I would like to clone today and use it all again. I got nothing really accomplished today, but I think that's okay. I'll make it up later.
I slept in until about 9:00 after turning off the alarm at 6:00. (Forgot to turn it off for the weekend. Oops!) Hubby brought me up my morning cappuccino and a warm donut. Sinful, but so-o-o-o good. Then after watching some HGTV and a couple of episodes of Snapped....I finally got out of bed. Yep, it was good!
Then I got clothes on; gathered up some laundry; came down stairs and looked at the paper with Hubby. One load actually made it to the dryer. He mowed the lawn. We visited with a neighbor. Then we sat on the back deck; had a couple of glasses of wine and some great conversation.
Later we came in and I spent some time looking online at hotels for a little trip will be taking soon. Fun stuff! Then we finally all got showers and dressed and went to a place called "Dave and Busters". It is kind of like "Chuck E. Cheese" but for adults, too. We have always liked it but our son had never been, so we took he and one of his buddies. The food is usually pretty good. I had the blackened tillapia. (Yum!) Then there are the games. They hyped up everyone. They have a World War I Flight Simulator and since Hub's a private pilot, you couldn't pull him away from that. The boys were doing the Dance Revolution games and anything else that they could shoot. I usually stick with the even more mindless games. I usually do pretty good at skee shot. Nothing tonight. Then there was a game where a ball fell into these spinning hole for you to get tickets. I got lucky and it went into the jackpot hole and I got 402 extra. That was enough tickets to make me a hit with the two boys.
So a day that starts out with a big case of lazy; throw in a cool breeze and wine with your best friend, Then going out and being a kid a Little. Like my mother always say; "And a good time was had by all!) Like I said, I would like to clone today and use it all again.
Later
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
I need to throw up.
Why do some people just have to be mean spirited? I really don't think that God put in a mean spirited gene. It can't be fun. It really gets you nowhere. I would think that the thrill of bullying (if there is one) would be very short-lived. What's the payoff?
I witness it way too much. I see students doing it to each other. I see the referrals come in for discipline. I read them and just go "Huh? You did what?" Sometimes I see the victim looking pretty demoralized. When you are 13 and 14 everything is huge. You don't have to even be particularly nice to each other. Just quit being mean.
I think we teach our kids these ways of interacting. I see it all the time from parents. They want to know something about their kid and they come storming in demanding to see someone at that very instant. Almost everyone that works there is a parent. We get that we are dealing with our most precious resources. That's why we are there. I had a woman the other day mad because an assistant principal was in meetings all day and she would have to get an appointment or wait for her to call her back. She said "Well they are suppose to be here and available to the parents." In my sweetest voice I told her "No ma'am. Actually they are suppose to be here helping these students get a good education and that's what they are doing right now."
As you can tell, something really set me off today. Nurse Ratchett and her buddy swing hot and cold like the pendulum on a clock. One day very friendly and nice and then the next.... Never turn your back. I, along with others, came in to work today to find a small personal-sized cake at our desks fixed up really prettily and a card that said Happy Secretary's Day. No name. I took some bites and just bragged on it and then tried to find out who was the cake fairy. It was the Nurse! Should I have had a food taster? That was really a very nice thing to do. Then when I got back from lunch, I got this nasty, sarcastic e-mail from her buddy. She is suppose to catch the phones when I go to lunch and was out of her office when I was leaving. I asked someone else to catch them. They said where is so-and-so and I said that she was not in her office. That's it. Just an observation, not a criticism. No big deal. I don't know what this other gal said to her, but after lunch she wrote me that she had been in her office for a full 45 minutes before (no comment)and had just left for two minutes to go to the bathroom, and why would I say that I couldn't find her? I really hadn't given it that much thought. (Can you even believe we had this conversation?) She was the same one that said I needed to take a half day of my sick time when I left and hour early to take my son to the ortho. The scary thing is that she could go ahead a turn it in that way and wouldn't know it.
