Hello PEOPLE!

WhooooHOOOOO.... "Citizen of the Year" checking in!!!

For the record:
1. I did NOT get thrown into jail for laughing at the wrong times during court! We didn't have anymore witnesses called to the courtroom the 2nd day! So the microphone didn't get used! (Whew!)

2. You are all *looking* at THE JuryForeWOMAN who got voted in because I was in the restroom when they voted! Which wasn't fair and I tried to get out of doing the job but then realized IF I was IN CHARGE we might get out of there before lunch time!

3. We all agreed on our first official Secret vote! The plaintiff (I'll spare you the details!) got ZERO! NOTHING! NADA! ...WHICH was exactly what she deserved! Her lawyer asked for $60,000 (of which roughly $16, 000 was true expenses and the rest he deemed "Pain and Suffering"!) My jaw dropped down to my chest at the sum requested! It was outrageous! AND It wasn't happening! ZERO!

4. I have to go back next week for more fun! Actually, our little group of 7 sorta ended up chatting with the court reporter( HOW do they do that job?!) and the bailiff with the funny microphone voice! (He actually, off the record, agreed with our verdict! So hopefully they will say that we're too friendly with the court employees and kick us right off the next cases!)

5. It is VERY tiring to sit and listen without being able to ask a few questions yourself(! hehehehe! ) and try to think (and follow the testimony of medical doctors) and to discuss (only at allowed times and only in allowed rooms!) and to make decisions about other folk's lives! WHEW.... AND I've decided that I don't like trial lawyers OR doctors OR victims who cry "Wolf!" ARGGGHHH! And you guys thought I was jaded BEFORE my time in the court! HAAAAAA!

WELL enough about the *EXCITING* (choke, ahem, choke) life of the rural VA jury!

Sooooooooo, I've resigned from the teaching position I've held for 17 years...... and I've gotten a letter stating that they will release me ONLY when a "suitable replacement has been secured".... which means that I can't sign the contract with the new school system! (Good thing I've been up to my eyeballs in crying witnesses and doctor's drolling on and on....otherwise I'd have a mouth FULL of new herpes and chronic upset tummy issues!) Sooooooooooooooo, here I WAIT....WAIT .....WAIT! Next week, on the days when I have no court, I'm headed to my old classroom to begin moving the 17 years worth of accumulation around! I'll be throwing out TONS, I'm sure! I'm also planning to fill our rented storage unit with the stuff that I want to keep! (I can't move into the new classroom officially yet!)

Anyway...as I've begun to think of it....my stomach is rumbling....guess I need to get back to reading! I'm reading _Good In Bed_ which I HIGHLY recommend! The weather is so wonderful.... I think I'm going to take my glass of water and book outside! No humidity today! Last night I actually got COLD with the windows open! (We are NEVER able to keep the windows open in August!)

Everyone ..... chins up! Keep fighting the good fight....on all fronts!

Kerry, the little red hen said it the best! "Then I'll do it myself," said the little red hen. And she did! Keep up the great determination! (((hugs)))

Ginny, DON'T you adore men who don't do the research but then PoohPooh yours?! Arghhh! You're doing a great job! (((hugs)))

Mousie, Have you checked to make sure that your applications in all those places (that have been there for 3 years) are still active? You won't believe what I've gone thru to get the new position! Also, I got the interview for this position by taking my resume and a copy of my application to the schools office and asking to speak to the principal for just a quick few minutes! I introduced myself and told her what I was wanting to do and asked if I could leave copies of the stuff that was onfile (at the central office) with her! It worked! ?????? AND (((healing hugs))) to you and that bite!

Summer, You have made a plan for your family celebration and you're working it! (((hugs))) to you! You are doing so well! Let me know when I need to make you a smaller anklet! I'll be happy to make you a pair of earrings or even a bracelet out of those extra beads!

Take care!
meeeeeeeeee

Hello iwannabequeen!

First let me tell you that asking your question now, in early August, to a bunch (ok...small group!) of very different (in what we do) teachers will get a very different
response if you ask us ....say at the end of February....which in my opinion...is the LONGEST short month of the whole entire year!

So.... The short (and August!) answer to your question is: YES! I love it and it was worth all the hard work!

