tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29918225916113073322024-03-13T13:54:58.955-07:00Practical OptimistChantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-42189859224515445862014-01-23T06:52:00.000-08:002014-01-23T06:52:01.383-08:00WinningI've won a few things in my life. When I was in college I won a $300 drawing. I've won turkeys, hams, and quilts at bingo. I was a finalist in the Father of the Year Essay contest in High School. I don't say "I never win anything" because I recognize it simply isn't true.<br />
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On Tuesday evening my sister and I went to mass then to the boys basketball game at the High School. At the end of mass I was thinking about what I would buy from the concession stand and I decided then that I would buy some raffle tickets as well. I don't usually buy any, so I'm not sure why I decided to that night. At every game there is a "Half and Half" Raffle. Half the money taken in goes out to the winner at half-time.<br />
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I bought my 20 tickets for $5 and found my spot on the bleachers. When it came time for the drawing, I pulled out my stubs, and the number called was not in my string of tickets. What are the odds anyway, right? The number was 987882.<br />
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My sister and I met our friend Arlene at the game. She had immediately commented on my long string of tickets; I promptly ripped one off and handed it to her saying if she won she had to give me half. We joked throughout the first half of the game at how funny it would be if she won and how few people were at the game, so if she did win we would both end up with about enough to buy a bottle of soda.<br />
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She went on about how she never wins anything, it was a waste to give her a ticket, she never gets drawn...<br />
When we pulled out our tickets at half-time, I looked at my numbers for the first time. The last digits on the end tickets on my strip were 63 and 81. I didn't even know which end I had taken hers from, so I asked:" what did I give you, 62 or 82?" Her reply: "82."<br />
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I had a feeling it was going to be a winning night. I definitely won. Not only did 'we' win (after collecting her $42 prize, Arlene promptly gave it all to me, and I gave her back $10), we had a fabulous moment of shock and a great laugh. We have a good story to tell, and of course, those who know Arlene know that it couldn't have happened with a more perfectly suited friend for this sort of thing.<br />
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Be careful what you tell yourself will never happen. Don't miss an opportunity just because you think you "never win." Every day is a W!Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-19977934493065757452014-01-21T09:14:00.001-08:002014-01-21T09:14:56.751-08:00Thankful for MistakesWhenever I see someone rushing through something and not really caring about how it's done, I think of a quote from the grandmother of some of my dearest friends: "Have you no pride?" This same woman told me, in German, that a lazy girl uses a long thread. Short cuts are just that. Cuts.<br />
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Details are very important. Not every detail, but I think some make or break a special event.<br />
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As the Confirmation coordinator/teacher of four rural Catholic parishes, anything Confirmation related goes through me and is my responsibility. We shared the ceremony with another group of churches, 58 candidates in all. I saw 20 of my students Confirmed on Sunday. And I could feel the Holy Spirit fill the Cathedral. I volunteered to make the program.<br />
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I volunteer for jobs most people don't want--all the time. I worked on the 2-page, 11x17 document for hours trying to make it perfect. Or at least adequately perfect... not perfectly adequate, there is a difference.<br />
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I went over it and over it. The choir director and I spent 20 minutes on the phone reading song lyrics to each other. I looked through the past programs to make sure I had all the parts in the right places. I went over the student name list about 9 times. The phone book and Google are my dear companions. But, I know God, and God knows me. I knew he wouldn't let me create something without flaw.<br />
I printed a proof. One of the server's names should have two Ts.<br />
I printed the first 100. A student's name was the wrong font size.<br />
I printed the next 100. A comma was incorrectly spaced.<br />
I printed the next 150. I hadn't put a space in the name of the city, St.Cloud.<br />
The morning of the service I printed 30 more just to be sure we would have enough. At least those 30 would be correct. But, I prayed as I printed. "God, just please let whatever is wrong not be terribly obvious to everyone." I knew I would find the error(s) eventually.<br />
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A student came to ask if we had more programs about 2 minutes before we were to begin. I had enough to make sure all four priests and bishop had them, and I found one for myself after the students processed in. I had made a great guess on the number.<br />
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The students were Confirmed. The presentation, anointing, and Liturgy of the Word had gone on relatively hitchless.<br />
<br />
We came to the Holy Holy Holy. From the back I scoped the crowd to see who was religiously (ha) following along in the program and who had put them down and participated from memory.<br />
I had left an entire line of text that had been a note to myself so I wouldn't forget anything. I prayed again "There it is, God. I knew you'd come through, like you always do."<br />
<br />
I know people noticed because it was blatantly incorrect. He could have left something a bit less serious like a misspelling or punctuation mistake.<br />
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Life is an endless lesson in humility. I know God will not ever let me, a simple human, do anything perfectly. He cares and wants me to care for others and accept their mistakes. I'll do better next time... maybe.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-63260536878219100772012-06-21T06:49:00.001-07:002012-06-21T06:49:26.212-07:00The year of the Knit!I haven't blogged yet in 2012... how unreliable am I?<br />
