Nearly There, Nearly There

Not a lot of time here to post; although who really cares if I'm running late since kids won't even be showing up until 9:30 today.  However, I'm "required" to be there at 7:00.  BUT - nearly half the staff (or more) doesn't show up by then so who gives a flying f?

Yesterday was productive at school.  Lisa, Diane, Kim and myself rearranged our room.  It opened things up and gave us more room for kids.  Something to do in the 2 hours we have to kill.  I don't know what I'll do today.  I have all my paperwork complete for IEPs except those reports that I have to wait on others to finish.  I can start organizing my beginning paperwork for next year since we got our caseloads.  I have 18 on my load so far; mostly freshmen and sophomores.  Other than that - not much is happening.

I got an annoying email from my anxiety ridden girl yesterday at 3PM.  Her mother called right before that and left a message too.  Not sure why, on Wednesday - after school - she is deciding to figure out what time she's supposed to report on Thursday and Friday.  I didn't respond.  She knows when she's supposed to be there today, she just has this overwhelming need to ask someone seven thousand times and I'm not going to feed into that nuttiness.  Not to mention, I don't find it appropriate that she's emailing me.  If she were sick and asking for assignments, that's one thing but I don't' want to set a precedence for her emailing every time she gets a crazy hair up her ass.  I know - I'm mean but she's annoying.

Okay and that's all we have time for today.  Chinese for lunch - YAY!  Not sure what I'll make for dinner but I'll at least get to see my husband (he's worked late for the last two nights and I haven't seen him except to say goodbye in the morning).  K - later!

Exam Day 2

So ready for this shit to be over.  However, I still have a lot to do in my room.  There's a shortage on boxes in the building so I'm trying to cram stuff in nooks and crannies.  Additionally there's a ton of stuff to go through and toss...poor janitors...they'll be doing some heavy hauling over the next few days with all the trash we're producing and don't you know our trash bags suck and rip at the drop of a hat.

In other news, I actually received my teaching schedule yesterday from HH.  Amazingly he hand delivered it to each of us in our department since FW wasn't there. I was agog at the fact that he even had anything to give us considering for the last 3 or so years, we've found out our schedules on about July 31st (the deadline).  I'm happy with what I've been given - what I expected:  my two LA classes, my history class and 3 study halls.  I'm beyond thrilled that I don't have a study hall 5th this year.  I've had that for the past several years and it SUCKS!!!  I do feel bad for Lisa because she is ALL over the building.

And that's about all I've got today.  The heat finally broke overnight and shouldn't be too disgustingly hot.  We really need to get our ducts looked at here because our air just doesn't flow well to the upstairs.  Very frustrating.

Well, I best finish up my morning routine and head out.  Need to stop at Costco on the way home.  Thankfully it isn't a running day.  I ran 2 miles yesterday (only walked one with baby girl) but I was not sure if I would be able to do it and I am sore, sore, sore today.  I think it's from all the planting this past weekend and bending over and hauling huge dirt-filled pots.  Oh well...today it will be a rest day for me (except for walking Sami).

Oh, Mom and Richard - did you see Doc Watson passed away?  89 years old...a nice long life.

K - I'm out.  Later!

A Lovely Weekend

We had a great weekend and I'm psyched that today starts exam week.  This time next week, I will officially be on summer break.  I will be sleeping - I hope.  Although if yesterday (and Sami) is any indicator, I just might be rolling out of bed (6AM yesterday).

Friday - in anticipation of Saturday and Sunday's time constraints - Jim went to Reading Feed and Seed and purchased all our flowers.  He then came home and we hung out and had pizza.

Saturday, I woke up early and walked Sami.  Jim cut the backyard and I started planting my flowers.  By 10AM I was in the shower and at 11AM we were headed to the pool.  Refreshing!  Only a little burnt.

Sunday - I got up early, walked Sami, ran my 2 miles (I wasn't sure I could do it but I did and it felt great...we'll see how today goes), planted some more, showered and headed back over to Raeburn.  Hung with the family, played some pool volleyball (lost 2 games) and had a delicious dinner.  Not burnt at all, by the way because I was smart and actually used sunblock.