So... The truthful and watch out...LONG(I'm famous around here for being LONGwinded! ) answer is: YES! I love it and can not imagine doing any other type of work! I teach first grade. I have taught a new group of 6 to 7 year olds "first grade" 16 and 1/2 times! (I was hired mid year to satisfy a state requirement regarding the ratio of teacher:students! ) There is actually what I call the "lightbulb moment" where my kiddos look at the words in a book and look up at me and the little lightbulb appears above their heads and then the kid announces..."I *CAN* read!" Wwwwhoooohoooooo! What a moment! I LIVE for those times! I go back in September hoping for those times! I push, fight, push and fight from every angle that I can think of to get those moments to happen! Sometimes they happen in Sept. , October, January, March, JUNE even! Sometimes they don't happen....and then I fight and push from every angle that I can think of to get help for the kiddo! Sometimes I have to push and fight for extra "clicks" on the paper counter in the office. Sometimes I have to push and fight with parents who don't understand things from the view point of someone who has been a "first grader" for 16.5 years..... Sometimes I have to push and fight with on site administrators who don't get what I'm trying to do, why I need $$ to buy something new, etc.... All of this pushing and fighting..... the good pushing and fighting as well as the other pushing and fighting can get to even the most dedicated and experienced teacher! Please notice that I've not mentioned the pushing and fighting that comes from the district, the state and now the federal levels. No Child Left Behind, yadda yadda yadda....

So... the true answer to your question is.... yeah, on most days I like what I do. BUT, the job can truly suck! Teaching is not for the weak, the weary, the whiners, and most certainly it isn't for those folks who think that they will be a teacher inorder to have summers off! (HA! Those don't last past the first 4 months, usually!)

I'm currently in the process of leaving the only place that I've ever taught and going to a new school system (in the area where I live) in order to CHANGE the view "from my personal window". I'm scared to death to leave the comfort of what I know! I'm also as excited as can be to be leaving the comfort of what I know! (I know what "crap" I have to deal with at the old school! Dealing with "new crap" will be a good wonderful change! BUT, I KNOW that there will still be "crap" to deal with!)

Any career has something horrid about it! All jobs have good points and bad points! I'm rambling on like a fool..... (the others here are used to this! LOL But I know that you're not! :P ) If you'd like to PM me, I'll give you a few stories that will cause you to never want to WALK thru a school door..... but then I will tell you MORE stories that will make you sure that you can't ever work anywhere else again! Once a 6 year old looks up with you and announces that she "can read!" and you know that YOU are the reason that she CAN read.... OR once a big "ole" 7 year old boy runs down the hall on Monday morning and gives you a hug because, he "..missed you sooo much!" OR when you read the VERY phonetically written love note addressed to you and left in your reading group seat that is written by a "Cekrt Amirer" ...you end up hooked! HOOKED on the kids and hooked on the "crap"!

Once school starts.... the view thru my "goggles" changes.... depending on the fighting and pushing of the day, the week, the month, the marking period....etc! But, when it is all over and done with....and I've sent them home for the summer...being able to read, write, add, subtract, write me letters and know to say thank you and please... I can't think of spending my time fighting and pushing anywhere else...doing anything else!

Ok...and June, July and August help a WHOLE lot! It is sorta like childbirth.... the summer helps us forget....and only remember the good stuff...and face our next labor (the start of the new year!) with anxious anticipation!

I'd love to talk more about this topic! PM me....

Ok...and for the rest of you! SHUT UP! Don't tease me about this entry!

take care.
good luck!

Call me Scarlett O'Hara.....

I'm turning into such a dramatic, hoop skirt, back of hand on forehead, "I'll never be hungry again!" sort of girl.....

whew.... I'm thinking it is cause I have WAYYYY tooo much time to think about stuff! LOL

Once school starts....won't be time to do my Scarlett routine! Won't you all be so happy! LOL

Until then.... don't PM each other ABOUT me! LOL

ya'll take care!

I like teaching, but you need to be prepared to deal with lots of political stuff. Especially if you're going to do special education. I've been in 4 states (since I went to college in NYS and did my student teaching there too), and 6 districts (I did my student teaching in 2 different districts), and public and private. I have only had two administrators that I truly respect. Which, frankly, I find to be rather sad. I can directly point out that the administrators make or break a school. My school right now is falling apart because our administrators don't know what they're doing and play favorites. I love working with the kids, but I really want to find one school that has a decent set of administrators who are doing what they should be doing for the kids.

