Signs of the Season

Singing - my 13 member choir was to sing at the senior center today. It is this big.

Except it’s only as big as the left half of it.  The right half is where I get my hair cut.

We went there because there was no way this group could hold their own in front of a gym sized audience.  The center is about 2 miles from the school.  We made this plan in October. I gave my principal a note like this once we knew we were going.

It was to remind her to order a bus (which only she can do and which has to be done at least 2 weeks before the event.). She forgets stuff.  I figured a picture might help.  We laughed.  She (presumably) ordered the bus.  Fast forward to the week after Thanksgiving break. Did we get a bus to the senior center?  Yes, it’s all taken care of.   I removed myself from the equation having done due diligence.

Today there was no bus.  Transportation guy said “it was deleted from the system.” I have my doubts. She forgets stuff. She made phone calls and got permission to drive the kids herself.  Three trips (20 minutes) later we were assembled and singing. Well, sort of singing.  I played a recording of children singing carols and they sang along.  I’m pretty sure the eldercrowd was more interested in the flashing light necklaces we wore.  Which we gave to them as we left because how could we not. I was a little bit afraid of a knock down drag out because there were more elders than necklaces but they worked it out.

Of note is that when the principal informed me there was no bus, I experienced no rise in heart rate or blood pressure. Yet another sign of being old and wizened 

Presents - Olivia (in choir) left this wrapped with a tag that said it was handmade by her.  I think it must have been done on a slim piece of wood.  At first I thought it smelled like nail polish remover but I realized it was glue/paint I was smelling. There really is nothing better than a handmade holy crap this took some time present from a kid.

Decorations - My most favorite decoration on the way to and from work is this one.

I know it’s hard to see but apparently Mary, Joseph and Jesus were originally guarded by a pink troll with a candy cane.  Coming in at a close second is the house that has the huge inflatable sexy reindeer lounging on the grass on one side and the hunter snowman (with camp vest, rifle and orange cap) inflatable on the other side.  That one goes by too fast for me to even get a bad picture of it. But here are some from the internet.

   

Come to find this sells for $77 at the box store but you can’t put a price on style.

Celebrating -Tomorrow night is the gag gift gala at the new restaurant that gets a one and a half star review on Yelp.  I may eat before I go - just in case.  Or maybe at least drink.  I was on the fence about going to the last three. But, there was so much laughing at the last one that I am looking forward to it.  Plus there will be gag gifts. And gag gifts revealed.  This is the first time in 30+years that I have even remotely looked forward to a faculty gathering.

And today brings

Thoughtful treats from thoughtful people.

First- the admin who finally removed the post sent these with her daughter today.  What’s not to love- a dog, snowflakes and warm feet.

At the end of the day the first grade parent volunteer asked me to stay for a minute or two extra. (I taught her kids way back when) when all first grades returned, she gave me this delightful embroidered banner to hang in my room.

It’s the phrase we live by when getting instruments.  It makes me feel like I need a few more.  One that says “no biggie” and another that says “what the what?”

The high school kids take finals the rest of the week. The h.s. music teacher will give mine because it’s an extended class period.

My tiny tuneless elementary choir will sing at the senior center on Wednesday.  I can only hope that the seniors are mostly deaf.  Plenty of buckets, no tunes.  I spent $50 on blinking light necklaces to hopefully distract from what will no doubt be a dumpster fire.

It’s all fun and games...

Then it’s hilarious.

I will admit to a slight amount of laziness.  But in my defense, there is a reason spirituals have been around for over 200 years.  While the program stays the same (apparently to the chagrin of some parental audience members) the kids learn a new song every year.  One that they will have and love well beyond Christmas.  Repeating a program is a bit of a lazy way out, but every year afterwards, 8-10 people make a point of coming up and saying how glad they are that I was “brave enough to keep god in the program.”

Until yesterday when a parent (who may or may not have had CPS visit them in the past) called me out on it on a parents school Facebook page.  What happened to Christmas songs like Rudolph and the 12 days of Christmas?  Why all these bible story songs you hear in church?  Why weren’t there decorations. It’s the same thing very year. It was better last year when she did Christmas songs*.  The kids looked like they just weren’t into it.  You could tell the kids were having so much fun. School X has a really good program. Etc. etc etc.

