How I will be celebrating the 4th of July

I will be working. My school district chose to celebrate it the day after Christmas so I will be here in the office working. I plan to review fiction to see if it is appropriate for the new high school. High up on my list is Catherine Coulter's new book as well as Janet Evanovich's new book and Brad Thor's new book. I also feel the need to preview the Other Bolyn Girl for its appropriateness as well as a few other DVDs. I found out this the day before I found out I was scheduled to present at Anaheim. This is where I would be staying had they only notified me:

http://tinyurl.com/amfyn

My office

Momma asked to see pictures of my office since they did not get to come over and see it while they were visiting. My plan was to wait until it was clean but that was never going to happen. So here it is in all its loveliness:

Get Smart needs to get funny

Ok, this is the second attempt at a movie based on one of my favorite TV shows growing up. The first movie bombed;this one was a little better. There were some funny moments that kids of the digital native generation would not pick up on and the cameo by one of the original stars was a highlight for me, but overall not worth the money to see in the theater. Definitely worth a rental. Steve Carrell is as close to Don Adams as you are likely to see, but proves the point that there really is only one Maxwell Smart.

Matt's Goth/Punk look

Making their own pizza seemed like a good idea

But alas, no. The ready made pizza crust in the tube was tougher than Kristen and Courtney...

It is all about the food

Kristen's favorite part of a Rockies game. She had a hot dog, fries, drink, snowcone and ended the game with cotton candy.

Summer is flying by....

Hard to believe it is the middle of June! Summer school is in full swing for Matt. Halfway through the first week. He is not liking it as much as last year-this teacher gives homework and has 23 rules that must be followed which include nothing on students heads except hair. Matt is only working one day a week(or one evening), so he fills his time with the texting of friends and video games and being sullen.

Kristen is a hormonal diva one day and my sweet child the next. She is practicing her multitasking skills by texting, IMing and emailing her friends at the same time. They have played the scene it game several times when I mandate them playing a nonvideo game. I must specify a non-electronic game next time. Band camp for her will start for her on 7/28. They are both hoping for a couple weeks in Pennsylvania away from the 'rents. Grand 'rents, please respond to the dates I gave you ASAP, so flights can be booked.

Sabrina is still neurotic, but has given up the deck as a suitable butt scratching venue.

Randy is still fishing in the evenings. In fact he is going to be eating a crappie fish for his dinner tonight.

Now if you prefer to look at life through Rose colored glasses and want to have a pollyanna attitude that everything is right in the world, read no further. You have been warned.



Today was extremely frustrating for me. I got an email late last night from one of the library clerks that her principal is assigning her to be a secretary/attendance clerk from 9-12:30 and can only work in the library from 12:30-3pm. From 10-12:30 the library will be staffed by a slew of parent volunteers. Who knows what happens from 7:30-10am. This is so far away from best practice, it is almost as though someone made it up.

Later today, I got a call from someone who obviously follows his SFB method of administrating stating he wanted to take his library in a new direction with his new library clerk.(Danger, Danger we are Defcon 1 go the alarms in my head. He has hired a retired AP from another state who "understands schedules and flowcharts". No library experience-he taught PE. Lot in common there. Not sure what I am supposed to teach him or what mentor to assign him or even how to interact with him. My biggest fear is that the students at this school will not even by taught basic library skills.

While I was on the phone with this principal, our superintendent showed up to hand deliver a greeting card to someone who I guess is a friend of his who is substituting for someone on medical leave. OF COURSE, he shows up when everyone is gone to a once a month birthday lunch. After I got off the phone, I handled that for him. Apparently, he was wandering around the building trying to find someone who knew where this person was.

I ended the day by finding out that all except one curriculm coordinator have bailed on the new director. So we have a new director as well as math coordinator, literacy coordinator and Title 1 coordinator.

Very frustrating day. I am frustrated that any of these events could happen. The libraries are obviously not a priority for administration no matter what they say. Can I do anything to change this attitude? I don't know. At some point, should I just say UNCLE and get a job somewhere where I can make a difference? I don't know. I have the job responsibilites of a coordinator, am not recognized for it nor am I reimbursed for it. I could have a similar job in a different part of the state for a starting pay of $20,000.00 more than I am making now. Unfortunately, my husband can not move. I am not sure I would want to. I am not sure about a lot right now.

The good, the bad and the ugly

I don't even like this movie, but love the title for blog posts!

The Good

Kris got a 3.44 average which earned her a free trip to her favorite restaurant-Texas Roadhouse. Unfortunately, we would have to park in a mud pit and wait 2.43 hours to be seated so she opted for Applebees instead. She enjoyed a bacon cheesburger, fries and chocolate mousse(she pronounces it moose A) for dessert.

The bad
Matt passed(I love saying that word) with a 1.44 average, but he passed.


