Missi's Blog

Jan. 15

2012-01-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

Starting a photo a day. And I'll try for this year! Here's Jan. 14 and 15. Went to McDonald's yesterday, so had to pay retribution at the gym this morning. We just switched to this gym before Christmas. It's cleaner, and so far, very few people. It's 24 hours with a key card, so very convienent!

Bonners Ferry 052911

2011-08-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

Historic Head #1: The Omega Point

2011-08-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

Historic Head #1: The Omega Point

Zack's first podcast. Pretty awesome!

Called Miller

2011-07-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

So I went ahead and called Miller. He doesn't hate me! His son, Sam, might be going to school over on this side of Washington at Pullman, so he might be over this way sometime. :)

Email to Toni

2011-07-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

Since we don't have the written word in letters anymore (which is the basis for our understanding of a lot of our history), how will future generations be able to write the history of our time? Emails are deleted almost as quickly as they are read. Will these blogs be around in 200 years when someone is trying to discover what people were thinking and doing at this time? How will historians accurately portray our daily lives? Certainly now by the media accounts, I hope! Is anyone saving all of this online information? Or will it just be lost in "the cloud," and future generations will never know how we of the Digital Immigrants struggled to learn the technologies that come so naturally to the Digital Natives!

With that in mind, here is my email to my sister Toni, written today, and posted here in efforts to save some of what is going on with me this summer. :)

Here's a pic of our trip to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville a couple weeks ago.

Hi Toni,

Yes, it is glorious (summer break)! I guess I have as much time off each year as you. :) Don't you get five weeks? Anyway, I have been teaching two online classes, total of 50 students, so I'm not totally letting my brain cells deteriorate... only a little bit.

We just got back from the International Bowhunters Traditional World Championships in Nashville. I earned a first and a second place in two different competitions. It was fun. Did you see those posts in facebook? Have you seen my new blog? I set it up for "scholarly" endeavors, but I'll still post some personal stuff there, too. I'm not using the blogspot one anymore. I suppose I should go de-activate it. Here is the new one, in case you're interested:

http://mrsbakerteacher.tumblr.com/

Actually, having just looked at "the old blog," (gives me sentimental feelings like looking at the old homestead...), I guess I won't de-activate it. All that stuff about my shoulder surgery is on there. Don injured his shoulder about a month ago, and is now going through the MRI process... I'll make him read those old posts if he has to have the surgery.

Basically, though, I only have time to play online like this while I am on summer break, so I have been doing a lot of playing online. :) I spent three hours yesterday just browsing blog templates at tumblr trying to find one I liked more than the one I had. Who has time for that during "normal life"? (I mean life during the school year.) I guess this is pretty much normal life for me during the summer. Too many "I" references in this email. I'll try being more exo-centric. :)

Sorry to say, I haven't been reading your blog, which is always choc full of interesting tidbits of your life. You do a great job on yours. I wish I could get an email every time you post, then it would remind me to go look at it. Do you know how I could get that? It seems like for awhile that was happening, but for about the last year it hasn't. I do enjoy "following" your life!

Thinking about our family, as of today, I think I am the closest to you of all our siblings, which is ironic, since you live the furthest away. I think Miller hates me. In the 17 years we have lived here, he has never made the effort to drive over the pass to visit (granted it's a long drive). Even you and Linnie made it out here (which was the greatest gift you have given me, and I will treasure your visit the rest of my life - very melodramatic, but true). Linnie doesn't get online very much, it doesn't seem, and that is pretty much the only way we communicate. Why don't I just pick up the phone and say, "Hi"? That would be a good idea. It would probably improve my relationship with Miller, too. "To have a friend you have to be a friend." I suppose that expression could be re-written: To have a sibling you need to act like a sibling. I have not been a very good telephone communicator.

I do post things in our "family group" on facebook sometimes, but don't get much response there.

Oh yea, I wanted you invite you to join the book club and/or the writing club I am in on facebook. You could be our international member! :) The groups are small, but you could read the books and post about them! And you could do the little writing exercises we do, if you'd like to? What do you think?

Bet you didn't expect this much verbiage in my reply. Well, it is summer. When else do I have the opportunity to write like this? Can't hardly breathe during the school year, and I guess you know this as true now that Ali is a teacher. How is she doing?

Is Nick enjoying his new digs and his job? What is life like now that he is out of the house again? Hope you don't have to go through the "empty next syndrome" all over again!

XOXO,

Missi

New Blog for Education, Writing and Reading

2011-07-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Baker, the Teacher blog

Changed Blog

2011-07-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

I wonder if I can transfer all this stuff to my new blog? Anyone know about that? Or will it be a lot of "copy and paste"?

New blog:

http://mrsbakerteacher.tumblr.com/

However, as that one will be mostly for students, I guess I should keep this one for myself. No one looks at this one, so it could be like a personal journal. No one except my sister, Toni, from whom I appreciate wise and insightful comments. :)

Longbow for Sale

2011-04-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of a longbow Don is selling. His email address is dtbaker64@gmail.com.

My Review of 36" Steel Wilderness Fire Ring

2011-04-04T08:27:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at CSN Fireplaces

Features:

Steel wilderness fire ring
Steel construction with hi-temp black finish
Steel fire ring snaps together in seconds
Includes convenient carrying case
Wilderness cut-out design
Dimensions: 10" H x 36" W x 36"...

Perfect!

By Missi the Archer from Sandpoint, ID on 4/4/2011

We frequently go on weekend camping trips, and we needed exactly this item: affordable, portable, easy to assemble and disassemble, not too heavy, and in it's own carrying case. Absolutely perfect!

(legalese)

Trying Again

2010-10-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it's obvious I did not lose 50 pounds by my 50th birthday. I quite writing in this blog, since I was embarrassed about my failure. But I am going to try again. Maybe I didn't lose 50 by the time I turned 50, but I will be able to do it in my 50th year. So I'm going to start again, after book club tomorrow night. :)

Book Club is meeting at my house Monday night, since we are reading the book I pitched this month. The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien. A couple of the ladies had already read it, but some hadn't, so they went ahead and chose it for one of our books for the next three months. I'll have to sign out of here, then I'll get the list of books and post them. Maybe you'd like to read the books with us?

Here are the books for the coming months:

Teddi hosting
Nov. 8, 10
Little Bee
Chris Cleave

Penny hosting
Dec. 13, 10
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Jamie Ford

Cheri hosting
January 10, 11
Blind your Ponies
Stanley West

Missi hosting
Feb. 14, 11
The Princess Bride
Goldman

The Noun Video | Have Fun Teaching

2010-09-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

The Noun Video | Have Fun Teaching

Football Season and Rain

2010-09-19T13:34:00.001-07:00

Both have started in Sandpoint.

2010-08-10 California

2010-08-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures from our recent California trip. Nine days, eight states, from the northern border to the southern border of the United States! Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Montana. Too much driving!

2010-02-23 Mom's B-Day

2010-08-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

Here's my pics from Mom's birthday this year. They didn't turn out so well. Makes me want to use my good camera more often!

