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I typically go to bed at 10:00 most nights. I naturally wake up around 6:00-6:15. Even on nights I go to bed later, I wake up around the same time. It makes no sense to me.

I know I haven't been around much. It truly is only because I have been trying to reduce my screen time and be present for the people in front of me. I hope everyone understands. Several years ago... I think it was before everyone moved to this site... I made a comment about being irritated about my parents expecting me to call them every Sunday night. I was promptly and rightly trashed by a number of people. There were many comments, but the comment that stuck with me for years was simply, "I wish I could call my parents." I realized I was being selfish and honestly started looking forward to the weekly Sunday night calls. For years, I called my dad at 7:00 and my mom at 7:30. Nothing personal to either of them, but my mom talks much more than my dad did. Last week my dad passed away. I was lucky enough to be the one that held him as he passed. I would like to believe that he heard me say "I love you" because he turned to face me before his last breath. Because of everyone here, I talked to him at least once a week for years. Most weeks, we talked three or four times but I would always call him at 7:00 on Sundays because that was our time. Thank you all. Those calls are a big reason why I am at peace right now. Happy holidays to everyone. Hold your loved ones close whenever you may see them.

Couch told me about AWWC this afternoon. Reading through this, I am in tears. Hank and I talked on the phone several times. Usually, it was when we were planning on doing something stupid to either jsharr or couch. My favorite was when we convinced Couch that Ray from Maple followed him from another forum to was going to release the internet police on him. Count me in if we are doing anything as a group. (If you are reading this, sorry Couch. I never told you because you sounded so worried.)

If you dig through old posts, you'll find one where I was skeptical. I was completely wrong. My school has been completely face-to-face instruction this year. We have not have a single case of COVID transmitted at school. We are able to keep kids six feet apart and they all wear masks. I honestly hope the sanitizing everything trend doesn't go away.

I typically shut off the work stuff around 7:00 p.m. each night. People know to text me if it is important. I don't like people thinking that I am hear at all hours to answer their questions. Sometimes, just to keep home and work separate, I will answer an email in the evening, but schedule it to send the next morning. This gets it off my list of to dos, keeps people from bothering me, and makes people feel important because answering their question was the first thing I did when I got in the office.

I quit about ten years ago... I don't remember the exact date either. At one point, I had a bit too much to drink and thought it would be a good idea to have a cigarette because I enjoyed it so much while drunk in the past. I lit the cigarette and thought I was going to die. It was disgusting. Even though I put it out right away, I could smell it on my fingers for days.

I have some crazy vivid dreams on a regular basis. That's nothing new. The past couple of nights, I have had flat-out nightmares. Reading them, it is so unreal, it is funny. But I have been waking up in the middle of the night scared to death... Here's the weird thing.... I am not currently interviewing for a job. I'm really only doing the normal "looking for a job, but it must be 100% what I want" before I apply. Not sure why I am having these dreams. Nightmare 1: I am getting ready to head into a job interview. Right before I go into the room, I realize I am wearing a shirt and tie, shorts and no shoes. I panic and find a blanket and wrap it around my waist to hide that I am in shorts. I go through the entire interview like this. The last question the interviewer asks is, "Why aren't you wearing shoes?" NIghtmare 2: I am at work and I get a call that I have to interview for a new job in an hour. I'm not dressed for the interview, so I try to find appropriate clothes. I spend almost the entire time trying to find the correct undershirt. I start changing in my office and a parent walks in while I am naked. I try to cover myself, and she says that she has seen me naked many times before. Then, I get to the interview and there are about 20 people there. The first question is about student motivation.... Then, the second person starts yelling at me about the grading system. I keep telling her I am not in charge of that anymore, but she just keeps yelling at me.

It is soooooo much easier than waxing a car. I wish I would have know about this years ago. If this coating lasts half as long as they claim, it will be a huge improvement.

I'm trying to be positive, so I will talk about a good teacher.... A couple of years ago, I looked him up and he was still teaching at the high school I went to. I sat down and wrote him a letter. I told him how much he helped me not just as an English student, but also as an incredibly awkward young man. He introduced me to American literature. He encouraged me to read Kurt Vonnegut. My senior paper was based on a Nine Inch Nails song and he encouraged it. He also treated me like a person. I wasn't the best kid in high school, but he was always kind to me. I got a letter back from him. He freaking remembered me almost 25 years later. He said that he was always surprised when he got these letters because he thought he was a terrible teacher the first couple years of his career.

I moved his blanket when he got up and now he is where he belongs.

He would sit next to me every night... then, someone moved his blanket. He is now happily sleeping on the other side of the room. I feel so betrayed.

How can I post it here?

I’ve spent the last 21 years in a Catholic school.

Has anyone here made their own corned beef from brisket? I was debating doing that this year... But, I am the only one in my house that likes corned beef, so it is an expensive meal for one.

My grandfather would turn his off all the time. It was hilarious. My grandmother would be complaining about something and he would just be sitting there, enjoying his dinner. I miss that guy.

It's weird... I got my first COVID vaccine shot and I ended up with a bit of a runny nose afterward. It was only then I realized I had not had a single day of feeling bad this winter. After a few hours, I was kind of irritated that I used to just put up with a runny nose. Although finding substitute teachers has been terrible this year, there are almost no 5:30 a.m. calls from teachers telling me they are sick. (Except that one teacher who is always sick on Fridays before a long weekend.)

My daughter made this today...

I keep coming back to this one. The only thing keeping me from commiting is the length of time.

How's the camping? I still like the primitive camping while touring.

I know I have asked this before... but now the planning is getting serious... I have a few decisions to make. What bike trip should I do this summer? Ohio to Erie Trail? I've done it once and ride it around Columbus all the time. Erie Canal? I'm leaning toward this, but it seems like it would be about 8-10 days total Katy Trail? I don't know much about it, but a friend says I have to do it at some point West Virginia's Greenbrier Trail? It looks beautiful, but an out and back doesn't really appeal to me. I'm looking for something in the UP of Michigan, but haven't found anything yet.

I got mine last week. My worst side effect was that I had a runny nose. It wasn't until then that I realized I had absolutely no cold/flu symptoms this year.

That's one of my favorite meals. You are loved!

The retired couple that lives down the street from me went to Vegas to get their shots. Vaccine and vacation.

Unfortunately, Toledo is the back-up to her back-up plan.