Shopaholic.....

I promise you I am NOT one of those high-maintenance women. I typically dress for comfort (but try to look nice at the same time) rather than paying much attention to fashion. If I'm not careful, I will continue wearing the same articles of clothing for years, completely oblivious of the fact that they have long gone out of fashion. (Aside: Did you know that the correct expression is "oblivious of...." and not "oblivious to....."? I learned that in my doctoral program. Money well spent, I should think.)

I had a co-worker several years ago who was known for making some of the tackiest comments known to man. I don't THINK she was deliberately trying to be mean; she just didn't think before the words came out of her mouth. Example: One morning we were both getting out of our cars at the same time, and she said to me, "Oh, I used to have a dress like that. Every now and then I start to wear it, and then I tell myself, 'Susan, that dress is way out of style now.'"

I had three or four dresses in the same style, and I went home and put them ALL in the goodwill pile. And I liked them! But I could never wear them again without thinking of her thoughtless remark.

And that's another thing. When I find something I like, it's not unheard of for me to have two (or more) of the same item in different colors. I may not even buy them all at the same time. When I was shopping for clothes at the beginning of the school year, I didn't intentionally buy three satin-looking tunic-length blouses that are only slightly different in the design. One is purple, one is red, and one is brown. Yesterday there was a wonderful sale at the ONLY department store our little bitty town has, so I stopped in after school with my additional 25% off elite shopping pass. Yes, I realize I was suckered. I found some adorable boots (can't figure out why I've been on a boot kick lately, but there it is...sorry, pun not intended) and couldn't decide whether to buy them in brown or black. I stood there for the longest time, considering my wardrobe and what would look good with the boots. I have some new brown slacks, so I eventually bought them in brown, and I wore them to school today.

After school I stopped in the same store and bought the same boots. In black. And a pink sweater with sequins on it. I am neither a pink girl nor a sequin girl, but there you have it. Perhaps I am trying to transform myself?

The good news is that once this binge is over, I am unlikely to buy any more clothes until the spring. Good thing...my credit card thinks a nuclear meltdown has occurred.

Back in the (Saddle?) Again.....

During last school year, I got pretty good about getting on the elliptical every. single. morning. That was in addition to any cycling I might do in the afternoon, one or two nights at Zumba class, walking in the park with Hubby some afternoons, and cycling on the weekend.

I started out this year doing the same, but the routine of going to take care of Hubby's mama every morning began to get to me. I stopped getting on the elliptical every morning, even though I technically had the time to do so. I just chose to spend that time crocheting, reading, or playing on the computer. I justified it as "me" time that I deserved because I now had to make several trips down the road every day to take care of my mother-in-law.

Don't get me wrong; I didn't resent having to help her. I wasn't pouting and that's why I got out of my morning exercise routine. It was more an issue of using that time in the morning to decompress, trying to keep my sanity.

Mother-in-law has been back to taking care of herself for three weeks now, and it took me until this week to get back on the elliptical. It is SO HARD to get back into those routines once I get out of them. I tried to talk myself out of it this morning, but I finally made myself get dressed and go down to the dungeon basement to exercise.

And I feel much better throughout the day. My mood is better, and I haven't wanted to throttle nearly as many students this week since I've been getting my engine jump-started every morning.

I have to get back on the bandwagon as far as food goes too. I told myself I wouldn't use the Thanksgiving holiday as an excuse to overeat/eat the wrong things, but myself didn't listen very well.

And maybe it will be warm enough this weekend to do some cycling. I would like to shed these last 15 pounds (and the 5 friends they allowed to stay over after the holiday weekend) before the end of the school year.

Calendar Comments.....

Our new superintendent sent out a survey asking for teacher, staff, parent, and student input regarding the calendar for next year. I participated in the survey even though I won't BE there next year, and I didn't put smart-ass answers typical of someone who won't be there next year. (I know, right?)

Today she shared the results with us, sent out a tentative calendar (which means nothing, since they changed it last year after many parents had already made plans), and included the comments participants could include at the end of the survey.

I know, I know, I already make fun of the people of my community way too much. (But I haven't tortured you with Police Blotter Blogger Fodder lately, now have I?) I shouldn't make fun of the citizens of my adopted county, the place where I am destined to spend the remainder of my days. Unless someone slips into our house in the middle of the night and performs a lobotomy on Hubby. Then all bets are off.

But some of these comments are hilarious. Some of them are just painful. I didn't make a single one of them up, though.

