So my dad said I need to do another blog entry.
I’m not sure if I’m quite sold on this blog thing. I mean, I love reading my friends’ and family’s blogs…when I find time and an internet connection. But that’s an incredibly rare occasion at this point in my life.
I often have thoughts or difficulties or triumphs that I’d love to share with people, but I just never think to write them in a blog. I feel like it needs to be something profound or touching or extremely funny to be blogging-worthy. I mean, who wants to read the mundane happenings of my simple life, or read my verbal stream-of-consciousness? Sometimes even I wish I could escape from the mess of mental spaghetti that’s going on in my mind! (Everything all jumbled up together, thinking of everything at once. And very messy. Red sauce stains are buggers to get out.) Why put someone else through that mess? I think it comes from my perfectionism. I don’t want people reading something that might show an imperfect, dull Lori.
Isn’t that just silly?!
Oh, and I feel like if people are going to take the time to read my blog, I should obligatorily read theirs. And, as we've established--I simply don't.
So I’m not sure what I am supposed to be writing this blog entry about. The funny things my students say usually go in my Facebook statuses. (I think the word “status” needs a cool plural, like “stati” or something. Don’t you?) My small (and large) triumphs get told to my parents. And the tough stuff…well, it either gets unloaded on one of two dear friends, occasionally to my parents, or I just keep it inside of me until it eventually fades out. Eventually. That being a very relative word, said with a lot of faith.
But we'll try it.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Snow Day in the Life of a Teacher
So what to write about? Here are some “interesting” things from today:
-The exciting news of today? I got a snow day. With less than ½ inch of snow on the ground. I know, right? I guess I’d call it a “cold day”. It hovered around 0 degrees Fahrenheit today, give or take 5 degrees. But there was a constant nasty wind all day. Right now (8:35 pm) it’s currently -11 outside, and with windchill it’s -37. And how is my car supposed to start in the morning??
-The superintendent from our district resigned yesterday. I think this is the 3rd, 4th, or 5th one they’ve gone through in the recent past (meaning the past 5 years). We’re a very “special” district. I feel rather guilty that when I heard the rumors about this yesterday afternoon, my first thought was a panicked, “Wait, who’s gonna call our snow day tomorrow?!”
-After my gross 2 hour run on the treadmill today, all I wanted was a shower. I turned on the shower and was scalded by the burning water coming out of the facet. I tried to turn it down…and down…and down, but it never got colder. I turned it all the way down to COLD--and nothing came out. I realized the cold water pipe in my shower was frozen. Awesome. I knew I needed to call the office so they could do whatever they needed to to keep the pipe from bursting. But I really, really wanted to bathe first.
So I rocked it pioneer style. Well, opposite pioneer style. I filled up the bathtub from the facet (scalding hot water, remember?) while filling up a mixing bowl with cold water from the sink and dumping it into the bathtub. A little oldschool, but it worked great.
Later, the first maintenance guy came. He took the fixture around the facet off so the warm air could get in there and defrost the pipe. He turned on the cold full-blast so when it melted the water could get moving. So far so good, right?
About 4 hours later, the 2nd maintenance guy came with a spaceheater. He set it up in my bathtub and turned it on high, pointed right at the facet, to try to melt the frozen pipe. I sat there and started smiling, trying not to laugh. He said, “When it finally melts, you’ll hear the water pouring out, and then you can just let us know and we’ll come fix everything back up.” I just smile and nod.
Remember, the space heater is sitting in my bathtub, plugged in, running. And water is supposed to come gushing out of the facet at any time. He finally realizes what I’d already realized and said, “And—oh—um—I should get something to put this on…”
So I have a spaceheater sitting in my bathtub on a 9X13 baking pan. Real safe. I feel really good about this.
And looks like no brownies for Lori tonight.
-The exciting news of today? I got a snow day. With less than ½ inch of snow on the ground. I know, right? I guess I’d call it a “cold day”. It hovered around 0 degrees Fahrenheit today, give or take 5 degrees. But there was a constant nasty wind all day. Right now (8:35 pm) it’s currently -11 outside, and with windchill it’s -37. And how is my car supposed to start in the morning??
