Snow... our third snow of the season. Wet, heavy snow with large snowflakes drifting down. Beautiful in the night, a veritable pure jewel-like state in the morning light.
Speaking my mind: Aging: Growing older has an interesting quality of bringing wisdom from experience and a reflective state of thinking about life. Then sharing just enough but not too much.
I remember being so unsure, so full of anxiety and insecurity when I was a teen. Adults told me I would grow out of it. A lot they knew, I thought.
Then, being in my 20's, being full of life's dreams and expectations, seeing some of those come to fruition, thinking the world was mine.
Getting to my thirties and forties, having some experience and energy to follow through with hard work, I forged ahead to bigger and better dreams, looking askance at those 50 and older who seemed to fall out of the current and drift along the sidelines...happily! It seemed irresponsible to me. They had so much to give! Why didn't they share their wisdom and then let me use it to 'go up the ladder of success'! Still thinking pretty selfishly.
Reaching that age of 40-ish where life seemed to trudge on and I asked, "Is this all there is to life? I'm burned out!" Then seeing greener grass on the other side of the fence, trying it and finding more pain and upset of the principles of my life than I ever thought possible. Righting that as best I could, I trudged on, asking forgiveness and remaking my life.
Reaching fifty. Saying to myself that I've reached the 1/2 century mark. Yes, 1/2 a CENTURY! OMG! Looking back over the last ten years and seeing that I'd made it through the most difficult adult period in my life. Ready to try new challenges, as I was bored monetarilly and mentally with the work I was doing, I went back to school and began a new career. Fun, new challenges and the start of a good new phase of life. Finally I was free to be me and do what I wanted to do....still selfish, don't you think?
Now, I near 60. More reflection. I find myself not wanting to work so hard. I'm very content to let others row against the current while I hold on and ride along. I find myself becoming unsure once again and actually being content to float along near the shore. My "I can do anything I set my mind to" mindset has lessened. I'm not sure I can do anything successfully anymore. I even tread softy in the snow for fear I may physically fall down and not be able to get up again or have anyone there to help. I don't heal as fast and my body, I know, is gaining downhill momentum. I do more to make things easy for myself. Make more notes about things I want to remember and I fear with the rest of the baby boomers that I may be losing my mind. By the way, I dislike crossword puzzles, which seem to be the favored antidote to losing one's mental acuity.
I want peace, contentment, even more time to sit in reflection, watch the snow fall, pet Lilo, cradle my grandson, visit with friends, treasure relationships. This is what life is about. People. The people in our lives. I know that even they come and go. But I learn from them... about life. Even the negative relationships teach me how to live a better life. I pray for all those who walk in and out of my life. I enjoy grasping moments in God's nature, watching his creatures, basking in the warm sunlight, watching the miracle of a snowfall or gentle cleansing rain. Even feeling the wind on my face and knowing that it blows in fresh air and then is followed by calm and stillness. Here , in a calm, still pool I can hear God's voice if I listen. Am I listening?
Work: It goes on...and on...and on. Since I've made the mental decision to look around for something related that may be easier to physically and mentally handle, I feel freer, less stress. Nothing, yes, nothing, is forever. Except God's love. When all else is gone, God is there. He holds me along the shore so I don't get caught in the wild current and drown. IF only I can remember to cling to Him at all times, whether smooth water or wild.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Snow and Praising God
Snow. Cold snow. It has been snowing off and on for the last 2--no make that 3 -- days now. It is really wet and didn't stick to the roads at first, but now there is a white frosting on everything. And it is cold. Stays in the 20's and 30's day and night. Brrrrr. My house feels cold till I go outside and then come back in, then it feels toasty. I think of my friend Barb and her gas fireplace....oh, how I could use it now!
Since I worked all day on a Sunday when I moved my classroom upstairs (I still shudder to think about all the work it took, but thankfully I had some absolutely wonderful help!) I decided to take yesterday off and I made plans to drive to Portland, visit with friends and SHOP (no tax there and I can find what I want!). I was even considering calling in sick on Monday to stay an extra day. Well, I kept listening to the weather reports to be sure the Gorge weather would be passable. Then it started snowing and the report was for more snow here and freezing rain on Sunday. I cancelled my trip and keep telling myself it's all for the good, as I'll save money this way. Humph, sigh. I really miss my friends there. ...And the shopping, oh, the shopping!
Thoughts: I know I'm not a trusting person. This small town mentality of everyone wanting you to trust them (especially my crazy principal and supervisor) makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I do not know these people, yet they expect me to instantly trust them and follow their lead. Can you see why I'm spooked? I refuse to play their games and they are trying to draw me into their little webs. I've always had to look out for myself, take care of myself....to preserve my 'Real Self'. I'm not sure I really fit into this community. OH had a small town 'trust', but it was different as there are so many military families coming and going. Somehow, I think I could have fit in there better and was beginning to before I moved.
There are pluses and minuses here. I never would have been able to have the joy of Grandparenthood had I not moved here. 'My' little Oliver is quite precious (as you can see from the pictures.) I'm glad to be here for CB2 and E, too, if he needs me.
It is taking me a long time to get 'up and running' here, where in OH it seemed to happen quite quickly. The process is wearing me down. Work is wearing me down. I'm to the point where I dread going to work.....and I used to LOVE my work...not just my job.....it was my soul work.....'was'? I want to retire and play with my grandkids, not work with other people's children. I know that if I didn't work, I obviously wouldn't even have a roof over my head, would miss out on meeting some wonderful families, but wouldn't have to put up with the s*** of public politics or families whose children are not their priority.
I'm really considering another way to use this teacher-talent God has given me. If any of you have any good ideas, let me know. I do not want the responsibility of having my own preschool, I'm not the director type, nor do I have the business head to do it. I can't even keep my one checking account afloat!
I made a huge faux paux at work this week....well, it started a couple months ago when I was supposed to have some paperwork done and kept putting it off. Oh, I could give a lot of really plausible excuses, but basically, I put off the paperwork because it is so hard to do, and when I did actually attempt it (when I had time was after school or on weekends) I'd run into some technical problem and there was no one around who could answer. We have a rigid deadline to turn in our paperwork at the district office and it was fast approaching. I asked the secretary what needed to be turned in, she told me and I faxed in that portion of the paperwork, thinking "Whew, I made it!"
Then, yesterday, on my day off, I stopped by the school at noon to give the principal a note and she said it was a good thing I was there, as my team was doing all my paperwork so the deadline would be met. I was shocked and so embarrassed. I went to talk to them right away. I had all the information laid out, just had not put it into the forms because of those technical problems I kept having. (I'm technically challenged as my children with attest.) But oh, was I shook up! Of course, the principal reiterated to me that if I was having problems I should have come to her so she could get me the help. {Actually I did ask for help with the computer technology, but the techie hasn't made an appointment yet; when I remind her she says she's having some problems, but will get back to me SOON.} More of that 'trust' issue again. I know if I ask the principal for help, she'll mark me down because of it. I had asked some team members for help. I trust a couple of them, anyway. Basically, it was my own procrastination that got me in deep doo-doo. Of course I was so embarrassed and upset I ended up shedding a few tears and then my stomach was so upset I couldn't even eat......and for those of you who know me, you'll realize that I usually EAT when I'm under moderate amounts of stress. But this stress skyrocketed me off the charts of eating to assuage the emotions.
Okay, why is it so hard here? Is it because I have this negative reaction to Walla Walla? Maybe God brought me here to heal these vague, uncomfortable feelings I have about WW. I do know that moving to WW when I was in college, away from what was familiar and into a new 'culture' both geographically and socially, was hard on me. Going through those 'boyfriend' times for the first time in my life was hard (I'm a late bloomer, too.) I had never learned appropriate boundaries with my own feelings and how to sort out what's logical and just phases of growing up.
Enough, already. This is probably more than you ever wanted to know. But it's out there. I won't retract it as perhaps even the writing of it is healing. Okay, okay. I can hear you saying: "Here is an old lady who still is trying to figure life out? Grief!
Well, life is a journey. I do feel healed from a lot of pain in my life, and much of that pain has been replaced with joy and understanding. But there are those dark corners in our lives we all run from, I suspect. I guess I've always been the type of person to tries to analyze situations...perhaps not in the moment, but in retrospect, so I can respond more 'real time'. And when I was a child I can remember imagining every scenario I could with the response I would give, to prepare me for whatever might come my way. Survivalism at it's best/worst, wouldn't you say? Then I went through a phase of doing everything pretty spontaneously ...well, as much as a 'survivalist' can. Now I'm somewhere in the middle, I think, but there are still things that throw me off balance.
Between writing lines of this blog entry, I've had a phone call from a friend, called my daughter to say, " let's take a walk in the snow rather than go to church," and made breakfast, complete with cinnamon toast and homemade latte (not as good as the local drive through, though.) I've listened to the SS lesson from the ABN channel (it is nice to have that on Sabbath). I've petted Lilo....who cried and cried to be let outdoors and then, after sitting on the cold step (oh no, those little paws did not want to touch the snow!) came back in. So I shut the door and she sat at it and cried more. Silly cat. I finally ignored her and she got up into her cat tree to watch outside.
I sit here looking at the little sign in my window with a little red train engine and the words "I think I can" and say to myself, 'Duh, that's what I need to do..chug, chug, chug "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
Do have a happy Sabbath. Stay warm and dry. Praise God for the blessings we have.
Since I worked all day on a Sunday when I moved my classroom upstairs (I still shudder to think about all the work it took, but thankfully I had some absolutely wonderful help!) I decided to take yesterday off and I made plans to drive to Portland, visit with friends and SHOP (no tax there and I can find what I want!). I was even considering calling in sick on Monday to stay an extra day. Well, I kept listening to the weather reports to be sure the Gorge weather would be passable. Then it started snowing and the report was for more snow here and freezing rain on Sunday. I cancelled my trip and keep telling myself it's all for the good, as I'll save money this way. Humph, sigh. I really miss my friends there. ...And the shopping, oh, the shopping!
Thoughts: I know I'm not a trusting person. This small town mentality of everyone wanting you to trust them (especially my crazy principal and supervisor) makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I do not know these people, yet they expect me to instantly trust them and follow their lead. Can you see why I'm spooked? I refuse to play their games and they are trying to draw me into their little webs. I've always had to look out for myself, take care of myself....to preserve my 'Real Self'. I'm not sure I really fit into this community. OH had a small town 'trust', but it was different as there are so many military families coming and going. Somehow, I think I could have fit in there better and was beginning to before I moved.
There are pluses and minuses here. I never would have been able to have the joy of Grandparenthood had I not moved here. 'My' little Oliver is quite precious (as you can see from the pictures.) I'm glad to be here for CB2 and E, too, if he needs me.
It is taking me a long time to get 'up and running' here, where in OH it seemed to happen quite quickly. The process is wearing me down. Work is wearing me down. I'm to the point where I dread going to work.....and I used to LOVE my work...not just my job.....it was my soul work.....'was'? I want to retire and play with my grandkids, not work with other people's children. I know that if I didn't work, I obviously wouldn't even have a roof over my head, would miss out on meeting some wonderful families, but wouldn't have to put up with the s*** of public politics or families whose children are not their priority.
I'm really considering another way to use this teacher-talent God has given me. If any of you have any good ideas, let me know. I do not want the responsibility of having my own preschool, I'm not the director type, nor do I have the business head to do it. I can't even keep my one checking account afloat!
I made a huge faux paux at work this week....well, it started a couple months ago when I was supposed to have some paperwork done and kept putting it off. Oh, I could give a lot of really plausible excuses, but basically, I put off the paperwork because it is so hard to do, and when I did actually attempt it (when I had time was after school or on weekends) I'd run into some technical problem and there was no one around who could answer. We have a rigid deadline to turn in our paperwork at the district office and it was fast approaching. I asked the secretary what needed to be turned in, she told me and I faxed in that portion of the paperwork, thinking "Whew, I made it!"
Then, yesterday, on my day off, I stopped by the school at noon to give the principal a note and she said it was a good thing I was there, as my team was doing all my paperwork so the deadline would be met. I was shocked and so embarrassed. I went to talk to them right away. I had all the information laid out, just had not put it into the forms because of those technical problems I kept having. (I'm technically challenged as my children with attest.) But oh, was I shook up! Of course, the principal reiterated to me that if I was having problems I should have come to her so she could get me the help. {Actually I did ask for help with the computer technology, but the techie hasn't made an appointment yet; when I remind her she says she's having some problems, but will get back to me SOON.} More of that 'trust' issue again. I know if I ask the principal for help, she'll mark me down because of it. I had asked some team members for help. I trust a couple of them, anyway. Basically, it was my own procrastination that got me in deep doo-doo. Of course I was so embarrassed and upset I ended up shedding a few tears and then my stomach was so upset I couldn't even eat......and for those of you who know me, you'll realize that I usually EAT when I'm under moderate amounts of stress. But this stress skyrocketed me off the charts of eating to assuage the emotions.
Okay, why is it so hard here? Is it because I have this negative reaction to Walla Walla? Maybe God brought me here to heal these vague, uncomfortable feelings I have about WW. I do know that moving to WW when I was in college, away from what was familiar and into a new 'culture' both geographically and socially, was hard on me. Going through those 'boyfriend' times for the first time in my life was hard (I'm a late bloomer, too.) I had never learned appropriate boundaries with my own feelings and how to sort out what's logical and just phases of growing up.
Enough, already. This is probably more than you ever wanted to know. But it's out there. I won't retract it as perhaps even the writing of it is healing. Okay, okay. I can hear you saying: "Here is an old lady who still is trying to figure life out? Grief!
Well, life is a journey. I do feel healed from a lot of pain in my life, and much of that pain has been replaced with joy and understanding. But there are those dark corners in our lives we all run from, I suspect. I guess I've always been the type of person to tries to analyze situations...perhaps not in the moment, but in retrospect, so I can respond more 'real time'. And when I was a child I can remember imagining every scenario I could with the response I would give, to prepare me for whatever might come my way. Survivalism at it's best/worst, wouldn't you say? Then I went through a phase of doing everything pretty spontaneously ...well, as much as a 'survivalist' can. Now I'm somewhere in the middle, I think, but there are still things that throw me off balance.
Between writing lines of this blog entry, I've had a phone call from a friend, called my daughter to say, " let's take a walk in the snow rather than go to church," and made breakfast, complete with cinnamon toast and homemade latte (not as good as the local drive through, though.) I've listened to the SS lesson from the ABN channel (it is nice to have that on Sabbath). I've petted Lilo....who cried and cried to be let outdoors and then, after sitting on the cold step (oh no, those little paws did not want to touch the snow!) came back in. So I shut the door and she sat at it and cried more. Silly cat. I finally ignored her and she got up into her cat tree to watch outside.
I sit here looking at the little sign in my window with a little red train engine and the words "I think I can" and say to myself, 'Duh, that's what I need to do..chug, chug, chug "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
Do have a happy Sabbath. Stay warm and dry. Praise God for the blessings we have.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Afterglow
Sigh, Big sigh. My ACE have left. It was SOOO wonderful to have them visiting here. To see their smiling faces, feel their hugs, hear them laugh, share thoughts, sympathize with the pregnancy complaints. I'm so glad I'm the GRandma! I rejoice at my children's adult lives right now. They are doing well, struggling with the things of life and working on dreams they've made for themselves. A mother's prayers...
I was really bummed I forgot to pray With them before they left today, but I did it for them by myself, anyway. I'm too used to doing everything 'alone.' (Don't feel sorry for me, I didn't mean it that way.)
My house still has a faint scent of Thanksgiving cooking, left over pie crumbs and a refrigerator with containers and containers of bits of yummy left overs. My DIL is such a gourmet cook! CB2 better get over here soon, or her favorites will be eaten up! There are dishes and linens that need to be washed. I love it all. Makes the memories fresh and alive. I have CDs of pictures taken and those will be poured over and copied onto 'my pictures', then sent to friends and family elsewhere. Grr. Once again we forgot to take a picture of ALL of us together. Photoshop anyone?
