New Books!

Even though I work in middle school library, I order a lot of cool books.  Today I got half of an order in and I spent time processing the books, but that also means I take time to sit and look at some of them.  I made a commitment on GoodReads this year to read 50 books and I’m behind at the moment.  I am reading a library book on my Kindle, but I have about 20 books to go before the end of the year.  Maybe with my new books, I’ll find several that I can read quickly and add them to my list.  I still have a few more Rick Riordan books to finish so I should be good if I read some every night.

I skipped band yesterday.  We had a late faculty meeting after school and I didn’t feel like rushing over to rehearsal.  It was nice to stay home and do nothing.  Matt and I were going to go to Wurstfest in New Braufels this evening, but the weather is kind of cool and windy.  I was already feeling cold from being in my library all day so we decided to just stay home.  I made some fish, pasta, corn, and salad for dinner. 

We are going to a Spurs game this Friday.  My birthday is Sunday so Matt will take me out to dinner.  Other than that, we have no plans.  Josh is in Houston so I guess we’ll have our birthday dinner some other time. 

We’re heading to Albuquerque for Thanksgiving this year.  We were going to drive, but my aunt and uncle paid for us to fly there instead.  We will fly out of Houston to make it easier on Josh since he still has school the day we’re leaving. 

Happy Anniversary to Us

Can you believe that it was two years ago that I had my first date with Matt (aka “Library Guy”)?  We communicated online for a few weeks first and then he called me up one night and asked me out.  We went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant in town and I guess the rest is history.  If you remember, he was very slow in making the moves, but it turned out well.  We are still very happy with each other and he says he’s going to make an honest women of me some day. 

We didn’t go out tonight since we were gone all weekend.  Matt had jury duty today and then came to my school after he was finished.  We went to the store and picked up some steaks for him to grill for supper.  They were really good.  Now we’re just sitting on the couch.  Matt is reading a book and I’m obviously blogging.  I just borrowed a book for my Kindle from the library so I’ll start reading it soon.

As far as the Scrabble tournament goes, I did ok.  I ended up 6th overall out of 13 in my division.  I won more games than I was expected to win which means my rating went up a little bit.  Matt did very well.  He won his division and won $190.

Today was a better day at school compared to last Friday, but of course I’m so far behind, I’ll never catch up.  Luckily, no babysitting today.  Tomorrow I have to focus on cleaning up the mess that seems to be growing in the library. 

Well, I think I’m going to go read my book and call it an early night.  Hopefully I’ll sleep better without the constant beeping of one of the smoke detectors in the house signaling that the battery is low (missing).  We got batteries tonight and that’s taken care of. 

