Thanks for letting me join. I have read some of the posts here and think I will really enjoy your group. Not too many people get the teacher/mom/wife life. I enjoyed all the humor.

You can call me Sue but if there is another Sue, which is highly possible, maybe MM Sue for Maintenance Momma Sue.

I lost my weight doing Weight Watchers. I actually was where I want to be weight wise and was maintaining very well. Then "Santa" brought me a jump rope and I decided to show my DD my stuff. I guess I forgot I was 41 and not 10! I ended up hurting my tendon in my knee. Then my New Years resolution was to start exercising. I went from almost no exercise to about 1 1/2 hours a day. I kept ignoring my knee pain until I couldn't walk. Then I couldn't even get the normal exercise I get walking around at school. Plus when you are on your back at home, eating seems like the thing to do. Needless to say I gained seven pounds from January to March. I continued going to my WW meetings but got real lazy about tracking. Now I am trying to get back to program. My knee is still not right. The doctor says it could take up to a year to heal. I can walk now but any real exercise is not possible. I have been golfing (I walk) and trying to get back into my Pilates but aerobics and the treadmill (mine is always at an incline) are out of the question. I am hoping to get the weight back off before an August wedding when my DH and I are the Master and Mistress of Ceremony. I only have five to go (well maybe more after this weekend!) but maybe I can join in Pam and Ginny's weight loss challenge?

I think I just answered the question about exercise. I hate anything that feels like exercise but I love to move. I like to dance (but DH doesn't), golf, cross country ski, and swim. I even enjoy manual labor if you can see big progress when you are finished (like my filthy garage I cleaned yesterday)! We have a beautiful weight room in our basement but I hate doing the same reps over and over. I would like to get that dance pad that you hook up to your computer but I need to wait until my knee heals.

Summer - You might be surprised at how many of my discipline problems are similar to yours! Just last hour I had to talk to one of my juniors because he was pouring his chocolate milk into the bottle cap and drinking out of it (making a mess in the process)!

I haven't noticed a spell check option here so I will appologize to you all. I really do know better but for some reason when I type emails and quick messages I tend to make a lot of mistakes.

By the way my DH is on his first field trip today. He went with my DD and four classes of third graders. He lucked out though as they are going to see a movie and will all be seated for most of the day!

Here is my life in a nutshell. I grew up in a small town. Actually it is a villiage because it didn't have enough people for town status! I went away to college vowing to never be back and now teach at the high school I graduated from. I married a slime, had two great children and divorced. I remarried 4 years ago (March 24). My DS, is 13. He is a great kid with a wonderful sense of humor. He is also a highly functioning Autistic with a below average IQ. My DD, just turned 10. She is energetic and begs to be able to clean (windows, the garage and the cars are her favorite things). She is the most loving stubborn mule I have ever met! She is severly ADHD but thanks to medication I believe she will live to see her teen years (I can't make any promises after that!). Their slime biological father last showed to pick them up last October (he lives 30 minutes away). It is his loss, not theirs! I have a Step-son who is 26, a 7-year-old step-grandson and 4-year-old step-granddaughter. (My DH had an oopsie in high school and so did his DS, we're not REALLY old enough to have grandchildren!)

I have some really great friends and a very close extended family, so I am sure you will be hearing some funny stories about them from time to time.

I think that is about it. Let me know if I left anything out. Thanks again for letting me join your group. I promise my future post will not be so long winded!

Sue (MM)

Sue: (My middle name is Susan.) I grew up in a residential section of the city I now teach in. My house was across the street from a lake which I spent my summers swimming and boating in, and my winters skating on. My weight and previous ankle and foot injuries prevent my ankles from balancing on skates now, which is a real shame since my DH is a former hockey coach and lives on ice skates. I also have BAD knees. In high school, I dislocated my knee caps, and have repeated the injury in both legs a few times over the last 25 years. My typical forms of exercise are riding a recumbent bike on the lowest resistance and weight-lifting. I don't walk around my neighborhood anymore because I have severe allergies and asthma. If one thing doesn't set me off, something else outside will set off an asthma attack. So, I exercise indoors. I do low-impact aerobics when my knees are at their best. I used to do aqua aerobics until my class turned into blue-haired 80 year-olds and me. It has been a few years, so I'm considering trying again.

