I should go

I enjoyed an easy going run along a quiet pathway this morning after another busy week. Or I should say that this particular path is normally quiet, which was why I chose to go there. Lo and behold, not long after I hopped on the path, I was met with participants of a charitable 5k.

So I ran with that pack - them going both directions - for a mile or so before reaching their turnaround point. They seemed to be a happy crowd including some little kids and people dressed in superhero costumes. I will note that I passed Wonder Woman. 💪

I've since learned it was the 4th annual Be a Hero 5k, raising proceeds for victims of child sexual abuse. My running club was one of the sponsors, and clearly I haven't been paying attention to local charity runs. I'm glad they had a nice morning for it. Once they all turned around and I kept going on my merry way, I did enjoy the rather placid run I'd intended.

In other peacefulness news, I decided to remove Instagram from my phone. I would habitually open it only to be hit with a bunch of ads, stupid reels, and ultra filtered "influencers" with fake faces and fake lives. I used to enjoy seeing occasional updates from my handful of non-influential friends, but now there's so much crap to get through. Plus, I rarely upload anything myself.  I had an epiphany and uninstalled. I still have an account, but its days are probably numbered.

Blogging remains my social media of choice, and I've missed catching up with blog friends this week. With the start of classes and tutor onboarding, I've been hanging out mostly in my left brain. It's good to get out for a breather.

But speaking of content creators, this week I managed to stumble upon my grandfather's IMDb page. I don't even remember what led me there, but there he was.  My dad's dad was a silent film director way back in the day, hence the IMDb page. The page doesn't have much content, but enough to know it's him, and I did watch snippets of his movies. I never knew him personally as he died a couple years before I was born.  Nice work, Gramps!

As far as updates go, I've got the cat on some new healthier food, and we're weening off the remaining Friskies. Friskies are back on the store shelves, but I'm thankful for that particular supply chain shortage. 

The cat will thank me later.

and so it begins

The school year has begun here and it's obvious during my morning commutes. I go passed an elementary school and a middle school on my way to work. Additionally, the high school is in the opposite direction. So I get caught in elementary and middle school traffic, while high school traffic is flowing towards me.

Not complaining, just observing the increased traffic now that kids are back at it. At work, classes started this Monday, and suddenly there are people "everywhere" after the quiet summer semester, all gung-ho before the drudgery sets in, I suppose.

I generally enjoyed being a student throughout all the levels. Still, there are definitely things that make me glad to be done with school.

First thing that comes to mind, group projects. These weren't so bad before college, and even the undergraduate projects weren't too bad in my case. By grad school, though, I'd had enough.

Then of course there's tuition and fees.

And while on the subject of money, we can't forget outlandish textbook prices

In addition, if wanting to park on a college campus, that's another layout of cash for the parking permit. Many students just take their chances, figuring the parking tickets won't add up to the cost of a permit.

Thankfully, I was able to bicycle to campus when in college. That's not to say I never arrived with 5 mins. until the start of class and was greeted by something like this:

And I don't miss the campus proselytizers. I mean, they could be "entertaining", but sheesh, I'm just trying to get to class.

I personally never experienced living in a freshman dorm, but I've heard/seen enough to know to be thankful for that.

Lastly, I realize I like the freedom of not being tied to a class schedule or syllabus or assignments or tests...  I mean, yes, there are aspects of these things with a job, but money comes in exchange, right?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linking up this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:

2. Top 10  8 reasons why you are glad you are done with school.

supply chain chain chain

Sunday now - it was a rather busy week. Time for a bit of weekly reflection, shall we?

I've already mentioned enough of my flat tire adventure. I'll report that Daisy is back in business, looking and feeling fine. I've also ordered some more tubes and a new carry-on pump. I'm prepared!

I attended a meeting - my first since signing on as a tutor at the college - with the tutoring group. The meeting served as a sort of pep rally to kick off the school year and also to familiarize everyone with the new online platform for profiles, scheduling, etc. 

There were about 10 of us in attendance, and I was the lone newbie at the meeting. About half of them are retired teachers, I gathered from the gray hair. A couple younger people came across as quite brainy, but a bit socially awkward - enough to where it might hamper their ability or desire for more traditional jobs. Another guy was rather pompous, like a cartoon character. I feel a bit sorry for his tutees.

But it was nice to get things going and become familiar with how the college handles tutoring requests. One woman I got to know provided me with some very useful materials too.

Also this week, we helped a bit with Meego navigating the world of used car shopping. His $3500 Civic is likely not long for this world. Supply chain issues are just about everywhere.

