Wellll.... it's almost here

Spring Break. 2 more days. I am seeing meltdowns in the students and staff. I know why spring break is held off till Easter Week. It is not beneficial to the students or staff to wait this long. The students really needed the break after state testing in March. Even the beginning of April would've been better. There was even discussion about not having spring break next year at our District Office. That is just plain craziness. It also demonstrates how disconnected the District Office can be from what is going on in school buildings. Our decision makers aren't in the building every day. That is very dangerous. They need to get out of their offices and spend at least 1/2 of every day in a school. I really feel strongly about that. They claim ignorance now. It is their own fault they are ignorant about what is going on in the schools.

Last weekend we watched "Waiting for Superman". They showed the lottery system that some parents go through to get their kids into a good school. It was heart-wrenching at the same time though those schools have a few things we don't. They have parents who want more for their kids. Public school gets what it gets. They hold their entire staff, parents, students, accountable. Accountability. I see that as probably the "Elephant in the room" in the public school system. Unions are messing with that piece in a devastating manner. I also think that until all of society quits offering lip service about education and truly demands a better education we are out of luck. I see a change happening in the next few years and I am not sure what it will look like. I am a bit nervous about that because education generally swings on a pendulum... from one extreme to another extreme. After watching that movie I was also irritated with my colleagues. They were making excuses. There are some valid criticisms of the way things were handled in that movie... but at the same time we aren't doing the best we can and should be doing. I know I have a lot to learn as a teacher and with a good administration and good mentors I could become a master teacher. We shall see how things go. If you have not watched "Waiting For Superman" I reccomend it.

At the Ranch

This is one of the neatest places I have every visited. I wish everyone could see it with me. Just when you think you have seen the middle of nowhere you are proven wrong. When we left town it seemed like your typical trip around here long endless roads lined with sagebrush up over some mountains back down to another long straight stretch. We turned off onto a gravel road. Gravel roads in this state are different. The make up of the rock is different it feels well different. I will dwell on that later. So down a long windy gravel road we went. We came to the top of a hill and we looked down into this canyon, a few switchbacks later we were at the bottom enclosed in a beautiful valley. This is one of the former hide-outs of Billy The Kid. There are old log structures including a one room school house, long abandoned farming equipment, llamas, horses, chickens, and some wild turkeys. A long stream running through the middle of the valley and rocky, sagebrush covered, sparsly treed hills. If you don't like any of those things welll you probably wouldn't like it here. I am telling you though this is one of the most unique places I have ever visited. Unique in a cool way. We are staying at the lodge and have pretty much taken it over. Billy the Kid chose it because they had difficulty finding him here. We chose it because it is a peaceful place to dwell and work on our projects. The owners sold part of the Valley to a company that runs a Youth ranch for "problem" children. Anyhow I haven't had a chance to take many pix yet but I will try to load a few.

Good Morning

Good Morning Happy Spring... Watch our for Snow, and Blowing snow. It is a Winter Weather Advisory. The wind is blowing... no snow yet. Yippeee Gusts from 25 to 40 Miles per hour. Erratic winds and Thunderstorms are possible. The Thunderstorms will cause unpredictable winds and snow squalls. That sounds like fun. Expect Hazardous traveling conditions and poor visibility. HAPPY SPRING!

The Good Ole Days

The good ole days was back when I moved in and I had NO Neighbors. Now my neighbors are very nice and they were good to me when I was sick. The problem is one of them works nights and sleeps days. Which is lucky for him because I'm gone all day. Not so lucky for me because he's up all night. I have my white noise machine going. I may have to plug a fan in too. His night off is during the week which is especially obnoxious. He gets a lot accomplished on that night and I get to hear it all. I am an extremely light sleeper. Which is no fun at all. I don't reccomend it. I am going to try plugging in a fan at night as well. It makes the room cold but I will plug in another heater or turn on my mattress pad. All I know for sure is nights with no sleep makes for a Grumpy Teacher. There are enough of those roaming around here I don't need to join their ranks.

It snowed in the night. Woke up to a skiff of snow. It sure made everything quite pretty. Our hills were just beginning to get a hint of green too them. A barely noticeable tinge of green. It made me optimistic about spring. I have been told many times though there are two seasons here. Winter and Summer. We did have an extraordinairily nice, long, fall. So I don't think I will complain about this spring weather. It seems like it gets warmer later in the day anyway.