2010-07-20 IBO Traditional Championship

2010-07-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

Didn't Make It

2010-06-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't make 50 by 50. I have only lost 11 pounds in these 6 months. But 11 is better than none, I guess. Am not giving up.

Something new I have started is my Masters Degree program in Educational Leadership: Curriculum and Instruction... so, here we go on another adventure.

I have taken one class so far, and at about the 4th week, I wanted to quit. However, I finished all the course work the 5th week (each class is 5 weeks long) and decided I should not give up. In a year and a half or so, I will have my masters, and all educational institutions like teachers with master's degrees more than teachers without master's degrees. Supposedly, it makes us more "highly qualified."

Whatever! I'm in. I'm taking my courses through Arkansas State University. It is the least expensive degree that came up on my radar. Don't know if it will really work out that way.

Have won 13 archery shoots so far this season. Going for Washington State Championship this coming weekend.

Sandpoint Archers

2010-02-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

The February Sandpoint Archers Newsletter is ready for you to peruse. Check it out. :) Sandpoint Archers Newsletter

Here's the Sandpoint Archers website: Sandpoint Archers Website

It needs help! I really can't figure out how to work with the "GoDaddy" program it's built with.

Day 29 - 50 by 50

2010-01-24T19:58:00.000-08:00

Weighed yesterday. Yesterday I had lost two pounds since last Saturday. So my total is up to 6 and 1/2 pounds, with 43 and 1/2 to go. I'm not making the three pounds a week I need to lose to get my 50 pound loss by May 18 when I turn 50.

Not to say that I'm unhappy. I mean, 6 and 1/2 is better than nothing! I had actually lost five pounds before I started counting, too, so if I include those five, it would make 11-1/2. But I didn't start counting in October.

Good things this week: we went out to dinner, and I had a Cesar Salad. Shot my bow twice (hurt!). Went to physical therapy twice. Saturday, good workout at the gym. Long walk with Don and the dogs. For the most part I wrote down what I was eating. I am eating less than I had been before i started this, so I guess that's why two more pounds came off.

I don't see how those people on "The biggest Loser" can lose 10 pounds a week. I've thought about hiring a personal trainer, but I really don't want to spend that kind of money. I have physical therapy two more times this week, and that's it. So I'm hoping I can keep up the habit of exercising after school two days a week by just going to the club instead of to physical therapy. Plus I still need to keep working my shoulder on my own to get it all the way back.

Milestone: I can pull my bow all the way back to my anchor now. I'm still really weak, and can only shoot about 20 arrows before my arm is shot. We still have a month before our first competitive shoot, so I'm hoping if I get a little stronger every day, I'll be able to shoot 40 arrows by then!

You know, it's pretty disgusting and embarrassing that I have 50 pounds to lose in the first place. I'm psycho, I guess, when it comes to food. It seems like I could have worked this out by this time in my life. Well, better now than never. I just have to take it up a notch on my exercising to get more weight loss each week, and no breaks in the healthy eating. (I made brownies yesterday afternoon... that was a break!)

Back to work tomorrow. I started three new online classes on Friday. In the last half of one class, three extension students in Economics, and five students who haven't finished my orientation section still. Plus I am basically rebuilding the Eng. 8B class. The first three units are finished, but four through six need a lot of work. Well, at least I won't be betting bored for the next 16 weeks. :)

Day 21 - Lose 50 by 50

2010-01-16T21:40:00.000-08:00

Today I thought I would be facing public humiliation (public meaning my sister and mother). Fortunately, however, after stepping on the scale, I was mightily relieved.

I lost 2 and 1/2 pounds this week. What a shocker! I really didn't eat very healthy this week, but overall, I guess I'm still eating fewer calories than I had been previously.

So I've lost 4 and 1/2 pounds in the first 21 days of my quest to lose 50 pounds by the time I turn 50 years old (on May 18). 45 and 1/2 pounds to go.

Good things this week: physical therapy twice, for an hour and a half each. They are working me pretty hard now, trying to get my strength back; didn't eat out all week; attempted to shoot by own bow twice this week; healthy breakfasts every day, a few good lunches of cottage cheese, tuna, chili; smaller than typical (for me) servings. I guess that's what helped me lose the weight this week.

Bad things: Doritos two separate times this week, corn dog one night, one bag of peanut M and Ms, two slices of bread with honey at dinner last night. I think since I have so much to lose, those mistakes aren't taking their toll. However, I know they will as I lose more. Everyone says it's all about changing your eating habits, changing your eating lifestyle. I haven't really done that, yet. I thought today that I should make a list of healthy things I like to eat, so that when I get to the point I need to eat, I can look at the list and choose something, instead of just thinking about making something quick from my history of bad eating entrees.

For example, I had oatmeal for breakfast today. I really like oatmeal, but I almost never think about making it to eat. In the past two weeks, I only made it once before today. So if I put it on a list, it would remind me I could make it, pretty quickly. I really like tuna, and I really like tomato soup. Hmmm. Any other healthy items I could add to that list? Is a bagel with mustard healthy? Only a little fat, but lots of carbs and calories. But I like that. Eggs. I like almost any style of egg. I should try to make some soft boiled, and hard boiled, too. I do like salad, but I haven't found a low fat dressing I like.

Think healthy, think healthy! I wish I liked fruits and vegetables. That would make this a lot easier. I do like a fruit smoothie for breakfast or lunch (had several of those this week), but when it's really 20 degrees outside, or 30 degrees and raining, a fruit smoothie not too appealing when I'm thinking about what to make.

I don't feel any lighter today. Maybe it will take a few more pounds until I start feeling better. Let's have a healthy eating day tomorrow!

Day 14 - 50 by 50

2010-01-09T20:44:00.000-08:00

So I weighed today for the first time since I started this effort 14 days ago. I have lost two pounds. Which is not so great. I guess the good thing is that usually I gain weight over the holidays. And this time I was able to lose a little. I think I actually lost more the first week, and gained some back this week. Zack made brownies the day we got home from Seattle, and I have been eating them all week.

He also made dinner for us two nights this week, and I love eating dinner when someone else cooks! So I had two burritos one night, and Don and I went out to dinner one night (Jalepenos), I also had a cookie one night, and some ice cream one day this week. Not a good eating week. I don't know what happened. Lost my focus, I guess. I didn't get angry this week, or overly emotional about anything. I have been drinking caffeine every day. So I have not been sleeping very well.

As far as exercise, I went to physical therapy twice this week, for an hour and a half each time. And then this morning, Don and I went to the gym for about an hour and a half. And that's it. It's about all I can do now, with the physical therapy, and working two jobs (one just part time). I've got two classes I'm teaching online as well as my full-time teaching face to face.

Today I ate 1250 calories today. This week I only wrote down what I ate early in the day, and then let it go in the evenings. I think it's important for me to continue writing things down. It seems to bring me back to reality. I'll try to do that this week, and lose two pounds by next Saturday. :)

This is day 14, I have 133 days until I turn 50. 48 pounds to lose, which means I'd have to lose two and a half pounds a week to meet my goal. I think that's doable, if I quit eating brownies, cookies, chips... etc (oh yea, I ate chips this week, too. I'm such a basket case). Oh well, starting again tomorrow, Day 15. :)

Want to join me?

