DQ Doesn't Stand For Dairy Queen

God knows I love my Jimmy but I certainly don't have blinders on when it comes to him and so I can comfortably say he is a MAJA DQ...Drama Queen. And believe me, I need him to be ever vigilant about his health and temperature etc. but last night took the cake.

So as I mentioned in yesterday's post, Jim had to work a 1/2 day during 1st shift, come home and then head to Covington for 1/2 a 2nd shift. He left around 3:30 and expected to be home around 9:00. Around 5:00 I got a call from him saying he was definitely going to be down there longer than expected due to the amount of work there was...he just wanted to let me know. Me: "Okay - thanks!" Then about 1/2 hour later I get another call saying that he may be home earlier than that because, "I started feeling hot so I took my temperature..." and here I thought Oh shit, here we go! "...and it's 99.5!" Seriously, he said this in a sort of panic. He then tells me he called his boss and told him that he may be leaving early blah, blah, blah. So I interrupt him and say, "Jim! Stop talking yourself into this! Take two Tylenol, continue what you're doing, stop being a hypochondriac and relax. Use your mind to try and control your body! In about a 1/2 hour or so, retake your temp and see where you are!" He calmed down and said, "Okay, you're right...sorry!" Of course there's no need for him to be sorry and I get that it puts him in a panic when his temp starts rising but he has to relax.

In the end, I sent him a text around 7:00 asking him how he was and his temp at the point was 99.1. YAY! And btw - he was feeling fine the whole time. Poor guy. He ended up getting home around 10:00 and was climbing into bed around 10:30 so that's good. And thank God it's Friday so Jim can relax and take a chill pill all weekend with no set plans (except maybe a jaunt to Party Source to replenish our kegs...and champagne).

Today at school should be easy...we are on an early release schedule because it's Homecoming weekend and we have a pep rally today. I'm also giving my Othello test so kids will be independently occupied during LA today. Woot!

I look forward to watching Will & Grace tonight. I think when I watch it, I'm going to realize how my I didn't realize I missed that show. Man it cracks me up...the reruns.

Sami's driving me up a wall. She keeps going in and out onto the deck but now going down into the yard. I think she needs to go out but she's having a tough time. I think I'll take her out front.

Okay - happy Friday. Later!

Still In The Clear

Still no fever! Jim did have a slight temp yesterday but I wouldn't call it a fever - 99.1. I had him take a  couple Tylenol just in case and within an hour, it was back down to 97.6 (Jim's normal). He had a pounding headache late last night and ended up sleeping in the family room  (so he could sit up) but he's feeling fine now. He's working a 1/2 regular shift today and then 1/2 2nd shift and may not have a job for tomorrow. I'm fine with that...I prefer at this point for him not to overdo it. Fingers, toes, eyes, legs still crossed!

And it's 57 degrees. AH! Love this weather. I've opened all the windows and am looking forward to the next week, at least, of sleeping with the windows open!

School is school. I haven't had any issues of late with Ulysses...he still annoys the shit out of me but I haven't gotten any emails from him lately and haven't had to tell him to not do something, which is where issues lie. He doesn't like to be told "no".

And that's about all I've got. Nothing too exciting going on. I'm looking forward to PIB in a few weeks and I'm hoping we have good, cool, slightly windy weather. Other than that though, I've got nothing.

Well here's something exciting! It's National Drink Beer Day! Hot dog! May have to have a brewski after school today!

Oh and there's a new cast member on SNL that is a graduate of Lakota East but in addition to that, his mother is a teacher at one of the elementary schools at Kings. Cool, huh!?

K - well, happy - oh wow! - Thursday! YAY! Tomorrow's Friday! Yippee!!!  Later!

Bring On The Cool Weather

Today is the last day of crappy heat for a while which I look forward to. I'm so sick of this disgusting heat! Can't wait for open windows again!

No fever {yet}. Jim's feeling good. Fingers crossed!

My fantasy football team is heading in the wrong direction. I was in 5th place last week and now I'm in 10th. Jim's in 1st, however, so that's good. Hopefully he'll stay there but his match up this weekend gives me pause.

School: Nothing major going on. I talked to another teacher yesterday about Jim's health - he was asking me about it because he had seen things on FB and had survived cancer about 7 years ago. He asked me if I was planning to take a leave of absence. Not yet...I'll put that off as long as possible. I mean, when Jim's feeling good, he's feeling good but thankfully I have that ability and I have the days stocked up if need be.

And that's all I've got. Time to get a move on. Later!

