Three More Days

Long 

long...long...

Thedaysare longand

blurring

    together.

Is it Monday? Friday?

Alarms continue

day after day

with a just perceivable glimmer.

I can see it now

three x's away 

from a rest

filled

blur-less

long

awaited

break.

Ideas

I occasionally listen to the podcast "Diary of a CEO." He has had some very interesting guests, and he is a great interviewer. His questions go deep while staying honest and relatable. 

I'm about three-quarters of the way through one about passive income. I wasn't going to listen to it, but I was intrigued after seeing some clips. Chris Koerner, an entrepreneur who's started all kinds of side hustles and well-established businesses, is the guest. 

As I've listened to bits and pieces when I have time, I've begun to wonder why I'm listening, and then he would say something I felt I connected to. The main point he continues to make is that people have ideas, but they aren't doing enough about them. I think this way...a...lot. I am an idea person. I have a lot of follow-through on the important stuff, but when it comes to big ideas or things that feel far out there, I tend to be conservative with my time and effort. I really want to take more plunges at some of my ideas. I started thinking about this during my crazy snowy commute and am feeling inspired to get going on some new things with old ideas that have been brewing. 

Eye Appointment Fascination

I got glasses a few years ago, for the second time. When I was in high school, I had glasses for a moment and then just stopped wearing them. As I got into my mid-40s, I accepted the fact that I was due for glasses. It was pretty shocking when I got glasses again. My eyes were so much worse than I realized, and it was nice to be able to see kids' faces all the way down the hallway at school. 

Yesterday was my annual check-up. My prescription had changed just a tiny bit in one eye, but otherwise, all was healthy. The most fascinating part of the appointment was the retinal imaging. I had never experienced this before and was so intrigued by the images and what they could see. Turns out I have some discoloration in the outer areas of both eyes. It's the kind of thing that may have always been there, but now we have a baseline and can watch it for changes. I wasn't expecting to be so surprised by my eye appointment, but it was both informative and interesting!

My Fix Review

I've been waiting. I was sitting here, thinking about what to write about today. I had a TV show playing, "Only Murders in the Building" (Netflix), and decided to check my email. There it was. My Stitch Fix is ready for review. I don't always peek early, but sometimes I like to, so I can ditch anything that doesn't suit me. 

I've been getting Stitch Fix since the fall and absolutely love it. The clothes I've gotten have elevated my style and helped me put outfits together like I've always wanted. With the season change, I've been looking forward to what they'll send me this time. 

After looking the items over, I rejected three and accepted five. They will pick three new items, so I'll still get a surprise. My box will be here in a week or so. It's always so fun. Like my birthday every couple of months. 

On another note, we've reached the end of THIS month! It's always fun to reconnect with this community and meet new friends along the way. I've enjoyed the month of your slices and hope to see you on Tuesdays. 

Indifferent Shrug

My day has felt 

like a shrug.

Not bad, just--shrug.

I read more

than I thought I would.

I cleaned less 

than I thought I would.

I thought about 

organizing.

And organized 

nothing.

I sheltered in place 

for a tornado warning.

It was short, 

no damage.

I watched two episodes 

of a show.

I ate good meals.

not fancy.

I talked to my mom

three times.

I let the dogs out 

a dozen times.

I got groceries, 

just a pickup.

I hydrated.

I sat.

I napped.

I sliced.

Shrug.

The Word Lazy

I saw a video earlier today about not using the word "lazy." The video was directed at parents, but I feel the ick when I hear the word as a teacher. I realize that most of the time, when a teacher uses the word lazy to describe a student, it isn't usually their intention to wrap the whole kid's identity into it. It's usually a result of frustration. So, I get it, but when it is said too much, it starts to stick, and we can forget the impact of the word. We might even let it slip in a conversation with a student. It can be a brutal one for kids, especially those who struggle with more than task initiation. 

Anyway, this posts started this way because I sat down with my computer. I was thinking through my day, figuring out which part I wanted to write down. Then I realized I was able to spend a lot of time relaxing today. It felt like a "lazy day." I heard myself say it in my head and thought, a lazy day might be a time I feel like using the word lazy is okay. At least, when I've had a lazy day, or anyone else, it was probably needed. I enjoyed my rest today. 