Sandpoint Archers Newsletter

2010-01-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

Interested in archery? Check out the Sandpoint Archers January 2010 newsletter. Here's the link to the home page. Scroll down a little bit, and you'll find the link for the newsletter. Sandpoint Archers

I'm the editor now, so, I'm putting my journalism skills to use again. I did the school newspaper at Sandpoint Middle School for about four years, and one year at Griffith Junior High in East Los Angeles.

Before that I worked for World Vision in Arcadia, CA, in their public relations department. I wrote/edited the staff newsletter there (about 2000 employees). So it's kind of fun to get back into a little feature writing,... reporting. :) Sort of. Very "soft" news. Here's an archery pic to whet your appetite.

This shot is from the 2009 Traditional World Championships in Erie, PA. I earned fourth place. Don was in the middle of the pack. We hope my shoulder is working well enough to go back this year (and do better!).

I'm still in physical therapy twice a week. Trying to pull my bow, but can't bring it to full draw yet. Soon, hopefully. :)

Archery Rules!

Just found an article about Sandpoint Archers in our local paper, the Bonner County Daily Bee: Sandpoint Archers Indoor Target League Opens

I can't shoot the target league. Too weak. Maybe by the time we shoot the indoor "animal" targets league I'll be ready.

Day 10 - 50 by 50

2010-01-05T17:33:00.000-08:00

So, where did all the other days go? I haven't weighed since Day 1 either. We went to Seattle over New Year's, so I was out of touch for five days, guess I didn't post.

I did try to eat healthy, for the most part, however. There was one big lapse at the Seahawks game, which I regretted almost as soon as I started eating it, garlic cheese chili fries. Yup, you guessed it, a big weakness of mine. But the garlic was overwhelming, and the rest just didn't really taste that good.

We ate at Ivars down on the waterfront, and I had a bowl of clam chowder in a bread bowl (that was really good). Once we at at "Teriyaki Time," and I had some chicken, rice and an egg roll (but I think I stayed within my calories that day.

Big success: on the drive over to Seattle, Don had a burger from McDonalds, and I did not order anything. Very difficult for me.

I developed a plan for what I am going to do if I get angry again. I'm going to drink a large glass of water, and hopefully be able to wait a few minutes, then maybe I won't have the "eat-to-calm-my-emotion" impulse.

Today I got back on the regular "diet" plan, actually yesterday (except for that large brownie). Today: Weight Loss Shake, 230; Protein power and water, 100; Fiber Bar, 140; 7 Triscuits, 65; can tuna, 160, small brownie, 245, 2 oz. chicken breast, 200, for a total of 1,157. So, at least it was a good eating day.

50 by 50 - Day 3

2009-12-29T19:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I faced another challenge today, and did not come out so well as yesterday's challenge. Total caloric intake today: 1220, including a serving of potato chips, and a serving of nuts (my response to the challenge).

I got angry! And I'm feeling financial stress. We got the "maintenance fee" bill for our two weeks of time share today, and I almost passed out. It has increased by $300 over last year, and I don't have the money to pay it. So I started out by calling the resort (Lake Okanagan in Kelowna, British Columbia, in case anyone wants to buy or rent it!) to see if they have some kind of an assistance plan for people who don't have the maintenance fee. Their response, "Well, you could pay monthly, with a finance charge of 27%." And isn't that just so very helpful.

Then I spent an hour looking up ways to sell the time share on the Internet, finally came across a company claiming "time share relief," and I attended a one-hour webinar with that company. At the conclusion, they said I could pay them $7000 to take my time share weeks, and then I wouldn't have to pay the maintenance fee anymore.

If I had $7000, I guess I wouldn't have to worry about paying my maintenance fee.

So anyway, the "consultant" called me after the webinar, and I let loose my pent up anger and stress. My favorite line was, "You're making money off people's distress and unfortunate circumstances." They were just salesmen. It seemed to me they probably had a deal with the resorts. This firm extorts money from people, then splits it with the resort... or something like that.

It ticked me off. Well, one of my responses to strong emotions is eating. One of my struggles. I knew I was in dangerous territory. That's when I ate the ham, chips and nuts. Bummer. I'll be stronger tomorrow. Have to have a back up plan when stress mounts up. Should have eaten cottage cheese, I guess.

I got the green light from Dr. Faggard today that I can start drawing a bow string again. Not as heavy as my bow (only 35 pounds), but Bil Sams, the president of Sandpoint Archers, said he has a 16 pound bow I can try. Tomorrow! I'm excited about that.

Better dieting tomorrow, too. :)

50 by 50 - Day 2

2009-12-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

So, today was a much better Day 1 than yesterday. But it is Day 2 after all. I exercised this morning at the gym for an hour, and then I had physical therapy at 2 for an hour, so good activity today. I need to try to exercise every day, or at least every other day. It is easy to do while I am on vacation from school. The challenging part comes when I go back to school Jan. 4.

Don and I are going to Seattle to visit my mom in a few days. That might be a little challenging, too, but I will just have to make it work. At PT today, they had me pulling a stretchy thing that simulated drawing a bow. It surprised me how hard it was. The other unpleasant thing is that I was standing sideways in the mirror... A good reminder why I want to lose 50 pounds by the time I turn 50. I'd really like to look better out there on the archery courses. I don't feel comfortable with the way I look and/or feel right now.

Food today:
Fruit Smoothie - 290
1/2 cup cottage cheese - 80
2 sl toast w/butter - 340
2 oz hamburger - 200
1/2 chocolate chip cookie - 50
Total: 960

So at least I stayed within my goal calories. I had a challenge when I went to the grocery store today. I hadn't eaten anything yet, and I was hungry. From a lifetime of dieting, I knew that was a bad time to shop, but... that's just how it worked out. I bought the cottage cheese, some diet soda, wheat bread, and wheat bagels. I probably wouldn't have purchased the bagels. But there were a lot of other things that looked tempting, so overall, I felt good about the shopping trip.

By the way, I turn 50 on May 18, so I have just about 5 months to lose this 50 pounds. Most people say two pounds a week is a health weight loss goal. Mine is just about that, maybe a little more, since I need to lose 10 pounds a month. I must do it. I just can't go on like this anymore. I am desperate.

Any suggestions? I need all the help I can get. :)

Where have you been?

2009-12-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

Can you link to this map? It is a work in progress, of all the places I have traveled. It's cool to make a map of your own with Google Maps. Try it! :)

View Places Missi Baker has Visited in a larger map

50 by 50

2009-12-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I had thought I would wait Jan. 1 to start my project, but then I asked, "Why wait?" So I decided to start today.

Then I ran into a snag. We didn't get the Indianapolis Colts game on our television, and since they are my favorite team, we decided to go to Slates (a sports bar/restaurant) to watch the game.

