It is what it is

One of my resolutions for 2017 was to write my blog at least once a month.  Well, I totally missed November and today is the last day of December.   Maybe next year!   It is officially winter and we have had quite a bit of snow already.  1 1/2 snow days before winter break and record breaking cold temperatures.  I am losing plants in the greenhouse and it is cold all the time in the house.  Negative temps at night and on the Lucy walks.  Wind chills are wicked.  Just ask Amanda and Bryce about out trip on 12-27 to Greenfield Village Holiday Nights about the brutal temperatures!!!  First time I have worn long underwear under jeans since Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival in 2004.   Christmas is behind us, all the preparation and anticipation are over.  This week was fun with everyone coming and going.  A very hectic couple of days with cooking, wrapping, entertaining Hannah, wagon rides (before the snow and zero temps), chas...

After a beautiful yesterday, it is now FALL! Rain, dark and ugh!!! Had something removed on my back today at the dermatologist. 4 stitches, still numb. Can't wait for that to wear off. Was kind of a depressing day. My students won't stop talking and nothing works because there are no consequences for their behavior. I can please and thank-you them to death. They don't care. They don't care about citizenship if they are already getting grades that aren't As and Bs. They just don't care. It is what it is and some days it sucks.

After a very busy week at school, Friday the 13th was a relief pitcher.  We did block scheduling for testing this week and several teachers were out.  We cannot get substitutes on the "contracted company" we are forced to use.  So, many of us have to sub on our prep periods.  Not fun to work in someone else classes, especially last minute with no plans.  In 9 days, I worked 6 preps.  So, many things don't get done.  Today, I finally did NOT have to sub and ran around like a crazy person trying to catch up.  All the planning, digging things out from stored materials, xeroxing, meetings, etc.  Well, first thing I do is some xeroxing for next week's "after" testing activities and the machine does NOT work!!!!! To top that, there is a bird in the staff room.....yes, a bird!!!  There are no screens on our windows......don't ask! Yesterday, at lunch, a maintenance man decided to unclog the janitor's sink in a closet next to our staff room. ...

Was a very slow Tiger's game. Left before they won. So many events downtown it was hard getting in but easy leaving early. Too bad it is such a miserable trip going downtown and too bad you have to park so far away from where you feel safe. Sore throat and my chest hurts. First weeks of school are hard enough without becoming sick. I don't get a little achoo cold, I get bronchitis. It is what it is. Two very good weeks down and a fun night with Otto's work group at Comerica Park.

So, after Hurricanes, first week of school, full moon, Lucy having seizures and trying to get back to normal it has been quite a week.  My best friend is dealing with her sister-in-law losing her 2nd husband to a heart attack, my son is flying regularly to California from Boston (once a week) for a client, spending all day getting to San Diego, 2 days of work and taking the re-eye back on Thursday, barely spending time in his new home with his husband and my husband is flying to Montana tonight with his 94 year old mother to see his 70-year-old sister, who has terminal cancer. On the bright side,  Brian's sister Adriana and her fiancé Manny are getting married in CA this weekend and both Andrew and Brian are in the wedding.  Amanda and Bryce will be spending time with them and are going to the wedding.  Hannah turned 3 yesterday, l have great classes so far, doing lots of team work and ice-breakers and games and looking at retirement in a couple of years. It is w...

The time is drawing near.......tomorrow summer ends for all of us.....teachers!   It was a wonderful traveling, working, painting, gardening, entertaining, dog walking, eating great food, visiting, cleaning summer.  BTW...BTS  It is what it is and as always it goes so fast.

After a stressful day in Geometry class (for me since I teach middle school and this is a high school class), I was relaxing in the pool with Lucy on the pool deck.  I heard a noise and realized she was in the middle of a major seizure.  Poor baby.   I calmed her down and sat with her and in 10-15 minutes was back to normal.  No idea as to what caused it, she has not had one since December last year.  Lots done this summer but so much more I could do.  Hardwood floors are finally all finished throughout the house, purchased a used baby grand piano, painted the family room grey with white trim on all the shelves, entertained several parties, traveled to Boston, taking a trip to Phoenix and LA before school starts, cleaned the upstairs and about 90% of the downstairs (basement and garage never make the list) and took a geometry class that was 3 days in July and 3 days in August.  Did a to of catching up, shopping, ordering, Dr. appointments, walking Lucy...

So great to be back to visit Amanda & Bryce.  I don't need to "do" anything except take long walks through Hancock park, drool over mansions, enjoy the green grass and sunshine and each others company watching I Love Lucy and House Hunters. After an easy flight to Phoenix, flight to LA was even easier.  (shocking for me!)  The only glitch was eating a fish sandwich from McDonald's that was the worst thing I have ever eaten.  By the time I waited in line for a salad (they were out of nearly everything including Diet Coke) I got a filet of fish that was more like rock of fish.  I had walked the entire airport to get to McDonald's and back to my gate only to find I could not even eat it after I took a couple of bites.  My poor stomach yelled at me all the way to LA and I was sure I would need to locate the sick bag! Bad stuff over, we spent Sunday walking, touring a 7.7 million dollar home in Hancock Park (on sale for 7 million), going to Larchmont for...

Today is March 16th.  Last math class today.  LOVE the classes.   First of all I am out of school and have no kids for a day.   Secondly we have an awesome day learning new things to share with our students.   Third, we have clean, stocked bathrooms and a wonderful lunch.   I love math class.  This month has been unreal.  Started with three days of "snow days" with a boil water alert and no school. thought it was appropriate that we had no winter break but the water happened and gave us the break we have always had. Last week we lost power on Wednesday at 11:30 am.  Otto took the day off to get an oil change, go to the dentist and various other items.  Thank God he was home!   A tree fell on the wires and a live wire was in the neighbor's yard.  When he went out the neighbor (who is limited English) was out there with a hose spraying the live wire and grass fires.   A nearby shed burned from the wire and we were without ...

What a month this has been.   It is September 30th and 4 weeks of school are over already.  It is what it is and I am way too busy to make it anything else!  Missing summer!

Poor Lucy was so distraught with all the storms last night. She would not leave my side. Then in the middle of the night she was whining and barking. Otto went to check on her to make sure she was ok. She managed to knock the gate down and was sleeping in the living room when he got up this morning. Probably felt closer to us. Surprised she didn't head upstairs and jump in bed!!! For those of us that live by similes and metaphors, March truly came in like a roaring lion. We had some real boomers last night! Just as I was putting the cap on my mascara, my phone rang (and only 5 minutes ago I had walked back to the bedroom to get my phone off the nightstand as when I picked it up to put in my pocket at 6:15, the charging cord had not been attached so it was not fully charged. I connected it and left it to charge until about 7:00 and was just going to get it) and one of my co-workers was calling to say school was cancelled due to a water problem in the city. Well of cou...