You're in my thoughts, Summer! I'm thinking positive things for you!

please, when you can, post and let us know.... it goes withoutsaying that we are
all waiting to hear!

take care....

Good morning!!!!!

Summer- I keep thinking of you.........glad that Dh called your minister, that must have been some comfort to you. Good news that the insurance covers this too......Hugs for you today.....

Mouse- raspberries on the police!!! Sorry you had such a crummy day.

Robyn and Kerry, how are you doing?????

Me, I am off to drive my big yellow bus. Bummer..........
See ya later!
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
Hope all is well with everyone. I made it through the day yesterday with my new student. She is such a sweetheart. Mostly nonverbal, due to a brain injury she recieved as a toddler in a serious car crash. It took the lives of her aunt and grandma. So she is one lucky young lady to be alive. Her mom stayed yesterday to help us get use to her daughter's needs and wants. So that was a good thing. But let me tell you, I was very tired when I got home last night. Then my dh decides to go for a very long walk. We live in the center of town and when all was said and done we had walk to the edge of town and back. I was getting tired, thirsty and had to pee really bad by the time we got home. I was tempted to go behind some trees at one point in our walk. But I could just see me either getting posion ivy or some one catching me swatting with my big butt showing. LOL. So I went to bed after our walk. Sleeped good last night too. Must have been the two mile walk in the morning, going to Curves and then the long evening walk.
Summer how did your MRI go today? I am thinking positive thoughts and sending them your way. (((((hugs))))) too. :)
Robyn when do you get your students? How is your classroom coming along?
Ginny how was your day? I bet you are tired tonight. You can get strechie bands at any sporting goods store. We got some for my sdd at Durham's. I think we might have paid 5 or 8 dollars for them. She loves them, when she does a walking video with me.
Mouse, sorry to hear that you had a bad day yesterday. Your brownies sound heavenly. I might have to try that recipe and take a treat to school or TOPS sometime. So was today a better day? I hope so.
Well ladies, I think I am going to go and call my one friend and see if she wants to go for a walk. If she doesn't, I will just go by myself or go for a bike ride. Talk to you all later.
Have a great Friday. Then weekend is near and it is a long one at that too!! :) :)
Hugs,
Kerry

Well, you can add MRI's to my list of things I'd rather not do. I've always wondered, "what's the big freaking deal?!" Okay, I get it. It is a very unpleasant procedure. I was put on this "table" with two holes...one for each boob. There was no face pillow like at the chiropractor, just a big fluffy pillow for you to suffocate in or strain your neck on. My stomach "rested" on a hard surface which arched my spine. (They really ought to consult with a chiropractor/physical therapist/orthopedist when designing these tables.) My legs were too long until I was inside the machine. Anyway, I was really uncomfortable and was forced to lie still for 25 minutes in a very confined space with an I.V. in my arm. The sound reminded me of an alarm.

Once in, I started having trouble breathing, and felt myself going into a panic attack. I had to talk to myself and slow down my breathing to calm myself down. I think knowing that I needed this test helped me to just get through it.

I wish I wasn't such a baby about this. I have had some horrible procedures done to me between an AWAKE endoscopy where I dry heaved through the whole thing...a hysterasalpingagram, insertion of dye up my uterus in front of several Yale medical students as my legs rested on my doctor's shoulders because I was too tall for the table (Do they design these tables for dwarfs or what?)...in vitro fertilization...Oh there's just too many uncomfortable and humiliating procedures to count. I just thought because I'd been through so many medical things already, a simple MRI would be a piece of cake. Yeh, right.

I haven't gotten results yet. Who knows when I will. I must put the whole situation back in God's hands. I did my part, now it is His turn.

Kerry, the amount of exercise you are getting amazes me. Your new student sounds darling.

Ginny & Robyn, thanks for your prayers and good wishes.

Thanks to all four of you for your support. You are a great bunch of friends.

Summer I am sorry that you had a horrible experience with the MRI today. If I could I would have been there to hold your hand. It hurts me to see what kind of pain and worry you are going through to find some answers. You know that I will keep saying my prayers that God will give you some answers soon. Plus He will guide you through whatever you have to do in order to be healthy. You have a great outlook on life. Please don't let this little road block get you down. How is this year's class at school?
My kids are starting to hate me, I think. I have to get after them to stay on task. There are some times when I have to raise my voice at them and that mad one of them mad at me today. He drew a picture of me with a hole in it. He told his classmate that was where he was going to kill me for yelling at them before lunch. So I sent him to see the guidance cousenlor. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day. I think a lot of their problems are adjusting to a new classroom, a new student, and this week I started doing academic work with them. They still feel that it is summer vacation. Oh well, I must being doing something right if they are starting to not like me this early in the year. Usually they wait until after Christmas break to start bad mouthing me. LOL :)
I hope everyone else had a good day today. I did go for a walk by myself tonight. My friend wasn't home. So I got another 2 miles in this evening. I hope that will help me blast through my barrier. My goal is to be down another pant/dress size by Christmas.
Well I think I will go and watch a little tv before getting some shuteye tonight.
Good night,
Kerry

Good evening, all. Busy, busy!
Summer, I'm sorry about the MRI. I had to have one last winter because of the pain I have on my right side, around the ovaries. My endocrinologist insisted. It was really hard, so again, I have been there. I can deal with the ultrasounds, but the hidascans and MRIs aren't any fun at all. The only problem I have with the ultrasounds is feeling dirty afterward (all the stupid gel). The tables for the hidascans and MRIs are awful, you're right... they HURT!
I hope the findings are NEGATIVE!!!! I hope that there is nothing to find!!!!

Everybody else: My kids come Tuesday. I talked to or left messages for all of my homeroom today. I have most of the stuff ready, but I'm nervous. I had these same kids this summer, so the class rules and stuff haven't changed. I'm hopeful we can just jump right into some academic instruction. I don't have time this year to spend 4 weeks getting them used to procedure and rules... I have to cover an entire industry area in 9 weeks... We do retail first, then Construction, then Hospitality and IT is last. There is so much stuff to cover in each area, and the school is being very strict about all retail stuff being in 9 weeks, then moving on... so I can't fiddle with the time-lines.
:mouse:

((((Summer))))

((((all of you)))) .........actually, I just wanted to hug you gals so that I could sleep for a moment or two! :) I am *SO* tired! ...and I have only MET the kids so far! LOL

Yesterday was a full day for me. My own Open House was from 1-3. (They ALL came! very gigantic, very huge :)!) 17 years...NEVER! Anyway.... finished with that by 3:45, rushed over to HR, then on to home....and then on to DS2's Open House...5-before 6.... Then on to DS1's....got there before 6 and left at 8:24! I am too exhausted to explain or even RANT about DS1's SpEd issues NOT being addressed.

