What I've Read This Month...
Saturday, March 31, 2018
We Made It!
31 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Brrr! It's cold and early, but I'm up and heading out. I'm trying my luck in the Hamilton standby line this morning.
The things we do for our children!
It's possible I'm not back in the room until March has slipped away. Thanks to everyone at Two Writing Teachers for another grand opportunity for showing up and writing every day this month.
See you all Tuesday!
Friday, March 30, 2018
Lady Liberty
30 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Arduous
29 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
It really isn't as much about the flight itself, though I would give that up for three clicks of my heals as an alternative. The arduous part is really everything else. (And I'm not even talking about the planing, prep, and packing!)
Once we are ready to head out the door we have to get to the airport. That comes after working a full day at school followed by a drive of more than 300 km. We then have to park the truck and get a taxi to the airport, since there aren't any long term parking options in Jeddah.
Line to get into the airport.
Line to get to the check in counters.
Line at the counters to drop bags.
Line to get to immigration.
Line at immigration.
Line to check we've been through immigration.
Line at security. (Women this way - gents, that way!)
Line to get a snack: Tim Horton's bagel!
Find a place to hang out while we wait.
Line at boarding counter.
Line at passport check.
Line to get on the bus.
Line up the stairs to board the plane.
Line down the aisle to our seats.
Next stop, the "Greatest City In The World!"
#werk
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Prophetic Post
28 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
This day, each year, is crazy. Spring Break starts at 3:10 this afternoon. Before that is our Science Fair. I feel like I write the exact same post each year, but looking back I find that I only write it in my mind each year. It has been six years since the thoughts running through my head made it into a slice. You can find it here.
The biggest difference is that I'm now at a 'no homework' school, thus all of the work has been done in my classroom. The outcome is the same. Before I post again we will all have survived the day, students will feel a sense of accomplishment, parents will have been pleasantly surprised with the level of maturity and depth of work their child accomplished independently, and spring break will have sprung. So, I guess this is a prophetic slice, but years of experience tell me that it will be so.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Inspired Cinquains
27 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Watching "The West Wing" Season 4, Episode 14 "Inauguration - Part 1" while you are in the middle of teaching a poetry unit encourages the following cinquains.
Desert
Mammal with hump
Wandering through the sand
Massive beings yet silent feet
Camel
West Wing
Such a great show
We watch it yet again
Josh and Hrishi lead us inside
Fandom
Toby
Josh and CJ
Leo, Donna, and Sam
We can't forget the President
Charlie?
Monday, March 26, 2018
Quandry
26 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
My notebook gets used all the time.
Writing notebook
Packing lists
Meeting notes
Blog ideas
Summer planning
Future trips
Lists of books
Recipe ideas
Quotes
Poems
Folded pieces of paper that I need to be able to find
I generally have future notebooks stashed and ready. Being without a notebook is not an option.
This week I am in a quandary. I do still have one option tucked away, but it is not the option I want to go with. I have found that the large journals from Attic Journals are perfect. I have already picked out my next few and they are literally on the way to rendezvous with me in New York City later this week. The challenge is that I only have a couple of pages left and more than a couple of days remaining. So, I find myself weighing how important something is for me to write down as I am afraid that I will run out of pages before I have my Attic Journals package in my hands. (To alleviate this happening again in the future, I have ordered a generous supply.)
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Last Week Before Break
25 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Up before my alarm
(Remember to turn it off)
Out the door to walk
Too warm
Head for gym
Walk on a loop of rubber
Always feels longer than
wandering the neighborhood
Ready for school
Four day week
Then Spring Break
I know it's gonna
feel like eight
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Pool Season Has Begun
24 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
With the official arrival of Spring the humidity kicked way up for a day or two, thus warming up our pools enough that even the adults are willing to brave the water. So, pool season is upon us!
(Yes, the irony of us spending the first days of spring back in the pool while friends and family from Seattle to New Jersey are watching it snow has been noted.)
Any combination of six kids, ranging from 12 months to eight years, dragging an assortment of pool toys descend upon one of our pools. (There are three, each referred to by the kid that lives closest to it.)
Adults, a compilation friends, (who are stand in aunties for our TCKs), and parents complete the scene. We talk with one another, keep track of kids, monitor our personal temperature needs with a combination of in the pool, out of the pool, on the edge with legs in the pool, on a chair in the share, or a lounger in the sun.
All of this is the best way to make the moments between afternoon and dinner melt into the past. An hour or two later we are announcing to the troop, "Ten more minutes!"
Friday, March 23, 2018
10 Fun Facts
23 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Jumping on the "Fun Facts" train that appears to have started here this year.
Without further ado, ten things you might not know about me, in no particular order...
