Calliope!!!

Calliope arrived by plane on Tuesday. She remembered Sean and Mike a little bit and she seemed to remember the house. She walked right up to where the water bowl has always been to get a drink. Then I got home and she REALLY remembered me. I attribute that to the fact that I was "mom" and you always remember mom. I can't wait to see what she thinks of Anna. She's a well mannered, but playful, adult dog now and we're so pleased to have her. Yes, that's a string hanging out of her mouth from her tug toy. Sean and Andy will be taking her to live at their house eventually, but for now it's fun to have another big dog in the house. Besides, she's keeping my feet warm.

I AM A WINNER!!!!!!!

Final word count for this year's Nanowrimo: 52,617 words. Thirty days, one novel. I am amazed by how quickly those pesky novel characters took over the writing and told their own story. This is the first year I have been a winner. Two years ago I wrote until I got bogged down with the boring details of a regular life. This time I had a chance to work on the final twenty thousand words this weekend. Amazing that the story I was telling took almost exactly 50,000 words to tell. I can't decide if that's because I fudged it up or down, or if it's just how long the story was supposed to take.

Yes, yes. I'll be resting on my laurels for a while. Then I have to start editing as I am seriously considering trying to get this one published. It turned out pretty good, I think. I'm going to have Kimmi read it for a second opinion about that. It's hard to judge your own work.

Well cheers to all of you out there who didn't spend the last 30 days writing a novel. It feels really good to be finished. Sort of like not having a bus parked on your foot anymore. ;)

Back from Logan - AGAIN

I seem to spend a great deal of time lately traveling up and down I-15 between here and Logan. Anna is hanging in there as she feeds her kitty soft food every hour and a half. We got in some time for a meal and shopping, though. It will be good to have her here for Thanksgiving. She needs a break.

Goodbye and Hello

Anna is on terminal watch for her dear kitty, Rosy. She so wanted a kitten back when she was 10 that she called the pet store herself to make sure the cat people would be there, then dragged us over to help her pick one out. She pointed to Rosy and said, "That one," and the rest is history. Rosy has been a wonderful addition to our family and I missed her when she went to live with Anna full time. She's 14 now and we'll miss her when she's gone.

On the lighter side, we got a call from Guide Dogs about a puppy we raised. Many of you (are there even many of you who read this?) will remember Calliope was a cute little black lab puppy we had for nearly a year back in about 2005. She went on to another raiser for the last couple of months and then back to Guide Dogs where she was placed with a woman in California. We thought we would hear nothing more about her. But just after her placement she became big news when she saved a life by alerting her owner to someone in distress in the next apartment. Now her owner is in poor health and we got word Calliope is being retired. They wanted to know if we would like her back as a pet. You bet we would. Andrew and Sean are going to take her to their new house. Meanwhile she'll be hanging out at the Welfyhouse getting used to snow again.

Passing Notes

I don't usually talk much about what happens in class - or maybe I do. I haven't looked back through my posts lately. Anyway, the little girls in my room have decided this is the year to pass notes. Not nice wholesome notes "Johnny says he likes you." or "I'm having pizza tonight, wanna come over?" No, these are naughty, evil little notes "Sarah says she hates you. And so do I." "You are so mean and I'm never going to talk to you again." (Oh, but I'll write stupid notes to you...)

Anyway, I have talked to these young things over and over about how hurtful these kinds of things can be, but no luck. Still passing notes. So I'm putting it out to the universe. I know most of us passed notes in elementary school. Can you recall a really good solution or punishment you received? Or maybe a teacher handled it in an unusual or unique manner where you actually learned something. I'm pretty done with the whole note thing and made them stay after school tonight and write what they were going to do differently. But I'd like a real solution. We've had the meetings and the discussions but it's not getting very far. So help me out here, friends and family. It's annoying, messy, and distracting along with being just another form of girl bullying. I've never seen a group so wrapped up in it before. Let's think of something really useful to do with this situation, 'cause the bad ass in me wants to make them all write "I won't pass notes" 100 times on the chalkboard after school...

For my family who keep asking what I want for my birthday

This is the one I originally thought would be nice.

This is the one I found the other day and wonder if it would be better: http://www.amazon.com/T-Fal-FP4121002A-Emerilware-Food-Processor/dp/B001BHOWZK

Mike - I certainly don't want BOTH, and I really, really want to see both options before I buy. One is at Macy's one is at Dillards. Let's go shoppin'

Other items I would like to have:
These come in two sizes and you can sometimes find vintage ones that are new rather than used. Mine are becoming too roughed up to be safe - bacteria in all those little bubbled areas, you know. Anyway, ebay is your best bet and you can just search for Tupperware Mix & Stor (go figure) I'd rather have new or at least very nice used. (I already have very used.)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Tupperware-8-Cup-4-Cup-Mix-N-Store_W0QQitemZ250505336422QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a53481666&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I would also enjoy a digital food scale. Don't care which one.
It is kind of crazy that everything I've listed here is for the kitchen this time. Some non kitchen items might be tickets to a movie or a DVD of a movie we didn't get a chance to see. You guys always please me, so get what you want. Just having you around is a gift.

Can't Believe How Time Flies

My last post was over a month ago! Where have I been? Well, it's the start of the school year so I've been:
Making lists of students (over and over and over)
Testing every student in reading, math, reading, reading...
Attending meetings
Sorting through paperwork
Creating a homework system
Fighting with my grade level partner about lesson timing
Correcting homework
Correcting schoolwork
Correcting quizzes
Correcting grammar
Correcting spelling
Reading essays
Moving students around for better behavior
Talking to parents on the phone
Talking to parents in person
Writing notes to parents
Discussing behavior issues with the discipline team
Planning lessons
Gathering materials
Searching the Internet for resources

Well, you get it. I'm trying to get back to posting regularly now that the big hit at the beginning of the year is over. I have 27 students this year, up from about 22 last year. You wouldn't think that five would be such a big deal. But it's a big deal. That's another five of everything that has to be taken care of. I really do enjoy my job. It's just kind of daunting at the beginning of a new year. Makes me think I am getting too old to do this. I need a quieter, less stressful way to earn tons of money. Oh yeah, I don't make tons of money now. So maybe I just need a less stressful way of earning enough money. Have a great fall. It's my favorite season of the year. I'll try to post more often so come back soon, y'all