I really enjoy peri-menopause. The hot flashes are exciting. The night sweat are exhilarating. The 30 second crying sprees....so cleansing.
My super power is Snarky. I try to use it only for good.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Great people
I have so many great people in my life that you would think having one or two really crappy ones would bother me that much. And usually they don't. However, when I am peri-menopausal...Watch Out. I want to grab them by the throat and lift them off the ground and look into their beady eyes and tell them, "Be nice and get on some meds for that crazy you got going on."
I really enjoy peri-menopause. The hot flashes are exciting. The night sweat are exhilarating. The 30 second crying sprees....so cleansing.
My super power is Snarky. I try to use it only for good.
I really enjoy peri-menopause. The hot flashes are exciting. The night sweat are exhilarating. The 30 second crying sprees....so cleansing.
My super power is Snarky. I try to use it only for good.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Yesterday Clearwater Middle School (where Dara attends school and I work) held a MLK Day of Service. Channel 5 news came and filmed.
http://chaska-chanhassen-waconia.kstp.com/news/news/123540-waconia-school-district-holds-day-service-honor-mlk-jr-day
http://chaska-chanhassen-waconia.kstp.com/news/news/123540-waconia-school-district-holds-day-service-honor-mlk-jr-day
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The End of 2011
My end of year volunteering was amazing and exhausting.
My church (Waconia Ward) donates gifts to the residents of Good Samaritan Care Center. When our ward became smaller last year because of boundary changes, we invited the Eden Prairie Ward to help us out. What a wonderful way to give gifts to those who are nearing the end of their lives, but can still offer so much. I was in charge and had lots of help. The best helpers were brothers, Casey and Austin. They were such a big help. And there were wonderful families who came and help deliver the 100 gift bags.
I also drove some of the youth to the St. Paul Temple to do baptisms for the dead. Long drive. Very different from being a leader in Salt Lake. Here they put you to work. Small temple. Wonderful volunteers from the wards around MN and I got to be one of them. It was a bit hard being there with one of the young women who keeps telling lies about my son. I was nice to her, but I did want to shove her into the corner of the dressing room and ask her what her problem is. But I didn't. I smiled and was helpful. I do this because I know crazy people and she is one of them. That took a lot out of me.
I also was one of the Waconia Area Women of Today in charge of the Waconia District 110 Toy Drive. There were meetings with my wonderful co-chairs. Cary was and is amazing. She passed out signs to businesses and was busy, busy, busy. All the other co-chairs did their job above and beyond. There were e-mails and phone calls from businesses who wanted to be drop sites for toys and lovely people who wanted to volunteer their time. There were e-mails and phone calls from people in need of help this season.
On Wed., Dec. 14, I left work at 1:00 and picked up books from Bayview Elementary's 2nd grade. They collected books and money for the Toy Drive.
The second graders at Bayview Elementary School in Waconia recently completed Books For Kids, a holiday tradition where the students collect books and monetary donations for books that are donated to the Waconia Toy Drive. Over the years, Bayview second graders have collected more than 3,000 books for the effort. This year, the students donated more than 200 books worth $1,400+ for the effort. The 8th annual Waconia Toy Drive concludes at the Waconia Fire Station on Thursday, Dec. 15. Patriot photo by Todd Moen
Then I went over to the Fire Station to get tables organized and set up. Randy Sorenson, Fire Chief, has been so wonderful to let us use the Station and bother him with questions and us just being us. Then a couple of the city workers came over with two big truckloads of gifts from the amazing people and businesses who had donated. Dan Benham's hockey team came over and started getting everything organized. I was so impressed that a group of teenage boys could work so hard and carefully. They were amazing. Later a group from St. Joseph's Catholic Church came over and finished the organizing. We actually had to forcefully stop the hockey team from organizing because we needed something for the kids from St. Joe's to do.
I did get to go home for dinner on Wednesday evening. Back to the Station at 8:00 am. People were already lined up, waiting for the doors to open at 9:00 am. We had people volunteering to wrap presents and volunteering to be "personal shoppers." The personal shoppers have a list of how many gifts, games, books and stocking stuffers each child gets and a list of the genders and ages of the children the parents are "shopping" for. They also carry the big bags to hold all the gifts. This went from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
When it looked liked no other parents were coming, we started boxing up the gifts that were left. We sent boxes to a family homeless shelter in North Minneapolis, Ridgeview Hospital Pediatrics Unit, the two elementary schools, the Ronald McDonald House, Children's Hospital, and a battered women's shelter.
