Month: March 2025

Too Late TV Shows

Is it still “normal” to say TV series? With streaming services and the ability to binge watch anything at any time, TV has changed. The anticipation of the next show a week later and those end-of-season cliffhangers, watching TV was fun. Now you can get everything all at once.

Even before streaming became popular, I had some favorites and didn’t start watching some shows until they ended. I caught re-runs on other networks and figured out why they were so popular.

I started watching Cheers during late night treadmill workouts during college. It never appealed to me when it aired. Seemed too grown up. It took place at a bar; I never went to bars. On the treadmill though, it made the time pass faster and it was funny.

Other shows I’ve watched past their prime: Seinfeld, Mad About You, Frasier, 3rd Rock From the Sun, The Office, Stranger Things, and most recently, Gilmore Girls-I actually watched all seven seasons.

I picked up Young Sheldon last summer, and I’m somewhere near the front end of season two. My sister suggested Parenthood and This Is Us. I started Parenthood years ago, lost interest and then it disappeared from wherever I streamed it. I started watching This Is Us this past fall and the writing is incredible. I’m a hot blubbery mess after almost every episode and I’m not an easy crier. Where was I when this show started?

Grad school. I was knee deep in grad school. My TV watching days were numbered once I started teaching, (adios, Friends) became a mom, (Gilmore Girls and adios McDreamy) and got into grad school. Other shows I missed that most people watched: Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, The Big Bang Theory, Downton Abbey, Orange Is the New Black, and Parks and Recreation among others.

Earlier this week while we had some down time, I started watching Yellowstone. Now I’m hooked. I’m not sure how long it will take for me to finish it, but it was saved to my watch list a while back. I’m almost finished with season 6 of the Crown. I roped my mom in on this series so I’m waiting to binge watch again on her next visit. I’ll continue with This Is Us. As far as Yellowstone goes, my husband is also enjoying it. We’ll need to pick up another episode this weekend before we forget where we left off.

March 21, 2025

Late Night Slicing

I’ve discovered I don’t like drafting posts on my phone. Convenient, yes. It seems rushed, for me at least.

There was a time when I didn’t like drafting on my computer for the same reason. Pen on paper first, then transcribe it online.

Will there soon be a way to think a draft into existence without using a phone? Don’t answer that! And don’t let me go down the this -is-not-a-phone rabbit hole (because it’s so much more than a phone).

Okay, device. It’s a device. I don’t like using it for longer pieces of writing, but if that’s the case, then what’s there to say about my social media posts?

March 20, 2025

Travel Type

I like getting enough sleep. An itinerary is good, but if you lesson plan for a living, sometimes it’s nice to go off the plan.

Play it by ear. Make a (short) list of places or things to must-see or must-do and let the rest fall into place.

I’m not the go, go, go type. Doing as much as possible for a day or two is great, but I like to leave room for a low-key day.

Our plans changed yesterday, so we swapped our Zion trip with our chill out day. The plan was to go Monday, better weather. We spent most of the day there today and went from rain, to balmy, to sunny, to cold, to snow, to mostly cloudy and bearable.

Jackets on. Jackets off. Have the sunglasses on you because you may need them in two minutes. We considered canceling because we didn’t have the right gear, but we did have enough.

Experiencing the views was worth it.

March 18, 2025

Vacation Slicing

March slicing is challenging. Spring break is typically my week for reading and replying to more posts and responding to comments. This year, after many years of staycations, we decided to take a much needed spring break trip.

We’re having a great time despite the lack of sleep and an early flight.

Routines are off the table for a few days, so slicing is a struggle.

Plans took a turn when Migraine packed her bags and arrived at 5:00 a.m. Who invited her? I booked a whole separate room for her and hopefully she’ll stay out of my space.

March 17, 2025

Tug-of-War

We play tug-of-war with the phone charger. “

“My charger is broken!”

Bring mine back downstairs.

“But you have a charging stand.”

I need it to charge my watch.

Target run. I message her about which type of block she needs.

…

Hello, are you there? What kind of block do you need? I’m speaking with someone in electronics now.

…

I’m about to leave.

Ping.

“Actually, I need the cord. I have the block.”

Check downstairs in the bin with the device cords and chargers.

…

I give up, leaving empty handed.

Why didn’t you reply? There’s a brand new cord here.

“My phone was dead.”

I swap the new cord and get mine back.

A few days later, the new cord is back on the table. Mine is missing. It’s fine, until this morning.

I need to pack my phone charger. The cord is still on the table from weeks ago.

“Ummm…I can’t find my block.”

And so goes the tug-of-war with the charger. Need a teen to engage with you? Hide the charger. One of these days I’ll win.

March 16, 2025

Time Thief

Hey!
Time taps my shoulder
then runs
ready or not,
here I come!
I never liked chasing 
people
and time 
is worse
people can get
caught
Ha! Ha!
Time laughs
Made ya look!
I stop, 
panting
chaos in its wake
as it continues
to barrel ahead 
of me
can't
catch
my 
breath
March 15, 2025

¿Cómo se dice #firefly?

Algunas veces, no se me ocurre que no sé una palabra en #español. Puedo estar platicando con alguien y tengo que parar y pensar en lo que quiero decir.

Una vez, estaba leyendo un libro a una clase de segundo grado. Era un libro de no ficción sobre animales #bioluminiscentes. Discutimos diferentes tipos de animals y empecé con la pagína con…–vuelan cuando empieza a oscurecer…estos..puedes ver las lucecitas volando. Son #fireflies en inglés–les expliqué

–¡Sí maestra, son fireflies!–

–Pero ¿comó se dice en español?–

Otra maestra, confundida como yo, empezó a buscar la palabra.

