Some Unexpected Ironing

I'm running a bit behind because I had to iron a bit this morning.  Ugh!  I hate ironing.  Oooohhh, and I just remembered I have to get gas today so this will definitely be short.

I'm a tad tired...I think the last couple of days are wearing on me...staying up late to watch the Reds and then read.  Tomorrow I'll sleep in a bit because I've got some shit at KEC for Lisa's autistic girl and that starts at 8:00. Last evening I went to Anne's and she, Maggie and I went to Max's soccer game.  It was really rather chilly out there on the field.  Unfortunately Max's team lost but it was a solid effort and it was fun to watch.  I don't know shit about soccer by the way.  Just seems to me - even watching the pros - that it's just a slightly organized game of keep away or Pickle.  I'm exhausted just thinking back on it. 

I have an IEP today - no biggie - a senior...and not until later in the day.  I'm actually going to get to do some work during my planning period. 

Okay so that's all I've got.  Sorry I'm boring lately.  I'll have some doozies to tell later when I have more time about the chick across the hall.  My friend at work made a new nickname.  (I didn't...it wasn't me!!!)  BFC - Big Fat Cow.  That isn't nice is it?  Oh well, I can't go against something's popularity.  The masses want what the masses want!  And if BFC were a nice person, I wouldn't have to say such things but she's really and truly a mean and terrible person.  Just you wait!

K - I'm out...later!

Jay Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So happy...and tired!  Cincinnati Reds = National League Central Champions!!! 

I'm so tired because I stayed up and watched the whole game...1) because I love the Reds and didn't want to miss what was sure to be an exciting game and 2) my Jimmy Lou was at the game, in great seats and I was hoping to see him on the TV!  I didn't.  So here's the story:  Jim was coming home, stopping at Kroger to pick up a prescription.  As he was walking in the door, some guy said, "You want tickets for tonight's Reds game?"  Jim said sure! 4 tickets - section 103 - row A - seats on the aisle - with a parking pass!!!  He took his friend Chris H. and they were seated just over Gomes left shoulder.  (I was too wiped to go and knew I would be no good this morning for my IEP if I did - don't give me shit!) Jimmy got to see a great game, a nail-biter with a walk-off home run by Jay Bruce to put the Reds over the top 3-2!  Mayhem and a bit o' celebration ensued!

By the way, there were over 30,000 fans at the game and they sold over 14,000 yesterday alone!  Love it!!!

Can I just tell you that September is the most boring months for "wacky holidays".  Jeez! 

So, I've decided to go off the beaten alphabet doggy path in honor of the Reds.  The only dog, that I know of, that has ever been associated with the Reds is the...

...Saint Bernard.  Now, yes - I know I've featured St. Bernard's before this this is Schottzie - Marge's old sweetheart!!!  She sure did love that dog! 

Lets hope that the good mojo Schottzie brought to the club in 1990 will do the same for us 20 years later!!!

K - I'm out...must get to work.  Later

Sami Is Quirky

Why is it that at night, when we go to bed, Sami prefers not to be in bed with us?  She'll start out there but eventually we piss her off with getting situated I guess and she runs off the bed - all huffy - and begins her night in the guest bedroom.  Eventually - while we're sleeping she rejoins us but she's just so ornery.  Then in the morning, she can't get enough of us.  The minute my alarm goes off, she's draped all over me, nudging at my hand and head-butting me.  She's one crazy pup...I love her. 

So, yesterday was productive.  I did all my "Monday" work - emailed parents with grade updates, got all my parts of the IEP progress reports complete (I now have to wait for others to give me feedback), completed two more IEPs and started another...checked on some PowerPoints for upcoming chapters in US History...um...that's about it.  Pretty good.  I don't know how bad/good the kids were - guess I'll find out when I get to the classroom this morning.  I didn't get any phone calls or emails about it so that's good.  Maybe I actually scared them.  Yeah, not likely...more likely they weren't on their "game" because it was Monday.  Friday will be the real test.

Okay so that's about all I've got now.  Watched the Oprah yesterday that had Ingrid Betancourt on it...fascinating.  I'm curious to read her book.  I'll have to put it on my list for 1/2 price. 

Well, I best head out.  Later!

It's Too Early!

I just looked at the clock and thought, "It's just way to f*%king early!"  Why am I up!?  I mean, yes, I know I have to work but why does it have to be so dang early?!  Ugh!

So let us start off this post with a doggy alphabet celebration!  Today is the...

...Cavalier King Charles Spaniel!!!  Stinkin' cute!!!  This one looks fake, doesn't it?

