Professional Development Minutes

Dear Blog Readers: The countdown is on. In a few hours, we begin a new year.  A new year gives us an opportunity to begin again, renew and refresh. I hope for you, 2024 is a year of  learning,  loving, and of course, dancing! Remember, dancing is great for your heart health!  The best is yet to come. Or well, that’s what everyone keeps telling me...  Warm wishes,  melissa 

written by m. fockler 

I baked a batch of ginger snaps, this time for the neighbours. Nothing says, "Happy Holidays" like gingerbread!

I cannot believe that there are only 5 days left of 2023. Where did the year go?  Over the next week, I encourage you to take some time to pause and reflect on the year.   Some potential questions:  What did you do in 2023? What did you learn?  How did you grow and improve? What did you struggle with?  Did you practice self-care? How? What are you grateful for?  Photo credit: here

What do I like about snow? Finding animal footprints in the morning...  Photo taken December 19, 2023

melissa  fockler  (b. 1984) Oh, My Deer ,   2013 Photograph 

Today, I reached for the bread bag and  noticed something unusual. The tag on the bag was made out of paper,  not plastic. Super cool. Pictured above, me holding a 'paper' bread tag 

Want a laugh? Watch The Grinch read,  How The Grinch Stole Christmas!  Story time with The Grinch 

Key ingredients: cocoa powder and ripe bananas. 

“Money can’t buy a happy life, or a peaceful death.”  - Charles Dickens:  A Christmas Carol

Toppings: wild blueberries and 100% Canadian maple syrup.  

Céline Dion "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" Sing along optional: So don't save it all for Christmas Day Find a way To give a little love everyday

don't waste your time  on someone who only wants you  when your hair looks perfect and your body just so  and your clothes  overpriced  fashionable:  they are so not worth it.

Bap Kennedy "Moonlight Kiss" Sing along optional: wish i could fall on a night like this into your lovin' arms for a moonlight kiss

I removed old photos from my picture frames, making room for new memories!  Pictured above, empty picture frames 

I always appreciate when signs are posted --  encouraging people not to wear perfumes and other strong scented products like cologne in public spaces. Why? Because s ome people are highly sensitive to such smells. I know, because  I am one of these 'sensitive' people.  When out and about this holiday season, think about the fragrances you wear.   While it may smell great to you, it may leave someone else with a terrible headache . So, please be kind. Everyone deserves a holly jolly, holiday season! 

I pumped up my tires and went for  a bike ride. I rode for about 20 minutes to watch the sunset...  ...and the Canadian geese fly. Photo credit: melissa fockler, 2023

 The moment you realize     everyone has left the room     but you're still talking. 

Today is Remembrance Day . Please take a moment to remember the sacrifice of war.  Please remember all those who died, the families destroyed,  the mental health consequences , and  the women who were raped  (in the war).  There are  ongoing wars  around the world today.  Please support world peace.   Photo credit: here

a strong wind  brings down a tree  its branches break  roots upheave soil stirs cloud of dust its life is in  the rings  its red leaves now  brown crumbling  crisp  crunch  back to earth  ready to grow again.     Photo credit: melissa fockler, 2008

What did you learn today? Comment below. 👇

I was raking up leaves this afternoon and a  raccoon kept following me around, watching what I was doing. I snapped a photo! melissa  fockler  (b. 1984) The Curious  Raccoon , 2023 Photograph 

In 2007, I spent a weekend touring the streets of Toronto. These are the photos I took:  Photos by melissa fockler, 2007

Some of my past pumpkin carvings  (the cat and spider):

Nina Simone "I put a spell on you" (1965) Sing along optional: I put a spell on you Because you're mine

I spent the day installing a new kitchen sink faucet. How is your day going?

melissa  fockler (b. 1984) Donatello, The Painter , 2007 Photograph 

When someone asks:   “how are you?”     do you give a real, genuine answer or      stick with social niceties      pretending everything is okay

So, this week, I have chosen to spotlight Michael Bolton. Recently, I picked up a copy of his 1990 album, Time, Love & Tenderness . I'm giving it two thumbs up!  Michael Bolton's "When a Man Loves a Woman" (1990) Sing along optional:   When a man loves a woman Can't keep his mind on nothin' else He'd trade the world For the good thing he's found

I made a classic family recipe: tea biscuits. They are hot and ready, straight from the oven! 

how do you know if someone likes you for you the freckles on your forearm your smile  laugh   your conversation  at  2 am  and not for  the title attached to your name the money in your wallet your health benefits  your car  all the things you can buy [them] maybe none of us will ever truly know  what it means            to be wanted  [ no conditions attached]          

i don't have anyone to cuddle with    on this cold, rainy october night:    i'll set the electric blanket to medium. 

As far as musicals go, Andrew Lloyd Webber's  The Phantom of the Opera is superb. Check out the original 1987 cast recording. I'm partial to "The Music of the Night". 

My afternoon: raking leaves, and a visit from a raccoon.  Photo taken October 10, 2023

melissa fockler  (b. 1984) art of de-construction , 2023 Photograph 

melissa fockler  (b. 1984) Oh, Canada , 2023 Photograph 

Oasis "Wonderwall" Sing along optional: There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don't know how Because maybe You're gonna be the one that saves me And after all You're my wonderwall

melissa fockler  (b. 1984) That's Royalty , 2023 Photograph 

last year 5 billion cell phones were junked: you'll just add  to the e-waste problem. 

Today, I replaced the kitchen GFCI outlet. After cutting the power to the house, I started on this project.  It took a few hours,  steady hands, a flathead screwdriver, needle nose pliers, and  patience.  This experience has made me appreciate electricians a lot more!  Pictured above, me with my broken GFCI outlet.

These photographs were displayed at the Glendon Art Gallery at York University in 2007.    melissa fockler (b. 1984) Mirroring , 2007 Photograph 

Backstreet Boys "No Place" Sing along optional:   I've been all around the world, done all there is to do But you'll always be the home I wanna come home to You're a wild night with a hell of a view There ain't no place, ain't no place like you

 Brett Kissel "Make a Life, Not a Living" Sing along optional:  I don't need six figures, my bank account bigger Pile of cash don't make me richer (no)

flirting is like a ballet: if done right, you'll have me swooning. 

Last year, I made  homemade  pumpkin  puree . Today, I took the puree out of the  freezer and used it to make some homemade pumpkin cookies. Cinnamon and spice and everything nice, that's what these cookies are made of! Photos taken September 2, 2023