Yup, two correct guesses leads me to believe that it wasn't as strange a picture to you all as it was to me in viewing it only as a small thumbnail. Poor little Peep!! Travis insists on buying them for his sister every Easter even though she hates them...Somehow the topic of roasting marshmallows came up and there happened to be a fire in the fireplace and so the great idea was born...Poor, poor, Blue #6 Peep.
Check engine light is on again.
I was wished dead by a student again today.
Such a rewarding job.
Had a nice visit with the family yesterday for my Dad's birthday celebration. What a difference a couple of grandkids makes at a birthday party! It's that whole new meaning thing when there's new little people around to share new things with....I mean to be far more eloquent in my language, but I'm ready for bed...was up late last night prepping for our upcoming Tag Sale...how exciting...I've never had one before....I hope I sell stuff...good riddance...our attic is thrilled with us for bringing so much down...so lacking enthusiasm at the moment...I'm off to read my Maeve Binchy book till I can't keep my eyes open any longer in my cozy warm bed...g'night.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Check Engine...
Light's spontaneously off (maybe the bulb ran out!!)...good riddance! Parent Conferences are done...thank goodness...I hate those things...They always end up fine but I dread them just as much as I did my first year teaching...
Dad and Ab at my cousin's wedding in August...so cute!
Yesterday was my dad's birthday...It's been 6 years since his health scare and in those six years since them, he has been able to share in 3 of his kids' weddings, walking 2 daughters down the aisle, and has met his first two grandkids who have stolen his heart. Isn't it crazy how birthdays go from being such a big deal, to being an afterthought, but then begin to gain a different kind of meaning later down the road.
Yeah, I'm in a sentimental place lately...just reflecting on all that I am so lucky to have.
(which, by the way, includes the car with no check engine light...life's too short...who has time for such nonsense!!)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Check Engine Light...Again, again.
Yup. I don't even care though. I'm not bringing it back to the shop to give them more money to tell me it's just another sensor, please give us $500. I don't want to. I think I'll take a friend's advice and put duct tape over it! How inconvenient. Although, I keep wondering if that light isn't a metaphor for ME. Hmmm...
Monday, April 23, 2007
Mystery Picture
As I was going through the thumbnails in My Pictures file of recent pics, I couldn't figure out what this was. I laugh now that I remember taking it, but rather than tell you, I'll let you figure it out yourselves...That crazy husband of mine...New Life
Went for a jog today after school...what a gorgeous day! As I was heading up a hill, a breeze came along and scented the air....in front of me was a magnolia tree in full bloom, flowers right at my nose level...yes, I stopped for a moment to smell the flowers.
This morning, I brought my cereal into the living room so I could sit and look out the window at the big trees across the street. I noticed they were getting ready to burst with leaves, just a hint of that new bright green showing through. Now in the evening, there's noticeably more green. I love watching the subtle yet rapid changes that the true spring brings.
A few days ago I took the following pictures of a couple of our house plants in bloom...so pretty and so full of life.
The top picture is an orchid that we kidnapped from my sister Abby after she had us babysit some of her plants while she was out of state for awhile (actually, she's still technically out of state cause she lives in NY), justified.
These pictures are of our Christmas Cactus that was given to me as a housewarming gift by kayaking Jenn when I moved into my apartment in New Haven. Come to think of it, that was particularly kind of her considering that I had only just met her a month or so before. Thank goodness for thoughtful people! It didn't bloom for the first two years I had it but now will bloom like this up to three times a year! Such beautiful color and life it adds (some people have pets or children, we're still stuck on plants!!)
This morning, I brought my cereal into the living room so I could sit and look out the window at the big trees across the street. I noticed they were getting ready to burst with leaves, just a hint of that new bright green showing through. Now in the evening, there's noticeably more green. I love watching the subtle yet rapid changes that the true spring brings.
A few days ago I took the following pictures of a couple of our house plants in bloom...so pretty and so full of life.
The top picture is an orchid that we kidnapped from my sister Abby after she had us babysit some of her plants while she was out of state for awhile (actually, she's still technically out of state cause she lives in NY), justified.
