Woohoo just doesn't seem like enough.... about 25 kids from across PA were allowed to apply to the First Peter Jenning's Journalism Conference to be held at the Constitution Center in Phila.... she found out today that she was accepted!!!!! Not sure how many applicants were selected (I think 12).  Will post on that later when I know.  Wowsers!  I hope she really enjoys this.  I'm so proud of her!  ... now if I could just get her to do the dumb dishes once in a blue moon!!!!!!! 

http://www.constitutioncenter.org/PressRoom/PressReleases/2007_02_19_17319.shtml

Nothing from Jerry since I called on Monday night.  I really do not get it.  He secludes himself away for a month, finally sees me and tells me he is falling in love with me, then that he loves me.... then does not see me for almost 3 weeks.  What in blue blazes?!!!!!  I dropped off his Valentine's Day present today - I got tired of looking at it here at my house.  Had to throw away the white chocolate covered strawberries I made for him.  Grrrrrrrrrr.  Am calling him again in a little bit. 

My class is still going well.  I am learning about interest.  Simple and compund.  So far, I have 3 10s on my quizes, a 96 on a test and a 90 on my project.  Didn't much like my 96 and 90.  Just sent in another quiz today... pretty sure it is a 10 or maybe a 9..... we'll see.  Will try to keep working hard. 

Have a lovely weekend.

Oh, yeah!  Jamie's boss faxed her W2 to me at my work and I finished her taxes!!!!!  She and I can do FAFSAs tonight and she will make her college's financial aid deadline.  Doing my happy dance, big time!!!!!!!  Now, if I can just finish Jerry's Valentines gift for tomorrow... which I think is doable barring any weird stuff happening. 

We talked last night and I dp feel better.  I really would like to get rid of any nagging thoughts that pop up when I do not hear from him often.  It's a shame I am so insecure.  Guess I have some work to do on me.  AH, well a continuing journey.  I hope Jerry and I can see each other tomorrow.  It will all depend on how this storm hits us.  I was really surprised the Mall is staying open.  Most of the colleges, The YMCA and cush closed early.   I'm hoping they will close soon - the roads are covered already with about 2 inches.. I don't mind driving if I could just get rid of everyone else.   Last I heard, We are to get about 3 in of snow which will then turn to sleet freezing rain and or rain during the wee hours of the morning.  I seriously doubt we will have work/school tomorrow, depsite the standardized tesing scheduled for tomorrow.  The school where I work already has a plan in place should we not be insession tomorrow or have a delay.  Not much you can do if there is ice on the road.  Snow can be managed, especially when it is only 3 ins.... ice... nope.  Just not worth it when the hs alone (where my kids attend) have more than 3000 kids to transport safely.  I guess we will see. The kids at work were squirelly as all get out.  Amazing to see how a weather forecast can get people all riled up. 

It is amazing what Special Ed teachers have to deal with in the course of an average day.  Our first bell rings at 7:35 am.  By 8:10, the head teacher had dealt with our supervisor calling to say we had to send an interpreter over to the elementary school since they were down one with no sub (hmmm happens to us all the time and we are sent no one), a non-custodial parent emailed to ask how she transfers her son's registration to a different district (not touching that one) as sonny boy wnats to move back with her (ya, she lets him get away with everything), started teaching science, and got a call from a hysterical mom to discuss that her daughter and another kid in our class decided to borrow/steal her other daughter's car to go to the Mall last night.  (neither one has a learner's permit!)  The other student from our class has done this before and drove into Philly.  He should never has access to a car until he is at least 18.  And the dad actually says "I taught him to be a safe driver."  (aka what's the big deal?) The young lady's mom decided not to press charges... it would just end up costing HER for lawyer's fees and fines.  WHat in the sam heck?!!!  How is it that the kids thought it was no biggie? 

So, within 35 minutes, Glenna had dealt with all of that.  She should get a medal at very least.  Oh, and this is the week she has to write down what she is doing every 15 minutes... what a great use of her time! 

Ok, so it is a good idea to count my blessings since tomorrow is V day.  Yes, I have Jerry in my life, which has been an extremely pleasant surprise.  He is a good person who loves me.  He also treats me better than anyone I can think of my adult, dating life.  That's pretty hugs for me.  IN addition to him, I have my kiddos, my siblings and some awesome support people in my life.  How did I ever get so lucky?  I am finally at a place in my life where I can say that part of it is that I am a good person.  I have made a bunch of mistakes throughout my life, but I have never set out to intentionally hurt anyone.  I may not have told everyone I love how much they mean to me and I need to work on that.  Most of them have at least some idea.  2007 sounds like a good time to let them know. 

