Why can't they just let me go away peacefully?..........................
Yes, I am referring to the public school system, and I am feeling this urge to become a school shooter so I thought if I talked about it in print it would help me to relax and let it go.
Last March (23rd) I got this urgent call that my youngest had not yet paid for her AP statistics exam, and if she didn't pay that day she would not be able to take the exam in May. If she does well on the exam she will not have to take the class in college so we wanted her to take the test. Long story short I rushed around and got a check to the school that day.
The check has yet to be cashed.
When I checked on it at the very beginning of May the lady told me they had to wait until the test was given to cash the checks to be sure that all the kids had paid. This made no sense to me at all, and in my opinion is no way to run a business, but the test was two days away at that point in time so I let it go.
A week after the test the check had still not been cashed so I tried to call the lady, she wasn't in, so I left a very sweet message with the assistant principal and ask him to look into the matter for me.
Today (May 31) I called the lady again to be told that the checks can not be cashed until the kids that ended up not taking the tests are given back their money, and the kids that took the test without paying for it payed. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?
Apparently the original due date for money of March 23 didn't really mean anything. Apparently this woman felt it was fine to lie to me about the fact that the checks would be cashed as soon as the test was given. Apparently most people don't care to keep their checkbooks up to date.
Half-way through her speech about why my check could not be cashed, I interrupted her to inform her that I didn't care about anything but getting my check cashed. I gave her my own little speech about how my daughter is slated to graduate in three days and if she does not have all of her paper work done, any fines payed, books returned, yada, yada, that she will not be able to graduate and yet I have ABSOLUTELY NO RECOURSE to take to make sure my check is cashed before graduation.
Then I hung up on her and called the assistant Principal, told him that I would appreciate him listening to me vent and them proceeded to tell him the exact same thing I had said to the secretary. His response, " Well, gosh! I am going to have to call the business office, no one has ever came to me with this problem before." Right! I am trying to get them to take my money, not get out of paying them. One would think they would be glad to do so.
I am rational enough to understand that within the big picture of life this is NOT a big deal. It isn't even a sorta big deal. Why am I getting all hyped up about it then?
Because it is one more little thing in a HUGE list of little things that should not be this hard. If I ran my business the way the school runs their business I would be living on the street by now. I pay taxes so they can make insane policies like this? Let's do the math... The test cost close to $100.00. Say 25 kids took the test making the total amount close to $2,500.00 sitting in a desk drawer instead of a bank account where it could be earning a tiny bit of interest. But what do they care about making money as they can just raise the next millage and I can pay higher taxes to not have any say in policy making? It makes me crazy!
Let it go Patty...
Tomorrow is senior breakfast, to which I am sending 2 pounds of ham. When I ask why I didn't just send in a whole ham I was informed that she (the person on the phone) was only one of six people making calls and they all had ham on their list, blah, blah, blah, so I simply told her this would not have been the way I would have structured it, but since I was not invited to help organize the breakfast I would just shut my mouth and send in the two pounds. Then my youngest and I crunched the numbers and had a good laugh at the thought of these women trying to figure out where in the world they were going to plug in the 65 crock pots with small amounts of various hot breakfast items each holding one to two pounds of something.
I hope they blow a fuse!
I feel better! Thanks for listening.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Random says, "I'm it!"......................
Tagged by Random,how could I say no thank you. Besides my oldest loves these kind of posts because she always learns something she didn't know about me before.
The Rules:*
Players start with 8 random facts about themselves.*
Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts.*
Players should tag eight other people and notify them that they have been tagged.
1. My middle name at birth was Ellen. When I got married for the first time I dropped Ellen and took my maiden name as my middle name. Not for any women's lib reasons, but to keep a connection with the parents I didn't have any other memories of. My way of honoring them I guess.
2. I have an uncanny ability to recall telephone numbers. I have no idea why I can remember phone numbers in my head, I am not that good at math. One of the silliest arguments (my) Mister and I ever had (and I am picking from a vast assortment of silly arguments here folks) was the time I couldn't understand why he couldn't remember the phone number: 627-7627. NOT rocket science is it now? He couldn't understand why he needed to remember something he could write down and look up. Come to think of it I still don't think we ever found common ground on that one(the person that owned the number has been dead for four or five years so it is a mute point now anyway).
