Tag: blogging

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Lifestyle Work

Allergy Medication

Mostly True Memoirs

Allergy Medication

When I take my allergy medication, I don’t sleep well.

When I don’t take my allergy medication, I can’t breathe.

Uggg.

Allergies.

Breathing…sleeping…

It’s a tough choice.

I haven’t been taking the medication lately.

I really do need to sleep.

But this morning my nose wouldn’t stop running.

I teach English on line.

I need my voice to be clear.

I need to be able to teach pronunciation properly.

Today we studied the /zh/ sound.

As in treasure, casual, vision…

You can’t pronounce /zh/ properly when you are congested.

I don’t want my students to learn English with a cold accent.

I took an allergy pill.

I may regret it later.

But the lesson went well, so there’s that.

Categories
Work

The Imperative Form

Mostly True Memoirs

The Imperative Form

Today we had an impromptu English lesson on the imperative form.

I had an online student with barking dogs in the background.

I asked him to please quiet the dogs because they were distracting.

I muted his microphone a couple of times, telling him that we couldn’t hear him over the continual barking.

I did want to give him every possible opportunity to participate.

But I couldn’t let his dogs distract the rest of the class.

Finally, one of other students said,

“Shut those damn dogs up!”

Well said, English student, well said.

Excellent example of the imperative form.

Categories
Lifestyle

I Got Cold

Mostly True Memoirs

I got cold

I got cold.

I put on a sweater.

I got hot.

I took off the sweater.

I got cold.

I got hot.

On, off, on, off.

All day long.

This time of year is kind of annoying like that.

Categories
Diabetes

Someone Who Knows Nothing

Mostly True Memoirs

Someone who knows nothing

When someone who knows nothing about diabetes

starts talking to me about diabetes…

I used to get mad.

I used to argue.

I used to try to explain the difference between Type 1 and Type 2.

But I have learned that it’s pointless.

It’s like trying to discuss childrearing issues

with someone who doesn’t have kids.

I thought I knew everything about being a parent.

But when the kids were born, I realized I didn’t have a clue.

I thought I was pretty well informed about diabetes, too.

But when we were diagnosed, I realized how much I had to learn.

Nowadays, when a non-diabetic tries to tell me what’s what,

I just ask a question about insulin ratios or long-term A1c levels.

I might even talk about changing the lancet.

With a straight face.

Just to see their reaction.

They never have any idea what I’m talking about.

Then I go home and tell the boys about the conversation.

We laugh and laugh and laugh.

I’m collecting stories about someone who knows nothing.

One day, they’ll make a great comedy sketch.

Categories
Work

My English Conversation Student

Mostly True Memoirs

My English Conversation Student

My beginning English conversation student from Vietnam told me that he wants to visit the United States.

He wants to see the “Freedom Woman on the River.”

The Statue of Liberty has now been renamed.

In my mind anyway.

That was the cutest thing ever.

I didn’t tell my student it was cute.

He’s a cardiac surgeon.

Cute would not have gone over very well.

Categories
Dog

My Poor Little Wet Dog

Mostly True Memoirs

My Poor Little Wet Dog

My poor little wet dog.

She’s a Southern California gal.

She’s not used to these cold and wet North Texas mornings.

When she comes back into the house, she is always soaking wet.

I make her lie down on the doormat while I dry off her soggy paws.

She really hates this.

It’s torture, apparently.

Today she tried to run off and escape the dreaded towel.

However, because she was wet, she slipped on the tile and plowed into the wall.

Yeah, I laughed.

That’s what she gets for trying to shirk her responsibilities.

Poor little doggie.

Categories
Diabetes

Urgent Diabetes Problem

Mostly True Memoirs

Urgent Diabetes Problem

URGENT DIABETES PROBLEM

When your child with diabetes calls you at 5:00 am with an urgent diabetes problem…

and you give the appropriate diabetes advice…

and then he cops an attitude, saying,

“I KNOW, Mom…”

in that snarky, know-it-all tone of voice…

Big sigh.

Welcome to my world.

Categories
Diabetes Dog Family Lifestyle Toastmasters Work

I’m Starting a Blog

Mostly True Memoirs

I'm starting a blog

I’m starting a blog.

Facebook is easy.

We’re already friends.

I don’t have to explain myself.

I write my goofy stories.

And everyone knows what I’m talking about.

I don’t have to explain a thing.

Blogging is different.

People don’t know me.

I have to explain.

But explaining ruins the rhythm of the story.

It’s kind of like explaining a joke.

If you have to explain it, it’s not funny.

So I will write this first post to introduce myself.

After that, I’ll just write.

I am a mom and an empty nester.

I have two grown sons.

Both of my children are diabetic.

Diabetes is a nightmare.

But it is also our completely new-normal status.

I have a wonderful husband.

Who fixes things around the house and generally makes himself useful.

And is occasionally the subject of some hilarious stories.

I have a dog.

She is lazy but very cute and cuddly.

I often remind my family that the dog is my favorite child.

I teach English as a Second Language to adults, on line, around the world.

I am a Toastmaster.

A Distinguished Toastmaster.

Being a Toastmaster has definitely made me a better English teacher.

And a better script reader which is my second gig.

I love to write.

I’ve been reading and writing as long as I can remember.

My favorite toys, when I was a kid, were my books, a spiral notebook and a pencil.

A pencil, not a pen.

I’ve always preferred a pencil.

I was born and raised in Southern California.

We recently moved halfway across the country to Texas.

This move was not nearly as traumatic as I anticipated.

I have made lots of new friends in Texas.

I am keeping touch with my old friends through social media.

I plan on making lots of new friends through blogging.

Why am I starting this blog?

Because I’m tired of Facebook.

I’m tired of all of the ads.

I’m tired of all of the political wrangling.

I’m tired of the algorhythms that may or may not be connecting me with the people I want to be connected with.

I want to control my own platform.

I want to control my own intellectual property.

Although I use the term “intellectual” loosely.

Why do I write?

Because, to quote someone whose name I can’t recall, but I don’t want to be accused of plagiarism, “I write because I can’t not write.”