The postman knocks once...

and look at the goodies I got!

Yes.

Yes, that is a (gasp) knitting book that you see there.  Don't try to adjust your screen.  Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.

Because of what is inside of this:

I will be taking knitting lessons at my LYS in the near future.  Thanks for the birthday present, Dad!!!  :)

In the interest of full disclosure,  I bought the book that my LYS recommended because I felt that, if I didn't, I would chicken out of using the presentinsidetheenvelope on something like.....yarn.  And since we know that I really don't need any more yarn....

*cough*bought this last weekend*cough*

I figured that, if I bought the book, I would be more apt to actually TAKE the knitting lessons.

Honestly, the only reason that I want these knitting lessons is so that I can finally learn how to knit socks.  I am desperate to learn the fine art of sock knitting because, truly, I covet (in a Biblically non-sinful way) pairs of hand-knit socks.  I am jealous (again....in a non-sinful way) of those who are talented enough to wield a mean pair of knitting needles and turn out a luscious pair of hand-knit socks.

And, after all, I could eventually learn how to knit a sweet little sweater for a sweet little puppy...

No?

:)

ps.  more on the other two books in other post.

Call me Vesuvius...

cause I'm about to blow.

OMG!

We had a parent meeting tonight at school.  I wasn't looking forward to this one because a huge change was made last week (a much needed change!) that the teachers were beyond thankful for but that I knew the parents would be ticked about.

Please believe me when I tell you that is was SO hard for me to keep my mouth shut tonight.  (For the record, I am rewarding said quiet mouth with chocolate right now.  SO. WRONG. I know.  :(  )

I wanted to stand up and tell all those ridiculous parents off because they have no idea what was really going on and the board couldn't say what really happened in the interest of protecting everyone involved in the situation.

UGH!  I can't really say anything more except to say that so, so, so many lies were thrown out tonight by some of those parents.  I am sick to death of the sense of entitlement that some people have and how they want to hide behind their version of "religion" and "God" to justify what they are saying when, in reality, they have NO IDEA what they are talking about.

They complain about disrespect shown to them but then they are unbelievably disrespectful to the people who are in the front speaking.  I had parents all around me griping and complaining to the people around them.  I had to choke back some pretty terse comments when one parent started running down the very person THEY ELECTED TO BE ON THEIR BOARD as he was trying to explain things to them.

My absolute favorite is when the very ones that act so spiritual and holy are the ones that are standing around gossiping and complaining and acting like they know what happened.

UGH again!  And now I am so wound up that I can't go to bed yet and I am really tired.

Grrrrrrrr...........

and grrrrrrrrrrrr again.

thirteen...

I'm not quite sure why I am blogging tonight.  I don't have much to say.

About anything.

I'm kind of all talked out.

miss raven and I are fine.

Well, I am fine.  miss raven is mostly fine.

she will be thirteen this year.  July 15.  Thirteen for a dog is not the same as thirteen for a human.  she has begun to show some signs of her advanced age.

I have been noticing for a while lately that she is having some difficulty getting up and down the steps leading from my deck to her yard.  Not so much during the day but almost always at dawn, dusk, and night.

It isn't her hips or joints.  It's her eyes.  she is having a hard time seeing things.

It became painfully obvious last week.  she tried to run up the stairs after hesitating at the bottom.  she made it about halfway up and then conked her little head on the stair.  It hit pretty loud.  she ended up back down at the bottom of the stairs looking up at me as if to say, "What just happened?  That hurt!"

I was so upset.  I have begun picking her up and carrying her up and down the stairs.

And trying so hard to not think about her being almost thirteen.

Here I am...

I have no witty title.

I have nothing exciting to say.

But I am here, nonetheless.

All for you, BFF.  All for you.

You may show your thanks by coming to visit me for our rapidly approaching fortieth birthday.

I was scolded today by a parent that I am friends with on Facebook.  Apparently she was offended by my happiness in what occurred at school yesterday.  Although I don't care that she may or may not agree with what happened, in deference to her I removed my post.  And then I was annoyed by that.  I really am pretty careful about what I post on FB because I am friends with quite a few of my students, both past and present, as well as a few parents and teachers.  I make sure that I don't post anything inflammatory or objectionable.  I do feel, though, that I should be able to post my feelings.  She objected to the term that I used to describe a person that was in charge several years ago.  I referred to the person as a "holy terror".  Personally, I thought I was being quite polite, considering that my feelings for said person are much, much less um, nice.

Anyway.  I do like the person that spoke to me and, although it annoys me that I took the post down I guess that it is better to do that than to create, or perpetuate, more drama.

Tomorrow is Friday and I am very happy.  We have Monday off and I plan on doing nothing but relaxing with my girlie and several nice hot cups of coffee.

:)

It's like Deja vu all over again...

I know it is hard to believe that I am blogging TWO whole days in a row.  Try to contain your excitement.

Update from yesterday's post:

My little darling, who has now taken to calling herself the "Love Doctor" asked me first thing this morning is I had  given any thought to the tips she gave me yesterday.  When I told her that I had, she was pleased and informed me that there just might be a quiz over them on Friday.

If anyone (male) would like to be my study-buddy, please let me know.  I would hate to disappoint her by failing her quiz.

