Almost August

Ah, the bittersweet realization that summer is drawing to an end... However, I have plenty to keep my occupied until school starts again. Two trips, lots of visitors, and the bag project to finish up.

I went in to school today, and I moved some things to my new classroom. I have a lot of work to do to get my room back in order for students. Plus, I'm working with younger children, so I need to decorate differently. Its always fun to get the room in order before the kids come. I like school best when there are no students there. Is that bad?

Heat Wave

Man, its been steamy here! The weather is really obnoxiously hot. I've been trying to remember, when I take Henry out at eight a.m. and its ninety degrees out, how cold I will be in February doing the same thing. It doesn't help much.

I am getting ready for school again, already. Summer seems so short! I know I have several weeks before its time to go back, but I'll be traveling so much. I don't want summer to be over so soon. Oh well. Time flies, right?

I hear that daylight savings time is being changed to May through November. I think that's the silliest thing ever! First of all, the whole savings time thingy is a little screwy to begin with. Second, why should be honestly go through the hassle of changing it?!? Sheesh.

Well, I guess I should be relaxing some. No need getting all worked up on vacation, right?

Dogs

I took Henry to the vet today to get vaccinated against kennel cough so we can board him. While there, I visited with Nell, a nine-year-old pointer looking for a home. She was really sweet, and I think she and Henry could get along. There's a glitch, however. I was petting her and scratching behind her ears. She yawned, but it looked to me like what Katie did when she was getting ready to bite people. I nearly fell over trying to stand up quickly. I realized then and there that I will only be able to bring puppies into my home as pets. I have to have them from itty-bitty so that I can trust them. Nell was a sweetie, but she's not for me. I just don't know how she was raised.

On another topic, Meghan (the school's speech language pathologist) and I started decorating our bags for the "Reader's Tool Kits" that we're making up. We're trying to get literacy activities into homes to encourage reading instruction. I just hate seeing kids end up in my class simply because they can't read. Its not that they aren't smart- they just don't have the same advantages as other children.

Its been a long time.

Sorry to anyone who actually reads this, or tries to.

As I type, there are two very tired puppies in my house. One is Henry. The other is Angel, the corgi from across the alleyway. Henry is absolutely in love with Angel. She comes over to play sometimes. They go wild! Lots of chasing and tumbling and barking. They wear each other out, which is nice.

I watched the shuttle launch today. It was really neat. I remember watching one launch from the deck of a cruise ship in December of 1999. Very cool. What was neat this time, however, was that they broadcast views from a camera that was mounted on the biggest external fuel tank and pointed at the belly of the shuttle. The camera worked all the way into space, and they showed the shuttle disconnecting from the tank and floating away. It was... amazing. I tivoed it to show Troy later.

I am amazed by space. I've done so many projects on astronauts, read books, watched movies... I would love to go into space. However, as Troy knows and tells me, I'll never be an astronaut. I get too motion-sick. Oh well. I can dream.

It is really hot here. Not that I mind- I love my air conditioning.

Man...

I thought summer vacation this year would be laid back and relaxing. This week has been less busy, but no less stressful. I have a specialist's report due Monday about testing I have yet to actually do on a boy whose mother I have yet to get ahold of. Plus, I have a final exam a week from tomorrow!

It'll be okay. The stress has an end in sight.

Crises!

So a dishwasher leaking water all over the floor (my crisis) isn't as bad as your house burning down (Uncle Jack's crisis). However, I did not enjoy having to figure out why huge amounts of suds were foaming over the kitchen floor. Jack and Kelly both seem pretty okay about the house- all lives were saved, including Rascal hiding under a bed. I can just picture that poor firefighter braving the flames to drag out a bassett hound.

I ran 3.3 miles today, but I had an unhealthy-ish dinner- too much cheese, maybe five points over for the day, including my exercise. However, I was under a lot of stress from the leak.

My best friend Meghan is pregnant with baby no. 2. I'm jealous, but its not too bad. She'll let me borrow her kids as often as I need to. Erin, although sweet, is a terrible two, and she can quickly curb the urge.

