Hi Everyone,
It is another FREEZING morning here. I think it is around 42F outside at the moment. BRRRRRR!!!!! I’m not sure it is a lot warming INSIDE, except in the bedroom, where I’ve left the heater on for when I have to finish getting ready for work. We are expecting about 64F today, which is still going to be very cold (for me anyway). Mind you, yesterday we weren’t expecting much warmer and it ended up being quite a nice day, so maybe I’ll just keep my fingers crossed. Just having the sun out makes a HUGE difference, and we tend to get a lot of wind here, which doesn’t help things at all.
Yesterday we had a beautiful morning at the aquarium. The kids had a wonderful time and were very well behaved. It was simply gorgeous to see the joy on their faces as they found each new section and each different animal. Some of them hadn’t been before, which I think is mainly because it is just too expensive. It makes me angry that they charge so much, which tourists will pay, as it is so unusual, but locals can’t afford. They have a huge tank where you walk underneath or can just stand on a travelator (like the ones they have at airports) to move around. You have sharks and enormous stingrays moving over your head, which is a wonderful experience. They also have a ‘Touch Pool’, which the kids simply adored. They were touching little stingrays and sea stars (starfish) and all sorts of interesting things. All in all, we had a lovely time, and the teachers weren’t even that stressed out, which is definitely a bonus!
We have the kids’ Cross Country on today, which will end up taking most of the afternoon I think. Our grade runs just after lunch, but then we have a school assembly shortly afterwards, to give out awards from the Cross Country. Oh well… who needs to teach anyway huh?
Tomorrow I have another Literacy Professional Development to go to (during the day this time), which should be very good. I am particularly happy that I have such a great student teacher in my room, because I don’t have to spend hours preparing for a relief (sub) teacher. My student teacher is taking all of the lessons at the moment anyway, so I can just walk out of the room and know that the kids are in good hands.
I had my 5th day without a nap yesterday. This is such a new experience, and I am loving it! I am definitely tired by the evening, but that is normal I guess after a day at work. I am used to having an afternoon nap, but then not being as tired at bedtime, so this is working out very well at the moment.
Sue Marie – I know you are training to be a teacher, and I know that you are currently working with 8th graders, but I’m not sure if you’ve said which grade level you are hoping to work with when you finish. I am currently teaching grade 2 (most of my class is turning 8 this year, but a few just turned 7 in Feb), but my favourite grades are 4 and 5. I love that age because they are still ‘little kids’ and enjoy doing little kid stuff, but you can hold a good conversation with them, and they get MY humour. They also aren’t too big for their boots yet, and usually don’t quite have the ‘attitude’ of the older kids. When will you graduate? How is the job market in teaching where you are? How much teaching practice do you get? I have a 4th year student teacher in my room at the moment for 8 weeks. She will do another 8 week practicum at the end of the year. Our student teachers come out to schools one day a week for about 20 weeks in their first year of training, and then have a one week practicum in the last term. Then they have a few weeks of practice in their second and third years of training as well. I’m not sure if they have one or two each year.
Patti – I’m glad you found it easier than you expected when you did the 35 mins. I have found that I can quite easily add 5 mins to my workout, without really noticing it. I have to watch that I don’t add TOO many 5s though. Today I had to listen to my body and just do 30 mins on the bike, instead of the 40 I had been hoping to do. I am getting better at doing that. I still like to push myself a little, (I could have EASILY just done 20 mins) but just not too far. Sorry the workmen didn’t even turn up, but at least you know how the new routine will feel now, for when they DO turn up.
Ammi – You are VERY lucky to not have to pay for braces over there. I’m pretty sure that EVERY dental procedure has to be paid for over here. We have a school dentist on site, and I don’t think parents have to pay for their kids to go there, but that is just for checkups and fillings or other minor stuff I think. For major work they have to get another dentist in, or the kids go somewhere else. I am pretty sure that they would pay for that sort of stuff, but maybe the minor stuff is paid for if it is done at the school dentist. I should ask one day, as I am curious now.
Annie – It sounds as though you have your perfect birthday planned. I kinda feel a little sad when I hear people talk about looking forward to spending time with their parents. If I spend too much time with my parents, they just tend to get on my nerves! Maybe the problem is ME, and not them. Poor Mum has to call now and then to make sure that we are still OK, because I don’t even call them that often. I often worry about how I would feel if something happened to them and I hadn’t seen them in ages, but even THAT doesn’t encourage me to visit. They are less than a two hour drive away, so I really don’t have any excuses. I am sure we will visit them in the next holidays. To be honest, I just find it easier if there are other people there for us to talk to as well. Maybe I will ask Mum to invite some Aunts and Uncles, so I can catch up with them as well. I hope you have a wonderful visit with your family.
Prof – Welcome, and I hope to see many posts from you.
I would agree with the others that you may not want to put a time frame on your weight loss. It could be possible that you could lose that much, but you don’t want to set yourself up for disappointment. I set a time frame on my weight loss, but it was over two years, so I had a little more time for plateaus etc. You should just stick to your healthy lifestyle and celebrate any loss you see, no matter WHEN it happens.
Sassy Chick – Hi! You are most welcome to say more than just hello. We would love to hear more from you when you feel ready to face us all. As you can see, some of us (me definitely included) tend to talk a little TOO much, so it can be hard to catch up on what is going on.
Nancy – I can relate to not taking medications before a procedure. I got my info on the gastroscopy and colonoscopy and it said to stop taking certain medications. I’m not sure whether I take those anyway, I’ll have to read it all again. But it will be frustrating to have to stop a couple of them for too long, because it takes a while for them to build up in the body, so I will be starting from scratch again. Frustrating!
Sharon – I am SO glad that Aiden is feeling better. I’m sure that he’ll be keeping you on your toes again in no time!
Xena – I loved reading about your trip to Europe. I have not been on many holidays, just Singapore, Bali (didn’t like that AT ALL), Canada and the US. Europe is definitely somewhere I would love to see. I just love the history of the place. I could spend DAYS in castles I think. I hope you get that scrapbook finished some day. I am looking forward to working on mine again, just for the fact that it will make the memories fresh again. Kinda like reliving the trip.
Bea – I suppose your daughter is a little young to be working out her own medication. When our kids are younger they use a ‘spacer’, which is a larger vessel that the ventolin spray attaches to. The spray is ‘puffed’ into the ‘spacer’ and then the children can just inhale normally, rather than having to coordinate their inhaling exactly in time with the ventolin puff. I’m glad her teacher will be able to sort things out easily enough. That will certainly give you peace of mind.
Well, other individuals will have to be done later, as I am kinda running a little late to get ready for work. Oh well… I don’t have to teach today, just work on reports and check in on the student teacher, so at least I don’t have any preparation to do before I start. I will still get there with easily a half hour to spare, so I am not worried in the least.
Take care all,
Zelma