Mouse, There is no doubt that your things are either right where you left them or have been distributed to other staff. You know, even though you would prefer not to file a claim with Allstate, just for kicks it might be fun for you to make the school think you are going to do just that. If they think that they have to go to all the trouble of filing a police report on your behalf for your insurance, your things might just magically appear. If your things weren't stolen as they say they were, they certainly won't want to get the police involved. Heck, you could probably file that police report yourself. Doing that doesn't mean you have to file a claim. It just isn't right that they should get away with this bullsh*t. Even better, go on Judge Judy!!!

Pam, that stranger in the driveway thing is scary. Thank God your DH had the phone in his hand so he could call the police. And, thank God he obviously listens to his inner voice. Although I live in a town in the suburbs, my house is on a main road. So, I don't like to be in the front yard except to water my plants, and to have my annual tag sale. I prefer to stay in my fence-in backyard. If I do have to be out front, at least I have nosy neighbors, including my nextdoor nightmare (who is actually in a mental hospital as we speak) which makes me feel more secure since there are a lot of witnesses. When my DH and I were first married, before we bought our house, we rented in an affluent area. I used to walk three miles a day in the neighborhood. Once a man stopped his car to supposedly ask for directions. I was across the street, and he spoke very quietly and waved for me to come over to his car. I got this feeling in my gut that he was gonna pull me into his car, so I shouted the directions and ran the opposite way that his car was facing. I ran up to someone's front stoop, and he finally took off. Now, this neighborhood was supposedly one of the safest in the country. Kids played unsupervised all the time. So, between that experience and my allergy related asthma, I prefer not to take walks outdoors. What a shame, huh?

Kerry, enjoy your time to yourself!!!

Today we have a birthday picnic for my DH's uncle who is turning 80. So, it will be one of those days that I will have to make small talk with people I hardly know, and of course, deal with my MIL and FIL. Goodie Goodie Gumdrops!!!

Hello all....

Summer, Glad that your dd enjoyed (and did GREAT!) at her "end of camp thingy"! The wedding that I attended in June was for a long time cheerleader! I've watched her grow up from a cute little elementary girl practicing her cartwheels to THE ONE that they threw in the air while she was a student at Markette! Cheering was a great outlet for my friend! She and her husband went to Markette. Their wedding was filled with annoyingly perky and cute cheerleader friends who were very very kind to me! LOL At one point they did some University cheer thing that actually sorta scared nonMarkette and old me! LOL
The thing with the insurance and chiropracter totally stinks.... Have you considered trying to find an osteopath to help you with your medical issues?
Hope that you are doing well at the picnic....I feel for you...Inlaws, 80 year olds AND picnic foods! Hope you survive! It is toooooooo hot here for a picnic! It is so miserable outside UNLESS you're in the pool. I even went out and got in the darn thing yesterday for a bit! (I've decided that I'd love to have a bigggg one...one end for me...and the other for my goofy, splashing, screaming boys!

Mouse, I would have to do *something* to get them to give me back my teaching stuff.... I have several ZILLION invested in my classroom...and would be desperate enough to need to go the insurance route to get them to react. Can your friend who is still there get to your old room? Perhaps he/she could be of some help. Also, maybe you should just show up with the police to go in and get your stuff.... Why can't you go back there to get it yourself again? Sorry... I've got CRS badly these days!

Pam, the incident with the strange man must have you petrified! You hear and read about all kinds of junk happening....but you never think that it will happen to you or yours! Thank gosh that it was your husband with his 6th sense ....and not your youngest and his friend! This tale will be told over dinner tonight...so that I can remind my own family of how sick and scary this world really is! Bleech! OH and how you found out about changing grades doesn't seem right. I'm sorry that it happened this way...AND personally, I'd die if I had to teach 6th,7th OR 8th grade anything! I'm so glad that you love what you do! Those kids deserve teachers...and if it was left to me...well...they'd not have one! BUT, mannnn it sure stinks to be moved like THIS. See what happens when you are a strong teacher? (This is how things worked at my old school....and made me crazy!)

