If you read my last entry, you'll notice that our lives have been a bit dreary. Hard to feel good when the weather is so gray and things just keep happening.
In the last entry I wrote that the fish and the cat were still alive. So, yesterday after a trying day where I am trying unsuccessfully to fight off a cold... I am just trying to get home so I can collapse on the couch.
The first thing I notice is that Jack the fish, who has been sluggish for a couple of days, is laying on the bottom of his bowl. There is NO movement. I go and make noise on the side of the bowl and NO response. Then I wiggle the bowl and again NO movement. So, now I take the stick of bamboo and tap the fish. NOTHING. Eyes are dull, its little fins are not moving, and it is just floating there.
At this point, I am like, "Oh great, my life sucks and one of the ONLY two good things I had to talk about in the last blog is DEAD!" I was pissed. I don't even like the fish that much, but dang it...it shouldn't be dead.
I leave the dead fish there for a few minutes. Then I come back and start draining the water, so I can throw the little beta body out into the field which constitutes a burial in this crappy weather.
When I have the water out and I am getting the paper towel coffin and reaching to grasp the fish, Jack SUDDENLY jumps straight up into the air. He is ALIVE.............!
Now, I have to get some water to him quickly, so he will continue to be alive. I did and he is just fine. I don't know if he was hibernating or dying or what, but he is back!
So, just remember when your day or week or year seems as though it will NEVER end, maybe your fish will come back to life. Maybe there is hope for me yet!
Have a great day! I think I even see the SUN!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Ahhhhhh Quiet! 2-17-1-24
It's Sunday morning here and it is quiet. It has been a stressful week and I am glad the old one is over and the new one is starting. If you remember the old Hee Haw song of "Gloom, despair, and agony on me....Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all...
Bob has been home and working locally. He did take a day off on Thursday because of the weather. The weather sucks. It is so bad that we aren't trying for warm weather anymore. We are simply trying to sunshine and an end to various forms of precipitation.
Wait the phone. It was Bob. He is trying to drive through snow to the airport to catch an overseas flight to Amsterdam, Holland in a truck that isn't shifting and has the check engine light coming on sporadically. It also had trouble starting this week. This morning he burned his breakfast, and had to come home already once because he forgot his phone.
The Amsterdam, Holland part is cool if he ever gets there. I really wanted to go too, because the Anne Frank House where they hid during WWII is there. I teach a play about the diary and it would have been neat to go there. Bob has promised to make a visit if he has time.
I started off the week with two students very publicly and uncharacteristically refusing to do something minor that I asked them to do. One parent supported my response and the other did not. I am being kind because the one that did not support me caused a much worse situation than that. I have to decide if my punishment for the student is worth the grief the student himself will have to deal with when it comes to dealing with his own parent. On that topic, I learned a long time ago to do what I think is best because no matter how much good you do as a teacher, sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
I had two days off at the end of the week which normally would be nice, but I've babysat for four days straight. However, I do love the babies. To top all of this off, one of my male co-workers (who was a former student of mine) was arrested for felony counts of inappropriate behavior involving minor boys. I got to see a lot of the local news crews in action on the road behind my house.
Our shower broke. The plumber repaired it, but not before we had to saw a HUGE hole in the dining room wall that was remodeled and painted this past summer. Now, I have to hire someone to repair the hole so I can paint it again.
I did get a few hours to meet with a writing critique group. That was productive.
Rachel has had some trouble at work and learned that sometimes people don't want you to answer questions they ask.
Drew hasn't been able to get any flying done because of the weather.
Ryan and Mike turned 17 on Thursday. We haven't spoken to them except once since the middle of December, as apparently they aren't taking our calls. Didn't have any problem taking the money we sent them for Christmas gifts. Or Valentine's. Hard to send birthday gifts when you can't ask what they would like. Pretty frustrating since we have also sent them a phone card to use.
The babies have colds and they are sharing with everyone.
The cat is alive and so is the fish. The hermit crab is dead.
On that note, I quit this depressive missive. As I said, I am looking forward to a fresh start. Now I am off to use my "new" shower. I really hope YOUR week was much better than ours.