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Life just takes over and I'm left in a tale-spin. That's a good way to put it... I go through the motions, work, volunteering, family activities, theatre rehearsals, and at the end of each thing, am left spinning.<br />
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I'm taking back a bit of my life in a sense this year. <br />
Last fall when I started saying this was going to be the Year of the Knit, I was only partially serious... mostly kidding actually. But, it has turned out to be largely true. I've done almost no quilting or sewing, minimal paper crafting, no embroidering, and my book stack is growing, because when I have free minutes, or days, I'm knitting. Well, knitting and doing laundry, scrubbing the shower, sorting mail-you get the idea.<br />
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It turns out I like knitting even more than I thought. And, my skills are improving. The whole practice makes perfect thing... we all want to pretend it's not true. We know it probably is, and it's apparent in the lives of others, but we never really want to accept it for ourselves.<br />
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In my knitting, and just about every other aspect of life, as I grow-up, I realize just how much practice is takes to be any good at all.<br />
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What should next year be? The Year of the Yoke--I'll only eat eggs? I like alliteration. I could call this year the Year of the Yarn.<br />
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I'll have to look through my stashes, yes, stashes, and see what supplies need to be used up. Another Year of the Yarn would not hurt anyone in my house.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-46164491886980999332011-09-29T20:56:00.000-07:002011-09-29T21:01:03.054-07:00Days...Apparently, today was National Coffee Month. I'm a little miffed at myself for not figuring it out. This morning on the radio there was a competition to call in and guess what holiday it was. The hint was that some store, was giving it away to customers and that you could probably get it at KrispieKreme. I knew donuts was too obvious. But, coffee? Of course!<br /><br />Coffee is really an incredible thing. It seems as though people either love it, or hate it. I didn't exactly grow-up with coffee drinkers, my 70-year-old father still doesn't touch the stuff. But, I have developed a taste for it. As well as an appreciation for it's amazing powers. I'm not dependant, however, I have noticed that days with coffee are better. It hasn't failed me yet.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-68885436904223330712011-08-16T08:43:00.000-07:002011-08-16T09:14:32.142-07:00Waiting...I am spending an entire day at home. This is a rare and wonderful treat. So, how should one use this valuable time: clean, organize, put laundry away, make invitations for her father's surprise birthday party, get a jump on work?
<br />
<br />Yep, you guessed it... I'm putting pictures on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span>. That is the #1 thing on my list, right before 'make cards.' <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Prioritizing</span> is important.
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<br />While I wait for the photos to load, I thought I would blog. Not on the list, but I'm going to add it, just so I get to cross it off : )
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<br />I feel like we all spend a lot of time waiting. I wait for days when I get to do things at home, waiting is a valuable like skill. The top "wait" in life seems to be figuring out what to do with it. I'm waiting for God to show me my path... actually, I'm fairly certain I'm on that path, just waiting for what comes next.
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<br />I'm inspired by the people who use their wait time efficiently. I have become one of those people who always has a book with her, and I want to start carrying projects (i.e. dish cloth to knit, towel to embroider) so that I'm not wasting any time. But, the truth is, that those quiet times when not much is going on, are some of the best times. I need to get better at enjoying those times. I keep telling myself, I don't have to be doing something, I can just enjoy the company of whoever I'm with, and God's amazing creation.
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<br />Now, I'm waiting for the photos to load and wondering... is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> one of God's wonderful creations? I like to think so.
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<br />I should probably use the load time to do some of those other things on the list. Today is going to be a day of enjoyment on my way to task accomplishment... why wait?
<br />Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-54954828427267403162011-06-13T11:45:00.000-07:002011-06-13T12:06:07.223-07:00Motivation, To-do lists, and laziness; oh my!Here's my dilemma... As always, I have lots to do--An ever growing list, piles sitting right in front of me, and a little bit of outside pressure to get something done. But, here I sit. Blogging.<br /><br />If you keep track of my blog you know that my posts are few and far between, which I really am trying to work on. So, if I am actually writing a blog post, I must really be putting off <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">everything</span> else I have to do.<br /><br />The truth is, today is the kind of day I wait months for. In just a few minutes my brother will head to work and I will be left in the house, ALONE! Whenever that happens, it's like the clouds part, heaven opens up, and the angels sing beautiful alleluias. I don't work well with other people around me, just watching. Which is kind of a constant issue here. So, I wait for alone time to get things done. But then, the alone time is so great that I just want to basque in it. And not do anything, just listen to the quiet. <br /><br />Overcoming this lazy urge is my goal for today... here's my current list of things I should do: some are fun, and some not as much.<br />dishes<br />put things away<br />put clean clothes away<br />embroider (I have dishtowel deadlines)<br />read (today is the finish date for the current book I'm reading)<br />find seeds (June 13 is a little late to be planting flowers)<br /><br />If all of these things happen, I would consider this my most productive day in months. The 4<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> and 5<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> items on the list are, of course, the most appealing. I'll get to those two items for sure, the others are sort of up in the air.