My best friend David has a beautiful B&B in the country just outside of New Braunfels which is near San Antonio. I think it is one of the prettiest places in Comal County. Let me know if you have any interest in finding out about his place.
Having said all those nice things, I can barely get cell phone access at his house. I have to stand in the driveway in a certain spot to talk to anyone which I have been doing this morning.
My sisters and I are trying to make all the final arrangements for a joyful family reunion at least for our own immediate families. Many of my grandfathers living decendents are gathering as we do every two years to visit. I never new my grandpareents. They were dead before I was born but the clan does like to gather. There should be more than 60 of us here from all parts of the country. I am not in charge of the reunion and I have no idea how many people are coming. I am volunteering to host it in two years when we meet again.
One of the miracles of modern technology is that I am actually connecting to the internet on my Cricket air time card. I am in the middle of the drive way in a nice shady spot. David only has dial up in his house and I will NEVER ever ever use dial up again.
So if there are mistakes in this post please forgive me. The sun does provide some glare on my computer screen...even though I am in the shade.
Here is to joyous family gatherings that are FUN and relaxed.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Never Too Old for Email class is not dead yet
You are Never Too Old for Email class is not dead yet…just moving to a new address.
After more that 30 years of teaching adult learners, I am fairly confident about myself and my teaching style. I have been trained by masters in the conversation. I have been accused (rightfully so) in the past of being too structured and straight-laced a teacher. I have learned over the years that putting FUN and PLAY in your classes is a good thing. A great way to create fun and play is to engage your participants and create a bond. Thank you Carol G. from Habitat for helping me put both in my computer and financial management training. For one thing, your students enjoy the class more and it is a win/win for everyone.
There is a first for everything. Yesterday, the computer club decided to ask me to quit teaching at the club. I can still be a member and participate in anything I desire. The reason they cited for asking me to stop teaching is because there was too much fluff (fun and play) in my classes and/or too much participation and not enough learning. The club said they want instructors who use more structure in their classes. They even said my students told them they didn’t learn very much in my classes. In last week’s class that may have been the case because we did have one major breakdown and the rest of the class had a lot to do with recovering but I have written acknowledgements from many of my students acknowledging me for the class and talking about what they learned.
I did mention to the two people that visited with me at the club that it might be my personality that they didn’t like. But, of course they said it was my teaching style. It was a REAL performance based evaluation. Like I said, after more than 30 years of teaching I know who I am and what I stand for.
The computer club is a GREAT club. It is one of the best deals in town and a good way for students to learn new skills and/or improve on their skills. But, when several of the Board members think that Facebook and Google Gmail are not safe…or even evil, it is probably time for me to move on to a new address.
So, from now on I’ll be teaching at home and at several senior citizen venues in and around the valley and of course in Texas and who knows where else. My You are Never Too Old for Email class will live on as well and yes, Cathy the teacher is still alive and well…just moving to a new address. Teaching is a GREAT way to meet new and interesting people and pairing them up can be fun too.
As for my Thursday club visits, I can still do these but I’ll be reinventing this as well after I get back from Texas. I may have a brown bag lunch group at my house and/or on the internet. What a FUN idea. We might even use Facebook or Twitter to communicate…that’s a good thing.
Watch out world…Cathy’s still in the game and she knows who she is and what she stands for. One thing she stands for is customer-driven classes and the only way you can do that is to get your customers to give you feedback…preferably in writing. She also stands for living life from abundance not from scarcity or fear.
So thank you to my many students over the years who have given me feedback both verbally and in writing. My classes are better because of it. One of my dreams is to never stop teaching until the day I die. Another dream I have is to play with like minded, playful people who know that money is and should be part of the game. That it is a way to keep score and to know how many lives you have transformed in the process. As I said before, my life has never been about the money…it’s always been about making a difference in people’s lives.
Hope to see you in my travels.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
Cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
After more that 30 years of teaching adult learners, I am fairly confident about myself and my teaching style. I have been trained by masters in the conversation. I have been accused (rightfully so) in the past of being too structured and straight-laced a teacher. I have learned over the years that putting FUN and PLAY in your classes is a good thing. A great way to create fun and play is to engage your participants and create a bond. Thank you Carol G. from Habitat for helping me put both in my computer and financial management training. For one thing, your students enjoy the class more and it is a win/win for everyone.
There is a first for everything. Yesterday, the computer club decided to ask me to quit teaching at the club. I can still be a member and participate in anything I desire. The reason they cited for asking me to stop teaching is because there was too much fluff (fun and play) in my classes and/or too much participation and not enough learning. The club said they want instructors who use more structure in their classes. They even said my students told them they didn’t learn very much in my classes. In last week’s class that may have been the case because we did have one major breakdown and the rest of the class had a lot to do with recovering but I have written acknowledgements from many of my students acknowledging me for the class and talking about what they learned.
I did mention to the two people that visited with me at the club that it might be my personality that they didn’t like. But, of course they said it was my teaching style. It was a REAL performance based evaluation. Like I said, after more than 30 years of teaching I know who I am and what I stand for.
The computer club is a GREAT club. It is one of the best deals in town and a good way for students to learn new skills and/or improve on their skills. But, when several of the Board members think that Facebook and Google Gmail are not safe…or even evil, it is probably time for me to move on to a new address.
So, from now on I’ll be teaching at home and at several senior citizen venues in and around the valley and of course in Texas and who knows where else. My You are Never Too Old for Email class will live on as well and yes, Cathy the teacher is still alive and well…just moving to a new address. Teaching is a GREAT way to meet new and interesting people and pairing them up can be fun too.
As for my Thursday club visits, I can still do these but I’ll be reinventing this as well after I get back from Texas. I may have a brown bag lunch group at my house and/or on the internet. What a FUN idea. We might even use Facebook or Twitter to communicate…that’s a good thing.
Watch out world…Cathy’s still in the game and she knows who she is and what she stands for. One thing she stands for is customer-driven classes and the only way you can do that is to get your customers to give you feedback…preferably in writing. She also stands for living life from abundance not from scarcity or fear.
So thank you to my many students over the years who have given me feedback both verbally and in writing. My classes are better because of it. One of my dreams is to never stop teaching until the day I die. Another dream I have is to play with like minded, playful people who know that money is and should be part of the game. That it is a way to keep score and to know how many lives you have transformed in the process. As I said before, my life has never been about the money…it’s always been about making a difference in people’s lives.
Hope to see you in my travels.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
Cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Ready to hit the road & class notes
The car is packed and we are ready to hit the road for Texas. I just have one meeting at 11:00 am, then we'll eat lunch and start driving.
My new class, You Are Never Too Old for Email, went GREAT yesterday. Only two students showed up and one no show. I did have three helpers including Stu.
I learned several things yesterday teaching this class to newbies. You need one helper for each student. Also, I will teach from the handout and only use the computer for welcoming students and showing some live Google Gmail screens. This seemed to be a BIG help to the students.
Stu set up the two Google Gmail addresses at the beginning of the class. This worked out VERY well. Thanks Stu. We learned a few things not to do on this part also.
Other then a few little lessons learned the class was outstanding. The students, helpers and I ended the class with a glass of wine to celebrate. They all know I am GTT today.
See you around.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
My new class, You Are Never Too Old for Email, went GREAT yesterday. Only two students showed up and one no show. I did have three helpers including Stu.
I learned several things yesterday teaching this class to newbies. You need one helper for each student. Also, I will teach from the handout and only use the computer for welcoming students and showing some live Google Gmail screens. This seemed to be a BIG help to the students.
Stu set up the two Google Gmail addresses at the beginning of the class. This worked out VERY well. Thanks Stu. We learned a few things not to do on this part also.
Other then a few little lessons learned the class was outstanding. The students, helpers and I ended the class with a glass of wine to celebrate. They all know I am GTT today.
See you around.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sitting in the quiet
I am sitting in my living room. It is quiet and I am testing out my set up for the class today. It is working....GREAT!!!
Thank you Ezequiel and David the warrior for making my classroom "girl friendly". Granny appreciates all the help she can get.
This is my first You Are Never Too Old for Email class at my house. It is a kind of prototype class. But, since I was baptized by fire last week I don't expect too many surprises.
I do this class three more times in Texas. Can't wait!!! By then, I will be an old hand at it and know most of the things that can go right or wrong and I can just have FUN and help my students have FUN.
GTT soon +1 and counting.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Thank you Ezequiel and David the warrior for making my classroom "girl friendly". Granny appreciates all the help she can get.
This is my first You Are Never Too Old for Email class at my house. It is a kind of prototype class. But, since I was baptized by fire last week I don't expect too many surprises.
I do this class three more times in Texas. Can't wait!!! By then, I will be an old hand at it and know most of the things that can go right or wrong and I can just have FUN and help my students have FUN.
