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Enchanted by an Ordinary Life's avatar

Erin, I would love to see a deep dive in MM and the gospel of MM! She is my patron saint and I know her gospel isn’t accepted by the Church, but would love to learn more! This article made me so happy.

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Dawn's avatar

Same!

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Mitzi Siracusa's avatar

Hi Everyone - I need a favor if anyone can help. My daughter just came out of a very brutal marriage (SA + mental abuse), and has 4 young children (ages 11, 10, 6, 5). She’s going back to work since being a stay at home mom, starting over and gaining her independence. She’s a 7th grade ELA teacher. Her ex has not paid any child support/alimony and she’s been struggling to get the kids backpacks, school supplies, shoes, clothes, etc. We helped her out enough with that so that they’re set on that end. What she needs help with is clearing her classroom list. She has a large list, but she’s starting our new and from scratch (so her list is expansive). I would say her #1 goal is to stock her classroom library. I know so many folks are struggling, and I would graciously appreciate any help, even if it’s just a pencil. Here is a link to her Amazon list. I was not sure where else to put this. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/ls/SDC39RYY1BQP?triggerElementID=huddles&ref_=wl_cl_ll_vl

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Beth's avatar

My mom is a recently-ish retired middle school English teacher. I don't know if she's given all of her stuff away yet, but if not I'm sure she'd be happy to send anything useful if there's a good mailing address. Feel free to drop me an email if that's better: egharrison08@gmail.com.

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Mitzi Siracusa's avatar

Just sent you an email - thank you so much!

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Beth's avatar

Since all of my old friends do not in fact live on adjoining properties to me, I had to go by myself to see the new Leonard Cohen documentary (trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11IPQYZMXjc&t=17s) and there is no one here I can force to listen to me go on and on about him. I have A LOT of thoughts. I have been into his music for a long time, but I don't think I was at a point in life where I could really get my head around it until recently. If you can find a theater playing this movie, please please go see it. It's such a beautiful portrait.

I saw the Diana Butler Bass sermon about Mary the Tower this week and it blew my mind. I now have several tabs worth of Elizabeth Schrader's research to make my way through. I really need everyone to get on board with Mary Magdalene.

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Phoebe Barron's avatar

These tweets are hotter than OK in July.

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Jennie's avatar

Isn't the dirty coke basically what Lavern drinks in Lavern and Shirley but with a twist? (i'm 33... I shouldn't know this.)

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Dawn's avatar

Ha! Kind of. "...milk and Pepsi hits the spot." That always sounded so gross to me and now it's a whole thing.

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Lori's avatar

Illinois thinks it is Gryffindor... it is actually Hufflepuff. As soon as I saw the headline, I thought, "Illinois is Hufflepuff." I can't say why - other Illinoisans have thoughts?

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Alison M's avatar

The only comments I have.

1. vermont totally belongs in hufflepuff.

2. I'm sorry, since when do kids go back to school the second week of august? Here they start on the 31st.

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Dawn's avatar

Happy Friday! Thanks for the links and the awesome tweets as always, Erin.

🏖 To close out summer, we try to bbq/grill/cook out and do something very summery - especially if it involves water (Kayak? Swim? Play "Water Wars Ala Jimmy Fallon. https://youtu.be/wLbSXX8kcpQ )

🍎 To kick off fall, I put out a big vase of sunflowers and a bowl of red apples on the kitchen island with new cool notebooks and packets of cool pens. Even if they aren't officially needed for classes, its fun to get school supplies that feel special somehow. And we have cinnamon apples (sliced apples sauteed on the stove in butter and cinnamon and sugar) or apple coffee cake for breakfast.

💰 My biggest treasure this week is that the Bananapants season of my Bananapants project is coming to a close and I can finally stop working overtime all the time. I can finally unpack and set up my house that we bought in April. I can finally have friends over for brunch and maybe listen to a podcast and work in the garden. Looking forward to being a person.

💰In the spirit of my new phase of life, I am having a friend to brunch tomorrow. She has had a hard, stressful summer and I'm hoping to give her 2 hours of rest. Scrambled eggs, trader Joe's croissants, a bottle of champagne left over from our anniversary…

🌳My husband surprised me with a portable hammock - something like this one: https://a.co/d/gVjCY89 and at 8:30pm when I can finally stop for the day I go out in the still sweltering heat and rock myself under the tree and listen to the neighbor kids play in their yard.

🃏 He also got me a set of the worlds smallest uno cards as a joke. But I will show him. I'm going to make him play with me this weekend. https://a.co/d/4otGykV

📚 I am reading RHE's "Inspired" - didn't have the heart to read it until now. As expected, good stuff. Blasted through "People We Meet on Vacation" - a millennial romance that felt kind of like a Norah Ephron Rom-com. The characters were funny! I laughed out loud a lot with this one. I did not read the book club book. Whomp whomp. I will miss you all again. Next I will read - Blake Crouch "Upgrade" which got a green light on a certain podcast we know.

