Let's reflect.

The Hall of Mirrors in Versailles is a lot like a break; it is great for reflection. A few weeks ago, I asked you to write out some specific things that you could do to maximize every day between the Thanksgiving and winter breaks. After re-reading your comment to that post, write how you did. Did this plan help you have a great month? Was it an easy plan to follow? Did you set measurable goals for performance (for example "I should participate in every class" instead of "I should participate more")? If you were to re-do the past month, what one thing would you do differently?

Favorites

I absolutely adore a mug of steaming hot chocolate on a cold winter day. Especially when snow is slowly drifting down, creating a peaceful, gray-toned, soothing scene I love to read and relax in front of the fire with hot chocolate by my side. In the past I have also found that hot chocolate is a wonderful tool for warming up more quickly when coming in from the cold on a blustery day. Fingers frozen to the bone regain their feeling much more quickly when wrapped around a piping hot mug of heavenly hot chocolate.

What is your favorite winter treat? When do you enjoy it the most?

Snow!!

Snow means many different things to different people. Snow causes me to drive more slowly, which means I have to get up earlier in the morning. It means that I have to shovel out my driveway and keep walkways clear around the house. I have to wear boots around outside, and bring shoes with me if I don't want to walk around in wet shoes all day.

However, I still enjoy snow. I look forward to seeing it filter down across gray skies, drifting through pine boughs and gently coating everything. I look forward to going sledding with my family, and playing with my dogs until the cold drives me in. I look forward to seeing the familiar scenery shrouded in a white blanket. I even look forward to the occasional snow day, although I hope that we don't miss any school during wrestling season.

What does the snow mean to you? What do you like or dislike about it?

Back to the grind

It can be tough to get back in the swing of things after a quick break, especially with enthusiasm about the upcoming break building ever higher. Anticipation and excitement about the holiday break and what it might hold in store for us can lead to daydreaming and inefficient use of time. This compounds our being out of routine from the Thanksgiving break.

Like sprinters headed down the final stretch, it can help us to keep the finish line in sight and make sure each stride has a purpose. If we slow down and coast into the finish, we're unlikely to be pleased with our results.

What is one specific thing that you can do to maximize each day in school before the next break?
(The more specific you are, the more easily you'll be able to evaluate your process and assess how well you did at a later date. Hint, hint.)

Thanksgiving

When I was growing up, I was fortunate enough to have parents who made me eat all kinds of different food. Even if I didn't want to try something, I had to have at least a taste. Now that I'm older I appreciate the broad array of foods and flavors to which I was exposed. Many things that I didn't like at first I ended up enjoying. If I had been given my way, I would never have taken a bite!

While I acquired a taste for many different foods, I never grew to like sweet potatoes. I think this is partly due to their texture and partly to their flavor. If they are buried under enough butter and brown sugar I can stomach sweet potatoes, but I would prefer not to have to deal with them. This makes Thanksgiving somewhat problematic because sweet potatoes are almost always a featured item. I don't want to seem rude to the person nice enough to prepare them, but I also don't want to eat them.

What is your least favorite food at Thanksgiving? Are you able to avoid having to eat any? What tricks do you use to get out of eating this food?

Musical inspiration

One of my favorite groups these day is Flobots. I like their music because many of the tunes are catchy but have substance below the catchy surface. Since they have more depth, I find that I can listen to the songs over and over without growing tired of them. Their lyrics have some important, socially significant points. While I don't necessarily agree with everything the group says, I do like the idea of groups using musical arts to express opinions about important social issues.

What artist or group have you been particularly enjoying recently? What do you especially like about her/him/them?

Open for suggestion

What should next week's blog comment be? Submit a topic that you think would

a) be interesting.

b) provide opportunities for explanation.

c) be an entertaining topic.

Make sure to explain why YOUR submission should be the one.