lazy, injury, drama, the food

And... we're back. Spring break is over, back for the final push at the college. Catching up with the tutees I've had sessions with so far has been interesting:

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Me: How was your spring break?

Tutee1: Great, except I got lazy and forgot EVERYTHING!

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Me: What happened? <said to a concurrently enrolled high school student, gimping in with a medical boot on one foot>

Tutee2: I hurt my foot skydiving

Me: REALLY?

Tutee2: Actually, I stepped weird off of a curb, but isn't that technically skydiving?

Later, he told me he had to usher a choir concert that evening. I asked if he could be excused because of the foot injury.

"Nah, I'll still do it. I get extra credit for volunteering, plus there'll be a girl there I want to ask to prom"

Priorities.

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Me: How was your spring break?

Tutee3: (looking pensive) Well, I went home (out of state), and everything kinda blew up. It wasn't so good

She looked on the brink of tears, which I hoped would not come (they didn't) - that's not my realm of expertise. 

Before the break, she'd told me that she'd recently changed her major from a STEM subject to Creative Writing. I wonder if that was the cause of the spring break family tumult, but she didn't elaborate, and I didn't ask.

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Then I overheard this spring break revelation from a side conversation:

 Student1: I've realized my liking for fish

Work Study: The animal or the band?

<pause>

Student1: The food.

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Spring break, in the books.

not a minimalist, aliens among us

Thursday was technically my last day of spring break.  Friday, I worked in testing, which 'never' takes a break. Since I filled in for Test Boss on Monday, I had but 3 fun-filled days of spring break. No girls-gone-wild here, but I enjoyed not having to be anywhere at anytime.

Tuesday, I hauled a donation to the thrift store - always a fun time. I browsed the bargains for a while. A few months ago, I was in there on another Tuesday and learned that Tuesdays are Senior Discount day. Then I was smacked in the face with the realization that I'm eligible for the Senior Discount. Egads, when did that happen?!

While I love a good declutter, I've slowly come to the realization that I actually no longer identify as a "minimalist". A while ago, I perused some discussion boards around "minimalism" and "simple living". I sensed a common theme among many participants. 

It wasn't just that they didn't have much "stuff", but they also steered clear of obligations, responsibilities, employment, relationships...

And I thought, well, that's not me.

Recently, I was at the joyful Happy Whisk blog, where she was enjoying a good declutter. I asked her how her hobbies, of which she has many, meshed with her minimalism. She affirmed that she was not a minimalist, but rather

 "I make room for what I love to do".

Marvelous! So THAT'S what I'm doing when I declutter! Hadn't really put it in those words, though.

In work updates, we have a new coworker. "Daffodil" started in late January. She's fitting in nicely, and I enjoy working with her. Other than Boss and Blossom, we are all part-timers. Since I just work one shift a week now, I've not had much time to get to know Daffodil, but I worked with her both Monday and Friday this past week, plus we were a little less busy than usual since the students weren't around.

She is in her late 20's, moved here recently with her boyfriend, and no kids. I'm not sure why she wanted a part-time job, but maybe just took what was available from jobs that interested her. Yesterday, she wore a skirt, and I noticed a tattoo peaking out between the top of her sock and the hem of her skirt, so I asked her about her tattoos. 

She showed us the one I'd seen peeking out - a roses-and-dagger design - and one higher up on her thigh. The one on her thigh is a triangle, similar to [The Eye of Providence], but not exactly. She explained that she and her best friend got that tattoo together based on their interests in "alien conspiracy theories". 

Well all righty then. I'm honestly curious to hear more from her thoughts on that 👽

clocks and poultry

I think I'm still adjusting to daylight savings time. I'm not sleepy when I should be and morning comes too early. Hardships.

It's spring break all around here - the university, community college, and school district. No tutoring for me this week, so I told Boss in testing I was available if needed. To that, he said, "Yeah? Maybe I'll take Monday off, do something with my mom"

So I worked in place of Boss yesterday. The do-something-with-Mom turned out to be locating her tax documents. His mom is not young, and tends to forget things, but still lives on her own. 

