Win Today

Okay, it's the new year and I'm trying to be inspired.  It's working.  I lifted this sentiment from Life does Jed Brother of Ben does Life from the below video.  I love it.  It says everything about forgiveness and not giving up on yourself.  Usually I keep these kinds of posts on my private blog, but 'tis the season and I'm putting it out there for all to see.


Nathangetsfit said yesterday was an epic failure. So I am going to tell him the same thing I tell my players on a daily basis. Win Today. You can’t do anything about yesterday and tomorrow will always be a day away. Win Today. Could you have done better yesterday? Absolutely. Could it have been worse? Easily. Don’t waste time feeling sorry for yourself and don’t use it as an excuse to screw up today. Worry about one day at a time. If you can Win Today it can start a string of success and then you will start winning almost every day and before you know it you will have accomplished your goal. Just know that winning today doesn’t make tomorrow any easier. Tomorrow doesn’t give a crap about what you did today. You have to win every day. I tell my players all the time that for us to win on Friday we have to have great practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. Same goes for weight loss or fitness. Yes I want to weigh 200 pounds, but if I don’t Win Today, then it isn’t happening.

Thanks Tina!

Provo girls

So a super funny friend posted this clip on her facebook page.  You can read more from her at Stacy's Snippets I think this would be a lot funnier if I had actually gone to the Y.  Posting it here just kind of makes it seem like I'm making fun of everyone who did, but I'm not.  If you've ever been a young Mormon girl you can relate and I always love a good parody.  Katie Perry is such a good target.   Be prepared for some good belly laughs.  I think my favorite part is the girl with the crazy eyes -- trust me you'll know it when you see it.
 
Provo girls

The Giving Pledge

Last week I watched a special edition of This Week called the The Giving Pledge. Christiane interviewed Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet, and Ted Turner.  She focused on their philanthropy and charitable giving.  The entire program was inspiring and I was impressed with these amazing individuals and their desire to improve the lives of people around the globe.  Each one of them was asked if they believed the very wealthy should pay more taxes.  They all responded that they should.  Each of them realized that the circumstances they were born into helped make them who they were today.  I was most impressed by Tom Steyer, a self-made billionaire whom when asked if he should pay higher taxes responded, "I think anyone who doesn't give credit to the system that they are born into is taking an awful lot onto themselves. I mean, I really think that people have sacrificed a lot more than a little tax money to make that system available for all of us. And I would be ashamed of myself if I didn't give some credit to them."

Right now the republicans in Congress are refusing to extend tax credits for the poor and middle class unless those tax credits go for everyone including millionaires on up.  I'm ashamed of them.  I think last week's show on giving should be required viewing for every member of Congress.  If Warren Buffet's tax is about 16% (according to Buffet) and his employees' average 33%, there is something wrong with this picture.  He made the point that through his lifetime the wealthy had been taxed closer to 45% and our economy didn't tank.  It's about sacrifice and paying back into the system that made them wealthy.  I'm not wealthy, but I recognize that taxes are there to help society function.  It's how we pay for roads, the military, education, police protection, mail service, etc., etc., etc.  everybody wants something but we aren't willing to work together to get it.  Congress quit stonewalling and make the decision that is right.  Work together and quit politicizing. 

The Giving Pledge

My mother's daughter

I know I'm turning into my mother when I buy two bowls of candy.  One chock full of the good stuff for the cute darlings who grace my door and another full of dum dums and smarties for the kids who are way too old to be trick-or -treating.  I'm totally asking for my pumpkin to get smashed aren't I?

10-10-10

Nothing really to write.  Just lovin' the date. 

Your Mailbox is Full

I was really irritated the other day because I keep trying to call someone and I always get the message that their mailbox is full.  I really need to talk to this person and I don't have any other way of getting a hold of her.  I kept thinking seriously, empty your mailbox!  So this morning when I go to check my messages I hear "your mailbox is full."  Oops.  I guess that's karma for you.  Also, later I ran into her at the grocery store.  Guess it all worked out. 

Forced Unpaid Vacation

So on this the first of five furlough days this is what I accomplished:

1. Long walk with Dudley and mom in the gully.  No snakes spotted -- Thank heavens.
2. Planned my methods class for Tuesday
3. Set up Scholastic Book Clubs orders
4. Updated Blog
5. Organized guided reading groups
6. Printed off labels for online math access
7. Scheduled parent volunteers
8. Organized my roll book
9. Made a parent email list
10. Finished all my beginning of year assignments to turn in to my principal
11. Started to burn the primary CDs for the program

And it's only 4 pm

Next I'm off to work out with Lori and catch a class of water aerobics.