These pictures are of our Christmas Cactus that was given to me as a housewarming gift by kayaking Jenn when I moved into my apartment in New Haven. Come to think of it, that was particularly kind of her considering that I had only just met her a month or so before. Thank goodness for thoughtful people! It didn't bloom for the first two years I had it but now will bloom like this up to three times a year! Such beautiful color and life it adds (some people have pets or children, we're still stuck on plants!!)
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Live in the Moment
Trav's uncle passed away unexpectedly on Sunday night. Healthy and fit. Just because. For me, I am very sad for my father-in-law, he lost a lifelong friend, I can't imagine how hard that must be for him and for Uncle Martin's wife and kids, and Travis. It is so easy to get so caught up in the must do's, have to's, should's, etc. But I'm always the first one that needs to be reminded of this. Screw stress from work, it's not worth it. Screw deadlines and anxiety and making the time for everything else before that which is most important. Remember the priorities, and rather than just thinking of someone, pick up the phone and listen to their voice, meet them for lunch and give them a hug, make sure they know they are loved by you, and valued by you, more than your job, your schoolwork, or whatever the distraction of the moment is. I need to be better at this so I thought I would put it out there in case anyone else could use a reminder, too.
Doing Much Better
Welcome to my April Vacation! Friday was a fabulous day of hanging out on the couch, doing a little work, taking a little rest, a little more work, another rest, etc. It ended with a cheesy movie and me and Trav all cozy on the couch. Saturday morning was the first soccer game of the season...egads!!! Talk about a shock to the system. Only today (Tuesday) am I feeling less achey and fragile...That's what you get for taking the winter off from any sort of physical activity and playing 4 women down...not to boast or anything, but even in a 7 vs. 11 game, we managed to pull off a tie! Not bad!
After that was lunch with the moms, Amy, Vicky, and Jen...Yeah, I'm a little out of the loop on that, but I'll have my turn. Much like the wedding thing, once you're in it, it takes on a whole new meaning that when you're out of the loop, you can only just imagine...I know for certain though that once we're ready and able to make one;), I'll have plenty of tried and true experienced mommies to get advice and input from, but until then, I'll savor my childlessness and enjoy watching and hearing about the wonders of being a mommy from outside of the loop!
Saturday night was a big night on the town for us. Trav and I met Abby, Tupper (Trav's buddy), and his girlfriend Jo at a Vietnamese place in Danbury. I was disappointed that the restaurant had new owners and thus, no more Vietnamese Pancakes:( Woe is me! I tried something I used to get with Tasha in West Hartford, but it was yucky and mushy and way too fish-saucy...poor me, that is, until dessert came along. I usually don't have room for dessert, but since I didn't eat my dinner, I was raring to go....The yummiest dessert I've had in a long long time...Yummy Vanilla Ice Cream with crushed peanuts and Cassava...mmmmm:) Redemption!
After dinner we went to see my friend Carmella's band at a dive bar (Cousin Larry's)...It was really nice to be out and about and I enjoyed seeing her play (she's a music teacher at my school and she teaches band and chorus and whatnot and conducts and all, very seriously, then she's a rocker on the side! Way to cool to be a friend of mine!! (well, that is except for all my other really cool friends...though admit, none of You are rockers!!)
Sunday was her wedding shower, too, which I attended after a visit with my cousin and her boys. Monday was the dentist and then Trav's car didn't start so he took mine to work. That was actually a good thing because it forced me to get stuff done around the house here...a little of this, a little of that...so now I have washed and ironed curtains in the kitchen and bathroom (they've been bothering me for weeks now!), pulled some tag sale stuff down from the attic and began pricing it (as if I don't have 12 billion other, more "pressing" things to do!), and accomplished some more of my nutrition curriculum work so that I was ready to meet with my culminating project boss this morning...After THAT, it was off to visit "kayaking" Jenn as my first sort of official "aromatherapy" client. She was a very good sport as she gave all kinds of suggestions for modifying my Intake Form...and she seemed very appreciative of her special blend:) I hope she remembers to use it and tell me how it makes her feel....(hint, hint!! I know you are reading this!!) When I got home I was able to finish up a good chunk of my aromatherapy assignments...I'm getting there!!!
