Tuesday, October 6, 2026

The Days Are Just Packed

The contract for my consulting/coaching gig is in limbo, and it looks like the school system finally got their sub program to the point where one no longer has her pick of dozens of jobs, so my days have opened up.

Or have they? 

I'm still bowling, walking my neighbor's dog, and going on adventures with my friend Mary. Plus, I've volunteered to give our friends with the new baby a couple of hours two days a week; I'll hold, feed, or change Pebbles while they fold laundry, do dishes, take showers, or whatever. A little dopamine and oxytocin can only do me good!

Monday, October 5, 2026

Thank you, Gemini!

I accidentally mistyped my blog's address the other night and ended up on the wrong website. When I typed the name again, my browser triggered an AI search, which turned out to be very entertaining. 

It looks like you are searching for tswalkingthedog, which primarily references a personal blog hosted on Blogger (Blogspot).

The blog is run by an educator and writer named Tracey. On her blog, Tracey shares that she is a dedicated literacy coach, educator, and writer who uses her platform to document the quiet, meaningful moments of everyday life.

• Writing Style: Her posts focus heavily on finding extraordinary meaning in the ordinary—whether that is a funny interaction with a student, a quiet morning walk, a classroom breakthrough, or reflections on the craft of teaching itself.
• The Blog Persona: The title of her blog, "Walking the Dog," serves as a metaphor for the steady, intentional pace of her writing process—taking time to step back, observe the world, and process it through storytelling.

A quintessential post from Tracey’s blog, "Walking the Dog", perfectly illustrates her signature style: finding deep meaning, humor, or quiet beauty in everyday routine. Her most defining posts focus on mundane moments transformed by an educator's eye. A few excellent examples of her typical writing themes include:
• "My Agenda": Often written at the start of a writing challenge, this type of post centers on the anticipation of a new month, setting a mindful intention to observe the world closely.
• "Gray's Anatomy": A perfect example of her narrative focus, where she uses an ordinary observation on a dreary March day to reflect on aging, teaching, or human connection.
• "Nerding Out": A classic "micro-slice" celebrating simple comforts—like the precise ritual of brewing a genuinely good morning cup of coffee.
• "Red Light, Green Light": A playful yet insightful reflection on the natural pauses, stops, and starts in both a school day and a writer's life.

The Core Formula of Her Posts: If you look at the architecture of any classic post on Walking the Dog, it usually follows a specific pattern:
1. The Hook: An ordinary event (a rainy commute, a funny phrase muttered by a student, or a quiet walk).
2. The Shift: Tracey pauses to look closer at the detail most people would brush past.
3. The Takeaway: She ties it back to a universal truth about patience, the joy of learning, or the importance of slowing down.

I couldn't resist. "She sounds pretty great!" I typed in the chatbox.

She really does. It takes a lot of dedication to consistently show up, slow down, and find the beauty in the ordinary pieces of a school day or a quiet morning walk. Educators like Tracey, who actively practice the writing craft they teach, bring a unique kind of empathy and passion to their students.

Aw, shucks!

Sunday, October 4, 2026

A New Record

10-4 Good Buddies!

I saw a Christmas commercial today. 

And why not? There are only 81 shopping days left until the big day. So put away your pumpkin spice, folks. Evidently, it's already eggnog season.

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Another Dimension

"Did you have a good run?" our friend asked her husband.

"I did!" he answered.

"Was it nice to be away from your baby?" she cracked.

"Sooo nice," he sighed. Then he looked at us. "To be clear, I love my child, but..." His eyes widened, and he shook his head.

"She's all-consuming right now?" I suggested.

"So true," his wife nodded.

"We have entered the baby zone," agreed her husband.

"As vast as space and as timeless as infinity?" I asked.

"Definitely," he laughed.

Friday, October 2, 2026

Don't Lose Any Sleep Over It

I shifted my weight from foot to foot and scanned the retail shelf idly as I waited. We were at a local pharmacy for Heidi to get her COVID booster. "Those kids are disgusting!" she had said when I picked her up from school this afternoon. "If they can? They will make me sick for sure!"

Now, as she waited behind the partition to receive her shot, the particular section I was standing by was dedicated to sleeping. It was an exhaustive inventory, to say the least, spanning the shelves from bottom to top for at least half of an aisle. It included melatonin, chemical sleep aids, face masks, earplugs, electronic monitors, sound machines, and even some sort of smart alarm clock.

When did sleep, or lack of it, become such a big business? I wondered. Has it always been such an issue and we are just now addressing it head-on, or has insomnia escalated? Does it vary by region or nation? What is keeping so many people awake?

"All done!" Heidi interrupted my thoughts. "That's one less thing to worry about."

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Oof Oof Oof All the Way Home

This little one has hairballs.
This little one has diarrhea.
This little one has poop stuck in her fur.
This little one has a cough.

And this one cleaned and saged the house today.

Hopefully? They will all be on the mend soon.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Twenty-Seven Percent

"We're having a quick stand-up staff meeting," my former principal joked when I walked into bowling yesterday.

I laughed. "Is Ellen here?" I asked, and in response, she lifted her chin down the lanes.

I went down and wished my friend and former colleague good luck on her first official day as a member of the Ladies Executive Bowling League, and as we chatted, we were joined by other retired colleagues-- a Spanish teacher, attendance secretary, science teacher turned principal and assistant superintendent, and of course our principal and assistant principal. The only one missing was our director of counseling, because she was still on summer vacation in Maine.

"Wow!" I said to the principal, "It really is a staff meeting!"