Whenever it starts to snow, I start singing.
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful"
That it is. We haven't had this much snow in I don't know how long! We tend to get a little bit of snow every year here, but just a little. This year was so mild for so long, I didn't think we'd see any white stuff this winter. But, it started snowing a week ago today. It essentially hasn't stopped. We've had breaks in the snowfall, but the weather has been so cold, it hasn't melted off any. It has been in single digits most days, but there were two (or maybe three) days that got up to a seemingly warm 23-24 degrees. There was just enough time for the city to get out there and plow the roads well enough that we had to go to school EVERY day last week. Granted, we had five 2 hour delays in a row, but we were in school every day.
"But the fire is so delightful."
Well, the fire used to be delightful. But we have burned through all the firewood that was usable. The stuff we have left is either too wet and buried under more than a foot and a half of snow, or too green. We resorted to burning a few duraflame logs last night. But we ran out of them. J may just have to brave the cold and bring some of it in to the garage to hopefully dry out a bit. He intends to put a roof over the firewood stand as soon as he possibly can.
"And since we've no place to go, let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!"
Oh, boy, this is so not true this week!! We have places to go! We want to get across to the other side of the state to see our family. Our original plan was to go to Federal Way / Seattle first, to see my folks, then make our way south to see J's folks near Vancouver, then back home. I got out of school on Friday, and we decided to stick around for the weekend so we could get stuff done and have plenty of time to do it. We intended to leave first thing Monday morning. Last night, when it started snowing again while we were running errands, we got online as soon as we got home to check the pass conditions.
It's closed. From milepost 34 near North Bend, to milepost 106 near Ellensburg. With no opening time in sight because of continued bad weather.
So, let's look at alternate routes. Hmm...Hwy. 14 is closed until further notice.
White Pass appears to be open. But there are parts of Hwy. 12 that are slippery, and could potentially be closed any minute according to WSDOT.
Well, we could always drive down into Oregon and back up. Portland has been hit with snow, and they are requiring chains for all vehicles. But that's okay, we just got chains for my car, even though we have 4-wheel drive. Oh, wait a minute, no we can't. I-84 is closed from Troutdale to Hood River.
Well, shoot. I don't know what we are going to do. Hopefully it will stop snowing soon.
"It doesn't show signs of stopping"
Oh, that's right. There is more snow forecast this week. For the next five days. Crap. I really don't know what we're going to do.
"And I've bought some corn for popping"
If only that would make me feel better. Right now I think I need a stiff drink, and I don't drink.
"The lights are turned way down low"
Yeah, but that's because the snow clouds are so heavy, it appears to be twilight, rather than early morning.
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
I changed my mind. Let it stop, let it stop, oh, please, let it stop.
I love a white Christmas, usually. This is kinda crazy, though. If we really had no place to go, this would be wonderful, and romantic, and just all around fun. Because we have places to go, this is highly stressful and no fun anymore. Why couldn't this have happened last week? I would have loved a few extra days off from school!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Irritating
I don't know if I suffer from some sort of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), but when I get a thought in my head, it often doesn't go away. You know how you get a song stuck in your head sometimes? (Like "It's a Small World"?) That happens to me not only with songs but all kinds of information. And it WON'T go away until the thought has been resolved.
If it's something simple like, "the litter boxes need to be cleaned," I can go about my business throughout the day. But it'll remain in my thoughts all day long. It doesn't go away until I have cleaned the litter boxes. And forget going to bed. Sleep will not come because that little voice gets louder and louder.
I've been known to get up at 1:00 in the morning to print something off the computer so I can take it to school with me later that day. Or clean the litter boxes. Seriously. I've tried writing notes or "to do" lists and leaving them on my alarm clock so I see them first thing in the morning, but even that is not sufficient most days. Luckily for me, most things I worry about are in my control and easily solvable. Sometimes, though, I run across things I can't resolve myself, and it's immensely irritating.
Want to know what's kept me up for the last few days (other than this annoying cough and stuffy nose that just won't quit)?
