It's a good thing that I got the flu. I've been able to finish the second edit of "To Previve or Survive Breast Cancer!" Now I just have to go through this book and add some more scenery and dialogue. The flow is right now though.
This book not only deals with BRCA 1 genetic issues, but it takes the reader along with me through my Celebrate Recovery 12-steps process. It amazes me that God aligned the two of these major events of my life during the same year! It was definitely a year of healing.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
What is Love?
Is There a God?
Since I was 12-years old and drowning at the bottom of the American River, I knew that there was a God. I was on a kayak/canoe trip down the upper American River below Sutter's Mill with my dad and siblings. The seven mile long "Gorge" was daunting to navigate with the high water flow rate released from the dam, but the cliffs were too steep to carry a raft and climb. The only way through it was via the river.
My dad and I hit a 30ft tall boulder that stood prominently in the middle of the river. It broadsided the slow leaking side of our raft and the water pushed the other side of the raft into the boulder like a fly swatter. I sank and sank and sank with my eyes closed waiting for my sinking to be over. Finally I was ejected out of the strong undertow, my body gently touched the bottom, and I opened my eyes.
Green slime was all around me! I screamed and pushed at it to get away from it. Then I realized as I watched my air bubbles rise that I was without air. Fortunately, my push moved me into a slow upward current. I could no longer move from lack of oxygen and relied solely on my life jacket to raise me, but I was very deep and the river was so powerful.
Suddenly this beautiful white tunnel of light appeared and gave me hope that I was near the sun and would breath air again. I felt like it pulled me toward it. Like a doll I just slowly rose upward. I finally broke the surface and gasped air before I was pulled under again. My older brother and sister watched helplessly as I went over a 10 foot waterfall and was pushed under again.
When I rose up again, I dog paddled to keep my head in the air. I was so far away from everyone and so weak, but I paddled diagonally with my remaining strength to get nearer to them. I managed to get near enough to the shore that my oldest brother was able to grab my life jacket and pull me out of the 1-foot-deep, swift-moving water in which I was going to drown otherwise.
As I lay on my back on the shore breathing in the wonderful air, I noticed that there was no sun in the sky to shine a tunnel of light through the water to me. It was a completely overcast day! In that moment I, this 12-year-old girl with only a minuscule introduction to religion, knew that there was a God, and that He wanted me to do something for Him someday.
At 48 I am now doing what He wanted me to do---which He created me to do. I am writing about my honest story of my life in my books from my "Anatomy of a Midlife Crisis Series." My first book is released. It's "The Romance of Kilimanjaro."
I would also like to applaud this amazing teenage young man who understands the playing field in which we live, too. He is doing what God wants him to do, as well. He's telling us his story. http://gma.yahoo.com/video/news-26797925/sick-teen-s-videos-go-viral-after-death-27729605.html#crsl=%252Fvideo%252Fnews-26797925%252Fsick-teen-s-videos-go-viral-after-death-27729605.html
My dad and I hit a 30ft tall boulder that stood prominently in the middle of the river. It broadsided the slow leaking side of our raft and the water pushed the other side of the raft into the boulder like a fly swatter. I sank and sank and sank with my eyes closed waiting for my sinking to be over. Finally I was ejected out of the strong undertow, my body gently touched the bottom, and I opened my eyes.
Green slime was all around me! I screamed and pushed at it to get away from it. Then I realized as I watched my air bubbles rise that I was without air. Fortunately, my push moved me into a slow upward current. I could no longer move from lack of oxygen and relied solely on my life jacket to raise me, but I was very deep and the river was so powerful.
Suddenly this beautiful white tunnel of light appeared and gave me hope that I was near the sun and would breath air again. I felt like it pulled me toward it. Like a doll I just slowly rose upward. I finally broke the surface and gasped air before I was pulled under again. My older brother and sister watched helplessly as I went over a 10 foot waterfall and was pushed under again.
