I drew a welcome mat that means one thing if you take it at face value, but a closer look reveals a different, hidden and opposite meaning.  Because I am a theater teacher, people expect that I am always outgoing and want to be the center of attention.  This is not really the case.  While I do enjoy being on stage in front of an audience while performing a character, it's not the same thing as, say, being the life of the party.  I am actually pretty shy.  Theatre has helped me overcome that shyness and I can be in front of people without falling apart, but I am not naturally that kind of person.  I like to listen.  I like to observe.  Theatre has helped me to be a better teacher because without my theatre training I would not have been able to stand in front of large groups of students everyday.

I think about how this protest was met with tear gas and rubber bullets... 

...but the white men storming the state capitol in Michigan with assault rifles, screaming in police officers faces (without a mask, of course) was met with such a calm, measured response. 

Don’t talk to me about the right way to protest. Don’t try to explain why looting is bad, talk to me about why you are not outraged by the murder of a person in custody.  White people need to educate themselves.  Here's a few places to start:

This has all the drama of a real sports competition.  So, if you're like me and bummed about missing the Olympics this summer, check out this marble race league.  Including commentary and if you search the page you will find their version of the Olympics as well.  I'm a fan of the O'Rangers.  This is a fun diversion and time killer.  Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments.

These new claws might come in handy.  I think I could use these in class whenever we go back to school.  When I say sit down and be quiet, my students might actually listen to me.  LOL.  

These new cooking utensils are for shredding meat.  I used them for the first time today to shred some carnitas I made.  I was able to shred 15 lbs of meat in just a few minutes and they look hella cool.  

I know it's not very funny but I had to try it out so I know how to create one.  I might try to make another one next week.

My adventures in baking continue.  I wish i found it more relaxing to bake, maybe it will be when I get more experience, but for now it does stress me out just a little.  However, I find it very satisfying when the bread comes out right.  I like being able to bring my mom and my sister some homemade baked goods.  I am practicing social distancing so it's the only time i get out of the house these days.  I bring the bread to my mom and dad's house and we talk to each other from a safe distance.  It's strange to see them but not be able to hug them.  At least I can bring them some food.  I love to cook.  I love bread just as much as Oprah and it feels good to feed the people I love and care about.  I'm glad to have learned a new skill, but I'll leave the cake baking to my sister, who makes beautiful cakes and cupcakes.

I probably should have taken a photo of the whole loaf before I cut one end off of it but I was too impatient to see what the inside of the loaf looked like (and of course what it tasted like).  The bread I made was jalapeno-cheddar bread.  I have been someone who enjoys cooking for almost as long as I can remember.  I learned how to cook from my mom, who learned from her grandmother.  I love to cook for people.  It's one of the ways I show people I care about them.  I make some really good food if I don't say so myself.  But I have never been one who enjoys baking.  The only time I ever bake is at Christmas when I bake Christmas cookies with my sister and other friends and family.  I think it's because baking is more precise, involves a little more math and science and I don't always pay close enough attention to the details of the recipe.

I have been cooking more often since the school building has closed and I am teaching from home.  I have made soups, meatloaf, roasted vegetables, sloppy joes, Easter ham and other things here and there.  But I have had an idea to try making some bread on my own for the last few weeks.  I've seen lots of other people try their hand at it and thought, well, maybe I should give it a try.  It looks so easy in the TASTY videos.

It was pretty easy in the end.  However, during the process I was stressed out, because I don't like to screw things up and, as I said before,  baking recipes are more precise than cooking regular food.  So, it wasn't quite the therapeutic experience I was hoping for.  I was definitely not feeling one with the process.  I made a mistake that I haven't made in a long time when following an online recipe.  I DIDN'T READ THE COMMENTS before I used the recipe.  The comments, aside from the trolls, are helpful because you can read about some of the problems people who already made the recipe encountered and learn from their mistakes.

In the end, the bread turned out pretty good.  I learned through my mistakes some things I can do differently next time.  The bread has a little heat from the jalapenos and a crusty top from the cheese, but it didn't rise as I high as I thought it would. Maybe it will next time when I tweak the recipe and correct my errors.   I think I'm going to try again tomorrow.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to try again.