Robyn: Yea, I go through and update the applications frequently. I've also done the whole going and dropping stuff off in person, mailing the stuff, everything. The whole deal. The thing with special ed is that the principal doesn't usually hire the special ed staff for whatever reason. Pennsylvania is somewhat insane in what they require BEFORE they'll consider you for an interview: a state-wide application, child abuse clearance, state background check, resume, a minimum of 2 references, any in-state evaluations (all evals go to a state central clearing house as well), license, transcripts and an essay. They won't even TALK to you if you don't have all of that.
I don't know what to do to get the attention of the districts anymore.
I have all of that, I have my master's degree, I have good references. I usually don't even get an interview. Since I left, I've gotten 2 interviews in Lancaster County; but didn't get the job for either one. When I was there before, I couldn't even get an interview.
My mom figures its because of the way I look, and she might be right, but some of the people who interview me are heavier than I am!

Welcome Riya!!!!!!
These ladies have been great to me......and although I can't speak of being a teacher, I have found much in common with them dealing with students on a daily basis. And they have been gracious enough to have me here and make me feel welcome. I do love dealing with the students......and it is by far the most rewarding (and in the same mouthful, the most frustrating!) job I have had. Previous jobs for me????? Chemical Engineer, Manufacturing Supervisor/Dept Head, Technical Writer......oh, and I should not for get the ongoing one, Mommy! The kids are great.........and I will try to be as encouraging as I can. As far as weight loss goes, I lost 30# during my first year of driving/dealing with students and have kept it off (I am on weight watchers). Wish I could get these last 10-12 # off....it will happen some day!!! What was your previous career?????

Glad to meet you- this is a great bunch of ladies!!!!!

BTW- to everyone else.......we got a car.........thank goodness that is over!
Have a great nite.
Ginny

How did I miss all the other posts????????? Sorry not to get personal with everyone........next time I will bore you with my miserable jury duty story.....sounds an awful lot like Robyns.......maybe the malingerer from NY moved to Va!!!!!'

See ya later
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
My day started out great than my dh opened his big mouth. I slept in until 9:45 and then went to get a some toast to eat at 10:30. Started in on me about how if you want to lose weight you can't be eating breakfast this late and then turn around and eat lunch at 12. So I told him to shove the toast where the sun don't shine and deal with my mood swings since I was hungry. Then when he got lunch ready he was all sweet and loving because he wanted my help fixing the kids plates. I purposelly didn't brush my teeth until after lunch, so he wouldn't keep kissing me and sucking up since he pissed me off. After lunch we went to Hocking Hills to Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave and Cedar Falls. We did a lot of walking and climbing today. It was a lot of fun. So my day did turn out better after I ate and got outside for a little bit. I just hate men who think they know how to lose weight, when they have been skinny all their lives. Enough about my rant.
Robyn or should we call you Mrs. Forewoman sounds like you have been very busy and will have a busy next couple of weeks. Atleast they are making it memorable for your jury duty experience. So what is Good In Bed about? Hope you enjoyed the nice weather today. Keep it up Wonderwoman!
Ginny hope you were able to find a car in your dh's price range that was agreeable to his liking. LOL. Look at it this way, you are so busy getting your dd ready for college that you are not eating as much right? Hope you were able to atleast find sometime to enjoy for yourself.
Summer so how did the family get together go? I like your idea about the strawberry cheesecake. I will have to remember that one. We have a couple family reunions coming up at the end of the month. I will have to be sure to take something I can enjoy to eat.
Mouse I am soo sorry to hear about your hand. Just when you were looking so forward to hitting the water again. I know all about PA teacher requirements. The PA line was about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes from my hometown in NE Ohio. So I checked into getting my license right when I got out of college. Hopefully one of these days some school district will call you with a job. Keep trying and one of these days it will work for you.
Iwannabequeen, we didn't scare you off yet, did we? School hasn't started yet. So our complaining is at a minium. You will enjoy being a teacher don't listen to the stories people tell you about teaching. No matter what job field you are in you are going to hear success stories and horror stories.
Have a good evening everyone.
Kerry