1. J couldn't think of anything he wanted for Christmas. He gave a list to my mother, but that was it. I have to call her and find out what she bought off that list so I know what to avoid, but I haven't had a chance to shop so I haven't called. So it's at the back of my head and it will remain there until I get around to making that call.
2. A few weeks ago I had a trivia contest / giveaway on my blog, and just three people entered. I guess I thought more people read this blog, but apparently not. But that's not what's keeping me up. The prize was a $50 gift card to anywhere the winner wanted (provided I could get the card at Safeway - have you been to their gift card center?? It's A-MAZ-ING!). Well, when I put the names in a hat and drew, my good friend Leah won. She wrote to me and said she wanted an iTunes gift card because she recently got a new mp3 player. Much like J and I, Leah and her husband don't share the same taste in music, so I was excited for her! That would be a lot of songs for her to have and enjoy! Well, I went to the store and got a gift card. Two days later I was out running errands again and I made it to Hallmark specifically for two things: a congrats card for Leah (believe it or not, in all my card collection, I don't have any congratulations cards except for graduation!) and a Christmas ornament for J. (Shh - don't tell him! Though I have gotten him at least one every year since we got married. If he thinks about it, it won't be a surprise!) I wrote a nice little note in the card, put the gift card in, sealed it and dug out Leah's address. I put a stamp on the card, and then put it on the counter where J leaves mail that needs to go out. He drives right by the Richland Post Office on his way to work, and can drop mail off pretty easily. If I had put it in my car to take to the mailbox myself, it may take me three or four days to remember to go to the post office. So I let J do it. He saw it that morning, and took it, and some bills, to the post office. Nobody has come to repo either of our cars, so I know the mail went out. But Leah never received the gift card. That thought has been bugging me for awhile now. I was imagining her choosing songs, and walking around the house singing with or to her kids, but that card never showed up. I'm glad it was my friend who won, because she believes me that I sent it out. She thinks that maybe it was stolen from her mailbox because she didn't get her normal amount of mail that week. But it still bugs me. It was a lot of money so I don't want to replace it (and Leah has NOT asked me to), but I also feel really badly about it. I just need to know what happened so I can resolve that thought and put it away.
3. It has been TERRIBLE weather here for a week now. It started snowing last Saturday, and has been so cold that none of the snow has melted. We just keep adding to it every other day or so. Temperatures yesterday finally climbed out of the single digits, but 12-18 degrees is still pretty darn cold. The roads were horrible on Monday, but we still went to school. It was a two hour delay, but it should have been canceled. Tuesday was another two hour delay, but the roads were a little better, so I wasn't mad about going to school. Yesterday was yet another two hour delay, AND we still had an early release. Classes were 24 minutes long. Lunch was 41 minutes long. There is still another two hour delay this morning, but it snowed again yesterday. I am waiting around trying to find out if we have a two hour delay or if school is going to be canceled. But KSD waits until the very last possible second to cancel if they are going to. This wouldn't be much of a problem except that if we are not going to school I don't want to take a shower and get up quite yet. I want to get back in my warm bed and snooze a bit. But I was up at 6 a.m. and have been compulsively checking the web page for more than an hour and a half now. Still no change...2 hour delay...
If it's something simple like, "the litter boxes need to be cleaned," I can go about my business throughout the day. But it'll remain in my thoughts all day long. It doesn't go away until I have cleaned the litter boxes. And forget going to bed. Sleep will not come because that little voice gets louder and louder.
I've been known to get up at 1:00 in the morning to print something off the computer so I can take it to school with me later that day. Or clean the litter boxes. Seriously. I've tried writing notes or "to do" lists and leaving them on my alarm clock so I see them first thing in the morning, but even that is not sufficient most days. Luckily for me, most things I worry about are in my control and easily solvable. Sometimes, though, I run across things I can't resolve myself, and it's immensely irritating.
Want to know what's kept me up for the last few days (other than this annoying cough and stuffy nose that just won't quit)?