I have a guest coming to teach our students about recycling the end of this week. It is new to this town the concept of recycling. They still arn't advanced enough to have curb-side pickup. However, where you take it is very close. I think this is going to take quite a bit of time to catch on around here. This town does not like change of any kind. Even if it is something that makes sense. Anyhow.... I'd better boogie.... sleep isn't over-rated... it isn't quite as high as breathing on the scale... but still it's way up there.....
Good Day to ya

Monday Schmunday

So it isn't my favorite day of the week. I'm never prepared for Monday. Last week was very stressful. There was in-fighting amongst colleagues. Some trying to stay in control, some trying to claim fiction as fact,etc. Power struggle extraordinaire. I was Switzerland which ends up a very bad place to be in a power sandwich. I asked to be moved to another committee or be moved to another task. I was told that I should work it out. So I decided that I am going to show up and speak little. I am not administration and so I cannot tell my colleagues what they should be doing. Nor do I want to. I just want to get out of the sandwich. Sighhh. So we have another meeting today. We've been assigned these meetings and since no one is held accountable or holds themselves accountable it is one big FARCE!!! I am sooo done with it. So I'll get back to you on how the meeting goes...! I guess a nap during the meeting would accomplish as much as the meeting. Hmmmm there is an idea haha

Speaking of napping last week I walked in on a colleague sound asleep at their desk. I interrupted a beautiful nap. I wonder why they have so little to do they can nap in the middle of the work day.

Classical music and writing go hand in hand. It has made for enjoyable group sessions for me. I was amazed to see how much some students could write. It also made for some peaceful time for their teacher. It was quiet, relaxing, and the students were accomplishing something. I realize with these long days at school I come to really value those quiet moments. I also think some of my students rarely get that quiet time as well. It really soothes and calms them. It doesn't work in the large groups as well, the temptation to talk is just too overwhelming. However in my small groups it is perfect.

Does anyone remember the Disney Movie called "The Gnome-Mobile" I haven't seen it in a long time. My neighbor was the first to show it to me. I am not sure if I was more fascinated by the idea of the teeny tiny people or the Redwoods in which it was filmed. I don't know what made me think of it... perhaps the new movie Gnomeo & Juliet. Which has those garden variety Gnomes. Nothing like the Gnomes in the Gnome-Mobile. When thinking of it I also wonder what happened to Disney Movies. They've lost their "wonder" in many ways. Anyhow, watch "The Gnome-Mobile" with your little munchkins. It is cute.

Do all teachers a Favor. Give your Fourth Grade student Deodorant. Please! I am begging you.

Don't forget the Obvious...

I have a group of students that I do enrichment with. They drive me bonkers, totally bonkers. I was talking with a Teacher/Coach about them looking for ideas. My time with them yesterday went really well. They wrote in a journal while listening to classical music. It was the first time it had been slightly peaceful with them. Then this teacher was like "you could always read a book to them" DUHHHHHHHHHH! I love to read aloud and it is relaxing for me. These students have a lot of behavior issues so we spend the last five minutes of class running laps. I don't know if it helps but it doesn't hurt!!!! Anyhow, I forgot the obvious solution. Sometimes we make it more complex than we need to.

Subs, Colleagues, & Michelangelo

I was thinking about substitute teachers today. I was watching them come into the building this morning. The thing about sub's in a small town in the boonies is there isn't a lot of options. So to quote my kindergarteners "You Get What You Get And You Don't Throw A Fit".

Many of my colleagues are very burnt out. They don't want to do anything, learn anything, or try anything. They want to do exactly what they want to do. If asked to do anything beyond that well ummm they throw a fit. I have been placed in a committee since the beginning of the school year. We have accomplished one thing. Yep one thing, since September. I got so fed up with the finger pointing, blame game, mud slinging, and general bad attidute. I did more things outside our committee for our school than our committee ever did! I am so over it!!

Michelangelo. Today with a small group of 3rd graders we "painted" like Michelangelo. What this involved was taping paper underneath of a table. Lay on the floor and Paint the paper. It took Michelangelo four years to complete just the ceiling of the sisting chapel, with help of course. Anyhow, I asked them if they wanted to do that for the next four years. They decided that NOOOOO they did not. They had a great time doing it though. There is a fun link to the Sistine Chapel where you can scroll around and view the whole chapel. I am not into "religious" art. However, It is amazing what they accomplished with the resources and tools they had.

Want to know what is wrong with society???

You can find the answer by asking a group of 2nd Graders what their favorite movie is. Parents are not doing their jobs in my opinion if any of these is an answer given:

The Hangover
Nightmare on Elm Street
Friday the 13th
Child's Play

Then ask their favorite TV Show and if they respond with these shows... in my opinion the parents are failing at their job.

Paranormal State
CSI,Bones, (crime shows)
Psychic Kids
The Simpsons
Family Guy
(all other Adult Cartoons)

We had to have a discussion about what could be watched at school. They couldn't understand why we couldn't have a PG-13 rated movie. Sigh..... and those ratings have changed since I was a teenager. What passes for PG-13 now.... would have been an R-Rated movie. WHAT ARE PARENT's THINKING?????? How could you put such Darkness in the innocent?
GRRRRRRRR

Soap Box, Pet Peeve, whatever you wish to call it I am claiming it. I think it really suggests a lot about our society.

Warming Trends

Well the weather is getting warmer. We were warned that with the warm weather comes students who lose their little minds. Spring Fever!!! Spring Break is still several weeks away. I am so ready...SOOOO ready. There are teachers who voted to have NO Spring Break next year. Seeing how burnt out all the staff and students are.. I can't imagine not having a break. It is a shame the break isn't after state testing. The kids really have trouble focusing and getting back to work after that. Well so do the teachers for that matter.

Ahh the Black Plague... bring that up to third grade boys and they want to know more. What were the symptoms, how did people get it, how long did it take them to die. The more disgusting the descriptions the more they delighted in it. That is a gene worth identifying... the "gross" gene. Anyhow, after learning about the Black plague we moved on to the Renaissance and Michelangelo. The kids thought they probably moved the blocks of marble with a truck ahem.... ! Well uh nooooo they didn't have trucks... "THEY DIDN'T????" Cracked me up.

The Carpenter is still doing construction. He would get a lot further if he came "On time" didn't take several breaks, a long lunch, and leave early! I went into the wrong business apparently. I guess I shouldn't whine too much because progress was made. Well I am off to prepare for the munchkins
TTFN

P.S. online radio that so far (knock on wood) our firewall doesn't object too...
Slacker

Merry uhhhh Christmas????

That is what it felt like this morning. When I got up the sky had the color that lightness that can only mean one thing. SNOW! I don't know how much we are supposed to get today probably not a lot. I cleaned about an inch off my car this morning. Twenty-eight Degrees, humidity 91%, and let it snow. Anyhow since this is Parent Teacher Conference time... I arrived at school and not many people were here. It was fairly quiet and dark still. My room was still torn up as the carpenter has not finish his installation of new shelving. The plumber has not appreared. The carpenter says the plumber is a grouch. Hmmm okay. So if the plumber feels like plumbing I guess I will have a new sink. With the improvements going on in here someone is going to have a LOVELY room next year. I would love to put my classroom back together for Monday but... I don't see that happening... till the weekend. Sigh. Welll I have a lot to do. Movie Night is coming soon.

Happy First Day of Spring

.....and 5-10 inches of snow to be accumulated today. Also the over-optimistic me... got her studded-snow-tires off on Friday. Yep that's me Excellent Planning! Hope wherever you are it resembles spring :)

I'm not saying......

Tonight my favorite colleague and I attended the local Knights of Columbus corned beef and cabbage dinner. I really wasn't sure what to expect other than Corned Beef and Cabbage. These small town events are highly entertaining especially when you know few of the players. The church priest (African-Irish) prayed before we ate buffet style. There was Cabbage, Corned Beef, Slaw, Salad-slaw,Potatoes, and cooked carrots. When I saw the (Bud Lite "Here We Go") Flags/banners hanging throughout the church hall... I thought oh boy... Yep HERE WE GO! It was a family event and many people attended with their kids and grand-kids. There were a few that had a few too many but for the majority it was under control and fun. The dinner was delicious. I decided someone else could have my share of cabbage. The last time I had boiled cabbage... was the last time. It was gastrointestinal EXPLOSIONS!! I solemnly vowed never to torture myself like that again. So others experienced that joy for me. My favorite colleague and I didn't really know anyone so we just visited and enjoyed watching the attendee's. One Older lady said very seriously to us in her stumbling drawl "girls too much vodka makes you silly". MMMM HMMMM it sure did make her silly.

