Thursday, December 14, 2023

Busy day today packing and doing errands, then flying out at 7:30. Hopefully we get out on time. It is super windy here so I am a bit worried. If we are very late getting into Providence we won't be able to get our car rental. Don't know what we would do then - I have a 9 am appointment with the Vet the next day.

So after all the angst around DH's cardiology tests, all came back normal. They saw one oddity during heart monitoring prior to the pacemaker insertion but it hasn't recurred (the pacemaker monitors constantly). The PCP had suggested a medication to take to keep it from occurring but the cardiologist office says it is okay not to take it because it hasn't happened again. Glad we waited. Not impressed by the staff person we saw there yesterday though. She was very disorganized, never introduced herself and failed to give much definition around the test results - just that he was "fine". I pressed for more stats and looked them up myself. I think it might be a good idea for DH to find a different cardiologist, but he will probably see him again at least one more time. This is one office where I wish they sent an anonymous survey (they don't). They should know that she was much less than impressive but it is uncomfortable to provide the feedback through the portal. Maybe the cardiologist should hear it at the next visit...

Time to get lunch, then run errands. Have a thoughtful Thursday!

Started a separate thread, but will try to delete it. Here's what I posted there:\

Good morning from sunny and chilly CA! People always think of CA as sunny warm So Cal, I think. But here, not so much. Was a chilly 36 this morning. But, it will be in the low 60s this afternoon, which is hardly Minnesota/Michigan winter weather!

My holiday brain is ramping up my dysfunction. I'm having a really difficult time not indulging and succumbing to the plethora of treats around the schools. I am also suddenly behaving like a school boy and wanting an "afternoon snack" after I am done with school. Just shaking my head at my thinking, behavior choices, and frustrations. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me physically inhibiting weight loss. It's all emotional garbage. I'm feeling some anger and confusion over it today.

I am being evaluated this year. It kind of cracks me up to be evaluated by someone who has been in the profession half the time I have and was in middle school when I began teaching. The only "note" I got was because we are a "growth mindset" district (always something on which to improve) was to create slides to display on the TV monitor to go along with my auditory directions. Must meet the needs of the visual learners.... Oh, also got..."It seems difficult for the students to transition between standing and sitting. It's crowded in the room... How can you better manage this?" Yes, well that happens when you take away my classroom and make me push in to a general ed classroom to teach music to elementary students. LOL.... Oh, well....

Happy travel day, Liz!

Weird buttons at the bottom of your post!

Sometimes I think evaluators feel a need to always have something to comment on. Transition between sitting and standing in a crowded room. Give me a break!

Good morning all!

I'm showered and ready for the day. (I realize this is no longer an impressive fact, but in my defense I started writing this at 9) Kirby was up early.

I am far enough out in the boonies that you can't ge****er bottles delivered here (the 5 gallon kind). I have been drinking the water here as I seem to have a lot of filters in my utility room. But I was getting a UPS delivery from a guy who put in the water filters here (he does it on the side but says the UPS benefits are too good to quit). He asked if the previous owners ever put in a reverse osmosis system and I said no.

Granted he was trying to sell me something, but he reiterated a point I knew which is that AZ ground water has a lot of natural arsenic in it. What I didn't know was that the filters I have don't filter it out. I know we are within "acceptable" levels on our community well, but are there acceptable levels of heavy metals? I don't want to put in yet another filter (and reverse osmosis wastes a lot of water when I already seem to use too much). So I am getting a water cooler for in the pantry and will get bottles from one of my two choices. I can either get Primo bottles from Walmart or Home Depot (owned by Sparkletts) or bottles from a local water store that boasts all kinds of fancy water with different added minerals and filtering systems (RO, RO plus minerals, distilled, distilled plus minerals, "dynamically enhanced structured water" run through Shungite stones containing antioxidant fullerenes - it is Sedona after all- and alkaline Kangen machine water). I just need to go in there and assess how I would know they aren't just filling them up from the hose out back... Very long boring story to tell you I am going to go talk to them today.

And Kirby has school today. He's blessedly napping right now...

I hope everyone has an excellent day!

Who knew there were so many different choices for water?

Greetings all

Yet another sunny calm day here. The slider is open and the dogs are basking on the deck. Even though I am proud to be from the midwest and think it has a lot to offer, i do not miss the snow. Specifically having to remove it and driving in it.

Safe travels Liz. You amaze me with all you do. Cardiology staff does not sound so hot. I say be upfront and state your concerns on the survey. You can be objective without being unkind. Glad the tests are normal.

CC who knew there were so many water options. You are wise to research. I have often thought of putting in some kind of purifier in our kitchen. Safe water matters but sometimes the sales pitch can sound sort of woo woo. But you will make a good decision. Enjoy puppy class today even if it is just one puppy.

Peps holidays are indeed a nightmare for those of us with eating issues. No doubt teachers lounges are sugar factories. Just don't beat yourself up. Does no good. And jeez on the evaluation. How can you better manage transition from sitting to standing? Seriously? Kids don't do it fast enough or are boisterous? Seems like effective music instruction is a little more important.

Holidays = anxiety = carb eating. My theory.

Not much else. Did some studio work yesterday and will finish more today. Time to get hair washed and then make a strategic plan for Christmas shopping. Book store, winery, hardware store. May wait until Saturday for winery as it's in this dinky town where my studio friend is building her house so I can go take a look as I have not yet seen it.

Brother is out of the dangerous country and may be on a flight home. Not sure of exact schedule plus lots of time zone changes. I will feel so much better when he is back to USA. Takes time to know if treatment works.

Amazing but I have nothing to ***** about. Life is good. Diane S

Liz, awesome that cardiologist report was good. After a health scare, you need to hear that all is under control so you can relax.

The weather here is awesome, 50, sunny, dry no snow. We're almost mid or northern California! It can't last, so every such day must be savored.

Peps, we have a 3 year evaluation cycle. Year 1 and 2 are less intense, you are observed by teachers on special assignment. They are not supervisors or admin, they are coaches. I enjoy having them in my room, they are colleagues, and we have more "real" conversations. Year 3 is admin observations (2). I was year 3 last year, so I never have to do another "year 3" if I retire according to plan. This pleases me :)

God Speed to your brother Diane, hope he is home soon!

CC, I grew up drinking well water. The water had a somewhat sulphur smell, but apparently was safe. So I think just regular old city treated water is a real treat. Apparently the water here is hard, but I swear you could almost chew the well water I grew up with, so seems nice to me.

Today many things happened. I'll just say this: I had 3 students called out of my class of 11 (small group setting) to the dean's office on separate issues. I'll find out how many suspensions went down tomorrow.

Tonight I had dinner with BFF and college roomies. So wonderful to be together and remember our youth and still have so mu*****ommon still. We are getting together with the spouses again in January.

Here comes Friday!!!!