Good morning!
I survived yesterday....and actually am more burned out today than I was Monday. Strange.
Glad to hear from those who checked in yesterday. Robyn- love that yipee skippeee thingy.....gosh you make me laugh. Glad you are back with us.
Hang in there with an unemployed Dh- and show up anytime here for cyber hugs. Kerry- glad that your muscle pull is healing and you are getting a workout in. Isn't your TOPS meeting tonite? Hope your day goes well.
Paisley- can't say that I have ever had such an experience. It does sound as though there is nothing personal intended by this friend's wife, she has (or they have) some major issues to work out. I guess the best thing to do is, as much as you can stomach it, continue with to communicate in the manner most comfortable to them- her cell etc....and pray that in counselling this works out somehow. He might just need you as a friend if the counselling does not work out.

I am drained....better go get something done here. BTW, I finished Postmortem....loved it....and am off to the library to get Body of Evidence.
See ya later!
Ginny

Hey from the SUNNY SOUTH!
It is beautiful here. I just lost my first post somewhere in cyber space.
It has been in the upper seventies here the past two days and is supposed to be 80 tomorrow. I love it, I love it!
Been a good couple of days. Kids are pretty subdued. All is well in the universe.
Back on plan with eating, don't know how, but finally lost another pound. I hate to say it outloud......One more pound and I will be in the 170's. You don't know how exciting that is to me. I may have to turn a cartwheel or something. Ok, maybe later.
Paisley: Congrats on the loss. Doesn't it feel good to fit into those pants? I think you are absolutely right about the weight lifting. Even when I haven't lost pounds, I have lost inches. Keep up the good work. Sorry about the friend thing. I went through something similar when I got married. My best friend in high school was a male. My HUSBAND WAS SO JEALOUS, that we aren't friends anymore. There was no attraction there, but he was my buddy and I could talk to him about absolutely anything. It makes me sad sometimes to think about that. He is probably just trying to keep his wife happy. Although, if they have only been married a year and are already in counseling ...................Anyway, I'm sorry, that is sad.
Kerry: You are absolutely right about the food pushers. I have had people at school try to get me to eat something unhealthy at lunch, just because they are falling off of their diet or whatever. As a matter of fact, today, one of my friends came to the lunch table with chili cheese fries piled high on her plate and a chili dog. She kept saying stuff about well, hope you enjoy your sandwich I'm going to enjoy every bite of my food. I said ok. I do thanks. Then, we were coming back from the office and she grabbed some candy and was like oh god, just eat it it isn't going to kill you. Another one of my friends has said well how long do you plan on eating this way anyway? I said forever I guess. If I go back to eating the way I used to eat, it will just put me back in the same position I was in before. It just sort of makes me mad, cause she is the one saying oh you shouldn't eat carbs blah blah blah, but then says she is watching what she eats and eats a honey bun and doughnut. (with her banana.)
Robyn: Hopefully your hubby will get a job soon and you will have a little bit of normalcy in your life again. I know it's stressful. Just hang on, it will get better.
Mouse: How's your ear/sinus infection? Hope you'll be feeling up to par again soon. I have been through the same thing trying to help my friend hook up her DSL. We ended up with an operator that could not speak very much English. I felt like we were talking in code, because it was reduced to C LIKE CHARLEY, F LIKE FOX, B LIKE BRAVO.....
IT WAS TRULY RIDICULOUS.
GINNY: Don't want to be the one to say TOLD YA SO........But, I TOLD YOU SO.............I KNEW YOU WOULD LOVE THAT BOOK! Happy reading. Oh, and you were so right about the two mile watp tape being intese. I feel like my legs are going to fall off right before the end there. But, it feels so good.................
Summer: I may need you to take care of my AOL problem, or I will have them for the rest of my life. I think it is getting to the point of ridiculous now.
Talk to you all later!
Pam

