Catch up on paperwork?

Ok, so like I said yesterday, today was a good day to catch up on paperwork. Did I catch up on paperwork? Well, no. Of course not. Absolutely not. Why would I ever catch up on paperwork? Anyone who works at school 12 hours should be caught up, but oh no, not me. Had one parent show up for a conference, 2 ASC parents show up to chit chat, and the rest of the day was spent, answering text, helping Katie get her resume' ready to be faxed over to Lafeyette Parish School Board, and playing principal. Somehow I knew that this day would turn out like it did. Now I will be chasing my behind all week again. Paperwork.....is like an ever growing blob that ecompasses you entire life. Never ending. Ever growing. Ugh. I hate paperwork. Especially the one with a deadline.....which by the way.....I am always late.

I love being a Grammy.

Now I can let the cat out of the bag, so to speak.....my youngest daughter is on her way to her Dad's to surprise him for his birthday....she is pregnant with our 3rd grandchild. I can't believe it, my baby is going to have a baby. I found out Saturday...my oldest daughter accidently let it out of the bag in front of me. She has been holding it in since Oct. 9 when she took a home pregancy test and it showed up positive. It is a surprise, but I had a feeling that she was getting that "longing for a baby." I even told my aunt that I had that feeling.....and low and behold, I was right. AND, I can't ask for a better Daddy / Boyfriend / Future Husband for my daughter. He is equally excited, and already pacing the floors worrying about the financial end of the stick....typical Daddy. It will all work out, I know it....because these two were meant to be together, and God has gave his blessings by creating this little life within my daughter as a outward sign of their love. I knew this would all work out. I love these kids.

Upcoming Week

This upcoming week is set for excitement. On Monday, we have Parent / Teacher Conferences....no students. For me, that is a good day to catch up on all paperwork, as I only have 4 students at the Elementary. I may have one or two parents show up, but that will be all. Katie and I need to be there at 7, but we get off at 2....and phew.....no After School Care. We also have a week of Red Ribbon - Say No to Drugs - activities. Non stop fun, but also frustrating as we have so many interruptions throughout the week. I will call first thing Monday morning to see if I can get doctors appt.'s...one to see in Thibodaux and one to see in Metarie. I don't think that the one in Thibodaux will be a problem, but the one in Metarie will. I hope not....I'll just take the day off and do both. The following week, November 1, I want to take it off too, but I forgot all about ASC. Katie and I want an R&R day in New Orleans....Starbucks, Barnes and Nobles, Whole Foods, etc. Just a get the hell outta Berwick day. So I will probably ask my principal what are we doing for our inservice day on Nov. 2. I'm thinking nothing. That is one of those days that is slipped into the calender as an extra day in the event of a hurricane. I hope so......I will switch my R&R day to Nov. 2. Although it would be nice to take off Nov. 1....that would make it a 4 day weekend. Now if I can make it to Thanksgiving, I should be okay. Teachers live by the rule, if you can make it to Thanksgiving, you can make it to the end of the year. I was bored yesterday, so I started perusing the jobs wanted for Katie a job. Low and behold, would you believe that Lafayette Parish School Board have two opening for a technology teacher. We will be faxing in her application and resume promptly......Monday morning at 8. That is the parish she is wanting to get on, so I'm praying she does. Otherwise, it is back to the perusing.

I hate October.

Every year, I say that I will remember how crazy I am during the month of October. However, every year I  forget. And every year, I am so busy and exhausted that I could take a week off of school. Tonight was our annual Quarterfest at school. Exhausting...I work 7 hours at school, then 2 1/2 in After School Care, then 2 hours at Quarterfest. Wow. it is all for the kids though. They have a good time and the funds collected benefit all the children. Next week is Halloween. I bought my babies costumes. I will have a Batman and Iron Man. So cute.I can't wait to for Trick or Treat with my babies. Ok, let me rest so I can get going tomorrow morning.

Grammy's Lil Gangsters

Death and Beyond

A conversation between my oldest daughter (his mom) and my oldest grandson. I just love that kid.

Death and Beyond

As we were leaving the doctors office this afternoon, Lil' Nacho noticed a dead red bird. He was heartbroken.

-Mom? What happened to the bird?
- He got sick and died my love.
- But what happened? Why?
- I don't know Nacho. He probably got sick and couldn't get any better.
- Awwwww....... Poor little bird. I bet his parents miss him.
- Yea they probably do. But guess what? Even though we miss him and his parents and friends miss him, they will see him again one day.
- Where?!
- When we die, we go to heaven with Jesus.
- huh?
- Yep. We go to heaven with Jesus and the little bird won't be sick anymore.
- Mommy? Can I cook the bird? I bet he tastes like chicken.

Something has to give!

Phew! September flew by, and we are already half way through October. Things have not calmed down any at school. Instead of it getting easier, it seems to be getting harder. I have spent the last 2 Sundays at school trying to get a handle on the paperwork, but the stack doesn't seem to get any smaller. Last Sunday, I spent 13 hours at school. This Sunday, I spent 7 hours at school. I will be getting to school early to try to get more done before the school day begins. I have made major changes to my schedule and my 5 interpreters schedules, so I am hoping for some relief from those changes.

Nothing much going on outside of school. Katie's last day for her long term substitute job is Oct. 29, then she will be out looking for another job. She may have an opportunity to get 2 more maternity leave positions, if she doesn't find something permanent. Johnny is out looking for a job again also. Hopefully, he will decide what to do with all those college hours he has, but no degree. Nick is still trying to figure out what in the world he is gonna do. Seems like the Air Force is the way he is leaning. Who knows? He may change his mind 10 different time before May (his enlistment time with the Marine Corp is over.) And Kristian is plugging along I guess. She is always studying, and she hopes to be done in May. I hope so too.

As for me, I'm sick of going to school. I have been in school all my life, and for what? A school teachers salary of $52, 000 year. I get another $6,000 for being the Director of our After School Care Program. Big whoopi! All that education and I don't even make $60,000 a year. Yes, I am thankful that I do have a job, and yes, I know I make a lot for a woman, but I am still pissy that with all of that schooling, I should not have to go back everytime I want to try something different. I recieved my Master's in School Counseling from the University of Southern Mississippi, which their education department is NCATE approved, and the School Counseling Curriculum is NCATE approved, but that is not good enough for LA. O no, they want me to take 2 more classes to be a certified School Counselor in LA. Then, I took this Hearing Impaired position, then found out that I needed to take 2 parts of the Praxis and an internship + 18 more freaking hours of classes. Are they nuts? I got a whopping $300 more a month (gross) for my Master's +30 (I actually have +36), but that isn't good enough. Guess what I would get if I did all they want me to do to be Hearing Impaired Certified.....just take a guess.....$0. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Ugh. Seriously, I am just trying to make it 2 more years after this year. I will be eligible to retire. I am seriously thinking about moving. Yes, I love LA, but enough is enough. None of the other teachers in my School Counseling Graduating class had to deal with this. Their state accepted their degree face value. Only the 4 students from LA were paid for their degree, but not certified as a School Counselor.

Weight loss is going good I guess....I haven't weighed myself in over a month.....Need to go back for a fill, but so hard to go to NOLA while in school.
O well, need to get to sleep...it won't be long until that alarm goes off and I will be bouncing out of this bed. Nite All!