• We appreciate you. (I could sort of understand this one if it weren't an ANONYMOUS survey. Kissing up is never a bad approach.)
• Use common sense. (Did they understand these are EDUCATORS making these calendar decisions?)
• The weather in November to have a week off is not condusive to having children home. To cold to play outside and to expensive to go anywhere being gas prices are raised as well as hotel and airfare prices. (I understand the logic, which is actually pretty good, but if one has CHILDREN in the school district, shouldn't one be able to spell words like "too"? I'll give them "conducive.")
• Ask the city to widen HAYMOND MORRIS Rd. and make a side walk. (If the only chance you get to express your opinion is on a calendar survey, then by golly you should complain about the roads there. And putting the name in all caps might just make up for misspelling the name of the road. And "sidewalk" is one word.)
• WHEN PLANNING PROM AND OTHER EVENTS.MAKE SURE THIS DOES FALL INTO MOTHERS AND OTHER HOLLIDAYS(SAME WEEKEND) (Because clearly the superintendent is in charge of things like prom. And the fact that it sometimes falls into mothers.)
• I feel like the PDC should offer online classes for parapro's and substitutes that want to pursue a career in the teaching field.They should offer classes online each semester to earn credits to be a teacher like the online parapro classes.Especially if you have a degree. (Excellent suggestion, particularly on a survey about next year's calendar. We will have an early online course dedicated solely to the use of the apostrophe.)
• Thanks for working to complete this difficult task! Good Luck! (A kiss-up and a cynic all rolled into one.)
• something really needs to be done about the bus situation. (Maybe they didn't show up at all on the first day of school, and thus they need to be addressed in a calendar survey.)
• Will there be furlough days? If so, how many and more importantly, why? (A legitimate calendar concern, but COME ON! No one likes furlough days, but isn't the "why" fairly apparent? It's only been all over the news since Herbert Hoover was President.)
• Fall break should be on Halloween. (It's important that we consider ALL the major holidays and schedule our breaks around them, particularly the one-day ones that may occur in the middle of the week.)
• Thank you for asking parent input! Wow! Children of mine (legal or biological) have been students at all levels in the ______ County Schools since 2001. It has been my uniform observation that children see the most success academically and relationally when they do not leave the school environment for long periods of time. Universally (and 2 of mine have IEPs) children have an easier time transitioning, with content retention, and acclimation if the school breaks are neither too long nor too close together. For the success of all our children, I hope you will structure all future school calendars to have evenly spaced breaks of moderate length. Thank you. (Wow! Please try to include each and every research/education ten-dollar word you've ever heard in your comments. This person not only signed his or her name, but included a phone number.)
• Good Luck! I know that no matter what is decided on- you will never please the Majority! Praying for you, the Faculty and the final decision and acceptance of them. (Another cynic who believes both faculty members and the majority are important enough to have their names capitalized.)
• In my opinion, school starts in August. In order to finish on time before Winter break, I would dismiss Fall Break in October because the children will be- (or) are getting a week of in November for Thanksgiving. This is just a thought. (And in my opinion, Christmas falls on a Sunday this year.)
• The superintendent messed everything up Thanks So Much. (I promise you, I did NOT write this comment. I would have punctuated correctly and realized that some words do not need to be capitalized.)
• We do not need to end 1st semester before winter break. We need to eliminate the month of August. . .too expensive. (Why hasn't someone already thought of this? Just REMOVE A MONTH FROM THE CALENDAR AND THE ECONOMY WILL BE FIXED!)
• happy school year (Clearly this one requires a MAGIC calendar.)
• Post the calendar early and do not amend later. This caused problems for my family since we planned vacation around fall break, but the calendar was changed resulting inu children missing 3 days of school. (From a parent for whom school is so important that the vacation plans were left intact.)
• upcoming school events like PTO and write what school it's for (Huh?)
• Really and truly consider what the teachers are saying. I feel we are given a "pretend" voice to say we had a say, but ultimately the board makes their own decision disregarding what we say. (Commenting about commenting?)
• You will always have student/teacher personalities that from time to time don't match. I think some sort of student "suggestion box", cards, or a way that if there are a number students in the same class that are having problems with the way the teacher communicates and the majority of the students are continually lost, the students should, as a group be able to convey this to the school leadership (I can't believe some teachers are not communicating the calendar clearly to their students.)
• Have a scheduled day off on Friday, before the GA/FL game....so many teachers and staff take that day off. It could save the county money, as now subs would be needed. (Finally, a comment that actually makes SENSE! Ludicrous as it may sound, the school district where UGA is located actually does have a scheduled holiday on that Friday. They gave up trying to find substitutes for all the sudden-onset illnesses.)
• Please consider my options :) (Oh goodie. A kiss-up with a SMILEY FACE.)
• Friday before the Georgia-Florida football game might be a teacher workday to save the county lots of money on subs. (I like your way of thinking, doofus, but are you aware that taking a day off on a workday is a huge no-no?)
• I really would like Christmas break to be sooner and come back to school sooner. I really prefer having more time to plan for Christmas than being off for New Year's day. (Clearly not a football fan. Or a drinker.)
• Consider scheduling fall break to include Easter (at the beginning of the break) (I hear you, bro! That's one heck of a long fall break, and I'm all for it!)
• you should do whats best for our students. Teachers and staff shouldn't be considered (Two words: Bite. Me.)
• Instead of paying us twice in December, We should just paid the end like we do all year. (WHERE has this person BEEN? We've NEVER been paid twice in December. And if everyone else has received a double check, I WANT MINE!)
• GET RID OF SUMMER VACATION! WE ARE NOT FARMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (See above comment regarding two words. Times a hundred.)

