The first days of school

I love my kiddos....I love my job. I was home by 3:30pm today!! Everyone, pick yourself up off the floor...I know, it's a shocker. I'm actually teaching. It's just the best of times right now. I'll let you know when the honeymoon is over. Actually one of my boys decided the honeymoon was over yesterday. But none of it is anywhere near the stress or level of disrecpect I encountered at the place that shall not be named.

The worst part of my job (right now) is that I have to leave my house by 6:15AM. That is just entirely too early for me. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but sheez. I need to go to bed by 8:30PM....speaking of, it's past my bedtime already. And actually I'm not there because I took a nap today. Yes, I've become a perfectionist at the napping. My roommate couldn't even wake me up to go get a drink----what the hell??? It's the 5AM business.

This is a poorly written blog, sorry. I'm more in a chatty mood. We all know, when I"m chatty I don't always make sense to anyone else. So if you are at all confused. See a blog later this week or early next week. I promise it will be better written.

Buddy, Dora, and the boys.

School starts on Wednesday--can you believe it?? I'm happy to be back into a normal schedule. It's nice to not have school anymore. I really might enjoy not being a student this year.

I signed up for a kickball team. We will play on Thursdays. If you ever wanna come watch, let me know. Also, if you are interested in creating your own team look up www.kickball.com I will be on the Schoolhouse Rocks team, which is made up of mostly Center Middle School teachers.

So, the hamsters (Buddy, Dora, and the boys) are going to school tomorrow. They are very excited to meet new students. Two of them will probably be going to Gordon Parks Elementary. I am sure they will have a good time with the little ones there. I will be keeping Buddy of course and Dora (if she's not a chosen one) will probably stay across the hall in Ms. Sage's room. I'm planning on getting one of those really fun hamster homes for Buddy. She certainly deserves one. I'll have to take a pic and put it on here for ya'll to see. They are pretty cute little rascals. I suggest them for any classroom.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic start to their week. chow!

Shake it off

I'm still a failure at shaking it off. I just can't get over some things. Anyone have any secrets to 'getting over it' or moving on?

I haven't been up to much lately except for embracing my new job. I'm really enjoying the public school. It brings lots of new challenges. I am excited to meet my kiddos on Wednesday.

Happy Sunday to everyone. I hope it's relaxing.

Do you love where you work?

I love where I work. I really haven't been there long, and I reserve the right to change my mind later, but right now, I love where I work. I'm excited about teaching. I feel supported and appreciated (and they haven't even seen me teach yet...). It's just a fantastic feeling. I want everyone to have it.
The one of many things my dad has taught me is that I should love what I do. Since our primary life is our job, we should enjoy it. It really sucks the life out of you if you are doing something that you abhor for 9-?? hours a day. How are we supposed to enjoy the rest of the day (like 4 hours) if we spend 9-?? in misery? I know how I did it at my last job when I was always miserable. I was a member of DTA--drunk teachers association. Funny stuff.
Well....I wish for everyone to love where they work and what they do.

Daddy-o update: he's doing well. Today I was told that mom took him to the farm and he watered his shrubs!! This is fantastic. This is just a sign of normalcy. I think it was very much needed for our family. Thanks to everyone that has sent me information or where to find information, keep it coming.

Have happy days!

Northern Vacation

With all the excitment-good and bad, I decided to take a vacation this weekend. I drove up to Minnesota to see my 'cousin', Maure. While the drive was long and boring, it was so worth it. We had such a fantastic time.
When Maure moved to Kansas City and we started hanging out (we really didn't know each other before this time) and we became really tight. Well..since those good times, Maure has fallen in love, married and moved away. It's a very sad deal, since she played such a major role in my life. This weekend was the first weekend, I feel, that we have really connected since she got married. It was so nice and necessary to have that connection back. (sidenote-I'm starting to see this pattern with all my newly married friends) Anyway, my vacation was perfect. I hung out with Maure all weekend. We just had good times. And while our lives are very different, we can still understand, empathize and love each other. I truly do agree with Maure, we were meant to be sisters.

I'm seeking information on strokes, so if you know of any good sites, books, or organizations in KC...please let me know.

Life

Do you want the good news or the bad news?

The good news is that the bash on Saturday was fantastic. Loads of fun, I wish everyone I knew was there. My dad turned 59 and had a great time hanging out with his friends.
I also made the grades to graduate. I've promised my self a year off of school before I start again. Whether I'll actually start again is a whole nother deal. I had my day of filling out paper work for my new school - Center Middle School. I just love everyone there. I knew about half of the new employees either from UMKC, DTA, or NWMSU. It's going to be a good time. I hope to be there for a while. Hopefully longer than 2 years, which is the longest I've ever held a job.
Eric starts law school soon. I believe he's ready to go. He'll make a fantastic lawyer.

The bad news. My dad had a stroke on Sunday. He was able to come home Wednesday night. It's just so funny how life changes in just a second. We've got a lot of work to do. He is okay, just weak on the right side and has some speech problems....but we are pretty lucky that he recovered so well. If anyone reading this has high blood pressure, get your life changed. Eat better, take your medicine, walk or excercise. Do something for yourself, or you too will end up with a stroke.

Anyway...I start my new job for real next week and the kids come the week after. It'll be a good change of pace. Please pray for my family and my father.