There was supposed to be a "staffing" prior. I've tried for nearly 3 weeks to get this scheduled. NO one would take my calls or return my messages. THEN I get to OH and have to argue with teachers about his extra set of books.......I am RANTING, RAVING beyond CRAZED over this! (And THENNNNNN his school counselor tries to tell me that I missed a meeting Thursday morning.........LIKE H E Double Hockey STICKS!) Stephen's advocate is NOW IN CHARGE of making all school contact as I will yell like a sailor in their faces. It isn't the innocent teachers who have not been made aware.... It is his SpEd team who seem to be FORGETTING my kid! (Please remember that EVERY assignment has to be modified, he has to have notes given to him, yadda yadda yadda! His IEP is VERY VERY thick and his profile is VERY complex.)

Soooooooo, my life as a SpEd Mom is going to be THE big focus ....this forced on me at a time when I need to be concentrating on my new teaching assignment. (Yeah, I'd doing 1st grade....but geesh....EVERYthing is different where I am now!)

I'm so sorry that I've turned this into yet another rant from me. Stephen will survive... One of his best qualities is his resiliency (did I spell that right?) BUT why should he have to be "tough" to get an appropriate education.......

enough from my mouth.

Summer, dear, I'm sorry that a bunch of OoppaLoompas designed the medical equipment. I can not imagine having to use the doctor's shoulders for your stirrups with a group of visitors looking on! (((hugs))) You've been thru enough!

I'm sorry that I've ranted and raved......I'm just sooo tired both physically and emotionally. EVERY year for 7 years now I've dealt with going back to school being a huge issue for my kid. They PROMISED me that this year would be different....heck yeah it is.... His case manager won't even be at school for the first week.........

take care.

I am still in limbo. Since handing this situation over to God, I have felt the weight lifted from my shoulders. Yes, it is always in the back of my mind, how could it not be? But, I don't have the same fear as before. I'm trusting that He will take care of me.

I am discovering that I am blessed to have a lot of people who care about me. All of you have been wonderful. My coworkers have been amazing. Actually all of my friends are helping me cope.

You all know that I am turning 40 in October. My DH was planning to invite my friends and family out to a restaurant to celebrate. Well, my best friend offered to host my birthday party instead. Nobody besides family has ever done that before. That show of love is just what I needed this week.

Robyn, I'm so sorry that your son's education is a constant battle for you. I had to watch my sister go through the same crap for my niece. Unfortunately, it has continued into adulthood, since my niece still needs services. I hope that the struggle will lessen for you over time. Best of luck with your new class. At least you are happy with the staff at your new school.

Mousie, try to relax. You've done what you can to prepare. Whatever happens now, happens. (Sorry, I'm just so into "letting go" right now that I can't help myself.) You sound like an outstanding teacher. You will make it work.

Kerry, try not to take your students' behavior personally. I know that it is easier said than done, but you know you are a great teacher. If they are angry, let them. I find that the students I ride the hardest end up loving me the most at the end of the school year. You are providing structure and boundaries that they desperately need. Keep up the good work.

Ginny, you are such a sweetheart. You made me cry today when I got your card. Thank you.

Thank you to all of you. As soon as I get my results, good or bad, I promise to let you know. And, if it is bad news, nothing is going to change. I will fight my heart out. I need to be here to raise my child. Enough said.

TGIF!

I'll write more later. I'm going to bed!
Hope everyone has a good weekend! :D

Evening Ladies,
TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so forward to having a day off on Monday. I plan on sleeping in and not doing much that day. Yeah right, we have the kids this weekend. Like they are going to let me sleep in. LOL
I went to Curves tonight. I had a weigh in and measure. I didn't gain any weight according to their scales, but I lost 1 inch in my arms and 3/4 inches in my waist. Plus my bodyfat went down 1.30%. So I was very pleased with my results.
I hope everyone had a great day today. My day was very long and stressful at school. Thank God I was am to make it to Curves tonight to relieve some stress.
Well I am going to bed. I will individual post to everyone tomorrow.
Have a great weekend!!
Kerry

Well, I was obviously very tired as the rest of you... I came home from the gym with the intention of taking a 'short' nap. I woke up again at 4 am. :o
The cat is obviously to blame because he's gone and made himself a comfy little hollow where my pillows are, and where one of my legs usually, so he must have induced me to sleep so long, so he would be comfortable!
I STILL have all the work I brought home to do, since I went to the gym early Friday morning, got home at 2, ate and took that, uh, nap. Tomorrow I'm going to the gym, and then I'm supposed to go to my mom's house... I told her I'd stay at least for dinner, but I might have to leave after that. We'll see. She told me I wasn't allowed to bring any of my work with me or her grandcat (she recently got a kitten, and when I talked to her, the kitten was being bad, so she didn't want another cat in the house).
Okay... going to run... Maybe I'll go to the gym when they open at 5:45 this morning... Hmmmmm...

:mouse:

And I have been so pooped that I have not been here for 2 days..........just a short hello. Glad to see that everyone is ok, or as well as can be expected.
Summer- glad the card got there and that you gave this burden over to the Lord. He's in control of everything anyway....why not leave it to Him?
Kerry- your new little darling sounds sweet.......don't worry about being a crab in the beginning......you know that you have to start out laying out the rules.....and then can ease off a bit.
Mouse- you astound me with your dedication on a Saturday!!!! Hope you got that gym time in.
Robyn- facing two big challenges in one year........(how comes when it rains, it pours!) take a deep breath, Hon.....it's all gonna be ok. Face each experience with your wonderful sense of humor (canI use you on my bus???)

Gotta go-Dd and I am off for a civil war reenactment (can't stay for the battle,bummer). I'lll fill you in on my route......which is ok for now, next week will be torture. See ya later, sorry for being short!
Ginny

Woke up this morning at 5:18am. DD is trained to let me sleep till 8am on weekends, so I was all set to "sleep in." Finally around 7am I fell back to sleep.

Our house appraisal was $5000 lower than the one in December. We needed it to go up $30,000 to get our home equity line of credit. :( The appraiser really rubbed me the wrong way when he came last week. In the past, we've gotten compliments on the improvements we've made to our home and especially the landscaping and gardens in our backyard. This nimrod wasn't impressed. The good news is that our mortgage rep has a compassionate soul. He told us that he wasn't going to give up on us because although our debt is high, we have always paid our bills on time. So, he said to try to find another appraiser who would give us the figure we need or give it a couple more months. We may need to wait a year till we've acquired more equity. I just feel better knowing that someone out there has faith in our ability to get out of this mess without filing bankruptcy. I've always had excellent credit rating, so this whole nightmare has been a shameful experience for me. So, we continue to spend carefully and pay our bills while we wait to see what will happen.

