1.) Keep skid chains on your tongue, Always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it often counts more than what you say.

2.) Make promises sparingly and keep them faithfully, no matter what the cost.

3.) Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or about somebody. Praise good work, regardless of who did it.

4.) Be interested in others: their pursuits, their work, their homes and their families. Make merry with those who rejoice; with those who weep, mourn. Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel that you regard him as a person of importance.

5.) Be cheerful. Don't burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember, everyone is carrying some kind of burden.

6.) Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue. It is a mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

7.) Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for themselves. Refuse to talk about the vices of others. Discourage gossip. It is a waste of valuable time and can be destructive and hurtful.

8.) Take into consideration the feelings of others. Wit and humor at the expense of another is never worth the pain that may be inflected.

9.) Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe him. Disordered nerves and bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting.

10.) Don't be anxious about the credit due. Do your best and be patient. Forget about yourself and let others "remember." Sucess is much sweeter that way.

Ten Commandments of How to Get Along With People from Ann Landers

1.) Keep skid chains on your tongue, Always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it often counts more than what you say.

2.) Make promises sparingly and keep them faithfully, no matter what the cost.

3.) Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or about somebody. Praise good work, regardless of who did it.

4.) Be interested in others: their pursuits, their work, their homes and their families. Make merry with those who rejoice; with those who weep, mourn. Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel that you regard him as person of importance.

5.) Be cheerful. Don't burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember, everyone is carrying some kind of burden.

6.) Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue. It is a mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

7.) Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for themselves. Refuse to talk about the vices of others. Discourage gossip. It is a waste of valuable time and can be destructive and hurtful.

8.) Take into consideration the feelings of others. Wit and humor at the expense of another is never worth the pain that may be inflected.

9.) Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe him. Disordered nerves and bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting.

10.) Don't be anxious about the credit due. Do your best and be patient. Forget about yourself and let others "remember." Success is much sweeter that way.

Christmas

Another Christmas has come and passed. Dad and I spent the morning opening our gifts to each other. Dad got a new 42" TV for the bedroom, a DS Lites game, some games for his DS, a new mega flashlite for the motorhome, a mini flashlite for his keys, a new wallet and it seems like I am missing something. I got a Wii and Wii fit set.
About 1 o'clock Casi called and they wanted us to come to their house, we had just started playing with the Wii so we packed it up. We took our air matress and headed up to Casi's. We set up the Wii after the boys went to bed. Of course Austin told me he didn't like Wiis. So when I got him up Fri. morning it was set up and his Mom and I bowled each other. Pretty soon he wanted to try. Then he took over everyone. And he doesn't like Wii. We packed up to go and he wanted me to leave my Wii. No way Jose. On the way home Dad and I started making calls back home to different shops. The weather was as foggy as the night Santa discovered he needed Rudolph. Dad drove to Champaign to Game Stop and got a Wii for Austin and his family. Shortly after Dad left me off at the house, Casi, Shane, Austin and Devon show up at our house. What a surprise... We had just left their house. Glad Dad got the Wii. The girls arrived home to their mom's after a week at their Dad's. On Sat. the girls arrived as planned to open their presents. Austin was shocked at all of his and Devon's and Momy and Daddy's Wii and Wii stuff. He said I knew Grandmummy would get me one. We had a great Saturday. Rachel went ice skating with Austin, Casi and Shane. Then Shane went and purchased another Wii remote so they could have two people playing against each other. He was playing on my Wii when noone else was around... It was 70 degrees outside... sit inside in December and it being 70... no way! All in all we had a blast. However since the weather was sooo bad on Friday where Lara lives they didn't come home... so sad. My Mum did venture out and she ate with us and watched the great-grandchildren enjoy opening their presents. Devon got a bunch of cars.

Holiday Baking and Cooking

I have been soooo busy cooking... and then the weather came. I am freezing and refrigerating everything I can so I can have it ready to go on Jan. 5, 2009 when we go back to work. Today's weather --- freezing rain. Tomorrow's weather --- freezing rain. Lucky for us we are celebrating Christmas on Saturday since Lara has to work on Christmas Eve. It will probably be the last time we will get to see Isabela as she will be heading back to Brazil too soon after Christmas.
Casi had some teeth pulled today as she has wizdom teeth that seem to be getting in the way of her eating. After the holidays she is going in to have some cut out. Dad or I will be going up to her house to help with the kids unless Shane can get the day off from work.
Don't be shy about posting your ideas or remarks. Have fun and have a safe holiday.

Some pictures of the new motorcycle

Time to get caught up on photos.











