Afternoon, everybody. :)

Robyn: I have to agree with other posters: I cannot imagine anybody doing that to a child. It really makes me angry, because children don't deserve to be treated that way, and if you're GOING to treat a child that way or you don't have the ability to manage/take care of a child, DO NOT GET PREGNANT! There are many, many ways to prevent pregnancy! Use them! I swear, I'd like to inflict my endocrine disorder on every adult that has ever abused a child! That way, we could be sure that they'd never have another child to abuse!
Kerry: Sounds like fun... Most of my friends are, at this point, married, so I'm usually the odd one out. Actually, most of my friends are married and have or are about to have children. :shrug: I only have one friend left that is anywhere near me and isn't married. I have two friends on Long Island that aren't married or dating at the moment, but Long Island is kinda far from VA/MD/PA.
Ginny: :) I did have a good evening, but was too tired to get very far in the book. I took it with me today when I went out to grab breakfast and go to the gym... but I can't read while I swim or lift weights! There are definitely times where I wish I could get audiobooks cheaper!!!! My mom bought the book on tape, but you need it on CD or to download it to put it on an iPod. I had tried audiobooks on CD (I bought John Grisham's last book on CD) when I was still using the CD player and the bag: it didn't work very well. It was hard to hear, because the sound quality in the waterproof earphones isn't great, and each CD only holds about 45 minutes to an hour's worth of book. So, I had to change CDs multiple times at the gym (once after lifting, once after swimming), and that meant opening that darned bag a lot. It wasn't complicated, but it was finicky. I just gave up and finished the book in my car. And then gave it to my mom to enjoy. I'll buy it in paperback when it comes out, because I do want to READ it. Listening just isn't the same, somehow.
Sue: Good idea, actually... and something that I have been doing more often. I went to Barnes and Noble after the gym (its right next door, woe to me since I love books AND sugar-free vanilla frappucinos with skim milk!), and bought my drink and a chocolate chip cookie. I still have the other scone, but it wasn't very scone-ish. It was more biscuit-y... a dry biscuit, at that. I also found a all-cheese berry thingy... it iddn't have any crust, and I'm allowed to have cheese, so I bought that for Monday or Tuesday night. I'm still pretty pleased with my carb levels... I'm under 100 most days, which is a huge change from when I started this. And I think I can honestly say that the nausea was from too many carbs, because if I eat too many, or I eat something that I didn't realize had as much (like forgetting to ask the chinese place to leave out corn starch, or not realizing that the cheap soup I bought one day used wheat flour as a thickener), I get nauseated again. And it hits me faster, because I'm eating so few refined carbs.
Well...I need to go grab my laundry (its about time I did it!!!!), and then I'm going to read! I also have 2 videos from NetFlix to watch: Mean Girls (not sure I'm going to be able to sit through that given that I teach high school AND that I was not exactly in the popular crowd... so much so that I refuse to go to the high school reunions!), and Quantum Leap, Season 3. :) But, I have to work tomorrow, and I have to go to Virginia on Tuesday, so I'm not sure when it will get watched!
:mouse:

Sue: 13 WEEK LONG SUMMERS?! That's it, I'm moving to Michigan!!! Woohoo!!! Well, I caught a peek at next year's calendar, and without snow days, we will only have 8 weeks...which means we will end up with only 7 weeks since we always have at least 4 or 5 snow days (not built in to the schedule) every year. So, I'm trying to make the most of this 10 weeks. You enjoy your extra 3!

Kerry, I don't know why, but men get to taking us for granted pretty easily. Focus on YOU. Do something that is fun...like a weekend getaway. Buy yourself something small but especially just for YOU. If you are busy with yourself, his lack of attention won't bother you. My mother always told me, "If you don't take care of yourself, nobody else will." You are an inspiration to all of us with your success with exercise and weight loss. You have a successful career as an educator. You are the world's best stepmom. You deserve to be treated like a queen :queen: and if he isn't gonna treat you like one then do it for yourself. ENJOY!!!

Ginny, the concert sounds like something I would have enjoyed. My DH and I are both part Irish and enjoy that kind of thing.

Mouse, hey the scone was whole wheat...it had to be healthier for you than the Dunkin Donuts version.

Rob, have you read the Evanovich books co-written with Charlotte Hughes? I just finished Full House and just started Full Tilt. Who is the author of the Bubbles books?

Well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only person who has high expectations for people's behavior. Do you ladies remember how our parents taught us "good manners?" Does anybody do that anymore? I know I do, and I've seen a couple other people try to reinforce it in their children...but it seems like a dying tradition. I do it in my classroom. In fact, I refer to my 3 & 4 year olds as "Ladies & Gentlemen." The first couple of times they hear me call them that they smile kind of funny and look confused. But when they get used to it, they hold up their heads taller and walk down the hall quietly with pride. :smug: There is something to be said for "high expectations." I mean, if you expect nothing, that is exactly what you will get back. :p

Yes, I am enjoying my summer, but silly me, I'm worrying over the stuff I'm not accomplishing. I wish I could truly relax without worrying about stupid sh*t. I am scheduling fun stuff and really enjoying it. But, when I wake up the morning after, I think, "Oh God, look at that pile of clean laundry that needs to be folded...look at that fence that needs to be painted...yada yada yada." This week is really booked with cheerleading camp and play dates. Somewhere in there I really have got to do something besides dishes. My house is clean...well the rooms that my friends see are clean...you should see my bedroom and spare room...woohoo!!! I did finally get to the gym. I accepted the fact that I got screwed over the whole aquasize thing, and need to find another way to work out. So, I returned to my old regime. :p At least this way, I should have a routine in place that should be easier to continue during the school year.

I have not lost another pound...I was a NAUGHTY GIRL. I finally succumbed to PIZZA :jeno: . It's been a f*cking month people!!! And let me just say something...it didn't taste as good as I thought it would. Hmmmm. What's with that? Pizza is my favorite food, and I've been craving it like mad. Yet when I finally gave in, it wasn't so hot...at least not as good as my imagination had built it up to be. Chocolate is still the all-time winner. I can now have dark chocolate, and it is a really special treat for me. So, next month I will try pizza again, but I may have to drive 30 minutes to have it at my favorite brick oven hole in the wall pizza joint to really make it worth my while.

Anyway, I'm tired of not losing, but now that I'm exercising again, I should move the scale.

I had to come back, and post. I watched Mean Girls this evening, and I mean, I really watched it. I actually put down my book about 1/4 of the way through the movie. Anybody who has watched a movie with me at home will understand how strange that is! I just can't sit and WATCH a movie. In fact, I wish I could use the exercise bikes or the treadmills/elliptical trainers at my gym. They just bought a bunch of them that have DVD players! Hmm. Maybe I'll invent goggles with little TV screens. Anyway...
Underneath the comedy, it was surprisingly true. Things haven't changed much from when I was in high school, except that its easier to be nasty in an anonymous manner now! I've never taught in a public high school, and middle school is pretty tame. It is rather amazing that we didn't have a whole lot of the stuff that was in Mean Girls at my last school: you'd think with kids with emotional disturbance you'd have MORE of it, but it just wasn't there. That's one reason I think that the teachers at my last school really didn't have a clue! Some of the stuff they'd bust the kids for was ridiculous! Like, the bathroom thing I've told you guys about before. They just don't understand what real teenagers are like. I'm starting to be one of the people that the "kids" that work at the pool are talking around. I heard all about a first date the other night, and I caught myself actually telling one of the instructors that he needed to realize he was probably about the same age as most of my students! He's 19! It doesn't seem that
long ago that I was that age myself!
And this does all tie back to Summer's comments on manners. I have seriously high expectations of my students, among them polite and respectful behavior. I don't call them Mr or Miss as some teachers do, but I do get their respect for the most part, and I frequently get them coming to visit my classroom. And, that's enough of that, or I'll start to cry because I'm still angry that they didn't let me say good-bye.
Okay.
Something cheerful: I was just elected secretary of the Maryland chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children. How about that? ;) Okay, I don't think anybody ran against me... And I did check to make sure they don't care that I'm moving to Virginia.
They didn't.
I think I'll go back to Harry Potter for a bit, then go to bed.
:mouse:

Mouse, CONGRATULATIONS!!! HOW COOL ARE YOU?! :cool:

hello folks...
this will be quick... i'm having difficulty sitting down comfortably....
you would think that at my ripe old age of $) (convert THAT code!) i would figure out that my albinio booty can NOT tolerate not just TOO much...it can't tolerate ANY sun! So, this morning before anyone else woke up, I threw on my bathing suit and went out to mess with the boy's pool....it is a little thing...but big enough to need chemicals and cleaning...so I did the maintenance and decided that I would get in for just a few moments.... It was glorious! Clean, I did it myself! Silent, except for birds and the dragonflies that were buzzing around! I could float without the fear of being drowned as the boys giggled! You know! I stayed too long. I stayed too long on my stomach....and evidently more of ME was exposed than I thought.... so, I'm off to bed... to lay on my stomach and read! Dh is reading the new HP book....so it is going to be a bit crowded in there! ...but I can't SIT on the, um, overexposed parts comfortably.... How stupid can I be?! (Mannnnnn that visit to the pool was wonderful!) :) I think my nose must be burned too...cause as I smiled at the thought of the pool my face hurt..... oh geesh...more freckles!

