Mouse I am so happy that you are cleared to swim again. It did feel good to be in the water again? Just keep praying about your decision and things will work out for the best.
I think I might go for a bike ride tonight. For some reason, I feel so motivated and pumped up to go the extra mile to reach my goal of weighting 200 pounds by the end of this month. I only have 6 pounds to go. I think going to my cousin's wedding on Sept.18th has a lot to do with it. I haven't seen some of my cousins for a long time and they are going to be there. They all remember me as a chubby teenager, so I am hoping to shock some of them.
Well I will check back in with you all later.
Kerry

Mousie, Congrats that you can swim again!!! Now, about that job opportunity...how about some unsolicited advice? ;) I know you are a wonderfully compassionate person, and that school is blessed to have someone as caring as you, but you need to look out for what is best for you. If making more money would make your life better...well then...do whatever is best for YOU!

Ginny, I have VERY SIMILAR experiences with my MIL. We have to eat lunch before going over there, aren't really hungry at 3pm, and then if we weren't smart enough to leave before 7pm, we get lured to stay and eat another meal around 730-8pm. :lol: MIL is sooooo manipulative...always has been. Right now she is on the outs with DH, so I have had a MIL free summer! :p

Kerry, it is wonderful that you are soooo motivated. You can definitely lose those 6 pounds before 9/18. YOU WILL DO IT!!!

Robyn, hey girl...where are you?

Queenie, now don't just take a survey and then skip out on us! :lol:

Well, I had acupuncture again. It really works. I am not 100%, but let me tell you, I was in agony the first time I went to the chiropractor. I know it is only a matter of time before I am healed. The cop wasn't there today, so I didn't have to listen to him "cry like a baby."

I did some errands, paid bills (did a balance transfer to a lower interest rate), and finished yet another filthy novel in the backyard while DD swam in the pool.

DH and I are considering eventually moving down south like Florida or Georgia. It is very unaffordable living in Fairfield County. The middle class is disappearing, and my area now consists of the wealthy and poor. With our financial circumstances, remaining here, we may end up being part of the latter. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about which parts of Florida and Georgia are affordable, have good schools, etc. Any information you have could be really helpful for us.

Tomorrow, DD's friend Erin is coming over (to drive me crazy) to play. She will only be over for four hours verses six hours last time. I need to maintain a nice relationship with this family because, 1. DD is friends with her and 2. Her mother will drive DD to school this year which will allow DH the opportunity to go into work early for overtime. I made a deal with the mom that I would watch Erin on snow days.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

I am thinking, praying, wondering about the decision. I've already introduced myself to the incoming kids, some of them already come looking for me and my TA to say good-bye at the end of the day. Its the KIDS that are keeping me there. Also, the kids I've had for the last 2 years are seniors this year: Already, they are not going to have me for homeroom this year. And that isn't fair to them. I'm not entirely sure they're going to care about me being in the building or not, but I think they might.
Also, it'd be a real chore to find an apartment, pack and move on no money at the end of this year. If I try to do it next summer, I can probably work for that district over the summer, they usually need staff... And I might be able to buy a place instead of just renting again. But, mostly, its the kids.
So... I've done the electronic applications, and posted my resume... and not heard anything. And I think I'll leave it alone. If I'm supposed to go back now, I will... and if not, well, I'd rather be in Pennsylvania and not Virginia.
As for Georgia and Florida: Oh, Summer, don't do it!!!! I know lots of teachers, parents etc in Florida, not as many in Georgia, and other parts of the South. They all, to a one, tell me how bad the schools are there for kids with special needs or any unique learning style.
:mouse:

Well I went for my bike ride. I even was able to go up a few small hills. Can you all tell that I hadn't been on a bike for a few years? :) :) I came home in time to hear the dh and ex get in to a little disagreement. The kids are 6 and 8 and she wants to get them a 4 wheeler for Christmas. Mind you we live in the city, so they wouldn't be able to ride it at our house. But still I think they are a little young for that. Plus we would spend all our Christmas money on a present for out at their house and they wouldn't have anything for here. So needless to say my dh didn't get to tell her that she needed to be at our house by 6 tomorrow evening to pick the kids up so we could go to the concert. So I called and left a polite message on her voice mail asking her to please try to pick up the kids by 6 tomorrow evening. Tonight she was 1 1/2 hours late picking up the kids. She didn't seem to mind that she was late either. It makes it hard on us when we have plans to run our errands in the evenings.
Mouse I understand your point. It sounds like you have done a lot of soul searching this past week or so. Stick it out for this year and then try again next year when you have more time to find a job and a place to buy.
Summer sounds like you had a good day. What trash novel did you finish? I have been reading a romace novel for the last week or so. It is a good book but just seem to only be able to read about 10 pages of it a day. I hope to finish it by the time school starts. LOL
Ginny did you hear which route you are getting for next year yet?
Robyn where you busy being MRS. FOREWOMEN today? How much longer do you have to do this?
Well I better go. I have a workshop for school tomorrow to go to. It is from 8:30 until 4. Then I am coming home to go to weigh in at TOPS and then off to my concert. I told my dh that it might be with or with out him. Regardless of what happens with his kids and his ex picking them up I am leaving the house around 6.
Have a great Tuesday! I might try to check in with you all in the morning before I leave the house.
Take care,
Kerry

WHAT a DAY! Called the "magic jury duty number" over the weekend and discovered that I had NO jury duty today! So I called two of my dearest friends... who met me at my (old) school at 9 to destroy and pack my belongings, etc....

We were there until 4:30! We got much done! Stopped at the grocery to get stuff for dinner and saw one of ds's friends....and that reminded me that the BoyScout meeting starts at 6:30. Ds and I had exactly 10 minutes to wolf down the frozen lasagna, salad from a bag and deli garlic bread before we needed to leave. I arrived home after 8:30 tonight after a busy busy day! Sat down and remembered that I needed to call the "magic jury duty number" ..... OY! I was very happy to discover that Citizen of the Year doesn't have jury duty tomorrow! :) SOOOO, it will be back to tearing up the classroom at the old school!

Kids are in other room messing with their dvd player and tv..... I'd better go before they "fix" it......

I'm heading to bed once I take care of this issue!
Hope everyone has had a great day..... I'll catch up with the posts tomorrow! Promise! :)

Take care!

Hi!
Robyn- free at last......free at last........praise God I'm free at last!!!!!! Now does this mean that you are done with jury duty until they find you again or do you have to go back? Sounds as though you had a busy and productive day. Good for you! Oh, and BTW, my MIL is a major control freak too.

Mouse-how was that swim?! Bet it felt SO good!!!! I am so happy for you. Your present game plan sounds good........I do so hope things work out for you with this potential job move. I think it is wise to wait until next summer, too. And as far as the kids...well, isn't this what it is all about?????

Jill- well, my BIL& SIL live in Spring Hill,Fla- west coast a bit north of Tampa. Going for it- it is affordablee, you can take whatever your home in the Northeast or New England is worth and put up a mansion, plus have money in the bank to spare. However, I have personally gotten the impressinn from both some personal experience and input from BIL & SIL that both states are somewhat backward. And I hate so sound like a snob, but coming from the NY or New England.......ok things are expensive- but there is also a level of sophisitication that you might miss. On the other hand, Dh has travelled to Atlanta- loved it there- and it is a very modern, progressive area. But I am sure it has the real estate prices to match! Back to Spring Hill, Fla however. One good thing going for it is the residents are mostly transplanted NY/NJ'ers......and the area is growing better. Now that I have totally confused you...........

Kerry- I am so sorry that Dh was a crum again!!!! It is encouraging that you have him figured out and then do not fall for his traps/nonsense. Too bad about his Ex being so irresponsible too. Did you ever get that bike ride in???

