This week has been total "crap." I haven't blogged recently due to the fact that I haven't had much of interest going on.
Two weeks ago I had dental surgery. Big woo! I had two teeth extracted by surgery. It hurt like hell for a couple of days, but the la la drugs the surgeon gave me helped with that. As a matter of fact, they helped me so well, I missed an extra day of school. Now I am waiting for the holes to heal, then I have to have a partial plate made with some false teeth. This will go well with the hearing aid and glasses I already wear. Growing old isn't for the weak, let me tell you.
At school, we are taking the tests required by the state here in Area 52. I helped administer these tests to my merry band of sixth graders who already struggle with learning. That's why I am there. Anyway, some of them really tried, but some didn't give a shit, refused to listen to our instructions, or even try to work through to get the correct answers. Thus making the lead teacher's job as well as mine doubly hard. It is now when I would like to call the head honcho of our state's board of education into the classroom and let her figure out how the hell we are to get our test scores up when we have students who simply aren't capable of doing the work required. No wonder Area 52's test scores are in the commode! I am still wondering how these 6th graders got to 6th grade and can't read other than simple words, and do not know their multiplication tables. Come on!
While I am bitching, my arthritis in my right hip is really hurting. The weather here is cold and damp and that aggravates it even worse. I am developing it in my feet now. Toes and ankles hurt all the time. I drive a county transit bus in the afternoons daily after school, and I had to ask my manager for a bus with automatic doors so I don't have to climb in and out all the time. That's another bummer.
My church has been under renovations for several months. The building has been such a mess that we have been meeting in the auditorium of the school where I spend 5 days a week already. I haven't been going! That's so not like me. But my heart just isn't in it. Our new building is about ready, and the building committee keeps dangling the carrot, but delaying opening up our new facility. They want everyone to be WOWed on the first Sunday in our new building, so they think everything has to be perfect. My church choir, which is where most of my "church energy and love" is, has yet to begin their fall practicing due to lack of space to practice. So I don't have that to look forward to. The quartets I sing in have been practicing sporadically, and I miss that, too.
On top of that, my garage is a mess, and I can't get my car in. I need to spend a day finding a place for the stuff Professor didn't take with her to MT, put away my junk that I have just set any old place all summer long, and get it cleaned out and tidied. But after working until about 7 every evening, I am not in the mood to clean the damn garage.
Speaking of Professor, next Tuesday the 26th is her BD. It will be the first one we have not celebrated with her in person. I UPSed her gifts to her today. Lots of stuff I would like to share with her but can't, and dammit, I am just homesick. She has been such a dynamic part of our lives for so long, and I miss her terribly.
So, now that I have griped, bitched and complained for several paragraphs, I will bid you all adieu. Tomorrow is another day and is bound to be better.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
I was tagged! It's about me- of course!
Professor tagged me with this meme. So, here it is!
1. Do you still have tonsils? – No: taken out on my 5th birthday.
2. Would you bungee jump? – Are you nuts? My luck would be that the cord would be too long for my slightly pudgy body and I would be just a grease spot on the ground!!
3. If You Could Do Anything In The World For A Living What Would It Be? – Be a matress tester LOL, or be a real teacher instead of a overworked, underpaid teaching assistant.
4. How many tattoos do you have? – 0. Good grief! Being numbed for a two-tooth extraction was bad enough. Why would I let some guy that looks like a geek stab me with electric needles about 10, 000 times and imbed my skin with some man made ink that contains who-knows what toxins!! Get real!
Your favorite fictional animal? – Black Beauty, My Friend Flicka and Lassie.
6. One person that never fails to make you laugh? –My friend Lauri! She's a singing buddy, mother of 2 and has the quickest wit and keenest sense of humor of anyone else I know.
7. Do you consider yourself well organized? – Look at my wood shop and then ask that question. Shit no!
8. Any Addictions? – yes- singing, chocolate, and books.
9. From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news? – CNN and local TV, but, hell, I work two jobs daily and have to sleep sometime, so when do I have time to catch the news. Jeopardy is more important!
10. Would you rather go to a carnival or circus? – Neither! Carnivals are too loud and circuses stink.
11. When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? – At 12 probably a cowboy. Do you all realize how many years ago that was?
12. Best Movie You've Seen This Year? – Ransom
13. Favorite alcoholic drink – Margarita on the rocks, with salted rim. Or Coors Silver Bullet.
14. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? – hit snooze. Once, then go pee.
