Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!!

Mom and Dad were married on November 29, 1969. The above picture was taken in Hawaii on their 25th anniversary. Check out the young parents I have! Look at these sexy folks! :-)

I don't know where this photo was taken but it looks like they were having a good time. Mom and Dad always have a good time no matter where they go. They both enjoy traveling (maybe this is where I get my travel bug). In another year or so, Dad will be taking early retirement and the plan is to sell the house and RV full time all over the country. I'm hoping they will get out to New England more often.

This photo was taken at my counsin's wedding. Again, they are having a wonderful time.

There are many things about my parents that I admire:

1) They accept each other for who they are - the good, the bad, and the ugly! :-)

2) They still hold hands and cuddle and grab each other after all these years! :-)

3) They love life and live it to the fullest! :-)

4) Their love of our family and acceptance of their goofy and silly daughters! :-)

Mom and Dad - I love ya and thank you for always being such wonderful and supportive parents to Mandy and I. We wouldn't be who we are today without your compassion, love, and support.

Happy 37th Anniversary and many more!

Hugs and Much Love!!!!!!!!!

Paws new web site is up and running for your online ordering pleasure!

For you dog and cat lovers out there, my store has the web site officially up and running for online ordering.

Check it out!

Woof! Meow! :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Eat lots of turkey, enjoy the time with your families, and watch some good football games!

I'm very thankful for a lot of things this year. My life was been tested a lot the past year. First, I'm thankful for a job. I've realized that a job doesn't make the person and to not take my job so seriously.

Second, I'm thankful for my family and friends. Without them, I would never have made it through all the crap I went through the past year. Mom, Dad, and Mandy - thank you for your love and support! I love ya's!

Last, Ellie the Cat! She's my little pain in the butt but also my baby girl!

Gobble Gobble!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Look at this sexy lady!

This picture was taken in our swimming pool at our house in Dalzell, IL.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Mom is the most amazing lady that I know . . . . her spirit and passion for life is incredible! Mom is always there for me no matter what stupid things I've done throughout my life. You are always so supportive to Mandy and I with everything we do. You love us unconditionally. You make us laugh. You are the bestest Momma in the world!

Mom, I love you!

Happy Birthday and enjoy your day - you deserve the best!

PS Make Dad take you out to dinner tonight! :-)

Back to School . . . . and finished with grades!

I DID IT!!!

I even finished up earlier than I thought - I'm done with all my grades. I even printed out the grade sheets for the kids. My students will receive their printouts in class tomorrow and Thursday so they can see what they are getting for a grade in my class. I did give the kids a Keeping Score Sheet so they can actual keep track of their own grades but some of the kids don't use the sheet.

My week is filled and jam packed as usual - I had History Book Club on Monday after school. We read this book - it was pretty interesting. I learned a lot about our founding fathers. The book presented these men in a more human life than any other book I've read about them. We met at this place in Salem for the Book Club. Teachers from Danvers, Beverly, and Salem were allowed to sign up for this Book Club. It's affiliated throughout Salem State College. We read three books throughout the school year and they give us a $300 stipend! Pay ME to read a book, oooh yeaaahhhhh!!!!

I had a class officer meeting today after school with my freshmen. We are trying to get ready for Spirit Week next week. On Wednesday, I have a meeting with any freshmen that wants to help out during Spirit Week. Thursday, I work at Paws. Friday, I'm baking apple lasagna for my Brunch on Saturday. Saturday, I have a Delta Kappa Gamma function to attend. Saturday afternoon, I work at Paws. Sunday, I work at Paws. No down time as you can see!

Add to all of this that I had to finish grading projects and quizzes, type in my grades into my computer, and then enter the grades into the school grading program, it's just a typical week in M-Dawgs world!

Gee, maybe this is why I got sick????????????

