I've been gone again. On Sunday night, Gateway blew away my Windows configuration in their latest attempt to troubleshoot my laptop. His instructions to me were to use the hardware reset button on the back of the computer; bad idea. It corrupted my internet access (TCP/IP), and my USB ports. That meant I couldn't even back up my data because my external harddrive is a USB hook-up. So I yelled at him for a few minutes, he got his supervisor, and they FINALLY processed the request for the new case. So I spent last night with Tech Support, and we were able to reinstall the USB drivers, so I did a quickie back up then wiped the harddrive completely and had it back-up from the external last night, over night.
The result being I got up late yesterday and today because I stayed up so late.
I missed the gym both days because I really need my computer functional. The new case arrived today, but the box was all dented in... so I called Gateway to report that. The new laptop chassis was okay, though. Then they wanted me to pay for them to walk me through setting up the new system. I don't need them! For pity's sake, why does everybody think women are clueless about computers?
Today during school was the set-up for the Festival of Trees. On Monday, our school's brand-new lift van died, which meant that our two students who use wheelchairs couldn't go. And we had to run a shuttle service to and from the fairgrounds so all 15 kids plus all the staff we needed could go. One of the kids has to have a nurse with him off-campus because he is diabetic and never shows signs of high or low blood sugar till its too late.
We got out there, and they weren't ready to have use do half the jobs we'd signed up to do, so we had to scramble. Then some of the kids had little melt-downs because their structure had changed and the development group wasn't going to give them pizza for lunch. They did give them the pizza, but I don't think they should have, honestly... Things change, things happen. You know?
We only had one accident: one of the kids who uses a cane (as it happens, its our diabetic student), accidently leaned/sat on a table and two of the gingerbread houses went flying. He lost it completely, but did sort of get himself back together just before we left.
I also found out I'm getting a new student in my homeroom. Nobody ever told me until today, and he's starting on Monday! I'm also getting at least one other new student in my 3rd period class. The student in my homeroom will go into my 7th period class. Both classes are at 12 students or 13 students now. My lead teacher is going to try and shuffle some kids around so we can get the classes down to 8 or 9.
And you all know I was asked to present at the Council for Exceptional Children convention: my principal told me yesterday that my being accepted as a presenter does not obligate the school to pay for the conference fee. Its $250!
I so need a part-time job or more money from somewhere... between the medical bills (the nutrionist does not take insurance, although the insurance company may reimburse part of the fee after the fact), and things like the conference, I'm totally broke. The nutrionist is like $125, conference is $250... my student loan company has decided that I can resume making payments, too.
Ginny: Glad the DD car is getting fixed/better.
Kudos to all on the Thanksgiving dinner misses. Ours was today, but I was off-campus. I had pizza with the kids. Oh, and here's a funny. When the pizza arrived, the nurse said, "I'll go get X and Mark." Mark is my supervisor. But I looked at the other two staff with me and said, "Who's Mark? We didn't bring anybody named Mark with us, did we?" They both looked at me and just stared in amazement. I had completely forgotten my supervisor! :o
Yes, tomorrow is our last day. I'm off Thursday and Friday. I'm going to come back sometime Saturday afternoon/evening. My father was moved to the rehab floor, but I can't find the number for the hospital main switchboard again, so I'm not sure where he is. I think this time I want to talk to his social worker at rehab... I'm not entirely sure he should be released from the hospital rehab unit to home.
:mouse:

Evening Ladies,
Drum roll please :) I lost 1 3/4 pounds last week. I was co-loser of the week for my TOPS group tonight. So I came home and celebrated by watching the Biggest Loser ( love that show) and then worked out for a half hour. 15 minutes on the gazelle and 15 on my bike. I am determined to lose again next week. I would like to reach the year 2005 as a lighter me.
Mouse, sounds like you had a busy,hetic day. Were you ready to pull out your hair by the end of your fieldtrip? I haven't taken my kids on a trip yet this year. I think we might go see the movie Polar Express in Dec. with the 5th grade classes. I hope you are able to catch up on your sleep over the next few days.
Ginny how is the car situation going? Is it on the way to being fixed? I hope your dh has stopped being a grump. Do you have to work tomorrow? I hope you are able to find the time to do your WW or walking tapes and don't let anyone talk you out of doing them.
Summer kuddos on your great success with SB. How are you feeling today? Are the feelings of edginess going away? Is that a result of reducing your carbs and shocking your body? Hope you are able to find time to relax.
Robyn, how are you holding up,sweetie? I hope this week has been going smoothier for you. So do you have big plans for your days off other than catching up on your sleep?
Well I best be off to check email before I head to dreamland.
Talk to you all later.
Take care,
Kerry

Happy Thanksgiving Ladies!!
I hope you all have a wonderful time with your families tomorrow. I am going to try very hard to not over eat tomorrow.
Take care,
Kerry

Okay, I need to vent, or somebody's gonna get hurt.

