back to ohio {february 28, 2022}

Palindrome: 2-28-22. The last of 10 palindromes in the shortest month. 

Leaving Chicago, taking a few side trips, and snapping a few pics along the way to pass the time and share some observations.

Last exit before crossing the Illinois/Indiana state line

Hello, Hoosier State

A little off-the-interstate exploring of the I-65 wind farm

Windmills in a straight line

Street art in West Lafayette, "The Delight of Accomplishment." 

"Everyone has a dream. No matter how small or large, everyone has a dream. It is these dreams and the work we do to actualize them that fill our lives with purpose and the delight of accomplishment."  ~ Tom Torluemke, artist (2012)

Harry's Chocolate Shop. Harry's is the original, oldest bar in West Lafayette made famous by the slogan "GO UGLY EARLY" since 1919. Harry was the original owner and it was a chocolate shop until they obtained a license to serve beer and the rest is history.

Two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onion on a sesame seed bun. I remember this jingle like it was yesterday! It came out in 1975.

Jesus take the wheel...

Back in the Buckeye State. Whatever "it" is, you can find it in Ohio or wherever you live. You just have to look for "it."

We were tired of all the truck traffic on I-70 so we got on Route 40, the National Road, and drove through small town Ohio for a while.

hope {february 27, 2022}

Palindrome: 2-27-22

After the cold and dark days of winter, spring brings new life and fresh hope to the world. Sprigs of green leading to bursts of color are breaking through the dirt and bringing a new complexion to the monotone winter landscape.

"The first blooms of spring always make my heart sing." ~ S. Brown

Finding a sidewalk heart after the snow melts. Always a sign of hope that spring is on its way and in the bigger picture, hope the Ukrainian people will have the strength to win out over the Russian invasion.

“There are two kinds of courage the courage to die and the courage to live." 💙 💛

― Sakue Shimohira

“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one.” 

― John Lennon

saturday happenings {february 26, 2022}

Palindrome: 2-26-22

Clark is back in his element. After staying in Ohio for six weeks you would think that he would have a period of readjustment to his "new" surroundings. But no. On his first walk all his favorite Chicago scents have become familiar once again. A dog's nose and sense of smell are olfactory wonders.

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A few firsts for this trip:

*Presenting our vaccination cards to get into restaurants. We've never had to do that In Ohio. On Monday, the City of Chicago is lifting its mask and vaccination mandates and its residents are hoping that the mandates are done for good.

*Holding back a few tears as my daughter had her wedding dress fitted for her upcoming April wedding.

*Going to Chinatown. I have never been to Chicago's Chinatown. We had some really good dim sum for lunch. It needs some more exploration.

*While driving to Chinatown on Lake Shore Drive, we saw people taking a polar plunge into Lake Michigan. Brave souls...the thought of running into a lake that still has ice on it gives me automatic goosebumps.

*Also on our drive to Chinatown, convoys of trucks and lines of cars snaked through the city honking their horns and flying Ukrainian flags to send a message of support to the people and nation of Ukraine. 💙 💛 

chicago bound {february 25, 2022}

Palindrome: 2-25-22

This sweet boy has been with us since January 16 but now it's time for him to go back home to Chicago. I'm sure going to miss him.

 

A winter storm made its way through Ohio last night and covered the trees and other foliage with a layer of ice. It was so pretty. Luckily, the roads were clear.

The impressive I-65 wind farm sentinels line the road for 20 miles.

Almost there...could be 30 minutes, could be an hour. It's all about the traffic.

Keep your eyes on the road, not on your phones.

Skyline, traffic, snow...hello, Chicago!

 

frozen feet challenge {february 24, 2022}

Palindrome: 2-24-22

For the past four years I have participated in The Frozen Feet Challenge. This event invites participants to bundle up and get outside to walk, run, or hike at least one mile per day for 6 weeks straight. This years Frozen Feet went from January 9 to February 20. I completed the challenge, logging 111.4 miles, and there were quite a few days of pretty crappy weather.

I have always enjoyed the Frozen Feet Challenge. I'm not a cold weather fan so this event challenges me to get out of my comfort zone. Frozen Feet 2021 was my favorite. T and I and our big dog Ted lived in downtown Dayton. Ted needed to be walked 2-3 times a day so logging miles for the Frozen Feet was easy. 

Slow walks with a big dog...I learned that if you bundle up appropriately, cold weather walking is really enjoyable. The brisk, fresh air is invigorating but calming and I loved taking deep breaths of cold air. It felt like I was doing something healthy for my lungs and making them stronger to fight off COVID germs. Ted and I walked all over downtown and in the MetroParks. We saw a lot. In fact, we logged 165.6 miles. He's no longer on this earth...I really missed my walking companion this year...but I sure enjoyed a little Frozen Feet walk down memory lane with these photos from last year.

