Dingos bustling through December - Our running* thread - Page 7

[sparkletruck]

Jo and Real -

[Nickarolaberry]

Oy, Real, I would have blown a gasket.

I'm so DONE with intolerance, reactionary-ism (is that a word?), stupidity, and jerks. 

I am excited to be doing this LLL opportunity and I'm looking at it as a potential new road for me. I have been long thinking of going into LC or something and maybe this will be the impetus I need to seek out a new road. I love teaching and writing, but if I don't get a decent position and it's not taking me anywhere, I need to figure something else out that does not require full time out of the house but is also not constantly being by myself in the house. Does that make sense?

Had a great run, got a really lovely card from my students from the past 6 weeks, and dh did something very nice for me (he went to get himself a resistance band from the store. I saw it and asked if I could use it, and he said, well, I got one for you too. Awww.).

There was something else I meant to talk about but I forgot what it is....I'm sure I'll be back to bug y'all again later. 

Oh yeah, now I remember: tonight I'm going to an online seminar with Mayim Bialik (of Blossom fame). She's grown up now and the celebrity spokesperson of Holistic Moms Network, is a vegan, homeschools, nurses her kids til they self wean, has a Ph.D. in neuroscience..and oh yes...has become a religious Jew.

Hmmm. I never thought there would be anyone as nerdy as I am in almost exactly the same ways, much less a celebrity I used to watch on tv.

In any case she teaches for the same homeschooling network I do (room613.net) and a few of us are getting the chance to have an online seminar with her tonight. Pretty nifty. 

[tjsmama]

Back for personals later, but....

I got an interview for the Birth Center, too!!!

[Nickarolaberry]

AWESOME GAYE!!!!

Those of you on facebook can you please go to my page, and then to my new LLL group page that I created and check it out? I want to make sure it looks good from the public view. (You can like it too, if you want! heh).

Thanks!

[mommajb]

who said make a list? I tried that. Linus cut it into little tiny pieces and glued to somebody else's homework. Homework that I was told had already been put in the bookbag but clearly it had not. It was the most random list I will never remember all that is on it.

Gaye.

How funny Nic. I am wearing thin on LLL and considering going to leader reserve. I really shoud be trying to do something with the IBCLC but I am not. I'll check out your page.

[1jooj]

Gaye, that is truly awesome! And I hope all the flight stuff works out. Either way, though, I hope the end result is that you nail one of these jobs and are fast on the road to working full time, with more time for what you have been missing lately.

I just wanted to point out re: Smartwool, we now have further proof, if anyone needs it, that Geo and kerc are two different people.

Real, I am impressed at your reaction. I tend to simply delete most of the time when those come around. Though I have to say, I have not received what I'd consider such an idiotic email in years. The last time it was something anti-Semitic, and I did fire back (to sender only) and pointed out that the source was not a Jewish one, but one of those whack, incendiary Christian groups that wants to bring on Armageddon. 

Like Nic, I have just had it with the stupidity, ignorance and hatefulness of that cr@p. And it seems the Facebook status is the new stupid email forward. I've been truly offended a few times just this week. I guess Christmas hits a nerve.

Dd's fever seems to be down on its own. She's still achey and the cough is thickening, but this, too, shall pass. Last day of school for the kids. I'm entertaining thoughts of play-schooling with them (doing some math and language arts and Arabic) during days next week, but I know they are burned out on school. We will be at the beach daily next week while dh works. At least there I can run laps along the water while they build sandcastles.

Really getting excited for Jordan. I'm making lists of prophets to "visit." Talk about educational! And the thought that dh might support online schooling has me and a little . I continue to feel conflicted about the political aspect of buying into online schooling. But if we do the private version, then we're operating just slightly outside the conflict zone in my head. Curricula look suitable. And since the school has a shipping policy for students abroad, it would seem we wouldn't be inventing any wheels.

Also exciting is that, by the time school is back in session, we will have only 5 months left to deal with trying to remember which day it is on a 10-day cycle (and wear the right uniform and/or pack swimming stuff), packing lunches, making the 6:35 bus, coming home shaking anytime I have to drive anywhere (or cross the street as a pedestrian), not to mention the loneliness of missing our peeps. Lots to figure out in the months ahead, but I do feel like we are coming to a reasonable compromise that we could live with through the assignment. Not getting back to my farm right away, but it is still in our range of hope.