The ugly

THERE IS NO UGLY BECAUSE MATT PASSED! Now onto typical parent of a senior activity. Scheduling senior pictures(several poses and changes of clothing including a coat and tie-for those of you who know Matt, just imagine the joy that this shall bring), planning a blow out of a party-Matt does not like parties, but so what? The teachers and Randy and I will be celebrating that he is finally graduating. Internet readers, is it going too far by inviting his elementary teachers? Instead of baby pictures, I will have a slide show of his civil war ppt and other amusing assignment memories. Have I mentioned how much I love the phrase Matt passed?!

Randomness

Things are progressing with car repair. Parts are ordered and hopefully payment will arrive from idiot teenager's insurance company soon. The totalled Audi is gone from in front of the house.

Matt has become addicted to every version of Star Trek as well as the Twilight zone. Apparently the Sci Fi channel is the only one on during the day. Kristen does not need the TV when she is on the computer the entire day. She has been walking to Centennial Pool every other day or so. The lists will be starting tomorrow-just so they do something low tech as well. Sabrina has rediscovered the joy of chasing a tennis ball around the house. Alas, it is shortlived because she knocks it behind the love seat. Not moving it for a tennis ball.

Booked my conference travel to Chicago in Oct.(yea!) boss told me my former boss(who was promoted because she was so bad at what she did, IMO) should go to and to ensure that she does, my current boss will pay for all her expenses(Boo!)

The teens summer begins while mine ends

Tomorrow I have to face reality and go back to work. I have enjoyed pretending I was off for the summer. Everyone enjoyed Nana and Poppop's visit. We saw the Rocks lose to the Mets, ate lots of food, watched Kristen continue on to high school-everytime I think about it I start to cry. The kids and the grands went bowling and out to lunch. We celebrated Kristen's 14th birthday-another teary moment with the grands BFFs. Kristen used the soap today. The chocolate covered pretzels are mine, all mine. We saw some movies. We dealt with the Durango getting hit by a stupid teenager. This incident did nothing to motivate me to push Matt to get his license.(The durango will be repaired while Randy stays here

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/singapore/traders/rooms/deluxepoolviewroom


Yes, another trip to Singapore. He leaves on Friday and returns 6/10.

Dad tried his hardest to make Sabrina make her trademark exhale of breath noise. No luck. He could not have been off the street before the dog made that highly anticipated sound!

Today the kids played donkey konga(Nintendo's annoying answer to Guitar hero) and worked on their rooms. Kristen's is cleaned up. Matt is making progress. So far today I have done 6 loads of laundry. Kids want to go to walmart tonight-Matt to buy a birthday present for girlfriend Staci, Kristen to spend, spend, spend. I still need to make cookies for a dept picnic tomorrow. I think keylime with white chocolate. Also need to run dishwasher once the laundry room closes for the evening.

Random pictures from my camera

Trying day with the spawn

When I got up today, my daughter was replaced with a drama queen. These dramatics lasted a good three hours. Then she took a shower and was better. She cleaned the stove and was somewhat helpful.

Matt got up and felt he needed to practice his debate skills on me. Not.a.good.idea.

Then there was the grass cutting. As much as I love the smell of a freshly mowed lawn, the drama, excuses and general attitude problems are so not worth it. Matt did not feel he needed to cut the grass since he has a job. Hello? He does not work today. He is cutting half. He did eventually cut his part with only a few minor arguments. Kristen, oh the pain. She has serious listening issues today. She did not take direction well. Then there was the bee problem. It took 3 separate attempts before the bees were sufficiently at bay. Then it was like she was eating a meal. First, we would cut a little over here, then a little over there, etc, etc, etc.

Randy just got home from volunteering overnight in Rocky Mountain National Park. He will be home exactly 12 hours before leaving again for Pennsyvania.

News Flash

Matt has a new girlfriend! Her name is Stacy! Maybe some of you may even get to meet her. She is cute and goes to Longmont High. I think Matt will now have a little more incentive to not piss me off and get out driving more so he can get his license. He told me I need to schedule time with him for this! I need to schedule time?

Happy Mother's Day!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day and thanks to this lovely bout of cellulitis I do not know what if anything I will do to celebrate. I thought I would share some of my thoughts on being a mother for 17 years.

Mothers praise their kids creations no matter what. I recently have consumed biscuit/cookies and a strawberry chocolate smoothie from Kristen. Matt does not cook often which is a good thing since his creations scare me.

I still have most hand made cards, gifts, etc that they made for me. The card no longer works, but I remember the card that has Matt's voice saying Happy Mother's Day Mom, I love you.

No matter Irritating the teens are, I still love them, just not their actions. Like right now, when K put a piece of a biscuit on the dog's head. Dog is stupid.

I used to think the toddler state was the hardest to get through. Then came the 4-5 year old stage. During this stage Kristen came into Matt's life. Matt celebrated by covering a table at Kinder care with Thomas the tank engine stamps. Another time he rebelled against a professional photograph with his sister by decorating his face with war paint(markers) during nap time.

Who could forget his allergy to peas and mashed potatoes or his signups for camp for boys and the field trip he intended to run to the WKS railroad? Also digging for treasure in a snowbank and finding a garnet tennis bracelet?

