WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY 2021

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  • OregonMother
    OregonMother Posts: 1,558 Member
    cityjaneLondon wrote: »
    We all like pretty photos, don't we. :D
    This was sent to me on WhatsApp this morning from our friends in Cornwall. She went for a walk first thing down to Chapel Porth. One of my favourite places in all the world. <3 The tall building is a pump engine house for the old tin mine. Love it. I have walked along there in spring, summer and autumn many times. Never in winter.
    kjeb7tiptqsh.jpg

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx


    Poldark!!! That was my first thought.

    Love the picture.

    Flea
  • auntiebk
    auntiebk Posts: 2,482 Member
    "Get to do"s and "chose well"s
    Chose well: BP, dogs to powerline.
    Bonus: Stroll with T & C then outdoor lunch, fire hall phone calls re: Cal-Ore, cell phone, vehicle grant.
    Get to do: livestream church, take BP, dogs to powerline, meet John at firehall, employer letters to Freddie’s, BiMart, Grocery Outlet, call S, call C, call R, FM Cu, appreciation letter or certificate to boots donator, bottle return, research effective conflict resolution, index mutual aid files, watch STAS Day 20, make experimental almond paste, declutter sideboard, practice new dances (Pure Movies to Wine, Beer, Whiskey, Sleeping with the Devil, I ain’t never gonna love nobody but Cornell Crawford (Alley cat), A Little Less Broken, One Margarita, I’m so used to being broke, All Night, Nothing but You, Blame it on my beating heart, Homesick); finish mulching flowerbed; broadcast cover crop seed in veg garden areas, invest another 10 minutes in prepping living trust, Freddie’s for complete series TDAP <$48, get Shingrix vaccine, find and configure a screen time popup, figure out where to plant naked lady bulbs, and soon as it warms up above 50 and dries out below 60% humidity I’ll tape and spray paint those rusted areas of Aunt Elsie’s stove. Reconcile Joe’s EOB’s Thrivent shows only 2263.48 so far, next BGBS ask Terry about GB’s FD firetruck tax levy – contacts, media, advocate???, 9am Monday check, invoice and email to Cal-Ore. Mid-February call Wild Rivers (541 247 3514) for dog wash/nail trim appointments.
    Reward: inventory seeds, plan next year’s garden, wishlist replenishments,
    Happier January:
    23: Plan something fun and invite others to join you: invited T and C to walk before our lunch date. Both were fun!

    It was beautiful here today, bright sunshine, blue blue sea and sky, but Brr, never got out of the 40s and the wind felt like it blew in all the way from Idaho. Still, I got outside 3 times, once with Shadow to the powerline, once with T strolling to Chetco Point and finally with T and C at the brewery for lunch in their 3 sided outdoor dining area. Glad I did, the weather forecast is for rain for the foreseeable future, punctuated with thunder and lightning.

    Really enjoyed the FaceTime chat with Rita. I was neither as half asleep nor as drunk as I look in that pic, honest!
    Julie 100 students? Wow!
    Heather gorgeous Cornwall pic.
    Barbie scary for your friend. Bravo to Jake for volunteering.
    Allie ((hugs)) praying the next surgery eases your pain. . . and SOON. :loved: the pics of Alfie and Homer, also the cats so fun videos.
    Rebecca your son will probably end up a CEO . . and Athena Rose a princess! ;)
    Kylia I wish you could share your chicken and dumplings with me . . . especially the dumplings ;)
    Beth what a sweet pup! Remind me of his name?
    Michele, not an old toothbrush but lately I’ve been using wooden skewers. What a pain in the patootie. An MFP visit (zoom) would be fun, if challenging to coordinate all our timezones.
    Tracey so sad to hear your fears about your cousin were confirmed. Glad she confided in you. Prayin’ extra special hard.
    Macha gorgeous dawn!
    Flea :love: little Harley!

