Live from Tormville!

Graduation / Day 80

We couldn't have asked for better weather for our virtual ceremony and drive through diploma pick up last evening.  

I'm having a hard time finding the words to adequately describe the whole thing. It could be because I was up until after two going through pictures, or it could be because I wasn't the first to wake up and I'm having a hard time focusing on writing between the bustle going on around me while still being a bit whipped from the evening. 

It was scheduled to be a three hour event, and it only went a few minutes over.  The line stretched out past Voyager right up until the end, but every parent that I talked to said it was just 40 minutes in line, and they were loving every minute of it.  It was just so incredibly uplifting to see everyone again. The atmosphere was alive with a reconnected energy. 

I have well over 200 new favorite photos. I sent them all over to the Communications Department before I called it a night. It's their intention to share them on the Howell Public Schools Facebook page. I'm just not sure if they are waiting to put all our photos together, or if they'll share them separately. Dan Zeppa was working the stage, Tom was shooting a few and was in my element being able to wander the whole scene. Not being able to resist sharing a few right away, as is my norm - I did post three albums on my Howell Instagram before calling it a night.

I'm in a bit of a fog here this morning, but it was so so worth it. 

Today I'll take a breather and recharge my batteries before the next three days of pick up for the elementary and my own kids. 

From the Front Porch / Day 79

Some interesting front porch happenings at our house. 
Also - I'm always in awe when I hang a flower basket and in less than a day, there's a nest in it. 

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Yesterday started out crummy with rain, but it turned out to be a beautiful afternoon. I turned off the a/c, opened the windows and enjoyed doing a deep clean of our bedroom/Greg's office while he went to the real office for the first time in months. 

He goes in one day again next week. 

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Our library's annual Summer Reading Program started again today. Mark has a bit of a competitive streak in him when it comes to the program. He was torn between staying up and starting it at midnight, or waking up early. 

He was up at five.

Mark did a cheer and a fist pump when it dawned on him that he's eligible for prizes this year because his sister no longer works at the library. Last year he did win, but had to forfeit due to the family clause. 

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With just two days left in May, I started taking a closer look at June, and realized that it's actually quite full. 
That's exciting!  
I don't want to jinx any of the happenings, so I'll share them here in real time. 

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Happy Saturday! 

Max Capacity / Day 78

We've reached the point of virtual end of the year celebrations. 

Last night we had Brian's virtual band banquet. We quickly learned that Zoom has a 100 person max capacity. Once learned, those on two devices in one home, like us, quickly shut down one and shared. Brian came downstairs and we participated together from the living room. Unfortunately, there were still some who couldn't get in. Now we know. 

It was fun to scroll through the four pages of names and faces and pick out the familiar ones. Mr. Smigell is an engaging presence, and to see the kids faces light up as he joked and shared was an evening well spent. 

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I earned my paycheck yesterday by putting in another full day at the office. 

I began this new position last fall, and to know our school is to know it's full-on, full speed 100% of the time.  I've been learning as I go and am often heard saying, "I'm never bored".   I've never been able to leave at the end of the day with everything done. There is always something and to be completely caught up seemed completely out of reach.  

I've been appreciating this time. I put those seven months of learning to use, and have now organized, completed tasks, and set myself up to be the most efficient that I can possibly be when we are back in session. It's a very satisfying feeling. 

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I was going to go to the office again today, but - get this - Greg is going to the office for the first time in months! 

I texted the boss and said, yeah - I'm staying home. I do have to run in for a quick minute for just one thing. But I'm not staying! 

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That's all I've got - 

Happy Friday! 

Kona / Day 77

As I was coming home from a walk yesterday afternoon, I bumped into one of my kindergarten friends and her mom. We chatted for a few minutes before she said, oh - hey - by the way - there is a Kona Ice truck parked on the other side of the block until 4:30. 

We live in a one block sub, and there was still another hour yet before 4:30. 

I yelled upstairs to the boys and snagged an eager companion. 

It was fun to see the news trickle about the block as more and more residents made their way down for a bit of normal and a cool treat on a hot and humid afternoon. 

Just Keep Pedaling / Day 76.5

Hey there! 

So. A few things. 

First - I'm a routine person, but I was trying to switch things up a little bit this morning.  
I find that me being a morning person means that there are SO many things that I want to tackle first thing in the morning. I like to write but I also finding myself thinking maybe I should get dressed right out of bed and go for a bike ride, walk or jog. I want to read. I want to create. I want to do ALL the things at the very same time. 

Changing things up didn't work out real well for me today. 

By doing so, I forgot to put the mail in the mailbox. I forgot to fill out my health form before going to work. I didn't blog because I was doing other things. 

It threw me off for the whole day. 

Not sure when I'll go about trying that again. Routine suits me. 

But. I biked! My new helmet arrived yesterday, and I took advantage of the very slight drop in temperature to bike to work.  It was hotter than I thought. I sweat the whole way to work only to work in an office without any a/c.  Let's just say that it's a good thing there aren't any littles at school to tell me how bad I stink, and the adults are all staying six feet away right now by rule, so they - hopefully - didn't notice. 

I love my new helmet. 

I have a very vivid memory of taking a flying flip over the handlebars when I was in my twenties when my pedal hit a high root. Bruises on both legs from my knees to my hips, and out cold for I don't know how long. I only remember that I was the last of the pack, and someone eventually realized I was missing and came back to shake me into a conscious state. 

Because of that incident, I'm a believer in helmets, but I've never actually been fitted for one. We have a random assortment around the garage, but none of them fit quite right. 