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!

So far, so good with my class.  I have taken 3 quizes.  10s on all of them.  Guess it sounds like I am bragging, and I guess I am.  I am pretty anal when it comes to doing the work and making sure my answers are as good as I can make them before I hand in a quiz.  To be fair, some has been review either from my own hs classes or things I have interpreted at work.  Still, when I opened the document for our project, I was scared.  I really did not know how to do the linear programming problems.  (finding minimum and maximum profits using a set of constraints)  Once I really looked at the classnotes and the examples, I got the gist.  It is still something I have to consciously think about while doing.  Mostly, it takes some patience and attention to details.  Once you set up the problems, it is graphing and solving systems of inequalities.  Our first test is next Thursday.  I will be pounding through the review problems and working on the project through that date and the  project deadline Feb. 20th.  If I finally get the screen shots to work that may help.  When I get really stuck, I have one of the Math teachers I work with help me out. 

Swimming can be a small world.  With the teams the kids were on - summer club team and winter commnity team and the assistant coaching I did we have met alot of good people.  The competition is always there and there are some teams and coaches you just want to beat... they're not good sports are in some way people who get to you I guess.  By and large we have been lucky to know nice people.  Some of the nicest were nationally ranked swimmers, like one of the kids' summer coaches.  Anyway... one of the families we got to know just lost their dad.  He had cancer 8 years ago and had beaten it.  It came back last year and he faught again with everything he had.  The dad had given rides to my kids a number of times when I had to work or have my other kids somewhere else at the same time.  I'd thank Mr H for taking the kids and he would turn it around to what a good kid Eddie or Colleen was.  I coached 2 of his boys and Eddie was a year older and a year younger and swam with both of them.  The family has 6 kids.  Three currently in college.  The twins each got a full scholarhip to LaSalle.  They were also two of the hardest working kids on the team.  C was the leader in the fast lane for the boys and the workhorse of the team.  A worked so hard we figured out she could not taper.  (the gradual reduction of yards/meters as states approaches... most swimmers' bodies respond well and times drop dramatically)  A just couldn't do it - her work ethic was so great that her body would not respond to taper.  I NEVER saw or heard Mr H raise his voice even once in the last 8 years I have known him.  A huge feat with 6 active kids ages with only 9 years between oldest and youngest.   What a great guy, great family.  I'm glad they had him as long as they did.  Mr H made the world a better place. 

Colleen related a discussion she had with some kids in American Government class.  (though it had nothing to do with government)  Somehow, the kids got to talking about their parents, specificly mothers.  Mostly about how they couldn't stand being in the same room for any length of time with their moms.  Colleen couldn't figure out what they were talking about.  She is a smart girl, so she understood the words.  While we have butted heads lately, we are still very content to spend time together.  We can be sitting on the couch watching a movie or a silly TV show and will either start talking about something or will start poking at each other.  More often than not, I end up a mass of hysteria.  If we wrestle at all, I am outmatched.  They're all bigger than me...All the kids have to do is tickle me a few times... I laugh alot and end up screaming like a weirdo cuz I think they will get me again.  It's strange, but it works for us.  How lucky am I to have kids that will have a conversation with me, act silly and dance around the living room to an assortment of music or have a goofy slap fight with.  They have me down to where they will pretend to wind up for a tap on my arm and will say in their best "mom" voice - "don't hit me hard, I bruise easily!" 

The other day, Eddie came up to me completely voluntarily and told me about his buddy, T.  He is one of the kids who is basicly a good kid who has done some stupid stuff.  Got arrested and now doing probation and weekend stints at a residential boys' school.  (not judging here, it is just a fact)  T has been forgetting to use the sense God gave him.... smoking pot and drinking.  Eddie said he decided he can't sit around watching T fall down that hole again.  How far Eddie has come.  I feel bad for T and wish I could help him.  I am soooo glad Eddie has figured out he needs to do things that won't get him in trouble.  Thank you, all Higher Powers!!!!

Hoping to see Jerry this weekend.  I am so tired right now though that I cannot even think about going out.  At least it is not as daggone cold outside.  With the windchills near 0, you just want to stay huddled under blankets at most watching movies.  I never thought that seeing forecast temps of 36 would make me happy.  Guess it is all relative.