Today, DD has a play date in the morning at her friend's house, then in the afternoon, they are coming back here to swim. We have no plans for the rest of the weekend, and I like it that way. I just want to putter around my garden and house and catch up on everything that got neglected this week. My garden looks hideous. I was too upset to care for it during the week, and I think I lost some annuals. :(

Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you again for your prayers and well wishes. Hopefully I will have some answers on Tuesday.

Afternoon Ladies,
Sounds like everyone has their weekend planned to relax. I woke up this morning around 6:30. But I just laid in bed until 9. I fell asleep off and on during that time. I finally got up and got my workout clothes on. I then did a 4 mile walking video with my sdd. She faithfully made it through the walk. I could tell she was getting tired around the 2nd mile and asked if she wanted to stop and she told me no she was going to keep pushing on. I have the laundry almost done for the day too. The last load is in the washer as I type.
Summer sorry to hear that your appraisal didn't come in at the price you wanted it too. But it sounds like you have a great mortage representative though. It is nice to see he is willing to work with you and not just toss you aside. Keep the faith!! Things will pick up and start to be better for you and your family soon. :)
Mouse, you must have been very tired if you took a nap and ended up waking up at 4 am. So did you make it to the gym this morning? Enjoy your visit at your mom's.
Robyn, hope you have finally caught up on your sleep. You sure have been very busy lately. Enjoy your weekend. You are the kind of parent I like to see at my school. Most of the parents we have at school just don't seem to care about their kids. And the only time,you see them is when they feel their child is right and the teacher is in the wrong. When it is usually the other way around or the kid has failed and the parents ask what have you done to help my child. So keep pushing for your son's rights. You go get it!! :)
Ginny, enjoy your cival war reactment. That sounds like a lot of fun. Enjoy your weekend. :)
Well I almost forgot to tell you about the little speech I got from my dh this morning. I am suppose to be a friend to my stepchildren and not act like a mommy to them. I asked him what I was to do exactly. It was just like a slap in the face when he told me that. So I have decided to just step back from really helping out with them and see if that changes anything or not. I know that is an awful way to be, but I was very hurt and upset about the whole situation. I basically gave up my time off from school to enrich them this summer and spend time with them and this is the thanks I get. Oh well, I guess it just goes to show how a male really thinks and acts.
Well ladies I am going to go and read a my SELF magazine. Talk to you all later.
Enjoy your weekend!
((((hugs)))))
Kerry

Oh Kerry! Just a couple questions...if you aren't allowed to be a parent to your step children when they are at your home, (and you are one of the best mothers I know) who will be the parent? Your husband (at least from what I've heard about) has left all of the parenting to you. He is the one who acts like a friend going to the games and having all the fun while you do all the work. Is he going to switch roles with you or will the only parent in these children's lives be their birth mother at their other home? Gee Kerry, I'm sorry you have to put up with this crap when you are just what these kids need. You are a wonderful mother. He should let you do what you do best. :mad:

Yesterday DD played at her friend's house in the morning while I did errands and stuff around the house. They came over around 2:30 and swam for three hours. Her friend is soooooo needy and annoying. Instead of playing with DD, she kept demanding that DH and I watch her do this trick and that trick. Finally I told her that she was at my house to play with DD not to perform for us. I know that sounds kind of mean, but if you were in my place, I think you guys may have responded the same. She keeps calling me "my friend's mommy" even though I have been telling her for months, "Call me Mrs. M." My snow days are gonna suck this year because my trade-off for her mother driving DD to school is for me to watch DD's friend on snow days. I'm getting nervous that she might try for holidays that she has to work too. We are off on 9/16 for Rosh Hashana. I already have plans, thank God. Hopefully she won't ask for me to watch her then. I'm used to my DD entertaining herself, and when we do things together, she is fun, not irritating.

You should see my laundry from this week. For the first time, I had more stains than DD. I spent hours using Oxiclean and shout to get all the paint and markers off my clothes. This year's class can't keep their dirty hands off me. I come home filthy every day! Meanwhile, the administration thinks the teachers dress too casually. I could never dress nicer. My clothes take too much of a beating.

Today we have to buy a wedding gift for DH's niece. The wedding is in New Hampshire next weekend. His sister is paying for our hotel room so we can go. I need to start painting the trim in the dining room so DH can begin wallpapering in there. I want it done by November for DD's birthday party.

Have a great weekend!

Afternoon Ladies,
Summer as for your comments you are exactly right. But he is going to find out how much I do for the kids in the end. Especially when I am not doing it anymore and it all lays on his shoulders. I think he started to find out about it a little yesterday afternoon. I did not do anything with him or the kids. I plan on doing this for a couple weeks and see what kind of comment I get from him then. I have left the disciplining up to him and we will see how the kids are then. Thank you for your nice comment about me being a wonderful mommy. That means alot to me. Several of my friends thought that the kids were my dh's and mine. So I guess I must be doing something right as a stepmommy that other people see it and not just my dh. You brought a smile to my face. :) Sorry to hear that your swimming date with the needy child was not fun. I pray that you don't have many snow days this year. :) Enjoy shopping for a wedding gift this afternoon.
Robyn, Mouse and Ginny hope you had a wonderful Saturday!
I guess we are suppose to play baseball this afternoon with some friends. Maybe that will help get me out of my depressed little mood. I hope that this school year is not like this every weekend the kids are here. Or I might just have to think about volunteering somewhere just to be out of the house, so I don't treat the kids like a mommy would.
Have a great Sunday!
Take care,
Kerry