This has been an extremely productive no work/no pay day.  I always knew I'd get so much done if it weren't for the kiddos.

I think I've earned a movie from Red Box tonight.

Off centered and bouncy

Today while on a walk with Dudley, Gunner, and my mom, she commented on how cute the Dudster's tail is.  Dudley's tail is long and curves up in a high arch.  It is constantly going.  You know Dudley is happy because he wags it -- hard.  He wags it so hard it often bangs into things like metal garbage cans, walls, door frames, and the side of the bathtub.  You'd think it would hurt and then he wouldn't be so happy, but it does not deter him.  Anyway, mom said, "Dudley's tail is so cute.  It's kind of off-center and bouncy -- Just like him."  Yup, that's one way to describe him.  Off centered and bouncy.  Especially earlier that afternoon when he wrapped himself up in his leash so that his hind legs were tethered together.  He looked like a rabbit hoping around in my mom's flowers. Crazy dog.

Sometimes it's just best to lie

On the first day of class it's really not a good idea to tell me you'll be leaving early so you can attend the John Mayer concert.  At least have the creativity to come up with some feasible excuse.  It's also not a good idea to leave 2 hours before the concert begins.  So infuriating. 

In Love

Be still my heart. When George Stephanopoulos announced he would be leaving This Week for Good Morning America I was devastated.  Almost as much as when Alison Becker was replaced on VH1 Top 20 Countdown.  But my heart started to beat slightly when it was announced that Christiane Amanpour would be new the host.  This morning it was full on pitter pat when the topic was the Race to the Top and her guests included none other than Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education and Jamie Oliver, host of Food Revolution.  She had me at, "Today we'll be discussing improving America's Education System."  I've always been a one issue girl politically and when my favorite Sunday morning news highlights my one issue it's hard to stay miffed.  Now I'll be late for church, but I'll still be wondering about performance pay, and what I can do personally for my school.  I'll also be googling Finland to check out what they've got going on -- my guess, small class sizes, quality early childhood education, arts instruction by qualified individuals, and a system for dealing with misbehaviors in the classroom.  Oh yeah, and parent involvement accompanied with respect for education.  Not just respect for educators, but truly people who see education as a step up.  This is something we are seriously lacking in America.  If we're serious about improving education, we have to put our money where our mouth is and vote for politicians who will do it.  Take that Jeb Bush -- class size doesn't matter?  Try and teach 25 2nd graders how to play a 15 minute math game by yourself in 100 degree temperatures at 2:00p.m., while an autistic child makes bird calls in the background and tell me that class size doesn't matter.  Go ahead, tell me.

First week -- a recap.

So many events.  So many weeks to go.  Here are some highlights, low lights, and lessons learned.

1. T. -- Wow, you have some big muscles.  Me -- Yeah, that's what those are, muscles.
2. If you feel the need to punch someone, don't choose the only kid in 2nd grade who's had boxing lessons.
3. If you open four 100 calorie packs and put them in a bowl you've just eaten 400 calories. 
4. Four magic words -- Put Your Head Down. 
5. 2nd graders view rest time much differently than their teacher. 
6. Even if you promise yourself that you won't open your copy of Mockingjay until your syllabus is printed,  just plan on some seriously late nights.
7. Staying up past 1am does not a happy teacher make.
8. If you wake up 10 minutes before your alarm, no matter how hard you try, you'll never get those sleep minutes back.
9. Even though frosting is not refrigerated in the store, keeping it on your unairconditioned back counter might change the consistency a little.
10. So glad it's Friday.

More Advice

Your sweaty brastrap doesn't work either -- moral: wear pockets.

Advice

Even though the women's restroom is three long hallways away from your classroom, and you don't have any pockets in your skirt, it is still not a good idea to hide your tampon in your lunch bag, along with your yogurt and your blue ice pack -- just sayin'.

Sick to my stomach. Vomiting profusely. Massive headache. Must mean one thing. School starts tomorrow.

My heart is hurting right now. A friend's 8 year old son passed away. Life is short. Things get busy, people move, and it is harder to stay in touch. I need to make more of an effort. Sending all my love to her and her family.

Quotes from the pulpit....

• "You know Jim Morrison? He was the lead singer of the Doors."
  
• "It's important to eat your food storage. If you have a 50 gallon barrel of wheat in the basement and only eat it during an emergency you'll be worse off than a rattlesnake in a wagon rut."
• "Make sure you have a safe room because who knows what might float over from Tooele."
• "You have to be prepared for everything -- tsunamis, floods, volcanoes."
• "If Yellowstone blows we're all goners."
• "Goats are dumb and sheep are even stupider."
• "Bread and toilet paper. They're the staples of life. You take from that what you want."
  