When I can sit down longer, I'll be back! It is times like these that I sure do miss my Mac Laptop (from the old school district!)!

take care!
meeeeee

Morning,
Well I am off for another week of classes. This is the start of my 3 weeks of classes and than it will be time to start getting ready for my class to come back to school. Where has my summer went? Huh I am not ready for this year to start.
Hope to talk to you more this evening. If I am not brain dead from sitting in class all day long. :)
Have a wonderful day!
Kerry

Quick hello........
Morning all!!!!!
Robyn- hope you are feeling better..just a quick reminder.....sunscreen should be applied before sun exposure. Go slow today, my friend.

Kerry- this summer is so short.....can't believe you have only 3 weeks left. Where did it all go??????

Mouse- well, we all knew you were exceptional too!!!!! Congrats.

Summer- so, today is a new day. Glad you got those nasty urges out of your system. Start today with a clean start.

Sue- my times that I am alone are rare........hope you can sneak in a few minutes for yourself, and maybe some golf.
The dumb phone rang at 6:15am......you guessed it I worked. No more today though.
Get to stay home and play mommy.

Gotta go pick up Dd from tennis. See ya
G

Oh crap! My computer just shut itself off when I was just finishing my post. I HATE it when that happens! You would think being married to a computer geek, I wouldn't have those problems!

Mouse - So did you like Mean Girls? Is it suppose to be funny? I don't usually find the humor in movies about high school anymore. I guess when you get to experience the real thing, it's not too funny. If it is about the underdogs winning though, I might enjoy it. Congrats on your CEC position. Does this mean you get to go to the national convention free?! Not sure where it is being held this year but it usually is someplace nice. I am only to chapter 12 in Harry Potter. I just keep getting interrupted. That is one good thing about camping, I get lots of reading done.

Summer - Don't worry, I'll take full advantage of every week of summer! Actually it ends up less than the 13 weeks since I go in to hand schedule my students (that way I can prevent potential personality conflicts before they happen and match learning/teaching styles) and to get my lesson plans situated. I like to have about two weeks worth done so I can concentrate on all those unexpected things that come up the first few weeks. High expectations or lack there of is becoming a real problem at our school. Our principal is a dumb jock and only hires more of the same. Anyone with high standards is considered a b*tch! It is getting so bad that I am considering doing schools of choice when my biological children get to high school. We just had a huge buy out last year, so we lost some great teachers.

Kerry - so are you taking any classes that you will actually enjoy or benefit from? Most of my undergrad and masters level classes were a waste of time but when I was taking classes towards my Masters plus 30, I got to pick what I took. Those classes I actually enjoyed.

Ginny - I sure hope that you are saving all this extra money you are making this summer to buy yourself something special that you wouldn't have been able to have otherwise!

Robyn - Two words Aloe Vera! It works wonders, as the song says, "don't ask me how I know"!

Okay, I am off to make lunch for my little darlings. Then I am going to devote some time to Harry. If I don't have time to get on tomorrow, which is likely, I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week. We are heading out camping at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and won't be back until Sunday night.

Sue

Sue- where are you going camping? Does your family really rough it or take advantages of some comforts (at this time in my life, I think I am into comfort!). Hope you got some Harry time in.....the reviews I have read of it are that the book is great and resolves a lot of unanswered questions. As for me and the $, I am hoping it will help pay for a fix up or two around the house- as baseball season winds to a close (Ds's last game is Thursday) and we have just a few short weeks until fall ball begins (both Ds and Dh play fall softball/baseball......ugh). So Dh is actually willing to take on a home improvement project or two.......:). So I guess the $ will go for a new 6 panel door. But do not despair.....the $$$ my kiddies gave me at the end of the year is getting my hair done on Wednesday. I usually let my hair go to the dogs for summer- but not this year. Wed I am going to my WW meeting and then off for my hair and whatever $$ I have left will be spent on me. Enjoy your camping- hope you get some peace and quiet and relaxation in!!!!
Ginny

Okay sisters, I need to make a "drop and run" post. I will be back later or tomorrow to communicate with you all more fully.

DD had a play date without me at my teacher friend's house. Originally, I was supposed to go along, but she insisted I could use some time alone and would watch DD. Whatever! Who's gonna argue with a little time alone.

When I picked her up 3 hours later, I got this attitude from my teacher friend and this look of doom, gloom, and concern were on her face. Apparently, they went in the pool, had lunch, and she expected them to go back in the pool. It makes sense since it is hotter than Hades and so humid, it may as well be pouring rain, only it isn't. DD (for some unknown reason I have not been able to get out of her) didn't want back in the pool. They played in the playroom, and "apparently" DD got deep into pretend play. That is not unusual for her, and 99% of the time her friends join her in pretend play. My friend told me she has an amazing imagination. Yeh, that is normal of children her age. So what?! Well, either her daughter doesn't like to pretend play or DD didn't include her which is what my friend implied. She also implied that DD's behavior was weird. As an early childhood educator, I can assure anyone with any doubts that pretend play and having a good imagination is not only normal but a good thing. And, unless her daughter did something mean, I can't imagine DD excluding her from playing with her. DD has more friends than I can count on two hands, and these are rich, active friendships. In fact, she always gets a note on her report card that her socializing with her friends is affecting her grades in a negative way. :p I'd rather have a social butterfly than a kid who is introverted. Anyway, I didn't like her implications about DD being mean or weird. When I asked DD, she said they were all playing together. I don't get it.

Now, when my friend's daughter was over the other day without her mom, while playing in the pool, her daughter (as you might remember) wasn't sharing or playing nicely, and I hesitated to reprimand her because of my new friendship with her mother. When they played inside, they didn't play with DD's toys or pretend. Instead they ran around playing hide and go seek which is not allowed in the house. I wonder if my friend's daughter doesn't like to pretend or doesn't know how to pretend because she has never had a chance to.

I am about to get an earful because I am having dinner with my teacher friend in a few minutes. I'll be back with the rest later or tomorrow. If you have any ideas, I'd surely like to hear them.

ok. so we spent the last 17 days fighting with Verizon and DSL...and it is now officially over! DH has to reinstall the modem into the computer (Tech Support had him take it out...told him (and he knew this was crap...but...he was desperate!) to take it out...it was interfering with DSL...) before I will have access again.... I will be so happy that this is over!

so...um...hit the wrong button...sorry...
I will be MIA....but will return .....eventually!

take care....
meeee

Robyn- hope you are happily bathing in Aloe........and back with us soon. Glad that your Dh has the patience to wrangle with a computer. Mine leaves it all up to "moi" and then spends tons of time bellyachin' about it too. Oh- he has plenty of brains to do it- just not the patience......patience is not his forte. Anyway, hope your wit and wisdom are back with us soon. And hope the sunburn goes bye bye.......

Summer-Yes, I remember very well the play date the other day, and you holding your tongue. I might be tempted to (other than blast this new friend....but that would accomplish little) during a conversation with her- while she criticizes your Dd (BTW, I love imaginative play.....send her down here to NY state!) kind of chalk up this past weeks experiences to a learning experience with the two girls. And mention that to your friend- that perhaps your two daughters can be guided to spend half their play time doing what one wants/ half doing what the other wants. Or even better- now that the 2 girls know each other better.......see if they can find some common ground of what they like to do. Forgive me, I forget Dd's age....my youngest is 9. I know at 4-7 she and her best buddies were really big into imaginative stuff.......dress up with anything they could scrounge up.....and hours and I mean hours of dancing around the house as pretend ballerinas to the classical CD's I have. Guess what I am taking entirely too much space saying is that as opposed to responding to this "friends" perhaps judgmental comments I would simply tell her that everyone got to know each other better this week- and maybe the next play dates will go easier. (and you will make a date with your eyes open.....knowing the kind of garbage you might face).

I am venting......Dh just totally shut me out, insisted that he knew how I was going to finish my sentence, and of course, my response (the one he thought I was going to make which could not have been farther from the truth) was alll wrong. So I will kill some time on the computer.....should have served him Franco American for dinner instead of the good stuff I made.
Nuff bellyachin.........see ya later.
Ginny

Good evening!