15. Siblings? – One bro . A fine human being. Older and wiser than me.
17. Have you ever gone to therapy? – No. I teach 12,13 and 14 year-olds. Why would I need therapy. They are very good at pointing out all my bad points.
18. If you could have one super power what would it be? – Visiting with the dead.
19. Do you own any furniture from Ikea? – No, I don't think so! What the hell is Ikea, anyhow?
20. Have you ever gone camping? – Yes. Used to camp a lot when single. Went on a three week camping trip with 5 in a fold out camper. Enough!
21. Gas prices! First thought? – Fu--ing Commies in D.C!
22. Your favorite cartoon character? – Wiley Coyote
23. What was your first car? – 1954 Plymouth Savoy. Green: wouldn't start if the temp was below 32 degrees F.
24. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual? – no. It has worked for me for over 37 years. It just takes a lot of work daily on the part of both people. Lots are not willing to work at it. Divorce is too easy to get. That's the outdated ritual!
25. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons? – Yuck! Neither one! Cosby is a favorite as a stand-up, but his show sucked!
26. Do you go to church? Every Sunday (almost)
27. What famous person would you like to have dinner with? – Anwar Sadat(if he was still with us), Jennifer O'Neill, Billy Joel
28. What errand/chore do you despise? – grocery shopping, cutting grass.
29. First thought when the alarm went off this morning? – Is it Saturday yet?
30. Last time you puked from drinking? – I was 21, passed out in someone's yard, my Bro found me took me home and put me to bed. I awoke next afternoon.
31. What is your heritage? – Irish, and German
32. Favorite flower? – Zennias
33. Disney or Warner Bros? – Disney
34. What is your best childhood memory? – I have many, but the willingness of my parents to let my bro and I have our firends to the house for swimming parties in summer, ice skating and sledding parties in winter is one of the best. My mom actually would make gallons of hot chocolate and we would roast hot dogs and marshmallows in the fire place. Also Christmases at Grandpa's house with all the cousins.
35. Your favorite potato chip? – Lay's Matsterpiece BBQ
36. What is your favorite candy? – chcoclate
37. Do you burn or tan? – BURN
38. Astrological sign? – Taurus
39. Do you own a gun? – Did, but gave it to my son.
40. What do you think of hot dogs? Roasted over an open fire! GREAT!
I don't wish to tag anyone right now. Let me think on it a while. Most of the bloggers I read have already been tagged.
Professor tagged me with this meme. So, here it is!
1. Do you still have tonsils? – No: taken out on my 5th birthday.
2. Would you bungee jump? – Are you nuts? My luck would be that the cord would be too long for my slightly pudgy body and I would be just a grease spot on the ground!!
3. If You Could Do Anything In The World For A Living What Would It Be? – Be a matress tester LOL, or be a real teacher instead of a overworked, underpaid teaching assistant.
4. How many tattoos do you have? – 0. Good grief! Being numbed for a two-tooth extraction was bad enough. Why would I let some guy that looks like a geek stab me with electric needles about 10, 000 times and imbed my skin with some man made ink that contains who-knows what toxins!! Get real!
Your favorite fictional animal? – Black Beauty, My Friend Flicka and Lassie.
6. One person that never fails to make you laugh? –My friend Lauri! She's a singing buddy, mother of 2 and has the quickest wit and keenest sense of humor of anyone else I know.
7. Do you consider yourself well organized? – Look at my wood shop and then ask that question. Shit no!
8. Any Addictions? – yes- singing, chocolate, and books.
9. From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news? – CNN and local TV, but, hell, I work two jobs daily and have to sleep sometime, so when do I have time to catch the news. Jeopardy is more important!
10. Would you rather go to a carnival or circus? – Neither! Carnivals are too loud and circuses stink.
11. When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? – At 12 probably a cowboy. Do you all realize how many years ago that was?
12. Best Movie You've Seen This Year? – Ransom
13. Favorite alcoholic drink – Margarita on the rocks, with salted rim. Or Coors Silver Bullet.
14. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? – hit snooze. Once, then go pee.
15. Siblings? – One bro . A fine human being. Older and wiser than me.
17. Have you ever gone to therapy? – No. I teach 12,13 and 14 year-olds. Why would I need therapy. They are very good at pointing out all my bad points.
18. If you could have one super power what would it be? – Visiting with the dead.
19. Do you own any furniture from Ikea? – No, I don't think so! What the hell is Ikea, anyhow?
20. Have you ever gone camping? – Yes. Used to camp a lot when single. Went on a three week camping trip with 5 in a fold out camper. Enough!
