Sherilenn's Ramblings

What is everyone doing for Halloween?  Costumes and party plans, please!

Here are the promised pics of the rest of the painted rooms.  As you can see, it is not all totally fixed...but I think it looks good. 

         

I will be leaving VERY early in the morning for my trip.  I will be attending a school conference with about 20 of my colleagues.  This is exciting!  First...not really sure what I have gotten myself into, but will do the best I can.  Secondly...I will be going to Phoenix.  If you don't count St. Lois, I have never been across the Mississippi!!  And, lastly....even though I have spent plenty of time at the airport (living in S ATL for a while will do that to you), the last time I flew was in 8th grade.  

I found me a GREAT duffle bag with rollers for $21 in honor of my trip.  It's brown with big teal hawaiian flowers.  So cool.  We leave out of ATL around 11:30 on Thursday and will be flying back in last Sunday night around 10:30.  

So, I will be able to check email through my phone but won't be on the net for a bit.  Feel free to text me if you need to talk to me!!  or if you get bored and are thinking of me!!  


OH YEAH! I bought myself an early bday present...an iPod Touch.  I have all my songs and VIDEOS (!!!) of Bones and Firefly to keep me entertained.  Love technology. 

Update:

It is Wednesday.  I have Disaronno.  The show is over and was a great success.  Cade has not gotten into serious trouble this week.  Cambrey only whined a little today.  I have Disaronno.  My grass has been cut.  The trash has been taken out.  Two more days of school before Spring Break.

See...I am trying to focus on the positive. Is it working???


(nothing to do for SB, mad at the guy for not living up to the expectations he set, still crying from depression/stress at least once a day, Cade still failing and school won't set up the mtg we want, house is a wreck, gained wait, all alone, have a hard time focusing on the positive)

Funny....6th grader asked today: Why are you always so happy? I laughed, said I am not. Just trying to not take it out on you. They appreciated it.  So, my game face is good!!

I have Disaronno. Have I mentioned that?  Going to bed soon.  (yes, it is just after 7) Two more days.

Sorry it's been so long.  Sometimes, I just don't feel like talking, ya know?  So I will try to make it up to you and fill you in on everything I can think of.  Please run away now!!

Kids:
Cam- still getting taller.  Still working on the sassy mouth.  I wish I could claim I don't know where she gets it from but at least it is only with me that it is a problem.  She is doing well at school, by all reports. I am still concerned that she has a LD in reading.  But, since she maintains at grade level, no one will listen to me.  She is a the end of 1st grade and still does not decode words.  She makes decent grades so they aren't concerned like I am.  She will see the first letter or two and guess at the rest.  Could just be how she learns, but I have seen her read it right the first time then 5 minutes later mess it up.  She doesn't have any connection.  So, paranoid mom just keeps watching and seeing what is going on. 

Cade-  just don't know what do to.  It is so hard having a kid with legitimate special needs.  He is failing LA and Science.  My genius son.  He has been convinced by someone or somehow at the school that he is dumb...he tells us that his is....and is positive he is going to fail the CRCT.  The stress is ridiculous.  We are convincing him that he is smart as much as we can.  We give him extra practice stuff and work with him.  I hate his teacher.  Despise her and am blaming her for all this. She does not take time with him and does not make accomodations for his needs.  I have proof and am trying to deal with it through proper channels.  This is going to be a long fight.  He got into a real fight at school on Friday.  Nothing big in the sense of injuries...no physical damage to any....but punches and stuff were real.  My son.  He's 8. 

Me:
I am burnt out of school, ready for the year to be over.  I really am having a hard time focusing for the students and giving them my best. One week til spring break so I hope that I can recharge enough to make it.  I am really enjoying my gifted courses and the ideas I am being exposed to.  There are still a lot of questions for next year as the new school opens here.  I will be traveling, like all Connections teachers, between the two schools.  Just still not sure what I will actually be teaching over there...music or chorus or both.  No idea of budget, etc.  Just lots of questions.

The spring musical will be performed on Tuesday.  It's going to be a great show but I am so ready for it to be over.  I have had rehearsals every morning for the past 2 months and then the last couple of weeks a few afternoons each week.  The kids are doing a great job and there have been no personality problems so it is considered a success already.  After that is over, I get to hide again for a while.  I can't wait.  Kelly (the drama teacher) may actually make me talk to the crowd on Tuesday...not looking forward to it.  I always seem to say something stupid in those situations!!

The guy I had been dating stopped calling me.  Don't really know why cuz he won't talk about it.  According to his friend (who introduced us) he just gets involved in projects and focuses to the point of ignoring all else.  Well, I got ignored.  It hurt a lot cuz he really made me feel great on so many levels.  And I know that he cared, on some level.  But, it stopped.  I tried to be patient and then I tried to talk to him. Turns out that he just backs away more in that case.  Spent a couple weeks upset and trying to get him to talk about it.  Nothing. So I got depressed, worked through it, and am finally through it.  I realize that I am worth it and that he should make the effort for me.  I get it all logically but emotionally I still want to know why.  Probably never will. 

