Full speed ahead!
Nov. 4th, 2006 08:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
breoaigitLet's see...things to update about as my life races along like the tazmanian devil after a trip to Starbucks:
First off, I have officially started perimenopause. What is this joy? The years leading up to menopause during which a woman's body goes insane all by itself. Hot flashes. Fatigue. Mood swings. Temper. Anxiety. Weight shift. Did I mention temper and anxiety? Oh, yes, oh yes. I spent time baffled at myself for wanting to velcro children to walls. (I didn't. I'm not -that- far 'round the bend! Besides, when I suggested it, the kids were delighted by the idea.) Anyhow, the doc summarily decided I was far too young for perimenopause, but since we had a family history of early menopause, they'd do the blood test just in case. Ding ding! Yes indeedy folks, the estradiol, she is a'risin'! So they stuck me on what's basically Prozac by another name, and let me just say life is a thousand times better. No, I'm not all happy-like or dopey, but normal. Gratefully, functionally, and clear-headedly normal. Add in some black cohosh (an herbal supplement) for the hot flashes, and life has gone mostly back to normal. Still tired a lot, but I'm learning to cope.
School is swimming along beautifully! I'm frequently reminded why I love my job, and my philosophy for teaching is really starting to gel up. For me it's all about the integration of academic subjects and music. Music is life. So why not bring life into the music class? I can teach math/science/social studies/language arts all at the same time without extra effort, and it's so much more fun! We're even getting to do a musical with fifth grade called "Geology Rocks". Holy moley...work with kids? Check out Bad Wolf Press. Now. Go on. I'll wait. Done? Good. Doesn't it just rock beyond all belief? Music and subject matter all rolled into one easy, fun package! I wish I'd thought of it. ;) Anyhow, the theatre arts teacher and I are going to team up on it, and I'm just elated! *bounce* Last 9-weeks concerts went like a dream, too, and I got to sneak in a bunch of world social-studies to the kids without them noticing.
Oh! And I started a choir! So I send out invitations to all 4th and 5th graders at our school. I'm thinking maybe 40 or 50 kids tops, right? *cough* 90. Yes. Ninety. Nine Zero. We do not fit in the music room easily and now sing in the gym. ;) But after three rehearsals, I've got them singing in Hebrew, Arabic, German, 2-part harmony, and divided up in to soprano, alto, and tenor. I'm some serious proud of these kids! They're working their tails off, studying the music at home and listening to their CDs, coming to practice already ready to sing. Plus I have moms that help out, and I just feel so danged fortunate to have this chance to work with these kids. Monday we're rehearsing a song in Japanese and one from Wales (in English--the kids are relieved). Concert's 12/18 at 7pm for anyone in the area who knows where to go. Hint. Hint hint. ;)
I also started studying Taoist Tai Chi, which has been a huge wonder in my life. It's like this beautiful combination of yoga and dance. The concepts are martial arts, but they're very firm that this is not a martial art. It's also far longer than the "normal" tai chi that most people thing of. Evidently that one's something like 28 moves. This series I'm learning is 108. I'm up to like 33, and it already takes about 7 minutes to do that much. Talk about a workout! Doctors consider this a weight-bearing exercise because it's so isometrically designed, so I'm pleased about that. My lower back is slightly less pleased because we repeatedly studied a move that involved straight-legged touching the floor today. Yes, I can put my hands flat on the floor leaning over; I'm bendy enough for that. Repeatedly though? Lower back go ow. ;) But it's all for the eventual good!
Yes, I'm doing Nano this year. No. I haven't started. I'm a bad writer! No cookies! But I have an excuse, honest! It's called swollen glands, sore throat, and a husband who's a heck of a lot more ill than I am. (He's got it all, poor love. Evil tummy, evil chest, evil sinuses. Please send him happy thoughts and good vibes!) Anyhow. I have a plot. I have characters. I have an outline! I am ready! I just am braindead. So hence, I LJ post to try and get the writing vibes going. Let's see how it works. This year I'm writing a children's spooky mystery called "In the Green Room Mirror", so I'm jazzed about that. Happy stuff!
Randomly, I was listening to the radio the other day and the topic was one of being granted wishes. I thought. And I thought. And I tried to think of what I'd wish for. Huh. I love my husband. I love my family. I love my job. I love my house.
I can't think of anything else I need.
