Sometimes answers to prayer are just a bit too startling!!!!
Well, I have been fretting about this home teaching job. I received more ominous information several times today that made it seem more and more impossible. I have, however, kept feeling really led to try and help this young student, so.... struggling all day about it.
On the way home I had to get gas and fill a couple of prescriptions. I was frustrated with myself for not stopping for either sooner--I literally was driving around on less than a tank of gas--and Alannah's pill box was empty as of tomorrow morning. (the GOOD pill....not good!!!!) But it just seemed like things kept popping up and preventing me from doing those chores. To add to my consternation, there was a really long line at CVS. (There is never a line there!)
But, if I hadn't had any of those bothers today, I wouldn't have noticed that my new student and his mother were waiting for a prescription right in front of me! I just about passed out right there, because I had totally not been expecting that I would ever see this kid. Plus, I was so "guilty" of thinking, fretting and praying about the two of them right at that moment!!!! So I caught my breath and my pounding heart and waved a cheery HELLO! accross the lines. The mom hesitated for a moment, and then suddenly, she brightened up and came right over. I was able to reinforce with the student how happy I was to be working with him, and the mother was very happy to tell me that she would be making sure that he got there the next day.
Now all of you better start praying!!!!!! And I'm looking up Debbie's #.......
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Go Debbie, the BP wonder.
If you ever experience any trouble with your blood pressure whatsoever, I highly recommend you visit Debbie at my new midwife's office. All she had to do was sit down and smile at me, and...kazam! Instant drop in diastolic of about 30mm!
(95mm down to 65mm...in under 2 minutes...whoo whee!)
To explain, aside from teaching high school all day, I have been offered a home tutoring job through the school district. As the days unfold, so do the many layers of politics, disaster and calamity that seem to be attached to the wayyyy wayyyyy wayyyyyy too nice salary (aka carrot, bribe, blood money......) of this new job. A few more layers than I was prepared for unfolded themselves just before my Dr. appointment this afternoon. (ack!)
But, all's well that end's well!
That can also be said for Alannah's stunning performance in Beauty and the Beast this weekend as the lovely, stoic, Mrs. Potts. She was FANTASTIC!!!! As soon as we get them organized, I will put all the pictures up here, and eventually we will get a video so all you folks far away can enjoy her too (if you wish).
Actually, all the kids were fantastic. The high school and the middle school casts all did such a great job. Each group had it's unique strengths--there wasn't really any group that stood out as better, and we know, because we went to all four shows!
Probably our favorite parts were the Gaston characters for both performances. The high school character was a big, burly, muscly senior who played the part PERFECTLY. He was hilarious, and really went all out to portray Gaston's clueless, egotistical villion-ess. The middle school Gaston was the exact opposite in physique, as in a REALLY tiny kid, but made up for it with a hysterical Napoleon-complex brutality.
Susie and Dan were enthralled by it all, and I couldn't believe that they begged to go back each time. Dan cried when he finally grasped that it was over--he wanted to see it again and again! (just wait until we get the recording, and he WILL.)
It was also great to have Mom, Dad, Eva, Andrea, Christian and Stephanie there. We managed to squeeze a celebratory lunch in amongst all the curtain calls and cast party. We were especially proud of Scott who won the prize for the grilled chicken that didn't make Andrea feel queasy. I guess morning sickness, er, 24/7 sickness, is just being relentless.
Since I lost all my basketball polls, anyone up for a "It's a boy", "It's a girl" one? :)
(95mm down to 65mm...in under 2 minutes...whoo whee!)
To explain, aside from teaching high school all day, I have been offered a home tutoring job through the school district. As the days unfold, so do the many layers of politics, disaster and calamity that seem to be attached to the wayyyy wayyyyy wayyyyyy too nice salary (aka carrot, bribe, blood money......) of this new job. A few more layers than I was prepared for unfolded themselves just before my Dr. appointment this afternoon. (ack!)