And Lilo? Finally feeling a bit more secure from all the comings and goings of people in the house. She usually lives a quiet, 'alone' kind of life with me. She became quite skittish, stand-offish and even hissed at people who seemed too close to her favorite spaces!
Yesterday, while the kids visited their dad, I got my snow tires put on. It really feels like it could snow, but maybe I'm not attuned to the weather yet. I do know it is COLD! BRRRRRrrrrr.
**
As this holiday draws closed, my mind is drawn to my work at school again.
I am finally moved to the classroom upstairs and we are functional, though details are not finished yet, and furniture is still being shifted around. I moved my desk from home (I didn't have room for it) to the classroom and will buy a lateral file to match it (cherrywood look). My 'teacher's space' area of the classroom is still piled higher and deeper, as I haven't had time to sort through it all. But it will look nice and be very organized when finished...maybe by Christmas?
My injured assistant was out of ICU quickly (she didn't have to have any surgeries for her injuries) and went home the day before Thanksgiving. I've been remiss about contacting her, but will do so today or tomorrow before school starts up again. She still uses a walker, but is stubborn and will most likely recooperate in no time! She still will be off work for a couple months.
Slowly, my substitute assistant is getting the hang of the job, though she has been ill with a cold this last week. My other assistant called in sick on Wednesday. Of course, all the kids were there, but we made it through. NO, there are no subs available (especially the day before Thanksgiving! Are you kidding?)
I worked 8 hours last Sunday (yes, Sunday) putting the upstairs classroom together into working order. I'm thinking of taking those hours as comp-time on Friday and take a little trip to Portland to visit friends ... if the weather is good and all.
At least my car is working good now. I still think the clutch is a little spongey feeling, but I don't think the mechanic here replaced it. I need to ask them about that.
I think maybe it's time for a nap. Busy, happy times. Yawn.
I was really bummed I forgot to pray With them before they left today, but I did it for them by myself, anyway. I'm too used to doing everything 'alone.' (Don't feel sorry for me, I didn't mean it that way.)
My house still has a faint scent of Thanksgiving cooking, left over pie crumbs and a refrigerator with containers and containers of bits of yummy left overs. My DIL is such a gourmet cook! CB2 better get over here soon, or her favorites will be eaten up! There are dishes and linens that need to be washed. I love it all. Makes the memories fresh and alive. I have CDs of pictures taken and those will be poured over and copied onto 'my pictures', then sent to friends and family elsewhere. Grr. Once again we forgot to take a picture of ALL of us together. Photoshop anyone?
And Lilo? Finally feeling a bit more secure from all the comings and goings of people in the house. She usually lives a quiet, 'alone' kind of life with me. She became quite skittish, stand-offish and even hissed at people who seemed too close to her favorite spaces!
Yesterday, while the kids visited their dad, I got my snow tires put on. It really feels like it could snow, but maybe I'm not attuned to the weather yet. I do know it is COLD! BRRRRRrrrrr.
**
As this holiday draws closed, my mind is drawn to my work at school again.
I am finally moved to the classroom upstairs and we are functional, though details are not finished yet, and furniture is still being shifted around. I moved my desk from home (I didn't have room for it) to the classroom and will buy a lateral file to match it (cherrywood look). My 'teacher's space' area of the classroom is still piled higher and deeper, as I haven't had time to sort through it all. But it will look nice and be very organized when finished...maybe by Christmas?
My injured assistant was out of ICU quickly (she didn't have to have any surgeries for her injuries) and went home the day before Thanksgiving. I've been remiss about contacting her, but will do so today or tomorrow before school starts up again. She still uses a walker, but is stubborn and will most likely recooperate in no time! She still will be off work for a couple months.
Slowly, my substitute assistant is getting the hang of the job, though she has been ill with a cold this last week. My other assistant called in sick on Wednesday. Of course, all the kids were there, but we made it through. NO, there are no subs available (especially the day before Thanksgiving! Are you kidding?)
I worked 8 hours last Sunday (yes, Sunday) putting the upstairs classroom together into working order. I'm thinking of taking those hours as comp-time on Friday and take a little trip to Portland to visit friends ... if the weather is good and all.
At least my car is working good now. I still think the clutch is a little spongey feeling, but I don't think the mechanic here replaced it. I need to ask them about that.
I think maybe it's time for a nap. Busy, happy times. Yawn.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
You Knew I couldn't hold out for long...
Okay, I'm back. But this time I just have to, well, complain, mostly.
My work here is so hard that I'm questioning God's leading and my sanity. I question staying here another year, yet am too tired to even think of moving.
Update: My classroom is finally moving upstairs for safety issues. Good thing, no? However, principal tells me today they are emptying the upstairs room of all the stored junk and should be able to move the 'main stuff' from my classroom upstairs tonight so I could have class up there tomorrow. She's just blowing out her a... There's no way. My kids need transition time, I, YES, I-I-I need transition time! The room isn't going to have the yearly once over cleaning? I know for a fact that the bathrooms don't have the diaper changing areas set up/installed, nor does the classroom. Unless those custodians are staying at work all night, this move tonight will not happen. The principal is just nuts, nuts, nuts. I can't stand her, but am trying to 'play the game'. I want to puke every time I'm faced with another 'turn to play.'
Then, the next to final straw (I don't even want to think what the final straw might be). When I arrive this morning 1/2 hour before school starts, the secretary tells me that my 'right arm' assistant has been in a serious car accident and is in ICU. I can't believe it. NO ONE TOLD ME?!?!?!?! At noon, I finally track down one teacher who said she left a message on my phone...left me a *%&$ message! {Oh, and did I tell you that a hefty wind storm knocked out my phone and internet over the weekend?} Why would they be content to leave only one message in this life/death situation? They can't make a 'long distance' call to my cell phone? What are they thinking/drinking?
I'm not just my assistant's 'supervisor'. We have worked hard together and formed a friendship bond. I was/am so hurt and angry by the obvious deletion of my 'needing to know'!!!!!!!!! I've been so angry today I've barked at the staff and the students! I've had to apologize all over myself. By noon, I was exhausted just from trying to control my emotions and think rationally about how to keep my classes running smoothly. First of all, I had to round up enough adults to push strollers and wheelchairs downstairs to the classroom on arrival. Being down one assistant makes it me and the other assistant for 4 nonambulatory kids. Thankfully the OTA could help, her supervisor was available and one nonambulatory child was absent. {Oh, yeah, this morning there was a "Do not use" sign on the elevator, but before I could get to the elevator, the class had entered to go down to the basement classroom...thankfully the elevator DID work that time. That just goes to show the kind of judgment my 2nd assistant has...."It seemed to work, I didn't think it was really broken".} Other staff kept running in and out of the classroom saying, "Are you all right?" Do you need any help" or bringing by useless volunteers who shuddered at the diapering, wheelchairs, etc. My main assistant was in her usual 'Monday" daze (even though it's Tuesday).
Okay, that's on top of my having to walk to work because I've been without a car since last Thursday. It's been in the shop as they keep adding on yet more things that seem to need repair. My son says I'm getting 'taken to the cleaners'. Maybe so. I know my car was in need of a lot of repairs, as my trusted mechanics in Portland had told me so 6 months ago with the same stuff. So then, after school, I needed to find a ride to get my car or walk the 3 miles to the shop. It's not the same beautiful 3 mile walk I enjoyed in OH. It's bitter cold wind and along a busy major thoroughfare (if you can call these roads thoroughfares).
The Walla Walla Way. I despise it.
The only two beautiful, precious things here are my CEO and the sunsets.
All in all, at the school, I know 3 staff who are trustworthy....and none of them are the administrators. I actually had one of my administrators tell me that, when I questioned her, "none of us does know what we're doing this year as we've changed duties and its not all ironed out yet." I wanted to spit.
I'm not saying my life is totally the pits. I know it could get worse. And I pray it doesn't. But today was one of those days when all you want to do is yell and scream with your hands high in the air...away from what bugs you. Then hide in a fetal position under a warm quilt at home with the door locked, the phones unplugged/turned off.
I'm going to do that now and hope I can relieve my headache and get to school early enough in the moring to do the prep my assistant did. Training 'green' assistants is as hard as teaching the kids. Where's that quilt?
My work here is so hard that I'm questioning God's leading and my sanity. I question staying here another year, yet am too tired to even think of moving.
Update: My classroom is finally moving upstairs for safety issues. Good thing, no? However, principal tells me today they are emptying the upstairs room of all the stored junk and should be able to move the 'main stuff' from my classroom upstairs tonight so I could have class up there tomorrow. She's just blowing out her a... There's no way. My kids need transition time, I, YES, I-I-I need transition time! The room isn't going to have the yearly once over cleaning? I know for a fact that the bathrooms don't have the diaper changing areas set up/installed, nor does the classroom. Unless those custodians are staying at work all night, this move tonight will not happen. The principal is just nuts, nuts, nuts. I can't stand her, but am trying to 'play the game'. I want to puke every time I'm faced with another 'turn to play.'
Then, the next to final straw (I don't even want to think what the final straw might be). When I arrive this morning 1/2 hour before school starts, the secretary tells me that my 'right arm' assistant has been in a serious car accident and is in ICU. I can't believe it. NO ONE TOLD ME?!?!?!?! At noon, I finally track down one teacher who said she left a message on my phone...left me a *%&$ message! {Oh, and did I tell you that a hefty wind storm knocked out my phone and internet over the weekend?} Why would they be content to leave only one message in this life/death situation? They can't make a 'long distance' call to my cell phone? What are they thinking/drinking?
I'm not just my assistant's 'supervisor'. We have worked hard together and formed a friendship bond. I was/am so hurt and angry by the obvious deletion of my 'needing to know'!!!!!!!!! I've been so angry today I've barked at the staff and the students! I've had to apologize all over myself. By noon, I was exhausted just from trying to control my emotions and think rationally about how to keep my classes running smoothly. First of all, I had to round up enough adults to push strollers and wheelchairs downstairs to the classroom on arrival. Being down one assistant makes it me and the other assistant for 4 nonambulatory kids. Thankfully the OTA could help, her supervisor was available and one nonambulatory child was absent. {Oh, yeah, this morning there was a "Do not use" sign on the elevator, but before I could get to the elevator, the class had entered to go down to the basement classroom...thankfully the elevator DID work that time. That just goes to show the kind of judgment my 2nd assistant has...."It seemed to work, I didn't think it was really broken".} Other staff kept running in and out of the classroom saying, "Are you all right?" Do you need any help" or bringing by useless volunteers who shuddered at the diapering, wheelchairs, etc. My main assistant was in her usual 'Monday" daze (even though it's Tuesday).
Okay, that's on top of my having to walk to work because I've been without a car since last Thursday. It's been in the shop as they keep adding on yet more things that seem to need repair. My son says I'm getting 'taken to the cleaners'. Maybe so. I know my car was in need of a lot of repairs, as my trusted mechanics in Portland had told me so 6 months ago with the same stuff. So then, after school, I needed to find a ride to get my car or walk the 3 miles to the shop. It's not the same beautiful 3 mile walk I enjoyed in OH. It's bitter cold wind and along a busy major thoroughfare (if you can call these roads thoroughfares).
The Walla Walla Way. I despise it.
The only two beautiful, precious things here are my CEO and the sunsets.
All in all, at the school, I know 3 staff who are trustworthy....and none of them are the administrators. I actually had one of my administrators tell me that, when I questioned her, "none of us does know what we're doing this year as we've changed duties and its not all ironed out yet." I wanted to spit.
I'm not saying my life is totally the pits. I know it could get worse. And I pray it doesn't. But today was one of those days when all you want to do is yell and scream with your hands high in the air...away from what bugs you. Then hide in a fetal position under a warm quilt at home with the door locked, the phones unplugged/turned off.
I'm going to do that now and hope I can relieve my headache and get to school early enough in the moring to do the prep my assistant did. Training 'green' assistants is as hard as teaching the kids. Where's that quilt?
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Hiatus
Yes, this blog is going on hiatus. Bringing momsboydnest close to 1/2 the family's nesting grounds has left little to say. I can email the distant boydsnest as easy as, or more so, with news. Should there be anyone else out there that's interested in continuing news, leave a comment.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Da-a-ang!
Sorry, there's only one word to describe this: bee (wasp?) sting!
I was plowing through a few more boxes under the carport and got stung by a bee (or wasp) between my index and middle finger of my left hand! E-y-o-w-i-e-!!!!!!!!!!!! And that was only one sting (I think!) Of course, any of my first aid training went right out the window as I was momentarily blinded by the pain! I shook off the bee and ran into the house, dousing my fingers in a goop of baking soda and water paste. Out of instinct more than training, I think, I held it up high. Thankfully, I had grabbed the dish of baking soda out of the refrigerator (as it was the closest I could think of at the moment) and the cold also helped. I left that 'mud pack' on my hand for 5-10 minutes and the pain subsided somewhat so I could think more clearly beyond the immediate "Get rid of the pain!" mode.
I decided I should look for a stinger as wasps sting again and again, especially if the sac is still there. So I held my hand under cold water until the baking soda was gone, then found the wound site. It was bleeding a little, but I didn't see any stinger or sac, so I squeezed it a little to make it bleed more, hoping to squeeze out some of the poison. On retrospect, I don't know if this was wise or not, as I have heard that this action can squeeze venom Into the body. What do you think AB2? Oh well. I washed the wound site really well, as I didn't want it to get infected and debated whether to put benedryl cream or antiseptic cream on it. I went with the antiseptic as it had a pain reliever in it. I wrapped my first two fingers together in a bandage as it actually felt better that way and the I didn't want to rub off the antiseptic cream. Then I put my hand in an ice mitt from my freezer. The swelling was minimal, but red around the area between my first two fingers and down into the knuckle joints of my hand.
Today it feels tingly and stiff, and is still a little puffy, but there is no redness or infection. My fingers are sore and feel like they've been bruised. Weird how one little owie can hurt so much!
I can't imagine how my young daughter must have felt when she got multiple stings from jumping on a hornet's nest accidentally when she was playing ball with some friends in the country! These vicious varmits hurt much more than honey bee stings!
Isn't life exciting?
I was plowing through a few more boxes under the carport and got stung by a bee (or wasp) between my index and middle finger of my left hand! E-y-o-w-i-e-!!!!!!!!!!!! And that was only one sting (I think!) Of course, any of my first aid training went right out the window as I was momentarily blinded by the pain! I shook off the bee and ran into the house, dousing my fingers in a goop of baking soda and water paste. Out of instinct more than training, I think, I held it up high. Thankfully, I had grabbed the dish of baking soda out of the refrigerator (as it was the closest I could think of at the moment) and the cold also helped. I left that 'mud pack' on my hand for 5-10 minutes and the pain subsided somewhat so I could think more clearly beyond the immediate "Get rid of the pain!" mode.
I decided I should look for a stinger as wasps sting again and again, especially if the sac is still there. So I held my hand under cold water until the baking soda was gone, then found the wound site. It was bleeding a little, but I didn't see any stinger or sac, so I squeezed it a little to make it bleed more, hoping to squeeze out some of the poison. On retrospect, I don't know if this was wise or not, as I have heard that this action can squeeze venom Into the body. What do you think AB2? Oh well. I washed the wound site really well, as I didn't want it to get infected and debated whether to put benedryl cream or antiseptic cream on it. I went with the antiseptic as it had a pain reliever in it. I wrapped my first two fingers together in a bandage as it actually felt better that way and the I didn't want to rub off the antiseptic cream. Then I put my hand in an ice mitt from my freezer. The swelling was minimal, but red around the area between my first two fingers and down into the knuckle joints of my hand.
