I really need to be more assertive. I told a friend she couldn't stay here because my cat bit and guess what? She got bit by my cat!!! I said don't talk too loud or surprise her so she walks around the corner, right by the cat, and shouts. The cat bit. I am very sorry.

My Bad Cat

I have so many things I could blog about right now but I am going to tell you about Paris. She is my cute, little, two-year old, scaredy cat. She is afraid of everything and bites people Today, Stephen was here before he headed back to South Dakota to school. He had been home for a week and we had seen him for a total of about an hour. He just stopped by to say so long and see you later. Anyway, he has been with his mother all week long. She even invited herself to his girlfriend's father's birthday party so no one could be with him without her. She had a fund raiser for the radio station and so Stephen had gone to that with her, it was lunch:, and then come over here. She hurried and left the fundraiser early so she could come over here and tell him goodbye. I opened the door for her to come in and she crowded by me and rushed in the house. Paris was sitting on Stephen's lap but when she rushed in, Paris jumped down and went to her spot under the chair. Ree sat down in the chair, never even speaking to Neal or me, and started in on when was Steve leaving. Then Paris bit her. So bad that it bled. WEll, Ree has horrible legs and now I am so nervous about how it will heal. I feel terrible. I told her not to come back here because Paris always bites her. She needs to give me a chance to put Paris in the bedroom. Well, wish us luck. I really, really, hope she doesn't have to go to the Dr. AND no, I am not getting rid of the cat!

Parents! Learn to Tell Your Child "NO"

Today, once again, I infuriated a parent. Well, I am sorry but I am not too happy either. We had our Veteran's Day program. The kids were to wear clothing that was red, white and blue. One of my kids showed up in a tuxedo. It was too big and it had long tails. I told him to hang the jacket up because it wasn't for the program. After the program he was crying. His mother came running up to him. She talked to hime and then turned around and gave me a look that could kill and stomped by me. She did not speak. I asked the kid what was wrong and he said that he wanted to wear his jacket. I told him that his jacket was not appropriate for our program. That the program was not about him but about the Veteran's. I told him that he was not supposed to be noticed and that we don't wear tuxedos to our program. He quit crying and asked me if I was mad. I told him I wasn't mad but I was disgusted that he was crying. I suppose. . . . I will hear about this. Most people would tell the kid "no" at home. I told him he was the baby at home but he wasn't at school and he would act like the other kids. Why? Why? Why? do some parents do everything they can to make their kids weird. This kid is smart and has a good sense of humor. He is smart and cute but he is constantly doing something to get attention. His parents think it is funny and cute. I just want him to be "normal." He pouted all day. I don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Ok. I Know This is Petty

I am an officer in an organization that is intended to be for professionals. However, you can't keep people from joining so some of the members aren't professionals. (And no, I am not being snotty in saying this.) People of either good upbringing or with some training, think differently than people with poor upbringing, previous drug use (or maybe current drug use, I don't know), or just plain losers. One of our members is a great member in many ways but today I am so angry with her I just want to call her and tell her off. But, I know I shouldn't and so far I haven't. For this meeting, the other leader and I went to Wal-Mart to purchase decorations and door prizes. Being Halloween time there are lots of cute decorations. We had $30 of the organization's money but we got carried away and I had to put in $50 of my own money. I was not worried about that as I planned on bringing the decorations back home and using them for my own private use. Thus, I should pay for them. So we decorated and made it look really festive. We had one table with a black tablecloth with those eyes on it and then two tables with yellow tablecloths. I had gotten some gummy eyes that matched the eyes in the tablecloth so we stuck them on the plain tablecloth so it tied it all together. We thought it looked really cute. Then we put Autumn Mix candy, caramels, candy corn taffy, and Halloween pencils down the middle and it looked very festive. After our meeting I was talking with the guests we had invited and noticed one of the members taking the eyes off of the tablecloth and sticking them on a paper plate. (which I had also bought with my own money). I thought, "How nice, she is helping us pick up. She doesn't usually do that." I continued on with talking to the presentor and then cleaning up and didn't give it another thought. When we were ready to go I looked for the eyes and they were nowhere to be found. Later another member said she saw this particular member take the eyeballs, all the pencils, all the candy that was on the table and all the left overs from the presentors. Those weren't her things!!! We told people they could have a pencil, not 7 or 8 pencils. Do you take the decorations when you leave? Of course not! Why on Earth would she think she could take the decorations? I really wanted the eyes for school to put on our door. This is the first year we have had a door. They wouldn't block the door so people can still see in, but would be fun. I think they were $2 but it is just the idea that she STOLE them right in front of me. Then she came and told me how bad she is having it right now. She is fighting the city because they want to condemn some of her property. I know there a lots bigger problems than this but I never can get over the audacity of people. I could go on and on but have probably said too much and come across as a greedy so and so. That is not the case. If she would have asked and had somewhere to use them, I probably would have said she could have them but to just sneak them away, makes me furious and makes me feel used and unappreciated. Even if she thought the council bought them, they were not hers to take. I may call her tomorrow and ask for my eyes. . . . . "Even as you have done to the least of these, you had done unto me." I know that scripture well, and probably won't but I don't know if Jesus would want Halloween eyes?

