Walking – Technology-proof

Published on January 7, 2012 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

No matter how much technology changes …. walking for health will remain the same.  The old Walkman and today’s iPods are about the only thing that have really had any impact on walking.  Notice – I don’t even mention those walking abominations – treadmills!   No – walking remains the same over the ages….and a great way to get away from the technological distractions that bombard us every day.

Doug Johnson recently posted about walking.  What better time to talk about it than when we are all awash in New Year’s Resolutions?

I’ve walked for two years now and love it. Unlike Doug,  I do listen to music sometimes…but sometimes I just go for blissful quiet.  I know what he means about silence and enjoying nature.  I wrote about the opportunity to dig deeply into your thoughts rather than jet skiing over them in a post awhile ago – Jet Ski or Scuba Dive.

I can testify that walking has raised my good cholesterol, lowered the bad, lowered my blood pressure, and best of all, I no longer have osteoporosis. Yay!!  The walking (along with high doses of calcium and vitamin D) gets the credit for that.  And no osteoporosis meds with nasty side effects!

The secret really boils down to carving out time for yourself as well as to get healthy.  Using weight loss as a motivator seldom works – at least not for women of a “certain age” like myself.  But staying around for your grandchildren is a super motivator.  The health benefits – both mental and physical – will help you to become a life-long walker.

To Jim Randolph who posted a comment on Doug’s blog ….I highly recommend walking right after work….before you drive home and re-enter that equally demanding world.  Everyone deserves at least a half hour of ALONE time to enjoy their music and/or their thoughts.  No matter how busy you are.  You will be a better and more effective person for it.

Here are my own personal ramblings on walking:

The Trudge Report 

Exercise —- Duh!! 

Motivating the Metabolically Challenged

Wanderings at Christmas

Published on December 23, 2011 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

The Three Wise Men wandered far and wide…and look what they found! Keep wondering and searching.

I wish everyone Happy and Fruitful Wanderings throughout this Holiday Season and the New Year.

Who’d a thunk? Top 50!

Published on December 17, 2011 in Miscellaneous. 4 Comments

library science degree

Dead last – but in for the count at least!

Wanderings was selected to the  Top 50 School Library Blogs by Teacher Certification Degrees – “A career site for teachers that provides helpful information for individuals interested in becoming a teacher or school librarian.”

I am happy to put my first badge on my blog and to find myself in excellent company with Teacher Ninja and Cathy Nelson, amongst many other fellow bloggers.

This will be a great way to find more voices to add to my Google Reader account.  I have paid scant attention to weeding out defunct blogs from my feed reader in the past few years.  I did some looking when I got the email about this Top 50 designation.  I was VERY shocked to see how many blogs on my list had simply languished away. There must be quite a few abandoned shipwrecks lurking in the internet waters these days.  I wonder if blogging is losing out to Facebook and Twitter?  I hope not.  I love the more in-depth thinking that blogging allows.

Christmas Pudding Receipe

Published on December 11, 2011 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

In honor of my English heritage, I am posting a receipe for a very easy to make Christmas Pudding. Most people like it…even if they hate fruit cake. The recipe is actually from my hisband’s family…but it is English in origin.

I’ve not found a recipe exactly like this one. It is very easy to make. It is best to make it in a pudding mold…but you can make it in a coffee can..or use smaller tin fruit/veggie cans. I have not done that…but I think you might have to add an extra 15 minutes or so to the cooking time if using a coffee tin, and reduce the amount of time by 15-30 minutes for small cans.

STEAMED DATE PUDDING (Makes two puddings.  Use TWO standard size pudding molds)

  • 2 beaten eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 6 tbsp. melted butter
  • 2 cups pineapple juice
  • 2 cups chopped dates
  • 1/2 cup chopped raisins
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2tsp. baking powder
  • 1 & 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 2tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  1. Beat eggs and sugar
  2. Add salt, butter and juice
  3. Stir in fruits and nuts
  4. Stir in vanilla
  5. Add sifted dry ingredients
  6. Beat thoroughly
  7. Fill greased pudding molds
  8. Put covers on molds and place them in 2 large pans(Be sure to place them on a metal trivet)
  9. Pour water into the pans up to about three inches up the sides of the molds
  10. Cover the pans, bring to a boil, and then simmer for two hours.
  11. Remove  molds and cool on a rack for fifteen minutes.
  12. Remove covers from the molds and slide a THIN knife around the outside and inside edges of the molds to loosen the puddings
  13. Turn puddings onto serving plates.
  14. Serve warm with lemon sauce or hard sauce.

 Yummy!

 

Let Them Eat Cake!

Published on December 2, 2011 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

OK, I will admit it.  I am a flaming liberal and there is precious little chance of me liking ANYTHING that Newt Gingrich has to say.  But WHO could approve of getting rid of  child labor laws?  Apparently, Candidate Gingrich can.

Newt Gingrich: Poor kids don’t work “unless it’s illegal” 

Among his ideas: Have poor kids work as janitors in the schools (you can save a lot instead of paying those unionized workers), or “What if you paid them to work as the assistant librarian? “

Well Mr GingGrinch…

I just could not stop myself.  I sent you the following email:

Dear Mr. Gingrich,

I hope you are not really serious with your stance against child labor laws.  Let the poor children work?  Now there’s an idea for you! Brings to mind the world of Charles Dickens.  “Please sir, can I have some more?”  Or maybe you were thinking of “The Little Match Girl”…that sweet story of the  child with no coat and gloves, pressing her nose to the window, watching pampered rich children enjoy the bounty of Christmas, while she freezes to death.  No problem, just ditch those pesky child labor laws!  Poor children don’t need an education.  Just fire the janitors, and give the jobs to the little ragamuffins!  Great idea, Mr.Gingrich!

And I’m sure a bunch of poorly educated children could run a school library just fine.  No matter that they don’t have a teaching degree, or a masters degree in library information studies.  There really is no reason for children to learn how to evaluate the information they read, or to do research effectively.  But wait a minute….the RICH kids WILL need to do that.  RICH parents can’t have their children being taught by ignorant POOR children!!  Maybe you’d better rethink?…. Maybe you should just try actually thinking before you speak!

I am a school librarian. I have a teaching certificate, a BA in English and a MLS.  I am a School Library Media Specialist, and we are experts in literature and research in all media…print, broadcast and digital.  Perhaps I can help you learn critical thinking.  I’ve mananged to teach students from kindergarten through high school … rich and poor alike.  Call me if you want some lessons.

Jacquie Henry

Well…THAT made me feel better!

In the words of a librarian friend of mine “I believe inmates are now in charge of the asylum.”