Luckily I had also brought my new favorite card game as of December 2010 thanks to the Jennings family. IT is called 5 Crowns So my favorite colleague and I played a couple rounds of cards. They also had door prizes... and I am not saying the contest was rigged. Not at all. Nope... BUT I won!!! Some Iced Tea. SO that was fun. Don't really like Iced Tea but hey!! I WON! I am really really grateful that this year I have had a friend who is also new to the area. We were discussing this tonight how much harder this year would've been if we didn't have each other. When we came up to that perpetual wall of impossibility.. she and I would find away around it. Or we would plan it out before anyone said "impossible". We have laughed a lot together. So I am grateful for that. What is scary is we both refer to each other as "someone Normal". HA HA... I know many of you wouldn't place me on that list... but then you probably haven't been here. So when you pack your purse to go to a local event... my "Top Tip 'o the day" is throw your 5 CROWNS card game in your purse.

Anyhow we are working on a family "Musical Movie" night for next week. So that one will be alcohol free. So we will get at least that 3/4 of the community that does not drink! Anyhow that is the latest and greatest from me. These small town events are cheap entertainment. That's for sure... Goodnight all

Happy Saint Patricks Day!!

All this holiday means to me... is that I get to wear my favorite color. I am wearing a lot of green today. It is a mis-matched mess but I have green on :) ha ha! It has been an interesting week. It has been "Germ" week learning how NOT to spread germs. Although some might have used it as an instruction manual. It is always entertaining when you have the nose-picking discussion to turn around ten minutes later and someone is digging. UGGH. So gross. That and wiping snot up their arm and wondering why their teacher is gagging. Sooooo gross.

I had an observation today. An official observation. Yea... I am sure they got a feel for the quality of my work in a 5 minute observation. I was a little disgusted. Not surprised but disgusted.

This state has been changing it's standards to match the common core standards (nationwide standards). Anyhow it has been interesting because these teachers were very used to the old standards and had never "unpacked" standards. When we unpack a standard we pull it a part and look at all that a student needs to be able to do to meet that standard. It must be broken down quite far. There are things students must learn before they get to that point and things they must do while learning it. So we were having discussions about this and a school board member was at our meeting observing us break down one standard. Apparently they were shocked. They had read it said yep that sounds reasonable now go teach it. However if you don't understand what the building blocks are to meet that standard, how can you teach it? How can you create assessments for it. The list goes on and on. This is one of those aspects of teaching, that some people do not understand. Some things aren't as simple as we remembered them to be when we were in school. Our teachers (the good ones) put way more thought and planning into our lessons than we realized. So just know if your kiddo has a good teacher..they are probably spending a lot of extra hours thinking about what your kid needs to learn.

I am so glad it is the weekend. I was ready for it!! I have a multitude of things to get done but...that is okay because many of them I can do in my pj's. Oh and Tomorrow night is a corned beef and cabbage dinner I am attending. Hmmm, we'll see how that goes. In this weeks paper there was a picture and an article about a Leprechaun that visited our school. On the surface it seemed like a fun and charming idea for an adult to dress up like one and run up and down the halls. Then... I had students 20-30 minutes late to class because they were looking for the Leprechaun. This individual also never recieved permission from administration to do it. It was very disruptive. It could've been done in the "right" way and may have been more manageable. I just thought with only 144 days in school this was an unnecessary distraction. Have a great weekend!!!

Tea mmmm, Germs acck, Time change ugghI

So, I made my first batch of Tea and as promised here is my first review. This tea was a Black tea with strawberry slices. I brewed it in my Perfect Tea maker then refridgerated it since I am not fond of Hot Tea. It is FANTASTIC!! It is the best beverage to hit my tounge in a long time. This could even perhaps substitute my all time favorite (Caffiene Free Coca-Cola) Seriously it is that good. It is almost more of a strawberry flavor than tea. However it is the perfect blend because neither overwhelms the other. I am ruined I tell you RUINED!!! If I had known tea could taste this good I would't have made so many insulting comments about the British and their tea-time habits. So...so wonderfully good. I only bought three different blends and as I try them I will share more with you. Who would'a thunk I'da like Tea???? (ahem) I brought it to work in my stainless steel "water" bottle well chilled. I am thrilled I like it this much... I had very strong doubts.
mmmmmmm mmmmm good


Oka y Germs... Germs.... Germs....
I was so sick and tired of being sick and tired and looking across my classroom observing fingers up noses. I have gagged more than once. Anyhow, so last week I'd had it. Enough was ENOUGH!!! So I asked the school nurse to come in and teach all of my classes about germs. Hurrah she said YES!!! One day last week we had 25% of students out of school in the first half of the day. So we've been discussing germs. The students even drew some pictures. I will takes some photos and share them with you. That's why I need the tea those anti-oxidents. It should be helpful. It has been funny to see my students completely grossed out by spreading germs. I hope that will keep their fingers out of their mouths and noses. Uggh! One second grade class kept heading for the Hand Sanitizer and one refused to use any crayons. I may have helped create a germaphobe.

