Tuesday's Treats and Treasures

Yesterday I didn't manage to put a post together as I went to the 6:45pm showing of:

oh please please please go and see this movie!! Visually it's a feast for the eyes. It's hilarious and quirky, eccentric and silly and we (friends from work) laughed until our sides hurt! The only problem is it was so fast paced that I missed a lot because I was shrieking with utter glee! Which means, of course, that I'll have to go see it again...and again!! This is a movie I would buy.

So on to the treats and treasures of yore (yesterday)! My ID cards from the past 5 years!

I'm not getting older, I'm getting better! Not much change that I  can see - perhaps my face is fuller in the last one - that helps to plump out the wrinkles so I'm told...I've also started to use coconut oil (the new super food, well one of them anyways) and hope to see the clock turn back and me starting to look younger and younger...yes, I'm dreaming :)

Addendum: I know what the difference is now with the last picture - my smile is starting to slip and I look tired. I picked the right year to go.

As you may have guessed yesterday was "photo day" so let's have a look at the photos I kept close to me over the past 800 14 years that I taught at CCH...look at my sweet little puddin'pop :) I bet every one of you moms out there have a macaroni picture frame of your little cutie pies...

she was such a happy little scamp...who knew she'd grow into a surly teen?? Hah, just kidding...sort of...

one of my most favourite (and challenging) students - she used to call me "Spicy Eyes" because that was written on one arm of my glasses! She kept me hopping with her daily ritual of questions that HAD to be answered: can I break your glasses...(me - NO), did they cost $534?...(yes)...can I look down your top...(NO)...what colour camisole are you wearing?...at this point I'm trying unsuccessfully to redirect her...can you call Ed Roland?...no..(lead singer of her favourite band "Collective Soul") and on and on. Eventually I wrote down a list of her questions and my answers and put it on the side of the fridge and I'd just point at it when the questions started. Gave me a bit of a breather.

 Bad photo but I have a little hamster peeking out from inside my jacket - we had one for a classroom pet for a few years.

 What form...what grace...what?? It was "Share your Talent" day and I just had to clown around :)

What a happy crew! This was the first year that we went to the Special Olympics. A number of football players volunteered to coach the kids. They ALL had a blast!

Pre makeup, pre blonde hair extensions, pre eyelash curler, pre hair straightener, pre everthing but total CUTENESS!! Ah, Kazibelle, I do miss those innocent days...

 But whoa!! Look at those dimples would ya!! This is one of her "casual" Gr. 12 graduation pictures - what a beauty!

 A conglomeration of photos: 4 generations of Harrison men in the bottom photo - my nephew David, his son Jack, my brother Gord and my dad Doug.

Me, with darker hair, in front of the Montmorency Falls near Quebec City. And I'm thinking "braless"! Brazen hussy!

What more can I say about my one and only - she'll always be #1 in my heart!

One of my valentine cards from a student...am I the worm or the apple?

 A plaque to keep me motivated...

 At least 6-8 years ago - a wonderful group of students and staff...

Yup, I was still really enjoying my job back in those days - life was darn good. Sometimes I look at old photos and wonder to myself - "why did I get rid of that top? I love that top!! Drat!"

Now THAT top I only wore a couple of times and then donated it - you win some you lose some!

OK, this is from the middle ages...24 years ago this July. I'm graduating from UWO with my parents to support me. My dad before cancer got him in 2002 and my mom before Parkinson's took her in 2000. Kazi is there too - I was 7 months pregnant!!  I remember how brutally hot it was that day and she kicked up a storm ALL day!

Finally a pink candle (because I go through a LOT of candles) and my little "blessings" stones that got me through a lot of rough moments...

Today being Wednesday I brought home a new batch of stuff but will post about that tomorrow. Its getting past time I was on my bike pedalling fiercely through an episode of "House of Cards"!

I wish you a wonderful evening and thank you for joining me as I wandered down Memory Lane!

What did I bring home today....

Well, now you know I'm really me! My nameplate dates back to when I started working for the Royal Bank of Canada - so it's about 38 years old - YIKES!!  I'm as old as the hills! And don't I just hang on to things for a very looooooooooong time?! I think I should keep hanging onto it - I mean what if I end up not remembering who I am some day when I'm 95 years old?? It could happen...

