saw your picture today

I was never a journaler, or a "dear diary"-er. Before blogging became a thing, I didn't really record anything, really. These days, I appreciate blogging because I can go back and look at stuff and/or retrieve dates of things. I mean, well, I sometimes go into a room and then wonder what I'd gone there for, so... I appreciate records.

With that, I visited blog posts of 2024, as we do, to summarize the year in pictures. I'll say it again, though. I'm not a big picture taker, so I'm sure other mundane things happened, but I'm lazy. 

January: I almost froze

February: I winter biked-to-work.. and almost froze

March: we got a Buc-ee's

April: I finally visited that cute little art supply store

May: we watched the resident corpse flower try to have sex

June: biked-to-work on my day off again

July: celebrated FIL's 90th 

August: celebrated another year of wifey-ness

September: bought a truck and started a facebook marketplace frenzy selling Mom's car

October: completed construction of the pot smoking screen porch

November: spent a lot of days cat sitting while Wolfgang made his 2024 highlight reel.

December: graced the nation's capitol with my presence

Here we go, 2025. Bring it.

Happy New Year!

in conclusion

Aren't blogs handy? Before blogging became a thing, I'd never journaled or kept a diary or any of that stuff. Who knows how much I've forgotten??

But with blogging, we can dip into the archives an unearth all kinds of boring things. Let's recap 2023 on this new year's eve, shall we?

January - learned about the formation of pornographic ice

February - noped out of winter bike-to-work

March - did my last Tortoise-and-Hare race for the '22/ '23 season

April - went geocaching, thinking to restart, never to geocache again for the remainder of the year.

May - involuntarily listened to a family fight while dining out on Mother's Day

June - yessed to summer bike-to-work

July - partied with step-father-in-law for his 90th birthday

August - encountered a man in a public bathroom, only to realize "he" was a bearded woman

September - became a scribe for a college math student with cerebral palsy

October - completed all but one of the 31 inktobers

November - completed another year of life on Earth

December - gonna go make some fried rice, I think

See ya next year!

mish mash

Late to the weekend mashup...

• Last week was a good mix of busy and relaxing as it started with a day off. Now that Labor Day has passed, it feels more like school time at the college. 

The interview process continues for our new boss position. We should know the selection shortly. Party Girl has been serving on the selection committee and sneaks little insights to us when Assistant Boss is out of hearing range. 

One candidate is apparently highly qualified to the point of being over qualified. Red flags include, will she just do the job for a few months before moving to a Dean position? My other concern is that she would have trouble working under our former boss who has been promoted one level above. Bottom line, Assistant Boss is still in the running but not in the bag.

• I scribed again for "Ben", this time for a full length unit exam. It's so hard to keep my mouth shut when he makes mistakes.
  
  
• A few months ago, Magnum and I ended our gym membership and got season recreation passes that give us access to various city amenities including gyms and pools. The season passes were a cheaper option than the gym we belonged to at the time. 

We started regularly going to the gym housed inside the city's Senior Center because its closest to where we live. It's a decent enough gym, but limited. Last week, I visited yet another gym - also close by. It's much better than our old gym and not much more expensive. Gonna switch. 

There, I now feel mashed enough to get on with the week. Off to work in a bit. 

I remember when blogs were "the new thing to do", and I read a few before starting my own way back in the old days. I read one that was a dude just blogging about day-to-day stuff he'd done during the week, and I thought, "why am I reading this?" but had to admit it was kind of relaxing.

And here we are.

keeping it classy

Rain is lightly falling outside my window. Birds are chirping. It sounds like those rainforest videos... in Colorado?  We've been getting a lot of rain this spring, and I'm not complaining. The weeds are taking over, but it's green foliage rather than brown dirt, so there we go. 

This week became somewhat busy. I guess with one day less in the work week, all else became concentrated. Summer classes started at the college on Tuesday, but testing has yet to be impacted much by that. 

On the tutor side of things, I've been getting requests from high schoolers, mostly from the east coast  (schools here are already on summer break) for final exam cramming. Yuck. They didn't learn the material well enough during the semester and also didn't learn that they can't cram it all into a 2-hour tutor sesh. 