Kerry, enjoy your alone time! Last time I was alone was last weekend...when I carried it to far and got a sunburned backside..... but ::sigh:: it was sooooo nice out there! Why on earth are they playing ball with the weather being so unbearable...Oh wait... maybe you are in Alaska...I can't remember... Maybe in Alaska, ya'll aren't sweating due to the 98degree with 89% humidity! :: At least YOU don't have to go tonight! LOL

Gin, I'm sorry that your dd is going thru such crap! ....at the whims of a jerk! He obviously doesn't want her to have any fun...or be around REAL men who might treat her nicely. Never speak to her again?! What a blessing...of course, I'm sure that dd doesn't see this as a good thing... 19? He will be like this at 29, 39, 49, 59, etc.... Can she see this creep for what he is? Poor baby! ....AND Poor MOM! Hang in there...

Hope everyone else is doing well....

This coming week I have the following to look forward to:

Monday: My 4 year old niece and I are going to have a date. We are going to go shopping for her birthday presents AND just the 2 of us are going to go out for lunch. I've not figured out all the details...but...I'm excited. She is adorable.....We've been writing to each other this summer... I will send her a note and a picture from a coloring book for her to color and send back. Last week, I actually colored a picture of TinkerBell ....She called me and told me that "You color better than any growned up woman I've ever seen!" LOL

Wednesday: My teacher friends from my old school are going to come visit my new school (and new classroom...with my ZILLIONs of packed boxes). We are going to "figure out" where stuff should go..... then we are going to go to a foofy girl place for lunch.

Friday: My family must make their every 5 years pilgrimage to the Geneticist. THEN later that night we will pack up and drive to THE BEACH!!!!! I'm so excited, I can't see straight! LOL

Gotta go. My youngest is about to microwave something...and um, I had better get in there to supervise.... for a multitude of reasons!

Take care,
meeeeee

I'm in a pissy mood. I managed to survive the picnic, barely. After an hour, I was soooo ready to go. I just kept downing Mike's hard lemonade (the low-carb version). My BIL came with his son. His wife is "crunchy." For anyone who is a vegetarian and complete and total purist, I apologize for my comments in advance. Now when DD was an infant, I breastfed her for a year, and her baby food was mostly organic. Then, when she was around 3, I got real and let her try McDonald's. Now she is just like any other fusspot kid who only wants junk. Anyway, my BIL's family only eats "whole foods." Apparently steak isn't whole? Tee hee hee. They believe in home-schooling. No absolutely never ever can they watch TELEVISION BECAUSE IT IS EVILLLLLLLLL!!! I admit, we should watch less, but zero is taking it a bit far. This child doesn't know how to play because he isn't exposed to normal children. DD tried her darnedest today to engage him, but it wasn't gonna happen. She ended up entertaining herself. Anyway, I can't carry on a conversation with them because they are soooo judgemental about anyone not living their lifestyle. When my BIL was talking about his wife being diagnosed with Epstein Barr, my MIL suggested that maybe SIL was lacking certain nutrients because of her diet, all the crunchies at the picnic chimed in that pure vegetarians get ALL THEY NEED FROM THEIR DIET. God, the poor woman is in her 70's, lighten up! Then when BIL mentioned that he has diabetes, I asked if he had been eating too many carbs and sugars because they don't eat meat, and I nearly got my head chewed off by the crunchies. I can't be around militants from any group. I'm just your average 40 year old who loves both healthy and unhealthy food; enjoys good tv in moderation; loves a good novel; and believes in the merits of public school teaching our children how to be a responsible member of society. If we shelter our children from real life, what will happen to them when they become adults?! So, being the minority at a crunchy party was NOT FUN.

Oh, and one more thing, I believe in the merits of shaving your legs and armpits!!!

My best friend is also pissing me off. Backstory: She was born into an affluent family, married into an affluent family, but her DH is a spoiled rotten, lazy, bum who didn't finish college, and after a series of bad paying jobs was hired by his father's bank. My friend was slumming when she became friends with me, a middle class college girl about to graduate. In the beginning, being her friend was an adventure rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. But, reality set in when I found myself more comfortable in the kitchen chatting with the cook instead of sampling the appetizers in the living room during a cocktail party. I love my friend, and I especially love her pretentious mother who apparently respects me for being a hardworking, determined woman with an excellent work ethic. Whatever. 99% of her other friends are affluent. They live in an affluent area. When invited to her home, we enjoy most of her friends...those of whom aren't snobs. Her DD is my DD's best friend. Here's my issue: Her DH, although nice to us when we are in his home, always has an excuse when invited to our home. It doesn't matter if it is DD's birthday party, our annual St. Paddy's Day party, my birthday party, or a BBQ. He always has an excuse. The amazing thing is that he manages to have time to socialize with all their other friends, but can't seem to lower himself to socialize with us. I'm really tired of this bullsh*t. I mentioned this to my friend in the past, and she made excuses for him. I don't know if we bore him or what but it is utterly insulting. I've tried to schedule a date for them to come over for an evening all summer, and it appears that it won't be happening this year. That is it. I give up. Her DD is sleeping over on the 10th of August. I feel like not calling her at all. I definitely will not bother to invite them over for an adult evening anymore. Thank God for the friends who do enjoy coming over our house and thank us incessantly for our hospitality. Screw them!

