Whooohoooo! I'm no longer a WWmeetingVirgin! I not only got up and drove to this thang... I actually got out of the car and went INTO the place at 6:45 A.M. (That is AAAAEEEMMMM people!)for the 7 AM (I repeat AAAEEEMMM) meeting! IT IS SATURDAY! SATurDAY... Oy...What have I agreed to do?! (They asked about nonscale victories: mine was walking in!) I am going to LIKE this. I am going to DO this. I AM. I AM. I AM! (AAAEEMM!)

So. Here I go.
When I finish posting this message I will investigate how to update the little signature ticky thingy and post my GAWD awful weight! I have explained to you people that I'm shy. (No one seems to believe me...but, well...I AM! :snicker: TRULY!)
Anywhooo...I am 5'4.... BUT when the my new little (and I DO mean little...why DO skinny chicks run the scales?) friend asked me how tall I was I told her 6'9. She looked up at me with not a hint of a smile. She asked again how tall I was adding..."Our program is all based on your height and appropriate weight." To which I responded with "Oh, sorry, I'm 6'4, I guess I shouldn't lie about something this important, huh?!" She FINALLY cracked up (hardass!)and asked, "So, 5'4?"

There was one guy there who made Lifetime today! Being the new fat chick, I sorta wanted to sit on him (to crush his little lifetime butt!) when he said that he owed all of his success to his wife who figures all his points and prepares all of his meals...and then he motions to her...and there she is....a BIG girl with much to get off! Yes, I do find it sweet that he is there supporting her...and that they are doing it together, yadda yadda yadda... But I still wanted to crush the "lifetime" out of him when he says that his loss to get to lifetime was 22 pounds! ARGGH! Perhaps I will get the hang of this WW thang AND how to be nice to people too! You and I both know that it will be easier for me to get the WW thang than turn me NICE! I could have squished him like a bug!

Ok...so I don't miss having my own Attilla the Employeed Hun come home with all of his misplaced work related aggression! I *DO* remember back in the old days when my dh worked..ahem... how horrible things would very frequently be. Things here this summer haven't been fun; however, I DO not miss THOOOSE days of how Attilla would arrive home mad at the freakin world over every freakin thing and take it out on his dear calm, cool, collected and very understanding family! ARGGH! ...And yes, the $$ do fall as Fall begins! You should check out the winter rates! We go down there for Thanksgiving to surf fish. Did I tell you about seeing the shark one Thanksgiving? RIGHT in front of where we were standing? I mean RIGHT in front of us...like 3 feet! HUGGGEEEE thing! THAT darn thing will NEVER EVER be out of my head! OMG!

Summer, Summer, FoFummer, WHERE ARE YOU? Summer? Miss you, SumMer! (Did you sing that correctly?! Good, I knew that you could! (said in my best SNL Mr.Rodgers voice!) :) I hope that all is well with you and yours! Has Svetlana done you in?

Sue, good luck with your golfing thingy. Call me when you make it to tv... I'll watch you! THAT is as close to golf as I'll ever get! :) With the exception of when I am forced to take the BoyScouts to some MiniGolf event complete with Windmill hazards!
I'll be in touch regarding our group discount for THEProds! I'm really liking your idea of having more than one so as not to need to keep transporting them! I've already got enough stuff in my purse; however, it would come in handy for those annoying folks you might run into in Walmart. AND...I wonder if Mr.LifetimeMyWifeCooksANDFiguresMy Points will be around long enough for our order to arrive... maybe I wouldn't have to actually sit on him... maybe just stand near him while waiting to WI! Mmmmmm.... ;) Have fun camping!

Mouse, Why oh WHY didn't you tell your new EVIL principal that your graduate school WAS conveniently located right up until the Spring?! ARGGH! ....and have you joined the union yet? You are going to need to...I can already tell! Have you heard from the other principal? AND can they do that to you? Re: your religious holidays? HOW horrible is THAT?! I would demand that they allow you to work during the "winter break" (that is conveniently placed right at Christmas time! arghhh!) ARGGH! And...I do recall some of the "stuff" about our conversation about my kid. Things did just sort of stop when we heard that Jason had died. I've got the stuff saved...and I'm sort of thinking that my reply is nearly finished... I'll dig around... Do you mind if we continue?

Pam, I will look up FrogLegs on my new handDandy WW stuff!! I think that the Heron someone offered will also clean out the pond...so I don't think that BirdNapping some federal protected bird to relocate it near your pond will really help... (and I have no clue if those birds are federally protected or not... Just in case you've already taken THAT huge step to try to Kill Kermit!) I would make sure that the administrator who says he will remember your name for future use, WRITES it down somewhere! As we can ALLLLLLL agree.... Good administrators who GET IT are hard to find! Perhaps you could make him a business card with all your contact info on it...and your current resume in mini form on the back... Just an idea! We don't need any one else to go thru what Mousie is having to deal with!

Kerry! Where are you girl?! Haven't heard from you in a few days! :) Hope all is well with you!

Did I miss anyone? Hope not! Forgive me if I did! I've been up since DAWNNN so I'm a bit fatigued! BUT, I've only eaten 2 points.... and it is already 10 am! Whhhhooohooo! One day at a time! That is how I'm attacking it! One day at a time!

type to ya'll soon.....
take care,
meeee

OK. was it everyone or just me? I had to log in. (Is this because I double posted in error earlier this week! EEK!) I had ALL THATTTT typed and it wouldn't take it in the end... Said I wasn't logged in! ARGHH! Could you hear my mini hiss fit?! Log in. Um, THAT requires a password. Thank GAWWW that I do exactly what they tell you NOT to WHICH is: I use the same password for most all of my online junk. (Except for my banking, shopping and other credit card required stuff....Putting that in there in CASE someone has cracked my "code" and thinks they are NOW going to get into my $$ stuff! Ha! I'm dumb... but not THAT dumb! Hehehe! You do realize that I'm joking, yes?) (I got an email from a stranger a few months ago after she read one of my posts here. She wanted to HELP me understand something or the other... and I had to HELP her understand my sarcasm! She was only trying to be helpful and friendly; however, needlesstosay, we are NOT email buds!)

**Someone asked about my gradelevel.... First! Beginning my 19th year with a group of "transitional first graders" in a few weeks! :)

**Someone asked about my son's SpEd stuff.... Trismuspseudocamptodactyly Syndrome. A very rare genetic disorder that he inherited from MOI! Shortened tendons throughout his body. Makes writing a complete and total bear. Above average IQ and verbal skills stuck in a body that performs well below that of his typically developing peers. Superman does anything that he wants to with the exception of writing using a pen or pencil! HOWEVER, it is a constant battle with
the school CONSTANT! We travel with an educational advocate! (When I grow up,
I'm going to BE an educational advocate...and give em back the crap that they
have given my kid!)

Ok...enough of my mouth for now! BoyScouts are going iceskating. NOPE, this old gal isn't strapping on skates and slipping around and breaking her oversized hip to DAY! But, I am going to help control the dear sweet middle and high school aged boys! (HOW and WHY do you gals do it?!;) LOL)

take care,
meeeee

Man, you send your kid to camp and think, "what a great experience this will be for my child...something to broaden his/her horizons...a healthy way to be active and stay out of trouble...a "safe" place for my child to spend part of his/her summer vacation..." only to lose your child forever. Too many children died this summer for stupid reasons at camp...cheerleading camp, boy scout camp, etc... It is frightening. I never did cheerleading camp like DD. They didn't have such a thing 30-something years ago. I did, however, go to girl scout camp, and considering the lousy staff, bad judgement, and risky situations I was put in, it is amazing I survived...I'm serious...not kidding. My only concern for DD's safety when she is with the Brownie leaders, YMCA staff, gymnastics coaches, or cheerleading coaches has been pedifiles...and swimming. The YMCA staff does not have permission to take her swimming without me there. Don't ask me why since she can swim...I just worry. But, at cheerleading, I was there every single minute, and I never thought someone would die from doing a stunt. Granted, DD's level didn't involve tossing. They did pyramids but no tossing. DD was upset not to be on top of the pyramid. I think she is too tall to ever get up there, and thank God for that. Hopefully, she will be a responsible spotter.

Sue, you will definitely want to read J. Evanovitch's books in order...it is more fun that way. Begin with One For the Money. You can find it used at amazon.com. I finished the Full House series, and I am hoping she will write another one. I'm not ready to say, "Goodbye" to those characters. I am currently reading Three to Get Deadly right now. Re: personal training...I'm splitting the cost of the trainer by working out with my friend and the trainer at the same time...for how long? I'm guessing an hour, but I'm not positive. This is actually cheaper than the YMCA. They charge $60 an hour! The friggin YMCA costs more than Bally Total Fitness!!! Funny huh?! I'm really sorry to hear how your ex behaves toward his kids. It is so cruel. Thank God they have you. At some point you will need to find a way to help your kids come to terms with the reality of the kind of father they have and that it should not reflect on how they view themselves. They deserve a better father than they got, and they need to know that he failed, not them. They are not to blame for his behavior.

