iRobot Customer Support

Twice in the last week, our new robot vacuum has become disconnected and won't reconnect.  Both times I filled out the "contact me" form on their website and waited 3+ days before calling the phone number and then waiting on hold for over 30 minutes only to have them suggest a factory reset.  Yes, it has fixed the issue both times but I would prefer not to have to do a factory reset once a week.  This robot vacuum is supposed to save me time, but it’s currently doing the opposite. 

CMA Drama

Over a month ago, we decided to have Korra's birthday party at the neighborhood clubhouse.  Because we're renters, we don't have access to the portal. The CMA (community management association) insisted we needed to go through our homeowner, who lives in Maryland, is 75 years old, and who is caring for her husband who has dementia. Yeah, not going to happen. A neighbor said she would do it for us, so she started the process on the portal and then sent me the paperwork. I filled it out, scanned a copy to her which she uploaded, and then I mailed the print copy along with the check to the provided address. 3 weeks later, CMA emailed her that they had not received payment. I checked with our bank and they had already deposited the check.  How they could deposit a check that was wrapped in the application, a check that had our name and address and the date of the reservation all on it and somehow not know what it was for... it's confusing.  They then sent a confirmation of the keycard number that will unlock the clubhouse.  It was not the keycard number I provided on the form.  Nope, they ignored that completely and went to the trouble to look up our neighbor's keycard number.  When she requested they change it, they refused (so why send the email asking to let them know if the card number was wrong?!)

Thankfully, everything went smoothly on the day of the party but I'm dreading some sort of follow-up email that we didn't scrub the toilet with a toothbrush or something.  

Box Seats

On Saturday night we attended the Atlanta United match with some friends who had box seats through their work. The match was awful, but the seats, food, and company were amazing. We’re becoming quite spoiled when it comes to soccer matches. 

Korra’s Birthday Party

On Saturday afternoon we hosted 8 of Korra’s friends at the neighborhood pool/clubhouse for her birthday party. Korra requested a Bluey themed party despite not watching it as a young child. They played “keepy-uppy” and pass the parcel and threw each other into the pool.  I got zero pictures, but they all seemed to have a good time. Nate and I survived but reading on the periphery. 

High School Reuinion

Last night at Korra's climbing gym, a man came up to me and asked, "Is your name Katie?" When I responded yes, he said. "I'm Philip."  He looked kind of familiar so I was racking my brain for a few seconds about how I know this dude and then he said, "we went to high school together!"  The small talk was awkward, in part because I barely remember him.  It's nothing personal, I just barely remember anyone from high school.  Graduation was over 24 years ago and I didn't go to college with any of them.  It got extra weird when he asked to take a selfie to send to one of my best friends from high school that he said he still keeps in touch with.  I was like. "Oh, please don't send that to her. We don't talk anymore" and then I rambled for a minute about how our friendship crashed and burned 15 years ago.  It was, as the kids say, cringe.  He asked for my phone number and introduced me to his wife before I was able to leave.  It was so very weird and I haven't stopped thinking about it.  

Poop

Kindergarten was just in the library and now it smells like poop.  I figured out one kid who the smell was coming from and sent them back to class for a change of clothes, but the lingering smell leads me to believe that there was at least one other poopy-pants I didn't catch.  Ah, the joys of teaching elementary school.  

Copier Fairy

A teacher came to me frantic because she needed 2 extra copies ASAP, but the copier was jammed.  I asked her to go to one of the other 3 copiers while I unjammed it, but she said ALL FOUR copiers were not working.  I don't mind unjamming, replacing toner, etc, but the fact that multiple teachers noticed the copier wasn't working and then walked away without fixing it or even just letting me know infuriated me.  I guess they thought the copier fairy would just notice and fix it.  So annoying.

I'm the Champion

While giving instructions for an activity with the 5th graders I said, "when you're done with your paper, hold it in the air so I'll know you're a champion."  The first kid who finished declared, "I'm the champion!" while putting their paper in the air.  The next kid to finish said, "Say I'm a champion, Ms B!" What followed was every kid in the class getting told "You're the champion!" as soon as they finished their assignment.  It was pretty great.

Ashville Extras

The main reason to come to Asheville this weekend was for the wedding, but we also got to stay with my parents and visit (and celebrate their 46th anniversary!) 

We also made some time to eat at Biscuit Head and check out the Asheville Pickle Festival!

Wedding in Asheville

We're in Asheville this weekend for a friend's wedding. The weather was perfect, the venue was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the couple was very happy. 

I especially loved that the wedding decor (from the flowers to the table settings to the flower girls' dresses) perfectly matched the cross stitching I made as a gift for them. Also, we had so much in common with the family we were seated with and thoroughly enjoyed talking with them. 

