Deviance . . .

Spring is here. Really. Well, it will be soon. Okay, so maybe we'll have another snow storm this week. Maybe we'll have a couple more. Sub zeros, maybe. Perhaps spring will never arrive. It's gonna be winter forever! FOREVER!!!! Oh WHOA IS ME!!! La Nina is going to dump more snow and bury me! I've had it with winter. This stinks.

I am obviously fed up with winter. On Super Bowl Sunday I began a new grilling season. It had been a while, my gas grill was buried in the snow, and grilling required breaking a sweat to dig out the controls and a place to stand. I didn't get it quite level though, and strained my Achille's tendon standing in the snow bank in front of the grill. Tonight I hit the grill again. It would be easier if snow would stop dumping on our porch, lawn and driveway so that my neighbors would stop be able to stop adding to the pile. I understand that there is no other place left for the snow! Today I grilled while squatting down in the ever rising bank. I had to kick at the knobs with my snow boot to break them free to turn them on! Some people give up grilling for the winter . . . but not this good Wisconsin girl! Mmmm, barbecue can't be beat, even in February!

BTW- I'd post a picture, but my camera sucks, and it's hard to take pictures in the dark! Because, yep, it was dark as I was a-grillin'!

What did you all have for supper? (Hey- I need ideas!)

A

Progress!

Hey everyone! It seems like I must have been extra busy lately! I'm not exactly sure that it's true at 100%, but it sure seems like it!

Monday night I went out after school to start my car (5:00 pm, most others had left) and it wouldn't start. It's been finicky lately in that you have to hit the gas at just the right moment to get it to start. Not usually a problem, so gradual that it didn't step right out and yell my name, but more noticeable now that my battery wouldn't start last weekend in the hyper cold weather. After the first attempt, I think I must have flooded it. The battery killed quickly, even though I waited for a while between attempts. I cried like the girl I am, and then called one of my coworkers to come back and give my car a jump start. It fought to stay running, killing as soon as I let off the gas a couple of times. It has started ever since, but it makes me more than a little nervous! It is becoming more obvious that I need a new car. Last week I noticed that a light has burnt out in my speedometer. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Now my speedometer is un-illuminated between 50 and 70 mph. Not like I need those numbers at all!

I've spent much of the week doing my research on cars. I must try for 38mph which will free up $165 per month for a car payment. There is a challenge to be had for sure! I've found the 38 bit, but the car payment would be $50-$70 beyond that. I don't think I can do it! I don't have the discipline or the wiggle room in my budget for that!

Today was car shopping day. Angily and I (and the boy) went to the town just down the freeway and started shopping. We test drove a 2007 Chevy Aveo. which was actually pretty nice. I don't know if the gas mileage meets the criteria though, although the bright orange color really appealed! No CD player, and no power locks or windows. It was a manual transmission, which I only vaguely can drive (like around the parking lot out back, oops, I killed it again! Sorry Mr. Car Salesman!) I think it was $8000. I like that you sit up higher than many cars.

Then there was the Toyota Corolla. It wasn't bad to look at, but the instrument panel is white, which is so distracting and the plexiglass was cracked. The single most disturbing part was that the windshield had a wave running right through it. It was as if I was driving wearing somebody else's glasses. I was dizzy almost instantly. Defect!

My favorite was the Honda Civic. 39,000 miles but in over budget at $13,999. Even with the trade in of my old beast, over my desired car payment. Really pretty car though! (Yes, I did say pretty!)

The good news of the day is that my credit ROCKS! I thought so, but I called one of the local banks to ask about a loan and they were able to pre-approve me right over the phone, even giving me the lowest interest rate! I love that! It helps that I was able to pay off my last car loan early, and also one of my student loans, well before it's due date! I've had a couple of credit cards, for the most part used responsibly. But there's only so much credit can do for you in budgeting in a car payment!

As a special education teacher, I have tons of paperwork to complete, especially after the January marathon of meetings. I've had 3 of these meetings to wrap up for waaay too long. They've been hanging over my head since. I know they need to be done, or I risk losing my job but I've been sick and had so many other things going on. It seemed like any time that I did have that I could work on them, I was sick, or tired, or busy with other things and my brain was not cooperating. Or I only had a short time, and I really need more than that to make progress! Well- I left work Friday night at 6:45 pm (yes, I have no life) with two of the three almost done! Paper work filled out, all I need to do is review them and copy them and get them in the appropriate mails(office vs. USPS)! The last of the 3 isn't as late as the others, so a little less pressure! The kids get out early on Wednesday for PT conferences, so I should have time to finish it then! Yippee!

Well, I'm off to bed. It's nearly 10 o'clock. Car shopping and the Olive Garden really took it out of me!

Oh- anyone want to join my personal rant of the day? Why are cars still being produced with 25-30 piles per gallon STANDARD? Our world has the technology, why are they choosing to not use it? I am amazed that it's so hard to find a car with 38mpg, when Toyota and Honda and Geo Metros have been doing it for years. Perhaps if we all banded together and refused to buy the lesser cars . . . It makes me feel like there is a conspiracy or something. Someone told me that the big car companies also own the oil companies? Its like we live in a less than free country or something. We are in bondage to big oil . . . this is not progress but regress! or is it digress?

