Support Groups - Teachers successfully losing weight- going for the home stretch to summer!

Belated Happy birthday Robyn!:hug: Sorry I have been up to my eyeballs to notice dates and the like. Hope you had a great day and were treated like the a queen- you deserve it. How are you in points land?????? (you mentioned being over, that's what those 35 additional are for!)

Mouse- I love my cheapo vacuum........picks up lots of cat litter from my 3 critters.

Do we really have to go back to school???????????:( Had one 3rd grader who made me a lovely picture and said she missed me! (see, I am not really such a monster all the time).
Got a walk in........so far have been a pretty good girl. But I can feel the water weight creeping in......oh joy.

Anyway, gotta go back to the salt mines (courtesy of Robyn)- short staffed so I am doing a regular HS/MS then my elementary- which you know I love so! (ugh). See ya later!

Chatting with myself here.....been good all day and it was stressful. (I hate a regular HS/MS run!). But I am glad it is all over, and there is a nice bowl of sf jello waiting for me in the fridge. Nite!

Evening, all.
Thanks for the new thread(s!), Ginny! :)
Today was a good start to hopefully a good week. Chronic Absentee Darth Student was out again. She went to a funeral (I'm not sure we believe this) on Friday, and didn't come today. My Spanish-speaker left early.
We got a whole lot of work done for our activity at the airport, including some of the cards. A lot of the FAQ cards so the kids can give information back are done.
My school actually paid for the materials to make them! Wooot!!!!:)
And we had an incredibly funny incident as a direct result of this whole thing: one of my kids was transcribing his notes (highlighted information from the Red Cross website), which included the distance each hotel is from the convention center. Important if you're like me and can't walk real well!
Anyway, he's got the hotel name typed, the address... and the phrase, "Distance from the convention center: 5 blacks". My TA and I just about fell on the floor laughing. My TA even demonstrated how we'd show people at the airport how to find their hotels... "Go to the convention center, and walk down the street counting. :he points...1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Oh! There's your hotel!"
I got in an awesome swim: the gym was crowded, but the pool was empty so I had the lane to myself for most of an hour... and swam for over an hour. :) Its so nice when I can do that!
Need to go eat and work on a paper for grad school. We have a faculty meeting tomorrow, so I need to be at work earlier than usual.
:mouse:

Mouse- bet that swim felt SOOOOOOOOOOO good! A lane all to yourself! :)
Gee, I like your directions- had me howling too! Lots of luck with the CADS- funeral eh?????? Not sure if I would believe it either.

Aw crum. Spent way too many hours in my tin can today. I was punching out, looking foward to a few hours off......when a coworker (actually, the woman who trained me, who is a saint BTW) ran into the office, visibly shaken- her son just informed her that a tree (large willow) fell down on their house. So she ran out to go home....leaving her mid day run (I don't have a mid day, nor do I want one) driverless- I tried to sneak out only to hear my supervisor call my name........so I spent a lot of quality time in my tin can today. Somewhere around 6 hours........yuck. (I helped out because of who I was subbing for and because my supervisor is permitting me to take off the end of my route Friday to attend an award dinner for Dd)
So my day stunk........I am pooped......WW tomorrow.
G'nite

Evening, all.
I guess we are all seriously busy! I worked all weekend between the gym & Red Cross stuff. I did an event at the local National Weather Station; they had an open-house this weekend, so disaster services set up a table. I had thought we were going to be inside, but we were not... so I wound up with a nice sunburn. Good thing I was there in the MORNING and not the "peak" hours between 12 and 2. I normally have sunscreen with me if I know that I'm going to be outside because the meds I take say I shouldn't be out in the sun... but I didn't have any this time. I've been smearing aloe on myself since Saturday, so its mostly gone.
Then, Sunday, I wound up guarding because the teen that usually works that day had some class or osmething to do. His explanation was very convoluted when he came in Sunday afternoon, because he'd told me on the phone something about college; but I found out he's only a high school junior! I'm sure he's LOOKING at colleges, but it wouldn't have been such a serious issue as he made it sound.
Today was a strange day at work; nothing bad happened, and we did pretty well getting work done... but it was definitely strange by the afternoon. Started with us having to lunch duty: we normally only have it every other day, and today wasn't our day!
We were all working away, bell rang for 8th period, one child left, and then two reappeared with the reading teacher. They need help working on research projects and she has too many kids to give them 1:1 attention. So, I'm helping them, my TA is playing Uno. I hear on the walkie, "If you're ready, go ahead..." and I look at my TA and say, "Gee, I hope we're not going to have a fire....." and the fire alarm goes off! My one student with seizures can't be in the building during a drill, because he has a seizure. Given this was so late in the day, there was a huge possibility he'd have a seizure on the bus on the way home; it usually hits him 20-40 minutes after exposure to whatever (we're not sure if its the light, the sound, or fear). I could find the nurse, of course because she goes out front! We're in the back. Then, it happened right as one of my students was leaving for dismissal. Fortunately, he came back to us, because he didn't know what else to do. At least he didn't stay in the building! I had to apologize to his Mom because he was late for a doctor's appt. because of the drill! Then, the nurse decided to call the parents of the other kid so we didn't send him home on the bus... nobody on his bus is trained to deal with his seizures, so we didn't want to risk it. He's lives really close to the school, but still... And, finally, the parent of one of the other kids showed up to sign the paperwork for him to attend summer school! A very busy, very strange afternoon.
The good news is that I received permission from the principal to buy t-shirts for the kids out of my community instruction fund for our day we're greeting at the airport. :) I wanted the kids to have shirts with the school name or logo on them, so they were all somewhat uniform. The local chapter is going to give us shirts for another day. Me? I get to wear my one and only Red Cross shirt both days. :sigh: And it proclaims I am from the Central Maryland chapter! I don't have one for my current chapter; all they have are t-shirts, and only in a large. The large fits, but between it being a white t-shirt and not "big" on me, I won't wear it around the kids.
Should be interesting! I expect to be utterly exhausted after we're done at the airport...
:mouse:

Seriously busy and overwhelmed. Hopefully get time to breathe tomorrow.

Up .4 at WW- good meeting though. And I am PMSing- so no biggie. Got a walk in with my WW buddy. So far I have been pretty good, kind of bummed though. Dh has been strange recently. Hope this passes quickly, but I am prepared for this to be awhile - I know he is still reeling from the loss of his Df. It is affecting him in ways he never thought it would. So, I guess I am on autopilot awhile longer....did I mention I am tired of this?
I think I will shut up for now, feeling far too negative and it is time to return to work.

Gee, this weight loss journey has been such a struggle recently. I am such a burnout. And getting rather lonely here...........

Hi, Ginny. And everybody else! I see Ginny's talking to herself, so I won't feel TOOOOO guilty about not being here. I think I've mentioned before that I hate weeks that are mostly B days, because I run around constnatly and never get a break. Getting to the gym has been really difficult because last week I stayed after school 3 days... one day, I went to my grad class then came back for our Poetry Slam. A friend of mine from my old school (one of the only people from that place I talk to), came down to host it, so I had to take him to dinner after... We stayed and talked till nearly midnight! It was tough getting up the next morning, let me tell you! I also had to have my ultasound for my annual physical one day last week, and there's just no way I can go swimming after THAT. Ick.
This week, I've had 2 days where I had to stay after school... and the one day I thought about going, I went to the grocery store instead... Good thing, too... There was a major shooting on the road that I take to get to the gym! Not only would I have never gotten to the gym... they closed the road... but I might have been just in time to see the whole thing. Apparently, this guy went crazy and then started blasting a local police department.
I have to stay after school Thursday and Friday this week too. I'll be at my mom's on Saturday, but I have a gym up there I can use. Thank goodness!
My class was at the airport today, and tomorrow. Things went well, though we only had one person that we got to help. We all missed the boat on the lunch plans... We'd planned based on the map that the airport publishes on their website. Allegedly, there was a Subway and a Pizza Hut as well as a sit-down restaurant before security. The Subway and the Pizza Hut don't exist. And, we didn't have passes from the airport to get through security. The only other way is have a plane ticket. Obviously, we didn't have those!
I have no idea why the airport advertises all their shopping and restaurants if you can't USE them!!!! I had to call the school, and they got the cafeteria to hold one lunch line for the kids. One of the news-stands had sandwiches, but they weren't your average sandwich. They had a couple of normal salad-types: chicken or tuna, but most of the kids were grossed out by the turkey and horseradish, and the ham and brie. The Red Cross has promised to do a food run for the kids tomorrow since they have a van on site with free parking passes.
At least, I don't think I've gained weight. I *feel* like I have, but I don't think so.
:mouse:

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Its FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!:carrot: :carrot: :carrot:
All the little monsters are home.........school bus is asleep..........yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Mouse- thanks for chatting with me here! gee I was getting lonely. Enjoy your visit with DM this weekend. Hope you get some gym time in. Sorry that things have been so hectic for you, but it seems as though that has been the way for all of us. (where are you hiding,Pam and Robyn?)

No time to fill you in on my insanity......better go pretend that I want to make dinner. Take care.

Found you....now it is thundering and getting ready to storm.... so I'm LEAVING! But, I'll be back! I didn't even get to read any of the posts!

take care,
Robyn

So glad you found us Robyn!!!!! PLEASE come back, I am so good at talking to myself, but am a bit loopy here!:dizzy: Aw you knew that anyway!!!!

Good weekend, or ok I guess it was. I had both MIL and my DM over for MOthers day, so needless to say, I cooked and worked.....not much of a day off. Dh says he will take me out next weekend when we are at Ds's- you guessed it - baseball tournament!!!!!!:hug: Ah, the sweet romance of a nice dusty, sweaty,hot ball field......., abusive fans....bad coaches.....can't ya feel it in the air!? Can you tell I am losing it??????:dizzy:


Anyway , on a lighter note, Dh and I am going away for an overnight- ALONE- to celebrate our anniversary. We have reservations at Sturbridge Mass, a place we both love.....:carrot: Can't wait!

Gotta go help Dd with this awful report that the first phase of is due in 2 days. Imagine a knuckleheaded teacher who throws a MAJOR assignment this late it the year? Ok, I will shut up.
Nite!

Evening, all.
I love going home, but I sure can do without the smoking. Both mom and grandmother smoke, plus my aunt was there (the reason I went up this weekend!) so there were 3 smokers. Consequently, I now have a major cold and am busy hacking up a lung. I have cough syrup left from the tiny bug I had during/before Spring Break, but that stuff keeps me awake. I guess I'll call the doctor tomorrow.
I don't have TIME to be sick this week!!!!! Really! Saturday is Prom, and we're having a horrible time trying to find Darth Student a dress. She probably weighs close to what I do... anywhere between 275 and 325. And its darned hard to find a formal above a size 16 anyway, never mind that formal dresses are usually 2 sizes smaller than the label because of the way they are designed! I don't know why I care so much given what the child has done all year, but I do.
We're all going in a group... I bought my two girls their corsages...
Then, we have to take books back to the library, we need to go to Home Depot or Lowes so they can practice those measuring skills by helping me by screening/chicken wire for my balcony. Mom gave my kitty some grass, and I want to put it on the balcony for him to eat... but I won't let him go out till I screen off the rails.
We are also doing shopping for the department: our school has a lock-in graduation party the night after graduation, and I volunteered my kids to do the shopping and such. Finally, we're also going to do a bowl-a-thon for the local Red Cross. I totally DO NOT have time to be sick... and what am I? SICK!
:mad: ITS NOT FAIR!
:mouse:

Mouse- hugs........sorry you are not feeling well. I hate to tell you- but there is a nasty spring cold going around, my Dh and Dd have it, and are feeling pretty nasty.But I am sure being around smokers did not help one bit...... Bless you for attempting to locate a dress for Darth Student.......not sure if I have the patience for that.