GTT soon +1 and counting.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Instructional Design 101
I have been blessed in the past to be taught and coached by masters in at least one instructional design model out there today. At UTMB we used this model. It is a five step model and I have included a link below to a VERY good site for those that are interested in more info. Many course/class developers use this model. It is their "bible". It has six elements even though it is called the five phase model. You will see why below where I have included a recap...The Design phase has two elements.
The model provides focus for six elements:
1.Analyzing the need for instruction (needs analysis), curriculum requirements, and the limitations and resources available for instruction. ANALYZE PHASE
2.Analyzing the instructional goals, learners' needs, and their prior knowledge (entry level skills). DESIGN PHASE
3.Constructing assessments (as you consider goals, learners' needs, and prior knowledge). DESIGN PHASE
4.Determine instructional strategies and select instructional media that best facilitates student understanding of new knowledge and supports the instructional strategies. DEVELOPMENT PHASE
5.Implementing the design: teaching/learning experience and student understanding (assessments). IMPLEMENT PHASE
6.Examining the actual lesson or course you designed: evaluate the connection between goals and understanding, effectiveness of instructional strategies and media. Revise for the next course or lesson. Revise for the next time you teach the class. EVALUATE PHASE
Link to source site: The Five Phases of Instructional Design
I have been using this model for over fifteen years. I have used it when I teach/taught all levels and ages of adult learners at UTMB and Habitat for Humanity and beyond. Yes, I am not perfect and I often forget a step. BUT, I never forget the last step...EVALUATE. I will let any and everybody who breath on the course evaluate the course but the most important people to evaluate the course are the students who attend the course. If you don't evaluate you can't correct. If you can't correct, you can't offer the students what they want to learn and how they want to learn it.
I have taught thousands and thousands or courses. In a new course, like the one I taught last week. The first thing I do when the course starts is evaluate the students to see what their level of aptitude is for the material I plan to present and correct on the spot if I am over or under teaching to their level. I had to do that this week. Every student in the class already had an email address. At the time, the class was designed for complete computer newbies. People who do/did not even have mouse skills. So, right on the spot, I did a course correction. Thank God...or the course would have really been a bigger set of problems...or is that opportunities.
As I mentioned earlier, the course blew up in our faces the second half of the first day of a planned two-day class. Each day was planned for two hours of class with a work day in the middle if things went wrong or someone wanted/needed extra help. I mentioned to the students and helpers that this was a prototype class just before they took their first break...thank God. I even wrote it on the white board.
My friend Barry, helper and club VP was in the class. He and I are still not sure what happened but we could have overloaded the computer club network and/or the Google Gmail system. We even had a plan for not overloading the computer club network. But, you know what they say about plans...
I usually don't have to make a MAJOR course correction in the middle of a class but this class was the exception. From now on, I or one of my helpers will set up all Google Gmail addresses ourselves or the student(s) can work with me before the class to set up their own. The student(s) can not come to class or end the first day without a working Gmail address. Some of my classes are only one day long and the class is designed for computer newbies like I said.
So, yes, the instructor gets to design and evaluate on the spot if necessary. But, one thing I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave out of my courses is the EVALUATE phase. It is absolutely necessary for your students to tell you what they thought and help make the class better or different if necessary. Sometimes things are SSSooooo bad that the instructor needs to re-design on the spot and get'r done.
Thank you God for having me have the experience and calm to recover from this course both during and after the course. It was a prototype course and will never be the same again...ever, ever, ever!!! Not because I say so, or the club says so but because my students say so. After all, the students are the ones that really matter. They are either paying their time and/or their money to attend the class and hopefully learn something new.
Hope this sheds some light on the instructional design model.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
The model provides focus for six elements:
1.Analyzing the need for instruction (needs analysis), curriculum requirements, and the limitations and resources available for instruction. ANALYZE PHASE
2.Analyzing the instructional goals, learners' needs, and their prior knowledge (entry level skills). DESIGN PHASE
3.Constructing assessments (as you consider goals, learners' needs, and prior knowledge). DESIGN PHASE
4.Determine instructional strategies and select instructional media that best facilitates student understanding of new knowledge and supports the instructional strategies. DEVELOPMENT PHASE
5.Implementing the design: teaching/learning experience and student understanding (assessments). IMPLEMENT PHASE
6.Examining the actual lesson or course you designed: evaluate the connection between goals and understanding, effectiveness of instructional strategies and media. Revise for the next course or lesson. Revise for the next time you teach the class. EVALUATE PHASE
Link to source site: The Five Phases of Instructional Design
I have been using this model for over fifteen years. I have used it when I teach/taught all levels and ages of adult learners at UTMB and Habitat for Humanity and beyond. Yes, I am not perfect and I often forget a step. BUT, I never forget the last step...EVALUATE. I will let any and everybody who breath on the course evaluate the course but the most important people to evaluate the course are the students who attend the course. If you don't evaluate you can't correct. If you can't correct, you can't offer the students what they want to learn and how they want to learn it.
I have taught thousands and thousands or courses. In a new course, like the one I taught last week. The first thing I do when the course starts is evaluate the students to see what their level of aptitude is for the material I plan to present and correct on the spot if I am over or under teaching to their level. I had to do that this week. Every student in the class already had an email address. At the time, the class was designed for complete computer newbies. People who do/did not even have mouse skills. So, right on the spot, I did a course correction. Thank God...or the course would have really been a bigger set of problems...or is that opportunities.
As I mentioned earlier, the course blew up in our faces the second half of the first day of a planned two-day class. Each day was planned for two hours of class with a work day in the middle if things went wrong or someone wanted/needed extra help. I mentioned to the students and helpers that this was a prototype class just before they took their first break...thank God. I even wrote it on the white board.
My friend Barry, helper and club VP was in the class. He and I are still not sure what happened but we could have overloaded the computer club network and/or the Google Gmail system. We even had a plan for not overloading the computer club network. But, you know what they say about plans...
I usually don't have to make a MAJOR course correction in the middle of a class but this class was the exception. From now on, I or one of my helpers will set up all Google Gmail addresses ourselves or the student(s) can work with me before the class to set up their own. The student(s) can not come to class or end the first day without a working Gmail address. Some of my classes are only one day long and the class is designed for computer newbies like I said.
So, yes, the instructor gets to design and evaluate on the spot if necessary. But, one thing I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave out of my courses is the EVALUATE phase. It is absolutely necessary for your students to tell you what they thought and help make the class better or different if necessary. Sometimes things are SSSooooo bad that the instructor needs to re-design on the spot and get'r done.
Thank you God for having me have the experience and calm to recover from this course both during and after the course. It was a prototype course and will never be the same again...ever, ever, ever!!! Not because I say so, or the club says so but because my students say so. After all, the students are the ones that really matter. They are either paying their time and/or their money to attend the class and hopefully learn something new.
Hope this sheds some light on the instructional design model.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Pre-Stu weight
Stu and I laughed and laughed this week about this. When I met Stu more then 18 years ago he said I was string bikini weight. Now I never thought that or did that but it is nice to know he thought that.
Within the first three months of meeting him I gained over 20 pounds. We were living the good life then and still are. By the time, we married I am sure I was up 30-40 pounds and stayed at that weight until we retired in 1997 for the first time. After that, I even gained and lost a few more pounds.
I have never dieted since about 1993/1994. We married in 1991. Stu and I were in the LEC Wisdom Course for the third or fourth time/year in a row. We love/loved our Wisdom community in Houston. That is why we did the course so many times. During one of the courses, I realized I was complete about my weight and what I weighed. I put practices in place that helped me keep my sanity but I have never dieted again.
My practices included...walking everyday when I worked at UTMB. That will help you keep VERY sane with what you weigh. I also ate low fat and I drank lots of water. But one of the BIG reasons I was ok with what I weighed is that Stu was ok with what I weighed. That was very freeing. I knew I was ok with my weight when I started buying clothes that fit me right then and now. Not at my gonna be someday weight or waiting to fit in to the clothes in my closet. I gave all those clothes away to my (step)daughter and her best friend.
This year (2009) Stu and I decided at the beginning of the year that we wanted to get better control of our weight for health reasons. I had already been walking again an average of over 5 hours a week since 2007 but not loosing weight. This year, I kicked it up a notch. I now average over 6 hours a week but I picked up the pace a little also. I usually walk 7-9 hours a week most weeks. This is so I can keep up my average to 6 hours when I go on vacation. I also started drinking more water and an added a light weight lifting program three days a week...most of the time.
The thing that has really made all the difference is I started logging my food. Stu and I both joined The Best Life (thebestlife.com). This is run by Bob Green, Oprah's diet guy. Bob does not make you follow a lot of rules. He even doesn't require you to log your food but recommends it. In all my years of dieting, I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER logged my food. What I realized when I started doing this is that I could make small changes in the way I eat and drink, enjoy myself and loose weight. I can even still eat out 4-5 times a week and still loose weight. I do have to walk, drink water and watch what I put in my mouth for the most part.
