I'm Finally Done With It!

If you are interested in my recent train travel to Washington State and back, I finally finished my travel entries. 

My blog is in reverse chronological order, with the latest entry on top. So from this page, on the right you will notice a navigation bar. Click on July and scroll down. My first entry is called, "My Big Adventure: Train Travel to Seattle Day 1". It is dated July 15th. 

I've posted pictures, stories, recipes, and basically had a great time doing this. I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoyed writing about it.

The Herbs Are Planted!

And now we wait...

The Garden Is In!

I feel very accomplished. The veggies are planted, the flower beds weeded, and I even made it to Northtowns Nursery and Garden Center for a couple hanging plants for my Shepard's hook. Life is good! 

Well, That Escalated Quickly!

Today did not go as planned. But really—do they ever?

I had the whole day mapped out. I even called Teri and told her I’d swing by later. Ha! Future Me should’ve laughed right then and there. Because the sun finally remembered that Buffalo exists, and I decided to take advantage of this rare cosmic event by doing a little yard work. You know, clear out the plant beds, feel productive, pretend like I’m the kind of person who “gardens.”

I started in one corner, got into a decent rhythm, and then—scurry. SCURRY. Something darted to the other side of the plant box like it had somewhere better to be. Naturally, I levitated six feet in the air, did the Ninja Spider Dance, and shrieked, “Mice!”

So I did the logical thing: kicked the side of the plant box a few times. Not hard! Just enough to ... encourage ... relocation. Then I went back to weeding. That’s when the real scurrying started. Plural. Movement in every direction. And as I again jumped like I was without the benefit gravity I thought, “Oh fantastic, it’s not a mouse—it’s a whole extended family of long-tailed nightmares.”

But then I saw them.

Tiny, trembling, absolutely adorable baby bunnies.

Not mice. Not rats. Not chaos incarnate. Just the fluffiest little panic nuggets to ever be born in a raised plant bed.

I panicked (obviously) and tried to cover them back up with the weeds I’d just yanked out. Like that would undo the trauma I’d just inflicted. Then I backed away like a polite houseguest who opened the wrong door at a party and accidentally walked in on something sacred.

Here’s the thing: I am now deeply worried that I scared off Mama Bunny. Will she come back? Or did I just commit accidental bunny manslaughter via misplaced yardwork?

So now I’m here staring out my kitchen window looking at the half weeded garden bed with a spiraling sense of guilt. Isn't gardening fun? 

Heavy sigh. 

The Long Road to Recovery

Today was one of those days. The kind that starts with high hopes and a decent cup of coffee, then slowly morphs into a never-ending loop of fluorescent lighting and standardized testing. Yes, friends, it’s New York State ELA assessment season, and I had the distinct pleasure of proctoring all day. Which, for those unfamiliar, is a bit like watching paint dry, but with more paperwork.

I had really been looking forward to seeing my friend Teri after school. She had a major stroke back in June, and ever since, she’s been completely paralyzed on her left side. Our visits usually involve chatting, reading, and maybe eating a chocolate or two that her sister sneaks in. But just as I was mentally packing up to head to the nursing home, I found out that the Tuesday Alternative Ed teacher couldn’t make it. Which meant yours truly was staying at school. Until after 5:30. Heavy, heavy sigh.

But I went straight to see Teri anyway. I was tired, hungry, and about one silly question away from losing my mind—but I needed that visit. 

She was still in her wheelchair (thankfully—they sometimes put her in bed way too early, which drives me nuts). She was happy to see me, and I was even happier to see her. She asked for some ice water, so I moved the table out of the way and happened to notice her left leg was hanging off the side of the wheelchair.

I asked if she was comfortable. She said not really. I pointed out that her leg was dangling—and then... she moved it.

Her left leg. The one that hasn’t moved since June.

It wasn’t huge, just a little adjustment—but I saw it. I know what I saw. And I almost cried.

She told me that at night, when she’s lying in bed, she tries to “march” with her good leg, and in her mind, she imagines moving both legs. Maybe—just maybe—her brain is rewiring itself. Maybe those mental reps are forging new neural pathways. I don’t know. I’m not a neurologist. But I do know that something beautiful happened today.

There are moments when progress is loud and obvious, and then there are moments like this—quiet, small, and life-affirming. Today, my friend moved her leg. And in that moment, hope felt real.

I’ll carry that feeling with me for a long time.

My Baby Got Married

 

I don't think they slept the night before... Welcome to our crazy family, Sarika. 
Miguel is a very lucky young man. 

