Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Shame on me!
It's been almost a year since I've written anything. I know how much good it does to unload and unleash feelings. I should have been writing all along, but life side-tracked me. Hope I am better!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Dynamic Leader
I read a challenge to blog about words.
The words "dynamic leader" crossed my path this week in reference to the new superintendent at our school. When I saw this, I was upset as I am in disagreement with a lot of what she is doing and how she is handling things. That was when I thought dyanmic leader meant something good. I have been doing a lot of thinking about this, especially after attending the annual budget hearing the other night. I asked questions that weren't answered - she just did not answer them. There was no presentation of the budget or talk about money. We heard about all the programs she's adding and all the wonderful changes she's making. She is a leader - the head of the school. She is dynamic - forceful; characterized by change and activity. So, she is a dynamic leader by definition. Dynamic leader does not have a positive connotation to me now.
In my thinking, I know I have been comparing her to the newly-retired superintendent who led our school for 15 years. He was not the most popular man with the teachers as they were sometimes told no, and teachers don't take no for an answer well. (I can say this because I was a teacher for 33 years, lived education, and saw it all.) But, he was a fair man. He did what was best for all. He didn't "play games". He didn't favor anyone. He was unassuming and just did his job.
I've decided a good leader is like a good ref. You should be able to watch a ball game without the ref being a focal point of the game. You know he is there. He has control. He makes it work. He is almost invisible.
Our former superintendent was a good ref. He was a real leader.
The words "dynamic leader" crossed my path this week in reference to the new superintendent at our school. When I saw this, I was upset as I am in disagreement with a lot of what she is doing and how she is handling things. That was when I thought dyanmic leader meant something good. I have been doing a lot of thinking about this, especially after attending the annual budget hearing the other night. I asked questions that weren't answered - she just did not answer them. There was no presentation of the budget or talk about money. We heard about all the programs she's adding and all the wonderful changes she's making. She is a leader - the head of the school. She is dynamic - forceful; characterized by change and activity. So, she is a dynamic leader by definition. Dynamic leader does not have a positive connotation to me now.
In my thinking, I know I have been comparing her to the newly-retired superintendent who led our school for 15 years. He was not the most popular man with the teachers as they were sometimes told no, and teachers don't take no for an answer well. (I can say this because I was a teacher for 33 years, lived education, and saw it all.) But, he was a fair man. He did what was best for all. He didn't "play games". He didn't favor anyone. He was unassuming and just did his job.
I've decided a good leader is like a good ref. You should be able to watch a ball game without the ref being a focal point of the game. You know he is there. He has control. He makes it work. He is almost invisible.
Our former superintendent was a good ref. He was a real leader.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Smarties to the Rescue
I spent yesterday scrapping. I am trying to put together an album for my nephew who will be graduating in June. His mom has left me with a number of holes in his life, which has been very frustrating to me. So, I dug in my retreat goodie bag (from April 14) for a snack. I found my box of Smarties - a wonderful candy resembling M&Ms, but made in Canada. Oh, how I enjoyed that box of Smarties. They have a crunchier coating than M&Ms. The colors are much more vibrant, too. Somehow, that treat helped me get through my rough spot. It was very disheartening, though, when the last Smartie was gone and I had to face that the next time I have a chance at seeing any is the last weekend in September.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Love At First Beat
It's time to get back to my blog. I think I wasn't posting because I figured no one would be reading, but I want to put things into words again.
This morning, my daughter called to ask me to go with her to her doctor appointment. I flew to get ready. You see, she is expecting our first grandchild in early November. I got to hear that little heartbeat. What a sensation! We had been talking in the waiting room as we looked at new born pictures in an album (not CM!!). I was saying how everyone thinks their baby is so beautiful, but very few brand new babies are cute. Well, I just know that my new grand baby will be absolutely the most gorgeous child born. I am not the kind of person to let anyone know that, but will certainly think that in my heart. They aren't finding out what s/he is which I used to agree with. All I really care about is that s/he is healthy. I pray for that.
There is a little glitch with all this. Our son is getting married on October 20 - in California. We are in central New York. Molly says she'll be at the wedding - I think she has to believe that at this point. I know it will break her heart to miss her brother's wedding. I really believe she won't be there. I just hope that she won't have the baby while I am in CA for the wedding. That would be my luck, though. It sure is going to be an interesting time in our lives!!
This morning, my daughter called to ask me to go with her to her doctor appointment. I flew to get ready. You see, she is expecting our first grandchild in early November. I got to hear that little heartbeat. What a sensation! We had been talking in the waiting room as we looked at new born pictures in an album (not CM!!). I was saying how everyone thinks their baby is so beautiful, but very few brand new babies are cute. Well, I just know that my new grand baby will be absolutely the most gorgeous child born. I am not the kind of person to let anyone know that, but will certainly think that in my heart. They aren't finding out what s/he is which I used to agree with. All I really care about is that s/he is healthy. I pray for that.
There is a little glitch with all this. Our son is getting married on October 20 - in California. We are in central New York. Molly says she'll be at the wedding - I think she has to believe that at this point. I know it will break her heart to miss her brother's wedding. I really believe she won't be there. I just hope that she won't have the baby while I am in CA for the wedding. That would be my luck, though. It sure is going to be an interesting time in our lives!!
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Phila
We took a trip to Philadelphia this week. What a fantastic time! I have over 200 pictures to prove it! Well, about 60 of them are baseball game pics, so they don't really count.
My nephew is a teacher in Orlando, FL. He had a student this year whose father is a pitcher for the Phillies. Graham asked if the dad could get him tickets for the Yankees games and he did!
