Manic Monday#1 ... Musings and More ...

It's clear to me that I'm doing too much
and need to slow down
somehow ...

It's late in the day ... and I'm uninspired, but thought I'd try my hand at Manic Monday for the first time. Apparently this is #120, so it's been around a while.

1. What is your ideal age?
Methinks it's right now (and always has been) ... so for me
that's 63 ... Retired life is pretty kewl ;--)

2. What is your best excuse for being late?
I don't often NEED an excuse, because I'm usually early wherever I go ... and alway have been. When I am late, honesty seems like the best policy.

3. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be?
Hmmmm ... I've dubbed myself 'storyteller' here in the Blogosphere, and methinks it suits me for now, so I'll stick with it ... though I do like being 'a nonny mouse' too.

Click for others participating in Manic Monday today ...

The French Open Men's Final

Sadly ... the Men's Tennis Championship match wasn't nearly as exciting as the Women's Final this year. I had great hopes for a highly competitive match between Rafa and Roger given their last match in Hamburg ... ('best of three sets' ... won by Federer) ... but Nadal played magnificently from the first point and Federer looked 'flat' from the start, and 'stunned' within a few games. Both men's semi-final matches were more exciting to watch. One wonders whether Roger's extended bout of Mononucleosis has some lingering effects on his energy levels or whether Rafa has improved that much in such a short time? With Wimbledon just two weeks off, I'm hopeful Roger gets some rest and regains his energy levels and finesse ... or we're likely to see a new champion there.

Ana Ivanovic with French Open Trophy
Photo source Yahoo Sports
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It's been a while since I've shared a Blogthing ...
and since it's 'beach' weather here
I chose this ;--)

What the Beach Test Says About You?

You like people, but you're careful about who you get close to. Friendship is important to you... so important that you aren't just friends with anyone. (This doesn't seem terribly accurate to me because I'm friendly with just about everyone I encounter.). You don't fall in love easily. It takes you a long time to get used to someone. Intimacy doesn't come easily for you. (Once upon a time I did 'fall in love easily' ... but life has taught me to be a bit more cautious in love.) You are a passionate person. You are free wheeling, fun loving, and ruled by your emotions. (This is true to a certain extent, but I'm not RULED by my emotions ... though I am 'attuned' to them.) Your sense of humor is goofy and silly. You are good at making almost anyone laugh. (I've never been good at telling jokes, but folks around me do smile and laugh often ... and that's a good thing because laughter is healing).

The Beach Test
Come on ... you KNOW you want to find out and share
either in comments below, or on your blog.
Just leave me a link if you
do the latter ;--)

Thought for Today
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." ~ e.e. cummings

FunMonday#5 & Slice of Life#1 - A Hero in My Life

(Thanks to Betty for this nifty Fun Monday graphic)

Fun Monday is hosted this week
by Kitten ...

She asks us to write ...

"about the Super Hero in your life. Not from TV, but anyone that has been or is in your life that you have really looked up to or has made a impact on your life. It can one or many. You can share pictures if you like. Just have fun with it."

6:30am - I've just found this week's 'invitation' and possibilities swirl in my mind as I consider who to select ... my brother, dad, sister, mom ... 5th grade 'exchange' teacher ... the Methodist minister from my younger adult years ... any one of my aunts on my dad's side of the family ... or various 'mentors' and/or 'colleagues' throughout my years as an educator ... a neighbor I admire & respect highly ... or any number of friends in my life? I'm wishing I'd found the challenge last night so I could have 'slept' on it and awakened 'inspired' ... but, alas, here I sit ... sipping my 1st cup of coffee ... realizing I need to just make a decision and begin. Ah ... and as I re-read the prompt I notice it gives me permission to write about 'more than one' so I'll continue to type and see what my fingers come up with ;--)

My brother was 9 when I arrived on the scene in 1945 ... so he would have been in 4th grade. Having taught kids of that age who experienced 'a baby entering the family' gives me a 'frame of reference' to understand what that must have been like for him from his perspective. I suspect he took it 'in stride' without being 'interested or involved' any more than necessary.

I recall watching (and eventually helping) him fold newspapers to deliver each morning before school. He was an 'asthmatic' kid who tried not to let 'breathing problems' slow him down ... and in those days we had no 'medicine' to assist ... so he learned 'mental methods' on his own and kept going no matter what. It was 'the family way' of dealing with life ... do what you can with what you have where you are and never give up.

D was smart ... but 'bored' with school most of the time. He did 'enough to get by' ... earning Cs unless he was intrigued by the subject matter (or teacher). Then he 'excelled' earning As. As things had been for my dad, there wasn't much 'middle ground' in his view. Issues were 'black & white' and his 'positions' on them 'clear-cut' with no room for 'shades of gray' ... leading to many a 'heated' discussion with others (including myself until I developed some perspective of the 'process' and 'disengaged' emotionally during such 'academic' discussions).

When I was 12, he taught me to play tennis and to water-ski ... mainly so he'd have someone to retrieve the balls on the court and to ride 'observer' in the boat with his friends; however that's how we became 'friends' for life. I've written before of his experiences in the Air Force at the age of 17 which compounded his 'health' problems and his adult life ... (#61-64 in 101Things About Me).
He married in his 30s ... had two boys ... moved to Arizona for his health ... worked as a Civil Engineer even though his education focused on Electrical Engineering ... and eventually returned to Southern California in the mid 1980s.