I have a 7 year-old daughter who is the miracle of my life (conceived by in vitro fertilization and born via emergency C-section). I am virtually infertile because of severe endometriosis. I feel SO BLESSED to have my girl. I am still carrying much of my pregancy and hormone weight. When I got married, I was happily between a size 12 and 14...I'm 5'8". When I started getting hormone shots, my weight began to shoot up. I am now a size 18/20. I'm not asking to be any smaller than I was twelve years ago. A size 12 or 14 would be fabulous. My weight sits in my belly and my butt. The rest of me is thin. Weird, huh?

I now live in a middleclass suburb of the city I grew up in and currently teach in. I love my home...especially my backyard. I'm hugely into gardening. Our town is on the coast of CT, so we spend the summer going to the beach. My life isn't perfect, but I love my daughter and my job.

Ginny, I would like to join in on the challenge. I need something. I ate on program all day, worked out at the gym after school, but at dinnertime, I overdid it. I do so well all day, but after 4pm, I am sooooooo famished that I have a healthy snack (still hungry), have a slightly unhealthy snack (still hungry), and then start shoving anything not nailed down into my mouth. Part of it is stress-eating and part of it is having my period. Maybe a goal with you guys will kick-start me.

Sue, I forgot to tell you that I am 40. Robyn (who is hysterically sarcastic) is also 40. So, we are around the same age...only I don't have any grandchildren, step or otherwise. I do, however, have adult nephews and nieces since my mom was 40 when she had me. My nephew is getting married next year, so I could be a great-aunt in the near future.

I forgot who asked me about the sanity of my next-door nightmare. Her brother cornered me by my car on Friday night. He told me about all her meds and her recent symptoms. I told him that it sounded like she has bipolar disorder. He excitedly said, "Yes! That is what the doctor called it! She has bipolar disorder!" He went on to tell me that she had a nervous breakdown 30 years ago, was medicated, and when she got "better," stopped taking meds. Over the last 30 years, she has been unable to hold down a job, has never left home to get her own place, and has never gotten married. Gee, I wonder why? It never occurred to anyone in her family to get her proper medical care so that just maybe she could have a more normal life. Only when her mother died several weeks ago, and she "went off the deep end," was her brother forced to have her committed. Now she is home, occasionally medicated, and doing weird sh*t. Every day, she sits inside her car and fiddles around in there. Meanwhile, she is in no condition to drive, and her car is uninsured. DH and I can't figure out why (after the car was repaired following her car accident) the car wasn't put up for sale. Her retired brother has a new cadillac. He can drive her anywhere she needs to go. She shouldn't drive. Why have another car payment. Why have an uninsured car sitting in the driveway tempting her to drive it under the influence of prescription drugs? I just don't know. So to whoever asked: Yes, there is more to her behavior than depression over her mother's death. How sad.

We just keep planting trees.

Hi, all.
My friend from college left last night, so I can post again. I've been reading, but not responding due to lack of time. We went to a science fiction convention this weekend, so I saw friends I only see once or twice a year at the events. I attended some panels, but also spent time talking.
I spent today on the phone with the new school district: they have people who are "contract care specialists", so once you sign the letter of intent you're assigned a person and they do footwork to find answers to your questions about things. She answered a question I had about references (since obviously, my late employer will say I'm not eligible for rehire because of their sour grapes), and also about a loan for moving expenses. Not as much as I'd hoped, but I think it'll be okay.
I also found and reserved an apartment that meets my needs: a studio in the central-western part of Fairfax County. I wanted to be there because all of my friends from the last time I was there live in Fairfax... plus, my doctor is near there. Fairfax County has an awesome library system and a pretty decent parks & rec system. Most of their rec centers have indoor accessible pools. The lockers suck, being very open and with no privacy in the shower, but it would do until I could find a gym.
It was hard to find a building that was accessible to me, since I don't need wheelchair access. My only problem is with stairs and uneven ground, which makes a leasing company understandably relcutant to tie up an accessible apartment. But this one is an elevator building with a parking garage for residents. They, too, have a pool, but its only out doors.
My biggest issues right now are monetary worries about bills getting paid. I didn't have much like getting a temp job, because I won't be here long enough. I'll try again tomorrow, though.
MM Sue: Hi, there! Welcome!
Everyone else: thanks so much for the support. There was absolutely no need for my former employer to do what they did. It just wasn't necessary at all, especially since they said it had nothing to do with my teaching.

Hi Sue!!!!!!! Welcome!!

Gee, should I add myself to the list of those with bad knees????? I used tosound like a bowl of rice krispies in high school for crying out loud....you know snap, crackle, pop? Well, they ain't no better now- and if I do too many days of kick boxing or my WW tape or really long walks in a row, I feel it.......

