Looking back for my January Magic 8 Ball predictions I realized I actually never actually posted my 2014 predictions. Most of the predictions are the same they are every year including, “being on time, making cognizant choices in exercise, food, sleep, making the time with the boys count, to think before I speak in anger”
I posted my favorite
pictures from 2014 yesterday, but included my top favorites to break up what is
always a long wrap-up post.
Some goals included tangible evidence and often a picture to validate existence:
-$15 weekly flower
budget and included my first ever opportunity to actually do the arranging for
a friend’s event
- Time spent with
Brian. I saw him more times this year than in the last few
combined. Everyone should have a Brian in their life.
- showed
appreciation to those that make my life full in small ways. Sometimes
signed, other anonymous ways.
- I looked for ways to
teach giving and humility to my boys, often it was very, very small ways, but
it was an opportunity I looked for consistently in 2014. This was a
very big goal met and one to be taking into 2015.
-Recognized that when something is not working, maybe drastic
change was needed. Fall 2014 school year started as a sprint when I
needed the energy for a marathon. Added responsibility at work
including taking on the position as the AP Dept chair at my school.
When
a spate of really severe insomnia hit, I changed my daily schedule to reflect
getting up at 4:30 am, being at work at 6, and going to bed no later than
10pm. After several months of a new schedule I am less tired, have
slept more, and the insomnia dissipated.
In 2014 we turned 39,
39, 8, and 4. I posted 94 entries, fewer than in years past, but the new
schedule meant sleep was my priority. I read 29 books, also much fewer
than last year. We didn’t take a family vacation, but we did head to
Florida for our annual trip to see Grandmommy (Heather, Ben,
Ian.) We had the chance of a lifetime to be part of two separate
teacher seminars, one at Historic B Reactor in WA state with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the other a week at the
Reagan Presidential library in LA (Heather.) We got to hear former President Carter,
Ken Burns, and Nick Kristof at the National Social Studies Conference (Heather.)
We went to DragonCon
again for nearly a week (Bill), HeroesCon in Charlotte (Bill and Ben), camping
trips both with Y Guide and also as a family (Bill, Ben, and Ian.) We had
4th birthday parties at Durham Science and Life (Ian) and 8th birthday
parties at Dave and Busters (Ben.)
We loved BMX camp (Ben) and
Y-Kindercamp (Ian) , we managed to make it a whole year without one visit to an
Urgent Care or ER (Family), we loved trips to the “waterslide hotel” (Heather,
Ben, and Ian), went on girls weekend to the beach and to Vegas
(Heather), we went on our annual Mom/Ben trip to DC area (Heather/Ben), we
played soccer (Ben and Ian) and our team when to the division championship
(Ben), we went many repeat places for Camp Mommy and tried some new ones
too (Heather, Ben, Ian.)
It was a quiet year
filled with many normal, busy with middle age life with kids days. I’ll
take that this was not a year marked with a cycle of deep depression or
physical illness for me or the ones I love.
On the health front, I recognize that insomnia is a trigger and recognizing
the start of a depressive cycle proved helpful not to slide into a familiar
pattern.
As 2014 closes, many
dreams were realized, others deferred, even more took a different course than
planned. It was another year in which routines became a surrogate
companion.
As 52 weeks unfolded I
can say that I am thankful for my health, the health of my family, the ability
to work, and the gift of time spent with Ben and Ian. On the heels
of a 40th birthday I have few regrets that life was not well
lived in 2014.
As tradition, my BEST in
SHOW 2014 Edition
Best books read: Command and Control (reading
this not only for interest but also so ask really good questions about nuclear safety
at B reactor), Reign of Error, I Want To Show You More (short
stories), and A House in the Sky. I am
about to finish the Snow Child, a stellar read and likely top contender for next year.
Honorable mention: The Absolutely True Diary of a
Part-Time Indian. Bonus points for using parts when teaching the American
West in my US History since Reconstruction class as the “plight of the modern
native American.” Best YA book I've read in the past few years.
Person I most want to
have coffee with at Starbucks- Sarah Koenig from Serial.
I think this is my new litmus test for friendship, "have you, will you
listen to Serial?" I didn't binge listen but rather used it as the
reward for grading. My favorite line from Episode 11- Rumors, "They
(people who believed Adnan did commit Hae’s murder) came looking for a monster
and they didn't find a monster. Some
people came looking for a victim and they didn't find that person either, They don't
know what to think or make of me. The reality is I'm a normal person."
SO GOOD. Make a resolution in 2015 to listen to the 12 episode premiere
season.
Best TV: Once again, House of Cards. Between
still framing to gape at Robin Wright’s flawless clothing in a palate of my fav
white, black, and gray AND the surprises of season 2 it was nearly a religious
experience. I drug out the entire season throughout the
spring. I *may* have said on any given Friday morning, “by the
end of the day, I will be spending quality time with the Underwoods”
Bonus points to the
number of students I convinced to watch the pilot and then binge watch the rest
with an ongoing conversation about the parallel to what we were learning in AP
Gov't.
Honorable Mention- Good Wife minus killing my
man candy Will off. Seriously, why?
I *guess* I'll have to
stick around for superior writing and a strong female lead that is not afraid
to show us her vulnerability.
