I did not mean to be away for TEN DAYS! But honestly, I’m not surprised, because the lead up to the trip was super busy and stressful, the trip was great AND included 72 hours with no cell service, and the four days since my return have been hectic. I meant to post pictures when I got back, but it never happened because it felt like every minute there was something else that took priority.
{I started this at 7:30am, and am only just now finishing it, fully 12 hour later…}
Five things that got done before I left
- Sub plans. I was gone for two days. I knew my sub. I put together a slide deck for the sub to AirPlay to the TVs (with agendas and exit directions), and a document with notes. I did most of this on Tuesday, when the 11yo came home early sick.
- Packing. I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into (martial arts training at a hot springs where most people soak naked) so packing was stressful. I got most of it done on Wednesday, which was good because Thursday ended up being filled with last minute things to get done.
- 15yo’s Appointment. I had to leave work early on Wednesday to take the 15yo to her doctor’s appointment. This was ostensibly to renew her ADHD meds, but she also had a mental health question (she can get therapy through Kaiser?!) and a personal questions. Then we had to pick up her ADHD prescription at the pharmacy, which took almost 30 minutes (luckily they had it!). We were at Kaiser for over 90 minutes all told.
- Teach at the dojo. I had to teach an hour long class on Thursday night. The timing was not great – I had to much to do that evening! – but it had to be done, so I did it.
- Tons of other stuff. I had to confirm the 11yo’s batting coach practice (I couldn’t find a confirmation email), pack his swim bag (we had taken stuff to Great America), complete a clothing return, do last minute shopping, wash and fold three loads of laundry, grade some tests, the list goes on! It was a busy, busy week!
Things I’ve had to do since I’ve been back
- Catch up work. When you give students two days worth of work, you have to grade it when you get back! I also hadn’t planned ANYTHING for the week I came back, so Tuesday morning was especially stressful as I ran with a ton of papers to the copy machine. I usually have at least the first day back planned and ready when I’m away, but it was so hard to make those two days work for students without me that I didn’t even think about what I’d be doing when I got back.
- Assessments. Two classes took assessments on the day before I left, and I didn’t want to bring them on my trip, so I had to score them when I got back. Luckily my 8th grade classes are smaller this year, so this wasn’t as time consuming as it could have been.
- Baseball games. The 11yo had his first middle school baseball game on Wednesday so I went to most of that. I went to his second game this afternoon (where I wrote much of this!). It’s a lot more fun to watch the games than I thought it would be (I do not enjoy baseball much), but it’s a significant time commitment.
- Chores. So much laundry to do! And floors to vacuum! Also Costco runs! I’ll be playing catch up on chores through the weekend at least.
- 11yo’s Back-to-School Night. I went Thursday and it was a shit show and I’m SO GLAD ours is better organized. I did get see/hear all his teachers and even got to speak to a few.
Health & Well being
- New ADHD meds. My psychiatrist finally read my email and put in and order for my new ADHD medication (Strattera). It’s not a stimulant so it’s not a controlled substance, which means I could order it before I left and it was waiting for me at my house when I got home. It felt like magic. I started taking it on Tuesday (I didn’t take my old meds during the trip to give my body a little break), and so far it’s been good. Right now I’m really happy that I made the switch – we’ll see if that holds! I am cautiously optimistic that it will be as effective for me, while not requiring I show up at the pharmacy fighting for a months’ worth of medication.
- Sleep. I’m still sleeping pretty well. I’ve found I feel tired earlier with my new medication, which means I’m more likely to head to bed earlier and then fall asleep at a more reasonable time.
- Thyroid. I’ve forgotten my thyroid medication more often recently, which stresses me out. My weight has finally stabilized, and while I don’t love where it landed (I’m heavier than I was before I lost the weight in the spring), I’m grateful I can still wear most of my clothes, even if they are tighter than I’d like.
- MHT. After a month of pain-free breasts – when I went down to .75mg instead of 1mg – the girls are really sore again. Is this just the one negative side effect I have to endure for all the benefits? Maybe. There is a .5 patch, and I may request it if they are still this tender in a couple weeks. We shall see.
- Bunion?! I think I’m getting a bunion on my right foot. The bone is noticeably raised and it hurts a lot when I wear certain shoes. I’ve always been weirdly terrified of developing a bunion (my aunt has painful looking bunions on both feet) and after an initial panic attack, I ordered some toe spacers that I hope help stop the progress, and maybe even reverse it? Just keeping it from getting worse will be great. I usually wear Vans or other wide, comfy shoes, but this year I have been wearing more narrow toed shoes and I just got myself a couple heeled booties. Blerg. I hope I can sometimes wear them.
Five highlights from the trip
- Time with friends. I flew/drove/stayed with two friends from the dojo and we had a great time together. I’m so grateful I had two solid connections to build stronger during this trip.