My nephew and niece flew in from FL; my brother's family, Jay, and I went down to meet them. We left on Monday morning and arrived at our hotel in Cherry Hill, NJ early in the afternoon. The girls went to the pool. The boys and I went miniature golfing. Then we headed to the ball park.
On Tuesday we went to Phila and visited the Liberty Bell. That was my "must do". We walked to South St. and had cheese steaks at Jim's Steaks. Fabulous!!! I think we might just drive down there for dinner some night! We went back to the hotel for swimming and naps before the game.
Breakfast on Wednesday was at Dunkin' Donuts. My nieces wanted to go to the mall, so we said good-bye to them and headed to the zoo before taking Graham and Bridget to the airport.
It was so great to see my niece and nephew - haven't seen them since Molly's wedding in October. We had a great time and decided to do something like this every year.
The only bad thing was that my son was supposed to go, but something came up at work and he wasn't able to join us. But, we'll make sure he's with us next time!
My nephew is a teacher in Orlando, FL. He had a student this year whose father is a pitcher for the Phillies. Graham asked if the dad could get him tickets for the Yankees games and he did!
My nephew and niece flew in from FL; my brother's family, Jay, and I went down to meet them. We left on Monday morning and arrived at our hotel in Cherry Hill, NJ early in the afternoon. The girls went to the pool. The boys and I went miniature golfing. Then we headed to the ball park.
On Tuesday we went to Phila and visited the Liberty Bell. That was my "must do". We walked to South St. and had cheese steaks at Jim's Steaks. Fabulous!!! I think we might just drive down there for dinner some night! We went back to the hotel for swimming and naps before the game.
Breakfast on Wednesday was at Dunkin' Donuts. My nieces wanted to go to the mall, so we said good-bye to them and headed to the zoo before taking Graham and Bridget to the airport.
It was so great to see my niece and nephew - haven't seen them since Molly's wedding in October. We had a great time and decided to do something like this every year.
The only bad thing was that my son was supposed to go, but something came up at work and he wasn't able to join us. But, we'll make sure he's with us next time!
Monday, June 12, 2006
35 years............
Today is Jay's and my 35th wedding anniversary. I can't believe it because I think of myself as 35 years old!!
All morning my mind has been playing a video of our life. Thank goodness I am remembering the happy things right now. I don't want to think about the people who have left and start crying.
Jay gave me a huge bouquet of daisies. This has always been my favorite flower. It was the flower for the bridemaids' bouquets at our wedding. Their dresses were pink with tiny daisies on them. I haven't thought about that in so long! And, it struck me that our daughter, Molly, who was married in October had pink dresses with black flocked flowers. So, she is a little like me I guess.
Jay has golf league on Mondays. He wanted to get a sub for tonight, but I told him not to. I know how he loves to play golf. I will meet him after and we'll have dinner at the club house.
Doing something special today isn't that important to me because we are together all day, every day now. We are retired and spend most of our time together. That is the best part of being retired. So far - almost two years - it has gone well. We haven't gotten on each other's nerves yet.
Guess it is true love!
All morning my mind has been playing a video of our life. Thank goodness I am remembering the happy things right now. I don't want to think about the people who have left and start crying.
Jay gave me a huge bouquet of daisies. This has always been my favorite flower. It was the flower for the bridemaids' bouquets at our wedding. Their dresses were pink with tiny daisies on them. I haven't thought about that in so long! And, it struck me that our daughter, Molly, who was married in October had pink dresses with black flocked flowers. So, she is a little like me I guess.
Jay has golf league on Mondays. He wanted to get a sub for tonight, but I told him not to. I know how he loves to play golf. I will meet him after and we'll have dinner at the club house.
Doing something special today isn't that important to me because we are together all day, every day now. We are retired and spend most of our time together. That is the best part of being retired. So far - almost two years - it has gone well. We haven't gotten on each other's nerves yet.
Guess it is true love!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
OBX Album
I have finished my OBX album!!! I am so excited. Last summer my family spent a week at the Outer Banks with my two brothers' families. It was the best vacation we've ever had. Everything was perfect. I took a lot of pictures.
For Christmas, I gave my six nieces and nephews each a small album of the trip. That almost burned me out. I had to copy pictures, do a lot of the same layouts, and finish six albums in a short amount of time. The kids loved them because of all the wonderful memories they'll have forever from that vacation.
I went to a retreat two weeks ago and did over 50 pages. While I was there, I realized I was missing some pictures. I found them and finished the album this week. I can't believe I did a whole album in a total of 4 days(2 at the retreat and 2 at home). I am so far behind in my scrapping. I want to work, work, work on albums. For the past two years I have made too many albums as gifts. That is going to stop!! I am going to scrap for ME. It took this retreat to get back my passion for scrapping.
I'm off to put on the page protectors!
For Christmas, I gave my six nieces and nephews each a small album of the trip. That almost burned me out. I had to copy pictures, do a lot of the same layouts, and finish six albums in a short amount of time. The kids loved them because of all the wonderful memories they'll have forever from that vacation.
I went to a retreat two weeks ago and did over 50 pages. While I was there, I realized I was missing some pictures. I found them and finished the album this week. I can't believe I did a whole album in a total of 4 days(2 at the retreat and 2 at home). I am so far behind in my scrapping. I want to work, work, work on albums. For the past two years I have made too many albums as gifts. That is going to stop!! I am going to scrap for ME. It took this retreat to get back my passion for scrapping.
I'm off to put on the page protectors!
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