The Ear That Portends Doom

Some people, usually those with arthritis or a severe injury, feel an ache in their knees when a bad storm is coming. Some people get a rash when they feel stress. I have the Ear That Portends Doom (hereafter ETPD).

It’s not really a magical power. But whenever I am starting to get sick, the ETPD sends me an early warning. It begins to feel like it’s permanently clogged and aches. I find that I begin pressing on the ear trying to get it to stop. For some reason, it is the act of touching the ear that reminds me what this means. If I don’t do something, I’m going down…down, down to sickness town.

The ETPD has been sent me two warnings in the last month. One which I talked about in an earlier post, the last on Friday afternoon. This weekend, though, I wasn’t able to so handily fend it off. I did begin taking Airborne and resting, but I still feel buggy. Today I have a lurking headache and my face hurts a bit, that under-the-skin sinusy pain. I wanted to spend today sleeping, but am currently up for the moment…bored of my bedroom and the couch. I’ve taken refuge in my office and am arranging my iPod (Jim the 2nd) while I listen to “A Breath of Snow and Ashes.”

It’s especially bad timing this week as I have a staff meeting on Wednesday afternoon and a professional development seminar on Thursday. Which means two late evenings for me. Also, it’s just more of a pain to be sick as a teacher than it is in many other professions. I would have to arrange for a substitute and have work ready for them to do in my absence. This would of course mean that I would have to actually go to school to drop it off, in which case, what’s the point? I might as well just stay and work if I can drive down there.

I’ve put a comforting stew in the crockpot for dinner. My nausea from yesterday has mostly subsided. I’m putting that little adventure down to my eating cheese. I just HAVE to learn some time. Today’s dinner has: beef, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, red wine and broth. I can smell it all the way across the house and it’s wonderful. It’s not really stew weather, but yesterday’s storms have put me in the mood for autumn.

I better get used to summer still lurking around or else September’s heat will be especially vexing.

In other surprising news, I’m thinking again about adopting in a few years. I know, it’s crazy, right? I now spend all my days with kids, you’d think that would make me want to avoid that like the plague. I’ve waffled back to the pro-adoption corner. It’s a good thing the hubby is used to my shiny ways. He just sits back and waits to see where I’ll land. Don’t place your bets yet…it’s still early days.

2007 Fantasy Football Draft

To my husband, this is serious business. For five odd years, my beloved has bullied, coaxed and sweet talked me into the annual drama that is fantasy football. Every year, when I invariably lose, I swear that I will never do it again. Yet, every year, I find myself here again.

It’s draft day.

In fact, in less than an hour, there will be universal pandemonium in my family room. We will be sitting on our respective couches with his and hers laptops - it’s almost like we’re playing Battleship. An air of tense panic and adrenaline fueled excitement will settle over the room (the tense panic belonging to me, the excitement to Dan, who thrives in these situations). The dogs will eventually flee once we start laughing at the picks our friends and fellow league-mates choose.

My sweet husband has suggested that I spend this last 45 minutes researching players and taking notes. I think he really believes that I can soak in 3 months of neglected football information in that amount of time. Instead, I elect to blog the moment: These final few peaceful minutes before football irrevocably reenters my life.

The quote that adorns my husband’s personal team page:

Ah, the wonders of a career in public education

Today was definitely a Monday. I have very little time in the morning, time that is completely filled with getting ready for work. Here’s a picture of my morning:

5:00 - Dan’s alarm goes off. I immediately have to pee, but can’t go because Dan’s in the bathroom getting ready for work. The desire to urinate is like some inborn, cosmic NEED. I would love to be able to sleep in, but my bladder will never let me. Now, my alarm doesn’t go off for another 10 minutes, but there’s not point in trying to sleep now. I lay there, though, suffering, because I’m too lazy to run for the guest bathroom.

5:08 ish: Dan is done with the bathroom. I bolt out of bed, grunt a greeting to Dan and high tail it into the bathroom. I start the shower to get it rolling and answer my bladder’s call. Yes, I know this is too much information. Get over it.

5:09: In the shower, struggling for consciousness. Sometimes I’m so tired I feel a little nauseous.

5:20 - Hurdle over the dogs into the closet - gently remind them that they went for a walk the night before. I don’t have time now. Avoid their crestfallen eyes. Push the guilt down into my toes. Find something to wear that, hopefully, matches and will be comfortable. Hem and haw over shoes. I can’t bring myself to wear the high ones yet.

