I forgot it was Valentine’s until a coworker made a comment on chat this morning lol. We don’t do anything to celebrate. We used to go out to dinner but everything here is so crowded and slow. I think H is going to pick up a couple candy apples from Rocky Mountain as a treat tonight and I’m looking forward to that.
Post by RoxMonster on Feb 10, 2024 14:51:23 GMT -5
I probably don't have a good answer because what we do is sit in chairs right by the pool (it's the one area that is shaded and I need shade), throw a towel over our bag and we can see it from where we are floating around in the pool. I guess someone could snatch it and take off running, but at least we'd see who it was who took it? LOL
The pool we frequent does have lockers for a nominal fee so that would be my other option.
Post by RoxMonster on Feb 10, 2024 10:50:47 GMT -5
I’m getting my hair done now. We may check out a new bar/restaurant place for lunch. I’m also thinking of driving about 30 min to my favorite coffee shop in a nearby town. They bring their truck to the farmers markets every Sat in the summer and I really miss getting an iced latte from Them. They have the best coffee drinks.
For the U.S. version, I do like that this season is all reality stars vs. season 1 that had half celebs and half regular people. I just felt like it was a bit odd doing it that way.
I moved here for college and then ended up getting a job in the area after graduation. A year later, H (then boyfriend) moved to be here with me and we've stayed ever since.
I had been super involved with the local Democrats chapter and served as a precinct committee person. But H and I didn't agree with the way some things were happening and being run by certain individuals so we stepped down from that a couple years ago. Now I just volunteer with campaigns directly that I support if I want to phone bank or canvass, etc.
Otherwise, I am honestly not much of a club person. I am very introverted and don't like to schedule a lot of my free time or have obligations of places I have to be. I tend to volunteer for one-off events when I feel pulled to do so.
Trying to get back out in the land of the living after being sick for 11 days. Still not 100%( have an annoying cough hanging on and some head congestion) but feeling better than I was.
We’re picking up an ottoman we ordered last month, taking a short walk outside since it’s actually sunny and somewhat mild, and then going out for lunch.
My team goes in one day a week, every Tuesday. I am OK with it, but would love to be full-time remote. At least we do plan a bunch of in-person meetings on those days (though we do have some permanently remote people and on any given week, usually at least one person is sick or has a sick family member to care for or has a contractor coming over or etc. etc. and is therefore remote) so even in-person meetings have someone on Teams.
I absolutely love WFH. It has been such a huge improvement in my life. I like wearing comfortable clothes and sitting in a chair that is comfortable for me. I like being able to be home with my elderly dog. I like not being "on" all day around co-workers, especially when a big portion of my job is independent work and I'm just working in PPT or spreadsheets on my own. I hope I never have to go back to a job that is on-site five days a week. I don't think I could or would want to do it. I hope my team never has to go in more than one day a week as is.
I ended up only reading two books in January. I had a couple DNFs and got in a bit of a slump, then got really sick and felt like just laying around watching TV.
My favorite book (out of the two I read) was First Lie Wins. I really enjoyed it.
I am going to dive into another book this weekend - just downloaded today as one of the February First Reads on Amazon. A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey. It sounds intriguing.
I would drive, but I am not a fan of flying and wouldn’t personally even consider it unless the drive was like 6+ hours. We just had a two-day quarterly planning meeting at work and everyone within a 4-hour or so radius drove. Those further afield flew. Not saying you have to drive but just sharing what my company does.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 30, 2024 18:31:49 GMT -5
Former (HS) teacher. We sometimes viewed videos or read books that had cuss words in them. Depending on the grade level it was, I would sometimes give parents a heads up. Sometimes (if I was teaching seniors especially in a college-level class), I would not.
I do think the teacher should have given a heads up especially because this is middle school. I don't love her response to you.
But to address a couple of the other comments here: In general I don't think it's bad to assign something that has some select swear words. Yes, there are probably readings or other materials that cover those concepts without swearing. But in a day and age of "engaging" kids in the classroom and trying to make it relatable and interesting for them, I might opt for an engaging and interesting podcast with 3-4 swear words rather than an article only that would be less engaging. Of course I would take into account the age (obviously would have a different decision if it was 1st graders) and if it was saying "fuck" like every sentence, I would opt out of it. But let's say it was 3-4 swear words over a 45 min podcast that was otherwise really engaging and had great info? I would, WITH a heads up to parents.
I also don't personally find it hypocritical to read or view something for class with swear words but not allow kids to say them in the classroom. Different situations entirely and I would and have had that conversation with kids. "We are going to listen to a podcast that has a couple swear words in it. These podcasters are adults who are making a podcast and can say what they want; I find a lot of value in the content, so we are going to listen anyhow; however, that doesn't mean that as a student in a classroom it is OK to use this language. It is not." The same goes for reading. I mean, Shakespeare's plays are full of sexual jokes, puns, and innuendos, yet I would not allow students to start making sexual jokes in my classroom. I guess I don't see studying one as allowing the other?
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 29, 2024 14:57:47 GMT -5
I hike alone a lot but day hikes shorter than 3-4 miles usually. I don’t live in bear country and we don’t have many animal predators here. The worst I’ve encountered once is a wild Turkey that followed me for a bit lol.
I don’t take anything like bear spray or mace. I do have a first aid kid in my day pack. Also everywhere I hike alone around here has cell reception so I take my phone. If I didn’t have reliable coverage or my hike was longer, I would get something like a Garmin InReach.
