So this afternoon, as I was playing with photobucket, I suddenly noticed that there was an email in my gmail! I looked and it was from Dr. NoCallBack!!! Of course, gmail freezes on my desktop so I had to hold my breath while I waited for it to open. All that it was was a quick note saying, thank you for your patience, and if you will review the attached and forward to my office I will submit it for board approval.
I opened the attached document, and all that was was a list of procedures apparently set forth for handling foreign exchange students in the schools, written a year ago. Some of this we have already provided, but they are asking for a few other things as well. The area rep has now also gotten involved, but she misunderstood the 'request by' date of June 19 to be the date of the voting meeting, which is in fact not until July. There are two main issues: permission from the Principal (shouldn't be a problem, I don't think) and approval of the board (I don't think this will be either, but one never knows). I'm going to email the board woman that I spoke to and just let her know that I did hear back at last, and to expect this to come up at their July meeting. I wish I could have spoken to the regional rep, she is really on the ball at all times, and makes me feel more confident that things are going smoothly. The other woman is very nice and helpful, as I said, but does not exude experience and confidence. She is the one we will deal with the entire year; but I think she will be fine for that. This is just something she never had to handle before.
So I don't know if this constitutes a verbal OK or not, but I guess I will find out about that later on tonight, when area speaks to regional. I'm still not sure the process is in confident hands, which makes us seem a little unprepared, but hopefully not enough to make a difference. I think we're on a learning curve in more ways than one. Had we had this list a month ago, we could have put it all together and sent them exactly what they needed, instead of a bunch of random information. They got more than they needed, and they're probably appalled at having to sort through it all.
So, more later. I don't know if it can be a verbal OK without the principal's permission, but he is the one who referred us to the others in the first place. So, stay tuned. They want the girl to sign the school handbook, and they can't very well ask her to do that without telling her what school it is. Also, she has the right to refuse us; so it isn't fair to ask her to commit to a school without knowing with whom she will live.
In other news, the church fair began last night and Megan wants to go there after swimming. I must get down and figure out what's for dinner, since it took me over an hour to upload the photos for the below slideshow, and then to have some back-and-forths with the exchange student issues. And tonight, I must call C!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
It's a Match!
We heard from the Fresh Air lady at last! We have a match! Our boy, we will call him C, will be arriving on July 10th on the bus to Ocean County. We'll have to go down to Toms River to get him and then return him to the same, I believe on the 21st. I think his visit will be from a Thursday through a Monday (ten days). The Monday is the day that Brian starts his baseball camp, so depending on how it all goes, I may or may not have him skip the first few hours to come and wave goodbye to the bus. I guess it will be up to him.
Unfortunately, C will not be able to attend the camp with Brian. I don't know if he was offered it and declined, or if the Fresh Air people just decided it was too much trouble. But if all goes well and we get along, he can certainly do it next year, if Brian is still signing up and the weeks correspond. The woman told me he had "accepted the invitation", so he was shown our application and knows all the things that we said we like to do: baseball, water parks, beach, and swimming.
So now I am all sorts of nervous. C is from the Bronx, and his 'guardian' is a man! I expected to be calling a mom with my introduction, so I have to take a little time to think about what I should say. He is 11, but he will turn 12 on the 11th of July, so the day after he gets here! We'll have to plan something special for him that day.
All of this dwelling on the school and their answers about the exchange student have somewhat lessened the anxiety of awaiting the word from Fresh Air. I was thinking of calling the woman this week, just to make sure our offer to take in a child for the camp wasn't causing too much confusion.
So that is the news of the night. There is, of course, not an iota of news on the exchange student front - not so much as an email responding to my emails last night to the agency reps about the emails I received from the assistant superintendent. I know that the school district is not being responsive; but I can't help but wonder if part of the delay is the agency rep herself. It may not be at all, for sure this woman at the schools is awfully rude; but perhaps someone with a lot of school experience would have known the right thing to say to break down the barriers. This rep is very nice, and she isn't at all annoying; but she comes across as a little inexperienced, like the time that she sent the wrong file to the Principal when we thought we were getting J2 from Sweden, and before that she had attached the same profile twice when she thought she had sent me two. On the other hand, they're not getting back to ME either, so I can only hope this neglectful woman is doing a more thorough job in the other aspects of her position.
