I was suppose to volunteer at school this morning, but, my teacher friends were looking out for me! They called before I left the house to let me know that the wind-chill was -6 degrees! I had NO IDEA that it was that cold! So, I went this afternoon instead! I had so much fun, AND I think I did pretty well! I was actually very nervous. It's been about three years since I have officially "taught" school. But, I fell right back into the old routine while working on reading with some amazing first graders! I was going to only stay an hour but, I ended up staying about 20 minutes longer. Then, when I was getting ready to go, the parking lot was all full of parents picking up their kids. So, I ended up staying another 1/2 hour! So, needless to say, I'm pretty tired. But, it was well worth it! I can't wait to go again next week!
Thanks for reading!
Annette
A Great Weekend!
Monday, January 28, 2008
My sister and I had lots of fun this weekend! We hit two movies ("The Savages" and "27 Dresses) and we went to the St. Cecilia's Flower Festival. I also went to a movie by myself, "Michael Clayton."
I tried to find some pictures of the flower festival, but could only find an outside picture of St. Cecilia's.
This place is beautiful! Every winter they have local artists and florists create an indoor paradise. This year, the theme focused on music. There were numerous paintings, sculptures and mixed-media pieces of art that focused on music. Then the assigned florist created an arrangement that complimented the piece of art. If you live in the Omaha area, you really need to try to go next year.
OK, movie review time! I went to see "Michael Clayton" on Friday.
See that guy? See George Clooney? Even if the movie had been awful, it would have still been great because HE is in it!! But, the movie was actually very good! It was suspenseful, thought-provoking, funny and just plain good! I can see why it has some Academy Award nominations!
Movie review #2. "The Savages"
One of the great parts about this movie was the fact that it was only showing at Film Streams."
Film Streams is a non-profit theater that shows independent and foreign films. It's located in what's lovingly called "NO-DO" which stands for "north downtown. It's a cool little building and they have very good popcorn!
Anyway, the movie is perfect for those of us in the "baby boomer" years. This brother and sister are trying to deal with taking care of their aging father with dementia. It's a great movie and it's actually very funny at times.
Movie review #3. "24 Dresses"
This was also a fabulous movie! I actually expected it to be a typical "chick flick." But, it really had a good story-line! It was very funny and actually quite touching at times. All in all, it was a great movie.
So, there you go. Three movies, three bags of popcorn over one weekend. Life doesn't get much better than that!!
Thanks for reading!
Annette
I tried to find some pictures of the flower festival, but could only find an outside picture of St. Cecilia's.
This place is beautiful! Every winter they have local artists and florists create an indoor paradise. This year, the theme focused on music. There were numerous paintings, sculptures and mixed-media pieces of art that focused on music. Then the assigned florist created an arrangement that complimented the piece of art. If you live in the Omaha area, you really need to try to go next year.
OK, movie review time! I went to see "Michael Clayton" on Friday.
See that guy? See George Clooney? Even if the movie had been awful, it would have still been great because HE is in it!! But, the movie was actually very good! It was suspenseful, thought-provoking, funny and just plain good! I can see why it has some Academy Award nominations!
Movie review #2. "The Savages"
One of the great parts about this movie was the fact that it was only showing at Film Streams."
Film Streams is a non-profit theater that shows independent and foreign films. It's located in what's lovingly called "NO-DO" which stands for "north downtown. It's a cool little building and they have very good popcorn!
Anyway, the movie is perfect for those of us in the "baby boomer" years. This brother and sister are trying to deal with taking care of their aging father with dementia. It's a great movie and it's actually very funny at times.
Movie review #3. "24 Dresses"
This was also a fabulous movie! I actually expected it to be a typical "chick flick." But, it really had a good story-line! It was very funny and actually quite touching at times. All in all, it was a great movie.
So, there you go. Three movies, three bags of popcorn over one weekend. Life doesn't get much better than that!!
Thanks for reading!