As of this moment, I would seriously strangle the teacher who assigned this darned state report so late in the year! Dd is feverishly working on it- the dumb thing is just massive...should have been assigned in January (as it was when my 2 oldest had to do it and they had 3 months to complete what we have been given 5 weeks to do). So I am rippin' ticked....tired...and just want this year to be over!

Going to WW tomorrow, I think however I won't WI. I have eaten everything in sight...and just want a meeting and some peace....is that too much to ask for?
Nitey nite!

Well... I went back to work today even though the opinion of most was that I shouldn't have come. I did it because I didn't know Darth had found a dress. She says she has one... I hope so. She was supposed to go (she was invited, and I said I'd pay for it) to get her nails done with the other girls today, but she didn't come in. I can't say I'm disappointed: I'm not unhappy to miss a 4 hour trip to the mall!!! I obviously haven't been swimming at all this week, either... :grrr:
I talked to my doctor yesterday because she called me out of the blue with blood test results; I guess she thought I'd already seen my endocrinologist. I haven't, because of the state testing. I had to find a day that we weren't doing something, that I didn't have a kid testing, that Prom stuff or other stuff wasn't happening... Anyway, I don't see her till next week.
The good news is that the insulin levels are back down from the medication. My fasting glucose was up a bit, but it still wasn't high. Its usually like 80-81, this time it was 93. That could mean that my body is using the insulin better so that its not always too low or too high.
The cholesterol was the same, though the good cholesterol was up. The bad news is the testosterone is up AGAIN, and now they are also showing an increase in DHEA which creates testosterone and cholesterol. I read a little about it yesterday, but it didn't make sense: some people claim that hormone can help reduce insulin resistance and high cholesterol. My doctor also told me that not having gained any of the weight I lost back is flat amazing... but I made it clear that I wasn't necessarily thrilled with this because I haven't LOST any new weight in quite a while. All I really want is to be able to buy a pair of jeans in a department store. Or something other than the awful knit pants that I always wear. :( I don't think that I'm asking for too much. Women who are heavier than I am can do that!!!
In other news, I REALLY need somebody to stop me before I volunteer again! Please, tie me down!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE??? My Red Cross chapter is starting a youth iniative. We do not currently have more than 5 active youth volunteers in the chapter. The Red Cross charter only mandates 2 things, really: services in an emergency (includes military personnel), and services to youth. That last one is often put by the wayside, especially in this day & age when it is so hard to get into schools. That or the chapter looks at the swimming lessons and babysitting courses as the services to youth.
I was an active volunteer because I watched my mom do it, and I know that some of my students have become active community volunteers (in any group!) because they've seen me volunteer. I went to a private college and graduated with little debt (only $26K with interest over 5 years) because I had scholarship money for volunteer work AND good grades. How can I not volunteer for something like this?
But where am I going to get the time????????????/
:mouse:

Just a quick note...
We did the prom today, and the kids had an awesome time. :) I'm tired. But it was SOOOOO worth it! Yes, I danced.
I even got my nails done.
:mouse:

Hi Ladies,
Sorry I have been missing for about two months. School and home life has been very stressful and now I am hopefully back on track. I had state testing, IEP meetings,fieldtrips and we moved to a smaller house since I last spoke to everyone. I have gained back about 6 to 10 pounds. But I am starting back to working out and watching what I eat. Plus today, I started Detox7. It is an internal cleansing program. I am going to see if that will help me get the jumpstart I need to get back on track.
So what is new with everyone else? I bet you are all looking forward to the school year coming to a close soon. I have a week and half left. I am looking so forward to having some time off to relax.
Well I better go and get some work done around the house. Then I think my dh and I are going to go out to lunch.
Glad to be back again. I sure could use the support right now.
Take care gals,
Kerry

Welcome back Kerry!!!!!!!! We missed you!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to be short. Busy day here....Ds has a double header this pm, it is our anniversary.....on and on and on....

Mouse, glad the prom is over. And you had a nice time.

Kerry- don't sweat a weight gain. You are SO good a losing when you set your mind to doing so. Hang in there.

Robyn-earth to Robyn........you hiding from me????

Gotta go- see ya later!
Ginny

Hey!
Remember me? I too, have been MIA...More embarrassed than anything because since March I have managed to gain about six or so pounds back. I am back up to 170! Yikes. I eat terribly, school has been crazy. Not too much longer to go. We have our End of Grade Tests this week. We're finished on June 7th. Seems like forever. I have missed you guys. Had to track you down................
I promise I'll be back. Just wanted to drop in and say Hello.....

Pam

Oh my gosh, the dead are coming to life?! Welcome back Pam!!! Gee, this is great........two of you back in one week? Now if we can just hunt up Robyn. Please don't make me ill, finished on June 7. (I think i am on until 6/23 or so). You too Pam, don't sweat the few #'s up, I am sure they will come off soon.

Today stunk. I am so sick of baseball.........seems that that is all we do....need a month alone.......in a rubber room......guess I'd better get some sleep. Nite.

Hi Ladies,
I sure have missed everyone! I am glad to be back.
Ginny, I am so sick of baseball myself. We have a ball game or two every night this week. I swear since the beginning of May that is all I have done after school is go to ball games every evening.
Pam, I know how you feel about the gaining of a few pounds. But we will be fine and take them right back off. I have started to workout again and go back to Curves. I sort of put my workouts on the back burner so I could move and attend my stepkids ballgames. But I have started to schedule in time in my daily schedule again. June 7th isn't that far away now is it?
Mouse hope your week is going well. Did you recover from the prom?
Well I need to go and get my kids back to working. I gave them a little bit of free time this morning.
I have to go to my stepdaughter's softball game this evening at 5. My one stepson has to be a sub for another team at 6 across town. Plus I have TOPS tonight. So I told my hubby this morning, that I would go to the softball game. But I needed to be at my meeting at 6. He said that I would have to stay at the game until his ex got there. So if she doesn't show up until 6:30 I was not to leave. I got a little mad because I have something to do for myself and people are counting on me since I am the co-leader of my TOPS group now and I have to pick up the slack from my hubby's ex. So I am really going to have to channel my negetative feelings in a more positive way so that I don't go to the kids snack bin and start eating.
Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

Hey!
Had our first day of state testing today. Two more to go. I took parent leave on Friday to go to my son's field day. So, that leaves me with a four day weekend. I'm pretty darned excited about that.
Ginny: Glad to be back. I feel for you with the baseball stuff. I went through it for years. Youngest one has no interest. I kind of miss it. But, then again.....
Kerry: I don't blame you for being mad about having to stay at your husband's game til the ex gets there. Especially since you already had plans. Hope she shows up on time. I am going to seriously try and start walking again soon. I have just been EXHAUSTED.
Had a stomach bug bad.......This weekend. COuldn't move, felt like I was hit by a bus. Couldn't eat. That was a good thing. Still don't feel great. But, I've been able to go to work.
Redone my livingroom totally. We put down hardwood laminate floors. THat was NOT FUN. BUt, the end result is beautiful. So, it's a whole new room. It's been a long time coming. Paint, new furniture, and floors. All I have to do is sweep. Do you know, other than swiffers, you just can't find dustmops anymore....
Well, have to cook dinner. Nothing sounds good to me.
Robyn: Where you at girl?
Mouse: Glad prom went well. Hope you're doing ok...

Pam

Evening All,
Well my day has ended on a postive note. I went to TOPS tonight and didn't gain any more weight. I stayed the same. The ex showed up on time for once. So I was happy to get to go to my TOPS meeting on time. Now I am just relaxing from my very stressful and rushed day. My one aide had to leave early today since her son had the stomach flu that is going around. His fever kept going up and she left to take him to Urgent Care. That left my other aide and I to handle the class today. It was really fun having to call the office for room coverage so we could go change our wheelchair bound student.
Pam, your living room sounds really nice. What color did you go with? Love hardwood floors. Would love to have a whole house done that way. Probably is very easy to keep clean. Sounds like you are really looking forward to the your four day weekend. Going to do anything special. I know we have a birthday party and pitching clinic on Saturday and a graduate party on Sunday to go to. Plus we have the kids this weekend. So we are going to be busy again. I know when I started walking again, I started to feel better and would stop and think how long am I going to have to walk to work that food craving off. I know that you will start to walk soon and start feeling better once you do.
Ginny how was the tin can today? I hope you had an easy kind of day. Happy Belated Anniversary! How many years for you and your dh? When are you going away for your anniversary? Have you been walking with Lesile still? I just went back to walking with Lesile and the gang last week. I was not able to for about a three to four week period. So I am glad to be back in business. It sure does help with stress and food choices.
Mouse, hope you had a great day at school. Did you get to go swimming tonight?
Well I must end this chat with you all and get ready for bed. Have another evening of ball games tomorrow evening. Thank God they are at the same field complex this time. So it makes it a little easier on us. Have a great day tomorrow!
Take care,
Kerry

Evening, all.
It seems like it has been a long week, but I don't know why. Darth Student has been absent 3 out of 4 days this week. :shrug: Today, only 2 of my kids showed for school. We went in the community today, and since only 2 showed, we went to lunch at the mall. We also bought labels for the video CDs I made of the prom.
I saw my endocrinologist yesterday, and the blood work was "okay", as I'd said previously (I think). Biggest issues are that the cholesterol went up a little bit again, which may be genetic. I do eat more fried stuff than I should, but I don't eat other high fat items. Also, some new hormone has spiked: DHEA. Its the hormone that ultimately works with others to produce testosterone and insulin. But, allgedly, it can help control insulin resistance and such. :shrug: The liver enzymes were just fine, which is good. Insulin was down, so I am responding well to the Actos, and it isn't making me sick. Or at least not any sicker than I am typically. The other issue is that the testosterone is up again. Its at least as high or higher than it was when I started treatment. They aren't sure why, though: I'm on spironolactone now, I exercise and changed my diet. So, they increased my spironolactone dosage. Its hitting me hard: it lowers your blood pressure, and has always made me sleepy. I take it at night instead of during the day because it makes me loopy. I guess it'll take a while to adjust.
And let me tell you, I am so truly sick of the idiots I used to work for. At some point, somebody pre-approved those orthotics last summer. Now, my old insurance company doesn't want to pay it, and neither does my former employer. Or, I can't tell what they want, actually. I got a letter in the mail from them that was stamped "received"... but no indication of whether or not it was paid, no letter stating whether or not they were planning ot pay it, and if not, why not. I am SOOOOOO not playing this game with htem.
I'll have to email the PT office that did the orthotics tomorrow; I don't have the email at home.
WElcome back Kerry, Robin, Pam. I'm too sleepy to figure out what else I should say. Sorry.
:mouse:

Evening Ladies,
TGIF! I didn't think I was going to make it through the week in a sane manner. My kids are going loony at school since they know the end is near. Then we have had to go to the ball fields every night this week. Tonight the kids didn't have a game but we went for my nephew's girlfriend's little boy's game.
So is everyone looking forward to the having a long weekend? I sure am, but we will be busy this weekend. My sil and her two daughters are in for a visit. So I am sure we will have a family get together dinner sometime this weekend. Tomorrow we have a birthday party to go to and on Sunday a graduation party. Lots and lots of food temperations for me. So I am going to try really hard not to overdo it. Plus I think I might throw in some excerise time. I really don't want to go to my wi on Tuesday and have a gain. I was very proud of myself this week with my excerise. I worked out every morning at home for an half hour with a walking video and I went to Curves three nights and worked out. So I am finally getting back into the swing of things after hitting and missing working out over the last two months or so. I really want to start next school a new me. That way I can buy new clothes and have a brand new style.
Mouse, hope you are adjusting well to your change in medicine. Sounds like for the most part you got a pretty good report from your doctor. When is your school's last day? Sounds like your kids are slowly dropping like flies. We have school until Thursday June 1st. I have 3 kids that get promoted to the high school on May 31st and as a treat to them they don't have to come the last day of school. So I have told my other two kids that if they didn't want to come on the last day of school,they didn't have too. The one hasn't came on the last day of school for the last two years., so I would say that it is safe to say he isn't going to change that habit this year. I don't know about the other one though yet.
Pam, did you enjoy your day off today. How was your son's field day? Our school's is next week. So are you done with the state testing? My two guys who had to alternate assessment scored the highest points they could on their tests. So that was great news to get. My other four students who had to take the state achievement test scored in the limited range. But they did do a good job for their ability levels. I was proud of them all.
Robyn, where are you sweetie? I have missed chatting with you. Please come visit us. I need to hear your witty charm to make me laugh. Hope all is well with you.
Ginny, how is things on your old yellow tin can? I hope you have found not had to spend your whole week at the ball fields like I did. How was your wi in this week?
Well I need to go to bed. Have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow. Need to be up at 8 to get my dh and sdd ready for her pitching clinic. Then I have to squeeze in a workout at home, get myself and the twin sds's ready and go fill out a job application at the local conienvce store that my nephew's girlfriend works at ( summer job for extra cash), take the boys to the library and come home pick up the other two and off to a birthday party we go. Busy busy there is never no rest for the weary.
Have a great weekend! I hope to check in but you just never know what could happen over the weekend.
Take care,
Kerry

