Nope, the WI did not bum me out at all......I was totally encouraged by my scale at home, and realized that the sweater was all of the extra weight.

Summer- thanks for the cyber hug.....I needed it badly. Emotions are high here, tempers short....Dh is a crab and Dd depressed(sobs on the phone constantly, and now wants me to call His mother to get the story straight, because obviously I am stupid and can't possibly figure all this out- in her mind!) Dh is angry/irritable and of course taking it all out on me. No, I do not wish this on anyone. BTW- congrats on finishing the santa hats. You are some lady!

Kerry- another big weight loss week for you !!!!! I am so happy for you!!! Wow!
I think your next goal sounds totally reasonable......especially with warmer weather in the spring to encourage activity. Hang in there, you will get to 175! Hope your trip to the movies is a good one......enjoy.

Well, I am physically and emotionally toasted.....tired of being Dh's verbal battering ram, tired of raw emotions. But as Summer so wisely put it.....we have much to be thankful for and I will reflect on that. Think I need some rest....see ya tomorrow.
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
I am free! I am free at last for 12 days. It was a very long day at school today. I am tired from my fieldtrip and then working the afterschool program until 6. I was able to go workout earlier tonight since I got to leave about 10 minutes earlier from school. So I was home at my house by 7:15. I tried to watch a movie and ended up falling asleep. So I just took it back to the video store and will have to get it another time. I am planning on going to bed early and sleeping in the morning.
I hope you all had a wonderful day at school today. Was today your last day or do you have to go on Thursday?
Well I will talk to you all tomorrow.
Take care,
Kerry

We had a pretty nice day at school today. The fun-day went over well, but we had a minor incident. My TA and I were re-assigned to support the Level 1 students. These are students who aren't progressing on the behavioral program for a variety of reasons, including attendance. They aren't permitted to attend the fun-days. They must do work provided by staff in their classrooms. I don't mind as long as I don't have to come up with the work at the last minute (I'm typically assigned last minute). My program that my homeroom is in only had 3 students out of 50+ students, so that's really good. The other diploma track program had 4 students, and so our program said that we'd put the 7 students together (knowing that most of them wouldn't show up!) and staff so we'd be good to go. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! The staff from the other program found out who our 1 student was (the other 2 didn't come to school today), and had a fit. She refused to take him. But before that, my TA went to her room and said that she was there to support her, and the woman refused her help! So my TA comes back, and we go to the cafeteria to get the scoop... and what a mess! We wound up taking our level 1 student in my classroom, and my TA stayed with him until he left early about 10:45. I gave her a break at 9:30. But the person who planned the fun-day for the other program tried to talk to this other staff member, and got the same attitude from her that my TA did. And somehow, I have no idea how, she told MY supervisor that I didn't communicate! I wasn't even THERE. I was the one who said, "fine, its not worth arguing over, we'll just take him to my rooom, and do things there." Oh, geez, I just don't understand some people! I don't get it!!!
The good parts of the day were getting to see part of Shrek 2 with some of my kids, and playing Trivial Pursuit (which another team beat mine, but it was because we got the weirdest questions!).
We still have tomorrow, which is a regular school day for some strange and silly reason... I have no idea how many kids will show up. My whole homeroom said that they weren't going to come to school, but I'm not sure if that is true.
I didn't get my gift certificate. Along with my not understanding people... the lady I had knows me. She knows how much I read. She knows that I drive my TA nuts listening to Broadway show tunes or other "strange" music. And she had to go in Barnes and Nobles to get one of the small gifts (a bookmark), and part of the final gift (a mini-cat calendar?). And what does she do? Goes ACROSS THE STREET (I know where she lives, so I'm pretty sure where she went) to the Pier One (a store I can't shop in because they perfume the air so badly now, shame, because I used to like their picture frames and baskets) and buys me a safflower colored mug (light yellow). The mug is huge... its one of those "Friends Style" huge coffee mugs. I love the mug, no doubt... but its not microwavable, so I can't use it... I always make my tea in the microwave. And, really, she WAS IN Barnes and Noble! Oh, don't I sound just awful? I sound unappreciative and greedy. But one reason (sad as this is) that I do the Secret Santa every year is because I'm pretty much guarenteed to get a gift certificate for a book. I always put that on my list, a gift certificate for software/book/music... I love my mother, but she doesn't ever get me a gift certificate for books. My father always does: I always get a gift certificate from Amazon from him. So, bad as it sounds, I returned the two gifts and picked out a book. The line at the store was too long though, so I'll go get my books tomorrow.
:blush: I really am embarassed, but I just don't understand!
I'd better go to bed. Its nearly midnight!

