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September 29 quiet Saturday morningThis is nice. Saturday morning, it's nice and quiet and I haven't really started thinking about the 5 million things that need to be done this weekend. It's beautiful outside and there's laundry in the machine getting washed. A very nice way to start the weekend.
Nothing exciting really happened the rest of the week. Took off work to go to the courthouse for Bill's contempt hearing. The hearing officer's secretary had told me his po said he wasn't going to come, but I figrued I would go just in case. I was back work by before ten. Since he did not show for the second time, a warrant will be issued immediately. That doens't really do anything unless he enters PA and speeds or something and gets pulled over for something unrelated. He will also be ordered to appear before a judge. The Judge can order him into jail, a jail work release, give him another slap on the wrist or even reduce or erase the $95000 he owes in arrears. This is something that is never satisfying. I could care less that Bill has a new life - more power to him. I cannot just drop persuing the support as I think it would send the wrong messages to my kids - it's perfectly fine to have kids and then just walk away from them and that they are not worthy of the effort it takes for their dad to work nor should he have to help take care of them. Argh.
Really nothing much else happened this week. September 26 sleep?We don't need no stinkin' sleep! Ha... sleep is for wimps. Oh and apparently people who want to avoid heart problems/disease. That's all. Seems since Sunday night sleep has been an illusive thing. I am draggin big time. Oh well. There's always hope for tonight.
Have moved into the downstairs bedroom!!! (that may be part of the sleep thing as I get used to being in a different room) I worked on sorting and throwing away things from my mother's old room most of the weekend. There were about 7 trash bags full of thigns to throw away. Another bag plus 2 large boxes of fabric, lace and trimming to be donated to an organization that could make good use of it. (Haven't figured that out yet) Another bag full of fabric and trimming to give to my brother for his kids to use. This is only the beginning. Wow. It is nice to be downstairs. I am only about 10 steps from the bathroom. Yay! Yes, we have an older, not reonvated house that only has one bathroom. It is nice to be downstairs. I like it.
Work is good. There are things that can be improved on, but I am very happy with my classes and with the students. We only have one sub right now, and she is booked fairly solidly. So, when I was out on Monday, there was no sub for me and 3 of my classes had no interpreter. I am not liking this. I am supposed to have a personal day tomorrow, but am only taking a half day now. I'd rather not have the kids have no int 2 days in one week. (although that may happen in October) Tomorrow morning is Bill's contempt hearing. I am pretty sure he is not going to show, but I feel like i need to be there to remind the hearing officer there are real human beings effected. Plus, it means getting up a little later. Sad reason for it but hey.
Sunday, Jerry came over again. We ended up having a good discussion. As weird as he can be, I think he MAY be coming around. He asked where I saw myself in 5-6 years and if I could see myself retiring and maybe moving. I was honest and told him that with the way my finances have always been, I assumed I would have to work until I was at least 65. The he asked if I would consider moving. I said it depended on if the situation and the other person was right. I guess those answers were to his liking, because then he asked if I would go on a vacation with him in October. (toward the end of the month) He wants to use up his vacation days or he will lose them and wants to go out to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. Not the most exotic vacation but it would be fun. Well, here I am the woman who has not been away from her kids other than one over night last April to go to a girls' weekend at the Poconos since 1996. I figure it's about time. So... I will be going. Eddie can stay with friends or my sister. He did well the last time I went away and everyone will be all over him again for me. It will suck if they do not get subs at all again. I hate to say it, but I think I need to not have that be a deciding factor.
We had a nice evening and both played hookie the next day. Went out to lunch, then back here. Jerry fixed a door knob I have had to replace for about 3 months plus the deadbolt above it. He was looking for more to do after that. Gosh, I hardly know what to do with myself having some help. :-) It's nice. There are some things I need to bring up so I can have some peace. If we can discuss them in a positive way, things may turn out well. I find myself thinking - take things as they come....
Please keep a young family in your thoughts and prayers. One of the Spanish teachers and her husband had a beautiful baby girl about a year to a year and a half ago. While she was a pleasant surprise, she is well loved and adorable. Unfortunately darlin Avery has been battling luekemia and will soon succomb to it. The young couple, Avery's doctors and medical support staff and extended family has done everything they possibly could have and then some and packed as many experinces into Avery's life as they could and surrounded her with love. Erin, her husband and Avery - we love you and are with you through this. God bless.