Moving on. Boss has mostly moved to his new office at one of the other campuses. Yay! The vibes we're getting from the crew at  his new location are quite grumbly, not surprisingly. God help 'em. I'm quite interested to see how this is all going to play out over the next few months. In the meantime, Boss's non-presence at our office is delightful.  Omg, so much.

I plan to catch up on a few things this weekend, including blog reading, after the busy week. Personal blogs have given way to vlogs, tiktoks, etc. 

We bloggers are the Classics!

slowly closing in

We've made it to the last day of 2022. It's handy to have a blog so I'm able to dig around and see what just happened. 

Before ripping out the old calendar, I will summarize with an oh-so-exciting look back.

We did our first winter bike-to-work day. Cold day, but the coffee and sweet rolls were warm and worth it. Ran into Wolfgang for a win.

Meego graduated college. WHOOP!

Magnum and I took a trip to Taos, NM and stayed in an Earthship. Interesting structures, desolate landscape.

Summer bike-to-work day. *Note:  on neither of these bike-to-work days was I actually scheduled to work*

We did a family trip to Steamboat Springs, CO. I'd never been there before. Lovely place.

Other things I discovered in my archive dig:

• The entire family got COVID around the same time.
• I began tutoring for the college in addition to my part-time admin job and like it
• We attended our first Tour de Fat and first Tour de Corgi 🐶
• I completed *most of* Inktober '22
• I raced against the mayor on Thanksgiving day and won

Okay, enough of that business. Move on!

do you tell 'em?

Do you speak of it? Disclose? Open that can of worms?

Magnum and I were talking about "icebreaker" situations - like the opening of a workshop or a class - where everyone is prompted to "tell us one/ some of your hobbies".  Or maybe it's just while sitting in the chair at the salon, meeting new coworkers, etc.

I always feel kind of "uh boy" in those situations. Around here, there's a lot of outdoorsy stuff: hiking, skiing, biking, etc. and that's fine, but what about the non-physical-exertion stuff? 

Do you tell people that you have a blog? That you like to blog and read other blogs?

For me, oh heck no.

Thinking of what I've heard from others, aside from the outdoorsy stuff, there's gardening (yes, I know that's typically outdoors), maybe scrapbooking, knitting, reading (vague), gaming (not big with the crowd I'm usually asked to share with, other than maybe Candy Crush, whatever the hell that is...)

I don't recall anyone ever mentioning blogging or even journaling. Yet here we are.

Fact is, I feel kind of strange about mentioning that I have a blog to a real-life person. Maybe it's because I don't want to deal with the potential follow-up questions. Or I just don't want real-life acquaintances coming to visit!

Anyhoo, last week, Linda Sue asked, "From where do you blog?", so here goes.

When we first looked at this house as a potential rental, this room was unfinished - cold, neglected, with a naked cement floor - in the lower corner of the garden-level.  By the time we moved in, the landlords had, most likely, DIYed it into what could be counted as a bedroom. We rented, then eventually ended up buying the house.

The room has a small closet, decent enough carpeting, and an acoustic tile ceiling - minus one light panel that the cat took out, but that's another story.

Not really a she-shed, but most certainly not a man cave. It's more of a "She-Cave". My she-cave.

I hung some shelves, a corkboard, and a whiteboard and moved on in. The drawing table is only there when inktobering or similar, but I include it here for the photo shoot.

The room is rather small, and I'm currently unable to close the closet doors because of the closet's use for meaningful storage, but it's cozy enough and I like having the big window: overcast skies, snow falling.

That's it. My office. My studio. My she cave. 

Don't tell.

never ending story

Okay, lemme start by saying that I like my boss.  Real personable guy, friendly, helpful, cares about people... But omg, I'm here thinking up strategies for work later today.

Since it's summer semester, we've got some downtime and time to organize and converse.  On one of my first days on the job, Boss and I were talking and something regarding hockey came up.  He asked if I followed hockey.  

