'Morning!
Mouse- ok forgive me for not being up to anything with my knowledge of Jewish holidays. Hope your Rosh Hashana was a very happy one!!! We do not have Yom Kippur off here either~ now you would think that here in NY with probably a somewhat larger than average Jewish population they might consider that, but then who knows?
Lots of luck with Imp and the blood test...is this just routine stuff?? (thanks for reminding me that RC goes for her annual check up in about 3 weeks, usually a rather comic affair as the vet tells me one more time that she is too fat......) Thanks for the education on Sukkot. I never, ever knew what that was and at least now have an idea. Getting any swimming time in?

Robyn- Sounds as though you are happy with your new job and I am happy for you!!!!! Sometimes the adjustment period is hard, glad that is over! Honey, take that compliment from "Mrs G" and keep all the accolades for yourself! Ok, the kids do mature, but some of them need a push from a mature adult to do so!!! Take the good comment as though you were that adult....she meant it for you!

Summer and Kerry, we miss you!

I am hanging in here......not feeling all that great- got some kind of low grade stomach bug, don't feel bad, but don't feel good either. The monsters were great this am.....I could not believe how quiet they were when we pulled into school. (gotta stop calling them monsters, I guess!). Had some very soft classical music playing this am (usually do not have the radio on at all), maybe they were calmed by that.
Think I am going to skip a walk today, just too tired and feel too blah.
Happy Friday. See ya later.
Ginny

Oh, geez. I'm so glad its Friday. This week has been long with the grad school crap: upon which I made a further twit out of myself this afternoon talking to an administrator at my school and trying to explain this without using too many words. I talk too much, I know that. But its worse when I'm nervous or confused. And this lady does tend to make me a little nervous. I mean, she's an administrator for pity's sake!
Anyway, I was supposed to talk to my advisor about this, then got tied up in the behavior area with a kid at the end of the period, and didn't get out of there, FORGOT about it, then we had one of the certificate teachers (I've mentioned her before: the idiot who took one of my books without asking?) yelled out the lead teacher for my program because she said that *I* told her she could have a sheltered office project I picked up from the REd Cross for them... She never asked ME anything... I never told her anything. And she told Admin that I told them she could have it. Witch.
So I had all that.... and then tried to call the University and couldn't get through!
Yesterday, I tried to shop and couldn't because a gas station put a hold on my account for $75, when I only bought $5.01 worth of gas! :grrr: So I had nothing in my house for lunch or breakfast today, so I bought a school lunch... fish today, and macaroni and cheese with green beans... so not too bad, but more than I think I would have typically eaten, even though I didn't get to finish it. And so now I'm not at all hungry!!!
I couldn't go to the gym on Monday because of grad school, Wednesdya because of Rosh Hashana, Thursday because they were closed for Rosh Hashana, and tonight becuase we have tornado warnings and thunderstorms so the pool is closed. I could've lifted weights, but the beltway was a mess too, so I just did some grocery shopping and came home. At least tomorrow I can do my whole routine, including the water aerobics class and then I teach swimming in the evening.
The highlights of the week: a local store that I stopped in to get grocery ads for my kids had all the Hood Dairy low carb stuff on psecial. I don't do low carb, of course, but I can't have nutra sweet. I don't understand why the low-carb yogurts have splenda and the low-fat/low calorie have nutra sweet when they're all made by the same company. The low-carb ones are more expensive too!
Second Highlight: I've been complimented on my hair lots and lots of times this week, but haven't done anything different. My lead teacher told me that EVERYBODY (whoever that is!) has noticed that I've lost "A LOT OF WEIGHT", and I look great. I wish "EVERYBODY" worked the scales!!!

Mouse- take those compliments, hon and smile!!!!!! Congrats on having great hair this week ~ and the big non scale victory. All that swimming and working out is showing!
How awesome. So you replaced some fat with muscle mass, and that looks fine!
Sorry your day was miserable.....but it is Friday!!!!! As far as the Splenda/nutrasweet issue, one is off patent and cheaper (nutrasweet) and the splenda is not yet. And of course low carb is the fad for now.