Let me begin with Little Mrs. Susie Homemaker (the Brownie leader from ****). Remember the uniform that got ruined by permanent fabric paint and how she tried to clean it with tar remover? Well, whatever the f*ck she did to get the paint off the skort, I can't get the cleaner stains or the strong odor out...not to mention the fact that the brown from the skort keeps on running. I gave up and tossed it. DD now has a new uniform. Screw it. Anyway, Little Mrs. Susie Homemaker had made a request for me to send a smock in. Being a busy WORKING MOTHER, I hadn't gotten around to sending one yesterday, and I wasn't really concerned since all they were supposed to be doing was eating a Thanksgiving feast. Anything from the feast would have been washed out by Shout. Well, when DD arrived in a new uniform, Little Mrs. Susie Homemaker was OFFENDED that DD wasn't wearing the old destroyed one that the GENEROUS MARTYR Little Mrs. Susie Homemaker herself had scrubbed with tar remover. And when she found out that I had not sent in the smock as she ordered me to, she flipped out on my friend who drops DD off for me. She asked my friend to change DD into her spare clothes that I keep in her backpack. My friend looked at Little Mrs. Susie Homemaker like she was nuts and told DD to change her shirt herself, since she is after all, 7 years old (and has been dressing herself for 4 years!). But my friend didn't make DD change her uniform pants, so I got a very nasty email about how the leaders don't want to be held responsible for ruining another uniform. FIRST OF ALL, IF I REALLY HELD THEM RESPONSIBLE, I WOULD HAVE DEMANDED THAT THEY PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIFORM. Did I do that? NO. Even the owner of the uniform shop I bought the new uniform in told me that the council should have paid for a new uniform. However, I hate to make waves, so I sucked it up. But now with this *****'s attitude, I wish I had. :mad: So I emailed her back that I was confident that Shout would remove food and that in the past, Shout has gotten out ALL of DD's school stains...basically because teachers know not to use any art supplies that are PERMANENT. God, I want to strangle Little Mrs. Susie Homemaker!!! :mad:

Next,

I have a student who is very intelligent and in the past has been very well behaved. However, lately he has become aggressive and his father laughs it off. I am dealing with it. Unfortunately, the boy slips up once in a while. When I was out for my biopsy, the substitute had trouble controlling the class, and the boy hit JJ. Well, JJ's parents FLIPPED. It was discussed at length at parent/teacher conferences. They totally overreacted. Then in line to come into school, the boy took JJ's hat and was teasing him. JJ's father FLIPPED again and almost got physical with the boy's father. Every time, the boy has been put in time-out and lost his chance of earning a prize. Yesterday, the boy hit JJ with a soft rubber block. I mean it was almost a light tap, but I put the boy in time-out right away to let him know that no matter what, he shouldn't hit...even if it doesn't hurt. I reported it to JJ's parents. This time JJ's father went to the principal and raised ****. The principal explained that they are just learning how to behave in preschool, and that I have been disciplining the boy effectively. Then the mom said that I should teach them how to behave. I explained that we spent an entire month on rules, routines, etc. She acted as if I am negligent. Thankfully, my principal was very supportive of me and thinks they are nuts. I just want to scream at them and tell them to get a grip and take a f*cking chill pill.

I'll be back in a sec.

Hey ya'll! TGIW!!!! What a week! BUTTTT it is over! Hotdamnandhallelujuah!

Tomorrow when I list my blessings and all that I'm thankful for....
each of you will be on my list! :) Thanks for all of your support,
kindness and understanding! You guys are THE best! Thanks for
being a great cybergang!

Have a wonderful holiday. Don't eat tooooo much AND don't forget
to relax a bit too! When we return, we will be ready to plunge into
the December madness! Yahooo! (Oh and I nearly forgot.... I get to
do jury duty again! yehhhhawwww!)

take care!
(((hugs)))
meeee

Okay, I just got a sweet little "loveletter" from Little Mrs. Susie Homemaker kissing up to me. I hate the passive/aggressive types!!! :mad:

So, chickies, I am sick. I lost my voice and am on my way to bronchitis. But, hey, I lasted until the end of November...this must be some kind of record.

Kerry, congrats on the weight loss! Keep ignoring DH when he gets negative. I know it is hard...I have to deal with the same bad attitude of my DH...but keep remembering how successful you are. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Don't work yourself too hard. Enjoy the big birthday party over the weekend. Safe travel. ;)

Rob, you have my support whenever you need it. I miss your ranting and raving though. Please come and ***** a little with me!!! You must have something nasty to say about Little Mrs. Susie Homemaker...come on Robyn...give it your best shot!!! :lol:

Ginny, you haven't had it so easy either lately. I hope you try to relax over the next few days and give yourself a break. I'm glad DD is okay.

Mousie, enjoy your holiday and put school and all of the crazy stress behind you.

Take care one and all and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. When I think of what I am thankful for, you four will definitely make the list. Thanks for all of your support and senses of humor!!!

Well, I was already to do some major bellyaching about Dh and that gender in general.....and what a crummy day at work I had........but then I read Robyn's sweet message about being thankful for us (guess that includes even me, the resident low life bus driver) and it sure changed my tune. My day- while challenging- was not so bad, the people I work with are great, very family oriented. The head of transportation, (who keeps a keen interest in my oldest Dd, it is a long story why-) even let Dd ride with me this afternoon (this is the 18 yr old) because he has heard how homesick she has been and she did not want to be home alone this afternoon. So the sweetie let her ride with me.

Anyway, I would really love to push all this cooking and cleaning off on someone else......please.......but alas I am feeding a mob tomorrow. And really not in too bad shape to do so. But I am dog tired. Nuff bellyachin'

Mouse-golly, it rains and rains and rains on you. Hope your financial woes straighten out. And I hope you enjoy your time with your mom, and other friends/family members that you see on Turkey day. Safe travelling, hon!

Kerry- woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!COngrats on the being a big loser!!!!!!!! and with a crummy ankle too. And congrats on avoiding all the extra food at school. A big bravo to you.

Summer- this susie homemaker thing is so aggrivating for you. I can understand that....she sounds like such a ditz. Congrats on making it until almost December healthy. I hope you do not have to cook as you are not feeling well. Get some rest this weekend, if you can.......feel better!

Robyn-I have come to love your ranting and raving....... Yes, I too am so thankful that this week is over.....now we get to face the holiday hyper kiddies. Oh, joy!

