Above Average

I'm addicted to Gilmore Girls! There I said it. (I'm a bit embarrassed...I won't lie)!

Yes, I know this show was on years ago and yes I also know the characters are known to talk really fast, but suddenly this show grabbed my attention and made me think a lot about my education.

I have this horrible routine of coming home from work, snacking, and watching another episode of GG. This has been my way of winding down after a day with my students and waiting for my husband to get home from work. I watched the entire series last year and once I started to watch the series AGAIN from the start, I finally had to ask myself, "Do I have a problem?"

Why do I love Gilmore Girls? I idolize the determination of Rory Gilmore at such a young age. This fictional character is one that I would have wanted to be in high school. She is goal oriented, says what is on her mind, and is not concerned with most issues common among that age. In other words, her character is not a reflection of the typical teenager/young adult that most of us are familiar with. Rory cares about her education, reads an abundant amount of books (some I had to purchase) and attended Yale. YALE...I wish! I have a little bit of Rory's characteristics in me now, but this show really made me think about a regret I have and that is not putting forth 100% of effort into my high school education.

I should have challenged myself more. I should have aimed for all honors courses in high school. I just had one AP course and that was English. I don't know what happened over the years. In middle school, I wanted and received straight A's and then come high school I just stopped trying and became an average student at best. Maybe it was the new friendships I formed, useless crushes I wasted time on, and after school activities that steered me away from my studies??? I'm not sure, but I wish I would have been more focused while balancing it all and attended a prestigious university. I'm not saying Yale, but somewhere reputable.

Back to the show, Lorelai (Rory's mother) is young at heart, full of energy (like mine), but what I most admire is the friendship she has with her daughter. They always tell each other everything no matter what the conversation is based on. If I ever have a girl, I would love to have this type of relationship with her. Lorelai states it best, "I'm her best friend first and her mother second."

So I've realized from watching the show, I can't correct the past, but I can put 100% into everything I do from now on. Teaching, reading, writing, just to name a few. I'm going to stop watching the show and take with me the fact that anything you wish to accomplish can be fulfilled at any age.

Regrets are for the past, don't have any waiting for you in the future.

What type of regrets do you have? Is it too late for a change?

PS: Some fan I am, check out this site! http://gilmoregirlsfanatic.com/rorys-book-club/

Frankie

WARNING: FRANKIE MIGHT LICK YOU TO DEATH!

There is one thing I despise and it is when people are so quick to judge. Yes we are all guilty of this to some degree....not aware of the facts, but sure ready to pretend we know it all when we give feedback to others. The lovely thing about life is we can all learn from our mistakes and change our ways.

My husband and I recently adopted a Pit Bull Terrier. WE RESCUED A DOG and one would think that everyone would have the same ecstatic reaction upon hearing the news. We all know we live in a world where there are numerous dogs without homes that risk the chance of being euthanized, right?!

To my dismay, several overlooked this fact and did not show much excitement for us initially. The common reaction was, "A Pit Bull, why a Pit Bull?" Many people are quick to judge without thoroughly knowing much about the subject. They base their opinions on small excerpts heard on television. Unfortunately, I started to believe the criticism and began to doubt my decision. But then I thought before I become one of those that stereotype, I better do a little bit of research first!

The media! How reliable is that source? Even the media can stretch the truth. Just because we see something on the news we think everything is true that they are telling us right? Newsflash! They are able to “edit” information and sometimes give us false information and I found the perfect story that proves it.

There is an article of a news station in Philadelphia that reported two Pits attacking a person. The dogs looked more like a Boxer mix than Pit according to the article. The news station was called and asked if they were purebred Pit Bulls, maybe mutts, etc. Their reply was they were not certain and to call the police station for that information. The article states they asked the media how can they report something they are not 100% sure of? The media admitted to not knowing the exact breed of the dog, but yet they kept calling them Pit Bulls in their reports!! What I found the most interesting is in a lot of cases when the media is reporting about a Pit Bull attacking, it is a mixed breed of some sort, or another bull breed all together. Why do they lie? Because the name Pit Bull will draw out the most attention from the public according to the article. It is disheartening to know that these dogs will never have a good reputation because of some false accusations.

