Ginny....Did I ever PM you my snail addy? I'm brain dead and can't remember and don't want to OVER send it! LOL

Too much junk.....not enough time........ NO time for me.... laundry, dirty kitchen, school work await.... I'm REALLY getting sick of this! It is 9:45 and this is the first time I've sat down all day AND I have sooo much I should be doing instead of writing this...... sigh

I'm an emotional mess..... which only comes out in my food consumption. I know this. Fix it? I feel so powerless over this JUNK.....

gonna run before I get deeper into this funk....
tomorrow is another day..... clean house or not.... everyone has clean underwear for tomorrow... I think I should feel successful! LOL They EVEN have clean towels! ;)
thanks for listening...

take care.....
meeee
Ginny, I save my thank you notes... I really do!

BIG hugs there, Robyn. Try not to feel overwhelmed, as very tempting as it is!!! Catch your breath......you made great strides this weekend cleaning out stuff. It is usually our stuff that gets the best of us, and purging is such a freeing experience.
No, you did not send me your email. Please do so, and sometime toward the end of this week (thursday looks like a good chance) I can get to the library and copy the appropriate stuff. One thing I did read.....and it does work. Pick out some small area....one drawer, one shelf....one whatever.....clean it out- be merciless. Pick an area that will take 15 minutes to do. Try to do that once a day. Ok, the article (actually book) mentioned that this process will take almost 3- 4 months to get thru the whole house. Ok, I have not completed the whole house, or even gotten close, but this has helped me a bit. Hang in there, my friend.

Actually, hang in there my friends.......Friday is coming....anyone have election day off?? (just something to look foward to!, no I do not have the whole day off, one of my schools is open) Probably will not be able to check in later, have to pick up Ds from school and I WILL get to WW tonite. Take good care.
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
I am going to try posting here again. I have tried for the last two evenings and my computer boots me off. I had a nice weekend. I was able to attend my workshop and even go home to see my family for the weekend. So I was a happy camper. But I have fallen right back in the thick of things with school and home for another week. I went to TOPS tonight. Once again I gained weight. But only 1/4 of a pound. The one lady said she really thinks it is muscle gain because I am firming up and slimming down really nicely. I think that is what it is too. But I wonder how much longer it is going to take before I start to lose weight again. This makes it 4 3/4 pounds in the last month. Well I best be off to bed. I think I am getting a cold on top of everything else. So I just took some Nyquil and it is kicking in fast. I will get more personal with everyone tomorrow. Have a great day on Wednesday!
Kerry

...thanks for the kind encouraging words Ginny! I wish it were as easy as cleaning out a drawer! BUT you are right...pick one thing and FIX IT! I know this. I know this. I know this! I did well with eating UNTIL I became an emotional basketcase around 8 pm... I KNOW that this happens repeatedly and yet I don't prepare for it nor do I fight it. I hate being a mental mess....


"If you want to be somebody else,
If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else
Change your mind..."

anybody else know my favorite Sister Hazel song?! I KNOW that this is true. I must get this stuff FIXED in my head.... but for tonight...I've got school work to mess with! You guys know how it is! Report cards are due next week. We have a work day on Monday and a Staff development day on Tuesday. 2 work days in a row without kids! These are the first days off without kids since the year began...AND they are the first days without kids that I've had since the fall of 2003 as last year ALL the work days were sucked up by the hurricane and its fun!

enough babble from me.

.....change your mind...
take care...
~meeeeee

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR........
Kerry, I feel your pain. I gained too, second week in a row for me and I was expecting to lose (had been pretty good). So, I am angry- furious.......and back to keeping very strict rules for myself. Gosh I fought so darned hard to get these #'s off and I won't let them creep back on. b
Sorry not to get personal right now, I wanted to check in and say hello and then go out for another walk. See ya later.
Ginny

In a better mood........at least for now. (TOM is due soon too, so who knows what kind of mood I'll be in). Just as I was preparing to go for that walk an old friend from this site called me, have not heard from her in almost a year. Gee, it was great to hear from her~ really picked my mood up!!!!! And I did some painting in the living room today- Dh finally noticed after dinner and apparently does not like the color I picked out (too bad). FYI, it is a soft butter yellow, which does match everything else we have. I thought I would get a little bit gutsy.....no it is NOT school bus yellow- or anything that bright. Butter yellow (possibly a bit more muted than that even) is a good description.
Better go help Dd with her math. And you are all sick of me babbling. See ya tomorrow!
Ginny

