Keep Poking Along

Here we are again. Home on another snow day. We now have one snow day left. I think we have attended school eight days in January. That is so crazy! It is making me nervous because our snow usually comes in February. I know that several people are wondering why many of the teachers are so worried about snow days.

First, it is hard to get something going. I need to start teaching Shakespeare and it will take me three weeks at least. I have to get it finished before my trip because I will be gone a week. It is hard to get something started because we need to read and discuss the literature each day and students tend to forget things if we miss. Adding to that, I am blessed to have a student teacher with me this semester. She is fantastic and I trust her with my class. I want to ease her into teaching them before I turn my classes over to her completely. These snow days are making it hard on her as well. She is trying to get to know the kids and our school/classroom routines and we can't get enough time for her to get started.

Second, it is a fact of life that test scores are important. As a matter of fact, all teachers in the state will soon have to use their school's test scores for their evaluations. In other words, when we miss school, we miss instruction and test scores drop. We have to get so many standards covered before April and the state is going to test our children no matter how many days we miss. It is stressful for children and for the teachers, too.

Can we do anything about it? Of course not. Safety is the number one priority. I have to admit that going to school in June is not my idea of a great time. Oh well. I love my time home with Michael. I surely cannot complain about that.

Stay warm and be safe.

Another Snow Day - *Sigh*

Here we are at home again. Another snow day. Am I getting old or what?! I think I am worried about getting everything in at school. I am anxious to start a new lesson that will take at least three weeks and I need uninterrupted time. I know that I should never whine about getting to stay home where it is warm and spending time with Michael but when will this cycle end? My husband told me this morning that it just reminds us that we are not in control. I guess that is right! If the roads are clear tomorrow, we're headed to Murfreesboro. I need to take some Crocs I ordered back to Dillards. (I just love them but they are too big. Darn! I hope they have another size in stock.) We need to go to Sam's Club to stock up on paper towels and other things then I think I hear The Outback calling. All in all, I guess I don't have too much to whine about!
Have a great weekend and stay warm!

Can't Believe I'm Saying This - Go Away Snow!

I love snow days. Really. I do the snow dance and everything BUT seven days after our beautiful snow, this is our driveway. It is not snow. Oh, no. It is ice. Do you see where there is gravel? That is where we finally got out this weekend and chipped away the ice to get traction. Yes, we have been able to get out but we ordered a pizza Friday night and the poor pizza guy had to try eight times to back up our drive-really! In my memory, all 40-something years worth, I cannot remember the snow staying this long.

No, of course it is not a tragedy or anything, but if Michael stays at home one more day, I am afraid I will have to drag him screaming into school. He is loving being home a little too much. Also, I think we need to get some teaching done. Graduation will be here before we know it. Boy, I sound like such a grouch! The funny thing is that I will be looking for another snow day soon. Yes, I know, you just can't make some people happy. :)
Enjoy your week!

Snow, snow and more snow!

Wow, can you believe this snow?! I predicted (and have many witnesses!) last week that we would be out of school from Monday - Thursday but I never dreamed this snow would last for days. It is so beautiful.

(view from the deck in the back of the house)

Michael and I are being pretty lazy and this snow is not helping my Weight Watchers will power! I am holding steady but need to get moving. Of course, we bought enough food for a blizzard so there is plenty to eat!
(Our pitiful snowman. Michael said build a snowman and left us to make it!)

(This was on the deck railing. We had a little more than this.)

(Michael standing in the middle of our street.
I am so grateful I don't have to drive in this weather!)

Today I plan on finally getting some school work accomplished. I have put if off for days. I promised myself over Christmas that I wouldn't do this again but it is hard to concentrate when snow if falling. I did get the bathroom vanity painted this week. I wish I could say I am happy with the results but I am not. Oh, well. I'll get used to it! :)

Just think; February is when we usually get the most snow. Oh my! I think I see new snow boots in my future! Everyone stay warm.

Active Week

This has been a very interesting week for me. It was the first week after Christmas break and we finally finished the first semester. After we complete the semester, it gives me such a feeling of accomplishment. Anyway, this is how my week went:

Monday - The teachers had in-service and it was a nice day. In the morning, I enjoyed sharing ideas with my co-workers. I am so blessed to teach with talented, caring men and women. Monday afternoon, I attended a meeting where we heard information from two men from the State Department of Education. I have mixed feelings about the information they presented. I like hearing that our leaders think we're doing a good job but they talked about lots of changes that are coming in the future. I agree with some of the changes and am still thinking about the other ones but overall I am nervous about them. Change is never easy and it is even harder when you add school children to the equation. We can try to lead them but will they follow? Time will tell.

