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Yesterday was my forty-second birthday.  We celebrated on Sunday by going on a hike at Red Top Mountain (about a 40 min drive) and then having Culvers for lunch.  Yesterday, my sweet coworkers brought me cards and we had lunch together on the picnic tables.  I felt like I got to celebrate for several days and now I can't wait to take my birthday present (a hammock camp chair) camping with us over Spring Break next week.

US v Belgium

We grabbed last minute tickets to the World Cup Friendlies US vs Belgium. 

We met up with friends for the block party beforehand. 

The game and the No Kings protest this morning had a similar patriotic, celebratory vibe and were crowded events (though one involved a lot more capitalism than the other).

No Kings 3

The protest today in Atlanta was huge. I really hope some change comes soon. 

4 people told me it was their birthday and asked to take photos with my sign. 

Bees!

Carpenter bees are somehow getting into the library. For the past week it's been 1-2 a day, always in the same window. I catch them and set the free outside. Yesterday I did this 6 times and 2 so far today!  Is it the same bee over and over?  How are they getting in?

Birthday Dinner #1

We went out with our friends Meaghan and Robert to the rightfully famous and loved Chai Pani for dinner tonight. The weather was perfect and the pollen count was significantly lower than earlier this week so we enjoyed our delicious food on the patio. Afterwards we walked to the Decatur square for ice cream. What a lovely way to start off my birthday celebrations!

Another Confusing Dentist Appointment

This afternoon I went to have my two pre-cavities filled.  I was in the chair with the topical anesthetic on my gum when the dentist walked in and said, "Why are we doing these fillings?  I didn't want these filled yet."  YUP.  

I told her that I, too, was confused when I went to check-out last week and they asked me to schedule this since she hadn't discussed it with me at all.  She said, "there's no point in filling these until we figure out why your enamel is eroding."  She then went through all the same questions as last week to figure it out and then was like, "well, I just don't know" and ended with "we'll just keep an eye on these."

What a confusing waste of my time.

Orlando Band Trip

I dropped Korra off at school with her suitcase at 6:50 this morning.  She was so excited and nervous about this big trip.  She and 117 other 8th graders (band, chorus, and orchestra) are headed for 3 days in Orlando.  They'll do Disney Springs tonight and then have all of tomorrow and most of Friday at Universal.  I hope she has an amazing time.

Here is a selfie she sent from the bus (this is her best friend):

Birthday Present to Me

If you don't know what to get me for my upcoming birthday, go to https://www.nokings.org/ and find a protest near you on Saturday, March 28 and go.  What I'd really like for my birthday is a functioning democracy.

FBI Rap Sheet

Just in case you were wondering, I got the results of my fingerprinting back from the FBI.  I have no record and therefore no rap sheet.  I know you're surprised.

Mommy Time

We had a lovely, relaxing weekend with my mom.  We went on a few walks, had a little shopping spree at Trader Joe's, played some games and watched some tv, had dinner with my brother and sister-in-law, and had lunch with Nate's parents, brother, and niblings. And of course, we completely forgot to take a single picture.

Post Office Adventure

I took a half day so I could go to a post office 45 minutes away in order to get fingerprinted. I've been calling all the post offices on the list several times a day but couldn't confirm they offered the service from a single one. 

Post office #1 barely let me ask if they could do my fingerprints before telling me the machine was down. 

Post office #2 didn't offer the service but were kind enough to call another post office to confirm they had the machine and it was working. 

Post office #3 got it done!  While I was paying, "Celebration" began playing on The radio. 

Even though it was obnoxious, it was still quicker than I expected and I'm so thankful it's done!

High Maintenance Meat-Suit

I realized that since October, I've had at least one medical appointment a month (sometimes as many as 4 or 5!)  I really used to take my body for granted.  It just did all the things I asked of it without complaint.  Cavities, precancerous lesions, pulled fascia, hypothyroidism... it's exhausting and I really, really hope this is just a phase because I'm not ready for aging if it's coming at me this fast.

Frustrating Day

Today has been frustrating. I need to get a background check that requires fingerprinting from one of two places: a police station or one of 5 post offices in the state.  The police stations are easier to get to, but would require me to do physical ink-and-paper fingerprints and mail them off.  The USPS is digital- which I would prefer.  The problem with that is of the 5 post offices that are supposed to offer this service, one said they don't do it anymore, another said their machine is broken and they don't know when it will be fixed, and the other three won't answer.  I've called twice each and it just rings for 4 minutes before hanging up.  UGH.  I might have to take a day off work just in the hopes that whatever one I choose will actually offer the service, the machine won't be broken, and they won't try to tell me I had to make an appointment (which I can't do since that's not offered on their website and no one will answer the phone).  

