Friday, October 20, 2023
This week… I almost don’t know if I should tell you this, but it’s too crazy not to share. I know I have some teacher readers here and others who enjoy hearing about my job. My school ran out of white paper. We only had red paper. Very dark red paper. Red paper that makes your eyes bleed when you try to read from it.
We found out about the paper Monday morning right before school started. The story was that there was white paper in a warehouse, but we were told there was no one to use pallet jacks and deliver it. There was no paper Monday, Tuesday, and on Wednesday it had been delivered but it was in a locked area in my school and also had yet to be delivered to our copiers or communicated to the teachers.
Anyway, being old, I have lots of old school teaching methods. I went “paperless” for a few things, used notebook paper for a few things, and luckily already had a few things copied. I also have textbooks which some do not anymore.
Things just keep getting crazier. That was definitely not a favorite. I tell this story because I feel like there are already so many barriers to this job and something so easy should not be so hard. Does that make sense?
I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for my actual favorites now!
This book went too quickly for me! It was so cute! I was happy to sit outside in the cool weather with my pom pom hat and twenty year old Uggs with a candle and a warm drink this weekend.
Started this next…
Cute cover! I think it has potential but I just haven’t had much time this week!
I was so happy that it was warm enough to sit outside two mornings. I just love this! Sorry I talk about it so much but if you haven’t tried it, it really makes me feel better about being inside a building all day.
I did an orange mani this week.
And, living out of coolers this week has been fun! Gosh, I’m glad we have this Yeti! I am trying to live like a European with very little fridge space and no freezer space. Fresh food every day from the market? I have actually done really well. I cooked Sunday and Monday nights, we ordered out Tuesday night, and I went back to the store Wednesday night for the next two nights’ meals.
Look what this gal made from the old cooler – bacon, brussel sprouts, and whole wheat penne.
But, Tuesday night it was Panera delivery. I got choose two and it was tomato soup and half a sandwich. I cut my sandwich in half again. Sometimes I cut things in more pieces to make myself feel like it’s more food.
Jack had two days off for fall break from his college on Monday and Tuesday and he has been going hard for the last two months, so I think he needed the four-day weekend. He also sings in a church choir every Sunday morning. Two of his days he leaves home at 8 and returns after 8 p.m. It’s an intense schedule but he says he is happy living at home and that commuting is not so bad. He eats meals with friends while he is on campus or they go somewhere close by.
He helped me chuck all the stuff from the old fridge after we unplugged it. I saved what I could but honestly, it will feel nice to get to start fresh with new condiments. Look at your girl making lemonade out of lemons!
This fridge was the first major purchase Tom and I made together and we bought it right before our wedding, I think. We had purchased our home right before that, too. So, this fridge is almost 24 years old. We have never lived anywhere else. Isn’t that crazy?
From across the pond…
Western Union could not have been easier. I sent cash to Mason for only a $5 fee and then his debit card situation has been resolved. – mostly. The bank still owes us some money. We actually sent the physical card by certified mail, too. Thank you all for being invested (hehe) in his money woes.
I got this text this week!
Yup, that’s Mason enjoying a glass of red wine. He seriously didn’t drink before turning 21 and now it strikes me as funny that he is choosing a glass of wine. I hope he doesn’t like it too much, though!
I’m proud of him for finding this meal deal!
And, Jack and I have started Outlander! We are both really enjoying it. Has anyone watched it? I tried to start the first book a long time ago, but didn’t get into it.
This meal was a favorite at school. Erica made an old WW blue plan meal that is a Mexican casserole with ground turkey. It was so good!
And, this meal at home was a favorite, too. I made yum yum bowls.
Spanish Club was this week and it was called “Coco and Cocoa” for Day of the Dead. We watched part of the movie Coco and drank hot cocoa. I used my electric kettle for the hot water and it worked great!
So, what were your favorites this week?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Your lunches look amazing. No white paper would be a nightmare! I walked in our downstairs copy room and 2/3 copiers weren’t working. I was like “back to the old days!” I’m so glad that Mason’s money issue is almost resolved. Love the text. A deal and wine! Haha have a great weekend!
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No white paper! That would have been so hard!! I laughed when I read that you cut your food up into smaller pieces so it seems that you have more because I do exactly the same. Especially when I’m at work and the only food I have is the food I have packed. I love your nail polish colour and your food pics look delicious. Have a great weekend!
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What a week- hope you have an amazing and relaxing weekend- you deserve it! Your son’s meal looks like perfection to me and so sophisticated 🙂
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The paper situation is crazy but so believable! UGH!!!