But, all's well that end's well!
That can also be said for Alannah's stunning performance in Beauty and the Beast this weekend as the lovely, stoic, Mrs. Potts. She was FANTASTIC!!!! As soon as we get them organized, I will put all the pictures up here, and eventually we will get a video so all you folks far away can enjoy her too (if you wish).
Actually, all the kids were fantastic. The high school and the middle school casts all did such a great job. Each group had it's unique strengths--there wasn't really any group that stood out as better, and we know, because we went to all four shows!
Probably our favorite parts were the Gaston characters for both performances. The high school character was a big, burly, muscly senior who played the part PERFECTLY. He was hilarious, and really went all out to portray Gaston's clueless, egotistical villion-ess. The middle school Gaston was the exact opposite in physique, as in a REALLY tiny kid, but made up for it with a hysterical Napoleon-complex brutality.
Susie and Dan were enthralled by it all, and I couldn't believe that they begged to go back each time. Dan cried when he finally grasped that it was over--he wanted to see it again and again! (just wait until we get the recording, and he WILL.)
It was also great to have Mom, Dad, Eva, Andrea, Christian and Stephanie there. We managed to squeeze a celebratory lunch in amongst all the curtain calls and cast party. We were especially proud of Scott who won the prize for the grilled chicken that didn't make Andrea feel queasy. I guess morning sickness, er, 24/7 sickness, is just being relentless.
Since I lost all my basketball polls, anyone up for a "It's a boy", "It's a girl" one? :)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Good grief!
So... the laptop died, and now the replacement isn't connecting to the Internet.... ARRRGHHH!!!
I am on the kids' computer--at my own risk, as they are serious Internet addicts. (back! you animals, back!)
You can all blame me for the big, nasty cold front since I jumped the gun and switched my closet from Winter to Spring. It figures. but I was so tired of wool, turtlenecks and brown. I can't believe how cold it is! Even Scott is cold, and that is unusual. Btw... the lake is almost totally thawed now--wow! That was fast. It looks very pretty with the wind blowing it around.
Alannah is in her final week of rehearsals. I remember dress rehearsal week, and how exhilarating and exciting it was! She is resigned to her costume, which she complains is ungainly and uncomfortable. Tomorrow the kids have to start wearing their 2" heel character shoes as well, I'm sure that she will totally go over the edge with THAT. Oh well, if she wants to be in theatre, she has to take one for the team in the comfort department. She hasn't figured out that suffering is to drama as Nirvana is to Buddhist Enlightenment--the ultimate achievement.
Aidan is just happy she is NOT part of the play. This week she is really into interior design. She and I both enjoy watching HGTV together, and she has gotten a lot of use out of her design kit that she got for Christmas. Scott picked her up a bunch of scrap wood, and he is helping her design a model house for her to mess around with in a more 3-D fashion. It was so cool to sit in the living room listening to the two of them go at it. He is very good with her and Alannah, and spends a lot of time and energy coaching them along in their various interests.
The shower for Eva went so well! It was so nice to catch up and see everyone. Eva and Josh were so thrilled with how successful and fun the party was. We all enjoyed sifting through all the wonderful gifts. Everyone was soooo generous. It is fun to start a new life with beautiful new stuff. Good thing they have a new apartment! They might need to add on a warehouse! I can't believe that the wedding is almost here, can you? This year went super fast.
All the food was delicious. There wasn't that much that was left over, and what was we left for coffee hour the next day where it was completely obliterated! I have to confess, though, after the party I hoarded a bunch of my cake and muffins to take home...and hid them in the trunk of my car. They turned out soooo good. It was a good thing, too, because poor Andrea suffering from morning sickness was craving them, and my Dad was bemoaning the fact that he didn't get to try either of them because he was working so hard in the kitchen. I got to be the hero because I went right out and brought the contraband in from the car!