:yawn: Hi all.
Did the 2nd field trip to Safeway today... And boy, how did Safeway treat us! They treated those kids so well... gave them a huge tour, and talked to all the department managers, samples in nearly every department, including cookies in the bakery, fruit in produce, and meat/cheese in deli... then "goodie bags" when we left with HIGH SCHOOL AGE APPROPRIatE stuff! Hats, water-mugs, granola bars and water.
They even gave me batteries... the digital camera batteries died in the middle of the tour... I'd planned to use a school camera today, but had mine just in case, and good thing because the school cameras were all checked out. But my rechargable batteries died... I had planned to pay for them, but the store gave us the batteries.
The kids did really well, and I think they learned a lot.
That's the good news.
The iffy news is my endocrinologist wants to talk to me; she'd ordered some bloodwork done, and has the results, but we're playing phone tag. I was surprised that she got the results so fast, and by the message she left saying that she wanted to talk to me and "see where we go next". Her nurse says that's become a standard message for her, and not to worry too much... but I'm so busy on Thursdays, and she's in surgery on Fridays.
The bad news is what the school has done to our health insurance. I understand WHY they've done it and why its happening, but that doesn't make it any easier on me. They used to pay 100% of up to $500 for diagnostic imaging and X-rays. I don't *think* that includes bloodwork, because I've never gotten a bill for that. I do get bills for my ultrasounds, though, and one for the endoscopy. Originally, once they paid the $500, you'd meet your deductible and then they'd pay 90%. Now, we start right off with having to meet the deductible and then the 90%. That's tough on me, ultrasounds are EXPENSIVE! I think I am going to be okay, if I can get my endocrinologist to move the ultrasound and annual exam to later in the year, because I upped my health care spending account a LOT to cover the insurance short-falls and prescription costs.
We'll see. Its also up in the air if she is going to be considered a "specialist", since she's both a reproductive endocrinologist & infertility specialist, and a GYN. When I was in Fairfax, they considered her a specialist under my HMO. But I didn't need a referral to see her because she was also a GYN. I'm not sure what my current plan will consider her. I HOPE they aren't going to drop her, because they've stopped paying for in-vitro fertilization, and I'm pretty sure that is one of her main avenues of practice. Although, strangely enough, despite also being a GYN, I don't think she actually delivers babies.
Anyway... gotta run. ITs nearly 8, and I still haven't done anything about dinner.

OHHHH!!!! And for those into this: checkout the new SlimFast Optima drinks. I hated regular SlimFast because it was just way too sweet and thick. The Optima has 50% less sugar, and is thinner. I had a coupon, so I figured I'd give 'em a try. The cappucino is pretty good. And they're cheaper than the other shakes I'd been drinking... they do have 80 more calories, though. But its still only 180.

:mouse:

Mouse- I find all this healthcare stuff mind boggling!!! (it sure would be nice if they would STOP changing the rules as they go, so that we could plan accordingly). Our benefits are changing too......8 years ago we had the 90% coverage, which was wonderful. Now we have to meet deductible and then pay 20%. Gets so pricey. And yes sono's are lots of $$$$$. Hope you succeed getting hold of the Dr. The waiting game is no fun at all. GLad you like the new slimfast stuff. They have changed their entire line (dropped the snack bars that were only 2 WW points.....boo hoo). Sounds like a nice treat for you.

Not much new here.....got 2 walks in (total of 35 minutes, probably 2.5 miles) and got the second coat of paint up on the first wall......first coat on the second wall. I LOVE this color. Gotta go pick up the critters.....I was asked to take someone elses critters home too so it will be a busier than normal afternoon. Hope everyone is doing great! See ya later.
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
Just a short visit for me. I have to work on my IEP progress reports tonight, so they can go home tomorrow afternoon with my kids report cards. Nothing new here. Just busy with school and trying to get over a cold my kids gave me.
Mouse that is crappy what they did with your health insurance. I hope that they cover your specialist. That would be one less worry for you. :)
Ginny I am glad that you got to reconnect with an old friend. That always puts you in a better mood when you get to chat with them. Glad that your painting is coming along so well. Even if your dh doesn't like the color. :)
Hi Robyn and SUmmer. Hope all is going well with you two. :)
Have a great Friday.
Talk to you later.
Kerry

Hi, all.
Finally reached the endocrinologist. She says that she is a specialist. :?: She's not a standard GYN because she doesn't deliver babies as well. She's a specialist gynecologist/endocrinologist, because there are some patients who can't see a standard GYN. Which is true: a standard GYN wouldn't be able to do anything for me except the annual exam, and maybe not even that because they might not understand the impact of the screwed up hormones on the reproductive system and other body systems.
And remember that horrible plastic surgeon who was so very very rude???? And that he was going to charge me becuase he didn't want to bill the insurance? I think I posted that the total was $65, and I paid my $15 co-pay, they assured me that if the insurance company turned them down I'd only have to pay the $40. The insurance company accepted and processed the bill. Okay, now, two things: He was so rude that he was with me, MAX of 5 minutes. I walked out of his office. And remember, it wasn't going to be the full fee: he submitted a bill of $330!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you all read that correctly. $330! He did NOTHING. He didn't even use up a pair of gloves on me.
And if I had paid it myself, it would've been $65 or so. Where does he get off submitting $330? Fortunately, they denied most of it...but they still paid over $100 to him.
And people wonder why health insurance is costing so much? You better believe that I'm going to notify my insurance company. I hope they can bust him for fraud!
My endocrinologist who spends so very much time with me, mostly on the phone which she CANNOT bill for, never submits bills that high. I wish I had my medical binder in the house, I'd look up one of her bills. I'm just livid.
Anyway... HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL!

