Veronica: thank-you ever so much--yes, I can have oranges, 1/2 a grapefruit (but boy do those taste bitter to me), and lemon/limes. I'm going to make a hot lemon with stevia instead of honey later and see if I can loosen up my throat. I just prefer strawberries and apples to citrus, but the berries are about gone so oranges will become a dinner mainstay for awhile.
Day 70:
ketosis: trace
weight: 177 (down another one today! I seem to be losing inches, then pounds and I was so hydrated that I was up early with the bladder alarm an hour before my clock radio started playing rock anthems. Not that I slept that much anywho--losing my sweet class to another teacher and gaining new honors students definitely had me tossing and turning all night long.)
Losing my first/second period block was really to hard to take today--my colleague is gaining a fabulous class (and I'd finally learned all their names...sniff). I have lobbied to have some re-join the honors class, but it is their choice. I met about two-thirds my new group from the other two classes during that time period and they seem to be a very enthusiastic bunch, but worried about their grades transferring and all the effort they've put in thus far. The other two honors classes are so far apart on what there were doing, I said to turn in the novel one group was reading (we'll get to that book later in the year) and figure out the rest. Sometimes it is just better to start over without grades following and other times you can lose students that way. Trust is key. Hopefully the counselors have worked their magic with the other class held during 4th period that is honors and re-arranged the schedules so that I'm not having this group "tap dance" for too long prior to getting a move on. So much ground to cover and so little time!
My seniors, who up until now have been very cooperative and sweet, showed why they haven't passed their exit exams yet today--it was the first day they were to complete a COE assessment within a class period and all I received was bellyaching! "My computer won't work" "So write it out long-hand" "My head hurts--I can't do this today" "Sorry, my head hurts too, but you began your draft on Thursday--just get those ideas down on paper and then revise them" "Why does this have to be done so soon?" "Because the state sets a deadline so these may be graded and you'll know whether or not you'll graduate with your class--I don't make the rules, I just have to follow them." Not one got the job done; but the one who was most reluctant to work, did finish two of his three questions (and I reviewed them as he went--they'll meet standard). He lit the fire under the rest of the group when it was clear he was leading the way. Funny, within the remedial groups, when it's clear that the one with the least skills (and the one who the group has the lowest expectations of) is the one who begins to tackle the task and own it, the others get really competitive. They don't want to fall into that low-person on the totem pole place instead. Students won't admit this--but it's been true for the first task of the year 4 years running in my observations. It just wish we could skip the "I can'ts" - so non-productive and it's not flattering for a senior to act like a pre-schooler.
Meals today: breakfast--green mint tea (oh so much better than green alone, or even green-jasmine mixed), lunch--left over sirloin burger, grilled portabello mushroom slices and green beans, snack--handful of dried plums (bad, bad, bad and not on plan, but satisfies the frustration sweetooth), 10 macadamia nuts (again frustration crunch needed) with leftover small chicken tender protein portion (about 80 g instead of just over 100 g), dinner--DH isn't home yet, so it may be chicken tenders over green salad (or more crab we should use up) and the last of the strawberries and orange slices. Later, I'm going to make myself a hot lemon with stevia instead of honey for my sore throat.
The cold is still present, but I told kids today that I was so happy it wasn't the flu that I'm not going to complain too much about it (at least in their presence). Still I did warn them that I get very "testy" when I'm not feeling my best--don't make me raise my voice, please---with the "or you'll regret it big time" unstated. With a few key characters out of 3rd/4th block today and a strong interest in economics, the presentation went very well and the questions asked were so relevant. We actually had a civil conversation on health care reform. This group, thus far, has had to avoid talking politics because it started to look more like congress in D.C. than a productive, respectful discussion. It probably helped that I told them I was missing my first/second period class already, but when faced with the choice, I kept them....honesty wouldn't be the best policy here--I would have traded this group if I had the choice for real in a heartbeat. That tells me this group really needs me more and the change will be greater and worth the effort in the long run.
I meet with my planning partner after school tomorrow to hammer out the next unit we begin on Thursday. Tomorrow's on-demand write will take all period for my regular class, Wednesday is library orientation half the time--I'll take them through the on-line resources back in the room. So Thursday's the logical start of Industrialization through the Progressive Era.
Exercise - I should have walked while waiting for DH - it's nearly 7:30pm and he's still not home, but called to say he's on his way. I have to get 40-45 minutes in tonight or I'll be sore and tired tomorrow...I guess it will have to be after dinner at this point.
