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So I have been running for 16 months and I have not lost a pound. I know I gave up on trying to lose weight and decided to focus more on being fit. But, I was trying to figure out why my time was not improving considering I was doing everything in terms of increasing mileage to build endurance for longer runs. Up to a few weeks ago, my regular long runs were 7 miles. (I got side tracked by the flu. Laid me up for 2 weeks.) My mile per minute has pretty much stayed consistent. I would like to do at least 2 half-marathons this year. So I began calculating my estimated finish time. Not great! In researching how to improve, I came across an article relating weight loss and improving your time. So this is where I am now, back on the weight loss goal. A friend of mine called before the holidays to see if I want to do a 12 week program with her to lose weight. I agreed. Because I have been ill, today is my first day of the 12 week program. I have to take my body measurements and send them to her. Yay! Not really. But, we have to be accountable to each other. This morning there was still ice on the roads and sidewalks in my development so I had to run on the treadmill. Have I ever mentioned I dislike the treadmill? I try listening to music, watching t.v., nothing works - other than talking to myself. I mean I actually talk to myself saying "o.k. 5 more minutes, o.k. can't stop on an even number" and so on until I reach a respectable number. So here I go - day 1 - only 83 more days to go.

A Holiday Story

I recently started volunteering with a local charity in my town. I passed the sign with the funny name for months not knowing what it meant or what took place at the building behind the sign. A couple months ago, I helped to organize a food drive at my daughter's school and I wanted the donation to go to a local group. A few days prior to the event someone called me and suggested this organization. I did a bit of research and thought sure o.k. sounds fine. I called the contact person and she was very pleasant and excited at the anticipated donation. The students did a fantastic job and we collected a large amount of canned food. I set out to make my delivery, expecting to drop the stuff off and be on my way. The office for Sweet Revenge Ladies, Inc. is set in a building that looks like a regular house. I was met by the founder, Margaret who gave me a tour of the building. I began to realize this was not just going to be a simple drop off. She explained that the organization tries to help everyone in need who comes to them. There was a clothing closet, a food pantry, a room for counseling and her office. While I was there a couple people came in for help. They were treated with respect and were graciously assisted. I asked about volunteering for the organization. Since then, I have played a role in helping to set up their Twitter and Facebook accounts. During Thanksgiving I helped with donation of turkeys and helped to prepare baskets for families in need. After Thanksgiving the attention went to Christmas. An Adopt-a-Family and Toy Drive were planned along with Picture with Santa. I ended up adopting a family with two children. I soon realized this was not as simple as it seemed. Being a part of the organization, I happened to speak with the mom several times and as such I became more personally involved. I wanted to make sure this family would have a good Christmas. The kids, boys, were close in age to my own children and so I got things I knew my kids would enjoy. The night before the event, as I wrapped the gifts, I thought "oh, how nice" feeling proud of myself. On the morning of the event, I picked up donated baked goods and stopped to buy my latte at Starbucks. Driving there, I was thinking "I hope everything goes well and my family will be pleased." I got to the building, I put my latte down and started laying out the baked goods. Not long after, people started arriving. A woman showed up needing coats for six children. Other people started arriving for pictures with Santa and many came to pick up food. The families who were adopted also started arriving. It seemed nonstop for a couple of hours. One woman came with her two year old grand-daughter by way of Paratransit. Her grand-daughter had her picture taken with Santa and they got clothes and a box of food. One of the high school volunteers and myself had to help her with the things unto the van. Throughout the day many people arrived with their children who would not otherwise get pictures with Santa or receive Christmas gifts. During the midst of the event, a family called for help, their home recently had a fire and they lost everything. Thanks to the generosity of a volunteer and her neighbor an emergency run was made to purchase items for the children affected. Food, clothing and gifts were delivered to the family. Near the end of the day, the family I adopted showed up. The mom on arrival gave me a thank-you card and expressed her gratitude. The boys had their picture taken with Santa and I presented the family with their package. As they left, I felt the relief of the mom - she had expressed to me during our conversations prior that they had reluctantly put up a tree. As they left I hoped she and her husband would enjoy the small gift I enclosed for them, she had insisted that she only wanted gifts for the children. When the event was done I realized I never got back to my latte (I took it home and reheated it). As we were cleaning up I thought "this was a good day." As I drove home, it hit me - THAT WAS AMAZING! I choked up as I ran the day through my head. I thought of the woman I helped unto the van and hoped someone would help her at her destination, I thought of the woman dealing with cancer who brought her little one out for a picture and all the people who left with food boxes. The small role I played in that day will stay with me a long time. All those people who came through the building throughout the day, left with a little hope and some relief that at least for the next few days the spirit of Christmas is not a myth. And, for me, my faith in humanity has been restored - there are good people out there - both helping others and needing help. Happy Holidays!

http://www.thebestcolleges.org/2010/the-worlds-15-most-extraordinary-homeschoolers/

Being thankful even if ...