The girls are all fitted for their dresses, and we went and purchased shoes for everyone. Dan got measured for his tux. He was pretty impressed with the store. He likes fancy things, and especially can't wait "to wear the shirt". I think he was talking about the tie, cummerbund and vest. I still need to get him shoes. The way he is growing, I don't dare buy them now.
All the kids are growing hysterically, as children just tend to do! Speaking of which, I need to get off the internet and feed them before they EAT ME.
:)
I am on the kids' computer--at my own risk, as they are serious Internet addicts. (back! you animals, back!)
You can all blame me for the big, nasty cold front since I jumped the gun and switched my closet from Winter to Spring. It figures. but I was so tired of wool, turtlenecks and brown. I can't believe how cold it is! Even Scott is cold, and that is unusual. Btw... the lake is almost totally thawed now--wow! That was fast. It looks very pretty with the wind blowing it around.
Alannah is in her final week of rehearsals. I remember dress rehearsal week, and how exhilarating and exciting it was! She is resigned to her costume, which she complains is ungainly and uncomfortable. Tomorrow the kids have to start wearing their 2" heel character shoes as well, I'm sure that she will totally go over the edge with THAT. Oh well, if she wants to be in theatre, she has to take one for the team in the comfort department. She hasn't figured out that suffering is to drama as Nirvana is to Buddhist Enlightenment--the ultimate achievement.
Aidan is just happy she is NOT part of the play. This week she is really into interior design. She and I both enjoy watching HGTV together, and she has gotten a lot of use out of her design kit that she got for Christmas. Scott picked her up a bunch of scrap wood, and he is helping her design a model house for her to mess around with in a more 3-D fashion. It was so cool to sit in the living room listening to the two of them go at it. He is very good with her and Alannah, and spends a lot of time and energy coaching them along in their various interests.
The shower for Eva went so well! It was so nice to catch up and see everyone. Eva and Josh were so thrilled with how successful and fun the party was. We all enjoyed sifting through all the wonderful gifts. Everyone was soooo generous. It is fun to start a new life with beautiful new stuff. Good thing they have a new apartment! They might need to add on a warehouse! I can't believe that the wedding is almost here, can you? This year went super fast.
All the food was delicious. There wasn't that much that was left over, and what was we left for coffee hour the next day where it was completely obliterated! I have to confess, though, after the party I hoarded a bunch of my cake and muffins to take home...and hid them in the trunk of my car. They turned out soooo good. It was a good thing, too, because poor Andrea suffering from morning sickness was craving them, and my Dad was bemoaning the fact that he didn't get to try either of them because he was working so hard in the kitchen. I got to be the hero because I went right out and brought the contraband in from the car!
The girls are all fitted for their dresses, and we went and purchased shoes for everyone. Dan got measured for his tux. He was pretty impressed with the store. He likes fancy things, and especially can't wait "to wear the shirt". I think he was talking about the tie, cummerbund and vest. I still need to get him shoes. The way he is growing, I don't dare buy them now.
All the kids are growing hysterically, as children just tend to do! Speaking of which, I need to get off the internet and feed them before they EAT ME.
:)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Doggie Blues
I haven't been neglectful as much as I have been CURSED! The doggie "killed" my laptop--somehow he knocked it off the table and stepped on (or bit) the screen. Bye Bye laptop!
Oh well. Scott helped me hook up another screen to it, and it works fine. It is just awkward, and isn't portable anymore. Maybe that's good.... no more sitting on the couch in front of the TV with my laptop all day..... (erp!)
The lovely lemony smell of poundcake is wafting through the house. I took a couple days off from work to bake for Eva's bridal shower. The party is Saturday morning. The rest of the crew (Andrea, Mom, Dad, Eva, Josh) is hard at work at Mom's baking and prepping. It will be quite a smorgasbord! (like it isn't any other time we all get together.....) The girls and I won't be part of the fun until late Friday night. Alannah has rehearsal until 5:15, so it will be another late, long drive for us.