Monday - got up early (6AM as previously mentioned), drank coffee, walked Sami, headed to the grocery etc., bought some beautiful hibiscus plants, finished all my flowers, cleaned off deck and finally relaxed.  My deck looks so pretty.  So happy it's done.  Jim still has to plant the flowers in the front and I want to do a couple hanging baskets for the front but other than that - DONE!

K - well, I best head out. Bells are short today in anticipation for the 7th bell exam at the end of the day.  So happy - I'm almost there!  K - later!

On The Eve Of Summer!

So excited!!!  This is the last weekend before the end of the school year. I am on the brink of freedom and can't tell you how excited I am.  This long weekend will get me geared up for exam week which is always full of a bit of mayhem, boredom and packing up.  The kids are already a bit stir crazy as am I.  Can't wait for the weekend as Maggie, Charlie and EVA are coming down.  It'll be a perfect couple of days to spend at the pool...Saturday and Sunday - mostly sunny and in the 90s!  I think I may actually have to use sunscreen so I can enjoy both days in the sun.  I don't have a base tan yet.  And just a little warning for the fam:  I'm not at my optimal bikini body yet but I will most likely be wearing my bikini so prepare yourselves.

And lets end this post right with a bit of Eva to start our day.  Here she is in the pool I got her for her birthday, enjoying the sun with her baby soup and bathing cap.  She's a little Esther Williams!  Loves her!

K - I'm out.  I have a 9:15 meeting with a parent who is probably going to bitch and moan at me.  Her daughter is a senior and shouldn't be graduating but will be passed regardless of her nearly straight F's.  But I'm sure the mother will find a way to blame us for her daughter's lazy ass and lack of work ethic.  Smiles!  Later!

New Hires

So at my school this year we had 5 positions open in various areas:  Math, science, sped, music director and chemistry.  How many of those do you think were filled by men?  I'll give you...1 guess.  Yup, all of them!  (Well, they haven't hired a chem teacher yet but you KNOW that will most likely be a man).  Now, don't get me wrong, I like men...I have nothing against them....hell, I'm married to one.  My father is one.  I have two brothers who are men.  Bubba and Zeke are dog men.  I just think it's interesting that it's men, men, men.  I also think it's interesting who they hired for the sped position.  See, originally we were told by FW that it was going to be this recent alum from my school, fresh out of college.  Then I was told by the president of our union that, "Oh, no!  HH is going to hire a friend of his that was RIFed (fired) from another school district nearby along with his wife and they have a 6 month old."  Interesting that our prez isn't in the "in" because they hired the young, new guy.  I hope he's good.  That's all I really care about.  I bet you next year, after my evaluation (here's my paranoia kicking in), he'll get a full-time position in the HS and I'll get moved to the 1/2 HS, 1/2 JH.  UGH!  Now I have that to think about.  Can that really happen?

And that's about all I have to say about thaT (Line? Line?  Forrest Gump)

My luncheon yesterday was good.  I found out what it was all about.  It was a Senior Athlete Scholar Award Luncheon.  The 17th annual.  Senior athletes with a 3.6 GPA or better are included.  There were about 25 kids this year.  My girl was cute and funny.  Each kid got up and she was the 2nd one in the alphabet but the first to get a big old laugh.  Her parents were there too...she was so cute!

Today is basically the seniors last day.  My three seniors in my Geography class took their exams yesterday - 1 got an A (no surprise there); one got a high B (big surprise there and so happy for her) and my final one got a LOW F (no surprise).  UGH!  5 more days left!  So excited.

K - well, I'd better head out.  Talk at you all later!

A Girl After My Heart & J.J.'s

Maggie sent me some pics yesterday.  The first one had me laughing (at left).  Eva in the dishwasher - what's better?  This is an activity that I enjoyed as a baby myself.  And interesting enough, Eva enjoyed it while her Nana was in town.  Hmm...scratch scratch...wonder who was watching that big girl when that happened?!













