I stopped at the gas station on my way home from trivia, and the minute I stepped out of the van, I heard my name. It was too dark to see across the parking lot, but they unrolled their windows and waved frantically. It was two of my students. 😄 Have I mentioned that I love my job? BECAUSE I DO.

The kids are with their dad tonight, so I ordered Doordash and I'm bouncing between physics homework- it's as bad as it sounds- and reading. The quiet is blissful, and I am determined to get through this college class without relying (too much) on @javajoe.boo, who is a physics genius. (I am not.)

We are studying cellular energy in biology, and a big part of that is photosynthesis. Yesterday, we did stomata peels, which my kids dubbed "Leaf Manicures" and... well... I tried to make my stomata look less... female ...so I gave the guard cells hats, and- oops!- turned them into penises. 🤦🏼

Say you teach at a high school without saying you teach at a high school. (And now tell me what this means, because if I have to hear it 12,000 times a day, I want to at least know why it's so funny.) (Is it because they're dumb? It's probably because they're dumb... BLESS THEIR HEARTS.)

Happy to report that I have spent my PT Conf comp day reading, and I will most certainly finish a *checks notes* FULL BOOK before the day is over. RIF* *For those of you who didn't attend school in the early 80s, that stands for 'Reading Is Fundamental'.

After 2 nights of Parent-Teacher Conferences (and 12-hour work days), and 4 more conferences this afternoon, I am finding it extremely difficult to leave my comfy bed and face the day. I now have 15 minutes to shower and get ready for school. Someone is going to be late today. 🤷🏼

I was at the Oddities and Curiosities Expo this afternoon, when someone came up behind me and asked, "Are you Kemi_Kemi_Kemi?" It was SO fun to meet you, @cloves.bsky.social! I'm really glad you stopped me to say hello! ❤️

Ever since I saw one in the movie Tangled, I have wanted to experience a lantern festival. I FINALLY got a chance, and it was every bit as magical as I had hoped. 🥰✨ Thank you, @javajoe.boo, for joining me on another adventure. My life is better because I get to do it with you. ❤️

We said goodbye to my parents' house today. 🥲 The grandkids wanted to have one final Easter egg hunt in the backyard, so we spent the morning hiding and seeking, sharing childhood memories, and gorging on pizza. Then we took one last picture on the front step. I'm going to miss that house. 😭

Happiness is having a Joe in your life. 🥰 That's it-- that's the whole Skeet.

Today's questionable student interaction: T: A lot of your clothes have patterns on them. Why is that? Me: ...What? Um, because I'm not boring? T: It's a lot of patterns, Kemi. Not gonna lie. Me: Well, they are adult clothes. T: SO... MANY... PATTERNS... The shirt being scrutinized:

I decorated for fall (my favorite season) before I left school on Friday, and one of my students walked into class today and said, "It's decorated like White Lady Autumn™️ in here!" and I wasn't sure how to respond, so I just lifted my iced pumpkin chai from Dutch Bros in salute and smiled. 🍂❤️🍁❤️🍂

@javajoe.boo and I had lunch at a cozy little Chinese place today. He didn't grab a fortune cookie on the way out, so I offered to share my fortune with him. He laughed and said, "I'll only claim it if it's good. If it's bad, it can be all yours." (Gee, thanks.) 😄 Turns out, it was perfect. 🥰

Fun night with @javajoe.boo celebrating a friend's birthday. He bought me a fancy rocking camp chair and we enjoyed a bonfire, bat-watching, stargazing, and the end of Derry Girls/beginning of Wednesday, Season 2. Everyone should have a Joe. ❤️(But I call dibs on this specific one.)

Day 2 of the long weekend included the final day of Mom and Dad's house clean-out (you guys, we have been working on this for OVER A YEAR!!!), a meeting with the realtor, a nap, dinner with @javajoe.boo, and a Derry Girls marathon. What a wonderful life. 🥰

There is no better way to kick off a long weekend than by taking a drive through the canyon (the leaves are starting to change colors!), eating dinner at a fancy restaurant in Park City, and seeing the collection of a new (to us) artist in a bougie Main Street gallery. Thank you, @javajoe.boo. ❤️

I love it when students leave notes on my board. 🥰

When she was no longer able to read herself, I read to my mom, right up until she died. We probably read 2-3 dozen books together. We were about 40 pages away from finishing our last book when she died, and I have had it in my van for nearly a year, waiting for the opportunity to finish it

I was an active church member for 48 years, and only stopped going about 3 years ago. Can anyone explain how I am caught SO off guard when I see the parking lot full of cars on a Sunday morning? Why do I ask myself, "Now what's happening there?" as if that wasn't also what I did for 5 decades. 🙄🤦🏼

In staff meeting this morning, our principal brought us treats to celebrate a wildly successful first week of school. Did I really eat ice cream at 10:15 AM? YOU BETCHA! I love my job. 🥰

You've been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who's coming to save you?

Slightly diminish a band: Mild Alarm! at the Disco They have mediocre hopes.

