Month: July 2017

Peace. What does it mean to you? To me it has always meant “peace and quiet”. Quiet means peace to me.  A cup of coffee in the quiet morning with the birds (sometimes they can even be a bit noisy), and late at night when everyone is sleeping are my quiet, peaceful times. I find I can concentrate on things during these times of peace. But then, thoughts soon rush into my mind, lists of things to do pop up, things I forgot to do, things I need to do, and things I want to do, immediately fill my thoughts. Is that really peace? As soon as a quiet time is achieved, and I think peace has come, it seems my peace has vanished with swirling thoughts! Usually, I try to write everything down, so I don’t forget it. When I do that,  peace seems to come eventually, and I do feel better, I feel more at ease.

As I begin my day and start my list, I may have a  moment of silence and my mind begins to drift, one of those lists pop into my head again and BAM! There goes my peace again! When I force myself to think of nothing but what I am doing, usually reading or writing, I can feel peace. And when I am finished the task at hand, I feel at peace. I really enjoy peace when I cross things off those lists!

What does peace mean to you? Can you feel when you need some more peace in your life? How can you get more peace? Do you like peace or are you more comfortable with the business of life?

Pressure, it can be good, or it can be bad. When I am under pressure for work, to get grades in for report cards before the deadline and a certain program closes on the computer, it’s like a race on Facebook. VERIFIED! Is a status I sometimes get jealous to see, wishing it was my status. Verified means, to us school district people, that ALL your grades are in, and everything is finished and you stand behind them and can seriously back them up with paper copies to administration, students, and parents, to prove it is a fair grade. Mind you, that is including about 8 subjects, approximately 8 to 16 grades in each subject, quite a bit of paper to convert to computer. Now common sense says to keep up on it. Each time an assignment is given, mark it right away and enter immediately. I ALWAYS do that…(insert a bit of sarcasm here). I have been keeping up much better lately in my old age I must say.

A diamond can’t be a diamond without pressure. A piece of coal will be just that without high temperature and high amounts of pressure, continually. A song keeps going off in my head as I write this… making diamonds out of us… Every time I am in a sticky situation and find my way out, I am under pressure. I have to figure my way out, and hopefully, I will remember next time (if there is one) what to do! In essence, I am becoming a diamond from a mere piece of coal, under pressure. After all, nothing will change if nothing changes. We have to make the change to see a change in our behavior, habits, moods, or lifestyle.

Are you a diamond? I am still a piece of coal working towards being a diamond, I hope. I want to be a diamond in my daughter’s life, in my husband’s life, in my mom’s life, in my stepdaughter’s life, in everyone’s life! I feel the pressure and the heat and I hope I learn my lesson the first time around so I can enjoy life more and with less pressure than the time before.

Be a piece of coal on the way to becoming a diamond.

I really don’t like these things. Just the sound of it sends shivers down my spine. Anxiety creeps in and tries to ruin my whole day and outlook on life. I don’t want to die! I don’t want to leave yet, I’m not done with life! I didn’t finish my bucket list, I didn’t even check off the top ten yet!

Recently, I had to get mine done. It is a service provided by my union so I literally had to do it. I can’t let a provided service go to waste, it’s just not in my blood. I met with the attorney initially and he asked me questions, I answered them, and I went on my merry way. That was ok I thought. But wait, that’s not all. Six weeks later, it comes in the mail, in print! Now I have to check it over and make sure there’s no mistakes! Augh! I have to relive it again?!  Today, I had to review it, check over it, rethink it, make sure it is what I have decided, make changes if needed, and review it with my own personal attorney if I wish. I trust them, but I trust my friend Alex a bit more, just because I know him better. By the way, thank you Alex, you have helped me in more ways than one in my life and I appreciate your knowledge and your willingness to share it with me.