I am so very tired of this childish drama and today this little, stupid e-mail just pushed me over the edge. I was just about in tears of frustration. She has pulled many silly, petty annoyances on me, but this time....she put it in writing. I had asked the principal earlier to meet with me and look at some other things so I just took a copy of the email with me. I told her that I was so tired of having to look over my shoulder to keep from having issues and that it was getting harder to deal with. Anyway, I ended up being mad at myself. I always think that when you have a "gripe" meeting like that with a superior, you ought to have a outcome in mind that you are requesting/suggesting. Why am I telling her about this? What am I asking her to do about it? I really don't know. I don't think detention will work very well although I would be amusing to see. :) I felt like I was a kid "telling" on her. In the end, I still have a problem to work out but at least someone has seen a snippet of it with her own eyes.
Anyway this is today's segment of "As the Stomach Turns"; also known as "Just because you work in a middle school doesn't mean you have to act like it." Thanks for letting me throw up just a little. Between that and the margarita I had with dinner, I feel better now.
Later.
I witness it way too much. I see students doing it to each other. I see the referrals come in for discipline. I read them and just go "Huh? You did what?" Sometimes I see the victim looking pretty demoralized. When you are 13 and 14 everything is huge. You don't have to even be particularly nice to each other. Just quit being mean.
I think we teach our kids these ways of interacting. I see it all the time from parents. They want to know something about their kid and they come storming in demanding to see someone at that very instant. Almost everyone that works there is a parent. We get that we are dealing with our most precious resources. That's why we are there. I had a woman the other day mad because an assistant principal was in meetings all day and she would have to get an appointment or wait for her to call her back. She said "Well they are suppose to be here and available to the parents." In my sweetest voice I told her "No ma'am. Actually they are suppose to be here helping these students get a good education and that's what they are doing right now."
As you can tell, something really set me off today. Nurse Ratchett and her buddy swing hot and cold like the pendulum on a clock. One day very friendly and nice and then the next.... Never turn your back. I, along with others, came in to work today to find a small personal-sized cake at our desks fixed up really prettily and a card that said Happy Secretary's Day. No name. I took some bites and just bragged on it and then tried to find out who was the cake fairy. It was the Nurse! Should I have had a food taster? That was really a very nice thing to do. Then when I got back from lunch, I got this nasty, sarcastic e-mail from her buddy. She is suppose to catch the phones when I go to lunch and was out of her office when I was leaving. I asked someone else to catch them. They said where is so-and-so and I said that she was not in her office. That's it. Just an observation, not a criticism. No big deal. I don't know what this other gal said to her, but after lunch she wrote me that she had been in her office for a full 45 minutes before (no comment)and had just left for two minutes to go to the bathroom, and why would I say that I couldn't find her? I really hadn't given it that much thought. (Can you even believe we had this conversation?) She was the same one that said I needed to take a half day of my sick time when I left and hour early to take my son to the ortho. The scary thing is that she could go ahead a turn it in that way and wouldn't know it.
I am so very tired of this childish drama and today this little, stupid e-mail just pushed me over the edge. I was just about in tears of frustration. She has pulled many silly, petty annoyances on me, but this time....she put it in writing. I had asked the principal earlier to meet with me and look at some other things so I just took a copy of the email with me. I told her that I was so tired of having to look over my shoulder to keep from having issues and that it was getting harder to deal with. Anyway, I ended up being mad at myself. I always think that when you have a "gripe" meeting like that with a superior, you ought to have a outcome in mind that you are requesting/suggesting. Why am I telling her about this? What am I asking her to do about it? I really don't know. I don't think detention will work very well although I would be amusing to see. :) I felt like I was a kid "telling" on her. In the end, I still have a problem to work out but at least someone has seen a snippet of it with her own eyes.
Anyway this is today's segment of "As the Stomach Turns"; also known as "Just because you work in a middle school doesn't mean you have to act like it." Thanks for letting me throw up just a little. Between that and the margarita I had with dinner, I feel better now.