Evening, all.
I don't even know where to begin. I went to a convention this weekend, which is normal. I am helping run the hospitality suite, which isn't terribly unusual either. The suite itself is in a very inaccessible location, though... the floor is slippery in spots with lots of stairs (its pre-ADA, and since it is no longer used as a restaurant, the hotel doesn't have to update it). I don't think I'll help with that next year... I'll have to find something else to do. Dunno. Then, this evening, some twit at a grocery store stepped on my foot. HE had the cow, not me. I just let out a little noise, and he jumped all over me. I admit to being very rude back, but the clerk at the stand didn't need to get involved. I wound up getting my dinner for free, because I complained. I have noticed that my symptom of low blood sugar is losing control over my temper, so add that to the very long day (I was pretty much by myself in the suite from 8-6 today) and it was a mess.
Kerry: Its not going too badly with the new dosage; I tend to fall asleep soon after taking it and wake up 2 hours later. That's okay, but its cut into my party time at the convention (yea, sure... I'm SUCH a big partier.. NOT!). I am going to miss a friend's 60th birthday tonight likely, because the thought of going back over to the con isn't pleasing. We'll see.
As for school, we're done June 14th, but we have a week of exams where the kids get out early on those days. I'm getting mixed messages as to whether or not the kids have to come if they don't have exams. MY dean says no, but the severe disabilities teacher says yes. Graduation is June 16th.
The week after I have to do an utterly stupid highly qualified teacher thing, and then summer school starts. I'm doing extended school year for my ED kiddo...3 days a week for 90 minutes a day. I'm also working for the national board of professional teaching standards again for a week.
I might stay in Baltimore for some of those days if the gym wants me to work that week also and save the gas. Not sure. I had planned to do 9 credits in grad school, but I can't do that now because of the stupid highly qualified crap. In addition to elementary school (which I am qualified for except in math), I have to have high school because I have some kids doing credits and some doing alternate assessments... They won't give me credit for my journalism classes or most of my social science classes, so I'm not highly qualified in anything at the high school level. I'm only 2 credits shy of English, and I like history so I don't mnd taking history classes... but I would rather take classes to finish that post-master's degree right now!
Hope everybody has a good Memorial Day... see you guys next week.
Its going go to be a busy one: I have a Red Cross training on Tuesday evening, Thursday is the bowl-a-thon the kids are doing, Friday is a shopping trip for the school, Saturday I'm working at the SATs, and then have to go pick up my new car...
:mouse:

Hey girlies! What a dang Spring I've been having! It has been really tough! I've not had a chance to read all of the thread to catch up with you all...but I'm sure glad to see that you are all here! :) Currently, I'm fighting a horrible cold that won't let go of me! Also since I last chattered with most of you, I've become a mother...again! After 14 years, I broke down and allowed the boys (all 3!) to get a puppy in early May. What the heck was I thinking? She is adorable, of course! ...and a LOT of work! I'm up right now because the oldest kid is sick. Fever. Stomach. The whole 9 yards...and he can't sleep...so mom can't! Perhaps I need to get him to "try harder"! 'cause I'm about asleep at the keyboard, again!

I'll check back in tomorrow (or during NORMAL hours!) and see what is what around here! :) Hope all is going well!

Take care,
meee
P.S. NO baseball until NEXT Thursday! WhooooHooooo! What is a family to do with out baseball?

Happy Memorial Day to you all!
It has been a quiet day around my house so far. My dh went to help our friend work on getting our city pool ready for opening day (June 5th). I had to go to Wal-mart because I dropped my glasses this morning and the lense popped out. This afternoon we are to go to a cookout at a friend's house. So that should be fun. I am really going to watch what I eat there, though since I have wi tomorrow evening at TOPS. :) I would like to be atleast down a little bit. Time will tell.
Robyn, glad you were able to pop in and say hi. How is your oldest ds feeling today? I hope you were both able to get some sleep. I know that the flu is going around my school really bad right now. I just keep my fingers crossed that I don't get sick. So what did you name your puppy and what kind is she? Are you counting down the days to your summer vacation?
Mouse, are you feeling today? Sounds like you had a very busy weekend, too. Sounds like your summer is going to be jammed packed too. I can sympathize with you on the highly qualified teacher thing. Remember I went through that last summer. Now this summer I am looking for a part-time job, just to get out of the house a little bit and also to make some money so I can do a few of the extra things I want to do this summer.
Ginny, how are you doing this weekend? Is this the weekend you and your dh went away for your anniversary? I can tell you that I started back to walking full-time with Lesile and the gang last week. I did a tape everyday and that hasn't happened for about a month or two. So I am hoping to get back in the swing of things and see the scales go down. Are you still walking when you have the time? I would love to walk outside but this weekend, it has been too doggone hot. Yesterday it was in the 90's still at 8:00 last night. So I think we will be in for a hot summer this year. Guess I am going to have sneak in walks outside in the early morning hours or late at night, when it is some what cool.
Pam, are you enjoying your long weekend? Did you enjoy your day off on Friday? Do you have any big plans for your summer vacation? I bet it has been too hot for you to go walking outside.
With it being so hot out, I really don't feel like eating awhole lot. So maybe that is a plus. I sure am downing the water though. Maybe this way, I will be able to go back to school in the fall skinner and have a whole new look. :)
Well I better close and get ready for our cookout. My dh should be home soon. Talk to you all later. Have a great safe Holiday!
Kerry

WHYYYYYY do they assign 8th grade, 14 year old boys Poetry projects that include writing 40+ poems ...that include artwork? WHAT did *I* do to deserve this damn assignment? WHAT is being learned? WHO is learning it? We've discovered that our DS is CLOSER to Andrew Dice Clay than Henry Wadsworth Longfellow! ...but I could have told you that...AND had hair left! I told him to take a break before I accidently left marks on his body from the fun of it all! We will get back to it......in a bit!

The youngest finished is Bacteria project. How vague is "Research bacteria. Present what you find to me in any way you want."? OK! Anyone else thinking that THAT is sort of vague? Did the best we could with that topic!

I've got to get to the laundry .....it is buzzing like crazy! :)
Ya'll take care!
meeeee

Sounds like you had a fun day today Robyn! So how much hair do you have left now? What a crappy assignments for the end of the year. Other that helping with your children's school work and laundry, did you do anything fun today?
We went over to our friend's house for what was going to be a little bit. But it ended up being close to 6 hours. If I knew they would have their pool open I might have went swimming. But I guess I have to build up my confidence level to wear a swimming suit in front of all the skinny minny's that were there. LOL I am very proud of myself for only eating one ear of corn, a small serving of baked beans, potato salad, a bbq chicken leg, hot dog bunless, some cumbers, carrots and green peppers. Then later I had some watermelon. Plus I drank a lot of unsweetened ice tea and water. So hopefully tomorrow evening at TOPS I will have a loss. Keep your fingers crossed.
So did everyone else have a nice Memorial Day? I better go and get ready for bed, since I am sure my boys will have me hopping tomorrow. We are just going to watch movies and play games.
I will chat with you all later. Have a great week!
Kerry

Evening All,
Just a quick note to tell you how my wi in went. I am up a half a pound. Everyone said they thought it was muscle since I started working out again. But it is still a little discouraging after all the hard work I did about watching what I eat last week and even eating healthy at three parties over the weekend. But I am still going to try and kick butt. My mini goal for June is to be down below 200 by June 30th. So that is dropping off 12 pounds. I think I am up for a challenge.
Hope everyone had a wonderful day back at school after that nice long weekend.
Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

Evening all.
I got home really late from the convention last night. I did manage to get a swim in during the morning. The Convention was in Baltimore, so I was near the gym I work at. That was nice.
My friend from NY that came down for the event had asked if I wanted to try and set up a dinner for one of our mutual friends down here, and then my other friends that I introduced him to last year. I did it, and so we went to dinner after the convention. I had to drag him out of there at 6:00 Monday evening. Fortunately, there was no traffic and we were there in less than 90 minutes. Then we had to pick up one of the people, because her car was dead. I got lost. We had a stunning lack of communication when she tried to give me directions.
We wound up doing dinner much later than I thought, and we actually ate in the restaurant. Given how I typically react to food, that isn't something I do very often. This is a restaurant I like, but never go to because they don't let you do take-out. The results last night were predictable. My friends wound up taking the other girl home and getting my friend back on the road toward New York so I could get myself home.
School today was pretty decent... My ED Kiddo wound up going home with asthma or something similar. I hope he doesn't have asthma... that's the last thing I need! Its hard enough to keep track of his glasses and point sheets that are shed all over the building. I can't imagine doing it with an inhaler. Darth Student didn't come today. Probably because we had the slide show, and she would have had to go with the group to the auditorium. I'm going to guess the same thing will happen on Friday because we have the student awards ceremony that day.
I was supposed to have a class tonight, but there was a major traffic incident going into where the class was supposed to be held, and I just couldn't get there. I used the time to work on a slideshow of this year's pictures for the kids.
:mouse:

Hiya!
Well.... it is done! I have now have from May 31st to the 8th of July to get my fanny in gear and shrink it a bit more! I am meeting my dearest friend in Orlando for the National I Teach 1st Conference on the 9th of July! We will "do" the conference together and then head back to her house for the remainder of the week! Gasp! I'm so darn excited about going with her to this conference! I approached the principal back in early April with the.... "I know that this is a LONGGGG shot, but....do you have any money to spare?" The school is paying for the conference itself...and I am responsible for the hotel and airfare. While we don't have a bunch of money stacked around in the corners (after DH was out of work for nearly a full year.....) I have been cutting things here and there and "finding" money and moving little bits, etc.... :)

So. Tomorrow. I go hard core WW! I KNOW that I can do this! I have made my menus for the week.... this isn't THAT far from what I've been doing...except I can't go rationalizing that afternoon chocolate buzz that I so horribly crave! :) I'll just figure in the points!

Beginning next Monday, our school is having a 6 day (yes! 6 FULL DAYS!) MultiCultural Fair. I must make srue that I have NO access to junk food! 6 days! Grade 1 is responsible for teaching everyone in the school about Mexico. Funny, Mexico isn't a first grade standard of learning....and they outlawed hobby teaching years ago..... hmmmm??? I'm so confused! :) My kids are loving singing "Cabeza, hombros, knees y pies" in Spanish!

