must lie down

I just found out that my friend's wife is named Mary, not Nicole. Why did my brain insist that was her name, for years now?

Anyhoo, somewhat fever-addled brain is trying to get back into action. After 3 days of suffering terrible allergies, I got a fever and gross chest thing. No Thanksgiving feast for me, although the leftovers were good and thanks for sending them home (although I'm not sure about that sweet potato dish...a bit sweet even for me!).

I've spent the day watching tv, reading, sleeping, and trying not to let the terrible pain in the back of my head bother me, nor the gross phlegm in my chest. I'm also trying not to freak out about the fact that I haven't yet done any grading or planning for next week. My brain just isn't up to that yet.

frustration

Just checked my work email to see if we'd had an update on the status of our principal. What I found, however, was a change to Tuesday's schedule. This arrived in my box on Saturday, after I'd had a conversation on this topic with my dean on Friday afternoon and had spent considerable time after school planning.

This may not seem like a big deal, and it's not, but it's another in a loooooong list of last minute changes that is killing me. Why do I bother planning at all?

does it equal out?

Good news: kid from yesterday was back in control, came in with a verbal and written apology and acted in a civil manner.

Bad news: parent is insistent that I change his grade from first quarter.

lost it

After one of my kids walked around the room with a fart machine (it makes the sound, not the smell), I took it away from him and made him sit down. He apologized. Shortly thereafter I turned around to see him throwing a book at another student.

A textbook.

I told him to see the dean and that he was not to return without a signed note from her. I made him take his backpack with him.

I'm not sure I want to let him back in, even with a note.

crazy in the afternoons

That's what my kids are. Take a perfectly reasonable group of kids from the morning, throw in a few hours, stir, and voila! Instant insanity. Why, Jeebus, why? When my 8th period 7th graders arrived today, I said, "You don't know how glad I am to see you!" They laughed. They know.

no tb

My arm was completely clear, so I have not even been exposed to TB. Yay! Now back to grading test on The Man in the Iron Mask.

disease

Spent an hour at Walgreens today. I got a TB test and 10 passport photos. The husband-type-person had a positive test but a clear x-ray and I wanted to see if I was also exposed. At the moment it's just hanging out there on my arm.

I had to use my "wrath of god" voice today when a couple of my kids were digging around in another kid's backpack. They have no filters, no shame and no regard for others' property.

While I'm grateful for my job and it is fun to be able to teach about books I love, I wish at times that this whole gig was easier, or that I'd gotten the sort of job I'd wanted teaching science. Fifteen minutes a week of science club doesn't cut it.

Must go throw Lobsty (Pixie's latest toy)...

next 4 years

Wheeeeeeee!