You may be thinking that they are not perfect and this is true. But please keep an open mind. There are situations that occur with other breeds as well and all should know that dogs are a reflection of their owners. It’s the ruthless, awful owners that want their dogs to be aggressive that should be the blame!

Did you know???
Most people falsely believe Pits are ALL aggressive dogs. When actually they are very intelligent, loving, loyal and highly trainable. Here are some more interesting facts from various articles:

1. Pit Bulls are therapy/service dogs. Helen Keller had a Pit Bull as her helper.
2. Petey, was a Pit Bull on the show The Little Rascals. He was one of the most intelligent Hollywood dogs of all times.
3. Pit Bulls are heroes.
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/petaletter.html

4. Pit Bulls are one of the most people friendly dogs that exist.
5. Another story that I found was about a man walking his Pit Bull in the woods and this dog started to walk off in a completely different direction from his owner. The owner thought this was odd because he trained his dog to listen to his every command. The owner followed him and found his dog licking a face of an autistic boy who had fallen into a deep mud hole and could not get out.

So before you become one who wants to spread the negativity, please do a little bit of research first!

25 Facts

I've always enjoyed reading "getting to know one" surveys that people post on Facebook or publish in magazines. It's interesting because you think you know someone, but you always end up learning something new. The most recent survey that has been circulating for quite some time is a list of random facts about someone. I'm not sure why I never posted anything because I'm a survey junkie! So I decided better late than never.....

1. I hate healthy food.
2. I fainted twice-both times I was on vacation.
3. My husband tells people that he knew he was going to marry me during one of our first dates when I ordered the Holy Cow burger...it was the only item in bold and was gigantic!
4. I've been to Florida eight times.
5. My dream is to go to Paris because I am obsessed with the Eiffel Tower. I don't want to go yet... I want to save this for the future.
6. The only fight I've ever gotten into was with a boy in kindergarten. (Jake..aka the Snake). He used to make long snakes from clay and once hit me with one. I slapped him and he gave me a bloody nose!
7. I went on a trip with the Chicago Bulls players and their wives. We had an emergency landing on the way back. I heard someone mention reporters from the news ended up going to the airport...I wonder to this day if that was true.
8. A human can be shot in a movie, but if a dog dies I get really upset.
9. Writing a book about my life has always been a dream that I know I'll never achieve.
10. My CD collection is the most embarrassing thing that I own.
11. A goal of mine is to learn how to do the Argentine tango.
12. I think Andrea Bocelli is the most talented singer ever.
13. The first time I skied was in Michigan and I couldn't even make it down the bunny hill without falling. The second time I skied was down a mountain in Colorado that was 11,000 ft. I was terrified on my way up because I'm still awful!
14. I consider myself adventurous. I am ALWAYS scared in the beginning, but don't want to have regrets if I walk away.
15. I stayed up for about 30 hrs. the first time I went to Las Vegas. ( Now that I'm older...this would be an impossible task).
16. I can not have a body wrap done at a spa. I become extremely claustrophobic.
17. I am obsessed with lemons.
18. People at my old job used to say I reminded them of Audrey Hepburn. I now adore her!
19. Ann and I leave 5 minute (or more) voicemails to each other everyday. For years, it has been our own unique way of communicating to each other.
20. I have select OCD. I call it that because it is only with pictures and products. Pictures on a wall must be perfectly straight and my products must be evenly spaced with the labels facing forward.
21. I am absolutely terrified of spiders and centipedes.
22. I STILL think Jake from the movie Sixteen Candles is dreamy! :)
23. I can not watch an episode of Extreme Home Makeover without getting teary eyed.
24. I wish that I went to high school in the eighties. I have the hair for it and the movies and music was the best. It was the best decade in my opinion.
25. Last year I couldn't even make a grilled cheese without ruining it. After 31 years, I finally have confidence in the kitchen!

In Memory Of....

