tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57184354700949397832024-03-14T03:52:12.072-07:00pockets of happinessShellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-34954247980318538542015-03-11T18:51:00.003-07:002015-03-11T18:51:51.064-07:00Stop and Smell the DumpstersThis semester I have first block planning. It is my preferred planning period... <em>if my preferences were of concern about such a manner. </em>This morning I wanted coffee. It was last year, I believe, that our school board gifted us with Keurigs for the staff. Then, this year, a local coffee maker - Green Mountain - also began donating the K-cups. It means a much less diverse choice... Breakfast Blend... whether breakfast or not... but it is a donation and with the strangled educational system finances being what they are (pandemic-wise), it's a pretty nice gift. <em>(Although the teacher with the mug of coffee is just a wee bit of a stereo-type, don't ya think?)</em><br />
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Anyway, I headed to the office Keurig, which was turned off... and being too lazy to figure out how to turn it on... I headed to the larger Keurig in the Teacher Lunch Room. To get there I passed through a corridor that had the cafeteria on one side and the janitor's offices on other <em>(maybe a little too close now that I think about it). </em>The bay doors, <strike>which lead to the dumpsters but we are going to forget that detail for the purpose of this story</strike>, were open and I felt... Spring. The weather was beautiful. There was a breeze - not warm but not cool. It even <em>smelled</em> like a nice day (thus the reason for overlooking the dumpsters in the story).<br />
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Anyway... (again!), it stopped me in my tracks. I wanted to be outside. This is a rarity for me, R-A-R-I-T-Y. <em>We bought a house with no backyard because I had to confess I would never go out there anyway.</em> As I stalled for a few minutes on my journey, I began to reflect on the fact today is Wednesday. Three days into the week, and it has been nice all week... or so it seems because my life has been too much school-work-school-work-school-work for me to even notice, let less "enjoy" it. On Sunday is when the weather turned nice (in typical Virginia fashion after weeks of cancelled school for snow). I kept the window open all day... as I was chained to my desk working on grading and lesson plans... all, day, long.<br />
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At some point I promised myself this would be the year I figured out how to say no, how to step away. I haven't quite truly figured out how to do that though... obviously. I am having a #mchenrychaos week right now with starting off the school Relay season, getting ready for Key Club Convention next week, and coordinating "Kick the R" activities all this week. Oh, and then there's the job I actually get paid for... teaching.<br />
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I don't make flippant jokes about having OCD because I know it is a true psychological stress... and not honestly my issue. I have always said I was a "failed perfectionist," which seems pretty accurate, much MUCH more now than even back in the "unbusy" years when I said it. Recently, I have started defining it (to myself) as a "hyper focus." It is difficult, downright impossible, for me to rush through a task, or to do "just enough" - either I lock in my focus into the extreme detail of a task or I disregard it completely. This is the reason it can take me 4 or 6 hours to do a lesson plan, or why I can spend the entire afternoon at a desk bleeding red ink on Sophomore English assignments, while I bubble in resentment at Facebook "friends" posting pictures of enjoying the weather... with their children.<br />
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These concerns, this dialogue, are often the whispers in the back of my mind but it seemed like one thing after another kept happening today to make me question being one of the last persons to leave school and still bringing home work. Question my school bag growing bigger and bigger until it is replaced with a little red wagon for weekend loads sometime. Ultimately, I guess it's a time management issue. I need to try harder to look more inwardly and determine why I make my j-o-b my top priority. I put it before family, and everything else- certainly before myself. Hell, I don't even know what that cliché means. I need to find balance... and that is trite... and I hate living a cliché, but I don't know how else to look at the whole situation right now. I need to take all that are my professional responsibilities, those I'm tasked with and those I volunteer for, and throw them back on that giant scale measuring satisfaction versus stress, and find a way to work a little more balance between the two. I can tell you a good place, the obvious place, to start - figuring out how to leave more work... at work. Not doing less, because I do not devalue the opportunities that I have as a teacher, but figuring out how to get more done when I am supposed to be working and how bring less of that into the time when I'm not "supposed" to be working.<br />
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It's not the first time I have thought about this in the past eleven years of teaching, obviously. I know that I am far, far from unique in feeling this conflict. It's just something that has been pulling at the strings of my soul lately, especially today.Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-40024121682918053932014-12-01T18:27:00.000-08:002014-12-01T18:27:16.932-08:00Thanksgiving 2014As the five-day holiday break draws to a close, I have to admit it is ending pretty much where I thought it would. A few things achieved that I had not thought would be done (<em>very few</em>) and a whole list of tasks not accomplished. <strike>Ugh, why do I do this to myself?</strike> Eh, honestly though, no regrets. It was a time of rest and respite, and I feel charged to march (<em>arm-in-arm with Julius Caesar</em>) through the next fifteen days (school days, but sounds better than 19 days, no?).<br />
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On Wednesday, Cameron and I grabbed breakfast, did a couple of errands and drove out of town to a "real" Verizon store to tackle our phone issues- namely his phone issue, or more precisely, lack of a working phone issue. Cell phones are such a... scam. Less than one year ago on Black Friday, after spending hours upon hours in lines to buy phones for the boys, I was told that you didn't have to wait out contracts any more- that you could just upgrade your phone whenever you wanted, but without the super-crazy cheap deals though. Wednesday though? I get hit with the "not due for a new phone" until November- of NEXT year. So, I had planned to upgrade the whole family to smart phones but sales chick was proposing that I would have to pay $500 - $800 per phone, walking out of the store having spent over $1500 for new phones and upgraded plans. It wouldn't be inaccurate to say I "went off." I did say something to the effect of "So you mean to tell me after 12 years of being a customer, this is the best service you can give me... when the phones I stood in here and bought less than a year ago are already trashed" (noticed they weren't even on display anymore although they were the "new" phone last year). Basically I said I was coming from a place of confusion and just didn't know how to wrap my head around all this... sales clerk disappeared for a while... came back and told me "The Manager" said she could upgrade all our phones... at the current promotions rates... and left paying less than even a quarter of what she first proposed. The moral of the lesson boys and girls? Never walk out of a cell phone store without some kind of deal or spiff?<br />
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Thursday could be summed up by my quote that Jason apparently found amusing: <strong><em>"I'm going to cook my ass off all day and not cook again until Sunday."</em></strong> For the first year, for as long as I can remember, our family didn't participate in the local YMCA 5K on Thanksgiving morning. I also did not subject myself to the Macy's Parade. Every year, I force myself through the greater part of the televised event. However, each year it is less and less parade and more and more commentary, so I didn't even put on the charade of pretending that was a tradition this year.<br />
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The turkey I made was absolutely gorgeous. I really toyed with the idea of taking a picture of it, then told myself that was a little too promote-myself-on-Facebook'ish... but now I wish I had, because it really was gorgeous, like greeting card gorgeous. Like Hollywood movie dinner table gorgeous - and not one with a dysfunctional family cast. Benjamin asked me if I "painted it." <em>From the mouths of babes, eh?</em> I stuffed the inside with lemons and rosemary sprigs, which I didn't actually taste in the turkey. I guess it depends on what part of the bird you ate. I think I will try the same combination next year but also work some on top and maybe under the skin.<br />
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Other recipes delivered with equal success (culinary bragging is a rarity for me, deal with it) were:<br />
<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/crockpot-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe.html" target="_blank">Trisha Yearwood Slow Cooker Macaroni & Cheese</a><br />
<a href="http://lecremedelacrumb.com/2014/10/candied-pecan-sweet-potato-casserole.html" target="_blank">Candied Sweet Potato Casserole</a><br />
<a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/baked-corn-pudding" target="_blank">Baked (Sweet) Corn Pudding</a><br />
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On Friday, Cameron and I headed back out of town for some casual Black Friday shopping. We didn't peel ourselves out of bed and stand in long lines. We didn't check out sales or even have an agenda before we headed out of town. By the time I got to Chesapeake and checked some specials online, the deals I would have wanted had already ended at noon. So, I did a little shopping - nothing ambitious.<br />
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Saturday and Sunday kicked the Housework &Home work agenda into gear. We got a lot of picking up here & there done, then pretty much desecrated all that work when we pulled all the Christmas stuff from storage (that would be the "unplanned" event of the weekend). Along with lesson plans, and benchmarks, and grading other assignments, I also read through a hefty amount of Titanic research papers (default research project because the librarian is on maternity leave). <em>(Can I tell you how sick I am of that ship?)</em> Oh and lest we not forget that I let Cameron twist my arm into watching "Grumpy Cat's Worse Christmas Ever." Apropos because it was the. worse. movie. ever. I mean PAINFUL to watch... but when Cameron fell asleep only an hour into it... I just had to see how it ended, and watched the next hour. (Already confessed multiple times my obsession with trash television, no further explanation needed.)<br />
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Tomorrow marks December on the calendar and I am trying to carve out my Holiday Spirit... beginning with getting ready (or not) for the arrival of this stress-inducing pesky critter tomorrow morning (The Elf, not Benjamin).<br />
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Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-88673597305295242882014-11-27T20:09:00.003-08:002014-11-27T20:22:15.648-08:00Thankful.November is winding to an end and I find the urge to "create" to be overwhelming yet once again. Once again too though, about as creative as I am finding myself with the time to be is to Pin tons of ideas I will never get to, if I even remember. At the very least, I would like to write again. And it's okay if it is just for me- my enjoyment, my therapy, my sanity. <br />
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This has been a crazy-busy school year. when I make comments like that, people often respond "When aren't you busy" and they are right. There was a time when I prided myself on that chaos of busyness but not so much any more. I really wanted this to be the year I slowed down, stepped back. In small ways I guess I have. My responsibilities with the local Relay are much, much less. Rather than being a chair of the whole event as I have done for the past three years, I am this year just in charge of entertainment and activities. I found myself at peace with real fast but am still feeling out my boundaries as to where my input is needed or welcomed. Relay for Life is a microcosm of small town politics in these parts.<br />
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Jason has a heavy course load of college classes this semester as he works toward student teaching next. I promised to really step up the domestic goddess game so he could turn his full attention to schoolwork and not meals or household matters. I can definitely confess to not holding up my end of the bargain on that deal. Man, I wish I was just one of those people who liked to cook... but I. am. not.<br />
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Only teaching 10th grade English, although two levels, seemed that it would make for an "easier" year, at least as far as planning and prepping goes, but the classes, as they often are, are so uniquely different- each presenting their own set of <strike>stresses</strike> challenges- that I end the day just mentally exhausted and feel like I am always playing ketchup.<br />
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Benjamin is at the age that he is really making me feel the busyness that consumes my life. I just can't hold him enough. I cannot believe how fast four years flew by and I know with the blink of an eye that it took Cameron to become a young man, the next decade in Benjamin's life will fly by just as fast, especially if I continue to feel like my "pockets of time" for him just aren't enough. Maybe I am making myself sound like a bad mother. Maybe I am. I am sure though that many moms feel this way. We all work. We all have stuff. I just want less stuff and don't know how to make that happen just yet.<br />
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Key Club is... Key Club, the great consumption of my life. Last week was our "Key Club Week" so I am really feeling the timesuck it can be, for better or for worse. Kiwanis Family Month is November and Key Club, their high school branch, celebrates a Key Club Week internationally usually the first week in November. And, as usual, I ignored that one and crafted out own Key Club week the week before Thanksgiving Break. On Monday, we inducted 35 new members during a formal evening ceremony. We graduated out some great kids last year but thankfully I feel like we brought in some young dedicated, energetic ones that will respect and carry on the legacy of those before them. On Tuesday, the kids counted UNICEF collections afterschool and tallied about $1,200 in donations for The Eliminate Project, a Kiwanis initiative to end Maternal-Neonatal Tetanus worldwide. On Wednesday we had our traditional breakfast at a restaurant out in the community- little business, lots of fun. That afternoon the 350 boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts sold were distributed, most in a 10 minute window of pure chaos before bus dismissal. Thursday was the night for our monthly Bingo at a local nursing home. And Friday, ohhh Friday- we hosted the Red Cross Blood Drive at the high school. Despite collecting 78 pints, it was a dramatic day with more students getting sick, hurt, and passing out than normal- including Cameron. Within a couple of hours of that event ending, the Key Clubbers and I were serving Thanksgiving Dinner and dancing the night away with our "friends" at Zuni Homes, a residential facility for intellectually-disabled adults. Since everything couldn't quite be squeezed in last week, volunteers also gathered up all the donated cans and boxes brought in during the Food Drive Key Club hosted last week. There were over 650 items, with at least a third to half being from the top two classes loaded with competitive club members. I even managed somewhere amidst that chaos to get all members "officially" registered with the international office and send dues in. AND (!!!) the pre-holiday mini-week ended with a letter from Key Club International announcing that our club has been awarded a $1468 grant for our "Kick the R Word" proposal (another full week of activities, but thankfully not until March).<br />
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SO...<br />
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I can't say I don't know what is keeping me busy because <em>obviously</em> I do... and even though that was a rarely beyond-the-norm-McHenry-chaos week... I need to strive towards some sort of balance - not ending my nights just falling into bed because I am to physically exhausted, or mentally drained, to do one. more. thing.<br />
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I cannot purge this ball of tightly wound stress though without coupling it with just how thankful I am to have this opportunity to work with the kids. I can tangibly feel the influence I have in their lives. I know that in 10, 20, 30 years they are going to look back on high school and most of their memories are going to be related to Key Club. I look at weeks like last week, and the cumulative goodness that came from it and am just amazed by it. By how such a "little" group can do so "much." Jason and I have started the conversation for maybe not living here forever more... maybe in a few, several, some, years moving to another area. There are many things about my job I love. I dread waking up in the morning but (once functional) I never dread going to work. Of all the perks, benefits, positives of school, my career, my life though, the one that makes it hardest to entertain any self other than the one I am now is walking away from this legacy I fostered into being. They renew my faith that there is good in the world every. single. day.<br />
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So yeah, I know, this post has meandered over all over its little space on the web, but like I said- I'm writing for me tonight, and these are the things that are on my mind. About this time last year I had my fill of people posting on Facebook what they were thankful for every.single.day. Regardless, I decided to do <a href="https://pocketsofhappiness.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=FDdP9kkBAAA.dyEGXH3N0jvn7DySOy7lLg.suqzDEmoNA9iyeIEx9_DnQ&postId=7580833871615534302&type=POST" target="_blank">my own little practice of gratitude right here and reflect on what 30 things I was thankful for...</a> and while I am still thrilled when my Diet Coke is carbonated just right or when I find myself delved into a good book, I am feeling gratitude mostly this Thanksgiving night for this group of kids that call me their mentor (actually more often "guru"- at my insistence), a gratitude so overwhelming that it leaves my teary-eyed and speechless to contemplate.<br />
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YET...<br />
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I have to, have-have-have to, find a way to channel that good and not let the rest of my life succumb to chaos in trade for it, or for the job I love.Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-14188592649949850552014-10-03T18:55:00.000-07:002014-10-03T18:55:06.897-07:00In the Bucket, Summer 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been over a week since the "First Day of Autumn" graced our calendar, and brought with it the cool weather to match the calendar's proclamation of Fall. I am still begrudgingly mourning its arrival and the passing of Summer. <em>I know</em> I sound like a spoiled teacher... but post-Summer School and pre-school inservices I <em>only</em> had a month off! It's a bit disconcerting because I usually am excited for the start of the school year, by <em>sayyy</em> five days after Summer vacation begins. This year though, I really wanted to beg and plead with the calendar gods to give me just two more weeks... one more trip to the beach, to the waterpark, to many and any 'a place. Of course, time just doesn't work that way, and I have found myself feeling like I never left school for the summer at all. Thus, I am thankful I made The Summer Bucket List although much did not get accomplished. Still, I can look at it for an easy reference to many of the summer highlights and use these reflections to create my mindset going into next Summer.<br />
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So, to finally face reality and succumb to the arrival of autumn, I wanted to recap Summer 2014 by way of the Bucket List. <br />
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1- Big Brother: Watched the whole season and absolutely loved it. At the start of the season I liked Christine but that was before I really got to know any other them. The tattooed barista stood out most to me amid the cast of such different characters. By mid-season though I was not impressed with her ethics (i.e., <em>hussiness</em>) and began to see the psychological genius that was Derrick. I wish I could employ many of his political tactics to my everyday work life- not be such a knee-jerker and emotionally responsive.<br />
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2- Crabs: Our ratty little farmer's market had a guy selling crabs over the summer and we bought a bushel (for $92 I think). Mistake. The "joy" of opening the packets of frozen crabmeat over the next few months was not worth the wasted day and aches and scrapes of shucking crabs for eight hours. A lot of them just didn't steam right either given our limited means. Next summer, it will definitely be more worth it to make a couple of trips to a crab shack for dinner. When you are not being charged per individual crab, it's a lot easier to do a quick-clean, eat, and move on.<br />