"Nope, not at all", I truthfully responded.

And THEN, he went on with this long monologue having to do with the college hockey team back in his home state and related tangents.  I swear it went on for hours but was probably more like 15 minutes.  

Yesterday, a similar thing happened.  One minute, one of my coworkers and I were discussing religion -an interesting topic - with Boss, but then hockey somehow entered the chat.  Boss then went on with yet another long drawn out story about the Russian hockey team and the 1980 Olympics, and oh. my. god.  Weren't we just talking about Jesus?

I tried to act like I was interested and listening, but I SO wanted to just turn away and do something - anything! - else.  My coworker who was in on the Jesus discussion did, in fact, turn away and do something else mid Russian hockey, leaving me stranded.  Was it because I listened to the whole story of the college hockey team that other time?  Am I the now the designated hockey audience??

As I said, I like Boss, and his talk of hockey has been a way to get to know him a little.  I enjoy conversing with people and learning about them through their interests, but these long monologues suck away bits of  my soul.  

I think that's why I like to read blogs.  They are a way for people to get their stories out, uninterrupted, and to connect with others with similar interests.  I can read them, latch on to parts that interest me, make and read others' comments... all on my own time.  

Is it just me?  I've found myself in similar situations with others who like to tell long stories without pause.  I like dialogue.  Monologue, not so much.  In fact, I would feel weird going on with a long story where I'm the only one talking, not stopping for thoughts or comments.  

I mean, I have a blog for blathering on, right?  I don't need to do it in real life.

Maybe I'll encourage Boss to start a blog, a hockey lovin' blog.  I'd read it.

No I wouldn't.

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Linking up this week with MamaKat for the prompt:

5. Pet Peeve time! Write about something that makes your blood boil.

Merry / Happy [state your holiday]!

Merry Christmas, blogpeople!  Thanks for stopping by.

I'm grateful for all of my blog friends and look forward to reading more about all of you in the coming new year.

I hope everyone is feeling the love and warm fuzzies.  I'll leave you with this strange floating-head graphic.

baring arms

"You're the first person to come in wearing short sleeves today"

This from Geej, the girl who gives my weekly allergy shots.

And I was all, "Well... yeah, I'm here for shots"

In fact I told her that I'd changed before going because it wasn't a day to be wearing short sleeves - the reason why everyone else who'd come in had to figure out ways to bare their upper arm(s).  I like to keep it simple and skip the disrobing.  Plus I'm strangely obedient when a medical person tells me to do something like, "wear short sleeves when you come in for shots".

But yeah, it's been cold and drizzly here all week.  We got snowed upon.  It's early for that stuff, so people are confused, and I got a gold star from the allergist's.

And speaking of prizes, looky what I won from Ann over at Annster's Domain!

Yup, Ann had a blog door prize of sorts to celebrate her 1000th blog post, and I won the Starbuck's Gift card!  What a treat!

For those who don't know Ann and her blog, it's always a fun place to visit with upbeat posts and good times.  Take a break from the &%*!^# news headlines and visit Annster's!

In other diversion news, I'm managing to keep my head above water for Inktober.  Here are thumbnails of the latest submissions:

I ordered some new pens and expect them to come in the mail today.  The ones I've been using for Inktober are on their last legs, I think, but I'm keeping the drive alive 💪and trying to put some ink on paper every day as I excitedly watch for the mailman.  Yeah, simple pleasures...

they don't write 'em like that anymore

Morgan is hosting an old school blogging activity, so I thought I'd play along.  Remember the old days when we'd answer getting-to-know-you blog prompts?  This one is Valentine's Day themed...


1. When you were in elementary school, how did you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Was it a big deal or not so much?

All us kids did the customary make-a-unique-"mailbox"-from-a-shoebox.  Then on Valentine's Day, we each brought those cheapo Valentines that came fifty or so to a box and delivered one for each kid's box.  Then we'd have a party and get all sugared up.

Recently, a friend told a story of how her youngest son didn't like having to write out all those Valentines for his classmates, felt it was too much like homework.  But when he opened  his box and saw all the Valentines made just for him, he had a complete change of heart.  Awwww.