1. J couldn't think of anything he wanted for Christmas. He gave a list to my mother, but that was it. I have to call her and find out what she bought off that list so I know what to avoid, but I haven't had a chance to shop so I haven't called. So it's at the back of my head and it will remain there until I get around to making that call.
2. A few weeks ago I had a trivia contest / giveaway on my blog, and just three people entered. I guess I thought more people read this blog, but apparently not. But that's not what's keeping me up. The prize was a $50 gift card to anywhere the winner wanted (provided I could get the card at Safeway - have you been to their gift card center?? It's A-MAZ-ING!). Well, when I put the names in a hat and drew, my good friend Leah won. She wrote to me and said she wanted an iTunes gift card because she recently got a new mp3 player. Much like J and I, Leah and her husband don't share the same taste in music, so I was excited for her! That would be a lot of songs for her to have and enjoy! Well, I went to the store and got a gift card. Two days later I was out running errands again and I made it to Hallmark specifically for two things: a congrats card for Leah (believe it or not, in all my card collection, I don't have any congratulations cards except for graduation!) and a Christmas ornament for J. (Shh - don't tell him! Though I have gotten him at least one every year since we got married. If he thinks about it, it won't be a surprise!) I wrote a nice little note in the card, put the gift card in, sealed it and dug out Leah's address. I put a stamp on the card, and then put it on the counter where J leaves mail that needs to go out. He drives right by the Richland Post Office on his way to work, and can drop mail off pretty easily. If I had put it in my car to take to the mailbox myself, it may take me three or four days to remember to go to the post office. So I let J do it. He saw it that morning, and took it, and some bills, to the post office. Nobody has come to repo either of our cars, so I know the mail went out. But Leah never received the gift card. That thought has been bugging me for awhile now. I was imagining her choosing songs, and walking around the house singing with or to her kids, but that card never showed up. I'm glad it was my friend who won, because she believes me that I sent it out. She thinks that maybe it was stolen from her mailbox because she didn't get her normal amount of mail that week. But it still bugs me. It was a lot of money so I don't want to replace it (and Leah has NOT asked me to), but I also feel really badly about it. I just need to know what happened so I can resolve that thought and put it away.
3. It has been TERRIBLE weather here for a week now. It started snowing last Saturday, and has been so cold that none of the snow has melted. We just keep adding to it every other day or so. Temperatures yesterday finally climbed out of the single digits, but 12-18 degrees is still pretty darn cold. The roads were horrible on Monday, but we still went to school. It was a two hour delay, but it should have been canceled. Tuesday was another two hour delay, but the roads were a little better, so I wasn't mad about going to school. Yesterday was yet another two hour delay, AND we still had an early release. Classes were 24 minutes long. Lunch was 41 minutes long. There is still another two hour delay this morning, but it snowed again yesterday. I am waiting around trying to find out if we have a two hour delay or if school is going to be canceled. But KSD waits until the very last possible second to cancel if they are going to. This wouldn't be much of a problem except that if we are not going to school I don't want to take a shower and get up quite yet. I want to get back in my warm bed and snooze a bit. But I was up at 6 a.m. and have been compulsively checking the web page for more than an hour and a half now. Still no change...2 hour delay...
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
You know it's cold when...
1. Ice melt doesn't melt ice.
2. You forget and leave a soda in your car for three hours and when you retrieve it, not only has the ice not melted, the soda itself has started to freeze and is slushy.
3. It hurts to breathe outside.
4. In the short walk from the car to the school to watch a basketball game is enough to give you windburn worse than the sunburn you got when it was 112 degrees last summer.
5. The thermometer on your back deck hasn't reached double digits in more than 36 hours.
6. You have had TWO 2-hour delays in a row, and they announce tomorrow's by 3p.m. today.
7. Kids don't complain about how cold my classroom is because it's downright balmy compared to outside!
8. The sun doesn't melt ice.
9. It takes approximately 2.4 seconds for your entire body to go numb just by walking outside.
2. You forget and leave a soda in your car for three hours and when you retrieve it, not only has the ice not melted, the soda itself has started to freeze and is slushy.
