…..thank you Ronovan for this week’s prompts ‘day and beast’
Simple Joy
The beast from within
is curtailed by the child’s laugh
Stilled for one more day
Weekly Haiku Poetry Challenge – #34
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Category Archives: weekly writing challenge
Share Your World 2015 – Week 9
….March has finally arrived but winter doesn’t want to leave
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
It depends on the day. I feel at least 10 years younger than I am, most of the time. Last week when I had trouble standing up after falling while skiing I felt much older. If I have to put an age to it I’d say I feel like I’m in my late 40s or early 50s. Having said that there are days that I think I’m in better shape, physically and mentally than many people who are actually in this age range.
Are you left or right handed?
I’m left handed. I write, paint and eat with my left hand but I do much with my right hand. I bat with my right hand, play the ukelele and guitar with my right hand and knit with my right hand. When I golf and bowl I use my right hand. I iron and type with both hands.
If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?
I’m really struggling with this question. I’ve gone through the alphabet trying to pull up names that would suit me. I’ve tried thinking of people that I admire but my husband would leave me if I chose Meryl or Hilary. I’ve gone back to my German heritage but people can’t pronounce most German names and Heidi is just too cutesy. My name, Carol, comes from Charles so I thought I needed to find a more masculine name but Carla, Karen, Connie and Karine are too close to Carol. Then I turned to numerology and settled on a name with German roots and one that suits the number 8. My new name would be Erika.
Where do you hide junk when people come over?
Everything goes into my bedroom. Don’t ask me for a tour of the upstairs of my house. I’d be too embarrassed.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
I’m grateful for a special day spent with my friend AB. We met when I first started teaching in 1976. Our rooms were next to each other. I was the Family Studies teacher and she was the art teacher. We had a special relationship right from the start. She is God mother to my children and we’ve stayed close all these years. She’s 11 years older than me and has been retired for awhile. She’s looking forward to the day I retire so that we can ‘play’ again.
On Saturday morning she called me to see if I wanted to look at a condo building with her. She has been preparing to sell her house and down size to a condominium. Both my husband and I thought we were just going to look this place and then walk away so that AB could think about this major purchase. We were blown away when she took out her cheque book and made a down payment on a unit. We were touched that she wanted us there to help her with this life changing investment. We love the location. In fact my husband and I lived in the same location for two years before we bought our own house.
The other thing I’m grateful for was being able to drive to Oshawa with my oldest daughter and her partner on Sunday and help my Dad pack up some dishes and clean the fridge before the mover came on Monday. We drove over to their new apartment and filled up the new fridge with food from the house. They were both very pleased with their new accommodations and I was happy to see the place first hand.
This week I’m looking forward to going to Kiwanis with the Grade one classes to hear them sing. My friend’s father, Ray Cattell is having a major art show at the Arts and Letters Club and the opening for the public is this Sunday. I’ve already had a sneak preview and it’s a wonderful show and I can’t wait to share it with my family. I’m also looking forward to a new on-line art assignment from Carla Sonheim this Thursday.
Share Your World 2015 – Week 8
…..thanks to Cee for this week’s challenging questions
Your favorite blog post that you have written? (add link)
I’ve written over 1000 posts. This is a difficult decision you’re asking me to make. One post that comes to mind is the story I wrote about the birth of my baby sister, some 56 years ago. My Fondest Memory of Christmas as a Child
What do you feel is the most enjoyable way to spend $500? Why?
I like to spend money on clothes, buying for other people and travelling with my husband. I like to shop in small boutiques, especially when I travel but I like a good bargain so Winners and Marshall’s are usually my go to places for clothes. I also love buying books and because I’m given a budget for the library I can spend money that’s not mine. Even better.
If you could know the answer to any question, besides “What is the meaning of life?”, what would it be?
This is a difficult question. I used to think that I’d like to know what the future holds for me but I’m not ready to know or really want to know how my life or anyone else’s life ends. I think I would love knowing how to bring about world peace.
Where do you eat breakfast?