Today it feels tingly and stiff, and is still a little puffy, but there is no redness or infection. My fingers are sore and feel like they've been bruised. Weird how one little owie can hurt so much!
I can't imagine how my young daughter must have felt when she got multiple stings from jumping on a hornet's nest accidentally when she was playing ball with some friends in the country! These vicious varmits hurt much more than honey bee stings!
Isn't life exciting?
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Saturday
A week gone by already?
Monday and Tuesday were a blur, fairly typical.
Wednesday: New teachers' dinner at 3 Rivers Winery. Catered by La Casita....bluch. Podunk door prizes. I did get to visit with a woman I'd met the first of the year and catch up on her life. She's living in a studio apartment in slumsville until her house is built. Her husband is working in their previous home town till they can move here to their new house. See, life could be worse?!
Thursday my main assistant (and 'right hand') was gone and they couldn't find a sub for her. In the afternoon my assistant was new, only her second day. Considering my morning class has four nonambulatory kids in it, I needed parents to help push their kids to the classroom from the bus stop/pick up point. I generally have 2 assistants in the morning, so I did have one who was familiar with the kids. But she's seemed out of it lately and I had to tell her to monitor kids throughout the morning. Once in the classroom, we managed okay, but the schedule was modified and children were allowed to do less, if it kept them out of trouble and happy. More of a baby-sitting situation. Sad, but true. And to top it off, my second formal observation from the principal was that afternoon. I hadn't had the chance to turn in the preobservation paperwork required and felt 'discombobulated'!
One of my students was on her 4th day in class and had a continuous high-pitched whine....I mean 2 1/2 hours of the 3 she was in class! If we sang songs to her it stopped and sometimes it moderated when she wass given a pacifier....but we are trying to limit the pacifier use at school (yes, she just turned 3). She has no words, has a very difficult time going up and down stairs, very little eye contact, doesn't realize her hands are functional....just things out there in front of her that wiggle around and she enjoys watching her fingers move!
After school, there was a 'new teachers' meeting at the district office, with dinner (much better than the one the night before). Caught up with CEO at YMCA. Wish I'd joined it instead of the other club! Oh, well, I haven't been to it yet and it is cheaper.
Friday I had a less hectic day, hallelujah! I had an 8 a.m. meeting, a 9 a.m. assessment for yet another possible new student and then time to do a little paperwork. The classroom is a mess, and I didn't get the paperwork all finished that I'd wanted to do, but the SLP and I discussed a couple of kids and got some ideas going to get some aug-com set up for them.
First frosts of the season came the end of the week. Had to turn the heat on! I love the crispy cold, bright sunny days. Mmmmm. Didn't remember how much I'd missed them till they were here!
House is a complete disaster and landlord is visiting this week......oh well. Such is life.
C&E are definitely sleep deprived. Good thing other gramma is coming to visit to brighten their days. I never get over there until later in evening when everyone is too tired to visit and O is a bit cranky and doesn't know what he wants, though gramma has been able to quiet him. C says, "Yeh, if I hold him constantly he's quiet." Then she took the opportunity to watch NCIS. He's such a precious little thing! Poor mom! Things will even out eventually....................can you say 2028 when O turns 20 years old? >grin<
Monday and Tuesday were a blur, fairly typical.
Wednesday: New teachers' dinner at 3 Rivers Winery. Catered by La Casita....bluch. Podunk door prizes. I did get to visit with a woman I'd met the first of the year and catch up on her life. She's living in a studio apartment in slumsville until her house is built. Her husband is working in their previous home town till they can move here to their new house. See, life could be worse?!
Thursday my main assistant (and 'right hand') was gone and they couldn't find a sub for her. In the afternoon my assistant was new, only her second day. Considering my morning class has four nonambulatory kids in it, I needed parents to help push their kids to the classroom from the bus stop/pick up point. I generally have 2 assistants in the morning, so I did have one who was familiar with the kids. But she's seemed out of it lately and I had to tell her to monitor kids throughout the morning. Once in the classroom, we managed okay, but the schedule was modified and children were allowed to do less, if it kept them out of trouble and happy. More of a baby-sitting situation. Sad, but true. And to top it off, my second formal observation from the principal was that afternoon. I hadn't had the chance to turn in the preobservation paperwork required and felt 'discombobulated'!
One of my students was on her 4th day in class and had a continuous high-pitched whine....I mean 2 1/2 hours of the 3 she was in class! If we sang songs to her it stopped and sometimes it moderated when she wass given a pacifier....but we are trying to limit the pacifier use at school (yes, she just turned 3). She has no words, has a very difficult time going up and down stairs, very little eye contact, doesn't realize her hands are functional....just things out there in front of her that wiggle around and she enjoys watching her fingers move!
After school, there was a 'new teachers' meeting at the district office, with dinner (much better than the one the night before). Caught up with CEO at YMCA. Wish I'd joined it instead of the other club! Oh, well, I haven't been to it yet and it is cheaper.
Friday I had a less hectic day, hallelujah! I had an 8 a.m. meeting, a 9 a.m. assessment for yet another possible new student and then time to do a little paperwork. The classroom is a mess, and I didn't get the paperwork all finished that I'd wanted to do, but the SLP and I discussed a couple of kids and got some ideas going to get some aug-com set up for them.
First frosts of the season came the end of the week. Had to turn the heat on! I love the crispy cold, bright sunny days. Mmmmm. Didn't remember how much I'd missed them till they were here!
House is a complete disaster and landlord is visiting this week......oh well. Such is life.
C&E are definitely sleep deprived. Good thing other gramma is coming to visit to brighten their days. I never get over there until later in evening when everyone is too tired to visit and O is a bit cranky and doesn't know what he wants, though gramma has been able to quiet him. C says, "Yeh, if I hold him constantly he's quiet." Then she took the opportunity to watch NCIS. He's such a precious little thing! Poor mom! Things will even out eventually....................can you say 2028 when O turns 20 years old? >grin<
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Chu-Chi Face
I got in some major baby cuddling this weekend and this song popped into my mind. It was a favorite of A & C when they were small.
You're my little chu-chi face
My coo-chi, coo-chi, woo-chi little chu-chi face
Every time I look at you, I sigh...
And you're my little teddy bear
My lovey lovey dovey little teddy bear
You're the apple strudel of my eye!
Your chu-chi woo-chi nose
Your chu-chi woo-chi eyes
They set my heart a flutter
Your ooo-chi coo-chi ways
Your ooo-chi coo-chi gaze
Wilts me down like melting butter
You're my little chu-chi face!
Oliver "smiled" with a big open wide smile (using both sides of his mouth) THREE times while I held him tonight! He's squiggling more and more, too. And when I changed his diaper, his little umbilical stump had dropped off and fell out of his onesie. Wow! I'm glad I was there for those momentous occasions!
Note to A&C: You are definitely going to have to have auto-cameras set up all over your house to capture every little step forward of Baby, so this Grandma can stay in the loop!
You're my little chu-chi face
My coo-chi, coo-chi, woo-chi little chu-chi face
Every time I look at you, I sigh...
And you're my little teddy bear
My lovey lovey dovey little teddy bear
You're the apple strudel of my eye!
Your chu-chi woo-chi nose
Your chu-chi woo-chi eyes
They set my heart a flutter
Your ooo-chi coo-chi ways
Your ooo-chi coo-chi gaze
Wilts me down like melting butter
You're my little chu-chi face!
Oliver "smiled" with a big open wide smile (using both sides of his mouth) THREE times while I held him tonight! He's squiggling more and more, too. And when I changed his diaper, his little umbilical stump had dropped off and fell out of his onesie. Wow! I'm glad I was there for those momentous occasions!
Note to A&C: You are definitely going to have to have auto-cameras set up all over your house to capture every little step forward of Baby, so this Grandma can stay in the loop!
GrammaLand
A friend (O's other Grandma) emailed me how she is looking forward to visiting "grammaland" and I've decided that WW shall henceforth be renamed "GrammaLand." The new name fits the space and time for me much better and makes everything seem more real.
Here's the weekly rundown:
Monday: went to work, parent vented frustrations on me from incident of previous week. I decided to take the rest of the day off and go see new grandbaby-boy born the day before and let my emotions cool. Got car's oil changed; they gave me a free mocha! Bought a new pair of jeans. It was a much needed mental health day and glorious fall weather. I came home and realized the storm door on the front of my place was gone. Weird. No messages from Windemere that they were removing it. Should I call them? Should I call police? I wait to see if I hear from them.
Tuesday: back in the saddle again. Loaded up with extra vitamins.
Wednesday: still in the saddle, hanging on tight; headache and heavy-feeling chest. More vitamins, cold assistance. Ed. Assistant goes home sick with stomach flu. I don't go see baby, but fall into bed at 7:30 p.m. I email Windemere to make sure it was them that removed the door and not some thief.
Thursday: Call in sick to work. Exhausted and feeling like I'm getting bronchitis. Feeling guilty as 2nd assistant still ill. First assistant left holding the bag. Went to dr. He gave me steriod inhaler for asthma and also emergency inhaler. I've had them before. Asthma crops up after round of bronchitis as I've gotten older. Pfffffft. Wrote school reports from home. Ordered flowers for C&E&O.
Ah, HA!!!! Now I know why they named him Oliver: So their family initials could be CEO! Tricky! Very wordsmithy.
Friday: Back to work for IEP meetings, post-observation meeting with principal. Heart palpitations. Side-affect of meds. I hate it. Makes me feel anxious that my heart may give out. Palpitations stop. I found out only 3 children came in morning and they cancelled the afternoon class as only two children were going to come and there was no sub. My 1st assistant went to sub for other sped teacher, as her assistant was out ill. Windemere emails me back that, yes, one of their workmen did remove the door and the new one will be installed when it arrives. (tomorrow? next year?)
Post-observation meeting goes well. Principal decides not to make formal report at district about my not following school procedure on CPS case. Writes it into my observation evaluation report instead. Fewer repercussions. I wonder if the sp. ed director talked to her; I let the sp. ed director know about it at the time. Principal tells me SHE is in charge and that if I have any questions at all, I should not ask my mentor (supervisor) or the sp. ed, director, but talk directly to her. She tells me she even has clout over the sp. ed. director. She, the principal, tells me SHE is the one who can make things happen. (Can you say insecure micromanager?)
My mentor supervisor tells me to field all my questions through HER, unless it is 'building related'. Seems everything becomes 'building related'. Mentor is expert at dancing around issues and minimizing and avoiding. My response to her is to avoid her as much as possible, which is hard to do, as I have to deal with her a little. When I do ask her a question she backpedals as much as possible and then starts dancing.
The sp. ed director? Her mother just passed away and she has been basically out of touch for the last 3-4 weeks. She just got back this last week. I like her the most; seems honest, forthright. Gives me good information. But I worry about her being able to be back in the game full throttle with all the grieving she's going through and will continue to go through this year. I know it takes a long time to get over one's mother dying.
Saturday: slept most of the day and did not 'church'. Tried to watch it on TV. Do you know how ridiculously 'hyper' these preachers look on TV? Not 'real' at all. And my brain? Not into cognitive thinking. Finally went over the CEO's and held the precious little bundle for a couple of hours while C and I looked at long ago movies of when she was a kid. She had that little girl voice. Talk about taking me back! Made me giggle! Then O decided it was time to nurse again (going well, by the way) and I decided to head home.
Sunday: Well, here I am, doing laundry, blah, blah, blah.
Weather report: The week has been full of wind, rain and clouds with a little sun tucked in. Fall is here and winter is coming. I made an appointment for the electrician to come next week to disconnect one of the baseboard heaters from the thermostat, as I don't think I'll need two to keep this little place warm this winter. I have a kitchen buffet against that particular heater.
O's other Grandma is coming the 27th...she's my landlord, you know. I can hardly wait. What fun she'll have with O! I'll try not to get in the way, as her time here is short! We do have a few things to finalize on with the house.
Time to pay the bills. Time to pay the bills. Time to pay the bills.
Here's the weekly rundown:
Monday: went to work, parent vented frustrations on me from incident of previous week. I decided to take the rest of the day off and go see new grandbaby-boy born the day before and let my emotions cool. Got car's oil changed; they gave me a free mocha! Bought a new pair of jeans. It was a much needed mental health day and glorious fall weather. I came home and realized the storm door on the front of my place was gone. Weird. No messages from Windemere that they were removing it. Should I call them? Should I call police? I wait to see if I hear from them.
Tuesday: back in the saddle again. Loaded up with extra vitamins.
Wednesday: still in the saddle, hanging on tight; headache and heavy-feeling chest. More vitamins, cold assistance. Ed. Assistant goes home sick with stomach flu. I don't go see baby, but fall into bed at 7:30 p.m. I email Windemere to make sure it was them that removed the door and not some thief.
Thursday: Call in sick to work. Exhausted and feeling like I'm getting bronchitis. Feeling guilty as 2nd assistant still ill. First assistant left holding the bag. Went to dr. He gave me steriod inhaler for asthma and also emergency inhaler. I've had them before. Asthma crops up after round of bronchitis as I've gotten older. Pfffffft. Wrote school reports from home. Ordered flowers for C&E&O.
Ah, HA!!!! Now I know why they named him Oliver: So their family initials could be CEO! Tricky! Very wordsmithy.
Friday: Back to work for IEP meetings, post-observation meeting with principal. Heart palpitations. Side-affect of meds. I hate it. Makes me feel anxious that my heart may give out. Palpitations stop. I found out only 3 children came in morning and they cancelled the afternoon class as only two children were going to come and there was no sub. My 1st assistant went to sub for other sped teacher, as her assistant was out ill. Windemere emails me back that, yes, one of their workmen did remove the door and the new one will be installed when it arrives. (tomorrow? next year?)
Post-observation meeting goes well. Principal decides not to make formal report at district about my not following school procedure on CPS case. Writes it into my observation evaluation report instead. Fewer repercussions. I wonder if the sp. ed director talked to her; I let the sp. ed director know about it at the time. Principal tells me SHE is in charge and that if I have any questions at all, I should not ask my mentor (supervisor) or the sp. ed, director, but talk directly to her. She tells me she even has clout over the sp. ed. director. She, the principal, tells me SHE is the one who can make things happen. (Can you say insecure micromanager?)
My mentor supervisor tells me to field all my questions through HER, unless it is 'building related'. Seems everything becomes 'building related'. Mentor is expert at dancing around issues and minimizing and avoiding. My response to her is to avoid her as much as possible, which is hard to do, as I have to deal with her a little. When I do ask her a question she backpedals as much as possible and then starts dancing.
The sp. ed director? Her mother just passed away and she has been basically out of touch for the last 3-4 weeks. She just got back this last week. I like her the most; seems honest, forthright. Gives me good information. But I worry about her being able to be back in the game full throttle with all the grieving she's going through and will continue to go through this year. I know it takes a long time to get over one's mother dying.
Saturday: slept most of the day and did not 'church'. Tried to watch it on TV. Do you know how ridiculously 'hyper' these preachers look on TV? Not 'real' at all. And my brain? Not into cognitive thinking. Finally went over the CEO's and held the precious little bundle for a couple of hours while C and I looked at long ago movies of when she was a kid. She had that little girl voice. Talk about taking me back! Made me giggle! Then O decided it was time to nurse again (going well, by the way) and I decided to head home.
Sunday: Well, here I am, doing laundry, blah, blah, blah.
Weather report: The week has been full of wind, rain and clouds with a little sun tucked in. Fall is here and winter is coming. I made an appointment for the electrician to come next week to disconnect one of the baseboard heaters from the thermostat, as I don't think I'll need two to keep this little place warm this winter. I have a kitchen buffet against that particular heater.
O's other Grandma is coming the 27th...she's my landlord, you know. I can hardly wait. What fun she'll have with O! I'll try not to get in the way, as her time here is short! We do have a few things to finalize on with the house.