It's Thanksgiving Day and most people take time to reflect on what they are thankful for.  As I scrolled down my facebook feed, most people are thankful for their family and friends.  It got me thinking, is this just a nice thing to say or are people really thankful for the deadbeat family members and the toxic friends?  I turned to myself.  I posted that I was thankful for all that has come and gone and the present.  Am I really thankful for the many selfish people I know or have come across?
So I got to thinking - is a selfish person a bad person? I define a selfish person as someone who is unwilling to compromise on anything, unwilling to give of themselves to others and an inability to see pass themselves in every situation.  Are these necessarily "bad" traits?
There are people that I know that I think of as selfish.  Such as a "friend" who only calls when she needs to vent and never ever asks how I am doing. Or another friend who loves to share her shopping and traveling adventures but can never support any charitable requests.  Or people who I just do not hear from until they need something.  Are these necessarily "bad" things?
I do not know why people behave the way they do but I suppose I am thankful for the mixed bag of characters I have come across.  I suppose those toxic friends and deadbeat family members in some way show me what I do not want to be and so for that, I am thankful for them- also.

Where was the "wow"?

So one of the few reality shows I watch regularly is Project Runway.  Last night was the finale where the "best" designer is chosen.  Well it did not happen.  I mean a designer won, but the person was not the best.  The winner, Gretchen has had a nasty attitude all season and really designed very ordinary clothes.  She fancies herself a sustainable designer, who designs for the "regular" woman.
Now I like my comfy clothes, I have cargo pants and shorts in just about every color and I have Birkenstocks in several styles. But, the show is about fashion.  The finale takes place at Lincoln Center in NYC.  This is a huge deal in the fashion world. 
The other two people in the final - Mondo, whose style incooperated patterns was very high fashion and Andy, whose style had very intricate designs such as weaving were far better designers than Gretchen.  She constantly put the other designers down and was at times rude to the judges.  Her defense was that she is a very confident person and people judge women harshly when they are strong. 
I absolutely dislike when women say people call them a "bitch" because they are strong and confident and other people cannot handle it.  No! Being confident has nothing to do with putting other people down and being nasty. 
Project Runway's Facebook page went nuts after she won.  I think out of over two thousand comments (when I checked in) she had three fans.  People were rather upset over her win.  Watching the finale last night reminded me of why I stopped watching American Idol some time ago - the winner was not the "best".  If a reality show is going to be based on talent, then it should be the most talented who wins.  If not, the show loses credibility. 
I don't expect high fashion when I go to Urban Outfitters, but if I tune into a fashion show at Lincoln Center, I expect drama.  I expect to be wowed.

Vote for me - I am ENTHUSIASTIC!

Well, one upside to electing O'Donnell to the senate is, there would no longer be the need to fix the school system.  A mockery is being made of the political system.
When we go shopping, don't we try to find the best of whatever it is we are purchasing? Usually when I am picking an item from the shelf I pick the one behind the first one because the items behind have been handled less.  When picking produce I just don't blindly pick apples, I look them over to find the ones without blemishes or bruises.
When I need a new doctor, I try to get recommendations and I check qualifications and make sure the doctor is certified.  My point here is that we usually want the best when receiving a service or purchasing a product - why would we want less in a Senatorial candidate?
Shouldn't we expect our political candidates to be "the best"?  Now, not everyone can be from the top of the class, but shouldn't they at least having a basic understanding of the political system they are running to be a part of?
O'Donnell rants about "rights" being taken away.  She has no clue where these "rights" come from.  How can a candidate with no knowledge of the constitution be considered a serious contender for the senate?
When asked at her latest debate what her accomplishments and achievements were, she said "I am sitting here" (on the debate platform).    Seriously? We tell our children to strive for the best.  Why? If we are to take O'Donnell serious, all they need to do is show up.
Simply being enthusiastic cannot be the only requirement for running for office.  This dumbing down and mockery of the political process cannot be healthy. 