When I rose up again, I dog paddled to keep my head in the air. I was so far away from everyone and so weak, but I paddled diagonally with my remaining strength to get nearer to them. I managed to get near enough to the shore that my oldest brother was able to grab my life jacket and pull me out of the 1-foot-deep, swift-moving water in which I was going to drown otherwise.
As I lay on my back on the shore breathing in the wonderful air, I noticed that there was no sun in the sky to shine a tunnel of light through the water to me. It was a completely overcast day! In that moment I, this 12-year-old girl with only a minuscule introduction to religion, knew that there was a God, and that He wanted me to do something for Him someday.
At 48 I am now doing what He wanted me to do---which He created me to do. I am writing about my honest story of my life in my books from my "Anatomy of a Midlife Crisis Series." My first book is released. It's "The Romance of Kilimanjaro."
I would also like to applaud this amazing teenage young man who understands the playing field in which we live, too. He is doing what God wants him to do, as well. He's telling us his story. http://gma.yahoo.com/video/news-26797925/sick-teen-s-videos-go-viral-after-death-27729605.html#crsl=%252Fvideo%252Fnews-26797925%252Fsick-teen-s-videos-go-viral-after-death-27729605.html
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Kayaking Once Again!
It's been toooooo long since I've kayaked!!! First I had to get the mild concussion from the kayak hitting my head to heal. Then I caught the flu. I'm fine now and the day was sunny with little wind, so it was time.
I took it easy, since I'm just starting to exercise after being sick and my arms are weak. The surf was small for Ponto Beach again which made for an easy passage to the ocean. A rogue wave did sneak up on me, but I paddled hard and bucked over it.
After paddling for an hour it was time to return to the beach. I missed a couple waves and decided to just paddle toward the beach. Then a good wave caught me. My position was a little low, so the lip broke on my head. I managed to hang in there on the kayak while I couldn't see. I could feel myself surfing. Finally, the wave cleared my head, and I could now see where I was surfing. I was surfing right into the new sand that they were pumping onto the beach from the lagoon.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Some Foot Soldiers Fighting For American Values
Today started off in my normal holiday routine. I wake up early to write for a few hours before my son and I watch "Star Trek, The Next Generation" and eat lunch. Then we figure out what to do from there.
Today the phone rang in the morning. A high school friend that I haven't seen since 1979 texted me. We've kept in touch over the years via e-mail and now facebook. He invited me via text to lunch with his mother at the Fisherman's Restaurant in San Clemente. I knew that he was in SoCal, so I seized the day and drove up to see them.
It was sunny, gorgeous, and the ocean waves curled perfectly for the surfers as I approached the restaurant on the pier. As I got to the restaurant I noticed a text telling me their exact location, so I found them immediately at a table looking over the beach. They'd been there for a bit and had crab that they were cracking. I gave my friend a big hug. Though it's been 33 years he still looks great! I shook his mom's wrist, since her hands had crab all over them. She gave me a big smile.
We had a lovely discussion about our current lives. We didn't reminisce, except for the short discussion about his high school love, and me being the only blond nerdy girl on campus. We actually really talked about how God has honed us through our painful life experiences. I learned so much about his childhood that I never had known.
He became the man of the house at 15 due to the abusive alcoholic father leaving. I told him that's one of the ways God honed you to become a great leader. He was the student body president of our high school two years before I was. Now he's about to publicly launch Warpshare, a company that he created with some new nerd friends to protect our freedom of Internet speech.
His mom had interesting stories about the challenges of being a Filipino principal in the Elk Grove Elementary School District in the 1970's. Elk Grove, CA was just rednecks back then. The high school football team was known as the meat and potato boys that lifted cattle for fun. Ethnic diversity wasn't even a phrase back then. She had many challenges from the parents---being an outsider and "ethnic."
The story that really stuck in my head was about one of her Japanese school teachers. There was a teacher's meeting after school. It happened to end early and this Japanese school teacher went to her car and found a Ku Klux Klan doll, the calling card of the KKK, on her windshield. She immediately got into her car and drove home. The janitor saw the KKK return about 5 minutes after the she left. The teacher certainly had God watching over her!
