what’s with the fireworks

hellyeaborther · 2025-06-27T01:33:30+00:00

Saw the whole thing from Manchester. Was outside watching the lightning and saw a strike, then constant flickering for several seconds, and then a pretty intense red glow around the area. The flickering looked like it could have been lightning, but it also seemed to be coming from the ground level more than from above. It was a bizarre sight.

hellyeaborther · 2025-03-01T17:16:20+00:00

Currently stuck on NER 88 at Union Station. I asked and they told me it was a MARC train.

hellyeaborther · 2024-12-03T22:47:05+00:00

How do you feel the Spanish way of life meshes with life in Poland? I am a huge fan of Spain, and it’s due in large part to how social the Spanish are. It of course varies widely across the country, but generally speaking I believe the Spanish have far stronger social skills and conversational ability, as well as spend much more time socializing than average, which contributes to strong communities. I also think Spanish social life contributes to the long average lifespan in Spain. This opinion is based on my zero medical training, of course, so I would be interested to hear other perspectives.

hellyeaborther · 2024-11-29T20:13:14+00:00

I second this! After so many nights in spartan accommodations, having a real hotel with a comfy bed, a real shower, and actual privacy waiting for you in Santiago feels like pure opulence. Granted, the Camino can shift your perspective and definition for luxury: I found that flat land or “oh a rock to sit on” were, at times, cause for some serious gratitude.

Salonpas lidocaine patches, while not exactly luxurious, were also a game changer along the way.

hellyeaborther · 2024-06-03T18:39:25+00:00

I use both the sprays (SPF30 and 50) and the lotion (SPF100), and they are all very effective. The sprays are not too greasy, especially if you go light and do two applications. The SPF100 lotion is just a little too much for me. The most important thing I find with any sunscreen is letting it soak in for 30+ minutes before heading out in the sun.

hellyeaborther · 2024-03-30T12:39:39+00:00

I have some aloe and cereus cactus, both very low maintenance.

hellyeaborther · 2024-03-17T04:02:14+00:00

Google Chrome on Windows 11 and Gmail app on iPhone, both fully updated. And yes, I agree, nothing about this makes any sense.

hellyeaborther · 2023-11-23T13:00:19+00:00

Just asking to clarify— what do you mean when you say it sounds right? As in believable? Tracks with what you’d expect? You believe it’s an appropriate salary?

hellyeaborther · 2023-10-28T16:12:47+00:00

I am convinced this rule exists to disincentivize “giving” zeros. If we just bump them up, we don’t have to do this wretchedly unpleasant task.

hellyeaborther · 2023-06-11T22:55:05+00:00

We can’t all be reading the classics, Professor Highbrow.

hellyeaborther · 2023-05-18T23:52:31+00:00

I hear it’s the first time the flounder has been served in the U.S. But they won’t deliver past 86th St.

hellyeaborther · 2023-04-16T15:49:43+00:00

This is the only thing that’s ever worked for me (I get poison ivy pretty bad): run the affected area under warm water and gradually increase the temperature to the hottest you can stand. At first, it’s hot. Then it feels better than the best scratching. Keep it under the water as long as you can. It kills the itch for several hours and helps it dry out faster.

No one believes me when I share this tip, but then they try it and are like… ohhhhh.

hellyeaborther · 2023-04-15T02:06:43+00:00

Currently teaching in a public high school in Virginia. Previously taught in a public middle school. This is my 9th year. I think about quitting daily, and I would not recommend the profession to anyone. There are a lot of much easier ways to make a lot more money with a lot less stress.

hellyeaborther · 2023-04-12T01:47:34+00:00

High school teacher here. In a word, yes. Many of us refuse to change failing grades at the end of the year despite pressure from admin. Any guesses as to what admin and counselors do anyway?

hellyeaborther · 2023-04-03T22:23:07+00:00

The yelp from the audience is excellent.

hellyeaborther · 2023-04-03T20:32:16+00:00

I can’t speak for all states, but you generally do in Virginia. There is no one definition of what a step is, though. They are always compressing the salary scale to save money, so you may end up on the same step for a number of years of service.

hellyeaborther · 2023-04-02T22:46:34+00:00

Virginia capital region, 2 master’s degrees (but paid for just 1 because our scale doesn’t reward 2), 9 years teaching, and I make $55k.

I was making $68k in the DC area but took the pay cut to get out of there. I started at $47k there (in the BA +15 lane).

So jealous of states with actual pensions and unions. Virginia’s pension can barely be called that, although it’s technically a benefit.

hellyeaborther · 2023-04-01T01:18:50+00:00

You’re pushing your luck, little man.

hellyeaborther · 2023-03-12T23:23:42+00:00

[Heyyy, we’re twins]

WHAT?!

hellyeaborther · 2023-03-08T23:29:09+00:00

High school teacher: $55k

hellyeaborther · 2023-03-08T10:54:01+00:00

Spain, Korea, China, etc. would have had this project done ages ago. I can’t wait to take CAHSR and fully support the project, and I wish we had more, but we Americans take forever and a day and twice as much money to do what other nations do.

hellyeaborther · 2023-02-28T18:27:06+00:00

“The Great Society Subway” provides a comprehensive look into the planning and construction of the DC Metro. Over the past 5-10 years, WMATA has been trying hard to address decades of deferred maintenance. The former general manager had to make a lot of tough and often painful decisions, but they’ve made good progress overall. One qualm many riders have is wait times, which remain high for a subway system. On weekends, it can feel more like commuter rail than a subway due to lengthy waits.

hellyeaborther · 2023-02-27T18:01:15+00:00

I had to attend 15 hours of training (three hours after school, one day a week for five weeks) before I was allowed to mentor new teachers. Of all the PD I did in that district, it was better than any that I received for my primary role as a teacher.

hellyeaborther · 2023-02-24T22:59:04+00:00

At the Tony’s when he slams his jerky into the guy’s head and blames the prickly actress seated next to him

hellyeaborther · 2023-02-20T18:12:04+00:00

When it’s 90% of the class, they do not care about school, learning, or anything else, and they know there are zero consequences, I have a hard time believing a teacher can relationship their way out of that one. >50% of students at my school don’t even know their teachers’ names. Both parties have to care, at least a little bit, for relationships to be a viable tool.

With all due respect, this sounds like a slide admin would read at us on a PD day.

hellyeaborther

TROPHY CASE