Optimism Overload

2 days of listening to students give speeches for the Optimism Oratorical Contesr have come to an end and I'm kind of glad. There is a limit to how much optimism you can take in one day, even for me. 

Soccer Game

Nate's at Danny's first soccer game tonight. It's freezing cold and costs $7 per person to attend so we're going to swap off who goes to each home game. 

Teacher-Librarian Through and Through

And now that the "Race Relations in American" conversation is over, I'm doing what I do best.  Researching so I can teach.  Learning so I can share knowledge.

All Lives Matter?

Had a hour long conversation with 3 teachers about race today.  Black Lives Matter vs All Lives Matter, Beyonce's new music video and half-time show, Ferguson, and more.  It was exhausting and I don't feel like I changed anyone's mind, but at least it wasn't angry and I was able to take a stand for my convictions.

Danny's Mending Request

Question: When is the best time to ask Katie to mend your dress pants?  

Answer: Almost any time except 10pm on the night before you want to wear them.  

Ties

Nate just taught Danny and 2 of his teammates (both live on our street) how to tie a tie so they can dress up before their first soccer game tomorrow. It was so stinking cute and I would have taken a picture if they would have let me. 

Shrove Tuesday

Enjoyed our traditional pancake/breakfast extravaganza with our church fellowship tonight. I have come to love good homemade cheese grits so much. I might have had 3 helpings. Fat Tuesday, indeed!

Gutsy Broad

One of the best compliments I ever received was when my former principal called me a "gutsy broad."  I'm going to own it today.

Snooze Deterrent

You know what really motivates me to get out of bed as soon as my alarm goes off on cold winter mornings?  The knowledge that if I don't get up right away I will have a cold shower waiting for me. At least our stupid tiny hot water heater is good for something because it sure isn't good at heating enough water for 2 people to take hot showers in the morning. You snooze, you lose, Danny. Early bird gets all 5 minutes of the hot water. 

Tough Day

Saw 12 classes without my assistant (she was pulled to sub) and had a difficult conversation with a coworker in addition to being told to take down part of my bulletin board. Thank God for good news about Danny's teeth (a very kind dentist is going to do it for a quarter of the price because we are "doing the Lord's work), sharing dinner with a neighbor friend, and yoga. 

Win for the Whites

Enough (white) people complained.  I have to remove the phrase "black lives matter" from my Black History Month display.

Veil

While I was picking out clothes for tomorrow, Korra spotted my veil. 

Aoife's Baptism

Cousins

So hard to get a picture of these 2 together. They love playing together but they are never still and the both make seriously fake smiles all while looking everywhere but the camera.

Dancing Korra

Korra's latest dance move is what she calls the "backwards chicken."  Use your imagination. 

Baptism

Driving to the Middle-of-Nowhere, Alabama for my niece's baptism. Good thing we love seeing family because this 3+ hour drive isn't very fun. 

10 PM

Nate's invited his trivia team over for a board game night.  While I'm really looking forward to spending time with them and eating and playing games, I hope they understand that I need to be in bed by 10 PM.  I just get exponentially unhappier every minute past 10 PM and these night owls just don't understand.

Big Changes

I asked Korra today what her favorite show was. Instead of the usual answer of Daniel Tiger, I got Octonauts. Favorite movie?  Move over, Frozen!  She said Monster's University. Also, her favorite color changed from green to pink and purple. 

Piano Guys

Enjoying listening to the Piano Guys on Amazon Prime music today.

Bulletin Board

I put up a bulletin board for Black History Month with the header "Black Lives Matter: Celebrate Black History."  I've already had 2 people complain.  Sheesh.

Weak and Tired

Felt well enough to come to school but I am so weak and tired. Eight 8th grade classes, supervising a 6th grade party, and a faculty meeting. I'm exhausted. 

Expensive Arm

Just got our bill from the hospital for when I broke my arm.  Looks like since it happened at the very end of the year, we'd already used up all our HRA money and we now owe $1300.  Well crap. That really sucks.

Sick House

Ear infection confirmed. Poor Nate came home to 2 sick girls. 

Ear Infection?

And Korra came home from school complaining of an ear ache. If she has an ear infection, it will be her first. Doctor's appointment at 2. 

Sicker

Staying home sick again. Feeling way worse than when I stayed home last Wednesday. This cold sucks. Feels like my head has been run over by a snot truck.