I have lost over 27 pounds this year. Stu has lost some but not as much. I don't even care what he has lost or how much. It is between he, himself, Bob Green, and God. I don't care if he logs his food or looses weight. I am not his mother or his keeper. I have just been blessed to be his life partner.
I do not even log my food anymore...sort of. I weigh once a week. If I have gained weight that week, I promise to log my food until I get back to that weight. To date, I have never gained weight in a given week. I have stayed the same for a few weeks but NEVER gained weight. I came close once. The trip to Texas will be the test but we have put our friends/family on notice that our eating habits have changed and we our going to keep our plans. For one thing, our BIG meal is at lunch...no ifs, ands or buts about it. We will break that rule only for VERY important reasons. I will walk at least 20-30 minutes every day in Texas but probably even more. Got to keep my daily streak up and my hour average above 6 hours a week. But if I sin, I will log my food as a sort of penance. The truth is I will feel horrible and I will pay for it over and over in many ways. That even happens if I eat late, eat too much, or on occasion drink too much. I still love my glass of wine or in the summer a vodka tonic or margarita...Mmm Mmm...Texas Mex is coming soon...nothing in Arizona or anywhere else like it but I keep searching.
So no, I am still not dieting. I am just loosing weight. When Stu said out loud this week, that pretty soon I would be down to my pre-Stu weight, I almost spit water out of my mouth laughing. He and I laughed out loud in the restaurant. I am sure people wonder about us at times because we laugh so much. We've even been called the laughing couple by some of our boating friends.
So as Susan Powter said many years ago in her book, Stop the Insanity...stop dieting...stop it now...please, please, please. That book still lives on my bookshelf today. It is one of my many weight loss "bibles" even though I have not opened it in years. It helps remind me of the insanity of dieting.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Within the first three months of meeting him I gained over 20 pounds. We were living the good life then and still are. By the time, we married I am sure I was up 30-40 pounds and stayed at that weight until we retired in 1997 for the first time. After that, I even gained and lost a few more pounds.
I have never dieted since about 1993/1994. We married in 1991. Stu and I were in the LEC Wisdom Course for the third or fourth time/year in a row. We love/loved our Wisdom community in Houston. That is why we did the course so many times. During one of the courses, I realized I was complete about my weight and what I weighed. I put practices in place that helped me keep my sanity but I have never dieted again.
My practices included...walking everyday when I worked at UTMB. That will help you keep VERY sane with what you weigh. I also ate low fat and I drank lots of water. But one of the BIG reasons I was ok with what I weighed is that Stu was ok with what I weighed. That was very freeing. I knew I was ok with my weight when I started buying clothes that fit me right then and now. Not at my gonna be someday weight or waiting to fit in to the clothes in my closet. I gave all those clothes away to my (step)daughter and her best friend.
This year (2009) Stu and I decided at the beginning of the year that we wanted to get better control of our weight for health reasons. I had already been walking again an average of over 5 hours a week since 2007 but not loosing weight. This year, I kicked it up a notch. I now average over 6 hours a week but I picked up the pace a little also. I usually walk 7-9 hours a week most weeks. This is so I can keep up my average to 6 hours when I go on vacation. I also started drinking more water and an added a light weight lifting program three days a week...most of the time.
The thing that has really made all the difference is I started logging my food. Stu and I both joined The Best Life (thebestlife.com). This is run by Bob Green, Oprah's diet guy. Bob does not make you follow a lot of rules. He even doesn't require you to log your food but recommends it. In all my years of dieting, I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER logged my food. What I realized when I started doing this is that I could make small changes in the way I eat and drink, enjoy myself and loose weight. I can even still eat out 4-5 times a week and still loose weight. I do have to walk, drink water and watch what I put in my mouth for the most part.
I have lost over 27 pounds this year. Stu has lost some but not as much. I don't even care what he has lost or how much. It is between he, himself, Bob Green, and God. I don't care if he logs his food or looses weight. I am not his mother or his keeper. I have just been blessed to be his life partner.
I do not even log my food anymore...sort of. I weigh once a week. If I have gained weight that week, I promise to log my food until I get back to that weight. To date, I have never gained weight in a given week. I have stayed the same for a few weeks but NEVER gained weight. I came close once. The trip to Texas will be the test but we have put our friends/family on notice that our eating habits have changed and we our going to keep our plans. For one thing, our BIG meal is at lunch...no ifs, ands or buts about it. We will break that rule only for VERY important reasons. I will walk at least 20-30 minutes every day in Texas but probably even more. Got to keep my daily streak up and my hour average above 6 hours a week. But if I sin, I will log my food as a sort of penance. The truth is I will feel horrible and I will pay for it over and over in many ways. That even happens if I eat late, eat too much, or on occasion drink too much. I still love my glass of wine or in the summer a vodka tonic or margarita...Mmm Mmm...Texas Mex is coming soon...nothing in Arizona or anywhere else like it but I keep searching.
So no, I am still not dieting. I am just loosing weight. When Stu said out loud this week, that pretty soon I would be down to my pre-Stu weight, I almost spit water out of my mouth laughing. He and I laughed out loud in the restaurant. I am sure people wonder about us at times because we laugh so much. We've even been called the laughing couple by some of our boating friends.
So as Susan Powter said many years ago in her book, Stop the Insanity...stop dieting...stop it now...please, please, please. That book still lives on my bookshelf today. It is one of my many weight loss "bibles" even though I have not opened it in years. It helps remind me of the insanity of dieting.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Monsoon is here
In Arizona we have the monsoon season. That means it rains for a few months occasionally and we get BIG dust storms some times too. The reason you know the monsoon is here is the humidity is up above 20%. I know, I know...that is a good day in Houston but not in Phoenix. We talk a lot in Phoenix about whether the monsoon is here yet or not. Everyone has a different way to count.
Today on my walk, I stopped at my friend Beverly's house for a short visit. I was actually sweating. I usually drink a glass of water at her house but today the sweat was pouring off me. That is VERY unusual. So I declare, the monsoon is here.
My schedule is winding down in anticipation of my trip to Texas. I only have a few meetings and one class left before Thursday morning when we leave for Texas.
We'll be back between the 14th & 16th of July. Just not sure how things will turn out when we are there. My one class in Houston/Pearland just turned in to two classes today already. I need to check on my New Braunfels class today and see how it is doing. To see how many those Texas girls let in the classes. You know it is hard to keep us Texas girls under control. We love to do it our way...I don't think that is just a baby boomer thing but when you put boomer and Texas girl together you better watch out. We are going to break every rule in the book...especially if we don't know what the rules are and/or the rules don't make sense. Bring it on!!!!!
We just signed up for a Cricket airtime card yesterday so we can access the internet on the road. About $40 a month with no commitment and no cell phone plan. Cheaper with a cell phone plan. It doesn't work every where AT&T & Verizon do but it will give us better internet access while we are in Texas. At my best friend David's house we cannot always get cell phone service (beautiful B&B in the hill country) and he only has dial up internet access. I will NEVER do dial up again. I will go cold turkey off the internet if that is the only way to access our stuff. So, we are giving Cricket a spin. I'll let you know how it goes. We can cancel Cricket if we don't like it with very little out-of-pocket expense. Bottom line is I may not be able to post every day while we are in Texas but I will try to do what I can, when I can. Some places I am staying will definitely have "indoor" high speed internet right at my fingertips...some places will not.
GTT soon!!!!
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Today on my walk, I stopped at my friend Beverly's house for a short visit. I was actually sweating. I usually drink a glass of water at her house but today the sweat was pouring off me. That is VERY unusual. So I declare, the monsoon is here.
My schedule is winding down in anticipation of my trip to Texas. I only have a few meetings and one class left before Thursday morning when we leave for Texas.
We'll be back between the 14th & 16th of July. Just not sure how things will turn out when we are there. My one class in Houston/Pearland just turned in to two classes today already. I need to check on my New Braunfels class today and see how it is doing. To see how many those Texas girls let in the classes. You know it is hard to keep us Texas girls under control. We love to do it our way...I don't think that is just a baby boomer thing but when you put boomer and Texas girl together you better watch out. We are going to break every rule in the book...especially if we don't know what the rules are and/or the rules don't make sense. Bring it on!!!!!
