Proud Aunt

This morning I went to see my niece play basketball. It was such a sight to behold. As I was watching her run up and down the court, slipping her hand in to hit the ball out of her opponents hand or just guarding her appointed with great vigilance, I was elated. Elated because I remember when she was about 5 or 6 years old and just starting out with the local YMCA. I remember her along with the other small children on her team and the opposing team too, just running up and down the court with no sense of purpose. They were just out their trying to learn the game or just pleasing their parents. Whatever the reason, the persistence has paid off and she really has improved. I have seen her evolve as a female athlete and as a human being.

The countless hours my sister and mother have spent taking her to and from practice, loading her up for AAU games, or local school games has been time well spent. If she ever reads this, I want her to know that Auntie is proud of her and I look forward to seeing her play more games. I want to tell her "Thank you" for not quitting even though sometimes she felt like it. Like the time she was playing with a less productive middle school team or some of the slow starts with her AAU teams (smile).

Time indeed brings about a change and I look forward to seeing her play more games. Go Girl!

Site Rating:Keeping it Safe

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/te0cont.htm

I have spent the last two days trying to figure out how the Norton Security Safe Web works. Let me tell you, if it was not for my daughter wanting to share my blog (thanks darling) I would not even be going through the stress of it all. I feel like I did when I was trying to learn French in high school (what? mega tag what? code where? verify site how?) talk about a new language and feeling like a fish out of water. While for others, site verification may be like second nature; but, for me it is charting unfamiliar territory.

I guess I should not complain. For it was my daughter that brought me into the 21st century with her teaching me how to use Microsoft Word software. I was one with antiquated thoughts and honestly believed that technology would destroy the minds of people. Meaning, people would be so fixated on using the computer or other tech devices that they would forget how to create and tap into their soul. Oh, but how time does bring about a change. For now I do understand that technology can be used as a teaching and learning tool. More than this, technology if used correctly can empower those with disabilities, give voice to the underrepresented, and even aid with winning the most powerful position in the world-President of the United States of America.

Let me state hear, that I am not naive. I do understand that groups of individuals have distorted the very use of why various technologies were created. However, it is important that those of us called to educate should train those in our care to be responsible and accountable for how they use technology. For they need to understand that once voices (positive or negative) and or visuals are put into cyberspace they remain there for the rest of their lives and beyond. In other words, we all need to be safe when participating in this wide world of technology.

Watching the Calories-A Round Pound

As with many people my age, I find myself picking up more pounds then dropping them. I just read this article on yahoo about six small steps that will help with losing weight. After reading the article, I feel confident that I can drop some pounds and at least walk up my flight of stairs that lead to the top floor of my house without heavy breathing (LOL).

However, the real challenge is when do I begin? I have made so many attempts at weight loss from items purchased from health food stores to homemade remedies given by friends or some news advise given from some electronic source-Internet, television, or even the radio. All I really want to do is to lose these 25+ pounds and keep them off.

One key ingredient no matter what I do is that I must exercise (sigh). As a former athlete, I find this the most challenging part of the task. I must start this regiment if anything is going to really happen. Well, I am off to get my hair done, first. Why is she going to get her hair done first, you may be asking? Well, for me getting my head straight both on the inside (mentally) and the outside (physically) helps me to get a clear focus on any idea that is twirling around in my head. See, while under the dryer, I will think about my plan of action of how to lose at least 25 pounds and keep it off. To be truthful, keeping your hair done is one of those things I got advice from my mother as a child and I have never been able to shake it.

Back to point at hand, losing a round pound. I can really live with wearing a size 16 misses and below comfortably. I must come out of my plus size attire immediately. Oh, the struggle of looking at clothes in my closet that have a 14 misses tag that I have never been able to put on because of my roundness (huh!)

Based on the advise from the above link, my plan should include: 1-drink less calories, 2-eat more protein (my husband tells me this all the time), 3-eat more fiber (gives me a lot of gas), 4-avoid junk foods, 5-add 2,000 steps a day, and  6-stop sitting so much in front of the television and computer and do more standing keep your body in motion. Now, how I will do these things will become a part of my plan.  Time to strategize.....

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/494/lose-weight-stay-active-six-small-changes-can-help-keep-off-pounds/

The Beginning

It is the first day of my posting. So.. I was thinking that I really want this to be like so profound and a platform for how I really feel about life and all the other complex issues that are associated with becoming a middle aged female. Basically, I just wanted to start a blog. I saw the (2009) Julie and Julia movie about a little over a year ago and her self discovery through blogging. I then started reading about how to successfully create a blog off and on, and surfed different formats give or take a year. Then I thought, that it would be interesting to see how long could I keep this up? Especially since I get these great thoughts of "grandeur" and go off to tackle them (smile to anyone that really knows me).

Let me state here and now, "I am not an English major", so if you find some grammatical errors, okay (LOL). I think-the LOL part. See you somewhere in the middle, soon.