This post was originally written on my personal blog in 2003. It has been revised and reposted each year since then. It still seems like just yesterday. I had moved into my dorm at Douglass College just days earlier. As I sat in the dining hall on that beautiful morning with my best friend Erin chatting about our schedules, I remember hearing the morning radio show talking about the Twin Towers. I also remember Erin and I wondering aloud why talk radio was being broadcast in the dining hall and why were the hosts talking about something that had happened in 1993? We tuned it out; it became no ..read more

I just realized that April Fool’s Day is tomorrow. That means it’s not on a school day! Thank god. I’m wrapping up the month by watching the women’s Final Four games, with the men to come tomorrow. College basketball helps me get through March every year! As March winds down, I spent 2 hours tonight commenting on my students’ final blog posts for the Slice of Life challenge. As usual, most of my students ended up really enjoying the assignment. I will survey them early next week for some more reflection, but the reviews so far are positive! My students are also reflecting on the impending end ..read more

On Tuesday, my daily attendance question for my seniors was an ad for Peeps x Pepsi and the prompt, “Thoughts?” This led to a lively conversation that resulted in me saying I’d bring some in for us to try. Well, they were very surprised today when I actually pulled out two cases of Peeps x Pepsi. We each got a 10oz can to try and the attendance question was a follow-up “thoughts?” It was hysterical. Their quick reviews are fabulous, but this went on all afternoon. They were calling themselves the sommeliers of soda. They would randomly say out loud, “Why am I still drinking this?” They also p ..read more

Two more days left in the challenge! That’s a lot all the enthusiasm I can muster at this point in March. It is the longest month of the school year and often has no breaks. This is a mo break year. Spring break doesn’t start for another week. Things I’m looking forward to to end the week: NHS induction New Ted Lasso New Andrew McMahon album. Peeps x Pepsi taste test with my senior class ..read more

Do I have tickets go Taylor Swift’s Eras tour? I do not. Did I allow this small fact to prevent me from ordering a sequined jacket to wear to the tour? Absolutely not. Do I now need to double down on finding tickets? Yup. Other than that, today was an average day until I got home from school. Then I had a million things to do! The dogs needed to be walked before Kells had an appointment at the vet. She got two shots and weighs 19 lbs. we got a few minutes at home where I cooked dinner. As I sat down to eat I realized Kells had her first puppy class that night and it started at 7:15, not 7:30 ..read more

I think this fuzzy video still is a pine warbler that briefly landed on the suet ball on my BirdBuddy. The AI didn’t catch it, so I spent way too much time using other AI, like Merlin’s app, to figure out who my little visitor was. The damn song sparrow chased it off and it didn’t return! I should have immediately guessed it was a pine warbler, because I saw a flock at the park the other day! And according to Cornell’s Merlin app, “Occasionally visits feeders, especially for suet.” That jives ..read more

Today is my Dad’s birthday (and March is when all of my brothers celebrate their birthdays), so my mom had everyone over. As usual, my sister made an incredible cake. In case it isn’t obvious, I clearly inherited my love of nature from my dad. This year’s cake celebrated his love of the local flying squirrels (who come when he falls and eat from his hands) and the foxes and coyotes he watches via trailcams. The party also meant my nieces got to meet their new cousin, my nephew Keegan! It was a very cute first meeting. My nieces also had fun playing with Kells, who I brought for socialization ..read more

For the first time ever in NCAA men’s basketball tournament history, all four number 1 seeds are out! There will be no #1 seeds in the Elite Eight, Final Four, or national championship games. Absolutely wild! This is also only the fourth time the advent of the Sweet Sixteen that none of the basketball blue bloods – Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, UNC- have participated. This is what the leaderboard in my bracket challenge looked like earlier tonight. Just redonkulous all around. Good luck to anyone still standing ..read more

Apparently it’s National Puppy Day, so my social media has been full of dog pictures. I’m ok with that. The headache I’ve had all day is not fun, though. I’m pretty sure it’s due to the change in atmospheric pressure, but that doesn’t make my head hurt less. Ugh. My day: School Oversee GSA meeting during the second half of lunch. Teach three periods (all of which were in different spots in my lesson plans). Come home Feed and walk the dogs. Clean up Take the dogs for a longer walk. Feed the dogs. Cool dinner. Watch the Sweet Sixteen ..read more

Here’s a list of things I accomplished today: 7am 2-mile walk with the dogs 8:45am-12:30pm taught two classes. From 9-11 I ran my SAT class, and from 11-12:30 I ran my HS English prep class. Both classes are virtual so I don’t have to travel. 12:30-1:30 hang out with the dogs and enjoy the blue sky (and cold weather), pick up Panera for lunch, make my grocery list. Watch the first games of the day. 1:45-3pm grocery shopping at Aldi and ShopRite. Why were the stores so crowded today?! 3-4:30pm unpack the groceries, feed Kells, put the corned beef on the stove for dinner, spend more time outsid ..read more