my views. I don't know. I think I'd better just get back to work and figure out what I will be doing and where next year for a job. I don't like things that are up in the air!!!!
Random...blah blah blah...random...
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Proficient Time-Waster
To humor myself, I've been thinking of all the things I could have done to use my time home wisely during spring break, since I can't wear tennis shoes to work out or hike due to the heel blisters, and can't go outside in the midday because of the sunburn. (by the way, the sunburned neck is peeling a gross dark grey color - that means the burn was really bad!) I have wasted away 4.5 perfectly good days, but have relaxed quite a bit and have put out of my mind my career woes. So, I guess it wasn't a total bust!
Things I could have done:
Cleaned out closets
Cleaned out garage
Pulled the weeds in my back yard (but, hey, they're greenerie!)
Seen a movie
Read a book (from my stack waiting)
Called a friend
Nutrition researched & planned better
Driven to St. George or Cedar
Finished remodeling/painting bathroom upstairs
Created collage on wall of new family pictures
Finished sanding/painting my baseboards downstairs (2.5 years now on list)
Washed my windows
Repaired brakes on car
Read up on Peru & Incan history
Feed the hungry and visited the lonely
Made a book out of my blog posts
Organized my files for my college class I teach every semester
etc.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Spring Break Woes
I had big plans for spring break. Yep, I did. Sounds like a story's coming on, doesn't it?
Well, first of all, I had plans to spend 4 days in Yosemite camping/hiking/enjoying nature and being away from the city. A few weeks ago, while trying to make our reservations, they informed us that because of the excessive snowfall, Yosemite wouldn't really be open yet. So, scratch those plans.
Plan B - To get in some real hiking training to prepare for Peru. Our goal was to spend 4 days in a row hiking the road that goes between Kyle and Lee Canyon - 10 miles each day. It's the most elevation gain we could find around here as well as highest altitude practice that's not covered in snow. So, on Saturday, we headed out on day 1.
We decided to hike from Kyle up to the North Loop Trailhead, about 5 miles STRAIGHT UP. Stopping to rest 3.3 miles up at Robber's Roost, and pushing on to the top was a good exercise trail for sure. The sun had come out, and even though it was only about 60-65 degrees, the sun was stronger than anticipated. At the top, I decided to go ahead and walk back DOWN the 5 miles and meet Carolyn and Linda at her cabin - they'd leave my car at the bottom (we had parked it at the top). So, I grabbed my little iPod shuffle and started down. About 3 songs into my decent, the batteries died. Drat! So for the next 1.5 hours, I walked in silence, getting completely sunburned on my neck, lower face, and arms. I got smart somewhere near mile 2 and pulled my long sleeves down. I also had to ration out my water, because I had forgotten to take their extra water. I felt pretty darn proud reaching the bottom (the last 1/2 hour was the longest...I thought it would never end!) and made it to the cabin in record time. Linda had made a very tasty lasagna and salad, which we enjoyed along with relaxing/recouperating at her cabin for a couple of hours. Upon getting home, I realized how badly my neck/face/arms were sunburned and began the search for some really good aloe vera! THAT became problem #1. Now, problem #2 was this: I developed early on a blister on my right heel, and after bandaging it up around mile 2 going up, I thought it would be ok. Well, not so much. It was pretty gross when I got home and had to do some real medical first aid on it. Because of those 2 souveniers I brought home, it made for a long, restless night's "sleep" and a miserable next day (Sunday - rest day from hiking). I didn't sleep Sunday night either - my sunburn was quite uncomfortable, especially each time I kincked my neck one way or the other.