3. It hurts to breathe outside.
4. In the short walk from the car to the school to watch a basketball game is enough to give you windburn worse than the sunburn you got when it was 112 degrees last summer.
5. The thermometer on your back deck hasn't reached double digits in more than 36 hours.
6. You have had TWO 2-hour delays in a row, and they announce tomorrow's by 3p.m. today.
7. Kids don't complain about how cold my classroom is because it's downright balmy compared to outside!
8. The sun doesn't melt ice.
9. It takes approximately 2.4 seconds for your entire body to go numb just by walking outside.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Ramblings
1. I'm sick. I was so smug earlier this year when I got my flu shot. I've watched people at school drop like flies for the last few weeks, and every time another one did, I thanked myself for being smart enough to get that shot. You know, the one that's supposed to help you avoid the flu? The one I haven't gotten for the last seven years, even though as a teacher I'm in the "high risk" eligibility group? Because I am young and healthy and thought someone elderly and frail could use it more than me? Yeah, that's the shot. I had it this year. Now I'm sick. I know it's a virus, too, because I am already on antibiotics for an unrelated issue... Don't feel bad for me, I know it's going around. It was just a matter of time. Let's just hope that J isn't going to get this. If he is, though, let's hope that he does it today or tomorrow so we can both be better for Christmas and all the traveling we're going to be doing.
2. I hate being surprised. I LOVE to give other people surprises, but I hate to be the one being surprised. I told that to my friend the other day and she said, "Oh, that's sad!" I never quite thought of it that way, but I guess it is. So I thought some more about it, and I need to qualify that statement. I hate to be surprised when lots of people are around. I don't want to have to act surprised in front of a group of people because I am NOT a good actress. There are some surprises that I enjoy. For example, my mom surprised me with a visit on my birthday a few years ago. She called one of my friends and figured out what we were doing and where we were going to celebrate, and then she just showed up in the Tri-Cities. We pulled up to the theater (we were going to see a local production of "To Kill A Mockingbird") and she was standing in the parking lot. I almost didn't recognize her at first, because it was so unexpected! I mean, who really drives four hours to visit someone without calling first? Well, my mom did, and it was great! My sister tried to do the same thing last spring, but she made the mistake of talking to J first. I hate being surprised so much that I am relentless when I think something is going on. J innocently tipped me off by randomly suggesting that while we were washing the sheets on our bed, we may as well wash the sheets in the guest room, too. He never suggests more housework voluntarily, so immediately I knew something was up. To his credit, though, he never told me it was T coming...
3. We got our first snowfall of the season yesterday! And, because I am sick, I am selfishly hoping and praying like crazy that it messes up school tomorrow and Tuesday. You see, I have to go to work because this week I have too much going on. There's just no way I can miss Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday. I suppose I could miss Thursday, but really, at that point it's more work to write sub plans than it is to just tough it out, so I'll probably suck it up and go all week. But if there is a snow day, or even a snow delay, I get time off for free to recuperate!
4. I get to work with a student teacher for the first time! It's sorta strange, because I am still the youngest person in my department, so I still feel like "new kid on the block." But, I stopped to think about it the other day, and I have been teaching for eight years now...that's a long time! And, not to toot my own horn, I am good at my job. I know there are people who are better, but I'm no slouch. So why do I keep thinking to myself, "Why do they want to place him with me? Don't they know I'm new at this?" I giggled right out loud when I read the letter from his supervisor at WSU that was addressed to "Master Teacher." I think I may have him call me that...what do you think? Talk about an ego boost a dozen times a day! Anyway, I am nervous and excited, happy and sad all at the same time. Nervous because I don't know what to expect. I hope he's good! Excited because it's something new and different! Happy because it's a good experience for him, for me, and for my kids. Plus it'll look good on a resume. Sad because I love my students. I teach because of the kids, not because I love English. I'm not sure I'm ready to give them up. In fact, I knew I didn't want to give up all of my kids all day, so I conned my department chair into splitting the day with me. He'll teach her seniors first and third hours (so I get to keep my seniors!) and he'll have my freshmen fourth, fifth and sixth hours. Though I am sort of sad to be turning over my freshmen, they are such an awesome group of kids it would be a shame for him not to get to experience working with them! Hmm...as he'll be with me from January 5 to the middle of May, there will be more to follow on this topic, I'm sure!
