My Happy List - What I Enjoyed in March (Vol. 7)

In keeping with my plan to periodically "check-in" and share some of the things that have brought me enjoyment, (ENJOY is my word of the year, after all), please allow me to share a sampling of the things that I enjoyed in March.

I enjoyed...

March 1 - the thrill of victory as my current school won a food drive challenge against my former school. Most importantly, both schools collected almost 9,000 non-perishable food items to donate to a local food pantry.  

March 5 - dinner out with my husband and his kids celebrating his daughter's 20th birthday. 

March 14 - having dinner with two of the ladies from my former carpool gang.  I'm so grateful that the unlikely friendship we forged so many years ago during our daily commutes has endured despite our work lives taking us in different directions.

March 17 - seeing the musical Get on Your Feet.

March 24 - the DQ Oreo Blizzard I treated myself to after having walked 11.6 miles the previous day.  I've had countless Blizzards in my lifetime, but that one was one of the best I've ever had.

March 28 - celebrating my grandparents' 68th anniversary! 

March 29 - the accidental hiatus I've taken from blogging during most of the month.  March 2019, so far, is the "quietest" month of blogging that I've had since I started back in 2015.  This hiatus wasn't planned either; I've just been very busy with... life.  During the few occasions when I found myself sitting down with my laptop to compose something, I had nothing.  <Cue crickets chirping>  One week without blogging rolled in to two and so on and instead of freaking out and forcing myself to publish something, anything, I decided to just go with it and let it be.  Even though this is going to sound funny coming from a blogger, even a small time blogger like myself, I truly enjoyed not blogging this month.  I do believe that the universe speaks to us if we are willing to listen.  Obviously, the universe knew I needed a break and I'm happy that I listened.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Currently... (Vol. 37)

Taking... a sick day.  I've felt as if I've been fighting some bug all week and this morning I finally had enough.  Trying to do speech therapy with a sore throat and laryngitis is not fun.

Hoping...  that March is a little drier than February.

Yes, that's a little over exaggerated, but sometimes it has felt that way.

Over...  rain, winter coats, rain, cold, rain,  perpetually gray skies, rain, and winter in general.  Oh, did I mention rain? Seriously, Louisville received something like 8.5 inches of rain last month.  So. Over. It.

Dreading...  the time change that's coming up this weekend.  This one throws me for a loop.

Fed up with...  state politicians who have declared war against public education and public school employees.  I have paid into the Kentucky Teacher Retirement System for 19 years, whether I wanted to or not.  It is not an option. When I retire, all I want is what was promised to me, it's that simple.  As a speech pathologist, I could've made a lot more money working in the medical sector, but I chose to work in the schools for several reasons.  One reason was the defined retirement benefit.  I have been willing to take the lesser salary over time in exchange for a defined pension.  I resent the governor of Kentucky and several members of the state legislature for making public school employees out to be selfish and unreasonable when we voice our concerns and fight back.  

Urging...  members of the state legislature to think outside the box in terms of finding alternative revenue sources.  For example, if you cross the Ohio River and go to one of the many casinos in Indiana, some that are on the banks of the Ohio River itself, the majority of license plates on the cars in the parking lots are from Kentucky!  Can you imagine the amount of $$ that is going over the state line, money that we could put to good use here at home?

Tired...  of the general public referring to educators as "over paid babysitters."  My response:

1. Trade jobs with any teacher for one day and at the end of the day let's talk.  Oh, how I wish this would happen.
2. Babysitting would pay more.  Think about it - $10 a kid per hour x 25 students in a class = $250/hour.  $250/hr. x 7.25 hours in a day = $1812.50/day.  $1812.50/day x 175 schools day per year - $317,187.50 per year.

Apologizing...  for the rant.  Sorry to be such a "Negative Nancy," but I've just had it on several levels.  On to more positive things.

Enjoying...  the larger, rainfall-like shower head that my husband bought and installed "just because."  It's absolutely heavenly.

Loving...  these wise words from Disney:

Counting... down the days until Spring Break (12 work days including today).  

Walking... a lot. If the weather cooperates, I will walk 18-20 miles this week.

Looking...  forward to seeing the musical On Your Feet at the Kentucky Center next weekend.

Reading Listening...  to the audiobook In Movement There is Peace: Stumbling 500 Miles Along the Way to the Spirit.

Watching...  not much.  The Masked Singer season finale was last week and the only other show I've been watching, other than CBS Sunday Morning, is Shameless.  It's season finale is this Sunday.  

Wishing... my dad a very Happy 70th Birthday and my maternal grandparents a very Happy 68th Wedding Anniversary at the end of the month!

Laughing... at this: 

I know...  it's corny!  LOL!

Agreeing...  with:

February in a Snapshot:

What have you been up to lately?

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What I Enjoyed in February - My Happy List (Vol. 6)

I've participated in this weekly linkup sporadically in the past, but never with any regularity.  Two weeks ago, I posted an entry about my word of year - enjoy.  After posting it, I decided that I should periodically "check-in" and share some of the things that have brought me enjoyment.  I don't plan on chronicling something everyday from here on out, but rather just a sampling that I'll share at the end of the month.

I enjoyed...

February 14 - ...tossing the confetti that a co-worker decorated my work table with around all day with my students.  We made a mess, but had a ball celebrating my birthday!

15 - ...the fruit basket I received at work (birthday present).  It contained the yummiest pears.

16 - ...listening to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine during my somewhat chilly, but sunny 6-mile walk.  

17 - ...eating the rest of the chocolate dipped strawberries R gave me for Valentine's Day for breakfast.  Hey, they're fruit, right?!?  LOL!

18 - ...the deep tissue massage I got today.  It was nice...

19 - ...seeing a coworker (whom I used to work in the same building with many years ago) at an after school training.

20 - ...the glass of Blushing Monk I had with dinner.

21 - ...having drinks and a leisurely dinner with my speech path friends at the conference we attend every year.

22 - ...the two morning sessions I attended at the conference that focused on the effects of screen time on brain development in children.  Rarely can I ever say that I enjoyed a session.  There are many sessions in which I've learned a lot, but not necessarily enjoyed.

23 - ...the calm, quiet stillness of my home.  After being away at a conference for 2 1/2 days, I was in desperate need for some introvert recharging time.

24 - ...feeling the warm sun on my face after so many days of rain. 

25 - ...watching both the Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga performance of "Shallow" and the NIKE "Dream Crazier" commercial from the Oscars ceremony last night (that I didn't see until today).  Both made my Monday much better.

26 - ...the new audiobook I started this afternoon during my walk - In Movement There is Peace: Stumbling 500 Miles Along the Way to the Spirit.

27 - ...watching the season finale of The Masked Singer.  Although I batted .000 in guessing any of the mystery singers, I still enjoyed the show.

28 - ...playing the picture version of Apples to Apples with my pragmatic/social language group.  Both boys are all working on using language to persuade and listening to them plead their cases (as to why their picture should be chosen as the best) was hilarious!

What have you enjoyed lately?  As always, thanks for stopping by.

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