Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! It's all good!

I don't understand the controversy over whether someone says Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. Instead of getting your panties in a bunch about how you are greeted in the month of December, why not concentrate on thinking of others and what you can do to help your neighbor. I assure you, you are not taking the "Christ" out of Xmas by greeting someone with Happy Holidays. By the way, you might also want to check out what the "X" means when Christmas is spelled Xmas. Check it out here!
#JustMyOpinion

Peg's Blog: Grandkids and Giving Thanks

Peg's Blog: Grandkids and Giving Thanks

Grandkids and Giving Thanks

During this holiday season, I thought I would talk a little about grandkids. You know, those little humans you get to enjoy after experiencing the challenges of raising one of their parents. Well, we just had our seven grandkids for a week while they were on Thanksgiving break from school. They had a great time and were reluctant to go home. Yes, Grandpa and I are tired, but it was worth it. During that week, we learned some interesting things from our grandkids:

1. Just because a four-year-old scratches his lip severely enough to require a band-aid, doesn't mean the band-aid should be applied to the location of the injury if it fits so much better farther up on the cheek instead.

2. You can prepare for two Thanksgiving feasts and pull it off successfully with seven extra little people in the house.

3. Grandkids don't always want to play video games. They also like to play board games that require thinking and strategy. Yes, they can be pretty competitive playing Scrabble and Rummy Cube.

4. It really is fun having kids in the house and listening to their conversations.

5. As they get older, they also like to learn how to make Grandpa's famous French Cookies, and Grandpa really likes helping them.

6. And finally, no matter how tired we get after seven days with seven kids, we always look forward to their next visit.

We even fit it an impromptu birthday party

Cousins

Intense Board Game on Thanksgiving

French Cookie Making Lesson

Good Conversation and Then Dessert!

Lamenting and Appreciating

You ever notice how marketers encourage us to be the envy of our neighborhood and urge us to keep up with the "Jones" at all costs when spiritual and financial leaders encourage us not to. What a dichotomy in our society. No wonder we feel pulled. What I have learned in my 62 years on this earth is that I've gone through the whole spectrum of this conundrum and am now on the other end. The end where I'm very comfortable not keeping up with the "Joneses" and I buy nothing on credit. If I can't pay cash, I can't afford and half of what I thought I had to have 30 years ago no longer interests me. Here's what I find most meaningful and satisfying to me now:

1.  good health

2. family vacations

3. happy, healthy grandkids

4. high quality (and a bit expensive) yarn

5. a patient husband

6. absolutely no debt

7. good friends

8. shoes

9. comfortable clothing

10. peach Schnapps in my fresh brewed iced tea on a hot summer day

note: I reserve the right to add to this list as needed.

Don't Complain

This is very interesting and takes less than a minute to watch. Plus, I believe it! ;-)

#Complaining...affects you more than you know! #thruththeory #betteryou #makeachange #itchangesyou #today#VRPC#BeMore #BeBetter #BeNext pic.twitter.com/rTA1rS6ZQx

— Dr. Vernice Richards (@VerniceRichards) May 27, 2017

RETIRED

It's not official until June 1, but my last day of school ever was Thursday, May 25. I've taught 38 years and am looking forward to a lot of enjoyable, healthy retirement years. Yay!

My Little Rant on Writing

Why do some feel it necessary to use big words when little ones work so much better. Why do some write long boring paragraphs with too many words and very little substance?  Not all will agree with me but here's my opinion on word usage and writing in general.


1. Don't use the word "component" when "part" works just fine.


2. Always get to the point the most direct way possible when writing. Good practice for this is to tweet. If you can't say it in 140 characters or less, write a book. If you can't get to the point, then you probably don't know what you are talking about. Think about it!

The Countdown Has Begun!

Nine weeks and counting! That means I need to work on my post-retirement daily schedule. So far I've come up with the following:

1. Rise early

2. Do the crossword puzzle in the paper while I enjoy my coffee.

3. Get part of my walking in for the day before noon.

4. Knit

5. Make dinner, if it's my turn.

6. Knit

7. Go to bed by 10.

This is not set in stone by any means but a partial guide until I actually experience true retirement for a while.

I might add that even though I'm enjoying counting down the days, I'm just as much enjoying my last trimester of teaching. I feel very fortunate that I am able to leave the working world still enjoying what I do, even after 37 years!

And the Journey Continues

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Just a couple of pics from my classroom

1.  One of my students snapped this while I was teaching and fortunately, he didn't get in trouble because it is one of the best pics I've ever taken, I think.

2. The second picture is definitely a face swap as you can see. One of my seminar students was asking if I had a Sanpchat account and when she found I did, decided we should do a face swap. It was good for more than a few laughs. There is only about 48 years difference in our ages!

I have to say this school year is passing quickly and I'm doing a good job of enjoying every day with colleagues as well as with my students.