Looking for that White Christmas.

I tried to do some Christmas shopping yesterday. Tried is the word since I just couldn't get into the mood to really look for anything special. I have been shopping most of the year and that was the easy part. However, when November comes around I like the crisp snap in the air, the threat of possible snow flurries and the yearning for some spiced tea. Yesterday it was almost 80 degrees around here.  A little warm for the area but not by much.

I found myself looking at the large Christmas card collection trying to find that perfect card. I don't usually send out cards but since we moved I thought this would be a good year to do so. Still need to let some friends and family know that we have moved and that we are all doing fine. Maybe they should read my blog.....
Most of the cards reflected wintery scenes and seemed to really define Christmas - if I still lived in my log home in Indiana. Nothing seemed to reflect what that feeling is here - not really sure what that is anyhow.
I even priced artificial trees. We have always had a live tree to fill our log home up with the smell of pine. And quite frankly, fresh is best in that type of home. I have been told by my neighbors here  that I should expect double the prices for fresh trees down here. Why would that be? Well, the trees come from Michigan and Wisconsin. Pine trees here are a bit scraggly. It seemed that the only artificial trees that I liked look real and had a really big price tag. I guess I will have to wait for a big sale. They even sell fake snow to sprinkle on your tree. Looked nice but I considered the constant vacuuming of the house and thought differently.
We have prepared for Christmas as a family when it was very cold out. I remember going to Lowes and selecting any tree that fit our wish list - green and decent. It was too cold  to care. We have had years that we have been out in light jackets searching for hours for that perfect tree. Probably will repeat that here.
I guess when it comes down to it. It's not the snow on the ground, the woods around my log home, the brisk feeling that arrives that time of year. My kids will still be excited about decorating the tree. They have already started asking about making cookies and candies. They have even started teasing me about listening to my Christmas music  - which I do for a solid month. As much as I miss the White Christmas feel from the Midwest, I need to remember just a simple thing. My family hasn't changed and it is still a great Christmas where ever we are. We are together and having a blast.

Got to get that word - Sucker - off my forehead.

After moving to my new home, I started signing up on various websites to receive coupons and information about my surrounding area. They all claimed that they were safe and would not sell my information. When you admit that during your promo info - look out honey, here it comes!!!
Con people around the world are getting more and more creative. Now I am receiving "official email from a US Embassy". UPS supposedly has money for me. I have an uncle who just died and left me money. All but one of my uncles is dead and he has no money - sorry. The list is endless and gets more hilarious everyday. Get your unclaimed money today. Trust me, I have claimed all of mine that is out there. I even had a job offer for Homeland Security if I sent them postage and handling money. Trust me, I am not the girl for your job.
I know that this bunch of emails should be turned in but it's like fighting a red ant hill with a pencil. Ain't gonna stop coming so get out of the way. These emails rank up there with the "Credit Card Services" calls. One even called my kids' cell phone. They don't have a credit card - not even credit to begin with. If you play along and stay on the phone to speak to a representative - the people at the other end are quite nasty. I have learned things about the human anatomy and what to do with it that I think are physically impossible.
I keep going to these various websites and removing my email but then it goes to another. It's the perpetual harassing chain email. They won't stop. But on the other hand, I am guaranteed mail everyday in my inbox. I guess if I remove the word "Sucker" from my forehead and emails - then I might get a little lonely. I guess I will just keep hitting the delete button.

Don't Say 13!!