First Day of School

It was the second day of school and I am so tired even the bridge of my nose hurts. I think I will have a great class. They seem pretty cute and nice. A little sleepy yet but eventually I hope they perk up.

I am happy to be 50.

Okay, I will repeat that many times. I am happy to be 50. I guess I must have sounded dejected or something in an earlier post. I am fine. I am happy. I just need to work on being happy with what I have. Which I know, is more that millions of people in the world. As Jim used to tell me continually, "You are better off not having what you want, than having what you don't want." I really, really want a big beautiful house. Ok, I would take a small beautiful house of my own. Obviously, that isn't going to happen on my salary. But... I had the opportunity to have supper with a long lost friend who did have a big, beautiful house. Six thousand square feet with a two story window overlooking Pikes Peak. The house he and his wife had dreamed of their whole married life of 24 years. Less than one year in the house their marriage dissolved. He told me to remember that all that stuff is just stuff and isn't what is important. He said he'd take a small rental house if it would have kept his marriage and family together. So. I guess be careful what you wish for. Anyway, I am a happy person. I have someone who loves me right here with me and many people who love me all over the countryside. I love and trust God and know that He has a plan for my life. He has saved my life too many times for me not to believe there is a purpose for me being here. I am happy to be 50, I am happy to be 50, I am happy to be 50.

My Family

I have the best family in the world. My immediate family is the best as well as my extended family. How do I know? Because I have many friends and see many families and rarely see a family like mine. My mom has been in declining health for the past six or seven years. My sisters take better care of her than anyone can imagine. People are always saying how great it is that we do what we do for her but isn't that what everyone does? Jerryl, Joye, and Janny have definitely earned some jewels because they give up a part of their own lives to be with Mom. We don't think of it as giving up though because we get to spend that time with Mom, who by the way is fine mentally. She is smart and funny and knows what is going on in the world and has definite opinions. My father died when I was 6 years old. Many people have asked why didn't my mom remarry. The answer is, she gave all she had to us. She was very busy. We always had what we needed and now I am realizing we also had more than most people. We were loved. We had a huge extended family. My mom had 13 aunts and uncles that treated us like we were the best things ever. We were treated like grandchildren by them, which was good because I was 11 years old when my last grandparent passed away. Of course they are all gone now but the love they instilled in us still lives on. Then I had my own aunts and uncles. Most of them lived far away and we didn't see them too much. My Uncle Clair, however, was more like a brother than an uncle. After my dad died, he still came and spent weekends with us and played with us, scolded us, teased us, and loved us. We saw the others at family reunions. Everyone made a huge effort to come to those so we could spend time together. It was never enough time but it did bring us close together and it got us to know our cousins. I feel very sorry for the cousins that don't come because they are missing out on a family group that is so supporting and loving.
We just spent a day or so with my family as Uncle Maurice died and we got together to remember his life and celebrate his love for all of us. His kids and grandkids were all there. I hope that even as our aunts and uncles leave this world that the cousins will continue to get together and love each other. As I spent some time visiting with my cousins, I just thought about how I wish we could get together more. All of them are such nice people. They are easy to talk to and just are who they are. I think the evidence that this is not just me is in the fact that the in-laws are included just as much as the blood relatives. When my cousin's widow's husband said he was really working hard on learning who everyone in her family is, it struck me that yes, we are her family and now he is a part of that too. I am so lucky that my grandparents put the love for God and the love for family into our parents and I love seeing that go on down the line.

