The Perfect Day

Today I slept in, which was positively blissful. Henry woke up early, but I moved his crate to the craft room and promptly went back to sleep. I finally got up around 9:30 (after eleven hours in bed) and showered. I found out a cute pair of capris fits me that I didn't think would, so I dressed very nicely.

We went to buy new bras this morning at 11:30 or so. Henry likes to chew mine up. Its my fault, of course, for leaving them within reach of our little pirahna, but that won't replace the bras. Never mind the fact that the bras I love to wear date back to high school.

We ate lunch at Thai '99, where I had some good pad thai and great conversation. We later went to the driving range and then headed home. I watched "The Million Dollar Recipe" about Pillsbury's annual "bake-off," and "Forty Deuce," about burlesque dancers. Troy and I are currently working on the tub in our bathroom. We're removing old moldy caulk and going to replace it with new clean caulk. I was about to keel over from the bleach fumes.

So a lot of people might think my day was thoroughly boring and useless. Why then, you might ask, would I say its perfect? Because I've spent the last twelve hours completely in the company of my husband, and we've gotten along amazingly well. We were talking today about how proud we are to have kept this marriage going. Its been really hard, I mean REALLY hard sometimes, for the both of us. But we haven't given up, and days like this are the reward. You spend all that time with the one person that knows you better than anyone else. They remember the clothes you owned five years ago that you'd even forgotten you had. You have such a history with that person that its like... I can't even think of a good analogy there. I just have to say, I love Troy.

I Survived!

I was thinking about it last night, and today was my fourth Field Day. We've really put down roots here in Lynchburg. As much as we talk about moving, I don't know that I'd adjust well to leaving this area. Its the first geographic place that's really our own. We have our own jobs, our own home, our own friends... Kind of neat, really.

Anyway, Field Day went off without a hitch. No real injuries or problems.

We went to Isabella's for dinner last night. Not exactly a great Weight Watcher's meal, but I have some leftovers to eat for dinner tonight. Yummy! Troy can have all the cereal he wants. I'm eating gourmet.

No big plans for the weekend, just sleep and relax. Classes start back up on Monday, which I'm not exactly looking forward to. So this weekend is all about being a bum and completely loving every minute of it.

Field Day

I hate Field Day. The entire school goes outside to play stupid games, get dirty, and act crabby. Field Day is tomorrow, and I'm not excited. I will be especially angry if it rains and they postpone Field Day. I want to get it over with.

Today the second grade held a Mother's Day luncheon. I was invited to be a guest mom for a child whose own mom couldn't come. I was lucky enough to find Zarian under a table crying because his own mother couldn't come. When I told him I needed a child, he was gracious enough to be my son for half an hour. I think I've made a new life-long friend. What a darling!

My little bomb didn't go off today. I'm very glad. I don't know how ammenable I would've been.

Money!

My whole day has been spent in raptured bliss, looking at catalogues and deciding how to spend my school allowance. I've picked everything out now, and I'm getting some good stuff. I'm glad I've been frugal with some of the supplies that I inherited in the present room I'm in. Less stuff to have to buy.

The principal and assistant principal are gone today. I actually like it better without them. They don't do anything anyways. Boy if I'm not sounding really disillusioned these days.

My health is slightly better. The cough is not as horrid and I slept really well last night. Fortunately I didn't sleep TOO well, which was the problem the previous night. Looking over the topics for today's post, I realize that my life is incredibly boring and mundane.

Henry is as cute as ever. He's so excited to get loved on when you let him out of his crate in the mornings. He can barely get down the steps because he's so wiggly.

Today I learned that I'm really improving as a teacher. The proof? My absolute hero/role model, Mrs. Burns, told me that she really wasn't sure what the school would do without me. I thought I was going to explode, I felt to proud. She thinks I'm great!

Tuesday

Boy am I tired. I over-medicated myself last night for this wretched cough. I'm paying the price for using such strong cough syrup. I can barely keep my eyes open through school today. My cough is a little bit better, though.

Thanks, Teresa, for the tribute to my wardrobe assistance. You know, if you lived closer and worked at one of Virginia's numerous colleges and university as a professor, we could solve your clothing problems permanently. Just something to think about. I'm not moving to California, by the way. Its too expensive.

We've given up on discipline here at my school. I'm starting to have overtly malevolent feelings towards the principal. Our hands are tied and the kids are basically running the school. I didn't go to school for all those years (and keep going to school) to be walked on by students. Or at least, I didn't intend to get walked all over. It appears I had little choice in the matter.

Today I learned that Tussionex should be taken with caution, and you should wait at least an hour before deciding that the dose you took wasn't strong enough.

Sigh...

What a day. I thought it would go pretty smoothly, but I was wrong. I spent a good ten minutes frantically searching for a certain gentleman who decided to go out for recess even though he wasn't supposed to. I was scared he'd just run off. I should've known he'd go out to play.

On a better note, my IEP meeting went well. We all agreed on everything, and that's another worry off my shoulders. I gave the parent a ride home afterwards. She's had such a hard life and wants to apply for a Habitat house. I don't know if she owns where she lives now or not, but its a pretty run down place. However, it was clean and the yard was so nice. She's planted azaleas and tulips. I was proud for her, seeing the care that went into that yard.

