Ice Cream Sandwiches

I love ice cream sandwiches. They are the best desserts.

The sheer genius of combining the simple ingredients that include a chocolate chip cookie (must be soft, JUST baked, and still a little doughy) and vanilla ice cream. These two simple, unassuming ingredients make the most glorious blend of flavors good enough for any gastronomical guru, radical restauranteur, or everyday eater.

In a pinch, those Good Humor ice cream sandwiches will do, but they do not always hit the spot. Chipwiches are better. But the best? This is a recently new discovery: Cold Stone Creamery.

I regularly avoid the Cold Stone experience, mainly because they are too expensive, but for these I.C.S., I am willing to splurge.

First, the cookie. Hardly baked and more like a flat disc of dough, it is the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and bitter chocolate. The ice cream is equally as delicious: smooth, creamy, and sweet, it can make anyone's blues blow away.

The ice cream sandwich: a great go-to dessert.

Seester.

Best friend.
Workout partner.
With beautiful brown hair.
Stress-hugger.
Confidant.
Advice-giver.
Always a baby, always my baby--to me.
Protector.
Supporter.
One who can vent (and be vented to).
Sharer of all things frozen and cream-based (preferably at the same time).
Always ready to split of can of coke.
My rock.

Proud and Excited

Dan got in to flight school. His excitement is infectious. So is his relief.

After two-plus years of Purgatory, finally - a step in the right direction!

It is hard to watch someone you love feel as though they have nothing to contribute to society, especially after a great deal of disappointment (and a little bit of heartache). And ESPECIALLY since he has so much to offer to the world (even if that involves loud farts every now and then).

But today, the winds changed, the energy shifted, and the stars aligned. This just goes to show that everything is meant to happen for a reason.

I am honored to be able to observe and support him on this next adventure.

Procrastination: Part 2

Welp, it's that time of the marking period: Interims.

Every quarter of the school year, I find that I cannot meet the Tuesday-at-5-pm deadline. I almost ALWAYS work into the night on the day interims are due, hastily giving last-minute points to already-late assignments and grading the assignments from today (55+ of them) in the hopes that those few, precious points will actually help the grades of my students. Sometimes they do, sometimes they do not.

Have I turned into the last-minute person in every aspect of my life?

I'm better at getting to school on time in the mornings - perhaps because I drive someone else to work, so that makes me accountable.

I am not better, however, at getting anywhere else on time. Meetings, dinner dates, appointments (some...) - I always seem to be running five minutes late.

Am I a professional procrastinator or is this just how I cope with the insanity that is life?

Every other Wednesday off.

I think we should have every other Wednesday off. Here's why:

1) It gives me a chance to get things done at places that are otherwise closed on the weekend.
2) I can assign a "longer" project/HW assignment to my students to work on over two (or three, depending on the schedule) days.
3) If we have a Monday or Friday off, let's be honest: it's an extended weekend and thus, it is VERY unlikely that I shall do anything productive.
4) Simply, having Wednesday off removes the stress of the middle of the week.
5) This would only need to be every other week. I don't feel like I'm asking for too much with this.

Thoughts?

"Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it."

"Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it." 
-Miss Stacey, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I love this quote. It is optimistic, bright, and kind. It is also very good medicine for anyone with a case of the Mondays.

I think the reason that I love this quote, however, is that I can actually hear these words said by the actress who played Miss Stacey in the TV mini-series Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea (from the mid-80s). She was such an inspiring and kindred spirit of Anne's - a teacher, mentor teacher, and friend. 

Miss Stacey was, as written by L.M.M., one of those teachers who inspired all of her pupils in every way. She encouraged them to strive and thrive in their studies and was firm with them when they needed it. In short, Miss Stacey was really the perfect teacher.

I want to be like her when I grow up.

Dem O's, hon.

Truth: I cannot focus my attention on a baseball game (there must be food and libation, as well as good company and conversation). However, I could not be more thrilled for my "hometown" baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles.

I literally grew up when the Orioles were good, and I mean good. These were the years of my knowing the name, number, and position of every player on the team. These were the years of Cal Ripkin, Jr. (#8, shortstop), Brady Anderson (#9, left field), Chris Hoiles (#23, catcher) - the years of sold out games at Camden Yards. The beginning of Boog's barbecue and riding on the then-new Light Rail to games. It was really a magical time to be a kid and be a fan in the 90s.

I've never stopped being a fan of my team; by that I mean I have never and will never be a fan of any other professional baseball team. Even though I may not follow each individual game or know the stats, I still love the Orioles.

Here's to post-season play. Let's Go O's!