A Great Birthday Party

Today I went for fun coffee drinks to Shirley Ks in Cambridge with 6 friends. We had the best time. That is a group of my favorite people and we all laughed and had a terrific time. There were no games and no one dominated the conversation. Thank you to them for such a nice time. I am dealing with this birthday as best I can. I really am having a mid-live crisis. If I could afford it, I would just head out and see where I landed. I do understand why people try new things. I thought about the Bucket List. On that email that was going around, I had really done quite a few of the things. What do I still have to do? I would like to live in a house that I chose and helped plan. I would like to spend time at the beach with my feet in the water. I have done that in Maine and would love to do it again. I would like to see the Grand Cranyon and Yellowstone Park, and Glacier National Park. I would like to see a Polar bear in the wild. I would like to sleep in a lighthouse. I want to play with grand nieces and nephews. I would like to not be worried about money. I would like to be able to stand up to people. I would like to have my college gang get together again. I would like to attend a Broncos game in Denver. I guess I'd better start saving my money.

Getting Older

I am about to change decades in my age and I am not very excited about it. I have nothing to show for anything! I have not accomplished all that much, in fact, I have accomplished nothing. I have had the same job for the last 27 years! What does that say? I do not own a home, or a car, or have children or go on great vacations. I do have a job and a roof over my head and a car that is almost paid for...... I have a great family, but that is none of my doing. I have some terrific friends, but I also have some "friends" that weigh me down. But I just put up with it. Why? I suppose because I think that I can "help" them? I enjoy them sometimes but how much do you have to put up with before you call it quits. Just this week two of them sat here in my house and lied to me. Then they expect me to be their great friend. I am a good friend to them, but they are not to me. On the up beat I heard from two friends that I haven't heard from for years. One of them is a college friend that I worked with at Goodrich Dairy Store in Kearney. He called me and told me that in all the years and all the people that he has met there are just a handful that even if you do not see them ever again, are in your heart and you love them. He told me that I was one of those to him, as he is to me. I wanted to plan a get together for my college friends that are the same age as me, we all turn within 6 weeks of each other. One of them can't come because of a wedding, her nephew's so of course that is understandable. One can't come because she has a meeting at work, one can't come because she was the last one to ask for it off of work and she isn't feeling well. So, it isn't because they don't want to come but what I find so sad, is that all of us are in the same boat. When we were young and in college we swore we would take a cruise when we turned 50. Now we can't even all make it to McCook because we are still working away at jobs that we can't just take off. I know, I know that I have a great life. I do But it just isn't what I always pictured.

Shop Fee???

I recently had my car aligned in a local dealer's garage. First of all, I had an appointment with the Chevy garage but the guy who does the alignments was sick that day I had the appointment. Since I had had the appointment for a week, they took it to the Ford garage to have it done. They are both owned by the same company. I had a quote from the Chevy garage and went with them over some of the independent guys because they were a few dollars cheaper. Anyway, I knew there were going to be a few extra things they needed to do like put on a tie rod and perhaps an axle with the boot. When the called to ask me if they could do those things, I said yes, do whatever needs to be done for the least amount of money you can do it. I went down to pay my bill and they were $5 more on the alignment than the Chevy garage but OK. Then I see a $10 misc charge. I asked them what that was for. "OH, it is just a shop fee. We put it on every ticket. It is a percentage of your bill." I ask, "What is it for?" "It is just a shop fee." Again, "What is it for?" At this time they started to get very impatient and I think, rude, "Well, it is for shop supplies." Me:"Isn't that the parts charge?" They: "NO, that is for the parts." ME:"Isn't that included in the labor fee?" Which by the way is $75 an hour. They: "NO, it is for things like" and I am telling the truth."ELECTRICITY, and oil and shop rags."
I am not kidding. I think they should have said coffee and rolls. Anyway, I think that should be included in the quote of price because that made them much higher than the independent guy. If they need to do it then they should put it on the labor charge and I would not know how to question it.