5. J went out yesterday to buy me two small Christmas gifts. We have talked about the "big" gift that he wants to buy for me because it's a pretty major purchase, and it's literally too big to be hauling around the state. But he knows this year that he has to have small gifts for me to open at each house we visit. Before he left to so shopping his words to me were, "I don't want to be empty handed again, so I am going to go shopping today for your small gifts!" Last year, we decided that we were going to use his Christmas bonus from work to purchase a new computer, and that would be our gift to each other. However, since we were going to be at three different houses for three different gift opening celebrations, I had a small gift at each house for him to open. I spent $30 total on all three, so it really wasn't anything big. But he had small gifts from me to open. He, on the other hand, didn't have anything for me. It's not that I wanted stuff, you know? I just wanted him to know I was thinking about him, and I wanted to know that he had been thinking about me. This year, he's done some thinking and preparing early, and that thrills me to no end! The only bad thing is that I know he shopped for me, and I can't even begin to guess at what he purchased...and, if you refer back to #2, you'll recall that I hate to be surprised. I just hope he hid the stuff well, and that I don't come across anything accidentally in my snooping...
2. I hate being surprised. I LOVE to give other people surprises, but I hate to be the one being surprised. I told that to my friend the other day and she said, "Oh, that's sad!" I never quite thought of it that way, but I guess it is. So I thought some more about it, and I need to qualify that statement. I hate to be surprised when lots of people are around. I don't want to have to act surprised in front of a group of people because I am NOT a good actress. There are some surprises that I enjoy. For example, my mom surprised me with a visit on my birthday a few years ago. She called one of my friends and figured out what we were doing and where we were going to celebrate, and then she just showed up in the Tri-Cities. We pulled up to the theater (we were going to see a local production of "To Kill A Mockingbird") and she was standing in the parking lot. I almost didn't recognize her at first, because it was so unexpected! I mean, who really drives four hours to visit someone without calling first? Well, my mom did, and it was great! My sister tried to do the same thing last spring, but she made the mistake of talking to J first. I hate being surprised so much that I am relentless when I think something is going on. J innocently tipped me off by randomly suggesting that while we were washing the sheets on our bed, we may as well wash the sheets in the guest room, too. He never suggests more housework voluntarily, so immediately I knew something was up. To his credit, though, he never told me it was T coming...
3. We got our first snowfall of the season yesterday! And, because I am sick, I am selfishly hoping and praying like crazy that it messes up school tomorrow and Tuesday. You see, I have to go to work because this week I have too much going on. There's just no way I can miss Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday. I suppose I could miss Thursday, but really, at that point it's more work to write sub plans than it is to just tough it out, so I'll probably suck it up and go all week. But if there is a snow day, or even a snow delay, I get time off for free to recuperate!
4. I get to work with a student teacher for the first time! It's sorta strange, because I am still the youngest person in my department, so I still feel like "new kid on the block." But, I stopped to think about it the other day, and I have been teaching for eight years now...that's a long time! And, not to toot my own horn, I am good at my job. I know there are people who are better, but I'm no slouch. So why do I keep thinking to myself, "Why do they want to place him with me? Don't they know I'm new at this?" I giggled right out loud when I read the letter from his supervisor at WSU that was addressed to "Master Teacher." I think I may have him call me that...what do you think? Talk about an ego boost a dozen times a day! Anyway, I am nervous and excited, happy and sad all at the same time. Nervous because I don't know what to expect. I hope he's good! Excited because it's something new and different! Happy because it's a good experience for him, for me, and for my kids. Plus it'll look good on a resume. Sad because I love my students. I teach because of the kids, not because I love English. I'm not sure I'm ready to give them up. In fact, I knew I didn't want to give up all of my kids all day, so I conned my department chair into splitting the day with me. He'll teach her seniors first and third hours (so I get to keep my seniors!) and he'll have my freshmen fourth, fifth and sixth hours. Though I am sort of sad to be turning over my freshmen, they are such an awesome group of kids it would be a shame for him not to get to experience working with them! Hmm...as he'll be with me from January 5 to the middle of May, there will be more to follow on this topic, I'm sure!
