Miscellaneous Missives

I was really worried about coming up with 20 posts about action and adventure in August especially today as I sit through an entire day of lectures...  people talking AT me.  Since we still can't print, I really don't have much to do during the short classroom time, I took the therapy dog for a walk.  Actually, he was in his crate (jail), and I decided to take him for a walk.  Instead of asking permission, I decided to ask for forgiveness after the walk.  Luckily, my taking action led to a thank you and not a reprimand.  A another good thing happened during our meeting, the fire alarms went off (due to construction in the building), so we were able to take a break outside.  Plus, the action and adventure of walking the dog and leaving the bill due to obnoxiously loud fire alarm, led me to hit 20 posts for August.  #winwin

Today was back to school.  It seems the school made the inspection which allowed us to finally enter today.  This caused stress for many who typically go in the week before to prepare rooms.  We had meetings this morning, but luckily they were cut short a bit. Since I kicked ass getting my room ready, and the internet wasn't working, I decided to take a friend and look at the construction (in progress now and for the next two school years).  At points this action seemed a bit of an adventure especially in the places were construction people were hard at work.  Each and every construction workers was so kind and pleasant.  The head guy even spoke to our staff this morning about the problems getting everything done on time.  We all wanted to give him a hug. 

Yesterday and today have been more about action and less about adventure.  Tomorrow I go back to school, and I've been doing the last minute preparations.  My school plants are off the deck and in the car ready to be carried to my classroom.  The school supplies folks generously donated for are in the car as well.  My school bag is next to the door, and my lunch bag and water bottles are on the counter ready to be filled.  I've got this!  Plus, last night I didn't have a teacher nightmare, so I must be feeling more confident about this.  #ready

As the summer comes to an end, and I prepare to go back to work on Monday, I find it more difficult to get out of bed in the morning.  I've released the habit of waking up before 6:30, and now I can't wake up before 7:30.  It's poor timing.  One adventure I've been participating in the last couple of weeks is turning on the no turn sign on the way home.  It also takes timing since the sign is a necessity at most times.  First, traffic can't be coming in either lane from the west.  Second, there must be no one in the lane behind because they're not ready for someone to turn.  Third, police presence should not be in the area.  I've been doing fairly well making this turn, but I also feel that I'm getting too comfortable making this turn.  This morning I made the illegal turn after my trip to the farmers' market.  I bought apples as a symbol to the beginning of school and fall (and because they're delightful... zestar).

Before the fall... After the fall... black and blue chin...  Although my back's been a bit sore lately, I decided to play golf yesterday.  Let's be honest with school starting my time to enjoy playing golf will be limited.  Anyway, I knew it probably wasn't the best idea to walk and carry my clubs, but it's my favorite way to play the game.  As I was walking to the number 7 tee, part on the cart path and part off the cart path, I twisted my ankle and fell to the ground.  Since I was carrying my clubs, my face it the ground first instead of my hands.  I got up, wiped the blood off my face with my right hand and gingerly walked to the tee box and hit the ball.  The last three holes were not the best played, but I did finish them.  Yesterday I thought the twisting of my upper back during my fall might help my lower back, but it's not the case.  Instead of leaving for a bike trip in Milwaukee this afternoon, I'll be going to the chiroprac...

Although I haven't been on my bike since August 3rd, I decided to take it for a little ride yesterday since I'm doing an out of town ride in 48 hours (approximately).  With all of the trail closures, it's not as fun to ride because I hate riding in traffic; it's actually more of an adventure.  I'd prefer the safe confines of the trail.  Today I was about 8 miles into my ride (half on trail and half on the streets), I came across signage blocking but not really blocking the path.  There was space to get around, and I had to make a decision.  Part of my wanted to ride past the sign and stay on the safe trail while the other part of me wanted to ride through the signs onto the closed trail.  My decision to turn around and retrace my route was based on the need for at least 15 miles, and the need to stay ticket free.  The thought, however, was certainly there!  At least riding my bike was a little action.