Rob, I love you, but you are full of sh*t! You, shy?! Puhleeze!!! :no: I don't believe it. Congrats on making it to your first WW meeting at 6:45 AM, no less!!! Did they totally love you or what? Did you let anyone else get a word in edgewise or what? I don't blame you for hating the skinny weigh-in ladies, but they are supposed to inspire you to become lifetime success members like them!!! Yeh, right. :p Thanks for giving Sue the Janet E. info since you were the one who turned me on to her. Personal trainer: Tall, skinny yet muscular, female, literally half my size in the width of my body...cut me in half lengthwise, and you have this young woman who is strrrrong like buuuull. She has a thick Russian accent, and in spite of seeming intimidating is actually very sweet. We will see how sadistic she becomes when I've paid my money. :stress: :wl: :tired: :faint:

Ginny, sometimes weight gain or loss is unexplainable. Yesterday and really the past few days, I have been eating and drinking in a less than responsible way. After being out late at Ocean Beach having had a clam fritter, cheeseburger with the roll (naughty naughty), some fries, a margarita, cosmopolitan, and three Mike's hard lemonade, I woke up this morning with a 4 pound weight loss!!! It is nuts. You can't blame yourself. You just keep plugging away doing what you know is right, and it will all come out in the wash. By the way, Ocean Beach Park is in New London, CT, 90 minutes away from my home.

Mouse, I unfortunately have a principal just like the one you described. Part of the problem is working for a public school...bureaucracy...there is NO FLEXIBILITY at all. I have to take my classes around the school schedule no matter what. During April parent/teacher conferences, I had to miss a class...an important class by the way...because I was "bound by contractual restraints." It was interesting seeing the professor who in the syllabus made it clear that we would not be excused from class and missing a class would affect our grade, and how she backed down when I handed her the letter my principal wrote to get me excused. Guess what? I got an "A." It didn't affect my grade at all. It did, however, affect me in that I missed probably the only relevant information our professor shared during the entire course. As I said, it was an important class, and my principal didn't give a sh*t. Yes, this is your job, and you need your job. But, it doesn't have to be your job forever. Keep those resumes going out and maybe you will find a position that suits you better. P.S. You may want to check with the union about whether or not they can make you use sick or personal time at the principal's discretion for a religious holiday. It also seems like something the Anti Defamation League might find interesting. Good luck!!!

Pam, the schools in my district are hard-up for frogs for disecting...let us know when yours is ready for the formaldehyde!!!

Phew! I'm finally caught up. Kerry, I didn't see a recent post. Hope all is well.

I'll be back later after din din.

Okay, I'm baaack. I'm gonna update you all quickly since "What Not To Wear" is on in ten minutes, and I have not seen it in ages. They have this new tatoo show on TLC that seems to be on all the time...nothing I'm interested in seeing. Anyway...

DD was mostly better yesterday, so off we went to Ocean Beach (New London, CT). We hit major I95 traffic, so we were late. The tricklets were even later. While we were setting up on the beach, this skinny chick in a bikini with a belly button ring, and a dark, tanning salon tan, announced that she was friends with the tricklets, and they were running late. I hate when people are along for the ride when I am under the impression that I will be the only guest. And, lucky me...I got to spend the day and evening with two skinny chicks in bikinis with belly button rings, and dark, tanning salon tans...NICE. :p DH didn't know where the heck to put his eyes. I don't have any other friends with bodies like that. They are just lucky that they have good personalities, so I tolerate them being playboy gorgeous. Meanwhile, the whole time I was sitting in my new Christmas Tree Shop beach chair, I was sweating it because the label on the chair read: MAXIMUM WEIGHT - 225. That is cutting it a bit too close for me. The Atlantic was b-e-a-u-tiful. It was refreshing, clean, and shark-free. The beach was also clean and lovely...not too crowded being a weekday. After a day on the beach, and thankfully, my chair containing me on an as needed basis, we needed to shower for the second half of our day. The tricklets mom had told me that they had private shower stalls which they didn't. I panicked. I had to shower beside these perfect naked bodies. NOT! I raced in ahead of them while they were having a smoke and showered myself and DD faster than you can imagine, the whole time fearing that they would walk in and see my boobs hanging down to my knees not to mention all the other larger than life body parts affected by gravity. There were a few knocks on the door, but I managed to shower in private. The hardest part was putting a bra on big damp boobs in a big hurry, but I did it.

After the shower, the kids went on rides, we ate fast-food :p , (how they eat like that and stay skinny is beyond me) and watched an outdoor concert on the boardwalk overlooking the beach. It was great.

I can't wait to go back there next summer with 70 less pounds. I'll even shower in front of them!!! No belly button ring though. Where the heck were their stretch marks?! Remember, one of them carried 3 babies at once!!!

Today, my nice fat friend, mother of snow-day girl, and I went to the gym together for the first time. I showed her the ropes, and we got a great workout. She will be away a lot for the remainder of August, so we start training in September.

Take care one and all.

Good morning everybody.

I put in applications with the county I worked for the last time I was down here. They've got gobs of open positions listed for MR and Career & Transition teachers. The latter is definitely my first choice! I'm going to try and find the program specialist, because I did know her. I tried calling but didn't get HER voice mail, so I'm not sure what happened with that. I think I'll shoot her an email. And, the guidance director from my old school said she was willing to call some of the guidance directors for me (Guidance runs and hires special education staff in the schools in this county... rather strange to me, since most guidance counselors don't have a clue about special ed, but hey!)... She did, however, send a message with my friend to remind me that we didn't necessarily get along all that well the year we worked together (primarily because I was stuck teaching mostly LD self-contained/team-taught classes while my kids with labels and diagnosed with mental ******ation were in LD self-contained classes that I DID NOT teach... or crying in the hallways when they got lost, couldn't get a locker open or didn't understand what was going on in the LD classes; one of them had an accident in health class because he was so stressed out... I was hired to teach THOSE KIDS... but wound up teaching other kids while the kids I was assigned to teach suffered because of the principal's cluelessness regarding MR) and that if I didn't list the principal of that school as a reference, people might wonder. Well, she wasn't officially my supervisor. She's only my supervisor in that she's the head principal for that building, but she wasn't in charge of my observations or anything: the guidance director was. Besides, again, I don't have any issues with her that aren't directly related to the fact that she took it upon herself to change the placement of my students. You see, in the state of Virginia (and ask Robyn to verify this if you want!) if a child is in a class with a state test attached, they MUST TAKE THAT STATE TEST. They cannot do an alternative assessment. Well, I had kids with IQ's in the upper 40s and low 50's, with math grade levels anywhere from Pre-K to 3rd grade, and reading levels from K-3rd grade... being required to take 8th grade assessments because they were in classes with tests attached. And, as you all know, the thing that really makes me angry is when they hurt the students. And this policy DID hurt the kids.
I'm just still not positive if I should tell the other school district that I'm not going to go to that high school. They have 31 new staff for that building; and the district still hasn't fill all of their open positions: they had another hiring fair this past Saturday!
You would think that would make them just a little more flexible in terms of graduate school... I could almost live with not making camp this year (though I would certainly be very upset over not being able to go) if we could work out graduate school! And their written policy is that I'm required to take leave time for the religious holidays because I'm off at the Christian holidays (but remember: I'm not paid to be off then because I'm paid for X number of days during the year, and those days aren't included. My last school actually did give us paid time off for certain days within the holiday period, so THEY would have been able to do that, but they didn't... in Baltimore they just closed). Somehow, I don't think the principal would be amused if I offered to work Christmas Day and Good Friday. But to make it worse, because of the hours of the school, and the fact that their written policy only allows 3 days per year for religious holidays, I can't even go home! I would need to be home by sundown, and since the school doesn't get out until 4:00, there is no way I can get to my mom's house in Pennsylvania before that... not in October, in the middle of the week, with the rush-hour traffic!
Robyn: By all means, yes! Let's continue the conversation! :) Remember, I'm a fully certified Virginia teacher now, so I can write you a nice little report... the school doesn't have to take it, but you can "hire" an outside expert. And I'm pretty darned cheap (at least for friends!). As for the principal's comment? Well, really, the only time I ever lived near Johns Hopkins when I attended was the past 2 years. I did my master's without ever living in the state of Maryland. So I don't understand her attitude: The county that I worked for last time had NO problems; and neither did my inner city school in Harrisburg, PA! I mean, I took classes starting at 4:30 and 4:15 when I was in Harrisburg. Harrisburg is about 76 miles or so one way to Hopkins in Columbia! I would leave my school on class days when my students went to art or their afternoon special. My teaching assistant would put the kids on the bus and do end of day stuff with them on that day by herself. I left around 1:30 on those days, and my principal knew it. And that was even AFTER the district declined to pay for my first set of classes because they didn't want me to take the law class I was signed up to take (in that district, they'll pay 100% of tuition but only if your classes are pre-approved by the superintendent's office). I had a truly awesome teaching assistant then. But, that was we did at my last school too... I'd leave during PM homeroom or as soon as the last kid got on the bus. It has NEVER been an issue, at ANY school I've been in. I don't understand why it needs to be an issue here.
Summer: My mom said the same thing about calling the ADL... I might do that. And yes, I definitely joined the union... but I'm not sure they can do anything. I don't have a very high opinion of most teacher's unions and typically only join because otherwise I'm not included in the contract bargaining stuff or the "malpractice" insurance which I definitely need as a special ed teacher.