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In the early hours of the morning today, Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air, and sea, "confirming the worst fears of the West with the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two."

wordy wednesday...balderdash + more { february 23, 2022}

Palindrome: 2-23-22

⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕

balderdash

ballyhoo

baloney

fiddledeedee

flapdoodle

jabberwocky

poppycock

malarkey 

⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕

These silly words have something in common.

They are all synonyms for "nonsense."

Back in my teaching days, I used these goofy words (and more) for many reasons. 

8th graders are full of excuses. 

"Mrs. H., my dog ate my homework." "Balderdash!"

"Mrs. H., I left my homework in the lunchroom and it got thrown away." "Malarkey!"

"Mrs. H., I just didn't feel like doing my homework." "Poppycock!"

"Mrs. H., English is boring." "Baloney!"

These nonsensical words, especially when said with an emphatic, dramatic flair, are attention grabbers. When teaching middle schoolers vocabulary, giving them a list of  words of the week, having the them look the words up in a dictionary, write the definition, and then write sentences with the word just doesn't work. Vocabulary learning is a continual process of encountering new words in meaningful and comprehensible contexts. My students knew my love for words, they laughed when I called myself a word nerd. Teachers should display an attitude of excitement and interest in words and language. This can be a catalyst for students to actively, and even playfully, engage in learning new words.

Stay continued for more jabberwocky!

it's twosday! {february 22, 2022}

 Palindrome: 2-22-22. And to top it off, it's Tuesday, too!

Good things come in TWOs! And boy, oh boy, TOday, TUESday, it sure does !

At 2:22:22 a.m. on 2-22-22, the deuces aligned for a number sequence that's TOO wild! Also, 10:22 p.m. in military time is 22:22...just sayin'.

Enjoy TOday...it's a once in a lifetime date.

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⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 2 ⁕ 

Now it's time for a little TWO bit humor...

**Pirate Ship Captain: I am desperate. Can someone tell me how to write the number 2 in Roman numerals?

**Crew: I I Captain.

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**2 is the only prime number that is even.

**That makes 2 really odd.

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**What did the number 2 say to number 4?

**I'm always rooting for you.

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Finally, as a former English teacher, please, please, PLEASE understand the differences between TO, TOO, and TWO! 

Toot your horn if you use these correctly 💜

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R7EWH2a7YI

good morning! {february 21, 2022}

Palindrome: 2-21-22

When I taught 8th grade, I would stop by Boston Stoker (aka BS) at Dorothy Lane Market for a cup of coffee before heading into my classroom. Nothing fancy, just a medium coffee with skim milk and just a touch of cream. The math teacher on my team had the same routine except she got her Boston Stoker from the Dorothy Lane Market that was south of town. We typically arrived at school around the same time and if we didn't see each other in the parking lot, we would run into one another in the hallway or at the copy machine with our cups of coffee, and give each other a "Cheers to giving our students our BS** for the day." 

(**BS = Best Shot/Best Stuff for putting up with lots of 8th grade BS 😁)

I really enjoyed teaching. It was a second career for me. After I graduated from college, I worked in a large law office as a paralegal. When my first child was born, my paralegal career ended and my foray into full time mom-at-home began. This vocation continued for a long time as kids 2, 3, and 4 arrived. When my youngest was in 3rd grade, I began to substitute teach, which then led to getting a Masters in Middle Childhood education. 

Teaching has always been a challenging but rewarding profession and I enjoyed my time as a teacher. I have been out of the profession for 12 years and breathe a sigh of relief that I'm not doing what these amazing school teachers are facing today. THEY ARE HEROES. When I was in the classroom, the Smart Board was our newest technology, and somedays it gave me fits! Today's teachers are running their classes in the physical classroom, online, via Zoom, or hybrid, masks or no masks, dealing with state legislation so parents can review lesson plans and tell the teachers if their lessons are acceptable, and so much more. 

If that isn't BS, I don't know what is.

9 days of palindrome dates {february 20, 2022}

Palindromes: 2-20-22 and 2-20-2022

Let the fun begin! February may be the shortest month but it full of palindrome dates, beginning with Groundhog Day, 2-2-22.

Today, until the end of the month, every day is a palindrome. And to begin the next nine days, February 20 will dazzle you with two palindrome dates: 2-20-22 and a seven digit palindrome 2-20-2022. Isn't that cool? And in 2024, there will be another date in the sequence, 2-29-22.

Someone forgot 2/20/22...
Dammit, I'm mad!

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Tonight was a first for me...I went to my first professional hockey game! The Columbus Blue Jackets played the Buffalo Sabers at Nationwide Arena and the Jackets won 7-3. From the pregame music to the final victory song, the game was filled with so much fun and energy with the cheers, the songs, and the cannon that boomed when the Jackets scored a goal. CBJ (x) CBJ!

new beginning {february 19, 2022}

"Closing time, every new beginning
Comes from some other beginning's end, yeah."