Hello, all.
I am back from my mom's house. They convinced me to stay overnight, so I came home to a needy kitty cat. Poor little Imp. I disappeared at 7:45 yesterday morning (I forgot the gym didnt open till 7 on Saturdays!), and didn't reappear until 10:30 Sunday!
My mom took me grocery shopping which was a help because I needed some stuff and my school "forgot" to tell us they were changing the pay cycle. We've been back for 2 weeks, so I expected a regular "summer" pay check (we were in from 8-3 for 8 days the last 2 weeks for training and in-service). I got HALF of a summer pay-check! And I'd used the money left in my savings accounts to pay off some extra bills!!!! I had to borrow money from my line of credit for grad school to cover my rent. It'll be okay once I get the tuition reimbursement from summer session and the money the school owes me for stuff I bought for the classroom... With luck, I'll have it by this Thursday. They said it typically takes 2 weeks, and that they cut checks on Wednesdays... so all of my stuff should've been at human resources by last Friday, in time for this Wednesday's check cutting. I live right down the street from them, and my bank gives me credit for stuff I deposit right away. But the discount grocery near my mom's house doesn't take AmEx, which is the only credit card I have... so my mom helped me out.
I did get to the gym... did the weights, water aerobics and swam 3/4 of a mile yesterday. Which is good, since I came back from my mom's house this morning. I had perishables in the car so I needed to come right home... and I passed the gym on my way in. Its 20 miles away, so I'm not going back up there today. I should be there every other day this week though, so I'm not worried. Next week, though, I'll miss 2 days because I start classes Monday night, and Rosh Hashana is Wednesday night so I'll be at my mom's house. I need to be there before sun-down, so I don't think I'll have time to go to the gym.
I need to go get the mail in a bit, and scan coupons...
:mouse:

Summer- how miserable that the moron from the appraiser could not see how much work you have done. Thankfully, it sounds as though your mortgage rep is a sweetheart, and giving you the break you deserve. As far as Dd's "friend", playmates like that sure are a challenge. How old is this child??? I know it is crass.....but you might want to try acting as though you do not hear her until she calls you "Mrs M".
To me a play date that you have to "entertain" is worse than anything...I feel for you.

Kerry-you sure sounded like a wonderful caring stepmom to me too!!!! (what in the world is your Dh thinking anyway.......kids these days are so lucky to have at least ONE adult who is willing to take charge and set some rules!). And to have someone like you who is actually trained to educate..... I don't get it. I like your strategy, get busy with something else for a few weekends......let them fend for themselves. Enjoy your magazine...put your feet up and relax. You earned it!!!!!

Mouse- how miserable with your pay!! (think I would be furious!!!!) Thankfully, it sounds as though you have a way out of this financial corner figured out, but obviously are out of your comfort zone. I don't blame you. I sure hope that check shows up on time!!!!!! Good for you getting a workout in too. Hope your visit with Dm was nice too.

As for me, the civil war reenacment was hot, short but great. Both Dd and I enjoyed it...as a matter of fact one of the museum curators offered me a job.....which unfortunately pays minimum wage......I get quite a bit more than that as a driver. We had to leave before the battle (with dd coming home and Dh and Ds hungry coming back from Bball practice, there was little choice) but it was still exciting......fun.......Dd seems to share my enthusiasm for it too, which is nice. (My dream job would be to work at Williamsburg or Sturbridge or something like that).
Now, I have been infested by some viral bug......some cold symptoms......minor stomach stuff...just feel pretty lousy, but semi functional. I went to bed early last night, and have taken a nap today. Figures it is a day off and I am sick!
Opening day at school went pretty well. The nice part was seeing the faces on the families (parents and kids alike) as I pulled up to their stop...most seemed truly happy to see me (not so sure about the toxic mother stop.....can't please everyone!). Not too many horrific moments......the flasher did not grow up much this summer.....what a pity that I might have to keep him and his brother up front even though I need that space for the kindergarteners. Then we have the new student who decided to cross himself......(scares the tar out of me!). Most of the kids were great. I have to finish the seating chart tonight or tomorrow. Tuesday will be the real test- I will have all 3 schools that I bring home students from open, and I have a feeling that the trip home in the afternoon will be challenging. Too many miles to cover in not enough time. And that will make me late for my elementary route....oh well, you will hear me screaming Tuesday evening. Today was quiet, we went to church this am, and have just hung out home since then. Dd has spent most of the day with her Bf, and should be home shortly.
Guess I'd better go and make dinner. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Ginny

Robyn, our board comedian- how are you doing???????? Sorry I left you out above, I was responding to the more recent posts. At least this hurricane will most likely leave you alone, if it ever gets to Va. Hope your weekend is going fine!
Ginny

I realized that I didn't respond to anybody in my last post. I must've been out of it...

Summer: the playdate sounds horrendous. Although, I don't remember ever doing play dates when I was growing up. I played with the neighborhood kids, and had a friend that I'd known from Kindergarten who would come over once in a while... that was always fun, because we went to different elementary schools, and I only got to talk to her on the phone. My best friend lived across a busy highway, though, but we saw each other a lot because a busy highway for Lancaster, PA is really nothing. ;)
We lived near the school, so we always went over there to play or ride bikes.
Ginny: I love reenactments... I worked at the Renaissance Faire in Pa one summer. I'd love to give it another shot... I didn't appreciate Williamsburg when I was there the first couple of times because I was too young, but I think I'd like it better now. I just don't have time to commit, and can't picture myself doing the whole camping thing. Some friends tried to get me to go to Pennsic, the SCA reenactment that they do every year out near Pittsburgh. But again, camping... and Pennsic is really strict about period camp sites.
I can't be furious about my pay, because I shouldn't have paid those extra bills till the middle of this month when I was positive we were getting regular checks again. :shrug: Interesting thing is that I know I was paid, but there was no pay-stub in my mail Friday or Saturday. I wonder where it went!
:mouse:

I'm now into school work for this coming week well over my head.... I'm too old for this! starting my 18th year and beginning EVERYTHING NEW! EEEK! :) I'll live!
Someday I will sleep again!

I also am very distracted by what is going on in Florida.... I've not heard from my dearest friend since Saturday night. I have seen her school on the news... it was used as a shelter and had the roof ripped off of it....She was not there but...her school stuff is / was! She lives VERY near West Palm Beach.

I have read your posts.... I need to give everyone big ((hugs))! Hugs to congratulate some and supportive hugs to others...sort them out, would you! LOL Actually... everyone needs to take a few of each!