<br /><br />So, I have to wonder... do all of my days have to be productive? Am I hurting anyone else by only doing things I enjoy. All the rest will still be there waiting for me tomorrow. Maybe the real pressure I feel is from myself. In the depths of my brain, I know that if I work harder at getting things clean and in order, life will be easier and I'll feel better. So, why can't I just do it?<br /><br />That, my friends, is because of my number one skill--procrastination! Is it possible to be medicated for that, because it is a serious debilitating condition? I'll have to look into it. Maybe when I'm done reading and embroidering.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-11291713554039698752011-05-30T09:38:00.000-07:002011-05-30T09:51:10.441-07:00Here it is... the long awaited continuation of the blog.<br /><br />My feeling of having nothing to say keeps me from writing. I look at the link and go I<em> should really post something</em> and quickly follow with <em>I have nothing interesting to write about.</em><br /><em></em><br />Today is no different, but I simply cannot put it off any longer.<br /><br />Summer is here, perhaps not according to the calendar, but every kid who's done with school, that goes for substitute teachers too, knows that summer is in full swing.<br /><br />The "summer" mode was especially apparent when I rolled out of bed, looked at the clock and it said 10:35. I kind of hate that I do this to myself. I feel like I should train myself to be productive, get up early, not waste precious daylight. But, alas, I am a naturally born night owl. And when one stays at a friend's bonfire until 1am, how could she possibly be expected to rise at a decent hour?<br /><br />Summer not only brings a new sleep schedule, but a whole list of "to-dos." My lists, written on paper and somewhere in brain brain just behind my forehead, grow everyday. At the top--"get organized." I am finally at a place where getting rid of things, even if they may be useful, or I may want to make something out of them, or they might fit <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">again</span>, is okay. I need to decrease my quantity and focus more on quality. That's one of the few reasons I have been dreading summer. It's a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">daunting</span> task!<br /><br />I do look forward to warm weather, reading, hanging out with my friends at play rehearsal, and spending more time with all the people I seem to be too busy for otherwise. Efforts need to be made, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">laziness</span> must be overcome. How's that for a summer goal?Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-81870880440766096462011-02-15T20:17:00.000-08:002011-02-15T20:36:21.782-08:00Blog BlockI am fascinated by blogging and it's power. I don't actually read many blogs--confession time: the only blog I subscribe to I haven't actually read since Christmas time. I haven't done much of anything non-work related since Christmas time--and I am always intrigued when I hear people talk about the blogs which they follow. Some people seem to really have fun things to share.<br /><br />I am at a block. I have barely gotten started and already have a block... I just plain don't know about what I should write. I have plenty going on and plenty of topics from which to choose. I think my problem is that I am not a decision maker and therefore, do not want to pick any one topic.<br /><br />So, I have a new idea... I will cover a few highlights of the day and the topic that I had the most expression while discussing.<br /><br />Here's the expression portion: I have a dear friend who has a taste in movies that does not appeal to me. She likes comedy, animation and other things I'm not crazy about. Though we did enjoy both Camp Rock movies and the Wizards of Waverly Place movie together, now she wants to see <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gnomio</span> and Juliet--in the theatre. I will not pay to see an animated movie of lawn gnomes acting out a version of Shakespeare's classic. Though I minored in literature in college, I am definitely not a lit snob. But I can not justify spending money and hours of my life watching that. Perhaps when it hits DVD, I'll give it a shot. And maybe I'll even enjoy it. In no way am I prepared to see this when I have to be quiet and don't have the option of turning it off.<br /><br />Now the highlights: I am fairly certain the dog was having a bad dream this morning. I was in the bathroom and heard some noise. I looked in the living room where I am fairly certain the dog had just fallen off the couch in his sleep. He was stretched out on the floor, on his side, still asleep. He looked like he was trying to run, but it was more of a wiggly twitch and he made soft grunting noises. That kind of thing makes me wonder what goes on in animal minds.<br /><br />I worked this morning and had the afternoon off. I made the most of it by quilting and watching an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">SVU</span> marathon. Those are the activities of which winter days are made. I felt a bit guilty about being inside when the weather outside is so nice, but I can't get anywhere without getting muddy, wet and walking on ice. Yuck! Tomorrow I don't have to work until evening, as of right now anyway, and I need to clean. Badly! It has become very apparent that I am not organized and I am not a great housekeeper. I need to get back on track. I haven't done much cleaning or laundry since Christmas time either.<br /><br />Another highlight... I wrote a blog post.<br /><br />I hope tomorrow is good in all the same ways as today.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-62589467702736725232010-12-04T09:46:00.000-08:002010-12-04T10:05:36.603-08:00Jesus'sIn connection with my last post, here is my address of the spellcheck not recognizing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jesus's</span> as a word. <br /><br />The fact is that some say you can show possession with Jesus by simply adding an apostrophe to the end (Jesus'), the issue I have with that is that there is only one Jesus. I'm not actually a believer in the power of spellcheck, I use it to catch mistakes, but I do not rely on it to catch all my mistakes. I know it doesn't catch them all and in this case it is flat out wrong. <br /><br />We have options when it comes to language and spelling. That's part of what makes it all so confusing. You can show possession by adding only an apostrophe to a person's name that ends in an S. But that violates the rules. The rules say apostrophe before S if the noun is singular. You can spell cancelled with two Ls, like that, or with one, canceled. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Tomatoes</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">potatoes</span>, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">tornadoes</span> have an E before the S. Who decided tomatoes and potatoes need that E, but tornados doesn't.<br /><br />This is turning into a random rant, but here's the final note... Who decided it is necessary to add an 's to make something plural, and how did that idea get spread around? We see it all the time and it is so very wrong. Please, don't ever do it.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-44460557887540014692010-12-01T21:24:00.000-08:002010-12-01T21:41:06.008-08:0036 DaysYesterday, a lady on the radio had the audacity to suggest that we are knee deep into the Christmas season. I, of course, yelled at her, but I don't think she heard me. We are just getting started. Our toes are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">barely</span> covered in Christmas-y-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ness</span>. Yet, people seem to think that December initiates Christmas wind-down mode. What is up with that? I strongly dislike the radio stations that quit playing Christmas music on December 26, and am thoroughly disgruntled when TV stations stop playing holiday movies before New Years. The season doesn't even begin until December 25. <br /><br />I e-mailed our priest a couple of days ago asking about adding a short Christmas program for the Religious Education students after a Mass in December. His response gave the go ahead, but he also said, and I don't think entirely in jest, that it would actually be an Advent program. He is completely right! We are preparing for Christmas. Christmas comes when Jesus is born. <br /><br />Christmas is definitely highly commercialized, and I have to admit I love all the Christmas stuff: lights, food, decorations, gift wrapping, cards, songs. But, Christmas is completely about joy. We should be joyful because our Savior was born. Huzzah! Not already tired of all the holiday parties, gift giving obligation, and family gathering.<br /><br />I love celebrating the season for as long as I can.... October 10 is my Christmas-tune-listening start-date. But, our real Christmas celebrating should be concentrated on those good, old twelve days of Christmas. Which don't actually start until <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">December</span> 25. Boy, am I glad I still have 36 days to celebrate. I like to celebrate <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jesus's</span> birth everyday, but you get less funny looks singing "O Come Let Us Adore Him" in November than you do in April.<br /><br />And another thing... I just ran a spell check and the computer is tell me that "Jesus's" is incorrect. That will have to be addresses in a later post.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-52071420241117591192010-11-21T22:17:00.000-08:002010-11-21T22:26:06.669-08:00MN MuseumYesterday I visited the MN History Museum. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. There were 6 major exhibits in all. One included a simulated grain elevator complete with many levels and tunnels. The purpose for the expedition was to explore the "Greatest Generation" exhibit featuring war experiences of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span>-baby boom generation. The exhibit did a great job of summing up life in war times.<br /><br />I learned something valuable. Butter turns white after 7 years. In the MN150 exhibit the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">butter head</span> of the Princess Kay of the Milky Way from the year (2003) I was a dairy princess and competed for the title was on display. It didn't look so good, I'm glad it's in the museum because I wouldn't want to eat it any more.<br /><br />I will definitely have to go back soon. We road a bus sponsored by the public library. It was a great trip, but much too short. We breezed through most of the exhibits, only 3 minutes to see 100 years of history in a house, and didn't even get to look around in the gift shop.<br /><br />I don't think much about history or take advantage of the information that is available to me. I need to get out more, visit more museums, and take advantage of all there is to see, do and experience.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-82942698927843283072010-11-07T19:15:00.000-08:002010-11-07T19:29:31.828-08:00CommentsI don't feel like my brain works as well lately as it has at other times so far in my life. I have to admit, I have always thought of myself as having reasonable <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">intelligence</span>. I don't think that any more. Many things have contributed to this conclusion. I had just had a bad moment--see the next paragraph.<br /><br />I just now discovered that people have commented on my blog posts. The first comment came in July of 2009. I guess I'll have to check the "Comments" tab more often.<br /><br />Now on to a problem: I've recently discovered that several (4 of who I am aware) people are reading this blog. I started the blogging thing to work on my creative writing and to motivate myself to so some form of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">journaling</span>. Neither has happened. So, now I am trying to conceptualize what my blog content with be. I like structure and I like to meet deadlines, reach goals, etc. One thing I do not like to do is set goals. Actually, setting the goal is not the problem. Sticking to it is where I get in trouble. I only set little goals and then I don't bother <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">achieving</span> them because something else of a higher priority comes up. Therefore, on top of an excuse to do the simple action of writing and have some form of journal, this blog may also become a goal achieving development tool.<br /><br />That sounded complicated; now my brain is tired.<br /><br />Time for bed.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-27591431925690587412010-10-26T20:07:00.000-07:002010-10-26T20:17:50.293-07:00Praying for PowerDays like today make me thankful and make me wonder. I wonder if I could live without electricity... I'm sure I could, but I know I don't want to. Because of today's weather, rainy-wet-extremely windy!, many people are without power. My sister and I went shopping tonight only to find that one of the main stores I wanted to visit was closed due to a power outage. I just heard on the news that many homes are without power, and I just found out when I came home that I uncle and his family are without power, which wouldn't be a huge deal except that he is a dairy farmer and has been unable to do the evening milking without power to run the milker pump. This basic everyday necessity was unheard of 150 years ago, and now we are completely dependant.