Flipmonk's Weblog

1001 Things Kids Should See and Do

Tracey — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:54:20 +0000

Today I was shopping in Hallmark and happened to stumble on this book by Harry H. Harrison Jr. The book is called 1001 Things Your Kids Should See & DO (Or Else They’ll Never Leave Home). I’m not sure if it was the teacher in me or the 24 almost 25 year old woman still living at home that made me pick it up, but I love this book, and it was the best $5 I’ve spent all month!

I have a post that is a list of things that I want to accomplish, but I think this book should be the first 1001 things on everyone’s list. This year in my classroom, I have really worked on handshakes and eye contact, but I know I can do more next year. This book is going to be my starting point. There are things that you should do as a little kid, teenager, and even college student.

Some of my favorites:

They need to go to a gymnastics class. So you don’t have to demonstrate a cartwheel.

They need to learn the rules. Especially if they intend to break them.

They need to turn off the iPod and listen to a thunderstorm.

They need to stand up when meeting an adult. And shake hands while looking them in the eye.

They need to set up a blog and keep it current.

They need to know how to grill a cheese sandwich.

They need to hit a fastball. And realize fastballs will be coming at them all their lives.

These are only a few of the many in the book. I seriously need to get a typed copy of this list and post it here so I can check off all of the things I’ve done. I’m afraid I’m going to end up like the book says, “(being) a thirty-year-old waiting for dinner downstairs. In pajamas.”

Sick Day

Tracey — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:42:04 +0000

So yesterday was probably the worst I have felt in a very long time. I was sneezing and snotting all over the place (gross I know!). I was told that I looked like I wanted to die. My co-workers were like just leave sub plans in case you need to take the day. I came home and debated for a few hours and decided to just take the day. I slept for 12 hours last night with the help of some NyQuil. I think it was the best decision. I realized I had 25 sick days saved up, so I figured why not!

I missed my kids, and felt bad because I didn’t let them know I was going to be absent and I didn’t know who my substitute was going to be, but after feeling so much better tonight, I think I will be less hesitant to take a day off next time I am sick.

Wow, this was a boring post…I’ll think of something better later.

The other sandwich generation

Tracey — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:23:24 +0000

Both of my parents are in their early 50′s making them part of the sandwich generation. Many of their friends are busy caring for both their aging parents and for young children. Thankfully, my grandparents are doing well for the most part, and my sister and I are old enough to care for ourselves.

This past week however I thought of something interesting. With the economy in such bad shape, housing prices are down, but still much too high for some people, banks not lending money, and people losing their jobs left and right, I feel like another generation is being sandwiched or at least stuck in between childhood and adulthood.

Maybe I’m a one in a million case, but many of my friends back home and several of them here are stuck at home with their parents. I know many people have a nice working relationship where they get along well with their parents and their parents are able to treat their grown children with respect, but personally I hate where I am.

Maybe its me, maybe I have unrealistic expectations of how my relationship should be with my parents. I never went away to college, so sometimes I feel like I am treated like a 17 year old high school student. Maybe I am that miserable to live with, maybe it’s me who needs to grow up, or have an attitude adjustment.

We have our good moments here and there, but it seems like the bad moments are becoming more and more frequent. What am I to do? Moving out and renting an apartment in this economy seems foolish. Throwing out money when I have so little is certainly not a smart idea.

In the past year I have really tried to remove myself emotionally from conflicts in my house, and it works to an extent. However, I’m an extremely emotional person and my mom knows how to push my buttons better than anyone else I know.

I hate being miserable 90% of the time I’m home, but what can I do. I am a grown woman who still feels like a child so often. Is it so wrong to want the best of both worlds, saving money and having a good relationship with my parents? I’m scared that we’re going to have a fight that permanently damages our relationship. Help!

Be careful what you wish for….

Tracey — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:39:31 +0000

So I was sitting at the breakfast table this morning thinking about what I could possibly blog about, things are great with school, my relationship, my friends, and even my family at this point. How boring! I decided to come upstairs to think for a few minutes before I left for work and bam, there’s my idea.

Bam? yes, that was the sound of my laptop cord getting stuck on my doorknob and my laptop flying through the air and into my wall. Now, I’m not sure how many of you live in new houses, but if you even breathe on the wall, they get marked up. Now try throwing a laptop at the wall and see what happens. Not to mention my house is dead quiet.

I hear are you ok? from downstairs. Everyone automatically assumes that I’ve wiped out (since I tend to fall down the stairs every other week or so), so I shout down that I’m alright, but the wall is not. My mom comes upstairs and goes well you sure are a spaz!

I’d just like to thank apple, because this is the second time in less than a month that my laptop has gone flying through the air and has come out unscathed for the most part.