Speaking of which, what are y'all doing for distilled water and Friskies cat food? Both of these items, I've learned, are experiencing supply chain shortages. I use distilled water for irrigating my sinuses a couple times a week. It helps with my allergies and also with my bum sinus that resulted from the extraction of a large bum tooth a few years ago.

Friskies dry cat food is on backorder as well. Neither of these shortages are major issues for me. I can function fine without distilled water, and honestly, I've been wanting to ween our cat off of Friskies for a while. Last time I tried changing his food up, he refused to comply, wanting only his crap Friskies. 

Too bad, Napolion. Time to go cold turkey... or cold "adult indoor chicken". Wish us luck.

when the student is ready

I did a brief exploration of becoming a high school teacher back in 2014. I enrolled in a program to convert people with STEM bachelor's degrees into high school teachers as it seemed like a logical path for me. Within one semester of the program, I was pretty sure it wasn't for me. 

But that's not to say I didn't learn some helpful tips. One thing I thought was useful was the idea of "Exit Tickets". Teachers out there? Know what I'm referring to? An exit ticket is a question or set of questions that each student answers individually at the end of a class. Ferzample, "what was the most difficult part of today's lesson for you?" or "how can you use what you learned today in your everyday life?", etc.

I had a lesson on Tuesday and thought I'd go through an Exit Ticket list I found on Pinterest

*ahem*

1.  Summarize the lesson using only one sentence.

    Bicycle flat tires happen, so it's good to carry a spare tube and repair kit.

2. One way I can connect the lesson to my life is...

    The lesson revealed that I should improve on having my sh*t together. Just having a repair kit is NOT helpful without a spare tube.

3. Something I still don't understand about this lesson is...

    I don't understand why that bike shop near the trail doesn't sell a common type and size of inner tube... or have a bike rack.

4. State one important thing I learned from this lesson.

     I learned to always carry a spare, or I may end up spending $ for a questionable temp tube to just get me home.

5. State three facts I learned from this lesson...

    There are no bicycle maintenance stations between work and home, but a bunch beyond.
    It is easy to fix a flat on bicycle Daisy, but my carry-on pump is crap.
    Low levels of bicycle grime DO wash out of my pink pants.

6. Describe something I enjoyed from this lesson.

    I enjoyed the part where it wasn't raining or super windy or freezing cold or sweltering hot...

7. Describe something from this lesson I would like to learn more about.

    I would like to learn if it would have been quicker to just walk home?  Theory: yeah.

8. Describe something from this lesson I would like to change

    I would like to change the part where I went to my favorite bike shop the day after fixing the flat because my wheel was wobbly. I went to the bike shop thinking something might be awry with my rim? The maintenance tech took some air out of the tire, sprayed all around my rim with soapy water, then re-inflated the tire, and everything popped smoothly into place like a piglet burrowing in to nurse with Mom pig.

I would like to change that part to... I found a one-minute youtube video explaining how easy it is to fix a wobbly tire with some soapy water, so I never embarrassed myself with my ineptitude at the bike shop.

9. I used to think _________, but now I know ____________

I used to think that the bike shop close to where I got the flat was a cheesy shop, but now I know it is.

Got a lesson to share? Got an exit ticket?

girl you know it's true

I got a sponsored ad on my f@cebook feed for these running shoes. Their claim to fame is that they're "the first" running shoe designed specifically for women. I kind of doubted that claim, and after reading the story, I think Under Armour is really splitting hairs. 

I dunno, I'm skeptical, but have not put a pair on my particular feet, so  guess they can advertise all they want. But my takeaway from the article was a (admittedly, rather immature) giggle at the name of the shoe: Flow Synchronicity.

Flow

Synchronicity

I imagine the marketing minds brainstorming away. What to name a shoe JUST for women? Ooh, let's throw together some menstrual connotations!  FLOW! SYNCHRONICITY!

I won't comment on the colorway, but here they are. Period sneakers. For women. Of course.

Okay, onto another subject. The second week of August '22 is in the books. With that, Magnum and I passed the 32-year mark on wedded bliss. A couple of kids back then. 

According to the internet (which didn't truly exist for the masses back then), it was the same year the Berlin Wall came down, Operation Desert Shield began, the Hubble Space Telescope sent its first photos from space, "Twin Peaks" premiered, and Milli Vanilli was stripped of their Grammy after it was revealed that they did not sing on their award-winning album. 

Alas, I was such a Milli Vanilli fan. Blame it on the rain.