Robyn: ALOE, m'dear, ALOE.
Summer: I don't know what to say; I don't have a lot of experience with little children.
Ginny: I see your new title, and have even more respect. I drive a school van a lot for community trips, and its nerve wracking. I'm always petrified I'm going to have an accident with the kids in the van!
Sue: You sound more and more like me (except for the camping and golf. :grin: I'm serious!). I doubt I get to go to the convention for free; I did get to the one here in Baltimore, but that was probably the straw that broke this mouse's back as far as my last school. I am really involved with CEC, and had been planning to get to this convention for YEARS ( knew about before I left Fairfax!). My supervisor was just so awful, and he and the team leader claimed they had no idea I was involved with CEC or that I wanted to attend so much. That is total BS. The conference in 2006 is in Salt Lake City, so its really far. Travel would be a definite issue. 2007 is in Kansas or Kentucky, I don't recall which. I do note that mostly college students or staff attend the annual convention and are more heavily involved, it seems. Makes sense, they have more flexibility in their schedles for the conference.
I'm also working on my master's + 30... hopefully it'll result in a PhD, but the dissertation kinda scares me. I enjoyed my master's coursework, but I pretty much designed my own program. I was already full certified, so I combined two programs at Hopkins: Transition Planning and Severe Disabilities.
And my day today... Oh, wow. I called the one school in Loudoun back today, and discovered the position they wanted me for is really, really severe disabilities. Profound would be a more accurate term, I think. I have all the skills they're looking for, just not at that level. We have apparently had a disconnect and skipped over the MR category when I said I didn't want "mild LD". I am going to meet a principal tomorrow that has a position for MR open at his high school. I can only hope.
Then I came home to a huge mess. Imp has been burying the crumbs from his food dish under the rag rug. I do pick the rug up at least once a month and clean good, usually when his dish is empty. i must have missed it last month, so there were all kinds of creepy crawlies. UGH! Between that, and the construction in the parking garage, my poor apartment is filthy. The construction crew is sandblasting the concrete on the garage, and I live on that side of the building, right next to the garage! My window is so large, it only goes completely totally shut if I put the lock on. You need a ladder to get to the lock, so I have to get maintenance to do it... I usually just leave it unlocked since I'm on the 4th floor... I gave in and asked the company that is doing the move-out clean for me to come tomorrow and give the place a good scrubbing. I can't stand it anymore, and I'm not home to do it! It hasn't been really clean since before the camping trip because of my ankle anyway.
I spent an hour and a half just straightening up Imp's mess anyway. I also completely remade the bed... Changed part of the litterbox... I swear, that cat. He's lucky I love him so much, because the messes he makes at times drive me up a wall!
I need to go to sleep... Mapquest is routing me through 495 to get to the new personnel office for Loudoun, which means I'd better leave super early so I get there on time. The traffic, you know!
:mouse:

Hello All,
Sounds like we all had an interesting day today! I spent my day being bored to death about the Social Studies Strandards. I have another 4 days this week and two follow-up days in the fall. Than I will be considered HQT. I will have a week of Science classes next week and the following week Math classes. Than I will have two weeks before my school year starts. I thought about going in for a little bit each day the first week and half the second week and than try to take it easy the half week before school starts. Plus my parents and sister are planning to come for a visit sometime during the week of the second and third week of August. So it looks like my summer was offically over yesterday. Oh well atleast I will be a HQT and next summer will be able to enjoy my summer hopefully. I think I might just save a couple bucks out of every paycheck to go away next summer to somewhere nice. I think I deserve it after the way I spent my summer. Enough bellyachin' from me.
Ginny, I am sorry you had to work again today. Glad you can use the money to put your dh to work around the house between ball seasons. So are you going to go for a new hairdo on Wednesday? I need to get my hair cut. I basically let it go this summer and can't stand it now. It is getting to long and has a mind of it's own to curl one way on one side and anohter way on the other side. Hope your evening got better.
Summer, hope you were able to have a nice dinner without getting hurt or mad at your new friend. Hope you were able to figure out what went on today with your dd and her dd. I don't know what kind of advice to give you at the moment. I think I will have to sleep on that one and come back to it tomorrow.
Sue, hope you got some time in with Harry. I am hoping to read some before going to bed tonight. I think that would help me unwind and relax from my long day of sitting in my chair for about 8 hours. We even had lunch in the same room. I can't handle all that sitting for so long. So where are you off camping to now? Hope you have a nice camping trip and it is not too hot and rainy.
Robyn, hope you are feeling a little bit better from your burn yesterday. Did you take it easy today and not over do it? Hope you were able to sleep some last night.
Pam so how is your db doing? Did you get your son's car fixed yet? Hope you were able to enjoy your weekend doing something relaxing for you.
Mouse, congrats on your appointment. That is awesome news! You are truly an amazing person all the extra things you do. Hope you have a safe trip tomorrow to VA.
Well ladies, I am off of here. I think I will go read a few pages in my book and go to sleep at a decent time tonight.
Talk to you all tomorrow some time between my class and my TOPS meeting.
Nighty Night!
Kerry

Ginny - We are camping at Higgins Lake which is about three hours north of where I live. It is a beautiful huge lake. I don't rough it by any means. After my divorce, I did use a tent because I had no money to buy anything else. Then I up graded to a popup, which was really nice (air, bathroom) but I just got sick of having to put it up and down. This year (after saving $ for 5 years) I purchased a regular trailer. It is 26 ft, has a separate bathroom and bedroom for me, full kitchen, central air, entertainment center, etc... So no, I don't rough it! We really don't spend very much time actually in the camper as camping is about enjoying the outdoors but it is nice to have all that if it rains. Plus I don't think I could sleep without air or heat depending on what was needed. The older I get, the less I can tolerate! I am glad you are going to spend some money on yourself. What are you doing with your hair? I have been growing mine out a bit this summer and with this humidity it is quite the curley sight! Actually I kind of like the curls as I don't have to mess with it. Just scrunch it up and go! Sorry your DH is being a butthead. Men can be so high maintenance!

Summer - ummmm let me just think about alone time for a minute...... Did your DD seem upset at all after the last playdate? If not you might want to let it go. I think it is normal for everyone to think of their children as being in the right and any child who is different, wrong. You know a mother lion will do anything to protect her cubs! Your friend may have just been upset that she couldn't go back to the pool. You could have been sensitive too knowing that her daughter was out of control and you didn't say anything. I think if you enjoy the women's company and the girls are enjoying their time together, you should let it go. If your DD doesn't want to play with brat girl, then just avoid having them together and make plans just for the adults. I know that is easier said than done sometimes. Not sure I am making my point here, my brain is mush and the correct words are coming out! I think an active imagination is one of the best things a child can have. Without imaginations how can people invent new things or enjoy books for that matter!

Robyn - I hope you get your computer problem fixed quickly. That is one nice thing about having a computer geek for a husband. I can usually get the computer fixed the day it breaks. Plus we always get upgraded when a faster computer comes out! Now if we just didn't live in the middle of no where and could have access to cable....

Mouse - I am with you. I wouldn't want to work with the profoundly disabled. I think those teachers end up being more nurses that educators. When I first started thinking about teaching special ed, I actually wanted to work with moderately disabled students more along the sheltered workshop (vocational education) line. Then I worked in a resource room my senior year and liked that too. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you will get the classroom you want.

Kerry - I am so envious that you will be highly qualified. They just notified us at the end of the year that the state decided we weren't qualified. At first they said you were with a Masters degree. Now I will have to take the test in the fall. We have to take the elementary test. I am not sure how tough it is. I wish there was a study guide like you have for the SAT. Saving for a trip next summer sounds like a good plan. Even if you decide against the trip you could splurge on something else. My DH and I both get a set amount of money for "fun money". He blows every penny but I save most of mine. That is how I saved up for the camper. I think my next purchase will be a small cottage or even just a lot on a lake somewhere. I guess I'll be saving for awhile!

Okay, for sure this will be the last time I'll be on for awhile. Enjoy the rest of the week! I'll miss you.

Sue

Hey!
Greetings from rain promised but get none state! It's been so hot here the past few days. Heat index of 110 yesterday 105 today. The pool water is like bathwater almost. Bluck. We have gotten a lot of thunder and lightening, but alas no rain to speak of.
Sounds like everyone is keeping super busy. I on the other hand have done nothing wonderful to speak of. I have been reading a lot. Too hot to really work in the yard.
My dh, although I would call anything but darling at this point, had a huge blow out this morning,over the "three" dollars in gas money that I gave my son to get to an appointment this morning. His car has been in the shop for three weeks, it finally came out, was still messed up, took it back it's still not right. So, he hasn't been able to work. He has worked some with his friends, but his job requires a car. My husband, however, refuses to let my son use one of our cars. We have three sitting in the driveway, because he says he doesn't want them torn up. OK, well he needs to stop *****ing about him not being able to work, when he won't even let him use a car. Then, he leaves and covers his ears as I was yelling out the door. What a :censored:
I was planning on running away, but I don't have any gas in my car, no money, and no clean clothes. Think I need to do laundry. All those factors
lead me to believe that I will be here and just not talk to him. It's all stupid anyway.
My neighbor, with the best intentions, brought over a little sweet kitty today. I told her no. My dog would have loved a litty snack this morning, but I had told her before that I wasn't going to get another cat, and besides I don't want a "replacement" for Sassy. So, as hard as it was, cause that kitty was adorable, I turned it away.
I was down to 173.5 this morning. That's where I was when school let out. Geez, talk about lack of progress here.
Anyway, sorry to not get personal. You guys have a great day. I'm going to clean off some of this evil energy I have and then spend the afternoon in the pool. And for those of you without teenagers, JUST HANG ON!
Pam

Lots to reply to today...........