I have applications in at the county I used to work for, and 2 applications in with National Headquarter at the American Red Cross. They had two management positions open in DC that I might qualify for: one is a mass care manager (I'm a mass care specialist for national disaster response, so I figure I qualify for that), and the other is a "senior disaster volunteer coordinator". I've been a disaster volunteer for 15 years and a Red Cross volunteer for 18. The latter position is something that I saw myself doing when I retired from teaching to be honest: its a lot of traveling and going to local chapters to help them set up disaster teams and training. I love to travel... and I like it even better when somebody else is willing to pay for it! :)
I figure since they are both positions with National Headquarters the salary probably isn't TOO BAD... they know how expensive it is to live in this area.
The other bit of bad news is that I received the bill from my old apartment company: they claim they had to replace the carpet because of my cat. I lived there for 3 years, they would have had to replace the danged cheap carpet anyway... And it was REALLY REALLY cheap!
And, now for some good news. Remember I said I thought the scale might have moved down? It definitely has! Last Saturday when I weighed myself, I did it with my gym bag and everything. I knocked off 10 pounds for the bag, clothes, and junk in my pockets... which meant I'd lost about 3 pounds. This past Thursday when I did it (again, with the gym bag), it was FIVE pounds lighter than it had been on Saturday. So yesterday, I did it before swimming (but after I ate; the lifeguard and I got dinner together because I was pretty depressed yesterday), in my swim suit with no gym bag... and it was EIGHT pounds less than it has been in a year. I'm back to what I weighed last summer when I was throwing up all the time... !!!! And the past couple of weeks I haven't been exercising all that much: only swimming, and then only when I've gone to work at the gym in Baltimore. I mean, yea, I've been sweating my tail off unpacking, but...

:mouse:

Ain't no way I am going to keep up with Y'all right now......just came in for a drive by hello. Lucky me, I am off to MIL's......and I had to forgo pizza for lunch today so that I could stay within points range for today and the great unknown of MIL's cooking.
Typically stuff is swimming in sauce and she gets regally ticked if I show any sign of willpower (which with her cooking is easy to do!). Anyway.....sounds as though the past day or so has been interesting here, judging from my skim of the posts. Robyn- congrats on being a WWer!
Oh, Dh and I went to see Cinderella Man (at the cheapo theater.....his choice not mine but it was very good......Russell Crowe (sp) did not hurt either! hehehehe
And the man in the costume came home to see the move -Atilla the hun or whomever, take your pick- but halfway thru the movie he actually held my hand (rare public show of affection from Dh). So a tired but pleasant Dh came home. Now we are going to see his mother and father (a non person, anyone know the Beatles song "Nowhere Man"?????) so the costume is on again...lucky me. Scarpetta where are you!!!
Can't even blame my mood on hormones, TOM showed up Friday - so it was definately a factor with my Thursday WI. Sorry to sound like such a nut case. Guess I am one today. Forgive me for not getting personal.
Gotta go........see ya!
Ginny

Gee, where is everyone????? Survived yesterday, and it was not too bad. MIL actually finally figured out that if all else fails, I eat salad. And there was a salad, so I was able to stay on track. The visit did not last too long either (sometimes she expects these marathon visits~ the kids are dying of "ennui", I am too......but as I said yesterday, we only stayed 3 1/2 hours.

As for today, got the long walk in despite the miserable humidity. I have to push to do this each day from here on out......cause my days are numbered that I will have the time or energy to walk 4 miles. Once school starts I won't have the time.
And route selection begins tomorrow, my "appointment" is for Wednesday am. Hoping that they did not mess up my route too much (I will get to see the full route then) and that noone more senior takes it.
Okie dokie.....Dd wants to play on the computer....at least it is not SpongeBob!
See ya! (where is everyone???)
Ginny

Hello people!

I'm on Day3 of WW. I set a new personal record on Saturday. Didn't mean to! We went to a party (with the people that we went to the beach with!) and I ate NOTHING...(I had already eaten before I left home!) but I drank water. I didn't realize it until it was done. ...On Saturday, I drank 3.5 liters of water. This converts to just shy of 15 cups! It was hot and humid! I actually didn't even stay up all night going potty! I don't really aspire to do that again tho!

A friend sent me a great recipe for tilapia. I tried it yesterday. NOT only was it fast... It was yummy AND not a bad sized serving for a reasonable amount of points. Perhaps I should post the recipe. Summer, have you regained your standings in the SB group after posting the cheese cake recipe that included...gasp...graham cracker crumbs? How are you doing on SB, Summer? ...and if THAT didn't mess with your brain enough... I'd still be there on the beach...DEAD...from having to sit with the two skinny tanned pierced moms! There you were a delicate pale rose between two brown thorns! ...and the nerve of that triplet mother for having a flat stomach! ARGGH! :)

Gotta run......need to cruise over to the WW boards and see what is going on over there... Don't fret, I'm only lurking! They don't know me like YOU know me! LOL

:p
take care,
meee

:hat: Mouse, congrats on your weight loss!!! :bravo: :cb: :cp: :hat: :dancer: :cheer:

Ginny, glad you survived MIL. Yours sounds a lot like mine. DH and I hadn't had pizza all summer because of SB, so our visit to MIL's a couple of weeks ago to have pizza was a bad idea. If I'm gonna go off my diet, that pizza had better be the best pizza on earth, and it wasn't. And her salad is made with the unwashed (she won't let me help her in the kitchen) white and yellow parts of iceburg lettuce with some onions (I don't eat raw onions) tossed on top. :p We lasted a few hours with them by playing Dominoes.

While I was at Ocean Beach on Friday, the tricklets mom's friend had some very negative things to say about DD's upcoming teacher. I was upset because she had a bad year with her first grade teacher. I not only helped DD with her reading like any good parent would, I ended up being the one who taught DD how to read. I consulted with MY literacy coach. I used guided reading books from MY school. We spent hours and hours in tutoring sessions. Last time I checked, I'm not getting a salary from DD's school system. Anyway, I was hoping DD would get a veteran teacher strong in the area of reading instruction. Well, based on what this mom told me, and then yesterday, the documentation she showed me, DD's second grade teacher is not only a weak reading teacher, she sucks at communication. So, I called the vice principal this morning. She told me the hearsay was all lies and bordered on slander. Oh give me a break!!! She refused to change DD's teacher. So, I emailed this chick to let her know (in a diplomatic fashion) DD's educational history outlining that she didn't have any problems until first grade. I also made it clear that we shall be communicating very well and often even though I cannot be a physical presence in the classroom. We will see what happens, but I have a feeling that I'm gonna be busting my hump once again. I should really put in for a stipend! And as far as that vice principal, I'd really like to get my hands on her...she has been added to my sh*t list.

So, yesterday, we checked out a new church. I thought it would be good to go in the summer when attendance is down. One thing I liked better than my own church is that it was AIR CONDITIONED!!! Now this church is in my middle class town. My church is in an affluent town, and we are forced to sweat it out all summer long. We used to attend the 8am service in the summer before it got too hot, but some genius eliminated the early service this year. Hence, we have not attended once. My DH joked that we can make the new church our "summer church" and attend our regular church during the year. I'm not too happy with our regular church because I don't think it is very healthy for DD to be exposed to all white people who have more money than they can spend. Their value systems are warped. The majority of the children are spoiled and have no respect for adults. That is why I've given up teaching Sunday School. I had to spend all my time on discipline and very little on education. I don't have that problem in my job. So, I plan on visiting this new church a few more times to see if we might like the congregation more. The sermon was excellent, and the people we did meet were very friendly and "down to earth." People were dressed nicely, but they were not ostentatious. The best part was when we returned home from errands and found a loaf of homebaked bread on our porch from the church! How cool is that?

So, yesterday afternoon, it was the tricklets' birthday party. We were outside in thunderstorms almost the entire time hiding under umbrellas, tents, and a gazebo. Their house couldn't accomodate all the guests they invited. So, this morning, I'm sick with DD's cold from last week. At first, the rain felt good and cooled things off, but later I was just cold and wet...not a good idea when there is an overly friendly cold virus just waiting to pounce! Oh, and since I had a few (I lost count) mango martinis (YUM!!!) :hat: I'm also a bit hungover. Needless to say, I'm laying low today. :tired:

The party was fun...made more fun by those mango martinis :hat: . I got to meet the sister of the tricklet's hot mom. She is even hotter. This chick looks like she stepped out of the pages of Vogue...no, the cover of Vogue. There are some seriously great genes in that family. She is the mother of three, and looks like she is the teenage babysitter rather than the mom. I'm beginning to become desensitized to all these skinny, tan, gorgeously sexy women. DH is really enjoying himself. Let him look...after the ladies' husbands kill him, I'll collect the life insurance policy and live large! :lol:

Okay, I'm gonna go eat breakfast now. Yes, I know it is late, but I feel so crappy, I haven't been hungry.

Hi Ladies,
Yes I am still alive. That TOM last week about did me in. The hot weather on top of feeling crappy, didn't help much. Was suppose to go away for the weekend and ended up going on day trips with my dh instead. Cheaper that way! But plan on going a way sometime this school year for a long weekend and somewhere next summer. We went to the mall, took a drive out in the country and went to see a movie on Saturday. Yesterday we went to lunch and to the sport gooding store. Today I got my hair permed and my eyebrows done. It was nice to be pampered for a change. I have to get back into my excerise routine. I took off this past week some what dur to my TOM. I did get my three days in at Curves last week but that was it. This weekend and today, I didn't do anything. Tomorrow is a new day and I will get some excerise in.
Well I better go and check on the boys. They just came home from football practice and are wanting to practice more. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Evening, everybody.

Summer: Thanks. I hope it sticks in that downward mode! It'd be soooooo nice!!!!
Robyn: Did I tell you that I love your sig file? The swoopy curly purple thingy.
Ginny: Hiding from the heat? Trying to make plane reservations and blanket the place with me resume? That's what I was doing yesterday... Today I had the joys of figuring out HOW exactly, the school was going to spell my name wrong (there are apparently infinite versions of how to spell my real name... even though my last name is NOT what they keep calling me!)... which caused havoc when I tried to log in to the network.

