Last week in Andrew's meditation class, the instructor read a book called Have You Filled A Bucket Today . The book is about happiness and how we carry around an invisible bucket with our feelings. It is meant to encourage kindness by filling up other people's buckets with positive words. For my Andrew, I see it as a way to help him build empathy, which is so often lacking in people on the Autism Spectrum.
I decided to create a tradition out of this. I ordered the book and bought a couple of little buckets (remnants of Easter stuff). For the past couple of days, Andrew and I have been filling each others buckets up with loving words and kindness. Plus, he's practicing writing complete sentences, because I am not allowed to see what he's writing ahead of time. He giggles with delight at each note and his ability to show love has just been exploding lately.
I'm a pretty happy mom.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
A New Task
Because I have too much free time, I've taken on the task of handling the PR for a major fund raising effort for my school district. My friend John has decided to climb Mt. Denali in order to raise money for student activities, such as my Student Council. My bucket list would include climbing a mountain, but I'm afraid that my spinal osteoporosis has nixed that idea. Therefore, I shall both help John in his endeavor and live vicariously through him. Should you be a regular reader here, please check out this post for more information. I promise that more is coming.
http://climbingforsuccess.blogspot.com/2011/04/aint-no-mountain-high-enough.html
http://climbingforsuccess.blogspot.com/2011/04/aint-no-mountain-high-enough.html
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Glenn Tilbrook - Evanston April 4
Last night I fed my need for a Glenn Tilbrook/Squeeze fix. My girlfriend Laurie and I drove to Evanston, Illinois to catch an acoustic show from Glenn at a venue called Space. We both took the day off and Laurie drove.
The GPS on her phone eventually took us along Lakeshore Drive and needless to say, we grew envious of the vibrancy that emanated from every pore of Chicago. We arrived at our hotel before the room was available and our stomachs rumbling for food. Luckily, there was a pub directly across. It was called Tommy Nevin's and it will crop up later in my story. From lunch, we walked three blocks into the shopping district and looked for the venue. We also stopped in a jewelry shop. I bought a swish pair of sterling silver hoop (large) earrings and Laurie bought a beautiful necklace. The time told us it was finally time to check in at the hotel, so we walked back.
I showered and read while Laurie napped. Finally, it was time to head out for dinner and then to the show. We chose to eat at Union Pizzeria, which is attached to the show venue. We dined on a delicious thin crust pizza with basil pesto, broccoli, red onion, sun-dried tomato, and goat cheese. Yummy! No time or room for dessert, the doors were opening and we had general admission tickets.
We wandered to the first row on the right of the stage. Our seats placed us in a way that we would have to watch Glenn's backside for the whole show. I chatted with the couple next to us, Adam and Olga, and then Glenn came on.
He started with an explanation that United had lost his luggage and his two guitars. He then launched into a delightful 25 minute set that went as follows:
1. Monkey Up the Tree
2. Take Me I'm Yours
3. This is Where You Ain't
4. Chatline Larry (apparently about one of his oldest boys and his phone habits)
5. Wild World (covering that great Cat Stevens songs)
6. Tongue Like a Knife
7. Oh Well
8. Vanity Fair
9. If I Didn't Love You
10. Untouchable
11. Harper Valley PTA
12. Introvert
13. Another Nail
14. Good-bye Girl (on electric guitar with assistance on the acoustic from a guy in the audience)
15. Cool for Cats (delivered in a droll, spoken word manner)
16. Best of Times
17. Tempted
18. Some Fantastic Place
19. Is That Love?
20. Vicky Verky
21. The Truth
22. Annie, Get You Gun
23. Up the Junction
24. Slap and Tickle
25. Pulling Mussels
End of show - just wonderful. As always, he came out and chatted to everyone. I told him that I was coming to England to see the Rochester Castle show. I posed for pictures and then, we left. Happily, the night doesn't end here.
