Evening Ladies,
The baby shower was a huge success. Everyone had a great time. We didn't have one augurment at all. To see the smile on Staci's face as she opened her presents was enough for me. I did tend to overeat a little bit though. So I didn't eat anything for dinner tonight. I might have a little snack here in a few minutes before I go to bed.
But I did make up for it with excerise today. This morning I did a 3 mile walking video. Then this evening my dh and I went for an hour walk around town. Then I came home and tried out my pilates for dummies video. I was only able to do the 15 minutes of the mat excerises, but I think I will eventually put that together with the 20 minutes of standing pilates.
Summer, I am so glad that your dd is so excited about being the flower girl in her cousin's wedding. That is just so cute about her reaction at the party yesterday. Hope you had a pleasant day doing laundry and working on your lesson plans.
Ginny, glad to hear that your mom is doing well. Sorry to hear that your sister let the ball drop were taking care of your mom is concerned. So how did you like your workout with your strechie? I love using my strechie when I do her videos.
Mouse, please keep up with your workouts. Don't let what those stupid idots say affect your self-esteem. They don't know what it is like to walk in your shoes and have to deal with your disorder. If everyone around you can see that you are making progress with your working out, keep it up and continue to soak up the nice comments you have been receiving from your friends, family and coworkers. Please keep your appointment in Oct. There has to be one good plastic surgereon out there who can help you. Have you ever thought about applying to Extreme Makeovers? They would pay for your surgery and everything. That is just a suggestion. Hang in there, gal! Remember we are all rooting for you!
Robyn, so how was your day? Pick anymore clams today? What are you planning on doing with all those clams anyway? Glad to hear that your life is going a little bit better this week.
Have a great week at school ladies! Tomorrow I have an inservice at my districts high school on how to restrain students. So that will be nice to be out of my classroom for the day.
Talk to you all tomorrow.
Kerry

Crabs! LOL Crabs! I spent 4 hours pickin crabs on Saturday. Today my dh deviled a pound of the crab meat and stuffed a flounder! YUM...but definately NOT a diet food!

The crab meat has been put in the freezer to be pulled out at Thanksgiving and other special times this winter! Nothing like a taste of summer right in the middle of the winter! I truly would have rather spent Saturday doing most anything else tho!

I've got the last load of laundry in the washer. The house is a mess. This week is going to be a busy one so it isn't likely going to clean itself.

Ya'll take care!
Have a great Monday! (Oh, my inlaws have returned to their Florida home from the shelter...and my friend is preparing to go back to her home on Monday.... I hope this is IT for Florida for a while...)

Feel better Mousie! Summer, So glad that you had an enjoyable weekend and a wonderful family time! Kerry, glad that the party was fun! Ginny, we spent Friday "doing" Johnny Appleseed! We ate apples...but didn't get to the orchard to pick them. (They aren't ready yet down here!)

take care...oh, I already said that!

'Morning!
Just a quick hello.
Kerry- so glad the shower was a success. Sounds like you let the inlaw problem roll off your shoulders...probably the best way to handle that. Good job getting the workouts in too! BTW, I have only used the stretchie once....gotta get the hang of it so I can get the most out of the workout (oh,it is plenty easy to do, I just need more time to get familiar with it. And my back muscles feel it a bit today which is good!)

Robyn- yummy on the seafood!!! And when you can enjoy it later on in the year, it will be all the more worth the effort! As far as the house work goes (I had one of those weeks last week!) so what.....housework is very patient, it always waits for you.
Do what you need to do to keep from drowning in it and catch up when you can.

Gotta go......got a 15 minute walk in this am.....felt good in some crisp fall air.
See ya! Hi to Mouse and Summer.
Ginny

