Relying on others

One of the cool things that I am learning is to ask for help from other people. I am working on making a necklace for someone. I am having trouble getting the clasp correct. Normally I would go to the store and buy something or trying something else. Now, I have asked a teacher at school to help me because she is adept at beading. She was extremely helpful and patient. I am also working on a prayer shawl for someone else. I realized that I wanted it to be big so I asked another person if she still had the big needles she used to and could I borrow them. She said if she could find them. She also let me borrow a piece of paper and pen so I could copy down a recipe instead of having to buy the magazine.
I am also more giving since I'm not buying. I have given out stuff that I know I won't use like some missized filters and dog toys and even made a couple of simple things that I think people will like and delivered extra food. ( I seem to have that alot now :-))

SNOW SNOW SNOW!!!

It has been a long time since I've been at the computer. We have had 3 snows days, plus Martin Luther King Jr. Day off so it has been a while. One of the "interesting" things that I did was I saw a flyer for a free movie at one of the churches. I thought it was a family fun kind of thing. When I showed up I expected a family atmosphere. I didn't realize it but it was mainly for homeless people. It was nice. They served pizza and popcorn and brownies to everyone so it was fun but it just seemed so different. That is one of the things that I am noticing is that if something is free, it doesn't seem to be valued. For example, people spilled their sodas and didn't clean it up. They talked during the movie and left halfway though.
The good part is that because of all the snow days. I've gotten a little bit more organized. I know basically where everything is now. The bad news is that it is all in different little piles and they drive me crazy. I can't figure out what to do with them. I did find a cross stitch piece I was working on but hadn't finished. I began it when my neice was being born and now she is 7 years old. It is Winnie the Pooh so I may have to find someone else who can use it.

Well...

Here I go again. It seems like I'm falling into my old ways again. I ate lunch at school today and haven't been doing my nightly ritual like I should BUT... hopefully I will get right back on track. I think that is the important thing is to keep at it and not totally give up. I checked one of my old email accounts which helped me to remember some of my old resources and "helper" things so I will try and improve on that.
Today at school I have some activities at the computer lab for students. I guess you could say it is "Cram Time" for the test in a couple of weeks. Well, one of the things I need to be working on is my lesson plans. I will have to find the older blogs that I started on edublogs.net and see about those.
Gotta go,
Martha

Building Community

Well, now that I am not running around as much, I am taking advantages of other opportunities. I went to a knitting group meeting last night and met some wonderful people. One person even mentioned ETSU. I forgot about all the free things that universities offer to their students and community. I will have to look into that. Usually there is always I free movie or concert of some type. I need to "use what I have".
I am almost finished with my knitted socks and will need some help trying to put the toe part on. Also I have almost finished my aunt's birthday present. I am realizing that I see the benefits of the consistency premise. I also found a new motto for the year. I'd been trying to decide on something for 2009 and could only come up with Feeling Fine in 2009 which in my opinion is rather pitiful. But it finally hit me, 2009 is my year to shine!!! OK, Ipsen it isn't but at least it is something.
Well, gotta go.

Wish I had something new and exciting to say about my journey, but so far, nothing too exciting. Went to school today and had Call trax central office about having the problems with the SmartBoard, and THEY FIXED IT!!! Hopefully, now I have learned my lesson about waiting and not getting done what need to be done.
I'm excited because I can show the Antarctica PowerPoint; especially now that she just received our package. I was thinking of trying to get it organized so that we can send her a powerpoint about our school. I will have to think about it.
Well, I'd better go. Talk more later.

