Tuesday, June 26, 2012
12:34
I know it's been awhile since I have updated....so a quick rundown of the past few months...
School year ended well. I had one major issue....as was mentioned in my previous entry, our 'team' does not work together and it is incredibly frustrating. This all came to a head when it was apparent that I didn't get the memo that all students need to be passed regardless of ability and work ethic. I am accustomed to assigning failing grades to a large number of student every year because they stubbornly refuse to do work....no matter how many times I speak to parents, administrators, etc. SO....the school MADE me create a packet that was supposed to replace all that missing work so that I could prove to someone...I don't know who....that I had done all I needed to help them 'succeed' for the year. I fought this tooth and nail but still ended up having to do it....I was disgusted with myself and the system for a good few weeks and it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. As much as I hate to say this though, only like 6 kids did the HUGE packet that I created and for most of them, it still made NO difference whatsoever and they still failed for the year. This may sound harsh coming from a teacher but you have to believe me when I tell you that I worked my BUTT off trying to get work from these kids....but they just truly believed that they would not fail.
Sorry....learn your lesson now in middle school and don't wait until you get to high school.
I'll leave out all the parts where I was the only teacher with the majority of these kids failing because other teachers changed/faked grades to avoid what I dealt with at the end of the year.
Yup - public education. Thanks 'No Child Left Behind'. Thanks.
Anyways....we opened our pool and have pretty much spent the last week or so sleeping in, floating around getting sunburnt and tipsy, and getting caught up on our favorite shows on Netflix.
The reason for this entry stems from the last entry - the infamous time that seems to catch my eye so often. 12:34
This particular time happened to be in the AM instead of in the middle of the day. I was on (and still am, thank you AmtrakConnect) the 66 Northeast Regional Train to Boston....finally. My husband and I decided to go to Maine for a 'Big Trip' this summer since we aren't working. After spending countless hours planning the trip - hotels, rental cars, etc, we finally arrived at the station to catch our train. Yet....fate had another plan in store for us. Thanks to a very recent and dangerous storm that had moved through the area, the train station had NO power and a freight train was blocking the station because it couldn't go anywhere thanks to a huge tree that had fallen on the tracks and was currently being cleared.
Shit.
Of course, my husband HATES it when plans he makes don't work out so we sat on a bench in the station for 2 hours, working on our patience skills. They finally decided to put us on a bus to Washington DC where we could catch our next train (hopefully) and thanks to it being freaking 7:30 at night, there was barely any traffic so we actually made it there in time to catch our train, which ended up being delayed anyways. By the time we got comfortable and settled, my hubby had passed out (that man can sleep ANYWHERE) and I was left sitting in the semi-dark watching the lights of DC and then Baltimore cruise past us.
My phone, right before it died, said 12:34.
What will the rest of the trip have in store for us? I am hoping a shower at this point because it's now 7:30 AM and I might (MIGHT) have gotten 2 hours of sleep. Maybe. Hubby slept the whole way....so he better not be in a bad mood. And we still have to make it to Portland....we have to transfer trains in Boston, which I am thinking is going to be a stressful adventure since we have to go across town (does anyone want to explain this to me?) and grab a cab....hopefully.
It was pretty 'waking up' to the inlets of Connecticut though.
Train is stopping....let's see what's going on....
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
12:34
This time has always stuck out to me....for some reason, and I'm sure it feels more like a coincidence than it actually is, I feel like I look at the clock at this particular time more than others. I'm sure it just sticks out in my mind somehow but it's always intrigued me. I've always thought it would be a good journal/book/coffee table book.
That's my idea....and the key to my retirement....don't steal it.
So Monday - this was the last time I saw this particular time. It was in my car....I had just walked out of Chipotle and was returning to school. We had a work day (an amazing waste of time) and were able to go out for lunch....which I took immediate advantage of. I sat in my car for a moment to watch the 4 switch to a 5 and took note of the incredible frustration I was feeling.
The 'professional development' that was chosen to be covered that morning was on the topic of the 'achievement gap' between white students and students of color. After an intro, which included the term 'the white phenomenon' when describing how white students are treated differently....we had a discussion on why we think the achievement gap is present in our particular district....half of which is in the east side of town, has rougher schools and more 'students of color' (their term...not mine) and does not do as well (scores-wise) as the west side, which is more upper class and has less 'students of color'. After many fun comments from the staff...and arguments back and forth about the students we serve.....we broke into 'teams' and discussed changes we would like to see in our students.
