Posts from 2012

The call of duty…January 22, 2012
Each time I return to the kitchen, I find more messes, or a full dishwasher that requires emptying, and always work, work, work.
Where have all the timers gone?January 24, 2012
Reflecting on time — and timers — as I end my too-busy day and remember, too late, why I do everything I do. It might have helped.
OCD Action News…January 25, 2012
With visions of the school burning down through the night because of my candle, I left my sleeping husband and drove the 20 minutes — just to check.
Procrastination…January 26, 2012
Procrastinating — perhaps by blogging instead of doing my homework — is not that way to get things done.
‘That’s what friends are for…’January 29, 2012
They say ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed,’ but I say my friends are the ones who showed up when I had a need. This is my story.
FAT enough?January 29, 2012
So a few days ago, I got an email (not personal, mind you, at least I don’t think so…) from …
Speechless…February 2, 2012
When a teacher has laryngitis but has to teach anyway, what is she to do? This is a day in my life — with an inkling of what to do and what NOT to do!
Deep offeringsFebruary 4, 2012
I think the “Little Drummer Boy” had it right. The Christmas song tells the story about a little boy who …
Competitive nature…February 5, 2012
My first thought? “Lalla, you’re killing me!” Two weeks of being sick, preceded by my daughter’s wedding, had left me …
Not so “over it”…February 6, 2012
I’ve always been challenged to “say what I mean and mean what I say,” but, clearly, I am not living …
STuCK…March 10, 2012
It’s as if my inner self is rebelling against the busyness and the demands of life–that, by the way, haven’t …
Despite My Best Efforts, I Wasn’t Prepared for ThisMarch 12, 2012
To calm me and them, I began the class with prayer, and I’m pretty sure God took over from there.
Freaky Friday…March 17, 2012
My Freaky Friday involves a series of unfortunate events during which two varsity baseball teams exchange playing skills. That was just the beginning of crazy.
Update on Freaky Friday…March 18, 2012
As I declared then, and continue to believe, I was the victim here, not the rabbit. I was merely its …
Is Honesty or Timely Honesty the Best Policy?March 24, 2012
Sometimes truth doesn’t need to be spoken in the moment. Maybe it needs to be spoken after the moment — and my anger or frustration — has passed.
Hoodie = hoodlum?March 25, 2012
The blogger explores the role fashion played in the death of Trayvon Martin, a teen wearing a hoodie shot by a self-appointed neighborhood watchman in March 2012.
When You Have the Urge, This Is the Best Splurge of AllMarch 31, 2012
Sometimes the moments we steal from work or all those “shoulds” and “to dos” cluttering our minds are the best splurges of all.
This Is How to Be a Winner Even When You LoseApril 2, 2012
The definition of winning is much broader than the number on a visible or unseen scoreboard. What’s more, Charlie Sheen is NOT the epitome of the term
When We Finally Met Face to Face, It Was a Little Piece of HeavenApril 3, 2012
She was someone I’d gotten to know in my online classes. We finally met in person, and it reminded me how much we can look forward to seeing God one day.
Their Chance to Shine Was This Teacher’s Time to Grade MyselfApril 4, 2012
As the high school English teacher, I lead seniors through their Capstone Projects, a graduation requirement. But their achievement makes me see myself in a different light.
Fat pants, cat lap…April 7, 2012
Several weeks ago, I titled this post “Fat pants, cat lap…” because my cat was making me feel fat. But …
What Everybody Ought to Know About Online IdentitiesApril 14, 2012
When I taught middle and high school students, I warned them that their online posts were there forever — but I didn’t realize they could also disappear.
Here’s Why I Know the Online Life Is OverratedApril 15, 2012
The lazy spring days of vacation disappeared surprisingly fast and were delightful — except for that nagging urge to get online. Which backfired…
We Returned to the River Without Him and It Hurt So GoodApril 18, 2012
It’s difficult to return to a favorite spot you’d always shared with someone you loved but is gone. But this year we returned to the river — and the missing was good.