I Didn't Know

I didn't know.

Months ago, I made an impulse purchase of some scissors. More specifically, they are for cutting hair. I bought them without any real intent to use them, but I also secretly knew I probably would. Today is my daughter's birthday. It's a big one—18! We had big plans with family, food, and a tiny bit of shopping if we still had the energy. 

As she got ready, I asked, "Hey, do you want me to trim your bangs?" I sounded confident when I asked, and to my surprise, Arie responded, "Yes!"

Downstairs, we went. I isolated the bangs, which were to her lips, and reassured her (and myself) that I would follow the existing angle that Ryan, our actual stylist, had established. I could feel my posture changing, my focus changing. I was using precision I didn't know I had. I was impressing myself. I finished and asked Arie to look in the mirror. 

"Wow, you did such a good job. Like, wow, actually they look so good!"

I was also shocked. As we celebrated, we talked about her bangs randomly for the rest of the day. I didn't know I could do that!

Who Knew?

I like to look nice, but I'm not the kind of person who spends a whole lot of time working on it. My style is pretty simple. My hair is easy to manage. Recently, I decided to try a press-on nail. My daughter has been putting on nails for years. I could not imagine it and thought I would hate how they felt. Then, one of my friends at work showed me her nails. They were short, simple, and easy to put on and take off. I thought it was worth a try. So I did. I started with a pair of light purple-ish/grey. The official color was actually "purple veil." They were beautiful. I was in love. 

I was shocked at how much I loved them. I gave my mom daily updates on how they were doing, whether they were staying put, and whether I still liked them, and every day was a shock. All ten stayed on and looked great. 

This was day three of wearing the first set of nails. 

I kept them on for about six days and then gave my nails time to breathe. But I was hooked. What would be next? 

I love the nails. 

And now I have more awaiting their turn. Purple veil, some pink, more French, some sparkly nude, and a blue swirl--so much variety. I don't even know when I'm going to wear all these nails, but I'm definitely going to have some choices for a while!

Haiku

As spring brings new life

Remnants of winter remain

Soon bright colors spread

Awaiting a Break

I've got two more school days until spring break. I am itching for the downtime and the processing time. A lot is happening around here, and I have so much to do. Sometimes, I easily slip into the routines of just "getting through the days." 

I aim to clear out a lot of space in my basement. I got myself some of those substantial zipping tarp-like bags that are like big boxes. They will hold a lot and be stored easily. My daughter's craft area and many other spaces greatly need sprucing. 

I'm also hoping for a day trip or two. We've got a couple of places we like to go that are close. The best parts are eating some good food and walking around to lots of little shops. 

My most awaited activity of spring break will most definitely be the rest. I need that more than anything else. Knowing I'll be able to nap or sleep in is a very comforting thought. 

Willow

This is Willow.

She is a bossy little cavalier but loves to be cuddled. She's here with my son Elliot.

Willow snores, pushes around her brother, and cuddles her sister (Dennis the cat, yes, sister). Here she is with Walnut, the star of an earlier slice this month. 

Willow LOVES to be outside. She will chase after a leaf, bark at the deer, and chew on any stick. She runs into the wind and sniffs for the squirrels. She is the most excited to see me in the morning and always gives me a little lick on the hand as I open their gate. I sit with them on the couch for five or ten minutes before leaving in the morning. If Walnut gets to my lap first, she wiggles in for a spot. They are both the sweetest. 

Dogs are the best. Shhh, don't tell Dennis.

Two Favorites

This time of year always brings all the renewal of spring. I enjoy it all. Just yesterday, I was walking down the streets of Detroit on the sun-warmed sidewalks; today was a brisk-aired day but bright. I love all things spring, even the rain--not too much. 

A few nights ago, I went in search of one of my favorite signs of spring: the snowdrops. I write about them every March. When I went out the other day, it was overcast and dull, but these little beauties were in their usual patches, covered in dew drops. 