My Head is Going to Explode

It has been a VERY interesting couple of weeks!  Last week, I took a class for my Google Level I Certification. We covered: 

• Google Slides
• Google Chrome
• Google Web Store
• Gmail, Calendar, and Meets
• Google Groups
• Google Forms
• Google Sheets
• Google Docs
• Google Drive
• Google Classroom
• Google Sites and
• YouTube

This week, I took a class for my Google Level II Certification. We covered: 

• Screencasting
• Chrome Extensions
• Gmail Templates
• Creating, Sharing, and Embedding a Calendar
• Creating Appointment Slots
• Google Maps, Google Earth, and My Maps
• Google Sheets Functions
• Publishing and Protecting Sheets
• Creating a Sparkline
• Creating and Using Pivot Tables
• Creating Surveys and Quizzes
• Google Forms Digital Differentiation
• YouTube Studio, Playlists, and Channels
• Google Docs (more in-depth)
• Blogger

I had No Idea Google offered so much for educators! I have to sign up for the exams, each of which is three hours. Hopefully I can knock out the Level I exam this week and get the Level II exam done before school starts. 

It's been a while...

Teaching has been so rewarding, but so very challenging. I started in 2016 teaching middle school math. That summer, I taught 7th and 8th grade math in summer school. In 2017, I started teaching HTML and CSS from code.org as well as Intro to Computer Science from codehs.com. I had never had any computer courses before and had no idea how to code, so the entire year, I was one or two lessons ahead of the students. 

In 2018, I taught these two courses as well as Desktop Publishing and AP CS A. AP CS A was a disaster...I thought I was supposed to be teaching Computer Science Principles, but I spent the year being one step ahead of the kids in Java. 

This year, I am teaching the original two courses (HTML/CSS and Intro to Computer Science) as well as AP Computer Science Principles and Introduction to Business. I am really looking forward to this year! 

In the meantime, for the first time since I graduated from high school, I took the summer off. My son and I have seen baseball games and thrown catch in the yard, gone to movies, seen the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and just relaxed in general. 

It's time for me to get serious again though... school starts in four weeks, and I have the remainder of a 60 hour PD course to get through! 

I love these kids!

For the holiday, I assembled treat bags for the kids with little things Melissa and I bought for them. We gave them a jingle bell, a candy cane, a pencil with two little erasers, a sticky hand, and a coloring book. We decided that, because of the low attendance today, we would show them a movie and give math a break.

7A, my SPED class, was the one I thought would be the most crazy. Instead, they opened their treat bags quietly, ate their candy canes, and enjoyed Beethoven's Christmas Adventure. They even said thank you as they were leaving the classroom!

7B, my gifted group, was the one I thought would be the quietest. Wrong again. The sticky hands were almost immediately flying in all directions as they tried to pull other student's belongings away from them, tried to stick them on the ceiling, tried to stick them in each other's hair... The Santa Clause was just background noise for happy shenanigans. I thought they were a riot, but Melissa was not amused. Probably a good thing...they would have been out of control all period, and I'd have been right along with them. :D

7C, my English language learners, was the group I was unsure of. A high percentage of the group follows the path of Islam, so I had a back-up coloring sheet in case they had religious objection to a Christmas movie and gift. I need not have worried. Some seemed to get the biggest kick out of the candy canes, eating it from both ends. As a whole, they initially preferred coloring in the little holiday coloring books in their treat bags to watching the movie , but then quickly realized they could grab each other's coloring books with the sticky hands. I probably shouldn't have let them get away with it, but hey, it's the last day of school before break, and I'm tired. :D

It's funny how this job is working out for me. I don't think I've ever worked so hard or for so many hours, but I feel like I'm making a difference. It's fulfilling, enjoyable, and worth every minute.

I have finally found my purpose.

I Got the Job!

Say hello to the new 7th grade Math teacher for the Buffalo Academy of Science! I am so excited and scared and nervous and excited...

I am about to begin a big adventure, a new chapter in the story of my life. It's going to be interesting, fun, frustrating, challenging, and much different from the typical day I am used to. I am looking forward to it.

And I am determined to be the best darn math teacher I can be.

I am amazing.

One of the good things that has come out of Ian's poor choices is that I've gotten back into counseling to help myself.

I truly am amazing.

That doesn't come from a king-of-the-mountain standpoint. It's taken me time to get here. I've come to the realization that I have endured many traumas and hardships, and they have made me stronger. Even though I came close a few times, I didn't cave, resign, or flat-out quit.

I learned. I grew courage and resilience.

I've made a safe place for myself and made decisions to improve myself and my life. All of this I've done with a background and childhood that were less than desirable. I have people that love me and support me, even when they disagree with me.

I deserve healthy relationships. I deserve safety and security. I deserve the better life I am creating for myself. I'm not perfect, but I am me. I am authentic and real.

I am finally getting to a place where I not only know these things intellectually, but believe them emotionally.