Time to pay the bills. Time to pay the bills. Time to pay the bills.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
I've Fallen in Love...
with one tiny boy, Oliver Dean. There are no words to describe the overwhelming feelings that encompass me when I hold that tiny treasure of new life.
I don't know if I'll be able to wait for spring break to fall in love all over again in Memphis!
I don't know if I'll be able to wait for spring break to fall in love all over again in Memphis!
'Boyd'nest Grows
We have a baby!! I'm REALLY a Grandma!
All Boy! 8lbs 8oz. 21 inches long. Born 8:47 a.m., October 14, 2007 Name: (Still being decided.) Hair: Dark, dark brown
He had a little problem breathing right away, so he was under an oxygen mask for about 2 hours, had chest xrays, and blood work. Then he really pinked up, started to cry lustily, made those cute baby noises and took a pacifier. After he had breathed regular room air in the nursery for a designated period, he was allowed to join mommy and daddy in mommy's room. Finally mommy got to hold, cuddle and try to get him to nurse. Poor little boy; he was too tired! Daddy held him for awhile as did Grandma. Grandma left all three resting from their all night ordeal!
All Boy! 8lbs 8oz. 21 inches long. Born 8:47 a.m., October 14, 2007 Name: (Still being decided.) Hair: Dark, dark brown
He had a little problem breathing right away, so he was under an oxygen mask for about 2 hours, had chest xrays, and blood work. Then he really pinked up, started to cry lustily, made those cute baby noises and took a pacifier. After he had breathed regular room air in the nursery for a designated period, he was allowed to join mommy and daddy in mommy's room. Finally mommy got to hold, cuddle and try to get him to nurse. Poor little boy; he was too tired! Daddy held him for awhile as did Grandma. Grandma left all three resting from their all night ordeal!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
My Week in Pictures (and narrative)
I can't remember Monday. It must have gone okay. I worked until 6 pm. Seems to becoming a usual leave time. That makes my days about 10 hours long. Good thing it only takes me 5 minutes to get home. I'm exhausted. No baby yet.
Tuesday, one of my students returned to school from being ill and slept 2 1/2 of the 3 hours he was present. A call to Mom (had to leave a message) did not deter her from sending him to school on Wednesday, where he again slept 2 1/2 hours of the 3 he was present in school. We sent a note home to mom this time, suggesting he's not yet well enough to attend This litte one is over active, so having him sleep through class and all the loud noise was concerning.
My supervisor/mentor and I had a weird conversation. I can't get straight answers from anyone. I guess its the Walla Walla Way.
Wednesday, I was observed by the school principal. I don't know what she thought. She left her "thank you" card saying how much she enjoyed her 'visit' and thanked me for 'inviting her'.....duh, like I had a Choice to Invite her? It went okay. Results will be 'post observation meeting." I went to new dentist for current xrays and check. I actually left the school right after classes.
Thursday: One half hour after school starts, my assistant calls me over to observe one child......possible child abuse. I call the school nurse who comes down to examine her. She calls mom in for conference, tells me not to release child until problem is resolved. Mom arrives within 15 minutes of call; explains away marks. School nurse, finally is able to reach principal who had been out of the school for most of the day. Nurse writes report and calls CPS. I think everything is resolved. "Sleeping" child is absent.
I got such a cute picture of yes, a BLUE Elephant Halloween costume from C&A!! (Can someone tell me how to get the picture off my cell and onto the computer so I can add it here?)
I call C and bring a burger to her house from a place I've nearly forgotten about, but was THE place to get fast food (and only place) in college days....now they have gardenburgers. YEA!!
Friday: It's a 'professional day'. We either go to a conference or work on curriculum at school. I work on curriculum, but I think, what a pleasant day with no meetings or students. I'll make a list of things to get done. Pshaw! Forget the list! All hell breaks loose. Principal calls me up to her office. Evidently neither the nurse or I followed correct protocol for incident on Thursday. I should have known what to do...it was all written in school procedures manual. Uh, I didn't get one because they ran out and never got around to getting me one. She gives me a manual, explains correct procedure. Tells me she'll have to write a report to put in my teaching file that I didn't follow procedure. I'm bummed, but I say, okay. She tells me I need to call CPS and wants a report from me. I ask if there is a form I should fill out. She says, no, that is on her 'to do' list and hands me some form that 'will do'. I go to classroom, call CPS and fill out report, make a copy for myself and take the original up to her. It is now 11:30 and I haven't done anything on my list. I'd planned to leave at 2 pm because I had some personal things to get done, too.
Just as I get settled in again, in walks my supervisor/mentor. She has some things for me and says, "I feel uncomfortable about the conversation we had the other day; are there some issues we need to discuss? I wanted to SCREAM and run away!!!!!!
I've been trying to figure out why I have this wary dislike for my supervisor/mentor. I'd finally decided it is because she is so patronizingly sweet and is not direct at all. So personally, quite quickly, to give her some sort of objective answer, I also realized that no one knows what the other one is doing and I can't get a decisive answer out of anyone. So we discussed that, I broke down in tears telling her about the Thursday/Friday debaucle. Finally, Finally, she gave me some anwers and history of what has been happening in past years. So they've changed administrative duties this year and really, NO ONE REALLY DOES KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just as our conversation was at a lull, the principal calls again.. She's invited the police to review the Thurs. incident and wants me to come up to her office and meet with the policeman. I tell you, by this time, I can understand why people who are accused of crimes they didn't commit, might confess, just to be done with it. So I told my supervisor and asked her to come with me. Does this principal have it out for me? Is she a psycho? That is yet to be seen, but if I've been brought here to be the sacrificial scapegoat, I want out now. While I still have some sanity.
That over, I am starving, but beyond wanting to eat. It's 1:30 and the other sped teacher is still waiting to meet with me (we were going to work on stuff together all morning!). By that time, she's fried, I'm fried. But we get to talking and worked on one more project. Finished it at 3 and I left. I was lower than I'd been in a long time.
I had planned on doing some errands and going to C's place to help her. I started doing errands and got one done. Drove down Main and decided to look for the Subway...right next to the shoe store C said is good. So I found a pair of badly needed shoes for work. I haven't bought new shoes for 3 or 4 years......can't even remember.
Then I ate at Subway and called C to say, I'm spent and going home. Looked around a nice consignment store at some baby things, but nothing interested me. Went to Curves to cancel my membership (yes, the one here is a real dud) and they were closed. Should have known they'd close early on Friday. Pfffffffft. I headed home via the grocery store, bought a pie and whipped cream for E. H A P P Y 30TH B I R T H D A Y, E!!!!!!!!!!
Crashed at home.
Thank you, Lord, for Sabbath and the weekend! No baby yet.
Tuesday, one of my students returned to school from being ill and slept 2 1/2 of the 3 hours he was present. A call to Mom (had to leave a message) did not deter her from sending him to school on Wednesday, where he again slept 2 1/2 hours of the 3 he was present in school. We sent a note home to mom this time, suggesting he's not yet well enough to attend This litte one is over active, so having him sleep through class and all the loud noise was concerning.
My supervisor/mentor and I had a weird conversation. I can't get straight answers from anyone. I guess its the Walla Walla Way.
Wednesday, I was observed by the school principal. I don't know what she thought. She left her "thank you" card saying how much she enjoyed her 'visit' and thanked me for 'inviting her'.....duh, like I had a Choice to Invite her? It went okay. Results will be 'post observation meeting." I went to new dentist for current xrays and check. I actually left the school right after classes.
Thursday: One half hour after school starts, my assistant calls me over to observe one child......possible child abuse. I call the school nurse who comes down to examine her. She calls mom in for conference, tells me not to release child until problem is resolved. Mom arrives within 15 minutes of call; explains away marks. School nurse, finally is able to reach principal who had been out of the school for most of the day. Nurse writes report and calls CPS. I think everything is resolved. "Sleeping" child is absent.
I got such a cute picture of yes, a BLUE Elephant Halloween costume from C&A!! (Can someone tell me how to get the picture off my cell and onto the computer so I can add it here?)
I call C and bring a burger to her house from a place I've nearly forgotten about, but was THE place to get fast food (and only place) in college days....now they have gardenburgers. YEA!!
Friday: It's a 'professional day'. We either go to a conference or work on curriculum at school. I work on curriculum, but I think, what a pleasant day with no meetings or students. I'll make a list of things to get done. Pshaw! Forget the list! All hell breaks loose. Principal calls me up to her office. Evidently neither the nurse or I followed correct protocol for incident on Thursday. I should have known what to do...it was all written in school procedures manual. Uh, I didn't get one because they ran out and never got around to getting me one. She gives me a manual, explains correct procedure. Tells me she'll have to write a report to put in my teaching file that I didn't follow procedure. I'm bummed, but I say, okay. She tells me I need to call CPS and wants a report from me. I ask if there is a form I should fill out. She says, no, that is on her 'to do' list and hands me some form that 'will do'. I go to classroom, call CPS and fill out report, make a copy for myself and take the original up to her. It is now 11:30 and I haven't done anything on my list. I'd planned to leave at 2 pm because I had some personal things to get done, too.
Just as I get settled in again, in walks my supervisor/mentor. She has some things for me and says, "I feel uncomfortable about the conversation we had the other day; are there some issues we need to discuss? I wanted to SCREAM and run away!!!!!!
I've been trying to figure out why I have this wary dislike for my supervisor/mentor. I'd finally decided it is because she is so patronizingly sweet and is not direct at all. So personally, quite quickly, to give her some sort of objective answer, I also realized that no one knows what the other one is doing and I can't get a decisive answer out of anyone. So we discussed that, I broke down in tears telling her about the Thursday/Friday debaucle. Finally, Finally, she gave me some anwers and history of what has been happening in past years. So they've changed administrative duties this year and really, NO ONE REALLY DOES KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just as our conversation was at a lull, the principal calls again.. She's invited the police to review the Thurs. incident and wants me to come up to her office and meet with the policeman. I tell you, by this time, I can understand why people who are accused of crimes they didn't commit, might confess, just to be done with it. So I told my supervisor and asked her to come with me. Does this principal have it out for me? Is she a psycho? That is yet to be seen, but if I've been brought here to be the sacrificial scapegoat, I want out now. While I still have some sanity.
That over, I am starving, but beyond wanting to eat. It's 1:30 and the other sped teacher is still waiting to meet with me (we were going to work on stuff together all morning!). By that time, she's fried, I'm fried. But we get to talking and worked on one more project. Finished it at 3 and I left. I was lower than I'd been in a long time.
I had planned on doing some errands and going to C's place to help her. I started doing errands and got one done. Drove down Main and decided to look for the Subway...right next to the shoe store C said is good. So I found a pair of badly needed shoes for work. I haven't bought new shoes for 3 or 4 years......can't even remember.
Then I ate at Subway and called C to say, I'm spent and going home. Looked around a nice consignment store at some baby things, but nothing interested me. Went to Curves to cancel my membership (yes, the one here is a real dud) and they were closed. Should have known they'd close early on Friday. Pfffffffft. I headed home via the grocery store, bought a pie and whipped cream for E. H A P P Y 30TH B I R T H D A Y, E!!!!!!!!!!
Crashed at home.
Thank you, Lord, for Sabbath and the weekend! No baby yet.
Monday, October 08, 2007
My, Oh, My
First, a grandSon, due any time now!!!!!!
Then, today, I find out....a grandDaughter to be born end of February!
Wow! and Double Wow!
Grandma love doubled!!!!!!!
Then, today, I find out....a grandDaughter to be born end of February!
Wow! and Double Wow!
Grandma love doubled!!!!!!!
Sunday, October 07, 2007
First Week of October
My work week ended with total frustration and overworked-ness at the system's cobbled up, home-spun paperwork mess. This district's even worse than OH. I'd be afraid to move again, that it would be 'worst-er- yet. Thank heavens for weekends!
C's baby is ready to enter this old world, I think. C is miserable, basically, and ready to 'move on' to the next phase.
Yesterday, C & I ended up taking Munchkin to the vet with a possible broken leg, but the vet didn't think it was so. We came home with pain meds for him. He is a very tolerant, docile cat, I must say. My Lilo would never have permitted us to put her in a cardboard file box (we couldn't find the cat carrier) and have the vet manipulate her like that; Munchkin only let out a few warning growls.
I'v been able to talk to friends and A&C this weekend, so I feel back in tune with my life outside work!
I've been reading a couple of good books. One entitled "Two Women From Galiliee" by the same author who wrote "The Red Tent" and another by Philip Yancey entitled "Church: Why Bother?" Both are good in their own ways. I recommend them. They are both full of ideas for thoughtful reflection.
I think I have problems and then I get a call like I just did from a childhood friend. Whew! Take one day at a time, guys and gals. "Each day has enough worries of its own."
Smile. The sun is shining and the temperature is just perfect!
C's baby is ready to enter this old world, I think. C is miserable, basically, and ready to 'move on' to the next phase.
Yesterday, C & I ended up taking Munchkin to the vet with a possible broken leg, but the vet didn't think it was so. We came home with pain meds for him. He is a very tolerant, docile cat, I must say. My Lilo would never have permitted us to put her in a cardboard file box (we couldn't find the cat carrier) and have the vet manipulate her like that; Munchkin only let out a few warning growls.
I'v been able to talk to friends and A&C this weekend, so I feel back in tune with my life outside work!
I've been reading a couple of good books. One entitled "Two Women From Galiliee" by the same author who wrote "The Red Tent" and another by Philip Yancey entitled "Church: Why Bother?" Both are good in their own ways. I recommend them. They are both full of ideas for thoughtful reflection.
I think I have problems and then I get a call like I just did from a childhood friend. Whew! Take one day at a time, guys and gals. "Each day has enough worries of its own."
Smile. The sun is shining and the temperature is just perfect!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Fickle
Yes, I admit it. I'm sometimes fickle. Or is it the woman's prerogative to 'change her mind?' For years, I dreaded the coming of the rainy season. Now, this afternoon and evening, it is raining here in WW. Not the hard, cold rain of last Friday, although that was refreshing. The sky cleared and the sun shown...filtered rays, I discussed in previous blog.
No, this evening is that soft, gentle, NW rain for which you don't really need an umbrella, but soaks through to every fiber. The plants thrive on it. The air is finally clean and clear and moist and wonderful to breathe. I wanted to walk and walk in it, but it was dark, so I just parked at the far end of the parking lot at the store to get an extra few deep breaths. I even needed the defrost on in my car coming home. It wasn't cold, just nice.
It took me about 25 years to become accustomed to the rain....and now I miss it. It is the first good rain of the season. I'll probably be moaning about it soon. Fickle!
No, this evening is that soft, gentle, NW rain for which you don't really need an umbrella, but soaks through to every fiber. The plants thrive on it. The air is finally clean and clear and moist and wonderful to breathe. I wanted to walk and walk in it, but it was dark, so I just parked at the far end of the parking lot at the store to get an extra few deep breaths. I even needed the defrost on in my car coming home. It wasn't cold, just nice.
It took me about 25 years to become accustomed to the rain....and now I miss it. It is the first good rain of the season. I'll probably be moaning about it soon. Fickle!
Blogging
Somehow blogging has become just another thing in the "I should do" column. When did it stop being fun and turn into a guilt trip? Ugh.
However, to my family, adopted or otherwise, who read this thing, here is an update. School life goes on. I've been, okay, I'll just say it, Pissed, about the 'support' that was so ardently toutted when I first got this job. Mainly, the support is just a pat on the back, and an "I know, Honey, (I HATE being called honey by supervisors...female principal who's very theatrical...literally and figuratively) but the funds are tight everywhere! We're trying to get everyone's needs met and there just isn't enough to go around."
It all just brings me back to my old anger about how money rules the world....and if you have money you have power. Power to the People. Hogwash.