There were so many amazing parents who needed help this year. One beautiful woman had shopped for her kids and stopped back by the registration table where we were sitting. She had tears on her cheeks and told her how thankful she was. We hugged her and told her that she was the reason we do this.
The best part was that this year there were not any women shopping who had their nails done, really nice purses and outfits that looked like they cost $200.00. And no, the people who did shop for their kids were not in gross clothes and did not look like they were "needy." But there is a difference in people who are doing their best and need help with toys for their kids and people who are spending their money on stoopid stuff and taking advantage of the kindness of others.
I have spending this week going through piles of papers and organizing and recycling. It is strange not having any snow in MN. I did get my Christmas cards sent out before Christmas. Today I sent off two boxes to Salt Lake. Just little gifts so the family doesn't forget who we are.
Love to friends and families. Peace and Good Will Toward Men.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
My church (Waconia Ward) donates gifts to the residents of Good Samaritan Care Center. When our ward became smaller last year because of boundary changes, we invited the Eden Prairie Ward to help us out. What a wonderful way to give gifts to those who are nearing the end of their lives, but can still offer so much. I was in charge and had lots of help. The best helpers were brothers, Casey and Austin. They were such a big help. And there were wonderful families who came and help deliver the 100 gift bags.
I also drove some of the youth to the St. Paul Temple to do baptisms for the dead. Long drive. Very different from being a leader in Salt Lake. Here they put you to work. Small temple. Wonderful volunteers from the wards around MN and I got to be one of them. It was a bit hard being there with one of the young women who keeps telling lies about my son. I was nice to her, but I did want to shove her into the corner of the dressing room and ask her what her problem is. But I didn't. I smiled and was helpful. I do this because I know crazy people and she is one of them. That took a lot out of me.
I also was one of the Waconia Area Women of Today in charge of the Waconia District 110 Toy Drive. There were meetings with my wonderful co-chairs. Cary was and is amazing. She passed out signs to businesses and was busy, busy, busy. All the other co-chairs did their job above and beyond. There were e-mails and phone calls from businesses who wanted to be drop sites for toys and lovely people who wanted to volunteer their time. There were e-mails and phone calls from people in need of help this season.
On Wed., Dec. 14, I left work at 1:00 and picked up books from Bayview Elementary's 2nd grade. They collected books and money for the Toy Drive.
The second graders at Bayview Elementary School in Waconia recently completed Books For Kids, a holiday tradition where the students collect books and monetary donations for books that are donated to the Waconia Toy Drive. Over the years, Bayview second graders have collected more than 3,000 books for the effort. This year, the students donated more than 200 books worth $1,400+ for the effort. The 8th annual Waconia Toy Drive concludes at the Waconia Fire Station on Thursday, Dec. 15. Patriot photo by Todd Moen
Then I went over to the Fire Station to get tables organized and set up. Randy Sorenson, Fire Chief, has been so wonderful to let us use the Station and bother him with questions and us just being us. Then a couple of the city workers came over with two big truckloads of gifts from the amazing people and businesses who had donated. Dan Benham's hockey team came over and started getting everything organized. I was so impressed that a group of teenage boys could work so hard and carefully. They were amazing. Later a group from St. Joseph's Catholic Church came over and finished the organizing. We actually had to forcefully stop the hockey team from organizing because we needed something for the kids from St. Joe's to do.
I did get to go home for dinner on Wednesday evening. Back to the Station at 8:00 am. People were already lined up, waiting for the doors to open at 9:00 am. We had people volunteering to wrap presents and volunteering to be "personal shoppers." The personal shoppers have a list of how many gifts, games, books and stocking stuffers each child gets and a list of the genders and ages of the children the parents are "shopping" for. They also carry the big bags to hold all the gifts. This went from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
When it looked liked no other parents were coming, we started boxing up the gifts that were left. We sent boxes to a family homeless shelter in North Minneapolis, Ridgeview Hospital Pediatrics Unit, the two elementary schools, the Ronald McDonald House, Children's Hospital, and a battered women's shelter.