This picture is of Chris getting ready to go for a ride on Dad's new motorcycle.














This is Kristina and Dustin getting ready to go on a date riding Dad's new motorcycle.

Nadolig Llawen

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

It is almost time for the jolly red suited man to arrive at our homes. May you all have a wonderful holiday season. I will have more time to post since we are on Nadolig Llawen break.

I will see you all in Newydd Dda --- 2009.

Peace and love
I am heading out to eat with James and my Mum.

Benefit Others - http://alternativegifts.org/

I was reading the school news today - There is a website that was mentioned that if you would like to give to others you can go to and help. It is called http://alternativegifts.org/
I went to their website and it looks very interesting. I am not sure of any specifics, however I think it is worth checking out if you feel the need to give during this season or any other time of the year.
My children were raised giving to families or others during the Christmas season. However the Angel Trees are not child specific any longer and I find it hard to donate gifts, especially some that are being asked for. -- Wii --- video games --- ds lites ---- these gifts are toys - expensive toys - ones most of us can barely afford to give to our own members of our families.
Well any how check out this great site. I know my Lara will be impressed with it. Peace. Have a great holiday season where ever you may live.

Christmas Shopping

I am about shopped out. I still feel I am not done. I may have to do some when I go to Lara's house on Saturday. I don't even have my presents wrapped yet. I am so far behind. I need to take a count of gifts to make sure I have gifts for everyone and that they are wrapped. I need to get the tree up. If Lara and her family aren't coming for Christmas I may not even get the big one out and just use the little one. It seems I have been so over worked this year. Have fun shopping all of you that like to shop. I think I will finish by getting online and shopping. Much easier than fighting my way through crowded stores with all the crazed people.

Geo Caching Vacation

How about a geo caching vacation this summer? Think about it. I know it is almost winter, however the summer will be here before you know it. Let's start planning.

Christmas Plans

Wow Christmas is just around the corner. I tell my students each year on the first day of school, "I hope you are about done with your Christmas shopping." They are always that's a long way off. Well the time seems to fly by and they always say about this time, "Man I should have started shopping in September." Haha time does fly.
I have been busy with my shopping. I now have the gifts laid out to see whom I need to purchase more for to get the right balance. I am pretty close on everyone. Just a few more small items for some is all I need.
Some folks in this family are really tough to find the perfect gift for as they are either, "I deserve better than this." even though you have spent a few hundred dollars on them, or they just don't have a list, or what is on their list is just plan too expensive or something they will probably never use.
James wants a new flat panel for our bedroom, however he wants it to be at least a 32 inch screen. I don't think we need that large.
It is a challenge and he is basically the only one I have left to buy for.

"Black Friday" Shopping

Isabela wanted to experience Black Friday shopping. So after we ate, I went home with Lara, Chris and Isabela. We arrived at their place at about 11:00 PM on Thanksgiving nite. At midnight, Isabela, Lara and myself went shopping at the outlet mall. The store Isabela wanted to go to had a line 3 blocks long. Needless to say we didn't stand in line there. We did find Devon a Christmas gift. And we got Christopher a gift. Then Lara and I each purchased a new pair of tennis shoes. Isabela purchased Chris' gift also. We went back to Lara and Chris' (2:30 AM) and went to sleep for a couple of hours. Lara was scheduled to work at 7:30 AM. Chris woke up to take her to work and he and I went out shopping. We didn't have much luck with finding what we set out to find. However we did find a few bargins. James drove up to Lara's to pick me up and then he joined us on the ultimate gift hunt. We finished some of our shopping while there. I found that the bargins of the past were not there and that it was hardly worth it to go. But of course I don't like shopping so I guess you can't be disappointed if you don't get excited about the chase. My thoughts about this whole black Friday thing is that the real bargins happen about the end of January and that is when you should be shopping for next Christmas.

Happy Holiday

Thanksgiving has come and gone. We had quite a few family members come for a great meal. This year we had it at Mom's. She was down in her leg, so getting up the front steps to my home would have been a challenge for her. I did help prepare the meal and my great husband helped to get the place ready. This year, since we were going to serve the evening meal, we decided to do something different. We had chicken and noodles instead of turkey. Besides Turkey's were just overpriced and I wasn't willing to pay it. I managed to make some goodies the morning of the party - peanut brittle, brownies made the ole fashion way, rice krispie treats, pickle wraps, and waterchestnuts wrapped in bacon. Ashley and I made pink mints and cherry press cookies last week. All the treats were eaten and everyone took left overs home with them.
It was a great Thanksgivig.

