Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today was better than the last few days have been. A bit less stressful, a bit more positive. I know I've said it a lot, but I really love my job.

Henry's been pukey today- twice in the last several hours. He throws up fairly often, but usually after eating. I don't know why he's sick, but hopefully it will pass. Yummy subject, huh?

This weekend I will be doing lots of work for grad school. I have something to work on for each of my three courses, so I am going to get a lot done! I might have to say that several times to actually convince myself.

Umm... My life is boring. I have nothing more to add. Maybe tomorrow? We'll see.

Ugh

Today was just a very down day for me. I'm struggling with some anger over aspects of my job and how the principal at my school handles things. I get so attached to my students, and I want them to have the best days at school that they can. Yesterday was a bad day for one of my kids, and I can't do anything to change the situation. I'm very concerned and upset, and I guess I just need time to let it go. I know most everyone has a boss at work, but there's a very dictatorial aura about my principal. I'm tired of it.

I still love teaching, though. They'd better not forget where the battle described in the Star-Spangled Banner took place. Just to see, anyone out there remember off hand? (Anyone... anyone... Bueller...)

I'm hanging in there, though. Just four months til I get a break!

Overwhelmed

I'm working on holding off a sense of panic. There's a lot of work to be done in the next several months, and I'm hoping to get it all done, and done well. People keep asking if I'm doing anything fun for spring break, but my only response is "work." Its a good thing I love my job, or else the "work" would drive me crazy.

In a previous post, I referred to a smell of bananas. I still have no idea what the smell was.

The weather is pretty nice now. Although fall is my favorite season, spring has some positive aspects. Daffodils, cool weather, sunshine... Not too bad. Our yard needs a ton of work. I need to lay new mulch, weed, and create some new flower beds. Not to mention all the clover that is starting to grow back from last year! Maybe I'll just pull out all the grass and mulch the yard. That would make life a tad easier. Our neighbors might complain, though.

People at school are starting to really notice my weight loss. Its nice. Just imagine how I'll look after another thirty-five pounds! Perhaps I'll find a nice bikini for the cruise. I'm excited about the cruise. Troy's never been on one, so I'm sure he's really looking forward to it as well.

I ran on Sunday, just for ten minutes or so. I have no idea why I love running like I do. I guess its more of my lovable weirdness.

Weekend

I had considered driving down to Tennessee this weekend to hang out with Mom. I'm kinda glad I stayed here. I had a lot of fun at the Dollar Tree, had a good dinner with Troy and Will, and got some research done for a big paper. It is always great to see my family, but I think I needed to stay here, rest, and get things done.

My paper will be on the "Language Experience Approach" in reading and writing instruction. Sounds really interesting, doesn't it? I'm just thrilled.

I'm reading a funny book called "Hotel Pastis" by Peter Mayle. He wrote the books that led to the BBC miniseries A Year In Provence. He's hilarious if you haven't read anything by him before. He makes me want to move to France and buy baguettes. Lynchburg isn't very amusing, as the only thing that I can really make fun of is Jerry Falwell. They'd probably burn my house down if I was too outspoken about him.

I smell bananas. There are no bananas in my house. I'd better go investigate.

Henry

Last night Henry slept out of his crate for the first time. He spent most of the night on the bed, where his whole thirty-five pounds kept Troy from stretching out properly. I think the decision to let him sleep out had a lot to do with the story from my previous post. I reread it again today with the same reaction- complete waterworks. I feel very lucky to have Henry. Have I mentioned how cute he is?!?

I'm trying to come up with some cool things to talk about. School, grad school, and Henry consume all my time, so they are all I really have to talk about. I'd talk about Troy, but I don't think this is the place, unless its a funny anecdote. So my devoted reader will just have to put up with the mundane details of my life. Love you, T!

Most Depressing Story Ever

To read, go here: http://www.repeatafterus.com/title.php?i=7483

So maybe you won't want to read it. I find it to be very sad, and I cried in the middle of one of my graduate courses as I read it aloud with a partner. Horrific as it is, I felt it was an important story to read.

The highlight of the class? Finding out I made a 100% on the midterm. The prof actually wrote "A+" on the paper. I'm so showing to all my students tomorrow!