The second photo came later in the day and J.J. would be so proud.  Not only is she holding a baseball but a football as well AND!!!  She's wearing a Reds outfit!  Loves me a big girl who loves baseball!

And today in school news, I get to leave after 4th period.  They're having a senior star athletic lunch.  The seniors being honored get to invite one teacher and my senior athlete (she's the only senior athlete on my caseload) invited me. That's nice, huh?  I've never been a part of this before...should be interesting.  It's at the golf course up the road and I get to miss 5th-7th period.  I should be done in time for our meeting at the end of the day though...pfft!

And that's about all I've got today.  Diablo - who was suspended Monday for a calculator thievery debacle - got suspended for two more days yesterday after his MOM called and reported him for stealing another calculator.  I mean, I know it was wrong of him but the kid has sticky fingers and always has.  Is 3 days out of school really going to make an impact on him?!  What a bitch!  And!!!  The calculator that she reported him for?  He's been using it for months!  MONTHS!!!  And it's not a graphing calculator...it's just a normal every day regular calculator.  Oooh, that mother chafes my ass!

K - I'm done bitching.  Best head out.  Later!

Oops - It's Been Since Friday!

I haven't posted since Friday.  Can that be right?  Guess so.  I've been so busy that I'd really forgotten.

First off - because I'm a slacker, I don't have any pictures to post right now of Eva's birthday.  I have them on my phone, I just need to download them.  However, I do have this sweet little pic from Maggie of a big girl in her baby soup!  She loves water!  For her birthday, I got her a "baby" pool (below)...she should be all set for summer.  She's so pretty!

Yesterday was a busy day off.  I got up, walked Sami (2 miles) and then ran my 1.75 miles.  I didn't think I'd be able to do it but I did and I felt pretty good too.  My feet never hurt and my breathing was good.  At the end, during the last lap, my right pinky toe started to go numb but that's normal for me and will go away as I work at my 1.75.  After that I mowed the lawn, grocery shopped, cleaned and then sat in front of the TV and worked on my quilt.  All in all a productive day.

Got an email from a parent this morning (at 4AM) bitching that her daughter couldn't understand anything I said yesterday in class and couldn't do the homework.  Hmm...I wasn't there yesterday and don't have a clue what the hell she's talking about.  She said in her email, "It's 4am & she's out of control !! Can u please help? You may call me at 513-***-****directly. Thank you!" Uh, yeah, sure, I'll get right on that.  So weird.  This from a parent who NEVER replies to emails, never returns calls, never comes to IEP meetings...I've never met this woman.  UGH!

Okay well, that's about all I've got for now.  Need to head out...since of course I'm running late.  Hell, you all (I) am lucky I'm up at all considering I forgot to set my alarm last night.  Roops...getting too ready too soon for summer.  Later!

I Think My Head Almost Popped Off!

In my life, I've had three headaches that have left me completely incapacitated and crying.  Once, when I was in 8th grade and I remember it was my first headache ever.  My 2nd was a migraine that I had never experienced before in the mid-90s and the third was yesterday.  I don't know what it was but I think it was a tension headache.  All day I just couldn't shake this pressure in the back of my skull, right above my neck.  It felt like I was clenching my whole body yesterday and just couldn't loosen up.  I did take some ibuprofen at mid-morning and that helped for a bit but by 6th period (my LA class) it was back.  Getting home and relaxing a bit helped too, for a while.  I was able to walk Sami and run my mile and a half.  However, when I got off the treadmill, I just felt DONE!  I looked in the mirror and my eyes were slits and bloodshot.  I felt dizzy and chilled and every time I moved I felt that pressure in my skull.  No way was I going to be able to cook.  I talked to Jim, who was working late and told him to call before he came home so he could pick something up.  He brought home Chipotle of which I ate some, not much.  At around 7:15, I headed upstairs to bed.  I barely managed to wash my face and take out my contacts before climbing in the bed in tears.  I couldn't help it.  Yes I'm a baby but I can usually handle pain.  I turned on the TV and guess who was there for me.  That's right, The Boy Who Lived!  Harry Potter.  What better medicine to fall asleep to?

