I am a cross country skiing lover! Seriously, it’s my most favourite winter sport. I have been doing it since my early 20’s. The sport has everything I need, cardio exercise, arm, leg and abs workouts, fresh air, and gliding speed. It’s also very inexpensive and requires little advance planning. Sort of all the same reasons I like running too.
The only major problem with this activity is the length of season. Cross country skiing requires natural snow. Unlike downhill skiing, where artificial snow can be made to lengthen the ski season, natural snow is needed for cross country skiing.

Truth be told, I don’t follow a recipe very well. Perhaps it’s my need to improvise all the time? Maybe it’s the methodical time involved in carefully following the steps? Maybe I just can’t “FOLD IN THE CHEESE?” Although, this week my son said, “Ma! You made a fantastic, the best ever Mac N’Cheese.” So, perhaps I do know how to “Fold in the Cheese?”

The minute there is a cool breeze, my hat is on. It might start in mid-October and stay on until Mid-May. Even cool nights in the summer are a great time to wear a hat. Overtime I’ve become a Hat Advocate! During the Fall and Winter, even the early Spring I insisted my children wear a hat. Maybe I sound like my mother, yelling at them when they leave our home? Although my children will describe me more as a Hat Maniac now!

Talk about excitement, when I heard we were doing the fitness test in gym class, I nearly lost my mind. I’m not a competitive person with anyone else except for myself. Every year I tried my best to earn the Award of Excellence. I wanted it so badly. I wanted to be the fittest I could be. Problem was I just couldn’t get through the Flexed Arm Hangs test.

The red and white striped box caught my attention and especially the lettering. I opened the box and there it was rows and rows and rows of different types of candy. Here is the list of contents: licorice, gummy bears, jelly beans, sour peaches, chocolates, marshmallows, almond bark, gum balls, fudge, rock candy, candy buttons, taffy, caramels, chocolate covered almonds, yogurt covered raisins, coffee crisps, toffee, chocolate covered marshmallows, and Swedish berries.
Suddenly, my mood shifted. What was I going to eat first? It was as though I just entered the Candy Garden of Roald Dahl’s, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie.

I love teaching. My classes are always a joy to me. But… every once in a while, something happens which reminds me why I love teaching so much. A student reads something, sings something or creates something special which makes the class think even harder than before. It’s like magic enters the classroom and everyone feels it. Let me share some MAGIC with you!

The best we can do is simply do our very best. Not perfection, just our best.
I might never be a good cook. As long as I try my best, I can accept this reality. I can assure you the table will be set really nicely with candles, matching napkins in napkin rings, beautiful glassware and gorgeous plates. Perhaps with a stunning floral center piece. The meal… that’s a different story. You will know that I tried my best!

So you think I’m going to take this sitting down? Do you think I’m going to just wait around for things to change? Think again Buddy, this horse has left the barn! It’s my RODEO!
Instead of complaining about everything, GET OFF YOUR… AND DO SOMETHING USEFUL!
The key word here is “useful”.  To be useful is to be responsible for yourself and responsible for the world.
Get off your… and do something to help someone.  There is so much need out there. Get useful and then you will feel better about everything.

I’m not perfect! You’re not perfect! Everyone and everybody is annoying to someone at some point. Live with it.
If you realize that nothing is perfect, you will appreciate the imperfections of everyone and everything and get over being annoyed.
However…
Nothing could be more annoying than completing a 1000 piece jig saw puzzle and realize one piece is missing. Ask my friend Lisa, as she just completed a huge puzzle and it was missing one darn piece. UGH! That’s so annoying!

Honestly, I could write a lengthy book about Elvis Presley. A long detailed book about his life and my love for him. It’s real and personal and could be a page turner. Maybe one day I will write daily about him and develop our book. For now, here’s a glimpse into this personal passion. My interest in Elvis started a long time ago. Perhaps I was 10 or 11. I was born in 1962. It was around 1972 when I first noticed him. I was entering puberty and he was the hottest, sexiest and most adorable man alive – I thought.

Ok, ok, no one wants to listen to someone who constantly complains about everything.
You’ve got to pick and choose what needs to be complained about.
But, not complaining at all? Means you might just be too complacent?
Imagine if women never complained about inequality? Imagine if teachers never complained about low pay wages? Imagine if doctors did not complain about the lack of safety materials? Imagine a world without complaining, not much would get done.

Just the other day, I went to a bakery. The sign on the door said, only 3 people allowed in the store at one time. I opened the door to peek inside to see how many people were in. Standing near the door was an older tall man, who was a customer. As I peeked in, he rudely put up his hand up and literally shoved it into my face. In a stop sign gesture, he said, “Only 3 people wait outside.”
I said, “Put your hand down and away from my face. My eyes can guide me quite well.”
He looked at me with astonishment when I said, “You would’ve never done that to a man, would you?” Another woman glared at him.
Imagine if he had done that behavior to man? A fight would have broken out!