Sunday Six

"Sunday Six!" is a game where Kelly asks us to have six questions answered. Remember, the idea is to post answers to the following six question, but the trick is to get your kids to answer them! If you don't have kids, use your imagination... Your pet, your neighbor, your elderly family member, your roommate, etc. Did you play? Let me and Kelly know.

Today I was able to ask Sarah (SB - age 6 yrs) and Sydney (SK - age 3 yrs) the Sunday 6. I asked Sydney first so she was not influenced by her big sister's answers. Here they are:


Me: Syndey, can I ask you some questions?

Sydney: I want the sleepover ones.

Me: Not today, how about:


1. Why do people work?

SK: Because we are at school.

SB: Cause that's what their job is.


2. What is your favorite toy at the moment?

SK: Playing ball.

SB: My Sarah Doll (her American Girl Doll) and Sydney


3. Why are there flowers on the Earth?

SK: Because they are growing

SB: To make the earth a better place


4. What is your favorite movie (cartoon, story or TV Show) at the moment?

SK: Dora

SB: Little Einsteins


5. What is your favorite snack?

SK: Grapes

SB: Whale crackers (like goldfish only shaped like whales)


6. Why do people drive cars?

SK: Because we are going to school.

SB: Cause they might be going on a far away place and they can't walk that far.

Why do they only worry the week grades are due?

The other day, I got an email from one of my students. He attended most of the classes (missed 3 of 14, one unexcused) and turned in only 1 of 3 papers and didn't do any of the discussion questions. But, he did participate in the classroom discussions. He also brought another dimension to the class as he was not from the United States and so he brought other cultural information and viewpoints which expanded the understanding of the students in the class.

But, as English is not his first language, he struggled with the writing.

So, the other day he emailed me and asked what his grade was. Truth is, he failed the class. There is no way around it. So, I told him this. He emailed back and asked if there was anything he could do about this.

Why do students wait until the 11th hour to ask about this? Why not ask before, when I can really help?

Thankfully for this student, he is spending his summer on campus. So, I've offered him an incomplete which will give him one semester to finish the work. I've given him a hard deadline of July 31. He will be able to write the papers and accept the grade he earns. If he does nothing, he will fail, so he is no better or worse. But, as I have more time this summer, we may be able to solve his fear of writing.

The struggle as a professor is when do you teach the hard lesson of "you are responsible now, this is college" and when do you bend a little to help them learn the components of the subject they struggle with.

It's a hard balancing act, but generally I force the students to meet me halfway - I don't give gifts.

Finally surfacing

I'm not done with everything - guess I never will be - but this project is at a stage of completion.

For my "real" job, I am the assistant to one of the professors. We have a major program where we are partnered with another University. According to our grant, we are committed to holding a summit each year with both University's faculty and students. The original date was September, so I planned meals, activities, agendas, etc. They ended up not being able to make it because plane fares exceeded budget. So, we re-planned it for November. Re-did planning and they made it to the airport but weather here canceled their flight. So, we held a "virtual" summit as a teleconference and started plans for a third attempt at a face-to-face summit. That happened this week. At least its done. I don't know that I could plan it again.

One of my struggles is that I am professional staff. I have a Master's but not a PhD. As a result, it's harder to convince faculty to take me seriously. And, as hard as it is to get our faculty to take me seriously, it's even harder to convince faculty who have never met me and see the word "administrative" in my title and assume that I am more clerical help to take me seriously.

This summit has done a bit to allow the faculty from our partner university to see that I have a larger role.

I've also learned how little our faculty listen to me. They were great at criticizing things but not with full facts. And, as they are apt to do, they were more than willing to say that we should "do" more completely ignoring the fact that they don't have "time" to do it.

So, I feel a little less motivated to work (not good) and trying to figure out HOW to get my message heard much in the same way I need to find what will motivate my students.

Maybe someday I'll figure it out. Or, maybe I should just take the opening the Graduate School Dean gave me last night when she said she would love to have me working for her.

If I didn't like the guarantee flexibility my current job gives me I might consider it.

Now, I just have to organize the notes, type the minutes, pay the bills, etc and finish my grading before next Thurs. But today, I'm taking the day off! except the 9:30 meeting I've been roped into.

Still here

I had to organize a summit that is going on this week. I'll be back on Thursday.

Making Lemonade out of Lemons

The other week, our campus celebrated sexual diversity day. I'm not sure the "proper" name, but it was to celebrate Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transexuals. There is an on campus group that supports these students. Additionally, many faculty and staff wore t-shirts with "Straight people supporting Gays" or something to that effect.

