WIG...the nitty gritty

Welcome to my first Week in a Glance (WIG). I've decided on Friday's to try and post a quick recap of my week - the highlights so to speak.

Monday - work went as good as could be expected considering the wrench that was thrown into my schedule. I managed to rework things though and have the required groups of students, for the expected amount of time, receiving the leveled instruction they need.

Tuesday-worked out small kinks in schedule and prepared materials for new groups. Kry's back to school night did not go well. New principal leaves much to be desired in leadership and people skills. Am even more convinced we need to change schools. Hate to do that her Jr. year though so will not make decision until after visiting other school.

Wednesday- At work the new groups worked out ok, transition hasn't been exactly smooth but it is working. New principal of Kry's school was fired and old principal reinstated. Kry was unsure of possible new school, intimidated by size.

Thursday - took day off to deal with getting paperwork together for possible transfer but ended up meeting with new/old principal to get feel for what will be happening. District is going to form committee of parents, teachers and get student input for what to look for in new principal. New superintendant moved very quickly to rectify problem, admitting they had moved too quickly. Feeling much better about leaving her there - will stay for now and see how things are at semester. Mom in law dropped off printer, ink and paper - I have a printer for my classroom!!!!! woohoo!!!

Friday - TGIF. Work day went well. All groups ran smoothly and I think things will iron out and level off. Now just have to finish getting room organized to my liking and get the required testing done so we can get back to the academics. Kry's haired turned out very nice for homecoming dance. Mom still knows how to use a blow-dryer! Her emotional ups/downs are back and she almost came home early today but by time I saw message she was ok and willing to stay.

Summer is winding down

Summer officially ends for me next week as the school year begins. I have already started working in my classroom and getting things ready. Tomorrow will be the big move day as I try to figure out how to set up the room. I used an online tool today that allowed me to create several different set-ups until I settled on a couple. I'm hoping this will prevent my usual arranging process. Look, move, look, move again, look....I think you get the picture. We still haven't heard if our offer has been accepted for purchasing a home and I still can't figure out what is going on with the child support. I'm thankful to finally be getting something but I would like to know and understand how/where the money is being disbursed. Anyway, I haven't accomplished much of the personal improvement things I wanted to get done with the exception of keeping up this blog. I have managed to pick up some followers and thank you guys, I appreciate your comments, prayers and reading your blogs.


I thought I would take a minute tonight to give a little background so that those who choose to follow might understand what is behind some of my rantings. In a previous post titled Transformation I spoke of a particular incident that I beleive marks the point at which I 'changed'. Before sharing this incident I think it only makes sense to provide my background so that as I work to rediscover myself a comparison can be made.


I was born in Delta, CO and am the olderst of 5 children. Three brothers and one sister that are 6, 8, 10 and 14 years younger than I am kept me busy helping my mom when I wasn't involved in school activities. We lived in Pullman, WA until 1978 when Dad got a job managing 320 acres of yet unplanted orchard in the Columbia Basin area. When we moved there the school was only K-8; high school students had to go to one of the nearby (30-40 miles) towns. By the time my class was ready to enter high school our district had grown enough to start a high school. Our class had the distinction of being the first graduating class.


I was involved in outside activities from a young age. Mom had me in Bluebirds ballet, tap, gymnastics and swimming when we lived in Pullman. After moving to the Basin none of those things were available so I did 4-H. I learned leatherworking and horse training. In jr. high and high school I played the flute in band, sang in the choir, and played soccer, basketball and softball. I was a cheer leader one year for boys basketball and did stats for football and wrestling. I was a member of the Honor Society, went to the national level in the National History Day Contest, participated in several community theatre plays and was first princess in the local pageant. I was on the student council and became a Natural Helper (peer counselor). Oh, and did I mention there were 21 of us when we graduated and I think there were maybe 100 students in the whole high school.


On the home front our parents raised us in a strong Christian home. I don't remember very many Sundays we didn't go to church and Sunday School spilled over into the home. Ours is a simple faith really; the Bible is the inspired word of God and gives us a blueprint for which to live our lives. God created this beautiful world and sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. "For God so loved the world that gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 I accepted this belief at 10 years of age and tried to the best of my ability to live a good Christian life.


My eyes are drooping and I'm way past my own imposed 'curfew'. Goodnight.