3. When I was little my aunt and uncle had a really mean little yappy dog named Patty. I hated that the dog had the same name as me. Not because I didn't want to share names, but because she was such a mean dog. Now that I think back on it, maybe that is where my mean, yappy streak comes from? See? I can't help it because I learned it from my name sake at an impressionable age.
4. Like Random, with the exception of a couple of cups of coffee in the morning, the only thing I drink is water. I don't understand how people can say they don't like the taste of water, I have actual cravings for the stuff. And I prefer the water at room temperature instead of cold even if I would burn more calories by drinking ice water. I am too greedy and love to drink the 8 to 16 ounces straight down rather than have to sip it due to the coldness of it.
5. Not because of number four, but because of training I ALWAYS have to go to the bathroom JUST BEFORE I leave the house (go to bed and get up as well). Doesn't matter if I just went five minutes prior, it is so ingrained in me from childhood that I must go again, or at least try. I always made my kids do the same, but they don't seem to be as obsessed about it as I am now that they are adults.
6. Whenever we (Mister and I)go on a vacation we get a picture frame as a souvenir. We started the tradition on our honeymoon and have kept it up ever since. A few of the frames ended up never getting pictures in them and so we have adopted the face in those frames as member's of the family. After seven years don't you think they have earned the honor? Yes, they have names...Aunt Sue and Uncle Jake.
7. There were times in my life when I was afraid of driving. Like for the entire first year that I had my licence. One is on probation during this time and the law can take away one's licence for infractions so in order to avoid having this happen I simply choose not to drive. I guess I was black or white even back then.
Or when I got married and moved to the big city (which wasn't very big at all, but seemed HUGE to me compared where I came from. Used to country roads and four-way stop signs, I was blown away by the occasional over-pass). When I was five months pregnant with my oldest, I found an ad in the paper for a used high chair. The fact that we were so poor at the time trumped my fear of driving so I headed out (when the husband was out of town on business) to secure the chair for my unborn child. I ended up getting horribly lost, backing up (OFF) an (ON) ramp of another freeway that would have taken me to an even bigger city, crying, and scared to death I was going to run out of gas, thankful that I had enough money in my personal (hidden) slush fund to replace the gas that I had used so my husband wouldn't find out (NO! He did not physically abuse me, it was just his style of yelling in anger that made me avoid it at any and all costs. I was already feeling stupid enough without having anyone else share in those sentiments). I never got that high chair (but we did get one at a baby shower so all's well that ends well), and I kept my secret safe for many, many (has it really been close to twenty-eight already?) years. And yes, I can drive anywhere without too much anxiety these days, but I still really don't like too.
8. I hate putting pressure on people to do things they don't volunteer for. I made a horrible phone tree parent when the kids were in elementary school. I would rather bake fifteen dozen cookies rather than ask parents to help provide them. If friends ask me to host one of those in home parties, I would rather write them a check than ask other friends "to come over for a night of fun and to learn about some really great products." I also wrote checks instead of allowing my kids to participate in fund raisers. In spite of this...
I am actually going to fulfill all the requirements this time and actually tag eight people, as a growing experience for me. I hope I know that many bloggers. Here goes:
One 4 JC
Jenna
Maynard
Dee
E
Has to be me
Sheri
(and) Steve...Welcome to my world!
I did it! Even if I had to search for number eight (a new blog), and tag a total stranger (my defense is that Random had to go and tag T-girl before I could).
Do me a favor. Click on Steve's link and go on over and give him a great big welcome. It just might encourage him to do the tag for me.
Tagged by Random,how could I say no thank you. Besides my oldest loves these kind of posts because she always learns something she didn't know about me before.
The Rules:*
Players start with 8 random facts about themselves.*
Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts.*
Players should tag eight other people and notify them that they have been tagged.
1. My middle name at birth was Ellen. When I got married for the first time I dropped Ellen and took my maiden name as my middle name. Not for any women's lib reasons, but to keep a connection with the parents I didn't have any other memories of. My way of honoring them I guess.
2. I have an uncanny ability to recall telephone numbers. I have no idea why I can remember phone numbers in my head, I am not that good at math. One of the silliest arguments (my) Mister and I ever had (and I am picking from a vast assortment of silly arguments here folks) was the time I couldn't understand why he couldn't remember the phone number: 627-7627. NOT rocket science is it now? He couldn't understand why he needed to remember something he could write down and look up. Come to think of it I still don't think we ever found common ground on that one(the person that owned the number has been dead for four or five years so it is a mute point now anyway).