5. J went out yesterday to buy me two small Christmas gifts. We have talked about the "big" gift that he wants to buy for me because it's a pretty major purchase, and it's literally too big to be hauling around the state. But he knows this year that he has to have small gifts for me to open at each house we visit. Before he left to so shopping his words to me were, "I don't want to be empty handed again, so I am going to go shopping today for your small gifts!" Last year, we decided that we were going to use his Christmas bonus from work to purchase a new computer, and that would be our gift to each other. However, since we were going to be at three different houses for three different gift opening celebrations, I had a small gift at each house for him to open. I spent $30 total on all three, so it really wasn't anything big. But he had small gifts from me to open. He, on the other hand, didn't have anything for me. It's not that I wanted stuff, you know? I just wanted him to know I was thinking about him, and I wanted to know that he had been thinking about me. This year, he's done some thinking and preparing early, and that thrills me to no end! The only bad thing is that I know he shopped for me, and I can't even begin to guess at what he purchased...and, if you refer back to #2, you'll recall that I hate to be surprised. I just hope he hid the stuff well, and that I don't come across anything accidentally in my snooping...
Friday, December 12, 2008
Christmas coloring pages
A few weeks ago I posted the turkey paper doll drawings that C, my SIL, created for me to use in my classroom right before Thanksgiving. They were such a huge hit with my students, that I asked her to do more for Christmas / winter. If it's possible, I think these may be even cuter than the turkey! I LOVE the summer outfit for the penguin...and you can't go wrong with a snowwoman Mrs. Claus!
If you would like copies of these, just let me know! E-mail me at confusaled@hotmail.com, and I'll send 'em to you.
Wanna know a secret? I still love to color...and I do these each year with my kids!
Hey, even snowmen / women get cold, right?
Mrs. Claus - classic and classy.
Wanna go snorkeling?
If you would like copies of these, just let me know! E-mail me at confusaled@hotmail.com, and I'll send 'em to you.
Wanna know a secret? I still love to color...and I do these each year with my kids!
Hey, even snowmen / women get cold, right?
Mrs. Claus - classic and classy.
For the penguin lovers in the crowd...
Every penguin needs some black tie attire for the holiday season. Those work parties...
Every penguin needs some black tie attire for the holiday season. Those work parties...
Carmen Miranda wannabes, eat your heart out.
For penguins with Johnny Depp complexes...
For penguins with Johnny Depp complexes...
Wanna go snorkeling?
Monday, December 8, 2008
Table of what?
During a presentation, I was privileged to witness / overhear the following conversation.
Student A: “This is my table of continents.”
Class: “Continents?”
Student A: “Well, how do you say that?”
Student B: “CONTENT”
Student A: “Oh, okay. This is my table of context.”
Student A: “This is my table of continents.”
Class: “Continents?”
Student A: “Well, how do you say that?”
Student B: “CONTENT”
Student A: “Oh, okay. This is my table of context.”
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Don't be sad
Michael, honey, I know it's sad that we won't be together for Christmas this year, but you have to think positively...we'll be together in London, 2012! I'll be the one in the stands cheering for you! You'll recognize me because I'll be sitting next to the 7' tall guy slouched in his chair with his hat pulled low over his eyes pretending not to know me.
So turn that frown upside down and enjoy yet another record! You're the first swimmer to ever be SI's Sportsman of the Year, and probably one of the cutest.
I'm counting the days till we can be together...J is not as excited as I am, but he'll get over it.
We'll always have London.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Christmas has come early!!
This evening when I heard a key in the door, I assumed it was J, home from work. Much to my surprise, however, it was Santa Claus!! He came to Kennewick early this year, and look what he brought me!