Homeschool vs Private School vs Public School

Since I homeschooled my daughter through the 5th grade and put in her in public school for 6th grade, I often get asked what is the difference I see.
Now that she is in the 7th grade (I continue to homeschool  my 6 and 8 year old boys), the significant difference is I see is class size. My daughter excelled her first year in public school.  Her class had 32 students and basically the students who were advanced were on their own.  (There were perhaps 7 who were considered advanced.)  With my daughter's homeschool background she was trained to work independently so I think this worked to her advantage. 
Where we live, the class size difference between public school and private school is staggering.  The average number of students in a class in my daughter's school is 30, while in the private school nearby it is 12.  There is a lot of debate going on now about how to "fix" public schools.  While I do believe many teachers are not qualified, having a class size of 30 is a huge problem.  There are several components as to why education in this country is in a downward spiral.  While homeschooling may not be a viable option for most, it is unfortunate that it carries the stigma it does. 

http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/

Will they be sending cameras home?

I know some schools have been charged with sending laptops with cameras home with students and spying. I suppose that is the only way the new reading "requirement" will be enforced.
My daughter's English, or as they call themselves, Language Arts teacher has them doing a weekly reading log. All good and well.  They are supposed to read 30 minutes a day totaling 150 minutes for the week.  One week my daughter's log had a couple of days at over 1 hour and on the Wednesday 10 minutes.  Her total was still over the 150 minutes, yet the teacher indicated on the log that she needed 30 minutes daily.  I am "required" to sign the log each week before it gets turned in.  So the following week I added under my signature that my daughter reads well over 150 minutes each week.  The next week again the Wednesday had less than 30 minutes, but a couple days had over 2 hours, still the need for 30 minutes daily.  I decided to email the teacher.  I explained to her that on Wednesdays it is a busy day for the family, after soccer and piano we get home close to 9pm and since school starts at 7:15am I think sleep is more important than a reading log.  I pointed out that my daughter exceeds the 150 minutes, every week.  The teacher replied me that it was a state and district requirement for all students to read 30 minutes daily, but in this case meeting the weekly is fine.  I replied that I found it amusing to have such a "requirement" since I could not figure out how it could be enforced.  No reply.
Are these people for real? They have 6th graders reading at a 3rd grade level and this is their solution?
Last week my daughter read 3 books for her log. In addition to the wars and a bankrupt economy, let's not forget "no child left behind."  But, then, people like Christine don't mind that - they have forgotten how the country went to war, how much it cost, and dislike people who opt for an education.  Yup, let's dumb everyone down and make fun of those who don't have amnesia and read.

Spare the rod?

Do parents with rude kids know they have rude kids? And, if they do, do they simply think one day the undesirable behaviour will just go away?
I am far from a perfect parent, but one thing I insist on from my children is respect.  I think respect for self and others is crucial for a child and later as an adult.  I believe that the goal for most parents is to raise children who will adjust to adulthood seamlessly.
I often tell my children that the ability to follow directions is an important component in life.  Do not get me wrong, I am not telling my children to be followers.  I encourage questioning.  I explain that when I say "not to do" something, there is always a reason behind it, as with most rules in society. I also explain that many house/family rules have to do with safety, as do many in society.
I often give an example of speed limits.  In our neighborhood the speed limit is 25mph.  I ask them what would happen if people drove at 50, 60,or 70mph and kids were playing in front of their homes as many do.  I tell them that sometimes I am running late and would like to drive faster, but because of the rule/law I will not, because of the potential danger.
I think many parents are more concerned with approval from the child than they are with discipline.  I do not believe that teaching right and wrong causes a parent to be less favorable to a child, in fact I think a child actually appreciates the guidance.  I am often in a situation where I observe a child being disrespectful to a parent and the parent shrugs and that's that.
As parents we are obligated to guide and protect our children.  How do we accomplish this by allowing children to grow up thinking they do not need to follow rules, respect others, and that if they scream for things they will be received.
I do not have all answers and as I said I am far from perfect.  But, every time I see a child screaming in public, I think they are screaming for guidance.