I was quick to share them with my mom. She's always curious if I've seen any yet. She even made me a special quilted wall hanging inspired by one of my March photos. It hangs in my tiny hallway by my bedroom all year. I love it. 

Then, my second favorite decided to show up in my backyard. 

My first robin of 2025. 

It now feels like everything is in order for a wonderful spring ahead. More birds, morning songs, bright sunlit buds, flowers bursting, and the freshness of the new season. 

Lunch with Friends

I was able to get a little walk in today on my way to a new-to-me lunch spot in Detroit (where my conference is located). It's called Anita's Kitchen and was super delicious. I went with two friends through the blustering wind to get there. 

We each got a different bowl, with rice, protein, and sides of hummus, pita, tabouleh, roasted veggies, etc. It was the kind of lunch you get that afterward you feel satisfied and also great. No sluggishness, just good feelings all over. 

The wind was in our face on the way back, which would have made for a pretty funny picture, but I decided to go with this one of us at our table. 

P.S.

And, look at this cool cup I won at a women in stem coffee meet-up! 

Follow Me

A growing post across my day. 

Many mini slices. 

8:46 am—I’m at a conference for the next couple days. It’s a tech conference I’ve wanted to attend for many years, so I’m excited to finally be attending. 

UPDATE

10:00–I learned about some tools that connect and may be a possible way to streamline lots of data points into one space! 

11:00–Lunch! I had a really tasty taco bowl in the food court. Gotta love nutrient rich with little wait. 

12:00–Quiet Room. Ideal space to power down for a bit and color. I felt myself relax. 

12:40–And, now I’m at a Google Forms session that looks interesting!  

Update: This session was very cool. I never thought of using the sections feature as a way to share or encourage students to write choose your own adventure stories! 

2:30–Now I’m awaiting a session on using AI tools to build targeted interventions and special education supports. 

Yay! This session was so good. Very engaging and lots of interaction in the room. 

4:02–Ending the day of sessions with a friend by my side and AI and the LAW. Which might sound like a blah session, but I feel like I can engage in and out until I’m completely done learning for today. 

I probe t update anymore, but maybe I will! Never know what might happen.

Good day of learning. 

Conference Busy

I’ve been on the road today and finally settled in. 

Looking toward to colleagues and technology tomorrow! Not much time to slice today, but tomorrow should bring some possibilities! 

Asparagus Pesto Pasta

 

It seemed fitting to make a green dinner on St. Patrick's Day! 

Every March, I can't help myself. I've got to share at least one recipe. This year, it is the very green asparagus pesto pasta. It is dairy-free and delicious!

In a blender:

Juice of one lemon

2 TBL water

2 garlic cloves 

LOTS of basil (I get the partially dried kind, so it is half fresh and half easy to keep in my fridge. It is about 2 TBL total. If using fresh, at least a cup of leaves, chopped.)

1/4 cup Raw Pine Nuts

1/8-1/4 cup of Olive Oil

1/4 cup dairy-free parmesan (or nutritional yeast)

Blend and set aside. If it is too thick, you can add pasta water later on. 

Cook a pound of pasta, I love Rigatoni, Linguine, or Cavatappi. All are awesome, but anything works with this pesto. 

I roast a lot of asparagus. I cut it into thirds and toss it with olive oil, garlic salt, and fresh black pepper. It takes about 15-20 minutes in a 400°F oven. 

When the pasta is ready, I take out a cup of water, drain the rest, and toss in the pesto. The pasta water helps loosen up the sauce if it's too thick. It all comes together with a bright, lemony flavor and a salty bite from the seasoning. It's a great green meal on this very green day! 

Powering Down

I've spent nearly the whole weekend writing. The most challenging was a paper due today. I worked for hours yesterday, reading and reviewing articles, reviewing my observation data, and making charts and figures for my case study; my brain is quite literally powering down. 

I'm looking forward to sitting here and doing light reading and commenting. That's all I've got for today. :)

My DJ

I've been sitting in my living room, freshly spruced up early this morning, working on my paper, which is due tomorrow evening. My class has a paper due each Sunday. It's not too bad, but I have been struggling to put together my ideas. Enter my Spotify DJ. He's been doing a pretty good job with the music selection, but I'm not sure it's helping me with my deadline. 