You know when the stake president is on the stand to visit and the speaker starts out his talk quoting a song from the Doors it's gonna mean one thing -- Best high council talk EVER!

The Library

Today as I was exiting the library I was stopped by the XXXX family and their 6 children, 5 of whom I have taught, and I'll probably get the 6th but he's only in kindergarten. Sadly, I was not carrying a copy of the book I've had on hold all summer, The Death and Life of the American School System: How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education. No, I had in my hot little hands the DVD Whip It. It better be worth it.

Doug Wright

If Doug Wright continues to be a voice of reason on the immigration issue I just might have to become a fan. I have my radio alarm set to KSL because it is one thing that will propel me out of bed faster than anything else. I usually can't stand to listen to it, but I've actually had a few late mornings because I've wanted to tune in to the discussion. It boggles my mind how some people can be so intolerant of others. I understand a need for immigration reform, but it also must be done in a compassionate and tolerant way. Just because we were blessed to born into this country does not make us better than anyone else -- undocumented or not. So here's to Doug Wright for having the courage to speak up, and from the comments made on his show, basically offend a good majority of his base. His opinions on the Movie Show however, still give me the shivers.

Off Balance

This is my life. A couple months of some seriously slow moments where I have all the time in the world. Then, come August, it is crazy. School starts, the U starts, primary is crazy busy, and I'm trying to work in some major healthy lifestyle changes. Staying busy is good for me, but I wish I could find a happy medium. My word for the year has got to be balance. Right now it is more of a teeter toter/roller coaster.

Drive In

So in our never ending quest to do something new and exciting Amie and I decided we'd venture out of our comfortable reserved seating air conditioned movie theater stand by and try our luck at The Redwood Drive In. I can't remember the last time I went to the drive in -- probably in high school, possibly singles ward days but neither of us were completely sure about what to expect so we each did a quick google search and discovered a few things.

1. They only take cash -- good to know.
2. Your car radio will not drain your battery as long as you don't leave your car in the on position. But, they do have complementary battery chargers there if you do need a jump.
3. It's a good idea to bring camp chairs and a blanket.
4. A police officer is always on site should any shenanigans occur.

So we geared up for our adventure and arrived 40 minutes early, enough time to find a good spot, scope out the restrooms, and realize that we really didn't fit in with a good portion of the crowd. Our shirts had sleeves, we didn't have tattoos, and as far as I know we both have all our teeth. (Maybe a slight generalization but there seemed to be a serious lack of fabric) We located the empty police car and relished in the fact that we got to bring in our own snacks. It was a nice night. Definitely not cold but every now and again a slight breeze made it really nice and helped disperse some of the nicotine clouds that periodically hovered over our car. Amie brought bug spray which was a good idea. Next time we go we might do a few things differently.

1. Bring something to prop our feet up -- ottoman style.
2. Bring some ear buds just in case the movie next to you is a little too loud.
3. Park more in the center of the screen. We were close to the end and it was a little distracting.
4. Be prepared to be blinded by cars that suddenly turn on their lights and drive away while the movie is going.
5. Prepare for a long line at the women's restroom. Bring a toiletry bag complete with door closer, extra TP, and hand sanitizer because not only was there a line at the potty, but then you had to get in line to wash up at the two sinks available.

Would I do it again? Definitely, it was a fun night, I didn't feel bad at all about seeing two mediocre movies for $7, tons of people watching, and only a little second hand smoke. Great summer time fun.

Happy 24th!

Celebrating Pioneer Day with some sushi and soccer. Should be a fun night. Went to the parade this morning, Olive Garden for lunch, and saw Ramona and Beezus at the theater. Busy, busy, day.

Inception

WOW. Lots of questions, but Wow.

Too sweet

Yesterday I left a bag of powdered sugar out on the counter. What followed were several moments of hand wringing and belly rubbing. I should have realized something was wrong when Dudley went missing for more than a half hour. So unusual for him. He doesn't respect personal space with anyone and certainly not with me. He was keeping me company while I watched Shutter Island. Melanie promised me it wasn't scary so I was giving it a try. I guess it was too scary for the Dudster though because he got up and walked away. While I sipped my fruit smoothie sweetened with 1 tsp of powdered sugar and tried not to be afraid of the show, I realized it was too quiet and decided to investigate. What I found was an empty bag which had been licked so clean it looked like Saran Wrap and a dog with a few patches of powdered sugar paste stuck to his collar and the tips of his whiskers.