Fingers Crossed

So I won't bitch about sitting in the exam room for 2 hours before being seen by the doctor (other than her popping her head in for 2 seconds saying she's be right there and then an hour later...) because I already did that on FB. Yesterday's appointment was better than I thought it would be but only because I thought we were going to hear that there wasn't any other drug to try. Instead, the doc decided to put Jim on prednisone while also on his Zelboraf. This, she hopes, will stave off the side effects and allow this drug to do its job. She said she's never tried it before which I find interesting since I googled the drug with prednisone and this is commonly tried with patients. Of course this doc doesn't have a lot metastatic melanoma patients so there you go. Jim goes back next Monday to get blood drawn and see how he's fairing. (I won't be able to go to that appointment because I have an IEP.) She doesn't want to get another PET scan until this drug has been in his system for a while (mid-late October) either, which is fine...he just had one in August. Fingers crossed that the prednisone does the trick.

In other/similar news - Jim made an appointment with another doctor who does specialize in melanoma. The referral was made to Jim by the director of UC's cancer institute. Unfortunately the appointment isn't until October 20th but better then than never. I really just want to see what this guy has to say about what he should be doing and if what he's doing is the right way to go. We'll see.

Today should be a nice and relaxing day. My LA classes will be working on review sheets for Othello (we finished yesterday and I think the kids really liked it). I wish I could show the movie but it's rated R and has nudity. My science class has a test so it will be an easy day and I'll be able to get my next IEP complete.

And that's all I've got. Time to get to school. Happy Tuesday! Later!

Productive

This year's log splitting extravaganza was much different from previous years. That third person (neighbor Jordan) made all the difference. Having two people splitting while the third stacked cut our work time in half...at least. Normally the stacking takes place the day or two after the splitting and being so sore makes the stacking tough. This year, however, it was all done - BAM! - in one day! In fact, we were finished by 3:00. Not that Jordan was able to get rid of all his wood but we filled all of our log holders so there you go. And this all makes me happy because it's another year where I know I'll have a whole season of toasty fires to keep me warm. YAY!

Other than that, the weekend was low key. Friday I think I was in bed by 8:00 - after a jam packed week (thank you Bruno), I was wiped out. Then Saturday I was equally exhausted from the log splitting and in bed early again. We watched football yesterday but I just wasn't in the mood by the time the Bengals played. I hate 4:00 games. And of course they blew it. No surprise there. My fantasy football team sucked as well. Oh well - you can't win every week. Well the Bengals can't win any weeks.

School should be low key this week although I have an IEP this morning. Shouldn't be a big deal. We'll finish Othello today and then I need to figure out what to do next in LA.

Today I'll race out of school a few minutes early to pick up Jim and head to Clifton for another doctors appointment. Not sure what we'll hear. Jim called and got a referral as well for the doctor that Dr. Barrett recommended at Christ so he'll call today to get a second opinion about his care.

And that's all I've got. Time to get a move on and get this day started. I can't wait for the cooler weather mid-week. Hate this 90 degree shit when it's nearly October. Happy Monday. Later!

Christmas Will NOT Be Ruined!

If you know me, you know how much I love Christmas! Truly I wish for it starting on December 26th. Mainly because I love the cold and the tree and finding the perfect gift for someone and family and the music. Speaking of music, apparently, Ulysses is also obsessed with Christmas and the music that comes with the season. And yesterday - while I was trying to enjoy a personal day - I kept getting email after email from this little effer who felt it was his right to demand the ability to listen to Christmas music whenever he damn well pleases. Here is the priceless email that went to all his teachers and the VP and guidance counselor.

Good morning all! 

This email is to talk about Christmas music. So I know that it is a couple of months away. But I just wanted to say that Star 93.3 WAKW usually flips to Christmas music on November 1 or November 2 and I am a Christmas Freak!!! So I know what our REGLOUR music plan is that I can only lesson to it
Dering independent work and that wont work for me once they flip to Christmas music so my plan is that I can lesson to it dering the Christmas season dering class for maby for 1 week and then see if it works for me meaning that I can have my music on dering instruction and independent work! If you don't like it I will just do it anyway because I know what works for me and you guys don't it's all trial and error 

Just want to make one thing clear that I would not be using my phone i would be using a pocket radio with headphones

I won't take no for a awancer so it has to be yes 

Please let me know what you think 

I mean REALLY!? And this was just the first email. It got worse with him developing a contract and then tweaking the contract with room for signatures for his teachers. Uh, yeah I'm never signing a "contract" that you've developed U...that contract can go right into the orifice from which it came!

At some point he also sent this email out which I guess was the last straw for FW who finally took it upon herself to reprimand U and his disrespectful ways...via email.