Throughout our lives we spent 'quality time' together on a regular basis ... because 'family' was important to us all. His presence in my life helped me become who I am today ... doggedly determined in the face of adversity ... undeterred by 'distractions' when I maintain my 'focus' ... doing my best consistently and always trying to improve. Of course, I'm still 'who I am' ... the eternal optimist looking for the good in all things ... but in a bit more 'grounded way' because of his 'reality based' approach to life and living. I miss him every day ... even as I'm grateful he isn't 'suffering' any longer.

Click for others participating in Slice of Life Sunday
Yes, I know it's Monday

* * * * *

Well ... it's now 7:15am ... and I've written about just ONE of my 'heroes' ... but methinks that will have to suffice for now because I'm hungry and want to eat breakfast. I'll save the other 'stories' for another time.

Click for others participating in Fun Monday this week.
Next week's host is Sauntering Soul.

Check in at Mel's too ;--)

Thought for Today
"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." Jane Howard

FunMonday#4 - Favorite Walk, Awards and More

(Thanks to Betty for this nifty Fun Monday graphic)

Fun Monday is hosted this week by
the Lurchers

We're asked to take you on our favorite walk ... and here are photos of a favorite for Molly and me. We walk down to Dog Beach where she can run and play off leash ... interacting with fur-friends ... playing 'fetch' in and out of the water.

Clicking on the collage will enlarge the photos ;--)

Click for others participating in Fun Monday

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

AWARDS

I've been blessed with these awards during the past week

A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING:

Chris B at Ms Cellania
for this cool award and a Monday Motivational Meme!
(Chris, please see the 1st question in the
Meme of Fives below for mine)

I offer this award to everyone on my Blogroll!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Grandy of Functional Shumunctional
shared this 'original' award made with
her own loving hands ;--)

This award is up for grabs to all who comment on
today's post (or any other from last week)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Betty of Betty's This and That
for this lovely rose!

This 'rose' goes to all my 'regular' readers
and anyone who decides to 'tag' themselves for the
Meme of Fives below and leaves me
a link to their post ;--)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Misty Dawn of My Dogs Keep Me Sane
made this award for participants
of Camera Critters

and for now ... I'm keeping this one for myself!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

I think this is Week 7 or 8 for me ;--)

I was tagged by Peajay last week after she was tagged by His Girl Friday at Wellied on Life for this meme of 'fives'.

Ten Years Ago I was teaching History and Language Arts to 8th graders in a Middle School setting ... thinking I'd be doing that for another 7-10 years ... however in 2001 the District offered a 'Golden Handshake' that was simply too good to pass up ... and I decided to take early retirement. I've been retired for 7 years and couldn't be happier.

Five things on my To-Do list today:

1. Write and publish Monday's post at Small Reflections.

2. Play with and walk Molly ... maybe to the beach if the weather stays warm.

3. Get myself to the gym for an hour work out.

4. Spend an hour or two clearing out 'clutter' from the house.

5. Visit 'bloggy friends' and other Fun Monday participants.

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

1. Pay off my home mortgage and set up 'investments' to augment my current 'retirement' income.
2. Hire someone to clean my house weekly ;--)

3. Set up a 'Foundation' to support and encourage innovative strategies leading to meaningful learning for kids and teachers.

4. Buy a small RV to allow me to join my sister & her husband 'on the road' occasionally.

5. Donate sizable 'chunks' of money to my favorite charities.

Five of my bad habits:

1. P R O C R A S T I N A T I O N !

2. I have a hard time letting go of 'stuph' I've collected over the years ... even when I no longer want or need it.

3. I have a tendency to put things off for another day or time rather than tackling tasks immediately.
4. I'm a 'perfectionist' and 'obsess' over things much longer than is often necessary.
5. Did I mention I procrastinate?

Four places I've lived:

1. With my parents and siblings in our 'family' home ... until I was married at 23.

2. In an apartment with my husband (for about a year) after he returned from his tour of duty in Vietnam.
3. In our 1st house ... in Orange County, CA ... near South Coast Plaza and John Wayne Airport (for 10 years).
4. Where I live now in the home I bought from my 'ex' when we divorced. It's near the Pacific Ocean.

Five jobs I've had:

1. Playground Director for after-school and summer programs.

2. Elementary School teacher - grades 2-6

3. Staff Developer - providing support and conducting workshops for adults in educational settings.
4. Middle School teacher - grades 6 and 8
5. College Professor of 'Methods of Teaching' courses for Graduate students seeking Teaching Credentials.

Five books I've read recently:

1. Julia Cameron's WALKING IN THE WORLD

2. Stephen King's DUMA KEY

3. Karen Casey's (Daily Meditations) KEEPERS OF THE WISDOM, Reflections from Lives Well Lived
4. Dean Koontz's THE DARKEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR

5. David Baldacci's STONE COLD
(Next up for me are A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini and A NEW EARTH by Eckhart Tolle)

I'm supposed to tag FIVE people and/or communities ... but you know I don't 'tag' ... I do, however, encourage anyone who wants to play to do so and leave a link here so I can read & respond to YOUR answers.

Thought for Today
"Play fair. Don't hit people. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody." Robert Fulghum