:mouse:

Hey all. I'm so sorry I've been MIA. It has been one heck of a busy week. Every single night, I had to go somewhere or do something. Then add homework, schoolwork, cooking, and sleeping, I had not a minute left to myself. My house looks like a tornado hit it.

On Monday, I had to get some things at the store, and get DD's uniform and other ecoutrements ready for Brownies. On Tuesday, DD had her investiture ceremony, and then we went out with her friends for ice cream. Then I had to bake brownies for the fire fighters who were coming on Wednesday with their fire truck to do a fire safety presentation to my class. On Wednesday, I had to do Halloween preparations and shopping. On Thursday, I had to bake more brownies for DD's after school program, and finish making my costume. On Friday, I was so friggin' exhausted and fried that I was in bed before DD was. Today, I have done laundry, laundry, laundry, and some house-cleaning. I am still exhausted. DD's teacher is giving double homework now which takes a long time since her directions are extremely vague, and she is an anal retentive a**hole who actually returns DD's homework to be corrected for small/tiny/minor things like not leaving enough white space between her first and last name. I want to wrap my fingers around this chick's neck and tell her to "CHILL THE F*CK OUT!" So, it was a very long busy week, and I'm wishing I married a wealthy man so I could have a clean house and spend my free time (I would have free time) volunteering.

DD's school system decided that there would be no costumes or parties for Halloween this year. So, I left my house yesterday morning in costume while my kid wasn't allowed to wear one. Thankfully, the YMCA's after school program had a party for the kids, so she didn't totally miss out. In my school, if someone doesn't celebrate Halloween for religious reasons, we give them the option of staying home or going to another room in the building. Every year I get someone who doesn't celebrate, and the parent has always chosen to keep the child home so they don't feel left out. This year, I had a student whose mother had planned on keeping him home, but at the last minute became very confrontational and told me it was her right to send him to school. I put on my diplomatic smile and replied, "Of course, we will set him up with a paraprofessional in the Library with some activities." I didn't take the bait and argue with her. She was definitely looking for a fight. The sad thing is that he had to see the other children, my aide, and I in our costumes, and wasn't allowed (by his mother) to take home a goodie bag at the end of the day. I think it is pretty crappy to use your child to make a political statement. Yes, she has her rights. What about her child's rights to not have his feelings hurt? What about every other child's rights to celebrate an American holiday tradition that has been around longer than I can say? AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I promise to catch up with all of you over the weekend. I have a lot of reading and responding to do.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! :)

Don't you hate those using their kids for their own agenda??????? Sorry that happened to you Summer. You handled it like a pro.

Mouse- now why is it that you have met every crummy MD in the east coast?????
Gee, I know that there are some good ones........I forgot about the endocrinologist.
Hang in there.......this has to get better.

Off to continue painting, which BTW, Dh is now helping me, and even is beginning to like the color. (looks more gorgeous by the minute, in my eyes.)
Sorry to be short, gotta go. Hi to Kerry and Robyn.
Ginny

I haven't met EVERY crummy MD... and this isn't a new one, this is the twit I posted about the end of September.

The last two years, students were permitted to wear costumes (no masks), and in my middle school it was encouraged. Last year, however, at my school, admin sent out a notice that we should report students who "felt the need" to wear a costume to their therapists, because this IS high school. :rolleyes:
This year, it wasn't encouraged because we had the Today Show and executives from NBC and the hospital that runs our program touring. There is allegedly some series the Today show will be doing on students with autism, and we were picked.
:mouse:

new teacher would like to join
 

Hi. My name is Melody and I am a 3rd year teacher. I taught 2 years at a public middle school and now I teacher English to grades 7-10. I have also struggled with my weight for quite a while and would like to lose it once and for all. What plans do you guys use? I am going to use Slim Fast because I am always on the go.

Well, hello, Melody! ;) You're welcome here.
I teach special education at a private vocational high school run by a children's hospital. I teach "introduction to vocational programming" AKA, SURVEY! ;) In the past I've taught functional math and self-contained LD Civics, team-taught Physical Science, self-contained English (both MR and LD), and self-contained LD/team-taught Life-Science. My favorite positons have been the functional math and life-skills, though.
My weight is mostly the result of an endocrine disorder that was out-of-control and undiagnosed/treated from 1998-2001. I was diagnosed with this nameless thing in late 2001.
Fortunately, I have friends who have stood by me, and my mother and grandmother.
I need to run now: tomorrow is our trip to DC. Today was a busy day too! I went swimming this morning, and did half a mile in just under 30 minutes. The other day I did a full mile in 68 minutes, so my time is really improving. Then I drove to the nearest DC Metrorail station, and went into DC to walk the route we're taking to the REd Cross Headquarters tomorrow. There is a parking garage across the street, though, so I'm not sure if we're going to take Metro now or walk. I'll have to talk to my partner and see.
:mouse:

Melody, Welcome to our little group!