    Lighter, lovelies!
    f8qt1s098sxm.gifBarbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
    January: leaner/stronger/kinder than December.
    daily: sit with Joe: 22, weigh/wii: 23/1/- steps>5592=6307 yay vits=22 log=23 CI<CO=21 CI<250<CO=18 Tumble 5=21 Shadow 5=21 mfp=23 outside=24 up hill=21
    wkly: BB&B,T’ai Chi or SWSY x3 =2 rx=3 dance=4 clean 60 mins=6.5 packwalk=2, wt=1/3:144.2, 1/10: 142. 1/17: 142.4
    mnthly: board mtg=1 , grant=2 , 21 plan= bonus: AF=13 play=17 sew=1 waist=42.5
    2021: choose to be leaner/stronger/kinder NOW

  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    B)
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    Heather: I hope you are able to stay warm if temperatures get cold. Flooding and snow sound awful. I hope the bad weather misses you altogether. :star:

    (((Allie))): You are in my prayers. I hope all goes well. :flowerforyou:

    Michele: I plan to call the Sight Shop tomorrow. This is ridiculous. Getting a tracking number is a good idea. Thanks. :star:

    Katla in NW Oregon
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,190 Member
    edited January 2021
    By the time I brought the cups of tea up to the bedroom this was the sunrise view over the back gardens.

    hjhon43sy4yz.jpg

    I went into the front bedroom to collect my phone to take a picture and this was what I saw.

    bzy2tkxb0gsl.jpg

    The shopping street turns right about half way along there.

    We've had a bit of sleet and one quick flurry of snowflakes. Very miserable out there now.

    Carol - Yes, I am a lucky woman. Especially because we have always visited friends in Cornwall. Initially I went with my first husband and kids because Neil was my husband's old school friend from primary school! When we divorced I wrote a letter to them and they said I was very welcome any time. They have become really good friends and I see much more of them than my husband does. They have swapped houses with DH and me and stayed with us. We have enjoyed wonderful breaks in Cornwall. I also have other friends who have a second home down there near Bodmin Moor (Daphnie du Maurier - Jamaica Inn). It is a converted Chapel which they rent out on 'mates' rates'. Several fabulous holidays there.
    I love Cornwall so much. <3 It's nice when you see it through locals' eyes as you get a different view. We almost don't feel like tourists there.
    One day we will get back down there!
    Unfortunately Neil has Stage 4 lung cancer (he never smoked, but built his own houses. Dust and chemicals)
    He is doing well on immunotherapy, but obviously has to shield completely.
    Much love, Heather UK xxxxxxxx

  • LisaInArkansas
    LisaInArkansas Posts: 2,355 Member
    edited January 2021
    Morning, afternoon and evening, all,

    Beth and Flea - Beth, your new baby is going to be huge! Gorgeous color, and love his sleeping space. Flea - Your Harley makes me want a puppy... but Egg is right here beside the keyboard giving me the stink eye every time the thought crosses my mind. Corey and I decided no new dogs or cats until she's gone. That got me a bit of the stink eye as well, probably because she thinks she will live forever. Pretty sure she can read my mind.

    Barbara AHMOD     - My husband may work for a landscaping company, but apparently doesn't know one tree from another. He brought four cedars and one holly tree, bless him, rather than the piñon pines that carry pine nuts. I'm OK with it. :) Whatever he brings home is always a surprise--and free is the best price of all.

    Kim - Glad to see you getting away for a few days! Do you take Levi with you, or is Dylan watching him while you're gone? Glad to hear that your mom is getting the vaccine. And yes, I agree that by creating a purely online process, they've shut out an awful lot of people. I was literally yelling that out loud to the Girl Scouts as the pandemic geared up - that by going virtual only, they were leaving out a large part of the girls, but they never could seem to hear me.
    :|

    Slept well last night, probably because I got my 35 minutes on the elliptical done. This week, I'm going to try to get on the machine every day, but don't know if my knees can handle it. It's always hard to tell whether they're hurting due to the arthritis or due to the exercise, especially in the winter, when they ache all the time.