My friend's mom offered to transfer the Japanese teacher to another school for her safety, but the Japanese teacher refused to bow down to terror. She stayed on and taught the KKK's kids. That's how ethnic diversity happens in America---by ethnically diverse heroes and heroines standing their ground and turning the bad into the good. That's also how God hones us by giving us bad experiences, so that we can rise to the challenge, become stronger, have a broader perspective, and be a better light of God.
Today the phone rang in the morning. A high school friend that I haven't seen since 1979 texted me. We've kept in touch over the years via e-mail and now facebook. He invited me via text to lunch with his mother at the Fisherman's Restaurant in San Clemente. I knew that he was in SoCal, so I seized the day and drove up to see them.
It was sunny, gorgeous, and the ocean waves curled perfectly for the surfers as I approached the restaurant on the pier. As I got to the restaurant I noticed a text telling me their exact location, so I found them immediately at a table looking over the beach. They'd been there for a bit and had crab that they were cracking. I gave my friend a big hug. Though it's been 33 years he still looks great! I shook his mom's wrist, since her hands had crab all over them. She gave me a big smile.
We had a lovely discussion about our current lives. We didn't reminisce, except for the short discussion about his high school love, and me being the only blond nerdy girl on campus. We actually really talked about how God has honed us through our painful life experiences. I learned so much about his childhood that I never had known.
He became the man of the house at 15 due to the abusive alcoholic father leaving. I told him that's one of the ways God honed you to become a great leader. He was the student body president of our high school two years before I was. Now he's about to publicly launch Warpshare, a company that he created with some new nerd friends to protect our freedom of Internet speech.
His mom had interesting stories about the challenges of being a Filipino principal in the Elk Grove Elementary School District in the 1970's. Elk Grove, CA was just rednecks back then. The high school football team was known as the meat and potato boys that lifted cattle for fun. Ethnic diversity wasn't even a phrase back then. She had many challenges from the parents---being an outsider and "ethnic."
The story that really stuck in my head was about one of her Japanese school teachers. There was a teacher's meeting after school. It happened to end early and this Japanese school teacher went to her car and found a Ku Klux Klan doll, the calling card of the KKK, on her windshield. She immediately got into her car and drove home. The janitor saw the KKK return about 5 minutes after the she left. The teacher certainly had God watching over her!
My friend's mom offered to transfer the Japanese teacher to another school for her safety, but the Japanese teacher refused to bow down to terror. She stayed on and taught the KKK's kids. That's how ethnic diversity happens in America---by ethnically diverse heroes and heroines standing their ground and turning the bad into the good. That's also how God hones us by giving us bad experiences, so that we can rise to the challenge, become stronger, have a broader perspective, and be a better light of God.
Monday, December 26, 2011
There's Nothing Like Watching a Sunset Over the Ocean
After 8 days of trying to get rid of the flu via resting and not exercising, I finally did it! Today was so beautiful that I was having a dilemma about what sport I'd do to start exercising. I wanted to kayak, but I was concerned about the cold water and a relapse. I thought about biking, but my loop starts on a long uphill, and I want to gently start my exercise. Then I remembered this great walking trail along the Batiquitos Lagoon. The trail head was even near the post office, so I could send off my dad's birthday present!
Lots of people were enjoying the trail that runs along the edge of the lagoon. The birdwatchers and dog walkers were out in force. I walked briskly to get my heart rate up and after 45 minutes climbed this hill to see if the old, secret rope swing that looks out over the lagoon and ocean was still there. It was, but it was in really bad shape and couldn't be used. I remembered how I used to bring the kids to this swing. They just loved swinging off this steep hill high above the ground and back. It's too bad that the kids of this generation don't have many fun outdoor surprises like this hidden rope swing.
When I finished my hike, I drove down the coast highway to see the ocean. It was so beautiful that I pulled into Ponto Beach's parking lot and pulled out a beach chair and water from my truck. My Chevy Suburban is my two-seater sports car, since only two seats are available due to all my sports equipment---my kayak and surfboard take up most of the truck. lol
As I sat and watched the waves and the people, I relished all the beautiful blues of the ocean with the yellow line of the sun reflecting upon the water. The waves were so small that I wished that I would have chosen to kayak, but there's always tomorrow! Today though, I was just going to sip my water and watch the sunset. It was beautiful!