Well...... I'll be back later today.... and I'll try to post something meaningful or witty or something at least BETTEr than this! :)

take care

Okay let me try this one more time. I typed a long reply last night and it was unable to be posted. I was not a happy camper! Yesterday was a better than then Saturday. I started to have a discussion about how my dh hurt my feelings, but his kids kept coming in the room and wanted to listen to the conversation. So I guess I will have to wait until they go home tonight. We did play ball yesterday afternoon for about an hour. Then we went over to my sil's for a while. Our nephew ended up coming home with us to spend the night. So then last night we all went for a walk. Today I think I am going to go shopping by myself, after I do my walking video and get ready for the day.
Summer so how was your shopping trip? Did you get your wedding gift? Enjoy your day off!!:)
Mouse sounds like you had a nice visit at your mom's. Sorry to hear about your paycheck. That must have been very disheartening when no paycheck stub arrived at your house on Fri. and Sat. That happened to me last summer. The treasurer's office missed up on our direct deposit and we had to wait until Monday or Tuesday of the next week to get our money. But everyone else who got a normal paycheck got their money. I was not a happy camper, since we made plans to go to my sister's that weekend and had to watch our money very closely. So I hope you get paid soon. :)
Robyn, where are you? We miss you!! Hope you enjoyed your weekend! :)
Ginny, sounds like you had a wonderful time at the reactment. I have never been to one before, but have several friends who are involved in it. They are always saying what fun and new people they are meeting. How was your weekend with your oldest dd home from college? Enjoy your day off today! :)
Well I am going to go and do my walking video. Talk to you all later.
Have a great day!
Kerry

Well, I didn't quite spend the rest of the weekend as planned...
Yesterday, I did some school stuff, but not enough. I went to bed early, with plans to get up and go to the gym before they closed at 1:00. And at 10:30, my pager went off... we had a multi-unit apartment fire in the County. With only 6 people being currently authorized to write out our new financial procedures. Well, there are more if you count the paid staff, but I've NEVER seen our paid staff supervisor come to a fire if she can possibly (or even not!) get out of it. :nono: I happen to find the lady completely worthless, and since I've been doing Red Cross volunteer work since 1987 (started my 17th year in July!), and disaster action team since 1990, and National assignments since 1993, I guess I'm entitled to my opinion! I've worked with some absolutely fantastic paid staff folks who REALLY know what they're doing! This woman isn't one of them. Anyway, I can't go to many single family fires because most of the homes in this area are row-homes with lots of steps to the house or in the house, and I can't do stairs because of my ankle. But this being a multi-unit apartment fire, we set up a service center and helped clients there, and we had enough people to have others do damage assessment inside.
We started out with 42 adults and 15 children. Fortunately, most had places to go, and it was only the units most severely affected that we had to provide assistance to.
We have these new "gift card" type things we're using instead of the ancient forms that were like blank checks. But, like gift cards you buy in the store, they have to be activated or they can't be used. We can't activate our own cards, of course, as a precaution. We called them in, and ALL FIVE OF MY CARDS WERE ACTIVE!!! I hadn't been out, and hadn't used any of them! Not ONE of my cards worked. It was a, pardon the joke, disaster! It took many more hours to serve the clients than normal (we were on site for at least 4-5 hours just because of the cards). We finally got the card problem sorted out, but not before I had to deal with our casework supervisor. There are just two words to describe him: pompous ***! He's all yelling at me on the phone (or at least being very loud!), and ends with saying, "And on Tuesday, you need to get those other 3 cards over to chapter so I can kill them. They're dead cards." I told him I'd be happy to go out back and shoot the cards for him, but that I wasn't going to be able to get to chapter on Tuesday... Its the first day of school, for pity's sake, and the chapter closes at 4:30! My kids don't leave till 3:00, first day of school buses are always messed up, and we have a staff meeting at 3:30. :rolleyes: He insisted a couple of more times that I had to get over there Tuesday. And you know what, I'm going to be snotty about it and not go over there Tuesday, even though my school isn't that far, and I can shoot straight up the road to the gym from the chapter. :o Yea, I know, I'm being bad.
But here's the other thing: I also dispatch for these people, and I'm the ONLY dispatcher that wasn't permitted to take the activation training. They only have so many slots for people to be activators, because obviously you don't want a lot of people being able to activate cards because it could cause problems. But, in order to activate, you need to be at a computer. To dispatch, you need to be at a computer. Remember what I said about our paid staff supervisor above... Yep, she's already pawning it off! She's told the other dispatchers that whenever I dispatch now, the back-up has to stay home too, so they can activate cards if necessary. So what is the point of ME staying home to dispatch the teams? The teams are going to have to call me to activate the cards, then I have to call the back-up dispatcher to activate the cards. And if the back-up needs to go out or something, they're required to notify me and the supervisor. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID! I HATE stupidity! Especially when it makes other people's jobs harder! Why should TWO of us be tied to our computers for 72 hours? :mad:
She and I have tangled since I joined the chapter, and this is just another incident. We had a huge thing last year because she kept changing the dispatch schedule without telling anybody and I'd be out of town or in class, and not have any idea that I was supposed to dispatch... and of course, I'd come home to find half a dozen messages from the answering service. I don't wear my pager at school unless I KNOW I'm dispatcher, because administration has asked me not to. So, now I dispatch 1 weekend a month because she can't get her act together. I've considered going to another county chapter, where she isn't supervisor, because the supervisor for Anne Arundel and Howard County is one of those good people who knows what he's doing.
Honestly, the last two chapters I've been with... we have a good crew of volunteers here, at least, and they get the services out to the clients. The last chapter couldn't even manage that! Although their Youth Service staff are just fantastic. And I really do like the volunteer work: I like working with the clients, and I enjoy going on National assignments (I used to have a button that said, "Join Red Cross Disaster Action Team: See the World Through the Eye of A Hurricane.")... I've worked with some fantastic people all over the country.
Okay, enough of that. Sorry. The end of that whole story (as if you couldn't guess by my frustration) is that I didn't get to the gym today. I didn't get home till 5:30, and didn't get to bed till 6:15, then got up at 9, starving. And went back to sleep after I ate till 3:00.
Since 3:00, I've been doing school work... more coupons... I have one entire set finished!
Here's the latest update of what I need: .15, .20, .30, .40, .45, .50, .60, .65, .75, .85, $1.60

Thanks!
:mouse:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Please tell me tomorrow isn't the real beginning of the insanity!!!

Summer, Robyn , Mouse (sounds like you had an interesting weekend!!!) and Kerry, Hi!
Hope this week turns out good for all of us. Sorry not to get personal, I will be back tomorrow am so say hello.
G'nite!
Ginny

Let the chaos begin!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like my job.
I like my job.
I like my job.
I like my job.
I like my job.
I like my job.
I like my job.

Ok, Robyn~ I can't decide if the next line should be "there's no place like home!" or "Toto, I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore...." Personally, maybe Beam me up, Scottie is in order.......You make me laugh!!! :lol: Big hugs to you, though!! I remember the first few weeks of my new job, wondering if/how you will fit in, if it will ever make sense....all the politics, hoping you can see the back stabbers before they get to you and just trying to do your best with a smile on your face ! You're a professional and will do fine! They surely did not hire you because they thought you were a flunky. And you were not so well liked at your previous job because you were a flunky either. Its going to be ok....hang in there......take a deep breath!!! This year might be sticky at times (new staff, curriculum etc...) but honestly, it does pass quickly. BTW, how is your personal battle with your school district going? Did you hear from your friend in Florida?

