SLMS and stuff

Things have settled down a bit at work, but everyone is pretty much down in the dumps due to the changes that will be happening. I met with my boss and explained how things were not good and were not being done for the betterment of the students. He was not very supportive and later came to me to cover his tracks. I made an appointment to meet with the super**intendent next week. I am taking a friend with me so as to have a witness and some support even though I don't think he'll support me fully. They really want me to just let it go, but I can't. I can't explain how important having a certified school*media*specialist really is without going into great detail so just trust me on this one. We'll see what next week brings.

On the home front, the basement is FINISHED. Super hooray!!! It looks great and so far no cat accidents. If he makes one mess, it's bye, bye kitty. M is doing great. R is doing much better after the sinus infection in his eyes. That was so gross!!!

I am offically registered for my last class next fall. I am super busy, but it will be worth it in eight months when I will be totally done. To my friend with the Beagle, have fun at graduation. I hear over 2000 graduates are walking. It's going to be quite the day.

That's all for now.

LOL
CDR

OMG!

It has been a crazy couple of weeks. We just got M better then I got a horrible sinus infection, then R had what we thought was pink eye, but was really a sinus infection in his eyes. That's right, yuck and double yuck.

It's been a crazy week at work as well. We found out on Tuesday that our one and only certified school library media specialist's position is being eliminated next year. She is being put back in the classroom full time. I am outraged to say the least over this for a multitude of reasons. First of all I know the negative impact this is going to have on student achievement because I'm studying this for my degree. Secondly, the administration is handling it very poorly and I mean POORLY. Third, other staff members have a very noncaring attitude about it. Fourth, and most importantly, my mentor/role model/friend is leaving and the administration is very cold about it. I have decided that I need to fight for this in the most professional way that I can. I went to the principal and spoke with him regarding the situation and didn't get much support. In fact, he basically told me that I needed to be careful with my words, he didn't want to have to file paperwork for insubordination. What? I can't speak my mind for the betterment of students? Hello, isn't that my job? Isn't that why we teach? I'm just going through the channels that I'm supposed to go through to get myself on the school board agenda for May and I'm either warned or threatened about insubordination. I'm not going against my boss and doing something I shouldn't or not doing something I should. I'm doing what is right for the students. Without a certified school library media specialist, there will not be any competent work going on in the library. We will have aids in each building and that's it. I know other districts do this and money is tight. But is it really that bad that instead of promoting our academics, we diminish them by lessening the worth of the library? We should be adding on to the library and making it a feature of our school, not shutting the doors.

There are people out there who believe that they can get anything they want from the Internet. I'm person who does use the Internet often. However, did you know that only 10% of the world's information is online? Where else might someone get this information you ask? That's right, the LIBRARY!!! Aids can't order books, weed collections, do book talks, budget items, run technology systems, reference materials for teachers, trouble shoot other various needs of students and staff, etc. Aids can check in and out books and some other basic things. I feel great passion in fighting for this and I was shut down and dismissed. I'm not totally surprised by what happened, but it felt like I couldn't be trusted. My principal is worried that I will say something to anger the super. or the board. Granted, in the past there was one incident in which I felt great passion about something and called someone an a**hole during a staff meeting. However, that was years ago, I was provoked, and I was not the only one thinking it. I just happened to be the one stupid enough to say it. Why is it that everyone remembers the one time I messed up? I've been a good teacher for seven years for this district and now I feel I should move on. The only light at the end of the tunnel is that we have just hired a new superintendent and I figure he can't be nearly as bad as what we have now. Can it?

If any one out there knows where in the NCLB or AYP or Education Yes! documentation where it states schools won't be accredited without an SLMS, please let me know. I am getting myself ready to present to the board and I need it to be as professional as possible with tons of research to back me up.

