tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89953854902843121862024-03-13T13:47:02.033-07:00Visual Thoughts from MontanaZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-73950695076177835372013-12-31T23:48:00.001-08:002013-12-31T23:48:13.685-08:00SW Montana vs. The Hi-line<p dir=ltr>School year 2012-2013 was a challenge to say the least. I worked with students who had a variety of behavior and educational issues; My co-worker was unpleasant; and I did not fair well in the gloomy environment of the town I lived in.</p>
<p dir=ltr>This school year is different in every way! I love where I live, the people & my students! This was my dream job upon college graduation so that is a plus.</p>
<p dir=ltr>The biggest difference is me. I am happy alone here. I do miss my children & grandchildren but I have a peaceful existence here in my trailer. </p>
<p dir=ltr>I've grown in many ways and want to do more. Here's to the continuance of my journey in 2014!</p>
ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-82002777454032941772013-03-21T10:22:00.000-07:002013-03-21T10:22:49.229-07:00Unexpected BreakI didn't mean to ignore my blogs for so long. Life happens and as we all know- never as one plans.<br />
I am back & will post regularly.<br />
<br />
I promise.ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-89631951790153498332012-08-22T23:50:00.001-07:002012-08-22T23:50:48.524-07:00First days<div><p>The desks were set and all the books piled on the desks. I thought I was ready for the first day.<br>
It did not go as smoothly as I had hoped.</p>
<p>Here's to a quick improvement by all!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlOb2QYo_vEqPlX8p-qWKC9vNc_LqeMcfBM5bX7X0e2UjOXnihyNntHIYJ7jvzN_lt9KJdZaI3VSF1U1l2QSkV1rFF_wkt1EZE2JxHP1lauemTs06t3QGVBtVeuAWKvpRyAFTQtWePrB4/' /></div>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-78845846691874211532012-07-30T08:50:00.001-07:002012-07-30T08:50:33.961-07:00Tenants<div><p>While driving down the street I noticed this sign... </p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMIVCOUw14ZdLIpBrvn8Rp5Q4kZuKJ8etK3vl15Vise-iRB36AiIquxshR-zjoc5wl8TudFPLNdwKDAbYxYU2HzZqB_NW9pgymfXrnDZNh1aJEk7WLzwRKhINQixiilWKBBMvS7X250Nh/' /></div>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-63804216599101487402012-07-25T22:00:00.001-07:002012-07-25T22:00:42.301-07:00The count down has begun...<div><p>10 days until I move into my teaching apartment.<br>
12 days until I will be spending 8 hours a day setting up my classroom & planning <br>
15 days until training starts<br>
25days until the first day of class...</p>
<p>I hope I'm ready...</p>
</div>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-86555182606589773502012-07-19T14:26:00.001-07:002012-07-19T14:26:57.268-07:00Teaching info<div><p>I landed my dream job (well almost) and now I'm focused on re-learning how to teach...</p>
</div>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-52279583543481453412012-06-18T19:51:00.002-07:002012-06-18T19:51:56.676-07:00Lake Minnetonka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTKprdtqzmELgpfaVH_8gE3KyDAHS1tNZp-LEqhKqZC_hp87UNgQfhnYPcxnqWWuN8v1Kmn_uUgaESbP3_qSJTmNKBUMXmpdz2j3_HzIDB5r_8lG74svBCjlu8_kYDKLEUOCDRUpe_jKN/s1600/2012-06-12+19.55.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTKprdtqzmELgpfaVH_8gE3KyDAHS1tNZp-LEqhKqZC_hp87UNgQfhnYPcxnqWWuN8v1Kmn_uUgaESbP3_qSJTmNKBUMXmpdz2j3_HzIDB5r_8lG74svBCjlu8_kYDKLEUOCDRUpe_jKN/s320/2012-06-12+19.55.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Great Blue Heron on Lake Minnetonka</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnW4VYyQeqvpI00nv3_GEsAe48v7yI19VtLIWX_1-NWLXmCFnPVwD1zK6AJstpPdFl3kpRwk08XyVqNufH-mdqVTURMRyHJ9qxfYjyGR0syM14PN3oAluq_IikIV1D1cyK12OcHP64-Vo/s1600/2012-06-12+19.58.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnW4VYyQeqvpI00nv3_GEsAe48v7yI19VtLIWX_1-NWLXmCFnPVwD1zK6AJstpPdFl3kpRwk08XyVqNufH-mdqVTURMRyHJ9qxfYjyGR0syM14PN3oAluq_IikIV1D1cyK12OcHP64-Vo/s320/2012-06-12+19.58.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sunset on Lake Minnetonka</div>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-85243502916880123002012-06-18T19:43:00.000-07:002012-06-18T19:43:54.760-07:00Moving back to MontanaNo- I didn't move but my sister did. She left with her husband & 2 kids 10 years ago. Living in the Minneapolis- St.Paul area ever since, she has learned to drive in rush hour traffic (which starts at 3PM and lasts until 6PM), find her way through malls which make no sense to any rational human being and as a high school math teacher deal with the ugliness of inner cities shown through the eyes of the youth.<br />
Minnesota is very different from Montana.<br />
The traffic, the food, the weather, the language, the people...<br />
Don't get me wrong- she has had opportunities to experience foods & cultures we don't have. She has met many wonderful people from her students to her neighbors! I envy her for some of it.<br />
<br />
This month I am packing up her house and helping her move. It's not a sad time really. This is the start of a grand adventure that I can't wait to see.<br />
<br />