<br /><br />Not only are we dependant on power, but we seem to have problems when our cell phones die, or our i<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">nternet</span> doesn't work.<br />This day and it's obstacles help to put things in perspective and remind us of just how great we've got it. I have to thank God for those little reminders.<br /><br />Speaking of thanking God... I just found out tonight that Garth Brooks' song "Unanswered Prayers" is being made into a Lifetime movie. I am so excited. I've always loved the message of that song, and of course I like a good Lifetime movie.<br /><br />Back to God and life's good things... we have so much technology, so many resources and so much potential right at our fingertips. I hope we all use it. I know I need to be better at taking full advantage of all of the opportunities I'm given, as well as the skills and abilities I have. If I put it all together I know I am capable of accomplishing much.<br /><br />Now the only problem is--what is it that I want to accomplish?Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-14532281617671116682010-10-15T07:46:00.000-07:002010-10-15T08:01:11.470-07:00Pirate Ship, School House, Uffda!I have to admit, sometimes my life is pretty darn easy. Today, for example, I am subbing in a high school media center. Though I will have 3 hours of unruly, large groups of students, half of my day will be spent largely alone, checking out the occasional book and supervising a few study hall students who will wander in and out. So, what am I doing in the meantime? Decorating a school house. It's actually kind of sweet. I have a white <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tag board</span> school house silhouette and I get to make it pretty. I did a pirate-ship this summer for a program at the public library (I should post a picture) and I was asked to work some magic with the school house. So far I've cut light salmon/tan colored paper into strips, for siding, and I've traces roof pieces of out of coffee sleeves (those cardboard things that go around hot cups at coffee shops). Days like this are great, I get things done, while I get paid to do other things. <br /><br />I feel a little bit guilty sitting here and being paid to do very little actual work. But, I've realized something as I've had a few jobs and done some different things... in many cases, we are being compensated for our time, not just our productivity. Of course, that doesn't mean we should sit at our jobs and do nothing, but it does mean that sometimes someone just needs to be present. Time is a valuable thing, therefore, we should be compensated for giving our time.<br /><br />I've also used some of this bonus time to look into teacher license renewal and think about getting a real job. Both should be goals of mine... that's as far as I got in my thoughts.<br /><br />Lately, I have felt a serious push to get organized and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">declutter</span> my life. I took a quiz last night in an organizing book. To my astonishment, I was only on the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nd</span> level of needing to get organized. I expected to be off the charts. My main issue is that I simply throw things away. I need to be better as passing things on to other people, worthy causes, or rummage sales. I think part of my problem is that I don't want to throw good stuff away, but I don't want to deal with finding a new place/home for things, therefore keep and toss become my only options.<br /><br />I also need to expand my regular speaking and typing vocabulary. I know plenty of words, why don't I use them?Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-30640275969156456172010-08-23T19:13:00.000-07:002010-08-23T19:32:20.780-07:00Monday BlessingsWith my extremely flexible and varied schedule, I never know what the day may bring. I wake up with some sort of plan in mind. That plan usually involves some kind of cleaning task, organizing assignment, or reading plan... how often do those things happen?--we won't go there. Today's plan involved nothing. Now that I've started my TV fast, I find myself sitting on the couch doing nothing for periods of time. This morning I planned for that to not happen. <br /><br />It didn't. I awoke to the ring of the telephone. I was asked to babysit my 9-month-old cousin. Of course I agreed, as I had nothing else going on. I've realized more and more how fast children grow and I want to spend as much time with the children in my life at every stage that I can. His mother called me ten minute later to warn me that her 4-year-old was staying home because he found out I was coming and my 9-year-old cousin was going to be at their house as well. These three turned out to be the greatest blessing the day could have provided. <br /><br />I love childhood. Though I am happy to be an adult, missing college greatly as of late... there's enough there for a few posts, I love to play child's games and with toys and to simply enjoy children. They have nothing to worry about, and for a time I have the opporunity to experience that too. We played pirates, pirate language and sword-fighting included, we even gave the baby a bubble wand to use as a sword. I even enjoy the "again" parts of playing with a 4-year-old when he wanted to slide down his slide on a snow sled into the sandbox over and over. And then later when we finally got the "Mouse Trap" game board set up we made the net drop on to the mice at least 22 times. There is something soothing about repeating these activities and seeing him find joy in them everytime. We played train, making noises while pushing a laundry basket train car around the house full of stuffed animal "customers." <br /><br />We even played memory. I love that Jake, the 4-year-old, is learning to use reason, logic and memory to play games. His rate of learning and retention is incredible. He got the first match of the game. It was by sheer luck, but it was a triumphant moment. We all give little kids "help" when playing games so they can succeed. Of course we helped him, but he had success in the game all on his own. I find myself trying to imagine what these children will be like as they grow. I can't wait to find out and to know them at each stage in their development.