Well, life has returned to the mundane, for now. Of course I watch with anxiety as the financial drama unfolds, and I worry a little about Kevin's bank, but so far they seem to be weathering the storm. I remember back in the 90s when things got rough and they restructured and cut jobs and slashed departments, they put Kevin in the back office working in customer service, then brought him back up when things got better. So we'll see. Since as far as I know (I'm sure he will correct me) they're not into commercial banking (whatever that is nowadays) in the US, they should have limited exposure. But as it trickles down and affects all the markets, I'm sure that will have to change in some way. I set them up on a google alert just to be on the safe side. :-)
I listened to John McCain talk about stabilizing housing values and selfishly thought, that better not happen! When we just paid what at the time seemed a good deal, but now seems to have been top dollar, for this house two years ago, (and I suspect it is worth slightly less than even that 'bargain' price) we can't afford for it to stabilize below what we paid for it! But at least I did manage to stay awake for most of last night's debate. I did doze off briefly, but roused myself and paid closer attention. I wish it had been Sarah Palin instead of John the troll. She is much more fun to watch.
Anyway, speaking of unemployment, *I* remain unemployed, despite my phone call to the sub caller last week. Do I have to call every day and every night? Sigh. I didn't mind having a couple of days off to recoup from the migraine, and today I have plans for lunch (although I could have switched these around) but tomorrow there is no school, so the only possible work day this week is Friday, and I'm pretty sure teachers are discouraged from taking that one off. I'm trying to think of other ways to gain employment, but right now I need such flexibility that there isn't much I can take on.
So yesterday Brian stayed home sick from school. Well, not stayed home, but laid the groundwork for it, and came home at 10. He said he was dizzy with a headache, stomachache, and sore throat. One thing I noted was that he was not shaky, which is normally how he gets when he has a stomach upset. So I think he was just exhausted and needed a 'mental health day'. Of course, he fell asleep the second John McCain opened his mouth and uttered his lullaby responses.
Otherwise, all is quiet. Kevin was in Toronto yesterday and for the first time I can remember, got home with no storm-related delays. He has a few big trips coming up, too: Finland, Norway, and, of course: Disney World. Heh. In other news, progress reports are due to arrive in mailboxes today. Anxiously looking forward to that. I'm not sure what to do about E's, though. It's for the parents, but I will feel intrusive opening hers. Hmm. I'll have to think about that one. Also regarding school, I have been thinking of having Brian tested, to see if he has any sort of overlooked learning disability. I wish I had fought harder back when he was in fifth grade for the school to test him, but I didn't. I got through to one recommended neuropsychologist, and she charges $250 per hour, with an estimation of $3,500 total cost!!! No, thank you. Brian can surely pull his act together for less than that. I'd rather spend that money on tutors, if needed. On the other hand, there's a lucrative career for those in the position to choose. I'll have to point that out to Megan, who has announced she is interested in taking the AP Psychology class within the next two years.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Multiple Migraine Menace
Well, the headache was not to be defeated. It came back with a vengeance in the form of a back-to-back 'aura' yesterday afternoon. I thought I'd be OK after the first one receded, and we set off for the open house at the Catholic boys high school next to our house, but as soon as we went to go out the door, I sensed a new aura starting over. It was mildly alarming, although it's happened before, jut not too often, but it did follow its normal pattern and passed within less than an hour between the two episodes. Afterwards, though, I was left with a sickening headache.
