songspinner

 Hey, all! I know I've been silent for a long time - it's been a struggle, honestly, to find energy to do things like posting here.

I taught distance learning for the last year and a piece since we shut down, and as an immunocompromised person, I was locked down in my home for most of it. (little trips down the hill to the ocean once in a while, a few doctors' appointments and one ER trip). It's kept me safe so far. My husband was working outside the home, so there was a full decontamination protocol (somewhat less now, but still there). I was able to keep having therapy virtually, and to join community science work and an online Shakespeare live-reading production group on weekends. 

I'm half vaccinated (second dose in a couple of weeks). I had to go on h1 blockers first for a while to make sure I was safer because of a history of severe reactions and for at least the first dose, I was okay. 

I am currently waiting to hear back from HR at my school district to find out if they will accept and back my request for ADA accommodations for the new school year. I really really really don't want to have to take a medical leave, but without the reasonable accommodations being followed, it wouldn't be safe for me to be in a classroom with students. There is no current mandate for vaccination for staff or students, the requirement for masks is still there but being challenged, and the Delta variant of the virus is in the county now. So I'm a little stressed. Union is backing me but HR has to respond first. I'm gonna call and bug that office on Monday morning first thing. 

My hand has finally healed, most of the nerve damage included, from the emergency procedures I needed around the start of the pandemic, so I'm starting to work on sewing projects and did my first jewelry work making a small pendant and bracelet for friends for Pride. :)

In a few weeks I will see my sister for the first time in almost two years in person! 

Very proud of my kid, who got nominated for a Queer Youth Leadership Award for our county. Proud that they felt comfortable enough to explain that (though everything) to my parents who were visiting. Proud of the work my kiddo is doing as a volunteer, raising money for our local Diversity Center, speaking on panels at local schools (middle schools, high schools, colleges, and counseling centers) to train folks and answer questions/counter a lot of misinformation and myths.

Excited to share with my 6th period ELD class that the author of the book we've just finished reading in class tweeted me back a heart emoji upon hearing that my students enjoyed reading her book! (G. Willow Wilson, author of "Ms. Marvel")

Stressed out about hockey playoffs but enjoying the intense displays of skill (and occasionally yelling at the refs on my tv or computer screen when necessary). In case anyone is wondering: rooting for the Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks (my local boys), and Vegas Golden Knights.

A little heartsick about my parents' visit right now. My mom, who wrote a cookbook for families dealing with food allergies, bought non-organic strawberries (I am extremely allergic to pesticides, since birth), bought two things for tonight's recipe without noticing that the labels listed things I and/or her grandchild can't have, and then (knowing I can't really eat much onion without stomach problems) was going to use around half a large onion in the dish she was cooking. My kid caught that one and quietly made half of the onion disappear before putting the rest into the recipe. I just worry a lot right now. Mom's overwhelmed from caring for my father whose aging has accelerated due to cancer treatments. I can't tell what is just exhaustion and being stressed out, or if she's really having problems with memory. My sister even suggested that our mom not go with us to Mayo Clinic if we end up going back, since our mom is starting to mix up which of us has which chronic illness issues. I know this is part of having aging parents, but seeing it happen to someone who was a Freedom Rider and is a lifetime civil rights activist, who was a pioneer in school technology use nationwide/internationally, who taught courses in both high schools and a medical school...it's hard. And I don't know at what point we'll have to say something, or take any actions.

And a very happy birthday to piplover!!! I hope it was a good day.

Been a while - sorry! I have a few days left of my winter break and then it's back to teaching.

- I spent a few days visiting with my parents and sister (who was here from Ohio), which was nice except for the part where each of the three pulled me aside at some point to ask me to keep an eye on one or both of the other two due to health issues because they're all worried about each other...yeah, that was not relaxing. (especially since one of those conversations started "Look, I know it's not something you want to think about, but when I'm gone..."

- My kiddo (and my husband, as extra chaperone/there in case of a health crisis) are going to Washington D.C. in a couple of weeks, to represent our area at a national youth civil rights leadership LGBTQ conference! (there was an essay, an interview process, and a lot of fundraising). We're pretty damn proud. A lot of extra planning for us, with making sure there's safe food, that she can bring her wheelchair for any bad days/getting through the airport/letter from doctor so she can bring various medical equipment and emergency stuff on the plane, etc.

- As we are a hockey family now, we've gotten tickets for actual, live hockey games! (I'm going to one with my husband and one with my kid)

- Kid now has THREE reptiles - bought herself a native (to CA) Rosy Boa (a baby one named Rivet, as in Rosy the Riveter) and two bearded dragons since someone we know couldn't take care of one and she adopted it.

Happy birthday, piratesorka! I hope it was a beautiful one, my dear.

I know I've been quiet on here lately - start of the school year, mom's surgery (she's healing nicely), and a lot of stuff going on. Updates soon...

Posting here as well, since I'm in the process of switching over.

The journey to Mayo Clinic was what we'd hoped - some answers and some pending for our daughter. One thing that has a possibly simple fix for at least part of it, and one very complicated thing (a dysautonomia syndrome) that explains a hell of a lot about the last 5-7 years. That doesn't have a cure, but it has treatments and things that will ease the symptoms and maybe give her part of her life back that she's missed. And more possibilities for the future. The rest is pending because there are more test results and interpretations to come. There were a lot of tests - 4-5 appointments a day. And she got to see the inside of her heart. (she loved that, little science nerd that I've raised) Mayo Clinic is absolutely amazing - it's a medical city, literally. The main hospital is attached to a few big hotels (including the one where we were staying) by skyways and tunnels. It has its own food court, mall, pharmacies, patient education centers with classes when you get a diagnosis, free shuttles to satellite facilities, and a TON of help while you're there. So ridiculously organized! She had no bad experiences, and in fact had several doctors reassure her that no, her pain and other symptoms were not in her head, that the other doctors who said that were just plain wrong, and that they were glad she came to them.

We're exhausted, happy to have the beginnings of answers, a little scared at what this will now all entail, but hopeful for the first time in a long time.

Heya! So many of you know I am a middle-school teacher. This year, I am mentoring a brand-new (1st year) teacher at my grade level. He's excited to get his students interested in reading, and noticed a lot of mine get hooked in with graphic novels and books which have strong representation of their own communities and cultures. We're doing a DonorsChoose fundraiser, and every little bit help. If you can't donate right now (and believe me, we understand), then please repost/blog so that others might see it. Every little bit helps us! The books on our list will be split between our two classrooms. Thank you.

https://www.donorschoose.org/project/new-teacher-and-veteran-teacher-need-boo/2167743/?rf=link-siteshare-2016-09-teacher-teacher_2002030&challengeid=318694

Oops! A slightly belated birthday greeting to dreamflower02, another friend from back when I began writing on LJ. I hope it was a good one, full of friends and family and music.

Spent a bit this morning gathering seeds before cutting back some native wildflowers in my front yard - some of my neighbors want the seeds for their front areas as well, so it's nice to be able to share and not have to spend money.

Oh, my goodness. The second baby sea otter recently born in the artificial Great Tidepool at the Monterey Bay Aquarium - on camera, no less!

https://katch.me/MontereyAq/v/80ee4b41-4435-32e0-85e0-9c8816448ff8

Finally got a few minutes to get on LJ. A belated happy birthday message for both surgicalsteel and sisterbean! I hope each of you had a wonderful day.

Last night we went to our favorite (and food-allery safe) diner for a really nice family dinner, and if everyone is healthy enough tomorrow, we will go see Star Wars!

I wish all my LJ friends a good new solar year, and strong-growing light out the darkness of winter.