I am a fourth-year inner-city public school pre-K teacher. I am the mother of a six-year-old girl. I've been married 11 years. I turned 40 earlier this month. I have mostly been on Weight Watchers over the years. But, after finding out that I am hypoglycemic (on the verge of diabetes) I will be changing to something low-carb. I ordered the South Beach Diet Book from Amazon.com a month ago, but have yet to receive it. I'm about ready to just say, "screw it" and pay full price at a book store just so I can get started already.

Mousie, have fun in DC.

Welcome Melody!
Evening Ladies,
Sorry I have been MIA the last few days. I got a wonderful cold from my little MH kiddos. I swear this is the second time so far this school year. I told my two aides watch out I will probably have a cold from now until May. One each month until my birthday. So I went to school and came home to crash.
Today I had a mountain of laundry to wash and dry. It all got done and folded. Now I am hoping to put it away tomorrow evening. Yesterday I went and worked out at Curves, came home and booked a hotel room for my family the weekend of Thanksgiving so we can go to my grandma's 90th birthday party. Then helped the kids get ready for trick or treat. I got to stay home and pass out candy to the kiddos. I was okay until I saw a few kids from the next county over where I teach. It scares me that some of them know where I live now. Best not tick them off from now on. LOL.
Mouse have great time tomorrow on your field trip.
Summer sounds like you had a wonderful time with your kids on Friday for your party. Sorry that one mom had to ruin the day for her little one though.
Robyn hope you enjoyed your weekend!
Ginny glad to hear that your dh is finally coming around and helping you with the painting.
Melody, I am special ed teacher. I worked 3 years in an inner-city school teching LD?DH classes to 6th through 8th graders. Then for the last three years I have been teaching MH to 5th through 8th grades in a county school district. I just got married last Dec. after getting over the chicken pox that my afterschool kids gave me. I am a stepmommy to twin six-year old boy's and an eight-year old girl. I have been watching my carb intake and working out at Curves. Plus doing the Leslie Sansone walking videos. Glad you plan on joining us.
Well I best be off to bed.
Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Let's hear it for my kids! They did a beautiful job on the trip today... absolutely fabulous. One of my students even stood up and answered questions/shared opinions during the open forum discussion. Some of the students apparently laughed when they heard that she was from our school, which I missed... but we did some damage control. Basically asking our kids if, when they heard that some of these kids were from DC Charter Schools, what did they think? Guns, drugs, theft, gangs. Okay... were those kids that were at the event like that? No? How many of the kids in that audience have ever met anybody from our school, or have they only ever seen the TV ads run by the hospital? Those TV ads are designed to tug heart-strings, and get donations... so they tend to emphasize the most disabled of the students that we serve... And some high school studnets have been in the ads. But I do understand how they feel.
However: these students are allegedly with us because their public schools couldn't figure out how to educate them. Yet, nobody knew they were receiving "sped services" until my student told them what school she was with and some kids picked up the name of the hospital. So, for that alone, the kids deserve LOTS of credit.
We did get a parking ticket from an over-zealous meter maid, but that is okay. I don't think I'll be banned from driving the van anymore. I hope.
I'm off to a good start for November with all the walking in DC, plus did a mile at the pool tonight. And I'm going to off-load pictures from the digital camera.
If I can stay awake that long.
:mouse:

Mousie, I am glad that your students handled themselves so well, even if other students were cruel. Almost 20 years ago, I was a para in a high school with developmentally disabled teens. The "normal" kids would taunt my students, and God forbid any of my kids brushed up against them in the hall by mistake, the "normal" kids would act as if my kids were diseased. I can recall saying, "Mental ******ation isn't contagious!" We would get stares when we would go out into the community. My child plays with the special ed kids in her school, and defends them to the death. I wish more children were raised to be more sensitive.

Kerry, I hope you feel better. Get some rest. Make sure that you are taking care of yourself so that you don't get worse.

Tomorrow is a day off for the kids and a professional development day for the teachers. So, DH is staying home with DD. He will hopefully finish wallpapering the dining room since DD's party is Sunday, and I need that room done before Saturday. I hate to take time off school, but I think I will have to take Friday off to get everything done for the parties.

Hi Robyn and Ginny. Stay well, and don't work yourselves too hard.

GET OUT AND VOTE!!!

