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 |   Theses are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call life. |
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These are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call Life. I blog with these groups:     "Blogging Circle of Friends "  [E] 
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30 Day Blogging Challenge: April 27, 2020 What do you think you'd be doing today if this pandemic had never happened? Since I am a person who tends to follow a pattern, I would be teaching in the morning and then heading to Starbucks for lunch and some time to write. Afterward, I might get some groceries and drop them off at home. Then grab a quick dinner before heading out for a 7 pm meditation session, then at 8 pm, head over to Cafe 1842 to meet up with my writing friends for another hour. Somewhere in there I would try to get in some walking, but Monday's are a big writing day. If it were summer, Monday mornings are for writing in Guelph. There might even be some visiting of family. Blog City - Day 2112 Prompt: The same task could be painful to one person and pleasant to another. Which kinds of tasks feel easy and pleasant to you? When I read this the first thing that came to mind was making phone calls. Some people love to talk on the phone, I am not a fan. But I have been designated the teacher who gets to talk to the parents, while my partner handles the tech end of things. Given the two things, I will learn to deal with the phone calling. This week my teaching partner is on bereavement leave and I am dealing with both aspects of the job. Trying to fix tech issues is not my strong suit and one parent can't access the Boardmaker program. Since the other teacher does this, and I don't want to pester her, I am waiting in limbo. I have told the parent I am looking into finding other answers and assuring them that they can do what they can for the time being. Thankfully, they were okay with that answer. We are a special education class - the primary Autism class. We usually do not use a great deal of tech in our class. The learning curve has been huge for all of us, including the parents, many of whom are English as a Second Language. One family is also deaf. |
Blog City - DAY 2110 April 25, 2020 What are your plans for the weekend? Well, I'm going to Paris! Virtually, that is! Last year I signed up for a meetup group thinking it was happening in the Paris a half hour from my house, then I realized it was THE Paris, the original in France. Well, I had to leave a comment that it was a little too far for me to travel, but I have kept it on my Meetup page as a bucket list item... well, now with the pandemic, things have gone viral (Pun partially intended) and I can attend on a virtual platform. Most of the attendees are outside of Paris right now. One lady is in Switzerland. But with the click of a button and a virtual connection we are all together. If I ever get to Paris... I will know some people! The only thing is, they are hours ahead of me and what started at 10 am for them was 4 am for me. I decided to join at 5 am. Armed with tea and a huge bottle of water, I am feeling pretty good. Hey, I am getting up to write. I can handle that. I signed up for Sunday's session as well. They sleep in then... it starts at 11 am for them... that's 5 am for me! Still, what else am I doing?! I have already told my family there are no shopping trips happening on the weekend. I am sure that is when everyone else is going. I do have to go in and get my taxes. I am hoping there will be a refund in there somewhere. When I do go, I will make sure to go through the Starbucks Drive Thru for a treat. I am trying to use up some points and I love White Chocolate Mochas. I do have another Virtual Social time with my local writing friends. It is at 7 pm tonight. I may break out my last Smirnoff Vodka Cooler and enjoy it with them. I don't drink much, but this seems like a good time to indulge. It is Saturday night after all. Sunday morning I have a virtual Meditation session. This is a regular thing. I started with this group over the Christmas Break when my local group took time off over the holidays. People from all over the world sign on for that. It really makes the world seem not so huge, but at the same time expansive. Beyond that, I have plans to continue to clean my room. Yesterday I vacuumed, changed and washed my sheets and tidied off my bookshelf. I got rid of a bag of garbagy stuff and took several books downstairs to go in the donation box. I also dusted of all my knic knacks. It looks really good. Today I need to tackle my dresser. It is piled at least a foot high with books and other important papers. Things that need sorting and putting away. Aside from that... getting in some walks and maybe even some yoga. If I don't get outside for a short walk everyday I find I go a little stir crazy. 30 Day Blogging Challenge Describe the best place to hide in your home (closet, bed - under it or the covers, basement, attic, behind the couch, in a cupboard, etc.), and why it is the best? My hiding spot would be the basement, but not to hide. I have my computer down here and the TV. I also have a comfy couch. There is also a fire place and lots of junky snacks. I also have a lot of books down here. The only thing I don't have is a kitchen area or a shower. I spend a great deal of time down here. Now that we are home I find myself down here a lot. It is my office and my relaxation place. I am currently teaching from home, so I have had to learn how to orient myself through various platforms to get learning opportunities to my special needs students. I do videos of myself reading stories and singing songs. My teaching partner does the weekly poem and our EAs are taking photographs for I Spy activities. We put them out there to parents to try to use, but our students are having trouble with doing school at home. When I do manage to turn off my 'teaching self', if that is possible, I also write down here. With the nicer weather, I will try to take myself outside to write out there, but for now it is still too cold to venture out to sit and write. |
30 Day Blogging Challenge April 11, 2020 How are you finding community in these locked-down days? Definitely quieter. My writing in cafes and coffee shops has been curtailed. I enjoy writing in places where I can watch people and eavesdrop on conversations. Hey, I am a writer, after all. But my write ins have now moved to virtual and I have learned a bit about Zoom, Google Hangouts and GoToMeeting. I have also saved a great deal of money. I find myself going on walks, not just for the exercise and fresh air, but also to see who is out and about and how they are managing. Some people say 'hi', others don't, but more do. It is physickle that was a mistake, a funny one!), physical distancing not really social distancing. It's still okay to talk to people, to smile and say 'hello'. I am working from home, trying to learn how to teach my students with autism from a distance. It is certainly a challenge. The learning curve is very steep, stressful, but rewarding. I am also grateful to have the work because many occasional teachers are out of work right now. I am also grateful to be living with my mother and our two cats. Living alone would be so lonely right now. With my mother and the cats, we manage to find something to laugh about each day. |
30 Day Blogging Challenge Tuesday April 7th Prompt What is the best thing to come out of staying at home (so far)? I would have to say setting my own schedule and not spending so much on coffee shops and cafes. I don't have to commute. I can work in my most comfortable clothing - sweats and t-shirts. I am writing more, but my focus for reading is not good. I am also on a heavy learning curve for trying to figure out how to reach my ASD students (special education). Google Classroom and Boardmaker Online are at the top of that list. So is trying to figure out how to videotape myself doing story time... and then getting it out to my students and their families. I will be so glad when we can get back into the classroom again. Setting my own schedule is good, but I have to be careful I stay on track. Some days it has been hard to focus, but other days are better. I am learning to go with the ebb and flow and still get things done. I am grateful for what I do have - some income, a nice place to live and I am not living alone - I have my mother and two cats here. I can get out and walk around the neighbourhood or out into the garden to putter. We have great neighbours. One called up my mother and asked if there was any wine she would like him to buy for her! Stay safe and healthy everyone! We will get through this. |
30 Day Blogging Challenge April 2nd Prompt My coworkers and I had a virtual happy hour today where we all just chatted and played "Never have I ever". *Laugh* It was great to feel the connection between everyone, even though we're physically distanced. How are you trying to stay socially close to others while #SaferAtHome and physically quarantined? I have several writing groups that are connected. One is on Discord and it is all written comments which I find tiresome after awhile. My other writing group is on gotomeeting.com and being able to see faces and talk is much better. Each of those groups has two virtual write ins... but we often dissolve into chatting and commenting through the writing time because we are so starved for outside attention. Work has meetings. In fact there will be coffee break chats at 10:55 am on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays starting tomorrow. One of the teachers also organized a social hour last Friday night. I am lucky to have these connections. |
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