Hunger Games: Jury versionApril 19, 2012
So I was headed to our county courthouse for yet another “opportunity” to be chosen for jury duty, fearing a …
On my honor…April 21, 2012
During my stint as a juror, I was impressed by the honor shown within the courtroom. We potential jurors learned …
Hero worship…April 22, 2012
My son proudly told me what is in his bio, which I will officially read when I attend the school …
To win or not to win…April 23, 2012
As my son’s varsity baseball team enters this week of tournament games, all of us are aware that a loss …
The bright side…April 25, 2012
The question, “To win or not to win,” has been answered. The boys varsity baseball team aimed to win–but it …
Out of (my) control…April 26, 2012
I was getting the batting line-up from our head coach just before our final game of the season, when I …
Out of the heart?April 28, 2012
A long time ago in a faraway land, otherwise known as Singletown, I dated an artist who used his talent …
Cheers!April 30, 2012
I envy my seniors. Their class of seventeen is the largest our school has graduated–ever–and while its size has been …
Bane or blessing?May 3, 2012
I’ve had a hard time writing lately–or at least a hard time self-publishing. I miss my newspaper colleagues and their feedback. …
Why I teach…May 5, 2012
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” This paradox beginning A Tale of Two Cities …
Cultivating A.D.D.May 6, 2012
“One of these things is not like the others, One of these things just doesn’t belong…” ** So, apparently, I’ve …
True trophies…May 7, 2012
Cleaning out the garage, I came across a box of my old trophies, medallions, and ribbons, once received with such …
Sands of time…May 9, 2012
A memoir: I am at Caspersen Beach, watching three of my five children play with my sister’s three children. My …
What my mother did right…May 11, 2012
I have often complained that I inherited the worst physical attributes of both of my parents. My dad’s acne and …
Happy feet…May 14, 2012
Some people have comfort food. I have comfort shoes. (To be honest, I have both.) I wear sandals during the …
Terran, this blog’s for you!May 17, 2012
Today we had a going away party for two faculty members who are moving. Tomorrow. Somehow, the good-bye cards never …
The sin of multitasking…May 19, 2012
I’ve been wrestling with sleep for an hour now because my brain is tormented with a decision my department and …
Driving Miss Crazy…May 20, 2012
My son is mere months away from getting his real license. As we near that date, he is insisting on …
Last lasts…May 21, 2012
When my five children were young and we ventured into public, well-meaning older women would smile at whatever delights or …
“Text me if you’re dying…”May 26, 2012
“Text me if you’re dying…” Those were my husband’s words to me as we parted the morning after I experienced …
Scheduling for success…May 31, 2012
Today is my official first day of summer. As a teacher, my summer is a month shorter than my students’ …
Two arms are better than none…June 11, 2012
At a baby shower, I met a woman who had just recently regained the use of both her arms. She …
Care and keeping of teenagers…June 15, 2012
To my fellow parents, I find it hard being both a morning person and a parent of a teenager. I …
A Tribute to My DadJune 17, 2012
I miss my dad. Like most little girls, I thought my dad was the most handsome, most fun, and most …
This Fun’s for you…June 18, 2012
I hate going to weddings alone. But now that my youngest son is 16 and more eager to weed the …
Chronicles of Marmia…June 20, 2012
I thought I would share with you the chronicles of “school marmia,” as I and two fellow teachers (OK, one …
Chronicles of Marmia, Day 2June 21, 2012
Early a.m.: Could I live like this? Life in a hotel is inconvenient at best. I can’t see a Walgreens …
Chronicles of Marmia, Day 3June 22, 2012
I managed to sleep until almost 6:30 this morning, and I awoke still tired but excited for the day. I …
Chronicles of Marmia, Day 4June 25, 2012
Homeward bound My present state of thinking is that flying is simply a necessary evil. (Perhaps a bit extreme? Let …
A dot on the line of eternity…June 26, 2012
I heard that someone somewhere sinned, and my heart went out to that someone. (I speak in very general terms …
Waxing political…July 2, 2012
I must admit I am usually more prone to waxing poetic than waxing political, but when I found that I …
EncROACHing on my coffee…July 7, 2012
Imagine my surprise when I poured my coffee this morning and saw something solid in the flow from pot to …
Encroachment issues…July 9, 2012
On Saturday, I experienced a cockroach encroaching on my coffee, but today I realized other bugs have been encroaching on …