Gotta go pull a pie out of the oven.....Happy Thanksgiving!
Ginny

Its over. I don't have to look at any students until Monday morning! And on Monday, we have yet another Field Trip! ARRRGH! ;) We have one Tuesday, also, if the lift van is functional.
I'm still in Baltimore because the cat refused to cooperate. He absolutely wouldn't come anywhere near me to get himself harnessed and stuffed in a carry-case. Then he absolutely fouled his litter box. I have no idea how he managed it. I had to throw the whole thing out, because I was NOT cleaning that up. I had a new one for him anyway, but its the electric one and I think I left the plug in the car again! :o

Oh well: My financial problems are directly related to the fact that I teach for a private school and 11 months. I can't pick up a more lucrative summer job, and the hospital running our school hasn't given us anything but step-increases in the last 3 years I've been there. So I'm making about the same as I was 3 years ago when I started there, but working more hours... and they've increased the cost of our health insurance.
If I went back to the district I left to come to my current school or had taken the job I was offered in August, I'd be just fine. The latter place offered me nearly $7000 more a year, the former is almost $10,000. But here's the rub: I hate the administration and dislike the attitude of a whole lot of the staff, but I love the kids. And I know that what I'm doing at the school now I wouldn't be able to do in most public school systems. I don't teach a core subject area, I teach life-skills and job-skills, which I think are some of the most important things to teach ANY child. But very few public school systems have these programs for children with a disability, let alone any other child. So, I don't know what to do. If I move, I also lose the gym I work for... though if I were close enough I could still teach swimming on Saturdays. The pay would make it worth up to an hour's drive.
I don't know which way to go, to be honest. I know that in most any public school, if I told my principal that I was selected to present at a major, international convention that I would have no problems getting at least PART of my conference fee paid for, and the district would be drooling all over themselves to talk about what I'd done. I didn't get any recognition for being asked to present.
I also know that in a public system, I'd work 9.75 months or 10 months, make more money, and could work during the summer for some "extras".
But I'm not sure those are good enough reasons to move back to Virginia. I really want to go back to PA, but I've had no luck getting even recognized by any school district in my hometown. They don't accept paper or phone inquiries for jobs, only on-line application... and I update that thing constantly with absolutely no bites.

Have a happy turkey day everybody... I'm going home as soon as I catch the silly cat-beast.
:mouse:

Evening Ladies,
I too will add you four wonderful supportive friends to my list of blessings tomorrow. You have been there to see me through some tough times and have held my hand through those times when tempation was too great. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I was able to go and run some errands this afternoon and shake the bad mood I was starting to get in thanks to my dh. He was just a grouch this morning when I told him my plans for the day. I wanted to workout for 30 minutes here at the house this morning, clean house, get a shower, go to the bank, card store, bookstore and then go workout at Curves this afternoon or evening. He threw a **** fit saying that there was no way in h*ll I could get all that accomplished today. That I needed to clean house first. So I cleaned the house this morning, did laundry, and got a shower. He did offer to go to the bank for me after he realized what an a** he was this morning. We had gotten our van fixed this past weekend so we could go home to see my family over this weekend. He discovered that it was leaking oil, so he changed the oil and took it for a drive. When he came back he told me that he had to take it out to his friend's to have him check to see why it was leaking oil. So he was gone for about 2 hours. He came back and said that the seal on the oil pan was worn and needed replaced. So I was free to go to the card store, bookstore and Curves. So I went and enjoyed myself. Plus it helped me regroup so I would not come home and have to urge to hurt someone. I come home and ask him if he wanted to eat dinner with me tonight. Yeah sure. But you will have to wait until after his dd's basketball practice. I said fine. So I ordered his sub from the pizza shop and went to Subway for one for me. I came home and he starts complaining about how it is too late for me to be eating and that I need to stop eating so late if I want to lose weight. Mind you I have usually eaten dinner by 5 or 6 every other night of the week. Tonight I ate at 8. So instead of eating with each other like I wanted to. We eat our subs in separate rooms. Then he must have realized that I was not in the same room and he came looking for me. But I kept busy so I would not go off on him or eat through my stress and angry feelings. Why is it that man don't thing we can get a long list of errands accomplished in one day? Today's list was light compared to a normal school day thrown in on top of it.
Summer, you hold your guns with little Miss Susie Homemaker. I can't believe what a b**th she is being towards you. Who in their right mind gives 6 and 7 year olds permanent fabric paint. I hope you feel better. It is always a bummer when you are sick around a holiday. When I was younger I remember a couple times where I was sick at Christmas time. It sucked. Enjoy your long weekend. Get better so you can duke it out with little Miss Susie Homemaker and your student's parents. That is so unreal what the mother said about you.
Robyn glad to hear that you made it through the week. Sorry to hear about jury duty again. When do you have to do it? and for how long? Hope you are able to find the time to relax over the long holiday weekend.
Ginny glad that you got to spend some time with your dd on your bus route today. So how many people are you cooking for tomorrow? I hope you are able to find the time for some Ginny time this weekend.
Mouse I hope you have a safe trip to see your family. Enjoy your few days off. You deserve a few days of uninterrupted relaxation. I hope you are able to squeeze some workout time in over your busy weekend.
Well I best be off of here and go get some sleep. My sister-in-law is coming over in the morning to start the turkey. I want to get a workout in and a shower before she gets here.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Take care,
Kerry

Happy Thanksgiving chickies! Hope you all have a wonderful time with your families today! I have already worked out this morning. I did the gazalle for 20 minutes and the bike for 20 minutes. I hope to do a 15 minute walking video this evening and my ab excerises. So I think I have the excerise plan covered for today and I won't overeat. Well I better go and get ready for my company today. Plus I need to pack my suitcase for this weekend.
Take care,
Kerry

Well, I've been doing one of my favorite holiday things...watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We went off South Beach just for today, so we had pancakes and bacon this morning. I don't have to deal with cleaning since (believe it or not) at 40, I am the "baby" of the family, and nobody will let me have a holiday! I have been wanting my brother or sister to relinquish a holiday ever since we bought our house and had the space to entertain, but they won't budge. I should be grateful that I don't have to do all of the work, but I want my turn. Someday when everyone is old I will end up having to do EVERY holiday!

