It does drive me nuts, especially since... oh, how horrible of me to say this, somebody tape my mouth shut, PLEASE.... I have students who get medicare and assistance, yet get to pick the kind of hearing aides and such that they'll wear. And my one student has lost or done away with 3 pairs in the last 4 years... He refuses to wear them, but they still keep buying the expensive in-the-ear models for him. Hearing aides, digital ones like he has, cost as much as a car! But that is just awful for me to say, I know it is, because its not my student's fault that his family gets medical assistance... but the same thing drove me nuts when I worked 3 jobs (1 full time when not in college, the same one part time during the year, plus tutoring and work-study jobs) to pay for my undergrad degree and saw other students getting free-rides because their parents didn't work. I had just about every bit of financial aid out there, but it was still a struggle each semester to pay that bill!
And I KNOW its wrong of me to think that way, and I'm not being a nice person... but, but... but!!!!
Okay. That's why I go swimming... I swam for an hour and twenty minutes today, so I did at least a mile and a quarter. I probably could've gone longer, but had to grocery shop (did you know that counts toward exercise? FitDay lists it with at least 4 calories per minute!).
You'd think I was PMS'ing or something. Hmmm. Can you PMS without having a cycle????
:mouse:

Mouse I understand completely what you mean. It is not that some people work their tails off to make ends meet. Well others get a free ride and get things handed to them.
I didn't know that about grocery shopping. That is an interesting tibbit of info though. I guess all the reaching, bending and pushing you do. Plus the walking would all add up.
You all will never believe how my dh is acting about his birthday coming up on Friday. Mind you he could have cared less when it was my birthday. I had to go get my own birthday cake, take my bike out of layway and eat the dinner his kids' wanted that day on my birthday. He was telling the kids tonight when their mom came to get them that he would have them all day and night on Friday. They told him no that Friday night started mommy's weekend. But he said that it was a special day for him since it was his birthday and he could have them spend the night. I walked out onto the porch with his ex-wife and said what is so special about his birthday. I had to do what they all wanted to do on my birthday. She just laughed and said that is how he has always been. Is this mean of me to feel this way? I decided that I wasn't going to buy him a present or even a card. Last year, he complained about the gift from his kids and me. Plus he told his kids he didn't want a birthday cake from them. So that still hurts alittle bit. But this year he told me last night I could take him out for his birthday on Friday to the local steakhouse for dinner. I just laughed and walked away from him. Men, you just can't always understand them all the time.
Well I better go and watch my movie while it is quiet around the house.
Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Kerry: I don't know a whole lot about guys. My male friends are pretty great. In fact, they remember my birthday and Hanukkah without reminders. I have one very good male friend from college who is fantastic in this area. And pretty darned good at the gifts he picks out. I NEVER know what to give him, though, so I currently owe him a Hanukkah and birthday present! He's a computer/video-game nerd, very smart, into science fiction, and comics. But I can't give him comic strip prints: that's what he gives ME! I have a great Rose Is Rose sweatshirt that has Peekabo (the cat) on it from him, and a couple of Dilbert prints that I need to get framed.
The sweatshirt has Peekaboo getting his head scratched by Rose when she comes in from outside with her gloves on. She takes the gloves off, and the next frame shows them empty on the table. The last frame shows Peekaboo with a glove on his head thinking, "Needs a refill!" That sweatshirt ALWAYS makes me smile, and I tend to wear it when I have something I don't want to do... or if I need cheering up. I wore it to my last GYN appointment during the winter, in fact... :)
My friend also wears the typical nerd glasses, so he gave me a teddy bear in a coffee mug and the bear is wearing nerd-glasses when I received my master's degree. So he sits on my bookcase and makes me smile too. :)
Actually, come to think of it, my father is the way you describe; but I don't get along very well with him!
I feel a little better... I have a ton of assessment reports to write for the incoming students, but its hard getting the assessments themselves done. My TA throws a little fit everytime I'm out of the room (I think I told the story about NCLB and her pay decrease!). So I've written a total of 2 reports; 45 more to go!

:mouse:

Robyn- gotta love the blue writing.........could that be the color of your bathroom?!
Congrats on getting done, though. Sounds so pretty and fresh and bright! Keeping my fingers crossed for you on the new position too! Sounds good........hopefully good news is coming your way!

Mouse-oh, I hear ya........There seems to be almost a bias against those who work, but are not wealthy. I am just getting used to some of the stuff that goes on regarding governmental help......yesterday, when I was asked to monitor in the morning, I assisted a student (age 7) with muscular distrophy (also appears to be somewhat autistic, but I am just guessing). He could have gone to the program in our county - which is huge and well respected. His parents decided to send him to the next county- an hour drive versus a 15 minute one- and had he stayed in county he would have been on a bus with maximum 6 other students, airconditioned at that, with a monitor. Mom decided to send him to this other program- again an hour away- and my school district picks up the tab for one driver, and a monitor to drive him to school daily in a suburban an hour each way. Kind of makes me scratch my head......and if I am being ignorant- Please- someone enlighten me. Just when so many other programs that could help many are scrapped for lack of funds...... As I said, if I am on the wrong track here please wake me up. Hope you got your assessments done- or at least got a large pile out of the way!

Kerry- you have my total sympathy!!!!!!! My Dh, although he does not usually call too much attention to his birthday, in the same respect ignores mine......Mother's day too.......can't remember the last Valentines day I got anything either, and I swear the ONLY way he remembered our anniversary was because he woke up before me that day and saw a card out for him and was able to save face with a quick trip to the store that opened at 6 am. Mind you, my Bday is just before Christmas. So a cake.....aw, at this point why bother. My Dh has spent the entire week before Christmas mumbling around the house- "I hate this time of year" and "Who the **** would have a baby in December!". Yet, we always try to get him a nice gift and do something special for his birthday, which is next month- and unhindered by any holidays. Am I hurt by this???? You bet! But at this point I really just downplay my birthday.......don't really even try to celebrate it. I know it is defeatist, but it is the only way to avoid his bad attitude. Let us know when yours is. I'll be sure to make an embarrassingly big fuss over it!!!!!! And, no, it is not mean of you to feel the way you do.

Sort of a quiet day- we looked for cars for Dd, and she has thankfully volunteered to pick up her brother from Bball camp. My 8 year old is a at a friends....so at least for the next hour I have some peace and quiet. (much needed, Dh was not in the best mood last nite).

Off to assemble the stuff I want to donate to the Salvation Army........cleaning closets!
Ginny

Robyn: Blue is my FAVORITE color! :) I just love it, almost all shades!
My cousin's birthday is in January, right after the new year, and she always hated it... so she wanted ot celebrate her HALF birthday, which was the same time as mine.
Nobody at school knew when my birthday was because I just didn't tell them. Some people found out though, like the weekend before, and I came in to find a balloon, card and several bottles of seltzer water. But we don't really celebrate it. This year it was in the middle of the week and I had classes, so I couldn't get home.

As far as medical stuff goes, I swear... There REALLY IS a bias against people who work. I don't know how anybody but the super rich dare have kids because if the child has a disability, you're screwed... I sure can't keep up with MY medical bills. Lord help anybody that gets something like cancer and works because the insurance companies won't cover it! Its a great big dice shoot.
As for the child you described, I can't say... Typically something has to happen and the parents can't just CHOOSE to send the child to another district or a different placement. The law allows it if the school district can't program for the child. The law basically says that the child must receive a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. Appropriate doesn't mean cadillac expense, either, the district can prove that appropriate is a Saturn. So, at some point in that child's education, something happened that has your district choosing to pay that money to another district... the parent probably didn't decide from the beginning not to send the child to your district. Or, the district may have decided that they couldn't program for that child... and decided from the outset to send him. If he's physically disabled AND has autism, that would be quite a hoop to jump throuhg to program for him appropriately. I was a 1:1 for a child who was mild/moderately mentally ******ed and had Duchennes Muscular dystrophy... By the time I had him, he unable to do anything more than weight bear with max assist (adults had to hold him up, and help him slide back when done, but he could do it). He was all dead-weight, too. REALLY hard to work with.