That's all for now. Prayers out to Virginia Tech and congrats to Sorting the Baby Stuff.
CDR

Spring Break is already over...

and it's not fair. I had planned on going into the library to get some hours during break, but that didn't happen. Poor little M had strep throat with a very high temp. all week. She is finally better and now it's time to go back to work. I didn't mind staying home and I know I'll get the hours in later. I'm just glad she was sick when I was home. No one had to miss work that way. Of course now, I don't feel well and have a sinus headache from H***. Before the sickness started, we were able to get some seriously cute pictures taken. They are for Easter, but also because she's 2 1/2. I can't believe she's so old already. When I get the pictures from the website eventually, I'll post here. For some reason I can't get her pictures online as promised. I'm working on that though.

Guess what? The basement is only two steps away from completion. We need to clean so the carpet can go down, yeah. Now, we have to get the naughty cat to use the litterbox. I punished him today just like I did when he was a kitten. We'll see if it works. I bleached the floor and he still crapped in the middle. We put him out, he comes in and craps in the middle. Fortunately, R is not threatening to shoot them right now.

That's all here. It's back to work I go.
CDR

My life as of today

Our new computer is beautiful, but the disc drive doesn't open. Therefore, R is currently in A2 taking it back to get this fixed or replaced. We spent a lot of money on a new computer and it better work well, not jacked up.

Things are still pretty busy. I have a project due every Saturday from now until the end of April, plus the class I'm not officially in until May, has stuff to work on. It's my practicum and if I don't get hours now, I'll never finish. When the state decided in its infinite wisdom that we need 90 hours of experience and it CAN'T be where we work, they were really thinking. Yeah, with their heads up their butts. How in the world can anyone complete 90 hours outside of their school in another school during the off hours? Let me say that I have to be very creative. I can't and won't use sick days; those are earmarked for, yep, illness. Plus, if I do use them, I'll get caught not being sick and they would dock my pay just to be mean. They really are that mean, just ask D and G about that one. School's are very infrequently in session in the summer which leaves me with piddly little one hour stints after school twice a week. I'm going into the library during spring break next week just to get some hours and to work on my weeding project. What was I thinking with that one? It sounded easy, but there is a lot of work to do. Then I found out last week that our media specialist is possibly going to be in the classroom part time next year. She is the districts only certified media specialist and they want her to only be there part time with aids in each building. THAT'S INSANE! She is spread too thin now. There may be people who don't think so, but they have NO CLUE what she does in her job or for the district. She is irreplacable and they are treating her like this. Plus, when she wants to retire in about five years and I'm supposed to take over, there won't be anything to take over. What a mess!! There were about 20 teachers in our district who received letters concerning next year. That's 20% of our staff. Fortunately, I'm not one of them, but who knows what might happen.

M has been doing some business on the potty. It's not regular yet, but we're getting there. She is so funny and has the most beautiful curly hair. She doesn't get that from me. I was told by a hairdresser that I had the straightest hair she'd ever seen.

The cat thing is getting better. We bought collars and tags for the cats and today, the big Franklin spent the entire day outside. He came back unharmed. R couldn't catch Kazzy to put her out, but the day will come. Funny thing is, Franklin spent the entire day outside, came in and crapped on the basement floor. So much for that plan. I thought it was funny and so did R. We'll see how things progress from here.

That's what is happening here.

LOL,
CDR

Cats and Grad. School

We have two cats, one in 10 and the other is 2. Both cats like to poop on the floor. Now, I know that some of you would just get rid of the cats, but I can't do that. They only poop next to the litter box, it's not all over. R had a HUGE fit the other day because I refuse to kill the cats. He even went to the extreme of emailing close friends and family how angry he was with me. If you are one of those people, I profusing apologize. We have been married for 12 years and he can't figure out how to have a conversation with me, his wife. Yesterday at this time, I seriously wanted to kick his sorry booty out of my life for acting like an immature 10 year old with no smarts. Today, I don't feel that way, but I confronted him about the email. He didn't even tell me about it to begin with. One friend responded and I forever grateful to D for doing so. I may never have known how idiotic he was being. Instead of talking with me, he chose to vent his frustrations about me to friends and my mom and my brother. Let's gain some perspective shall we. HE'S PISSED ABOUT A CATS. There are about one million other things he could/should be mad at me about and he's pissed about the cats. I think I'm in total shock that he would even do such a thing. My sweet, loving, compassionate husband has turned into a heartless moron. And again, IT'S ABOUT THE CATS.