Morning Ladies,
Boy do I feel better after getting some much needed sleep. Now I have the engery to tackle the accounts dept. at the local hospital. They turned into my insurance company, my dh's ex's cat scan and it is not covered under my insurance plan and I have this feeling that the hospital is going to try and make us pay the $700. Which we will not and I tried to talk to his ex and she was just like I don't know how that happened and I will take care of it. Knowing full well that she wouldn't take care of it. She has our insurance number because of the kids. IT was not given to her for her own personal use. Plus I have to get my mil something for Christmas. My dh is not any help on this matter. So I think I am going to be going out and braving the cold weather to get all this stuff taken care of.
Mouse, I don't blame you for feeling the way you did. I would have returned it too. I understand if you fill out the papers with your likes and dislikes then the person who got your name should get you something off your likes list. I got a gift the other night at my TOPS meeting and it is a big stuffed moose with a Christmas tress and a welcome sign. That is just not me. I might just save it and give back as a gift next year for our Christmas party. Hope you have another good day at school today.
Summer, Robyn, and Ginny I hope you are surving this little cold spell and crappy weather we seem to be having. I hope your kids are not driving you nuts yet.
Well time to go and get ready to go run my errands. Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

I'm glad you understand, Kerry. I was really feeling guilty!
But I am so glad the day is over. The kids were just absolutely off the hook. I was ready to kill my 4th period guys. They're typically horrible anyway, but today they were just REALLY REALLY bad. Nothing I did, nothing my TA did made a difference. We showed a video, and they acted horrible all the way through it. I had to get out something to fiddle with so I wouldn't even LOOK at one. As soon as I looked at the kid, he started acting like an absolute donkey. By the end of the period, he invited me to lick his youknowwhat! :P
My other strange one, with the parent who swears she believes that her son is truthful when he says I locked him in a van and tortured him, gave me a gift today. Victoria's Secret body lotion. Uhm, is that what most teenage boys give their female teachers? Actually, he gave it to all of us, which struck me as incredibly odd. Oh well, at least it didn't blow up in my face! My TA gave me an Eeyore sweatshirt, which is a great gift for me, since I just love Eeyore.
I didn't get my swim though: I went to the gym, talked with the pool manager for a bit then started to swim and the biggest flash of lighting I think I've ever seen indoors. I thought a light had blown or a flash had gone off at first, but then I saw the lifeguard look around and up, and look at me. I asked if he'd seen it too, and he pulled everybody out of the pool. One of the other lifeguards/swim teachers was there too, she has a leg injury similar to my ankle injury, but far more extensive. She pulled herself up out of the pool and hit her leg, so I helped with that. I felt really bad for her, and am just thankful that I have never hurt myself that badly in public. I hate asking for or getting help.
Then when we got back in, I did 13 lengths, and we had to get out again for more lightening. I gave up and came home.
Going to go to sleep now, and get up tomorrow to swim, hit the grocery for some stuff I forgot to buy last week (really some stuff for the holiday weekend: some steamed shrimp, but also some miracle whip and I'd like some eggplant or squash to go with dinner, and probably something sweet), and get the baseline bloodwork the endocrinologist asked for last week. I did the first test (cotton chewing), now the bloodwork (fasting), then more bloodwork after I take some pills for her.

Good morning!!!
I skimmed the posts......Mouse, I do not blame you one bit for returning the mug!
I would have done the same thing- as a matter of fact did already returned a gift from a student on my bus that is so not my taste- I have store credit now, and can deal with that.

Kerry- glad you got some rest and are attempting to relax a bit.....