In August 2011 her husband was killed in a car accident. It's really a weird situation. The divorce was final just a few weeks before, the ink barely dry. It's hard for me to call him her ex.<br />
<br />
This is going to be a good post really.<br />
<br />
I came to help last Fall but all we could manage to do was clean out & sell stuff to get her set up until she was back to work.<br />
<br />
This time we have spent the better part of 2 weeks between packing & being a tourist. I got to see all the sights & taste a ton of food. It is only a few days until the pods get here & once they are filled I am gone.<br />
I guess it is best to leave before you become to comfortable.<br />
<br />
I will miss a few things about the Twin cities ...<br />
<br />
But not the traffic!ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-75098867779014432172012-04-30T21:40:00.001-07:002012-04-30T21:40:10.970-07:00Life keeps moving<div><p>Even when I would rather stand still. I now have 3 grandchildren, my husband is retired from Active Duty, and all of my children are adults... its amazing!<br>
I keep thinking I will take the time to blog regularly again.. I won't promise anything but since I have the app on both my smart phone & iPod I can't really say that I can't get to my keyboard!<br>
Montana photos soon... afterall I meant this to be a photo blog.</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7tivK2-2Lrs4JJN35JAN-tihBFsSHlq8SPDiRbwJSbHVsGsaKQyN0ouslXR9Pmi44UNCnMDZh8d7MS54OGcRsV4-eYHfflTYFHoL-BrXEXV4MOm2IOGe4lw-7gOD2CFYkeFGljh1sLXl/' /></div>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-15404935916539691202012-01-02T17:30:00.001-08:002012-01-02T17:30:30.988-08:00Parking Bison<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/teagden/5914969969/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6042/5914969969_a64b9d9462_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/teagden/5914969969/">Parking Bison - 5716bsg</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/teagden/">teagden</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-32105022043732054072011-10-06T12:11:00.001-07:002011-10-06T12:11:42.878-07:00Deviantart contest<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/6217711309/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6221/6217711309_c77841faf5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/6217711309/">Deviantart contest</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-43670165677457859302011-09-07T10:50:00.001-07:002011-09-07T10:50:37.348-07:00North Dakota sunflowers<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/6122629623/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6122629623_851e1ed60a_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/6122629623/">August 2011 1085</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>I recently had to travel to Minnesota to help my sister after the sudden death of her husband. The trip was, for the most part, great! We did get things sorted out and she will be OK for a while.<br /><br />I had plenty of time to stop & take pix on the way there & back! it was fun!</p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-67912462236227651902011-05-19T20:53:00.001-07:002011-05-19T20:53:50.147-07:00GS owlet & parent<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/5738208228/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/5738208228_26a473320f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/5738208228/">GS owlet & parent</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-87774672785955327562011-05-01T20:06:00.001-07:002011-05-01T20:06:01.360-07:00It's owl time again!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/5663031032/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5181/5663031032_a79019cf7f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/5663031032/">DSC00049</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>It may be the first sign of Spring! Owlets at both the regular spots! YAY!</p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-86122867784100737002011-03-06T03:12:00.001-08:002011-03-06T03:12:23.757-08:00A new phaseI recently learned that the reason I faint and feel dizzy so often is because I have entered menopause. <br />That diagnosis was sort of a relief. It also was a kick in the brain.<br />I didn't think I was old enough for this. Of course having a hysterectomy a few years back could have helped with that.<br />Now I will be taking it all in. I'm sure I will share.<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-1469114027243533642011-03-01T20:46:00.001-08:002011-03-01T20:46:38.077-08:00Highlander - KLTLVR<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/5471735419/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5471735419_254f41de77_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/5471735419/">Highlander - KLTLVR</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-74989672896686524362010-09-29T20:37:00.001-07:002010-09-29T20:37:49.412-07:00Fall leaves<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/5037368245/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5037368245_ca6fe8196f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/5037368245/">Fall leaves</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-13387931364820012662010-08-09T20:25:00.001-07:002010-08-09T20:25:06.682-07:00Awesome!For my birthday, The Hubby got me an iPod touch! Trying mobile blogging!