I swear I am going swimming tomorrow or Monday, and I don't CARE about the bite. If I can get it wet in the shower, I should be okay in the pool, right? The pool isn't dirty! It has chlorine in it! I'm going CRAZY!

ya know, mouse..... the chlorine might even dry up the bite faster!

we're heading off to my inlaws (insert that dummmm dummmm dummmmm music here!)
for a meal at 3:00 in the afternoon. WHAT meal is eaten at 3? We ate breakfast (Sunday breakfast is the only BIG breakfast I cook each week.... EVERYONE (but me!) looks FORWARD to it....gag!) Any way, we ate breakfast at 10.... They will want lunch later...but NOT 3! And if we feed the kids at 3.....then they are going to need SOMETHING else to eat before bedtime! 3? WHOOOOO decides to feed people at 3???? Do I sound ungreatful? Do I sound mean? 3??? ARGHHH!

_Good In Bed_ is about a "larger woman" and her quest for happiness! Here....I'll give you a REAL honest to goodness review!

"From Publishers Weekly
It is temping at first but unwise to assume Candace Shapiro is yet another Bridget Jones. Feisty, funny and less self-hating than her predecessor, Cannie is a 28-year-old Philadelphia Examiner reporter preoccupied with her weight and men, but able to see the humor in even the most unpleasant of life's broadsides. Even she is floored, however, when she reads "Good in Bed," a new women's magazine column penned by her ex-boyfriend, pothead grad student Bruce Guberman. Three months earlier, Cannie suggested they take a break apparently, Bruce thought they were through and set about making such proclamations as, "Loving a larger woman is an act of courage in our world." Devastated by this public humiliation, Cannie takes comfort in tequila and her beloved dog, Nifkin. Bruce has let her down like another man in her life: Cannie's sadistic, plastic surgeon father emotionally abused her as a young girl, and eventually abandoned his wife and family, leaving no forwarding address. Cannie's siblings suffer, especially the youngest, Lucy, who has tried everything from phone sex to striptease. Their tough-as-nails mother managed to find love again with a woman, Tanya, the gravel-voiced owner of a two-ton loom. Somehow, Cannie stays strong for family and friends, joining a weight-loss group, selling her screenplay and gaining the maturity to ask for help when she faces something bigger than her fears. Weiner's witty, original, fast-moving debut features a lovable heroine, a solid cast, snappy dialogue and a poignant take on life's priorities. This is a must-read for any woman who struggles with body image, or for anyone who cares about someone who does.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc."


I loved this book and read it VERY quickly! Couldn't get enough!
Anyone want me to mail them my copy?! (I bought it cause I couldn't get it at the library!)

Enough for now.... I've got to go begin the process of changing into a NICE person...who doesn't mind eating (whatever the meal is called) at 3! (It is gonna take me hours to get to "nice"! hehehe)

ohhh thanks for not making fun of my "I like teaching" post!
take care

Morning Ladies,
Hope this finds everyone in bright spirits for the day. I couldn't sleep this morning, so I got up and went for a long walk around the neighborhood. Then I came home, grabbed a bowl of cereal and hit the shower. I got ready for church and then walked to church. So I think I have my excerise in for the day. I don't know what I will end up doing today. I do know that I have to go to Wal-mart for school. My boss asked me to go look for a rug for my room. It has to be washable. So I hope I don't have to be the one to wash it all the time. Plus I am going to look at some storage units there to see if I can con him into buying them for me too.
Mouse I hope you are able to go swimming today. I know you have been waiting patiently to be able to start swimming again. Have a great day!
Summer I hope your party was a success last night. Did everyone enjoy themselves?
Robyn I hope you found some time to relax this weekend before returning to do your civic duty this week. How long do you think you will be on jury duty?
Ginny did you find a car yet for your dd? I hope you have found a few free moments to relax and treat yourself to some much needed Ginny time.
Well I am going to and find something for lunch to feed everyone. Talk to you all later.
Have a great Sunday!
Kerry

Boy Robyn that book sounds really good! I will see if I can find it at my library first. What is the author's name?