* I did change it up to the Rudolphy  program last year at the request of a kid. So saying it’s the same every year but last year was better is hilarious.

I spent last night and this morning trying to get past it, composing passive aggressive responses and generally accepting that while it could get boring for parents, it’s really great for their kids.  But maybe it’s only boring for parents who don’t really look at their kids while they’re singing.

Finally I had some insight.  I’m fairly certain none of them knew I was a member of the group.  So I “liked” the post, näively pretending that it was a polite request for a greater variety of song selection.  I crack me the hell up.  It made it easier for me and it was the least confrontational while still making my presence known.

There were words of support (mostly former students now parents) and finally the page administrator deleted the post saying it was an informational page not a complaint page.  Complaints should go to the proper individuals. I wish I had screen shot the comments.

The dog still loves me and agrees to be on my lap for a little bit nightly.

Why I get a guy.

This is how the cords for the sound system go.  Maybe I don’t have to get a guy next year.  Except it so much easier.

An adventure at long last.

To the Clayton House, my Victorian dream. No inside pictures allowed but Mrs. Frick’s bedroom has appeared to me in my sleep.

Then to dinner with spinach ricotta ravioli in a tomato cream sauce.  You know it’s good Italian food when the flavors are subtle and don’t hit you like a Mac truck.

Then to the Phipps botanical garden with light display.

All with the best people to have fun with.

In other news, biopsy on the 20th.  Gag gift party that night.  The office teapot has been improved with a usb drive containing pertinent teapot clips and an actual $400 iPod that’s useless and aged out.

Also I may have gone adventuring early and accidentally eaten ice cream at Sarris’ and bought jelly beans.  It happens.

Further more

In line with being either at the top or at the bottom, the state of West Virginia just became #1 in mourning what would have been a blip on the radar if his contemporary weren't such an ass.

The state of West Virginia closed all state offices, West Virginia University and all public schools as a day mourning for George H.W. Bush.

At the end of the day we heard about the National Day and that there would be no mail delivered.  We also heard about state offices being closed.  I jokingly asked "if it's all state employees, will they close the schools as well?"  And indeed they did.  At 4:30 in the afternoon.  Older facebook friends noted that they didn't even close the schools for Kennedy's funeral so what the damn what?

I don't really mind.  There is a bit of an inconvenience in that it's been over a month since I've seen my choir which meets on Wednesday.  Last week it was a snow day, the week before it was Thanksgiving and the week before that was an early dismissal.  Next week is the program- fortunately I had already planned on NOT having them sing there.  They are just awful.  But, we are going to the senior center to perform the following week on - Wednesday of course.

I was going to try and make it a sing along so that the audience would help them but I don't know how well that will go over.  Instead I took the advice of my principal, downloaded some carols, make a booklet with the words and they will just sing with recorded music.  My 28 year old self is having a heart attack.  My 53 year old self is laughing and laughing.

Also the high school is planning several holiday activities meaning shortened classes so it appears as though I will be able to make medieval times last until Christmas and save Leonardo da Vinci for January.

In other news, I'm waiting to hear what's next my body.  They finally decided to have a look at the crazy heavy cycles I have been occasionally getting in the last three years.  Seems like there are some cysts blocking what would be the normal release of the lining.  In my mind it's a little irrelevant as they are suggesting that everything mostly over and done with anyway.  I hear back from them at the end of the week.  The trans-vaginal ultra sound (yes its as bad as it sounds) lady asked if they planned to biopsy anything.  I was like what the what?  At least it was a little hint as to what might come.

Birth month ended

But not before we finally had the teacher outing.  Everyone drove to the burg of Wayne for a cozier setting and less driving for me.  I was really self conscious about the request but it all worked out in the end.  We ate at the Mexican restaurant and laughed the whole time but it was one of those laughs that you can’t really remember what was funny.  I know there was a joke about a kid asking one if she had saved up for the pop socket on her phone.  It was also hilarious when we asked the waiter to take out picture and he started to do it with his camera.  Maybe it was because after we decided to schedule a gag gift exchange I also declared that the picture must have us looking in random directions.  It also could have been all of The Office references that peppered the conversations.  Another instance where you expect the worst only to have lots of surprise laughing.  We left and the waiter said “see you tomorrow.”