Okay... good news again... I had an interview with a middle school in the other county today, and one with a high school on Wednesday afternoon.
I have sent my resume to two other schools, although I've not heard anything.
I FOUND A PLANE FARE I COULD AFFORD!!! SO I AM GOING TO CAMP! YES! The daughter of one of the parents who helped found the camp is going to pick me up at the airport on Thursday morning and then take me to the camp, and bring me back. A really good friend locally is picking me up at my apartment thursday morning (at 4:30 in the morning!!!!) to take me to the airport... and when I get back Sunday night, I'll take a Super Shuttle back ($12). I hope I can cram all the stuff I need into my suitcase... driving would have been so much easier, because I could take more stuff...

I seriously need ideas for food I can take with me that I can eat that will fit in the suitcase. My local friend already reminded me that I can buy the iced tea packets since I can't take my splenda-sodas... they'll depressurize in the airplane and explode. But the iced tea tubes should be okay. Other ideas for food? I'll take some little cans of tuna, maybe peanut butter? I want to make sure there are things I can eat at camp since I am pretty sure that breakfast will be the only meal I'm really able to eat at, and maybe lunch if they do cold-cuts.
I have a mega suitcase from when I went to Europe in 1989, and I know my sleeping bag fits in that. I only need clothes for 4 days, and it can be grubby shorts and t-shirts... And the airline says since I have a laptop, I'm also allowed one other carry-on (like a purse), but it can be up to the size of a back-pack, so I'm going to use my Red Cross backpack. All my purse stuff fits in my laptop case so I won't need to bring my purse (I have a really small purse anyway).
Batteries are a must, those will have to go in the laptop case or the backpack, and I think I will buy an audiobook for the flight out or maybe buy one for my PDA... that way I don't have to carry a book too. I'll have to think on that one.
I'm disappointed that I have to leave some of my games at home, because I was looking forward to teaching the kids how to play Scattergories. That is an AWESOME communication game (I don't make the kids write or I partner them with somebody who can write)... so they can use their aug. comm devices to come up with words that fit. I used to have a travel version, so I might be able to find that one.
I'm glad I can still go...
:mouse:

Hey guys!
I ACTUALLY HAVE TO GET UP TOMORROW MORNING AND GO TO WORK! OMIGOD WHAT IS UP WITH THAT????????UGHHHHHHH, I'M NOT READY! :(
I can't possibly respond to everyone, cause I really can't remember who said what. Here is the latest run down.......
Went to the beach Saturday, no rain, just burned my face and nothing else. It was great....
Son started college yesterday. I'm so proud. We'll see how it goes. I have absolutely no fish left in my pond and still have not been able to find the renegade fat boy residing there. He did jump in this morning. He's really pissing me off......
I managed to lose a couple of the pounds I gained back this week. I'm ready to start being strict about dieting. I'm even gonna take my lunch tomorrow.......
So, I'll update later. Want to enjoy the rest of my last day off........
I'm crying now.............

Pam

Pam, please accept my heartfelt sympathies. I'm not anywhere near ready yet either. I'll be right behind you officially on the 29th. Right now I am sick with DD's cold from last week. The partying in the thunderstorm caught up with me. Yesterday I didn't move off of the couch. Today, I'm taking it slowly, but I am doing some stuff that needs to be done around the house. Hopefully by tomorrow, I will have the energy to do some errands out of the house. Thursday is our last summer tricklet play date. Friday is laundry and packing for Maine. Saturday-Monday is our official farewell to the summer in Maine. Tuesday is dentist appointment and then the first time I set foot in my classroom to see what damage the Nimrod (my inept custodian) has done to my room. Once they see me, it is all over. Registration will recommence, and my secretary and all the parents won't give me a minute of peace as I survey the damage most likely done by Nimrod. I am awaiting a large shipment of supplies and furniture (an $8000 grant!), and I FEAR my things are either missing, have been distributed to other teachers, or who knows what Nimrod may have done with it all. I know he will want to hide my stuff since he knows there is furniture waiting for "His Ineptness" to assemble. So, even though the 29th is my official day back, don't let that fool you. I will be up to my elbows in deep sh*t on the 23rd. Hope all goes well on your first day back!

Mouse, congrats on going to camp!!! Can you eat protein bars? They are very packable.

Kerry, glad you were able to do something nice for yourself.

I'm still pissed at the vice principal for doubletalking me and refusing to switch DD's teacher. Once again, the responsibility of DD improving her reading skills will fall upon me. Meanwhile, more than half of DD's classmates from last year are receiving private tutoring at $50-$60 an hour with the hope they can catch up. Many of them are repeating first grade. It is not right that the school gets away with this. What the heck do we pay taxes for? Her school certainly isn't sweating NCLB like mine is. We bust our humps to make sure these kids are ready.

DD wants lunch, so I'd better move on.

Another drive thru visit here......busy today going to see my Dm, who is doing fine for someone who had the surgery she did.

Mouse- wonderful about the weight loss!!!! Long time comin' girl, and I am so happy for you.
Robyn- drink that water........congrats on making it thru day 4 or 5 of WW. How are you feeling?? Doing flex or core?
Kerry- glad you got pampered......bet it felt great!!!!!! (I am jealous ;) ).
Summer- gee, the new church sounds good.....we could find ourselves in the same boat shopping for a new one.
Pam- my condolences.
Gotta go
Ginny

Good evening everybody.

I had another interview today, and I think I liked the principal. I'm never sure, but this guy invited the teaching assistant from the classroom to come in because this is a new program for the school (they have only had it for one year), and he wants to make sure they get a good person. That is unique to me. I've never even been invited to sit in on interviews for my own classroom assistant when they've hired somebody during the year.
I spent the day in an EIGHT HOUR IEP TRAINING. Oh, geez... and some of the stuff they want us to do really made me raise my eyebrows. Like, putting quarterly dates on all the objectives (we're not even supposed to write objectives, we're supposed to do benchmarks!). And there was a whole discussion about extended school year: their legal person (not a lawyer though) said that if the student gets a free appropriate public education (FAPE), they automatically do NOT qualify for extended school year. That is just so wrong! What they do with the kinds of kids I teach apparently is to say they are NOT receiving FAPE in one area (that they will lose skills and take more than 6 weeks to recover). I think that would open them up to a lawsuit. But that was 10 minutes, because the legal person totally said that if they received FAPE, they didn't get extended school year.
My eating was helped today by the fact that they ran out of food during lunch. I had to make a phone call, so I was dead last.... they had no more rice, no more green beans, and a tiny piece of the meatloaf. I didn't care about the rice, but green beans are my favorite vegetable after steamed broccoli or bok choy!
I found sheets for camp at Target: they had twin sheet sets on sale for $8... its the whole set, fitted sheet, top sheet, and pillow case. Cotton. That is a GOOD price for those of you that need sheets. I wish I had a little household money: I could use some full sized sheets for my bed at home, and those were $15.
What else... hmm...

Summer: I can't eat most of the protein bars because they either have chocolate coating, or they have too many carbs. I did like the cinnamon south beach diet ones, but I can't find them down here. The Body for Life ones I tried were pretty good too, but the only ones of those I have found are the chocolate ones.
I did pick up some peanut butter at Target, and the iced tea.... and some sugar-free wintergreen mints. I figure if they have salad, we will have ranch dressing or mayonnaise which I can mix into the tuna. And they usually do some kind of meat and pancakes or eggs for breakfast. I know there are some kids on a soft diet there, so I expect I'll find a few things I can eat.... like, I could eat some tomato sauce if it had meat in it and just not eat the pasta.
I'm going to go pack now... hopefully everything will fit in the suitcase. I had bought one of those "pill week strips", to put my meds in, but since I'm going on the airline now, I have to leave everything in the prescription bottles.
The only things I'm worried about with the airlines are seats: Southwest certainly made the news when they started doing the seat assignment thing based on weight and size... And letting their gate attendants make that decision. I hate the thought of that. I can believe there are other airlines doing the same thing.
I'm also a little worried about my technology, but enough people have laptops now (as opposed to 5 years ago, when I last flew) that it shouldn't be too big of an issue.
I've done the security checks at airports since 9/11, because I've gone out to Baltimore-Washington International for the Red Cross, so I'm not worried about that. In fact, my Red Cross ID badge got me pulled aside for an extra thorough check the last time! :rolleyes:
:mouse:

Evening,
Sounds like we are all trying to cram in stuff into the last few days of our summer vacations. I went to TOPS tonight and lost 1/4 pound. So hopefully the scales will start falling again in my favor.
Mouse great news about the scales for you. Way to go girl!! Hope the interview today turns out in your favor. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
Summer sounds like you are going to have a lot of work ahead of you when you go back to school. But knowing you, you will bust through it without any problems.
Robyn how is WW going for you? Feeling okay. That is great news about the birthday party and not eating anything. You have the willpower!
Ginny did you enjoy your movie the other night? My dh and I went to see Four Brothers. It was good. We hadn't been to a movie in a long time. I think the last movie we went to see together was Ladder 49. It is nice to just go out to the movies every once in awhile. Feels like a date.
Pam, I will be in the same boat as you next week. We have an inservice on Monday and the kids start back on Tuesday. So I know what you are going through. Keep your chin up and we will make it through together.
Sue how was the golf tournment? The only golf I have ever done is putt=putt and I am not very good at that.
Well I better go and grab the tv before my dh comes home and puts it on sports. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Howdeeee,
Day 4's Food and Water intake have come to a close! Whooohooo! Can you believe that I'm sitting here feeling a tad stuffed...all the while I'm under points yet again! Since I'm doing the WW Flex Point thingy I am not supposed to be under 20 points...but GEESH! What do I do when I don't want to eat anything else? OR I feel like I don't want to graze around the kitchen with the whole attitude of eating something just for the points?! Who would have thought I'd have this problem!