Mouse- I am SO happy for you! Ok, I know that this is really not what/how you wanted things to end, but I think this will be so much healthier for you. Glad you have some of the finer details worked out already- place to live (they DO allow, Imp, right?) etc... will your new home put you closer or farther from your Dm? Best of luck finding something to hold you over temporarily. Bills can be so overwhelming.

Summer- welcome to the challenge! Hope it shakes us all up a bit and gets us closer to where we want to be. Your neighbor....mental illness is such a horrible thing- especially if the proper meds/doses are not worked out. So debilitating. And tough for you to live next to. Gotta love those fast growing trees........give 'em a little Miracle grow for me too, ok? Your description of Robyn is perfect.....hysterically sarcasatic she is!!! (and where is she hiding this week?)

Sue- still attending WW meetings???? I love them- they are all that keep me from bllimping out again!!!! Don't sweat the spelling- I can't spell all that well and there are days for all of us that venting here is more important than being proper. Our brain cells are taxed to the hilt with the students....so usually at the end of the day there is little energy left for spelling.

Sorry to be brief, Dm has her surgery tomorrow....will be taking a few half days I think and all of next Monday off. I am one tired puppy.....better go get some sleep. Thankfully today was the LAST day of the advanced course defensive driving (think this one lasted15 hours total). This was optional, thought it looked good on my abstract. Glad it is over! Wish school was over! So sick of Dd's 3rd grade teacher I could scream.......but will have to vent about her another day.
G'nite!
Ginny

My knee problems also started in high school. I blame it on the hurdles I ran in track. I haven't tried biking yet but usually it is tough on my knees because we live in a hilly area. My DM has a stationary bike with the pedals forward that I want to try.

Ginny - Yes, I try to attend WW every week. It is what makes me think twice about shoving food in my mouth (most of the time). I hope your mother's surgery went well today!

Summer - My real name is Susan but I only get called that by my DM when she is mad or by people I went to elementary school with. I think daughters are the greatest (maybe because I am one?). I love my son but I have a special bond with my daughter. Yours sounds like a special gift! My DD also had a disappointing 3rd grade teacher this year. She was moved up from 2nd grade and I'm not sure she changed anything. Plus she was gone an awful lot! I sure wish you would come do some gardening at my house. We bought an 11 acre field and built a house in the middle of it. We haven't done much of anything in the yard. It is really pretty pitiful. Maybe you can give me some pointers. I am totally clueless in that department. We did have a landscaper draw up some plans but never got around to having them done. Then my DH needed a new car and there went the $$!

Sue

Evening...
Well, I might have a 2 week job doing portfolios for the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, and a maybe job as a receptionist at a medical office. That last one came as a result of one of my physicians knowing of a need in an office in her practice. I've never seen her down there, and since I'm moving I'm not technically her patient anymore. We'll see. That would give me some money coming in, which would be welcome. I'm going to talk to the aquatics director tomorrow and see if she has anything she needs doing. We'll see if any of this pans into something that might give me some money. My biggest expenses are my rent and my car payment. And, of course, I have to pay for the COBRA coverage on my health insurance. I can only imagine what that will be.
I'm off to do laundry now, assuming the person who took all 6 machines in the laundry room on my floor is gone. One can only hope.

Well, tomorrow night is our multicultural food festival at my school. I have been baking Kerry cakes (apple cake) tonight...yum! I had only a tiny one inch square since they are loaded with butter. I will be representing my mother's father's Irish heritage as well as my DH's Irish heritage. (My other half is Swedish.) In addition to the Irish Kerry cake, I will be serving non-alcoholic Irish coffee. I will be displaying a woolen National Irish tartan throw as well as both families' coats of arms. One of our teachers purchased 15 flags representing the various countries in my school for only $6.00 a piece online which will be displayed permanently in our cafeteria. Our art teacher made a mural of the earth with different colored hands around it on the stage. We scheduled African dancers, Salsa dancers, a Caribbean poet, and two bagpipers to perform. I'm really excited!