:mouse:

Mouse- thanks for the input. I do know that this student started out in the county, and from what the driver told me, mom was unhappy and asked to have him moved.
As far as the student goes, he was capable of walking totally independantly, but needed some assistance climbing up into the suburban. He was able to take his books out of the seat pocket and turn the pages.......grabbed my hand many times to show me where he wanted me to read, but unable to verbalize at all. I saw little expression in his lower face, but he was able to use his eyes to show displeasure (if I was not reading what he wanted). He was prone to grabbing-pinching.....hard.......and the only way of preventing him from doing that was using my hand to place mild pressure on his upper chest. Now that I told you nothing (this probably could describe a million kids!).....I just thought I would add that. Not sure I am cut out for a special ed situation........although there are days that the 61 kids I transport to and from school are sure a source of aggravation!!! And a belated birthday to you!!!!!!!!! Seems as though you just had one. I have thought about the half birthday celebration many times- but honestly I LOVE winter, and Christmas.....and except for a really crummy attitude from Dd (which of course rubbed off on at least one of our kids) I have no desire to change it.
And the other thing.......our youngest's birthday is Dec 18......only a few days before mine. We usually have her party a few weeks early (so as not to conflict with other families holiday celebrations) and try to keep the day somewhat special. So by the time Dec 23 rolls around.........well, noone really cares much.

Anyway- Dh is in a better mood (heck he had better be for all the crabbiness I endured last night!). Mouse, you have not mentioned how you were feeling at all in the last post or two........you ok?

Off to finish reorganizing my greeting card stock (somehow, it gets all messed up!). Simply amazing the cleaning I can get done while I am out of work.
Have a great nite!!!!!!!
Oh, and Robyn- once you are done with your painting........I sure could use some help here!!! :lol: Aw, why not- NY is only a 10-12 hour drive away!
Ginny

Nothing more for me to say- I just keep forgetting to subscribe to this thread so I know when someone has stopped in for a visit!
See ya!
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
Thank you for all your encouragement and advice. My birthday was in May. The 15th to be exact. I got more from going on an overnight school fieldtrip the next day then on my birthday. The kids sang happy birthday to me on the bus. So that made up for the way I was treated on my birthday. The funny thing about my dh's birthday is the next day on Sat. I am having a yard sale. So I will be busy on Friday putting prices on stuff and getting it ready to set up on Saturday morning. So jeezz I won't be able to do much to celebrate his birthday. He also has never bought me anything for Christmas, Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. This was the first Mother's Day I would have celebrated as a stepmom. He never said anything to me that day or his kids. Even though they were with their mom, I thought a phone call would have been nice. I use to in the past buy gifts for their mom and also my dh and say it was from the kids. But I don't think I am going to do that anymore. Since it seems like it wasn't appreciated. But their mom sure likes it that I take the kids to the library and art lessons. Plus I was the one who took my stepdd to her softball practices and games while her mommy was at work. I think I am going to stop being a doormat for people to walk all over and go out of my way to do things for others. If you can't scratch my back, then I am not going to scratch yours for you. Can you all tell that I am PMS really bad this month?
I went to TOPS tonight and gained two pounds. But that is okay with me since it is that TOM. I will take it off next week.
Robyn I will keep my fingers crossed about your job postion. I hope you get it. You deserve a change from the zoo you worked at last year. Plus it sounds like you have been really busy painting your bathroom. Are you done with it yet?
Mouse you sound like me when it is that time of year to do MFE's and IEP's. I tend to drag my feet when it comes to writing those. This past year, I got them done early and had them riped apart by my supervisior. So I told my TA never again am I going to do that. I will drag my feet since I seem to write better under pressure. Good luck in getting your assessments done.
Ginny That must be awful to hear your dh go on about having a Christmas baby. That must be very hurtful to hear every year. I thought I was the only one with an insentive spouse at certain times of the year. Sounds like you have been busy cleaning closets too. I cleaned out my clothes closet a few weeks back and got 5 big black sacks full of clothes that don't fit me anymore. Plus I finished cleaning out my storage closet today and found several boxes of stuff to sell on Saturday. My city is having a city-wide yard sale that day. So I figured that I couldn't go wrong with that day. This is how I will be able to get some new clothes for the coming school year. I am going to have fun shopping for smaller sizes.
Well I better go and get some sleep. I have another busy day ahead of me. I have to go workout early. Then we are going to lunch at my mother-in-law's and then the kids' have their summer reading finale at the library tomorrow afternoon. Plus I would like to clean out one more closet before Saturday to see if I have anyother junk to get rid of.
Talk to you all later.
Have a great day tomorrow.
Take care,
Kerry

Real quick post from me: I went to sleep before I ate dinner yesterday so I had to eat breakfast this morning. And now I have to go to work. I'm not looking forward to another day of testing, really... Especially since I'm almost out of the tests and I don't think they have anymore.
Of course, that would make my life easier: I wouldn't have 47 reports to write!!!! :) :)
These are different from IEPs and such, because they're for the vocational program. I still case manage and have a homeroom. This year I'll only have 5 students, which is good because I have all the new kids for introduction to our vocational program and there is a ton of paperwork and assessments that go with that during the school year as well.
I'm doing okay mostly... Today will be rough because I don't typically eat breakfast or lunch anymore, so I don't go to work sick... Yesterday was a weird day though: the team leader bought me lunch for some reason, and she remembered that I'm (as she thinks of it!) pretty picky. So she bought me stir-fried veggies. Something I can definitely eat. But, I ate it, so then I was so full I didn't want dinner (that's what happens when you don't eat ... you aren't hungry anymore either!). So I went swimming, came home, took my meds, wrote a report or two, and went to sleep... So breakfast just wasn't a choice today. :shrug:

:mouse:

Just a drive by visit from me, but I will be back later!!!


Kerry- you keep cleaning there girl!!!!!!!! I hope you sell lots and lots of stuff Saturday to enable you to get a great fall wardrobe! Don't sweat the 2#- I gained last week too (PMS week for me) and I expect most of it go be gone tonite! A 2# gain with TOM around the corner is nothing....who knows, maybe you lost!!!!! And BTW,a bless those kids for singing happy birthday to you!!!!!! I had something similar with my gang- they never knew that it was my birthday, but the wonderful and thoughtful Christmas gifts that I was blessed with (among which was $140 in mall gift certificates!) and all the other love they showered me with helped me deal with a miserable crab Dh..... Don't know how I would personally deal with the kids mom......I know that you do not want to feel like a doormat anymore.....don't blame you one bit there!!!!!!! But then, there is a part of me that would want to do the right thing- take the high road, and prove to everyone else how someone with some class would handle this. (I go thru a similar arguement every year with gifts and cards for my SIL/BIl who generally treat me like trash.....but I send cards anyway). I dunno....I can surely understand how you might feel!!!

Mouse- how sweet of your team leader to be sensitive to your dietary needs!!!! (ok, it messed up your eating otherwise......but still nice!) Sorry that you are still muddling thru those reports........and sorry that you have to endure yet another test.

Ok, Dd wants to go online to PBS kids to play a game.........so far today has been good.
I'd better get out of here and start packing stuff for the salvation army!
Have a great day.
Ginny

It was very cool of her to be considerate... I do my best to avoid staff luncheons and what not because there usually isn't anything I can eat. Because you NEVER KNOW what they put in it!! :) But, I'm pretty safe with vegetarian stuff if I can avoid onions.
People think I'm a picky eater because I can't eat chicken anymore, I'm allergic to chocolate and nutra sweet. ;) Oh well!!!
I have what *might* be good news on the insurance end: I spoke with the supervisor today. WE're playing phone tag, so I'm not entirely positive she understood, but I told her that the first surgeon didn't submit stuff correctly so I found a new one. And that he isn't on their plan, but if they'd pay for the hospital stay and the anesthiologist, I'd come up with the rest of the money. The doctor's fee is a lot more, but chances are that if they approve the first two, they'll kick in the out of network subsidy for the doctor.
She told me to have the new doctor submit a new letter with information, to make sure my endocrinologist includes a letter TO THE insurance company, and I can submit anything I want as well... so I'm going to submit my gym records, and get one of the water aerobics instructors that I'm friendly with to write a letter about how often I swim. She's there almost everyday and sees me. That way they can't say I'm just doing this for weight loss.
In fact, I'm going to try and convince both my endocrinologist and the surgeon to not even MENTION the weight loss aspect of it, because then its just plastic usrgery.
I'm also going to ask over in the PCOS forum (since that is most closely related to what I have) if anybody has any information that might help. If I drown 'em in paperwork, maybe thye'll pay?????

:mouse:

Hello folks! The weather is VERY bad and unpredicatable here! We have several friends who have lost their computers (as well as other things!) due to all of the lightning strikes... soooo Dh has been crazy "enforcing" his rule of no computers during a storm... AND well...it has rained SOOOO much.... anyway! THAT with me trying to immitate that Trading Spaces chick and thinking that I could "do" this bathroom.... WHAT was I thinking?! In my next life, I SWEAR, I'm going to be rich so that I can hire professionals to do these kinds of home projects! I've been trying to get the bathroom finished... AND now I've decided to mess with the kitchen. WHAT was I thinking?!