Lots of people were enjoying the trail that runs along the edge of the lagoon. The birdwatchers and dog walkers were out in force. I walked briskly to get my heart rate up and after 45 minutes climbed this hill to see if the old, secret rope swing that looks out over the lagoon and ocean was still there. It was, but it was in really bad shape and couldn't be used. I remembered how I used to bring the kids to this swing. They just loved swinging off this steep hill high above the ground and back. It's too bad that the kids of this generation don't have many fun outdoor surprises like this hidden rope swing.
When I finished my hike, I drove down the coast highway to see the ocean. It was so beautiful that I pulled into Ponto Beach's parking lot and pulled out a beach chair and water from my truck. My Chevy Suburban is my two-seater sports car, since only two seats are available due to all my sports equipment---my kayak and surfboard take up most of the truck. lol
As I sat and watched the waves and the people, I relished all the beautiful blues of the ocean with the yellow line of the sun reflecting upon the water. The waves were so small that I wished that I would have chosen to kayak, but there's always tomorrow! Today though, I was just going to sip my water and watch the sunset. It was beautiful!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! First of all thank you God for giving us the gift of your son, Jesus! I am such a sinner and would never be worthy to enter your kingdom without His sacrifice so that we could be forgiven. For those who are serving in the military and away from their families, thank you for your sacrifice for us. For those who are alone, remember that God is right there next to you---you're never really alone! Just look for Him. It's hard to remember that when you're sad, I know. I'm also sending hugs to your way! For those who are a with their families, enjoy the moment and love, love, love.......
Saturday, December 24, 2011
New Traditions
Today my son and I had a long talk about how I was not in control of how he spends his time. Though I wanted him to go to my concert tonight and to my cousins tomorrow for Christmas dinner, he only wanted to go to my concert. He wanted to have Christmas dinner with his dad and Dad's new wife and start a new tradition.
Honestly, I didn't take this well. His dad had taken him to Ohio all Thanksgiving which was horrible for me. I couldn't yell or cry because I just got my throat clear and feeling good with the antibiotics and rest, so that I could sing tonight. I couldn't go for a walk, because I've been lying down for a week trying to recover and didn't want to relapse from exertion.
Then I remembered our priest saying "Rejoice, Praise, and Thanks" when you're upset. So I thought of things about which I could rejoice, praise, and be thankful. I rejoiced that God has cleared my voice so that I can sing tonight. I praised God, because He always is there for me and knows what I can handle and what I can't. I thanked God for my son and daughter's good health and that all my relatives are well tonight.
I felt better and got to work on baking an apple and pumpkin pie for tonight. Tonight we are starting a new mother and son Christmas Eve tradition. We had greasy Chinese food which we both love and it lubricates my throat for singing. Then he'll go to the concert with me, and afterwards we'll eat pie!
Honestly, I didn't take this well. His dad had taken him to Ohio all Thanksgiving which was horrible for me. I couldn't yell or cry because I just got my throat clear and feeling good with the antibiotics and rest, so that I could sing tonight. I couldn't go for a walk, because I've been lying down for a week trying to recover and didn't want to relapse from exertion.
Then I remembered our priest saying "Rejoice, Praise, and Thanks" when you're upset. So I thought of things about which I could rejoice, praise, and be thankful. I rejoiced that God has cleared my voice so that I can sing tonight. I praised God, because He always is there for me and knows what I can handle and what I can't. I thanked God for my son and daughter's good health and that all my relatives are well tonight.
I felt better and got to work on baking an apple and pumpkin pie for tonight. Tonight we are starting a new mother and son Christmas Eve tradition. We had greasy Chinese food which we both love and it lubricates my throat for singing. Then he'll go to the concert with me, and afterwards we'll eat pie!