On Saturday night, I am attending a 40th birthday bash for the mother of my snow day girl (you know, the one who drives me NUTS). Originally when we were invited, DD was invited to the party too to play in the playroom during the party and then sleep over. I thought, "Cool, no babysitter." Well, a week ago, the birthday girl announced that she had found someone to take her girls for the night, and I needed to get a babysitter. Problem...all mine have either moved or grown up. I have this college volunteer in my classroom that is great with the kids, so I asked her. She said, "Yes." I thought, "Cool, I've got a babysitter." I told her that we would stock the house with her favorite foods and took requests. Then this chick emails me asking if $10 an hour is okay!!! What?! Now, first of all, DD is 7...no diapers. She is easy...no behavior issues at all. All she has to do is eat my food, watch my tv, and spend an evening with my delightfully entertaining DD. That does not merit $10 an hour!!! I asked some friends what they pay for sitters. It ranged from $5 to $9 an hour...but the $9 was for two kids. So, one work friend offered to have DD over for the evening for a playdate with her DD. I thought, "Cool, DD will have a blast!" Then I emailed the greedy one and told her I no longer needed her since DD had other plans for the evening, and I thought, "Cool, I just saved $50!!!"

Mouse, congrats on the jobs.

Sue, 11 acres?! I wouldn't know where to begin!!! You need to start watching those gardening shows cable. P.S., we did all the work ourselves with the help of Home Depot, various nurseries, magazines, cable tv gardening shows, Crate & Barrel, LL Bean, and Frontgate. Good Luck!!!

Ginny, I hope I don't sound insensitive about NN, but she has driven me over the edge. After 15 years of working with the developmentally disabled (my prior career), I am sensitive to people who are tortured in their minds. I dread alzheimer's and pray that I am gone before that sets in. It is just so hard to live in such close proximity to it. When I used to work with people who were schizoprenic, I was great while on duty but could always go home to my peaceful home. Now my peaceful home is no longer peaceful.

Rob, I miss ya!

Well, here I am....posting from down at Dm's house. I'll go into that later.

Summer- enjoy the multicultural festival, sounds like a lot of fun. Be good with your eating ok? But I do not envy you........could be tough. No you do not sound insensitive about the NN, there are many issues there and as much as certain illnesses are difficult to live with and some empathy is necessary they are tough to live next too also! I have tons of experience with mental illness- from personal experience with individuals who were/are a part of my daily life. And sometimes, well, you just want to live your life without having to step around their problems. Sorry for sounding so harsh, but I wanted you to know that I was not at all judgmental of you or NN. Just a real tough situation. And I NEVER paid a babysitter $10. SOunds like a kid who really does not want the job to me!

Mouse- congrats on getting some work. Don't envy you with the COBRA, I hear it is not cheap.

Sue- 11 acres??????Want to share some (my Dh would love that much land).
What day do you get to WW?????? Mine will end up being Tuesday or Thursday. Looks like I might miss this week again...with Dm's surgery and all.
So you had a miserable 3rd grade teacher too???I can't wait till next year - the teacher is such a wonderful person, I love her. Can't imagine a sweeter person.

So,my Dm. Prayers would be appreciated. Surgery went well- but she might have had a heart attack post op. She is a bit overweight (incentive for me to get these last # off!), type II diabetic, former smoker....the Dr seemed to think she was improving- they reinserted the breathing tube, and she will spend the nite in ICU. So, I am staying here, as I am only 15 minutes from the hospital, as opposed to an hour and 15 minutes. She is concious- heavily medicated and aware that I was there. They will know more tomorrow. Guess I'd better call the ICU and see how she is doing.
Nite.
Ginny

Hello all..........

Long time no chatter.......... you know what that means.... I'm losing my mind but not my fanny! So much has gone on and I truly don't have time to post individual notes right now.... I'm literally hours away from leaving on a jet plane... (I'm heading to Milwaukee for the wedding of our dear sweet little flower girl all grown up! YIKES) I'm going with one of my dear friends...who is going with me just cause so that I don't have to travel alone....isn't that sweet?

First, Gin, your mom, you as well as your family are in my thoughts and prayers! Keep the faith and feel our support!

Mouse, What a crock of crap! I'm not sure exactly how it all came down....but, babe, rise out of those ashes! I've got my fingers crossed for a wonderful transition to your new local! Welcome back to OleVirginny! Sounds like you're lining up stuff for $$ ....hang in there! Trust that it is all in the plan and the plan is good!