I've also got jury duty next month... Did I tell you all that?! The Clerk of Courts said to bring my schedule for work (still haven't heard anymore from the new system....) as well as all my doctors appointment dates and talk to the judge.... My dh says that I need to take our two ds and let them sit in the court room as I really don't have anywhere for them to stay while I'm gone. I don't like to leave the oldest (12) home alone yet.... because dear me...he can STILL do some of the most STUPID 12 year old things! And I certainly don't leave the 9 year old home with the oldest! YIKES! Anyway!

Our oldest is a SpEd kid. There must be a very good reason (program, teachers, equipment, etc...) that has that kid going out of the system for his SpEd. As his parents, I know that we certainly weigh the length of the commute when we are selecting programs for our son. I *HOPE* that the parents of the child involved are aware, educated and KNOW what they are doing for the kid! Enough said! (Don't get me on my BROOM! I am *THAT MOTHER*! When it comes to our kiddo! LOL)

Gotta get dinner done. Then I'm going to paint the trim and door in the bathroom and announce that I'm as done with the paint cans as I can be! My dh wants me to "smooth" the 1 wall that was ruined by the wallpaper.....but...I'm thinking that if he wants it smooth he can smooth it himself! I'm just about DONE! Then I've gotta get new stuff...towel bar, shower curtain, etc.... and then viola...I bet he won't notice the "rough" area! I will show him how to sponge paint! THAT would hide it! hmmm? NOOO, I'm nearly done with paint in there!

ya'll take care! I've got the solution to not ever getting presents from my dh! THAT used to happen to me....I'll tell you what I did tomorrow! :)

:) :) :) :) :) :)

Evening Ladies,
I am offically ready for my yard sale on Saturday. I am done cleaning and tagging everything. Now all I have to do is figure out how I am setting every thing up on Saturday morning to display my junk. :) :)
I treated myself to an ice cream bar at the DQ tonight. I could have really went hog wild and got a blizzard but I can't eat all that ice cream anymore. I would be sick to my stomach.
One more day of running the kids to their programs for the summer and I am done. Then I can go to school next week and start working on my classroom. Maybe I should have them all come with me and work on it. Since I did everything they wanted to do this summer and nothing I wanted to do. That would teach them huh.
Ginny what did you end up getting at the mall with $140 gift certificates? I plan on dragging my dh to go shopping with me for my new clothes. If he can make me go do stuff with him that I really don't care for then he can do the same for me.
Robyn would you like to come to my house and redo our upstairs. If you are the gal from Trading Spaces, have at it girl. :) :) Glad to hear that your almost done with your painting. Don't you love how men can never say what a nice job you have done on something. They always have to find one or two things wrong and tell you how to fix it. I like your idea of the new towel bar and shower curtain to hide the rough spot. :):)
Mouse that is great news about your insurance company. I hope it all works well for you. Keep up the good work of bugging your insurance company.
Gotta go. I am tired and hope to go to bed early tonight.
Take care,
Kerry

:D :D :D I got the job! :D :D :D

Details as I find them out! :)

Hi!
Wish I had more time for a long response......but I should be back later.

Mouse- sounds good for you- insurance and Dr's getting on the right track! I am so happy for you!

Robyn-jury duty is the pits.....had it last summer. Hope your time with is is not too bad. I hear ya with the home improvement stuff........but am guilty of the same offense as you.

Kerry- hope that garage sale is great and you get rid of lots of stuff and make lots of cash!!!!!! BTW- the one big item I got with the $140 was a new pair of walking shoes.........I go thru them quickly!

Robyn- CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

Gotta go- sorry for being so brief...............
see ya later
Ginny

Afternoon Ladies,
Congrats on the job, Robyn!! I am so happy for you. That is great news!! :) :)

I was able to go to bed early last night for a change. Then when my alarm went off this morning, I turned it off and went right back to sleep. So I think I got caught up on some of my sleep. Thank God on that one. I was starting to be a really crabby person.
Right now since it is that TOM, I am hungry all the time. I keep trying very hard not to snack. Sometimes I do okay and others I give into a few chips here and a cookie there. I just hope that I can talk myself out of it and not pack on tons of weight by the end of the week.:)
Well the kid's are playing ball outside and I told them that I would play with them. So I am off to play ball for a little bit. Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

Woooooo!! Go Robyn!!!! Congratulations on the job!!!!
And the bathroom.
I've never had jury duty, and I'm not sure what I'd do: I use my mom's address as my permanent address and vote up there as well! It'd be quite a commute! :)
Congrats on the yard sale... Hope you earn lots and lots of money! My school does a huge one every year, and I used the opportunity to clear off my book case so I could buy more books. And I earned comp time for working on a Saturday at the yard sale!

Okay... I am so glad summer school is over next week!! One of my new kids destroyed my room this afternoon. I've had this calendar that I made with moveable pieces and all the holidays (and then some), tags for months, days, seasons, and weather. I've had this calendar since my 3rd year teaching, so its survived moves to 2 schools, my inner-city self-contained MR/ED dual diagnosis class with NO AIDE!!! The calendar has been through the mill! Its one of the commercial calendars, and then I made all the pieces for it, printed them on card stock and had them laminated. Everything goes on with velcro... so you can move it, and change it. And today, one of my new kids destroyed half the pieces and tried to destroy the calendar. But, laminated card stock was too much for him, so he just stomped on it. The kid just lost it. And all because he didn't want to do the warm-up drill!
And I picked up everything and put it all back up on the wall because I didn't want the kid to think he'd done something special. :)
Oh! And some of my kids, during the vocational assessments, picked some real interesting jobs!!! I have one porn star, an assassin, an exotic dancer and a marine sniper. Last year I had 2 porn stars, and an exotic dancer. Oh, one child who wants to work in construction because he likes boots!
:mouse:

I'M BAAAAACK!!!

I have blisters on my blisters! I'm not kidding...I got blisters, then because it is physically impossible to stop walking at Disneyworld, I got more blisters on top of my already existing blisters!!! I've never seen anything like it! Oh, and I injured my achilles tendon...pain like you wouldn't believe...from so much friggin walking. I ate whatever I wanted...and ate like a piggy...and only gained 3 pounds...probably because of all the walking. So are you getting my point?! I AM SO TIRED OF WALKING!!!

We did have fun though. That Mike, boy he saved our vacation, and so, dear Robyn, you saved my vacation by introducing me to "my man, Mike." Thank you my friend.

Magic Kingdom, particularly Fantasyland, was DD's favorite. MGM was my favorite. DH couldn't decide his favorite. Animal Kingdom was a disappointment, but that is okay. Whenever we can afford to go back, and that isn't looking so good right now, we will be able to spend more time in the other parks by not going to Animal Kingdom. I also think I would rather go for 5 nights instead of 7 nights. Believe it or not, I was ready to come home. Sound weird?! We just weren't able to ever catch up on rest. It was hard for DH and I to share a double bed, so sleep didn't come easy. The big pool at the Caribbean was ALWAYS BUSY, so we never got near it. We did try the "quiet pool," but because the water was soooo warm, it didn't refresh us in the hot humid weather. It seemed like I was constantly looking for opportunities for relaxation and never found it. Next time, I am fitting in a "spa day." Riding the buses was a drag, but it was better than paying $8 a day to park and deal with traffic and getting lost. We would like to stay at a hotel linked to the monorail next time.

The Fantasmic show at MGM was phenomenol. Beauty and the Beast at MGM was wonderful. Philharmagic was so cool. Living Seas at Epcot was really amazing. At Pleasure Island, we went to a comedy club where the comedians were hysterical. We just loved everything.

So, now I'm home and broke! We need to cut back on the luxuries, so I guess I won't be getting my manicures anymore. :( And cable is gonna have to go to basic. But, honestly we don't even watch half the channels we have. So, it shouldn't matter much. (Good thing I ordered the stuff I needed for school before we left!)

I don't know when I will be able to go back to read all of the postings. So, for now, I will start from here. I hope all of you have been well. I hope you are all making progress. It is certainly time for me to get back to work on Weight Watchers. Exercise has to be postponed until I see the chiropractor about my leg and deal with that. But that won't stop me from going back on my diet.

Told you I'd be back!!!!!