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3- Watermelon & Corn: We bought a couple of good watermelons over the summer, and one or two others not as good. I let a good deal of it go to waste and just didn't get around to eating it personally though, which I regret, although the rest of the fam enjoyed their share. With corn, we made the same mistake we make every year or two and then forget what a mistake it is until we make it again - the Farmer's Auction. Unless you are hosting a Family Reunion or a Baptist Cookout, you do not need 100 ears of corn. Unfortunately we let a great deal of it go to waste and froze it too late, having to toss out the frozen masses a short while later. Note to self to just buy a dozen at the Famer's Market, or even the grocery store before I do that again.<br />
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4- Blueberries: We went blueberry picking twice, 10 pints the first time and 8 the second, I think. I wish I had tried more recipes with them, though the galette and cake I made were pretty darn good. I also need to note for myself to just go alone next year, not in the heat of mid-day , and take a water bottle. The later season visit presented blueberries that were not as bountiful to pick or that looked as appealing. So, I need to just plan to make one solo blueberry-picking-marathon of it early in the season.<br />
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5- Popsicles: Failed. We did not make any popsicles and I am not particularly distressed by that because I don't like popsicles... I just wanted to use my fancy pop maker.<br />
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6- Farmer's Market: We did make it to the Farmer's Market a few times. I'd like to make it back one more time but am not sure if the soccer schedule will allow that.<br />
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7- Yard Sales: I did go yard saling, twice I think, this summer. I picked up random odds & ends. Pretty good days- not great, no real treasures stand out in my mind. I would really like to get in one more Saturday of Yard Sales... but am not sure if the soccer schedule will allow for that either.<br />
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8- Crafting: Failed. This one actually does upset me. The "Craft Room" is more like the "Junk Room" right now. I can barely squeeze in the door. Of all 20 items on the Summer Bucket List, this is the one I regret most not fulfilling. I know that sounds selfish but all the other adventures combined do not fill me in the way this one does. This one that I always save so very little- any- time for.<br />
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9- Chalkboard Wall: Suspended. Jason & Cameron cleared out the hall, covered the floor, and taped off the wall... then life got busy again. We have the supplies. I just need to push aside some other things on the Never-ending To Do list and get it done. Such a tangible feeling of accomplishment would be good right about now.<br />
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10- Reading: I'm not sure what all I read this summer, but I definitely did read some good books. After three failed attempts to begin, I made it through <em>Gone Girl </em>once I got past the hurdle of accepting the strange narrator's voice, I absorbed the book- loved it. (I'm telling you it was because a female author took on a male voice. The cross-gender narrator never works for me.) I then went on to grab her two other books and devoured those in a couple of days too. I read a handful of others too, some blogged about- others not.<br />
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11- Library Reading Program: We joined, checked out books, attended a few programs. Honestly though, it was just too early for Benjamin. The programs were not structured to hold the attention of a 4 year old, especially in that small crowd setting. We may try again next year, or we may hold off for a summer. I don't want to let "having" to stay in town for the Library program to dictate our summer plans again, although Cameron actually volunteering with the program coupled with that decision too.<br />
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12- Summer Movies: We went to see two (I think) Summer movies. It was well worth the $1 admission. I just have to remember not to become a sucker for concessions again, or else that admission price increases ten-fold. We saw Kung Fu Panda 2 and some movie about fairies in the grass. Benjamin was just on the cusp of handling/not handling a movie theater. Like most everything else, it just had to have his attention captured... or I had to bribe him with candy pieces until it did.<br />
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13- Parks: Failed. I could not convince myself to drive an hour to another park when we could drive a bit more and go to Busch Gardens. The days just passed by too fast. I would have liked to try new parks but we just ran out of time.<br />
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14- Baseball: We did make it to one Tides baseball game. I waited until the day of the game and bought tickets which were FAR too expensive. We had good seats tough, front row over the home team dugout, which was a perfect pick for Benjamin. Honestly though, it was too difficult to try and enjoy the game and entertain Benjamin at the same time. If we take him to a game again next year, we will definitely go for the cheap seats and make the most of it. I would have liked to make it back to another game sans kids and avec beer, but that just didn't happen.<br />
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15- Children's Museum: We did make it to The Children's Museum and to the Wizard of Oz exhibit, which was greatly disappointing. Thankfully it was a cheap day now that I know teachers get in for free and military gets a discount. We went on a rainy Sunday afternoon that was a free visit day for all Bank of America customers, so it was chaos.<br />
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16- Living Museum: Failed. We did not make it to the Living Museum, which I regret. I am sure the Dinosaurs Live exhibit would have been more entertaining than the Oz at Children's Museum. It is also more importantly a warm season museum since a good portion is outdoors. If the Fall Bucket List is created, I should add a visit.<br />
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17- Busch Gardens: I think we made three summer time visits. Benjamin found anew his love of roller coasters, which had disappeared for a while. This child is going to terrify me when he is big enough to do more rides, which scarily may be next summer.<br />
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18- Water Country: We made three visits here too. At least one of the visits was just too late in the day. Whether Busch Gardens or Water Country, it is just not worth the 3 - 4 hour round trip to stay at the park about that long. The last visit was on the Sunday before the park closing on Monday, Labor Day. Never again. I did not even know the place had overflow parking until this day. It was like those crowded wave pool in Japan viral videos. The park actually closed because it reached capacity. Never. Again.<br />
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19- I think we only made it to the beach twice. The second time was just for a few evening hours after a rainy afternoon (during which we went to see "Lucy"- worst movie I have EVER seen in my life!). Not enough. I would favor weekly beach trips over Busch Gardens next year. I don't know if it's the influence of crabby aging self or succumbing to the norms of rural life but crowded sand scenes in Virginia Beach have lost their charm to me. I may have to check out the Outer Banks or more private beaches next year- I think there's a military one.<br />
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20- Justin: Failed. This really saddens me. We had coordinated plans for him to be with us a full week at the Eastern Shore campground... until a tornado ripped though it the week before, killing three campers. Obviously, I feel the due gratitude to not even having been there the week this happened but it was going to be good to spend a week with the eldest son. Unfortunately the one weekend that works best for us this month is the one weekend he is out of town for a run. So, I am not perfectly sure when this dilemma will be resolved.<br />
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And that, my dears, with a few unscheduled adventures added to the mix, was Summer 2014. And, I can't even say I am on countdown until the next summer because that is post-graduation for Cameron... and whenever I think about that...<em> it's just a little too much to handle.</em>Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-72576271342469552062014-07-30T23:24:00.001-07:002014-07-30T23:24:17.985-07:00Don't Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Go-Lisa-Scottoline/dp/125001008X/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1406785963&sr=8-7&keywords=lisa+scottoline" target="_blank"><em>Don't Go</em> by Lisa Scottoline</a></div>
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I have a love-hate relationship with Lisa Scottoline. I think of her as the "Target author." Whenever I think of one of her book jackets, I imagine it on the paperback displays of Target shelves with a trademark red and white bull's eye sticker. I don't know why that is relevant... it's just what first comes to mind when I think of the author. And maybe too the fact that I have never been quite interested in one of her books enough to pay full price. Every once in a while I will (admittedly obnoxiously) grab a basket full of books at Target and find somewhere to park (seasonal displays of patio furniture work well, although I am not opposed to just plopping on the floor in the book aisle) and peruse through the stack to find which interest me enough to buy. Something by Scottoline usually makes the stack... but never makes it home. Those that have found their way to me shelf usually arrived via Habitat's 25 cent sale of the library's $5 bag-o-books sale. This specific one I spotted at the library when I took Benjamin for one of the summer programs, and I actually checked out, a rarity.</div>
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I felt about it like I did about most of her novels. There is this gossamer strand, thin, but just strong enough to pull me through the pages, intrigued to see where the story goes. I felt this way reading <em>Save Me</em> and <em>Look Again</em>, also by the same author. I wouldn't say it was "good" but it was just enough to keep me interested. In places the detail is too much. In other areas the writing is banal, a little hard to suffer through. The ending in this novel, as well as the other two is a bit Shakespearian though... and that's not a good thing. I have taught <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> more times than I can count. And it seems when Willie the Bard got to Act Five he felt like "Time to wrap things up" and jumbled together a bunch of plot elements to finish the play. It's much like watching a movie that keeps your interest throughout but suffers a rushed ending, often like with <em>Don't Go</em>, one that doesn't flow with the rest of the action's pace or development.</div>
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The novel is about an Army surgeon that has to return home from war because his wife suffered a fatal household accident, leaving his infant daughter to the care of the deceased mother's sister, who conveniently is barren, and oozing with maternal love to smother the semi-orphaned infant. Dr. Mike must decide whether to fulfill his military duty with a small regimen of doctors desperately needing his help or to hand up his camo lab coat to play Mr. Mom. Complicating that decision is a whole "second life" that he discovers about his wife during his deployment, including alcoholism and infidelity. </div>
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There were certain unexpected twists to the novel, which were good. I was pretty certain that at page 19, I had then entire book figured out... and I was completely wrong. I don't know if Scottoline intentionally led me- her reader- to that conclusion. I'd like to think so, but I question achieving that feat with her writing <strike>skill</strike> style. The thing is... I would have been beyond content to be wrong, and surprised... but the ending was so disjointing. It's as if she wrote 3/4th of the book, walked away a few months, and then picked it back up to finish... maybe she needed a paycheck. The "obvious" conclusion, although expected and trite, would have been a more fulfilling end to the novel than the fluster of activity that finishes its pages.</div>
Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-53180243820412443512014-07-22T19:16:00.000-07:002014-07-22T19:16:30.288-07:00EnoughThere are not enough hours in the day.<br />
Days in the week.<br />
Weeks in the month.<br />
You get the point...<br />
<br />
It's summer.<br />
I'm a teacher.<br />
I don't think I am afforded the luxury of feeling there is "too much to do" during the summer months.<br />
<em>(Of course, I realize this "luxury" is really a burden.)</em><br />
<br />
I had to go back to school yesterday.<br />
It had only been a week since summer school ended. Since I left.<br />
What's funny though is that it seems so much longer.<br />
That's a good thing, right? I must be making the most of my summer if it seems like I have been out longer.<br />
<em>(I have seriously checked the calendar three times to check that fact because it just doesn't seem right.)</em><br />
Nevertheless, I was back at school yesterday. For a School Leadership team meeting.<br />
And, I was just a wee bit bitter that I had to return already. <br />
When I had promised myself a full month mental vacation from all things academia.<br />
Once I was there though, things fell into place. I felt calm, in place. <br />
How easy it was to swing back into the pace of school life.<br />
I have had so, so... sooo... many jobs in my life. <br />
It is unfathomable to think that I just finished my 10th year of teaching. At the same school even.<br />
I think I will get a pin for my name badge (which I don't wear) this year for that.<br />
So, it is a good thing that I feel so "in place" when I am there. Not a burden, just life. My life.<br />
Yesterday, we also decided that the Leadership Team would come back together the Monday before the staff next month.<br />
Which is two weeks before school starts. And later that same week I will have meetings to mentor a new teacher (I think).<br />
That too made me a wee bit bitter. Thinking that summer, that has barely started, is ending a week earlier than planned.<br />
Though not really planned because I knew about the mentoring, which would bring me in that week anyway (probably).<br />
<br />
I thought that meant I "officially" have three weeks of summer left.<br />
But here it is almost Wednesday, and I have done nothing this week. Plans made. Plans nixed.<br />
Days wasted away. <br />
So I knee-jerked and planned a family vacation.<br />
At a campground.<br />
I don't camp.<br />
But we're in a cabin.<br />
With no bathroom. Or "rooms" at all for that matter.<br />
And no water or stove... or even chair.<br />
I told myself that mentally removing myself from home, town, physical life would be good for me.<br />
For us.<br />
God, I hope I was right... I am having my doubts.<br />
But the cabin is booked. Paid for. Nonrefundable.<br />
But, I still have my doubts.<br />
And now I don't look at the calendar and think I have 2.5 weeks of Summer. I think I have One Week of Summer after we get back!<br />
<br />
I look at my Summer Bucket List. <em>Good idea or No to make it a screen saver?</em><br />
And I see those things that can be checked.<br />
Some that are still lingering plans.<br />
And several that have been done but I want to do again before time runs out.<br />
Time Runs Out.<br />
Now though, the Every Days are weighing on me. <br />
Jason has gotten things aligned to be back in class full-time next month. Next Month! Very Full-Time!<br />
I think about how crucial it is to get things cleaned and organized before Time Runs Out.<br />
Then I waste some more days away. <br />
I don't mean waste them away in a good way, which I think is quite possible. Quite therapeutic.<br />
I mean waste them away in a fugue of disorientation, not able to get through a load of laundry or a recipe.<br />
<br />
These days of Nothingness, intentional and not, make me question how I spend my time the rest of the chaotic year.<br />
School. Key Club. Relay for Life.<br />
Question my roles in each. My time. My purpose. My reward.<br />
Place the efforts and returns on a scale side-by-side and see which way it tips.<br />
Ask myself if I am doing Enough. For every role in my life.<br />
For family.<br />
For myself.<br />
I don't even know what that means.<br />
I find myself often in this funk of dysfunction when I don't have Too Much to do.<br />
I must thrive on chaos. <br />
Or I just don't know what to do when the next immediate task to be done isn't immediately laying before me like a guillotine beneath my neck.<br />
There is certainly much I Could do. There is certainly much I Should do.<br />
<br />
I am talking in circles. Much like the carousel of my mind right now. My life.<br />
Going in circles with no immediate destination in sight.<br />
I suppose I need to just lean back, hold on, and enjoy the ride a bit? Breeze in my hair kind of metaphor?<br />
I don't know. <br />
<br />
There is no purpose in writing in verse tonight. <br />
I am being a cheat. Taking the easy way out of not having to connect more than one thought to the next.<br />
No logical progression of paragraph structure required.<br />
Funny thing.<br />
I wanted to use the word calliope earlier instead of carousel. For a moment I thought they were the same thing.<br />
Thankfully, I Googled. Lord Google.<br />
Not a carousel. However, Calliope was daughter of Zeus, lover to Ares, and a muse of epic poetry. <br />
Just an ironic word blunder tonight for this "mythology" chic.Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-90011652165020860132014-07-17T12:11:00.000-07:002014-07-17T12:11:46.987-07:00Maymont - Richmond, VirginiaYesterday, I had to hitch up the wagon and drive in The City to pick up the awards our Key Club won at International Convention. Not wanting to waste a 3-hour round trip for just that venture, I sought out some type of sightseeing adventure to add to the agenda. I did not find too many options that would be appealing to myself and the 17 year-old and the 4 year-old.<br />
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And honestly? I was a bit lazy and last-minute about it and quickly decided upon <a href="http://www.maymont.org/visitor-overview" target="_blank">Maymont</a> as I was surfing around. It was the 100-acre Victorian country estate of James Henry and Sally May Dooley during the Gilded Age of the late 1880s through the 1910s. After completion of the Romanesque-style mansion, the Dooleys spent three decades filling its interiors with treasures from around the world and establishing the gardens and landscapes. Following Dooley's death, with no heirs to the estate, Maymont was bequeathed to the city of Richmond and opened as a public park and museum. <em>(Information is more than slightly plagiarized from the linked website.)</em><br />
<em></em><br />
I know... it doesn't sound like a place to entertain the adventurous pre-schooler, but it really did make for a great day. We did not venture into the Mansion or Nature Center, but walked the overall grounds and checked out the various animal areas. It was simply beautiful, and not in the overly flowered and spruced-up kind of way. I was hesitant too when I saw the map at the entry gate and paths marking the 3-mile hikes were traced along the paths (just <em>sections</em> of the paths!). And there <em>may</em> have been one hill I just had Cameron take my hand and drag me up at the end, but in the end it was definitely worth the venture (especially the <em>free</em> venture).<br />
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So, here I give to you and posterity's sake and to Cameron (since he told me this morning about reading this blog) a Mommy-blogging-photo-roll of pics from the day!<br />
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I must confess that I am a bit intimidated by pies, so when I was stumbled upon this recipe on <em><a href="http://kitchenmeetsgirl.com/" target="_blank">Kitchen Meets Girl</a></em> I was intrigued.<br />
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Of course, I must also confess that I had never even heard the term <em>Galette</em>, much less knew what it was. Ashley (<em>the Girl that Met the Kitchen noted above</em>) conveniently described a Galette as "basically a round, flat, free-form crusty pastry. I call it an open-face, easy to make and quick to get to my pie-hole…well, <em>pie</em>." <br />
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So a pie-like pastry without the pie-like intimidation moved this goodness to Recipe #1 on Operation Blueberry Madness 2014.<br />
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<h3>
Blueberry Cheesecake Galette</h3>
<div class="h-4 strong" id="zlrecipe-ingredients">
<u></u><br />
<u>Ingredients</u></div>
<ul id="zlrecipe-ingredients-list">
