I’m a teacher and have been back in the building since August.
H’s company didn’t renew their office space lease and are pretty much permanently remote now. They did get a much much smaller office that employees can use if they need an in-person meeting or to meet with a client or something, but otherwise, they’re all WFH now.
I know it's not for everyone, but listening to ASMR videos on YouTube helps me fall asleep every single time. I started listening to them at night prior to going to bed, while I was on the couch, to help calm my mind after the day and ease my anxiety. At the beginning of the pandemic, it was the only thing that could take my mind off all my anxiety about it.
Now they just make me fall asleep usually 5-10 min in.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 27, 2021 17:16:47 GMT -5
Yes, I always brush right beforehand. If I'm going from work, I bring my toothbrush to work and brush there, but I try to schedule first thing in the AM so I can avoid lugging my electric toothbrush to work.
I work at a school and yes, I’ve been back in my classroom full time since August. Even though students were remote until January, we were required to teach from our empty classrooms 🙄
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 20, 2021 17:56:08 GMT -5
It's been 8 years since we had a dog behaviorist come to our home, but I'm pretty sure she charged $70/session and each session was an hour at our home. She came every other Sunday for about 3 months right after we brought Rox home from the shelter.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 19, 2021 21:12:26 GMT -5
I completely understand the school shooting situation. I know as a teacher, I would also want to reach out to my H and loved ones if I am ever in that situation.
Just something to keep in mind - if heaven forbid you are ever in that situation, I would be hesitant unless you are sure your child always keeps their phone on silent. We are taught during our ALICE training to tell parents not to contact their children via text or call during a shooting because if the phone goes off while we are attempting to hide, it could alert the shooter to their location. I hate even typing this out. The whole thing makes me fucking sick. Every year we do our active shooter drill, I fight back tears as we listen to cops try to get into our locked classrooms and I look outside to see my students running outside with hands raised. I do not want to go off on a tangent about guns and shootings, but I did just want to offer up that tip we got from our training.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 19, 2021 20:06:22 GMT -5
We're also in the market for a new mattress. We are upgrading to a king. I think we have decided on a Verlo V7 mattress, but I personally like firm. However, they have a variety of types and they can also tweak it for you, even one side of the bed or the other, by making it firmer or softer. Adjustments in the first year of ownership are free.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 19, 2021 20:02:13 GMT -5
I do think this is a good, larger conversation to have as well that has been touched on here already. And when I describe what I see from some parents I am NOT directing that at the OP of this thread or anyone posting here.
I do think not texting/communicating with your kids for the duration of the school day or at least during class also just helps them learn how to be more self-sufficient and advocate on their own behalf in life situations. I have personally seen a student get upset at a paper grade they get back, they ask to go to the bathroom, and miraculously within 3 minutes of them returning to my room, I am getting an angry email from the mom. Hmm, I wonder what they did in the bathroom?! And the student never comes to talk to me themselves. I should probably also mention this happened in a senior level dual-credit class, so it is a college course. I always respond in situations like this by asking the parent to have their student come and discuss with me in person.
The first instinct especially as a senior enrolled in a college course shouldn't be to text Mom and have her yell at the teacher. It should be something the student sets up an appointment with the teacher and comes in to calmly discuss. I don't think phones are totally to blame, but I do think having that immediate line to Mom or Dad or whomever doesn't help. A young person gets angry or upset about something and can have a knee-jerk reaction to just have mom deal with it. If that wasn't an option, they may not be able to talk to Mom or Dad about this for 5 or 6 hours and either calmed down by then or just handled it themselves in the first place.