Tomorrow is soap-making day and car alignment day with Tasha! Sure has been busy around here! I really like this not going to work thing, perhaps I can make it a new hobby;)
After that was lunch with the moms, Amy, Vicky, and Jen...Yeah, I'm a little out of the loop on that, but I'll have my turn. Much like the wedding thing, once you're in it, it takes on a whole new meaning that when you're out of the loop, you can only just imagine...I know for certain though that once we're ready and able to make one;), I'll have plenty of tried and true experienced mommies to get advice and input from, but until then, I'll savor my childlessness and enjoy watching and hearing about the wonders of being a mommy from outside of the loop!
Saturday night was a big night on the town for us. Trav and I met Abby, Tupper (Trav's buddy), and his girlfriend Jo at a Vietnamese place in Danbury. I was disappointed that the restaurant had new owners and thus, no more Vietnamese Pancakes:( Woe is me! I tried something I used to get with Tasha in West Hartford, but it was yucky and mushy and way too fish-saucy...poor me, that is, until dessert came along. I usually don't have room for dessert, but since I didn't eat my dinner, I was raring to go....The yummiest dessert I've had in a long long time...Yummy Vanilla Ice Cream with crushed peanuts and Cassava...mmmmm:) Redemption!
After dinner we went to see my friend Carmella's band at a dive bar (Cousin Larry's)...It was really nice to be out and about and I enjoyed seeing her play (she's a music teacher at my school and she teaches band and chorus and whatnot and conducts and all, very seriously, then she's a rocker on the side! Way to cool to be a friend of mine!! (well, that is except for all my other really cool friends...though admit, none of You are rockers!!)
Sunday was her wedding shower, too, which I attended after a visit with my cousin and her boys. Monday was the dentist and then Trav's car didn't start so he took mine to work. That was actually a good thing because it forced me to get stuff done around the house here...a little of this, a little of that...so now I have washed and ironed curtains in the kitchen and bathroom (they've been bothering me for weeks now!), pulled some tag sale stuff down from the attic and began pricing it (as if I don't have 12 billion other, more "pressing" things to do!), and accomplished some more of my nutrition curriculum work so that I was ready to meet with my culminating project boss this morning...After THAT, it was off to visit "kayaking" Jenn as my first sort of official "aromatherapy" client. She was a very good sport as she gave all kinds of suggestions for modifying my Intake Form...and she seemed very appreciative of her special blend:) I hope she remembers to use it and tell me how it makes her feel....(hint, hint!! I know you are reading this!!) When I got home I was able to finish up a good chunk of my aromatherapy assignments...I'm getting there!!!
Tomorrow is soap-making day and car alignment day with Tasha! Sure has been busy around here! I really like this not going to work thing, perhaps I can make it a new hobby;)
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Bad Day Vent Session
Today was Lisa's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day at work. I think I'll move to Australia. It started yesterday, I guess, when I thought it would be a good idea to take today, (Thursday) off from work so I had all my sub plans in place. Well, I ended up going to school anyway thinking I might as well save a sick day until it's at least sunny outside. So off to school I go, tired because Trav and I went out to see some of his high school friends at a bluegrass/folk duo show (also high school friends), after which we went out for a drink but were home and in bed by 11:30. So this morning I was a little more tired than usual AND it was pouring rain/sleet and cold. Gross.
So, in the classroom, the boy who was suspended yesterday was back in school and I tried helping him with his morning work, but he refused my help and said stuff like "I don't gotta do this." Okay, that's so nice, walked away and didn't let it get to me. By the next subject when I was trying to help him again I got, "I'm not smart like the other kids are..." and I feel a little bad and try complimenting him on all the things he's good at...he's not having it. I go on teaching. He begins tapping his desk. I politely ask him to stop. He taps louder. I am now feeling less polite but I'm trying hard to not lose my cool. Hands banging on the desk, I tell him I'm going to call the "behaviorist" then realize that that is what he wants me to do, so I don't. He is now banging his math book on his desk, I'm shaking my head, hands on hips, taking a deep breathe as the sub-girl in my room offered to take the rest of the class somewhere else. I said that was a good idea and upon that, the book-banger got up, pushed a bookshelf nearly over and stormed out of the room, right into the principal who was giving a tour of the school to prospective paras.
Good. He's out of my room and I can teach. In the meantime I had called the office to let them know that that child is not welcome back into my room for the rest of the day (this behavior has been going on for a couple months now and I'm at my wits end. I just want to teach the kids that are there to learn. I am not qualified to cure socio-emotional issues...)