I woke up once last night at around 3:30 but must have fallen back to sleep because the next thing I knew, that Italian song "O Sole Mio" (Elvis say it in English It's Now Or Never) blared and out of bed I popped.  My headache is gone (cross your fingers) but my neck is sore, I guess from all that tension.  I just need to relax and not get so annoyed and frustrated by these kids.  It's not even that they're being bad or anything...they're just as done with school as I am and are acting like maroons.  They probably feel the same way about me.  I just need to have positive thoughts and a clear outlook...two more weeks...two more weeks!

K - I best head out.  Bonus that it's movie day!  I'm working on putting together my recipe book (my Mom got me an awesome binder for recipes and I'm trying to get my faves together to put in it.)  K - I'm out...later!

I've Run Out Of Time

With breakfast and paying bills, checking email, getting Jim up and out the door for gas, seems I've run out of time.  Sorry.  No big deal - I really don't have anything to talk about anyway.

School is school.  The kids are as antsy as I am.  I'm getting crap done at work and starting to fiddle my thumbs a bit.  IEPs are complete and I can't do anything yet for all the final reports (although I've printed all my envelopes, changed the dates on the paperwork and completed what I could).  My exams are ready but not printed...guess I could do that.  I've modified the World Studies exam for my autistic freshman...just need to do his Biology.  Crap - I'm probably supposed to have something together for my senior too...at least for her semester classes.  Guess I should get on that.  UGH!

Tonight's dinner should be interesting (and good I hope).  I'm making a new one:  Buffalo turkey burgers with a blue cheese cole slaw.  From Skinnytaste.com  - I'll let you know.

And that's all I've got for now.  Gotta go brush the grill and head out.  Later!

Meeting Sean Penn...and Madonna

Crazy, right!?  Well, don't get too excited.  It was, as usual, a dream.  Now, I don't know why I would dream about either one of them...I'm not a super fan or anything (Sean Penn's a bit of a nut and hothead and I don't own even one Madonna album) but alas, they floated in my thoughts at some point last night.  So there I was, at school, minding my own business...getting ready for an IEP meeting.  I emailed the major players (team) to remind them of the meeting when it hit me...OH SHIT!  I'm having an IEP meeting with Sean Penn (I guess one of his kids is special ed) and the regular ed teacher I picked to represent was Madonna!  How could I be so stupid!?  Why would I be so dumb to get his EX-WIFE!?  It was quite the conundrum!

In school news, I think the kids have finally reached the same breaking point as I have.  For about 2 weeks now, I've felt like I've been losing my mind with these students and now, I think the kids have caught up with me.  They've completely stopped listening.  They're acting like total spazzes.  Diablo acts like a maniac every day because he gets grumpy after lunch (Kim and/or Diane made the good point that he's like a 2 year old who's missed his nap).  Then in 7th period study hall yesterday, I had a kid from across the room say, "Mrs. HANKE?!"  So I look over and he mouths something to me that looks a lot like "I love you".  I just sit there for a second a bit dumbfounded and then he laughs and says "Olive juice".  What is wrong with these little weirdo-s!?  At this point, all I can do is laugh and lay my head on my desk and ask God, "WHY".

In recipe news, I made are really really good one last night:  Cheese Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken.  It was a bit of a mess to make but it was really yummy.  I used jarred jalapenos instead of fresh and I didn't have any scallions so I just diced up a bit of regular onion.  Served with a bit of broccoli and wild rice...finger licking!

Healthy living news:  I have mastered the mile and a half.  YAY!  (Tread mill only...pavement still has me beat). I will run that for the week and then tackle another quarter mile.  I got a bathing suit in the mail yesterday and tried it on and DIDN'T feel like a fat cow.  I'm not at my goal yet (I never am) but at least I won't feel like I'm offending the eyes of everyone who looks at me in a bathing suit.