Think it's time for me to get my stuff together for tomorrow morning. Night. September 23 JunkBeen working on cleaning out the house. This is going to take a while. So far, I have put together 3 trash bags full of trash, another bag of clothes to donate and a pile of fanbric and trim I want to donate seomwhere and various boxes and old mops or odd shaped things. It's silly to have the fabric and such just sitting here. If I do sew someday, it will not be to the extent that Mom did. I am finding some treasures here and there. A few wills and death certificates, my Mom's diploma from graduating elementary school and the like. Those will not be thrown away.
Also yesterday I was looking for an e-book I down loaded but havent finished reading yet. I still cannot find the darn thing! I went through eveyone's document files looking for it. While I was in Colleen's file, I read some of her writings. I guess that is like reading her diary. (I'm a horrible mom when it comes to provacy) One of the pieces mentioned how our family piles things up and never gets rid of anything. I belive she meant it emotionally too but it kind of got me. While I have been going through all the junk, I am finding things my Mom held onto til her last day. (and 6 years later!) I had nearly always seen Mom as so capable and perfect. She was in many ways, but who's perfect for goodness sake? I think if I can make some headway, I can start taming this demon for both of us. Holding on to all of this stuff doesn't keep the people you love around when they're gone. I need to keep a few precious things but hold the memories forever.
Today, I will be cleaning and culling, doign laundry and the dreaded grocery shopping. It's gorgeous out!!!! September 21 Friday, Friday, Friday!This week was out first full week at work. Friday just feels so good, espcially when it is a full week. Things are better at work. They FINALLY hung the white board so Glenna doesn't have to write on it from the floor. Only took three weeks. Glenna is in better spirits and we are getting used to the room. It is still too small. Nothing we can do about that, but we made the best of it that we could. The kids are great. They're really a nice bunch of kids. We're very lucky. My calsses are all pretty neat. The English class is a challenge as there are readings I have to do. Actually, I enjoy them. The teacher uses contemporary literature to supplement what they are doing as well as music. He's hip and the kids like him... at the same time, he gets them to think. Hey, whattya know!
Been trying to get a start on the hosue. Lots to do. The accumulation of my mom and my family's stuff over 40 years and mine and my kids' stuff is overwhelming. I don't want to get rid of anything that is an artifact from our lives. Still, you have to come to a point where you just have to get rid of stuff. Thank goodness I finally feel like that is something I want and need to do. I really do not want to be one of those crazy old ladies with a couple lifetimes worth of junk in her house when they finally figure out no one has seen her for a while and they find her under 300 pounds of newspapers.
Interesting developments this week.... have gotten the usual flirty texts and calls from Jerry. Finally, Wednesday night we ended up talking on the phone. I was more than half way to house as I was on the way home from a job. (just the way my travels were) I offered to drive the rest of the way since I was already half way there. We went back and forth about it... ended up just saying good night. By the time I got home, I finally understood what I had been doing and why. I called back and left a messsage saying I have been a fool for not just going for it and not letting him into my life. My reasons are sound, but they were turning into obstacles for most everything and I was missing out. Not how I want to live my life. I was honest with my feelings without being overwhelming or insinuating myself into his life.
Well... he called me yesterday while I was driving home. Then again after Eddie and I went to pick up his girlfriend at school. (good excuse for him to practice driving) He chatted a bit about the message I left the night before. Nest thing you know, I heard a bike drive up the street but not past the house. I looked out the door and he was standing there. Good golly he looked good. My sister called at the same time. I finished up as quickly as I could and went out on the step. I swear we just looked at each other for a good five minutes. He came in and we spent about an hour talking and catching up. I didnt get really serious and ask for answers. There is time for that. We just sort of soaked each other in. Whether this is all for the good/bad of none of the above, I am okay with it. I will enjoy whatever we have for as long as we have it.
