Sometimes on a whole teaching can feel discouraging and frustrating. But then I go out and get pizza and I happen to see some of those same students who yell my name from across the parking lot to say hi and it reminds me that I’m pretty lucky to be doing what I’m doing.

I got my family a 3d printer for Christmas. My middle son loves it and uses it a lot. He has decided to try to sell some things at a small fundraiser craft sale in a month and a half. Does any one have some suggestions of items that would be good for him to make and sell?

I’m getting over Covid and for the first time ever I have completely lost my sense of smell and taste. Like I can’t even get a whiff of a scent even when my nose is clear. Weirdly though, for a split second when blowing my nose, I get a very strong taste of whatever I’ve eaten most recently.

Heartbreaking. But those Canadian boys played so well. I’m so proud of them. So proud to be Canadian. #Olympics

Very on brand for an American to use his whiteness to escape accountability

5 on 3!!! This is our time!

If you voted to defund the CBC, you better get your ass back to bed. No hockey for you.

Ngl, the whole curling controversy feels like exactly what I deal with every day teaching junior high. On so many levels.

As someone who knows nothing of hockey rules, that call was annoying.

After watching the Olympics all morning, my cbc gem app had completely crashed.

No Kings includes Draft Kings

As someone who definitely always cries at Olympic opening ceremonies I don’t know why I thought I could watch these on my phone while at my son’s soccer practice.

I just had one of those wonderful nights where I could stay up and finish reading the book I was reading because I was so into it. But now I’m too wired to sleep.

It’s just a misunderstanding. See, they’re actually Bored of Peace.

When it’s a snow day and you put out your back trying to get the snow pants you need to go outside. You couldn’t even survive to get to shoveling. Why yes I am turning 40 this year. Why do you ask?

I stepped in to help coach our school’s soccer team this past year and I essentially managed to find my way into main coach territory. (I’m qualified to occasional assistant coach at best). But man. I can’t stop my coach voice as a spectator now at my sons’ games.

Strange question alert: is there a way to find out what beginning sequence of license plates are being issued in Nova Scotia right now? My son and I always look at and talk about license plates and were curious.

Only a few hours of wrapping and I’ve gone through an entire roll of tape already.

Has anyone seen actual real maple butter around Dartmouth or Cole Harbour? I don’t even know where I might start looking.

Ah, it's that time again...

Good mourning, fellow Jays fans. An extra hour to reflect on physics and fickle fate and then reset our hearts for hope, like love, is a muscle. #BlueJays

Heartbreaking. But what an incredible series.

9 more innings

This is soooo stressful!

RETALIATORY TARIFF TO THE SHIN

Um, did a hockey game just break out? #BlueJays

Do I… go to bed? I’m tired. But the game is still gaming…

The blue jays have made me get really comfortable falling asleep on the couch. It’s actually been very peaceful drifting off like that. But then I come to bed and I don’t go to real sleep for a while and that is not good.

You know, I don’t love how the Jays light blue uniform looks like they’re playing in their pjs.

I went to bed early. I was essentially asleep when my family started going to bed (and making noise). I woke up. Signed some permission forms. Went back to bed. Almost fell asleep but then, it was too late and I got hungry. Now it’s late and I’ve had enough cat naps to make me feel rested.

Banana ball is like my newest favourite entertainment.

Why do my students beg to see the seating plan and then get super mad about the seating plan? There are two options: you pick or I shuffle strategically. When I shuffle strategically, everyone has to be shuffled.

How’s my morning going? I couldn’t figure out why my hair wasn’t curling. I tried like 10 curls before realizing my curler wasn’t plugged in.

Hold up. How many syllables are in the name Charles?

I’m kind of obsessed with all the mushrooms around. It’s giving perfect early fall vibes I didn’t know I needed.

I am so tired and students haven’t even made it to school yet. I’ve been cleaning and setting up and rearranging at home and at school for like at least an entire week. My feet feel like they want to fall off and my eyes won’t stay open.

Sitting down at my computer to get some work done and noticing that over the summer my nails have gotten so long it is hard to type. As someone who is a nail biter (but has managed to mostly avoid it, especially when I put nail polish on,) this is a massive accomplishment!

We live near a walking path. My dog is the most social of us all and has plenty of friends who visit her. However, she sometimes barks when someone who doesn’t say hi to her walks by, when a teenage boy walks by, or when a bicycle goes by. I try to go outside and bring her in when she barks.

I’m pretty certain my sketchbook, pencils, watercolours, pens, and a picture of me with my dog as a kid have been lost forever. I’ve purchased a new sketchbook, brushes, a watercolour palette, and a few pens. But starting anew is hard.

It’s been a two walk morning. Dogs are so communicative. I took Callie out for a walk that ended up being very short because we ran into friends and walked back with them. Sometimes that’s enough for Callie but this morning it absolutely wasn’t and she made sure I knew it.

I spent the week in PEI with teenagers staying in a small camp cabin with 9 other people and minimal shower access. We were constantly in the son, constantly running around doing service projects. It was awesome! I am pooped. My eldest son came home and fell asleep in his clothes.

If you were writing a sub plan for the last full day of school for middle school students, what would you put on it? Because not giving anything feels cruel. But I know the kids won’t follow directions that are highly structured.

I’m sooooo proud of myself for figuring out how to be more efficient with my report card comments writing. I’m still pulling lots of late nighters but I think I can get them in on time finally! Ask me later if I regret drinking and Alani Nu energy drink at 11pm.

Apple is making itself even more annoying to me. And right when I need a new phone too. Every. Single. Time. I open my messages app it asks me to share my focus status. Every time I click no. Leave. Me. Alone.

I do not understand why my bladder is ridiculously strong during school hours and I can make it through entire mornings or afternoons teaching without a bathroom break but I can’t go for a whole hour while my kids are at soccer in the evening without feeling like I’m going to explode.

As someone who can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, and who has WAY TOO MUCH WORK TO DO and am therefore exhausted and overwhelmed, I don’t understand why I’m WIDE AWAKE RIGHT NOW???

As I’m taking my dog for her last walk of the day, I just realized I left the house in 4 different outfits today:

I feel good and sad and tired all at the same time today. But tonight I get to celebrate because I know I have a job next year! Being a new teacher is stressful as each year ends and I feel like I’ve been crawling out on limb upon limb for the last few years. Now things feel a bit more secure.

This morning my grade 9 kid told me he may be regretting his decision not to go to the grade 9 dance tonight. Tune in next time to find out if my afternoon is going to be a mad rush to find formal attire for my last minute indecisive boy.