Later.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
It's all in the newspaper
I'm really not sure why I feel the urge to post tonight. I have just been a dud this weekend. Just feeling a little blue. Everything seems just a little unbalanced. Hubby was in a mood, too. I guess we both just needed to be in our caves. I even saw in the newspaper today where a boy I knew as a child had passed away. Didn't even know that he lived up this way now.
Hubby use to laugh at me because when I have a little time on the weekends, I read the obituaries. No, I'm not looking for my name. I'm a little depressed, but not nuts. Anywho, people write the craziest things about their loved ones when they pass. Sometimes a little too much information. I'm still thinking about the one that talked about the man's love of his dogs and puppies. It said that they went with him to heaven! They sent his dogs with him???? On another they went on about what kind of beer that Aunt So-and-so really liked. Of course, most of them have a picture of the 92 year old person when they were 17. Does anyone really recognize them. Maybe I need to re-think my instructions to my hub to use the cleavage shot from Glamour Shots for mine.
I also read an article about a woman who lost her 21 year old son in a freak accident. She said that her son had always planned to get married and have children so she petitioned the courts to let her have his sperm taken and frozen. She wanted to use it with a surrogate and she said that several had already volunteered. She felt that he should have his wish. It wasn't clear to me if she wanted to raise these children or what. Her petition was granted and there's something new in the freezer. Have we all just gone nuts? She will probably be on one of the news show next week talking about it.
I did get a really neat surprise yesterday. My brother sat down and wrote basically his autobiography. I received in the mail a bound 100+ double-sided pages of his life story even illustrated with pictures. It was amazing! Out of everyone in my family, I still can't believe he was the one who did it. I called and asked him if he had been to a doctor and was there anything I should know. He made copies for his children and his two sisters. I even learned a few family stories in it. A few others were made clearer. When you're the youngest by several years, you miss out on a lot. Anyway, I treasure it and love and admire him even more for doing it. What a gift, especially for his children.
The Easter Bunny really took care of my eleven year old this year. The kid loves the color pink. He may just like the attention of it. He is quite the bruiser so it seems a little out of place for such a sweet color. Anyway, everything in his basket this year, including the grass, is pink. I can't wait to see him tomorrow. He will be howling. There is even a t-shirt rolled up with a pink ribbon that says something about the 5 reasons that he would wear a pink shirt. It ought to be fun.
It's late so I guess I should go to bed. Hope everyone has a good Easter Sunday tomorrow....oops, I should say today.
Later.
Hubby use to laugh at me because when I have a little time on the weekends, I read the obituaries. No, I'm not looking for my name. I'm a little depressed, but not nuts. Anywho, people write the craziest things about their loved ones when they pass. Sometimes a little too much information. I'm still thinking about the one that talked about the man's love of his dogs and puppies. It said that they went with him to heaven! They sent his dogs with him???? On another they went on about what kind of beer that Aunt So-and-so really liked. Of course, most of them have a picture of the 92 year old person when they were 17. Does anyone really recognize them. Maybe I need to re-think my instructions to my hub to use the cleavage shot from Glamour Shots for mine.
I also read an article about a woman who lost her 21 year old son in a freak accident. She said that her son had always planned to get married and have children so she petitioned the courts to let her have his sperm taken and frozen. She wanted to use it with a surrogate and she said that several had already volunteered. She felt that he should have his wish. It wasn't clear to me if she wanted to raise these children or what. Her petition was granted and there's something new in the freezer. Have we all just gone nuts? She will probably be on one of the news show next week talking about it.
I did get a really neat surprise yesterday. My brother sat down and wrote basically his autobiography. I received in the mail a bound 100+ double-sided pages of his life story even illustrated with pictures. It was amazing! Out of everyone in my family, I still can't believe he was the one who did it. I called and asked him if he had been to a doctor and was there anything I should know. He made copies for his children and his two sisters. I even learned a few family stories in it. A few others were made clearer. When you're the youngest by several years, you miss out on a lot. Anyway, I treasure it and love and admire him even more for doing it. What a gift, especially for his children.