-The superintendent from our district resigned yesterday. I think this is the 3rd, 4th, or 5th one they’ve gone through in the recent past (meaning the past 5 years). We’re a very “special” district. I feel rather guilty that when I heard the rumors about this yesterday afternoon, my first thought was a panicked, “Wait, who’s gonna call our snow day tomorrow?!”
-After my gross 2 hour run on the treadmill today, all I wanted was a shower. I turned on the shower and was scalded by the burning water coming out of the facet. I tried to turn it down…and down…and down, but it never got colder. I turned it all the way down to COLD--and nothing came out. I realized the cold water pipe in my shower was frozen. Awesome. I knew I needed to call the office so they could do whatever they needed to to keep the pipe from bursting. But I really, really wanted to bathe first.
So I rocked it pioneer style. Well, opposite pioneer style. I filled up the bathtub from the facet (scalding hot water, remember?) while filling up a mixing bowl with cold water from the sink and dumping it into the bathtub. A little oldschool, but it worked great.
Later, the first maintenance guy came. He took the fixture around the facet off so the warm air could get in there and defrost the pipe. He turned on the cold full-blast so when it melted the water could get moving. So far so good, right?
About 4 hours later, the 2nd maintenance guy came with a spaceheater. He set it up in my bathtub and turned it on high, pointed right at the facet, to try to melt the frozen pipe. I sat there and started smiling, trying not to laugh. He said, “When it finally melts, you’ll hear the water pouring out, and then you can just let us know and we’ll come fix everything back up.” I just smile and nod.
Remember, the space heater is sitting in my bathtub, plugged in, running. And water is supposed to come gushing out of the facet at any time. He finally realizes what I’d already realized and said, “And—oh—um—I should get something to put this on…”
So I have a spaceheater sitting in my bathtub on a 9X13 baking pan. Real safe. I feel really good about this.
And looks like no brownies for Lori tonight.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Wisdom from Fledgelings
I'm really struggling with one of my 7th grade choirs this semester. In a class of about 25, I can't get anyone to open their mouth and sing. And I've tried EVERY tactic, every angle of attack possible--being gentle and kind, being silly and jumping on chairs, laughing, being serious, scaring it out of them, bringing the 8th graders in to sing with them and convince them choir is "cool", talking about why they are in this class...and dozens more. Seriously.
Anyway, a few weeks ago it was a hopeless class period where they were not putting forth any effort. So instead of getting angry and lecturing them, I just had them get out a piece of paper and answer the following questions:
1. Tell me about something in you life that was hard to do, but you did it anyway. Was it worth it? Why or why not? What did it take to accomplish it?
2. Why do you think you can do hard things? What does it take to do hard things? Why is it worth it?
I was impressed with several responses, but this one just spoke with wisdom beyond her years, and I wanted to share it with ya'll:
"Life wasn't made to be easy, God didn't intend us to get through things without a struggle. Physically and mentally our bodies were made to do hard things and to get them. Yet, in the end it's all worth it. To start off, I can do hard things because very rarely I don't strive to succeed. Most people have that quality like me, when they don't take no for an answer and they always need to overcome the hard tasks. Which is exactly what it takes to aquire those hard tasks. If your mind is always to it and your head is held high anyone can achieve anything. In the end it's always worth it because we feel accomplished and it motivates us to do even more hard things."
Wow. How does a 7th grader KNOW that kind of stuff?!
This is why, in spite of the punks my kids can be, I love my job.
Anyway, a few weeks ago it was a hopeless class period where they were not putting forth any effort. So instead of getting angry and lecturing them, I just had them get out a piece of paper and answer the following questions:
1. Tell me about something in you life that was hard to do, but you did it anyway. Was it worth it? Why or why not? What did it take to accomplish it?
2. Why do you think you can do hard things? What does it take to do hard things? Why is it worth it?
I was impressed with several responses, but this one just spoke with wisdom beyond her years, and I wanted to share it with ya'll:
"Life wasn't made to be easy, God didn't intend us to get through things without a struggle. Physically and mentally our bodies were made to do hard things and to get them. Yet, in the end it's all worth it. To start off, I can do hard things because very rarely I don't strive to succeed. Most people have that quality like me, when they don't take no for an answer and they always need to overcome the hard tasks. Which is exactly what it takes to aquire those hard tasks. If your mind is always to it and your head is held high anyone can achieve anything. In the end it's always worth it because we feel accomplished and it motivates us to do even more hard things."