Rob, I'm seeing a podiatrist on Thursday. Thanks for another Robyn-induced giggle!!!

SumMAir,

(I wanted to sound like your other "friend".... see, I can talk thru my clenched jaw too! $$$ or not.... (and Hunnne, we are NOT LOL!) I hope that you can see my nose IS in the air!) Um, you had to "book" the kid 2 and 1/2 weeks early for a Wednesday sleep over? AND while it appears that the SnobbyRich DH is the cause of them not socializing with you.... I'm sorta suspicious about your SnobbyRichBestFriend.... What kind of BestFriend treats ya like this? I'm sorry. I have had to come to terms with two very long term BESTfriends....... Things change. People change. And it hurts! BUT it certainly sounds as if these folks wouldn't be too much fun to hang out with anyway! I'm sorry.

Oh and did you say crunchy or crazy? It all sounds sorta muffled to me... of course I can't hear you cause of my untrimmed overgrown armpit hairs wrapped around my head in my new beehive hairdo! I KNOW that I need to eat more healthy. I KNOW that we have many habits that could be "better". I will never (and don't want to! Thank you very much!) understand the whole WHY about homeschooling.... Nor will I ever understand why some people aren't more open minded to other's opinions! Ahhh well.... Glad you survived the picnic and didn't get converted by their crunchy promises and unshaven armpits and legs!

Mike's Hard Lemonade is wonderful, ain't it?! The microwaving didn't turn into an incident, I'm happy to report! He's growing up! Next time I will walk not run in there!

Gotstago.... kiddos are "discussing" who will use their game system....loudly AND I don't think that they are just using their hands for helping each other! (Do you know that teacher of little kids quote? "Hands are for helping not hurting!" YEAH...right! I'll try to keep that in mind as I um "redirect" them! )

take care,
meeeeee

Evening Ladies,
I survived my afternoon of babysitting. Zachery was attached to me the whole afternoon. He is 1 1/2 years old. He cried when he realized mommy and daddy had left him. He was so tired that he cried for about an hour off and on. Than he finally fell asleep for 3 hours. But he had to lay on my chest or he would start to cry again. If his head wasn't there than his little hand was cupping my chest. His mommy laughed and told me that I should be thankful his hand didn't creep down into my shirt. Since that is what he does to her. But he didn't want to go home when she came to pick him up. Than this evening I went out to dinner with my family before the boys went off to the fair. I took my sdd over to my mil's and visited with them for about an hour. Than I left and make a stop at the store for some Mike's Light Hard Lemonade. That is some good stuff. So now I am going to finish up on the computer, go grab another Mike's Light and sit down to read Hide and Seek by James Patterson.
I will come back and chat with you all later either tonight or tomorrow for sure. Just wanted to drop in and say hi.
Kerry

Evening, all!

What a bunch of drinkers we have here! Three of you all knew about Mike's light Hard Lemonade. I barely know what the stuff is.

Summer: Ick. I've gone 'round with best friends too. My best friend from high school didn't invite me to her wedidng even though I introduced her to her husband (she quite literally would NEVER NEVER have met him if not for me!). She became infected with her parent's views of Christianity, I'm afraid. The first question her father asked me when we became friends in 8th grade was not my name or how I was doing, but what church did I & my family attend. He was quite shocked (in a not good way, might I add) to find out I was Jewish. And that was her reason for not inviting me, although I suspect there were others (including the fact that I dislike her husband and all his friends with a passion, though we were all friends at one point), but that was the reason she gave me boyfriend at the time. You see, they invited my boyfriend to be IN THE WEDDING PARTY... but he was not even allowed to bring me as a date. And if that isn't the height of rudeness, I'm not sure what is. Good luck with the podiatrist appointment!
And as for your "crunchy" friend: do they realize that many fruits and vegetables have MORE carbs than some processed foods? Seriously. That's why I'm not allowed to have most fruits, and also carrots, and some other veggies. About "Epstein Barr", that is the closest thing to what I have... she should be seriously watching what she eats! The other name for EB is polycystic ovarian syndrome. As I've said, if that is what I have, then its probably one of the most severe cases that anybody has ever seen! If she's got a mild case, she should be okay in terms of fertility. But weight gain is a big issue.
Robyn: You're one busy chick! I hope you have a wonderful time at the beach!
Kerry: That sounds like the kids I have at Parent-Child for lessons. They scream bloody murder when I take them from their parents to hold or demonstrate!