The Easter Bunny really took care of my eleven year old this year. The kid loves the color pink. He may just like the attention of it. He is quite the bruiser so it seems a little out of place for such a sweet color. Anyway, everything in his basket this year, including the grass, is pink. I can't wait to see him tomorrow. He will be howling. There is even a t-shirt rolled up with a pink ribbon that says something about the 5 reasons that he would wear a pink shirt. It ought to be fun.
It's late so I guess I should go to bed. Hope everyone has a good Easter Sunday tomorrow....oops, I should say today.
Later.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Spring is springing!
Although it has been a little cool today (by our Southern standards), it is getting to be the time of year that I probably love the most. Love those Spring afternoons when you get the first smells of cut grass and outside seems to be waking up. I balanced that today by updating my calendar with all of the ballgames my son will have this season. Between games and practices.....that's where I will be.
We had a little news this week. Looks like we will not have to move so soon. Evidently, someone with more seniority wants that district, so we are here for awhile. It is certainly a better plan for our family, but I always feel the need to know where I'm going to be next year. Also, in these uncertain economic times, I just want them to be totally invested in him.
We went to see our son last weekend and plan to go again next weekend. He looked alright. I still search his face for the little boy I raised, but instead there is a man, a young man, staring back. He seems so far away. Sometimes it hard to remember that one day this will end.
We got to have dinner last night with my brother-in-law and his partner. They were flying to Mexico and had an overnight layover here. It was a short visit but always fun to be with them. It also inspired the full-fledged cleaning of the working-woman's home. Guess a little extra incentive is always a good thing.
I'm really ready for summer vacation. I know that the next two months will be insanely busy at school. We have major testing weeks ahead and that just stresses out students and staff. I do enjoy being at school with the kids and "most" of the staff, but right now I miss being at home more. I feel like I don't do anything well around here and there is so much I want to do. Also, a couple of sour pusses at work can sure mess up a good day. I know that is anywhere you go, but I can hope for the perfect world, can't I?
I love the way our bathroom turned out that I redecorated. Now I am ready to start another room. This kind of thing drives Hub nuts! He likes the outcome, but he hates the getting there. Now I want to repaint the formal dining room. He says that he has painted it once and that's enough. But he also made the mistake of saying that if we hadn't moved by summer that he would do it. (Silly boy! He thought he had that one.) Anyway, this is one that I can't move the furniture by myself so he has to be involved. Then it will be on to the kitchen. I really want granite and new appliances. That is going to have to involve the money fairy though. Probably will have to happy with a little more paint.
Back to Facebook....why should anyone be interested in what your friends are doing every minute? I have friends that have busy, important jobs and there it is posted with all their daily "stuff". Where do you find the time and how much time am I expected to waste reading all of that? Sorry. I may love you, but I don't need to know that you are picking up the cleaning, etc. And what's the deal with sending charms, etc. I just don't get it. It's not like it's a blog or anything........
Later.
We had a little news this week. Looks like we will not have to move so soon. Evidently, someone with more seniority wants that district, so we are here for awhile. It is certainly a better plan for our family, but I always feel the need to know where I'm going to be next year. Also, in these uncertain economic times, I just want them to be totally invested in him.
We went to see our son last weekend and plan to go again next weekend. He looked alright. I still search his face for the little boy I raised, but instead there is a man, a young man, staring back. He seems so far away. Sometimes it hard to remember that one day this will end.
We got to have dinner last night with my brother-in-law and his partner. They were flying to Mexico and had an overnight layover here. It was a short visit but always fun to be with them. It also inspired the full-fledged cleaning of the working-woman's home. Guess a little extra incentive is always a good thing.
I'm really ready for summer vacation. I know that the next two months will be insanely busy at school. We have major testing weeks ahead and that just stresses out students and staff. I do enjoy being at school with the kids and "most" of the staff, but right now I miss being at home more. I feel like I don't do anything well around here and there is so much I want to do. Also, a couple of sour pusses at work can sure mess up a good day. I know that is anywhere you go, but I can hope for the perfect world, can't I?