Evening Ladies,
Well I started off the day with an oh my God! You have to be kidding attitude. Both of my TA's were absent today due to illness or a dd's broken foot. So I had to break in two new sub. aides. Once I got over the inital shock, I met the TA's and was floored by their willingness to do things and change my three students who needed changed. I was glad that the day went so smooth. I was able have a smile on my face several times today. Then I went to the afterschool program and worked with some wonderful 5th graders tonight. I was even able to go into Curves and put in a great sweaty workout. So I am glad that my day went so well. It could have been worse or a repeat of Friday.
Mouse I am glad that your kids did such a wonderful job today. That has to make you proud of all the hard work you do with them. Big pat on the back for you! :) So you got a lot of walking in today huh. I am suprised that you had the engery to go swimming tonight after your big field trip today. Hope you were able to download your pictures before falling asleep.
Summer sounds like you are going to have a busy week this week getting ready for your dd's birthday parties. Glad that your dh is willing or able to stay home from work to spend the day with your dd. Next week my county school district will have off on Thursday for Veteran's Day and then on Friday the kids have off but we staff have a waiver day. So it should be an interesting day. Don't you work yourself too hard this week.
Hi Robyne and Ginny. Hope your week is off to a good start.
Well I think I am off to bed. This time change is doing a number on my interal clock.
Chat with you all tomorrow. Have a great Tuesday!
Kerry

it is after 2 a.m.... and I lost my post...and I'm seeing double...and I'm NOT going to type that out again...

miss you guys.......life is going 1000000000 mph!
hugs...
meee

morning. for some reason i don't feel too refreshed after my less than 4 hours....
anyway... I typed a "REAL" message to you...and somehow lost it... But...wanted to let you know that I *AM* alive...and kicking... kicking.. KICKKKKing...

I'm off to vote...the lines on the news are very LONGGGG....
have a good day!
take care,
me

We were closed today, most of the schools in the state were, but staff had to go in. We don't have Veteran's day off. In fact, staff doesn't have any time off till Thanksgiving, which bites. ;)
I usually seem to find energy to swim... I'm not sure why. Though I was asleep by 9:00 last night! Swimming makes me feel better... Today I did the weights, even though it wasn't a weight day to make up for yesterday. I'm trying hard not to do weights 2 days in a row, because I think that was how I hurt myself a few weeks ago...
Anyway. I'm playing phone tag with my gastroenterologist. I confused the heck out of her secretary!!! She wanted me to leave a phone number where she can reach me during the day: There isn't one. I can give you my home number, you can leave a message, but I won't be there. I can give you my cell phone, you can leave a message, its not allowed to be on during the day when there are students in the classroom.
And the school keeps piling on the work. I've always written my IEPs based on the state standards and objectives. I use the state's website with the goals/objectives broken out by grade level, and really just cut and paste... based on each student's needs and ability, changing wording as necessary. It made sense to me. Well, now that is what they want us to do: except that its not just based on the child's needs. NOW its based on the state standards, the child's needs and WHAT THE TEACHER THINKS THEY CAN COVER IN THEIR CLASSROOM. So before I write goals/objectives now, I have to give them to the math, english, reading, whatever subject teacher and make sure they think they can fit it into the "teach to the high stakes test" curriculum!
Grrr. And to make sure we're doing this, we are required to have copies of the state curriculum in each student working binder, coded as to whether the student has mastered the objective, or it is "in progress". I only have 5 students, but the curriculums are like 40 pages for English/Language Arts, and 20-30 for Math... That's a LOT of stuff to wade through!
Plus IEP updates, report cards, the IEPs themselves, I have reports to do for each Survey student (all 60 of them!), and community service logs.
I'm taking students to march in the Thanksgiving parade that we do here locally on 11/20. I actually had staff volunteer to come with us, which is fantastic... It looks like we'll be able to do at least 10 students. I need 8 staff to do 20 students, since we need 2 adults per van.
:mouse:

Well, I was up at 5:40am...wide awake...as if it was my normal wake up time...which is 6:30am...my body hasn't adjusted to the time change yet. Anyway, while the rest of the house slept, I showered, dressed myself, and was out of the house and at the polls to vote by 7am. I waited in line for 40 minutes. Not bad, since I just heard on the news that there was a 5 hour long line somewhere! Imagine waiting 5 hours to vote! This year, I might just do it since this election is very important to me.

I had an all day professional development day that ended up being not too bad after all. The morning session was reeeeeeally boring. But after lunch, we were sent to our rooms to work. I am so behind on my assessments and other paperwork because of the 9 days that my aide has been out and the 2 days I had to take for my biopsy. So, I was able to catch up somewhat. I'm still behind, but if my supervisor walked in tomorrow, I have a lot more to show her than I did this morning. So, after 3 hours working in my room, I got to go home at 3:15pm! Normally I get out at 5pm or 6pm. So, I used the extra time to spend with DD; gave her a luxuriously long bath (long baths are usually reserved for the weekend); roasted a whole chicken with all the trimmings; read DD three books; put her to bed; and cleaned the kitchen! It was so nice to not be rushed. But, we need the money, so I have to work late every night. :( That's life! I should be grateful that I can make very good money for so little effort.