Steven told me a few months ago that I'm 'one tough bunny', and it made me uncomfortable, because I didn't feel so tough. I think, though, that toughness is in doing the right thing, standing up for myself, and allowing myself to feel.

I'm going to be okay. Us amazing beings don't wither.

Positivity

Facebook post from John Tesh

For My Seester

My sister asked if I would make her an afghan, something light for spring, maybe with flowers? I've started it:

My Little Cousin in Color Guard

So proud of my little cousin! She has come so far in just two short years, 

and watching her it is obvious she loves what she does.

I don't like guns. Just sayin'.

I think it is important to be educated. My brother, in his infinite wisdom, suggested I look into classes for Ian to keep him busy, but I thought, hey, why not classes for me? 

I signed up for the Village of Kenmore Citizen Police Academy. For eleven weeks, I, with 12 other people, will learn about various aspects of the Kenmore Police Officer's duties and their service in the community. 

Last week, the detective in charge of the Juvenile Division gave a presentation. He brought in a couple boxes of paraphernalia the police have taken off of kids in the Village. I kid you not, I didn't know what better than half of the items even were. 

This week was our week for the gun range. We learned about gun safety, and then we were set up with short video scenarios where we, while using guns loaded with five paint bullets, had to decide to shoot or not shoot. I took three shots and told the police officer I was done. He looked surprised, then he laughed, and he took the gun away. 

Then came the real gun with the real bullets. Much louder, and much more nerve-wracking. Everyone was given five bullets to shoot at a paper target. I shot the gun once, gave it back to the police officer, told him I was done. "I don't like this. I really don't like this." He laughed again and said it's not for everybody. 

That was an understatement. I hated every minute of it. Hated. Every. Minute. The noise, the power, the recoil, and the thought of the immense, grave responsibility that comes with pulling that trigger. And did I mention the noise? I don't want it. Any of it. 

Wearing mandatory safety glasses and ear protection.

Do I 'hate' guns? No. I see and understand the need, and I am thankful there are people who serve that are not frightened by them, who think fast enough to be able to use one properly, and who keep me free and safe. 

I just know I should not own one, at least not now. I do not know enough, and I may never know enough, to be able to own one safely and without fear. I know that is not the kind of power that, in this moment in time, I feel I ever want to have. I also know that someday I may change my mind and decide to get more training and more education on gun use and safety. Not now, though. Not now.

The Sea Cadet and His Mom

Surrounded by Morning People

This has got to be one of my favorite pictures. My poor brother. Surrounded by the abomination of nature called Morning People.

His Sense of Humor

I do love that boy!

Graduation

Graduation. The culmination of years of hard work, exhaustion, and a fair amount of tears. I did it. I earned my Masters degree in Mathematics Education.

But I didn't do it alone.

My brother Michael was a constant source of unwavering encouragement and support. Even though he lives on the other side of the country, I could not have done it without him. I've looked up to him since childhood; I have immense respect for him as an adult. When things go horribly wrong, Michael boosts me back up and offers objective advice to calm my emotional hailstorm. And when I've done something I think is stupid and I feel like I should turn in my Mensa membership card and tell them there's been a terrible mistake, Michael would probably tell me I'm right, which makes me laugh to recovery. Somehow he just instinctively knows what I need when I need it.  I love him, and when I grow up, I want to be just like him. But a female version with no chest hair. I cannot thank him enough. Worshiping him from afar will just have to do.

My son Ian was such a good kid through it all. When Mommy did her homework, Ian did his homework. And as he began evolving into a young man, he helped with chores to lighten my load. He's a better cook than I am. I love him as well. He changed my life for the better, although he'll never know how much until he has a child of his own. Just. Like. Him.

My mentors Karla and Annie were amazing during my time at WGU. They heard me laugh with joy and cry with frustration, kept me on track, and cut me slack when I needed it. They helped me when I struggled, and rejoiced in my successes. I got to meet them at my graduation. Their kindness, confidence and strength shines, and I am richer for having them in my life.

Wait to see what I can do as a middle school math teacher. Look out world!

The Universe and Positivity

My friend Sue is an amazing source of self-help materials and is one of the most positive people I know. She recently told me about a new habit she started last year, which I am going to incorporate in my day as well. 

She believes that you have to keep an open mind to all things and make room in your life for positive things to come to you. Every morning, she receives a reminder text that she has set up with her niece:

"This is the Universe. Tell me what was great about yesterday, 

in writing, and I will send you more greatness today."  

She then jots down a note on a small piece of paper about something that was great about her day and puts it in a Mason jar. At the end of the year, she goes back through and reads her notes. She said it was fun to reminiscence, and it was very cool to see who made the jar. 

I started my Universe box today. So far, I feel very good about it. One can never be too positive.