I subbed again today. It was a social studies class for sophomores and one class for juniors. They were all still reliving the big game from Saturday and still yelling "Roll Tide". This Alabama phenomena is a bit foreign to me still. Last year Auburn won the National Title for football but that college has been quickly kicked to the curb. This year is all Tide. Kids constantly find a way to say "13" in honor of the number of national championships that Bama has won. All day long you hear "13 - Roll Tide" and somehow learn how to avoid saying that magical number.
I taught 6 classes today and was ready to duct tape them all to their chairs but 4th period. The is low funds in the Alabama school accounts therefore, there aren't enough books for the students each to have one. Therefore, all studying has to be done in class - including assignments. If you don't complete it, you don't get a penalty. Poor child doesn't have a book to use at home. Students have figured this out and it quickly becomes a circus when the sub is teaching. Yeah, me!!! Just short of out of control would be the best description of the day. The assistant principal's office is just down the hall but you can't call them - no phone in the classroom. I don't have the school number handy so therefore, I get my whip and chair and hold out for the day.
One class my best defense was to say "13" alot. It got the kids to focus on me for at a least 2 seconds. Things were getting better there. However, it quickly degraded in to the usual chaos. I am not saying that kids were bad - just normal. Busy work from their teacher is not the best option. Especially if it is not being graded.
Despite the craziness of the day, I did realize that these kids are proud. 20 football seniors have scholarships next year for colleges. 17 of them are to Division 1 schools. That is amazing to a community where they are short cash for education. There are no pro teams to speak of here- it's just all college. And if it takes college school pride to get these kids motivated, then I may have to say 13 for a few more classes. Maybe next year it will be "Go Tigers".

It's hard but what can I do

My son came home from school today just short of hysterics. He got off the bus very emotional and was quite adamant about moving back to Indiana. He tells me he has been angry about our move for some time and has kept it bottled up. Now it is all coming to a head - right in my kitchen.
My husband took a new job in Alabama because he needed to go in a new direction - same road, new lane. He had been unhappy with his previous job for quite a while and this new job seems to really fit him perfectly. As a family, we looked at the pros and cons and decided that Alabama was the way to go.
Has it been hard? Heck yes. Have I wanted to go back home? Weekly but it's getting better. I think I am down to monthly.  Do I think we made a mistake? No - change is hard.
When I get frustrated and down I reflect on my new friends that I have made here that are military. They move every 3 years without much thought. It's part of the job. Yes, they have seen the world but it still is hard to have continuity in your life when you have to pull up stakes and move often. I also reflect on my friends who have had to move far and what they have done. We opted to do that college idea about moving away from home - staying away until the first break. For us, that is Christmas. It seems to have worked for the most part. My kids have been too busy on the weekends to fret too much.
We miss our friends and all of our activities with our friends. All of my kids were active in Scouts and other activities and now we must all start over. Rules of engagement are different here but we are adjusting.  We had to start over and that is hard on anyone. Especially a 15 year-old boy who has autism and struggles making friends. He has been on the top of our list of concerns since day one but I firmly believe that he is doing well. Yes, he is struggling but so aren't we all. He has friends and he is active and even found a Boy Scout troop here.
I completely understand why he is upset. My husband has received a few phone calls and texts from me stating that I had it and I was moving North. Did I? No, and I might add that he didn't deserve those calls or texts. I figured out how to cope and adjust to all of my changes and hopefully my son will soon also. We are all growing every day - even if it's painful.

The basics of education

My family has moved to a small town in Alabama. We chose our location after reading reviews on Great Schools and actually touring and interview prospective schools. The school system that we chose does not have much money but they have great results. In the Junior High, 96-97% of the students passed the state exams. That is quite impressive considering they don't have enough books in some of the classes for the kids to take home each night.
We moved from a great school system in Indiana that seemed to have enough money to do whatever they wanted. In fact, they voted a tax raise just to make sure that the schools were up to standards of the community. That school system was well equipped for whatever they needed. I am not saying that it was lavish, just well equipped with computers and other equipment. I do miss some of the opportunities that were provided there.
I subbed today again in one of our schools in Alabama. The teachers just took a 2% pay cut and still don't have the same equipment that I have seen up North. The buildings are old and tired. The classrooms have repair issues but nothing that puts a child in harms way. They are doing fundraisers for computers, software and smart boards. The athletic teams are not at all subsidized by the schools and neither are any other activities. Basically, this school system has no money to spare. However, the kids keep doing their thing and finding success in whatever they do.
Our fundraisers are quite successful. Families are doing what they can to help out. I remember at the back to school night, families were walking around with cases of printer paper, big bottles of hand sanitizer and rolls of paper towels. They were handing them out to any teacher who needed them. That is definitely team spirit.
The big city just south of me in now selling their unused school buildings to raise funds for their kids. Talk about using your resources wisely.
I guess I am getting my own education here. I am not bashing my old school system by any means. If fact, I wish my new school could enjoy such rewards, but they won't. Income is lower here and the economy has had a big impact here. All we can do here is go back to our basics in education, reading, writing and arithmetic. So far it seems to be working. 97% is a nice number to be proud of.