I’m the old person with the young ones but at least these pics don’t make that too obvious.

This evening Facebook gave me a picture of what we would have looked like had we been dogs.

I think it’s pretty accurate.

As for the gag gift gathering, genius has struck again,  I ordered a teapot not unlike the one that Jim gave Pam in the office and will fill it with the same items.  Although I think the card that I write will say “happy birthday Jesus, sorry your party is so lame.”  I think we’re about 60/40 office watchers so if a non watcher receives the gift I’ll just say “it was meant for Pam.”

This week the high school kids learned to distinguish polyphonic, monophonic and homophonic sounds.  They also learned to play chess.

My new student is a Dr. Who fan and plays chess.  I knew his playing dumb and lazy was a bit of an act.  He may get a knitted Tardis instead of Oreo cookies.  Also the one who I had a come to Jesus moment with has now decided I’m on his side which is nice.

In lieu of a quiz yesterday I asked them to write 20 questions (real ones) about medieval times.  Many were about sex.  I’m sure they thought they were being funny.  They won’t think it’s so funny when I give them the answers they’ll realize they weren’t really looking for.  But I will.

The final end of the week bonus was that this afternoon mother of Noel (see last post) had to bring treats to her sons classroom.  Poor puppy was left alone in the car so the puppy mama gave me the keys and I went and hung out in the car with her.  She was nervous about mama returning but I have six more years in which to befriend her.

Crack me up Snow Day.

The Naturally Slim weight loss/lifestyle program says that one reason we stress eat is because we have a vital need that is not being met.  After looking at their list of vital needs to choose from I realized that my number one really is humor.  And as I have been working on this repeatedly crashing blog post I haven't eaten a thing so go figure.

We were folk dancing after program prep in third grade yesterday.  My goal was to capture the joy of these kids dancing together (in spite of complaints) in slow motion.  There was joy but I didn't capture it the way I intended.  So instead I share this which is some side action dancing- You don't need the volume. It's also much more hilarious if you full screen it.

Earlier in the day the high school kids looked like this.  Why yes, that IS a senior star football player decorating his knight helmet on the side. The fact that I taught them when they were little gives me a little bit of an edge I think.  Also I feed them so they can't complain too much.

I have a new favorite internet/real life dog-

Her name is Noel and I've met her as she's dropped her first grade best friend off at school.  I also taught her mamma in elementary school.  The is one of the most photogenic dogs I've ever seen.

Now maybe it's just because I'm a music teacher, but this next bit has me laughing every time I look at it.  It's a facebook post on a General Music Teacher page and one of the comments that followed.

At once I though Hot Cross Buns of Steel was the funniest HCB joke I'd ever heard.  Sultry HCB wins the music teacher internet as far as I'm concerned. Subliminal advertising anyone?

As for today's snow day, there was less than an inch in the driveway.  Maybe a little ice underneath.  Temperatures were not ridiculously low.  There have got to be some shenanigans going on at the WVDOH road treatment division.  Or else all of the gas companies have stolen any potential drivers of salt/cinder trucks.  The good news is that our new superintendent doesn't mess around.  He had already called a 2-hour delay by 7:00 pm last night and called the day off an hour before he was required to this morning. Usually there is a waiting contest between surrounding counties.  If today is any indication, we'll be the leader from now on.

Legacy

Remember that time I made stickers of myself to give as prizes?  This little ones mama just made my day.

Thanksgiving

Apparently all you need to make it taste like thanksgiving is jellied cranberry and some mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top. Oh, and a candle.

Free time equals multiple posts.

First thanksgiving post.

Sometimes the holidays suck.  One is reminded of anxiety ridden dinners of thanksgivings past.  In previous years I was happy to get a slight tequila buzz at the casino to get through what sometimes feel like the sadness of the day.

