I received an award this week from Jimmy over at Jimmy's Journal. I am an honorary member of his group 'Area 51' that meets at least twice a week. Jimmy makes daily weekday entries and at times, gives a weekly 'Cat Ass' award for those in the public eye that can make you mad! Sometimes, it's just the sound of their name that will make the heckles on the back of your neck rise!
Thanks for the award, Jimmy!! Just keep the sunflowers and Bloody Mary's rollin in!
Mother Nature is NOT happy and letting everyone know it!
Around 4:00 am, I was blasted awake by the sound of a huge roar that sent my house shaking enough to almost roll me out of bed. And that ain't easy! Turns out, we had tornados.... big ones.... at least they were powerful in the county just west of me. Not a good thing..... from what I have heard, people were killed, homes destroyed and alot of property damage.
Tornado season doesn't really start until April. Just kind of fits with all the other weird weather we've had in the past year or so!
School was delayed until 10:00 this morning. Didn't matter to me.... after all, I was up and already showered and dressed when I found out. Cable was knocked out, too so it took awhile to find out via radio. Actually, cable is still out.
I hope all my Alabama readers are ok... just leave a comment for me!
This has been a very long week.
Last Friday night, one of the kids at school (not in my class) was in a car wreck and died. He was driving to fast, while it was dark and sleeting, passing in a curve, talking on the cell, here comes a car, looses control, and a tree jumps out in front of him. Not a good thing. It only gets worse...he is about 1/2 mile from home and his mom is a responder. So, on Monday, we have faculty meeting first thing. Visitation is that night, but so is the first Parent-Teacher community outreach thing. Long, long day....
Tuesday is long as well with the funeral on that day.... but I usually stay late on Tuesday because part of that is for me!
Wednesday stuff has to get done.... stay until about 6:00 pm working on 'stuff'...
Thursday: Now this is where it gets kinda wierd. First of all, let me explain that we have a series of classrooms in my classroom. We have a kitchen, academics room, wood shop, a room for teaching work skills and an 'activity' room (it has lots of activity all the time!! LoL). So, yesterday morning, I am teaching a class and keep hearing shouting coming from the kitchen (my room and kitchen are beside each other). I go to the kitchen and see FLAMES shooting out of one of the ovens!! I began screaming for the aide to get all the kids and head out all while I'm ripping the fire extinguisher off the wall and putting out the fire! OK, here is where it begins to get messy. Yes, pun intended. Have you ever had to do a fire extinguisher? I knew it put out fires, but didn't realize how until yesterday. They take the oxygen out of the air. (cough cough... more coughing). By the time the in school fire guy got to the room, it was all out. Then, the fire dept. shows up (of course, now remember this is an all-volunteer fire dept) to see what's going on. What a hoot. After everyone leaves, I look around and begin to think it would have been easier to let it all burn! There is a coating/film of extinguisher grit ALL over the room. YUCK. But, it's almost all cleaned up now! Any volunteers to help clean are greatly appreciated!
Friday: At this point, I would like to thank Sue (Thanks, Sue!) for the new classroom cooking directions she and her son put together for us. Let me just say, they are so funny that when I read it to the class this morning we were all laughing so hard some of us couldn't get our breath! I really like the certificates for being a firefighter!! LOL They are now posted on the bulletin board for all to see!!
Just a quick reminder about Sunday.... GO PATS!
It's been cold here in Alabama these past couple of weeks. Thursday, I woke to 13 degrees. Last night on the way home, it began to sleet. When I was leaving to come home, I could see it pinging on the pavement and when I got home, ice had begun to form on my outside mirrors.
This past Monday night, I got a phone call from my dad. Apparently, he fell asleep while driving home from his girlfriend's house on Sunday night. Seems that he crashed into a pole, but he was not hurt. I saw the truck today.... yep, he crashed it... Dad, me and a friend of mine all went to eat whatever the meal is called between lunch time and supper. (Is there a word for it like there is for Brunch?) Dad and friend had chat about driving. Dad said he wasn't going to stop driving at night. Any suggestions on how to handle this one? I mean, I don't really care about crashing cars or trucks, but I do worry about him and other people getting hurt. I would hate to have to go all "TaWanda" on him (Fried Green Tomatoes). I made a couple of suggestions to him, but he seemed rather uninterested in hearing them. The suggestions were just short of taking his keys. I am afraid that might be next.
I'm afraid I have gotten back logged on reading everyone's journals because of issues such as this and a couple of other things. There are just times, when I become overloaded......
Other than issues like that, everything is going rather smoothly. School is bopping right along with no wild incidents.... yet (you know this stuff can change at a moments notice). It won't be long before it will be time to have our yearly meetings (IEP's) with parents. I'll be busy with those. Maybe they will help keep me out of trouble.
First, it was the green beans.... then, about a week later, the crackers and just last weekend, it was bananas.
For Christmas dinner, one of the foods I had planned on serving was green beans. I looked all over for them. Couldn't find them anywhere! I decided to just skip the green beans....
Then, the missing crackers. I knew I had them because I had eaten some of them, but I couldn't find the box anywhere....
Last week, I spent some time at my Dad's house. He and I went out to eat and then, over to Sam's. I bought bananas and when I came home, I split them with him. The day after I got home, I couldn't find them.....
I have to tell you, I was beginning to worry about myself... I just couldn't imagine how so much food could just disappear without being eaten!
I found the bananas first. I had put them in a bag of photo albums I brought home with me from Daddy's house. What a relief! Then, I found the crackers. The box was turned the wrong way and I didn't even notice among all the other boxed foods.
I've not yet found the green beans...... I have convinced myself I never bought them!
It is interesting how our dreams can influence us mentally. Upon awakening, they can leave you in a sense of contentment, panic, happiness or sometimes, nothing different. This morning's dream had a therapeutic affect upon me. I dreamed about my Mom and it was one that I have needed for some time now.
Without going into details, I did find one thing very interesting. In my dream, Mother was there with me being aware she had passed. We talked about many things that have lain heavy on my heart. While we chatted, my Dad walked and had a conversation with me. As aware as I was of Mother's presence, Dad obviously had none. After he left, Mother turned to me and said something I've heard her say hundreds of times, "Well, that's your Daddy!"
Also, just a note to cousin Gary: Thanks for your e-mail! I think it helped prepare me by laying a foundation of positive feelings and better acceptance. Carson would have been proud!
I have seen a number of New Year Resolutions. I have not made any.... Yet. Maybe, I won't. The only ones I can think of are:
Procrastination: I need to manage mine better. I'll think about it tomorrow.
Conditioner: I need to use it on my hair every single day. I forgot this morning. Maybe tomorrow.
Yoga: Start doing it. 
OH WAIT! I can't tomorrow!! I have to go back to school!!!
(well, maybe the conditioner if I remember!)
Just a note: for all you people that think Alabama is in the south, so it must be warm all year, it's supposed to get down to 14 here tonight. BBBbbbbbrrrrrrrr....... I'll be pulling my flannel lined jeans out to wear tomorrow....