Let me throw out the word team and replace it with 'teachers that happen to teach in the same hallway I do'....because we are NOT a team. We do share a certain number of students....but that it pretty much it. I have a friendship with my English teacher, because she started this year like I did and thinks everyone is as crazy as I do, but really no one else. We all teach VERY differently...and I feel like everyone deems this a reason to not work together as a collective team.
This is very frustrating to me....especially since I have a few team members that choose what rules they have the kids follow and what rules they don't...which makes my life a living hell sometimes because I become the bitchy teacher who always says no. And I'm sure they don't enjoy me breaking up their lovely party.
So I'm trying to start a few of these conversations...and three teachers promptly got up (in the middle of me trying to talk) and left for lunch. EARLY.
AGH. Working with adults sometimes SUCKS.
It made my 12:34 moment stand out.
This frustration mounts on top of everything else that has happened in the last month. My husband and I made a list of why 2012 sucks so far.
- speeding ticket
- husband's truck...engine light keeps going on
- my windshield is cracked...and now has another impressive ding in it thanks to a dump truck on 95
- our heat broke....cost $100 to fix...plus the additional money in electricity
- all the drama with the dog, which still included weekly vet visits
- microwave committed suicide this past weekend...more money down the drain....
- dentist proclaimed that I need 2 more crowns put on
- my school computer committed suicide...and I lost all my grades
So far do good huh? I'm saying a lot of prayers that February is better....
That's my idea....and the key to my retirement....don't steal it.
So Monday - this was the last time I saw this particular time. It was in my car....I had just walked out of Chipotle and was returning to school. We had a work day (an amazing waste of time) and were able to go out for lunch....which I took immediate advantage of. I sat in my car for a moment to watch the 4 switch to a 5 and took note of the incredible frustration I was feeling.
The 'professional development' that was chosen to be covered that morning was on the topic of the 'achievement gap' between white students and students of color. After an intro, which included the term 'the white phenomenon' when describing how white students are treated differently....we had a discussion on why we think the achievement gap is present in our particular district....half of which is in the east side of town, has rougher schools and more 'students of color' (their term...not mine) and does not do as well (scores-wise) as the west side, which is more upper class and has less 'students of color'. After many fun comments from the staff...and arguments back and forth about the students we serve.....we broke into 'teams' and discussed changes we would like to see in our students.
Let me throw out the word team and replace it with 'teachers that happen to teach in the same hallway I do'....because we are NOT a team. We do share a certain number of students....but that it pretty much it. I have a friendship with my English teacher, because she started this year like I did and thinks everyone is as crazy as I do, but really no one else. We all teach VERY differently...and I feel like everyone deems this a reason to not work together as a collective team.
This is very frustrating to me....especially since I have a few team members that choose what rules they have the kids follow and what rules they don't...which makes my life a living hell sometimes because I become the bitchy teacher who always says no. And I'm sure they don't enjoy me breaking up their lovely party.
So I'm trying to start a few of these conversations...and three teachers promptly got up (in the middle of me trying to talk) and left for lunch. EARLY.
AGH. Working with adults sometimes SUCKS.
It made my 12:34 moment stand out.
This frustration mounts on top of everything else that has happened in the last month. My husband and I made a list of why 2012 sucks so far.
- speeding ticket
- husband's truck...engine light keeps going on
- my windshield is cracked...and now has another impressive ding in it thanks to a dump truck on 95
- our heat broke....cost $100 to fix...plus the additional money in electricity
- all the drama with the dog, which still included weekly vet visits
- microwave committed suicide this past weekend...more money down the drain....
- dentist proclaimed that I need 2 more crowns put on
- my school computer committed suicide...and I lost all my grades
So far do good huh? I'm saying a lot of prayers that February is better....
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Rough Start....
The new year began with a jolt of reality...both financially and emotionally.
We traveled for a full 2 weeks for the holidays. A few days before Christmas, we noticed a few spots on our doggie boo's belly. He had been wrestling with my sister's dog a lot so we assumed that they were just bruises. He didn't seem to be hurt when they were touched and he had allergies before on his skin....but he didn't seem to be itching them. I looked a few things up on the internet but saw that terriers had a lot of skin allergies so I just moved on.
When we returned home (finally), we shaved Bo and noticed that he now had splotches all over him....like small freckles all over this skin. That was it....we didn't see any other changes in him....appetite, behavior, anything. Just the same, we agreed to take him to the vet anyways to make sure nothing major was wrong.
We were very lucky that we got him in when we did.