This did not go along very well with my resolve to begin my "Lose 50 Pounds by the Time I Turn 50" program. But this is what I'm doing. And I guess this "blog" will be my diet journal. I don't know if anyone wants to join me in this quest to do something challenging (for me) before turning 50, but this is going to be it for me. My sister Tony ran her first marathon when she turned 50. My sister Linnie earned her black belt in karate. When I was telling someone I wanted to do something big before I turned 50, she said, "Like taking first place in the Idaho State Jamboree wasn't a big accomplishment, and earning fourth in the International Bowhunters Traditional World championships wasn't a big accomplishment?"

Well, yes, those were accomplishments, but I didn't have the mindset that it was something I wanted to do before I turned 50. And, I really need to lose weight. I think, for me, losing 50 pounds will be better for me, and more difficult, than winning those bow scores last year. I'm hoping I can still shoot; I really don't know since I had the shoulder surgery in September, I haven't been cleared to try to draw a bow... I think I'm going to try this week, on a baby bow.

OK, so since I seem to lose weight the best when I suffer public humiliation if I screw up, I'm going to use this as my daily "Diet Journal." I have tried Weight Watchers three times, and always lost weight, but got tired of forking over $12 a week. I was going to be part of the Sandpoint Weight Loss Challenge, but they canceled it after the first week. So, it looks like I'm going to half to make a go of it on my own.

Unless... there is anyone who wants to join me? That would be really cool to be part of an online community of people all trying to accomplish the same thing. There probably is that already. I'll have to look.

As usual, today started out well. It is easy for me to eat well in the morning. But then, like I said, we went to Slates to watch the Colts game, which was an extreme disappointment, by the way. Peyton and most of the other starters came out half way through the game, guess they want to save up for the playoffs. Anyway, because of that, they lost their undefeated record. Lost to the Jets. Very much of a let-down to a fan. It looked like the players weren't really happy about it either. Coaches and owners wanting to protect their multi-million dollar investments, I guess.

I'm going to try to stay under 1000 calories per day (I know they recommend 1200)

Today
Costco Weight Loss Shake -- 230
Fiber One Bar -- 140
1/2 order Potatoe Skins -- 325
Pork/Cheese/Bean burrito -- 1000
Hot Fudge Sunday -- 500
Total: 2195

Needless to say, today was not a great eating day, but I want to be honest. How else will this work if I'm not honest? Tomorrow will be a better day!

I'm going to record my weight loss or gain (hopefully not) once a week, on Saturdays.

Well, join me if you need to lose weight, and are willing to make a commitment. It doesn't really matter how much you want to lose. 50 by 50 is just my goal. Do you have a goal of your own? Let me know. :)

Here's a site I signed up at for free, to see if it can give me some help, and tips, and count calories for me. Check it out! http://caloriecount.about.com/

Sandpoint Archers Newsletter December 2009

2009-12-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not seeing a way to upload a .pdf file here. Is it possible? I wanted to upload the Sandpoint Archers newsletter, but I guess I can't. If you're interested in reading it, leave me your email address and I'll send it to you in an email. Bummer!

Anyone know how to upload a .pdf?

Well, I uploaded the .pdf to my school web page. Here's the link, in case you want to see the Sandpoint Archers Newsletter:

Sandpoint Archers Newsletter

Here's the Sandpoint Archers Web Site

Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery: Weeks 11-12

2009-12-06T14:16:00.000-08:00

This is the last post about the shoulder surgery. Last week, Thursday, the doctor said I only had to wear my arm restraint for one more week, so, I haven't worn it since. :) Once freedom is so near, you just have to grab for it! Friday, for the first time, the PT has me trying to lift my arm over my head, push my hand up a wall, and use a pulley system to stretch my shoulder myself. All very weird feeling after 11 weeks of being told, "No, no, no." Now all of a sudden it's, "Yes, yes, yes!" It was a weird mental transfer for me. But once I got it, it was all "go, go, go."

Here is a negative of my shoulder I finally got. It's not very clear, but you can see a few of the screws. The screws were used to re-attach my tendons to the bones. There wasn't much of the "labrum" left so he might have used a screw with a tie on the end to try to hold that together, too. You can see the metal plate and the screws in my neck in this shot, too, a little. Just call me "Frankenmissi. :)

I have a picture of one of the MRIs too, from before the surgery, but I really can't tell a thing from it. I guess that's why you have to be trained to read those things. Well, here it is anyway. It looks even more creepy than the one with the screws.

So my mental attitude is much improved with the doctor's release to start doing some more aggressive strength building and stretching... They know that I shoot archery, so they are devising some fun exercises to get me back with my bow lickity-split. I went to the gym both Saturday morning and today. I'm going to have to work on getting there during the week, too, the days I don't have PT, until Christmas break.

So, what has changed this past week? I can touch my eyebrows now (still have to wash my hair with my left hand). I put the hanger on the rack with my right hand this morning (woo-hoo). Since I cast off the arm restraint, I can put both my arms in my jacket, thank goodness, now that it's down to 10 degrees Centigrade this weekend. I'm eating about half the time with my right hand now. Still can't really reach behind my back with the right arm yet.

The doctor said it might be six months to a year before my shoulder actually feels "normal" again. That's okay, though. Just being out of that arm thing is such a relief.

Well, I hope someone can benefit from these comments about shoulder surgery in the future. I hear that a lot of people have to go back and have the other shoulder done. I hope that is not the case with me. I don't want to do this again. It is just too weird! That's about the best word to describe what it feels like now. There is virtually no pain anymore, although sleeping is still an issue. I did sleep in my own bed the past two nights. Waking up and tossing and turning a lot. Anyway, I think I'm done with the recliner. I just don't want to go down to the den anymore. Especially now that it's turned so cold. I feel guilty heating the extra room at night. :)

What I'm going to try to do is keep doing these exercises they have given me to strengthen both my shoulders, to ward off any other shoulder issues. Archery, here we come.

Shoulder Surgery Recovery: Weeks 1 - 2

2009-11-26T08:12:00.000-08:00

I heard yesterday about another teacher who had shoulder surgery. The person telling me said, "She was surprised at how painful it is." Well, for those of you anticipating shoulder surgery, you need to accept this fact. The first two weeks are very painful!

It has been 10 weeks for me now, so I do not remember some things from those early weeks. I should have been writing about it sooner, to be more accurate, but for a long time I didn't feel up to it. Typing was actually quite hard at first.

My experience --

Week 1: I got to the hospital at 6AM, and left at about 5PM. I was the last one in the post-operative outpatient room. I felt sick and dizzy when I tried to stand up or move. That quick acting pain med they used in the recovery room was really nice! Shot it right into the IV. I'm allergic to morphine, so they couldn't give me that. They had to shoot me up with some nausea medicine , too.    My poor husband! He had gone to work expecting a phone call in a few hours to come get me. He finally just came to the hospital around two, and ended up having to wait with me until I was able to get to the car and get home. I think he went to the drugstore during that time to get the prescription pain meds.