Wow. How does a 7th grader KNOW that kind of stuff?!
This is why, in spite of the punks my kids can be, I love my job.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Breaking things...
So...this one time, I came home to see my adorable...err, "manly"...little brother perform in a student-directed version of the Disney musical Newsies (a personal favorite of mine).
I got home right as he was getting into his costume and leaving to go help finish the set before their opening performance. I looked up at him, smiled real big, and said, "Break a..... PAH HAH HAH!" and dissolved into a fit of hysterical laughter.
For any thespians out there, you understand the importance of uttering that phrase and none other before a performance. This is serious business, folks.
But it just sounds WRONG when the role your brother is playing is none other than the token gimp of the show, Crutchy.
Break a leg, lil' bro!
I got home right as he was getting into his costume and leaving to go help finish the set before their opening performance. I looked up at him, smiled real big, and said, "Break a..... PAH HAH HAH!" and dissolved into a fit of hysterical laughter.
For any thespians out there, you understand the importance of uttering that phrase and none other before a performance. This is serious business, folks.
But it just sounds WRONG when the role your brother is playing is none other than the token gimp of the show, Crutchy.
Break a leg, lil' bro!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Proud to be a Canadian-made American
(So I wrote the above-showing title before writing this actual post, and I realized the double-entendre contained therein. I am a real-live "Canadian-made American." Cute!)
But that's not what this post is about.
One of my kids brought in a CD today for a project we are presenting in my 6th grade Intro to Music class. They are supposed to write a paragraph about their favorite song--where they first heard it, why they like it, when they listen to it, and talk about 3 "elements of music" (application of vocab) in relation to the song. They then share it and the song with the class.
One cute little boy played for us "Battle Hymn of the Republic". He talked about how it made him feel patriotic. It was sweet.
But in the middle of his presentation, I was putting in his CD and laughed outloud--really loud, in the middle of him talking--as I read the CD face. It was called "Spirit of America" and had an American flag waving proudly against a light blue sky.
In small print, it clearly said, "Made in Canada".
But that's not what this post is about.
One of my kids brought in a CD today for a project we are presenting in my 6th grade Intro to Music class. They are supposed to write a paragraph about their favorite song--where they first heard it, why they like it, when they listen to it, and talk about 3 "elements of music" (application of vocab) in relation to the song. They then share it and the song with the class.
One cute little boy played for us "Battle Hymn of the Republic". He talked about how it made him feel patriotic. It was sweet.
But in the middle of his presentation, I was putting in his CD and laughed outloud--really loud, in the middle of him talking--as I read the CD face. It was called "Spirit of America" and had an American flag waving proudly against a light blue sky.
In small print, it clearly said, "Made in Canada".
Sunday, January 3, 2010
A Characterically-Colorado Run
I walked out into the fresh Colorado air yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to be met with a warm 45 degree temperature and a strange sensation I felt through my sleeves…what was that…warmth? From the sun??
I raced back into my apartment and quickly found my lime green running shorts. I threw them on, eager to take advantage of those Vitamin D enriching rays from the sun gods, and almost giddy with excitement as I envisioned coming home my run without having to wait 20 minutes for my face to thaw out before I tried to use my facial muscles to speak again coherently.
I hopped down the stairs and began running. I felt that warming sun absorbed by my black shirt, warming my whole body, and just smiled. What a simple sensation I so often take for granted. Having lived in below-freezing temperatures for the past month or so, it felt like heaven. I rolled up my long sleeves and skipped happily along, basking in the simple glory of nature’s miracles.
For about 20 minutes. I then happened to look up right as these thick, dark grey clouds suddenly overshadowed my sun. Ugh! Well, at least I’d gotten in 20 minutes of sunshine.
I kept on running in the cooling air, very aware of the rapid change of temperature—I’m used to running in cold weather, no big deal.
But 20 minutes later, I couldn’t do anything but begrudgingly laugh as I saw these tiny bits of styrofoam being tossed down all around me from those ugly, grey clouds. Yep, it was snowing.
So I ran my last 20 minutes home in the steadily falling snow. In my shorts. And waited 10 minutes to talk until my face had successfully thawed. Thank you, Colorado.