Hello

I do not want to leave classes early and will be leaving with the REGLOUR bell this starts Monday. Please inform all teachers about this change. Please do not try to reason with me because I will not reply 

Thanks 

I mean who talks to anyone like this!? This kid obviously has major issues and his brain obviously just doesn't work like the rest of us. (In fact, it seems he has brain damage - from something his mother stated in an email back to FW after she talked to U last night.) 

The saga just goes on and on and I'm telling you - if I get one email from this kid today - I'm going to scream! Someone needs to take his phone away from him! I don't know why he still gets to keep it with him at all times. 

Okay - I'm done with that subject. We had a great time at Bruno Mars! He was amazing and his band is amazing and it was so good to dance my ass off and have fun in the middle of the week! Nice break and now I have PIB to look forward to. The only bad part was the trip was way too short and I hardly got to spend any time with Eva!

And that's all I've got. This weekend is going to be a tiring one as we are splitting wood all day Saturday and stacking on Sunday. I'll be mighty sore come Monday...mighty sore!

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend! Later!

Sure Could Use A Day Off!

And thankfully this time tomorrow, I'm hoping to still be asleep! My ears might be ringing however. It'll be a good ringing though so I'm good with that.

So get this, the other day, the "team" for Ulysses got an email from FW regarding his excessive time out of class (especially mine) and his rant via email to me last week. It was decided between FW and U that when he was "bored" during videos in class that he didn't have an interest in, rather than leaving class (on average he was out of my class 25-30 minutes per day), he would have a memo pad to doodle or draw with. Okay, that's fine with me. Fast forward to yesterday. Science starts and I'm having a class discussion about the previous days lesson. U is sitting in his desk, not engaging and he's got a crossword puzzle book in front of him. So I say, "U, you need to put that away, class has started." His response? "Uh, NO!" He then stated that he was allowed to have it out and I was supposed to have been told this. I tried to explain that he was allowed to have a notebook or memo pad out so that he could doodle or draw on but he was to the point where he wasn't going to listen or hear me. I asked him to go to the VP since he was refusing to do work and this wasn't for a break but he refused. I emailed the team regarding what happened. And then I got this email this morning from the VP:

Thank you for the update.  I recall crossword puzzles being a suggested strategy in a couple of meetings we have had.  If I am recalling correctly, his last school recommended these along with visual apps as some of the best tools for him to move on from issues that he may be dwelling on.  I don't recall the exact reasoning but I am certain that this is a strategy that they used with him and suggested to us.  

While I understand that he didn't follow the suggestions made by FW (memo pad) he seems to be applying a strategy that will meet the goal (staying in class for longer periods of time) and has worked for him in the past  I am wondering if we can adjust the plan to include crosswords as it has been recommended to us a couple of times.  

While our ultimate goal is to get U to be in class and engaged 100% of the time, keeping him in class for longer periods of time without disruption is probably the most urgent need.  Once we get there, we can start chipping away at the length of full engagement.  While I know the crossword puzzles are distracting him from both the issue he is dwelling on and the instruction, we have to weigh which is more important, full engagement in the periods that he is present with extended time out of the classroom, or full engagement with periods of not being engaged while still present.

Here's my issue: He's missing instruction. The crossword strategy was a recommendation by mom in regard to making a connection with him or as a tool in lessons. Not an escape mechanism. I'd love to hear what the mother thinks about this. My other issue is this kid makes up new rules for himself every time a new accommodation is made. He's running the show. He thinks he's on the same level with teachers and he's not. This isn't a power trip on my part but he basically gets to do whatever the fuck he wants. He's a jerk, he has no respect for anyone who says the most minor thing that he doesn't like and by giving in to every single fucking thing this kid throws a fit about it just teaches him that if he throws a fit, he gets his way. We should be weening him away from his crutches not adding more and more.

I've thought about my response to the email from new VP a lot. I'm either going to NOT respond at all or I'm just going to reply: "So, just to understand - during instruction time, U is going to be allowed to do a crossword puzzle?" These people are creating a monster and I'm telling you this is going to bite them in the ass. But hey, tell me what to do, and I'll do it. 

Oh, and when all of this happened yesterday in my class and U went off on me and left the room, one of my other kids said, "Mrs. Hanke, I don't want to sound mean but I feel really bad for you that you have to deal with that kid." Truer words.

K - well I need to go up and finish packing. Happy Wednesday. I won't post tomorrow since I'll be out of town but will update again Friday. 

Jim's doing fine right now, by the way. Now that he isn't taking his meds he's back to normal.

Later! 

Alas, Life Sucks!

Sorry for the downer of a title post but could Jim get a fucking break!? Could someone, some higher power throw him a fucking bone!?