Boobs

Yes, that's right I said boobs. We all have two; men and women. I bring them up simply because I decided to remind you all to make sure and do your monthly self-exam and if your over 40 then you should be getting an annual mammogram. I went for my first one six months ago. My gyno wanted us to get a baseline prior to hitting the 40 mark. I ended up having to go back for a second examination where it was determined that I had 3 cysts in my right breast. Just to make sure they were nothing to worry about I had to go back for a six-month follow-up appoinmtment. That was today's big event. As it turns out one of the cysts has disappeared and the other two have not changed so all is good and I don't have to go for another year. Whooohoooo!! It really wasn't as bad as I thought it might; not really painful at all.


So, I checked my boobs today - did you?


Dedicated to my loving Grandma Lowell and any other women who have succomed to breast cancer or have overcome it! CHECK THOSE BREASTS - YOU ONLY HAVE TWO!

Mind over matter

A week has passed and I have not started what I set out to do this summer. I guess that's not exactly true - I have started this blog and even though I haven't actually written online each day I have at least taken notes. We only have 2 computers right now - 1 desktop and 1 laptop. The desktop is very slow and the Internet connection very slow and unreliable. Haven't managed to figure out what is wrong yet. The laptop is often being used by JT and when it's not he gives me a bad time for being "on the computer all the time." Not that I have let that stop me so far! :) I do tend to get stuck on here for quite a while. I need to get better at only doing what I set out to do. I don't need to check my email every time I open the Internet and I don't have to read all the little 'news' stories. It is NOT necessary to check my facebook account all the time either. My family seldom uses it and I don't get much action from any of my 'friends'. There is no sense in lurking around if I don't have something to say.

I did try talking to JT about what I would like to accomplish this summer but he is not liking the idea of a schedule. I knew he wouldn't be keen on the idea but I still have hopes that he'll warm up to the idea once he realizes how much better he feels.

We have to put in some major work on the garage the next few days so we can get as much of the garbage out and to the curb. There is another pile pick-up this week and there won't be another one for two months.

I have really been struggling with my depression lately. Couple of people have mentioned 'snapping out of it' or some other general reference to being able to get out of the funk they are in and I wish I could do the same. My sleep cycle is all messed up and I haven't been eating but one meal a day. I have been getting at least 7 hours of sleep when I sleep; it just tends to be from 2 to 9 A.M. It's my own fault too; JT usually falls asleep on the couch anywhere between 9 and 11 P.M. giving me ample opportunity to go to bed. However, this is also the time when I get to watch the shows I want or spend time on the computer.

My plan was to just go with my own schedule and let him do his own thing but when it's only the two of us it is hard to motivate myself. It's easier to just adjust my style to his but I feel so icky. No wonder he never feels like doing anything. I feel like a slug waiting for the rainstorm to stop so I can slither out of my safe place. The problem appears to be a self-created rainstorm and the dark cloud enveloping my head seems impenetrable.

One sourse of the pain lies in the memories of Paul's death. Something to explore at another time - I don't feel like crying right now. JT still spends his days and nights on the couch even though his excuse before related to my needing to get up for work. It has now been two years since we have slept in the same bed for more than a night every few months. HMMM :) Now those are good memories. Paul gave me the best gift ever when he decided to take JT and I to Maui. I wish I could find that peace and relaxation now. My body image is another issue that I planned on addressing this summer. I have been given the opportunity to work out in a club and can take any of the classes offered at any of the locations. Instead of working out I have sat, sulked and eaten away another week. I need someone like Beth. When we lived in the same town we would leave our houses at the same time, meet in the middle for some morning prayer and then we each ran/walked back home. I was hoping this blog would help hold me accountable but I don't have a following of people to keep me on track. A few years ago I completed one of the many personality tests online. One of them tells you famous people that had/have similar personalities and the percentage of people with this same personality. I am part of the smallest group - a whopping 3 percent (I think) of the population has a similar personality. Mother Theresa and Ghandi were the two famous people who had similar personalities as mine. I wonder if they felt as lonely as I do? Like no one really understands? I have often wondered what it would be like spending all your time serving. While in college we read of a many people who locked themselves away from the world for prayer and meditation.

Darn Jimmy didn't win the race but The Kid did and Jimmy was 8th so all is good. Good race!

Need to eat some food and want to post to the other blog - just to prove I'm not all gloom and doom!

Chou