IEPs

In theory, the individualized education program is a wonderful idea. No longer will children be forced to survive solely on the cookie cutter education that their "normal" peers receive! Hoorah- for the special needs child will get exactly what they need! But... wait... The students still have to learn the same amount of material and pass the same tests as their "normal" peers. In other words, the President of the United States must think that my Masters in Special Education is the same thing as a freakin' magic wand. They don't get division on their own? Let me tap them twice on the head with my wand and they'll be doing calculus. Enough on that.

I'm slightly up in the air about getting another dog this summer. Henry is an amazing little guy who really deserves a pal to play with while we're at work all day. Two dogs also multiplies the work exponentially. For example, its really easy to take Henry with us when we travel. Two dogs would probably have to stay home and get walked and fed by a neighbor. Its so hard to decide! Plus, Henry's growing out of the puppy stage, and I miss having a teeny tiny little dog around. I think Henry's best interest should win out, which would involve someone to keep him company.

Monday's nearly over. Hopefully the rest of the week goes as fast as today did.

Maryland, Part 2

Home again. The laundry has been started and Henry's had his bath. He got really dirty playing in Jack's backyard, but boy did he have fun! The drive home was fine- I slept at least half the way.

We spent nearly an hour with Meme today, and it was much better than yesterday. We took in some photos that I printed off the computer and she really liked them. Our conversation today was more about family and memories. I tried to talk a lot about things that happened years ago, since I think her long-term memory is better than her short-term memory. She would change some names around, but that's fairly normal for older people. She made a couple of off-the-wall comments, but they weren't nearly as strange as yesterday's visit. I think she's a lot more lucid in the mornings.

I'm going to try to write to her twice a week. I really feel bad that she's in the nursing home and in such rough shape. I wish there was more I could do.

We're going to be bums this evening- this week will be back to the norm for me with tutoring and classes, so I'll be busy. It's crunch time for the next several months. No more slouching off!

Maryland, Part 1

Man. This trip has not been the usual good time. Jack and the kids are great- we got to see Johnny, which was a surprise. He was supposed to be training all weekend, but they let him come home overnight last night. We had a nice dinner with Jack, Johnny, Lauren, and Debby Saturday. I got to eat crabs for the first time in years and shredded several fingers in the process. They were really good, though. The problem? Meme.

Sometimes she's really with it. She asked about all the family, wanted to know if Teresa was ever going to get married, and enjoyed the doughnut holes we brought. Then, she'd say things like her roommate was new and just moved in (she's been there for four years) and, "That tree is a dalmation" (completely fruit-loopy- no trees in sight). She even got pretty mean at a couple of times, like when I told her roommate that her family looked really nice (there were photos of her grandchildren everywhere). Meme said, in a really mean tone I've seldom heard her use, "That's not her family." It was just really weird. Her posturing is pretty bad, but I'm used to that. I was just a little shocked at how it is to communicate with her.

I visited with Aunt Teresa, Uncle Bob, and Casey yesterday. They're doing really well, aside from the stress of dealing with Meme. Its shocking to be presented with her deterioration, but I'm sure its worse to be presented with it on an almost daily basis when you go to visit. Casey is incredibly tall and teenagery, with girls calling and playing music too loud. He's still a good kid.

I'm done rambling. We're still in Maryland as of this post. We're going to visit Meme one more time (small doses are best), go to Nana and Grandpa's house to show Troy the progress we made at Christmas, eat lunch at Chipotle, and head home. Troy's been great about all the family stuff this weekend. I think I would've had a breakdown yesterday if it hadn't been for him. He's a good man, and I love him so much! More on the rest of the trip later...

Nightmares

I haven't had a lot of nightmares in a long time, and last night I had three. One of them woke me up because I was screaming so loud in my dream. I guess I wasn't really screaming, as Troy would've woken me up. The worse part? Wearing some lavendar dress for Teresa's spur-of-the-moment wedding. Ugh.

I am so glad that school (as in elementary school) is back in some semblance of normalacy for now. We started talking today about the long trip we'll make to Williamsburg on March 24th. We'll be leaving at 6 am (!!!!) and get back after 9 pm. Good thing I like my students.