Survived today......the kids were MONSTERS this afternoon. I had to pull off the road and shut down 2X.....and after each time they resumed screaming, acting up, passing stuff across the aisle (which is not bad, but usually becomes throwing, so I do not permit it) and just general ly bad. They will hear about it tomorrow am.....and it does not leave me with a good impression of them as I make a new seating chart. Guess I should get into a really crabby mood and make the seating chart from h***......you know seating a 5th grade boy with a kindergarten girl......that always seems to work!!!!! Basic torture......anyway, I knew my day had to go sour, as the morning was rather pleasant. And between my am and pm I actually took a short (25 minutes) nap. Unheard of!!!! But between the time change and getting in late Saturday nite (actually 3 am Sunday morning) I was so tired. Then I took a walk to the library- got my grubby paws on the book (actually a trilogy of her first 3 books....so I can go straight from Body of Evidence to whatever is next). And I relaxed a bit at my layover....I usually clean my luxury vehicle there...so it was a nice day overall until the critters came aboard. Oh well, guess it had to end sooner or later.

Pam-congrats on the # loss! You will see me scream and yell for joy when I break my next big threshold...I so understand how happy you are to break out of the 180's. No need to be shy about it here... Glad you like that 2 mile tape. Which one did you get???? (I forget). You'll work up to the intensity, and be that much healthier for it. Also- on to books. If you like mysteries- I finished At Risk, by Stella Rimington. It was excellent! The author is the former head of the British CIA and much of the experiences of the protagonist are from her personal life. Once I got into it it was totally compelling...Maybe your library can get its hands on it for you.

Speaking of morons with food- seems as though everyone is having problems with them. My MIL is the queen of them all- she will push desserts in my face...and refuse no for an answer. I usually plan my eating (a WW thing) and well if I did not plan or do not have a plan to compensate, will refuse the food. It kills her...she gets rather obnoxious about it too. But I have gotten really good at telling her that I am truly not hungry, or content with what I am eating....and why should I have something if I am not tempted by it or do not desire it? Ok it usually annoys her (I do try to say it sweetly) but it gets me out of a predicament.

Ok, I have babbled enough today and had better get dinner on. Hi to everyone- Mouse, Kerry, Summer, Robyn and Paisley. See ya tomorrow.
Ginny

Pam: I feel so bad for you re:AOL. I just got my cancellation confirmation today. It begged me to reconsider, BUT I WON'T BE DOING THAT. All I can say to help you is for you to call them, plan on being on hold for at least an hour, and when you get someone, refuse to hang up until they finally agree to cancel. Also, you will have to be a crazy, screaming, BI-----ATCH!!! That is what worked for me. The loser happened to catch me while I had major PMS (which has increased since I began perimenopause !) GOOD LUCK AND DON'T GIVE UP.

Robyn: Boy do I understand bathroom woes. I have a bladder the size of my pinky fingernail, and I have irritable bowel syndrome. Fun combination, huh? So, early on I decided that I will only teach a grade that automatically comes with a paraprofessional, Pre-k or K. As it turns out, Pre-k is my niche anyway. If I taught an upper grade, I would have to have student teachers every semester!!!

Ginny: Thanks for the giggle over "inner peace!"

Kerry: Glad you feel better and even got to exercise. Enjoy your balmy beautiful weather! Only 39 more days?! I have 49. How did you manage that?! Oh well, enjoy!!!

Paisley: Good luck with your friend. He is in a tough position being in a marriage that is already on unsteady ground, I can't blame him for not wanting to make waves. He did take sacred vows with this woman, and ultimately, she has to be his priority. I've lost friends this way, and it is totally heartbreaking and frustrating. I hope his wife develops some self-confidence and faith in her husband to allow him to remain friends with you.

Tomorrow, I am taking both classes to see "Beauty and the Beast" at a university in the town next to us. For the first time, I am bringing DD with me. It will be interesting to see how she interacts with my students. Three years ago, I invited a "favorite" student to have a playdate with DD. Boy did that bomb!!! My student was very different out of the classroom. They were soooooo jealous of each other. It was a nightmare!!! Hopefully since this is on school turf, and she is older, things will go better. We shall see.

It finally warmed up today into the whopping 60's!!! Of course the principal had to take the opportunity to have a fire drill.

Take care everybody.