They gave me hydrocodone. I took that consistently for four days. And I used ibuprofen in between after about three days. After I got off the hydrocodone, mostly because it made me feel nauseous all the time, I remember I took some "night time" ibuprofen during the day once, just so I could try to sleep (that was my mom's suggestion, and it was a good one!). And I took it at night, about every other night for the first week.

There was this bulb attached to my sling that had a tube running up into the shoulder wound. They told me before I left the hospital that it had pain medicine that would leach into the shoulder over the first two days to provide longer pain relief over the worst two days. Also, I had a nerve block in my shoulder to numb that part of my arm for the first day or so after surgery.

I didn't even try to lay down in my bed for the first two weeks. Learn to sleep in the recliner!

Learn to live with an ice pack.   Two ice packs, really. One in the freezer while the other one is on your shoulder. The ice really helps the pain. Numbs it some, and keeps the swelling down a little.

I had surgery on Thursday. My husband took off the bandages for the first time on Saturday night (according to the doctor's instructions), and took out the bulb pain reliever tube.

I only threw up once, Friday morning.

I thought I would enjoy watching television or movies, or reading books this first week. Didn't happen. Just slept and took pain meds, went to the bathroom with assistance, and didn't eat much. Holding anything in my right arm was impossible.

The first session of physical therapy came just four days after the surgery, on Monday. Getting dressed was a real challenge. Up to that point, I had just been in a nightshirt. Don was at work, so I had to dress by myself. Must have taken a half an hour!   I was still in a daze. They put me in the chair that moves your arm passively for about a half an hour, and then manipulated it by hand for a few minutes. Then they stuck the electrode on me and iced and zapped the shoulder for 15 minutes.

Learn to live with everything taking at least twice as long as it normally does.

I thought I would still be able to teach my online class, but typing was so painful, it was impossible. I had to call for a "sub." He took the class for me for about five days, and then I tried to get back online. Even then, it was very difficult.

I was going stir-crazy after about six days of being cooped up in the den, so I went for a walk, about a quarter mile to a friend's house. Don came and got me to drive me home. I think I was still really out of it.

Week 2: I went back to work on my 11th day out of surgery. That was OK. I don't have a really physical job. Any time I needed to write something on the blackboard, I just asked a student to do it. I was still taking three ibuprofen every four hours. I took that much for at least three weeks.

It was funny; I saw one of my students from last year, and he asked me about what happened. And he suddenly said, "Oh yea, that time you couldn't lift your arm to write on the blackboard." (I injured my shoulder back in May.) It was cool that he remembered that.

Stitches came out at the end of the second week. They took a post-surgery x-ray of my shoulder, and I found out for the first time that I had six 5/8-inch titanium screws added to my physique. Light bulb goes on - no wonder it hurts so much.

Physical therapy for the next four weeks, three times a week, in the chair for an hour, manual manipulation by the PT for a few minutes, then the electrode zapping with ice for 15 minutes. That was it. All passive motion.

I have to stop now. It's Thanksgiving Day, and I have to start cooking. I found out at 6:30AM that I can't make bread very well with my left hand; can't kneed the dough with my right hand yet. I did try a little...

Shoulder Surgery Recovery: Weeks 8-10

2009-11-26T07:15:00.000-08:00

By this time, a lot of people are so comfortable with their arm, that they have received the okay from the doctor to quit wearing their arm restraint, and are doing some pretty vigorous stretching and weight resistance exercises to rebuild the muscles around their repaired shoulder.

Not so, me. There have been many times over these past three weeks when I have asked myself, "What have I done wrong?" And the faithful physical therapist (PT) keeps telling me, "Different surgeries recover at different rates." As far as I know, I have done nothing to re-injure my arm or damage the repair job Dr. Faggard did back in September, the 17th. I don't remember a lot of dates, but this one I think I will always remember. I haven't looked at the calendar to count weeks once since the surgery, but I know that it has been exactly 10 weeks since that day. Wow.

I get jealous when I see other people in physical therapy who had their surgeries weeks after mine, and are already doing movements and exercises I can't do yet. Have to knock myself on the head to get those thoughts out of my mind.

I did try a new machine yesterday, much to the PT's consternation. They have one of those arm bicycles, that uses water resistance. So I got on there and started doing it, just to see if I could do the motion, and I could! The PT let me push it around (with very minimal resistance) twice before she made me get out of that machine. She said I may start doing that one next week. :)

So I see the doctor again next week, and that's when the PT hopes that I will be "set free" to start more aggressive rehabilitation. She hopes I will be able to start using a pulley system at home to start stretching my shoulder every day. She said that would bring back a lot of mobility.

This week I've been doing the biceps and triceps exercises with a light resistance, and I started some back strengthening (using those elastic colored strips, pulling backwards, elbows in, squeezing the shoulder blades). Also using the elastic to start some rotation exercises, pulling and pushing my arm across my body and then away from my body. I don't have much rotation yet.

I'm beginning to think that the doctor doesn't tell you how painful it's going to be before the surgery, because he doesn't know. Everyone is different; every surgery is different. But I still wish I would have been better informed. At least, it seems that way now. Before hand, would I have wanted to know what it was going to be like? Maybe that would have only made it worse.

Sleep: Still tenuous. I had two nights of eight hours this week. I can make it in my own bed until about midnight, then I move down to the recliner for the rest.

New Benchmarks: I can brush my teeth with my right hand now! (Or for most of that process.) That is cool. Also, I can use my right arm to use a utensil to bring food to my mouth. That happened in Week 9. All of a sudden I realized I was eating a bowl of soup with my right hand. Very cool. It got tiring after a while, but it was quite a positive realization.

I can touch the lower half of my face pretty easily now. Back to a two-handed nose blow! I tried to "tweeze" my eyebrows yesterday, however, and I can't get my hand that high yet.

Since they told me not to try to lift my arm so many weeks ago, I haven't been trying. However, in the evenings these past two weeks, I haven't been wearing the restraint around the house, and I find I am using my arm more and more for regular activities. I can't actually hang a hanger in my closet yet. My arm gets about three quarters of the way to the bar and then stops. Still can't reach around my back at all.

So I'm close to the end. At the beginning of this experience, the doctor told me it would be a 12-week recovery for me. I didn't really understand what that meant, and I still don't really. Because I know that in two more weeks, I'm still not going to be able to draw my bow. I'm not sure when that will happen. January seems to be approaching very quickly (indoor leagues start in January). I thought I might be able to shoot then, but now I'm not so sure. One more month? Maybe!

My emotions spring from despair to hope and back again almost daily. Some days I still have a lot of pain (like after the PT stretches my shoulder out of the socket!), or after I start some new exercises. But some days are just awesome, and I don't have much pain at all. I have succumbed to taking Ibuprofen again when the pain is more noticeable. There is a teenage boy who got surgery about four weeks ago in my PT group. He hasn't been experiencing any pain since his second week. Maybe being close to 50 has something to do with my recovery time. And those six pesky screws! He didn't have any screws, but the doctor did use some "ties" to repair his shoulder, football injury. This young man hasn't had trouble sleeping since his second week either.