I also brought home an old file box which I'm going to use for my monthly files...bills, receipts, insurance etc. I used to have a large cabinet with 2 lower drawers for filing and it was FULL!  See?
Proof that I am indeed downsizing!

I don't have any more dental appointments before my retirement date so brought home my extra toothbrush and toothpaste....hmmmmm, I guess that means NO garlicky food for lunch!

 And finally my lint brush...I'm hoping I won't need to de-fuzz again before the end of June - I'm so optimistic! Well if I do need to get rid of any lint I can always use my old standby - wrap masking tape around my hand sticky-side out. Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures!

And that's a wrap for yet another Manic Monday. We had a really good day at school - everyone was super tired for some reason - they were too tired to misbehave :)  One EA went home sick and we managed just fine being 1 short. Another hmmmmmmm moment!

Well off I go to exercise and eat dinner. Not at the same time mind you. Last night I made some jerk chicken and a pot of leek and potato soup which turned out even better than I thought it would.

Hope your Monday was a  good one!!

And the decluttering continues at lightning speed!

Hello my friends! It's  good to see you again. This week has been a little rough so I am glad ecstatic that tomorrow is FRIDAY!! My group of EAs is warring against each other - well that's not completely accurate. There are 3 who feel superior to anyone and everyone and they are bullying the other 3. There has been an EA in tears every day this week, sometimes 2, like yesterday.

It's complete and utter bullshit. There are 3 nasty ones and 3 really and truly hard workers who volunteer, don't watch the clock, don't do a crossword puzzle when they take a student to an integrated class, are helpful, friendly, cheerful and positive. The other 3 take verbal potshots, play games, feed the kids junk food when I'm not around, do as little work as possible and poison the atmosphere. It's beyond belief. And what can I do? Nothing. It's up to the individual EA to speak to the principal or call their union. I can't intervene or who knows I'd end up with another grievance against me like last year. And I'm not going THERE again.

So I'm happy to be at home and talking to you! And keep repeating my mantra - 87days...86 days...

Anyhoo - the April challenge continues - decluttering my work space and bringing home the things I want to keep. Yesterday's selection encompasses 2 days since I haven't posted since Monday. I did bring home more yesterday and will post that tomorrow.

As you can see I am bringing home more than 3 things a day...but then who can wear just 3 shoes? These have been hanging around my office since the snow started up in November (what a craptastically long winter we have had!!) I'm looking forward to wearing shoes everyday from now on! (fingers crossed!) I haven't worn boots now for a few days...I'm such a risk taker!!

I brought home my last box of greeting cards plus many many pads of paper because I am in LOVE with paper, nice clean fresh unsullied paper for lists, ideas, drawings, songs I hear on the radio and want to hunt down on Youtube and a million and one other reasons. I can never have TOO much paper - in fact I get kind of anxious if I'm getting low! In addition, two, yes TWO books on "Hug Therapy" - I forget where I got these but they're filled with different examples of hugs and what they mean. I'll post a page or two sometime. Last but not least a vintage box of poker chips. Kind of an unusual thing to have at school no? There was an activity using poker chips I wanted to make at one time but never got around to it. Maybe I can start having poker parties in PEI? Who knows? I may not keep them but am undecided as of this minute so will let them hang around for a little while. I could probably get rid of them at my upcoming yard sale.

Well, that about wraps up this post. Oh, Kazi finally printed off her tuition slip so I'll be finishing our taxes on the weekend - YAY - I'm getting a refund but not sure exactly how much...somewhere in the vicinity of $1,000 give or take. Oh yes...I've finished DAY FOUR of another juice cleanse. I feel pretty determined to rid myself of what can no longer be referred to fondly as a "muffin top" but more accurately a hideous "spare tire"!! The more days I complete the stronger my resolve to rid myself of my stress-related eating.  I had a headache on Day 2 and a lessor one on Day 3 as my system gets used to NO CAFFEINE!! Today I feel great! No headache, no hunger pangs and I am allowing myself one little glass of wine nightly because I AIN'T PERFECT!! Three pounds down so far. If I am successful I might post a before and after picture - now THAT'S something to look forward to lol!