They don't make fake bands like they used to. 

can't hurry love

 

The internet's telling me that it's raining off and on in my location. The internet's wrong. 

Looks hot and sunny to me. Ask my weather watchers

Actually, I don't think these two give a hoot about the weather, they're just being nosey regarding the neighbors.  Karen patrol.

Somebody's gotta do it.

And actually, these pics aren't very current because currently we're housing Chaco's dog along with our menagerie.

Chaco's dog and our cat are not a good mix, so are kept separated. The cat is not pleased, but Ella the pooch seems all too enthusiastic about the substitution.


So yeah, as shown, exciting times around here.


Pooch Penny is absent from window patrol as she doesn't give a hoot about any of it.

This was actually quite a busy week for me in addition to the pet duties. At the college, we're gearing up for the start of the fall semester. Our newest coworker, Sangria, is pleasant to work with but a bit slow on getting up to line speed. My usual schedule has been shifted while training her, but starting this coming week, I'm happily going back to my previous, more preferred, schedule. Sangria's out of training camp whether she likes it or not.

I've got a couple of nice, personable high schoolers I've been tutoring over the summer. School starts for them next week, so that will create more schedule shifting for me.  In the meantime, word got out, teasingly, at the college that I'm a "weirdo who likes math". 

This lead to recruitment of me into the college supported tutoring department, so now I have two part-time college jobs, each in separate departments, for HR to deal with.  It's state funded, so pay remains skimpy, but I do enjoy it well enough.  It is nice to have two income streams from one location - trickling streams though they be.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linking up with Mama Kat for the prompt:

3. Write a blog post inspired by the word: slow

weekend wrap and stuff

Mid August approaches - tutor kids going back to school, college kids moving back into town. The end-of-summer flux is upon us. I'm thankful that Meego has completed his move from the college rental to the post-college rental. U-hauls and such in this college town are extremely hard to come by this time of year.

We got together with all the kids last weekend for a little celebration of Wolfgang's birthday. It was the first time the whole brood's been together since Meego's graduation in May.  Part of that is because of the family's COVID infiltration, and part is because of fun trips and such.  Peaks and valleys, all good in the end.

In other accomplishments this week, I put new tires and new handlebar tape on Violet. Ain't she pretty?

The tires were no big deal, but I've actually never changed bar tape before and was honestly a little anxious about mucking it up. 

I decided I'd procrastinated long enough as the old tape was getting yuckier by the week.

Turns out, it's not rocket science.

And since I brought up the bicycle accessorizing, I'll give mention to the "nice rack" I got for Daisy, the commuter. 

My minimalistic ways make me reluctant to have a bunch of packs and racks and hacks hanging off my bicycles, but I had to admit that a simple cargo rack could be handy.


So now, Daisy's got back

Magnum and I recently finished a 3-season series on Hulu: Mr Inbetween. Seen it? I thought it very well done. It's violent, though. And often dark. But also heartfelt and funny. 

We watched the movie, Faults on Amazon prime video this weekend - also worthwhile IMHO and a bit twisty trippy. 

Then we watched Everything Beautiful is Far Away, which gets a "nope" from me. I think it was supposed to be whimsical and show the importance of human relationships, but to me, it felt like a show for little kids... by little kids. Admittedly, I did nod off a few times while watching, but I think I got the gist of it, and my review stands. 

And so another week ends as another begins. I have not heard anything further regarding the hoaxy emailer that stirred up all that trouble for area colleges on Friday. Hopefully the semester will start off mellow and stay that way.

test anxiety

I was scheduled to be at work this morning, but that's not to be. The campus is closed as a result of a "threat" that came down yesterday. 

I went in to work yesterday morning, approached the door to my building, and *ca-chunk* - door was locked. Slightly confused, I walked around to a different entrance, and *ca-chunk* - same result. I stood there pondering for a second, in my head thinking, 

"slacker security hasn't unlocked the doors yet??"

As I was thinking this, Margaret, head of security, came roaring around the corner atop her ATV. 

"The campus is on lockout because of a threat in the area. I'll let you in, but you can't leave the building until we get the all clear, which has not yet come in"

Okay, now that was more like the campus security I know and love. Naturally, she gave no other details.

My boss was already inside, and shortly after my arrival, my two coworkers followed. Nobody knew anything, it was a strange situation all morning. Security told us that no students were allowed in, but most of the people we serve are not students. Boss went to the front doors to play bouncer, and we got all of our morning non-students in while making calls to students with appointments regarding the need to reschedule. 