HAVE A HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING!!! :hungry:

I'm at my mom's house. I brought the laptop with me so I could maybe do some schoolwork, but none of it has gotten done. ;)
I've been referring between my mom's kitten, Wiccan, and my own Imp. Imp is deadly serious, Wiccan thinks he is playing. We've been listening to assorted yowls and growls all day long. Its enough to make me pack it all up and go back to Baltimore so I can get some rest. :eek: This is the true meaning of CAT FIGHT!
They are fortunately both front declawed. Wiccan also likes ginger ale and keeps trying to DRINK mine!
I also did the good daughter act and went to visit my father in the hospital. Wound up arguing with him as I left the room over the old computer: my student's had fixed it so he wanted to know what was wrong. I told him, but he didn't like my answer because it makes him look less than competent.
No working out for me: I can't walk or ride a bike... I could go to one of the gyms here locally with the card from my gym, but the one that is the best is $20 for 1 visit. That's pretty pricey for a swim. I'll go back on Saturday, if I go early enough I'll go to the gym before they close, or else I'll start again on Sunday.
Hope everybody enjoyed their lunches/dinners/desserts: ours was pretty good. My mom had it ordered because she got a gift certificate to pay for it from a catering place. There was a little bit of all the favorite foods, and enough turkey for me to take home.
:mouse:

Happy Friday Morning to you all! Wasn't nice to sleep in this morning? I got up and went to workout at Curves. I was the only person there so far for the day. No one else came in while I was there. So it might be a long day for the ladies working there today. Just wanted to let you know that I will be thinking of you ladies this weekend. I leave with my family this morning to go visit my side of the family. So I probably won't be on line until Sunday evening or Monday. Have a great weekend!
Take care,
Kerry

WELL.... after being INVITED to rant and rave.... I was all gearing up...ESPECIALLY since my family was traveling (in town) to my bil and sil's house for dinner with my inlaws who have returned from FL for the ocassion as well as the sil's adult children. BUT, ahem... dinner was very nice. YEP. The stuff I took complimented the million dishes that she had made and dinner was very yummy! My inlaws brought a cooler full of sodas and bottled water ("We know that you don't drink soda...so we bought water for you!") The conversation was even good. Came home with a ton of left overs. I took a nap for 2 hours after coming home. Woke up in time to make turkey sandwiches and dish up a few of the other favorite leftovers. I went back to lounging about and watching television (something that I don't usually do!) The dh and the kiddos played video games, watched television and videos and generally stayed out of my way and hair!!!!

Soooooo..... sigh...... how do I rant about any of that?

Don't worry tho... I am within 2 weeks of going for Federal Jury duty. I am within 30 days of Christmas... My children seem to be BLIND to anything that needs to be done within the house....AND they keep score and whine when requested to pick up some of their junk or GAWD forbid they be asked to touch something that doesn't have THEIR name on it! OH and my new school friends EACH give *HOMEMADE* gifts to everyone on the gradelevel, all resource teachers, office staff, administration.... YEP.... that is over 15 gifts that I've been told by 2 teachers (who didn't hear each other tell me...) that "the tradition is to give handmade/homemade gifts.... They mean SO much more.") Don't give me wrong... I LOVE to give presents... 2 years ago I *EVEN* made 20+ gifts to give (at my old school) ... I DO appreciate knowing what the standards are... but I don't like being told WHO I'm supposed to give to... and WHAT it isn't supposed to be (from a store!) ........and my next question is... WHATINTHEWORLD am I gonna do?! ARGHH! .... yeah, I feel my Holiday Induced Tranquility disappearing very quickly! :) You won't have to wait very long before I'm back to my true form!

Wait... the 17 nearly 18 year old cat just used the floor instead of the litter box.... Yeahhhhhh, I am thinking that my TRANQUILITY is just about the **** over! GOTTA run... and try not to kill GrandmaKitty!

take care...
meee

Is it ok for me to stop cooking..........is the holiday over........ya mean I can get some rest????????????? (define rest for me please?)

Well, I do hope that everyone had a blessed and good Thanksgiving. It does sound that most of us did, short a few feline disasters.......poor Mouse and Robyn- hey, does a ranting and raving husband fit into the feline disaster category??? (sorry, Kerry, I just could not resist the urge!) Actually my Dh was no charmer yesterday......had to get the crow bar out to remove him from the football game on TV and get a minimum of help. Anyway, I worked my hoofies off....but yesterday went pretty well, and after my inlaws left (no pun intended, just at that point the cleanup was as good as it was gonna be for a while and I did get to sit down) I got a chance to relax a wee bit. A blessing in that everyone got along well.....and that most of us were here.....with FIL's health being very unstable that might not be the case next year (and who knows what can happen to any of us). My eating was pretty good- could have been worse.
No walk.......no workout.......I will get a short walk in this afternoon.

Robyn- one bitty of advice with the kids.......I once read a book that actually had the kids paying for any item of theirs that mom had to put away. It started with a warning system(for about a week, you would go around the house and put a red sticker on each out of place item and then after a week pick up the item only to be returned to its owner after he/she bought it out of jail!) I never got Dh's buy in on the idea (him being the biggest piggie of them all!). But it sounded as though it had some potential. Take a deep breath.......hang in there! And I am glad you do not have to cook!!!!!!

Mouse- how are your referee skills doing???????? Sorry about the visit with your dad. One thing I can say about that kind of situation, is that you did the right thing- tried to visit with him and show concern. Feel no guilt! If he chose to react poorly, it is a shame but surely not your fault. We know that your intent was not to make him get upset (he is probably angry about his health concerns! and taking it out everyplace else)

Summer- I love the parade too!!!!! I am glad you went off the diet- total denial of stuff that you crave leads to disaster. I'm sure that you will be back on plan soon!

