I just returned from Cape Cod. We had a wonderful three day weekend. It would have been so easy to stay there and forget reality, but somebody's got to pay the bills!!!

I am too beat right now to give details and catch up with you all. I just wanted to let you know that I am back.

I have a field trip tomorrow, graduation on Friday, and our last day is next Monday. Six days left then FREEDOM and my favorite time of year, SUMMER!!!

Someone asked about the report cards... they are an excel file. So I can do them at home on my computer and email them to myself at work and viola! We type what we want to say in the comments section...no codes for us. There is talk of next year using some sort of system that would require that I do them at school. I am sooooo opposed to them chaining me to my darn desk OR me sitting using my school hours when I should be engaged in learning activities with my kiddos.... but hey...that is next year...so I will spare you THAT rant...for NOW!

Ginn, did you survive that double header? I FEEL for you, babe! I truly do! I don't wish double headers on those that I truly hate....and with the weather being so gross.... Hope it was bearable!

Mousie, Is that you I see standing there on the edge of the pool in your BayWatch suit with the binoculars up to your eyes? AND... is that David Hasselof jogging up holding a birthday cake??? Happy Belated Birthday AND Congrats on passing the swimming / lifeguard test!

Pam....sounds like you had a great day by the pool! Glad you can enjoy your summer a bit ahead of the rest of us! I have 3 days with the kiddos...and 1 final day without... I've got lots to do between now and then......

Gotta run....1 last load of laundry must be done before I can sleep!
take care,
meeee
take care...

Summer, glad to hear that you had a wonderful time at the beach!

Evening, all.
Robyn: ROFLMAO!!!! That is HILARIOUS, and thank-you!
Pam: Well, that is kinda funny. I'm at least as busy now as I was when I was teaching, if not more so. I can't imagine what my former employer thought, but if it was that I was going to sit around and mope, they're wrong. But, that is really what they think of me. The HR guy seriously sat in that meeting and said that I was passive and waited for people to do things for me.
As for guarding: I work at an indoor pool, thankfully, however, it is anywhere between 85 and 100 degrees in the pool area. And HUMID!! We sometimes open the back door, but the members frequently complain about that. So, today I got in the water for 20 minutes before my shift started, and was comfortable throughout the 3 hour shift. In fact, I was even a little chilly toward the end! I also drank plenty of unsweetened iced tea (Lipton has a new thing called "Tea to Go" like the Crystal Light pouches... just put it in a bottle of water and shake. I love it... easily portable!)
Summer: Nice trip! I have never been to Cape Cod, but I would like to ... if I ever became independently wealthy... to have a house near enough to the beach that I could go. Unfortunately, my training with the Red Cross and experience on disaster assignments makes that a pipe dream. Even if I had the money, I'd never buy property on or that near the water!
Kerry, Paisley: Hi!
Me? Well, I guarded tonight, and then swim lessons. Tomorrow I'm going to be running everywhere: Dispatcher meeting for the Red Cross (our fearless paid staff leader wants to take us to lunch), then physical therapy, and then guarding. I want to sneak a swim in there somehow. Not sure how though... We'll see.

Me again.....
Too much time on my hands? I dunno......Went and played tennis again tonight. Then we had our evil scrabble tournament. My husband the dirty dog cleared his rack twice in one game. Needless to say I lost...........
Summer: It's almost summer..........I went to Cape Cod for my honeymoon. I loved it. I would love to go back...
Mouse: I love unsweetened tea. I brew it about every other day. I will have to check that out. Unsweetened tea is my only saving grace against THE MIGHTY PEPSI COLA............
Just finished cleaning my bathroom. I must say, I found a product I liked so much that I actually wrote to the company. Tub cleaning is one of my least favorite chores and this stuff was awesome........... I am saving the upstairs bathroom til tomorrow.
Sunburned and tired going to bed.........
Pam

Dear Sunburned, tennis, scrabble player,
You found a cleaning product that you wrote to the company to compliment them? AND you didn't post the darned name of this miracle product???? WhatTHEheck???
If you would please post this products name...... I promise to post the name of the miracle cleaner that I discover! Promise! (But don't hold your breath that I will find something that is related to cleaning that I love!)

Gotta run.... that last load of laundry is hanging out in the dryer and the oldest ds is 1/2 nude! YIKES!
take care.........
4 days from smiling!

Hi! I hope you don't mind if I join your group. I am also a teacher. I'm married and have a 6 yo son.

I have about 100 to lose. I live in FL so I've been with work since June 3. (had to make up hurricane days and had curr. writing).