I hope Jack gets things sorted out as smoothly as possible. I feel really bad for him, and especially Johnny who had to get out of the burning house. That has to suck.

later on the fourth

I am sitting in a big field waiting for the fireworks to start. Technology is truly amazing, as is Troy for letting me play with his BlackBerry. We got a lot of housework taken care of today- laundry, straightening, and mowing. I really didn't want to go to the fireworks tonight, but Troy coerced me. I really think my dislike of fireworks has to do with the wretched displays Oak Ridge always put on. They were really horrible! Hopefully Lynchburg can do better. Henry is still very happy to have us home- no accidents in the house today. The bugs and I say goodnight from our little corner of the Genworth field.

4th of July

We got back last night from Troy's parents' house. It was a good time. Lots of shopping and eating out. We'd left Henry here with a neighbor, our first time really away from him for long, and he was happy to see us. I think he never expected to see us again. We're going to just spend today getting things done around the house. I have school work and house work to catch up on.

Congrats to Teresa and Chris on two years of dating bliss! Troy and I are less than a month away from three years of wedded bliss, and we're starting to talk about how to celebrate. He knows to get me sparklies for anniversaries. I don't mind vacuums and powerwashers and scumbusters for other "special" occasions. However, anniversaries are different.

Pink Eye

Henry's eyes seem to be much better. He still panics when I come towards him with the half-chewed tube of antibiotics, but at least the yellow goop is gone. He enjoyed the chew he had while I ran another 3.3 miles today. 19 miles in one week! (Interuption- Henry is rolling his foodball around the computer room madly trying to get food out and neglecting to realize that there is no food in it.)

19 miles! I'm thinking of finding a map and slowly tracking my progress to somewhere. I'm afraid I'm going stop running and mess the whole thing up. I like my weight okay where it is now, and if I could eat what I'm eating now (mostly healthy with a little ice cream here and there), I'd be very happy.

I had to put Henry's e-collar back on. He's not a happy boy.

Not so good at keeping this up.

Whew. I really do have time on my hands, I'm just using it for other stuff, I guess. I can't believe June is nearly over! I miss work, and I'm afraid I'll get too used to being a lazy bum on vacation.

Henry is getting over his bout of pink eye. I knew something was wrong over the weekend, and he had to go to the vet yesterday. He's doing very well.

I've run 15.35 miles in the last five days. I may become a neurotic runner again. I've always been neurotic- I just needed a treadmill.

I'll post more. Really. I will.

My Day

I had class today from nine a.m. to two p.m. It is fairly painful to sit through four and a half hours of class (we get half an hour for lunch). We are learning a lot about No Child Left Behind and IDEA, all three versions of it.

Upon arriving home, I watched "Calendar Girls." It has lots of really witty dialogue and half naked British women. Older British women, I should add. It was very funny.

I make chicken Kiev and risotto for dinner, followed by a walk and playdate for Henry and Angel. Henry is now sound asleep on the floor after all the excitement.

My day was not very exciting. I kinda like that.

Two Weeks Later...

Ta-Da! My vacation, all week and a half of it, is boring me. But not bored enough to do anything productive. Two days a week I go to grad school, where I learn all about No Child Left Behind and IDEA 2004. Three days a week I tutor a petulant and tiresome child in reading for 45 minutes. I run about two miles everyday and pray that Henry and I catch Angel outside.

Angel is Henry's new best friend. She's a perky little corgi from across the alley, and she has a small fenced in backyard. Several times now Henry and Angel have had playdates where they run, romp, wrestle, and wear each other out. He loves it so much that if we go out at night to use the bathroom, he sits where he can see their backyard and cries for her. Its a little ridiculous, but he takes really long naps after they play.

I have no plans this weekend. Hoorah! I feel like this week I've been lazy because of all the traveling I did in the previous two weeks or so. Maybe after a real weekend, I'll get into stained glass or reading. But watching Judging Amy reruns on the sofa's not so bad, I suppose.

AAAAHHHHHH! One More Day!

