Good vs. Good

This is definitely a rougher time of life. There are so many things I “need” to do, yet can’t seem to accomplish. This morning, I wanted to go running, but was afraid of my kids being scared if I wasn’t there when they woke up. Since the kids are with their dad now, I thought it would be a good time to go to the temple. But the lawn needed mowing. I got some reading done for one of my classes, then realized I read the wrong article.

I’m finding myself heading back into survival mode. I do what I can to stay sane and happy, which sometimes doesn’t make sense to other people. I did another race by myself on Saturday. Races really help me clear my head. Especially fun, muddy, trail races. I like naps. I like folding laundry while watching TV.

Finding balance has always been difficult for me. Especially in the ratio of servings of ice cream vs. servings of vegetables eaten in a day. And in deciding which good thing to do—since with me it’s rarely a choice between something I shouldn’t be doing and something I need to do. The choices are between all good things. Just need to decide what to put on top:

Pay off credit card.

File agreement.

Work on online class.

File for extension for online class.

Work on 423 paper.

Work on 356 paper.

Pick topic for 356 project.

Go to the temple.

Go Visiting Teaching.

Read to my kids.

Help daughter with homework.

Email daughter’s teacher.

Put money in daughter’s lunch account.

Quilt the Irish Chain.

Turn in textbook and tuition receipts for scholarship reimbursement.

Go running.

Visit bedridden neighbor.

Play with my kids.

Hold my kids.

Read the scriptures.

Start planning presentations for TELL classes.

Call sisters.

Dig up photo for mission reunion.

Find a babysitter for mission reunion.

Catch up on 356 reading.

Balance checking account.

Take piggybanks to bank.

Sometimes list-making can be therapeutic. Sometimes it can be maddening.

Alternate Reality

Yesterday I think I did too much. Therefore, my mind and body are stagnant today.

After school we went to the library. Then we went to the gym, where I ran six miles while reading three scholarly articles for a class. Then home for dinner, then I mowed the lawn, took out the trash, did the dishes, bathed two sandy, grassy, wet kids, and did some laundry and homework. Doing so much yesterday seems to have created a major physical and mental block in me today.

My brain seems to have slowed down. A large BLT with homemade tomatoes is starting to help perk it up.

Maybe in the resurrection this type of frailty will be gone from me. Maybe that’s when I’ll rise up with the strength of the eagles promised in Isaiah. But for now, I'll have to settle with alternating days of productivity and apathy.

Trying to "Like" Technology

Last spring I took two of my nieces out to yogurt for their birthdays. They started telling me about the amazing electronics they got, and which “apps” went with them. They dropped their plastic spoons into their mixed concoctions of pay-per-ounce dessert when I asked:
“What’s an app?”

There’s always something new to learn in social technology. I have at least figured out that you need to click "Like" on Facebook to get coupons, there's more to pick up in technology than that. As much as I am kind of repelled by things that are all the rage, I recognize the need to be familiar with ways to interact with students, the community, and stakeholders at any school I may work with.

Thus, I plan to learn the answers to the following:
• What is a “Smart” phone?
• What is Pinterest?
• How do you manage a blog?
• How do you collect blog posts for a journal archive?
• How do you use an iPod?

• How do you keep your Facebook information secure?

I could never keep up with all technology, but I’d hate to miss ways I can connect with students. And my nieces. Maybe I’ll take them out for yogurt again with my list of questions.

Goodreads

I really enjoy reading. In another class that tried to force me into the virtual world, we had to sign up at Goodreads.com. It's actually been fun to keep track of what I read and what people around me are reading!

2011 Reading Challenge

Tiffany has

read 22 books toward her goal of 100 books.

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22 of 100 (22%)

view books

Internet Safety

From the class lecture I learned about many threats to internet safety. Knowing the threats is the first step to feeling safe on the internet. First of all, I learned to keep current on software updates. I typically ignored them, but now I actually click on "update" instead of ignoring the prompts. I already knew to not click on less reputable sites, but wasn't aware of how easily my information could be accessed via an unsecure wireless networks. Yikes!

Homework for May 10

Wiki Link

Google Form

Google Presentation

Google Calendar

YouTube Video

Interesting Technology

There is a lot of technology out there. Too much for me to handle most of the time. Mostly I rely on friends and family when I have a technology question or need technology resources.

Technology concepts that most interest me are those that connect people and ideas. I enjoy resources such as Goodreads that tell me about books, authors, and what my friends are reading. Another aspect of technology that interests me is the use of media in the classroom. Technology can both contribute and detract from both classroom and personal effectiveness.