And the puppies are to die for!!!  (Sami is jealous now...she's so pissed I'm looking at pictures of other dogs!  She told me that to her, it's like catching me looking at porn!  She's bananas!) I like the little fatty up top!  I'm a sucker for the porker pups!

So, yesterday was productive.  Jim and I made it outside to get the leaves in the front up and outta there.  I blew the leaves while Jim - 1st raked, then mowed the lawn (where there was grass to mow) and then instead of bagging the leaves or hauling them out back, we just mowed over them.  With it being so dry, it turned to powder! (Everytime I blew my nose yesterday - bits of leaves came out too!!!)  It was awesome!  Took us only about an hour.  It's supposed to rain for the next two days so it was important to get the leaves up.  Only about 1/3 of the leaves in the trees are off so we have a long road ahead of us.  Ugh!  Dread!

After that, we came in and watched the Bengals.  A win, yes but an ugly win.  Carson Palmer is a dope!  It's like he's playing for the other team.  Truly not a Superbowl quarterback! 

In addition to the Bengals winning...the Reds won.  A nice show for Brandon Phillips who hit his first home run since August 24th!  Yeah!  And Heisy looked superb!  Keep it up fellas!  Magic number:  1!!!  Hopefully today's day off will give them a nice rest for the last push!!!

Okay, so today, I will be going to "school" but will not be in the high school building.  I'll be over at our administration building, working on sped stuff.  Long story.  I'm worried the kids will be complete asses but alas - I just have to trust the sub and admin to take care of anything that may come up.  I gave them a stern talking to on Friday so hopefully that will scare them into behaving.

K - I'm outta here...Later!

Walk Like A Zombie Day!!!

So weird, I was just reading in my book about a man who had been given "zombie powder"...a concoction of dried herbs with some weird fish in it - obviously fiction - and then I read that it's Walk Like a Zombie Day!  Isn't that a coinkidink?

New music alert:  Just purchased a download from Delta Spirit (take a listen).  I heard the band watching Grey's Anatomy and loved it...went on amazon and listened to snippets from the whole album...like it...downloaded it.  Very interesting band, known to play a diversity of "instruments" like trashcan lids.  They are said to be a "hybrid of rock and northern soul or as an "Americana/soul" group."  I don't know about all that but the lead singer (and don't let this turn you off) sounds like a young, and slightly less warrbly - Willie Nelson.  Check 'em out...you likey!

Okay so...I need to get moseying here...walk Sami, eat breakfast, ready myself for the Bengals...Who Dey!!!??? Noooooobody!!!  We got a "Cat Fight" on our hands today and hopefully - unlike the GD Reds - the Bengals will scratch the Panthers eyes out!!!  BTW!!!  I'm so madddddd at the Reds right now!  We're in a fight! 

Dinner tonight - Homestyle Veggie/beef Soup!!!  Can't wait! 

K - I'm out.  Later!

New T.V. Show - "Sped"

Jim wants to present a new TV show to the networks.  It's a bit controversial, inappropriate and politically incorrect, I know but it really could be a winner:  A show about special ed kids.  We were at dinner last night and I was telling him some stories from the "week at school" ("Go Jones!!!", Ring-a-ding, ring-a-ding-ding, squirt, squirt) and he said, "We really need to present this to some TV execs and get this shit on the air."  Well, then we get home and the neighbors are all out in the circle (drinking) so we head out and start talking about the concept.  Understand too, of the 7 houses in our circle, there are 6 teachers.  Anyway, Craig, who lives 3 houses down, is a high school teacher in a nearby district and a wrestling coach.  He starts telling us stories about some of the speds on the team.  And when I say "on the team", I mean they're considered the "managers"...not actual wrestlers.  He proceeds to tell us about a kid who stole the floor cleaner from the school (it's a huge Zamboni-like machine that you ride to strip and wax the floors) and how it was all caught on the security cameras.  Apparently the kid had been "eyeing" the machine for years and finally got the gumption to take a ride.  The shots of him riding through the school showed him whoopin' it up, thumbs up, with a huge smile on his face. 

You just can't make this shit up!

Hold on...Maggie's calling...ring-a-ding, ring-a-ding-ding...

It's Fish Amnesty Day!!!  Whatever the hell that means! 

So, today - I'll do my grocery shop, Jim will clean while I'm doing that and then who knows.  Exciting - I know.  Jim wants to rent a tandem and go for a ride but I'd rather do that tomorrow. Plus - we need to do a little yard cleaning...ugh!  Need rain!

Today's dog is...drum roll please:

...The bloodhound!