Kerry- you go woman!!!!!!! GLad you got to Curves!

Gotta go......Attila the Hun got up (aw, shut up Ginny he is in a good mood for now!).
See ya!
Ginny

My referee skills must suck. At 3:00 this morning I was up for most of the rest of the night keeping the two cats apart. Mine was in the window of the room where I sleep when I'm there (my old bedroom, my mother has turned it into an office), and her kitten was on the floor. He's only 6 months old, so he has trouble getting into the windows upstairs because the ledges are higher and narrow. He can almost get inot the one in my room because there is a small bookcase in front of that window. Anytime Imp saw or heard Wiccan, he'd start growling. Imp would come over to me and put his paws on my leg which is how he asks to be picked up, but I'd pick him up and he'd curl into a little ball and start growling and hissing. I finally gave up and had to leave this afternoon. My mom is insistant that I bring Imp for Hanukkah in a few weeks, though. I'll be there Thursday night for Hanukkah, but then I'm going to Philadelphia for the convention. I wasn't going to go because I need to buy clothes, and pay the medical bills... and my mom told me to go and worry about the money later. I didn't go to the one I typically go to in Baltimore over Memorial Day weekend, because I was sick (that was when I was seriously throwing up most of what I ate and I felt pretty bad). So Imp is going to stay with my mother.
Imp is glad to be back in Baltimore though, I think...he's been curled up on the bed most of the evening. I took a nap, and am going to go back to sleep in a little bit. I guess I'll get myself up tomorrow morning for water aerobics and swimming. I did all my grocery shopping with my mom today, mostly at the discount place near her house, and then at a butcher shop near her place that has the most awesome lunch meats. The only thing I still need is some miracle whip, and some Boca Burgers and Morningstar Farm's veggie chicken. Yes, all, I've discovered how to get the taste of chicken and not get sick: I'm buying the vegetarian style chicken that Morningstar Farms puts out. I usually buy the patties, but this week I had the nuggets. Very good. :)
The discount store even had lots and lots of Propel water. Its anywhere from $1.20 to $1.50 in the stores, but they had it for .69 cents a bottle. And now that its cold enough outside, I can drink half of one at the gym, and leave it in my gym bag in the car...
Thanks for the support on the father issues: he's always been like this though. I had a very difficult time forgiving him for losing our house when I was in high school, and then refusing to help pay for college. After we lost the house, we moved out of town, but none of us liked it, so we moved back to where I'd grown up a year later, and when we did that my first cat had to go live with him. He didn't take care of the cat. Long story short, my mom took him to court over Thanksgiving my freshman year of college: he said he wouldn't help pay for me to attend college, the judge agreed with him, I got mad at him and said he was a jerk and I wasn't going to talk to him again. So he got mad at my mother, and called us Thanksgiving night to say he'd killed the cat. The only problem was, I answered the phone. He swears he didn't REALLY kill the cat, but I'm not sure I believe him. It was 2 years before I talked to him again.
And my mother is the one who makes me do it: she drove me to the hospital yesterday because I wasn't going to go. I was just going to call him.
Anyway... I'm off to read a bit, and go to sleep. G'night all.
:mouse:

Mouse, glad you and Imp arrived home safely. Enjoy your Sunday off... isn't it your only day off??? Ok, you are not asking for advice about your dad, but I hope that you do not mind if I offer a piece of it. And actually, I think you are there already, so this will just reinforce what you are doing. Forgive your dad. You do not have to agree with what he is/does/how he acts/his past......etc......but you will save yourself years of heartache if you can at least forgive him and accept his shortcomings. My sister is still fighting battles with our father, who btw died 20 years ago. A sad situation indeed.
Nuff from me. TOM arrived.....so I am droopy. We went to see the Incredibles which was great. Even Dh liked it.
Gotta go.
See ya!
Ginny

I'm not holding a grudge against him, I just don't choose to do very much with him if I can help it. He is typically rude to me, especially about the weight. He doesn't understand or believe that I have an actual medical condition. Even when he eats out with me, or I grocery shop with him (he, also, needs help shopping so I sometimes go with him to the commissary, like I help my mom... so he watches me read nutrition labels and such... it takes me FOREVER to grocery shop!) he still doesn't get it.
The Jewish religion requires that you forgive a person their mistakes before Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).
I didn't get to the gym today. I spent most of it asleep & sick. I'm not quite sure what happened... I did get some chinese take-out on my way home, but I was careful to avoid anything that had chicken. Maybe I got something by accident.
I wish we were off on Monday, too. I didn't do any of the work I said I was going to do.
:mouse:

Mouse, sounds like you could be suffering from a wee bit of stress too..........can I take up the cyber brownies charge for you??? I am glad to hear that you have forgiven your dad, no matter how bad the memories. I can bore you with pages of stuff about my sister, who as I said is still fighting battles with someone who is unable to do a thing. Rather sad. I hope you are feeling better!!!!!!!!! Try to get some rest today, you had mentioned earlier that this week was going to be difficult at best. Major bummer that tomorrow is Monday, and we all return to work. I am not looking foward to it either.