Evening Ladies,
I survived my day! It was a long day for me though. I taught all day and then went with my dh to his appointment for an MRI in a town that is 1 1/2 hour away from our house. So I was tired of sitting when we got home. Then our friend called and wanted us to come down to the local pub and visit with him for a little bit. So needless to say I am one tired puppy tonight. I had a good day at school today with my kids though.
Paisley, congrats on your pants fitting better. Keep up the good work. Doesn't feel great when your clothes fit better and your developing a figure. I know a while back I had to ask my dh why all these guys kept checking me out in Wal-mart. He laughed and said Hey you dumb a@@ they like what they see. Your body is taking on a great shape. Glad to hear that you enjoyed your weekend.
Pam love the spring weather too. All I wanted to do today is get outside and take a long walk. Needless to say it didn't happen. But I was able to walk with Lesile and the gang this morning in my living room. So that helped a little bit. Glad to hear that your not caving into your friends when they offer you food. One of my students is 13 and 240 pounds. Says he is on a diet. He brought his lunch to school yesterday. I about died laughing as I watched him unpack it. I kidded you not this is what all the child brought for one person and ate it all. A baggie full of pepperoni, a bag of chips, yougurt, jello, a dozen Oreos, a lunchable and big bottle of gatorade. I was amazed at that amount of food for a 13 year old boy. Then he boo hoos after recess about once a week because the other kids pick on him about being fat and he swears that he is going to take the weight off by the end of this school year. Keep being strong and you will lose your weight.
Robyn laughed about your bathroom story. I have the same problem. I am lucky that I have 2 TA's in my room and I can just run over to the bathroom real quick. But sometimes I have to wait awhile and think darn I am going to bust if I don't get there soon. My nickname with some old friends was Little Niagra Falls. They were like every time you take a sip of something you have to go pee 15 minutes later. Hope you can get back into your routine soon!
Summer, have a great time on your fieldtrip tomorrow. Sounds like a fun trip to go on. Wish I could go with you. I am thinking about planning a fieldtrip for my class in May. I have to think of something fast so I can get it approved by my principal and line it up. I am sure your dd will get along well with your students tomorrow.
Mouse I hope you are feeling better. Have a safe trip to your confernece.
Well ladies I am going to bed. Talk to you all tomorrow. Have a great Wednesday.
Kerry

Hi, all. It is nearly midnight and I didn't eat dinner until 10:00. The kids weren't too bad today, but my 4th period boys were just as bad as ever. My worst offender went to resource quickly (and that was after doing SO DAMN WELL YESTERDAY!). There is no way now that he can pass for the quarter. Aside from the cursing and refusing to complete a chill time for the lovely phrase, "I just heard from the hospital that I have AIDS.", I was told eat his sh..., suck his .... and to f'off... all in a 30 second time frame. He came back from resource, made a 30 second attempt to complete some work (I had given him 2 worksheets just so he could DO them even though his class wasn't doing them... I know better than to try and get him to participate appropriately in board or discussion activities!)... then says, "I gotta take a piss." I just stared, so he goes, "ooops... I mean, I gotta take a urinate." I stared some more, and he finally says, "Well, will you take me to the bathroom?" So, off I go to let him in...and while we walked there I hear all about the size of his bladder. There was a parent in the lobby, which is right off my classroom, by the way. Fortunately,t he parent of a child very similar to this one in behavior. Then... Oh, my... he started RAPPING... yes, you read that right, he made up a rap song!!!! about pee! Two staff heard him along with me, so he comes out of the bathroom to see me, and says, "I'm not some kid! I'm a grown *** man, you don't need to wait for me in the bathroom!" I replied, "I wasn't waiting: I was enjoying your song." We get to my room: the door is always locked because we've had serious issues with people stealing things last year and this year. Its really annoying... they even steal out of our student's breakfast boxes, or the chips I buy for rewards. I started to get my key to unlock the door, and the kid looks at me, and starts screaming, "OPEN THE DAMN DOOR! OPEN THE FREAKING DOOR, WOMAN!" I just smiled at him, and walked away. He kept insisting, and I told him he needed to ask respectfully and politely or we'd spend the rest of the period in the hallway. We did. He refused to ask nicely. He did get in at the very end because my TA opened the door to go somewhere with the other kids... He ran in to save his folder of work (which he swears he doesn't care about), becuase I told him that if was still on a table when class was over and he was gone, I was putting it in the recycle bin. He never got his point sheet signed and tried to forge a 10... if he'd given it to me he would have gotten probably 4 points. 4 is way better than zero.
And, in case any of you were curious... my supervisor did it again. Willy the Worm yanked the conference out from under my feet today. His excuse is staff shortages... we had one of our industry staff members go to the hospital. I'm really really sorry she went, but are you telling me that the teacher she is with can't handle the students she has (not more than 25 across the 7 or 8 periods she teaches) without my TA? No, she cannot... because she has... CATERING! WHO CARES? And as you know, this is NOT the first time my supervisor has done this. Its the 4th time this year. I was told to choose which day I was going to attend.
And I'm just waiting with baited breath: I can't imagine that next week will be any better in terms of staffing, and I have my yearly appointment with my reproductive endo. She does the whole internal exam and lab work... which, damn it, HURTS! I also bleed a lot when she does it, no matter how gently she tries. I'm usually uncomfortable for a good 24 hours when she's finished, which makes working the next day kinda tough!
Now, mind you, the info tech teacher went to a conference in March... a student of ours won an art contest. The IT teacher does NOT TEACH THIS CHILD. She knows him, but so do I. She went to the conference, along with the industry teacher that does have him (retail), and the art teacher that entered his work. WHY did she need to go is beyond me, but add that her TA was out that day. Her TA is never out, so I'm sure it was either planned or an emergency. Our supervisor covered her classes. For the whole day. And he can't do that for me for one day so I can attend the conference?
Oh, geez. And other staff think I'm being a b*t`ch because I won't willingly give up going to this conference. I'm not a "team player". My supervisor knows how involved I am with the CEC. Nobody else from our school is even a member, let alone involved.
So, I went to the gym after that (I didn't leave the school till 5:00)... I swam for nearly an hour straight, and then did the balancing thing. I didn't get home till after 9:00 because I talked with other residents downstairs.
I sure didn't get to respond to anybody else... sorry. I don't feel like being a team player here now, too. :snork:

Hey!
Gosh, I wanted to skip school today. Ah, no such luck. I AM IN THE BEST MOOD DESPITE THE FACT THAT TODAY TOTALY SUCKED! I DID MAKE IT TO THE 170'S TODAY. 179.5. Ok, even if I weigh 181 tomorrow, I made it into the 170's today. My body must think I have just started this diet again, since my food festival last week. I don't know and I really don't care.
This is gonna be short because it's almost time for the amazing race to come on. We still haven't eaten dinner. It's awful. This time thing is wreaking havoc on me. It's ready now though, but I figured if I didn't come on real quick, my hubby would take over as soon as he gets home.
I am a little irritated because inspite of losing all this weight I am like in between siizes and still can't find anything to wear. Since the weather is warmer I am running out of clothes to wear. I actually went to a thrift store when I was at my mom's and bought a couple of pair of shorts, however, can't wear those to school. It's getting harder and harder to dress. It is 8 pm and the temp is 76. I love it!
Ok, Hey to everyone sorry no time to get personal, but we still have dinner and stuff to do.
Maybe I can sneak on later!
Pam

Talk about a looooooooooooooooooooooooong day. DD and I went to my school together. She basically took over my class for me. The logistics of the field trip went very smoothly, but the show sucked . Beauty and the Beast was certainly nothing like the version I saw in MGM/Disneyworld. It was also very little like other versions I've read. The only thing this show had in common with Beauty and the Beast as I know it was that there was a "beauty" and a "beast." The kids were quite confused! But hey, the trip was free. It got us out of the building for a day.

After school, we had a faculty meeting. DD sat in the corner and colored. My colleagues couldn't believe she was even in the room because she was so well-behaved. Then, I took her home. She was exhausted.

I had no time to eat dinner. I had to deal with problems with the refinancing of our mortgage then fly out the door to my night class. I got 29 out of 30 points on my latest paper at school. So, so far I have 104 out of 105 points in my class! At least all this hard work is not for nothing. The sad thing is that I haven't learned a friggin thing, and I only have 5 classes left!

So now it is 8:47pm, and I am about to have a slice of frozen pizza for dinner. I am so tired. I shall catch up on everyone's posts tomorrow.

Ciao!

