Etc

Today they brought pineapples to the school food pantry but there weren’t any kids there to give them to and they would go bad over the weekend.  So I came home with this.

The teachers want to dress as the Westinghouse often referred to as the Rosy the Riveter woman for Halloween.  I decided we needed to post her on the walls before Halloween so the kids would know what the what.  Then we added some text.  A serious face talking about kindness.  Hilarious. There is a 2’x3’ near the office.  Also there are 8x11 versions posted around  the building.  Here’s the one in my room. 

There can’t be too many of this picture.

Bliss

Someone finally decided that the journey across the arm of the chair wasn’t so terrifying after all.  It did require a few treats and a warm blanket.  Now I am sitting perfectly still so as not to disturb her.

Looks aren't everything

While it appears somewhat bland, this evening's dinner was amazing.  Black bean taquitos.

They are stuffed with green chiles, green onion, black beans and a little cream cheese.  Which, in my opinion makes anything taste good- as does the mozzarella that I accidentally topped them with mozzarella.  The texture variety is really what made it and 4 taquitos are about 700 calories- not bad for a filling dinner. A little hummus and carrots on the side and I am full and satiated.

All that being said, I'm going to be hardcore back to the basics vegetarian and exercise this week. (I hope)  The last time I declared it so, it was indeed so.  I've locked the delicious protein bars/cookies in the lock box to prevent binge eating. Sigh.

Today's assisted living conversations began with draught horses and how they can work a farm and led to fox hunting.  What I did not know about fox hunting is that it's not really hunting.  Those guys on the horses don't shoot anything.  They chase the fox hounds just to watch them tear up the fox.  Mostly the guys ride and fall off horses and drink a lot.  

In final I can't believe it news- as we drove home greathusbandbob asked if I wanted to do his 1/4 mile walk with him at the fairgrounds.  What the what? My husband asked me to walk!!!!  It ended up being a 1/2 mile and I had to take small steps but maybe he'll do it some more.

food again

Carrots is to hummus as hummus is to GARLIC.

Delivery devices-  While it looks store bought- it's actually in a leftover cottage cheese container.  I made to batches because every time I make it I end up finishing it in a weekend.  And yes- no baby carrots- real peeled cut grown up carrots.

Lasagna Florentine-

Regular lasagna ingredients- except the filling- spinach, cottage cheese, flax seed, eggs, parmesan and some spices.  It's average.  A little bland but slightly comfortable.

I love that you can cook when it's cooler outside.

On the menu

Quesadilla marguerite on whole wheat tortillas.  Basil from the plant that hasn't died yet and just a sprinkling of balsamic vinegar.  Let me just say that there is more to mozzarella than Kraft shredded and I'm glad to have discovered that in this lifetime.

This afternoon's lunch conversation began with greatauntsippy talking about how her husband was a magician.  Greathusbandbob asked if she was ever his assistant.  This led to me demonstrating the difference in hand positions between a  magician's assistant, a model on the Price is Right and Vanna. (who is apparently leaving the show.)  

Greathusbanbob pondered the thought of bringing Wheel of Fortune to the assisted living place.  I declined as Vanna and mentioned my favorite internet friend kmkat was going to be on Jeopardy.  So kmkat this next riff is dedicated to you.

Aunt's friends nephew was talking on and on about how people who read probably do well on that show.  This guy is always the first to talk and never listens to see if anyone else has anything to say.  While he was going on and on and on, greathusbandbob wondered about a game of Jeopardy at the assisted living place. Then the game of naming categories for the over 80 crowd began. 

They included- 

Medical Equipment 

Doctors who end in "ologists"

I used to do that..

What's for dinner

Name that side effect

Kids these days

So kmkat, while I am expecting great things from you, maybe by the time you're over 80 there will be a Jeopardy alternative for you.  I know all the answers! LOL

I *heart* autumn

Cooler weather makes me so happy.  I don't even care about being cold.

I don't get as sweaty, it's not too hot to cook, and you can breathe when you go outside.

I've had trouble with doughnuts and the treats I've been feeding the kids but the smell of this cooking brought me back to my hardcore self care this time last year and I am hopefully reenergized. Baby bella mushrooms with a packet of beef stroganoff sauce (I forgot sour cream and it's probably just as well)  boil in bag brown rice (for a quicker and smaller serving) fresh cherry tomatoes and mozzarella.

Pockets of Treasures

Yesterday at our daily briefing greathusbandbob shared his cardio doctor results.  When they first began monitoring "ejection fraction" he was at 25%.  This is the percentage of blood that your left ventricle pumps out.  The red danger zone begins at 40%.  41-49% is normal.  As of yesterday appointment he was at 45% which takes him out of the danger zone!  Thank you enteresta.

He also found out that the woman who owns the most beautiful Victorian house on the block may be selling in a year or so.  Right now it's one of the recovery houses but the owner says she is planning on stepping away from that.  He asked the price and immediately told her we would buy it when it became available.  A lot can happen in a year but seriously, if I can live in a Victorian house while I'm doing it, I will work for another 10 years!