I was sick this week and crashed this weekend, having gotten the first bug of the season with sore throat, headache, etc. Right now I don't feel too bad, but Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I was just hanging on for the weekend to arrive. Needless to say, I did not go to church. I hope C wasn't too disappointed. It was great just to sleep off and on all day.
I have the new month's curriculum to plan and bills to pay today. I've finally got them all organized, shall we say, so that I can write the checks. I would pay them online, but I've had trouble, due to my ignorance about how all the online banking works (can you say stupidity in the stewardship department?).
A week ago, I finally felt like I was oriented and getting to feel 'at home.' I've begun to figure out how to get places without having to call my daughter...okay, so I called her Friday, but I was almost to the right spot!
I'm missing my A&C a lot. Think I'll call them today.
Missy C is just 'waiting' for baby to come. It is exciting. Their house is in the middle of a huge remodel. I don't know how all that's going to work out with a baby in the house. I hope they'll feel free to spend time at my place so the baby doesn't inhale dust and dirt. I hope C has as easy a time as possible during the birthing process and recovers quickly. I pray the baby is okay.
Weather post: yesterday was cool but sunny and I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the cement slab deck, drinking my 'fight the cold' tea and letting the filtered sun warm my body. Yes, warm my body. My body has finally adjusted to the temperature...of course it is cooler now. Today is overcast and windy. It fits my mood. Rather gray and full of change.
With all the stupidity of the Windemere property management ( and I give you their name so that you can ask about their subcontracters, etc, before you ever try to hook up with them), my owner has decided we can deal directly and don't need to use them as a go between. I'm praying that will work out. It is family, after all.
Well, that's all the griping I can think of. I really could have it much worse, and I am thankful to have so many blessings. Yesterday I went for a short walk and even saw an egret and a loon on a small lake. Filled my soul.
Another thing that filled my soul, many of you will pshaw and laugh at, but here it is: I have found a local religious broadcast that is sort of like the Gaither sing-a-longs, but has all the familiar SDA soloists and groups performing. It has captured my attention. Music in my heart again.
However, to my family, adopted or otherwise, who read this thing, here is an update. School life goes on. I've been, okay, I'll just say it, Pissed, about the 'support' that was so ardently toutted when I first got this job. Mainly, the support is just a pat on the back, and an "I know, Honey, (I HATE being called honey by supervisors...female principal who's very theatrical...literally and figuratively) but the funds are tight everywhere! We're trying to get everyone's needs met and there just isn't enough to go around."
It all just brings me back to my old anger about how money rules the world....and if you have money you have power. Power to the People. Hogwash.
I was sick this week and crashed this weekend, having gotten the first bug of the season with sore throat, headache, etc. Right now I don't feel too bad, but Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I was just hanging on for the weekend to arrive. Needless to say, I did not go to church. I hope C wasn't too disappointed. It was great just to sleep off and on all day.
I have the new month's curriculum to plan and bills to pay today. I've finally got them all organized, shall we say, so that I can write the checks. I would pay them online, but I've had trouble, due to my ignorance about how all the online banking works (can you say stupidity in the stewardship department?).
A week ago, I finally felt like I was oriented and getting to feel 'at home.' I've begun to figure out how to get places without having to call my daughter...okay, so I called her Friday, but I was almost to the right spot!
I'm missing my A&C a lot. Think I'll call them today.
Missy C is just 'waiting' for baby to come. It is exciting. Their house is in the middle of a huge remodel. I don't know how all that's going to work out with a baby in the house. I hope they'll feel free to spend time at my place so the baby doesn't inhale dust and dirt. I hope C has as easy a time as possible during the birthing process and recovers quickly. I pray the baby is okay.
Weather post: yesterday was cool but sunny and I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the cement slab deck, drinking my 'fight the cold' tea and letting the filtered sun warm my body. Yes, warm my body. My body has finally adjusted to the temperature...of course it is cooler now. Today is overcast and windy. It fits my mood. Rather gray and full of change.
With all the stupidity of the Windemere property management ( and I give you their name so that you can ask about their subcontracters, etc, before you ever try to hook up with them), my owner has decided we can deal directly and don't need to use them as a go between. I'm praying that will work out. It is family, after all.
Well, that's all the griping I can think of. I really could have it much worse, and I am thankful to have so many blessings. Yesterday I went for a short walk and even saw an egret and a loon on a small lake. Filled my soul.
Another thing that filled my soul, many of you will pshaw and laugh at, but here it is: I have found a local religious broadcast that is sort of like the Gaither sing-a-longs, but has all the familiar SDA soloists and groups performing. It has captured my attention. Music in my heart again.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
First Day Conscious
Thursday I woke up, got on my way to school and realized, hey, I'm actually 'present'! And Friday was like that too! I must be settling in. This is the first weekend I've had that I'm not totally freaked out by all I have to do at home and school, so I must be feeling more 'at home.' (Just wait for next week's blog!)
The weather (always start with the weather) has been gorgeous....cooler, partly cloudy and fresh. It is still somewhat of a shock to me to wake up each and everyday to sunshine. I keep waiting for the 'shoe to drop' but it hasn't. Of course, when I made a comment to someone about this, they said, oh, wait till we get our fog.....well, been there. I lived here before, remember? I know that I"ll be in dismal gloom, then.......but for now, I can wait.
I'm still stubbornly refusing to give in to the Walla Walla Way. Sometimes I wonder if I'm not slowly just getting tired of fighting it, but we'll see. On the job front, I've decided that my professional development goals (Oh, yes, they make us have them yearly) will be an effort in educating the school community that it is "Kids first, and disabilities second," not the other way around. As we've stroller-ed our kids down the hall to go outside to play, other teachers who have their students en route somewhere will say, "Make room for the babies!" Ooooooh, it just rankles me, as these kids are as old as some of the kidergartners and definitely not babies! Just because they can't walk and are in strollers doesn't make them babies!!!!!!
Anyway, my first task is going to be to put up a bulletin board that says, "Kids First Preschool"......of course, I may have to get permission that I can do this....it isn't the Walla Walla Way. The WWW seems to want to hide their 'special' kids and give them as little as possible. I've been told that "It isn't that we don't want them to have what they need, its the funding....well, H***, I'm going to keep pushing, till I'm worn out, and I hope someone else will take up the banner and fly it high, until these kids can use their abilities to make themselvels independent members of society! Any takers?
Ok, I've stepped off the soapbox.
Grandbaby is coming! The house is getting remodeled! It's very exciting at the P's house! There have been, three, yes, three baby showers now and C is slowly washing the cute little things and folding them into drawers in readiness for the little bundle of boy-joy about to be born! They still don't have a crib or baby basket, etc. They did receive a little soft bed that allows a baby to sleep with parents, protected.
I'm still in the midst of organizing files and making curriculum at school, trying to get the little things done at home (like putting up curtains, pictures, etc. Like Queenie, I'm saying....now where am I going to put this? It doesn't fit here!
I'm still desperate about getting to be a better steward and this month has been h***ish. My hope is to have my finances organized at least, by the end of the weekend......not saying everything will be paid, but at least there will be an organized schedule.
I actually was able to make a hair appointment with someone who I think will be good, made an appt with C's dentist to have my teeth cleaned later. It's the little things that count, right? Yes, the little things.....children, families, Raid, etc.
Happy Sabbath!
The weather (always start with the weather) has been gorgeous....cooler, partly cloudy and fresh. It is still somewhat of a shock to me to wake up each and everyday to sunshine. I keep waiting for the 'shoe to drop' but it hasn't. Of course, when I made a comment to someone about this, they said, oh, wait till we get our fog.....well, been there. I lived here before, remember? I know that I"ll be in dismal gloom, then.......but for now, I can wait.
I'm still stubbornly refusing to give in to the Walla Walla Way. Sometimes I wonder if I'm not slowly just getting tired of fighting it, but we'll see. On the job front, I've decided that my professional development goals (Oh, yes, they make us have them yearly) will be an effort in educating the school community that it is "Kids first, and disabilities second," not the other way around. As we've stroller-ed our kids down the hall to go outside to play, other teachers who have their students en route somewhere will say, "Make room for the babies!" Ooooooh, it just rankles me, as these kids are as old as some of the kidergartners and definitely not babies! Just because they can't walk and are in strollers doesn't make them babies!!!!!!
Anyway, my first task is going to be to put up a bulletin board that says, "Kids First Preschool"......of course, I may have to get permission that I can do this....it isn't the Walla Walla Way. The WWW seems to want to hide their 'special' kids and give them as little as possible. I've been told that "It isn't that we don't want them to have what they need, its the funding....well, H***, I'm going to keep pushing, till I'm worn out, and I hope someone else will take up the banner and fly it high, until these kids can use their abilities to make themselvels independent members of society! Any takers?
Ok, I've stepped off the soapbox.
Grandbaby is coming! The house is getting remodeled! It's very exciting at the P's house! There have been, three, yes, three baby showers now and C is slowly washing the cute little things and folding them into drawers in readiness for the little bundle of boy-joy about to be born! They still don't have a crib or baby basket, etc. They did receive a little soft bed that allows a baby to sleep with parents, protected.
I'm still in the midst of organizing files and making curriculum at school, trying to get the little things done at home (like putting up curtains, pictures, etc. Like Queenie, I'm saying....now where am I going to put this? It doesn't fit here!
I'm still desperate about getting to be a better steward and this month has been h***ish. My hope is to have my finances organized at least, by the end of the weekend......not saying everything will be paid, but at least there will be an organized schedule.
I actually was able to make a hair appointment with someone who I think will be good, made an appt with C's dentist to have my teeth cleaned later. It's the little things that count, right? Yes, the little things.....children, families, Raid, etc.
Happy Sabbath!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Am I There Yet?
I wake in the mornings knowing I'm going to work; to teach....then I stop and think: Okay, and who are the kids? Where am I? What do I have to do today? And then realize that, oh, yeah, I'm in WW, still behind in the ever present work of being a teacher and frustrated up the ying-yang that I believed the pfffffft they told me. I can't even get a common software program that is 'everywhere' in special education. There are no Rifton chairs, walkers, standers or tumbleform chairs for the children who need them. Can the kids access their full potential or the education available to them? A Big Resounding NNNOOO!!!
Okay, okay, it is only 3 weeks into school, but I still don't have my bilingual paraeducator (teaching assistant) and the admin says the budget for 2007-2008 doesn't begin till October. So, I have two Spanish speaking children and limited ways of communicating. I do have a wonderful sub I'd like to keep, but no, I get a New sub (who has been absent this week because her baby was ill)...doesn't bode well for her being reliable. Also, when I explained to her about changing diapers, etc., she gave a low gasp and took a step back toward the door. My other assistant and I have an M&M bet about whether we'll ever see her again! Oh, the Walla Walla Way. Gag. Hyperventilate. Gag.
Then there's the house. It finally got painted...even two coats...yes, it was a big deal to get the second coat of paint. Sheesh! It was painted the week I started teaching. I told Windemere property management (I'm giving their name because it is so lousy I hope none of you get involved with it) I wanted all the repairs done by 9/14, the Friday before the baby shower. On that Friday, they made arrangements to put in the new front door and security screen. Is it in yet, NNOO!! Of course, they got the wrong size door and started to install it before they realized it was not the right size. So, of course, they jimmied the old door, sans 1/2 the frame woodwork, back in place with no weather stripping and greatly impeded opening, closing and locking mechanisms! They left a note saying the new door would be here by Monday. It is now Tuesday and soon to be Wednesday. Have I heard from them? NNOO!! I'm so angry I would love to call that lazy guy and tell him just what I think of his property management. Even the house owner thinks he's not very good at his job. And the 'handi-man" hired to do the painting, repair, etc.? Are you kidding? I can putty walls better than he can and that's not saying much!
Let's change topics to....the weather. I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that I'm actually in Walla Walla and missing NW weather. Yesterday and today were partly cloudy and fall-weather-coolish. I relished them.
Oh, the baby shower? It went off pretty well. CBP got some practical stuff and a few special items. We had peach shortcake and the punch-drink (made by a friend) was made with white cranberry juice, blue koolaid, and 7-up, upon which floated balls of vanilla ice cream and two (yellow and blue) duckies. There were 12 people there (not in the punch, but at the baby shower). Barb came for the weekend and helped me put it all together, another guest brought chairs and a couple people brought a card table or two. I bought two cheap canopies and we had the party in the back yard. I scattered blue elephants and potted mums around for decor. It wasn't fancy, any fifth grader could have decorated, but it turned out okay. The mix of people was a little strange, so it was a bit quiet on the conversation side. Next time I try to do one of these things, I'll opt for some ice breaker game (even though I hate them.)
Mostly, I have thoroughly enjoyed having C&E close by. C and I have been going to church together and she comes over to watch Big Brother......oh, brother!!!! and hang out once in awhile. Their house is finally getting remodeled. YEA! YEA! YEA!
I need to go over and see it again, C says. They've done a lot since the weekend. Only Four weeks till grandbaby-boy time.
Oh, that reminds me, I've got to put in for a leave day.....just in case. :o)
Okay, okay, it is only 3 weeks into school, but I still don't have my bilingual paraeducator (teaching assistant) and the admin says the budget for 2007-2008 doesn't begin till October. So, I have two Spanish speaking children and limited ways of communicating. I do have a wonderful sub I'd like to keep, but no, I get a New sub (who has been absent this week because her baby was ill)...doesn't bode well for her being reliable. Also, when I explained to her about changing diapers, etc., she gave a low gasp and took a step back toward the door. My other assistant and I have an M&M bet about whether we'll ever see her again! Oh, the Walla Walla Way. Gag. Hyperventilate. Gag.
Then there's the house. It finally got painted...even two coats...yes, it was a big deal to get the second coat of paint. Sheesh! It was painted the week I started teaching. I told Windemere property management (I'm giving their name because it is so lousy I hope none of you get involved with it) I wanted all the repairs done by 9/14, the Friday before the baby shower. On that Friday, they made arrangements to put in the new front door and security screen. Is it in yet, NNOO!! Of course, they got the wrong size door and started to install it before they realized it was not the right size. So, of course, they jimmied the old door, sans 1/2 the frame woodwork, back in place with no weather stripping and greatly impeded opening, closing and locking mechanisms! They left a note saying the new door would be here by Monday. It is now Tuesday and soon to be Wednesday. Have I heard from them? NNOO!! I'm so angry I would love to call that lazy guy and tell him just what I think of his property management. Even the house owner thinks he's not very good at his job. And the 'handi-man" hired to do the painting, repair, etc.? Are you kidding? I can putty walls better than he can and that's not saying much!
Let's change topics to....the weather. I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that I'm actually in Walla Walla and missing NW weather. Yesterday and today were partly cloudy and fall-weather-coolish. I relished them.
Oh, the baby shower? It went off pretty well. CBP got some practical stuff and a few special items. We had peach shortcake and the punch-drink (made by a friend) was made with white cranberry juice, blue koolaid, and 7-up, upon which floated balls of vanilla ice cream and two (yellow and blue) duckies. There were 12 people there (not in the punch, but at the baby shower). Barb came for the weekend and helped me put it all together, another guest brought chairs and a couple people brought a card table or two. I bought two cheap canopies and we had the party in the back yard. I scattered blue elephants and potted mums around for decor. It wasn't fancy, any fifth grader could have decorated, but it turned out okay. The mix of people was a little strange, so it was a bit quiet on the conversation side. Next time I try to do one of these things, I'll opt for some ice breaker game (even though I hate them.)
Mostly, I have thoroughly enjoyed having C&E close by. C and I have been going to church together and she comes over to watch Big Brother......oh, brother!!!! and hang out once in awhile. Their house is finally getting remodeled. YEA! YEA! YEA!
I need to go over and see it again, C says. They've done a lot since the weekend. Only Four weeks till grandbaby-boy time.
Oh, that reminds me, I've got to put in for a leave day.....just in case. :o)
Saturday, September 08, 2007
I'm back!
