KPot Adventure

We went to a Korean BBQ and Hot Pot restaurant last night with some friends. It was quite an adventure and we laughed a lot, though I think in the future I'll leave the cooking to a chef. If I'm going to cook my own food at the table, I prefer fondue. 

Savannah!

I just booked two nights at a hotel in Savannah so a friend and I can go to the Savannah Book Festival next month and see one of our favorite authors (Rainbow Rowell)!  

Snow Day #3

Today was our third snow day of 2025 and our fifth inclement weather day of this school year (2 days for Hurricane Helene in the fall). Wild. Nate and I went to the grocery store and the roads near us were clear with just a little snow in places where it was shady. Tomorrow we're on a 2 hour delay so I need to be at school by 9:30 and Korra won't start until 11:15!

Life Insurance Psych Out

I had this panicked realization last week that our term life insurance was about to expire so we need to start the process of getting new life insurance. Applications, medical tests- it's not exactly fun. So while I was on the phone with the second insurance company, I realized that our previous policy was for TWENTY years and it's only been ten so I just kicked this tedious adult task 10 years down the road. Relieved but also a bit annoyed with how much time I spent on this before realizing my mistake. 

It's snowing!

It snowed again!  About an inch accumulated so school is cancelled again tomorrow. Our 3 day weekend turned into a 5 day break. 

Thankful for another day to get over this cold. 

Free Sick Day

Good thing it's an "inclimate" weather day because I might have had to call in sick. My little sniffles I've had all week have escalated into a full on cold. Hopefully this extra day to rest will get me back to health by tomorrow.

Phone Issue

For the last 3 weeks, any time I try to call my grandpa's land line, I get the "your call cannot be completed as dialed" message.  I don't get this message with anyone else, other family members can call him so I know it's got to be my phone/line, and yes, I did try adding a 1 even though you don't have to do that anymore on cell phones. I called my phone carrier a few days ago (spent over an hour with one of their tech support people with no luck) and I keep getting email updates that it's been escalated to the next level of support, but no luck yet. Weird, right?

Pupusas

Last night I made pupusas- pan fried, filled corn cakes. I used refried beans and chesse and thought they were absolutely delicious.

No School Tomorrow

They cancelled school tomorrow because it's really cold?  

MLK Day

This morning, when it was 18 degrees, the three of us went to a park to spread mulch, pick up trash, and pull up invasive plants. Even though it was really cold, it was good to do some community service in honor of Dr King. 

YA Book Club

Today I went out for happy hour cocktails and appetizers at Nina & Rafi's with 6 coworkers for our YA book club meeting. Even though most of us didn't like the book, we had a really interesting discussion. I enjoy spending time with the teachers I work with so much. They are incredibly interesting, kind people. 

First Graders are Basically Kindergartners

Yesterday, as the first graders were drawing their favorite foods, one little girl asked me how to spell "lemon pepper wings." The only problem is that she wrote her "g" incorrectly so it looks like "lemon pepper WINE."

Today, a first grader was looking at a book about ghosts. On one page there was a light blue ghost-y looking picture of Abraham Lincoln. The kid asked me, "is that a picture of God?"

In the same class, a kid who was looking at a picture book about World War II asked me repeatedly, "is he dead?" while pointing at the soilders in each picture. 

Leaky Library

I arrived back to school today to discover that the accumulation of snow on the library's roof had caused a leak. Thankfully, the damage and mess were minimal. Two books that were on display on the top of the shelf below the leak acted like sponges and soaked up most of the water, protecting the shelves below.  Everything else (besides 2 ceiling tiles that will need to be replaced) was able to be cleaned off. 

Less Snowy Day

Most of the snow was still on the ground for most of yesterday, but the roads were clear and the sidewalks less slushy.  In the early afternoon we walked to Krispy Kreme to meet Korra and her friend (after a successful sleepover). 

Nate and I decided to try for dinner out (Korra wanted to stay at home and relax). We drove the mile to the MARTA train station and then took that to Brick Store Pub in Decatur. It was perfectly cozy, we are chicken pot pie and perogies and talked. One of the best days we've had in years. 

