Bon Voyage!

If anyone actually looks at this...join me at my new blog (because isn't that what the world needs?)

Get taught!

at

annonthehill.blogspot.com

See you there!
xo
Mrs. Udall

End Of School Excitement!

So, there is often this feeling at the end of the school year that real life is about to begin!  And it is true, I haven't written on this blog since the new year.  That is due in part to many factors, the least of which is I don't think anyone reads this so what is the point of writing in it.  Wellllllllllll, regardless I like this little space.  And I feel like I should cultivate it a bit.  And it is due for a face lift and perhaps a remodel.  I have a few ideas and I might be moving to a new space so I will keep all 3 of you in the loop.  Have a wonderful rest of May!

xo
Annette

2013

Happy New Year!
Although I started off the year with thinking "isn't this an unlucky number?" I know this is going to be an amazing year!  Brook immediately squashed my negativity and reminded me that 13 is actually a very lucky number, and it was going to be an great year, just like my fortune cookie said.  It also said a gift would  be coming in the mail, which actually happened so I believe!  I always think of the year in a round.  January is on the top of that circle, and the summer hanging out on the bottom.  This is just how my brain works and really makes no sense so I think of an upward spiral.  It keeps going onward and upward in an awesome arching motion.  SO, here's to another wonderful circular round of amazing-ness that is my life.  Busy, wonderful and a struggle, at times.  But isn't that what its all about?  We struggle to know that we are alive, and then we look back and see that we have climbed to the top of a particular mountain.  And the view is divine. And as we look forward in the distance we see even higher mountains.  So let's lace up our boots for the climb and enjoy the view as we go.
xo

Life goes on...

and the sun still shines and sets in the evening regardless of outcomes of elections, or dismal days at school, or bad news or really happy moments.  I am so grateful that I can take a moment, step outside and breathe...it always grounds me and reminds me that right now, I am alive and well.  We all need moments like that in the hurried craziness of our days.  Like right now...perfect moments consist of jammies, and the couch and two girls and a movie.  I can't make this last, but I can enjoy it. xo

Anyone else feel like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Th0DYpmiVU

I love Fall! But this year, my lovely season of colored leaves and crisp temps has been soured by the presidential campaign. Sorry people, I'm just not feeling it. You had me at hello, and then lost me after 1 1/2 years of bickering and 6 billion dollars of spending. It is truly sickening...what could our country do with 6 BILLION DOLLARS! But really? Enough already. Rant over.

I absolutely love this time of year.......fall!  but this year the wind in my sails has been deflated just a bit by the presidential campaign.  Enough Already!!!  Anyone else feel like this?Enough Already

SUMMER!
I can't express the joy of it.  It takes a while to feel that it isn't just a long weekend, but slowly I have started to feel relaxed.  I did finish all of the above items!  And on time!  It's a miracle!
But now........not so much DO but a whole lot of BE.
Enjoy!

Is it June yet?

So much to do until June.  In no particular order:
1)teach Freshman about Romeo and Juliet.  AND help them understand Shakespearean language and write a coherent essay about it.
2)teach Juniors how to write a decent research paper with internal citations and everything!  Good luck to me.
3)Make changes to Master's thesis by Tuesday for final sign off!
4)Create presentation to help me look totally knowledgeable and professional and stuff at my Thesis Presentation in Prescott, AZ on May 19.
5)Help Maddy prepare for ACT, SAT, 3 AP exams and summer
6)Help Kate prepare for Washington DC trip and 8th grade graduation and find dress of her dreams before she leaves.
7)Complete beginning teaching training (BTSA)
8)Go give blood before my drs appointment next week
9)meetings, meetings meetings
10)Have a date night with my handsome hubby so he doesn't forget who I am.

Whew...anyone else tired?

xo

BURN FAT...not fuel.

Trying to work on my sustainability.  I'm looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.  My goal for this year is to produce more than I consume.  Try to replace into the universe what I have spent the past 40 years sucking out of it.  And if I can do that, in most every aspect of my life, I can feel good about myself.  I feel as if it is past time for me to do that...that I have spend most of my 30's recklessly consuming and enjoying myself without much thought about the consequence to that.  Nothing super extravagant or bad...just lots of STUFF!  Brook is a great example to me.  I mean, he could live like a monk if he wasn't married with kids.  Not that we want to be ascetic...but living more simply can only be good.

super what?