Tuesday - This was the first day back with students. I was happy to see them. I had lunch supervision (always a long hour!) and it was a good day. My shock happened when I went home. I usually check my school e-mail several times at night in case a student has a question or a concern. I checked my e-mail that night and found one from a supervisor. Curious, I opened it and found an invitation to attend an event in another state. I was floored. I feel so honored that I was asked then I thought, "How can I do this and take care of Michael?" My wonderful husband came in about that time from work and he said, "Of course you're going! Michael and I will be fine. Go and have an adventure." So, soon I will get on an airplane for the second time in my life. Some co-workers tried not to make fun or laugh at my nervousness but I flew in 1990. Lots of changes have occurred since 9/11 with airport security and I just want to know what to expect. The actual flying makes me a little nervous but I can handle that. I just hate not knowing! I always want to know where I'm going and what is going to happen once I get there. I guess you could say I want to be in control of my situation.

Wednesday-Thursday - Semester Exams so nothing to say about school. I am still loving my "prize" that my husband brought home to me Thursday. We had discussed airports and plane travel because he has gone on several business trips and knows the deal about it and I said I need a planner with paper for notes for another meeting I am attending and we wondered about my laptop bag being a little too bulky to carry on a plane and through an airport. He came home Thursday with a new laptop bag, a new planner and a new ink pen for me. Now, that is not romantic in the usual sense but how thoughtful! I just thought it was so sweet!

Friday - I had many absent students that day for some reason. It was a good day with little drama until that night. Friday night, I went into the utility room in our garage to wash some clothes. I put the clothes in the washer then started back in the house. Somehow, I tripped and fell in what seemed to be slow motion. My left knee hit the concrete floor and my right hand reached out to break my fall and hit the edge of the step. Oh, it hurt! I finally got up and hobbled into the house. I am fine just bruised and sore. (Isn't it funny how it hurts worse the next day or two?)

Saturday - My sweet husband battled through Wal-Mart to get our groceries amid the pre-snow chaos and then made me a steak dinner that night. I really don't deserve him!

Sunday - We went to church and, once again, my husband has supper for us - homemade soup. It smells wonderful! I am heading out this afternoon to make a quick trip to The Dollar Store and J. C. Penny for some snow gear for the coming winter storm. Michael need some new gloves and I need a cool snow hat.

All in all, we've had a great week. Everyone be safe this week in the snow. If you are a teacher or if you are staying home this week, it's snowman time! Have fun and stay warm.

Back On The Starvation Train!

This is day one on my return to Weight Watchers eating. I am not worried about the new Plus system or attending meetings. This morning, I started counting points again because my jeans are tight and as much as I loved my sister's caramel pie or my mother's Christmas breakfast, I don't want to still be wearing it in July! If you need to loose weight, I highly recommend Weight Watchers. It really does work and it is so easy. You might need to attend one meeting to get the information about counting points and to know how many points you need per day but after that, I just needed a set of scales and my butt to know how I was doing! (I've talked to people who had success using the on-line version, too.) I just feel better with this weight off of me. I think most of you know that I lost 60 pounds before and kept it off for years until the weight started inching up again. That is when I started using Weight Watchers. (I lost the 60 pounds by counting calories.) It is not easy, I know, because most of us love to eat. I wish I could get outside and walk. Exercise makes it so much easier to loose the weight but it is too cold to walk right now. Hopefully I can motivate myself to work out on our Wii Fit. (Oh, that game is going to yell at me when I step on that balance board! I haven't worked out on it in months.) Anyway, I have a few points left for today. I think I will spend them on a Smart Ones dessert. Some chocolate and ice cream makes things much brighter, don't you think?! :)

Happy New Year!

No resolutions, no promises to keep to myself. I had a great 2010 and I hope that 2011 is even better. This year will bring changes for us. Michael will be graduating from 5th grade and will go to a new school in August and who knows what the year will bring for the rest of us. (I am so glad that I don't know the future, at least most of the time!) I know that this year will bring good and bad events but we will meet them together as a family and that is a comforting thought.

I wish all of you a happy and healthy new year!