The school tour was OK, considering my condition, I tried to get the most out of the day. I enjoyed waiting behind people who seemed unaware of the line forming behind them as they grilled the guidance counselors at their information desk, particular the woman who pronounced the name of another local high school, Mater Dei, "mayter dee". Then there was the elderly gentleman who heckled the poor boy who sat alone at the Future Business Leaders of America table about capitalism. Bad enough nobody seemed to have any interest in leading business, but the poor kid had to put up with that onslaught of misdirected patriotism. (What?! You're not a capitalist? That's what America is all about!!! to which the kid replied, "Ok. I'm a capitalist)
Anyway, I just doubt this is the school for Brian but he and Kevin were swept up in the moment and paid the $75 and registered on the spot for the entrance exam, so I guess we'll just cast that die and see what lands face up. This school wouldn't honor any of the accommodations in Brian's 504 plan, somehow they are exempted from doing so, or perhaps it's just that if they find out he has any special needs, they won't accept him. This is sort of a cookie cutter old-school type of school, and I guess it does develop a work ethic and seems to produce a lot of achievers, but again you have the differential between honors and non-honors classes, and I don't know where we're heading with that.
But there are two other Catholic schools to check out in the area, one has block scheduling, where the periods are twice as long but they only take half the classes each semester, and then the other half the next, which reduces the amount of different homework, as well as the weight of the backpack. The other school is smaller, perhaps not as academically blessed as some, including the public school, but publicly funded benefits seem only to benefit those in the honors track or the special needs groups. It is easy to get lost in the mainstream.
Both Catholic schools have laptop programs, where they require each student to purchase a laptop and use it for all of their classes. This would be a great thing for Brian. And the middle school will take him on a tour of the public high school. So by mid-January, we should be pretty sure where he will attend 9th grade. I wonder if the Catholic school might give him a smaller environment in which he won't get as 'lost' as he seems to be doing in the middle school. Just not sure how we pay for this ... but ...whatever.
Speaking of honors, Megan has an impossibly difficult chemistry teacher this year. E is also in the class, she has him at a different time. Megan got a 65 on the last quiz, E got a 71. However, the fire alarm sounded while E's class was taking the test, and they were not able to complete the end, which included a few open ended questions, which is where Megan says she lost most of her points.
The scores were calculated as a percentage of total responses, but since the test given to the earlier class was lacking the more challenging questions, Megan maintains that this was unfair. I think probably the teacher is trying to shake the kids up early on so that they will see that they need to study more than they have ever studied before. It is only one quiz of three, and quizzes only count as 30% of the total grade. But my jury is out on this teacher; they all say he is a very good teacher, and that his students will learn more from him than anyone else. But I don't understand why he has to be impossibly hard. I have particular interest in this issue, in light of my chemistry debacle in 10th grade, which was sort of the catalyst that led me to drop out of Girls High School and pursue alternative education.
And so today I am just hanging around. I did some work on the middle school directory last night, but I have more to do. My neck is still stiff from the migraine, so I'm not going to attempt to work out today. In other news, Wren got out last night and tried to come in with a chipmunk! Molly seems to have stopped licking her paw again, at least for now, and Kevin is back to work but is about to embark on several trips in the upcoming weeks. Also coming up are many days off from school, and the start of the swim season. Otherwise, all is pretty quiet at the moment. Nothing of interest to report.
The school tour was OK, considering my condition, I tried to get the most out of the day. I enjoyed waiting behind people who seemed unaware of the line forming behind them as they grilled the guidance counselors at their information desk, particular the woman who pronounced the name of another local high school, Mater Dei, "mayter dee". Then there was the elderly gentleman who heckled the poor boy who sat alone at the Future Business Leaders of America table about capitalism. Bad enough nobody seemed to have any interest in leading business, but the poor kid had to put up with that onslaught of misdirected patriotism. (What?! You're not a capitalist? That's what America is all about!!! to which the kid replied, "Ok. I'm a capitalist)
Anyway, I just doubt this is the school for Brian but he and Kevin were swept up in the moment and paid the $75 and registered on the spot for the entrance exam, so I guess we'll just cast that die and see what lands face up. This school wouldn't honor any of the accommodations in Brian's 504 plan, somehow they are exempted from doing so, or perhaps it's just that if they find out he has any special needs, they won't accept him. This is sort of a cookie cutter old-school type of school, and I guess it does develop a work ethic and seems to produce a lot of achievers, but again you have the differential between honors and non-honors classes, and I don't know where we're heading with that.