Could there be a cuter puppy?  I think he's all bummed out because his wrinkles keep him from seeing properly.

K - I'm out...time to walk my baby Sam!

Have I Mentioned Lately That Parents & Kids Are A Pain In The Ass?!

UGH!  So, I had my autistic girls IEP meeting last week, if you'll remember (lets call her Gassy).  Well at the meeting, it was decided to take her out of her Sped Biology and History class...so that was a change of schedule.  Then, when she was switched, we put her in a Biology class that was enormous with no seats available (I know...the guidance counselor should have seen that and contacted me but she sort of sucks so...) so we had to flip flop the two classes.  Well, wouldn't you know it but Gassy is overwhelmed by her Biology class!  Mom emailed me last night asking if she could go back to her Sped Bio class.  Jesus!!!  But of course I'll do it!

So yesterday, at the end of the day, I wasn't feeling too terrific.  It was Early Release (the kids leave an hour earlier than a normal day and then the teachers attend meetings) and so I emailed the admins (trying to make sure I cover my ass in every way this year) asking if it would be okay that I left after the kids were released.  Well, wouldn't you know, HH emails me back and says:  "This is state mandated training. If you leave I will have to show you took a partial sick day."  Can you say, "DICK!!!"???  My email back was a sweet, passively aggressive, "That's fine.  Thanks for your help."  And I left at 1:30.  Suck it HH!!!  I have about 130 sick days and if I don't feel good, you're not going to bully me into staying for some lame lecture on...wait for it...BULLYING!!!  And you knoooooowwwwww, if it had been one of his sweet little suck asses, he would have said to go home, get better blah blah blah.  Oh, and then at the end of the day, he made an announcement saying that the meeting was mandatory and the would be, "Taking attendance!"  Again, DICK!

Breathe!

And by the way - my bloated, yucky feeling still isn't totally gone.  Maybe it is just PMS and I need to gets some maximum strength midol or something.  Ugh!  I feel like I'm talking around having just swallowed a rock inside a balloon. 

Doggy Alphabet...

...the Bearded Collie!!!  (I got a little out of alphabet order but aren't these fellas cute!!!)

And my God!!!  That puppy is to die for.  They are a bit large and shaggy for my taste but again, if one landed on my doorstep, I wouldn't tie him to the mailbox with a "free" sign around his neck!!!

K - I'm out...later!

Elephant Appreciation Day!

As bloated and disgusting as I've felt recently, I think this may just be a holiday about me!  And let me tell you, I needs me some appreciation!  In all seriousness, however, I definitely appreciate the elephant - Asian and African!  I don't eat elephant.  I don't wear clothing made from elephants. Yes, I do have a piano that has - I assume - ivory keys but alas, that was my mom's piano and so it's HER that doesn't appreciate!  So there!

In Diablo news (my nutty "4-year-old):  Yesterday I had to do an office referral because he wouldn't shut up and he kept talking about "kicking people in the nuts".  I know!!!  Pretty funny and I do love the kid but I get NOTHING done because I'm constantly saying, "Stop it", "Shut it", "Quit making noises" etc.  It was pretty funny though when the principal came to take him away for a talk.  I warned the VP that Diablo would very likely whine, cry and throw a tantrum.  Sure enough, as he was walking out the door he was nearly screaming in his high-pitched whiny voice, "OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!!!  I DON'T WANNA!!!!  MMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" 

Today I have Pinocchio's IEP.  At this point I would be surprised if his mother actually shows.  She's stopped responding to my emails and the only number we had for them has been disconnected.  I sent her an email reminding her of the meeting but with all the shit going on with her son, I have a feeling she's just going to stick her head in the sand and wait for the storm to pass.  Which it won't cause her sons is a douche!

In Doggy alphabet news...today we have the...

...Brussels Griffon - you know the dog from As Good As It Gets!!!  The kind of dog that's so ugly, it's cute!

Way cute puppy!

K - well, I better head out...my meeting is first thing!  Later all!!!

I Think I'm an Effective Teacher...

...it's hard to tell though when you teach special ed.  Not to mention, this year I feel like most of the time I'm just standing around saying, "Stop it", "Shut it", "Quit making noises", "Quit looking behind you", "Quit tapping your pencil", "Quit asking unrelated, stupid questions".  Ugh!  Reason I bring it up is because of Oprah.  Her show yesterday focused around the documentary just out, "Waiting for Superman".  It deals with the ineffectiveness of U.S. schools and how we're - teachers/educators etc. - are doing a disservice to our kids and country.  The real problem they talk about is "bad" teachers and I don't consider myself one but when you have a day like I had yesterday where I slightly lost my cool...you wonder.  Anyway, I really  would like to see that movie.  It did piss me off though because it made a general statement that teachers "automatically" get tenure after just two years teaching.  Now - I don't know how it works in other districts but in mine, you have to be on a 3-year licensure cycle (which you only get after a two-year one...I think) and then you have to have your masters.  I may have to write Oprah...just to set the record straight. 

