Rather Be

When the traffic just stinks and you're still in the car -

And the cars are all moving...but not very far -

When you'd rather be drinking at the local bar -

(just kidding about that last one...)

Then you best make a wish on the next evening star

Because, frankly, my friend, you are stuck where you are!

Honestly, it's days like today that remind me why I try to leave school no later than about 4:45 (even if that means taking work home) - traffic is brutal. But what can you do about it?

Well, you could bi*** and moan (and honk the horn) like quite a few people I encountered on the way home, but I prefer other options (texting while driving not being one of them!)...

1) Crank up that music nice and loud...and sing along!
2) Listen to the news - NPR usually has a few gems.
3) People watch - there are always a few crazies or people in a hurry. (I don't make fun of them, but it can be amusing, and I wonder if I ever look that ridiculous. Mmm...I'm guessing yes...)
4) Make mental notes about how you really need to clean your car - face it, the rain probably won't come...until you clean your car. (Isn't that Murphy's Law or something?)
5) PRAY (one of my go-to's - amazing how the stress melts away...)
6) Think about all of the food you could have for dinner...preferably without much effort and/or cooking...maybe even with no cooking...mmm...

...And #7...wait for it...wait for it...

Think about the AMAZING parking space right in front of the apartment - ok, so usually that's just a dream, but tonight (for me) it was a reality. Amen, amen! Boy, I needed that.

P.S. About those cookies - they were phenomenal - let's be honest. I might have had 2 tonight - and I likely would have had the other 2 had my roommate not been home to save me from eating them (by eating the cookies herself). Yum...

You too can make these relatively easy cookies -->  http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/beer-and-pretzel-chocolate-chip-cookies/f918150c-1df7-4ee0-a900-ad10deba4b34

Then you go downtown...

Downtown Chicago is a place I do not regularly frequent. However, within a little over a 24 hour period this Saturday & Sunday, I was down there 3 times. (I've practically memorized the order of the l stops heading south!) I feel like I've been go go go these past days, but it's been a lot of fun too. (Brace yourself - this is pretty much a narrative)

On Saturday morning I hopped on the l and went to the hospital for my last Ministry of Care (MOC) visit until after summer break. All of the people I ministered to were gracious and grateful - and I, in turn, was ministered to by them as well. One woman was so sweet - we got to talking about Notre Dame - apparently her husband (and her husband's brothers) played basketball for ND back in the 50s. (I wish I would have caught the name!)

Taking the l back home, I ended up getting off at my sister's stop - from there, we walked to just about my apartment so she could do some quick "apartment shopping" for next year. We grabbed lunch on the way, and afterward we went to Bobtail Ice Cream Shoppe.

The shoppe - been meaning to go here for quite some time!

Merlot Chocolate Chip ice cream = divine!

Needless to say - good life choice.

Marisa and I parted ways then, and when I got home, I was able to do some leisure reading, first finishing up a middle grades fantasy book (A Tale Dark and Grimm) and then moving onto a book about running. Woo hoo!

      

Before I knew it, it was time to head downtown again - this time = destination Navy Pier to meet up with a roommate from the good old summer days at STP camp in Buffalo. (Good times.)

roomie reunion - woo hoo!

We enjoyed a free happy hour first, and then we proceeded to a pretty well-known restaurant (Harry Caray's) at Navy Pier, where we enjoyed dinner, drinks, and, finally, fireworks! (All of which were splendid)

Chicago skyline by night

      

The morning came quicker than anticipated, as my sister and I were up early in an effort to beat the sun - which, let's be clear, did not happen - and our "long run" was a bit brutal. But it did feel good to get those legs moving.

As lunch time approached, I once again hopped on the l, met up with my sister, and then, together, we made it downtown to meet one of our professors from college who was in town for the annual APS convention. After a bit of walking we hadn't quite planned on (wrong Marriott - oops), we had a very nice (long) Thai lunch. It was so good to catch up and both share our stories and hear hers too. (I don't think she ever stops!)

Aside from it being brutally hot, it was a very nice day. After ensuring our professor made the right train towards the airport, we headed back home as well. Thoroughly beat, we decided to quench our "thirst" with frozen yogurt - hey now, it was on our way to Trader Joe's.

Again, good life choice.

(No, not all my good life choices include food.)

And, seeing as it's now 6:15, that means I'll be needing to leave for Mass within 20 minutes or so. Looking forward to Pentecost Sunday. (I'm even wearing red!) Plus, when I get home tonight, I'm going to be attempting "Beer & Pretzel Chocolate Chip" cookies for tomorrow's Memorial Day cookout/bbq. I'll let you know how those go...

Thank goodness there's no school tomorrow - I'm going to need a day of recuperation after this weekend! Phew!

Such sillies...

Nothing beats a good chuckle to kick off the morning - especially when that chuckle is the result of one student's rather dramatic reenactment of a dream. Let me relay it to you (briefly) here:

Ms. Foyle, Ms. Foyle, I had this horrible dream last night!! I dreamed that you said you were leaving the school and not coming back until I was in high school. And then, your books were gone. And you were gone too. I was so scared!

I don't know what amused me more - that she was so dramatic about this dream or that she was more worried about my books being gone than me. (Although, that wouldn't be the first time a student expressed such a concern - those were the same sentiments from my students in Phoenix too...but they did admit that they would miss me after all.)

Mind you, this was the very same student who, while we were on our field trip to the Wizard of Oz play on Wednesday, said, "Take a picture of me on your phone. You can set it as your screensaver!" (Um, probably not a good idea...just saying...but it was funny nonetheless.)

