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..

Sheep and fiber festival

Yarn finally used to double knit a cowl.

Other than the laundry...

I'm ready for the week- at least as far as food and lesson plans until Wednesday go.

Todays creations-

Hard-boiled eggs to be combined a titch of mayo and rolled into a burrito/taquito.

While the chocolate premier protein bars are delicious, they are bigger than necessary so this is peanut butter, oats, coconut oil on the bottom and dark chocolate on the top. I misread the grams and it has twice as much peanut butter and 1/3 as many oats but I think it will be fine.

The main course is from pinterest (as is the above) is vegetarian pot pie.  As I was writing this post I paused to roll out a pastry puff and put it on top to cook for the last ten minutes.  For one brief moment as I gently laid it over the mixture, I felt like a great british baker. Scroll down for the final results.

The microwave was key in todays food prep.  I used it to quickly bake the potatoes used in the potpie. And the chocolate-peanutbutter melted in 30 second increments using only one dish.

Finally the news and the supreme court business is mentally debilitating.  I've taken to wearing this with my school badge.

It's 5:30, there are two loads of laundry to do (which oddly enough I don't mind doing as long as I bring the clothes basket downstairs to carry up said laundry.) and a double knitted cowl that needs my attention.

So much for presentation.

Mountaineer GnoMe

Some say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  I say when life forces you to stay home to tend to your surprise colossal menstrual cycle, make a mountaineer gnome. Hopefully I will be able to deliver it by this evening to our adorable speech teachers birthday dinner.

If I only had the time...

Yesterday was all relaxing.  No obligations.  Today was catch up day and the rare Sunday that didn’t require a relative visit.  (We we’re both there during the week and will be there again on an evening this week.). She’s going home on Wednesday. Greathusbandbob believes his pushing is what made it happen.  Whatever makes him happy.  She was the one who had to walk 200 feet.

I made today Pinterest cooking day.  I was getting tired of eating either salads or quinoa and black beans. Also it was finally cool enough to have the oven on.

Experiment #1. Roasted squash, zucchini and grape tomatoes.  Garlic and Italian seasoning in olive oil shredded Parmesan cheese on top. 400 degrees. 25 minutes. A-ma-zing.  The easiest and the best tasting of the day.  A certain repeat recipe.

Experiment #2. Crockpot Mac and cheese.  Note to self: There are some recipes that require real ingredients.  Do not replace whole milk with cashew milk (in spite of how creamy you see it gets.). It’s edible but in a sort of frozen dinner kind of way edible.

Experiment #3. The big deal was vegetarian enchiladas made with green lentils.  The enchilada filling is a mixture of cooked green lentils, oats, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, cooked carrot, tomatoes onion and garlic and spices all food processed together.  This had several steps.  Cooking the lentils, cooking the vegetables, food processing the big ole pile of stuff, making the enchilada sauce, assembling and baking.  It was initially a vegan recipe but nothing on this green earth will make me ever eat vegetarian cheese again so I went with low-fat mozzarella.

The filling is very filling what with all the protein in it.  It had the texture and color of refried beans.  It didn’t taste horrible but I probably won’t make it again.   I’ll freeze them for lunches and be sure to pack some sour cream for a break in the texture.

I’d like to thank my summer self for exploring and pinteresting recipes.  Otherwise I would have tired myself out just trying to get a handle on what I should make.

And the crack myself up of the day came as I was pumping gas at Sheetz.  I was reading the directions on the pump that included using Sheetz gift cards.  There is a teacher at school who is getting married in two weeks.  They are collecting $$ to give a cash gift.  I bought Sheetz gift cards and will give the gift separately in a card that says may you have many happy adventures and plenty of “gas” in the “Sheetz.”  I am so hilarious.

The Center of the State

Braxton County is at the center of the state of WV.  Home of the town of Sutton and Gassaway.

Downtown Sutton has likely seen better days.

This road turns into a brick road with some beautiful Victorian houses, a typical West Virginia holler and ends with Café Cimino Bed and Breakfast and Old Woman's Run Road.

While the picture in the previous post gave the impression that it sat on the edge of a vast field,  Cafe Cimino is surrounded by the above pictures on either side and a creek behind it.

It was a lovely lunch- a margherita pizza and a vodka tonic and a good friend with plans on the calendar to do it again, possibly including a few friends of friends who also laugh together.  It's no surprise,  given all of our coincidences, but one of her other very good friends from Fairmont is great friends with someone I always enjoyed being around in Fairmont way back in the day. 

It was an intimate dining corner with the few people there hearing each others conversations (and occasionally answering each other's questions)  The best part of our continued similarities was the ease with which we both knew and followed exactly what was going on the same way that most men get distracted watching t.v.  We could be mid-sentence, something would transpire and our mutual A.D.D. would pause, attend, make an appropriate facial expression and return to our conversation (although I would also "shout" SQUIRREL! to crack me up.)

And while this may seem like no big deal to some of you, I got to go three and half hours (on the drive) not saying anything to anyone.