Where I've Been Part 2

Hello again, friends....

So, to continue:

The other place I have been is in a whole lot of doctor's offices. After going back to Rhode Island my doctor had me go for a CT scan to see what was going on with the kidney stones and lo and behold, the kidney without the stones in it was completely non-functional and had been for many many years. Who knew? Anyway, it's up to all kinds of mischief in there, so they want to take it out. So then I get to live with one kidney that likes to make stones! But at least it works, so I am grateful for that.

Thus, the rest of 2012 looks to be pretty eventful, and I hope to be better at documenting it. Christmas vacation will come soon thereafter, and that means time for my Christmas present...even surgery keep can't keep me away. Till next time!

Where I've Been Part 1

I haven't done too well this year with keeping up with this blog. I have been a little better with Facebook, but even there I have dropped the ball sometimes. So here's a quick review.

Summer:
Graded lots of AP Exams. Sang at Tanglewood for the 75th Anniversary Gala. Andris Nelsons is my new favorite conductor.

Went to Moon Lake in the High Uintahs with my family. Passed two kidney stones while 200 miles from any health services or cell phone tower. Discovered that narcotics, are, in fact, bad. I knew this already, but now I know from experience. Even so, it was the best week of the year so far. Then sang a bunch more at Tanglewood.

Sang Porgy and Bess with the Boston Symphony. Am in love with Alfred Walker. Juan Carlos doesn't mind.

Started school. Yet again, I have the most awesome ninth graders ever. As my division head put it earlier this year, they definitely get me out of bed every morning.

Stay tuned for part 2, in which you find out a whole lot more about me than you ever wanted to know...

Señor Español

I am very fortunate that I am married to a guy who is also a Spanish teacher—and who hates to be bored in class as much as I do. Juan Carlos often Skypes into my classroom to talk to students about various topics that mysteriously have something to do with what we learn in class. Well, as you can imagine, Señor Español is a big hit whenever he calls. So you can imagine the reaction when he came to class this week:

We were practicing understanding and using commands in Spanish, so Juan Carlos told students to go certain places to find instructions on how to make gazpacho. Then they had to tell him what to do.

In the end the gazpacho was made and consumed…with varying degrees of pleasure!

So if you want to be a rock star, don’t worry about agents and playing an instrument or singing or whatever. Just know your way around a blender and be Señor Español.

Catch-Up

I meant to write a bit more this year but January got completely away from me, and obviously half of Feburary. Juan Carlos gave me a lovely camera for Valentine’s Day this year so today we walked around the neighborhood and took some pictures that I thought I would share. (I believe most of them will just make you glad you don’t live where we do. Well, maybe not if you like baseball.)

This is McCoy Market, which we call Don Vicente’s. We call it that because Juan Carlos had a small store like this next door to his house growing up and his neighbor’s name was Don Vicente. So Don Vicente lives on here in Pawtucket.

Now this is a diner that is literally across the street from where we live. Sadly enough we have never been there. I bet the Hot Wieners are a real draw…what is wrong with us!?

We live next to (and I do mean next to) a baseball stadium. We watch the fireworks outside our bedroom window. We don’t even have to pay for tickets because we hear the whole game just sitting in our living room. The Pawsox is the feeder team for the Boston Red Sox so sometimes we get a famous pitcher in for a game or two. The stadium, streets and parking lots are all packed when there are games going on.

    

The stadium parking lot does make a good place for Luna to run around, and play tug-of-war with her daddy. Here’s to my two beautiful loves!

When I actually learn how to use this camera you will probably hear from me again. Let’s all of us hope that is not next year sometime.

2012

So last year this scripture was my focus:

"Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you...but be diligent unto the end."
D&C 10:4

Well, without going into all the details, there was a lot more labor in our lives this year. And this coming year there will be more. Surprisingly, although it shouldn’t be, there was also more strength and more means. Interesting how it works out that way. My husband and I both agreed that the best thing we did this year was go to Moon Lake with my family for a reunion. It was truly the most happy and magical week of 2011, and I am so grateful for it.

 

This year I have chosen a more simple focus.

James 5:11 “Behold, we count them happy which endure.”

This year I only have a couple of goals.

1. I want to write a little more often in this blog.

2. I want to keep on keeping on. And I want to do it without falling to pieces. That’s where the endurance/happiness comes in.

May 2012 bring you many fulfilled hopes and dreams.