Month: January 2019
A rant on teaching
With all of the news on teacher strikes and the like in the last year—including one here in my home state of Arizona and one currently happening in Los Angeles—there have been a lot of … opinions that I disagree with. Usually, I scroll by, because I’m substantially unlikely to change the mind of one … Read more
Ramblings on cancer
Eleven years ago today, I had my last radiation treatment. For my particular cancer, remission and cure are measured from the end of chemo, so medically, today’s end of treatment is somewhat irrelevant. From a practical standpoint, I didn’t have to get up to go get radiation every day before work. I’m very much not … Read more
Something borrowed
Nearly everyone has borrowed something from someone else at some point. Sometimes, we give it back; sometimes not so much. I’m in the process of getting ready to return something that was loaned to me (I didn’t ask to borrow it, but I was happy it was offered) two years ago. Two years ago. Yeah, … Read more
An African proverb
The tree remembers what the axe forgets. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I can, as the quote states, tell you stories about being a tree. Sometimes the giving tree (codependency much?). Sometimes a tree in a razed forest. Sometimes, um, a tree that fights back? Hahahaha the analogy only works for so … Read more
Geographic friendliness
There is “common knowledge” about what the personalities are like in different parts of the country. This body of knowledge told me that the people in the northeast—where I’m originally from—are rude and standoffish and always in a hurry—and that life is slower and people are friendlier in AZ. I’m here to tell you that … Read more
Tasty, healthy food
The Kid was helping me prepare dinner the other night. He was chopping tomatoes; I was chopping onions. We were talking about upcoming Thursday night’s dinner. “Swiss chard is so good. And it’s healthy! Which makes it perfect!” “Did you know there are people who think that healthy food can’t be tasty?” “WHAT?! Well, they … Read more
Gratitude for pain
So … I climbed on Tuesday until my hands wouldn’t hold onto the rocks on the wall any more. My forearms (from gripping) and lats (from pulling) hurt for two days. On the second of those days, I had a session with my trainer. Leg Day. My legs were hurtin’ the next day. And, from … Read more
Answering follow-up—3
Question from a reader: What are some of your go to meals when you don’t feel like or have time to make dinner? I assume you plan out your menu for the week in advance? First, yes, we plan meals for the week, make a shopping list off of that plan, and shop from the … Read more
Helpful critique
The other night, I had my second bouldering competition. (Read here about the first one.) It was organized differently than the first one. As a person who appreciates both efficiency and safety, I liked how it was set up. As a person who prefers to boulder without people watching, I didn’t like it at all. … Read more