Kerry, I'm so glad that #1, you got substitute aides and #2, they were willing to do the "dirty work" (no pun intended!). It is so hard to find people who are truly helpful, so I'm glad they ended up in your room and made your day better. When you are done with them, send them my way! ;)

Mousie, all that paperwork sounds awful. We have to do similar things, but as a school. We break up into groups and handle it at staff meetings. I know that the day is coming that I will have to do pre-k on my own. But, since it hasn't been brought up yet, I'm keeping my mouth shut about it! Good luck wading through it all.

Robyn, you go girl! I'm glad you got out there to vote!

Ginny, how's it hangin'?

I'm crossing my fingers and holding my breath that NCLB will be no more after tonite. :?:

'Morning!!!
Welcome Melody!!!!!!!! I hope you feel comfortable here and join our happy (if not at times a bit silly) group. Me? I am a mom of 3, 18 Dd(freshman in college), 15 Ds (he is the reason they invented hair color) and a Dd 8, who has not yet gotten to the age that she increases my need for hair color or Lotrel (BP med). I am a chemical engineer by education......worked as one for 10 years, 10 years as a technical writer and now have graduated to be a school bus driver. (works with my schedule and gives me a schedule that fits more with my family). These ladies have been kind enough to have me here......and can identify with my - someone- bring- out- the-duct-tape days with the students. I am on WW, have lost about 25# and am struggling with the last 12-15.

And I just checked the clock......guess it is time to go and get ready to face the masses. Will be back later to address everyone.
Ginny

Morning Gals,
Well I went to TOPS last night and I am back on the losing side of life again. I lost 1 1/4 pounds. So I was happy, since for five weeks I was gaining weight. Yeah for me!!!!
Mouse I know what you mean about the IEP's, the State of Ohio keeps changing their minds too. In fact, I have to go to a workshop tomorrow about alternate assessment. They changed the guidelines again on us. Glad that you were able to go to bed early on Monday night. I am also glad to hear that some of your staff is coming along to march in the Thanksgiving parade with you and the kids.
Summer, sounds like you had a wonderful productive day at school yesterday. You go girl!!!! I know what you mean about the subs. They were so wonderful that I didn't want to hear that they were booked for a few weeks straight. So you know that they are good. Hopefully when I need them again, they will be able to come back. Sorry I don't think they want to work. Plus I don't want to let them get too far away from me. LOL
Robyn glad to hear that you are alive and kicking. Your life has to slow down some day soon, right?
Ginny how are you doing?
Well it is off to work I go hi ho hi ho. Talk to you all later tonight.
Kerry

Well, I'm totally bummed out. :( Four more years of NCLB. :( I really thought that there was hope for our economy to turn around and for NCLB to either be eliminated or at the very least funded. No hope in that now. :( F*ck. :(

About 99% of the teachers in my building were as bummed as I was. It was a really lousy day. I've got to get myself out of this funk and just accept things the way they are. :p

I am taking Friday as a personal day to get ready for DD's parties. Mindless cleaning is pretty therapeutic for me. I need to get my mind off the election. :p

well....countless hours later.... just when I thought that the report cards were completed, turned in, returned by principal with 3 errors to fix (typos that I thought were fixed...argh!), REdone and printed out new copies of the 3...and then I saw something that I've never noticed before..... I have *JUST* found an error that was made on EACH report card... (it was a pulldown thing that I simply did NOT see...it is under the window that pops up when you type a comment in......unfortunately it was an important area...the darn YEAR!) The principal did not see the error.... however, I've fixed it... printed out yet another copy.....and will have to go to the principal and explain my mistake ...and she will have to sign each of the report cards again.....WHAT KIND OF FOOL doesn't put the year on a report card??? I've had many computer battles over these report cards....NEVER have I had this many problems with getting the stupid report cards and comments done correctly.........EVERRRRRR.... hours and hours and hours and now I have to go have CROW for breakfast.......

My mouth is covered with herpes from this stress.... I am sick to my stomach constantly. I haven't slept in days.... My eating goes hand in hand with my stress...and the Chocolate doesn't seem to make these issues any better at all....
At LEAST tomorrow is Thursday.

For the 3rd night...all I've done is report card junk.... I'm SOOO over this!

thanks for listening to yet another MEMEMEMEMEE rant....

take care,
meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Remember my adventures in August with jury duty? WELL...returned home this evening after dark, of course, to discover that I've been selected for Federal jury duty in the city where I used to work...... as if my week wasn't already stinking enough........

where is everyone?!

