Secret Messages

This week Korra devoured the Magic Misfits books 1-3 (by NPH!). She especially loves decoding the secret messages.

Long walk and ice cream

Today's family outing was a walk to Ben and Jerry's for ice cream (and then Victory for drinks and popcorn). It was cold but so nice to get out. 

Don't look at me

This morning I got cussed out at the post office. As I approached the counter, I noticed the woman next to me has her mask under her chin. 

I asked her, "Ma'am, could you pull your mask up please?" 

She responded, "Mind your own business, you f------ b----! Why do you care?"

I said, "You're standing next to me." (Also, she was sniffling)

She yelled, "Then just don't look at me, b----!"

I wasn't aware that COVID was only transmissible with eye contact. I'm so thankful that she so helpfully informed me if this new scientific breakthrough. 

Noom

I spent the money to join Noom. Not sure that it's going to be much different from the free calorie/exercise tracking app I've used before, but I figure since I've paid for it, I'll be more likely to stick with it. 2 weeks and I've lost 3 pounds!  9 more to go to reach my goal. 

All the Girl Scouts' Activities

Korra signed up to do Girl Scout badges virtually with 2 other troops (one's in New Jersey, not are where the other is) in March. I wouldn't usually commit to even more Zoom calls but one is on coding and the other is on engineering and she is super interested/ excited about the possibility. We'll still have our usual twice a month Girl Scout meetings and delivering cookies. It's a lot but hopefully it will be fun and help break up the monotony that we've been experiencing lately. 

2nd Dose

Nate got his second COVID vaccine today and he's feeling it a lot more than the first. Really sore arm, fatigue, headache, and a fever. We both keep thinking is: if this is what the vaccine feels like, I'm so glad not to get the disease.  Fingers crossed I can get my first dose before mid March. 

Vaccinated Babysitter!

A friend of ours who was in the COVID vaccine trial was unblinded yesterday.  It's confirmed that she's had the vaccine, which means we can hang out with her!  Inside!  Without masks!  It's so exciting.  She's coming over for dinner tonight to celebrate.  In addition, she's volunteered to babysit!  Korra, Nate, and I are all over the moon excited about this formerly totally normal thing that we haven't been able to do in 10 months.  I don't know where Nate and I would go, but take-out in the car sounds plausible.  

Reading Bowl Champions

Today was the district Reading Bowl competition.  We joined the Zoom at 9:30 and didn't get done with the closing ceremony until 2:45. There wasn't even a lunch break.  It was intense and exhausting but we won second place which means our team gets to go on to the state competition!  The kids and I are super proud of our hard work!

Instapot/Air Fryer

With our stimulus money we jumped on the Instapot bandwagon (with a Instapot/Air Fryer combo). I tried it out today with sweet potato chips. They were good but it was really time consuming. If you have any good (healthy and meat-light) recipes, send them my way!

Another pretty day

 Went on a long walk. Spent hours on a blacony talking and laughing with a friend (really my only friend I see regularly...) while Korra played with her BF. It was lovely. 

Compliments

The new executive director of the the network of our schools told me on Tuesday (the first time we've ever met or spoken) that she's heard really amazing things about me from my principal  (As usual, I said something self-effacing because I'm awkward and can't take a compliment). 

Today, a teacher I really admire told me that she loved me before we even had a conversation because if my "me-ness" and that she was a little intimidated when we first spoke because she wanted to make a good impression on me (which were my feelings about HER when we first spoke!) She also says I'm "not basic" which is a really high compliment in my book. 

Writing these down for myself so I can get better at accepting compliments with grace. 

New favorite

I found a new favorite menu item at our favorite local restaurant (Torched Hop). The turkey sandwich is amazing. 

Stressful Mornings

The kids did the MAP test virtually yesterday and today. It's a nationally normed test that we usually take 3 times a year. We haven't taken it in a year. I'm the only one with the MAP reading access for the grade which means 48 students plus some parents and 6 teachers were calling, texting, emailing, and sending DMs on the computer for 2 hours.  Did I mention the testing website requires a very specific screen resolution and needs pop-ups enabled?  Yeah, so I had to explain, repeatedly, to most of the students how to do that without being able to see their screens. Oh AND the kids took a different test every morning all of last week so they're grumpy and tired. It was probably the most stressed I've been at work in almost a year. 

New Habits

I've developed this great habit of drinking 7-8 glasses of water a day.  This has also lead to a habit of going to the bathroom every hour.  This is possible while teaching from home.  This will be impossible when I go back to in-person teaching.  Both habits will have to go (because I won't be able to "go" whenever I want).

New Recipes- Soup and Dessert

Made Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

https://dishingouthealth.com/wild-rice-mixed-mushroom-soup/

and Peach Bread Pudding

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/174599/peachy-bread-pudding-with-caramel-sauce/

for dinner tonight. 

Inauguration weeping

I teared up when Kamala Harris took her oath. I started sobbing when I realized, with relief, that Trump isn't president anymore. 

Inauguration Outfit

Korra decided to dress up for the inauguration. 