Pam- can't blame you for feeling it is too soon for a kitten.......or any cat for that matter. Sweet of your neighbor though to offer. Interesting comment to those w/o teens, hang on to the little ones (which is the way I feel) or tighten your seatbelts for the ride....guess I feel that way too. Hope you got to relax some.

Sue- you are probably off camping now or getting there.....hope you have a wonderful time. Enjoy!!!!!! The camper sounds great.

Kerry- hope your TOPS meeting went well for you. You absolutely deserve putting away a few $$$ for a getaway for yourself next summer!!! The spring break getaway I had was delicious.....never, ever did anything so selfish in my life and I had a blast. You deserve it and as long as it does not throw your family budget into turmoil I would go for it.

Mouse- don't blame you one bit for not opting for the severely disabled kids.
If that is not your calling- it would be hard to work with them. I drove a route at the end of the school year for 3 severely disabled kids- totally nonverbal, seisures all the way home, the most functional of the 3 disrobes constantly....not for me either. But some are given that calling, and bless them for what they do. Sorry about your sweet (?) Imp being such a piggie.
I love my monsters too, and sometimes they are worse than the kids. Beware- the full moon cometh.......Fidget is already tearing the house apart. Hope Imp behaves.

Taking the kids to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Gotta do something to break my mood, which really is not that bad. I lost my WW buddy last nite to pregnancy.....happy for her (hope all goes well for her, she is 40 and has already lost one pg) and the other bummer..........WHY did Patricia Cornwell kill off Benton!!!!!! Cried my eyes out last nite over that one....and how does she ever recover the Scarpetta character after that blow??
See ya later.
Ginny

;) ;) Okay, when we discussed the play date at dinner, it only got worse. My friend really thinks my DD is some sort of freak for being so imaginative and being able to entertain herself. Some of her eye-rolling and rude comments made me want to smack her, but I restrained myself and ordered a Baja Bob's low carb margarita instead. I'm getting the impression that her DD does not engage in pretend play and she either thinks my DD is weird because she is so imaginative or is just plain jealous because of it. Who knows?! She clearly isn't going to be honest about it, just critical and defensive. Her choice. (It should be mentioned that my friend's DD has never played at anyone else's house except mine, hence she is very inexperienced with children outside of her extended family...the people who think she can do no wrong.) I have no doubt that DD was fascinated with the opportunity to play with someone else's toys and that when her DD wouldn't participate that my DD went on playing. Is that good manners? No. Had I been there, I would have reminded her that she was there to play with the girl, not her toys. Was DD possibly exhausted and in need of quiet time after 3 hours of cheerleading camp and 2 hours swimming? Maybe she tuned her out because she was too tired to argue. DD isn't talking. I will let it go. I officially give up, but my eyes will be WIDE OPEN. Thanks for everyone's feedback.

Ginny, did you enjoy "Charlie...?" Did you have any obnoxious children/parents in your audience? Teeheehee... :lol: I just adore Johnny Depp.

Pam, be nice now...don't you get me started with worrying about what the future will bring. My 7 year-old already thinks she's 16. We talk about a lot of stuff at her level. I am trying to establish an openness between us so that just maybe we will all survive her teens without drugs, pregnancy, or any other kind of ****. If she is anything like me, it will be a breeze. My mom had it sooo easy with me...zero rebellion...oodles of communication...Oh, and tell ya what, in support of your feelings, I won't speak to your DH either! :lol: Girls rule, boys drool. ;)

Sue, thanks for your insightfulness.

Kerry, I'm sorry your summer is essentially over. But you know what? We all have summers like that sometimes. That is what makes the good summers great. You will accomplish much. Don't forget to take care of you!!!

Mouse, I know that you will find the right position eventually. I worked with severe/profound students when I was a para. It involved changing diapers on high school students. Those three years were unbelievable. :p

Rob, How are you feeling? Sometimes a lukewarm bath in baking soda will cool and soothe the skin after a burn. I've tried it all. I like aloe, but I prefer something that will actually cool the skin like solarcaine. Feel better.

Today was fun. DD had cheerleading camp this morning. She is in the advanced group which surprises me because her gymnastics skills are certainly not advanced...she still does a cartwheel with one bent leg! :lol: No matter how much she practices, that one leg doesn't want to be straight. Taking gymnastics once a week is good for giving her "muscle memory" for various moves, but it isn't intense enough to really improve her skills. I'm not sure what to do...private lessons might be too much especially during the school year...and I don't want to be like those crazy stage mothers. Anyway, they did stunts in their cheers today. She wanted to be on the top of the pyramid, but instead she had to do three cartwheels in a row through two pyramids. It looked really cool (except for the bent leg :lol: ) and I could tell she enjoyed it. Afterward, we went out to lunch with my best friend and her kids. Then we went to a science museum. It was great.

I am also awaiting the rain to alleviate the humidity. It is hotter than Hades here!

Evening Ladies,
Sounds like everyone had a good day, just very humid. I had an okay day at class. It was too long and our presentators don't have us doing a lot of hands on activiities to keep us focused. Good thing I have wonderful table partners who keep me entertained. LOL Well I went to TOPS tonight and gained a pound. But that was to be expected since last week was my TOM and I have been sitting a lot more the last two days. So I will just have to try harder for next week.
Summer, sorry to hear that your friend was a little rude to you last night. But you did the right thing by listening to her and having your eyes opened by her comments and actions. Now you will know for the next time. Glad to hear that your dd did a wonderful job at Cheerleading camp today. That is way cool!
Sue, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable camping trip. Hopefully it wouldn't be too hot for you. Sorry you just found out at the end of the year about your HQT status. I know I should be looking happy since since I have my Reading and Language Arts done. But I still have to sit through Social Studies, Science and Math classes. But when I go back to school this year, I can look at my co-workers and say that I spent my summer in school, so I don't have to do a lot of the coursework during the school year. Plus if I get the college credit now I wouldn't have to worry when I go to renew my certificate next time. I was short two hours this year, so I am waiting on the college to send me my grades for this summer so I can renew my certificate. I have tried talking to the lady in the graduate office and she never returns my phone calls. So looks like I will be renewing my certificate in August. Sorry about my little rant.
Pam, sorry to hear that you haven't had any rain. We had three major thunderboomers yesterday evening. We have had rain for the last five days. and it is hotter than Hades. Sorry your dh is not being very understanding right now. I swear males go through a TOM too. My mom and mother-in-law agree with me. Hope your day got better and you were able to burn off your evil feelings.
Mouse, so how did your trip go to Va? Hope your meeting went well with the principal. I will keep my fingers crossed for you!
Ginny, did you enjoy the movie today? I think I might save my money and than see if my sisters and mom want to go somewhere next summer. We have always talked about doing that and never have just had a girls vacation. Supposely we are suppose to go on vacation with another family next summer. They wanted us to go on a cruise with them over Memeriol Day weekend this year and we couldn't due to money and school still being session. So they told us start saving for next year.
Robyn, honey how are you feeling? I hope you have recovered somewhat from getting your buns toasted the other day. Hope your computer is fixed soon. We miss your witty comments.
Well I better go and some things done around the house. Talk to you all later.
Have a great evening.
Kerry

'Morning!

Kerry- that lousy pound will be off by next week! Love your great attitude, and trying harder next week. It is so tough to stay motivated to move in this miserable hot weather. Great idea to save up some $$ for a getaway. Even if your plans to go with your sisters and Dm do not materialize, you still have something set away for something special anyway.

Summer- Bravo to you for keeping a positive attitude about your friends less than kind one. Did she ever think that your Dd's response (to play even more imaginatively) was a backlash to an attitude that she was telegraphing?
As you said, your eyes are open now. I have little experience with the cheerleading crowd- but have heard from others that it is extremely competitive. Glad that Dd is enjoying it. Guess if this became her "life passion" I'd look into lessons. The science museum sounded like fun....with the ages of my kids it is hard to do something together like that.