Sparkle, I meant to express my fandom at your GRE performance. Totally impressed, mama. 

[kerc]

Originally Posted by 1jooj 

I just wanted to point out re: Smartwool, we now have further proof, if anyone needs it, that Geo and kerc are two different people.

LOL. But I did just whip up some granola using her recipe....

[Geofizz]

Originally Posted by kerc 

LOL. But I did just whip up some granola using her recipe....

Yum. I'd love some warm granola right now... I have Shanti cookies cooling right now. DD is taking them for schoolparty part 1* tomorrow as a "traditional family recipe".

* why yes, there are two parties, one tomorrow and one Friday. No, I don't get it.

I guess that I like my padded socks makes me a bit less of a tough dingo. I say take all the warmth I can get.

Oh, and who was about our 9 nights out in a row? Make it 11.

Tonight was the meeting with the reading specialist. She identified DD's problems in 5 minutes. I'm not totally sold on the idea of having DD work with this woman. It's clear she's worked with kids with such a huge disparity between reading and writing, yet I don't think she has much experience with a kid with such verbal abilities.

I had DD bring home her school writing journal. There's a poem she wrote in there about stars 'aloominateing'** the night with pin pricks through to heaven that is stunningly beatiful. I'm trying to talk her into illustrating it as Christmas gifts to her grandparents and me.

**'illuminating'

[Nickarolaberry]

Shanti cookies? do tell

[kerc]

Pssst this ----> is not about me. http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=some-terrestrial-exoplanets-may-be-11-12-14

Sorry I.m on my iPad and the text editor is driving me batty and apparently I cannot put in a link except to give ya.ll the actual link.

Yeah. 11 days = I begin to call in sick to those things. 

Continuing to sort laundry so that the outfits my kids selected for holiday concert are clean for said concert.

[Shantimama]

I'll have to dig out the recipe and post it again. The formal name is something like chocolate-truffle-candy-cane-cookies or something like that. You have to run about 3km to burn off every bite you take. They are seriously amazing. I am at a point where I could do without everything else related to Christmas - but I will always be grateful that there is an entire month of the year dedicated to the combination of mint and chocolate. I think mint chocolate in my mouth makes me a kinder person and that should definitely come in handy over the next couple of weeks.

[MelW]

Originally Posted by Geofizz 
Oh, and who was about our 9 nights out in a row? Make it 11.

I had missed the original comment about 9 nights, and briefly thought you were bragging about a "crosstraining" streak. Scrolled back to realize that it was December madness. Clearly my mind needs to be pulled out of the gutter.

The allominating stars sound beautiful.

Sparkle, congrats on rocking the GRE!!!

Gaye, huge congrats and good luck with the interview. Hopefully the details are finalized soon and you can get on with your holiday planning.

jo, enjoy Jordan. The trip sounds amazing.

jen and nic, you're inspiring with your mileage

RR- Nothing. Bootcamp canceled this week because the school gym was set up for the Christmas concert, and I haven't been fitting more than a bit of stretching in with the 10 hour teaching shifts this week. Hopefully a run this weekend before I lose my mind.

NRR- I'm considering a big change for my oldest daughter for school next year. Our local school board also runs a distance education program that was originally designed to serve rural kids (fishing families, etc. who weren't always sedentary enough for traditional school). Over the years the distance ed has been used by lots of homeschooling families who want access to teachers and curriculum development, so basically an online model for home/distributed learning. They now offer programs that have one day on site and the rest at home, and in the fall are starting a new "fine arts e-cadamy" that promises a globally-oriented curriculum with a fine arts focus, with three days on site instruction and two days at home. It's a mixed age group for kindergarten to grade 8. I'm going to an information session in January and interested to see what will actually be offered beyond the buzzwords. It could provide a nice balance of some of the self-direction she's been looking for (how to deal with the kid who came home mad at the end of kindergarten because she didn't learn multiplication) but still providing the interaction that my introverted self doesn't excel at finding for her, plus some childcare time that I need for work.

[Realrellim]

MelW--the new program sounds like a great opportunity. I don't know what it's like in your area, but many of the various options programs for Denver metro-area homeschoolers are quite popular. Nearly all of those are just of the one-day-a-week variety though.

