Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Thank you to Joyce for the thought provoking questions!
1. March 15th is known as The Ides of March, the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C….have you ever been to Rome? If so what did you love most about the city? If not, is this a place you’d like to visit?
I have not, but I would like to. I have only been to Venice in Italy, sadly. I think I would like to see the small towns in Italy more than Rome, but Rome is still on my list.
2. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ What project/activity/improvement (of any kind) do you have going on right now to which this saying might be applied?
Our house for sure! We live in a 1960s ranch and we have made improvements very, very slowly. When we get one done, the first one we did needs to be re-done. We are hoping to get to the kitchen very soon. We are replacing all the floors on the main level, pulling up the little carpet we have in the living room, and painting the whole main level. We are adding cabinetry to our mudroom. Our reclaimed wood (might have been too reclaimed if you know what I mean) porch is deteriorating so we are re-doing that. I hate the disarray of house projects but it’s just a part of doing business. Tom is a perfectionist. He is slow. He has great design ideas. We have two beautiful new bathrooms and a beautiful new bedroom with two big closets so my patience has paid off. He had the idea to put a porch on the side of our free standing garage. I love it so much and thank him for it all the time. It feels like an extra room from March-ish to November-ish.
3. Let’s do a little this or that with some Italian foods…
- Caprese salad or Prosciutto with melon? Caprese for sure! I don’t like melon.
- Bruschetta or Antipasto? Bruschetta!
- lasagne or ravioli? Lasagne!
- bolognese or Carbonara? Carbonara if made in a restaurant – don’t trust myself!
- Risotto or gnocchi? Gnocchi!
- tiramisu~gelato~cannoli? Gelato!
Now I want Italian food. My Dad always said it “eye-talian”.
4. Of the colors red, white, and green which would I find most prevalent in your home? Which one do you think is most flattering to you in terms of your wardrobe? Have you ever had your colors done? Is that something you’d be interested in doing?
I love natural wood and white. I also like green. You really won’t find red. I always get complimented when I wear green, but it’s probably the clothes and not how they look on me.
Funny enough, there isn’t much red in my wardrobe except at Christmas. I have a surprising amount of green clothing and I’m wearing it for March! I love white. I am not afraid of white clothing.
I had my colors done in 6th grade and they said I’m a summer. I wonder if that is still true? They also told me that both pink and yellow undertones work with my skin. I would like to do it again but I won’t pay a lot for it. I probably will still wear what I like.
5. Life would be boring without____________________?
Tom and Eddie Otis. Tom keeps me laughing. Eddie Otis brings so much energy. My kids are great, too. They are living here but doing their own thing and it goes in spurts how much we see them between their work and social lives. I was telling Tom a school story yesterday and he said that I wouldn’t have anything to talk about when I retire. I really don’t think that’s true! I think he is afraid of change and it’s coming out in comments like this.
Ok, I will tell you the story…
3 girls got in a fight at school with their Stanley cups. Like, they weren’t drinking out of them – they were using them as weapons. The ambulance had to come.
Today there will be one with Owallas. Just kidding!
I really hope everyone is ok and I have often thought the water bottles that are allowed is getting out of control/gonna cause a problem/gonna have something other than water in them.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I feel myself losing patience with dumb stuff at school now. I don’t want to say it’s not my problem anymore but I can see my tolerance waning. Everyday there is a dumb decision made. I would do things differently. I’m becoming the “get off my lawn!” old veteran teacher I’m afraid.
So, what say you about any of these topics?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I am not a red person either – I own one plaid shirt that is red. I only wear it around Christmas. In fact, I will not own a red car.
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I did have a cute little red sporty car once! I would not now! They get pulled over a lot I read!
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I remember a few instances in Alec’s high school where the kids did not have water in their water bottles. They tried instituting a rule where the water bottles had to be clear but at least one kid snuck vodka in… it was still clear.. they gave it to some poor freshman to sip and when he reported it the school also wanted to suspend him for drinking it (he literally had 1 sip and then told a teacher– c’mon, it’s policies like that that have teachers and parents alike rolling their eyes!).
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Yeah – that is definitely still clear! That is so dumb! I swear that admin lose all common sense after they leave the classroom!
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Y’all have done some great improvements and sounds like have good plans in the future too. A year or two ago, there was a fight among girls at a local high school with their water bottles too. Enjoy your day!
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Thank you! I do love my small house – imperfections and all.
Apparently they double as weapons!
