Lotusland: Seashells and gardens always makes me happy.
In an effort to remember this so-so day as a good day, here are 10 things bringing me joy.
1. I went to a work meeting that got out at nearly 7---AND it was still light out.
2. Though I'm not a soda girl, I bought something called "Dry Rhubarb Soda" out of curiosity at Whole Foods. I do love rhubarb--I once grew it! Drinking this beverage is making me feel exotic.
3. Andrew is a out refilling our 10 gallons of water. He does this without complaining every week and keeps me from being thirsty or contaminated from the unpalatable tap water of Santa Barbara.
4. I am watching one daffodil slowly open on my coffee table, while the rest are still thick green buds. Inexpensive enough that I bought a bunch for work too.
5. My students are great singers. They sing with gusto and joy and it makes me smile (Grand Old Flag and America the Beautiful are tops).
6. Knowing I will see my family in just over a month! Sisters and Dad are coming to town in honor of our cousin's wedding.
7. My 87-years-young Grandma will be there! It has been a long time since I've seen that born-and-raised DC girl outside of DC. And now we get to celebrate in Yosemite together.
8. My Car. The gas mileage isn't as shockingly good as our 1990 Toyota Celica. But it is shiny and pretty and has a radio and handsomely tinted windows. It makes me swoon a little still.
9. I love my coworkers. They are the unsung heroes of my life. They've got my back. And are so dedicated and talented and generous with their time, materials, advice, support. They understand what my days are composed of in a way no one else can. It's a special bond.
10. Spring Break. One week away. Last year was Joshua Tree. The year before was Death Valley. We have no plans, but I know I need to get out of town. Any suggestions??! Any marvels I must see soon?
I love our new (to us) car. My old one was 22 years old, with a challenging trunk that only opened sometimes. This one has a button for locking and unlocking and the back pops open. With the seats down we can lay in it. I also appreciate our new grocery bags, representing my homes. I have to walk a distance from where I park. I like reusable bags not only because they are pretty--they don't tear open.
Our juicer has been getting some play. Tonight was wilty celery, carrots, a fennel bulb, green apples and some ginger for a kick. Thanks Uncle Greg. We really do use all of our wedding presents.
Aren't the newest love stamps so pretty? My fancy thumbnail is thanks to Sally Hanson's Nail effects polish strips. Cheaper than a pro manicure and really fun. I actually get a little freaked at nail places...strangers holding your hands and hacking at your feet. And the fumes are a little too intense and likely very bad for you. But if you ask me to go with you I'd probably say yes.
I got a new bike. My dream bike (after trying a ton and ignoring the prices) turned out to be a rental Jamis Commuter. I had them call me when they sold their rental fleet. Six months later--I'm stoked! We road them at the beach during low tide. which is probably very bad for them but seemed daring.
I have been walking uphill every day at lunchtime. This means I barely have time to eat... but still, it is often the highlight of my day. I keep my shoes in my car and get some vitamin D, my heart rate up, and often get lost in a book on tape. My school is in a much fancier neighborhood than I live in. I like walking fast up the hills and admiring the homes, fountains, views, and landscape. That's an agave blossom, framing the photo above.
What simple thing is making you happy? Please tell me!
Colorful kids--and generous parents. My class is looking good.
Beautiful children and their self-portraits.
Last week they did an exciting tie-dye project led by some terrific parents in my room. We frequently talk about primary and secondary colors, so it was wonderful to see all the colors blended together in a real-life way.
Today we made a beautiful book of thank you notes. My students are so creative and growing so much as a writers and independent humans. It is so fun to witnessed. And I found the perfect use for a fancy tie-dye patterned pad of post-its I was gifted.
I did all the paperwork (not my strength) required to transfer to a new salary class. Moving to a new state, I still started at Class 1 even with a high quality Masters degree. I managed to earn over 20 units in two years (evening classes, summer Writing Project) since working for this district. I feel accomplished and am happy to make a bit more money.
Really late in the game on this, but I bought an eyelash curler. I curled my lashes and think it actually DOES make a big difference. Va-va-vooom. A little scary. Do you get use to it?
Tonight I will eat pineapple upside down cake to celebrate a friend and neighbor's 32nd birthday. I don't have fancy digs but I love my community. My neighbors are my friends. We borrow things from one another, crowd together and watch TV in our PJs, and stumble upon easy conversations at the laundry room or mailboxes. Dorms for grown-ups.
My eyes are so tired of pinks and red and glitter and hearts. I can't wait for the switch to March. I find spring the most thrilling and dramatic season....I LOVE flowers and rainbows and clovers and soothing green. If Summer is the weekend of the Year, Spring is like Thursday night before the weekend. Friday Eve... Two more days and then I refresh my calendar and classroom and begin celebrating spring.
Do you see signs of a new season? What things are you looking forward to?
I did so little. I puttered around. I woke when I felt like it. I experimented in the kitchen. I played with my plants. I made space and parted with stuff I don't need...a couch, bags of clothes, a rug. I selected fresh food and bright flowers at the farmer's market. I sat in the sun and drank coffee with A. I read in bed in the middle of the day (A Game of Thrones, Book 2). I noticed cute dogs (everywhere) Note: I may have the dog version of the baby-bug...some people feel pangs of longing for children, I feel them for canines.
I went to the beach, of course.
Bounty: In my fridges, on my counters, and in Andrew's ceramic vases.
