Long Day

Today, I was due to be a floating substitute teacher. I was a little apprehensive, as my biggest nightmare, having to teach sixth grade math ,was looming on the sidelines. Haha!

I was going to work sixth grade, but as soon as they were going to give me the key to the room, in walks the teacher’s aide. The front office was still happy, though. They asked if I could work kindergarten, and, after a major internal sigh of relief, happily accepted the assignment.

I had worked kindergarten before, but this was the first time I taught the class alone. It was as fulfilling as this past Friday and my sixth grade English class. With the exception of one student, I have never had such good students for five year olds. They were, indeed, youngsters, but very well behaved. From first to eighth period, they were happily working their assignments.

Talk about feeling good about your work! I sure did.

We had a good day.

Neighbors

One of the perks of living here is the proximity to wildlife.

Sure, skunks are not fun. Kasia and I have experienced it. Funny that we always ( Kasia and Momma) seem to be de-skunking at 12 midnight.

The birds down here are marvelous. I have never seen the variety I see every day here. Sure there are seagulls, vultures, turkey vultures, bald eagles, robins, to say the least. The ones that have me chuckling the most are the two in the picture in this blog.

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard 🦆 have been down here every spring for the last few years. My neighbor across the street has a small pond in front of it. As we are down here living, I take a picture and send it to the property owner. Once I do that I ask him jokingly if he is collecting rent! The male and female are always together. Usually, in a bit of time, the proof of their affection can be seen, as the babies stroll around. It really is a heart-warming scene. The drake and mallard family seem always be happy, and as part of shore life, they pack up and fly away after vacation.

The ducks are the best of neighbors. It makes you thankful that the environment here enables them to nest for awhile. Their only problem?

……flying away with a pound of fudge and salt water taffy, as all vacationers take with them.

Charles at 70

I am watching ” Charles at 70.”

The program, on PBS, I caught as a history major who always loved British history and British royalty. I have to admit I was always an admirer of Diana, Princess ofWales. I still find it hard to see Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, on screen as Charles’wife.

Oh well.

The documentary featured the Prince of Wales on his various engagements through the year that has past, as this November past was his 70th birthday…it followed him from islands in the far Pacific, Scotland for representing his principal charity, the Prince of Wales Trust, interviewing at his home regarding his stand on environmental issues and global warming, and finally at Buckingham Palace.

It’s a rarity to see royalty on PBS. The last show I caught was on the Queen’s crowns and jewels she wore at her coronation. After this show on Charles, I assume they’ll have more coming out for us.

I’ll be staying tuned.

The Kasia-girl

My girl, aka Hobbles McGee, is hurting.

Did you hear a noise? As I typed that line, my heart sunk a little. She officially is a senior citizen. She has arthritis.

She has been hobbling on the right side, and the vet said her elbow is inflamed and her lower spine is too. I really felt bad when the vet says to me she’s going to do ” senior” bloodwork on her.

Senior? My baby?

Now Zush had arthritis, but she left us at 15 1/2. Kasia isn’t there yet. Both my girls had glucosamine daily. Today, Kasia got canine fish oil added to it. It feels like yesterday she was just a baby. I savor every moment with the Kas. Here’s hoping she feels better soon.

Back in the Saddle

I had a job today.

I am a substitute teacher, majoring in grammar school….lol

It is a pleasure to be working with people who talk to you, are respectful of co-workers, and a school where children don’t have to be told to clean up after themselves.

The highlight today was a sixth grade English class. Students always try, in my experience, to get away with stuff, and this class was no exception. It only took one request and the class went to work. They had to write an essay on who they look up to.

Sure, some students weren’t too happy with the topic, and were going to put only one sentence on the paper. I reminded them that it was intended for completed essays to be collected and displayed in the hall. How embarrassing would it be to submit a one lined paper. In short, we exchanged ideas back and forth. By the end of the period, I collected fifteen completed essays, all completed.

Talk about a sense of accomplishment for the entire class, and also. I was thanked from the students for my instruction.

We had a good day.

Skyscraper

We were going to go out to dinner tonight.

We stayed home instead.

We had a 1/2 chicken that we shared, carefully measuring our veggies and strawberries for a treat. It beat trying to figure menu calories and carbs when we go out and makes us go nuts.

So we turned it into date night and a movie. Not the most romantic of movies. We found “Skyscraper” on cable. With Neve Campbell and starring Dwayne Johnson, this was a movie that I never would have watched when I was younger.A massive skyscraper on fire? People, and focus on a family caught in violent circumstances? Shooting, terrorists, bombs,… not my cup of tea. I watched it with Jim and, with the wisdom of an almost sixty year old, I marveled on how they filmed it, stunt work, the complexity of the sets….in short, the movie didn’t bother me. When I realized it, I realized how funny it was to have ” wisdom for the ages”, as it were.

I would call it a perk.

Wait,…no….Weight

Say hello to my little friend…… my calorie guide.

I have been working, according to the dietician’s rules, trying hard to watch carbs while working between 1200-1500 calories.

It’s been working. The hardest point ? Fish!!!! I went into this, as they say ” not a fan.” I have come to like mahi-mahi. That’s about it. Perhaps I will come to gladly appreciate it more. It is hard, being a shellfish fan, but I am willing to keep trying. This change will be for the better; this I know. I’d like to be able to enjoy my retirement in better health.

So I am lighter, as of this writing. The trick is being able to keep it off.

Stay tuned!

A bunch of thoughts

With. The weather going on in the west and Midwest, my prayers are going out to those in Colorado and Nebraska,as they seem to be worst hit. I am praying for Sue and Denny, her husband. They are in Colorado.

Here’s my new Cup I am rocking thanks to my bud Juls: waiting to get a talllskinny vanilla latte in there as a treat, again, with thanks to Juls.In the mean while, it’s pneumonia weather, as my mother would say. Beautiful today, downstorms tomorrow.At least for now the sun is out.

Medical Cha-Cha

Well, we had two medical appointments last week, I had one today, and Jim and I have two tomorrow.

I have always been on top of my health, but I have to admit, as I stare at 60 , God willing, in 9 months, I notice that a lot of folks my age or even younger are passing away.I know when it’s your time, it’s your time and understand that.

It’s just when you catch those ages, well, it’s a little close for comfort.

view of beach during golden hour — Photo by Nuno Campos on Pexels.com

So I am going to be patient, wait for results, and I am going to keep putting one foot in front of another. Life is short.

The Perfect Storm

Sitting on my rocker after a good day of exercise and healthy eating and what comes on my BBC America-THE PERFECT STORM.

It is a real life true tale, with**spoiler alert, if for some reason you never saw it**a sad ending. As usual, George Clooney is easy on the eyes, but the actors are all spectacular, IMHO.

For a depressing kind of film, I appreciate it ,because, especially living here , you have enormous respect for the Coast Guard and all the first responders, because living close to water can be scary at times. It’s comforting to know there are people on the job. Also, we see the fishermen bringing in their catch a lot. A very hazardous job, I feel, who work it are deeply under appreciated.

Next time you are out eating fish or seafood, think of the guys who caught it for you.

They need to be appreciated!