Anyway, grad. school is super busy. I'm essentially taking 8 credits, working full time, and trying to pull out a clean house and clothes every once in awhile. Reason to be mad number 1. I'm also working late and R has been picking up M from daycare. He's missing work, which means losing money. (He is paid hourly.) Reason to be mad number 2. I'm so behind in grading that I've enlisted R's help with the easy stuff. This is time consuming for us both. Reason to be mad number 3. I think I've made my point with that. My hope is to be finished with grad. school by Christmas. Problem is, the one class I need is full, shocker there.

I may not get back to writing soon. I hope all is well out there with everyone.

LOL,
CDR

Random thoughts

Whew, what a week. I have been playing a game of catch-up since we got home. I have TONS of grading still to do, but had to put that off for the night to focus on the mid-term that is due tomorrow. I finally got that done, but wait, oh, yeah, I may want to look over the chapters that I haven't read yet. I'm not usually so behind with stuff and it's driving me crazy.

Kids are also driving me nuts. Why don't they care? Thoughts? Today I gave them the effort speech, again. I asked them if they wanted to make money when they're older and of course all of their hands went up. I told them it wouldn't happen at the rate they were going, because they'll get fired for not doing their work. We'll see how things pick up next week.

R and M are doing well. M won't take a bath because she had an accident last week and continues to yell at bath time, "I no take a bath" and "I no poop in the bathtub." We didn't yell at her when the accident occurred, I swear. I truly think she is embarrassed. How does she know to be embarrassed? She's only two. Besides that, gas around her is normal and we laugh at it.

The basement project is coming along at a snail's pace. R's parents hired a guy to put in the drop-down ceiling, which is cool. I just want it done. R's dad told me it should be done by the end of the month. We'll see what happens there. I'm not holding my breath. July will be one year since we started. It has totally taken on a life of its own.

LOL,
CDR

My Grandpa

Grandpa decided on February 28, his 91st birthday, to go to Heaven. It's been a hard time, expecially for my dad. We spent the last few days there for the visitation and funeral. It is not typical for there to be a burial in winter, but my brother is the sexton at the cemetary and Grandpa was buried with full committal services. It was actually quite serene and beautiful. Friday's weather was horrible, windy and snowy. On Saturday, the sun was up and it was very majestic. It's like he was calling the shots from above. It's very strange to know that his house is going to be empty. I read a selection from a Hospice worker called The Dash. It talked about how on the tombstone a person's date of birth and date of death are listed and are separated with a dash. It's not the dates that are the important stuff, it's the dash, all that happened in the middle. I really believe that Grandpa led a very full life and was able to choose when he would go. He decided on his own after a month of being sick that it was time. It stinks that he's gone and he'll be missed more than he knows, but I know that it was his time. He will always be in my heart and I will NEVER forget his laugh and smile. He was truly a great person.

Waiting game

It has been a long week and next week will be even longer. I returned home last weekend to see Grandpa after his surgery, all was well. Now he has multiple things wrong and it doesn't look good. I dread the sound of my phone ringing. My mom calls with worse news each time. I hate the waiting. I keep praying, but know that things are not good.

I am in a horrible mood and can't be calmed down. R is doing his best not to piss me off, but M doesn't understand that mommy is not good. She doesn't mean to act like a two year old in church, she's two, duh, that's how it will be. I should expect her to act out and whine when church goes over. She was super for the hour, but when it goes over one hour, she's done. She didn't throw a fit, but she screamed a little. What I don't get is when the heads crank around like owls to see who made the noise. Our pastor could care less, he's used to it, but the stares from the others just does me in. Why do people stare? I try super hard to never look that direction because I know how it feels. I just think it's rude.

