2 Hours Traffic

It is such a lovely......

  #!$%^%&*%%&* COLD/FLU SEASON!

...ignore my outburst while I blow my raw and tender nose and go back to my drug induced stupor.

Pass me an Orangjeboom, I was just on an episode of Cops!

So, I am sitting here drinking an"oh so crisp and flavorful"  Oranjeboom and contemplating my day.  I usually shy away from a lot of work discussions on this blog for a variety of reasons, but I just have to relate this story.

My 9th graders had a field trip today.  We went to a lovely performance at the Paramount Theater in St Cloud.  We watched a dance performance that was truly a great show; however, at the end of the show, I was torn from my enjoyment by a coworker, who informed me that one of my students had a knife and was threatening to use it.  No details here....this is the simple gist of the situation.

Oh geez...just what we need.  This student has had some prior threatening behaviors, and no matter what, we have to take these things seriously in this day and age.  We couldn't find him in the crowd until the lights went up.  We decided to call the school administration to let them know the situation and maybe they could grab him when he got off the bus.  Well, they informed us that they did not want him ON the bus,and that is when the real adventure began!

I was given the task of trying to stop him from getting on the bus.  So, I tried to pull him aside to ask him what the deal was..."you seem upset...let's talk about this...".  this did not work and he became more agitated.  I was told to fuck off and I tried to calm him down, but he took off walking "home." Long story short, and trying not to give away too many details on the Internet, I ended up trailing him (in heels)  for about 3 blocks trying to talk him back to the bus area ...using every trick of the trade.  He never stopped to talk to me, but I did finally engage him a little and he calmed down some (I was afraid he might hurt himself at first)....  luckily a couple police cars finally got him to stop.

Everyone ended up OK and "things" are being "handled"...but needless to say, I needed a beer when I got home.  The funny part is that my other students were really worried about me....and one student was afraid I might get lost (which is funny if you have been to St Cloud and lived here for 16 years...longer than my 14/15 year old students have been alive.)  It is nice to know that they care though...I think they are a little protective of me after the school year I have had so far...oh, and I heard that the young man I was following said,  in questioning later in the day, that he really felt bad for what he said to me as well. 

I guess that is why I teach...even with all the crap going on in our world...kids are really pretty darn cool.

Just a little video of the day...I think it is a fitting choice.

Music Video:HOW TO SAVE A LIFE (by The Fray)

Music Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

It is Friday Jan 26th at 10:51 A.M in Beijing...

...and 8:51 P.M on the 25th in little old St Cloud, MN.

My brother and sister-in-law are in China for two weeks.  Kathy has been sending us updates with a few photos.  I played around with them a little in Photoshop (they are awesome already, but I just gave them a little pop...when they get home we are going to send them all through the process).  It looks like it is an amazing trip so far.  My brother is there for work, but I think tomorrow is his last day on company time.  They are going to meet up with my cousin, Brian and his family in the next few days.  My cousin is studying Chinese medicine.  The Grosam Family Website

Earworms....

Ya gotta love 'em!

Music Video:RUN (by Snow Patrol)

Music Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

I had this song in my head all day, so I decided to share it with the world! I do love Snow Patrol; they are one of my current favorite bands.

JDRF Walk

...went very well!  You will have to click on my "quickie" layout to actually SEE the photos...they are looking pretty tiny.  The walk lasted only an hour, but I ended up being at the MOA from 7 A.M until about 5:30 P.M.  The mall is great and all, but that is just waaaaay too much of a good thing.  I did get a cute pair of heels and some jeans, which were much needed. 

The kids seemed to really enjoy the day, and as the layout says, there were no major meltdowns...pretty darn good for such a long day!

One more very cool thing: Bob's Uncle Gene, surprised us all by flying in from Seattle for the walk.  He is a wily one that Gene.

Another highlight of the day came after the MOA....Bob and I actually went shopping AGAIN that night!  We finally have a Trader Joe's in Minnesota, and I just had to get there and check it out.  So far we have enjoyed everything we tried.  My favorites thus far are the salt and pepper cashews, the mustard won ton chips and the caramelized onion/ham & Gruyere cheese flat-bread! We bought some Two Buck Chuck (wine..and it is actually three buck Chuck in Minnesota),  but we haven't tried it yet...maybe this next weekend.

