Jan 21, 2009

Mrs. Proper ROCKS!

So I got the best compliment today. We have had Blue Ribbon crap going on in our school for the past week. Some of the parents were invited to speak about the school and how wonderful it was. One of my student's parents came by to tell the visiting team what she shared with him. I guess they asked the parents what they loved about the school and the parents were gushing about all the teachers and all the stuff we do. The guy then asked if he were to have visited the week before would they have said the same thing. This is when she told the story.

Her son had come home from school, he is in my class, and she asked him how his day went. He told her that she doesn't have to ask him everyday because everyday is a good day because he has Mrs. Proper for a teacher. I instantly had tears streaming down my face and my heart was touched. That is one of the sweetest things that I have ever heard mentioned about me.

That's all I needed. Some days you feel like what you are doing is not making a difference and with all the extra $%^& the state and district pile on us, you wonder how the hell you'll make it through the day, let alone the school year. But when you hear something like that...It's all suddenly worth it and you remember what it's all about- the kids! That's all that matters!! I will never forget what that student said about me and I will also hold my head a little higher! "I have Mrs. Proper...Every day's a good day!" I like that!

Jan 16, 2009

LEARN THE LANGUAGE!

Okay, so I had an interesting morning...One, got a call...NO SCHOOL TODAY! I guess -30 is a little too cold for the little darlings. YEY! I got to sleep in and plus now I get a 4 day weekend, we don't have to work on Monday for MLK, Jr. Day!

So, I get up at 8 and putz around a little and the phone rings. It's not a number I recognize, but we keep getting messages for a little old lady whose phone number must be a digit off from us. We get calls for her from her little old lady friends, and her relatives from Ohio who leave 10 minute messages. Anyway, I thought it may have been one of those calls and I could FINALLY tell them they have the wrong number (they always call when we're not home...convenient!) But no, here's a little how the conversation went.

Me-hello?
Indian man-heldo?
Me- hello?
Indian man- Heldo?
Me- hello? what do you want?
Indian Man- I'm lookding for Mikel.
Me- Sorry there is no one there by that name..Still not realizing he could be TRYING to say MICHELLE.
Indian Man- I'm lookding for the ownder of the house, wood you like to remortgage your house.
(Now, I'm thinking...Really, a guy in India is asking me if I want to remortgage with his company, you've GOT to be kidding me.)
Me- No thanks, we're not interested, please remove us from your call list!

Okay so that was pretty fun. Then I go to the bank. Since it's -30 outside and I was a little sweaty from coming home from the gym, I opted for the drive thru...After all, I only wanted to cash a $10 check (thanks Laura!) and take out $50 for a fun outing tonight. So I drive up to the thingamabob and say, I would like to cash this check and take out $50 from 01. The lady repeats, "Savings 01" I respond with a yes, thank you. A few minutes pass and I see the slip of paper, no biggie, I thought. I was withdrawing money so I knew I would have to sign for it... I look at the slip of paper and see DEPOSIT $10 into SAVINGS 01. Now, I'm not a rocket scientist, but I never said to deposit the money, but to Isabel, the Russian teller, that's what it means in Russia. SO I send it ALL back and Isabel says, "what do you want?" Now, I'm trying to think how I'm going to do this..."I want to WITHDRAW $60 from my savings 01 please." "But you just deposited your check into it..." NO YOU DEPOSITED MY CHECK THERE, I'm screaming in my mind, but instead I said, "I wanted to cash that check but you accidentally deposited it into my savings. I want $60 back please." So she takes some more time, wishes me a great day and then proceeds to "mean mug" me as I drive away. Hello? what did I do wrong? Except get the teller who obviously doesn't speak English that well and doubly doesn't understand it!

UGH! My biggest pet peeve is when people who live here, don't learn the language. If I wanted to live in Italy, do you think I'd get by speaking my English there...Probably not, if I want to survive, I'd need to learn the language. And what was the bank manager thinking?? Okay I'm done! Au revoir!

Jan 10, 2009

Another one bites the dust...