Well I need to head off to work. I’ll try not to damage anything else this morning.

Quote of the Day

Tracey — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:09:12 +0000

At our school our guidance counselors come in once a month and do a 45 minute lesson with our kids. They cover topics such as drugs, peer pressure, and middle school towards the end of the year. Our counselor started this year off with an interest inventory and then showing them what type of careers suit their interests at this point in their lives.

She starts out the discussion with a question: “Why should we think about our career choices when we are only in 5th grade and 10 years old?” She got several responses such as: “you may already know what you like and don’t like,” or “well we have to decide what type of courses to take when we get in 8th grade and that is only 3 years away.” Five or six students continue this type of answer.

I can’t even be sure what student said this because I was at my desk grading papers, but I hear one student say…”Well maybe when you grow up you’ll want a job as a kid.” Now I’m just curious..do these jobs exist? If so can I get an application? I’d be ok turning in my badge for some milk and cookies and nap time!!

100 Things…A Work In Progress

Tracey — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:54:54 +0000

So a few of my friends have a list of 100 things to accomplish in 1,000 days. Now I don’t necessarily think I want to put a time limit on some of these things. I don’t think I have the money to do all of these things within the next three years, but I still wanted to write some of these down. I started a list probably almost a year ago, but I’m not sure what happened to it. Some of them are old, and I’ve actually accomplished them, so those are included too. I’ll keep looking, but for now I guess I’ll have to start from what I remember until I find my old list. So here it goes, in no order of any sort:

**Update 9/15..found at least one of my lists**

1. Stop hitting a softball like a girl. *Still a work in progress*

2. Take a drive to the NC mountains to see the leaves change in the fall. *Completed 11/2008*

3. Learn how to surf. (getting there, but can’t cross this one off just yet)

4. Have someone throw me a surprise birthday party.

5. Go to the driving range.

6. Go Skiing

7. Visit Australia, France, Germany, Italy, and Greece

8. Visit Northern California, the Grand Canyon, and Vegas

9. Run a 5K

10. Go home to New York, go into the City and act like a tourist*Planned for 6/2009*

11. Fall in Love *completed 7/2008*

12. Take a sick day when I am not sick

13. Go Jet Skiing

14. Go golfing with someone patient enough to let me screw up *Completed 10/2008*

15. See a big time college basketball game

16. Throw a surprise party

17. Visit Vanessa

18. Go on vacation with my sister

19. Learn how to throw a football the real way

20. Figure out my family tree

21. Get a professional massage

22. Go on a cruise

23. Choose a masters program, apply, and get started

24. Move out

25. Cook my friends a full dinner including dessert

26. Go see a professional sporting event *Panthers Game 9/2008*

27. Catch a Fly Ball in a Softball Game

28. Take a real road trip

29. Go to VEGAS

30. Get my passport

31. Print my digital pictures from the past year and make a scrapbook*OBX trip has been scrapbooked*

32. Watch 5 classic comedies. *Caddy Shack, *

So Long Sweet Summer

Tracey — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:56:47 +0000

Wow I can’t believe that it’s almost been three months since I last posted. This past summer was probably one of the best summers of my entire life, and since I didn’t post once, I figured I should write a quick update. This summer was pretty amazing. A few trips to the beach, lots of time at the pool, and a too many nights to count spent outside with good friends, and several concerts made for an awesome time. First off, I want to give a shout out to Twiddy, the best Outer Banks Rental Company by far. Visit their website at www.twiddy.com and make sure you book all of your Outer Banks vacations with them! The house we stayed at was amazing. It was right on the beach, complete with its own pool and hot tub. The house was clean, the staff was friendly and accommodating, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more from a vacation house. I can’t wait until next year, because we are certainly going back.

Our View

In addition to the Outer Banks trip, I attended the Dave Matthews Band, Snoop Dog/311, and Rascal Flatts/Taylor Swift Concert. I had a good time at all 3 concerts, three totally different styles of music, but all great shows.

School is back in session, but last weekend PJ and I headed to Oak Island for a birthday party. The party was fun, but spending the night right on the beach in the middle of a hurricane 20 miles north of landfall was quite the experience. I woke up a little after 2AM and was definitly scared silly. Thankfully the next two days were beautiful and we were able to enjoy the weekend.

Another thing we did this summer was game night. A group of us went to a local elementary school one night and played Kick the Can and Capture the Flag for hours. I don’t think I’ve had that much fun in a long time. Makes me realize how much I missed being a kid and just kicking back and running around!

