Mass Chaos

A few things are going on with me that are just a little off. For example, are 28 year old women supposed to have cowlicks? Because I've totally developed one. Also, today I keep injuring myself on random things that appear harmless, such as manila file folders and plastic Diet Pepsi bottles. What gives?

Numbers, numbers everywhere!

Today I started closing out 9 cases and began mentally preparing for my lighter caseload. Now I'm on my way to pick up materials for my 17 new transfer cases. Now I'm not good at math, but... I think I'm getting screwed.

My glass is half-annoying

I realize that it is odd, ironic, and probably not a good thing that I'm about to complain about something when, just 3 hours ago, I used this forum to praise God. But come on, isn't that part of the beauty??

I have discovered that - while I try to think positively and think that I do that successfully in many difficult situations - I have a pessimistic flaw that would sadden many poets, environmentalists, and members of my family. I can't stand birds singing. Ok, now maybe that's not true 100% of the time, but I'm just going to be honest and say that if I had a shotgun and wasn't afraid to use it, there would be 20 dead birds on my back patio right now. The other day they were annoying me, and I thought how it was odd that that was the case, since most people apparently think birdsong is beautiful and relaxing and all that jazz. (Jazz - another sound that annoys me. I digress.) Then I realized that I couldn't think of a time that birds DIDN'T annoy me. Am I weird? I mean, must they be so freaking LOUD? And it's not like they say what they need to say and then stop. IT NEVER STOPS.

Maybe I should go inside. Hey, at least it's not the neighbor's annoying dog barking. (That's me thinking positively. Told you I try.)

Sophia Sighting

One of our custodians is slightly crazy. It's just a fact. Today she carried her purse on her shoulder the whole day, even while emptying trash cans and mopping. I REALLY want to know what's in there. But anyway, it reminded me of Sophia on the Golden Girls... she always had her purse, even in the middle of the night. Ah, Estelle Getty. *Tear.*

God is great, God is good...

A few weeks ago, there was a tragedy that impacted my life that I did not tell many people about for various reasons. One reason was confidentiality of my clients (although this incident was reported in the paper, because it was a minor his name was not listed); another reason was that it involved the type of accident that I imagine would keep my friends/siblings who are parents of young kids up at night, which I did not want to do. But now that the storm has not only passed but flat out been BLOWN AWAY (as have I) by the strength and power of our almighty God, I just have to tellllllllllll everybody!

Basically, one of my little first-graders was in a horrible accident. He is one who always needs many hugs and special attention to stay focused during group and has way too many heart-wrenching stories for a 7-year-old. He is also incredibly smart and has possibly the biggest, deepest eyes I've ever seen on a child. He moved and changed schools in February, which was very sad for me because he was then out of my district (in addition to the fact that this child needs some freaking STABILITY, as he calls 4 different people "dad"...) Anyway, I digress. A few weeks ago, he and a friend somehow got into a fenced-in, closed pool area, and my student was found later at the bottom of the pool. He was put on life support. I was devastated. The situation itself was bad enough, but knowing his horrible family situation and the fact that he was so brilliant, it just seemed even more of a shame that he would probably face brain damage and also that he would most likely not receive the type of support a disabled child would need at home. I prayed, but I doubted. A lot.

Today, I found out the child is not only still alive, but is BACK AT SCHOOL and doing FINE! I am seriously amazed and believe that this is an actual water-to-wine miracle. I hope that you will join me in thanking God for the miracles that He works every day and for the Grace that every now and then allows us to even notice them.

An answer to your burning question

In case you've ever wondered what my personal version of hell is, it is this: no air conditioning at the workplace. I've been there for 2 days and am so freaking repentant!!

Crafty, my ass!

Yes, this blog needs an expletive. Maybe two, damnit. I have spent the last 90 minutes and 3 gallons of perspiration creating a new bulletin board at work, and I have decided my theory that there's a whole class on this in teacher school absolutely has to be true. Gone are the days of my cute decoupage picture frames, imaginative scrapbook pages, precise ceramics painting, and well-crafted cross-stitching. I totally suck at this! What started out as an inspirational beach theme (sun, sand, and water created out of my 64 kids' orange, blue, and tan handprints) now looks like "Make a Difference" lettered between an orange blob, a blue blob, and a tan blob. (And no, I did not choose orange and blue for U.Va.; rather, it is a Carolina blue and these were my default choices from construction paper leftovers). Unless people actually read The Starfish Story posted on the side, there is no way they are making the connection that this is a beach picture. Frankly, I'm not sure they will make the connection even if they DO go up and read it. Sigh. I should have just given my Kindergarteners fingerpaints and let them create "art."

Also, now seems like a good time to admit on the WWW that I definitely taught a fourth-grader the wrong way to add fractions in tutoring this week. One of her classmates did it the right way in tutoring yesterday and I was like, "Wait... are you sure that's right?" as the lightbulb of memory clicked on in my brain. Um yeah Girl 2 has an A... pretty sure I've got an F in 4th grade math and am possibly responsible for the downfall of the school's SOL scores by teaching Girl 1 incorrectly. Plus, now the secret that knowing how to add fractions is absolutely useless in "real life" (unless you cook, which I don't, or commonly order large quantities of pizza and calculate the amounts left over, which I don't) is totally out. Maybe I'll punish myself by making my next bulletin board about fractions.

TV is messing with me

If I had seen the TV lineup for just this week alone, I probably would have calculated that the cost of DVR would be worth it. Alas, I did not. I mean really, every show I watch is having a 15 hour finale this week. What's a girl to do?

Let me get this straight...

Today's going to be 85 and humid AND might rain? Let's go back to just rain, please. Virginia... the state where I have to have A/C to GET to work.