Always Thinking...

So, of course... I'm still thinking about next year. I've sort of made up my mind of what I'd like to see happen, but really have no control. There are so many things up in the air right now - things I have no control over. It seems I may have to wait until March or possibly April or maybe even August to know what I'll be doing next school year.

There's so many other things I have to think about in my own life that this "mess at work" doesn't seem so bad. Quinn's revisit with his foot doctor is at the end of February. My mom is having a biopsy done on a mass found on her thyroid next week.

And then, there's so many things happening in other families that I know, that all of the above doesn't seem bad at all.

I truly am blessed with what I have. And I truly believe that whatever happens next year will work out just as it is supposed to work out. I just wish it would be settled sooner.

I must say that through all of this mess - the thing I look forward to the most is a good run. Outside. In the cold. Who am I?

Decisions

Ah.

So, this could be a very long story. A long story involving budget cuts, the State not paying programs they've promised to pay, school board meetings, meetings with superintendents, revised plans, and oh so many other things. My school year has not been an easy one.

But I'll keep it short.

Sort of.

The 3 day/week preschool program I've taught for the past 8 years has been eliminated by the school board.

I need to decide if I want to work full-time or stay home and watch other people's babies for a few years.

If this was two years earlier - easy decision to stay home. If this was two years in the future - easy decision to work full-time.

But it's now. Liam will be three. Quinn will be starting kindergarten. I was really looking forward to being able to continue to be involved in his school.

Sounds like I should stay home...

Except, with things the way they are with Illinois schools, things are not going to be getting better any time soon, especially when it comes to early childhood programs (State not paying their bills). And, I have a little seniority at my district, which means if I stay full-time I won't be at the bottom of the chain, and trust me, at the bottom of the chain is a crappy place to be. If I am able to get a full time job I should take it now while I can.

And then... what if Mike loses his job? He swears this is impossible and his company continues to make profits year after year, but still. Where would we be if he did lose his job? Me watching babies... no insurance, no steady income...

Sounds like I should work...

Except today I was able to go into Quinn's classroom and watch his teacher lead twenty 5-year-olds in a make-shift band. It was awesome.

See. Totally not an easy decision - one that I know moms all over the world make all the time. And one that I know some moms don't have the luxury to even think about.

Also - I won't even go into how important I believe this program is. And how many parents are outraged by the decision the school board made. And how it literally makes me sick to my stomach to think about the things this school board may be willing to cut.

Happy New Year....

Oh right. I'm still here. It's just that when there's a lot on my mind I find it very difficult to put together a decent blog post. so, yeah.

There's a lot on my mind. Some of which I'll be sharing with you... just not yet.

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures from New Year's Eve. We spent the evening with one of our most favorite families - and in just 19 days we'll be heading to Disney World with the same folks. And trust me when I say it's a vacation that we've all earned and will thoroughly enjoy...

No Wonder...

It's no wonder I haven't been able to keep up with the sorting/printing/scrapping of all the photos I take. I have well over 2,000 photos to sort through, since July. And I get distracted. Besides checking into facebook, the photos themselves get me. Here's a great example. I was sorting pictures from our vacation to the Dells and came across these of Liam. I just couldn't wait - so I virtually threw them into Storybook Creator Plus and created a 12x12 scrapbook page. The pictures were just too adorable to NOT do something with right away!

Run more.

Run more and find less excuses. Another one of my resolutions for 2010.

I got pretty good at running. I got to the point where enjoyed running, sort of. I mean, it was still hard, but I enjoyed it. And then I got sick at the beginning of December - strep had me out for almost two weeks. And then I had a mole removed from my forehead and was told not to exercise until the stitches came out. And then the stitches came out and I ran again - and woah. It's almost as if I'm starting over again, but not really.

Anyway, I no longer prefer running on the treadmill. Especially since the people at the gym have the heat on so high - I swear I was dying last time I ran there - it was so hot in there! But I did start to like running outside.