On a down note, I have a 15 page paper due in just over a month. That sucks.

We had risotto and honey mustard chicken breasts for dinner tonight. Troy liked it! Wonder of wonders, he really liked it. I've been trying to find some good WW recipes that he'll like, and I think I finally found one. I love risotto. Mmmm...

So I'm definitely rambling tonight. More tomorrow perhaps, after we've driven to DC through rush hour traffic with a car sick dog in the back. Woo hoo!

Enhancements

Even though the title is "Marie's e-Journal" I still play a hand in it from time to time. I updated our website, hitroy.com, so it's now easier to get to this blog and so it's more integrated with our main website. -- Troy

A Summons Will Be Issued

This entry is dedicated to Gail Young, a hardworking woman on the sanitation force in New York City. She is also a star of the new TLC show, "Life of Grime." Troy and I love the show, and we have a lot of respect for Gail Young. She's been on the streets for 17 years.

People are often angry with Ms. Young. She writes out summons for things such as commercial waste, encroachment of the sidewalk, and gutter problems. No matter what excuses or arguements she is given, Ms. Young is firm. "It's not up for dispute. You have trash on the sidewalk. A summons will be issued." You really ought to watch "Life of Grime" on Wednesdays at 8 pm. Ms. Young is worth it!

Troy and I are amazed at New York City. They have to be really careful- there are so many people in a big city. Not the life for us!

I'm glad Wednesday is done. I actually got to teach my kids today, something that hasn't happened much recently. However, the reality is starting to hit me that I have a lot of school work to do, both for my job and my college work. It will all get done in the end!

I'm so lazy, by Marie

I have done the laundry and some other minor housekeeping. Other than that, I've been a vegetable today. I haven't even looked at my schoolwork today. It'll get done some other time, I guess. School should be back in session tomorrow, as a lot of the snow has melted. We did get a lot, though.

Tonight we're going out to eat with Aarti, one of Troy's coworkers in California. Its always great to see people that you haven't seen in several months. Aarti and her husband were out late last year, and we really enjoyed visiting with them.

Henry is a hoot. He loves apple slices, but I got tired of slicing them up, so I gave him the whole apple. He loved it! First he played with it, then he got really serious and ate the whole thing. He's a keeper- this blog should probably be dedicated to him, with me talking about him as much as I do. (See his collection of photos and videos at www.tgeneva.com/~steph)

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Snow! by Marie

Aha! Six to seven inches, I'd say. Of course, school is out for today, and they may cancel for tomorrow. Spring can come now that I've had my one great snowfall for the year.

Henry was absolutely adorable in the snow. He'd run around, and pieces of snow would fly up from his feet. Then, off he'd go, chasing the snow that was flying around. He loves it so much he keeps ringing the bell to go out, even if he doesn't have to use the bathroom.

I'm trying to work ahead on some projects for grad school since Troy and I are heading up to see Meme and other family this weekend. I sometimes think I must've been crazy to take all this on, but busy has allowed me some positive things. For example, Weight Watchers is a lot easier when you're too busy to eat.

Troy had to go to work, but they're closing down Genworth early, so once he's home, he can stay home. Without the Jeep anymore, its kind of risky going out in the bad weather. The truck looks good, but its not a 4x4. I love it anyway! Hopefully Troy will get home soon and we can spend hours playing Gran Tourismo 4 and taking turns walking Henry in the snow. Its a good life!

Meme, by Marie

My maternal grandmother, Meme, isn't doing so well. In fact she can't even read anymore as she can't figure out the words. So, in honor of Meme, I'm going to record some of my favorite memories of her.

When my sister and I went and stayed with her, she would let us eat peanut butter off a spoon before bed. After we'd brushed our teeth.

I spent two weeks with her while my parents were in Texas. I wasn't allowed to watch her soap operas, and my mom was emphatic that I shouldn't watch TV. Therefore, every afternoon, I spent four hours outside. If I needed water or to use the bathroom, I had to knock and wait for Meme to turn the TV off. It was really hot that summer.

Meme had a golden retriever named Buffy. Buffy was scared of everything.