5:22 - Onto the guest bathroom where I dry my hair and put my makeup on - not always in that order. I hate blow drying my hair - absolutely loathe it. But my hair looks icky right now if I don’t. It’s at that awkward length - I’m trying to grow it out. Dogs have followed me to this room - I steadfastly ignore their pleading eyes. Must be strong. Don’t have time.

5:35 - Hurry into the kitchen to make my lunch - lately it’s been turkey on wheat. If I’m feeling saucy I’ll put a slice of Provolone on it. Someday I’ll have time to make my breakfast, too. Don’t know when that will be. Currently I grab a piece of bread and a soda and eat it on the way.

5:40 - Throw dog food in the bowls for the dogs. Hobie will ignore his. Eva will inhale hers.

5:42 - Begin loading stuff into the truck. Invariably I forget something and have to run back inside.

5:50 - Last minute check - this is usually the time that I also remember that I wanted to burn a CD - this morning it was The Fray, Michelle Branch and something else but I can’t remember what.

5:58 - Con Eva behind her barrier. Put their food down and race out the door.

6:02 - Leave for work - sometimes I have to get gas which puts me a bit behind.

6:45 - Arrive at Saguaro.

So, that’s a typical morning for me. And Dan wonders why I can’t do “fill in the blank task here” in the morning. NO TIME!!!

This morning, my principal called all the 4th grade teachers in to tell us one of us might have to move to a different school. Numbers are all screwy in the district. One of the other teachers volunteered to go, so hopefully it won’t be me (even though it probably would have been if she hadn’t volunteered - I was the last hired). She doesn’t want us newbies to have to adjust to another school when we’re still figuring out what we’re doing. Don’t know yet if this is definite. Cross your fingers not. If she does have to move - I’ll get more students. Sigh.

Impressions from the first week…

• Nervous - it’s the first day and I’m already talking too fast. I wonder if they notice that it’s not all that hot in here but I’m sweating. I know this sounds disgusting, but I can feel the sweat at the roots of my hair. As I begin to notice this it gets worse. I have forgotten to bring a comb or a brush, so on my lunch I frantically finger comb my hair, hoping to make it not so gross.
• Kids are cute - I seem to have a good bunch of kids. None of them seem to be thuggy. None of them seem to be outright rude or defiant. I don’t have any English Language Learners - I’m the mainstream classroom.
• New student - I haven’t even finished the tour of my room and I already have a new student. I feel a little bad for him, coming into a new class after it’s already underway. I scoot a desk over into a group of students and settle him down. Throughout the day, I give him a name tag, pencil, white board, dry erase marker, basket (to keep pencil and marker in) and a homework folder. The other kids seem to be accepting him well (of course it IS only the first day).
• I’ve forgotten a lot over the summer. For instance, I seem to have forgotten that kids need precise directions. They also ask a LOT of questions. I think nerves is playing a part in how much I can’t remember on the spot.
• It’s really HOT outside. I have taken the kids on a couple of tours through the school. When we walk outside I’m slammed with heat. It seems sunnier here than I’m used to. I toy with the idea of bringing an umbrella. But knowing how stupid that would look, I choose not to. I can’t wait for October.
• Not enough hours in the day. I’ve heard people say this before - most of them teachers - and paid it no mind. But it’s true. There aren’t enough hours in the day. I have so much stuff to do, that I could stay at school from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and still have plenty of stuff to do.
• The drive isn’t that bad. I really, REALLY love audio books. I have become the Tempe Public Library’s number one fan. Currently I’m listening to Diana Gabaldon’s “A Breath of Snow and Ashes.” I love it. In fact, sometimes I get home and sit in the driveway for a moment or two so I can keep listening. I highly recommend this book. Of course, this is book 6 in a series of ginormous books, so it’s a time investment.
• Typical. It’s the first week and I can tell I’m getting sick…already. I have started slamming Airborne and got a lot of rest this weekend, so hopefully that will nip it in the bud. My head still hurts a bit though. I think it ’s because I’ve been running myself ragged and damaged my immune system. I do NOT want to be sick.
• I’m to tired to surf the Internet anymore. I know, Wende, I didn’t think it was possible either. But I am SO tired. I hope I acclimate to this schedule and can find some time to do something besides check email. (i miss the internet)

To be continued…

Meet The Teacher Night

Whew! I’m wiped. It was more exhausting, more tense than I thought it would be. Probably because I’m not always comfortable the first time I meet someone. This was meeting a whole host of someones. Parents, kids, sisters, brothers, you name it.