<br /><br />I wonder often if I have the patience to be a mother. Can I love someone enough? Will I be any good? If what I experience and feel with my cousins is any indication of what motherhood may entail, I certainly hope I get the chance to have that experience.<br /><br />I don't work tomorrow and therefore have no plan. I wonder what blessings Tuesday will hold.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-23253027421160052722010-08-18T22:06:00.000-07:002010-08-18T22:12:20.431-07:00Oops I did it againHere I go, about to ramble on about how I was going to blog but didn't. Actually don't would be more accurate. I would be interested to see if there is some kind of genetic thing attached to not taking initiative and finishing things or keeping up with things. I would be interested in a medication that would fix this problem.<br /><br />I am so good at starting projects... knitting, crafting, cleaning, organizing, even reading books and terrible at finishing them. There has to be something that can help with that.<br /><br />Every summer I make a long list of projects to do and books to read... I usually accomplish a big fat zero of the things on the list. What the heck is my problem? Will I ever overcome it. I certainly hope so.<br /><br />Are there really not enough hours in the day? No, I am just really good at wasting time. Giving up television would change my life. I am seriously thinking about a No TV month and recording my progress in life's long list of things to do.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-36366456685168683652010-03-18T18:27:00.000-07:002010-03-18T18:40:43.963-07:00SleepI'm tired. All week I have tried to go to bed early, but I don't fall asleep until almost midnight. Then when the alarm goes off at 6:30, I am mostly awake and I get up. Something is seriously wrong with this picture. Tomorrow I don't have to set an alarm, so I am going to try an experiment to see how long I can stay in bed. I would bet I'll be up by 7:50. The hardest part of making it that long is that I really want to take a nap... now!Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-2885407702695521652010-03-14T13:50:00.000-07:002010-03-14T14:02:01.615-07:00Uh oh!I was looking through my older blog posts... Holy horrendousness. I obviously wrote some of them when I was in a bad spot and did not proofread. For those of you who've read them, I sincerely apologize for some of the attrocious grammatical errors. It's hard to believe that all of the thoughts came from me. I've had many ups and downs in my last two years, and I didn't realize how much writing I really did about those things.<br /><br />On to today...<br />I won a quilt! I thoroughly enjoy Bingo and not only do I get to play two Sunday's in a row(next weekend is Ham Bingo) I am already a winner. Thinking about some of the life highlights up to this point... I've come to the realization that I'm lucky. It's easy to say, and we hear it all the time, "I never win", but I can't say that. And I certainly cannot complain. I feel very lucky, for the opportunities life has given me and for the winnings I've been blessed with. Today, I won a quilt. It happens to have a deep purple backing, and I just happen to love purple right now. In February I went on a free vacation to Laughlin, Nevada--something I won after placing a bet on a Vikings game, and in college I won $300 in a drawing. <br /><br />Life is good, no cause for complaints, and if you ever hear me say "I never win", slap me. Not only have I won'things', but God has granted me so many other blessings. Making a friend, getting to play an important or even minute role in someone else's happiness, those are prizes that we win from God often and don't truly appreciate. Thank you God! I appreciate them.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-62985552124109785482010-03-13T19:57:00.000-08:002010-03-13T20:09:35.177-08:00Commonality?I am not an animal fan. I am not mean to them, but you could say I don't appreciate all that they have to offer.<br /><br />My family has a dog. This dog isn't all bad. He is well trained: he stays away from me and knows not to cross the carpet line into my bedroom. I do get a kick out of him sometimes and have even petted him once or twice (we've had him for 3 years). I constantly remind him that we are not friends and he tends to get in my way a lot. Plus, his hair covers everything. I try not to look at the bottom of my feet when I wear black or brown socks.<br /><br />What shocks me about this dog is how much he and I seem to have in common. He likes to lay around in odd positions on the floor, he loves pepperoni, and we have similar taste in craft items. Today, my sister was vacuuming around his area his bed and toys lay between a couch and loveseat that are back to back)( and found an object. She asked me if I was missing anything... when I looked at what she had, I was stunned. Toby (the dog) took my corner rounder. This object has no real use in the world other than to round the corners of pieces of paper. I love rounding corners, but the dog can't even use the thing. Last weekend, he took one of my favorite rubber stamps. Somehow, he got the rubber off the wood. The rubber was in perfect condition, the wood had some teeth marks. Perhaps he looks up to me and wants to be like me, or maybe he just likes to toy with my mind. <br /><br />There seems to be very little logic behind his item choices. Shortly after we got him he chewed on a crochet hook, and tried to eat my favorite highlighter. The highlighter was a loss; I've used the crochet hook since. Then, this winter, he began playing with a ball of yarn.<br /><br />I'm beginning to wonder if he's trying to get on my good side or just wants to be a crafter.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-22770311294563305282010-03-12T20:39:00.000-08:002010-03-12T20:48:21.526-08:008 Months!I haven't blogged in 8 months! That is terrible. Yet another example of the non-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">committal</span> person in me. As I've said before, I should blog or journal everyday... I do nothing about this. What the heck is my problem.<br /><br />Alas, I will consider this a new beginning. Well, at least until my next post (most likely 6 months from now).<br /><br />My sister and I explored a new and exciting store today. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Aldi</span>, a grocery store chain, intrigued me. I heard about it on television and thought it would be interesting. That it was. Unlike most grocery stores we are used to with thousands of different products, this one has basic products and brand names we've never heard of, but the prices are great. That was the fun discovery of the day.