Kerry, hang in there.... you know that your successful weekend will find its way to your scale! Patience!
Mousie, Glad that you got to see your friends and enjoy the convention too!
Gin, We haven't had any baseball since last Thursday! and we don't have any until Thursday! WhooooHooooo! :) I'm psyched... until Thursday night!
Pam. Yo' dawg! Live near the Charlotte airport? Can't remember where you are! You can come see me while I wait for my planes! :)

Gotta run....... it is nearly midnight ONCE again! Dang where do the hours go?! Take care ya'll! :)
meee

Ok... I'm a bit concerned regarding dealing with the stress of the end of the year, the stress of the MultiCultural ExtravaganZA, the stress of irrate parents (don't ask), the stress of being an irrate parent (don't ask!...but I bet you know that it is with my 8th grade son's teachers!), the stress of the darn new adorable puppy, the stress of hours spent at baseball, the stress of dh's swing shift, STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS....and I'm supposed to do this on HOW many points?! ....AND without chocolate??? Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

.....I burned my arm with a hot glue gun....and then like a fool (as an immediate reaction without thinking...) I pulled the glob of glue off my arm and along came MORE skin than was truly necessary... For the record, I didn't say anything other than "Ouch!" (I was surrounded by 8 7 year olds who were listening to my "this is very hot speech!") BUT I did nearly wet my pants and pass out... (In that order!) My friend next door was "in charge" for the next 20 minutes as I sat trying to breathe with the Fred Flinstone throbbing arm thing going on! :)

Well, hope everyone is doing well! I've got two more report cards to carefully positively write! :) Ya'll take care!
meeee

Hope all is well with everyone. Busy day filled with school "fun"...busy night filled with baseball "fun" and now 8th grade project "fun"....

Hey Gin....guess this is what it feels like to talk to myself, huh?! :)
take care,
meee

Hi Ladies,
I am happy to say that I am done teaching school for the 2005-06 school year. Today was my last day with students and I didn't have any students show up. Yippee! So I got all my work done for tomorrow. Now I can show up for work and just play and goof off with my school pals before lunch. After I eat I am out the door, not coming back or looking back until August. "Schools out for the summer" is now my current theme song. :)
Robyn how is your arm today? I hope it is a little bit better. Have you been putting aloe on it to keep it from getting an infection in it? Other than stress, how is your life? Just remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So how much more school do you have?
Mouse, sounds like you are having easy school days with very little or no kids. Your slideshow sounds nice. Is it just for your class or are you sharing it with the whole school?
Hi to Pam and Ginny. Hope things are going well for you both. Is the countdown on for the end of your school year?
I must say that I think I have done a good job eating at school parties here the last two days. Tomorrow is a carry-in lunch and I plan on walking in the morning and then going to workout right after work at Curves.
Well I must check out the want-ads for a part-time job for this summer before heading off to bed. Chat with you all later.
Have a great Friday!
Later taters,
Kerry

TGIF!

Hey ladies.
Ok, three more days with the kiddos. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can......Sorry haven't been on this week. We have been working like dogs, both at school and home. I am soooooooooooooo pissed off right now. We were getting ready to get our pool out. Well, it bit the dust. So, we decided to go and look at permanent above ground pools. Way out of our price range. So, we got a 24 foot metal rail wall pool at walmart. SO, we spent the better part of the week, trying to level the stupid slopey back yard. We worked until nine oclock every night. THought we had the stupid thing level. Put the pool up. Which in itself was a pain in the butt. Filled it, it has taken two days to fill it. NOW IT IS NOT LEVEL....................WE HAVE TO DRAIN IT AND TAKE IT DOWN AND LEVEL IT AGAIN...........OMIGOD.....I AM SOOOOO PISSED.............I have developed a soreness unknown to me, by hauling lifting 1800 pounds of sand and top soil. NOt to mention raking, tilling, digging. I don't even want to know what our dagonne water bill is going to be. Dang.......So, I guess we will start over. My hubby is supposed to be going deep sea fishing tomorrow, so I guess I will be stuck doing all this myself. I am serious when I say I did it the first time. It's making me crazy. I have not lost a single pound have not tried. I'm burned out, tired and CRAZY. I worked so hard. It's disappointing.
Kerry: COngrats on being done. Lucky dawg. OUr kids have decided to lose their minds. I am holding my breath. Grades are due Monday, atleast most of that is done.
Robyn: Live nowhere near the Charlotte airport. Actually, I think I live closer to you. Now, if you were stopping in Raliegh, I'd be there. I am in ROcky Mount.
Ginny: How is everything going?
Mouse: Hope you are doing ok.
Gotta clean...
Pam

Ok. So, I'm home alone...with the puppy. I've done nothing all day but work on school work and mess with that dog. The latest wonderful moment of the day has ended with me sliding in a puddle of pee...(that I didn't know was there)....and falling...old fat women were NOT meant to fall. I think perhaps I've broken my big toe....which is now a lovely shade of black and purple...and throbbing like Fred Flintstone's thumb! I've got a rug burn type injury on my left arm from sliding down the wall...grace IS my middle name! I also have a honkingly huge bruise on my left hipandfanny. AND I had to clean up the puddle...AND I had to shower and change clothes AND I ache....AND now I'm looking up how many points are in a Captain Morgan's with Pineapple Juice...cause I'm heading in there to mix one up!

Hope your Saturday was MUCH better than mine! (Oh, I was up a pound at my WI this morning... go figure!) Where did everyone who was looking for me go? I finally come back and ya'll leave! :) ;) I'm kidding... I know how busy things are...I'm not really yelling... (about anything other than my injuries and the dog!)

Take care,
meeee

OMG. My shoulder, butt and neck. WHO knew that I also must have jarred something within that whole system. Old fat women were NOT meant to fall.

In other news, my report cards are done! Except for attendance. Can't do that until the very end. I've got all the other testing done at school. Now *ALL* that is left is making sure all the "stuff" is entered into the proper spots and filed correctly. The giant paper push. As if THAT is *ALL* that I truly have to do!

Tomorrow is the begining of our Cultural Fair. 6 school days of "sheer pandelirium" (as that redneck comic calls it!) 6 days of not being away from the children at ALL. 6. SIX. 6. Lunch in our classrooms on plastic trays over carpet owned by me! (NOT! We're rolling that puppy back!) SIX. 6. SIX days! Tomorrow, our first day, is 3rd grades day to teach the school ALL about Greece. The schedule kinks will be fixed out tomorrow as it works or doesn't. 1st grade presents on Thursday. OH we have 532 kids in the school and each gradelevel was given $0 as a budget for this little *SIX DAY* soiree.

AND to top ALL THIS OFF.........I'm not supposed to be eating anything that isn't on my plan. PLAN? WHAT PLAN? I wonder if I just plan for all my WW points to be chocolate........... man that won't be much! :)

Someone needs to get back in here before I just break my fingers complaining myself into cyberspace. I'm guessing that you've already figured out.... I'm not excited about next week! (The next SIX days!)
:)
take care,
meeee

Good afternoon all.

I am not quite sure where the week went, but I can't say I was disappointed. I was out Friday, and all the kids showed up. My poor TA. ;) We went bowling on Thursday for the Red Cross... and nobody brought their money except 2 of my kids. But we had fun anyway... I bowled over 100 for the first time ever. 144 was my final score. That's not bad considering that I forgot my ankle brace (shhh! Please don't tell my doctor!), and was wearing sneakers. They won't let me wear the high shoes because they'll mark up the floor. I see a pair of high ankle sneakers in my future so I can bowl more often. Its cheap as anything to take the kids there, its good exercise and they enjoy it.
After we bowled, and school was over, I went to my mom's house overnight. I had to get my NEW CAR!!!! Yes, everybody, Mouse bought a new car. Okay, its a new to mouse car, but that's okay. My mom saw it before I did, because I bought it at the Saturn dealer near her house. I've now bought 4 cars from the same person. ;) Anyway, I was told it was "silver blue". Its not. Its NEON blue! That thing is bright! At least I won't lose it in the parking lot! But it has really low milage (32K), and the price was right. Its a 2004 Saturn Ion2.
Saturday I proctored for the SAT I at my school. Got paid for it, too. I thought I was proctoring, but turns out I was a test administrator. I think that means I get more money. I don't think any of the kids tried to cheat, but the room was so packed with desks that there was no way I could get to the back of the room to make sure...
I ran errands after that, and its a good thing I pushed myself to do it yesterday because so far today I haven't done anything but cough. That cold I had a few weeks ago with the cough that was lingering? The cough is back. And its my own fault because I kept swimming while I had it... I guess I'd better go see the doctor tomorrow or Tuesday. Get rid of the damn thing once and for all.
We're going shopping tomorrow for the travel items for the project graduation. I picked up some beach buckets, and some little woven beach bags to put the stuff in. Also bought some of those magic towels. I figure we can make 6 nice gift baskets for the Graduation party folks to give away. I'd said we were going to go to Target to buy stuff, but I'm wondering if we shouldn't go to the dollar store... The only problem is that we have a tiny little dollar store near us, and they don't have a huge selection. They mostly have standard dollar store stuff.
:mouse:

ok, forgive me for being a crummy friend and not posting...this has been such a long week. Last weekend Dh and I got away for a night alone.......in a hotel room......we drove up to Sturbridge, Mass and spent the day at the restored area and ate out and relaxed......I actually got back the man I married for a few short hours. It was wonderful. Wish it did not have to end.

I have been driving in my yellow submarine/yellow tin can too darned much. Trips galore.....not all for me, but someone has to fill in for the drivers on trips- well the only good part of it is that it will make for a large paycheck.
This Wed, I am driving some kiddies to West Point, and from what I gather I will have an armed MP on board conducting the tour as I drive. (thought that was at least an interesting trip). And lots of baseball.....lots and lots of baseball. The HS season will be over by the end of this week- if they make it past Tuesday's game. Ds's team won today.

WW??? Well I was up a few #'s last week, down this week. Oh- Robyn and Pam (my fellow WW'ers) you MUST try the WW smoothies......I was not such big fan of them until my leader told me how to doctor them up. Add a drop of almond extract and a drop of coconut extract to either the chocolate or vanilla smoothie with some ice cubes anda cup of water. Wow. It is that good. And just one point. Big yum.
Mouse and Kerry.....you ladies ok? (I mentioned Pam and Robyn above, don't want to leave anyone out.)

Sorry to be so brief, things slow down after Wed when Dd has a HUGE report due. (someone please tell me what kind of 4th grade teacher assigns a massive report due this time of year? Huh?)
Gotta go proof read.......sorry to be so terse.

Evening Ladies,
Sounds like everyone is busy with the end of the school year stuff to do. I still can't believe that Ginny and Robyn your children's teachers assigned massive projects due at the end of the school year like that. Do they hate their students and parents? Not to mention the fact that they have to grade them.
I signed up for some tanning sessions at my Curves, so I could get rid of my farmer's tan and my lily white legs. Plus I have to go to a TOPS Area Recognition Days in two weekends from now. So I want to sort of look good for that. Had a busy weekend. Yesterday, I attempted to clean house, until the sweeper bag busted. Needless to say I blamed it on my dh since he was suppose to buy more bags like two months ago and hasn't yet. So I guess that is what I will be doing tomorrow. Took the boys to a minor league ball game last night, since their ball team and all the other ball teams from our city were represented there. It was a lot of fun. Even got a chance to win a free diamond after the game, but I didn't have the right envelope. Today my dh and I mowed the yard for the first time at our new house. Talk about fun. It took me about 2 3/4 hours to push mow it. It is on the side of a hill and now my legs, back and arms are very sore. Then my dh and I went to Dakota's for dinner. So now it is time to relax. Maybe I jiggled some fat off while I was mowing. LOL
Robyn, I am soo sorry that you fell yesterday. Are you atleast feeling a little bit better this evening? So after the 6 days of Cultural Fair items how many more days of school do you have? That is great that you have your report cards almost done. Isn't that a great feeling? Hope you are able to stay on plan and lose some weight over the course of your Cultural Fair. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. :)
Mouse, congrats on the new car. Sounds like a nice car. So you enjoyed going bowling with your students. I enjoyed going bowling with my class back in Dec. That was our Christmas party. Plus it was a gift from our PTO, since they paid our way. Hope your cough goes away soon and you start to feel better. :)
Pam, did you get your pool straightened out? For your sake, I hope you did so you can start enjoying it. So just a few more days of school left for you. How do you plan on spending your summer? I have read more in the last few days, then I have all school year. So I am guessing that I am going to read quite a few books over my summer vacation.
Ginny, glad that you were able to get away and spend some quiet time with your dh. Sounds like you had a nice little getway trip. I wish my dh and I could do that someday this summer. But I don't think it is going to happen since we are watching his kids during the day while his ex-wife is working. So maybe I can talk him into going to a concert with me instead. Sounds like you had to spend too much time driving in your big yellow tin can. But the trip to West Point does sound like a lot of fun. Enjoy!
Well I am tired. So I think I will go watch some tv with my hubby and then go to bed. Talk to you all later.
Have a great Monday!
Take care,
Kerry

I see I left out gobs of stuff earlier.