I ate a bunch of M&Ms today. This has been a bad week for Weight Watchers. I'll get back on track, though, starting now. I'll finish this final this afternoon and my life will settle down. Maybe.

Today I learned that wild days go by much faster than calm ones. I think I still prefer the calm ones.

Migraine

I had a migraine today. I haven't had one since August, and it'd been a year before that one. I hate them so much. It is impossible to describe the dread I feel when the aura starts. I know what's coming, and the "blurries," as Cynthia Kaplan puts them, make you nuts. Troy's good about helping, though. This one wasn't so bad, although it hit at 7:30 pm. Usually they hit earlier in the day.

Today I learned that Henry will chew up every bra I own if I'm not careful.

Cranky...

That's me! I can't figure out why, exactly, but I'm a regular crankypants these days. The self-portraits went really well. The kids enjoyed the project and are already learning lots of things! Thank goodness the semester is nearly over. I think the stress is highly contributing to my overeating (ack!) and crankiness.

However, I'm on my way to bed to read more from Gervase Phinn and his experiences as a school inspector in England. Ahhh... relaxation.

Self Portraits

My students created some really great paintings today. For example, I have a student who is bald as an egg due to a skin condition. He painted himself with a huge orange afro. Another, who is usually quite uncreative, painted himself as a television with arms and legs and holding a basketball. I think he wants to be Salvador Dali when he grows up. The TV explains a lot, though. I can tell which students have fried their brains on too much of the boob tube.

Along with painting, I got quite a few grad school things accomplished today, which feels nice. I finished the first of my three take-home finals. I completed all the portions needed for the tobacco scholarship. I registered for classes and got information on student loans. Whew. It was a busy day.

On another note, I've extricated myself from the emotionally exhausting situation I described before my trip to Baltimore. I mean, the student is still on my case load and in my class. However, I am not taking anything personally and not doing anything that could be described as "above and beyond the call of duty." I don't mind the above and beyond unless it comes back to bite me in the rear end. I'm pretty happy now, thanks.

I ate well, exercised, and got a lot done. What more could I want?!?

In the last two weeks...

I had a really good trip to Baltimore, completely changed my language arts curriculum, and slept a lot. I didn't lose much weight, maybe a pound? However, I'm eating less and exercising fairly regularly.

Today the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Not only did I go running with Henry, we also walked to the Creamery to get ice cream. I got just one scoop- four points, thank you very much. That showed a lot of retraint. Troy got three scoops. Not so high on the restraint scale. I just have to keep reminding myself that he's an adult and I was pretty heavy just a few months ago myself. I didn't like Nana telling me I was fat, so I keep my opinions to myself.

Ah, school tomorrow. I think I'm going to have my students paint a mural, with each of them creating a self portrait on a section of the bulletin board paper. They stress out a lot about creating artwork, but overall they're good artists. They are terribly messy, but painting makes a good day, in my opinion. I'll let you know how it goes!

Attachment

I have a problem. I adore my students. One student in particular is kind of a "favorite." No, I'm not Mary Kay Letourneau. I just have put a lot of hope in this child, and he's hit a behavioral wall. He refuses to cooperate, is getting in trouble left and right, and I don't know what I can do for him.

Here's the big problem. I'm emotionally detaching myself from this student and his family. It looks like I don't care anymore. I think I'm preparing myself for the inevitable- this child needs more help than I can provide. Thus, if I am not attached to him, it won't hurt when he continues to fail at fitting in.

I feel absolutely terribly about it.

Sunday Night

For some reason, I'm very anxious about going to school tomorrow. Not excited anxious, but scared anxious. I think I'm worried that I won't sleep well tonight. I feel the tingle of an anxiety attack, although I haven't had one in ages. Maybe I'll take a little Simply Sleep... I exercised a lot today, but maybe its not enough to put me right to sleep. However, this week will be short- two days of work, then off to Baltimore!

We went to Cici's pizza for lunch after National Treasure. I counted every piece, and I stayed on my points. I also only ate pizzas with veggies on top, which is unusual for me. I love mushrooms and onion on pizza! I've lost 17 pounds so far. I want to keep losing, and leave the plateau of 184 behind me. I think I can! G'night!

The Green Valley Book Fair

I absolutely love the GVBF. We went today (its two hours away, so its not an every weekend event), and I bought $400 worth of books for $130. Very spectacular. They have a lot of the popular books that are slightly damaged or aren't selling so great. They have tons of children's books and books for teachers. They have fiction, non-fiction, reference, EVERYTHING! It was heaven. I can't wait to finish the hilarious book on Australia by Bill Bryson so that I can start on some of my new books.

That's the highlight of my weekend. Yesterday I finished my billionth load of laundry for the week and got the prescription filled for the little patch I wore behind my ear today to prevent motion sickness. It worked well. I think it still made me pretty drowsy (or it could be that I didn't sleep so well last night), but I didn't get sick with Troy driving like a mad man through the mountains.