Well, Dd's crummy old bf (the one who dumped her right before 3 finals and Christmas.....my Dh's favorite guy........ :lol: ) has decided to control her life again. She wants to go visit an old friend from elementary school who is in the Navy. She would be going to some sort of "Crabfest" (help me out here, Mouse, I hear it is in Maryland) and driving down with his mother- a woman I know fairly well and trust. So Dd would be palling around with this friend (and that is all he is- he is a nice guy and a hoot to be with but I doubt that Dd would ever be serious with him), his navy friends and his mother. Just over the weekend. So Mr Magnamous.....the ex tells her that he will never speak to her again if she goes (no big loss....as a matter of fact when can I start celebrating?). Mr Wonderful,aka Mr Magnamous, aka the creep dumped on her lap that now he thinks she is the girl for him......forever and ever.....but he feels so strange making such a big decision at the age of 19.
Perhaps this bozo needs some time in the Navy.......me thinks he needs to grow up a ton and leave my Dd alone. I hope she goes to Md despite the moron.
Got my walk in this am.....some of the humidity is gone, but it is still hot.
WW today and then my hair cut. BTW- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was great, I love Johnny Depp was great.
See ya later.
Ginny

Hey Good Morning!
Well, we finally got some rain. Boy did we ever. My dh and i just finished fishing part of a tree (it took two of us to lift it) out of the pool. Half the water is gone, and I hope the pump still works. Now, the pool is full of leaves, sticks and evil little gumballs. For those of you not familiar with the sweet gum tree let me just say they suck! Guess I know what I'll be doing this afternoon. We are refilling it now, then this afternoon I'll have to get all the other garbage out. Oh well.
This morning jumped on the scale to weigh myself, and had lost twentytwo pounds almost overnight. Promptly after, the battery died. Darn! It was nice seeing 151. ha :D
Ginny: Did you enjoy the movie? I asked my little boy if he wanted to see it, but he said no. He said I already saw Willy Wonka. I guess we won't be going. I want to see War of the Worlds myself.
Summer: Sorry about the whole playdate thing. It sounds to me as though your friend is a little overprotective. Do you think you all can still be friends?
Kerry: Summer school! Sounds like a bummer. I will be sitting in class the week of August the eighth. Then, I'll have four days off until we have to report back to work. It's beginning to fly by now. Before I know it I'll be crying every morning when the alarm goes off.
Sue: Camping? I haven't been camping since Girl Scouts. I think I am too accustomed to ac and tv! Sounds like fun though.
Mouse: Have you found out exactly what you will be doing this year?
Robyn: How's it goin?
Oh, yesterday, my brother in law called to tell us that he and his fiance have decided to get married on the celibrity cruise lines. Well, since dh is best man, (hmphhhhh) he is going to pay for both of us to go on this four night cruise! The only problem, is that they are getting married in early March. Not only will I have to take four days off from work, but have to either beg my mom to come and stay with my nine year old, or pull him out of school and take him up to Virginia Beach. The cruise leaves from Miami, and goes to the Keys and Kazamel (no idea how to spell that). The only think we will have to do is pay for the airfare to get there. So, he needs to know by the end of August what are plans are. I know my husband will be able to go, but I will have to see what I can do. I would love it. I have never been on a cruise, and believe it or not, I have never even flown in an airplane! So, that would be quite exciting. Might give me some motivation to lose more weight. We'll see. I can honestly say that I will be pissed if my husband gets to go and I don't! It always works out that way. I have personal days, however, we are charged half a days pay for those days.

Brother just got out of the hospital yesterday! I guess there will be a home health care nurse coming in for a week or so. He still has some infection in this incision site, and they had to put wicks in to drain it. So, she will be coming to clean and repack the dressings. I know he is so glad. It was a long three weeks.

Gotta get busy!
Pam

Hello people......

Well.......we are back online at screaming quick dialup rate! (NOT!) You know, with Dh having worked for NASA as a computer geek for 1 month shy of 23 years.... we are not accustomed to having computer problems (of any sort) that he can not solve. Our friend who works as a field tech for Verizon cable came over last week with his Verizon $$$$ laptop that he uses multiple times daily to solve Verizon problem in the field. He was unable to solve our issues AND told us what needed to be done on THEIR end. Even with this information, Verizon was unwilling or unable or just plain old UN ...... Enough on the subject! Sorry.

Tomorrow I go to the hospital to have some tests done. I go back on Friday for more.
This isn't exactly the way I had planned the summer....

BEFORE I go outside.... This is when I've decided that I need to put on sunscreen. Duh! Thanks for the pointers! LOL

Gotta run.....
take care,
meee

Pam, congrats on getting some rain. I hope your pool is okay. We haven't gotten any yet, but it was breezy and less humid today. However we got the better air quality, I don't know, but I'm surely glad. My friendship? There is no such thing as a perfect friendship or a perfect friend. Some are worth keeping, and some need to end. I've eliminated all of the toxic relationships in my life except family. This new friendship needs to be further explored before I would end it. I will avoid leaving my child at her home in the future. I will try to have play dates that include me being there so that I can intervene. They are on vacation till August, so there won't be too many more opportunities for them to play anyway. I will instead pursue the friendship between the adults. I have a VERY BUSY life particularly during the school year, so if need be, we can return to being friends at school only. Oh, and if I were you, I would move heaven and earth to go on that cruise. You can make it happen with determination.

Ginny, you are correct, cheerleading is VERY COMPETITIVE. My niece got a full cheerleading scholarship to attend ASU. We get to see her on tv during games. If DD ends up being really good, her college could get paid for as well. She has been in gymnastics since she was three. And because of the competitive nature of cheerleading, as soon as the clinics were available for first graders, we enrolled her. By starting early, hopefully we will give her a headstart. And, the thing is, she loves it. The moment it stopped being fun, we would stop. Your DD's old BF is sick and twisted. I hope your DD is smart enough to see how scary he really is. She really needs to stay away from him. It is a shame he hasn't done anything to allow you to get a restraining order against him. Emotionally controlling and abusive boys like him are training to be even more dangerous men. He clearly has no self-esteem, and needs to manipulate your DD to make himself feel better.

Kerry, congrats on the great attitude about everything.

Nothing new, just another day of cheerleading. I have to clean the house and do some gardening when it cools off a little. Take care one and all.

You guys REALLY get talkative when I can't make it online! :)
I'm not even going to try to respond to 2.5 pages of personal notes, sorry!
Let's see if I can't break down my last couple of days for you all.

Trip to Virginia Day:
Left here at 7:00. Reached the personnel office with TWENTY MINUTES TO SPARE (I had to be there at 10). Yes, it took me 3 hours to drive 65 miles. I nearly didn't make it, either, because Mapquest didn't send me to the building, it sent me to the center of Ashburn VA. It couldn't find the street address (too new, I guess), but let me think it had. As if that weren't enough, the session was ACTUALLY scheduled for the old office, and I could have gotten there much faster, much easier... and gotten to have lunch with my new Red Cross friends since they are right down the street from the old office!
Next up: The Interview.
Made it to the school, showed off my Powerpoint presentation, sans music because it wasn't cooperating still, and then asked 3 specific questions:
1. Jewish holidays: District policy is they'll let me off, but I'm required to use sick leave for the hours (I didn't realize that fasting and going to temple made you sick??). Hwoever, the principal has the option of just asking you to make up the time, and since I always do clubs and stuff with the kids, I try to do this. If not, I'll start the year with 5 sick days. I joined the sick leave bank, and that costs 2.
2. Grad school: All the high schools are from 9:00 to 4:00. I was able to get 2 classes back to back at Hopkins this semester, which means I'll only have to go one day a week instead of having to decide if I want to drive there 2x a week or just getting 3 credits. I'm told that school loads my students on buses at 3:15... so I could leave after I get them on the bus, and MAYBE make it on time. Principal couldn't answer me, but he's in charge of attendance, and special education.
3. Hiring decision. I wanted to know when they would make their decision about the placement. I was told that the prinicpal likes to interview at least 3 canddiates, I'm the first one, and he hadn't notified personnel yet that he wanted to interview. Today, when I emailed personnle to ask for a list of the other open MR positions, I was told they wanted to hire me for that building. Well, place me. I'm already hired.
I did get the SD position thing straightened out, too. I've worked with and taught that level of student before (mostly in summer school), and we have had students that level at my last school because of a traumatic brain injury (we had a new student come in just before I left, in fact that is really seriously low functioning due to being hit by a drunk driver). One of my summer students was a master at moving his wheelchair to get what he wanted! One memorable day, he ate glitter glue! He wheeled himself over to the table, and grabbed it from the center, then proceeded to down 1/4 of the bottle. I wrote a polite note home, and the response back was, "we'll be on the look out for 'glitter poop'."
The Gym: I went to my new gym yesterday since I had some time, and discovered that I'm not all that fond of the swimming pool. Its too shallow. I can swim laps, but I won't be able to do water aerobics. The "deep part" is the center of the pool, and its barely five feet. I am not sure what I'm going to do, but I don't think I'll stay there past the first year... sooner if I can find another place. The weights are awkward too, because you have to go down steps. They have an elevator, but its not in a good location and may not be available when I'm at the gym.
The Doctor's Visit: I'm not sure what miracle happened, but my endocriologist was actually on time! :) She's great, though, so I don't mind waiting. She said that I look much "healthier" and she can see some changes, even if the scale hasn't changed. That was nice to hear... she said my hair looks a lot thicker too, which is great. Other than the lump in front from the disorder, the thing that bothered me most was my thinning hair. I used ot have very, veyr thick dark hair. It was so thick it didn't braid or curl or anything. Its still pretty thick in back, but it looks better up front now, too. Not as nice as it was, but better.
She was pretty pleased with the food logs too... I figured she'd be upset because I couldn't get it as low as the Atkins or South Beach Phase 1's... but she wasn't! She said that I'd done a good job cutting stuff out, and my diet looked a lot healthier. I am allowed to add some bread as long as its high fiber and/or reduced carb, and multigrain. So, I found a multigrain low-carb bread at TraderJoes. Its 7 net carbs per slice, which is pretty good.