Bob has been home and working locally. He did take a day off on Thursday because of the weather. The weather sucks. It is so bad that we aren't trying for warm weather anymore. We are simply trying to sunshine and an end to various forms of precipitation.
Wait the phone. It was Bob. He is trying to drive through snow to the airport to catch an overseas flight to Amsterdam, Holland in a truck that isn't shifting and has the check engine light coming on sporadically. It also had trouble starting this week. This morning he burned his breakfast, and had to come home already once because he forgot his phone.
The Amsterdam, Holland part is cool if he ever gets there. I really wanted to go too, because the Anne Frank House where they hid during WWII is there. I teach a play about the diary and it would have been neat to go there. Bob has promised to make a visit if he has time.
I started off the week with two students very publicly and uncharacteristically refusing to do something minor that I asked them to do. One parent supported my response and the other did not. I am being kind because the one that did not support me caused a much worse situation than that. I have to decide if my punishment for the student is worth the grief the student himself will have to deal with when it comes to dealing with his own parent. On that topic, I learned a long time ago to do what I think is best because no matter how much good you do as a teacher, sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
I had two days off at the end of the week which normally would be nice, but I've babysat for four days straight. However, I do love the babies. To top all of this off, one of my male co-workers (who was a former student of mine) was arrested for felony counts of inappropriate behavior involving minor boys. I got to see a lot of the local news crews in action on the road behind my house.
Our shower broke. The plumber repaired it, but not before we had to saw a HUGE hole in the dining room wall that was remodeled and painted this past summer. Now, I have to hire someone to repair the hole so I can paint it again.
I did get a few hours to meet with a writing critique group. That was productive.
Rachel has had some trouble at work and learned that sometimes people don't want you to answer questions they ask.
Drew hasn't been able to get any flying done because of the weather.
Ryan and Mike turned 17 on Thursday. We haven't spoken to them except once since the middle of December, as apparently they aren't taking our calls. Didn't have any problem taking the money we sent them for Christmas gifts. Or Valentine's. Hard to send birthday gifts when you can't ask what they would like. Pretty frustrating since we have also sent them a phone card to use.
The babies have colds and they are sharing with everyone.
The cat is alive and so is the fish. The hermit crab is dead.
On that note, I quit this depressive missive. As I said, I am looking forward to a fresh start. Now I am off to use my "new" shower. I really hope YOUR week was much better than ours.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Happy Valentine's Week
Busy times for all of us.
Bob went to Nebraska and returned. Close to home this week and then possibly Buenos Aires. He sent me some lovely flowers with a beautiful card for Valentine's Day. I was the envy of my co-workers.
I worked and then worked some more.
Rachel also worked. Drew went to school.
Veronica was sick, then well, then sick again. Poor baby!
She did get to enjoy Valentine's day and the Father/Daughter dance. Doesn't she look so grown up. Poor Poppie was upset.
Cash was great. He sings and talks all of the time and we don't understand a word. You can tell he and Poppie have good times.
Xena the cat is alive and sad when we make her go out of the enclosed breezeway. You will notice in the pictures that she isn't too thrilled with Cash. He is inside. The cat is outside. The funny part is they both just want to trade places.
Have a great week and show each other the love.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Week in Review 2-4 to2-10
I just read an article on the Internet that said this was one of most chaotic weeks of recent times. Tornados, shootings at the council meetings, and a teacher being stabbed at school in front of her little students. All of those things were bad. I am so glad that the baby was found alive. I don't believe shooting anyone is an answer, but I am sure there were many people who sympathized with the frustration of dealing with "those in power". And people wonder why cities can't get people to run for office. The whole thing with the teacher just makes me so angry. With all of the things we are trying to do at school, worrying about people trying to kill the students or faculty shouldn't be one one them. There doesn't seem to be a concept of safe haven anywhere anymore.
All of that world depressing news aside, this week has been a good one for our own family.
Bob worked his second week doing training in NB. He finishes up this week. He has been visiting his parents on his way through KC and they are doing well. His mom seems better than she has been in years.
I have had a busy week. I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to committee work. I have two projects left, but they are smaller. On Thursday, I was home and Drew came over for lunch. It was nice to spend some time with him.
