Sistah Pat

Translates to “without students” and that’s where I am. Finally. I don’t even have to get Andrew and Steven up this morning. Not having to fix them breakfast or wait for them to get ready means I have almost 45 extra minutes this morning but I still woke up at the usual time. Don’t worry. I’m going to work on that.

I had a mini-crisis at work yesterday and didn’t get to pack anything. The secretary that was supposed to make copies of the newsletter didn’t make it yesterday and the last one was pretty much dedicated to seniors. They had a senior breakfast yesterday morning and then left at 10:00 to go to graduation practice. That’s the last time we’ll see them until the actual graduation tomorrow morning. The newsletters were supposed to be given out yesterday morning to the entire school and the principal hit me up at 9:30 because there weren’t any newsletters. Nothing I could do about the seniors but I spent most of the day making newsletters and they were distributed throughout the school last period yesterday. The ones for the seniors will be given out to their parents at graduation. My last period class was a headache. I only had about six kids but “B” comes storming in the door ten minutes late and is squaring off with another kid. I know the other kid and he’s wonderful. He’s an honor roll student who’s polite and well-liked and “B” shoves him in the door and starts pushing him into the room. I ran over there to get between them and “B” pushes the kid into a $5,000.00 laser printer that services the library. The printer top cracks and pieces go flying and I’m trying to get “B” to back off but he’s six feet tall and at least 300 pounds. I’ve broken up a lot of fights but I’m not as young as I used to be. Thank God, “B” picked a fight with a good kid because that worked in my favor. The kid was more than willing to be separated and “B” had enough respect for me to keep from decking me even though he kept coming for the kid. I escorted “B” to the office with him ranting and cursing all the way. The other kid swears he doesn’t have a clue why “B” started up with him but “B” claims the kid shoved him. I find that hard to believe. “B” is a royal pain in the a$$ and the other kid is a sweetheart. Anyway, that pretty much set my mood for my last meeting with the wild kids.

Today, we have meetings from 7:30 to noon, lunch on our own (which means going out with friends) and then we get to work on our rooms until 2:30. Unfortunately, I don’t get to work on my room because I had six laptop carts turned in late yesterday afternoon even though they were all supposed to be turned in almost two weeks ago so I’ll have to inventory another 180 laptops and then try to hunt down the remaining three or four teachers who still haven’t turned their carts in.

Last day for students. I’ve just got to do this one more time this year. Most of them will be taking finals today so it shouldn’t be too bad.

Andrew got accepted into the internship program for this summer! I let him leave school at noon yesterday and DS took him downtown where they finally accepted the letter about his social security number. Of course, that means he’s only off about a week before he starts work but it will be new and exciting for him and the money’s not bad. He’ll gross about $217.00 a week and that’s a lot to a kid. More importantly, he’ll get a lot of benefits from the program in terms of education and scholarship.

Today is jeans and a tee shirt. I’ve got a lot of cleaning and packing to do and the kids can help me. I hope…

Rolled over this morning and DH was still snoozing. He called in sick (You didn’t! You, dog!). Phyllisann is taking a sick day because her son graduates today and DS is catering for her after the graduation. Don’t know what he’s fixing for her but I know there’s a gingersnap crusted ham with bourbon glaze, chess bars, and derby pie bars involved. Andrew has to make up a final exam that he missed when he left school early yesterday and has another one scheduled last period. Steven was recommended for Honor’s classes next year. Quite a feat for a kid with a learning disability. He seems excited about it and I’m hoping it will give him the incentive to work harder. Andrew works like a dog at school and on homework. Steven does okay but he usually takes the easy road and could do a lot better. Maybe being in class with Honors kids will get him to apply himself better.

Let’s see….anything else going on this morning? Don’t think so.

So close to the end. Every day is crazy busy and I still have so much to do. I have two more days after the kids are finished but they’re consumed with meetings and commitments. I may be wrong (it wouldn’t be the first time) but I thought our contract allowed for one day to set up for the year and another day to pack up for the summer. On Thursday, we have meetings until 1:00 and that gives us two hours free. Friday is graduation and all staff are required to attend. We have to wear gowns and caps with all our hoodies and ropes and stuff to reflect our degrees and file out at the beginning of graduation. The seniors get a rehearsal. Hope we do. Anyway, that will keep us busy and out of the building from 8:00 to 1:00 and that only gives us a couple of hours to work. Usually, we have a staff meeting the last hour to honor retirees and say goodbye (and so they can make sure we’re all still there to the very last minute…) With all that stuff going on, I have to figure out how to pack up all my stuff in the next two days so I don’t have to put in a bunch of time after school is out to get it done. I’m going to clean out my little fridge and microwave today and I hope to get my desk cleaned out.

The kids were good yesterday. They have finals today and tomorrow and most of them were reviewing yesterday. I didn’t see any fights and the office was pretty quiet. Hope it continues that way.

I still haven’t decided if I’m going to let Andrew leave early today to go through the nightmare application process for the Internship Program this summer. I know he should. There’s only today and Thursday left and I don’t want to wait if I can avoid it. I know he has finals in his first three classes today but I don’t know about the last two classes. I’ll have to talk to his teachers.

Up before the sun. Only plan on doing that for a few more days and then I’m gonna sleep till noon! Three more days with students and then two more to clean up the mess. Hope the kids behave themselves today. I’m wearing a black leather bra and thong, thigh-high black leather boots with stiletto heels and carrying a whip. If that doesn’t make them sit up and take notice, I don’t know what will.

The cat’s going crazy this morning. Running the length of the hall and then leaping up in the air to do a flip/twist before running back down in the other direction. Don’t know where she gets all her energy.

We officially opened the pool yesterday. The three youngest grandkids and the little boy who lives next door spent the day splashing around the pool with their teeth chattering and then lounging around the spa until their color came back while I worked on the garden all day. Didn’t plant anything but I did a lot of cleanup and weeding.

6:20 - I’m ready (except for adjusting my garters) and the cat threw up. No wonder, if I bounced off the walls like she did, I’d throw up, too.

Counting on DS to go to McDonald’s main office today and pick up the “notarized statement on letterhead stationary” stating that DGS worked at Mickey D’s and this is really, truly, honestly his social security number.

3:45 - Home again and starving to death!  I skipped breakfast this morning and was starving by the time lunch rolled around.  Couldn’t get a break so I decided to do a working lunch.  Microwaved my entree, pulled it out of the oven, and immediately dropped it on the floor.  Crap!  Good thing I didn’t have any cash or I might have wandered down to the cafeteria and that’s something I never want to do.  So, I got busy again and forgot about it until I got off work and the hunger hit me again.  I need FOOD!  NOW!  I’ve been on the go for almost 12 hours with nothing to eat.  So…I’m sitting here forcing myself to slow down and eat a carton of lowfat yogurt while I wait for a lean cuisine to heat up.  Hopefully, I can keep from tossing it on the floor this time.
DS got the super dooper, official letterhead stationary, notarized, signed in blood, document that says:

Andrew R worked at our McDonald’s Restaurant, 3100 Poplar Level Rd. Louisville, KY in 2005.  The social security number we have on file for him is — — —- .  Sincerely, Jane Doe, Controller

Okay, I guess that carries a lot more weight than an official, certified letter from the social security office.  We’ll find out tomorrow…or Thursday.  I still haven’t decided if I’m going to let him get out of school early tomorrow.  He has a final at the end of the day but he could make it up on Wednesday or his teacher would probably allow him to come to work with me on Thursday and make it up.

Okay…I’m going to eat my lunch now.