M is taking the longest nap ever today, almost four hours. She must really not nap well during the week at daycare. She does take a nap, but it's not home.

I have a ton of papers to grade. I'm frustrated there too. Six out of 30 turned in their work on Friday in one class. They wonder why the don't pass. Gee, let me think. No work, no grade. I spelled out effort and told them to look it up in the dictionary. I should make that an assignment, oh wait, they won't do that either. I want them to be successful and they totally don't try. They want to just pass and expect me to give them the D-. I don't give grades, they are earned. I can't grade what I don't get. My favorite thing is that they keep asking for extra credit. They don't do the assignments, are they seriously going to do extra work? I highly doubt it.

Anyway, I guess I will grade some more papers while M takes her nap and I wait for the inevitable phone call from Mom.

CDR

Home again

I went home again for less than 24hrs. to check on Grandpa. He decided that enough was enough and to have the surgery. He had a very serious bowel obstruction and his gall bladder was removed. They should have done this three weeks ago, but he was a poor surgical candidate due to the fact that he's 90. He did super well and is so far doing really well. The biggest concern were his lungs, but he's breathing on his own now, no ventilator. Let's all keep our fingers crossed. The big man upstairs really has a lot to do with this one.

R is home from his tractor pull excitement. My brothers sure made him smell bad. Boys are gross. It's like they are all still living at home and want to stink each other out. Poor R didn't have a chance in that arena. He had a good time though. The first thing he said to me when he walked in the door was "I need a shower and everything needs to be washed, coat too."

LOL
CDR

Snow days are here again...

tra, la, la, la, la!!! I just LOVE snow days. Knowing the night before is even the best of all. I know already that I don't have to wake up at 5:30. I know right now that I can stay out of the foot of snow that we are expecting. For anyone who lives elsewhere, they should be jealous. They say that kids love snow days, but it's the teachers who love them most.

In other news, M had a fever last night and all day today, AGAIN. I hate germs. Doesn't the cold kill them off? Then of all things, the ear thermometer needed new batteries. It has needed new batteries for quite some time, but it was still working. Plus, I couldn't get it open to even check to see what kind of batteries it needed. Finally, after R used his jack-knife to pry off the back, we located two large watch-type batteries. What the heck is up with that? Do you think I have any replacement batteries of that kind in my house? I have every other type. You name it and I've got it, but not the 2032 huge watch battery. I know shocking. So off I went to CVS to buy some batteries that were $6. Two, teeny, tiny little discs for $6 plus tax. They get us in every direction. I almost bought the new thermometer that took AAA batteries because I know I'll always have them on hand, but it has taken me 2 1/2 years to train R how to use the one we have. I'm not doing that again.

Super happy thoughts to everyone.
CDR

Caught up...

... for the moment anyway. Being gone is tough. I couldn't believe the amount of grading I still had to do. Plus the grad. work that had to get done. I was only gone for three days to see my family and whew, it has taken me until today to feel like I am above water. I finally have clean underwear and the house is decently clean. The make-up work is done and the tests are graded. Thank goodness for that because grades are due tomorrow.

Not much else happening here. I just seem to keep plugging along. A funny thing though is coming up. R is going with my brothers and Dad to Kentucky next weekend for a....

TRACTOR show. That's right, my city guy with my farm family at the auto show of tractors in Kentucky. Laughing yet? I was, but he really wants to get away and it looks like he doesn't care where. I think it's great that he gets along with my brothers and Dad and they all feel comfortable going to this thing. However, the last time my brothers and Dad took R anywhere, they brought him back drunk and unable to undress. They had also taken him to several strip clubs and taught him how to fold dollars for the girls on stage. Super fun. I told him I didn't care if he went to see the girls, but no wasting money.

