[iriswhispers]

Allison, a spa week would be fantastic! If my mother suggested that, I'd be all for it - I hope your daughter is as enthusiastic as I am. You can take me if she doesn't want to go! =)

I am very stressed with life right now - well, frustrated might be the better word, but I'm NOT letting it mess up my eating! I still managed to drop 2 lbs back off this week, so I'm back to 133 and pretty happy about that. A few more lbs and perhaps my skinny jeans will close again.

[traveling michele]

Originally Posted by midwife

But who will teach the kids if half the teachers are gone?

It's all a matter of seniority. My school is newer so we have many newer teachers. I found out that 34 teachers received pink slips at my school alone (out of less than 50). They are talking of raising the student/teacher ratio in the lower grades to 24 to 1 (it is currently 20 to 1). That alone will eliminate the need for many, many teachers. So, teachers at my school can be laid off because they are new and "older" teachers can come from other schools to take their place.

Allison-- I would love to go to the spa!! Any time, any place......

[Shannon in ATL]

Dagmar - have fun dog sitting next week!

Kery - dig the hair!

Iris - I hope you are feeling refreshed and more alert today... TOM always wipes me out, too. and, high five on the 2 pounds!

Michele - A lot of teachers are getting let go around here, also. Scary times. I wanted to teach when I was younger - actually have a teaching certificate for K-12 French. Ended up in HR, but I always thought to myself I could go into the teaching field if HR didn't work out. Scary when lots of teachers are getting let go... Who is going to create our future leaders without you guys? Hope you make it through this.

Jessica - high five on getting the exercise in on vacation!

Allison - Glad you and the scale had a good day today! Have fun in San Diego!

I had a crazy day myself - I'm trying to fill an open staff accountant position and have been screening resumes for 2 weeks. Out of about 500 I have 5 so far that meet my criteria, and I get more every day. I'm a little overwhelmed. I also just got back from a wedding rehearsal dinner where I ate way too much dinner and followed it off with two cookies and a small slice of cake. Now i feel ooky and annoyed with myself. I'm thinking I'm going to do a little cardio before bed and see if that makes me feel better.

Goodnight everyone!

[Kery]

Speaking of teachers, that's also becoming a problem in my country (someone remind me why exactly I want to do that job, to the point of screwing my health to pass that competitive exam? Hum...). Of course the real matter is to kick teachers from the civil service in order to spend less money, and nobody is fooled. But if things go on like this, it'll be a catastrophe, and I bet the first ones who'll whine in 10 years that "our children are not educated well enough" will be precisely the ones who're now saying "there are too many teachers and we need to kick some out". :|

On a whole other subject, I hadn't gone to Pizza Hut since 2002 (that is, before I even attempted to eat in healthier ways), and finally we ordered there again yesterday evening. Lesson learned: Pizza Hut and my stomach are not meant to go along (and yet I have an iron stomach). I swear it's the last time I eat that crap.