DMT PM

DMT AM

So I changed jobs in March. It was bittersweet. Bitter because it was mid-year and I had to leave my classroom and students. Sweet because now instead of commuting 42 miles each way to work, I commute 1.5 miles.

I left St. Clair TEC after nearly 4 years there. I must admit, it was a great job. I had great students who I had come to know and love. The funny thing about teaching is you really do invest a lot of your heart into it. Maybe because I am blue (for my True Colors people) but it's really a job that you become emotionally invested in. At least I do. I really do everything I can to help my students. Some days they hate it, but in the end, we end up with a mutual respect and affection. I know I will have the same in Lapeer but it just takes time to develop. Most of my students in St. Clair were 2nd year students, which meant I had them for 2.5 hours each day, every school day.

So needless to say leaving my kids was really hard. I will admit, some tears where shed. They are still popping up in my dreams. On my last day, we celebrated our time together. One of my students designed a t-shirt and we got them printed. And we all wore them. I gave them mock awards, like I usually do in the spring. It was a very emotional good bye. While I really do enjoy my new job and I am getting to know a bunch of new kids, who are getting to know me - I thought I would share some of the photos.

Yes, everyone loves Alex's hat.

It's our best attempt at the Myspace photo.

Nate and I.

That's my Martha!

She made me cry.

Me & Kate the Rock Star!

Britney and I.

He's a trouble maker, but I miss him.

Proud Moment

So I had two groups of students (at St. Clair TEC) who where honored by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for their Public Service Announcements. I am so proud of them. It was nice because my last week at St. Clair TEC, I got to take them to the awards ceremony in Grand Rapids.  Here are some pictures from the trip. Also one of my students posted their video on youtube so you can watch it.

So you may or may not know that I spent none of this winter running. Yes, I the first part of the winter in a very attractive knee length boot and the second half in physical therapy. I feel that I needed to preface this blog with that fact.

Needless to say, I did not train for this run. This half-marathon which I signed up for in October after finishing Chicago somewhat disappointed. So I was like - I am in good shape, just because I had one bad race, doesn't mean I can't have a great half-marathon on my half-birthday, with my buddy (Meghan of the 7:11 running club) in Florida. Then exactly two days later, I am hurt playing rec league Volleyball and my winter running is over. 

So before the half-marathon on March 8th in Orlando, Florida, I trained for exactly 8 minutes on the treadmill, approximately three days before. So I went down thinking, I am going to walk this thing. I will have fun, but I will be walking.

Of course you have to start with the running, so I ran with Meghan - I thought the most I would make was possibly three miles. We ran a mile and walked a minute: 

Mile 1: it's early, there are lots of people (women,) we are having fun and I feel surprisingly good.

Mile 2: I am still running, still feeling surprisingly good.

Mile 3: still feeling good.

Mile 4: not feeling good, but not feeling bad.

Mile 5: Slowing down, but still running. Plus we are in the magic kingdom, so that's fun.

Mile 6: Still running.

Mile 7: Still running - but my legs are super tired.

Mile 8: I know this will be my last mile running. I send Meghan who had done a little more training than myself ahead.

Mile 9 - 12: walking, getting my pictures taken with the characters, enjoying Disney.

Mile 13 - Finish: Of course you have to run at the end, especially because you are running through Epcot and there are people cheering you on.

Finish: Oh my word, I may die. Good, I didn't die.

Oh I forgot to mention - that I ran the race in a running skirt. We bought them at the expo - both Meghan and I. And let me tell you, I totally dig the skirt. 

I find Meghan, however bad news, we didn't remember where we had parked and that is the last thing you want to do when your legs are out of shape and exhausted. But we eventually found the car! Then we vegged out the rest of the day, with a trip to the Cheesecake Factory. Then I got on the plane and headed back to Michigan.

