Thanksgiving 2010

ing

listening: Glee Christmas CD - Love it, and love the show!
tasting:  dill pickle - just ate one for no reason at all
watching: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (saw it for the 2nd time today)
reading: A Gateway Award nominee...
wearing: northwest sweatshirt and my favorite black pj type sweat pants
going: to address christmas cards and maybe write a little something in them if there's a good movie on

Thankfull

Tis the season, to be thankful.  Here's some more things I'm thankful for.

-good friends
-good family
-Rachel Ray, Tyler Florence, Bobby Flay, Paula Deen, Epicurious, Foodnetwork kitchens
-paying off my car
-PCCB
-my old, but renewed oboe
-a friends Christmas tree she gave me for a lunch (remember mine busted last year..hahah)
-my slanket
-Irish Cream & coffee
-Canadian Whiskey & ginger ale
-plans on Thanksgiving night (haven't had 'em in a few years)
-the hope and renewed sense of life the new year brings with it
-a new sweater that ironically is going to look great with the jewelry my momma just gave me.

Cheers to Thanksgiving!  May everyone's be as family and friend filled as I plan for mine to be. 

Thankfull

I looked back the last 3 years of November posts and no Thankful posts...so maybe it's time and fitting that I remember all the things I am thank-full for (life has been a bit dreary lately).
So here are some, in no particular order:
my family
true friends, my chosen family
hope
opportunities
Deathly Hallows Part 1
holidays full of family, friends, celebrations and games
the gym
smart advice
in advance, I'm thankful to the person who listens to me finally let go of all my recent thoughts
Northwest Missouri state playoff games

And while I'm sure I'm thankful for much more.  That's it for right now.
2 days this week and then a 5 day weekend. That is something to be thankful for!!

thoughts

What are your thoughts on career transitions?  What kind of career could a teacher transition to?  What are the odds that I'm even going to find something else?  Is it better to be miserable and have a good pay check or to be struggling happily with a smaller one?  I'd really love to have some opportunity come my way.  I will answer that door. 
Please be on the look out or have an ear out for the opportunity that I'm looking to come my way.  The more looks and ears I have the better my chances.  The universe has something else for me, I just know it.

today

just because I feel like telling someone.

woke up at 6 am
went to work at 7am
worked until 5 pm
came home
took a shower
did some multi-tasking:  worked, watched glee, made some awesome delish chicken soup with stuffing
and here we are now writing a blog to avoid doing more work and seemingly feeling lonely since all I want to do is tell someone about my damn day.

*sigh*

blessings

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Thank you to Sarah Thomas for posting this on facebook, letting me read it and reminding me that every moment I have with my inner city youth is a moment that they should feel enriched and loved.  I can be a better model to the students regardless of whether I'm getting my paper job done or not.  I can be the change I want to see in the word regardless of whether the paperwork is finished in a timely matter.  I can be a person they can look up to and develop goals because of regardless of whether the GLE or DOK is written on the board.  I can be a good memory from their childhood regardless of whether attend that meeting or not.  

 

Soups

I think I've decided two things about cooking this winter.  1.  I need a dutch oven.  2.  I'm making soups and stoups this winter.  If anyone has good down home soup recipes or knows of good websites, email them my way.

Also, I got a lot of good deals this weekend which may result in a smaller social life for the next two weeks, but I now am a first time owner of a Columbia fleece, new asics for running and several other awesome buys - those were the two big ones.  It was definitely a good weekend for shopping.  I don't regret any buys! 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner - I'm thinking a mix of Tyler Florence, Ina Garten, and Rachel Ray - mostly Tyler. 

