Tag: Spring Break

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

Crane Flies

“D-A-A-A-A-D!”

She knows better than to holler for me. I won’t budge.

“There’s a BUG in my bathroom and I can’t get ready! They’re all over the place. Help me now, please!”

“It’s just a mayfly, they’re harmless…”

“But they’re ugly, I want it out. Ahhhh, there’s another one, where are they coming from?”

On it goes, back and forth. He gets to her bathroom and they’ve magically disappeared.

“I can deal with insects, outside, where they belong, but inside? They’re awful,” she exclaims.

I’ve been sweeping dead ones that bounce in when we open the front or back doors. They flit and bounce around, looking like they want to come inside. I try to move them aside, but some sneak in regardless. Occasionally, I’ll catch one and put it back out, but two more sneak in.

I mis-identified these insects. They’re called crane flies. We’re in the sweet spot of crane fly season. Resembling Texas-sized mosquitoes, they’re harmless and tickle your arm if they get close. They seem to hover, rather than fly, unsure of knowing whether they want to befriend or scare us. I don’t care much if they come inside, but if I can keep them out in favor of calmer mornings, I shoo them away, letting them live their happy little fluttery crane fly lives outdoors.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Backyard Drafting

The dogs have the zoomies. I said only one was allowed to hang out with me. Spotify playlist is trying to soothe me. Cars zoom by too loud, in a rush to get out of town or cutting through the neighborhood to avoid traffic.

The wind has picked up, hard. “It’s the cold front coming in from the north,” my husband says. Wind pushes and shoves it’s way through tree tops. Chimes clang helplessly from neighboring yards. A little insect finds my screen. Strands of fallen oak pollen, like tinsel, cling to my sweater sleeves.

The kitchen needs cleaning from dinner.

Jack Johnson sings how “it’s always better when we’re together,” but I disagree. Not tonight. Not right now.

It’s a little early, but once that kitchen is clean, I’m getting in my pjs. I have piles of new books and I’ll choose the newest one, A Book That Loves You. The alarm will take a ten day break.

I’m getting out of this cold wind. Backyard drafting isn’t working.

Like a colicky baby, writing is fussy today,

Friday, March 8, 2024

Off Kilter

The time change.

Two day getaway.

Spring break.

Breakfast turned brunch, in captions.

A favorite breakfast spot in San Antonio, Tx, but get there early. We didn’t.
We waited.
And waited.
And waited. A bored ‘tween is an inventive ‘tween. We stopped playing after I was the first to win. Of course.

Then we ate brunch and all is good in the world.

Monday, March 14, 2022

Spring Break Doldrums

SOLSC Day 11

Never did I imagine I’d be wary of spring break. I’ve been counting down the days, but it isn’t the same. I’m tired but not in the way I’m normally tired. It’s a stuck sort of tired. Tired of being stuck in the unknown, having to roll with whatever comes our way, like it or not. Weary and wary.

Sure, that’s how life usually happens, but there’s this heavy lull. I look on the bright side, at least I like to believe I try. I’m an apathetic teen who isn’t in the mood to do anything, but wants something to do. I’m looking forward to the break, but I’m not, because breaks have been anything but breaks. I want to go places, but I also want to sleep in.

I only have a week and I don’t know whether or not I want to look forward to it. I’m skeptical and working on optimism. One more day. I can make it one more day. Then I’ll wait to see what happens. Take one day at a time. An hour at a time. Still.

Spring Outbreak 2020

I’m billing Dad for my room.

Day 1 of Spring Outbreak 2020 and The Hubster worked from home. He evicted Sophia from her bedroom, which she rarely uses other than for throwing her clean laundry on the floor and housing her private library of books, stuffed animals, and abandoned craft projects.

“Why can’t you use Ethan’s room?” she retorts.

“Ethan’s room is a hoarder’s room; there’s no space!” True. LEGO are strewn all over the place, pieces in all phases of LEGO project life: spares, in progress, and completed builds. His book cases are full of books, LEGO, empty QT cups, towers of empty cereal bowls he eats from at midnight, and yes, laundry on the floor. But it’s dirty. His three roommates consist of a keyboard, a cello, and a guitar, leaving little room for visitors. Not that we want to visit.

I’ll visit Ethan’s LEGO room any day!

We don’t have a desk in our bedroom. We bought our home without a dining room, spare bedroom, or home office. Out Sophia went.

Boredom begets creativity. I have plenty to keep me busy. Sophia on the other hand, after watching too much Disney Plus, charged her dad for use of her bedroom.

We’re tight on space to offer Sophia Suites to non-family members, but for those of you having to work from home, maybe a trip to the QT for a cherry lime Freezoni is enough compensation for kids you may have to evict from their, ahem-your, spaces. I’m ready to try it as a beverage mixer.