Lots going on right now.
Scott helped me finish my Costa Rica presentation which I'll give at the Hermitage Thursday morning.
Our pastor nominating committee is trying to update the MVPC website (no small task) and has 76 pastor information forms for us to sift through already.
I started a great watercolor class at the Torpedo Factory. I am the worst in class. No way to go but up!
I started a Spanish class way above my ability level. " "
Actually I understand a lot more already. My speaking has yet to improve.
The American Indian History class continues to be very interesting. I'm taking the second of our texts to Chicago this weekend.
Enjoyed starting to make a paper haunted house with Emma and Eileen last weekend. Will be fun to see how it turns out.
Looking forward to seeing my sisters and husbands, and all of Ellie's family this weekend.
Enjoyed Scott's beautiful concert and a great play at Studio based on Ralph Ellison's 1952 book, The Invisible Man. The staging was inspired by collages of Romare Bearden ( a friend of Ellison).
One of these days I'll have to attack all those piles of paper! Love, GrandmaK, Gheema, etc.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
School's in session
Just wanted to report in that these first few days of school have been going well for SMEE!
Eileen's really enjoying Kindergarten and Emma is reconnecting with her friends in 4th grade. Mary's teaching a new 6th-grade advanced math course, which is bumping her position from a half-time job to 70%.
Luckily that fits her schedule just fine: she leaves the house at 7:30am with both girls, gets done teaching and then has an hour and change of her own time before picking up Emma and Eileen at 2:45. It's refreshing for them all to be together instead of Eileen going her own way each morning.
My commute is also easier. Not only do I not have to get Eileen over to the Rec Center for preschool as in recent years, but I just learned that my early-morning class on Tuesdays and Thursdays has been canceled because only one student was qualified for it. That means I get to miss morning rush hour every day now! I will still have late nights, but will get better sleep and see the girls every morning.
Mary has been very consistent about working out every morning first thing, but my most recent exercise was 18 holes of golf...Wii golf, that is. Now that Sher and Ben are literally stepping it up, I'm going to do better, so starting this morning I'm strapping on my running shoes...
Love, Scott
Eileen's really enjoying Kindergarten and Emma is reconnecting with her friends in 4th grade. Mary's teaching a new 6th-grade advanced math course, which is bumping her position from a half-time job to 70%.
Luckily that fits her schedule just fine: she leaves the house at 7:30am with both girls, gets done teaching and then has an hour and change of her own time before picking up Emma and Eileen at 2:45. It's refreshing for them all to be together instead of Eileen going her own way each morning.
My commute is also easier. Not only do I not have to get Eileen over to the Rec Center for preschool as in recent years, but I just learned that my early-morning class on Tuesdays and Thursdays has been canceled because only one student was qualified for it. That means I get to miss morning rush hour every day now! I will still have late nights, but will get better sleep and see the girls every morning.
Mary has been very consistent about working out every morning first thing, but my most recent exercise was 18 holes of golf...Wii golf, that is. Now that Sher and Ben are literally stepping it up, I'm going to do better, so starting this morning I'm strapping on my running shoes...
Love, Scott
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Running
A few months ago, I noticed that I was running more frequently than usual. 3-4 times a week on the regular is usually an indication that I'm training for something. This time around, however, I had not signed up for any races or events. Just got the bug to do it. But that led to me thinking, "Hey, I should sign up for something . . . " and then I spent a week or two kicking that around. I thought about the Run Like Hell half-marathon that I did last year and that is right at the end of October. But then I also looked at the Portland Marathon in the beginning of October and wondered if I could actually compress a 16-week training session into 13 weeks in time to do it. It would be tricky.
Decided to do it anyway. =)
We're now in the Why Did I Do This? phase of marathon training, where every long run on Sunday is a half-marathon or better and mid-week runs are upwards of 9-10 miles. My legs are in decent shape thus far with the occasional ache and pain, but none of the crippling knee problems that occurred when I did the MCM in '06. I'm optimistic I can get through the next couple of weeks and will have a good run on the 7th as I amble through downtown Portland.
