I'm Back!

Since my last post, I've been to see my mom in CA.  It was a great visit and as always, I got a little sad when it was time to come home.  School has started and I am in back to the hectic life of a teacher/mom.  On the weight loss front, I've lost a total of 53.6 pounds.  I continue to learn and grow with Weight Watchers.  I attend the meetings and listen and learn.  I walk about 3-4 miles a day.  Secretly, I want to start to jog, but I don't know if my knees can withstand the pounding.  This about takes me to the present.  I hope to become better about blogging, but life does get in the way.  For instance, this Thursday evening is Back-to-School night and I will be at school from around 5 pm to around 9 pm.  I also have to do some pop-in observations this week, create a open-notes quiz, buy gum for a lab activity, prep for a lab activity, and grade papers.  I am also copying labs and notes from another teacher and have to begin mapping the curriculum on our curriculum mapping software.  Other than that, I'm good.

I'm Hanging On!

I haven't posted in a long time, so I should say that all has been pretty hectic.  School's out (yay!!).  But with that comes my summertime responsibilities:
1. I've taught a week-long workshop.s,
2. I've got two days of summer work with the sixth grade science teachers.
3. I've two days of summer work with the 7th grade science teachers.
4. I've still got to teach a week-long workshop in August.
5. I've got to schlepp my daughter to her summertime activities.
6. I've got to clean out the science workroom... I started today.  Got lots more to do.
7. Somehow I've got to fit a visit to CA to see my mom.

After all of this, I've got to start putting my room together.  Oh, and I forgot to mention, there's less of me to love.  Yes, I've continued my weight-loss journey.  I've lost a total of 46 pounds and look forward to losing 4 more pounds for a total of 50.  Now, that's not all I intend to lose, but it is a major milestone.  I've increased the distance that I walk each time.  I walk for at least 90 minutes and I walk all over our town.  Up and down hills, around the track, or just in my neighborhood... it doesn't matter.  I do Zumba and take a Spinning Class.  Both are intense.

I hope I don't take a long hiatus again.  I hope to continue to share this journey called life.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Today, one of the bloggers I follow shared how her car window was smashed and items were stolen from her car.  As I read this, I got sad because she was starting to lose faith in the goodness of people.  Here was a person who has such a positive outlook on life and who is madly in love with her husband and young child.  She has a strong faith in God and is what my family would refer to as "good people".

Then, there is a colleague of my husband who is probably one of the nicest persons I've ever met.  He is not only liked by his fellow teachers, he is LOVED by his students.  He's generous with his time and is a loving husband and father.  Over 2 years ago he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  I've been following his ups and downs.  At first his blogs were upbeat and positive.  As time has gone on, they have become less so.  Lately, they've been very scary.  Scary that we almost lost him.  I don't want anything to happen to him.  He's such a good person. 

 

This prayer is for you Dave.

Every Sunday

Every Sunday is weigh in day.  So, I get up and do at least 90 minutes on the treadmill before heading off to my weekly meeting.  I wear the same thing each Sunday.  And so far, so good.  I was down .8 pounds.  All together, I've lost 38.4 pounds.  I'm 1.6 pounds from my half-way point.  What I've done that has helped me stick to my new lifestyle is that I exercise.  Yesterday, I did 90 minutes on the treadmill and 70 minutes of Zumba.  Friday I did an hour of yoga and 60 minutes of Zumba.  The benefits of all of this exercise is that I now almost run up the stairs at school.  I don't notice the aches and pains in my knees as much.  By November, I hope to be at my goal weight----134 pounds.  After that, I hope to continue to exercise and watch my portions.

Everything's Still Standing

So, after the fiasco last week with the boiled eggs, my husband reminded me today that boiled eggs are done after 6 minutes of boiling.  If looks could kill, he'd be......let's just say, I would feel a whole lot of justification.  This week has been a typical week for me.  Lot's of work and lot's of afterschool stuff.  That's a typical life of a teacher.  I also observed a prospective teacher.  I really wanted him to do well as he taught the class.  It remains to be seen if he is the best candidate.  Then on Thursday, I arranged for my students to make Teddy Bears for the local hospital.  Truly, a busy day.  Oh, I continue to lose weight.  I'm now down 37.6 pounds, with 42.4 pounds to go!  Weight Watchers isn't so much a diet as a change in lifestyle.  I'm more active.  I've done a 5K, I walk do Zumba, and I walk at least one hour on the treadmill.  I'm not focusing on how long it will take to lose the weight.  Instead, I'm focusing on becoming fit.  Jennifer Hudson is my inspiration.

Oops!