But there are two other Catholic schools to check out in the area, one has block scheduling, where the periods are twice as long but they only take half the classes each semester, and then the other half the next, which reduces the amount of different homework, as well as the weight of the backpack. The other school is smaller, perhaps not as academically blessed as some, including the public school, but publicly funded benefits seem only to benefit those in the honors track or the special needs groups. It is easy to get lost in the mainstream.
Both Catholic schools have laptop programs, where they require each student to purchase a laptop and use it for all of their classes. This would be a great thing for Brian. And the middle school will take him on a tour of the public high school. So by mid-January, we should be pretty sure where he will attend 9th grade. I wonder if the Catholic school might give him a smaller environment in which he won't get as 'lost' as he seems to be doing in the middle school. Just not sure how we pay for this ... but ...whatever.
Speaking of honors, Megan has an impossibly difficult chemistry teacher this year. E is also in the class, she has him at a different time. Megan got a 65 on the last quiz, E got a 71. However, the fire alarm sounded while E's class was taking the test, and they were not able to complete the end, which included a few open ended questions, which is where Megan says she lost most of her points.
The scores were calculated as a percentage of total responses, but since the test given to the earlier class was lacking the more challenging questions, Megan maintains that this was unfair. I think probably the teacher is trying to shake the kids up early on so that they will see that they need to study more than they have ever studied before. It is only one quiz of three, and quizzes only count as 30% of the total grade. But my jury is out on this teacher; they all say he is a very good teacher, and that his students will learn more from him than anyone else. But I don't understand why he has to be impossibly hard. I have particular interest in this issue, in light of my chemistry debacle in 10th grade, which was sort of the catalyst that led me to drop out of Girls High School and pursue alternative education.
And so today I am just hanging around. I did some work on the middle school directory last night, but I have more to do. My neck is still stiff from the migraine, so I'm not going to attempt to work out today. In other news, Wren got out last night and tried to come in with a chipmunk! Molly seems to have stopped licking her paw again, at least for now, and Kevin is back to work but is about to embark on several trips in the upcoming weeks. Also coming up are many days off from school, and the start of the swim season. Otherwise, all is pretty quiet at the moment. Nothing of interest to report.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
So, Megan had her beach practice down here ^^ again this morning, at 8am. I was going to take her and do my walk, but I woke up with a stabbing one-sided headache, so I decided to try to rest it. Of course, it escalated as the day went on so if this post makes no sense, excuse me for that.This weekend is the calm before the storm as far as swimming goes, no meets, but they start up next weekend. After that there will be one nearly every weekend until Thanksgiving, and even beyond. Then high school swimming will start again, and so will begin the craziness.
I managed to get my half day of work in yesterday, and it wasn't bad at all. I had 16 cute first graders, and they were all well behaved. Only one bloody lip and one alleged bee sting (I didn't see anything) and it was the end of the day. Kevin got caught up in the mess of the Lincoln Tunnel closures and was brought home via the Midtown Tunnel and the Verrazzano by the bus. He got home just around 7:30 and we went out to eat, but it was late by the time we finished.
Anyway, between my headache and the allure of my typing which draws everyone in the house to come and question me on the secrets of the universe, I am unable to concentrate any longer. So I will move into other news: Molly is chewing her paw again, Brian's team lost their baseball game, and Megan and E have gone out for the night, with the Favorite Boy and some friends, although Megan's other girlfriend flatleft her for a better offer, so it's a good thing E agreed to go, or Megan would have been the only girl. She isn't very good at securing plans sometimes.
Disclaimer: post written under distraction and not proofread
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Molly Has Fun
Today was one of those days marked by internal conflict, when I had a long talk with myself about whether or not I should go to the Y first thing this morning, or use the time doing chores and errands. Myself won out over my other self, and I did go to the Y. On the way home, I got a call from a friend who was going for a walk at one of the local parks, asking if I wanted to come along. I said I would, and initially planned not to bring Molly; but she had been so fond of park walks in her youth that it didn't seem right to leave her behind, so along she came, and she had the time of her life.