There were three or four more comments suggesting that any Fall Break be combined with the Georgia-Florida football game. I would vote for any of those people for President.

Black Friday Shopping.....

I have resisted the concept of shopping on Black Friday for a number of years. The phrase I use for it most often is that I "avoid it like the plague." The day after Thanksgiving is for lying around in my yoga pants, decorating the Christmas tree, watching football, and eating leftovers. It is NOT for going out with three million of my closest friends and fighting for bargains like the world is going to end tomorrow.

My daughter, however, has other ideas. Since she made the trek home this year for Thanksgiving, I conceded and agreed to go shopping on Black Friday. I tried (without success) to talk her into going at midnight on Thanksgiving, since it would TECHNICALLY be Friday, but she wasn't buying it. No, her idea of a good time is getting up at the crack of dawn and fighting the crowds.

The things we do for our children.

Even when they're grown. And we should be over our parenting guilt.

I didn't set an alarm clock on Thanksgiving night, because I didn't think it was fair to ask Hubby to be a part of this craziness. I woke up all by myself at 4:44 AM, didn't hear Sweet Girl stirring, and wondered if I just went back to sleep if I could pretend that I overslept.

Being the good mother I am (**cough cough**), though, I got up (albeit reluctantly) and got dressed. I did NOT put on make-up, and although I DID brush my hair, I'm sure it didn't look like it. I wore the favorite blue plaid zip-up shirt I featured in a Favorite Things Friday post about a week ago, and off we went. (Note to self: Should you ever lose your mind again and participate in Black Friday shopping, there are these things called hats. They hide bedhead hair very well.)

We went to a mall about 23 miles from our house. It's the only mall Sweet Girl thinks exists. To be fair, the only other one near us is also about the same distance away, and it doesn't have nearly the stores.

There was a line outside Barnes & Noble because it didn't open until 6:00 AM. I seriously questioned the sanity of those poor folks standing around in the cold waiting for a store to open. The mall, however, was already open and doing a brisk business. We had a brief breakfast from the chicken place with cows as their mascots, and we were off.

To make a long story even longer, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. There were no pushing crowds, no incredibly long lines (except in one store that Sweet Girl loves, but she didn't find anything there she wanted anyway), and we actually got some good deals. I did find myself succumbing to the sales tactics, even saying to Sweet Girl one time, "Oh, I didn't spend $40, so I won't get the free tote bag. I'll be right back."

Folks, if there's anything I DON'T need in this world, it's another tote bag. Even a free one. But I spent enough to get it (and another one at a different store). Further proof that educated doesn't necessarily mean smart.

I was pleased with my purchases, though, and I think Sweet Girl was happy with what she got. I bought more pairs of panties in that one shopping trip than I usually buy in a year, but they'll last me for a year. I bought another pair of jeans and a belt. I don't think I've EVER had a decent leather belt in my whole life. I bought a couple of bras from that place that guys are either embarrassed to go in or make excuses to go in. I bought a page-a-day calendar for Hubby's birthday (Jan. 1st, how appropriate) that has become a tradition. I lusted after several many pairs of boots, but I resisted the temptation. I bought two new pairs of dress slacks for school, along with a crisp white blouse with a ruffle down the front. Damn, I'm glad ruffles are coming back.

Now if only afros would come back in style. With my hair, I can DO an afro.

All in all, it was a surprisingly pleasant experience. Sweet Girl started fading before I did, and she was ready to come home. It felt weird, leaving the mall at around 9:00 AM. The crowds were gone, and there wasn't even a line at Barnes & Noble when we checked out.

I may even consider going again next year. But don't tell Sweet Girl. She will hold me to it.

Back to the Real World....

