I'm not dead yet

It me.

The start of school is usually a lot of a lot and I'm moving from just observation to some actual teaching. I taught my first class yesterday and sort of did a mediocre job of it. I don't think I failed outright, but I wasn't 100% happy with it. I sort of know where I need to improve, which is what practice is all about. My main concern is whether I messed up the kids and I don't think I did, but I'm not sure I was terribly helpful to them either. I'll get better at it. 

This was a fun lesson, though. We did a murder mystery themed activity, so I got to be the dead body and make some fake vomit. 

We put chunks in it.

Setting up the lab was a blast. 

There's also a bunny. His name is Biscuit and he's a cute little bun-bun. My favorite thing so far is when a student comes to ask me a question and I know the things and how to tell them the things. Lectures are hard and it's hard when a student is struggling and just doesn't get it, but the good moments more than make up for it. 

Also, I made a thing. Bu wanted a "toy holder" out of plarn, so I made her a toy holder out of plarn using one of those little pot holder looms. I've got some bread bags awaiting similar treatment, but I'm going to try to catch up on Husband's Crackerjack scarf first. I'm up to about the middle of April right now, so I'm fairly far behind as far as the baseball season goes. On the other hand, it's my kitchen table knitting now, which will hopefully translate to regular progress. 

The news is awful just now and there are a lot of people being horrible on the internet about the things that are already awful. Don't be that guy. Be nice, be helpful, be courteous and compassionate. 

Kindness is not weakness. 

Review: Nature's Recipe Grain-Free dog food

This is Rufus.

Rufus' favorite activities include:

• Sleeping
• Resting
• Relaxing
• Snurfling/ Snorting
• Digging and nosing around in blankets
• Getting loved on
• Eating dinner

Occasionally, he also likes to stretch out right next to where I'm sitting and have a nice fart. And by "nice," I mean "violates the Geneva Convention's prohibition against chemical weapons." It's not his fault; everybody farts. We received a free sample of Nature's Recipe Easy to Digest Grain-free dog food (small breed version, because he's a little dude) and, as it turns out, the "easy to digest" claim seems to be pretty accurate. His little doggie tum-tum bacteria seem to prefer whatever is (or isn't) in Nature's Recipe. 

It is more expensive than his regular kibble and doesn't come in a weight-loss formula, which are the only drawbacks. He seems to like it at least as well as his regular stuff and dinnertime is still his most favorite time in the whole wide day. 

🌞🌞🌞🌞☼ 4/5 sunshines; would go again

Review: Horizon Organic Good & Go Snack Trays

Author's note:

So, Kroger's sends me free samples and asks that I give an honest review in exchange for more free samples and pretend internet points. A blog post is more internet points than other social media things and one of my hopes is that I can trick myself into blogging more about yarn as well. They sent  me free coffee once and I am easily plied by free coffee. Anyway, I'm going to be 100% honest about my reviews and I'll try not to be obnoxious about it.

Horizon Organic Good & Go Snack Trays
The girls are always asking me for snacks. They're always hungry because growing takes a lot of energy, whether you're 15 or 4. Both were enthusiastic about both the shelf-stable chocolate milk we received and the snack trays. They split the chocolate milk and each had a different flavor of snack tray. Everything was gone in about two seconds, which means they were either very hungry, the snacks were very tasty, or a combination of the two. The littlest said, "Oh boy, pretzels!" and promptly devoured hers. The big kid ate hers on the bus ride home and reported that "Yeah, it was pretty good," which is high praise from a teenager. I have no doubt as to the quality of the products and really like shelf-stable milk as an option to include with lunches.

As with any certified organic product, these tend to be more expensive than the conventional counterpart. While that's the only drawback, it tends to often be a prohibitive one when feeding two kids. They run about $2, more or less, and if I bought enough for five lunches for two kids, that's $20. My budget-minded self is more inclined to go about the pretzels-and-cheese sort of snack in a more economical way, slicing the cheese and measuring out the pretzels myself. You can't beat it for convenience and quality, though. I could see myself buying these more regularly, given a larger grocery budget.

🌞🌞🌞🌞⛅ 4.5/5 sunshines

Love is love is love

I've been running around like the proverbial poultry sans noggin, trying to keep up with the slings and arrows of life with mixed success.

In short, one of the cars died and I'm playing taxi more than usual. It's exhausting.

I did get this done, though, and it was well-received by the eldest child. I feel pretty good about finishing before she actually went to college and I hope it keeps her warm for many, many years. Now it's her little sister's turn and I've only got a few blocks done. I'm hoping that one doesn't take fifteen years, but I don't think it will. I have a pretty good finishing strategy now that mainly involves actually working on it.

Love is love is love...

I couldn't have said it better.

Next up is a short story I'm working on about a boy and his first crush. My plan is to offer it for a buck or two and send the proceeds to PFLAG because I don't have much to give, but I have art to share. It's being tweaked and edited and I have to figure out how to get it to you, but it's nearly done.

*Achem*

After Orlando, I was what you might call "shaken." Even though I'm in a suburban mom place right now, it wasn't all that long ago that it could have been me. There are a number of young people I love and care about whom it also could have been either now or in a few years. I quit blogging for a bit because I couldn't even. This kind of thing makes me want to hug my children and turn my fear and anger into acts of kindness.

And then the rest of 2016 happened. 

It wasn't all bad. The Cubs' World Series win was a bright and shining light in an otherwise very hard year and those of you who know me have heard me wax poetic about it with misty eyes and a big grin. I may do so again when spring training starts up again. 

I want to get back on the blog train again (toot! toot!) and I might not be able to do so every week like I had been, but I have a lot to make and a lot to say and... a lot to say about making. For a goodly portion of it, I'm going to crib steal collaborate with my best bestie, Bekah. There's a reason we get along, you see, and we're on the same page regarding a great many things. 

So, this is me clearing my throat and letting you know I'm here. 

Alright, 2017, let's do this.