Otherwise, I continue to be unemployed. I must not really mind so much because I forgot to call personnel for the phone number of the sub caller until after 4, when it was too late. I don't really want to work tomorrow anyway, I have the cleaning lady coming (I hope!) and I have plans to meet a friend for lunch. I'll make sure I remember to call them tomorrow, and maybe get a job for Friday. Hah.
After our walk, we stopped at the dog park. Isn't it funny how dogs gravitate towards others of their own breed? How do they even know what they look like? Anyway, here are some pictures of Molly and her new friends, and the tall goofy one is, of course, Max, our walking buddy. He is a ::cough cough:: labradoodle. Hehe.
Otherwise, I continue to be unemployed. I must not really mind so much because I forgot to call personnel for the phone number of the sub caller until after 4, when it was too late. I don't really want to work tomorrow anyway, I have the cleaning lady coming (I hope!) and I have plans to meet a friend for lunch. I'll make sure I remember to call them tomorrow, and maybe get a job for Friday. Hah.
In other news, Kevin has been there and back to Ohio, and is finally in New York today, although it won't be long before he heads off to Finland. E continues to settle in and all seems to be going well; school offers its occasional challenge, she has had to adjust to changing classes and all of the different teachers assigning so much work (again, who says American schools are so lax?) but she has the ability to handle it all, once it all clicks in she should do fine. Megan is off from swimming today, so they're downstairs playing pool. I am about to go back to the Y to watch Brian swim a little, and to order their team apparel amidst great chaos (the reason I came home during practice today, as a matter of fact ... also because I left my AMEX in my pants pocket last week, so Kevin cancelled it, and the new one just arrived, but was at home, so I had to come and get it so I can pay for said clothes.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Just Another Manic Monday
Seriously, every Monday morning I find myself humming, "and the silicon chip inside her head gets switched to overload..." because all I can think is "I don't like Mondays." But here it is, Monday again, and at least it isn't raining. Well, unless you count Wall Street/banking failures and falling stock prices, then it's raining. This morning I had to work a half day, and Kevin was home until 9 because he was flying to Ohio. So I guess it wasn't terribly manic after all, but just by being a Monday, it always really does feel like it anyway.
This week also begins the more hectic phase of swim team, when they add the twice-a-week spin classes. Occasionally, when we go to a meet and a certain team has most of the strongest swimmers, I will look up their practice schedules to see what might be making all the difference. Many of these teams have double practices, but the one thing I do notice is that many of them have more convenient practice times, which allow the kids to come home from school and do some work and have dinner, then practice and still be home at a reasonable hour for bed. Tonight Megan won't be home till close to 10:30; and on Tuesdays and Thursdays she is gone from 3 until 7:30 or later. It is brutal.
Megan also just joined the Friendship Club, where students go and sit with special ed students, and they just talk and 'be friends'. It's a nice club, and one which she chose to join out of interest and not requirement. I will hate it if the Thursday spin classes interfere with this club; in fact, I plan to make sure they don't (Megan occasionally reads this blog too, by the way).
Oh, and work. My assignment today marked the end of the string I had been given by the old sub caller. I have received only one call from the new caller, and that was a 6am call, made because I had been requested. I have been told by a couple of subs that they call in and request days. I would do this, but I am not exactly sure which number to call! I guess I can try the old one, I probably should do that. If I ever want to work again. Having nothing on the horizon is not encouraging, especially after some recent spending sprees.
After seven years, I have felt pretty acclimated and accepted, and now I walk through the halls and see all sorts of unfamiliar faces taking over classes I used to sub in almost exclusively. It's weird. One of the paras jokingly (I hope!) refuses to speak to me because of a few of the subs that have come into the class with her lately. I keep trying to explain, I have nothing to do with it! (I don't think it helped that I had a good laugh over one of the subs last week!! Haha)
And tomorrow we can thank the Jewish populus for a free day off from school. I made appointments for Megan and Brian at the dentist, and I assume E will make some plans with friends, apparently some were discussed in school, but nothing had been finalized. I usually like to take these isolated days off to have them catch up on schoolwork and homework without the pressure of dinner and bedtime and swimming, rather than try to plan some exhausting activity that makes it hard to catch back up once the next day rolls around.