Shanti--those cookies sound awesome. Waiting eagerly for recipe.

kerc--thanks for the link. I finally realized that I've seen that story a couple of times--once in a non-Dingo Twitter post, but hadn't linked OSU and Geo and oh, her actual name even though it ought to vaguely ring a bell from DailyMile.

Geo--you rock, and I mean that in all the possible ways. So cool to make the news and in a good way!

RR: 3 on the treadmill.

NRR: R's fever seems to have broke. Meanwhile, J stayed up until 11 pm...so I didn't get on the treadmill until 11:30. Dedication like that ought to burn twice as many calories....

[Geofizz]

Shanti cookies:

melt:  4 oz unsweetened choc + 3 oz semi-sweet choc + 3/4 c butter

remove from heat, stir in 1 1/2 c sugar & 3 eggs (stir in one at a time quickly so they don't cook) + 1/2 t mint extract

add 1 1/2 c flour + 1/2 t baking powder + 1/2 c chocolate chips

refrigerate 2+ hours

roll into 1" balls, bake 8 min (10 min in my oven) @ 350°F

remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes

[JayGee]

Geo ~ YUM!  Thanks for the recipe!

MelW ~ 9 nights of crosstraining?!   December madness, indeed!  That school option sounds wonderful.  Yet another reason I want to live where you live...  Pretty sure DH wouldn't be down with moving to Canada though.  Oh well...

sparkle ~ wow on that GRE score!  Congratulations, Mama!

Jooj ~ glad your DD is feeling better.  The idea of spending the next few weeks on a beach (even in Dubai) is quite enticing.  Your trek to Jordan sounds like it will be wonderful too.

RR ~ I'm all dressed in my running duds and heading out the door in the next few minutes.  I got up this morning and just felt like I needed to run. It will probably end up being a run/walk, but I'm excited!

NRR ~ lots going on here.  I am teaching an art lesson on Degas to the 2nd graders tomorrow and am really excited about it.  Tomorrow night we are having a kids' Christmas party at our house.  All 3 kids invited 3 friends so there will be a total of 12 children eating pizza, watching a movie and decorating cookies.  They are so excited to be hosting a party! 

Real and tjsmama ~ we're coming to Colorado this summer for our vacation!  We'll be out between July1-15, definitely going to Denver, probably down to Colorado Springs, and doing lots of outdoor stuff in RMNP and Arches NP.  Dingo meetup???  Sparkle, can you come up too?  DH and I are both so excited to go back to Colorado (I want to move there... badly).

Out for my run!

[Motivated Mama]

MelW - that sounds like a pretty great opportunity for your daughter. I'm planning on homeschooling starting next year. DD1 is in K right now and she is the only one at her high reading level in a class of 23. Her teacher told me that her biggest challenge with L is challenging L. My son is another story - his pediatrician recommended not starting him next year (he turns 5 in August) and waiting until he is more socially apt. He has sensory processing disorder and receives both OT and DT, but cognitively he is very intelligent. His vocabulary is amazing. And DD2 is not far behind. I also struggle with being VERY introverted and that is a hurdle I am working hard at, participating in mom's groups, library story time and other such activities. It is way out of my comfort zone, but I really do desire to have those networks and I know my children need it.

RR - 2 days of C25K down, 25 more to go. Tomorrow is a run day. It's interesting to do this with my big full breasts. I am having K empty them before I go, but still, they're huge!

NRR - Today is DH's birthday. Looks like we'll be mostly celebrating on Sunday since he's working tonight and the crock pot meal I planned would not be out in time for him to eat. Other than that, my life right now is just dealing with all lovely newborn things as well as my new role of SAHM of 4 and the craziness of the holiday season.

[Nickarolaberry]

9 straight nights of crosstraining?! Whoa. I don't think I've had that many over a few months...ugh. Boo. Never mind. 

JayGee, that sounds like a fun class you're teaching. I would so love to do a Colorado vacation...

Yum. That cookie recipe looks amazing. I wonder if I substituted GF flour if it would work.

I am subbing at my kids' school at the front office desk today. Kind of funny to see all the kids marching by.

So I am grappling with a professional transition here, I think. In the last few days several different ideas/opportunities have arisen and I am having trouble sorting it all out and figuring out what I want. Input would be most welcome.