Nate the Great!

Well, tomorrow we head out to the Mall of America for the weekend at our third annual JDRF Walk (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).  We walk on the Nate the Great team.  Nathan is my nephew who was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes.  The team this year, headed by his mom/ my sister-in-law/friend, has earned a TON of money...over $10, 000!!!!  (and we haven't even donated yet...we are a little slow on the uptake this year.)  I am looking forward to the weekend.  We always have a good time, and I need a little fun/no responsibilities for a couple of days.  I just finished up two 13 hour days at school...we had conferences each day AFTER teaching the entire day....and then tomorrow we have a regular school day.  I am not sure who decided this schedule, but whoever did was a masochist and has his/her own level of Hell reserved upon arrival.

OK...a bit melodramatic, but seriously....SOMEONE MUST PAY!  ;-p

I cannot know where you are going, but I can hold the lamp of my love aloft to accompany you on your way...

Let it not be death but completeness
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs,
Let the flight through the sky end in the folding
     of the wings over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like
     the flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say
     your last words in silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you
     on your way.
                                              ----Rabindranath Tagore

Martin Luther King Day seems like an appropriate day for reflection. I wish you all a gentle and reflective day today.

Favorite Presents...

Jasmine's favorite Christmas present came from "Grandma."  She carries this long pink Weiner Dog around all over the house.  I caught her protecting...oh, um, I mean cuddling, her present last night. 

 

My favorite present came from my parents and my brother and sister-in-law.  They purchased a star  at the International Star Registry with Beckett's name.  So, now Beckett has a star in the sky close to the Big Dipper.  It was such a touching gift.

Tonight is finally Bob's work holiday party. They always have it in January, and then tomorrow we head to Minneapolis to celebrate my dad's birthday...going to Jax Cafe for brunch.

Live in the moment and relish its goodness!

I have been reading Healing After Loss.  It is a very good book of daily meditations.  Each day contains a quote, a discussion and a little thought for the day.  My favorite so far was Jan 3rd.  The quote was by Corita Kent, and it said, " Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries." 

I am trying so hard to live in the moment, to find joy in each day and each hour.  I can tend towards anxiety and can spend hours analyzing, predicting and dissecting my life, and I realize that is not healthy.  Being introspective is good and has its place, but balance is key to serenity. 

The thought of the day says, " Instead of thinking: Before this I was sad.  After this I will be sad, we could try:  For now, I will be in this moment only and relish its goodness."

This is hard for me to do, but one path I have found that helps me with this is through yoga.  I started yoga about a year ago, and I just started going back again post pregnancy.  Yoga helps me to focus on balancing my thoughts.  It isn't about suspending all thought, it is about acknowledging each thought and then letting it go, like a cloud floating by...not latching on to all my fears, plans, etc...  It helps to calm my mind...even if it is for just a few minutes.

A layout I did a looong time ago.

Whoo HOOO! I did a layout!

This is my first layout in at least four months and the first one I did "just for fun" in probably six months!  Journaling reads:

I was looking through trip photos last night and I ran into a series of photos of this shop.  I remem-
bered why I took these.  I had just bought a  pregnancy test at a Boots across the way.  Less than an hour later, I took that test and found
out I was pregnant with Beckett and our world was forever changed!  That little action, this
tiny shop, that simple photo..are all parts of our short time with Beckett.

The other two layouts are ones I did for CK that didn't make the final cut (one article was changed to a different topic, and one they filled all the spots before they received mine)  I was going to try to get them published elsewhere, but I don't seem to be submitting anymore, so I figure I'd post here.

I did these back in August I believe.  :-O

Ireland photos.

My mother-in-law's 60th birthday.

Just a picture of my little one...

Beckett Anthony Johnson

November 16th, 2006

I am feeling it is time to start sharing these. 

Here is my sweet boy in his daddy's hands.

A page from his scrapbook.