Weekend

Every weekend is such a gift. If I manage to get some rest and relaxation. I have to find a balance between that and work. One of the parent suggestions for lowering our budget for next year was to not allow teachers in the building after ours. They thought this would save on heat and electricity. I was thinking to myself. You have no clue when your teacher grades your student work or does planning. Planning for the next day, week, or year. So much of it gets done after work hours. It is the reality. I am not playing before students come during the day or after they leave during the day. Other than the all important potty break, I am working.  As far as saving on heat and electricity. I wonder what they think will happen to water pipes without heat in the building in our climate.  Yep that is a realistic suggestion. If they want to save on electricity, I'm thinking there are a few people who could be trained on how to turn off a light or a.c. when they leave the room. It is always something.

Anyhow, I went to work on planning for next week and gather materials for some students in an after school tutoring program. I was there for four hours straight and didn't get it all done. I got home and realized I forgot something back at school. So I went back much later with the intent of just grabbing it. Then I saw the stacked of graded papers and thought it won't take me that long to just enter them in the grade book. An hour later I left school. I have to feel good that I got something done I suppose.  I will have to go in a couple more times this weekend. Sigh.

I did make plans to hang out with some pals this weekend. My neighbors are experiencing a round of the flu. I am hoping I took enough antioxidants to counter any germs that may attack. I need my play time too!

I attempted to organize my canned food cupboards.  I realized I had a gazillion of some items that I thought I was low on and low on things I thought I had a gazillion of. I dream of an organized pantry. Yep, not happening in this "ye ole house" built when men designed homes and had no idea what women did in that room.  I shouldn't complain too loudly they did pull out old cupboards to put in a dishwasher. I love a dishwasher. LOVE IT. I hate dishes.

While I was on spring break my landlords had a plumber come in and look at the state of the pipes. I am thinking there will be some serious tear down to get to "ye ole pipes."  Yep. So when I go on summer break I plan to leave my house "plumber ready." That will be a fun thing to prepare for.  Plumbers don't care about the mess they leave behind. So yeah... that's going to be fun...

I cleaned my house and put away my headphones. It is killing me that I can't find them. I started listening to an audio-book on my way back from the north. It was just at the point where things were getting very exciting when  I arrived home. So I've been listening to it for a few minutes at a time when I run errands or go to work. I decided while I finish cleaning my cupboards I will finish this story, but no headphones. The suspense is killing me. I just realized that this rant probably sounded silly to some of you... maybe the gas station would have some headphones.... but I can't run to Wal-Mart.... well I could but it would be about 7 1/2 hours round trip. :)

Self Talk

It takes a lot of self talk to make it to the end of the school year.  A lot. Seriously, A LOT!. It is a weird combination of things this year. The budget situation. The crazy rumors surrounding the budget situation. The crazy ideas on how to save money for the budget. That all makes me crazy. Working with incompetent people. Not having quality support. It is such a round-up of insanity. I normally don't do the countdown. I am counting down this year.  

Something that is just getting harder as an educator is the dysfunction students are living in. I know, I know, you think "everybody should do what makes them happy". UGGH. The worst type of thinking that our society seems to be encouraging in every way. There is a lot of propaganda strongly suggesting that these choices don't have a negative impact on children. DON'T BELIEVE IT! This is the big LIE you are being force fed daily. I am telling your all of your choices impact your children. If you are doing whatever makes you "happy" I guarantee it is impacting them in a negative way. It isn't all about being "happy". Do what makes you grow as a person, makes you content, challenges your brain. Don't focus on "what makes you happy." Seriously. What if "what makes you happy" is oranges? If you ate oranges for breakfast, lunch, and dinner would you be healthy? So my point really is that you need to step out of yourself and think of your child. Sacrifice some things that "make you happy" because if you don't you're sacrificing your child. That's it. Off the soapbox for the moment.

So it is the final countdown. I think I can... I think I can....

Spring Break

It's already half gone :( WAAAAA!!!!  Anyhowser on my way up north to visit the family I was traveling with at least 1/3 of the Arizona snowbird population. When I left town I was filling up my tank with them and then I didn't seem to ever escape them.  There were several as far away from home as British Columbia. FYI If you see a Hay Truck in the left hand lane... it is getting over so it can make a wide turn into whatever farm/ranch road it needs to get into. It isn't in the left lane because the driver is confused. Pay attention people. I almost saw your little  Electric Car beheaded by a Hay Truck. No one wants that.  Speaking of Electric Cars when you are peeing in the boonies next to a scraggly little sage brush it would be nice if your car made a little more engine noise.  Luckily I had pants up just in time. They need to whistle a tune or something..I mean really.

The snowbirds are a little tough to navigate they are often driving huge Motor-homes and don't have a lot of spacial awareness.  It is quite scary. Do you need that big of one for 2 people?? Wait I just  envisioned my parents living in one together for an extended period of time. Scratch that clearly you need the space. Can you just leave it parked down in that sunny state for the summer?? Then drive your little smart car home??  It is something to think about really!  

Well I haven't seen many folks this trip but the days seem full. My allergies are not enjoying my visit. However at least I have several drug stores to choose from and have my choice of allergy medication, eye drops, nasal spray etc. I don't have to worry about the store being out. I can go back fully stocked.

I stopped by the Uncle/Brother owned Pizza place had a delicious gluten free pizza. I also had the spuds. Which aren't gluten free. Which are delicious. Which is a good thing I live over 500 miles away from said spuds.  Since I know the chief in charge of such things I plan to recreate the recipe without the frying and gluten part. Who knows I may even like it just as well.  

I started the week off with lots of cooking. It has tapered off but Mother is NOT going to let me leave with out making the Banana Bread Muffins I promised. So I need to get that done.   Well I can't think of what else I know. So ttfn!