May Update

April was  a lot. A lot of good and a lot of not so good. The focus for May truthfully is survival. How to get through the longest month of the school year the one with no breaks feeling whole. Our bodies NEED breaks. If we don't take them proactively, our bodies will take the break for us; at the most inopportune time. 

1. More dental work - I got my 3rd deep clean- this time they did top and bottom in one go.  It was rough and I had a lot of pain coming out of it, but it's done. I also got prepped for a crown I will get in June.  It's a lot of work in short order, but I am working on making changes to better myself and my teeth are a really big part of that. 
2. 
   Seattle Rock Orchestra Does the Beatles. This is my second year going and I loved it.  The front row seat was great but next year I think I'll go with row B to have a built in chair with arm rests instead of a padded folding chair- Lesson learned.  Also hope to bring my mom next year as they do the show every mother's day weekend. 
   
   
3. 

    I spent Mother's Day at the Zoo and Aquarium- along with what felt like everyone else; but I can't blame people for wanted to get out and enjoy what was a perfect PNW day.  I could have spent hours were it not for the screaming children watching the Sting Rays, Hammerheads and the Sea Turtle swim above my head. I will have to go back on a week day in the summer to enjoy it more. But Point Defiance is a wonderful zoo and the location in the sun on the water couldn't be better. 
4. I took another step in separating my life from my ex getting the car transferred into my name and getting it insured. Also had to get a new battery, because life happens. It's be a very expensive month with the car. But its really mine now so I'm okay with that.
5. 
   Remlinger Fun Park which was just a disappointment- not even county fair level fun, several rides weren't even open yet- I know it's early in the season and it was rainy, but if you don't have full activities you shouldn't be charing full price. I did the ferris wheel and train ride and the big swing. *If you have children between 18months and 5 years this place is probably great* They do make good beers and ciders- but don’t pay for the “amusement park”as an adult unless you are with very excited small children.  
   
   
6. So I road tripped up to Snohomish for my favorite meal from Pie Dive Bar and walked into a motorcycle rally. There is NOTHING that could stop me from getting my Thanksgiving pie and Fireside Chat cocktail- the extra 4 block walk just made more room in my stomach. I also saw some beautiful motorcycles, because while riding them isn't my thing, I can appreciate art. Until they start, then it's full body sensory overload. 
   
7. 
   Another cooking class at Whisk focused on Spring Risotto  Not as good as my other class- I have a personal opinion that if you are going to book a team building session it should have to be a private class or activity the group was loud and caused the instructor to have to think about 4 different cooking speeds hers (cooking for multiples) the groups of 3 2 and 1 - and she wasn’t great at it- I won’t take a session run by her again as I ended up standing around and mu rice ended up over cooked. She also talked negatively about another chef that works at Whisk and their methods and cut me off mid question to do so. I will absolutely make the cake again but it’s good to know not all classes are created equal. 
   
8. 
   
   
   
   
   Another cooking class- this time through Cozymeal which pairs chefs with people looking to learn. events are held in their own homes or cooking spaces - this one was for Italian food- specifically Gnocchi.  What a treat! The class was small- only 5 of us and our instructor Andrea- He's from Torino Italy and it was a joy to be welcomed into his home for this event. He truly made us feel welcome and taught us a lot. This course varied from my courses at Whisk in that several of the sauces were made in advance allowing us to have richer flavors than our class would have allowed for. Also we got to actually talk to each other as there were only 6 of us total compared to the normal 16 at Whisk.  We made spinach and ricotta gnudi in a tomato sauce. Potato gnocchi sauced 2 ways; tomato sauce and a basil walnut pesto that was to die for and finally a butternut squash gnocchi. We also made a salad and chef had prepared a lemon cake in advance for us to have as desert.  I will absolutely take another class from Andrea and will look into other small class size courses form Cozymeal again when I get back from vacation.       
                                                       
9. Trump was convicted on all 34 counts.  We teach our children that will be held accountable for their actions and their words. And I am so pleased that by a jury of his peers that Donald Trump was held accountable for his actions in a court of law. Wont know the consequences until July, and he could still run for office, but just seeing him be held accountable makes me feel better. 
   

   

   4 photos of tiny ducks hidden around a school
   10. THE Ducks!! I've been putting tiny ducks around my school for the last month- for no reason other than that they bring me joy- and honestly that's enough. As of the end of May I have put out 200 ducks and when I see one I smile. When others see them they smile. Teaching is a hard job - Teaching seniors in May and June is harder. So here's to the ducks!
   
   

   11. Finished writing and distributing my senior letters- A tradition Going 20 years strong. I started writing personalized notes to my friends at the end of my Freshman year of High School and included the 10 rules for living as a part of their card. 20 years later this years group is about 60 students who all received hand written notes and a copy of my 10 rules to send them out into the world with.