We just signed up for a Cricket airtime card yesterday so we can access the internet on the road. About $40 a month with no commitment and no cell phone plan. Cheaper with a cell phone plan. It doesn't work every where AT&T & Verizon do but it will give us better internet access while we are in Texas. At my best friend David's house we cannot always get cell phone service (beautiful B&B in the hill country) and he only has dial up internet access. I will NEVER do dial up again. I will go cold turkey off the internet if that is the only way to access our stuff. So, we are giving Cricket a spin. I'll let you know how it goes. We can cancel Cricket if we don't like it with very little out-of-pocket expense. Bottom line is I may not be able to post every day while we are in Texas but I will try to do what I can, when I can. Some places I am staying will definitely have "indoor" high speed internet right at my fingertips...some places will not.
GTT soon!!!!
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Thursday, June 18, 2009
New Model of Communication
This is from Landmark Education Corporation (LEC). I have done many courses with them and I will admit to anyone that LEC has changed my life and Stu's life beyond measure. First of all, that is how we met through a mutual friend. Second, and more important it is why we have such a GREAT relationship and have stayed together for nearly 18 years. We are able to get off it pretty quickly with each other and with other people. But, I ran across this when I was updating my planner for my new seminar / coaching business. I was handed this when I was in the Introduction to the Forum Leaders program back in 2004 by one of my friends. I never actually took a course that included this in it. It is one powerful piece of information. Something to live by.
New Model of Communication
Giving things up
Forgiving
Accepting
Advancing the conversation
Bringing everything and nothing to the conversation
Acknowledgement
Being with what is and what is not
Being of service
Three Fundamental Parts
Integrity
Responsibility for self and how you leave others
Generosity
Just "be" with it for awhile and it will change your life...or at least it can change your life if you let it.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
New Model of Communication
Giving things up
Forgiving
Accepting
Advancing the conversation
Bringing everything and nothing to the conversation
Acknowledgement
Being with what is and what is not
Being of service
Three Fundamental Parts
Integrity
Responsibility for self and how you leave others
Generosity
Just "be" with it for awhile and it will change your life...or at least it can change your life if you let it.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Monday, June 15, 2009
Bee in a bottle
Years ago, Stu and I learned a GREAT distinction about how we and most people live their lives like a bee in a bottle. Always buzzing around inside and never able to get out and not understanding why they are not getting anywhere.
Day one of my new class yesterday went VERY well for the first half of the class. Everything was on schedule and we had a plan for the second half. Nothing went according to plan in the second half. I already knew that we had to go row by row to access the internet at the club. Everything went well with the back row and then all heck broke loose. Each student was attempting to set up a Google Gmail address. We are still not sure of everything that went wrong. It could have been that we over loaded the network at the computer club or we overloaded Gmail with information coming through the same network intended for different Gmail accounts. Gmail might have been unable to determine which data went with which request...but the truth is only a third of the class participants got their Gmail accounts successfully set up. We think. Some stayed after the class and some are scheduled to come in today which is not a real class day but I scheduled the classroom in case anyone needed extra hand holding. Good thing I did that because we all needed extra hand holding during and after the class.
Many good things did happen in the class. I had six helpers and I usually have none. All the helpers were people who knew how to dance a fast dance when things went south. One of those helpers was my husband Stu. He actually left the class at the beginning because he saw I had enough helpers. He and I were laughing when I cleared with him later about how the class went. Laughing that it was probably better that he was not there.
Recently, I am sure he thought several times that I have been like a bee in the bottle with my hectic schedule, lack of sleep and some times unreal pace. He had commented to me recently that he could see that I was ok and that all my "doing" was not adversely effecting me and who I am "being". But today, if he had been in the class, he would have been sure that I was a bee in the bottle with the lid on. In reality, I was VERY calm on the firing line so to speak. One or two of my helpers were a little frazzled but some of the students from the back row stepped up and tried to help other participants. I'll have to admit that other than the back row we were not very successful. But through it all I was able to keep my calm and help everybody else keep calm as well. We did have to breath a few times to remember we were having FUN. Having FUN is one of the top goals in my classes. Not making anyone feel stupid is another.
My friend and class helper Barry and a VP at the club did stay long after all the participants had left to talk with me and coach me on what could be done different and better in the future. Thanks Barry. He actually helped me figure out a few prerequisites for the class. Every student in the class already had one kind of email or another. So, basic mouse skills will definitely be a prerequisite. I also think that I will ask the students to have their Google Gmail accounts set up before the class. I'll let them decide this on Wednesday when the class concludes. I would much rather spend the class time showing them all the GREAT things that Gmail will do and how they can have a better email address that they never have to change. Regardless, of who provides their internet access.
Since some participants could not stay after class yesterday or come in to the club today. There are a few Gmail accounts that I will be setting up for some people before tomorrow (Wednesday). That is a small price to pay for the confusion and frustration that we all experienced.
So, no I was not a bee in a bottle today but I told Stu he is more than welcome to call me on it if he thinks I have actually shut the lid on the bottle. Otherwise he should just keep quite when I work hard, play hard and have lots of FUN. I know each day that I am closer and closer to my REAL purpose in life. I pray that I may actually realize my purpose in this lifetime. If not, I plan to have FUN trying.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Day one of my new class yesterday went VERY well for the first half of the class. Everything was on schedule and we had a plan for the second half. Nothing went according to plan in the second half. I already knew that we had to go row by row to access the internet at the club. Everything went well with the back row and then all heck broke loose. Each student was attempting to set up a Google Gmail address. We are still not sure of everything that went wrong. It could have been that we over loaded the network at the computer club or we overloaded Gmail with information coming through the same network intended for different Gmail accounts. Gmail might have been unable to determine which data went with which request...but the truth is only a third of the class participants got their Gmail accounts successfully set up. We think. Some stayed after the class and some are scheduled to come in today which is not a real class day but I scheduled the classroom in case anyone needed extra hand holding. Good thing I did that because we all needed extra hand holding during and after the class.
Many good things did happen in the class. I had six helpers and I usually have none. All the helpers were people who knew how to dance a fast dance when things went south. One of those helpers was my husband Stu. He actually left the class at the beginning because he saw I had enough helpers. He and I were laughing when I cleared with him later about how the class went. Laughing that it was probably better that he was not there.
Recently, I am sure he thought several times that I have been like a bee in the bottle with my hectic schedule, lack of sleep and some times unreal pace. He had commented to me recently that he could see that I was ok and that all my "doing" was not adversely effecting me and who I am "being". But today, if he had been in the class, he would have been sure that I was a bee in the bottle with the lid on. In reality, I was VERY calm on the firing line so to speak. One or two of my helpers were a little frazzled but some of the students from the back row stepped up and tried to help other participants. I'll have to admit that other than the back row we were not very successful. But through it all I was able to keep my calm and help everybody else keep calm as well. We did have to breath a few times to remember we were having FUN. Having FUN is one of the top goals in my classes. Not making anyone feel stupid is another.
My friend and class helper Barry and a VP at the club did stay long after all the participants had left to talk with me and coach me on what could be done different and better in the future. Thanks Barry. He actually helped me figure out a few prerequisites for the class. Every student in the class already had one kind of email or another. So, basic mouse skills will definitely be a prerequisite. I also think that I will ask the students to have their Google Gmail accounts set up before the class. I'll let them decide this on Wednesday when the class concludes. I would much rather spend the class time showing them all the GREAT things that Gmail will do and how they can have a better email address that they never have to change. Regardless, of who provides their internet access.
Since some participants could not stay after class yesterday or come in to the club today. There are a few Gmail accounts that I will be setting up for some people before tomorrow (Wednesday). That is a small price to pay for the confusion and frustration that we all experienced.
So, no I was not a bee in a bottle today but I told Stu he is more than welcome to call me on it if he thinks I have actually shut the lid on the bottle. Otherwise he should just keep quite when I work hard, play hard and have lots of FUN. I know each day that I am closer and closer to my REAL purpose in life. I pray that I may actually realize my purpose in this lifetime. If not, I plan to have FUN trying.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
The Race Is On
As I have told you, my life has been moving at rocket ship speed for the last month or more. Last Friday, things took off to a new level...I hope temporarily.
Friday night we hosted a dinner party for a total of seven people to celebrate my sister-in-laws B-day. We served chicken curry (that's my signature dish). Saturday we had a couple and their two sons over. Olinda and David have been our friends for two years but we are getting to know them a lot better. Their two sons Ezequiel and David joined us for hamburgers and hot dogs that Stu cooked on the grill. The boys actually put casters on my TV cabinet while we were waiting for dinner and did a GREAT job. This makes moving the cabinet and TV "girl friendly". I need to move this for my classes at home.
Sunday night we joined some of our cousins for more hamburgers and hot dogs at their new house in Glendale. We brought the hamburgers and hot dogs and everyone brought a dish. It was a FUN gathering but no one including me went in the pool. I did wear my bathing suit under my clothes.
Today, I teach my new class, You Are Never Too Old for Email. The second session is on Wednesday and tomorrow I reserved the classroom for those who think they need a little extra help. I will be teaching this class in a one day format at my house before we leave for Texas. I am also scheduled to teach it twice in Texas. Once in New Braunfels (San Antonio area) and once in Houston/Pearland.
