Facebook

      Image found at: http://www.hercampus.com/school/u-ottawa/white-and-blue-breakup-letter


The other day I was talking to a few close friends and Facebook came up in our conversation.
"I hate that I spend so much time on Facebook," one of my friends stated.
"I know!  Me too!  I feel like I'm wasting my life by checking Facebook and staying on for such a long time," I replied back, not knowing where our conversation was going.  I was not expecting the response that I heard.
"Do you guys want to see how long we can go without checking Facebook?"
(GULP!)  (WAIT?)  (WHAT?)

That's when it happened.  My first Facebook fast and I'm only at day 2.  DAY 2!  I didn't realize how addicted I was to social media until last night when my husband made a status about me and I couldn't look at it.  Do you feel my pain here?  With the help of my friends, we have been talking back and forth to each other (because we now have so much time on our hands) and have been supporting one another on our withdrawal.  This then lead me to research the negative effects Facebook has on people's lives, including my own.  This research then lead me to find these 10 reasons to break up with Facebook. 
Although I don't see myself deleting mine (yet, I mean, it's only day 2), I do see many benefits to limited exposure.

As of right now, I feel a little better than last night.  It's liberating knowing that I don't have to post anything, like anything, or see people I really don't want to see.  The main reason I took on this challenge with my friends was because I want to live more in the moment.  I have found myself doing quite the opposite and I want to change that.

Here's to staying strong.  Our goal right now is to get through the week, then we'll go from there.  Have you ever considered taking a break from Facebook?  If so, how did it go?

Pitbull Advocacy

As many people know, Montreal just passed a ban against ALL pit bull type dogs.  Being an owner of the most loving and gentle pitbull, my heart shattered when I first heard the news about this ban and death sentence.  It's disheartening to know that in this world, not even dogs are safe from stereotypes and blanket statements.
While I was researching different ways I could help, I came across this gofundme page where a young woman is raising money to rescue as many pitbulls as possible and bring them back to the United States.  They have reached their first goal and will be flying some very lucky dogs to a new home where they can start over.  They are continuing to raise money to fly a second plane in and out.

If you are unfamilier or haven't had much interaction with a pitbull, below are a few snippets of one.   My husband took the first video last night and the second one a few months ago.   :-)

First Grade Team

Last school year was when I really began thinking about how truly blessed I am to have such an incredible first grade team.  Not only are the ladies I work with brilliant, compassionate, selfless, and dedicated, but they are also some of my closest friends.

When you think about work, the people you see every day at your job are indeed the people you see more than your family members.  The fact that your colleagues know what you're going through when you walk in on a Monday without saying anything is comforting.  Here is a list of a few important reasons why it's important to have a close knit group of friends at work, especially your grade level team:

1.  You don't need to pretend.  
The fact that you don't need to sugarcoat how your morning is going is liberating.  No need for the cliche, "It's going wonderful", when really it isn't.  It's safe to say my team members know me too well for me to even fool them if I tried.  I love that they are beginning to read me, just like my sisters do.

2.  You aren't alone.
"Did you get your newsletter printed?"
"Are you having your students take the Unit 1 math test this week?"
"Want to go outside for an extra recess at 2:00?"
Everything you do in your classroom, your team is also doing.  We literally are teaching the exact same thing, so sharing resources and teaching strategies are a constant on our first grade team.  I never feel alone and know they are right down the hall if I need anything.

3.  You can vent.
I say this only because I think it's important that people have confidents where they can vent about a problem they may be having, either at work or at home.  I have learned the hard way with colleagues and have found only a few who I trust dearly.  Some days it just feels better to say, "Hey!  I'm super stressed about this parent e-mail.  What are your thoughts?" or "I really don't feel like being here today..." because haven't we ALL been there at one point or another?  It's nice to know that you are heard, and that you can say what's on your mind without judgement.

4.  You become family.
On the last day of inservice at the beginning of they year our school ends the day with an open house.  I brought my tooth brush and toothpaste and was brushing my teeth in one of the student bathrooms before families came.  Right after me, Kelly (who is on my first grade team) came in and began brushing her teeth as well.  As we were standing there in front of the mirror I couldn't help but smile and think about how close we've become.
I have laughed with my team and cried with my team.  They've seen me with spinach in my teeth, marker stains on my pants, and still love me anyway.  I cherish the small family we have become.

Flow

A few months ago I read about the concept of "flow" which is defined by being completely involved in an activity for its own sake.  As I was reading through the article linked above it occurred to me that I have found myself in this mental state many times.  For starters, I paint.  Whenever I paint time stands still.  I have literally sat at my kitchen chair for hours painting without even taking a sip of water.  I suffer from anxiety and I have found that when I paint, my anxiety is completely gone.  It's almost as though all my thoughts and efforts are working together for just one thing and that is- to create a beautiful canvas.

