Tag Archives: challenge

A Busy Eight Weeks Coming Up

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….we had a staff meeting to set dates for our year end activities

I’m not the best when it comes to writing down dates for meetings, events, birthdays, etc., but a few weeks ago I took out my agenda and started to list everything that was coming up. I’m pretty good at remembering dates or I rely on others to do it for me, however, too many things that I was personally responsible for were coming up so I needed to start keeping track of them.

One of my frustrations is trying to coordinate mutually acceptable dates for tournaments where four or more teams are concerned. This year we volunteered to host the boys’ and girls’ soccer tournaments at our school because we have two large soccer fields. The tournaments have to run on separate days and in case of thunder and lightning we have to set rain dates as well. P1000956

The boys got a head start on us and reserved two prime days in May. The Monday of that week was a holiday and on Friday the West Conference Track and Field Meet was being held. The following week all the schools were beginning EQAO testing so any kind of tournament was out of the question. That meant we had to choose a date a week earlier. We chose the 16th but it turned out that one of the schools had already booked a field trip that day and couldn’t change it. So we picked our rain date from the following week and created a new rain date the week after, a day before EQAO testing is to begin. P1000958

We asked everyone to reply by the end of the day so that we could send the schedules home. Of course two days later one of the other schools wrote back and said that those dates conflicted with one of their tournaments for the boys because they were happening on the same day and the same teacher was coaching both the boys’ and the girls’ teams.P1000959

We were running out of dates so we went to our boys’ team and asked if we could use their rain date for our tournament. I’ve now informed my girls and my parent coach of 3 different dates for the tournament. It doesn’t end there. P1000961

Today at our staff meeting our principal told us that she purchased tickets to the Wizard of Oz for all the grade 3s,4s and 5s for May 23rd, the last date we chose for the tournament. When she checked the main calendar we hadn’t posted the final date for the tournament because we hadn’t heard back from all the teams.

So where does that leave us? Well we emailed all the teams again and told them that we had to go back to the 21st and that the team with the double tournament conflict would have to find someone to supervise one of her teams on that day. I hope this is the end of it but I know that not everyone will be happy about it.

Here’s a quick list of all that is coming up this week alone, over and above my regular teaching day:

April 29th – meeting with rep from Jump Rope for Heart, soccer practice in the morning, open report cards on the main computer so that teachers can start inputing comments, assist with school track and field meet throughout the day when not teaching art or giving teachers prep

April 30 – last day for voting for the Forest of Reading and submitting the votes, soccer practice in the morning, retirement workshop at lunch,Girls on the Run after school

May 2 – soccer practice in the morning, concert at Koerner Hall in the afternoon, pottery class in the evening

May 3 – soccer practice after school

I’m sure I’ve missed something but someone’s sure to remind me. Have a great weekend.

Cheers!

The Curse and a Hazy Moon

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…..it never fails, when people tell me I look like I’ve lost more weight…..

Years ago a good friend of mine often commented that I looked like I had lost weight and when I checked the scales I was always heavier. As much as I loved this friend I dreaded hearing those words from her.

This past week I’ve had numerous people comment that I’ve lost more weight. I shudder at the thought of stepping on those scales this week. Why? Has the curse returned? To be honest I haven’t had the best food week. Way too many carbs. As for exercise I feel I could have done more. For weeks now we’ve only done our walks together on weekends and I haven’t been to the gym in over a month.

Today I started the day coaching the girls’ soccer team and then at the end of the school day I spent an hour and a half with Girls on the Run. I ran with the girls but I found the ground too soft for my liking and I only ran 1 lap (.6k). Tonight my husband and I got out with the dog and we walked for 3.9k. It felt good and I was happy that my husband was up to doing a second walk today.

On our walk I took the camera in hope of finding some interesting subjects to photograph. I love that the days are longer. When we started the walk it was just starting to get dark and by the time we got home it was completely dark. The moon had a slight haze over it. I wasn’t sure that my camera could handle the low light but I played with some of the settings, hoping for the best.

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Thanks, I’m at 10 000 Views!

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Just a short post to let all my followers know that I’ve reached the first of my goals before the end of April. I’ve reached 10 000 views. My second goal was to get 300 followers. I’m at 288 and need 12 more followers to reach my second goal. That’s 1.3 new followers each day over the next nine days. Can I do it? It’s up to you.

Another Gloomy Day

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…. but at least it’s a little warmer

We always look forward to the first days of Spring but this year Winter keeps reappearing. Just as we start to think that warmer, sunny days are upon us the temperatures plunge back down to freezing and the skies cloud over, not with warm spring rain but icy cold snow and sleet.

I’m sitting here debating whether to get outside and attempt a long walk with the dog or get in the car and get a little bit of shopping done in the Junction. We need some organic vegetables, coconut water and almond milk and there’s a great store up there called the Sweet Potato that sells all that great stuff.

My husband just checked the weather and the rain isn’t coming for a few more hours so we’ve decided to get the dog out. I’ll continue when I get back.

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Well the weatherman was wrong again. As soon as we stepped outside it started to drizzle but we decided to continue with the walk. We didn’t get very far and it started to rain pretty steadily. We were both dressed in our rain gear so we made the decision to keep going. Initially we thought we would do a shorter route because of the rain but our legs kept us moving on our usual path. 

When we got closer to the rugby pitch something came over me and I started to run/jog. I jokingly told my ‘Girls on the Run’ students that I always run faster in the rain and maybe there is something to that because I didn’t stop till I got home. More about this later.

I just called my oldest daughter and after we dry out a little we’re going to pick her up and head over to the Junction to do some shopping. Maybe we’ll catch some lunch in one of the little coffee shops or restaurants that are springing up all over this up and coming area of Toronto.