It is yet another night after 11:00.... tomorrow I have big plans for after school...I'm coming home and I'm heading immediately to sleep!

take care..
mee

That really bites, Robyn. Geez. What an honor.
I'm bummed about the election, also, but I read Kerry's platform for education, and trust me: it wasn't any better! His big ideas were this education trust fund that would supply grant money (how is that any different from a block grant?), and tougher teacher certification standards. NOWHERE in his plans were accountability for parents and students or adminsitrators. Just teachers.
There is the old saying that an unknown is worse than a known, and that might be the case in this area. I don't know.
My classes are growing, and growing and growing. My smallest class is 6. My biggest is 12. Which may sound small, but remember, these are ids with multiple disabilities who freak out when somebody LOOKS at them. And kids who may be okay in their regular self-contained class don't always mix well with the kids I have... my 3rd period group is a mix of our 2nd most restrictive (though, honestly, in my mind, it is really more restrictive than the most restrictive program) program, and one certificate class. From the restrictive program, I have both diploma track and certificate track students. Several of the students read at a pre-primer/1st grade level. And refuse to do any kind of adapted or easier work if it looks different. I have a whole class of students (that group) that didn't know how to write their signature. And they come to my class right after GYM.
And today, I left early (used some of the huge amount of comp time I have), and helped my mom do a mega-shopping at the commissary. :) No gym today, but I hefted soda and canned goods. That should count. ;)
:mouse:

Robyn- gee you did such a great job of jury duty before......the feds caught up with you!! What a major bummer..........sorry to hear the bad news. Get any mail???
Mouse- glad you used some of that comp time......I am sure it felt good to have a bit extra time even if just for errands.
Kerry- congrats on the scale going down!!!
Summer- how you doing?????
Gee, can't wait for the weekend to begin......you mean it passed already???????Tomorrow is MONDAY!!!!!!!! aw crum.......too darned busy.....no time to relax.........this stinks. I am battle weary.....Dm has to go back in for more surgery for the same basal cell......seems the Dr did not get it all......
Gotta go, see ya tomorrow! After I take the stupid cat to the Dr for her checkup.
Take good care out there.
Ginny

HOWWWW can the weekend be over already?!
Once again...it is 1 a.m. and I'm waiting for the laundry to finish so that I can go to bed.

ONCE again... I'm exhausted......... maybe it is STILL...

This old cat is getting really really ODD with her bathrooming...

I went to see Alfie with a friend...the 10pm show on Saturday night...after we got the kids settled in... Don't waste your time! We behaved. We didn't even get a drink! Of course we were the only people in our theater....and it was FREEZING... We talked throughout the whole thing... about how STUPID it was..and how cute Jude Law is!
What a disappointment! AND it was depressing!

I did sleep until nearly 10 today! THAT felt yummy!

nope...no mail yet! Should I be worried?

hope everyone is doing well!

Mouse, I'm sort of with you about fearing the unknown! Guess we will see, huh?!
Gin, argghh...for your dm and that basal cell stuff.... hang in there!
Summer? Kerry? I don't remember reading a post from you lately?! You doing ok?

gonna try to sleep!
take care
meeee

Hi!
Just a quick hello as today is kooky.......this is new?????

Robyn- well at least one of us is getting some rest!!! I am jealous of the sleep till 10 yesterday, but you so deserve it and are up way later in the evening than I am. BTW, the mail should be there in a day or so.....I forget when I mailed it to you (sorry for being so late). Let me know if you have any questions about the stuff.

Kids were pretty good this am........so far so is my eating. I am out of here to go for a walk......need it for my sanity, which is holding on by a thread. Hope everyone is doing ok! See ya later.
ginny

Well, this weekend was quite a whirlwind! :dizzy: I cleaned until midnight Saturday and was up at 6am on Sunday only to continue with the cleaning and decorating. As of 11am when the doorbell rang signalling the first guests to arrive, I was putting on the finishing touches of my make-up. I didn't have time to style my hair, so I let it hang straight. Oh well! ;) The kid party was fun, draining, cute, exhausting, and quite entertaining. We had three centers set up. Face painting and tatoos were done by my best friend in the kitchen. I was giving manicures, applying stick-on jewelry, and attaching neon hair extensions in the living room. My DH was overseeing karaoke on the other end of the living room. The kids each got a blow-up plastic guitar to "play" at the party and take home later. We had eight kids, and luckily all the parents stayed. I definitely needed "back-up!" (It is very different hosting eight kids at a house party than it is to teach 18 in a classroom!) The biggest issue was with DD's two closest friends who just happen to have the same name. Friend #1 and DD met days after birth. They have been "best friends" for seven years. Friend #2 is DD's best friend at school and in the neighborhood. They have a much shorter history. So, when the competition began between the two, #1 kept on "winning" DD's attention. #2 pouted a lot and required my repeated intervention to avoid hurt feelings. #2 is high maintenance already because of severely low self-esteem, and meeting #1 was more than she could handle. When they ate lunch, #1 & #2 sat on either side of DD. All the other kids including DD's "boyfriend" didn't even have a chance of getting near DD. #2 complained that DD was sitting closer to #1 than her. Then opening presents caused problems because my friend spent a lot on DD (We are after all practically family.) which made #2 feel inadequate about her gift which was a "Friendship Care Bear." #2 made sure DD and #1 knew that the bear was "FRIENDSHIP CARE BEAR!" :yes: And, #2 is DD's FRIEND. This poor girl was really upset. Anyway, the rest of the kids had fun...I think. At least they got to watch one heck of a performance from #1 & #2. :lol: Thirty minutes later, as I blended my first margarita, all of the kids were gone except for #1 and her little brother, and my family began to arrive. I couldn't stop yawning. It was enjoyable, but phew...that kid party really wiped me out. After dinner, we did karaoke and had a lot of fun. After cake, everyone left. Waking up this morning was not easy.