So, if I miss a few days of posting you'll know why.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Friday night we hosted a dinner party for a total of seven people to celebrate my sister-in-laws B-day. We served chicken curry (that's my signature dish). Saturday we had a couple and their two sons over. Olinda and David have been our friends for two years but we are getting to know them a lot better. Their two sons Ezequiel and David joined us for hamburgers and hot dogs that Stu cooked on the grill. The boys actually put casters on my TV cabinet while we were waiting for dinner and did a GREAT job. This makes moving the cabinet and TV "girl friendly". I need to move this for my classes at home.
Sunday night we joined some of our cousins for more hamburgers and hot dogs at their new house in Glendale. We brought the hamburgers and hot dogs and everyone brought a dish. It was a FUN gathering but no one including me went in the pool. I did wear my bathing suit under my clothes.
Today, I teach my new class, You Are Never Too Old for Email. The second session is on Wednesday and tomorrow I reserved the classroom for those who think they need a little extra help. I will be teaching this class in a one day format at my house before we leave for Texas. I am also scheduled to teach it twice in Texas. Once in New Braunfels (San Antonio area) and once in Houston/Pearland.
So, if I miss a few days of posting you'll know why.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tell Me, What Is Great About Your Life?
What a week, what a month. My life is going at rocket ship speed right now. It is not just because I am getting ready for my semi-annual trip to Texas but that does put a deadline on a number of things.
Stu and I have three gatherings planned before we leave for Texas in late June. Two at our house and one at a cousin's house. Stu's brother Wally and his wife Greta will be over for Greta's B-day party on Friday night. Our friends Alice and Ginny will join us at this gathering. I am making chicken curry and we started cooking some of this yesterday.
Saturday night we are hosting some friends for a BBQ dinner and their two teenage sons are coming along for the fun. Olinda, David and the boys have become GOOD friends of ours over the last two years and we are even becoming better friends recently. David is going to be in the same train-the-trainer class with me in Los Angeles in October.
Sunday night we go to a first and second cousins houses for another BBQ dinner. Carmen is Stu's first cousin and her son Bobby and his wife Cindy live next door sort of and they have two delightful teenage sons or almost teenage sons. Bobby and Cindy have moved back to Phoenix full-time this year and Carmen still pretends she lives in Fortuna, CA but has more than one house here in the West Valley. We tried to get in a fly fishing trip with the Smith's but that will have to wait until we return to the valley.
That is not what is keeping us/me busy. This is just the family and friends part. Before I leave for Texas, I will have designed and taught my new class, You Are Never Too Old for Email, two times. Once at the computer club next week and once at my house the following week. This class is also on the schedule twice in Texas. Once in New Braunfels at the Westside Community Center and once in Houston/Pearland at the Bella Vita Club House. Teaching another class at the club, designing and teaching my new class, and drafting my new coaching agreement are just part of what is keeping me dancing the dance. It has been a long time since I have run and played so fast and hard but I am loving it. I know it is part of what I am here on this earth to do...my dance.
Hope to see you before I leave for Texas or just as good in Texas. There is a part of my heart that will always be in Texas. When Sam Houston, one of the founders of Texas, left Tennessee for Texas in 1829, I believe that is when the old saying "Gone to Texas" originated...to the best of my knowledge. In the 1970's people wrote on their cars GTT. That was the boom days in Texas when I was still in the red hot banking business and loving it. We all know what happen to that industry in the mid-1980's...life goes on even after 20+ years in the banking business. Funny, I hardly remember those days. Now most of you think that computers are my life but that is not true either. I have a full, wonderful life even if I never touched another computer...but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.. God willing. There are some not tech courses in my near future. For one thing, I am going to partner with one of my cousins in Texas who is a master in the area of formal education. She and I have a plan...or at least the beginning of a plan.
So now you know why some days I just write about what is REALLY going on in my life...not the things I intended or planned to write about here.
Have a GREAT day and a GREAT life. Tell me what you love about your life. I started to wear the hat with this pin on it again. It is a wonderful hat with a story all it own but the pin says...Tell Me, What Is Great About Your Life? If you can't think of a lot of GREAT things, tell me just one. There is bound to be at least one thing.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Stu and I have three gatherings planned before we leave for Texas in late June. Two at our house and one at a cousin's house. Stu's brother Wally and his wife Greta will be over for Greta's B-day party on Friday night. Our friends Alice and Ginny will join us at this gathering. I am making chicken curry and we started cooking some of this yesterday.
Saturday night we are hosting some friends for a BBQ dinner and their two teenage sons are coming along for the fun. Olinda, David and the boys have become GOOD friends of ours over the last two years and we are even becoming better friends recently. David is going to be in the same train-the-trainer class with me in Los Angeles in October.
Sunday night we go to a first and second cousins houses for another BBQ dinner. Carmen is Stu's first cousin and her son Bobby and his wife Cindy live next door sort of and they have two delightful teenage sons or almost teenage sons. Bobby and Cindy have moved back to Phoenix full-time this year and Carmen still pretends she lives in Fortuna, CA but has more than one house here in the West Valley. We tried to get in a fly fishing trip with the Smith's but that will have to wait until we return to the valley.
That is not what is keeping us/me busy. This is just the family and friends part. Before I leave for Texas, I will have designed and taught my new class, You Are Never Too Old for Email, two times. Once at the computer club next week and once at my house the following week. This class is also on the schedule twice in Texas. Once in New Braunfels at the Westside Community Center and once in Houston/Pearland at the Bella Vita Club House. Teaching another class at the club, designing and teaching my new class, and drafting my new coaching agreement are just part of what is keeping me dancing the dance. It has been a long time since I have run and played so fast and hard but I am loving it. I know it is part of what I am here on this earth to do...my dance.
Hope to see you before I leave for Texas or just as good in Texas. There is a part of my heart that will always be in Texas. When Sam Houston, one of the founders of Texas, left Tennessee for Texas in 1829, I believe that is when the old saying "Gone to Texas" originated...to the best of my knowledge. In the 1970's people wrote on their cars GTT. That was the boom days in Texas when I was still in the red hot banking business and loving it. We all know what happen to that industry in the mid-1980's...life goes on even after 20+ years in the banking business. Funny, I hardly remember those days. Now most of you think that computers are my life but that is not true either. I have a full, wonderful life even if I never touched another computer...but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.. God willing. There are some not tech courses in my near future. For one thing, I am going to partner with one of my cousins in Texas who is a master in the area of formal education. She and I have a plan...or at least the beginning of a plan.
So now you know why some days I just write about what is REALLY going on in my life...not the things I intended or planned to write about here.
Have a GREAT day and a GREAT life. Tell me what you love about your life. I started to wear the hat with this pin on it again. It is a wonderful hat with a story all it own but the pin says...Tell Me, What Is Great About Your Life? If you can't think of a lot of GREAT things, tell me just one. There is bound to be at least one thing.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
More of The Dance
I read more last night before I went to sleep. The book keeps getting better and my sister is reading me excerpts from her earlier book The Invitation. So, we are both getting a double dose of Oriah Mountain Dreamer. Here is a quote from The Dance.
"The Dance is about finding ways to let our essential nature guide our choices and our actions. It's about honestly looking at the times when it is hard for us to remember and be guided by who we really are -- the times when we are tired and hurt, frightened and angry. It's about the places in this culture where it is easy to become confused about who we are -- when we are dealing with money and sex and death and power."
That should give you something to think about for today.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
"The Dance is about finding ways to let our essential nature guide our choices and our actions. It's about honestly looking at the times when it is hard for us to remember and be guided by who we really are -- the times when we are tired and hurt, frightened and angry. It's about the places in this culture where it is easy to become confused about who we are -- when we are dealing with money and sex and death and power."
That should give you something to think about for today.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Dance
One of my sisters recently came across a good book called the Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. I have not read / heard it yet because the library has it on travel for me. I did already pick up her newest book called The Dance. I only started reading it last night when I was awaken by a late night phone call.
The intro poem is as follows:
The Dance by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
I have sent you my invitation,
the note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living.
Don't jump up and shout, "Yes, this is what I want! Let's do it!"
Just stand up quietly and dance with me.
Show me how you follow your deepest desires,
spiraling down into the ache within the ache,
and I will show you how I reach inward and open outward
to feel the kiss of the Mystery, sweet lips on my own, every day.
Don't tell me you want to hold the whole world in your heart.
Show me how you turn away from making another wrong without
abandoning yourself when you are hurt and afraid of being unloved.
Tell me a story of who you are,
and see who I am in the stories I am living.
And together we will remember that each of us always has a choice.
Don't tell me how wonderful things will be...someday.