Me, I am pooped....today was busy. I should get the results of the echo in a few days- I have to go to the Dr for my BP check in a week or so and can find out then if she does not call me sooner. I'll let you know when I find out. As far as route picking, while I was waiting for Ds's pitching lesson, I went over the route summaries to see which routes might work for me,if my normal route is taken. It looks as though there are 3 or 4 others that might work.....some a few less hours, some a wee bit more. I will go in tomorrow am to see the full route sheet (they have shortened my run from last year by 15 minutes....I am happy about that if it was all taken from the pm!) and see how it looks for Wednesday at 10.....that is my time to bid.

I am a tired puppy......just have to iron one shirt for Dh and then off to bed!
G'night!
Ginny

Well, taking what feedback I've gotten so far, there seem to be some definite pros and cons to moving south. Mousie, do you have any idea what the educational system is like for the average/bright child? DD is of normal intelligence and does really well in school. Last year in kindergarten, she learned how to read (had already known how to add numbers) and subtract. Now, granted, she has me. I have been reading to her since she was an infant. We even have photos of her "reading" board books lying on her tummy holding up her upper body with her arms before she could crawl. I taught her how to add when she was four. So, with a mom who would be giving her enrichment, do you still think the educational system would fail her or is it just their special educational system that is in question? I truly want the best for DD, and if she really would suffer, there must be other parts of the country where we could live more cheaply without sacrificing her education.

Pros: 1. No more frigid winter weather...endless summer! 2. Cheaper mortgage. 3. Closer proximity to Disneyworld. 4. Friends/family would most certainly want to visit. 5. Year round garden.

Cons: 1. Lower wages. 2. Questionnable educational system.

Well, I love my home and my teaching position, and I certainly don't want to move unless I must. The thing is, we are in debt up to our ears. And, I absolutely refuse to file bankruptcy. My pride won't allow it. Our current plan is for DH to work overtime, and if he doesn't get enough overtime to make a financial difference, I will force him to either get a second job or a better paying job. I will have to work the after school program every day and sacrifice grad school for this year. We have cut way back on our expenses. If we could hold on for a year or two and see how much equity we've built up and possibly refinance our mortgage or get a second mortgage, that might help. The one thing we have going for us is that the housing market in Fairfield County is insane. Since we bought our house 5 years ago, our house has doubled in value. Thanks to home improvement loans, DH used that equity to mortgage us up to the limit. But, if we can control our spending from here on in, maybe just by waiting, our house's value will continue to grow. Worse comes to worse, we will have to sell our house and buy in a cheaper part of the country. We have acquaintances who lived large in Fairfield, but the husband lost his job, and they had to move out of the area. It is a better option than filing bankruptcy.

Kerry, you surely have your hands full with your DH and his ex. Stay strong.

Mouse, next year may be the best time for a change. Whatever works to make your life better and happier. How's the hand now that you are swimming? Thanks for your feedback.

Robyn, I'm glad you finally have your life back, sort of. When will the courts finally remove their claws? Good luck with your transition to your new school and of course with the old school finding you a replacement.

Ginny, Thanks for the feedback. I will research Spring Hill. My father lived on the west coast in Venice when he retired. It was essentially a town for the elderly. As far as the attitude of the residents, I think there are people like that all over the country. Every community has its' low-lifes. It is just that because I live so close to Manhattan, it is assumed that people are more sophisticated. That is true to a point, but believe me, we have our share of losers. I would actually like a slower pace and less pressure to compete. We are so damned uptight in the north. There is too much of "keeping up with the Joneses." My nephew, who is a chef, moved to Colorado a couple of years ago. He loved the relaxed attitude. Now, he's in Oregon working at a resort on the beach. He and his girlfriend live on the beach, and have a very reasonable rent. They are so content. He doesn't miss the fast-paced stress of the northeast at all. In fact, I don't believe he will ever return for more than a short visit. My sister in law moved to Arizona after her divorce about 12 years ago. She is another one who will never return to the northeast. She is a successful real estate agent and remarried a wonderful man transplanted from Chicago. They are the picture of contentment. They would love us to move out there. That will never happen. I just don't want to be landlocked. Wherever we end up, I will have to be near the ocean. That is my only requirement as far as geographical location. Any more info you have about Florida would be appreciated.

Phew! Sorry for the novel! Oh, the book I just finished was, Southern Comforts, by Joanne Ross. It took place in Savannah, Georgia, which got me thinking about Georgia. It sounded sooooo beautiful.

The hand looks odd: the scab fell off in the water, of course. And most of the dead skin has come off now too. The people at the gym all wanted to know where I'd been, because I've become such a regular fixture there! I will, of course, be going there in a little while today for a swim.
My cat got into the little bit of left-over milk from my cereal this morning, and has been throwing up all over the apartment. He's unhappy about it...meowing and wanting attention. I feel a little guilty, because I knew he'd get in the bowl. My mom usually lets him have ice cream out of the dish when she's finished, so of course he thinks its okay. The poor thing is laying on my leg now, and has icy paws.
Summer: The other thing about Florida: hurricanes, really bad storms, expensive home owners insurance if you live on either coast, flood insurance is usually required and also expensive, and LOTS OF BUGS! HUGE bugs.
I just received an email from a district in York County, PA. That's close enough, but dang it all: NONE of these places ever read the freaking applications. I'm REALLY REALLY clear as to what I want: Life Skills, Vocational/School-To-Work or Assistive Technology, grades 6-12. They want to interview me for a subject-area learning support position. Learning support is usually inclusion, usually learning disabled. And even if the kids need voc-ed, or job training they don't typically get it. Just like the other places I've talked about, the kids go through college prep...
I emailed them back and said, "Thank-you for the consideration, but my speciality is in working with students who need life-skills, functional academics or vocational/school-to-work support." You think that's okay or did I blow it again?
:mouse:

Just a quick hello.

Summer- gee, hope I did not come off to negative on the Florida move.......both BIL and SIL were born and raised in NJ or NY.....and with some adjustments they have done just fine. The tempo of life issue is very real- and they do enjoy the slower pace. And you are so right with the keeping up with the Joneses thing....we live in a fairly rural area of NYS- but especially since 9/11- tons of people are moving here (want to get away from the city, which is a nasty 1 1/2 hour commute). They bring a certain well.....they love the country,but want all the convieniences of the city! Our taxes and property values have skyrocketed. Sounds just like where you are. I am sure you will decide wisely for your future.....

Mouse- bet you are smiling from ear to ear.....Got your swim in?????? Hope the cleanup after kitty was not horrendous. Our cat (the little piggy) is a huge food thief...

Ok, better go. Got lots to do yet!
See ya later.
ginny

Evening ladies,
I just got home alittle while ago from my workshop on classroom managment. It was a very awesome workshop. I got a lot of neat ideas that I can't wait to try out on my students this coming year.
This morning I got up early and did a 2 mile Walk Away The Pounds for the Abs tape. Since I knew that I was going to be sitting all day long. Plus this evening after my weigh in at TOPS, the dh and I are going to the concert. So all in all it has been a good day.
Mouse I am glad that you have been missed at your gym. That must have made you feel good inside. As for the email, I don't think that was wrong. Not since you put on the application what area you are interested in. If you would have taken the position, you would have probably been miserable right. Hope your cat is feeling better.
Summer some of my family in Fla. and Ga. I have heard mixed reviews about the educational systems down there. You just have to weigh the pros and cons and figure out what is best for your family at this point and time in your lives. Sounds like you and your dh have been discussing your financial situation more and are both on the same page. That is great! I will keep saying a prayer that you will get an answer soon on what to do.
Ginny I hope that you are able to get your old route today. But it is also good to see that you planned for a backup route or two. Yes I was able to get my bike ride in last night. So that was a good thing.
Robyn glad to hear that you didn't have to play your civic duty role yesterday. Plus that you were able to clean out your old classroom. I have never heard of a school not releasing you from your contract until they hire a replacement. That is just so wild!
The ex dropped the kids off at our house this morning at 8:15. So I am hoping this means she will be here to pick them up at 6 tonight. They came in and told me that I needed to feed them since they didn't eat breakfast yet. I told them to wake your dad up and let him feed you since I was on my way out the door.
Well I best go and get weighed for the week. Then it is off to my mil's for dinner. She offered to cook dinner for us tonight. Everyone else went over at 5. I don't eat before going to get weighed in. So I will swing by her house and eat and then come home to get ready to go to the concert. I will talk to you all later.
Have a wonderful evening.
Kerry

