Slice #7 Adventures in the Ktichen

Grocery Shopping

To be honest, no one ever taught me how to plan meals, and grocery shop for the week. At a stage in my life with dual incomes, the 'convenience' of eating out is often tempting and it always leaves us pondering the question "What do you want to eat?" This year has been a learning process, and Lindsay and I have been going together. Digital coupons are awesome and I love seeing the savings roll in when you scan your perks card.

If I could cook at home like the healthy and wholesome fast casual place my wife loves to frequent I might be consider myself a culinary adept. Today's task was to make one awesome salad. I found a recipe for a cranberry pecan and blue cheese salad tossed in balsamic vinaigrette dressing. This salad has been cooking in the back of my mind since our last grocery trip as a couple, but I missed a few key remaining ingredients, namely the lettuce. 

Walking down the aisles I found myself doubling back to the produce section unsure of my choice. Is there a real difference between red and green leaf lettuce? Should I be using romaine instead? Should I spring for the 'packaged' organic romaine hearts? These are all questions that ran through my mind and caused some anxiety. First trip around I bagged a red leaf lettuce, but then ended up coming back and picking a head of romaine as well. Better safe then sorry.

Salad Chef

I remember now why I don't make salads at home, mostly because I am the only one that ever eats them. It is truly amazing how much lettuce (volume) comes from one head. After peeling some cucumbers and slicing them thinly, I then tossed the mixture. Remembered that you are supposed to shake the salad dressing (especially vinaigrette) before using after I started pouring it on my first small bowl. I garnished with the cranberry, walnuts and blue cheese and enjoyed the vegetables/fruits of my labor. Once I started there was no stopping, I enjoyed the heck out of the whole big salad bowl all by myself only to realize I really wanted this salad for the combination of balsamic vinaigrette, cranberries, walnuts and blue cheese and it has very little to do with the lettuce at all.

Slice of Sledding

As I entered the door my nephews were climbing over my sister full of energy. For a disclaimer, we have a 'Full House' living situation. She looked like she's had a Day, but still wanted to share the joy of sledding with her boys with me. Spending time with my nephews, especially sometimes mundane moments has become a source of joy in my life.

I began to bundle up since day light was burning and I knew getting home at 5:23 after some of the worst driving conditions of the season left little time for fun. It was probably 5:50 before we even got out the door because wrangling children into snow suits involves also finding missing gloves. Bundled up we left the warmth and safety of home.

Luckily there is a nice sledding hill very close by. We made our way over to Horseshoe Park with a green saucer and a red sitting up sled for my youngest nephew. A testament to the worst driving conditions of the season, we kissed a curb and began fish tailing in the parking lot of the park. She quickly regained control of the van but was shaken.

We looked at the main descent and considered factors like the grade, distance before obstacles at the bottom, and decided the regular sledding hill was wholly inappropriate for children. We made a trek across to our own 'bunny hill' incline where the boys could enjoy sledding. My oldest nephew rocking the green saucer always needed a push to get started but began making his way a lot further. We left our mark on the unspoiled snow.

We were done quickly, perhaps within 15 minutes the cold, wind and wet from rolling in the snow shattered our childhood enchantment with sledding like an icicle falling onto concrete. But once more, for the rush of feeling 'young' I went down the 'way to scary for the kids' hill on the bright green saucer. Covered in fresh powder and a smile on my face, I was happy to call it.

Max Made My Day

Lindsay and I have three amazing cats. Their names are Max, Sebastian and Jasper. Today's story is about my main man Max.

Max has a long black coat of hair and a don't pick me up type of attitude. Max is affectionate enough I suppose, but usually when he wants something. It seems that every time somebody pours a bowl of cereal in the kitchen Max feels the need to check it out. He will sit and stare into your soul with his green flecked eyes, and then sit uncomfortably close to your bowl of cereal. If you take it to another room, there is a good chance that Max will follow you.

My sister had mentioned to me she gave the Max and the other cats a little milk last night. It seems that was what Max had wanted and she wanted to do something nice for them. She loves her nephews after all and wants to make sure they have happiness. This morning, their last nights happiness became a surprise for me. As I walked into the kitchen to get ready, I stepped on a milky white hairball and got the mucus and gastric secretions smeared all over my foot.

I love my cats.

Sebastian

Max with a Haircut

Slice of Life #4: Books as a Portal to Another World

As a Child...

I, along with many muggles, might remember the magic of reading Harry Potter series for the first time. Staying up way past 'bed-time' lost in the adventure and escape provided by this series of books is one strong memory from growing up. The power of words just like the magic in Harry Potter can have a reader feeling spellbound.

A Reader Once More

A few good recommendations from my reader friends and coworkers has me falling in love with reading again. I just finished one book, starting another this weekend and am a comfortable 100+ pages in after just a few days. Reading online is so different than the way that I am able to get immersed into a novel. Yes, I may be reading science fiction or fantasy, but if you don't enjoy what you are reading it is okay to find something that you do.

Mark Hamill Likes Reading

A Note to Prospective Readers

Ask your friends, or even better yet a librarian for a book recommendation to get you back to reading.

Consider using social sites for book readers as well! I will be trying to be active on it and hold myself to the goal of reading 24 books this year which would be about a 20 book improvement on what I accomplished last year.

GoodReads is one my friend Trina introduced to me.

You can find my profile here!

Slice of Life #3: One Foot In Front of the Other

New Year's Resolutions

We have a pretty awesome community at our high school. We encourage each other through many ways, but one such way is a community focused 'biggest loser' challenge. While there is a cultural obsession with weight and being thinner, there are real benefits to leading a healthier life style besides being focused on a number.

