Teri Parris Ford's Blog

Holiday Weekend

I wish every weekend was a 3 day weekend, but then I guess it not make them so special. Jim came down for the holiday and I almost finished painting the kitchen. I am slowing ticking off a long list of things to do before I have to sell the condo (lot of time). Painting the kitchen was not high on the priority list as it was just remodelled not that long ago BUT Monika hated the color we picked (orange) and we have been slowly painting everything, including the ceiling "crisped white" as well as replacing all plugs and switched to white (from tan). 

On Saturday we made it out to a Vegan Sausage Fest and Monika was very happy to get a couple of gourmet brats. On Sunday we went to the pool for the first time this season and had a big BBQ with Monika, Erika, Kelly, Jim and I. We cooked up corn, made vega potato salad and had both regular brat (for us meat eaters) and Beyond Brats (for the vegans). Jim is now fully vegan and seems to enjoy the process. I like eating vegan and how it makes my body feel but when I get an opportunity to cheat with meat, I do!

Mid May Moving

I got sick again last week. This is the 3rd time I've been sick this school year, more than any other year I have taught in 25 years. I'm not sure if it is because I'm older or if there is just so much more out there. I kicked off the school year with a bout of Covid and have gotten an aggressive cold (RSV?). I do not wear a mask and I should. Between the cold, age and it being the end of the year, I am weary and ready for a summer break. I'm starting to feel like I may be ready for retirement soon (next year or two?).

On Sunday Monika got us tickets to go see Lion King. I was able to invite my friends; Joe brought his family, Grace and Patty both brought their husbands. It was a very fun evening. I sat next to Joe's wife who also had a cold, so I did not feel bad not wearing a mask since both of us were blowing our noses.

At school, I am working on finishing up. The newspaper is working on a senior issue and the yearbook is fixing up a small mistake. We got our books delivered a week early which gave us plenty of time to fix a broken QR code. We used a free website to make the code and it expired. I made a new one with Adobe and purchased stickers. After printing 1000 off, the kids started working on sticking them all in. It is a very minor mistake. There are a few spelling mistakes, but so far, the book looks so good. The kids want me to tell them it is the best and I hate telling them I have to wait until it gets out there. I have to wait until I get complaints. That's the thing, I only hear the complaints. It's part my feeling a bit low at this time year-- I am afraid of those potential complaints. I haven't gotten them, but I know how horrible that feeling is when a mom emails complaining about how we left their kid or spelled their kid's name wrong. Mom's tend to think other kids did it on purpose and want heads to roll. Only once I got an email from a mom who thanked me for all the work but wanted to inform me of a minor mistake regarding her kid. I was so impressed with how sensitive this woman was with me. I wish everyone could be that kind, but they aren't.  I shared with my students, that no one ever contacts me to tell me how great the book is, so they needed to listen to what kids are saying and remember to share a few good comments my way. I could use a few nice words every so often.

Prom and Spring is here!

Prom used to be Mother's Day weekend but this year it came the week before. The weather warmed up just in time for a wonderful weekend. I still have photo duty-- which just means setting up lights and cameras, getting student volunteers and supervising them. It makes for an easy in and easy out, without much clean up. One camera ran out of batteries and another ran out of disc space, so it was a great excuse to leave early. I can barely stay up after 10pm these days. It's a fun evening, seeing all the kids dressed up and acting their best. 

With the yearbook done, my May is pretty open. I'm working on a lot of projects, but nothing pressing. I have the June issue of the newspaper which needs to be printed for graduation. I'm working on a highlight reel of animations featuring student work for film fest. I need to organize yearbook distribution with a viewing party featuring pies, a BBQ, a luncheon with cake and senior gifts. Plenty to keep me busy, but not too stressful. I'd like to paint my kitchen white when there's time at home when I have energy. I started but it's going pretty slowly since I'm in no hurry.

It's May!!