Then came elementary school. Oh boy, did it come. Matt medicationless was like a Tasmanian devil. I wish we would have put him on it sooner. His elementary years were not the best even though his creativity was. I will never forget the letter he was supposed to write welcoming a new student to Paxtonia. Matt wrote this place is a white slave factory, escape while you can.

Kristen's elementary school years were less dramatic but were punctuated by her refusal to read because she could not do it better than Matt.

Onto middle school. Matt and Kristen both discovered a love of instrumental music. Matt was a challenge to do any work that did not interest him. Kristen was a rule follower.

Enough reflections for now. Happy Mother's Day!

Randy fought the guidepost and the guidepost won.

Yes, Mr. Perfect backed into a guidepost in Rocky Mountain National park today and did some minor damage to the bumper of the Durango but did enough that we need to replace the rear hatch door. Kaching! Did I yell or scream? No. It just proves, everyone can do something stupid.

Silver lining

While it has been no fun being laid up with cellulitis(in fact it sucks), some very special friends have done some very special things. Even though I have said we are doing fine(Randy made his second grocery store run today), Midge and Candi from Erie elementary had King Soopers deliver a care package of a chicken dinner and a bouquet of flowers. Then tonight, my BFF Norm and his wife brought an entire roast beef dinner including brownies and a bouquet of pink roses. It is great to have friends who care so much! I love you all!

Our weekend with a computerized baby

It is very tiring-for everyone. Matt even feels sorry for Kristen. Last night the baby and car seat were on the loveseat until she went to bed( not sleep) to keep it away from pets. No fear about that in this house. Sabrina shakes when it cries and avoids it. What is not helping is for the first 24 hours, every time it cried Kristen would scream. Her comments vary from Shut the freak up, What is wrong with you, You are mental, I hate you, I wish you would die to lots of variations. Kris is not handling sleep deprivation well. It sleeps at the most two hours. I took video and photos but will have to post them later since I forgot AA batteries at the store. Making Mom's taco salad for dinner then going out for coffee with my friend Anita. Matt will be done working around 11:30! Yeah! I think it has served its purpose. She does not want anything to do with babies.

Sigh

I have a no win situation tomorrow at work. I stayed an extra 1.5 hours trying to prepare for it and figuring out who to call to make myself feel better. I am meeting with a principal to discuss her decision to replace the media specialist with a clerk who only has worked 2 hours a day in the library. My job supports both the media specialists and the clerks. If I support the media specialist over the clerk(which is the right thing to do), the clerk may lose her job. If I advocate for the clerk too heavily, the media specialist may never get back in the library. Right now, I am not liking my job very much!

I've been sprung!

Sabrina here, talkin' to you from my pillow. Consider this a doggie podcast. They came to pick me up. Big whoop. I've been hanging out with my homeys for a week and Mom and Kristen show up acting like I should have missed them terribly. Not exactly. They picked me up in the deathtrap. I tried to pretend I did not remember how to get in it, but Kristen lifted my butt in it. I screamed, yowled, howled save me,save me, save me. Did anyone listen? Nada. They opened the window thinking I wanted air, I screamed and screamed to all the other people in their various forms of deathtraps and still no one listened. We stopped at the house of the cute girl with the red braids and she answered the doorbell by asking can I help you? She sure can-finally, I am saved! Mom talked to her about burgers and drinks and she asked small, medium or large? Say what? When is she coming out to let me out of here. Then we leave, I scream some more, and I think I passed out. Mom calls it hyperventillating. Next thing you know we are home. Matt is no where to be found. It had something to do with Mom failing to read calendars correctly and Matt having to work 7-3pm today. Loser with a capital L. Dad was fishing-no great loss for me there. I can barely keep my eyes open by now and they want me to go squirrel chasing. Yeah right. Not happening. I don't even have the energy to eat. Later,

Sabrina.

Totally random

Twitter is great, but I certainly post a lot less. I am feeling very stressed and overwhelmed and am very tired of feeling this way. Matt is having his bass lesson and then a hard life lesson. Kris is going to the doctor tomorrow for her cough. She may have asthma, hopefully not pneumonia. Matt once had pneumonia with no fever, so hopefully she has not contracted that strain also. I have several imposing deadlines at work the rest of this month. I have to go shopping for the kids for Easter, buy Zack birthday presents, get the dog a license while it is still 2008. She needs to exercise as do I, but I do not want to take her for walks until she is legal. Kristen is sleeping with me as bug season has started. This week is CSAPS for her. Tomorrow night is a band booster club meeting that I should attend. Here is my day tomorrow:
7:30-9am breakfast meeting for collection dev for new schools
9-10 race back to the office to make my office look like more than a storage room.
10 am meet with vendor
11:15 go to trailridge to pick up Kris for doctor appt
12:00 take Kris back to trms
get back to office for 1pm budget meeting
2:00 try to fit in everything else in(like rewriting copyright policy, generating purchase orders for new schools, review more books) and maybe try to eat something for lunch.
Such is my life.

Time for the bass lesson and the bassist is quite impatient.