I went to yoga. I wandered through the garden store and felt the comforting/familiar draw of a farm life. I wept through "The Descendents" set in my beautiful Hawaii heart-and-homeland.
Slow food. Warm food.
Put up my Instagram collage!
Fam life attracts me (and repels me).
This wilty looking 3rd-hand dendrobium rebloomed. I am awestruck.
At work today, I was happy to see my students smile and laugh. I took time to really notice them and practiced being a careful listener. There was time today to be scientists/historians/writers/performers/readers/thinkers and garden-growers. I felt fulfilled.
In honor of Presidents' Day and my love of teaching US history to kinders.
Happy Chinese New Year. Happy 100th Day of School. Happy Groundhog day. Happy Valentine's Day. Happy Birthday Old Abe Lincoln. Happy Birthday G.Washington P.S. I like your hair!
LOTS of celebrating this month. I probably missed something. Oh wait, today was Susan B. Anthony's birthday so I got on my soapbox about women not being able to vote less than 100 years ago. Then I cast a vote in my class over something--of course many 5-year-olds vote twice no matter what you do--and announced the girls votes don't count. I showed them a cartoon biographical video clip about Susan B. Anthony. They were mesmerized. Issues of segregation (MLK), slavery (Lincoln), assassination (both) come up with these topics. I just sadly shrug and say, "It was a very dark time in America" or "Remembering their lives is more important than their death." The first thing they will want to know about George Washington is "Who killed him?" "Well, actually, it was a throat infection." "Yeah, but who killed him?"
I am weirdly patriotic and love history. I wavered between a history and English major in college; English won but they overlap a lot.
We celebrate everything in kindergarten. I mean, we celebrate the alphabet. I have been an unabashed (though sadly ungifted) singer my whole life. I always thought singing really well would be a great super power--then you could listen to great music whenever you wanted.
Still, I remember feeling a little uneasy about leading students in singing when I was a student teacher. Now I have NO SHAME. I use and abuse music in my classroom each day. Name a topic, I might have a song for it. My life is becoming a musical.
If you ever glance at your clock from 8:00a.m. to 8:03, West Coast time, know that I am dancing and singing. My students stand in a circle as they trickle in the room after the last bell....and sing Good morning, Gooood morning to you! (as they wave to one another). Our daaaaaaaay is beginning, there's so much to do... Then the student rotate to the center of the carpet with a dance move. Everyone else imitates their move.
By 8:03 we have said the Pledge of Allegiance and are on to attendance.
Note: we have a few dance rules: Nothing on the floor. No rolling. You have to stay in a two foot square space as you do your move, no run dancing. The scissors and jumping jacks are popular moves.
When the kids are exhausted and unfocused and really difficult to the get the attention of (perhaps the entire day after Valentine's day) that's when you start whisper singing "America the Beautiful." When children are singing they usually aren't teasing or hitting or telling or crying or yelling. Usually aren't. , I do have to demonstrate the difference between YELLING THE WORDS FROM A SONG and singing in a loud, clear voice.
Anyway, I am moving on from Heart Day and have been teaching about Lincoln this week. Old Abe Lincoln he came out of the wilderness, out of the wilderness, down in Illinois. Next week will be Washington and "I cannot tell a lie." Again, I teach these topics with songs. And books. And coins. Coins are very high interest... did you know you can actually see Lincoln on the back of a penny, in his monument? We have been examining them with a magnifying glass. Also, we make penny necklaces with yarn and construction paper (bling).
A pal of mine just posted a link to this video called Death to Penny:
I am still a sentimental sap who wants pennies to stick around. And yes, I'm the lady counting out 3 random pennies to hand over with my cash, just to ensure I don't get any back. Sorry, guys.
Below, random DC pictures from last December. My dad grew up in Bethesda and I've made many a trip back there. I do love that pretty city.
Winterscape.
The bottom.
The top.
It cracked during a recent earthquake so you weren't able to go up. I still have never been to the top. And don't really want to go to the top. Glad I didn't need an excuse.
This was my Aunt and Uncles' last evening living on the West Coast. They moved to Hawaii the next day.
Four parent teacher conferences--back-to-back, after teaching all day....is hard. I love the kids. I appreciate the parents. I have goals for them. I want to celebrate their success. Then...
It all starts blurring together. I blabber. Everyone is going to be okay. Alright?
Friday was a very tough day. I don't have an easy class...and some with severe challenges. And there are 27 of them. Most days are good. That one really wasn't. I felt like I was fighting back tears all weekend. Monday was tiresome and low, despite being the 100th day of school. I had to fake it.
Today was great. SURPRISE. This job is never neutral. Never really "okay." It is awful or wonderful. Or both at the same time.
In honor of our 100th day, my students wrote about what they'll be doing when they are 100 years old; they will be surfing, ice-skating, dancing in the Nutcracker, helping childen, fighting fires, or bowling. I hope they do live to be 100 and do good things for our planet. Another exciting thing...they are all writing! The dramatic growth in writing ability is SO rewarding to witness.
I got formally observed this morning. I am so thankful it went well....you have a million remarkable moments nobody but you and the kids ever know about. It is kind of cool when there is someone there to notice your invisible world (and it's not a day like last Friday). We talked about he symmetry of hearts, and hearts in nature... in clouds, in hooves.... I should have brought in that rock!