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-0" itemprop="ingredients">1 refrigerated pie crust </li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-1" itemprop="ingredients">1 1/2 cups blueberries </li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-2" itemprop="ingredients">1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar </li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-3" itemprop="ingredients">1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice </li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-4" itemprop="ingredients">4 teaspoons cornstarch </li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-5" itemprop="ingredients">Pinch of kosher salt </li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-6" itemprop="ingredients">1 8-ounce package cream cheese </li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-7" itemprop="ingredients">1 large egg, beaten, plus 1 egg yolk </li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-8" itemprop="ingredients">Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg </li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-9" itemprop="ingredients">Coarse sugar, for sprinkling</li>
</ul>
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<div class="h-4 strong" id="zlrecipe-instructions">
<u>Instructions</u></div>
<ol class="instructions" id="zlrecipe-instructions-list">
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-0" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Unroll the refrigerated pie crust and place it on a parchment or Silpat-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to use. </li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-1" itemprop="recipeInstructions">While your pie crust is chilling, make your blueberry filling: in a medium bowl, toss together the blueberries, 1/3 cup sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch and salt. </li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-2" itemprop="recipeInstructions">In a separate bowl make your cheesecake filling: whisk together cream cheese, egg yolk, the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, and the nutmeg. </li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-3" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Spread half of the cheesecake mixture over the top of the unrolled pie crust, leaving a 1 ½ inch border. Top with blueberries, and fold the edges of the crust over the filling. Spread the rest of the cheesecake mixture over the top of the berries and refrigerate for 30 minutes. </li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-4" itemprop="recipeInstructions">Place an inverted cookie sheet in the lower third of your oven and preheat oven to 425. Brush the edges of the crust with a beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar (like sugar in the raw). Place baking sheet with the galette on it directly on top of the inverted cookie sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until crust is golden. Allow to cool slightly before slicing. </li>
</ol>
<div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
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<div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
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<div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
<u>My Notes to Recipe & Instructions</u></div>
<ul>
<li><div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
I have no idea what a Silpat-lined baking sheet, so I used parchment paper. <em>(Yes, I realize I could Google that and sound far less novice... maybe later.)</em> I used the Pampered Chef baking stone and kept the parchment paper beneath it for baking. The crust was absolutely perfect after bottom rack, 20 minutes... the parchment though was burned to a cindered ash-crisp. Not sure if that was related to the stone or the temp, but duly noted to not bake it on the paper next time.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
</div>
<ul>
<li><div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
Fold the full 1.5 inches of border crust in and over the edges of the filling. This gap with instructions caused me great confusion for some reason, making me have to undo and re-do the fold, and not ending up with anything particularly lovely.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
</div>
<ul>
<li><div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
This is not a "hearty" dessert. In a family of 3.5, it is gone as quick as it is made. The pic makes it look far more "deep dish" than the reality. Cameron actually picked up his slice to eat pizza-style... It is delish though!</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
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Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-84611483229667314962014-07-14T19:21:00.000-07:002014-07-14T19:21:31.002-07:00Skinnydipping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Skinnydipping-Novel-Bethenny-Frankel/dp/1451667388/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405388889&sr=1-1&keywords=skinnydipping"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Skinnydipping-Novel-Bethenny-Frankel/dp/1451667388/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405388889&sr=1-1&keywords=skinnydipping" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3aKPLSG98uB6_YPd2TRgYtENKpjGp0w54Qya3LQ_gWrnd5pT97jNxHVDSLscfMt3cZJIEFZqYR1w7x5_HQzfIr3M_egthBsD_xzuE929SpXjqb4TlQ32V4Jd0RDQ4gKUpLicC6f6dNpC/s1600/Skinnydipping.png" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Skinnydipping-Novel-Bethenny-Frankel/dp/1451667388/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405388889&sr=1-1&keywords=skinnydipping" target="_blank"><em>Skinnydipping</em>, by Bethenny Frankel</a></h3>
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This, the first (and last?) attempt at fiction by former New York Housewife <em>(who left the show after marrying... which would be ironic </em><strong>IF</strong><em> any of them were actual "housewives")</em> and failed talk-show personality, Bethenny Frankel.</div>
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I used to be a Bethenny fan. She was my favorite "housewife" but I never kept up with her after the self-titled reality spin-off that detailed her marriage to Jason and unexpected pregnancy and subsequent childbirth. I thought I would tune into her talk show... but I didn't. Much like I thought I would read her Health or Self-Help books, which I bought or downloaded... and then didn't.<br />
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I appreciate a good train wreck as much as the next reality television fan, but I didn't find her brand of crazy particularly entertaining. She's like the middle-age Miley Cyrus... with antics such as Instagramming a shot of her parading in her four year-old's "Hello Kitty" pajamas recently.<br />
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<span id="goog_1920075707"></span><span id="goog_1920075708"></span><br />
<span id="goog_1245478151"></span><span id="goog_1245478152">But, this novel is fiction, right? Well, for definition's sake, yes. However, if you are at all familiar with Bethenny "The Early Years," you are going to easily note many similarities between the main character, Faith Brightstone, and the author herself. From the distant horse track father to competing on a Martha Stewart-esque reality show (with a similar reality-to-fiction ending), to morphing from Muffin Maven to Cocktail Queen. Franklel has penned her own historical fiction, perhaps with a happier ending she wishes were true?</span><br />
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The novel is divided into the two stages of Faith Brightstone's life - the first as an assistant on a popular Los Angeles "The OC"-type drama. A life filled with borrowed clothes and car, fancy Hollywood parties, sexually-charged and cocaine-laced nights. A life of Hollywood glitz that is just out of her reach.<br />
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Then following a creative segue along the lines of "Five Years Later," Brightstone has returned to New York to manage a struggling vegan muffin business until the opportunity to fill the final remaining spot on a reality show to find the next "Domestic Goddess" falls right on her (muffin) platter... <em>literally</em>. Most remaining pages detail the culinary and decorative tasks and the no-longer-behind-camera catiness that causes the reality genre to proliferate.<br />
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There is, of course, too, a Prince Charming narrative that weaves Part One and Two together and wraps the novel in a neat little bow with a happy ending. <br />
<br />
Ok, that being said, all snarking aside, it wasn't... <em>bad</em>. It's simply written and occasionally smothers the reader with extremes- whether it is in description of what characters are wearing or the unbelievable turns of the plot. It's a light read though, playful, good for a Summer Reading List. <br />
<br />
For the record though, there is no "Skinnydipping" in the book. I am left to think this was meant to be a metaphor for "jumping in" and allowing yourself to be fully exposed to life's offering, which would aptly describe the main character's attitude in both parts of the novel. I am a bit iffy to give Frankel that much literary credit though.<br />
<br />
In part, I think maybe it just allowed her the chance to superimpose her Peta image on the novel cover?<br />
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Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-67239848832458024162014-07-05T14:44:00.000-07:002014-07-05T14:44:51.260-07:00Dancing in the Street<em>'Cause summer's here and the time is right for dancing in the street...</em><br />
<em></em><br />
Not really though. I live on a main street "in town." So that wouldn't be very safe... or sane.<br />
We have, however, been ticking lots of fun off the Summer To-Do List.<br />
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We visited the local library for the Summer Reading Program Kick-Off. There is a punch card for the kids to use each week when they attend the program and check out ten(!!!) books. Those who get all the punches will be entered in drawings for prizes, including an I-Pad Mini. We will not be able to check off every week due to some other plans this summer but plan on joining the weekly program often.<br />
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The theme for the summer program is "Paws to Read" so for the Kick-Off they made "dog tags." Unfortunately these summer programs fall at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m., and with the Summer School Schedule, it is only feasible to go at 2 p.m., which falls dead-center of nap time. So, having selected to skip naps for this day... and Benjamin being far more interested in the turned-off computers than books, this started out as a frustrated adventure. We persevered though (although there may have been some ineffective threats to "just leave" thrown in there), and once he had acclimated to the chaos of all that was happening we picked some (10!) books, crafted, and had a good time.</div>
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Cameron is volunteering with the library... for his third summer, I think? So, I was even able to park Benjamin in the Snowcones & Popcorn room for a while and check out some books for myself. After the library visit, the boys got much-needed (at least for Benjamin: see Pointdexter-parted hairstyle above) Summer haircuts. I have always been about cutting the boys' hair short-short in the summer and not dealing with "styles" until it was time for school again. Lots of times this even meant me pulling out the clippers. Benjamin may have inherited my unfortunately large head though, and I just couldn't bring myself to do that to his cuteness.</div>
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In addition to a Library Day, the boys and I have also made a trip to Busch Gardens. I really took a gamble heading on the 90-minute trek when there was 70% chance of thunderstorms. I just told myself that if I go and it's miserable, I will get over it... but if I don't go, I will spend days wishing I had... so we did!<br />
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It literally started raining just as we entered the park. It was near 3 p.m. and most visitors had already left for the day due to the pending weather. We were waved on to the preferred parking (for free versus the $15 normal cost) and parked right by the entry gate. After waiting a while in the car, I made the proclamation that were just going to take the umbrella and go for it! As fates would have it, the rain stopped before we even made it from the car to the gate.<br />
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Now the "Good" of going to the amusement park on a stormy day is that there were absolutely no lines to any rides. The boys rode ride after ride, with Benjamin often just staying on for three or more turns. The place was so uncrowded at dinner that we could look around and see so many "familiar" faces because we had seen them already in the park. The "Bad" of the day was although it did not rain, following the storm, in 95-plus degree weather, it was muggy shirt-clinging yuck weather (which was still highly worth it in trade).<br />
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We even got in a Beach Day. (I keep emphasizing the "even did" this & thats because I still teaching summer school every morning, but not letting that dominate my whole day, as in the past.) Kelby joined us and it was her first time being in Virginia Beach. </div>
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I was determined to get in a beach trip this week, even though I knew the holiday weekend would make it busier than it's busy summer-time normal. I even deluded myself into thinking that the impending Tropical Storm/Hurricane Arthur may stir some folks away from the beach... apparently not. It was definitely crowded. I keep going back and forth on whether I still prefer the crowded touristy spots. I like the anonymity of it... but am a little more irritated by the crowds as I grow closer to my crotchety old-woman stage.<br />
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At first, Benjamin was determined to spend our entire visit clinging to the umbrella pole avoiding the sand and the water. I think it may have been with sea shells that I lured him out? I spent the greater part of the afternoon hunched over, waiting for the waves to recede, and checking out any sea shells (or more often fragments of them). This entertained Benjamin for quite while too. So long in fact that the next day, I felt the way the Spring athletes complain after doing squats and squat-walks the first week of practice. I could even feel it in my upper back from having my arms perched ready to grab any gems I saw. <em>Seriously, you would think I was culling rubies or diamonds.</em> There was this old lady near me, who only after watching me, started to collect shells too (in a Ziplock bag shoved between the breasts of her bathing suit). Then, she got family involved. I started using a sand sifter... so did they. Then, she sent the young girl over to directly where I was to get shells. I was like "Bring it on Grandma!" Sea Shell Wars 2014. I can get <strike>ridiculously</strike> a bit competitive.<br />
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I also spent a morning yard saling last weekend. It was not a particularly fruitful quest. (I will avoid the details of a certain toddler clothes battle to not make my competitiveness border pathological.) Other than a few odds & ends, the big haul was 16 cookbooks... although I said I would stop buying cookbooks since you get sooo many recipes (any recipe) on The Internets for free... and since I don't cook.<br />
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So, Summer is rolling. We are getting out, staying busy, making the most of our 100 days. <br />
<em>(I would have never known Summer had 100 days if it weren't for the currently <strike>abused</strike> trending hashtag.)</em>Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-30063178295159886662014-06-23T21:09:00.002-07:002014-06-23T21:09:56.282-07:00Dining - Many Plates, Few IdeasMy first "grown-up house" had did not have an eat-in kitchen but did have a spacious dining room attached to the kitchen. So, that room was used often. Since I was young and dumb, I bought fancy dining room furniture and filled the cabinet with fine Noritake china, never to be actually used... because that's what you did with dining rooms.<br />
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A couple of houses later, I had another eat-in kitchen and roomy dining room. By this time, I had sold the fancy dining room furniture and our kitchen table was centered in the near-empty room. The over-all effect was definitely underwhelming.<br />
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Fast forward a dozen or more years and a few more houses (<em>I moved around a lot in my 20s</em>), now the first home that I have actually "owned" (<em>or will after half a lifetime of mortgage payments</em>) has... a Dining Room... BUT also has a roomy Eat-IN kitchen with the perfect table that folds down for our family of four, or opens up to easily sit eight. So the Dining Room gets used... Not... At... All.<br />
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Ok, <em>rewind</em>, that's lie.<br />
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Our Dining Room is Relay for Life central, a storehouse of purple for weeks- if not months- prior to Relay. That follows weeks of being Key Club District Convention Headquarters, which this year mainly meant a mountain of rotating scrapbook supplies. It's also a great office for extended grading marathons, especially pre-craft room. I am particularly fond of this room during the holidays, from the space to sort decorations and tree adornments, to the china cabinet filled with nutcrackers, to hosting the baked goodness of the <a href="http://pocketsofhappiness.blogspot.com/2012/12/community-cookie-exchange-2012.html" target="_blank">Community Cookie Exchange</a>.</div>
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Mostly though, I do like when the Dining Room... looks like a Dining Room. I spent the afternoon clearing away the Relay debris, returning Craft Room supplies, and packing away the school project cast-aways (<em>which are in neatly packed boxes, neatly cropped out the picture</em>). Once upon a time, I fantasized about having a dining room table on which the settings changed monthly based on seasons or holidays. That little fantasy right there never moved out of the fleeting fantasy stage. <br />
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I saw a table set with these dishes at Pottery Barn shortly after buying the new house and fell in love with the whole setting (<em>a typical Pottery Barn setting that is meant for artistic display and not actual dining</em>). I saw the dishes on the clearance shelves a few months later and grabbed them and the centerpiece then did my best at other odds & ends places to finish the look (<em>my look, not Pottery Barn's, which would have involved way more twigs and leaves and other pieces of earthy nature not belonging on a dining surface</em>). That particular window in the picture is deep-set and houses the few nicer Longaberger baskets that I bought... when I thought buying Longabergers was something important to do.<br />
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The thing is I don't think I am so much a Colonial Blue, Birds, and Longaberger kinda gal anymore... or maybe I am somewhat, I really do like birds... and baskets... but not so much the matchy-match stuff and could completely care less about the names on the bottoms of plates, or baskets, or anything else for that matter.<br />
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So, three years after moving into this home, I am really ready to MOVE-IN to this home. The paint throughout the house (except <a href="http://pocketsofhappiness.blogspot.com/2012/07/craft-rooom-reveal-ta-da.html" target="_blank">The Craft <strike>Room</strike> Studio</a>) is still that contractor neutral and there is exactly one picture hung in the total 3600 square feet. There are several pictures leaning on or tucked away near where I think I might want them displayed, but I. just. can't. commit. <br />
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I have been contemplating again lately what I would like to do in the Dining Room. It is a very central and visible part of the house, fully visible from the kitchen by one set of entry doors and the living room by another set of entry doors, although both doors have lovely tinted white paneled glass doors that can be slid out of the wall recesses to close it off. Nonetheless, I cannot pick a paint color or décor scheme that would cause total disharmony with the rest of the house. For example, I have often pictured the room a deep blue... but that is completely disjointed from every other aspect of my house. <em>An eggplant though... maybe?</em><br />
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I like this idea of using the same paint color and tone- painting a flat matte as an undercoat and swirling a design free-hand on top in gloss. I question my artistic ability in being able to "swirl a design free-hand" though and think I may have a far too critical eye to not look into the room and always see every mistake I made.</div>
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I am not sure I want curtains in the room. There are two large windows, but again the room is not functional often, there is very large shrubbery in front of the main window, and I could close off the sliding doors if I was worried about general privacy throughout the rest of the house. I think I overall like the exposed windows, but if I came to change my mind, I would look at Roman shades. There are a lot of DIY tutorials all over The Nets I would give a try because the windows are large and odd sized from being a restored home, and the custom blinds it would require could never be worth the expense.<br />