Another positive: My handwriting is very legible with my left hand now! (I mean on the board in the front of my classroom). I have progressed to at least 6th grade handwriting with my left hand! Quite an accomplishment. So, anything is possible. :) On a desk down low, I am fine using my right hand for writing now. It is just on the board I have to use my left still. Typing gets tiring after awhile, if the keyboard is not low enough. If it's low, typing is fine.

I can see the light recovery at the end of the tunnel. :)

Week 6 - 7: Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery

2009-11-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

Week 6 - No pain meds in Week 6, so more discomfort, but tolerable. Blew my nose with both hands, but it was awkward, so I went back to the one-handed technique. I did actually begin to use my biceps in physical therapy. They gave me one of those long stretchy rubber strips (the yellow one - the least resistance) and said I should do biceps curls by standing on one end of the strip, and then triceps exercises, hooking the strip over a door frame. I am supposed to do this every other day. My arm aches quite a bit the next day.

I was trying to think what differences there were this week, and I couldn't come up with much.

Week 7 - I've actually taken Tylenol and Ibuprofen this week. One day at school I lost my resolve and took some Tylenol. Then on Friday, I was bending over to put food in the dog bowl, and I must of twisted wrong, because I pulled a muscle in my lower back... It was really a relief to be able to take Ibuprofen again. I'm really just a big baby when it comes to dealing with pain (actually, I'm a big baby in a lot of ways, says my husband!). :) Here's the dogs we feed every day.

Got another lecture from the Physical Therapy people. Their message, "No, no, no!" No, I can't try to shift my car with my right arm. No, I can't try to put on my seat belt. No, I can't do any exercises requiring me to lift my arm. No, I should not be stretching on my own. No opening doors, no carrying groceries, no milk gallons, no stacks of books... Anything that requires me to bare weight with that arm is still out. I did try brushing my teeth again with my right arm, but it didn't work very well.

Along with losing my strength in that arm, I have also lost my coordination. Also, there is still little to no rotation in my shoulder, so my arm just doesn't work right. You'd be surprised how many motions require some sort of rotation at the shoulder.

They said that shoulder surgery is one of they types of recoveries that you should not try to use the joint ahead of schedule. My tendons are apparently building new sources of blood supply, and will be at the weakest at 12 weeks out of surgery. So trying to "push through the pain" to use the arm at this point will only lengthen my recovery time, and possibly damage the corrections the surgery put in place, according to the PT people. They said that time would come for me, just not yet. Five more weeks for me. Maybe by Christmas I'll be using my arm "normally" again.

I'm hoping to be able to pick up my bow again in January. We start indoor leagues then. I really don't know if I'll be able to draw my bow. If not, I'll borrow a baby bow just to get the muscles moving in the right direction again.

Have to include a picture, so here's one of Don at our "Broadhead Shoot" in August.

So I adopted a new "no use" policy Friday night when I got home from physical therapy. Then Saturday I went shopping. :) It was tough holding all those hangers of clothes and looking through racks with only one arm (I was not totally successful in not using the arm). And trying the clothes on was awkward (as usual!). But I came away with three skirts - black, dark brown, and a striped blue/tan (everything was more than 50% off, Veteran's Day sales), one jacket, one vest and one tank top. I felt successful, and did not spend that much.

Then we stopped by Cabelas, and we bought a pair of binoculars. All the top girls at the Traditional World Championships used binoculars. I figured I needed to have a pair, too. Maybe that would help be break into the top three next year. :) I don't know if I've written about the championships. I earned fourth place. Those women were sooooooo good!

Sleep has not been good this week for some reason. The amount of time I have slept in my own bed has cut back to two hours a night (it was 4 hours before). Then I am waking up more often at night, too. The PT people said there would be plateaus. Guess I hit one this week. Don gives me backrubs most nights before I go to sleep. Those feel really good. I told him it was an important part of my physical therapy. :) I don't think he believes me.

When I put in the picture, my paragraphs all got mixed up. Hmmm... oh well. Have to get into my online class now and do some grading!

Week 5 - Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery

2009-10-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

This is a chronicle of my recovery, because no one told me what it would really be like trying to recover from intensive rotator cuff surgery. Or maybe, I just wanted to be ignorant. I heard several times that it was a "long recovery," but did I know I wouldn't be able to use my arm for three months? Yes, I guess I did know that, but what I didn't know is what that meant.

I didn't know I wouldn't be able to pull up my own pants the first week, or tie my own shoes for two weeks, or put on a bra. I just didn't think about the daily details that would be so different. So I thought, maybe someone else will want to know, and it won't be so difficult coping for them. I'll have to work backwards, because today is the first day I've had the strength/endurance in my arm and the motivation to type this much.

Week 5 has had some ups and some downs. I am getting totally off the pain killers (including Ibuprofen and Tylenol), but because of that, I'm experiencing more pain. Typing is still tiring and somewhat painful. I've extended the hours I can sleep in my bed (with a wedge to prop me up 7 inches) to five hours, then I move down to the den and the recliner for the rest of the night.

Mind you, I've only had two 5-hour nights in bed this week; the others were two, three, and four hours at a time. Part of me just wants to give up trying to sleep in my own bed, but Don likes to have me there, at least at the beginning of the night. (He doesn't wake up when I move to the den.) The other thing that keeps me trying is that I remember how much I was loathing sleeping by myself in the den after three weeks. (Part of that is because I'm afraid of the wind, and there's a huge willow tree right outside the den... I kept envisioning it breaking through the roof of the den.)

New Week 5 accomplishments: 30 minutes of aerobics (bike and treadmill) at the gym (twice this week), down to two times a week for physical therapy, can almost wipe with my right hand, able to update my blog :) , able to put on almost any kind of shirt (taking them off is more difficult), could put on tights without too much pain, have gotten 8 hours of sleep twice this week (with short wakeful times to change sleep locations), handwriting is almost normal if the writing surface is low, thinking and emotions more stable with the decrease in pain meds. I think that's about it.

Things I still can't do with my right arm/hand: lift it (PT people said "no, no"), brush my teeth or hair, put cream on my face, blow my nose (have to do that one-handed), wash my hair, dry off, wipe (just try wiping with your other hand! TMI), nothing behind my back, can't carry anything heavier than a cup of coffee (that hasn't changed), chores (yipee!) (actually, I did vacuum with my left hand yesterday, and I take out the trash, do my own laundry, dishes, cook and pick up dog poo, but all with one arm, so it takes about twice as long). Can't open doors, or put on my own seatbelt when I'm in the driver's seat, grading student papers is hard, ... blah, blah, blah... and of course I can't draw my bow.

I haven't tried to draw my bow, of course, big no, no. But my husband put it together yesterday and hung it back up on the wall (it is a take-down, 3-piece DAS recurve). I almost cried. I haven't seen it since we went to the 2009 Traditional Championships in Erie, PA (I earned fourth place). Two days after we got back, I was in surgery.

So, do you suppose he put it back up for some psychological motivation to heal faster?!? I won't be able to even try to pull it until January. Maybe it will keep me looking forward towards the goal of being able to shoot again.