We returned to our hotel and quickly decided to grab a drink at the pub across the street, Tommy Nevins. We take a seat, grab drinks, and who walks (now with his luggage) into the bar? Glenn and an old friend. Glenn turns and sees me, comes over, asks what we're drinking, and invites us to an empty table that is larger than our table. Over the next two hours, we chat, throw popcorn at each other (he could catch it, I could not), drink, and laugh. Someone gave him a gift bag that include a large hollow chocolate thing and a small metal mallet to crack it open. Out tumbled more chocolate delights that no one wanted. When asked what he was going to do with the hammer, he had no clue. I urged him to pull a Spinal Tap with it, which elicited a big laugh.
He had to get up the next morning at 7 to fly to New York, so we parted company around 1:00 a.m. It was a great night.
The GPS on her phone eventually took us along Lakeshore Drive and needless to say, we grew envious of the vibrancy that emanated from every pore of Chicago. We arrived at our hotel before the room was available and our stomachs rumbling for food. Luckily, there was a pub directly across. It was called Tommy Nevin's and it will crop up later in my story. From lunch, we walked three blocks into the shopping district and looked for the venue. We also stopped in a jewelry shop. I bought a swish pair of sterling silver hoop (large) earrings and Laurie bought a beautiful necklace. The time told us it was finally time to check in at the hotel, so we walked back.
I showered and read while Laurie napped. Finally, it was time to head out for dinner and then to the show. We chose to eat at Union Pizzeria, which is attached to the show venue. We dined on a delicious thin crust pizza with basil pesto, broccoli, red onion, sun-dried tomato, and goat cheese. Yummy! No time or room for dessert, the doors were opening and we had general admission tickets.
We wandered to the first row on the right of the stage. Our seats placed us in a way that we would have to watch Glenn's backside for the whole show. I chatted with the couple next to us, Adam and Olga, and then Glenn came on.
He started with an explanation that United had lost his luggage and his two guitars. He then launched into a delightful 25 minute set that went as follows:
1. Monkey Up the Tree
2. Take Me I'm Yours
3. This is Where You Ain't
4. Chatline Larry (apparently about one of his oldest boys and his phone habits)
5. Wild World (covering that great Cat Stevens songs)
6. Tongue Like a Knife
7. Oh Well
8. Vanity Fair
9. If I Didn't Love You
10. Untouchable
11. Harper Valley PTA
12. Introvert
13. Another Nail
14. Good-bye Girl (on electric guitar with assistance on the acoustic from a guy in the audience)
15. Cool for Cats (delivered in a droll, spoken word manner)
16. Best of Times
17. Tempted
18. Some Fantastic Place
19. Is That Love?
20. Vicky Verky
21. The Truth
22. Annie, Get You Gun
23. Up the Junction
24. Slap and Tickle
25. Pulling Mussels
End of show - just wonderful. As always, he came out and chatted to everyone. I told him that I was coming to England to see the Rochester Castle show. I posed for pictures and then, we left. Happily, the night doesn't end here.
We returned to our hotel and quickly decided to grab a drink at the pub across the street, Tommy Nevins. We take a seat, grab drinks, and who walks (now with his luggage) into the bar? Glenn and an old friend. Glenn turns and sees me, comes over, asks what we're drinking, and invites us to an empty table that is larger than our table. Over the next two hours, we chat, throw popcorn at each other (he could catch it, I could not), drink, and laugh. Someone gave him a gift bag that include a large hollow chocolate thing and a small metal mallet to crack it open. Out tumbled more chocolate delights that no one wanted. When asked what he was going to do with the hammer, he had no clue. I urged him to pull a Spinal Tap with it, which elicited a big laugh.
He had to get up the next morning at 7 to fly to New York, so we parted company around 1:00 a.m. It was a great night.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Early jobs
Earlier today, I did a really goofy thing. I conducted a FB search for a guy on whom I had a tremendous crush like 16 years ago. I don't know what gets into me sometimes. He lived at an apartment complex where I was a leasing agent, just before I became a teacher. We both liked each other, but other than one make out session, it didn't go very far. I think he was seriously involved with somebody.
