Missing the Guy
I'm missing Gerry something awful on this trip. Do I call? No, not as much as I should.
I called yesterday just as he was leaving MN Oncology for his monthly drip and I was pulling into the customs lane to re-enter the US for my doc's visit. (Sorry, Ma'am, you cannot be on the cell phone while in this lane...)
But I miss Gerry. He's so funny, so calm and loving and just wonderful. I miss seeing him, I miss kicking him in my sleep and I even miss the snoring. He would certain have enjoyed seeing this huge Canadian beehive going by (the bees must be HUGE up here...)
Well, starting Friday night I'll have that again (hey Shan!) but no kicking. Dang. (well, she'll probably kick ME when she reads this...)
This trip has encouraged me to do many things with the kids I'd been hesitant about (well, I guess I had a reason) and now feel we can do as a family.
Camping is big among the things I'd like our family to do.
I've never camped, neither has Gerry, but we're not delicate sorts (except for the cancer and asthma... and sciatica... and crushed vertebrae... and knee and shoulder problems... and allergies...) I know there are places like Rockywold/Deephaven camps in MN, and it's high time I looked them up and WENT there with the family. Any suggestions?
I'm in Alexandria Bay, NY, at the Rockledge Motel ($55 rooms with wifi, fridge, microwave & cable - lovely!)
I'm in a spectacularly beautiful area, and I keep thinking how much Gerry and the kids would love this.
I came for the River Hospital Clinic (thanks doc Cindy!) to get my breathing going again, and stayed for the beauty. And the inexpensive hotel room.
Across the street there's Keewayden State Park where folks can camp in tents. We could do that. We don't really know HOW (meaning, we haven't experienced the learning curve, which I'm sure isn't terribly daunting) but it's something we SHOULD do while the kids are still young enough to be our 'cubs'
Trips can be hard - this one, breathing aside, has been wonderful. Missing the family is bad, but discovering things I want to do with them when I'm home is a good trade off.
This trip is a long one, though (I spent a good part of last night rearranging my luggage.)
REFLECTIONS
One thing which isn't fun & doesn't feel good when it happens, but is necessary for growth, is facing things I do wrong as a teacher. And there are MANY! The fact that I think I'm good at what I do in no way means I think there aren't hundreds - thousands - of things I could be doing better.
I ponder what I've done so far in classes that could have been better. I do take mental notes and later, after class, try to rethink scenarios and what I may have done differently. Really. Sometimes too much.
I strive for a nice mixture of off-the-cuff, casual humor, lighting on different things folks have done in the class, interspersed with definite must-teach-this-certain-point moments in the class.
I shush folks, which is a mixed blessing. It makes it easier for others to hear in the class, and keeps me on track. But I know shushing doesn't feel good when it happens to you.
I have learned that the more tired I am, or the worse my breathing is, the more I tend to shush. This makes sense, but doesn't make it easier.
I try to do it with fun, with love, "Ladies... ladies... Dear ladies..." but, as I said, it's not always fun to hear.
Well, I know my kids don't always like to hear me shushing (or mom-ing) them, yet I do. And I don't see myself as mom to my students, not entirely, but I do just a little bit.
So time alone on the road is good for soul-searching, for meditation, for thinking and trying to improve. Squam gave me a lot of food for that - much of the growth happens after the fact, but it's nice t know that doors are left open so that growth can be experienced by all parties again at a later date. Here's the mountain top I visited - proof! Of course, I took a tram...
I took my old standby, Alka Seltzer Night Time Cold, which allows me to breathe and sleep (quite a parlor trick) and now I'm headed off to Toronto for a few days at Naked Sheep! Yay!
If you're in the Toronto area and would like to take a class with me, I think there are some spots open.
I'm teaching the Universal Mitered Bag tomorrow afternoon, Combo knitting tomorrow night and Thurs afternoon. Check out the classes and sign up - I'd love to see you (and NOT shush you - I hope!)
I called yesterday just as he was leaving MN Oncology for his monthly drip and I was pulling into the customs lane to re-enter the US for my doc's visit. (Sorry, Ma'am, you cannot be on the cell phone while in this lane...)
But I miss Gerry. He's so funny, so calm and loving and just wonderful. I miss seeing him, I miss kicking him in my sleep and I even miss the snoring. He would certain have enjoyed seeing this huge Canadian beehive going by (the bees must be HUGE up here...)Well, starting Friday night I'll have that again (hey Shan!) but no kicking. Dang. (well, she'll probably kick ME when she reads this...)
This trip has encouraged me to do many things with the kids I'd been hesitant about (well, I guess I had a reason) and now feel we can do as a family.I was so homesick last night I got misty when the waitress put Land O Lakes butter in front of me. That's iced tea, BTW.
Camping is big among the things I'd like our family to do.