I survived today....kids were ok. The one stop is driving me nuts, the stop with the kids who lost his mother. The neighbor who usually gets him off the bus is almost always late....costs me 5 minutes (and I am on the shoulder, with my "4ways" flashing- waiting for someone to show up, having to keep the other 50 kids entertained and in their seats. Bless them they do not say much, and know the students plight). But still, this is unfair to everyone else....the office is aware of what I am doing as I radio in when we pull off the road. But it is tiresome........ Oh well.
Dd left today~ the poor kid is awfully homesick. Nothing wrong with school, mind you- just misses home. She cried passing her little sister's room- she misses her so. Guess this will pass........gotta go. Hope everyone is doing ok.
See ya tomorrow.
Ginny

Morning Ladies,
Sorry I have been missing in action. I tried to come on line a few times this week and the computer would kick me off line after I went to post. Plus I was busy Thursday night getting laundry done and packing to go home this weekend. But I was not able to go home do to the flooding we had here yesterday. So I am pretty much bummed out. I told my mom yesterday when I called to say that I was not able to come home that I was getting homesick since I hadn't been home since Father's Day. Maybe I shouldn't even try to come home anymore since something always comes up and then on the spur of the moment on a Friday evening come home from school pack a bag and take off. Maybe that way I will be able to do it. LOL. So I am in a little depressed mood. My poor dh is trying his best to cheer me up and I just seem to snap at him. Got up this morning and went to workout with a friend. So maybe that will help me a little bit. So that is what is new with me. Oh we got sent home early from school yesterday do to the flooding.
Robyn, it sounds like you are settling in nicely at your new school. Take all the positive comments now that you can get and store them in your memory bank for those times when you are at your wits end. So did you get much rain down your way?
Summer, how are you? How did your test go the other day? I am so happy that your right breast came back fine. I bet that was some relief for you.
Mouse, sounds like you have a had a rough week too. Sorry to hear about your grad school mishap. I hope you are able to fix that problem soon. See spicing up your workout has helped. Your scales might not be going down, but your fat is turning into lean muscle and people are noticing. Keep up the good work!
Ginny, I hope you are feeling better today. It is no fun to be sick during the school year. I think I might be getting a cold or sinis'. My throat has been a little itchy and my nose has ran today some. I had to stand out in the rain for 30 minutes doing bus duty yesterday morning. My socks and shoes were soaked by the time I was able to get in from the rain. If your older dd misses your younger children how are they taking her being away from home? Hope she gets over her homesickness soon.
Well I better go. I think I might do a walking video this morning and then lounge around the house the rest of the day. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Hey everyone! I sure miss all of you. I apologize for not being there for all of you these days. I am not functioning at my optimal level because of all the stress in my life. I am operating on survival mode.

Mousie, It is a shame that both courses were completely wrong for you. We rely on course titles and descriptions to be what they say they are, and it is really disappointing when they turn out to be something different. That happened to me with a course called, "Environmental Issues in the Elementary Classroom." It was supposed to help elementary educators teach about the environment. It turned out to be a "tree hugging fest." There were only 3 other teachers in the classroom. Everyone else was an environmental activist who had travelled to the rainforests the year before and spent all of their time planning protests. I only lasted a couple of weeks. Heck, I care about the environment, but these people were militant freaks!!! Anyway, I hope you find courses that will really suit you and lead you where you want to go and grow.

Kerry, I'm sorry you missed out on seeing your family. It must be tough to be away from them. I hope you get to be with them soon.