Robyn: Sorry to hear about that fall. I totally understand how that kind of thing goes,a nd really hope you didn't break the toe!!!!!!!!
Pam: Hope the pool gets set up; when it does, I'll come swimming. ;)
Ginny: Nice to hear about the little break from baseball and Attilla.
Kerry: Mowing. Blech. Hate it. I hate yard work, period, of any kind.

We have 4 days this week, then exams start. Our kids aren't supposed to be there unless they have an exam, so I'm not sure what is going to happen. Most of my kids don't have exams except for some that are in regular classes. My one senior doesn't really have to take them at all, because her grades don't count for anything and she's missed so much school its pointless. 47 whole days, and with all the cuts and half days, probably 50% of the school year is gone.
I need to put in 2 weeks worth of grades, but that's it. Shopping for graduation and making the gift baskets... Then, finishing the DVD.
I need to ask the kids how they feel: do they want a real DVD, or are they okay with the video CD I made for Prom. A real DVD is better quality, but we don't have a DVD burner at school. If I'm going to buy one, I want a Lightscribe one that does the labels... and I can't have it delivered by this Thursday (which is potentially the last day I'll see them). I can do the Video CDs on my computer now.

:mouse:

Well. HEY people! :) Glad to see you folks! I was a bit jealous that you were off having great weekends without me! :)

Mouse: New car! Cooooool! Have fun with it! Is it the color they call "laser blue"? ...cause WHOOOOHOOOOO that is BLUE! :) I drive a Jeep Cherokee that is FIRE ENGINE RED! Had to get used to it a bit ...but now the color doesn't bother me. High top sneakers would be good for your ankle....AND you could bowl more! Bowling ranks up there with a trip to the dentist for me... but I do it when the family wants to go.... the way I look at it....at least it is airconditioned! :) They like it. I put up with it!

Kerry: Mowing the lawn is great exercise...and it lasting for 2+ hours?! Wow! Did you move to a farm? What town do you live in? My arm abrasion, toe, left hip and fanny oh and knee are all still screaming over my fall yesterday. The toe and abrasion are going to be issues tomorrow at school as we travel to Greece and try to enjoy the diversion in our regularly structured schedule.

Gin: For a second I was concerned about you needing an armed MP on the bus with you. Thought for a second that you were driving around some of the kids that were at my old school! ...but then, duh, I figured out that you were JUST traveling / touring a military base....and well...THEN it all made sense! :) Glad to hear that you and your dh had a moment away! I am our resident "Attila" currently....8 school days and then I will resume my usual sweetness.... maybe! :) Dh and both DS went on a Band Trip to Kings Dominion (amusement park) on Saturday. This was scheduled in September. Dh and DS missed a baseball game to go. DH was an official chaperone for the band. Dh told the head coach about this at the beginning of the season as well as reminded the coach's wife at the last game (Coach wasn't there....) He called DH on his cell phone and was nasty that they weren't at the game. Oh the drama of it all! He then apologized mid drama because he remembered his wife telling him earlier that morning. 2 more games. THAT is all I have to deal with!

The poetry project is finished. He has 4 hairs left on his head that were not pulled out. I have developed a bald spot where I kept pulling out my own hair..... I seriously considered just not forcing him to do this project. BUT then...what would that serve. This had best not turn out like the last ditch project from last year...where we never did get the thing back nor did we hear anything about a grade on it. Ha! Try it, buster!
Youngest kiddos project was completed and turned in. Did I mention his comments about how the presentation went? "They liked mine the best mom." "They did? How do you know?" "They laughed the most at mine!" I'm not too sure that laughing during the presentation of a project on "bacteria" is a true measure of how good the project is/was.... But... sounds as if he might have gotten a bit of my mouth from our shallow little gene pool.... OOPS! He was thrilled that they laughed. Lets hope the Evil Science Teacher was thrilled as well! :)

I'm off to figure out the schedule for our "travels" to Greece..... Sheer pandelirium, I tell you! PanDeLirEUm!

Talk to you all...or to myself...tomorrow! :)
take care,
meeee

Oh gimme a break, Robyn- me have a great weekend? (ok the Memorial day weekend was nice...this one stunk)

Mouse- congrats on the new car. Hope you find a way to get those DVD's done....how sweet of you to take that on.

Robyn- sorry about the fall.....please send your son up here to help my Dd with her NYS report (due Wednesday) and I will pull out those last 4 hairs, along with a few teeth. Yup, its getting that bad around here and Dd is a good student and easy to deal with. But her mother is a bona fide b**** these days. I want to hang this teacher.........and the problem is I have known her for years and love her. What was she thinking.? Sounds like your other son with the bacteria project inherited his mom's wonderful sense of humor. Hope the grade is good.

Kerry- mowing is great excercise.....enjoy the tanning too!
Gotta go back to work........man am I tired. Forgive me for being somewhat less than upbeat here.

Just for everyone's information, this NY State Report s***s..........big time.
Sorry had to vent. (I was online to print out a map for Dd, poor kid has writers cramp.)

Day 1 of Cultural Extravaganza wasn't too bad! :) Tomorrow is Day 2 of 6, I remind you! I'm hopeful but doubtful that the novelty will last for 6 days! I also dread Thursday....THAT is our day to present.

Just noticed the time...gotta go end the day for the boys who are still going strong at 10:00 PM........

take care,
meee

Just a quick note to say hi. Had a busy first day of summer vacation. Was up at 6:30 a.m. to go workout and tan, since I thought I would have all three stepkids today while my dh worked for a friend. Came home only to find out that the twin boys were not coming over. So that left me with my sdd. Guess where she wanted to go? To Curves to workout. So I finished my 2.5 mile Walk and Jog DVD and took her into Curves. I just sat and read a book while she worked out. Then we went and got a sub for lunch from Subway. We took it to the state park near our house and ate it. Then went on a two mile walk. So I think I got my excerise in for the day and then some. So I hope it shows up on the scale tomorrow evening. Then we had to go to the ball fields this evening since she had a ball game at 5. Needless to say I think I will sleep good tonight. Then I have to get up at 6:30 again tomorrow to make it into Curves before my twins come over tomorrow. Then all three kids have a game tomorrow evening. The boys have a double header to boot. Thank God I have to go to TOPS for my wi and meeting. So I will get to miss a little bit of the ball park action. LOL
Ginny, I am soo sorry that you are losing your mind over that stupid report. I hope you don't kill anyone in the process of getting it completed. Have you had any time to go for a walk and relax a little bit? Hope things get a little bit better for you tomorrow! :)
Robyn glad your first day of the cultural fair went so well. You still have hair left, I hope. I hope you were able to also get your boys to settle down before going to bed. I know that can be a chore at our house some evenings too. How did your eating go today at school? Good I hope.
Pam and Mouse, are you surviving the last few days of school? Well I must head off to the bathroom to put aloe on my chest, stomach and upper legs. I got them a little red today in the tanning bed. So I would like to sleep comfortablely this evening. I will chat with you all tomorrow.
Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Kerry

Evening, all.
We have... 3 days left, then exams. I need to survive them. Today was cutting it close: We went to Target to buy the stuff for the graduation party, and made some of the baskets. The 3 small ones are done, and the bigger buckets had sea-shells hot glued on them today. My Spanish speaker did '06' on his bucket... took a long time, but he truly enjoys doing that kind of thing, so I let him go to it. My ED kiddo thought of putting our keychains we made that we weren't allowed to sell in the buckets as well, so we picked out 6 that say 2006 or '06, plus 6 single strand ones and tied them to the outside of the buckets with the ribbons. We made 6 gift baskets for about $112.00 total...
The large ones are: one plastic sand bucket, a large beach striped beach towel, suntan lotion, bottle of water, small bag of chips, disposable camera, a bucket beach hat (you know, like Gilligan wore on Gilligan's Island, only colorful), two keychains and a deck of cards.
The small ones have the same stuff as the big ones, except they have the small magic towels (soak in water to get a hand-towel), and they are in little straw bags instead of sand buckets.
All of them are in those "basket wrap bags", rubber-banded shut, tied with red & blue ribbons. We might still get some batteries or some gum to put in them, because we had $7 left, and 2 people wanted to contribute but forgot to bring money. I might also go buy small bottles of water and crackers for the little ones instead of chips and the big water because its hard to get everything in the small bags.
It will depend on how I feel. My poor TA is totally sick of listening to me hack up my lungs and gasp for air, so I finally called the doctor, and have an appointment tomorrow afternoon. I have so much stuff to do at work, and I don't want to do any of it. I do better if I sit up, but its awfully hard to sleep that way!
Robyn: Yea... it is what Saturn calls 'Pacific Blue'. It is REALLY blue. Very noticable in the parking lot at school. One of my kids tried to make fun of it, but I pointed out that his mother's car is the SAME COLOR!
Did the kids enjoy the band trip? I do normally wear high shoes for my ankle, but they are hiking-style boots, and have black soles. You can't wear those on a gym floor or on a bowling alley floor because it'll mark up the floor and leave "goo" as one of the kids says. I have those because we weren't allowed to wear sneakers at my last school... but we are here. So, I'll buy a pair that are high tops and that way I can bowl with the kids.
Ginny: Brief is okay. Sorry about the report. Hope its done by now.
Kerry: Woo...what a lot of exercise. Me swimming was what gave me this cough, though... I shouldn't have gone swimming while I had it, but I hadn't been in the pool in a week... :( I'll go get the riot act read to me tomorrow, but at least I'm not seeing my real doctor (she really gives it to me), I'm seeing the nurse practioner. She doesn't know me very well... and she doesn't talk to my endocrinologist, so she doesn't read me the riot act quite as badly.

Just thought you all might like to know that your friendly neighborhood mouse can't do anything in half-measures... I not only have bronchitis, I have pneumonia too! :(
I have an albuterol inhaler sans steroids (can't have the steroids because of the endocrine disorder), over-the-counter cough syrup (can't have the prescription stuff because of the codeine/hydrocodone), and a script for antibiotics. Here's where it gets more interesting: Apparently, one of the meds I am on for the endocrine disorder interacts with a lot of antibiotics to cause REALLY (pharmacist's emphasis) blood sugar, and then causes it to stop working so you get really high blood sugar. They tried to call the doctor's office but they were closed because it was after 5:00.
I'll have to do it tomorrow. At least now I can "inahle" for a legal reason???
Anyway, I'm out of school tomorrow at least, and quite possibly Thursday. :sigh: They won't know till they see the X-Ray what kind of pneumonia it is.

:mouse:

Oh my gosh...........Mouse, girl, you are not supposed to get pneumonia this time of year?? They figure out which kind you have (from when my FIL had it they said the only way they could determine which kind was from a culture of speutum..and that only really shows bacteria). Feel better........hugs.

Kerry-take care of that sunburn.....btw you make me sick being on break already. I have 2 weeks to go..........:(

Miserable report is almost done. I want some wine........a week in a rubber room. whatever. Tomorrow is my West Point tour, as long as they will do it in the rain. Sure hope the MP is at least relaxing on the eyes!!!!:carrot:
I need a break. Ds's baseball team lost today, ending this years HS season.
Dh is not taking it well. The rest of us are ok with it- including Ds.
Gotta go immerse myself in this stupid report. I must say, for as awful as this report is, Dd has been wonderful and cooperative. She even thanked me for all the input........gotta love that kid.
Nite.
Yes, I have been sneaking in my walks somehow.