We got to church this am.......so glad I went. The warring factions here are getting to me a bit (kids). I need a bit of quiet. And now, Dd is getting moody about returning to school, and (heaven forbid!) she has to help me complete some paperwork about her accident. Well, sweetie, if ya want the car fixed, the paperwork must be done. Facing up to adult life is tough.......too bad!
Guess I'd better go...hope everyone is doing ok out there. Can't we get another 4 days off??????
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
Well we survived the weekend. We got home about 30 minutes ago. Long enough to unload the car and check the mail and voice mail. Then I said that I had to check in with my friends. We had a nice time visiting with my family. I shocked a lot of people at my weight loss. Some of them hadn't seen me for a year or two and was surprised at my appearance. Plus some of them didn't recognize me because I look like a different person. That really made me feel good. Good enough to not feel guilty about eating birthday cake at my grandma's party yesterday. Also it gave me the strength to stand my ground when my dh and stepkids wanted to leave the party early. MInd you my dad, mom, 2 sisters, brother and myself were hosting it for my grandma. Plus I hadn't seen some of my family and close family friends for years. So I kept telling them no since we had my van with us. Finally I looked at my dh and told him here is the hotel key and the keys to the van leave and I will have someone drive me back to the hotel. He wouldn't go because he wasn't sure if he would be able to get to the hotel by himself. I was just sick and tired of them trying to control how our weekend in my hometown was going to be. I felt good to stand up for myself and not back down for a change. I did get my excerise in this weekend though. We stayed on the third floor and I took the steps several times. Plus went swimming on Friday and Saturday nights for 1 hour and 15 minutes. I also did the treadmill for 30 minutes yesterday morning. So I feel good about my excerise this weekend. Haven't done anything today yet. Don't know if I will or not. Glad to hear that everyone had a great holiday weekend. Chat with you all more tomorrow. Time to go unpack and start putting stuff away. Take care.
Kerry

Good morning!!!!
Kerry- being the newcomer to this group.....how much have you lost in the past year?
What a huge attagirl.... not being recognized because you look so darned good!!!!!! (keep that one in your memory bank!) And of course, go ahead and have that cake, one piece is not going to hurt you......and denial gets you nowhere. I am happy for you about standing up to your Dh too (glad one of us did this weekend!). Congrats on getting the excercise in too.....sounds as though you had an all around good weekend. What a great way to start out a new week.

Got the kiddies to school this am......oh, these next few weeks will be tough with the holidays approaching. Students are much harder to control/contain, daylight hours lessen.....road conditions go in the tank......bring out the advil please~!!!! Got a short walk in this am- today was a high family stress day, Dd returning to school (teary eyed, again), Dh worrying/stressing out over her (gee, Hon,it is time that she grew up!), youngest Dd not wanting to go to school (as if any of us did!).
OK- nuff blabbering from me!!!! Off to get some work done around here. See ya later!
Ginny

Since I met my dh 2 1/2 years ago, I have lost close to 70 pounds. In the last year or so, I have lost about 20 pounds. I slept in this morning, since we have today off too. So now I have to get my butt up and moving to get some errands done today before I have to start back to school tomorrow.
Ginny,Sounds like you had a stressful morning at home. How were the kids on your bus route this morning? Glad to hear that you got your walk in this morning. Hope your afternoon and evening is better.
Robyn, Summer and Mouse I hope your first day back to school after a long weekend is a great one. I will be to the trenches tomorrow. It is going to be a long day with my kids. Once they have their routine broken for a little while it is hard to wheel them back in.
Well I best go and get my stuff done today, since I wouldn't have another day off until Christmas time. Talk to you all later.
Have a wonderful week!
Kerry

Kerry, I had no idea that you were such a big loser!!!!!!!!That is so wonderful, and you have much to be proud of. A major accomplishment.

Thanks for asking about me......I am so stressed out. Filling out paperwork for Dd's accident- she is trying to run so far from the accident (admits to fault but will not talk about it!) oh where is the advil.....and dear ol' Mom (getting more and more old by the minute too!) is stuck filling out reports for DMV, insurance co.......etc.............. I am such a burnout.......did we really have 4 days off???????? For Christmas and my bday I want a week by myself in a rubber room........lots of books, tea and a nice place to walk and some walking shoes.....that is all....maybe a craft to do......
Gotta go- been online all am getting this darned accident report completed(Dd emailed me the accident report, which is printing horribly because she crumpled the darned thing so badly.....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr r)
See ya and sorry for bellyachin'.
Ginny

Ginny,
I hope that your day got better. I think we all would like to have the pleasure of being in a rubber room with only a few items of comfort to us. Maybe that is what we need to tell people to give us for Christmas. LOL. Sorry to hear that your dd is not helping much with the paperwork. Wait until she gets older and has to handle the paperwork on her own. Then she won't be able to run away from it then. I am glad that you are helping her get it all straightened out.
I was able to get my 2 mile walking video in this morning. Then I walked to Subway to get a sub for lunch. I walked back home and then ate it. Now I am up to my eyeballs in laundry. I have already done two loads and I have about five to six more to do. I am hoping to get them done so that I can enjoy some of my day off. I was able to run to the post office to mail some stuff and then drop off my medical records from my old dr. to my new dr. office. Tonight I have a workout date with my one friend's daughter at Curves. She is a freshman in high school and just started getting serious in her weight and body appearance. Since her mom is not able to workout for a month or two due to some surgery she had, I have been taking her daughter with me when I go. It is fun to have someone to talk to while working out. Well the dryer shut off, got to go and fold those clothes and stick the current washer load in there and start another load in the washer. Fun, fun fun!
Hope everyone had a wonderful day today!
Kerry

Kerry, I hope you enjoyed your day off!!!!!!! Even with having mountains of laundry, just not having to face the daily runaround sounds wonderful. A 2 mile walk tape and visit to Curves?? You enjoy that! How nice that you can workout with some company too....at times a workout buddy is nice.

I finished and mailed the dreaded report......plus some cookies to Dd as she is facing her first college finals. (otherwise known as a study in sleep depravation!). My afternoon was pretty good, many kids were not on this afternoon~ had one little boy with a headache who wanted to sit up front with me. Makes me feel good to know that I am a comfort to most of my students.......guess they trust me. (I needed a vote of confidence today......) Dh went to get Ds from bball practice,so I have a few minutes to myself before dinner.
Hope everyone made it thru today ok!!!!! See ya tomorrow.
Ginny

Just a short hello...........hope everyone is doing ok! Well, at least MOnday is over..........have a good day.'
Ginny

...and now TUESDAY is over!!! NOVEMBER is over too! :)
I'm nearly to my quota of water intake for the day! ...and I'm trying hard!