And that's about it. I'm still working my way through Harry, we were asked to work over-time today, so I stayed till 5:00. We finished our 3 set of prompts, and are on to the last one. We might actually finish on time! Which is amazing, because we were supposed to have 11-14 assessors, but only have 7. I read 57 cases today between 9:00 and 5:00.

Glad you're all here and doing moderately well. Kerry, I want to remember to talk to you about the HQT stuff. After I finish my certificate at Hopkins, I'll be highly qualified in Virginia, but PA and MD are mysteries to me. Especially since I'll be teaching functional life skills in all academic core subjects!

:mouse:

Quick update.....
Pool is back to normal after hours of leaf removal and vacuuming. Atleast I was able to work in the water when it was so hot. Tomorrow we are going to saw the rest of the crap up. Yuck.
Summer: I understand about the friendship thing. I sort of pick my friends. I have several close friends at school, my best friend happens to be the receptionist. Most of the teachers will stab you in the back after they promise you their trust. So, I'm very careful there. I try to get along with everyone and most everyone tells me their troubles, but usually I just listen...
I am going to try to go on this cruise. I really really really want to go. Did I mention I was excited about going? Keep your fingers crossed.
Ginny: You and I must have been posting at the same time this morning. I certainly hope your dd will go on that little trip. I see to many girls following these boys around. My son's girlfriend is the perfect example. She would move heaven and earth for him, he on the other hand I'm sorry to say, "hangs out with her" when he isn't busy. It's sad, I really like her. I have even told her she needs to grow a backbone, and tell him how she feels about things. She just says I know and goes right back to the same old thing. Then, I have to hear her complain, if something doesn't go right.
Mouse: We get one sick day per month. Five personal days, which we have to pay for the sub on those days, and so many annual leave days, which we can only use when the kids aren't there. We don't have a sick leave bank in this system. I think it's a good idea myself. I hope you will find something out definitely soon. It's hard getting used to new things, ie..pool etc... when you are used to something completely different. I hope it will work out. I'm impressed, power point for your interview. Way to go. You make me feel like such a lazy slacker.
Nite ya'll
Pam

I'm moments from heading out the door ....I've got an appointment over at the hospital to have my innards checked out... I couldn't sleep due to the anxiety of it all....and then got up a full 1/2 before my alarm went off...

I was making another doctor's appointment for August 1st and dh heard me. When I finished, he told me that I had to call back and rearrange it. I gave him THE look....and he went on to explain that we're going to Hatteras on July 29th and wont be home until August 3rd! He was going to surprise us! We will be staying at our good friends' brand new house in Avon! I'm so darn near excited I can't see straight! :)

Gotta run..... people are waiting to prod me! ;)
Take care,
meee

Robyn, I hope your "innards" aren't sore from being prodded :p . Are you okay? Congrats on the surprise trip to Cape Hatteras!!!

Pam, glad your pool is back. In this kind of weather, it is a must.

Mouse, I have to say, mapquest has steered me wrong or taken me the longest way to places a couple of times. I try to only use it in emergencies.

My friend, DD's godmother, came to cheerleading camp to watch DD. DH had the day off and filmed it. It was the least eventful day of the week! :dizzy: So, they didn't get the full show. Tomorrow is the last day when they will do their big presentations to the parents. My friend went out to lunch with us at a diner. Boy I was wanting to eat some junk, but instead I had a chicken caesar salad. We spent the afternoon in the pool. It was a nice day.

Evening.
I finished Harry. I can't say anything. Don't ask.
We have .93 of a day worth of reading to do at the National Board job, so they've been giving us some overtime... That's nice.
Robyn: Hope you're insides are okay, and have a GREAT time on your trip!
Summer: Awesome... sounds like you're having fun at the pool and with your daughter's camp.
Pam: We don't even get annual leave type stuff: we're off when the kids are off. Most places don't have sick-leave banks, and this one won't be much good to me: you can only draw on it AFTER you've been out 30 consecutive days, and if you're out of your own sick leave. I can't imagine being out 30 consecutive days... You're talking to the women who worked with a broken hand, her foot in a cast, and in between out-patient ankle surgeries. ;) I've also worked with multiple cases of bronchitis and pneumonia.
(Yet, how telling is that I had over 100 hours of sick leave saved at my last placement, but when I got sick in April my supervisor reported me to HR? Whatever).
Oh, yea... the :censored: :tape: decided not to give me the rest of my stuff back. They swear they can't find it, and if they could, they'd return it. We all know that is utter BS. :mad: :rollpin: :mad:
I will talk to you all later: my projects for Saturday are buying boxes to pack my stuff in, and starting to clean out the bookcases.
:mouse:

Mouse, I can't believe they won't return your things. That would really get me where I live. I don't know about you, but my first year teaching, I spent $3000 on supplies. Over the last four years, that number has dropped to more like $500-1000 a year. But, half of that classroom contains my belongings...books, games, furniture, CD's, art supplies, etc... If my school system pulled that bullsh*t with me, I would go freakin' ballistic :mad: . I'm really sorry they stabbed you in the back but continue to turn the knife. Let's hope that it is true that "what goes around, comes around." :p

Take care.

Well, this is a good sign. Nobody has been here all day so hopefully that means that the majority of you enjoyed this beautiful summer day. :flow2:

Today was DD's cheerleading :cheer: camp finale. SHE DID SO GREAT!!! When it was over, she asked me to sign her up next time. I'm so glad she found a physical activity that she loves and is self-motivated to do. I have friends who keep signing their kids up for stuff but haven't found the activity they love. Maybe they are overbooked and have trouble deciding. :?:

Afterward, I took her shopping and found some BEAUTIFUL fall clothes at the Gap. She looked so cute. I couldn't resist.

The insurance person at my chiropractor's office said the insurance denied my appeal, so the only way I can receive treatment is by paying cash. Yeh, right!!! :lol: :crazy: :rofl: :lol3: What are they nuts?! The insurance company sent me a letter requesting current documentation which the nurse was supposed to fax over. I don't know if this chick actually followed through or if she just bullsh*tted the doctor and me cause she was too friggin lazy. :dz: Or, the insurance company may not give a sh*t and deny me no matter what they fax over. Who knows who is telling the truth?! :mad: I left a very angry message on the machine of the claims person who makes these decisions. Then, after realizing that I'm most likely screwed, and still in a lot of pain which is preventing me from getting much exercise, I called my internist to get the name of a good orthopaedist. The one who treated me when I broke my foot was a d*ckhead, so I want someone competent this time around. I called, and they gave me an appointment with their podiatrist on Thursday. My concern is that they will either try to just give me pain meds or want to operate. I refuse to do either. I am hoping that they will do physical therapy. Then, I will get the same treatment I was supposed to get from my chiropractor, only it will be covered by insurance. (Let's hope!)

We swam in the pool, gardened, and read today. Outside of the horrible insurance problem, it was a great day. I hate when the real world invades my lovely summer days...