Presentation at the Transition Conference

I survived the speaking engagement. Actually it went very well. I have received many emails telling me how great it was and that they would like more information. I need to get the information into a format I can send over the Internet or burn a CD with the information on it.

I am getting prepared to go to another speaking engagement in December. James is going along since he has those days off. He will get to just relax and enjoy himself.

Well I need to get busy and do some more work for Monday.

Presentation at the Transition Conference

Another Great Weekend

Lara, Chris and Isabela have just left. We had a great time. When they arrived Sat. we had pizza. In the evening a movie was watched by all except me. I needed to get work done on the computer for school on Monday. Then we played Worst-Case Scenario. Isabela and I were a team and Chris and Lara was a team. Isabela and I won.

Sunday morning we got up to a new time -- daylight savings time. That messed everyone up. LOL We cooked breakfast, invited mom over for lunch after church. We then went to mom's to get Lara and Chris's Christmas tree. Ornaments are still in the attic.

Rachel performed at the civic center for the hockey game. They are a group of very talented young ladies. We watched the hockey game and the fights. There was blood drawn just a few times.

Lara, Chris and Isabela left in time to get home for the Colts game. I did two more presentations for Monday.

James went for a motorcycle ride and Chris got to ride the new red bike.

Almost Halloween

I am glad to say that Trick or Treat is almost here. We only have 3 1/2 days of school this week. Halloween Day we will be having parent teacher conferences. I only have one scheduled this year. Maybe more will sign up soon. Usually folks just drop by to say "hey!" I have some of the greatest students and parents around. Of course just two weeks ago we had Swap Day and I had many parents then. Most of us talked then.

Well happy halloween. I will be writing later. I need to finish my presentation for the Transition Conference. AAAGGGHHH!!

It is about finished then I need to write the information for the folks that are coming to hear me present. I will have to rewrite it for the conference in December since I am making it a fall theme. Oh well I will only need to change backgrounds and maybe some of my transitions.

Where has October Gone

Here it is the 16th of October. The first quarter has quickly passed. I can feel Christmas Carols about to come bursting out of me. I know that if I find an XM station playing those songs I will be "blasting" them over my stereo. I had Rachel last night and the night before. Poor thing has to stay with grandpa and grandma 3 nights a week. Well sometimes I will take her home if she wants to go. Last night she didn't have skating practice, I offered to run her home since it was early. No she wanted to stay with her grandparents. We always have kept our doors open for them to come visit.
Casi called last night and wants me to find out where the train leaves up around where they live. They want to go to the Thomas the Train ride. I think it would be a great train ride to St. Louis and that riding Thomas would be WOW! I know that Devon will REALLY be excited and Austin will like it also.
All for right now.
Da Bo

Great Weekend

This weekend we spent picnicing, geocaching, and just havin' plain ole fashion fun. On Friday I had meetings all day. On Saturday I planned to get "tons" of work done. Instead I ended up working on things important for school... lessons. On Sunday I met up with the kids at Turkey Run. We cooked out, went on a hike, played, did some tumbling, then we went geocaching. The geocache was near a covered bridge. Isabella really likes America. However while geocaching it began to get dark, especially in the woods. This bothered her, but she stood strong and we all came out with just a few bug bites. When we first arrived at our geo spot there were some deer standing in a field. Leaving there the field was full of deer resting. She took lots of pictures of the animals. Chris and Isabella went back to Michigan City as Isabella had school Monday and Chris had to work half day. Lara came home with Kristina, Rachel, Ashley and me. What a surprise for her dad. He was glad to see her. On Monday I took Lara over to Kokomo so they could sign the paper work to sell their home there. I know Lara and Chris will miss it and I know their neighbors will miss them. Lara got the recipe for the sugar cream pie that is so wonderful. Lara, Chris and I went to have dinner at Outback... Bloomin' Onion, baby back ribs, sweet potatoes, apples and their bread. Great meal, good company, and many laughs. I headed home and Chris and Lara went geocaching. Now we are all back in the swing of things. Rachel is getting excited about going to the skating competitions. However many of them seem to fall on Jason's weekends. She is not happy. She is scared he will not take her to them. I hope he can find it in his "fatherly" heart to do what is important to his children. The activities they are involved in are important to them. It is important that they learn they are important and not just a financial "burden." Sometimes it is important to see that the money paid in support is not all the support that is needed for your children. Enough of my rantings and how disappointed I am in their father by how he treats them and their mother.

