Charlie Cat

 No resolution on the payroll issues, but I feel more settled because I have a plan.  I'm not sure which path forward we will be taking, but I feel better knowing that I have control over the situation. In an absurd version of employment roulette, the County's actions will directly impact my path forward. So we wait and see.

In the meantime, I'm continuing to work and plan. This week is going to be rainy, which has me oddly excited because it should be good for puddle development. I love teaching cane travel with puddles. As long as it isn't pouring down rain, it should be fun and novel.  Hopefully my leg will cooperate!

Robby came home over the weekend for a bittersweet visit. His beloved cat Charlie is not doing well. I promised Robby that I would let him know when the time was near so that he could say goodbye. Robby spent the weekend loving on his old cat, a sight which brought tears to my eyes and tugged at my heart. I wish I could take away the inevitable and avoid the pain that I know is coming.

I really thought Charlie Cat would pass over the weekend, but he is still here this morning. He is very tired but not in any pain. It is my hope that he simply falls asleep on his electric blanket and crosses the rainbow bridge peacefully. Maybe the sound of the rain will help soothe him. 

Are they all LIARS??

 I feel like I am not being treated fairly nor professionally. I am tired of the rules constantly changing for a promised position for which I was invited to apply. I am gobsmacked that I have been dutifully working with students for a month and I still do not know how much money I will be earning.

What has shocked me even more is the blatant dishonesty. 

At this moment I have no words. Thankfully I am a blogger, so I trust that I will find the correct words soon.  Thank you for bearing with me through this vague entry, and hopefully soon I will be able to share this story.

 

 

StairMaster

 Yesterday a student became angry with me because I was forced to reinforce the importance of one of my only rules: no running with your cane. I understand while he was upset, but my job is to teach safe travel and running is the antithesis of safe travel. After discussing consequences I attempted to get my lesson back on track by salvaging the remaining time with a walk through the school. I also wanted to give my student a sense of control so I told him that we would work on the skill of his choosing. 

"Okay Miss Peggy. I want to work on stairs because I don't like you. You have one leg and stairs will make you miserable, so let's get at it." 

This poor young lad completely underestimated my ability to mask my own misery. We ran up and down the stairs until the bell rang for his next class. In total, we climbed and descended 12 times. On the final climbs, while he was slow and winded, I told him that I was disappointed in his choice to use a disability as retaliation. Because he lives with a physical disability, he is modeling poor behavior by bullying another. Too winded to respond, I wished him a better day and sent him to his next class.

I ended up limping out to my car. 12 flights of stairs nearly killed me! But I am also familiar with children, and I will never let them win in such a teachable moment.  

Repairs

 Another weekend has come and gone, but I am entering the work week anything but relaxed. I spent the weekend cooking and cleaning for the upcoming week. If I don't figure out some sort of schedule or routine soon, I'm going to go crazy. I feel like I'm constantly behind and I'm always chasing my tail.

Of course, I did not anticipate spending my entire Sunday conducting 3d printer repair. After nearly 8 hours dealing with tiny screws, wires and poor lighting issues, I finally have the printers functional again.  Talk about an ordeal! At one point I wanted to throw the printers away, but then I remembered how much filament we still have in our basement and I decided to give it another go. 

While I'm starting the week drained, I am happy to be sporting a new pair of sneakers. I always forget how much better my legs feel when I buy a new pair of shoes. My back, hip and knees instantly began to feel better with each step in my new shoes. Note to self: I really need to replace my shoes every 3 months instead of the 6 which has been my norm. My legs will thank me!

 

No cookies

 Today is the 25th anniversary of the attacks on September 11.  It is difficult to fathom that a quarter century has passed since that mind-numbing day. The trauma of those events dramatically changed both our country and us, yet I find it perplexing that so many students seem blissfully unaware. 

I suppose this is how my grandparents must have felt when they tried to talk about Pearl Harbor Day. It felt so distant and irrelevant. I viewed the attacks as nothing more than an act in the past that did not have any impact on my modern life.  Talk about youthful ignorance. 

I am proud that my boys have a handle on the impact of September 11. I guess decades of baking and delivering cookies to our firehouse made a difference. For nearly 20 years we have baked and delivered cookies to first responders on 9/11.  Last year was the first year we did not deliver treats. It was hard to let the tradition go, but it is time.  

My purpose was to teach my boys about 9/11. I have done that, and I am proud of the reverence and respect that they hold for the tragedy. Right now, whenever I see a uniformed cop I see the potential murderer of my brother. Until I can easily identify the good guys from the bad, nobody gets any cookies. 

True Test

 The past few days have been difficult.  Between my twingy back and the oppressive heat, which my students' refer to as walking into Shrek's armpit, my days have been both long and miserable. Thankfully our air conditioner has been working well, allowing me to pop my leg off and completely cool off when I get home from work. At this point, I'll celebrate even the smallest victories.

Slowly my back has been improving. While I'm reminded of my age with each step, I no longer feel like a knife is being twisted into my lower back with every movement.  Today will be the true test because my schedule is heavy with elementary kiddos. I'll be bending, twisting and, if all goes well, sitting in bean bag chairs this afternoon.  LOL  Wish me luck getting up!

While I've been nursing an ouchy back, Timmy has been blossoming in his new school year. His friends have returned, as evidenced by the squeals of laughter that radiate from his classroom during social times, and he is settling into the new academic rigors. He will never admit that he likes school, but he certainly is not complaining anymore.  Yes, I'll celebrate the absence of complaints as a victory.

Wish me luck today! If I can get through the twists and turns (literally) this afternoon, I think I'll be on the mend.   

Back

Growing up I have always hated Labor Day. Not because I held resentments against the Labor Movement but because the holiday always heralded the beginning of a new school year. With classes starting three weeks ago, this year Labor Day was a welcome respite in the midst of a chaotic school start.  

Saturday I went to PA to hang out with my Mom for the day.  I helped her around the house before going shopping and out for lunch.  Although my visit was short, I enjoyed spending the afternoon with her. With Robby being home from college and Timmy enjoying his first weekend after starting school year, I didn't want to spend the night because I had a list of things to do at home. 

Sunday was spent chunking through my to-do list. Robby's laundry is clean, Timmy's classroom is set up for success and my paperwork for the week is done. It wasn't a lot of fun, but the hours were well spent. 

In retrospect, Monday would have been the perfect day for me to tackle my paperwork. I woke up and had a difficult time putting on my leg because of the pain in my back. I don't know how I tweaked it, but I know that I was wildly successful in completely messing up my lower back.  

I spent the day stretching, medicating, icing, heating, resting and complaining. This morning I am moderately more mobile, although I am reminded of the injury with each step. Wish me luck today, because my poor back is certainly going to need it!