Above is a painting that I painted for a friend of mine for her daughter's bedroom.   

http://philosophycommons.typepad.com/the_grumpy_grappler/psychology-of-jiu-jitsu/

 Other times when I feel completely lost or immersed in something is when I teach.  Flow is something I don't think about often yet it plays an important role in my life along with others.  People have stated that they feel "flow" during sports, dancing, playing music, writing, drawing, and painting.  I believe that by experiencing "flow" one finds an overwhelming feeling of contentedness and happiness.  I'm curious, have you ever experienced flow?  If so, what were you doing?

You

     Image found at -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2V7GWH5LBc

You inch toward me,

as we just wake up.

It’s another morning

and I feel your hand slide across my body.

Your voice is sleepy as you say good morning to me.

The birds are chirping

as I listen and feel the warmth of my blankets.

My eyelids are still closed and I begin drifting back to sleep.

You reach over and kiss me,

like you always do.

These moments are so ordinary,

yet so precious.

I take this time with you for granted.

I smile and kiss you back,

like I’ll be waking up to you forever.

I'll Never Look at a Whoopie Pie the Same

http://www.simplysifted.com/tag/whoopie-pie/

So there we were, just leaving the field last Saturday.  It was a beautiful day and I was trying to soak up the vitamin D as much as I could, knowing that after fall comes winter.  Tatum, our dog was panting and kept on poking his nose in my purse trying to hint to us that he needed water.
"Grab his ball?" Charles asks as he takes the gate and rolls it open.  Dog in hand he looks away.
That is when it happened.  The whoopie pie, still wrapped in plastic, disappears and it wasn't Charles or myself who ate it.  We look down panic stricken.
"GET IT OUT!" I scream, but it was too late, the dog clearly had the whoopie pie down his throat.
"He just swallowed that whole!" Charles says, upset with himself for looking in the other direction at the tennis players over to the right.
Tatum was still panting, acting like nothing exciting has happened, only that he swallowed a pumpkin chocolate chip whoopie pie whole, still wrapped in plastic.
Charles pulls out his phone after cursing a few about vet bills and bowel blockages.  I try to stay calm, but I'm more grossed out about the poop stink from the plastic doggie bag in the car.

"We need to wait a few days.  The vet said it should come out either one end or the other," Charles relays to me.  Well, this was the beginning of our weekend.  Watching and waiting.  Didn't we say we didn't want kids because of too much responsibility?  Well, that backfired in our faces fast.  Here we were, staring at the dog, worried that something bad was going to happen with apple size plastic in his gut.

Saturday night came and went.  Nothing.  A long Sunday of waiting and still...nothing.  We decided that it will just happen and we'll come home to a mess one of these days but still... nothing.  This morning Charles called the vet again, and they told us to wait a little longer, especially because Tatum was eating and drinking normally.

Now we're into Monday afternoon.  And low and behold, on our walk a couple hours ago it happened.  A clear piece of plastic came out and I never thought I'd be so excited to look in a pile of shit.  My neighbors must have thought I was going crazy, but I was too excited to care.  This is month five since we've had a dog and the first time this has happened.  I'm sure it won't be the last but I'm just ready to relax tonight and not dream about plastic.

Childhood on Horseback

I still remember Christmas afternoon, when my Dad drove me up to Charleston, Maine.
"Just wait and see," he kept saying.   My heart fluttered as we drove in our blue mini van, hands clasped together how I always do.
A beautiful barn appeared out my window after a few different turns.  The barn smell of hay and horses filled the air.  To this day, it's still the best smell in the world.
"Follow me," Dad said as he began to walk to the door, crunching ice while doing so.
I can still remember opening the barn doors and hearing the softest winnies of more than 30 horses tucked away, cozy in their stalls.  After all, it was Christmas afternoon.  Many of the owners were at home with their families.  Not Dad and I.  Here we were, in a beautiful barn, with the best company.  I followed him.  He took a left, and then walked down the aisle.  Stall after stall, horses perked up as they heard our footsteps.  When finally we got to her.  Abigail.  My horse.  My beautiful Arabian Quarter horse who was given to me from a family friend.  I peered into her stall and saw her jet black mane and long tail.  I gently opened the stall door only to find a handmade sign Dad must have made.  It said, God made little girls to beautify the world.  And of course, to ride a horse.  A few years ago, I went back to this barn and tried to find this sign but couldn't.  It will forever be etched in my memory.  Dad decorated Abigail's stall door too.  A beautiful red bow was on it.
"Look, this is Abigail's new home now.  She'll be here where you can ride in the arena and trails and take lessons," Dad explained to me.

And boy did I do just that.  Years and years went by and hundreds of trail rides were ridden.  Jumps were jumped, and hours were spent laying out in the pasture listening to the gentle tear of grass from horses grazing.  When I think back on my childhood, it always goes to horses.  One memory that is so vivid to me was during middle school.  It was a summer night, around 7 o'clock.  I was riding by myself out in the outdoor riding arena.  With the security of the western saddle, I cantered around and around, hair blowing and feeling free.  If someone were to ask me what is one of your happiest memories, this would be up there.  I remember finally slowing down to a gentle lope and raising my arms.  Those were the days.