I'm a bad blogger

I know, I know. I haven't blogged in forever. I feel bad, but life just seems to get in the way these days. I don't know if anyone is still reading out there, but I'll try to give you a few updates.
Class reunion
Matt and I headed back to Cayon a few weeks ago to attend my 25th class reunion. We drove halfway on Thursday evening and then the rest of the way on Friday. We had lunch at The Plaza with a retired speech teacher friend of mine and then we checked into our hotel. After that, we headed to Walmart to pick up some things - a hat and sweatshirt for Matt because it was colder than we expected. Friday evening at the tailgate party before the game was pretty miserable. It was about 35 degrees with 30 mph winds. The class turnout was ok, but a lot of people didn't want to brave the weather. Our team won handily and after the game we went to an after party.
Saturday morning the committee had to decorate the dinner area so we had to get up early. We took care of that and then picked up Taco Villa for lunch. We were supposed to have a picnic at Conner Park, but only about a dozen classmates showed because it was still windy and cool (and a few might have been hungover from the night before). The party Saturday evening was successful but we must be getting old. Most people left by 10:30 and we had the venue cleaned up before midnight.
We went to church on Sunday morning and were able to visit with my good friend Carol for a little while. We stopped at Taco Villa (again) for lunch before heading back home to San Antonio.
School
If you asked me about school this past Friday, I would tell you that it is horrible and that I need to look for another job. In general, it has been ok. Scrabble club is still going strong. I still have a million things to do every day and I never have enough time to finishe them. Now, I'm teaching a "flex" period class for 30 minutes every day and I usually don't get the "lessons" until the morning of. That is frustrating and irritating. Friday royally sucked. I had to be a "substitute teacher" on Friday because we had 10 teachers out and only 2 subs on campus. So I got Mr. Limon's English classes. I had them to a research assignment in my lab, but that meant that I had to stay in there the entire time and didn't get any work done in the library. I didn't get to eat lunch at all that day. On top of that, we had a school assembly and at the last minute they came to tell me that they needed a projector and laptop set up in the auditorium ASAP. Someone else had to take the class down while I took care of the equipment. The assembly was about bullying and wouldn't you know that at the end of it two guys broke into an actual fight. It was embarassing. I was so frustrated by the end of the day that I came home mad and hungry. I just felt overwhelmingly emotional that I never really calmed down until I finally went to sleep after taking a benadryl.
Scrabble
I had to get up dark and early this morning (5:30 a.m.) so that we could head to Waco for the Texas State Scrabble Championship. I didn't really want to come, but I know Matt wanted me to play (and he paid my entry) so I came. I decided to have the attitude that whatever happens, happens. I don't care whether I win or lose. I'm just going to play. I guess that attitude is working because I played fairly well today. It doesn't mean I'll still do well tomorrow - but again, it doesn't matter. I've already won my expected number of wins so my rating shouldn't drop any. After the rounds were done today, Matt took me Kohl's and I bought a new pair of jeans and a shirt. We went to The Elite Cafe for dinner. Food was ok, but not outstanding. Now we're back at the hotel and I'm looking forward to getting to sleep in with the time change tomorrow. I guess that's all the excitement in my world at the moment. I'll try to post more often this month. Maybe I'll participate in one of the daily meme things going around.

On the mend

The cold kicked my butt this week.  Every day that I went to school I regretted it.  I would think that I was feeling ok and then I would get to school and have a sneezing fit or just feel blah.  On Thursday I finally decided that I wasn’t been productive in any way and that I should just go get some rest, so I left school around 2:30.  I had to go to the grocery store which was exhausting but I had to get dog food.  I also got some soup and stuff for grilled cheese sandwiches.  That always sounds good when I’m sick.  I got home and got in bed.  Matt got home a little after 5:00.  He headed out to a library meeting that I decided not to attend.  I stayed in bed and watched The Big Bang Theory and was asleep by 10:00.  I was coughing in the middle of the night so by the next morning I still felt exhausted.  I talked myself into taking the day off to get more rest.  I’m glad I did.  I ended up sleeping until almost 11:00 a.m.  I just stayed in bed most of the day.  I started having some coughing fits yesterday evening, but I took a Mucinex and that seemed to help.  Matt cooked burgers on the grill and then we had to get the bed set up in Josh’s room since he was going to come home for the weekend.  I still felt tired and weak so I stayed in bed most of the evening.  I got up to visit with Josh when he got home and then went to bed around 11:30.  I slept in this morning until about 10:00 and am feeling much better.  Still not 100% but I think I’m on the mend at least. 

I have a band concert at 2:00 today.  I’ll be glad to get that over with.  I’m not sure what we’re going to do about Matt’s desk that is in Josh’s room.  It has fallen apart in the move and I’m not sure we can put it back together without some kind of professional help.  Neither of us are very handy when it comes to stuff like that.  I think it might be easier to just buy him a new desk.  Well, I guess I should get up and going.  I probably shouldn’t stay in bed all weekend. 

Jinxed by Matt

So yesterday after church Matt was asking if my work pays for flu shots and I said I wasn’t sure but that I never get a flu shot because I haven’t gotten the flu in several years.  I said that I thought I had a pretty good immunity by working in schools.  So of course today I have to eat those words.  I went to school today and knew that I was feeling “off.”  I started getting a headache this morning and tried to call Matt to bring me tylenol.  Of course he left his phone in the car.  When he did get there, he headed back out to get me tylenol.  It took a long while for my headache to subside.  I took tylenol around 11 this morning and my head was still hurting around lunch time at 2:00.  I took two more pills and the headache finally went away.  I left school at 4:15 which was maybe a first for me all year.  I picked up some dinner and took a benadryl when I got home.  It knocked me out before I finished watching Big Bang Theory around 5:45.  I went to bed and slept until around 8:30.  I’ve decided that I either have a cold or major allergies.  I don’t think it is the flu – no fever, not really feeling achy.  All I know is that I’m feeling a bit miserable at the moment and now I’m waiting for the second benadryl to kick in.  Matt has been very good to me.  He went to the store at got me some ginger ale. 