Wait. An Alaskan cruise. Okay, that'll work. ;)
First off, I have officially started perimenopause. What is this joy? The years leading up to menopause during which a woman's body goes insane all by itself. Hot flashes. Fatigue. Mood swings. Temper. Anxiety. Weight shift. Did I mention temper and anxiety? Oh, yes, oh yes. I spent time baffled at myself for wanting to velcro children to walls. (I didn't. I'm not -that- far 'round the bend! Besides, when I suggested it, the kids were delighted by the idea.) Anyhow, the doc summarily decided I was far too young for perimenopause, but since we had a family history of early menopause, they'd do the blood test just in case. Ding ding! Yes indeedy folks, the estradiol, she is a'risin'! So they stuck me on what's basically Prozac by another name, and let me just say life is a thousand times better. No, I'm not all happy-like or dopey, but normal. Gratefully, functionally, and clear-headedly normal. Add in some black cohosh (an herbal supplement) for the hot flashes, and life has gone mostly back to normal. Still tired a lot, but I'm learning to cope.
School is swimming along beautifully! I'm frequently reminded why I love my job, and my philosophy for teaching is really starting to gel up. For me it's all about the integration of academic subjects and music. Music is life. So why not bring life into the music class? I can teach math/science/social studies/language arts all at the same time without extra effort, and it's so much more fun! We're even getting to do a musical with fifth grade called "Geology Rocks". Holy moley...work with kids? Check out Bad Wolf Press. Now. Go on. I'll wait. Done? Good. Doesn't it just rock beyond all belief? Music and subject matter all rolled into one easy, fun package! I wish I'd thought of it. ;) Anyhow, the theatre arts teacher and I are going to team up on it, and I'm just elated! *bounce* Last 9-weeks concerts went like a dream, too, and I got to sneak in a bunch of world social-studies to the kids without them noticing.
Oh! And I started a choir! So I send out invitations to all 4th and 5th graders at our school. I'm thinking maybe 40 or 50 kids tops, right? *cough* 90. Yes. Ninety. Nine Zero. We do not fit in the music room easily and now sing in the gym. ;) But after three rehearsals, I've got them singing in Hebrew, Arabic, German, 2-part harmony, and divided up in to soprano, alto, and tenor. I'm some serious proud of these kids! They're working their tails off, studying the music at home and listening to their CDs, coming to practice already ready to sing. Plus I have moms that help out, and I just feel so danged fortunate to have this chance to work with these kids. Monday we're rehearsing a song in Japanese and one from Wales (in English--the kids are relieved). Concert's 12/18 at 7pm for anyone in the area who knows where to go. Hint. Hint hint. ;)
I also started studying Taoist Tai Chi, which has been a huge wonder in my life. It's like this beautiful combination of yoga and dance. The concepts are martial arts, but they're very firm that this is not a martial art. It's also far longer than the "normal" tai chi that most people thing of. Evidently that one's something like 28 moves. This series I'm learning is 108. I'm up to like 33, and it already takes about 7 minutes to do that much. Talk about a workout! Doctors consider this a weight-bearing exercise because it's so isometrically designed, so I'm pleased about that. My lower back is slightly less pleased because we repeatedly studied a move that involved straight-legged touching the floor today. Yes, I can put my hands flat on the floor leaning over; I'm bendy enough for that. Repeatedly though? Lower back go ow. ;) But it's all for the eventual good!
Yes, I'm doing Nano this year. No. I haven't started. I'm a bad writer! No cookies! But I have an excuse, honest! It's called swollen glands, sore throat, and a husband who's a heck of a lot more ill than I am. (He's got it all, poor love. Evil tummy, evil chest, evil sinuses. Please send him happy thoughts and good vibes!) Anyhow. I have a plot. I have characters. I have an outline! I am ready! I just am braindead. So hence, I LJ post to try and get the writing vibes going. Let's see how it works. This year I'm writing a children's spooky mystery called "In the Green Room Mirror", so I'm jazzed about that. Happy stuff!
Randomly, I was listening to the radio the other day and the topic was one of being granted wishes. I thought. And I thought. And I tried to think of what I'd wish for. Huh. I love my husband. I love my family. I love my job. I love my house.
I can't think of anything else I need.
Wait. An Alaskan cruise. Okay, that'll work. ;)