Most of the time I eat breakfast at home. If I’m running late I might pack or pick up a breakfast and eat at work. I rarely eat breakfast at a restaurant unless I’m on vacation.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Last week I was grateful for spending a day skiing with a couple of classes from school. One of the teachers had a conflict with the date and couldn’t go so I was happy to step in, even though we experienced -30 degree weather. I only fell once and the only thing I hurt was my pride. Luckily I was able to get up and the rest of the day went without a hitch. 
I also took the boys’ basketball team to their tournament. They didn’t win one game but they played well and for the most part were really good sports. I’m also grateful for time spent on making some fun art pieces for my on-line course.
For the rest of this week I’m looking forward to visiting my Dad and helping him move some of his things to his new apartment. He finally sold his house and is now ready to embark on a different lifestyle. My oldest daughter and her partner are joining me for the visit and my husband is staying home to prepare homemade pizza for us to enjoy when we return home.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Share Your World 2015 – Week 7
……lucky 7
Is the paper money in your possession right now organized sequentially according to denomination and with the bills right side up and facing the same way?
There is no money in my wallet at the moment. I’ve been using my debit card a lot lately. When I’m organizing money from school trips and fund raisers I do tend to organize the bills sequentially and all facing in the same direction.
What is your favorite type of dog? (can be anything from a specific breed, a stuffed animal or character in a movie)
My favourite dog is probably a Golden Retriever. I’ve owned two of them so I tend to have a soft spot in my heart for them. Having said that, however, I love all my dogs…. mutts and pure breads alike. 
If money was not an issue, would you go on a cruise? If so where would you go?
I think I’d like to try a cruise at least once. A river cruise through Europe appeals to me. My sister went on one last fall and enjoyed it very much.
Would you dare to sleep in haunted house overnight?
No thank you. I do believe that ghosts exist and haunted houses tend to have ‘angry’ ghosts. There’d be no sleeping going on for me.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
I’m grateful for a very special ‘Family Day’ get together at a dim sum restaurant in Chinatown. Both my girls and their significant others were there and we videotaped a greeting to our son and his fiancé in England. My husband is healing up nicely and I’m over my tummy ailments that had me down for the count last Friday.
This week I’m looking forward to a cross country ski trip with a group of grade 4 and 5 students and on Friday our boys’ basketball team will be competing in a tournament against four other school teams. Wish us luck!
For more Share Your World fun check out Cee’s Photography.
Share Your World 2015 – Week 6
What was the last time you went to a new place? Two weeks ago, after my husbands post op appointment with his endocrinologist we treated ourselves to a dinner at a restaurant that I had never been to before. It was a BBQ place called Barque’s in the west end of Toronto. Delicious!
If you were or are a writer do you prefer writing short stories, poems or novels, other? And what type of genre would you prefer?
I guess as bloggers we are all writers but I prefer to write short stories and free verse poetry. I’ve often toyed with the idea of writing and illustrating children’s picture books.
Out of your five senses (touch, taste, sight, smell, hearing) which is your favorite? As an artist and photographer I’d have to say that sight is my favourite sense. I wouldn’t be able to produce the following pieces without my sight.
If 100 people your age were chosen at random, how many do you think you’d find leading a more satisfying life than yours?
Based on the people I know who are my age I’d say that there would probably be 20 people who might lead a more satisfying life than mine. I think I’m better off than most people my age but I wouldn’t be so cocky as to believe that no one has a better or more satisfying life than mine.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
A few days ago my husband was in a bicycle accident and I’m grateful that his injuries weren’t more serious and that he didn’t suffer a concussion. He looks bad like he was in a bar brawl or street fight but he’ll heal and be as good as new in a couple of weeks.
I’m looking forward to a long weekend. We have parent teacher interviews Thursday evening and Friday morning. I’m off Friday afternoon and on Monday we celebrate Family Day in Ontario. We’re planning on going to Chinatown and partaking in some dim sum. Maybe we’ll even go to the art gallery which is just down the street from the restaurant.