Yellow was my favorite color, until the moment my daughter was born. We didn't know the gender of our child prior to the birth. It was very surprising to me when it, nearly instantly, my favorite color turned to pink. Yellow is a happy color, which is why it previously had top billing.
I know a little bit about a musical called "Hamilton". (There are some who will guffaw at this as an understatement.)
In order for an apple to be enjoyable, who am I kidding, in order for an apple to be edible, it must be crispy.
Eighteen of my summers of were spent at camp, everything from a camper to a director. This was a much more impressive statement when it represented 72% of my summers. It is now down to only 40% of my summers, and decreasing.
I have been to 70 countries (and counting)!
Guilty food pleasures, meaning the things I am mostly to covert about purchasing and eating:
In the U.S. - Chubby Hubby
In Saudi - fresh blueberries
(At one point in my life, chocolate covered gummy bears)
There are only two roads in North America that go over the Arctic Circle; the Prudhoe Bay Haul Road and the Dempster Highway. One summer I drove the Dempster, solo, over solstice. There are a myriad of stories and images from those few days up and back on that black, shale road.
I have handbells to thank for getting to meet my husband. (If you don't know anything about handbells, here is teaser and here is a full concert - both are the group we met through.)
My parents and grandparents were born in the Pacific Northwest and yet, technically, I am not a Seattle native. My parents lived back east when I was born. We moved back to Seattle when I was three and I have no memories of anything else. The Commonwealth birth certificate presents the greatest obstacle to native status.
Menudo and Alyssa Milano posters (mostly thanks to "Bop" magazine) adorned my walls when I was a kid.
Without further ado, ten things you might not know about me, in no particular order...
Yellow was my favorite color, until the moment my daughter was born. We didn't know the gender of our child prior to the birth. It was very surprising to me when it, nearly instantly, my favorite color turned to pink. Yellow is a happy color, which is why it previously had top billing.
I know a little bit about a musical called "Hamilton". (There are some who will guffaw at this as an understatement.)
In order for an apple to be enjoyable, who am I kidding, in order for an apple to be edible, it must be crispy.
Eighteen of my summers of were spent at camp, everything from a camper to a director. This was a much more impressive statement when it represented 72% of my summers. It is now down to only 40% of my summers, and decreasing.
I have been to 70 countries (and counting)!
Guilty food pleasures, meaning the things I am mostly to covert about purchasing and eating:
In the U.S. - Chubby Hubby
In Saudi - fresh blueberries
(At one point in my life, chocolate covered gummy bears)
There are only two roads in North America that go over the Arctic Circle; the Prudhoe Bay Haul Road and the Dempster Highway. One summer I drove the Dempster, solo, over solstice. There are a myriad of stories and images from those few days up and back on that black, shale road.
I have handbells to thank for getting to meet my husband. (If you don't know anything about handbells, here is teaser and here is a full concert - both are the group we met through.)
My parents and grandparents were born in the Pacific Northwest and yet, technically, I am not a Seattle native. My parents lived back east when I was born. We moved back to Seattle when I was three and I have no memories of anything else. The Commonwealth birth certificate presents the greatest obstacle to native status.
Menudo and Alyssa Milano posters (mostly thanks to "Bop" magazine) adorned my walls when I was a kid.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Deeper Meaning In Unexpected Places
22 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
I have read Fox In Socks out loud more times than I can recall. It is so fun to read, so fun to see if you can keep up with yourself.
We had read The Lorax yesterday, which inspired a Grand Conversation where my students discussed movies vs. books, childhood memories vs. current understanding, and how to save the planet.
Fox In Socks is for the fun of it, the appreciation of language, not for deep conversations. Additionally, the kids appreciated the banter between Mr. Fox and Mr. Knox and tried to put a term to it. Smackdown? Pestering? Mic Drop!
With 90+% of my students being ELL, we then started talking about the nuances of the terms that were being suggested. At one point someone mentioned Mr. Knox reaction to something, which then turned into a picture walk. It was fascinating. We went through the book looking only at Mr. Knox's facial expressions, following his journey through his emotions. I knew Dr. Seuss was a creative genius, a word crafter extraordinaire. I had no idea the depth of his character development. The emotional journey Mr. Knox travels in Fox In Socks is rich and powerful.
This is a book I have known and loved for many decades and today I saw it with fresh eyes. Who would have ever guessed there was a deeper meaning to Fox In Socks?!
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Grumping and Tears - To Be or Not To Be
21 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Mornings would be fine, if I only had to get myself out the door.
It isn't that every morning is frustrating. Part of the challenge is that I never know which version of the morning I'm going to face. There are two general scenarios.
Scenario A:
Once I'm out of the shower and dressed I go in to wake up my daughter. I turn on the hall light, open the door, turn of her AC, walk across her room, plant a few kisses on her, and walk out again. After putting sunscreen on my face I re-enter her room, repeat the kisses while adding a pleasant, "Good morning, Little One".