Just another short hello.......survived what seemed to be a long day. BTW, is it Columbus day yet????????
Kids were ok- oh the stop with the student who lost his mom, well, this afternoon the other student and he were stuck as her mother (the neighbor who usually does the pick up) was not there. So, I radioed in to base.......and got the instructions to comtinue on my route (rather forces the mother to now wait for me instead of vice versa and also does not hold up the route for all the other kids). I figured that the office had had enough of being patient- even with the crummy circumstances. Sad part was that while on the way back, the boy started complaining about how noone ever comes to pick him up early anymore. Now how do you tell a kid, whose mom is gone forever, and Dad has to work.....so does everyone else....that he just has to be thankful that there are enough other people who do care for him and are trying to make the best of a rotten situation????? I oh so delicately tried to do that.....even went out on a limb to tell him that I was really in his corner and would do all that I could do to help him. Just a crummy situation, that is all.
Ok, I have vented enough. Starting to get a wee bit of a cold....time to bring out the echinecia tea!!!! Hope everyone is doing fine. Take care.
Ginny

Good evening all. And what a Monday it was. I had to test one of my students for his IEP, and he was lower than I thought. He scores about 4th grade overall in everything, except writing. And I'm not entirely convinced these tests are accurate. I was never fond of the ones we're using, and used ones I found or was trained in that I think are more accurate, like the Qualitative Reading Inventory and the Saxon Math placement test (places by grade level so you can use the Saxon Math books; can't stand the books but the test is okay). I felt like I spent the whole day in the hallway adjusting point sheets for off the wall behavior... I broke up one fight, even though I'm not certified in physical management I had the training before I hurt my ankle... I was there, so I did it. I'll get in major major trouble with admin if they find out, but what was I supposed to do? Let them beat the crud out of each other? Yea, no.
And I was more than slightly sick until just before lunch... I didn't take one of the pills they gav eme for it. I did that on Thursday, and I was out of it all day long. So I didn't eat much... I've got a whole bunch of stuff next to me now though because I'ms tarving... salad, salmon, broccoli, potatoes and dessert! EVen still, its only 1400 calories.
I went to the gym, and I'm glad I did though I was really dragging when I got there: I swam/walked a mile with a friend there and lifted weights. So I'm still tired, but its a different kind of tired.
Ginny: You get Columbus Day? LUCKY!!!!!! We're in session until the first week in November, when the kids are off but staff has to be there for report cards.
Kerry: Sounds like a good shower... I gave one for somebody at work a few years ago. People were giving her a hard time because she wasn't entirely sure who the father was, and she wasn't married. Turned out the father was the last person she expected, but I'm not there to pass moral judgement. I did the shower because it was the right thing to do, to support a fellow co-worker. I was embarrased by the behavior of our administrators over the whole thing.
Robyn: I LOVE CRAB!!! But I haven't a clue how to pick them or what to do with it, and I'm in MAryland! I went to one crab-picking party, and somebody (okay, it was my first prinicpal!) tried to get me to eat the lungs. Fortunately a co-worker saved me.

The LUNGS??? OMMMMMGGG! BLEECHHHH! My stomach is doing somersaults at the thought! Were you at one of those GREAT crab feasts where they are boiled up and poured out onto the newspaper covered slabs of wood between two saw horses??? With plenty of beer and Old Bay and lots of laughing while the crab stuff just drips from your elbows??? Yum, yum, yum! You'd think living in Maryland that you'd HAVE to know how to pick a crab! LOL This is the first year in many a year that we've not had our own crab pots and gotten them all summer..... I enjoyed the time off.... and LOVED dinner...and will LOVE the taste of summer as we pull it out of the freezer... BUT... bleech... I've got other stuff to do on a Saturday! Anyway.... I am NEARLY a vegetarian...nearly... and standing by watching dh pull off the shell and wash out the entrails of these creatures almost did me in.... AND then to stand for over 4 hours pulling the meat out of the shell.... WELLLLLLL...... it will be a while (now that the crab meal is over and done for now!) before I want animal flesh again...for a while... I said NEARLY a vegetarian!! Eww.... enough!

Hope all feel well tomorrow! Hope that there are NO physical confrontations that any one has to deal with. Hope everyone meets the bus on time. Hope all body parts remain covered that are supposed to be covered! Hope all testing is completed or is easily completed.... Hope everyone has a grand tomorrow! Yeehaw... is it Friday yet???