THEN, the fifth grade team sent an email about tomorrow's field trip and listed me as a chaperone.  Unfortunately, that was the first I'd heard about it so I can't go because I don't have a sub. Bummer.

Finally, I went to the dentist.  The dentist said that she was concerned about how my enamel is wearing off.  She asked me a bunch of questions (do I drink a lot of highly acidic drinks, snore, or grind my teeth).  Even though I said I grind my teeth, I wear a night guard.  She suggested Botox in my jaw to stop jaw clenching (hell, no) and then was basically like, "well, we don't know what's causing it" and offered NO treatment.  When I was checking out, the receptionist asked when I wanted to come back for my fillings.  What?!  The dentist did not mention I had two pre-cavities that I should get filled. I had to have the dental hygienist take me back to the exam room to show me which teeth and why they needed fillings.  

I'm now going to eat pizza, go to bed early, and hope that I feel better tomorrow.

Virtual Work Day

It rained and sleeted yesterday afternoon and then got below freezing last night so my school decided to make today's work day remote.  I'm sitting on a Zoom call doing "This or That" as an ice breaker and it's giving real COVID flashbacks.  

Making the most of it with plans of some cleaning, yoga, and a nap.

Book Fair Financials

Today I ran and reran reports from our book fair and compared them to the invoice and inventory lists that the book store sent us and... the amount we brought in and the invoice match!  And we earned a couple thousand dollars in store credit!  It's so nice when things work out the way they should.

Awkward Conversation

It came to my attention that several 5th grade boys were checking out and passing around a particular graphic novel about a mermaid.  After looking through it, I figured out why- a curvy woman in a swimsuit.  I asked for the 2 boys who had most recently checked it out to come to the library.  We talked about what objectification is, about how it's ok to have feelings or be curious about bodies, how passing around the book (just for the one page) is disruptive, how their behavior is what is inappropriate, not the book.  We also talked about how "inappropriate" is different for every person and family, that it's not "inappropriate" for certain bodies to wear swimsuits in public, and I would hate to get rid of the book just because some students are too immature for it.  The boys were embarrassed, though it wasn't my intention to embarrass them.  I hope they were able to hear me and learn something through it.

Bad Weather

Korra was supposed to have an early release day today (for conferences), but due to the bad thunderstorm and tornado warning right at the time when everyone would be travelling to school, she's got a virtual learning day instead.  

Since my school already had a virtual learning day scheduled for tomorrow, we're on a delayed start, so I don't have to go in until 9:30.  

I know some people say things like, "When I was a kid, we went to school even when the weather was bad" but I began teaching 20 years ago, and the weather just wasn't this bad 20 years ago.  Plus we have the option to "go virtual" in order to keep everyone safe.  No buses stranded on the side of an icy road or staff who brave flooding in order to not get a docked a sick day they might not have.  I know it's hard for parents (especially those who work the lowest paying jobs), but schools can't be the solution for all the problems and inequities of our society.

Anyway, because I can't go back to sleep, I'm enjoying my coffee, audiobook, and cross-stitching for another hour.

Brick Store Bricks

One of our favorite Atlanta restaurants recently sold personalized bricks (most of the cost went to a local food pantry) to pave their outdoor beer garden. The bricks were just installed so we went to find ours!

Then when we went in to eat dinner, they seated us next to a window where we could see our brick!

Mall of Georgia and Project Hail Mary

Korra, Nate, and I all read (and loved) the novel Project Hail Mary so last night we made a special trip through terrible Atlanta traffic to see it early, in IMAX, at the Mall of Georgia.  We got there with plenty of time to walk around the mall and it amazed me how I remembered where the bathrooms and Hot Topic were, even though it's probably been 20 years since I've been there.  I guess I spent more of my time there as a teen than I realized.  Even though Korra and I both found the mall on a Saturday afternoon to be overwhelming, we also both found things at Hot Topic that we just had to have.  We ate in the food court and I got Auntie Ann's pretzels, which are both a mall staple and one of the most delicious foods on the planet.  

The movie was fantastic.  Nothing is ever as good as the book (when it's a great book), but the adaptation was solid and seeing it on that giant screen was pretty cool.  

Contrasting School Situation

One of our school farmers was out today so I helped during a couple of farm rotations. I got to pull weeds with both kindergartners and fifth graders in the sunshine today. 