My first contract day for the new school year is tomorrow. I have to set my alarm again. 👎🏼 This summer was full of fun adventures, and I'm not quite ready to let it go. 😭 Thank goodness we have new adventures to look forward to. Thanks for this dreamy life, @javajoe.boo. 🥰

The One Vaccine to Rule Them All™️ (How is this man in charge?) 🤦🏼

I ran into one of my students at Sonic just a few minutes ago. He barely said two words in class, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear his actual voice and-- even better-- to have a conversation with him. I love my job. I've missed my students. (Still not ready to be back at school on the 11th.)

The school and district emails are increasing in frequency, even though my first contract day is Aug. 7. I will have to think about next year soon enough. For now, I'm going to sleep in and have lazy days with my kids and enjoy the last few weeks of our summer.

My brain: We're running out of summer, and there's so much you still need to do! Come on! Let's do all the things! My body: Taking a nap is a thing. Let's do that. Brain: 😶 Body: 😴 Brain: Fine, but I'll create the most unhinged dreams imaginable. You won't feel rested. Body: You're the worst.

All by myself tonight- sad 😞- so I stopped by the library. I returned two books and came home with twelve. 🤦🏼 (Don't ask me how many books are already checked out to my card. Just don't.) That's book math for you, and it might not make computational sense, but I feel a *tiny* bit better.

Happiness is spending a week in a beautiful city on a beautiful campus, growing your career and building professional connections. It's catching lizards and measuring stream velocity and building (and flooding!) tiny communities on an erosion table to simulate geological (in)stability.

Okay, can someone explain why Geosciences got their own building THIRTEEN YEARS EARLIER than the rest of the sciences (who, I'm assuming, are all housed in the same place)?

First night in Cedar City did NOT disappoint. Gorgeous sunset, SUU Rotunda, and stargazing above the "C" overlook with the city below. It's going to be a good week. 😊

The book I'm currently reading is a historical fiction about the Spanish Flu epidemic/aftermath, and there are so many parallels to Covid, as well as the current state of our country.

Like, a REALLY good shot. 😎☀️⛱️📖

What do you do when you have to take a week-long teaching class at SUU? You take your favorite person along and turn it into a mini vacation. 🎉 Class/work during the day, and party all night! (Well, not all night, because we're old.) 😂

Happy. Happy, happy, happy. So much joy. Life is beautiful.

Happiness is post-trip reunions. 🥰 Welcome back. You were missed.

I really should be doing something productive with my day, but the kids are still asleep, the house is quiet, the windows are open, it's 53° outside, and my bed is just so deliciously cozy and warm. A nap, you say? Thank you, I will. 😁

It's proving to be more difficult than I expected, which makes me wonder if I'm doing it wrong. 🥴

Happiness is being able to communicate openly and authentically, and to be able to ask questions without fear of retribution, punishment, or weaponization. It's working together- both on the relationship and on ourselves- to create something sound. "I choose you. I choose us." I love to hear it. 🥰

Happiness is having a person and place to turn to when life gets turbulent, who doesn't get upset when you cry tears all over his new shirt, and who gives hugs so tight they eventually turn chaos into calm. Happiness is feeling safe and cared for. Happiness feels a lot like peace.

Venmo keeps encouraging me to spend my available balance as if it's a Scrooge-sized fortune of gold coins in a swimming pool. Know how much it really is? $0.01. Do I get excited by their emails and check my balance anyway, hoping it has changed (when I know full well it hasn't)? EVERY DAMN TIME.

My friend Shane is an extraordinarily talented photographer. I have purchased several of his prints. Will you throw him a vote?

I just watched a group of 6-8 birds playing in the gutter puddles left behind after the sprinklers did their thing. They were having so much fun! It was a joy to watch them. I guess it doesn't matter how old you are, or even what species you are-- if there's water, it's gotta be splashed in. 😄

I never thought I'd say it about a Tesla truck, but this one is pretty, and I'd TOTALLY drive it. (You know, if it was given to me. Not if I had to buy it.) Happy Pride month! 🏳️‍🌈

Happiness is a "just because" gift from someone who has taken the time to know and appreciate my interests, and, even though he doesn't love baseball the way I do, kindly suggested we take a road trip (or two) to visit a few ball parks in my newfound free time... plus portable projects. My heart. 🥰

Well, that's a wrap on this school year. 🎉 Aside from losing both parents, my first year back in the classroom went better than I could have ever imagined. I never thought I'd teach again, and definitely not science, but it turns out that high school biology is a WAY better fit than 5th grade. 😄

Happiness is when your favorite person shows up at your high school's graduation ceremony, not because he knows any of the students graduating, but because that's where you are. ❤️🥰

Graduation day! 🎓 I may not have any of my own children graduating this year, but 73 of my kids are going to walk across the stage tonight, and I couldn't be more proud. Teaching at an alt high school has its challenges, but the rewards are immeasurable. What an honor to be part of this legacy. 🥲

I spent the morning on the set of Galaxy Quest, looking for beryllium spheres and trying to avoid the locals. #GoblinValley

The sky is gray and cloudy. The rain sounds are soothing. The bed is cozy. The cat is warm. My book is entertaining. My tummy is full. No wonder I feel sleepy and unmotivated. It truly is a lazy Sunday, and it is nearly perfect. 🥰