My middle school son is marching in a parade this weekend... he has brought MarchingTri's home.... and is playing and marching and trying to drive me insane!
He is so excited! Darn... I should have tried to convince him to play some nice SILENT musical instrument! ...actually....the more he marches and plays... the better he plays...AND the more my head pounds with a great beat! :)

I'm trying hard to change my mind. :)

..........life goes on...................
hope yours is okey!
take care,
meee

Today was just one of those days. You know? Nothing wrong, but a whole lot of funny stuff all piled up into one.
Some kids acted like twits on yet another field trip, and one of them asks the floral department at the grocery store we were at if they sell CANNIBIS! :eek:
Then I went along to the soccer game at the last minute because they were one staff member short, so I volunteered... I happened to be in the right place. So, more comp time for this mouse. We lost, but they played a darned good game. One of our kids lost it though and shoved another one on our team. He gets lunch detention, of course, and capped his evening with an inappropriate display of bodily parts. In the locker room, in front of the other boys. :rolleyes:
One of the other kids came out and told us, and so I went to the door of the locker room, and called him over. And the kid comes over NAKED! Pulling up his underwear!
For pete's sake, they just don't pay me enough to see that!
So that was my day. I, obviously, didn't make it to the gym. But they needed the extra staff member so they could get to the game.
Oh well.
Friday I go see the nutrionist, and I need to call the surgeon's office, because I've called the endocrinologist's office that she tried to refer me to twice, and they don't return phone calls.
:mouse:

Morning Ladies,
Just a quick note from me this morning. I went to Tops last night and gained a pound and a half. So my eating out this weekend caught up to me. Oh well, I will just have to try harder next week. Check in with you all later today.
Have a good one!
Kerry

I have a massive headache........getting a cold.....want my thumband a blanket........

Glad to hear from everyone. Mouse- ok I am sending the flasher and his creepy little brother to you, sounds like handling naked kids is your forte! Robyn- get rid of your headache yet?
Kerry- don't sweat the 1#. How about we make a deal to make next weeks WI a really good one???? (mini challenge for one week)
Gotta go.....up to my eyeballs with stuff to do......see ya later.
Ginny

Hi Ladies,
Oh my god, I can sympathize with you,Ginny about the headache. I am starting to get a massive one from my students misbehavior. They are awful today. They won't listen and follow directions. They think it is funny. They won't be having the last laugh on the 22nd when everyone else goes on the fieldtrip and we are stuck here at school doing work.
Ginny I will take you on your mini challenge for the week. I know we can do this. We will both show a loss next week. I got up this morning and did my walking video, even though I felt like sleeping some more. So that is a great start to a new week.
Geez Mouse sounds like you had an interesting day yesterday with your students. I hope today was a little bit better. Hope you can get a hold of the nutritionist soon.
Robyn and Summer hope that your week is going good.
Talk to you all later. I had to come on here to calm down before I blew my stack for the second time today. I think I am calm enough to go back to my kids now.
Take care,
Kerry

Kerry, sorry that your kids were so miserable for you......oh, it can be so stressful, I hear ya. Good for you coming here to blow off some steam, it is safe here and we have nothing but sympathy and hugs for you. Good job getting the walking video in, I did my WATP tape this am too!

Mouse- I am anxious to hear about the visit to the nutritionist........
Summer and Robyn, hope life is treating you better than the rest of us!

So, this afternoon we had horrible winds (50 mph+)- they closed aftercare and sent everyone home. What a messy dismissal.......kind of chaotic, but thankfully we all got home ok. As far as the flasher and his brother (the flasher was a total nuisance this am) I put both in row 1 (across the aisle from each other)....and gently tried to explain (for the millionth time) how to get across the street without fighting....(this is the duo who fought all the way across their street so that the younger one fell in the road......) I was gentle, but firm........the older brother (aka flasher) is such a wise cracker, he is the brighter of the two, and the younger one falls for his pranks all the time and gets sucked into the nonsense. Well, they both heard it this afternoon, andthis was after I took tylenol for my head.
Nuff of me bellyachin........Dd wants to use the computer and show off what she learned today in school, so I'd better go. Have a great nite.
Ginny

Evening All,
I made it through my day without hurting anyone or anything. LOL. My afterschool kids are what put me in a better mood. I had to work with both the 2nd and 6th graders tonight, since we were short handed. So I had the 6th graders help the 2nd graders learn how to graph items and make graphs of their own. Then we played Brain Quest 2nd grade edtion. They had a lot of fun. So that made me feel better. My Special Ed. kids just didn't seem to care about their behavior today. I am hoping that it is a better day tomorrow. I did make it to the gym tonight and put in a good workout. So that helped. Now I am online playing for a while before I go to bed. Atleast I am up later than I was last night, I was in bed before 9 and fell asleep watching the Biggest Loser. So I was upset when I woke up this morning and realized I had missed the ending of the show. I had to ask my one coworker about what I missed today on bus duty. It was a windy and bitterly cold one at that.
Well ladies I best go and check some other stuff on line before I go to bed. So I will caht with you all tomorrow. Have a wonderful Thursday!
Take care,
Kerry