Then a really weird thing happened.  Secretarysandy came to lunch today, sat down and immediately said "I had the best dream about you last night." And proceeded to tell me that I was living in the perfect house and she came over and spent the night and it was the happiest feeling ever.  When she described the entrance to the house in her dream it she described the house mentioned above. (*twilight zone music*) I hadn't had time to even tell her about the news beforehand.  (I've got to keep a lid on it because gets me way to excited and equally disappointed)

This morning as I was walking toward bus sidewalk duty, Jordan, a kindergartener stopped me on his way to breakfast and said "Hey!  Guess What?!"    I said "I don't know- tell me what!"  He said "I LOVE YOU!"  Again if every day had such a start it would be much easier to keep going.

I went to the high school basking in the good feels.  While the kids were eating their grab and go mid morning snacks a group of middle school girls peeked into the classroom waving and laughing and being general paparazzi.  The high school kids laughed at my "celebrity status" and I told them the story from the kindergartener.  Class goes on as usual and when the bell rings my favorite goth artist kid (they're all my favorites- just favorites in different categories) stays behind and says "Hey Mrs. Terry, guess what!"  I smiled and said "What?"  He said "I love you!"  I said "I love you too."  My face hurts from smiling even as I type this.

And finally- Usually I am the extra friendly hi how ya doin' person at Zumba.  I finally got over myself and realized I didn't have to make everyone in the room like me. One girl, who I have seen their often, struck up a conversation.  It came out that I was a music teacher and she said she was an oboe major for 5 semesters until she couldn't take it anymore.  I asked her where she went to school and she said "WVU-I graduated in 2006."  She said this AS IF I could have possibly graduated anywhere near that date.  When I didn't immediately share my matriculation date (knowing I had former students as old as her) she asked.   I mumbled 1987.... her eyes became saucers and she said "but you don't have any wrinkles."

The moral of this story is that when you think everything really sucks a lot, eventually pockets of treasures appear.

Facebook at its finest.

Scam victim under scam warning

In a day's work

The day started with a k-er walking proudly off the bus to the front doors declaring
I don't miss my mom!

Later that morning the star h.s. football player showed me that he stubbed his finger against his other hand while trying to dab.

In case you're unfamiliar with dabbing

I told him he must have been self-sabotaging  His football player friend declared he was self-dabotaging. That is why I love high school.

We started class by listening to Erwartung by Schoenberg.  It's in German.  There is no tonal center.  It's as if the singer and pianist don't know the the other is there.  I told them they had to pretend they understood German and write the lyrics she was singing.  A few bold ones then shared.  It was hilarious.  The best part was the fact that most of the students eventually offered up their interpretations and we all enjoyed what was essentially each others poetry.

After doing that and then sharing their one measure 4 part rhythm compositions it was time to add to their ukulele repertoire.  I had a plan and I had my doubts.  You just never know.  But, as I distributed the chords and lyrics to Monster Mash, everyone was delighted. Several declarations of "this is awesome." and one sharing a previous experience in middle school with classmates who had never heard of it.

Finally- there are too many in the class to repeat last years Christmas mitten presents so I'm going for something a little smaller.  Their favorite treat to eat are oreos. So I will make a plate of these-

some teacher I am

My class got booted out of our room and sent to the auditorium this morning.  They needed my room for testing. 

New rule.  If I get kicked out of my classroom, I'm not going to teach.  I'm encouraged to use technology, to have active learning- we have ukuleles and drumsticks as means of active learning.  I do my due diligence to be prepared and then some.  

When I am told five minutes before class I'll be teaching in another space that doesn't even remotely resemble a classroom, I am no longer going to try to recoup from someone else's lack of planning.  I'm not going to redo plans at the last minute.  I won't complain about being displaced. (that's me being flexible) but no longer am I going to drive myself crazy.

End Rant.

Next example.  I was waiting for my Country Heat class to start at the gym.  A pilates class was finishing up in the room.  A youngish boy (maybe 7-8) walks past.  A few minutes later I hear pounding and (presumably) him yelling MOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM at the top of his lungs.  I'm thinking it's an impatient kid wanting his mom to hurry up and finish with class. 

I'm also thinking man-o-day life is going to be bad for that obnoxious kid when his mom gets out of class.  This yelling, crying, desperate screaming continued for about 5 more minutes.  

Finally what he was yelling  changed to "I'm stuck! I need help!"  He had slid into one of the lower lockers, planning to jump out and scare his mom when class was over and he couldn't get out. 

He was easy to find and I "saved" him but jaded teacher that I am, I still didn't believe he was really stuck and thought he was being a drama kid.  Come to find he really was.  Next time a kid is screaming bloody murder for his mother, even if it's none of my business, I'm going to make sure I take a little peak and know whats going on. It's not being nosy.  It's being a good person.

Alternative Canvas. Thanks Pinterest.

Playing on Pinterest projects that cut books into art and art using text pages as a canvas.  Then a bunch of school dictionaries were up for give away and then I had to draw.  Also I may have given one of the dictionaries to my favorite art loving high school kid..