Good News! How To Live A Long And Healthy Life!

This morning, I listened to Paul Harvey News and Comment on the radio as I drove to work. The last item he mentioned was of great concern to me. Seems there is a woman in Florida who is celebrating her 108th birthday today.

What, you may ask, is her secret to a long and healthy life?

And the answer is that she eats a dish of ice cream every single night before she goes to bed!

Okay, I guess if it's FOR MY HEALTH, I'll go ahead and do it. Oh, the things we do to maintain our health.

A Heart Broken - When Children Go Astray

Another teacher mentioned today that there was an article in the newspaper I should read. When I said I didn't get the newspaper, she told me I could check online - that it would probably be on the newspaper's website. I went to the newspaper's website - something I've probably only done a couple of times before. I never got around to looking for the article because as soon as the site came up on the screen, I noticed that they had a button to click for local stories. One of the stories was about a string of nearby home burglaries. Nearby burglaries concern me. So I clicked that link instead.

It seems that an alert police officer noticed a car being driven erratically and heading away from a home that had been burglarized. He stopped the car, questioned the young driver and found some of the stolen jewelry inside. The guy had burglarized five nearby homes - stealing jewelry, bottles of wine and DVDs. He was charged with five counts of aggravated burglary and, as of yesterday afternoon, has not made bail.

I felt sick when I read the next part of the article because it listed the full name and address of the "man" who had committed the crimes. It was an 18-year old former student of mine. A boy I've known since he was in kindergarten when his older sister was in my class. A couple years later, when he reached second grade, he also was in my class. Smart - a handful - and the apple of his mother's eye. He was one of those students that made a lasting impression - a student and family I will always remember.

My heart is now broken for him and his family. I can only imagine what might have led to his actions. His mother and older sister must be light years beyond devastated and humilated. And I wonder how he is feeling...an 18-year old in an adult jail?

What do you do when someone you know has been arrested? It's a small community - everyone knows. Do you send a card to him or his mom? Do you call or visit? Do you write an email? If so, what do you say? Is there ettiquette for handling something like this.

Bored! Tired! Sleepy! Bored! Just Off Today!

I wrote several months ago about how I have each child I work with keep a journal. After the children write their entries, I always write a response to each one. It has been going very well. Kids have even ASKED to write in their journals lately, and they're always eager to read my replies.

Yesterday one small group of children came into my room and sat at the table with me. One of them, Billy (name is changed, of course), sat across from me. He propped his face on his hands, elbows on the table, eyes half closed.

"What's up, Billy?" I asked.

"I'm tired," he replied.

"Why don't you write about it in your journal?" I suggested.
He did. I loved the result! Notice he has a thermometer to gauge his mood (measured from 100 at the top to -100 at the bottom). The petals on the flower are another indication of his feelings. When the thermometer is in the bottom numbers, the petals fall off the flower and pile up at the bottom.

Take a couple minutes to study the journal entry. I think it's wonderfully expressive. By the way, he was smiling by the time he left my classroom, and when he came in today, I asked how he was feeling.

His reply: "About 60."

The Biggest Loser

I admit that I love watching "The Biggest Loser" on NBC. Right now the final showdown between two families is on TV. The results will be revealed in a few minutes. I just think it is an inspiring show. I watch these people who stick with their diet and exercise for MONTHS and are successful. The change that losing weight and exercising makes in both their appearance and their attitude is just phenomenal. Sometimes one can hardly believe that the before and after photos are of the same person. I mean, really -- Matt before "the ranch" and Matt after the competition ISN'T the same person. Just incredible!

They had open auditions for the show a few weeks ago in Nashville. It would be a good thing to do, but I could never wear those skimpy weight-in outfits and be weighed on national TV. Every bulge and ounce of fat emphasized and out there for the world to see. I could handle having Bob as my trainer . . . but Jillian......Jillian scares the crap out of me! :-)

MSM Members and Soldiers - Who is More Important?

I am saddened that two ABC employees (a news anchor and a camera operator) were injured by an IED this week. I am saddened even further after reading Code Red: Women for the Troops' post referring to the news. If importance is measured by the amount of media coverage, then our soldiers are being seriously short-changed.

Other bloggers post on the topic:
The Dread Pundit Bluto has some quotes from the troops and choice words about Christiane Amanpour.
Prairie Pundit checks in, too.
Real Republic asks WHO is fighting the war anyhow?
Blonde Sagacity talks about a "conspiracy theory" related to this story.
The Astute Blogger suggests that maybe it's time to redeploy all reporters.

Five Questions For JESUS

Joan, over at Daddy's Roses, has a new meme up: Questions for Jesus. What are the first five things you want to ask Jesus when you get to heaven. Joan provides some very thoughtful responses. I kinda took a different road - a lighter look at the meme.

Here are my questions for Jesus:

(1) Heaven! Wow! How did I get here?
(2) OK, since this is heaven, I must be skinny! So where are the scales? I want to see for myself. No, on second thought, just throw the scales away. I don't need 'em now. I never want to see them again. Just show me to the mall. I want to get some size 2 clothes immediately. Maybe a mirror?
(3) Where's the chocolate room? If this is heaven, there must be lots of chocolate somewhere.
(4) Could you show me to the computer room? I need to blog about this!
(5) Oh yes - is there a "heaven blogroll" I can join? That's sure to increase my links.

So, all you THE MEDIAN SIB readers, what would be YOUR five questions for Jesus?

Carnival of Education - Week 52

If you're interested in reading the best of the past week's posts on education, head on over to Diane Weir on Education where this week's Carnival of Education, Week 52 is ready for your reading pleasure. And yes, faithful readers, I have a post on there this week.