Why Is It?

Why is it that people are always playing head games with each other? I remember a song from when I was a kid, Oh the Games People Play Now. How true.
This gal I know called me the other day and she was so upset. She had just read a book by Steve Harvey called something like How to Think Like a Man. In this book he says that to please and keep your man you have to do certain things. He said that men like clean houses so you need to keep your house very clean. Men like good meals at mealtime so you need to make great meals, and men like the "cookie" all the time, so you had better be prepared to give your man "cookies" whenever he wants. All I can say is WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS? Excuse me!!!! I want a clean house and good meals too and I would really like some care and devotion too. How is that thinking like a man. When I am working 12 long hours, 5 days a week, I don't think it is entirely up to me to make sure the house is clean and the food is prepared and purchased. He said that if your man isn't getting "cookies" from you, he will go elsewhere to find it. Excuse Me again!! What kind of a person is that? I only read a few excerpts from this book and I was so mad I couldn't see straight for a little bit. I just think we have bought into the idea that we have to please someone and those someones have gotten into the ideas that they have to be pleased and that may be why the divorce rate is so high.
Another friend was telling me about a book she read about how to please your partner. It said that men want to be respected and women want to be loved. That kind of thinking is a little better. I think that may be true and maybe if we look at the things we do and say, we aren't treating each other in those ways and with a little bit of tweaking, we can improve our relationships.
My relationship with my man is fine. I am not reading these books or having these conversations looking for advice but I do know that the respect is definitely a key area of our relationship. HE wants to be respected and can handle a dirty house and toast to eat if he feels that he is respected.
Going back to Steve Harvey. Why do (does?) all the media think this is talk show material? I think he has been on every talk show there is. Do people really buy into this? Don't you think that in a relationship that is working, both of those people will work to make things the way they want them, IE a clean house or fancy meals or whatever?! Steve Harvey is the same age as me so I don't understand how he missed the women's movement or how he cannot see that in the real world most women are going to an outside job as well as keeping house, taking care of kids and meals, as well as having a husband or partner.
I think I will write a book, What Women Want and How to Make Sure Your Woman is Fulfilled. In it I will put that women want a clean house with new furniture, no TV noise, good food and a clean kitchen,shopping done, car gassed and tires up, time for an uninterrupted bubble bath, beautiful clothes, and the "cookie" only when she wants it. For you see, everyone has their wants but unfortunately we have to live in a society that may not allow us to have everything we want, exactly when and how we want it. As a teacher, I see the results of this kind of thinking every day. There are some people that just think that the world is going to revolve around them and if it doesn't then someone is going to pay. The media should not encourage this type of thinking. Someone should tell Steve Harvey that he, and no person, is the center of the world and that we don't get everything we want but that we go on and we work at compromise and getting along and SHARING. I wonder what he was like in kindergarten?

Neighbors

Last night the wind came up something fierce and my outside cat was still outside. She sleeps in the basement. Anyway, I went out to find her and the neighbor came to the fence to visit. We were talking about all the cats in the neighborhood and how I feed his cat every night. ( His cat,Cody, has semi-adopted me. Everynight he comes and cries at my door and I take him a scoop of either Iams or Science Diet hairball food because earlier in the summer he was throwing up hairballs and otherwise getting rid of hairballs on my step and sidewalk. They feed him the WalMart brand that the vet told me has no nutrition.) He was telling me that he usually leaves his garage door open a little bit so the cats can go in there if it storms. He said the cats really like his garage. I asked him why they would like his garage. The answer: I keep the rats and mice I breed in the garage in cages! Oh great. Now, not only does he have enemies that kicked in his garage door but he also has rats and mice. Why do you have rats and mice? To feed my snake. He has a 6 foot Python in his house!!!! What a great place to live.

Lucky or Unlucky?

I fell backwards, headfirst, down a flight of 13 wooden steps and landed on a cement floor. I only had bruises.