Kerry, sounds as though that seminar you attended today was great. I too am always anxious to try new strategies with my students (yup, they even teach us student management skills!) Good to hear you so excited about it. BTW- how is the WATP abs tape??? I have a few Leslie Sansone tapes and with winter not too far off I might be looking for something to break up the monotony. I am still thinking about joining Curves.....probably won't though. I sure hope your WI went well... And most importantly, I hope that you and Dh have a wonderful time at the concert tonight!! (how did you get him to go?). Outdoor concerts are great.....sort of what summer is all about- a nice evening, bit of a breeze and some good music. I wish that for you!!!!! Let us know how it went. Nice too that you did not have to cook tonight!

Sounds as though Kerry had a nice day, so I won't sour today's posts with my crummy attitude. Dh just hit all the wrong buttons tonight.......you would think after almost 20 years of marriage that he MIGHT possibly figure out that it would not hurt him to be
a little bit soft hearted/romantic once in a while???? At times he kills me with how insensitive he is. I know it comes from his upbringing.......if his father ever had a tender thought in his life it would be a miracle. And his mother is well, aw I don't want to go there.
Going to go upstairs and read to Dd, then snuggle with my wacko cat.....who usually tolerates me when I get like this (she will if she wants to be fed tomorrow am!!!!!:) )

Tomorrow is route selection...my appointment is at 10. I'll go in at 9:30 just to go over the final run sheets and see if the routes I have as possibilities seem ok- and see what is available. Can't imagine it if I have to go on another route, what will my monsters do without me????

Nuff of me babbling. Hope everyone has had a great day.
see ya tomorrow.
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
Dh and I were already to go to the concert. We had the kids all ready for their mom to come pick them up at 6. By 6:15 we were starting to get a little worried. My dh tried getting a hold of her on her cell phone. She finally called back a few minutes later to say she was at the grocery. She said that she didn't know anything about our plans. I left a voice mail message for her last night at home. But she never bother to check her phone. I told her that it was par for the course that I could bend over backwards for everyone else to make them happy. That I really haven't gotten to do or go anywhere this summer and that I really looking forward to this concert. But it was too late to go. So I lost out again. I shouldn't plan anything fun for myself and then I wouldn't get the big let down. She didn't say anything after that just quietly walked away from me. So my dh said that he was sorry about the concert. Did I want to go online and see if there was something going on tomorrow night at that fair or the other two fairs going on around us that I would like to go to. So I found out that Josh Turner is going to be at a fair in Athens, Ohio tomorrow night. So I called his ex wife and told her that we would try this again for tomorrow night. So I stayed home tonight and worked on some school stuff. Like a letter home to parents and my classroom discipline plan. I did go to the DQ and get a small ice cream cone as a treat. As for my weigh in, the scales there said that I gained a pounded. I think it is water retention, since they served really salty soup at lunch today and I sucked down the water this afternoon. So I am not worked up about.
So that is what my evening has been like. Hope everyone else's was better. I am not going to hold my breath about tomorrow night. I will just act like it is not going to happen and then maybe it will. It is just a little upsetting that I do so much for everyone else and then when I plan something it usually doesn't happen.
Have a great evening!
Kerry

Hello.

I am exhausted... another day spent moving junk in my classroom. Making progress.
No court tomorrow. I have to check each night. This will go on until the 3rd of September. :judge: Anyone catch that show about the jury tonight on tv?! I didn't!!!!!

OK.....noooooowwwwwww..... promise that you'll be my friends before reading the rest of this post!!!!! CAUSE.... WELL.....Here goes my mouth!

You can find good and bad in any location... North, South, East, OR West. Likewise.... You can find good school systems and bad school systems WHEREVER you go! And well..... READ ON! :p

I truly don't want to offend..REALLY!..and I will admit that I have NOT finished reading all of the posts (I'm hoping that somewhere along the line SOMEONE says something nice beyond "Its cheaper to live there!")....

.......BUT I must interject a HUGE "Dear GAWD!" :o to the bashing of the South! (From the school systems to the "slower" life...) I realize that here I sit down in Bumpkinville Virginia trying not to get my mullet stuck in my banjo strings as I strum......BUT....... You northern folks are CRACKING ME UP! :roflol: If ya'll (said in my BEST southern voice...) love NY, NJ, and all of the superior STUFF so much... STAY THERE!!!!! :p

I especially loved (and literally LOL as I read ...) the comment that one of the positive things about some Florida town was that it was filling up with transplanted NY and NJers..so that the place was improving! HA! THANK GAWD ya'll are gonna save the little town AND state by filling it up with "CULTURE", THOSE accents AND people who drive like lunatics!! :faint: PULLLEEEZZZ.....:yikes:

Funny.... we sorta have a local joke about the difference between Yankees and Da#@ Yankees regarding that same topic! Trust meeee.... the south is horrid! STAY home! :lol: ;) :p :lol:

I'm done. Won't say another word! REALLY! I will just go back to strumming my banjo now. Ya'll still love me?! :D

Try greatschools.net for information about schools in ALL states! I'm sure that you can find somewhere on an ocean shore to relocate, Summer! I've got a very friend who lives and teaches in Stuart Florida and LOVES it! She is "close enough" to Orlando. Goes to the beach (a mile from her home) 2 or 3 times a week year round. Let me know if you want to ask her anything directly.... Her husband is retired LTC / USMC ... She has moved a zillion times... Originally from Pennsylvania.... Has lived all over both coasts (as well as overseas) and absolutely ADORES where they live now! (And when I visited her .... WELL...it *was* pretty darn WONDERFUL!) Bugs? They have a bug guy (everyone does cause the bugs are pretty horrid!) who comes and sprays every month. $19 a month (I asked last week when we were discussing that her bug guy was out sick and a substitute sprayed her neighbors yard in error! LOL)

Okey....well....enough from my mouth for now. Did I tell you that I signed the initial papers with my new district? I'm giddy and petrified all at the same time!

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday. I'll be back to read the NICE things that you're gonna post about the South while I'm off packing up my classroom! :lol: ;)

take care!

Hey, Robyn: I don't consider where you are to be the South. Really. My relatives mostly lived in Richmond while I was growing up so I spent lots of summertime down there. They lived in Chesterfield, my grandmother lived in Henricho County. When they were there, Chesterfield was the middle of nowhere. It took forever (to my poor little child mind) to get anywhere, even the 7-11!
And I'm from Lancaster. I grew up with a black garden snake in the backyard, and playing in cornfields. We were friends with an Amish family, also Mennonite families, so I've been on farms. Lancaster isn't hurry up. I went to school on Long Island, and except for Broadway (which I'm addicted to), I can leave NYC without an issue.
I feel the same way about Northern VA... I once said if I *had* to live in a city, it'd be Lancaster City (ha, ha, ha!) or Baltimore. I wound up in Baltimore. I'm not fond of the city itself, and hardly do anything here. If I walked better, I'd go to the harbor all the time, because I love the water... just watching... and they have free wireless access... but I don't walk that well, and I'm not supposed to be in the sun, so that kills the Harbor! I do live across the street from the new Hippodrome theatre, and I finally got to see Les Miserables, but the theatre isn't accessible, and I don't do stairs at all. I had expensive seats, and nearly killed myself getting to it because of the steps, my long dress and the cast. If the theatre had been accessible, I would have signed up to volunteer as an usher so I could see shows for free. Oh well.
On the other paw, I interviewed for a teaching position in rural Illinois (6 hours from Chicago; 4 hours from St. Louis). The nearest big town was this tiny little thing in Indiana... Begins with a V. The school district told me if WalMart didn't sell it, they didn't need it. NOT a place for me!
I love the water, which is strange given that I'm from Landlocked PA... but with my background in disaster services I shudder at the thought of buying a place near the Harbor or on the ocean. I can just see myself being the shelter manager at a shelter for MYSELF! :grin:
:mouse:

