Tuesdays that feel like Mondays
Ah the long weekend that passed. I felt reluctant about getting up this morning. I got into work and had morning yard duty straight up. It was cold. I missed getting my new timetable and thinking I had a free as per my old timetable missed a class altogether. The students obviously kept themselves to a low chatter about the weekend and didn’t alert anyone to having no teacher. Many of them had seen me in the morning and knew I was there so I’m at a loss to explain why they didn’t come and find me. The pleasant outcome for me was that I had an extra free later in the day.
Some switched on students in my IT class solved a problem I’d spent the weekend trying to work in about 10 seconds. They are destined to get good reports. There is a group of students that are really advanced in their skills. I asked them today who had taught them so much. Apparently they had a teacher who had provided a pile of videos for them to access when they had a problem to solve. I thought they were probably from Adobe TV, but when I asked the students thought they were more likely from YouTube. These students are great at solving problems when they come across them in class. It makes me wonder if as an IT teacher I don’t sometimes hold students back by my own limited knowledge and trying to stick to the curriculum.
I am exercising again. I am tired of feeling tired. I’ve had a lot of physical discomfort since I adopted my luxurious lifestyle of not exercising and eating lots of divine food. I reckon I got away with it for about 9 months and the last 3 have piled on weight and become increasingly uncomfortable in my own skin, not to mention tightening clothes. Luckily I remember the formula for me of how to feel healthy. Less fortunately it feels quite harder this time I clamour back on the exercise wagon. I have a massage tomorrow night though. Not only have I neglected the parts of being healthy that I’m not so keen on, I’ve also let go of massages and other more pleasant parts of maintaining my health. It can only go on for a limited time, and I’ve reached my limit.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Progress and Exes
I have been really productive today. I have cleaned the house and attended to a few overlooked personal matters that I have been putting off. I have downloaded all my photo’s from my camera and my mum’s and put some on facebook for the family to see. I also put my little clip from Asha’s 21st on for the family only… she is still a bit wary, but so many wanted a copy, it seemed the easiest way. I found my iPod! It had been used at the party for the music and whilst I remembered grabbing it, I couldn’t find it anywhere. It was in dad’s car!
I have resumed my exercise today and didn’t do as poorly as I expected. I think the cough I had for most of last term has finally subsided! I chatted with my friends today. It was great to talk to them and bring them up to speed with my fast changing life and hear about theirs also.
I took a risk today. I made Darin and his mum a clip of the photos and small snatches of video I’d taken of his children throughout the year. I was pretty happy that Darin enjoyed it so much. I haven’t got it to his mum yet because she lives in Sydney and I only finished it Boxing Day. Darin’s ex, the mother of his children sent a beautiful gift of home baked goodies to me on Christmas Day. She also put one in for my daughter. I was so touched by this gesture. I sent her a copy of the clip when he went to visit today. She cried when she watched it and said it was the best gift she’d received all year. It made me feel good.
I have to admit there have been challenging times for me this year. I’ve been the ex and I haven’t always treated my exes new partner with the respect she deserves. Mostly to be honest, I’ve just ignored her, after making a few attempts that weren’t well received. I have felt wary of Darin’s ex. I have projected my own attitude on to her. She has really shown the way though and has always been polite and helpful to me. She is the mother of these precious children and as the primary care giver, it is also her influence that makes them such great kids to be around. I realise these situations will always be fraught with emotional responses, but I hope this is the start of a relationship that will ultimately benefit all involved.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Touch Footy
I’d love to say I played touch footy last night, but truthfully I had a little dazed run around the grass, for very short periods. Darin and I have joined the ‘social’ touch footy competition. He managed to play for almost the entire game. It was my first experience of the game. I liked it and once I get to know what I am doing I think I could get into it. It would also be good if I were fit enough to run for more than 5 minutes. I did manage to hang onto the ball long enough to get ‘touched’. The first half I passed the ball as soon as it reached my hands, like a hot spud. Good to have some fitness goal though 
Popularity: 6% [?]
Home Again
It was beautiful weather at Tamboritha. The creeks were full and flowing with the melted snow. We walked to Thomastown on the first day. The water was freezing, not that I wet more than my feet. It was numbing.