<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-78430232409781200662010-07-05T17:31:00.001-07:002010-07-05T17:31:45.512-07:00Is that robin on his head!??<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4761018822/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4761018822_a90c69dcd7_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4761018822/">Is that robin on his head!??</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-79811474149655663052010-07-04T09:50:00.001-07:002010-07-04T09:50:27.955-07:00Owl Spotting<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4761020856/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4761020856_08dc103237_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4761020856/">July 2010 013</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>I have been spending a lot of time at the cemeteries and Giant Springs State Park photographing the owlets.<br /><br />This pair was spotted early on July 4,2010.</p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-26210321448045737732010-06-10T13:16:00.001-07:002010-06-10T13:16:54.204-07:00Happy 100!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4686548186/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4686548186_a3676ce281_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4686548186/">Happy 100!</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>June 10, 2010 is 100 years on this earth for my awesome Grandmother, Eunice LeBarron!</p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-80316812564639981202010-05-26T15:58:00.001-07:002010-05-26T15:58:03.506-07:00Giant Springs Owlets<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4643366240/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/4643366240_b340d36cf1_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4643366240/">Giant Springs Owlets</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p></p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-29168676856690906392010-05-26T07:49:00.001-07:002010-05-26T07:49:34.071-07:00Raincoats<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4640254556/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4640254556_f38fdf2d35_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanityelludesme/4640254556/">Raincoats</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/sanityelludesme/">ZhenPanda</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>It's the usual Montana Memorial Day Weekend weather</p>ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-2469579483618651802010-04-29T20:49:00.000-07:002010-07-14T16:58:45.283-07:00Sad & confused... conflicted?I don't deal with death well.<br /><br />On April 13th, my Uncle Sam died suddenly. Cancer. it has been crazy getting things together for the memorial. I have been digging through drawers of old family photos and albums, scanning tons & sorting them. I discovered my organizational skills during crisis sucks.<br /><br />Then on April 22nd Mystery Daughter's adoptive mom lost her battle with brain cancer. I wanted so badly to go to Billings to be with her. I couldn't.<br />I kept thinking I could deal with whatever life could come up with but today I feel lost. Not because of the sadness but the weirdness that came with it all.<br />How do I ask my sister why she has ″friend-ed″all my ex-boyfriends & husbands. it's just strange, but she also sided against me in my last divorce so I shouldn't be surprised.<br />Why am I freaked out that Mystery Daughter talked to her bio-dad?<br /><br />It's all just weird.ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8995385490284312186.post-86283162942019423332010-03-15T23:54:00.000-07:002010-03-16T00:06:33.955-07:00Update March 2010So many things have been happening that I forget to update here. sorry.<br /><br />February 28th in the early afternoon we received a call from the Cascade County Sheriff's office informing us the van had been located in Billing! We contacted the officer on scene and worked out a plan to retrieve it later that day. If we wanted to press charges the van would be towed to GF and processed all at our expense. <br />We needed the van here for Daughter#2 so we had to retrieve it ASAP. <br />The flying trip down started at 6PM and we pulled into Billings around 10PM. After working on the van we stopped by Mystery Daughter's house to meet my #2 g-cub, Gar-Bear! I got to spend 2 hours holding him & feeding him, so I was very happy. We pulled out of Billings and headed home about 230AM. The trip home included avoiding deer & a bobcat.<br />Arrival home was 630AM. I went to bed & the hubby headed into work.<br /><br />Happy it is back!<br /><br />It's now countdown time to Son#2's graduation! He is walking a fine line this last semester but I still have hope he will pull it off.<br /><br />#1 G-cub is growing like a weed and is ready to walk. He has 2 teeth with a 3rd in the works. <br /><br />Life is chaotic but seems to be good.ZenPandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967333268746941435noreply@blogger.com0