Not shown, laundry detergent, single pizzas, cutie cucumbers... This morning I posted a truth to Facebook.  "Why does it take more energy and motivation to get ready to go to Costco than it does to workout?  I actually believe that it's an adventure to go to Costco from parking to getting a cart to finding card to show to trying not to hit anyone (or get hit) with monstrous shopping cart to standing in crazy lines to check out... Anyway, I knew today would be a good time to go since I can go in the morning and not a weekend morning.  I went into action and was at Costco a little after 10.  If one goes too early, he/she stands in line with crazies who want to be the first in the door.  Then at the end of this adventure, the most magical thing happened.  My Costco now has a self-checkout.  Yes, a self-checkout.  No lines, no trying to figure out what they want in and what they want out of the cart.  It was amazing.  I know.  Judg...

Last night I took action and watched another movie, The Hate U Give .  If one reads this, it's obvious that I don't watch movies, so this was an adventure.  Although I've read the book, the movie was intense almost adventuristic.  I watched it because I want to use clips of the movie for my media representation assignment at the end of the year which we had used some writing time this summer to rework the assignment  After watching it I realized,  I should be more of an adventurist and work on watching movies more often.  We'll see how it goes.

I tried something new after seeing a friend's Facebook post to raise money for one of his foundations.  Since teachers often spend a lot of money for school supplies and students' needs, I set up a Facebook fundraiser for our school, in particular my team.  It was a bit of an adventure because I wasn't sure if anyone would donate.  Of course, I didn't expect teachers to donate because they are always spending their own money.  At the end of the fundraiser, I raised $425.  Putting the plan into action, I asked five teachers how they would each spend $20 and bought them supplies.  They bought construction paper, glue sticks, poster board, colored pencils, tissue, and headphones.  The remainder of the money will be used throughout the year as needed by students.  As the supplies came in the mail, I was thankful for those who contributed and proud of the collection. 

This book is good, but I can't tell you how far I am or how much time I have left in my reading. Although some of you will be judging that this is not action and adventure, I'm telling you it most certainly is action and adventure.  I can't remember the last time I read a book that wasn't digital.  Digital reading is awesome... no glasses (print can be enlarged), no bookmark, no having to remove the cover.  Plus, I always know how much time it's going to take to finish the chapter and/or book.  However, I saw this book the in bookstore next to the farmers' market and purchased it since I couldn't get it digitally from the library.  It's really hard to read when you have to flip pages and have no idea how much time is left in the book. Reading outside is awesome, but since I have to wear my glasses (dang small print), I can't wear my sunglasses.  Who reads this way? 

A friend recently moved to Minneapolis with her twins.  When she was looking for a place to live and schools for the kids, I introduced her via Messenger to another friend who has two children approximately the same age.  Yesterday I facilitated a meeting in Linden Hills.  We met at Wild Rumpus.   The adults and kids bonded immediately. After chatting, reading, petting animals and all the things one does at the bookstore, the adventure continued to the piano across the street and then to Sebastian Joes .  All sat outside watching the youngsters get ice cream all over their faces while climbing on the turtles.  It was a fun adventure, and I'm so happy that everyone found new friends.

I drove to Albert Lea to help my dad and brother on Wednesday.  Although I wasn't sure what I was getting into, I knew it was outdoor labor.  My dad, my brother and I were engaging in the task of building stairs.  The work required getting dirt from a pile (so many wheelbarrows full, that I started thinking of ee cummings poem, especially when the turkeys... not white chickens came out to see what was happening).  We had to make frames out of 2 x 4s.  The process had to be precise and was backbreaking at time and tedious at other.  Dirt, paver cement, sand, then pavers.  Each step required heaving lifting, tamping each 1/2 inch down and repeat.  I also learned new terms such as crumb (crumb it out) and screed (make sure level and enough of the layering).  There were more, but I really don't know.  I merely kept asking what I needed to do and followed it through.  We were to make 16 of these steps.  Everything needed to...

I'm all about taking action in August and preparing for the new school year.  My preferable spot to do this is on my deck with a mug of coffee in hand and my computer on my lap.  After today's workout (more action), I plopped myself on the deck and opened up my school Google account.  Peacefully, I read and responded to school emails and posted about two more books to the school book blog.  Then, the adventure (kinda sorta) began.  The orange Ditch Witch which (witch which) had been parked in the lot came to life disturbing the peace.  It wasn't until my neighbor and her dog crazy came out and quickly went back inside that I realized this construction was really too much adventure (and noise for me to get things accomplished), so I went back to the kitchen table and shut the door to the outside.  Before posting this, I walked around to see if it looked like they were ready to leave the premises but to know avail; it looks like they'll be making adve...