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Your patience has paid off…your room and mudroom are amazing. I know what you mean about projects. I think we’re about to redo our hall bathroom which is our last update to our house which we’ve lived in for 10 years. That being said, after 10 years, I have some redo’s of original redo’s that I’d like to do, but we’ll see. It’s one thing at a time around here.
Yesterday at school was a mess. We’re always laughing like “only in public school” 🤣
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Oh gosh! What happened?
You know it’s a full moon?
Your house is so pretty! I love it!
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We gave the ACT and the sophomore platform wasn’t working so my group ended up not being able to test. Freshman usually don’t have to come to school on ACT day and this year they did so other teachers had to babysit them. Because some tests started late, all testing groups had to stay in their assigned room all day. My “only in public school” comment was that in what testing room, a kid’s ankle monitor continued to beep 😂
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Oh Lordy
So we gave juniors ACT, today sophomores take CERT, and tomorrow fresh.
It’s super annoying for language classes with mixed grade levels.
I had to proctor for an hour yesterday.
Today is my last observation EVER!
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Last observation ever. How cool!
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You’ll find new things to talk about because you’ll have loads of new experiences, I just know it!
If I ever go back to Italy I want to visit small towns too, Rome was nice and I’m grateful to have gone but I’d love someplace less touristy!
xo,
Kellyann
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I can see how Stanleys could easily become weapons- they are so heavy! Don’t blame you for being concerned either- you never know what these kids may carry in them- regardless, I think you do a great job of incorporating all of those colors on your wardrobe!
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I loved your answers. That’s interesting about Tom being nervous about change and how it’s coming out. I would probably feel the same as you if I were in your shoes–it may get even worse as time ticks on! Green definitely looks good on you, and I’m not afraid of white either. My favorite dress from last year is white, and I’m excited to wear it again this year. I hope you have a good day!
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I agree the home projects are tough to live through but worth it in the end. I’m sure you will have plenty to talk about still. You will find new things to fill your time so no worries. It’s an adjustment for everyone but you figure it out eventually. Ahh, Italy…the little tiny towns are my favorite too. We’ve spent a lot of time in Italy but seeing pictures today that people are sharing definitely make me want to go back. I would not want to be hit with a Stanley cup. Yikes! I hope everyone is okay. You’re on the home stretch though so hang in there!
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We are actually going through some home reno’s as we speak. Just finished having all of the floors replaced/refinished. Got rid of all the carpet and went with hardwood everywhere (bedrooms/living room). We are also getting our countertops replaced..so I understand the reason for needing patience, lol. Everything takes longer than expected or scheduled, but I keep saying it is all going to be worth it in the end. We built our house almost 30 years ago and this is the first “major” renovations we have done, so while they were all desperately needed, it is a crazy time!
I had to smile when you mentioned how your dad said Italian. My dad used to say it the exact same way and it always cracked me up.
I love red and green (not together unless it’s Christmas :)) clothing and surprisingly get complimented on them both when I wear them.
Wishing you all the luck with your impending retirement – just a little longer and you will be done with all of the non-sense!
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My house was built in 1968. We have added on and remodeled but we still have projects. I received a flyer in the mail for a company that sells and installs Marvin windows and doors. A rep came out and took measurements and we discussed the door we wanted. I never heard back from her!! I don’t understand! Why bother even coming out! I am thinking it’s because we just need a new door and not a door and windows. Maybe our project is too small?!
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That is so crazy about the water bottle fight. I can understand how you would be getting impatient with things at this point!
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Florence and Venice are more on my list than Rome though I doubt I’ll make it to either. I don’t love red, but I’ve discovered I have a fair amount of it in my closet in small doses. I do like green. We are going to replace the cheap carpet in the living room because it is a shambles even though it’s only a little over 2 years old. I tried to tell Mike, but he wouldn’t listen! But, now that means I have to pick out a color, and I hate that! Wall color is no big deal because I can easily paint a room, but replacing carpeting is expensive. As for the teacher thing…I totally get that. I actually went ranting into my principal’s office over another teacher (my husband made me quit saying her name so I called her She Who Shall Not Be Named) and dropped the f bomb along with some other choice words. Now, if I didn’t know he was a namby pamby kinda guy, I would never have done that. I did go back and apologize for my words but not the point I was trying to make. You and Tom will find lots to talk about, and if it’s quiet, that’s also a good thing because it shows you know how to be silent together.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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