I went into school to drop off all my grading (done!) and stuff from my teaching stint. I tried not to be too depressed that the new teacher had all kinds of new and exciting things all over the classroom. She is really neat--young, energetic, creative. The school had me stay a couple days to see her settled, but she didn't really need me at all. She charmed the pants off the students right away, and I doubt they even miss me all that much! I joked to the department chair that I was guilty of being a little disappointed that the new teacher seemed like a great pick--I would have enjoyed going on fantasizing that I was the "good" one.... hahahahaha. I know I did a good job--there is room in the world for many cool teachers.
I think my family is very glad that I am not teaching for a few days. Suddenly the house doesn't smell like wet pet, there is real food on the table and we can see the floors! I hadn't realized how out of touch I have been until I did the laundry: I counted at least ten pairs of underwear...... OOPS! I don't think that I am really up to working full time any time soon.
The snow is all gone, which amazes me. I was sure that it wouldn't be gone until July. The lake is still pretty frozen, though. I still see people out there fishing. You couldn't pay me to walk out there--there is a few feet of water around the edge--Scott tells me that it is still super thick, but.... yikes! Today it is raining, but it is still warmer--40-50--yesterday was a gorgeous balmy 63. I hung out a bunch of the wash....mmmmmmmmmm. Spring air off the lake is DIVINE.
Ok, I am going to go invert the pound cake and soak it with lemonade brandy syrup before I go get Alannah for our eye appointments. Tomorrow I am baking Pecan Coffee Cake muffins.... YUMMY.
Oh well. Scott helped me hook up another screen to it, and it works fine. It is just awkward, and isn't portable anymore. Maybe that's good.... no more sitting on the couch in front of the TV with my laptop all day..... (erp!)
The lovely lemony smell of poundcake is wafting through the house. I took a couple days off from work to bake for Eva's bridal shower. The party is Saturday morning. The rest of the crew (Andrea, Mom, Dad, Eva, Josh) is hard at work at Mom's baking and prepping. It will be quite a smorgasbord! (like it isn't any other time we all get together.....) The girls and I won't be part of the fun until late Friday night. Alannah has rehearsal until 5:15, so it will be another late, long drive for us.
I went into school to drop off all my grading (done!) and stuff from my teaching stint. I tried not to be too depressed that the new teacher had all kinds of new and exciting things all over the classroom. She is really neat--young, energetic, creative. The school had me stay a couple days to see her settled, but she didn't really need me at all. She charmed the pants off the students right away, and I doubt they even miss me all that much! I joked to the department chair that I was guilty of being a little disappointed that the new teacher seemed like a great pick--I would have enjoyed going on fantasizing that I was the "good" one.... hahahahaha. I know I did a good job--there is room in the world for many cool teachers.
I think my family is very glad that I am not teaching for a few days. Suddenly the house doesn't smell like wet pet, there is real food on the table and we can see the floors! I hadn't realized how out of touch I have been until I did the laundry: I counted at least ten pairs of underwear...... OOPS! I don't think that I am really up to working full time any time soon.
The snow is all gone, which amazes me. I was sure that it wouldn't be gone until July. The lake is still pretty frozen, though. I still see people out there fishing. You couldn't pay me to walk out there--there is a few feet of water around the edge--Scott tells me that it is still super thick, but.... yikes! Today it is raining, but it is still warmer--40-50--yesterday was a gorgeous balmy 63. I hung out a bunch of the wash....mmmmmmmmmm. Spring air off the lake is DIVINE.
Ok, I am going to go invert the pound cake and soak it with lemonade brandy syrup before I go get Alannah for our eye appointments. Tomorrow I am baking Pecan Coffee Cake muffins.... YUMMY.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
I've been so BUSY!!! Hopefully not neglectful?! This ending is worth it!