Oh, I hate day light savings.  Nothing makes me want to hibernate more than the sun going down at 5:30.  Boo.

boiling

Do this, You're not doing that, Don't do this, These are what you should have, Instructional activity is only when the teacher is actively engaged, every lesson should have informal and formal assessments, assessments are not instructional activity, differentiated instruction should be on the drop down box, you have to copy and paste all your curriculum into new forms so you have the drop down box, the human element, someone must do 6th grade math tutoring, it will be you, you should do it more than one day a week, no grades in for 2nd quarter, goal tracker, new lesson plans for this year, I don't teach the same thing every year, you need to rewrite this, i need to read everything you do, flippant, have your white notebook out so observers can look at it, word walls, don't tape anything up on the walls, can't always log into the student computers, keep a data log within your curriculum and on goal tracker, you are accountable for your caseload, be a successful case manager, is this on your radar, plp everything, update positive behavior support plans, goal tracker, rewrite curriculum, copy and paste so it has a drop down box, there's not enough teacher notes, differentiated instruction, dok, gle, activities, instructional activities, practice and homework, differentiated instruction, bell work, objective, goal tracker, reading plus, lexia, passkey, read 180, sometimes you can't log on to student computers, desks not tables, rewrite curriculum, assessments are not instructional activity, every lesson should have an assessment, engaged, advance organizers, similarities and differences, lecture, kinesthetic, auditory, visual, I am not visual, goal tracker, reds, do your own testing, 30 days - including days you don't see the child, 10 day suspensions, manifest destiny, manifestation determination, put the kids name with the parents name on nom, don't call reading resource reading resource, priorities, goal tracker, plp it, print off the draft, re do, rewrite your curriculum, is this on your radar, goal tracker, i'm auditory, differentiated instruction shouldn't be seen.

I want to

write something positive on here.  I really do.  I'm being bogged down by things I am not succeeding at and stuff that is not making me happy.  I know there are a lot of things I can do to make myself happy and a lot of things I can change so I'm being more successful.  God knows why we allow the crap to overshadow everything.  Maybe it's just me.  Regardless, I always have something to look forward to.  This week, it's Friday off, Wornall House tour and good friends coming over, Saturday is Band Alumni Day at Northwest, and Sunday is Halloween (not that I celebrate or give out candy).

in reference to: October 12, 2010

flippant: lacking proper respect or seriousness 

getting back on the right path

these activities make me utterly happy..

being active - biking, running, walking, playing
teaching (actually teaching, not doing paperwork - do not confuse the two)
cooking
traveling
coaching (both sports, and colleagues)
waking up early
drinking coffee
feeling calm
collaborating on a common goal
feeling like I have control of my time
being able to choose what I'm going to do
sharing and creating ideas

Of course I made this list thinking about a new career path for myself.  What do you think????  Any suggestions on new careers?  Maybe some I don't know about since I've been in education for 8 years? I need some ideas of places to look for jobs and how to go about that.  For the right price and opportunity, I'd be willing to relocate so the jobs don't necessarily have to be in the KC area.  I know it's still early in the year, but one never knows when opportunity is going to come knocking.

Untitle

Several things...in no particular order.

I had a professional development day on Friday.  This allowed me to get home at the unusually early hour of 3:00pm.  It was gorgeous out.  I wanted to open up my front door and enjoy the breeze.  I hadn't had the front storm door put in yet, because I just figured I would pay someone to do it, so that it was done correctly.  But on Friday, I was impatient and decided I would just do it.  So, I texted Brian and he agreed to come help.  And off I went - installing my front storm door.  We struggled with putting in the screen/glass.  It just wasn't working.  He kept talking about what him and Sarah were doing that night (like taking a walk and stuff) and since the sun was getting lower in the sky I just told him to go and enjoy it.  My dad happened to call at that moment, he came over but was no help either, just yelled at me for no real reason.  So, then I ushered him out and told him and mom to have a nice dinner.  Then Eric came over...my personal superman.  He can fix anything.  So we drank beer and chatted while he figured out how to get the glass in, then put on my handle, and just finished up the door.  It ended up being an awesome night.

Saturday was the year anniversary of the house break-in.  I reflected on how many improvements I'd made to the house and how much safer I feel.  I put in two new doors with new hardware, 2 new storm doors (the front one has a deadbolt), got my alarm turned on, and for the safety of my health - I had laminate wood flooring put in most of the house.  It pretty much looks quite different than from when I bought it.  This year will be the year of painting - so the inside will transform into something totally different.  I am pretty proud of myself for my ability to keep up my yard and house and make improvements. 