Decided to do it anyway. =)
We're now in the Why Did I Do This? phase of marathon training, where every long run on Sunday is a half-marathon or better and mid-week runs are upwards of 9-10 miles. My legs are in decent shape thus far with the occasional ache and pain, but none of the crippling knee problems that occurred when I did the MCM in '06. I'm optimistic I can get through the next couple of weeks and will have a good run on the 7th as I amble through downtown Portland.
I'm back in shoes and post-birthday...
Hi guys! First I wanted to say thank you so much for the birthday calls with singing, cards and presents! I spent the day doing fun things - having brunch with friends, visiting a favorite yarn store, dinner out, a trip to Powell's and Cupcake Jones and most triumphantly, returning my crutches to the pharmacy!
On August 10 I was cleared to begin walking a little each day in a regular (but supportive) shoe with an ankle sleeve, with an official target of my birthday for no longer using the boot at all. I met that goal, so that was another great birthday present.
Every day walking gets a little easier. I've started using a pedometer and I am back up to my two-mile a week goal of either walking or using the elliptical machine we have in our office. That has particularly been good exercise because there's no impact and it is impossible to limp on it! ;) During my walking, I've been going slowly so that I can really concentrate on not limping - if I just walk and don't think about it, I limp.
I also auditioned and was accepted for a caroling group in Portland. They sing in quartets at places they're hired to be: malls, public areas, Christmas parties, and the like. I don't yet know if I'll be part of the full-time quartet or the part-time quartet, but either way, I should get several hours of performance time and did I mention this is paid? Woo! Rehearsals start this Sunday night, so I will know soon if I'm a part-timer or a full-timer.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Back home
Had a great visit with Helen. Richard and his wife drove down on Friday and Cheryle came on Saturday. We ate much too much food and got in lots of newsy conversation. Hadn't had much time before with Richard's wife, so it was fun to get to know her. She's an artist, so that was added interest.
We had fun going through ancient pictures including Helen tap dancing and striking pin up poses.
Helen is not well, but still able to enjoy life. Her knees hurt and she gets out of breath easily. At 89 the doctors will no longer operate. She misses Rich terribly and is exhausted from her move to a small room in Assisted Living and making decisions about what to give away, etc. With her trusty red scooter Helen runs around the large continuing care center. It's quite upscale with beautiful gardens, lots of things to do and places to gather. My guest room was larger than our Colorado cabin! She has many friends and is going back to playing bridge this coming week.
The overnight train trip is still not my favorite time to travel. It made me mad that it was kept so cold that you needed a blanket which you had to buy for $15. Of course I could afford it, but decided to see if the Washington Post would be enough for a blanket. A young guy across the way bought a blanket for me. That was pretty embarrassing, but I decided to accept it.
Started the book I Rigoberta Menchu for my American Indian course. It really adds info to what I learned in Guatemala.
Love, KMom
We had fun going through ancient pictures including Helen tap dancing and striking pin up poses.
Helen is not well, but still able to enjoy life. Her knees hurt and she gets out of breath easily. At 89 the doctors will no longer operate. She misses Rich terribly and is exhausted from her move to a small room in Assisted Living and making decisions about what to give away, etc. With her trusty red scooter Helen runs around the large continuing care center. It's quite upscale with beautiful gardens, lots of things to do and places to gather. My guest room was larger than our Colorado cabin! She has many friends and is going back to playing bridge this coming week.
The overnight train trip is still not my favorite time to travel. It made me mad that it was kept so cold that you needed a blanket which you had to buy for $15. Of course I could afford it, but decided to see if the Washington Post would be enough for a blanket. A young guy across the way bought a blanket for me. That was pretty embarrassing, but I decided to accept it.
Started the book I Rigoberta Menchu for my American Indian course. It really adds info to what I learned in Guatemala.
Love, KMom
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
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