Finally I have internet. I've wanted to do oh, so many blogs and have thought of several titles. Here are a few:
THE BEST FRIENDS EVER, WHO HELPED ME MOVE FROM OH: I MISS THEM
TRAVELING WITH A HALF-SEDATED CAT
THE DOOR IS PAINTED SHUT, I CAN'T EVEN ENTER MY NEW HOUSE!
THIS CARPET WAS CLEANED?
HOW AM I EVER GOING TO GET ALL MY STUFF IN THIS PLACE!
IT WASN'T PAINTED, EITHER?
I'VE LIVED HERE 3 WEEKS AND NOW YOU WANT TO PAINT IT?
REMEMBER TO WATER THE GRASS, REMEMBER TO WATER THE GRASS
NEARLY A HEAT STROKE
THE WALLA WALLA WAY
MEETING, AFTER MEETING, AFTER MEETING.
YOU MADE PROMISES TO ME ABOUT FIXING THIS CLASSROOM
I MAKE WAVES
EXPERIENCING THE WALLA WALLA WAY
MY BEAUTIFUL, PREGNANT DAUGHTER
THE PARADE PAST MY HOUSE; THE FAIR
I NEED A MAP!
EXHAUSTION SETS IN
Okay, that's where I am now. I've spent most of this week working 12 hour days. I was finally able to make some wheels turn to get what I needed done in the classroom to start classes on Monday. I still have a bit left to do and I'll have to go in on Sunday (I say that a lot, but this time I really mean it!)to finish the prep. To make everything go smoothly, I'm supposed to have two assistants; one who is bilingual to help speak to the two children who live in monolingual Spanish homes. Of course, when I arrived they had not hired one yet. They still haven't....can you believe that...oh, it makes my blood boil with anger!
Then, my other assistant, the one constant for the children, will not be there Monday and Tuesday, because she had a death in the family and will be gone. She has been a tremendous help to me in going through every cupboard of junk, sorting stuff out and trying to get rid of extra furniture (I'm surprised last year's kids had space to walk!). So far we've sent two big boxes of stuff to Good Will, taken out 7 bookcases that were taken to be used in other rooms, had 8 pieces of furniture/equipment removed to be stored elsewhere, taken out birth to three equipment so we have room for our 3-6 year old stuff, rearranged the play centers, put in a teacher's desk and file cabinet, set up my computer and a new printer, and gotten rid of 3 other computers and 1 printer that were in there for some odd reason. That left space to put in an indoor frame swing for a large- motor play area (they have no place to play in bad weather), spaces for individualized therapy, One computer for the kids for learning games and communication, plus cupboards that have completely been cleaned out and restocked with what was left that was actually in good condition and usable. (Which wasn't much. "The Walla Walla Way" with special education leaves a lot to be desired.)
I'm still making waves in trying to get things done and my intensity has led one teacher with clout to start a campaign to move our class to an upstairs room with windows and an outdoor exit that is badly needed for emergencies and wheelchairs. The room I have now has no windows (but I managed to get them to put in full spectrum lighting!) and is in the basement at the opposite end of the hall from the elevator....which can't be used in an emergency, anyway! Even parents are concerned...as well they should be! I'm incensed at the situation, but it may be resolved well....hopefully before any calamities strike!
Other than that, Caryn and I have had some comfortable, fun times together and have been attending church regularly together. It's nice. Her baby shower in Portland was fun. My ex-sister-in-law (whose back yard is where the shower was held) is a marvelous gardener and has transformed her back yard into a wonderful oasis.
A friend of Caryn's and I are planning a local baby shower for her at my place on the 16th. People will have to bring their own lawn chairs and move around the left over boxes. I still don't have curtains up or pictures on the walls. But hey, my washing machine works...though I don't have a dryer yet, it has been hot enough to dry my clothes quickly....I just have to iron them now!
I have found one or two places to walk, but haven't done it much. It certainly isn't as delightful as my walk in OH!
Such is "The Walla Walla Way". Have you gagged over that term yet?
THE BEST FRIENDS EVER, WHO HELPED ME MOVE FROM OH: I MISS THEM
TRAVELING WITH A HALF-SEDATED CAT
THE DOOR IS PAINTED SHUT, I CAN'T EVEN ENTER MY NEW HOUSE!
THIS CARPET WAS CLEANED?
HOW AM I EVER GOING TO GET ALL MY STUFF IN THIS PLACE!
IT WASN'T PAINTED, EITHER?
I'VE LIVED HERE 3 WEEKS AND NOW YOU WANT TO PAINT IT?
REMEMBER TO WATER THE GRASS, REMEMBER TO WATER THE GRASS
NEARLY A HEAT STROKE
THE WALLA WALLA WAY
MEETING, AFTER MEETING, AFTER MEETING.
YOU MADE PROMISES TO ME ABOUT FIXING THIS CLASSROOM
I MAKE WAVES
EXPERIENCING THE WALLA WALLA WAY
MY BEAUTIFUL, PREGNANT DAUGHTER
THE PARADE PAST MY HOUSE; THE FAIR
I NEED A MAP!
EXHAUSTION SETS IN
Okay, that's where I am now. I've spent most of this week working 12 hour days. I was finally able to make some wheels turn to get what I needed done in the classroom to start classes on Monday. I still have a bit left to do and I'll have to go in on Sunday (I say that a lot, but this time I really mean it!)to finish the prep. To make everything go smoothly, I'm supposed to have two assistants; one who is bilingual to help speak to the two children who live in monolingual Spanish homes. Of course, when I arrived they had not hired one yet. They still haven't....can you believe that...oh, it makes my blood boil with anger!
Then, my other assistant, the one constant for the children, will not be there Monday and Tuesday, because she had a death in the family and will be gone. She has been a tremendous help to me in going through every cupboard of junk, sorting stuff out and trying to get rid of extra furniture (I'm surprised last year's kids had space to walk!). So far we've sent two big boxes of stuff to Good Will, taken out 7 bookcases that were taken to be used in other rooms, had 8 pieces of furniture/equipment removed to be stored elsewhere, taken out birth to three equipment so we have room for our 3-6 year old stuff, rearranged the play centers, put in a teacher's desk and file cabinet, set up my computer and a new printer, and gotten rid of 3 other computers and 1 printer that were in there for some odd reason. That left space to put in an indoor frame swing for a large- motor play area (they have no place to play in bad weather), spaces for individualized therapy, One computer for the kids for learning games and communication, plus cupboards that have completely been cleaned out and restocked with what was left that was actually in good condition and usable. (Which wasn't much. "The Walla Walla Way" with special education leaves a lot to be desired.)
I'm still making waves in trying to get things done and my intensity has led one teacher with clout to start a campaign to move our class to an upstairs room with windows and an outdoor exit that is badly needed for emergencies and wheelchairs. The room I have now has no windows (but I managed to get them to put in full spectrum lighting!) and is in the basement at the opposite end of the hall from the elevator....which can't be used in an emergency, anyway! Even parents are concerned...as well they should be! I'm incensed at the situation, but it may be resolved well....hopefully before any calamities strike!
Other than that, Caryn and I have had some comfortable, fun times together and have been attending church regularly together. It's nice. Her baby shower in Portland was fun. My ex-sister-in-law (whose back yard is where the shower was held) is a marvelous gardener and has transformed her back yard into a wonderful oasis.
A friend of Caryn's and I are planning a local baby shower for her at my place on the 16th. People will have to bring their own lawn chairs and move around the left over boxes. I still don't have curtains up or pictures on the walls. But hey, my washing machine works...though I don't have a dryer yet, it has been hot enough to dry my clothes quickly....I just have to iron them now!
I have found one or two places to walk, but haven't done it much. It certainly isn't as delightful as my walk in OH!
Such is "The Walla Walla Way". Have you gagged over that term yet?
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Nearly Done...Nearly Beginning
I'm almost finished packing. I got 3 more boxes and 1 more wardrobe box this morning (for free) and then Everything, and I mean Everything, will be packed up and ready to go. I wanted to be totally ready yesterday so that I could 'play' today and tomorrow, but the more I pack, the more c*** I seem to have to pack. It is seemingly unending. I do know the end is near, however. I'm sad, tired, excited, dreading WW weather, trying to soak up every drop of ocean air and coolness I can.
It is sailboat "Race Week" here. The town is buzzing. NO parade as far as I can tell, however, and the Yacht club had a very exclusive outdoor dance/party last night. If you weren't a member of the club you couldn't even pay to go in. Of course we (T and I on our walk) could watch and hear the goings on through the chainlink fence. Most of the party goers were our age, not young things, as I would have expected.
There are tents and boat trailers and RVs around the grounds where the carnival was. Bicyclers going back and forth from the marina to the camp area. In the middle of the morning the sailboats head out. It is quite a site. I've attempted a few pictures, but probably won't show much. It is closer than the pictures portray. I will download pictures when I get my own computer set up again.
The B's got their house and I was privileged to have a look through when the inspector came this morning. It is marvelous. They are so excited and nervous at the same time and rightly so. Little Mouse loved toddling through each room, opening and shutting any drawer or door that was in sight.....multiple times. The back yard is really set up for bbqs, children playing and gardening. >sigh<. The B's are full of wonderful ideas for stamping the place with their own marks. I am very excited and happy for them. They will be happy and busy fine tuning the place to make it theirs.
The B's and T have been extremely kind to me in helping me pack and feeding me and giving me a place away from the boxes to relax a minute. Of course, Mouse's smiles, /hi's/ and waves fill my heart as well. It is good practice for my own soon-to-be grandchildren!!!!!
I do look forward to that and hope that I can be the grandma God wants me to be and the Mom and MIL that He also wants me to be.
My own stress level is high enough that I don't want any more sugar. Yes, its That High! I don't even want to eat, but know I have to, to keep from getting sick. I'm not sleeping well, and know I won't for awhile. I just need to hang in there and get settled quickly.
These are the times it would be nice to have a man around. Yes, to do some of the heavy work, but also, just to sit with, have him put his caring arms around me and say things like, /Don't worry, it will all work out. We're in this together./ I'd lay my head on his chest and sigh, maybe tear up a bit and wrap my arms around him, too.
>SIGH<
It is sailboat "Race Week" here. The town is buzzing. NO parade as far as I can tell, however, and the Yacht club had a very exclusive outdoor dance/party last night. If you weren't a member of the club you couldn't even pay to go in. Of course we (T and I on our walk) could watch and hear the goings on through the chainlink fence. Most of the party goers were our age, not young things, as I would have expected.
There are tents and boat trailers and RVs around the grounds where the carnival was. Bicyclers going back and forth from the marina to the camp area. In the middle of the morning the sailboats head out. It is quite a site. I've attempted a few pictures, but probably won't show much. It is closer than the pictures portray. I will download pictures when I get my own computer set up again.
The B's got their house and I was privileged to have a look through when the inspector came this morning. It is marvelous. They are so excited and nervous at the same time and rightly so. Little Mouse loved toddling through each room, opening and shutting any drawer or door that was in sight.....multiple times. The back yard is really set up for bbqs, children playing and gardening. >sigh<. The B's are full of wonderful ideas for stamping the place with their own marks. I am very excited and happy for them. They will be happy and busy fine tuning the place to make it theirs.
The B's and T have been extremely kind to me in helping me pack and feeding me and giving me a place away from the boxes to relax a minute. Of course, Mouse's smiles, /hi's/ and waves fill my heart as well. It is good practice for my own soon-to-be grandchildren!!!!!
I do look forward to that and hope that I can be the grandma God wants me to be and the Mom and MIL that He also wants me to be.
My own stress level is high enough that I don't want any more sugar. Yes, its That High! I don't even want to eat, but know I have to, to keep from getting sick. I'm not sleeping well, and know I won't for awhile. I just need to hang in there and get settled quickly.
These are the times it would be nice to have a man around. Yes, to do some of the heavy work, but also, just to sit with, have him put his caring arms around me and say things like, /Don't worry, it will all work out. We're in this together./ I'd lay my head on his chest and sigh, maybe tear up a bit and wrap my arms around him, too.
>SIGH<
Friday, July 20, 2007
Still Moving
Boxes are Piled higher and Deeper. Doesn't that allow me to have an honorary PhD now? I'm glad I was here for summer....two weeks ago. It lasted for the week. It has been rainy and cool and cloudy dark ever since, ranging high 72, mostly in the low 60's, upper 50's. I'm depressed. I want the move over. I want to sleep in a quiet place. I want not to worry about money. I want, I want, I want and I want some more.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Cooler, with Boxes
So, as is with the rest of the country it has been HOT here in OH, though I'm discovering the term is rather relative. I'm at the library checking my inboxes as the cable was turned off at the beginning of the week. My apt is absolutely full of boxes and Lilo is very nervous. I'm having to keep her inside, as she is wandering too far. T and I have enjoyed evening walks. It's nice to have someone to walk with regularly. Last night was the night for feet and ankles in the cold surf. Whew, did it refresh! 10 minutes to go on the internet. Thanks DIL for giving me the idea of the child-proof gates at the door. Keeps Lilo in and the airflow moving. Just letting you know I'm in process of change...big change and everything is coming together slowly.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Yes, Another Parade....
Honoring: The Red, White and Blue!...and POWs, MIAs
Smokey the Bear
Commanding Officer Colin Chinn, Naval Hospital
Clowns
Yesterday was July 4, that truly All-USA holiday, complete with its contradictory highlights of celebration with family, picnics in the park, friends and advertising in the guise of parade entries.
Ah, the parade.
Note the shoes
Doesn't every community honor pirates in their parades?
It included political groups with handshaking candidates, (including the Democrats...where were the Republicans?) church VBS promotions (even Jesus sat with some disciples on the back of a farm wagon...LOL...and no, I didn't take a picture!), and the police department, the fire department and their equipment. Ever present were the car clubs (really, how many Mustangs can one view and still be excited?) followed by the tractors, boy scouts, campfire girls, local high school cookie/seat cushion sellers, clowns with balloons, the junk-cart vendors, and the Shriners crammed into their 'toy' cars.
Several entries proudly displayed uniformed armed services personnel displaying the USA, Canadian, British, states flags, and various specialty flags. The Navy made a good showing. There were the Navy jet flyovers, a rescue helicopter flyover with a guy hanging outside the bird to wave to the parade goers, more candy throwing (even the young children got tired of picking up the Laffy Taffy and broken lollipops (suckers?). The predictable end of the parade arrived with the Yacht Club's pirates/sailing ship.
Okay, have I seen it all? This was the longest parade I've seen in OH, perhaps an hour long. It was like watching a slow moving movie consisting of one advertising sign after another. We kept watching because (1) we wanted to see how long this parade would be (2) we kept waiting for the exciting parade entries (which never happened). Whatever happened to those chicken-wire/colored-napkin covered creations, the high school bands (even in summer) providing snappy marches, the dressed up cowboys/girls on prancing stallions, the formally dressed princesses waving their 'princess waves'?
This time I mostly watched the small children, visited with people next to me about why they came to the parade. Even they said it had really gone downhill over the years. Sad. Is part of this because what I remember as a child was all magical and new? Now I'm experienced (old) and cynical. Sigh.
After the parade we walked (we walked everywhere, town is small) to the city beach park where the carnival was set up, the food vendors and specialty booths were set up. Lots of people. More people at the parade, in the park, for this event than even the last one. I saw a few people I knew. Its like I'm finally getting 'into' the place, and now I'm leaving. Oh well, New Adventures. T and I had gyros, sat and watched the people for awhile, then walked slowly back to my place, stopping along main street to browse in the antique shops that were open (no customers...everyone was at the beach!). We both managed to get a bit of a suntan-burn in our wanderings, but nothing serious. The weather was perfect.....perhaps 72 degrees with that slight ocean breeze bringing in fresh, clean air. Upon arriving at my place, we decided on a big glass of limeade, a bit of a rest off our feet. Then we both decided we needed to nap before staying up late for fireworks....remember 'old'?