Heat Wave

It's been so so so hot in Atlanta. In the mid 90s every day with high humidity. We've had to move recess inside because of heatstroke risk. Really, really looking forward to the fall. 

Sewing Mistake

I'm pouting, eating ice cream, and watching trash tv because I made a mistake while working on Nate's quilt that will be very time consuming to fix.  I'm giving myself 30 minutes to silk and then I'm going to start the process to fix it. 

Cross Stitched Wedding Gift

I finished my most ambitious cross stitching project in less than a month (and 6 days before the wedding/deadline!)

(I did frame it, but the glass is too reflective for a good picture). 

Paddington on Broadway!

 We bought tickets to see Paddington in New York City for Spring Break!!

Baby Shower

 My mom came into town last night so of course we’re took her to dinner Brickstore. Today she joined Korra at a baby shower I cohosted for a friend who I met at my book club. It was so much fun and seeing the mom-to-be so happy felt incredible. The food was yummy, the games were fun, and there were plenty of conversations about good books. 

Bike Bus

I biked into school with nearly 60 of my students this morning!  What a fun way to start the day!

Walmart Delivery

Nate ordered a game from Walmart. We got an email that our package had been delivered with this picture:

1) that is not my house

2) there is no package in that photo

Even with that evidence, it still took 2 calls to Walmart’s customer service line to get them to give us a refund. 

Painted Puzzle

I painted this puzzle as a gift for a friend’s baby shower. The idea is that guests can sign the back of the pieces. Pretty pleased with how it turned out!

Things the kids at school did this week

A 2nd grader teared up when he saw that the whole series of books he loves was all on the shelf and ready for him to check out. “They’re all here!  All of them!”

Two first grade boys pretended that pencils were their penises and that they were peeing all over the library. 

A whole class of kindergarteners literally rolled on the carpet laughing during a read-aloud of The Book with No Pictures. 

A 4th grader said I tell “knock-off dad jokes” while another kid in the class said, “that’s the first joke you’ve ever told us that was actually a little funny.”

4:30 Dinner

Since Korra made the most advanced climbing team, practices are now half an hour longer (5:30-8, twice a week). That means that were eating dinner on Mondays and Thursdays at 4:30. Korra and I are thrilled (we're always super hungry right after school anyway).

Recovery Weekend

Although my stamina increased every day (and therefore my exhaustion was a little less each day), the weekend was spend recovering. Very little talking, very little socializing, lots of cross stitching, reading, and watching TV. We did ride our bikes as a family to get pizza and Korra had a Girl Scout meeting, but otherwise we kept close to home. Hopefully that will help this week go even more smoothly than the last. 

1st bus ride

Despite the fact that she’s almost 14, Korra rode the school bus for the first time today. There was no bus for her elementary school (and it was only half a mile from our house). The bus didn’t come to our place for middle school because again, we were only half a mile away from the school. It’s supposed toto be storm again this afternoon and since we’re a mile and a half away, there IS a bus so Korra rode it this morning. She was very nervous but she did it!

Not Moving Consolation Prizes

Nate and I have been putting off several purchases because we were hoping we might be moving to New Zealand. While the likelihood of that isn’t zero, it has lowered enough for us to buy a few things such as an espresso machine and a new Roomba. 

Weather Gamble

Korra and I checked the weather this morning and decided to take a gamble and bike to school. (30% chance of rain at 4:00). At 3:15, it started pouring. We both bike home from 3:30-3:45. We were very wet but survived. 

10 Flights of Stairs

In 15 minutes, I climbed 10 flights of stairs and walked over half a mile- all to bring Kindergarteners to their classrooms.  I'm sweatier than I'd like to be, but it was a good start to the day!

First day of high school

Because Korra’s high school starts an hour earlier than her middle school and because today is still preplanning for me, I was able to see her briefly this morning (and take a picture).

I was tearing up and she said, "Why are YOU crying?  I'm the one doing the hard thing!" and I couldn't help but think that what I'm doing is pretty hard, too.  My child is a piece of my heart that lives outside my body and goes around independently.  I wish with all my heart I could go with her and see what it's like and cheer her on.  (I may or may not be watching her little dot on Google Maps to see which building she's in).  

Movie Weekend

This weekend we watching 2 movies in the theater and one at home- The Odyssey, The Drama, and Spider-Man Brand New Day.  All 3 movies had Zendaya in them, 2 had Tom Holland, and 2 had Robert Pattinson. All 3 were enjoyable (in part for the company we had while watching them) and it was a good way to be both restful and social this weekend while I recover from preplanning and prepare for the first week of school.