Relaxing Travels?

My friend Mike and I started planning our summer travel just after the first of the new year.  He moved to Morocco a couple of years ago to teach at an English speaking school so we decided we'd meet up somewhere in Europe shortly after we finished up our school years.  We've both had several European adventures between the two of us so finding a destination neither had been to was a bit challenging.  After throwing around some places that peaked each of our interests, we finally settled on Scotland with a few additional days in the Lake District of Northern England.
Neither of us were terribly comfortable taking on the task of driving in the UK, so we decided public transportation was the way we would go.  We made accommodation arrangements before we left as well as long distant train reservations for our long travel days.  After some research, we also decided we couldn't go all the way to Scotland without seeing the west of Scotland and the Isle of Skye, so we did arrange a 3-day tour that left from Edinburgh before we left.  I'm not a huge fan of "Tour Bus" travel, but we decided that was our best way for that particular destination.  Other than those plans we wanted to play the rest of the trip by ear, which is my favorite way to travel.
This trip was probably the MOST relaxing international vacation I have ever had.  I think that the stressful last few months of this past school year had a positive impact on this trip.  When I travel, I'm usually a serious researcher.  I like to know about the places I go and make sure I have at least some understanding of the history and culture and a list of things to do and see.  However, other than the basic information we looked at when deciding on where to go, I did NO additional research.  I had no preconceived notions and expectations about my destinations.  Actually, I had two basic ones.  First, I figured language wouldn't be an issue we'd have to worry about.  Second, having previously traveled to Ireland, there was an assumption that the two countries would be geographically similar.  I was correct about the first, and mostly incorrect about the second.  Anyhow, my point being, we traveled to the UK without a long list of must-sees or must-dos.  We went to bed each night without a plan for the next day, slept in each morning, and devised our day's activities over breakfast.  Being so far north, dusk didn't come until 10:30/11:00 so even though our days started later, we still had a lot of light left.  It was my dream schedule actually - stay out late and sleep in late.
I came home with over 900 pictures on my camera - the blessing AND curse of the digital camera age.  I have finally finished sorting through and editing them.  I'll share some in my next few posts.

The Solution

So, with the results showing that I'm allergic to 61% of the things tested, what was the next step?  While I was glad that my cheese addiction or any other foods weren't the culprit, the reality is if they were, the solution would be quite easy wouldn't it.  On the other hand, environmental allergies are much harder to address because you can't just remove them from your life as they are everywhere.  That's where Allergen Immunotherapy comes in.  The point of this therapy is to build up an immunity to things you are allergic to over time, so eventually they are no longer an issue.  I know a handful of people who went for weekly allergy shots for several years, but I never realized that was the point of the shots.  I always thought they were just getting extra strong medication to keep them under control.  Instead, the shots are actually made up the very things one is allergic to.  The amount given increases over time, building that immunity.  So the thought of not struggling with allergies was very appealing.
The weekly allergy shot was an option for me and one that is covered under insurance.  Having to go to the doctor each and every week for what could be years was not appealing all.  But there is now a new alternative.  Allergy drops!  Rather than the allergens in a syringe the doctor sticks in your arm, allergen extracts are put in a jar that YOU drop under your tongue, in your own home!
Three vials and a recording sheet arrived in the mail about 2 weeks after the allergy testing.

 Each bottle is designed for a build up of the allergens and is a stronger version of the next.  I take one drop for a week, and then add a drop each week until week 4.  Then the bottle is changed and the process starts over.  I have finished the blue bottle and am on my second week of the yellow.

The first few days were a little strange because the drops have to remain under the tongue for 2 minutes.  Two minutes are A LONG time when you can't swallow.  But now, I'm used to it.  Because it's under the tongue, I rarely taste it, but if I do it just has a sugar water taste, so nothing too offensive.  I believe the red vial is the version I'll be on for the remainder of the time so once I finish that one, it will be a regular 4 drops each day until I'm "cured".  I will have an allergy test once a year to check the reactions.  Once each of the allergens shows no reaction, then I can stop the drops, and am supposed to be allergy free for about 20 years - assuming no new ones pop up.
On a side note, I had done some research ahead of time, wondering what to expect, how it worked, what it tasted like, etc.  At first, I was surprised to read that it was not FDA approved.  The process of Immunotherapy and each extract ARE approved, but what is actually in MY bottle is not.  That is because everyone's bottle is different, to meet their needs.  I found that fascinating.  I've found this whole process fascinating.

