A Change

2010 has become a year of learning and change so I decided to modify the title of my blog to reflect what is really happening for me this year. I found this quote by George Eliot and it captures what I am discovering

It is never too late to become what you might have been.

Changes seems to be my theme -

• I’ve changed to healthy eating by making the decision to use Weight Watchers to help me learn how to eat and lose weight. (current loss: 75 pounds). This isn’t the first time I’ve made this journey, but this time feels like the last time; I’m in control of my eating and it’s a “good thing”
• I’ve changed my attitude about exercise. Walking, yoga, and using the gym have become part of my weekly routines. I’ll confess that getting of my duff (as my mom would say) is not natural for me; at the end of the work day I’d rather put on my pj’s and that uber-comfy robe Gary gave me for Christmas and snuggle up with my computer, my iPod, the Times crossword & sudoku, and my one of my stack of books. However, the challenge of reporting about my walking and exercise has given me the incentive to take that walk or visit the gym before I settle in for the evening! (Special shout-out to PK who inspired this “new attitude”!)
• I’ve changed my status from teacher to learner. In January I began a master’s program in reading. This program is web-based which allows me to go to “school” in that comfy robe I spoke of earlier. However, the courses are condensed into 5 weeks from the usual 10 weeks. Learning in double-time can be a challenge, but so far so good.

I may be looking at 60 soon, but as George Eliot said – you’re never too old! (Forgetting the aches/pains of the body as I write this and to paraphrase the ad I saw in the paper today: When did my bones get older than my attitude?

Enjoy this Patti LaBelle “New Attitude” video!

Monumentally ineffective

Monumentally ineffective

Originally uploaded by ecastro

This photo captures my own ideas about what I see in education. Educators should have the opportunity to develop the skills and tools for implementing a project-based curriculum – one that will help students “grow’ their own learning.

Tools ‹ 365-1 Days of Learning — WordPress

Tools ‹ 365-1 Days of Learning — WordPress.

I can’t believe it!

It’s Sunday, April 4, and it’s been over a week since I’ve been able to walk. I came down with the flu/cold last weekend and spent all weekend in bed & missed work on Monday. I made it to yoga on Wednesday, but we did an easy practice due to my knee and cold. My knee has been giving me problems for over a year, but I thought the weight lost (75 pounds now!) would relieve it. I’ve had two cortisone shots, but the doc said that the knee is “bone rubbing on bone”.

Well, yesterday morning I could not walk without extreme pain! I was walking around like Chester in the old Gunsmoke TV show. Have an appt next week and hope that I can make it until then.

Friday Night

It’s Friday and I’m sitting in my favorite chair in my comfy Christmas-gift bathrobe with a box Kleenex at my side. Can’t believe I’ve caught a cold with all its accompanying “goodies”… headache / sinus pain / etc! Made it through the week, but am truly depleted.

For those of you who are wondering about my scholarship … I didn’t get it. At first I was upset and feeling ill-used However, I have come to realize that it isn’t such a bad thing. The feedback on my application showed that I missed the mark on several topics. This means that when I apply again – and I will apply make no mistake! – my writing will be fine-tuned to what they are looking for.

My walking fell off this week as I dealt with my cold, but never fear.. these feet aren’t out of the “running” yet.

I’m Still in the Game :-)

72 days and I’m still walking and moving! I’ve also been one busy woman, but tonight is a good night for taking the time to catch up on my writing.

Speaking of time…

Myspace Quotes, Time Quotes at WishAFriend.com

Sometimes time is not – as the Rolling Stones to poignantly(?) said -  on my side! I feel like each day is passing so swiftly and I’m not ready for them to! And then to add insult to injury – Daylight Savings Time begins. All morning I kept subtracting an hour forgetting that it’s “spring forward!” When I figured it out I was crushed – well, maybe not “crushed”, but certainly disappointed.

I want time to slow down and yet speed up. I’m waiting for an important announcement about a scholarship I applied for and I found out that it’ll probably come at the end of March. Too long! Oh well, in the meantime …  I’ll keep checking out those library books, helping my students discover great books, keep up with the reading in my master’s class (talk about time – each class is a quarter worth of work in 5 weeks! – Speed learning), and hitting pavement for my walks/stretching and breathing in my yoga practice.

The end of March will be here before I know it.

“Oh What a Beautiful …”

I’m known for my penchant for bursting into song when a word or phrase I hear / say recalls a favorite (and sometimes not-so-favorite) song. All this week I have been thinking about that song from Oklahoma whose refrain is “Oh what a beautiful morning. Oh what a beautiful day.” Every day has been such a gift. However, I think we’ll have to abandon all hopes of snow and embrace the emergence of snow drops in gardens all around us.

Monday (2/15) I walked around Greenlake with a parent/colleague/friend from St. Matthew. I’ve taught all 3 of her children and we’ve developed a friendship along the way. I always enjoy talking with her because she is a teacher. I also get to get caught up on her kids – especially her oldest who is now a senior in high school. The great thing about walking around Greenlake (or any long walk) is that when you do it with a friend the miles just fly by. My impatience to get things over with is surpressed when I have a walking companion. So we walked and talked. Starbucks for water and a cool down and then we walked toward our cars. We stood on a corner chatting for some time – admiring the dogs (and their owners) going by – when L. noticed that a lot of people around us were staring in our direction! It couldn’t be us so we turned and in the distance we could see a terrible fire in an upper story window of a low-income senior housing facility that borders the freeway. Soon fire engines were blaring their horns and soon the fire was out.

Tuesday found me at Magnolia’s Our Lady of Fatima church attending our faculty retreat. I won’t go into the retreat agenda, but at lunch 4 of us quickly ate our lunch and started out on a brisk walk around the neighborhood. I found myself walking with S., 5th grade teacher. We chatted about a myriad of things, but in particular we discussed the frustrations with the administration of  our church and the challenges it holds as we practice our faith. The walk wasn’t long enough, but we had to return for the afternoon session of the retreat. The sun, crisp air, and signs of burgeoning life around were concrete evidence of the miracles of life!

After 5 days of winter break we returned to work on Wednesday. Talk about busy. I was up to my eyebrows in deadlines and rescheduling classes that hadn’t had library on Monday and Tuesday.  I also had a very important application for federal technology funding to get finished by Friday. The best part of the day/week was working with 3rd grade on a book review project which will culminate in a podcast. Their teacher and I collaborate frequently and it gives me a chance to teach!! Best of all, K. (4th gr.) and I have now established a routine of walking the St. Matthew neighborhood. It gets out of the school soon after the kids have departed and we get some much needed fresh air and a chance to debrief.

Thursday and Friday were the same. We were joined by M. the PE teacher. The sun continued to shine and what a great feeling it is to be outside.

Yesterday and today I walked the “usual” route in Edmonds. The snow-capped mountains and white-capped water along Sunset Avenue make this walk a favorite.

What is wonderful about all this walking is that I feel “mah-velous, darling!” My step is lighter and I can feel the increased energy. I have to thank my friend P for inspiring me to begin this journey. Now my daily routine has to include walking and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“I’ve got a wonderful feeling … everything’s going my way!”

Music by Richard Rodgers, lyric by Oscar Hammerstein II
Copyright © 1943 by Williamson Music
Copyright Renewed.
International Copyright Secured
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.