Friday, December 23, 2011
God Bless Vaclav Havel
God bless Vaclav Havel for leading the Czech people & Europe from communism & to democracy in 1989. May he live eternally with God in heaven now and may the Middle East have a similar leader rise up.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
$95 Antibiotics After Insurance!
After 6 days of being sick with a flu that made it passed my flu shot, I finally got some antibiotics to combat it. The antibiotics cost $95 after insurance!!! I was really upset about my doctor prescribing me a designer antibiotic like that. It was after 5pm, and I couldn't wait until tomorrow to have the doctor fix the prescription. I needed to start it tonight. I have to have a clear voice to sing for Christmas Eve. The alto section desperately needs me.
It was demoralizing realizing that a sick teacher got me sick and the antibiotics cost as much as I earned for that work day. I also couldn't work three days this week for another school district, because I was too sick. Catching the flu basically cost me $370!
At least my grocery store visit ended well. A former student took my groceries to the car and told me that he's becoming a manager! He also mentioned that he was starting his own computer repair business. I strategized with him about how to do both. Being an entrepreneur can be challenging, because the income is so inconsistent and there are no group medical benefits. After our long talk he gave me a hug. :-) What a nice way to end the day!
It was demoralizing realizing that a sick teacher got me sick and the antibiotics cost as much as I earned for that work day. I also couldn't work three days this week for another school district, because I was too sick. Catching the flu basically cost me $370!
At least my grocery store visit ended well. A former student took my groceries to the car and told me that he's becoming a manager! He also mentioned that he was starting his own computer repair business. I strategized with him about how to do both. Being an entrepreneur can be challenging, because the income is so inconsistent and there are no group medical benefits. After our long talk he gave me a hug. :-) What a nice way to end the day!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
I've Let My Son Be An Adult
As I waited at the San Diego Airport gate late last night, it dawned on me that I just bought my son a ticket, sent him an itinerary, and left it to him to find his way to the SF Airport from SFSU. I didn't even worry about him missing the plane! That is such a different mindset from whence I first dropped him off at college last August. I was still choosing jeans for him back then! I've let my son be an adult. We've both matured while we've been apart. :-)
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Do Satan Worshippers Celebrate Christmas?
I was teaching at an alternative high school with a lot of Satan worshippers and had a mission to discover if they were going to celebrate Christmas. I spied one alone in the corner and asked him. He was. I said, "But it's my Savior's birthday?" He knew that I was a devout Christian.
He just shrugged, "My friends do too."
Wow! I walked away thinking Christ will find His way into the darkest places. I also understood why the Catholic Church made Christian holidays in line with the pagan holidays---to slowly introduce Christ into their regular lives. It's rare to have an epiphany on the way to Damascus like Saul and suddenly believe in Jesus. It's more common to slowly discover Jesus like these Satan worshippers are.
Yes, we can get all upset about "Happy Holidays" and people just celebrating Christmas for the presents. However, it's wasted time. Jesus doesn't need our help, though I'm sure He appreciates it when we are His loving helpers!
He just shrugged, "My friends do too."
Wow! I walked away thinking Christ will find His way into the darkest places. I also understood why the Catholic Church made Christian holidays in line with the pagan holidays---to slowly introduce Christ into their regular lives. It's rare to have an epiphany on the way to Damascus like Saul and suddenly believe in Jesus. It's more common to slowly discover Jesus like these Satan worshippers are.
Yes, we can get all upset about "Happy Holidays" and people just celebrating Christmas for the presents. However, it's wasted time. Jesus doesn't need our help, though I'm sure He appreciates it when we are His loving helpers!
Monday, December 19, 2011
You Don't Want to Leave This World Intestate!
I finally got around to having a new trust created. My paralegal gave me 30 days to review the whole binder. Thank God for my flu! I got so bored from recuperating that I read all the way through this very long, new trust. I am not leaving this world intestate!