Ok, now it's really goodbye! Thanks for dropping by :)

Grown up Daughters...more or less!

For some reason the font seems really small now on Blogger.  I'm squinting as I type this. Changes have been made and I haven't kept up with them...that's what happens, I guess, when you become a part-time blogger...

That happens around the house too - lots of things go on without my knowledge....

The other day I was in the upstairs bathroom washing my hands....I turned to the towel rack to dry my hands and this is what I saw!!

Now, luckily I've encountered this before so I wasn't as startled as I was the first time I encountered a sasquatch in the bathroom!  The first time my face was dripping wet and I had my eyes closed - you can imagine my...um...surprise!!

I was hoping that something would happen in my daughter's room without my knowledge - like a major cleanup now that she's DONE SCHOOL FOREVER!!...but no such luck...let's take a little peek shall we?...

EEEEEEEEEK!! Looks like the sasquatch got loose in her room!!  Closing the door once again before it gets out and renders the rest of the house unlivable ...!!

Sigh...this is the same daughter who drives 4 hour round trips on major highways for her job. Who always looks like she just walked off of a page in a fashion magazine and who graduated university and college with top marks. Ok, having just said that I now understand the state of her room!!

The good news is that after a week of snow, freezing rain, sleet, hail and rain, yesterday we finally had a day of  sunshine and mild temperatures and are looking forward to a week of the same! Any day now the leaves are going to burst open on the trees, I just know it! Spring, after many many delays, has finally arrived.

Which reminds me to check my "countdown to summer" counter - only 61 days til I leave for PEI!! I can handle that! Now that some level of sanity has returned to my classroom with the replacement EA fitting in VERY WELL I am free to plan field trips and lots of fun activities to keep everyone focused and happy til the end of this term.  I have my peace of mind back and you can't put a price on that!

And now... I must go fold laundry because it doesn't fold itself!! Rats...

Funky Blues

I have been in a bit of a funk lately! And I had very good reason to be; you see....

a new EA who started working in my school last October recently accused me, my Dep't Head and one of our VP's....

 of bullying and harassment - yes you heard me correctly...the truth of the matter is...

 she was really upset because she had been declared surplus at the school she used to work at...

 and turned that feeling into a large festering wound that spilled over onto those of us who tried to get her to do her job.

 She also had many personal issues she was dealing with at the time and made a lot of bad choices and decisions. Some illegal ones.

The good news in all of this, yes there is good news, is that her accusations against us were dismissed and she is under a trespass order - she can't come into the school where I work.

 She received a slap on the hand (kind of laughable when you consider the seriousness of what she did which was basically slander and defamation of character) and has been placed in another school!! Scary! She has been ordered to do some training etc and is closely supervised.

The investigation continues with a focus on the other, illegal things that she has done which do not pertain to me or my other colleagues.

It has been a truly horrendous experience, one I hope never to repeat.

I am slowly coming out of my funk. I am lucky to have a "life coach" as a partner and he has stood by me through all of this. Thank you Michael. My daughter, who weighs about 90 lbs offered to go beat her up for me lol,  Of course she was just kidding - we are a peace loving bunch and not exactly strong in the physical department :)

 Michael and I have been discovering new places to hike at - these photos are from last weekend when we hiked around Lake Whitaker. It was mild and sunny - just perfect. The colours have peaked and now there is a deep carpet of leaves everywhere.

 Usually I get melancholic during the fall season BUT this fall has been different. Can you believe I am looking forward to WINTER??  Yes, indeedy! We have had such brilliant weather this year - it all began during March  break when Michael and I went to visit the trailer I used to own and which now belongs to friends.  The weather just got better and better through the long spring and the never-ending summer. Just in the past two days has it been cool enough to put on a jacket. Remarkable, really. I find myself waiting for it to warm up again as I am so used to it being warm (or HOT) every day now.

 So that is why I am looking forward to winter. I am ready for a change of season and I can hardly believe I am saying that - ME - the lover of summer!