Same Old Stuff

Can’t say that anything exciting is going on here.  Matt has moved in and there’s boxes all over the place again.  Eventually we’ll get it sorted with much of it stored in the attic.  I finally ordered a dresser for Matt since I wouldn’t allow his ugly 70’s dresser in the bedroom. 

Last week was extremely busy at school and it keeps piling up.  I’ve been asked to create a template for library websites for all the secondary schools in the district based on my own website.  I guess I have to stop being so awesome.  My Scrabble club is still growing.  I  have 30-40 students that come in before school.  I have students during all three lunches and some that even stay after school.  I finalized my major book orders and got those submitted.  The book fair was in the library so I had deal with that as well.  I’ll be glad to get my library back to somewhat normal functions this next week. 

My class reunion is coming up and so I’ve been working on that this weekend.  I’m trying to get the t-shirt order finalized.  I also have to print the name tags for the reunion as well. It’s not for another two weeks but it will get here before I know it.  I booked a hotel in Abilene because  we’ll be leaving here Thursday evening and drive halfway. 

I’ve actually done some reading lately. I finished Sue Grafton’s “W is for Wasted” which I enjoyed.   I also read “Cuckoo’s Calling” by JK Rowling written under a pseudonym.  Today I didn’t do much of anything.  I actually changed into my pajamas a little while ago.  I figured I wouldn’t be going out this evening so I might as well be comfortable.  Matt just called and is on his way home from playing Scrabble.  I ordered a pizza online and he is going to pick it up.  I’m fighting a headache right now so I think I’ll just take it easy this evening. 

Got a Roomie

Well, all of Matt’s stuff has been moved in so we’ve got boxes all over the place.  I spent last week doing housecleaning in preparation so now it’s a mess again.  It seems that Matt is a bit of a hoarder.  I think he got rid of about 10% of the excess stuff before moving, but there’s still some purging to do.  I’ve been trying to integrate some of his stuff into the house, but we may need some creative thinking.  I still don’t know where to put the giant mounted fish that he has.  They are sentimental since he caught one of them while fishing with his dad and the other was one that his dad caught.  I still need to buy a new chest of drawers for him.  His is so ugly that I won’t allow it in the bedroom. It’s going in Josh’s room/Matt’s office for now.  I may try to paint it at some point. 

School has been crazy this week.  I’m continually behind on getting things done it seems.  I did get my grant book order finished.  I submitted two other orders and will slowly work on a few others.  I’m supposed to be working on the school calendar but that has been put on the back burner for now.  My Scrabble club is still huge.  I had to adjust my layout on Friday because of the book fair getting set up.  I have over fifty students that are playing Scrabble.  Luckily I don’t have to run the book fair.  It’s handled by the PTA. I get some donated books from it.

It was great to sleep in today. I am enjoying my Saturday off.  I guess I could be sorting through some of Matt’s stuff, but there’s no rush.  I’m probably going to finish my Sue Grafton book instead. And perhaps take a nap.  I need to reserve some energy so that I can help Matt clean his apartment that hasn’t been cleaned since he moved in 12 years ago.  Matt said that instead of finding “dust bunnies” that they were more like the giant killer rabbit from The Holy Grail. 

It was a Monday

I was really upset when I got to school this morning.  Today was officially Scrabble club day (yay) but when I walked into my library, there was 20+ boxes of workbooks left all over my tables. I got to school early so that I could get ready for the club today, but I spent the morning moving boxes out of the way.  What’s worse is that these were boxes of workbooks that I had already received – so they were duplicates.  I only needed some algebra workbooks and they sent those along with everything else.  My club was so full this morning that I had to turn students away.  Club went ok, but I had my hands full as always. 

