Walking and Driving

Posted on October 15, 2018 by TheJessicaness

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Q&A: How much time do you spend commuting? About 20 minutes each way, which equates to roughly 12 hours a month. I average 17.5 minutes on each walk with Sparky, at least once a day will be nine hours in four weeks. It takes me about 8.5 minutes to run a mile and I do that for about 2.25 hours every 30 days. I consistently get eight hours of sleep a night or make up for it in naps, 248 hours. I get paid to work for 68 hours a month and put in another ten grading papers, doing data entry, and prepping for events, etc.

This leaves me 371 hours to shop for food, prep meals, and eat them; take hot showers and wash clothes in cold water; blog nightly; practice Spanish; read a book… and do what else as after that leaves about nine hours of free time a day and I’m signing up to take more classes next semester. I will remember this season when I am bogged down with what seems like an endless amount of homework and studying and that we are all given the same amount of time every day. It’s what we do with it that counts.

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Today’s free time was spent sleeping in (40 minutes), getting gas, cleaning the yard (40 minutes), eating avocado on cookies, stapling 200 fundraising packets for tomorrow, grading 47 exercise logs of three weeks for 7th graders, sending work emails, watching the neighbor’s kids at swim practice and dropping the girls to soccer practice (two hours), walking the dog with Caleb (18 minutes), packing cookies for National Boss (coworker and nice teacher) Day, and paying the credit card.

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Over Use Often Under

Posted on October 14, 2018 by TheJessicaness

Q&A: What expression do you overuse? Aww, in different tones and lengths.

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shadow, shadow on the wall…

I woke up early, after dreaming about cars and school (where I spend a majority of my time), and sat on the couch to read about reading. I was cozy enough that we left 30 minutes late for the gym and thought we had to leave early to help a friend.

Caleb ran while I dilly-dallied with the other gym equipment. I was going to do abs when the neighbor called and said we weren’t needed, but Caleb was already at the car, so we went home and I napped before breakfast.

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the tire doesn’t get up when shaken… like Piggy used to

It was totally worth it for the last two slices of sourdough cut in half, the lonely banana on the shelf, the remnants of garam masala peanut butter, three scoops of smashed avocado, and one egg to split on my lightly toasted bread.

Feeling full and refreshed, it was time for Sparky’s morning walk. With that done, another hour and a half passed before we decided to drive to Balboa Park for the House of Spain Lawn Program — paella for the peasants and a dance show for all.

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bagpipes in Balboa

Paella originated in Valencia, Spain and consisted of rabbit, chicken, snails, green and white beans on a bed of bomba rice with a crusty bottom layer called socarrat. It was eaten from the pan with each person having their own wooden spoon.

We watched the flamenco dancing and the tres niñas was my favorite. We brought Sparky and this little girl asked to pet him and then kids descended upon his body and he climbed on Caleb to save him from the little hands.

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What does the smart car say? Read!

Caleb felt like baking when we got home, so he made ginger-molasses, oatmeal raisin, and almond butter cookies. If I don’t eat them all by Tuesday, I can bring some for the guys when I drop off supplies for work.

Our last cookie dish broke so we had to buy another one tonight and it came in a two-pack which is a good thing because we need both. Now to start reading the book I was sent via email over two weeks ago, so I can give the author feedback.

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Patented Patience

Posted on October 13, 2018 by TheJessicaness

Q&A: You have no patience for: assholes.

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aww, to sleep over the ocean

Caleb and I ran over two miles together and then stretched. Caleb made omelettes for breakfast while I showered and then waited for my boss to call with an update.

He called at 10:48 and let me know that I’ve got the week off (hopefully at the most) and a paycheck to pick up when I drop off the supplies for Tuesday’s event, the Kids Heart Challenge, that I was organizing.

I had a banana-pumpkin-chocolate chip muffin for lunch. It was super filling and the chocolate overwhelmed the other flavors. Caleb finished the omelette; it was large.

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look at that seed, just look at it

We had plans to go to this Polish event at a church in Pacific Beach and were both excited about getting a plate/bowl/container of perogies from the source, but the asshole in line and the setting inside with $15 dumplings made us change our minds.

We parked a half mile from the beach and walked to the pier. We would’ve done the boardwalk, but it was difficult enough dodging the crowds on electric scooters.

The same could be said for the amount of weed being smoked and selfies being taken (phones have taken over schools, restaurants, concerts, and streets). But perhaps that’s just me, so I went home and napped for 45 minutes.

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not hipster if they’re free

We walked around with Fallon looking for her kid’s phone only to find him sitting out front when we returned — she sent him back out.

Fallon didn’t want her avocados, so I cut those up for toast topping as Caleb heated up leftovers and added Tango Chile Sauce, made with a carrot base. Dessert, part of a pumpkin spice protein cookie, because it’s fall.

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Farmer’s Friday

Posted on October 12, 2018 by TheJessicaness

Q&A: One word for today. Free

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I didn’t sleep much last night, so I tried a nap this morning before going to work early. I got to watch the kindergarteners practice for tonight’s Latin Heritage performance and help decorate before being called back into the principal’s office.

