this, that and the other....

This:

Is a seriously long overdue post. I thought being a teacher would afford me more time to relax during school breaks. Well, notsomuch. I have been busier since school ended than I ever am during the regular year. I guess when your still actually teaching during the summer, and then trying to add in all the fun stuff that goes along with living by the beach, and having nights where you could sit outside with friends until the wee hours... it just leads to complete overload. Not in a bad way mind you, just so much more than the norm.

That:

So yes... As I mentioned in some previous post, I got the summer job I was hoping for. It is the same program I have taught over the years during previous summers, but I was unsure if it would continue with all the the horrendous cuts to my school district. The program was cut to a very unpleasant level and a lot of teachers did lose their positions, but I did survive the cut. So I'm teaching the 1st grade Autistic class. I had them last summer as kindergartners...  I love that I get to continue with them and see how well they progressed since last year. But as it was last year, it is still so exhausting. It is a full school day from 815 to 3pm. I seriously need a shower and a nap everyday when I get home. I have one new student who recently returned to the district from an out of district placement. He seriously needs one on one. I spend the majority of my time holding him to keep him from hurting himself, running away or getting upset to the point of complete meltdown. He is progressing as he learns to trust me, but it is nontheless tiring.  My para is a godsend... she makes my day a whole lot easier, and keeps the rest of the class running at a norm when I am consumed with the other. We have been having some real fun though. I took the kids to the zoo last week and it was awesome. It's a really small zoo which was perfect for us. Next week will also include a day out which should be fun. That is if I am feeling better. One of my lovelies came in this last week with pink eye. The nurse called home about it, and the parent said he had been on meds and the Dr said he could come to school. Well, he was still contagious, and I got it. In BOTH eyes. Really? this crud sucks. I have never in all my years of teaching been infected with this. I hope I never again cross paths with it... it hurts, and I have to wear my glasses now, which is just about the worst torture you could put me through. I live in my contacts, and it will be a long 2 weeks until I can put those babies back in my eyes. *sigh*

The Other:

I finally decided it was about time to treat myself to a new bed. I have had the same mattress for the last 18 years... yes you read that number correctly, 18. So not only did I purchase the supreme of all memory foam mattresses, I also bought a pretty new bed, new bedding and new sheets. It is seriously dreamy. I want to spend every frickin spare moment I have lying on that thing. Oh... and it gets better. As I work way to many days of the week, my Mom had to come over to wait for the delivery guy to come. During the time that she was here waiting... SHE CLEANED MY WHOLE HOUSE!!!!   Oh god love her... She even cleaned the bathrooms, which I loath more than anything, and I have three of them. And they are all super sparkly now!!! She even made cute little flowers out of the TP... hehe, she's so cute! So here is my new dreamy bed... and for fun, a pic of one of the cute tp flowers!!! Thanks Mom, your the best! XOXO

Now I still need to steam the bedding to get out all the wrinkles, 

and cut the tags, but I wanted to throw it all on to get the pic!

And as an extra:

Happy LID to me.... The CC@@ referred up to May 10th of '06 this month 

(those families waited approximately 50 months :( ... so still slowly crawling along!

~Have a great weekend :)