As most of my (5) readers know, Jim started on a new med...Friday - Zelboraf (vemurafenib). He took all of 4 does. I came home yesterday to find him in bed with a 102 fever. It eventually went to 104 before going down again (he's now normal again). The nurse practitioner wanted Jim to go to the ER but he refused. He's a stinker but I don't blame him. All they wanted to do was take his vitals. I was monitoring him and ensuring he was doing what needed to be done to bring it down, so I understood where he was coming from. It's just so disappointing because now, I don't know where go from here. From everything the doc was saying this was the last oral med we were going to able to try. The immunotherapy didn't work so now what?

Here comes my headache again. UGH!

The thing I don't understand is why the doctor prescribed so many meds. She gave Jim enough for 30 days. At 8 pills a day, he was sent 2 bottles of the medication. Knowing what she knows about Jim's ability to tolerate these type of pills, does it make sense to prescribe so many drugs that can't be returned (even though the second bottle hasn't even been opened) and cost $21,000!? What a waste! I'm sure some poor soul who has no money nor insurance or shitty insurance could really use these drugs. Ridiculous!

Moving on from crappiness - today I have a breakfast at 7:15 for the kid I nominated for the Rotary Club. It's at the Marriot just up the road from school and includes a lovely breakfast. I'm starving so 7:15 can't come soon enough. This is the 4th kid I've nominated who's won (though this will only be the 3rd breakfast I've been able to make because of an IEP meeting). He's a really good kid who has had a tough life (I believe his grandmother has custody and parents may both be in jail or have been in jail) but regardless of that, he's a great kid who is so polite and personable.

And that's all I've got for now. Jim's actually going to work today. Unexpectedly, he got a job and he seems to be feeling well enough to work. I told him to take it as easy as possible and make sure to take Tylenol just in case. Hopefully he'll do well today.

K - Happy Tuesday - later!

Hot & Humid

This week is going to be yucky temp wise. YUCK!  Not to mention the coming weekend is going to be full of log splitting and stacking. Double yuck! If it's Fall, let it be fall with temperatures that are fall like. I don't want to turn the AC back on. But I told Jim that he could today while he's home working around the house.

Which means that Jim is not working today. Nor do I think he's working much this week at all. Which blows but I've got quite the list for him (side yard clean up, basement clean up, for example). Plus, I'm out of town on Wednesday/Thursday so at least Sami will have one of us home.

The weekend was delightful and relaxing. We took a lovely bike ride both Saturday and Sunday and went out to dinner on Saturday to Bravo's. The actual meal wasn't very good but it was nice to get out with friends (Doug and Lauren went) and we got to try out a new brewery (March 1st).

So my week will be a little wonky. I'm headed up to C-bus Wednesday after school and taking a personal day Thursday (Bruno Mars). I have a lot of figuring out to do about my lesson plans because I can't leave my sub to read with the kids on Thursday in LA. Plus tomorrow I have a breakfast to go to at the Marriot for the Rotary Club. The student I nominated won so I get to go to the breakfast. Yum! Hmm...it's a pickle.

Things with Ulysses are still annoying. I got this email from him Friday.

Good morning all

This is a email regarding the 4 th bell class and mrs.hanke she is not letting me transition are late to class as she let's me go enhancements go but they usually start like at 10:51 but I'm usually ready by 10:50 also sometimes any Osment shark don't start till like 54 or 50 throw your something and especially on early release day when we have our for doorbells so my proposal and yes she is actually tagged on this email Hun I don't like to talk people bad about them behind their back so I am attaching her on to this email but I feel like I should be leaving at 10:50 cuz I like to watch the video or documentaries and I don't think she's very flexible and willing to work with me so please do not take this in a bad way I'm just coming from what I have seen and what I am fed up with

thank you

If you're confused, so was I. I don't have a clue what he's saying other than the fact that he's bitching about leaving my class a minute later than he wants to. And did he call me "hun"/hon? Oh, and when he says he's attaching me on the email because he doesn't like to talk behind someones back - he didn't...attach me on the email. He obviously needs to proof read and maybe up his meds! Really all I could do when I got this was laugh, scratch my head and cross my fingers that he would pitch a big enough fit about me to get pulled from my class. I won't hold my breath. But he seems to get his way in everything else so who knows. 

And that's all I've got. Time to head out. Happy Monday. Here's hoping for a FAST week! Later!

Whacky Dreams!

First I dreamt that Maggie was calling and when I answered the phone in my dream I actually yelled out for real, "HELLO!?" And woke myself up. Dammit Maggie!

Then I had a dream that I was married to Peter Brady. Yup, from the Brady Bunch. And he wanted to get a haircut but I told him I liked it a little long with his curs and all. Oh, and he wasn't the young Peter...he was the age he is now. I'm not that crazy!