Tonight, I hope to get a swim in. The weekend will be a bit of an echo of how things were with more kids in the house. Colleen will be home and need rides to work Saturday and Sunday. I am taking Eddie up to see Jamie at her school Saturday and will go back Sunday to pick him up. We'll see what if anything is in store for the rest of the time. September 18 walking & wonderingWell, the walking part is easy to talk about. Tonight I walked about 35-40 minutes. A few more minutes than I walked on Friday night. Yay for me! I weighed myself this morning. Turns out I gained 4 pounds since the beginning of August. It doesn't sound like all that much, but I can feel it more than I like. The scale's not telling me anything new.
The wondering.. Yesterday when I got home from work, one of Liam's buddies was out front. He said, "Wait til you look out back, it really looks different." That sounded a little ominous. This is one of the guys that used to smoke pot in my backyard and then wonder why I got mad at them. (once when Liam wasn't even home) He has grown up since then. Most of Liam's crowd has, thank goodness. Anyway... I go out back. The fence separating my house from the neighbor's is completely down and the weeds I had not cut back were all gone. Down to the woody stump gone. I talked to my naighbor. Now John is not always one of my favorites. He and his wife, someone I grew up with moved in shortly after my kids and I moved back. It used to make me sick to my stomach when I would hear him scream at his wife. It reminded me way too much of Bill. So, that was one against him. The boys have gotten into trouble, one still does and he is older than Liam. (who is 22) But, the wife is my sister, Debbie's age and I will probably always have a soft spot in my heart for her. John can be a jerk, but he also turns around and does nice stuff like they did yesterday. It took them a good part of the day to do it and he put everything in a dumpster he rented.
My house and yard need alot of work. I am not the best housekeeper in the world and I do little maintence stuff. I dont have the heart to even go look at stuff and SEE if I could do things, as I assume I would not be able to afford it. I don't ask people for help. When Jerry offered to tackle some yard work right then and there one afternoon (last year) I got really embarrassed and made him stop. I know stuff like that bothered him as he seems to enjoy helping out. I made a big deal over him and his roommate being able to put a new starter in my car for me in a few hours and I swear I saw his chest puff out a few inches. So... I have my part in throwing wrenches in our relationship. Back to the wondering.... why in the world can't I accept help and be gracious about it? Yesterday, I went out and talked to John and the guys who had helped and thanked them a bunch of times. Then I came in my house and cried. I don't know, I guess I feel like I should be able to do all of this by myself. If it was one of my friends, I would not hesitate to tell them there's nothing wrong with accepting help and it usually makes the person feel good. Why in the world can't I internalize that wonderful advice and not feel embarrassed when it's my turn to be helped? I don't know. Oy.
Tomomrrow, our illustrious supervisor is to come and meet with the interpreters. She is supposed to be addressing our concerns about the program. I have a feeling it is going to the old "make the best of the situation and we're lucky that the program didn't close song and dance. " We have made the best of it. The kids are fairly happy. We are being positive. Ah well, maybe I will be pleasantly surprised. September 16 TGISunday What a nice Sunday. It's cool- I think low 60s or so and the sun is out and gogeous. So glad!
The week went by quickly. I guess with being out Monday and Tuesday nights, it ramped up the week. Thursday we had off for the Jerwish New Year. The day came at a perfect time for me. Had the 2 worknights out and a mirginae on Tuesday, so I was pretty beat. Spent the day doing laundry and resting.
Friday night I walked. Yay! I have not been happy with my post-proceedure body - a litlle too "fluffy" for my liking. But have also know that I have not been ready to really push into intense exercise. I did a half hour walk, which was perfect. It was a little more than I had been doing so I felt like I was chipping away at my slight fluffiness but not too much. It gave me time for my mind to wander without out-right worrying about anything and everything.
Yesterday I went to a workshop hosted by a video relay service. The workshop was awesome. It was called Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll. Presenter was a deaf guy from Arizona and he was great. We went over signs and spoken english equivalents for sex, drugs and alcohol use. Even after 26 years in the field, there is always more to learn. I saw some of the best known interpreters in this area and did my best to network. Afterward, there was an open house at the video relay service center in our area. I feel less intimdated by the ieda of working for them, but there are some things I still need to know. The money is supposed to be really good and I need other oprions if I get laid off from my current job. I could work full time for this company, which they consider 32 hours a week and make about 15-20000 more than I do now. There are a few contractual things I would need to better understand and the commute would be 33 miles each way. It was good for me to go there and check things out.
