TheMacPherson

Weight Loss Ticker

2009-10-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

Princess? Queen is more like it!

2009-02-10T16:12:00.000-08:00

Ok. So my sister Cricket was good enough to keep Elizabeth with her the night before Kelly's surgery (had to be at the hospital at 530am) and kept her all the next day while I stayed with him in ICU. When I went to pick her up Cricket told me that Elizabeth sat her down and chastised her saying "You know, you just do not come fast enough when I call you." After being floored by her niece's imperiousness, Cric explained to Elizabeth that is it not her job, or mom's job, or anyone's job to drop what they are doing and immediately come at her beck and call... =) I am sure her royal hineyness is not too cool with that! =)

A VERY Happy Birthday

2009-01-27T09:44:00.000-08:00

Nothing like seeing old friends for your birthday. Elizabeth spent January 10, 2009 at Disneyland celebrating her 4th birthday. She had a party with Mickey and Minnie. She went on all kinds of rides with Mom and Dad. She got to visit with Belle, Jasmine and Ariel too! It was a great day!!!

Arizona State Flag Cake

2009-01-14T13:39:00.000-08:00

This was my Arizona State Flag cake... I made this at Disneyland when we went for Elizabeth's Birthday!

Ebeth'isms from 11/19/08

2008-11-20T15:34:00.001-08:00

Ebeth'isms from last night that tickled me:

"I don't like them with skin on." (Marshmallow that caught on fire and was charred and crispy on the outside)

"Groovy!"

(When I said "I'm sorry it hurts, but I hate to give up when there's just this one last stubborn tangle in your hair...") "Pleee-eeeze, just give up!"

"How come she always has so much paperwork?" (Maggie's homework)

I need Disney

2008-09-15T16:08:00.001-07:00

Can one be homesick for a place that is NOT home? You bet! I spent time this weekend creating my Disney scrapbook - boy am I homesick for Disneyland! :) Want to see some pics? Check out:

Our Disney Pics

Feeling Good

2008-09-15T16:04:00.001-07:00

- Michael Buble Lyrics

Michael Buble "Lost"

2008-09-11T16:39:00.000-07:00

- Michael Buble Lyrics

Playing in the Rain

2008-09-10T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday there was a cloud burst and it started pouring rain while Elizabeth and I were playing outside. We ran onto the patio and watched it pour down in buckets! Then we looked at each other, held hands and ran out into the rain!!! :) We quickly dashed back under the patio, drenched and laughing. We proceeded to run back and forth into the rain and running through the grass laughing and getting wetter and wetter. What a way to spend the afternoon!

My SMCC for Fall 2008

2008-08-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Hello SMCCers!

Just wanted to blog a bit about an initiative that we have at SMCC that was started on year ago. It is called "My SMCC." I know you are asking yourself: What is it? How does it work?

My SMCC is a card (or other device) used by faculty to collect up-to-date contact information for students.

It works because faculty then have the ability to contact students who stop showing up to class, miss turning in a paper, etc.

The impact so far as been great! More students are successfully completing their courses.

So students - get your instructors your contact information!

Faculty please collect this information and use it to help your students!

Together we all achieve more!!!

blog from blaclkberry

2008-06-17T20:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry so long since last post. I have been super busy - what's been up? Wrote 2 grants, went to Vegas to see Phantom of the Opera, I am now in San Francisco at the PTK Honors Institute... More later.

Weight loss

2008-05-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

Kel is down 58 pounds... Amy is down 39 pounds - Amy's goal is 299# -- 14 pounds to go... =)

We have both had "bad" days, but we bounce back. It is cool to have each other to help, encourage and make good decisions when the other wants to eat goodies. :) We also get to be the weirdos who take our food to all these work functions, because we cannot eat the high calorie food that is being served...

Also - we are Wii boxing and loveing it! Yay!!! The Wii rocks! (Yes we look like psychotic dorks when we do it - but we have a lot of fun!!!)