Welcome back Summer!!!!! Sorry 'bout the blisters.........but it sounds like you had a great time. How was the weather????? A trip worth having to cut back for a while for......gee, for us here (at least for me!) the week went quickly. I agree with you about Animal Kingdom (please tell me there are real animals on the Safari.......we hardly saw any!). My family liked MGM best too......except for me, I'll take Epcot. Take care of your leg (what do they do to treat that??) and go easy on your piggies!

Mouse- gee, those occupations are quite something........where do these kids get their ideas from? Porn star??? (what ages?) But I have to admire the kid with the construction boots! Why not? That is a shame about your calendar........guess it kind of breaks you heart, huh?

Kerry- how are you feeling? Hope you can avoid some of the TOM munchies. And good thing you got some sleep! (one good thing about Ol' Tom is it makes you tired and I sleep so well). Hope your day ended up well!

Robyn-can't wait to hear all the details about your new position!!!!!!!!!!

Got all the stuff to the Salvation Army.....now to continue cleaning!! Also got called in to work tomorrow am.......just a few hours.....and my supervisor practically begged. But it is only the am and I will be done in time to get Dd to swimming lessons. We went college shopping at Walmart this afternoon- made only a small dent in what Dd needs, but we are getting there. Guess I'd better go- lots to do before the weekend!
We are going to the shore (we usually go to the Outer Banks for a week, but are trying to save a few $ by going to the Jersey shore for a few days). I am not all that much of a beach person.....I grew up in NJ- had a bf whose parents had a beach house.....so I spent lots of my late teens and early 20's at the NJ shore. At this point I would rather go to a secluded lake........with a couple of row boats, a pile of books and some crocheting or sewing to do......dream on Ginny!
Gotta go- Dd wants to play Monopoly.
Have a great nite.
Ginny

HEY PEOPLE! :) Thanks so much for the congratuations and stuff! :) I'm so excited that I'm about to bust...and I'm so SCARED I'm about to bust! What an odd feeling to think about leaving the ONLY place I've ever taught.... I did find out that in order for me to be released from my contract my current principal needs to FIND and HIRE a new teacher BEFORE I can take the new job. Sooooooo meanwhile back at the ranch with the new blue bathroom.... I expose my stress by growing huge herpes on my mouth and nose! WHAT a beautiful face I will have when I go before the judge and BEGGGGGGGG / PLEADDDDDDDD / RANTTTTT my way out of jury duty on Monday morning at 9 a.m.! ARGHHH! I'm scared TO death about jury duty! BUT the Clerk of Courts said to just talk to the judge and explain the MILLION schedule issues that I have during the month of August! ENOUGH from me! :)

Sooooo, Summer, my blistered footed friend, I am soooooo glad to hear that "TourGuideMike" helped you out! I'm sooooo sorry that your blisters have blisters that have blisters! It sounds as if you had QUITE the trip! :) I have to agree with you... Our trip to Disney in December was far from stressfree and relaxing! We had two days on the other side of Disney to spend with my in laws prior to returning home...for which I was and continue to be thankful for! ALSO, while it was warm in December, it wasn't INSANELY HOT! (We actually wore jackets two days!) I hope that your chiropractor "heals" your leg soon! My dh had a horrible time from all the walking as well as not being at home in HIS bed! His back was a mess the whole time we were in Florida! How did your dh do?! Did you love the Rockin Roller Coaster or WHAT?! :) That was definately a family favorite! Did you ride that darn Winnie the Pooh ride at Magic Kingdom? THAT was the one ride that we didn't do when TourGuideMike suggested and then NEVER made it to it! (pout pout pout! The line was insane after the park got busy and we never wanted to waste time waiting there!) The boys also loved the "Mountains"! OOOOH and about the animal safari..... remember the weather... and we followed the directions given by Mike.... who said to get on that ride as early in the morning as possible... We were on the FIRST car thru for the day. It was amazing! We saw ALL kinds of live animals! Quite amazing! The lions were up on a bluff with a big gigantic tree and the sun behind them... They looked VERY much like all the Lion King "stuff"! With all this gushing....I must admit... Animal Kingdom was NOT our favorite park! We will not ever puchase tickets to ever visit there again....while it was nice and it was enjoyable.... it just wasn't all that.... the kids loved the "dino carnival rides".... BUT... The SanDiego Zoo and the Zoo in Washington D.C. are THAT good for animals....minus the rides! When we go back, chortle chortle, SOME day...... Ha! ...We would START the trip with Epcot (we were exhausted by the time we got there and didn't do it justice! We just wanted to go home!). MGM would be our 2nd choice... and then Magic Kingdom.... BUT of course that would ALL come after we do Universal AND SeaWorld...which we totally pretended didn't exist in December! Anywhooooooooo....... :) OHHH did you go see the Bug Movie at AK? We loved it!

Mouse, I actually LOL at your post regarding the occupations of your class members! Porn star. Assasin. Exotic dancer. GOTTA LOVE IT! All 3 of those positions have a MUCH better pay scale than a teacher!!!!! I *DO* love the guy who is going into construction due to his love of the boots! You've gotta love a guy who knows and understands a love for SHOES!!! :) I *FEEL* his pain! Good boots are a GOOOOOOD thing! Porn star?! Simply put...EW! Watch that kid! Keep the porn star away from your assasin and the construction worker! JEEPERS! Oh...glad to hear that there is "hope" for the insurance to kick in with your surgery! Do you have a date yet? Yahoo for summer school ending! and GAWD bless laminated card stock! ;)

Ginny, Ginny, Ginny! The Jersey shore?? Instead of the Outer Banks??? Shame, shame, shame! LOL Actually I've only been to Atlantic City and well.... we won't be heading back that way! I would have loved for you to have been traveling to the Outer Banks... we could have figured out a way that we could have met for a brief REAL LIVE meeting as you traveled thru my part of Virginia!

Kerry, hang in there your hormones will have you swining in the other direction soon! Glad that you got the stuff ready for the yard sale AND that you got caught up on your sleep! You are such a gem for continuing to play ball with those little buggars who have been so mean to you about your ball playing! (((hugs))) You're a great SM! :)

OHhhh... I saw a post from a speech teacher out on the other 3fc threads. I invited her to join our little intimate group! :) Kim, if you're reading this, WELCOME! My posts aren't ALWAYS this long! hehehehe....

I've gotta get going...it is nearly 2 am again! My bathroom is nearly done. My dh has me convinced to sponge on some of the trim color in an attempt to hide some of the flaws in the one wall. BUT...I'm only doing this sponge thing to 1 wall..... other walls will have to be done by the man! HA! This won't be an issue! I'm seriously looking at my kitchen now...going...hmmmmm a little paint.... TALK me out of THIS!

I STILL haven't told you how I get presents from my dh! Remind me to reveal THAT secret later!

Do I win the longest post award again???
Take care, my friends!
Meeeeeeeeee

WElcome back, Summer! :)

Yea, my students tend to choose some interesting jobs. It goes hand in hand with many of them being inner city kids, and having some significant level of emotional disturbance. I mean, there is a REASON they're at my school instead of at their public schools in self-contained classes. :) :)
I am pretty bummed about the calendar, but I had anticipated this so when I made the original pieces 6 years ago, I printed off EXTRA pieces on the card stock and laminated those, too... and have them in a folder, so I can easily replace the pieces. I'm kind of surprised that it took so long!
I also have to remake my 'chill sign'. I saved that on the computer at school, but need to hit the computer lab for a color printer because when I changed classrooms, I lost the printer. I keep getting these printers, and they stay with whatever classroom budget they're purchased out of, so I keep having to buy a new one! :mad:

I *AM* going to go to Disney one of these years. I've never been, depsite all the special ed conferences that are down there. They're having a HUGE assistive tech conference in January, and I could probably have gotten on as a presenter, but I'm really pushing for my paper to be accepted at the Council for Exceptional Children's annual convention. Its in April, here in Baltimore. If I present, my school MIGHT pick up some of the fee for my attendance. And the conferences are so bloody expensive!

:mouse:

I'm telling you Mouse.... one of these days you and I've gotta talk about Assistive Technology! I could REALLY use an expert in the field on DS's educational team! hehehe
Want to be a figurehead on a list of his specialists?! LOL

And...yes, "special kids" come up with "special jobs"! I'm guessing the assassin might be the next one to destroy your new 6 year old calendar pieces?! I've actually had some ...ahem...NORMAL (what or WHO is NORMAL???) ... lets use "typical" ... first graders come up with nearly as interesting career choices! The school is fairly near a military base...and with all the assorted bars that crop up around the base.... I generally have at least 1 mom who is a "exotic" dancer (read 1/3 dressed sliding around on a pole!).......and I generally have at least 1 kid who aspires to work at "Buck's"! I've also had a kid who was sure that he was going to be a bank robber! Stuck with it through out the year! His "gangsta" mom and her bf thought it was the most hysterical thing that they'd ever seen! (Work hanging in the hall.) Actually brought friends and family down the hall to make sure that they saw R's writing. I bet he will fulfill his dream someday! Sad.... Hmmmmm..... I've said too much!