She let me know that a child accused me of poking them in the spinal cord during lunch and another of throwing away food he didn’t want. Since I’m contracted to the school and don’t work for her directly, I’m not allowed on campus during the investigation.

Luckily I caught my boss on the way out and gave him the heads up. He said he’d get to the bottom of it and let me know. I still had to go pick up the donation of toothbrushes, so I did that and thought I’d go paddle boarding. I got changed and opened the garage.

I tried putting the board in and thought I broke my rearview mirror. I laid the seat down and took out the headrests. I flipped it over and tried again, but no luck. So I put on a dress instead and walked down to the beach for two hours to stare at the sun.

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I talked with a woman about her broken knee cap and watched the weekly market setup. Caleb beat me home and we went into our backyard chair to talk and nap before I got cold from the breeze and came inside.

We went to the store with a friend and looked for leeks while we were there — no luck. Back home and I take a power nap while I wait for my boss to call with news. Dad is great at being supportive through this drama, and his wife is a big help too!

I message boss and coworker (to apologize for leaving without saying bye) and get a response that the former will call me tomorrow (classic school issues) and that the latter misses me and hopes I come back soon.

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Dad loves hearing about all the veggies I eat. Tonight was sriracha tofu on sourdough with avocado, tomato, and onion. I suppose I could’ve added an egg, some brie, or peanut butter of course, but I had a chocolate-coconut-almond cookie for dessert.

Family outing to the beach and the neighbor at the end of the street asked how our other dog was. They are sad she’s gone, but agree it was for the better. It’s easy to walk Sparky past other dogs when he can’t see them and I shorten his leash past all the people.

The sky was more beautiful than I thought it might be because it looked cloudy (which can really spread colors), but the sunset was still an hour away when we left, so we watched it through the trees when we got home. Time for cuddles, cocoa, and chapters.

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Wonderful Headache

Posted on October 11, 2018 by TheJessicaness

Q&A: What makes you feel wonderful? Love, appreciation, curiosity, kindness

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neighbor’s tree fell into the street

Woke up this morning to an intense headache, so I skipped the gym and hopped in the bathtub to relax. With my head still pounding I had some leftover biscuits and got to work early to pass out the Box Tops fundraiser sheets (and got put in charge!!) and be on time for my 10:30 meeting with the principal about the email I sent out.

She shows up to her office ten minutes late and invites me in. I’m excited to have an idea pow-wow and Caleb helped me go over talking points last night, so we can start to make positive changes for the kids and their community. Well, that was all shattered when she changed her tone and said she had two points to make.

First, I will not send out emails to the staff without running them by her — because the teacher hadn’t approved of the cupcakes and thought the parent was a liar but it turns out that the principal allowed them when it goes against the state mandate. She doesn’t want to get called out in front of the staff, but now they know.

Secondly, a kid told their mom that I told them to tie jump ropes together and then said something mean to them when I told them to untie it. We never let the kids tie the jump ropes to their shoelaces, hula hoops, the fence, each other, etc., because then we have to cut them off or throw away the damaged property and everyone loses.

I left her office feeling negative and quickly messaged Caleb in the hallway so I could get back to my duties without affecting the children. We started the third graders outside and were trying to have fun, but two boys were fighting and I was having trouble separating them. Another boy was harassing another one and wouldn’t leave him alone.

So we took them all inside for some quiet self-reflection so that the good kids didn’t have to deal with all the interruptions, but they miss out on the lessons. Growing up this is something I would’ve never realized the teachers went through, and I apologize for it now, but it’s obviously too late, as it will be when these kids realize it too.

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when there’s more than one Sebastian

I confiscated a few things at lunch today, but wasn’t able to reach the pop-tarts in time. I remember when I used to eat those, but that was my breakfast, not one of my snacks. I released the kids to recess after they helped clean up their tables and got on the highway to drive to the next school, Stephen Hawking, to teach the seventh graders.

We did some Halloween theme exercises, a bunch of jumping jacks, and walking lunges. I thought we’d try a few Fortnite dances, but only some of the boys play the game and were enthusiastic about it. Went inside to build a folder of notes and start on their smart goals before going back outside for kickball. I was the pitcher.

My boss let me know that he’d talk to the principal on my behalf, and for the teachers against the junk food on campus, to find out what our stance should be in the future if she’s all about bulk delivery while we (mostly me) are super passionate about spreading the opposite message and told me to keep up the good work.

I called my dad to let him know that I wasn’t completely fired, but had stepped on toes as I’m wont to do anywhere I go, but that I will follow the chain of command (or leave the principal out of future emails). I will leave the politics to the people in charge and continue to enjoy my days teaching kids how to play.

I shared the news when I got home (no surprises there) and then got to cut up and mash all but five of the avocados we were gifted and have that with dinner. Dessert will be a slice of brie and a cup of mushroom cocoa while Caleb walks the dog. Today was a bit stressful, but that’s mostly the headache talking.

I don’t wake up excited for the paycheck or the principal. I do this for the hugs, smiles, and high fives from the kids when they learn something new, eat all their veggies, or do a random act of kindness. I enjoy inspiring the kids to be curious, be active, and be brave in all things they choose to do. I do this so I can play and learn too.

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