I have survived the last day of school- the trip home had on the edge of my seat- it was so windy and torrential rain (the kind that makes you want to pull over because you can't see)- plus it was dark with all the clouds.......and the first part of my route is all "crossers".......I held my breath and prayed for each one as I sent each one across- hoping that any incoming traffic would stop ( the one road I take kids home on is rural- full of windey turns so that the road can look free of cars and then some moron in a high performance car flies around the bend slamming on the brakes... a bus drivers nightmare!) But, praise God, they are all home safely. Now I must deal with my own crew.....heartbroken Dd....oh well.....
My Bday was rather uneventful, Ds had a basketball game, and we went to that as a family. Lots of Dd's friends were there- we tried to encourage her to stay for the varsity game but she came home anyway. Oh well, at least a start for her. She got out without her ex bf.
Gotta go.......see ya later!
Ginny

Hey ya'll!

Been busy.... had a ball last night taking the kids with family and friends to see the Polar Express at the IMAX! I was worried that THEY had ruined one of my favorite books...but I'm soooo glad to report that I was nearly as thrilled by the movie as my youngest! My niece went as well...she is 3....had never been to a movie before and evidently her mother, my sister, and her father didn't tell her WHY she had on the funky glasses.... The poor child nearly jumped OUT of her skin right at the beginning! It was so cold outside that when we were all pushed out of the theater like cattle, she called me on my cell to tell me "Aunteeee, that was the most awsomest thing I've ever seen in my whole life!" (Not a bad review from a 3 year old, huh?!)

I came home, left the family and then went to THE only store open in my lil podunk town all night...WALLLLLmart! I was there for stocking stuffers....and bumped into my dearest NEW friend from my new school..... AND well........we played in Walmart for literally HOURS.... I got home at 4 a.m........ WHAT a great time we had! All the kids and husbands were asleep...the stockmen were very nice...we got the absolute LAST of our shopping done...and we laughed and giggled and had a WONDERFUL time.... the cashier told us that we were the "most fun customers" that she had checked out in nearly a month! You know...if you've gotta be out there doing THAT...at least be out there doing THAT with a friend! hehehe....

I slept all morning and got up in time to put a roast in the crock pot and to bake another variety of cookie (for my daddy for Christmas!) I've got 1 more kind to bake...the kitchen floor to scrub and get everything under the tree... and viola..I'm done! (We don't use wrapping paper...we use cloth bags.....with ribbons...VERY easy to get stuff thrown into and UNDER the tree! AND there is no pile of trash on Christmas morning!)

Belated birthday wishes, Ginny! (and that guy who dumped your daughter right here near Xmas needs his butt kicked! What a jerk!)

Ya'll take care....I'll be back! Thanks for reading my babble!
meeee

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I will catch up with all of you on the 26th.

Merry Christmas to all of you too........ok, Mouse, no I did not forget that you do not celebrate Christmas!
Still trying to get thru today.....just a wee bit of wrapping to do and I am done. Today I got some cleaning done and a whole lot of wrapping - straightening up. This week was difficult with 2 days of half days for some schools and not for others- so I drove a lot. This evening we went to my SIL/BIL's house to celebrate with Dh's family, which was strained (normal). But not awful. I got to sneak out early with both Dd's (who elected to come with me) to go to Christmas eve service, I was the preservice music (me on flute, accompanied by Dd's former piano teacher). I needed that.....have for many years found flute playing a wonderful way to burn off some emotions. And the service itself was exactly what we (older Dd) and I needed. Helped us get things in perspective after all that has happened this week. Plus, Pastors message was perfect- he is not known for great sermons (he is a very good shepherd, but his sermons can be weak......not tonight however!) and we finished singing Silent Night with candle light only. My weary soul needed that.......sorry to bore you with the details.

Anyway.....Robyn- your midnight shopping trip to Walmart sounded like a real hoot. Wish I could have shared it with you! Love your Polar Express story.....in IMAX yet!
Must have been something special. Thanks for the bday wishes, Dec 23 is the official non birthday......but I am rather used to it.

And as far as Dd's former bfriend.......well, ok I can't really attribute this to divine intervention...... but Mr Wonderful had his car smashed open by some thugs and everything of value stolen (yes, there is a big smile on my face!, not very Christian, I know). And if I ever bump into his mangey little personage these days........well, it will be hard to maintain some semblance of maturity and sanity. Hard to hear your daughter cry herself to sleep each night over some creep. And I guarantee that the creep already has another girl on the line- he has one of those sickola male ego's that need constant feeding.
Ok, I have crabbed enough.....thanks for listening.