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The one element I know that I definitely want to add to the Dining Room is a Plate Wall. I have loved this decorating trend since I saw my first pic. (<em>Love at first plate, I promise</em>.) My coupled fantasy of going to yard sales and finding a large collection of cheap-cheap plates & platters throughout the day that coordinated perfectly has not come true though. I just can't see putting out good money for the sake of this display. I haven't put a lot of effort into doing it though and I have faith that I can find a way to do it on the cheaps. The top three are my favorite. I like the way that the first wraps around a corner. It is a corner in our Dining Room that I am looking to adorn in a similar fashion. The colors of the third I find attractive, but the nonadventurous decorator in me thinks about keeping them all white to maintain harmony, like the middle pic.<br />
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If I can't piece (or force) together a collection though, I have these to fall back on. As a matter of fact, I may be looking at these as the START of the project... and not the "fall back." The platter and bowls are LARGE. I would have to carefully consider how to mount them. There is actually a more perfect wall in the kitchen but the area is too high traffic for something so cumbersome. Jason brought these back from a deployment to Turkey and they are one of the most favored things I own... as they sit on top of the china cabinet collecting dust. In the box is a hanging of connected tin bowls that I imagine as an arch over a doorway.<br />
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My only hesitation for using these items, which I love and feel much more connected to than serendipitous yard sale finds, is... <br />
What color would I paint the room???<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>The link-backs to borrowed pictures (plates, painting, shade) can be found on my "</em><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/shelliemchenry/decorating-ideas/" target="_blank"><em>Decorating Ideas</em></a><em>" Pinterest page.</em></span>Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-79107915809398617532014-06-20T19:38:00.000-07:002014-06-20T19:38:30.253-07:00Summer Bucket List 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last summer, I cheated a <a href="http://pocketsofhappiness.blogspot.com/2013/07/bucket-list-maybe.html" target="_blank">Bucket List</a> and just copped Martha Stewart's Summer ToDo List. Needless to say, very little of that was achieved because, let's face it, I'm not Martha Stewart. Who is? Other than Martha Stewart, of course... <em>and that chick on "Saturday Night Live," who actually makes a better Martha Stewart than the Domestic Mothership herself</em>. So, this year I tossed around my own ideas for a while and comprised this list, which fits me, my family, and our lives.<br />
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1. <a href="http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_brother/" target="_blank"><strong>Big Brother</strong></a><strong> -</strong> When I feel the itchings of Summer coming on, Big Brother is one of the first things I start looking forward to, even sooner than I start looking forward to the end of the school year. I watched the first few seasons, missed years upon years of it, and then picked back up as a loyal (<em>obsessed</em>) fan during the past few summers. I've read all the negative feedback lately about celebrity cling-ons and a lack of diversity in casting, and I too wish it was a greater throng of different people as once before... I can't even remember who won last season <em>(or even care enough to Google it, sad). (I do remember the nerdy little Ian that won the summer before though. I loved Ian.)</em><br />
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2. <strong>Steamed Crabs</strong> - I'm not all about "my Hometown" or "Where I come from..." but one way in which I am very much an Eastern Shore girl is my love of seafood, specifically steamed blue crabs (<em>And thinking Crab Legs is the same thing as "real" Crab is as bad as thinking Diet Pepsi the same as Diet Coke... just, no.</em>) So, I hope to have at least one good Crab Feast this summer. A few years ago I spent my entire (ENTIRE) Labor Day shucking crabs and froze bags of crab meat. It was great to have the crab throughout the year, but my hands were so cramped the next day from the shucking marathon! Still, I would do that again if we could get a good deal on crab.<br />
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3. <strong>Watermelon & Sweet Corn - </strong>These two foods say Summer to me and I usually let summer fly by too quickly without having some ice cold watermelon and sweet sweet corn while they are still fresh and plentiful. (When I googled "watermelon and corn," I saw several pics of a salad like this. I am intrigued by the mixture.)<br />
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4. <strong>Go Blueberry Picking and Try One New Recipe with fresh blueberries - </strong>Cameron and I did this <a href="http://pocketsofhappiness.blogspot.com/2013/07/i-came-i-saw-i-baked.html" target="_blank">last year</a> and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I didn't have a chance to make it out to strawberry picking this year, so I do not want to miss blueberries!<br />
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5. <strong>Make Popsicles -</strong> A while ago, I picked up a <a href="http://www.zokuhome.com/pages/products-quickpop-maker" target="_blank">Zoku, Quick Pop Maker</a>, which you fill with juice or other liquid ingredients and make popsicles in a magical 7 - 9 minutes. I have not used this yet though Cameron and Jason have. I am not a big "ice cream person," in general, and hand-held ice creams even less so, yet I want to give a few concoctions a try. I've been collecting ideas and recipes on a <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/shelliemchenry/popsicles/" target="_blank">Pinterest Popsicles</a> board.<br />
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6. <strong>Visit the Farmer's Market</strong> - We've made it a few times so far this season and hope to make a few more times. I love the market and the town that it is in, but finding the free Saturday morning to drive an hour out of town to go can take some planning.<br />
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7. <strong>Go Yard Saling - </strong>I do love a morning spent Yard Saling, an entire morning. I do not like chit-chatting with sellers or running into people I know. I am on a mission when I am Yard Saling. The listing is a Treasure Map and I am on a hunt, preferably with a sidekick to feed addresses into the GPS. At least a couple of times this summer, I'd like to grab the listings for Virginia Beach and set out for the hour trek to Yard Sale Mecca. I can easily hit 35+ yard sales in the five-hour window of Saturday morning when I embark on these Treasure Hunts.<br />
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8. <strong>Craft - </strong>I really wanted to make another list, probably not as organized- not as definite or planned, just general ideas, about crafting goals this summer- dreams, hopes, maybes, possibilities. However, when I saw that this list was turning into a "Where to take the Boys," actually just a "Where to take Benjamin" this summer list, I decided to toss in a couple of general For-Me goals. Crafting something, sometime, somehow is definitely one of those.<br />
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9. <strong>Household Cleaning, Organizing, Decorating - </strong>Likewise, I wanted to jot down another list of fluid goals for the house, but decided to expand this Summer Bucket List beyond idea that which involved the output of gas (<em>although that too would be associated with accomplishing most of this</em>). So, like most teachers, I am sure, I have all kinds of vapid aspirations about cleaning and getting organized this Summer... but two concrete household fix-ups I would like to do are to make the Chalkboard Wall in the upstairs hall and to bring home the library catalogues I scavenged to create a front hall display.<br />
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10. <strong>Summer Reading - </strong>This is a given, but it merits mention. Soon, I think I will collect Summer Reading recommendations to post soon. Finding books is so easy by the looks of my bookshelves but so hard by the fact that I can never find something on them I actually want to read. I'm not sure if this is a new program, but our library is having a <a href="http://www.blackwaterlib.org/adultsrp/" target="_blank">Summer Reading Program</a> for adults. I almost don't want to share it and add to the competition because you can win Amazon gift cards weekly by just posting about what you've read! <em>(English Teacher Nerd Heaven, I am in.)</em><br />
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11. <strong>Children's Reading Program - </strong>I also want to get Benjamin involved with the <a href="http://www.blackwaterlib.org/srp/" target="_blank">Children's Summer Reading Program</a>. Cameron has also volunteered with this program over summers past. There are weekly events every Tuesday for the kids and you pledge to read 10 books weekly to get your card punched and enter prize drawings.<br />
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12. <strong>Regal Summer Movie Express - </strong>Better known (or at least, more importantly known) as <a href="http://www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express" target="_blank">"The $1 Movie."</a> We've only done a couple of movies with Benjamin, but I'm hoping to catch a few more this summer on Wednesdays (since Library programs are on Tuesdays, the other day they are offered). One big suggestion from me to those of you new to this frugal find, is not to get there too early and when getting your tickets specifically ask for a theater that does not have a daycare/summer camp group!<br />
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13. <strong>Visit Two Out-of-Town Parks - </strong>I have two new ones in mind, and one we discovered last year to fall back on, as needed. Note to self: On very hot days, playground equipment is very hot.<br />
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14. <strong>Go to a Tides Baseball Game -</strong> Our wall calendar is (<em>perhaps a little obsessively</em>) marked with <a href="http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20081124&content_id=41067706&sid=t568&vkey=tickets" target="_blank">Every Home Game and Promotion</a> for the entire season. I have wanted to catch a game for a couple of years now and not made it back. Free Jersey Night and Navy Night are looking like good options for our clan!<br />
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15. <strong>Visit the </strong><a href="http://childrensmuseumva.com/explore.html" target="_blank"><strong>Children's Museum of Portsmouth</strong></a><strong> - </strong>I love this place. <a href="http://pocketsofhappiness.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-childrens-museum-of-virginia.html" target="_blank">Love. Seriously love</a>. It is going to be hard to visit and not renew our family membership that I let lapse over a year ago. And that was even before I knew that teachers get in free! Super excited when I surfed around their website and found that a Wizard of Oz interactive exhibit is coming for the Summer. Super. Excited.<br />
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16. <strong>Visit the </strong><a href="http://thevlm.org/explore/exhibits/dinosaurs/" target="_blank"><strong>Living Museum</strong></a> - Also love, love, love this place. If only everything wasn't a flipping hour away! This one's a bit more pricey, especially given my goal of frugal finds this summer. However, the summer exhibit is all about Dinosaurs... and I do have a four-year old boy!<br />
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17. <strong>Visit </strong><a href="http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg/" target="_blank"><strong>Busch Gardens</strong></a><strong> Multiple Times -</strong> We have season passes to the park that we do not use enough. Unfortunately I deserve a swift kick for not taking advantage of the free (FREE) Pre-school Pass for Benjamin before the deadline... and since I will have to pay for his pass (in addition to the passes we already pay for), we really need to be making the trek across the ferry to Busch Gardens this summer... often.<br />
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18. <strong>Visit <a href="http://watercountryusa.com/en/williamsburg/?from=Top_Nav&webSyncID=c79de9da-98be-a022-6028-c74d99e48e7a&sessionGUID=ada3e629-9597-e8e6-eab7-78e8b4b64086" target="_blank">Water Country</a> Multiple Times</strong> - The Water Park partner of our 2-park pass. Ditto every statement in #17 for this one too. I really want to put a number on it, like say we will make it to each park five times or go to one or the other weekly... but I am hesitant to fake-commit to something I am going to feel like I fluked if it doesn't happen. We also need to look at pic'nicking and timing arrivals/departures so we are not spending $35-50 on food to use the "free" passes!<br />
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19. <strong>Visit the Beach a Few Times</strong> - I can freely and honestly admit that I like the <em>idea</em> of the beach much more than the reality. Trekking across hot sand that is tucked into unmentionable places for days afterward becomes less appealing as the years past... as does the crowded tourist beaches that I once preferred.<br />
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20. <strong>Spend some time with Justin - </strong>I haven't seen this face in real-time since Thanksgiving. I would like to plan an Eastern Shore trip but I don't know if that can happen. It may have to be a day trip or mayyybe a simple overnighter. There are lots of "back home" places I would like to visit and make a trip out of it, but mainly I need to spend some time with the first boy that made me Mom.Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-31684781697809556662014-06-19T20:23:00.000-07:002014-06-19T20:45:30.343-07:00Summer Storms and NapsFirst day of Summer School. My class is small and the morning passed quickly. Thankfully, I made an organized notebook with day-by-day lesson plans, activities, and keys last year, so prep for the next day's class will be pretty smooth for most of Summer School this year. I will have to switch around and make some new plans for "Second Quarter" since the class changed format from last year, but there is time ahead to do that.<br />
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Out the door by 1:00 p.m. (<em>Yay me!</em> ). Lunch at Maryz. There's a comfort to small town dining where the manager comments that you are there "earlier than usual." Jason had a productive day- maintenance on both vehicles and Extreme Kitchen Make-Over. <br />
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Me? Not so much. Benjamin goes to Pre-School two days a week over Summer, so I was determined to take a nap this afternoon in the quiet house.<br />
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But, Jason was going to call if he couldn't get the vehicles done in time to pick up Benjamin from school. <br />
So, I checked to make sure the ringer on my cell was turned on.<br />
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And checked again.<br />
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And checked again.<br />
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And then worried it might die, so I went to get the plug to keep it charging.<br />
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Then, I thought Jason might not realize the time and let me know to go pick up Benjamin, so I set the phone alarm.<br />
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Then checked to make sure the volume was on.<br />
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And again.<br />
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Then... there was a fly.<br />
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So, I turned on the ceiling fan.<br />
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But, I could still hear the fly.<br />
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And, let's not forget the parade of things I should be doing marching across my mind the entire time I laid down.<br />
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Yeah, in general, I am not a very successful napper... or rapper (<em>just throwing that in there since it rhymed, and junk</em>).<br />
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Big thunderstorms tonight. I am becoming someone who likes the peacefulness of rain and stillness of storms. The evening, after I gave up on the whole napping non-phenomenon, was spent being entertained by a 4-year old with an orange snake mustache. We told Benjamin last night that "tomorrow you go to daycare." His emphatic response was, "Daycare is Jail!" We were quite taken aback by this and I asked him who had said that, thinking it was a comment from one of the pre-school workers. Then, he replied The Policeman told him and went into one of ramblings about policemen locking up people in jail. He is rather enthralled with police right now. So, it was another serendipitous moment when he just didn't realize how funny his response was.<br />
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Meanwhile this week, Cameron is five hours away at Radford University for Boy's State. I'm not sure what his expectations were going into it. The lectures and politics are a definite change from the synergy that is a Key Club event. He described it to a friend as "rigorous but fun." Mainly, I'm just proud that he is viewed as a leader among his peers, someone deemed a good choice to be among those representing our school with this opportunity. I worry to often that he's just seen as "McHenry's kid" and not as a young man that chooses to give of himself to his school and community. <em>I am particularly worried about this come scholarship time next year.</em>Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-74958576553605500182014-06-18T14:47:00.001-07:002014-06-18T14:47:55.599-07:00Summer Suspended<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To return in approximately one month. </div>
<em>(I knowww I proclaim to be all "Don't wish your life away," but please let this month zoom by!)</em><br />
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My self-doctoring plan worked. I stayed in bed (<em>for the most part</em>) and ate little (<em>for the most part</em>) for 36-hours, and I am doing better today. I am not at 100% "healed," but I haven't been 100% gastro-healthy since my pre-teen days. <br />
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Over the weekend, I saw that some teacher friends were already making new Pinterest Board for "Back to School" nights and teaching next year and I scoffed, "Nerds!" Of course, before the dawn had fully set on the current teaching year, I too fell into the black hole of Pinterest and spent the greater part of my bed-ridden hours pinning ideas for school. I had planned to just clean-up and organize my boards (<em>That counts as being productive, right?</em>), but then I got side-tracked by ideas for decorating...<br />
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<em>I have a row of three filing cabinets that sit right behind my desk. They are the direct-visual upon entering the room. I would love to snazz them up like this, but looking at how the handle is on them today, I just don't know if it could work neatly.</em><br />
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I also looked at several ideas, even followed the links to read the blog posts (<em>That's serious pinning there!</em>) on ideas about taming paperwork. Paperwork in my albatross. To be an English teacher, the one that "makes kids write," I am quite ironically H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E about paper work, even attendance. And these days in teaching, there is a whole lot more paperwork on this side of this desk than that which goes across to the student desks.<br />
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<em>Although it would be ADDING to the paperwork, not taming it, I am going to reflect the next few months over something like this- a "No Homework Form." I would mean changing my policy from No Late Work to Late Work for half-credit, but it's something worth considering. Of course, cheating on homework versus not doing it was the greater problem this past year. So, this would be like building an aquarium to house the chickens (yeah... no idea where that metaphor came from.)</em><br />
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I also added a board for classroom memes, cartoons, and videos. (<em>This meme is sooo me, as my students would tell you!</em>) I am deluded into thinking this will make me the "Cool Teacher" (<em>not really</em>), but it's a good façade for using technology in the classroom, right? (<em>Ok, not really to that either</em>.) </div>
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I also found lots of general teaching material on units in literature, grammar, writing, vocabulary, and made a few other specific boards related to topics in my class. Now, time will tell if it becomes the Pinterest Dust Bowl, to be found during a pinning frenzy marathon... <em>never to be looked at again (again) (again)....</em><br />
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Back on track.<br />
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So... went to Fred's for breakfast with the fam and then back up to high school to finish cleaning and packing my room. Summer School registration ended today at 3 so I was spacing out my tasks to stretch until then and figure out if/what class I had to get prepared for tomorrow's first day (<em>short, sad, fleeting nonexistent break it has been</em>).<br />