You have done very well without a fridge and man, that one lasted a long time!
Love seeing Mason enjoy a nice, red wine – so sophosticated.
I hope you have a super weekend Amy!
xo,
Kellyann
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That is so crazy about the white paper in your school. I’ve never heard of anything like that! I know you love that Mason is finding his way while living abroad and that you and Jack get that quality time together. That’s the best when your “kids” are grown up! I hope you get a relaxing weekend with lots of time to read in between activities. Happy Friday, my friend!
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Your printer paper story is just crazy! Makes me so 😡!! Seems like there is a shortage of workers everywhere to get things done! I have a crazy story. I ate lunch with my 2 sister in laws this week at Grimaldi’s. It took quite awhile for us to finally get a menu (again shortage of employees). Before our food came our server gave us our bill 🤣 Then we notice water coming from behind their bar area. The water was spreading across the front of the restaurant and they were trying to keep customers from walking thru it as it was a slip hazard. Next thing I hear an elderly man plowing thru the water with his walker 😂 I guess they had no mops because they were using tablecloths to contain the water! Have a great weekend!
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We keep getting all sorts of blue and purple notices home from school and we’re also being told they ran out of white paper! Thankfully these papers are a light enough color that the black ink isn’t awful on them. We’re at the point where I need to pack up our outdoor furniture and store it for winter but I keep waiting for a dry weekend so we don’t put everything away wet and that hasn’t happened yet.
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Oh my word, the red paper! That is crazy. With that and the bus fiasco, and I’m sure a lot of things in between, it has been quite the school year so far for you. Yes, we are all so glad Mason is well and has access to his bank card again.
My favorite thing this week is my daughter flew home last night!
Enjoy your weekend!
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That is so frustrating about the paper situation. And really pretty amazing that the fridge lasted that long. The new appliances definitely don’t last 20+ years! Have a great weekend!
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Oh my goodness! I cannot imagine no white paper, but there is some crazy stuff going on in schools/supplies right now. Way to make the best of it. You are also making the best of the fridge situation. Have a great weekend!
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The paper situation sounds like such a mess! Sometimes I feel like “dumb” little things like that are so much more frustrating than one big problem. And why would they even have that much red paper? That seems kind of random. And then not having a fridge or freezer is definitely hard too!
Gosh, I remember my parents having to send money to my brother through Western Union when he did a study abroad in France 8 years ago. I can’t remember what the whole situation was but he was required to have a French bank account for some reason and it was a hassle for him trying to get it set up! It felt very old fashioned having to wire money!
I hope you’re able to have a nice relaxing weekend after all of the chaos!
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I am the go-to person at school for copier paper, as I hoard it, lol. Right now I have two unopened boxes of paper and an open box, so about 25 reams in total. And I use Google classroom quite a bit so I don’t do a ton of photocopying. I used to have even more boxes of it, but I gave some away when I moved schools. We get $300 a year to spend on supplies and two boxes of paper, so we have to take paper to the copier room. My other great love is post-it notes. I have tons in many different styles. I like teaching reading but I’m thinking I’d like to go back to French. I think it could be really fun and just what I need from now to retirement. I hope you get your new fridge soon and enjoy it! I like Panera’s tomato soup and the chicken avocado chipotle sandwich. My husband makes a great copycat version of it. Have a great weekend!
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There were times we would get very low on white paper but never had to resort to red! We did have an entire grade level that would print off their Christmas book at the end of the school year for the next year. That used up so much paper, but then they didn’t have to worry about it the next school year…slightly villainous, but also slightly genius! I’d probably have misplaced it, though! Ah, the joys of teaching!
I am quite frankly amazed at what you were able to make without having a fridge! I know my daughter swears by her Yeti cooler.
We did watch several seasons of Outlander before it got too outlandish. I mean, there is only so much even I can take of Jamie taking his shirt off! But, you may enjoy the historical aspects of it. I don’t know how accurate they are, though.
Have a fabulous weekend!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Right – red is the worst!
I really try to not waste paper.
Thank you!
I can see that I won’t be able to watch all seasons because I am like that. I can only handle a few seasons of some shows becuase it seems like more of the same.
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Oh wow! I can’t imagine a school running out of paper. What a drama. It shouldn’t really happen.
I sit outside on a morning when it’s not raining, it is a great way to start the day.
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Crazy, right? It really shouldn’t. Rain is so healing to me! I love it!
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