Life is good!

Michael Buble is awesome

2008-05-03T13:49:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday, April 30 I went with Jennifer to see Michael Buble. He is the consummate performer! I had a great time!!! This was an awesome birthday present!

Vizu Poll on weight loss

2008-04-19T09:35:00.001-07:00

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Neat Song

2008-04-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

- Joshua Radin Lyrics

Weight loss and life on 4/18

2008-04-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

When we went to the surgeon Kelly weighed 518 lbs. 4/14 he weighed 460 lbs! Amazing! He had to put three new holes in his belt. Amy was going like gang-busters but it has slowed down. Started 2/11 352, now down to 317. New goal is to get below 300.

I have been very dizzy and even fainted... Doc says it is because my already low blood pressure is bottoming out due to my fast weight loss. He thinks that it should normalize over time. He recommended exercise to strengthen my heart and not moving to fast (so that I do not faint again)... =)

The backyard landscaping is done! And done on a BUDGET! My design has been brought to life! Ontiveros curb and landscaping has done a great job. On budget! On time! Wow!!!

I am off to hang with Maggie and Elizabeth - we are having a sleep over - Lizzy's first slumber party! =)

Places I have been

2008-04-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

Create your own travel map or travel blog
Visit TripAdvisor.com

Happy Kid

2008-03-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

So we went to my niece's church for an Easter Egg hunt. They dropped 30,000 eggs froma helicopter. Elizabeth was so exctied! She did not get one egg! She was happy picking up all of the egg parts... She is so cool!

Home from Puerto Rico

2008-03-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

Tuesday:
Our presentations were a smash! The praise could make our heads swell - but we are not those kinds of girls! =)

After a job well done we went to the Fort - El Morro. We then went to Old San Juan. We ate mofungo!

Wednesday:
We went to the rain forest - El Yunque. We hiked to the top of Mt Britton! Yea!!! I made it!!!!!

Thursday:
Home again, home again, jiggity jig! 12 hours of flying ={

Puerto Rico Day 1

2008-03-17T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hi!

Well no phone service is a grump... Jen is definitely roaming. I feel aggrieved at not being able to call whenever I want.

Flight departed PHX without a hitch - except that the flight was overbooked... EVERY seat was taken. Jen and I did not sleep much...

Charlotte was... an airport. Jen and I mosied too our gate. She beat me a scrabble (be warned - Jen is a mean scrabble player). We then mosied back to the food court. We had a light breakfast (burger king...)

Flight to Puerto Rico was BOOKED too. We met a nice group who was struggling to ctch up with their cruise ship...

Arrival in San Juan... over one hour to get our luggage (NO exaggeration!) then we got in another line to catch a cab. Uneventful. =)

We got our hotel - our room was not ready... What to do??? We changed into our swim suits and went swimming in the ocean!!! I was verklempt when I first saw it. When we were coming up to check on our room we saw Sian and her fiancee Gary. He is a really cool guy!

The view from our room is OK - but not quite what we expected - lots of dumpsters. 2.5 hours after our arrival - our room was finally ready. It is a nice room. We showered and went in search of food.

Amy spent the last 45 minutes futzing with the wireless... Gave up and connected to the LAN.

All is well. We are safe and looking forward to our presentation tomorrow - after which we plan to go to Old San Juan and see the fort...

Can your job kill you?

2008-03-08T07:15:00.001-08:00

This has been my question for this week... I waiver between "absolutely" and "I am not sure"...
After working 13 hours yesterday and spending $2000 on my credit card to support my job I have to admit that I am straying towards "absolutely" this morning. =)

In regards to the $2000 - I looked over my credit card statement. In the last month I have put $5133 of work charges on my credit card. I have been paid back $2353. That means that the college owes me $2780! Kelly is ready to kill me - or someone else! Now I need to think what I can do to pay for part of the room in Puerto Rico. oy!