Annette
I didn't make it to school yesterday :(
Friday, January 25, 2008
The wind-chill was between -10 and -20! It's just too hard on my lungs to go out when the temp is in the high teens, let alone in the negative category. I'm seriously bummed. But am thrilled to see the forecast for the next week and it looks like there won't be any trouble with having fun at school next Thursday.
It did help to look at and smell my roses! I told Rod that every time I was getting sad or frustrated about the weather and not being able to go do anything, especially going to school, I would just go look at my roses and smell their beautiful aroma! I think that he thinks I'm a little goofy. But, he married me!
My sister is coming up to stay with me for a couple of days while Rod is out of town. We've got some serious goofy sister stuff planned! Plus, I'm putting her on puppy patrol. She's got a lot more energy than I do! :)
So, thanks for reading. I hope you have a great weekend!
Annette
It did help to look at and smell my roses! I told Rod that every time I was getting sad or frustrated about the weather and not being able to go do anything, especially going to school, I would just go look at my roses and smell their beautiful aroma! I think that he thinks I'm a little goofy. But, he married me!
My sister is coming up to stay with me for a couple of days while Rod is out of town. We've got some serious goofy sister stuff planned! Plus, I'm putting her on puppy patrol. She's got a lot more energy than I do! :)
So, thanks for reading. I hope you have a great weekend!
Annette
I am SERIOUSLY a lucky woman!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I've been going a little nuts with this weather as many people have. Yesterday, the doorbell rang and I was presented with a dozen beautiful pink roses. The card said, "Feeling cooped up? Love, Rod"
How lucky am I?
How lucky am I?
I'm a lucky woman...
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thanks to all of you that read this crazy blog and thank you also to those of you who respond on this site, send me emails or just make a caring comment in person. When you're sick, especially when you're sick and you live in Nebraska and it's stinkin' freezing outside, you feel a little isolated. Being able to "talk" to others like this helps alleviate some of that loneliness. So, thank you.
I thought I'd show you an awesome icycle that's hanging outside one of our windows.
I thought I'd show you an awesome icycle that's hanging outside one of our windows.
I've been in a funk lately....
Sunday, January 20, 2008
This has been going on for a couple of weeks. I thought it was because I had a bug. But, the bug is pretty much over and I still feel just "blah." I think I've figured it out. I think it's because I don't really have anything important to do. I don't really have anything to keep my mind engaged and busy. Consequently, I have too much time to think about being sick. Except for doing stuff with/for the puppies and reading a bit and playing on the computer, everything else has to do with having PH. Don't get me wrong, I love having time to read, be on the computer and watching soap operas ("All My Children", Kathy). It's just that I'm not doing anything worthwhile. Working on the fundraiser was worthwhile (although that was ALL about having PH) but that is pretty much over. I miss doing important stuff. I miss teaching. I miss teaching a lot. Teaching was never a job to me. It was, as hokey as it sounds, it was my passion. I knew by the time I was in 2nd grade that I was going to be a teacher. Before I was diagnosed with PH in 2004, I had planned on teaching for at least 10 or even 15 more years. I was not even close to being "burned out." I miss it. I miss doing something really important. I miss making a difference in the lives of kids. I always felt like I was probably getting more out my day with the kids than they were getting from me. It was important, it was meaningful.
So, I've decided to try volunteering at my old school once a week. I'm going to spend about an hour a week working with first graders, one-on-one. I haven't done this before now for a couple of reasons. First, I haven't felt well enough to even think about volunteering. Second, whenever I went up to school before to visit, it was really, really tough on me, emotionally. Third, I only thought about going up to school to volunteer by reading a book to a classroom. Kids always loved it when I read a book because I'd really get into it with different voices and such. I knew I couldn't read a book like I use to because I just don't have the energy or enough air to do it the "right" way. Plus, I thought the noise from my Inogen (my oxygen concentrator that I use when I leave the house...it makes a puffing noise when I inhale) would be distracting. Well, I had breakfast with my friend Mary a couple of weeks ago and she suggested that I could just do some one-on-one kind of tutoring with some kids. I could sit down, it would be low-key. Plus, she says, the kids would get use to the noise after a while. So, I figured this might be a really good way to get out of this funk. Keep your fingers crossed that it helps. I'm going to start this Thursday morning.