Don’t know if it’s menopause or what but I’m feeling all holiday-ey this week.  A later post will include chicken pot pie, canned  jellied cranberry sauce, and frozen mashed sweet potatoes which I hope to adorn with lighter toasted mini-marshmallows.  There are also pumpkin muffins for dessert.  Why should I feel left out?  Greathusbandbob doesn’t really get from whence I come but I’ll do what I want and there will be food for him to eat.  And in the long run, I believe he’ll be grateful.

In the meantime.  I made a super chunky knitted hat in less than the amount of time it takes to watch a movie.

Makes me want to order more super chunky yarn.  Every now and the perfect pattern plus perfect yarn.

Also the office makes me laugh and happy.

mish mash

Thanksgiving Break- just a little reminder of why I love summer vacation.

Saturday was cooking day- I made homemade wedding soup from a Pittsburgh recipe site.

Sunday was the weekly visit- conversation overheard-

why didn't you tell me I had a heart attack.

I did tell you.

no you didn't

remember how they gave you a stent and I said they didn't contact me first?

well, yes but I didn't think that had anything to do with my heart

And you were in ICU and you thought someone had shot you?

Was that in the hospital?

yes.

why didn't you tell me?

Maybe I forgot that you wouldn't remember and I should have told you again.

PAUSE

I need you to know that I will never lie to you or keep anything from you

I know that but sometimes you exaggerate.

I promise I don't exaggerate when it comes to your health

sigh- just remember all the things I did for you when you were little

(unspoken) wait, what?

The lunch conversation was mostly about poop and the fact that handicap toilet seats are much better than regular ones which are entirely too low.  At one point I said "well, on that note," suggesting that it was time to end lunch.  Greathusbandbob pushed his chair out but no one else moved.  I need to get better at hinting.

Monday- yesterday was vacuum cleaner and clutter day.  Other than the cleaning that requires water (bathroom/kitchen floors) the house feels tidy and will make break more enjoyable.  This was followed by some zumba and garlic mushrooms (recipe from zumbaBetty) for dinner. Really just sautéed mushrooms with some fresh parsley, garlic, and thyme and some dry white wine (that Betty brought to me so I could make them)

Today so far the I've caught up with the bills, started the laundry and just now saw a fox pass by the window.  I guess that's what happens when your neighbor has chickens.

I’ve forgotten more than I’ll ever know

I wish blogs had existed way back when.  I also wish I could have laughed at my life a little more better then as well.  I do have a journal somewhere with some documented pre-blog hilarity.  I’ll have to look it up.

In the mean time, here’s a picture of some kids- maybe 20 years ago. The girl in the red shirt in the middle is my good friend and also the pre-k teacher at my school.  I teach her two kids now. I also taught her husband when he was in 5th grade.  None of that is terribly noteworthy except for the fact that while I remembered him, I’ve taught with her for at least the last 15 years and never remembered she was in this class.    

One of her classmates posted it on the book of face and after investigating, I remembered the kid with the glasses. I asked her about it

I know I taught husband, did I teach you too?

Yup. I remember that we got mops and dressed them up and used them as dance partners for the winter program.  It was the best class ever.

I remember doing that.  What you see pictured was the ENTIRE class and there was no way my inexperienced self would have been able to get them to sing in a program..  While she wasn’t one of them, there were several monotones in that group long before I ever learned how to at least try to fix that.  If I remember correctly, I may also have still been in my Ethel Merman singing stage- which isn’t good for anybody.

I’m not sure what dumbfounded me most- that I was just finding this out or that I had forgotten the mop dance partner business. I still think it was a brilliant way to make 8 kids look like 16. The thought of doing that now is hilarious to me. I can’t believe I did.  I may have to get that book of stories out and see if there are others to offer up to the e-gods.

Earlier in the week during parent teacher conferences, two favorites from the past stopped by.  One was recently married.  The other just got guardianship over her drug abusing younger sister’s three children. (All under the age of 5.). The first could always make me laugh.  The second was the first time I ever had a student who looked at me as if I could walk on water.  Something in my way of being connected to and opened up hers.  She made me a puppet when she was in first grade.  I think I must have taught them when I was really getting my music teacher sea legs and was able to enjoy it more. The book of face is all well and good but squeezing the love into those grown up kids filled my heart for the rest of the night.  It was my turn to look at them like they were rock stars.