And then it got cold. Very cold. Bitterly cold. And I didn't have any warm running gear.

I took care of that yesterday and also discovered just how un-sexy running leggings are. But that's okay - I got myself a pair of underarmour running pants, an ear band thingy, and gloves. I know I've got enough exercise-type jackets - so I'm pretty sure I'll be all set for my run on Wednesday.

My plan is to run Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. If I miss a run, then I'll run Sunday morning.

At least now I have the gear to get out in this weather. Also - if I find it's too cold - then no excuses - I'll drive my butt to the gym and sweat it out on a treadmill.

Eat less McDonald's

Mike and I recently watched Supersize Me. Haven't heard of it? Basically I guy goes from eating fairly healthy and exercising regularly - to eating a diet consisting of nothing except for McDonald's and no longer exercising. In fact, he starts taking more cabs, because he wants to keep the amount of steps he takes in a day at the national average.

Anyway, I was really hoping this movie would totally gross me out.

But it didn't. I was hoping it would make me think, "Man, I'm never going to want to eat at McDonald's again." Instead, I thought, "Hmmm, I could go for a Big Mac. I love my Big Macs."

Of course eating nothing but McDonald's for a month is not a good idea. Especially, if you insist on getting a meal every time - french fries twice a day and soda. Woah.

But what he did discover, which I totally believe is this - McDonald's food is addictive.

I could go weeks without a Big Mac or a Cheeseburger Happy Meal (with apples), but then once I treat myself and the kids - I want it again - right away.

So, I'm going to try to go to McDonald's less this year. I'd really like to say I'm not going to go at all, but that's just not realistic.

Also - I'm going to try to cook. Once a month I'm going to make something that seems difficult or fancy to me. I've always said, "I can't cook healthy foods." The only things I know how to make are loaded with carbs or come from a box or both. So, I'm going to try to cook from the meat and produce aisle. Once a month. Also, crock pot recipes do not count.

*Oh - and another surprising thing from the movie - he showed some school up in Wisconsin serving amazing school lunches - organic/fresh vegetables and the lunch ladies were actually putting together lasagna for the students. It looked amazingly delicious.

Read less blogs

This year for Christmas Mike and I gave his grandma a subscription to Time Magazine. I have to thank my aunt who told me, "Uncle Fred's mother still reads Time Magazine and she's 94, but likes to know what's going in." I knew Mike's grandma would enjoy the same thing - she is always aware of current events.

Me?

Not so much.

Sadly, I can tell you what's going on in people's lives I don't even know. I know who likes to complain about work and people they work with all the time. I know of three children who died this year, whom I never met. I know who is on a diet. Who got a new camera for Christmas. What kind of lens so and so likes to use. Who got a Snuggie for Christmas. What some people think about just about anything.

I know a lot of useless stuff.

That's not to say that reading blogs hasn't been a good thing for me. I've learned of other's compasion. I've learned of other's struggles. I've gotten strength from reading of other's strengths. I've been inspired by others.

So, my resolution to read less blogs?

There were some blogs in my google reader that I would skip over if I was in a hurry. The ones where the author rambled on and on (sort of like this), or the ones where the author complains almost every post, or the ones that, yes, they are funny, but I really didn't feel a connection to them.

So I deleted them.

I kept the blogs with good writing.

With the people I feel connected to.

With those that are more positive than negative.

Chances are - if you're reading this - I still read your blog.

And I'm not just saying that.

Oh, right. So anyway - I decided to try to stay current on current events. To read something other than blogs. I'm trying out different news magazines to see which style I like the best, before getting a subscription. So far, I've read Newsweek, Reason, and The Week.

Do you read a news magazine? Which one?

My Resolultions - More or Less

Read more news magazines and books.
Read less blogs.


Eat less McDonald's.
Try cooking more often.

Run more.
Find less excuses.

Buy less stuff.
Donate more of what we have, but no longer really need.