T.F.T.D. #17 ('80s)

You know, after watching movies like 13 Going On 30, The Goonies, etc., I'm really starting to think that the '80s were a better time in history than I realized. Thinking back to my own childhood, it/they were quite magical... Life now is too computerized and T.V.-oriented.

Sure, it was a time when mohawks, neon tresses and girls with only half a head of hair were common sites, not to mention crazy punk rockers, but it was also a time when life was much more simple. We were creative kids. I remember my group of neighborhood friends, etc., always dreaming up imaginary worlds to play in, like "lost kids in the forrest" (of course, it helped that I grew up in the country). We were kids who, if we put our whole selves into it, could do anything ("kid power!"), like save our homes and communities, make sure right prevailed and become anything we wanted. We were inventive (think Data in Goonies [I actually was friends with a kid kind of like him] and Elliot's "phone home" invention) adventurous, and much more outdoorsy.

At that time, in many regards, life made so much more sense to me. The times were fun and life was more...real...more organic in feel.

T.F.T.D. #16 (Holidays)

I've always loved celebrating (or at least being aware of) weird daily holidays. However, today I am at a quandry... How on earth do you celebrate My Bucket's Got a Hole in It Day (May 30)??? Right. Any ideas? :)

T.F.T.D. #15 (Perfect Class)

They say there is no such thing as the perfect class. I beg to differ... I had it this year.

P.S. School ended yesterday and I have already been missing my kids for the past two weeks. :(

T.F.T.D. #14 (They're Ba-ck!)

They're drawing pictures of them. Playing with them at recess (and in class...). They're watching them on T.V. They're talking, talking, talking about them... And they're robots in disguise! Yes, the mighty Transformers are back! Isn't it funny how the world works? That's one thing from childhood that both my students and I will have in common. And it's thanks to Steven Spielberg. :)

T.F.T.D. #13 (Stumped)

As a teacher, I am constantly asking kids questions about all sorts of things. Even if they ask me a question in return, I always know the answer--until yesterday... You would think this would be one of the easiest questions on earth. It's not even academic. Two of my students were trying to figure out, if they could get me anything, what they should get me for my birthday (they rock) and asked many questions: "What is your favorite color," "What is your favorite this and that..." Yet what they stumped me with was: "What is your favorite thing [as in something that could be purchased or bought]?" It had to be my absolute favorite thing in the whole world. Wow, what an easy question...or not. My favorite thing? Clothes? No... "Earrings?" one asked. They're very cool, but no... Then what?? When you're a kid, I can see how that question would be easy: "An iPod!" "Transformers!" (yes, they're back!), "Littlest Pet Shop sets!"

The question bugged me all day. Why could I not figure out what my favorite thing was? Did I really not know myself as well as I thought?? No, that couldn't possibly be--I'm analyzing myself all the time...

Finally, at the end of the day, I decided upon a camera. Well, my favorite "things" on earth are people, time spent with them, good memories and scrapbooking. So, I realized the material thing that would be most important for that would be, presto!, a camera.

Fhew... Glad I got that figured out. What's your favorite thing? Ha! Take the challenge...

T.F.T.D. #12 (Mother Whale)

Went to the beach with friends for a beautiful Mother's Day and, surprise of surprise (as if hanging out with our own mom's wasn't cool enough), a mother and baby humpback whale swam in around the shore for a very extended and playful visit. Seriously, they were so close they were playing in the waves! The whole beach full of people stood in awe for about 45 minutes of magic and beauty. Happy Mother's Day! God is good.
(pictured from l-r: Holly, J.J., mua)

T.F.T.D. #11 (house cleaning)

You know, it may take one second to muss up your car and 10,000 years to clean it up, but it seems to be the opposite with the house for me. It takes a couple days to muss it up and about 1 minute to clean. I like that... :)

T.F.T.D. #10 (con't.)

... Olivia thinks that some, however, are pretty amazing...

TFTD #9 (Guys)

To borrow the Myspace.com and Facebook.com format:

"Olivia thinks that guys can be so cruel... :( "

TFTD #8 (Meatloaf)

Meatloaf for breakfast sounds totally disgusting...

T.F.T.D. #7 (SAT's)

I discovered that I could stop saying, "BE quiet..." all the time if I could only get my students to understand that EVERY day of school is as important as an SAT day... Oh what a quiet class it would be! God bless these tests. hehe :)

T.F.T.D. #6 (Homeschooling)

When the kids came piling into class this morning, only five piled in. I wondering for awhile if they were going to be the only kids to show up. Where were the rest? Were they all sick? There were so few kids present that the ones who were began to laugh because the "sparse" room felt so strange. I suddenly felt like I was homeschooling and thought, "Wow, to only have five kids to be responsible for would be amazing! I could get use to this..." Then, most all of the other students wandered in one by one. And, I realized, I wouldn't ever want to give them up. :)

Thought For the Day #4

Sometimes you're just too busy or overwhelmed to have a unique thought... But, hey, that's a thought! :)

(Second) Thought For the Day #3

Trail

Funniest thing I've heard on the trail so far- an about six-year-old boy to about the same aged girl as I was walking by a baseball field: "Jus' MAWY him then!" Then, "bladeeblahblahblah." And again, "Then jus' MAWY him!" Twenty minutes later I saw the girl walking down the field looking a little bewildered, but very deep in thought... I think she should just ask. What about you?