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Well, pretty sure I know what it feels like to be evicted now. Our custodians were all business. I could not get a desk cleared without them clearing it out of the room. I seriously thought I was going to be wheeled out on a dolly at one point (or three). Usually, I remove nearly all wall hangings too but since Cameron wasn't available to monkey around on desks to reach them, I have left them be for this summer.<br />
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I did not get exactly the Summer School class I wanted, which would have made for much longer, and much more stressful days... but more bank. The class I do have lets out at 12:30 though, which means I really need to not succumb to the "Summer Suspended" attitude I have already proclaimed and still make something out of the days ahead!<br />
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On a completely, unrelated note, once I finally laid Pinterest to rest last night, I was checking out the snark on GOMI ("Get Off My Internets") and adding all of their targets to my blog roll, which is totally counter to their purpose and I came across "<a href="http://www.heynataliejean.com/" target="_blank">Hey Natalie Jean</a>."<br />
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I am utterly head over heels in love with this chick and her blog. I want to be her sister, her neighbor, her friend... her. This is the kind of newfound obsession that breeds stalkers. She says that her blog is <br />
"a love letter from me to my family and from my family to New York City." (<em>My alter-ego lives in a very small apartment in a very tall building in NYC. And she is very important in the best-selling fiction world of publishing... Reminding myself of why I do not allow students to use the word "very.")</em> Anyway, I can overlook her refusal to use the shift key (annoying) (<em>very annoying</em>) because she is just the bohemian open-minded, free-spirited, adventurous embodiment of New York that I adore. <br />
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I stayed up until 2 a.m. last night reading through her old posts (<em>stalker status, indeed</em>)... and would do the very same again tonight if it were not for that blasted Summer School alarm going off in the morning.Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-59846565440180528592014-06-17T23:00:00.000-07:002014-06-17T21:27:17.957-07:00Benjamin is FOUR!Nothing makes me realize how quickly time is fleeting more than seeing how quickly Benjamin is growing and learning. I have to really stretch my mind to remember a time before he was walking and talking. These years have just flown by in a blur.<br />
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He is full of personality. All boy, equal parts rambunctious and loving. His favorite color is blue and this is a very popular topic right now. He likes to find out everyone's favorite color and always remembers when choosing things like plates and bowls or pointing out when someone is wearing a shirt in their favorite color. He remembers so much of the conversations that he has. He asks questions, takes in tidbits of information all the time, and then surprises us by mentioning something we talked about casually at unexpected times much later. <em>(Will need to be careful around this one ;)</em></div>
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There is a Mexican Restaurant that is the traditional local place to go for birthdays. The iconic SoCo (Southampton County) Facebook pic for birthday celebrations is at Don Panchos in a sombrero. For Benjamin's actual birthday date, we sent cupcakes to his pre-school class and took him to Panchos for dinner. He was quite enchanted by the singing and birthday treat in his honor.</div>
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Jason was set on having a "real" Birthday Party for Benjamin. I was not. This dipped into one of my major social phobias of having an event that no one attends. Our social circle is small. We have no family close to us and no friends with children Benjamin's age. Jason was not deterred though. He actually polled another pre-school Mom in The Wal-Mart about which kids from the class show up to the birthday parties. Eventually, I gave in to the idea... but thankfully had a late-coming and sudden inspiration to have the party at the local bowling alley and not in-home.</div>
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We timed it for 3 p.m., thinking that would sprinkle a little post-nap goodness over the event. It also worked out great because it was a "dead time" at the bowling alley and we had the place to ourselves during the hour'ish that the kids bowled, and danced, and ran around. I learned that the rule of one party guest per year of the child was a good one. Before I would have thought just four party guests was a failure but in this case it was at the brink a barely containable snowballing bundle of energy. <em>(Did I mention they had the entire alley to themselves to run through?)</em></div>
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It was a good day. A good memory. Then, as perfect timing would have it, we came home to a big box from Ohio family with birthday presents too.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Sitting on top of the kitchen table (of course) "reading" his Birthday card in the Lightening McQueen (Bam Chow!)</em><br />
<em> chair sent from Ohio family with Ninja Turtle pajamas and other goodies.</em></td></tr>
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We also had our first dentist visit recently. He wanted to show me his "shiny teeth" as soon as I got home. I have to admit that I was thankful that our schedule led to Jason taking him to this appointment and not me, but I should not be surprised that he was a model patient. He is a curious child and this was just one more new experience that intrigued him.</div>
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Four has been a time of loving to be outside. Going for walks with Cameron, especially to see the peacocks down the road from our house. Going to the park with Dad and seeing his friend, "Sheekah." The Big Four birthday present for Benjamin was a bicycle but he's not feeling too confident in those skills yet. Hopefully lots of summer days to practice will cure that quickly.</div>
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Four is a time when the world is divided into Super Heroes and Bad Guys and both are very real. Everyone is your friend, regardless of sex, color, or if your only name for them is "Hey Girl." It is a time to give a name to every encountered animal, in the pet store and stuffed, our favorite being "Dahma," the stuffed dog received on Valentine's Day. A time to give freely of hugs- good, strong, tight ones- but to be very reserved in kisses. Lately it has been a season of singing- remixing tunes we already know or just describing activities or latest thoughts in melodic verse.</div>
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Thankfully, Four is still an age of long naps- some so long that we have to wake him up. Also thankfully, Jason has such a routine set with Benjamin that he will <em>usually</em> go to bed without much fuss... now staying in his own bed for the night? That's a different story.</div>
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Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-18606591738640344332014-06-16T18:07:00.000-07:002014-06-16T18:07:49.019-07:00I surrender.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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During 10th grade I went to a Winter Retreat for church youth in Pennsylvania, at Mount Pleasant, I believe it was called. It was in the valley of Amish country, something novel to my small life that I was too young and ego-centric at the time to appreciate. I remember that for several days before we left I would have self-talks to myself in the mirror telling Self, that she was NOT going to get too sick for this trip. It worked... <em>mainly because talking to yourself in the mirror as a teenage girl possesses the strange image-altering power that is only equaled to how amazing you sound singing into a hair brush. </em>I also remember of that trip (twenty-six years ago, although I can barely remember what I did in the last week), that we had not even made it out of the mountains before I felt the effects of a bad flu/strep/pneumonia/mono/plague bug settling into my chest and making me feverish, loopy, and completely robbed my voice before arriving back home in Maryland.</div>
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I am reminded of this seemingly random story today because it was the first in a long chain of intermittent times when my body (mind?) allowed me to defer illness until it was convenient. Yeah, I know how crazy that sounds. I am not proposing some mind over matter super power (<em>because if so, I would use it for way cooler purposes than avoiding snot and vomit</em>), but maybe the effects of adrenaline? Or a little psychological nudge to make it past a hurdle before crashing. I do believe greatly in the power of the mind over physical matters of health. For this reason, since teaching, I have spent many holidays, breaks, and unfortunately chunks of summer time... sick. It's like my body makes it past the deadlines and To-Do lists and then just crashes... because it knows it can.</div>
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This is not always the case though. Sometimes, my body will just through a Molotov Cocktail of contagions at me to knock me off my feet, when I refuse to give in to its cries for rest. For example, this winter when I had not just the Flu, but a Flu-Strep-Ear Infection Trifecta. Yes, the Husband liked to joke that I have to multi-task everything. I am not in any way suggesting that I am body or health-conscious (ha!), but I am pretty in-tuned with my body and can read the signals it sends me. I just choose to ignore them most often because there is always something I find more pressing to attend to. (This being the cause of my cancelled/not yet rescheduled dentist appointment to fill a cavity... or not having a "regular" physical in 12 years... or "that" physical in 4 years... or ever having a mammogram.) (<em>Yes, I am ashamed of these things.</em>) (<em>No, the shame isn't enough to push me towards actually scheduling, let less keeping, these appointments.)</em></div>
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So anyway... I woke up this morning just thinking about how my summers are plagued with one sickness or injury or another. (Yes, I realize the lack of healthcare listed above... despite excellent, free health insurance from Jason's retirement... contributes to this.) (<em>No, it's still not enough to push me towards doing anything about it... right now.</em>)</div>
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And... it appears Summer 2014 is starting on the same path. Benjamin went to the doctor today for a rash issue. And me? I am officially surrendering to this stomach bug. I allowed myself to sleep it off Friday night and Saturday- for the most part, but then said I needed to move on and tried to get work done on Sunday and went into work today. I'm a fool. It wasn't until I talked to the bookkeeper at school today who described the exact same symptoms late last week and she went to the ER and diagnosed with gastroenteritis, that I thought "Oh, this might really be a thing. I might really be sick." That perhaps my frequent visits to the loo are not related to the dairy in my drink Friday morning or the flax in my toast Sunday morning and I just need to admit "I. am. sick." And deal with it. So, I am giving in. Tucking in. And giving my body 36 hours of rest and appropriate sick-person diet.</div>
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Because, come Wednesday, I have too much to do. </div>
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(<em>No, I'm obviously not going to the doctor over a troublesome stomach bug... even if it's been four days...</em>)<em></em></div>
<br />Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-29171603651479363062014-06-15T14:46:00.002-07:002014-06-15T14:47:46.185-07:00Finding Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Me-Reclaimed-Cleveland-Kidnappings/dp/1602862567/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402862155&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+me" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Me-Reclaimed-Cleveland-Kidnappings/dp/1602862567/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402862155&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+me" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbMkOe_hoHsoae0myO72JGhZONCoYjoAHN5MM8l1nvMOY-H06GLcHVcoB3bFCaGOprqwTMV06zTwoAURqxkzZOC0YPBQRWLd0IGp44VIorf2EG_KurIQv69wd4cVbzdKHiDuGbWMLSA4K/s1600/finding+me+3.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Me-Reclaimed-Cleveland-Kidnappings/dp/1602862567/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402862155&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+me" target="_blank"><em>Finding Me,</em> by Michelle Knight</a></h3>
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We all know the story of the "Cleveland Kidnapping." The three girls kept captive in house, not far from their childhood homes, for ten years. The one, the blond, breaking free- with her child (who was far younger than ten... and all that alluded to), and her 9-1-1 call that brought freedom to the other two captives. We watched the viral remixes of Charles Ramsey, just a neighbor trying to enjoy a little McDonald's lunch on his front lawn tell cameras, <em>I knew something was wrong when a little, pretty white girl ran into a black man's arms.</em></div>
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I watched the news stories, the interviews, read the articles, and yet I was left with so many questions. How could this happen? How could this go on for ten years? The more details that were uncovered, the more confusing it became. The story was surreal. I remember commenting at one point that if it were a Lifetime movie, I wouldn't even watch it because the story was just too unbelievable. Yet, it was true.</div>
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Reading this book did not make it less confusing, it only raised more questions. Michelle Knight writes from the perspective of wanting us not to forget all those who have been abducted and/or are missing. Instead though, I think her message should more directly hit those of us who often turn a blind eye or shrug our shoulders when something just doesn't "seem right." Over ten years, how many people in that neighborhood, in that terrorist's family, had just allowed this monster's power to grow by not asking the right questions or telling the right people. How many other victims in other situations could be saved if the right person in the right place reacted to that feeling, but how often do we for fear of being wrong, for over-reacting, for offending someone?</div>
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I watched Michelle Knight's 2-day interview with Dr. Phil. For that reason, I already knew much of the story that she told in the book. Also for that reason, I could really hear her voice telling the story. Although she had a co-writer, her voice is still strong in telling her own story. There are several parts of the memoir that are emotionally tough to ingest, such as the repeatedly induced abortions. For the most part though, the specific details of abuse are generalized- chains, coldness, starvation, rape, blows to the head. At first it would appear that perhaps Knight had to emotionally detach herself from the living Hell to describe it. Further into the recounts of her time in that house with the boarded windows, gated yard, and padlocked doors though, I came to think that there is just too much to detail. For over ten years her daily routine was abuse and lying in wait for more abuse. The last book I was reading before moving to this was a Holocaust memoir. The writer stated that a time came when life became one never-ending night. That describes the life Knight details. Time was only punctuated by the sweltering heat or freezing cold of their bedroom dungeons without clothes and blankets, or time was punctuated by Christmas songs on a small radio that made her miss the two year-old left behind.</div>
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In a way the ending is anti-climatic. We, of course, know how it ended. Know she was rescued- maybe even already knew that Ariel Castro was charged with over 900 crimes and killed himself after just a few months in prison, having lived just a shadow of the life he enforced upon the three girls. There is just no way to term this a "happy" ending though- from the stolen years to the long-term effects, mentally and physically, from the years of abuse, and the trails of neglect and abuse from her family even before abduction. It is deeply sad that there was no great effort to find her- no flier, no news report, not even a call to the police- details her captor loved to remind her. It is perhaps even more sad that Knight has to come to accept that the very thought that gave her the strength to sustain the decade of torture, a reunion with her son, was a fleeting hope.</div>
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Hope, though, is the pervading tone through this memoir. Sometimes it's a whisper from the grasps of death and at other times a shout from the pages of a rescued journal. It is a story worth reading because it reminds us what it is like to be human... and the depths to which humans can fall... to be filled with hope... and to be enveloped by indescribable evil. It is near impossible to understand how both can exist in human souls.</div>
Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-2268078592039761422014-06-14T12:55:00.000-07:002014-06-17T21:27:47.941-07:00Status?<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My soul is a bit heavy with disappointment as I look back at how little I have written this school year, this new year. It's one of the many things that I didn't take the time out of the busy-ness that is life to do. A regret. The school year started rolling and the To-Do's started snowballing, and then most anything that wasn't the "Next Immediate Thing Needing My Attention" fell to the wayside. Writing was certainly on that list. I am not going to be a martyr and proclaim that I gave so much of by time-blood-sweat-tears-soul to community service that I did not have one.breathing.moment for myself. That would be a lie. I read plenty (some good books that I also regret not blogging about). I watched plenty of my Reality Junk TV ("Total Divas" - a new fave). But when it came to anything that required creative energy, such as writing- or crafting- it just didn't happen.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm not being very "creative" today either, I am afraid. "Status" is a word embedded in our family culture. I am sure its origin roots to Jason's military background. But a text simply stating "Status?" (although irritating it may be at times) can translate to a great many questions and requests for information depending on the current time and activity, such as "Where are you?" "What are we doing next?" "How long until you are home?" or even, "Are you picking up Benjamin or do I need to grab him?"</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Status too is, of course, a socially trending term due to the constant cries for its updates every time we log onto FaceBook (and some people on my newsfeed take that way too literally- updating their every.single,status, that is). So, as a fast-forward overview of the past few months, I have cheated creativity by culminating some Facebook pics and statuses that summarize the time sucks that have been my life. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Family can be a generalized term in today's society. I have my "school family" and "Relay family" and "Key Club family." There are those I have walked away from, both created family units over time and those that were genetic/biological. I only point this out to say that I purposely did not include the updates that related to the boys, because I wanted to save family reflections for another day... although these pics and blurbs do represent the many definitions of "family" in my life.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>UPDATE STATUS:</strong></span><br />
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ah-mazing Kickoff for the
2014 Keys 4a Cure Relay for Life team. Laughs, tears, cupcakes, dance mobs. I
am so very thankful to be at a place in life that I am inspired every single
day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Baltimore has been good to
us! We swept the awards & are ready to head home. Thank you to all my Key
Club alumni that helped build this legacy, Thank you to my Key Club parents
that share your children's lives with me, and Thank You to Mr. McHenry who made
endless round trips to craft stores & Wal-Mart & the school, and who
opened our home to our second family week after week and night after night to
make all this possible!</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My favorite! Key Club teaches Leaders to
fly, metaphorically... and literally!<span class="usercontent"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes a Picture is
worth... 10,000 words<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is what a Cure looks
like! Getting the youth involved in Relay will evolve into a legacy of Cancer
Fighting Super Heroes that will Finish the Fight!!! Queso, Chips & Relay
Planning on the menu today!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just starting to sort
through Relay pics and this is my favorite right now by far... This
encapsulates everything that is SoCo Relay "After Midnight!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You just won Super Bowl,
now what are you going to do? Go to Disney World!... You just finished
Relaying, now what are you going to do? Grade Greek Mythology research papers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thankful for my
well-stocked Key Club schwag closet that I could pull a coffee cup from.