Today I got a lot done at work, including a surprise party for a little girl who is moving. I acted like she was in trouble to get her to come into my room, and the kids all jumped out and yelled, "Surprise!" It was really fun. I had given a fourth grade mom without a job $20 to go get us two pizzas from Little Caesers for the party, figuring she'd bring me back about $8 in change. She didn't have time, I guess, so she went to Papa Johns, which cost $23, and she ate the cost. Some people are so generous, and I'm so thankful! I'm learning everyday that when I ask people to help my kids, most really go above and beyond the call of duty.

My classroom is nearly all packed up, and the walls are bare. I paid a fifth grader in candy bars to go up and down the ladder to pull off all the weird little things I'd put up through the year. The big job tomorrow is moving the fish tank. I may actually move it. I have two week feeding blocks. Surely I can remember to go in every other week. I'll want to know when I can start setting up my new classroom anyhow. I tried to do a decent packing j0b, buts it all ended up mixed together. Always something exciting in the world of education!

Two Days To Go

Since my recent blogs have been pretty low, here's the good news to report for today:
1. I get to keep the furniture in my classroom and take it with me to my new classroom. So its not exciting, but I'm really pleased. I found a layout that I love, and I've already drawn a map to recreate it next year.
2. I played a rousing game of ping pong with Troy. I lost, but 22-24. It was close.
3. Grad school is starting to wind down again, and I turned in/completed nearly everything. Two short papers and a location visit, and I'm done!
4. I got a lot of paperwork taken care of today at school. I had to sit in for a teacher while she picked another teacher up at home (she had fallen) and took her to the emergency room. So considering I lost two hours of my day, I accomplished a lot.
5. I'm going to bed. That's really the best news of all. I love to sleep.

Three Days Left

I'm really bothered that I'm so busy and stressed out. This time of year is typically so nice with the weather turning hot and endings approaching. However, I'm so stressed that I'm crotchety with everyone- students, Troy, Henry... Hopefully the stress will dissipate soon.

Henry has turned into such a weird dog. We still love him, but we're perplexed by his strange combination of absolute wildness (such as LAUNCHING himself at Troy when he was watching television and nearly killing him) and his absolute relaxtion (like now, when he's asleep by the sofa bed while I type). I can't wait until he's always laid back, if he ever reaches that point.

I continue to think about the fact that my parents are moving soon. The geographic issue isn't a big deal. I don't really care where they live, although I'd like them to live nearer to me. If I could trade Mom and Dad for Jerry Falwell, I would in a heartbeat. The big deal? The change of phone numbers. For the last twenty years, if I need moral support, medical information, running help, love, attention, or weather advice, I called the same number. That's all about to change. What if I have an emergency and I can't remember their number? What if I'm attacked by bears and need medical advice? What if there's a freak typhoon in Virginia and I need help? What if my whole world falls apart and I can't remember a dagblasted phone number?!?

Sigh. Three more days.

Four Days Left

WILL IT NEVER END!?!?! Sheesh. The last days are the hardest. On top of everything else, I'm working on packing up everything in my classroom. The kids are themselves, being slightly obnoxious but generally good. The work keeps piling up, though, of things that have to be done by Friday. Plus, I have class. Ugh.

However, the good news is that I'm going to the beach TWICE this summer. Yippee for me! I love the beach. Also, class will only meet twice a week. I can't wait to spend my days studying a bit, playing with Henry, and doing stained glass. Mmmmm... Summer. Meghan and I have several projects planned: a book drive for needy kids, take home bags with activities and books for needy kids, and lots of collaborative teaching in the fall. A week after this year's over, we'll be planning the next, I'm sure.

But before I get too excited, I need to survive just four more days.

It must be love

Troy bought me a pressure washer today! I spent hours outside with it, cleaning everything that wasn't alive. Some of the shrubbery got a little cleaner as well. The porch looks great, the siding is better than its ever been, and the sidewalk is sparkling. What a husband! I've wanted a pressure washer for several years, and now I have my very own.