Most excited for 2015 TV
that A Path Appears, adaptation
from the book in late January. This is the follow up to Half the Sky, also a superior
book and documentary adaptation.
Best movies- I once again saw few movies in a theater or
even at home this year. I loved going to the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in
Durham in April with my friend Ellen. We saw the documentary The Case Against 8. Hearing
from the plaintiffs (and subjects of the movie) along with the filmmakers was
this side of amazing in a Q & A event after. Not a dry eye in the
audience. Added bonus as NC now recognizes that gay marriage
as legal as of fall 2014.
In particular I loved
films Life Itself, Dallas
Buyers Club, Gone Girl, 12 Years a Slave
Honorable mention for
the The LEGO movie. For someone who hates kid movies, this one was
a winner to watch again, and again.....
I am most looking
forward to seeing in 2015 Wild, Inherent
Vice, Selma, Dear White People, The Last Days of Vietnam
My Secret Kryptonite- I started keeping a
prayer journal when I started attending church again 3 ½ years ago. As I look back through the year of journaling the week’s message I notice themes of prayers.
Some answered, some repeated, some just helped by writing down. Of the many things I am thankful for, it is
the way in which Crosspointe Church speaks into my life in ways that are not always apparent.
Best local Camp Mommy
location (repeat from 2013)-
Three Bears Acres- Can we say
ask a kid to dream up everything they could ever want to do outside and then
grant their wish? When we have friends in town and the weather is nice, it is
my go-to place to visit.
Best new Camp Mommy
location-
Out of Town- Air and
Space Annex in Washington DC. Uh, hello they have a hangar that can
fit an ENTIRE space shuttle.
Local- The Carolinas Aviation Museum. Paired with an IKEA Charlotte visit, you have a Sunday road trip.
What kept me going on the long days filled with many moments of
brotherly love fighting.
Moment of right timing- The realization that I have both an exit plan
and legacy to leave behind in teaching. I am so proud of the work
that our school is doing as part of an outreach to students through our AP Capstone program. When
interviewed for the AP Dept chair position, I outlined how I wanted to grow this unique opportunity by targeting our feeder middle schools. I wanted to build a pipeline of students to enter high school ready to be challenged by the new Capstone seminar and research methods classes.
My main goal is to identify students, especially those that may not be currently in classes that push them to their potential. As a true believer that education is the vehicle for success in life I am happy to preach the benefits to parents, students, and other area school principals. I appreciate my administration's faith in me to oversee this program to fruition.
My main goal is to identify students, especially those that may not be currently in classes that push them to their potential. As a true believer that education is the vehicle for success in life I am happy to preach the benefits to parents, students, and other area school principals. I appreciate my administration's faith in me to oversee this program to fruition.
As one of only 150 high
school national selected to launch these new AP classes I see this as a once in a
lifetime opportunity. Watching the planning for these classes unfold this
past fall and then populating classes with actual (and successful) students in fall 2015 is what I hope will be my legacy to leave
behind when I retire. On that front, I am doing everything I can to
retire with partial benefits at the first opportunity I can which I hope will
be in 10 years at age 50 and 20+ years of state service.
Parenting Fail of 2014- I’m going out on a limb that as I read back
through entries, there were not incidents of children pooping in the bushes or
coming out of the park bathroom naked like in years past. Was it a
perfect year, nope. Have you been around four year old Ian lately? He
is right in every incidence, keeps bartenders hours, and did I mention that he
continues to be fearless in every way possible.
Thanks Internet, but no
thanks. In cutting time wasting,
in 2013 I abandoned Twitter outside
of flagging news articles to read and Pintrest for unattainable Martha-like
lifestyles. I continued to abandon both in 2014. I did add
Instagram but I normally just cross post as a picture sharing site to Facebook.
I still don't play any online games. I feel so 1988, but the payoff
is more time = more sleep = more happy
Thank you Internet... So
worth reading and/or listening-
Ebola Series by Sheri Fink- The
black and white photos part of Entry 6 are some of the most
beautiful/scary/heartbreaking pieces of visual storytelling of a reality of so
many that died in 2014. The series is top notch reporting from
the same author as my 2013 top book, Five Days at Memorial.
The Moth-
I started listening to their podcast while walking the dog. Some are hit
and miss, but almost always I find at least one great story. Storytelling live in front
of an audience adds a whole new layer of worthy listening.
Moment for 2014- Tossup between the chance to hear President
Carter in Boston and the 19 days I spent in July at teacher seminars on
the West coast. I am so lucky to have been part of the teachers
chosen for not one, but two competitive national programs. I am that eternal student who would never leave school if allowed. I am thankful for the opportunities
afforded to be continued to learn for the betterment of my classroom as well as
myself.
#socialstudies4EVA
Our family as once again weathered
the hard among the many, many moments of unbridled happiness throughout the
year. We live our lives at maximum volume with loud, crazy days. I
am reminded that checking the enough box is ok, and perfection is an illusion
of unattainable status.
I take into a new year
confidence that with patience comes answers. I have the knowledge what is to
come in 2015 will happen regardless of anything I attempt to do to control.
I'm leaving 2014 behind and hoping for a 40th birthday year around the
sun filled with goodness and light.
Happy new year, happy
new dreams to you and yours in 2015.