I took my Animation classes to see Super Mario Bros on Friday and boy, what an amazing day it was. We had to walk to the theater (28 min walk according to Google) to save on transportation costs and we had perfect weather to make for a perfect field trip. Monika met me there and I invited a couple of parents as well so we were well supervised.

Today is the first day of May but it doesn't feel like it quite yet. After several warm days in April, we are back to cool weather, which really dampens the mood. Everyone had the "Monday's" at school. By 7th hour, more than half of my students were absent. I got home early and walked on my treadmill to get some milage in. Monika is gone to a concert in Milwaukee tonight so I am home alone, enjoying a very low key evening without a lot to do. I ate leftovers, after some news, will go to bed early. 

The yearbook is done!

My students finished the yearbook today and suddenly it feels like school is almost done! There are 44 days left until school is out; or 31 school days. Yes, I am now counting down! Prom tickets go on sale next week and an administrator told me once (when I was the Prom adviser) that once prom is over so are the students. Since the pandemic absences are kind of crazy, add spring weather, senioritis, AP exams, and field trips and it's just going to be nuts. 

I have to be honest, this year the stress of making the yearbook weighed a bit heavier than last. The older I get, the harder it is for me to jungle all the things I do at school. The kids always procrastinate but a few really left it until way last minute, like down to the very last minutes of class today. Spring sports are always difficult and as always, Baseball was the last page done along with Girls Soccer and some senior collage pages. But I walked out of school this evening at 5:29 pm (see picture) and took Monika out to dinner to celebrate. I'll bring in big treats tomorrow (I'm thinking some Dairy Queen Blizzards). On Friday I am taking a bunch of my students to see the Super Mario Bros on a field trip.

Yep, May is just going to fly by!

Change in Weather

Weather in Wisconsin in April is crazy. We had 80's all week and now snow is back in the forecast. We got one last great day yesterday (Saturday) and rain all day today which is supposed to change to snow later this evening. Erika, Monika and I had a BBQ yesterday-- veggie burgers. It was a very pleasant day with our first visit to the Farmer's Market in the sunshine and time to plant veggies and herbs in our garden. 

Sunday started out warm and got colder and wetter as the day unfolded. My Sunday rituals have become pretty regular when I am in Madison. I go grocery shopping as early as possible (usually around 6am) and then spend the morning watching the news and working on the week-- planning my week both at school and personally. The goal is always to wake up on Monday knowing what I am doing or at least what needs to happen. 

Around noon we got a FaceTime from Jessi who is currently in Greece working on repairs on her ship (not her personally). Monika and I got to chat with her for almost an hour. She's on a small ship -- a Littoral combat ship called the USS Indianapolis LCS17. The type of ship that the Daily featured on in February, called the Navy's Very Expensive Mistake, and the New York Time's wrote about. She's currently getting extra time in Greece to make repairs because the both her helicopter (which is one o the oldest ones in the Navy) and her ship (not made for long distance trips) is need of repairs. While in Greece she has phone service, so we've been able to get little bits of communication lately. She is headed to Bahrain and then should be home by August. I'm hoping I have a bit of time to visit her before schools starts, if not, I'll have to wait until Thanksgiving to her next.

 

Holiday Weekend?

At what point did Easter become meaningless in our household? Monika asked yesterday. Jim came down for the weekend so we could celebrate his birthday. We went out to eat to a Jordanian restaurant for an early dinner with Erika & Mon, missing Jess ($120 for just the four of us). The food was amazing but the conversation and joy of being together was the best. I almost forgot it was easter and yes, it is completely meaningless in our household. 

I am just about finished with the fireplace. I hung the mantel on Friday. I need to finish cleaning the grout, add the trim and add a black finishing caulk around the box. I should probable by a fire retardant for under the mantel as I have a bad history of fires running amok. It all looks so nice, I am kind of afraid to have any fires at this point! Here's my Google photo album of before and after images.