Hey ya'll!
No...Don't you all worry any! I've not embarrassed myself at school as I get my body back into "you can't get to the bathroom without begging favors of those with rooms nearby" mode! "Things" were better today; however, after reading Mousie's post... I may consider performing a rap song tomorrow as I try to escape to the restroom.... and I may even have to borrow one of that kid's lines..."I'm not a kid. I'm a grown *** woman SOMEBODY come to my classroom so that I can get to a toilet!" I may also have to add please! MOUSIE... I have to agree with Paisley. Your, dear friend, are a SAINT! STMouse! ....and I've told you more than once. You have GOT to get a new job!

So the Kids on the Bus have gone crazy. Gone crazy. Gone crazy!
Sing with me... The kids on the bus have gone crazy. And Ginny is next to go!
Gin, I'm telling you. Wouldn't do it! Couldn't do it! They would have to walk, car pool or SOMETHING... cause YOU my friend are next in line for sainthood! I just feel sorry for the poor little sweet kindy girl who is stuck sitting next to those big old creepy 5th graders! (Be kind to the Littles! It isn't their fault that Littles grow up to be jerky creepy BigKids! )

Summer, Sorry to hear that the show wasn't what you had hoped! Several years ago my inlaws gave me tickets to go see "Beauty and the Beast" when they toured! Wow! It was a WONDERFUL, um, is the word, rendition (is THAT how you spell THAT?)! Complete with the most adorable Chip! The show was FARRRRRRR from free....but was a wonderful choice of a live show to give a 7 year old boy some "culture"! LOL The other kiddo and I went to see Annie... which was also a lot of fun! Last year, I went with a bunch of girlfriends to see MommaMia! Sang and danced like crazy.
Don't you LOVE when your kids show off in a good way?! Glad your DD's behavior at the meeting was noticed!

Little Niagra Falls, Congratulations on turning the heads in Walmart! Had to giggle as I also live in a fairly small place and Walmart is THE only place to go on the weekends! And yes, EVERYone is there and EVERYone walks thru the place "visiting" with everyone.... So sad, huh?! But, glad you are able to strut your stuff in there! ...AND your dh noticed!

Paisley, Everyone has answered you regarding your questions about your friend. Isn't it sad? My dh once worked with a bunch of women. Various ages, stages, shapes... but everyone of them dearly loved my dh! There WERE certain "girlies" that I was totally jealous of with regards to their looks...however, I HAD to trust him and our relationship and have faith! (The hardest time to do this was when I was pregnant with our youngest child...and I had horrible those wonderful hormones making me EVEN crazier than normal! ...AND the ONE chick was sooooooooooo good looking!!!) I did have friends at school who told me that I was absolutely crazy to trust him. Both of these friends were divorced due to a husband who had cheated! So... maybe your friend's wife has some past experiences that cause her to be CRAZY! :: Good luck! You are a good friend to try to maintain the friendship within the parameters that the wife allows! (Can you sorta get to know her and be her friend too?)

Pam, congratulations on seeing new numbers on the scale! Keep up the great work!

Did I forget anyone??? Hope not!

............This time change is KILLING me! It is already after 11pm... arghh!
I've still got a bunch of stuff to do before I sleep!

take care people!
~R~

Hey!
I am soooooooooo glad that tomorrow is Friday. Robyn: This time change is about to kill me as well. I have been dragging all week. Had an ok day today. Yes, the kids have all lost their minds.........However, I am hanging on to the last bit of sanity I have. We were building 3-D models today. I had no incidents, nobody was stabbed etc.....Until, fourth block came in. Thought at first I had made it through a whole day without some sort of tragedy, which would be a first, but nooooooooooooooooo. We were cleaning up, it was almost time for the bell, and some maniac cut this girl's hair with the scissors. We have no idea who did it. Although she did say that the girl near here probably did it because she said that she could use human hair to make voodoo dolls. The hair magically disappeared. You couldn't really tell it was cut, but the girl was pissed. Not that I blame her. I told the principal on my way out the door. Who just shook his head and said Can't wait for that call to come in.
Well, I am so pooped and need to go start dinner. So, I'll be back later.
Pam

One thing to add to the lovely bathroom discussion.......add to that that you are surrounded by 59 wacka doo kiddies....the nearest bathroom that you can stop at is miles away and you have a ton of driving to do yet. Don't you hate having to plan when or if you have to pee???