Speaking of the house, I watch the show Hoarders.  When I watch Hoarders, I clean - like a mad woman.  I think it's just because I don't want to end up like that.  The beauty of the show is that they teach the people that they can change their lives, that they don't have to live like that.  Anyway - it's always a sure fire way of getting my house cleaned up, I just start watching that. 

Today I went for a bike ride down to the Plaza Art Fair with my good friend Carrie.  It was a cold Fall day here in KCMO.  The bike ride was awesome, the rosemary caramel latte I had from Latte Land was also awesome.  The weather was perfect for looking at art.  After the ride, Carrie and I went and picked up our Tour de BBQ schwag, even though we aren't going to be able to do the ride now.  The pick up was at Spin Pizza, so we ate lunch there - it was delicious.  I love that place.  Then Carrie suggested Peach Wave and that made the day PERFECT! 

I don't have vball practice tomorrow so I'm going to catch up on some paperwork, hopefully I'll feel better after that.  I'm being weighed down right now by impending deadlines and useless paperwork.  I'm sure there's a bit of this in every job, but I hope in my next one, there's a little less. 

made another decision

Decided today after 3 weeks of not being able to get to band practice (either because of time or emotional reasons) that I won't be joining the community band I play in until their next concert. 

This is how bad it is.  It's not because of volleyball.  It's the job, and the load of responsibilities that they have piled on this year.  It's more than any of us can successfully accomplish, coach or no coach.  I realized this at my weekly sped meeting today.  It's not just me. Unfortunately, it made me feel good.  But it also solidified my decision I made this weekend to find a new job next year. Along with many other things, and conversations.

Good things:
Volleyball - man, I have an awesome team this year.  It is the highlight of my life everyday.  I wish I could have everyone come see them - they fight so hard.

decisions

While it might be too early to make serious decisions, I have prematurely decided that I will have a new job next year.  I've also decided and declared that there will be new and different opportunities come my way.  I'm very much looking forward to the change.  If anyone has ideas, suggestions, or potential job opportunities, please comment or email me - bonniesteen@mail.com

In other news:
-my volleyball team is awesome this year.  We've had 2 games and have totally rocked it out.  Tomorrow is our first home game, I'm very much looking forward to it. 
-found out a Trader Joe's is coming in right by my house - within biking distance - and so I am going to get a basket for my bike and use it to travel for grocery shopping.
-next week is the last week for my CSA groceries.  I am really going to miss it.  I'm actually going to have to grocery shop now.
-I am already planning several trips for this year (remember I think in terms of school years not actual years) and am very excited.  Most of them involve my bike, which is even more exciting. 

same complaint, different year.

It takes a person of such strength, courage, patience, and work ethic to be both a volleyball coach of 37 girls and a special education teacher.  I feel most of the time I cannot be that superhero.  Something always lacks.  It's impossible to get all my paperwork done in my 30 minutes of plan time everyday when I'm being given most the transfer students whose paperwork has to be done in 30 days.  And a little lesson - 30 days is 30 days, saturdays/sundays/days off school - they all count.  Plus I have to give 10 days notice to parents prior to a meeting, and enough time to be able to schedule 2 meetings in case a student doesn't show up.  So best have that notice of meeting completed before the kid even enrolls.  And another lesson - I have to do all this sped paperwork AND district lesson plans (everything a reg ed teacher does) AND case manage and yet, I get paid the same.  It's a myth, a lie, a falsehood that special education teachers get paid more. 
I agree that I've chosen this path.  I also agree that I chose to accept the position of coach when it was offered to me.  I don't agree with the rising fact that I can't be a coach and a special education teacher on school time.  I HAVE to take work home or stay after our 2.5 hour volleyball practice. 
It's just the way it is.  I have to suck it up, or quit coaching.  It just really angers me that I feel almost forced to make that decision for next year.  I am already going to be written up for not getting my paperwork in 2 weeks ahead of time.  It makes me hate this year and this job.  There's got to be a way out....unfortunately, it will have to be somewhere else, doing something else.  It makes me sad.

generousity is abounding in my life.