Ginny, I hope the issue with the late pickup improves for you. Will the bus company take action with the person picking up the child? Have you ever tried bringing the child back to the bus company so that the person has to go there? Our bus drivers refuse to wait more than one minute, and then whoever is left goes back to the bus company where the parent/guardian has to pick up the child. Usually that solves the problem of a late pickup. Once someone has to do that once or twice, they miraculously appear at the bus stop on time! I'm sorry about your daughter being homesick. Does she have any friends or acquaintances at school? Usually once kids have friends and a routine, they do better. I went to local colleges, but if I had gone away to school, I have a feeling I would have felt just like your daughter. Send her a care package with her favorites...that will let her know you all miss her too.

Robyn, I am so happy that you love your new job! HURRAY FOR YOU!!!

Just so you all know, I'm not depressed. In fact, I haven't cried in days. I truly believe that God is handling this situation. Honestly, if I didn't put all my fears in His hands, I would be buried under the covers in my bed hiding from the world. But, thanks to past experience, I know He is taking care of me. I know He won't let me down no matter what happens. That is how I manage to get out of bed every morning. FAITH.

Hope everyone is enjoying their soggy weekend........Ivan has left most of us wet, I fear.

Kerry, I think your idea of a last minute getaway to home is a great idea. I know that sometimes making all kinds of plans and then having them disrupted by life can be so disappointing. I can see how/why this gets you down. Glad you got out to workout with a friend this am. At least a little time off for you must have felt good. Good thing too that Dh is trying to cheer you up. He is showing some sensitivty (somewhat rare for that gender at times, I am afraid). Hope your sinusitis or cold goes away too!!

Summer- I am so happy to hear that you are not getting depressed over this. Worried, concerned........and like you said in "survival mode" are totally understandable.
I am reading a book by Elisabeth Elliot ( who has been widowed 2X, her first Dh, a missionary was murdered when their daughter was about 3 months) who writes about how she gets thru difficult times. One of her biggies..."do the next thing". Basically, there is a LOT of faith in it too, but she tells of how just getting into or back into the everyday things of living....going thru with it all and not wallowing in pity is a helpful process. We know that that is just what you are doing- you have no time/opportunity to wallow/sulk or get bummed. Love your family- and live your life. Yup, He sure is taking care of you!! (and I continue to pray for you)

Mouse- hope this weekend with your family was good.
Robyn- how you doing????? Has Ivan caused much trouble for you in Va?

As far as my "late pickup". Well, I drive for our school transportation dept- so this is a very taxpayer driven system. I know, I could be the b*tch of the year and talk to my supervisor. I do have my annual route review this Friday, and will mention it then.
I've already brought the student back to the office with me once- problem is if Dad is at work, and the neighbor can't help out, then it is the kids aunt who lives in NJ (I know where she lives too, about 45 minutes away) who is flying up here to get to her nephew. So, I will do what I did last year- give the neighbor (who does the lion's share of bringing him to and from the stop) a bit more leeway than I would normally give the average family because of the sad circumstances. Then if it is still a problem, I'll mention it to my boss at the end of the week. See what he says.

As far as Dd goes....she is playing softball for her college, so has made several friends quickly. She is getting out to socialize- and this is really her first weekend there. Dh is going to her double header tomorrow- and I am sending lots of goodies for her as a care package with him. Once her "fall ball" schedule is over (3 weeks only) she will probably resume coming home weekends. It is not like she is 10 hours away....only 1 hr 45 minutes (with some traffic, 1 1/2 hours during off times). As far as missing her....well, we got our son back! Dd used to ride his case something awful, but with her gone, he is back to hanging out with his parents more......actually acting somewhat human. Sad that we have to lose one to gain another. Our youngest Dd misses her sister, but she too is getting more attention so it is not all bad. I think (know) that Dh misses her the most. Softball was/is his passion.....they spent lots of time together (in my opinion too much- he gave a disproportionate amount of time to her) and are very close. He misses her tons.....
Well, I am pooped and should sign off. BTW, I bought myself a stretchie on ebay for the leslie sansone tape- guess that $6 stretchie will have to sub in for the Curves membership this year! And I am happy to report that I did get my WW tape in today and did actually stay "OP" today. (I needed a good day! been so bad recently).
Hope everyone's weekend is going as well as can be expected. See ya tomorrow!
Ginny