The #1 thing I do if hiking solo is tell H where I’m hiking and ideally what trail(s) as well if I know. I text when I start my hike and text when I’m back at my car. If he doesn’t hear from me in a reasonable amount of time for that distance, then he knows something might be wrong.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 28, 2024 11:31:23 GMT -5
I’m super particular about going out certain places to the point I will (and have) turned down invitations to go with people besides my H.
An example: Our local minor league baseball games. I like sitting on the first base line, towards the back and I HAVE to sit on an aisle. But the seats are in the sun for the first inning or so of the game, which is hot in summer, so we grab food and go stand at one of the pub tables in the shade until the seats are shaded. Then because our games are (sadly) not super well-attended, I may end up moving slightly to different seats (in our same price grouping) because I’m fat and some seats have more room than others so if our assigned seats are too tight, we’ll move back a row.
Good friends of ours have asked us to go to a game with them but we come up with an excuse not to because there’s no way they would want to do that whole routine lol. And I’m worried I’ll get stuck in a seat that’s too small.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 27, 2024 16:13:44 GMT -5
We’ve really enjoyed watching all the different seasons/iterations of Traitors on Peacock. Season 2 of the American version is airing now but we have to wait to watch weekly.
We just finished Fool Me Once and it was good.
I just started Shrinking.
Also have been rewatching (for about the 50th time) Gilmore Girls while sick this week.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 26, 2024 16:20:28 GMT -5
I never get fajita veggies so I am not sure on that. But I had to respond because H just picked us up lunch from Chipotle today and they ran out of white rice and had to make more.
A bunch of people were standing around waiting because all they had said was “We’re making more.” H said he asked about how long this would take and they were like “About 30-45 minutes.” The other people waiting got pissed. I feel like that is a time period that should have been communicated to the people waiting on it lol. Like if I’m told “Oh we’re out of X but making more,” I’m going to assume the wait is like 5 min not 45!
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 24, 2024 11:32:09 GMT -5
Still testing negative for Covid but only on day 3 of symptoms so I will probably re-test again tomorrow or Friday as well. My symptoms feel almost exactly like when I had Covid the last time. I had a low-grade fever and chills last night. That is gone now after taking Tylenol. My smell and taste are dulled (totally lost them last time).
H is still healthy so far, fingers crossed. I hate not being able to breathe out my nose and the feeling of head/ears being plugged. We have unlimited sick time at work, so I did take the day off (even though I WFH anyway and had no meetings today because I cleared my calendar for an event I was supposed to attend). I figure it'll be best to totally rest and not feel like I have to be working on stuff or keeping up with Teams/email.
When I talked about having 3 days in office/off-site this week for events….just kidding! Woke up sick today. Sore throat, congestion, sinus pressure. Testing for Covid later though it may be too early to show up if it is. So I had to back out of all my events.
Really hoping this is a run of the mill head cold and not Covid. It sucked last time. I’m so annoyed because in the winter, I barely leave the house. Went out for lunch this weekend and boom! Sick.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 22, 2024 10:14:37 GMT -5
Everything here is a sheet of ice and most everything shut down (schools, trash collection, city busses, etc). I’m supposed to work in office tomorrow so we’ll see how the roads are.
I also have a two-day offsite event Wed/Thurs. I haven’t worked outside my home since Dec 5 and am not ready for wearing a real bra and hard pants all day for 3 days this week lol.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 21, 2024 12:05:11 GMT -5
All I know so far is veggie beef soup tonight and leftovers tomorrow night. And Wed. night, I have a work happy hour/dinner thing so I'll be having BBQ and H will fend for himself.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 21, 2024 12:03:09 GMT -5
We did our mall walk this morning and it was enjoyable! I think that's something we'll continue on weekend mornings during the winter until we can walk outside again. Then we went out for breakfast, I showered and am now curled up with my coffee while H gets our crockpot meal going. I actually feel motivated today and I really think it's because the sun is out. It's still cold AF but the sun truly helps my mood so much.
I want to get the rest of our finished basement cleaned up today and stuff boxed up to donate, I want to do some dusting in our living room and paint my nails. Also having a robot vacuum on our first floor has been a game-changer. We run him every day when we go upstairs to work and he is done by lunchtime. It has helped to keep up with dog hair so much.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 20, 2024 18:36:02 GMT -5
We went to lunch at a tea room and it was delightful. The baked potato soup was amazing! (The rest of my tiers were good too). Tonight we're trying a new pizza place for takeout and watching that American Nightmare doc on Netflix.
I am getting so antsy not being able to walk outside with the cold, snow, and ice, so I think we're going to go walk at the mall tomorrow AM at like 8:00 with all the older folks lol. And then maybe have brunch after.
Post by RoxMonster on Jan 19, 2024 11:12:08 GMT -5
More snow, more cold. Blah.
I do have one plan for this weekend, the first in weeks lol. We are headed to a tea room for lunch tomorrow in a neighboring town. I feel like I haven’t worn real clothes in so long!
I am procrastinating paperwork shit I don’t want to do but need to in order to move my TRS (teacher pension) and 403b money to my job’s 401k. I know it is going to be a huge PITA dealing with them especially my 403b company. I’m just dreading it. But our financial advisor said getting into the 401k is most beneficial.