And that's all I've got for now.  Best head out...figure out what I'm doing with my classes today.  K - later!

Dreams of Joes

Crazy dreams last night about a couple Joes I know.  (So funny that yesterday I posted about a whole other Joe!)  My first dream was terrible.  I dreamt that the teacher in the room across the hallway from me (his name is Joe) died in his sleep.  It was horrible.  All I kept thinking was, "Who is going to call me sunshine from now on?"  (He always calls me that - in email, in the halls...probably calls all the ladies that). 

My second dream was about my friend Joe who went to my same grade school; who I dated in high school; who is now still a friend though I don't see him much.  We were driving around in a tiny little convertible (a Miata I think) in the snow...doing donuts.  I was scared shitless but he didn't seem to care.  Sounds just like him as he's a nut. 

And that's all I have for now.  Gotta motor to work.  The lyric think for my LA class is going...I don't know how well.  I'm sure a couple will struggle.  Any ideas on how to continue wasting time at school until exams?  I fresh out of ideas.  UGH!

K - later!

JOEY!!!!

That Joey Votto!  I mean fer shizz!  Three homers yesterday AND!!!  A walk off home run, GRAND SLAM!!!  Reds win it 6-9!!!  All this after a 3 hour and 36 minute rain delay!  Wish I had been there (Although, I probably would have been miserable and bitching the whole time because it was a soggy mess).

Got a sweet baby girls birthday invitation yesterday!  Can't wait!  Next Sunday!  Day trip to Columbus!

And that's all I've got for you this morning.  I need to head into work because I have no idea what I'm doing today.  I'm near the end of my unit with figurative language but I need to stretch it out a bit.  I'm thinking a song lyric project.  We'll see.

K - better motor.  Happy Monday.  Later!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there (including myself...I may "just" be a "three dogs mommy" but  I'm still their mommy and they don't discriminate against me because I don't have fur).  Hope everyone out there has a terrific day!

Here?  It's raining like felines and canines.  I don't mind, though this means I won't be getting in my walk with Sami if this keeps up.  But I will still run.  It has been one week since I've started so I'm going to try to amp it up to a mile and a half today.  We'll see if I fall off my treadmill, head first, or not.  Man, that's going to hurt.  Not looking forward to it, that's for sure.  If I come into work tomorrow with a huge scrape on my forehead, you'll know why.

And here's what we did on Friday night (see left).  It was so much fun.  Maggie and Eva were here.  Anne came over and Trip brought J.J.  After pizza, we went out front where Eva was content just to ride around our circle on her car and look at all the houses and dogs (neighbor dogs Bailey and Guinness were out).  Then our next door neighbor Matt came out with his littlest girl Sophia.  Eva was enamored with her.  J.J. rode his bike for a few minutes but he wanted to play ball more.  A couple of the neighbor kids came out and J.J. hit balls while Trip, Jim and the neighbor kids fielded.  Yesterday a neighbor dad came over and asked how old J.J. is.  When we told him he had just turned 4, he was amazed.  He said, "That kid has an amazing talent in hitting the ball.  He wasn't just swinging at anything, he could really hit!"  I was sitting there thinking, "Yeah, I know."  Jim said, "You should see him hit a golf ball."

Yesterday was a good day.  Maggie went to her shower and left me to hang with Eva.  For a while we sat on a blanket in the front yard and played with books and a ball.  Then we ate lunch.  Eva ate like a champ!  She had a whole container of her fruit and half an individual thingy of mac and cheese.  After that, Eva and I went for a long walk and when we got back, we sat back down on our blanket.  The two little girls - Maddie and Sophia - came over and played with us for about an hour.  The girls loved her (they are 5 and 3) and Eva couldn't get enough of them.  They passed her around like a hot potato and Eva smiled and laughed and was just happy to watch them and giggle.  When she started grabbing her ears, I took her in to have a bottle.  Too soon, Maggie called to say she was on her way home.  I was tempted to pack up and steal her away, but if I know Eva, and I think I do, she would miss her mommy too much.  We had such a good time together though.  She's such a happy and content little girl.  And I can't wait to see her next weekend for her FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!  I can't believe it!