📺 I have not watched TV in weeks, but I am hoping to finally start Stranger Things S4.

📻 Likewise I am behind on all my podcasts, but on Sunday I hope to unpack our books and games so I can start to catch up.

Looking forward to seeing your 💰 and 🗑in the comments!

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Rebecka's avatar

Yay, I'm so glad things are finally slowing down! Here's to being a person again.

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Dawn's avatar

Thank you!

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Aug 6, 2022
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Dawn's avatar

Thank you! Knitting +podcast listening sounds divine!

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MJ Thach's avatar

Most of the US is Slytherin- absolutely. Hawaii???Nope, no way. 1, there are no snakes in Hawaii other than in the zoo. 2, Slytherin looks after itself above all else and that is the very opposite of Hawaii values/culture. Hawaii is Hufflepuff and proudly so. Humble, hardworking, selfless. They shared their land and that’s how it got stolen.

🌈 I never forgot how much I missed rain while living in Southern California but I did forget how much I love rainbows. We’ve seen them most days since we’ve been back and they always make me happy.

🫠 Its particularly humid right now and I’m NOT used to it. Admittedly my flaming seasonal depression is actually just flaming seasonal RAGE. Do not touch me or be too loud in my presence right now lest I lose my sh*t. (Everything is louder when I’m hot, ok?)

🤯 Beyoncé’s album - ho.ly.mo.ly.

🤣 one of my new co workers looks like Bryan Cranston and Mr. Bean had a baby. Sometimes I look at him and think “Walter?” and others I’m waiting for him to wrap a gift that is not for my wife.

https://images.app.goo.gl/yt4q1xEVAsgd5ns88

Thanks to anyone who prayed for my silent request- situation is not resolved but I’m content with the place it is now.

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Dawn's avatar

Agree about HI. Hufflepuff all the way. Wishing you less Seasonal rage and more rainbows.

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Melanie S.'s avatar

Flaming seasonal rage! 100%

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Lori W's avatar

YES to the flaming seasonal RAGE... and I'm in Florida--I don't want to be around ANYONE right now.

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Lindsey's avatar

I'm not 100% sure why Utah made the Gryffindor list, but possibly related is the fact that we've been drinking dirty Cokes on the reg for years. 😆 Although we'd probably argue that a true dirty soda has coconut flavoring. My favorite drink from a soda place (and they are a dime a dozen out here) is Dr Pepper with raspberry puree and cream. *Chef's kiss*

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Beth Barron's avatar

FULLY CACKLED at the "Flamin' Seasonal Depression" tweet. Twitter be fire this week

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Jennie's avatar

I'm living the "Flamin' Seasonal Depression" right now! I'm so ready for Fall and Nora Ephron Season.

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Beth's avatar

Hi, Swipes!

Flaming seasonal depression IS A THING, y’all. I struggle so much more in the summer than in the winter. I swear I only ever liked summer because of vacation as a kid. I can only hope the return of fall is soon.

The tweet about everyone moving back--yes. It made me think of this song from Sara Groves: https://open.spotify.com/track/6XvbJGvtchXT7SsSyuZIfr?si=LWtFNsVaRHeOTArBQ4H8IA “I wish all the people I love the most could gather in one place and know each other and love each other well.” Yes.

Treasures:

- Since my mom’s diagnosis meant she couldn’t come to PA when my SIL had my nephew, I came up early this week to watch my niece while they were in the hospital. Toddlers are exhausting but she’s so sweet, and I get to meet my new nephew today when they get home! Also, my mom finished her second round of chemo and is so far doing very well. ❤️

Loving reading about your weeks and I also need ideas for summer closing/school opening ceremonies!

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Alison M's avatar

I straight up hate summer. I definitely feel sadder and have less motivation. I don't exercise as much because I don't want to go outside (I still go outside but I will complain). Summer is the worst season full stop no question. I would rather it be 20 degrees out than this bulls**t 90 degrees and 90% humidity.

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Eliza Barger's avatar

I don't know what's happening but Wed and Thurs have been a dumpster fire! Starting with the turds again this week, lol

💩 My landlord did sell the apartment I rent, the closing was yesterday and while they're happy to have me continue to rent no one has reached out about rental terms or to confirm that they will not be raising my rent. 🤞🤞

💩 I preordered Anne Bogel's kids' reading journal to give as a gift and it got misdelivered! In Hickory NE/NW makes a big difference but this address doesn't even exist in NE, so where did it go???

