I did. It was not a good day really at all. I don’t even tend to have many bad days. But this one was particularly annoying and better now that it is over.  Work was just harried due to someone being out sick and unable to attend meetings for some of her students, which meant that some of us were pulled to attend them (last minute) and i had to do that with very little notice. I then discovered I’d be having more observations this year than I had planned. I figured being tenured meant I was done now for the year but apparently no–the rule is, during your tenure year in your tenure area, (i was tenured before but not in this area) you have three a year and then next year I’d go to the one observation a year..The anxiety I get from these, is what annoys me. I am a bit better in that respect than I used to be, but still-the anxiety is just what makes me crazy about them. So, that was not a good thing to discover today. And then I discovered that someone had scraped a section of my car–either when pulling out alongside me or pulling in.. I have absolutely no idea where i was parked when it happened but grrr it just made me frustrated. Teenage son lost his cell phone in the snow..so I went and got a new sim card so he could use an older cell phone. Him having a cell phone is more for my piece of mind than anything else, so although he wants one–its me that really feels best about him having a way to reach me easily..Anyway, its just been a Monday I am happy to leave behind.

Onward with the week and on to better days!

Happy 2010!

I have been adjusting to the back to work schedule after enjoying a nice Christmas recess. Now that Christmas is over and life is back to normal I can focus on the rest of life.  I feel like I have been ignoring so much..and now I am “waking” up to the fact that I have. I sometimes get focused on a few things and then other things fall behind and its not that they are things that can’t wait..they are just things that make me who i am. I am trying to sort out what I need to do in order to make them part of my life again (writing is one thing..not blog writing but my fictional or non fictional writing that I used to submit!) I seem to let that take a backseat..and then I wake up frustrated that I’ve done it yet again..sigh.

It’s obvious that I have not been a good blogger! If Santa were checking his list and blogging were involved, I would surely be on the naughty list. Life gets busy and I know that blogging takes a back seat! It has been a busy month with work, raising a teenager and pulling my hair out from time to time (Oh nothing major or unusual, apparently. It’s just that moodiness, hormonal fun that could drive a person to drink.) and preparing for Christmas is always busy.
On top of that, a friend was in a very bad accident with a horse. Not while riding, but was kicked in the head by the horse and it’s been a stressful time. She is doing far better than imagined, but it will be a long road of recovery.

I am thankful though that she is doing better. I think we should always remember to tell the people we care about just how much we love them. You just never know what life will hand you..and this incident has reminded me how important it is to express those things.

Christmas vacation will be coming soon enough and that always gives me more blog time. Hopefully I can get back here then! Until then, hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

November is here..and I blogged so little in October! I have just been busy with work and life..my son is just now getting over the flu..so far I have managed to escape it. (knock on wood). November brings Thanksgiving and Christmas preparation..which i love..but I dislike the bare black trees and grey skies. Not much I can do about that. It has been that way here in November, for as long as I can remember..Kind of like “Goodbye colorful leaves and green grass” and “Hello darkness”..sigh.

So I have not blogged in awhile. I had planned to do better at blogging while working and apparently I have not been good at that. I mean well. I want to, but there are so many other things to do that it sometimes escapes me.  There’s work, and then there’s family, friends and life. There is facebook (which I do keep up with because that’s where I can keep up with many of my friends.) There is DVR’ing of Grey’s Anatomy and Glee..I started watching the new season of Dexter. There is frisbee throwing for the dogs, picking apples and going to get pumpkins. So much to do and so little time. I also had a momentary computer issue. I had a virus on my desktop that was so bad the only thing they could do was just take everything off it, and reload it. Which also means I lost a lot of my favorite blog links. I have many on this blog, listed to the right. But some I just don’t have anymore. I get irritated when some of my favorite places are gone and I can’t figure out how to find them. I am still liking my new school, and all is well at work. I am still raising a teenager. (One who is lucky he made it to school on time this morning, and one who will need to rethink WHEN or how long he showers, so that he’s ready ON TIME or earlier next week.) I had a really good time with an old friend recently. Someone I hadn’t seen in a long time. (I do recommend seeing old friends, when you can.. So life is good.

Maybe a list of small snippets of my random brain activity to end this post:

• Kate and Jon Gosselin: Find a new planet.
• Glee: I love this show. How this group of high school kids and teachers can sing and make me smile every week, is amazing..but it happens. I would marry it if i could.
• Rain: Go away..we’ve had enough.
• Longer school years or days: Ok. Maybe. Maybe after i retire though???
• Mackenzie Phillips: sometimes too much information is just too much for public consumption
• Cocoa covered almonds in 100 calorie packs. LOVE THESE.

that is all for now..

So I’m still happy..though some things are worth taking a deep breath about. My new school is wonderful-my coworkers are great–the atmosphere is really welcoming.. I’m happy there..much more than I imagined.

I’m a little tired, from the back to work schedule of waking up early..but that will be more normal soon. Raising a teen..even a good one..is not a load of fun. I noticed as school started..even though he’s doing well there–his irritability factor has kicked in. Hormones, his age..etc. the stress of having to be at school all day, being responsible for classwork..etc. has probably worn on him a bit too this past week. I just don’t like being the parent side of this teenage thing. Sheesh. Now I know what my mother must have felt like. My parents drove me crazy. Most teens feel like that. I know this, but I don’t have to like it. And I don’t. I miss the days of that smile that I could see at any moment, and the days of being the “all knowing mom” are over. In fact, what do I know? I’m JUST the mom and living on this planet for many more years than he has, makes no difference. Not when you’re 15. It’s against the rules or something.

I’m learning..that this kind of stress..means I need to keep doing things for me..that make me happy..because its one way to let go of some of this normal/but not fun stuff. So I’m trying to do that.  And I think, I’m succeeding for the most part..because I’m not stewing all night about these “normal” but not fun times.

Now the other issue is that my son has never had trouble with anyone at school/any authority figure for his entire school career. But suddenly he has a new bus driver who is not a rocket scientist when it comes to interacting with kids.  First day of school on the bus ride home, she yells at him “TAKE THOSE HEADPHONES OFF YOUR HEAD OR I’M TAKING THEM”..he who has been listening to his ipod on the school bus ride home, for the last three years..had no idea what was going on. Apparently this particular driver has this rule. My son is quiet, cooperative, etc. and she is making a huge deal out of this ipod thing. I spoke to the supervisor to ask what the rules were, since he’d been allowed to do this on all the buses previous to this one. I did get the idea that this driver is known for being strict/problematic…and complaints about her have been many. The next day she tells him he can listen as long as one ear is free..so he agrees. (Meanwhile, keep in mind there are many others on the bus with their ipods..as well as the fact that she is blaring music on the bus speakers.) Then..one day he is exiting the bus and she stops him to tell him his music is too loud on his ipod..and wouldn’t open the bus doors to let him off, until he turned his ipod down. I have no idea what her problem is..but now the supervisor wants us to meet with her (Just my husband and i) to tell her our concerns..apparently she’s on an improvement plan, due to her attitude..and he thinks hearing our concerns in front of him, is worthwhile. So lovely..I get to attend this meeting later on today and try to show her how teachers (and most people working with kids) speak respectfully..and explain my concern that other kids on the bus are listening to ipods, and she seemed to be targeting my quiet, cooperative kid. I’m sure not much will come of it..but she will know from me, that she is to make sure that all the kids are following the ipod rules then, and to not just yell things at only– my kid. I’m going in with the angle that, ok if those are your rules a) why aren’t they in the handbook (they aren’t) and b) if you have those rules you can enforce them without acting like you’re working with truck drivers.

Probably way too much to ask. But who knows.

I will try to blog more soon.. but all is going well. I’m very happy..at my  new school..etc. and just feeling really happy..

life is good.. more soon.

I think when we get older, if we can’t buy fun stuff..then why shop? Sometimes it’s fun to buy something targeted at a younger age group.. I saw these cute Betsey Johnson knee socks at TJ Maxx yesterday–passed them by twice..and finally just bought them. Hot pink with skull and cross bones..and when it’s cold outside, if i have to wear cozy socks, then I might as well wear some that are fun. (7.99 for the pair of them)

I needed a new lunch box for work. TJ Maxx had several that looked like purses, but aren’t.  I bought this one. It’s insulated inside, has lots of room..looks cute.. AND yes the male members of my family kept saying “Is that  NEW purse?” because they thought it was a purse. (Actually that is because I walked into the store saying “I have to stay away from the purses”..because..well, I really should take a (short)  break from my love affair with purses.  So this..while it *looks* like a purse..it’s actually something I can use all year long at work..and it was only $12.99.

Hello September! I enjoy you..but I don’t always embrace you. Summer vacation is done..and as a lover of summer vacation, I am heartbroken over losing summer’s lazy, sunshine filled days and stay-up-late-nights. Summer is that bad boy that has no structure. September is that reliable, dependable, good- time -wrecker. Sigh.

I will get over the heartbreak. I always do. In a week or two I will be less angry about my early morning wake up call. (However, I will never be friends with my alarm clock or that early morning wake up .) I will embrace the leaves changing color.. I will remember how much I love teaching. I will enjoy the return of my paycheck whole heartedly.

Other things to embrace about September:

Stupid Summer Big Brother tv will be winding down and over. (i watch but its stupid

Grey’s Anatomy will return, and that means McDreamy and McSteamy too.

Apple picking and apple crisp making..

Frisbee throwing after work for my doggies who will miss us all day.

Walks where you might need a jacket or long sleeved shirt..

Friday nights and Saturday nights, which become even more valuable now that the work week is back..

Did I mention apple crisp?

(…off to enjoy my very last 7 days of vacation…)