Rachel is getting ready to work on a house that she and her family and brother will be living in by Warrensburg. Her paternal grandfather, Don is helping her out with a good deal. It will be nice for the kids to have their own bedrooms.
Drew is going to college, flying, and working.
We are going to try to call Mike and Ryan later today. We are sending them some phone cards, so maybe they can call more often.
Veronica missed two days of school this week. Monday she didn't feel well in general. Thursday she came home with a high temperature. On Friday, when she went to the doctor, she came back with a diagnosis of strep throat, ear infection, and pink eye. She felt really poorly, but she is feeling better now. Does NOT like the eye drops!
Cash has four teeth and has made it clear to us that he will NOT be eating mushy baby stuff now. He is very advanced in his baby assessments. At 8 and a half months he is doing what ten month-old babies can do. He talks a lot, but we don't know what he is saying. His favorite word is ball. Standing by himself if he doesn't notice.
Xena is alive. Jack the fish is alive, although he would be grateful if I were to clean out his cage. Veronica doesn't know this yet, but the hermit crab died. One of the advantages of having a pet that never moves is that you don't notice right away when it dies. Strange but true.
Mom has got me still looking for houses for her to move in to when she retires. I need to get our taxes done this week. Maybe I have more to do than I think. Time to get started!
Happy birthday today to my brother Bill! He is over forty, you know.
All of that world depressing news aside, this week has been a good one for our own family.
Bob worked his second week doing training in NB. He finishes up this week. He has been visiting his parents on his way through KC and they are doing well. His mom seems better than she has been in years.
I have had a busy week. I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to committee work. I have two projects left, but they are smaller. On Thursday, I was home and Drew came over for lunch. It was nice to spend some time with him.
Rachel is getting ready to work on a house that she and her family and brother will be living in by Warrensburg. Her paternal grandfather, Don is helping her out with a good deal. It will be nice for the kids to have their own bedrooms.
Drew is going to college, flying, and working.
We are going to try to call Mike and Ryan later today. We are sending them some phone cards, so maybe they can call more often.
Veronica missed two days of school this week. Monday she didn't feel well in general. Thursday she came home with a high temperature. On Friday, when she went to the doctor, she came back with a diagnosis of strep throat, ear infection, and pink eye. She felt really poorly, but she is feeling better now. Does NOT like the eye drops!
Cash has four teeth and has made it clear to us that he will NOT be eating mushy baby stuff now. He is very advanced in his baby assessments. At 8 and a half months he is doing what ten month-old babies can do. He talks a lot, but we don't know what he is saying. His favorite word is ball. Standing by himself if he doesn't notice.
Xena is alive. Jack the fish is alive, although he would be grateful if I were to clean out his cage. Veronica doesn't know this yet, but the hermit crab died. One of the advantages of having a pet that never moves is that you don't notice right away when it dies. Strange but true.
Mom has got me still looking for houses for her to move in to when she retires. I need to get our taxes done this week. Maybe I have more to do than I think. Time to get started!
Happy birthday today to my brother Bill! He is over forty, you know.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Up, up, and Away!
Drew doing a solo cross-country flight.
You have no idea how much money it has taken to get to the point this picture could be taken.
Christmas in February
This how you know that you are behind. This year I wrote an annual Christmas letter and actually put it on the web. However, I never sent it to the people in my life who don't check the blog. Since before Christmas, I have been carrying around all of my Christmas cards and envelopes and address book for the time that I have a few minutes to sit down and mail out the letter. Some of the cards have glitter on them and I am opposed to glitter. (So is Ellen Degeneres.)
It is February 3 and I STILL haven't done it. TODAY, I will accomplish this goal and ban the glitter from those cards that has been following me around literally for months. Shameful, how busy I have been.
Bob is on a three week cycle of training sessions in Nebraska. He leaves on Sunday, does training all week, and returns on Friday. It is about a four hour drive.
It always appalls me how much Bob's company makes for Bob's work. Let me stress this isn't Bob getting this much money. For Bob to do training the company is paid $20,000 plus $2000 per person for one less than forty hour week of training. So, this company just spent $26,000 for last week. They will spend more than that for the week coming up and more again the next week. I love Bob and respect his knowledge, but I just don't know if his teaching ability is so much better than mine, that his company is paid more for one week than I am paid for half of a school year. I AM IN THE WRONG LINE OF WORK!