While visiting the in-laws in California, much of the conversations were about effects of aging. Stepmother-in-law told us that one of the tests for dementia is to have the patient draw an analog clock.

SOURCE

She was talking about a friend of theirs who failed his clock-drawing test. Later, I was curious as to the result of FIL's drawing. I'm not sure about dementia, but his memory does have noticeable gaps. FIL is an accomplished architect, so I'm sure there was a time he would've drawn an impeccably creative clock.

I mentioned this conversation yesterday to Party Girl, who concurred. "Oh yeah. My dad's clock was all over the place".

Now I feel like drawing clocks... just to make sure I'm still with us.

In other updates, we encountered the resident wild turkeys while on a coffee walk again. Only three were hanging out this time. Two males, strutting their stuff, and one seemingly totally uninterested female.

This guy couldn't get enough of himself. He was all, "look at how majestic I am!". Never mind that the nearby female was fully ignoring him. He begged me to snap a photo.

Once I complied, he raked me in again, "No no, make sure you get my good side as well!"

Fine.

snow, sun, and an Armenian brain

We're back from our sunny getaway. It was nice to visit the in-laws, Father-in-law and step-Mother-in-law are 91- and 81-years-old respectively. FIL is pretty frail these days, but SMIL is a dynamo who will probably outlive us all.

We flew out of Denver last Friday. That happened to be the day of a messy snowstorm that canceled or delayed over 1300 flights out of Denver. Our flight was canceled, we got put on a different flight. All in all, not terrible. We landed 4 hours later than originally scheduled, so could've been worse. It marked the first time I've ever experienced de-icing.

It was Murphy's law at its finest (worst?). Denver hadn't had an appreciable amount of snow for all of February, then they got over 8 inches the day of our trip. I say the city of Denver should thank us for bringing the water. 

Once we got to California, it was warm and sunny. Hot, actually, and I'm not complaining. SMIL had arranged for a ride to and from the airport which was super convenient. Our driver was George, a friendly olderish Armenian man, for both trips.

Upon picking us up for our return flight, he announced with his Armenian accent, "There's a traffic accident on the freeway". Then added, "I'm going to choose a good route with my brain".

So I figured, welp, guess I gotta trust George's brain.

Turned out George's brain did good.

So a quick trip, but nice to see the in-laws and nice to just get a change of scenery - alien-to-us trees and birds. We visited Huntington Botanical Gardens, and Santa Monica beach. I'd been to that beach before, it's great for people watching, and I'd never been to The Huntington.

I took zero photos, social media rebel that I am. Magnum took one, though. We had gate checked our carryon bags to "help make boarding go faster". And this was the thanks I got.

See that bag lying in a puddle of slush? Yep. That's mine. Of course. It sat there for at least a half an hour while we looked on, expecting one of the wandering baggage handlers (they were right there!) to pick it up. So my PJs were wet, but no lasting damage. Magnum was sure to capture the indifferent airline name.

Wanna get away?

runneth over

 Welcome to daylight savings time Sunday - or as my step-MIL calls it, "my least favorite day of the year"

We are on a little getaway, visiting my Father-in-law and said step-MIL. As such, we've had one hour shaved from our getaway. But still, a nice time. 

The past week was quite busy with that PEO saga. Everything worked out as people stepped up to do the  required tasks, and I was relieved of presidential duties after two years, as originally planned.

In addition, they adorned me with this lovely flower arrangement. Now, I'm not particularly a flower arrangement person due to pets that will want to trash such things and my own allergies, but it's the thought that counts. So this was lovely as one of our members is an accomplished florist while her husband is a renowned glass blower - he made the vase. So I sneeze with gratitude.

With that load off my shoulders, I'll still be busy with PEO things, but it will no longer be my name as the one to contact for seemingly EVERYTHING. My email inbox is thankful.

weekend ramblings

I am ready to put the whole PEO officer saga to bed. Looks like we've got enough volunteers to fill the officer slate for next year. Sheesh, you'd think we were asking them to donate a kidney.