As part of this day, messages were written in chalk on the sidewalks in support of this group. Writing messages in chalk on the sidewalk announcing activities, etc is popular here - especially in the fall and spring when there is no snow.

In protest for these, some members of the community (it is unknown if they are related to the college or the town) felt it necessary to write messages around campus in chalk threatening this group. These were not just "I don't like Gay's" messages, but that Gay's must die. It was viewed by the administration as not just free speech, but a direct threat.

I'm having a hard time determining where I think the line is between free speech and threats. And, is the line different when you are talking about a body of students rather than a group of community members as a result of the code of conduct that students sign.

I am glad the University was decisive and quick action in their statements supporting this group and criticizing those who attacked them in writing.

Someone came up with a great idea early this week. It was to 'write something positive' on the sidewalk in chalk. Chalk was passed from person to person and the sidewalks were filled with "I love my Big Sister" and "My chip didn't break when I got Salsa" to "YIPPEE the semester is almost over." The point of the messages was not to support any group, but just to be silly and fill the sidewalks with positive messages.

I <3 the person who created this idea.

When they provide proof they didn't listen

(Drat, I was so distracted by last night class that I forgot it's WBW.)

Communication is the hardest part of my job as a teacher. You have 20 kids with different learning styles (maybe I should give a learning style quiz at the beginning of the semester so I can get an idea - I easily could build it into a lesson). Some hear better, some need visual cues. All need to receive the information I am transmitting.

Last night, I received some evidence of how the students receive information. The students are required to submit a reflections statement at the end of the semester. This is required of every student who takes the class (and every student in the university is required to take it). This statement is to "reflect" on the semester - what they learned, what they will take with them in the future, etc. This year, I had the student write the statement anonymously. I thought I would get an answer that was a little more honest. But, I think I will change that policy for next year.

One student decided to write about how I failed him or her. There were two things I did - one was not explaining more about the papers - what type they were, etc. Now, I know for a fact that for the first two papers, I did discuss the type. For the third, it didn't really have a type so I didn't define it. But, somehow the student never received the information.

The other failing was that I canceled class one night. Interestingly, he or she didn't even get the facts right. So, if he or she couldn't get these facts correct, did the student lose credibility for the first failing? The claim was that I canceled the class earlier in the day via email. Actually, it was the day before. The perception was that I couldn't clear the snow (true, DH was gone and I had to figure this out, but I was able to get to other places over the two days) AND that I had decided that picking my DH up from the airport was more important than attending class. He or she felt my DH should have taken a cab home from the airport and I should have attended class. The student also mistakenly identified that the day the snowstorm was on, indicating it was 4 days before class instead of the day before. But, what the student didn't solve for me (and was the actual reason I cancelled class) was who was to watch my 3 y.o. and 6 y.o. as they couldn't stay at home alone and class started 30 minutes before their bedtime. So, I got blasted for having kids and living in a town with limited air service during snow storms. But, if the student had listened during class, he or she might have known that if I cancelled class it was not done lightly.

There were several instances where students did not receive information - or I did not present it. some of these were true. But, I always asked the question "Are there any questions." Most of the time there were none. So, if I don't provide adequate feedback and students don't ask for assistance is it *my* failing? Am I responsible for anticipating every time they don't feel enough information has been provided?

Should I be responsible for not providing enough information or should the students be responsible for ensuring they have their needs meet? Whose failing is this.

Leaving on a jet plane

I'm completely uninspired and I need a real vacation.

So, everyone (lurkers to), share with me two things:

1) your real vacation plans for this year

2) your dream vacation plans for this year.

Wouldn't it be cool if they were both the same!

Sunday Six, what is your holiday.

"Sunday Six!" is a game where Kelly asks us to have six questions answered. Remember, the idea is to post answers to the following six question, but the trick is to get your kids to answer them! If you don't have kids, use your imagination... Your pet, your neighbor, your elderly family member, your roommate, etc. Did you play? Let me and Kelly know.

Today I was able to ask Sarah (SB - age 6 yrs) and Sydney (SK - age 3 yrs) the Sunday 6. I asked Sydney first so she was not influenced by her big sister's answers. Here they are:

"What's Your Holiday?"

1. What is Passover?

SK: When you sleep in your sleeping bag and your blanket

SB: When you pass over something?

2. Why do people celebrate Easter?

SK: No, I want the sleepover one again - I want Sister to answer.