I took Jim for a tour of the new art space yesterday and he was very impressed with our spaces. They are currently working on gutting the old space (room 508) which used to be an open studio and creating 3 separate classrooms; a drawing room, computer lab and photo lab, along with an office space and gallery. The days of an open shared studio is over. I am hoping to make the painting room as much my classroom as I can (see below) BUT shared spaces are not complete over. Josh is currently teaching drawing in the painting room since the drawing room is not complete, so he has a strong presence still. In the future, Grace will teach fashion design in that space as well, but I think I will eventually be the primary teacher using the space until I retire-- which I keep vacillating over-- next year or the year after? We shall see how things go next year before making that decision. Right now I am excited to be working and doing all the things I'm doing and I finally feel like I am in command. I have begun to add things to the walls of the painting room I want. I am still looking for a good Star Trek flag to add to the mix!

Working Spring Break

There is just too much to do to take the week off plus, I'm not going anywhere or have much to do at home other than any work I create for myself. I did decide to paint a wall and redo my fireplace. I also hoping to clean out my garage once it warms up late in the week. To kick off spring break, we got over a foot of snow! It was very pretty but I had to shovel early in order to get to work. I ended up having to pick up my editor in chief as well because her mom could not get her car out of their driveway. It made me so glad I had a big truck. I've been trying to decide what car to buy next and have considered a smaller something but not after yesterday. When I have somewhere to get, I want to be able to get there. Between Wisconsin and Minnesota, I want to be prepared for lots of snow anytime. After spending all Saturday at work, Monika and went out for a show. Now that Monika works at the Overture, we have been going to lots of shows. We went to Chicago on Sunday (see photo).

I kicked off my Spring Break Monday going into work and finishing off moving out of the old studio. I've been kind of emotional about this move, but I have to admit the new studio is amazing. Here are lots of photos of the whole build up. I feel like I got a lot of organizing done today. I helped some with the computers being set up and made sure everything was working so when I come in on Monday after spring break there are no surprises. 

I heard from Jessi this week, who is on her way to the Mediterranean. I wish I could fly to meet her out there!! She is on a small ship so suffering from sea sickness for the first time ever. She is not having as much fun as she did on her last deployment, but I do hope this one is shorter. Hopefully once they get across the Atlantic the pace will pick up. I do miss her!

Still Sick

This respiratory illness that has gripped me is still hanging on with a lot sneezing and coughing. I have used my neti-pot religiously and am constantly using cold meds to keep me working. I have moments of feeling better and then I'm back to being miserable occasionally. I think the big department move has lots of dust and stress in the air. We are packing all of our supplies onto wooden carts but still teaching students. It's chaotic but it's a group effort and constantly in flux; meaning dates move, plans change and nothings for sure. In someways it's better that way. We are just winging it. But the stress is taking its toll. 

It's not just work, though. I have surgery scheduled for the summer, and I won't lie, I'm anxious. Jim is way too busy between his job and his army duties and his stress has a way of adding to my stress. Erika was surplussed at Memorial, which means she is looking for a teaching position for next year which makes me so sad but it does make it easier to retire next year if she's not there. She'll probably end up at a middle school as there are plenty of job postings at that level. It'll be good for her to have various teaching experiences, but that doesn't make it easy. 

Sick again

I went years without using a sick day for being sick and this school year I've been sick three times. On Tuesday, we spent the day working moving stuff around, kicking up dust and I came into work on Wednesday feeling sinus stuffiness and muscles aching but from what I thought was moving repercussions. By Thursday I knew it was actually a cold. I took a Covid test Thursday morning before coming into work and it was negative. Luckily on Friday, I had parent-teacher conferences at home via zoom. I started feeling better and thought I'd be able to enjoy the weekend. Saturday, after getting dressed to go out on errands, I felt so horrible, I ended up back in bed by late afternoon. I took another Covid test this morning-- negative, but I'm now wondering if I should take tomorrow off. There is so much to do this week, being sick complicates it a bit, but it certainly makes me step back and take things easier. 