Henry is doing well. I haven't talked about him much. He's gone several days with no accidents in the house, but we keep him in his crate if he goes out and won't do anything. It was cold and raining this morning and Henry decided to be a diva. He didn't pee, so I put him back in his crate and promptly left town for eight hours. He really had to go when we got home.

High note of this past week? Painting the guest room (I think it looks super!) and finishing that huge research paper. Highlight of the coming week? Only working two days before heading to Baltimore for the Council for Exceptional Children Conference. I feel so professional!

Never Mind

Okay, so the bliss lasted for... um... five minutes. I'm exhausted. However, our new and improved guest room looks great! I think Troy will even like the mostly finished effect once he gets home. If I didn't have class tonight, I'd lay down and take a nap. I haven't been this tired in ages. Enough whining.

I'm also working my way through a huge amount of laundry. I guess vacation doesn't really agree with me, as I can't just sit on the couch and watch TV. If it wasn't painting and moving furniture, I would've found something else to do, I'm sure.

I've gotten a lot of grad school work taken care of. I'm not finished, but close to it, with several big projects. Its a good feeling! Tomorrow I'll rest more. I'll work on laundry, grad school stuff, and being a bum. Too bad I have work again in about four days! I miss the kids, though. That's the trouble with me. I really do love my job.

Bliss

There is a time when, while standing on a ladder with a paintbrush in my hand, I feel completely happy. Bruce Springsteen, Mary Chapin Carpenter, or the Nassoons may be blaring from the other room, and the primer isn't really covering the orange as I'd like, but I'm full of... peace. If only I could find that peace every single day! And if only the process of getting that peace didn't make me so tired. The room will just have to make do with one coat of primer. My arms hurt too much.

Its sad that its Tuesday already. That's the problem with vacations- they're always too short.

Easter

Happy Easter to all. My Easter has been very good. I went with my mother-in-law to pick out her new puppy, Daisy, and then we picked up all the things that new puppies need. In Daisy's case, they are all pink and have "Princess" written on them. When you weigh all of two pounds and prance around in your white fur like you own the place, princess is very appropriate.

Brunch today was delicious. My major feat was not eating too much. I think I did a very good job of eating in moderation. I snacked some at home this evening, but that was in moderation also. I'm fully intent on exercising everyday this week since I'm on break. There's no excuse when you can sleep in. Hurrah for sleeping in!

Later!

Good Friday

And more than anyone knows! I'm so ready for a break. I still have a lot of school work to do, but at least now I can sleep in before getting started. I also have a doctor's appointment to see about my excessive motion sickness. Hopefully he can come up with some cause and/or treatment. That would be really nice.

I got a new Easter outfit yesterday. I'll look spiffy for brunch with the in-laws!

I hope Troy remembered not to feed Henry breakfast. It would be terrible to have him puking in the car this afternoon. I guess he has the same problems I do. At least I don't throw up. Ew.

Yippee! Friday!

I'll Be Glad...

...When this week is over. I miss my students since they're so busy with "colonial week" and one of my students has just been struggling. Its getting hard- when he gets so angry and starts to cry, I nearly cry, too. I had to go to my classroom instead of sit with him in the lobby because I didn't want all the nosy parents seeing me so upset.

On a high note, one of my alternative school kids came back today for an hour. It was so good to see him interact with the other kids- he's been surrounded by adults for so long. He had a good morning, which I hope translates to more good times as he transitions back more. I just have to remember- I can't save them all.

So we're going to Cary this weekend for Easter. I'm pretty happy about it. Henry loves the fenced-in backyard Troy's parents have. He gets to run to his little heart's content. He still smells like a hippie.

I am so tired. I think its more of a "funk" than fatigue. I hope I sleep well tonight.

We're Gonna Par-tay!

So I've come up with a great idea- a pet therapy party for the end of the year. About thirty kids and seven dogs, ranging in size from miniature schauzers to standard poodles. We're going to serve all kinds of people and doggy foods. I get these great ideas as I'm trying to sleep. Its amazing when I actually remember them the next morning.

I ate a bunch of chocolate today. Bad weight watcher! I'll be better tomorrow- I ate all the chocolate that was readily available. There's no more left.

I have class tonight where we have to present on an article abstract. I really enjoy presenting much more than writing papers. My oral b.s. is better than my written b.s. Well, its time to head home to Henry and my research paper. Laters!

Not-So-Manic After All

So this week is "Colonial Williamsburg" week for the fourth grade. I won't have students for much of anything. I've gotten tons of paperwork comepleted, and I'm feeling slightly less stressed out.

Several months ago, I started doing something weird while I was trying to fall asleep. I tuck my arms under my body. I guess it started because they were cold, maybe, but now I sleep most of the night like that. The problem is that both of my arms lose circulation and "fall asleep." Then, when I wake up, I have wrinkles all over my arms that take forever to go away. Strange.

Henry peed in the house twice yesterday. He's not as potty-trained as we thought, I guess. We take him out pretty frequently, so I don't understand why he pees inside instead of outside. The mysteries of puppy-hood...