My final and funniest dream: I was in the classroom and I had all the kids in a circle for a class discussion. (And there were a couple adult guests participating as well.) The topic I introduced: Is it right to dress up your dog in clothes? It was a very lively debate. My take was that there are some dogs that get dressed up to visit people in nursing homes and such...they're service dogs, trying to make people happy so in my eyes, those cases were okay. Other than that, however, I was against putting poor dogs in pink tutus or some such shit. I mean, what the heck was going through my mind in my sleep that brought that up?

So today at school should be pretty easy. It's movie day in LA. Preparing to read the final Harry Potter book during the latter part of the year, I'm showing the first 6 movies over the next several months. Kids are excited. So am I. I'll have to start reading and preparing now since it's such a monster book.

Jim isn't working today which means he is my bitch today. He'll be headed to Kroger, Costco and cleaning the house. That eases up my weekend.

Jim's meds should be here today. On one hand that makes me happy that he'll be getting treatment again but on the other hand I don't have a lot of faith that he WON'T feel like shit on this med too. I know I need to have positive thoughts but after everything it's hard. Oh well, we'll see.

And that's all I've got. Bengals suck. I got 7 points from my Houston player, however, on my Fantasy team. My team won't do very well this week most likely. Oh well. What're you going do. K - happy Friday. Later!

If You See Me Today With...

...my finger up my nose, it's because I've had this tickle deep inside my nose for the past day or so and it's driving my crazy! WTF!?

You'd think the time for hatching snakes would be spring but I swear I ALWAYS see several around this time of year - dead in the road, usually. Or as it happened yesterday - at the entrance of my garage, squashed by my car backing in. Had I NOT smushed that little M-effer!? He would have been trying to get in my house. This does not make me happy! Snakes make me woozy!

I slept like a little baby rock last night! All the way through to my alarm going off which doesn't happen often.

So in the morning I sit here at my kitchen table after breakfast and type up my post. I also keep the sliding glass door open so Sami can come and go as she likes. Today, all I can think of as I continually glance over at the open door is "What if a snake slithers in?! And I don't see it?!"
And that brings me to the thought, "What if there's a snake in my house? There could very well be a snake in my house!!!" I might seriously have to think about moving.

MY GOD MY NOSE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY! Or as a former student used to say, "I hate my nose!"

So happy it's Thursday (I started to write "Friday" and that depressed me a little). This week kind of flew by. It's Oktoberfest weekend (Jim and I met at Oktoberfest) although I have no plans on going down. Way too crowded for my taste. However, I did have Jimmy get some Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest beer at the grocery yesterday. It's my fave! So yummy!

Going to be a beautiful weekend! And Jimmy wants to take a bike ride! YAY!

Okay - time to get a move on. Happy Thursday - later!

Meeting #2

I'm scheduled to have my 2nd IEP of the year this morning. This is for a kid who is autistic but high functioning. Not necessarily college bound but I could absolutely see him go to a two-year school and depending on his success possibly more. He really wants to do work in computers (Info Tech) but he's currently in a computer science class where he is struggling big time. Basically when I spoke to the teacher, he said there was basically "no way" this kid could pass because of the math and the higher level of logical thinking needed. And it's not like I can help this kid...computers are not my forte when you get into it's guts. I need to explore something this kid could do with computers that isn't all about diagnostics and such. UGH!

Jim's off today because his boss doesn't have anywhere to send him but that's okay, I have errands for him to run. He made phone calls yesterday to follow up on his new medication and it's a good thing he did. Why? Because the doc didn't put the order in correctly. You know that would have taken about a week before it got figured out. Now it's about waiting for approval because this one, 30 day prescription is $21,000. Yowza. Hopefully Jim will be able to tolerate these meds and they won't get wasted. Can't tell you how much medication we still have that can't be used. I mean thousands of dollars of meds. Hmm...

School is school. Nothing major. Things are humdrum. I love teaching my history and LA classes but I'm still trying to get into the groove with science. It probably has everything to do with the fact that Ulysses is in that class and he annoys the shit out of me but {knock on wood} things haven't been crazy with him for about a week so I think he's settling in. I think my lackluster feelings about science have to do with the fact that there are only 6 kids in there (I like slightly larger classes) and the material isn't as exciting to me. Oh well.

Okay - best get a move on. Happy Wednesday. PFFT! Meeting today after school but thankfully it's just a department meeting and not another District Literacy one. Still I could do without meetings altogether...usually a waste of time. K - later!