There were so many amazing parents who needed help this year. One beautiful woman had shopped for her kids and stopped back by the registration table where we were sitting. She had tears on her cheeks and told her how thankful she was. We hugged her and told her that she was the reason we do this.
The best part was that this year there were not any women shopping who had their nails done, really nice purses and outfits that looked like they cost $200.00. And no, the people who did shop for their kids were not in gross clothes and did not look like they were "needy." But there is a difference in people who are doing their best and need help with toys for their kids and people who are spending their money on stoopid stuff and taking advantage of the kindness of others.
I have spending this week going through piles of papers and organizing and recycling. It is strange not having any snow in MN. I did get my Christmas cards sent out before Christmas. Today I sent off two boxes to Salt Lake. Just little gifts so the family doesn't forget who we are.
Love to friends and families. Peace and Good Will Toward Men.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thanksgiving
Minnesota is in a drought. No rain for FOREVER. We did have one snow storm. It was almost like Utah. The snow came and then the sun came out and POOF! the snow was gone. Thanksgiving Day was in the 50s.
At our house we had 19 people over, including my little family of 5. Kelly cooked a wonderful meal. Others brought amazing side dishes. Good food, good people, laughter, games, a puzzle...what more could you ask for. Well, except maybe having more family around.
I am enjoying working at the middle school. It is all about the kids. There are some amazing kids out there. Some that are struggling with understanding math or language arts. Others who are struggling with home life as well as school. There is one boy, a fifth grader, who comes to the Homework Hub after school just to get stuff done. Whenever he sees me in the hall, he says, "Hello Miss Lisa. How are you today?" It just makes my heart happy.
I got to share some Mormon history in US History class. The teacher had a time-line on the board that started with "Joseph Smith sees Angel Moroni." The kids were also reading information and it talked about the Golden Plates. I shared some corrections like: Joseph Smith seeing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and why he saw the Angel Moroni. Only in a non-Utah school could I talk about this. I did it in a very scholastic way. Not preachy. Just history.
At our house we had 19 people over, including my little family of 5. Kelly cooked a wonderful meal. Others brought amazing side dishes. Good food, good people, laughter, games, a puzzle...what more could you ask for. Well, except maybe having more family around.
I am enjoying working at the middle school. It is all about the kids. There are some amazing kids out there. Some that are struggling with understanding math or language arts. Others who are struggling with home life as well as school. There is one boy, a fifth grader, who comes to the Homework Hub after school just to get stuff done. Whenever he sees me in the hall, he says, "Hello Miss Lisa. How are you today?" It just makes my heart happy.
I got to share some Mormon history in US History class. The teacher had a time-line on the board that started with "Joseph Smith sees Angel Moroni." The kids were also reading information and it talked about the Golden Plates. I shared some corrections like: Joseph Smith seeing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and why he saw the Angel Moroni. Only in a non-Utah school could I talk about this. I did it in a very scholastic way. Not preachy. Just history.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Too much thought...my brain might explode
I have to admit that I have given too much thought to two things. Well, I suppose they are people.
Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian.
I have gotten a bit of joy out of their sorrows. This is wrong of me. I am a better person than this. I have checked page 2 of the newspaper daily to see if there is news of them and what they are doing.
I need to go to a 12 step program..."Hello, my name is Lisa and I am a...?" A what? I DON'T KNOW.
I don't follow any of Kim's shows, but I seem to know a lot about her. Scary.
Maybe if we all ignore Kim and Lindsay they will just fade away.
And why can't the Cleaning Fairy come while I am at work?
Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian.
I have gotten a bit of joy out of their sorrows. This is wrong of me. I am a better person than this. I have checked page 2 of the newspaper daily to see if there is news of them and what they are doing.
I need to go to a 12 step program..."Hello, my name is Lisa and I am a...?" A what? I DON'T KNOW.
I don't follow any of Kim's shows, but I seem to know a lot about her. Scary.
Maybe if we all ignore Kim and Lindsay they will just fade away.
And why can't the Cleaning Fairy come while I am at work?
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I started a job....kind of a real job. I am the AmeriCorp Promise Fellow at the middle school in town. (I am basically a paid volunteer.) I have my own office and I am getting organized and attempting to get my calendar figured out so I will know when I can help kids with homework and anything else that comes up.
