March 2019 SOLC–Day 16
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As much as I was looking forward to the end of the week, I was dreading it as well. This will not be a weekend. It is already over-scheduled with school work (reading, scoring, writing comments, planning…), and I’ll be back at school on Monday having had no substantial time to refresh.
I also feel unhappy about the week behind me. As we all tried to adjust to the clock change, the trimester ground to a halt. We administered assessment after assessment. Everyone was tired and on top of it, I was stressed. That combination doesn’t lead to creative or patient teaching. Put simply, I haven’t been my best self.
Then, next week, we’re headed into state-mandated testing, so we’ve been prepping for that as well. I feel like a cog in a big ugly machine right now, running right over the children I’m supposed to be teaching, encouraging, supporting…bypassing their needs as I tend to the demands of the system.
At the end of the day Friday, I sat at my desk, discouraged, trying to find the energy to stuff everything I could possibly need into my bags. I contemplated the coming weekend, the past week, and the weeks to come. Every dormant herpes simplex cell in my body quivered at attention, happily feeding on the incoming stress, ready to blossom at the slightest encouragement. I had to “detox”, at least a little.
Finally, I picked up the phone.
“Hey, Kurt,” I said when he answered, “You know what I really want to do?”
“What?” he asked, somewhat hesitantly.
“I want to drive to Portland and go get a giant piece of cheese-dripping pizza at Slab. Maybe even two.”
He laughed. “You want to drive all the way to Portland to get a piece of pizza?” he asked.
“Yes!” I replied somewhat desperately, “A big cheesy piece of pizza! I need a break. If I go straight home I’m going to start writing or working, and I want to hang out with you. I really need to get away.” I paused, then continued, “Also, if I’m going to eat pizza, I want it to be really good pizza!”
After some discussion, Kurt, good guy that he is, agreed that, while pizza wouldn’t be his first choice of a meal if we were driving half an hour into the city, he was okay with it.
So, I packed up, hefted my bulging bags into the car, and drove home. Forty-five minutes later we were on our way.
We enjoyed ourselves.
The pizza was delicious.
And now it’s time to work.
Nix the comfort zone 
Some things have been off all over. I am not certain I can blame it all on the time change but I had a similar week. Things were off for sure.
We had pizza last night too! Luckily to get great pizza we don’t have to drive far. I am looking forward to sleep this weekend. I have to get some extra rest because sleep patterns were disrupted almost every night.
I send you joy and sunshine this weekend!
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Thanks for the joy and sunshine. I really appreciated them! I’m just surfacing for air now!
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Finding time to refresh is critical…finding time for pizza, also important.
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I eat a low-fat diet to avoid cholesterol, so this was a real treat!
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THIS:
“Then, next week, we’re headed into state-mandated testing, so we’ve been prepping for that as well. I feel like a cog in a big ugly machine right now, running right over the children I’m supposed to be teaching, encouraging, supporting…bypassing their needs as I tend to the demands of the system.”
-You are singing my lament! I have envisioned this heavy machinery so many times, felt the oppressiveness, the counterproductiveness of it. Furthermore, I notice that everyone is currently running low on steam and courage. I am amused at how you found comfort in your cheesy slab of pizza. It may not heal all – but it helps. A “peace” of pizza. 🙂
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It was definitely a help. Report cards are done, but testing continues. sigh…
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Why haven’t I heard of SLAB before!? So many great places to eat in Portland. Is it in the old Public Market building? I usually go to Flatbread but I may need to make a drive to Portland for a Slab of pizza soon! Hope you get some rest this weekend. It is VITAL!
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It is in the old Public Market building. It’s very bready (I love that!) and I’d like a higher ratio of toppings to bread (dripping with sauce and cheese works best for me), but it’s still yummy! I do think they have thin crust options as well if that’s your preference. Flatbread is yummy, too!
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I hope that this weekend will bring you a bit of refreshment along with work.
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Thanks! I managed to sneak in a beach visit.