SB: When Jesus comes alive again.

3. What is a Seder?

SK: I want sister to answer.

SB: Something that goes in outerspace.


4. Where does the Easter Bunny live?

SK: In the book.

SB: In a hole.

5. What is Matzah Ball Soup? (And if you know, do you like it?)

SK: I don't know.

SB: It's just a kind of soup we eat (actually we don't).

6. What do you do with Easter Eggs?

SK: I want sister to do it.

SB: Hide them or dye them.

Now we have to go to Spikey's because Sarah wants me to read "The Boy's" answers. I wouldn't read them until after we answered ours.

Did you play, let me know. (don't forget to check my next post so see what my morning was like!)

The things you think of when laying in bed at 6:30 am.

My alarm goes off - yes, I tend to try to get up on weekends - and I'm debating the wake up or go back to sleep.

In the waiting up side - I need to exercise before the kids wake up. We are having company for dinner, I need to clean up some (they are not the kind of company that needs a perfectly clean house). Oh shit, I forgot to put out the Easter Baskets.


Thankfully, I managed to get the basket assembled 5 minutes before Sydney woke up.

I can't believe I forgot to do this last night. Oh wait, now I remember, they didn't go to sleep until almost 10:00.

Happy Easter. Happy Passover. Check later for Sunday Six.

Having it all

I belong to a book group. We read a pretty eclectic group of books - fiction, non-fiction - it's all on the table.

This month we read "This Body" by Laurel Doud. It's about a middle aged mother of two who suddenly dies in her sleep. She wakes a year later in the body of a 22 year old drug addict.

We talked about the book briefly, but then the conversation moved to why this woman desired a change - the theme of running away from home.

Eventually, the conversation turned to how women view themselves. Most of our group ranges from 39-49, and one 25ish year old. "C" mentioned that when she was in college (mid 80s) the plan was to have it all - marriage, kids, high powered job. That our mom's had sacrificed themselves for family and we felt the pressure to accomplish what they couldn't now that it was socially acceptable.

But, we found that the price for having it all was pretty high. In my groups, most are SAHM trying to find our way. I'm one of the exceptions in that I went back to work first and have worked on an off over the years.

We debated with our younger member "S" said that her generation seems to view that you can have it, but at various points in your life and you don't have to have it all now and you can have some later.

So, what do you think? How do you view the role of women? Has the expectation changed between the kids born in the '60s, '70s, 80s?

Me? Hip Hop?

Three years ago, I decided to start adult tap lessons. I needed something that was just for me. I ended up dancing in the studio recital. Last year, I also danced in last years recital. This year I was sidelined most of the year. Between my ankle injury which has been giving me issues since November and teaching which has taken more of my time than I had hoped - I've not been taking lessons this year. I really miss it.

Two weeks ago I started back. I really wanted to dance recital and even though I can't jump on my ankle yet, I decided to push it a little. It's going to mean several weeks of pain, but I have decided I don't care.

Well, last night I discovered that our dance for recital is a Hip Hop Tap number. So, this docker and twin set wearing mom needs to find some hip hop clothes to wear for recital!

I'm not sure which is going to be harder to pull off - the wardrobe or the wiggles. Oh well.

Recital is in a month, I'll post pictures!

Sleep, elusive sleep

I woke up yesterday morning exhausted. I wandered to work feeling quesy. I hoped I wasn't getting the flu going around, but I didn't have a temprature. I tried drinking coffee, but I couldn't handle the taste - something that didn't even happen to me while pregnant.

So, at noon I headed home, set my alarm for 4:00 to make sure I was awake to pick up the kids from school, and laid down. By 12:30 I was asleep. I woke up once, rolled over and then woke at 4:30 when I heard the phone ring. (thank goodness for that call because I forgot to turn ON my alarm).

I think I was tired. I bought some tylenol PM in case I had trouble falling asleep last night - I didn't. I was asleep a little after 10:00. I would have been a great sleep except my older DD woke at 4:00 so I was awake with her for about 1/2 hour. But, I don't feel as off today. I'm not caught up on my sleeping yet, nor my grading!! But, I feel functional today.

Way Back Wednesday

Once again, it's Way Back Wednesday brought to us by the lovely Kept Woman. Today, she wanted to see pics of our pre-born selves. Unfortunately, until I go home for the summer, I don't have too many pictures of my pre-marriage days. So, you will have to settle for a couple of pictures of me.

Here is me and Sarah one day while I was pregnant with the kid who became Sydney. I was around 36 weeks in these two pictures.