Evening.
We finished the scoring today... We actually finished fairly early! Pretty amazing.
I have to take the picture of they took of us off my digital camera and send it to some of the others.
Good news is that the gym needs me to guard Saturday and Sunday, 7 hours total, plus swimming lessons. Changes my plans for Sat/Sunday, but that's okay. I'll get the boxes and stuff figured out.
As for my stuff: Yes, Summer. When I was in my inner city school in Pennsylvania, I bought everything myself. I didn't get anything from them except some tables, chairs, and my desk plus a carrel for my teaching assistant... And those I had to drag out of the basement and clean myself with the help of some friends! I left that district still owing Citibank at least $4500. That included buying my own whiteboard, but didn't include the money I spent on gas when I had to go pick up items that I wrote grants for (like the classroom computers... which were pretty non-functional and went to a friend of mine's print shop where they donated time and materials to fix them for me), or when I went around to local places trying to get them to let us come in for free. The bowling alley, the gym with the indoor pool, all the grocery stores, the mall, McDonald's, Pizza Hut.
ALL of it is stuff that I owned and had taken super good care of so it would last ... like paying an office-supply store to drill holes in and cut the bindings off of books and put them in a archival-use binder so that the originals would LAST. I just can't believe that they "can't find it". It was all there the morning I left my classroom.
There is no way that somebody stole all of it out of my room without also being an employee of that place because the classroom is right off the main lobby, with lots of traffic in the hallway and security cameras! I know the stuff is either still there or they divided it up and parceled it out to other staff. Quite a bit of had my name on it, so I'd like to see them explain that (like the math textbook. The school had the same book, so I wrote my name in mine; I bought mine when I was in Fairfax because I wanted to use that book with my kids instead of the standard textbook).
If it was stolen, I want them to file a damn police report so I can report the stuff stolen to Allstate... I have so much stuff that I had a rider added to my renter's insurance to cover my school belongings; it made sense when I was in low-income and inner city areas! And Allstate would have a damn field day with those people especially when I give them a copy of the letter saying they aren't responsible for the protection of my belongings, and tell them how I wasn't permitted to take it with me when I left.
In fact, that is exactly the route I would take if I hadn't just hit the renter's policy for all the stuff in my gym bag.
The school is counting on the fact that the amount of stuff is around $400. That puts it squarely in small claims court, and I have to file in Baltimore City. That would take forever to come to court, and there is no parking, plus I won't be anywhere nearby.
But some of the stuff "missing" that they "Can't find" was cataloged by their library. I have half a mind to ask one of my friends to try and check the videos out and see if they are really missing or it they are there. I'm sure they are there, and I'm being told a huge freaking lie.
:mouse:

Morning,
Just a quick drive-by to say hello. I hope everyone has a great weekend! I finished my Social Studies class yesterday. I just have to go for follow-up classes, one in Oct. and one in Dec. I have to babysit our friends little boy today, so I got out of going to the ball games. Than tonight I will probably have the evening to myself since my dh is taking the boys to the demo. derby at the fair and his daughter is going to spend the evening with her grandma. So I will have the house all to myself and I plan on getting an adult liquid beverage and curling up with either a good book or a good movie. Well I better go and get ready for the day. Talk to you all later when I have more time to be personal.
Later,
Kerry

Hey!
I tried to post yesterday but in the middle of the post the power went off and so I never came back on. I am pissed off. Two people had called me saying that I was moving to the sixth grade. I have been in the seventh grade for eight years at this school. So, I tried to call the principal and couldn't reach him. Finally, I emailed him and this was his reply.



You are moving to sixth grade math. You are certainly welcome to a math
book(TE) and what other materials you need. Both rooms are ready.
However, the sixth grade hall has not been shampooed yet. I am not
sure when they will get on that. Call......... next week and I am sure
she will be glad to accomodate you and let you know when you can move
your things.
Hopefully, you will enjoy the sixth grade. I know you will be very
effective there and will strengthen the program in that grade level.
I am looking forward to this year. Get some rest.


I feel like I am being separated from my family or something. We all got along so well, and I really loved the people I worked with. We all tried to help each other. The thing is, my school feels everything is so top secret, they don't tell you anything until a couple of days before you go back to school. They moved four of us. Two went to eighth grade, I am going to sixth, my friend is having to teach 6, 7, 8 Social Studies, so she will not have a common planning with anybody. It sucks. I'm going online to see if I can get the standard course of study for sixth grade Math. Iknow it's a lot of fractions. Bluck. I am used to higher level......

Something scarey happened here day before last. My husband was outside cutting up that big tree branch that fell in the pool. He had just hauled all the debris to the curb for the trash. Some guy walked up the driveway, and said "Sir, can you help me? I have an emergency. " My husband went through the house, grabbed the phone, and out the front door. Well, the guy just kept standing on the driveway and my husband was standing at the bottom of the front steps. He asked the guy again what the problem was and the guy said come over here I need to show you something. My husband said what? Do you have an emergency and need me to call someone. The guy kept telling him to come over to the driveway. He didn't go. So, this went on for few minutes, and the guy started reaching into his pocket my husband acted like he was gonna call the police and the guy took off. He actually did call them, and about thirty minutes later they came, and said they were going to look for him. Normally he is at work, but had a day off. That just shook me up. They think the guy was trying to lure him away so he could do something to him and go into the house. I was gone to a friend's house, and my little boy and his friend were asleep on the couch. It really made me so nervous. Gosh, anything could have happened. So, I have been very paranoid for the last couple of days. WEIRD!

Well, I am going to run to Office Depot, because they have pencils on sale for a penny a piece. I am going to take advantage of that.
Have a good day.
Pam

Wow, Pam! Glad everything is okay and nothing happened!
Pencils for a penny, folders for 10 cents. At this point, I'm refusing to buy anything for my classroom. I know I shouldn't take it out on my new students, but ...

I need to get ready to go to work. My t-shirt I need for lifeguarding and my name badge were both in the gym bag that was stolen. I didn't get enough warning from the gym to buy a new one. And I know that we don't have any extras as the gym itself.
:mouse:

Mouse, There is no doubt that your things are either right where you left them or have been distributed to other staff. You know, even though you would prefer not to file a claim with Allstate, just for kicks it might be fun for you to make the school think you are going to do just that. If they think that they have to go to all the trouble of filing a police report on your behalf for your insurance, your things might just magically appear. If your things weren't stolen as they say they were, they certainly won't want to get the police involved. Heck, you could probably file that police report yourself. Doing that doesn't mean you have to file a claim. It just isn't right that they should get away with this bullsh*t. Even better, go on Judge Judy!!!

Pam, that stranger in the driveway thing is scary. Thank God your DH had the phone in his hand so he could call the police. And, thank God he obviously listens to his inner voice. Although I live in a town in the suburbs, my house is on a main road. So, I don't like to be in the front yard except to water my plants, and to have my annual tag sale. I prefer to stay in my fence-in backyard. If I do have to be out front, at least I have nosy neighbors, including my nextdoor nightmare (who is actually in a mental hospital as we speak) which makes me feel more secure since there are a lot of witnesses. When my DH and I were first married, before we bought our house, we rented in an affluent area. I used to walk three miles a day in the neighborhood. Once a man stopped his car to supposedly ask for directions. I was across the street, and he spoke very quietly and waved for me to come over to his car. I got this feeling in my gut that he was gonna pull me into his car, so I shouted the directions and ran the opposite way that his car was facing. I ran up to someone's front stoop, and he finally took off. Now, this neighborhood was supposedly one of the safest in the country. Kids played unsupervised all the time. So, between that experience and my allergy related asthma, I prefer not to take walks outdoors. What a shame, huh?

Kerry, enjoy your time to yourself!!!

Today we have a birthday picnic for my DH's uncle who is turning 80. So, it will be one of those days that I will have to make small talk with people I hardly know, and of course, deal with my MIL and FIL. Goodie Goodie Gumdrops!!! :p

Hello all....

Summer, Glad that your dd enjoyed (and did GREAT!) at her "end of camp thingy"! :) The wedding that I attended in June was for a long time cheerleader! I've watched her grow up from a cute little elementary girl practicing her cartwheels to THE ONE that they threw in the air while she was a student at Markette! Cheering was a great outlet for my friend! She and her husband went to Markette. Their wedding was filled with annoyingly perky and cute cheerleader friends who were very very kind to me! LOL At one point they did some University cheer thing that actually sorta scared nonMarkette and old me! LOL
The thing with the insurance and chiropracter totally stinks.... Have you considered trying to find an osteopath to help you with your medical issues?
Hope that you are doing well at the picnic....I feel for you...Inlaws, 80 year olds AND picnic foods! Hope you survive! It is toooooooo hot here for a picnic! It is so miserable outside UNLESS you're in the pool. I even went out and got in the darn thing yesterday for a bit! (I've decided that I'd love to have a bigggg one...one end for me...and the other for my goofy, splashing, screaming boys!

Mouse, I would have to do *something* to get them to give me back my teaching stuff.... I have several ZILLION invested in my classroom...and would be desperate enough to need to go the insurance route to get them to react. Can your friend who is still there get to your old room? Perhaps he/she could be of some help. Also, maybe you should just show up with the police to go in and get your stuff.... Why can't you go back there to get it yourself again? Sorry... I've got CRS badly these days!