In other news, Molly's foot seems to be doing better on her new antibiotic. She hasn't been chewing it and the cyst seems to be deflating. I hope that it stays that way, because the last time she finished her antibiotic, it filled back up again. Brian is also still swimming, and he seems to be enjoying it. He is split between the group that's his age and the younger group, because he has a hard time keeping up with the kids his age. He loves the easier practices, and we can see improvement, but he misses seeing the older kids then. It's unfortunate that he can't hang in there better in that group, but we'll see if that improves as he gets stronger. I'm glad we had the MRI done, now that it's over. The other day he made himself a cup of coffee and began to shake like a dancing flower. A little food and water brought the shaking under control, and I made sure he knows to steer clear of the coffee from now on, but at least I know it isn't caused by any change in his condition!
This week also begins the more hectic phase of swim team, when they add the twice-a-week spin classes. Occasionally, when we go to a meet and a certain team has most of the strongest swimmers, I will look up their practice schedules to see what might be making all the difference. Many of these teams have double practices, but the one thing I do notice is that many of them have more convenient practice times, which allow the kids to come home from school and do some work and have dinner, then practice and still be home at a reasonable hour for bed. Tonight Megan won't be home till close to 10:30; and on Tuesdays and Thursdays she is gone from 3 until 7:30 or later. It is brutal.
Megan also just joined the Friendship Club, where students go and sit with special ed students, and they just talk and 'be friends'. It's a nice club, and one which she chose to join out of interest and not requirement. I will hate it if the Thursday spin classes interfere with this club; in fact, I plan to make sure they don't (Megan occasionally reads this blog too, by the way).
Oh, and work. My assignment today marked the end of the string I had been given by the old sub caller. I have received only one call from the new caller, and that was a 6am call, made because I had been requested. I have been told by a couple of subs that they call in and request days. I would do this, but I am not exactly sure which number to call! I guess I can try the old one, I probably should do that. If I ever want to work again. Having nothing on the horizon is not encouraging, especially after some recent spending sprees.
After seven years, I have felt pretty acclimated and accepted, and now I walk through the halls and see all sorts of unfamiliar faces taking over classes I used to sub in almost exclusively. It's weird. One of the paras jokingly (I hope!) refuses to speak to me because of a few of the subs that have come into the class with her lately. I keep trying to explain, I have nothing to do with it! (I don't think it helped that I had a good laugh over one of the subs last week!! Haha)
And tomorrow we can thank the Jewish populus for a free day off from school. I made appointments for Megan and Brian at the dentist, and I assume E will make some plans with friends, apparently some were discussed in school, but nothing had been finalized. I usually like to take these isolated days off to have them catch up on schoolwork and homework without the pressure of dinner and bedtime and swimming, rather than try to plan some exhausting activity that makes it hard to catch back up once the next day rolls around.
In other news, Molly's foot seems to be doing better on her new antibiotic. She hasn't been chewing it and the cyst seems to be deflating. I hope that it stays that way, because the last time she finished her antibiotic, it filled back up again. Brian is also still swimming, and he seems to be enjoying it. He is split between the group that's his age and the younger group, because he has a hard time keeping up with the kids his age. He loves the easier practices, and we can see improvement, but he misses seeing the older kids then. It's unfortunate that he can't hang in there better in that group, but we'll see if that improves as he gets stronger. I'm glad we had the MRI done, now that it's over. The other day he made himself a cup of coffee and began to shake like a dancing flower. A little food and water brought the shaking under control, and I made sure he knows to steer clear of the coffee from now on, but at least I know it isn't caused by any change in his condition!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Back to School
Last night was Back to School Night at the high school. Of course, Kevin was out of town. I had said to him, if you only come to one BTS night, please let it be South's. I thought we should have some representation for E in her classes; but I can't miss Megan's during a critical year when she's overloaded with extra math and honors chemistry. So I went alone, in the rain, and went to all her classes except gym. She and E also have the same chemistry teacher, so I met two of E's teachers. (well actually three, but I didn't hear the English teacher speak, see below)
A funny thing happened. English and History are taught in pairs, and they always present together at BTS night. The rooms are usually adjoining, with a wall that can be opened or closed between them. They open the wall and present together, which gives them more than twice the time, because they use the travel time as well. Megan's two were first, and the teachers were pretty good. They're both older and I felt like they really knew what they were doing. They were going on and on about how great the group was, how they were the best group they have ever seen, they almost dared to say, and how they just sit and wait to be spoken to. We were all so proud!