The worst thing about having an entire week off from school (other than the fact that two of those were furlough days, which will be deducted from my paycheck, thank you very much), of course, is the return to reality after all those luxurious mornings of not having to hear an alarm clock. We aren't terribly late sleepers; I was amazed to look at the clock upon waking this morning and seeing it was 7:30. That's darn near lunch time! Still, it's nice to sleep as long as we want without a screaming alarm jolting us out of our weird dreams at 5:00 AM.

And on top of having to go back to school, the weather is supposed to take a turn for the worse this week. I know I shouldn't complain, since it IS late November and we've had temperatures in the 70's the past couple of days. I've tried to take advantage of the nice temperatures and ride my bike, since I don't know how many more days of decent riding weather we will have. I went out for a brief 14-mile ride after the UGA-Tech game yesterday (How 'Bout Them Dawgs!), and today I rode just under 25. Those may be my last rides in November, and last year we had an AWFUL December for bicycle riding.

I'm not sure exactly where I was going with this blog post. I'm not really whining about having to go back to school, since as my mother said so pointedly on Thanksgiving when I was lamenting our furlough days, I should be thankful just to have a job. And I'm trying not to spend a lot of time and energy whining about the impending cold weather, since there's not a whole lot I can do about it. Other than move to Jamaica, which Hubby for some strange reason won't consider. I'm sure they have golf there.

Crazy Dream #15......

Last night I dreamed about things school-related. I must be missing those reprobates darling students of mine. (Particularly the one who is a huge Georgia Tech fan - How 'Bout Them Dawgs!!!!)

In one part of my dream, I had a trouble-maker of a student whose name was Cheryl. (With apologies to my dear friend Cheryl from high school.) Only THIS Cheryl was about two and a half feet tall. So when I had to remove her from my classroom, I simply picked her up. She was cursing and screaming, and then she kicked at me and fell out of my arms. My students gasped and roared against me, thinking I had thrown her to the ground. If Cheryl had kept her mouth shut during standardized testing and not insisted on telling the rest of the students the answer to one of the questions, we might not have had such a confrontation in the first place.

In another part of my dream, but a continuation of the first part, we took our students on a field trip to a high school where I used to teach. One of the faculty members was showing me the pine board trey ceilings they had installed since I was there. What? I kept looking around for students who would still be there and remember me, and there were a few. I'm thinking they weren't on the honor roll, though, since I left that school in 2003. There was a man teaching chorus/drama at that school who had a huge mustache. I'm talking one of those handlebar mustaches, but it stuck out about three feet on either side of his head.

I didn't know taking pain reliever PM tablets right before bed would create such bizarre dreams. We'll see what tonight brings.

Favorite Things Friday - Coffee Mug.....

I go through spells in which I drink out of the same coffee mug every single morning. The only thing that makes me change mugs is if I break one or (in this case) I get one as a gift that takes a new place in my affection. If one can have affection for inanimate objects. (Of course one can ... I happened to have married two of them. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)

Sweet Girl gave me this coffee mug a couple of years ago. Or maybe last year. It wasn't yesterday, so I'm fuzzy on the details. Tinkerbell has been one of my favorite Disney characters since I was a very little girl. I have a distinct memory of having a Tinkerbell placemat that I insisted be put under my plate at dinner every evening. This memory comes from a house that burned down when I was about four years old, so we're talking about a VERY old memory. Noah and the Ark era.

I remember watching The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday evenings, and I waited for Tinkerbell to appear at the end. That was the only part I cared about. She was beautiful even in black and white. My father used to call me "Tink" when I was little. I don't know if it stemmed from my fascination with Tinkerbell or if it was a shortened form of "stink." With my father, either one was possible.

I have a few Tinkerbell Christmas ornaments, and I used to have some Tinkerbell earrings. I lost one of them between my bedroom and the bathroom, and I never found it. Even when we ripped up the carpet to replace it, that earring was nowhere to be found. I understand there are black holes in outer space, but in my hallway?

I'm not a huge coffee drinker. At least I'm not one to drink coffee all day long. I have two cups at home in the morning, and that's it. We have a coffee pot at school, but I rarely partake there. If I want something warm to drink during the school day, I heat up some water and have sugar-free apple cider.

As you can see, though, it's kind of cheating for me to say I "only" have two cups of coffee. This is my mug compared to a regular-sized mug, which is still much larger than a regular-sized coffee cup. When I say I "only" have two cups of coffee every morning, it's probably equivalent to half a pot.

I'm not going to apologize for drinking those two gargantuan cups of coffee, though. I've given up chocolate, sugar, most alcohol, and almost anything that tastes good. I'll switch to decaf if necessary, but for now I'm going to enjoy my (almost) one last vice.