I guess that's all that is going on here. We're good and Grandpa is doing better. He will be in the hospital a bit longer and then on to the Medical Care Facility for rehab. He really does have a positive attitude which wasn't the case just over a week ago. I truly believe that he saw all of us grandkids and great-grandkids and decided there was life to live. I just pray for him each night and somehow I am at peace with this.

Take care,
CDR

All's well, for the most part

My heart is super or so they believe. Good news there. The stress test was easy and they pretty much ruled out anything wrong with my heart. I just have anxiety or acid reflux, yeah.

This weekend I decided that I really needed to see my grandpa because Mom and Dad really seemed worried. M and I made the trip up on Friday and went straight to the hospital. This was a four hour drive. M only slept about 45 minutes, but was really good. She really is good in the car. Grandpa was not doing so well and that really made me upset. He even commented that he wouldn't be going home. He could have meant for the day with me, but he still made the comment and I lost it, not in front of him though, thank goodness. M and I then went back to Mom and Dad's to get some supper and ran into brother B. (I have three brothers so lettering them seems appropriate.) He commented that he hadn't gone to see Grandpa and I said he really should. He left my nephew with me and went to see Grandpa. Now, Grandpa seemed to be in better spirits which made us all feel better.

Saturday, my niece A and nephew K came over to be with M so I could ride with Mom and Dad to the hospital. The weather was wicked in Western Michigan this weekend and I'm glad I didn't have to take M out in the fridgid weather. We decided to take my dad's pickup with 4-wheel drive because of the roads. Now picture this. My mom and I are short. Mom has had two knee replacements. Neither one of us can easily get into the truck. We had to take a stool with us. My dad referred to it as the Polish running board. It was quite the site. When we got to the hospital my aunts and uncles were already there and said that Grandpa had made some progress in the morning regarding the gas and bm issue that he was having. This was good news. Brother A had also been there that morning when the initial bm happened and Grandpa asked him to check it out. Brother A called for a nurse. Can you believe we are at the age that we are asked to take care of that business? Whew!!! It was good news though. After checking in with Grandpa, we decided to go out for some lunch. I was the youngest in the crowd with the seniors. I was the only one who couldn't get the senior price for lunch. It was a hoot. I told them I would have to write in my blog about them and there was some uncertainty about a: what a blog was? and b: why would someone do one? This was a very fun lunch. Uncle N and Aunt M, Uncle G and Aunt J, and my parents with me for lunch. It was a learning experience.

Sunday brought some more news that Grandpa had some more movements but there is still blockage in the small intestine and they may need to get that out. He initially went in to the hospital to have his gall bladder out, but now this has happened. He is still having trouble breathing, but that could be partially caused from the pressure on his diaphram (sp) from the blocked intestine. They are running more tests and we'll know more later. Brother C came up to see Grandpa and I thought was a good idea too.

M and I drove home yesterday in some seriously bad weather, but we wanted to get home. She missed her daddy. It took us about 5 hours to get home, which really wasn't bad considering the roads. It's -4 outside right now and I'm going to work on grading tests and catching up on homework. I love days off from school.

Oh, and we made sure to bring back hamburger from my parents freezer. No more bad meatloaf.

LOL
CDR

Anxiety update

I went to the regular doctor today for the ER follow up. He is scheduling me for an echo-cardio gram and stress test. This sounds like fun. I'm 32 and am going through this. What the heck? I'm happy that he wants to rule out a problem with my heart, but now I have to do the tests. He thinks it could be three things: anxiety, heart, or acid relux. Acid Relux? I have NEVER had any signs of this, not even when I was pregnant. I took some Xanax and am feeling pretty good right now. R is also feeling a bit guilty about his hissy fit childish behavior because of my anxiety. It could really all be for the best on that front.