Gin, Attilla's brother got yet another letter re: yet another co. who are not interested in hiring him. I feel so horrible. He went thru 3 interviews with this company before this letter... progress, I guess! BUT who wants to come live with this man while he recovers from this "progress"?! ARGGH!

Mouse, glad to hear that you're getting things lined up for camp! Fingers crossed for you regarding the interview! I visited our ds's middle school today... just dropped in. I've been trying to call... DO not ignore me! Found out that the whole 8th grade has been restructured and after 2 years...DS has been reassigned to a new ...to the school..to the division...to the STATE!..casemanager. I'm trying not to bugg out...but I'm having a horrible time with this...and I'm afraid that my panties are gonna be ALL bunched up over this for sometime! I need to go take a pill! (just kidding!)

Summer, hope that you're feeling better! Being sick in the summer is a HUGE bummer! No airconditioning?! OMG! You'd die around here in any building with no air! The heat and humidity has been horrible here..... Remind me of how sticky and icky I felt..and my hair looked come February, please! :) I spent a few hours at school moving krap around.... Get this one... we are all getting new teacher's desks... they are in the gym as they haven't been assembled... we are all due back officially on the 29th...and we have no idea of how big / small these new things are...although we've been told that they are large and l shaped. I'm about 2 days from having done all I can do in my room until the desks are put together and put in the room... The custodial staff has no idea of WHEN they will get to the teacher's desks... ::sigh:: They also seem to have lost one of the CPU's of one of my brand new computers........ at least the seemed worried about where the computer ended up! (How about the pick up truck of one of the 100000 construction workers still tearing...I mean renovating the building...) OH and I nearly collapsed today when I pulled into my school...that has been having huge HUGE HUUUUGGGEEEE problems with the NEW and IMPROVED roof leaking like some sort of seive.... The roofers were packing up their tools and loading them into their truck... Get this...they are WaterTight Roofing Company... HOLY SMOLY is THAT a HOOT! ARGGH!!!

gotta run...the storm is coming fast...and I've got to get some stuff off the porch! I"m sorry I didn't talk to everyone!

take care,
Robyn

Quickie message for Robyn... just before I go to work.

Is your son's new case manager a brand-new teacher, or just new to the state and building? Could it be somebody like me who keeps hopping around school districts?

The interview from yesterday said I'll definitely hear by Friday, but I might hear by Thursday. I'll hear by Friday from the middle school I was at Monday also. I feel bad for her because she asked if I'd interviewed anywhere else, and when I talked to her the answer was no... the other two interviews were on my answering machine yesterday and that evening.

I'm nervous, because I feel like I should say something to the principal at the school I'm going to today, but I'm afraid to do that because then I might not get one of the other positions. It is helping that I don't have a contract yet. I thought I did... but it wasn't my contract. It was just other paperwork from them... So I can't sign it!
:mouse:

Morning!!!
I thought this was going to be a quiet day, then a neighbor asked if her spoiled brat daughter could hang here for the day. Oh she is not that bad......just obnoxious and way, way too impressed with herself. Nuff bellyachin from me. I goofed, tomorrow really is route selection for me (not today) so tomorrow I get to find out how insane my life will be and if I get my monsters back or not. Yes, believe it or not, I want my monsters back.

Mouse-when it rains it pours. Glad that you have so many positions to choose from- or at least the possibility of so many. I think most people interview better when they know they have choices. Good luck. Hope all goes well for you!

Robyn- Water tight roofing company eh? Guess I won't be hiring them for anything!!!!
Great for you on day 4 of WW. Enjoy!!!!! What I have heard from most WW leaders is that if you are full and still not used all your points is that you should try to get all your points in. They are pretty insistant that you nutritionally need all those points....and the lowest you should go is 20 points per day. Hope you are taking a vitamin (they suggest that). But isn't WW wonderful! It is so easy to follow- and you can still have pretty much all foods, within reason. Can't wait to see how your first WI goes! Sorry about Atilla's brother.....this must be equally hard on you too, having to keep the fragile male ego as afloat as possible with all this rejection going on.
I'll be praying for you......and him.

Kerry- hope you got to the TV before the sports came on!!!! Did you like Four Brothers? Actually- guess it almost did not matter- you got out on a "date" and that is the most important. Hope you had a nice time with Dh. We went to see Cinderella Man (and I can't remember the last movie we saw before that!). It was very good.....we both enjoyed it a lot. The movie is almost 2 1/2 hours long, and seemed only an hour.....it has been a long time that I felt that way about a movie. Congrats on the scale going down!
Pam- well........how did it go???? You still alive out there?

Got my 4 mile walk (3.8 to be exact) in. It was nice and cool out......felt pretty good.
Today I am trying to get this pig sty of a house cleaned up. I refuse to leave a dirty house.....and with tomorrow being route selection and dry run (mandated by the state even if I get my old route back) and then on Friday is the mandatory 3 hour safety meeting - I had better get my butt in gear and get this house cleaned. Oh what fun.
Complete with the neighborhood snot nose coming over........
Gotta go clean!
See ya!
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
I went to school for a little bit today. I got all my posters up and things are looking good for Tuesday when the lovely little angels come back. I just now need to think about my lesson plans for the first week. Maybe I will work on that tomorrow evening or on Friday. I just got home from going out to dinner with my workout buddy. We went to Dakota's Roadhouse. It was very good. But now I could sure use a walk. Will get one in when the hubby comes home from football practice. Hopefully it will cool off by than. I am going clothes shopping tomorrow with my mil. So that should be fun. The only bad part about it is getting up at 7 to be out the door by 8. Oh well guess those days are coming to a screeching halt. LOL.
Mouse,how did your interview go today? Are you all packed to go to camp tomorrow? Have a safe and fun time.
Ginny, once you get your house cleaned. Mind coming to Ohio to clean mine. My dh asked if I would please give our house a final good cleaning before I go back to school next week. I haven't done it yet. LOL So I guess on Sunday that is what I will be doing.
Hey to Robyn, Pam , Summer and Sue! Hope all is well with you ladies.
Talk to you all later.
Have the house to myself for a few hours and I plan on enjoying it.
Kerry

Hey!
I survived my first day back. We had a THREE HOUR faculty meeting this morning. The principal couldn't get to everything on the agenda, so to be to continued......
A lot of changes this year. I am a little nervous because I am getting a blind student this year. I have never taught a blind student before. I know there is a braillist(sp?) who is going to be in my room. I also have a student with a traumatic brain injury. So, should be interesting. My numbers look good though. So far, only twentyfive in each class.

I am totally pooped out, have dinner in the oven so maybe I will get back on here later.

Take care!
Pam

Well this stupid cold went straight to my chest, so my asthma is giving me trouble. I can't believe it is day 3, and I still really feel like crap. I even fell asleep in the middle of the day...really unusual for me because I'm NOT a napper. Then some telemarketer woke me out of a dead sleep at 3pm, and I totally blasted her for waking me up...poor lady :o , I was overly harsh. Tomorrow, DD has a play date at the tricklets. I'm gonna see if the mom minds if I drop her off and go back home. If I feel well enough, I really need to do some errands before going to Maine. Otherwise, I'll do them on Friday. The only school-related activity I've done is order prizes for the prize box from Oriental Trading and edit and print out my 4-page welcome letter. I've decided to skip the welcome postcards because its time-consuming and pointless since so many of my students probably moved at least once during the summer. They will get their fat welcome letter on the first day of school. I'm not writing plans till my principal provides me with a specialist schedule. If she insists I have something, I'll use last year's plans. I'm so NOT motivated for this new year. I had more I wanted to fit in this summer. However, even though I don't feel done with summer, I have to admit, it was one of my better summers. I've had some real crappy ones, so, I am totally not complaining. I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO END... :cry:

Pam, again, I'm sorry you are back in the thick of it, but this may mean that your summer next year will begin sooner than mine.

Kerry, good for you starting to get ready for the little kiddles.

Gin, bellyache all you want...God knows I do. Maybe we should introduce your neighbor kid to snow-day girl. They'd either really hit it off or kill each other.

Mouse, have fun at camp!

Rob, we are going back to school on the same day. How cool! Whatever happened to starting after Labor Day? On our second day, the new stupidintendent is having a convocation at the arena where my DH works parttime. He is taking the day off his regular job so he can work at the arena for the convocation. Isn't that cool? It will give him a peek at my job, and me a peek at his.

Since I'm too sick to really leave the house, I've been polishing my mother's silver, and I'm now moving on to some copper. The silver was easy. The copper is a *****. I'm close to quitting. Well, I've got to find a sitter for a Luau I'm going to, so I'd better go. Take care one and all.

Evening.