Thankful for school board gifted Keurigs right about now. Going to be a late
school night ahead to make up for all the late Relay nights behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Opened my laptop tonight
and found a pile of letters from my Key Club Seniors (+1). Grrrr, dang these
kids making me get all crybaby-faced before graduation!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just a few snapshots. Memories. This doesn't, of course, begin to event step into the shadow of all that my kids are or all that they do to keep me busy. Since though, I believe it is inappropriate to friend students and am highly reserved in posting their pics on my Facebook page, here are just a few snapshots- that don't at all allude to depth of memories this year has been. </span></em></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em></em></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Unfortunately my latest Update, sans photo (because a selfie just wasn't happening) was:</span></em></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">s there such a thing as a Summer Flu? I
feel horribly sick.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Friday was the last "official" work day of the school year. If all our work was done on Friday, in lieu of coming in Saturday for graduation, we did not have to return for Monday, what the calendar denoted as the "last work day." It is not unusual for me to fall behind on the day-to-day's, but between having lots of miniscule financial details to figure out for Relay (my team of 50 kids really "nickels and dimes" their way to $10k in 4 months) and feeling ill, I got nothing done... and SO much ahead of me tomorrow. I went to bed as soon as I got home early Friday afternoon and carved myself out of the sheets Saturday morning for graduation. I am so thankful to have another teacher offer to cover my "door station" for graduation morning and I slept in the Nurse's Office right up until it was time to march in. In retrospect, I should have just called out. I missed a graduation party that was important to me and thought I would be on the mend today, two days later... instead, I just have a slew of new symptoms that have me wishing I was just feeling flu-like and sleeping the day away again instead.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is a rather ominous start to summer. A Summer "In Limbo" as usual this time of year, as I wait to learn if there are enough students enrolled in my summer school class to delay the break from school for another month.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></em><br />Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-48310943515316916082014-04-23T16:23:00.002-07:002014-04-23T16:23:10.498-07:00Trimming the Tree... and a few other things!The memories of Thanksgiving Week are so distinct, then a few weeks quickly swept by and Christmas was upon us. The week before Christmas was very busy, which of course lent to the fleeting time. Given the bounty of activities, we dubbed the week before break as "Key Club Holiday Week." Every day had some event going on, with most days actually hosting two or three... or four.<br />
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The holiday season actually started for Key Clubbers the week before as we spent the day volunteering at the Trooper Hill Toy Drive. With age, many things have come full circle in my life. This is another one of those occasions. I believe it would have been my second Christmas as a wife and mother that I found myself on the other side of the volunteer table, sitting on the bleachers at the Salvation Army's basketball gym, struggling to avoid eye contact with other girls I knew from high school, waiting to shop the free gifts for my infant son. There have been many, many Christmases since that year - some more extravagant, others still a financial struggle. They all brought me to this point though, of being able to help raise the funds and help volunteer the time to help the other mothers in a place very close to where I was twenty years ago.<br />
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During the actual "Holiday Week," we sold Candy Grams at lunch every day and took pics with the old jolly guy on Wednesday. On Monday, the Key Clubbers went back to Color Me Mine in Norfolk, which was a fundraising tradition started last year, and the kids painted piggy banks. I was a little skeptic about my "Starry Night" inspiration but I was pretty happy with how it turned out. Tuesday brought "Gingerbread Tree" making with the "Exceptional Education" students at the high school, which is a new tradition and as expected, was rewarding and great fun. On Wednesday, we had the Teacher's Luncheon and on Thursday night we had the Key Club party at Casa de McHenry. There was a lesson to be learned with Teacher's Luncheon this year, and although I readily admit my kids have plenty to teach me, I have to also admit I can be a bit too chaotic or set in my ways to always see what they offer. This year, my newer younger leaders took charge of the luncheon. It did not follow my routine. I stressed out right up until the time lunches started... and... of course, everything turned out perfectly fine. I am going to have to adjust to some new leadership styles with the young emergents. <em>This may not be easy. </em>The Christmas party was the smashing success as always. We tried a new game using crepe paper to make a team member into a Christmas tree, but kept the favored Pictionary/Just Dance/ and Make-Yer-Own-Pizza Buffet too.<br />
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The Community Cookie Exchange, in its fourth year, unfortunately was not as successful. I blame it in part to it being on the Saturday immediately following the last (full) day of school, the beautiful weather, and the custom just fading away with the older Key Club generation graduating out. We were still able to fill plenty of tins though, and Key Clubbers delivered them to the police departments, hospitals, and nursing homes on Christmas Day. We saved the firehouse for a special delivery though. Benjamin was far too entranced by the mountains of cookies to allow them to be packed away in tins without him personally sampling each and every one- much in the way he tried to sample all the party food over the holiday, taking one bite and returning it to the plate. So, we explained to him the cookies were for the firefighters for Christmas, believing this would be the most tangible image for his three year-old brain... and it worked. Over the next few days, he reminded <em>us </em>that the cookies were for the firefighters, which I think was his way of being sure he still couldn't have any. So on Christmas Day, Jason took Benjamin to the fire department and allowed him to be the one to deliver their cookies. And that was a good thing, because it pays forward the whole ideal of this tradition we are trying to build, and makes me less inspired to scrap the whole program because of one year's low turn-out.<br />
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Before I completely transition into the "Home" recollections of Christmas, I would be remiss not to mention how overwhelmingly generous my students were this year. They were my students (some former), and my Key Clubbers, but they still left me feeling rather humbled by their generosity. I have always tried to make gift bags for the boys to give to their teachers for Christmas; after the middle school years though, when kids could very well have seven different teachers, this tends to fade away though. I admit to occasionally joking to the notion of elementary teachers being the "lucky ones" or high school teachers getting "screwed" for Christmas, but they were completely and totally just jokes, and now I feel completely and totally guilty for even saying it. From bath products to candles, to candy- including a mason jar filled with only purple candy: my favorite, to stationary, a scarf, ornaments- including a personalized "Best Teacher" trophy, cards, $50 in Starbucks gift cards (<em>fifty dollars!)</em>, my kids were "giving" to the point that I almost feel guilty for "taking" (<em>almost</em>). Honestly, I didn't even know how to respond as the gifts accumulated on my desk. I felt too funny opening a gift in front of the others and I wouldn't allow myself to read the personal notes on the cards and get emotional, as I always do, in front of witnesses. Thus, I would thank the student profusely (and sincerely), then check out the goods as soon as the room cleared. My one and only crafty goal over Christmas Break is to make hand-made "Thank You" cards for each one.<br />
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Christmas on the home front was equally "successful." Yeah, I know that's a terribly superficial and capitalistic word to use, but let's admit that people aren't lining up on Black Friday to see the manger. Benjamin wanted "a camera" for Christmas. He told this to Santa, and anyone else that asked what he wanted. That is the only item that ever made it to his list. After much deliberation (ie, reading long strands of Amazon reviews), I decided to get him the Nabi. <em>I know, I know... the kid asks for a $20 camera and I buy him a $200 computer, what am I setting myself up for? </em>At first, I was going to let the camera on that suffice but then succumbed to "the guilt" and got him another camera too. When pushed for another item on the list, he came up with a rocket ship, which proved to be a lot harder to find then first imagined. Then, a couple of days before Christmas I tried to be the crafty mom and ask him "Do you want a robot?" "A Superman on a motorcycle would be cool too," totally implanting in his wee mind the toys I had already bought. He heartily agreed, adding that Superman needed "a bad guy." During the closing credits of Christmas Shopping 2013, Cameron and I found a 5-pack of Marvel Heroes and a 5-pack of Marvel Villains at Wal-Mart that were aimed to the pre-school crowd. Of course... of course, he spent the greater part of Christmas Day playing with the Super Heroes and villains... and not the $200 Android Tablet. <em>Well, at least it wasn't just the box he enjoyed playing most with, as the proverbial myth proved to be true last year.</em><br />
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Cameron was very adamant about wanting only "khakis and whitening strips," (we will save reflections of his newfound vanity for later), so I knocked out all his shopping in a few hours- toss in some bow ties and dress shirts previously requested, some jeans/underwear/t-shirts badly needed, and a movie/book/smelly stuff/and case of Chapstick. <em>(Yes, case.)</em><br />
<em></em><br />
Of all the things that stress me out about the holidays (the list is long), the one that gets me most is not knowing what to get Jason... and even moreso, not knowing what to tell him to get me. Both of those went pretty smoothly this year. He has been wishing for a "Jungle Book" DVD since Benjamin became old enough to watch movies, and thankfully Amazon <em>(I really don't use the miracle solver that is Amazon enough), </em>I was able to shrug off the Disney "locked vault" marketing nonsense and get one... along with various small kitchen gadgets (and apron) he had talked about wanting... a new computer video game (after consulting with his brother to make sure the one I bought this year actually worked on our computer, unlike last year)... and a dressy shirt that admittingly is as much (if not more) present for me than him. <br />
<br />
As far as receiving, I sent several text pics to Jason while out shopping of things I would want, their price and store. I'm not a big fan of surprises. Usually items that I suggest as far less extravagant then ideas of what Jason would choose on his own. So, the whole system worked out grandly- with items I suggested, often in abundance of the request (such as both scarves, or three sets of gold hoop earrings), still a surprise since I didn't know which of the suggestions he would take... as well as an impromptu surprise of a pretzel maker, given my affinity of "bready things."<br />
<br />
As far as the trimming...<br />
This holiday season the greatest gift I gave... to myself... was the permission to say "No." 'Learning to Say No' is a trite theme for title articles splashed across women's magazines for years now. Still, it has never proved an easy task for me. So in an effort to stave off my innate grinchiness this holiday season, I allowed myself to say no and trimmed a few things from the holiday season. The tree went up a little later than planned but well in time before festivities began... and I do really like my traditional-eclectic-mashup-up tree. The plans for getting a newer/bigger tree, as well as the plans for a Nutcracker themed tree in the dining room and the nautical themed tree in the guest bathroom were nixed (again). Sadly, the Christmas village didn't come together to celebrate the holiday or decorate the front hall. That I missed, and will make a point not to overlook next time when trimming back the hoopla. The DVD cache is filled with holiday specials for Benjamin's shows but I didn't force myself to watch any Christmas movies, other than a couple of mindless Lifetime productions on in the background while working on festivying the house. I know that sounds especially grinchy but I hate watching movies I have already watched. I hit Christmas shopping with a plan and finished quickl(ier). I slashed plans for gingerbread house making and Christmas Light parks from the To Do List and decided to just spend some time "with" the kids, "without" the agenda. And, for as much as the Key Clubbers did during yet another crazy busy month of serving & celebrating, there were still many opportunities to which I just had to say "No" or to which I took a few shortcuts to the same end goal, from pre-made pizza crusts for the party to donating two event tickets for a raffle versus the creative energy and running around needed for a charity basket.<br />
<br />
So although Christmastime didn't fit the mold of a Hallmark movie, or even a Griswald one... perhaps my Grinch heart which was "two sizes too small... grew three sizes" this holiday season... but <em>probably not.</em>Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-51615815648671885182013-12-13T21:56:00.001-08:002013-12-21T17:23:14.098-08:00How we spend our TimeI believe that you define who you are by how you choose to spend your <strong>Time</strong>. It's a simple formula to identify the priorities in your life. They are the ones that consume the most hours of your day. Those hours that you have complete freedom to dictate, beyond the hours you work, the hours you sleep.<br />
<br />
A myriad of circumstances this week have called upon me to evaluate how I spend my <strong>Time</strong>, how I define my life.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, Cameron read me a quick-write he wrote for a warm-up in health class about how he wants to be remembered. Here is an excerpt:<br />
<em>I want to be remembered for giving back to the community. I want to be remembered as the guy that was not worried about himself but cared more about those who needed help. I want to be that guy that everyone knew more about his impact on the world than his own life. I want to be remembered as the guy that gave back everything he could to the world. I would rather have people remember what I did than remember my name.</em><br />
<br />
It was one of those fulfilling moments when I felt like, whether as Mom or as McHenry, his Key Club Adviser, I must be spending the <strong>Time</strong> to 'do something right' with him.<br />
<br />
Then, last night as I was driving home from dinner with Jason, I told him that I wanted to take the <strong>Time</strong> over Christmas Break to see a lot of my former Key Clubbers while they were home from college. I have been so swept up in the busy-ness of life other chances they were home that I couldn't coordinate seeing them although they tried to make the <strong>Time</strong> for me. <br />
<br />
Ironically, right in the middle of that conversation, I received a text from one of my "formers," Jordan, that I hadn't spoken to in a while. Here is an excerpt:<br />
<em>Thought of you a lot today for some reason. It starts with a kid with a green sticker on his notebook and it congratulated him on donating blood for the first time... I wrapped up my first semester at CNU yesterday, with many changes at this place in the last week... Thanks for allowing my heart of a servant to grow during high school, because it's getting the final coats of paint here.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
It was one of those fulfilling moments when I felt the rewards for how I chose to spend my <strong>Time</strong>, not the proverbial pats on my back, but the realization that I had an influence on someone that is so giving of his <strong>Time</strong>. A college junior that when he's out past midnight, it's because he's delivering blankets to the inner city homeless sleeping in the street.<br />
<br />
Then tonight.<br />
<br />
Many of the kids embrace being a Key Clubber as how they spend their <strong>Time</strong>, how they define themselves, make it easy on me. They are eager, and hard workers, and give a public image that I am proud to stand behind. On days that teaching seems so stressful, they remind me of the great many rewards. <br />
<br />
Sometimes though, it's not so easy. I try real hard to find a niche for every single one of my kids. Some are great leaders, motivating others to get involved and be active. Some's greatest strength is rolling up their sleeves and getting the hard work done. Some are the money makers, they are the first to sell tickets for any fundraiser or to fill their banks with change to donate. <br />
<br />
Sometimes though, it's not that easy to figure out the niche. To figure out how one fits into the greater picture of what we collectively achieve. Sometimes it's hard to remember that Key Club might provide the happiest moments of their high school years. I might provide the <em>only</em> happy moments of their high school years. When they think back on their teens, I may be the first face they remember as someone who gave them my <strong>Time</strong>. I might be the <em>only</em> person.<br />
<br />
Tonight, I was reminded of this.<br />
<br />
At the school division's Christmas Party, each place setting included a small hand-written post card from random students in the county. All the ones that I saw were from elementary kids, they were vague but endearing. Brief notes of gratitudes and holiday wishes to "Staff" or "School Family," nothing too specific or personal. The one at my seat read: "Dear Staff, thank you for all you have done for us to make us so happy. We appreciate what you do for us and others. We wish you a vary, vary Merry Christmas."<br />
<br />
I'm sure there were others but I didn't see them, any written by our high schoolers or any written to specific teachers, but when the evening was over, another teacher I knew brought me one of the post cards that had adorned her table:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>The card was signed, I just though it best to obscure it for the sake of this public post.</em><br />
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It was a timely gift. For reasons that I just cannot go into on this forum, it was just the right message. At the right time. From the right person.<br />
<br />
And, I cried. Oh, how I cried. Then... I cried some more. <br />
<br />
There are many nights when I <strong>have</strong> to pause and question why I get involved with <em>this</em> or why I help with <em>that</em>. Am I doing it for the right reasons? Am I able to give what is really needed, or am I just the only person willing to do it? Is this really how I want to spend my <strong>Time</strong>?<br />
<br />
Various events this week have really caused me to pause and reflect upon those decisions once again. I am definitely not someone who is quick to say that God was trying to 'give me a sign.' Just a few weeks ago I debated a class of idealistic sophomores on the belief that 'everything happens for a reason.' <em>(I opposed that position.)</em><br />
<em></em><br />
I have to admit, tonight though, it was just a small token. But it was enough to answer the questions I had been asking myself and to show me that this is how I want to spend my Time. This is how I want to define my life.Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-70201984093050061652013-12-12T20:06:00.000-08:002013-12-12T20:14:14.377-08:00My Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Story-Elizabeth-Smart/dp/1250040159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386907050&sr=1-1&keywords=elizabeth+smart" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/My-Story-Elizabeth-Smart/dp/1250040159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386907050&sr=1-1&keywords=elizabeth+smart" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozQWlE12SnSWkkQCwhaEtLFhMISJv_hmNdDa1ArD6BjmipU2UsKyic9BjT5mKfS9dxWOVbO4lBJ5ICDlSQW8omRug8sRJxaNgzAnTd0jikgA00BfXBfb6nea1MrWY5X_zUO8enNgtehs4/s320/Smart.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Story-Elizabeth-Smart/dp/1250040159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386907050&sr=1-1&keywords=elizabeth+smart" target="_blank"><em>My Story</em> by Elizabeth Smart</a></h3>