It’s suppose to be very cold this weekend so it’ll probably be a good weekend to make art and snuggle up with a good book.
Weekly Poetry Haiku Challenge #30
…..Ronovan Writes gives us the prompts force and free
Teaching Strategies
I am free to teach
inspire, motivate and mold
Young minds without force
***
Sometimes a small bribe
captivates the young learner
to focus clearly
***
Is it wrong or right?
Freedom to experiment
Brings results sans force
***
Today’s poem came as a result of a nutrition lesson I presented to my grade 5 health class today. We were examining the nutrition labels on bags of salty snacks. I told the class if we covered everything in my lesson they could sample the contents of the bags if they still wanted to after learning how to interpret the information on the nutrition labels. The lesson went well and the students were very focused. Amazing how the lure of receiving three or four chips kept the class engaged. Some of the students actually turned down the chips as they were passed around.
Image courtesy of: http://www.kettlebrand.com/site/files/traditionalChips.jpg
Share Your World 2015 – Week 5
…..it’s already February and week 5
Do you prefer shopping or going to a park?
Why do I have to pick? I like them both. I like a balance of activities. I love to walk and I need to do more. January has been a tough month on the exercise front. I also love to shop and I didn’t much of that either in January. Okay February, time to up my game on both fronts. 
If you were a shoe, what kind would you be and why?
I’m all about comfort now. I love my new hiking shoes and my ‘Blundstone’ style boots. Both work well when I’m walking and the boots are versatile and are somewhat fashionable.
What’s the story behind a time when you got locked out?
The last time I was locked out it happened at school. My swipe key was starting to break so the office administrator applied for a new one. Little did I know that the moment she applied for a new one the old one was declared null and void. That night I had to go back to school for a meeting and I couldn’t get back into the school. I walked to the front doors and they were locked so I walked around to the side entrance and then all the way through the school to get back to the library. It wouldn’t have been so bad but it was bitterly cold. The next morning I couldn’t get into the school again but when I finally did, the office had my new key ready for me.
Do you prefer eating foods with nuts or no nuts?
I love nuts and any food that contains nuts. When a box of chocolate is presented to me I always look for the chocolate with the nuts first. I love marzipan, Italian almond cookies, M&M Chocolate Covered Peanuts and almond bark.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Last week my husband had his post op appointments with his doctors and the surgery was successful. He still has to have iodine radiation done but no more surgery for the time being. We walked to a restaurant close to the hospital that I’ve always wanted to try and we had a wonderful meal together.
I’m grateful for time spent with my children. We all got together to deliver a desk to my oldest daughter and her sister made homemade empanadas for us to enjoy for lunch. I’m also happy to have finished proofreading report cards.
I’m looking forward to printing up the final copies of the report cards for all the teachers on staff. I’m also looking forward to working on more art projects and receiving the next art assignment from Carla.
Here are a couple of warm-up doodles that I created for the class.
Cheers and If you’d like to see more “Share Your World” posts head on over to Cee’s Photography and join in on the fun.
Share Your World, 2015 – Week 4
Where did you live at age five? Is it the same place or town you live now?
At the age of five I lived in Toronto. The following year we moved to Oakville, which is about a half hour west of Toronto. We only lived there for four years before we moved back to Toronto. I have lived in this great city most of my life.
View of the city from Centre Island.
You are invited to a party that will be attended by many fascinating people you never met. Would you attend this party if you were to go by yourself?
I’m not sure I would go by myself. If I know someone at the party and I’m assuming that the person who invited me knows me I might go for awhile. This summer I went to a neighbour’s party but I didn’t stay long because there were a lot of people there that I didn’t know.
Did you grow up in a small or big town? Did you like it?
I guess you figured out that I grew up in a big city. In fact, Toronto is the biggest city in Canada. I can’t remember not liking it. We had a park, skating rink, tennis courts and swimming pool right across the street. In the summer I swam every day and in the winter I was always at the rink. In the summer we used to go to Centre Island for picnics and we always looked forward to the CNE (Canadian National Exhibiton) which signalled the end of summer. 