I've the action of recording my dreams in August.  Recording my dreams, when I remember, has become interesting.  Last night my dream was an adventure through the first day of school .  First, even though the names for attendance were on the computer, they were handwritten.  Also they were initials and not names.  I had five minutes left of my first period class after attendance.  My computer wouldn't do anything but the handwritten attendance, so I slammed it to the floor and noticed every student was on their phone.  This latest edition of the smartphone was the size of a metal lunch box and did more than today's smartphones.  I lost my crap and sent them all out.  Second hour started similar, but my room had five different doors and students kept leaving and returning as they wanted.  No one was listening to me, so I couldn't even get through attendance.  As third hour started, I was a mess.  Before students could even e...

Cable is fricking expensive, so I cut cable last month.  I haven't missed it one bit since I can stream the local news.  That being said, it's about to be football season, and I love watching football.  A friend told me about using Hulu +Live TV and a Roku stick.  After the adventure of making new passwords, trying old ones, and switching browsers, I taken the action of leaving cable behind.  As I try to figure out how it all works, I'm sure the adventure will continue, but for now, I'm proud of myself.

Late this afternoon I was getting ready for a little action. in the form of a bike ride with my bike club.  I haven't done many rides with them, so I was excited about the Friday ride.  After getting my clubs out of the car and putting my bike and other bike stuff in the car, I decided to get the rest ready before I put on my kit (shirt and shorts).  All I needed was to find my wallet which normally lives in my small bike purse.  It wasn't there.  It wasn't in my golf bag.  It wasn't in the car.  It also wasn't in a myriad of other places I looked including the recycling dumpster outside where I had taken the recyclables earlier.  After calling the golf course, I realized it wasn't there either.  About 15 minutes into the frantic search, I called the golf course; it wasn't there either.  I kept researching all of the places I had looked.  Finally, I thought to find the shoes I wore to play golf yesterday.  I had thrown in on...

Playing golf is always action and adventure for me because I'm a mediocre golfer at best... I really kinda suck, but I really enjoy it.  Today was a perfect day 80º degrees and low humidity.  It was delightful.  Plus, we took advantage of the Thursday special for nine holes with a cart.  We planned this last week.  The guy that starts early afternoon likes us.  Instead of playing 9 holes, we played 18 and only paid for 9.  After 9 we went in and talked to our guy, and as planned, he let us play 9 more without paying.  This is already our plan for next week too.  #oursecret

This morning I had writing time with two talented individuals.  We reworked a media literacy final discussing representation in the media.  Actually, we crushed it.  All we need are some clips from The Hate U Give to assist.  Of course, looking at movies and television shows to find representation or lack thereof is difficult for me since I don't watch movies or television shows.  Also, let's be honest, at some point, I'm going to need to watch the movie in order to figure out what clips work as examples.  It's all quite complicated.  Most of the action took place this morning, but more action (watching the movie) still needs to take place.  Lucky for me one of the talented individuals has a movie watching room, and we picked a viewing date and time.  It's all coming together.  August really is about taking action.

Although I'm not sure there was a lot of adventure today, I did take action to take care of my health.  My first appointment this morning was my annual physical which went as most of them do which is uneventful and good.  My second was given to me as a notification on Friday. I was told I needed two fillings.  When the receptionist gave this morning's time as a possibility, I said, "Yep, just as well waste the whole day." I followed it up with, "I mean, I'll use the day to take care of my health. Yay!  Health appointments should be taken care of for this summer.  The only part of adventure came when I was able to listen to music on this old school iPod.  It made me smile.

LH has started a new blog challenge for August, and I'm in Word Savvy is joining also.  Let's do this.  I'd say the PH24 ride was both action and adventure.  It's a 24 hour ride that we've done in the past.  This year we rode solo which meant we could ride together.  I love the solo idea because it's more fun having someone to talk with while riding.  We crushed the vacation/bonus stops which are a fun break to riding.  Each stop was different drawing on the sidewalk, matching Mexican pastries to the Spanish name, bags, frisbee throw, weaving... a fun time was had by all, but I'm now doing laundry and getting stuff back were it belongs. We ended the ride in a downpour which was it's own adventure.  It also means my tent is in the condo parking lot drying.  My neighbors are probably appalled.