My day was pretty uneventful: I guarded from 12:30-4, did my workout (lifted weights and then swam)... my private lesson didn't show up, so I helped out with the swim team kids today. I got more laps in because those kids swim the whole length of the pool! I was teaching one of the boys how to do breaststroke tonight. I will be guarding tomorrow from 3-close.

Regarding my stuff: I suppose I could call Allstate and ask them. Afterall, they are telling me they can't find my belongings which must mean they were stolen (probably by other staff and my supervisor!), right? I doubt I'd get very far filing a police report with Baltimore City police. They didn't want to do anything about my car, but fortunately an office on the city force lives in my building and did it for me. I see him occasionally, so I might be able to ask him. I can also call a lawyer... my friend from swimming's cousin is a lawyer, and he was the one I talked to back in April when they were jerking me around so badly. This isn't an employment issue anymore, though, so he might be more willing to take the case. My friend says that he can send an investigator to the building to look for my belongings.
And Robyn: I'm not allowed on their property because they decided not to renew my contract and I resigned. If that happens, you're not allowed on ANY of their property, ever. They told me I could get my stuff, but it would be at THEIR convenience so security, admin and HR could watch what I did. I was absolutely not willing to do that. It also had to be at a time when there were no students or staff on campus. Given that they are a year round school, staff is there 11.5 months, when the **** did they think that was going to happen? Did they think I was going to sit around and do nothign all summer so I could go when THEY wanted me to go?? And if I had gotten my stuff, I still would have had to wait till the end of June because the kids didn't get out till June 22!
ARRRRGH! I'll figure out something. But I hope it doesn't come down to a court and a lawyer... if it does, then we'll have some issues.

OK you bunch of lushes.......(I could go for a frozen margarita myself )
I am laughing my #$@ off Summer at your crunchies.....Ha OMigosh that is too funny. That would make me insane. I work with this man, who sounds so much like these people and he makes me insane. That is a plus of moving to the sixth grade I don't have to look at his face after he stole my Math Chair job last year. He and his family will only eat organic food. They have one television in the house which is in their bedroom and is only allowed to be on for news, and information. Kids aren't allowed to watch tv, when his wife was seventh months pregnant last year, for her anniversary he gave her a tiller so it would be easier for her to work in the garden, would not let her use mosquito repellent. I could go on and on. HE'S A FREAK.
He does not value womens opinions. Sorry, sore subject.
Not a whole lot going on here. I was going to go and clean up the living room, but little guy is having another sleepover and the living room is occupied. (Not that I want to do that, but it needs to be done.)
I am excited I finally found a bathing suit I like at Tj Max today. It was a Ralph lauren with a halter top and solid black bottoms. I got a size sixteen. The great thing, is that i can wear the bottoms with another tankini top I have, so I will get two for the price of one. It was on clearance sale for eighteen bucks. Also found two really cute skirts at walmart for three dollars a piece. I couldn't believe it! They were both size sixteen too. I started out in january at a 22/24. I am sort of in between, it just depends on the outfit. Anyway that's terribly exciting to me.
I think I will go ahead and dust the livingroom since they are just watching TV.
Talk to you all later!
Pam

gee, I go missing for a few days and this site goes nuts!!!!
No way I am going to get to all the posts....not with Dh home. Robyn- did your innards check out ok?? Scared me a bit with that...was this just routine stuff, I hope?
Dd did go to Md to see her friend- and has been having a wonderful time. They have toured the Naval base, gone fishing at nite several times, sightseeing in DC, last nite went to a Tiki Bar (whatever the dilly that is) and she called this am while I was walking, and told Dd they would be out all day today too. Her friend was ecstatic that she and his Dm came to visit him- and as I mentioned he is hysterical to be with- one of those people who you smile just looking at. (what a wonderful contrast to Mr Moron...... ) so she seems to be having a great time.
Me????just been busy- working a bit, trying to get some home improvment stuff done and grabbing moments with Patricia Cornwell. I have a feeling I know where Trace is going and I hope I do not want to strangle her.....these books are killing me.
Hi everyone....be back later.
Ginny