A Test

As I've mentioned (a few hundred times) this spring wreaked havoc on my sinuses.  Our wet winter made for a gorgeous spring as far as plants and trees go and I spent about 3 months feeling like my head was going to explode.  I should have bought stock in the Kleenex company as I went through boxes of the stuff - about one every 3-4 days.  After three trips to the doctor, numerous decongestants, two rounds of antibiotics, two rounds of steroids, two types of inhalers, chest X-rays, and blood tests, the doctor asked, "Have you ever had an allergy test?"  For as long as I've suffered from allergies (and asthma) I actually have never been allergy tested.  They've kind of been a regular part of my life, an on-and-off irritant, but nothing that ever made me SICK and exhausted like they did this year. At the end of May, I had my first allergy testing done.
It was quite an interesting test/experience.  The tech had a box of 80 oils; each one containing one form of allergen.   She dipped panels of "needles" (10 needles per panel, 8 panels) into the oils and placed them on my back.  This isn't the same panel she used, but you get the gist.

It took her about 10 minutes to place the 8 panels on my back, and then I had to wait about 20 minutes for them to do their thing.  The first one started to do its thing almost immediately as she saw a reaction starting right after placing the first set of needles.  There was nothing painful about the test however it was a long time to lie there without moving (and tipping the needle panels over), especially after the reactions started and things got slightly itchy. She came back in twice to check on me and then again to read the results.  

The little dots that are just dots show where the allergen was placed, but do not show a reaction.  For example, the very last panel (bottom left in this picture) shows little to no reaction.  Anywhere that has a blotch or red that goes beyond that little dot shows a reaction.  The tech noted each one and the level of reaction. 

The reactions are rated from 7-13, with 7 being a reaction but the lowest and 13 being the highest. The results showed that I am allergic to 49 out of the 80 allergens tested.  No foods, some animals (including some reaction to dogs), but the reactions I had most were to trees and grasses.  So while I'm thrilled I don't have to stop eating cheese (I was worried about dairy being a culprit) or give my dog away, the bad news is I have no control over environmental allergens as they are everywhere.  

I'm Back!

After 3 months of being sick, a two-week trip to Scotland and England, and a week to recover (I'm almost nervous to say it), I'm feeling the best physically and mentally than I have in a long time.

via GIPHY
I've got post ideas in my head and writing time planned in my planner, so new posts to come.  And I will be by to see you all soon.

via GIPHY

Still Here, Sort Of

A blog break?  A sick leave?  A stress leave?  I have recently had to take a step back from blogging due to just too many things on my plate and not having the wherewithal to keep up with it.  I've been sick (and exhausted because of it) for about 3 months now and have just (yesterday) wrapped up the most stressful end-of-school-year I've had in a long time.  I've had things I've wanted to write about and comments I've wanted to make when I visit others, but nodding off to sleep anytime I'm not working has been a common occurrence and doesn't lend itself to keeping up with things.  I just wanted to post that I'm still here and still visiting your sites, even if I haven't been communicating.  School is thankfully over with until August, but I'm headed out of the country tomorrow.  I will catch up on writing when I return!

Saturday 9

Allergies have kicked my butt this spring and I've been down for the count for a couple of weeks  now. A Saturday is about all I can muster up this weekend. This week's inspiration is Blondie's The Tide is High.  

1) This song was originally performed in 1966 by a Jamaican band called The Paragons. Jamaica is the most popular vacation destination in the Caribbean. What's your ideal vacation? My favorite traveling is to visit new places and really explore.  I don't mind a tour here and there, but I prefer to just wander with a map and my camera.  And I like to be in a place for multiple days, not rushing off to the next after only a few hours.  While I do love the ocean, tropical locations are not my cup of tea.  It's too hot and humid, plus I can only do beach "activities" for about 15 minutes before my skin starts to sizzle.  I prefer the cooler ocean life, further away from the equator.

(2) In this song, Debbie Harry sings that she's not the kind of girl who gives up easily. How about you? Do you hang on stubbornly? Or do you know when to say "when?" Oh, I'm pretty stubborn and can hang on for a long time.  However, I am also quite self aware and know when its not getting me anywhere.  When it's time to tap out, I tap out.

3) Blondie is a group that took it's name from the lead singer's most identifiable characteristic, her hair. If your band was named after your hair, what would it be called?  Hmmmm, Blondie?

4) Before her career as a singer took off, Debbie supported herself as a waitress. She even served drinks while wearing bunny ears and tail at The Playboy Club. Have you ever worked in food service?  Yes, hostess, waitress, and bartender.  Tending bar was one of my favorite jobs ever!

5) Debbie points to David Bowie as a major influence on her music and career. What's your favorite Bowie song?   "The Man Who Sold the World" and "Ziggy Stardust"

6) In 1980, when this song was popular, the best selling issue of Rolling Stone featured Robert Redford on the cover. Who is your all-time favorite actor?  Oh, I don't know.  It's not Robert Redford though.