Slushy Sleepover

Just to make this snow day now fun and memorable... We decided to keep the sleepover plan Korra had for this evening. We walked a very slushy mile to meet Korra's friend and her mom, then Korra walked with them the rest of the way (another mile) to their house. Hopefully it won't be too frozen to walk or drive to get her tomorrow morning. I hope she has a grand time. 

Giant Snowman

We made this snowman with our neighbors. 

Snow superstition

Yesterday at our school-wide morning meeting, the principal told all the kids that if they really wanted it to snow, they should wear their pajamas inside out and flushed 3 ice cubes down the toilet. I guess they all did because by the time I woke up at 7, we already had an inch of snow on the ground. It kept falling until about 10- I'd guess we have about 3 inches and we're supposed to get more this afternoon. 

Snow Day!

They cancelled school tomorrow because there's a good chance of snow/sleet/freezing rain.  Hopefully we won't lose power or water and we can just have a relaxing, cozy long weekend. 

It's ok without me

Another thing that I really love about this school/position is that I was able to be out sick, and everything was completely fine. I have never felt like that, even once, in my previous 16 years in education. I have unbelievably qualified, competent colleagues who can step in. They know the kids and the structure. No one will be unbelievably stressed by my absence. I didn't have to call 40 subs from a spreadsheet to beg someone to cover my classes (while still puking). I didn't have to worry an overwhelmed substitute would yell at my students and trigger them or that my room would be a disaster. Even though it was a busy day, and our first day back with the kids after the break, it was FINE.  What a lovely feeling. 

Weird stomach thing

At 6:00, I started having some abdominal cramping. By 7:30, it was constant, severe, and concerning. By 8:30, I started throwing up. By 10:30, I was on the cusp of going to the ER with alternating chills and sweating and nearly 4 hours of unrelenting pain. By midnight, I finally fell asleep. 

And here it is, 4:30 am, and I feel completely fine. If it wasn't for the terrible taste in my mouth and the broken blood vessels around my eyes (thanks for the, extreme dry heaving), I'd think it had never happened. 

Still planning to take off school today (am I contagious?  Might I relapse? Certainly I'm going to be exhausted). Absolutely bizarre. 

Cold and Windy

I was going to walk home from work today (a coworker gave me a ride this morning since it was raining) but the temperature keeps dropping and 3 miles with wind gusts that make it feel below 20 degrees has me begging Nate for a ride.  Thankfully, my last meeting of the day was cancelled!

Meetings, Meetings, Meetings

It's a teacher work day, but my day is full of meetings.  4 meetings over 5 hours.  

Cat Nap

Alex spent nearly the whole day sleeping on me. So I had to spend the whole day reading. 

Katie's Vegetable Bean Soup

For lunch today I invented a new soup recipe and it was fantastic.

Combine in a microwave safe bowl: 

1 chopped onion 

1/3 c flour 

2 T butter 

2 T tomato paste 

 2 t minced garlic 

 1 T Italian seasoning 

 Microwave for 5 min, stirring every minute

Sauté 1-2 shredded carrots in a little oil until soft. 

Add the microwaved items. 

Add 4 c vegetable or chicken broth

an 8 oz can of tomato sauce

2 cans of white beans

2 shredded zucchini. 

Simmer for 30+ minutes. 

When ready to serve, slowly stir in 1/2 c half and half. 

 Serve with Parmesan cheese

Cooking and Cleaning

We're back at home and since I still have a few days off, I decided to get a lot of things done around the house. We took down all the Christmas decorations, folded 5 loads of laundry, and vacuumed/mopped. I made a delicious soup for lunch, braised cabbage and roasted chicken for dinner, and apple crisp for dessert (who am I kidding? I really made it to add to my oatmeal for breakfast). I went to the library and the grocery store and had time for a little nap. I'm feeling extremely accomplished- so much so that I'm planning on only crafting and reading tomorrow.