Thursday, December 31, 2015

Lesson 397: Team Adrenaline 2015


Happy New Year, Team Adrenaline!
Eloise has had her eye on you all year long.
Here is a recap of 2015.


If you are a member of this group,
or someone considering joining up with this crazy bunch of wellness junkies,
here's a look at how we've spent the past twelve months.

For those interested in checking out a Team Adrenaline workout,
here is where and when you can find us:

Evenings:
Tuesdays, 6:00 pm--Iroquois High School
Thursdays, 6:00 pm--currently meeting at Shades Beach, Harborcreek

Early mornings:
Mondays, 5:30 am--Iroquois High School
Wednesday, 5:15 am Logan House-Penn State Behrend

Weekends:
Saturday morning, 7:30 am--various parks and playgrounds, changing locations

Workouts are designed to accommodate all fitness levels. 
Children 17 and under are free if they attend with an adult.

Team Adrenaline has much more to offer than just exercise.
There are various challenges and programs offered throughout the year.

The next upcoming wellness challenge is Doc's Detox.
It is a six week program designed to reset your health after the season of holiday feasting.
It is free to anyone, anywhere, 
and there is an easy link to follow on facebook.
Contact a Team Adrenaline member if you would like added to the Doc's Detox page
and desire to start 2016 out with wellness in mind.

To bid the year farewell,
enjoy the photo review set to Colbie Caillat's rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

For more detailed information about these wellness programs,
contact Dr. Krauza or Leslie Cooksey at Krauza Chiropractic, Harborcreek, PA.

Happy New Year, Everyone.
ELOISE

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Lesson 396: Lessons from the Professor


1944 must have been a scary year.

I searched the internet for some images from that time period
and the black and whites made Eloise's hair stand on end.
This is Normandy in June of 1944.



 At that time, my grandmother had only recently determined that she was with child again--
this time at age 44.
The baby would be her fifth born, and later would be known as our Dad.

Today is my dad's 71st birthday.
Kenyan and I are heading over to wish him well over coffee and doughnuts,
one of his many favorites.


A man who has been content to stay out of the spotlight,
and away from my lens for all these years,
still deserves a blog post on The Lamp Post to congratulate him on his year well lived.

Dad is the most mechanically inclined person I've ever known.
He can fix anything,
as well as create somethin' from nothin;--
no--I wasn't referring to my little sister, pictured with him above.
I was referring to his talent for building useful contraptions out of pieces and parts of other things.

Dad is unwavering in his love for:
the Pittsburgh Steelers,
the History Channel
beer,


and his family.


He has been our best history teacher,
grammar coach,
and finance instructor.
The lessons from our Resident Professor are best shared by quoting a few of his favorites:

On intelligence--Albert Einstein:



On foreign policy--Teddy Roosevelt:




On tough times---Winston Churchill:


And just some smart advice---the guys from Gold Rush:



Happy birthday, Dad--
from all of us.



Enjoy a photo video of our Dad's year,
set to Carrie Underwood's song from her new album Storyteller--
The Girl You Think I Am.
The pictures tell quite a story.

Happy Birthday!
Love,
Eloise and Kenyan

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Lesson 395: Ho! Ho! Ho!iday!


Ho! Ho! Ho!liday to my Readers!


Christmas has arrived at the Lamp Post.
Despite a flirtation of snow last weekend,


It's all green grass and blue skies for Erie, PA this holiday.



Momma Deer fell over again,
an omen perhaps of the State of Eloise before this night is through.


'Tis the season for fun 


and for friendships.






We celebrate the joy of giving


and wrap ourselves in the warmth of receiving.


Christmas is a time of love,
not fear.



Eloise has assigned homework--
even on a holiday.

This is a must read and watch.
Thank you to my friend Marcie for sharing it with me.

Click on the link below about a Charlie Brown Christmas.

Just Drop the Blanket: The Moment You Never Noticed in A Charlie Brown Christmas

Beloved Linus finally has the courage to let go of his blanket--
to step out in his faith and proclaim
"Fear Not!"

This article sums up my sentiments tonight perfectly.


On behalf of the Elves here at the Lamp Post--


Elotrees


Lou Who


Samta Claus


Jingle BEllen


and the Nat Cracker,


we wish you a very Merry Christmas!


For an extra special night, end this reading with a beautiful song.
All Is Well, My Friends.

ELOISE


Friday, December 18, 2015

Lesson 394: Leaning Left

Snow has finally arrived in Erie, Readers!


Eloise is in the Christmas spirit tonight,
despite the fact that she is leaning a little toward the left this week.


Now don't get your Santa boxers all in a bunch.
This is not a political post about the circus of American politics.


How I vote is none of your concern.
 I'm not a fan of heated political discussions at Christmas parties.





But I am a fan of info-graphics!
I found this one when researching the leftness
and rightness of governments for school.
Try explaining the intricacies of governments to inquisitive elementary school students.



Eloise is leaning a little to the left because she tweaked her back in
a gift wrapping accident, deemed the Scotch Tape Incident.

I was wrapping my last gift on the cold garage floor at 11:00 at night.
I lost the #^@&$% tape for the hundredth time,
and was too lazy to stand up to look.
I did a crazy contortion with a McTwist,
and POP!

