Chinese New Year's

 Tuesdsay, February 18, 2026

AI Overview: Chinese New Year 2026, starting February 17, welcomes the rare Fire Horse (Bing Wu), a 60-year cycle event symbolizing intense energy, rapid transformation, and bold,, passionate action. This year promises significant career growth and worldwide change but requires balancing high-speed ambition with caution to avoid impulsivity, conflict, and burnout. 

President's Day Cigars

 Monday, February 16, 2026

Started off with a little Romeo y Julieta. 

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Went on to light up a big Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur.

Valentine's Day 2026

Saturday, February 14, 2026 

Very different Valentine's Day this year as I am not teaching and didn't have a classroom of kids to celebrate it with. Looking back I can say more often than not (especially so over the last 10 years)  it could be a difficult day for students especially those coming from poverty. I've spoken to people about this over the years and they're mostly surprised that something they remember as being so fun could be difficult for kids. Any change in routine can be difficult especially for kids who've experienced trauma. Valentine's Day offered kids a change in routine, anticipation, a party, having or not having cards and candy to pass out. It got to the point where it wasn't even fun for me anymore. 

Valentine I texted to Dale. 

Tonight Dale and I had a quiet evening in. 

President's Day Weekend - Valentine's Dinner

 Sunday, February 16, 2025

Dinner tonight at Creekside. Dale had salmon and I had the pasta bolognese. He drank red wine and I had Old Fashioneds.  Oh, and we each had the tomato basil soup to start. It was all very delicious. 

When we got home we watched West Side Story on TCM. 

And ate Java Chip ice cream with Milano cookies.

President's Day Weekend - Recovery

Saturday, February 15, 2025

President's Day on Monday. So good to have a 3-day weekend after such a tiring week. A week ago yesterday I tried to make a Valentine's Day restaurant reservation for tonight but the two places we were interested in were booked. I figured most other places would be too. So I went ahead and got us a reservation at Creekside Supper Club for tomorrow night. 

Friday's Finally Here - Valentine's Day

Friday, February 14, 2025

Friday's finally here. I made it.!  It was a week of indoor recess every day for the kids, a full moon, a Valentine's day party, and conferences. Yep, they were pretty riled up this week but I managed as well as I could and it was all just fine. 

The temp was up a little bit since I last smoked on Wednesday. 

Decided to go for a bigger cigar, an Oliva, since it was more pleasant out. I lasted about 40 minutes before I got a little too cold.

Started snowing around 1:30 today so I got a little shoveling in while I was outside.

Dale and I had stopped by Lunds after he picked me up from school. We just got some prepared foods from the deli and I picked up a pre-made Old Fashioned from Cork Dork. 

We had drinks after I finished my cigar and shoveling. 

It was a quiet, low key, and pleasant Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day 2025 - Long Day

Thursday, February 13, 2025

As I said in my last post it's been a long week and today was a long day. Not a bad day just a long one due to conferences after classes today. Valentine's Day is actually tomorrow but we're having our party today since the kids are off but I have to be here due to more conferences. I bought my Valentine cards a couple weeks ago Lunds. A few years ago I waited until the last minute and couldn't find any so this year I planned ahead. The Valentines were like those old pencil sharpeners that looked like little tv's and the screens were pictures that, depending on the angle you were holding it, you'd see either one of two different images. These Valentines had pictures of dinosaurs but if you angled them slightly you'd see the dinosaur's skeleton.  

The box labeled them as lenticular cards. Kinda fun. I think the kids liked 'em.

The kids decorated their Valentine bags yesterday. We I had them pass out their cards and treats at around 1:00 pm today. They LOVE doing that. 

Earlier today I had the kids make a little Valentine Bear project. Shown above is a sample.

This one was done by one of the students. 

I also brought in some sugar cookies from Lund's. They were delicious. 

All in all be had a great day and I think the kids loved it.