It got me thinking about all those early jobs I held before I dived into my career. That job as a leasing agent was the absolute best for a 25 year single woman. I met several men and ended up with two boyfriends because of this job. I had an active social life, hanging out with the young professionals who lived there. We went to the bar, played beach volleyball; I had a blast.
I'm wondering what early job did you have that, in retrospect, was the right job to have at that moment in your life?
It got me thinking about all those early jobs I held before I dived into my career. That job as a leasing agent was the absolute best for a 25 year single woman. I met several men and ended up with two boyfriends because of this job. I had an active social life, hanging out with the young professionals who lived there. We went to the bar, played beach volleyball; I had a blast.
I'm wondering what early job did you have that, in retrospect, was the right job to have at that moment in your life?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
An education beyond school walls
I have been a Student Council adviser for all 15 years of my teaching career. In my darkest moments, my contact with Student Council members has been the only thing that kept me in the teaching profession. Along with my students, one organization has most profoundly assisted me as an adviser, Michigan Association of Student Council/Honor Societies. Through this wonderful organization, I have met many dedicated adults and students, all striving to make their schools better places. The conferences offered by MASC/MAHS gave my students the necessary training to be better organizers, better leaders. Given that I teach full time, I never have time to train my kids they way these conferences do.
For the first few years of my career, it seems that we always had money to send students to all conferences, including the expensive State Conference in Traverse City. Hamtramck High School's Student Council was even climbing into the well-recognized status. We hosted conferences, we presented at conferences, we won awards. Then, the money dried up and I became a mom and my time dried up. Needless to say, both Student Council and I have suffered from some serious doldrums lately.
This year has been different. I have a group of amazing seniors, in particular my Executive Board. I love them like they are my own daughters. They are driven, creative, and smart young ladies. Earlier in the year, they devised a plan to raise money for both us and a charity. They made buttons and called them "A-wear-ness" buttons. I won't go into all the details, but it was a rip roaring success.
These wonderful young women decided to present this idea at the MASC/MAHS Regional Connect Conference we attended today. Presentations from the eight regional conferences would be chosen to present at the state conference. Unsurprising to me, my girls were invited to present at States. The other students who went (a grand total of ten) also want to go because they caught that Leadership Beat. Not counting transportation, I now need to insure that we raise $2500 by March 25th.
Okay friends, both virtual and real - I need your help. I am tired of not taking my kids on these trips. I am tired of missed opportunities. I want a little cushion (who doesn't, right). If you feel so inclined, please help us hit this monetary goal. Yes, we plan on collecting as many cans as we can between now and then. We plan on hitting Hamtramck businesses. But you can help. Five dollars, ten dollars, any amount you can afford would be greatly appreciated.
Leave a comment here, and we can figure out how your donation can get to us. Or leave me a message at FB. My real identity is not stealthily hidden. The kids and I would greatly appreciate it.
For the first few years of my career, it seems that we always had money to send students to all conferences, including the expensive State Conference in Traverse City. Hamtramck High School's Student Council was even climbing into the well-recognized status. We hosted conferences, we presented at conferences, we won awards. Then, the money dried up and I became a mom and my time dried up. Needless to say, both Student Council and I have suffered from some serious doldrums lately.
This year has been different. I have a group of amazing seniors, in particular my Executive Board. I love them like they are my own daughters. They are driven, creative, and smart young ladies. Earlier in the year, they devised a plan to raise money for both us and a charity. They made buttons and called them "A-wear-ness" buttons. I won't go into all the details, but it was a rip roaring success.
These wonderful young women decided to present this idea at the MASC/MAHS Regional Connect Conference we attended today. Presentations from the eight regional conferences would be chosen to present at the state conference. Unsurprising to me, my girls were invited to present at States. The other students who went (a grand total of ten) also want to go because they caught that Leadership Beat. Not counting transportation, I now need to insure that we raise $2500 by March 25th.
Okay friends, both virtual and real - I need your help. I am tired of not taking my kids on these trips. I am tired of missed opportunities. I want a little cushion (who doesn't, right). If you feel so inclined, please help us hit this monetary goal. Yes, we plan on collecting as many cans as we can between now and then. We plan on hitting Hamtramck businesses. But you can help. Five dollars, ten dollars, any amount you can afford would be greatly appreciated.