My beautiful friend Jackie got married this weekend.  I had the wonderful opportunity of enjoying the celebration.  It was a beautiful day. 

I also used the trip as a convenient excuse to visit another good friend Shannon, and her husband Andrew and their new baby (about 6 weeks) Erik.  I enjoyed talking with Shannon (before she got married and we were both poor and single, we used to talk on the phone all the time, we had the best conversations!) and then holding Erik on Sunday - he was soo good and made the cutest noises.

Baking up to Friday night - I had plans to go with a friend to see The Producers at Starlight.  It was meant to be, because another teacher offered me 2 tickets to the show, 2 dinner tickets and a parking pass.  SCORE!  So we enjoyed dinner and a show - all for free.  It was a wonderful production from here in KC.   Talented people and of course the funny wit of The Producers made it a really enjoyable night.  The teacher that gave me all the free tix, actually ended up using her other two tickets for her and her husband, so we got to see them there and enjoy the show with them.  I felt so bad that she gave me their dinner tickets and parking pass.  But, at the time she didn't know she was going so I'm trying not to feel too bad about it.

On Saturday, before I drove up to Nehawka, NE, where the wedding was (at Slattery Vinyards) I shopped til I dropped.  Since I was going to the wedding alone, I thought I needed a new outfit.  Here's my reasoning for this: 1.  If you feel like you look good, your more confident, and 2. ya never know who your gonna meet at a wedding and I firmly believe in putting forth your best look on a first meeting.  So I went to Kohl's, hadn't been there in forever, and found a ton a great stuff on sale.  I bought the above shown items:  Dress (about $23, necklace $8, earrings (+2 others) $6,  a pair of sunglasses for $6....awesome deals!  I love the dress.  Plus it came with a very cool belt that I can use with other outfits.  I did some other shopping, which felt good although I'm sure in a few weeks, I'll wish I hadn't been so spendy.  However, in a few weeks when I don't have any money, I will at least be able to drink my dunkin' donuts french vanilla coffee in a really cute new coffee cup and think about all the things I could be doing had I not splurged on those things.  All this shopping was reasoned by finally getting my steps raise, although it's not a raise - just up to pay where I should be because we had a pay freeze for 2 years.  So I have a bit more every month.  I thought I should spend it on goodies for myself, rather than be sensible about it. 

Fast forward to Sunday afternoon, my mom called and said she'd treat me to a pedicure!  My toes look gorgeous.  Bright and purple-y.  It was such a nice spontaneous treat.  And so much fun to do with my momma. 

I really can't believe my good fortune of a weekend.  It was just the best.

hrmph

I'm overwhelmed, underwhelmed, too busy, bored, and not finding the balance in my life that I had this summer.

I'm missing the sincere happiness that I felt too.  This was my fear!  I've been working out everyday, thinking that will bring it all back into place, and it helps, but it doesn't do it all. 

Here's some good things going on:
-one of the 6th grade reading classes is falling into place
-volleyball is going to be exceptional
-I'm still working out everyday :) 
-my screen door rawks!  I love having it, can't wait for the front one.
-Fall is coming, I can feel it.
-tomorrow is a new day
-tomorrow is also payday

Glee Flash Mob in Kansas City

A new year

The school year of 2010-2011 has begun.  This year feels different.  My job is just my job.  My real passion right now lies within me.  I have had so much fun this summer evolving my lifestyle, and working on my own issues that I'm going to continue with that.  When your job is your passion and everything your life revolves around, it's hard to make yourself your passion.  I was kind of surprised as today crept up, no drama, no freaking out, no anxiety...it's just a job.  And what's even weirder (to me) is that I have no doubt that this year will be my most successful in all areas (paperwork, teaching, test scores, coaching...etc.).  I know that I will have everything done in a timely matter and that I will manage my time to get it done.  I also know that I will manage my time so that the areas of life that are important to me, working out, being active, making good choices when I eat, will happen successfully.  I was kind of concerned about keeping up my happiness level and keeping the low stress level. But after a day, I just know - it's a job.  There's nothing to stress about, because the important part of life is the life I've started to live.