Here is my attempt at an art photo of us. DH isn't as good as this, but he tried.



Did you play? Let me know so I can check out pictures of people who actually follow the rules. LOL

Struggles with God

I post on a couple of bulletin boards related to parenting. These boards started with the board I found when I got pregnant with Sarah (now 6) *wow, we got prg today 7 years ago* It was throught this board that I met Kelly. My board adopted her board and I was matched with Kelly as her big sister - someone who had recently undergone the struggles of a new parent who could encourage through sleepless nights and parenting decisions. It turned out that we didn't live too far away from each other and we met up at a Halloween party. I still have the picture that was taken of us that day.

When I got pregnant with my 2nd child, I joined the board for kids due the same time Sydney was. The thing is that after years of posting together, you get to know each other fairly well. You care for each other much like this community does. It's like having lots of pen pals for years.

A couple of weeks ago, one member's neice died of cancer. She was 4 years old. The death of a child is always tragic. This girl was in remission briefly and when a routine follow up showed supsicious spots, the requests for prayers and postive thoughts came out of the woodwork. They appeared to be unanswered.

Sunday, while sitting in church, I found myself crying for this loss while listening to our Bishop speak. Palm Sunday services are a great time to address struggle as there were many struggles that day. But I struggled with why God can't answer all the prayers the way we *want*.

I posed this question to a friend of mine. She is a Pastor, she struggles with her relationship with God as she has been unable to concieve, and her one conception resulted in a miscarriage. It is through this miscarriage that our paths crossed. She has an adorable daughter she adopted and is waiting her next child.

As I knew she would, Tammy answered my questions very completely. I wanted to share her answers.

Inaugural pictures

Just wanted to share the pictures from my new phone.

Here is the new couch we just bought. Well, we bought it the day after Christmas, it showed up about 2 weeks ago. We love it.



Here is a very bad picture of me and the girls fooling around with said camera.

Random Thoughts on Sunday - Six and others.

"Sunday Six!" is a game where Kelly asks us to have six questions answered. Remember, the idea is to post answers to the following six question, but the trick is to get your kids to answer them! If you don't have kids, use your imagination... Your pet, your neighbor, your elderly family member, your roommate, etc. Did you play? Let me and Kelly know.

Today I was able to ask Sarah (SB - age 6 yrs) and Sydney (SK - age 3 yrs) the Sunday 6. I asked Sarah first, with Sydney out of the room (although she came over as Sarah said she wanted to be a train driver) then I asked Sydney the questions while Sarah was there.

1. What planet do you live on?

SK: Mommy, let me go see on my place mat (she has a solar system placemat). This one (points to Mercury) [Me, no, that's Mercury.] ok, this one (points to Pluto) [Me, no, that's Pluto, it's the coldest one.] This one (points to earth). [Me, yes, that's the one.]

SB: Earth

2. What happens if you don't eat all your dinner?

SK: I couldn't get dessert.

SB: Don't get dessert

3. What happens when you are sick?

SK: You go to the doctor.

SB: You have to stay home (That's a good answer, you have having such good answers. Sydney, you look so grown up.)

4. What makes a rainbow?

SK: You go through the rainbow (as she drew the path with her finger.

SB: Rain

5. Do you know everything there is to know?

SK: No. I didn't know a couple of things.

SB: No.

6. What do you want to be when you grow up?

SK: Mommy, and I want to be a train driver.

SB: A train driver

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, I bought myself a present. I found out that I could upgrade my cell phone plan to the digital network without increasing my monthly fee. So, that meant I needed a new phone. Now, I use my cell rarely. There are months that I don't use minutes. As a result, my phone needed to be upgraded. I decided that I might as well buy a camera phone as it was on special. As you all know, if you read Friday's SPF, I don't have a digital camera. So, this was a compromise until I budget for a camera. Now, to buy the cable so I can download my pictures.

Yesterday morning, I was sitting in a hotel reading blogs and drinking coffee. Today, I'm back to screaming kids fighting over toys. So far it's taken me 30 minutes to write this. I enjoyed my break from the family - I suspect I would have missed them eventually!! LOL.

I'm going to finish my coffee and try to catch up with you all. Make sure you let me know if you played so I can make sure I've checked out your answers.

This isn't my bed. . . .

I headed out of town (ok, only 1/2 hour, but out none the less). I'm staying at a hotel with a friend of mine as we desert our husbands and kids for 24 hours. I'm not sure how to act without them. I had a gin and tonic, stayed up late and hope to sleep in late.