Brannon and Dara came by after school to see my office. I think they were pretty impressed with their mom.
It is getting chilly, but no snow or rain yet. But Winter is COMING!!!!!! My body and brain are not quite ready for the cold. But all my winter clothing is out and on hangers or on their shelves.
Kelly has been working from home for the past couple of days and Doug (the cat) snuggles with him and purrs and loves him. When I was home with him everyday all he wanted to do was chase me around the house...Doug, not Kelly.
Brannon and Dara came by after school to see my office. I think they were pretty impressed with their mom.
It is getting chilly, but no snow or rain yet. But Winter is COMING!!!!!! My body and brain are not quite ready for the cold. But all my winter clothing is out and on hangers or on their shelves.
Kelly has been working from home for the past couple of days and Doug (the cat) snuggles with him and purrs and loves him. When I was home with him everyday all he wanted to do was chase me around the house...Doug, not Kelly.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Pictures of Summer and Utah
This was our parking strip....weeds and crappy dirt.
This is Brannon helping me dig out the weeds and chop up the dirt clods.
This is another part of my garden. It will keep growing and expanding.
Dara dressed up Doug in this baby dress. He would not move for a while. When he finally did move, he slunk around.
This is Smudge. He was a kitten that we were cat sitting for a couple of weeks. We are either stoopid or nice. He was a very kitten.
Dara in Utah at Temple Square.
Quail. I have not seen quail in Minnesota. I miss them and their tiny turd babies running around in the Spring.
The Salt Lake Temple
A statue of Christ.
Snowbird pictures...
Dara and Sierra
My dad, Papa Nile.
My mom, Grandma Susan
Papa
Dara and Natalie
Sloan, the the back, Grandma Susan holding Quinn at Quinn's baby blessing and Bailey's baptism party
Sloan and Dara
Steve and Sloan
Sloan's cool tattoo
Bailey, who got baptized.
Steve, Ruth, Quinn, Bailey and Sloan
P.S. Utah, if you think it is humid, come to Minnesota where you can walk outside in really wrinkly clothes and wait two minutes and have non-wrinkly clothes. Where you can just stand for one minute and be dripping sweat...while doing nothing. That is humid. While in Utah I only was sweaty one day. I was not even glistening the other 13 days.
This is Brannon helping me dig out the weeds and chop up the dirt clods.
This is another part of my garden. It will keep growing and expanding.
Dara dressed up Doug in this baby dress. He would not move for a while. When he finally did move, he slunk around.
Dara in Utah at Temple Square.
Quail. I have not seen quail in Minnesota. I miss them and their tiny turd babies running around in the Spring.
The Salt Lake Temple
A statue of Christ.
Snowbird pictures...
Dara and Sierra
My dad, Papa Nile.
My mom, Grandma Susan
Papa
Dara and Natalie
Sloan, the the back, Grandma Susan holding Quinn at Quinn's baby blessing and Bailey's baptism party
Sloan and Dara
Steve and Sloan
Sloan's cool tattoo
Bailey, who got baptized.
Steve, Ruth, Quinn, Bailey and Sloan
P.S. Utah, if you think it is humid, come to Minnesota where you can walk outside in really wrinkly clothes and wait two minutes and have non-wrinkly clothes. Where you can just stand for one minute and be dripping sweat...while doing nothing. That is humid. While in Utah I only was sweaty one day. I was not even glistening the other 13 days.
William, our student from Brasil, helped make a quick dinner the other night. He was in awe of the "magic" food.
There was a pot of boiling water. I asked William to get a wooden spoon and come over to the pot. I poured little white pellets into the boiling water. William stirred. Then...poof! Mashed potatoes.
Another joy of living in the United States.
I got a "job." It is more that I am a paid volunteer, but I am excited. I am the AmeriCorps Promise Fellow at Clearwater Middle School. I have my own office. I will be working with the students - helping out where needed.
There was a pot of boiling water. I asked William to get a wooden spoon and come over to the pot. I poured little white pellets into the boiling water. William stirred. Then...poof! Mashed potatoes.
Another joy of living in the United States.
I got a "job." It is more that I am a paid volunteer, but I am excited. I am the AmeriCorps Promise Fellow at Clearwater Middle School. I have my own office. I will be working with the students - helping out where needed.
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