iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 9h

I picked up a little friend along my run today:

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I’m so proud of myself for trolling our neighbors.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I ran into a grey fox during my run in the foothills this morning! I initially thought it was a coyote but have since been corrected.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I forgot to mention it here, but I managed to podium at a 10K this weekend. I found myself initially not giving myself enough credit, pointing out that it was a small race, and was for my age group, but it did feel good to feel like all of the hours of training I did, almost all solo, paid off.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Talk about gatekeeping a trail. I hit this in the middle of my otherwise lovely run this morning.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The perfect library display doesn’t exi-

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

View from my night run along the edge where the suburbs meet the expanse beyond.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I spotted two coyotes during my run club run in suburban Placer County today. Some of the other moms thought they were wolves at first, I had to clarify that there are NOT wolves here, and that we would have heard about it if they had made their way to the suburbs. Terrible photo below:

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I was talking to my dad about the beautiful sunset yesterday, and he pointed out that it was due to bad air quality. 😭

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Yesterday gave me an interrupted treadmill run when my daughter woke up early from naptime, so I made it into a lovely nighttime run instead.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The sunset from the gym parking lot was amazing tonight.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Take me home, country roads…. Nice sunset run.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

This is what vacationing with toddler looks like- relaxing for a bit by reading about parenting while waiting for them to go to sleep.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Running through the suburbs and getting distracted by herons again.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

This book is incredible and one of our best book purchases all year. Toddler parents especiall, run to get Every Monday Mabel. It’s about every little kid’s favorite day of the week: garbage truck day. Today is our trash day and we’ve already read it 3 times this morning. #kidlit

A book with the title Every Monday Mabel sits on top of a table. The book cover is bright yellow and shows a little girl carrying a chair.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Picture is from when I looked it up on Google Maps, and reminding me of my major take away from The Geology of California’s Rivers and Streams: “Don’t buy property in Sacramento.”

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Trying to leave for my run tonight and it feels like a sauna.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I get so distracted every time I see a heron or an egret on my run.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Head’s up NorCal, the Kearney Fire in Nevada County just cropped up, evacuations starting along highway 20 near Penn Valley and Lake Wildwood. Some of the air resources have been going over our house on their way.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Nature in the Suburbs. I spotted this heron plus another, multiple egrets flying overhead, and bunnies!

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

I’ve been in my happy place for the past few days with my family, and I already miss it. Somehow my brother, sister in law, and myself all lived there but at different times. I feel at home in Santa Cruz but no longer belong there.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Tonight’s Golden Hour Run was a gift. Literally, because the Mr gave up playing hockey tonight so I could be outside, but also because, well just look at what it was like outside.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Spotted in the suburbs today during my run:

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Our Babies and Toddlers field trip at the Nature Center turned into an informal shelter in place because TWO big rattlesnakes showed up. NOPE. They are out in force in our county.

A rattlesnake slithers across the ground.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

That was a first - I got stung by a bee during my run tonight. I’m hoping Zyrtec keeps a reaction at bay. Sorry @mariannedenton.bsky.social

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

My toddler knows more about germ theory than they do.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

I spotted two in our neighborhood slough recently, it was so exciting!

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

This is a cat check point; relinquish your most recent cat picture on your phone. Molly has no sense of dignity.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

I’ve seen some unhinged candidate statements over the years, but I’ve never seen one so unhinged that the Secretary of State had to include a disclaimer. (This is from the California voter guide governor candidate statements).

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

IT FINALLY HAPPENED: I saw the local beaver family during my run today. #natureinthesuburbs #beavers

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

I’m happy to report that after their Taco Fest party, my neighbors collapsed their blow-up sombrero wearing cactus, and then their dog peed all over it.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

An antidote to the Sunday Scaries.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

I just love herons, my runs feel complete when I see one.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Oh hey, I already saw this movie…

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Today this big, fluffy, all-yellow bee was buzzing around our tree. Am I right in saying it’s a male Valley Carpenter Bee?

A bee (or similar insect) flies over roof tiles.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Cool mornings this week in Waikīkī, but that didn’t stop us from hitting the beach and pool!

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

The world might be burning, but we just got BABY’S FIRST SKATES.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

I am downright devastated by the Peace Corps introducing a “Tech Corps” program to push AI in developing countries. It is a disgrace to the service we have done as returned volunteers.

The Peace Corps is announcing the creation of “Tech Corps”.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Haahahaha It’s February and Winter has finally arrived!

A screenshot of a weather forecast shows rain every day.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

The Exploratorium in San Francisco is offering free admission for SFUSD students (and discounted admission for their parents). SFUSD schools are currently closed during the ongoing teachers strike; this gives families a place to go and still learn during this disruptive time. This is the way.

Text from The Exploratorium outlining how SFUSD have been coming to the museum for free.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

One of our favorite parts of Disneyland: the minerals display case at the Redwood Creek Trail. Okay, really my daughter’s favorite part there was running across the swinging bridge and going down the slide, over and over and over again…. But she was able to identify quartz!

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

First time traveling far from home specifically for a race, AND I have to get up in the middle of the night AND not wake the baby.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

I may not be able to join in any way today, but I am teaching my child about Martin Luther King Jr. Change can begin at home.

Book titled “Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr?”

Images from a book show MLK Jr standing up against police officers.

Image from a book show a diverse group of people singing about Dr. King.

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

I didn’t get a good picture of it, but there is an otter in our local pond! 🦦

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Gretchen @offgridteacher.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

All I can say is same. I made Armenian Yogurt-Barley soup for the week and biscuits, and that’s been helping to keep me warm. My daughter didn’t go for it much so I’ve been eating most of it.

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