This surgery recovery is more difficult than when I had disk-replacement surgery 13 years ago. After that surgery, I felt immediately better (no more pinched nerves). This time, after 5 weeks, my arm/shoulder still hurts more than before the surgery. Mentally, it is hard for me to grasp. I just don't understand. I should have "bounced back" by now. But I have to hang on to the belief that it will be better some day. Weird. When I saw the x-ray, it looked like Frankenstein. There are six-3/5ths inch screws in my shoulder, all womp-a-jog. And you could see the metal plate in my neck and the four screws there in the picture, too. Really Frankenstein!

Denver Airport

2009-09-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

It seems like I've had to wait in the Denver International Airport quite often in the past couple of years. So often, in fact, that I knew where the area was for people to work on their computers. It's actually a pretty cool thing for the Denver Airport to do. Little cubicles with power and light, a not-so-uncomfortable chair, and a table top to plop your computer on. Free Wifi, too. It is a little slow, but certainly functional.

Only a three hour layover today, on my way to the International Bowhunters Traditional World Championships. In the spring we had to wait here for six hours, on our way to Arkansas.

I'm also quite familiar with the Salt Lake City Airport. I think I like Denver better. Seems cleaner and the food choices are more appealing. :)

My shoulder surgery has been moved up (thankfully, I want to get it over with). I am back for two days from this trip, and then go in for the surgery on Sept. 17.

My principal is not happy with me. At school for the first two days of class, then gone for three school days to this archery competition, then back at school for two days, and then out again for a week. My students are going to know the substitute better than me! She is quite good, at least. Writing all those lesson plans is pretty much a hassle. Stayed at school until 7:00PM last night writing them.

Plane is boarding. See you in another time zone.

Back To School!

2009-08-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

The time has come, and how the time has gone! Summer always stretches endlessly in June. The beginning of September seems forever away. But then comes the last week in August, and we hear ourselves saying, "Is it time to go back already? Where has the summer gone?"

Yes, it's time to go back. Emotionally, I'm ready. It's been a very full summer, lots of activity, several mini-trips, great weekends away with my husband. Mentally, it's still a little hard. Teaching a new subject is still making me quake in my boots a little. I don't know what to do the first day. Need to ask Sharon! Sharon was/is the best social studies teacher I have ever known. She is the most organized and the most creative teacher. She retired a year or two ago. I miss you, Sharon!

Even though part of my emotions are saying "scary," the other part is saying, "Woo-hoo!" I am so excited about being able to teach social studies and Language Arts this year. I have wanted to do it for at least 8 years. I added my social studies endorsement five years ago, but this is the first time at my face-to-face that I will actually be able to teach the "blocked" classes. At Sandpoint Middle School this year, that means I will be teaching the same students both social studies and language arts. So much will be new for me. Well, they say that's one of the things that keeps us young: challenging the mind with new and different endeavors.

Help! Anyway, I'm sending out a call for "Help!" If you have some ideas of how I can incorporate social studies with language arts, please pass on your ideas to me! The social studies content is early American history, to 1877. I hope to have as many cross-curriculum activities as possible, to make the whole blocking thing successful. Lend me your ideas, you wise teachers out there, wherever you are. :)

One of the best courses I've ever taken has helped prepare me for teaching social studies is "We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution." It was a seven-day workshop in Jackson Hole, WY, this summer; one of my weeks away from home. It was so encouraging to get this information and be around history/social studies teachers for this week. Of course it revealed how much I don't know as well, but it was mind opening! If you ever have a chance to attend a We the People institute, do it! I hope to attend more in the future.

We had one afternoon off to go to the Teton National Park and we hiked around Jenny Lake. The pictures are from that day.

Pick Up a Bow

2009-08-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Sitting here at school, trying to make my new computer do what I want it to do. Just spend 15 minutes trying to get the signature right on my email. Vanity, I suppose. Thank God for new computers, even if it is a hassle setting them up at first. My old computer was starting to act up, so I'm glad Dell had the recall. Every model of that computer was recalled, and we got a good deal on tech support, I guess, when we got new ones. So I have 10 new computers in my room (including mine). With my school laptop, that means I can have 10 students on a computer at a time. At this point, my largest class has 21 students. What are the chances that all 21 kids will show up on the same day?

So we went to one more shoot: Thompson Falls, Montana. Don and I really enjoy this shoot, for one reason really, the Clark Fork River. It is so cool to go down to the river to swim after a hot day of trudging around in the dusty hay fields and through dense underbrush in the forest, sweating going up hill and down shooting targets.

The river (I'll have to put a picture in later) is cool and strong. It has deep spots so you can climb the boulders at the edge and jump in. Don likes doing that more than I do. Mostly I just like crawling upstream, using my hands to pull against the current. You have to be really careful swimming there. It is just a few miles below the Thompson Falls Dam, and the current, when you get far out, is very strong. At the edge, it's not too bad. It did frighten me imagining Don getting towed downstream and not being able to get out. I'm not sure what I would do. It takes about 20 minutes to get back up the hillside to the hotel. He'd be far away by then... Thankfully, it was only my overactive imagination.

It was not the best shooting weekend for Don. The first day, I shot really well. The second day, not so good. I still won my class. I was the only one in it. :) That has happened several times this summer. Where are all the recurve women? Come on, girls. Pick up a bow, buy some arrows, and get out there!

It takes practice. The first time I shot a bow, I tried about three shots and said, "Forget it." It was about a year later I tried again, and kept trying. And now I'm pretty good (but not consistent!). We'll see how I compare to the competition at the IBO World Traditional Championship, in Erie, Pennsylvania, in September. There's definitely going to be some quality shooters there. Hope I turn out to be one of them.

Another thing about archery, make sure the weight of your arrows is consistent with the requirements of the bow and your draw length! Find someone who knows how to help you set up your equipment. It doesn't take a lot of money to start shooting traditional, but it does take a good set up. You can save yourself a lot of anguish with the right bow and arrows. Make sure the bow is not too heavy (in the pull weight). Lots of people make the mistake of using a bow that is too heavy. It is frustrating, and can hurt you. Don't let your personal vanity get in the way, i.e., "I can shoot a heavier bow that this!" Start with the lighter bow. You'll be happier and more confident. You can always move up to a heavier bow later, if you want to. My bow is only about 35 points. I shoot a DAS metal riser with some Olympic style (low end) composite limbs. It shoots great! Some people prefer an all wood bow. There are some really nice ones out there. Just find something you'll like!

We really need more female traditional shooters. Pick up a bow!

Idaho State Bowhunters Jamboree

2009-07-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

Well, as a culminating event of the archery season, it was a little bit of a let down. The scenery was beautiful, of course, at the foot of the Sawtooth Range of the Rocky Mountains, and the trophy was nice, but... the competition for me was lacking. I was really hoping there would be lots of women recurve shooters, and I could find out once and for all if I'm any good. Didn't happen.