On the happy notes: 1) the Instructional Technology position apps are ready to be picked up at DO, 2) it is Spring Break, 3) Kelly and I are both taking off weight on our diet, 4) I have to coolest kid EVER!

My birthday...

2008-03-04T20:43:00.000-08:00

Ok - Kelly got me an 80GB iPod for my birthday. I was stoked and then I said "It was expensive wasn't it?" He said, "Yes," with a forlorn look on his face... He knew what was coming... I said, ready for it??? "Take it back."

So then the next day I see a 15 peice accesory kit for the PSP and I call him to ask "Why didn't you get me a PSP?" He said, "I don't know." I extolled the PSPs virtures (games, movies, mp3s, photos, wireless, etc) and we went and bought one last night! It is SO cool! And it WAS cheaper than the iPod! ;) Plus I got another mp3 player too! =)

Also on my birthday I had the absolute best cupcake of my life - coconut! from tammycoecakes.com!

What a birthday!!!

Robbed!!!

2008-03-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

Can I go home now - I am bummed!!! Our candidate was the best. He would have been spectacular!!! Guess he is just going to have to kick butt and take names this year and take International by storm next year!!! Hopefully he will not let this get him down! He is so awesome!

Saturday 3/1

2008-03-01T15:50:00.000-08:00

Regional Convention continues!

Kelly and Elizabeth went to the Khalsa School Carnival. Elizabeth got beaten up by some big kids on a bouncy "ride" and got scared to go down the slide. From the conversation with her Dad it sounds like she cried alot... =( They were leaving to go to Auntie Cricket's when I called. Kelly was trying to spend about 80 of his tickets. =)

AZ Regional Convention

2008-03-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

I am at the AZ Regional Convention! We have about 150 members and advisors present! Our Region ROCKS!!! Advisors make sure you complete all your forms. PTK forms

This is my computer photo capture of Jazmin!

Gabe just finished his speech. He did a great job! We are so excited to have him run for Vice-President for the Central District. Yeah Gabe!!!

2/29/08

2008-02-29T14:47:00.000-08:00

Ok - so during QM training we learned lots and I learned even more! I participated in a Live Blog and created a Facebook account.

Tonight is the Phi Theta Kappa Regional Convention at MCC - then back to MCC at 730am tomorrow!

Pictures of Elizabeth

2008-02-26T15:32:00.000-08:00

username: AMY MACPHERSON
password: LTPP0007104409JCP
Expires: 4/20/2008
http://www.smilesbywire.com/asp/sbw_showlargephoto.asp?page=27&tcount=27

TLC Events

2008-02-26T09:30:00.000-08:00

What's Going on in the TLC?

~ we are currently writing a summer project proposal to be used by faculty to help them learn how to use Blackboard and to create effective hybrid classes
~we are modifying and updating our eLearning website
~we are getting ready to start the hiring of a Title V Instructional Technologist (our current IT person is on time card)
~we just submitted our program review
~we just completed a Blended Learning Class (spying on folks, yes! it's true)
~this week we are beginning Quality Matters training! yah - look for more
~SIS training contiues
~we are trying to figure out the Master/Template tool in SIS (for Blackboard)
~everyone is on a diet! =)
~our workstudy student - Gabe Bernal - is running for a Regional office for the state of Arizona in Phi Theta Kappa
~Alisa Cooper has been teaching about podcasts and iTunes
~we are getting ready to start offering some workshops on Web 2.0 tech tools for teaching
~Amy and Jen both got their proposals accepted for the TLC conference in Puerto Rico - we will be offering the sessions in the TLC before we leave (March 17-21)

Blogging - again

2008-02-24T18:40:00.000-08:00

Ok - so when they first came out I started blogging... I was not that excited... But, I am tryingit again! =)

Unfortunately, I have a STARVING three year old who is insist that I make her dinner - so thisis short! =)