3. When I was little my aunt and uncle had a really mean little yappy dog named Patty. I hated that the dog had the same name as me. Not because I didn't want to share names, but because she was such a mean dog. Now that I think back on it, maybe that is where my mean, yappy streak comes from? See? I can't help it because I learned it from my name sake at an impressionable age.
4. Like Random, with the exception of a couple of cups of coffee in the morning, the only thing I drink is water. I don't understand how people can say they don't like the taste of water, I have actual cravings for the stuff. And I prefer the water at room temperature instead of cold even if I would burn more calories by drinking ice water. I am too greedy and love to drink the 8 to 16 ounces straight down rather than have to sip it due to the coldness of it.
5. Not because of number four, but because of training I ALWAYS have to go to the bathroom JUST BEFORE I leave the house (go to bed and get up as well). Doesn't matter if I just went five minutes prior, it is so ingrained in me from childhood that I must go again, or at least try. I always made my kids do the same, but they don't seem to be as obsessed about it as I am now that they are adults.
6. Whenever we (Mister and I)go on a vacation we get a picture frame as a souvenir. We started the tradition on our honeymoon and have kept it up ever since. A few of the frames ended up never getting pictures in them and so we have adopted the face in those frames as member's of the family. After seven years don't you think they have earned the honor? Yes, they have names...Aunt Sue and Uncle Jake.
7. There were times in my life when I was afraid of driving. Like for the entire first year that I had my licence. One is on probation during this time and the law can take away one's licence for infractions so in order to avoid having this happen I simply choose not to drive. I guess I was black or white even back then.
Or when I got married and moved to the big city (which wasn't very big at all, but seemed HUGE to me compared where I came from. Used to country roads and four-way stop signs, I was blown away by the occasional over-pass). When I was five months pregnant with my oldest, I found an ad in the paper for a used high chair. The fact that we were so poor at the time trumped my fear of driving so I headed out (when the husband was out of town on business) to secure the chair for my unborn child. I ended up getting horribly lost, backing up (OFF) an (ON) ramp of another freeway that would have taken me to an even bigger city, crying, and scared to death I was going to run out of gas, thankful that I had enough money in my personal (hidden) slush fund to replace the gas that I had used so my husband wouldn't find out (NO! He did not physically abuse me, it was just his style of yelling in anger that made me avoid it at any and all costs. I was already feeling stupid enough without having anyone else share in those sentiments). I never got that high chair (but we did get one at a baby shower so all's well that ends well), and I kept my secret safe for many, many (has it really been close to twenty-eight already?) years. And yes, I can drive anywhere without too much anxiety these days, but I still really don't like too.
8. I hate putting pressure on people to do things they don't volunteer for. I made a horrible phone tree parent when the kids were in elementary school. I would rather bake fifteen dozen cookies rather than ask parents to help provide them. If friends ask me to host one of those in home parties, I would rather write them a check than ask other friends "to come over for a night of fun and to learn about some really great products." I also wrote checks instead of allowing my kids to participate in fund raisers. In spite of this...
I am actually going to fulfill all the requirements this time and actually tag eight people, as a growing experience for me. I hope I know that many bloggers. Here goes:
One 4 JC
Jenna
Maynard
Dee
E
Has to be me
Sheri
(and) Steve...Welcome to my world!
I did it! Even if I had to search for number eight (a new blog), and tag a total stranger (my defense is that Random had to go and tag T-girl before I could).
Do me a favor. Click on Steve's link and go on over and give him a great big welcome. It just might encourage him to do the tag for me.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
My newest love....................................
Aren't they FABULOUS? Yes they have ruffles...leather ruffles that accent my toes perfectly.
During out last trip to DSW (to accumulate yet more points during a double points day) I was just about to leave when I spotted them. First I have to say I am a sucker for polka dots (what do these polka dots remind you of M?), but the ruffles are what sealed the deal.
I am pretty sure that this is only the second pair of shoes I have ever paid full price for ($32.00) but some things one just can't be made to resist.