I rode the horses morning and afternoon on Tuesday. We rode through the bush and along the creek on the plains in front of the hut. It was sunny and the air was crisp. They were perfect conditions. I was at the back of the line so I missed a lot of the little thrills experienced by the kids, they certainly shared them that night in the huts in front of the fire. I laughed till tears rolled down my face and my stomach hurt. It still brings a chuckle thinking of some of the reactions of the students to their first horse ride.
The night sky was clear and there was no moon on Monday night giving the stars the best opportunity to show themselves. I felt really lucky to enjoy such a view. The second night the small sliver of a moon and the lightest clouds gave a different view, no less enjoyable.
I am so glad to be back from camp. I’m tired. I love being home and I missed Darin. It was probably the longest length of time we’ve been apart since we met! My parents are home from their Winter nomading and it was great to see their tanned faces again. Knowing it was possibly my last year 9 camp at Tamboritha, I appreciated the environment and the conditions have never been better.
Popularity: 7% [?]
These Days…
We have laptops in many classes now. There is so much to teach about using the Internet. This week we had a learning experience about Twitter. Some students were using it as though it were a private chat room. I guess because all their usual chat channels are blocked by the schools ‘protection systems’ it was too much to expect that given a way to communicate with one another, they would be able to resist! Never mind they are sitting in the same room… high tech note passing, yet pretty silly when they realised they had potentially shared their notes with anyone online who’s interested. The more I use technology in the classroom, the more I believe that the fear of computers replacing teachers is not in the near future. Young people may not fear technology, yet there is so much they need to learn about socialising, reputation, logic, the list goes on and on…..
I had a tense meeting after work. Before I went, I said to Rhonda “I’m going to shut up. I’m not going to say anything, I’ll let others have a go this time.” Famous last words. I find it so frustrating when people are full of remarks about things until given the opportunity to speak to the person in charge. So I can’t resist saying what’s on my mind, when others seem unable to remember what they think.
After school was a lot more pleasant on a lot of levels. I got to spend some time with the Wii Fit. It was the first time for a little while that I made progress towards my goals, so that felt good. I’ve been conscious lately of letting some healthy habits slip.
Tonight we registered to play touch football socially. I am not sure if it’s such a good idea now. I’m feeling particularly unfit. I will give it a try though. It looks fun. Maybe it’s what I need to get fit!
Kate my little sister called last night from Berlin. She is having a ball and has been through Bruges and Amsterdam. I had to cut my chat with Wilma tonight short because a delicious meal from Darin had arrived on the table and I wasn’t going to let it wait.
My daughter has just sent me something she has written tonight that is one of the most precious things I have read for a long time. Her expression never ceases to delight me.
Popularity: 8% [?]
9 Holes
Yesterday we went to Cowes for a drive. It was really sunny when we left home and my clothing reflected this. Once I arrived I needed to buy a pair of warm pants because my skirt just wasn’t keeping the wind out. I love the emergency purchase. We checked out some real estate that we’d seen online. It was less than we’d hoped, but it was still interesting to see what was available.
I spent quite a few years holidaying at Cowes with my family as a teenager. I had never been to Rhyll, so we drove there and I had a look. We also drove around San Remo, there are some amazing views in that part of the world, but no fish and chip shop was open, what’s with that?
We got back home mid afternoon and it was sunny and bright. Darin suggested 9 holes of golf. I haven’t played golf for nearly 20 years, except on the Wii! It was a perfect afternoon for it and I enjoyed it a lot. He is very patient and helpful to play golf with, it was actually more fun than I had expected.
Sitting out on the balcony having a beer, the late afternoon light and shadows over the golf course was tranquil and I was happy about the way I’d spent the second day of my holidays.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Excited
Tom is coming home tomorrow. I haven’t dared to think about it too much over the last two weeks but recently I can’t hide from the longing to see my son. Everywhere I go lately I have bumped into one of his friends who share my anticipation. Darin and I are planning a gathering over the weekend so close family and friends can all catch up with him at the same time. I’ve been invited to the party with friends as well so it seems like an action packed weekend is ahead. Again.