I say this because I almost burned down the house.  What happened was I put two eggs in a pot of water so that I could have boiled eggs with my dinner salad.  I turned on the burner and thought that I had turned on the front burner.  10 minutes and a smoke alarm later, I found out that I had turned on the back burner.  On the back burner was a pan.  Needless to say, I turned off the gas, put water in the overheated pan, and opened all the windows and doors to let out the smoke.


Then, I turned on the front burner, but I didn't notice that the pilot light did not ignite the gas.  As I was clearing out the smoke, I kept smelling gas.....yes, the burner had been turned on, but the pilot did not ignite the gas.  Therefore, gas was escaping on the high setting.  I'm glad I didn't attribute the gas smell to the burnt pan.


Now you know why my family wants me to get out of the kitchen......sigh.

End of Year

The school year is slowly winding down.  I've got interims due, orders due for next year, 7 am meeting tomorrow morning, 2 before school meetings with parents next week.....and lots more curriculum to cover.  In one word-----YIKES!! 


But, I look forward to the peacefulness of summer.  I can re-charge and take some classes to help me become a better teacher to my students.  Just think, after June 24th, I'll be able to sleep past 4:30 am.  Looking forward to it.

I Did It!!

What I did was the Weight Watchers Walk It Challenge 5K Run-Walk.  I've been exercising like a fiend for the past 3 months to prepare for today.  At 7:30 am, I left home and met at one of the Challenge sites in our state.  I picked up my shirt and number and paced as I waited for the Challenge to begin.  8:30 came and went.  Then at 8:45, the Walk It Challenge began.  I walked at a steady pace and was just thinking when I remembered that I had put my iPhone and my earphones in my pocket.  So, I got them out, put them on and got some music going.  However, not until I was 29 minutes into the walk did I find the perfect tune that was at the pace I wanted to walk.  Yes, "I'm shipping off to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys was the perfect tune.  It caused me to go into a state that I was passing people as I was walking.  I could've walked for hours at that pace (at least I felt I could).  Finally, I reached the finish line in 49 minutes 29 seconds.  My first 5K complete. 

I then jumped in my car and drove 45 minutes to my Weight Watchers meeting.  I had to weigh-in.  And I found out I was down 2 pounds.  This makes a total of 35 pounds lost since January 9th.  After the meeting, I went to my Zumba class.  I must admit I didn't have the usual amount of energy that I normally do during Zumba.  But I toughed it out.

Now, I'm looking at preparing for the Jimmy Fund Walk.  I hope to raise money for research in helping cure childhood cancer.  This walk is in September, and I must train to walk at least 13 miles.  I'm committed to this cause over many others.  My dad died of complications due to cancer.  If I can make a difference for children, it would be a great way to honor his memory.

Freedom Riders

I've been watching American Experience:  Freedom Riders on PBS.  This has been such a powerful documentary about the modern Civil Rights Movement.  I admire those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that I can have the freedoms that I've grown to take for granted.  To think that many young people of different races banded together to end segregation is astounding.  I would like to thank all of them for what they did.  Without their courage, I would not have attended the university that I did.  Thank you to all.

Sick: Day 2

So, I've been sick.  It's such a yucky feeling.  And to top it off, because I'm a teacher, I had to make sure there were sub plans in place.  So, at 6 am, I went to school to prepare for my substitute teacher.  I also had to run off papers for the students.  This is why I hate missing school.  Normally, I would go to school sick.  But not anymore.  I have over 170+ sick days saved up.  That's almost a whole school year.  I hope to save as many sick days that I can for the next year. 

Oops, I digressed too much.  I almost went off on a tangent about saving sick days....Now back to the subject at hand.  It is far easier for me to teach sick, than to take a sick day.  However, there are times the body does not cooperate and you have to take a sick day. 

The good news is that I will be going back to school tomorrow.  I can't wait!

Hello Blogger World

After much time as a lurker, I've decided to join the blogging world.  I don't really anticipate anyone actually read what I think is important in my life.  But, I do hope that this becomes a place where I can vent. 

Let me introduce myself.  First of all, I'm a mom, wife, daughter, teacher....well you get the picture.  In the past year and a half, I've gotten my Masters in Education degree and was named department chair for my subject at my school.  I've put on a lot of weight (hence the name Losing it in Massachustts-----I forgot to put in the e, and you know what, it is sooooo me to do that!) and have been on the Weight Watchers Plan for the last 4 months.  During that time I've lost 33 pounds and have 47 pounds left to lose.  Now you get it.....I am "losing it" in Massachusetts (spelled correctly).

I also like to read, knit, crochet, and exercise.  I like to make things and my students ask me who I'm making it for.....I usually don't have a recipient.  However, after making 10 hats this year, I plan to give it to a charity organization that clothes the homeless during our unbearable winters.  Here are a few pictures taken from my house of how crazy winters can be here.

I look forward to blogging!  I will even share my talent and offer it to you all as a gift.  I love giving gifts.