New Meds

I hate new meds because it is the unknown. Jim's results at the doctor yesterday (all labs came back normal and his levels for everything are in the normal range) were to try a new med (vemurafenib) that is basically the same as the tafinlar but made by a different pharmaceutical company. Who knows what this will do to him and I haven't read the literature on it yet and I don't want to be a negative Nancy but I don't have a lot of faith. Jim just doesn't deal well with these meds. Not sure when the meds will get here either because first it has to be approved by the insurance company and then go through the specialty pharmacy blah blah blah. Jim's going to call today to try to speed things up. He's not great a sweet talking, however, so who knows how that will go. UGH! Next appointment - Oct 2 and I just set an IEP for this date so I can't go to that. Oh well. Such is life. I can at least be available for a phone call (Face time doesn't work in the office building).

Okay well, that's about all I've got for today. I'm running a bit late so need to get a move on. Weird dreams last night that I overslept for work - again. Hate that dream.

Oh, and in my Fantasy Football? I ended up beating my opponent in my match up (it was Lauren and she was supposed to win but I beat her by one point...hee hee) and ended up in 6th place for the week. A little better than smack dab in the middle. Jim won his match up as well and he's right behind me in 7th place. Woot. I've got to drop a player today and move some of my other players around for this week. Thankfully I don't have any Bengals on my roster. Man did they look like assholes! Sad.

K - time to mosey. Happy Tuesday. Later!

9/11

A day to remember and reflect. I remember exactly where I was (school) when the news came and I remember feeling stunned for days after (months? years?). I remember watching TV obsessively wanting to see and hear everything I could I guess to try and make sense of such a senseless thing. It still doesn't make sense to me and it has certainly left me and anyone who remembers this day on edge waiting for the next time. Because it seems inevitable that something akin to 9/11 will happen again. Senseless. But those thoughts and that knowledge will never keep me from living.

Not only is today the anniversary of 9/11 but it's also my neighbor's birthday. I'm sure that completely sucks for her.

The weekend was pretty good once we got through Friday and Jim is still feeling good. He has an appointment this afternoon but also got a text from his boss saying he'd be sending him on a job later this afternoon so I don't know what that means. I'm going to wake him up here in a minute and tell him to try and move his appointment up but that's not likely to happen. UGH! So frustrating.

The week should be fairly low key...I have an IEP on Wednesday and that's about all.

And that's all I've got for now. Best get a move on. Figure out what I'm doing today. Happy Monday. Later!

We're Up, We're Down!

Friday was a ROUGH night for poor Jimmy. Well, actually, his whole day was rough but I was only present for what happened after I got home from school. He just didn't feel well and couldn't really get it together to even get out of bed. I got him dinner (fried chicken was his request) but he couldn't manage to get an appetite. I finally left him in bed to sleep and went out to have a beer with my neighbor around 5:00. I went and checked on Jim around 6:00 and his fever had suddenly spiked to 104.4! That wigged me out because it spiked so quickly. We called the answering service who put us in touch with a doctor who talked to Jim's doctor and they advised us on what to do. Thankfully we didn't have to go to the hospital (I thought for sure we were headed there and had a bag packed and Jim ready to motor) and with a regiment of Tylenol and ibuprofen along with some cooling cloths, Jim's fever quickly reduced. So scary.

Needless to say Jim's stopped taking his meds (as directed by the doc) and I guess we'll see what's next tomorrow at Jim's doctor's appointment, which I'll be going to. UGH! I've caught Jim a couple of times just sort of staring into space and I'll ask him what he's thinking and he'll say, "I was just wondering what next and why didn't the immunotherapy work and should I get a second opinion?" I think he should so he's going to make contact tomorrow with a guy at Christ.

In the meantime, we're having a good weekend. Once Jim's fever went down, he felt really good. We hung out until late last night with the neighbors and played cards which was fun. Lots of laughing which is just what Jimmy needed. Today will be a day of football. Most of the neighbors won't be watching today - at least for the first game because of one reason or another which is fine with me. I'll be happy on my couch watching the Bengals and my fantasy football players. Excited!

And that's all. Just watching hurricane coverage and thinking about all the people affected...hoping that the neighbors at PIB (the Mans), who have a home in Naples (but aren't there) fare okay. Happy Sunday!

Fantasy Football

It might be my new obsession! And how happy am I that the Patriots got their asses handed to them!? In foxborough!? Hee hee! All those predictions that my neighbor would stomp all of us because Brady is his quarterback!? BURN! Happy! I got 11 points last night as I had Amendola on my team. He got a concussion in last night's game, however, so I'll have to keep an eye on him. This is very exciting for me!

Jim has been getting the shivers/chills lately. I came upstairs this morning from brewing my coffee and he was taking a hot shower. Since he doesn't have to be at work until later afternoon, I knew he was having issues. His fever hasn't been bad (99 much of yesterday) but this is usually much more of a pain than his fever. He goes to the doctor on Monday (I'll be going with him)...I'll be interested in hearing what she's got to say.