Well, so far the day isn’t turning into a ‘gloomy’ day, despite the weather. It’s only 11:00 in the morning and already I’ve had a great walk/run, I’ve written a post for the blog and I’m about to go out do some fun shopping with my husband and daughter. Things are looking up!

Cheers!

Trying Something New

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…just signed up for a 10 week pottery class

Four weeks ago one of our teachers went on maternity leave and a new teacher, DH took over her 1/2 class. I liked her immediately and soon discovered that before becoming a teacher she was a potter. She told me she still taught pottery classes from her studio in her home and that a new session was starting mid April. 

Tonight was the first class and despite the forecast for round two of more bad weather I decided to chance the drive and make the commitment to 10 weeks of classes. I loved the easy going atmosphere of the class. There were only two of us there tonight so I got a lot of personal guidance and attention. I don’t have a lot of experience with clay and DH gave me a lot of good advice and hands on experience with this new medium. 

DH’s other student has been taking classes for 5 years and was working on a teapot. It was interesting watching her make and assemble the spout and handle for her pot. I really liked the texture that she had carved into her pot. 

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DH gave me a demonstration on the potter’s wheel. It’s like magic watching the ball of clay transform into a vase.

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Tonight I made two pinch pots and then combined them to create one vessel. Next week I will be cutting a lid from the top of the pot and carving a design into the clay. I know it doesn’t look like much now but I have great hopes for it. I’m also working on a texture plate for future projects.

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I’ve included a couple of photos of DH’s finished teapots. I don’t think I’ll be making teapots in this session but I can see a couple of bowls and some mugs in the near future. Stay tuned.

ImageImageOh, by the way, the next round of freezing rain held off until I got home tonight.

 

 

On the Mend

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…. 11 days later and I’m starting to feel better

I’m hardly ever sick. People at work often say “Carol you’re never sick.” This year has certainly been the exception. Prior to this year I never worried about having to take time off to recuperate because over 25 years I had saved up more sick days then I would ever use. This year the government took all our saved sick days away and our sick days for the year were cut from 20 to 11 days. I’ve already used up 7 of those days this year. 

Another downside of being sick is that I haven’t been walking or exercising. I was sure that I had put weight back on but when I finally stood on the scale on Monday I was pleasantly surprised to see that my total weight loss was holding steady at 32 1/2 pounds. Of course that means that all the weight I lost during the 3 day detox was back on but I’m not surprised. Today I was down another pound. 

Yesterday we started Girls on the Run at our school again. I’m one of the coaches and have 15 girls on my team. The weather was very cold. I led the girls in some of the warm-up activities and then we walked/ran for 15 minutes. I have to admit that I only walked yesterday because of my cough. I can go without coughing for hours at a time but speaking too much or laughing or sudden changes in temperature brings on extended coughing spells.  Hopefully tomorrow, on day 2 of this 10 week (twice a week) program, I’ll be able to run a little bit. 

Things are starting to look up. My eating is back on track and I’m looking forward to running again. A year ago I couldn’t imagine saying those words. For most of my life I hated running. I tried running numerous times but I always gave up after a couple of days. I don’t expect to be running a marathon any time soon, if ever, but I certainly am planning on doing another 5K. 

Time to take my evening cold medicine. Wish me a speedy recovery. 

Cheers!

Results of the Dr. Oz 3 Day Detox Cleanse

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…… and my first happy moment today

For the last three days I was following the Doctor Oz 3 day detox cleanse. I felt I needed to give my body a boost. I’d recently experienced a hormonal change in my body, my weight loss had come to a stop and I had just gotten over a cold.

Dr. Oz’s cleanse seemed very doable. All the ingredients were easily accessible and some of the ingredients I already had in my house. There was also variety. Each meal for the day was a different recipe. Finally the smoothies were about 350 calories each and because each of them had some kind of fat in them they were very filling and satisfying.

The Dr. Oz 3 Day Detox Cleanse

Here is how each meal looked for the last three days.

Breakfast

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Lunch

P1000676 P1000678 P1000682 P1000674On the first day we forgot to add the coconut oil. It makes a difference and shouldn’t be skipped.

Dinner

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The surprise ingredient in this blueberry mango avocado smoothie is cayenne pepper.

This morning when I got on the scale I was down 6 pounds. Yippee! Now I know that a lot of this is water loss but it’s enough incentive to keep me on the right track with my eating and move forward with my weight loss journey. Plus I do feel better. My skin looks better and the aches I was feeling during the cleanse apparently were due to my body getting rid of the toxins. All good.

Life of Pi and Day 3 of the Cleanse

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…..two more things that made me happy today

Earlier in the week two of my friends and I made plans to see the Life of Pi. Today was the day. It was a perfect day to see a movie. It was overcast and winter temperatures have returned. I guess old man winter is not done with us.

I was surprised that the movie version we were seeing was in 3D. I’ve never seen an entire movie with 3D glasses and I’m pleased to say that it was a very pleasant experience. In fact it was downright beautiful. Having the birds fly towards us and the fish swim in our direction was magical.

I read the book years ago and was curious how such an unusual story could be made into a movie. The animal scenes in the life boat were tastefully recreated but I know some people that would find them somewhat disturbing. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and it was easy to see why it won four Oscars.

The last thing I’m happy about is that I completed the Dr. Oz Three Day Cleanse tonight. As you know I had to do the last two days on my own. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do it without my husband’s support but it wasn’t as hard as I thought. Tomorrow I’ll explain the program and reveal my results.

Have you seen a good movie lately?

Cheers!