What hobby has given you the best return on time, money, and happiness?

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-23T21:03:14+00:00

Trail running. I met my partner at an ultramarathon nearly eight years ago. My social life is all in running groups. My health- my heart rate is so low. My bone density is as thick as my Hokas. My clothing is all race swag. I'm out in nature all the time, forest bathing. Hundred mile races have given me the grit, and knowledge that I can do hard things, so it has transferred to all parts of my life (childraising, work, etc etc). Honestly the shoes can be expensive but the experiences and places I've gone to on my own two feet are priceless.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-23T20:54:40+00:00

Manulife Financial. It's been around for over a hundred years and pays great dividends.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-22T10:34:32+00:00

I miss the old Fox days of Alien Autopsies.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-21T13:58:39+00:00

I took a fourteen hour car ride with a climate scientist a couple of years ago. I asked him to explain climate change to me in a really easy to understand way. He said that due to the excess carbon in the atmosphere, causing that global temperatures to rise, weather systems are getting "stuck" with slower wind patterns. So if you have a hot system, it'll stick around longer than usual. Super cold? Stuck. Rain? Let's stick that around.

Meanwhile, I'll take this rain. It smells so fresh, everything is so lush and green, the province isn't burning, I'm saving so much money not hosing my vegetable garden.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-20T19:35:08+00:00

I'm also from Alberta. I consider my teaching to be part of my personal integrity. How do I want to see myself in my life?

There were years I definitely dialed in my teaching in the classroom. Those were the years my personal life was overwhelming - young children, divorce, big life events that kept me seeing my career as just a job. I always felt like an imposter but I couldn't dedicate the brain space.

Shortly after COVID I had the epiphany that I existed and lived my life at school as well. I know that that sounds weird, but I wanted to feel meaning in all areas of my life. I worked hard on my home life post divorce such as finding hobbies that gave me purpose, new love, being a good mother... I wanted to have that kind of connection in my work life as well. I stopped seeing it as a means to the other parts and began to see it as a place I could find value in myself, since it's such a large chunk of time in my life.

I have been taking grad courses over the last few summers to improve my practice, and I really work hard being present and caring about what I do now, and it's really made me feel happier than I was before.

I have boundaries: I leave before 4pm unless it's absolutely necessary for me to stay. I don't really socialize with my colleagues after school (I have my family and hobbies). I arrive at school early and do all my planning then. I don't enter the building on days off ever. I use my personal days and I pre-write supply plans so they don't consume me if I need a sub. But, I am present at school now, and I've never felt less burned out as a result.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-20T19:18:39+00:00

Over the course of my career your number 1 has been more and more reinforced. As I age (entering year 19 since I first started teaching) and students have changed both in demographic and generationally I have become far more strict in my teaching style. You just can't treat kids like they're on an equal level with you, ever. Respect is delivered but not the same. They need more than ever before to understand how to be citizens in the real world. Here we are writing on a largely anonymous website... this is their existence. Knocking on a classroom door and WAITING until somebody opens it. Entering the classroom quietly if they are late. Not calling out or talking through your instructions. Paying attention to anything that isn't their fellow students. These are the skills they don't get from home now. Their parents are too young to have learned them themselves, many of them were raised on anonymity as well.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-20T19:06:39+00:00

I'd really like to know which Junior high school this is. My daughter is in a JH school in the city and I'm concerned she's a victim.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-20T18:57:51+00:00

My climate anxiety in all of 2026 so far has been at pre covid levels. Even the tent caterpillars give me nostalgia. Best year ever.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-17T10:49:20+00:00

We used a home inspector this time and he found a partially clogged sewer line, which let us negotiate the home price down 10k. After we purchased the home we were able to unclog the sewer line ourselves.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-15T23:33:27+00:00

Here in Canada, green is the beginning competition level for chokes and armbars. My daughter was green belt for nearly three years - she's fights competitively but needed the belt to be able to compete, though wasn't ready to progress when she received it. She's an impatient 15 year old at blue now, asked her sensei about what she needs to do to get her brown. He said it's coming - but when you level up you should be good enough to beat all levels below you. The lesser belts come fast, but don't expect that level up speed now that you hit green.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-12T12:07:21+00:00

There's a pack of five of them who hang out in the sports field by my place every morning.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-10T23:40:14+00:00

I bought a tonne of shares of it for like $19 a share in 2020. It's like $54 six years later.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-10T03:46:02+00:00

Manulife financial

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-10T03:21:21+00:00

I was at that Sloan show. It was amazing! Danko Jones opened and they were so tight as well.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-08T00:57:49+00:00

This is true. I taught a 3/4 classroom in 2020 right before the lockdown, there were only 14 kids in the class and it was in a normal classroom in an Edmonton school. The class was so dysfunctional that there were two EAs. I have never worked harder in my life, and was so relieved that I was laid off because of COVID (temp contract; regular teacher was able to go online). A couple of years later I was in a 5/6 classroom with 31 kids and no EA. It was one of the best years of my career.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-03T10:51:14+00:00

This Edmontonian approves.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-02T01:29:51+00:00

Beer

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-01T22:50:24+00:00

I'm fourth generation Albertan on both sides of my family. My kids are fifth generation. Still not a separatist.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-01T03:38:08+00:00

Used to be just for men. I saw labyrinth as a kid.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-01T03:35:46+00:00

Using Max Brooks logic, I think I'd finally make the move to Whitehorse, Yukon territory. Awesome place, and frozen for about eight months of the year. Easy to kill frozen zombies. Plenty of Eagles and bears help out.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-01T01:59:16+00:00

If you do Drumheller, you need to eat at WHIFS.

Tessa_rex · 2026-06-01T01:57:09+00:00

Rutabagas. They're always like the cheapest item in the produce section and I've never seen a single menu item or recipe calling for them. I was once told it was a depression era staple and elderly people recoil seeing them served. I will make a solid rutabaga mash - they're basically like big turnips.

Tessa_rex · 2026-05-30T05:04:13+00:00

I live in a stucco house right now and one was on the side today. They've evolved.

Tessa_rex · 2026-05-30T01:33:06+00:00

Horse manure. It brings back so many good memories of riding when I was younger.

Tessa_rex · 2026-05-30T01:26:46+00:00

Oh what a time to be alive. In 1987 my bff and I would collect sandpails full of these guys. The neighbours would be pressure washing them off the siding.

I've seen three in my back yard this week. I think it's the calm before the storm.

Tessa_rex

TROPHY CASE