I got bit by a tick. The bite developed into a bulls eye rash and itches and hurts horribly. I called the Dr. and got started on an antibiotic right away before any other symptoms developed. The rash is getting less hard and less red.

I got two new chips in my windshield but they haven't spread yet and we have a good fix it place here in town.

My driver's side window of my car quit working and went down but not up. It was a fairly nice day, windy but hot and not rainy, so I could drive with my window down without a problem.

Neal was able to take the door panel off but now can't get the part. The part costs $315 from the dealer and they have one. It is $90-$168 from the parts houses but they won't have one until next Thursday. I am going to Burwell but I can drive without a door panel if I have to.

My car is parked in a very dry garage where it won't get rained on and we have no vermin in the garage. It is supposed to rain tomorrow so I can't go anywhere.

I am done at school, finally, but they sent a whole box of our new reading, language and spelling series for us to practice at home throughout the summer.
We are starting a very controversial reading, language and spelling program that failed in McCook and I have been told that "You will cry the first year," but
I still have a job and the series doesn't look as bad as I thought. Our principal hired an outside consultant but she is not affiliated with the series. She has just taken the training from the company so she is much easier to work with than what I know other schools have to work with.

I have lost my camera. I have asked St. Anthony for help. I can't think of an upside for that just yet!

Mom isn't feeling too well but she is still home and doing better. She has also had 88 years of being very healthy.

I have many people who love me and take care of me. The other day when I was feeling very low, Ree came to make sure I was OK, Jerryl called to see how I was, Julie expressed her concern and Neal came home early to take me to two parties we had been invited to. I got hugs at both parties. We didn't stay too long at either because my arm, where the tick bite is, was killing me but we did get to go and say hi to everyone.

A house burned down here yesterday and really put things into perspective.
I am really very lucky.

More random thoughts

I am a teacher. I love teaching kids. I don't exactly love my job anymore as it is so political. I really depends on who is your friends on how you get treated. Today one of our teachers retired after 27 1/2 years of teaching in our school system. She was given 3 minutes at our talent show in the elementary building and two gifts in gift bags. Another teacher retired also. I don't know how long he had taught in our system but he has taught many, many years. He has been with us, I would guess, about 10 years. He was one that came in the consolidation so I really don't know when he came but we have been consolidated about 7 years. He didn't even get that much. He got a hurry up card and gift certificate. What is wrong with this picture? The gal from the elementary spent her life in that building. She would be there until 8 o'clock at night and did so much for the kids. She is on the city library board so she can make sure the village has the correct books and she was on the school's foundation until this year. She has given all to the school district and to the children. Doesn't she deserve more than a gift bag? The school board or the superintendent weren't even there to give her that. I really think the school board needs a policy on retirement and that teachers that retire from teaching, not change schools, should be recognized at either the spring program or graduation. When I first started teaching it was at graduation. That would be an appropriate time as there are many parents and alumni present We had a teacher retire a few years ago and the parent organized this huge party with balloons and gifts and invited former students. That teacher had also been with our school a long time but she was very well-to-do and so was seen in many public places with the other well-to-do people, thusly, they gave her a party. I just don't understand why it is that in education, the older you are the less valuable you are. I know I am a better teacher now than I was when I was 25. Maybe not as excited and I maybe don't do as many "fun" things but I know my students are learning more in the subject area. It just seems like when we get 55 years old, we are being asked to retire and then when we do it is like "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." I feel bad for these teachers. They have given all they had to their students and to the school district. They were very successful teachers. Then on another note, some of the teachers in our school got "Smart boards" at the beginning of the year. Some of us got them within the last 3 weeks. My class had heard the class next door watching movies on their smartboard all year. It is just like watching on a big screen. So I told them we would watch one yesterday or today. yesterday I tried and our board wasn't set up for that yet. I asked our media person if she could take care of that and she said she would try to get to it. She did come in, and she is very busy this time of the year. She thought she had it ready. So today we tried and it wasn't ready. I asked her and she just said, I apologize, sorry. I am not her best friend so my kids didn't get to watch on the big screen. It didn't hurt anyone, in fact we read some fun books and they really liked it but it is just the "politicalness" of it.