I also tried so many new things this summer. I tried NC BBQ for the first time, I actually am slightly enjoying the taste of beer, tried Amber Jack at the beach, and I have started watching football! I am slightly sad that this summer has come to an end, but there are so many things this fall that I am looking forward to!

I’ve missed you….

Tracey — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:37:44 +0000

Wow I can’t believe how long it has been since I’ve posted. It is amazing how much things change and how much things stay the same. Ok ok its only been 6 weeks, but that statement is still so true.

School is out for the summer! My kids kicked butt on the math EOG. I am so proud of them. I even got a compliment from our assistant principal, who doesn’t say many nice things to anyone about anything. The end of the year is probably one of my favorite times of year. This years class was amazing, and I will certainly miss them. I read them “Oh the Places You’ll Go” at the end of the day, and barely made it through the first paragraph without crying. It also pays to have two best friends on the fourth grade team, they made sure I had a handful of great kids for next year too. I’m excited…both for the summer and for next year.

Ahh dating life…what can I say. People kept telling me oh good things come when you aren’t expecting them to, so stop looking. I always believed that line was a load of bull. As a single girl, I was always looking. What I do agree with, is that sometimes you aren’t looking in the right places. It is amazing how good things just fall into your lap. I am so thankful that fate was looking out for me this time. I’ll go into details later, but I am dating an amazing guy, and I couldn’t be happier.

Ahh diet…how I loath that word…I have done everything but diet these past 7 weeks. I am mad at myself, but honestly I’m not going to stress about it. Life is good, and I’m sure I’ll get that under control at some point this summer. Maybe in July.

Well that was just a quick update, I’ll try to get back on at some point this week and go into some further details about all of the above.

Typical…

Tracey — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:21:04 +0000

So my mom is nuts. I love her to death, but she is certifiably insane. I need to move out, but that is another post entirely. She has this opinion that “if your momma can’t tell you, nobody can.” I can respect her for that, but sometimes she is just mean. This is a conversation that transpired yesterday afternoon after I got home from kickball/a dip in Ev’s pool.

Mom: “Why are you wearing a bathing suit?”

Me: “Well after the games, we jumped in the pool.”

Mom: “There is a pool at the kickball field.”

Me: “Yea, you should see it, right after the infield. It gets quite interesting when a ball goes into the outfield and they have to jump in the water to catch the ball…..umm no, at Evan’s.”

Mom: “Oh, you went in that bathing suit.”

Me: “Umm yea.”

Mom: “Are you sure that is ready for public consumption?”

Me:”Thanks, seriously.”

Well I didn’t think I looked that bad, those of you that saw me…what do you think?Was I ready for “public consumption?” LOL. Gotta love her…or not.

Boy was I wrong…..

Tracey — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:06:57 +0000

Ok so I’m pretty sure from my other posts ( or because you know me) that you can tell I’m a pretty active person. I was a gymnast/cheerleader, I go to the gym, I go for long bike rides, play kickball…etc. I’ve always considered myself “in shape.” This was mostly because during school days I could outrun, out sit-up, and out pull-up all the guys in class. Then I got to college, and I was in far better shape than anyone else on my team. However, I’ve been trying some new things and it has made me realize just how out of shape I actually am.

Saturday and tonight I did an hour long spinning class. I tried spinning a few years ago, got off the bike and couldn’t walk. Long story short..I didn’t go back. This time around my sister asked me to go with her, and I owe her so I went. I think my instructor said that a 150 pound person will burn between 700 and 800 calories in that one hour. I’m sure I did that and probably lost about a pound or two of water weight….gross. I thought for sure I was in pretty decent cardio shape, but yea I was totally wrong. I got my butt kicked tonight! If you are looking for an unbelievable workout, I definitely recommend it.

I was feeling sligtly adventurous today, so after a 20 minute walk/jog and an hour long spin class, I headed to the rock wall. Again, that was a humbling experience. My gym has 5 places where you can climb alone, which is totally awesome. I obviously started on the easiest course, and I was horrible. I got about 5 feet from the top all three times. I really thought I was still pretty strong, but again I was wrong. I wanted to get all the way to the top, but my arms were burning! I can’t wait to go back, and I swear I will get to the top if it kills me.

I am exhausted from tonight, but I am so glad that I have found a few different things to keep me motivated. I was getting awfully bored with 30 minutes of jogging and a few rounds of resistance. I will probably still do that once or twice a week, but I have had a blast mixing it up.

Besides bathing suit season, I have a wedding to go to in June. I have 7 weeks until then, and would LOVE to lose 15 pounds . I’m not sure if I can do it, because I love to eat, but hopefully with the more intense workouts and mixing it up and being a little bit more careful about what I eat, I can do it. I’ll start the healthy eating right after I enjoy the last piece of my birthday cake!