Leave a comment here, and we can figure out how your donation can get to us. Or leave me a message at FB. My real identity is not stealthily hidden. The kids and I would greatly appreciate it.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Random thoughts while contempleting snow and loss
I've spent the last two days in Florida. Yesterday, I went through pictures and scanned a few. I'm struck by how often my father and his cousins and their parents gathered for family gatherings and parties. There were also tons of pictures from family vacations.
This lead me to a conversation I had on-line with a friend last night. I mentioned that my family took only three family vacations, along with a handful of short weekend trips. He mentioned that is wasn't really unusual to look back at this moment in my life and maybe look for some truth or to even question my own memory. I responded that I am far more interested in looking for the present truth.
That sounds mildly profound, but also pretentious. Does it have any meaning?
In this time of sorrow, I find myself missing my son, my friends, and the snow. I'm missing out on a collective experience, a memory that they'll share. Here, we've been sitting around my mom's house, staring at the television, clearing bookshelves, closets. My dad has been cremated, so there's no funeral. It's the bustle in the house that Emily Dickinson writes about. This is an odd feeling. I expected something different. I don't know what I expected. What truth do I derive out of this?
Looking at the pictures, examining the hundreds of recipes that my father typed up for me, and parsing my feelings, I am going to take away the truth that I want my house full of people for dinners, games, and laughs. I want my gas tank full of gas, and train/plane tickets in my hand to see the world. These are the truths from the past that I want to drive my present. I want bright, vivid memories, for myself and Andrew. So far, I haven't done such a good job. I'll have to try harder.
This lead me to a conversation I had on-line with a friend last night. I mentioned that my family took only three family vacations, along with a handful of short weekend trips. He mentioned that is wasn't really unusual to look back at this moment in my life and maybe look for some truth or to even question my own memory. I responded that I am far more interested in looking for the present truth.
That sounds mildly profound, but also pretentious. Does it have any meaning?
In this time of sorrow, I find myself missing my son, my friends, and the snow. I'm missing out on a collective experience, a memory that they'll share. Here, we've been sitting around my mom's house, staring at the television, clearing bookshelves, closets. My dad has been cremated, so there's no funeral. It's the bustle in the house that Emily Dickinson writes about. This is an odd feeling. I expected something different. I don't know what I expected. What truth do I derive out of this?
Looking at the pictures, examining the hundreds of recipes that my father typed up for me, and parsing my feelings, I am going to take away the truth that I want my house full of people for dinners, games, and laughs. I want my gas tank full of gas, and train/plane tickets in my hand to see the world. These are the truths from the past that I want to drive my present. I want bright, vivid memories, for myself and Andrew. So far, I haven't done such a good job. I'll have to try harder.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Good-bye
I came home last night from six wonderful performances at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival only to be greeted with the news that my dad passed away last night. My mother called the house about ten minutes before I walked in.
I feel numb and can't quite wrap my head around the notion that my dad is gone. He'd been in the hospital since December 30 and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about two weeks ago. We knew that he didn't have much time. All we didn't know was if the cancer would take him, or if it was going to be the pneumonia that had loaded his lungs with fluid, or if his heart, artificially kept pumping by a defibrillator, would finally stop.
My mom told me that he went to sleep after Jeopardy (of course) and when the nurses checked in on him later, he was unresponsive. He went in his sleep, just as I had been hoping would happen. He was 72.
I feel numb and can't quite wrap my head around the notion that my dad is gone. He'd been in the hospital since December 30 and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about two weeks ago. We knew that he didn't have much time. All we didn't know was if the cancer would take him, or if it was going to be the pneumonia that had loaded his lungs with fluid, or if his heart, artificially kept pumping by a defibrillator, would finally stop.
My mom told me that he went to sleep after Jeopardy (of course) and when the nurses checked in on him later, he was unresponsive. He went in his sleep, just as I had been hoping would happen. He was 72.
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