Back to school on Monday

Well, I go back to school on Monday after having a mini-sick vacation for the past week. I still have the runny-nose cold thing but I'm MUCH better! :-)

It will be good to be back in my classroom again. I do miss my students. :-)

I have a ton of grading to do because grades are due on Wednesday. I've been working a ton this weekend on some grading and getting my grades into my computer. I have this great software program that I use to calculate out my grades for me - no doing math the old fashion way for me! :-)

The plan for Sunday:
*Finish putting grades into the computer
*Get as much correcting done as possible
*Bake pumpkin pie :-)
*Grocery shopping
*Little cleaning around the condo
*Maybe some last minute cuddle time with Ellie the Cat! :-)

Enjoy your weekend folks! :-)

Feeling so-so better

Not exactly a good way of putting how I feel but that pretty much sums it up!

I need to call my Dr. again today. The meds don't really seem to be working very well. My nose is still plugged up and my throat is still sore, puffy, and swollen. The fever has gone away which is good and the achiness is gone too.

It's been been a week today since this sickness drama started. I'm sick of being sick. Plain and simple.

I did go into Paws last night to work. Probably shouldn't have gone in but there is no one else to work for me. The owner still hasn't hired anyone else so we are still short staffed. The owner went away on vacation too. And, the new gal she hired back in August isn't picking everything up as fast as we would like so who knows what will happen with that . . . . .

I do work today - it's only 2:30-5:00 so it shouldn't be too tough (I hope). I open the store tomorrow and work 10-3. I have Sunday off which is a good thing.

How Democrat are you?

You Are 84% Democrat

You are a card carrying Democrat, and a pretty far left one at that!There's no chance anyone would ever mistake you for a Republican.

How Democrat Are You?

Get out there and vote!

It's Election Day Folks!

Get out there and cast your vote!

Do you think your vote won't make a difference? Well, it DOES make a difference!

Here's a little history behind Election day for ya!

Here in MA, the governor's race is hot and heavy! The Republican candidate is the current Lt. Governor Kerry Healey. The Democratic candidate is Deval Patrick. The Independent candidate is Christy Mihos. The Green-Rainbow candidate is Grace Ross. Deval Patrick is currently leading in the polls.

I voted for Deval. Why? Well, I'm sick of a Republican regime on Beacon Hill (that's in Boston for you Non-MA folks). And, I believe Deval will work hard for education in the state of Massachusetts. The current regime has cut education funding to an all time low and who is suffering? It's the kids . . . the future of our great nation!

The rest of the country is in a fight as well. The Democrats want control of Congress again. The public is fed up with a useless Republican regime - and, shall I say it, a useless President?

How will you vote?????????

Update on Dr's Appt.

The Doctor said that I have a nasty infection in my body. He put me on some strong antibiotics and Claritan to clear me up. He didn't seem to think that I have Whooping Cough -

I'm out of school today but I hope to be back on Wednesday -

Off to rest next to Ellie the Cat - :-)

M-Dawg called the Dr!

Update: I'm still not feeling well today. I did go into school because I had a freshman assembly for elections for class officers today.

I left shortly after the assembly -

I called my Doctor - and, I can't get in to see him until Tuesday morning at 8:15! I explained that at my school we have whopping cough going around the building (Word on the street is that there are four more cases of kids that have it). The Dr's office didn't seem to be too concerned. Great. I'll keep you all posted!

Right now, I'm going back to bed -

Pleasant dreams!

M-Dawg is a very sick Dog! :-)

Whatever the current choice of germ(s) going around my school, I've officially caught it!

First, one of my students was just diagnosed with Whooping Cough - not a good thing if you ask me. They seem to think it was caught in time so hopefully an epidemic won't occur at my school.

Second, I think I've officially run myself into the ground! I think that's why I got sick.

I left school early on Friday - I slept almost the entire weekend. I'm starting to feel somewhat better except my throat is killing me. I did go to the store and bought some good drugs to knock whatever is in my body out - cross your fingers!

If I'm not feeling better by Monday, I'll call my doctor. I promise. :-)

Since I slept all weekend, I got no school work done at all. The quarter ends on Wednesday. We have a professional day on Thursday (no kids) and Friday we have off for Veteran's Day.

My quizzes and projects will not get correcting on their own - I was wondering . . . is there such thing as the correcting fairy? You know. . . someone to correct all my papers and projects for me?