I do think there is a time and place for parents or guardians to step in in a school situation. But I think those are the exception and not the norm. For your run-of-the-mill unhappy about a grade, confused about what we're doing, etc. situation, students at least in middle school and up should start advocating for themselves to the teacher, and then if nothing improves, then the parents get involved. I can't honestly think of a single time my mom called or emailed any of my HS teachers, and I definitely had times I was unhappy about a grade or the teacher made a mistake or I was lost. And every time, I went in before or after school to talk about it with them.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 19, 2021 18:26:00 GMT -5
My HS doesn't allow phones in class - they are supposed to be kept in lockers. Please please don't text your children all day long. Since we had admin be tougher on phones, I have less issues with them, but of course kids still try bringing them into class and it usually parents texting them (I know this because they tell me, "But my mom's texting!") For something of an emergency nature, parents can call our front office, a secretary answers, calls my room and tells me to send the kid down to get the phone in the office. It takes less than 5 minutes, truly.
And yes, they do get breaks. They can be on their phones at their locker during passing periods, they can be on them during lunch, and let's be real honest here. Most bathroom breaks, which I don't regulate at all and they can go when they say they need to go, are also used as "phone breaks." They can be without it for a 45 minute class period. I am without mine as well. I personally know students who have gotten fired from local jobs for being caught on their phones one too many times. School is a great environment to learn when it isn't appropriate to be checking texts while not losing a job.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 18, 2021 15:46:42 GMT -5
We spent our honeymoon on Oahu. Though we stayed on Waikiki Beach, if I went back, I would probably find a house or something to rent on the North Shore. I absolutely loved the North Shore! Hale’iwa is a really cute town up there. There is the Turtle Bay Resort up there too. We loved hiking and beach going on the North Shore and eating at the shrimp trucks.
Other activities we did included hiking Diamond Head and visiting Pearl Harbor.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 18, 2021 15:17:25 GMT -5
I am a size 28 most of the time (sometimes a 26 and sometimes a 30) and I am having the damndest time finding either straight leg or bootcut jeans that fit well.
I have tried about every style at Lane Bryant. Every 28 full length Jean was too tight or the one pair that fit was incredibly wide on the bottoms. I just bought cropped pants and shorts from there in that size and a 26 that fit, so everything is very inconsistent. I ordered a pair of 28s from Old Navy that didn’t come close to buttoning.
Torrid in store only carries up to 24 and online was totally sold out of every Jean in my size. That’s another thing. Jeans everywhere are like blown out of stock. My LB in store barely had any in store that weren’t skinnies. And online many were sold out too.
I have crops, boyfriend jeans and shorts but am desperate for just regular, not destroyed medium or dark wash jeans. The only pair I have are worn out with a hole near the crotch. I would prefer a place that carries up to size 30 in case they run small.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 17, 2021 16:11:18 GMT -5
It was sunny and lovely earlier today so we went for a nice hike with the dog. Now it turned chilly and rainy. And speaking of snow from upthread, we are supposed to get accumulating snow Tuesday 😠
I think we’re doing a picnic lunch at the winery tomorrow. They have nice grounds with walking trails and a lagoon. I feel like I haven’t done anything new or different or fun in months! Definitely in a rut. Though we are both vaxxed the numbers here are bad so I am still sticking to outdoor stuff and this feels safe.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 12, 2021 18:27:01 GMT -5
It’s just H and me. Depending which brand it is and how big it is, we can sometimes do a frozen pizza and side salads for dinner. Sometimes it is not enough.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 11, 2021 21:22:44 GMT -5
No one is saying anyone is an asshole for considering their children in this huge decision. Of course you have to consider your kids.
I won’t speak for others but what rubbed me the wrong way was “She is old and has no dependents.”
ETA: And the "Let someone with fewer dependents donate." It's not just kids that make up a family, a life, and loved ones who depend on you, but that seems to be the implication there.
Maybe that goes through someone’s mind when deciding for themselves but not everything we think has to be verbalized and several people said they were hurt by the comments so at some point, it doesn’t really matter the intent. The way it was said was shitty. It doesn’t need to be defended.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 11, 2021 21:19:37 GMT -5
What kind of things do you like to do? Do you just want cities? Do you like nature and outdoor things?
I also have a July anniversary. We did a northern MI trip for it once. Traverse City, Leelanau Peninsula and Mackinac Island. It was a nice relaxed trip.