(((hugs)))
meeeeeeeee

Evening Summer,Ginny,Robyn and Mouse,
What a day I have had. I went to my inservice to be bored out of my mind for almost the entire day. The lady doing the inservice kept getting off topic and talking about it for what seemed like days on end. Was late giving us lunch and then the stuff we all really came to find out about she crammed into the last 45 minutes of the inservice. I beat it home, so my friend could cut my hair. Then ate a quick bite for dinner. Then it was off to the kids' soccer game. Came home to get ready for school tomorrow and gathered up all the stuff I need to take with me since I have to go workout after work and then go straight to my TOPS meeting. Plus I tried a new workout video called Crunch Pilates. IT is a good workout, I was suprised that I was able to do the whole 48 minutes of the workout. I have decided to boost up my working out to help slim my bugling belly. LOL. So I am now offically trying to unwind from my day.
Robyn, having a taste of summer this winter sounds great. When can we all come over for a nice dinner? LOL, You don't even have to clean your house for us. I seem only to clean house once a month anymore. Maybe twice if we are having company over that we feel we need to impress them. I have never cleaned crab before, but I don't think I would like that process too much.
Mouse, glad that you got your workout in tonight. I bet you felt better after it though. Sorry you had a crummy day! I hope that you don't get in too much trouble for breaking up that fight. Don't you hate it when you think you are doing the right thing by breaking up the fight and you get in trouble for the manner in which you did it. Here wishing you a better day tomorrow.
Summer hope your week got off to a great start. Hope your good for nothing aide doesn't let you down this week. Keep smiling and living your live to the fullest, like you did this weekend.
Ginny, I am glad that you tried to make the boy feel a little bit better. Those situations are always tough ones, huh? You will really love using the stretchie band. It really boost up your muscle activity.
Well I am going to be getting ready for bed here in a few minutes. Talk to you all tomorrow. Have a great day tomorrow!
Kerry

Just a short hello....I am attempting to listen to my Dm bellyache about my sister...(and I do not blame her!!!!
Robyn- I love your paragraph to us about no confrontations......body parts being covered......it sure applies to all of us. Bless you for making me laugh.
Mouse- glad you got some gym time in. Bet that felt good.
Kerry- hope that the crunch pilates doesn't make you feel sore....I have a pilates DVD that can really do a number on you.
Summer- how you doing?????
Me, I am pooped...have a headache. and a mild cold...want a nap.....vacation......how 'bout we rent a nice pretty room in Vermont for all of us......just hang out and laugh, read- no phones, no stress.....
Any takers?
See ya later. Hope everyone has a good day.
Ginny

Robyn: ITS YOUR FAULT!!!! Your post about keeping all body parts covered is what did it: one of my kids had a huge hole in the crotch of his pants. Black pants and RED underwear!!!!
Today was also my day for visiting the nursing suite: I was in there 3 times today, I think, maybe 4... with student issues, including the nose that just would NOT stop bleeding.
No gym today: tornados and thunderstorms instead.
Good news: A comp time slip I thought I had used mysteriously showed up in my mailbox... so I have an extra 5 hours that I didn't know I had. I think I'm up to 18 hours or something now? That's not including the 16 hours they owe me from those reports this summer, or the 4 hours I should get for back to school night tomorrow (Industry staff isn't required to attend the fall night, we have our own night in the spring... but because I have a homeroom, I'm there, I think its important... most of the other industry staff shows up too, so we get comp'd by the school since they can't pay us).
So, Ginny, when you rent that room in Vermont, I can come!
I'm going to go swim toward my dinner now, and talk to you all later.

Well, my friends, I am still playing the waiting game. While I was at school, the nurse from my doctor's office called saying that she tried to reach me at school, but wasn't able to...and then of course to call her back. I got this message at 5:30pm, 30 minutes after the office closed. Did she leave a message like when my biopsy was scheduled? No, of course not. How silly! God forbid I know what is going on any sooner than necessary. I keep on getting "lip service" from the medical community about how they know how hard the waiting is. Well then, why can't they expedite things more efficiently?!

Work is pretty good. My aide has graced us with her presence for two whole days in a row!!! I've worked that b*tch so hard this week just to get even! Tee hee hee! In the past I have been so compassionate and understanding, but I am tired of being lied to and left holding the bag. So from now on, she is gonna get hers. I am getting a new student next week with ADHD. I'm a little concerned since most children aren't diagnosed with it so young. He is on medication, but apparently has outbursts occasionally. If he is too wild, I'm referring him to special ed.