Hey Gin! Glad your daughter is having a good time in Annapolis! One of my very dearest friends married a guy who went to school there.... Yeah, they did the whole "chapel" thing right in the middle of GradWeekRush! It was crazy! AND absolutely a load of fun! I adored walking around there (back in the day!), checking out all the "GoodHumorMen" running around in their whites! Memories make me smile! LOL

They were checking out my gallbladder...which appears normal.... so we move on to other tests....that someone told me are not nearly as fun as laying there for the ultrasound... I'm not going to worry about it for a while...at least until I get back from our time at the beach!

Glad you checked in...I was starting to wonder...and worry 'bout ya! ( ...and your dh and his baseball loving self! )

Oh BTW, as if ANYone really wants to hear me rant about our ISP.... we have progressed to cable...Holey Smokes....Didn't know that could be THIS fast! LOL

take care...hope everyone is having a great weekend!
meeeee

Hi everyone,
What a day it was here! My dh and the sds's had to just go watch the baseball tournments in town this morning. I stayed home to ride the excerise bike and to get my shower. Than they were to come home and we were to go for Chinese and take a drive to see where the one school was that I have class at next week was located at. It is an hour away from our house. But when they came home we were still going out for Chinese. But we have to wait for the kids mom to come pick them up and than we are going to go look for that school. Mind you the reason the plans changed today was because they just had to go back to the ball field to watch another ball game. I am so sick of baseball. I am hoping that for atleast a month, I can have my family back before they start football season. So I came to terms with getting to spend really no time with the family this weekend due to their love of baseball and my love of staying cool in the summer. I get very crabby and tired when I am in the heat for a long period of time. So it is best if I stay cool. We went to lunch and I watched my sdd eat three plates of food from the buffet. I told my dh that I give up trying to help her make healthy food choices and to lose the weight. I said that I was just shotting myself in the foot where her health was considered. She got on the scales yesterday and was 131.5. She cried that she couldn't understand why she wasn't losing any weight and than went on to blame it on the food her mom fed her and the chocolate pretzels she ate all last week at her mom's house. My dh was floored when I explained my reasons for being angry after lunch. I said that I was watching her slowly kill herself and I was tired of seeing her cry and make up excuses for her weight gain her in the last month. She has gained over 10 pounds in the last month. She is 9 years old and 131.5 pounds. Not a healthy weight for a little girl. So my dh talked with her and explained to her that she needs to slow down in her eating habits and start eating healthier. She went for all the fatty foods on the buffet bar today and couldn't figure out why she felt sick afterwards. Enough about my ranting and raving over my sdd. I just am tired of working so hard to make her see how eating healthy can improve her lifestyle and the killer of it all is that she asked me for help to lose her weight. I am not saying she needs to be put on a diet, but just needs to make healthier choices about food.
Pam that is good news about the smaller suit size. So did you dust the living room last night? So how was the sleepover last night?
Ginny glad that your dd is having a wonderful weekend! Sounds like a fun trip!
Hello to all the rest of you. I just don't have time to get personal right now. My dh is outside saying bye to the kids and than we have to go on our 2 hour round trip drive to find this school for my class. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Hey!
Had a great day today. Stayed in the pool most of the afternoon, it was fantastic.
Ginny: Just hang on with that book, I can't tell ya more than that. I'M DYING TO TELL YOU.......

Kerry: I understand your frustration about your sdd. I am in a similar situation with my own nine year old. You know I feel so terrible, because we were all eating terribly. Now, he is nine and very overweight. I looked at the height and weight chart for his age and he should be at the highest 90 pounds. However, He is about twenty pounds over that. I figured that by all of us watching what we eat, and excercising, it would help him. I don't want to hurt his feelings, but not only is it terribly unhealthy, but, kids can be so cruel, I just don't want him to have to go through that. The thing is, we can not buy any kinds of snacks I've discovered. Say, for example, that we buy low fat ice cream. He doesnt seem to understand that it doesn't help him if he eats half a box. So, I guess none of us will be able to have a snack. I don't know what to do. We began playing tennis everynight, and he loved it. But, it's been so hot that we haven't been playing.It's very depressing and I really blame myself. Hang in there it will be ok.

