Being random #sol24

I’m feeling very random today, so I just started writing almost a stream-of-consciousness.

I never thought that I’d get excited about a newly-mopped floor, but last night, I had to stop and admire my handiwork. The floor was so shiny and I hated to walk on it.

This afternoon, I paused upon exiting Wal-Mart and caught myself mumbling “Where did I park?” to no one in particular. When I realized what I was doing, I hustled down one aisle, hoping that it was the right one and that no one heard me.

One of my first graders lost her first tooth this afternoon and she was so excited! It reminded me of losing my first tooth at six. However, instead of losing it at school, I lost it while eating a cheeseburger from Wendy’s. I swallowed the tooth, so I wrote a letter to the tooth fairy that explained what happened. I remember being so excited when money appeared the next morning! I can still see the little white pillow with pink trim that a friend of the family gifted me for visits from the tooth fairy.

The neighborhood cat came for a brief visit. She just kind of appears randomly and is such a sweet cat.I’d love to know more about her adventures and habits!

Why did I wait so long to watch Schitt’s Creek? This has become one of our favorites! I’m so thankful for the acquaintance who suggested this for those days when you need a chuckle!

This is the first season that I’ve had to use allergy meds and as I write this, I give thanks for those meds because I’m finally feeling somewhat normal after a week and a half of sniffling, sneezing, and just being miserable.

Song Title Poetry #sol24

I’m venturing into the world of poetry with today’s slice. I picked random song titles from Amazon Music.

Write This Down in that Blank Space

You are Unstoppable,

A Girl on Fire,

A Chain Breaker,

Fearless,

Flawless

On a Magic Carpet Ride

Here in the Real World.

Press On

Lean on Me

Don’t Stop Believin’

It’s A Great Day To Be Alive!

Take me out to the ballgame! #sol24

Mike and I are big UVa fans and we particularly love the basketball and baseball teams. On Friday, we had the opportunity to go to a baseball game. Although it was pretty chilly, we had a wonderful time cheering our team to a win over the University of North Carolina.

The atmosphere at UVa’s ballpark is magical. It’s a family-friendly atmosphere and a great place for date night! Tickets are affordable and the food is not too expensive. We had nice seats with a great view of home plate. We’ve been anxious to see one of the freshman players, Henry Ford, in person as we’ve previously only watched him on t.v. I love this picture that I snapped of Henry!

We’re already planning our next trip to Charlottesville to watch the team. Hopefully it will be warmer at the next game!

Easter Basket #sol24

You’re never too old for an Easter basket! We had breakfast at Mom’s house on Easter and she had a basket waiting for us with all of our favorite treats. Reese’s peanut butter cups, mini Nestle chocolate bars, a white chocolate rabbit, and Mom’s homemade sugar cookies were just a few of the treats. She also included a few packages of Mike’s favorite hot fries and popcorn for me. We’re definitely set for snacks for a while! However, I know that I am now fully an adult when I was super excited about the actual basket and what I could use it for!

Before That #sol24

I’m sitting at my computer and I need to finish a PD presentation for Thursday, but I’m taking a few moments to relax and reflect on my day. We had dinner with my Mom and I’m so stuffed.

Before that, I drove home (Mom’s house is just down the street).

Before that, I participated in a virtual meeting about a core reading program that my division is considering for next year.

Before that, I had a few minutes to work at my desk before the virtual meeting. I also filled my water bottle and checked my phone.

Before that, I had car duty, which I enjoy. I love the opportunity to connect with all students. Even though our conversations are brief, they put a smile on my face.

Before that, I had my planning time. I really needed to spend some time putting my classroom because it’s a mess. Instead, though, I never made it away from my computer.

Before that, I worked with my groups. We had a good series of lessons. My second graders, in particular, are making some exciting progress!

Before that, I participated in an IEP meeting. Our SLP always does such a wonderful job with these meetings!

Before that, I worked with additional groups. My fourth graders always make me laugh!

Before that, I arrived at school and had a little time to prepare for the day.

Before that, I drove to school. My tire sensor light keeps coming on and indicates that the sensor needs to checked. I’m not sure when I’m going to have time to do that, but I’m going to have to find some time.

Before that, I had breakfast with Mike. We watched the news and saw the horrors of the bridge collapse in Baltimore. I don’t even know what to say. Words are escaping me and I can’t wrap my brain around this event.

Before that, I got out of bed and got dressed. It always takes me a while to get going in the morning, so I’m usually stumbling around, trying to get my bearings.

