March 2026 SOLC–Day 18
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
I’ve promised myself that I’m not going to write any more complaining posts about my school year. (Though I do think the tone sneaks through time and again…sorry!) So, Reader Beware! This one feels complaint-adjacent, but it’s what I’ve got this morning. #Truestory
I sit down at the table and pull my lunch out of my bag. First, a Tupperware dish filled with chopped fruit, next the small container of granola, and finally, a vanilla Greek yogurt. This is my work-day lunch every day. Seriously, I’ve been eating this for 113 days now. (Or 114? I’ve lost track!) Anyway, it’s healthy and easy. There’s no need to think about it in advance or to take a time-wasting trip to the microwave for any reheating. I appreciate the efficiency of it.
I grasp the foil tab and pull the lid off the yogurt, watching the thick white surface appear.
But wait…that looks a little off.
Instead of the smooth creamy surface I expected, this one looks sort of…lumpy? Curdled, maybe? (Can yogurt even be curdled? Isn’t it maybe already curdled? Where does Greek yogurt come from anyway? File that thought under “Things I think I used to know…” )
I lean closer and take a deep sniff. It smells fine.
I give it another concerned glance. It definitely looks different than usual.
I check the date, wondering if somehow I’ve pulled a random yogurt from the dead zone at the back of the fridge.. April 16, 2026
Hmmmm… so it should be okay. I guess I’ll know it’s bad if it tastes funny.
I dump the yogurt on my fruit and stir it in, then top the mixture with a generous sprinkle of granola. As I begin to tentatively dip my spoon in for a trial taste, I pause, my motion arrested by a sudden (somewhat unhinged?) thought:
Oh! If it’s off, you can get a mild case of food poisoning and not be able to come to school tomorrow!
I dig my spoon in and take a big bite.
It tastes fine.
Totally normal.
I’m not sure if I’m happy about that or a bit disappointed.
Nix the comfort zone 
Oh! This is funny but not funny. I wish it were easier to get a break from teaching when you need it.
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Sheer perfection at the lunch table – – I’m laughing and sharing your feelings about the lumpy yogurt consequences. I think if I were you, I’d have to err on the side of caution and stay home. You wouldn’t want a surprise sour stomach to suddenly present itself once you’re there because then it might take a minute to get a sub to come in. And counting the days? Yes, I’m there too.
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Take a huge bite, right?!!! That was great the way you shared the same steps I go through when I’m not quite sure, and then you delved in for a huge bite, not necessarily to ease your lunch time hunger pangs.
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When you described the yoghurt, I pictured cottage cheese. Brave decision. Or hunger directed decision. Then again the food passed the sniff test.
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Like Terje, I thought maybe you had grabbed cottage cheese by mistake. Such a funny, ironic ending. Complaint adjacent, for sure.
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I eat Danon yogurt most mornings and have seen this weird consistency thing. I’m glad your yogurt was fine but understand the desire to find a “mild case of food poisoning” so you don’t have to go to school. And I think it’s fine to vent and complain in this space. I can’t imagine there’s a teacher who doesn’t relate to the very bad year paradigm, I certainly have memories. I’m sorry your year is one of those and that I haven’t kept up w/ all the posts related to that.I subscribe to your blog so will try to be more present and a better listener for those times you need someone in the virtual corner nodding.
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Your slice kept me changing my reading predictions the further I read into the slice. First, I thought maybe you’d grabbed cottage cheese but wondered how that could happen when the containers are usually so different in size. Then I thought maybe you would keep everything separate, just in case the yogurt was bad; at least you’d have granola and fruit. But you didn’t. Then I thought you’d get sick. But you didn’t. Great use of structure and font changes to keep me moving smoothly between your actions and your thoughts.
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OK, this phrase hooked me! “complaint-adjacent”Love it! Thanks for taking us through your thought process. Hope you do not get sick!!
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Love the surprise of the big bite! You go girl! I agree with Aggie, I love the expression, “complaint adjacent!” I am taking on the challenge to using -adjacent in my next blog!
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