However, to add to my anxiety, my mom called with very distressing news that my grandpa is not well. He has pancreatitis (sp) which is caused by the gall stones that he has. They need to remove his gall bladder. This is normally no big whoop, but HE'S ALMOST 91 WITH A BAD HEART AND FLUID IN HIS LUNGS! He could die from the anasthetic or the gall stones or the heart trouble or the lung problems. Chances are not looking good and he's in a lot of pain. I'm also four hours away. I didn't tell Mom what was wrong with me because she has enough on her plate. I didn't plan on telling anyone until I knew what was wrong either. No need to worry the family ahead of schedule. I just need hugs. M gave me tons yesterday and today. I just love that little girl to pieces.

More when I know it.
CDR

Anxiety

For the past three nights I have been having chest pains. I tried very hard not to tell R because he freaks out, but finally last night I told him. He freaked and made me go to the ER. This was a good idea, but I had to go alone because he needed to stay home with M. I arrived at 1:00amish and was hooked up to the heart moniter and they ran the EKG. They did blood work, gave me an IV, and said I would have to stay for 4-5 hours to be monitored. My heart rate was a tad high and my blood presure was high for me. They could see no signs of anything wrong with my heart, but I had to wait it out. I called R and told him that I would be there for awhile and he said that the moon was shining and it looked like a cross. This was also a bit freaky. I'm not sure if he was just tired or what, but he even tried to take pictures.

I learned later in the night that my bloodwork was normal, my EKG was good, and the chest x-rays showed no signs of anything. My heartrate and blood presure were also back to normal. This is funny because I was still having and am still having pain in my chest. They ran more bloodwork at 5:30am and that all came back clear. Therefore, no heart problems, but they say I had an anxiety attack. They perscribed some Xanax and sent me home.

Anxiety attack? Doesn't everyone have anxiety? Why now? I'm still a bit worried and I think the major cause of this is the fact that R keeps acting like he's twelve and stupid. He had a huge hissy fit yesterday about our cats and went nuts. I mean really nuts. He didn't want M to see that he was mad and I was at class so he bit his finger. He drew blood. What has happened to the calm, cool headed man that I married? I think I've turned him into a raving loon. I don't know what to do anymore. Are we just in a rut? We spent so much of our marriage trying to have a baby that maybe we just don't have anything else to work for. We don't really fight, we just don't talk or anything anymore. Maybe I'm not anxious, maybe I'm depressed. We'll see how the Xanex works and go from there.

Sorry to vent, I can't really just open up about this right now. I just needed to get it off my chest, literally.

CDR

Worst dinner ever, EVER!

Those of you who know me, know that I hate to cook. I mean absolutely hate to cook. I love to bake and I love to cook for many people, but I HATE making supper. It is the epitome of disasters in our house. If I see one more hot dog, I may lose my mind. Anyway, on the way home from work I called R and asked what he wanted for supper. We have this conversation each and every day and we both dread it like the plague. He suggested we have meatloaf. We all like meatloat and it's an easy dish. Now, don't get me wrong I CAN cook, I just hate it. There are some things that I can do really well, meatloaf is one of them. Well, we always get free beef from my parents and it just so happens that we ran out of burger. Last weekend, I bought some. I have never bought beef of any kind at the store. I take a cooler to my parents and load up. It's frozen and voila instant beef for us. M and I got home and saw that R had already gotten out the dish for the meatloaf. In other words, he knew this morning what he wanted for supper. I got out the store burger and saw that it said to use by today. Cool, we're in luck, it's still good. I didn't even know it was dated. I mixed up the meatloaf with M's help and it went in the oven. I kept checking it out to see its progress and it really didn't look good. I don't even know where to begin on it's look, yuck is the best I can do. Now to top it off, when R went to the store last week, he bought succatash and tonight he suggested we have that with the meatloaf. Yes, that's right succatash. Do you even know what that is? I didn't. I didn't have a clue that this was even a thought to have. I warmed it up and put it out. I cut the meatloaf and put it on the table. R, being the hungriest person in the universe, dug in. I told him it looked different and not to give M any until we had some to see if it was OK. His words, "it tastes different." I said in what way and he just kept saying "different" and he stuffed his face. I took some and tried it and just about threw up. It was rancid and awful. "Different" did not justify the horribly rotten taste of the "meatloaf." To top it off of course was the succatash that went with it. After one bite that didn't go down well, I asked the troops, "who wants hot dogs?" An overwhelming, "MEEEEEE" from both R and M in unison and very high pitched, very cute. We were all laughing so hard about the absolute worst meal. We haven't laughed together like that in a while. M was so funny and laughing with us. We had to settle for hotdogs and carrots. Mostly M ate pear applesauce, her new favorite, and yogurt covered raisins.