7) In 1980, Ted Turner revolutionized how we watch TV when he introduced CNN. Do you have any subscriptions services in addition to cable -- like Hulu, Amazon Prime or Netflix?   I have Amazon and Netflix.  The streaming service from Amazon is an added "bonus" as I pay for Prime for the free 2 day shipping and the the free books.  I don't watch it too much, but there are a couple of shows "Bosch" and "Catastrophe" I looked forward to returning each April.

8) John Lennon was murdered in 1980. Today there's a specially landscaped section of Central Park called Strawberry Fields in his honor. If you had a day to spend in New York, what would you want to see?  I'd want to go to Canal Street for some handbag shopping, nearby Little Italy for a nice meal, and then a show, maybe Hamilton. :)  Of course that's a fantasy because you can't get tickets to Hamilton in NYC without taking out a second mortgage on your house.  However, I friend of mine just texted me last night that we have tickets to see Hamilton when it comes to LA in September!! 

9) We're going shopping! Which do you need to add to your wardrobe: underwear, shoes or a swimsuit? Shoes, I always NEED shoes.

Happy Saturday!

Some Changes

Before Spring Break, the students in my class had kind of lost their minds.  Between some new students starting with us in mid January (which takes up a lot of my time) and new administration (who doesn't seem to have the same behavior management philosophy as the previous admin did), small behavior problems kept creeping up and the procedures I had in place were no longer working.  As it got closer to spring break (and report cards and parent teacher conferences) I didn't have the time or the energy to change the situation as I was merely crawling to the Spring Break finish line at that point.  I knew, however, that over break I needed to figure out some new procedures and gimmicks to solve some of these small behavior issues in order to make it until the end of the school year.
Both new students arrived in mid January, bringing a lot of baggage and drama with them.  It's impossible to wrap one's mind around how a seven year old can bring baggage and drama to a second grade classroom, but it happened, times two, and my class of sweet kiddos had turned into bratty teenagers before my eyes.  Fortunately for us, one of the student's family issues caused them to move again (sadly, for the third time this school year), which has helped some, but one thing we've worked on since returning to school last week is some classroom community building.  The tattling and blaming and not taking responsibility for one's actions had gotten out of control and coming together as a class to work on this was a must.  We spent the week learning about being a "Bucket Filler" and not a "Bucket Dipper", which are cute ways of reminding everyone to be kind.  We've also started a community circle each afternoon which is a time when we get a chance to share positive thoughts about each other.  It's amazing the change that has made in the room, even after just one week!
The other behavior issue I've been struggling with it the shouting out and talking during instruction.  In my relatively short (17 years) teaching career, this is a behavior that has been getting worse and worse each new school year.  Kids, by nature, are self-centered and impatient.  It's our job to teach them to wait their turn and learn how to be respectful when they aren't the center of attention.  In my observations, many kids aren't required to do that anymore at home.  Their parents cater to their child's whim, rather than the other way around.  And rather than a child be made to sit quietly and be patient, so often they are handed an electronic device to keep them busy, and quiet.  In my opinion, this has done a disservice to kids.  They no longer know how to just "be" and also do not know how to wait their turn.  In addition, with the change in curriculum to the Common Core and the need for student discourse, kids are talking all the time.  My group this year is mostly quite bright and very excited about learning.  Unfortunately, because of that, they think that they can talk out or with others anytime they feel like it.  I've struggled this year with not wanting to stifle this excitement for learning and not having multiple students shouting out at me at any given time.  After some research on some of the teacher blogs and using children's literature, I came up with a plan that I enacted last Monday morning.
The kids listened to the story My Mouth is a Volcano, which is about a boy who can not keep his thoughts to himself and interrupts everyone in his life.  Then one day some other students interrupt him when he's talking to the class, and he doesn't like it one bit.  Then we did some role playing where during discussions I interrupted whoever was speaking.  No one liked that very much, which was powerful.  The kids also did some writing on how they were going to keep their volcano mouth under control.  Lastly, I introduced "Blurt Beans".

Each student starts the day with 3 beans.  Anytime they blurt out/interrupt while someone else is talking or turn and talk to a neighbor during instruction, they have to return a bean to the blurt bean container.  At the end of the day, anyone who still has beans left (one, two, or all three) get to put them in the reward jar.  When the beans reach a certain level, they earn that reward.  It's been in place for about a week now, and so far the results have been favorable.  There are still the repeat offenders who just "can't help it", but after losing one bean (and the rest of the class being disappointed) they are able to keep things under control.  Using peer pressure for good is always quite helpful!  

I am a huge proponent of classroom management and feel that if kids aren't behaving, learning is going to be a challenge for them, as well as their classmates.  I spend a large portion of the new school year on classroom management, trying to invest in it heavily early on in order to reap the benefits of it for the rest of the year.  That usually is the case.  Sometimes though, there is a need to change things up,  As hard as it can be, I'm more than willing to give up some academic instruction time to nip poor behavior in the bud.  Everyone is always happier in the long run, especially the teacher!