Because of all this stress, I have been eating too much so it is now time to focus again. My clothes still fit...but just a little tight now.  Must concentrate!!  Probably doesn't help that my favorite place right now is lying around in my bed.  Ah. 

BUT, I have reservations at Tybee for June.  I have great buddies coming to D*C with me this year on top of all you guys.  I have some great friends. And Serenity is on HBO right now.  Life can be good. 

Can I make one last pitiful thought??  Why do I have to be alone?  Why do I feel so alone?

Okay, now over it.  Gonna go eat a Cadbury's egg, take a hot bath, and read Nora Roberts.  While listening to Serenity.  Ahhhh. 

I constantly think about updating and telling y'all what's going on over here in LaLaLand.  So here is a quick update!

My current weekly schedule:

Daily- 7:30 to 8 Chorus rehearsal for the spring musical...yes, that is a.m.
Then daily- teach my 7 other classes
Then the fun of bus duty til at least 4...or whenever the last bus decides to come. 
On Tuesdays and Thursdays- afterschool rehearsal for the musical, til about 5 cuz I have to leave to drive the 30 minutes to pick up my own kids.
On Most Tuesdays for the next year (started last week), I skip rehearsal and have a class from 4:30-9:30, except the teacher is human and we get out around 8.  This is for Gifted Endorsement on my GA teacher certification. 

Oh, yeah. I am supposed to stay happy and up-to-date on my own children's school progress...wash clothes....clean the house occasionally....you know the rest.

Do I sound as stressed as I feel?  I love you all and think of you constantly!!  I would love to see you soon. 

This goes along so well with  More Joy Day/Weekend.  So,  I thought I would give it a try!!

Ten Happy Things

The rules are easy, just post 10 things that recently made you happy!  Because it is good. Everyone needs a little happiness once in a while.

1.  Working with really cool people.  They keep me laughing. I can truly be myself with them. 
2.  Coming home to a clean house today cuz my sometimes maid was here!!  So nice.
3. Having my hair re-colored to look good again. 
4.  Having a guy call regularly to just talk to me. 
5. Having same said guy bring back a bracelet and necklace from him business trip for me!!
6. Cambrey coming in to just give me a hug.
7. A student respond to me positively.  Knowing I care and seeing that matter.
8. Waking up to feel one of my cats tucked up next to my back and the other at my feet. 
9. Laughing like crazy over a colleague that annoys us all.  Really, we are way too mean.
10.  Having a hot bubble bath with a glass of wine and a good book. Forgot the candle but will do better next time!!

Been a pretty good holiday for us.  The kids certainly racked up on presents....still trying to find a place for all of them. (translation:  their bedrooms look like disaster areas)  I think my favorite gift is the down blanket from my mom, though I got some other neat stuff too. 

The kids headed back to school today but I don't have to go back til Monday.  Had a big list of "todo" today....and I got some of it done!!  Between naps and reading, of course. 

Trying to get us all back on school routine, but it is tough going for me.  I have been so lazy this holiday!! 

Breakdown:  First few days, relaxing around the house and last minute stuff. Then the kids were off to ATL to be with the gparents for a couple days, including Christmas Day.  I spent the time off going on dates and hanging out with friends.  Christmas Day for me was the usual "happy" family lunch and then I got to go to a friend's house for Christmas Dinner.  Got the kids back and did all their Christmas.  The next couple of days were playing with all the new stuff and hanging out with friends.  Another date.  Then, New Year's at Bev and Jason's.  Mom had the kids for me and they got to enjoy a good hockey game and party after.  See Jason's post for our major party session.  Then home again...crashed for a bit.  Yesterday was just getting the kids ready for school.  Took them this morning (a rare treat) and then off to the grocery store like a 'real' mom! 

And now you are all updated with my super exciting life.  Hope you all had a great holiday, too.

Oh, one negative...still having toilet troubles, but luckily only one this time not both!! 

Okay, I know y'all aren't gonna believe this.....I have been on two dates this week with a general plan for  third!! Yep, me.  And, yes, same guy. lol  
His name is Hugh.  He's a good friend of a guy I work with...yes, we were "set up".  Neal has been trying to get us to talk for months.  Well, we finally did.  He's a nice guy and makes me feel good...so, I say yes when he asks me out. Duh.  It's interesting to be treated as someone....interesting.  Kinda different for me!! (*grin*)  Wish me luck...or at least fun!!

Merry Christmas Eve to all.  Love you and don't know what I would do without you'all being my friends.  I hope and wish for a wonderful Christmas morning.  May you get all that you wish for. 

Love to all