Martha

Rainy Satuday at school

Well, unfortunately I am at school on a Saturday (Yuck) I am hear because I am having problems getting my smartboard to work and it is driving me crazy. Finally after about 2 days of panic I realized just do an alternate lesson plan on Monday until you can call the Tech Squad out her to help. So I will begin doing that soon.
The free thing is doing ok. I still haven't purchased anything other than groceries but it is getting hard. I think other things are starting to bother me more, now that I can't run away and escape as easily.
There were a couple of things I wanted to mention that are free and fun. As a teacher I get in free to any sporting event in the county. WooHoo!!! Actually I may see about some of the high school games and maybe even see if I can use it with Johnson City Schools as well. That would as least be an evening out. Unfortunately, when I am at a game, nachos start calling me.
Another wonderful way to have things for free is to join Freecycle.com. It is a network of people who have things that they want to give to people and people that need them. Alot of the stuff is furniture and clothing but I have received some tile for my mosaic table top and a cassette tape player that I needed for practicing my cello. It is worth looking into. You have to be quick though but who knows? You may get just what you are looking for.
Gotta go get my lessons ready for Monday. Talk more tomorrow.

It alls works out in the end

Well, yesterday worked out better than expected. One of the teacher's here was suppose to work the basketball game and couldn't make it. She is in the last month of pregnancy so she just could stay that late. I volunteered to do it for her. I was worried that I had forgotten my food and was just going to grab something. Turns out I only had a dollar in my purse and I had forgotten my credit card. Fortunately, my principal said she would pay for my dinner that night.
When I was leaving after the game, I realized that I hadn't fed my cat since 4am that morning. Plus, I had left the crock pot on since 6am. When I got home, the cat hadn't even finished her food and I had accidentally set the crock pot on low so the food wasn't too over cooked. (ok, so it did taste a lot like mushy peas and meat but it was at least edible.)
More ideas about free things that I am trying to take advantage of.... let see. So far this week I have downloaded LOTS of free podcasts from Itunes plus you can also watch free television episodes on the Internet. My favorite so far is Ace of Cakes. I love the different ideas they come up with.
Well, Id better go for now. Back to the old grindstone.

Stumbling Block

Well, today I have hit a snag. I was getting my dinner in the crock pot ( Lord, how I hate that sentence that I just wrote. It just sounds so....June Cleaver) Anyway, in the rush to get that done, I accidentally forgot to put my lunch in the car. It is sitting the in refrigerator. Fortuanately, I have a credit at our cafeteria here so I could use that and don't really feel that it has sidetracked me that much.
Tuesday night I went to my circle meeting which was nice but I'd forgotten that we are doing desserts only. It is easier that way, but I was looking forward to something different for dinner for a change. The good thing is that Jamee who hosted it bought us all a journal to use for our prayers. It was really sweet and I've already started to use it.
Yesterday, we had a flood day. The rivers were too high so we couldn't get to school. Yeah!!! I was really nice because I wasn't expecting it and so I got some extra work done on my knitting and caught up on laundry.
Well, not much other news though. However, I am seeing that the more prepared I am with work and leisure activities, the more "breaks" I get. I've been practicing my cello for 30 minutes all week and I got a call yesterday that she had to cancel today's meeting. Because of that I am able to help at the basketball game tonight for a friend who is pregnant. See it all works together for good.
Anyway, gotta go.

The Experiment Begins

Well, it is January 5th,2009 and I am in my fifth day of my experiment on only buying necessities, not luxuries this year. I read the book Not Buying It by Judith Levine last year and was inspired to try the same idea this year. I will try and go an entire year without buying any luxuries.
I must say it has already helped me appreciate the things I do have. Becuase I now must plan in advance (something I hate doing) I get things done more effieciently. For example, I already have my sister-in-laws birthday gift done and her card sent out. She is going to have a fit because I am ALWAYS late with gifts and cards. She even called me today to tell me how excited she is.

As far as the luxuries that I have gotten for free this year.

1. a free blog site ;-)
2. watching Horton Hear a Who on the big screen at our local Hands-0n Museum. I hadn't seen it yet and was earlier debating as to whether or not to purchase
3. Found a free site www.sparkpeople.com for information on exercise and weight loss
4. Since I'm cooking now, I offer extra that I made to friends who were please with the offer. Unfortunately because it was so unexpected, there were no takers :-(

Drawbacks:

1. Friends have asked me to have lunch with them today and I had to say no because I brought my lunch.
2. Feeling a little ungrounded right now