Jerry texted a bunch of times yesterday afternoon. I think I may have actually figured something out. Will wait and see if it turns out to be right or not. My ad has drawn like 34 views and about 4 messages. No one I'm really that interested in yet. Probably cuz I am still hung up on the Jster. Yeah, I know, when's this woman gonna wake up???? I am my own worst enemy at times. You cannot say I am not loyal, though!
For today... laundry, swimming - only a 1/4 mile!, grocery shopping and picking up Col at work. (she has a shift at her old starbucks at our nearby mall today) September 12 ketchupA little catching up... get it????? I crack myself up sometimes!
Posted a little rememberence about John and his family. He was bigger than life physicly, but one of the kindest souls I have ever had the chance to meet. Sang at our wedding with Bill and all his music buddies. Who would have guessed he would reach 6'3" or 6'4" and have legs like tree trunks on lunches of cream cheese sandwiches and regular (never diet or new!!!) coke all while growing up. And grow up he did. Cannot imagine his mom being any more proud of him than she was. (and is of all of her kids and grandkids) I wish Liam had had the chance to get to know John as he became a young man himself. As a godfather, he was always good to Liam. He was a great dad to Dylan and Ryan for as short a time as they had together. Yesterday, I paused and thought of John and everyone else we lost 6 years ago. I can still imagine his brother Mike, more barrel chested even than John, crawling on the pile trying to find him... impossible as John had been working with other Chiefs coordinating operations when the first tower fell. Mike had followed his big brother trhough all the important steps pf life... including transferring from the NYPD to the FYND as John had transistioned from lawyer. This was one place he could not follow John and I'm sure John would not have had it that way. They did get to talk while John was riding in the short way from the firehouse and Mike was trying to come in from Rockaway. So glad they had that. As cheesy as it sounds, the world is a better place for having John in it. Had it not meant leaving his wife Kim and boys Dylan and Ryan (now 13 and 10 I think) he would not have picked a different way to die - doing something he loved and believed in. Maybe just a little bit farther in the furture - so he could brush the boys' hair one more time, check on his Mom or give Kim one last embrace. God Bless them all.
There is no good segway from that... sniffles are allowed as long as you also lift a pint or two and sing "Wild Rover" once or twce!
On to mundaine, silly things? Or are they the unconscious blessings we receive every day and don't even notice?
..... Good week this week. Other than getting a 2nd migraine wihin 2 weeks at work. Thank goodness I work with nice kids and fellow staff. The kids I was interpreting for was done. (gym handing out lockers) and uses an interpreter very little. I think my mistake was going in to use the PE computers to check my email real quick. The monitors are a little older and have a weird flippy thing on the screen. As far as I can tell, that is the only thing that may have triggered it. Have been careful about my eating habits. The dreaded aura started. Had to walk from the gym on a lowered floor.... up all those steps, to our classroom. Begged off any help.... not a good idea...knew as soon as I started walking I was going to find it challenging. Didn't relaize until I was half way up a hall I was walking to the old classroom! Got to ours and Glenna and Niety both knew something was going on. I said..."I've got a stinkin aura which means a microwave is coming." Yes, I said microwave. Duh. Grabbed whatever pain reliever I saw, took it and half laid on the love seat we have in our too small room. Covered my eyes and waited. Both of my dear friends told me to go home. Not really a good idea for me to drive with an aura, since I can't see right. So I vegged out for about a period and a half and it never came on full blown. Even made it to my last period class. I really like that class. So I'm trying to figure out why after not having one for 2 years, I have 2 in 2 weeks. Little concerning.
So far, 18 guys have checked out my profile. May spend some time tomorrow looking at some. Since I told Jerry I had put up a personal and where, I guess I shouldn't be that surprised that he had a comment on my profile by 7:30 Monday morning. Curiouser and curiouser he is. (meaning I have no ieda what to think of him!) So, we'll see... will it be the mysterious motorcycle guy? (Jerry) or some player to be named later????? Only time will tell.