Everyone else........HEY!
I'm pooped!
Pam

Evening, everybody.

Not a very eventful day here, which is good.
Robyn: Wait till they decide you have to have a hidascan (or did they give you one already?). Those are a blast. Not. You have to lay still on a little narrow table for 1 hour, with an IV in your arm... then, when they're sure they can see what they need to see, they inject your with this hormone that your gallbladder has to expel. The first time I have it done it was "okay", and I didn't get sick then (you all may remember I got sick afterward because my supervisor pulled a stunt that day and I had to go back to the school), but the second time they did it, the injection made me really sick. It is only supposed to make you sick if you have problems with your gallbladder. The first test showed an abnormal ejection factor, but the second test was fine. Its not a very reliable test, especially if you have lost a lot of weight quickly or you have any kind of hormonal disorders. The ultrasound isn't too bad, actually. I've had CT scans, too... those aren't bad either except for the stuff you have to drink. I had that done when I was on glucophage and couldn't get the barium down at all. They gave me some other clear liquid that has permanently turned me off of Snapple Fruit punch (they mixed it with that after the orange juice/tang they mixed it with the first time made me sick in their lobby!). Make sure you let us know how things go!!!! Oh, and endoscopies aren't that bad either. Of course, I really like my gastroenterologist... she is the only doctor other than my endocrinologist that really believes my exercise and food logs. She believes the exercise because she sees me at the gym.
Ginny: I noted that the other day! There were tons of posts, and I was only gone for one day! Welcome back! I'm glad your daughter is having a good time. Annapolis is really pretty. I started undergraduate at Hood College in Frederick, MD: it is the sister school to the Naval Academy, even though neither school is single-sex anymore.
Their choir and the choir at Hood did some Christmas concert my first year there, and they were pretty good.
Kerry: I am not a baseball fan either. My students bemoan the fact, and the last set tried for 3 years to get me interested in baseball (Orioles, please!), football (Ravens, of course!), and basketball (the high school team!). I am also definitely NOT a fan of heat. I wasn't even before I started all the medications... I've always taken Benedryl and it carries heat warnings.
And, please excuse me for butting in... I shouldn't but I have to say something. Be gentle with your step-daughter, please. I was never seriously overweight as a child, but I was heavier than most of the kids my age. My grandmother went after me constantly about my weight, and was always on me about various things. Part of it is definitely because my father was bounced from the military because of a weight problem. But, what happened was that when I started gaining weight so rapidly from my endocrine disorder, I blamed it all on myself... I wasn't exercising because of my ankle problem, and also wasn't cooking very much, also because of the ankle (I couldn't stand very much), and grad school. I honestly believe that if my primary care doctor in Virginia hadn't insisted that I might have something physically wrong, that I would have continued to blame myself and continued to gain weight. And, I was making healthy choices: My grandmother did most of the family cooking and from middle school forward it was Egg Beaters, Turkey-based products, non-fried food, steamed veggies, fish, etc. When I gained the weight, my grandmother and mother didn't leave me alone about it. I was always getting picked at or on about it from them. It wasn't until I was diagnosed that my mom sort of believed it, and that took another year. My grandmother is just now starting to understand, but I do still catch her giving me those looks. I grew up hearing stories about the diets my grandmother put my mother and aunt on: hardboiled eggs, grapefruit, rubber girdles, cottage cheese. I can't help but wonder if my doctor (he was my primary care doctor from the time I was in 1st grade all the way through until I left Pennsylvania the last time in 2000!) would have noticed something was wrong if I hadn't been so wary of talking about the weight issue. I might have been diagnosed sooner. I don't know that, of course, but I do know that thinner people get better medical care. One of the teenage swim instructors has had the exact same symptoms as me: throwing up all the time, tired, etc... they are actively investigating her issues. And that was definitely not the case with me until I found my endocrinologist. I've also told all of you that she's had to go outside her speciality of reproductive endocrinology to nutrionist, medical endocrinology, etc to help me because very few other doctors would. They all blame eveyrthing on my weight. As I said, please don't be upset with me... I just had to say it.
Okay.