From now on we stick to dad's beef and veggies we like. Tomorrow, we are getting take out of some sort. I don't even care what really as long as it's good and I didn't have to cook it.

After the horrible supper, I made chocolate chip cookies, yummy. I hope this makes up for it.

On another note, welcome back to D and G who are home from Vietnam with their daughter.

LOL
CDR

Melodrama of a day

Well, exams are over, graded, and sent. There was an ice storm last night, but that didn't effect me really. We had an inservice today and the kids have the day off for Martin Luther King day. However, I don't think they really are doing any learning/celebrating for this occasion.

It has been a frustrating day for me though. I can't figure out why R can't take M's temperature. It's an ear thermometer, yet he can't seem to do it. She had a temp. yesterday and this morning. Not a high one, but we kept her home just in case. Our thing is to not be the ones who spread the disease at daycare. Anyway, I went to the inservice, did what had to get done and came home to relieve R so he could go to work. I'm really fed up with him not getting how hard it is for me to miss work. He truly doesn't understand why I couldn't miss today, the day before a new semester. After all, there weren't any students there, it should be easy, right? He needs to wear my shoes for one week and see just how much work is involved in my profession. I believe I've mentioned this before so I won't go there again. He also thinks that I can miss tomorrow to stay home if M is still not 100%. It's the first day of the semester, any takers on that issue? DUH!!! I don't care if he has jury duty, which he does. I think he thinks that I don't want to stay home, but he is TOTALLY missing the point. I would LOVE to stay home, it's just way easier for him to miss work. He can call in and it's done. That's it, no more to do. We all know what every teacher has to do to miss and it is NOT easy. I heard today that a parent at school said teachers shouldn't have kids because teachers then miss work for sick little ones. WHAT? What century is this?

There are other things going on at work that are not huge problems, but are none the less annoyances. We all must face these little things in our work, but they can really be aggravating. I must be in a bad mood today, because I found myself using language that I promised myself I wouldn't use any more. Why do I let myself get so bothered by things that are out of my control? Or for that matter that are in my control but not worth getting so torked up about? Sometimes I really hate that part of me. I get so overworked about something and then am so mad at myself later for how I handled it. I'm really turning into someone I don't want to be in that arena. I don't want to be the overhyped physcopath that people avoid, but there are some days when I feel myself going there. Any advise there?

CDR

Exam time

It's that time of the semester for my students, exams. Why is it that they don't seem to care? I've been pondering some thoughts with my collegues and we've decided that they just don't have any motivation to do well. No matter what we say or do, they don't seem to care. One co-worker stated that she heard a speaker say that we now live in an "it's good enough" society. I have been thinking about that a lot lately and truly believe it. My students will only do what they must just to pass, not what they can to achieve a higher score. It amazes me how many students won't turn in a large piece, half, of the exam, the essay. It bothers me and I tell them how easy it can be and that their grade is depending on this. Still, no essay. I know that I can't make the writing process any easier for them and yet nothing. It's no one kid in particular and I know that this is true across the board in schools everywhere. Why do our young adults feel that it's OK to be just average? As a policy, I do not accept late work for credit. I never have and I don't plan to. However, I get these kids every day asking me to take late work. It's making me wonder if I am speaking in a mute tone that their ipod ears can't hear. What is confusing? NO LATE WORK FOR CREDIT! They can really be so irresponsible and it drives me crazy. If I don't do my job on time, I could potentially lose my job. If they can't meet a small deadline in my class, how will they succeed in the real world? Aren't we, as educators, supposed to prepare them for reality? There can be some outsiders that don't understand this. How I say? Do they not have deadlines to meet in their professions and homes? That's life. Don't pay the bills on time and just see what happens. No power, phone, gas, heat, cable, internet, and on and on and on. They would really be suffering if they couldn't download their songs and videos onto their ipods.