Monday night, my buddy from work asked me to go see a movie. Gasp! On a work night? Yep. Patti and were back at her house by 9:15. Little restored movie house in one of the small towns near me. The show older and more artsy movies. We saw "The Golden Door". Very condensed - it was about an Italian widower and his family and their harrowing trip to America, as well as their tribulations getting through Ellis Island. You have to be able to not mind subtitles, but I thought it was very good. I know it is something my girls would like. Martin Scorcessi(sp?) had a hand in it. Some is a little silly almost, but the plot and acting was good. Even a little love story. I have to say, I had heard and read quite a bit about the plight of immigrants and all of the challenges they had to face, but this movie made many things more vivid to me. Without ruining it... no I'll just be quiet. I had just not understood some things until I saw them re-enacted on the big screen. Patti has a membership to this little theatre. It was reasonable for the year and makes tickets $4.50. Fun!
Last night I got to see Robin. I was interpreting for a back to school night. We usually ride together. (Mark is a great navigator) The evening was interpesting. The work was a challenge simply because each teacher wants to pack as much info as they can in the ten minutes allowed to greet the parents. Afterward, Robin asked if I wanted to come in for a "few" minutes to chat. Silly us... catch up after a month in a few minutes? Ha!!!!!! I left at about 11:30. I was beat all day at work today but it was worth it. She is a great friend. We are good for eachother with listening and honest advice. I'm lucky to have her in my life.
Tired but happy. Goodnite! A belated prayer and thought.For a tree of man.... who was gentle as a bear... and one of the only buddys my ex hubby had that I truly liked and admired.... (ok there were a few more!!!)
John Moran
Battlion Chief, husband, father, brother, nephew,
lawyer, kayaker, bicylist, musician, philosopher and thinker-
kind and well loved.
We miss you and always will.
God Bless-Kim, Dylan & Ryan along with his
mother, siblings, family and friends.
September 09 what a dayWell... I spent the beginning of yesterday feeling a bit bored and restless. I guess I should have known that would be temporary. Our little town had this big to-do featuring a very old fire truck and a parade with departments from all over participating. I did not go to the parade, but as our town is quite small, many of the trucks drove right past my house to get to the staging area. It was something to see.
Drove down to Colleen's college to pick up Eddie and let her check out the laptop. It was pretty hot yesterday, so it was not all that much fun driving there and back. On the way back I was afraid the car was going to over heat. Note to self - when it's that hot borrow someone else's car or wait for things to cool off. Eddie and col had a good time while he visited. I love seeing them get along and have fun together. Colleen like the laptop. So, I iwll start making payments to Steve this week. Need to get a card too. What the organization does is wonderful... not everyone can spring for a $1900 computer for the kid and not even think about. The kids who do without know they are doing so. ...it was nice to see Miss Colleen, too. I had missed her. I even missed how the kids really bust on me when they are together.
After dinner, I felt kind of bored. I went to the next small town over. They were having the annula Bike Nigt, which draws about 80000 people from all over. It was fun to see so many people out and about in the little burb and alot of the bikes were amazing. Some looked like tricked out pimp-mobiles and I wondered about riding on them and the driver holding everything up/balancing. I guess they figure it all out. I saw a few vests from Jerry's club but did not see him.
Friday night and part of Saturday, I did my boohooing and bellyachin' over Jerry. I finally got ot a point where I'm like, okay a month of calling/texting not calling/texting and me wondering is enough. He hadn't resonded to the email I sent on Thursday so I assumed this was his falling off the face of the earth goodbye reutine. I spent some time yesterday creating a profile on a personals website. I had done this a while back on Match.com. I went on one date that time. The guy was alright, but nothing came of it. Since I havent been able to just detatch myself from my feelings for Jerry, I wanted to see if thinking about other men would help. It's kind of intimidating making a dating profile. You want to present yourself as attractively as possible but not mislead anyone. It took longer than I thought it would.
Well, guess who called last night at about 9:30? Yep, Jerry. We chatted a bit and he wanted to come over for a little while. He thought it was about 8:30 when he first called and when he realized it was 9:30 he decided it was too late. At least that's what he said. I feel weird about being on the dating site. Jerry and I havent seen each other since teh end of June so I'm really not beholden to be "true" to him. Oh, and we're not really dating, just doing some weird chat/text and flirt thing. Dang, this is complicated! I don't know. I don't want to hurt Jerry, but I don't thinking waiting around forever is a good idea either.
I was thinking about going to an Art Festival today. It would be fun and something to do. There are plenty of things to be done around the house, but I feel like going.