In those earlier days I would haul out every scarf, puppet, picture book and instrument to bring the creative and happy.  Sometimes I beat myself up for not doing that more now.  And then I think that my time with them is so short and precious that spending too much of it organizing and distributing such things would be a travesty in that effort to make the real connections with them. 

Thanksgiving break started today at 4:00.  The only thing I have planned is to try and make wedding soup for greathusbandbob. He likes the tiny meatballs, there was a “Pittsburgh” recipe on Facebook, and I’ve gotten a lot better at cooking this year.  I feel like I could tackle it.

When it comes to being thankful, I don’t need food and family together to remind me of what my chosen path has given me in return for following it.  I get little reminders every day.  Also I think the second project of the week will be to find that journal of stories.

random post number 841

When I came home from school on Tuesday greathusbandbob was out of his seating coming toward me with his iPhone saying "I couldn't wait until you got home!" My first thought was what did he do without me. Then I realized he was just excited.

The dog made a friend. Make this picture bigger and you will see what it is.  Apparently they engaged with each other for about 45 minutes.  At one point the deer tried to run away and fell, puppy went toward it then stopped- not knowing what to do next and they just hung out for a while.

Birthday night pictures not yet posted- decorations and a cake-

We were out of candles and rather than stop and get some I suggested we use a tea light.  It worked.  There were more balloons but the  point of this picture is to share that the Happy Birthday sign has been up for about 3 years.  We just don't take it down.  If you come to our house and its your birthday, you're in luck.

Knitting- I am quite the multiple personality knitter these days- I'm working on the giant double knitted coat, a double knitted scarf with itchy but pretty yarn that hombres through colors and makes a checkerboard against black yarn, a baby sweater for a former student that I never particularly liked but for some reason feel the need to give some attention to, and a beautiful lace cowl to match the first one so that I might give it as a present.

Food- Our insurance is sponsoring membership in an online weight loss program called Naturally Slim. In the words of the all too perky spokesperson,  "It's not WHAT you eat, it's when and how you eat."

It focuses on being more mindful while eating.  Eating, taking a break to let your brain and stomach catch up and then eating again if you're still hungry.  I have eaten much less as a result.  I'm also only really interested in food that tastes good.  I don't want to waste my full belly on average food.  I think it might be a good angle.  While I haven't broken the standing plateau threshold, I did drop the excess I gained with my pringle's/oreo indulgences.

The weather says there will be some snow.  I listen to people complain about the cold and nod my head in sympathy but definitely not empathy.  I'll take bone chilling cold over insurmountable heat any day.

In the category of stupid lazy people at school (which there are thankfully, much fewer of) comes a story about the custodian.  I had boxes and boxes from treats for the high school kids.  I also had an enormous Sam's shipping box because I had some of them sent.  Because I didn't want to make extra work for the custodian, I broke down and flattened all of the boxes and put them in the rolling bin that I see the kitchen uses for their cardboard boxes.  The only thing I did not do was collapse the plastic bags full of air packaging. The principal saw me take it to the cart headed for the dumpster.

The custodian came to me and said- "I took care of your garbage, I poked a whole in all of those packaging air bags."  Item one- once I throw it away and remove it from my room in a respectful and convenient (for them) manner, I don't really consider it MY garbage any more.  Item two- those little bags absolutely did NOT need to be popped.  Gravity would have done its trick once they were in the main dumpster.

But, "thanks for doing your job, big guy."

The Birthday Post

A log of birthday week-

• Ma sent me a knitting book and a cook book.
• SecretarySandy gave me a good friend card.
• Several friends and students responded to a facebook request of reminders of when we laugh together.
• It was election day and I went to the Ville of Steuben to meet with the financial guy- he's going to take care of my money too- and find out when I can retire.
• I voted.