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<br />
Like most Americans I was both intrigued and mortified by the story of Elizabeth Smart's abduction. It wasn't the first story of child kidnapping, and unfortunately, could never be the last. However, the narrative of it was far more disturbing than most stories told. Blond hair, blue eyes, just 14 years old, she was the model of the "All American girl" pulled from the bed shared with her sleeping (so it was believed at the time) sister.<br />
<br />
Eventually the story faded from the news and our minds...<br />
<br />
Until nine months later when she is discovered by the police "hiding in plain sight" as the story was often subtitled, coupled with images of veils and ramshackle tents in the woods, stories of being the destined young wife of a homeless prophet.<br />
<br />
But, she didn't want to talk. And her family respected that wish, or perhaps behind scenes, strongly encouraged it in an effort to as quickly as possible bury the story from news headlines and their lives. No interviews, no book deals, no "real" details except those pulled from the trial many years later and crafted into a producer's movie image of the experience.<br />
<br />
Until now, over ten years later when she has released the memoir of that experience. I question why now, and after reading the book, still don't have that answer. I can't help but think it's the easy answer, the money. I was rather disappointed when I saw that she was the Key Note speaker at Key Club International Convention this summer... and I couldn't go. Cameron said that while her story was amazing enough in itself, that she wasn't a very good speaker... and I would have to say his standards are pretty low.<br />
<br />
After reading her memoir, I would have to say that she's not a very good writer either. The effect of the writing style is that it comes across as from the perspective of a fourteen year old having just experienced this ordeal, which thankfully works with the narrative. However, it doesn't show the reflection and perspective that would expected ten years later. <em>I am curious as to what the person who co-wrote actually got paid to do.</em> <br />
<br />
Overshadowing the lack of writing style, perhaps directly influencing it, is the total emotional detachment. The story is written as if it happened to someone else, not the person writing about it. It is framed almost like a diary, chronicling the daily living style and overall event line of the experience. Peppered amongst it are several self-defending claims against the notion that she suffered Stockholm Syndrome, which would signify an emotional attachment to her abductors, and several statements of defense that it was in fear of her family's safety that she remained quiet when help was so often, so close. This is quite apparently an issue for her. However, considering the lack of therapy following the ordeal, she probably has yet to discover all the issues that are longstanding from the daily rapes and harsh living conditions of those nine months of her young teen years.<br />
<br />
I freely admit that my greatest point of reference of Mormonism is from the memoirs of women who escaped the fundamentalist cults loosely tied to the religion. However, one theme I see connecting many of their stories is the idea of teaching the young girls to "Stay Sweet." That is a phrase common in all there stories, the one that was used an ever-present reminder to edit their behaviors to the expected norm. When Elizabeth writes about the conversation with her mother the morning following her return home, and from her talking about that same conversation in the televised interview I watched after reading the book, I could not help but be reminded of that phrase, that mentality. Her therapy was riding horses and playing the harp. While I am sure those brought her peace and comfort, I am also sure they mainly brought her distraction. <br />
<br />
While I am no great proponent of the field of psychology, despite it being my minor, I think a few... <em>quite a few</em>... therapy sessions should have ended this chapter in her life. I appreciate the mother's point of view in that they were not going to allow the man who robbed her of nine months of her life control her thoughts and emotions for one single more day. I also like Elizabeth's perspective that out of all the months lived in her life, this experience only filled nine of them, few in comparison, so those nine shouldn't taint all the others. However, I think I think the emotional detachment she shows now is the product of that approach, not necessarily the success of it. For how many other situations in her life is this going to be the default coping mechanism? Will that be a good thing? <em>I don't know</em>...<br />
<br />
It <em>is</em> an interesting read. While it is disturbing to imagine such things can happen, such things exist, the very traits that prevent it from being literarily acclaimed do make it a more palatable read. Elizabeth does gloss over all sexual details, to the point that it makes you feel a bit perverse to wonder to what she was referring by various vague statements. The story in itself is disturbing. It doesn't rely on gratuitous graphic scenes design to hold the reader's attention. Overall though, the story of Elizabeth Smart's abduction, her time in captivity, and her ultimate discovery and return home is so far removed from the expectations of what we expect in life that it hard to remember the book is not fiction, or not just the plot of a Lifetime movie.Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-749501480645534202013-12-11T20:22:00.000-08:002013-12-21T17:26:23.374-08:00Thanksgiving Traditions?Justin came home for Thanksgiving Week. It's comforting how quickly family life can fall into routine again. Our home had adjusted to one less son, and then when he returned home, he just melted into that Justin-sized hole left in his absence. We didn't feel that void, life gets busy, life goes on, but when he returns everything just fits together as if he never left. In many ways the same son that I knew a year ago, in many ways also showing a sense of maturity and reality-adjustment that only perspective and reflection can give... not <em>too much</em> maturity though.<br />
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On one of his first nights back home, Benjamin asked Justin, "Why do you have Cameron's face?" That's an astoundingly perceptive question for his 3-year old little brain. I have occasionally noticed a shared trait between the two but I have never thought they looked alike, despite the comments of many others. I guess since Cameron has just sprouted up and changed so much physically lately, I can see it a lot more.<br />
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My sophomores read the short story "Everyday Use," by Alice Walker. The pre-writing activity is writing about a family tradition. The students often struggle over this and say that they <em>don't have</em> any family traditions. So, I tell them to just think about something they always do for the holidays. This, of course, causes me to stress and worry if our small little family has any traditions and would my boys be ones to struggle over responding to this prompt. <em>I imagine they would.</em><br />
<br />
Our Thanksgiving morning traditionally begins with the boys running the Turkey Trot 5K with the YMCA. This year, they actually walked down there themselves, food donations in tote, and ran. So, I can't really say that's much of a "family" tradition. Second to that, I would say we traditionally watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Except this year, I gave myself permission to admit that I just find the whole thing irritating. <em>Is it a parade or is it a collection of musical melodies? And do we really need commentators identifying the overly-inflated socially iconic balloons harnessed down and drug along "Fifty Shades" style?</em> No, this year I didn't need that, and just skipped the whole thing.<br />
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Does Black Friday shopping count as a family tradition? It probably shouldn't since it is the epitome of why I dread the "holiday season." If it could though, we could check that one on the Thanksgiving traditions list. We didn't get crazy about it, didn't head out until after 10 in the morning. Of course with the (much debated) beginning of "Black Friday" specials on Thanksgiving Day, it doesn't seem there were the normal early morning hour crowds and craziness.<br />
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We did a little bit of this...<br />
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And a whole lot of this...</div>
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Getting the boys new phones was first on the agenda of the day. However, it became the greater part of the entire day. After spending nearly two hours waiting in the Verizon store, we were (thankfully) told by our Associate that the phones we were looking at were $200 cheaper at Best Buy that day. The <em>really</em> sad part of the whole "adventure" was the phones we were getting were the most decent of the nondata-required models, and thus not at all the ones anyone else wanted, but yet the ones that consumed our day in wait. Case in point, when we arrived to Best Buy, there were only two models in stock. Over two hours later when we made it to the front of the line (which was <em>not</em> that long and should <em>not</em> have taken two hours), there were still two models in-stock. Of course with both boys having phones requiring duct tape to hold them together, speaker phones to call anyone, and advanced cryptology skills to decipher the texts, I was approaching the modern-aged definition of neglect, and they needed to be allowed to just <em>die</em>... the phones, not the boys.<br />
<br />
After a bit of shopping, post phone-buying-marathon, we did go see "Catching Fire." Come to think of it, the last time we did Black Friday shopping, it was to stand in line over 3 hours to buy I-pod Touches after going to see the late showing of one of the "Twilight" movies. <br />
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So, I guess the best summary of our Thanksgiving traditions is prolonged shopping to buy mildly outdated technology coupled with Hollywood's raping of young adult literature?Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-75808338716155343022013-11-28T20:40:00.000-08:002013-12-21T17:38:13.176-08:00Thankful.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I'd like to think I am a grateful person. <br />
<br />
I have saved every note or card given to me by a student (<em>even the one by a German exchange student that said after taking my journalism class, she knew she didn't want to be a newspaper reporter anymore</em>).<br />
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The greatest moment of kindness in my life was eleven years ago. I was at CNU, about an hour from home, and as I was walking to the car at the end of the day, I was struck with such a wave of sickness that I had to lay down and rest before I could even begin to drive home. Then, I had to take several more rests from driving to nap before I could make it home. I went to the doctor the next day and he said I had the flu and pneumonia. I had/have never been so sick in my life. I had to drive myself to the hospital for a chest x-ray. I remember sitting in the car in the parking lot, just about to get out of the car, and I sneezed. It made my head swim with such dizziness that it took several minutes to recover. Eventually I made it through the bureaucratic process of hospital administrations and onto the x-ray table. The tech that was taking the pictures brought a cold washcloth and laid it across my forehead. Have you seen one of those movie moments when angels descend to earth, all aglow, and lay their hands on a mortal. Yeah, it was like that- an ethereal experience. It is bringing tears to my eyes right now to write about it... and making me realize just a little how sad it may be that one act of kindness eleven years ago meant so much.<br />
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I believe in Random Acts of Kindness. On the day last week that I received flowers for Teacher of the Month (<em>yay me! I really avoiding giving myself the kudos on that, as pointed out by a reader... so kudos to me!</em>), I also left a <a href="http://www.seedsofhappiness.com/" target="_blank">Seed of Happiness</a> in a co-worker's mailbox.<br />
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Check out the website if you want to more about them; it's a great story. Basically, it's a random token gift to bring a smile to someone's face. I saw a display of them last year and bought a bunch at Hallmark. I received far greater satisfaction from the co-worker's anonymously thankful comment on Facebook than the flowers sitting in my room for a week. <em>Though it was nice to get flowers...</em><br />
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Perhaps though, I don't recognize the every day, every moment reasons to be grateful. <br />
Thankful. <br />
Happy.<br />
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I dread November on Facebook. Worse than all the Pinkness of October... and cryptic messages about where we hang our purse... to promote Breast Cancer Awareness, are those dreadful "Thankful" lists that emerge in November. Every day for the month of November people post about what they are thankful for, from loved ones to coffee & chocolate, soft beds & warm blankets, to the simple act of waking up to live a new day. Well, I find the whole practice to be irritating and self-serving. If you lived a life of gratitude, do you need to proclaim it on Facebook for all to see what a loving and appreciative person you are? Does that give you the ticket to not feel thankful for those same things the other eleven months of the year? Do the very people that receive your accolades of gratitude on a social forum of an anonymous million, feel that from you every day? <br />
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I have always thought it would be much easier to make a month-long list of things that irked me for 30 days. I think it would be much more entertaining to read too. That would not be very holiday-oriented of me though, would it? Heh... <br />
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So, I decided at some point earlier this month, that I would challenge myself on Thanksgiving Day in this much smaller forum in a more condensed fashion to determine the 30 things in my life that I am most thankful for.<br />
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1. <strong>I am thankful for Second Chances</strong>, that we live in a society that allowed me to pick up and move into a new life- new husband, new home, new town, new career. The "me" I am today is a very different person than the "me" I was in my 20s.<br />
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2. <strong>I am thankful for Military Insurance</strong>. There are many benefits to Jason's military career but with his health issues over the past several months, I have felt the tangible benefit of health insurance- free and for a lifetime.<br />
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3. <strong>I am thankful for my Resolve</strong>, that I didn't live to repeat the cycle of dysfunction and abuse that defined my childhood; that even though it took too long into my adult years, I gave myself permission to divorce my family roots.<br />
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4. <strong>I am thankful for a Husband who likes to cook and lets others know how proud he is to have me for a wife. </strong>I wasted too many years of my life with someone embarrassed by me and not realizing I was too worthwhile to endure that. As far as cooking, I don't know how it evolved to this point- but the more I hated cooking, the more he enjoyed it, and the balance is working out well for our family right now.<br />
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5. <strong>I am thankful for my life as a Teacher. </strong>It was my dream deferred, one that I never thought the chances in life were going to line up and support, but eventually they did. And it was the right time for it, after over 35 jobs during my 20s, it is near impossible to believe I am in my 10th year of teaching... in the same school even.<br />
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6. <strong>I am thankful for my School Administration. </strong>I have certainly had my stressful years and my low years when I was unsure of what the next one would hold for me, by my choice or not. However, I have grown to a place with those people I work for that makes me feel like a valued and integral part of the school system. I feel a tangible support in everything that I do, every day.<br />
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7. <strong>I am thankful for Co-Workers who feel teaching is their privilege and not burden</strong>. Namely, I am thankful for Angela, our new English teacher, who I would like to call my first Mentee, but who has taught me just as much as I could ever teach her. It has been a long time since I have worked closely with who someone shared my student-centered views on teaching. She enriches our Department and improves the entire school. I am thankful for the other teachers too that take engaging approaches to teaching, that have stories about their students to tell me because they simply love their job... or just don't ask me "How long until Friday?" every. time. I. pass. them. in. the. hall.<br />
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8. <strong>I am thankful for my Students. </strong>I truly believe that every single one of students has something to teach me. In some cases, their lesson may be more important than what they learn from the 90 days of mine. Unfortunately though too, I know many of those chances to learn from my students are lost to class sizes and curriculums. I am extremely thankful for the students that I am able to teach for two years and really see their growth in writing skills and just how they view the world. It validates my efforts. Those are the very same students that often influence how I see the world too.<br />
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9. <strong>I am thankful for the Key Club. </strong>There is a line in a praise song, "This is the air I breathe." When I think of my Key Clubbers, that is how I feel. Few people in this life are given the chance to learn their purpose, to see their legacy. I am one of the lucky ones. Most days I think I will retire from teaching high school. Some days I think I will move back to publishing or forward to teaching at the college level. Whichever path my life winds through, I am certain that I will forever seek opportunities to work with youth in volunteer service.<br />
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10. <strong>I am thankful for Former Students. </strong>Honestly, #9 can be broken down to a list of 30+ gratitudes all on its own. For now, I will only break away this one. I am thankful for Amanda, Leannah, Jordan, Jessica, Grace, Ashley, Christian, Kristen, and several others who let me know how important Key Club was to them, who let me think I had just a little influence on the amazing young men and women they have become, who remind me that it is worth the time, the frustrations, the effort.<br />
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11. <strong>I am thankful for books.</strong> A good book is one that you are as equally anxious to see as it ends as you are regretful that the end has come. I am thankful for those.<br />
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12. <strong>I am thankful to be a Home Owner. </strong>Childhood nights spent in the spare rooms of relatives and friends. Early adult years spent in a homeless shelter, a motel, an attic of a church member, in a roach-infested duplex. I am thankful not just to be in "a home." I <em>have</em> been in "a home" most nights of my life, but that this being the first home that had my name on the deed is big and beautiful and newly refurbished... and unique and quirky.<br />