Oh, intestate is a new word that I learned from my trust. It means "to die without a will." You don't want to die intestate. Did you know that kids are legally referred to as "issue?" I guess that I issued my kids from my loins! lol
Oh, intestate is a new word that I learned from my trust. It means "to die without a will." You don't want to die intestate. Did you know that kids are legally referred to as "issue?" I guess that I issued my kids from my loins! lol
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sharing the Love and Colds of the Holidays!
Well, it's a good thing that I finished my caroling adventures yesterday with the flash mob singing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus at the mall. I don't have to sing again until Christmas Eve which is fortuitous, because I've got a seriously sore throat today! That's the bummer about being a guest math teacher at this time of year---the absent teachers are super sick, so I get sick even with the flu shot! At least the teacher who got me sick listed all his symptoms on the board to jokingly lay guilt on the students who got him sick, so I know what to expect. :-) I just wish that he didn't list sooooo many symptoms!!!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Jiffy Lube's Losing Focus on Their Brand
Jiffy Lube has a business model issue. I went there to change my oil, and they said that it'd take 1.5 hours!!! Only two stalls were being used and there were plenty of employees, so I asked, "Why?" Since Jiffy Lube has expanded their services (i.e. tire rotation), they spend more time on one vehicle. Why are they trying to be like a mechanic's shop? If I have to drop my car off and leave, then I will go to a mechanic's shop. Can't a lady get her oil changed while she briefly waits anymore? Whoever thought up the new business model certainly messed up Jiffy Lube's brand. It's not jiffy anymore.
At least they gave me $10 off on my next oil change, since they weren't jiffy today!
At least they gave me $10 off on my next oil change, since they weren't jiffy today!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Autographs
Today some of my students knew of my book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro." I actually did an autograph on one of my bookmarks for one of their moms! That's a 1st!
The truly funny thing about me doing autographs is that most of my life I could not figure out why autographs were so coveted. If I met someone famous, I knew that I met them, so why did I need an autograph? If someone didn't believe that I met them, that's there problem, not mine.
At the La Jolla Writers Conference I did get my books signed by their authors. I feel more bonded to those authors and their books now, so I'm starting to understand the value of autographs---they actually add emotional value to the book!
The truly funny thing about me doing autographs is that most of my life I could not figure out why autographs were so coveted. If I met someone famous, I knew that I met them, so why did I need an autograph? If someone didn't believe that I met them, that's there problem, not mine.
At the La Jolla Writers Conference I did get my books signed by their authors. I feel more bonded to those authors and their books now, so I'm starting to understand the value of autographs---they actually add emotional value to the book!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Christmas Caroling
Our choir caroled at our first retirement home tonight. We weren't perfect, especially due to me having to sight read the soprano lines---no sopranos showed up. However, the elderly loved it and appreciated being given some attention! Share the joy of the holiday season! It makes a difference.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
See's Candy for Emergency Gifting
It's official. I spend ~$200 on See's candy for presents every Christmas. I just purchased the last bit today to finish off my Christmas shopping. See's chocolate truffles are great for emergency gifts, since most people love chocolate. My emergency chocolate truffles stash has always kept the embarrassment factor from forgetting to buy a gift for someone down to a minimum at Christmas. :-) When the Christmas snowflakes settle and all the presents are opened, the best thing about my emergency stash of See's truffles is that I usually don't give all of it away, so I get to eat the remainder!!!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Be KInd During the Holidays
I finally found a parking space at the post office and got my mind around standing in a long line. When I got into the PO, I noticed that there were only two people in front of one of the "Self-mailing" machines. How unexpected! I was delighted!
The first person quickly used the machine. Then the next couple couldn't find a credit card and tried to use their ATM card. They stared at the machine for about 5 minutes trying to figure out why it wouldn't work. It didn't dawn on them that ATM cards are like cash and these machines don't take cash. Had they asked for help, they would have learned this.
The moral of the story: during the holidays beginners at using the "Self-mailing" machines at the post office should be kind to others and just not try them.
The first person quickly used the machine. Then the next couple couldn't find a credit card and tried to use their ATM card. They stared at the machine for about 5 minutes trying to figure out why it wouldn't work. It didn't dawn on them that ATM cards are like cash and these machines don't take cash. Had they asked for help, they would have learned this.