Hi!
I love this discussion of kids and their ambitions.....guess you get to see/ hear it all. If only their parents knew how much their offspring was giving away from indicating their choices!!!!

Mouse- if it were up to me.....I would save a trip to Disney for the fall. By then the crowds are down a wee bit- the weather a bit tamer (unless you hit a hurricane, which we have!)and you are just generally out of prime tourist season anyway. You will appreciate it all the more when you get there, right? Good for you that you had extra pieces for the calendar. Even better yet that you found them (me, I would have made the extra pieces and then forgot where they were, duh!).

Robyn- a little bit of foaming a the keyboard, eh??? Aw, I love a good long post.....especially a lively one......especially during the summer, when I have a wee bit more time to read them!!! :D I found with my jury duty experience, that they were pretty lenient, especially when given a lot of logical reasons (such as yours and starting a new job) as opposed to lame excuses. So what shade of blue is the bathroom??????? And just what are you dreaming about for the kitchen???? (I have painted cabinets, hung wallpaper.....been there, done some of that!) My apologies for not going to NC this summer. Between Dd and college.......tuition bills, schedules, softball.......the list goes on and on.....and usually we rent a nice house one or two lots off the beach during the last week or so of August when the rates go down. Well, this year- not knowing what school Dd was going to attend- therefore no idea when orientation would be etc..... well it just did not work out. Now, Atlantic City.......well, you could use a large chain saw and send it floating out in the ocean for all I care!!! We will be at Island Beach State park, which, ok it is not as pristine as South Nags Head, or Hatteras.....but is very, very civilized for the most part. So, I do hope I have redeemed myself a wee bit in your eyes......and the kids are already asking if we are going to the Outer Banks next year.

I have survived today so far......drove that special ed run this am- sort of a pain because my monitor (the regular drivers son, who is horribly bummed out because his gf jilted him) was, well , not useless.....but sort of out of it. Oh, well, glad it is over......got a call from work that the new route sheets are done, and route selection (which is done by seniority, which I have little) is in 2 weeks. I get jittery about this....I do want my route back....it does not have many hours and allows me to drive our youngest to school (don't have to deal with what to do with her while I work). I'm praying that noone wants this route... or that something better will be there for me when it is my turn to bid. So, I sit on pins and needles for the next week and a half.

Got my walk in this am.....and have some other computer stuff to take care of while the house is quiet........so I'd better go. Enjoy your day!
Ginny

In the case of most of my students, I can't blame the parents. Some of them, yes...but so many of our students are in group homes or foster care that its very hard to say the adults that are raising them are the issue.

And yes, Robyn... we can talk assistive tech anytime you want! Feel free to PM me, or I think you can email me from here too. :)

I have to go catch my little monster. He has a vet appointment for his annual check-up today. But I have to take the computer with me to my mom's house too... and if I go out with the 'puter and come back, he'll know something is up.... so I gotta grab it all at once... plus squirmy the cat! ;)
He won't go in a carry case: he has a harness that goes on the seatbelt. Wish me luck!

:mouse:

Mouse- good luck with the squirmy cat!!!!!! (felines are a favorite subject of mine).
What kind of critter do you have....and how old is he?? Mine has yet to figure out that we are going away for a few days...but she adores the woman (neighbor, who is a sucker for a furry face) who also adores RC. They are retired, and her husband will come over to feed the beast....she will visit at lunch time and of course to spoil my already spoiled rotten "fato cato" (as I call her!) with some treats. (as though she needs them!) And then one of them will come over at dinner. RC's predecessor, EC actually went nuts when this neighbor came over....figured it was party time...bring out the cake........pretty funny. (actually all 3 of our previous cats loved her- we were nuts enough to have 3 cats for a few years). Just for conversation, RC is a 3 year old all black (maybe 25 white hairs on her chest) domesticated shorthair. She weighs in at 12#- probably about 3# overweight......and I have had her on "lite" cat food now for a few weeks. I am hoping that by the time October rolls around she will have taken a wee bit off, so that I do not have to hear the annual lecture from the vet that "cats are supposed to have ribs"! But then, she is such a piggy.....steals from the trash (indoors, she does not go out)......looks pathetic and begs the kids for treats.....oh, she has the whole world figured out!! And it revolves around food.
Ok, Mouse.......sorry to have bored you.......hope you caught your beast and that the visit with the vet went well.
I have blabbered enough for one day.........well, for now!
See ya!
Ginny

Welcome back Summer! Sounds like you had a great vacation minus the blisters, hot weather and all the walking you had to do. Relax and take care of yourself.
Mouse sounds like you have a couple live wires in your room this summer. Smart idea to make an extra copy of your calendar pieces. I would have done that and then put them some place safe and lost them. :) Hope you are able to catch your cat and not have too much of a fight on your hands going to the vet.
Robyn I hope everything goes well on Monday morning with the judge and you don't have to do jury duty in Aug. and Sept. That would be a bit much starting a new school and school year. I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you.
Ginny, I hope you have a nice vacation this weekend at the NJ shore. I have decided that I am going to save my loose change and one of these summers go on vacation to the beach. My dh is a homebody and I will just leave him at home if he doesn't want to go. I will even go by myself or ask my best friend to go with me or my two sisters.
I will also keep my fingers and toes crossed for you, too Ginny so that you get the route you want for the coming year.
Last night was an interesting night for me. I had the house to my self and happened to go in the laundry room for something. Well our door to the upstairs is off the laundry room. The kids had played up there with the neighbor's grandson early in the evening before their mom come to get them. They had left the windows open up there and all the lights on. I went up to close the windows and to turn off the lights. As I was going to the back room to shut the windows in there, I saw a bat flying around. So I ran downstairs and slammed the door. I called my brother-in-law's house, since that is where my dh was. I had to leave a message on their answering machine about having a bat in the house. My dh told my niece to call me and tell me that he was busy and to go get his other brother to come help me get it out. I went over to my MIL's and begged my BIL to come help me. So we came home and went back upstairs armed with brooms. We were able to open a few windows in the room closet to the stairs and then came back downstairs to get more help since I was a big chicken. I called my SIL's boyfriend to come help. By the time we went back upstairs it had flown out the window. But I was so ticked at my dh. He came home around midnight and asked about the bat. He was like you should have just left it in the house and shut the door and he would have taken care of it today. I told him that I was not staying in the house knowing that there was a bat upstairs. It was either going to be gotten rid of or I was leaving the house and not coming back for a while. Needless to say I had a hard time sleeping last night.
My dh keeps telling me several times today that it is his birthday. He woke me up twice to tell him that it was his birthday. He is in such a happy mood. He makes me sick. He finally asked why I was not in a happy mood myself. I told him how my birthday was. I told him that since it was his birthday, I guess that meant he could take me shopping and I could buy something for his birthday. Since we went shopping for batting gloves for the twins on my birthday and a new ball cap for dh. His excuse about my present was he didn't know what kind of bike I wanted. So that it was just easier for me to go pick it out, put it in layway and make the payments on it. Another thing that is tearing me up inside, is that his kids got him a birthday card and made him a cheesecake. When it was my birthday, I didn't get a card from them or anything. I know that I am suppose to be an adult and not look at the materialistic side of things. But it is like a slap in the face that I didn't even get a homemade birthday card from them. That would have been enough for me. It makes me feel that I am not special enough for them on my special day. That I am only good enough to run them to all their extra summer programs and play ball with them. Sorry that I am in such a depressing mood today. I guess I have that TOM to thank for my feelings today.
Well I guess I am going to go and take a bike ride to clear my head. Talk to you all later. Have a great weekend!
Take care,
Kerry

Big hugs to you Kerry........you are special!!!!! You are not just a chauffeur service.......and you are a wonderful, unique person. In the short time that I have gotten to know you (and everyone else here!) I have found you to be a warm and caring person. First of all......yup go ahead and save your change......you deserve some time at the beach!! Second of all, I can identify with your feelings about Dh and the bat. (I hate the darned things too!). And I really get upset when someone does not at least respect my fears. Guess you are really gonna have to take the high road with these kids and try super hard to (without any bitterness, and that is the tough part!) explain to them and show them how a you would like and what you consider the nice way celebrate a birthday. Guess I might even go as far as to tell them how much their dad liked the cake and even plant the seed that you might like a homemade card or a card or even a picture drawn by them. (depending upon their ages). I know I had pretty big differences with Dh's family about celebrating birthdays... And we will probably never resolve all the differences. I hope you got your bike ride in!!!!!!!