I think those drugs have officially kicked in! I'm seeing correcting fairies! :-)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

The kids at school have been over the wall crazy and insane (in a bad way!). I don't know if it's the sugar high or just the time of the year.

I'm looking forward to this holiday being over soon. We might have some possible excitement in Salem - check this article out. And this article too.

I hope that all my students will be safe tonight and stay out of trouble. The police already blocked off the entire downtown area for the festivities for this evening.

I also want to wish my friend Audrey a very happy birthday today too! Hugs and much love!

I'm here. I'm alive and kicking.

Life has been interesting the past few days. I've been very busy.

I officially crashed today. I slept in. Relaxed. Paid some bills (OK, maybe NOT so relaxing). Catching up on emails and blogs. Etc.

I'm in that funk again. You know the funk. Feeling sorry for myself funk. Feeling lonely again. My life revolves around my job which is something I was hoping to not do this school year. I'm still having a difficult time adjusting to my new school. I feel stuck. That's the only way I can word it. Stuck. Stuck in this so called life.

My counselor told me to write out a list of some things that I like about myself. I can't even start the list. I told her it's a little hard to like someone when I don't even like myself. She also asked me what am I looking for in a man. All I can come up with is someone that is nice. I've asked my friends if they know of any nice, single men and I get a negative response from all of them. Come on, there has to be SOME nice guys out there??????? Or, is it that I'm not good enough????? I've tried the online dating thing. So, please don't say to try that because I've done it twice now and no luck. The second time, I had NO hits! Nothing!

UGHY!!! I need to get out of this pitty party. I'm sick of everyone telling me that someday my Prince will come! He's not coming. He's not there. So, now what?

I don't want marriage right now. I just want companionship. I guess I'm asking for too much. Next February, I will be 36 years old. Yes, 36! I'm beyond the Old Maid status at this point.

OK, I'm done feeling sorry for myself. Talk amongst yourselves . . . . . . . . . .

Thanks for the support everyone!

Let me tell you . . . I have the "bestest" peeps ever in my life.

To all of those that commented on the last post - thank you!

Katie is a former student of mine from Timberlane - she's not kidding about that class she was in her sophomore year! She's a student at UNH now - my babies are growing up! :-) LOTS OF LOVE and a shout out to the Class of 2003!!!! :-)

Cheryl also sent me an article from the Bureau County Republican newspaper via email. Thanks for the article - I agree with it.

I know that I shouldn't take everything so seriously. I just care too much about these kids. I truly feel that they are being screwed and they don't even know it.

I've gone to the administration about the SPED teacher a few times already. Remember, it's my first year so I don't want to piss anyone off yet. :-) All I can is advocate for my kids and myself.

Side note: It's going to be a busy week again so please forgive me if I don't email or blog. This is my only night off and I'm planning on crashing.

Bad day on Friday

My C Block class is going to be the death of me yet! They are a very needy and immature group of kids.

It's a co-taught SPED class with 30 kids! Yes, 30! According to their IEP, they are all supposed to get individualized attention - so, how does that work? It doesn't work! And, the SPED teacher that they have me with is incompetent and useless. He does nothing - absolutely nothing to help me or the kids. He falls asleep in the back of my classroom. That's about all the "work" he does in my classroom.

On top of it, I have some behavioral challenged kids in the class too.

Not a fun class. I have done everything that I can to "better" the situation - talked to the SPED teacher, talked to his supervisor, talked to administration, etc. I wrote out on an index card each student and what their accommodation needs thinking this would help him. He looked at the card and folded it and put it in his book bag and I haven't seen it since. I even signed up for the co-teaching workshop thinking that it might help. He didn't sign up for the workshop - when I asked him about it, he laughed in my face! I've tried to give him more responsibilities in the classroom and he wants no part of it. I can't force the man to do his job.

This teacher works with three other teachers in my dept and all three are having the same problem with him. So, apparently it's not just me.

I've tried to not let it bother me but my concern is always for the kids. Their needs are not being met. Legally, it's me that's responsible for the accommodations of these kids and following the IEP but the SPED teacher is supposed to provide support. That is not happening.