In the tumult of recruiting officers, I needed someone to fill a relatively easy job, and I thought of Jan. "Jan doesn't do enough", I thought, "time for her to step up". Jan became my target.

Jan is one of the few people left on the planet who still has a landline phone in addition to her cell phone. I didn't want to bother her if she was away from home, so I called the house phone. Her husband picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi, I'm calling for Jan. Is she home?"

"No, she's out delivering Meals-on-Wheels. Can I take a message?"

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Meals. 

On wheels. 

Jan was delivering. 

Boy did I feel like a doofus. Told my brain to quit being presumptuous. Of course, doesn't-do-enough Jan got back to me later and happily said yes to my request. Super duper Jan.

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Speaking of extra tasks, I worked a long shift in testing yesterday because Blossom needed to leave early. I've mentioned the on-going issues with Blossom's absenteeism. I think HR has gotten more involved, and Blossom actually worked two full weeks without calling off. Seriously, I think that's the first time that's happened in two years.

But since she'd worked last Saturday, she needed to take time off this week so as to not go into overtime. Solution: have me work extra.

Be careful what you wish for.

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Speaking of wishes, I've recently become intrigued by these Italian Moka pots. I don't consider myself a coffee snob, but these just seem cool and cute to me, and I strangely want one. 

SOURCE

In college, I had a little 2-cup stovetop percolator. It got me through many a lecture. These days I use an hourglass shaped pour over maker and rather enjoy the daily coffee making ritual. I consider myself a minimalist, so what's up with wanting a Moka pot? Well, I do just want a small one...

Alas, they don't work with my induction stovetop. 

However, we do have a campstove. And a patio. Will = Way.

progress

Last weekend, I had that PEO "come to Jesus" meeting to get people to fill the two officer vacancies we have for the upcoming year. The discussion went well, although no one stepped forward right away to take either office, including President. So that remains as still me.

But it was a good talk, and to my appreciation, a few other past Presidents who were at the meeting chimed in and helped throw down. I ended up contacting the state board for advice, asking what the deadline was for getting all the offices filled.

They responded back, not with a deadline, but rather a "those lazy members need to get off their asses" (I'm paraphrasing)

So I sent out an email to the chapter, quoting the state board, and reiterating that "you lazy members need to get off your asses" (again, paraphrasing). 

It seems like we're going to live for another year. The Non-Lazies are pitching in to get us through, although they already do a lot. Typical. Looks like I'll be stuck in the President's chair, but will have someone to share the load with. Another Non-Lazy has already committed to taking over in one more year, so that's a plus. Sheesh, things I gotta do.

Speaking of language, it seems I've crossed a threshold with a couple of tutees. I've mentioned how I consider it a sign that students are comfortable with me if they start comfortably swearing during our sessions, no longer overly cautious about their words. I mean, if they were elementary kids, that'd be concerning, but these are all adults.

They always start out very respectful (probably because I'm old), but the ice is soon broken. I see swearing as a breakthrough.

One guy came in grumpy, then began dropping f-bombs left and right, mad at himself for silly mistakes he'd made on a test. I agree, he knew better and should've scored higher. By the end of our session, he'd calmed down and was more optimistic. Language back to PG.

Another girl often responds with "What the heck?" when her laptop glitches or something. Yesterday, something happened, and there it was, "What the fu..?" Aha!

My words, however, are always pristine, of course

I was assigned another student this week, and I happened to notice that she'd worked with a different tutor the week before. I figured the change was due to a schedule conflict or something and mentioned that to her.

"So does this time slot work better with your schedule?", I asked

She looked a little confused and then replied, "Uh, yeah. Well, I just didn't like that other tutor". 

Then I was all paranoid. Certainly it can happen, a little personality conflict or just wrong way rubbing. I know the other tutor, not that well, but wondered what's not to like? I'll admit it threw me off my game a bit. 

But she hasn't dumped ME yet.