A friend of mine has organized an off-site 24 hour scrap. I use this time to put my photos in a regular photo album, but it's nice to be w/out kids and house cleaning duties for 24 hours.

Now, to get over the fact that I won't have to wake to "I'm AWAKE!" at 6:45 tomorrow.

Off Autopilot

This week for Stuff Portrait Friday, Kristine's decided to make us "think and work" for it this week. This week's assignment involves using our digital cameras in a "new" way as follows:

1. Point and Shoot Close Up (Macro - i.e. don't use auto).
2. No Flash.
3. A new Angle (or new perspective - you pick!)

Now, I don't have a digital camera - hence the reason I don't tend to play. But, I decided to interpret this to include my normal, unprogrammable camera. I will admit, these were taken in the mid 80s.

1. Point and Shoot Close Up:



This is from a trip to the Botanical Gardens in Washington DC the Christmas I received may camera - a Pentax K1000 (I still use this).


2. No Flash.



For many years, I never used a flash on my camera. This is a outdoor shot, but one of my favorites from my years of taking football pics at our college games. My senior year, I could not afford film, so I worked out a deal with 2 football players - one offense, one defense. They bought my film, paid developing, they got a copy, I kept the negatives. Unfortunately, I didn't learn until after the yearbook had been published that they didn't understand what it meant that *I* owned the negatives. I should have made a deal about it.

3. A new Angle (or new perspective - you pick!)



This is a building in Boston. I loved how the buildings behind me reflected in some, but not all, of the windows.

Oi my ankle

Last night, I decided to extend my ankle beyond it's comfort zone. I went to tap lessons.

In Fall of 2003, when Sydney was almost 9 mos old, I decided I needed something just for me. Sarah was starting dance lessons that fall. I discovered the studio had adult tap lessons. I convinced Joe to let me sign up. After all, the lessons were at 9:00 and the kids would be more or less settled for the night.

I became good friends with the dance teacher and one of the other moms in the class. In fact, Amanda is one of my closest friends and mentors today (she teaches the same class I do).

So, I have taken 2 years of tap lessons and was looking forward to another year when my ankle injury has sidelined me for most of the year.

So, while I can't dance like this yet,



I was able to keep up. Next week we start choreographing our dance number for recital. It will be my 3rd recital as an adult (and one as a kid).

Pain level today - not as bad as it could be, but my PT would not be impressed with me for dancing last night!

Check back later, I'm going to try Kristine's challenge if I can get my pics to the scanner.

Ah, signs of spring -

As I was driving to work today, a saw the first signs of spring in our town. It was not this:



It was these:




Yes, the dump truck was hauling away snow the front end loader had scooped up.

Now the second sign of spring was seen later in the drive. See, we get over 200 inches of snow a year. There are weeks that we see daily snow. As a result, the road crews put sand on the roads almost daily from for almost 3 mos. This sand builds up on the lawn. Each spring, we have a machine drive that looks like a street cleaner only it has a vacuum cleaner style beater bar on it. It lifts all the loose dirt off the lawns. For the public areas that are hills, they use a hand held scrubber.

Ah, the signs of spring - snow and dirt removal! Who knew?

Way Back Wednesday

Once again, it's Way Back Wednesday brought to us by the lovely Kept Woman. Today, we are bringing out our sweaters.

In spite going to college in Wisconsin, I can't find too many pictures of me w/ sweaters. I'm planning on going to an all night scrap on Friday (yes - sleeping in a hotel too sans kids) and hope to organize all the old pictures in disarray. If we ever end up with a sport WBW, I'm set as I have tons of triathalon, football and basketball pictures I took in college.

But, the best I can offer on a sweater is this:



This is me the basketball season I cheered for our college team. Small school, few requirements. I had fun.

The sweater wasn't too bad, but the shoes!!




Did you play? Let me know so I can go check it out.

Organizational Behavior Updates

I wanted to share the teaching statement I wrote about how I would approach teaching Organizational Behavior. I will tell you the outcome tomorrow.

Teaching Statement

My goal is to foster an atmosphere of dynamic interaction in which students acquire a strong conceptual understanding of the course material. I have found that students learn abstract concepts more completely when they are able to put the concepts into practice as they are learning them. In addition to developing exercises appropriate to the lecture, it is also important to follow the exercise with a debriefing. This will ensure that the goals of the activity have been met. Before testing students, I expose them to concepts first in the lecture with examples and then via exercises. I have successfully used this paradigm in my xxxxx course and would continue to use this approach in the Organizational Behavior class.