On to E's History class. I missed the English portion of it, but when I got there I saw that she has a young handsome teacher. He was speaking about the class and how they would be doing this and that, and all of a sudden, he told the parents that they have the most impressive group of kids he has ever seen!!! I thought, "what!? Is this some sort of scam?" He thanked the parents for placing this emphasis on achievement and they all beamed with pride and self-satisfaction. I thought, "what?! Is this some sort of scam?"
Anyway, wait till next year. Then he'll see.
And so I am happy with the news from the MRI. Stable we will take, although I would really like to see improvement instead. But as long as we can have stability, Brian will be OK. Now onto February with that one. I'm sure I will have enough with E to keep my mind off of this for that long.
We have no major plans for this weekend, just swimming and maybe some hanging out here and there. Kevin is in South Carolina and somehow expects to be home this afternoon. I don't know with this storm how that will work out, but hopefully it will. There is supposed to be a Y parents meeting tonight and God only knows what social plans E will concoct at the last possible second!
But in other news, Molly's paw still has a cyst on it. I have a new antibiotic for her, as I am trying to avoid surgery. I think that it is shrinking a bit, I have also been using a steroid/antibiotic topical cream on it once a day. But last night I came home and found her working on it. And now, it is after 9, and she hasn't come down from her dog bed yet! I guess I should go up and check that she is still among the living.
A funny thing happened. English and History are taught in pairs, and they always present together at BTS night. The rooms are usually adjoining, with a wall that can be opened or closed between them. They open the wall and present together, which gives them more than twice the time, because they use the travel time as well. Megan's two were first, and the teachers were pretty good. They're both older and I felt like they really knew what they were doing. They were going on and on about how great the group was, how they were the best group they have ever seen, they almost dared to say, and how they just sit and wait to be spoken to. We were all so proud!
On to E's History class. I missed the English portion of it, but when I got there I saw that she has a young handsome teacher. He was speaking about the class and how they would be doing this and that, and all of a sudden, he told the parents that they have the most impressive group of kids he has ever seen!!! I thought, "what!? Is this some sort of scam?" He thanked the parents for placing this emphasis on achievement and they all beamed with pride and self-satisfaction. I thought, "what?! Is this some sort of scam?"
Anyway, wait till next year. Then he'll see.
And so I am happy with the news from the MRI. Stable we will take, although I would really like to see improvement instead. But as long as we can have stability, Brian will be OK. Now onto February with that one. I'm sure I will have enough with E to keep my mind off of this for that long.
We have no major plans for this weekend, just swimming and maybe some hanging out here and there. Kevin is in South Carolina and somehow expects to be home this afternoon. I don't know with this storm how that will work out, but hopefully it will. There is supposed to be a Y parents meeting tonight and God only knows what social plans E will concoct at the last possible second!
But in other news, Molly's paw still has a cyst on it. I have a new antibiotic for her, as I am trying to avoid surgery. I think that it is shrinking a bit, I have also been using a steroid/antibiotic topical cream on it once a day. But last night I came home and found her working on it. And now, it is after 9, and she hasn't come down from her dog bed yet! I guess I should go up and check that she is still among the living.
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