I'm pretty sure I must've been a very good girl to deserve this...and I'm gonna savor every last second of it!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Playing hooky rocks!
I was such a good kid, that I still have a guilty conscience when I do things that I think I'm not supposed to do. The feeling is more of a twinge than anything, but I still feel it. Take today, for example. I'm not sick, but my boss thinks I am!
You see, I was just not ready to go back to work today. I just couldn't face it. So last night, as soon as we got home, I wrote out sub plans, sweet talked J into running up to Southridge with me to make copies and leave the plans in my room, and then called in.
I don't have the temerity to "fake" an illness on the phone, though. I have this little code in my head that makes me feel better about it. I'm never dishonest. If I feel like playing hooky, I don't call in sick, I just call in.
Does that make sense?? Here, I'll show you the difference.
Scenario 1: I am lying in bed with strep throat, stuffed up so much I can't breathe, and I have little to no voice left at all. I drag myself to the computer, write the sub plans, get them to school or to a friend to deliver to school (thanks Betti!) and then call in. This is the message I leave, "Hi, this is Kristina H. I'm calling in sick for Monday, December 1. I teach six classes, and sub plans are in my room. Thanks."
Scenario 2: I am lying in bed, enjoying the warmth, and the thought of getting up and going to school totally kills my buzz. I drag myself to the computer, write the sub plans, get them to school or to a friend to deliver to school (thanks again, Betti!), and then call in. This is the message I leave, "Hi, this is Kristina H. I'm calling in for Monday, December 1. I teach six classes, and sub plans are in my room. Thanks."
Do you see the difference? It's subtle, but it makes a big difference to my conscience. Now I am able to enjoy my day guilt-free!
And that's what I'm gonna do!
I always seem to be more productive on these "stolen" days...I've already done two loads of laundry, cleaned the litter box, unpacked from our trip, called both of my sisters-in-law to discuss some Christmas present ideas, and read three chapters from the book I started last night. Oh, and a blog entry!
As soon as I finish this, I am going to go pick up one of the Christmas gifts and then see about getting my brakes checked. They are awfully squeaky, and we want to take my car for Christmas, rather than J's truck. So, I hope you are enjoying your day as much as I plan to continue enjoying mine!
You see, I was just not ready to go back to work today. I just couldn't face it. So last night, as soon as we got home, I wrote out sub plans, sweet talked J into running up to Southridge with me to make copies and leave the plans in my room, and then called in.
I don't have the temerity to "fake" an illness on the phone, though. I have this little code in my head that makes me feel better about it. I'm never dishonest. If I feel like playing hooky, I don't call in sick, I just call in.
Does that make sense?? Here, I'll show you the difference.
Scenario 1: I am lying in bed with strep throat, stuffed up so much I can't breathe, and I have little to no voice left at all. I drag myself to the computer, write the sub plans, get them to school or to a friend to deliver to school (thanks Betti!) and then call in. This is the message I leave, "Hi, this is Kristina H. I'm calling in sick for Monday, December 1. I teach six classes, and sub plans are in my room. Thanks."
Scenario 2: I am lying in bed, enjoying the warmth, and the thought of getting up and going to school totally kills my buzz. I drag myself to the computer, write the sub plans, get them to school or to a friend to deliver to school (thanks again, Betti!), and then call in. This is the message I leave, "Hi, this is Kristina H. I'm calling in for Monday, December 1. I teach six classes, and sub plans are in my room. Thanks."
Do you see the difference? It's subtle, but it makes a big difference to my conscience. Now I am able to enjoy my day guilt-free!
And that's what I'm gonna do!
I always seem to be more productive on these "stolen" days...I've already done two loads of laundry, cleaned the litter box, unpacked from our trip, called both of my sisters-in-law to discuss some Christmas present ideas, and read three chapters from the book I started last night. Oh, and a blog entry!
As soon as I finish this, I am going to go pick up one of the Christmas gifts and then see about getting my brakes checked. They are awfully squeaky, and we want to take my car for Christmas, rather than J's truck. So, I hope you are enjoying your day as much as I plan to continue enjoying mine!
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