I am enjoying staying home. Although last week I felt like all I did was cook and clean! My husband really helps out during the school year-I see that now.

I am changing grades next year. I taught 5th for 2 years and now I'm going to 3rd. I taught 3rd grade my first 3.5 years of teaching-so I'm looking forward to it-but not the FCAT!

I hope everyone has a great day!

Congratulations to all of you in the home stretch! It is all so worth it when summer hits!

After over a week of humid 90 degree weather, it is finally raining here in Michigan. Pouring to be exact. I can almost here the lawn saying AHHHHHHHHHHH! I am hoping to take advantage of the weather to either do some major cleaning or some much needed shopping (have I mentioned that I HATE to shop?) but my library book is calling me to the couch! This weather also makes me want to bake but my will power has been so slacking lately, I am afraid to do that.

My DD and I read an article in Family Fun magazine about a family that collected post cards from all 50 states. Of course my DD now wants to do the same. I was hoping that you all might be willing to get her started but I am a little leary about putting our address on a public web site. What do you think?

Sue

Sue, Private Message the address to us! Do NOT post it on the general list here! I also get that magazine and love it...have for years! My guys are nearly too old for it!

Deb, Welcome! You've walked right into a rather CRAZY group! But... you know that...You teach! We're really all the same! Where in Florida are you? My dearest friend teaches in Stuart! They lost their school TWICE last year due to hurricanes! I'm in coastal Virginia where we still have folks living in Emergency Housing (trailers) AND all have trees all over the place from Isobel. SOOO.... I'm rather anxious about hurricane "season" approaching!

...and to the rest of you, I've gotta run... dinner is burning and the family needs feeding! I'll be back! Shouldn't have tried to do this with dinner on the stove...WHAT was I thinking??? Trying to have a bit of ME time, HOW selfish!

later....
meeee

G'evening (or should I say good morning!) all!
Welcome, Deb! I know/knew some other Florida teachers, and I do Red Cross work, so I understand and sympathize with hurricane days. I'm a special education teacher who earned an unexpected early summer vacation.
I am, however, keeping busy. I working as a lifeguard at the gym I was a member of... that's what happens: I spent so much time there, they HIRED ME!
They needed somebody to close tonight, but you can't close without being fully certified, so I had to do the 2nd half of the swim today. AFTER 90 minutes of physical therapy, and not having eaten anything all day! I went to lunch with Red Cross friends, and Applebees screwed up my order, then the manager was rude and nasty, so I told him he could have his hamburger back and not to bother me.
The waitress fixed it as best she could, but I still didn't get my food with my friends; in fact... they were FINISHED before my order came out! So I had to take it with me. I put it in the fridge at the PT office, and then the fridge at the gym. I finally got to eat (and it tasted nasty so I threw half the burger away!) during the thunderstorm that closed the pool for 45 minutes.
Anyway, I passed the test... so I closed the pool tonight. I had to fight with the lap-lane lines... we have to move them for water aerobics classes, and they got all tangled up and fell to the bottom of the pool.
So... that was my night. It was fun, though.
Laters.

Pam-It sounds like you are enjoying your summer. That's awesome!

Hatteras-(sorry I don't know your name)-I teach in Seminole county-Lake Mary area? Seminole county is just north of Orlando area. Yes, I'm not thrilled about hurricane season. My husband has always tracked the storms-but I guess I notice it now because of the 3 that hit us. He woke me up to tell me that there is a depression near Jamaica. Why did you choose HATTERAS as a screen name? I've been to Hatteras once. Great time. We might be moving to NC in the next few years. (not the OBX though).

Mouse-that is so awesome about becoming a lifeguard! You sound busy! Applebee's is usually hit or miss with us. Why did you earn an unexpected early summer vacation? Hope everything is ok--oh wait......are you going to a new school district? What type of special education do you do?

Sue-I'll send out a post card. I'm not sure how the private message works. I'm still trying to figure out if there is a way to view posts from newest to oldest. I click on this thread and then hit the last page--does everyone have to do the same?

Today it's going to be HOT here in FL-I know isn't it always hot?? LOL. I have to clean up around the house. (a chore I hate doing!) We are going to Sea World tonight. Teachers get a free pass. It makes it affordable for us to get dh and ds season passes. We are hoping to catch the new dolphin show. The dolphin stadium has been closed since the first hurricane.

I hope everyone has a great day! Enjoy!