Opps.....Robyn, hope the cultural extravaganza is going well....be thinking of you on Thursday.

BTW- for those of you who are special ed instructors-at Dd's school I am a volunteer computer teacher. Ok, because I was not at all sure how to handle this, but assigning grades was horrific. Two kids in the class( a mainstream class) are difficult, the mildly autistic one (very mild autism, speaks beautifully) and one on meds for ADD. Neither follows instruction well- neither performs well. How the dilly am I supposed to grade these two, when neither really get the work done? They need so much additional time, and if I leave them for another student, Lord knows what I will come back to. (the autistic kid does pretty well.......tends to space out at times). So, I was given the option of satisfactory/unsatisfactory as a grad\ing, and took that.
Real grades for these two might have had the one failing, the other with perhaps a C. Is that ok? Duh. Guess that's what you get when you use a bus driver (with a college education!) instead of a teacher. thanks

Hey ya'll....I have NOT read the posts from tonight yet....sorry. Things here have been rather emotional... Tonight between 7 and 8 the youngest ds had a biking accident. He came in with blood pouring out of his elbow...It took only a brief glance to make my knees buckle. He literally has gaping holes in his arm where his elbow when sliding across the road when he fell off his bike (trying to tackle the same ditch banks that caused an accident last month..that required 3 trips to doctors 1 of which was a urologist's office!) After calling the insurance company and getting "the magic number" for approval, DH took him to the emergency room. they've not returned yet. I did get a call from DH saying that baseball season is officially over! (Important things first!) The elbow has been xrayed..no broken bones.... Deep chunks missing...that as we chatted were being scrubbed out ...... I'm sick to my stomach over my poor baby's arm.... I'm not looking forward to whatever happens next! I"m thankful that hte bones are not broken....I'll catch up with the posts when I return.......

take care,
meee
(I had an ALLOUT binge about an hour ago...waiting to hear from DH about prognosis....I ate some googy snack cakes that were meant for the boys' lunchboxes. My stomach is NOT happy....and my brain is sorta ticked at my stomach, hands and mouth! Gotta get my homework done...I've got SO much to do..... and it is 11:30!

Good morning, all.
Robyn: How's the son? Is he okay??
Ginny: How'd the tour go? Was the MP young and good-looking? Unmarried? Give him my email address if he's between 29-34, please? :) And I know I'm not supposed to get pneumonia this time of year, but didn't we already know that I never do anything normally???? ;) I can't blame anybody but myself: I shouldn't have gone swimming while I was still coughing... I shouldn't have gone to the convention, or done all the running all around I was doing and not getting any sleep... But in the end, seeing the smiles at Prom were so worth it!!!!!
And about your special education dilemma: I face it daily, Ginny. It has nothing to do with being a bus driver. How do I grade a child who never comes to school, but when she does, she can do the work? Honestly... she's missed 50% of the school year, but she's a senior and going to graduate. She's getting an IEP diploma... she meets her IEP goals when she is in school, but hasn't met them because she isn't here to do so... I'm not sure I'm making sense. But, based on that, she's going to graduate because when she's in school, she meets her goals.
I will be out again tomorrow: they fixed the antibiotic debacle. The pharmacist apparently found one case that was like 6 years ago of an interaction with a drug SIMILAR to the antibiotic I'm going to take... but she could have given it to me anyway because I don't take the Actos because I'm diabetic... of any stripe! So they're just going to take me off the actos while I take the antibiotic. That's what we did when I had the flu and couldn't eat... it might mess up my blood tests that I'll have done in 2 weeks... I'll just let my endocrinologist know when I talk to her next week.
:shrug:
:mouse:

Robyn- Ds ok????????? Ya got me worried, girl........

Mouse- the MP was a crummy tour guide. Major bummer.......trip stunk as it rained. I will explain later.

Hi Ladies,
Sorry I have been missing in action from here for a few days. But as my dh has found a job working for our friend for the summer, I get stuck with the kids during the day. I have been busy taking them swimming, walking around the lake, to the reading program at the library, and vision specialist for the youngest twin. So I have been juggling their schedules along with mine. I do have some good news to share though. I did lose 2 pounds the other night at TOPS. So I am back in the losing game again. I think going for walks with them and swimming is helping me. :)
Ginny, sorry your West Point trip was crummy. Bummer about the MP being a stick in the mud. Hope life is looking a little bit better for you now that you don't have to help with the report.
Robyn, how is your son's arm? Have you been eating normal or doing stress eating? Sending hugs your way to make it through the cultural fair and the stress out home. :)
Mouse, hope you are feeling better. Glad to hear that they got your meds straightened out. :)
Pam, so are you all done with school now. How do you plan on spending your vacation? :)
Well my dh is begging for the computer before we go back to the ball fields for an evening of 2 games. Just three more days after today. YAH!
Have a great evening!
Take care,
Kerry

Back again!
Kerry- congrats on being a loser again!!!!:carrot: Is Dh's job for all summer? How are you holding up being the entertainer for the kids- which is at times tiring and frustrating. Hope you can find some r&r in that for yourself... Good for you getting some swimming in......here in NY about all the swimming we can do is in the puddles, it has been raining so much (no complaints from me, as I do not like hot weather).

Survived another day...had to "fill in " on a regular HS/MS route for another driver on a trip. Had to become the prison warden with the MS (I did this route 2 days ago and remembered the charmer who gave me a hard time.....he had the honor this afternoon of sitting right behind me). So it was an exhausting afternoon- then Dd's piano lesson and finding out that she was coming down with a bladder infection. So off to the Dr and the pharmacy......she has an infection and will have to go back to the urologist when I can get her in. Poor kid, we are probably looking at surgery (long history with this problem) and she is also getting braces in August.
I am so tired.....and my house is a total pig sty. BTW, with the trip and all the other junk this week I elected to take a week off of WW meetings (I have been very good at attending them for a while) and will go next week. It has just been too busy and I needed a breather.
Robyn- still wondering how Ds is doing??? Hopefully just a lot of bandages and nothing serious, and perhaps a wee bit of restraint in bike riding for the next time. Hang in there.......I have been thinking of you!

Gotta go......I am so tired.

hey flying in after an exhausting day of "visiting" Mexico with 500+ students! My first graders presented their power point thingy 18 times! What an endurance test! :) ...but it was done....

anyway...
Thomas' arm has chunks (literally) missing out of it. He spent hours in the emergency room and then followed up with a visit to the doctor yesterday. CHUNKS! Weeping, seeping holes! OMG. I'm NOT a nurse. I nearly fainted again at the doctor's office. He has to wear a sling so that he can't move it and "reopen" anything that might have possibly crusted. Ummm! Spent a small fortune in bandages, tapes, oinments and perscriptions. Don't care about the $$....Just REALLY wish we didn't have to deal with this injury! Thomas has been incredibly brave. NO tears ....until he was told that he can't play baseball for the rest of the season and no bass lessons or practice for at least 3 weeks. We're working to keep it clean and GERM free!

I will try to read all the posts that I've missed... I'm sorry for being absent yet again! :)
take care,
meeee

how many weight watcher points are in jello shooters? tonight was the end of year party....a week ahead of time..... lets say that I had a very fun time! :)

Good Morning,
Sorry I haven't posted this week. We are having an almost childless weekend here. Hubby took youngest to grandmas til I am through with school. That should be Tuesday. SO, Wednesday night was Margarita night. Ending the last day of school and all. We have had luncheon after luncheon this year. Dang I am almost up to 175. I need to stop eating. Geez, can't wait til this week is over. SO, I can get on with life.
Robyn: SOrry bout your son's arm. Is he ok? I know he is very upset about no baseball. Geez. Poor thing. How were your jello shooters?
Kerry: Good for you for excercising. I plan on making that a priority.
Ginny: Night at a hotel? Oooooh la la......
Mouse: Pools up........Chemicals in. Just waiting for the water to heat up.........
Lots to do...... Be back later
Pam

Hola chicas! Como esta? How do you say "oh my aching head" in Spanish?! It has been a while since I had one of those alcohol induced head throbs! I've taken some head meds and all is well with the world EXCEPT I slept thru WW this morning! OHHH WELL!

DS had to get up and go with CoachDad to the ballgame. He had to go in full uniform complete with medical blue sling. He is going in full uniform JUST so he can be counted and then sit on the bench and perhaps avoid them having to forfeit. DS was NOT happy about having to put on baseball pants for no good reason. (Oh no. I never looked. I bet he has on some colorful boxers under those white thin pants! OH dear! :) )

School is 3 days away from being DONE! Phone is ringing....will return to read everyones posts and say a REAL hello to everyone! :)

...til then..take care,
meee

An interesting day for me. Wish I could go hide somewhere.....or perhaps bring back that really nice man that I spent a day with up in Sturbridge. I think I left him on Rt 84 somewhere.........he is the same guy I left somewhere on the way home from NC last summer.

Robyn- well, the good news is that it sounds as though nothing in Ds's arm was broken. His arm sounds quite bad though- and I am glad you are not a nurse! This way you just have to maintain his bandages, not be the one to administer the bad news (like no more baseball for the season). How is he handling the injury? How about Dh handling it? Are you ok? Don't sweat the WW meeting......there will be another one next week. we all need a rest from time to time ( I took this week off too).

Pam- hope things return to normal so that you can regain your focus. I have been having hard time with that also (staying focused). Some days/weeks it is easier than others. Put the mental brakes on......I would advise (as they are just starting to mention in weight loss articles) that you WI every day.
For me it is a wake up call......a reminder that the horrors I ate the day before really do show up on the scale and that I had better get my fat fanny in gear immediately.

What a stressful week. Yesterday, I was called at 5:15 am to drive a HS/MS route, then my elementary. I know how short drivers they have been (and the person I "sub"bed for is a Friday call in mallingerer type....:( so I agreed to do the route. Then I had to take my annual written test (in NY we must recertify annually both written and road tests for a CDL). Had a few hours at home then off for an afternoon of fun and games. There was a horrible accident just outside of my elementary school, the road was closed for 4hours and many buses had to reroute 5 miles out of the way to get around it.
So I got home very late.....drove for 8 hours yesterday. I feel it today....pooped. I want a big cup of tea, my thumb and my blankie....and a nap.

Nuff from me. Better get something done around here. Hope everyone is ok!
Enjoy your weekend.

Another busy day. Went to church with both Dd's (Dh and Ds were headed out for a baseball game) then after we all got back I suckered Dh into walking to the farmers market in town. It was a pleasant walk- all of us went. Later took both dd's to the mall/Walmart and a few errands- that went way longer than I wanted to, but the mall is 30 minutes from our house, so an hour was wasted driving. (I hate shopping anyway). Got some really cute clothes for both Dd's and some Father's day shopping done. Then back to make dinner. I used a bunch of recipes from a late winter WW magazine- Dh commented that he thought it was like restaurant cooking. At least all the work was appreciated. Now I am pooped and not looking foward to another week of work. Oh well.........
Hope everyone is ok out there. See ya!

Happy Monday!!!!!
Did I chase everyone away?????:o

Hello.
I was not chased away....but my post from last night evidently didn't make it up the coast. I PROMISE I posted a message. It wasn't long or great or anything...but it was a message! I EVEN mentioned everyone by name...I think! So. Anywho. Here I am.... yelling at the oldest who is supposed to be studying for his exams. He is resisting my "help". Reisistance is futile...as they said on Star Trek! :)

I have SOOOOO much to do at school....and we spent today (our last day of the multicultural extravaganza!) "doing" Ancient Mali!

Gonna go...before I need to be bailed out....