Mouse-what a sordid tale!!!!!! Here you are trying to do something positive to help people and there is always some small minded person trying to mess up the works. My MIL did some work for the Salvation Army, and also encountered some similar situations. Hope your first week goes well!!!!!! And I will go upstairs later and see if I can help you out with the coupons you need.

Kerry- hope you got your walking video in!! Which one is your favorite??? (although Leslie Sansone has about 15 of them I think, it is unlikely that we have the same one). Any chance to chat with Dh about his kids? It was good to hear that things got a bit better for you.

Summer- thinking of you today.........and praying for you! Let us know what the test results were when you get a chance.

I just spoke to my SIL (she and BIL live in Spring Hill, Fla) and other than thay they do not have power, they did just fine. Their house is 5 years old and was built to meet some pretty modern building codes/hurricanes (not that any house can stand up to a Cat5 storm......). I'm glad they are ok- just a little water logged! It was tough this am getting Dd up for school- her first day. (public started last week, hers this week). She was a trouper- even asked if she held me up this am......what a sweet kid. I miss her, but will be seeing her soon as I have lunch duty today. The one nice thing about being at work again is I get these 4 hours off midday........mind you they are the shortest 4 hours under the sun, but I do get a bit of time for some peace and quiet, whatever that is. This afternoon all of my schools are open, so getting back ontime to my elementary route should be extremely interesting, if not impossible!!
Hey- I have a question....what do I do with the flasher and his brother??????
The flasher is in 2nd grade now, his brother a year behind him. Neither one can be trusted- both spend most of their trip on the bus making rude noises and generally tormenting other students. These are the kids who crawl under the seats.... and bring general mayhem to an otherwise sane bunch of kids. Several parents have asked that their child not be seated anywhere near them.....but that becomes unavoidable because they can't be trusted further back in the bus, (no matter how many rah, rah pep talks I give them about trust). Short of duct tape or strapping them to the roof rack (Oh, SO tempting!!!!) anyone have any ideas??
Guess I'd better go feed the neighbors cat.........see ya later. Chin up ladies!!!! :)
Ginny

WELL.... hope that everyone had a great day! My brother in law also volunteers with the Am. Red Cross. I call him "The Chief"....cause, well.... he doesn't miss a fire! I great intentions about the coupons..... forgive my lameness.... I've no good excuses except....I'm all wrapped up in MEMEMEME! Speaking of me.... Thanks, Kerry for missing me! :)

So.....about my day...cause I just KNOW you wanna know! hehehe...

All in all it was a successful day! I had perfect attendance. My clock was evidently 8 minutes fast which had me huffing and puffing and charging down the hall for lunch EARLY...which was a REAL hit with the principal! NOT! Unlike LAST year (at my old school) I was NOT cursed at by an irrate parent NOR was my life threatened by an irrate anger filled 6 year old! :) In fact, I only considered duct tape twice...and for the same child BOTH times! Ginny, thought of you this afternoon as I was having bus issues with one of my cherubs. Bus 5.... EVERYTHING said bus 5. His mother wrote bus 5 on the form. He said BUS 5. His grandmother writes Bus 5 on his agenda...yadda yadda yadda... so along comes dismissal FINALLY....and guess what...we've got lots of buses...but NO BUS 5. I confess my issue with the principal who calls the office....who tells us that he is to ride bus 5. THERE IS NO BUS 5. One of the "helpers" (I'm not sure of her capacity!) at the school asked me and I quote, "Who is this child's teacher? Where did his teacher go?" To which I calmly replied, "I'm the teacher. I've not left him!" To which she replied, "O". I had to tell them 4 times that there was NOT a bus 5....that I knew WHERE he went....it was just that it didn't exist! SOOO, they try to figure out where his grandmother, his sitter, IS and WHERE she lives.... all the while the rest of the school are looking at ME...the new girl....with the lost kid! The bus driver refuses to take him on her bus due to not knowing him.... AND then the bus driver yells at me.... "WHO is his teacher?" ARGHHH! You'd think a 39 year old hag like myself would kinda be obvious! WHAT AM I CHOPPED LIVER???
I hope the dear got home ok. I tried to call and there is no answer....this is why he stays with grandma whose address and phone we don't seem to have...sigh! :) BUT, no one threatened to kill me! YET!

4 of the classrooms very near (much too near for my liking!) to me had ceiling leaks caused by the renovation projects. They were literally ankle deep in the dirty water today. I'm scared to death as they begin working on my roof next week! The teachers were quite the troopers.... computers were ruined. even furniture was swelling due to the amount of rain.

Speaking of rain...... talked to my dear friend in Stuart Florida. Her school has been condemed due to hurricane damage. She doesn't know when or where they will get back to school..... EVERYTHING has been ruined... Their house is fine but they are still are without electricity, water, sewer, gas, phone, etc.... She is hanging in there.... but let me tell you....from experience....those ice and gas lines get mighty tiring AND cut throat after 3 or so hours!

I'm literally hoarse from all the talking that I've done today. Isaac.... THAT is the name of the year! BUT he didn't threaten to kill me! hehehe! I'm off to drink a glass of wine....whine....for medicinal purposes, of course! IF that doesn't help my voice... I bet some whiskey WILL!

ya'll take care!

I am so disgusted right now. But, I guess I shouldn't be at all surprised. I have no MRI results yet because of the holiday weekend, they didn't get around to it, and even if a radiologist took a moment to look at the MRI, they can't find any of the three mammograms that they did on me to make the comparison. I may not need to worry about cancer...I may drop dead of anger and frustration! :mad: Isn't it enough that they have already been hugely insensitive about all of this? Isn't it enough that I couldn't get my MRI's sooner? Isn't it enough that I had to wait during a three-day weekend?

Maybe I'm just selfish. Maybe it is more important for the employees to get a head start on a holiday weekend and just put off transporting my much needed mammos to the Fairfield office. Maybe their fun is more important than my diagnosis. How dare I worry about having cancer when they all need to think about partying. Shame on me! Naaah, maybe they are all insensitive, cruel, a**holes!

Tomorrow is my second MRI at 8am. I don't want to go. What choice do I have?

I will post again later after putting DD to bed.