And here's Eva after spending a day with her Aunt Muir!  I think I was as tired as she was but a good tired. Loves her!

And that's about all I have today.  I'm going to go make my hubby breakfast  and then decide what to do with this day.  Later and again, to all the mommies out there - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

I Think The Minute Has Gotten Shorter

Seems like a minute used to last for 60 seconds but lately I think it's more like 30 or 45.  I just never seem to have as much time to do things as I used to.  Unless, of course, I'm at school.  Then it seems to drag on...and on and on.  Must be the kids.  I think they slow the clocks down.  UGH!

So it's Friday - YAY!  And it will be a busy day/night for me.  I'll race home from work today and walk Sami.  Then I need to run - I'm trying to do this every other day and I'm still jogging at 1.25 miles.  They say you're only supposed to increase gradually which is fine with me.  I feel like I'm ready to tackle a mile and a half but I'll hold out until Sunday for that.  Anyway - after that I'll take a quick shower and hopefully by then, Maggie and Eva will have arrived!  DOUBLE YAY!  And BONUS!!!  Anne and Trip and JBird are going to join us for dinner.  I'm going to whip up a couple pizzas from LaRosa's.  Can't wait.

Saturday - Maggie has a shower and I'll watch Eva until she's done.  I think it will be nice so we can take a walk and play outside.  Other than that, I have no plans.

And that's all we have time for today, folks.  It's teacher appreciation at work today and they are grilling out for us.  Hamburgers etc...no biggie but it's nice of them to do this for us.

Oh, Kings, by the way, ranked #30 in best high schools in Ohio.  #1?  Walnut Hills!  That's pretty awesome.  I know Columbus City was up there and Upper Arlington (where Maggie lives) was #10 I think.  We were also ranked fairly high in the nation.

Last thing - check out the cover of Time magazine this week.  It's a bit disturbing to me.  I'm on the fence about it.  Just seems weird.  They say that kid is 3 but he looks about 5 to me. Talk amongst yourselves!

K - I'm out.  Later!

New Scoots

Bought a new pair of shoes to hopefully keep my feet from hurting during running (at left).  Normally I get New Balance but in researching the best shoe for flat feet, they said that ASICS was a better option (as well as some others that I tried on but they didn't feel as good).  Of course they're more expensive than my normal purchase.  These were $99.00ish but I had a $10 coupon (or as Maggie likes to say, "goupon") and then for some reason they doubled it so I only paid $79.  YAY!  I wore them on my walk with Sami yesterday (didn't run, it was a rest day) and they felt good.  Usually new shoes cramp my feet but these didn't.  JOY!  I hope my run today is "comfortable".

In other news, my crazy psychotically bipolar student basically told me to f*&k off yesterday.  Really what she said (after I had spent 20 minutes chasing her around the building because she was skipping class) was "I don't know why you give a f&%k".  My answer was, "I guess I shouldn't".  She then said, "Then why are you taking me to the office" (this with her attitude swing back and forth in my face). Me:  "Well, now it's because I won't be spoken to like that."  She's suspended today, for whatever that's worth.  I don't know that she cares about that.  The little shit!  All this, the day after her birthday when Diane had made her about 2 dozen cupcakes all decorated special with her favorite colors.  Pissant!  Shit can kid!  

And that's about all I've got.  It's been quite an experience at school lately trying to teach these kids anything.  I'm amazed every day at how much they don't get.  And how much they don't listen.  I stand in front of them and give them directions and say, "Does every one understand?!  'Cause I'm not going over this again."  Answer: "Yessss Mrs. Hanke."  Great!  5 minutes later, "Um, what are we supposed to do?"  From another corner of the room, "Yeah...I don't get this."  From another corner, "Me either."  Me:  "F&%K OFF!"  K - not really but you know that's going through my mind.

Well, guess I best head out to teach the little darlings!  UGH!  Later!  SMILES!