Fast forward an hour and I had one sick puppy. I felt so helpless. I couldn't even get mad at him for throwing up all over the rug in three different places. He looked so miserable. I finally took him outside and sat in the backyard with his water bowl and just rubbed his belly. I thought about loading him into my car and taking him to the after hours animal hospital but then I figured if I ate an entire bag of powdered sugar I'd probably be throwing up everywhere too. We came inside at about 11 and he slept through the night like a trooper. I did set my alarm to wake us up every couple of hours so I could take him outside, but he seemed to rebound.

This morning he was back to his usual self jumping at the door and banging his tail into everything. Poor puppy. No more sweetened drinks for me. I couldn't even if I wanted to. I'm out of powdered sugar.

Pop Princess

My new cardio mix includes songs by Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga. I think I've sold out. I can't help it. I love to sing along to Party in the USA and if I even hear three notes of a Gaga song it's in my head for the rest of the day. Technically, I burned the Glee cast version of Bad Romance but I know I'm walking a fine line. I even feel guilty about the songs from the World Cup. I LOVE THEM! But, I'm not a huge soccer fan so I feel like I jumped on the World Cup bandwagon like every other American. To top it off there are three Beyonce' songs. Halo couldn't even be considered a workout song, but I'm justifying the inclusion by using it for my cool down. I'll just have to embrace my inner Sasha Fierce. Goodbye Smiths, goodbye Violent Fems, Goodbye Velvet Underground...I am officially a sellout.

Lighten Up

So, it's been awhile -- I've been busy. For those of you familiar with Fox 13 News you may have already seen it. For those of you who are not -- well, it's been an adventure. I'll be "Lightening Up" with Big Budah. So if you'd like to track my weight feel free to tune in. If you'd like to follow my blog on their website, here's the link. http://community.fox13now.com/view/displayManageBlog.kickAction?as=96363 If you'd like to watch the video clips it's easiest to select Good Day Utah then video then Big Budah. Oh my. What have I done?

Movie Math

I have a class to prepare for tonight so naturally I thought now would be a great time to make my top ten list. I used a careful scientific procedure to determine my tops and bottoms. First, I checked online to find all the movies that were released in 2009. Then I highlighted the ones I saw and put a star, left it blank, or a down arrow. Following that process there was a clear bottom ten but I had to go through and give double stars to my favorites so I could narrow down my top ten.

In 2009 I saw 59 movies. I averaged a little more than a movie a week. (I think Christmas break helped me boost the average.) Of the 59 movies 22 were targeted towards kids/tweens. (No, New Moon did not make the list.) The remaining 37 movies had nearly a 1:1 ratio. For every favorable movie I watched there was one that was unfavorable or so-so. The same ratio appeared when I analyzed the kid flicks. Overall, I'd say I enjoyed 2009's year in film. So here goes the list:

2009 Best Films

1. The Blind Side
2. (500) Days of Summer
3. Away We Go
4. Capitalism: A Love Story
5. The Proposal
6. Julie & Julia
7. State of Play
8. Sherlock Holmes
9. Star Trek
10. Invictus/End Game (Technically, two movies but they are both set in South Africa so I figured I could group them together.)

Honorable mentions go to: Up in the Air, Avatar, and He's Just Not that Into You. I figured if I write them small I can get away with adding them. Renumbering the list to a top 13 just doesn't sound right.

2009 Worst Films

1. The Invention of Lying
2. The Ugly Truth
3. Public Enemies
4. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
5. Ghosts of Girlfriends Pasts
6. Obsessed
7. Push
8. Duplicity
9. Taking of Pelham 123
10. The Soloist

2009 Best Kid/Tween films

1. Up
2. Where the Wild Things Are
3. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
4. The Princess and the Frog
5. Monsters V. Aliens
6. Shorts
7. Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs
8. Ponyo
9. Race to Witch Mountain
10. Hannah Montana the Movie (I really liked the little dance song.)

2009 Worst Kid/Tween movies

1. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
2. Land of the Lost
3. Coraline (This movie was freaky and a lot scary)
4. G-Force (I have an unhealthy relationship with guinea pigs. There are about 15 buried in my mom's back yard)
5. Imagine That (Technically, I didn't see this movie but I "bought" it from Red Box because I forgot I checked it out and stuck it in my DVD player, so 25 days and dollars later I decide maybe I'll watch it and sure enough -- nothin. Blank DVD. So it makes my worst list by default.)

So there you have it. I didn't see any of the lame raunchy comedies that seem to be all the rage but still make critics' top tens. I like mainstream but I'm not afraid of mainstream/indie. I absolutely HATE horror or scary movies. I do not like to be scared. When I am I do stupid things. That's how I got Dudley.

Here are a few movies that were released in 2009 that I didn't see but want to:

Bright Star

The Boys are Back

Whip It!

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Adam

Food Inc.

and Dance Flick (I'm a sucker for a good parody.)