Monday morning, I decided to use some moleskin around the blister and wear a very lightweight hoodie to cover everything except my nose to cover the sunburn as we headed out for day 2. I also switched to tennis shoes instead of my newer hiking boots, because the 'rubbing place' in the boots was too much for my heel at that point. We were great - kept up a really good pace and actually cut off a 1/2 hour from our Saturday time reaching the top. My bravery on Saturday was contagious as they decided to make the hike back down with me this time. We booked it and made it back to the cabin for lunch in record time. This time, I bruised up my 2nd toe right on/under the nail pretty badly - same foot as the monster blister - and was so irritated about it. Now I was wondering if I should do the next 2 days of hiking or let both issues (besides the sunburn) heal up more so I don't postpone my usual workouts. Aaarrgghhhh. So in the 2 days, I did 20 miles and backed out of day 3 and 4 (which they ended up only doing the 5 miles up part each time). They're 10 miles ahead of me. I'm hoping to convince Loralie or someone to go back and do it with me as soon as my feet are ready..maybe in a few days.
So instead of hiking on Tuesday, I went to the temple for several hours. It was a nice day to spend without any impending plans or schedules to keep. My toe throbs every so often and the blister is beginning to think about scabbing over (it's bigger than the size of a quarter), but my muscles are not too sore and I'm glad for that. We have to keep training trying to gain 4000 elevation in one day (that's going to be our most challenging day of the 4 days on the Inca Trail) and keeping up our endurance for doing it day after day for this hike in Peru in June. I think we're doing pretty darn well for a bunch of overweight old ladies!!!!!!
.
Well, first of all, I had plans to spend 4 days in Yosemite camping/hiking/enjoying nature and being away from the city. A few weeks ago, while trying to make our reservations, they informed us that because of the excessive snowfall, Yosemite wouldn't really be open yet. So, scratch those plans.
Plan B - To get in some real hiking training to prepare for Peru. Our goal was to spend 4 days in a row hiking the road that goes between Kyle and Lee Canyon - 10 miles each day. It's the most elevation gain we could find around here as well as highest altitude practice that's not covered in snow. So, on Saturday, we headed out on day 1.
We decided to hike from Kyle up to the North Loop Trailhead, about 5 miles STRAIGHT UP. Stopping to rest 3.3 miles up at Robber's Roost, and pushing on to the top was a good exercise trail for sure. The sun had come out, and even though it was only about 60-65 degrees, the sun was stronger than anticipated. At the top, I decided to go ahead and walk back DOWN the 5 miles and meet Carolyn and Linda at her cabin - they'd leave my car at the bottom (we had parked it at the top). So, I grabbed my little iPod shuffle and started down. About 3 songs into my decent, the batteries died. Drat! So for the next 1.5 hours, I walked in silence, getting completely sunburned on my neck, lower face, and arms. I got smart somewhere near mile 2 and pulled my long sleeves down. I also had to ration out my water, because I had forgotten to take their extra water. I felt pretty darn proud reaching the bottom (the last 1/2 hour was the longest...I thought it would never end!) and made it to the cabin in record time. Linda had made a very tasty lasagna and salad, which we enjoyed along with relaxing/recouperating at her cabin for a couple of hours. Upon getting home, I realized how badly my neck/face/arms were sunburned and began the search for some really good aloe vera! THAT became problem #1. Now, problem #2 was this: I developed early on a blister on my right heel, and after bandaging it up around mile 2 going up, I thought it would be ok. Well, not so much. It was pretty gross when I got home and had to do some real medical first aid on it. Because of those 2 souveniers I brought home, it made for a long, restless night's "sleep" and a miserable next day (Sunday - rest day from hiking). I didn't sleep Sunday night either - my sunburn was quite uncomfortable, especially each time I kincked my neck one way or the other.
Monday morning, I decided to use some moleskin around the blister and wear a very lightweight hoodie to cover everything except my nose to cover the sunburn as we headed out for day 2. I also switched to tennis shoes instead of my newer hiking boots, because the 'rubbing place' in the boots was too much for my heel at that point. We were great - kept up a really good pace and actually cut off a 1/2 hour from our Saturday time reaching the top. My bravery on Saturday was contagious as they decided to make the hike back down with me this time. We booked it and made it back to the cabin for lunch in record time. This time, I bruised up my 2nd toe right on/under the nail pretty badly - same foot as the monster blister - and was so irritated about it. Now I was wondering if I should do the next 2 days of hiking or let both issues (besides the sunburn) heal up more so I don't postpone my usual workouts. Aaarrgghhhh. So in the 2 days, I did 20 miles and backed out of day 3 and 4 (which they ended up only doing the 5 miles up part each time). They're 10 miles ahead of me. I'm hoping to convince Loralie or someone to go back and do it with me as soon as my feet are ready..maybe in a few days.