    We decided to wait and let Corey pick up the rest of the trees on Monday after work, as we didn't want to go into town, then ended up going into town anyway. We still haven't been in a restaurant, and have no plans to do so, but Corey had a hankering for ribs, and one of the large local groceries sells barbecued baby back ribs in their deli--a whole slab for $12. Me, I find them greasy, too smoky and altogether pretty nauseating, but he loves them. That $12 provides three meals for him, so it's not horrible in terms of cost. Half of that would cost $25 in a restaurant, so there's that.

    So we did a quick run into town for his ribs--and stopped back by Taco Hell drive through and picked up a chicken quesadilla for me. 510 calories all told, and one of the best things they make. I need to figure out how to recreate that at home with fewer calories. While we were at the big grocery store, we also picked up the Swiss cheese I'll need to make a chicken cordon bleu lasagna for dinner tonight. It's a new recipe, so no idea how it will turn out. Reminds me, I need to get some ham out of the freezer to thaw, both for dinner and lunches for Corey for the week.

    Also found my saline nasal spray this morning, which helps the sinus headaches--wonder if they're worse because the diuretic they have me on is drying out all my body tissues? I dunno. But I'm keeping it on my desk next to the Kleenex. It's already helping this morning.

    Looking back over that, it appears that I'm in monkey mind mode this morning. Welcome to my thought process!

    B)

    Love y'all!
    Lisa in AR
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,817 Member
    This weekend, we organised and hosted a 600 km cycling event.

    For those of you who are not familiar with the type of cycling my husband and I are involved in, it's called Audax or Randonneuring and it is international. It started in France back in the 1800s with one long ride hosted by a newspaper and that ride resulted in the Tour de France and the type of cycling we do.

    As I mentioned, it is international so there are clubs all over the world, with the main organising body in France.

    Our club, here in Australia is called Audax Australia: https://audax.org.au/

    As it says on the front page of that website:

    "Audax Australia Cycling Club is a non profit national cycling organisation specialising in non-competitive long distance bicycle rides from 50 to 1200 km, called “Randonnees”. The challenge of Audax is not in racing, but in pushing your own boundaries and experiencing great personal achievements.
    Audax are held in most parts of Australia, and you will be made very welcome when participating in rides in your own or other Regions. Rides are open to all fit riders, non Audax members are most welcome to join our friendly and supportive participants."


    I would also add that the rides are timed. For rides of 600 km and under, riders must maintain a minimum speed of 15 km/h including all breaks. For rides over 600 km, riders are giving a little bit more time. Minimum speeds are lowered.

    Therefore, a 50 km ride needs to be finished in 3h 20 min, a 100 km ride needs to be finished in 6 hours 40 minutes ... and a 600 km ride in 40 hours, including all breaks. And so on for each distance of 50 km, 100 km, 150 km, 200 km 300 km, 400 km and 600 km.


    I got into this type of cycling in 2001.

    I had ridden recreationally since I was 6 years old and more seriously from April 29, 1990. In 1994, I started some longer distance cycling, riding centuries (100 miles in one go) and up to 200 km rides. In 1998, I started racing with a local team, and raced for 3 years but stopped because the politics of racing were taking up more time than riding. I wanted to ride! That's when I found randonneuring and started riding with the Manitoba Randonneurs in Canada.

    I completed a Super Randonneur series (200, 300, 400 and 600) in 2001 and again in 2002, and then rode the Rocky Mountain 1200 in 2002 ... 1200 km to be completed in 90 hours or less, including all breaks.


    2003 was a big year ... every 4 years randonneurs from all over the world go to Paris to ride the Paris-Brest-Paris. Off I went, and that's where I met my husband! Only it took quite a few years after that for us to marry and get together. That's another story I might tell closer to our next anniversary.


    In 2018, my husband and I were getting ready for the next Paris-Brest-Paris which would be held in 2019. We had done a lot of cycling in the previous two years, and that year we had ridden a 200 km and a 300 km ... and then 2 weeks after the 300 km, he had his accident. All dreams of another Paris-Brest-Paris vanished.

    He started cycling again in August 2018, very slowly, very short distances ... and we've struggled to ride regularly or increase our distances. However, 2020 gave us the opportunity to ride more. I was working from home, so we could go out in the late morning for a ride which suited us both better. And we've been working on cycling the 50 km distance. First actually reaching that distance and then being able to do it comfortably enough to pick up some speed.


