Another flood claim, great.

Back in October we learned that the slope of the driveway here at our rental is not conducive to rain. I know, sounds a bit strange, but it turns out that the drive slopes, well the concrete pad that is in front of the garage, slopes in the wrong direction. When it rains it sends the rain toward the garage instead of towards the street and drainage openings. Great right? No, not really.

The first heavy rain we get guess what we learn, all about this sloping issue. When does this rain occur? While I am at work. What is in the garage? What isn't? So many things got wet and ruined. Things we hadn't been ablt to put up yet or decide where to put them. The worst part is the appliances. Our washer and dryer is there and so is the deep freezer. I am glad we don't own the hot water heater.

We are now in the process of putting in a claim for these things. I didn't think the water had destroyed to many things, but now our washer is having some electrical glitches. Not cool. Have to put a list of things together that were destroyed and prepare the paperwork and hope to get reimbursed quickly. Must admit we are fortunate that our insurance company is pretty decent about this stuff.

Holiday Vacation Begins

I have the next full work week off. What will I do? Honestly, I don't know what I will actually get done. I am hoping to get the grading I brought home done and some small projects around the house done as well. We want to get the decorating done, so that is on the list for sure.

I would also like to get some lesson planning done. Hoping to get a few weeks of lessons put into the system so that I have less to be concerned with later.

Relax? What is that?

Classroom Changes

I have been very fortunate to come across a website that is helping teachers in their classrooms. Yesterday I received 30 brand new desks, that really make my classroom pop. Every single student smiles when they walked into the room and saw them. I heard many students say woah, what the, and oh wow. They definitely notice a difference in the feel and look of the room.

Thank you to anyone who take the time to help out teachers. Spend a dollar... it helps. www.donorschoose.org

Life continues...

It is November. Hard to believe it. I have been really bad about updating the blog. I have been very busy.

We have been in the new place 4 months now. Being in a bigger city has had its blessings and it downfalls. K and N, our high school age kids have had only positive impacts from what I can see. They can walk home if the need ever arises. K moved over to the bigger high school and hasn't looked back. She doesn't feel like she sticks out, she is taking courses she wouldn't have had access to at the other school, and she eats lunch with me every day right now. I know that will change as she gets older, but it has been nice to spend extra time with her.

C on the other hand has had a little adjustment problem. The classes are bigger, the school is bigger, and he doesn't know anyone. Well, he is getting to know people now, but he is the new kid at an elementary and that has been tough. It will be easier for him next year when every one is new at the middle school.

Big K enjoys being closer to everything. She has been able to be more involved with what I have going on, has been able to come up to meet me for lunch, and the biggest thing, I am getting home earlier than I ever have. That is a nice thing.
The neighborhood we have landed in seems really nice too. There are community parties, parades, and a neighborhood feeling we haven't ever had before. It makes me feel bad that our kids really did miss out on things by us staying over in the smaller town for as long as we did. Can't change the past, can only look forward.

Our house hasn't sold yet, we do have someone living in it paying rent. The hope is that the loan will be approved later this month and we will be finished with that mess soon. Having to worry about 2 houses has been tough. I really want to be done with the other house as soon as possible.

School is keeping me busy. Teaching AP US History has really been rough.

This whole school year has been rough. I don't think I have met a single teacher that has said they are having a great year. We just seem to be surviving it.

It has been a year in which I have tried to balance helping others and yet keeping to myself. I have a cousin who is also a teacher, in another state I have helped her. Would help her when ever I could. I have a teacher in the class next to me - she's on her own.

It has been an odd school year.