Friday, June 20, 2008

Where there's smoke...

The Dismal Swamp is on fire. You wouldn't think that would affect much, but when the wind changes at night, the smoke blows right over the Currituck Sound, right into our vacation spot. It's smokey enough that it gets into your eyes (I hear a song coming on...) and makes you cough. I took the dog out a few minutes ago, and she spent so much time sniffing the wind she almost forgot why she was outside to begin with.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Dog days


Shelly came to live with us last Thursday. She's very sweet, and just wants to be petted at all times.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

A Well-filled Basket...

About every month or so this school year, our wing (the 'new' wing) had a pot luck lunch. The custodian, I'll call him Haywood ('cuz that's his name), would organize it, and everyone would bring in something fattening to eat for lunch. Usually, the meal would center around a meat that Haywood brought or co-brought (that a word? works here...), like ham or chicken or BBQ. Nice idea, good food, good fellowship. If you are the type of person who hates to come up with something to bring, you could contribute $ toward the purchase of the meat. Ok - so we did this about 6 times this year. Our potlucks became somewhat famous, and more and more people started showing up to eat. Not bring food or contribute, but to eat. A good time was had by all - except Haywood.

Today was our end-of-the-year meal. Tons of food - good, good food. Tons of people eating. Tons of food left over. After the lunch, I was in my room with Suzanne. (next door neighbor) when Haywood came in to vent. He started out with, "I'm not gonna name names, but Mrs. _____ and Mr._______ always come in and eat and never once did they contribute a thing!" Then he went on to say that our meals were getting too big, and next year's were going to be by 'invitation only.' His main concern? The amount of effort and money put in to the dinner by a few for the enjoyment and gluttony of the many. For example: According to Haywood, one of our teaching assistants spent $34 on chicken for todays meal. $34.00???? OK, now I feel bad, because I just picked up a cake on my way home yesterday from the local Mennonite bakery. Suzanne confided that she spent $2 on a brownie mix.

After Haywood left, Suzanne and I agreed that we did not agree with him. We didn't tell him that, 'cause he scares us a little bit.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Last Monday!

Today is the last Monday of the school year. It's also the last full day for students. I have one exam to give today - to 3 students, then I just futz around for the rest of the day. Depending upon how many students show up for non-exam classes, I may be able to get some end-of-the-year work done.

We have this folder of check-out stuff that needs to be accomplished before we can leave on Friday. Last year, I got anal about it, and had most of it done before the exam week. I was thinking, "Sweet! I'll be done and can get out of here early on the last day!" Yeah, not so much. Our head PTB has this thing about us working the full day for teacher work days. Last year, he made a big to-do about it, and came around checking on us through the afternoon. At one point, he walked into my packed up classroom, saw me sitting with my feet up on my desk reading a book, and gave me a thumbs up for sticking around like a good girl.

So, this year, I'm not touching my check-out packet until we go to 1:00 dismissals. That's tomorrow. Now, the way my luck goes, I'll run into some kind of huge snafu, and not be able to get finished on time. I have one meeting to schedule today, with the problem child on my caseload. She's pregnant (again!!!) and didn't accomplish her IEP goals for this year. She's on a special diploma, and therefore can't graduate. I have to get her in here to offer her options: 1) come back next year, and try to do better (not gonna happen - she's almost 19 and won't want to come back to school with a new baby and one that's a year old), or b) sign out of the program and be done with formal edumacation.

Her mom called last week, and asked if she couldn't make up her work during summer school. Her 'work' is community-based instruction, volunteering 3 days a week at the local animal shelter. She made it to about 1 session a week, on average, this year. Her ONLY IEP goal since February was to attend 80% of her volunteer sessions. We even provide the transportation. 3 days a week for 2-3 hours a day. That's all she had to do. She didn't do it. Now, if she couldn't do that - how's she gonna go for 3 weeks straight, 5 days a week, to make up her time. AND she's pregnant!!! Sheesh.... Our assistant ptb said "are you kidding me???"

I love my job....

On another note - Ken is meeting with our new tenant this afternoon, signing a lease, and moving her in. Then, he's heading up the road to his sister's house to spend the night before driving on to Madison tomorrow. He may actually be here for good by tomorrow night. Unbelievable...