*Book proposal (which is a revamp of a book I wrote 11 years ago but whose topic is still *extremely* relevant and now the classified stuff in the book can be published, which is why we're doing it now) -- this is in my 'field of training' but does not promise anything in the way of future career. I am doing this regardless of other potential commitments as I want to see it through.

*I was asked to help revamp/plan the Jewish history curriculum at the school where I substitute taught the last 6 weeks. Thus far (it is a fairly new, very small high school) it is ad hoc and not particularly well thought out or taught. My hope would be it would lead to something more permanent and professional but I have no promise of that.

*I was asked to consult on "Montessorifying" my son's 1st grade classroom; other teachers have asked me about this as well. My Montessori cred isn't that strong but there aren't many middle school experienced Montessori types, and I am one. It could potentially be an area for growth if I choose to pursue it but I'm not sure how.

*IBCLC...this is something I've thought about for a very long time. The benefit would be that I could (if I could find a position) have a way of earning some money but being out of the house, albeit with a flexible schedule that I could also be home for my kids. And it is more stable in the long run than teaching, which you never know now with cuts etc. if you have a position or not.

Jeez I'm all over the place. Gah.

[Plady]

Originally Posted by Geofizz 


I guess that I like my padded socks makes me a bit less of a tough dingo. I say take all the warmth I can get.
 

I'm totally with you, I even run in hiking socks.  Ever since the San Fran Mary I always err on the side of being too warm!  The poem gift idea sounds really lovely.
 

Originally Posted by MelW 

I had missed the original comment about 9 nights, and briefly thought you were bragging about a "crosstraining" streak.

Ah, 9 days in a row!  Sounds like a honeymoon schedule.  Or Jo's normal life?

Originally Posted by JayGee 
Tomorrow night we are having a kids' Christmas party at our house.  All 3 kids invited 3 friends so there will be a total of 12 children eating pizza, watching a movie and decorating cookies.  They are so excited to be hosting a party! 

That sounds like fun!  I know my kids would love that too.  Maybe I can convince dh that a party over break would be good for the soul.  He's been battling his own depression hard this fall and the holidays can push him either way. 

I keep making myself giggle in that way thinking about how entertaining it might be to write a totally truth-based Holiday letter this year.  And thinking about how and whether society might change if everyone did that.

[JayGee]

Plady ~ that thought is making me giggle too. 

RR ~ 3.5 miles of walk/run (mostly run though) through the neighborhood (with a brief pitstop at the school to talk to the computer teacher about my lesson tomorrow...).  Felt good to be moving.

[Shantimama]

I am sure that GF flour would work for the cookies. That is how I should make mine too. There isn't much flour in there, just enough to call them cookies instead of straight up truffles. The eggs and chocolate do all the work anyway.

Off for a long walk right now. I have one last batch of deliveries to make and several phone calls and then I can focus on getting things ready for the kids to be home for two weeks. dh's parents are coming for a few days too. They haven't spent a holiday with us since 1995 so even though I am anxious about how it will go, I am thrilled for dh and the kids that they are coming. Everything I do seems to offend them somehow so I will just do my best to behave and to make our home a wonderful place to be - for my own sanity as well as for everyone else's enjoyment.

I am going to partially get away for a couple of days. My friend has offered her cottage for me to use and I am in desperate need of some sleep and space and time to do some writing. It never seems to be a good time for me to get away for a couple of days never mind longer (but how come we can always manage to support dh to go away for days, weeks or even a month at a time?) so I am just going to make the best of it. Tonight I am playing in a concert and afterwards I will drop my family off at home and head to the cottage to get some sleep. With any luck I will sleep for more than 4 or 5 hours tonight. Then I have to go into Toronto for the evening but can come back and have all day Saturday to write and get some gift knitting and weaving done before Christmas. dh will need the car back by Sunday morning so I will come home very early on Sunday. Even with a concert and a trip to Toronto I think it should be enough of a break to keep me sane a few days longer.

Geo - I am with you on the padded Smartwool socks. I love them! Team Wimpy Dingo right here  

9 nights? Consecutively? I am too old for that  

Mel - that sounds like a great opportunity school wise.  I can't wait to hear more!