I am mostly packed for camp: I need to stuff my bathing suit and a sweatshirt into the suitcase somewhere, and I'd like to squeeze in another pillow so I have two. I think I can squish a little one that came with the futon (like a sofa pillow) in the suitcase.
I have my huge suitcase: clothing, the food I can eat, sleeping bag, toiletries, towels. I have a backpack which is where I stuffed my first pillow, the digital camera, batteries, 4 cans of soda, my meds, a book and the iPod. I also have the computer case which has the computer and the PDA in it, plus wallet and such. I think I did GREAT getting all of that into 3 bags. The sleeping bag is what takes up most of the room.
The interview today went pretty well after I was finished being lost. And boy, was I lost! The school is brand-spanky new, and they don't have the signage up yet and the road outside the school is under major construction, so it was hard to find the entrance. Although its 20 miles from me (which around here can be far!), I think that is where I'd like to work. The department chair and assistant principal have a serious sense of humor... and its a brand new program, so I could shape it the way I want to. And finally, the TECHNOLOGY is to die for! Especially for somebody like me who really enjoys the benefits of technology integration... each classroom has a SmartBoard, and everything hooks in through that, so you don't have a TV, DVD player, etc... It all comes off the AV access through the SmartBoard. They have wireless laptop carts, and give the TEACHERS laptops so we can do our thing. The laptops dock at the school, but we're allowed to take them home. That is so awesome, because if I work there, I could put off buying a new laptop for myself for a few months...
I will hear something by Friday from them. So I guess Friday is D day... I'll know then whether or not I can stay in graduate school or if I'll have to quit.
My choices if I stay at the school I was placed at then become: 1). Quit the district now, altogether, and see if I can substitute in the county I'm living in, and take out a SERIOUS student loan... and then try to finish everything but the dissertation this year. 2). Quit the district at the end of the year, and either move back to Maryland, Pennsylvania (first choice if I have to move) or try again to get a job in the county I live in... and not take any classes this year. 3). Drop the program completely for 3 years, because I can't transfer to another school in the district that I'm in for 3 years.
I don't really like any of those choices to be honest with you, but 2 and 3 are completely inpalatable.
I think I know the reason behind the principal inflexibility, though. In part, it is district policy (who was it who had the 3 hour faculty meeting? We had an EIGHT HOUR one today!), because we're not allowed to leave even to buy lunch. If we don't pack a lunch or eat in the cafeteria, we have to have it delivered. The other reason seems to be that in years past, staff with last or first period planning have abused the privilege by coming in late or leaving early. This school doesn't do homeroom until like 10:30... after first period, so it is possible for staff with first block off to do that.
But that inflexibility is either going to make me seriously unhappy, or going to cost her a special education teacher. Oh, and let me tell you, there is some absolutely stupid stuff that the teachers in this school used to have to do or still do... including a working professional portfolio with pictures and plans and writing prompts!
Anyway, I must think about bed, as my flight leaves at 6:25 am... so I'll be leaving for the airport around 4.
I will see you when I get back Sunday night or Monday...
:mouse:

Hi just flying by to say hello! Tonight I'm pooped! We're having a cold front locally. Today it didn't get above 95! Whoohoo! We went to Busch Gardens and walked and walked and walked.... :) The humidity was also low! But I managed to sweat and sweat and sweat! :) It was packed ....guess everyone was enjoying the near blizzard conditions! We rode several roller coasters and other rides! We returned home to dh's homemade pizza ...which I had figured points for! :) BUT... I did eat ALL of my points today!

Went to school for 3 hours and unpacked yet more boxes! Seems the WaterTightRoofers were called back there yet again! Seems their work AINT so watertight! The past two nights have been filled with long and loud AND wet thunder storms! I thought of you girls when I saw these guys!

*Summer, sorry to hear that you are still feeling icky! Hope that you get "over" it soon!
*Mouse, Have a great time at camp! (The teacher is new to Virginia....but not to teaching.)
*Pam, 3 hours?! OMG.... EWWWWWWW.... sorry!
*Gin, fingers crossed for positive results for route selection! Don't you LOVE kids like that?
*Kerry, hope you enjoyed having the house to yourself! I LONG to have an hour alone!
*Sue, Where are you?!

Off to the shower and bed...and it is ONLY 11pm! Early for me!
take care,
meeee

My DH has the same cold now. It went straight to his chest too, but since he doesn't have asthma, it is no biggie. His doctor told him to take Mucinex to break it up. I took it too, and it has helped. I'm much less wheezy. What a relief. I really didn't want to travel with my asthma acting up, especially since I wouldn't have my air purifier etc...

DD is at the tricklet's today while I get errands done. The poor kid entertained herself for three days. She is such a great kid. My DS and DB were married by the time I was her age, so I was a lot like an only child myself...only it seemed like I had too many people to boss me around. Anyway, I can remember making believe for hours and loving it. Well, she is just like me.

This am, we got the oil changed, new windshield wipers, and a new air filter. We returned a package at the post office and my x-rays. It was nice to be able to finally get out of the house and accomplish something.

My BIL, the computer geek, is kidnapping my computer today and keeping it while I'm in Maine to install a new hard drive...don't know why since he installed a new one two years ago when it crashed. What I want him to do is install a firewall and a new antivirus software. I also want him to get rid of all my AOL icons, fully install my DD's Disney game which my computer is rejecting, and get rid of a lot of files I downloaded and no longer need. How much you want to bet, he will spend the entire weekend doing what he thinks I need and skipping over what I want/need him to do? Beggars can't be choosers. :p I don't have the money to call, "Rent a Geek." Besides, BIL would probably be offended if I let someone else do the work.

So, this is my last post till he returns my computer which could be Monday night, but more likely, I will have to go pick it up, (He lives 30 minutes away) and with all I have to do next week, it may not happen till next weekend. So, just know that I will be in Maine drinking Mike's and swimming in the icey cold Atlantic while my baby is being disassembled and put back together again.

Robyn, glad you had fun at Busch Gardens. I've never been, but plan on going at some point. Try to stay warm during your cold front! I'll be way up north, so I may need my down jacket!!!

Mouse, choices, choices, choices. Yeesh!!! Sometimes listing the pros and cons helps. Sometimes just letting go and going with your gutt works the best.

Hope you all have a great weekend however you will be spending it!!! I will be back when my BIL is done with my baby.

Just a quickie.......Summer- hope you are feeling better!! Stinks when the asthma kicks in. Sorry too that Dh has it, men are usually such miserable patients. Hope everyone feels better!

Mouse- enjoy the camp......see ya when I get back from NC.

Robyn- a 95 degree cold front???? Yup this has been one miserable summer...Happy unpacking!

Kerry- well, can Dh clean??? Who knows if I will ever get mine done. Several rooms are in pretty good shape- but the crew is self destructing them on me.

Pam- 3 hour meeting!!!!???? Yawn......

Got my route......can't wait to see the little buggers- well maybe........they did make my route so for the HS portion of it I go past my house (bring home my neighbors son) from the Catholic HS. That is kind of nice~ especially if I am leaving a sickie at home myself while I work. (and I am sure that my supervisor rigged that one for me!). Completed the "dry run" this am too....one less thing to do. Tomorrow is my 3 hr safety meeting and a meeting before that because I have 2 students with shared custody (and all the darned state laws about that.....ugh.......).
BTW- got to WW yesterday, lost .6#. Ok, down is better than up as far as the scale goes, and I went to an evening meeting.....so I usually weigh more in the evening.
I WILL get to next weeks meeting in Kitty Hawk......just to keep me sane. For those of you WW'ers out there our meeting was on handling fast food- I left because I do that part of the program well- and Dd was waiting for me at home....had to rush back.
Back to cleaning!!!! Sorry if I missed you.
See ya!
Ginny

Hey!
Day two under my belt and I am already feeling quite overwhelmed. We had a three and a half hour staff development today. Boring........ My room mate and I are starting to get everything put away and I still have so much to do. I found out that the blind student I will be having is quite lazy according to the brailist, and doesn't want to come to this "stupid" school.
I have to put a huge table in my room which I don't have room for because the braile books are huge and I need room for both of them in addition to the other desks and two teachers desks since I am sharing a room. I found out today from the counties Exceptional Coordinator that I was handpicked for this student. Maybe this is the reason for the grade change? The guidance counselor stopped by to tell me about another "hand picked" student of mine as well. I was warned that the mother of this exceptional student is a piece of work........You know, it's just all overwhelming. I also found out I have a new mentee. They didn't tell me who it was and just happened to find out right before leaving school. So, I guess I will go and make her a welcome basket tomorrow and ask her forgiveness for not introducing myself sooner. Oh well........ We just found out we have to turn our lesson plans in a week in advance now. I have never had to do that before. It's no big deal really, but I am going to have to do stuff early so that my co teacher and I can coordinate as well as get anything to the brailest that I need to have ready. I don't know if I am that organized. Guess this will be a challenge for me. I'm sort of a last minute kind of gal as far as running copies and stuff. Busy busy busy. I think I will have to get a second job to pay for the gas to go to my first job. I drive thirty miles one way. Gas is up to 2.59 per gallon here. Or it was Monday. Haven't checked in the past couple of days.
Hey to everyone. Got to get supper going.
Pam

Hey Ya'll!

......I can feel the end of summer slipping through my hands..... I am officially in a panic over it all! Today was spent at the orthodontist (wheee) and visiting my parents. I cooked a great chicken recipe from Cooking Light and then took the youngest to a special icecream party that was for all the kids who passed their yearly SOL tests! It was a wonderful way for the school to pass out the SOL results and have a very small town celebration for the kids! When we returned home, I cleaned the pool ALONE.....and then took a nice long shower. I stayed OP today! I have tomorrow left and then my first official WW week will end! I'm nervous...and hopeful!

Sounds like it will be a quiet weekend around here.... Mouse will be at camp. Summer in Maine. Gin will be headed to my beloved beach! :) I certainly hope that you will all have wonderful and safe trips!

