Saved By the Bell

Yesterday, work was rough. The mental gymnastics necessary to navigate all of the interpersonal relationships within all of these schools is utterly exhausting. Sometimes I feel like I walked into a backwards episode of Saved By The Bell because of all of the petty comments and gossip that I overhear. 

I know that gossip is present in any workplace, and that in this regard the school communities are no different. I suppose one benefit of being primarily remote was my ability to glide above the personal relationship muck. In any case, yesterday the discord felt stronger and increasingly uncomfortable. Perhaps I'm not the only person who feels on edge from current events and societal anxiety is seeping into the workplace. 

In any case, I'm so glad that it is Friday. I don't know what I am going to do over the weekend, but I hope it involves a nap and no technology.  Have a good day! 

running

 After a classmate cast doubt on the authenticity of the medal Timmy earned doing the Turkey Trot this year, he has been on his own little medal quest. Not one to be told that he didn't really achieve something, he is doubling down on his 5k prowess. In order to prove his friend wrong, Timmy decided that he simply needs more medals. So he talked his Aunt Sheri into doing a St. Paddy's day race with him and he has begun training. 

Yesterday after school Timmy hopped onto his bike and mapped out a .1 mile route around the house. With Friend at his side, the pair dutifully jogged ten laps while I sat in my swing and cheered them on. (I am thoroughly enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.)   Friend was exhausted but delighted. Running with Timmy and string cheese are Friend's very favorite things.

 

 

Secret

 I love the fact that I have been working for five months yet only two co-workers know that I am a below knee amputee. I have worked hard to smooth my gait and I am proud of the fact that it is not noticeable. At the same time, I'm proud to be an amputee and I don't feel compelled to hide my disability. Confused?  I don't quite understand myself either.

 West Virginia is a miserable place to live with a disability. Immediately upon moving to the state I recognized an increase in verbal quips and sneers when I had my prosthesis visible. My decision to wear only pants at work was a proactive move against possible discrimination. I wanted the opportunity to meet my coworkers, and to do the job, without the bias of my being an amputee. 

Somehow, five months have passed and I now feel like I'm safeguarding a secret. I've decided to wear a skirt in April for Limb Loss Awareness Month. Until then, this is our little secret.

 

Catching UP

 Happy Two-Hour Delay Day!

Although the delay has little to no impact on my personal schedule because of my later start time, I have come to love the days when Scott can relax a little longer and sleep in before heading into work. He benefits greatly from the two-hour delay, so I celebrate when they are called. Thankfully the major storm skirted past us and only brought huge white flakes that melted on contact and a little black ice overnight. 

Robby surprised us Saturday morning with a request for us to come for a visit. The majority of the students packed up and headed home on weekends, leaving the campus with an isolated feel. He planned to stay for the weekend to attend an event on Saturday night, so our visit was just for the afternoon. 

We had a great time during our impromptu visit. While I had planned to spend the day cleaning my living room and bathrooms, hanging out with the boys was a much better option.  We went shopping and had lunch at an amazing Mexican restaurant before taking him back to his dorm in the early evening. He arrived back on campus in plenty of time to get ready for his party, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Sunday was miserable outside, so I spent the afternoon cooking and cleaning. I made beef stew, which apparently I haven't made recently because Timmy had no idea what it was. Initially he claimed it looked like "an old poor person's food." After a spoonful he happily slurped it down and even asked for a second bowl. It may look icky, but it was tasty!

Stay safe and have a great day!

 

Healing Slow

As anticipated, my pinch cut is proving difficult to heal. Because of its location and my need to constantly walk, I feel like I am undoing the healing that takes place throughout the night.  I know that it is slowly getting better, but the progress is slower than I would prefer. I'm mobile. Not mobile without pain, but mobile. I suppose, for right now, that has to be enough.

This morning I woke up to news that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested in the UK. I grew up enthralled by all things royalty. I remember watching his wedding to Fergie and being completely mesmerized by the pomp and pageantry. To see how far he has fallen is both astounding and oddly uplifting.

This is a man who is being held to account despite his social and financial status. Hopefully we will take a lead from our friends over the pond and start looking at the men on our shores who have abused young girls.  

Hibachi

 Yesterday was wonky because our schools were open while everything around us was closed for the holiday. Because of this disconnect, more than 1/2 of my students did not show up for school yesterday. I'm not complaining though because it was a nice way to ease back into the week. As a bonus, I was able to surprise Timmy with Hibachi for lunch because my afternoon kiddos were AWOL. Needless to say, Hamlet was delighted!

Today we are waking up to a two-hour day due to ice. Sadly the decision to delay was not called until 6:40, at which point we were already up and ready for work. If the call had come an hour earlier we could have slept in, but instead we are watching TV and waiting for the time to click by.

After several days of rest, the sores on my leg have begun to heal. I'm again comfortable in my socket, although I'm continually nervous that something else will happen. Hopefully I'll be able to maintain a status quo until summer break, when I can start the process for a new leg. 

Have a great day!

 

Shook

 In the early morning hours on Friday Robby was awoken by commotion in the parking lot outside of his dorm. He viewed the heavy police presence as an annoyance because he was trying to sleep. It wasn't until he woke up that he learned the reason for the police activity and it shook him to his core.

A student at Shepherd University was 'fatally shot.' He was murdered, but for some reason 'fatally shot' is the softer explanation. Because the victim was in the same incoming freshman class, Robby recognized him from the orientation activities they participated in last year. It's hard to process when a peer dies so tragically. 

I must admit that I am impressed by the campus security response. Within moments of being notified the surveillance cameras were pulled from across campus. The assailant was identified and cornered in parking lot adjacent to the dorms. He was taken into custody without further incident, and for that I am eternally grateful. 

Robby came home over the weekend to get away from the chaos on campus. We spent a lot of time talking about senseless violence and how to regain your feeling of safety. I know he is going to be okay, but this is going to stay with him for awhile.