Good news at school! Ulysses won't be in my class today! Woot! He has a doctor's appointment at 9 and won't be in until 11...just after 4th period with him would end. Aww! I'm so sad! Not!

Speaking of which - my meeting with him yesterday was annoying. Basically we sat around and said the same shit that was said at the last meeting. I loved it at one point when someone said, "You know maybe we should pull Ulysses in here and sit him down and explain to him exactly what the rules for him are." Me: "Uh...we did that...two weeks ago...and he went off the deep end, yelled and screamed at me, cried and then had to leave the room. But sure, we could try that again."  I did find out, that in the LA class he moved into from mine, he's having meltdowns (outburst, yelling) and basically doing nothing. I think it was heartening for the English teacher to see that she wasn't the only one having issues. I also let it be well known that I thought the way this was handled this year (thrusting this kid into a full day's schedule after not having been in a public school setting for 5 years) was horribly irresponsible. So the outcome? Who knows. Nothing ever seems to get decided in these 20 minute meetings. FW sent out an email about us needing to document, document, document U's behaviors. We're supposed to document outbursts, requests to leave the room plus how long he's gone and then when he refuses to do work. Sure, I'll just stop class every time and write down the times he wanders in and out of my room. Assholes.

Okay - getting myself all riled up for school and I'm not even going to have to deal with him. Settle down Muir.

My plans this weekend: Tonight, I hope to head to Cappy's for a drink or two with Doug and Lauren since Jim is working late (hopefully) and they're tapping some Morelein kegs. No plans Saturday as of now. Sunday - football with the neighbors in the driveway. Woot!

K - I'm out. Time to get this day started! Finishing Fantastic Beasts today and who knows what we'll do in Science and SS. Maybe a little celebration in science since jerk face won't be there. Need to think of a science movie I can show. Happy Friday. Later!

Chilly

Man was last night some good sleeping weather! I was so comfy and cuddled under my covers!

Got my toes prettied up yesterday! It's been a couple months because my big toenails like to crack which means I can't really get a pedi while they're growing back. Felt so nice especially after my day. The complementary glass of wine never tasted so good! And I got Mai - my pedicurist (?) - talking and distracted her so that she spent a TON of time massaging my feet and legs. She got a nice hefty tip!

Excited for football! I've got a fantasy football team this year which is fun but really I'm flying by the seat of my pants. Last night I switched up my quarterbacks because my "backup" (Carr) has a higher ranking than my starter (Rivers). We'll see how I do. Now I just need to figure out an app to make for our neighborhood get together.

I've got ANOTHER stupid meeting about Ulysses today at 7:00. I've got nothing to say since I just basically let the little f&%ker do whatever he wants. I figure I don't get any support when I try to curb this little boys behavior so why not let him just rule the roost!? I think this is going to be the way things are this year at school anyway so I'll just embrace it. My new motto (a la Mom)..."Whatever!"

And that's all I've got. Time to get a move on. Happy Thursday (loves me some 4 day weeks)! Later!

Oooh! Sami's Being A Devil

She keeps going outside but not down into the yard from the deck! And I know she has to go poop. And then she came in from the deck and ran to the living room like she was going to go in the living room. So I rushed her outside but she evaded me and managed to dart back inside. So I took her out front and she peed but she wouldn't poop! OOH! I think she doesn't like to go down when it's dark but dammit you MUST!

Along with that, for the last 3 nights she's woken me up around midnight making "throw up" noises. She never actually throws up but I don't know what's going on. I was told to keep an eye on her and if pay attention if she's barfing from the vet because of her blood work. I'll call the vet and see what she says.

Jim goes back to work today but not a whole day. That may be a good thing with his issues of late. Ease him back in. He was told by the docs yesterday to stop the pills for 2 days and then resume. We'll see how that goes. One good thing about him having only a half day today: I'm getting a pedicure after work. My toes are in need of attention. Ever since my big toes' nails split they've been a wreck. Now that they've grown back a bit, it's time. I'll have to take a pair of short with me to change into. Glad I thought of that.

Things at work were good yesterday. I made a commitment to myself that I wasn't going to let Ulysses get to me and I didn't. The kids in science (my only class with him now) had 2 review sheets to work on for a test planned on Thursday. He, of course, flew through his in record time so I asked if he had finished. He said he had so I asked to check them. He handed them to me and said, "They're probably all wrong but I don't care...I'll just go over them in my Guided Intervention." And of course he got nearly everything wrong but alas, I don't care either.

What else? Oh, Sami just went outside...I'll leave it to Jim to take care of her. He seems to have better luck with her.