Heating Up

It is starting to feel like spring. There are still bits of snow here and there, so it's not too warm but relatively warm. Anything over 32 degrees feels balmy these days. I am eager for some warmth, so much so I am tempted to go tanning but I'm trying not to spend money. Spring Break is 3 weeks away but I'm not going anywhere warm. I had hoped to visit Jessi in Virginia but she got called up to go to the middle east at the last minute. Well, tanning is cheaper than going to a beach. We'll see.

Things are heating up at work with moving day being the week before spring break. There's just so much to do but I keep chipping away little by little, hoping it's enough. The yearbook is heating up as well. I included my photo here that is going on the yearbook staff page. Working on the yearbook is my favorite part of my job but it can be the most stressful as well. Deadlines are right before spring break, along with grades and the moving. The next few weeks are just going to be crazy.

On a more personal note, I met with my doctor and a specialist last week and it's looking like I will be having surgery over the summer-- a hysterectomy. I also signed up for summer school this summer since my retirement counts the 3 highest years income. This summer may end up being more interesting than I want it to be. As long as the pool is involved, it will be okay.

Life with Perks

It was a very exciting week in Madison. On Tuesday Monika got a couple of tickets to see Jesus Christ Superstar. She is occasionally offered tickets at the very last minute for shows. Tuesday was the second time I was able to see a show downtown and I admit loving the perks Monika enjoys. On Wednesday and Thursday school was cancelled due to weather. Friday had been a teacher only day with professional development for art teachers downtown at Madison Modern Museum. I was able to walk over to the Overture to see Monika at work, taking photos at a luncheon with the actors of the JC Superstar show. I eagerly asked to get a photo in as well. 

Although I had never seen the Broadway musical or movie, I ended up having a very surreal experience watching the show. I got a flood of memories listening to my parent's album in my living room in Santa Fe Springs (LA) singing and playing out the musical. I realized I was not only familiar with the music but I actually knew it deeply. I have been humming along to Everything's Alright it all week. It's been a good one.

3 Weeks later...

Time flies when you're having fun. I have been trying to post weekly but sometimes the weeks go by and I just don't even think about. Last weekend I went to Minnesota to spend time with Jim, clean bathrooms, and work on taxes. We've had 2 snow days, a tour of our new art wing (see photos here), lots of projects in the works and some clean up. I've been busy as department chair and yearbook advisor. While I feel like I have a lot going on, I'm usually free once I get home. I spend time watching the CBS nightly news almost evey night at 5:30pm (I try to leave work in time not to miss it) and I'm almost always watching a different tv show. I just finished Andor and started Picard season 3. I'm finishing up the Bad Batch (Star Wars) and trying to get thru all the Oscar nominated movies. This past weekend, Monika went to stay with Jim while had stayed home to supervise the Winter Dance Saturday night. I painted a shelf and cleaned off our collection of DVD's and Blurays. I decided to start digitizing my movies and putting them all on a Plex account. It will take me a while but the sooner I start, the sooner I get thru my collection! I want it all ready to go out on Plex by the time we fiber installed!

Cleaning Up

Yesterday I came home to homemade minestrone soup. Monika made a spectacular vegan soup with old green beans from Stater Brothers which came from my mother's house. It made me think about the fact there are quite a few items I have not had to buy since my mom passed-- mainly cleaning supplies and plastic bags. Apparently there are quite a few can goods we are still working thru, like green beans. I do miss my mom and think about her often but I do not think she's watching over me or anything like that. I know she'd be very pleased that I've been able to forgo buying plastic sandwich bags and dish soap for so long.

I started the new semester at school with painting 1 and animation, both classes I've taught many times. I purchased a new lumen device which I'm hoping will revolutionize my diet. I'm surprised how much time and energy in my life is just about taking care of myself. As I watch Balt age at a quicker pace, I see him struggle with stairs and incontinence, I realize he's just showing me what's to come in my own life. My vet told me I needed to look into putting him down and I'm struggling with that process. I know losing him will be a hard transition and I'm not ready for that, but I have to start wrapping my head around it.

