Lovely Day

It was Truth and Reconciliation Day here today. This is a new federal stat holiday to observe Orange Shirt Day which honors those Indigenous people who have been after by residential schools.

I really feel like I observed it yesterday as we had an assembly about it, talked about it, read about it and did art about it with the kids yesterday. I have to admit it was nice to have a slower day today!

I was awake way earlier than I expected, though it was still a sleep in from my regular time. I put the time to good use and got my bathroom cleaned, my floors swept, vacuumed and mopped and my living room tidied.

At that point it was time to leave for my run. It wasn’t a great run:(. It was pouring rain, like bucketing down, I ran too fast and my legs were tired from my workout yesterday so I took way too many breaks and my watch lost GPS signal so my fast speed wasn’t even recorded. Needless to say I was happy to be done with the hilly park and to go for tea!

I dropped Dennis off and then had lunch and tidied a bit more. It was then time to sit down and read while I waited for Brenda to arrive for knit group. I decided to take advantage of my extra day off and fill it with my favourite things- running, reading and knitting.

I have been reading a series called Lighter Ones by Aleatha Romig. Just like the series title implies these are fluffy and low angst, which I am appreciating right now. I am on the third in the series and the second was definitely better than the first, but for a light, fluffy read that’s a little spicy I would recommend them.

Brenda arrived and I had a goal to finish my sample knit today. I only had the last ribbed border to go. I got five rows in and then moved to my nephew’s Musselburgh hat as I’m trying to get that done too. Unfortunately the brambles section of the sample knit just kept not looking right. I am knitting the Solstice Rose Cowl by Justin’s Lorkowska. I ripped it back to the garter ridge before the brambles after Brenda went home and reknit it. I’m not sure it looks any better, but that’s how it’s staying. Maybe I’m too easy going about mistakes to be a sample knitter😥

I am back to where I was this morning and have the last ribbed border to go and an I-cord bind off, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I will also take my Musselburgh back to school with me and try to get a bit more done. I am on the last colour!

I have enjoyed this slower day of all my favourite things and just hope tomorrow goes smoothly and quickly as I have something fun to look forward to on Saturday!!

Have fun!

AJ

Trivia Tuesday

It was another busy day! It’s days like this that lead to my super quiet weekends.

Work was fine. We printed the letter i and did a graph about favourite ice cream flavour. I was the only caramel lover.

I got the children started on an orange shirt day activity about how they should feel at school but then had to go to a meeting about the reading and math assessments. It actually wasn’t too bad to be able to sit down and drink a cup of tea mix way through the morning, especially since I had been on recess supervision.

This afternoon we did planners (which are thankfully starting to go better), silent reading and then the kids went off to music.

I figured out a TOC for tomorrow and worked on setting up FreshGrade. It didn’t feel like a very productive prep.

When I left for school this morning I was going to go for a run after school, but of course when I was leaving school that was the last thing I felt like doing. Thankfully when I texted Sarah she was up for a run so I got out for a 4.5km. It was beautiful and sunny so obviously it was meant to be!

It was a quick shower and then off to trivia. We unfortunately didn’t have Jason tonight as he really carries our team, especially in sports!

What did Tom Hanks name his volleyball in Castaway?

Wilson

Who did Germany invade first in World War II?

Poland

The music round was really tough. It went one word titles, two word titles, etc, all the way up to five word titles. I knew Fishin in the Dark by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and God Only Knows by The Beach Boys, but that’s it.

Kahoot we managed fifth place. I knew JK Rowling was one answer, but I’m sorry I just don’t remember the others.

In the final round I knew that Montreal is on the St.Lawrence River.

I didn’t stay to hear the answers for the last round, sorry

Have fun!

AJ

SAL Update

Wow you don’t realize how fast three weeks can go until you have to have something to show for it.

This project sat for at least eleven years on a shelf and wasn’t even looked at. While I sometimes feel like I don’t make much progress in three weeks, I looked back the other day to my first update and realized the project has come a long way in the year and a half I’ve been participating. I’m glad for any progress I get done!

I have done a few bouts of stitching in the past three weeks. Here is where I was last time:

And here is where I am this time:

I am working on the second upper corner of the window. I am a little more motivated now that I have decided that this will become a project bag and I have already bought a new project for next year😳. I had better get a move on!

Make sure you check out what everyone else is working on as the projects are very diverse, but all gorgeous!

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

ProD Day

I think the best part of ProD days is that I get to do a bonus run that’s not before dawn!

I started this a few years ago and really love starting ProD with a run. This morning it was just around the park and back. It was interesting though who I met. At 6am there are usually about 13 people- one dog walker and the rest runners, but at 7am there were 26 people only two of whom were running and the rest were dog walkers. I do wonder what I would find at 8am.

ProD wasn’t very exciting. I spent most of the morning sitting in the library listening. Our principal brought in Mexican food for lunch and it was nice enough for us all to be outside in the sunshine eating together. The afternoon was my time to work on what I wanted to do and I had a very long list, but all I wanted to do was nap:(. I got one board changed, some reading on a new program done and some YouTube videos watched about it, but nothing compared to what I wanted to get done.