I raced back into my apartment and quickly found my lime green running shorts. I threw them on, eager to take advantage of those Vitamin D enriching rays from the sun gods, and almost giddy with excitement as I envisioned coming home my run without having to wait 20 minutes for my face to thaw out before I tried to use my facial muscles to speak again coherently.
I hopped down the stairs and began running. I felt that warming sun absorbed by my black shirt, warming my whole body, and just smiled. What a simple sensation I so often take for granted. Having lived in below-freezing temperatures for the past month or so, it felt like heaven. I rolled up my long sleeves and skipped happily along, basking in the simple glory of nature’s miracles.
For about 20 minutes. I then happened to look up right as these thick, dark grey clouds suddenly overshadowed my sun. Ugh! Well, at least I’d gotten in 20 minutes of sunshine.
I kept on running in the cooling air, very aware of the rapid change of temperature—I’m used to running in cold weather, no big deal.
But 20 minutes later, I couldn’t do anything but begrudgingly laugh as I saw these tiny bits of styrofoam being tossed down all around me from those ugly, grey clouds. Yep, it was snowing.
So I ran my last 20 minutes home in the steadily falling snow. In my shorts. And waited 10 minutes to talk until my face had successfully thawed. Thank you, Colorado.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thankful Bag 2009
This is such a long post I wasn't sure if I should put it on. I heard "long blog posts" are neither favorable nor inviting to readers. But I think my dad wanted it online, so feel free to peruse. For an explanation of what in the world this is, see last year's post on the same.
Email
Chris
The Priesthood
The Scriptures
The chance to repent and do better every day
Music
Cookies
A free country
Teachers
New friends
The opportunity to serve a mission
Assurances that the Lord is pleased with your efforts
AP classes
Rainy days
Italian food
Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness
Central heating
Dreamland BBQ Sauce
The comfort, guidance, teaching, and instruction of the Holy Ghost
The Atonement
The Scriptures
Jay and Jen
Sons- and daughters-in-law
Grandchildren
NSLC (National Student Leadership Conference)
Chocolate
Letters
Family
“Enough”
A good mind
My Trailer-Park Kingdom
Sister Graves
MUSICALS!
Sons
The BEST parents EVER
Crazy neighbors
Health
My Mac
Grandparents and cousins
Good running shoes
Freckles
Prayer—and that we can go to Him anywhere, at anytime, about anything
Preach My Gospel
My voice
Sweet neighbors
Friends
Piano
Parents
The Restoration of the Gospel
Steak
Ice cream
Sunrises/sunsets
Snow
Jason/Kellie/Sandy/Chris/Scott/Jen/Snapper/Ian/Audrey (no middle child…surprise, surprise)
A job
Music
MUSIC
Dad
Sister Kuttler
My job
The Holy Ghost
Pretty girls
Friends
Seminary to start off the day
Phones
Unlimited texting
Temple
Sons and daughters
Sunny days
Mountains
President and Sister Thomas and Bethany
Cookout shakes—Yum!
Meat
Kellie, Scott, Audrey, and Ian
The Atonement
Life
August in the mountains
Planes
School
Internet
Smiles
Eternal perspective
The Waxhaw Ward
My sweetheart
Daughters
Laughter
Patriarchal blessings
French friees
Modern medicine
Soft breezes
Mail delivery
Lori
The Atonement
Airsoft
Family
Gentle breezes
Old friends
The enabling power of the Atonement
Missionaries
Small miracles (and big ones, too!)
Family (Thanks for all your love and support!)
Macs
My sweet wife
Caring doctors and nurses
Trees
Rivers
Mountains
A Heavenly Father who listens to my problems
Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, sibling, blah, blah, blah
Commandments
A Savior’s love
Ice cream
Intelligence
North Carolina
A loving Father in Heaven
Sunshine
My students
Talents
Music
Home
Cars
The Gospel
Tithing
Lori
Oceans
My own apartment
Warriors who defend our freedom
Music
Jesus Christ
Stars
Servicemen and women
Healthy body
Callings
A missionary sister
Pets
The Priesthood
Mom
The temple
Repentance
Good wards
Oceans
Cars
Living prophets
Scriptures
The Plan of Salvation
Hot rolls
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