Will return...later! :) Tomorrow is our picnic! Can you say YIPPPPEEE?! Knew that you could!

take care,
meee

Evening Ladies,
Can you say Thank God baseball and softball season is over for my stepkids and their dad and I? Yesterday was the last day for ball games for this year. Spend the whole weekend at the ball park. The boys finished 2nd in their league and my sdd finished third in her league. So today was spent delievering my Avon orders, cleaning house and playing with the stepsons' and their dad wiffle ball in the yard. Took my dh to the lake and only got about a mile walk out of him and then we had to go back to the van. I was not happy when I am use to walking 2 miles or more. Then my one sds has weak eye muscles and has to do vision thepary to correct them and strenghten them. We decided to let his mom do it home with him, since I am going to work with him on his reading, spelling and math here at the house during the daytime. Well my dh called to talk to her this evening and she said that their son hadn't done his therapy yet for today because he didn't want to do it. So my dh told her that she was to bring it to our house and we would make sure he did it. If he doesn't do it his eyes wouldn't get better and he will have to repeat 2nd grade. I guess I am just fed up with covering for her fat lazy butt and doing everything for those kids. Then I get crapped on by them for their your not my mom attitude and they give me grief when I want to do something and they don't want to. Like this past weekend who took the kids to their ball games and made sure they were there on time and had something to drink. ME! And who showed up 1 hour to an hour and half late to their games but got all the attention when she would shell out money for candy and junk, that they didn't need. She had them so hyped up that I was seeing red. They would not listen to me or their dad the rest of the day. I fixed it the next day though I carried a paddle with me to the ball park and told them if they misbehave, I was bringing that paddle out and using it on them. They straighten up real quick. So I have decided that one of these evenings before she picks them up I am going to give them a 20 oz. pop, candy bars and ice cream. Then she can deal with them for the rest of the evening. Sorry for ranting and raving, but she has me so pissed off right now.
Robyn are you sad that the Cultural Fair is over with? So how many more days of school do you have left? Hppefully you will survive your picnic tomorrow! :)
Mouse where are you? We have missed you. Hope all is going well with you.
Pam, so how did you like your almost childless weekend? Has the water warmed up so you can take a dip in your pool? Haven't been able to get much excerise in this weekend with three ball games on Saturday and three on Sunday. But I think I will make it a priority to get some excerise in this week though.
Ginny, hope things have calmed down for you. Glad your dh liked your dinner you cooked last night. I would love to go shopping for some new clothes. I guess that could happen if I drop some more weight. :)
Well I better go to bed shortly, since I have to be up when the kids get dropped off for their free babysitting service. But God help us all when we ask for a few dollars to help feed the kids when our money supply runs short a week before payday. My dh is going to look for a parttime job for the school year so I don't have to work the afterschool program any more and I can help the kids with their homework, since their mom is too tired and lazy to do it with them after she gets home from work. She just lets them play, feeds them, watches movies galore with them and then puts them to bed. But expects us to do everything else for them. Sorry I am just not very happy with her right now. But she puts on this great front that she has the kids best interest at heart in front of the school officals, the doctors, eye doctor, and our friends. When the only people she really cares about is herself and her new husband.
Thanks for letting me vent. Talk to you all tomorrow. Maybe I will have been able to burn off a few extra calories with all the anger built up inside of me this evening. LOL
Later,
Kerry

Morning,
What a great day this is going to be! I had to get up this morning at 6:40 when my sdd was dropped off by her friend's mom on her way to work. Then listen to my dh talk to her about how disappointed he was in her for lying to him and not telling him that she and her friend were staying at home by themselves well her friend's mom was at work. They are both just 10. But instead of punishing her, he is going to let her go swimming today when he comes home from work. So in the mean time, I have to take her to Curves and come home and start mowing the yard. She was told that she had to help mow the yard some and then he would take her into the pool. Now how fair is that? So I have to get all these stuff done before noon. Then on top of all that crap, I still have to help my one sds do his vision therapy and tutor him in reading, spelling and math. My dh couldn't understand why I was in a foul mood this morning before he left for work. I told him that I didn't schedule a visit to the pool today in my schedule and he said that was fine, he would just take his daughter and drop her off at the pool and come home since two of our friends are lifeguarding today and they will keep an eye on her. I said that wasn't fair to the boys either since they will have to stay home and I for one am not going to listen to them complaining. I might just tell him to take them all and I will just mow the yard myself. He can weed eat it this evening when the kids have left for the day. I like how I am suppose to be the one on vacation here and I get to cater to everyone elses schedules. I hope my visit to Curves blows off some of this steam I have built up. If not, it is not going to be pretty when I blow my top.
Hope everyone else is having a great day!
Kerry

Hi Ladies,
Boy what a little pushing mowing of a yard can do to make one feel so much better. I got the yard done. Worked with my stepson for about an hour. Even made it to Curves to workout with my stepdaughter. I am just wondering if the scales will be up a little tonight since I just finished the yard about an hour ago. Came in and took my shower and feel like a human again. I am going to leave here in a few minutes to go to Subway, stop at the dollar store to buy a container for my contest idea and then off to my meeting. Then I think when I get home I might just head off to bed early tonight. My sdd didn't get to go to the pool today after all. So I am happy my dh didn't reward her for lying by letting her go. I think she knew I was mad with her while we worked out. The ladies working at the gym today asked why we were both so quiet. All my sdd could say to them was she was in major trouble with her dad and me. So loud mouth me proceeded to tell them all why. They were not siding with her at all. They said they could see why we were not happy with her. Even her grandma who she has wrapped around her pinky was not too happy with her when she found out. She said that we should definately make sure she is punished some how. So we attempted to have her mow the flat parts of the yard. When she kept make big old patches of grass between her mowed parts I decided after 10 minutes of that she was done. It would take me so much more time cleaning up her mess.
So how is everyone else's day going? I hope you all survived the school day for those still in school.
Well I better go and get my butt in gear to go to my meeting. It starts at 6:30. Lord only knows how many people are going to be in front of me at Subway and the dollar store. Talk to you all later.
Have a wonderful evening.
Kerry

Is it Friday yet?

Kerry- absolutely ok that you vent here. Your Dh's ex obviously is his ex for a good reason- she is a creep. Bless you for what you do for her kids.......hang in there. Someday they will bless you for it too. Mowing is great excercise and therapeutic too. How did the meeting go tonite?

Ran into a WW meeting this evening during Dd's piano.......down 1.4# (great as I skipped last week and was up a wee bit 4 weeks ago). Gonna get to that goal weight someday........I am so tired. BTW, Dd got her report back (the report from h***, as I am sure you all remember) she got a 113 on it (all the extra points, just some points taken off for punctuation and a few minor spelling problems). The teacher today told me that she was happy that Dd wrote hers by hand, as then she was confident that Dd did the report herself, as opposed to others whose parents typed (and of course spell checked etc.) the report. that is why we elected for her to write it by hand- it is a long, long report and would have taken her so much time to type (she is 10). Her script is beautiful- so why not write it out. Glad that is over......I will be driving a lot the next 3 days-I am beat.

Robyn-Ds survive the exams? You survive Ancient Mali?

Gotta go........off to play ziggety with Dd.

Evening all,
I lost 1/4 of a pound tonight. I was surprised since I thought I would be a little heavier due to the extra hard workout I gave my muslces today. :) So that is two weeks in a row for me to lose something now. Let's see if I can make it three weeks in a row next week. :)
Ginny, congrats on the 1.4 pound loss. I bet your were pleasantly surprised when you were on the scales. Great news about your dd's report too. I bet you are so happy for her grade! Try to sneak in some Ginny time over the next few days. I hope life won't be too hetic for you.
Hello to Mouse, Pam and Robyn. Hope you are doing well.
Off to put my Avon orders that I got tonight online and then I am going to read for a little while before going to bed.
Take care and have a wonderful evening.
Kerry

I arrived home after 8:30 tonight. BPJ for dinner. I'm exhausted. Tomorrow is the last day for kids and today / night was the first time that I've actually been able to "work" in / on my room. I'm so exhausted...but I've got junk to do for school tomorrow... placement cards, actually...gotta run...will catch up and be personal SOME day! ;) Don't hate me! I'm so flippin exhausted..... and I've got so much work to do! take care,
meee

Morning. Our youngest finishes 5th grade today. I will be the mom of a highschool freshman and a 6th grader....no more elementary school mom. Dang, I'm getting OLD! OLD, I tell you!

Robyn Don't look at as that you are getting old. Look at as you are just aging like a fine wine would, getting better with age everyday. :) Congrats on today being the end of your school year for you. I bet you are so happy. So what are your big summer plans for yourself?
Ginny, hope you are enjoying your driving time today? As the end of the school draws to a close to you find that your numbers go down on your bus? Does that make it an easier on you? Congrats again on the great wi you had last night. I got on the scales this morning and I am down about another pound. So my muscles had to have still been contracting last night when I went to my wi. Oh well, gives me a great motivation not to over do it this coming weekend when I am out of town for TOPS on Friday and Saturday. Then on Sunday I am driving home for to visit my family for a few days and will be back on Tuesday in time for my TOPS meeting. So I hope the scales go down again next Tuesday.
Mouse and Pam where are you? We miss chatting with you both. Hope all is well with you both.
Well I need to go and get my workout clothes on. The stepkids will be here any time now and once they get here, I am taking the twins to their dad at work and he can watch them while their sister and I go workout at Curves. Then this afternoon, we are taking them all swimming at the city pool for a couple hours. I guess my sdd kept asking her daddy yesterday when are you going to take me swimming and he told her not today. She could wait a day and let us finish the yard. So I think that was punishment enought for her lying to us.
Well I better get my fat fanny in gear here. Talk to you all later.
Have a great Wednesday!
Kerry

Gee, Kerry thanks for being so optimistic about less kids riding. The only day that will be that way is next Thursday- the last day. Everyone rides in elemenrtary as all after school programs (the in school ones) are over. And they are all wound up. Had to pull over and shut down to get the gang in control. I subbed on a middle school route today.....they were HORRIBLE. We had a riot/food fight in the HS yesterday pm- so all the kids were hyper and aware of the mess in the HS. I hated that part.....not the worst MS kids I ever took home, but they sure were full of themselves. So I am extremely tired, burned out and begging for the xtra strenght tylenol I just took to kick in. Please.

Kerry congrats on the loss........love to hear of the scale going down. Hope your visit with your family this weekend is pleasant and rejuvinating.
Robyn- I so totally agree with Kerry's comment about you being like fine wine or a well aged cheddar. You are getting better and better each day. Love yourself for where you are right now......we love you! And hopefully things will slow down for you soon. Post when you can.

Big Chief Burnout here better sign off.........nite!

well
that was fun.
at least it is over.
now to sit thru meetings and then put it all away...AGAIN.

got home at 9:33.........i'm a zombie! but...
i've got some paperwork to do...the end of it for the year. so i must go.
fine wine aged cheddar...whatever i am...tonight i'm beat!


thanks for understanding. hope the tylenol worked, gin! thanks for your kind words...both of you! kerry YOU are amazing with your dedication to your plan! enjoy your visit!

take care.
meee

Hi all,
Hope you all have a wonderful day today! I got a phone call last night from my mil asking if I would go to a funeral for someone in my dh's family that I don't even know. I told her I would take her, since no one else in her family would. So I think once my kiddies get here for the day, I am going to load them up in the mini-van and off to the lake we go for a walk. So I can get in some form of excerise today, since I have to be at my mil's by 12:30 to go to this 1:00 funeral. Then this evening we have to go to the local Pizza place for a pizza party for the boys' baseball team. I have to find sometime to clean out my van, pack my overnight bag for my TOPS trip with three of my friends tomorrow. So I think I am going to have a busy day today.
Ginny, hang in there sweetie the end is coming very near. I have faith that you can make it through these next crazy hetitic days. I better you were so glad to drop off the last MS student last night. Sounds like it was a wild ride. Hope your evening turned out better for you.
Robyn, so how many days of meetings do you have to sit through? I hope you are able to enjoy some Robyn time in the middle of all your end of the school year junk. Hope you were able to get some rest last night.
Hi to Pam and Mouse. We miss you, please come back and visit us soon.
Have a great day everyone!
Talk to you all later
Kerry

Have a darned cold......drove (or was in command of) my dumb bus for 8.5 hours....trip was awful, two first graders broke out into a fight during lunch (thankfully NOT on my bus) resulting in a bad bloody nose. And they were going to allow the "puncher" (as opposed to the punchee) to sit in the back of the bus. Not on my watch.......sweetie pie and his fist sat right behind me where he could cause no more trouble. I sucked in tylenol and caffiene all day to remain with it. Can't believe I was actually HAPPY to see my elementary kids...