After last weekend I was exhausted so I started exercising again yesterday morning. I woke up really early Wednesday morning (possibly from such an early night), so I got back on the cross trainer and again this morning. I feel great for it. I needed some extra energy to get through these closing days of the term.
Tonight we are off to see Paul Dempsey at Ruby’s Lounge in Belgrave. I first saw him as a soloist on Rockwiz (see below)and loved his voice. I’ve been enjoying his new CD that I downloaded from itunes on Tim’s recommendation.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Wii Age & other improvements
This week I have exercised every day. It’s such a luxury. I must keep it up when I get back to school. When we got our Wii and I did the fitness assessment thingo, I was age 60… how embarassing. Last night I did it again and I was down to 35! Much better. I am amazed at how quickly I feel good in my body again. It’s only been a week of daily half hour on the Xtrainer and I’m already noticing ease in my body again. The chiropractor last night also added to my feeling of wellbeing.
This week has been really productive for me. I have got rid of a lot of junk and rearranged furniture. I’ve unpacked my books, beloved friends that they are. When I was planning to go to the UK, I’d packed up a lot of stuff. My upstairs bedrooms are looking great now. I’m expecting visitors next week and there is nothing like that, to get me into action. I have exchanged some of Darin’s furniture for mine and it looks better. I’ve been enjoying storming through my to do lists.
I have also meditated each afternoon, which is another habit I once had, that has drifted off somewhere and needs to be reinstated. I listen to a track on my ipod of binural noise. I’ve no idea how it works, but it’s more refreshing than a nap.
Tom got a job on Hamilton Island. I’m so relieved. He isn’t himself without work. I didn’t like hearing his forced happy voice on the phone, now it’s real again. He has excellent references from the part time jobs he’s had, so I knew he would get something sooner or later, now is good!
Popularity: 9% [?]
No Rush
The weekend was fun. I really love having the kids. I’m kind of surprised as I never expected what fun it would be to have little kids back in my life. I thought I was happy to have a child free life. Maybe I was just trying to convince myself of that because I thought it was my reality. We go to the park, play games, watch kids movies and the conversations are simple and sweet. There’s lots of laughing and silliness and I feel very blessed to be included this young family. Darin is a great dad and I enjoy watching him with them also. It’s a refreshing thing to have these fortnightly guests. All other concerns get pushed aside to be in the moment with three excited individuals. I feel sad when they go home, so I’m feeling a lot more empathy for my ex and his partner because now I’m on the other side of the fence. I agree it is the easier side in terms of daily care and responsibility, yet there’s still a price to pay.
This morning I woke up early. I just can’t sleep in and waste my precious leisure time. I will have afternoon naps if I feel tired, they are more indulgent to me. I read my emails and feeds. I really read them, not skimming quickly for important stuff, read and comprehended. I feel the released from the rush of my everyday life. When Darin left for work I exercised and it felt great to have the time to do that. I love exercising, but not enough to squeeze it in when I’m tired and stressed….silly me. Everything is chosen and deliberate and it feels amazing. I have no definate plans yet many possibilities and it’s the way I love my life to be.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Sore Loser
Darin and I bought a Wii this weekend. I have wanted one since Christmas when I played with Tim and Nicole’s. After the kids went home Sunday night, we had a play. I lost every game and tried really hard. I tried so hard that today my shoulders and upper arms are aching as though I’d been to the gym. I had a feeling it was going to have an effect when I stripped down to my singlet whilst doing the Boxing. I am so unfit right now!
I teased him that since I get home from work half an hour before him usually, sometimes even more, I would practise up and beat him in no time. Tonight I can’t even turn the thing on because I reckon I wouldn’t be able to lift the controller! I exagerate, but I think I need a massage. I missed my massage a couple of weeks ago, and coupled with hours hunched over corrections and computers, lifting small children and the Wii, my back feels most uncomfortable.
I’m still smiling though because there are only 9 days before I have 6 weeks off work. Although all my plans have changed to the point of having no idea what I’ll be doing during that time, It will be bliss to have a long break, even if I go nowhere!
Popularity: 7% [?]
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