Changing Habits, and not

Let's start with the habits that are slowly changing.  At school I am much more organized.  There is actual filing going on, and I have discipline files sorted by homeroom.  Still not keeping up the way I should with parent phone calls...Also, trying and succeeding in keeping things from feeling personal.  The kids just don't have awareness of how their actions are interpreted, and unwilling to admit any wrongdoing.  Student by student, though, I am working on the honors class, which I think of as the horrors class.  Had a parent meeting today where the girl is slowly adjusting her attitude (but not totally).  Mom was very supportive.

On the physical front - those who know me may remember my affinity for Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper.  A 12 pack or two a week.  Now maybe a can a night.  I have a much stronger hankering for water.  I recall reading somewhere that one reason Americans are more weighty is because they interpret thirst as hunger.  So they eat instead of drink.  I think I am drinking a gallon a day, or thereabouts.  Which also means less hunger.  And my body is conditioned to expect food at regular times.  A piece of fruit before school starts.  A protein bar 4 hours later.  A snack when I get home.  Dinner, which I don't usually want much of.  Lots of water, maybe a small sweet snack after 7, but before 8.  I have found that eating too close to bedtime causes some nasty reflux...bile in the throat making you cough soon after falling asleep is not so good.

With the computer out for the past several days, too, I am reading more (finishing Eclipse, as my oldest calls it "the girly vampire book - why are you reading it, dad?"), watching more TV (Heroes last night, caught up on Sarah Conner today online, Fringe tonight, plus Supernatural courtesy of NetFlix) and spending more time just hanging with the family.  Now if I can balance that with a night or two away from my games once the computer is back and running, things might smooth out.

The exercise is keeping me warm all the time, plus the sense of satisfaction of having done something worthwhile.  The endorphins are not too shabby, either.  I sleep well, but with very vivid dreams.  Got to watch out for those, since they can keep me on edge for a day or so as scenes drift to the surface, triggered by who knows what.