My DH and best friend are trying to plan a 40th birthday celebration for me on Saturday night. My other really close friend has to work (she always has to work) but is trying to get someone to cover her shift...so far with no luck. Three other couples invited all have family commitments. My brother has to work. My brother in law (schmuck) will be out of town. My sister and sister in law don't want to drive themselves because they like to drink A LOT. So, my big 40th celebration is gonna be small. Right now, I don't give a sh*t. I just want to go out and party no matter who shows up. During the afternoon on Saturday, I'm going to get a full body massage. YES! I wish I had the money to get a facial too, but I'm using a gift certificate, and that is all it will cover.

We are getting a lot of rain from the latest hurricane. We have been so lucky. I feel awful for Florida residents.

Ginny, Vermont sounds like fun, but there is no way my family would let me take off for a trip with friends.

Kerry, you are on the fast track just like me. It is so hard to work full time, raise children, and keep house. It is like a treadmill that we never get off.

Robyn, I LOVE SEAFOOD. I wish I was there with you.

Mousie, I'm happy for you that you have so much comp time. I could sure use some time off. I hope you are feeling better now.

Take care one and all.

Mouse- well, so sorry about the jinx......black pants and red undies huh???? Funny, my flasher was so good today, but that usually means that he is holding back to unleash some wierd, strange behavior....... Congrats on all that comp time. Sounds great!!!!!! Oh, and BTW- for my imaginary room at a secluded B&B in Vermont, I will make sure that there is a nice indoor pool and a gym for you. (along with all the walking paths for me). Dream on, Ginny.............

Summer- so when is the big day!!!!! Happy birthday!!!!!!! Gee, I would rather have 2 attendees who really, really cared than a room full of phoneys (who needs the schmucky BIL anyway.....hey, I have one of them too!) What miserable creeps you have encountered in the medical world. Somehow you will have to make yourself totally insistent when you do get thru to these folks......this has to be so very frustrating for you. How is your aide handling the pressure......is she bright enough to figure out that she brought this on herself?

SUrvived the pm~ had my full load of kids from HS, so it made for an interesting trip back home. Not a moment to spare before I had to load elementary. Oh well, they were not too bad. But I am glad today is over. Plus, sometime this week before Friday I have to clean my wonderful vehicle.......all 40 feet of it, from top to bottom (state inspection). Last year they used to take the buses due for inspection out of service for a few days so that we could get the bus clean w/o the kids making it a mess. Change in policy this year......I get to use my bus all week. Someone please tell me how I am supposed to keep this clean (all seat belts buckled, windows smudgeless, floor shining........the list is insane) when it is actively being used?
(this typically takes 4 hours to accomplish, w/o kids). So tomorrow I am going to clean it, and if the inspector misses the event because the kids trashed the bus.....well too bad. I have no idea otherwise, how I am supposed to do this.
Gotta get Dd in bed............sounds like a wonderful idea for me too!! Hi to Kerry and Robyn. Have a great nite.
Ginny

Somebody please tell me it is June.......don't feel like facing the masses today.

Hope everyone is doing ok out there....chin up!!!! Smile! Have a great day.
Ginny

Finally after calling the doctor and being put on hold, told half of what I needed to know only to be put on hold again, the nurse gave me my biopsy info. I am going on Wednesday, October 6th, the day after my 40th birthday. I had hoped to be done and have the results before my birthday. Had this whole thing been handled more efficiently, I probably would have. I mean really...the first mammogram was on August 23rd. By the time I have the biopsy it will add up to over six weeks of "hurry up and wait." Then we need to allow a seventh week to wait some more for the results. I can't believe how friggin long this has taken. And in the meantime, I know I must have gained weight. I haven't exercised one iota, and I have been STRESS EATING like there was no tomorrow...no pun intended. Just think of all the damage I've done to my body. Oh, and you should all see the zits on my face! I have the face of a 13 year old in the midst of puberty! Normally I only have a couple of breakouts during my period, but since this whole nightmare began, I have had a "pizza face."

Eventually, when I feel like my life is under control, I would like to try the South Beach Diet. But, I won't even waste my energy worrying about that now. I just want to try to enjoy my birthday and get through this holding pattern.

