Ack!  I'm still sick.  My one day out was all I've been able to manage.  This $%^&* head cold is killing me!  We've tried everything and the only thing that even dents the crap my head is producing is sudafed, which is only available via script in Oregon.  I'm going to have to go into urgent care or see someone to get a proper script in order to fly home.  Children have scavenged every last bit from their medicine cabinets they can find.  I need to add that to the list of meds I keep on hand.

So I have done nothing except sleep and watch videos.... very chill, to quote my girls.  I've watched most of the "My So Called Life" series and all of "Firefly" and then "Serenity", the movie that wraps ups the loose ends.  Both series have their good points.  "Firefly" is the most interesting... sci-fi always provides the best venue for exploring morality and loyalty and the like.

So here it is New Year's Day and I have graded not a single paper, nor accomplished anything at all...except being Pickle Puppy's playmate/slave.  Ahhh for the life of a dog.  Oh I did do something of value, I read the  last of the Harry Potter Series.  The ending was a bit trite, but all in all not a bad read.  Some of what I suspected/predicted is indeed true, a few surprises and a few disappointments.  Not a bad series, and probably the best marketing job of the last century.

the world is beginning to spin again...

be well dear friends 

Good day all,

The past few weeks have flown by, where did the time go?  Middlings were all busy and full of energy.  Trying to prepare them for a test right before they left was a challenge... but to put it off would be foolish, so I persisted.  I have the tests with me but haven't started grading them yet.  My usual 3-5 hours a week at the store ballooned to 30.  Foolish on my part perhaps, but I am alone and took shifts for those with family.  Folks provided that kindness for me back in the day, so it is only fair I pay my due.  And besides most of the seasonal folks are lost, no time to train them properly.  Our stock room was in shambles and we had the BIG sale starting after Christmas.  So the old lady climbed stools and went through consolidating, organizing and labeling.  I cleared a third of the shelves for staging the sale.  Management problems persist, we lost another very competent lead because of them... makes me sad, I really enjoyed the time I spent with her and our paths are unlikely to cross again.  Good stuff comin' @ ya Sara Cinnamon.  Manager in charge of the sale really appreciated my work and the primary co-manager gave me the strangest compliment.  She told everyone at she didn't worry about me.  She knew I was working and to just leave me alone unless they needed me on the floor.  The ultimate trust in a store where that is NOT the norm.  I feel some what guilty because I won't be there for the sale floor set or the sale, but it's not like I've kept that a secret.  Everyone knows I go back to Oregon (where I am now) every chance I get... but I still harbor a smiggin of regret for not being there to help.

So I'm home. Flights were OK, no major problems.  I picked up my rental car just as it started to snow!  This is definitely not Florida!  And to make matters worse I have one devil of a cold!  I had Christmas breakfast with my son's girlfriend's family, a delightful group of people.  I especially like her mom, though I can't recall her name at the moment.  Gal started a resale business 27 years ago and is a major mover and shaker in the local community. She is Ms Small Business Owner!  Politically save', business smarts and a love for her community... wish there were more like her.  We, son and his girl friend and I, dog sitting for one of his co-workers.  Wally is a 10 month old husky and is easily bored.  Our job was to keep him entertained... I now have a new definition for "baby proofing" the house!  I also learned that the going rate for doggy day-care is $20 a day and you provide your own food.  Who knew!

I managed the 2 hour drive to my daughter's where the fever spiked just after I got here.  She dosed me with sudafed and tylenol and put me to bed... I spent yesterday moving v-e-r-y slowly and napping.  Stupid cold has settled in my ears and my balance, which is not the greatest to begin with, is... a cause for amusement.  We did go out to roller derby practice last night.  I met most of the "fresh meat" (newbies) girls and one of the other coaches.  I have a new handle.  I'm MommaToy.  Joy would love to have me involved on a regular basis, but I imagine this phase of her life will end before I get back to Oregon permanently.  When she and her brother were young and competing, I learned everything I could.  I took tests and became a ref and a tabulator and even started up the judging ladder.  I also have considerable experience with fund raising.  It would be a hoot!    

We're off to see Jennifer today.  My cold has eased, no fever spikes in 12 hours, and she thinks I'm past the contagion phase.   I found the coolest necklace for Jen.  Piece is silver; a Goddess holding a pentacle, with a moon stone at the center, over her head with wing-like filigree on each side and three moon stone dangles from the bottom tip of each "wing" and her feet.  I spent too much, but the piece just screamed "Jen".  She wears a simple pentacle on a regular basis.  I suspect she will wear this on special occasions with one of her "look at me, look at me" tops.  She has learned to dress to keep the focus on the upper part of her body, rather than on the challenge CP has made of her lower extremities.  Still don't have anything for my granddaughter.  But we will have a girls shopping trip to remedy that situation.  I don't know  what size she wears or what toys she has... and besides why would one want to bring stuff all the way across country to one of the few states that has no sales tax?  Yes, I said "No sales tax."  But you should see the income and property taxes in Oregon!  Plus registration and certification fees for just about everything imaginable.  Gotta pay for those services one way or another!