I started working on some stained glass yesterday. I was thinking about knitting an afghan, but I have too many unfinished projects out there to go buy yarn. I set a table up in the basement by the windows looking outside to the driveway. That way, open windows allow all the yucky lead fumes to go out and Henry can be tied up and still see me. I'm working on a turtle. Its lots more fun than grad school work.

Speaking of stained glass, I had an interesting conversation with my sister today that bothered me a lot. She was talking about learning to do stained glass with her roommate. I got very upset, although I tried not to let her know. I was jealous enough over the crocheting. You see, I thought of myself as a failure at so many things when I was younger. My sister always seemed to be so self-assured, so adept at school, and so emotionally well-rounded. Then I learned to crochet, knit, quilt, and do stained glass. Crafting has been my niche for the last fifteen years or so, something I do and excel at. I could create amazing things that people loved to hang up and gush over. I really loved the gushing. Now, my sister is a great gusher, and she has more of my stuff than most people do. She actually has a more varied collection of my "artifacts" than anyone- stained glass, quilts, etc. But if my sister learns to do stained glass, then I am losing my niche. I don't want to lose the attention I get for my crafting. (Just to note- my sister actually didn't know when she started crocheting that I knew how to. I've been crocheting since I was about ten, but she some how missed that fact as we were growing up.)

Now, I see my sister twice a year. She lives HOURS away, we don't share friends, and our lives are completely different. Why am I so bothered that my sister might do stained glass? Why is she still a yardstick by which I measure my achievement? Its similar to the feeling I have around teenagers. I'm married, I have a job, and a successful life. I have been socially validated. But popular teenagers make me feel about four inches tall.

This is a long ramble, I know. I just need to figure out what I'm doing with regard to my sister. How can someone I never see have such a pull on my life?

Teresa- sorry to ramble about you. Its just what's been on my mind most of the day. I love you- I really do!

Six Days Left

Today actually went by quickly. I've been doing a reading assessment on my students. Its for the Wilson Reading System and I gave them the assessment at the beginning of the year. So far I've completed and scored two, and I'm very impressed at the improvement that's been shown. I feel like I'm getting concrete proof that I accomplished something this year with my students. I know with No Child Left Behind that I'm supposed to be helping all kids become successes to fit the government's definition, but my goals were to make them better people and help them learn to read. I think I've succeeded at both, although its been a tough year.

I have a couple of projects to do for grad school, but I think I can get them done this weekend. I really do procrastinate quite a bit. As long as I don't eat the cookies!

Seven Days Left

Ah... Family life (aka sex ed) was interesting. I was in with the fourth grade boys and the PE teacher, who is one of three men who work at our school. He talked sooo fast. The boys were staring at him, confused. They'd been waiting all year to learn this stuff, and now he was talking so fast they couldn't understand it. Here are a few clips of wisdom:
"In married humans, the egg cell and the sperm cell unite to form a baby."
"A woman's period is when her body gets rid on an unfertilized egg."
"Girls have a reproductive system specifically designed to receive sperm."
I felt like I was in the dark ages. But no, its just public education. The PE teacher mainly read those things from a script. I told the guys they could ask me questions if they couldn't find the PE teacher, and I was mobbed. I guess they feel a little more comfortable with me than you'd think.

Yesterday I bought a smaller size of pants- a major feat. I'm very proud of myself. I'm hoping to be at 175/176 when I weigh in on Friday. If I could've stuck with WW completely for the last several months, I'd be at my goal by now. Its okay- I'm changing my lifestyle, not just my weight.

I get paid for this?!?

So my day consisted of three strange things. 1) Chaparoning a trip to the local children's museum for AR incentive day. Two hours of yelling, screaming, happy children and ten minutes of being in the "tower" or indoor playset. Wore myself out! 2) Driving around to get a student's sex ed permission form signed. 3) Teaching boys the first part of "family life," which was all about hygiene and drugs and alcohol. The family life part was fun, and we had a rousing discussion about the differences in deoderant and cologne. The boys all looked embarrassed until I told them we weren't learning anything about private parts today, that it was tomorrow. So I guess the really funny stories will have to wait.

I woke up today thinking it was Monday. Thank goodness it isn't really. These last few days will make me crazy.