Needless to say, I was sore after the race, but not as sore as I would be for the next three days. I honestly don't think I have ever been that sore in my life. I literally had to slide down the stairs on my butt. I literally hobbled around school. Had it not been my last week at St. Clair TEC, I would have called in sick, but I couldn't so I suffered.

Overall, it was a great time - knowing what I know now and knowing how I felt after the run, I would definitely not run 8 miles without training. But I guess you only live once. Next run, (which I am already training for - I am up to 2 whole miles) is another Half-Marathon. The Bayshore Half Marathon in Traverse City over Memorial Day weekend. 

Oh, yeah that's me and Alice along with the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts.

I had time to hang out with Aladdin, Jasmine and Abu.

Yes, I think I have fairy potential.

The big Epcot Ball is in the distance, I am getting closer to the finish.

I am even closer now.

Yes, I am running backwards toward the finish line and I'm taking a photo of myself. This shows my natural athletic talent, and or dumb luck.

Meghan and I in our awesome running skirts and medals. 

Which by the way are in the shape of a tiara.

March Madness

So the third anniversary to the start of the TiVo Changed my Life blog came and went without fanfare. Yes, TiVo Changed my Life has hit it's three year milestone. Woo Whoo!!  So you may be asking - why no blogging. Well there are many blogs to be written about March - none of them actually written in March. 

Here's a short preview of what's to come:

March 6th-8th Half-Marathon Orlando (without training)

March 9th-12th: Not being able to walk 

March 13th: Last Day at St. Clair TEC

March 16th: First Day at Lapeer Ed-Tech

March 20th-22nd: Chicago for Max's 4th Birthday

March 22nd - Present: Work, School, Work - Laziness, Exhaustion - Work

April 3rd: Spring Break 2009 Starts

So I will get started, but I just wanted to alert you to the fact that though it appears I have left this blog unattended - I have been writing in my head, it's just now that I have actually had time to get what's in my head onto the computer.

From DMT to DMA

So, it's been official for a while but it has been a slow release of information (hence silence on the TiVo Changed My Life Blog), but I have a new job. Yes, I am moving from DMT to DMA. What does that mean? It means that I am leaving the Digital Media Technology class at St. Clair TEC (where I have been teaching for the past 3.67 years) and moving to the Digital Media Arts class at Lapeer County Ed-Tech.

Why move in the middle of the year? Well to be honest it isn't ideal (especially for my students - who I will miss a lot) but that's sometimes how this work out and in the end it's really Bruce's fault. I am sure you are asking - what does Bruce have to do with this and frankly, everything.

See he got me into this whole teaching thing and well for those of you that don't know - I will be taking over his job in Lapeer, just like I took over his job in St. Clair. What?

Well it all started one day with a woman who was looking for the quilt exhibit at Henry Ford Museum. Yes, I was working in the Public Relations office and I was standing around watching a film crew to make sure they didn't jump the barriers. A woman came up to me and asked me were the quilt exhibit was - I told her it wasn't anymore - but then because well I was bored out of my skull - I asked her were she was from. She said, "Port Huron." I said, oh my husband teaches up in Marysville - she said where - I said St. Clair TEC. She said, I used to teach there, I said wow, she said what class does your husband teach, I said Digital Media Technology (DMT.)

That's when she told me that here school was hiring someone for a new position that was very much digital media. She said that it was less days and more money - I said, well I will tell Bruce. I did - he claims that he heard about it before - but I like my version better. So he applies and low and behold he is hired. In his last days at St. Clair TEC he comes home and says to me - I think you should apply for my job at St. Clair TEC. I said, really, he said yes and I said ok. I applied, they took a chance on me and I was hired.

I must admit that I love teaching at St. Clair TEC. There is only one thing I don't like about my drive and it's my 45 minute commute. Now don't get me wrong - it is my fault - because I had to fall in love with a house in Lapeer County. And every morning when I wake up early to get ready and get to work - I am jealous of my husband who can sleep just a little longer and his drive to work is 1.5 miles.