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13. <strong>I am thankful for my car. </strong>(<em>I know this is starting to sound superficial</em>.) Most cars in my life were chosen for me. I had to find a dealership that would work with me and then pick among the ones I could afford on their lot. When it came time to buy my most recent car, which was actually nine years ago, I knew the specific car I wanted and went shopping for it. Now it has over 120,000 miles on it and has not cost me any money in unplanned maintenance. It did not even need new brakes until this year. The current plan is to give it to Cameron for college and I will buy a new one, but the truth is I'm a little hesitant to let it go.<br />
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14. <strong>I am thankful for life's unexpected surprise that is Benjamin. </strong>I always thought I wanted a third child, but Jason did not. I thought we needed "our" own child to truly define a marriage. Then there was this very distinct moment probably about five years into our marriage when I passed my reflection in the mirror one day and told it that we were done with babies. Life was entering a new phase when the boys were old enough to be home alone for an undetermined amount of time and it was a pretty great phase to be in... now, like when unexpected things often happen, I cannot imagine a life any different than the one that delivered me a newborn at 39.<br />
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15. <strong>I am thankful for my Health. </strong>There is no one that is going to look at me and think "healthy." Obviously I have issues to address. However, in the grand scheme of living life, mine has been pretty healthy. My only surgery has been a cyst drainage. I have never broke anything, had any major or long-term disease. My biggest battle is eye allergies. I have encountered so many people, so recently in life- those younger, those healthier- dealing with so. much. more.<br />
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16. <strong>I am thankful for Technology. </strong>Being part of the 80s generation saddled between staying up for all night talks stretched to the couch with the long winded cord from the wall phone to brief text conversations with a phone shoved in my pocket, I have first-hand experienced the shifts in society from ovens to microwaves, from TV Guides to DVRs. I know the benefits and conveniences of technology, and I am thankful.<br />
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17. <strong>I am thankful Justin asked to come for Thanksgiving. </strong>No, he doesn't have to "ask" to come home but I am glad that he sought out the opportunity to come home for a week. I won't use the trite phrase "Tough Love," but when unexpected turns took his life off-course, he fell into a holding phase that he had to just be kicked out of. And, he's still figuring it out, but things are looking much better.<br />
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18. <strong>I am thankful for Cameron's sense of inclusiveness. </strong>I would worry at times that Cameron didn't have friends. He could be an awkward child. I learned my lesson with Justin and just stayed out of his social life and let him make his own decisions, his own mistakes. Now that he is in high school I see that it is not friends he is lacking, but a clique... and that is not a bad thing. He considers everyone a friend, and treats everyone as a friend... even when that can be a very irritating thing.<br />
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19. <strong>I am thankful for Night Skies and Roaring Oceans</strong> and other majesties of nature that remind me how insignificant we are and how temporal life is. I could never live too far from the ocean, even though I rarely visit it, I just need to know that I <em>can</em>. And some of my favorite memories with the boys are laying outside during the early morning hours to watch meteor showers.<br />
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20. <strong>I am thankful for Dishwashers, Washers and Dryers. </strong>This is our first home with a dishwasher. <em>Oy vey! Welcome to the 20th century!</em> I spent childhood hanging out laundry to dry (into stiff sheets of fabric during cold weather) and had far too many visits to the Laundromat in my early adult years.<br />
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21. <strong>I am thankful for uncontrollable outbursts of Laughter. </strong>Let's face it, I'm a bit of a cynic. So when something takes me by surprise that I can't help but laugh about, it's a good thing. <br />
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22. <strong>I am thankful for Relay for Life. </strong>Cancer is a beast. Its scars are visible on its victims and the families of those victims. No one is outside of its grasp. It paints a scary world to live in, but through Relay I am able to help empower hundreds of people in our community, many within our own school, to thinking they can do something. From scooping spaghetti, to washing cars, to doing the Wobble on a Relay field at midnight, they can raise the money to provide the services and research to conquer this beast. It is all we can do... but it is a lot.<br />
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23. <strong>I am thankful for my freedom. </strong>I know that sounds trite, but I mean it with sincerity. I spent half of Jason's military career with him. Our family knows first-hand the costs of freedom paid by our military men and women, and their families. I am thankful for every single one of them. There is no single more tangible feeling of freedom than a military Homecoming following deployment. I am thankful for every one I was able to experience and only wish we could have did it together for the full twenty years.<br />
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24. <strong>I am thankful for People who are Good at their Jobs. </strong>Sofrina, my favorite barista at Starbucks. Amy, our favorite waitress at Applebee's. Tommy, who manages our car repair shop. Jason and I often have a conversation about the myth we feed children that the goal of every one of them should be to go to college and get a white-collared job. We, as a society, devalue so many jobs, yet we could not function as a society without the people to do them. I make a conscious effort to show my appreciation to anyone that has an optimistic and responsible work ethic, from our custodians at work to the girls at the drive-thru window.<br />
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25. <strong>I am thankful for Reality Television. </strong><em>(Ha! I know some folks expected to see that one!) </em>It is my drug of choice. It is my guilty pleasure. Project Runway, Real Housewives of New York City, Dance Moms, Extreme Cheapskates, Million Dollar Shoppers, America's Next Top Model, Snooki & JWow, the list goes on- anything that doesn't involve alligators or long beards. <br />
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26. <strong>I am thankful for Office Supplies. </strong><em>Seriously. </em>The way some women have that stereotypical genetic predisposition to shoe addictions<em> (missing that!),</em> I'm like that with office supplies. If I were to win a limitless gift card to any store of my choice, it would be a hard toss-up between Barnes & Noble and Office Max... although, Barnes & Noble would win because they do carry a limited amount of office supplies. Pens for color-coded agendas, journals with inspirational or quirky covers, funny folders, most of which I will never use but fill my closets and filing cabinets, I. must. have.<br />
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27. <strong>I am thankful for the perfectly carbonated Diet Coke. </strong><em>Again, yes, seriously. </em>A poorly carbonated fountain Diet Coke can ruin my day just as quickly as one well-balanced in carbonation can make my day a little better.<br />
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28. <strong>I am thankful for Days when I have Absolutely Nothing To Do after coming home from school. </strong>These days are rare and treasured. No pressing household needs. No school work or Key Club or Relay to-do's. Just my bed, lap-top (not for work), television, and Benjamin snuggles.<br />
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29. <strong>I am thankful for the Gift of Animals. </strong>I wish I could be a pescatarian, but am not. I don't feel guilty for eating seafood but am riddled with guilt when I think about the meat I do eat. I love all animals. All except the occasional insect. I am filled with joy to come home and see a wild rabbit in the yard, and will just sit in the car and watch it for a while. <em>Wow, that sounds corny, but it is true.</em> Zoos make me sad, and hunting season even more sad.<br />
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30. <strong>I am thankful for Moments of Calm. </strong>My life is bordered by stress. I have an ongoing internal dialogue filling my mind with chatter. Prattle. I mute the television during commercials and rarely listen to music because the influx of information, in addition to my internal dialogue planning the next event, the next day, the next few minutes is just too much to work with. So, those rare moments when life is just calm, my mind is just calm, I am thankful.<br />
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Ok, confession... this list wasn't so easy. I found myself walking away from it a few times and having to come back. I don't think it's because I'm not a grateful person <em>(the lady doth protest too much?) </em>but that doing it in this format was hard because it called for much bigger umbrella examples (<em>not that I am claiming in any manner these are all gratitudes of great or equal worth) </em>rather than a lot of the small or immediate things that you think to note when doing it daily.<br />
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That, of course, causes me to begrudgingly admit that those expressing their gratitudes daily have a purpose... <em>however, I still don't think it needs to be publicly broadcasted, on a schedule, highlighted during one month of the year.</em>Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-63880222727388922062013-11-27T21:20:00.000-08:002013-11-27T21:20:42.779-08:00 A Grinchy Krank... or a Kranky Grinch?As the first day of Thanksgiving Break comes to a close, I have to say that this holiday season isn't kicking off as I had planned.<br />
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Following my abbreviated summer, I promised myself not to bring home work for Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, and really enjoy the time away from a classroom. Yeah... anyone that knows me in the least knows how that plan ended. Let's put it this way, we were unable to take my car to dinner last night because three of us could not fit in my four-door station wagon due to the amount of school stuff... stuffed in there.<br />
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I was a bit out of sorts yesterday and couldn't get into the swing of my routine to line up the day as I wanted, which would have helped in bringing home less work. First, was just some of the teenage drama that is occasionally expected of being immersed into high school life, but secondly Benjamin was at home sick. I was getting updates and pics from Jason at the doctor's office throughout the day as they gave him breathing treatments (his smoke-breathing dragon mask) and ruled out asthma - pneumonia - bronchitis...<br />
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There are moments in life when you are reminded how distinctly motherhood has changed you. Diving beneath your toddler with cupped hands to catch his vomit would rank high on that list of moments... each of the three times I did it last night.<br />
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The long-standing plan had been to take the boys and a friend to see "Catching Fire" today. Not knowing what Benjamin's condition would be today though, those plans got changed because I didn't want to leave town.<br />
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Jason and I grabbed breakfast at Fred's, where he told me how much he would like to get the house set up for Christmas this weekend... ... ... I haven't mentioned lately how much I hate the holidays (<em>Doesn't count</em>).<br />
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Justin is in town for Thanksgiving week. One of our primary goals during his visit here was to get his driver's license straight. We went to DMV today and found out it would be a pretty easy feat to accomplish... if we only had one more day. They are not open tomorrow or the next day for the Thanksgiving holiday. When did the Friday after Thanksgiving become a state-observed holiday? Grrr! Of course, this issue could have been easily solved too if we had went one of the past two days, but Monday was Key Club commitments x 3 until 7:30 at night, and Tuesday everything was thrown completely out of routine with a sick Benjamin. So, unless Justin's schedule will allow him to stay through Monday, this might be an issue left unresolved.<br />
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On a more productive, less stressful note... I did watch a couple of movies <em>(that's the less stressful, not productive part of the day).</em><br />
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"The Internship" was an interesting look into the world of Google. While free cafes, Quidditch intramural games, and nap pods may make it one of the most desirable and competed-for employers, I just cannot imagine I would be productive in that environment. I need absolute quiet and no disruptions in order to get "real" work done.</div>
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"The To Do List" was set in the post-graduation summer of 1993, which was only a few years after my own high school years. So, the nostalgic nod to lots of music and icons from my teens years was <em><strong>totally awesome</strong></em>. However, the extremely vulgar sexual nature upon which the whole movie was centered was a bit over the top, especially to watch with the boys, of legal age to watch rated R movies though they may be.</div>
Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718435470094939783.post-21590688481083729282013-11-23T20:49:00.001-08:002013-11-30T21:03:34.147-08:00Just Dance.Let me share Thursday's events, which preceded this particular event and can perhaps shed a little backlight on the situation... Wednesday night some of my Key Clubbers helped the high school's Teen Library Council with a program at the county library. I stopped by to take some pictures and show my support, as I try to do for any of the events other school groups have for our kids. <br />
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Fast forward to Thursday evening, following Movie Night with the Key Clubbers when I am sitting in a restaurant with Jason and thumbing through Facebook on my phone<em> (romantic, I know)</em>. I see that the librarian has linked a page of event pictures to her Facebook, so I flip through those. And. there. I. am. I am highly skilled and extremely talented at detecting and deflecting any camera in my vicinity. I have been this way for a long (LONG) time. I joined the Yearbook Staff in high school for the main purpose of making sure my photo appeared nowhere other than the mandatory mug shots. In my ten years of teaching at the high school, I'm pretty sure I only managed to endure three photo day pics. This, was not one of those years.<br />
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There are people who don't like to have their pictures taken... and there are folks who just can't take a good pic. I am both of those people... but so SO much more. I am not one to exaggerate medical (or psychological) conditions, quite the opposite. I am very quick to minimize and ignore them. However, I think it is quite possible that I have true blue panic attacks about having my picture taken or seeing my picture when I can't avoid it. Thursday night at the restaurant after seeing the unexpected picture, which I didn't even realize was taken, I began to hyperventilate. I had to talk myself through calm breathing and try not to look to psychotic in public... or before Jason, who just wouldn't understand. He doesn't like his picture taken but thinks my response is over-reactive. But I just can't help it. I have cursed at elderly family members that wouldn't stop pointing cameras at me. I have avoided attending events that I know would have cameras flashing. <br />
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Is it a weight thing? Sure. But it's not "just" that. I have been this way for a long time. In the last ten years I have voluntarily posed for a casual picture far less than 10 times. Each time was so hard for me that I remember the details succinctly. If I were to die soon, <em>yes I know how melodramatic that sounds but I am making a point</em>... my children would have not pictures to remember me by. And? I'm FINE with that. Perfectly fine with it. I have toyed with the idea of making 2014 the year I overcome my Fotografizophobia (<em>yes, I just Googled that... and the first listing was a Social Anxiety Disorder forum</em>...).<br />
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The thought of addressing it, even though at a later date, is causing me to feel a little nauseous now, so let's move on....<br />
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Friday night, following our Red Cross Blood Drive <em>(yes, it was a busy week)</em>, the Key Clubbers were guests at Zuni Presbyterian Homes for a Thanksgiving Dinner & Dance.<br />
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The older Cameron grows, the more differences I see between him and Justin. One thing they definitely have in common though is their ability to dance.<br />
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At Friday night's dance, I told Cameron they must have "got it from somewhere." While I was being facetious, I did love to dance. I so(!) loved to dance. I don't think I missed a single dance from junior high through Senior year. I had no qualms about jumping on stage and shaking my booty. And once I could get into clubs, I found every chance I could to go and hit the dance floor. As long as I could just drag one friend along with me (<em>I wasn't that much of an exhibitionist</em>), I didn't care if we were the only two on the floor all night long.</div>
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I guess it was post-married life that the chances to lose it all on the dance floor came fewer and farther between... until they just no longer existed. Don't get me wrong... I have zero delusions that I was ever good at dancing. Ever. But I just didn't care. It was fun and I enjoyed it and that was always enough. I never learned any of the line dances, not even the <em>Electric Slide</em>. I always told myself I would go on Youtube and figure out how to do it before the next school dance, but I didn't. I think I could get out there on the floor with the kids and have some fun doing that... but actually would be too self-conscious learning it on the dance floor, or not looking like I knew what I was doing, in general. </div>
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It is something far greater than the fear of feeling self-conscious in front of the kids that stops me... it's the fear of their... social media.</div>
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I was reading, took a break but will be going back, to a memoir called "I Dare Me" about a woman who tried something new every day for a full year. Why it wouldn't technically be "something new," I was really channeling the things she wrote about- what she got from the experiences- to try to knock down some of the barriers I built around myself and enjoy myself Friday night. I do not think I will ever be presented with a less judgmental atmosphere to enjoy myself dancing. The mentally-challenged adults who are the residents at the facility certainly were not that interested in my "moves." As far as the kids there, I have to allow myself to think as far as "my" kids go, they are a group that respects me enough that they wouldn't take videos of me dancing and post on-line. But they might... So I couldn't...</div>
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Last song was called, <em>The YMCA</em>, and I nestled myself into a tight group and had some fun on the dance floor. It was short-lived but brought back some of those liberating free-spirited times of years before. I think I need to find ways to embrace chances at those moments more...</div>
Shellie McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967506293117885256noreply@blogger.com0