    Meanwhile, we've remained in contact with our local state branch of Audax Australia. I am the president and one of the ride organisers.

    So this weekend, was the 600 km ride and we had 3 strong and brave riders start at 5 am yesterday. An hour later, at 6 am, my husband and I tackled the 50 km route that starts and finishes at this same location. And we finished in time!!! Just, but that's OK. It doesn't matter how you place, just that you finish within time!

    Distance: 52.76km
    Elevation: 417m
    Moving Time: 3:01:05
    Elapsed Time: 3:13:29
    Speed: Average: 17.5km/h | Max: 54.0km/h
    Heart Rate: Average: 139bpm | Max: 170bpm


    Then we napped!! Partly because we were both knackered but also because we knew we were going to be up late with the 600K riders.

    We drove out to meet them at about the 270 km point. Then back to the start/finish area (340 km) to welcome them in at the end of the first loop. Then up at 3:30 am to drive out to the breakfast control (where I took the sunrise photo). And back to the start/finish area to nap a bit and wait for them to come in.

    They all made it in good time! And that's another 600 km done for the year.

    I think we all will be sleeping well tonight!


    M in Oz
  • kymarai
    kymarai Posts: 3,600 Member
    Started a post. Phone shifted in lap. Poof! Gone. Will post when I get out of bed and get laptop.
    Ky
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,817 Member
    One year ago today COVID arrived in Australia.



    Continue to stay informed from reliable sources.
    Wash your hands.
    Keep clean.
    Maintain distance.
    Stay home when sick and after COVID tests.

    M in Oz
  • Peach1948
    Peach1948 Posts: 2,473 Member
    :)
  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,042 Member
    Flea congratulations on your new puppy!
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    sh0tzz99 wrote: »
    Don't get me wrong...my top priority is how I feel about the dentist. I would not put the tools as the highest factor. I had a dentist I liked for about 10 years. He retired and sold his practice to an dentist I did not get a good vibe from. I found another dentist that I really like. It just so happens that she has all the newest tools and devices.

    Tina in CA
    I agree! I probably hadn't given all the info. It's sad when a good and trusted health care worker retires or stops working! The 3D X-rays were cool. But not looking in mouth seemed a red flag. I decades back had a recommended dentist known for a the alternative based conferences he gave, but he was not into the technicality of working in mouths, and after I changed dentists (to another one known also known for alternative approaches to dentistry- who was also a friend from dance class), who said tons of people came to her after going to him as he was not careful in the technical side. Indeed he was very chatty and bubbly, and always talking about his international conferences, but no so enthusiastic about working on teeth! :D
    sh0tzz99 wrote: »
    The mister got his first jab of the covid vaccine on Thursday. My advice, if they ask you what arm you want it in, choose your non-dominant arm. He didn't and could not lift his dominant arm for 24 hours. He also got "flu-ish" for a day.

    It's a great day to sit inside and read. Rain all day!

    Tina in normally sunny CA
    Wow! that's a strong effect. I hope he feels better now or very soon.
    barbiecat wrote: »
    :) I think I'm better off just being grateful for the home I own and live in now.

    :)Bananas, there's a lot to be said for trusting your instincts about choosing the dentist. I chose a dentist once because his ad in the yellow pages seemed warm and comforting.

    <3 Barbie in NW WA
    Barbie: did that work out with the one chosen from the yellow pages?
    That must have been a bit of scare with your friend. There is much to be said about loving the home we are in, and for one that is relatively low maintenance, relatively ecological, and economical to heat and so on.
  • KJLaMore
    KJLaMore Posts: 2,827 Member
    Good morning all! Happy Sunday! I am loving all of the pup pics, the scenery pics, and the "people we love" pics! These things make me want to get a puppy, do some traveling, and be with all of you more! <3