Well, that's about it for this entry. Rod and I are watching the Giants vs. the Packers football game. Rod's Dad was a HUGE Packers fan. We had really wanted to get him in to watch a game in person. But, with his failing health and Lambeau field being an outdoor stadium and Wisconsin being a COLD place to visit, it just never worked out. My guess is that he's watching the game tonight and has much better seats than he ever would have had in the stadium.:)
Thanks for reading.
Annette
So, I've decided to try volunteering at my old school once a week. I'm going to spend about an hour a week working with first graders, one-on-one. I haven't done this before now for a couple of reasons. First, I haven't felt well enough to even think about volunteering. Second, whenever I went up to school before to visit, it was really, really tough on me, emotionally. Third, I only thought about going up to school to volunteer by reading a book to a classroom. Kids always loved it when I read a book because I'd really get into it with different voices and such. I knew I couldn't read a book like I use to because I just don't have the energy or enough air to do it the "right" way. Plus, I thought the noise from my Inogen (my oxygen concentrator that I use when I leave the house...it makes a puffing noise when I inhale) would be distracting. Well, I had breakfast with my friend Mary a couple of weeks ago and she suggested that I could just do some one-on-one kind of tutoring with some kids. I could sit down, it would be low-key. Plus, she says, the kids would get use to the noise after a while. So, I figured this might be a really good way to get out of this funk. Keep your fingers crossed that it helps. I'm going to start this Thursday morning.
Well, that's about it for this entry. Rod and I are watching the Giants vs. the Packers football game. Rod's Dad was a HUGE Packers fan. We had really wanted to get him in to watch a game in person. But, with his failing health and Lambeau field being an outdoor stadium and Wisconsin being a COLD place to visit, it just never worked out. My guess is that he's watching the game tonight and has much better seats than he ever would have had in the stadium.:)
Thanks for reading.
Annette
Spinning my wheels...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
I don't know if I have cabin fever, still dragging my butt from this virus or am just completely lazy, but I have not been getting anything done! I am perfectly happy with sitting on the couch and staring at the television. I'm even watching soap operas that I don't like! It took a big push for me to pick up the computer and start typing this! In fact, it is now Friday and I actually started this blog on Wednesday! And, it's not like I don't have anything to do. In fact I have things that I also WANT to do, I'm just not motivated to do anything except sit on my butt!!
It is ridiculously cold here today. Wind chills are way below zero. The poor puppies need to burn off some of their energy, but it's too cold for them to stay outside very long. So, I decided that they needed to have inside recess. I took them downstairs to this big room that we have so they could run and chase and play. It helped them a bunch. In fact they each took a good nap afterwards. I am including a picture of Asa sleeping on Rod's shoe.
OK, I'm going to go ahead and post this blog, as boring as it is. At least I can say I did SOMETHING today!
Thanks for reading.
Annette
p.s. I'm going to try to figure out how to include the blogs of several "phriends" (friends with pulmonary hypertension) If/when I do that, be sure to check them out. It helps to give others a good insight into this disease and the people behind the diagnosis.
It is ridiculously cold here today. Wind chills are way below zero. The poor puppies need to burn off some of their energy, but it's too cold for them to stay outside very long. So, I decided that they needed to have inside recess. I took them downstairs to this big room that we have so they could run and chase and play. It helped them a bunch. In fact they each took a good nap afterwards. I am including a picture of Asa sleeping on Rod's shoe.
OK, I'm going to go ahead and post this blog, as boring as it is. At least I can say I did SOMETHING today!
Thanks for reading.
Annette
p.s. I'm going to try to figure out how to include the blogs of several "phriends" (friends with pulmonary hypertension) If/when I do that, be sure to check them out. It helps to give others a good insight into this disease and the people behind the diagnosis.
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