Hi Ginny. I just want to let you know that I can't remember the last time I got a bit of exercise or stayed on program. Stress, especially scary stress, paralyzes me, hence "survival mode." At some point, I hope to do what I need to do for my body. Right now, I am stressing about getting a hold of my mammograms, MRI's, and ultrasound to bring to the surgeon. I don't know where they are or how to obtain them. Yes, I know a phone call or two (more likely ten) will get me the answer. Then the next dilemma will be when I get them since I work till 5:00pm every night. I may have to skip the after school program one day to pick them up. I hate to keep sacrificing $28 an hour for stupid Advanced Radiology related errands.

My aide has a personal day on Tuesday for her one-year old's birthday. The party was supposed to be today, so I don't exactly understand why she needs Tuesday off, but whatever. (I know so many people who take their birthday off work...I've never had the balls to do that since I take my job very seriously.) Anyway, how much you want to bet that since she will probably be really tired and hungover on Monday, she will end up being out tomorrow too?! I have not missed one day of school yet as a result of my own personal health crisis. I have taken care of tests on my own time or been late for work. I have not taken one day off. (I'm afraid I may need substantial time off and want to be prepared.) Anyway, we have "Open House" on Wednesday night, and I have a lot to do before then. I bet you anything my aide will be out both days and screw me over as usual.

I'm sorry I sound so crabby. I didn't get to really rest this weekend like I wanted to. Instead, I did a lot of school work, prepared for and taught Sunday School, household chores, and painted the trim in my dining room. I still have more to do, but I've run out of time, and still didn't get to rest. I need a three-day weekend so I can do everything and still have time to chill out.

Tomorrow the fast-paced frenzy begins again.

Robyn, I hope you are okay and aren't under water.

Mouse, I hope your weekend was great.

Kerry, take care girl.

Gee, quiet here.
Summer- your sentiments about needing another day of weekend sure rang true with me too!! Just getting thru life, and all the stuff that has to get done is so overwhelming. Well, Columbus Day is about 3 weeks away, (mine just got booked by my mother with stuff to do at her house!)- maybe you can look foward to that for a break. Bummer about your aide with an attitude. (I NEVER took my birthday off either....always wondered about folks with that kind of attitude). Sounds as though you have a busy week ahead, which is not good for Summer getting some rest, but good for keeping you from constantly dwelling on medical issues before your appointment on Thursday. And it is perfectly ok to sound crabby. You have every right to do so.

As for me, a busy day. Tomorrow am is my mothers surgery....who knows when/ how I will get here to say hello. I am working a full day tomorrow, and will scoot down to NJ to see her in the hospital tomorrow nite. Then I am driving the am on Wed, and going back to NJ to bring her back to her house. Life should return to normal (whatever that is) on Thursday, I hope.
Gotta go pick up the troops in my big ugly school bus. Hi to Kerry, Mouse and Robyn.
See ya !
Ginny

I've been pretty busy... don't have a lot of time. But I need another day in my weekend too! I have taken my birthday off before, but I usually have perfect attendance, so I figure its a good chance to use my comp time.
My TA has an attitude at times, too... but I think I'm getting used to it. What I don't understand is that we have a staff of like 80, and 18 of them were out today. Its only the 9th day of school! I don't get it! I know there is a nasty cold going around, but really... Especially since we don't have substitutes. I'm sure there were more out, because they always leave people off the list.
I'll be out Friday,but its for Yom Kippur. You start fasting at sun down, and if I want to be with my family, need to be there by 4:00 for dinner. EVerytime I try to leave the school EARLY, I get held up... so this time, I said I was using my comp time for the whole day!
Hope your mother is okay, Ginny.
We don't get Columbus Day off... the kids have a day in early November so we can do report cards, but staff has no time off till Thanksgiving. I don't think we even get Veterans Day this year... because we had Rosh Hashana.