Dad and his 2008 Harley

Well, he is trading it in on a 2009 Kaw.... I know he loves Kaw's and really misses the one he used to have. The Harley just isn't real comfortable.

The meetings went well this morning. Just so much new to digest along with new reg. changes. I really wish someone in the congress would ask for teacher input....!

I am "decluttering" the attic. I have a little of every one's things up there, plus dad's and mine. I have a few antiques if any of you want them. (My family only.) There are two sets of dishes, one was my grandmother's and one was my mom's. I think Mom's we will use at Thanksgiving, since she just had her 90th party it would be great to use them again. We are so blessed to have a solid foundation for a family to build on. Of course the docs are telling us that she will probably live to be at least 120. I guess that is what honest, hard working, loving families have to look forward to.

I am very proud of all four of our children. You all understand hard work and dedication. Your financial sense makes you good strong people. I love the fact you are all good with money and managing credit. It shows in what you can purchase when you want it. I am proud of the fact that you are all going to college to become teachers and physical therapist. It is tough though on getting together since it seems between your work schedules and school we can't get together much. (Austin can't wait for the next vacation!)

Casi we are all proud of the fact you decided to go through with the brain surgery. You are showing us how strong you are. Dad and I have both discussed how much happier you seem and how you are more like the little girl with the ocean blue eyes and the big wide grin we knew.

It seems odd not having a million things to do. I have finally caught up with the work I needed to get done to feel prepared for school. I am now a week ahead of schedule and I can now get a few weeks ahead I hope.

Next Saturday I will probably be doing Sat. school as Brenda asked me to do it. I always let the "young ones" have an opportunity to do it for the extra pay, however she doesn't want that next week because of how many and who the students are. The good thing about it is the pay on payday.

The desk I designed for Nichole is working great. She really loves it. Now she can be in her wheelchair and do homework with enough area to work and within her field of vision.

I do have a gripe with someone, but I won't put it on here in case they decide to read it. He just.... Oh well some folks just don't understand what family is and how you should own up to your responsibilities... Co-operation is important to keep children okay. I don't like the childish game playing. Besides he didn't do much supporting when married so why when your not. Get the hint! Besides this is my site and I have a right to my opinion and the knowledge that leads to this opinion.

Off that blink, blink, blink subject.

Bella we would love for you to stay awhile longer. It is so great adding you to our family. Mom loves you and so do the rest of us. Lara and Chris are really great "parents." Goes back to the fact they have two great sets of parents and families that understand that families can extend beyond just the house you live in and/or country.

Dad Orville is still not well. He is deteriorating so quickly. Mom makes sure she goes out to feed him at least once a day. He won't eat for anyone else for some reason. We are not sure why. I guess mom's face is kind of familiar or maybe she reminds him of his mother. I think she will have a hard time loosing a second husband, however he is not much more than a vegetable now and it is heart breaking. The people at church always ask about him.

Speaking of church, Chris I will let you know the exact date of the next noodle dinner. It is suppose to be sometime this month.

How is the house sell going? I sure hope it gets closed-on soon. Lara then you can just go to school and not have to worry about the house in Kokomo.

Well I will leave for now. I will try and post my pictures off my camera this weekend. Time is a limited resource. I try to use mine wisely. Sitting here writing...well forgive me but I just need some aaaaaaaaahhhh time.

Dad is in bed, as he is back on his shift. He was to go to the dentist yesterday for a teeth cleaning... no power at the dentist office. Soooooooo. Long drive for nothing.

Da Bo

It has been a month?!!!

Lara's site states it has been a month since I last posted. Time is "flying" by! I hope I can catch up to it. The first quarter is over next Friday. Just doesn't seem possible.
Rachel and Ashley are once again into their after school activities. Rachel is at skating now, so I have a few minutes til I need to go pick her up.
I don't know about the price of gas where you live but I paid 3.27 this morning and on the way home the same station had it at 3.03. I lost .24 cents per gallon. AAgghhh!!!

My students are producing great power point presentations for my speaking engagements. It is kind of nice being one of the top teachers around these here parts. Golden Ruler look out I will be a winning again. I would like to win the Disney teacher of the year. Who's Who in American Education is nice also.

Well the bad news is that the co-op has decided to change the program we are using. Hang it all. I spent over 50 hours after school and on week-ends with the last change (last year). I hope we don't change directors again for a real long time.

I have been asked to participate in several committee meetings. So my life is busier than normal. I need to get off so I can go pick up Ray. She will be finished shortly with her jump and spin practice. She improves every time. GGGGGooooo Rachelllll!!!!!!