Holy Moly! I have only been gone five days and I am three pages behind in posts! I just breezed through them and don't have much time to comment but here are a few things...

Pam - Definately. What ever it takes. Go on your cruise. How often do you get a free cruise? How is your brother doing now that he is home? I bet he is thrilled to be there even if he still has a nurse coming in every day. I can't believe they changed your grade and weren't going to tell you about it. How strange. Don't they think their teachers might want to prepare or something??! Any word on the guy that was trying to lure your husband away? How scary for you. Luckily with 11 acres surrounded by fields, we don't get very close to the road ever. I would be a nervous wreck after that!

Ginni - I am so glad your DD went on her trip. Hopefully she will see how the other half lives. I married a control freak (the first time) and it can be down right scary at times. My self esteem and confidence level was so low by the time we divorsed, it was terrible.

Mouse - Can you believe that Rowlings? I am so mad that she did that to Harry again! I know in Michigan in order to be HQ to teach all the core subjects in special ed. you either had to pass each subject matter test or pass elementary test. Since what I teach changes every year, I am going the elementary route.

Summer - It is nice that your DD found something she enjoys so much. Plus cheerleading can be done year round! So far my children like to golf and bowl. They don't enjoy team sports very much for some reason.

Kerry - When you finish your classes are you then HQ or are they just preparing you for the test? What a pain this all is and probably about the time we all get HQ they will do away with it! I think they should have grandfathered us old farts in!

Robyn - Glad you are back on line. Sorry to hear you are going through all the tests. What a pain!

We had a great time camping. It was hot but we could swim during the day and the camper has AC. I think we talked about running into students during the summer right before I left. Here I drove 3 hours to go on vacation and there were Lakewood students camping at the same place! They weren't MY students but when you teach at a small school everyone knows everyone!

I guess I should join the AA group. I drank my share of Mike's light lemon-aid while on vacation. Man that is good stuff! I don't care for the lemon-lime as much but then I don't like Sprite either.

My car is in the shop today. The check engine light kept coming on whenever I hauled the camper. The mechanic said it just needed a tune-up. Hopefully that is all it ends up being. I did ask him to check out the shocks as it is getting pretty bumpy in there. Of course that could just be Michigan's roads!

It is suppose to be 93 today with a heat index over 100. We did get some rain yesterday, so my grass is green again. I think it is suppose to cool down tomorrow.

I got my schedule in the mail yesterday. Looks like I will only have two preps this year (biology and physical science) YEAH!!!! I won't know what to do with myself! I went to grab my student's schedules last night. It appears that almost every student has at least one conflict, so that will mean some work. At least I can bring the stuff home and work on it in the AC. Our school doesn't have AC at all and every classroom has one wall of windows, so you can imagine how hot it gets in there! I also found out that our principal hired a new special ed teacher. I sure hope he is a teacher and not a jock. We actually have seven new staff members this year, which is a lot for a small high school. Out of those 7, I know 3 and they are all Jocks. Our principal is a dumb jock and likes to hire more of the same!

I guess I should go finish my laundry, feed the children and call to see if my car is done.

Sue

Welcome back, Sue!
The highly qualified thing varies by state: I have one of the same options, which is to become highly qualified in each area, but I can't do the elementary option unless I teach self-contained students not working toward a state diploma in Maryland. Virginia is still a mystery to me, but I know I'll be highly qualified once I finish the Master's plus 30. Pennsylvania wants me to go back to undergrad and do a full degree in elementary education as if I weren't already a certified teacher. Not only do I have a permanent PA license, but I have met their Act 48 requirement (180 hours of professional development every 5 years) with 720 hours total. But, I'm not highly qualified.
It annoys the hay out of me, because while I'm not considered "highly qualified", I am highly qualified enough to do things to determine whether other staff are highly qualified! Like, I spent 2 weeks scoring for the National Board of Professional Teaching STandards (if you're national board certified, you're highly qualified, no matter what), and also sat on the panel that helped ETS determine the cut-score for the severe disabilities subejct exam.
I'm totally with you on prinicipal who are something and like to hire others to compliment themselves... that is, afterall, what goes on in my last school! The skinny blondes get whatever they want, whenever... and those of us that don't fit that phenotype are gotten rid of as soon as possible. I don't get it, frankly.

