Today's rant

Dallas Parks and Recreation has some very intelligent people employed with them. They decided that placing stainless steel playground equipment at the parks around the city would be a great idea. Hmmmm.... didn't a single person stop to think that the weather there... HOT HOT and STEAMING HOT, would make the playground equipment a hazard? Guess not!

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-totlot_30met.ART.Central.Edition1.2a06a00.html

Got an email today!
Not just any email, but an email from my principal. Seems the master schedule is being changed!!!!! Go figure, I still don't know for sure what I am teaching. WTF!!! So there is a chance I have been prepping for classes that, yet again, I won't be teaching. I am going to continue working on the lesson plans. I am going to assume that I will be teaching the same subjects. I have to - I need sanity.
Then I learned I go back to work on Friday the 13th! What brilliant individual thought that would be a great idea? Lets bring the teachers back on the 13th!
Forget that! I am going into work on the 12th just because.

Visitor coming soon

On Thursday I am driving to San Antonio to pick up a high school friend of mine. She is going to be here for a week before the family and I, along with her, drive back to Iowa to attend my 20th class reunion. I don't know what I am more nervous about.
I do know there are still some things around the house before the visit and definitely before I go back to work.

TARGET SUCKS!!

I found a new website gayrights.change.org
http://gayrights.change.org/petitions/view/demand_target_stop_donating_to_anti-gay_politicians

Target gave money to a group that supports anti-gay rights.

Won't be going into a Target anytime soon!

Summer is almost over?

Tell me it isn't so!!

Yesterday I was talking with K and it hit me, I only have about three weeks of vacation left. THREE!!!

I haven't even begun to work, seriously, on my lesson plans. I have so much left to do around the house. I did finish the master bathroom... FINALLY!! I had promised K I would do it a long time ago and finally finished it. I also put the floor in the master closets, the closet in the hallway, and have begun putting shelves in that closet too. Something K has wanted done as well. I have too, it just take a slight kick in the butt for me to do it.

Today I have things to do as well. I made me a list. Lets see what I can get done.

Click the play button.

Get a Voki now!

Not finishing what they start

How do I get the older kids to finish things they start? To not half azzz things.
I have fought this problem on several fronts and am now just to the point that it frustrates the hell out of me. It angers me.

The lawn, never gets fully finished, small projects, again never finished. Cleaning, laundry... there is a list of things. I just want them to finish what they start.

In a week, a friend of mine from high school is flying in for a visit. She will be here for a week and then we are driving back for our class reunion. I want to make sure the house is ready for a guest. Trying to get some of the little things around the house done. I don't think that is too much to ask. I have a few things I need to get done. Projects I have been putting off.

I have gotten a few things done. Put flooring down in our closets and am almost finished with the flooring in the bathroom. Only one spot left and that is because I have to cut more hardy backboard and it has rained, so I cannot go outside to cut it. I also need to finish the small closet in the front of the house so we can begin using it. I am finishing the floor and putting in shelves.

I just need to head to Lowes tomorrow.

Why doesn't someone just.....

Hire me!! I know I am very fortunate to have a job. There are millions out there who do not have jobs. So I am thankful I do have one, really. I would just like to move my job to a state that is more respectful of our lives.

There have been a couple of things over the past month that have made it very obvious that this state is one we should leave when the opportunity arises. (Thus the reason I am trying to find the opportunity.)

My school district pulled K's health insurance. No warning, just dropped her. I was paying the premiums, not them. But since they do not recognize same-sex partners she is not allowed to stay on my health insurance.

Then, there is the case of the moronic mother who allowed her son to be starved. This has nothing to do with us. Neither of us is involved in the case in any way. However, the woman happens to be a lesbian. Better yet, a lesbian who cheats on her girlfriend with a guy. The residents of this great area are tearing her apart online, not because she is a dumbass mom, but because she is a lesbian. What is worse is that they are making comments about lesbians in general. They should not be allowed to live, that all lesbians sleep with men to get pregnant, all the normal and abnormal crap they love to scream about and against the GLBT community.

This community is intolerant, unaccepting, and downright IGNORANT.

I have had an interview with the Des Moines Community School District and can only hope something pops up soon. If nothing comes up by the end of next week we are going to have to face the fact that we are here for the next 2 years.

No options after all

The interview has come and gone and the email stating that the position has been filled has been received. Again I am passed up for a position. I am not sure why, but I know my self esteem took yet another hit.

An opportunity??

Yesterday I received a call from a school district in Iowa. Total surprise!! I spoke with the principal for about 30 minutes and he set up a telephone interview with me for tomorrow to include the department chair in the conversation.

There are several pros in this opportunity. 1) the state recognizes us! 2) it will include a pay raise! 3) we will get to a place where there is more than two seasons a year.

There a pro/con: family will be closer.

There are a couple of cons: if this happens it will happen FAST. We won't have much time to think things through and will have to thoroughly think things through very quickly. What about our house? Do we have the cash to make the move?

How do we get the cash to make the move? What expenses can we cut immediately to help us put the money aside we will need. What about Liz? She isn't ready to be fully on her own. The issues with the insurance company from the accident hasn't been cleared up yet, heck they haven't even started yet. She has at least one more visit left with the orthopedic before she finds out if she might have to have surgery.

The students I have here I have grown close to. It will be tough to leave them.

I am excited and nervous. We have a chance to begin a new chapter of our life, if this happens.

I have to get through this interview tomorrow. I must prepare for tomorrow's interview. get some things out to refer to during the meeting. I need to focus, calm down, and be ready.

Happy Birthday to me!!

Its my birthday, why don't I feel like partying?