A Colorado Bulldog Kind of Day

The whole last minute attitude of the school and district I work for is about to drive me crazy.  I find out on Friday, that the library and lab is going to be used in the afternoons for the next two weeks - never mind that I have an 8th grade technology assessment that I'm required to give (per the district).  Never mind that the ELA classes have a short window to complete their iStation and SRI testing.  Never mind that I have a Scrabble class that meets 7th period every day.  So I spent the day re-configuring the schedule, creating a worksheet for the classes to do after the test, and scrambled to shift my Scrabble class to another room.

I haven't worked on my portfolio since the big meeting about what a big deal it was (and then was told not to think about it until testing was over).  Now I have start working fixed assets.  And getting ready for UIL.  And work on the portfolio.  And process the new books.  And clean up the huge mess that is my library.  Must I go on?

So when I came home from school today, I made myself a Colorado Bulldog.  It is mighty tasty and makes me feel relaxed.  Now I'm watching The Big Bang Theory that was recorded on my DVR.  Once that's done, I'll go pay my bills online.  Then I'll read a book until I can't stay awake.  I've come to learn that I should try to leave work at work.  It's not that I always do, but once I'm home, that should really be my time.  And so it is.

Testing Time

This week will be our exciting state mandated tests.  I had to teach for three days straight last week covering dictionary skills and prefixes/suffixes.  It was exhausting.  I'm not used to doing that much talking and standing.  I spent all day Friday working on computers trying to get them ready for testing.  One of the alternate state tests requires using a computer and it's been a painstaking process to make sure that the test site will load and run correctly.  The site doesn't play nicely with Chrome so it has to be opened using Internet Explorer.  Then you have to make sure that Java runs.  If adobe flash isn't updated, then I have to update it.  The same goes for Java.  It's a tedious process and I had to check almost 80 computers.  I even went up to school on Saturday to work.  I did some computer checks and then worked on my portfolio that I haven't touched in three weeks.  I went in at 11:00 yesterday morning and stayed until 5:30.  Today I went up to work with Matt (though it's is day off).  I had to help him do some work up there.  I'm creating a spreadsheet for him to use to input his departments statistics.    He also has to work a bunch of technology tasks as part of his job training and I helped him with that.  Today he had to make a flyer for his department.

Josh's graduate recital is next weekend.  He wants me to make these homemade lemon cookies for him.  I'm not sure if I'm going to have time, but I'll try.  Matt and I are going to the Doobie Brothers concert on Friday evening.  Before that we're heading up to Austin for an errand he has to run.  We have Friday off from school because of the Fiesta celebration going on this week.  We're going to NIOSA (Night in Old San Antonio) on Wednesday which is basically a giant food fest.

Well, Matt is about to take over the tv to watch the Spurs game and I'm going to be going to bed early in preparation for tomorrow.  Sorry for the long drought in posting - it's been kind of busy around here.

Sick on a Three Day Weekend

Matt was kind enough to share his cold with me.  I started getting sick on Wednesday and was really feeling it on Thursday.  I probably should have stayed home from school, but I forced myself to go though I didn't accomplish much.  Thankfully Friday was a holiday so I stayed in bed all day.  I'm feeling better today, but not completely 100%.  At least I'm on the couch and not in the bed.  The house is relatively clean because I cleaned it last week.  My ex-husband was coming over to take a headshot for Josh.  He needed a new one for his recital flyer and his website.  So of course I had to clean the house before he came over.  It's still clean though I never actually got to my bathroom and closet.  That is something I should probably work on today.  I have loads of laundry that need to be done.  I also need to pay some bills.  I should also start working on the program for the upcoming band concert that I can't play in.  Josh's graduate recital is the same day as the concert.  We will be heading to Houston for the day.

Now that Easter is almost here Matt is looking forward to having pizza and coke again.  I'm looking forward to drinking a margarita.  Next weekend we have dinner plans with my uncle Dave and his wife.  (Dave was married to my aunt Barb who is my dad's sister, but they divorced, but he's still part of the family and he played his trumpet in my wedding.)  His wife Linda is very sweet and has been communicating with me via Facebook.

I'm having to put together a portfolio for work.  Our school is in a precarious position since we have not met Academic Yearly Progress (for No Child Left Behind) for the 4th year now.  This puts us in a phase called reconstitution where everyone on the campus must reapply for their jobs next year.  Part of the process includes putting together a portfolio showing what we have done to help improve the academic environment of the campus.  I'm not really worried about my job as I feel I've been doing a good job overall.  But I still have to put a portfolio together and it's something that is just going to take some time.  We got an email on Wednesday about having the portfolios at a meeting on Monday.  I had made some notes, but hadn't yet put anything together.  I spent the last couple of days at school last week working on it.  The end of the year is coming fast and there are so many things that have to get done.  I have to work on fixed assets soon and put together a list of equipment that must get picked up over the summer.  UIL contest is coming up which conflicts with Josh's graduation.  But school will be out in just two short months.  I'll be glad to have the summer break.

Matt and I are planning to play at Scrabble Nationals in Reno, NV.  We may plan a short trip over to San Francisco after the tournament.  I've never been there and I'd like to go to California's Great America as well.  Thankfully we have a tax refund we can use to cover the trip.  I think our airfare is going to be covered by a Scrabble friend who is giving it to us as a wedding present.

Well, I think I'll go start a load of laundry.  I should start being somewhat productive soon.