I love the way our bathroom turned out that I redecorated. Now I am ready to start another room. This kind of thing drives Hub nuts! He likes the outcome, but he hates the getting there. Now I want to repaint the formal dining room. He says that he has painted it once and that's enough. But he also made the mistake of saying that if we hadn't moved by summer that he would do it. (Silly boy! He thought he had that one.) Anyway, this is one that I can't move the furniture by myself so he has to be involved. Then it will be on to the kitchen. I really want granite and new appliances. That is going to have to involve the money fairy though. Probably will have to happy with a little more paint.
Back to Facebook....why should anyone be interested in what your friends are doing every minute? I have friends that have busy, important jobs and there it is posted with all their daily "stuff". Where do you find the time and how much time am I expected to waste reading all of that? Sorry. I may love you, but I don't need to know that you are picking up the cleaning, etc. And what's the deal with sending charms, etc. I just don't get it. It's not like it's a blog or anything........
Later.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Twenty-one
Today my baby turned 21. We plan to go see him Sunday if they haven't moved him again. When they are moved, they can't have visitors for awhile. We found out that he had his wisdom teeth removed last week. (Does it get any better?) They had been bothering him, but he kept trying to put it off until he got out as the only thing he would be allowed for pain afterward is Tylenol. I guess it got to be too much.
My messages say that the adoption agency called while I was at work today. I will have to find a private moment to call them back tomorrow. I'm sure his birth mother has called wanting to know about him. I expected her to call. I thought about her today, too. We leave message through the agency. I always sent letters and pictures every year, but not now. The ball is in his court now. He's an adult. He has never written her. He has started to several times, but now he doesn't know what to say. I think he still wants to make her proud, too. What a struggle. He doesn't mind if I try to give her some kind of an update, but it is getting tougher to put in a positive light. She has had her own struggles and some of his weaknesses, as well as strengths, are from her. But she chose to give him life and made us a family so I will forever be in her debt.
If you are lucky enough to have your children close, please give them an extra hug. There are two mothers tonight missing their one son.
Later.
My messages say that the adoption agency called while I was at work today. I will have to find a private moment to call them back tomorrow. I'm sure his birth mother has called wanting to know about him. I expected her to call. I thought about her today, too. We leave message through the agency. I always sent letters and pictures every year, but not now. The ball is in his court now. He's an adult. He has never written her. He has started to several times, but now he doesn't know what to say. I think he still wants to make her proud, too. What a struggle. He doesn't mind if I try to give her some kind of an update, but it is getting tougher to put in a positive light. She has had her own struggles and some of his weaknesses, as well as strengths, are from her. But she chose to give him life and made us a family so I will forever be in her debt.
If you are lucky enough to have your children close, please give them an extra hug. There are two mothers tonight missing their one son.
Later.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
As the World Turns
Thanks for the kind words of support. Last Friday was a really tough day. The students were hurried to their homerooms as soon as they got to school. There a prepared statement was read that their classmate was gone. Everyone got the same info at the same time. There was lots of crying and phone calls to parents to pick them up. The library was set up with extra counselors as a "safe room" to go to to talk and cry. The counselors did a great job. Everything was in place to help the students just get through that day. I loved on lots of kids amid the busyness of the day. The toughest part to me was late in the day when the dad and sis brought the student's book to turn in. It made it all so real. There will be a memorial service for her this coming Wednesday night for the students.
Somehow it seems that all of this was enough to send me on over just a little into the depths of dealing with my own life issues. I don't mean to sound so melodramatic, but it has become a habit just to go on deal without dwelling on our different situations. I'm not sure which is healthier but this gets me through the days. The other route just seems to immobilize me.
My son turns 21 this week. It seems like we lost so many years of his life. Some were lost to drugs and some to prison. Sure wasn't the way we planned. I have been blessed to have a lot of letters from him that I would probably have never had. I was terrible about writing my mother. His letters show one of the neat sides of him that I love so much. His heart side.