I really despise the time changes. I really really do. I don't adjust well to it. It just messes my biological rythms up. I notice a lot of students and teachers kind of dragging today. I hope we will all sleep well tonight. Sometimes the radiator in my room makes disturbing noises. Today it sounded like somebody's extremely upset stomach.

I can't believe the staff here sometimes. They will complain about EVERYTHING. The Vice-Principal bought lanyards for each class and put passes in them for the hall, bathroom, nurse, lunchroom, and office. Teachers are refusing to use them because they're inconvienient. REALLY??? Well hmmmm. I just had to shake my head. I think it is way easier. There were a lot of kids wandering around, coming in off the playground, and well this is another story. We had a "Fire Lighter" at school. A student had brought matches and was setting Fire to toilet paper and paper towels in the bathroom. The janitor discovered the burnt remnants and and investigation began. I had to wonder if the teacher new the student was missing, where they had went etc. At least I can look at my passes and say okay I have 1 at the nurse, and 2 in the bathroom. Then if there IS a real FIRE DRILL For Instance... I know where missing kids are. UGGH. I don't get teachers here. Well It is kind of this community. In some ways it is a VERY good thing. They do not like outsiders telling them what to do. The problem is sometimes that prevents them from doing what is right, logical, safe, etc. UGGH.

I hope you all ... get a good nites sleep.

Cursive Writing Why?

Cursive Link

I had a discussion with a 5th grade teacher. She strongly felt that writing in cursive was an obsolete skill that we should no longer teach. I am curious what my readers think... If I have readers anymore. I think the Phlegm may have burned them out. Ha ha

I accomplished a lot of home related stuff this weekend. I can't say it was very exciting, laundry, dishes, etc etc. I have more to do but It badly needed to be done. I made a Jar of Tea with my new Teavana Perfect cup of tea maker. I'll get back to you on how I liked it. I made a black tea with strawberry. It smelled amazing. SO amazing. I don't think that is necessarily a good sign though. Coffee smells amazing and tastes like bitter tree bark soaked in animal urine. At least that is the best I can describe it as I've never truly tasted bitter tree bark soaked in animal urine. Ahem. Anyhow... I had something to say about something... but apparently I got distracted. Perhaps it wasn't that important.

We did have a great article about our carnival in the paper. The parents should be getting their copy of it by Thursday or Friday... so feel free to ask them to share.

Is this where we are headed or are we already there?

Cartoon
Check out this Cartoon :)

It's just WRONG!!!

Sometimes I am amazed how far south into la-la land our values have traveled. What made our country great and kept it great for so many years is being flushed down the drain. Flushed... without consideration or deliberation... just flushed without thought to the consequences to where the feces will go, or if they will be backing up toilets, polluting streams, etc. Just flushed. It irritates me. I am in a culture that has a lot of religious tradition that I certainly don't agree with. However, some of the values of that culture I can appreciate. While I disagree with their beliefs they may stave off the backing up of feces for a bit longer. I don't know...

Okay here is what started this tirade for me. Back in the day our country started Unions. They started them because people were suffering beyond what we can imagine today, they were working in conditions that were literally killing them. Children were working in conditions that if did not kill them certainly maimed them for life. People banded together to try to make a living without certain death or dismemberment. Okay enough of a history lesson... where we eventually ended up is powerful organizations who lost sight of their original purpose. They weren't something that needed to go on forever. They only need to be created and used when conditions are just that DIRE. Ah but we ... we are a greedy people. We couldn't let go of something we viewed as a winning formula. Oh NO... it grew and grew and so did our greed.
Now I thought this states government made a VERY reasonable request. They asked that any teachers that have had 2 years of unsatisfactory evaluations be put on probationary status. Meaning on probation they could be fired/let go regardless of their contract. WHY WOULD WE NOT AGREE TO THIS??? There are so many teachers NOT doing a good job. Keep in mind that to have 2 years of bad evaluations this is at least 6 bad evaluations. Our administrators are required to observe us 6 times per year and evaluate us 3 times per year. So that is a possibility of 12 bad evaluations. I agree there is sometimes the possibility of personality conflict. However, you can have a personality conflict with someone and still see that their students are learning. Our union though said no no no... we can't have that. NO NO NO. Probably because those teachers that are getting poor evaluations are paying their union dues on time every time. GRRR I just see so many good teachers in competition for jobs with people unwilling to do what is right. It ticks me off. I don't know the outcome of this yet... I don't think it has been fully decided. I hope the State does what it has threatened to. Separate the wheat from the chaff