I have a theory regarding all of this, but we'll save that for another time or an in person discussion. Little pitchers have big ears, right?

Whew, I feel better getting that off my chest. I mean no offense to anyone, but I really believe that there are too many people who believe that teachers have it easy. I would like for them to put on my shoes for one week and just see how "easy" we have it. I'm not saying that there aren't harder jobs, but people don't understand the amount of time we put in and how much we value what happens to our future leaders. Plus all of the requirements that are put on us outside of the schools we work for. There aren't many professions like ours where continued education is required not just recommended. It's constantly changing and ongoing.

Anyway, I could go on forever, but I won't. I want to express some happy thoughts to my friends D and G who have their little girl. She is beautiful and we can't wait to meet her.

LOL
CDR

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone enjoyed ringing in the new year. We stayed at a Holiday Inn so M could go swimming and it was quite fun. She didn't sleep well in the hotel room though. We all ended up going to bed at 8:00 so she would sleep. This was fine with us as we were very tired from the traveling that we had been doing across state. We watched the fire works in Paris and London and said happy new year before we went to bed. Then the neighbors yelled at midnight so it was celebrated. We then got an early start for home and it was good to get here. We enjoyed our last days off and are now ready to face the world tomorrow.

I would like to wish safe travels to my friends D and G who are going to Vietnam to pick up their daughter. I know she will love them as much as they love her.

Happy New Year!
CDR

Just so happy!

1. M is healthy, knock on wood!

2. Today was the beginning of the two weekish break, YEAH!!! Some people may think that teachers have it easy with the all the breaks and summer off, but we work very hard and DESERVE breaks! Each and every one of them. I would just like to see someone try to do my job.
3. The basement is all painted!
4. Friends who are adopting from Vietnam got their Visas today and will get to see their daughter in just over two weeks.
5. I'm baking cookies for Christmas, yummy.
6. R's parents super sweet and helping out a ton in the basement.
7. I know four pregnant women and they are ALL doing well. Again, knock on wood.
8. Our house smells nice because we had the carpets cleaned yesterday. They used cinnamon in the water, ooooh!

Now, I need to finish that shopping that didn't get done because someone wouldn't take a nap. I have a bazillion cookies to make, but I love to do that. I also have the wrapping to do. That I don't like to do, but it will get done.

I figure since I have to pay the daycare for a full week, M may as well go and I will get things done here. She loves it there anyway and can play.

Isn't life super? I love Christmas! Merry Christmas everybody.

LOL
CDR

Favorite time of year

Here is the official Christmas picture of cute M. I must say, she is the cutest little girl. In the last six months, her hair has finally grown. She has the prettiest curls. She says she wants to wear a ponytail, but takes it out immediately.

Yesterday we went to see the annual lights at the zoo and it was so much fun. M loves the zoo and really was excited to go. She was able to see the elephants and penguins, her two favorites. R and I love seeing her get so excited about the animals. She is so funny and she ran everywhere. We went to a new pizza buffet restaurant afterwards and it was both cheap and good. M was free and we only paid $10. Talk about an easy night out.

I'm hoping to finish my Christmas shopping today if M takes a nap which so far is not happening. R is painting in the basement with his dad, therefore, I can't just leave. I have a ton to do, but am not worried. It always comes together. The biggest challenge is R's dad. I have no idea what to get him and R is no help. He always wants to get him summer sausage. This is not a Christmas gift to your dad!! The common sense gene skipped R; he quite possibly gets that trait or lack there of, from his mother.

Just eight more days until the big day, yeah:-)

LOL
CDR