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This is s fun twist on “detox” since we typically think about pizza as the antithesis of detox food. This image is going to make me dream: “Every dormant herpes simplex cell in my body quivered at attention, happily feeding on the incoming stress, ready to blossom at the slightest encouragemen.” I’m glad I’m not prone to cold sores.
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Cold sores are the worst! So far I’m in the clear, but I’m afraid to even say that for fear I might jinx myself….
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I can identify with so much of this. We’re weeks away from the state tests, but I know all of those feelings. The week, the time change, the assessment, the working weekend, the bulging bag to lug home. Glad you were able to get away from it for a bit…or bite. Do you think we think about pizza and pie more in March because of the word ‘slice’ showing up on our screen every morning?
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Great question! I’m going to have to ponder that 🙂 March is always tough, but we generally survive…I just need to remember that!
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I live in Jersey and have driven to Staten Island for pizza – I get it! Thank you for a wonderful slice and a chance to connect over a food craving.
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I’m still thankful to my husband for agreeing to go!
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Paying attention to what you need, the fuel of a loving husband and pizza, will keep you going. Good luck on this upcoming testing week. I Hate testing with a Passion!
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We spread state testing over the whole month…and then have more testing in April. I’m not sure if spreading it out is better or worse….
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Sent from my iPhone
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?
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Clearly, I was trigger happy. What I had intended to say was that pizza is my ultimate comfort food. I make my own dough and sauce, and although I can no longer eat wheat, when I splurge, it’s generally for a slab — thick but crisp crust, savory family sauce recipe (Dad owned a pizza chain with his brothers many years ago), and high quality Romano and smoked mozzarella or provalone that drips and stretches from the knife. Toppings, to me, are accessories. A little go a long way. Food aside, you capture the kind of day, week, professional demands that exhaust you to your soul. I’m so glad Kurt was game and that you felt a bit of comfort from your dinner. Wish I was there to enjoy it with you.
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You always have the most amazing way of describing food! Your description has me yearning for more pizza! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could enjoy some together?Oh– I’m so glad you cleared up the mystery of your response. I was pretty convinced it was some hip new shorthand that I wasn’t clued into!
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Pizza heals! A good guy in the clutch heals. Well-put description of what state-mandated testing does ” I feel like a cog in a big ugly machine right now, running right over the children I’m supposed to be teaching, encouraging, supporting…bypassing their needs as I tend to the demands of the system.” We are grinding our good (great in your case) teachers into dust and leaving the profession to the uninspired, less creative, duty-bound. John Dewey II – where are you!
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Pizza definitely had some healing powers this past Friday. I was so thankful for it and for the fact that Kurt was willing to drive down to Portland with me.
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A drive and comfort food (“a giant piece of cheese-dripping pizza”) with your “good guy” — best way I know to “detox” Keep detoxing yourself!
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…and now onto the red wine…
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This Slice is spot-on in so many ways! Thanks for the reminder about the importance of taking a break…and having delicious pizza!
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It was a good way to take a break and make myself stay away from my computer and work bags for a while. Unfortunately, then it was a bit tougher to return to them when I needed to! lol
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Loved reading how you carved out time for you and something that would make you happy! And yes, it’s a hard time in schools, but a good one, too. I love the warmer days and the longer hours of light!
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There’s definitely a sense of spring in the air!
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I agree that sometimes we need to “detox” or treat ourselves well. Then we can work, and there is always some more work to do. Take care of yourself.
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Good pizza is almost always a good choice in my opinion. Sorry you’ve had a tough week. Your post makes me glad that standardized testing is limited in Ontario. Even then, I recognize this, “I feel like a cog in a big ugly machine right now, running right over the children I’m supposed to be teaching, encouraging, supporting…bypassing their needs as I tend to the demands of the system.” You’ve said it all too well.
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Sadly, my pizza eating is limited as I try to avoid cholesterol. Happily, red wine is on the “good” list!
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What a perfect plan to lift your spirits and detox! Hang in there…
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Thanks! I try to remind myself that this too shall pass!
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