So with all that said, this week is almost gone and I have lots of little projects started, and some even completed, but mostly a big mess. I need another week....or year. I just installed under cabinet lights over my computer desk in the kitchen. It's so nice to have my area bright, but man, where did this extra dust come from? I need to do something better with all of these wires, too. Yuck! Would like to have a laptop of my own in the future, but I have a really nice PC and I'm kind of bonded with it.
Yesterday, I got plastered. Actually, the walls in my downstairs bathroom did but I couldn't resist the lame joke. Hub went to Home Depot a little while ago to pick up my wonderful deep red paint so later tonight we will see what kind of a plaster job I really did.
Guess I need to get ready to paint. Hate the "getting ready" part!
Due to a special request, I have added an e-mail to this account. Write me.
Later.
Somehow it seems that all of this was enough to send me on over just a little into the depths of dealing with my own life issues. I don't mean to sound so melodramatic, but it has become a habit just to go on deal without dwelling on our different situations. I'm not sure which is healthier but this gets me through the days. The other route just seems to immobilize me.
My son turns 21 this week. It seems like we lost so many years of his life. Some were lost to drugs and some to prison. Sure wasn't the way we planned. I have been blessed to have a lot of letters from him that I would probably have never had. I was terrible about writing my mother. His letters show one of the neat sides of him that I love so much. His heart side.
So with all that said, this week is almost gone and I have lots of little projects started, and some even completed, but mostly a big mess. I need another week....or year. I just installed under cabinet lights over my computer desk in the kitchen. It's so nice to have my area bright, but man, where did this extra dust come from? I need to do something better with all of these wires, too. Yuck! Would like to have a laptop of my own in the future, but I have a really nice PC and I'm kind of bonded with it.
Yesterday, I got plastered. Actually, the walls in my downstairs bathroom did but I couldn't resist the lame joke. Hub went to Home Depot a little while ago to pick up my wonderful deep red paint so later tonight we will see what kind of a plaster job I really did.
Guess I need to get ready to paint. Hate the "getting ready" part!
Due to a special request, I have added an e-mail to this account. Write me.
Later.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
You're safe.......
How do you tell a child that their friend is gone? How do you tell anyone for that matter? Tomorrow this will be done over and over again. Tomorrow 12, 13 and 14 year olds that heard the word "leukemia" only a few weeks ago will learn that this "word" has taken the life of their classmate. Many will come to school already knowing the news. Stories travel fast and after the announcement is made during first period, all will know. The words "extra counselors will be on site and available" will come to life. A "safe room" will be made available. Plans for 8th Grade Banquet and Graduation should, and were, being made. This plan wasn't "ours".
So tomorrow we have to be adults. We have to steer the children in a safe direction. We have to keep the privacy of a grieving family intact. You just want to scoop these kids all up in your arms and say "You're safe; this really sucks and I'm so sorry your hurting." But that's not exactly the way things have to be done these days. Too much legal water has gone under the bridge. Personal feelings are overshadowed by professional guidelines. "Let the professionals handle it" is the mantra. There will be concerned parents calling to know if their child is O.K. Heck, I don't know if I'm O.K.
So please stop and say a little prayer tomorrow for a grieving family and school. Pray that the "adults" will handle all of this in a compassionate way to help these students deal with a tough dose of life. Pray that all will know and feel "You're safe; this really sucks and I'm so sorry your hurting."
So tomorrow we have to be adults. We have to steer the children in a safe direction. We have to keep the privacy of a grieving family intact. You just want to scoop these kids all up in your arms and say "You're safe; this really sucks and I'm so sorry your hurting." But that's not exactly the way things have to be done these days. Too much legal water has gone under the bridge. Personal feelings are overshadowed by professional guidelines. "Let the professionals handle it" is the mantra. There will be concerned parents calling to know if their child is O.K. Heck, I don't know if I'm O.K.
So please stop and say a little prayer tomorrow for a grieving family and school. Pray that the "adults" will handle all of this in a compassionate way to help these students deal with a tough dose of life. Pray that all will know and feel "You're safe; this really sucks and I'm so sorry your hurting."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)