The moral of the story: during the holidays beginners at using the "Self-mailing" machines at the post office should be kind to others and just not try them.
My Amazon Author Page
Here's my Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Isolde-Ulrich/e/B006FITSX6.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Christmas Shipping
It's pouring rain outside, so I thought, "Great no one is crazy enough to go to the post office during this downpour." Wrong! There were no parking spaces and a long line of cars trying to park. I just drove through the parking lot and aborted that post office attempt. I'll try again another day.
At least I already shipped off the big box to my daughter last week. She'll be spending her first Christmas away from us. She's getting her Christmas ornaments that I've been giving her all these years! Now she'll understand what I was thinking when I gave them a couple for Christmas each year.
She's also getting a copy of my memoir, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro." She's never read it before. My kids are old enough now to know what was going on behind closed doors. I'm hoping that during the long holiday break, they'll have time to process their feelings before college starts again.
At least I already shipped off the big box to my daughter last week. She'll be spending her first Christmas away from us. She's getting her Christmas ornaments that I've been giving her all these years! Now she'll understand what I was thinking when I gave them a couple for Christmas each year.
She's also getting a copy of my memoir, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro." She's never read it before. My kids are old enough now to know what was going on behind closed doors. I'm hoping that during the long holiday break, they'll have time to process their feelings before college starts again.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Singing Handel's "Messiah"
What's more important than lifting up your voice in song to God? Over 1000 singers from North County San Diego couldn't think of anything more important. It was awesome to sing Handel's "Messiah" with the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus, ~1000 other chorus singers, and professional soloists tonight at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlsbad! Our whole alto section of St. James attended this fabulous sing-along concert. We sang with ~250 other altos. Of course, the "Hallelujah Chorus" wrapped up a fabulous evening. Imagine a full church of talented choral singers accompanied by a prestigious symphony singing the "Hallelujah Chorus." God must have been pleased.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
I Finished the First Draft of "To Previve or Survive Breast Cancer!"
After picking up where I left off my years ago, I finally finished my first draft of "To Previve or Survive Breast Cancer" and celebrated by climbing H2O mountain and watching the sun set over the ocean. I love praying at its top! I was so happy to see that my mom's cairn is still untouched in the open space, too.
Friday, December 9, 2011
From Loss of Direction to Precise Direction
This morning I was ahead of schedule to get to my guest teaching math job at a local high school. I checked with the high school's front office to see if they'd scheduled the interviews for the open position. They had. Though I've substituted for most of their teachers, I didn't rate an interview. I was devastated, but still standing and smiling on the outside.
After managing my way through the day at this high school which didn't consider me worthy of even an interview, I headed home thinking, "At least the kids and teachers are nice." My preliminary CA math/physics credential is in dire need of clearing, but it's been 5 years without a contracted job offer which is the first step to do the clearing. Thoughts of sending our governor, Jerry Brown, a letter asking him to clear my credential came to mind.
Once I arrived home my estate planner visited me. She'd read my book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro" and had all sorts of observations and questions. I realized how important it is for me to write my second book and explain some more background knowledge.
So I started the day with my teaching career slipping into oblivion and ended the day with God giving me clear direction toward the door that is open for me---writing.
After managing my way through the day at this high school which didn't consider me worthy of even an interview, I headed home thinking, "At least the kids and teachers are nice." My preliminary CA math/physics credential is in dire need of clearing, but it's been 5 years without a contracted job offer which is the first step to do the clearing. Thoughts of sending our governor, Jerry Brown, a letter asking him to clear my credential came to mind.
Once I arrived home my estate planner visited me. She'd read my book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro" and had all sorts of observations and questions. I realized how important it is for me to write my second book and explain some more background knowledge.
So I started the day with my teaching career slipping into oblivion and ended the day with God giving me clear direction toward the door that is open for me---writing.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
My Parlor Palm Christmas Tree
Today I decorated my artificial parlor palm as my Christmas tree. I am celebrating the birth of our savior into this world with palm fronds like he was honored as the King of the Jews when entering Jerusalem right before he left this world!
OK, so maybe I'm just being efficient with where I'm hanging my Christmas ornaments and don't want the hassle of pine needles everywhere this year. lol This is a great example of, "If you can't fix it, feature it!"
OK, so maybe I'm just being efficient with where I'm hanging my Christmas ornaments and don't want the hassle of pine needles everywhere this year. lol This is a great example of, "If you can't fix it, feature it!"
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Serendipity!
Serendipity! I left my thermal coffee cup at a school & received a new one at Coastline Church's Women's Christmas Celebration! Thanks God!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Why Do I Guest Teach Math?
Today I had difficult students and wondered why I guest teach math? A friend reminded me that I like to teach kids. I also realized that I did reach a few of the students today. I don't know how long I'll guest teach math. This could be an author lifestyle---write and teach when I want to do so. I intended to be a contracted CA public math teacher when I got my preliminary math credential and masters of education in best practices, but I'm apparently way too colorful to be hired and God seems to want me to write!
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Monday, December 5, 2011
International Math Day!
I was a guest teacher for the English Language Disabled class again. I taught math today in Spanish, charades/pictionary-style for a Vietnamese student that speaks no English, & English for the student that I tutor. It's international math day in my world!!!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Being Christian Doesn't Mean We're Good, Just Forgiven
My friend had bad business dealings with Christians. Because of that he gets pretty darn angry when Christians say, "Trust me, I'm a Christian." I'm a Christian & said, "Being Christian doesn't mean we're good, just forgiven. No one is completely good. In fact, we all fail at being a good Christian example. We are all jerks in some way, but it's a problem for us Christians if we realize that we're a jerk and don't try to be less of a jerk."
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Ocean Kayaking on a Windy Day is a Bad Idea
The wind finally got dangerously bad, so I called it a day after 50 minutes. I re-entered the surf zone cautiously, but the wind pushed me into a bad position during a breaking wave. While twirling around and out of my kayak, my head hit the tail end. Fortunately, the water was cold and the wind chilled my wet head, so I got instant ice on my bump on the head.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Friday, December 2, 2011
TGIF!
TGIF! I get to sleep in tomorrow, make pancakes, & work on finishing my 1st draft of my 2nd book, "To Previve or Survive Breast Cancer." For my sanity break from writing I'm going out kayaking to see my dolphin buddies. It's too bad that my GoPro2 is only good for close up action shots. It never picks up the dolphins---even when they're 10-15 feet away from me!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Really, Would Jesus Want a Perfectly Decorated Christmas Tree?
I heard a Christmas tree decorated with unmatching, sentimental, old ornaments called a white-trash tree. I lovingly call it a Jesus tree! It wouldn't be Christmas without my 18-year-old son's second-grade picture with glued on pretzels framing it at the top of the tree. He's the only one that can reach the top of the tree without a step ladder, so he's in control of that section! lol
A Christmas tree is full of love---Jesus' and our own. It's something in our house that makes us breath in, put on, and look at love during Christmas. I have a lot of picture ornaments of my kids when they were growing up which makes decorating the tree full of good memories.
The kids were always incredulous each year when I gave the them their own special, store-bought ornaments. They'd say, "Not more ornaments!" Now they're adults and when they have their first tree, they'll be able to start their Christmas tree traditions with a lot of memories hanging on that tree in the form of unmatching, sentimental, old ornaments!
A Christmas tree is full of love---Jesus' and our own. It's something in our house that makes us breath in, put on, and look at love during Christmas. I have a lot of picture ornaments of my kids when they were growing up which makes decorating the tree full of good memories.
The kids were always incredulous each year when I gave the them their own special, store-bought ornaments. They'd say, "Not more ornaments!" Now they're adults and when they have their first tree, they'll be able to start their Christmas tree traditions with a lot of memories hanging on that tree in the form of unmatching, sentimental, old ornaments!
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