Show me you can risk being completely at peace,
truly okay with the way things are right now in this moment,
and again in the next and the next and the next...
I have heard enough warrior stories of heroic daring.
Tell me how you crumble when you hit the wall,
the place you cannot go beyond by the strength of your own will.
What carries you to the other side of that wall,
to the fragile beauty of your own humanness?
And after we have shown each other how we have set and kept the
clear, healthy boundaries that help us live side by side with each other,
let us risk remembering that we never stop silently loving
those we once loved out loud.
Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,
the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart,
and I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet
and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again.
Show me how you take care of business
without letting business determine who you are.
When the children are fed but still the voices within and around us
shout that soul's desires have too high a price,
let us remind each other that it is never about the money.
Show me how you offer to your people and the world
the stories and the songs you want our children's children to remember,
and I will show you how I struggle,
not to change the world, but to love it.
Sit beside me in long moments of shared solitude,
knowing both our absolute aloneness and our undeniable belonging.
Dance with me in the silence and in the sound of small daily words,
holding neither against me at the end of the day.
And when the sound of all the declarations of our sincerest
intentions has died away on the wind,
dance with me in the infinite pause before the next great inhale
of the breath that is breathing us all into being,
not filling the emptiness from the outside or from within.
Don't say, "Yes!"
Just take my hand and dance with me.
- - - -
Wow that poem spoke to me on many different levels. I can't wait to read the rest of the book and get The Invitation that she also wrote. I have heard some passages from this book as well and it sounds GREAT.
If I had to pick one part of the poem that speaks the loudest to me right now it is...let us remind each other that it is never about the money. Recently, I had an opportunity to go in to a very lucrative business opportunity and I turned it down. When I became VERY clear again that my whole life has never been about the money it was an easy choice. The hard part of the choice was that I had to pass up the opportunity to work with two VERY powerful coaches/partners. I will have the opportunity to work with one of them again in the future but this was the hard part for me. It was never about the money. I decided to go in to my own seminar and coaching business again instead and turn my stock/option trading back to my husband. As I have said, I'll offer some tech stuff and some not tech stuff but it is, was and never will be about the money for me. I'll even offer coaching to my favorite people. I have to have something that gets me up in the morning. Even when I don't feel like it...especially when I don't feel like it. My communities of friends, students, partners etc. are what gets me up every day and I will dance to this music as long as I live God willing.
That's all for today.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy Oberkampf
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
P.S. Sorry for the word wrap problem but I tried to re-create this poem as accurately as possible and my blog won't handle longer lines with out wrapping to the next line.
The intro poem is as follows:
The Dance by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
I have sent you my invitation,
the note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living.
Don't jump up and shout, "Yes, this is what I want! Let's do it!"
Just stand up quietly and dance with me.
Show me how you follow your deepest desires,
spiraling down into the ache within the ache,
and I will show you how I reach inward and open outward
to feel the kiss of the Mystery, sweet lips on my own, every day.
Don't tell me you want to hold the whole world in your heart.
Show me how you turn away from making another wrong without
abandoning yourself when you are hurt and afraid of being unloved.
Tell me a story of who you are,
and see who I am in the stories I am living.
And together we will remember that each of us always has a choice.
Don't tell me how wonderful things will be...someday.
Show me you can risk being completely at peace,
truly okay with the way things are right now in this moment,
and again in the next and the next and the next...
I have heard enough warrior stories of heroic daring.
Tell me how you crumble when you hit the wall,
the place you cannot go beyond by the strength of your own will.
What carries you to the other side of that wall,
to the fragile beauty of your own humanness?
And after we have shown each other how we have set and kept the
clear, healthy boundaries that help us live side by side with each other,
let us risk remembering that we never stop silently loving
those we once loved out loud.
Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,
the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart,
and I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet
and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again.
Show me how you take care of business
without letting business determine who you are.
When the children are fed but still the voices within and around us
shout that soul's desires have too high a price,
let us remind each other that it is never about the money.
Show me how you offer to your people and the world
the stories and the songs you want our children's children to remember,
and I will show you how I struggle,
not to change the world, but to love it.
Sit beside me in long moments of shared solitude,
knowing both our absolute aloneness and our undeniable belonging.
Dance with me in the silence and in the sound of small daily words,
holding neither against me at the end of the day.
And when the sound of all the declarations of our sincerest
intentions has died away on the wind,
dance with me in the infinite pause before the next great inhale
of the breath that is breathing us all into being,
not filling the emptiness from the outside or from within.
Don't say, "Yes!"
Just take my hand and dance with me.
- - - -
Wow that poem spoke to me on many different levels. I can't wait to read the rest of the book and get The Invitation that she also wrote. I have heard some passages from this book as well and it sounds GREAT.
If I had to pick one part of the poem that speaks the loudest to me right now it is...let us remind each other that it is never about the money. Recently, I had an opportunity to go in to a very lucrative business opportunity and I turned it down. When I became VERY clear again that my whole life has never been about the money it was an easy choice. The hard part of the choice was that I had to pass up the opportunity to work with two VERY powerful coaches/partners. I will have the opportunity to work with one of them again in the future but this was the hard part for me. It was never about the money. I decided to go in to my own seminar and coaching business again instead and turn my stock/option trading back to my husband. As I have said, I'll offer some tech stuff and some not tech stuff but it is, was and never will be about the money for me. I'll even offer coaching to my favorite people. I have to have something that gets me up in the morning. Even when I don't feel like it...especially when I don't feel like it. My communities of friends, students, partners etc. are what gets me up every day and I will dance to this music as long as I live God willing.
That's all for today.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy Oberkampf
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
P.S. Sorry for the word wrap problem but I tried to re-create this poem as accurately as possible and my blog won't handle longer lines with out wrapping to the next line.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Conquered the 10' Pontoon
Stu and I spent two days putting together our new 10' Fish Cat Four fishing Pontoon. The instructions were the WORST I have ever seen. They did exists but that was about it. The best part was a picture of the finished product on the front cover. We succeeded in putting it together after making a number of mistakes. We only have one seat part that is still a mystery. We even took some pictures of it after it was put together. We are planning a pulley system in the garage so we don't have to take the frame apart ever again. We figured out that it would not fit on top of the van an be able to drive the van in to the garage. So, it will probably go on top of the pop-up camper until we upgrade to an RV again. For now the pop-up works well for our fly fishing outings which we try to go on every month.
I am definitely looking for a used class B RV or a small class C. The rig I will find may be more then 10 years old if I can figure out how to get it certified to go in to any campground. I am also looking for a 22' to 26' rig. I would like to do some artsy fartsy stuff to it like my friends Eddy & Paulette did to their rigs. Eddy actually built her travel trailer from scratch. Paulette bought an old Shasta that she renovated. Both of these ladies are members of AZ Flycasters. Paulette is a member of Sister on the Fly as well. Anyway we are beginning to take our fly fishing somewhat seriously. Most of the members of our club are VERY serious. I just started a new Facebook group for the club.
I'll be teaching a Vista 101 computer class this week. It is my first time I will be teaching this at the computer club. My new class, You Are Never Too Old for E-mail is on the schedule 3 times at the computer club and 3 times at my house this summer. Once, at my house before I leave for Texas. I also have it on the schedule when I am in Texas at 2 different locations. Once in New Braunfels and once in Houston/Pearland. My new training/coaching business is definitely picking up steam. Stu has taken over my trading/investing and I am focusing on my training/coaching business full time. I'll be doing some tech courses and some not tech courses. I'll also be partnering with some of my favorite people on some of these courses.
That's all for today.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
I am definitely looking for a used class B RV or a small class C. The rig I will find may be more then 10 years old if I can figure out how to get it certified to go in to any campground. I am also looking for a 22' to 26' rig. I would like to do some artsy fartsy stuff to it like my friends Eddy & Paulette did to their rigs. Eddy actually built her travel trailer from scratch. Paulette bought an old Shasta that she renovated. Both of these ladies are members of AZ Flycasters. Paulette is a member of Sister on the Fly as well. Anyway we are beginning to take our fly fishing somewhat seriously. Most of the members of our club are VERY serious. I just started a new Facebook group for the club.
I'll be teaching a Vista 101 computer class this week. It is my first time I will be teaching this at the computer club. My new class, You Are Never Too Old for E-mail is on the schedule 3 times at the computer club and 3 times at my house this summer. Once, at my house before I leave for Texas. I also have it on the schedule when I am in Texas at 2 different locations. Once in New Braunfels and once in Houston/Pearland. My new training/coaching business is definitely picking up steam. Stu has taken over my trading/investing and I am focusing on my training/coaching business full time. I'll be doing some tech courses and some not tech courses. I'll also be partnering with some of my favorite people on some of these courses.