Just watched the Super Bowl and ..............ho hum.  Not so much going on there to keep me entertained.  But I did enjoy watching my girls get into it to keep their dad entertained.  That was fun.  And so was the food that I made.  Muffin top alert!  I feel like I need a detox.  Starting tomorrow, of course. And I just found out that I am giving a talk in church next Sunday.  Somehow, I decided, I will insert a Portlandia reference, just to keep myself entertained.

Summer's End

It's that time again, summer is coming to an end.  I feel like the circle of the year closes a bit tighter as I get older, as if there isn't enough time to just relax and let the days quietly pass.  I'm constantly in motion, going and doing.  I'm working on how to make time go slower...and it isn't so much a psychics thing.  Its more of a mental process, being in the moment and increasing an awareness to the present time.  That is my goal for the beginning of this school year.  Savor every moment.  Stop and smell the flower and the tree and the breeze and of course the teenagers as they swarm into my classroom.

summer

having a lovely summer...enjoying the time and space and freedom of no responsibility (kinda).  Summer nights are my favorite time.  The softness of light and the light air...watching the stars begin to twinkle and the sun set over the coastal range.  Watching the bats begin their nightly acrobats and the owls silently glide overhead.  Relaxing and inspirational.

Mother's Day

was kinda hard.  My first without my mom...however.  I concentrated on what an amazing mom she was, and how blessed I am now to be a mother.  Because the truth is, those who we really, really, really love are always with us.  I hear their voices in my head, and when I really need it, their arms around me.  It is true, and for me, helps me through difficult times.  But mostly, I concentrated on those who are here, now, who hug me and make my life happy.  And lucky for me, I have lots of people that do that.

Thesis Research!

Volunteers Needed!
Graduate Student Thesis Research Project
“Connection to Nature and Reduction of Isolation in Pain Patients”
Saturday, May 14, 2011
9:30am-1:30pm
Participation in this workshop entails outdoor awareness exercises, short walks, sitting and some writing. A follow-up questionnaire will be given as well.
We will meet at the Auburn Pain Rehabilitation Clinic 1121 Maidu Dr. Auburn, CA at 9:30, meet briefly in the conference room, and then go to Traylor Ranch, Penryn. Meeting will conclude there. Lunch included!
Please contact to reserve your place to participate!
Annette Udall
530-320-5127
audall@prescott.edu

technical difficulties

why is it always so hard to do things you really want to do?  I have so many thoughts, projects, dreams and yet I'm in spin cycle mode...literally laundry, cooking, driving, facebooking myself to distraction.  If I could have an unobstructed 10 hours a day, would I be the next JK Rowling, or Chagall, or John Muir?  Or would I wile away those extra hours on netflix like I already do, when I should be sleeping to charge up for the next days marathon of laundry, cooking, driving, facebooking?  I resolve to spend at least 1 hour a day working towards my dream project.  I'm going to do that for myself and finally commit to pursuing the 'dream' and actually make it a reality.  I'm gonna bust through those technical difficulties and see what happens...

sunshine

and poppies make this time of year my favorite.  Spring brings a ripening, a budding and a growing into something beautiful and complete.  Taking this to heart. xo

Friday...

Today I finished a long term sub position at Colfax High School.  Its amazing how attached you can get to students in such a short period of time.  I really enjoyed the experience...the students were awesome!  They gave me a handmade card with all their signatures...it reminded me of kindergarten.  Very sweet!  The best comment on the card was ...please don't leave, she beats us!  Ha ha.  Their regular teacher, coming back from a maternity leave, is stellar.  I hope I get a chance to work with her in the future!

tomorrow...

i'm very excited for my thesis research workshop.  and i'm excited for it to be over.  All this hard work is cramping my style...all of this research about connectedness to nature cuts into my time to actually connect to nature!  Isn't it ironic...don't ya think?

ours is not to question why...

 but i have to admit...i do ask it.  when i ask
why pain?

then i have to ask
why joy?

and
why suffering?

and that always leads to

why love?


i know the answer...and i'm comforted because it always begins and ends with love.  love wins and i can find peace in that.