Last Day of School

May 15, the last day of school for the year. I graduated from high school on May 15, I graduated from college on May 15, and today was the last day of school with this class. I always look forward to the last day of school but I also dread it. For one thing, now the really hard work of cleaning and putting everything away begins. I always think that I will really be organized this year and then always end up running out of time and just shoving stuff. I have thrown away tons of stuff and brought most of my personal belongings home so maybe this year won't be so bad. We have to have everything packed in boxes as they are starting a major construction job in our school.Then there is report cards and yes, we still fill out the cum folders. We are to have all of that done on Monday so that the rest of the week we can have training on our new Reading Series, Reading Mastery. Then of course, I am so tired when I get home that everything at home gets left until " I am done at school" and so my house also is in need of great organizing. But I get finished at school on Thursday and will try to go to Burwell on Saturday. I plan on spending most of the month there. I need to come back to this "home" one weekend as it is the auction of the property of Neal's late aunt and the going away party for my minister who is leaving after ten years. I am sorry to see him go but anxious to see what our new minister will be like. That's the scoop here.

Jane's update

Here is my update. I'll start with today and go backwards. I took today off just for a personal day to get my stuff done because I was so busy the past two weeks. Last night I was letting Marcia in and I fell down the basement steps. There are about a dozen steep wooden steps and I went down them head first. I managed to keep my head up and my arms sort of tucked in but I am covered with bruises and don't feel very well today. My left leg has a very sore bruise, my right shoulder and my the fingers on my right hand are really swollen. My whole back is just one big bruise and is also scraped up. I tore the skin off of my left ankle. I really don't know how it looked but it was scary and hurt like crazy. I slid at the bottom of the stairs so I ended up about 3 feet from the bottom step. It knocked the wind out of me and now today I have a scratchy voice. I suppose because it was hard to talk at first and I forced it. I called the chiropractor but they have no openings. My Dr. only works about one morning a week and if I am going to drive to Oberlin I want to see him. I may call the one I have been to here in town if it seems like I need to go but really, my "back" seems OK. I am not going to get everything done I thought I might get done. My back door is to a small landing and there are three doors there, the door to the garage, the door to the kitchen and the back door and then the steps. Usually I stand in the kitchen and open the back door because it swings inward. This time I was on the landing and I must have taken a step back. Anyway, I am sore but think I will be OK.
Sunday was confirmation at church. I am a "prayer partner" and have prayed for confirmand all year. I went to the alter with her family when she was confirmed. Dorothy and David also come to visit. They picked us up for church and then we ate at Pizza Hut and went to Wal-mart and then just came home and visited. They left about 4:00 and then I took a nap.
Saturday I left home at 6:30 a.m. and drove to Valerie's house. She then drove us to Lincoln where we met Mom, Jerryl, Janny, Joye, Julie, Sarah, and Catherine at the quilt museum. We went to the Grace Synder exhibit. She was truly an artist and her quilts are beautiful. We ate at Olive Garden which was very good and then shopped at my favorite clothing store where I spent a bunch of money for 5 items of clothing. I told Jerryl that we had to check the receipt because that store had cheated me more than once. We checked and everything seemed to be in order. I got home and looked on-line and found out they had cheated me once again. I bought three tops. They were having a sale, buy two tops get one free, but they told me that only one of my tops was eligible for that sale so I said OK, whatever, but then after I looked on-line, two of my tops should have qualified and I should have gotten a free top. I may call them today but their manager is not nice. I have argued with her many times. I may have to just go there to try on clothes and order them on-line.
Friday night was our Good Friends Celebration. The Third grade has these older people from the community paired up with the children. Every month we get together and have a program and snacks with them. Then in April we have a huge party where we invite their spouses or guests and the kids' parents. The kids put on a musical that the music teacher and I work up. Then the Good Friends bring desserts. We decorate the tables and make gifts for the Friends. Valerie and Neal came Friday afternoon and helped the janitor set up our tables and then they decorated the tables so by the time my kids left school they almost had the whole thing ready to go. Afterwards we have to clean up but the parents help. It is another blog subject to talk about the manners of parents and adults in our society.
Friday during the day we had the bicycle rodeo and got everything ready for the Celebration and then performed our play in front of the whole school.
Wednesday and Thursday were just busy days getting ready while having school. Tuesday was our field trip. We went to McCook. We started out reading to the residents of Highland Park, a retirement home. Then we toured McCook National Bank, Community Hospital, the Humane Society, and the McCook Safety Center. At the hospital one of my kids had a horrible headache so I had to drop out of the tour to take care of him and then had to try to get in touch with someone to come get him. Of course the number they put on the emergency sheet was a cell phone that Dad didn't have turned on so I couldn't get in touch with anyone. So I called the secretary at school and she took care of the calling. Then I had arranged with the Fair building that we would come use the restrooms there because our parks just don't have very good bathrooms but we were running a little bit late so I called the gal at the office and asked if she could unlock the building before she left as she had told me in no certain terms that she left at noon for her lunch and we had to be there before noon. It was looking like we wouldn't be there until about 12:05 so I called her. She lit into me that she didn't have time for me and that since I was using the building for free she didn't have to help me blah blah blah. Of course, I had 28 talking third graders in the bus so I just told her to forget it; we would do something different. I told my bus driver, who just happens to be my supt., to just take us to the park and we'd do what we could there. It was a beautiful day, windy of course, but nice so we could eat there and go to the bathroom behind the trees if we had to. No one had to use the bathroom I guess. Anyway, my sick child's grandma came, we ate and then left to go to the Humane Society. They usually give great tours and let the kids see the animals. Well, the gal in charge had gone home sick and left another worker who knew nothing about giving a tour. I gave the tour! Then we went to the Safety Center where we had scheduled a visit to the tornado house. The first group took off and then came right back. The video quit. So we just got a tour of the fire barn. It was very interesting. Then we went home and played on our park equipment. We had a good time but it was very stressful.
Monday was our school spring program so we had to go to the high school to practice and then that night was the concert.
Sunday wasn't anything too much.
Saturday I spent the day in Kearney at a State Board Meeting.
Friday was our Reading Council's final meeting for the year and we had a gal from Nicodemus Kansas speak and we had a meal catered. It went well.
That was the last week.