    Gingerbread Geography- I love all of the tips on how to prepare my gingerbread man for travel to your areas! I was wondering if any of you would want to be a gingerbread "host"? Each of the kids will take a gingerbread man home with them, he will spend a week at their place doing the things that their family does; then he will be sent (mailed) to five other people so that he can experience different lifestyles, cultures, and regions. He will travel with a small journal/passport so that his experiences can be documented, and I am putting the finishing touches on a private (hosts only) facebook group page where "hosts" can upload pics, and create posts about his activities while he is with them. Is he helping with chores? Taking walks with you? Line dancing? Lifting weights? Going to work with you? Preparing "gourmet" meals? As businesses begin to open up, I am sure he would love to visit museums and other points of interest with you! As I have said before, this is a year long geography lesson, so there is no great "rush" to do things with him and send him home. Let me know if you are interested in hosting. You can message me your address and I can send him along and add you to the private facebook group (if that interests you).

    My visit for my group license is this Tuesday! I am a bit peeved with Tim as I have told him five or six times in the past month that he needs to get his CPR/FA training done. I have given him the link, offered to sit in the class with him (it is all on zoom); BUT HE is the one that needs to do the work and take the test. I reminded him again, this weekend, that my licensing consultant would be here on Tuesday and he looked at me like I never tell him anything! Grrrr... SO...I will sit with him today and we will watch the three videos we need to watch regarding CPR/First aid/ and AED. I would kill him; but then I would have to start over and do all of the paperwork with another assistant. Sheesh!

    It has been cold here the past few days. In the low 20s with the windchill putting us in the single digits. It does make it hard to get the kids out. They love going out, no matter the weather; but the getting them all dressed is exhausting! And God forbid, one of them has to use the potty after they are all bundled up! Then we get outside and they last for somewhere between a half hour to an hour and they are cold and ready to go in. *sigh*

    Dream home - My dream home has always changed based on do I want my dream home to be one that I work out of? Or one that I retire in? The things that don't change: I want to update my kitchen. I have a double sink, but like Machka a smaller third sink for produce prep would be ideal. My sink is a large enameled cast iron one that I wouldn't trade for the world for one of the stainless steel ones. I need new countertops, new flooring (mine has rips) and I have a design in my head for my lower cupboards. I would also like to raise my ceilings in the living room and kitchen area to make it more like one large a-frame style ceiling. I would also like a wrap around porch, that would begin with a ramp that runs along the north side, leading to a west facing front porch (with stairs on this side leading to the front yard) that is large enough for a few chairs and a couple of tables (nice for coffee), then it wraps along the south side of the house but becomes an enclosed space (think green house) of all windows (door off west side for entry) wide enough for some plants, a couple of chairs and an endless pool with a retractable floor to cover it when not in use. The southside enclosure would wrap around to the east side of the house with another door entry to a hot tub and seating area on the southeast corner (because that is where my room is), then would have stair leading down into the back yard. Once the porch is built, I would like to put in a front door entrance into the living room and then a couple of french door entrances from the living room into the enclosed porch area. Now...the raised ceiling would leave an open space above the bedrooms that I think would make a nice all purpose loft area. We have enough space in our living room to put a small spiral staircase up to that area. lol I have put some thought into this.

    BUT As much as I like these kind of dream/planning thoughts; it does give me a case of discontent with what I have! SO...I have a question for you. What is your favorite room in your house, and why?- For me...it is my kitchen. For me, kitchens mean home, family, comfort. When invited to someone else's house, I feel most at ease sitting in their kitchen table. The most comfortable chair in the house is at the kitchen table. My memories of my parents are almost always of them in the kitchen or at the kitchen table. Hands down. I love a kitchen. Whether it is big and fancy and just the way I want it. Or small and something I can get by with.

    Well, I better get busy! Love to you all! Sending prayers/healing vibes to you Allie. Fae as well, as you are probably healing from your recent dental experience. ttfn xoxoxo KJ (Kelly)
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    THANKS FOR ALL THE LOVELY PICTURES!