Whole lot of groaning…July 10, 2012
I’m not sure what made me think of using “allcreationgroans” as my hash tag in my first-ever Twitter tweet. Unless …
Toward something better…July 12, 2012
I cried for the better part of the morning today. And I mean the word better as in “good, better, best” …
“Stars upon thars!”July 14, 2012
Last week, Adam’s big moment coincided with one of my irritating ones–we both got our driver’s licenses. For him, it …
SCars upon thars…July 15, 2012
And as a non-perfect sequel to yesterday’s “Stars upon thars,” I present my scars. I am marking (but not exactly celebrating) …
No greater loss to be feared…July 20, 2012
Twenty years ago, while I was working as a reporter, editor, and writer, I had the opportunity to write for …
The sequel…July 21, 2012
Yesterday I shared a column I wrote for my local newspaper in 1992. (This post would make more sense if you’ve …
By the dawn’s early light…July 23, 2012
Early in the morning I watched the ocean awaken. After a fitful night of mostly not sleeping, I gave up …
Clothes cover a multitude of sins…July 26, 2012
If life were a beach, I would have no cellulite. Because I am vain enough that if given the “opportunity” …
Morning by morning…July 27, 2012
Last week when I was searching for a family photo, I found this journal entry, written on some paper, tucked …
Lessons from the beach…July 28, 2012
This morning I took my customary walk at sunrise, admiring God’s display of beauty. I walked, I watched, I thought, …
Redefining normal…July 29, 2012
A few days ago I was positively fretting because my Chevy Venture’s speedometer had gone haywire again. (See Freaky Friday …
Briefly up for air…August 11, 2012
Dear Faithful Readers, I apologize for my absence these past two weeks. The days and somewhat sleepless nights have been …
Water, water everywhere…August 18, 2012
My 2004 Chevy Venture is oozing with water. Inside. I thought I had an AC issue–and my dear husband and …
Flowers, frills, and ostrich quillsAugust 25, 2012
I was expecting a laptop battery from Amazon, and so when I spotted the nondescript package near my door, I …
The crybaby cure…August 30, 2012
When I returned home from a juicy day at school yesterday, I found myself wishing for Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. I …
Too tired to sleep…September 5, 2012
I had been battling a cold for more than a week and needed rest to continue on the road to …
The freedoms we take for granted…September 6, 2012
I went to my mailbox this afternoon and found an unusual object–a handwritten letter. It was from Peter, a former …
Go and make disciples…September 10, 2012
Sunday, halfway through my pastor’s sermon titled “Get Going,” we obeyed. The entire congregation got up and left. Apparently, moments …
The chain of promise…September 13, 2012
I spent a few minutes this morning following the demands of a chain letter. I liked it so much, I …
Jesus is in the equation…September 15, 2012
For the life of me, I can’t remember how I came to this conclusion with my Algebra IA students several …
The gift of song…September 18, 2012
I wish I could call my dad on the phone today and sing him “Happy Birthday!” the way he and …
A pain in the game…September 23, 2012
I would rather blog than game. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Period. Exclamation point. Done. But I have …
The “Like” that matters…September 26, 2012
Do you remember writing (or receiving) notes such as this? “Do you like me? Check Yes or No.” I suppose …
S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d!October 9, 2012
“Once you stop growing, you start dying.” The Reverend Neville E. Gritt preached that from his pulpit on New Year’s …
Animated and it feels so good…October 22, 2012
Animated and it feels so good Animated, I misunderstood That passing this course Meant making 3D and more, It truly …
The road to hell and other consequences…October 25, 2012
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I would suggest the road to other consequences is …
A tale of two kitties…October 29, 2012
The Gideon I read about in Judges did not own a cat. If he did, when he laid out his …
That is just so God!November 2, 2012
Sometimes I see God’s love for me in people, even when they may have never intended it. Sunday morning, I …
Too much of a good thing…November 13, 2012
My spinning instructor says it’s all a matter of perspective, quoting, “I cried because I had no shoes until I …
The real reason I’m thankful…November 23, 2012
Truth be told, the real reason I’m thankful at Thanksgiving is that it comes only once a year. Don’t get …
Glorious en masse…November 30, 2012
On Monday, I traveled with my son’s choir to Epcot and was transported to the glories of Christmas our culture …