I am going to go out on a limb here (HAH! get it?) and predict that every leaf that is still attached to a tree branch around here will have fallen by next weekend and will be residing somewhere in Manitoba...or perhaps the Arctic! Hurricane Sandy is on her way and she is one of the most massive storms to ever trundle her way up the Eastern seaboard.  Her winds are not overly strong but her size is incredible - she is 1,000 miles in diameter and set to wage such destruction she will make her way into history books!  By Thursday we should be feeling the effects of all of her windy and rainy fury and by this time next week the trees should all be stripped clean. I just hope that they remain standing and that no one is injured or killed!

 Lake Whitaker is a little piece of heaven on earth. I used to come to the perimeter of this conservation area with my dad to pick elderberries years ago and had never hiked here before. Michael and I have circumnavigated the lake twice now - it takes about 3 hours, or more depending on how many side paths we take. The lake is quite small but the carolinian forest and the pine forests extend quite far to the north.

 My feet with my favorite Blundstone boots are peeking through a thick carpet of leaves.

 The geese love it here. And the blackbirds must stop here on their migratory path as the cacophony of sound was almost overwhelming at times.

 This week was pretty good - I am working hard at creating a structured learning environment at school and have made a lot of progress.  The powers that be have given teachers FOUR half-days of release time this year to work on a PLC (Personal Learning Community) project and so I chose to continue to work on structured learning of course. Last Friday was my first half-day. I got up at my usual time (5:15am) and was working away on my living room couch by 6am. It was a wonderfully productive time - being able to work for 4.5 hours WITHOUT interruption was fantastic! I am really making headway!

Shortly after I arrived back at school on Friday a friend arrived who is helping me to implement structured learning by helping to train my educational assistants. This friend helps at a number of schools and we used to work together for a few years. We see eye to eye so I know I  can count on her to pass on my strategies and methods in the same way that I would. By the end of the school day I was actually feeling JOYFUL!! Yes, joyful!

My regular readers know that last year was a tough work year for me and I ended up taking some time off due to the stressful work conditions.

I want to mark the day - Friday, Oct. 26th - as the day that I said to myself again -"I love my job!"

 You can see by my photos that I am always trailing behind Micael! It's because I stop and take so many photos!

 I love this photo - you can see little areas of light close up, in the middle ground and far off in the distance. What is Michael thinking, I wonder?

 Getting out for hikes every Sunday really saves my bacon. I get so caught up in the day to day grind during the week and it's so tempting to just lay on the couch with a book or watch something on Netflix. (By the way, I discovered the TV series "Jericho" the other day - wow, I love it!)  But, once I drag my butt outside I'm so glad I did!

 Just love the brilliance of these reddish-orange oak leaves against the blue sky!

 Do you think they're poisonous?? Even so, they are so CUTE!

 Walking though the pines on millions of dropped needles - so quiet...

One thing about walking on fallen leaves and needles is sometimes you're not sure if you're still on the PATH so I'm always happy when we come across a little bridge - yes! We're still on the path!

 This is where one side-path took us - how idyllic!

 Back into the woods - and I found a little green man dancing a jig!

And a little brown man! :) Well, not so little!

 This photo has a "holy" feeling to it I think...out of the darkness and into the light!

Some of the migrating birds - they moved from tree to tree overhead - filling the air with their constant chirping.

The light at the end of the tunnel - another side-path. At this point my camera battery died, aren't you sad??

No hiking this weekend - it's wet and cold...and wet. Blecch! And I've been on my own for most of the weekend so I DID INDULGE in some couch laying and some TV watching ;)  But I also rode my recumbent bike for miles and miles and miles just so I could break even with all the calories I consumed. I'm trying to get in at least 150 minutes of exercise per week which is the minimum we need according to "the experts".  I spent two days after classes in the cardio room at school - I alternately ran and walked on the treadmill, used the elliptical and did some resistance training. Far exceeded 150 minutes. Although it's great to get the exercise I do it mostly for managing stress. I really do feel better after working up a good sweat and I don't have to pay for a gym membership.

One of these days I'll do a financial update. I am sticking to a budget and while I spend, spend, spend it's mostly for school and I'll eventually be reimbursed. I hope. If I find the correct forms to fill in and haven't lost any receipts.

Well, I better move along. The dryer buzzed and there's more laundry calling my name. And so is lunch!! Have a great week everybody and thanks for reading my post.