September 08 and then there was...meWell, it has been a little odd having "just" Eddie left in the house. It's quiet often and I do not have to drive everyone all over the place anymore. It's also just plain old weird to me. I guess I had gotten used to a certain amount of chaos. Four kids can do that. Even with the divorce I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I think the only thing I would want different is maybe get myself back out there a bit earlier and get a hold on being more organized. I would welcome the chaos back in a NY minute.
Yesterday, Eddie went into Philadelphia to go see Colleen. I'm glad he did. He has been spending too much time with A, and it has been concerning me. He made a comment about her not being his girlfriend. That's a little confusing to me. He made it there safe and sound. Had gotten on the train at 4:22 and I finally called him about 7:00 to check. Goober didnt think to call and let me know he made it. I think there were both excited about seeing each other again.
I'm going down to pick him up at about 1:30 or so this afternoon. I got a refurbished laptop from one of the teachers I work with. He is part of an organization that refurbishes computers and then distributes them to families that would not ordinarily be able to afford them. I'm taking it down to Colleen to look at it today when I pick up Eddie. There are a few other things I will be taking, too. I swear I am not going down there next weekend. Can't be there every weekend for Pete sake! How is Colleen going to become more independent and enjoy her time there is I am there every darn weekend?! I hope she likes the laptop. It's not the most recent technology, but Steve said it was fairly new. So... we'll see.
One of the kids at my school made my day on Friday. I served as an assistant coach for the boys' swim team 3 years ago. They were pretty desperate, although the head coach could have handled the team himself really.... but it was a new experience for me and a little extra money. I really had no idea what I was doing at first. I worked with the girls' team first as they had a bigger team and no assistant there either. The girls used to make me nuts. Maybe I'm just not cut out to work with girls exclusively... I don't know. I would run dry land.... some exercises would be 30 sec durations. Every single time I turned my back, they'd slack off. Many times when we'd write out a set for the kids to do, the girls would question why things had to be a certain way.
So, finally I got to work with the boys. They would work. The biggest challenge was to get them off the bottom of the pool where they would be goofing around with a pylon or chair. No biggie. Some of the guys would get lazy, but if you called them on it they got back to work. I felt like I always had to learn something new. There were little glimmers that I was actually helping - one of the freshmen was new to swimming and hadn't started off the bloccks at a meet yet. He came up to me one meet and asked if he should try the block. I said "Sure... you've been practicing and there has to be a first time! Go, you might surprise yourself!" He started off the block... and while it wasn't pretty, he came out of the water smiling cuz he had finally done it. One of our top guys came up and asked if I thought he could make a certain time and beat the rival's top time. I gave him they hey you might surprise yourself talk (and I knew shaving off the required secs was possible) He dropped his time by 7 seconds and beat the top guy. That was cool. I worked with 2 of the guys for their "pace 50s". It helps them be able to judge their time in longer races and make a specific time. They both did really well. One made it to districts and was shooting for state qualifying time. It was so cool to watch him compete at districts and hit his 50s... so he made the qualifying time and shaved another nice amount of time off.
This is long... anyway - because I had so much to learn that year and ended up making a few mistakes in the line up that effected a meet, (they did still win but about 4 boys had their line ups messed up) I felt like I could have done better. The next year, I figured since I knew what I was doing, I would be much more of a help. The head coach had lined up his room mate to become assistant. He wasnt sure it would all go through so he didnt tell me. (chicken!) At the time he did finally tell me, I was dissapointed, but understood and knew it would be better for the boys. His roommate had much more knowledge about swimming. I missed the guys but went to meets once in a while and would talk to them in classes or in the halls. You always have a couple of favorites. One of the boys had swam with Eddie when they were younger. He made me a little crazy at practices cuz he would put in less than his best effort. He would get back to it when I told him to. Well, yesterday I was talking to him in the hall. He said "you know, Ms G - if you were still assistant coach I would still be swimming. You made the practices bearable." I was really not expecting anything like that. Made my day.
Sent Jerry an email yesterday morning. Basicly, it asks him what's going on. Haven't hear anything from him. Guess that's an answer. Last night, it kind of hit me over head that I have been waiting around just in case he finally comes around. That's just ridiculous. So I am done. I deserve someone who knows they want me. It's not all the complicated. Tonight is the big Bike Night in the next town over. Glad I will be picking up Eddie so I don't have to hear the bikes going into town all afternoon. Going to keep busy the next few days.