Quick post from your resident Mouse:
I didn't kill any kids. I didn't kill any administrators. I didn't kill any other teachers. We only had one resource incident, caused by schedule confusion. The child was a special case last year, and refused school for nearly a whole quarter. But we worked it out, and I gave him lots and lots of make-up work for my class so he could pass (he didn't need my class again, he had the skills needed for the class because he's a computer nerd anyway). Now, I switched over to Survey... which he didn't finish, but admin excused him from it. He allegedly wanted Retail. Today, the mere thought of going to retail caused him tears and frustration, which led to cursing and the throwing of a binder down the hall. For some reason, he trusted me enough to walk without complaint to resource and answered all of my questions. Amazing.
Two of my other challenging children actually DID SOME WORK!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!
:mouse:

Mouse- sounds like you fared well today.... I am happy for you. No murders in the first day is a good thing.

Summer- if I were in your shoes right now, murder might just be on the top of my agenda. Can't imagine the lack of sensitivity in how your case is being handled!!!!!!!!!
Go tomorrow with my prayers (and everyone elses here too!). God is bigger than all of these morons put together......much, much bigger. And it's His world.......and He is in control of it. Hang in there, we love you.

Robyn- you still talking to me, Hon????? (seems as though you had a bad day with a bus driver!!!!! OPPS!). I am sure that somehow, that student got home......Bus 5 is out there somewhere. Just breaks your heart for the student (had a similar incident happen last year with me.....).
My afternoon went ok- only one student from the other school made it to my bus, so I was not horrifically late for elementary route. Of all of the 4 buses, I was the only one that did not get stuck too badly. But then tomorrow is another day........I will probably get hit with a load of kids tomorrow. (many drive, parents pick up, after school stuff).
Guess, I'd better get Dd in bed....she had a busy day (as did her Mama!)
Kerry, how did your day go?????
See ya tomorrow!
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
Let me try this one more time. I had a post typed out and it got lost somewhere. I guess I didn't really have anything important to say. LOL
My day was okay. My kids were wound for sound since it was three day weekend. It took me most of the day to get them settled down. I started to work my afterschool program tonight. So I am really tired. But I did manage to drag my body to TOPS and I lost a 1/2 pound. So I was happy. Now I just have 26 more to lose before Christmas and my dh said he would take me out for a nice dinner at Damon's just the two of us.
As for me getting to talkto him yet about his comment the other day. We haven't been able to do it yet. The kids were here after school tonight and then I left for my meeting and he wasn't home when I got home. So I am hoping he comes home before I go to bed or try for tomorrow evening to finish the conversation.
Summer, I can't believe what a run around you are getting. Those people are very rude and cruel to you to make you wait like this. I will say a special prayer that your 2nd MRI goes well for you tomorrow and you get some results soon. Keep your spirits up! I love you, sweetie. Here is a big bear hug for you. ((((((hug)))))) :)
Ginny, glad that your day was good. As for the walking videos, I have Walk Away the Pounds for the abs (1,2,3 miles), Walk Strong, and Walk away the Pounds Express (1,2,3,and 4 miles). I love them all. Plus I use a strechie and the walk away belt. What ones do you have?
Mouse glad that you day went okay, despit that minor incident. Did you make it to the gym to workout tonight? Hope you got things straighted out at the Red Cross! Don't you hate it when you are doing a service by helping others and people have to belittle you.
Robyn, hope you enjoyed your glass of wine. That is the way to relax after the stressful afternoon you had of trying to find that little one's bus. I am sorry it had to happen to you the new kid on the block. Things will be even better tomorrow.
Well ladies I am going to bed. I am exhausted after my day. Talk to you all tomorrow.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
((((hugs))))
Kerry

I didn't get any school work done tonight....starting out sooo wrong...

first my friend from Florida called.... her school roof is gone....they don't know what they are going to do.

then my son's advocate called.... we've requested an IEP meetin.

THEN another dear friend called.... his wife left him this weekend.

which one should I have told to call me back another day?@!

Didn't even get to my wine! or whine....

Summer, I'd complain like there was no tomorrow..... rant, rave, scream! This office is NOT very professional! And they act like they don't care! Are their results trustworthy?!

I'm off to bed.... will get up and try again around 4.... maybe I'll get something done then!

181 more days until summer.....but who's counting?!

Morning......my supervisor is also counting the days left......but who's counting!
See ya later.
Ginny

No results yet. When I arrived for the 2nd MRI, they still hadn't received my mammo films. :fr: I have finally narrowed down my problems with the radiologist to the Trumbull office. Fairfield is trying to do their job without the cooperation of the Trumbull office. They will be getting the angry letter when I am finished with this rollercoaster. :mad: So, the MRI was easier this time...surprisingly so since I was DREADING IT :stress: I guess because I knew what to expect, it wasn't as bad. Now I return to waiting. Ginny, you are right. God is bigger than all of this, and I know that I am in His hands. :angel:

Time for me to catch up.

Robyn, wow you sound overwhelmed. I hope your son's PPT is successful. I hope your friend is okay. Did you get hit with any of the storm? We are just getting rained on for a few days...nothing we can't handle.

Kerry, I'm working our after school program too. Talk about "easy money!" I help the kids with homework, then while they play in my centers, I get to work in my room. I love it. I hope you get to talk with your hubby soon.

Mousie, congrats on not killing anyone and for deescalating a significant incident. Re: Red Cross...I hate stupid people too. I hate wasting precious time. I hate inefficiency. I'm right with you.

Ginny, I'm going back a ways...does the flasher have a diagnosis? Is he special ed? Is the principal aware of the behavior? Do you think this is a DCF issue, i.e., what is going on in that home? I don't blame the other parents for wanting their children to keep their distance...I would give him a wide berth myself. :lol: Get yourself some support in dealing with him.

Thank you to all of you for your prayers, hugs, and support while I await my test results. You have all made a scary situation a little easier to bear. You are all the best. :grouphug:

Wow... We're all so busy!
2nd day of school: I either got bit by a bug of some type during 4th period or I'm allergic to my 4th period class. I'm going for the latter, because after they left, I was scratching my forehead (thinking, that's odd!), and my TA looks at me and says, "You've got hives all over your forehead! You'd better go to nursing!" So, I wander down the hall to the nurses office, and boy do I ever!! I had to sit there with ice, and then they put caladryl on me. Now all the hives have grown together into one big lump!
Summer: Hope everything went okay today!!!!! I, too, was bit by the inconsiderate doctor bug. I had an appointment with yet another plastic surgeon in my great search to have this darned pannus removed... and I took 2 hours off of work for it. I drove up there, and they claim they tried to call me. Sure they did: Friday afternoon, on my CELL PHONE! They never ever left a message at my home. :???: :mad:
I was nice enough about it, and they did reschedule me for next Thursday. I'll be back from my mom's house by then.
Good news: I am now or will be, a part-time swim instructor for the gym. The pool manager hadn't been at all interested in me between last time I asked about it, and was told I'd get it... and this session starting. She kept putting me off. She finally talked to me tonight, and found out that I had experience with Special Olympics, and had taught swimming in the adapted rec program for Fairfax County. THEN she was interested, and was moreso when I told her that I was a fully certified teacher.
:mouse:

Evening Ladies,
Has this been day from h*ll. It rained all day long here. I had morning bus due and the other people I was suppose to be doing duty with never showed up outside. So it just irked me the wrong way. I was told about an IEP meeting that was taking place today this morning by an innocet bystander. I went to this meeting on a student I don't know, but they would like to evenutal place in my room. The kid is SBH and was kicked out of school because of his behavior. He gave the aide two blackeyes and kicked another aide in the leg and left a nasty bruise. So I just hope this kid isn't placed in my room for a long time. His tutor was not there and his foster parents never showed and the people from his county's MRDD board showed up for the meeting 1 1/2 hours late, cause they got lost. So I didn't get much out of going to this meeting, except being away from my kids for 1 1/2 hours and missing important instructional time with them. It was a total waste of my time. Then the afterschool program was cut short due to the ton of rain we got today and the roads starting to flood. So it will be interesting if we have school tomorrow. I am hoping for a much better day! :) I did go to Curves tonight and put in a great workout though.
Summer, I am glad that your MRI was better today. Sorry they are jerking you around. I will keep saying my prayers that you will get some much needed answers soon.
Mouse, I am sorry to hear that you have hives. How awful for you! :( Congrats on the part-time swim instructor job! Way to go girl! :) So when do you start?
Ginny hope all was well with you today! I started counting down the weeks we have left with our kids the first week of school. Isn't that awful? My kids this year are a bunch of whining babies sometimes. I think they are worst than a bunch of high school girls. LOL
Robyn, here is a big hug honey. I hope your day was better today. Sorry to hear that you were not able to unwind and do any school work last evening.
Well I am off to bed. Have to get my rest for my kiddos tomorrow. They are a strange group when the weather isn't nice and sunny out. So I need all my energy to deal with them tomorrow. Unless we have a flood day!
Have a great Thursday!
Kerry

Hello everyone....

Congrats on the job, Mousie! Hope the need for the umbrellas has subsided for you all! We finally made it a whole day without a bit of rain.... of course the standing puddles made for an interesting fire drill.... but...well.... Summer, any news?! Ginny, swing your bus by and pick me up.... I'm ready to kick some Trumbull butt!!!

Thanks for all the wonderful supportive notes! Today I finally broke down and went to the dr. Sinusitis, bronchitis, laryngitis (how doooo you spell these itis words!?!) and he wants me to come back on Sunday so he can listen to my chest... He thinks I may have pneumonia... WELCOME BACK to SCHOOL!!!

I have a horrible horrible sinus headache that this screen seems to be making worse...
once again....... forgive me for such a "quality post"! I'm giving up. UNCLE. I'm going to bed....

night...take care... TGIF!!!! :)

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...........
Yestertday, I had a long post written.....was just getting towards the end and voila!!!!!! the power goes off! (just for a second, but just enough to mess up my computer. Thanks a bunch, Frances.). So I shut down and gave up. I'll see if I can recreate my thoughts.

Mouse- gee, this is a win- win if I ever heard one!!! Teaching swimming??? I hope you are getting paid for this ~ but anyway I am so happy for you! How is the bug bite? and or hives? If you are still having a problem, and can tolerate benadry, try taking a half adult dose (full dose might put you to sleep). It really is the best thing for hives, and works like a charm. Feel better, ok?

Kerry- what a bummer about that meeting you had to endure. By now your weather should have improved, I hope! Was it the effects of Frances also?
I am so happy for you that you did not stress eat after such a miserable day, but went to Curves instead. :cp:

Robyn- Please take care of yourself........drink lots and lots of fluids, and be sure to take your meds. You poor thing......now the big question, you still working thru all this???????? Don't know if that is such a great idea~ but I understand with a new job and all that. Take care.........try to rest, ok?
And sorry for all the bad news you have had to endure recently.

Summer- how you doing???? I was happy to hear that this MRI was not as stressful for you. Any news yet???? Hugs, hugs and more hugs. I continue to pray for you.

Life here in bus land is still insane.........now the dumb phone is ringing...Dm with all the details about her surgery. Better go! See you later.
Ginny

Well, I survived the day........total morons on the road to boot! I felt like going over the radio to ask if the local looney bin had been let out.......had a Fed Ex truck go in a ditch in front of me (driver was fine, noone hurt, thankfully) and just lots and lots of other little nonsense that gets to any driver.....but when you have someone elses children with you, it unnerves a bit more. Oh well, they are thankfully, all home in one piece.
I am beginning to solve the problem of the flasher and his brother. For the past 2 days, I have had two 5th grade girls sit with them to assist. Funny, they seem like the baby sitter types...but are not really up to the job. The students I used for the same task last year (with the heavy sleeper who disrobed or flung himself off the bus ala superman, jumping down all 3 steps together) were sort of misbehavers themselves, but truly rose to the occasion while helping me. Both showed me a side of themselves that would not otherwise be seen. I think even the principal was surprised that I selected those students to help. But they were a God send to me. Guess I'd better look deeper in my roster. Anyway, the troops were not too bad today- and now I am working on enforcing the rules. My run is very tight...and typically I get no time at all before I load the elementary kids. Usually I pull into my slot and some students are waiting already,not even giving me time to walk my bus looking for sleepers (gotta do that, state law).
So, it will be one of those years..and if the route is that tight, it will get even worse when the weather turns bad.
BTW- last night God was sure smiling upon me! I had to drive Ds to his pitching coach, and listened to him crab the whole way up ( he wanted Dh to take him, not me). As we approached our destination, I noticed that the WW center in that town (which was, according to the "800" # closed) had its lights on......so I took a chance......dropped the crabby kid off and drove back. WOo HOO!!!!!! There was a meeting!!!!!!!! I was so happy (the staff must have thought I was nuts). I was planning on jumping thru some hoops to get to a meeting today, and instead was able to stay home between am and pm runs. Ok, I "gained" 4 #, but know that that is all garbage. Last meeting I was at, I wore shorts, last nite I had on jeans and a long sleeved shirt. Also I had a cup of tea and 2 glasses of water before I left home, and still held that water in me. Plus TOM is due in 3 days. So I am not at all worried. My clothes fit the same. Anyway.....Dh just came back and he is in a miserable mood. Better go before he gets upset. Its Friday!!!!!!!! :D
Ginny