I WIN!!! (actually I lose) Guess who called out sick today following a weekend off and the day before a personal day?! You guessed it! My good-for-nothing aide.

The worst part of this is that because my program is nationally accredited, I have to maintain a ratio of 1:10. Since I have 18 students in each session, in order to maintain that ratio, I must have an aide at all times. I end up borrowing from the kindergarten teachers who certainly do need their aides, but their is no federal or state mandate for them to maintain any ratios. So, even though I must have an aide, and since aides don't get subs, I have no other choice but to borrow an aide. The kindergarten teachers get so pissed off at me for this. IT ISN'T MY FAULT THAT MY AIDE IS UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE. Why should I catch the attitude?! AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

I did manage to arrange to pick up all of my films at the Fairfield radiology office on Wednesday. I'm amazed that they are accomodating me like this!

So, for now, without my aide, I continue to prepare for Open House.

Mouse, how do you stay so healthy and avoid using sick time? What is your secret?! My students constantly get me sick.

Ginny, have safe travel to NJ.

Robyn, Are you under water right now?

Kerry, hope you are well.

Evening Ladies,
To update you all on my weekend. I did ride my excerise bike for 15 minutes on Saturday morning and then did a 3 mile walking video. You would think with all the sweating I did I would sweat out my bad mood. Wrong, I just wanted to be by myself that day. That night everyone was gone from my house and I went to the video store and got two chic flicks. Along Came Polly and 50 First Dates. They were both very good. Then yesterday morning, I got up got the boys ready for Sunday School with their grandma, shoved them out the door,popped in my 3 mile walking video, hurried up and got my shower and got dressed for church. I was just getting ready to walk out the door, when my dh said something to me and that caused me to start crying. So I left the house and went to the lake for a little quiet time to calm down. I was really looking forward to going to church and then that happened. So I was going to be walking in late with tears on my face. So I thought better not go when I am so upset and make a fool of myself. Came home and went out to lunch with my dh and then we got into another arguement that afternoon. So I didn't do much of anything yesterday afternoon, except sit on the couch and reflect on some things going on in my life right now. My dh did apologize to me and told me that he was having a bad day yesterday since it would have been his wedding anniverary with the first wife. So things are better today. Even though it was a Monday. LOL
Summer I feel so sorry that your aide seems to leave you in a bind all the time. Everytime I hear about your sucky aide, I thank God that my aide is a wonderful person. I which there were more aides like mine. Hope you are able to get your stuff done in time for Open House.
Mouse, I know what you mean about people taking off for being sick. My aide and I usually are the staff that shows up even when we are really sick, because we feel guilty about leaving our kids and one another in a bind. And the type of kids I deal with, we usually share all our colds and flus with the whole class. I am with you I have taken off for my birthday once. I went home for a long weekend to celebrate my birthday and Mother's Day with my family.
Robyn, are you water logged yet? Hope all is well with you.
Ginny, I will say a prayer for your mom in the morning. What kind of surgery is she having? Sounds like you will be doing a lot of driving the next few days. Be care.
Well I am off to bed. It has been a great day, but a long one.
Talk to you all tomorrow. Wish me luck. Tomorrow is TOPS night. I was unable to attend last week, so I am hoping that I lost something .
Hugs,
Kerry