Debs

Robyn - I tried to send a private message to you all. Please let me know if it worked. That is my first time (virgin send!). I was just thinking when I got my latest issue of "Family Fun" that I probably won't subscribe again as my children are out growing it also. It sure has served us well for many years though! I hope you were able to save your dinner. It is so tough finding "me" time when you are a working mother. This is doubly true when you teach because you have so many extra children to attend to!

Mouse - Congrats on passing the final test. Although closing the pool doesn't sound like a great thing! How late is it open? Is there someone else there when you walk out to your car? Be careful! I noticed your post was just after midnight. Hopefully you weren't just getting home. I have had great luck at Apple Bee's. I love it due to their no brainer Weight Watcher meals! I do have a friend though who has nothing but terrible luck there. Oh those lane lines can be a bare even with two people working on them. I guess you need to just think of it as a good workout after sitting for a bit! Glad you are enjoying it.

Deb - I am not sure about the private message as I have never sent or received them (until today). I know on my computer if I scroll to the very top it has my login and says private messages. That is where you access all your information. I am assuming that if I get a message it will pop up there. That is also where you go to change the order of your post. I like to have the newest first then I arrow down to MY last post and read up from there. It is probably the dislexic way to do it but what can I say I am a special education teacher! Here's how I did that. I went to the top and clicked on private messages, then went to edit options, scroll way down to Thread Display Options. Under thread display mode pick Linear - newest 1st.

Everyone - Please let me know if I ever offend you when I talk about special education. After 20 years of teaching in special ed, 13 years of having an autistic DS and 10 years with a very ADHD DD, I find humor the best survival tool. I know sometimes my friend who works for another school will repeat a story I have told using my words and the teachers at her school get upset. So please just let me know.

Ginny - I hope you survived your ball games. I don't envy you any there. How is your DM doing?

I guess I should start thinking about lunch since the children have golf this afternoon.

Sue

Morning. Wait. It was morning when I already posted.
I'm having a struggle getting myself going today. I didn't go to sleep till around 2 anyway, and my cat is definitely not encouraging me to get myself moving.
I want to do the laundry before I go anywhere....
I think this heat (even though I'm inside!!) is killing my appetite... I'm not hungry at all. But, I'm not feeling sick either, so it MUST be the heat!
I've had some decent food at Applebee's before, though they are hardly a first choice with me because the menu is so very limited and they hate substituting! There is a whole lot of stuff I can't eat, and its a fight to get them to sub a salad for fries or steamed broccoli for mashed potatoes.
I seem to be more busy now than I was when I worked full-time, worked part-time (at the gym), volunteered, and took grad classes. I'm not taking summer classes because BOTH of my classes were cancelled (ACK!). I'm not working full-time at the moment because my employer didn't like that I was looking for a new job, and if you read the other messages here, absolutely didn't like me. I suppose its their loss.
I am moving to Virginia (Northern) to work for another school system down there. Its more money for me, which is nice... but I'll have to resume driving back and forth from Virginia to Hopkins. I did it for 2 years for my Master's degree and wasn't terribly fond of it then. But I only have 7 classes (well, 6 classes and one project) to go for my certificate of advanced graduate study... and then I can decide to apply for the doctoral program. Most graduate programs only allow a transfer of 3 credits, so it'd be silly to switch programs. With any luck, by this time next year I will have 1 class and 1 project left.
Okay. I AM going to do my laundry. I AM going to find something to eat. :sigh:
Later.

Pfew!!!!!
Did I actually get here????? You mean I get to stay home for a nite and NOT go to a baseball game?????Well, Dh, Dd and Ds are enroute- the game starts at 8 pm......Lord knows how Dh will make it into work tomorrow.....as it will be close to midnite when they arrive home again. But you see SOMEBODY had to stay home with Dd, who still has school........great hardship that it is. Aw, I love my husband and kids...but the obsess on the baseball/softball thing. Nuff bellyachin!!!!

Deb- welcome!!!!! How is life in the Sunshine state? My husbands brother (BIL and SIL) live near Newport Richey. I have been to Fla several times, pretty state but I would never manage in the heat. I have a bit of a polar bear in me, I think. Are you going on a specific plan to lose weight? What about excercise? And how was Sea World. I have never been there......but to Orlando several times to visit the mouse with the big ears. Oh, and as for me, I am a certified insane person~ not certified to teach a darn thing, but I drive the little critters that you teach to and from school each day. Call me a transportation expert......certified sickie......or more commonly a bus driver. I usually drive a "big bus" crawling with 57 little monsters, who I love dearly as long as they keep their clothes on. But that is for another day......welcome. I look foward to getting to know you!