Sometimes I wish I had a camera on these kiddos 24/7 (and then I think better of it) - they can be so unpredictable in funny, insightful, and downright unbelievable ways. At one moment I can be hitting my head with frustration and the next I can be doubled over in laughter. It's quite incredible, really. There is no way of knowing how the days will pan out. It's completely up to God (via the students). And that's one of the things that is just so crazy and engaging with teaching - being spontaneous in response to events, comments, and etc. in the classroom comes in the job description. And that helps make all the hard work worthwhile...

Miracles

No energy to be original tonight. Plus, I think it would be more worth your time and effort to read another article from "This Ignatian Life."

"...That is how Christ enters my life.
It is not on a cloud in fanfare with trumpet blasts.
It is in the moments of the every day where I find myself moved
beyond the depths of my own understanding of love..."

I wish I could write something so beautiful and true. Keep looking for those miracles.

Just a Day in the Life...with a twist...

I feel like mixing things up here - gotta keep trying to think outside of the box and all, right? Well, let me relay you my day in a (cryptic) txt msg convo.

*Note - this conversation did not really occur, but, if it had, it would have gone on something like what you will read below. However, it is also important to note that I 99.9% of the time spell out my words, include capital letters, and rarely use emoticons, but, for an added bit of humor (if you find such things humorous), I decided to use abbrevs. (which, by the way, my sister knows I LOVE...j/k)

Here goes:

First thing this morning...

Me: No shower. Car in tow zone. Need coffee. Panera sounds good.

(Imaginary) Friend - hereby noted as "IF": Jealous :P No school?

Me: Inservice. :P

IF: Well, have fun!!

Me: Thx. g2g!

Later on...

Me: So frustrated. Hate schedules. Must be better way.

IF: How far'd you get?

Me: Specials. Don't know when school day starts yet. Not doing darn thing twice. Gave up.

IF: Sounds fun.

Me: A blast. :P

IF: Have a good afternoon - don't work 2 hard.

Me: Thx

Even later on...

Me: Feeling better after run. Windy, tho!

IF: Nice day. Good for u.

Me: Ate 2 much pasta for dinner, tho. Bleh.

IF: There are worse things.

Me: Fact. Thx.

At present moment...

Me: Can't chat now. Time to post on blog. C-ya later.

IF: True story. Call me some time - we can catch up. Night!

Me: Ok. Bye! :D

And there you have it. My day in *imagined* (would be eerily close to true) text messages.

Be You-nique!

In light of a writing unit for literary essays, the students have been delving into some of their favorite picture books and novels for the deeper messages that the books bring.

One of the most common themes that we've found is along the lines of being yourself and not letting others tell you what you should do.

It's a universal theme, discussed (likely) from the beginning of time. Think about it...

In the words of Oscar Wilde: "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

Or, as Judy Garland would say, “Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.”

And, in the immortal words of Dr. Seuss: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

All of this got me thinking about things I do that I enjoy that all add up to making me uniquely me. Why would I give any of these things up?:

1- I love the power of words. And what I like even more than that is using them to create poetry and tell stories. Obviously, I blog. Heck, sometimes I even make jokes. (See #3)
2- Singing makes my heart happy. I would, literally, sing and hum all day if there weren't other things that occupied my time (like my job). And, when given the choice between a good ol' 50s musical and a trending new film, I'll likely choose the musical every time.
3- Make 'em laugh and laugh right along with 'em. And, when possible, use corny humor. (See #1) Being silly is a forte of mine.
4- Read. Ponder. Pass on book (and excitement for book). Pick up new book. Repeat. (I LOVE learning new things!) Ooh, and share all good blogs too!
5- Praying and learning/teaching about God is such a blessing to do daily with students and with friends. In fact, any extra opportunities to go to Mass or to try a new Catholic tradition
6- Go Spartans, Irish, and USF Bulls! A random combination, it's true, but don't mess with me and my sports teams - I can get pretty hardcore and competitive with college sports...
7- Spending time outside (especially in nice weather) is not overrated. Walking or running, wandering or doing an errand - there's something about being entirely in tune with the beauty of God's creation. (And it's entertaining to people watch sometimes too.)
8- I like taking pictures. Sometimes, I even enter contests: http://www.nwf.org/PhotoContest/PhotoContestHome.aspx?perma=kfoyle11@gmail.com (you can vote for me at this link)

I could probably go on, but this is a good start. And, as previously stated, these are things about me that I should never want to give up just to fit in with other people. It's good to be comfortable with yourself because, then, others will be comfortable with you too.

What about you? What adds up to help make you (you)niquely you?

Remember, "If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise." (Johann von Goethe)

Write WITH Me

If you want your students to work more diligently and/or if you want a humbling experience, let your students critique your writing.

I'm completely serious.

During Writers' Workshop this morning, my students tackled my literary essay in response to Sharon Creech's Love That Dog. It was amazing to see them take their pen to paper, labeling key items like the hook, thesis, transitions, use of quotes, etc. They also took notice of repetition, and some pointed out that I needed to replace Jack's name with a pronoun instead in some cases. (We talked a lot about balance.)

And I let them tell me everything - the good and the "bad." Then, one student proceeded to ask me if I meant to write it with those "mistakes" so they could find them. And, I told them all that no, I didn't. I wrote it as I wanted it, but even us teachers have room for improvement.

I think they appreciated the honesty and authenticity - as my coteacher so rightly put it, we critique their writing every day, so why should we be afraid for them to critique ours? [Plus, as I kept hearing over and over at the IRA conference a few weeks ago (see previous early May posts), students need to immerse themselves in models.]

Today's workshop was probably one of the best ones we'd had in a long time, especially since the students had plenty of writing time after the critique. (Some students have come so far this year!)

That whole "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" really resounded in my classroom today. As teachers, all of a sudden, we weren't just giving them an assignment - we became writers right alongside them.

And that seemed to mean quite a lot.