Slow Learner (4/31)

4 of 31 - SOLSC 2019

Cincinnati, Ohio on a chilly fall evening in 1998 I perused a book store in a mall, not because I loved books - which I did, but because the setting sun was too bright for the pain that was in my head.

That's the first time I can tell you I had something that was more than a headache.

I was diagnosed in 2000 and began my journey to living the best life I can with migraine disease. The doctor whom I worked with back then insisted that I take some medication at the first indication of an attack. I have had hundreds, perhaps thousands, of opportunities to practice my learning and yet I still have moments, like this one...

As I walk from the bedroom to the laundry room I become aware of something. After a moment of pausing I realize the feeling all too well, but think 'oh, I can drink a bunch of water, not lift anything, and I'll be OK'. 

Why have I not learned that if I take one over-the-counter pill at that point I could probably nip it in the bud without the need to go to abortive medication?! Why do I still fight the idea of taking a pill as being something 'bad'?! Why do I think the outcome this time will be any different than all of the hundreds of times before?

I must be a slow learner.

Meal Planning - A Poem (3/31)

3 of 31 - SOLSC 2019

Pull out recipes
from books, files, my mind, and online
Get lost in the possibilities
until time ticks by
Flip over the shopping list
write days and ideas
Cross reference cupboards, fridge, freezer, and panty
with recipes; ideas
All ingredients accounted for
pass off the list as he heads to the store

Ugh! What's My Password? (2/31)

2 of 31 - SOLSC 2019

A few sips into my cup of tea, laptop open on the kitchen table, and I'm ready to setup the URLs for the new Slicers Kathleen sent to me for my Welcome Wagon folks. I can feel the smile on my face as I think about these folks who are entering this community, this experience for the very first time. I love getting to be a part of ensuring they have comment love each and every day. (In some ways year two can be harder because your comment love isn't guaranteed, but that's another train of thoughts.)

Fingers poised above the keys, I pause. 

I stare at the wall, trying to think.

I am obviously out of my routine as I can't remember the tool I use to keep track of the blogs I want to read. I can't even think of the last time I was in the habit of reading those blogs!

I am not sure what I feel. Do I feel sad? Or do I feel I am not on top of my game by letting something slide by? If I haven't missed them, is that part of my life that used to be routine part of another season of life?

As the emotions swirl I struggle to bring my focus back to the challenge at hand - figuring out where I keep blog URLs. I know the system works for me. I know I have a section for each year of folks in my Welcome Wagon group. I know I could navigate to each URL in another manner, but I am really not a fan of reinventing the wheel and this has worked for me year after year.

"blog lists" <enter> goes into my Google search bar. 
Weebly is the first hit. It sounds familiar, but I don't that is it.
<click> 
<click> 
"RSS" shows up somewhere on my screen and tickles some neurons. 
"rss feed app" <enter> 
A 'Top 10 Best RSS Reader' link is first. 
<click> 
Feedly! That's it! 
<click> 

Ugh! What's my password. 

Here We Go! (1/31)

1 of 31 - SOLSC 2019

I am not sure how we have arrived at March already. I think Christmas break finished about a week and a half ago. I'm also not sure how this is my eighth March slicing. On the one hand it seems like I have only climbed this mountain once or twice, but on the other hand I can't remember a time before slicing each day in March. (I do know that it has become my Mom's favorite month as she gets the most posts out of me - "Hi Mom!")

For those of you for whom this is how we know one another - welcome back to sharing each day of our lives for a month.

For those of you for whom this is a new adventure - you can do it! Take one day at a time. Remember these are drafts - if you feel the need to polish each one to perfection you may not make it.

For everyone - here we go!

What I've Read

What I've Read This Month...

Kristi's bookshelf: february-2019

The Upside of Unrequited

by Becky Albertalli

Full of Beans

by Jennifer L. Holm

Falling in Love with Close Reading: Lessons for Analyzing Texts--And Life

by Christopher Lehman

The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child

by Donalyn Miller

The Wise Man's Fear

by Patrick Rothfuss

#toosoon

As I strategically choose my seat in a conference room in Dubai, voices from a table across the room reach my ears.

"Seattle is on the one yard line and..."

"Jim, is it really necessary to ruin the day before we have even begun?!" I can't help but exclaim.

Jim looks up, pauses, and then says, "Oh yeah, you are from Seattle, aren't you? We are talking about decision making."

I quickly find something else to occupy my thoughts as I know how that conversation is going to end.

#STILLtoosoon #gohawks

Intensive PD

My bags are packed and my boarding pass is downloaded on my phone; five days of intensive learning lie before me. 

The introvert in me is taking deep breaths: all day in a conference room with who knows how many people, evenings of social engagements, sharing a hotel room with a dear friend - they will all take their toll.

The friend in me is excited. I get quality time to catch up with a friend I haven't seen since June. We get to learn together and play together as well as one-on-one time for all the life we have to catch up on - and in person is better than any way technology connects us. The bonus of getting to see other friends who I have previously worked with is an advantage of international teaching and traveling.

The learner in me is cautiously optimistic. I like what I know of this presenter from what I have read and heard. I hope that day after day I am still glad I chose to spend the time and money on this intensive, (and I do expect it to be intense). 

Deep learning takes energy and breathes new life into my professional life. I have tried to be prepared for both.

Off I go!