I've never camped, neither has Gerry, but we're not delicate sorts (except for the cancer and asthma... and sciatica... and crushed vertebrae... and knee and shoulder problems... and allergies...) I know there are places like Rockywold/Deephaven camps in MN, and it's high time I looked them up and WENT there with the family. Any suggestions?
I'm in Alexandria Bay, NY, at the Rockledge Motel ($55 rooms with wifi, fridge, microwave & cable - lovely!)I'm in a spectacularly beautiful area, and I keep thinking how much Gerry and the kids would love this.
I came for the River Hospital Clinic (thanks doc Cindy!) to get my breathing going again, and stayed for the beauty. And the inexpensive hotel room.
Across the street there's Keewayden State Park where folks can camp in tents. We could do that. We don't really know HOW (meaning, we haven't experienced the learning curve, which I'm sure isn't terribly daunting) but it's something we SHOULD do while the kids are still young enough to be our 'cubs'
Trips can be hard - this one, breathing aside, has been wonderful. Missing the family is bad, but discovering things I want to do with them when I'm home is a good trade off.This trip is a long one, though (I spent a good part of last night rearranging my luggage.)
REFLECTIONS
One thing which isn't fun & doesn't feel good when it happens, but is necessary for growth, is facing things I do wrong as a teacher. And there are MANY! The fact that I think I'm good at what I do in no way means I think there aren't hundreds - thousands - of things I could be doing better.
I ponder what I've done so far in classes that could have been better. I do take mental notes and later, after class, try to rethink scenarios and what I may have done differently. Really. Sometimes too much.I strive for a nice mixture of off-the-cuff, casual humor, lighting on different things folks have done in the class, interspersed with definite must-teach-this-certain-point moments in the class.
I shush folks, which is a mixed blessing. It makes it easier for others to hear in the class, and keeps me on track. But I know shushing doesn't feel good when it happens to you.I have learned that the more tired I am, or the worse my breathing is, the more I tend to shush. This makes sense, but doesn't make it easier.
I try to do it with fun, with love, "Ladies... ladies... Dear ladies..." but, as I said, it's not always fun to hear.
Well, I know my kids don't always like to hear me shushing (or mom-ing) them, yet I do. And I don't see myself as mom to my students, not entirely, but I do just a little bit.
So time alone on the road is good for soul-searching, for meditation, for thinking and trying to improve. Squam gave me a lot of food for that - much of the growth happens after the fact, but it's nice t know that doors are left open so that growth can be experienced by all parties again at a later date. Here's the mountain top I visited - proof! Of course, I took a tram...Geeze, Louise - did I take a profound pill today? See what a good night's rest will do to me?
I took my old standby, Alka Seltzer Night Time Cold, which allows me to breathe and sleep (quite a parlor trick) and now I'm headed off to Toronto for a few days at Naked Sheep! Yay!If you're in the Toronto area and would like to take a class with me, I think there are some spots open.
I'm teaching the Universal Mitered Bag tomorrow afternoon, Combo knitting tomorrow night and Thurs afternoon. Check out the classes and sign up - I'd love to see you (and NOT shush you - I hope!)
Feed me, baby!
18 Comments:
I grew up near Alex Bay and I have to suggest taking the family go cart racing. It's on the main drag and there's an arcade in the main building too. My husband and I went on a date there once and had a blast!
A Modest Proposal: In a teaching situation with adults - some years ago now - I had to deal with side conversations that took away from the limited time and deep topic. I resolved not to express the frustration I felt ... rather I started using the concept of "focus" ... I would say - when attention was elsewhere ... "focus, let's focus please ..." it worked ... and no one felt chastized or parented ! Of course, each group is different and side conversations are so natural with adult groups ... comments and questions were welcome if the whole group was included !
I love teachers who shush! (Even in high school I loved it - honestly!)The whole point of attending a class to hear what the teacher has to share - not what the other students have to say! I'm going right now to see if there's any room in the Combination Knitting class at the Naked Sheep!
A good teacher is seldom satisfied and a satisfied teacher is seldom good, so there you are! A good teacher has moments of feeling terrific about their work, but are always self-evaluating - you can't stop trying to improve even if you want to!
One idea about the chatting - make a deal up front with the group: "when I'm teaching we need quiet so everyone can hear, but we'll take chat breaks every ? minutes during which time I won't talk." You can even say that you hate shushing, you know they hate to hear shushing, then make the bargain. Maybe that will help.
And looking so forward to see you too!!! - Liz who will be in the WEd. night combination knitting class
Annie, a great way to shush in class without seeming bothersome is to use a small bell. I like to use one to "officially" start class (after any pre-class banter), and to announce then that I'll use it whenever I need to interrupt conversation to teach a new topic. I apologize for the impersonal nature of the bell, but point out that it keeps me from having to shout and lets me maintain my voice throughout an event. Students then deal with the bell very graciously, perking up and listening with no complaint, no hard feelings.