Pam, sorry that your first week back is so overwhelming! I *KNOW* how it can be! (And *WILL* be in just 1 week for me! *gasp* ::sigh::!) Please check your private messages....I'll be sending one as soon as I post this! :)

Hope everyone else is doing well....and enjoying the very last few days of FREEDOM!
take care,
meeee

Hello everyone! Sounds like I am back just in time for everyone to leave. We had a nice relaxing camping trip. We spent one day at Michigan Adventure which is a combo amusement/water park. The weather was beautiful (82 with a nice breeze) but the park was packed. I guess everyone had the same idea of going before school starts! I wish Robyn would have been with me as I love to ride the big roller coasters but my family is a bunch of whimps! I am hoping to get out to golf today as it has been almost a week but I am feeling like I should go into work. I guess I'll see if we get the rain they mentioned or not.

I just skimmed all the post since I have been gone, so sorry if I missed something important. First of all I give out my heart felt sympathies to all of you who have begun or will begin school soon. I am already morning the loss of summer and I still have two full weeks left. I miss my students but not my 4:45 a.m. alarm or the lack of any leisure time what so ever!

Robyn - Congratulations on sticking to WW so well! Are you following the healthy guidelines (2-3 dairy, 1-2 lean protein, 5 veggy/fruits, 2 tsp oil, tons of water)? I find if I just try to get those in, it is almost 20 points. When I started I had a hard time getting my points in and my leader scolded me so atleast get 20. I am excited to hear the results of your WI tomorrow. Look at the new casemanager for your DS this way, you got rid of the old one that you didn't like. Maybe the new one will be wonderful!

Mouse - have fun at camp! I think inviting the aid to the interview shows the signs of a very good principal. He obviously cares what his employees think and values their opinions. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the best school wins! How nice if you are forced to choose which job to take! As far as the extended school year and FAPE, I would think that is part of it. Isn't that the appropriate part if the extended year is what they need. I think that lawyer is a bit uninformed! Hopefully you won't end up at that school so it won't be a problem.

Ginny - I am so glad that you got your route back. It will not only be nice for you but for the children also. I am sure it helps their back to school gitters to see a familiar face when they get on the bus. They changed the bus routes all around again this year. I am hoping my children get the same driver they had last year. She really cared about the kids. Before her my DF was the bus driver, so she had a tough act to follow. You couldn't beat having Grandpa drive the bus!

Pam - good luck with your blind student. I would be a bit more worried about the traumatic brain injury. They can sometimes have violent outburst due to their injury. It is weird how that happens. The last blind student I had was a little perv. He would try to use his blindness as a tool to feel girls up! Other than that he was a great kid though.

Summer - Sorry to hear you are still not feeling well. I guess it is better this week when you can take a nap than the first week of school when you are dragging without being sick. I usually loose my voice that first week because I am not use to projecting my voice. I hope you get your computer up and running quickly.

Kerry - Oh I hope you enjoyed your alone time. That is something that I RARELY get to enjoy. I never said that I was good at golf, I just said that I like to do it! I am actually amazingly inept considering how long I have been playing! My tournament was fun though. I don't often play with my DH. We didn't win any prizes for golf but I won $11 in a raffle thing. That about paid for my Mikes!

I hope everyone enjoys their weekends. I have a million things to choose from. Why does it seem that everything falls on the same days? Currently the weather report if iffy so that will rule out several events as they are outdoor things. One of these days I need to start thinking about school shopping for my little darlings. I am sure neither one of them has a pair of pants that are long enough for them. I am glad they are healthy but this growing like weeds can be expensive!

Sue

Welcome back, Sue! :) Glad to hear that you enjoyed your camping trip! We would have loved to have been with you at the amusement/water park! All 4 of us enjoy roller coasters! (One ds has to look at it to decide IF he will ride....but he usually will!) :) When we travel, we are always looking for new parks ....and coasters.... to try! Regarding ds's casemanager... he had her for 2 years...and we loved her!!! Sooo... the change is hard to stomach! Re: following the WWheathy guidelines...OIL? How? I understand what it is for... BUT...how?! Can I take a flax seed oil supplement capsule? (How many points does THAT count?! LOL) The water is easy for me...as long as it doesn't have ice in it! I do NOT like my water iced and strugle to drink it if it is cold!
The rain here began before I got up! Today I told my family NOT to wake me... that I was going to sleep this day of summer away. I now only have until NEXT Friday...and then my summer is over! *gasp*::sigh::*gasp* New shoes. THAT is what my kids need very badly. For those, I have to drive about 30 minutes to get. Into the "big city" and its chaos and traffic....WITH both boys! :) We will do it. Maybe tonight. It is Friday! I'm running out of days. *gasp*::sigh::*gasp* Mannnn, I don't want summer to end!

Pam, How was school today? At least it is Friday! Did you get my PM? I hope what I was trying to say came thru. I have never written and rewritten a message so many times before! :) Hope it is all coming together. They need to STOP with the long meetings! Who is your mentee? (Ie, brand new teacher? new to the school? etc...)

Gin, Hope you managed to get thru your safety and student related meetings! They certainly make sure that you are READY for your trip to the beach, don't they?! Are you a Sunday to Sunday or Saturday to Saturday at the beach?! I bet you told me this before...I can't remember! What day were you going to go to WW again?

DH is calling me... so I'm going to have to cut this short! Hey to everyone who I missed! :)

take care,
meeee

Hiya!
This could be my last visit here for a week......not sure. Welcome back Sue! Glad the camping trip was good.......Pam- you made it thru week one! (now you can laugh at all of us when we are bellyachin!). Robyn- Saturday to Saturday........I got to a Wednesday meeting here in NY, and will get to the one Thursday am in Kitty Hawk.
Yup, I am a nut case for going while on vacation- the only reason I will not make it is if the weather goes in the tank and we go somewhere els for the day.
I do hope to get back later.........if I do not see ya in a week!
Ginny
(sorry if I missed you......Hi to Mouse, Summer, Kerry)

Hey!
It's Friday. Made it through. I worked tonight til 6 and finally have gotten alot of stuff straightened out. So, I feel much better. No time for me to get personal, cause I have to get ready to go to dinner. Yeah, no cooking tonight.
I am a mentor to the ESL (english as a second language) teacher. She is new to the state, our school, but not new to teaching. She seems really nice and I made her a goodie basket with pens, pencils, white out, stickers, teachery stuff and took it to her this morning with my apologies for not meeting her sooner. I think it will be fine. My old mentee left the school to be a technology person for the county. I am very saddened by this cause he was a blast.

We have convocation Monday Morning. So, dont have to get up as early since the meeting is five minutes from my house. That is something to look forward to.

I have a website you all might be interested in looking at. It's called:
www.allkindsofminds.org
I went to the Schools attuned workshop and this is done by the creator DR.Mel Levine. There is a good book too, called A Mind At A Time by him that tells how every student can succeed.
Ok, gotta go take the flat iron to my hair. Hope you all have a great weekend.


Sorry for being so *****y yesterday. I am just a little overwhelmed.
Pam

Hey ya'll!

Checking in.... seems that it is going to be a quiet week around here. ...and I bet it only gets more quiet as we get into September! I have 1 week of summer left. ...and I am in a panic... I'm serious! P A N I C.... for multiple reasons!

Pam, glad to hear that things are better! I sent you another PM! :)
I have read a bit of Mel Levine's work... Thank you so very much for reminding me of that website! It has been a while since my last visit there...and well THIS is the year that I'm going to NEED all the help in the classroom that I can get! ...Overwhelmed? hehehe, I am joking when I say... WHY? What do you have to do? ...The students aren't even there yet! (My brother in law always says stupid things like that... I always want to choke him! Once I did tell him to kiss my fanny in response to THAT very same comment that I used above!) IF people only REALLY knew, understood AND cared what we REALLY do! ::sigh::

Gotta go get my laundry done. Tomorrow I have to go to my WW WI. I want to make sure that I have VERY light summer clothes on! ;) I'm considering removing the captive bead ring that I wear in my left cartilage..cause it is on the heavy side! (Ok..so I'm kidding about removing the ring... I guess that would be unfair since I did weigh with it last week!) Don't you worry! I will be back to update you about my progress tomorrow! LOL...I'm SURE you were going to lose sleep wondering if I was going to tell all about it, huh?! Dryer just buzzed for the 2nd time! I am NOT ironing in this heat.... so...adios!

take care!
Robyn

Robyn: Okay, I am dying to know how your WI went this morning! You need to get two tsp of oil, so I am guessing that would be an awful lot of flaxseed capsules! I usually just put mine on a salad or pour it over my 94% ff popcorn. It cost me two points and I really HATE spending them on oil. The oil thing is fairly new. I didn't have to do it when I started. Then it was the dairy I hated to spend points on. Well not if it was cheese or ice cream but I don't care for milk. We are the opposite when it comes to water. I can't drink it unless it is ice cold. Luckily we have an ice machine at school that I can steal from. Sorry about the loss of your casemanager. My DS use to have a full time aid. They have them for three years and then they have to get a new one. You really get attached! My DD needs new shoes too. I wish I was like normal women who love to shop! Then I wouldn't need to dread shopping on top of dreading going back to a schedule. Not to mention the cost of school shopping these days! Hey did you ever post your recipe? I think you said it was for Tilapia. If so, where did you post it? I have a bag of Tilapia in my freezer that needs to be cooked.

Ginny - We will miss you. Hopefully you are having different weather than we are this week. Sounds like we are going to get a taste of Fall. I guess that is good since it will make it easier to shop and do school work. I give you a lot of credit for going to WW on vacation. I always think about it but never quite make it there. I really need to get back on track. I am hoping when school starts up it will be easier.