Unfortunately, C will not be able to attend the camp with Brian. I don't know if he was offered it and declined, or if the Fresh Air people just decided it was too much trouble. But if all goes well and we get along, he can certainly do it next year, if Brian is still signing up and the weeks correspond. The woman told me he had "accepted the invitation", so he was shown our application and knows all the things that we said we like to do: baseball, water parks, beach, and swimming.
So now I am all sorts of nervous. C is from the Bronx, and his 'guardian' is a man! I expected to be calling a mom with my introduction, so I have to take a little time to think about what I should say. He is 11, but he will turn 12 on the 11th of July, so the day after he gets here! We'll have to plan something special for him that day.
All of this dwelling on the school and their answers about the exchange student have somewhat lessened the anxiety of awaiting the word from Fresh Air. I was thinking of calling the woman this week, just to make sure our offer to take in a child for the camp wasn't causing too much confusion.
So that is the news of the night. There is, of course, not an iota of news on the exchange student front - not so much as an email responding to my emails last night to the agency reps about the emails I received from the assistant superintendent. I know that the school district is not being responsive; but I can't help but wonder if part of the delay is the agency rep herself. It may not be at all, for sure this woman at the schools is awfully rude; but perhaps someone with a lot of school experience would have known the right thing to say to break down the barriers. This rep is very nice, and she isn't at all annoying; but she comes across as a little inexperienced, like the time that she sent the wrong file to the Principal when we thought we were getting J2 from Sweden, and before that she had attached the same profile twice when she thought she had sent me two. On the other hand, they're not getting back to ME either, so I can only hope this neglectful woman is doing a more thorough job in the other aspects of her position.
Stop the Insanity
So we still await response from the district office. I am somewhat at my wits' end and about ready to throw in the towel, but that would be admitting defeat and giving in to the bureaucrats. I had emailed the assistant superintendent on Friday, assuming he'd see it this morning and maybe get back to me. He must have checked in last night, because he sent me a quick note telling me he had given it all to the no-call-back woman.
So again, at a standstill. I emailed him back and thanked him, but mentioned that unfortunately, she is the one who has not returned our calls for nearly a month. He replied again that he would speak to her today. I am finding this whole experience disheartening. Incidentally, I have not seen either of my kids' state test scores either, which is her supposed function, and the reason for her inattention. And I stand behind my allegation that if she is that busy, she shouldn't be leaving at 4. Too busy to even call back and let us know what the delay is? So I sent her another email and explained that if she is not going to allow this, we need to know, so we can release this student and allow her to find a tolerant and cooperative school, one that perhaps appreciates the fact that its residents pay $12,000 a year in taxes for less services than neighboring districts provide. (I did not use these exact words, but I did realize too late that I had addressed her majesty as 'Ms.' instead of 'Dr.'. I suppose that is another strike against us.)
I am just becoming more and more disgruntled. If I don't hear something today, I will contact that board member that I kept running into. She is the one who told me the board has agreed that they support these programs, and would like to see more of it. It's making me more and more regret that when we sold our house, we didn't buy a new one in an entirely different school district!
Anyway, that's that. I ignored a sub call this morning so I could get some things done. I have so far filled and started the dishwasher, gone for a walk, and walked Molly. I have just gotten out of the shower and need to pay some bills. Then I will run some errands. Meanwhile, in other news, Brian's dreaded chorus concert scheduled for tonight has been cancelled due to the heat wave. It is now scheduled for Thursday night, when Kevin will be unable to attend. This will be our last one ever, since Brian isn't going to do chorus next year because he dislikes it almost as much as I dislike going to these concerts. In order to get a good parking spot (meaning one that will not trap you in the lot for an hour once the concert has ended) and to get a seat, you must arrive an hour or more ahead of time, and then just sit in the gym. Then it becomes increasingly crowded, and tempers start to flare. Finally, by the time the concert begins, there are people lined up in the doorways and, probably, out in the hall where they can't even see. The concert itself is fine, they do a reasonably nice job. But we've watched it for four years in a row now, twice a year, and enough is just enough. At least last year, Megan was in the elite singing group and had a few extra roles. There are about 200 kids in the chorus, it's just absolutely insane.
So again, at a standstill. I emailed him back and thanked him, but mentioned that unfortunately, she is the one who has not returned our calls for nearly a month. He replied again that he would speak to her today. I am finding this whole experience disheartening. Incidentally, I have not seen either of my kids' state test scores either, which is her supposed function, and the reason for her inattention. And I stand behind my allegation that if she is that busy, she shouldn't be leaving at 4. Too busy to even call back and let us know what the delay is? So I sent her another email and explained that if she is not going to allow this, we need to know, so we can release this student and allow her to find a tolerant and cooperative school, one that perhaps appreciates the fact that its residents pay $12,000 a year in taxes for less services than neighboring districts provide. (I did not use these exact words, but I did realize too late that I had addressed her majesty as 'Ms.' instead of 'Dr.'. I suppose that is another strike against us.)
I am just becoming more and more disgruntled. If I don't hear something today, I will contact that board member that I kept running into. She is the one who told me the board has agreed that they support these programs, and would like to see more of it. It's making me more and more regret that when we sold our house, we didn't buy a new one in an entirely different school district!
Anyway, that's that. I ignored a sub call this morning so I could get some things done. I have so far filled and started the dishwasher, gone for a walk, and walked Molly. I have just gotten out of the shower and need to pay some bills. Then I will run some errands. Meanwhile, in other news, Brian's dreaded chorus concert scheduled for tonight has been cancelled due to the heat wave. It is now scheduled for Thursday night, when Kevin will be unable to attend. This will be our last one ever, since Brian isn't going to do chorus next year because he dislikes it almost as much as I dislike going to these concerts. In order to get a good parking spot (meaning one that will not trap you in the lot for an hour once the concert has ended) and to get a seat, you must arrive an hour or more ahead of time, and then just sit in the gym. Then it becomes increasingly crowded, and tempers start to flare. Finally, by the time the concert begins, there are people lined up in the doorways and, probably, out in the hall where they can't even see. The concert itself is fine, they do a reasonably nice job. But we've watched it for four years in a row now, twice a year, and enough is just enough. At least last year, Megan was in the elite singing group and had a few extra roles. There are about 200 kids in the chorus, it's just absolutely insane.
Friday, June 6, 2008
A Trip Down Pseudomeningocele Lane
It's hot outside! I did waste some of the later part of the school day, browsing one of my favorite nurseries and buying very few new plants. I guess I am reaching the point of saturation, plus we are considering a very costly redesign of the plantings in front of the house. We are paying $300 just for the architect's drawing.
So I am sitting in the air conditioning, and was surfing through some sites I haven't seen in a while. As Megan has had headaches two days in a row now, I googled 'chiari headache'; since Brian never really had these, I didn't know where exactly they hurt. Megan's headaches are between her eyes, so possibly another sinus issue. The first approach will be to treat her again with the Claritin-D. I think the mold spores are up now that the tree pollens are down. Anyway, I digress. I happened upon the following article: http://www.conquerchiari.org/subs%20only/Volume%206/Issue%206(3)/Autologous%20Duraplasty%206(3).asp.
I read through it, and was surprised to see the name of Brian's neurosurgeon. I read the article a couple of times, it is a little confusing, and then I read the tables on the right. The doctors have reviewed 50+ cases done over ten years of which 40 had duraplasty with their own cranial tissue; 24 of these also had a syrinx. I wonder if Brian is one of those 40? Because here is the thing: they assess the post-operative complications, and say that the cases were followed for eleven months.
I just found an abstract of the article and it must be Brian. Here is a quote from the abstract: "There was an overall morbidity rate of 2.5% due to one pseudomeningocele treated with a single percutaneous tap."
But back to the study. They list the possible complications of opening the dura (duraplasty) and only report that they had one case of ANY complication: pseudomeningocele! Well. Was that Brian? It has to be - is it really possible that he is the ONLY patient of this doctor ever to develop this symptom? Wouldn't that just figure.
Anyway, I feel like Brian is famous. Haha. I guess I'll go sit by the pool and read my book now. That is what I was doing, but, as invariably happens in Burbtopia, a ride-on lawnmower appeared out of the idyllic silence, and started up on the lawn right across the street. He should be done by now.
In other news, apparently the attorney is responding to our concerns on the missing documentation of our home's previous owner. She blamed it, of course, on her former secretary, and said that the title policy was erroneously packed away in storage. So she has to dig through storage and find out what all is really going on. Who knows how long that will take, but it better not be a year!!! Megan is taking the Biology SATs tomorrow, and she has barely cracked a book to study. She is going to stay home from swimming tonight and pore through the College Board sample test, and look over her text. Then the test is tomorrow morning at 8. Obviously, no word on Fresh Air or exchange student, so that can't be a good thing on the latter. I am feeling so resentful towards our school district. But I guess they have other things on their minds, what with their party prom bus being arrested and the rowdy uprising at the last board meeting, over failure to complete a turf project at the other high school. I am going to send the assistant superintendent an email after I hear from the rep, and am sure that he really didn't get back to her. I hope it isn't that they don't want to work with that agency...
Oh, and a new problem arises. Brian will not swim in our pool, after the Chipmunk Ball ended in such tragedy. Incidentally, once they were fished out, so too was a mouse, from the skimmer. It must have been quite an evening.
So I am sitting in the air conditioning, and was surfing through some sites I haven't seen in a while. As Megan has had headaches two days in a row now, I googled 'chiari headache'; since Brian never really had these, I didn't know where exactly they hurt. Megan's headaches are between her eyes, so possibly another sinus issue. The first approach will be to treat her again with the Claritin-D. I think the mold spores are up now that the tree pollens are down. Anyway, I digress. I happened upon the following article: http://www.conquerchiari.org/subs%20only/Volume%206/Issue%206(3)/Autologous%20Duraplasty%206(3).asp.
I read through it, and was surprised to see the name of Brian's neurosurgeon. I read the article a couple of times, it is a little confusing, and then I read the tables on the right. The doctors have reviewed 50+ cases done over ten years of which 40 had duraplasty with their own cranial tissue; 24 of these also had a syrinx. I wonder if Brian is one of those 40? Because here is the thing: they assess the post-operative complications, and say that the cases were followed for eleven months.
I just found an abstract of the article and it must be Brian. Here is a quote from the abstract: "There was an overall morbidity rate of 2.5% due to one pseudomeningocele treated with a single percutaneous tap."
But back to the study. They list the possible complications of opening the dura (duraplasty) and only report that they had one case of ANY complication: pseudomeningocele! Well. Was that Brian? It has to be - is it really possible that he is the ONLY patient of this doctor ever to develop this symptom? Wouldn't that just figure.
Anyway, I feel like Brian is famous. Haha. I guess I'll go sit by the pool and read my book now. That is what I was doing, but, as invariably happens in Burbtopia, a ride-on lawnmower appeared out of the idyllic silence, and started up on the lawn right across the street. He should be done by now.
In other news, apparently the attorney is responding to our concerns on the missing documentation of our home's previous owner. She blamed it, of course, on her former secretary, and said that the title policy was erroneously packed away in storage. So she has to dig through storage and find out what all is really going on. Who knows how long that will take, but it better not be a year!!! Megan is taking the Biology SATs tomorrow, and she has barely cracked a book to study. She is going to stay home from swimming tonight and pore through the College Board sample test, and look over her text. Then the test is tomorrow morning at 8. Obviously, no word on Fresh Air or exchange student, so that can't be a good thing on the latter. I am feeling so resentful towards our school district. But I guess they have other things on their minds, what with their party prom bus being arrested and the rowdy uprising at the last board meeting, over failure to complete a turf project at the other high school. I am going to send the assistant superintendent an email after I hear from the rep, and am sure that he really didn't get back to her. I hope it isn't that they don't want to work with that agency...
Oh, and a new problem arises. Brian will not swim in our pool, after the Chipmunk Ball ended in such tragedy. Incidentally, once they were fished out, so too was a mouse, from the skimmer. It must have been quite an evening.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Davy Jones' Locker
So a few blogs back I was detailing my dramatic rescue of the little chipmunk from the jaws of the Wren. I saw the little thing scurrying across the deck a couple of days later, and have managed to keep Wren inside, except for one little slip-up the other afternoon, after which Buddy also got out and remained at large for several hours.
Well, today I had a half day to work in a resource room at a different elementary school. I came home and sorted through email and various other timewasting activities. Finally, I decided it was time to check out the yard, see what is blooming and what's sprouting up since last I checked (I'm awaiting the reemergence of the hardy hibiscus from last year; one started weeks ago, but the three smaller ones have shown no signs of life, until today. I think I saw small bumps emerging from the wood sticking out of the ground!!! I hope so, because these are my red ones, and I love them.)
Anyway, Molly was out with me, as always, and we were walking around after Megan came home. I suddenly remembered a shadowy shape I had seen earlier from the bathroom window. :-O Sure enough, there, in Davy Jones' locker, laid my beloved little rescuee. I was sad. I took a moment and studied the little thing, lying there still as if he were asleep, with his eyes closed and his little paws hanging in front of him as if he were saying, "No, Davy, No! Give me back to the jaws of the Wren!" With a heavy heart, I turned away, walking around the deep end of the pool. Shock! Horror! Strife! There again, in Davy Jones' OTHER locker ... was a relative of my small ex-friend. So, it is a sad day for the chipmunks.
Other than that, the Mets have now lost their playoff berth. They actually won the second game, so they lost the first, and then won the second, which obviously entitled them to play a third, which was Tuesday. The other team had one of the best pitchers in the division, and they had whooped us in the regular season game. I didn't expect much, and headed out to watch the game. When I got there ten minutes late, it was already the bottom of the second inning. Brian was on third, but I didn't know how he had gotten there. (I later learned he had gotten a double!) He did not score. At the end of that inning, the score remained 0-0. And it just got better - throughout the beginning of the game, it remained scoreless for several innings, until the Mets took a 2-0 lead.However, their opponents were not to be outdone, and quickly regained their status, and scored two runs of their own for a score of 2-2. Normally the little league games are six innings long. In the bottom of the TENTH inning, the Mets season drew to a close. It was very exciting, though, and a well played game by all. And now that other team has to go on to the next level, which means playing Saturday, in 90 degree heat.
In other news, nothing on the exchange student or fresh air fund STILL. The rep from the agency did call the other day to say that she had spoken to the secretary of the assistant superintendent, so we are awaiting his return call. She said she'd give him till Friday (now, tomorrow) and try him again. I will email him myself if he doesn't get her an answer by the end of the day. I am getting so tired of this, as I may have mentioned. I had Kevin speak to the guy who runs the baseball camp, I was starting to envision the fresh air people calling me the night before, that week, and sending me some little boy who really wanted to be in the camp, and then having the camp be filled. This is a very nice man, thankfully, and he is really great with the kids, too. He is actually a (haha) comedian in his spare time, so he just keeps the camp moving along. He was also very open to the idea of the camper, and said, sure! just remind me right before, if he comes. So that is one thing off my mind. I still don't know if we haven't gotten an assignment because of the confusion regarding the camp, or if we just have not come up on the list yet. And now, I am off to the orthodontist. Megan has just come home with a headache - wonderful.
Well, today I had a half day to work in a resource room at a different elementary school. I came home and sorted through email and various other timewasting activities. Finally, I decided it was time to check out the yard, see what is blooming and what's sprouting up since last I checked (I'm awaiting the reemergence of the hardy hibiscus from last year; one started weeks ago, but the three smaller ones have shown no signs of life, until today. I think I saw small bumps emerging from the wood sticking out of the ground!!! I hope so, because these are my red ones, and I love them.)
Anyway, Molly was out with me, as always, and we were walking around after Megan came home. I suddenly remembered a shadowy shape I had seen earlier from the bathroom window. :-O Sure enough, there, in Davy Jones' locker, laid my beloved little rescuee. I was sad. I took a moment and studied the little thing, lying there still as if he were asleep, with his eyes closed and his little paws hanging in front of him as if he were saying, "No, Davy, No! Give me back to the jaws of the Wren!" With a heavy heart, I turned away, walking around the deep end of the pool. Shock! Horror! Strife! There again, in Davy Jones' OTHER locker ... was a relative of my small ex-friend. So, it is a sad day for the chipmunks.
Other than that, the Mets have now lost their playoff berth. They actually won the second game, so they lost the first, and then won the second, which obviously entitled them to play a third, which was Tuesday. The other team had one of the best pitchers in the division, and they had whooped us in the regular season game. I didn't expect much, and headed out to watch the game. When I got there ten minutes late, it was already the bottom of the second inning. Brian was on third, but I didn't know how he had gotten there. (I later learned he had gotten a double!) He did not score. At the end of that inning, the score remained 0-0. And it just got better - throughout the beginning of the game, it remained scoreless for several innings, until the Mets took a 2-0 lead.However, their opponents were not to be outdone, and quickly regained their status, and scored two runs of their own for a score of 2-2. Normally the little league games are six innings long. In the bottom of the TENTH inning, the Mets season drew to a close. It was very exciting, though, and a well played game by all. And now that other team has to go on to the next level, which means playing Saturday, in 90 degree heat.
In other news, nothing on the exchange student or fresh air fund STILL. The rep from the agency did call the other day to say that she had spoken to the secretary of the assistant superintendent, so we are awaiting his return call. She said she'd give him till Friday (now, tomorrow) and try him again. I will email him myself if he doesn't get her an answer by the end of the day. I am getting so tired of this, as I may have mentioned. I had Kevin speak to the guy who runs the baseball camp, I was starting to envision the fresh air people calling me the night before, that week, and sending me some little boy who really wanted to be in the camp, and then having the camp be filled. This is a very nice man, thankfully, and he is really great with the kids, too. He is actually a (haha) comedian in his spare time, so he just keeps the camp moving along. He was also very open to the idea of the camper, and said, sure! just remind me right before, if he comes. So that is one thing off my mind. I still don't know if we haven't gotten an assignment because of the confusion regarding the camp, or if we just have not come up on the list yet. And now, I am off to the orthodontist. Megan has just come home with a headache - wonderful.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Going Out with a Bang
It's a hit! Brian got a hit! And it was a good one, too. He got to first easily, and not because someone made an error. Brian has a terrible tendency to stand there and wait out the pitches, praying for walks. It's a strategy that has worked for him in the past, but I have also heard kids make fun of him for it, and it does get old quickly. However, he successfully applied this strategy in his first at-bat of the day.
The Knights were getting creamed by the other team, and Brian was up for a second time, in the bottom of the 6th with one out. We were down by, I believe, 8 runs. I always cringe when I see him come up, because when the walk-waiting strategy fails, the result is usually, "STRIKE THREE!". The coach who stands and runs a loud mouth commentary in front of the fans, he's their first base coach, started in, "come on Brian, let me see you swing, let's go out hitting, come on Brian, this is yours..." So my stomach went to knots again. I hate for Brian to just stand there like that.
The first pitch came in high, so that was a ball. Then he got a called strike. Finally, it kicked in. He swing, and fouled off two of them. One more pitch, and it actually cracked! His hits often thwack, but they don't often crack, and this one did. It went right between third base and shortstop, and the third baseman couldn't get to it in time - so it went out to left field before making its way back to the infield, and he had plenty of time to trot to first. Very exciting.
But then he was left on second; and that was the end of the game!
Otherwise (in other news) we had the Doll over for a BBQ dinner last night, since the house was already clean. Her days of employment are drawing to a close, since her employer will be closing up shop in three weeks. She loved the job, and the discount, but now that they have reduced everything by 70%, the clientele are, as she puts it, " a lower class of people". Rather than acting as personal shopper, she is more of a gopher and dressing-room cleaner, running all the clothes that people have left in piles back to the racks for the next rampage. She even wears a back brace to work now! So I am off to work for the next three days. Hopefully they will be good ones. I know I have my little special ed friends tomorrow, but today and Wednesday I must 'float', so I never know what the day holds in store. All I do know is that it usually means small blocks of time in each class, as long as the meetings are well booked throughout the entire day. If not, I am stuck with lots of down time. Finally, maybe some exchange student news today, let's hope. The agency rep will call the district this afternoon. Also nothing from Fresh Air, and it's beginning to get troublesome. I would like to know which week we will be hosting, if in fact we get anyone at all! And my other source of irritation is the YMCA National board. They still have not posted the qualifying times for the 2009 meet in Florida, although they said they would have them no later than June 1. (disclaimer: post not proofread - must go shower)
The Knights were getting creamed by the other team, and Brian was up for a second time, in the bottom of the 6th with one out. We were down by, I believe, 8 runs. I always cringe when I see him come up, because when the walk-waiting strategy fails, the result is usually, "STRIKE THREE!". The coach who stands and runs a loud mouth commentary in front of the fans, he's their first base coach, started in, "come on Brian, let me see you swing, let's go out hitting, come on Brian, this is yours..." So my stomach went to knots again. I hate for Brian to just stand there like that.
The first pitch came in high, so that was a ball. Then he got a called strike. Finally, it kicked in. He swing, and fouled off two of them. One more pitch, and it actually cracked! His hits often thwack, but they don't often crack, and this one did. It went right between third base and shortstop, and the third baseman couldn't get to it in time - so it went out to left field before making its way back to the infield, and he had plenty of time to trot to first. Very exciting.
But then he was left on second; and that was the end of the game!
Otherwise (in other news) we had the Doll over for a BBQ dinner last night, since the house was already clean. Her days of employment are drawing to a close, since her employer will be closing up shop in three weeks. She loved the job, and the discount, but now that they have reduced everything by 70%, the clientele are, as she puts it, " a lower class of people". Rather than acting as personal shopper, she is more of a gopher and dressing-room cleaner, running all the clothes that people have left in piles back to the racks for the next rampage. She even wears a back brace to work now! So I am off to work for the next three days. Hopefully they will be good ones. I know I have my little special ed friends tomorrow, but today and Wednesday I must 'float', so I never know what the day holds in store. All I do know is that it usually means small blocks of time in each class, as long as the meetings are well booked throughout the entire day. If not, I am stuck with lots of down time. Finally, maybe some exchange student news today, let's hope. The agency rep will call the district this afternoon. Also nothing from Fresh Air, and it's beginning to get troublesome. I would like to know which week we will be hosting, if in fact we get anyone at all! And my other source of irritation is the YMCA National board. They still have not posted the qualifying times for the 2009 meet in Florida, although they said they would have them no later than June 1. (disclaimer: post not proofread - must go shower)
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