💩 My sleep was doing much better until Thurs am when I woke up at 3:30 and just never went back to sleep. I woke up around 4 this morning, did some journaling, and happily went back to sleep for another 2 hours so that is a huge blessing.

💩 Things with 'old man coworker' were not good yesterday and I'm just tired of dealing with it. I know that setting boundaries means you have to remind people of the boundaries, but I just need him to get with the program.

Ok, now to remember some treasures...

✨ One of our patrons regularly brings us veggies, so I've made this amazing tomato galette at least three times now and I love it every time. https://joythebaker.com/2020/08/a-summer-tomato-galette/

✨ I read People We Meet on Vacation after putting it off last summer and it was lovely. Honestly probably my favorite of all three.

✨ This week I'm meeting up with a few of my former students who are leaving for college in a few weeks and I can't wait!!

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Dawn's avatar

I'm sorry about all the 💩. The tomato gazette sounds wonderful. Very summery. I just read that book too, and loved it! I laughed out loud several times.

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Melanie S.'s avatar

Ugh, your old man coworker sounds a lot like mine. It's just the worst

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Larissa Napolitan's avatar

I also held off on reading "People We Meet on Vacation" last summer and I read it this year along with Beach Read and Book Lovers. It WAS delightful. I have rediscovered reading this last year and I love it.

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Dawn's avatar

It felt like a 90s Norah Ephron rom-com. 🥰

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L. Hoover, Writer's avatar

Enjoy the time with the students. I know it will mean so much to them and to you. Keep setting those boundaries!

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Beth's avatar

That’s a rough week! I hope you get some refreshing sleep tonight!

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Shelby Livingston's avatar

Ugh. Sounds like a lot of turds this week. I hope you get some good sleep asap!!

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Larissa Napolitan's avatar

Long time reader, first time commenter!

Usually as a teacher, my back to school rituals are buying a new first day outfit and a new lunch box. However, I started a new job and am now working from home, having all sorts of weird emotions about watching all my friends go back to work after the summer. Is it normal to grieve even if it is a good change in life?

As a kid, our back to school ritual was my mom took us out to an early breakfast (McDonald's) to help us get back into the routine of getting up early again.

BUT as a midwesterner I am ready for fall weather and all the fun fall things. Maybe mostly because this is the first year my husband is not in school in the fall and we can actually celebrate and do the fun things together, like pumpkin patches and sunflower fields!

Anyone have any fun fall rituals you are looking forward to?

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Dawn's avatar

It is totally normal to grieve a change - even a good one. And I think you should get a new outfit and go to McDonald's anyway!

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Beth's avatar

I mean, no one is stopping you from buying a new first day outfit and having McDonald's breakfast. Change is hard, so it's usually challenging even if it's the right thing.

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Melanie S.'s avatar

Absolutely normal to grieve even good changes. I'd never go back to working in a school, but at the same time, I do miss it

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Lori W's avatar

I've been out of the classroom for over 10 years and still feel a little twinge at back to school time...even though you couldn't pay me to go back. I just buy myself new pens or pencils to make me feel better. 😊

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Shelby Livingston's avatar

We always drive this one loop up one of the canyons by our house. All the trees are beaming red and orange and yellow. It’s my favorite fall tradish.

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Eliza Barger's avatar

Larissa, I feel you! I left the classroom last September and was surprised at how much I've grieved over that change even though it was 100% the right decision for me. I hope you're able to take the time to honor that grief and move into this new season of working from home ❤

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Larissa Napolitan's avatar

Thank you! I like that language of honoring the grief.

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Heidi's avatar

Happy Friday! We are leaving 95-degree Denver tomorrow for the Outer Banks, where it is only 85 but *feels like* 95. We are all v excited to see the ocean and fly on an airplane. The last time we flew as a family was six years ago, when the kids were ten and six, and let me tell you: traveling with teens is SO MUCH EASIER. And we haven't even left yet! They packed their own suitcases! They organized the travel toiletries! They made individual snack bags for all of us!

We start school two days after we get back from vacation, which won't be particularly fun. But we are looking forward to our first (and last) day of school ritual: we drive through Sonic for happy hour slushes and tots, then go to a nearby brewery where my husband and I get beers and we all sit and debrief. At the beginning of the year we find out who's in their class, which teachers are new, etc. At the end of the year we do a "best and worst" for the year and discuss summer plans. We've been doing it for six years now.

Gotta go! Unlike my kids, I haven't done a lick of packing. 🤪

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Dawn's avatar

I love your beginning/ending rituals. I love that you all get to connect and share. That is a true gift with teens!

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L. Hoover, Writer's avatar

Happy Friday! We have one more week and then school starts. I really am over summer these teens of mine need jobs, they eat too much and my son drives now and gas money he thinks falls from the sky! We are a hot mess express over here! The tweet about one good hand took me OUT!!!! LOL

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