I've written a book!  Will work at catching up with everyone over the next few days.  Know that I thought about you often... my CS family has become an integral part of my life and I speak of you often.  Your lives have illuminated and enriched my own.  

be well 

Good day all,

I was terrified my middlings would eat the sub alive.  I had one walk out in the middle of 1st period last year, so this is not an unrealistic fear.  Sub is a minister and he's had most of these children in other teachers classes before... he's just never had so many of the malcontents in one room!  He opted for the path of least resistance and as long as they weren't hurting each other... well lunch would start at 1:30 and it would be over!  I guess compared to 5th period almost any other group looks great.  I will neglect to tell him what was written on the desk cornices... 

Middlings were reasonable today.  They had a relatively easy foldable, those who took it seriously did well... those who did not, will undoubtedly refuse to take responsibility for their choice.  Good news is that such choices can always be rethought down the road. 

Tomorrow we start simple machines and work.  This unit is fun and usually garners high scores.  I must be crazy, but I do want these children to succeed.  But how do I teach them personal responsibility when their parental units hold them accountable for so little and given them so much.  These youngsters do not know that feeling that comes from a job well done.  You know, it's how you feel after you've cleaned the bathroom and it sparkles... and you hear the sound of feet pounding down the hall and know the moment is just that a moment... but oh is it satisfying!

Thank you for your kindness, your support, your friendship... and know there is plenty of room in my closet

be well dear friends 

Uggh!  Was up most of the night.  I was still unstable on my feet by 6 this morning and decided to call for a sub.  Idiot girl!  I forgot to keep drinking and made a difficult situation worse by allowing myself to become dehydrated.  After forcing a quart of liquids over 2 hours I no longer waddled like a drunken sailor, but decided to go back to bed any way.  This is the third time in 2 weeks, whether some bug has set-up housekeeping in my gut, allergies or just stress I don't know.  Need to remember to keep drinking!

Nominations for Rookie teacher are out.  My office mate and I are the two chosen.  I am surprised, I expected her to win by a landslide, she is talented and the men's volleyball coach so she has much greater visibility.  While I don't expect to be the final selection, I am honored to be considered.  One major drawback to the nomination is the packet that must go forward... runner-up is lookin' good!

I finish my English an a Second Language (ESOL) course this weekend.  I still have an article to critique and a tri-fold board to do of a lesson plan from start to finish.  To bad I was too disoriented to make use of today, but I slept... for hours, got up and then slept some more... and I'm still tired!  This was also the first week of my Reading Class.  I need to get an email off to the instructor and let her know I'll be on board next week... after I complete the ESOL course.  I really wish the various entities would talk to each other in order to avoid these over-laps.  Can you spell S-T-R-E-S-S!!!

Administration tried a new tactic to get the number of strays on campus under control.  They had us lock our doors (mine is always locked any way, cuts down on the theivery) and rounded up all strays and put them in In School Suspension (ISS).  By 7th period our middlings had mounted a plan to flood ISS.  These youngsters are not going to go down easily.  I just hope our Administrators hold the line, because we have so little control now because we have a group of students that have learned that if they act in concert the Administration will back down... allowing the asylum to be run by the inmates!  

Lord and Lady, Lady and Lord

Your protection and strength I do implore.

The simple pray that floats through my being and passes my lips on a regular basis. 

Home, messy and chaotic (looks like the remnants of a poorly organized garage sale) though it may be is a refuge, a place of safety and replenishment.  Thank you all for your kindness and support.  Your friendship and selflessness adds so much to my challenging existence.

be well dear friends

Good day all,

No fights today!  YEAH!!!  Of course, we are short several of our more challenging middlings... let us hope that the lessons are not lost to them.

Just found out we will be loosing a science teacher before winter break.  She's going back to school.  Teaching just isn't her thing.  So she's going into medicine.   She will be missed, but I can't say that I blame her.  She's too young not to seek out her heart's desire.  Any science teachers out there?

I've succeeded in grading all but one assignment and this week's assignments aren't time eaters.  I have to complete 3 chapters to finish up my English Language Learners course.  Final presentation is this Saturday.  I'm actually in fairly good shape compared to others as far as procedures go... my non-native speakers actually do well.  Most are motivated and work hard.  Just lots of busy work... fudge! and double fudge!!!

Unfortunately, my reading instruction course starts this week.  Now that is a challenge!  I'm not required to take reading instruction, but so many of my middlings are poor readers... well I'm looking for anything that will help them deal with the material.  You can't pass the high stakes tests required for graduation if you can't make sense of the words.  So much for a personal life!

be well dear friends