Holiday week begins! I don’t do Black Friday. I actually work on Friday, but it won’t be very busy for me. Since there is a holiday coming up, I am making a point to eat a little less on the days leading up to Thanksgiving. It’s no excuse to go whole hog (turkey?) and eat a lot every day. It’s very easy to fall into that holiday mindset, isn’t it?
I had a 1-minute muffin with some almond butter for breakfast.
Along with coffee with almond milk. I normally have a cup of milk with breakfast divided into my 3 cups of coffee, but when I lower my calories, I switch to almond milk. Same volume, fewer calories.
On a side note for staying on track for the holidays – if you are looking for some motivation to burn off the mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, Leah of My New Ending is holding a virtual 5K turkey trot. You can visit her blog and sign up to participate any time during the turkey day weekend.
Busy day at work, but not crazy, which is a nice change for a Monday. I took a break for lunch. The last of the butter chicken from the other day. Good stuff!
Yep, eating at my ‘desk’ for both breakfast and lunch!
I had my literacy tutoring session after lunch. I can’t believe that I have been doing this for 2 years now! It’s really been interesting. My mother was doing tutoring and John tutors math. Between the 3 of us, we have had 11 learners over the past 2 years. One of them actually passed the GED test (one of John’s learners). I have been working with the same person since February. He is very dedicated to learning and has not missed a week since we started in February. (Big change from my previous 3 learners). He has a long way to go, but I am hoping that he will be ready to start taking the GED prep tests in the spring.
I have to say that I don’t know if I want to continue doing the tutoring after this student is done. It’s not quite what I hoped it would be and really, the learners need so much more than 2 hours a week. But, it’s something for them and if it keeps them motivated, I guess that is all one can hope for.
I missed latte time because of tutoring, but grabbed a glass of almond milk that I heated up and steeped a gingerbread tea in it. That was interesting.
Dinner time! Just a quick staple dinner since I had to work more after dinner.
And yes, that it hot sauce on my omelet!
After finishing up work, riding the trainer for half an hour, playing a little guitar…phew! I am ready to relax and watch Monday Night Football! No wonder I feel tired. With my snack:
Pixie is vulturing for my lap here. As soon as I sit down with the fleece, she is ready to get on my lap 😀
Pixie looks like Bella who’s always waiting for one of us to sit down before she jumps on our lap too.
The past couple of years I managed to eat “normal” the days before Christmas en between Christmas and New Year’s and I like that a lot. I don’t like feeling stuffed and full all the time these weeks.
If you have only 1 student who you really helped and who worked very hard to pass his/her test, I think it’s worth the effort you put into tutoring. I love it that you do this.
Thanks, Fran.
Eating less/normal before the holidays makes the food taste better when you haven’t been stuffing your face, too 😀
Have you tried the Cocoanut Macaroon Lara Bar? It’s fairly new and I am spoiled. Guess you have to be a real coconut fan which I am. Kroger has all varieties on sale for $1 each and with some coupons I had on hand, I think I might have a lifetime supply!
Another of my favorite ones is the coconut cream pie! So tasty. I loves the coconut.
Fun post! Your line about the almond milk and tea cracked me up. It reminds me of some of the combos I try. But how will you know if you don’t try it. I actually use almond milk for my chai tea. Its pretty satisfying.
That is fantastic that your student has stuck with it since February, but yeah, when you think about how a child learns to read, and how they have school every day for hours, and then you know that it takes an adult longer to learn to read, two hours a week doesn’t seem like its enough. Its a LOT of time for you to give up. And I admire you too for doing this. But I also get that there are volunteer jobs that are hard, and sometimes you just can’t do them any more. Actually I’ve found that with all the volunteer jobs I do LOL.
I love my little lap heaters at this time of year!
I feel so selfish wanting that 2 hours a week back, because I am so very fortunate in many ways. These people really just need to be back in school. It’s a huge commitment on their part to do it and hard when adult life stuff gets in the way.
I’ve had about half a dozen people try to get me to do an organized Turkey Trot this year and I’m just not interested. Shocking I know. But I like to wake up at my leisure on Thanksgiving and enjoy the fact that my daughter is home. I don’t want to be rushed anywhere!
I admire you for taking on the literacy learners. Volunteering is often so hard with little glory!
I did an actual race on thansgiving one year and it was fun. Like you, though, I do like getting up whenever. John and I like to go have our eggnog latte before getting together with the family 😀
I think it’s great that you (and John and your Mom) have all done this tutoring, and I’m sure you’ve helped your students way more than you realize (or that the test shows) – but it’s also OK to move on and do something different, too.
It’s freezing cold here, and Kip, the cat who really only likes Jeff, has been spending time in MY lap…which makes Paco jealous, which starts WWIII here. So fun?
Pixie will always go to the lap with the fleece, even if that lap also has a computer on it. She doesn’t comprehend sharing very well.
BIG KUDOS to all three of you for tutoring! Your learners are all very lucky!!!!! BUT, if it isn’t fun for you, its ok to move on! Your talents and skills can be used in other ways. Have a great day Lori!!
Kudos to you and your student for sticking it out for so long!
Have you considered volunteering for habitat for Humanity? That might scratch that ‘flipping itch’ while serving a great cause. 🙂
I think the nearest Habitat is down in Albany, which is about an hour away. I could check that out.
WOW – 2 years – man time flies!!!!!! And have not heard about your 1 minute muffin for a while either!!!
Hope you get some rest Lori – sounds like it has just been too crazy!
OK – got to love Pixie! 😉
Not that you’re looking for a replacement tutoring gig, but I bet your local music program would love to have your French horn expertise. Help beginning horn players figure out their starting pitches, help transition players from single horn to double horn, coach high school soloists. I had this bright idea this morning before school when I was helping Dart try to make our concert songs sound recognizable, ha.
I haven’t played my horn in years. I think the students would probably sound better than me LOL!
That would be great if your literacy student was able to get their GED. I know you’ve struggled with finding a student who sticks with it, so it would be great to know you helped someone through to their GED.
Love the return of the one minute muffins. Those are so awesome!
Lori, thanks so much for the shout out about the Turkey Trot!! 🙂
My week ended up getting crazy, so I’m just now checking in on things and saw this post. I appreciate it, friend.