Now- really, off to bed!

A

Quotes:

Me: All right guys! We've got to get this stuff finished. I won't see you tomorrow afternoon because you'll all be at your Halloween party tomorrow afternoon!

4 fourth graders: VALENTINES DAY! VALENTINES DAY! YOU SAID HALLOWEEN!!!


Sick coworker: I'm trying to get stuff done. My brain is shut off, this cold . . . and I just don't have the patience. No patience.

Me: You should put together your sub notes. You might need to stay home tomorrow!

Her: I still have my voice. I can't miss tomorrow. They have their Halloween party. Not a good day to miss . . . (she was not privy to past conversations mind you!)

Happy Halloween to you all!

A

Additional sickness:

I could not remember last night the other sickness related story I was going to post until I was laying in bed trying to force sleep (this is not normally a problem!).

In addition to the Halloween candy comment . . .

The temperature in my classroom was fluctuating wildly (had to have been the room temp!) so I left my door open for circulation. Now, normally I'm a door-closed kind of person. Just me? Door closed. A room full of America's Most Wanted? Again, door closed.

I'd just gotten to my prep and was getting ready to shut down and die (it was after all the very end of a very long day!). The doctor that I'd seen in Urgent Care had given me some antibiotics to start if my body hadn't righted itself by Sunday (magical 10 days of disease). I was trying to hold out, but by the end of the day, I was literally talking myself into taking them. I conceded defeat, just in time for one of my coworkers to hear me as she walked by. She did a double take, thinking I was on the phone-- But I Wasn't! She comes bouncing in, "Are you talking to yourself??" With a blank look reminiscent of the "Halloween candy look" I simply responded, "yes."

Out of 4 special ed teachers in my school, 2 were out sick(one sick, one sick child). The third left at 1:40 for a meeting, along with our fearless principal! I think maybe it's my turn again tomorrow. Or maybe on Thursday? I could drown my single self in Tagalong ice cream!?!? Or maybe I'll just nurse that ice cream all week . . . . Or maybe I'll just get ready for bed now and take each day as it comes.

G'night!

A

Quote of the day:

To a third grader: Jimbob(strangely, this is his real name)**- if you hit me, I will hold you.

Third grader: It's called restraint, you f*ing idiot! Why are you treating me like a baby?

Me(matter-of-factly): Because you're acting like one.

As it was a factual observation, not a verbal jab, I stand by this comment and would make it again, should the situation arise! He was acting like a baby, albeit a violent, vocal, potty mouth one! That was the day! I hope your's was better?

A

**names have been changed to protect the innocent, unless of course he wasn't innocent, and then the name has been changed to protect his confidentiality!

Delerium . . .

4th grader: Only 3 and a half more days 'till lots of stuff goes on sale at Walmart.

Me: (cold induced blank stare) What? What goes on sale?

4th grader: Valentines Day?

Me: Ooohhhh (realization dawns), so do you get all kinds of Halloween candy on sale then?

4th grader: (blank stare.)

4th grader: Ummm . . . . do you mean Valentines Day? Halloween was a really long time ago.

Me: (blank stare- followed by hysterical giggles) Yes! Yes! I do mean Valentines Day!

4th grader: (you guessed it, continued blank stare!)

I'm sick . . .

I'm hopefully at the tail end of this cold-sinus crud. I'm on a distinct day 10. On like a ton of bricks last Friday. My brain is muddy. Typing is incoherent and labored. I'll be back again soon . . .

I'm also sick and tired of reruns. Even PBS has reruns of the Antique Roadshow today. I'm glad the writer's strike is seemingly at an end. I hope it accomplished what they needed it to, and bring on the NEW SHOWS!!!

A

Beware: Political-ish comment ahead!

I rarely invite politics into my blog, and even more rarely comment politically on other's blogs or even in person. I have some rumblings inside that may be gas, or may be a political-ish post. We'll see. For now- just a quick comment. The news just commented on his personal financial investment in this race. To the tune of $35 million dollars that he has invested from his own savings.

Now- I have not investigated many candidates, but especially not Mr. Romney. With all due respect, I know enough about him and his beliefs that I know how I will vote in regards to him, should he get that far. But $35 Million? This man had $35 MILLION sitting around in his savings account? I hardly have $35 DOLLARS in my savings. Either this man is doing something really wrong, or he's doing something really right. Either way, this makes me doubt his ability to relate to me. Perhaps I've missed something . . .

Am I the only one with questions about this? I'll go research and perhaps I'll be back.

There- done with politics for the night. Maybe.

A

A conundrum.

The Super Bowl- which team do I want to win? Neither. That is the absolute answer. The Giants stomped my beloved Pack, who should have made it to this game. The Patsies defeated us the last time we made it to the Super Bowl. I was in it for the commercials. I disliked the Giants a little less than the Patsies, if only because I didn't want to see the Pats make it through a perfect season. At 19 seconds left in the game, I think it's a safe bet.

I hope you all still like me. No hurt feelings? Em- this too shall pass.

A