Robyn you are a hoot and crack me up. Thank you for cheering me up tonight. I have been a busy bee this evening. I typed up two letters to send home to my parents for this coming school year. Plus have mapped out a few activities that I would love to try this year with my students and parents. So it was an enjoyable and productive evening. Though I would have rather been sitting outside enjoying a nice concert put on by a truly handsome hunk. :) :) But I guess it wasn't meant to be and live goes on.
Well I need to go get some shut eye. I am planning on going into Curves in the morning when they open up at 8 with a friend to workout. Come home and then go out to school for a while and work on my classroom with my TA. Then come home and maybe go to the fair tomorrow night. Not holding my breath on the last item of the day, that way I won't die when it doesn't happen. Then I can just haunt the people better while I am alive and get more enjoyment out of seeming them stutter and squirm their way out of it. LOL.
Well you all have a wonderful Wednesday!
Later,
Kerry

Hey! I couldn't sleep.... laying there in my bed.... thinking of all I have to do and my dear friends who I am leaving after 17 school years.......sighhh....anyway...glad I checked in tho!

Mousie, Nope! I'm NOT in the south! BUT....I'm the SouthernEST one here! Your post made me giggle! WHEW! LOL When I tell people how to get to our house... I tell them to go to THE 7-11 and turn left. It is one of 2 in the whole county! BUT.... truly, I am surviving out here in the Mid East without having a 7-11 on EVERY corner of my world! LOL We vacationed one summer in Penn. Took a "family tour" from one side of the state to the other.... enjoyed Amish (nope, them Amish sure ain't hurry up folks! hehehee) food, Sesame Place, Hershey Park, the Liberty Bell, yadda, yadda, yadda! The milk shakes at Hershey Park were THE best part of the whole trip! They were yummy! We enjoy the harbor in Baltimore! The aquarium is great ESPECIALLY when all of the tourists have returned NORTH! (Ha! I crackkkk myself up!) I live within minutes of Williamsburg, Yorktown, etc... and within an hour of Richmond OR Norfolk (depending on which way I drive!).......so I *DO* know about tourists! Did you know that we can't even BEGIN school until the day after Labor Day (it is a state law!) because of tourism! I'd visit you at *your* shelter! LOL REALLY I would! Once you got to your seat did you enjoy Les Miserables? Broadway...that is THE only part of NYC (except for wanting to visit a friend who lives in Brooklyn!) I've EVER wanted to visit!

Kerry.... Tomorrow... YOU be ready to leave in enough time to get to the fair come he!! or highwater! Whether ExWifey shows up or not...YOU GO! If you have to go alone, GO! Leave DH at home with HIS kids if ExWifey doesn't show up on time! WHATEVER you do....Do NOT miss seeing this concert! (But, my fingers are crossed that your little "discussion" tonight with ExW did a bit of good!) Glad you got some schoolwork done!

Ok...I'm gonna TRY to get to sleep....try again!
take care

I taught for Fairfax County, Robyn, so I'm *REALLY* familiar with the Kings Dominion Law. Except, that because of the SOL tests, some schools are getting around it by getting the parents to approve a modified calendar. The high school that my middle school feeds into is on one, and starts two weeks before Labor Day; they get out the end of May. Some of the elementary schools do that also and then there are a handful of year-round schools in Fairfax as well.
We never started before Labor Day either when I went to school in PA, but when I taught there, we did. Some years. They kept changing the calendar in my poor inner city school. It was almost amusing, except the parents couldn't keep up. The year I left there, we'd started the 2nd week in August, got out the end of May, and I was off till after Labor Day because I moved to Fairfax.
I'm not sure it really matters to be honest with you: most states still go the same amount of time. We follow a County schedule instead of the City schedule for school start, and most days that we're off are County days as well except for snow we follow the City because we're located in the city. And we're not a true year-round school: we don't ever go off-track, so the staff winds up with a little less than 4 weeks off a year. I think I'd do a lot better if we did go off-track... so I could do something different occasionally... work with different kids... You know!
I enjoyed the 2nd act of Les Miserables... the first act, I was really sick for some reason. It was about then that I started the whole throwing up, really tired and dizzy thing, and I don't think that I improved it by hanging over the stage! I remember telling my endocrinologist that I almost threw-up on Cosette! :o I am, however, not the only one who has had that issue though, because my doctor told me that she also got sick once in the middle of the theatre, and was grateful nobody knew her!
I like Williamsburg. One of my closest friends went to William and Mary. She lives in Fairfax now.
Okay, and I'm watching the Today show before I leave for yet another doctor's appt: what do you all think of Cosby's comments? I teach in the area that he's talking about and the kids he's talking about...
:mouse:

Hello Ladies,
Well I have had a wonderful day. I got up, went to Curves and came home. When I got home, it was just my dh. I asked where the kids were, since I saw the ex driving to work. He said that the kids wanted to spend the day at their old babysitter's. Isn't it amazing how all of a sudden, she is able to watch them for the day. :O
I meet my ta at school and we put a huge dent in unpacking our classroom. We got rid of some old metal storage cabinets and my boss gave me permission to go to Wal-mart with the school's credit card to pick up some much needed supplies. I am in such a great mood. I am already to go to the concert tonight. I have never seen my dh feel so bad about something as he did last night. Which is good! It is about time!
So now I only have a few more boxes to unpack and put away. Hang up some posters. Then I will be ready to start planning my lessons for the first week or two of school. I think I will just do that next week.
Hope everyone had a wonderful day! I have to go tie up some loose ends before we go out the door to the concert. Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

Aw crum........I just hit the wrong key and lost my post!!!!!!!!!
I'll stop back later for the humor. Robyn, hope you forgive me for being a Da** Yankee!!!!! I'll get to that later.....surely did not mean any offense by my post about NY/NJ'ers moving to make Florida better. The meaning I intended to impart was that there are a lot of transplanted folks from up here....so that might make the transition easier for her. Remember I did spent a minute or two bashing the city wackos who are moving up to my county (and in my opinion wrecking it).
Kerry- hope you get to that concert!
Mouse- how did the Dr appt go?
Summer- hope we did not scare you away from the South.

Good news and bad news.....my echo came back irregular. I have a thickened mitral valve and my heart is operating at the low end of the normal range (normal is in the range of 53-73%, my heart is at 53% efficiency). So I am off to the cardiologist next Wednesday. The good news I got my run!!!! It has been shortened in the afternoon (they took out one out of the way loop with only 3 students and added it to another route) so I am home 15 minutes earlier. Good for me and Dd!!!!!! Now, someone PLEASE remind me when I am about ready to duct tape all 56 mouths closed....that I wanted these kids and really do love them. Kind of sad to see the "missing names"- those who moved up to the middle school. I will miss them......
Gotta go before I mess up this post too.
Enjoy your evening!
Ginny

Wow.

Yahooo for the run, Ginny! Duct tape...it is JUST a necessary item on your shopping list by say ...FEB....no matter what run you take! BooHiss for the bad news from the doctor! YUCK! You're feeling ok.... it was just a check up, right?! Keep us posted! You'll be in my prayers tonight! .....No true offense taken about the South stuff! :) I admitted that I was exhausted AND didn't read all the posts! LOL My "real life" friend from Georgia was near hysterical when I told her that I was defending the South.... Her comment..."Like YOU know anything about the south, Robyn!" She also wanted me to warn *against* Arkansas and parts of Louisiana! ...and I have to add my own.... "Don't even slow the car down while traveling thru West Virginia!" NOW there is banjo country! LOL ....and you are NOT a da#$ yankee, my friend! :)

Summer.... did you faint?! You doing all right?! You're not ticked at me?! Are you?!