That's all for today.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Saturday, June 6, 2009
You Are Not Responding to Them
When you get upset about something some one say or does you are not responding to them / me. This is even true when you think they meant to say/do what they did but it is especially true when what they said was just an innocent request or not even a request at all. I and some others believe that you are responding to something from your past. Something or someone who upset you in the past. It is NEVER about what just happened or didn't happen.
One of my sisters and I were just laughing today about the way she experiences military or retired military people. They hardly have to breath for her to be upset by who they are "being". I am just kidding about the just breathing part. But, she and I both have an already always listening (I'll talk about that another day) about who military and retired military people are "being". Maybe that comes from being raised near San Antonio. There were a lot of these guys and gals around. So mind you, we have our radar up when they walk in the room...ready to be upset by what they say or don't say. She told me that some times she just plays the "dumb blonde" and says I don't know about the military life or rank or whatever...would you mind explaining it to me. That does shut them up pretty quick.
Anyway the principal of you are not responding to them works both ways. They are not responding to you when they get upset about what you said, did, or didn't do. I don't suggest you point this out to them at the time unless you want to get in to a full blown argument but later you maybe able to do that when it is more appropriate. You would be surprised about what a conversation like that can open up for you and for other person when you have it at the right time.
That's it for today. Stu and I are finishing off the trim on our new fire-rated doors.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
One of my sisters and I were just laughing today about the way she experiences military or retired military people. They hardly have to breath for her to be upset by who they are "being". I am just kidding about the just breathing part. But, she and I both have an already always listening (I'll talk about that another day) about who military and retired military people are "being". Maybe that comes from being raised near San Antonio. There were a lot of these guys and gals around. So mind you, we have our radar up when they walk in the room...ready to be upset by what they say or don't say. She told me that some times she just plays the "dumb blonde" and says I don't know about the military life or rank or whatever...would you mind explaining it to me. That does shut them up pretty quick.
Anyway the principal of you are not responding to them works both ways. They are not responding to you when they get upset about what you said, did, or didn't do. I don't suggest you point this out to them at the time unless you want to get in to a full blown argument but later you maybe able to do that when it is more appropriate. You would be surprised about what a conversation like that can open up for you and for other person when you have it at the right time.
That's it for today. Stu and I are finishing off the trim on our new fire-rated doors.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Friday, June 5, 2009
The universe is perfect
My spiritual guide, Marianne Williamson, had a GREAT podcast this week about The Universe Is Self Organizing. You can click on the link to hear the whole thing or I have paraphrased some of the key points below.
She starts out saying that every situation, every circumstance, every relationship that you are in is PERFECT. Created as the perfect learning opportunity for what you need to learn now. Your day will be perfect if you live it correctly. Don't hold anything or anyone at arms length. Especially if the circumstance/situation brings up some level of discomfort. It gives you the perfect opportunity to heal from whatever wound in you that helped create the situation. The moment will be perfect if you behave correctly. Be who you truly are. It gives you the opportunity to live life at a higher level.
My dear departed long-time friend Tommye Jo use to say that she believed this is what "hell" is. That if you didn't get it right in this life or the next that you will get the opportunity to do it over, and over, and over again. This certainly sounds more real than some place you go to after you die if you have been bad. She believed that you can be in "hell" right now in this life and if it is an important lesson you need to learn that you didn't get right the first time around that you will take it with you to the next life and beyond. I miss you TJ but you are always in my heart.
So pay attention to the lessons you are presented in this life and get it right if not the first time at least the second or third. It makes life so much easier and more joyful.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
She starts out saying that every situation, every circumstance, every relationship that you are in is PERFECT. Created as the perfect learning opportunity for what you need to learn now. Your day will be perfect if you live it correctly. Don't hold anything or anyone at arms length. Especially if the circumstance/situation brings up some level of discomfort. It gives you the perfect opportunity to heal from whatever wound in you that helped create the situation. The moment will be perfect if you behave correctly. Be who you truly are. It gives you the opportunity to live life at a higher level.
My dear departed long-time friend Tommye Jo use to say that she believed this is what "hell" is. That if you didn't get it right in this life or the next that you will get the opportunity to do it over, and over, and over again. This certainly sounds more real than some place you go to after you die if you have been bad. She believed that you can be in "hell" right now in this life and if it is an important lesson you need to learn that you didn't get right the first time around that you will take it with you to the next life and beyond. I miss you TJ but you are always in my heart.
So pay attention to the lessons you are presented in this life and get it right if not the first time at least the second or third. It makes life so much easier and more joyful.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
First things first
As I mentioned earlier, there is a lot going on in my life. I have had to reorganize the way I do everything. I am by my very nature an organized person but the universe has been sending me lots and lots of new data/information. I have had to figure out how to deal with it all. A way to be able to use this information again in the future. I've been journaling a lot for the first time. I received a beautiful journal about three inches thick as a going away present from a Habitat for Humanity affiliate I worked for and volunteered with a few years. It sat on my shelf empty for nearly four years. I have more than filled it up in less than a month.
I also started using my planner again. Just to organize the "to do" things that I have been coming up with. It will take me months to get all the things done that I have come up with. I even started mind mapping again which I haven't done since Stu and I were reinventing our lives after our live aboard days. The mind mapping has been VERY useful for me to organize large amounts of data in to some coherent thoughts that I can retrieve at a latter time.
I rarely get done what I want to accomplish each day. I have almost stopped watching TV and have been sleeping less than I use to. I also have been networking with everyone I meet in ways I haven't done in a VERY long time. All the people I meet get put in to my Goggle contacts in a way I can retrieve it from bits of info I have about each person (e.g. walking stick from Zimbabwe) or whatever else that makes the person memorable to me. In Google contacts I can record and retrieve all kinds of trivia. I now know everyone I see on my walks more than one time. It certainly makes my walking more enjoyable. The neighborhood has come alive for me. Several of the people I have become friends with will be in my first class at home. These are people who are VERY new to computers but they trust me to handle them with care.
My priorities are always people first. That's why I entitled this first things first. Everything else that doesn't get done just doesn't get done. Another concept I learned years ago is you will only get done today what you get done today. The rest will be there tomorrow or later.
I believe first things first comes from the Franklin Covey book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Which is a GREAT book. We did a lot of Covey training at UTMB when I worked there. The thing I remember most was to put the BIG rocks in first and the little ones will fit in. For years, I even had a glass full of rocks on my desk and the only way the rocks would fit in the glass was to put the BIG ones in first. This helped me remember to put the important things in my life first. The rest would work itself out. This concept has served me and Stu well over the year.
Signing off for tonight.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy Oberkampf
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
I also started using my planner again. Just to organize the "to do" things that I have been coming up with. It will take me months to get all the things done that I have come up with. I even started mind mapping again which I haven't done since Stu and I were reinventing our lives after our live aboard days. The mind mapping has been VERY useful for me to organize large amounts of data in to some coherent thoughts that I can retrieve at a latter time.
I rarely get done what I want to accomplish each day. I have almost stopped watching TV and have been sleeping less than I use to. I also have been networking with everyone I meet in ways I haven't done in a VERY long time. All the people I meet get put in to my Goggle contacts in a way I can retrieve it from bits of info I have about each person (e.g. walking stick from Zimbabwe) or whatever else that makes the person memorable to me. In Google contacts I can record and retrieve all kinds of trivia. I now know everyone I see on my walks more than one time. It certainly makes my walking more enjoyable. The neighborhood has come alive for me. Several of the people I have become friends with will be in my first class at home. These are people who are VERY new to computers but they trust me to handle them with care.
My priorities are always people first. That's why I entitled this first things first. Everything else that doesn't get done just doesn't get done. Another concept I learned years ago is you will only get done today what you get done today. The rest will be there tomorrow or later.
I believe first things first comes from the Franklin Covey book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Which is a GREAT book. We did a lot of Covey training at UTMB when I worked there. The thing I remember most was to put the BIG rocks in first and the little ones will fit in. For years, I even had a glass full of rocks on my desk and the only way the rocks would fit in the glass was to put the BIG ones in first. This helped me remember to put the important things in my life first. The rest would work itself out. This concept has served me and Stu well over the year.
Signing off for tonight.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy Oberkampf
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Nothing wrong here and there is no place to get
What a concept to get and remember when you need to remember. There is nothing wrong here and there is no place to get.
Right now I am running and playing full out to get my classes and coaching business up and running. I have my first new class, "You Are Never Too Old for E-mail" on the calendar six times in Sun City and once in Houston/Pearland. I am still trying to get some other classes set up in New Braunfels and/or Conroe while I am in Texas. I don't remember when I have had so much FUN. But, this morning I had to remind myself of something I learned many years ago ...there is nothing wrong here and that is no place to get.