Then in November - a job at Oxford High School (Oxford, Michigan) came up and Bruce was offered the job - he accepted and it seemed like a no brainer - I would apply for his job. I did and I got it. So on March 13th - I will say goodbye to my colleagues and students at St. Clair TEC. And then that following Monday - I will start in Lapeer.

I am not going to lie - I may have teared up a little when telling my students - but hey what can I say - that's me - "captain emotional." But for the most part everyone has been very understanding - not exactly happy - but very understanding.

But in the meantime - check out the awesome work my students have been doing - they produced and directed their very first TEC News. I am very proud of them. They are currently in the process of working on the second edition. There has been a great response at school - so I am really happy for them.

Only at Tim Hortons

Morning Music

With Bruce and Meghan.

Kewpee Burger in Lima

Ohio her we come...

The Best Neighbors

So I can honestly say that as a child I had the best neighbors. Now I don't say this lightly. I am sure you are all thinking how can she say that - that is such a broad statement. However, I can say it with a clear conscious. I grew up in the country. For the longest time our neighborhood was made up of four houses - each on no less than two acre parcels. Our neighborhood was not filled with children my age - it was the exact opposite, it was mostly adults. By adults I mean - when I was born the closest to me in age - and that was not relative by blood was 14 - which meant by the time I have memories of them they were all in college.

I grew up next to the Widmayer's--Richard and Loretta and their four daughters Ann, Jean, Sharon and Carol--which my family usually refers to as "the girls." For instance, "I'm going next door, 'the girls' are home." Or, the time my brother packed up all his diapers because he was going to live with "the girls." (Or as he pronounced it the ge-wal-els.)

When I say we had the best neighbors - it was because we didn't really treat each other like neighbors, it was more like extended family. When our birthdays approached my mom or dad would call over next door to plan the birthday party. Yes the entire neighborhood would come over for cake and ice cream. In fact most of my pictures from childhood are filled with the Widmayer girls standing behind me. And I can guarantee that most of their pictures have a small version of me, my sister and my brother in them somewhere.

For Example:

My 9th Birthday

My 6th Birthday

My 5th Birthday

My 4th Birthday

My 2nd Birthday

We would celebrate Christmas at Aunt Lena's house - which was right next door to Dick and Loretta's. It was like any other family celebration - we would eat snacks, dads would drink beer and we would open presents.

I remember each one of girls' weddings. I don't think we went to a lot of weddings growing up. But, I do remember going to their weddings at St. Mary's church and Emmanuel and then going to the Legion for the reception. It was fun when I finally got married, to share my wedding with Dick, Loretta, the Girls and now their children.


However, I remember Jean's wedding the most - mainly due to my brother's heartbreak. See Kevin had fallen madly in love with Jean around age 2. He wanted to move in with her so she could take him to Taco Bell. He loved everything about Jean. Then Jean met Marc - who Kevin tolerated with much disdain until that fateful day when Jean announced to Kevin that she was going to marry Marc. Kevin's small heart, age (I think) four - just broke. He now despised Marc for stealing Jean from him. He relunctantly was a ring bearer in the wedding - but it was all for Jean. He was a funny little kid. Thinking about it makes me giggle.

But most of my memories come from every day things. Like nearly every Saturday of my childhood (especially during the summer,) I would quickly get my chores done - so I could go next door. One could say it was a tactic to avoid doing more work at my house - and that would probably be correct. I would follow Loretta around - while she cleaned her house inside. Then I would follow Dick around outside while he tinkered in the barn. Then, some Saturdays we would go downstairs and watch the Michigan games. I am sure I was a pest, but they never seemed to mind me. Eventually the phone would ring requesting our presence back home or my dad would wander over to drink a Stroh's with Dick and of course to retrieve his children.

I never felt shy about wandering over. Maybe I should have - but Dick & Loretta are my Godparents - so I always felt that I had an extra connection. They made us all feel loved.