I will catch up on postings tomorrow night. Now I just want to crash! :dizzy:

Summer, glad to hear that you are still alive.......sounds as though the party was a great success, even with the friend issues. Home parties are so much fun ( I usually do one for my kids) but a well done party (like yours) is a ton of work!!!! And yup, I hear ya- so much easier to handle a crowd in a classroom (neutral location) than in your home. I'll be in your shoes next week- we are having Dd's bday party then (a month early, but with a birthday one week before Christmas, your options are limited!)
Anyway......ever wonder why you cleaned before a kids party?????? (we all do it, just seems so insane to do so!). I hope for you that this week is quiet.....somewhat sane (whatever that is) and you can regroup a bit.

As for me, I am pooped..the rest of this week will be hectic too, until Thursday (we are off, thank goodness and Ds gets his cast off then). Yup, I did get the walk in......it felt so good too, crisp fall air......bright sun.......I actually felt human for a few minutes.
Better go.......hope everyone is doing fine. Iwill most likely be MIA tomorrow.....stuff to do from sun up to sun down. Have a great evening!!!!!!
(miss you Mouse, Kerry and Robyn)
Ginny

Hi Summer,Robyn, Ginny and Mouse,
What a busy weekend I had! Friday night afterschool, I had to set up the reading room for our Fall Festival. Go shopping for a raffle gift and then went home to chill out for a little while. Saturday morning got up went to the gym and then done laundry. That afternoon I went to lunch with my dh and nephew. It was a nice relaxing time. Then that evening was the Fall Festival. I am never going to do Game redemption again. The way the kids and parents fought over who was going to be next in line for a bunch of cheat toys was hystercial but draining. I quickly slipped away from that postion when my shift was over. Yesterday I went to church out to lunch with my dh and then went grocery shopping. Only to come home and have a nasty aurgrument over what I was eating for dinner last night. I got a steak hogie and a sweet tea at the store on the way home from the grocery store. It is that TOM and I was craving something sweet and steak. My dh doesn't get it what it feels like to be a female and go through that TOM crap. So I had a crappy ending to my busy weekend. He felt bad that I didn't finish my tea and eat my dinner last night after our disagreement. But I threw away my food and tea after I lost my appiete. Then he wanted to get me something to eat and drink about 9 o'clock because he felt bad about our aurgurement. So needless to say, he is kissing up royally today.
Thank God this week is a three day work week with my kids. I have Thursday off for Vetran's Day and Parent/Teacher confernces(doing my on Wednesday evening) and then on Friday an inservice at school. I am hoping to be able to enjoy my day off on Thursday. I guess we are going to go van shopping that day. Enough about me.
I am glad to hear that your dd's birthday parties were a smashing success. I could understand how pooped you felt afterwards though. That is how I feel after my dh's family leaves our house after a family get together. I hope your day was great at school today.
Sorry to hear that your mom has to have more surgery. Glad to hear that you got your walk in and was able to enjoy the crisp fall air. I love taking walks in the fall. Hope you enjoy your day tomorrow. Don't be too busy that you don't get some needed Ginny time in.
Robyn, hope you finally got some sleep last night. I don't see how you can run on so little sleep. I get grouchy and not able to function properly on less than 6 to 7 hours of sleep. Hope your week is off to a good start!
Mouse, hope you enjoyed your comp time on Friday. How was your weekend?
Well I best be off to get ready for bed. Have a busy day tomorrow. Have a great day!
Kerry

Think I am going to scream......just left a post that did not take.......Kerry it was great to hear from you. I'll keep this short in case I cannot leave a post. See ya tomorrow!
Ginny

Good morning!!!!!! Seems as though I am chatting with myself today....something I am very good at anyway. Hope everyone has a great day. I got off to a good start, could not sleep (snoring Dh) so I got up early and did my workout tape. Guess those endorphins are a hummin' so I am a wee bit charged up.
See ya later!
Ginny

Morning Ladies,
Just a quick note to say hi and to see how you are all doing. My week has been off to a busy start. Got observed by my boss yesterday. I think it went well, but one of my students had to be a challenge the whole time my boss was in there. Last night I went to TOPS. I only gained 3/4 of a pound, so I was pleased with that since it is that TOM. Looking forward to having tomorrow off since today I have to be at work until 8 p.m. for Parent/Teacher Confernences. Well I best be off to go to work. Talk to you all later. Have a great Wednesday.
Take care,
Kerry