Mental Health

Korra was supposed to have therapy today but I was supposed to have in-person (outdoor, masked, distant) Reading Bowl practice. Korra successfully convinced me that playing outside at a park with the younger siblings of my Reading Bowl kids was better for her mental health than therapy so I texted her therapist to reschedule. Her therapist agreed and was impressed with Korra's "self awareness." 

She did have a good time. 

Korra's BF

Korra was so happy to spent 7 hours with her best friend today. They played American Girl dolls, had a tea party, dug in the dirt, and colored with chalk. I am so thankful she has her buddy to play with once a week. 

Big Dave's

In the summer, I wanted to try Big Dave's Cheesesteaks sooooooooon bad. They have amazing reviews and bonus- they're locally black owned. 

Unfortunately, at that time you couldn't order online or over the phone and when I went by one day, the line was around the block (and not physically distant). 

I checked again this week and HURRAH! they now do online orders!  Parking was terrible and there was still a long line but we got to try these famous cheesesteaks. They were amazing. 

Frozen Toes

We had a porch visit with some friends today. It was 41 degrees. We wore layers. We had blankets and hot cocoa. After 3 hours, I couldn't feel my toes. 

Best Christmas Gift

Nate bought Korra the complete set of Calvin and Hobbes comics (3 huge books) for Christmas. She's spent HOURS every week (sometimes hours a day!) reading the comics, laughing, and then telling us about her favorites. 

So many meetings

Today I had 3 two-hour meetings and 1 hour and a half long meeting. It was an incredibly long time to sit in front of my computer with the camera on and left my hips aching and eyes glazed. 

March 8

Teachers go back into the building on March 8.  All students (parents will get to choose if their kids come back or stay virtual for the rest of the year) will come back into the building a week later.  I'm nervous.  I'm glad.  I'm not convinced it'll actually happen until it does.

Disappointing Cornbread

I made cornbread from scratch. I forgot the baking powder. (face-palm)

Sunglasses

Check out these transition lenses 

Affirmation, Praise, Encouragment

A parent texted: "Thank you for the working your ELA magic on M these past 2 years.  This is the first year I've ever heard her say ELA is her favorite subject.  She said that you make it so fun and interesting.  Thank you!"

A student texted: "you know what mrs b? u make everything 1000x better than it actually is. you're the best :)"

I needed that.

Every day feels exactly the same

I have nothing to say because almost every day feels the same. COVID sucks. 

New Glasses!

Dress for the Weather

We spent 3 hours outside this afternoon at a brewery playing board games with a few friends. It was cold but better than the other options (going inside, not seeing friends at all). 

RIP Totally Hair Barbie

I saved a couple of toys from my childhood for my "future children" including my Totally Hair Barbie. Korra renamed her "Rose Get-Dressed" and has played with her for the last 3 years. Today while I was changing her clothes, I snapped her head off. She had a good 30 year run. 

My turn, please?

It's cold outside. I need exercise. I just want to walk on the treadmill in the complex's gym and watch Netflix comedy specials on my phone but EVERY time I go there, there's someone else working out. And because of COVID, I won't go in unless it's empty. I wish there was a sign up sheet or something. 

Birthdays

Today is my dad's birthday. It's also my "grandson's" birthday. 

I wish I could see them and celebrate with them. 

Cheese dip and Margaritas

Nate has the best ideas. He suggested Mexican for dinner and this margarita buzz I have is exactly what I needed after the week I've had. 

Wrap Bread

I made this bread tonight and it was absolutely amazing. 

https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/soft-wrap-bread-recipe

10,000 steps

Got my steps in by pacing around the apartment while doomscrolling after dinner. Someone please stop me. 

This is new

I finally felt like I was getting the hang of teaching during a pandemic and now I have to learn how teach during an insurrection?

Good thing I was already planning to teach about confirmation bias and conspiracy theories this week. 

Three Kings' Day

Today is Epiphany. Also called Three Kings' Day. We decided to look up ways people celebrate and then pick a few. 

We made a "King cake" (a lemon pound cake in a bundt pan). 

We made crowns covered in stars. 

We wrote a chalk blessing outside our door. 

We put all the wise men from our nativity on the table around the Christingle that we made. Don't know what a Christingle is?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christingle

We didn't either until yesterday but we made one anyway. 

Reuters

Korra's Girl Scout troop made it into the Reuter's coverage of the run-off election. Korra's on the far left (with her sign covering her face).

https://mobile.reuters.com/news/picture/senate-control-at-stake-in-georgia-runof-idUSRTX8K4XS 

It's a miracle

The cat is snuggling on the couch with Korra. 

Kale Soup

I made this soup for dinner tonight and liked it a lot!

New Patches

I'm really loving these two new patches Korra earned from her citizenship unit. 

Last Hurdle

We had our final home study interview today. That was our last logistic/paperwork hurdle to becoming an approved adoptive home.

Civics Badge

Korra's Girl Scout troop waved at cars and held up signs at a busy intersection today to encourage people to vote in the Senate run-off on Tuesday. 

Lots of people smiled, waved, and honked, which helped keep the girls encouraged since it was cold and windy!

It's Cookie Season!

If you're interested in ordering cookies from Korra, here's the link!

https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/korra793699

Choose "Girl Delivery" if you're nearby (or think we might see you in the spring).  We'll be doing some masked deliveries.