Milwaukee can be a fun place. Up north a ways in WI is Door County but not a “city atmosphere” though it is quite relaxing.
So basically because we don't have children we are not worthy. So so sad.
I only mentioned her lack of kids as a way of saying she had no close family members to donate to her. I know she has siblings and her parents are still alive but probably aren't eligible due to age. She has an active lifestyle, and quite honestly I want to be like her when I'm old! She travels a lot, is quite social and plays sports 4x a week. Not having kids does not diminishes anyone's value and wasn't even part of my consideration.
None of our comments regarding the lack of children were aimed at you! Nothing you said about this was offensive in the least. However there is another post that some of us have quoted where the poster DID basically say that if you don’t have dependents/kids, your life matters less in terms of saving someone’s life with a donated organ.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 11, 2021 13:40:25 GMT -5
I just got the SE last month. I didn’t care about the blood oxygen stuff. I really just wanted a way to glance at my messages throughout the day since I can’t have my phone out while I teach and an activity and step tracker.
I’ve had it about three weeks and I like it. I do think the exercise goal entices me to take a second walk and move more and I like seeing how many steps I’ve got. I also really like being able to easily read texts and emails throughout the day.
That’s really all I use it for but it still was worth it to me. I got mine at Best Buy.
I also bought a rose gold magnetic band since I didn’t like the one it. came with.
I would not even consider it for someone of that age when I have young kids. Maybe I am terrible after reading the other responses? I feel a strong need to prioritize my own health while I have young kids in my home. She is old and has no dependents. I hope someone does it for her, but I also hope it is someone that has fewer people counting on them.
And I feel like a horrible person saying this after the other responses.
I'm sorry, but this is rubbing me the wrong way. I don't feel that her life is any less valuable because she doesn't have dependents.
I feel the same way. I am choosing not to have kids. I still feel my life is just as valuable as those with kids.
I am NOT saying OP (or anyone) should feel obligated to donate a kidney in this situation or any situation. I don't know that I would due to concerns over my own health. But I also don't think we need to say out loud that we feel someone else's life is less valuable because "no one is counting on them." Yikes. Thanks. Great way to start my morning. Glad to know some people find my life less valuable due to not having children.
Post by RoxMonster on Apr 10, 2021 14:37:32 GMT -5
We ended up ordering a king bed today. Likely 3-4 months to come in which is to be expected right now. Now we just need to find a mattress we like. I am so exited to have a king bed!!
A few years ago I put blue highlights in my hair. I did love it, but I didn't like how they looked when they faded and it was a bitch to go back to non-blue highlights lol.
Otherwise, I don't change my look that often. I've really had the same hair cut since about 13 years ago. I like it, so why change it? I don't really care if it's "trendy" or not. I occasionally will switch up my hair - like maybe have auburn highlights put in or something. My makeup routine hasn't drastically changed.
For clothes, I just buy things I think look cute that fit me. And as a size 26/28, it's hard to find things that fit me at times, so I am a lot more limited, so I think that is partly why I don't really care if it's "trendy" or "too old." When you can walk in any store anywhere and find clothes in your size, those things are a lot easier to do. I don't have that luxury.
I miss wearing lipstick I was a huge lipstick fan, but with teaching in a mask 8 hours a day, I do not wear it because no one would see it and it would be annoying in a mask. I did wear it in the fall when I was only teaching online.
My favorite is the Revlon Colorstay Overtime because it does stay on ridiculously long, even when eating and drinking. I can't remember the exact name but my favorite shade is something about Black Cherry - it's like a berry color.
I just got a big Old Navy order in and a big Maurice's order in. Keeping everything in both! It was mainly casual tops that I could also wear to work - some short sleeve, some 3/4 and a couple long sleeve, plus a dress.
I ordered some jeans from Lane Bryant - I kept one pair of cropped boyfriend jeans but I am sending back the boot cuts because they are like straight up flare! I have boot cut jeans from LB that are not like that at all. They look so wide and sloppy at the bottoms.