21. Gas prices! First thought? – Fu--ing Commies in D.C!
22. Your favorite cartoon character? – Wiley Coyote
23. What was your first car? – 1954 Plymouth Savoy. Green: wouldn't start if the temp was below 32 degrees F.
24. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual? – no. It has worked for me for over 37 years. It just takes a lot of work daily on the part of both people. Lots are not willing to work at it. Divorce is too easy to get. That's the outdated ritual!
25. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons? – Yuck! Neither one! Cosby is a favorite as a stand-up, but his show sucked!
26. Do you go to church? Every Sunday (almost)
27. What famous person would you like to have dinner with? – Anwar Sadat(if he was still with us), Jennifer O'Neill, Billy Joel
28. What errand/chore do you despise? – grocery shopping, cutting grass.
29. First thought when the alarm went off this morning? – Is it Saturday yet?
30. Last time you puked from drinking? – I was 21, passed out in someone's yard, my Bro found me took me home and put me to bed. I awoke next afternoon.
31. What is your heritage? – Irish, and German
32. Favorite flower? – Zennias
33. Disney or Warner Bros? – Disney
34. What is your best childhood memory? – I have many, but the willingness of my parents to let my bro and I have our firends to the house for swimming parties in summer, ice skating and sledding parties in winter is one of the best. My mom actually would make gallons of hot chocolate and we would roast hot dogs and marshmallows in the fire place. Also Christmases at Grandpa's house with all the cousins.
35. Your favorite potato chip? – Lay's Matsterpiece BBQ
36. What is your favorite candy? – chcoclate
37. Do you burn or tan? – BURN
38. Astrological sign? – Taurus
39. Do you own a gun? – Did, but gave it to my son.
40. What do you think of hot dogs? Roasted over an open fire! GREAT!
I don't wish to tag anyone right now. Let me think on it a while. Most of the bloggers I read have already been tagged.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
My Heroes
In today’s world, heroes aren’t what they used to be. Today, famous people who make millions and live in the height of luxury are the people our young citizens are looking up to as heroes. I have no doubt that actors, rock stars and pro athletes are fine people. But heroes: not a chance.
These are not the people that I want my grandson to consider as heroes. I want him to realize who the real American heroes are.
The real heroes are the doctors and nurses who study for years to become experts in their fields, and then give of themselves so unselfishly to save the lives of many.
The real heroes are the countless men and women who serve their country in the military, sacrificing themselves so we might live free.
The real heroes are the farmers who toil hours on end in all kinds of weather in order to provide food for our nation and for others in the world who are starving.
The real heroes are the firemen, EMT's and police, who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us from both natural and man-made dangers.
The real heroes are the teachers who spend countless hours in the classrooms of America’s schools educating our young people. They often do this for below-standard pay in below-standard conditions, yet they persevere, knowing the reward of seeing our nation’s young people fulfill their thirst for knowledge.
The real heroes are the religious leaders of this country who faithfully bring the word of God to people, giving even the downtrodden a glimmer of hope.
The real heroes are the staff members in nursing homes and retirement centers that strive daily to make the final years of our older Americans as pleasant and comfortable as possible.
Yes, these are the real heroes of the American people. They do not live in mansions or in extreme luxury; they are regular people who just make a difference.
In today’s world, heroes aren’t what they used to be. Today, famous people who make millions and live in the height of luxury are the people our young citizens are looking up to as heroes. I have no doubt that actors, rock stars and pro athletes are fine people. But heroes: not a chance.
These are not the people that I want my grandson to consider as heroes. I want him to realize who the real American heroes are.
The real heroes are the doctors and nurses who study for years to become experts in their fields, and then give of themselves so unselfishly to save the lives of many.
The real heroes are the countless men and women who serve their country in the military, sacrificing themselves so we might live free.
The real heroes are the farmers who toil hours on end in all kinds of weather in order to provide food for our nation and for others in the world who are starving.
The real heroes are the firemen, EMT's and police, who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us from both natural and man-made dangers.
The real heroes are the teachers who spend countless hours in the classrooms of America’s schools educating our young people. They often do this for below-standard pay in below-standard conditions, yet they persevere, knowing the reward of seeing our nation’s young people fulfill their thirst for knowledge.
The real heroes are the religious leaders of this country who faithfully bring the word of God to people, giving even the downtrodden a glimmer of hope.
The real heroes are the staff members in nursing homes and retirement centers that strive daily to make the final years of our older Americans as pleasant and comfortable as possible.
Yes, these are the real heroes of the American people. They do not live in mansions or in extreme luxury; they are regular people who just make a difference.
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