<br /><br />I continually become more and more aware of the effects maturing has on life, and how we are all so very similar. As a teacher, I've met many students. I can't wait to know some of them when they grow up. Growing up has such a profound effect on all aspects of life.<br /><br />If this blogging thing is going to become a habit, I'll have to come up with a more interesting method. Perhaps a topic of the day. Tomorrow's topic will be cleaning. I made an unbelievably ambitious list of things to do. It will take me a couple of weeks, but I think I will feel better if I do everything on it.<br /><br />Until then,<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Chantelle</span>Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-50874809968831914252009-07-09T20:43:00.000-07:002009-07-09T21:03:35.602-07:00Reading... Writing... Acting...I recently found out my blog is on some one's Google reader, which makes me think I should make it worth it and actually post something. Here we go!<br /><br />For those of you who follow me, SURPRISE I am actually writing and I know I've said this before, but I fully intend to blog on a regular basis. Perhaps I am finally at that time in my life when I feel compelled to record the goings on of life. I have to face the music. My brain is going and I like to write. Why not use those as motivators.<br /><br />In my normal random fashion, this is going to be superbly random.<br /><br />Reading...<br /><br />I am a member of a book club which meets once a month at my local library. Every month I get the book and go into the whole thing with the attitude that I am going to finish the book, read every page, every word, and have lots to say about it. Why is it that I always seem to catch myself 4 days before the meeting having read only a couple of pages. I have finished more books than not since I joined this club, but I still frustrate myself. Though I have made leaps and bounds in the positive direction of overcoming my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">procrastination</span> habit, I can seem to break it. Is there medication for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">procrastination</span>, because I don't believe in medicating much, but I would be seriously interested in that pill.<br />The book club met last night, and I have the new book. This time I even plan to take notes. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.<br /><br />Writing...<br /><br />I have never understood people who don't like to write. I like the actual physical act of writing. Whenever I have a new pen, I find myself writing nonsensical sentences and words just to use the pen. When is comes to writing I have to admit, there is some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">narcissism</span>... BUT and that a huge BUT, I only like my handwriting about half of the time. I'm practicing. I want fun, pretty, and most of all, legible handwriting. I like typing too, but there is something about pen on paper that just makes me happy. I bought a new pen yesterday. I am a huge Sharpie fan and now they make pens that supposedly don't bleed through paper. I, of course, had to try them out. So far, so good.<br /><br />Acting...<br /><br />I am a community theatre director, which is pretty much the greatest job I've had. The latest show, Vaudeville's My Home, is my favorite directing gig so far. This is my sixth show as director and I've enjoyed every one immensely, but this one makes me laugh everyday. I need that, I needed this show right now. For everything there is a time and season, right.<br /><br />I find myself more motivated to write or I should say blog when I'm feeling down. The same is true today. Though I am having what may be the greatest summer I've ever had, I feel like I am at that truly awkward place between birth and death. I don't have a niche... I'm floating. I should work on that.<br /><br />In the spirit of keeping it random.... I got a new coffee maker yesterday. I had a 12-cup one, which was a total waste. I didn't make coffee often because you are supposed to make at least 4 cups at a time and I don't drink that much at a time so it felt like a waste. So, I bought a 5-cup coffee maker. I didn't get to use it this morning. But, I fully intend to use it tomorrow. I think my days are better when I have coffee... not that they are bad without, there's just something about starting the day with a caffeine and anti-oxidant burst that brightens things.<br /><br />All for now.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-39268471447977902932009-03-16T21:05:00.000-07:002009-03-16T21:10:47.603-07:00Stuck... again.Life seems to be a perpetual rut. It's not a bad rut... I don't mind it so much. I just wish I could make a decision.<br /><br />There are too many viable, or perhaps good options. I need a job. Something with some benefits, more stable than subbing, but I'm not sure that a 8-4 type everyday schedule is really the right fit for me. I often wonder what I'm sticking around for... nothing great has happened... but at the same time, I have a pretty good small town life. I don't really have any reason to leave. I could say my reasons to stay are more plentiful, but I can't make up my mind.<br /><br />I think I am waiting for God to show me what he wants for me... but I constantly question what that is, or if he is telling me and I am missing it. <br /><br />Perhaps I will make a pro and con list, but even that involves too many decisions. Pros and cons of which option?! When am I going to be able to just decide something? I really wish I had a reason to make my decision with someone else... but I don't. I have other people to think about, but ultimately I have only myself to please and I have to rely on my own interpretation of God's plan to figure out where I am supposed to be.Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-25210995833347102752009-03-12T21:09:00.000-07:002009-03-12T21:28:40.029-07:00CommunicationIt has been a long time. I must have had a good winter because I didn't see any reason to blog. Or perhaps, it was a bad winter because there was nothing blog worthy to share with the world. Either way, I'm back and again, as I've said so many times before, I am going to do this more often. I mean it this time:)<br /><br />Today's Topic of choice: Internet communication, specifically <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Facebook</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Facebook</span> has taken over the world. Oprah featured guest tomorrow is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Facebook's</span> creator. If Oprah's talking about it, it must be a big deal. I can't help but feel like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Facebook</span> is losing some of it's coolness. It was cool when not everyone had it... but I find myself recruiting all my non-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Facebooking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">acquaintances</span>. As a person who doesn't like making phone calls it has been an incredible way to stay in contact with people who may have otherwise fluttered out of my life after high school or college graduations. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Facebook</span> has also served as a pathway to turning some otherwise strictly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">acquaintance</span> relationships into friendships. <br /><br />But, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Facebook</span> also creates a lot of gray area. I find myself struggling with the lines of who to add. I don't add many people unless he or she really is a friend, relative, or relatively close acquaintance. I am often stunned by the friend requests I receive. The surprise is often pleasant, but sometimes not so much. I am pleasantly surprised often by who wants to be my friend. I have been requested a couple of times by people I thought highly of and know, but I was not aware they even knew who I was. Usually if I know the person who is requesting that I add him or her as a friend, I confirm because I suppose if they want to be my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Facebook</span> friend, there isn't any harm in that. I am a substitute teacher and am constantly receiving friend requests from students. This concerns me more for their sakes than my own. I don't like to see inappropriate things... if some posts something that I deem inappropriate, generally bad language, I delete that person as a friend. I don't need that kind of stuff and I won't tolerate it. I struggle with who to accept and who not to. I also must be very aware of what I am posting. I lead a very "clean" life and have nothing to hide. But, I also must be aware that my friends can see all of my thoughts and writings on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Facebook</span>.<br /><br />The new format is making it even easier to see what all of one's friend are doing and thinking as well as writing to each other. The new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Facebook</span> homepage looks and awful lot like a Twitter live feed page. It's fun, but even more apt to comment and being read.<br /><br />I didn't have e-mail or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Internet</span> for that matter until about 8 years ago. Now, I can't imaging life without it. I'm sure I would live, but I wouldn't want to. Communication has truly been revolutionized.<br /><br />Another thought I had recently... Postage keeps going up, which is at least partially blamed on the evolution of e-communication, but wouldn't costs then be able to stay at least relatively stable since fewer postal employees are needed and gas and other transportation costs should be less because of a decrease in mass of mail?Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-64039421292179540902008-11-14T16:54:00.000-08:002008-11-14T17:03:19.635-08:00Why does anyone do what he or she does?I found out shortly before or after my last post that several people were actually reading my blog, so I think subconsiously it freaked me out and I stopped blogging for a while. I beat myself up, in the emotional or mental sense of course, on a regualr basis for not journaling... I would have had so much great reading to do now, had I kept journals. I keep telling myself I should start, but there is no motivation. Why is that? I enjoy my life, at least I try to, I would say I am a pretty cheerful, easily amused person, and I've had some great stories, so why don't I write them down. Though this post is short, I hope it will be the beginning of a habit that I plan to stick to.<br /><br />I am going to try to include a dose of comedy, or at least dorkiness from my everyday life... The other day my dad asked my sister and I to go outside, in the yucky rain/snow weather and load wood. I was not happy about it, but made up my mind to enjoy the heck out of myself no matter what... so, I did. I played Charlie's Angels, or Mission Impossible, I think I mixed up the theme songs, plus some James Bond, and I ran around with a broom, humming, and rolled under the electric fence... I even made snow angels in the 'barely a dusting of' snow we had. Chantelle does not roll on the ground, she does not get wet, she does not get dirty and she definitely does not pretend a broom is a weapon and act like a hero of sorts, but I did, I did it all. That was a fun day:)Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2991822591611307332.post-73096179676873350182008-09-26T12:42:00.000-07:002008-09-26T12:51:21.160-07:00SMSU HomecomingI think this weekend was the closure I needed. The last month has been rough for me... I suddenly found myself terribly missing my former life. Now that I am back in the mix, even is only for a little while, I've realized that I can't go back and I don't want to. My friend Beth, who also graduated last year, keeps telling everyone she is teaching me about college life this weekend. Somewhere between the classes, meetings, social gatherings, and trying to be a good influence, I missed the college student "culture." I can not handle it, aside from the small doses on visits to see my friends. I am actually, for the first time, somewhat glad I am where I am.<br /><br />I usually dread the catch-up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">conversation</span>, exchanging the "How are you"s and "What's new"s is awful, the more I tell people about what I am doing now, subbing, and knitting socks mostly, the easier is becomes. I also am coming to terms with my life and realizing I am blessed and I can do whatever I want. Now, if only I could figure out what that is...<br /><br />As for the weekend... I am here with many of my friends. I sat at the lunch table for at least two and a half hours. It was glorious. I saw so many people and had some great conversations. It is definitely more action and entertainment than I am used to... a welcome change.<br /><br />The rest of the weekend is sure to be a hit! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">SMSU</span> Rocks! (That's the homecoming theme)Chantellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10916718309007408232noreply@blogger.com0