Once I'm out of the shower and dressed I go in to wake up my daughter. I turn on the hall light, open the door, turn of her AC, walk across her room, plant a few kisses on her, and walk out again. After putting sunscreen on my face I re-enter her room, repeat the kisses while adding a pleasant, "Good morning, Little One".
Many times this is greeted with a grunt or a yanking of the blanket over her head. I then try really hard to not pester, simply letting her know when I head downstairs to make lunches and breakfast.
(There are consequences in place if she isn't ready on time and rewards, if she is. She knows what the expectations are. I should keep my mouth shut!)
Scenario B:
She is awake on her own and downstairs before I even get to her room. (She particularly likes to pile blankets and/or stuffed animals under her covers to make it look like she is still sleeping and sneak downstairs for the grand surprise of it all.)
She is awake on her own and downstairs before I even get to her room. (She particularly likes to pile blankets and/or stuffed animals under her covers to make it look like she is still sleeping and sneak downstairs for the grand surprise of it all.)
Know that Scenario A can still end with everyone being ready ahead of schedule and out the door after a generally pleasant morning.
And, Scenario B can still end with it being time to walk out the door and a particular someone is not yet ready and grumpiness, from many fronts, takes place - sometimes with tears.
This morning was a rarity in that I was greeted with a, "Good morning, Mommy!" while I was still in the shower. She and I headed downstairs at nearly the same time. She applied her sunscreen, ate her breakfast, brushed her teeth, put her shoes on, and we were all out the door without any grumping or tears - not even by Daddy!
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Yanbu Flower Festival
20 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
The little town we live in is known for two things; oil and flowers.
Yanbu (the English transliteration of the Arabic word for 'spring of water') is the second largest Saudi Arabian city on the Red Sea. There are less than 200,000 people here - with a large percentage of that number being foreign workers (myself included).
The oil industry is the main economic force with three refineries, a plastics facility, and a variety of other petrochemical operations. Most of the rest of us are here to support the oil work.
We knew about the oil before we arrived. The majority of our students have dads who are engineers. What I had no idea was that flowers are also a draw.
The Yanbu Flower Festival expects to draw a million visitors this year, according to this Arab News article. They have two Guiness Book of World Records. This festival is no joke! Every year we go to take a look. And, it's free!
This year you get a peek as well...
This year you get a peek as well...
The festival runs for 3 weeks, or so. (They generally extend it.) We have always gone, as a family, on our way home from school one of the first days it is open. This gives us a chance to get in before the crowds start. And take pictures before the sun is directly in your eyes.
For a different light perspective this year, I had my husband drop me off one morning as he ran to the grocery store. There were even fewer people and it wasn't quite as warm. (Though I can't really complain. It isn't hot yet - only in the low 30s C / 90s F.)
Susie of Arabia posted these pictures from her visit. I'm thinking I will take my camera when I go to the hospital for my doctor appointment tonight, and take a quick trip through the festival on the way home. It looks like they light it well, and I'm hoping a Tuesday isn't a popular night.
Monday, March 19, 2018
Who Would Have Thought?
19 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Saudi Arabia is never a place I dreamed of living. Even when we moved to the Middle East, the thought of living in Saudi never crossed my mind.
We then became friends with people who had lived in Saudi for years and it still wasn't a thought I entertained.
When we lived in Jordan we would often vacation in Dahab, Egypt. We spend numerous hours looking east, across the Red Sea, at the mountains in Saudi Arabia thinking how close they were and how we would never see them. Our last time in Dahab was Spring Break nine years ago.
Now we go camping in those very mountains on a regular basis.
The thought that struck me this morning was that not only did I never think we would live here, but we are about to have lived in three totally different cities in this country. I smile and shake my head at the mysterious way life unfolds.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
A Day Of Games
18 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Green Reverse
Green 9
Green 5
Wild
Red 8
Red 2
Blue 2
Wild
Yellow Reverse
Blue Reverse
Blue 1
Blue 5
Wild Draw Four
Green 8
Green Draw Two
And so it goes...
Red 3 "Uno!"
Wild
Blue 8 😀
***
4 Million (one)
Liverpool St. Station (two)
Pass Go (three)
Debt Collector "Everyone pay me 5 million!" (one)
Trafalgar Square (two)
1 Million (three)
Deal Breaker "I'm stealing your green monopoly" (one)
Orange Wild Property (two)
Vine Street "For the win!"
***
Crouch!
Bind!
Set!
(lots of hollering, nail biting, and breath holding)
Try!!!!!!!
Saturday, March 17, 2018
I Could Write About...
17 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
I could write about the fact that yesterday was exactly a twelve hour day - sunrise at 6:37 a.m. and sunset at 6:37 p.m.
Or what about the "Girls' Day" I had with my daughter since my husband went diving.
Or the fact that he saw two hammerhead sharks during his dive, (but wasn't using his Go-Pro so we don't have footage of it).
I could use talk about things that are half or things that are in between with inspiration taken from other slices I read.
Or how much I love "The West Wing" and having "The West Wing Weekly" this time through more than doubles the time it takes to get through the series, but is adding new insights.
I could write about what a "Hamilton" geek I am. And there are so many avenues I could take with my fandom to run with this idea.
Or I could write about two friends taking the kids from four households to the park this morning. The kids were going to have fun regardless, but the friendship made the trip enjoyable for me as well.
Or about all the things I didn't do today, but with that thought I sigh and come to a close. Sometimes writing is a joy. Sometimes writing is a chore. And sometimes, writing is a means to procrastinate.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Surprise Endings
16 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Stepping out into the cool darkness the first thing I do is look up and smile. The dome of night is puncture by bright, twinkling stars. Orion hangs over the pool as I start out on my walk. Joshua Molina and Hrishikesh Hirway fill my ears with their banter while discussing The West Wing. The early morning air is perfect. I start with a light sweatshirt, but tie it around my waist as my body temperature rises. As I round the far side of the compound call to prayer sneaks through the pauses in the podcast. Surprisingly, tears come to my eyes. "I will miss this," I think to myself.
I pause my thinking to acknowledge that this is part of the ending. Realizing what is happening in these moments - giving them their moment - and being thankful for what we have had. Three months from now I will be in Seattle, and not returning to Yanbu. You see, our school is closing. We are trying to do it well. There are lots of expected sticking points. It's the surprise endings that get me.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Inspired By One Another
15 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Yesterday Kathleen wrote about Piku in her slice. I was inspired.
Pi Is Gone
Now
Et Tu Brute
The Week Ends
Now
Today, Thursday
The Weekend
Now
Begin Play, Rest
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Spirit Week Conversations At Home
14 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
Makeup Monday
She's eight. She can't wait to be a teenager. The good news is, after I gave her the opportunity to try out a makeup set someone had given her, we decided that she would only wear eyeshadow and lip gloss to school. Just before we walked out the door I added some glitter to the look. "Mommy, you're the best - ever!" was her reaction. #phew #mommywin
Throwback Tuesday
"Mom, is that what you really used to wear?" She asks as she comes into the kitchen to get her breakfast, finding me in jeans and a (pretty hideous) polyester shirt.
"This kind of shirt is older than me - it's even older than Daddy!"
"But the jeans are from now, right?"
"Jeans are over a hundred years old."
"No way!"
Wacky Wednesday
"Do you have your clothes picked out for tomorrow?" I ask as we are finishing dinner.
"I do! I'm wearing what would be THE wackiest thing you could wear on a wacky dress up day - I'm dressing normally," says the eight year old.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
First Time To The Top
13 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!
A friend posted this picture of himself and his son, enjoying the sun and some spring skiing. I was instantly transported to that very spot when I was nine years old...
Up one chair lift and then another, all the way to the top of the mountain - 5,420 feet. Sitting beside my dad with my arm around the pole between us, his skis swinging under him I had a dichotomy of emotions; pride and fear.
Alpental, the relatively small, independent (at that time) ski area where I learned to ski, has four chair lifts. Chair 4 has the beginner run that starts with a cat track. You can then advance to the other side of the lift and an intermediate option. Chair 3 is a solid intermediate chair with blue square options from top to bottom (though you can traverse over to the cat track). These two lifts are where my love of skiing began. Further east is Chair 1, which travels much higher up the mountain and has both intermediate and advanced runs. I thought I had arrived as a skier when I was first allowed to ski Chair 1.
I mentioned four lifts. Chair 2 ascends from the top of Chair 1 to very near the mountain peak. That chair was only for expert skiers, as the only way down is through a double diamond chute, "Upper International".
From the moment we started our way up the mountain I was both swelling with pride that my dad thought I was ready for this AND freaked out that the only way down was through that chute. Both very strong emotions. Without that pride the fear would have won and I would have baled at the mid-station.
As the top came into sight the view was amazing, the hillside fell away on both sides of us. (They say that it is so steep the lift poles had to be put in by helicopter!) Once we got off the chair I don't remember anything except the snow under my skis. As we waited our turn to head down the chute the fear part of the situation became much more pronounced.
I wanted to be the last one down, so I wasn't holding up anyone who was ready to ski. This first run I just wanted to survive! I did know that I could side slip through the chute if I needed to, but I really wanted some of the pride part to regain position. I forced myself to make a turn or two, but there was some side slipping in between those. As the rocks were lost beneath the snow and the hill opened up my confidence returned.
I'm sure it wasn't pretty, but I had skied "International"!
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