As I mentioned earlier - next door to Dick and Loretta was Aunt Lena. No she wasn't technically my Aunt - she was Dick's Aunt, but I called her Aunt Lena. She lived in a little white house with Dutch, her brother-in-law until he passed away. However, most of my childhood - she lived alone. I would go over to her house after school to play cards, mostly poker. She taught us all how to play five card draw. One of the best parts of visiting Aunt Lena was the snacks. She would always serve Pringles and pop. See, this was a big treat because at the Sahakian residence we were only allowed to have pop on Saturdays. I never mentioned this to Aunt Lena and even if she knew it didn't phase her. We would chat all afternoon, playing cards, eating chips, drinking pop and sometimes she would go into her bedroom and bring back a snickers bar. I am not sure why she kept them in there, but hey I always knew I was in for a treat when she walked to the back bedroom. Then it would be dinner time and despite being full from all the chips and pop, I would run home and eat dinner not to give away our secret.

I decided to write this because on January 29th, we lost Dick. He was very sick and his body just couldn't recover. It is really hard to think about our neighborhood without him. I went to the funeral home and the funeral - and I thought I had cried out all my tears - turns out as I am writing this I still have more. I shared my grief with Loretta, the girls and their families and of course my family - because we love them all like family.

Thinking about Dick - I will always remember him in the yard. He was always driving his tractor, fixing things in the barn or sitting in the lawn chair enjoying a Stroh's. When the cherries were ripe, I would run over and help them pick them off the tree (mainly I am sure I ate more than I picked.) He gave me many atta girls in my day - I also remember finding my place on his lap during birthday parties - especially when it came time to help him blow out his candles. I will also remember hearing his shotgun blast in his never ending war against the red squirrel. I think they got into his attic once - but I am not sure exactly why the war existed. I remember sitting in their basement - watching or listening to the Michigan football games while playing pool.

And when I think back to my childhood. I think back to how it was filled with so much love, from not only my blood relatives - but my neighbors. So as you can clearly see I have the best neighbors ever!

So this picture - well I should probably explain. This is Courtny, one of my students, at LTU (Lawrence Technological University.) I am teaching an advanced writing class on Thursday nights - which ironically is one of the reasons I have not had time to blog. Well the other week - I was going to start teaching class when Courtney saw the skeleton in the corner and asked if we could turn him around because well he was creeping her out. Well it turns out turning it around doesn't really help - so I used it to hold my coat. He actually looked kind of cute.

As for teaching a college class - right now I am trying to figure out where assignments go to die on blackboard. Blackboard is the online delivery system to most college courses. I consider myself pretty web savvy - for the love of God - my Masters is in Technology in Education. However, I can't seem to figure this thing out. I emailed one of my former professors for help. When I got her response - I felt much better. Because to be honest - I haven't even been able to finish the email with the directions to where it may possibly be living - because there are so many places. So here's hoping I find them before Thursday.

Anyways, I promise a great blog tomorrow - or at least a more thoughtful one. So loyal readers stick in there - once we get through this semester - I will be back to spreading my witty words to the TiVo Changed my Life Community.

Cruising in Paradise

I was fortunate enough to ring in 2008 in warm weather this year. Yes my very wonderful parents (nudge, nudge, wink, wink: subliminal messages (((((((where are we going in 2009))))))))) took me and my husband on a cruise for Christmas. This is all under the guise of visiting my brother - who happens to live in St. Thomas (thank you Kevin for not calling Fargo or Fairbanks home.)



Bruce and I woke up very early on Sunday, December 28th to fly from Flint to San Juan, PR - where we met my parents - who also flew out of Flint and hour later. Let me pause here to recommend the Flint's Bishop Airport. Long term parking is just steps away from the front door and well it makes travel a little easier.

But back to the trip - we arrived to our ship - the Carnival Victory and we ate dinner. Then we quickly went to bed - because well we were frankly exhausted.