Well, yet another friend has stepped into a realm of life I wonder if I will ever see. Holly had her baby last night. He was two weeks early, but everything is fine. Mom is great, baby is great, but Shell is not so hot. I don't know why it's hitting me so hard. I mean she was 9 months pregnant and in two weeks, regardless, a baby would come. I guess I was counting on those two weeks to help prepare me that another friend would become a mother. For two more weeks, I had a friend who was still on my side...not a mother.

Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic for her, I am going to see her and Christian and Chris and I'm sure the whole gang. But, I'm sitting here wondering why things come so easy for others, yet so difficulty for the select few. Just last year Holly was a newlywed, now 3 weeks after her 1 year anniversary she gets to add the amazing title of mother. While I have been married for 5 1/2 years and wonder when I get to add that title to my name.

I know that I can't compare myself to others, and I am extremely grateful and happy for what I have, but it doesn't stop me from feeling a loss and honestly, feeling left out. All of my close high school friends, with the exception of one, is a mother. I watch all of them taking care of their children, talking about their children and I can either talk about my students or my four legged furry "babies."

I know the path we are on is the right one for us right now. We are giving the acupuncture and the supplements til March. Obviously I want to conceive without having to go the route of reproductive endocrinologist, but it's looking more and more like that will be our only option. I am very hopeful that 2009 is the year that miracle is granted...I guess time will tell.

Jan 8, 2009

Feeling annoyed...

I don't understand how certain people get positions of great power, when in fact, they don't know the first thing about being a leader. It's so frustrating to see all this superficial stuff going up in our school because we are having a blue ribbon visit. I mean, our "leader" painted over a mural that has been in the building for 20 + years just because SHE didn't like it. She hung these HORRIBLE 1987 pictures that are airbrushed, yes you heard me correctly, airbrushed with fluorescent colors. Hello, hideous. Plus, the skills on it aren't even ones we teach. Here's a thought...It's a school, why not fill that space with STUDENT WORK?? I don't know, maybe that'll work.

Then she tells us that next year we're going to have to host a board meeting. This is a HUGE dog and pony show that is a waste of time and money. Over $20,000 will be wasted for the stupid board officers to have a meeting in our building. Here's a new thought, why not have the board visit a school when we are actually teaching? Wouldn't that make more sense? And then have the stupid meetings at the $1.5 million dollar IRC that we wasted, I mean used our bond money on a few years back...

Love my job, I love the kids, but you can take all this other horseshit and shove it. I just want to teach! UGH! OK, I'm done!

Jan 2, 2009

Up, Up, Up!

There's nowhere but Up from here!! I heard that song the other day and something inside of me snapped. I feel like the last couple months I have been at the lowest I could feel. I wasn't feeling appreciative for things and I was looking at others with jealousy and hurt. I'm done! I'm so sick of feeling that way. I'm looking up. That's the only way to look. Looking back is not what I want to do. Jesse and I have come a long way since we began our adventure. Although 2008 was a year of some pain, when I am looking back, I have found there was a lot more to be thankful for than I first thought!

Jesse left Fin-tini's! That was a HUGE accomplishment. Although it was hard, scary and nerve-racking, it was the only decision for us. Things with the new place are so much better for both of us. Jesse is much happier and healthier. We have a partner that is a true partner through and through. It was a tough decision and Louie's is still building, I know that there is nothing but blue skies ahead of us. It's hard to say this, but I am grateful for Nick and Allan. They have taught us everything we don't want to be. We have learned how strong and determined the two of us are and that we are good people. I wish the best for them and hope they can keep the restaurant going. After all the blood, sweat and tears, it would be a shame to see it go down. I know that Jesse and I are better off, so thanks McDonald's for the experience and thank you even more for letting us go!!

We have been seeing Sandy our nutritionist. She has helped us feel so much better and feels that with all the new things we are doing, when we do get pregnant we will have a healthy pregnancy that will result in a healthy baby. I have faith. I know what we are doing is helping and will allow us to achieve our goal. We have also started acupuncture. Jesse says he knows it is working because he can feel it.

I know with all we are doing 2009 will be the year for us. So, no need to look back, or look down, there's only one way to look...Up!