Okay, now that I've covered that slightly too serious subject - how about a cute puppy?  And how about we move into the "B"s!!!  Today we feature (and by "we" I mean my staff of writers here at my blog)...

...the Basset Hound!!!  Look at those paws!!!  Lovely!!!  And, if they're anything like Bubba's, they smell like cookie dough or Frito's...depending on the day!

I mean really!!!  Couldn't you just die!?  I think the weight of his/her ears are making him/her sad!!!

Looks like Libby!!!

And then we have sweet Molly Longbody!!!  She's so good to her little J. Bird!

K - that's about all I've got.  Should probably get going...don't want to.  Dread bad kids.  Ugh!  K - later!

Well Son of a Bitch!!!

Yesterday was Wife Appreciation Day and I didn't know it!  What the F!?  Jim didn't appreciate me AT ALL yesterday!  Maybe I'll just have to lie to him and tell him that it's today!  I will say, however, that because he went on a ride late (around 4PM) I didn't have to cook.  But I like to cook so that isn't really a bonus.  I'll have to think of some way that he can appreciate me later tonight.

In other news...not much.  I got an email back from my sped supervisor and of course the IEPs that hadn't been sent to the woman at the career center were all on the male slacker in our department.  Shocker. 

Oh boy...my dogs just went tearing down into the back yard barking like they suddenly contracted rabies!  They're mad dogs!  "Uh, hey mutts!!!???  Whatever animal was down there is surely gone now!"  They are nuts!  Especially Zeke!  (I searched "crazy dogs" and this came up!  Hee hee)

So today is monday (I'm not capitalizing on purpose! It's my little rebellion for having to actually work).  All my kids should be back from suspensions and in the classroom...poo!  It's so nice and calm in my room when certain kids are out.  I'm sure it's only a matter of days (more like minutes) before at least one of them is in the hot seat again.  Fools!

K - I'd best get going so I can get to work and figure out what the heck I'm doing today.  Later!

Things On My Mind

Nothing major...just things I come across and I wonder What the F!? 

For instance, there have been a couple recent emails from my sped supervisor telling us to make sure we sent IEPs to the sped teachers at the career center.  Apparently she's gotten emails from one of the ladies there saying she's missing IEPs.  Well, my annoyance here is...um, how about the student's names?  Who's IEPs don't you have?  Cause I assume you have all mine but hey, I'm human...maybe I'm mistaken.  NAMES!!! 

In other news...I've got the Bengals on my mind.  I'm about over Carson Palmer.  I seriously haven't seen shit out of that guy in about 2 years.  I'm sorry (Lisa) but the guy has turned into a complete pussy!  If you don't have a play, don't just fall down and cower...RUN!!!  And it's no wonder he has a completion percentage under 50%!!!  How many passes did he throw over T.O.'s head and at the feet of Chad!?  With 5, count 'em 5 field goals...I don't know how we won that game.  Don't get me wrong...I'm happy we aren't 0-2 right now but for the love of PETE!!!  Quit the penalty bullshit and step up your passing game! 

Okay so, I've decided to modify my Doggy Alphabet Soup.  There are just too many freakin' dogs out there and I'm pretty sure most of them are just made up mutts.  So, I'll feature, alphabetically, those that interest...ME!  So today we have the...

...Australian Cattle Dog.  I don't know what it is about this dog but I really love it.  Maybe it's the sweet and thoughtful look on its face...I don't know but he sure looks like a good baby!

Lovin' the puppy too!

Oooh, one last thing.  I was watching House Hunters International today and it was a couple moving from L.A. to Melbourne (Australia) and they had a little girl named CLOVER!!!  How about that?!  I thought for sure that Kristyn and Dan's Clover was the only one.  Funny.

K - I'm out...gonna go eat my din din.  Later!

Back On Track

I feel like the past few days I've been a bit...frazzled.  I'm not sure why.  It isn't like I've been "busy"...just crazy at work, really.  With 2 IEPs this past week, a 1/2 day professional development day and a caseload full of crazies, I've felt like I've been running in circles chasing my own tail.  I have, at least, gotten 3 of my 21 IEPs for the year out of the way!  I have two more next week, two more the week after that and then I should have a spattering in October.  It was so much better when they were all done at the beginning of the school year and I wouldn't have to worry about them again until next year.  Oh, the good old days.