Anywho, I hope I made the right decisions. I hope I don’t cause any ill will with the people I leave behind. I wish I could stay and love on all my family, my daughter, my husband, the grandchildren I don’t have yet (and in no hurry girls!) I hope I have done well by my family, friends, co-workers, children I’ve taught, people I’ve run into, church friends, strangers I’ve smiled at, animals I’ve loved, and I hope I don’t leave a mess for anyone to clean up! Please forgive me if I have done you wrong. I am enjoying my time on earth and I hope you do too!

Top Ten on Bucket List (Updated at Age 50)

1. Experience the Northern Lights
2. Visit Bora Bora
3. Skydive
4. Visit Greenland
5. Visit Iceland

Good times, right? When I was growing up, it was always stressful. Well, when everyone was due at our house it was. Everything had to be perfect in my dad’s eyes. The house, the food, the presents, the liquor cabinet, the decorations (Christmas was traditionally held at our home). When stress descended upon my father, it came out in his Italian (or Polish? I don’t know which) temper. I remember thinking I wish everyone was here already so daddy would calm down.

As a child, I had a great, happy time. I loved getting kissed and hugged, I loved all the laughing, smiling, playing and sneaking all the pickles and cheese we could grab without the moms noticing that’s all we were eating. It was just plain fun. Until we grew up. Then tensions started to grow. Uncle So & So did what? Aunt Who Ha went where?! Oh my! How could they do that? Why are they like that? I would NEVER do that!!!!! Actions and emotions began to creep in and stereotypes begin to fester. We had to learn to pretend we didn’t know about that tidbit of information.

Yesterday, we had Family Time for my husband’s 49th birthday. Even though I did experience a tinge of stress of making everything perfect, I tried not to stress over it, knowing I would be forgiven by my guests. I just cannot emphasize what a great time it was. We laughed, really laughed, like really hard, belly laughs. We ate really good food. We swam in the pool together. We joked. We talked about what was going on in our lives, our jobs, different things that had happened in our time apart, and just things in general. We didn’t have any attitudes, bad feelings, built up feelings or bad feelings toward each other, it was genuinely a perfect day. I can’t remember the last time I felt so much love. I only wished my daughter was there, I missed her because she was at work.

It is a cliché’ to say enjoy family time because everything may change in an instant especially in today’s world, but really, please do. The world needs more love today, more family time, more wonderful times that we can remember. Let’s forget the bad things and remember the good. Shout out to Shayna, Shayne, and Sam for making it a perfect day!

He really wasn’t. Sometimes I think I know what animals are thinking. They may not be talking to me, but I seem to sense what they are thinking. Yes, you may think I am crazy but those of you who have experienced it yourself won’t.

Just now I was outside after a severe thunderstorm came through. I have a couple hummingbird feeders out. I always feel special when one or two come by to feed from the special sauce recipe I make from a very special man I grew up with. My very good friend from the day I was born, Deirdre’s, father, Del. He was a very good man and to this day I think about him often, I owe my love of swimming to him, my first job, (in a pharmacy, in which he taught me old school ways of real work) and his special hummingbird mix. “Don’t buy it in the store,” he’d say, “it’s just sugar-water!” He told me how to make it many years ago but I had forgotten it and his other daughter Janine had reminded me awhile back. I serve it up and they come! Sometimes I think the hummingbirds are my dad coming to visit me from the beyond because he used the same recipe, Del was his close friend.

Anyway, last month I had filled both feeders and let them hang. No one seemed interested, not one sighting for weeks. I thought, maybe it’s too hot for them, I’ll wait. So I waited. Not one came. I decided to bring them in, wash them out and try again. No sooner did I start the solution on the stove, let it boil, then cool, I went back outside. I sat in my same spot. Wouldn’t you know, a little gray one went straight to where the feeder was hanging an hour ago, flew around the spot, stopped, looked, and then looked at me and said “Where is it? what’d you do with it? I was just coming for a drink!” He flew over to me at the wicker couch just about two feet away, flew suspended in mid-air saying, “Well? where is it?” I sat there in awe with my mouth open sending him the thought of “I’m making fresh solution, I promise, I’ll put it right back out! Please come back soon!” He flew away. That night I put fresh solution out and he came back, and now he is bringing his friends and family and all is well. When I see them, it makes me happy. I will make sure I have plenty of solution ready for them next time.