Wish I could say that my eating was under control today......it was not even close! I did get my walk in and then rode my bike later to the office to pick up all the stuff I will need in 2 weeks for route bidding. Looks like they left my route alone pretty much.....the toxic mother stop is still there.....but I was able to peacefully end the year with them. And of course, the the flasher stop is still there (remember the sweetie who decided to show the kindergartener he was sitting with his genitals??).
Aw, but I would love to have that run back- and from what I can see they made the afternoon shorter (so we would get home earlier!!!!!) So we'll see. You will see me jumping thru the screen on Aug 11 if I can still get my route. There does seem to be a route (special ed) that would also work......but my Dd would have to go on her own bus and I do love having her with me.

OK, this is it!!!!!!! I am out of here for today. Enjoy your weekend!
Ginny

Ginny, thanks for the well wishes! Yes there are real animals on the safari, but they just lie around in the hot sun. I've been told that if you go on a rainy day, they are more active. Have fun in Jersey! I have many friends who like to go to Wildwood and Cape May.

Rob, thanks again for your help. No, we didn't ride any thrill rides at all. The most thrilling ride was the tea cups, and I almost threw up! I am not big on rides...I've been known to wet my pants or vomit! So, we stuck with the "kiddie rides." And, we made sure to fast pass Winnie the Pooh. I would like to further explore Epcot next time as well. When we did the itinerary, to save time, Mike did one specifically for little kids. So, a lot of activities were left off our itinerary. But between DD's age and it being our first time, it was the best scenario for us. CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THE JOB!!! ;) Worse comes to worse during jury duty, if you get interviewed you just act biased on the subject, i.e., I was interviewed for a rape case, and I told them (truthfully) that I was a victim of an attempted rape so I wouldn't be fair to the man charged with the crime. They let me go without another word. Good luck!

Mousie, thanks for the welcome back. Don't worry, Disneyworld isn't going anywhere. It will only get better and more exciting over time. So go when it is best for you to go. I waited all my life until I had a child at the optimum age. I had no real interest in going there before that. Save your money and go in style!

Kerry, I'm so sorry about how you are feeling, but I really understand it. Some men (my DH included) and some children think the world revolves around them. I had a pretty lousy Mother's Day. I got a present and card from my DD, but a kind of IOU present from DH. He was supposed to send me on a spa day sometime this summer. But after his surgery and money being tight, that spa day isn't going to happen. Do you think he will do something to make up for it? Don't hold your breath! And, with my 40th birthday coming up in October, I figured I'd better tell him that I expect him to do something special for me. Because if I don't ask for it, I won't get it. And, I swear, if something nice isn't done for me, I will be devastated. I had a big surprise party for his 30th and he acted all weird and self conscious rather than grateful. I know he has a lot of baggage...lots of bad childhood experiences that make it difficult for him to express love. But I am really losing my patience with him. He'd better get his act together if he wants me to stick around. So, I can empathize with you. I wish many blissfully happy times for you in the future. I wish for those that love you to demonstrate it to you.

I saw the chiropractor today and apparently I have a pinched nerve. He took xrays, used the muscle stimulating machine, and adjusted my back. Tomorrow I go back for acupuncture. Cool! I sure hope it works. This pain is rapidly getting worse.

Robyn, one more thing. Mike wants me to post reviews of my trip, but I don't know where to post them. I emailed him, but I got no response. Do you know where I am supposed to post?

Have a good weekend one and all!

Evening Ladies,
I made it through the day without killing anyone! :) :) What really hurt me though was when the kids' mom came to pick them and there was an ice cream cake from the DQ in their car for her boyfriend. I guess his birthday was last weekend and he was coming to their house tonight to celebrate with the kids. They told their dad and I how they got him a card too and a present. So that just didn't set to well with me and I just walked awy from them and went in the house. I did take my dh out for dinner though. He asked me this afternoon where I was taking him for dinner. I laughed and said why should I take you out for your birthday. You didn't take me out for my birthday this year. Oh yes I did he told me. He supposely took me out to dinner something the week before my birthday. He just never told me that it was my birthday dinner. I told him that taking me to his mother's for dinner didn't count since I had to go to the grocery store that morning to get all the stuff for what his kids wanted to eat that night. He tried telling me that I was the one who wanted it and not his kids. I told him that I wanted steak and potatoes done on the grill for my dinner that night. Oh well let's see if they can all top my next birthday and Mother's Day. Since this year was a welcome mat year for me where my dh and kids were considered.
I did enjoy my dinner though tonight. I think I overeat a little bit but I don't care. I had a salad, 2 grilled chicken breasts, a baked potato and a piece of carrot cake for dessert. I haven't had dessert in a long time. So I slurged tonight. I am sure I will work it off tomorrow at the yard sale.
Glad to hear that everyone is doing okay. Summer I have had a pinched nerve and they are not fun. I had on in my left leg during college. The doctor said it was from carrying my bookbag on my left side and I was carrying too much in it. So I feel your pain.
Ginny I hope you get the route you want. You deserve to have an easy year with your little lovelies that you transport back and forth from school. I did get my bike ride in but I had all three kids tag along with me. They just don't get it that I wanted some me time. But I did tell their dad tonight, that if I want to do something by myself again, I am going to go without them and he can deal with them. I am tired of wanting a few minutes to regroup and having to have people tag along. It just doesn't work that well.
Well I need to go and get some rest for my big yard sale tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes. Talk to you all later.
Have a great weekend. Thanks for being so caring and understanding. It is nice to know that I have some great friends who know how to pick me up when I am feeling really low. :) :) :)
Take care,
Kerry

Well, let me just say that the vet visit was NOT a success. I not only drew the vet that all of our pets have hated back to when I was 5 years old, my cat BIT me. He bit right through my left hand. :cry: I had to go to the doctor's (my old doctor that I saw when I was at home who was fortunately on my current insurance plan!), and now have antibiotics. I can't swim for more than a week: until its good and healed up. They won't let you swim with a bandage on, but I bought waterproof ones anyway so that I can shower almost normally. They didn't stitch it, but only because there is some kind of bacteria in cat mouth's that can cause an abcess if it can't get out. Fun, fun!!!
My cat has been trying to kiss up to me all night, but I'm still a little unhappy with him. But he's unhappy too, becuase my mom has a new kitten, and is paying little or no attention to Imp. For those that asked: Imp is half Egyptian Mau (the only domesticated spotted cats) and half domestic short hair. He is in my avatar picture...he really is a gorgeous and usally very gentle cat. I have taken him with me to my classroom more than once especially when I taught students with moderate to severe disabilities. They loved him. He's never bitten anyone before!

Kerry: I don't have a husband or anything, but I think that what he did is just rotten. Really rotten.

I am really seriously bummed that I can't swim for at least a week. I can't walk because of my ankle, and the only other thing I could do in the gym was a hand-bike that you run with your hands. Oh well, at least I'll have LOTS of time after work to do all those damn reports. 13 down, 34 to go!

:mouse:

Kerry: Keep on standing up for yourself girl!!! Practice makes perfect!

Mousie: OUCH!!! That had to hurt!!! Best of luck with rapid healing.

Well, I had acupuncture for the first time ever today. It was pretty cool. I had 30 needles put in. While he was at it, he also treated my IBS, GERD, asthma, allergies, endometriosis, perimenopause, and hypoglycemia (I just found out today that I have it!!!) My mother got it when she turned 40...in case you forgot, I'm turning 40 in October. :( My mother didn't live long enough for it to develop into diabetes. But my grandmother did live long enough to develop diabetes. So, apparently I am going off WW and need to get on the hypoglycemia diet to try to avoid getting diabetes. DH is trying to tell me it is all diet...hello! mom and grandma had it...just like grandma had her gallbladder out...there are certain diseases our bodies are more genetically prone to. Whatever! Anyway, diet can help me, so GOODBYE TO CARBS AND SUGAR!!! :cry: And, unfortunately, I can't eat Splenda...it gives me violent diarrhea. So, Sweet n Low and Nutrasweet (don't you know it turns into formaldehyde in your stomach? :nono: ) are my only alternatives for sweeteners now that I can't have sugar :( anymore. It is a matter of health now. People have to have insulin shots, go blind, lose limbs...NOT ME!!! :no: So, I go back on Monday for another treatment. The pain is still with me, but it isn't as severe. So, acupuncture really does work!!! Cool! :cool:

Have a great day!!!

