My Dream–World Domination

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As a new blogger, I have been cautioned against stressing over my blog’s stats. As a hard-headed woman, I let that advice go in one ear and out the other. (Some days there’s nothing in between to stop it anyway.) I love seeing places lit up on my map. Various days have shown readers in Singapore, Greece, Saudi Arabia and Mexico. Some visited from New Zealand and the UK. I’m thrilled to have them read a bit on my humble blog. Some days I feel like blogging is similar to putting a note in a bottle, corking it and throwing it into the ocean!

My dream is to have readers from every country. Preferably on the same day so my world is lit up on the stats page! If you enjoy something you’ve read on my blog, repost my link. If you have friends (inside or) outside my home country (US), send them a link to my ramblings. Go wild! And thank you. 🙂

Feel free to leave me a comment. I always read (and respond) to the ones that make it past the spam filter.
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If

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Writing Challenge

Writing Challenge


If I could change one thing about myself what would it be? That’s another good question. If….maybe I would change my ratio of muscle to fat. 🙂 I would like to be in better shape. I catch myself thinking about walking a few blocks, then I get tired and think: Round is a shape…..
Round is a shape, so I am IN SHAPE!

Round is a shape, so I am IN SHAPE!


That reminds me of the time I told Ysabela, “I’m going out to the yard to stand. If anyone calls for me, tell them I am OUTSTANDING.”

Good Question

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Writing Challenge

Writing Challenge


Do I do more for myself or for others? I am not sure, actually. I do a few things for myself. I work a second job, but I don’t sign up for more hours than necessary. Sometimes I feel selfish, especially if I’m asked to work a shift and I just don’t want to work. I am so tired and mentally drained that I need my evenings to get it together for the next school day! I have a house to run and a teenager to parent. I make sure I have coffee in the house, too. (I do that for myself AND my child!) Grad classes take up more of my time and energy, but I’m doing that to increase my earnings to benefit my family. I am a workaholic (I think) because it feels great to be able to buy what my daughter needs without counting change. I love learning new things, but I get bored really fast! Then I move on to the next challenge. I keep learning stuff for ME!

I do things for others when I can. Animal rescue is important to me. My pets have all been adopted or otherwise rescued. I donate money to the Rodeo Club at school, and I have had a collection tub for items that went to foster kids. My students are good about putting things in for the foster kids. My classes have adopted soldiers, and I send coupons to deployed families as often as possible. I have spent time working as a CNA and a foster parent. (I found out that fostering is not for me.) I’m on the volunteer fire department as well. Is that sufficient?

I guess we all do what we can when we can. I just hope that’s enough.

Benjamin Franklin said…

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“There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one’s self.” Do you think you know yourself well? That is today’s topic for the BlogHer Writing Challenge.

Writing Challenge

Writing Challenge

This question is really easy for me to answer. YES! It has taken me a long time to be comfortable in my own skin. I am (painfully) aware of my strengths and my weaknesses. For all of you who are still struggling with knowing yourself, I can say with confidence—give yourself some time. You’ll get there.
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Guinea? Amazing!

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Weekend Bloggy Reading

For some reason, a name I hadn’t thought of in years popped into my pointy little head this evening. I decided to use Google to see if I could find a former colleague of mine. We met many years ago when I taught Spanish in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was from Cuba and got a job in “my” school (inner-city Charlotte). I always thought she was a nice, well-educated lady, and I admired her language skills. Long story short: I found her online!

I clicked the links supplied by the search engine to discover she is now teaching and running a school in Guinea! Amazing! She is volunteering to serve God by ministering to the needs of the most innocent in a seldom-remembered part of the world.

Anyone who knows me well knows I have a deep, abiding love for travel. Reading her posts on the blog makes me want to pack and go there to DO something. Something that really matters. Something that makes a real difference in children’s lives.

I believe that people cross our path in life for a reason. I’m going to give her post some serious thought over the next few months. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not ready to quit my job and move to Guinea, but what would it cost me to ponder volunteering some time during the summer to making one corner of the world a better place? Instead of asking myself, “How will it benefit ME?” I will be asking, “How can I help THEM?” I challenge you to do the same. Let’s take time to do a “mental inventory” of skills we have that might be put to good use serving others. I am including the link to the blog in case you want to check things out.

http://www.colegioelbuenpastor.com/about-elvira#more-1885

Self-Confidence Rating

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Writing Challenge

Writing Challenge


Today’s topic: How would you rate your self confidence? When is it at its lowest? When is it at its highest?
Even if I don’t feel confident, I can fake it pretty well. I feel my best when I’m on what I consider “home turf.” I could confidently show a friend how to navigate downtown Merida, for example, or rural Virginia where I grew up.
My confidence is a bit shaky when I have a presentation to make. I was a bit nervous at the NILA conference last year. It didn’t help that my video segments refused to play during the presentation! I admit to feeling out of my element in crowds, but I can survive it. I hate to be put on the spot without warning.

Trust?

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Question: Who do you trust more: yourself or others? I definitely trust myself more than anyone else. I have a few (VERY few) friends I know I can count on. I give people the benefit of the doubt, but I always make sure my end (my BACK end!)is covered in case I am disappointed! I was told once (or twice) that I have high standards for myself and the expectation that others will live up to my high standards. Sadly, I’m sure we can all think of a situation in which others have let us down.

At work, I know my colleagues usually do what they say. That’s a separate issue to me. Life in general is another story altogether. I have learned to navigate life with a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C at the very least. I usually plan for the worst-case scenario and hope it doesn’t happen.

When my daughter and I moved to Mexico, it was us against the world. Fortunately, my partner of many years is a man I can trust. Before him, however, I learned to be self-sufficient. I have tried to teach my girls that skill too. I hope I have been successful.

Trust has to be earned.

Trust has to be earned.

Hug or Snuggle?

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Have you ever hugged your pet(s)? What about snuggling? If you are a furkid parent, I’m sure you have! According to Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, hug means “to put your arms around someone especially as a way of showing love or friendship.” A snuggle is defined as “to lie or sit close together in a comfortable position.” As a parent of both 2-legged kids and 4-legged kids, I admit that I have hugged and snuggled. My teen daughter, however, goes above and beyond. She huggles our dogs and cats.
Ysabela says a huggle is different because she holds the beloved animal tighter than for a hug, and she likes to huggle with a blanket.

Proper hugging technique (according to Ysabela)

Proper hugging technique (according to Ysabela)


Proper snuggling

Proper snuggling


HUGGLE!!!

HUGGLE!!!

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hug?show=0&t=1394929397
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snuggle

Team Player?

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Writing Challenge

Writing Challenge


The question for today: Do I work best with others or alone? The answer is…YES. Haha, right? I work well with others if they are as motivated as I am to get the job done. I can also be told what needs to be done and turned loose to do it. I prefer working alone whenever possible. I am, by nature, quite independent and aggressive, so I’m probably better off working on my own. I have been called bossy, but I never let that bother me. I have a reputation for getting work done before the deadline, so I think that speaks for itself.