I wrote a terse email to textbook person and explained the situation with workbooks.  Thankfully she has some people that came and picked them up today so I didn’t have to store them.  Matt was there this morning so helped with club and then shelved books for me.  I spent most of the day working on an orientation lesson for one of the English classes.  I’m  also trying to finish my $5000 Laura Bush Grant book order which is harder than it seems. I actually have to order 10-15% over that amount because they may not be able to actually send all the books on my list. 

Matt has to get moved in this week. I tried to help him at his apartment, but it’s a nightmare.  Remember that he has lived as a bachelor for many, many years.  It seems that he has saved every scrap of paper and piece of mail over the past 13 years or so.  I found a receipt dated 2000.  Since a bunch of the stuff is old bills and whatnot, I can’t really sort through it very well so I haven’t been much help.  I’ve been doing some work here at the house instead.  I’ve been cleaning out things, moving furniture around, and making room for Matt’s stuff. 

Working in an inner city district

When I got hired at my district I was a little concerned because I’d be working at what you’d consider an urban inner city school.  It has a high ratio of low socio-economic students and borders some “iffy” neighborhoods.  Living in a big city certainly means more crime.  That part made me nervous about moving here.  In the small town I came from there was a murder maybe every five or six years.  There are almost one or two a week here. But when I moved here, I found a neighborhood that I felt comfortable in.  The students at school where I teach are a little rough but a good number of them are great kids.  

We had a tragedy befall our school this weekend.  One of our students was shot in a drive-by shooting early Sunday morning.  He was only 13 years old.  I didn’t know the student.  He was fairly new to the school, but it is something you hope you never have to deal with.  The library became the grief headquarters today.  The district sent over several counselors to talk to students as needed.  Some of the students were truly broken up, but there were a lot of others that took advantage of the tragedy just to get out of class.  Many of them, however, wrote messages on a banner that I assume will be given to the family. 

On a positive note, I got quite a bit done today.  I was able to catalog several magazines and accomplished many things on my to-do list since we didn’t have Scrabble club today.  Matt brought me lunch and shelved books for me as well.  I also talked to the deputy superintendent who seemed very impressed by my Scrabble club.  I think I’m starting to make a name for myself in this district. 

Yesterday I created two new websites.  I found a very easy, but very nice online web creation program called weebly that I used to create my own library lesson page.  It’s going to be a work in progress for a while, but I hope to share it with others in a few weeks.  I also created a San Antonio Scrabble website for Matt. I mentioned that I was going to do it last year, but never found the time.  Once I found weebly, however, it was easier to do.    I’ll pay for my own domain name after payday in a few weeks.  Money is tight at the moment.  Luckily Matt will be moved in by the end of the month and I’ll start getting some money from him to help with the bills and such. 

Well, I’m going to eat some leftover pizza for dinner soon.  (Sausage, pepperoni, and onion) and then read for a bit. Maybe I’ll talk myself into doing a little more laundry.  Probably not, but there’s always hope.

Another week down

Things are off and running at school.  I opened the library on Wednesday and have already had three classes in there this week.  I think there’s going to be a lot of students interested Scrabble club.  I’ll know for sure on Monday when we have our first meeting.  Someone from the district communications office is going to come out to write a story about the club.  This week I worked on some lessons for the digital citizenship lessons that have to be taught to all the students in the school.  I’m having all the teachers present it this year and that will take off about two weeks of work that I normally have to do.  Maybe I’ll be able to finish cleaning out my back rooms by the end of next week then. 

Matt has the day off today so we’re going to go pack some of the stuff in his apartment.  It was great to sleep in today – especially after taking two benadryl last night.  I had some allergies hit me around dinner time last night.  We went to Cheddars for dinner and on the way home I sneezed quite a bit.  I took the first benadryl around 8:20 but it didn’t seem to work much an hour later so I took another one. I guess that did the trick as it knocked me out.  I had a lot of weird dreams last night.  I didn’t get out of bed until after 10 this morning.  I woke up the first time around 7:45 when I had to go to the bathroom and Lucy insisted on food.  I went back to bed and slept until around 9:30.  I still stayed in bed and read for a little bit before I managed to get up and about. 

Now I’m having my coffee and some french toast sticks which aren’t that great.  Oh well, at least it is something for breakfast which is more than I usually eat.  Not sure when we’ll head to Matt’s apartment.  The nice thing about weekends is that I can make my own schedule.