Mousie..... NEVER go off track?! I'd be nutIER.... I'm in love with Bill Cosby! I didn't get to hear all of his "stuff" this morning! That fourth kid is a lucky guy! Cosette is glad that you didn't vomit! AND I may never be able to NOT think of you when I hear that music! Hope the dr's appointment went well!

Kerry....Have a great time at the concert! :) You certainly deserve a fun night out! :)

Gotta run....
take care!

Ok- back for my round of southern jokes........
You know Robyn, Summer is not the only one who had a hard time deciding between. If my memory serves me at all, I believe General Lee agonized over his decision whether to fight with the north or the south.....but then the south won out in his decision.......actually- it was the Army of Northern Virginia... so we are not alone in our struggles over north vs south. To add to the list of states that you do NOT want to live in........I spent one semester at Purdue University (then transferred to Rutgers) and thought I had fallen off the face of the earth while at Purdue! A fellow student informed me that if I thought West Layfayette, Indiana was nowhere.....then Kentucky was the pits. So- let me add Kentucky to this lively discussion. I have an aunt from Georgia (whom my uncle used to tease mercilessly about being a hick!), and a dear friend who moved outside Atlanta. And I have heard lots of good about that area. One funny story about Florida- where my BIL lives (who is a retired police officer). Apparently, in the county he lives in, anyone can put up his/her own stop sign at the end of their street.
Then of course, if you were to run that stop sign, and get caught.....it is up to the officer who catches you (whether he/she likes the person who put up the sign is the criteria, I guess!) if he/she is going to ticket you. We are so regulated here in NY.....can't imagine anything that nuts!!!

Kerry- I am thinking of you at that concert.
BTW- I told Dh about the Dr's news.....no reaction....just like him. Now he is off with Ds getting driveway/pavement paint so that they can repaint the basketball court on our driveway. A very high priority job, indeed!!
Going out with both Dd's for a drive in the "new" car. See ya tomorrow!
Ginny

Sorry for the abrupt reply. DH had to peel me off the floor.

Who knew conducting research about some places I am considering moving to would instigate a cyber civil war for the new millenium?!

I certainly wouldn't be thinking about moving down south if I didn't find it attractive in a variety of ways. Sure, since I live in an area where real estate prices are obnoxiously inflated and I am in debt up to my ears, the fact that it is cheaper to buy a house down south would interest me. But, would I move there only for that reason? My mother didn't raise no fool. I love the thought of being surrounded by palm trees, being away from the hectic northeast, endless summer weather throughout the year. Hurricanes? Big deal. I've lived through hurricanes...I live on the coast...and I've lived through blizzards and ice storms too. My questions related mostly to education because I want to move where there is a good school system. When I moved to my current home, we chose it based it on the best school in a town we could afford. Is it unusual that I would want to find a good school where we would move? I have family all over the country, including the south, Virginia as a matter of fact, not to mention Florida (my inlaws, who know nothing about education, so I didn't ask them). I would never think of buying into all those stupid stereotypes. I think I am more intelligent than that. I was also gonna ask if anyone was familiar with Oregon, since my nephew tells me that it is also a more relaxed, laid-back area, and less expensive. But, right now, I'm afraid what trouble that might start.

So, my dear friend, and you know who you are, I love your mouth, your humorous sarcasm, etc... Just know that I never meant to open Pandora's box.

Another lesson learned.

Ginny, (thanks for the snail mail) Kerry, & Mousie, I will reply to your posts another time. ;)

Let's see if I can hit everybody here...

Ginny: let us know what the cardiologist says! I hope everything is okay. I bet it was a surprise... I know getting the results of my hidascan a few months ago and finding out that I'd added another whole hormone group that didn't work to my list was a stunner!

Robyn: :) Yea, well... I'm sure Cosette IS glad I didn't throw up on her! I don't know what I would have done... I literally sat there throughout the first act with my fingers dug into my thigh because it was dark, there were stairs, and I was in a cast... I couldn't get to the restroom without killing myself! And then you know the bathroom lines during intermission! I heard some of the people behind me wondering just WHAT I'd had to drink!!! :0

Summer: Its okay... Robyn wasn't offended, and I hope I didn't offend anybody. I can answer your question about Oregon, also, since I know teachers there... A few years ago Oregon did something that changed their school funding, radically, in a bad way. My friends out there have told me that the schools have cut so far that they are into the marrow of the bone... never mind skin, fat, or bone itself! WE're talking no sports, no libraries, nothing but the bare necessities. One teacher I know said that her school hasn't been accredited by anything or anybody, including the state, in 10 years.
My impression that this is all over Oregon. The good thing is that it probably makes it one of the cheaper states to live in.
You might want to look at southern Washington State... its not far from the coast (only 1.5 hours from Seattle). I have friends there too... Richland was beautiful when I was there. A good mix of expensive and not-expensive, although this was in 1998. I kept saying I was going to move out there, and actually looked at the requirements for special ed teachers. But ultimiately didn't, because its just too far from my family in Pennsylvania.
All: The doctor's appointment was, well, interesting. I am not sure if I've told you all about my gastroenterologist or not... She's very earthy. I've never been told by ANY medical professional that I'm all f'd up before! She said that after reading my endocrinologist's reports, the results of the MRI, CT scan and numerous ultrasounds; and listening to me. She's right, of course, at least medically. But she's a truly wonderful person who really cares about her patients. I found out during the first appointment that one of the reasons that she believed the whole thing beyond the reports, was because she'd seen me at the gym. We belong to the same one. One of her offices (the practice she is part of has many offices) is right next to the gym. She pushed me today to do something in addition to swimming. I've been very unhappy lately because my weight-loss has stalled... and I need people to remind me (somewhat frequently lately) that I've lost SIXTY-FOUR pounds in a little less than a year. So, she did. But then, more importantly, when I said that I didn't know what else I could do at the gym, she offered to work with me at the gym! I mean, giving up HER evening to help me? Definitely beyond the call of doctorly duty!
Although, I have my doubts that a spinning class is something I should be doing at the present time. I even went back there tonight when she said she'd be there, but I couldn't find her... that's how I got in 130 minutes of swimming today, and 2 miles.

:mouse:

Summer, Summer, Summer, HoneyLUVVVVV ~~~ Offended? NOOO and I'm sorry that you misunderstood my post to be one of having a real bone to pick! Notttt even close to how this dear friend with the mouthy sarcasm meant it! I'm truly sorry that I hurt your feelings with my post! I KNOW and KNEW what you are searching for and why! I would also be seaching for the BEST place to live if we were moving! (And don't tell Ginny.... but my comments were REALLY back at her posts!)

Ginny... Thank you for the civil war humor! And for knowing that I wasn't drawing my saber to battle it out!! I truly wan't offended at the posts...EVEN the one where the northerners were gonna SAVE the city! LOL I'm sorry that your dh *reacted* to your medical news like a MANNNNN..... ARGHHH! Hang in there! Go love that puddy cat of yours! How was the drive in the new car?!

Mousie, your doctor sounds like a keeper! It is great to hear about a GOOD dr! LOVE the part where she is gonna work with you in the gym! THAT is beyond the call of duty....but might be JUST what the doctor ordered for you! ;) How is the hand?!

Well.... I'm off to bed....going to HR for paperwork at 7 a.m. and then off to the new school and then off to move the junk to storage....yadda yadda yadda.... I've also got to price stop signs.... WHO knew that you could just stick one up where you wanted it! WHAT insanity!