There were only six traditional shooters at the Idaho State Bowhunters Jamboree in Stanley. So yes, I won, but what an empty win. The Libby Traditional Shoot in Montana at least drew about 15 traditional recurve women (and I won that one, too, this year. That meant something). I think I liked Libby more. It was cooler in Libby (Stanley was nearly 100 degrees). If the Stanley shoot were in the Spring instead of the middle of summer, I'm sure the daytime temperature would have been better. At night it got plenty cold in Stanley. We woke up one morning with ice covering the little table and cooler at our campsite.

Last thing about this shoot. It was a really long drive to get there! 10 hours. We had to cross over the Bitterroot Mountains twice, going into Montana, and then crossing back into Idaho. I don't know if we'll make it again.

We, Don and I, have decided to go to the International Bowhunters Organization World Traditional Championships in Pennsylvania in September. Rick Welch told us about it, and encouraged us to go when we were at his archery school in April. This is the first time IBO has had this event just for traditional shooters. And since it is the first one, a person doesn't have to qualify, so this might be the only year we can go.

Don will be going for a whole week. His brothers live in Pennsylvania, close to Pittsburgh, which is about two hours south of Erie, which is close to where the event will take place. We found a time share available (that's a miracle!) close to the event also, so Don will be able to stay in a nice place for the week, and hopefully his brothers and their families will come see him there, too.

School: I'm really excited that I get to teach Social Studies and English at my face-to-face job at Sandpoint Middle School this year. I have wanted to do it for at least five years, since I earned my endorsement in Social Studies, specifically for the purpose of being able to teach this block situation. I am so happy! I am also really scared. I haven't taught Social Studies before at the 8th grade level, so the curriculum will be new to me.

I know I'll have lots of help from the two social studies teachers I'll be partnering with, still... I've brought home the textbooks. Now I just have to crack them open.

Here's the last picture from the Idaho State Shoot, part of the picturesque Sawtooth Range.

First Archery Shoots of the Season

2009-07-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

(I had written this before, thinking I'd keep it up throughout the season... like that happened).

Archery Journal Spring/Summer 2009

4/4/09 - Our season started with a fun, one-day shoot in Hot Springs County, Arkansas. There were 25 targets. We wore muck boots. Don won his class, Recurve, and the long bow class. I won my class (since I was the only female traditional shooter), but had I been competing with the men, I would have tied for third.

4/19/09 - At our next shoot, Selkirk Bowhunters (Bonners Ferry/Moyie Springs) on April 18-19, Don took second in Men’s Recurve (with a one-day, 40 target score of 299), and I took first in Women’s Recurve (with a one-day 40 target score of 292). We both had about six people in our respective classes. We both did pretty well the first day, too. Don shot a 302 the first day (I think that is his highest points ever on a 40 target course), and I definitely had my best day ever with 288. It was really pretty shocking to me how high my points were. I kept thinking, “Rick Welch wouldn’t have approved of that shot,” or “Rick would have thought that shot was OK.” Don didn’t have any zeros his second day. I had two the second day and one the first day.

On Saturday, Don and I shot with the Neubauers and Larch and Clancy, so it was quite a big group, seven in all. Danielle kept score for us (which was great!). It was a fun time shooting with them. I’m glad that we shot with them, because I don’t think anyone would have believed my score if it had just been Don and I. I am likewise glad that we were flighted on Sunday, and someone else was keeping score. I seriously don’t think anyone would have believed my score was that high otherwise. Personally, I have never seen a woman’s score that high.

I know Vicki Winniger can shoot that well, and higher, but she did not have a good shoot this weekend, or she was only shooting for fun. Also, she has been having issues with her shoulder, she said (to others; she doesn’t speak to me). She has gone through several surgeries in the past few years, so has multiple neck and shoulder issues. It begins to appear as I will never know if I can shoot as well as her, as she refuses to shoot with me, or to take our local shoots seriously (this is the second year in a row she refused to shoot with the flighted women).

Maybe she thinks that she has proved her expertise, so why should she have to “play” with us anymore. Then again, maybe she doesn’t think about the rest of us at all, and just wants to shoot with her husband to have a good time. She has certainly earned the privilege to do whatever she chooses. In actuality, in our local archery shoots, you can do whatever you want anyway. So why has it bothered me so much? I don’t know. I’ve just got to let it go. Ever since I joined the club, I have known that she is the best female. I think my competitive nature just wants to know if I will ever be as good as she is.

But I suppose the time for that is past, so I just have to forget about her, and enjoy archery for myself. If ever we meet, then I will have to be content with her showing me up at that time. She and her husband rode away on their Harleys about a half an hour before the trophies were handed out. Had she shot with the flighted women, I think she would have come in third. I promise not to bring up this ridiculous subject again (and hopefully at our next shoot that we are both at, I can block her from my mind).

About half way through Sunday, I was wishing I was shooting with Don, as he is the most fun to shoot with, but he said he had a very good time shooting with the flighted recurve men. I enjoyed shooting with my women’s group, too, just wish Don would have been there, so I could have been myself with someone. I started talking about the shots, and where the 10-spots were with Laurie, and she did not like that, so after I had done that about 5 targets, I quit talking about it, and didn’t really talk much to anyone for the rest of our course. I guess I like talking about the shots, but Laurie did not, so I did not have as much fun after that. I felt like I had been reprimanded when she said she didn’t want or like to talk about where the 10-spot was, because she didn’t usually think about that…

What else happened this weekend? I looked really fat in the pictures, so that made me depressed on Sunday after the shoot. I had been feeling pretty good, until I looked at the pictures, and then I got bummed out.

Overall, both Don and I had a good weekend. The weather was superb: cool in the mornings, warming up in the afternoons, but not getting too hot. We ate out at Slates Saturday night with Zack, and had chocolate malts from Zips in Bonner's Ferry on our way home Sunday. The trophies are very nice. Mine is carved in the shape of Idaho, and Don’s is carved in the traditional shield, but both with very nice wood with an acrylic covering. Don got one of the Idaho-shaped trophies last year when he won first place in Men’s Longbow. So now we have a matching pair. Archery is fun.

Back Home

2009-07-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

Even though school has been out for a month, I'm just now feeling like vacation is beginning. I did have 10 days at the end of school when I wasn't officially working, but four of those days were taken up with a conference. Then I came home, and went to see my mom for four days, and then I came home and went to the "We the People: Citizen and the Constitution" Institute for 8 days. So now I'm home, and as far as I know, I'll be home until September. We do have a few more archery shoots on the weekends to go to, but I don't consider that as really being gone. Those are just little weekend getaways.

I am teaching two courses this summer: English 10A and Entrepreneurial Economics for Idaho Digital Learning Academy. Anyone needing to take high school (and some middle school) courses should check out IDLA. It is the best in Idaho! (of course I'm biased.) :) Anyway, that will continue until the end of August, just before school starts again. So it's not as if I'm totally on vacation, but, ya, I'm on vacation.

The most exciting thing I want to share with the world today is that I get to teach three English/three Social Studies at my middle school this year! I've wanted to do that for about 10 years. Four years ago I got my social studies endorsement, so I was finally qualified to do so... And at last it has come through. I am sooooo excited.

This is my first blog ever. Hmmm... we'll see how it goes.