This is Wednesday the 29th and I am home still. The people at school told me to stay home another day. I am very sore!!! My whole backside is just one huge bruise and I am very stiff. But, I am alive and well and that is the important thing.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! Praise the Lord for the gift he gave us on this holy,holy weekend. I always remember Valerie when she was very small. We had a very effective Good Friday service where the minister told the story of Good Friday and then draped the alter and the cross in black. We all left the church in silence. We got to the car and were on our way home and she began crying and crying. When we asked her what was wrong she said," They killed my friend." The faith of the child. Then I remember the Easter that Mackenzie was born. What a miracle! We were very surprised to have her come that day. She was tiny, tiny, but very mighty. I also remember one Easter with Sarah. We came back to Grandma's house after church to find a real bunny tail on the porch. We told her that it was the tail of the Easter Bunny and that the cats must have killed him. She was very upset! Happy Easter and may this Easter bring wonderful blessings and memories to you all!

Rules for Life...Why don't people follow them?

Happiest place to be! That's what I heard about Nebraska this week. I do believe it too. We don't have enough stuff around us to make us unhappy and we rely on inner happiness. Today I went over the classroom rules with my children and just thought about how much happier we would all be is everyone followed those rules. The first one is "Treat others the way you want to be treated." Of course, we know that if everyone did this we would not have any problems. The next one is, "Be positive and encouraging to everyone, even yourself." Wow! NO put downs to anyone. We all could practice this. I don't say put-downs to most people but to myself, I am the queen of put-downs. "Invite others to play with you, don't leave anyone out." Again, wouldn't life be better if others listened to that and carried through. "Listen completely. Look at the person speaking and be still while you are listening. Respond appropriately." "Be a winner. Do your best at all times."
And last but not least are our rules for apologizing. "Look at the person. Use a pleasant face and polite voice. Say I am sorry for .... It won't happen again. What can I do to make it right? and It won't happen again. Please forgive me. If you accept the apology, the case is over. If you can't accept the apology you tell what you want the other person to do and then you say "Thank you for your apology." I really think that we could all use these ideas and if we all did, life would be a lot easier.