Summer... forgive me, please! I'm sorry! :sorry:

:grouphug:
take care all!

The hand just looks nasty... All the dead skin around it fell off from the swimming, so its all pink and puckered... If it hadn't been a cat bite, I definitely would have had stitches, so it just looks gross. But its not infected: All the swelling is gone, it must have been fluid trapped under the dead skin. So, swimming helped it! :) :)
Yes, the gastroenterologist is a definite keeper. I just don't know how I'm supposed to get ahold of her to find out when she's going to be at the gym. I should've asked her if she did email: I'm kicking myself for not doing it, because I know she does IM... I saw it on her computer at her other office. I feel stupid calling her office and leaving a message about gym times! :o
And, ARRRGH!!!! I probably shouldn't say this, but I'm so sick of the holier-than-thou attitudes that some people have regarding weight loss. I'm tired of being told I don't work hard enough, or that I am not dedicated to my health or getting comments like, "Wow! Its so great that you exercise!" comments or "Dear, do you think you need that <insert not-so-healthy item like my wintergreen life-savers or my sugar-free ice cream here>?" from the old nosy biddy in the checkout line.
ARRRGH!!!!!! I've just reached my frustration level, I'm telling you... I'm going to lose it. I'm tired of the looks, the snide comments, and the pity. I feel like having a button made with some nasty saying on it about skinny people.
I'd probably never wear it though... It'd go in the same baggie as the other buttons that I buy and never wear... including my favorites (gotta end the post on a humorous note!):
1. Oh, no! Not another learning experience!
2. Of course I have a Lesson Plan!
3. Forms follow function, and often obliterate such (for all the freaking paperwork!)
... and...
4. If at first you don't succeed, become a school administrator. :devil:

:mouse:

Good morning!
Got another busy day- a rather boring safety meeting this am (but the consultant they bring in usually has some great student behavior jokes.....well at least from my perspective).

First of all - and this the LAST thing I will say about this Florida issue......I think it was in the post that I had writtent that got lost in cyberland. My intended comment about NY/NJ'ers moving to Fla was to imply that Summer and her family might not feel isolated there....as many others have preceeded them in a move to the South. And I certainly have bashed NYC'ers who have moved here to our rural county......so with my tail between my legs, accept my apology for starting this mess- and I will see if I can learn the second and third verses to "Dixie"! (are there any???)

Mouse- Yahoo!!!!!!!!! A good doctor. This one sounds like a keeper. I am so happy for you after all that you have been thru. I hear ya with the holier than thou attitudes about weight loss- get it all the time from some folks. Hang in there.....I have never tried spinning, let us know how it is! Love the line about if at first you don't succeed become an school administrator....never heard that one!

Summer- lets see, want my expert opinion about Oregon????? (ok Ginny, try not to insert your foot too far into your mouth here). Nope, I have none and no little about that area. All I do know is good- my Dad went there on business years ago and thought it was beautiful. Seriously, if you do want some info on Florida- especially the Spring Hill area, I could ask my SIL (I am rather close with her) to do some snooping for you. And I am so sorry I started all this turmoil.

Kerry- well, how was the concert!!!!!! Can't wait to hear.

Robyn-enjoy your moving!!! Are you getting excited??? When do you return to the citizen of the year status??

Gonna go turn on the news and go on the health walker for a few minutes.....
See ya later
Ginny

What??????Did I scare everyone away today!? :o
The only good thing about posting right after yourself is there is no way I can mess up in my response. But then I am rather good at chatting with myself.

What a day. The safety meeting went ok- got called in 30 minute earlier because I have students that have split custody. Now the district has decided to accomodate those families- and the kids can go back and forth according to the custody schedule. So these students will be on my bus when Mom has them, another when Dad does.....all works out ok except for times like the end of last year, when Dad tried to get his kids on a day that was assigned to Mom, and I felt like a moron radioing in to tell base that I could not let the kids off- not knowing Dad's intention. Well, base (bless them!) supported me- the Administrator thought I was being overly cautious.
Oh well, we went over all kinds of stuff like that......which reinforced my actions in the spring.
Then on to the main meeting........the State Police were there.....maybe I should move to Florida with the phoney stop signs!!!!!!!! :?: Seems as though school buses (at least here in NY) are now being considered primary targets for terrorism.....and the very stern State Police officer explained all the details. (State Police along with the FBI and the Homeland Safety office) Scared the tar out of me......and most everyone else.
Maybe flipping burgers is in my future!

Anyway- Dh just came home( early) and Ds is making dinner (bless that kid, it is his first attempt). All I have to do is the veggies and cut up some fresh melon.
Hope that everyone is just busy- and ok!
See ya later.
Ginny
I'll go into it later if anyone wants to hear....

I'm here, Ginny... and everybody.
I had a rather interesting day. I called yet another plastic surgeon today; and spoke to his office nurse. The poor woman, I feel so bad for her... Long story short, she misunderstood me when I said I had an endocrine disorder that caused the development of a pannus. She thought I was referring to male genitalia... and tried to refer me to a urologist! I mean, I was obviously female talking to her on the phone! I cracked up. I just couldn't help myself!
Then I went to the gym, and learned how to use some of the weight-lifting machines, and one of the new recumbant bikes. And went swimming after that. Note the new entry to my sig... I figured I'd track the weight-training too, and can't think of a way to do it except by minutes. I'm not doing it to powerlift, so I'm not doing large amounts of weight. I can push 250 pounds with each leg, do a lat pulldown of 65 pounds, and row 55 pounds. Not bad for a mere beginner... but, it probably won't increase very much, I'm more likely to increase minutes or reps than I am weight.
I swam for an hour after that. I considered going back for the water aerobics class tonight, but its storming pretty heavily here, so I figured I wouldn't bother. The class will be cancelled because of the weather (no swimming during the storm), and the roads are bad because its rush-hour anyway.
I also talked to my endocrinologist today... She's a lovely woman, really. I wish I knew how to thank her. We went over the whole plastic surgery thing again, and now she's going to try tackling my insurance company on her own; she is going to call and try to get the medical director. I'm going to call more surgeons tomorrow... I'm becoming distinctly less picky, my only current requirements are that they aren't affiliated with Hopkins and that they are board certified. But my insurance company has such a horrendous reputation among plastic surgeons that I can't even get appointments with most of these people.
If anybody has any other ideas that we haven't alrady explored, let me know.
:mouse:

Hi Ladies,
We made it to the concert last night. I had a wonderful time. Josh Turner can really sing. Plus it helps that he is very handsome. My dh even had a good time.
My day was okay and busy. I got up this morning waiting on the stepkids to be dropped off. Only to have the ex bring them over to ask if they could go to the babysitter's today. So my dh told them that yes they could go if they wanted too. But they were not to call us and ask to come over today. The boys had made plans to go to a derby with my dh tonight. He told them that he was not going to be driving all over the place to go get them. If they wanted to go to the derby they had to stay at our house today. They said no. This kind of made me a little mad because I waited before going to Wal-mart to buy stuff for my classroom until after they got here. Their dad had a dentist appointment and I was just going to take them shopping with me and help me pick out stuff for my room. I could have really used their help today. So I went off to Wal-mart by myself. I got six of those rubber storage containers with 3 drawers on wheels, some dry erase markers, stickers, a calendar,two timers, some posters, two rugs, and air freshers. So I stopped at my house to get a sandwich and to ask my dh to help me take this stuff out to my classroom. He told me no that he had stuff he needed to do. So I left and carried all these stuff into my classroom. I had just sat the last storage cart down and it broke. So now I have to go back to Wal-mart and get another one. So I came home to have my dh pick on me and just really get under my skin today. I wanted to work on the computer this afternoon and type up some stuff for school. But I was not able to get near the computer since my dh and the neighbor boy was on it playing a game. I have a ton of stuff to get done before school starts and he was not helping matters by picking on me. Am I being selfish and *****y here? If so please slap me! :) So I think I am not going to go to water aerobics tonight since it is 63 degrees with a nice little breeze blowing. So hopefully this evening I can get some work done on the computer.
Tomorrow I am going to be very busy. I have a math inservice at my school's county office in the morning. Then I might run out to my classroom for a little bit. I have to cash my paycheck and pay bills. Go workout at Cuvres and then tomorrow evening go to the Relay for Life event and walk for a little bit. I was not very good at raising money for the Relay this year. I only got about$30-40. But I guess that is better than nothing. Then I have to come home and pack my bag. I am going to see my sister in Charlestown, WV on Saturday. We are going to go see a play and then on Sunday go clothes shopping. So I am just feeling a little stressed out right now. \
Mouse glad to hear that your hand is healing. I hope that you can meet up with your doctor at the gym sometime. That is great that your doctor is willing to work out with you. That goes above and beyond the call of duty. She sounds like a keeper.
Ginny sorry to hear that your meeting was a little scary today. That is just awful that people would terrorize school buses and innocent children and adults. There are alot of weird and sick people out there. So how was dinner?
Robyn and Summer hope you had a wonderful day today.
Take care,
Kerry