Meme had these great corn holders that we used all the time. They were yellow and looked like corn. She kept them in a brown plastic cup inside her pie cabinet.

I took Meme to see "Wild Wild West" with Will Smith. We had a really good time.

So its really depressing to think about losing a grandparent. I have such great memories of her and her home in Wake, Virginia. I'm afraid that I'll forget about the tire swing or the well or how I stole all the Hershey's kisses out of the Christmas ornaments one year. Maybe one day I won't remember how the big thing in the kitchen sounded in the mornings or how the rug in the hallway felt. Then I'll forget telling her that Aunt Judy had died or that I had driven Dad's car into the house. If she's alive, I feel like I'll always remember. But I know I won't.

On a completely different note, it may snow again. I really want it to- I'm not happy about tomorrow's 8 am IEP meeting. Maybe that'll be tomorrow's entry. Stupid IEP meetings.

The Craziest Week Ever, by Marie

This week was insane. Two days sick, two midterms, one bad musical, one boring conference on the VGLA, and one visit from my dad. I'm so glad its the weekend! Unfortunately, the visit with Dad is too short, but I'm happy the rest are over.

I said that I saw a bad musical. It would've been fine for adults, but I was suprised no one questioned it's appropriateness for fourth and fifth graders. It was "Big River" about Huck Finn. One surprising line of a song was about a fictional character called The Nonesuch. It was half male and half female- "One big breast in the middle of her chest." That got a lot of giggles. Oh well. They'll hear it somewhere, right?

Happy Saturday to all!

Snow? by Marie

I went back to work today, and I was hit with quite a bit of drama. I really should've gone in yesterday, but I was just too good about following the doctor's orders. I have been told recently by several people that they admire me for my love and devotion to my students. I just like my job so much. I truly feel lucky to do something everyday that I enjoy so much.

On that note- it may snow tomorrow, and I'm thrilled. I think a one- or two-day work week would be great! One more midterm and I can relax again. If I hadn't pulled off last semester, I would seriously doubt my sanity for taking three courses in a single semester. Just a year and a few months more, and I'll be "highly qualified" for the job I already do. Is anyone else alarmed by that statement?!? No Child Left Behind is a crock.

Troy got his results from his physical yesterday. Bad news- high cholesterol and blood sugar. I'm married to a walking heart attack. Can't say I'm surprised- I knew the genetics when I married him. Love him anyway!!!

Beautiful Day, by Marie

What gorgeous weather! Sixty degrees and sunny. This winter hasn't felt at all like winter. I was off today again (less of a sore throat and no fever), so I slept in, studied, had lunch at Quizno's with Troy, and took Henry for some fresh air. Tomorrow's going to be a really long day.

I also did laundry. I hate doing laundry. You just get it finished and it starts to pile up again. I think I'd be a fan of eco-destroying disposible clothes. Toss 'em when you're done. Of course, you'd always have to be shopping for more, so maybe that would be just as annoying as washing them. That's an interesting thought, though.

Midterm for today: literacy in the classroom. Format: definitions, short answer, essay. Marie's mood: terrified. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Post Script: The test was exactly what was on the study guide. I'll have to wait to see my grade, but I feel like I did great!

Strep Throat by Marie

I learned in college how to tell if I had strep. After the year that I had it four times in about six months, I should be a doctor myself. However, I can't prescribe my own antibiotics, so I'm stuck with the advice of a real doctor. It did get me out of two days of school! (We'll skip the detail on me calling my sub at home to check up on things... I'm a little too controlling) My antibiotics aren't helping the sore throat, but hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Troy and I are having a conversation right now about indenting paragraphs. I would like to hit the tab key and get a nice indentation in my paragraph. I had to manually enter spaces. It will probably mess everything up. (Note: after publication, I discovered that even with spaces, it doesn't indent. So much for being into correct grammar and composition.)

Midterms this week. Ugh. I have my testing accommodations set up, so hopefully they'll go well. I showed my 504 form to Alex, the student I tutor. He's a bit embarrassed about having to go out of the room to take his tests, and I hope he'll be inspired by my own efforts to increase my abilities. We'll see!