2. What has been your favorite gift you have received on Valentine’s Day?

I got a card from a boyfriend several years ago.  I won't repeat here what it said on the inside 😉.  But it was a nice card.

3. Should Valentine’s Day even be celebrated?

Yeah, sure.

4. Do you like to send Valentine’s Day cards?

Well, I don't send them, but not necessarily because I don't like to.  They're just not something I'd send to friends or relatives.

5. Do you ever receive Valentine’s Day cards?

Uhm, nope.  

6. Do you think people spend too much on Valentine’s Day?

Yes, I heard recently that people spend an average of about $150 on VD.  That's way too much!

7. What is your favorite Valentine’s Day candy?

Russell Stover milk chocolate assortment, thanks for asking.

8. What is your favorite movie with a love story?

Braveheart

9. Do you believe in “love at first sight”?

Nah, not really.

10. Tell us about your first crush!

First grade.  His name was Frank, and I was still too young to worry whether he liked me too or not.  I declared my love/crush, and thankfully the feeling was reciprocated.  Whoever got to school first would wait at the playground fence until the other arrived.  Then we would give each other a huge hug and live happily ever after.  Until the next day, and it all started again.  Then we got old.  

11. Do you have a terrible dating story? Tell it!

Yes, my terrible dating story involves my high school boyfriend.  It was a terrible date because he was on it behind my back with someone other than me.  Other than that, no.

12. Favorite love song?

I'm currently feeling "No Air" by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.  But maybe it's because I have a cold and can't breathe.

13. Favorite Celebrity Couple?

I don't follow celebrities, but when I was a kid, I was a huge fan of Sonny and Cher

...and I wanted to be Cher when I grew up.  They broke up, and I'm not Cher. 


14. The best break up song…

"The Break Up Song", naturally.

15. If you had a perfect Valentine’s Day, what would you be doing?

Breathing.

shut UP

Last Monday, Memorial Day, we went for a little hike.

Meego, from the "Pulpit"

We got to the top of Pulpit Rock and noted the strong pot smell.  There's was no one else up there at the time, and I was poking around to see if someone had left a smoldering pipe or such.  But then looking down to the trees beneath the rocks, I spotted a hammocked individual.

Have portable hammock and pot stash, will hike and get  high.

Anyway, it was a nice short time in nature before threatening thunderclouds moved in.  But maybe the residual pot fumes made me lazy this week?  Blogging-wise, I've been a slacker!

I think maybe I'm a bit tired of talking about myself.  I remember getting this chatty cashier once at the grocery store who felt she needed to share her life story with me.  I was thinking, "I just want to pay for these groceries and get out.  This woman needs a blog!"

I've been looking around for a job and have had a few prospects.  As such, I've had to talk about myself either through just written applications or in a handful of actual interviews, and I've realized I don't really enjoy doing that at too much length.  I don't want to talk too much.  Maybe I should NOT blog to make me more chatty?

I did manage to get one actual offer this week, with two openings still in limbo.  What to do?

I decided a bird in the hand was worth the two in the bush and accepted an offer to work at a local high school as an assistant study hall teacher.  There are only a couple of local high schools I would care to work at, and this one is the top of the list.  The (distant) second one is Meego's school *snort*

Remember last marching band season?  Where an awesome-but-friendly high school band plucked the state championship trophy from the awesome-but-full-of-themselves band?  And everyone rejoiced?  Of course you do. Well, I get to work at the awesome-but-friendly trophy plucker school.

So I don't start working for another two months, but I do have a few summer tutees to help me feel productive until then.  The other two jobs in consideration were management type jobs, but this feels like a good fit right now.  Even Meego is happy I'll be at the awesome-friendly school, rival or no.

Magnum noted that I'll be "hitting for the other team", and I had to inform him that that expression means something else!

peaks and troughs

Ultradian rhythm.  That's a term I learned recently.  Because of it, your brain can only focus for 90 to 120 minutes before it needs a break.