I forgot to tell you something funny. While I had 30 needles sticking out of my body, there was a cop in the cubicle next to me who screamed every time he got a needle put in. The doctor (who knows him well) actually told him to stop being such a chicken!!! As I was leaving, the nurses told me that the men are the worst patients...biggest babies, and the women can take everything that the doctor does to them since it doesn't nearly compare to the pain we are used to living with. Men are such wimps!!! :lol: :rofl:

Hello all....

I've gotten up this morning with a cold, complete with sneezing, runny nose, eyes watering .... yet ANOTHER reason that I CAN NOT be selected to stay for jury duty when I go on Monday morning! I'm feeling just about how I look.... runny, sneezy and otherwise NOT well!

I sponged the bathroom last night! Well....the 2 major walls. AND I *LOVE* it! BUT, I discovered that the color that I painted the trim and the door (that I have been gagging over and wondering WHY in the world I picked THAT ugly nearly yellow color...) was not mixed right. I pulled out the paint chip sort of on accident and LO AND BEHOLD...I did NOT pick THAT ugly nearly yellow color that I've slathered all over the trim and door.... not one coat but 2.... the color that I had asked for was a TAUPE! I feel so STUPID to have not noticed...well, I did notice...I even asked in the store but the guy mixing paint told me that it would dry the right color! WHAT do I know?! NOTHING... and when I got to the trim, I had really forgotten what I had picked...duhhhh! SOOOOOOO, I was heading back to the store to get the stuff to sponge....but I threw the quart of UGLY NEARLY YELLOW paint, my stir stick, my paint chip, I even grabbed some of the masking tape out of the trash to show what the color is looking like on the wall...UGLY! WELL... people at the return desk didn't even flinch (they couldn't find a manager and then decided amongst themselves that they were NOT going to look any further because this was OBVIOUSLY not right! ) I went back to the paint counter with the lady from returns who talked to the paint folks.... Lets just say an HOUR later...4 quarts of OTHER messed up colors later... I had my quart and Lowe's has found a problem within the paint mixing computer! I YI YI! What a mess! Anyway.... the walls are sponged and I'm going back in there to fix the trim and door...can ya'll say Yahoo?! BUT I'm so glad to get rid of the YELLOWish color!

Mousie....This week must be the week for kitty cats to FREAK at the vets office! We have a 17.5 year old Pud named Clementyne. Clementyne has been with me for a LONG LONG TIME! Well, 17.5 years! She is a blue cream tabby. She weighs just over 8 pounds. She had her thyroid removed 3 years ago. She is now having kidney problems and refuses to eat the food that would help her kidneys. We've given up trying the special food. Why take away icecream from Grandma at 90?! She has gotten SO old this winter and spring and summer....BUT she is still fiesty and loves to play with my husband (not the kids too much anymore!) We went to the vet to get her thyroid prescription...1 time a year she has to be seen and blood work and weighed.... AND this time (we also drew the vet that has NO something..Personality?) our elderly kitty went totally NUTS! She hissed, she fussed, she struck out with her clawless paws! It was wild. NEVER in all these years! Then when they took her to draw the blood, she would not let them get near her!!?? The vet came back with her making those horrid cat fight yowls and growls in the back room announcing that they couldn't get blood from her with her in such a mood. Could I bring her back tomorrow? NO! They could put her to sleep to get the blood.... um.. H E double hockey sticks NO! Soooo, I asked if they would return my cat to the room. She was UNconsolable for about 15 minutes more. The vet gave me the prescription without the blood test. She gave me a years worth. I'm sorta thinking that NEXT time I will make SURE that we get the vet that did her surgery...a sweet, older, gentle, feline loving man who talked to her in a wonderfully soft voice. GEESHHH! Who knew that this would be more important that the kids pedicatrician! Anyway.... GrandmaKitty has recovered ....as much as she is going to... She didn't bite anyone.....but I'm sorta sure that if she could have eaten that vets face....SHE would have! By the time I was done in there, I was ready to eat the face off that woman myself!

Kerry.... ((((hugs)))) I'm sorta gonna go out on a limb right here and make my proclamation...... THAT MAN IS AN A$$! FOR so many reasons! The bat... The gifts... The ATTITUDE! ARGHH! I'm so sorry! You know that the exwife is the one who made sure that there was an icecream cake and stuff for her boyfriend. I guess what I mean is...it isn't the kids! It is HIS responsibility to MAKE SURE that those step kids of yours give you respect, as well as gifts and make you cards... BUT DARNNNN, he can't even take care of keeping up his own responsibilities! LET alone follow thru with his responsibilities as a father! Geesh, I'm so mouthy and it is none of my business. I just HATE to hear how you are treated! (AND THE DAGGGON BAT in the house..... WHO would have had to clean up the mess that the bat pooped out and got all over the room? ARGHHH! ) ((((Hugs)))) I'm sorry, honey! How long have you been with this guy?! You are a SAINT to put up with all of this!

Ginny... You've gotta love that you are DYING to keep the route with "GenitalBOY"! You know you are a true professional when you realize that dealing with "GenitalBOY" is just part of the package! :) Hope you get your route! :) Keep us posted!

Summer... thanks for the postcard! You've made it to THE fridge! Only the most important stuff goes there! :) My boys wanted to know who "Mike" was! I LOL until I had tears... So I very quickly explained who "Mike" is! THEN they remembered my computer pages! Sooo my moment as a MommaLolita ended rather quickly!

Well....I'm heading off to the bathroom....MY room lately! I'm gonna taupe up this yellow trim and door! I SWEAR I'm just about OVER this bathroom. The walls look wonderful with the sponging.... Good thing...cause I'm so done with BLUE! :)

Once again.... I've babbled and babbled and babbled!
I hear that trim calling me!
take care!

Kerry, I have soooo enjoyed getting to know you online, and I consider you my friend. With that said, I realize that if I am true to you as a friend, then I must treat you the same way I would want to be treated...with loving honesty. It hurts me to see how you are being mistreated by those around you. I wish you were surrounded by supportive, compassionate, and loving family and friends. I'm sure you have some wonderful people in your life, but all I know about are the ones who are crushing your spirit. So, all I can address are those people who are toxic relationships in your life. You can no longer allow them to mistreat you. If you choose to allow them into your life, you must put your foot down and not take any more sh*t from them. YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. I have eliminated many toxic relationships from my life and continue to live with some that are difficult to cut off. Those that remain in my life are no longer allowed to mistreat me. I STAND UP FOR MYSELF. I don't play games. I'm not passive aggressive. I directly speak up for myself. This has improved my self-esteem greatly. In the past, I sought out counselling. I got help from a professional psychologist who basically told me that I can't change anyone but myself, and as I begin to grow and improve, those around me will react by either changing for the better, fighting me, or leaving. Eleven years later, I have a much better marriage as a result and a better relationship with my sister. I also got counselling with my DH from our minister. That was extremely helpful. I also attended al anon. I'm sure there are professionals out there who could help your marriage, and if your DH is unwilling to go, you could go by yourself. That is my advice, my friend...take it or leave it.

Rob: You're welcome, and I'm glad the postcard generated some excitement for you even if it was short-lived!!! :lol:

Thank you ladies for all your wonderful kind words and words of encouragement. I told my dh last night when we were at my mil's that I was not happy with the way things have been where his kids and us are considered. That I didn't like being a welcome mat for everyone and that I was just going to start going and doing things on my own. Because if I sit around and wait for them all, I will be an old, angry lady by the time I got around to doing the things I want to do. He hem ha around and tried to make excuses and his mom told him those didn't fly anymore. I have started to stand up for myself and I don't think he knows how to take me sometimes. An Irish/Scottish woman met an Irish/Indian man, so naturally we are going to but heads. But here lately it has been a lot more. The only thing that has really changed in our relationship is Monday through Friday we babysit his kids from 9-6:30 or 7. Than when they leave we are both tired and really don't have much engery to go and do anything together as a couple. Plus he just bought a new truck and money has been a little tight. We have been together for 1 1/2 year before we said "I Do" in Dec. last year. I am thinking about going to see my minister and asking for counseling for myself. Then maybe I can get my dh to go sometime. But if not atleast I can get some help.
Well I had my yardsale today. It rained off and on, so I had it on the front porch. I made $93. So that was good. I have two boxes of knick knacks and two laundry baskets full of clothes left. So I am going to have another yard sale here in the next few weeks. I figure sometime before school starts. But I am going to take the money I make and go shopping for a few new outfits for school.
Mouse sorry to hear that your cat bite you. I hope your hand heals fast. It must be killing you not to be able to swim though. Atleast you will get your reports done this way.
Summer glad your appointment went well today. Sorry to hear that you found out about other medical problems you have. It is very true about men and pain. They sure do turn into such big babies.
Robyn hope your cold is not driving you crazy. I know that the paint deal must have driven you crazy. I bet they were glad to see you walk out of the paint dept. So how is your trim and door now? Does it look like taupe now?
Ginny I hope you have nice weather for your few days at the NJ shore.
I think I am going to go take a nap. I was up at 7:30 this morning to get everything set up for my yard sale. I ran it from 9-2. So I am just a little tired now.
Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

Wow... such a lot of stuff to respond to this afternoon...