Being as things are still shut, now wasn't the time to shop locally and get fitted. Unfortunately. So I spoiled myself and bought a Heritage Bike Helmet from Thousand. It's easy to adjust to the perfect fit and I felt much safer biking the busy access filled route to work. 

It was a day well spent. Bike, work, walk, and got the lawn mowed just before that storm came blowing in. 

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Until tomorrow

Sweet dreams! 

Calendar / Day 75

I started tossing and turning a little earlier than usual this morning. 

The next two weeks are full of of calendar items that I'd not yet put on my calendar. I made my tea, sat myself down, and did just that. I hope I didn't forget any. Between the boys school emails and my own, they've become harder to keep track of as things go on. I think I caught them all though.  Fingers crossed.

Brian has a schedule change for band this week, and an extra time slot for a virtual banquet. 
Greg has an eye appointment - today. 
I'm hoping to hear from our dentist soon. 
I'm working three days of pick up at the elementary, and finally noted the times/dates for my own kids pick ups. There may be an overlapping schedule in there for me somewhere. 
I have a live online class myself, on what was already the busiest of the days. 
I'll also be working steadily this next few weeks. It's that time of the year. 
Once I get everything squared away, I hope to drive out to Minnesota to bring Wendy some furniture. 
That's the hope. 
A change of scenery and a road trip will do me good. 

The Penosha Trail / Day 74

Yesterday afternoon, after listening to church - and after retrieving Mark from my brother's, we headed out to Bishop Lake to hike the Penosha Trail. My husband has been into researching local trails lately, and has been mentioning this one for a few weeks. 

I did this trail a couple years ago. Things I noticed: 

It's a lot busier in May than it is in November
The signage is far better now than it was two years ago. 

Mark, at the end of this hike: I would much rather do an 8.5 mile flat hike (Kensington) than a five mile hilly hike. 

I'll take him back here in the fall under different circumstances. 

Yesterday was hot and humid. There were several hikers whose shirts were fully sweat saturated, and they weren't running. I had to take a few pauses just due to the humidity. 

Mark also found out yesterday that he's allergic to cats. His eyes were red and puffy, even after Zyrtec. I didn't see them before the allergy meds. We had given him the option to stay home, and about half way through, he was wishing he had taken that option. 

I was glad to see these signs. 
I remember we had to pull up Ginny's AllTrail app last time at a few of the forks, as those signs weren't there. 

I had my AllTrail app up, but it was acting wonky. According to that, we hiked over 27 miles yesterday. We really didn't. 

We've had lots of rain recently. There were a few water obstacles along the way. 

An afternoon well spent. 

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No real plans for today. Rain coming in this afternoon, with rain in the forecast every day this week. 
Today will be just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. 

One, Two, Skip a Few..... / Day 73

......Ten. 

On Thursday afternoon we were granted permission to get together in groups of ten. 

Last evening we gathered at my brother's home for smores and sauna. A cousin visit long overdue, and it did our hearts and souls good. 

And because Brian hasn't driven all week, again, he'll be in the driver's seat today when we head back over to pick up Mark. 

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Other stuffs: 

• I put in over five miles yesterday, never leaving our small town yard. 
• Weeds were pulled, and mulch was laid.
• Greg cleaned the winter tires and got those put away.
• The snowblower had it's annual maintenance and was put away for the season. 
• Tomato starts were potted. 
• The grill was scrubbed and the deck rug got put out. 
• All in all a good day. 
• The one thing that we didn't get to was putting the kayak racks on top of the van. Today. We might be able to even sneak in a kayak adventure before the week of rain ahead. 

Happy Sunday! 

Good Morning / Day 72

I've got high hopes for today. I've got a lawn to mow, some mulch to put down and a whole pile of other things that need to get done. 

I put in a lot of hours at the office this past week, as I will the next couple weeks - which now has me back to appreciating a good work-filled Saturday. There has been a noticeable lack of home TLC this week.

And sunshine! I can see it peeking. The lack of sunshine had me staying at work a lot longer than planned yesterday.  I did wander outside at one point to see if it had cleared up, but all I found was cloudy skies and a steady mist. I opted to go back to my desk. I know I'm repeating myself, but I'm really loving the flexibility right now. 

I'm also enjoying what the lack of schedule has to offer. I go for a walk when I feel like it, take a bike ride when the urge strikes me, and head out out to Kensington when I need my photography fix, as I did one evening this week. I no longer remember days. 

I need to go through emails this morning and get dates and times in my calendar so I don't mess anything up. Schedules for drive through pick up went home yesterday for all the buildings. I noted that Mark's school doesn't have their yearbooks back yet either and will get them in the fall.  That yearbooks aren't here yet (Lifetouch had to shut down 3 of their 6 plants due to Executive Orderes in those states) hits me hard. I begged to be able to go pick them up personally - but I couldn't even get an answer to where they are in the printing process or what plant they are sitting at. My contact of seven plus years was one that has been laid off. My new contact gives me cut and paste responses and sounds very weary. 

Anyway - I'm rambling again. 
Time for me to have my coffee and get some things taken care of. 

Happy Saturday!

Happy Friday / Day 71

Nine more days of school! 

It had to be said. The boys are counting. 

Yesterday I got an email from Mark's speech teacher asking if he might have forgotten that they had a meeting. She was Zooming solo. 

I was at work, so I called home and Mark answered the phone all huffing and puffing. 

Me: Where were you? 
Mark: Well. I was up in my room - but I had to run downstairs real fast to answer the phone
Me: Well. Get back to your room, your teacher is up there waiting for you. You have speech right now. 
Mark: AAAAAAA! I DO?!?!  

We are still working on the easiest way for him to keep up with the email notifications. 

We'll get it figured out. Most likely in nine days.