Last night, when I picked up DD from her friend's house (the mom drove her and picked her up from Brownies.) the house was filled with cigarette smoke. I was pretty angry because DD has asthma. Luckily, she didn't have an asthma attack. Before the next Brownie meeting, I will have to call the mother and explain how dangerous second-hand smoke is to my daughter (not to mention everyone else as well.)

Ginny, I wish it was June too...actually July, since it is the only month completely untouched by school. I hope you can think of a creative solution to your problem with getting and keeping the bus clean.

Have a good night Mousie, Robyn, and Kerry!

Just got home. Tonight was back to school night for us. It was good overall: I got to meet some parents, and had 1 or 2 apologize for their kids! That always makes me feel bad, to be honest. What must other schools have done that they feel the need to start OFF apologizing for their kids? No kid is as bad as all that.
Anyway, the kids left at 1:00 as usual on a Wednesday... we'd had a behavior reinforcer day, which means we don't have classes, they do fun activities instead. Today's theme was 'dogs'... our school mascot is a bulldog. The activities were really kinda dumb. I felt bad for the kids that I was with, because they're all cognitively intact and just their for emotional issues or severe learning disability... And some of the activities were watching a dog training video, building a dog house, drawing a dog... obstacle course where they had to carry dog food... I had one student in angry tears by the end of the session.
So, after all that was over, I snuck off on the pretext of taking a shower and changing for the event tonight... I did all of that, but did it at the gym AFTER I swam for a little over an hour!
So, now, Im going to eat dinner and go to bed.
Summer: Just a note: I've learned that medical professionals, mot of them, don't give a One reason I became a teacher was because my middle school teachers and some high school teachers were so horrible... I didn't want other kids to have to deal with them. Maybe I should've become a doctor like my mom said I wanted to be when I was little.

(((hugs))) to all of you! ARGHHH! Remember those carefree summer days??? WHERE oh WHERE did they go?! The moon is full and the sky has been POURING rain! (However, I must let you know....my new school still ROCKS! Even "wild" as they are...they are FARRRRRRR from the wild I'm accustomed to taming! LOL :P )

Hang in there!!! Friday is nearly here! Red undies under black pants?! hehehehe Pilates tape?? You GOOOOO, Kerry! Clean bus with 40 kids??? ARGGGHHH! MORE hurry up and wait?? (((hugshugshugs))) Summer!

YES! Book me a spot in the FantasyHouse in the Vermont woods! I'll bring crab meat and make us some wonderful crab cakes! What I *NEED* for you to add to the list o'demands for the FantasyHouse is.....uninterrupted sleep......LOTS of it! Put that on the list... and add a Queen sized bed...for me to sleep right in the middle of!

Ok....now here is what is happening in my head.... who can help me???
WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL...................

I have GOT to stop eating. I have GOT to MOVE MY BUTT in a way other than IN A CAR going somewhere! I have GOTTTTT to get my head in this game.

Tomorrow I go to see Momma Mia.... I am thrilled! I was going thru my closet looking for what I want to wear. MY big fat fanny will NOT fit into the clothes I wore last fall. NOT like it is a surprise... NOT like I've done too much of ANYTHING other than eat Oreos in an attempt to make my stress go away! (which didn't seem to do too much EXCEPT cause the fanny to explode!) I am seriously thinking of Curves! 30 minutes... I can do that. 3 times a week. 30 minutes...

Tonight I did something that I swore I'd never do again.... I went to the store and purchased a pair of size 18W pants. This time last year I was in 14's and heading into 12's.

Save me. actually beat me over the head... I truly KNOW that the only one who can save me is MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...................

crap.
thanks for listening.
I have nerve to complain here. where others have true health issues. i just have an issue with reeling my brain in. only i can control my mouth and head. only i can keep crap out of my mouth.
only i can move my butt.
it is me.
i know this.
so why can't i fix it?
it is my head. it is full of just about EVERYTHING other than ME.
why the HECk can't I be like some of those chicks that CANT eat when faced with stress...dear gawwwd what a horrid problem that would be to have..
feh. this is a pathetic post....
my size 18W (W no less...not just 18) butt is pathetic...

enough... maybe I'll edit all this junk........