So instead of hiking on Tuesday, I went to the temple for several hours. It was a nice day to spend without any impending plans or schedules to keep. My toe throbs every so often and the blister is beginning to think about scabbing over (it's bigger than the size of a quarter), but my muscles are not too sore and I'm glad for that. We have to keep training trying to gain 4000 elevation in one day (that's going to be our most challenging day of the 4 days on the Inca Trail) and keeping up our endurance for doing it day after day for this hike in Peru in June. I think we're doing pretty darn well for a bunch of overweight old ladies!!!!!!
.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The ABCs of life
OK, so I've been way too serious in these blogs. So here's a fun thingy I found on someone else's I thought I'd give a try (and modify a little) for the heck of it.
A - Age - 39 and holding
B - Bed size - Queen...all to myself
C - Chore you dislike - any kind of housework really
D - Dogs or cats? - if I could, I'd have a little dog who didn't poop, pee, or need me to be home, but she's be there to greet me when I get home from work and cuddle with me. Hence, I don't have one.
E - Essential start to your day - the sun has to rise... after that, it all becomes mental
F - Favorites - a rainy day curled up under a blanket next to the fire reading a good book, watching my nieces or nephews perform or play sports, a good hike in some green beautiful area, and Dairy Queen oreo/caramel blizzard
G - Gym or Outdoors? I prefer outdoors if it's not too hot or cold - if not, I'm in the gym
H - Hobbies - hiking, exercising, reading, perseverating, Facebook un-friending, digital movie making, and avoiding cooking
I - Instruments you've played - piano, saxophone, french horn, xylophone, recorder, and triangle
J - Job titles - Teacher, professor, specialist, daughter, sister, aunt, breadwinner, student, secretary
K - Kids - nope...have plenty of them during the day at work
L - Live for - Fridays and Summers
M - Most embarrassing moment - too many to choose from
N - Nicknames - Rob, Robinski, Robina, Teacher, Maestra, Hey you, Ma'am (not Miss anymore!)
O - Overnight hospital stays: one - gallbladder removal
P - Pet peeves - TELEMARKETERS and political calls, drivers who leave their blinker on, smelly garbage disposal, forgetting to put the sun shades in the windshield during the summer heat, people who ignore me, petty arguments among kids, DJs who talk on the radio about dorky things instead of play music on the way to work, etc. etc.
Q - Quote from a movie - "You're a pig from hell" and others from Steel Magnolias "Wheeza" character
R - Realist or Idealist? - Total realist...nothing about my life has been ideal :o) but I like it!
S - Siblings - I have 2 sisters, 1 brother, 2.5 brothers-in-law, and .5 sister-in -law (Jerry and Helen count!)
T - Travel destinations - Guatemala, China, Japan, England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Canada, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, all over the U.S. and this summer: PERU
U - Universities you attended - UNLV and NOVA
V - Vegetables you hate - brussel sprouts, squash, zuccini, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, yams
W - What makes you run late - checking Facebook in the AM (not every day!), forgetting to make lunch
X - x-rays you've had - on my head, on my hip, on my abs
Y - Yummy food you make - brownies with a hidden oreo inside, oreo balls, salsa chicken, black beans, green chili rice,
Z - zoo animal favorites - PANDAS
A - Age - 39 and holding
B - Bed size - Queen...all to myself
C - Chore you dislike - any kind of housework really
D - Dogs or cats? - if I could, I'd have a little dog who didn't poop, pee, or need me to be home, but she's be there to greet me when I get home from work and cuddle with me. Hence, I don't have one.
