tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30782011145642064702026-09-20T10:01:02.490-05:00...because motherhood is not for the meekMelissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.comBlogger434125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-82733367034332470202016-01-17T19:20:00.001-06:002016-01-19T07:56:02.760-06:00

It's fifteen days into my 'Getting Pumped' challenge and I can't say things have gone as planned. Within hours of my last post I decided on a different core strengthening workout to follow: one I found in a Canadian Running magazine that was within inches of recycling. This workout had me doing a number of exercises standing on one foot (technically referred to as 'single leg stance'). My

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-50012447339244580782016-01-02T13:44:00.003-06:002016-01-03T10:20:11.013-06:00

I'm injured. Again. This week its an abdominal strain from cross-country skiing. Last week --yes, last week-- it was a knee sprain while snowboarding in heavy powder. And then there was the peroneus longus tendonitis last spring, the back strain last winter, and the decades-long hallux valgus which has resulted in countless blisters and a painfully recurrent Morton's neuroma. My body has

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-82185871520170182352015-07-21T12:35:00.000-05:002015-07-21T12:35:31.742-05:00

I was 40 years old when I asked myself the question, "If not now, when?" If I wasn't going to take my health seriously at age 40, how likely would it be that I would ever. It would not get any easier, that was for certain. So I started running, joined Weight Watchers, and registered for a local 4 mile race. Actually, I registered for the 4K at the same event only to discover that the shorter

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-36971885421417944642014-09-13T12:10:00.001-05:002014-09-29T09:04:55.603-05:00

Lady was the first horse I remember riding.  To be more accurate, Lady was a brown pony with a prickly personality and fierce disdain for tailgaters.  She once kicked the Colonel when he stood too close to her hindquarters. Lady belonged to a family friend and, despite being slow and stubborn, I never complained. Horseback riding was a rare treat and bringing up the rear was a small

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-16707883416377391642014-08-20T14:57:00.001-05:002014-08-20T19:19:21.150-05:00

I've often referred to my dogs as Golden Chickens. Despite being classified as large dogs, Golden Retrievers — or shall I say our Goldens —tend to behave in ways that call their canine qualifications into question. Honey, God rest her soul, once sausaged herself between two pickets of our black aluminum fence in a desperate attempt to evade thunder. At over 70 pounds, she was no fly-weight, and

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-74594333431496175182014-08-18T18:56:00.001-05:002014-08-20T19:20:28.954-05:00

I am in a holding pattern of sorts, waiting for my Washington State teaching certificate. The process is complex, with many required documents, references, forms, exams, and cash outlays. I appreciate why many professionals refuse to stray further than their first professional leash will allow. The  tedious redundancy and expense of crossing state or international borders is ridiculous. At

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-81308943700764066652013-06-19T08:54:00.001-05:002013-06-19T08:58:40.246-05:00

Mouse caught a fly and fed it to Samster. Freaky,

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-88982756502863968932013-05-31T15:19:00.001-05:002013-05-31T16:45:12.598-05:00

It's no secret that teachers get gifts. I've given many over the past decade as my girls have progressed through school. When gift selection was heavily influenced by me we gave house plants, baked goods, or gift cards. The girls, on the other hand, have preferred to select oddities like LED-lit snowmen, #1 Teacher coffee mugs, and hot-pink, rose-scented candles. Eventually we have gravitated

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-74297973115533357082013-05-30T07:43:00.001-05:002013-05-30T07:43:50.439-05:00

I asked my departing students to write a note to their 4th grade replacements on how best to succeed in Mrs. Miller's 5th grade class. Many decided to express their incorrigible senses of humour instead. Here is a montage of their advice. Always use red pen. Never double space your writing. If she writes a number in your planner, you get a piece of candy. When she says, "Give me five," talk

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-14599309910561808632012-07-19T07:32:00.001-05:002012-07-19T08:09:35.397-05:00

Haleakala as viewed from our oceanside resort.  The crater at the top of the now dormant Haleakala Volcano on Maui is large and deep enough to hide Manhattan. We passed up the opportunity to watch the sunrise from its rim simply due to the 2:30am wakeup call. Instead we opted for a late morning excursion that had us coasting down her wide flanks on bicycles with blessedly strong brakes.

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-39239497213639495492012-07-17T14:30:00.001-05:002012-07-17T22:02:31.552-05:00

 Call me crazy, but I've always wanted to see an active volcano--from a safe distance, of course. In honour of turning 40, I made a wish for a trip to Hawaii. While I was denied flowing lava by Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of all things hot, the experience was nonetheless spectacular. In the photo above, Emma and Mouse huddle in the lava tube located in the back yard of our Volcano Village

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-74625256830274895322012-06-27T20:21:00.002-05:002012-06-27T20:24:33.605-05:00

Since moving to P-town, Camp Miller has become an annual tradition. It fills those weeks of summer that aren't taken up by day camp or trips out of town as a family. Days pass in a blink, filled with trips to the library, the local museum, destination bike rides, hikes, and crafts galore. Of course, I can't resist dabbling in academia. They read, write, and do math, too, every day save weekends.