The positive spin is that the students and parents that DID show up seemed sane and normal. More than that, the kids actually seemed kinda cool. One kid saw a certain poster in my room and burst out “YODA!” Officially my favorite kid, like, ever.

I have a computer. YAY! When the tech guy came in with my computer, I was overcome with delight. Finally, I would be back in the game! I’ve been so starved for technology that I could practically smell the hard drive and hear the wondrousness that is the Internet. I was so excited I told the astonished tech that he was the man of my dreams. He finds me amusing now.

Tomorrow is the big day. Think good thoughts for me. I’ve typed out two and a half pages of things I want to accomplish tomorrow. I hope I have enough to do. I hope I have MORE than enough to do, actually. I would like to have some stuff left over for the next day. I’ve got lots of fun things planned…and some not so fun things. But that’s life, right?

2 Days To Go

Well, that’s if you count today, which I guess is already over. So, in reality, 1 day to go. Sheesh.

Tomorrow is going to be a long day. I have to be at the school by 7:30 am and will be there until 6:00 pm at the earliest. Tomorrow night is “Meet the Teacher Night.” Parents and students can come to the school and check out their student’s room and, well, me. This is very informal - I only have to say hello and be pleasant. In a couple of weeks is the Open House which is a bit more stressful.

In other news, we had our last in service (although I didn’t get a certificate for it, like I did for the Math thing). I feel one of life’s great ironies is that teachers make the worst audiences. I swear, it seemed like they just would NOT be quiet. When the instructor was talking, you could always hear 2 or 3 side conversations going on. At the very least, you would think they could whisper! I find it supremely annoying.

The thing is that I know it’s not strictly MY problem. If it doesn’t bother the instructo, it shouldn’t bother me, right? But bless it, it does. I think it’s rude. It’s like people think what ever they are talking about is more important than anything else going on. And I have trouble filtering out those conversations. Which makes it even more annoying.

You might think that would mean I have a low tolerance for noise in my classroom, but that’s not necessarily so. Of course, I do have a rule that if I’m talking, no one else should be. But if they’re working and need to say something to their neighbor, they can whisper. As long as they aren’t disrupting others or interrupting ME, I’m okay.

I was supposed to get my computer today. The tech flagged me down in the hall to inform me that my computer was toast. I wish I had remembered to write down what kind he had said it was, I know it sounded old. Anyhow, he said that they tried replacing the hard drive but that didn’t help (I could probably have told him that). So I’m getting a “new” one. I put that in quotation marks because I don’t know what “new” means in this instance. I don’t know if it means brand spankin’ new, or dug-out-of-a-pile-and-still-older-than-dirt-but-new-to-me. Moving on, the tech told me that I would have said new computer this morning, but that never happened. I’m hoping he meant tomorrow morning. I just want a computer that works! Is that too much to ask?

In tomorrow’s episode: I meet parents of my first group of students/victims.

Oh, and my categories thing doesn’t appear to be working - I can’t choose a category. The dang thing tells me the database is corrupted. I don’t know how to fix it. Will look into it later.

Drizzly, lazy day

I’m sitting on my couch watching “The Terminator” on UPN right now. I like this movie. For some reason, I can’t bring myself to do things today that require actual thought.

It has been the laziest of days, even though I have gotten a few things accomplished. I did get some chicken precooked so I don’t have to fuss with it during the week. I cleaned up after the soirée last night. I watched “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.“ I played a little “Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.” I looked out the window and thought about mowing the lawn. But it was too damp out there to really work. Then I promptly plopped down onto the couch and began slothing it up.

On the subject of the gathering of fine folk held at my home last night, it was rather entertaining. I’m not sure if I have ever played Apples to Apples before, but it was fun. I say that even though Wende and I had the world’s crappiest cards. We didn’t win, although I’ll bet if we had played Charades we would have kicked butt.

I probably had a shade too much to drink last night and while I’m a happy drunk (unless I’m getting my clock cleaned in Halo 2 by Brian) I’m a depressed hangover person. I’ve had zero energy today. I guess the only good thing that came out of my lethargy is that I’m fairly well rested for this upcoming crazy week.

Tomorrow I have my last bit of training and then the rest of the day to work on planning. Although I’m anxious about some things, I feel relatively good about other things. At this point, I just want to get going. As Tom Petty so wisely said: The waiting is the hardest part.