E - Essential start to your day - the sun has to rise... after that, it all becomes mental
F - Favorites - a rainy day curled up under a blanket next to the fire reading a good book, watching my nieces or nephews perform or play sports, a good hike in some green beautiful area, and Dairy Queen oreo/caramel blizzard
G - Gym or Outdoors? I prefer outdoors if it's not too hot or cold - if not, I'm in the gym
H - Hobbies - hiking, exercising, reading, perseverating, Facebook un-friending, digital movie making, and avoiding cooking
I - Instruments you've played - piano, saxophone, french horn, xylophone, recorder, and triangle
J - Job titles - Teacher, professor, specialist, daughter, sister, aunt, breadwinner, student, secretary
K - Kids - nope...have plenty of them during the day at work
L - Live for - Fridays and Summers
M - Most embarrassing moment - too many to choose from
N - Nicknames - Rob, Robinski, Robina, Teacher, Maestra, Hey you, Ma'am (not Miss anymore!)
O - Overnight hospital stays: one - gallbladder removal
P - Pet peeves - TELEMARKETERS and political calls, drivers who leave their blinker on, smelly garbage disposal, forgetting to put the sun shades in the windshield during the summer heat, people who ignore me, petty arguments among kids, DJs who talk on the radio about dorky things instead of play music on the way to work, etc. etc.
Q - Quote from a movie - "You're a pig from hell" and others from Steel Magnolias "Wheeza" character
R - Realist or Idealist? - Total realist...nothing about my life has been ideal :o) but I like it!
S - Siblings - I have 2 sisters, 1 brother, 2.5 brothers-in-law, and .5 sister-in -law (Jerry and Helen count!)
T - Travel destinations - Guatemala, China, Japan, England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Canada, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, all over the U.S. and this summer: PERU
U - Universities you attended - UNLV and NOVA
V - Vegetables you hate - brussel sprouts, squash, zuccini, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, yams
W - What makes you run late - checking Facebook in the AM (not every day!), forgetting to make lunch
X - x-rays you've had - on my head, on my hip, on my abs
Y - Yummy food you make - brownies with a hidden oreo inside, oreo balls, salsa chicken, black beans, green chili rice,
Z - zoo animal favorites - PANDAS
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Finally a reprieve...
I wasn't sure I would make it to this LATE spring break! What a long, hard few weeks. Off to the mountains today to go hiking - maybe that will spark some life back into me.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
To budget or not to budget - that is the ?????
Last week after finding out that as of right now in time, I will be absorbed back into my current staff as a classroom teacher, I have to admit that Friday I was ready to walk. My great boss held a sobering staff meeting where she had to announce that we were being cut SEVEN teachers! Holy crap - that means that only 20 teachers will be teaching about 550+ students next year. And I may be one of them! Is anyone who is making all these decisions doing any kind of real math? Anyway, I was devastated to find out that the 6th and 7th teacher to be cut are because of ME and the literacy specialist being absorbed back in. The heartbreaking part of THAT is...they have been at my school for EIGHT years. This is no joke. How can I, who has been at this school a mere 7 months, bump someone fabulous out, who has been here for eight years? The answer is...I won't. If it comes down to saving them, then I will have to look elsewhere to teach in a classroom. And that is heartbreaking again. It is a lose-lose situation. Friday was very hard to get throu
gh, as well as the night. I couldn't wait for general conference this weekend - and it was good timing.
Sunday night we enjoyed celebrating dad's 72nd birthday. Amy and Steve Rhodes came over with their 2 kiddos and it was fun to visit with them as well as the rest of the family (minus Steve...I almost thought he'd surprise us...) Good food, fun cards to open, delicious dessert, and a happy dad. That's all we can ask for and we feel very blessed to have gotten to celebrate his birthday! After everyone left, I asked my dad for a priesthood blessing regarding this whole job fiasco and the mental trip it was having on me and those around me. I appreciated his willingness and his inspiration. I got some bonus blessings about my upcoming trip to Peru and all the training we're doing right now. I love my dad - .
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