So T left and I napped about an hour. Then I picked up a cherry pie and ice cream, some potatoes to bake over the grill and headed to the B's where we had a little bbq and played Wii bowling. I WON! I was amazed! I like Wii bowling even if I don't win! I can actually do it without ripping off my thumbnail or falling on my wrist. (See previous blog entries.)
Then T and I went back to the park to watch the fireworks. They started at 10:30 and lasted about 1/2 hour. The spectacular part was that we were sitting almost under them and it was a little disconcerting that the ashes might fall on us, but didn't. Then we drove home. I didn't get to sleep till after midnight since the neighborhood was still celebrating. This state definitely has few restrictions to fireworks! Lilo survived, displaying only a little skittishness.
Smokey the Bear
Commanding Officer Colin Chinn, Naval Hospital
Clowns
Yesterday was July 4, that truly All-USA holiday, complete with its contradictory highlights of celebration with family, picnics in the park, friends and advertising in the guise of parade entries.
Ah, the parade.
Note the shoes
Doesn't every community honor pirates in their parades?
It included political groups with handshaking candidates, (including the Democrats...where were the Republicans?) church VBS promotions (even Jesus sat with some disciples on the back of a farm wagon...LOL...and no, I didn't take a picture!), and the police department, the fire department and their equipment. Ever present were the car clubs (really, how many Mustangs can one view and still be excited?) followed by the tractors, boy scouts, campfire girls, local high school cookie/seat cushion sellers, clowns with balloons, the junk-cart vendors, and the Shriners crammed into their 'toy' cars. Several entries proudly displayed uniformed armed services personnel displaying the USA, Canadian, British, states flags, and various specialty flags. The Navy made a good showing. There were the Navy jet flyovers, a rescue helicopter flyover with a guy hanging outside the bird to wave to the parade goers, more candy throwing (even the young children got tired of picking up the Laffy Taffy and broken lollipops (suckers?). The predictable end of the parade arrived with the Yacht Club's pirates/sailing ship.
Okay, have I seen it all? This was the longest parade I've seen in OH, perhaps an hour long. It was like watching a slow moving movie consisting of one advertising sign after another. We kept watching because (1) we wanted to see how long this parade would be (2) we kept waiting for the exciting parade entries (which never happened). Whatever happened to those chicken-wire/colored-napkin covered creations, the high school bands (even in summer) providing snappy marches, the dressed up cowboys/girls on prancing stallions, the formally dressed princesses waving their 'princess waves'?
This time I mostly watched the small children, visited with people next to me about why they came to the parade. Even they said it had really gone downhill over the years. Sad. Is part of this because what I remember as a child was all magical and new? Now I'm experienced (old) and cynical. Sigh.
After the parade we walked (we walked everywhere, town is small) to the city beach park where the carnival was set up, the food vendors and specialty booths were set up. Lots of people. More people at the parade, in the park, for this event than even the last one. I saw a few people I knew. Its like I'm finally getting 'into' the place, and now I'm leaving. Oh well, New Adventures. T and I had gyros, sat and watched the people for awhile, then walked slowly back to my place, stopping along main street to browse in the antique shops that were open (no customers...everyone was at the beach!). We both managed to get a bit of a suntan-burn in our wanderings, but nothing serious. The weather was perfect.....perhaps 72 degrees with that slight ocean breeze bringing in fresh, clean air. Upon arriving at my place, we decided on a big glass of limeade, a bit of a rest off our feet. Then we both decided we needed to nap before staying up late for fireworks....remember 'old'?
So T left and I napped about an hour. Then I picked up a cherry pie and ice cream, some potatoes to bake over the grill and headed to the B's where we had a little bbq and played Wii bowling. I WON! I was amazed! I like Wii bowling even if I don't win! I can actually do it without ripping off my thumbnail or falling on my wrist. (See previous blog entries.)
Then T and I went back to the park to watch the fireworks. They started at 10:30 and lasted about 1/2 hour. The spectacular part was that we were sitting almost under them and it was a little disconcerting that the ashes might fall on us, but didn't. Then we drove home. I didn't get to sleep till after midnight since the neighborhood was still celebrating. This state definitely has few restrictions to fireworks! Lilo survived, displaying only a little skittishness.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Sunday Morning
I enjoy that CBS production.
I am back at home in OH, after my dismal trip to Portland and back. The traffic back was horrible. What is usually a 6 hour trip, took me 8. I was exhausted mentally and physically when I got home.
My grand plans to pick up my coveted made-to-order patio bench and my stored belongings in River City and deliver them to WW was a bust. As was every other thing I tried to do, like getting some major repairs done on my car. My credit is at an abysmal low right now. Not that I'm hungry or anything. I still have gas for my car....at least for awhile. My rent for the month is paid. But for the move and the new place and all that, I have minimal funds. It will come, I know. Stewardship again. I'm really trying to change my ways.
Last evening I spent with the B's for Mouse's first birthday! She was delighted to knaw on some bbq ribs, to smoosh cupcake frosting all over her face and hands and grin through all of it. It took her awhile to work off all the sugar. She caught on to opening presents toward the last of the event, and really enjoyed watching bubbles (every-one-year old needs bubbles!) and finally reached out to touch them. Magical. Such innocence and delight! Forgot my camera but dad and mom took some good pictures, so I'm hoping I'll get a copy of a few. Another memory in my book. I gave her a blue elephant. After all, she is 'family;' I was able to be one of the first to see her after her birth! I'm glad her grandma is moving here. Every child needs a grandma near!
I'm tired. Stress, always present, is taking its toll as I mentally calculate and recalculate all my moving plans. Somehow I know it will all happen as it is supposed to, but my mind is a bit clouded by it all at the moment.
The day is a beautiful one and next on my day's agenda is to take advantage of this beautiful weather and scenery for as long as I live in it and go for a walk to enjoy it.
It is summer; time to sit back, enjoy the moment, reflect. Lilo is. She goes in and out the door, first lying on the step and then coming in to lie on the floor just inside the door and looking out. She gets the breeze, but not the heat that way. She is basically an indoor cat! She's my constant sidekick lately. I think she knows things are different and about to change in a big way.
PS I'll also miss the church bells ringing the hour and chiming out a couple encouraging hymns at regular intervals.
I am back at home in OH, after my dismal trip to Portland and back. The traffic back was horrible. What is usually a 6 hour trip, took me 8. I was exhausted mentally and physically when I got home.
My grand plans to pick up my coveted made-to-order patio bench and my stored belongings in River City and deliver them to WW was a bust. As was every other thing I tried to do, like getting some major repairs done on my car. My credit is at an abysmal low right now. Not that I'm hungry or anything. I still have gas for my car....at least for awhile. My rent for the month is paid. But for the move and the new place and all that, I have minimal funds. It will come, I know. Stewardship again. I'm really trying to change my ways.
Last evening I spent with the B's for Mouse's first birthday! She was delighted to knaw on some bbq ribs, to smoosh cupcake frosting all over her face and hands and grin through all of it. It took her awhile to work off all the sugar. She caught on to opening presents toward the last of the event, and really enjoyed watching bubbles (every-one-year old needs bubbles!) and finally reached out to touch them. Magical. Such innocence and delight! Forgot my camera but dad and mom took some good pictures, so I'm hoping I'll get a copy of a few. Another memory in my book. I gave her a blue elephant. After all, she is 'family;' I was able to be one of the first to see her after her birth! I'm glad her grandma is moving here. Every child needs a grandma near!
I'm tired. Stress, always present, is taking its toll as I mentally calculate and recalculate all my moving plans. Somehow I know it will all happen as it is supposed to, but my mind is a bit clouded by it all at the moment.
The day is a beautiful one and next on my day's agenda is to take advantage of this beautiful weather and scenery for as long as I live in it and go for a walk to enjoy it.
It is summer; time to sit back, enjoy the moment, reflect. Lilo is. She goes in and out the door, first lying on the step and then coming in to lie on the floor just inside the door and looking out. She gets the breeze, but not the heat that way. She is basically an indoor cat! She's my constant sidekick lately. I think she knows things are different and about to change in a big way.
PS I'll also miss the church bells ringing the hour and chiming out a couple encouraging hymns at regular intervals.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Today
Was reviewing my post from one year ago. Wow. It seems like forever ago. Goodbyes were much simpler this year as friendships begun were cut short. Moving was easier. This week has been a week of frustrations. Whatever I tried to do, it just didn't work out. I came to River City to be with Barb and get some things accomplished...car fixed, going through storage left here, etc. Nothing seems to have worked out. So I GIVE UP! Do you hear me? I GIVE UP! I'm going home to OH. I had planned on picking up a patio bench I had in storage, pick up some other stuff I had stored in another place and then take all that to WW. Didn't work out. AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGH.
I'll just go home (seems odd to call OH home, but home it has become), get out my boxes and pack. Just pack. And give away to the thrift stores. I don't know if I really have anything left for a garage sale. I'm debating about even taking my Salvation Army-bought furniture. Maybe it's time to get rid of it. What I will sit on when I get to WW remains to be seen. Moving. I loathe it. Today, I loathe myself and my life.
I'll just go home (seems odd to call OH home, but home it has become), get out my boxes and pack. Just pack. And give away to the thrift stores. I don't know if I really have anything left for a garage sale. I'm debating about even taking my Salvation Army-bought furniture. Maybe it's time to get rid of it. What I will sit on when I get to WW remains to be seen. Moving. I loathe it. Today, I loathe myself and my life.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Here-a-House, There-a-House Guilt
Okay, so I'm crazy. I admit it. I wanted a really cute little house in WW really, really badly. I finally gave it up when I couldn't get financing for it. Then the owners called me and told me they would rent it to me. We talked about rent-to-own. They decided to offer me a 3-year lease, just renting it. I was so excited I offered a maximum I thought I could handle. Then realized it was more than I wanted to pay. I was very squeamish about leasing a place for 3 years. A lot can happen in three years. The owners are close to 80 years old. What if they died or became incapacitated? What if I didn't like the neighborhood, couldn't stand my job or needed to move to CO to take care of my dad or something? When it came down to it, I just couldn't sign the lease. When they called, I told them my reservations. The guy thought I was backing out and acted like I'd insulted our verbal agreement. He made me feel guilty that I wasn't going through with the deal. I talked to him about the rent to own for three years, rather than just a straight rental-lease agreement. He and his wife talked it over and called me back, saying that they'd thought I was okay with all of it and if I didn't want their terms, they would put the house on the market again. So I said, Okay. I'm giving it up. And I hung up. Why do I feel guilty? Why am I so discouraged? A little dream gone. But some relief.
I do have a little house with a carport that my D's MIL will rent to me and it will be fine. Small but fine. And she will be moving there in a few years, so I'll have to find a more permanent residence soon........Moving again. I think that's part of it. I've decided I hate moving. I'm strapped financially just to get the essentials moved and get into a place and get settled. Yuck.
God is still teaching me. Oh yeah. At my age. Why couldn't I have taken hold of this lesson of stewardship a lot sooner? It runs my life, you know. Stewardship. Of little things, of my appetite for food, houses, cars, clothing, Things. And I have SO Much compared to, oh, you know. The world in general. Guilt. Built-in guilt.
As I look back, I realize, all too painfully, that since my divorce, I've accepted my dad's emotional blackmail and taken his monetary gifts when I needed them to help me or my kids. I need to get over this. Part of the accountability-stewardship plan. Starting now. Letting go of the cute little house. Am I settling for second best...again in my life? Do I have the fortitude to really pick up the stewardship banner and hold it high, even when my arms get tired? Heaven help me! Literally, please, Heaven help me!
I do have a little house with a carport that my D's MIL will rent to me and it will be fine. Small but fine. And she will be moving there in a few years, so I'll have to find a more permanent residence soon........Moving again. I think that's part of it. I've decided I hate moving. I'm strapped financially just to get the essentials moved and get into a place and get settled. Yuck.
God is still teaching me. Oh yeah. At my age. Why couldn't I have taken hold of this lesson of stewardship a lot sooner? It runs my life, you know. Stewardship. Of little things, of my appetite for food, houses, cars, clothing, Things. And I have SO Much compared to, oh, you know. The world in general. Guilt. Built-in guilt.
As I look back, I realize, all too painfully, that since my divorce, I've accepted my dad's emotional blackmail and taken his monetary gifts when I needed them to help me or my kids. I need to get over this. Part of the accountability-stewardship plan. Starting now. Letting go of the cute little house. Am I settling for second best...again in my life? Do I have the fortitude to really pick up the stewardship banner and hold it high, even when my arms get tired? Heaven help me! Literally, please, Heaven help me!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Taking a Deep Breath
Friday! TGIF! You know how it is on vacation? The first two days your body and mind are still in high 'working' gear and you seem to get a lot done and then the third day hits. Well, that's what's happening to me. As much as I've tried, I can't seem to do anything but spin my wheels. I got laundry and the dishes done. I need to vacuum and finish straightening out the guest room where piles (organized piles, mind you) of my preschool materials lie. Maybe that's why I don't want to go in there. I just don't want to think about preschool for awhile.
Barb is coming for a long weekend and then we will drive to River City. My plan is to pick up my stored Stuff and move it to WW, help interview IA candidates for my classroom (Nice of them to ask for my input!) , and then finalize the house stuff. I'll return to OH and begin packing in all seriousness. I need to be packed and driving out of OH at the earliest on Juy 20. At the latest, July 31.
Possibly, just thinking about all this is making me tired..That and the stupid pharmacy got my prescriptions all messed up and I didn't have some of my meds this week when I needed them. Argh. I wouldn't have had any problems, except that i forgot my cosmetic case at Barb's this last weekend, so I had to call docs and get special permission to have an extra refill. Of course the pharmacy, running on automatic, was totally confused. It was a mess. After 4 trips down there and three calls to the doctor, I finally go my meds late Wednesday. Not having my meds on regular basis really messed with my system.
So I've labeled today as "Tired Friday." I pick up Barb from the train station at 8 this evening, so I really have to get busy, to have everything done in time to drive to the train station.
Thank goodness the weather is beautiful. AAHH. Summer in OH. Smell the fresh sea air, enjoy the golden, warm sunshine.
(Soon enough I'll be begging for a place to hide from its searing heat in WW!).
For today, Take a Deep Breath...Hmm, and maybe just a short nap.
Barb is coming for a long weekend and then we will drive to River City. My plan is to pick up my stored Stuff and move it to WW, help interview IA candidates for my classroom (Nice of them to ask for my input!) , and then finalize the house stuff. I'll return to OH and begin packing in all seriousness. I need to be packed and driving out of OH at the earliest on Juy 20. At the latest, July 31.
Possibly, just thinking about all this is making me tired..That and the stupid pharmacy got my prescriptions all messed up and I didn't have some of my meds this week when I needed them. Argh. I wouldn't have had any problems, except that i forgot my cosmetic case at Barb's this last weekend, so I had to call docs and get special permission to have an extra refill. Of course the pharmacy, running on automatic, was totally confused. It was a mess. After 4 trips down there and three calls to the doctor, I finally go my meds late Wednesday. Not having my meds on regular basis really messed with my system.
So I've labeled today as "Tired Friday." I pick up Barb from the train station at 8 this evening, so I really have to get busy, to have everything done in time to drive to the train station.
Thank goodness the weather is beautiful. AAHH. Summer in OH. Smell the fresh sea air, enjoy the golden, warm sunshine.
(Soon enough I'll be begging for a place to hide from its searing heat in WW!).