Pam - Congratulations on surviving your first week back at school! I am sure we will all be overwhelmed when our time comes. I may have a mentee this year too. We have a new special education teacher. As I have been there the longest it would make sense but our principal may pick the other male teacher just because he is male!

My DH gave me my birthday present early. It is a brand new set of fancy dancy golf clubs! He wanted me to have them early because he knows the closer it gets to school starting, the less I'll golf. Of course I got them last night so now it is raining today!

I need to run to the bank. My DH got lightening out of golf (they play in the rain but the course won't let you play if there is lightening) so he wants to go to a mantinee. Hopefully there is something playing that is appropriate for a 10 and 13-year-old. Looks like all my outside events are off for today. Actually they are probably still on but I don't like standing in the rain.

Sue

Goooood morning the fewww of us who are around! :)

I've been up since 5:40 as I had my WW meeting at 7 afreakinm! Whoohooo!
I'm happy and pleased and estatic (and realistic!) to report that I've shed 5.6 pounds according to the 2nd scale from the left at my WW meeting! I know! I know! The first week is not only the easy week...it is also the BIGGGG week! No, I don't expect to drop that much this coming week! BUT...whooohoooooooo I got a 5 pound bookmark thingy! Whooohoooo! (AND I'm over 1/2 way to the next pound! I wonder if I should have gone potty ONE more time before that weigh in?! LOL)

Anyway! That is my big news of the day!

So what is up with you folks?! I'm off to plan our meals for the week and then do the grocery shopping! Don't worry... I still feel that "EndofSummerPanic" in my 5.6 pounds lighter gut! (hehehhee...had to get THAT in there one more time! :) )

Will check in later today!
take care,
Robyn

Hey!
First Congratulations Robyn! Way to go...........I'm going in the opposite direction I'm sad to say.........

Had a busy day yesterday. Went to Raleigh to look for school clothes...Way to expensive. It was funny. We went to Sax Fifth Avenue.
There was NOBODY in that store except for one lady looking at shoes in the shoe department. No wonder. I picked up the cutest pair of beaded sandals and when I turned them over they were $398. :o No prices on the Luis Vuitton. (If you have to ask the price you obviously can't afford it.) The killer to me was this garrish ugly puke green alligator bag that was so big I could have used it for a tote back for the low low price of $3,100! We could not have afforded one shoe lace in that store. But, it was neat to go in there to look around. I'm sure they had the cameras watching our every move. Speaking of which.......... Let me tell you a cool story.....My mom and brother have a new and used store in Virginia Beach. They sale antiques, and odds and ends of everything. There is a man that my brother knows who is a trash collector who brings in like bikes that people are throwing away and lawn mowers and stuff that my brother fixes, paints and sells. Well one day he was doing his job in this really ritzy section of Virginia Beach. I think Whitney Houston actually has a house there. Anyway, he found an entire garbage bag of Coach bags and assorted other purses. So my mom was telling me and I said I want one......I looked at the purses and the coach ones were huge and way bigger than anything I would want, but, there was a cute Dooney Bourke one that I ended up getting. Almost brand new still had the little sticker with the serial number etc....I saw it yesterday at Dillards for over $200! My husband said hey would you like a wallet to match? The little teeeeeeeeeeny wallet was $185. I said No thanks I wouldn't have any money to put in there thanks. Anyway, just thought that was sort of interesting.

I guess I need to clean the house today. It is quite cluttered. Maybe I'll get around to that this morning. Still have to get my nine year olds school supplies and a new book bag so I guess at some point today I will go to Walmart and see what I can find. Also have to do lesson plans and email them to my principal before tomorrow morning at 8! Yuck! Still don't know what I will be doing the first two days of school. I hate the first day. It makes me nervous. I usually don't sleep at all the whole night before...

When is your birthday Sue? Happy Birthday! Too bad you couldn't go out and try out the new clubs. Will they improve your game?????????It's gonna be 110 with the heat index here today. I am ready for fall. This summer has been way too hot for me.

Guess everyone else is enjoying their vacations.....I'm off to work.

Pam

Hi everyone,
First off, congrats to Robyn on her weight loss. That is awesome, gal! Keep up the good work.
Pam, I am in the same boat you are. We have a school district wide meeting tomorrow morning and than building meetings tomorrow afternoon. The dear students come back on Tuesday. Than we are off and running for 180 days.
Sue, glad you had a nice vacation. So when do you start back to school?
Hope Mouse, Ginny and Summer are enjoying their vacations. I am looking forward to my long weekend here in a few weeks.
Went school clothes shopping on Thursday. Friday morning woke up to a missing filling. Called the dentist and can't get in until tomorrow afternoon. So I have been in pain all weekend long. The boys started football this year so we had to go to their first game today. It was scheduled for yesterday and people in the league forgot to tell the coaches that they had changed it to today, so we were up and out the door yesterday morning before 8. Meaning my last Saturday before school starts and I was up at 6am. Only for them to say sorry for the inconivience, but same time and place tomorrow. So I didn't get to sleep in at all this weekend.
Well I better go and get ready for bed. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

I'm back from camp! Don't have much time...

Flights both ways were good; but somewhere there is a security agent from the Traffic Security Administration peddling my birth control pills! They were certainly in my bag when I left, and they were most certainly not there when I arrived. The bottle of phenergan was open too (I hardly ever get nauseated anymore, but since I wasn't sure of what types of food they'd serve at camp, it seemed a good idea to be safe!), but there were no pills in the bottom of the bag, so it seems likely some of those made it into the pockets of TSA also. They left my spironolactone, the pre-natal vitamins and the benedryl alone. I bet that confused 'em: pre-natal vitamins and birth control pills in the same suitcase? Along with a small jar of peanut butter, several itty-bitty cans of tuna, and diet soda? A sleeping bag? Two towels? WHAT????
Sufficient to make them open my bag both going out to Chicago and coming back! They had the little sticker on my bag to show they'd opened it.
And they make you take your shoes off at security... That was traumatic because I nearly killed myself leaving Chicago because my socks slipped on the floor, and one lady tried to move the bin that had my laptop in it. I survived, however, and those are the kinds of travel stories that will make funny anecdotes later.
Camp was really neat: the food wasn't bad at all, the pool was nice. Moaning Myrtle lived in our bathroom (for those of you who have read Harry Potter, you'll get the reference!): we had the phantom toilet. It flushed itself. Seriously. It wasn't automatic, either. Then today we woke up and the toilet was overflowing onto the floor.
I did lots of tech support, which I am good at so that was a good place for me to be.
The people were nice, and the support counselors from the camp itself were SO TOTALLY AWESOME! I wish I were a little younger: many of them will be visiting DC, and if I were younger, I would have offered to be tour guide, but they don't want to hang around with a 32 year old teacher. ;)
It was a good time. I've got TONS of pictures that I need to organize (I wound up using both of my flash cards for the camera at the Saturday night dance/ice cream social... the kids made the ice cream themselves!). The only downer was a parent who is also on the board of directors for the camp who was just a :censored:. I was unfortunate enough to have to listen to her last night, and then this morning. This morning was the worst, though, because she was trying to stir up trouble for the camp director with the other parents... And I was sitting there listening. You all know I've had to deal with that at my own schools, and that I absolutely hate it.
I didn't know what to do. I wanted to call her on it, but I couldn't. I wanted to tell the camp director, bt I couldn't... I finally told the other parent who helped found the camp (it was her family that picked me up at the airport and encouraged me to go in the first place) and she handled it. I feel like I was a coward, though.
I need to run and eat though and go to bed. I'm super tired, but I also have to go to work tomorrow. The wash is in the dyrer and will just stay there will tomorrow!

:mouse:

Hey!
Just a quickie as I have to leave in ten mniutes to go to convocation. BLuck....Two hours is way to long when I have many things that need to be done in my classroom. (Especially since we have open house tomorrow night) Yikes.
Mouse: Sounds like you had a good time. It's about time you had someething good go your way. I'm laughing about the birth control pills. Maybe somebody's girlfriend was out..................

Kerry: Gosh, you all don't get much prep time before school starts do you? Our kids don't come til Thursday. Thankfully.........Hope all goes well.

Well, let me get going. I will need to find a stupid parking spot......I dread this meeting. They are usually quite corny and long.

Later...............
Pam

Hi, all. EVerybody must either be in classrooms or on vacation!

Pam: Well, my theory is that since the pills are white, there is a TSA agent over in DC (since I flew out of National) who crushed the pills up and is selling the white powder for $20/bag. It won't make them high, but we might have fewer unplanned pregnancies in DC for a month! :D

But the rest of today was just a real downer. The first in-service today was about highly qualified teachers. They laid it out real clear: I must be highly qualified in every CONTENT AREA THAT I TEACH. That means, for my students, I must be highly qualified in elementary education (for my students doing alternate assessments), and then in grades K-whatevergradelevel they are at... in EVERY CORE SUBJECT I TEACH! I'm going to be taking Praxis tests for the rest of my life! I *might* be highly qualified for English and History, there was something in the regs about 9 credit hours... I attended a liberal arts undergrad program, so I should have enough credits in history/social studies (I enjoy history, so I took quite a few electives in that) and then all my journalism and writing credits might take care of English. I'm just not sure how to get them to do the transcript review. I might qualify in reading if I can take some more reading classes... I already have 6, so I should only need 3 more. However, I can't attend graduate classes because the school hours are so stupid.
:grrr:
Okay. Enough. Hope everybody else is doing well. Later.
:mouse: