wow. It's been so long since the last post~

 Well, I am VERY busy trying to stay afloat at both the high school and the college... so that's probably why it's been so long since the last post!

Bad stuff first: in his first 90 days in office, the new president and a team of appointed business people have created a task force to cut waste in the government.  That's understandable, however, the manner in which layoffs are happening -- not even investigating in each department where the waste is...  Just slashing jobs.  

We know people at the National Park Service and the CDC that have been affected.... and they were doing real work!  In the national parks, we know someone who was visiting and said there was no one to collect the fees on one side of the park - just went in because the gates weren't manned.  But when leaving, the lines to get in the other side were a mile long - cars waiting because there was only one person at the gate on that side instead of multiple like in the past. There has been homesteading in some parks because there is no one to enforce campers to leave.  There is no one to clean the rest rooms.  etc etc etc.   (Found this picture of a park in Utah online.)  Our national parks are a treasure... or they were.  :/

We've heard that things are really bad in Washington DC where many dual-government job households are turned upside down because both earners have lost their jobs/ they will likely lose their housing.... according to a friend who travels to DC every week and talks to his (old) constituents.  

The federal government is dismantling the Department of Education - not sure what will happen with my job, honestly. Will probably be OK??  but a potential job change I was thinking about making (to benefit our children and me) is not going to happen

 because of all of the uncertainty.  That district has frozen hiring.  

Todd's job will be impacted probably closer to the end of this year and next year because of tariffs on building materials. I'm going to keep working myself to death working at the college and the high school I guess while I can.... maybe taking on a side project or two during the summer to "bank" what we can while we can. 

I am not sure what will happen at the college level. There have been emails about DEI. There have been emails about ICE and protocol of what to do if someone comes into the classroom for a student.  :(  Will people be able to afford tuition and housing?! 

I went to a jobsite visit to a VA facility last month. The contractors said there were "delays" they were trying to work around (There were major cuts there in the Veteran's administration as well - people who had served our country - losing services.  (In the case of this jobsite -- (insert sarcasm) this is a good use of taxpayer money - the contractors were 2 months away from finishing, but the project halted.  Let an almost complete building sit empty while the VA office is paying rent elsewhere.  

News stories are sensationalizing things, of course, almost causing panic talking about toys that cost 29.99 will now cost 64.00 for Christmas. Shoes that were 150 are now closer to 300. (Isabella asked if she was going to get presents for Christmas after she heard that story.  I told her I'm not sure what December will look liks. (Cars, food, electronic gadgets, wine & alcohol, toys, make-up, clothes, etc are all also being tariffed -- anywhere between 10% up to over 100%.)  

I do feel that this will be true:  we will be in a major recession -- worse than what we saw in 2008 and 2020.  And - we're pissing off a lot of allies in the world.  I am seriously concerned.  We know a lot of people who have lost a LOT of money as the stock market already, as the DOW is reacting and tanking (although there was a small up-tick as tariffs were put on hold for a bit).   It just ALL seems like A LOT in this first 3 months of office and we have 45 more months to go.  

Recently (on the 5th of this month) there were protests all across the country. Several people I know and I went to the square to be a part of it.  There were lots of signs "Hands Off of our 401ks"  "Hands off of National Parks"  "Hands off our children's Education"  -- there were many many many more.  I took a few pictures of signs that spoke to me.  

I liked this "math" shirt!  Get it?!  There were maybe 500 - 1000 people on the square last Saturday. 

In downtown Atlanta there were predicted 30,000.  In DC over 100,000.  There were millions of people protesting at more than 1300 events across the nation.  

I liked this sign too - the woman said her priest found out she was coming to the square and printed these for her to "represent."

I asked Isabella if she wanted to go with me to the Square, but she didn't. I wish she could have seen the (mostly older) people there who were in support of her future.  

Mercer went to his 1st protest in the movement surrounding George Floyd when he had just finished 6th grade.  It was a peaceful protest - as was this one.  

When feeling helpless it just feels right to be a part of "something."  It was the 1st day of our spring break - so - yeah... why not?!

We didn't really do anything over break, sadly. I had to teach classes on Monday & Wednesday. Mercer had baseball Wednesday / Thursday / Friday.  So - we didn't get a chance to go anywhere.  

The day before break (on the last day of school) there was a pep rally.  They always announce sports teams at this event.  Mercer and a handful of teammates went out to the floor to represent baseball.   Not sure where the rest of the team was, but the day before a break is always lighter - people leaving early for their trips... so perhaps that's why it was not as crowded.

He's been to countless pep rallies and glad he finally got his moment on the floor!  (the guy in the striped overalls is his 1st baseball coach - he always dresses up and tries to get the crowd going... like some sort of tradition.)  But that coach used to put Mercer in the games!  :/ 

Later that evening, Mercer actually (FINALLY) got to play.  His varsity debut:  2 at-bats.  He got on base one of the two times so his on base percentage is high @ .500 -- haha.  

It was a game played against teammates from his old little league.  Two of those boys were at the 16u summer tournament that he went to last July representing East Marietta and the state of Georgia.  Good people!

We did little things here & there.  A couple of appointments, of course. (We've gotta try to get those during break - especially for Isabella, as she missed SO MUCH school this year -- and she was sick again in March missing almost 7 days in the previous 2 weeks before break!)

The highlight of her break was 3 hours of dog-sitting and getting PAID.  She got $10 to play with a corgi puppy and a corgi. The woman gave her ice cream and she got to watch TV. He "job" was to keep the puppy busy and get her worn out while the lady who owned the house painted a closet.  Isabella said it was her dream job. 

(the photos of her with the dogs was from a previous visit where the woman got the idea that Isabella could help her.  

I worked Isabella MUCH much harder here at home for not much more money - she was aerating part of the yard where we were missing grass so I can sprinkle in some seed and hope for some coverage in patches 'til we can really seed this fall. 

Isabella got new glasses last month after an appointment with the optometrist at the previous break.  What a statement they make!  

Yes - that's a guitar. She hasn't seen the music teacher lately, but she switched instruments again...

And - she was being goofy / not letting me take real photos of her. (I can't remember if I posted about her getting bangs back in January?!) 

Almost all of the break (after my KSU classes were done) I was working on de-weeding and spreading a giant mound of mulch that I had arranged for the city to bring (for free).

I was clearing out some area at the back wall and laying down weed fabric / laying a thick layer of mulch in an area to create a new flower bed and help manage the invasive plants and weeds along back wall that we struggle with each year. 

This is what the whole back wall looked like.  (Now, it only looks like that in the corners, as I didn't finish.... 

....but as seen here, most of the wall has been cleared out and weed barrier / mulch has been laid down.  Hopefully on an upcoming weekend, I can tackle one corner, then the other?? 

Since we took out the kid stuff from the arbor, I mulched it too, then had Mercer help me move the Adirondack chairs and table under it. We also had these garden beds (shown above) in the garage. We bought a set of 4 before the kids were born!  We only used 2 way back then... and eventually joined the community garden, so we never used the other 2.  Now, since we're no longer members of the community garden anymore, we're setting up garden beds in our own back yard again!

One day when I was working & prepping for KSU, I "bribed" the kids to put puzzles together - whoever finished first would get ice cream. (of course they both got ice cream - or Boba tea - their choice)

I think we're going to frame the succulent puzzle and put in Isabella's room!  (hard to photograph without glare)  It goes with her new theme. Todd joked... cool - plants that DON'T need watering.  haha. 

Mercer and I went to a college in North Georgia to check out a program there (although this school is not offering his original major) - he seemed to really like it.  There are only 600 kids on campus. I can see him on a small campus like this honestly. 

And - unlike a couple of other colleges we've visited, this one is only 1 1/2 - 2 hours away.

I am not sure why he was so interested in checking it out, however, they do have a nice baseball field.

The only other thing the kids did over break:  went to a movie without mom and dad!  The kids wanted to see the Minecraft movie (we didn't really care to).  So, we sent them!  They both enjoyed it and Todd/ I were honestly glad that we didn't have to sit through it.  ha!

 Other happenings since the last post:

Of note: my mom celebrated her 80th birthday!  (We couldn't be there with her, but sent some special things up to send her "warm" wishes!)  

Todd and I celebrated our anniversary last month too.  27 years!?  we went to a new (fancy) restaurant on the square. 

I went on a "self-care" weekend last month at an event space not far from our house. (I was at home each night - it was not overnight.) There's a historic house on a site + "out buildings" + a modern art gallery with art classrooms. The event was held in all of the buildings on the site.

It was interesting.  I got to do some art therapy, went to some health-ful lectures, attend a sound bath session, meditation and stretching, and I finally got to do some pottery! (not wheel, but slab - which was fun.) 

 as I'm writing this, I remembered that I forgot pick up the finished piece after the teacher fired it.  Will have to go pick that up and post later!  

Here are some other random photos since the previous blog post.  

Saffy is a dog that likes car rides and sticking her head out of the window!  (HipHop is not!) 

Maybe he was bored?  Mercer stacked pillows on the dog. She was sleeping  and didn't even notice.

Isabella hanging out with the dog sleeping on her - living her best life while playing a game.  (again - a goofy face when she's posing for photos now!)

The kids really REALLY love our new dog.  We have to remind them to give HipHop attention too!

There's been a lot of cool things going on up in the sky.  There was a point when 5 planets lined up and you could see them all in one night!  I thought I saw something unusual and pulled out my SkyMap app -- it was Saturn!  :)

"In February 2025, five bright planets  (Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Saturn) will be visible in the evening sky, along with the fainter Uranus and Neptune. While all seven planets can be seen, Uranus and Neptune require a telescope or powerful binoculars to spot."  The text description + the image above was from February 28th and pulled off the web, obviously!

There was a lunar eclipse in the middle of the night - on a school night!  And I thought - why not?! 

after the eclipse was over, I tried to get some sleep, but the moon was SO SO bright!

Not a ton of exciting stuff, but just grinding through the days and working hard. 

Another snow day with no snow + other happenings

A unique storm passed through Georgia a little over a week after the other (real) winter storm we had.  It was a "gift" for us -- another day off of school, but we had no snow!  This storm moved just south of us in Atlanta and even produced snow in south Georgia -- Savannah! --
and parts of Florida!   But - because it was hard to tell where that line was going to pass through, they called it just-in-case.  

They (administrators) didn't want another "snowmageddon" where kids got stuck at school.  I think people were a little disappointed that we didn't get more of the white stuff, but I was grateful for our 2 snow days this year!  (free days that you don't have to make up!!) I needed it to help catch up with my high school stuff and my college stuff.  

Teaching at both places is kinda killing me. It's really a LOT of work coming up with 1.25 hours of lecture materials every Sunday night (into the wee Monday morning hours) before going to school at 7 am and leaving around 3 or 4 to come home and try to finish the lecture slides before I leave at 5:45 to head to the college.  

I crash on Monday nights early when I get back home after KSU lecture.  Then, go to the high school Tuesday morning by 7.... and then do the almost all-nighter again into Wednesday morning before going to school at 7 am Wednesday and leaving around 3 or 4 to come home and try to finish the lecture slides before I have to leave again for the college around 5:45.  Then, crash on Wednesday nights early when I get back home after KSU.  Get up and go to School Thursday morning by 7.  

I was given a slide deck of about 80 slides to work with from the person in charge of this class -- 80 slides for an entire semester.  Um? not even close. For each of my 1.25 hour classes, I have a slide deck of 20 - 30 slides to discuss.  EACH CLASS.  2 classes a week in Jan / Feb / Mar / Apr.  so - 4 months of creating TONS of slides (and re-learning content so I can teach it.) 

It's a lot. But I do like it there.  The kids are so much better than the kids at my "day job." They're 3rd year students in college.  Mostly respectful  (there are a couple of people who talk or are on their phones sometimes, but generally the class is engaged and answering questions / taking notes).   I do like it much better than my day job, but I don't think it's something I can transition to permanently, unfortunately.  Now that I'm there - I'm seeing that it's pretty hard to get a full-time position.  And the pay is much less than at the public K-12 school, unfortunately. 

The photos scattered throughout are of images of the architecture building. I was there recently reviewing a student's thesis project.  I took these images because I have my environmental tech students re-designing solar controls and lighting for these 2 spaces. 

I could teach this same class again next year and it would be A LOT easier because I have material developed.  I think that's what taking the most time.  We'll see.  At the least, I'm covering my car payment each month + a little extra.... which during our rising prices in everything during these "economic times" ... is needed.  (Already in this new administration more stuff has gotten more expensive / threat of tariffs which will be passed along to the consumer).  I'll probably need this little extra into the coming years too??!!

Since I just posted pics of the KSU architecture building - I'll add some here of the GA Tech architecture building (a much older structure) but - I got to spend the day down at Tech with architecture teachers from across the state for a conference in early February.  

It was great. I haven't been to the main architecture building in YEARS.  (I was at a conference there with students in 2021, but we only did a quick / cursory walk-through.)  

We spent the day with the admissions administrator for the architecture / industrial design / city planning pathways. She gave us a lot of tips on applications / letters / portfolios for our high-schoolers. She also brought in students to show us their work and to explain their discipline / major.  It was good to see and hear from them.  It was inspiring. 

During this visit, we went through it all.  We took a tour of the spaces throughout the architecture building (wood shop / studio spaces / galleries along the corridors that surrounded the atrium). -- including the the studio spaces - yes - they're messy... a fantastic creative mess!   

This "bench" is SO UNIQUE.  It spans the multiple floors of the building!!  

Here are a couple of other photos -- one of the graduate architecture building (I may have posted this before?)  a cool manufacturing building that was going to be torn down / the architecture department took it over and "honored" the mechanisms inside (cranes still in there, for example // the floating floor // etc) 

The energy at the college level is just so different -- at both places.... well, at least for architecture / studio. I think that for regular classes the energy is just "regular" though.  (Like my lecture class- it's better than the high school, but not as cool as studio, of course).  

And, a couple of other images / interesting things on our tour of the architecture, building construction and industrial design spaces....

After the formal tour, I took a few teachers over to the Kendeda building - the "greenest" building in Georgia as I've presented to this architecture teacher group before about sustainability and presented a case study on this building to them.

(Southface used to be the greenest building 'til the Kendeda building was built.)  I've been here before with students - during that 2021 event I went to... but I got to explore on my own more here this time.  More photos!

I got to really look at the water-efficiency stuff in the basement....

and their bank of composting toilet bins in the basement (behind a locked door with large windows) is so much bigger than that of Southface's two composting toilet bins!    (good for them, but eew!)  :)

They h0ave a clothing exchange in the basement and a recycling center for almost anything. (must have deleted the recycling wall with about a dozen different stations?!)   

Glad we popped into that building for a bit of exploration!

Now onto "family" stuff.  

In January, the kids served lunch for the NAACP of Cobb County guests at the event they had at the Cobb Civic Center.  Didn't get pics of them serving, but a group picture in front of the church van afterwards.  

I had the day off from both schools, so I "chaperoned" / got to see them in action. The guests were so grateful for the youth to serve and commented how helpful they were. (I think last year, our church hosted this same event, but adults served instead.) 

I finally got my haircut (originally scheduled the same day as Isabella's, but I had to post-pone because of the new part-time job).  

This is the color -- never been colored... and the lady recommended that I NOT start.  She said these grays looked like blonde highlights.

Of course when asking if I'd like it styled I would say straight!  

It's such a pain to do and I never have straight hair.  "fun" for a few days 'til washing. 

Isabella's book that she was writing for her gifted class was entered into a contest for North Georgia Technology Competition.. and she got 3rd place for her age group.  So, one Saturday, we went to a local high school where the judging was and waited for the awards ceremony / were pleasantly surpirsed!

(It's not finished, but her teacher also submitted it to the Young Georgia Authors competition.... have no idea when / if we'll hear back about that - but cool that she worked - somewhat reluctantly - and her hard work is paying off) 

Our new pup, Saffy, finally had her spaying surgery in early January.  This is the first time we've seen her calm!  haha

Now, she's totally back to normal - a cute snuggler with LOTS of energy (when she's not snuggling, she's chewing on toys - mostly!)  Todd got her a Jurassic egg. ?!   The kids have so much fun with her! 

Isabella has started playing hide-and-seek with Saffy.  She has a squeaky ball that she'll squeeze and run into our bedroom / shut the door behind her, then run through our closet and laundry room / come out the other side and squeak the ball.  Saffy will run from the hallway down to the laundry room door.  

That Isabella has shut and gone back through to our room - to squeak the ball again at our bedroom door.... whereas Saffy will run back though the kitchen / dining / hall to get to our bedroom door to chase the noise.  It's good for both of them!  ha

Also as of late (since Saffy is "fixed" and has healed up) - Todd and Isabella have taken Saffy (3x) and Hip-Hop (once) to the dog park to play with other dogs.  Saffy is very social and loves playing with other dogs.  Hip-Hop... not so much.  

Todd says it's very loud and that Mercer and I wouldn't like it. He's probably right, but glad he and Isabella enjoy it!

Something new for our family: our older dog, Hip-Hop is now sleeping in Isabella's room at night.  She likes the company and he is probably happy for the one-on-one attention on a cozy bed nestled in blankets and using stuffies as pillows!   (it was dark in there when I thought to take a photo - not such a great pic)

Funny - Hip-Hop sent a "signal: to Mercer and me one morning recently when he was ready to come out. He must have heard us walking around. (We leave the house before she's even awake!)  We let him out that morning, BTW.

Something else new:  Isabella and I go to the gym now.  Usually only a couple of times a week, but it's a start / it's something!  (no photos)  But- it's still cold outside, so here's a photo of my sunroof... the frozen ice crystals / texture on it.  

May as well go to the gym while it's cold!!  ... and drink hot cocoa with cute marshmallows in it afterwards!  

Mercer made the Varsity baseball team. Here are some photos from the local realtor who is the Marietta City Schools official photographer!  Weird combo, but he's a lifer - graduated from Marietta / loves all things Marietta / posts in sports journals about Marietta. 

"special-different-better" is the motto and there's so much home-town pride when May-retta schools excels at something.  Oh yeah - and it's great advertising for his business, I suppose!  

At any rate, we bought a few digital copies of some different shots.  Unfortunately, Mercer hasn't played YET in a game.  He batted a couple of times in a scrimmage, but we're anxiously (now - 5 games in... impatiently) awaiting his Varsity debut.  :/ 

And - ALL of the Varsity / JV players + coaches in one of the photos that the photographer "threw in" with my order...

And - here are some photos that Todd took the day after we found out Mercer made the team. (It was so weird -- the coach did not send a list of who made it / who didn't... he said he'd talk to individuals if they did not.  I told Mercer to skip his weight training class that week and avoid coach... haha) the NIGHT BEFORE the team photos & parent meeting, he finally sent a roster.  So, Todd went to the meeting as Isabella had something else that day - a friend's party. Thankfully we were able to go at a moment's notice!!)  

That evening, we all met back up and "celebrated" by taking Mercer out to dinner.

He chose the Mexican restaurant owned by Diana - who used to run the local restaurant that we used to go to since he was a baby. She gave him a celebratory dessert.   He was so surprised!

What a nice surprise!  They are always excited to see us when we venture up to eat at her new restaurant which is about 30 - 40 minutes north.  That will keep us coming back when we're able.

Mercer has had practice every day during the February winter break and a few games. We also had a dinner for players and parents to get together.  The "moms" photo - they joked that it looked like we were at a ski lodge.  (we were just at a local restaurant on their side porch that was enclosed)   Weird thing:  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE MOMS (except for 1) -- I have taught their sons.  Out of all the families there, this is who stuck around for the photo!

Well, it was time to turn-in the garden gloves and let go of our garden plot at the community garden we've been a part of for 10-12 years --- since it's inception. 

Isabella and I dug everything out and she played with some worms for old-time's sake.

We took home our old garden stepping stone (made when Mercer was 5! -- per the inscription + his tiny hand print!)

And our "slow-food" movement snail.  

We - when cleaning out the garage last summer - found another raised bed set from the kit we bought (before kids!)... so now that there aren't as many trees in the neighbor's yards, we can set up the garden back in our back yard again. -- and not have to go do "garden mowing duty" during the summers.   We'll see about getting that going -- maybe during the next school break when it's a little warmer?  

Isabella had an "awards day" at school recently where she and a bunch of her classmates were recognized for all As & Bs the 1st half of the school year. 

(We weren't sure if she would pull that in math - thought she was missing too much stuff with her absences due to the ER visits and hospitalization late last fall)... but yay!

Last night, Isabella had a recital with the music teacher. He does things a little unconventionally - part of it is a typical recital with students showing off what they progressed in a book or a personal song they wanted to play from sheet music.

(Isabella had a few songs she dabbled in + "sounds" on the organ that she dabbled with... like playing a song with a steel drum sound... unique!)  

But - he also pulled together a rock band style demo with about a dozen different students who have never played together.  Isabella was one of the keyboardists.  There were multiple drummers, multiple guitarists, and base guitarists.  

They each practiced at home with recordings of Mr. Chris playing and they had to practice the accompaniment.  It - amazingly - worked / sounded good!  They also had a teenage rock band there too and they were fantastic. Felt like we were at a real concert!   Overall - a good night!

We have a 17 year old in the house!  He turned 17 today. 

He got a new baseball bat, some clothes and we've got prescription sunglasses on order.  

(in a couple of weeks, he will have some "fancy" baseball sunglasses - instead of his sports goggles)

Meanwhile, he's happy chilling with the pup - who was giving him extra sunggles today!

HBD, Mercer!