In The News

Today I learned that this happened at my former school.

https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/administrator-posted-surveillance-video-kindergarteners-fighting-tiktok-school-says/IANP6V325RD55FRJ4GKU4TBVEI/

I wish I was surprised, but I'm not.  It's bringing up a LOT of feelings for me (thank God Korra and I aren't still there, how did we survive there for so long?) and I was reminded that Korra's photo is all over their website.  So even though I hate the idea of people "being mad at me" I emailed the school this morning to request that her image be removed from all of their publications.  I don't want her (or myself!) associated with that school any more.

Precancerous Lesion

Today I left work early to have a precancerous lesion burned off my cheek with liquid nitrogen.

I spent the day dreading it.  I had 2 moles cut off almost 4 weeks ago and one of them is still painful and healing.  

Between the anxiety of anticipation and the doctor poking at my very painful wound and declaring it infected, I had a vasovagal reaction and started feeling woozy. Of course the chair I was in didn't recline so the doctor had to hold me up so I didn't fall onto the floor. The whole experience was incredibly embarrassing on top of being painful. 

Dr Carla Hayden

For Black History Month and Women's History Month, I decorated the library door with Dr Carla Hayden.  In 2016 she became the first woman AND the first African American to be appointed as the Librarian of Congress.  It's a good thing I started my research on her last spring, because in May, Trump sent her a 2 sentence email (addressed to CARLA, like she doesn't hold the highest position in her field and oversee the largest library collection in the world), terminating her appointment without cause.  Since May, not only has she been removed from the Library of Congress website, but there has been not been a librarian overseeing the 178 million books, artifacts, manuscripts, films, and photographs that are housed there.  In this time of book banning and erasing information in order to fit a particular narrative, no one is protecting the largest library in the world.

Embroidery Mending

There was a little tear in the knee of Korra's jeans so I did a some embroidery mending. 

Cat Yoga

Weedy Garden Visit

This morning we had the author and illustrator of The Weedy Garden come speak to our 1st and 2nd graders.  We used the book for farm lessons last week and sold copies of the book at the book fair, so the kids were pretty excited.  Also, the book is a perfect fit for our school.  I was able to give the author and illustrator a little tour of our school farm before the event (which they loved) and then the presentation went really well.  Afterwards, I was asked to come speak to another group of visitors- teachers and administrators from other schools who are touring because we won Georgia Charter School of the Year last year.  It's been a super busy (but successful) morning.

Korra, the teenager

 Korra got a phone. She’s still in Girl Scouts and loves bouldering. She’s so 13 and I love her so much. 

Too much, too soon

Last night we went out for a late dinner with friends. This afternoon and evening we hung out with some other friends. Both were low-key (and I loved the time with some of our favorite people), but judging by how absolutely exhausted I feel, it was still too much after my long week. I think tomorrow needs to be much quieter. 

Book Fair DONE

 We had the book character parade, I packed up the fair, and they came to pick it up. While I don’t feel like it’s completely behind me (we have an author visit on Monday), I am very thankful it’s almost over and I have a chill weekend ahead of me. 

Twins

 

Having Beth volunteer was as wonderful as I had hoped AND we wore our matching book dresses. 

Beth!

 When I was really worried we wouldn’t have enough volunteers for the Book Fair, I reached out to a friend to see if she could help. Thankfully, she said yes, so I’ve been looking forward to today all week. I get to hang out with one of my favorite people in the world while I’m at work today! 

Capitalism?

Two kindergarteners came to the book fair today. One had $15, the other had $50. I had to tell the one with $15 that she could only get one of the books she wanted. She was a little  sad, but then became very sad and angry when the other kid got 4 books. She asked me, “Why does he get more books than me?”  I told her it was because his parents gave him more money to spend. Then she asked, “Why do his parents have more money than mine?”

How do you answer that?  Generational wealth? Capitalism? Racism? Ugh. This is why I run a library and not a book store for the majority of the year.

Family Reading Night

 My big event of the year was last night. We had 6 stations of reading activities throughout the school for families to enjoy as well as visiting the Book Fair. Unfortunately, our internet was out for the entire thing so I ran all 3 iPads that we were using for check out at the fair off my hotspot. Other than that, everything went so smoothly and everyone had a great time. Success!

Registered for High School

I know she picked her classes a few weeks ago, but I officially registered my baby for high school today. 

How is that possible?

Book Fair, Day 1

All 3 volunteers showed up and only one kid cried. Counting it as a very successful first day. 

Seedlings Decapitated (again)

I accidentally left the bathroom door open for less than 3 minutes and Alex ate the tops off all my newly sprouted tomato plants. He did this last year too. I'm so mad (at him and myself). 

Half Marathon (cheerleader)

The annual Publix half-marathon went by our balcony this morning. We were able to cheer on our friend Danielle as she ran by.