It's gorgeous out and I still have to shower and get things done before pick up time! September 06 recoverdWell, the migraine went away and things have been good this week. Our room at work is coming along. We are getting used to where things are and not being able to move aorund much. The kids have had a positive attitude about it, and that's what counts the most.
My classes are going well. I am interpreting almost all English-y type classes - Literature and Writing, SAT verbal prep, Gym, Honors Art and Public Speaking. All are challenges in their own ways and enjoyable as well. The teachers and kids I'm working with are all pretty neat. So glad we've gotten to the important stuff - the kids. We have a good group this year that care about others and want to learn.
Can't ask for much more than that. Colleen and Jamie are both enjoying school. Jamie likes being in an apartment and learning how to cook new things. I think she likes her classes too. Col is stoaked about everything. She sends me volumous emails and I love it. It helps me miss her a little less and I know she likes what she is doing. I only get nervous when I watch the news and see that somethind happened near her school. Eddie is getting back into the swing of things in high school. Of course that means he is not all that thrilled, but he's doing what he needs to do.
It's amazing how I can feel so out of shape after a little over a month since I had the proceedure done. I have wlaked a few times,this week on Monday night and I will again tonight. I'm not liking the out of shape feeling. Need to step up moving and reduce what I am eating. I will be having my second cycle since the proceedure and I have to say I am curious. Most post UFE blog entries I have seen are pretty dramatic in improvements. The last cycle was too close for me too know if it was better or not. The next few days will tell.
Have to go get some things done so I can get my walk in tonight. September 03 Attack of the Killer Migraine! My goodness... I haven't had a migraine in what feels like at least 2 years. So last night when an aura started, it took me a little while to figure out what was going on. I used to get migraines fairly often - about every other month or so. When I was having tests to figure out my balance problem, (which they never did) they found a fairly serious 4 out of 5 - 5 being the worst - dairy allergy. I have been pretty vigiliant since that finding to eat dairy free. Every once in a while I will make a conscious decision to "cheat" and have something like half a krispie kreame or a Sees chocolate. I do this about once a year. I haven't cheated on purpose for a while.
As far as I can figure out, it must have been a sandwich I ate at KFC. Colleen came home late Saturday night. We had some time together on Sunday. It was nice to see her... I had missed her constant chatter. Love that kid. We got the remnant from my sister's house after Eddie helped her move some stones she got for her back yard. We wanted to grab something to eat before taking Colleen back so the kids decided on KFC. Not my top choice. I picked a bbq sandwich. It seemed alright and got me through the night - driving Col back, hanging out with her for a bit, driving back then doing my grocery shopping.
An aura is a weird thing. It's hard to describe to someone who has never had one. About the best I have come up with is... if you've ever gotten a small amount of water on your computer or tv sceen (the old school kind). You can see through the water but it looks a little weird. Now imagine that glowing and having a zig zag shape to it. Only when you turn your head away from the screen it is always there. I can honestly say that even though it always takes me by surprise and it takes me a while to figure out, I'm glad I get the auras. It gives me time to stop whatever I'm doing, take something and go hide under my covers until the migraine hits and then goes away. Having some warning and taking something right away I think helps keep them from getting awful. I had one a few years ago where I thought for sure I must have meningitis or something and should go to the hospital. Only thing was I didnt want to move. Colleen had to come and get me at Marshall's one time when I got an aura. There was no way I could have driven home. I felt like such a wimp.
Tomorrow is the first day of school for Eddie and my students. I need to get him a bookbag. Just told me yesterday. What in the world is up with that? Such a goof. I'll be getting to work early so we can work out schedules for at least the first day. I don't like that we weren't able to get notice to teachers that they would have a deaf student in class. Not possible when the schedules have been messed up for the whole school. I'm curious to see how many kids follow the clear/mesh backpack rule. Despite all the problems we have had with the room and everything I am looking forward to the start of the year. It'll be good to see the kids again.
Much to do today - highlight my hair all by myself - eek!, get a few things.... get my stuff together for the day tomorrow, make sure Eddie has his summer reading paper done... and enjoy the gorgeous day! |
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