CLEAN SLATE.

Well, today I spent the morning at school working in my sweltering classroom. DD played while I worked. Get a load of this: The headlines on the front page of my newspaper announced that my superintendent's contract was not renewed! :dancer: Tee hee hee!

Kerry, I have an idea. Why don't you throw your DH off balance by picking on him?! Wouldn't it be a fun experiment? :lol: Maybe if you just start acting like him, he will get the picture and realize just what he is doing to you. I do that to my DH sometimes just to let him know that he can't get to me anymore.


Mousie, you are such an inspiration for exercise. The amount of exercise you get on a daily basis amazes me. Thanks for the info about Oregon's school system. I wouldn't want DD going to schools like that, and I wouldn't want to teach in schools like that. I appreciate your help.

Robyn, I am so surprised that you are essentially "on call" until September 3rd. Is it for the same case, or for others that may arise?

Ginny, school buses are the new terrorist targets? God, these people are so sick, specifically targeting children. Whatever safety measures they tell you to follow, please follow. We want you to be safe.

Tomorrow, I will be cleaning and shopping for yet another BBQ. Then, in the late afternoon, I will be getting my light blonde hair colored back to my natural dirty blonde. I'm not looking forward to this. My hairdresser is going ballistic.

Well... Summer... I don't have a family here. Most of my friends are scattered across the United States, so I don't get to see them very often. I have unlimited long distance on my phone for a reason!
And I keep hoping that if I exercise JUST A LITTLE MORE, maybe, I'll lose some weight. Just maybe. Anything.
But, in any case, I'm not sure how I'm going to do it in the fall or do all of it... I'm spending almost 2 hours there a day now.
:mouse:

Morning Ladies,
Just a quick note before I start my busy day. Hey maybe if I do all this running around again today, I might not think bout food and eat less. Maybe that is a good thing huh. :)
The alarm went off at 7 and I just wanted to turn it off and go back to sleep. If I didn't have an inservice at 8:30 about the new math books at school, I would have.
But since they invited me, maybe I will get some new books. I don't have any of the textbooks that the reg. ed. teachers use. I have to supplement everything for my kids, but am told to try and teach them the same things that the reg. ed. kids are learning.
Summer it sounds like you are really sad to hear about your super's contract or the lack there of one. So how is the classroom coming along? I have a few more days in mine, before I will be happy with it.
Mouse sounds like you have a great plan for excerising. Hope all works out well for you. Is the hand healing better?
Robyn hope all is well with you. Have you gotten all your stuff from your old classroom yet? When do you start school in your new school system?
Ginny hope dinner was a success last night. So what are your big plans for the day?
Well I best be getting my butt in gear. Have to pick up my friend at 8. I still need to get a shower and get dressed. Talk to you all later
Kerry

Good morning!
Kerry- you sure were and early bird today. :) I hope your busy day goes well for you, and that maybe you find those math books helpful, and can get some good ideas from them. I am so glad that you had such a good time at the concert! And equally glad to hear that you went. Funny about Dh (mine can be like that too) just when you have a nice evening....and feel good about your relationship the next day they can be crumbs. Just in all your business today, make sure that you drink lots of water and have at least a healthy snack (to avoid some disasterous eating later from hunger).

Mouse- Awesome! Weight lifting is so good for you- and I am so happy for you that you started. It is a wonderful way to jumpstart a sluggish weight loss......you have I am sure heard it a million times before, but increasing your muscle mass does increase your metabolism. And unless you are taking testosterone, it is very difficult for a woman to become muscle bound. As far as thanking your endocrinologist- I would just tell her what a blessing she has been to you! Kind words can really make somebodies day, as we all know.

Summer- Shall we chip in and send you a box of tissues for the superintendent? The one in my district is making somewhere in excess of $125K a year- has installed a shower for his office (so he can run on the school track and the come back and shower privately) and basically acts as though he was related to Napoleon. (he is short). A real smoke in mirrors kind of guy....and has all these wonderful perks for himself, yet the computer equipment in the HS is broken all the time (but he sells the school on being state of the art......well, it is for the repair man! Ok Ginny, shut up). Hope your hairdresser keeps her mouth SHUT! Happy shopping......and preparing for the BBQ. Thanks for your concern for my safety. I am a royal pain the neck when it comes to safety, in a previous job as a staff engineer I was on the safety committee.
My students and parents know that is how I am too......I just pray for good judgement that if I encounter a bad situation I have the wisdom to see it and respond appropriately. The stories we heard from the State Police were hair raising....last spring at in school district just outside West Point (45 minutes from here) an unmarked vehicle was observed (by a driver) taping/photographing students exiting the bus at a stop. It happened for several days........same vehicle.....different stops.
The driver saw it - got the kids back on the bus and drove away, so everyone was ok.
Just kind of scares you- they never figured out who/what was behind that- could have been anything.

As for me, I sit here waiting for the soccer camp that Dd is in to update their web page regarding if camp is cancelled or not. It is pouring here......can't imagine that they will have camp. I hope to get out this am and drive my route, another NYS mandatory thing- all drivers must drive thru their routes with an empty bus before school begins to check that all directions are clear.......all houses located......good stuff like that. Gotta laugh- they have no directions for my HS afternoon at all, just the kids addresses. So, I have to go and check the map.....add them to the route sheet myself. (they totally changed my HS portion, which is fine by me, it was my elementary route that I really wanted). I went over all the counter terrorism stuff with Dh, and basically should not have bothered. He did care......but just became angry about the situation. Oh well.
Just got final word from the soccer camp- camp is still on, but they will make a final decision at 9 am when camp begins. Huh??????? So, I'd better go wake up Dd who is tired and really wanted the day off. Sorry for this endless run-on post. See ya later, and I hope everyone can find some joy in their day!!! (Robyn, how are you?)

Ginny

Morning! I've not read any posts since my last visit.... so please forgive my lack of personalized replies. I will catch up and then post one of my novels! :)

Yesterday my friend and I moved nearly all of my junk to the new classroom. I made it home in time to cook dinner! Yeaaaa! Took a shower after dinner and sat down on my bed to go thru the mail.....I woke up this morning! Today it is pouring rain and windy. Both schools are still on their summer schedules so they close at noon. I've decided NOT to try to move the remainder of junk in this mess! I've gone through the notebook of forms that I need to submit to the new payroll dept, I've made a shopping list, I'm saying hello to my online friends...and then I'm thinking that I'm gonna go back to bed until around noon! My back hurts. My head feels as if I have a hangover! This has been quite a week!