Just Too Busy and Boring

I haven't written on here lately because this is the busiest time of the year yet also the most boring for other people to hear about. I have been planning my class's field trip. I have taken up about 10 prep periods and am still not done. So far we are reading to the residents at the retirement home, one of the residents used to live across the street from the school and loves to have us come visit her. Then we are going to the bank and then the hospital. We will have lunch in the 4-H building so no matter if it is rainy or windy we will have a place to stretch, go to the bathroom and run. Then we are going to the Humane Society and then to the Fire Station for a tour through their new storm safety house. They will simulate a storm and tornado and teach the kids what to do. It sounds pretty neat to me. The other Third Grade teacher has done NOTHING to help me plan this. She just said to me to " just do it." Then we have our final Good Friends celebration coming up. There is so much to do for that I don't even know how to explain it all to her. We have to get decorations bought and then put up that afternoon. Then we have to get the invitations sent and the information to parents and Good Friends. We need to get a program made with a picture of the kids on it. There is just a bunch to do. Oh well. We have achievement tests next week so have this week to get ready.
Then at home I am trying to get things cleaned up. I have a plan to change my cow bedroom into an office. I have a leather chaise lounge in the basement I am going to bring up, put a TV on the wall and get a desk and some bright lamps. I think it will be kind of neat.
That's about it for here.

Update on the Last Blog

Thank you for all the nice comments and I am glad that some people updated their blogs. I went to the eye Dr. and my numbers were back to high normal so I don't have to go back for a year. I have worn my new glasses and they really help. We went to visit the school that does the Reading Series we are looking at. I guess as far as I can see it is just another reading series. I can teach it, I am sure. It reminds me of how I learned reading and I am a very good reader so I have nothing against the program. Two things really worry me. One, everyone I know that has taught out of it says that you cry the whole first year and parents are very unsure of it. The other is the cost! They could bring in a college class and give us all three hours and spend less money. Maybe that would be a better use of the money. Then, no matter what you are teaching, we teachers could do it the way they seem to want it. One argument I have heard for it is that it takes the teacher element out of it but after observing I would have to argue that that is not true. We watched several teachers today and all of their own styles came thru loud and clear. It involves testing every week and recording "data", the new buzz word for education. It looks like it would take a long time. Right now our kids leave at 3:45. That only gives us 15 minutes of school time to do anything. If that is the schedule next year, then they will have to figure out a time for us to assimilate all our data. The rumor is that next year our kids will leave at 3:15. That would give us 45 minutes which would probably do it. Who knows. I saw two people I know that were teachers there so that was nice. It was a nice trip and the weather was beautiful. I am very tired though.
I heard back from the kids I sent one package to. I am so glad they like the books. I don't know if everyone feels the same about Marc Brown but I was pretty much in awe when I saw him.
I had a great Friday the 13th. A safe trip and I got to eat lunch with Janny and Jim and Valerie went with me. We hadn't done anything for a long time and it was lots of fun to spend some time with her
I heard from the sermon that we are to love people for who they are and nothing more. Not what they can do for us or get us so I have decided to not mention wanting a house again. Maybe I will start buying lottery tickets! I love Neal for being him and for making me laugh and feel safe, not for what he can get me. (Obviously, because he hasn't gotten me that much stuff.) Ha Ha. No, really though. Maybe if I had money, I wouldn't want to share it either.
That brings up another topic. Love of Money. Maybe the next blog.......
Here's hoping that everyone is happy and safe. Remember, that we can't control what other people do. We can only control how we handle it and what we do with it. There will always be people that are mean and unfair and we have to figure out how to deal with it. I have experienced that all my life but especially this year at work. I have just decided that I will be me and whatever happens, happens. Not that I don't worry or feel bad but in the long run, those people are not important to me. Maybe that is another blog topic too. We could all tell our thoughts.
Thanks again for the comments!