Life is priorities - you just need to know the right order

A FB friend on mine is celebrating her 4 year cancerversary (a name she coined I must add) and I am very excited for her. We have never met but we have become friends on that great social network world because we are both sisters in the CML world. I few years ago I had no clue what Chronic Myloid Leukemia was let alone have a clue that it can be managed. Her symptoms started with a common ailment but grew into something much bigger. She has said that is put a new spin on the common ailment. I must agree.
I thought I had a very bad case of the flu. Spent my family vacation in Florida feeling bad and fighting a temperature. I returned home and had some tests done. Even asked the doctor why one side of my abdomen was protruding - a little more than just by chubbiness. Apparently, a person shouldn't have a 10 pound spleen.
Through the use of modern medicine, I am proud to say that I am in 100% remission. I am also a breast cancer survivor too. Not in my family history, except my mother was diagnosed several years after me. That cancer apparently is in full remission too.
However, I must admit that I get very nervous every time my oncologists take blood or order a simple mammogram. Simple - my first one every I was still nursing my 6-month old child. I still chuckle when the technician tells me not to move.
According to my mother's life span, I am only at the most half way through this lifetime. I still get caught up in my day to day dramas. I still freak out over silly things. However, God has found ways to put my life into perspective. Yesterday, I worked my sub teaching job. Today, I feel tired. My daily chemo pill still has a big hold on me. I am blessed to have a husband that supports me to stay home and care for myself and my family. Knowing today's economy and several friends' marriages, our 20 years of wedded bliss has been tested with my health. Still, he supports me in what I do and makes sure I don't do anything really stupid.
I lost a classmate a few weeks ago to cancer. I talked with her a few times of FB but really couldn't bring myself to go see her. There were many times to visit but I just couldn't do it. I definitely couldn't go to her funeral. It was way to close to me - it was personal. Sometimes I feel bad that I have been successful in my two battles with cancer and some others have not. However, there is a voice that rings through that says that I just need to accept and move on. I am not the Great Planner here - God is.
I am still sharing what I can with the world. I am still very active working with young people in Scouts and look forward to more years. I can't say that I am here to save the world - but I am enjoying the ride. I am glad that I have had an interesting experience so far and I really look forward to what's ahead.

It only takes a whip and a chair

I subbed for the first time at my local school today. I have always referred to substitute teaching as only needing a whip and a chair to deal with student behavior. I know that sounds a bit harsh but some parents should witness their child's behavior before they even begin to complain. Today was no exception.
Overall, my students were very good. I covered for a biology teacher and she had busy work for them to do. I allowed students to work in small groups as long as they kept the noise down. Each period, however, there was always one student who had to show themselves. One period, I had to keep waking a student up. Her complaint to me was that I was disturbing her slumber. Another student told me he was too stupid to do the work. Another way of saying he was too lazy to even try. Finally, and the best occurrence, a mom called her student on her cell phone during class. The girl was having quite a lengthy conversation. It was how the student was supposed to get home today. Mind you, this was before lunch. I asked her to tell mom goodbye and to call her during lunch. I don't get some parents today.
I did have 2 students who opted to miss their lunch period and hang with me instead. Given, I still had my class there but they had all of their work completed. I guess I should take that as a compliment. Several students even gave me candy. Again, I will take that as a positive too.
In general, I enjoy substitute teaching. I enjoy working with kids in many capacities. I have found that if you treat them with respect, you will receive that in turn. However, if you step over my line, I tend to get a little nasty. One poor student found that out today too. When I ask you to take your seats, don't try to be funny and don't run your mouth. Simple rules to follow.
Hopefully I can get more sub jobs this week. I have to admit that there is no routine or dullness to my day. Each day is different kids and each period is different too. If a kid it driving you crazy, wait a while. That bell will eventually ring.