Flying Time and Good Neighbors

I can't believe how quickly time is going here. Only 3 months of school left. WOW. Spring Break is about a month and a half away. I think once it arrives it will really fly. As there will only be a month of school left after that. It does not look like spring outside today. Snowing all day and we are supposed to have blowing snow. Blowing snow isn't an unusual occurance here. Sure does clear my front walk and cover my back walk though. It makes if feel very cold as well. The school heaters were not working when I arrived. BRRRRR They clicked on about 40 minutes later.

The school carnival was VERY successful last week. I was exhausted afterward but a good time was had by all. I learned a lot from that experience as well. Which is always good. Feels like practice the first time you attempt anything like that. Throughout the evening you realize more and more of what works and what does not. Also, I realized how little this community has going on that a School Carnival is a fun Family Event. I think we picked a great time of year. Not much else is going on and people enjoyed getting out with thier families. We had a big blow up obstacle course, a "bouncy Bull", fish pond, sponge toss, bingo, and much more. I can't wait to see this weeks paper. The photographer was there and I saw many of the photos he took. I can't wait to see what made the paper. For those of you back home you can ask Ma & Pa to show it to you when it arrives.

I am trying to remember what else is new today. I don't know. I have really appreciated my neighbors since I have been sick. They have shoveled my walk , brought me food, taken out my trash, and brought my trash back in. You know good neighbors are hard to come by! I am very grateful they were so helpful!! Now I do wish the cleaning fairies would come to my house. It has totally escaped me... uggh. I decided I would pick one thing to work on every nite this week. This is another week of meetings..yippee skippee. We are reading some very interesting things on current brain research. I like that part. If all my meetings were me reading interesting books I would love it :) ha ha! I have boxes of canned food all over my room... that were donated to get a free raffle ticket at the carnival for amazing prizes. However, I would really like them to be at the food bank now!

Well I don't know what is going to happen in 3 months, Let alone where, how, etc. But the job search will be continuing.

Old and Decrepit...

I didn't really need any help feeling old and decrepit with this bug I have. But AARP decided to add insult to injury and offered me a membership in today's mail. I tried to talk myself into a bit of optimism thinking perhaps they thought I was going to make millions and retire early. I don't think so though.... sheesh old and decrepit and full of phlegm...
WOE IS ME!!!

Worth the drive.

I have had several pity parties for myself lately. When you get sick you want someone to make you soup and make sympathetic noises. Well I got the sympathetic noises and luckily I had frozen myself soup. Sigh it isn't the same though. Anyhow after 3 1/2 weeks of being one big sickie... I decided I needed to get out of town to the Dr. I was really hoping they wouldn't pat me on the head and say go home, get well, and good luck. I almost cried when the Dr. got out his prescription pad. I am so relieved to have some medicine. I have coughed so much I have muscle spasms. Anyhow I have an infection in my lungs. Drugs are a beautiful thing. I drove 3 hours to go see a Doctor but it was worth it. I am completely done in. However, now I know I will be getting better because I had a Dr. who did a little more than say "Say Ah". Anyhow the infection I have apparently is very common in this area. The Dr. said that I could have a cough for months. I am supposed to drink a little bit every time I cough. I think that would help but they frown on showing up drunk to school. HA HA okay no I am supposed to sip water. :) That will be cheaper and probably won't get me fired. I have always been a person who drank gallons when sick. They never had to force fluids on me. Most of the time Medical Professionals don't believe me about that. But anyone whose shared a bathroom with me when I am drinking fluids to get well.... THEY KNOW!!! Anyhow So I also purchased a wonderful thing while out of town. My muscle spasms made for interesting driving but I found the cure.... and here it is..... by SUNBEAM ! IT is wonderful. Would be great for those times when your shoulders are tense from stress as well. I love it. anyhow That's my tip of the day... muscle spasms from coughing. Get the Sunbeam shoulder heating pad. I'm sure muscle relaxants would be better but this is cheaper :) and you won't have any embarrassing side effects. So... I am off to take some cough syrup and hit the hay. THanks for all your empathy... It made me feel better to know that you think I am a wimp but feel badly for me anyway!! NIte nite