Last week, I was excited about what I was writing, and it turned out well. I got 98 out of 100, so I was happy with myself. Today, though, I am not excited. I am kind of drained, and I am not really sure how to pull together what I need to say. I do have my outline, a rough idea of my heading, and some resources for each section. I may just have to take a break from it today and hope for the best tomorrow. 

Spa Truck? 💭 Dreaming.

I was talking with my mom on my drive home tonight. It was sunny—74° —which made the drive home even better. 

My mom and I often talk on my way home. I never really know where our conversation will end, but today was a surprise. 

We were talking about medical massage, something I've talked about getting for my daughter (she has POTS and lots of chronic pain). As we talked, the conversation went on. Wouldn't it be great if you could just order a massage, the way you can order doordash? This turned to, imagine a spa on wheels, like the icecream truck. I began mimicking the song of the ice cream truck and the way I would yell for a foot rub for $10. It had us laughing hysterically at the absurdity while also thinking it wouldn't be a terrible idea! We decided it was our plan b. Spa Truck--Relaxation on Wheels. 

Productive Curriculum Day

Today, I was able to work with my 8th grade ELA colleuage and mentee on her curriculum. The curriculum hasn't been updated since 2017-2018, and it's hard to work on it when there isn't dedicated time. We took a day to sit uninterrupted and got so much more done than expected. 

The goal was to get down everything she's been doing or plans to do this year, the units she's using, and the materials linked. In our 6-8 ELA curriculum, we use many resources from CommonLit and do some multi-genre or novel units that incorporate written responses and essays when appropriate. We had nearly everything we needed to finish a good rough draft today. With some time for revisions and formatting next year, we should be able to go through in more detail to see what's missing and needed. It felt good to accomplish so much in such a small amount of time. 

Walnut

This is Walnut. He's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the sweetest little guy you've ever met. I mean, look at him. When he's not napping in the cutest way possible, he runs circles outside, chasing his puppy sister, or cautiously approaching the cat. Walnut and his sister are from the same litter and are great companions. I love my pets so much. They always seem to know just how to cuddle up when I need them. 

Remind Me To...

This was my desk this morning before students arrived for class. 

Notes and reminders were abundant. What did I even do before I could jot a note to remember and stick it somewhere? Did I just forget everything? If I did forget, was I in a bliss of oblivion of the things I forgot to do? 

Sometimes, I think reminders might be causing me stress. All the reminders on my phone/watch, buzz-do this, buzz-do this, buzz-do that. Then I walk into my classroom to be met with all the reminders of things I was afraid I might forget yesterday, and so that I won't, I've written in a semi-permanent place until completion. 

I will say that crushing a sticky note in my hand after doing whatever it was is more satisfying than smacking my hand on my watch to get a reminder out of my face. 

Dark Drive

Last week, I really enjoyed the sunrise on my morning drive. However, I knew it would be short-lived. Just as soon as it arrived, Daylight Saving Time would take it away. 

Today, I made two trips to my car. One trip was with apples for the kids at school, lunches for me, water, and coffee. The second trip was with my backpack, purse, keys, and coat. I didn't realize it right away, but then, I did. 

Hmm, I'll have to wait a while before I see it again. 

From that moment, I started to remember all the things I look forward to seeing this time of year: my first robin, snowdrops, and the sun peeking slowly more and more each day again. In a few days or weeks, it will all begin. You never really know in Michigan.

I look forward to the start of that transition, and that gives me a spring in my step. 

Eggs in a Frame

 Yesterday, I was up early to read and prepare for some work I'm doing. I made myself a childhood favorite for breakfast with a bit of an adult twist. 

I used my spoon to cut around a circular shape to fit my eggs. A little dairy-free butter in the pan gives it some buttery flavor.

I toasted up my little side dippers and a perfect baby avocado. 

Then I jazzed it up with hot sauce, garlic salt, and an appetite. Thinking about it again right now, I think this might be a pretty great dinner idea, too!