Yesterday I did go to HR and sign the contract and do all the legal stuff... I had huge issues with the fingerprinting.... I told the poor lady telling me to "RELAX this arm. RELAX this finger..." that I guess it is obvious that I'm not familiar with the fingerprinting techniques...WHICH is a good thing! It was like having to BREATHE NORMALLY for the doctor!

enough babble.... I hope all is well with everyone! Anyone else excited about the olympics starting? What a great distraction!

take care

Afternoon Ladies,
I made it through my math inservice without falling asleep. But wish I had just stayed home and caught up on my sleep. But atleast people can't say that I didn't make the effort. I did get some goodies from my special ed. supervisor though. I got a medium size box full of paper supplies and then a duffel bag full of pencils, pens, crayons, stickers, box of tissues, and etc. I guess the tissues are for our tears of joy at seeing our kids for the first couple of days and then for those tears of frustation when we are banging our heads against the wall because the kids are misbehaving or not grasping the concepts being taught. LOL Then I came home paid bills and got a quick lesson in how to check my oil in my van from my dh. I then came on line to check in with you and go through our email messages. Tonight I have to go workout at Curves and then go over to the high school track down the street from Cuvres to walk for the Relay. I only collected $30. But I also donated 3 bikes and 2 ball gloves for their yard sale. So I don't feel so bad. I am hoping to get a nap in here shortly.
Robyn I hope that you were able to go back to bed for a while. I know how it feels to change schools and get all the things ready for the move to the new one. I feel for you honey! :) (((hugs))) Hopefully this weekend you can relax a little bit.
Ginny your dh sounds like mine. He asked about work and then when you tell him about it, he gets mad about how we have to deal with stuff or how we are treated by parents and the admins. He is always giving me his helpful advice and then gets made when I don't go along with it. He worked in factories and goes on that experience and it is just a tad different with our line of work. I hope you were able to run through your route okay today.
Mouse I think is great that you are adding weights to your workout. That will boost up your meb. and help with your weight loss again. Keep us posted on how you are doing. :)
Summer hope you were able to get all your chores done today. Another BBQ huh? Sounds like fun. When are you going to have one for us?LOL
Well I am going to go and take a nap. This early mornings are killers. I don't know how I am going to get use to getting up around 6 again for the first couple of weeks.
Take care.
Kerry

I've graduated from acupuncture. :( I liked it. Am I weird or what? :dizzy: The doctor examined me, adjusted my back, and did electrical stimulation. I have to try to schedule follow-up appointments, two a week, over the next couple of weeks. I have no availability between all the other appointments I am slipping in before school starts, last of the summer play dates, and getting my room ready. At least I am mostly healed. I still have slight lower back pain and that "pins and needles" going down my left leg some of the time. It is waaaaay better than it was after we returned from Disneyworld.

My room is coming together, but I still have a lot to do. I have to say, the new custodian sure works a lot harder than the old one (who I adored!). My room is a lot cleaner than I've ever seen...without me being the one to do the cleaning.

Robyn, congratulations on signing your new contract! Did the old school find you a replacement? Hopefully you will be free of jury duty and can just concentrate on beginning a new chapter in your career.

Ginny, photographing students? That gave me chills. I bet there is a lot going on that the general public never finds out about. It makes me want to quit my job and homeschool my DD.

Kerry, I'm so not ready to go to inservices again. I look forward to teaching again, but all those meetings and workshops, yuck! It is gonna be such a rude awakening for me when school starts for me in eleven days. I'm sure we all feel the same way.

Mousie, you make me not want to give up. This is what 3 fat chicks is about...people like you inspiring people like me. Thanks.

Hi, all!
Kerry: I know how that goes with the inservices. When I started in Fairfax County, they had two inservices for new staff. One for HR and benefits, and then another for curriculum. They divided us up by elementary and secondary. I'm secondary, so when we did the curriculum one, as the mild MR teacher, I was told to go to the curriculum ones in the morning for regular ed or LD, and then moderate/severe disabilities in the afternoon. Our kids, as you know, fall into both categories! The LD curriculum staff didn't know what to do with me. They had so many new teachers coming in, they didn't have enough space! After being asked to leave math, English and Science, I went and found the MR Specialist, and went to the moderate/severe disabilities one and they let me leave in the afternoon. What a waste! But, you got goodies: I did too, I managed to snag first choice of some beautiful stuff including the TouchMoney kit, talking calculators, and Mayer-Johnsons Fromt he Classroom to the Workplace books.
Robyn: I, too, had fingerprint issues. Pennsylvania doesn't require teachers to be fingerprinted unless the district requires it. None of my inner city districts ever did. But I had to have it done FOUR times in Maryland: Baltimore City, Baltimore County, my current school, and the summer camp I worked at. You'd think I was a career criminal! None of the agencies will accept fingerprinting done by other people... So I had it done twice in Virginia: Fairfax County and Arlington! Some time, I'll tell you about my security clearance and file with the feds... :) Its because of my Red Cross work. I did the 2000 inaugeration, and the Pentagon response.
Summer: Thanks. I'm not sure what I said, honestly. I'm sort of depressed at the moment to be honest. I spent my morning in the gym: lifted weights, managed a half a mile on the bike (quite an accomplishment given my ankle!), and swam for an hour. Then I spent the afternoon calling plastic surgeon's offices and searching the Internet for information about the pannus removal. I had another surgeon's office try to refer me to a urologist; I had one office turn me down without an appointment because they said they'd never been able to get insurance approval for the procedure and didn't feel like trying. I really liked the first office I spoke with, the lady was extremely nice and very caring... but that office doesn't have any appointments till October 18. I wasn't as happy with the other two, but was able to get an appointment in early Sept. for one, and late Sept. for the other. The insurance company information was very disenhartening though: NONE of the companies that I found will pay for the procedure unless you have a pannus that is causing significant disruption of daily living (IE, inability to walk), skin rashes and hygiene issues. So, like, if I stopped washing and stopped going to the gym, in 6 months I might get approval. The only place that said they approved it was Mississippi's Dept. of Medicaid, and they didn't require prior approval. Why can't other insurance companies trust their doctors?
I don't see how I'm ever going to get this surgery approved. I'm apparently a unique case.... And, really, I'm getting tired of being unique!
And, I think it was Ginny... sorry if I am wrong... but somebody told me not to worry about becoming muscle bound. But, while I doubt its one of the significant worries, I do need to watch it. Part of my endocrine disorder is elevated testosterone... and the meds I take to lower it are probably the biggest culprit in making me sick most of the time. Yet, despite the meds, I still have enough of an elevation to have it show up as "significant" on the lab reports. Which is one of the reasons I'm more likely to increase time or reps than weight.
:mouse:

Just a quick update...

I had my hair colored back to my natural dirty blonde tonite. It took 3 1/2 hours! I sure look different. DD was shocked when she saw me and said she wanted her real mommy. I will definitely have to start wearing make-up to pull this look off. Normally, I put on some blush and pale pink lipstick and look good. I only put on eye make-up for special occasions. But with my dark hair, (to brunettes it isn't dark, but when you are used to platinum, dirty blonde seems dark!) I look so pale. Every time I've passed by a mirror, it has bothered me, so I pulled it up in a ponytail...it is less obvious when pulled away from my face. When I walked in the door, I told my DH, "This is love you are looking at...love and sacrifice." He damn well better appreciate what I am giving up so I can help him pay his bills.

When I saw my gastroenterologist earlier in the month, remember I had bloodwork done by a vampire? Well the results came back very good. My liver enzymes are still elevated showing a fatty liver, however, they have lowered since a year ago. So, either eating lowfat, milk thistle extract, or both are working. It is a relief that I am making progress.

We are watching opening ceremonies right now, and DD freaked out. Before the countries started coming out, and Athens was making their presentation, DD was terrified of the costumes especially the statues. She said, "this is not for children...children shouldn't see this in their homes...parent guidance rating." It really disturbed her!

I probably won't have time to post till Sunday. Have a good weekend! Stay dry!