Honestly, I expected the whole thing to be resolved during morning hours, but instead, security announced that everything was shutting down at noon, plus we'd be closed on Saturday. Boss's boss came around to tell us the need to clear out by noon, and we're all, "But we have people here in the middle of tests (that they paid good money for, and prepared for, etc. etc.)"

So my two coworkers, Kat and Sangria, left.  Meanwhile, Boss and I stuck around, making tedious phone calls and clipping loose ends as the last tester finished.

This alert was posted at the top of the college website:

We chuckled a bit at the juxtaposition of "Fall 2022 Registration Now Open!" Uhm...

Anyway, according to follow-up reports, it was a hoax? Someone sent a threatening email to the college using someone else's email account and name - "doxxing", I learned a new word. Stupid prank?

Police found and spoke with the owner of the email, who didn't know anything about anything, as far as we know. 

Okay, so I want to know, who is the idiot who actually sent the email?

Oh, and did I mention? Fall Registration is Now Open!

how God made me

Last week, we got notices in the mail that both our car registrations were coming up due. My Toyota, due end of August, and the Honda due... end of JULY? B...but, it IS the end of July. 

In our county, we're required to pass an emissions test every two years, and this year is one of those years. So I couldn't just go online and pay the registrations, I had to take the cars in for testing. 

I'd gone to the DMV website and learned that there's a one-month grace period from the expiration date, so no big deal. But compliant person I am, I wanted to check these tasks off the list. Visiting emission testing websites wasn't promising - long waits because of understaffing, etc. It's hot out, blah blah.

I was off from work yesterday and had one tutor session scheduled for the afternoon. I went to the gym in the morning, came home and walked a dog. I checked the emission tester website, and it didn't look too busy, so I quick jumped in the Honda to get while the getting was good.

I hadn't showered and my hair looked it. I was wearing an old t-shirt and dog walking shorts. I basically rolled into the emissions place looking like I'd just rolled out of bed, but maybe slightly worse. And I was fine with that, I wasn't there to do a runway show, the employees there process several cars a day and certainly don't pay attention to the drivers, whom they will likely not see again.

It was quick and efficient, I paid the man then went home and got the Honda registered anew. BAM!

I met a tutor student later in the afternoon. Our session was on the way to the emission place, so afterwards, I decided to take the Toyota. If the line was horribly long, I'd turn around and save it for another day. 

The line wasn't bad at all. The place really does do an impressive job of maximizing throughput - a reason I wasn't concerned about my slovenly appearance earlier in the day. No one pays attention to the drivers.

But this time, I was cleaned up, dressed for public consumption, and my hair was as good as it was gonna get; thus I was completely transformed from my early morning rollout version. I pulled in, and the initial screener was the same from the morning and gave no indication of recognizing me. Same with the emissions attendant who directed me to the waiting area.

After my car's test was completed, the cashier hailed me over, and I approached like any other anonymous driver in a full day of anonymous drivers.

"Hey, you're back!", he welcomed.

Well, shoot. So much for primping.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Linking up this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:
4. Share something you learned in July.

in search of

"He's somebody you should get to know... It's worth it"

I've been following news coverage of the search for a missing young man in the Colorado wilderness. He's been missing for over two weeks now, so it doesn't look like there'll be a happy ending. He went out for a trail run and never came back. His car and phone have been found, but no sign of him.

Other than this blog, I don't really participate in social media. I have accounts on f4cebook, 1nstagram, P!nterest, R3ddit, but mostly just lurk. Never been a tweeter.

I have an app - Strava - I use for tracking running and bicycling. It sort of counts as social media too, and some use it for following, commenting, and giving likes or "kudos", but I just use it for tracking. Often with news stories like this for the missing person, I'll find the person on Strava, and such is the case here with Daniel Lamthach.

It's eerie to see such an active log that abruptly drops to nothing, knowing that teams are out searching for him. Seems he was in the area working as a volunteer for a mountain ultrarun, and he himself is an ultrarunner. He clearly has many friends who share his love of the mountains, and from his shown activity on Strava, he is certainly fit and experienced enough to handle the conditions. But that's not to say things can't go wrong. 

Monsoon season has kicked in here, and while we welcome the cooling rains, it's understandably hampered the search efforts. We had a true downpour here last Wednesday night into Thursday -causing some flooding and generally soaking everything.

I went for a run in the morning and had to go up and over this underpass

But at least it wasn't as crazy as this other underpass a little further down the path.

Might have been okay with a kickboard.

But it was a nice welcome change to be out and about in the quiet drizzle of the morning. I appreciate the people out working to find Daniel and hope his family and friends have answers soon.