We received some interesting news this afternoon at the semi-impromptu staff meeting that was called.  It was good news and something that most of us have been praying for over the last several months, but it is going to cause some fur to fly and we may end up losing some good students because of the perceived instability.  If you are the praying type, please keep my school in your prayers.  There are many faithful and dedicated teachers there who have sacrificed a lot to teach at a small-ish school.  We do it because we truly love the school and the students, not because we are in it for the money.  The last several years have been rough but God is good and I really feel like we are finally turning a corner.  We just need the good parents to stick with us for just a little bit longer.

And yes, if you have been reading here for about two years or so, this will sound a little familiar to you as we just went through this in 2009.....

It's like deja vu all over again...

:o/

SAD...

I should probably try to blog more often.  It appears I have lost a follower.

:(

In case you live on another planet, you know that today is Valentine's Day, or, as I prefer to refer to it:  Singles Awareness Day (SAD).  You would have to be living on another planet or be an agoraphobic hermit without a television to NOT know, because the Peoplewholiketocreateunecessaryholidays have been hawking this day since, oh, I don't know, HALLOWEEN.

As you have probably already guessed, I hate this day.  It is just another painful reminder that I am (still) alone.  Please don't get all "Well, think of all the widows/military spouses/etc." there are out there.  I am wallowing in my self-pity and will stay here for a bit.  Thankyouverymuch.  I'm not looking for words of comfort much like I am not looking for any cards in my mailbox (ah-la Charlie Brown).

Not knowing how I felt, my kids were their usual selves today.  And I loved it (mostly).  We did have a Valentine's party (I'm not that bitter...yet.) but I wouldn't let them eat any of the candy they got.

STOP!

Think before you hurl unnecessary mean comments about me being a Valentine Scrooge.

I did bake them brownies.  With little red, pink, and white candies in them.  And I brought them juice.

Aren't you glad you didn't say anything?

You're welcome.

I also gave them Valentines.  Mad Libs Valentines.  Hey, if they are going to get something rather frivolous I would like for it to at least have some educational purpose.

I also learned today that I still single because I am apparently doing it all wrong.  Here in its unedited version is the list of things I should do if I want a man (as told to me by the sweet child who asked for help with the wedgie last week.)  Please remember, these are HER words, not mine:

1. Bake him lots of cupcakes and brownies.  You are good at that.
2. Sweet talk him, but not too much.  Let him sweet talk you.
3. Be yourself and show him who you really are.
4. Don't buy him a lot of gifts.  He is supposed to buy you a lot of gifts.
5. Make eye contact.
6. Wear nice perfume.
7. Wear decent clothes.
8. Wear a decent amount of make-up.
9. And for goodness sake...DON'T WEAR YOUR HAIR IN A PONYTAIL ON YOUR DATE.

I managed to keep a pretty straight face the whole time she was talking because, believe me when I tell you, she was quite serious.  She even went so far as to tell me she will be keeping her eye out for me for a good man because I am a good teacher so I deserve a good man.  Oh, and if he says anything bad to me or hurts my feelings, he will have to answer to her.

Lord, help that man.

;)

So, anyway, Happy Valentine's/SAD, from my favorite Valentine and me:

"Miss Olsen, can you:

• help me with my math?    of course!
• open my stuck thermos?  absolutely!
• show me how to diagram?  let's do it right now!
• help me wind up this yarn?  you've come to the right place!
• play uno with us?  i thought you'd never ask!
• help me with my wedgie?  um.  NO!

Yep.  I was actually asked ALL of those things this week.

Gotta love 4th graders!

It has been an interesting week.  We had a parent/teacher meeting on Tuesday night that I was rather dreading.  Not for the same reasons that I dreaded them last year, but still...Fortunately, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be.  Not only wasn't it bad but the new President and Vice President of the Parent Group actually pretty much told all of the other parents off for not supporting the teachers.  I so badly wanted to stand up and say "Preach on!"

I didn't.

I did however, stand up and publicly thank my principal for all he has done this year.  He really puts up with a great deal of crap and I KNOW what he is going through because....well....been there, done that.  I didn't think what I said was all that newsworthy but apparently it got around because the whole rest of the week people have been coming up to me and thanking me for what I said.

Look at me and my big public-speaking self!

Not really.  I was totally nervous the whole time!

Today we went on a field trip.  We saw a play about the life of Ben Carson.  If you don't know anything about it you should totally read Gifted Hands.  The play was very well done and the kids did such a good job.  Then, brave souls that we are, we took them to Red Robin.  (Yummmmm!)  I was slightly nervous over how they would do but my kids were so, so good!  I was very proud of them.  I was proud of me, too, because I ate a veggie burger (with no mayo) and sweet potato fries (but only one serving...though I truly wanted to ask the waitress to fill up that basket every single time she walked by!) .  I didn't get any dessert, either, though people kept tempting me to!

The nicest part of all was that one of my parents paid for my meal!  It was completely unexpected and greatly appreciated.  :)

Tomorrow I am planning on attending a local knit/crochet group that I found on Ravelry...um....if I can make myself go.  You know.  It's the whole notbeingcomfortablearoundotherpeople thing.  Yeah.

And of course, on Sunday, I will be watching the Super Bowl.  miss raven and I will be having our own little (healthy) party.

I'm rooting for the Giants.  Who you got??

:)