On Friday, the SPED teacher was absent. Usually, that's a good thing for me. He's already been out three days already so I have a feeling that this may be a pattern. However, I had to give a quiz and according to most of their IEP's, I'm supposed to read aloud the entire quiz to them. I ended up having to read the entire quiz to everyone in the class. Usually, the SPED teacher would take the kids (12 of them) to another classroom and read the quiz aloud to them. Meanwhile, I usually walk around the room and help kids. There is one of me. I can't help all the kids at the same time. And, don't even get me started on the middle school's writing of these IEP's - they are absolutely ridiculous! Most of the IEP's have over 35 accommodations when all you have to do is summarize them down to about 5! And, the IEP's "baby" the kids. Coddle them. Ughy!

It's very frustrating and I don't know what else I can do. I'm trying to handle the discipline problems. Most of the kids that are a behavioral problem will be kicked out of my class eventually anyway. And, most of them are failing the class too. I've called home, sent emails home, and letter home. Nothing. No support.

The bright light at the end of a real crappy day: I got this email from my friend Cheryl:

I saw this is our little morning paper this morning and thought I'd pass it on. I bet ya your students say that you inspire...
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. William Arthur Ward

Thanks Cheryl for cheering me up - I really needed to read that email after having such a crappy day. Thanks kiddo! Love ya!

I have an addiction!

I have a confession to make. Maybe it's all those years of being brought up Catholic and feeling the need to confess something.

I'm addicted to pumpkin! Not just Janet's pumpkin pie - which is the BEST pumpkin pie ever!

I'm addicted to this. Oh my goodness! It's so yummy! I've been using it for almost a week and I'm in complete love!

Bath and Body has some new amazing scents - check out the store or web site!

Sad time for my school

We were informed of this incident yesterday. We had an emergency faculty meeting at the end of the day but my Principal didn't know/was told to not release names until family members could be notified.

We were updated today at a faculty meeting: two of the young men killed in the accident went to our school a few years ago. The only survivor of the crash is a current student - we were told today that he will be OK (minus the psychological impact obviously).

Police are investigating to see whether alcohol or drugs might have been a factor.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this tragic time.

Sometimes, I just wish I knew how to breathe . . . .

It's been one of those weeks. You know. Your schedule is so crazy that you can't even go to the bathroom or breathe.

I'm a YES person. The word NO is not in my vocabulary. I'm always the first one to volunteer to do something at school. Guess who said they would be the freshman class advisor? Yup! Me! I'm such a sucker! And, I'm always trying to be a better teacher so I'm consistently signing up for professional development stuff. I started a workshop today on Co-teaching with a SPED teacher. Plus, I have a second job.

It's official. I'm completely overwhelmed right now. And, I think I'm coming down with a cold. Joy! Of course it doesn't help that there is no heat in my building right now and the temps in the building are colder inside than outside.

It amazes me how relaxed I was on Sunday. I slept in. Met Carla for lunch. Judged the lip synch performances in the evening at Timberlane. I woke up on Monday morning feeling well rested and anxious to start my week at school. It's only Tuesday evening, I'm already exhausted! I still have the rest of the week - Early Release on Wed (faculty meetings and mini-workshops are planned for the afternoon), I have students staying every day this week for extra help, I just found out that I have parents coming in for conferences on Thursday after school and I need to work at my second job, I work on Thursday night until 8:00, etc. It's endless.

Yes, I created my crazy schedule. I know I need to say no??? Since it's my first year at a new school, I feel the pressure of trying to please everyone. It's a vicious cycle!

So, that's my ranting and raving for the week. Aren't ya happy you read my blog today????

Pictures from Kuwait

My cousin, Danny, has been stationed in Kuwait since last November (Dan's father and my father are brothers). He's due to come soon but he's been keeping touch through email. Last school year, Danny would email me at school and send pictures of what he was doing over there. My students would then email questions to him through my school email account. We had a nice little exchange going on between my students and my "little" cousin. I also had my students make Dan some cards and letters to cheer him up. I haven't had the chance to mail them out until recently so he just received them. He sent me an email to thank me and give me an update on what's going on with him. He also included a few pictures.

Here are a few recent pictures of Dan in Kuwait:

I am so proud of Dan!