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My first memory of what I wanted to be was a nurse (me and every other little girl in the 50s) but at the age of 12 I decided that I wanted to be a Family Studies (Home Ec.) teacher. That dream didn’t waver much. Sometimes I thought I might want to become a doctor but I always went back to teaching. I studied to become a Family Studies teacher and for 17 years that’s what I taught. I have been a teacher for 34 years and I still love it.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
I answered this question on Sunday so nothing much new to report here.
For more Share Your World posts check out Cee’s Photography.
Share Your World 2015 – Week 3
…..more questions brought to you by Cee
Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
I’ve saved this question for last because I’m finding it the most difficult to answer. I would be worried about having someone I don’t know over for dinner. Is the house clean enough, are my things up to par, will they like my cooking, will I say something stupid and insult them or will I find them completely boring and be let down by the experience? When I have people over I want to enjoy the experience so I tend to invite people who know me well and won’t judge me. Therefore I’d have to say that I want my best friends over for dinner.
When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
The last time I sang was at the percussion concert we had last Thursday at school. I sang with the audience. I like to sing in the car when I’m by myself. I can’t remember the last time I sang to someone. Sometimes I’ll break out in song when I’m reading a story to the younger boys and girls in the library. I sang in a German choir for 27 years and after that I was a guest chorister with a fantastic church choir. I did that for a few years.
If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?
I wish I could eat like a person who is healthy, enjoys food and doesn’t struggle with weight. I’m healthy and I certainly enjoy food but my weight has been a life long struggle.
What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
I think joking about anything that is tragic is taboo. Joking about someone’s loss or pain is just plain tacky.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
I’m grateful that my reports are written, that I produced some fun art 
and that I got to hear the children perform on the percussion instruments after listening to them practise every day for two weeks. 
I’m grateful that I was able to visit my Dad today and help somewhat with his moving dilemma. He is moving from a house to an apartment and between him and his partner G they have at least two apartment’s worth of belongings.
This week I’m looking forward to producing more art and starting the second part of the assignment that I was given last Thursday. I have till Feb. 8 before I receive the next lesson.
Share Your World 2015 – Week 2
….thanks Cee for 4 more great questions
Are you a hugger or a non-hugger?
I don’t come from a family of huggers but I’ve learned to hug over the years. I actually enjoy hugging family and friends but I’m a little put off by strangers who want to hug you. I’ve also become more careful as to whom and when I hug, especially students. Most children love to hug and usually initiate the action but over the years I’ve noticed that some just aren’t comfortable hugging and I have to respect their personal space. Unfortunately for male teachers it’s more risky to hug students and most of my male colleagues are very careful about any type of physical interaction with students
What’s your favorite ice-cream flavor?
I love all flavours of ice-cream but If I have to choose I’d say cinnamon or coffee flavoured ice-cream.
Do you prefer exercising your mind or your body? How frequently do you do either?
I love a bit of both but lately I think I do more exercising of the mind. I play scrabble daily and love the puzzles in the newspaper, especially Sudoko. When the weather isn’t too cold I love to walk and I do enjoy restorative Yoga.
Are you more of a dog person or a cat person? Why?
I’ve owned both cats and dogs but I am definitely more of a dog person. We currently own a dog named Frances and in the past we owned two Golden Retrievers for 23 years (back to back, not at the same time). I’m not sure why but all our dogs are and were females. As much as we loved our cat, the dogs were always more active and demanding of our time. For many people that would be a reason to prefer cats but the dogs get us out and walking and enjoying our surroundings. They also bring neighbours together. We may not know everybody’s name but they all know the dog’s name. 
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
I’m grateful that my husband’s surgery is over with and that it went well. He’s home now and is recovering quickly. 
This week I’m looking forward to going back to work and do more of my art assignments for Year of the Spark. So far I’ve only done a few of my one-line drawings and I’m anxious to elaborate on some of them.
Mama Cormier 