So he's gone, I am all out of sorts, and can't even focus on teaching, not to mention that the other kids in the class get all shaken up when those kinds of things happen, so lucky for them, they got to play math games while I decompressed.
Later in the day, I get an email from a support staffer saying "when is so and so's conference, I'd like to attend" (this is a different child)...I respond, "I don't meet with that family because that mom decided early on that we don't need to communicate any longer." She responds, "Well, I'd like to call her and invite her in." I'm now holding back tears because I am actually afraid of this woman/mom and I now Refuse to put myself in a situation to deal with her again (in 10 years of teaching, I have Never felt so strongly about a parent)...so I respond and "cc" the principal that I am not going to be in attendance in any meeting with this woman because she actually made me sick in our earlier interactions...(anyone interested in being a teacher??? everyone thinks it so nice and noble and cute....this is the reality though)...so after that email, the support staffer (new to our building) comes to apologize, not realizing the significance, and I burst into tears, the tears I wanted to let out first thing in the morning when I'm trying to teach and mr. suspension was banging on his desk...So I gather myself back together while the kids are at Spanish and now my only job is to dismiss these kids. I'm waiting for a quiet class....almost perfect, this one's talking (mr. "mom" issues) so I give him a "warning" he talks back "I don't care" so I give him a "red card, which means no recess, he yell's "I hate you!!" as Ms. behaviorist is walking through to bus duty and so she sends him to the office. Just after that, Mr. Suspension who was returned at the end of the day asks to go to the bathroom, I say, "there's already 2 boys out...wait till one comes back" he leaves on his own without waiting...eventually the social worker calls, as the buses are being called and I'm making sure all the kids have their report cards (so, chaos) and cheerily tells me how she has mr. suspension now and that everything is okay...I say "it's not okay that this kid keeps walking out of the room. I'm tired of it, I need to teach and look out for the best interest of the rest of the kids...yadda yadda...(and me, for that matter). I'm ready to dismiss the kids when this little girl comes up to me and says, "I'm sorry that some of the kids made you have a bad day." Instant tears...I thanked her and felt terrible that the rest of the class had to deal with all of this junk that makes a grown up so upset. How must it make those 8 year olds feel? So not fair.
So, I dismissed the kids, thanking each of them for doing a great job today (the ones who were left) and prepared my sub plans for Friday. I'm done acting like everything is okay and everything is under control when it's not. I feel like crap as a result of my job, emotionally more than anything else, and I also am made to feel guilty for taking a day off. Once my sub-plans were done, I went to my principal before I even left the building and told her flat out I would be taking a sick day on Friday...the plans were all set, but that I was at my capacity, and if I didn't take the day off, I would only get sicker. If the school is going to allow students to continue to return to the classroom after being utterly disrespectful time and again then I truly need to look out for myself more...there's clearly a breaking point, only so much disrespect you can handle (even from little kids) before enough is enough...(oh, I forgot to share that as Mr. Pain in the neck Mom was leaving for the office, he yelled 'I hope you get fired' to me...) so nice...and people wonder why I've been considering leaving the noble teaching profession...
And so my April vacation begins a day early.
So, in the classroom, the boy who was suspended yesterday was back in school and I tried helping him with his morning work, but he refused my help and said stuff like "I don't gotta do this." Okay, that's so nice, walked away and didn't let it get to me. By the next subject when I was trying to help him again I got, "I'm not smart like the other kids are..." and I feel a little bad and try complimenting him on all the things he's good at...he's not having it. I go on teaching. He begins tapping his desk. I politely ask him to stop. He taps louder. I am now feeling less polite but I'm trying hard to not lose my cool. Hands banging on the desk, I tell him I'm going to call the "behaviorist" then realize that that is what he wants me to do, so I don't. He is now banging his math book on his desk, I'm shaking my head, hands on hips, taking a deep breathe as the sub-girl in my room offered to take the rest of the class somewhere else. I said that was a good idea and upon that, the book-banger got up, pushed a bookshelf nearly over and stormed out of the room, right into the principal who was giving a tour of the school to prospective paras.
Good. He's out of my room and I can teach. In the meantime I had called the office to let them know that that child is not welcome back into my room for the rest of the day (this behavior has been going on for a couple months now and I'm at my wits end. I just want to teach the kids that are there to learn. I am not qualified to cure socio-emotional issues...)