Josh took him to the vet....and the vet was puzzled. She did a very detailed exam....went to speak to another vet and then came back in and said we were going to take some blood. After the blood test came a fecal exam....and then we waited. At this point, we were at the point that we could hear the vets conferring outside the door. After that, the vet came back in and said that we needed to go to the emergency vet facility in Richmond as soon as possible. We asked what was wrong and his bloodwork had come back irregular - he had 6000 platelets....when he was supposed to have over 150,000.
Needless to say, we freaked out. We jumped in the car and drove very quickly to Carytown...where we were immediately seen in a room. They did an additional round of blood tests....and the emergency vet came in. We had already started crying, wondering if we were going to lose the dog that had worked his way into our hearts and lives so quickly. They vet told us that he had to be placed on an extremely strong dose of steroids, antibiotics and needed to stay there at least overnight, if not longer. The steroids would start fighting his immune system, which was apparently killing his platelets...meaning, he could bleed out at any time. She didn't know what was causing it....it was one of 3 things, just a freak one-time incident, a disease passed by a tick (which is what an antibiotics were for) or CANCER. Our dog....our puppy.... we made the choice to leave him there for a few days and sobbed the whole way home.
The next week was hell. We drove up to see him whenever we could....and since he didn't feel sick, he was confused as to why he couldn't come home. 5 days of testing his blood....and there were no changes....at all...he didn't appear to be responding to the treatment, which meant that at some point, financially, we had to make the choice to take him home. It was terrible....being home without him....seeing his toys around, an empty bed....we kept thinking he was home. I started carrying a rosary with me in the car, we asked friends to pray for him....and we continued to cry from not knowing what was going to happen.
On the Saturday after we admitted him (and thousands of dollars later), we decided to bring him home. Luckily, the last blood test he got, there was a light improvement. Since he came home, he's been sleeping a lot, shaking and taking a lot of meds. He's exhausted all the time, has trouble getting on the furniture...and peeing ALL THE TIME.
But he's home. And that's what's important. The last time I took him to the vet, his blood count is back to normal Now we are onto the weaning part of his meds....which means more shaking and peeing..... but he's home.
We're still scared as to what's going to happen....honestly, I feel like things won't be okay until we get to a few weeks from now....when most of his meds are done.
It's been a rough few weeks. Not at all a good start to the new year.
We are really hoping it's going to get better.
We traveled for a full 2 weeks for the holidays. A few days before Christmas, we noticed a few spots on our doggie boo's belly. He had been wrestling with my sister's dog a lot so we assumed that they were just bruises. He didn't seem to be hurt when they were touched and he had allergies before on his skin....but he didn't seem to be itching them. I looked a few things up on the internet but saw that terriers had a lot of skin allergies so I just moved on.
When we returned home (finally), we shaved Bo and noticed that he now had splotches all over him....like small freckles all over this skin. That was it....we didn't see any other changes in him....appetite, behavior, anything. Just the same, we agreed to take him to the vet anyways to make sure nothing major was wrong.
We were very lucky that we got him in when we did.
Josh took him to the vet....and the vet was puzzled. She did a very detailed exam....went to speak to another vet and then came back in and said we were going to take some blood. After the blood test came a fecal exam....and then we waited. At this point, we were at the point that we could hear the vets conferring outside the door. After that, the vet came back in and said that we needed to go to the emergency vet facility in Richmond as soon as possible. We asked what was wrong and his bloodwork had come back irregular - he had 6000 platelets....when he was supposed to have over 150,000.
Needless to say, we freaked out. We jumped in the car and drove very quickly to Carytown...where we were immediately seen in a room. They did an additional round of blood tests....and the emergency vet came in. We had already started crying, wondering if we were going to lose the dog that had worked his way into our hearts and lives so quickly. They vet told us that he had to be placed on an extremely strong dose of steroids, antibiotics and needed to stay there at least overnight, if not longer. The steroids would start fighting his immune system, which was apparently killing his platelets...meaning, he could bleed out at any time. She didn't know what was causing it....it was one of 3 things, just a freak one-time incident, a disease passed by a tick (which is what an antibiotics were for) or CANCER. Our dog....our puppy.... we made the choice to leave him there for a few days and sobbed the whole way home.
The next week was hell. We drove up to see him whenever we could....and since he didn't feel sick, he was confused as to why he couldn't come home. 5 days of testing his blood....and there were no changes....at all...he didn't appear to be responding to the treatment, which meant that at some point, financially, we had to make the choice to take him home. It was terrible....being home without him....seeing his toys around, an empty bed....we kept thinking he was home. I started carrying a rosary with me in the car, we asked friends to pray for him....and we continued to cry from not knowing what was going to happen.