Summer, Robyn and Kerry have a Merry Christmas. Mouse- wishing you a very well deserved week off and lots of time to recharge your batteries!
Ginny

Merry Christmas to all of you.

Ginny, thank-you for the card... I saw the envelope and I'm downstairs chatting with our front desk person going, "Gee, I wonder who this is from? I don't know anybody..." And then I opened it.

Morning Ladies,
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I was fine until I got sick last night and threw up. So I am wondering if the food didn't agree with me. I feel fine today. Just really tired.
I hope to get some form of excerise in today sometime. I didn't get any in yesterday.
Well I better go and get my shower. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Hi!
Just a quick hello......have to clean up from the last tornado and get the house ready for this evening when BIL and SIL are coming over......maybe I will get to stop and relax sometime in the next decade.

Mouse- thanks for the Christmas wishes... glad the card got there (took a long time I think!) and sorry that the cards were not great....I somehow ran out of the cards I was using and had to go into some spare cards I had. Oh well, the thought was there.
Hope you are enjoying your time off.

Robyn- hey girl......buy some cards for me!!!!!!! Are you one of those who get out the day after to shop the bargains?? (I am too much of a burnout to do so!). Hope you had a great day with your family!

Kerry- hugs! How are you feeling??? I hope that whatever made you ill is a fast mover and you are feeling better. Go easy on the excercise.....maybe a short walk or something like that until you feel stronger. How was your Christmas?

Summer- how did your Christmas go???? Hope to hear from you as soon as you can get to the computer.....but it can be tough to post with everyone home.

My Christmas was busy........so what else is new! The day went fairly well, but I am tired. Wish I did not have to do all that cooking.......but it went ok and is done. My mom came up, she is doing ok, but the years are really starting to take their toll. (she will be 80 next July). She has the next round of surgery for the basal cell on Jan 4 (I have the afternoon off, 1/2 personal day). Maybe once that is done she will get some of her energy back. And Dd is still moping around about her crummy former Bf.....may he stay away forever.......but he did call her yesterday....don't know if that was good or bad. She said she would have been even more upset if he had not called. What a creep......
Guess I'd better go clean....the house is quiet for the next 1 1/2 hours until they all get home, so I can straighten up a bit before the next onslaught. See ya!
Ginny

Hi Ginny,
I am feeling a little better. I did a 2 mile walking video and that seemed to help with my burst of engery. I am feeling alot better. I am wondering if it was something I eat yesterday that didn't agree with my stomach. Once I threw up last night and got some sleep, I felt better. I just think that I got too much sleep though. I went to bed at 11 last night and got up this morning at 11. Oh well that gives me an excuse to sit and read some this afternoon.
Talk to you all later.
Hope you are all relaxing after a day of family get togethers.
Kerry

Holey MOLEY....
Woke up to the whole place white with snow. First off.... I am in Virginia. Snow and Virginians does NOT mix. The weather people were calling for overnight "winter mix" with no accumulation....well... It is NOT accumulating STILL...... It is WELL over my ankles! Sunday is my usual grocery day....and well....GUESS WHERE I went earlier today?!

I started out by myself...slid sideways 3 times...came home and told my dh IF he wanted to eat..then he would have to drive me to the store. He lived in Maine for years, laughed at me and took me. The roads have not been touched. No plow, no salt, no nothing.... It is well beyond my ankles and heading towards my knee WITH nothing done to the roadways.... SEEEEEEE...... Virginia and snow just don't mix!

I came home and am spending my time wrapped in my new twin sized electric blanket (like I said he is a Mainiac and NEVER gets cold!) reading the newspaper and books. Now I'm wrapped in it at the computer! The boys have FINALLY gotten outside to fight in the snow! They will be good for about an hour before they will be back inside melting all over everything!

I'm eating my weight in crap on the hour....... soon the crap will be gone and I won't have a way to get more! This is THE only good thing about the snow that I can think of!

Gotta run.....I hear them on the steps! What was that?! 14 minutes????? Geesh!
will return!
take care,
meeeeeeee
....................did my new siggything work?.......................................