I also have a cat. Even though I am a dog person, my husband talked me into a cat. And the cat did choose me in the store. I don’t like attitudes of cats, they think they are in charge, and if they don’t pay me rent, they aren’t in charge. But our Oreo is special, he is the only cat I have ever met that seriously acts like a dog. I seriously think he knows what we are saying to him and he sends his thoughts to us too.

Anyone out there talk to the animals? I think it’s a great thing. It’s really not hard, just listen. And yes, I am a bit crazy, but it’s fun, have a great night everyone, and talk to the animals! They might have something great to say!

Our Oreo

 

Do you ever feel like you are in a war against paper? I’ll never forget when Mr. Pasceri (a great guy, father of a childhood friend of mine) who was showing me his shore home rental proudly announcing, “Isn’t this place beautiful? And you know why? Not one piece of paper!” I did think he was right, it did look neat, clean, and organized. I also thought it was amazing since the place was being rented to three school principals! I thought if they can do it, so can I! Ever since then, I feel like I am continually fighting this war, I am a soldier on the front lines!

I think the hardest part is deciding if it has to be filed away never to be seen again, shredded, or recycled. Each piece needs its own decision. Summertime is always when my war begins. School time is always when the enemy builds its ammunition. I am right smack in the middle of the battle right now. I feel good because I stayed up late last night and decided where a whole trash bag of paper went, but as I look at much more to be done, I am getting overwhelmed again! Will it ever be won? I remember a counselor once telling me, just do a little bit everyday and it will soon not seem as such a big task, my husband tells me that also. He tells me just do a bit a day. Thankful to my husband who understands! I wonder if he wonders where all the trash comes from when it still looks crazy when he peeks inside the office. I am also grateful it is my home office and not my classroom. I could NEVER work in this mess with the kids! Especially when I am teaching them to be organized! Shhhh, please don’t tell them, let the secret stay alive so their desks aren’t the big, black holes that they sometimes become!

As I turn away from the computer and get back to the war, I hear the mailman at the box bringing me more enemies (unless it’s a check of course that I can deposit electronically on my phone) I want to wish you a great day! We are also fighting a seriously dangerous heat wave right now so take cover in Operation Paper! The Paper War!

Don’t judge a book by its cover. That’s exactly what I teach my kids to do! How do you choose a book to read? I look at the cover and the pictures, see if I will like it. How do you get that new job you’ve been shooting for? You make a good first impression on the interview. Let’s not start with dating, it’s all about those first impressions!

I am usually a good “people reader.” I remember my college roommate and I would just “people watch” and make up life stories for each person, it was fun! We weren’t doing it in a mean way, we were really just passing time. It was neat when we actually met the person and discovered if we were right or totally off base. It’s just human. We take a look and form an opinion. Sometimes we’re right, sometimes we’re wrong. I just hope people keep open minds when talking with people. I can think of many times and ways we all do this. Just today when in hundred degree heat outside, I was snapping a picture of the hot, hot sun. The picture made the sun look very hot, but I was in the pool, cool as a cucumber. As soon as I got out of the pool, the first impression of the sun came through and hit me with its burning rays.

Let’s try to look beyond first impressions. Sometimes we have to dig further, but maybe it’s worth it! Don’t miss out on a chance to let someone in your life that you would be grateful for and may just be blessed by knowing them. Thank you to all my friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, and people I meet on the street, in the grocery store, at school, for keeping an open mind when meeting me, even after that first impression.