Then we set sail for St. Thomas. We arrived early and met Kevin at the "Bad Ass Coffee Shop." Kevin arrived in his styling Honda – know affectionately on the island as the “Maxi Taxi.”

See the previous owner – who gave Kevin the car. Yes, gave him for free (that’s a common practice on the Island – when you move back to the mainland – you give away your possessions – that you can’t afford to ship/take back.) This car, well, well, it ran, but I think we were all a little afraid that it could die at any minute. But back to the name, it’s the Maxi Taxi, because a prank was pulled on the last owner – a dear friend stuck 200+ maxi pads to the outside of the car and well the adhesive and the heat and the sun – needless to say it didn’t come off. Hence the white stripes all over the car.

Kevin took us to his house in the hills. It was a beautiful setting and of course it rained while we were there so – we played (or I played) his Wii. But then it cleared up so we headed to Megan’s Bay. It was a beautiful beach – a little cloudy – because well we bring the rain. We enjoyed the sand and waves for a little while – before my brother turned meteorologist quickly predicted a down pour. So we headed off to the tiki like bar and ate some pizza – while we waited out the rain.

Then after some more time in the beach, we got back in the death trap – I mean the maxi taxi...


... and headed to Duffy’s Love Shack (this is were Kevin worked when he first got to the island) and drank a fruity drink out of ceramic monkeys. Ahhh the island way of life. Then we went over to the Buddha Bar, the fine establishment that Kevin manages now – before Kevin dropped us back off at the docks. All and all it was a great day. However, as I am home now – and having endured days where the high was just single digits – I am wondering if Kevin might be the smartest one in the family.

Then it was back on the boat – we had a little time to rest before dinner. After dinner, we gambled a little. It may have been more effective if I would have gone to the top deck and just thrown $20’s overboard – but this was a little more entertaining. My mom and dad on the other hand seemed to have more luck. Well not the first night – the even swore that they weren’t going to gamble any more. But on night two they couldn’t help themselves and both won big.

But back to night one, after a spin at the casino – we ventured into the Red & Black Lounge, aka the home of karoke. I am not a good singer by any means – but I do enjoy watching others karoke. However with a little liquid courage, Bruce and I got up together and sang Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. We were a hit – I am certain it wasn’t the singing – but the robot that stole the show. Yes, I broke out my patented dance on the cruise ship and well – people would stop me on the ship and ask me to “do the robot?” By the end of the week – I had a following of three old ladies from Mexico City – who could not speak any English –but whenever they would see me they would do the robot before giving me a big hug. Then there were the band of young French Canadians – that loved the robot so much – they requested to Karoke with me so that they too could perform it. The robot is breaking down the language barrier – who knows it could lead to peace in the middle east. I better let Hillary know.

The second stop on the cruise was Dominica. We went on a rainforest tour and traveled to the Emerald Pool – where it is said if you swim in the pool you will look 10 years younger. So of course we swam in the pool.

Day 3: New Year’s Eve - Barbados. We were all set to hit the local beach, when there seemed to be a problem at the docks. See the docks were so large that you had to take a bus from the ship to the main terminal. Well the buses were backed up and there were hordes of people just waiting to disembark. So we went up to the top deck and grabbed a chair around the pool. My parents who had visited last year where content with this scenario; however Bruce and I have never been to Barbados and we felt compelled to get off the boat. When the line cleared we disembarked and took at taxi into town and “shopping.” If you have ever been cruising you will learn that the cruise ships “promote” certain stores in the community – diamonds international, tanzanite internationals, emeralds international (if you get my drift.) We weren’t in the market for any jewels, so we stopped at a store – I bought a pin and Bruce bought a mug (both made in China.) Then we walked back to the ship. We had to rest up for the big party on the boat. Actually, I must say it was one of my most memorable New Year’s Eves ever (besides the time Bruce proposed.) We danced.