Jimmy the Saboteur

If Jimmy were a tough guy - you know {whisper} mafia - I think that would be his nickname.  See, I don't think he wants me posting on here. I can't imagine why!  I'm so nice to him!  Any yet, he always seems to be trying whatever he can to keep me occupied in the morning so that I run out of time.  This morning I rolled out of bed when the alarm went off and Jimmy the Saboteur said, "Uh oh!  I think I forgot to press the button."  Me: "Dumb ass!" (Nice first words of the morning, huh?  You can't blame me though)  Jim has one job! (well, that's not true but really, he has one job before coming to bed).  His job is to get the coffee ready.  And make sure the timer has been pushed.  And to make sure the pot is empty before doing so. (Can't tell you how many times he doesn't do this and there's water all over the counter when I go to pour.) I even ask him all these things when he does come to bed:  Did you make the coffee?  Did you press the button?  Did you empty the pot?  However, last night I was half asleep and didn't ask these questions and of course...button not pressed.  So you may be saying to yourselves that it's my fault.  Hmm...I guess I should make sure Jim gets up in the morning then.  Takes a shower.  Brushes his teeth.  Breathes.  Really though, if you want something done right, do it yourself.

Would my name be Muir the Infallible?

Anyway - I'm not really mad.  It gave me time to prep my breakfast before showering.  Which saved me time but don't tell Jim.  No, I'm kidding.  I wasn't mean to him.

So hopefully today will be a good day.  Yesterday wasn't bad, so to speak, but I had a stressful day, dealing with a parent request.  It happened at about 7:26 (one minute after school starts) and didn't get resolved until 7th period.  Cross your fingers.

I also should probably crack-a-lack on my IEP for Friday.  I haven't come close to finishing it and I really don't care.  The mother isn't going to show, I'm pretty sure so whatever.

And that's all I have.  It was raining a bit ago, I don't know if it still is but I will say that the birds are making quite a racket.  I don't know how I sleep past this on the weekends.  They are so freaking loud!  K - Later!

Carpet Cleaning

Not my own personal carpet but rather the carpets in my house - HA!  Get it?  Sorry - my mind always goes to the inappropriate joke.  Anyway, Jim brought the cleaner home yesterday and I was able to get the family room done as well as the two carpets in the downstairs (under the kitchen table and the one in the living room).  It's made a world of difference but don't you know that Zeke comes traipsing in after being out back and tracks his little f*%king paws on my "clean" carpet!  (I say, "clean" because in reality, there's no hope for my stupid carpet and really it just need replacing but I need to save all my pennies before I can do that).  Today, we'll do the living room/dining room and then the upstairs.  I may have to make Jim do some of it because my back started acting up but we'll see.

I really wore myself out yesterday with the carpets, cleaning house and I actually ran a mile yesterday (on my treadmill).  That may not seem like much to you all but for me it's a big deal.  I'm not a runner because normally I get shin splints but I feel like I just need to do something more advanced cardiovascular-wise.  I just don't feel like my 2 mile walks with Sami does anything for me.  Well, of course it does more than not walking but it's not helping me lose weight.  I feel fatter than ever and I just need to ramp up my workout.  And they say that the key to belly fat and sculpting is cardiovascular.  So, I've decided to try and build myself up to running 3 miles on my treadmill.  It's less impact than running on pavement.  I did really well yesterday with my breathing - didn't have any trouble there - but at about 3/4 of a mile, my left foot started hurting.  I need to stretch better I think.  Anyway - today I'll try to make it over a mile and see how I do.

And that's about all.  I got lots of sleep last night because I pretty much passed out from exhaustion at about 8:30.  I'm so lame.  But my carpets are clean!  K - better go make my hubby some breakfast and get my day started.  Later!

Idioms = Idiots

So, currently I'm teaching about figurative language in my LA class.  You know, similes, metaphors, hyperboles, oxymorons, onomatopoeia.  Good stuff.  The kids actually tend to be good listeners and participators with this which always surprises me because I'm always ready for them to be bored.  I try and make it exciting by including fun videos, powerpoints and even cartoons like Symphony of Slang (shown below, thanks Diane) which is all about idioms.