I REALLY hate where I work. People kept asking me stupid questions all damn day long, and then I was scheduled to attend FOUR (yes, FOUR) meetings at the exact same time. I was supposed to attend my department meeting, a behavioral planning meeting for one student, a department meeting for one group of students that I teach, and a department meeting for the program that my homeroom students are in.
I politely asked the person doing the single student meeting if I could catch her as soon as my department meeting was done, and instead of saying yes or no, she called my supervisor and told him that I needed to attend. I never told her I wasn't GOING to attend, just asked her if I could meet with her a little bit after. Then she emails me and says she's done this, meanwhile my department meeting has started, and they want me there. But one of my students in my homeroom is brought to school by cab because his local school system can't manage to get him on a bus route for some reason. The cab NEVER picks him up on time. And was late again today.
So, now my supervisor wants to discuss with me my "communication skills" with other students in the building. He also wants to discuss the behavior of the kids on the last field trip... We had ONE issue with ONE child out of more than 6 successful trips. I haven't heard word one about the SUCCESSFUL trips; but I'm getting a discussion about that one child who had issues. He's probably ticked off because when I asked him what to do, his advice was wrong, and another administrator told him that.
I'm also having serious issues keeping food down lately, and my TA isn't going to be here all next week because my idiot supervisor approved an entire week off (she has the time), but also told me I could be out next Friday and that Monday.
ARRRGH! I'm so pissed off! And I'm so seriously considering NOT going to work tomorrow, but its more of a pain to not go then it is to go.
:mouse:

..... WELL.... it must be NATIONWIDE... cause today was NOT a good day...however, I had NO nekkkid children at school soooo my day wasn't as bad as some!

Hope tomorrow is better...or atleast DRESSED! ;) I'm more and more sure that only going on 2 field trips a year is NOT a bad thing! I have visions of floral arrangements with fern replacements...hehehehe.... sorry! Trust me... had *I* been there I would NOT be amused!

Ginny...hope your headache went away.... mine has sort of subsided... 100% sure that mine is weather related now... the thumb and blanket sound right yummy!

Have a Thrilling Thursday (puke) as my "OLD" school principal said EACH AND EVERY Thursday.... ... oy!

:) ......Obladi oblada life goes on....... hopefully fully dressed!
meeeee

Summer?! Summer?!!! WHERE ARE YOU, girl?

Morning Ladies,
Hope everyone has a better day today. I made sure that I got enough sleep last night, so I wouldn't be so crabby with my kids today. I am hoping that they are better today. Atleast today is my short day at school, I can leave 2 hours earlier than I do on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Please the Lord for that one! Even though this is a short week for me, it seems the longest.
Ginny, I hope that your headache has went away. I also hope that your little flasher and his brother behave for you today and don't disagree with each other or show any skin. I keep telling myself when I think about going for food about our mini challenge. So far it is working.
Mouse, I am so sorry that you had such a horrible day. Sounds like they want you to clone yourself so you can be at all your meetings. People can be so stupid. Your supervisor sounds like he was placing a lot of unnecessary pressure on you after having his mistake pointed out to him. I hope you have a better day today. Do you think it is stress that is causing you to be sick and not keep any food down?
Robyn, glad to hear from you. Hope your headache is getting better. Sounds like the weather could have played a part in all of us having a crappy day yesterday. Hope your week is going smoothier for you than past weeks.
Summer where are you? Hope all is well with you.
Well I must be off to teach my little monsters how to be angels. LOL. Talk to you all later.
Have a wonderful day!
Kerry

Well, I thought I was not having too bad a day until Dh came home........what a crab.
Oh, well.........
Kerry- I agree with you, every time I think about going for something I should not, I am reminded of our mini challenge....... It is working for me too!!! Hang in there.

Robyn- how you doing........you ok?
Summer, same for you!!!!
Mouse- can't wait to hear the results from your Dr/dietician/endocrinologist....keep us posted.
Gotta go- might be back later......see ya!
Ginny

I didn't go to work today. After I posted that message, I got a whole 2 hours of sleep before my body rebelled. I was then sick for the rest of the night. Around 1:00 a.m., I emailed all parties concerned and sent an emergency lesson plan to my TA.
I have a feeling she may not have been at school today, though, because somebody else did our breakfast/lunch lists for the cafeteria. Her name wasn't on the absentee listing though, if it had been I would've gone in.
My department chair is a twit: I have to meet tomorrow with my supervisor about my lack of communication skills, and I had a previously scheduled meeting. He won't change his meeting with me, and told her that. I guess she didn't realize that he told me. She emailed me a few hours later and said that she was too busy to meet tomorrow morning. Does she think I'm an idiot?
I am only there for a few hours tomorrow, though, and we have no kids. I had planned to make up some folder activities for our Construction unit, but I guess that won't get done. I'm doing less and less in terms of planning or prep work because whenever I do something *GOOD*, I get no appreciation or thanks or notice. But let somebody complain about how I worded an email, or make up some stupid story about me, and I'm in trouble again.
I have an appointment with the endocrinologist up here now, too. That should make me further popular with admin because nobody asked me when was convenient to have the appointment: they made it for Dec. 15, at 9 a.m. I'm out the 10th and the 13th, and now at least part of the day on the 15th. Since I already blew my perfect attendance for this quarter by staying home sick today, I can't really see the point of wasting comp time to go in for half a day. Especially since its a Wednesday and I'd get to the school just in time to watch my homeroom students go home. I'll miss a meeting or a stupid social activity... and Ir eally don't care.
I'm developing such a bad attitude.
But yes, it might be stress... If that is the case, then what do I do? I don't really want to go back to Virginia. I want to go to Pennsylvania, but I have no job nibbles from any districts in my home area.

:mouse:

Mouse- I hope that your feeling crummy does not interfere with your appointments tomorrow......do you think it was something that you ate or did you catch something from a student? Sounds as though you really need a break.....winter break to help you feel better about your work environment. I am sure that your health issues are not helping your mindset either. Things have to start looking up soon, right?

Nuff of me tonight, I am getting tired. See ya tomorrow.
Ginny