There are many weekly challenges that to be honest I haven't had the where-with-all to commit to. I was happy with being active, trying to be sensible with food choices, and drinking enough water. My start running this year came from beginning again on ZenLab's C25k program that I swear as the best way to get you from sedentary to jogging over the course of 8 weeks.

I was going strong, and the feedback from friends on my occasional updates via the social media celebrations and progress tracking really had me fired up. Taking pictures of my progress all the way through by always snapping a 'post-workout' data report, would help me see the process even if it was made one day at a time.

This time doing C25K was different. I had a singular goal that was Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic or Time Bound. My resolve was to be able to run a 5k (race or distance) in under 25 minutes by the end of the 8 week program. I made it to week 6 when I got stopped by an obstacle.

Run in the Sun by Lucas Favre

Stubbed Toes and Excuses

There are two things that happened that I can identify as reasons why I am not running a my aforementioned 5k distance right now at that blistering (possibly literally) sub 25 minute pace. My first obstacle was a door frame that decided to move in the path of my foot as I made my way from our laundry room to the kitchen. Clumsy, careless, and now extremely bruised my poor toe became a gorgeous maroon. (I will spare you the picture because eww...) Now I knew I needed time to heal.

After a reasonable amount of time (1 week?) I still had not made it back to the YMCA to resume my progress. I couldn't "find time" even though I had become engrossed with a video game, often playing with my friends, and somehow managed to log 142 hour since I have gotten it. Where did those 142 hours come from? They came from running time, they have come from sleep time, they have come from some quality time spent with my expectant wife.

The time spent on these games are entertaining and yes sometimes social, but they don't make me feel 'alive' the way the other activities do. So my key to a better life is do more of the things that fill  my life.

• Marvel at the wonder and love of a child and spend quality time playing, reading and teaching my nephews.
• Be a better listener, whether as a brother, a friend or a husband. I can practice being present in the lives of those around me as well.
• Read more, watch less. I have started checking out books and have a little catching up to do buy am going to make it my goal to read twenty-four novels this year. (Finished Born a Crime and The Martian so far...)
• Run often and focus on enjoying the process while not just focusing on the progress. Running outdoors is way different than running on a treadmill. I need to remember that progress is putting one foot in front of the other.

You Matter, Don't Give Up, and Crying in Public

Today was the conclusion of an awesome event organized annually by staff and students called Words Hurt Week. During the week of Words Hurt there are many offerings and messages that are important to be heard. Read more about it at this great article covering the event.

What more can I say or write that my coworkers haven't already said beautifully. This moment was cathartic and profound.

He reached out to us and asked teachers to hear the same message we had heard from the bleachers. The staff made its way down to stand lined up together, many already with wet eyes and damp cheeks. What happened next was magic, and I can't do it justice but here are the take-aways.

"DON'T GIVE UP" 

Terrence Talley shared a personal story about his journey and the impact an educator had on him. Teachers needed to hear it, brought me to tears of inspiration. some time we can't see the forest for the trees. He talked to those of us that have thought about leaving the profession for 'greener' pastures. He talked to those of us that have struggles that we don't get to share with the world.

"YOU MATTER"  

The work that we do on a daily basis means changing and saving lives even though we may not always feel it. I know lately, there have been times were I have felt introspective. While reading and doing a self-evaluation on the Danielson Framework for teaching and felt pangs of guilt rationalizing some of my ratings as 'two - basic'. I teach students that are complex human beings, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Some students and I shared profound moments in our mini-teacher student conferences this week, and in conversations held informally. I  and the work I do is more than a rating on a framework.

"EVERY STUDENT MATTERS" 

They need to know, and they need to hear it, and even at the high school students need to feel it. A student may be able to really trust a teacher and open up but there are boundaries that aren't usually crossed in high school. Our school learned today what a "Dad Hug" is, it turns out some of my students needed it, and I realized that I needed them too. Students need unconditional support as well, and one expression of that is a "Dad/Mom Hug" the way a 5 year old daughter looks to her dad or my four and half year old nephew goes to his mom. Terrence told those students that needed one to come down to their teachers gathered before them and get a hug.

According to some estimates, the hugging and exchanging of affirmations and  went on for 15 powerful minutes.

I couldn't wait to share my positive stories about this week with my family and other coworkers. This is a slice of life that I am going to keep in my fondest memories.

Kazoos and Happiness

Reflecting on the celebration of life that was lived by my dear friend Ms. Katie. I resolve to live with the same light that she brought to the world.

Today there was a beautiful analogy in a presentation for the Words Hurt Week at Appleton East High School. The speaker urges us to light our candle, and use that flame to light others as well by sharing our light. When you share the light it doesn't take away your own, but only spreads to others. Miss Katie had Kazoos at her celebration / funeral and encouraged her friends to play along to songs like "This Little Light of Mine" and "When the Saints Go Marching In".

On my way home from a busy and fulfilling day I reached into my jacket pocket and found a blue kazoo. This blue kazoo has a magical energy about it, it quite literally is plastic happiness. All it takes is humming into the correct end and I become a darn fine musician. I attribute my talent to a musical upbringing and always whistling, that and being involved with choir all my high school years.

Do you think my students will see it coming if I start using the Kazoo in class as an attention signal? If you talk into a Kazoo, it reminds me of how the adults sound in the Peanuts comics. I wonder if that is how some of my own high school students think I sound.

If I have any magical Kazoo moments I might just be putting it on my Instagram that can be found @jeremy_kautz

I was surprised to find that Blue Kazoo even has a social media presence.