And that's all I've got. Time to get a move on and finish my routine. Happy Wednesday. We have stupid meetings that are a total and complete waste of my time today. I might hide under my desk and not go. Oh, and I have a 7:30 IEP. My first of the year. Later!

Amazing Weekend

It really was a perfect weekend. Saturday Maggie, Charlie and Eva came down. We had lunch and then came home to hang. Trip, Susan and JJ came over around 4 and JJ, Eva and the neighbor kids played and played and played while the adults watched football in the driveway. So much fun! Sunday we relaxed and hung out until it was time for dinner. We ate at Eddie Merlot's - the whole family, minus Cullen (sad face...missed him) and it was incredible. Thanks so much Dad and Becky...what a treat. Maggie and Charlie left before noon on Monday after a delicious breakfast and from there, I relaxed and hung out with the neighbors. We actually took down a dead tree in the circle but that only took about an hour to do (which included stacking the wood and cleaning up the sticks etc.).

Jim. Ugh. He's having a tough time. Not just physically (fevers are the main issue...nothing HIGH...they range from 99 - 100/101 and he had chills this morning) but mentally he's struggling. He's broken down a few times over the weekend for obvious reasons. He can't seem to wrap his head around what's going on and so many things are up in the air. I think he's hating how he feels and what these drugs do to him and then he hates being such a topic of discussion. I get it but it's hard not to ask him constantly how he's feeling because he isn't always up front about what's going on. He needs to call the doctor this morning just to make sure he's okay continuing on the drug with the side effects he's having and we also had a talk last night about starting to get things taken care of and settled for what may come. Not an easy conversation. He's still not back to work - we're hoping tomorrow but even if his boss has a job for him I'm wondering if he'll be able to go. I think he'll try and power through and maybe that's what he needs to do. I don't know.

School. Ugh. I dread going and that sucks. I dread Ulysses and of course there's a meeting that has to be had this week in preparation for a meeting NEXT week with the mother. I hope this all gets resolved but this might just be my new normal. And I need to get my head around that so I'm not constantly feeling like I want to quit! After 18 years I can't let a kids behavior dictate my job.

And that's all I've got. Football starts this coming Sunday and that's exciting...I look forward to hanging and seeing how my Fantasy Football team does. It doesn't look good though. Oh well, it's all for fun.

K - time to get a move on. Short week at least! Happy Tuesday! Later!

Quick Bitch Then New Attitude

I'm going to bitch a little bit just for a second: I slept like hell, again last night. I kept waking up and each time I did my head was pounding. UGH! Then I had crazy dreams about being back at Northeastern (in Boston), back in my old dorm room which was great (I loved it there) but I was the age I am now and chillin' with a bunch of 18 year olds and it was weird. And I had a to go to class and they met at 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Why would I schedule classes so late!? And then my roommate - Adrienne (same roommate I had in 1989) - was dating my ex-boyfriend and she kept crying about being afraid she would "embarrass him". It was so weird. When my alarm went off, though I was pissed (that it wasn't Saturday yet), I was happy that my dream wasn't real. UGH!

My other bitch has, of course to do with that little m-effer Ulysses. He once again went off on my yesterday and I was forced once again to send him out of the room. This time, however, I made it quite clear that his behavior, his attitude and the way he was talking to me would NEVER be allowed in my room. If I could tell this kid to get the fuck out and fuck off, I would. But that might get me fired. I'm doing my best to keep my demeanor and remain calm when dealing with him and I think I've done a pretty good job so far but man is it wearing on me. I just need to keep saying to myself, "This too shall pass."

In GOOD NEWS!!! What!? She's not going to bitch all freaking day!? Nope...I'm not. In good news, Maggie called yesterday and invited herself and Charlie and Eva to my house Saturday! Woot! Excited! Especially since I said, "Hey - we should see if Trip, Susan and J.J. can come too!" And guess what!? They can! YAY! We'll hang, play, eat pot roast (a la Maggie) and watch Auburn play! I can't wait! That makes everything better!

Okay well, today at school, we will continue watching Fantastic Beasts in LA (I need to get some work done and a movie is the best way for me to do that...I just need to make sure not to watch the movie myself). In science and Government, the kids have chapter reviews to work on so YAY! Should be an easy day.

Jim's feeling pretty good. He had some gland swelling yesterday and was feeling a bit puny for a bit last night but I think he's okay. No fevers (99.8), no swelling and his back doesn't hurt anymore. Fingers crossed.

Okay - time to get going. Jim isn't working again today. He talked to a guy at work who said all the guys are being shuffled around to get at least a couple days work this past week so Jim isn't the only one without 40 hours. Apparently they'll be swamped in about a week so that's good. And with Jim off, he can clean the house and go to Kroger for me.

K - Happy Friday! Later!