Before that, I was snoozing and comfortable in bed!

Currently…#sol24

A “Currently” post is a great writing prompt for those crazy days when it seems almost impossible to squeeze out some time to write. It’s almost 8:00 and I just finished dinner and have a few more things to do on my “To Do” list before I can settle down later to watch the UVa men’s basketball team.

Currently, I am…

Thinking about…all of the things on my “To Do” list and what absolutely has to be completed this evening.

Waiting for…tonight’s basketball game. I wasn’t sure if we were going to make the NCAA Tournament, but here we are.

Eating…I just finished a quick salad and wish that I had something sweet to eat. I think it’s time for Mom to bake some more cookies for my empty cookie jar!

Drinking…Coke Zero. I love Coke Zero and it’s right there with iced tea as a favorite beverage. Regular Coke was one of the things that I missed when I became diabetic.

Sitting in…my favorite chair, which is my recliner. Mike built this great little table that rolls right up to my chair and I can sit here and work in comfort.

Listening to…the Wagner/Howard basketball game on t.v.

Thankful for…a great professional day working with a team of educators as we look to implement the Virginia Literacy Act in the fall. This is a great group to work with and I appreciate their passion for literacy.

Post #600 #sol23

This is my 600th blog post. I can’t believe that I’ve written 600 posts! When I started this blog in 2015, my goal was to participate in the Slice of Life challenge that year and I was so proud of myself for meeting that goal. I remember that I was halfway through a statistics course for my doctorate and slicing was a great stress reliever!

As I reflected on 600 posts, I thought about how much has changed since I published my first draft. I finished my doctorate. I lost both of my precious grandparents after long illnesses. I discovered the joy and gift of second chances with Mike. I traveled to places like St. Louis and Austin. I presented at ILA conferences. Mike and I bought a house. I published a few pieces of my professional writing. We’ve attended UVa basketball and baseball games.

But there are some important things that haven’t changed over those 600 posts. My Mom is one of my biggest supporters and her love and guidance are such a blessing. No matter what, Mom is always there for me. I continue to have the opportunity to watch children become readers and writers. I’ve now worked at the same school for seventeen years. I still love to read and write. I still love a big dish of macaroni and cheese and a tall glass of iced tea. Watching NASCAR races on a Sunday afternoon is still one of my favorite things to do.

600 posts. I still cannot wrap my head around this number. But, I am so thankful that I discovered the Slice of Life challenge and that it’s become a part of my life. I can’t wait to see what the next 600 posts bring!

A Creative and Talented Husband #sol24

My husband, Mike, is an incredibly talented carpenter and I’m always impressed at what he is able to create. As we’ve been renovating our new house, Mike has been busy. We turned part of our basement into Mike’s workshop and in addition to the projects he works on for his contracting business, he’s always working on something for our house. I love to see his projects and the process from start to finish never ceases to amaze me.

He completely renovated our kitchen and the cabinets are one of my favorite things. He put down laminate flooring in the kitchen, dining room, and hallway. He built a beautiful entertainment center in the living room and is planning to tackle our very outdated bathrooms and dining room next. He also started building some custom nightstands for the master bedroom. The intricate design is mind-blowing and even though I watched him create this piece, I still have to shake my head at Mike’s creativity! I can’t wait to see the next project!

Words on the Page #sol24

I’m not sure how long I sat staring at the screen. Occasionally, I looked up at the television instead. Words were not my friends. They seemed to be playing an insane game of hide and seek and I was not doing a very good job as the seeker.

I finally drafted a few sentences, but when I read them, I realized that they were kind of whiny. I quickly deleted those words, hoping that other, more positive words would pop out onto the page. But, back to staring at the screen.

The house is so quiet. I start thinking about the pie in the refrigerator. Hmmm. Maybe I need a pie break…no…I don’t need a pie break. It hasn’t been that long since supper. Maybe I can sneak a peek at my phone. No, better not go down that rabbit hole. I’ll be scrolling for hours and the page will still be blank.

There I go, staring off into space again. This post is not what I’d hoped for, but it’s okay. There are words on the page. The blank page did not win today, so maybe I do deserve at least a tiny piece of pie.

A Back Porch Photo #sol24

I am trying to fight off a nasty sinus infection and feel awful so tonight’s post is going to be super short.

I glanced out of one of the windows on the back side of the house and noticed a beautiful sunset. I snapped a photo of the sunset before medicating and curling up for a short nap. I couldn’t resist recording the beautiful skies!