Anyway after our little lesson, I gave the kids a worksheet full of idioms.  These are usually pretty hard for kids (especially in this day and age) and really hard for autistic kids.  I told them that I wasn't going to take off for wrong answers but if they didn't know something they should guess.  Here are some priceless answers from Diablo!

• Back seat driver:  You picked the wrong seat
• Caught with your pants down:  You left your pants down
• Dead Ringer:  The phone line is dead
• Hit the hay:  What’s wrong
• Hold your horses:  Hold still
• In the bag:  You lost your mind
• Like a chicken with its head cut off:  You lost your mind
• Not playing with a full deck:  Playing with half a deck
• Pedal to the metal:  Pedal hard
• Play by ear:  Play hard
• Put a sock in it:  Stuff it
• Shake a leg:  Shake  it off
• Sleep tight:  Sleep hard
• Spitting image:  You are spitting in somebody’s face
• The whole nine yards:  Run a whole yard
• Tie the knot:  Tie harder to double 
• Til’ the cows come home:  Wait til they get home
• Wolf in sheep’s clothing:  Its wearing clothes
• There’s more than one way to skin a cat:  Use a knife and skin it

And then there's the list from my wacky autistic boy:

• Dead Ringer:  Lazy
• In the bag: In my thoughts
• Like a chicken with its head cut off: Dead
• Shake a leg:  good luck
• Spitting image:  bad image
• Tie the knot: tangle up
• Til the cows come home: something good happens
• Under the weather:  Looking sad
• Wolf in sheep’s clothing: cozy
• There’s more than one way to skin a cat: take it back

I guess I'll have to put these things in normal sentences but I tell you these kids come up with the craziest things.

Well, that's all I've got.  It's raining cats and dogs (idiom).  Jim went to work for a bit this morning and will come home with a rug shampooer.  Tonight:  Chicken Joint!  YUM!  It's been a while and I'm in the mood for some ribs.  K - later!

T-Minus 1

After today I'll only have one more IEP left to do for the year.  YAY!  That IEP is set for next Friday and I'm pretty sure the slacker mother isn't going to show.  I've emailed countless times and called and left messages twice plus sent the formal invite and I've gotten no response from any of it.  Some people just don't give a shit about their kids...it's sad, really.

Speaking of slacker parents and f&*ked kids, one of them is returning yet again.  This is a kid who came to us last year - with his older sister in tow who happened to be pregnant.  She showed up, I think, a total of three days.  Her brother, lets call him Pigpen, came pretty regularly at first.  Then his attendance started becoming a problem.  Then, before the year was up, he had just stopped coming which was great because he's an asshole but, they never withdrew him so we never knew what the deal was.  This year actually started without him.  Then suddenly, out of nowhere, he showed up.  And barely came to school.  And then his dad basically didn't want him (who knows where mom was at this time) and so he went to live with another student.  During that time his attendance was pretty good, however, that didn't last long (he supposedly stole from them and got booted).  Back at his dad's things went back to normal - him barely coming to school and spending most of his days he was there in the nurses offices or just sleeping in class and being an asshole.  Suddenly, however, as happens with unstable parents, dad up and left.  Pigpen went with his mother who was "on the run" and he was out of our hair again.  Until yesterday.  UGH!  I don't look forward to seeing this kid.  A) he's dirty B) he smells C) he's an ass D) he's dirty and E) HE SMELLS!

K - I'm done rambling.  Hope my meeting goes well and the father doesn't show.  Now there's a royal asshole for you.  Wish me luck.  Later!

Bed Head

Time only for a little Eva.  I mean, really!  Doesn't her momma own a brush!  It's criminal!  Up there with the mother who took her 5-year-old tanning!  I've got children services on speed dial.  She better watch out and get that girl a comb! (Seriously though and I mean, for shizz!  How cute is that baby girl!)