I'm feeling extraordinarily angry this morning. Because of my strong emotions, I am going to lean into wisdom and refrain from delving into the issue in today's blog. To those who came to snoop today, please do not mistake my silence for being complicit. I'm may be quiet, but I'm collecting dynamite.
The weekend has come and gone so quickly my head feels like it is spinning. I wish I could say that I had a fantastic, relaxing time. That I am approaching the new week feeling refreshed and ready to change the world. In reality, I spent my weekend cooking and cleaning. I'm exhausted from my Cinderella lifestyle. Despite wearing a tiara when I clean, an army of little helper mice never materialized to assist.
Although I hate my housework weekends, I have come to accept that they are necessary to keep my life running smoothly during the week. I now have a freezer stocked with entrees, lunches and snacks that everybody can heat independently. My bathroom and kitchens are sparkling clean, which just makes me feel better about my life. I even purged through my clothing and redid my dressers. The effort was tiring, but I'm enjoying the benefits.
This week is another wonky one, with school being closed on Wednesday for Veteran's Day. I'm always happy for a day off, but having one off in the middle of the week makes the entire week feel off and foreign. The kids have more trouble focusing and are antsy because of the schedule disruption. I'm reminded that I'm grateful to not be a teacher!
What an Election Day!
I feel optimistic about the direction of our country after the results of Tuesday's elections. The nasty vitriol has become so loud that it became easy to believe the sentiments are the norm. Tuesday showed me that hatred and negative are not the norm. Collectively, the country stood up against bullying and the noise. I am so proud.
Yesterday felt like I was at work on Christmas morning. Sadly, my coworkers did not share my enthusiasm and looked rather deflated. Although the majority of the country turned blue in response to the current administration, West Virginia remains proudly red. I suspect that our ranking in the last two for education may have something to do with the political loyalties of Mountaineers, but I don't care enough to deconstruct.
What a gorgeous Halloween weekend. The weather could not have been more perfect- providing us with bright blue skies with ideally cool 65 degree temperatures on both days. It was the ideal trick-or-treat conditions.
With trick-or-treat scheduled in the evening, Scott and I decided to take full advantage of the weather during the afternoon. We gathered up the boys, gave them a pair of work gloves and headed outside. Within two hours the garden buckets were dismantled and stowed, the leaves were blown, the trees and bushes were trimmed and the debris was thrown into the woods. I am impressed with how everybody came together, and our yard looks amazing!
Saturday night the boys put on long sleeves (they didn't even need coats) before we took them to trick-or-treat in Shepherdstown. Robby swore that the hype delivered, and that Timmy would not be disappointed. Oh my goodness, was he ever right! The quaint little college town had transformed into a Halloween wonderland, with the houses decked out in elaborate decorations along side businesses, all handing out handfuls of candy. Seriously- if I were to portray a trick-or-treat scene in a Hallmark movie, I would use Shepherdstown as the model.
For the first time in 20 years, Scott had Halloween night free. Robby took Timmy through the town, so he and I headed to a local restaurant and munched on cheese fries while the trick-or-treaters passed by outside the windows. It was a really fun evening, and a great way to switch up the holiday.
On Sunday my leg was more sore than I appreciated, so I took it easier than I had planned. I didn't work outside, but I did sit on my swing and watch the boys toil. I would have liked to have helped, but my mobility is fragile and needs to be protected. I'm glad I took it easy because my leg is feeling better this morning. Fingers crossed I'm healed, because it is going to be a busy day.
I came home last night absolutely wrecked from work. My Spooky Scavenger Hunt was a success, but I underestimated the number of times I would be running up and down the stairs throughout the day. By the time I finished with my final student, I had climbed 27 flights of stairs. Needless to say, every part of my body was hurting, but my leg was feeling the brunt.
I hobbled around the house before taking it off entirely. My poor limb felt (and looked) like it had been beaten with a bat. It was a miserable evening.
I was hoping that pain in my leg would lessen into the sore category. One step this morning let me know that I was wrong. OMG my leg hurts so much! I don't know if or how I am going to make it through the day because I can barely make it to the couch without crying.
Before making any decisions I'm going to play with socks and pads to see if I can obtain mobility. I'm not terribly optimistic. Being an amputee sucks sometimes, and today is one of those days.
Yesterday was an exciting day for Timmy because his big brother invited him to an event on his college campus. I was surprised when Robby called me at 3, asking us if we would bring Timmy and the Halloween costumes to his campus for "Shep or Treat." Because we are planning on trick-or-treating through the college town on Saturday, we had decided to skip the event this year. Always happy to oblige, Timmy gleefully grabbed his treat bucket, the costumes before running to the car to meet Robby.
Someday Timmy will realize that Robby's true purpose was not to trick-or-treat, but to employ his younger brother as his unwitting wingman. Timmy was trick-or-treating among the campus booths, but Robby was chatting with a 'friend' who had to work the event by running a game.
Timmy played that game 5 times.
Timmy spent the evening with his big brother and Robby was provided an opportunity to chat up a cute girl. All told, it was a successful night. I wonder what adventures today will bring...
I have officially withdrawn my grievance and accepted that I will not receive the full compensation promised. We are 11 weeks into the school year and I am tired of the fight. I was finally given credit for the majority of my previous years, so I feel comfortable walking away from the promised incentives. The mental load of this fight has felt oppressive.
I feel like I was actively deceived by numerous administrative and personnel entities throughout the hiring process. Despite this knowledge, I am choosing to move forward in a professional manner. I thoroughly enjoy working with my students, and they are going to remain my focus for the remainder of the school year.
Sending the letter withdrawing my grievance felt like a liberation. While I realize I am walking away from promised compensation, holding my head high and walking away on my own terms feels good. I am not going to be forced into a role I don't want, despite the pressure from numerous sides. Holding boundaries is not easy, but it is worth it!