So he's gone, I am all out of sorts, and can't even focus on teaching, not to mention that the other kids in the class get all shaken up when those kinds of things happen, so lucky for them, they got to play math games while I decompressed.
Later in the day, I get an email from a support staffer saying "when is so and so's conference, I'd like to attend" (this is a different child)...I respond, "I don't meet with that family because that mom decided early on that we don't need to communicate any longer." She responds, "Well, I'd like to call her and invite her in." I'm now holding back tears because I am actually afraid of this woman/mom and I now Refuse to put myself in a situation to deal with her again (in 10 years of teaching, I have Never felt so strongly about a parent)...so I respond and "cc" the principal that I am not going to be in attendance in any meeting with this woman because she actually made me sick in our earlier interactions...(anyone interested in being a teacher??? everyone thinks it so nice and noble and cute....this is the reality though)...so after that email, the support staffer (new to our building) comes to apologize, not realizing the significance, and I burst into tears, the tears I wanted to let out first thing in the morning when I'm trying to teach and mr. suspension was banging on his desk...So I gather myself back together while the kids are at Spanish and now my only job is to dismiss these kids. I'm waiting for a quiet class....almost perfect, this one's talking (mr. "mom" issues) so I give him a "warning" he talks back "I don't care" so I give him a "red card, which means no recess, he yell's "I hate you!!" as Ms. behaviorist is walking through to bus duty and so she sends him to the office. Just after that, Mr. Suspension who was returned at the end of the day asks to go to the bathroom, I say, "there's already 2 boys out...wait till one comes back" he leaves on his own without waiting...eventually the social worker calls, as the buses are being called and I'm making sure all the kids have their report cards (so, chaos) and cheerily tells me how she has mr. suspension now and that everything is okay...I say "it's not okay that this kid keeps walking out of the room. I'm tired of it, I need to teach and look out for the best interest of the rest of the kids...yadda yadda...(and me, for that matter). I'm ready to dismiss the kids when this little girl comes up to me and says, "I'm sorry that some of the kids made you have a bad day." Instant tears...I thanked her and felt terrible that the rest of the class had to deal with all of this junk that makes a grown up so upset. How must it make those 8 year olds feel? So not fair.
So, I dismissed the kids, thanking each of them for doing a great job today (the ones who were left) and prepared my sub plans for Friday. I'm done acting like everything is okay and everything is under control when it's not. I feel like crap as a result of my job, emotionally more than anything else, and I also am made to feel guilty for taking a day off. Once my sub-plans were done, I went to my principal before I even left the building and told her flat out I would be taking a sick day on Friday...the plans were all set, but that I was at my capacity, and if I didn't take the day off, I would only get sicker. If the school is going to allow students to continue to return to the classroom after being utterly disrespectful time and again then I truly need to look out for myself more...there's clearly a breaking point, only so much disrespect you can handle (even from little kids) before enough is enough...(oh, I forgot to share that as Mr. Pain in the neck Mom was leaving for the office, he yelled 'I hope you get fired' to me...) so nice...and people wonder why I've been considering leaving the noble teaching profession...
And so my April vacation begins a day early.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Happy Easter!
We're off to go parent hopping!! But first I must get some more report cards done, so naturally, in order to do so, I must post a blog because this was after all designed for procrastination purposes! I hope everyone has a wonderful day and gets lot of candy from the Easter Bunny!! Now maybe spring can more officially begin...this is getting a bit ridiculous! Bring on the warm sunshine!Monday, April 2, 2007
Pony Rides!!
On Sunday we went toTrav's nephew's (and mine, too) 4th birthday party. First we all met at the barn where all the little kiddies got to have a pony ride on my mother-in-law's horse, Brau. It was very cute...there was all kinds of dirt and poop for the little tykes to fall in!! Trav got to show off his outstanding horsemanship (I made that word up, I think) in front of the awed children who were yelling, "Make him do a pop-a-wheelie!" Then we went to the house and did presents and cake. For the record, Trav and I decided that children's toys take up simply too much room and create clutter so our one day children will only need, as Trav put it, "a tin cup and spoon." What a mean and nasty child-less couple we are...
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