La Famiglia

Thanksgiving is around the corner and soon to be followed by the other holidays that bring families together. When I was younger, I couldn't wait for these times. I would try to be as patient as possible while awaiting these joyous events. Soon enough the holidays would arrive. Without contributing any help in preparing, family members would arrive, the table would be so neatly arranged with fancy silverware , and dinner would be served.
However, my perspective of the holidays, partly because I am more aware of more, has changed. I am more aware of the tension that exists among family members. I am more aware of those that constantly do the inviting and those that only want to be invited. Over the years, I have seen the once young, rambunctious and vibrant generation grow old and now I am old enough to have seen loved ones pass on leaving behind drastic changes within the family structure and altertations of the routines of things.
Holidays have gradually become smaller for me. Instead of many family faces around the table I only see that of my nuclear family and it upsets me. I think it upsets me more because I see others with bigger guest lists and larger portion sizes at the holiday.
But before I dare say anything, I remind myself of others that are not as lucky, even lucky as me. There are many who are separated from their familes, big and small, because of their call of duty in the military. There are those grieving from the loss of family memebers and there are those dealing with seperation among their nuclear families from the simple shelfishness of one person.
This Thanksgiving I am glad to have the three people that mean so much to me: my mom, my dad and my brother....Grazie!!

patient:able to wait
aware:realizing something
contribute: give
rambunctious:noisy, out of hand
silverware: things at the table made of silver: plates, forks, knives spoons etc.
perspective: view

Be _______ and wait to open your gifts!
Please don't forget the _______________ when you set the table.
The class got in trouble for being ______________.
Were you _________that the Jets won.
At Christmas time many people_______________ to the Salvation Army.
From my _______________ I can not see the game.


A non-defining clause is when there is a phrase within a sentence, normally surrounded by commas, that is not necessary for the sentence to function. It acts as added information. Here are two examples:
1)However, my perspective of the holidays, partly because I am more aware of things, has changed.
2)A non-defining clause is when there is a phrase within a sentence, normally surrounded by commas, that is not necessary for the sentence to function.
One can also recognize a non-defining clause in speech by using an intonation. We may pause briefly between each information group.

Ouch!

I know I previously wrote about my effort to go to the gym but I am going to mention once again in this blog. Last week I was so prepared as to have the week planned out with my friend to go jogging two to three times after work around the middle school we work at. Well, Thursday night I slipped on the drain in my shower as I was entering. The drain is not attached and so ended up grazing the PVC pipe. As a result, I scraped away soome dead skin on the ball of my foot, leaving the area raw and painful.
To be honest, the first thing I thought to myself was that I would not be able to wear high-heeled shoes. Following that thought, was the disappointment of not being able to go running.
This past week has been difficult for me. It took me longer to complete tasks that are normally done so quickly like walking up and down the staircase to make copies at work, circling the classroom to make sure my students are on task, putting my (flat) shoes on and putting more weight and pressure on one side as I walked.
Finall, I am back to normal. Tomorrow I will finally begin my routine of jogging and hopefully slip into a pair of pretty shoes!

pretty: pleasing to look at
previously:at an earlier time
jogging: running at a slower pace; a kind of physical activity
Following: the next one
effort: trying hard to do something.
disappointment: not meeting your expectations
prepared: ready
enter: go in
complete: finish
drain: where water drips
graze: to scrape the skin from
painful:hurting

1.The bullet ________ his shoulder.
2.I __________ lived in New York.
3.On the ____________day she was able to eat normally.
4.She ___________the store as soon as it opened.
5.The soccer team__________ together every morning to keep in shape.
6.The student was__________for the test.
7.The shot was _____________.
8.He made an ___________ to be on time.
9.He ______________his test on time.
10.There is a __________in the sink.
11.The flowers in front are____________.
12.The food cost a lot of money and it ended up being a ______________.

A quantifier is expresses an amount. For example: I have eight cars parked in front of my house.
An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of other words. For example, AWOL: absent without leave.

Questions: is PVC from PVC pipe an acronym?