This really applies to everything in life. It is the journey that matters. I was running so fast this morning trying to get things done before we have lunch with some friends I was out of breadth. I sat down in my new AB Lounge 2 chair. Some of the extra seating for my office that I got at a garage sale for $15 recently. I took a few deep breadths and this concept came back in to my mind. Thank you universe.
As I said, this really applies to everything in life. Especially my dieting and/or not dieting. I have not dieted in over 15 years. I was ok (complete) with my weight. This year Stu and I both joined The Best Life plan in January to get a better handle on our eating and our weight. TheBestLife.com is run by Bob Greene, Oprah's diet guy and you get to make up most of the rules. Stu has lost some weight but I don't even keep up with his journey. I have now lost over 23 pounds as of this week. If I had to say one thing that made the difference, it was/is logging my food every day. Stu and I still like to go out to eat 3-4 times per week. I know the general calorie count of everything I put in my mouth or at least my food log does. Before, I NEVER logged my food, in years and years of dieting and have lost 100's of pounds on other diet plans. Some of those pounds over and over. That's one reason I quit dieting 15 years ago. At the time, I put exercise and reasonably healthy eating in to my life and I decided that I would weigh what I weigh. This year, I have uped my exercise intensity but not the time and eat even more healthy. I walk 7-9 hours per week. Even in the Phoenix sun. Outside in the morning and at the rec center in the afternoon. It doesn't matter how little time you walk. Just get started twice a day. Even five minutes if that is all you can do to start. Not surprising, my doctor lowered my medications recently. Now that's a reason to walk. I don't even log my food anymore unless I gain weight in a given week. I call it penance for having sinned and I do sin on this eating plan. I just know what the cost will be if I eat too much....for one thing I will have to do my penance for another I won't feel as good.
Anyway try using the concept: There is nothing wrong here and there is no place to get. Try using it for a week and see if things change for you in an area of your life you are struggling with and/or over worked from.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Right now I am running and playing full out to get my classes and coaching business up and running. I have my first new class, "You Are Never Too Old for E-mail" on the calendar six times in Sun City and once in Houston/Pearland. I am still trying to get some other classes set up in New Braunfels and/or Conroe while I am in Texas. I don't remember when I have had so much FUN. But, this morning I had to remind myself of something I learned many years ago ...there is nothing wrong here and that is no place to get.
This really applies to everything in life. It is the journey that matters. I was running so fast this morning trying to get things done before we have lunch with some friends I was out of breadth. I sat down in my new AB Lounge 2 chair. Some of the extra seating for my office that I got at a garage sale for $15 recently. I took a few deep breadths and this concept came back in to my mind. Thank you universe.
As I said, this really applies to everything in life. Especially my dieting and/or not dieting. I have not dieted in over 15 years. I was ok (complete) with my weight. This year Stu and I both joined The Best Life plan in January to get a better handle on our eating and our weight. TheBestLife.com is run by Bob Greene, Oprah's diet guy and you get to make up most of the rules. Stu has lost some weight but I don't even keep up with his journey. I have now lost over 23 pounds as of this week. If I had to say one thing that made the difference, it was/is logging my food every day. Stu and I still like to go out to eat 3-4 times per week. I know the general calorie count of everything I put in my mouth or at least my food log does. Before, I NEVER logged my food, in years and years of dieting and have lost 100's of pounds on other diet plans. Some of those pounds over and over. That's one reason I quit dieting 15 years ago. At the time, I put exercise and reasonably healthy eating in to my life and I decided that I would weigh what I weigh. This year, I have uped my exercise intensity but not the time and eat even more healthy. I walk 7-9 hours per week. Even in the Phoenix sun. Outside in the morning and at the rec center in the afternoon. It doesn't matter how little time you walk. Just get started twice a day. Even five minutes if that is all you can do to start. Not surprising, my doctor lowered my medications recently. Now that's a reason to walk. I don't even log my food anymore unless I gain weight in a given week. I call it penance for having sinned and I do sin on this eating plan. I just know what the cost will be if I eat too much....for one thing I will have to do my penance for another I won't feel as good.
Anyway try using the concept: There is nothing wrong here and there is no place to get. Try using it for a week and see if things change for you in an area of your life you are struggling with and/or over worked from.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
Monday, June 1, 2009
No recession
One of my spiritual guides, Marianne Williamson, had a GREAT recording recently on her daily podcasts. She is always GREAT but sometimes what she has to say makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Her recording of 5/7/09 is one of those and a link is included below:
No Recession by Marianne Williamson
To summarize the key points she says, don't buy in to the thought that because of diminished material resources there is less available for you. It just might be what is necessary to get you to do the inner work in your own soul to who you are and to what you are here on the earth to give. The thing that actually pushes you in to the place out of which will emerge opportunities including opportunities for material resources that you might never have had or even imagined. She further goes on to say this is not about denial it is about transcendence and that there are so many more rooms in this house of ours. We live in a big mansion and you've only been living in a few rooms. Open up doors in the house you have never used before. What is the talent you have never gone for? What is the thing you have always really wanted to do? The thing you didn't do because you had a job/something else you were doing. Didn't have the time to do. God will move you forward in areas that you never would have gone without the recession. The new job will places you on that track to something extraordinary and abundant. God is more powerful than this recession. In God there is no recession. Time for you to remember who your source is. The job that you have had is not the only source of your good. Not the actual source of your good at all. Just the form the universe expressed itself in your life. Form can change but the content will not change. The content is how much God loves you. How infinitely powerful and talented you are. How the genius and the brilliance of the universe is encoded in you and each and everyone of us. Remember that. Know who you are. Lack is just not a part of what you are about. That you a child of God and entitled to miracles.
I feel sure that some of you feel your necks tingling right right now. You'll know who your are when you read/heard this. I certainly am on a new path because of the fun and games in the stock market in 2008/2009. Stu has taken over my trading/investing along with his full-time trading. He still has his mind and heart in the game. I haven't had my heart in the game since last October. I am on a new path creating classes and coaching. Some tech stuff and some not. My first class is "You Are Never Too Old for E-mail". I offer this as a free class and have a two day format and a one day format. I am already scheduled to teach this class four times in Arizona and at least once in Texas (Houston/Pearland) when I am there this summer. I am working on setting up some additional classes while I am in Texas.
To sign up for Marianne Williamson's daily podcasts go to Oprah.com and click on Radio in the middle of the top line. Then choose Marianne Williamson. After that, select Get Marianne's podcasts and read her blog. You will have to sign up the first time you are there. Also, you will have to listen to some Oprah.com ads but it is worth the extra time and effort. I download her podcasts every day.
Rolling, rolling, rolling.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
No Recession by Marianne Williamson
To summarize the key points she says, don't buy in to the thought that because of diminished material resources there is less available for you. It just might be what is necessary to get you to do the inner work in your own soul to who you are and to what you are here on the earth to give. The thing that actually pushes you in to the place out of which will emerge opportunities including opportunities for material resources that you might never have had or even imagined. She further goes on to say this is not about denial it is about transcendence and that there are so many more rooms in this house of ours. We live in a big mansion and you've only been living in a few rooms. Open up doors in the house you have never used before. What is the talent you have never gone for? What is the thing you have always really wanted to do? The thing you didn't do because you had a job/something else you were doing. Didn't have the time to do. God will move you forward in areas that you never would have gone without the recession. The new job will places you on that track to something extraordinary and abundant. God is more powerful than this recession. In God there is no recession. Time for you to remember who your source is. The job that you have had is not the only source of your good. Not the actual source of your good at all. Just the form the universe expressed itself in your life. Form can change but the content will not change. The content is how much God loves you. How infinitely powerful and talented you are. How the genius and the brilliance of the universe is encoded in you and each and everyone of us. Remember that. Know who you are. Lack is just not a part of what you are about. That you a child of God and entitled to miracles.
I feel sure that some of you feel your necks tingling right right now. You'll know who your are when you read/heard this. I certainly am on a new path because of the fun and games in the stock market in 2008/2009. Stu has taken over my trading/investing along with his full-time trading. He still has his mind and heart in the game. I haven't had my heart in the game since last October. I am on a new path creating classes and coaching. Some tech stuff and some not. My first class is "You Are Never Too Old for E-mail". I offer this as a free class and have a two day format and a one day format. I am already scheduled to teach this class four times in Arizona and at least once in Texas (Houston/Pearland) when I am there this summer. I am working on setting up some additional classes while I am in Texas.
To sign up for Marianne Williamson's daily podcasts go to Oprah.com and click on Radio in the middle of the top line. Then choose Marianne Williamson. After that, select Get Marianne's podcasts and read her blog. You will have to sign up the first time you are there. Also, you will have to listen to some Oprah.com ads but it is worth the extra time and effort. I download her podcasts every day.
Rolling, rolling, rolling.
In joyful partnership,
Cathy
cathy.the.teacher@gmail.com
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