It took a couple of minutes to get off of the floor.
With some caring hands and lots of back rubs,
I'm on the mend.
It now only hurts when I sneeze.
Lessons Learned:
#1--Stand up and look for the tape!
#2--I sneeze more often than I thought.



Even my yard deer gave me forewarning and I was too stupid to pick up the sign.


The Momma Deer has a nice lean to the left.


We're always looking for ways to spread the light at the Lamp Post.


I'll share this beautiful display of light my neighbor Bart snapped this week.
He owns 6 Mile Cellars Winery across the street from the Lamp Post.


Their little Grapelet was born a couple of weeks ago.
Lean into the love.


It's hard to believe the boy I babysat is all grown up
and has a baby boy of his own now.


My lean to the left has not allowed for jogs or workouts this week,
but I have taken some leisurely walks in the woods.

The trails were covered with leaves, not snow



and it was warm enough for Josie to swim in the pond!


If you hike the trails of the Harborcreek Community Park,
don't forget to look for your ornament.
They can be found on the east trail,
just beyond the Boy Scout bridge.


 Fellow blogger Heather found hers last weekend,
and left us all an added surprise.  
She added some angels of her own!
Make sure you take one of those, too!


While you are looking for the ornaments,
if you stumble across this E that someone made for me, 
let me know. 
I've been to three parks looking and I still can't find it.


I'm glad my spine was straight for the Barber Ball last Saturday,
or I wouldn't have been able to put on my glass slippers


and dance the night away.
It was lots of fun.


Christmas celebrations have started,


and holiday preparations are in full swing at the Lamp Post.
Left and right,
we are using lots of tape.

Sam shopped for all of us at the Clark School Jingle Bell Shop.


He purchased $50 worth of the highest quality
Taiwanese merchandise the store had to offer.
He wrapped them all himself.


I can't wait to see what he got my sister that is round.


Sister Kenyan gets to open lots of gifts this week.
It is her birthday today!


Sibling relationships are special,
and every single one is different.

Take for example the case of  my students TR and Elyse.

I get asked lots of odd requests in my job as the Enrichment Teacher for our school district.
This brother-sister combo---only one grade level apart,



asked me this question via written essays:

Who has the right to the Baumann 8 jersey?


They are on the same co-ed soccer team,
and get to pick their jersey number.
After hours of bickering, a clever Momma left it up to Mrs. Eloise to decide.
A teacher herself, Momma Baumann instructed the children to write their 
arguments in essay form, and bring them to school to allow someone impartial to judge.

TR, the elder of the pair made several valid arguments as to why he should wear the jersey.
1.  It's traditionally been his number
2.  He is the oldest in his family and his birthright is the #8



 Elyse, of course
thought the arguments were redeculess!


After Elyse's strong comments and a reread,
she thought it appropriate to apologize for not indenting.
The passion to prove her point overshadowed the need for moving five spaces in.


TR diplomatically stated, "I would love for Elyse to have the jersey if I wasn't on the team."
Elyse countered that she has true right to choose first because it was, in fact,
HER team first.

The kids told me I was to base my answer on who wrote the best essay.  
I cannot judge on the grammar and mechanics of the essay, 
as TR has a one year lead on Elyse, and that would be unfair.
Instead I will have to make my ruling upon based on argument
and offer some solutions to this problem.

Judge Eloise has decided that I feel it is within TR's right to request the #8,
and call first dibs
There are some things that first-borns get the chance to claim, 
and in this instance, 


could go to TR without argument.

However, just because it should,
doesn't mean that it has to.

Compromises can always be determined.
Here are a few of Judge Eloise's suggestions:

1.  Is this co-ed soccer opportunity available for many years?  If so, perhaps TR could wear the Baumann #8 this season, and Elyse could wear it the next.

2.  Elyse--you are a creative girl.  Is there a way you can include the #8 on your jersey by making it part of your number---like #28--the SECOND Baumann in your family to wear #8?

3.  If you cut an 8 in half, lengthwise down the middle, and flipped the left side section upside down, you'd have the #33--and that is my favorite number because it represents many good things in the universe.  33 is a great jersey number!

You can push and shove over #8 with the back and forth banter that all healthy brother-sister relationships have.  That is completely normal and good for you. 

Instead of always pushing against one another though, for a change try pushing together.  Give that #8 a big shove to the left.  After it leans and teeters, one more nudge will make it fall flat on its side. And you know what you get then?  This:


A sideways 8 is the infinity symbol.
That represents how long you will be a brother and a sister--
forever.
It is also represents how much you really do love one another---
even if you haven't realized it yet.

I think along with this #8 jersey, the Baumann's should make a special handshake 
to use at the start of every game you play together.

Judge Eloise suggests this one:

infenitesimally intertwined are we universally energized was our meeting. always it is and shall be, who we're with is who we're meant to be with at this point in time. jive with it:


It will remind you of the Baumann #8 legacy,
as well as your infinite love for your family.

I can't wait to watch you play sometime and see what numbers are on your backs.

Until then--go out and have some fun in the snow this weekend.
Throw snow at each other.
A good snowball fight settles everything.

Goodnight, Readers!
bedroom wall decal

ELOISE