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-87346623218572941372012-06-26T16:26:00.002-05:002012-06-27T20:26:16.640-05:00

So this is it, my first classroom. Please overlook the chaos, as this is how it must be left for the cleaners who promise to have it back to me by August. To be honest, I'm beside myself with anticipation. It can be a tad overwhelming at times, but ever so worth it. When I think back to my first year as a physical therapist, I know I still had so much to learn. I was also a measly 21

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-66931553592075050282012-06-05T07:50:00.000-05:002012-06-26T08:03:01.999-05:00

June 5, 2012 Venus crossed in front of the sun. The little fleck's path was from top right to bottom right and was just barely visible through solar viewing glasses. Still, it was pretty cool and won't be seen again in any of our lifetimes. Needless to say I've socked away the glasses for my future classroom. Finally, my packrat nature is being put to full use!

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-5084329567235074372012-05-23T08:00:00.000-05:002012-06-26T08:01:51.645-05:00

Evelyn graduated from elementary school today having earned the President's Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence. This requires that she have maintained an A- average in 4th and 5th grade and to have scored in the Exceeds range on the state standardized tests for Math, Language Arts and Science.Madelaine earned her very first Presidential Physical Fitness Award. There are five

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-38431991523254350332012-05-17T08:41:00.004-05:002012-05-17T08:51:28.008-05:00

Emma has developed a fascination with space this past year thanks to her school's trip to the Challenger Center and a 5th grade science unit on rockets. Check out her launch: This rocket was recovered and she's finishing a second, larger one today.  Apparently the teacher does not keep any engines at school. After watching launch day, I can see why. The Captain is keen on planning a

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-19586141778848089112012-05-10T09:16:00.001-05:002012-05-10T09:20:01.642-05:00

"I hope your 5th grade classroom is nice to you because if there not I'm going down there and say show some respect and their lucky to have you." "Thanks for teaching us about poetry and because of you my brother will be proud of me. " "I will miss your beautiful smile every day." "We liked the fraction party you threw us. We got to mix the juice and soda. We got to mix the snacks, too." "

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-30870915082188760932012-05-06T10:54:00.003-05:002012-05-06T19:01:39.197-05:00

They had just finished reading the poem Lester by Shel Silverstein in pairs. I had them answer the usual questions teachers must ask like, "Who granted Lester his first wish?" and "What did he do with it?" I had them delve into what the author thought Lester should have done with his wishes instead wishing for more. I even probed into how we might describe the rhyme scheme and meter. But

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-38414987457210746142012-04-02T17:28:00.003-05:002012-04-03T06:52:36.628-05:00

"Who was the first man to set foot on the moon?" I ask. The response of a truly divergent thinker: "Jesus?" Walk in space; walk on water. How did I ever miss that connection?

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-35087064106232513982012-04-01T17:57:00.000-05:002012-04-01T17:57:47.852-05:00

Idea by Mouse; design by Emma; polish by Mighty Mom; effect: PRICELESS! Happy April Fools Day, big guy!

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-89365586302670186892012-01-28T17:58:00.005-06:002012-01-29T18:49:32.679-06:00

To whom this may concern at Pyrex: A few months ago my 1-cup liquid measure broke during an unfortunate dishwashing accident. Its design was what I must now describe as 'old school'. It had increment markings that could be read only from the outside with the observer crouched down to the level of the meniscus of the liquid inside. I have since attempted to replace the aforementioned cup without

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-64243275496888786422012-01-15T16:59:00.006-06:002012-01-15T17:09:32.749-06:00

Perhaps it's an odd diversion, but I've been trying my hand at origami. It's mindful, yet non-verbal, a nice diversion from my heavily language-driven days. I think I enjoy choosing paper combinations almost as much as the creations themselves. These are Level 1 and 2 projects according to my book, The Simple Art of Japanese Papercrafts by Mari Ono. The book goes up to Level 5. We'll see...

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-65721211398781660922012-01-10T11:34:00.002-06:002012-01-10T11:54:16.690-06:00

"Nana's spaghetti sauce is better than yours." I guess the tuna marinara wasn't a hit.

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-21137024389601291862012-01-10T11:23:00.001-06:002012-01-10T18:38:45.099-06:00

The digital camera that had been mounted on his helmet took a licking, but it just kept ticking. No Captain's were harmed in filming of this serendipitous stunt.

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078201114564206470.post-48815620138541969502012-01-08T10:10:00.003-06:002012-01-10T18:40:16.953-06:00

Melissa Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09761908203021606003noreply@blogger.com3