Sue, welcome! I'm not too sure what my dear friend Summer is trying to say about my mouth....don't believe a word of it! I'm a sweet proper Virginia lady. Gag! When I get back from this trip, I'll tell you all about how I've taught first grade for the last 18 years....I started at the ripe ole age of 3...so that makes me about 21! ::wink::wink:: I'll also mention my wonderful family....the 3 great boys I mother. One is 13 (SpEd 7th grader), one is 10 (sweet tender hearted baseball pro!), and my other boy is 42...been with him since he was 16.....that is a LONG LONG time...so long we count it in doggie years! I love all 3 dearly even tho they wear my fattfanny out! Oh and we NEVER bring our red pens in here with us... NOOOO one will fix your spelling...and YOU will just have to get over my punctuation abuse! K?

Summer, Thanks for your private messages, they've kept me going.... I'm still sick, my dh is still unemployeed...and I'm going on this trip like we've got a ton of $$$....ahhhh well.... Try to keep love in your heart with that poor neighbor lady...and as much distance between you as you can! Also, keep planting those trees!

Pam...Hey! I am thinking that you're done with school. If that is the case.... please accept this raspberry! Being the new kid at school at my advanced age (21, remember, girls!) is TUFFFFF.... the paperwork is driving me insane... I can't keep it all straight...AND the kids have lost their minds!

I'm off to cram my clothes into this teeny tiny suitcase thing.... another reason that I must shrink this fanny of mine...smaller clothes fit better in this suitcase.... man, my list must be somewhere close to 890 reasons that I've GOT to shrink this buttt.....and guttttt....I'll be back...and readdress my head and lack of control...but first, I'm off to Milwaukee and I'm gonna have some wedding cake! ....and some sort of drink that requires a little paper umbrella! ....maybe more than 1..... JUST maybe!

Ya'll take care..... Where is Kerry?! Kerry:Hi!!! How's it going??? Didn't want to leave you out! What happened to our friend in Hawaii??? Today was "Hawaiian day" at school.... an excuse for the children to act crazy...and I thought of her!!! Was sort of wondering if they have "virginia day" out there! LOL

ok...I'm REALLY leaving!
take care,
meeeee

Ginny - I hope your mother is doing better today. That must be terribly hard on you to see her like that. I will keep you and your family in my prayers today. Actually my DD's teacher was VERY sweet this year. She just didn't teach my DD anything. I have a meeting at her school today, so I am going to find out if they know for sure who is teaching 4th grade next year. Hopefully we will find someone who is lovable AND a good teacher for next year. My normal day for WW is on Tuesdays but I have my golf league on Tuesdays now so I have been going on Wednesdays. Unfortunately I had a retirement party last night, so I had to miss it. My plan C is Monday nights but that was a holiday soooo I am either going to have to try out a plan D or miss this week. I hate missing when I have been bad (too many picnics, retirement parties, graduation parties, and potluck dinners!) because I need that wake up call to get me back on track. Otherwise I just keep blowing it! I definately make better choices than I did before WW but this time of the year is definately a challenge!

Mouse - good luck with the temperary job search and the move. It sounds like you are a very organized, go getter kind of gal. I am sure you will do great!

Summer - Gee does that mean you won't volunteer to come to Michigan for a week or two to create my flower beds? You know Michigan is beautiful in the summer time! (ha, ha) Tomorrow is my last day of school, so I will have lots of time after that to start doing my research! Your multicultural festival sounds like fun. We miss out on some of that good stuff at the high school level. I can almost smell your apple cake!

Must be Robyn is Hatterasmermaid. I laughed out loud when I read your post. The woman in the classroom next to my room probably things I finally lost what was left of my mind! So tell me more about your 7th grader. What does he qualify as? Is he in the resource room or a self-contained classroom? My DS went from no special ed classes in 3rd grade to almost full time this year (6th grade). He is in the resource room for reading, writing, math and academic support. Next year they want him to go into the categorical classroom for math because they only teach algebra in our resource room math classes (like resource room students need algebra!). I have never been to Virgina but for some reason when I was in high school and most of college, that was where I thought I would live when I got out of school. I like the fact that you have the four seasons but your winters aren't as long as ours!

I need to pack up my room so that nothing is lost when the ganitors throw everything into the hallway to clean!!