When I got home I started knitting but quickly realized I was just too tired so I had a nap and then went back to knitting. I have almost finished my sweater sleeve, but am thinking I want to rip it back because it is much wider than what I like. Yes I’m almost done, but there’s no sense finishing a sleeve I’m not happy with. 😖😖😖

I may need to leave it and get my sample knit done first as that has a deadline:(

Well I’m off to bed to read for a bit.

Have fun!

AJ

Trivia Tuesday

It was another busy day!

I went to bed last night at 8pm which explains why there was no post and slept right through until 6:30 this morning. I am always tired right now:(

On Tuesdays I have made it my goal to dress a little more upscale. Today I wore a nice pair of heeled black loafers. Well when I slipped my feet out of them at lunch- my students noticed there was black stuff all over my feet. I guess the inside of my shoes are disintegrating. Anyone know how to stop this from happening?

It was a busy day of printing, creating an Al About Me poster and graphing our eye colour. This afternoon my students had music which is both good and bad. It’s good because they leave at 2pm and I have the rest of the time to prep but it’s bad because the music teacher was super late bringing them out to the front patio for dismissal and doesn’t follow the same protocol I do. Again, I’m not sure how I’m going to solve this problem as I have explained how I dismiss the kids and where…🙄

I did get out for a run with Dennis today. It was really tough as my legs were sore from my workout on Saturday and Monday. No more taking a week off- it’s too hard to get back into it! Dennis made me run faster than I usually do though so that’s good!

We have just heard that run clinic will be starting back up at the end of October so if I get a spot in that, I’ll have to give up trivia.

For tonight though, I got to go to trivia.

Where did Dorothy want to go when she wanted to go home in Wizard of Oz?

Kansas

Which Harry Potter professors were in Love Actually?

Severus Snape and Sybil Trelawney

What does ICYMI mean?

In case you missed it

What means get something for something in legalese?

Quid pro quo

Who was performing when the first floss dance was performed?

Katy Perry

We actually won the first round and came third in the second music round.

We died in the Kahoot round:(

In the last round we seemed to know a lot.

Which character played the piano in Peanuts?

Schroeder

Who played the matriarch in Knives Out?

Jamie Lee Curtis

Who has won the most men’s world soccer games?

Brazil

What is Johnson and Johnson releasing in various skin tones?

Bandaids

What country is known for Jerk Chicken?

Jamaica

What lake is Kelowna on?

Okanagan

Who is the best known scientist from BC?

David Suzuki

Update: we actually had a perfect paper for the last round as well!

Ok I’m off to bed, have fun!

AJ

Better Get Moving!

That title seem to be the story of my life lately.

I didn’t run this morning as I didn’t get to bed as early as usual last night. I am thinking it makes sense to take Wednesday as my rest day while I am doing trivia Tuesday night.

I went to work early this morning so that I could get the planners labeled and organized and the printing books labeled and put together. I then sat down with my teaching buddy to get the journals ready. We then had a busy day. We got through graphing the number of letters in our name this morning but I couldn’t figure out why I had time left over. It’s because I have completely forgotten about modeling calendar the last few days!😳 ugh I hope the next two days is enough!

After recess we read a Dr. Seuss book on birthdays and filled in the birthday chart. We then went outside and did a physical graph with the other grade 1/2 class. We will have to do the actual paper graph tomorrow.

Finally this afternoon we tackled planners for the first time! It didn’t go too badly. We then had our first assembly in about two years. The kids didn’t do too badly. We had a person from ICBC and our police liaison officer in to talk to the children about safety. Hopefully we will continue to have assemblies this year as I think it’s important for the kids.

After school I got the extra books ready and the songs and poems books ready. i feel as though I’m a hamster on a wheel that has sped up and someone just flooded the cage too. Ugh. I hope I get to the bottom of the to-do list soon.

Since coming home I have knitted about an inch on my current sweater. I really want to finish it so that I can wear it! I also got a message saying that the yarn is on the way for the sample knit I agreed to do. I guess I’d better get moving on all the other knits I have on the needles right now. The email did get me to put down the sweater and take out my Vancouver socks and get going on them. I need to get one projects accomplished here soon!

I have also made some zucchini muffins to take to work tomorrow. It only used a cup of zucchini though:( I really need to find a recipe that uses a ton of zucchini at one time as I still have a half of this huge zucchini left!

Well I’m going to get myself organized for my early morning and get to bed.

Have fun!

AJ

Trivia Tuesday

It was another super busy day.

I got up for my 6am run and the best that can be said is that it got done. It was interesting to see what leaving two minutes later than usual affected. It was weird to see people at the “wrong” time. Lol

Work was fine though I feel really discombobulated! We got through the book Chrysanthemum and a name sheet this morning, then we tackled more supplies organization after recess. In the afternoon we did silent reading and then they headed off to music class. I was so excited to be able to have my prep in my classroom! I got the drawing books organized and the printing books copied and a writing sheet for after our assembly tomorrow. It is very weird to think that these kids have never been to an assembly before. We can’t have the whole school at one time, but it’s the closest we have come in a few years.

I had a massage after school so that got me out of work really quickly after work. I did a lot of self care I guess as I also had a nap after the massage.