- Training. It was really fun to practice martial arts under the evergreens! We worked on our form a ton and I probably tripled what I know of it. It’s a hard form, so I really appreciated all that time to practice it. We also did a lot sticks, which I loved.
- Hot springs. I really liked the place we stayed (Breitenbush, about two hours south of Portland). The views were beautiful and the hot springs were wonderful. The river was heart-stoppingly cold, but we did swim in it a bit. I was initially nervous about seeing all my dojo-mates naked (more seeing them, not them seeing me), but I got over it quickly and after the first couple hours it ceased to be a thing.
- Weather. We had beautiful weather. It was warm, and it rained a couple nights (I love being in hot water while it rains). I definitely couldn’t have enjoyed the frigid river if it had been colder. But then in the evenings it was cool enough to enjoy the hot springs without over heating. The air was crisp and cool on Monday morning when I went for a run. Some how the weather was always what we needed, and wanted, it to be.
- No cell. There was no cell service at the hot springs. And no WiFi. I actually had to drive out 25 minutes on the first morning to make sure my husband had the phone number in case he needed to contact me for an emergency. It took a while to get used to having absolutely no use for my phone, but once I got past the initial detox, it felt great. It was hard to come back to the expectations of “being within range” after 72 hours of radio silence.
Five photos from Breitenbush
That was actually six photos, but I’m betting you don’t mind.
Hey friend!
I was wondering if you do verbal assessments. I know I’m in high school so the students are *generally* more mature (although you’s be surprised) but you can score verbal assessments on the spot. I actually give mine back the next day since it’s so easy to score. I use a rubric I can share with you and you can adapt it to your levels.
Oregon… amazing!!! I’ve never been. Those photos… Happy you had that opportunity.
This weekend I have a ton to do. And I cannot forget myself in that. Want to go for a run/walk, read my book. Take a yearly family picture- we are behind since we usually do it in August! And it’s bothering me lol Pick up the house- always. Laundry (ugh) and lesson plan for the weeks of 09/22 and 09/29.
I came up with the best idea for my Spanish 3 level- for our “la cocina hispana” unit they will need to research and talk about global food insecurity. I can’t wait!
Wow! I can’t imagine my students talking about global food insecurity in English, let alone Spanish. That is so cool! I do do verbal assessments, and sometimes I do it in the moment, though it’s hard because I have to pull kids back into another room (I have a weird storage room attached to my room that I’ve made into a little work space), and sometimes the rest of the class gets rowdy when I’m not directly in their line of site. Right now I’m using an online voice recorder with my 1B students, but I know they are going to figure out they can write some stuff down and read it and I won’t know so I will probably start doing verbal assessments in person with them too. Those classes are smaller this year so it will be easier to manage that.
Nice! I used to place the desk out in the hallway and do the verbals that way but then the class would rowdy because technically the “teacher is not here” although I AM here. Now I do it in class, in the center in groups of 4, 6 or even the whole class. I noticed that the students are *generally* better prepared when it’s “in front of the class.” Those are by far my most favorite assessments, where the students drive their own learning. A socratic seminar is *chef’s kiss… But yeah the kids have to be a little older.
Wow, that trip sounds AMAZING. It looks so, so beautiful. Sounds like you learned a ton, and it must have been a rejuvenating experience. Yes, no cell phone would feel weird at first! But I think I would love it.
it was probably hard to get back into your busy life after all that. Glad the new meds are working so well.
We’re going through a little cat trauma right now, so say a little prayer to the universe for us. We’re trying to get our older cat to the vet and, let’s just say she doesn’t want to go. We’re trying again this morning and it’s going to be traumatic for everyone involved, oof.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Oh no! Cat trauma! I hope you’re able to get your kitty to the vet. Our last cat hated going so much that they eventually gave us an anti-anxiety med to put in a treat a couple hours before we had to crate her. It definitely helped. Maybe ask for that when you go this time? Or ask them to write it for you so you can have it before you try again…
Thank you for the update. The trip sounds (and looks) lovely and wonderful and thank you for photos. You were even busier than I imagined and am happy for you that everything got done … you achieve amazing things!
Was thinking of you today all the way on 280 highway as I went from it’s southern start all the way into SF and named out loud every exit as memory guide because I was super worried about a tire pressure light having come on, but made it!!! The dash light came on but car handled normally. And tires, when I parked, looked normal so hopefully only either a sensor light on when not needed or a very slow leak I can get fixed on Monday at a garage I know. It is spooky to think of needing to pull over or off for a tire problem on that freeway … or any freeway for that matter.
Lovely to hear from you and wishing you no first had experience with tire pressure sensor lights! Any advice about where to get off and go, on that road on the part you know well? Though I REALLY HOPE to NEVER again have that worry!
What a wonderful trip! So much planning, household things and work things to deal with before and after. But the trip itself, focusing on YOU rather than family and work, must have been a really nice break. No cooking, I assume no cleaning, just working on your martial arts training and being present. I LOVE IT.