             

• Coloring book and colored triangle pencils arrive at my door to complete the moms present.
• Knit night met at Sarris'.  Instead of the banana split I went for 3 scoops (vanilla chocolate and butter pecan) covered in chocolate sauce, nuts, whip cream and a cherry on top.
• Knitnight Tara brought some homemade cupcakes from earlier in the day at her polling booth. They were much more beautiful when they were fresh from the refrigerator and first presented.

• When we got home from knit night there was a message for a 2-hour early dismissal for kids on the birthday due to an emergency planned unplanned electric outage.  Who knows what that means
• This morning I woke up to this lovely message from the parent of 2 former students (I don't even have her kids anymore.)

• I went to school, knowing teachers would have to stay after the kids left.
• Second graders came into the room and sang to me- we practiced for the winter program.
• Kids left, singing over the bus dismissal walkie-talkies and also as they passed.  
• I had 2 hours to kill. In the dark. In a room with no windows. With a few flashlights. (the principal advised us to prepare our rooms for parent conferences next week and work on lesson plans on our charged chrome books- that rely entirely on the internet for saving materials that we would not have access to- the electricity was out.)
• I spent the time on the floor (on my purchased mats for comfort) wrapping the rest of my cousins Christmas presents. In the mostly dark.
• Once finished I turned a pile of wrapped presents in a bag into a pillow.  
• And on my birthday I spent an hour on the floor in the office in my classroom playing microsoft card games from the app.  I thought I was going to be mad at wasted time or pathetic activities but instead it was silent and relaxing.  It was lovely.
• I left 45 minutes early and came home to balloons, a birthday card and a boston creme pie birthday cake.
• We went to an adorable Italian restaurant that we love that's about 40 minutes away.

• And on the way home we stopped at the furniture store that we love to go to and found a side table for the Aunt.  They guy asked what we were looking for.  I said I need a magic table that's not too big but has plenty of flat surface for er stuff.  We laughed and when I walked up to the next one, opened the top drawer, there was a "cover" for the top drawer that extends so you can put your drink on it. So there was a magic one.
• The Dog climbed from her chair to my lap with no coercion and without me picking her up. She stayed cozy for about 30 minutes and it was lovely.

A list

Of things I can’t knit lately-

Brioche cowl pattern from knitterly

Double knitted parallax scarf from Alistar what’s his name

Double knitted coat of the century

Simple top down baby sweater

This is not even counting the multiple things that were set aside this summer.

I know there is more.  It’s a paying attention thing. More accurately a lack thereof.   Maybe it’s age life stage related. After each mistake I vow to pay better attention and yet.

Knit. Unknit. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Sigh.

as always- kids are kids

Last week we had make a reed instrument out of a straw day.

As I began to distribute supplies there were moans and groans about "yeah, I did this when I was in fifth grade..." And then they started playing and then they were in 5th grade again.

Except for the part about soprano alto tenor bass- we were making friends with those vocabulary words and I brought my recorder family to emphasize that most instruments come in families.

They were mildly interested in the sopranino and the alto but when the tenor came out one kid said "that's a big ass recorder."  And I said yes, that is in fact what we call this one.  It's soprano, alto big ass and bass.

Then I brought out the bass and asked what it was called and one kid said "holy shit."  I said exactly- Soprano, alto, big ass and holy shit.

The kid who usually ignores and eye rolls at me managed to smile at that one.

Later in the week the goth artist told me he wanted to draw a picture of greathusbandbob.  I sent him a photo- maybe he'll draw him as a zombie.  I can only hope.

It was Halloween week as well- the look on kids faces when they get off the bus and see teachers dressed up is priceless. The wait for the afternoon party was almost more than they could manage- one third grader, after finding out how long he had to wait said "Time is Heavy."

In other news- WV's state insurance is offering the program "Naturally Slim."  I don't know what it is.  It looks like a gimmicky weight loss thing.  They had to do something after the last healthy incentive program they had ended up asking for illegal information.

It starts on Monday and I received this package in the mail.

A tape measure, a motivational bracelet, peanuts and Pringles.  Only WV hook up with a company that sends Pringles at the start of a weight loss program.

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..