Mouse- congrats on the certification for lifeguard. Sounds as though your upcoming move is now making more sense to you- and I really have a good feeling about this. Said it before,a nd will say it again...you HAD to get out of that other job. they were abusing you. Hope you got the laundry done- oh and BTW you expected Imp to inspire you to be productive???? I am sure that after one long stretch.......yawn......maybe another stretch......Imp was set for another nap, or perhaps watching some birdies out the window.
Wonderful for your well being and blood pressure- pure poison for inspiration to work. Hope you got done what you had to do!

Sue- thanks for asking about my Dm. She is doing great, but a bit tired. Her Dr informed her that she needs no chemo or radiation- it was found early enough. And according to my Dr, that sounds appropriate- he said that most stage 1 colon cancers are treated with surgery only. As far as special ed stuff.....I could use enlighenment about it- and also all summer work for me is special ed. So I can add a laugh or two at times too. (I signed up for sub work only this summer). Today I actually was asked to sub on a special ed run........nice part of it was I drove 2 students home in an airconditioned suburban with a great radio......one that worked! (big bus radios are pathetic). So for 15 minutes(drive back when empty) I felt like a human being. Then had to climb into my usual dinosaur with out the air or radio and take the 57 critters home. Rude awakening.

Pam- so with a summer of house cleaning facing me(the only time it gets really clean!) ya gonna enlighten me with the name of this good tub cleaning stuff???? Marathon scrabble huh?? take care of the sunburn.....and I hope you enjoy your time off!!!! (even though I am so jealous)

Robyn- get your dinner on?????? How is Dh's job search going? This summer going to be extra tough on you being home with him too? (hubby's can be so charming) Good for you trying to get some "me" time! Well deserved,my dear. Oh, the double header??????? Well long story short......Dh sold it to Dd and I that we would go to Cracker Barrel for dinner after the 2 games.
Got to the dumb field (and unfortunately have been there b4, hated the place then, hate it now) and realized that there was no way in you know where that we would have the time to go out for any dinner other than Mickey d's. Oh was I ticked.......seething describes it well and hurt too. Hurt, because he is such an honest man- but his one weakness is his dumb baseball. SO, he had me ready to kill......but when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping......so my Dd's and I left him during the first game (Ds did not play until the second) and all got sandals at the local mall (the only good thing about that field is a pretty nice mall is about 10 miles away). Ah, revenge is sweet.......

Summer- your trip sounds great.....how was the weather at the Cape? Been so darned hot here, I hope it was nice for you!

Guess I'd better go get the dishes done, then I promised Dd we would watch her yearbook (on DVD) together. I had to miss the viewing at school because of all the half days....finals-regents etc....which has us driving most of the day.
If i missed you I am sorry- Kerry where ya hiding???? We miss you!!!
Ginny

Imp absolutely didn't inspire me... fortunately, a letter from my health care spending account management did. They needed a receipt; I tried to get it to them, and discovered that although my insurance company hasn't bothered to send me the COBRA information, they sure have cancelled my account!
AND... those at the human resources department told me that I could use a credit card to pay the premium: GUESS WHAT???? YOU CAN'T!
I have NO idea where I'm going to get $800 (minimum...its $400/month) in CASH. I'm trying to prod my bank into getting my credit card for my grad school loan cleared by Hopkins (since they cancelled my classes), so I can get a cash advance....
At least its cheaper than I thought it was going to be. I was figuring at least $1800 for the 3 months. $1200 isn't so bad... assuming I can find the cash.
It means I might be able to take a class during the fall.
I'd love to .... Those people should be hung out to dry like jerky! I just cannot believe they are so incompetent... they are doing this on purpose.
And I still need to find a damn lawyer to write a letter for me. I've been reluctant to call my friend's cousin because he really didn't want to get involved last time. I think he was trying to save me money, but if he'd been more forceful, I might not now be in this situation...
Not that its his fault or anything... You know what I'm saying.

it was hot today. understatement. really hot. and really humid. we had our class picnic. yippeeee skipeeee. it was hot today. really hot. and really humid and our dumb@##s were outside having a picnic complete with sweaty teachers. hear my yell. yipeeee skippeee.

tomorrow is THEIR last day. hear my yell! i have enough work to do to last me 2 more weeks. i've got 'til thursday at 4. hear my yell! (it is a different yell, in case you can't hear me!)

not personal at all tonight. sorry. cooked brain has too much work still to do!

i will return once this fat lady has done the singing! it won't be long now! i could count the hours! YIPEEE SKIPEEE! hear my yell!

ya'll take care,
meeee
(The private message worked well....I'll send out a card to your dd as soon as I can get to the store to get a postcard! )