Kerry - bless you for being a great DIL and such an asset to Dh's family. We always knew what a quality person you are.....hope you got some sort of workout in.

Dear Fine aged Zombie- hope you survived today! Keep smiling, the end is near. How is Thomas's arm doing?

Gotta go finish loading the dishes. Nite! (and all this nonsense will be over next week~!)

Man, and I just re read my post from last night........I could not spell for beans! How do you put up with me? And Mouse and Pam......you two ok?
We miss you.

Hi Ladies,
Just a quick note to let you know that I will be gone for a few days. I have to go to the Kings Island Resort for a TOPS Area Recognition Days today and tomorrow. Then on Sunday I am going to go home and visit my family for a few days. So if I am not on here over the next couple of days you know why. I am suppose to leave at 1 today and I still have to pack my overnight bag, go get my paycheck, go to the bank, stop at the store to get travel size shower stuff, and make a few phone calls all before I leave today. Then on top of all this my dh is acting like a butthole. I don't know if it is because I am leaving for a few days or what. But everytime I get ready to go somewhere for a few days, he turns into this demanding person that I do certain things before I leave. Like this morning on his way out the door, he told me to call the landlord and let her know about the screen door and the lock. So let's just add to my stress level this morning already. It isn't like the stress level isn't high enough as it is.
Ginny, how are you feeling today? I hope a little bit better. So what are your big plans for your weekend? I hope some r and r is in your plans. Hope the bus rides today go a lot smoothier than yesterday.
Robyn, hope you are not feeling so zombie like today. How is your classroom coming along? What are your big plans for the weekend?
Hi to Pam and Mouse. Hope everything is okay with you two.
Talk to you all later. Have a great weekend! I will try to check in with you all from my parents house.
Kerry

Gee Kerry, must be something in the air , my Dh has been a pain too. Hope your weekend away is a good one.

Happy father's day eveyone.....

Hi, everyone.
I disappeared, and I am sorry. I think you all knew I had pneumonia, there, and bronchitis. I went to work anyway, and only took 2 days off. That was a bad idea, but there was so much end of year stuff that needed to be done.
I came home every evening and collapsed... It wasn't fun. Fortunately, the kids were on half days for exams, and my TA helped me out in a big way.
I made it through graduation, and spent all weekend in my apartment.
I finished editing and burning a DVD of 2 slideshows I made for the kids... one of the whole year plus graduation, and re-did the one from Prom so it was a true DVD and a higher quality.
Sorry that I was missing in action... I'm done now, the DVDs are delivered, and I have this whole week off except for a CPR class on Tue/Thur evening, and swimming classes on Saturday. Summer school starts June 28th, but I'm only working 3 days a week in the mornings.
:mouse:

Mouse- glad you are doing better, although it sounds as though you might not have taken off quite enough time to fully recooperate. How dedicated/kind of you to crank out those DVD's for the kids. I am sure that they will appreciate all the effort! Your summer schedule sounds great- not too demmanding and with enough time to recharge those batteries. Feel better, rest up!

Me? I am still pooped. Survived Fathers day.....it was very tough for me. Tough because our Pastors sermon (in a nutshell) was about that to be a great father, well you have to be a great husband...did not see too much of mine and he was not in church with me. (and I understand why, just some days it is harder to accept than others) Dh was involved with 5 baseball games this weekend......in the blasted 90+ heat.
I did go to one game - wish I had brought my crochetting with me to help stave off "ennui".

3 more days............:carrot:

Howdy friends! Miss me?!?! Things here have been going 1000 mph ... I am hopeful that now that today is behind me things will slow down a tad! :)

Gin, Hope all is well. Sorry to hear that baseball was the center of your dh's universe this past weekend. I got quite a sunburn on Saturday sitting at ds's last game! Thomas' arm hasn't totally healed....BUT, evidently, it was healed enough for Dh to ok him playing. There wasn't enough tape in the world for me to get the darn thing to stay on tightly....but I tried! I also told him that IF he should need to slide OR get in the dirt.... THEN we would work on cleaning it out for the rest of summer! Luckily, he didn't need to be a hero! :) The game was lost. DH had words with the UMP about his vision issues. I'm so darn glad that it is over. How is WW going?

Mouse, sorry to hear that you've been sick. Hope that you're feeling better now. Hope you're able to relax a bit.....

Can't wait 'til Kerry gets back to tell her that I joined Curves! They are running a special for teachers AND I have GOT to do something! Exercise has been NON existant most of this whole school year.... So, at least this is something! .....an effort! I went today. Once I learn the machines, I'm certain that it will help me for awhile! I didn't have to obligate myself to anything...ie, contract wise...so THIS was a good time to try it! :)

I accidently ran into an old friend today...... LONG story.... but the bottom line is that I've been an emotional wreck most of the day...and it makes me MADDDDDD! I've got to tape my mouth shut or something....why do I react to emotional issues by eating???? HOW do you STOP THAT dumb response?

18 days until I go to Florida! :) I'm excited! NOW if ONLY I could make my fanny disappear between now and then...sigh! NOt gonna happen as long as I eat like a porker!

Gotta run...... the dog is messing with my box of school stuff that shouldn't be sitting in the living room! Arghh! :)

Ya'll take care!
meeeee

Dear fine aged wine or cheese or fruitcake (yeah, that is more like you Robyn!)
So glad you are ok....and that Thomas's arm is mending....and that Dh did not physically assault "blue" (mine got into a shouting match with the ump and was almost thrown out of the game to boot!)and glad you joined Curves, and that you are going to Florida in 18 days! Where are you going- Orlando to see the big Mouse? Missed your wit and charm a ton, I am just way too much of a burnout to keep good track of things. I too am a huge victim of emotional eating (need to PM me or email?). And I can blow a perfectly good day BIG TIME with bad nite. Today was a perfect example. And I find this baseball turmoil completely frustrating. If I spent all the time on something that I wanted to do (that took away from family time as much as the ridiculous little white ball does here)he would have divorced me years ago. End case.

Okie dokie......two half days left. I am going to actually miss my "graduating" 5th graders. They are wonderful. Bet there will be some tears on Wednesday from me (I have had these kids for 4 years). Got company tomorrow nite.....another busy day. Actually this whole week is busy. Atilla beckons.....nite!

I think FRUITCAKE fits the best these days! :) Gin, I did send you a PM....in case you didn't see it yet! :)

I am going to Orlando to the National I Teach 1st Grade Conference. I can't believe that I've NOT told you this! :) The conference is being paid for by my school! My dear friend who lives in Florida (and teaches 1st) (AND keeps me on track with my WW!) is meeting me there! We are doing 3 days at the conference and then the rest of the week we are spending together HANGING! :) I'm so VERY VERY excited. The way I see it.... THIS trip is my reward for all of the trials of the last year....with DH being out of work and me figuring out how not to lose my mind ALONG with me doing more than just surviving the last school year. (I'm sorta thinking that this is why my principal said yes when I asked if she would pay for it! This last school year was beyond *JUST* difficult!)


I hope that you are able to get the tears under control....... This was the first year that I didn't cry on the last day of school as my babies were leaving. Usually there are a few..... but... the only tears that I cried were the next day when I realized that I wasn't going to be ready to leave for the summer on time! :) I did cry a few tears over my youngest finishing 5th grade and leaving ME (we went to the same school this past year!) but I got them under control fairly quickly!

The laundry is calling me..... Dh's work shirts! I don't want to iron...so I'm running out of here!

Love,
meeee

Morning, everybody.
Yea, I definitely didn't take enough time off when I was first sick, and I'm paying for it now with absolutely no desire to do anything but sleep. Which is a problem because there is definitely some stuff that needs doing. I have to go over to my Red Cross chapter because they didn't have a mask for me for the CPR class. They didn't have a book either, but there were extra books. :grump: Fortunately, the instructor was a fellow Disaster person, and allowed me to stay because I need it for lifeguarding and I expire in July. There isn't another class between now and my expiry date!
I also seriously need to buy a vaccuum cleaner, find a DHL drop off box, and mail a check to my bank (which involves buying stamps because MY stamps are in my desk at school, which doesn't do me any good!). The vaccuum cleaner will have to wait till next week though; I didn't get my tuition reimbursement on my last check like I was supposed to...
Well, I need to run to the chapter. I want to get it done and get back before it gets too warm. Oh, yea... and buy cat food for my little fur-covered demon that I share my home with. He is currently sleeping under the covers at the foot of my bed... it is the weirdest sight to see the blankets rise occasionally and not know there is a kitty under there!
:mouse:

Hello!
Hope you got your errands done before it became unbearably warm today, Mouse! Sleep is what your body needs....and isn't it wonderful that you CAN actually sleep a bit now that school has ended! Hope that you get back 100% soon! I have been doing some investigating about CPR classes for the boyscout troop.... unfortunately, the cost of the RedCross class makes it toooooooo expensive for us to do for the boys....and it is a bunch to ask the parents to pay for right now (as we've just collected money for camp AND given them the long list of supplies that they must take with them for camp! None of our boys is participating in the High Adventure Camp this year as it would put the week at nearly $400 +supplies +incidentals! Why oh WHY must things be so expensive???) Do you know of any way around the cost or at least making it attainable for a group of 11 to 16 year old boys? I can't remember what we were quoted as the cost....but...well, you get the idea.... Just wondering if we were given bad information.... Also, do we *HAVE* to work with the very local chapter? Or could we drive 15 minutes and work with another chapter? Just wondering...and I know that you know all these answers! :) Thanks in advance for your knowledge!

Gin, hope you got thru the day and evening without incident or tears! You must be nearing if not passing exhaustion now! Hang in there! :)

I went to Curves this morning....I guess I will eventually "get" the machines! I'm pretty sure ...after 2 visits....that I won't be going month to month or signing a contract for a year once my summer time special rate is over.... I need to move more...and harder....and faster....but it IS a great way for me to get back in the saddle of MOVING my lard a bit! :) This afternoon, I took the puppy on a "walk"...she HAS got to get to training class!.... we didn't walk long or far....but we did it 4 times....and it was more than I walked yesterday! Part of the trouble was that we were outside walking at 1:30..... It was HOTTTTT!

Gotta run.....the dryer is beeping and I have already explained...I refuse to iron.........so....adieu! take care, meeee

Morning all.
Robyn, I do have a suggestion for your CPR class, but I'm going to PM you. ;)
I barely made it before it got too hot, the only thing I didn't get done was buying gas, because the line at the cheap place was really long and it was really hot. I picked up my mask, bought cat food... Discovered the SuperTarget near the chapter and was amazed. They have a LOT of the stuff that I wind up going to 2 or 3 or even 4 stores to get! Including 93% lean ground beef in patties! I prefer it in patties, its faster and easier to portion control. I think I'll have to go back out there to do some grocery shopping when I'm coming right home. They also had celery sticks, a large container, already cut in water, lots of different kinds of single-serve fish... Of course, I pay more for it, but it is worth it because its more likely I'll eat at home if I have fresh stuff I like instead of frozen meals.
Robin... I'm going to PM you now.
:mouse:

Its summer time:carrot: ......don't we deserve a new thread????
See ya there!