My only dilemma now is that I had decided what I was going to wear to graduation but now that I have these new shoes I just might have to change my outfit so I can wear them. There isn't that same rule about not outshining the graduate as there is about not outshining the bride is there? Tough! I am her mother so I can do what I want, and she can wear out new leopard print ones (we went in halvesies on them) and that will make her happy.
And did I tell you I have made a pledge not to wear any heels after July 7 (if we go to the wedding) until after the marathon? Don't want to mess up my feet with all the increased training. Good thing I don't consider wedges as heels isn't it? Otherwise I would have nothing to wear and would have to buy a bunch of new flats. On second thought...
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Party follow-up.......................................
Remember how my goal for the graduation party was to be kind to myself? Well I wanted to share how successful this ended up being because I am pretty proud of me.
(my) Mister took the three days before the party off of work and I could not have pulled things off without his help. I did some major cooking both Thursday and Friday while he did most of the OP care. Thank you sweetheart!
Both days I took some time out and took the dogs for a walk.
Now this might not sound like any big deal to you, but it is huge self-care for me. The old me would have taken that time to stew, fret, and do 500 other things instead of taking time to rest and regroup. I can't begin to tell you how happy my inner child was about getting to go out and play when there was so much work to be done!
Did everything get done that was on the list? Nope! And guess what? NO ONE DIED or any other horrible thing one might imagine. A few dishes never made it to the table (that just reminded me that I still have three large batches of finger jello in the back of the fridge...maybe Spanish class will eat them tomorrow), in rained a bit in the morning, and not all the floors ended up getting swept. Big deal! So what? Friends and family came together and enjoyed one an other's company. Who could ask for more than that?
It is kind of sad that I took so many years to catch onto the really important things in life. Maybe one of you youngsters out there reading this can take a lesson from this old(er) woman? Probably you will need to learn it on your own, which it totally an okay thing.
It isn't a horrible thing to push ourselves towards always doing our best, but often we tend to do so to the point of self-abuse with nothing ever being good enough to satisfy. This brings us full circle back to the concept, the need to practice self-love/kindness. Practicing these things on ourselves will only make us more able to give them abundantly to others.
Remember how my goal for the graduation party was to be kind to myself? Well I wanted to share how successful this ended up being because I am pretty proud of me.
(my) Mister took the three days before the party off of work and I could not have pulled things off without his help. I did some major cooking both Thursday and Friday while he did most of the OP care. Thank you sweetheart!
Both days I took some time out and took the dogs for a walk.
Now this might not sound like any big deal to you, but it is huge self-care for me. The old me would have taken that time to stew, fret, and do 500 other things instead of taking time to rest and regroup. I can't begin to tell you how happy my inner child was about getting to go out and play when there was so much work to be done!
Did everything get done that was on the list? Nope! And guess what? NO ONE DIED or any other horrible thing one might imagine. A few dishes never made it to the table (that just reminded me that I still have three large batches of finger jello in the back of the fridge...maybe Spanish class will eat them tomorrow), in rained a bit in the morning, and not all the floors ended up getting swept. Big deal! So what? Friends and family came together and enjoyed one an other's company. Who could ask for more than that?
It is kind of sad that I took so many years to catch onto the really important things in life. Maybe one of you youngsters out there reading this can take a lesson from this old(er) woman? Probably you will need to learn it on your own, which it totally an okay thing.
It isn't a horrible thing to push ourselves towards always doing our best, but often we tend to do so to the point of self-abuse with nothing ever being good enough to satisfy. This brings us full circle back to the concept, the need to practice self-love/kindness. Practicing these things on ourselves will only make us more able to give them abundantly to others.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The birds and the bees........................
A mama Robin had made a nest over the light on our garage and I finally saw the babies today, then my youngest and I were chatting about how her day at school went and a couple of bees flew into the room intent on "coupling," and I couldn't resist documenting the event.
Enough said!
Thoughts of loving kindness needed, please.............................
I rarely have to pump my own gas, as this is one of the (many) ways (my) Mister spoils me. For whatever reason, this was not the case one night last week.
I pulled into the gas station, my mind on the errand I needed to get done, and got out to fill the tank. Instantaneously I was bombarded with overwhelming feelings of sadness, panic, and anxiety. I felt physically sick to my stomach and I started to tear up. Wow! The guy pumping gas next to me was giving me a funny look so I explained to him that I was picking up feelings of people that had been to the station earlier and were freaking out about the current prices.