So, lets get back to it shall we!?  Here's the latest in our Daily puppy alphabet: 

The Akita.  Don't get me wrong, it's a good looking dog but it's just not one that I would set out to get. 

Waaayyyy cute puppy.  I wonder if I'll ever come across a puppy and say, "Ugly puppy!"  Doubt it!

So in holiday news today!!!  It's my student "Pinocchio's" day!!!  It's Big Whopper Liar Day!!!  I can't believe it!  There's a holiday just for him!  That's so unbelievable...it's almost something he would come up with!  Too bad I didn't know this to tell him although he was suspended Friday so there you go!  Oh, and it's Responsible Dog Ownership Day today too!

Ooh, guess what tomorrow is!!!  Talk Like a Pirate Day!!!  Arg!  Blimey!  Oh, but wait!  I better hold that talk off until tomorrow!

Okay so now, how about a JOTD? (More like one liners): 

• If Helen Keller had ESP, would you say she had a fourth sense?
• Teach a child to be polite and courteous, and when he grows up, he'll never be able to edge his car onto a freeway.
• In an argument, a woman always has the last word. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
• You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive. (Anne!!! Hee hee)
• If you're cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you see perfectly?

Some, interesting questions:

• OK...so if the Jacksonville Jaguars are known as the "Jags" and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are known as the "Bucs", what does that make the Tennessee Titans ?
• If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea... does that mean that one enjoys it?
• How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

Okay, so I think that's about it.  I'll leave you now to walk Sami with a funny World of Cow Cartoon...later!

Unbelievably Sad

I'm so sad.  Yesterday I got a phone call from Becky and then Maggie that my cousin Allen's son (Little Al)passed away.  He was 24 years old.  We don't know the circumstances yet but he went to the hospital not feeling well - day before yesterday - and they sent him home.  He was found - I believe - yesterday morning.  I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child and I am so sad and praying and thinking of Allen, Terri and Emily and the West family!  So sad.

He's SOOOOOOOOOOOO Lucky!

Jim is a lucky man this morning...of course, I checked the coffee last night to ensure he had done his job correctly...he had - thank God - and this morning, I was happy (a relative term). 

I don't have much, and my computer is showing signs of turtlish behavior so this will probably be short.  This morning I have my 2nd IEP of the year.  It's for my autistic girl who has turned out - so far (knock on wood) - to be a non-issue.  We may still be in the honeymoon period but if she can get through the classes she's in so far without telling someone to go to hell or shut up, then that tells me she can control her behavior.  Seriously, with the crazies I have 2nd and 3rd period, there have been a few times I've nearly told a couple of them to go to hell!  Meeting should be interesting though...it will either be short and sweet or...not.

So that's about it...here's our daily pup...the Akbash Dog.

Obviously related to the Pyrenees Mountain Dog. 90-130 pounds is a tad large for me but a handsome pup.  Plus they typically only live 10-11 years.  Big dogs suck in that way.

Puppy...a little snowball

K - I gotta head out.  My eyes are watering like a sieve...driving me nuts.  What the hell is that!?  Why do my eyes always water like this.  Mom, yours water all the time...why!?  Later

Is This Some Sort of JOKE!!!??? (Updated)

RRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!  Guess what I don't have in my hand?!  That's right, COFFEE!!!  Jim needs to pack his bags!  What the f%#k is wrong with him?  He came upstairs last night for bed without getting coffee ready.  I had to remind him again.  AND THEN!!!  He didn't reset the time on the timer from the weekend!  Is he looking for me to kill him?!  Cause right now?  My state of mind - one minus caffeine - is headed in that direction!? 

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!

I have nothing else to say cause all I can think about is "Is this a joke"?  and "Why does my husband want me to kill him?"

Okay, I've had my shower now and I have a cup of coffee in my hand...I feel better.  Jim doesn't.  I had to rudely awaken him (is that grammatically correct?) with, "Is this some sort of joke?!!!"  Definitely no dinner tonight!?

So its been a couple days since I've updated my Doggy Alphabet soup!  Here's the next in our alphabet:

The Airedale Terrier!!! Cute Cute Cute!!!

That is one cute puppy too!!!  Mayyyybe a bit big for my taste but I wouldn't throw this sweet lookin' puppy out in the cold. (Not that I would do that to any dog!)