For today, Take a Deep Breath...Hmm, and maybe just a short nap.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Miracles Weekly
I haven't kept you up on all the miracles that have happened surrounding my move. You know I wanted to buy a cute, 'perfect,' little house near my kids. But prudently I let it go. The owner called back 2 weeks later and asked if I wanted a long term lease with option to buy. Would I?!?! I'm thrilled. I can picture myself living in that place, doing a little gardening, sitting out on the patio surrounded by pots of flowers in the evening. It is probably about 3/4 mile from my D and SIL and soon-coming grandbaby. In a year or so, perhaps one very special little boy will come to visit and play in that back yard (Ooo. I might have to find some play equipment at the thrift store...a little sand box and slide/swing perhaps. Fun!) Maybe we'll have a backyard picnic or two. Now all I have to do is round up the money for the rents and deposit. Gulp.
In saying good bye and talking to my students' parents, my colleagues and friends, I have had 3 offers to drive my moving truck to WW and one offer to help move boxes.....always the harder thing to do!
The director at my new job has been so helpful and kind. I was paid for the day I went to the preplan meeting. They are paying for me to attend a day's teachers' conference in July! When I spoke of the concerns I had about my job, after my observation, they made plans to 'fix' the problems. Now i don't know how it will all play out, but it is initially looking very, very good! Like the school district actually supports its staff! A liaison person who works for the school district to help new staff, gave me info for helpers to unload the moving truck and people to contact for making sure my house contract is okay.
All the pieces seem to be coming together nicely. I really do think God is leading me to this place. There have been so many positive outcomes to problems that I had no control over. And to be close to family will be such a delight!
I PROMISE my family right now that I will make every effort to not make a nuisance of myself. And if I become that nuisance, they will (politely, I hope) tell me they need their space.
I have made arrangements to have my cable here in OH disconnected July 8, so around that date, you may not hear from me until August. If I get too bummed out with no access, I'll go to the library or the B's. Otherwise, I'll be focused on packing and selling/giving away more excess STuff.
I still need prayers going up, as the funding for all of this is still lacking. I know, I'm nuts, but it just HAs to work out! It has so far. I'm putting trust and faith to work that the funds will be present, too!
In saying good bye and talking to my students' parents, my colleagues and friends, I have had 3 offers to drive my moving truck to WW and one offer to help move boxes.....always the harder thing to do!
The director at my new job has been so helpful and kind. I was paid for the day I went to the preplan meeting. They are paying for me to attend a day's teachers' conference in July! When I spoke of the concerns I had about my job, after my observation, they made plans to 'fix' the problems. Now i don't know how it will all play out, but it is initially looking very, very good! Like the school district actually supports its staff! A liaison person who works for the school district to help new staff, gave me info for helpers to unload the moving truck and people to contact for making sure my house contract is okay.
All the pieces seem to be coming together nicely. I really do think God is leading me to this place. There have been so many positive outcomes to problems that I had no control over. And to be close to family will be such a delight!
I PROMISE my family right now that I will make every effort to not make a nuisance of myself. And if I become that nuisance, they will (politely, I hope) tell me they need their space.
I have made arrangements to have my cable here in OH disconnected July 8, so around that date, you may not hear from me until August. If I get too bummed out with no access, I'll go to the library or the B's. Otherwise, I'll be focused on packing and selling/giving away more excess STuff.
I still need prayers going up, as the funding for all of this is still lacking. I know, I'm nuts, but it just HAs to work out! It has so far. I'm putting trust and faith to work that the funds will be present, too!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Waves of Emotion and Goodbyes
This past weekend I took a fast trip to River city to be with Barb while she had an angiogram. It was normal. Whew! It was an unsettling pause in the business of finishing my work year here. I would be gone Friday, the last major day of school. Monday, today, was a make up 'snow' day from our having stayed home because of bad winter weather. The classroom was packed and I only had a few odds and ends to finish. It was odd being there, working on my computer in the middle of the quiet, packed room, with my teaching materials stacked in a corner waiting to be loaded into my car.
My assistants and lots of staff had taken today as a sick day or annual leave day. The other preschool teachers were there, though, and I got to say goodbye to them and take a picture.
It seemed weird as each person left and told me goodbye. I went to the office and told the secretaries and a couple of other teachers, goodbye. A mixture of feelings came over me: lightness for having finished the job well, sadness at saying goodbye to a place I'd come to accept and love, excitement in saying goodbye while looking forward to a new adventure and anxiety in thinking about all that it takes to move. I packed the last box in my car from the school, went to the office to turn in my keys, returned to the classroom to stand for a moment and mentally reminisce. The slide/video show in my head was not the one actually captured on film. I remembered students with their endearing quirks, running happily in the playground, feeling the warm air or the wind, asking for a push on the swing or a hand for helping walk the curb. I saw the smiles of the other teachers as we grew into friends, our parent night success, my asssistants being everywhere at once. I remember rides down the mountain in J's truck while sharing personal and professional insights on our way to the monthly meetings. I thought about all the paperwork and how it is finally Done!.
Then I walked to my car in the parking lot for the last time. It was time to go. I took a last look at the classroom doors, the rose trellis. I drove out onto the street. Goodby OH school! Goodbye big playground! Goodbye students! Goodbye friends! I hope I may see you again and perhaps take wonderful vacations here....I wonder if I would ever end up living here again?
I'm on to the next adventure. WW and grandchildren.......yes! My S and DIL have also made the announcement! Wow! Is it ever going to be a busy year with a new house, new job, new family members! Joy!
Waves of Joy, sadness, satisfaction, anxiety, hope and more Joy! Goodbye OH school!
My assistants and lots of staff had taken today as a sick day or annual leave day. The other preschool teachers were there, though, and I got to say goodbye to them and take a picture.
It seemed weird as each person left and told me goodbye. I went to the office and told the secretaries and a couple of other teachers, goodbye. A mixture of feelings came over me: lightness for having finished the job well, sadness at saying goodbye to a place I'd come to accept and love, excitement in saying goodbye while looking forward to a new adventure and anxiety in thinking about all that it takes to move. I packed the last box in my car from the school, went to the office to turn in my keys, returned to the classroom to stand for a moment and mentally reminisce. The slide/video show in my head was not the one actually captured on film. I remembered students with their endearing quirks, running happily in the playground, feeling the warm air or the wind, asking for a push on the swing or a hand for helping walk the curb. I saw the smiles of the other teachers as we grew into friends, our parent night success, my asssistants being everywhere at once. I remember rides down the mountain in J's truck while sharing personal and professional insights on our way to the monthly meetings. I thought about all the paperwork and how it is finally Done!.
Then I walked to my car in the parking lot for the last time. It was time to go. I took a last look at the classroom doors, the rose trellis. I drove out onto the street. Goodby OH school! Goodbye big playground! Goodbye students! Goodbye friends! I hope I may see you again and perhaps take wonderful vacations here....I wonder if I would ever end up living here again?
I'm on to the next adventure. WW and grandchildren.......yes! My S and DIL have also made the announcement! Wow! Is it ever going to be a busy year with a new house, new job, new family members! Joy!
Waves of Joy, sadness, satisfaction, anxiety, hope and more Joy! Goodbye OH school!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Redneck
Literally.
Today was the last day of school with students and we spent it at the city beach park. It was a perfect day. The weather was sunny and 67-75 degrees. A slight sea breeze blew across our backs. Just enough to tease away any feelings of being too warm.
The children mostly accepted our boundaries of staying in the park and not on the beach. Later we all walked down there where they overturned rocks to find baby crabs galore, picked up sea shells and threw rocks into the water gently lapping the shore. Several parents came to enjoy the day with us and that helped us lots! Our morning class arrvied at 9 and left at 11:30. During our lunch break, I stayed at the beach to watch over all our picnic paraphernalia while others went back to the classroom to catch the latest emails. Not me! I sat in my lawn chair under the tree and ate my sandwich and drank my Pepsi. What a glorious feeling, watching the boats far out in the bay, the kayaks going by, the few children from the community for whom I had absolutely NO responsibiility! I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. Bliss.
Soon the afternoon class arrived and we were 'on duty' again. Again, we had plenty of parents to help us. The one child that we worried about going in the water came with his grandma and she allowed him to have water play far from the rest of the group, so they didn't even know he was doing it. Our medically fragile child started clinging to us and went to sleep...precursors to his going into seizures. His mom had to come get him, but other than that, there were no catastrophes short of one or two bunged knees. Of course we were prepared with first aid kit/ cell phone, ER #'s for all the families, etc. Children left at 3:30 either with parents or on the bus. As I watched the last one leave, I was both elated and saddened. I won't get to watch them grow another year. I am exhausted and ready for this year to be done! Even the most challenging child seemed to wave goodby and smile. I think the day was a good break for everyone!
Arriving home, my eyes began to itch, my neck sting. I began to look at myself. I'd worn T-shirt and jeans to the park, so had acquired a weird farmer's tan on my arms. The back of my neck was red.....no wonder it was stinging! My eyeballs hurt and I wondered if they were sunburned, even though I'd worn sunglasses. My face even looked bronzed. Wow! I finally decided to shower, as allergy pollens, as well as the sun, had taken their toll. It was a good thing I'd put sunscreen on my ears and nose. I lathered myself in lotions. Sweet, clean smells. Took an allergy pill. Quiet repose. AAAHHHH.
Redneck! :o}
Today was the last day of school with students and we spent it at the city beach park. It was a perfect day. The weather was sunny and 67-75 degrees. A slight sea breeze blew across our backs. Just enough to tease away any feelings of being too warm.
The children mostly accepted our boundaries of staying in the park and not on the beach. Later we all walked down there where they overturned rocks to find baby crabs galore, picked up sea shells and threw rocks into the water gently lapping the shore. Several parents came to enjoy the day with us and that helped us lots! Our morning class arrvied at 9 and left at 11:30. During our lunch break, I stayed at the beach to watch over all our picnic paraphernalia while others went back to the classroom to catch the latest emails. Not me! I sat in my lawn chair under the tree and ate my sandwich and drank my Pepsi. What a glorious feeling, watching the boats far out in the bay, the kayaks going by, the few children from the community for whom I had absolutely NO responsibiility! I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. Bliss.
Soon the afternoon class arrived and we were 'on duty' again. Again, we had plenty of parents to help us. The one child that we worried about going in the water came with his grandma and she allowed him to have water play far from the rest of the group, so they didn't even know he was doing it. Our medically fragile child started clinging to us and went to sleep...precursors to his going into seizures. His mom had to come get him, but other than that, there were no catastrophes short of one or two bunged knees. Of course we were prepared with first aid kit/ cell phone, ER #'s for all the families, etc. Children left at 3:30 either with parents or on the bus. As I watched the last one leave, I was both elated and saddened. I won't get to watch them grow another year. I am exhausted and ready for this year to be done! Even the most challenging child seemed to wave goodby and smile. I think the day was a good break for everyone!
Arriving home, my eyes began to itch, my neck sting. I began to look at myself. I'd worn T-shirt and jeans to the park, so had acquired a weird farmer's tan on my arms. The back of my neck was red.....no wonder it was stinging! My eyeballs hurt and I wondered if they were sunburned, even though I'd worn sunglasses. My face even looked bronzed. Wow! I finally decided to shower, as allergy pollens, as well as the sun, had taken their toll. It was a good thing I'd put sunscreen on my ears and nose. I lathered myself in lotions. Sweet, clean smells. Took an allergy pill. Quiet repose. AAAHHHH.
Redneck! :o}
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Saturday, June 02, 2007
The Beginning of the End
I can hardly believe that this year is almost over. Last weekend I spent in WW, going to a preplanning meeting wth the new job group. I am very happy with their listening to and addressing my concerns, for the monetary support they provided for my trip for that meeting. It seems like they are quite supportive of their teachers and that is a big change from this place! The people I met are friendly and personable and I feel like I will 'fit in' okay. It all remains to be experienced, of course!
Next week is the last week of school for teaching kids, then there is one more week to clean the classroom and finish the paperwork. This next week I have meetings on Monday, teach regular classes Tuesday and Wednesday. We have a little graduation exercise in the classroom on Thursday and Friday is beach day, where we spend our class day at the beach with the kids to picnic and say goodbye. Then one week left in the classroom for the final meetings with parents, finishing paperwork and cleaning. I've already had two or three bouts of crying over various things. My stress has come out in really bad eating habits and lack of exercise. Today I aim for walking (although a walk 1x/week just doesn't cut it for real exercise!)
Suddenly I'm counting the weeks and realize I have very little time to pack for my move to WW. I was originally thinking August seemed so far away, with lots of time for lazy summer days. Duh. Suddenly my time is planned out.
My girlfriend Barb is coming the last weekend of June and we will tour a bit of the local beauty. Then I will drive her back to River City and see friends there, pick up a load of my 'stuff' I left there and take it to WW, then head back to OH where another friend is coming for July 4. I hear there's a fairly decent July 4 fireworks show over the Harbor here, so I look forward to it. Especially if the weather is as nice as it has been this last week! (Natives tell me this was a fluke, however.)
I reserved a rental truck for July 31, so I need to be packed by July 30! I'm going to have a garage sale of some of my stuff..or give it away if I have to! I hope to have the truck packed and driven to WW by August 2. Then I'll just drop stuff, as I have to be in River City that weekend for a dr's appt. I found out my insurance here includes my doc there, so hey, I need to take advantage of it!
Poor Lilo will be wild by that time and really out of it, poor thing. Especially if I leave her alone in the new place! But, she's gotten bolder here and I think she'll be okay...eventually.
I've pretty much given up on the house buying thing. It will be more 'prudent' to rent and pay down my bills, then look into buying. (Okay, so I've been telling myself that for 10 years. I could still change?!) After all, WW may not work out......fat chance, but we'll see. I do have a place to rent when I go. It's small, but nice, well cared for, and I know the landlord...a friend who has promised me a really good deal. So I'm set. All I have to do is come up with the money to move. Pray for 'pennies from heaven' (and nickels and dimes and quarters and dollars and fortunes)!
Next week is the last week of school for teaching kids, then there is one more week to clean the classroom and finish the paperwork. This next week I have meetings on Monday, teach regular classes Tuesday and Wednesday. We have a little graduation exercise in the classroom on Thursday and Friday is beach day, where we spend our class day at the beach with the kids to picnic and say goodbye. Then one week left in the classroom for the final meetings with parents, finishing paperwork and cleaning. I've already had two or three bouts of crying over various things. My stress has come out in really bad eating habits and lack of exercise. Today I aim for walking (although a walk 1x/week just doesn't cut it for real exercise!)
Suddenly I'm counting the weeks and realize I have very little time to pack for my move to WW. I was originally thinking August seemed so far away, with lots of time for lazy summer days. Duh. Suddenly my time is planned out.
My girlfriend Barb is coming the last weekend of June and we will tour a bit of the local beauty. Then I will drive her back to River City and see friends there, pick up a load of my 'stuff' I left there and take it to WW, then head back to OH where another friend is coming for July 4. I hear there's a fairly decent July 4 fireworks show over the Harbor here, so I look forward to it. Especially if the weather is as nice as it has been this last week! (Natives tell me this was a fluke, however.)
I reserved a rental truck for July 31, so I need to be packed by July 30! I'm going to have a garage sale of some of my stuff..or give it away if I have to! I hope to have the truck packed and driven to WW by August 2. Then I'll just drop stuff, as I have to be in River City that weekend for a dr's appt. I found out my insurance here includes my doc there, so hey, I need to take advantage of it!
Poor Lilo will be wild by that time and really out of it, poor thing. Especially if I leave her alone in the new place! But, she's gotten bolder here and I think she'll be okay...eventually.
I've pretty much given up on the house buying thing. It will be more 'prudent' to rent and pay down my bills, then look into buying. (Okay, so I've been telling myself that for 10 years. I could still change?!) After all, WW may not work out......fat chance, but we'll see. I do have a place to rent when I go. It's small, but nice, well cared for, and I know the landlord...a friend who has promised me a really good deal. So I'm set. All I have to do is come up with the money to move. Pray for 'pennies from heaven' (and nickels and dimes and quarters and dollars and fortunes)!
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