–Ahh, luciérnaga!

Todos empezaron decir la palabra.

–Luciérnaga, luciérnaga, luciérnaga!–

Continuamos con el libro. Siempre tengo momentos cuando no sé lo que no sé.

How Do You Say #firefly?

Sometimes it doesn’t occur to me that I don’t know a word in #Spanish. I can be speaking with someone until I have to stop and think about what I want to say.

Once, I was reading aloud to a second grade class. It was a nonfiction book about bioluminescent animals. We discussed different types of animals and I started with a page about “…they fly when it starts to get dark…they…you can see little lights flying. They’re #fireflies in English,” I explained.

“Yes, teacher, they’re fireflies!”

Another teacher, just as confused as me, began looking up the word.

“Ahh, luciérnaga!”

Everyone started chanting the word.

“Luciérnaga, luciérnaga, luciérnaga!”

We continued with the book. I always have moments where I don’t know what I don’t know.

March 14, 2025

#Milestones: That First #Concert

My soon to be #sweetsixteener hit me up for a #birthday gift. Three months ahead of time. Important items of discussion typically happen at the #lastpossibleminute, but here we are. On the bright side, her skills are improving-ish? Not only does she ask me three months and a week in advance, she does so during my afternoon walk. Via #text. Can Novio Boy tag along? Oh, and it’s in San Antonio. #minordetails

The door hasn’t even shut behind me when I walk in and she #hollers “Ma-a-a-h-m…did you get my message?” She emerges at the top of the stairs. Then she hops down. Must be important.

“Okay, #hearmeout…”

I stop and let her flow.

“…there’s this concert, you’ll hate the music, but maybe not?”

My questions addressing all of the things she hasn’t considered, never mind she described it as a midwestern emo band (what is that?), are rising to the top and bubbling. I have to turn down the heat so they don’t spill over.

Tickets are cheap. #redflag. They’ll hit you with #fees. It’s at 9:00 in the morning. #weird and #anotherreadflag. Can Novio Boy come along? #redflagandsirens. It’s at a place called Paper Tiger.

I look it up. It looks like a #divebar #ohhellno

I don’t say yes. I don’t say no. #researchmode. I can’t find it on the ticket apps I use.

“But I got the link to buy tickets on #spotify!” her two-year-old self peeks out for a few seconds before she stuffs her back deep inside.

“Hold on, I’m looking.” Dallas, Houston, L.A. …”Oh, I see, there’s the fine print, TBA, so even if it says 9:00 a.m, they may still be in the planning stages. Listen. This isn’t a big venue. If it was at the Alamodome, it would be different. I have to check out this Paper Tiger place. It sounds like a bar near St. Mary’s campus. If it’s a bar, you have to be over 21 to get in.”

“But how is it that I can buy a ticket if…”

“The same way you opened up your Instagram and Snapchat accounts that you aren’t supposed to have. Guaranteed, if it’s a bar, they’ll check your ID to get in.”

“But even if I have tickets?”

“Chica, you first have to be 21. Give me time to check it out. Have you looked at the venue?”

“What’s that?”

#sigh

It appears minors must be accompanied by an adult. There is a bar #yayme It’s small and frequently hosts live bands. Reviews are positive. I know nothing about the band. #lighbulbmoment

My #livemusicguru friend! I send her a message asking about the venue. Yes, she has been there and enjoyed it. Yes, it’s safe for teens, but it’s best to go with her. There are restaurants and other bars within walking distance.

“Can I pay you to take her?”

“Lol! If it’s a band I like I’ll go with you.”

It’s still a little early and I’m not ready to purchase tickets. There may be a music festival going on which explains the 9:00 a.m. show. I feel #awkward tagging along, but I also don’t want to leave her there without being on the premises. I promise I’ll hide in the back somewhere.

Why is it that an adult can take their kids to most places, but if teens take parents, are they #weirdos or do they have #coolparents?

If we do go, what in the world do I #wear?

March 13, 2025

Going #Gray(scale)

I struggle with staying off my phone. #everything lives there. I’m not the #techie type, but it has gradually choked out all resistance I once had to keeping up with the times (and #Joneses). Every Sunday, my screen time notification lets me know how much of my life bled into #cyberspace.

This week will be different. It won’t be the ghastly #imnotsaying hours it is every week. Nopity, nope. It will be less. I’m cutting it in half. People say researchers say setting your phone to #grayscale will significantly reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone.

#bluelight #screenaddiction #doomscrolling all of the things will improve. So they say. I had to look up directions, because, you know, the #reel I watched went too fast and there I am, taking another #screenshot to add just one more photo to my 10,000+ collection I carry around every day. How much would that weigh in actual #photos?

Is it the #placeboeffect? I have reduced my time, although not by half. It’s about a third. What I have noticed is I #cantfindanything. My apps are organized just so…by #color. I have slowed my scroll because I have to read my screen. (Funny how I’m always telling the kids “Slow your scroll and #readyourscreen!”)

My bank account is a little happier, but Amazon is not. I’m not clicking on useless items to bulk up my #shoppingcart. I’ve taken less screenshots because I’m not scrolling as much. My messages may be a bit off since I’m struggling to find the right #emoji 😃

I do turn it on for a few minutes, especially if I’m getting (more) photos from family members, but overall, I switch it back. It’s #cumbersome to toggle back and forth and I’m not creating a shortcut. Also, it isn’t hurting my eyes. Well, my eyes don’t necessarily hurt, but it isn’t as jarring.

How long will I maintain this? Who knows. I’m curious to see how much of a difference it makes. I can go on with my life #inlivingcolor.

March 12,2025