So Much Synthesizing

I had planned on sleeping in this morning, but as luck would have it, I slept pretty good last night and woke up at my normal time. I decided to get up and get going. I had a lot of reading to do in preparation for a paper that is due Sunday night, and I knew if I didn't get started soon, my brain would be upset with me. 

I made myself a good breakfast and coffee, took my vitamins, and drank a good amount of water before sitting down with about eight articles I would need to sift through to determine if any would be good for my paper on designing an intervention plan. I enjoyed my time. My puppies were cuddly but not too clingy or walking all over me, which I appreciated. 

I found some more articles, did some printing, and decided to stop note-taking and break for a bit to do something else. It is always better for me to work for a solid amount of time and then walk away for a bit to let my mind step entirely away from my thoughts. It didn't work. I continued to think and started to head back to my computer. More searching, more printing, more underlining, etc., etc., etc., etc.

Eventually, I had to stop. My youngest needed some sunlight, so we decided on a quick bathing suit shopping trip and a stroll around the bookstore. This was a well-deserved break, and we each got a yummy drink while in the bookstore. 

On the return home, I started thinking some more. As soon as I changed into some comfy clothes, I was back to it. Synthesizing all the material, I had consumed with my current understanding of best practices for interventions. I'm not done, but I am stepping away again for the night. I've got a hefty introduction and review of my past observations, a page and a half of citations that I need to weave together, and ideas on concluding my design plan. That will be better thought out tomorrow because, for now, I'm in the mood for some light reading. 

Transitions

We've had several days of no snow; everything was gone. Today, it made an appearance again. I am really hoping to take some sunny walks this weekend. I haven't looked at the forecast, so I'm hoping to be surprised when I wake up tomorrow. 

On another note, it occurred to me that Daylight Saving Time is this weekend. This means next week might be nearly as long as this week. The kids will be tired. I will be tired. My hope is that it can be a quick transition period for all, and we will adjust quickly. It always feels like there is such a disruption. 

I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. I'll get my groceries earlyish and get some things accomplished so an afternoon nap can be a reality. Those always feel good on a weekend. 

Albert's Lunch

When I was about ten years old, my sister, who was sixteen, was involved in forensics. If you’re unfamiliar with it, forensics is a drama program, usually extracurricular, where students compete in activities like dramatic readings, storytelling, debate, and many other categories of speaking and acting. This particular year, my sister was doing a storytelling routine of Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban. I had watched her rehearse it so often that I could recite the whole story and all the actions along with her (or all by myself tucked away in my bedroom). I thought forensics looked like a lot of fun, and I loved tagging along to competitions to watch my sister in action. 

One of my favorite characters from the book is Albert. He is Frances' best friend in the book and has a superior pallet for a young badger (FYI: the characters are badgers). Each day at school, Albert would lay out a napkin, his salt shaker, and all the delicious parts of his sophisticated lunch. He would then take a bite of each item and go around again. I always thought Albert's lunch sounded amazing. My lunch was the same every day--ham on a bun, juice box, bag of chips, and a treat. 

Today, I was running around on my lunch break, trying to get a bunch of things done, when I stopped myself and remembered I had brought a good lunch. I had hummus, veggies, a salad with pasta and beans (under the leaves), avocado, some pickles, and crackers. I sat down, laid everything out in front of me, and giggled that it was a bit reminiscent of Albert's lunch; he always loved a pickle. 

Night Two: Conferences

 

Conferences have ended, and I am so grateful but exhausted. They went really well, but a different kind of tired comes from hours of meetings. I once again made it through with the help of friends. We ate and laughed together a lot before and in between when the time allowed. 

I loved watching the swell of pride in some of the kid's faces as we shared all the good news. We really didn't have one bad conference. Parents were happy, kids were happy, and we were too. Overall, it was such a successful two days. 

Night One: Conferences

 

It was a twelve-hour day today, and the fatigue was real, but people always make it better. It was a great night celebrating kids and talking with parents. 

As a middle school teacher, sometimes what gets you through are the people you work with. Teaching in general, you need your people. I spent the evening with this crew plus a few for three hours of group conferences. It was our first time trying it out in a group style, and we all loved it. On that note, I'm exhausted, still at school, and heading home.