I can't take credit for this trick; Joan Schrouder taught it to me years ago.
Excellent advice, JC - I used to have a bell and I misplaced it. It is TIME to get another one!!
My husband teaches college classes, and I'm amazed at how much he tells me about students who keep talking during lecture after he's asked them not to... On the other hand, I'm a chatty-commentary type myself. But, I would only need to be shushed once! :)
If you want to ease into the camping thing check this out -
http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/outdoor_ed/baker_nearwilderness.cfm - this is 20 minutes from downtown Minneapolis, will give you the outdoors and I belive a cabin to sleep in at night ... might be a place to start? - Susan
You might try this idea - http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/outdoor_ed/baker_nearwilderness.cfm - Baker Park is just 20 minutes from downtown Minneapolis ...a bit further from St Paul ... maybe there is something here you can use?
Susan
Hey, Annie, I have been ROYALLY shushed by you at a class in Edmonton. You couldn't have been more in my face about it. You stood right in front of me and announced to the class, looking directly at me, MY ONE RULE IS..... And you know what, you were ABSOLUTELY right! And I agreed heartily, right then and there.
But then, I am a teacher too, and I know exactly where you were coming from.
The people who come to class are there to listen to YOU!
The bell idea mentioned above is a good one - I work in a Montessori school and we ring small bells to break through talking, for group announcements, and for transitions from one activity period to another (they are kept in a couple of spots in almost every classroom). With adults you might want a little bigger, deeper toned bell - you'd have to try a few to see what works best (I'd avoid the kind where you tap the button on top to make it ring, and look for something more like a small handbell).
I camped a good bit when I was growing up - tent camping - and some since then, both tent camping and using a small pop-up trailer. The thing to really think about regarding tent camping (besides setting up the tent - no where near as hard as it used to be, currently manufactured tents are much lighter and easier to handle) is the sleeping arrangements. You might want to borrow some different pads, air bags, and cots to see what might be most comfortable for the adults, both for sleeping on and for getting in and out of...(kids generally manage just fine no matter what).
We found we preferred the pop-up trailer once we had tried it a couple of times - it sets up faster, it's level-able, the beds are easy to get in and out of, and IMO, more comfortable for sleeping. We were able to borrow one from a friend several times
Beyond that, make a master list of things to take along - think through a whole day or two - sleeping, eating/cooking (stove, pots, utensils, washing up tub and dish soap)/food storage, entertainment (frisbees, bikes, hiking gear, camera, books, card games...), clothing & tolietries & meds, bathing, swimming (towels!), first aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray...folding chairs! I avoid campsites with primitive sanitation (pit toliets and no showers) but that's my personal preference (from camping when flush toliets and showers were rare).
Camping can be a neat way to get away from everything, though - I'd like to go again but we don't seem to be able to actually get away these days...
Sorry to be "anonymous" but I'm a bit backwards - no google account, not blogging, etc. so don't have any of the other stuff to sign up under! I'm Jean Marie.
Will you see the Yarn Harlot?
Regarding shushing, I was going to suggest the bell but I see JC Briar beat me to it. I was in a class with Joan Schrouder where she used it to break up our chatting and in addition to getting our attention it also made us laugh, a bit more pleasant than shushing.
Regarding camping, if you are going to tent camp make sure you use air beds!! We have always loved to camp and have been doing so for over 30 years but sleeping on various pads was always very uncomfortable and really detracted from the whole experience. Discovering air beds and using them made the experience completely enjoyable.
Air beds, definitely. They were the only thing that stayed dry when we went camping last weekend with a group of 25 or so middle schoolers in northern WI. I made a valuable discovery when the temp dropped to low-40s and the rain never stopped: in a pinch, my car will sleep 4 damp, crabby 13 year olds :-)
Love your blog! On camping - I have done everything from wilderness camping (carry it all in and out) to rented RV's. Since this is fairly new to you I would suggest camping cabins. You just bring sheets and such. They usually have a BBQ, picnic table and a fire ring for the camp fire & marshmallows. As my son says "what's camping without the s'mores?"
And while you're there you can walk around the camp ground and see all the other options in action. You'll have to invest (or borrow) two things - a lantern and a cooking/gas stove, everything else you can pull out of what you have.
We are so lucky to have the Boundary Waters Canoe Area here in MN. That's a "pack in-pack out" kind of place, which might be a bit much, but you could always pick a camp site on an entry lake (just inside the BWCA) or even some fab cabins as well. The scenery is so spectacular and it's nice and quiet (no boats with motors allowed). I always vote for the "up north" atmosphere, but I'm a MN kid, so that's fond memories for me!
I loved your class -- I think I was in the one with the shushing issues. I was happy to have the focused attention back on you (as I was there to learn from the amazing Annie after all). I learned a great deal -- thank you!!! :)
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