Day 4: January 1, 2009 -St. Lucia. My mom really wanted to do the tour with the “drive-in volcano” (yes they have one and I am still trying to wrap my head around that) but it frankly started too early in the morning. So we went on the mountain biking tour and hike. If you know my family – you know that mountain biking does not scream Pat Sahakian. My mom had a three-speed bike forever with pedal breaks (yes the kind where you pedal backwards and you stop.) She recently bought a new bike, which is an automatic. (yes the bike shifts gears for her.) But the adventure started at 11 am and so well we would make it work. We had a very entertaining Rasta Farian guide name Sho’Wayne. He was filled with information about the island, banana plants and more. When we got to the small village where our bike trip began – well needless to say these were bikes that had seen their better days. And as it turns out my mom didn’t need to worry about shifting because the gears on her bike didn’t work. As far as mountain biking goes this was not too intense. There were two hills (Bruce and I made it up both) but that was it. When we got to the top of the last hill – we were at the hiking portion of our trip. We hiked to a pool in the rainforest – that it turns out if you swam in would make you ten years younger – so at this rate – Bruce and I should look 12 and 10 respectively.

Day 5: Antigua. We went on another excursion (as the ship calls them) this time it was a snorkel and beach tour. We took a catamaran out to a coral reef where we snorkeled. Then we went to a secluded beach (that was just amazing) and went swimming. It was truly island paradise. It was a relaxing day – and I must say the beach was the highlight of my trip (well besides the robot.)

Day 6: St. Kitts. Kevin told us that St. Kitts had a nice beach with drunken monkeys. Of course, when I heard monkeys I was in. The story is the monkeys come down from the hills and steal tourists’ drinks when they are not looking. There is even a beachside bar called the drunken monkey – however, there were no monkeys to be found while we were there.

Day 7: San Juan. Yes, it was the end of our vacation. A great warm vacation – I must say I was not happy to step off the plane in Flint and feel the cold Michigan air. But it was Flint so we didn’t have a very far walk to our car.

However, I am up for another trip. The whole time we were having so much - we kept saying wouldn't this be even more fun if the entire family was here. So I am just saying (Uncle Jack) maybe we should have a family reunion cruise. Heck we could all go on a cruise with Courtney and Nate for their honeymoon - it would be perfet.

Quick Blog/First Real blog for 2009

It's been a while since I had the chance to update the TiVo Changed my Life blog. I have some blogs - that need a little more time than I have right now - so stayed tuned for titles which include:

2008 - Where did you go now?
Cruising in Paradise
30 going on 13

But right now I will write about grading. I was up late last night grading and tonight I have just finished. I am not certain - why it takes me so freaking long - but it does. And to top it off (because most of my students had a "cold day" on Friday) I didn't even include one assignment that I would have liked to. However, it's 11 pm right now and it took me all evening to grade another assignment - so if I start with this one I won't be done until maybe next week. So since my grades are due at 8 am tomorrow - I will look forward to adding this grade to the fourth marking period.

I was set back a little tonight - by the turmoils of commuting. I got a flat tire on I-69. I would like to personally thank all the 18 wheelers who moved over into the left lane to give me some room - while I put on my spare in the bitter cold. I hope you can hear the sarcasm in that - because by thanking them I am probably thanking 3 out of the 950 that flew by me at 80+ miles an hour. I have had two flat tires in my life and neither of which happened in June. Yes, 60+ and sunny - easy breezy. 14 degrees in twilight (I mean seconds of light left in the day) = flat tire. Well it's late and I swore I was going to go to bed early - ha ha ha. Well there is always tomorrow.

Ross the Intern

from Jay Leno at the auto show.

Charity Preview

Waiting for

the show.

Auto Show Charity Preview

GM Homebase.

Ford Fusion

VW CC

Suits me.

Volkswagen CC

I like it

Coolest Car at the show...

...the minivan.

Amusing ourselves

Waiting for our flight in San Juan.