Sue

Good morning, everyone.
Ginny: I'm thinking of you & your mother. I hope everything is better this morning.
MMSue: I often question the whole Algebra thing as well to be honest. But 7th grade???? For pity's sake! Its hard, because I teach kids with MR & Autism or other issues, and most of them can't add or subtract without a calculator, but they're required to take Algebra to get a diploma. That happened at the place I left: Lots of my kids were marked as "mastered" various Algebra goals, and when I work with them or do the informal testing for the IEP, they're at like... 2nd grade math or 4th grade math levels. So, please, tell me... how are thye MASTERING Algebra?!
I'm not looking forward to the COBRA payments either. I'm sure I don't have the money for it, but I'm afraid to let my health insurance lapse because who knows what will happen? Assuredly, I won't be able to see my endocrinologist!! And my medication.
I don't have a job yet, and also haven't heard about the credit card I applied for. I'm really worried about the whole money thing. I can pay off the credit card, but I haven't GOTTEN it yet.
I'm also seriously worried about getting my stuff back. I can't go over and get it, and I don't trust them to pack it up. I don't want to be on that campus at all, and yet, its not fair to ask any of my friends to deal with it. If I go to do it, the guy from HR or the director of the school is going to stand there and watch me to make sure I don't steal anything that belongs to the school or destroy their stuff. As if I would do something like that. What kind of person do they think I am? ARRRGH!

Robyn's back!!! Yippee!!! Missed ya. Have a safe trip, lots of cocktails with little umbrellas, and leave all that awful paperwork behind. P.S. when is your last day of school? Mine is the 20th.

Sue, if you lived closer, I would actually consider helping you out. However, I've been waiting for it to get hot in CT, and I'm not heading north only to have the hot weather take even longer to come. Sorry . I've thought the same as you about VA...in fact, I used to have family there. Maybe retirement, but that is about 25 years away.

Ginny, give your mom a hug. Take care.

Kerry, I miss ya!

Mouse, I wish you weren't going through such a rough time. I hope you get all of your things quickly and easily and are treated with dignity. You are well rid of those people.

The multicultural food fest was great!!! I'm beat. The performances were outstanding...especially the bagpipers. Towards the end, the kids got wild, and the parents got too lazy to supervise them. So, by the last 30 minutes, I was ready to go. All in all, I believe it was a success. I am too wound up to sleep, but my body is EXHAUSTED. I can't imagine how I am gonna feel tomorrow. TGIF!!!

It is gonna be a busy weekend for me...getting hair cut and highlighted, report cards, a truckload of schoolwork, my friend's 40th birthday, DD's gymnastics, gardening, laundry, and groceries. Next Friday, we are going to Cape Cod on a whale watch weekend. I have a lot to do to prepare. So, if I'm not around, you won't wonder where the heck I am.

Welcome back Rob!

How do you spell euphoria? S C H O O L ' S O U T ! Today was my last day. My room is now packed, grades sent, exams turned in! It doesn't get any better than this (except maybe Monday morning when I am still in my pj's at 8 a.m. sipping coffee and reading something for enjoyment!!!!!

Summer - so glad that your festival was a success. It would be hard to teach today with everyone worn out from the party. Just remember you are almost there!

Mouse - I feel so bad for you. I can't imagine dealing with that! You have to get your stuff though. I wish I had a brillant idea to share but all I can do is send you my sympathy.

Ginny - How's your mom?

Sue

Hi, everyone.
Well, I still don't have my stuff back, but I do have the tuition reimbursement form they promised to mail me. I didn't get the stuff I need for my graduate project which was on the server and is due... TUESDAY. I guess I'll have to redo the project. Maybe I can make it better.
I did find out that I'm getting the credit card, so that is a relief.... I looked up COBRA payments from other schools nearby, and figure it'll be over $1000 to keep my health insurance. I guess I'll be taking a leave of absence from grad school until at least next spring so I can pay off the credit card. I might try to get a loan for grad school, we'll see. I paid for the master's all on my own, so I can pay for the rest of this on my own too, I guess.
I have an apartment now. The company lost the paperwork for the studio, and rented it to somebody else. Unfortunately, its the only community in the area with an elevator building. Some of the other nicer communities just didn't have any first-floor apartments, and I can't do stairs because of my ankle. So, I got a 1-bedroom... they told me if there is a studio available, I can switch, but I'm not going to hold my breath. At least I get a full-size washer/dryer with the studio, and a nice soaking tub. I do like to take baths, especially in the winter.
I also think I found a gym... I was looking on-line, and found one right near my new place. It costs about what I'm paying now, so that's good, and the membership coordinator said that they frequently have members who also work there and receive discounts. I think I can work there and keep my job at the other gym. We'll see.
I'm going to go see the gym after I see my apartment on July 8.
I wish I could figure out how Loudoun is going to place me in a school: I looked at most of their middle schools and high schools, and saw little or no mention of special education, which makes me worried. But school websites aren't always the best, so I might be worrying over nothing.