tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75495336553240204122024-03-13T13:37:18.837-06:00Slmar's WorldThe web log of my journey to get connected to people and more organized overall.Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-45595753998955699142013-02-09T17:27:00.000-06:002013-02-09T17:27:46.635-06:00The Taming of a NemesisI have been struggling with my nemesis for decades. This entity creeps into a home or work space ever so subtly. It's body presents itself in stacks and piles that at first seem so innocent, even logical. Initially, the face of this dreaded, foul creature can cause a smile, outpourings of love and sometimes moments of joy. It's voice often creates a source of information or security the first Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-3144989520938963642013-01-06T13:58:00.000-06:002013-01-06T13:58:55.114-06:00A New Year and I'm on a Roll
Yes, I am missing my Washington family, and this picture of the New Year in Seattle is a definite "Wish I Was There" moment! The fireworks in the picture represent the energy I feel as I begin this new year, 2013! My wish to all my readers is that you enjoy good health and find contentment in the days and months to come. Be kind to others, but as importantly, be kind to yourself.
It is a new Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-51448633128219356402012-07-15T20:12:00.000-06:002012-07-15T20:12:25.136-06:00Living Life on Hold
There are many lessons I am learning during this period of
time that I am convalescing after a recent surgery. For a person that is
normally running full throttle with my job for much of August through May each
year, I kick it down several notches and redirect my focus to family and home
for the remaining two months of the year. Things were thrown out of the norm
when I had an unexpected illnessSheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-9338020633620854152012-06-04T21:49:00.000-06:002012-06-04T21:49:03.290-06:00The Great Closet Cleanout BeginsThis is the fourth year that I have challenged myself to clear out
the closets at the beginning of my summer break. And I'm not limiting
myself to closets this year, but I will also declutter and organize
cabinets, drawers, shelving and the sheds outside. Since I have already
done a clear out last year, and a spiff up of some of the drawers and
cabinets during my winter break this should notSheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-25703764085979134742012-05-28T21:40:00.000-06:002012-05-29T05:41:56.219-06:00
My Summer Bucket List
There is a lot I want to do with my family and friends this summer,
and there are also a few personal goals I want to accomplish. I know
that if I don't get these things on the calendar they won't happen. I
have just a short ten weeks and the little boys have about 11 or 12
weeks left (and they've already been out for over a week now) until we
have to report back Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-13353574379335747642012-04-29T20:35:00.000-06:002012-04-29T20:35:51.151-06:00
My Life in Organized Disorder- Part I
"Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next.
Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer." — Denis Waitley
When
I think about what I want to be, to have and have accomplished, I am
looking at my future with varying degrees from necessity to wishful
fantasy.While looking in to my future,Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-229837758471878752011-01-12T22:28:00.000-06:002011-01-12T22:28:32.914-06:00365 OutI am not into making resolutions for the new year, but I am all for setting goals for myself. As this year started up, I was floundering at getting some focus in my life. I seem to have the normal routines down, but being a working SHE, I feel that I need a bit more going in my "stuff" filled life. I need a guideline to keep me engaged in the quest for more peace.
So I thought about setting someSheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-73027833300022212902010-08-29T10:34:00.001-06:002010-08-29T10:41:15.883-06:00Christmas in July! Er, August?
Organized Christmas Rudolph Club
Every Summer on July 25th, my year-round Christmas on-line group the Rudolph Club has an assignment to choose a holiday plan for the year. There are many to choose from these days. And since I so enjoy kicking back over my holiday break, sipping eggnog and playing games with my family, I like having all the planning and preparations finished and my house squeakySheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-27838585134469491152010-07-06T17:07:00.011-06:002010-07-06T18:34:42.621-06:00Summer Half-time ReportToday marks the beginning of the second half of my summer break from teaching. During the past weeks I've pretty much kept up with my routines, except my often neglected desk day duties. I've cleaned out my bedroom closet, my mud room entryway and my drawer in my home office desk. I thought cleaning out my overflowing desk drawer would help motivate me to work on the stuff on top of the desk. No Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-36714306039619384792010-07-05T21:51:00.000-06:002010-07-05T21:51:08.876-06:00Be Very Afraid!!! It's My ClosetI have a good Twister and FlyFriend, Diane from Denmark, who has been facing things she has been putting off for one reason or another, but ultimately needed to give herself a dose of courage to begin. She has been working past her excuses, trying out things that are new or tackling tasks that have been on her to do list for far too long. She calls these Scaredy Cat Challenges. Then she Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-91682246685183948962010-06-10T13:46:00.000-06:002010-06-10T13:46:00.593-06:00Cardivascular Jump StartAfter morning routines were completed yesterday I felt that I needed to get my workout back into being a part of my morning routine. Now that mornings can start at 6:30 or 7 a.m. (as opposed to 5) and I don' t have to be anywhere early for the next few weeks, it's a good time to get workouts out of the hit and miss time slot of afternoon or evening and back in the morning. My workday will be Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-7720585850341659892010-06-09T13:50:00.000-06:002010-06-09T13:50:51.267-06:00Summer Challenges!!!It's been a while since I updated my blog. Busy, busy, busy...that's my life. I am enjoying slowing down a bit and focusing on some personal and home goals during this brief, but much appreciated, break from work.