Believe it or not, he didn't think that was strange at all and we started chatting about the struggles many people would be having with the sudden increase in fuel prices, as well as the trickle down effect to the prices of everything else.
When I do body work on people I tend to pick up their feelings if I forget to put a circle of protection around myself before I begin to work on them. The feelings I were having were of this same nature, and I truly believe what I was feeling was left-over from previous customers.
We all know the current gas prices are insane. Do I like paying that much for a gallon of gas? Of course not. I am counting my blessings that we are able to make the necessary budget adjustments and are not in danger of having to chose between eating and filling up the tank.
I also know that this is not true for many people. People that were already struggling to make ends meet before the price increases, have got to be desperate now. They need your help!
Not to point fingers, to think they should have made different choices so they had greater incomes. Not to pass judgement of any kind.
Help them by holding them up in positive thought, and send loving kindness to them. It is the greatest gift one can give to another.
If you happen to be one of those in need of these things, I hope you can feel the love reaching out to you. We are all one, and all connected. We are in this together, and together we can accomplish any and all things!
I rarely have to pump my own gas, as this is one of the (many) ways (my) Mister spoils me. For whatever reason, this was not the case one night last week.
I pulled into the gas station, my mind on the errand I needed to get done, and got out to fill the tank. Instantaneously I was bombarded with overwhelming feelings of sadness, panic, and anxiety. I felt physically sick to my stomach and I started to tear up. Wow! The guy pumping gas next to me was giving me a funny look so I explained to him that I was picking up feelings of people that had been to the station earlier and were freaking out about the current prices.
Believe it or not, he didn't think that was strange at all and we started chatting about the struggles many people would be having with the sudden increase in fuel prices, as well as the trickle down effect to the prices of everything else.
When I do body work on people I tend to pick up their feelings if I forget to put a circle of protection around myself before I begin to work on them. The feelings I were having were of this same nature, and I truly believe what I was feeling was left-over from previous customers.
We all know the current gas prices are insane. Do I like paying that much for a gallon of gas? Of course not. I am counting my blessings that we are able to make the necessary budget adjustments and are not in danger of having to chose between eating and filling up the tank.
I also know that this is not true for many people. People that were already struggling to make ends meet before the price increases, have got to be desperate now. They need your help!
Not to point fingers, to think they should have made different choices so they had greater incomes. Not to pass judgement of any kind.
Help them by holding them up in positive thought, and send loving kindness to them. It is the greatest gift one can give to another.
If you happen to be one of those in need of these things, I hope you can feel the love reaching out to you. We are all one, and all connected. We are in this together, and together we can accomplish any and all things!
Monday, May 21, 2007
A day to relax and collect my thoughts.................................
The party was a great success, good food, good friends, good conversation. My only complaint is I didn't have enough time to spend with everyone. All of the people that came to the party are very special to me and I don't get to see them, or spend time with them often enough.
And then yesterday was the 5K/10K trail race. (my) Mister did his first 5K race and finished in forty-three (43) minutes. I was (am) so proud of him! I know he is doing this running thing just to make me happy, but he didn't totally hate it, (and said he was only cursing me for the first mile and a half) but it also is going to be good for his health.
I did the 10K (6 miles) in one hour four minutes and twenty-two minutes (1:42:22) and considering how busy I was with the party the three days prior to the race I am VERY pleased and happy with my results.
So today I am spending in regrouping and catching my breath. Before you know it life will be back to normal and I will have time to get caught up on all of your blogs and get back to regular posts. How exciting it that?
The party was a great success, good food, good friends, good conversation. My only complaint is I didn't have enough time to spend with everyone. All of the people that came to the party are very special to me and I don't get to see them, or spend time with them often enough.
And then yesterday was the 5K/10K trail race. (my) Mister did his first 5K race and finished in forty-three (43) minutes. I was (am) so proud of him! I know he is doing this running thing just to make me happy, but he didn't totally hate it, (and said he was only cursing me for the first mile and a half) but it also is going to be good for his health.
I did the 10K (6 miles) in one hour four minutes and twenty-two minutes (1:42:22) and considering how busy I was with the party the three days prior to the race I am VERY pleased and happy with my results.
So today I am spending in regrouping and catching my breath. Before you know it life will be back to normal and I will have time to get caught up on all of your blogs and get back to regular posts. How exciting it that?
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