Kerry, my DD is turning eight years old in November, is tall for her age, and weighs 50 pounds. According to her pediatrician, she is of normal weight. I am alarmed that your nine year old SDD is 131 pounds. This is no joke. This child's weight is beyond your help. SHE NEEDS PROFESSIONAL HELP. It is obvious that she is using food for comfort. She is too young to comprehend the impact of her actions. I know children just like her. They are smart, beautiful, and fun to be with. But, they don't understand the damage they are doing to their bodies. She is on the fast track to diabetes. She is laying down fat cells right now that will be with her for the rest of her life, and being a thin adult will be that much more of a struggle for her. I was thin until my 20's, and I'm struggling like ****. I don't even want to know how much harder it would be for me had I been a chubby child. You seriously need to get her counseling with a professional who deals with eating disorders in children. This is an eating disorder. A professional will help the whole family and her deal with her emotional and physical needs so that she will no longer need to overeat to be content. I don't mean to push my opinion on you, but I can't stand to see a child hurt herself like this. And remember, this is not only your responsibility, but also your DH and his ex. If the ex won't get on board, at least she will be getting the right kind of help from your home and the counselor.

Sue, glad you enjoyed camping. Welcome home!

Mouse, in my school it isn't the skinny blondes who are favored, it is men. My principal (who is a married female) LOVES MEN. Our previous "teacher in charge" was a veteran female teacher. Our current one is a handsome, charismatic, male teacher who only just got tenure! Her favorite para is male, and he is constantly pulled out of his 6:1:1 SED classroom to do her bidding. And of course, she favors Nimrod, our brain-deficient male custodian over our now-transferred hardworking, ***-busting female custodian. P.S. If you read in the newspaper about an inner city school in CT that gets blown to smithereens, it is my school. My DH has already been given instructions to name Nimrod as the one to blame.

Rob, put your health worries behind you and enjoy your vacation to the beach. You deserve to relax and HAVE FUN!!!

Okay copycats...everyone knows you all love Mike's, how about your give Baja Bob's a shot...no pun intended. www.bajabobs.com He not only has sugar-free margarita mix, but all those other frozen drinks and I think martini mixes too!!! I love his margaritas, and the best is that they are guilt-free!!!

Did I tell you I have an appointment with a podiatrist? Well, my chiropractor's lame insurance person told me my appeal was denied and suggested I become a cash customer. That's a good one. I can barely afford to pay three days a week of copays, and he thinks I can pay his fee?! If his office staff can't provide good enough documentation to prove that I need treatment from him, then guess what? I don't give a sh*t anymore. I will see the podiatrist and pray that they offer me more options than surgery and drugs. Hopefully they will give me P.T. and maybe a steroid shot in my foot. And another thing...I hope the podiatry treatment costs WAY MORE than the chiropractor so that the insurance company gets it where it hurts them the most.

JUSTICE: Do you remember my day at the movies ruined by the balling baby? Well, when I got home, I emailed the theater's main office. Today in the mail I received two free passes to the movies!!! It pays to let people know how you feel.

I'm still p*ssed at my friend whose DH thinks his sh*t doesn't stink. Our only contact till we return to school will be that sleepover. After that, I'm backing off completely. It will be entirely up to her to make arrangements for play dates and social get-togethers. I'm not wasting my energy on her anymore.

Tonite, DD had gymnastics. Unfortunately, the YMCA in my town does not have it, so we have to go to the next town over which just so happens to be an affluent area where women stay home with their brats while their DH's work so many hours, they never see them. DD has taken gymnastics at this YMCA since she was 3 or 4 because it has the best reputation in our area. Unfortunately, I have to listen to these women talk about their shallow yet glamorous lives. I used to join in, but became so nauseated at one point, I just read now. It is funny how these women didn't bother me as much before I taught in the inner city. But now that I've seen both sides, and somehow fall in the middle of the two, I can't tolerate their bragging knowing that just 15 minutes away, people are really struggling just to put food on the table. These women are so spoiled what with their daily spa treatments, tennis games with their young, handsome instructors, sailing trips, and afternoons spent at "the club." I am surrounded by obnoxious rich people. My DS is rich. My church friends are rich. Many of my coworkers are rich. Many of my close friends are rich. I never cared before, but they all just get on my nerves now. I can't change where DD takes gymnastics. There aren't other options. But, we have considered changing churches to one in our neighborhood. I have made many new friends who are just plain, old, regular joes, and I like them a lot. It is amazing how my job teaching the poor has given me a whole new perspective on my life.