    @kymarai I definitely had people over less these past years, but I thought it was more personal: more pressed for time so much less relaxed for even simple potluck organization, and evolving relationships...couples often tend to invite couples, not singles, and so on...I read online that dinner parties are more informal these days (pre-COVID) as few have time for a fancy dinner party like in the old days. (dinner party meaning 4-6 or more having dinner at one's home). I think in old days, young, having pasta and omelet and sitting on floor together was fine, and wonderful, and as we get older we might have or think others our age might have higher expectations. Also, one time when I made a Nic-ish dinner for 10, (full, nice 3 course meal for 10) one close-ish friend joked (but not really joking) that it made her feel like she would have to do the same if she had me over.(though she had other qualities, she was not a great kitchen person, the one time she had me over, she offered a boiled potato and olive oil! :D )
    exermom wrote: »

    Bananas – do you REALLY need 2 assistants??? You’re making the right decision

    I used a gift card that the soup kitchen had given me for Christmas. Honestly, I was expecting that they only put $5 on it, Vince thought they probably put $10 on it. Turns out they put $15 on it.

    Have a container of sour cream that Colby bought that I can’t return (the store won’t take a return except for the same type of item, like if you get Pepper Jack cheese, it has to be for another pepper jack. If the one you are returning is slices and the one you want is a block, then they will exchange that. Please don’t ask me to explain that). Anyway, I want to use up the sour cream so I think I’ll make Vince a sour cream banana bread today.

    Michele NC

    @exermom I'm not sure the 2 assistants were his. maybe there were 2 dentists. but the adresse and equipment were fancy, and the place was a bit sprawling, (by Parisian standard) and a bit fancy. If you are very well off and live nearby, why not! That is not my case, so I'd prefer not to pay for the real estate.
    Snowflake1968 wrote: »
    ..
    We haven’t had dinner at a friends house in probably close to 10 years unless it was a holiday thing. Ever since social media became the norm it seems people choose not to be social in the real world. I’m saying that but as I’m typing I started thinking about my girls, they were teens when Facebook came out Lauryn grade 12 and Kaitlyn grade 10, in normal times they actually do have dinners with their friends in homes quite regularly. Maybe because of younger children, less money or maybe they miss physical socializing more than we do. I haven’t even had a friend for a coffee for probably 3 years.
    ...

    I have heard from my cousin today, my fears were confirmed. I think she is sorry she survived and upset that her husband got to her in time. She is still in hospital and I hope he stays there until she gets the help she needs. I don’t think it had anything to do with her marriage, it seems it’s all her health issues that are not easing off.

    Rodger installed the new dishwasher today and I’ve ran the first load through. When it is done I will check the dishes. It was much quieter.

    I had my first physio appointment today. I have to return on Tuesday and Saturday next week as well. I was correct in my diagnosis and my right hip is frozen and that is causing all of my issues. She gave me one exercise to do once every 3 hours while I’m icing it. The rest of the time she told me to continue what I was doing, that we need to take it slowly. We are starting with 6 weeks of treatment twice a week, thankfully my benefits cover some of it.

    I am off for a bath. I found some wonderful bath salts that have CBD and THC in them and they relieve me of pain for about two hours after I’ve gotten out of the tub.

    Tracey in Edmonton

    @Snowflake1968 Tracey, interesting, several of us had way less people over, pre-COVID.
    I somehow missed your first post about your cousin, but I get the gist. I'm so sorry.

    a quieter appliance is wonderful.
    great that you got a confirmation of diagnosis. I hope you get the care you need. I often see an osteopath (in usa I think chiropractor are more common, but with some similarity) after the 1st initial emergency inflammatories phase passes and it can sometimes help massively on the medium and long term, it seems to me.
    Machka9 wrote: »
    At about 6 am ...


    We're hosting/organising a 600 km randonnee this weekend. 600 km in 40 hours including all breaks. That spot is 400 km into the ride. :)


    Machka in Oz
    Wow that's so much! I'm impressed.
    ginnytez wrote: »

    Julie-never gone commando, but now you have me thinking about it! Thanks for sharing Times article. I do not miss grading!

    One thing to gain in 2021? Being physically present with my kids and grandkids! I miss those hugs.

    Busy week this week. Worked on doors more today. Got some basics done around the house. Took break from exercise. New routine is working my arms and core-not too sore but can tell I am working muscles.