Okay - well, I have a 7:30 meeting this morning...stupid parents who suddenly want to talk about what the supports they'd like to see put into place this year for their daughter - who's a senior, and never gotten any specialized instruction in high school.  Annoying.  I guess I'll just sit there and go, "Sure, sure...whatever you want...just make sure your daughter is following through because she's the one who doesn't want to seek out services."

K - later!  I think I'll go yell at Jim one more time!   Hee hee!

Jim = Trouble

I'm sitting here at 4:54 waiting for my coffee to brew cause Jim forgot to set the timer.  Ohhhhh boy is he in trouble.  Lets all say it together:  One job!  Jim has ONE JOB!!!  RRRRRRRR!!!!!

Still waiting...

Sure wish I had a mug of coffee in my hand.

No dinner for Jim tonight! 

And he hates when I grab a cup before it's done brewing but what else am I supposed to do!?  I have to get in the shower!  Oh he's in trouble!!!

Still waiting...I should go pour a glass of ice water on him and when he sputters and says, "WHAT THE F?!"  I'll just say well, there's no coffee brewed and I wanted to make sure you didn't have a hard time waking up!  Hmm...

Still brewing...

New Shoes, New Sweaters, Carlo and Johnny's

Went on a bit of a shopping spree yesterday...out of my comfort zone to try and find some style.  I managed to get several new sweaters at TJ Maxx to go over my black leggings and also found a groovy pair of shoes (shown).  They don't look very groovy off but on they're pretty cool on...Jim really liked them.  I think he wanted me to wear them to bed.  Hee hee.

So last night, Anne and Dan took Jim and me to Carlo and Johnny's.  Dan wanted to take Jim because, as Dan says, Jim is Mr. Cincinnati and had never been to a Jeff Ruby restaurant.  Hard to believe, I know.  I've been to the Precinct and Waterfront but this was my first time at Carlo and Johnny's.  Anyway, it was deeeeelicious!  I had the "Steak Collingsworth" (served with asparagus, crab, a mushroom bourdelaise and Bearnaise sauce) as did Jim but I had my with a fillet and Jim had his with a strip steak.  Talk about melt in your mouth.  We got sides to share - creamed corn (YUM!!!), au gratin potatoes and Jim and Dan shared a mac and cheese.  The atmosphere was super and the wait staff was NOT pretentious...I was surprised.  Sometimes Jeff Ruby restaurants give off that vibe.  The girls there were a bit slutty and I find it rather interesting that NONE of the wait staff were women...the only women there were the hostesses, cocktail waitresses and I think I did see a bartender.  Oh, and of course their attire was the shortest, skimpiest dress in the tri-state area.  Whatever though, dinner was yummy.  Thanks Anne and Dan!

So, right now I'm just sitting here waiting for my nose to calm down.  Once that happens, I'll walk Sami and then the boys.  Jim went on a bike ride this morning.  He says that since he's been riding, his hips aren't hurting.  Duh, dude!  I told you if you exercised you wouldn't feel so tight and achy all the time.  He never believes me!  So annoying.  Anyway, other than that, I'm just going to hang here today. 

Okay so in the Doggy Alphabet soup, today is the Ainu dog.  What do you know...another dog I've never heard of. 

I think this one is Japanese...looks like a husky to me. 

Cute puppy...looks like a Tasmanian devil a little bit...

What do you think?  Eek...scary

Okay - I think my nose is ready...later and ooh, it's Video Game Day!  Maybe I'll play me some Wii and Ratchet and Clank.  Cool. 

Doug, The Bulldog

This is for Maggie and Charlie...

By the way, who names their dog Doug? 

WAHHHHH!!!!  I want Max for a brother!!!

Stuffed Up

I'm so sick of waking up with an effed up nose...it's driving me nuts!  Today feels bad...let's hope my allergy pill kicks in quick.

We're supposed to get some rain and thunderstorms today but I'll believe it when I see it.  It shouldn't put a damper on my day though because after walking Sami this morning, my only other plan is to grocery shop and clean house (Jim will do this while I shop). 

On the school front - yesterday was good.  My plan of showing videos all day went well...except I had a hard time concentrating on my work when I was showing the Muppet Movie.  That thing is FUNNY!  There's one scene with Fozzie and Kermit - they're riding in Fozzie's Studebaker, driving in the northern woods and Fozzi says, "Aaahhh...a bear in his own habitat...a Studebaker."  I don't know why this made me laugh so hard...but it did.  Loves me some Kermit the frog by the way.  Love his opening song too.  Anyway, I managed, for the most part to finish the two IEPs I have next week.  Now I can start working on others.  It makes my head ache thinking about it.