New Semester, New Projects

The first day of the 2nd semester is Monday. The school year is half way done and the second half always goes faster. I have a great schedule to look forward to but a move in the middle of the semester due to construction. I'm not sure how it will all play out, but I'm ready for the change. Everything changes and life feels so different sometimes. 

I spent this morning painting a wall white in the living room.  I have big plans for re-tiling the fireplace which I hope to do this spring as well as finish painting the ceiling and trim. I'm chipping away at re-doing everything. There are so many projects to choose from every week to work on, but there also seems to be plenty of time for tv too! It's hard to make sure things stay in balance.

Mid January 2023

When I see 2023 written down, it seems so futurist. I realized that several movies have depicted 2023 in the past and the majority of them take place in dystopian, war-torn societies. Luckily that's not my experience. So far 2023 has started off with a bang, enjoying a wonderful vacation with Jim in Germany and having all three girls settled in jobs they love. While dramas play out in our world, I haven't got much in my life. Balt is dealing with some discomfort, but is on pain meds to make his life easier. I have to make a big decision soon on when or whether to let him go. I know my mom would be eager to put him down (she actually told me to put him down back when she was alive), but for the past 11 years he's been such a big part of my life and that change will be difficult. Although the idea of not having to pick up poop constantly is very appealing. 

Last weekend I was able to upload my 1 Second a Day video for 2022. I had to speed it up to fit under 5 minutes so it's actually more like 1 Second for 2 Days and I picked one of my top 5 songs for the year to accompany. It's a pretty accurate depiction of my year-- nothing too exciting, lots of driving and a bit of fun here and there. I can only hop 2023 is just as exciting. 

Week in Cologne

The day after Xmas Jim took me to Germany for the holidays. He loves all things German at this time of year. I've often wondered how nice it might have been if he'd studied Italian or Greek history instead of German?? I do admit that our German visits are very nice so I'm not complaining. We've been living on pretzels, brats, salami, cheese and coffee, wondering cobblestone streets and visiting museums, Christmas markets and cathedrals. We took a bus from Madison to Chicago and flew to Frankfurt. We made it to Cologne the next morning by train. This is both of our first trips to this part of the country. Cologne is an amazing city and a great place to party in the new year. The fireworks started at 8pm and went on until nearly 2am. The train station is right across from the large gothic cathedral which wasn't actually finished until 1880. There are a dozen Roman churches, all rebuilt after WW2, around the city as well. We visited a modern art museum, chocolate museum and the first cologne shop as well as daily trips the Christmas markets. The weather has been so mild with bouts of rain occasionally. 

We are currently on the train to Berlin where we will take a second week of shopping and wondering. Jim has been to Berlin several times, and my second time. We both have a list of things to do. But throughout this trip I've gotten more sleep than I have in months along with plenty of exercise. It's the vacation I needed!! 

Vegan Tamales

I grew up with tamales for xmas but I don't have any memories of anyone making them. My grandma and aunt used to make them when I was not around, so I never got a chance to catch their recipes or methods but I caught once that they purchased premade masa at the grocery story, which in Los Angeles would not have been unusual. After my aunt died, my grandmother would purchase tamales from neighbors or friends who made them and then after my grandmother died, my mom began to do the same thing-- purchase them from others who made them. My mom was not a cook. I started trying to figure out how to make tamales on my own once the girls were old enough to be able to help. I wanted them to have some of the traditions I had grown up with-- like tamales for xmas. I started my search for a recipe talking to my cousins, hoping one of them might have been witness to the process-- nope. My memories as a kid were of pork tamales with a lot of fat included. I recall my grandma telling me "I got a good one" when I complained about one tamale being filled only with fat and no meat. After my dad's heart attack I remember there being chicken tamale options instead of pork, but my favorite tamales were always the sweat ones with raisins and nuts.

