Today is the last day of the March Slice of Life Story Challenge for 2022.
I am proud that I wrote and posted 29 out of 31 Slices.
I am a teeny bit disappointed that I missed 2 days.
However, if there is one thing I've learned on the this writing journey,
it is to give myself grace and to keep showing up to the page.
I am old fashion when it comes to making purchases.
Although, I'm not writing checks. much these days, except to pay some bills, I still use my debit and credit cards to make most purchases. I think it's mostly about having control.
I have only recently learned how to use apps for preordering food and beverages.
And, I'm rather proud of myself.
You probably already know how this works, but indulge me.
I place my order in the app.
I pay in the app.
I drive to the location and either walk in to pick up my order or my order is brought to me while I wait in the parking lot.
Pretty convenient, right? Right. Except when it's not.
March 29, 2022
5:50am - 10 minutes before the end of my workout, I place my Starbucks order.
(Iced Shaken Espresso: Oat Milk, 3 Shots of Expresso, 2 Pumps of Classic Syrup instead of 4, Ice)
6:00am - I drive to the selected Starbucks location. They don't appear to be open on the inside, so I drive around to the drive thru. No one greets me at the speaker, so I drive around to the window. They don't appear to be open, at. all.
The baristas are all standing outside the store waiting for the manager who has not shown up yet.
When I inquired about getting the drink I ordered in the app, I was preparing myself to hear that they were sorry and would not be able to help, or that I would have to come back once the story was open.
But, fortunately, that was not the case.
I was told I could go to another Starbucks location, show them my order on the app, and they would help me.
I was skeptical, so as I headed toward the location near my house, I called the store, and much to my amazement, they were more that willing to make my order.
I was inconvenienced, but I got my drink.
I recently wrote a poem about how cooking was NOT my jam. But, I have to meal prep for lunch or else I will spend $4.50 on a student-portion school lunch.
I came across a video on Instagram of someone cooking Egg Rolls in a Bowl. I thought, "I could make that." If I do cook, I'd rather it be a one pot/pan deal, and this recipe was exactly that.
Here is the original recipe with my modifications.
Credit goes to @mealprepmondays (IG).
Instructions: 👨🍳 (I layered the seasonings in as I added the ingredients, except the salt.)
In a medium pan saute diced onions in olive oil, then add the ground turkey, salt, pepper, and minced garlic. Once the turkey is cooked add in the cabbage mix and seasonings. Stir and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes. (Make sure to taste for seasoning). Cook your Minute Rice cups in the microwave and then add 1 each to a meal prep bowl. Top with your turkey and veggie mix. Then drizzle over the sriracha (I use enough Chili Garlic Sauce to not need sriracha.) and sprinkle green onions on top! This recipe makes four meals.
Throughout the cooking process, I was a bit skeptical about how it would taste. I sampled it when it was done, but decided not eat any until lunch the next day.
I was not disappointed. This recipe is DELICIOUS!!
My normal Winter Sunday routine as been to get up at 7:00 am.
Read and meditate on the Bible Verse of the day.
Read and complete the workbook pages/devotional for the Bible in 52 Weeks books I'm reading.
Shower, get ready for church, and eat.
Attend church and serve cleaning the kitchen in the "Grand Hall".
Walk Prince for 20-30 minutes upon arriving home - around 12:30pm.
Host a Sunday Writing group.
With the change in temperature that is occurring in Texas, although Texas weather can be unpredictable as of late, I will need to rearrange this routine. It was rather warm today during our walk. I was actually sweating, and we both were fairly worn out when we finished.
He has pretty much been like this since we got back...
It is Friday!!
I made through another week!!
Lessons were planned and successfully delivered.
Students were taught, and retaught.
Next week's plans are ready and copies are made.
Though I have an all day training tomorrow,
I will spend the weekend resting and recouping,
so I can do it all again beginning Monday.
Some of you parents may remember a show called Between the Lions. There was a segment in the show called The Adventures of Cliff Hanger. At the beginning and end of each segment, Cliff makes the same statement, "Can't. Hold. On. Much. Longer!"
As much as I enjoy the challenge of writing and posting a Slice every day for the month March, I am beginning to run out of steam.
I will use all the strength I can muster to hold on until the end of the month.
I can do anything for 6 more days, right?
I started writing poetry a year or two ago when I learned about Sarah J. Donovan's monthly Open Write invitation. I learned that I like having a process or structure for writing poetry. I'm not always successful, but I try most of the time.
Today's process was the ghazal poem (pronounced guzzle). I almost gave up on this one. However, after finding inspiration from yesterday's Open Write invitation (Look Up), my muse showed up.
The struggle is real.
You are losing hope, but look up.
You’re fighting the good fight.
You get knocked down, gotta look up.
You are weary and weak.
You can barely stand, so look up.
You are not alone.
Just keep holding on and look up.
Where does your help come from?
The Lord – Oh please, look up!
We have a saying within my workout group, Camp Gladiator, "Never Miss A Monday. It serves as a reminder to start the fitness-week off right. I can proudly say that I hardly ever miss a Monday workout.
However, yesterday, Monday, March 21, I missed a Monday in my writing space. I forgot to compose and post a Slice. And I'll have to check, but I think I also forgot the write in my notebook. Something else I try not to miss.
Not to make excuses, but yesterday was my first day back to work after Spring Break. I think my headspace was consumed with concerns from my workspace. Especially, after finding out that I DID NOT finish our team lesson plans for math before we left for break. Apparently, I was so focused on gathering the materials we would need, that I neglected to type what we would be teaching and what the kiddos would be learning. Needless to say, I was more than a little flustered and very much annoyed with myself for missing that. Thankfully, my team gave me grace, and I have extended grace to myself as well.
But, grace didn't keep from spending much of last night preparing the plans for next week. As a matter of fact, I was able to finish next week's plans for math and writing. Though, I'm happy to be done with the plans, I'm still a bit sad that I didn't post a Slice. I guess I'll have to extend myself a bit more grace.
We finished out the Spring Break week today with a trip to the
Perot Museum in Dallas.
As nice as it was to get away;
Seeing the sights and hearing the sounds of Las Vegas,
For me there's no place like home.