On the Saturday after we admitted him (and thousands of dollars later), we decided to bring him home. Luckily, the last blood test he got, there was a light improvement. Since he came home, he's been sleeping a lot, shaking and taking a lot of meds. He's exhausted all the time, has trouble getting on the furniture...and peeing ALL THE TIME.
But he's home. And that's what's important. The last time I took him to the vet, his blood count is back to normal Now we are onto the weaning part of his meds....which means more shaking and peeing..... but he's home.
We're still scared as to what's going to happen....honestly, I feel like things won't be okay until we get to a few weeks from now....when most of his meds are done.
It's been a rough few weeks. Not at all a good start to the new year.
We are really hoping it's going to get better.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The New Year
I know it's been a long time....I guess I'm having trouble finding time for me....
It has been a busy month. With the end of school in sight for the Winter break, the kids got a little crazy. A few fights and suspensions later, we ESCAPED for the break. I had 2 games of volleyball that evening and then home to pack...for two weeks.
Those of you that may not know, I am NOT a fan of the holidays for one simple reason - travel. Traveling SUCKS and it seems that it is all of what we do at this time of year. While it is wonderful to see family and friends, the process of packing, unpacking, and repacking takes a toll on us. This year was no exception. We drove to Roanoke to visit one sister, spent 2 days. Left, drove to Cincy OH to visit sister #2 for an evening, then drove to Columbus to see my parents. We did also manage to slip in a trip to BGSU, where I was able to see my college roommate and her adorable son (she is getting her phD) as well as visit with an aunt and uncle and their kids on the way back. After a few days to recoup, we left Christmas Day for PA to visit my husband's family...which also entailed driving around since they are divorced. The only time my husband and I spent truly together has been the last 4 days....2 at Seven Springs (his gift from me) and 2 at home....cleaning and getting ready to go back to school.
I am DONE with this whole traveling crap. It was absolutely lovely to see everyone and spend time with family....but this holiday was stressful simply because of all the time spent in the car. I keep telling myself that next year will be different...but it's always the same. I keep thinking that next Christmas, we will have a baby so we will have an excuse NOT to travel...but that is still NOT a reality (and a whole other story altogether).
I am tired. I shouldn't be tired after 2 weeks off from school.
Tomorrow, it all starts again. School, kids, volleyball, taking care of the house....
I am determined this year to STOP looking into the future for things to change. I want to start living NOW. Go to the gym as often as I can, join up in WeightWatchers AGAIN....and make it stick so I can feel good about myself again. Stop looking forward to days off of school and enjoy the fact that I have a job. Stop thinking about when and where we will be moving next....and start enjoying the life we have now. Stop worrying about getting pregnant and just enjoy the silence in my house.
I know this is typical 'January 1st' bull....but it sounds good eh?
Oh....I want to write in this more....lol.....
It has been a busy month. With the end of school in sight for the Winter break, the kids got a little crazy. A few fights and suspensions later, we ESCAPED for the break. I had 2 games of volleyball that evening and then home to pack...for two weeks.
Those of you that may not know, I am NOT a fan of the holidays for one simple reason - travel. Traveling SUCKS and it seems that it is all of what we do at this time of year. While it is wonderful to see family and friends, the process of packing, unpacking, and repacking takes a toll on us. This year was no exception. We drove to Roanoke to visit one sister, spent 2 days. Left, drove to Cincy OH to visit sister #2 for an evening, then drove to Columbus to see my parents. We did also manage to slip in a trip to BGSU, where I was able to see my college roommate and her adorable son (she is getting her phD) as well as visit with an aunt and uncle and their kids on the way back. After a few days to recoup, we left Christmas Day for PA to visit my husband's family...which also entailed driving around since they are divorced. The only time my husband and I spent truly together has been the last 4 days....2 at Seven Springs (his gift from me) and 2 at home....cleaning and getting ready to go back to school.
I am DONE with this whole traveling crap. It was absolutely lovely to see everyone and spend time with family....but this holiday was stressful simply because of all the time spent in the car. I keep telling myself that next year will be different...but it's always the same. I keep thinking that next Christmas, we will have a baby so we will have an excuse NOT to travel...but that is still NOT a reality (and a whole other story altogether).
I am tired. I shouldn't be tired after 2 weeks off from school.
Tomorrow, it all starts again. School, kids, volleyball, taking care of the house....
