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.