Anyway....I am bummed. Saw some pictures of myself from last week (ok, I was carrying an extra # or two of TOM water) and I look horrible.....fat and bloated.....feel like giving up here.....know I won't but I am still bummed.
I'll come back when I am in a better mood.
Ginny

The conference is wonderful. I did a TON of walking, which I KNOW I wouldn't have been able to do not all that long ago. I was even, with lots of careful, slow steps, able to get on and off the Light Rail trains yesterday and today. I walked a lot last night, too... I was invited to a reception and enjoyed myself. I couldn't eat anything: they were carving chicken, and there was lots of other chicken around... the smell did me in. I drank ginger ale. Today was also great: I went to a lot of poster sessions, some lectures, did a lot of networking, spent some time wandering the expo room (where there are all kinds of people selling things)... more networking. And... some interviewing. There are many schools there with HR staff for hiring. I brought updated copies of my resume and my references notebook... I have done one interview already, and have contacts at 2 other schools... Including the county that I left to come to where I am now. They'll hire me back, that isn't an issue... but I don't want to go back if I can't get a position I want. I'd rather go somewhere new, if that makes sense. I can't take anymore of my supervisor: he approved, and then today, denied my leave request for next week. I'm not taking a vacation, I'm having a medical procedure done.
I attended 2 committee meetings for the Developmental Disabilities Division, one that reports on legislative issues and critical topics. My issue with academic needs for my students is apparently a common concern: I've been asked to write up a list/paragraph/ideas for a possible paper on integrating state academic standards with functional learning. I'm thrilled by the prospect... its probably the biggest issue that I come back to time and again, and one of the reasons I get in trouble at times.
I've also had an offer to possibly write up some of the service learning activities I'm doing now and have done in the past for an article.
But, I can't go to the conference tomorrow, and must go to work... and meet with the director of the school and my supervisor.
Eating has been fine: I'm not doing very much of it. I had a cheese and vegetable tray at the hotel when we did the DDD stuff. It was so cheap: $1.99!
G'night, all.

We've made it to another Friday. I thought today wouldn't end. I swear someone must have drugged me this week. I feel like I have sleeping disease. It's been all I can do to get home lately. I'm really looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. I was planning on a short nap, but either the phone or doorbell was ringing from the time I got home.
I have been awful with my eating today. I ate candy at work, drank an extra pepsi when I got home, as well as some shortbread girlscout cookies which amazingly have been in the drawer since February. Oh, then we had pizza for dinner. I did only eat one piece of cheese pizza, but ate a couple of crazy bread.........You know what? OH well, it will be ok. I just have not had any energy. Today, I ate a big piece of chocolate hoping it would give me a sugar rush.......Nope, didn't work. Drank the pepsi thinking the same thing. Nope........Still as tired as I was.
Mouse: Sounds like a busy conference. Glad you're doing well on your eating plan. Seems to me like when I am away from home, I tend to eat more, or choose unhealthy things to eat. GOOD FOR YOU! Your supervisor seems like a real ! Hope you'll get some rest this weekend.
Ginny: Poor thing.......Sending you a hug. You know I feel just like you do. I went shopping because a lot of my clothes are way to big.......So, I try on clothes after clothes, can't find anything that fits me right. I thought you know this feels the same way as it did when I was twentyfive pounds heavier and couldn't find anything to wear. Atleast I had a lot of cute spring clothes to wear! Isn't that awful? I'm sure you look fabulous. Here's my problem. If I look at myself in the mirror, I don't see a change. My husband can see it, my coworkers have commented about it, but to me I still look like the same fat blob I did three months ago. I guess I have this distorted view of myself. I don't know. I was mad and couldn't find anything to wear to work the other morning because it was gonna be 80 degrees. So, I was frantically throwing clothes around the room trying to find something to fit. Complaining and groaning and grumbling. Just like I did when my clothes were to tight. I don't know. I must be going insane. Maybe I will get lucky and find something I like this weekend. You know it's funny, now that I can fit into an eighteen, I am having a hard time finding that size. But sure can find a whole lot of 22's. I'm doomed!

Robyn, Kerry, Summer, Paisley: Hope you guys have a great weekend. I have decided to be a bum.

Sorry to babble.
Pam