I also got a chance to watch the new KnittyNatty podcast and split for the sleeves on my current sweater.

I did finally get my butt over to trivia. It was my first time having to show my vaccine passport, but it went fine.

In the first round I felt like I knew a good amount.

What movie is Cobra Kai a spin-off of?

The Karate Kid

What is the name of the donkey who is a football star in the 1976 Disney movie?

Gus

What sport has shooting and skiing?

Biathlon

Who makes Ritz crackers?

Christie

How much money do you get for going past Go in Monopoly?

$200

What fossil fuel is gas made from?

Petroleum

The music round was pretty cool because the song names went in alphabetical order, A-Z with no X.

We really didn’t do great at Kahoot- 6th for the round.

I was so excited in the last round to see th question-

Who are the two main characters in Pride and Prejudice?

Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy

Well I’m off to bed, have fun!

AJ

Exhausted

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I have been dropping into bed very early and going straight to sleep. I think tonight will be the same.

I survived the first week of school and finally got my class list after school on Friday. It was a little tough because I’ve had these kids most of the week but couldn’t tell them they were mine. I did lose one kid to the 2/3, but will have a new boy joining the class in October.

I did manage to stick with a run each morning this week, but have to admit not much else happened.

Saturday was a little busy. It started with a run and then coffee at which two of my old running buddies showed up. It was so great to see and catch up with them!

I then went straight to the fabric store. I was trying to support local and did find a few things, but also was frustrated with how their fabric was displayed. It was tough to see, especially the shelves that were over my head! I still need to go the other fabric store as they didn’t have zippers or interfacing. I didn’t let myself look at all the kits they had, but maybe in the future.

I then carried on to a local yarn store that had brought in some mohair for me. It turned out not to be the right shade of purple and I actually managed to leave the store with nothing!

The rest of the day was spent knitting and watching knitting podcasts.

Today I got my grocery shopping done early and got some hamburger stew made up. The recipe is from NourishMoveLove and hopefully it will be good as I will be eating it all week!

I had a nap this afternoon, but have once again spent the day reading and knitting. I’m hoping I’m rejuvenated for the week ahead!

Have fun!

AJ

Trivia Tuesday

Today was the first day of reality.

It drove me nuts today as I sat around. We can’t do much until we know who is in our class but we won’t know that for a few more days so most of today was spent organizing my centers and starting to go through my books. It felt like a waste of time!

Then I ate a chocolate my principal gave me and got sick:(. It was dark chocolate and I checked the website, but obviously it had dairy in it somewhere:(

Trivia was fun!

In the first round:

Who was the star of Magic Mike?

Channing Tatum

Who was a high scorer for the Canucks?

Bure, Burrows, Smyl

What does Mari Kondo say something has to spark?

Joy

What are the four railroads in Monopoly?

Reading, B&O, Shortline, Pennsylvania

Which singer was the first to get to a million followers on Tik Tok?

BTS

The music round was tough

In the Kahoot round I hit the wrong button and we went from 2nd to 8th. I felt so bad!!! We did rebound to 4th, it i still felt bad

In the fourth round:

Who played Hawkeye Pierce in Mash?

Alan Alda

What football team has the flight crew as cheerleaders?

Jets

Who has won the most Olympic gold medals in swimming?

Michael Phelps

What club is for the top two percent smartest people?

Mensa

What type of twins are from two eggs?

Fraternal

What state is known as the Sunshine State?

Florida

Well I need to hightail it to bed now!

Have fun!

AJ

The End:(

I can’t believe I am down to my final hours of holidays! It’s been good so I can’t be sad and I need to go back to getting a paycheck!

I started the day with a run around Mundy Park with Sarah and Dennis. It was a nice run and the hills didn’t feel as tough as they usually do which was a bonus. Kula had the chance to be off leash and was loving it! I think he would vote for this park for every run if he got a say!

He kept racing between Sarah and I and Dennis who was ahead.

After tea I came home and immediately did my workout. It was tough to make myself, but I knew I had to do it!

I then got my house dusted, laundry all put away, another sweater on the blocking a tank top sewed, my stash updated on ravelry and some knitting done. So I will call it a successful day.

I wanted to get a tank top done as I would like to spend more time sewing this year. Plus I want to make more project bags but had to finish up the projects I already have. I thought this was my last tank top, but I think I actually have material for one more. I had made the tank top up yesterday but ran into trouble with the binding being too long so ripped it out but then waited until today to resew. I am happy with it and think it will make a nice outfit with my green pants.

For knitting I am trying something different this month. I am usually a monogamous knitter on one project but over the past two days I have cast on two pairs of socks, a sweater, a toque and have plans to cast in a shawl tomorrow. I will see if I like being able to go between projects. I am loving the sweater so far so may end up being monogamous with that anyways. I also will be able to work on the vanilla socks and toque a lot tomorrow I think as I have to sit through two meetings.

I finally gave in and made my lunch for tomorrow and planned out my day. It’s going to be a busy one!

Well when I planned out everything I needed to do tonight and worked backwards for timing I realized I had to start it all at 6:40 so I guess I had better go.

Have fun!

AJ