No-TV Tuesday: softball semis

The Tigers are going to the finals!

Under warm, sunny skies, Tigard took on McNary in the state softball semis.

Mom is their announcer, so we get to watch from up in the press box:

We won!!!! Next up: We play Oregon City Saturday for the state title! (bracket)

LET'S GO, TIGARD!!!!!!!🎉

No-TV Tuesday: yard work and flowers

No-TV Tuesday kicked off with a run to the ballot box.

Armed with empty yard-debris bins and a dry evening, I spent hours outside doing more cleanup. I finally made it all the way around the yard collecting cones, cuttings, leaves, and weeds. And I got MOST of the big pile into the bins. 

Two weeks from now, the pile should finally be gone - and hopefully most of the overflow cans. BUT... then I need to do the roof and gutters. It's really never ending. Fortunately, I enjoy the work and love digging in the dirt.

Overflow:

Then I took a stroll around the yard to soak in my spring blooms:

A very old azalea hedge:

Stolen from Ma's yard:

Most of my front yard was swiped from Ma's house:

Hostas coming up:

More old azaleas:

Much better than watching TV

:)

No-TV Tuesday: ballots and packing

Another super-thrilling No-TV Tuesday!

Picking our candidates for Oregon's primary election. Don't forget to vote by May 17!!! 

Also did dinner, laundry, and dishes while listening to my current audio book:

Packed for an upcoming camping trip:

Gizmo helped...

Ha!

:)

No-TV Tuesday: Winco, union strong, shrimp, weeds

I love turning on my audio book and digging in the dirt! A couple dry days brought plans for yard work.

But first up: Winco!

OSEA Chapter 51 monthly meeting:

Sally's Creamy Pesto Shrimp - one of our favorites!

Then I got to work in the front yard, quickly filling one yard debris bin:

Our very wet spring has me behind on my yard cleanup, but Tuesday's dry and warm(er) weather gave me a chance to get out.

I worked until I lost light and bedtime called.

Planning to get out more Wednesday 🍂🌼

No-TV Tuesday: mattress shopping

We left the house this week for No-TV Tuesday - Big night out at BedMart!

But first...  routine X-rays and cleaning at Garden Home Dental:

Fun fact: I've gone to this same clinic since I was a little kid.

Next up - Winco:

While I was unloading my groceries, a guy roared up on this tiny motorcycle:

Still wearing his helmet, and with the bike still running, he jumped off with what looked like a food delivery and ran back and forth across my neighbor's driveway several times before disappearing into their side yard.

Several minutes later, he returned to the driveway, this time with his helmet off, and set the big bag and two Chinese takeout containers in front of the garage. He jumped back on the bike and rode away. 

Meantime, I texted the neighbors and told them a really confused delivery driver left their Chinese food on their driveway.

"We definitely didn't order any Chinese food," she responded.

I looked out the front window and saw both neighbors standing in their driveway looking at the food - so I went out to inquire....

They didn't even know anything was going on - except their dogs were going crazy. Then they found a big pile of FRIED RICE on the ground in their side yard. WHAT?!?!? Maybe the guy was scared by the dogs and dropped the rice? The bag on the driveway was ripped on the bottom... maybe the rice fell out when he was creeping next to their house?? So he just left the ripped bag and two containers randomly on the concrete?? 

They said the guy didn't leave an empty or partial box that would explain where the rice came from... They even checked the garbage can to see if he tossed it. Nope. 

SO WEIRD AND RANDOM!

After all that excitement, Brad and I ate dinner and then went to BedMart to shop for a new mattress!

We answered the survery and got scanned by the computer thingy and then laid on all.the.beds.

Mattress shopping is such an exhausting experience. BUT... Jim the sales guy was really great and patient and helped us figure out what we want.

We put down a deposit on the Sealy Premium Silver Chill hybrid:

At home, Brad continued the research:

It really never ends with this guy 😂

A productive evening for sure - and I can't wait to finalize the sale and get that new mattress next week! 😴

No-TV Tuesday: Ugh

Tuesday was a bad day. I had a run-in with a student that was frustrating, hurtful, and disheartening. Those hurt feelings carried into my evening, I channeled that negative energy into baking.

These are for my students. A reminder for myself that the care and love I have for my students is important - and continues even after a hard day with one student.

I finished a page-turning audio book while cleaning the house and prepping for Wednesday's family dinner: 

I spent the rest of the evening surfing the Internet. Probably not within the spirit of No-TV Tuesday, but it's what I needed.

No-TV Tuesday: cat nap, virtual meeting, chores

First things first: a short nap after work. Gizmo climbed right in with me... this is under the covers!

Monthly OSEA Chapter 51 union meeting:

Finished up my race recap:

Laundry:

Dinner:

Brad's folx are coming for dinner Wednesday, so I did some chores while listening to my audio book:

A good, productive No-TV Tuesday :)

No-TV Tuesday: Taxes

Absolutely nothing worth reporting happened for this week's No-TV Tuesday... but since I'm using this for accountability...

My one goal for the evening was finishing my book. Mission accomplished.
Brad worked on the taxes, which are apparently more complicated this year because of the sale of his company and the stocks involved in that. It might finally be time to hand it over to a professional. 

Other than dinner, that was it. Our whole evening.

WOOHOO 😑

No-TV Tuesday: Hardy Ridge trail run

It's Spring Break, and Brad joined me in a couple days off. We decided Tuesday's forecasted near-record highs called for an outdoor adventure.

Brad is not a morning person, so my question is always, "How early are you willing to leave?" Beating the crowds is my No. 1 goal. We compromised and left home early but not super early 😁 An empty parking lot was our reward!

We picked a trail run at Hardy Ridge, a new spot for both of us. Guides said it was 8.5 miles, but since it abuts the Hamilton Mountain trail system, we thought we'd explore and see what our legs could handle.

Snow patches and overgrown brush made the summit ridge extra exciting! It's clearly not a well-traveled trail - at least not this time of year. 

The summit's 360-degree view was 100% obscured by clouds. It was warm and calm, and I could feel the moisture on my bare skin.

A tiny cairn marked the summit:

The "view":

I always forget to bring my Altra gaiters but managed to pack them this time. Wow - what a difference! I won't forget them again!

We headed downhill to Hardy Creek and found tons of snow in the sheltered canyon.

The snow helped us decide our route as we made our way up to Hamilton Mountain.

We knew we'd start seeing people as we entered the very popular Hamilton Mountain area. But 3 hours of solitude was awesome! And because we came in from the top, the trails weren't super crowded.

Absolutely beautiful!

Hamilton Mountain summit - no view there, either:

We made our way down and found the parking lot nearly full - so glad we went early!

13.3 miles and 3,700 feet of elevation gain:

We can't wait to go back later in the season 😀