Little Engine that Could

I think I can, I think I can.

I made several New Year’s resolutions.  Most of which didn’t make it past the end of the first week of January.  But, I’ve stuck to one, and I’m almost there!  With 75% of the year passed, I think I might just make it.

My resolution was to not comment or post on anything political on Facebook.  There were several reasons I decided to go this route.  First of all, I just get too wrapped up into all of it, and I find myself gritting my teeth.  Who needs that? Secondly, let’s be honest here.  No one really gets into a debate on there with an open mind.  Then it is just spitting back and forth until someone (me) gets hurt.  Who needs that? And, third, I really feel like Facebook is for fun, light-hearted topics.  Sure, go ahead and whine and moan about your job.  That probably feels good to get that off your chest! Yes, your husband is a dork for sitting around while you vacuum under his feet.

Look, I have to respect those of my friends that feel so passionately about their stand, that they have to post it online. It’s obviously a big deal to you, and you must let the whole world know. 

Honestly, though, start a blog, and quit stirring up trouble on Facebook.  (Oh, and, yeah, I just skip past those posts and links anyway, people.)

Dear Post Its

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Hungry?

How many of our parents (and those of us who are parents ourselves) have said, “You think you’re hungry?  There are children starving all over the world!”  Or my personal favorite:  “There are plenty of hungry kids out there that would LOVE to have that sandwich that you think is gross.”

Well, guess what?  Today’s website will help feed those hungry kids.  Free Rice is a site that allows you to donate grains of rice to help feed the world while expanding your vocabulary at the same time! This is such a great idea, costs you nothing, but can make a world of difference. 

When you go to the site, you just start selecting definitions, and the words continue to get tougher.  If you miss one, it will ask you for the definition of it later, truly helping you learn the words!  And, as an added bonus, you don’t have to do just vocabulary!  At the top of the page, there is a tab that says, “Subjects.”  There you can choose Chemistry, Math, even a foreign language!  (Right now, I’m working on my French!  C’est impossible!)

 All money (100%) raised by the site goes to the UN World Food Programme to help feed the hungry.  The rice is paid for by the advertising banners at the bottom of the page.

It’s fun to see the bowl on the right side of the screen fill up with rice as you continue to guess the correct answers. Every time you get a correct answer, 10 more grains of rice are added to the bowl. If you guess incorrectly, nothing happens. (No consequences for wrong answers, unlike those blasted SATs.)  Once it gets to 100, then it starts again with an empty bowl, but keeps track of the 100s in the corner.  As far as I can tell, there is no limit.  You can play all day if you’d like.  Or play a little each day.  Whatever works best for you.

There is also a FAQ tab if you have any questions.  (There are actually some good questions there.  I learned a lot!)

So, give your vocabulary a boost, work on your knowledge of world geography, or even show what you know about famous paintings. Yeah, on that one I was shooting blanks.  No clue.  Guess my college class, Art Appreciation 101 did squat for me. My high school French obviously made much more of an impact.  Or as the French say, “impact.”  See?  You’re learning already!

Zzzzzz’s? OH YEAH!

The alarm went off at 6 am.  I got out of bed to wake up Mark. As I came back into the bedroom I said, “THIS is how it feels to get a good night’s sleep!”  I actually felt refreshed!  Rejuvenated!  Revitalized!  What a wonderful feeling.  And, what a difference one night makes.

All morning long, I was filled with energy!  Mark ran in his second cross country meet, and ROCKED!  He medaled and beat his personal record by 2 minutes!  (Please note the use of exclamation points.  They are how I felt at the time.  AND FEEL NOW!  Woooooooo!)

We didn’t get home until 1:30, but it didn’t matter.  I didn’t fall asleep once on the ride there or home. Karen was practically begging me to not make her audition for show choir tomorrow, but I didn’t lose my cool.  Nope.  I didn’t go off into my room because I couldn’t handle it.  These are things that would have happened last week without sleep.  With sleep, I was gentle, but firm.  I suggested she call her friend that was in show choir with her last year and ask her which audition time she would be attending, and told her that maybe talking to her friend might make her more excited and less nervous. 

I hope you are sitting down for this next part…Karen actually came into the room and said, “Mom, I just wanted you to know that you were right. I talked to Katherine and now I’m kind of excited about tomorrow.”  Yes.  You read that right.  Without any coaxing or “I told you so’s” exiting my mouth, this child said those actual words to me.

Yes, today is a WONDERFUL day! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They worked!

Three Things about Me (well, actually it’s six)

I’ve done several posts throughout these years listing 3 things I like, and 3 things I don’t care for.  Here’s another:

3 Things I Don’t Like

1. Picking up a pen that doesn’t write anymore.
2. Humidity
3. Smell of cooked peas

3 Things I DO Like

1. Being the first person to dip into a new jar of peanut butter
2. Cloudy, cool weather in the Fall
3. Babies’ little feet

ZZzzzzzzzzzzz’s Update

Sleep study went well, I guess.  Still didn’t sleep quite right, but the doctor called and said that they seemed to have found a pressure that will work for my CPAP.  It looks like I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to get that reprogrammed, but I’m trying to look on the bright side, and see that tomorrow night I’ll get some GOOD sleep!

I’m bummed because I had to cancel dinner plans with my sisters-in-law for tonight.  I could have really used that girl-time.  But, it’s not worth having an accident because I fell asleep behind the wheel.  😦

Hey.  It could be worse.  I’m very thankful for that.  🙂

More Zzzzzzzzzs?

Heading for the sleep study tonight. I could sure use a little help right now.

Actually, right now I’m trying to stay awake!  ugh.