Hello, everyone! Greetings from the not-snowy-anymore-but-oh-boy-is-it MUDDY place. Blah. Blah. Blah. MUD.
I am really enjoying my job, now! I have been the same teacher for the last week and a half. I will get to be her for about another week, and then I will have to turn my classes over to a "real" teacher. I am kinda sad about that! I feel like I just kind of got in there and started doing something! Hahahaha, but I kind of expected that.
The kids are sooo cute--they really want me to stay. One kid said, "Just go get your certification!" Yeah, like I can just stroll down to Walmart and pick one up..... Then they swore up and down they would be so bad, the new teacher would want to leave. Of course I talked them out of THAT! But it felt good to be so "wanted". One of the support teachers I am working with gave me the sweetest thank you note and a box of chocolates. (Godiva!)
There is no school here Friday, so I am rushing around trying to finish up Romeo and Juliet so the kids don't have to take a test with a teacher they don't know. The new teacher will get to "relax" a little with the kids while they work on their big creative extension project---they have to choose and act out a scene from Romeo and Juliet, and identify the dramatic elements: What kind of speech it is, who they are speaking to, about, tone, etc.....
Today I taught "Apostrophe". I've never heard of this one, or else I just don't remember it. It is when a character addresses an object or person that isn't there. For example, the song "Twinkle, twinkle little star" is an example of apostrophe because the singer is wondering about the star to the star. We went through a bunch of examples throughout Romeo and Juliet and then this one really shy and quiet kid in the front row pipes up and asks if talking to God is apostrophe. I thought that was an excellent question, so I posed it to the class. Everyone agreed: Talking to God is NOT apostrophe because he is THERE, he LISTENS and TALKS BACK.
Later on in the day I was working with a special ed teacher on some different kids. It turns out that the student who asked about God just lost his dad a few weeks ago. It was then that I remembered how much he smiled when he heard everyone's answer....
AMEN!!!!
I am really enjoying my job, now! I have been the same teacher for the last week and a half. I will get to be her for about another week, and then I will have to turn my classes over to a "real" teacher. I am kinda sad about that! I feel like I just kind of got in there and started doing something! Hahahaha, but I kind of expected that.
The kids are sooo cute--they really want me to stay. One kid said, "Just go get your certification!" Yeah, like I can just stroll down to Walmart and pick one up..... Then they swore up and down they would be so bad, the new teacher would want to leave. Of course I talked them out of THAT! But it felt good to be so "wanted". One of the support teachers I am working with gave me the sweetest thank you note and a box of chocolates. (Godiva!)
There is no school here Friday, so I am rushing around trying to finish up Romeo and Juliet so the kids don't have to take a test with a teacher they don't know. The new teacher will get to "relax" a little with the kids while they work on their big creative extension project---they have to choose and act out a scene from Romeo and Juliet, and identify the dramatic elements: What kind of speech it is, who they are speaking to, about, tone, etc.....
Today I taught "Apostrophe". I've never heard of this one, or else I just don't remember it. It is when a character addresses an object or person that isn't there. For example, the song "Twinkle, twinkle little star" is an example of apostrophe because the singer is wondering about the star to the star. We went through a bunch of examples throughout Romeo and Juliet and then this one really shy and quiet kid in the front row pipes up and asks if talking to God is apostrophe. I thought that was an excellent question, so I posed it to the class. Everyone agreed: Talking to God is NOT apostrophe because he is THERE, he LISTENS and TALKS BACK.
Later on in the day I was working with a special ed teacher on some different kids. It turns out that the student who asked about God just lost his dad a few weeks ago. It was then that I remembered how much he smiled when he heard everyone's answer....
AMEN!!!!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Wahhhhhhh!!!!! :(
In case anyone wanted to know, there is about 14 inches of snow on our ground!!!!!!
And, it is STILL snowing!!!!
:(
sniff!
And, it is STILL snowing!!!!
:(
sniff!
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