Summer: I posted a response to your hypoglycemia question... but the thing is that you don't have to completely eliminate, you just need to reduce. You're in luck, most low sugar products are still made with nutrasweet, and not splenda. I can't have nutrasweet at all. so I'm grateful for splenda, but understand the opposite reaction. My mom has issues with splenda and with nutrasweet.
What you want to do is not necessarily eliminate carbs, but have good carbs. You might want to look at Southbeach as a diet plan... For example, you can't eat carrots because they are high glycemic index foods. And Yogurt has lots and lots of carbs too. Also remember that there are times when you want to eat what you want to eat, and don't beat yourself up over it.
Now, are you actually hypoglycemic... low blood sugar... or are you insulin resistant? I've been insulin resistant as part of my endocrine disorder. Many people with IR take Avandia or Glucophage (metformin) to help the body use the insulin more efficiently. I can't take either of those, so I'm pretty strict with my diet (most of the time... I do fall off the wagon... today is one of those days, but today i can say it is because of the antibiotics I'm on for the cat bite. I'm having trouble keeping anything in and down, so I'm eating whatever I want today... and will go back to it tomorrow).
Also, exercise is very important. If you're insulin resistant, you might want to look into one of the medications. By modifying my diet (and believe me, I'm not on any kind of strict diet... I tried Atkins and made myself really sick on it becuase I produced so much insulin and by removing all carbs, I didn't give my body anything to use the insulin on!), I've brought it to within 3-10 points of normal. Unfortunately, weight loss with elevated insulin or freaky insulin levels is damn hard. REALLY REALLY hard.
Robyn: Hope your cold is gone soon! Summer colds are the worst. I have a funny paint story too: I rented a condo from some friends after they moved. They painted the room for me, but the guy who did it screwed up the trim. So I had sky blue walls and nearly fluorescent blue trim. It was really seriously funny looking. We put all the furniture on the outside walls to hide the trim.
The sky blue was just gorgeous, though. Blue is my favorite color.
I wish I knew what was going through my cat's brain... I mean, he's hissed and spit and yowled before. In fact, one of the new vets asked me if he was a talker or an acter... I said he was just a talker. And one of the assistants told me that I've obviously been teaching at my current school too long because I told Imp I was going to adjust his point sheet for all that cursing!
But earlier today I took a nap, and he came and crawled up with me. Now he's in the window sleeping in the sun. I think that he just freaked out. I'm going to get one of those small travel cases that looks like a gym bag for next time. So he can go in the case and I just keep it in the car for times like that. He got his claw stuck on my shirt, and I tried to get him loose, and that's when he bit me.
The darned bandages won't stick to my hand, either. I don't want to go into work all gauzed and taped... the kids will freak... I'll be answering questions all day. A simple bandaid won't be that bad, so I bought larger ones and clear so you can't really see it, but they didn't work.
Kerry: I wish I could help with the husband issues. I've had possessive boyfriends, but I just don't think anybody deserves to be treated that way. I've got virtual hugs if you need them...

:mouse:

My dh came home from his journey to NJ and back ........and actually told me that he and I quote him here.... "LOVE the way the walls look!" This was in response to me sitting in the bathroom waiting for him to walk in to find me! (Cause he wasn't gonna go in there and notice the paint without the help!) ANYWAY!!! He likes it! He likes it! :) I'm still far from done...but... the paint cans can be put away! Now on to finding new towel bar and other STUFF to fill it up! :) Just like they do on tv in 30 minutes! It only has taken me 2 weeks AND counting!!

I'm still sneezing and trying to breathe.... it has ONLY rained 3 times today! WOW! The sun even was shining for a second or two! We have mushrooms growing in our front yard ...on the LAST DAY OF JULY??? We usually can't even keep the grass growing!

Geesh...this is a reallllllly inspiring post! Off to blow my nose and I'm thinking of a shower and then going to bed!

:)take care

Wow!!!! And I just came on here to say good bye for a few days and wish everyone a great rest of the weekend!!!!!!!!!! How am I ever going to keep up with all of you!

Summer- . Thanks for your sagely advice to Kerry. Me being the new kid on the block here, I lack some of the history that you ladies have with each other and am somewhat hesitant to make that strong a comment. Bless you for being a friend.
Very funny with the accupuncture story too...... BTW- WW can be modified for lower carb eating....but possibly not enough for you with your diagnosis. That's the way to do this, Summer!!!!! Take charge of your life and your health!! You are off to a great start! And keep some of your WW literature.....they still have great ideas for how to maintain a program and get healthy.

Robyn-I love your paint story....even though it was so very aggravating for you at the time! Let us know how pretty the TAUPE looks with the blue! What did you use to sponge with.......a glaze or another color? (I've used a pearl glaze with inside out plastic bags scrunched up to apply- very pretty, interesting effect) Gee, you get the geriatric kitty award!!!!!!! None of mine has made it past 16 1/2.....well maybe Bumstead did, we were a bit unsure of his age. He could have been anywhere from 16-19 years old when we had to put him down. Anyway.....as far as the kidney stuff goes...I had a cat with that- and he got really tired of the low protein stuff too and sooner or later I just gave up and let him have normal food (with some of the other stuff mixed in). What a pain that was! Also had a cat (EC) with thyroid......that was a bit easier to manage! But a cat with both!!!!!! You are a saint! And that vet showed some wisdom with the RX for a year....hope that the cat and you have calmed down from the ordeal. Feel better too!! Hope you get rid of that cold soon.

Mouse- PLEASE- take care of that cat bite!!!!!!! My neighbor (the lady who will be attending to my spoiled cat while we were gone) was bitten by another cat- and now well over 2 months later, the site is still red and swollen. And she went to a Dr too and was on antibiotics. I feel so bad for you that you will not be able to swim for awhile (I equate it to me not being able to get my walk in!). Use your time wisely.....get those miserable reports done! And feel better. I hope the antibiotic does not mess you up too much.

Kerry- how did the garage sale go????? Glad that you had a nice dinner, you deserve it! I can only add a little bit to Summers sagely advice..... I have been thru counselling too (quite a while ago, when Dd was an infant and I was basically a single parent- even though we were married.....Dh was in night school). You are absolutely entitled to uour feelings. Where a lot of us make mistakes is how we present them. You have probably heard this a million times before, but I had to learn how to say things like " when you do not give me a birthday card, I feel as though you do not care for me as much care for you"- or whatever it is that you need to say. It is SO easy to attack the person, and then they become defensive... and all you know what breaks loose! But a feeling.......well- it can be rejected, it can even be made fun of- but that is the way you feel! And an honest expression of that should be a good thing. Hang in there- we are all pulling for you.

As for me.....well I am pooped. Both Dh and I agree that preparing for this trip was a ton easier than what we go thru to get ready for NC. I think I needed a bit of a change. And as I said, I suspect that we will be headed for NC again next year.
I did get my walk in this am- and cleaned every square inch of this house today. Can't figure out why I am tired!!!!! (duh) I am looking foward to NOT COOKING! And not cleaning the kitchen most of all. Mind you I enjoy cooking.......just feel chained to the kitchen sometimes. Nuff babbling from me. I hope to get some excercise in (there is a gym in the hotel.....hopefully a treadmill) and plan on being OP during the trip. I probably won't be back here until Wednesday morning.... Mouse and Robyn, I hope you both feel better. Kerry, hope things pick up for you! Summer- hope you feel better too and that Monday's accupuncture visit goes well.
See ya!!!!
Ginny