I am determined this year to STOP looking into the future for things to change. I want to start living NOW. Go to the gym as often as I can, join up in WeightWatchers AGAIN....and make it stick so I can feel good about myself again. Stop looking forward to days off of school and enjoy the fact that I have a job. Stop thinking about when and where we will be moving next....and start enjoying the life we have now. Stop worrying about getting pregnant and just enjoy the silence in my house.
I know this is typical 'January 1st' bull....but it sounds good eh?
Oh....I want to write in this more....lol.....
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The New Year
I know it's been a long time....I guess I'm having trouble finding time for me....
It has been a busy month. With the end of school in sight for the Winter break, the kids got a little crazy. A few fights and suspensions later, we ESCAPED for the break. I had 2 games of volleyball that evening and then home to pack...for two weeks.
Those of you that may not know, I am NOT a fan of the holidays for one simple reason - travel. Traveling SUCKS and it seems that it is all of what we do at this time of year. While it is wonderful to see family and friends, the process of packing, unpacking, and repacking takes a toll on us. This year was no exception. We drove to Roanoke to visit one sister, spent 2 days. Left, drove to Cincy OH to visit sister #2 for an evening, then drove to Columbus to see my parents. We did also manage to slip in a trip to BGSU, where I was able to see my college roommate and her adorable son (she is getting her phD) as well as visit with an aunt and uncle and their kids on the way back. After a few days to recoup, we left Christmas Day for PA to visit my husband's family...which also entailed driving around since they are divorced. The only time my husband and I spent truly together has been the last 4 days....2 at Seven Springs (his gift from me) and 2 at home....cleaning and getting ready to go back to school.
I am DONE with this whole traveling crap. It was absolutely lovely to see everyone and spend time with family....but this holiday was stressful simply because of all the time spent in the car. I keep telling myself that next year will be different...but it's always the same. I keep thinking that next Christmas, we will have a baby so we will have an excuse NOT to travel...but that is still NOT a reality (and a whole other story altogether).
I am tired. I shouldn't be tired after 2 weeks off from school.
Tomorrow, it all starts again. School, kids, volleyball, taking care of the house....
I am determined this year to STOP looking into the future for things to change. I want to start living NOW. Go to the gym as often as I can, join up in WeightWatchers AGAIN....and make it stick so I can feel good about myself again. Stop looking forward to days off of school and enjoy the fact that I have a job. Stop thinking about when and where we will be moving next....and start enjoying the life we have now. Stop worrying about getting pregnant and just enjoy the silence in my house.
I know this is typical 'January 1st' bull....but it sounds good eh?
Oh....I want to write in this more....lol.....
It has been a busy month. With the end of school in sight for the Winter break, the kids got a little crazy. A few fights and suspensions later, we ESCAPED for the break. I had 2 games of volleyball that evening and then home to pack...for two weeks.
Those of you that may not know, I am NOT a fan of the holidays for one simple reason - travel. Traveling SUCKS and it seems that it is all of what we do at this time of year. While it is wonderful to see family and friends, the process of packing, unpacking, and repacking takes a toll on us. This year was no exception. We drove to Roanoke to visit one sister, spent 2 days. Left, drove to Cincy OH to visit sister #2 for an evening, then drove to Columbus to see my parents. We did also manage to slip in a trip to BGSU, where I was able to see my college roommate and her adorable son (she is getting her phD) as well as visit with an aunt and uncle and their kids on the way back. After a few days to recoup, we left Christmas Day for PA to visit my husband's family...which also entailed driving around since they are divorced. The only time my husband and I spent truly together has been the last 4 days....2 at Seven Springs (his gift from me) and 2 at home....cleaning and getting ready to go back to school.
I am DONE with this whole traveling crap. It was absolutely lovely to see everyone and spend time with family....but this holiday was stressful simply because of all the time spent in the car. I keep telling myself that next year will be different...but it's always the same. I keep thinking that next Christmas, we will have a baby so we will have an excuse NOT to travel...but that is still NOT a reality (and a whole other story altogether).
I am tired. I shouldn't be tired after 2 weeks off from school.
Tomorrow, it all starts again. School, kids, volleyball, taking care of the house....
I am determined this year to STOP looking into the future for things to change. I want to start living NOW. Go to the gym as often as I can, join up in WeightWatchers AGAIN....and make it stick so I can feel good about myself again. Stop looking forward to days off of school and enjoy the fact that I have a job. Stop thinking about when and where we will be moving next....and start enjoying the life we have now. Stop worrying about getting pregnant and just enjoy the silence in my house.
I know this is typical 'January 1st' bull....but it sounds good eh?
Oh....I want to write in this more....lol.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)