And work, I have been doing. We had a snow day on Friday and I was so grateful. It hasn't been so much my regular job, it has been committees that I either head or am a member of. (Ending preposition-bad, I know) This week we interviewed candidates for a new principal next year. I was happy that we had some good candidates.
Rachel is busy as always. My friend Robin and I went over last night for a skin care party. Rachel had made some very snazzy snacks.
Drew is a flying fool. He has been taking several classes and doing some short cross country flights alone. I think he is taking me up in April on my birthday. I'll have to diet or he says we won't be able to load much gas on the plane. I also told him he would have to pay since it was my birthday. He said it was going to be really SHORT flight. He really thought that after I explained that the last time I went up in a little airplane on my birthday, I threw up noodles ALL over the inside of the airplane. (Note, it is not possible to throw up OUT of an airplane.)
Mike and Ryan are getting closer to their seventeenth birthday at the end of this month. Hard to believe.
Veronica remains toothless in the front. Poor little thing has been having some sadness over the death of her paternal grandmother. It has been six months and she has come to realize the meaning of gone forever. What a hard lesson for anyone to learn.
Cash is moving on. He has a little cart shaped like a lawn mower and he holds on and rolls everywhere. Cash has three teeth now and he is refusing to eat baby food. I had hoped he would eat it longer, but I don't think it is going to happen.
Xena the cat is alive and not enjoying the cold weather. Jack the beta fish is the same. Somehow Veronica's hermit crab came to live here. What an incredibly boring pet!
Have a great week and I am going to "celebrate" the holiday (the old one) by addressing the Christmas letters. Sad, I know.
It is February 3 and I STILL haven't done it. TODAY, I will accomplish this goal and ban the glitter from those cards that has been following me around literally for months. Shameful, how busy I have been.
Bob is on a three week cycle of training sessions in Nebraska. He leaves on Sunday, does training all week, and returns on Friday. It is about a four hour drive.
It always appalls me how much Bob's company makes for Bob's work. Let me stress this isn't Bob getting this much money. For Bob to do training the company is paid $20,000 plus $2000 per person for one less than forty hour week of training. So, this company just spent $26,000 for last week. They will spend more than that for the week coming up and more again the next week. I love Bob and respect his knowledge, but I just don't know if his teaching ability is so much better than mine, that his company is paid more for one week than I am paid for half of a school year. I AM IN THE WRONG LINE OF WORK!
And work, I have been doing. We had a snow day on Friday and I was so grateful. It hasn't been so much my regular job, it has been committees that I either head or am a member of. (Ending preposition-bad, I know) This week we interviewed candidates for a new principal next year. I was happy that we had some good candidates.
Rachel is busy as always. My friend Robin and I went over last night for a skin care party. Rachel had made some very snazzy snacks.
Drew is a flying fool. He has been taking several classes and doing some short cross country flights alone. I think he is taking me up in April on my birthday. I'll have to diet or he says we won't be able to load much gas on the plane. I also told him he would have to pay since it was my birthday. He said it was going to be really SHORT flight. He really thought that after I explained that the last time I went up in a little airplane on my birthday, I threw up noodles ALL over the inside of the airplane. (Note, it is not possible to throw up OUT of an airplane.)
Mike and Ryan are getting closer to their seventeenth birthday at the end of this month. Hard to believe.
Veronica remains toothless in the front. Poor little thing has been having some sadness over the death of her paternal grandmother. It has been six months and she has come to realize the meaning of gone forever. What a hard lesson for anyone to learn.
Cash is moving on. He has a little cart shaped like a lawn mower and he holds on and rolls everywhere. Cash has three teeth now and he is refusing to eat baby food. I had hoped he would eat it longer, but I don't think it is going to happen.
Xena the cat is alive and not enjoying the cold weather. Jack the beta fish is the same. Somehow Veronica's hermit crab came to live here. What an incredibly boring pet!
Have a great week and I am going to "celebrate" the holiday (the old one) by addressing the Christmas letters. Sad, I know.
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