Prior to teaching, I held positions in several different industries. These experiences have provided me with countless real world situations, which can be used to explain or elaborate upon academic concepts. Typically, when I find that students have not comprehended new theories, I am able to provide examples from their experiences first, then expand the lesson to examples they will face in the future. These first hand observations were always valuable to me as a student.

To keep lessons current, I try to find items in the news that reflect issues we have discussed and present them in class for a 5 or 10 minute discussion. In my course sections, I have found that students enjoy this discussion and that after some time; students begin to bring current issues up in class.

The diversity of the student body requires that course lectures and activities meet the needs of all students, regardless of race, gender or nationality. This is necessary to ensure an atmosphere of openness to all student views in the classroom. Many of the students are introverted by nature. One approach that I have employed in my class is the use of the WebCT discussion module. Extending the class discussion to an online media allows the students another means to communicate with one another. This does not negate the necessity of classroom interaction, but instead supplements the experience.

While in graduate school, Organizational Behavior was one of my favorite courses. Not surprisingly, many of the activities that are included in the current syllabus are those that I was required to perform as a student.

Avoiding the FUG

Scene, kitchen - in the am during spring. The snow outside is melting, there are patches of green on the lawn and tulips are just starting to sprout.

Kirsten, mom of two wonderful girls and Sarah, a 6 y.o. kindergarten are talking.

Sarah: Mommy, when is Easter?

Mom: In a few weeks.

Sarah: Can I wear my new Easter shoes now?

Mom: (thinks for a minute then realizes that new Easter sandals are white - remembers to get coffee on the way to work to aid in such decisions later in the day) No honey, you can't.

Sarah: Why not mom?

Mom: Because we don't wear white before Easter.

FUG avoided! Kami would be so proud.

And to Kelly, Happy Opening Day! The morning when every team is tied for first.

Swelling with Pride

I'm sitting here, reading a HP Fan fic that Kelly shared with me, drinking my coffee and listening to Sarah (in Kindergarten) reading a book. This is a relatively new skill for her. And one I didn't expect so soon.

It's not that she wouldn't be capable, it's that she's a perfectionist. Sarah doesn't want to try anything until she knows she can do it.

But, here she is, reading!

(Another thing to note is that in our school system, reading isn't taught until 1st grade. Site words are the emphasis.)

Way to go little girl.

Sunday Six - Finding the Fool

"Sunday Six!" is a game where Kelly asks us to have six questions answered. Remember, the idea is to post answers to the following six question, but the trick is to get your kids to answer them! If you don't have kids, use your imagination... Your pet, your neighbor, your elderly family member, your roommate, etc. Did you play? Let me and Kelly know.

Today I was able to ask Sarah (SB - age 6 yrs) and Sydney (SK - age 3 yrs) the Sunday 6. I asked Sydney first so she was not influenced by her big sister's answers. Here they are:


"April Fools!"

1. What is an April Fool?

SK: I don't know.

SB: When you tell people funny things, but they are not true.


2. Do you like to tell jokes?

SK: YEA!

SB: Yes

3. What is silly?

SK: You laugh

SB: When you tell people silly things and do silly things like "How would you like a knuckle sandwich mister."


4. What makes you laugh the most?

SK: I don't know.

SB: "How'd you like a knuckle sandwich mister."


5. What does it mean to fool someone?

SK: I don't now.

SB: You tell them silly things that aren't real.


6. Do you know any jokes? - Tell us!

SK: No.

SB: Why did the bugger cross the road? Cause it wants to get smashed (thank you Kindergarten)>

Missing exercise

In November, I slipped on wet leaves and sprained my ankle. I got what was called a "high ankle sprain" which means that I not only sprained around my ankle bone, but also in the area on the side of my leg.

I'm still in physical therapy for my ankle. I'm still wearing a brace, and I still don't have full strength in my ankle. Yesterday, my PT decided to test how I'm doing to see if it's time to add impact exercises. Based on most of the tests, we discovered that I'm about 2/3 the strength of my good leg. So, I keep exercising on my own and go back in 3 weeks to re-evaluate.

I am getting frustrated by the speed at which my body wants to heal. I am trying to lose weight, which is impossible to do when you are limited in your mobility and relying predominately on food intake.

Hopefully I'll get better results in 3 weeks and can start impact exercises. Until then, I'll keep doing my toe raises (and my pilates).