Thought For the Day #3

It's Friday!!!

Thought For the Day #2

They Can Make Ya Feel So Young...And So Old (Before Your Time!)


It's crazy how kids can make you feel both young...and old...even when you're still in your 20's! On a typical day, you can find me plopping up on a desk and dangling my legs over the sides, checking out cool new stories with my second grade girls at recess. That makes me feel young. They respect me, but also declare that I am one of their friends. My kids last year kept telling me how young I was. Today, however, one of my boys came up to me and asked, "Did they have computers in your day?" In my
what?! Isn't this still my day??? Ee gots. Seriously, these people can make you feel old, too. God bless 'em... :/

P.S.- While today's icons my have better fashion sense, they're still about the same. Don't you think? :)

Thought For the Day #1

That's Where the Guys Are!

Recently moving into a penthouse in a nice city in the Bay Area (no, I don't own it, or lease it, I only wish...), I took up walking the trail that runs behind our tennis courts and putting green and stretches through the majority of Bay Area cities. It actually motivates me to get out and exercise since runs through beautiful parks, canals and country nooks...and provides you with fresh air (no cough, coughing as that old truck that needs a smog check shakes past you on the road). If you want, it can even take you through the Broadway Plaza district of Walnut Creek (rival to New York's fashionable shopping districts).

In fact, I found out that's where all the cute guys are. After trying my hand at an eschelon of clubs, singles groups, churches, etc., virtually all I could ever find were 110-year-old divorced men who seemed to be more active than any guys...or girls...my age. Crazy. Anyway, I finally gave up, deciding that it was just too expensive for young people to live in the East Bay and...hmmm...maybe I should move, too. That was until 4,325 young people, most of them guys, whizzed past me on bikes and jogging shoes, just on my first day on the trail. Success! The only thing is that it's too bad they're too focused to socialize as they whiz by... Otherwise, this Champs-Elysées (which boasts a bazillion "strollers" between 5-6p) of the Bay would be perfect. :)

Let's Do the Hokey Pokey!

My former co-worker Matt Turner's (an awesome guy!) new book, Hokey Pokey: Curious People Finding What Life's All About, just hit store shelves yesterday! From what I've read of my advanced copy, between my two last-minute moves and job search, it is a very engaging and humorous book about figuring out how to live this crazy thing we call life--with passion and purpose--while living the way God meant for us to live. After I get my boxes sorted, I'll flip it open and finish it, because I'm dying to read more. Totally check it out here at Amazon.com. Happy reading!

P.S.--Oh! And don't you love the cover?! :)

I'm Back

After my long hiatus as a writer, I decided that enough is enough and I need to get back into my own world again. I've missed it. I don't know why I ever stopped--likely because my cloudy brain and very low energy level caused by adrenal fatigue and Crohn's, but I am not going to let that keep me away anymore. :) I feel more whole when I'm writing.

I am currently working on a book, a composite of inspirational and/or humorous true stories about things school kids do and say. Being a teacher is really a gift. I am also about to take a "sabbatical" and open myself up to the world of children's literature, in the form of story books. Once I am well underway there, I plan to take up magazine article writing again (my true writing passion!). For now, I will be penning my reflections on the crazy life I lead and what is going on all around it.

Since I have been away for so long, I'm not sure anyone will read it, but it's a good discipline, it's out there, and I AM ABLE TO EXPRESS MYSELF!

Ta ta and happy spring!

Again ... and Again ...

Ever since the early 2000's people have told me, and countless other of my friends, "You have to be content being single in order for God to send you someone." Yesterday, however, was my last straw. While peeling potatoes with me, a very awesome Christian friend of mine counseled me with, what has almost become part of Christian doctrine: "You have to be content..." Although these many friends in the past have meant well, I beg to differ with what they believe to be a "now very obvious" and true philosophy. If being content in singlehood is the key to finding Mr./Mrs. Right, then why ... :

1) ... after many periods of total singlehood contentment, have we never found anyone to fall in love with?

2) ... for this to happen, would God require only that we be content in this part of our life?

3) ... are many perfect Christian relationships born out of two people not content being single...and far, far from perfect? (I know some do happen that way, but not all ...)

4) ... does this sound just like advice Job got from his friends? "Obviously you're sinning if ...." Let's just learn the lesson from Job.

5) ... HELLO! (and my biggest point of all), IS THERE NO BIBLICAL SUPPORT (that I have ever heard of) FOR THIS BELIEF??

Therefore, my belief is that that belief is a bunch of junk (to put it mildly) and needs to stop being touted as some mature Christian philosophy. Thank you!

If you have any true, sage, and Biblical advice on this subject, you can let me know. Until then, I plan to continue growing in my relationship with Christ, becoming more content in each area of my life, but all the time realizing not to play it as some magical key to finding a guy.


P.S.
As I said, these are dear people who suggested this thought, but I just don't want others to be misled, as it can be hindering.