Just a quick hello-
Mouse- I hope all your plans for getting home early for Yom Kippur work out fine. Aren't you taking Imp for blood work too?
Summer- keep your chin up, girl! I know it will be hard, but try to keep a good attitude with this bad attitude aide. You stand only to gain by remaining a professional. Glad you got your films.....without having to pull too many teeth.
Let us know how it all goes Thursday, ok?
Kerry-sorry about your bad day with Dh. (he lost his first wife to illness or divorce?)
You are an angel for all that you do for your family- and are entitled to your feelings. I am so glad that Monday went better for you.
Got a walk in this am. (tonight will be kooky, I had to). My mom is still in surgery, they are removing a rather large basal cell carcinoma from her scalp (she let it go too long!) but they are fairly sure it has not spread. Just the size of it complicates things a lot. She should, Lord willing, be released tomorrow......and then a few weeks of recooperation.
Gotta go- I will post an update at 1:15 (she should be in recovery by then, and I will have to time tonite to post)
Hope everyone is ok........Robyn, you hiding on us! We miss you.
Ginny

My mom is ok- should be going upstairs to her room shortly.....she is in recovery now.
Hope everyone is ok. See ya tomorrow!
Ginny

Ginny, feel the hugs for you, your mom, and your family. I hope she heals well. Don't forget to take care of yourself while you take care of her.

Kerry, I'm sorry your DH's baggage caused your weekend to suck. It is hard to live with a man who has been through a failed marriage. My DH is divorced, but there were no children, so the connection was thankfully severed. The first couple of years of marriage were hard for us because he had trouble believing that he could have a good marriage after the first one was so horrible. But now that we've been married 11 years, most of the baggage is gone. Hopefully once you and your DH make it through a few years, his confidence will improve and the two of you will be okay.

Robyn, do you need a snorkle?

Mouse, How's it going?

Well, my good for nothing aide was out again today. And one of the kindergarten aides was also out. So, the three kindergartens and me had to share two aides. The principal drew up a schedule. So, when I had lunch and my kids had gym, whoever was helping me would run to help another teacher. I was fortunate to be covered the majority of the day, and the resentment from the other teachers wasn't quite as bad as yesterday. Amazingly, all the art projects were completed, so, by tomorrow afternoon, both of my bulletin boards will be done. During the afterschool program, I can usually work on my room while the kids play in my centers. However, the director of the program was out, so the special ed kids he supervises had to be watched by someone. The principal gave me one. Now, I worked with adults and children with developmental disabilities for 15 years, so I figured it would be no big deal. The only problem was that I had 25 kindergartners to deal with as well...not to mention that the principal didn't tell us his name, this child is autistic, non-verbal, and very sexual!!! I was doing "head, shoulders, knees, and toes" with the class, and the boy was literally "feeling me up!!!" The class went wild!!! Getting back any control of the class was almost impossible. I blew a whistle as I attempted to peel the child off my body. Eventually, I got them in the library, and we played a video. Only to make matters worse, we had two college volunteers in the room who kept trying to take over for me...only they were totally incompetant, and everything they said and did only exacerbated the situation. On top of the mayhem, one of the teacher's purse's was stolen. Her keys and credit cards were in it. She was hysterical...who wouldn't be. It just creeped me out that a parent would walk right in and steal it while we were standing right there. I may end up having to lock up my purse instead of carrying it with me everywhere I go, especially if just putting it down for a minute or two could mean it getting stolen. What a crappy day!!! I couldn't wait till it was 5pm, and I could leave!

Evening Ladies,
This is going to be a very short post since I am sick. I think I either have a cold or sinus' and just took some Nyquil to help me sleep tonight. Had an okay day. Two of my students got into a fight on the playground today at recess. So I had to make sure to separte them for the rest of the day. One of my kids freaked on me when we saw a stray dog running around the playground. He grabbed my arm and pinched me several times and started to run away with my arm in tow. So it has been an interesting day. I did make it to TOPS to find out that I lost 2 pounds over the last two weeks. SO now I am only 25 pounds away from reaching my mini goal by Christmas time.
Well I hope all is well with everyone else.
Glad to hear that your mom is doing fine, Ginny.
Summer hope your good for nothing aide comes back tomorrow to help you get ready for your Open House. Hope all goes well for you.
Talk to you all later
Kerry