Who is Miep Gies? What does the word genocide mean? These are just some of the questions out of many that my students were curious about. I was told one week before winter break that my class would be attending the Holocaust Museum located in Skokie, Illinois. What?! We are not to teach about WWII until the spring. But it should be fine, everyone knows about the Holocaust right? To my dismay, their knowledge did not surpass Hitler killed Jewish people.

I took time over break to dive into materials, artifacts, movies, etc. There is so much material that I began to feel stressed because I only had four days to cover it all! Throughout my research, I discovered so much information that would not only be valuable to my students, but to myself. A teacher is also a student. The process of learning never ends.

Crunch time....winter break comes to an end. I must teach a large extent of sequential facts crammed into just four periods. This task actually turned out to be the best week of work I have ever had. My students were asking high level thought provoking questions, completing unassigned research out of school, and became educators in their very own homes. One of their homework assignments was to complete a KWL chart and teach someone at home about what they have learned. The person or people they taught had to sign their KWL charts. They came into the classroom thrilled because they knew more about a topic than their parents and older siblings did. For the first time, they saw something within themselves that I've been seeing for quite some time...potential. They are capable of achieving whatever they desire if they put their minds and hearts into it one hundred percent.

I had to hold back tears at the museum for all of the human beings that were tortured during his horrific time in history. My students entered with background knowledge and left knowing this event is so broad that there is still so much to learn.

So who is Miep Gies? She was a remarkable woman that passed away yesterday at the age of 100. She was known for being the one who preserved the diary of Anne Frank. She smuggled food and other necessities to Anne and her family. She was courageous, compassionate, and a true companion to those in hiding. She never wanted to be known as a hero, but yet I’ll always think of her as one.

I try to instill upon my students no matter how bad life gets to always remain positive.

Empowering words of Anne Frank......

In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Thank you Miep Gies for giving us the opportunity to share this book through multiple generations. And thanks to Anne Frank for writing these words of encouragement and for teaching us to remain kind spirited individuals no matter the circumstance.

A young girl who was not able to truly experience life remained at peace. We all have problems, but don't ever let it get the best of you.

Love, H

Tis the Season to be Jolly

Time off of work, Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, and decorating the tree. All things to make one happy, but sometimes I can't help but feel sad. Traditions have changed, relatives are missed, and not everyone can be together on the same day.

What Christmas "used to be".....
My mother always had box after box filled with decorations and I remember always looking forward to putting my favorite ornament on the tree, etc. There was Christmas music blaring in the background and glasses of eggnog scattered around.
The setting of the celebration took place in a home belonging to a relative and EVERYONE would be there. It seemed like the happiest time for all. We would attend midnight mass at Gethsemane Lutheran in Cicero and for some amount of years we would have rows of pews filled with family members.
After church is when Santa came to my house. (Someone would always leave church early or not attend and how I didn't catch on to that is beyond me)! We didn't grow up with a lot of money, but my family always managed to purchase the gifts on my list. I remember wanting the Barbie dream house and thinking I probably would not get it because it was expensive. Well once I saw the size of the gift, I knew that my odds were pretty good. After opening the gift with an incredible amount of excitement, the whole neighborhood probably heard me scream. It was as if I won the lottery! These are my memories of Christmas past.

What Christmas is "now"......
People move out of homes, even out of state, get married, have children, and begin having their own traditions. I try to keep things the same as much I can. As for the decorating, my husband and I have our own tradition. We put up the decorations the Sunday after Thanksgiving and like my mother's tradition we keep Christmas music playing all day.
I still see some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins even though the number of people there has drastically changed. But sometimes I can see/feel that the atmosphere and mood has changed. People are disappointed that some couldn't make it and others like my Grandma are greatly missed.
As for midnight mass, sad to say no one attends anymore including myself. My husband and I attend a Catholic church on Christmas Day. But it's not the same without family, this is what I miss the most, and this is the true meaning of Christmas.
Now I don't want to sound like a downer. Christmas is still my favorite holiday. This year, my husband and I had a great time hosting Christmas with our immediate family, but one year I would like to extend the invitation to all.
Traditions change, but I have my memories that will last a lifetime. I wonder what Christmas future will bring?