    Have second half of congregation meeting tomorrow. Since I am currently council president, I will go into church for that. We only have around 20 or so that attend service in person. Meeting is set up for in-person and zoom. Will be easier if I am present. ...

    Ginny in Ohio

    @ginnytez keep us posted about going commando if you try it?
    Ah, I hope you get to gain hugs again in 2021 too. Good idea. I'm gonna borrow from that lead! I used to find it too risky (occasional discharge, early period or risk of wardrobe malfunction), but now with winter layers and distancing and menopause the risks are next to nil. :D Bi-modal meetings are not so easy but it is great that they can be so inclusive. Wishing you safe driving.
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    @oregonmother Flea, lovely pup! <3

    @auntiebk getting out 3x in a day is awesome. I tend to do 2 but today I think it's gone be one! big wet snow falling first and now rain...I have about 200 students in 9 classes in 3 schools. It's a handful. In 2 of the schools we have groups that tend to top out at 15 per class, so I get to have a feel for each student somewhat. I shortened the homework assignments due to distance stuff (much longer to correct) but even for shorter texts, it takes at least 2x as long to correct and a bit more to manage.


  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    Hello lovely ladies!

    HAVING PEOPLE OVER
    I used to have people over all the time, eat, sleep, etc.
    I feel like some have or may have higher expectations with age and so for those I'm not super close to, 'im afraid I should have a better xx (meal, home, etc).

    When young a spontaneous shared pasta meal and friends sleeping on the carpet or many sitting on floor was very very common.

    I think social media comes into play too, like at least one of you said. Now we can still interact at any hour online, choose among millions of things to watch or read online. I went to an art performance last week (with masks and distance). I was happy to go out and see a couple of people I knew; but it was just ok at best, and the heating was seriously lacking (quite cold) and the host was not so welcoming. When I had some similar opportunities this weekend, I thought, "home is warm and cozy...", why spend 1-2 or more hours out in cold to have a possibly uninteresting moment. But this is definitely partly the COVID context. In regular life, meeting without masks is friendlier and if the thing is too cold or whatever, one can go grab a coffee or something nearby...

    WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO GAIN IN 2021
    Physical contact again. I like the (air) kisses on cheeks, and the often touching people on elbow as we do it.
    GOING TO CAFES! I miss that terribly! When we had a meeting last week we couldn't meet in a café before to pre-organize and it was really too cold to be outside, similar for after. I had to go straight home because I couldn't go to a café. When correcting papers and they are too numerous, I go to a café, and often share a word or to with the people working there, and other regular customers (a highschool teacher, a graphic design teacher and a recently unemployed web manager). it is so much more fun. When I'm stuck on thesis, and need to get away from distractions of home, I go to café...
    A PHD. this is the last year possible. as I have said, it's hard, for me, anyway, at present anyway.
    CONCRETE RESULTS IN WORKERS RIGHTS THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON. We are apparently making waves, and drawing attention to the situation, but it's not done till its done. A path that takes time, for sure. Apparently the thing we are working on has been worked on from time to time for 20 to 30 years, with many promises, and little to no results.

    We are, so far, taking a somewhat different tack, which seems to be working somewhat, but its not done till its not done.

    One difference is we are a collective, not a union. So members are from different competing unions and some are people who are not union members, and about 500 out of about 2500 teachers have signed. (and some are not aware of the petition yet). Like in many places, there is the existance union "corruption" or bias at very least here: union leaders who fight for improvement only one or some type(s) of situation(s) or employee(s) and agree (pretty much) to turn a blind eye to some in worse situations, as a negotiating strategy. ("If you give us x, we won't mention or really work on Y). Or other problems, like everywhere in life. So, many are turned off of unions for such reasons. Others are more center or center-right politically, and have a feeling that unions are big, noisy whiners. etc, etc. In our group, we have pretty high integrity people as far as I can see. We could also be corrupt, but we are not.

    Surprisingly there are less union members in France (known for it's big strikes!) than in the usa!
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    FAVORITE ROOM AT PRESENT
    Bedroom. More cozy, comfy bed. Rest at end of day.

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