In Doggy Alphabet soup, today's pup is the Aidi. 

He's cute!  And shaggy!  I love him! 

Cute puppy too...don't know why that rock is sitting there...I guess to show his size but who's to say how freakin big the rock is. 

By the way, why are all these dogs so obscure?  Why have I only really heard of the Afghan Hound?  Are people just going around and breeding dogs and saying "Ta da!!!  The Crinklemeister Hound!!!  A rare and nearly unknown breed!"  I think someones pulling my leg! 

Okay, well...I'm going to go get ready to walk Sami and get Jim crack-a-lackin on the cleaning front.  Happy Saturday.  Later

Movie Day...All. Day. Long.

I have so much shit to do at work and I can't get a damn thing done with all these kids wanting me to teach and help them!  ARG!!!  What's a teacher to do?  Well, today, I'll be showing movies in all my classes.  Language Arts, I tried to find something related to, well, Language Arts but I think in the end, for 2nd period - I'll be showing the Muppets Movie.  For 4th period LA, I'll try to find something "educational" on line but alas, I just doubt there is anything...probably just find something in my stock of movies at school.  For US History, I show something every Friday and today will be episode 2 from Frontier House.  Hopefully by then, I'll have completed the two IEPs I have next week and get the piddly shit out of the way for the other 5 I have over the next 3-4 weeks.  UGH!

In allergy news, this dry weather is wrecking my nose.  The allergy pill I take helps but with the high pollen count, (and mold) I guess it can't block everything.  The dry weather is also causing me to wake up with a bloody nose.  My poor nose.

So, in today's alphabet soup for dogs, we have the Africanis (aka Hottentot Hound). 

Looks like a mutt to me..cute though.  Wonder if he/she could take down a lion or elephant.

Cute (but pushy) pups!

K - I'm out.  Gotta get to work to find a movie to show 4th period.  Oh, and fire drill today too...Diablo better not be bad.  Maybe I'll hold a twizzler in front of his face and bribe him.  Later!

Back to School and Check Out the Do!!!

Headed back to school after a nice relaxing day off - post-doctor's appointment.  No news to report there.  I got a bunch of blood draws (cholesterol, thyroid, vitamin D) and the results should be back today or tomorrow - except for the vitamin D...that takes a few days.  The doctor did say, however, that by looking at me, if my vitamin D is low, then something went wrong with the test.  Hee hee.  The doctor did say that my blood pressure was not exactly where she'd like it.  She said it was on the higher end of normal.  The nurse tested it first and it was 131/91 and then the doctor tested it and it was 126/90.  Seems okay to me but she said I should got a couple times in the next few days - to a Walgreens or whatever - just to see what it is. 

So, in the doggy alphabet, today we meet the Afghan Hound. 

Wow!  Can you say bouffant?

I mean, that's a pretty dog but seriously...who is going to want to brush that!?  Good golly!

Of course, that's one cute puppy!

Okay well, I'd better get going...I have lots to do today and tomorrow to prepare for my coming IEPs next week.  And!!!  Of course a senior parent is requesting a meeting next week too.  For their daughter, who gets no services and I never see and shouldn't be on an IEP.  UGH!  Annoying! 

Oh, boy!!! It's Wonderful Weirdos Day!!!  Happy Day Maggie!!!  You wonderful weirdo!  And you too Anne!!!  And Kim, Lisa, Diane, Aunt Kathleen...who could forget MOM!!!  You big bunch of weirdos!!!

Later!

New Doctors and the Affenpinscher

Not much time to "chat"...I need to get on the road to go to the doctor.  No big deal, I've just decided that since I'll be 40 this year, it's time to get all my stuff checked out...my cholesterol, thyroid etc.  I also decided to change doctors.  It's a doctor in the same group I was in but closer to home.  Hopefully I'll like her and all will be well. 

Other than that - I've got nothing.  Oh, funny story:  Yesterday, being the first day back from the weekend, I started out my Language Arts class with "weekends" (what did you do etc.).  So we're all talking, informal conversation, joking around and of course my little liar (let's call him Pinocchio) starts telling me a tall tale so I call him a fool (in a joking, laughing manner).  Well, that set Diablo off and he turns around and says clear and loud as can be to Pinocchio, "You're a f&%king retard!" And proceeds to giggle hysterically.  I was dumbfounded at first...speech eluded me.  When I finally got it together and reprimanded him, I was forced to laugh hysterically myself.  What else can you do.  Needless to say, this was Diablo's one and only warning.  Ugh.

So, here's the next pup in our Alphabet listing:  The Affenpinscher...he's cute in an ugly sort of way, huh?

