Today I spent the morning at home doing various different things, mostly on computer, including the Sunday Program for the Centre. I got it done a day early!! This afternoon, I went to town to the pool and did some more water walking (15 minutes, then sit in hot tub for short while, then 15 more minutes walking, quick dip in hot tub, shower & leave). Just before my shower, I checked my blood sugar as it was about 2 hours after lunch and I have to keep track of certain meals during the weeks (long story). It was 3.7 which is too low. 4 is the low end of the 'acceptable range', and I was told that even that is a bit low, better it be 4.5 or higher like the 5 & 6 range, and to carry something like a tetra pack of apple juice with me in case it went low... that low is worse than high. So, I drank my juice, showered and got out of there. I went to Safeway and got some food to eat to back up the juice... then went to the dog park and had a nice walk with Reba. Dan showed up at the dog park, knowing Reba & I would be there, found us out back and walked the second half with us.
Came home and finished eating the food I bought at Safeway (1 samosa, 1 piece chicken, small broccoli, cheddar cheese & pasta shell salad). After I removed all the bones and all the coating, there wasn't much chicken there. Oh well, it was dinner anyway.
I picked up a truck tool box today. It's been sitting out with a FREE sign on it for some time, all through the winter, and I keep meaning to pick it up and finally did it today. Good thing I was able to phone Dan who was on his way home from work and have him swing by to help load it as it is very heavy make of plywood. I plan to use it for housing some chickens when I find some to add to my flock.
Now I am watching TV... NCIS. Will also watch Mentalist and Without A Trace. Yes, it's Tuesday and I am supposed to be at Toastmasters, but I didn't feel like going tonight. It is very rare that I miss a meeting, but I was not on the program this week, so decided to take the night off, lol. I am also taking next Tuesday off as it's Rev. Dale's surprise birthday party for the big 5-0 and I won't miss that. I emailed everyone and told them I will be away for 2 weeks and see them on the 21st. I also told them about the upcoming Pasta Productions. I got a couple emails back from Shiela who seems to think she's the boss of everything there. She gave me heck in one of them for talking about Pasta Productions at the last meeting and for mentioning it in the email... that is 'out of line', the other email was sent to everyone that we are not to use the emails for anything personal like talking of upcoming events or multi level marketing. Funny how one of our gals has been sending me emails for some time now about non-toastmaster things and nothing has been said to her... but let me do it one time and stuff his the preverbial fan. At this time I am very close to achieving my Advanced Communicator Silver award as well as my Competent Leader award. They are far from as high as one can go, but I'm getting a bit tired of all the bull pucky. I think that I will get those two awards then let Toastmasters go. Yes, I do enjoy it, and no, I'm not really sure I'm learning anything great there lately. The manuals and entire program as geared towards career related things, and not much towards what I want to talk about... can't talk about God or Spiritual beliefs there. Also, can't talk about multi level marketing, so if that is your career and you need to practice a speech you can't do that. There's a lot good about Toastmasters... and there are things not so good too. Many of the not so good things I must admit are due to different personalities and their judgements and negativity. With the thoughts of finding and following my passion, I know I have to clear some things out of my life to make room for other things. Toastmasters might just be what has to fall by the wayside. Time will tell for sure.
I will be posting to ABC and Wordless Wednesday this evening, and telling about the post tomorrow on a new meme, Tell Me Thursday, or something like that. I also need to do homework for my The Passion Test class tonight so I'm ready for class tomorrow eve. Some house work wouldn't be a bad idea either, but not sure I can fit it in, haha.
- I am grateful for the beautiful day we had today (see weather report)
- I am grateful that I'm finally 'getting in gear' and being more active. It feels good to go to the pool and walk in the dog park.
- I am grateful I have Reba to drag me to the dog park, lol.
- I am grateful for the wooden box I picked up today.
- I am grateful for the food I ate.
- I am grateful I have my own home
- I am grateful I am an outgoing, friendly, happy person
- I am grateful for the remote contols for my TV, VCR, and Satelite receiver.
- I am grateful I live outside the city
- I am grateful I can have my chickens where I live
- I am grateful for the fresh egg I got again this morning.
- I am grateful Paco is being quiet right now, it's so peaceful
- I am grateful for the peace in my home and in my life
- I am grateful I have choices in my life
- I am grateful for the things the Universe reveals to me about myself and about pertinent things in my life
- I am grateful for the internet
- I am grateful for blogs and blogging
- I am grateful for running water
- I am grateful for electricity
- I am grateful for the baby lambs in the feild just down the road
- I am grateful for my spinning wheel and my loom, even though I've not spun or woven anything in over 2 years. I plan to do both again as time permits.
4 comments:
Great list. Hope you get that blood sugar under control soon. I think ibtold you I did aqua therapy. It is the best. How cool a spinning wheel. Woof to Reba :)
I seem to have one heck of a short attention span! I read through my feed reader about 3 hours ago -- and didn't click through and comment on most of the blogs. I don't know what I was -- or wasn't -- thinking! Then, there I was all done and wondering how I managed to get through my blogs in record time, and I dawned on me that I hadn't left any comments! What a goof!
I'm writing as a President of a Toastmasters club in Tokyo, and I was interested in your comment that you feel you cannot talk about what you want to. You said you wanted to talk about spirituality and faith. My understanding of the point of TM is that we are a non-religious organization. Therefore, you should avoid making speeches that only focus on your faith explicitly. The place for this is clearly your church or with others who share your beliefs, not Toastmasters.
However, we meet and do speeches to build our communication skills.
If you talk about something that is important to you, then you - AND your fellow members - are going to get more out of the speech. Most people in your club are probably well aware of your faith, and you don't need to hide it.
Effective communicators do not need to hit their listeners over the head with their message. Jesus told simple stories to convey his ideas in easy terms with references to his listeners' lives, e.g., sheep, house building, tribal conflict. In the same way, you must find a way to share your ideas with people who do not share your assumptions.
It would be a huge shame if someone left because they felt censored. Our goals are developing communication and thinking skills after all. Think about what your audience needs and what will be valuable for them to hear within the limits of your speech and the project goals. The rest should follow.
Good luck!
Helen Lewis
Tokyo Bilingual Toastmasters
www.tokyobilingualtoastmasters.com
From Helen at Tokyo Bilingual Toastmasters. I mistook our club address - it should be www.tokyotoastmasters.com
If you decide to publish my comment,would you kindly amend the address. Thanks and good luck!
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