Queenie, I am beginning my fourth year of teaching in a couple of weeks. The key to enjoying your teaching career is to find your niche. I am certified to teach preschool - 6th grade. I originally thought I would be happy teaching 2nd grade. Then I thought being a reading specialist would be my area. So far I student taught 1st grade and kindergarten. My first job was kindergarten. Then I was transferred to pre-k. I LOVE TEACHING PRE-K! I never want to teach another grade. I get to be very artistic and musical while I'm teaching my class. I'm always painting or gluing something. I am always singing. There are some really burned out and unhappy teachers in my building. I stay away from them. I hang out with the teachers who are also happy. There is a group of us that eat lunch in my room instead of the faculty room because we got tired of the negative gossip and complaining. Sure, we ***** and moan sometimes, but we are supportive of each other and always try to find the positive. So, the keys to enjoying your teaching career is finding your niche and avoiding negative people! Good luck!

Queenie, it is true that once school is in session, we are a bit feisty. Hopefully you enjoy sarcasm because there is a lot of that around here.

Robyn, forewoman? Who better for the job? I can totally picture you taking charge. I bet you are cracking your fellow jurors up. So is this it? Are you done? I can't believe your school system isn't letting you leave till they have a replacement. I have never heard of such a thing. But, a 1st grade position in CT would be snatched up so fast it would make you dizzy . Hopefully your job will be filled so you can sign your contract.

Mousie, take that bull by the horns girl! You gotta fight for your right to swim! As long as your not totally oozing, your cut may just dry out like Robyn said. Sorry about your job/living situation. I wish you could be living home and working where you want to. You will get there one day...don't give up.

Kerry, keep up the good work standing up for you!

Ginny, Congrats on the car! What did you buy?

The BBQ went well. DD was very entertaining sharing the Disneyworld scrapbook with each person who came last night. Her enthusiasm made everybody want to go with us to Disneyworld the next time we go so they can see it through her eyes. I stayed out of trouble with my eating. I did drink too much, but it was fun to be totally hammered. It has been a long time since my surroundings were spinning ! DH became very amorous after the BBQ...he wanted to get frisky in the backyard! It was a fun night.

My sister hasn't seen my backyard in a long time (she is the "queen" of the family and always commands her subjects to come to her palace) and was blown away with our landscaping. DH used to be a landscaper, and I LOVE to garden and decorate. She said that we should design the yards of the rich people in Westport and Greenwich. She knows someone who gardens for someone in Westport and makes $30 an hour to pull up weeds! I guess if I ever get burned out with teaching, I might have a new career! My sister spoke to my hairdresser earlier in the day and told me that my hairdresser is upset that I'm gonna color my platinum hair back to my natural dirty blonde to save money. My sister offered to pay for me to have my hair colored every 6 weeks. I said, "No thank you." If the sh*t hits the fan and I need to borrow money, it won't be for my hair! Hopefully we will get by on our own.

Well, we grocery shopped at B.J.'s Wholesale Club today. Buying in bulk is a money saver after all. My kitchen is a mess, but I am so hungover, all I want to do is take a nap. So, it may have to wait till tomorrow!

The cut is totally oozing, and I think somebody scraped my car backing up. I'm not sure if its that or dirt. And then I happened to look at the car parked next to me, and it looks like there is a little dent on his car... And on the same side as my scrapes! But my car is silver and there is no silver paint on that car, but I'm freaking out that the guy is going to blame me for hitting his car. He works in my building and he's a little, well, aggressive. He also parks illegally in the handicapped spots, which pisses me off. And I definitely lost paint on that side of the car... but the scrapes rubbed on my hand were black (IE, dirt), and not maroon (the color of his car).
I don't remember seeing the mark on his car before, and they are expensive older cars...
ARRRGH! Yes, I'm a worry-wart. I worry over nothing and everything.
I couldn't go swimming today either: I went to the store real quick early this afternoon, and used my left hand to carry the plastic bag in part of the way... and its all oozy again. I think I might have to go to the doctor down here. The scab is there, but there is this little lump right above the bite. And that is where the stuff oozed from too. :sigh: I'll call tomorrow. Its not infected, its not red or hot. Its a little pink and purple... the school nurse said it was probably just bruising.