Puppy (cute)

Adult (definitely ugly)

Salami Day and the Abruzzenhund

First of all, let me just wish everyone out there a happy, happy, happy Salami Day!  Not Hide the Salami Day (Charlie!!!) just Salami Day!  May you get all the salamis you wish for today!

Now, onto the other part of my blog title.  I thought I'd do a puppy of the day/every other day/week by going through the alphabet.  Now, I had to narrow it down to pure breeds because ALL dogs left me covering every doodle and dor dog out there (labradoodle, afgador etc.).  So, the first in the pure breeds is the Abruzzenhund...or Maremma Sheepdog.  Never heard of it?  Yeah, me either but here he is as:

...A puppy and...

...full grown.  Cute, but a little large for my taste. 

So, my allergies are in full swing.  If I didn't take a pill every day, I'd have already gone through about 4 boxes of tissues, I'm sure.  Sucks.  Steve Raleigh, my local weather guy told me yesterday that the pollen and mold count are HIGH!  Sure wish it would rain!

In other news, I managed to get nearly two IEPs written.  I have to complete the goals but the hard parts done.  Yeah!  I hope to finish them today and get two more at least started.  I won't be at school tomorrow so I'll have one less day to work this week...must crack-a-lack today.

K - I gotta go blow my nose before it bets all over the keyboard...hee hee...later!

Little Break

I took a little break from blogging...#1) I didn't have anything to share - unless you wanted to hear about #2) my awful night Saturday that left me with no sleep and a night spent on/at the terlit.  I was exhausted yesterday and just didn't have a post in me.  Sorry.

So, yesterday we went to Raeburn where of course, I forgot my camera.  What the H?!  J. Bird was cute as always he discovered a new love of water balloons.  I think he actually had played with them before but not to the point of whipping them at people.  Trip - sweet and good dad that he is - kept slamming them at J.J.'s feet drenching him...he loved it.  One of his final balloons was used to soak Maggie.  He just laid it on her back and pinched.  Hilarious!  He also sacked out on Maggie for about a half hour from all the playing...drooled all over her chest.  Hee hee.  Love him. 

In addition, Anne came with the kids.  That Max is getting TALL by the way!

So that's about it.  We got home around 9:00 I guess and I pretty much sacked out from there.  I was so tired I couldn't see straight.

Today will be a day of relaxing and possibly some IEP work.  I've got several I need to get done this week so I don't feel like I'm behind all the time.  Trouble is, I never have time during my day because the damn kids are always needing my help...or talking to me...or distracting me.  RRRRRR!  Silly kids!  Don't they know I have work to do!?  I don't have time to deal with them!?

K - that's about it.  How about a Labor Day pup!?

Meet Alfie - the Wheaton Terrier (for you Kim)

Sweet little sleeper!  Love him.

K - I'm out...happy Labor Day all...later!

Random Crap

Okay, now I'm going to talk about something that people may think is a little weird...you may wonder why I care and honestly I don't it's just something that bothers me.  You may say to yourself, "Muir, these are not people you know...it's irrelevant to all the other shit going on in your life."  And of course you're right but with all that other crap going on in my life, a little daily gossip keeps me just a little bit sane.  Anyway...why am I so disgusted by Jesse James and Kat Von D?  First of all...Jesse!  Why would you, a guy who wishes for so much privacy choose to be with a woman who spouts off to the media every 5 minutes about your relationship?  And she's already in love with you?  Please!  And should a guy who obviously has a pretty f$&ked up personal life be so quickly involved with someone after a divorce like yours, Jesse?  What happened to the stance you were going to take where it was about mending your relationship with your kids and being there for them.  I think a nice solid year without a f%&k buddy should be mandatory.  Oh, and I love the quote from Kat where she says, 'Wow, I can't believe I haven't spent this much time with you the entire time I've known you.' Um, YO!  Kat!!!  He was married to someone else!  Not that that mattered to him but alas, hopefully it mattered to you. 

K - I'm done on that subject.

Here's my daily puppy...well, it's kind of turned into my weekly puppy and really it's kind of been my Weekly Dachshund Puppy! 

Heeeeeeerrrrreeeeeee's APPLE!!!  Mmm...scrumptious!

I could just kiss her!!!  Good thing Sami isn't in here reading this cause she would be soooooo mad and jealous right now!  True story

K - I'm out...I need to get to work...do a little work.  Hopefully after yesterday's big old drug bust (if you didn't see it, it was allllll over the news) we'll have a nice easy day today (F*%K!  I'm sure I just jinxed that!)  Later!