Pam, the incident with the strange man must have you petrified! You hear and read about all kinds of junk happening....but you never think that it will happen to you or yours! Thank gosh that it was your husband with his 6th sense ....and not your youngest and his friend! This tale will be told over dinner tonight...so that I can remind my own family of how sick and scary this world really is! Bleech! OH and how you found out about changing grades doesn't seem right. I'm sorry that it happened this way...AND personally, I'd die if I had to teach 6th,7th OR 8th grade anything! I'm so glad that you love what you do! Those kids deserve teachers...and if it was left to me...well...they'd not have one! BUT, mannnn it sure stinks to be moved like THIS. See what happens when you are a strong teacher? (This is how things worked at my old school....and made me crazy!)

Kerry, enjoy your alone time! Last time I was alone was last weekend...when I carried it to far and got a sunburned backside..... but ::sigh:: it was sooooo nice out there! Why on earth are they playing ball with the weather being so unbearable...Oh wait... maybe you are in Alaska...I can't remember... Maybe in Alaska, ya'll aren't sweating due to the 98degree with 89% humidity! ::shrug:: At least YOU don't have to go tonight! LOL

Gin, I'm sorry that your dd is going thru such crap! ....at the whims of a jerk! He obviously doesn't want her to have any fun...or be around REAL men who might treat her nicely. Never speak to her again?! What a blessing...of course, I'm sure that dd doesn't see this as a good thing... 19? He will be like this at 29, 39, 49, 59, etc.... Can she see this creep for what he is? Poor baby! ....AND Poor MOM! Hang in there...

Hope everyone else is doing well....

This coming week I have the following to look forward to:

Monday: My 4 year old niece and I are going to have a date. We are going to go shopping for her birthday presents AND just the 2 of us are going to go out for lunch. I've not figured out all the details...but...I'm excited. She is adorable.....We've been writing to each other this summer... I will send her a note and a picture from a coloring book for her to color and send back. Last week, I actually colored a picture of TinkerBell ....She called me and told me that "You color better than any growned up woman I've ever seen!" LOL

Wednesday: My teacher friends from my old school are going to come visit my new school (and new classroom...with my ZILLIONs of packed boxes). We are going to "figure out" where stuff should go..... then we are going to go to a foofy girl place for lunch.

Friday: My family must make their every 5 years pilgrimage to the Geneticist. THEN later that night we will pack up and drive to THE BEACH!!!!! :) :) I'm so excited, I can't see straight! LOL

Gotta go. My youngest is about to microwave something...and um, I had better get in there to supervise.... for a multitude of reasons! ;)

Take care,
meeeeee

I'm in a pissy mood. I managed to survive the picnic, barely. After an hour, I was soooo ready to go. I just kept downing Mike's hard lemonade (the low-carb version). My BIL came with his son. His wife is "crunchy." For anyone who is a vegetarian and complete and total purist, I apologize for my comments in advance. Now when DD was an infant, I breastfed her for a year, and her baby food was mostly organic. Then, when she was around 3, I got real and let her try McDonald's. Now she is just like any other fusspot kid who only wants junk. Anyway, my BIL's family only eats "whole foods." Apparently steak isn't whole? Tee hee hee. They believe in home-schooling. No absolutely never ever can they watch TELEVISION BECAUSE IT IS EVILLLLLLLLL!!! :devil: I admit, we should watch less, but zero is taking it a bit far. This child doesn't know how to play because he isn't exposed to normal children. DD tried her darnedest today to engage him, but it wasn't gonna happen. She ended up entertaining herself. Anyway, I can't carry on a conversation with them because they are soooo judgemental about anyone not living their lifestyle. When my BIL was talking about his wife being diagnosed with Epstein Barr, my MIL suggested that maybe SIL was lacking certain nutrients because of her diet, all the crunchies at the picnic chimed in that pure vegetarians get ALL THEY NEED FROM THEIR DIET. God, the poor woman is in her 70's, lighten up! Then when BIL mentioned that he has diabetes, I asked if he had been eating too many carbs and sugars because they don't eat meat, and I nearly got my head chewed off by the crunchies. I can't be around militants from any group. I'm just your average 40 year old who loves both healthy and unhealthy food; enjoys good tv in moderation; loves a good novel; and believes in the merits of public school teaching our children how to be a responsible member of society. If we shelter our children from real life, what will happen to them when they become adults?! So, being the minority at a crunchy party was NOT FUN.

Oh, and one more thing, I believe in the merits of shaving your legs and armpits!!! :lol:

My best friend is also pissing me off. Backstory: She was born into an affluent family, married into an affluent family, but her DH is a spoiled rotten, lazy, bum who didn't finish college, and after a series of bad paying jobs was hired by his father's bank. My friend was slumming when she became friends with me, a middle class college girl about to graduate. In the beginning, being her friend was an adventure rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. But, reality set in when I found myself more comfortable in the kitchen chatting with the cook instead of sampling the appetizers in the living room during a cocktail party. I love my friend, and I especially love her pretentious mother who apparently respects me for being a hardworking, determined woman with an excellent work ethic. Whatever. 99% of her other friends are affluent. They live in an affluent area. When invited to her home, we enjoy most of her friends...those of whom aren't snobs. Her DD is my DD's best friend. Here's my issue: Her DH, although nice to us when we are in his home, always has an excuse when invited to our home. It doesn't matter if it is DD's birthday party, our annual St. Paddy's Day party, my birthday party, or a BBQ. He always has an excuse. The amazing thing is that he manages to have time to socialize with all their other friends, but can't seem to lower himself to socialize with us. I'm really tired of this bullsh*t. I mentioned this to my friend in the past, and she made excuses for him. I don't know if we bore him or what but it is utterly insulting. I've tried to schedule a date for them to come over for an evening all summer, and it appears that it won't be happening this year. That is it. I give up. Her DD is sleeping over on the 10th of August. I feel like not calling her at all. I definitely will not bother to invite them over for an adult evening anymore. Thank God for the friends who do enjoy coming over our house and thank us incessantly for our hospitality. Screw them!

Rob, I'm seeing a podiatrist on Thursday. Thanks for another Robyn-induced giggle!!!

SumMAir,

(I wanted to sound like your other "friend".... see, I can talk thru my clenched jaw too! $$$ or not.... (and Hunnne, we are NOT LOL!) I hope that you can see my nose IS in the air!) Um, you had to "book" the kid 2 and 1/2 weeks early for a Wednesday sleep over? AND while it appears that the SnobbyRich DH is the cause of them not socializing with you.... I'm sorta suspicious about your SnobbyRichBestFriend.... What kind of BestFriend treats ya like this? I'm sorry. I have had to come to terms with two very long term BESTfriends....... Things change. People change. And it hurts! BUT it certainly sounds as if these folks wouldn't be too much fun to hang out with anyway! I'm sorry.

Oh and did you say crunchy or crazy? It all sounds sorta muffled to me... of course I can't hear you cause of my untrimmed overgrown armpit hairs wrapped around my head in my new beehive hairdo! I KNOW that I need to eat more healthy. I KNOW that we have many habits that could be "better". I will never (and don't want to! Thank you very much!) understand the whole WHY about homeschooling.... Nor will I ever understand why some people aren't more open minded to other's opinions! Ahhh well.... Glad you survived the picnic and didn't get converted by their crunchy promises and unshaven armpits and legs!

Mike's Hard Lemonade is wonderful, ain't it?! The microwaving didn't turn into an incident, I'm happy to report! He's growing up! Next time I will walk not run in there! :)

Gotstago.... kiddos are "discussing" who will use their game system....loudly AND I don't think that they are just using their hands for helping each other! (Do you know that teacher of little kids quote? "Hands are for helping not hurting!" YEAH...right! I'll try to keep that in mind as I um "redirect" them! :D)

take care,
meeeeee

Evening Ladies,
I survived my afternoon of babysitting. Zachery was attached to me the whole afternoon. He is 1 1/2 years old. He cried when he realized mommy and daddy had left him. He was so tired that he cried for about an hour off and on. Than he finally fell asleep for 3 hours. But he had to lay on my chest or he would start to cry again. If his head wasn't there than his little hand was cupping my chest. His mommy laughed and told me that I should be thankful his hand didn't creep down into my shirt. Since that is what he does to her. But he didn't want to go home when she came to pick him up. Than this evening I went out to dinner with my family before the boys went off to the fair. I took my sdd over to my mil's and visited with them for about an hour. Than I left and make a stop at the store for some Mike's Light Hard Lemonade. That is some good stuff. So now I am going to finish up on the computer, go grab another Mike's Light and sit down to read Hide and Seek by James Patterson.
I will come back and chat with you all later either tonight or tomorrow for sure. Just wanted to drop in and say hi.
Kerry