I have purchased the book Unclutter Your Life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland. I bought it several months ago thinking I could focus on one day in the book for seven Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-88986744500012563062010-01-18T22:30:00.001-06:002010-01-18T22:35:05.393-06:00Let the Challenges BeginI am a sucker for a good challenge. And I have been presented with two new ones over the past few weeks. When I first heard about each of them, I knew that I was up for them both since they so closely mesh with the goals I have set for myself and my life. One is the Fitness Challenge that Jonathan Roche has given to those following the No Excuses Workout system. It matches up very nicely Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-39272473330390761262010-01-16T09:00:00.001-06:002010-01-16T09:14:14.685-06:00Friday FogThe thick fog that covers the land makes it quite difficult for me to get to work on time. Traffic on the highway slows this morning to about 40 mph. It is just past the point of the morning when the day begins, but clouds make it difficult for the sunlight to stream through so many layers of the dust and moisture. On the highway, it is difficult to see how many vehicles are preceding mine, but Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-24728388743134270392010-01-12T21:58:00.001-06:002010-01-12T22:02:58.163-06:00Tuesday TrainingI had a training meeting this morning, so after spending an hour after work yesterday preparing for a substitute to take my classes half the day, I enjoyed an extra 45 minutes this morning at home before I had to head out the door. The training was great, but the nice part was the information was relevant to what I am doing now, and I had some of my brilliant colleagues to collaborate with duringSheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-23943311747392012902010-01-11T22:58:00.001-06:002010-01-11T23:40:49.479-06:00Made It Through MondayFinally back to work today. It was a bit of a relief to return to a normal routine. I was up at 4:30 (that's a.m. for you people who sleep until it's light outside) and at my workout in the great room by 5. Today I again tried the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It is a kick your tushy workout for sure, and I only worked the level one session. There are two higher levels that you progress throughSheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-21413896547251443012010-01-11T22:31:00.000-06:002010-01-11T22:31:24.441-06:00Grandma GannMy mother's mother's 89th birthday is today. She is one of the loveliest people I have ever known, and up until the past few years she has been my biggest cheerleader and has listened intently to every word I have spoken in her presence. If you know me well, you know what a feat that is, and I so adore being the center of her world if only for five minutes or a half hour at a time. Actually I am Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-50704779803402456372010-01-10T22:01:00.001-06:002010-01-10T22:38:48.809-06:00A Soothing SundayI really like to look at Sunday as the beginning of my week. What happens today usually sets the tone for how things go for the rest of the week. An ideal Sunday includes a combination of renewing my spirit and getting prepared for the rest of the week. Sometimes my efforts are a big flop all the way around, and sometimes I start my week prepared and mentally refreshed. Days of being able to Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-2175423452483768392010-01-09T20:15:00.002-06:002010-01-09T20:25:08.549-06:00Spinning SaturdayNo, I don't mean a spinning workout. Although that sounds interesting. I mean what was going on in my head at about 5 a.m., not too long before the dogs whined for me to let them out this morning. The spinning in my brain has happened on several previous occasions when I get congestion in my ears. Vertigo. It is a very unsettling feeling that I have had to learn to manage. My first episode was Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-9345222089892711812010-01-08T23:45:00.000-06:002010-01-08T23:45:36.017-06:00Frigid FridayThe dipping low temperatures are here in Kansas, and schools are closed in the area for yet another day. So on bonus day number three, I am going to do something unusual for a Friday. Hang around the house. Well that's a bit of a joke since this is now the third Friday in a row I am hanging out at home. It is funny, but as much as I love home, I am starting to feel very restless. Over the past Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-78628276738313900402010-01-08T21:59:00.001-06:002010-01-08T22:40:14.289-06:00A Bonus Day with BoysThursday was snow day number two and I was joined by the younger boys. This time we didn't have to wait until morning to find out, so the boys stayed up "late" (9 p.m. insead of 7) Wednesday evening and got to enjoy watching the Disney movie Aladdin. I was so funny watching Danny watch the movie, as he was catching a lot of the jokes and laughing until he gave himself the hiccups (Robin Williams Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-5321347832131386492010-01-06T07:20:00.006-06:002010-01-06T08:27:17.504-06:00Arctic BlastBaby, it is cold outside! I'm still wondering why I'm at home this morning, as it's not snowing yet and the morning temperature is about 15 degrees warmer than yesterday. I am a bit confused as to why, but I am still enjoying the bonus day with no work responsibilities. I am also anticipating that we will not return for the rest of the week as the snow is supposed to arrive this afternoon and Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-2757015625949490972010-01-05T18:47:00.003-06:002010-01-06T10:06:28.158-06:00It's a Great Day at Work TodayI went to work today 100% prepared for the day and caught up with all grading and preparations for the coming week's lessons. When I turned off the lights in my classroom and locked the door behind me all the reports I am responsible for are completed, meetings have been attended, new meetings and a training date that were planned today are marked on the calendar and e-mails and phone calls that Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-43968188102740540002010-01-04T06:16:00.005-06:002010-01-06T08:52:10.587-06:00Transitioning Back to NormalI was up at o'dark thirty when the alarm rang (here that's 4:30 a.m.). Old Man Winter has moved in even though I told him he was no longer welcome, and is continuing his deep freeze with temperatures again dropping down to 0 degrees F. this morning. The forecast is calling for more colder temps and snow on Wednesday and Thursday.So after I slugged out of bed and started my morning routine, Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7549533655324020412.post-20832196932692132822010-01-03T10:12:00.002-06:002010-01-03T15:00:04.532-06:00End of Christmas VacationBittersweet. That's one word to describe today. Feeling a bit sad that spending some time with the boys and being able to do things that are on my own agenda is near over. Despite that bit of sadness I do have to admit that I also feel refreshed and ready to meet the long second semester coming up for the school year. I feel blessed that the little boys and I have had a very long break together, Sheila Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594076893127665880noreply@blogger.com0