I'd noticed that from observation. It's why I never have tutoring sessions that go longer than 2  hours.   You can almost see it.  Stuff just no longer goes "in", which is just as well, because the stuff I try to put in at that point is mostly garbage anyway.

One day last week, I had 3 tutees in a row, and one session was with the two kids I refer to as "the triplet twins" as they are 2/3 of a set of triplets.  So four students altogether, all for math.  I did have a decent break between the second and 3rd tutes, but still, by the end of the day, I was all

So feel free to use this information for a variety of situations:

"I was gonna ___________________ but my ultradian rhythm was in a trough"

I offer this as explanation for my neglectful blogging recently, as in, "I was gonna blog more last week, but my ultradian rhythm was in a trough"

It was a good week, though.  Yesterday, Meego and the gang had their winter percussion state chamionship competition.  It was cut throat, I tellya, and in the end, our group got...

First Place!  WOOOOOT!!  State Cham-PEENS!

Quite exciting, I'm very happy for those kids.  Last year, they didn't even make the finals.

I've got some short video of highlights from their championship performance.  I'll maybe post it later for those going, "what the hell's 'winter percussion'?"

...if I'm not in a trough.

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Linking up (late) with Mama Kat for the prompt:
1. Something you learned in March.

C is for celebrate!

Late last week, I heard about the A to Z challenge for the month of April.  It's where bloggers blog EVERY day except Sundays, working their way through the alphabet.  Morgan, for one, is doing it...

And I thought, "Oh, that sounds fun and worthwhile!" Then I thought of Marcy doing/attempting her picture-a-day for a year and decided I'd combine the two into my own little blog activity:  The A to Z Picture-a-Day for April!

Let's pause for a moment and note that today is April 4th, and this is my second post for the month.  I'm behind already.   I suppose I could just say, "APRIL FOOLS!"

First of all, I just heard of the A to Z, and I didn't read the instructions clearly - I thought we get whole weekends off.  So, WHATEVER!  I already failed.

But maybe I'll still play along, just might not make the whole alphabet.

Today, we got buried by a sloppy snowstorm.  Schools were shut down as were many other services. I was scheduled to tutor today, but the library was closed. Plus the student's a mom, and her elementary school kid was home.  Magnum even stayed and worked from home.

So I thought this would be a good day for blogging.  It was.  But it was also a good day to get caught up on planning stuff for work and finishing up some biz for P.E.O.  By the time I'd finished those things, I was tired of my computer, so for fun, I shoveled snow and cleaned a bathroom.








In short, I'm already failing at the A to Z Picture-a-Day for April challenge.  I did manage a photo for today.

It's Meego and the cat raucously celebrating the snow day.

What Happened?!

It's almost time to change the calendars.  I'm tired of hearing the people on the radio talk about all the famous people who died in 2016.  Yes, it's sad.  I get it.  Do we need to go through the list every day leading up the 2017? I think not.

Instead, I went through the archives to pick out some of my highlights.  Gotta love them archives:

Our 2016 started with a fun trip to Estes Park.

Dad's time on earth ended in February.  Not necessarily a highlight for me, but I'm hoping it was one for him.  He'd emphasized that he was ready, that he'd had a good life for nearly 92 years.

I miss him and Mom every day.

 I'm glad Meego enjoys extracurricularing in the high school band program.  If nothing else, it keeps him from wearing the same clothes all the time.

This year, I learned that I shouldn't donate blood, because it might kill somebody.  Oh well, I can take a hint.

Chaco graduated and has become a productive member of society (and he's off the parental dole, yay!)










Had a rip-roarin' good time at P.E.O. convention.  Looking forward to the next!

Third round of driving lessons...

Donald Trump made Wolfgang a news celebrity

A blog friend came to visit in real life!!

Followed by another one!!

We enjoyed a lovely morning of bloonz backdropped by the Peak











And I finally got around to climbing the Peak with Chaco.

A good marching band season...

...many more geocaches in the log...

                ...and grad program completion.
(no commencement ceremony for me, clipart it is)

Okay, 2017.  Bring It!

.