I've posted about making tamales in the past (2019) (2008) but my recipes are evolving as we have become more health conscious and get more creative with our fillings! This year I used my traditional recipe 4 cups of masa, 4 cups of broth, 1 tb baking powder and 1 cup shortening with a veggie broth (not homemade) and vegan shortening. I thought the masa was a bit bland but I'm not sure if that's because my taste buds are getting old or if I just miss using meat based broth. This year we had 3 different flavors. I roasted poblano peppers and added sprinkled vegan mozzarella cheese. I fried up soy chorizo with peppers and onions, and I pressure cooked up some pinto beans that I refried and added in vegan cheddar cheese. I grew up with roasted Anaheim peppers used for salsa and cooking in California but my local grocery store did not have any available (not even in a can) so poblanos were the next best and I must admit, the pepper and cheese ones are my favorite with the most flavor! The bean option is definitely the most bland. This year I did not double wrap my tamales to steam since I wasn't giving any away nor did I tie color coded ribbons on any of them to identify them since we only made vegan options. 

I'm on vacation

Vacation this year is a little weird. Our 16th week of school only had 2 days with vacation starting on a Wednesday. I had so much work to do, I actually went into work anyway to finish up a bunch of things mostly with the yearbook. I also took Balt to the vet to discuss incontinence issues he's having. We ended up talking about end of life options instead of treatment options as I had hoped. It's not an easy decision but I can hear my mom telling me to put him down. We decided on doubling up his pain medication to see if that helps-- 2 types, twice a day. 

Thursday ended up bringing a winter storm with frigid temperatures and blustery winds and was a snow day for many school districts still in school. I spent the whole day in comfy clothes and never left home. For me, it was my first day feeling like I was on vacation. Monika and I made vegan tamales with poblano chilies, soy chorizo, vegan cheese and homemade pinto refried beans. I let them steam all day while I did some organizing of files and bit of cleaning. I'm trying to get the garage cleared out enough so when Jim comes he can park in there. It won't be easy. Because of the weather he delayed coming to Madison until Xmas eve which just gives us both more time to get things done before being able to really enjoy vacation. He's grading papers which I'm happy to have him stay in Rochester to finish so he won't bring it here. 

Happy Holidays!

The back of the card says, "2022 kept everyone healthy & safe. Teri & Erika continued their work at Vel Phillips Memorial High School. Jessi was sent out to see on the USS Kearsarge, visiting many countries on the Baltic Sea. Monika finished her programming certification and got a job in Madison. Jim continues to work at the University of Minnesota Rochester. Love & peace for all for a happy 2023. 

I ordered very few printed cards this year knowing I would post an electronic version for friends on line. I also wanted to fill in a bit more information for the year. Erika and I were offered the opportunity to team teach an art class for students with disabilities. It has been an amazing experience for me to see Erika upclose professionally. She is a really great teacher. Jessika spent most of the year abroad visiting a lot of wonderful places on the Baltic Sea and although she is back home, she is still at sea flying a helicopter on the USS Kearsarge on the Atlantic. Monika spent the year living with me cooking a lot of amazing vegan food which was wonderful. I felt like I had my own personal chef most days. After finishing her programming program, she spent a lot of time putting together a showcase resume which helped her land a great job here in Madison. She is a Digital Marketing Coordinator for the Overture Center and I'm so excited about the prospect of getting more opportunities to get out to the theater. Jim is still doing the history professor thing in Minnesota as well as being a Major in the Army (serving at Fort Snelling) and a homeowner so he's too busy. We are both really looking forward to retirement in a few years which will give us more time to ourselves. Yes, I'm on countdown. Balt was left out of this year's card but I included him here for you. He's losing a lot of mobility but still a happy part of our family!

I love hearing from my friends, seeing posts on social media, texts, messages and especially xmas cards. From our family, wishing love and peace to you all and a very happy 2023!