Sometimes it’s a loaded question when it was a rough one. So refreshing to hear it was a good one. Even away from the classroom, I can have a bad day, and my husband who goes to work has a great day! I think it has something to do with what we get accomplished to determine good or bad, anyway, with my hubby and I it does. When he works a full, busy day, he is happy, I love that about him. Same thing happens to me. When I get a lot done, I consider it a good day…

I saw someone’s post on Facebook today (a teacher) that said something about when her husband comes home and asks what she did all day. It sounds negative doesn’t it? She immediately came up with a list of activities to report to him, when in truth her day consisted of Facebook, Netflix and naps! I think that’s funny! I know I have done that before (me? no! never!). People like to see the proof, a clean living room, dinner ready and cleaned up, the bathroom neat and clean, wash done, folded and put away… you can’t see the invisible chores checked off the list, cleaned out emails, went to the post office (what’s that?) booked a quick beach trip, filed away papers, took your mom to a doctor’s appointment, and so on. Now I’ve told you what I did today! Anywho, today was a productive day and I felt good 90% of it even with 10% of annoying news on an estimate that was so overpriced, I had to put on my big girl panties and tell him “No way! Thanks, but I’ll find another plumber.”

I hope you had a good day today, I did, even with a few wrinkles in it, it was still a good day to be alive. I can’t wait to see my friend’s pictures from her island vacation today to make it a good night! And… heading off to the gym with my gym buddy while my hardworking husband floats off to dreamland to prepare for his good day tomorrow. Life is good!

I hope you have a good day tomorrow too!

I never liked that saying “take care of number one.” I may get a bit of backlash because I know some people believe it to be true and practice and teach it often. I know and understand we do have to take care of ourselves, but shouldn’t we help take care of others too? My whole life is centered around taking care of others, I don’t know why, I don’t remember my mom or dad grilling it in me so I don’t really know where I picked it up.

All my life I have taken care of others, first, being the oldest daughter in a family of 6, I had to take care of my brothers and sister after school, get dinner started, and make sure we all did our homework. I was held accountable when mom came home, and she didn’t accept the excuse, “they wouldn’t listen to me!” Then, I had to learn to take care of my husband and wonderful daughter, Ashley, (She came to visit me today! We spent the day in the pool.) Next, add my elderly mom. It’s not that I mind doing it, but as I’ve said before, I like time to relax. I must admit, I am a party animal… just kidding, I like to take naps.  Oh, wait, I forgot to mention the class of 25-30 kids I take care of during the day everyday, September through June. That has got to be the reason I love summer, that is when I get some real down time.

When someone is in trouble, my first instinct is to help them, then I take a step back and think, it that the right thing to do? When I get caught up in what’s wrong with number one, all I do is doing something nice for someone else and all of a sudden, my problem seems to vanish. Sometimes it’s troubling if I need to sacrifice a bit of myself to complete it. So much going on in the world today, I just want to put more positivity out there… I think there needs to be more take care of 2, 3, and 4 instead of number 1 these days.

Who are the 2’s, 3’s, and 4’s in your life? Have you been focusing on number 1? Help someone, do something to make them smile, then, take a nap!

What inspires you? Is it a commercial on TV? A person or loved one? Wait, I know… a song! Inspiration is a great thing, sometimes it’s hard to come by but when it does come, watch out! There’s no telling what might happen!

We can find different kinds of  inspiration all around us. I don’t know what inspired me to check my credit score and find an unclaimed refund for nearly $800. The fact is, I jumped on that inspiration and hopefully it works out! I do know what inspires me to go to work everyday, the kids of course, it couldn’t be administration, could it? I am constantly trying to inspire my class, and in turn they inspire me to be the best teacher I can be. It’s just a great thing to feel!

I have recently found some new inspiration in my stepdaughter, Shayna. We’ve always gotten along from Day 1, we seem to be like two peas in a pod. As I have recently started this blog, I call her my number one fan. When I write a blog that I am not particularly proud of, she seems to love it! She encourages me and I am thankful for her, she is an inspiration to me. I thank you Shayna, I love you and I miss you. I am anxiously awaiting your visit next weekend. Bring some inspiration with you!

Who or what inspires you? If you can’t figure it out right away, think about it. I think inspiration is a positive form of motivation, especially for the creative people. As Nan used to say… “Do it when the spirit grabs ya!” It usually works out for me, and I hope it works out for you too.

Grab some inspiration and run with it!