~ Semisonic (1998)

This weekend we were in Cleveland helping our son and daughter-in-law clean out their old house and get all the last minute stuff to their new home. They bought their first home five years ago. It was the perfect starter home but now they need something with a little more space for their soon-to-arrive son. It's such a joy to see their happiness and excitement for this new step in their lives.

national drink wine day {february 18, 2022}

It's National Drink Wine Day so no "wine-ing" allowed! 

Today I'm enjoying a Riesling from the Pfalz region of Germany. I was born in that area and when I saw the bottle on the shelf, I decided to try a little taste of the homeland. 

Life is wine-derful! 

coffee {february 17, 2022}

After spending 18 hours in the car the past two days and getting back to the house at 10:30 p.m., I was looking forward to my first cup of coffee of the day. Except, we had no milk and it was frigidly cold and I didn't want to bundle up to go to the store for a half gallon of milk. 

No problem...T to the rescue! He bundled up and headed over to the Giant Eagle to get my half gallon of milk. And then time started ticking. What would be no longer than a 20 minute trip turned into 45 or so minutes. He came back with a whole lot more than a half gallon of milk. One of his purchases was a half gallon of chocolate milk and just because it was so cold outside and I was sad about Bobby O's sudden death, I thought, "Why not?" A touch of chocolate milk in my coffee and life was good.

"Life happens; chocolate helps." ~ Anonymous

wordy wednesday...copains {february 16, 2022}

COPAINS...

Google Translate defines this French word as "friend" or "comrade." Copains goes much deeper than that.

Copains also means "companion." 'Companion derives from Middle English and Anglo-French from Late Latin companio. The com- in companion means "with." The second part comes from panis, the Latin word for bread or food. And in that root one sees the basis on which the notion of companionship originally hinged: a companion was someone with whom you shared a meal.

Today we attended the well-attended funeral mass for our departed friend. The Eucharist, the body of Christ, was our last meal with him. "This is the Lamb of God. Happy are those who are called to his supper." During Communion, the cantor sang "Panis Angelicus," The Bread of Angels, a beautiful prayer to go along with this holy meal.

Panis angelicus                        May the Bread of Angels

Fit panis hominum                  Become bread for mankind;

Dat panis coelicus                   The Bread of Heaven puts

Figuris terminum                    All foreshadowings to an end;

O res mirabilis                        Oh, thing miraculous!

Manducat dominum                The body of the Lord will nourish

Pauper, pauper                        the poor, the poor,

Servus et humilis                     the servile, and the humble.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/history-of-word-companion

 

9-hour road trip {february 15, 2022}

We are headed to Bronxville, New York, to bid our last farewell to our dear friend. Nine hours in the car. We are still numb from the news of his passing.

Not a lot to see other than interstate concrete and road signs along the way from Columbus to NYC. We noticed a lot of safety corridor signs with reference to distracted driving and excessive speed. No tolerance and double fines if you get caught.

New York City, here we come. I took a double take when I saw that truck being towed!

Welcome to Pennsylvania...the majority of the trip (300 miles) is through the mountains of PA.

There are four states in the United States that call themselves commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The distinction is in name alone. Commonwealths are just like any other state in their politics and laws, and there is no difference in their relationship to the nation as a whole.

New Jersey...finally! Thought that six hour drive through Pennsylvania would never end.

Noticed a couple towns with the ending -cong: Netcong, Hopatcong, and the Muscanetcong River. The names themselves are Indian names. According to the Webster dictionary, the suffix -cong means curved. Towns located on the curve of the Muscanetcong River? Just my wild guess.

Getting closer to our destination. I've never been over the George Washington Bridge. Excited to add it to the list of NYC bridges I've crossed!

The Manhattan skyline as we approached the GW Bridge. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the skyline sparkled. Taking a pic with an iPhone camera from a moving car doesn't do justice to this gorgeous view.

Crossing the GW Bridge from New Jersey into New York will lighten your wallet by $16.00.

After getting settled at our hotel, we went to Bobby O's favorite restaurant in Bronxville, Rosie's Bistro Italiano. After a long road trip where there were only fast food stops available the whole way, this polipetti griglia with an arugula salad just hit the spot.

The bartender knew our friend and when she heard we had driven nine hours to attend his funeral, she was very generous with her wine pour. Cheers to you, Bobby O.

valentine's day {february 14, 2022}

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hearts are everywhere. My brother, sister-in-law, T, and I were on a heart-pumping walk in Salzburg, Austria, and I noticed this pretty leaf growing out of a stone wall along the trail. A perfect opportunity to stop and catch my breath but also to appreciate that beautiful moment in time.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

Take time to notice the little things around you. Today my daughter's dog wandered around on the deck and made a little "heart art."