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Anyone who knows me irl knows who Gus is. Gus (MY Gus) is this an amazing cat. I adopted My Gus in the summer of 2004 and he is hands down the best feline ever. (sorry cat lovers but it's true). Gus was 15+pounds, with a crumpled ear that oozed attitude, but pick that fat cat up and he melted in your arms. The people at the shelter called him the "fat drunk woman" because when you picked him up, he'd put his paws on your shoulders and nuzzle you. He lived at the shelter for 10 months before he and I met... I still have no idea how no one took him before that. My luck, their folly. He was meant to be a part of my life. I never had any issues with Gus at all, he was the most gentle sould I've ever met. Gus was what I always imagined a cat would be.
Last August (2008) Gus got out of our house. We were not watching the door properly and he escaped. It had happened before and he'd always stayed right in the yard so we didn't panic right away but going out a few minutes later to catch him, yeilded no cat. NO worries we said, we walked around the neighborhood calling for him, looking for him. Still no Gus. Ok, not to panic- he's microchipped. We posted signs, called the police, shelters and vets. Gus would turn up. Someone would see him, pick him up and know he wasn't a stray. Our fear was they'd keep him. For 5 months we kept up the search for Gus. We kept all of his stuff, and everytime we were out side we looked for him and called for him. I can't tell you how many kitties with bushy tails we chased hoping it could be him. But no.
In March we found a place in our hearts for two new kitties. (I believe I've posted them here before) But they just were not the same as Gus. I love them, but they're no Gus. 2 weeks ago DH called me at work all in a panic. "Go to the shelter website- I think it's Gus." And lo and behold there was a gray cat with a crumpled ear. I spent the next several hours trying to get in touch with someone there and to find out if it was our cat. If it was, the cat had walked a 50+ mile adventure to the family that surrendered him. I knew it was not possible but that doesn't mean I didn't hope. Finally the call came back, no microchip, short haired cat, not Gus. I'd be lying if I said we didn't cry that night.
Last night my parents came over. Mom ordered us a pizza from up the street and we went to pick it up while the boys worked on the Jeep. As we turned to leave the store we looked out the glass door and GUS was standing right there. I went outside, said "Gus" and he was up in my arms. No mistaking him, it was MY Gus Gus. We asked the store owner and he told us that was his "Guide Kitty." No it's not, it was Gus. I put him down on the ground (couldn't have them thinking I would just steal him) but he followed us to the car. (At which point I DID help him in) The store is less than 1/4 mile away from us and I figured if DH had moved on from Gus, he could wander back up there....
We got out of the car, I showed DH, he scooped Gus out of my arms, and put him in the house with a firm "he's staying, he's family" and tears in his eyes. Gus is not in good shape. He weighs less than our pomeranian at this point. My once fat boy is nothing but fur and bones. His skin is in terrible condition and he doesn't have the sparkle in his eyes he once did. But it's him. Penelope knew it right away, and he's fit right back into the house (all 12 hours he's been back). I went shopping last night to get all his favorite foods and toys crying the whole time. I am beyond glad he's back and as DH and I went off to sleep last night that was the last thing he said to me "It's a miracle that Gus is home, I am so happy."
All I wished for this year was "Better Days" but it's turned out to be so much more than I ever could have hoped for in many ways. YAY FOR GUS!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Back to school!
Teachers went back this week. It was busy but nice at the same time to be doing something. I have enjoyed each day of doing nothing that I have taken for myself this last month but it was nice to be getting back into the swing of things. (It helped that lots of my pretty new budget stuff was in!)
I just forget each year how draining it is to make the transition back to school. It's no secret that I am having an exceptionally hard time with it this year... new teaching assignment, newly restructured district, new administration, new team to be working on, and all while my home life is changing to add a baby. School is usually my constant and this year it's been all up in the air. Luckily I have wonderful friends and coworkers who are supporting me through it, but each day is work to get through with my positive attitude in tact.
I am trying so hard to be the positive sunny teacher I've always been but am struggling. The class I have coming in is challenging, I worked with many of these children last year. I am teaching on a team who has philosophically different views about teaching and learning than I do, and they are vocal. (For example they are the only team in the district who refuses to take on any new initiatives) I am frightened, going into our new district merger, that I will be lumped in with them as a hold out, whiner, and PITA. My administration tells me they understand that this was an involuntary move for me and that they know who I am as a teacher and professional, but I am still beyond stressed that people see I am part of that team.
There is also the small matter of my maternity leave. Unfortunately is is prohibiting me from taking on the leadership roles I was set up to take this year. Although I am right now living for my maternity leave (only 3 months of this challenging class) I am frustrated that my hands feel tied professionally. I am unable to take on the committees and teams I would normally be a part of because of my (hopefully 12 week) absence.
I may only teach first grade but I know when you add up all those things together, you get a hormonal mess of tears each night at home (and once at school this week) and a woman who is having a hard time finding her feet (not because my belly is so big either) as a teacher, mother to be and wife. I hope all the new school stuff settles down and I can adjust but either way, 3 months until the Goober is born!! I can do anything for 3 months.... right?
I just forget each year how draining it is to make the transition back to school. It's no secret that I am having an exceptionally hard time with it this year... new teaching assignment, newly restructured district, new administration, new team to be working on, and all while my home life is changing to add a baby. School is usually my constant and this year it's been all up in the air. Luckily I have wonderful friends and coworkers who are supporting me through it, but each day is work to get through with my positive attitude in tact.
I am trying so hard to be the positive sunny teacher I've always been but am struggling. The class I have coming in is challenging, I worked with many of these children last year. I am teaching on a team who has philosophically different views about teaching and learning than I do, and they are vocal. (For example they are the only team in the district who refuses to take on any new initiatives) I am frightened, going into our new district merger, that I will be lumped in with them as a hold out, whiner, and PITA. My administration tells me they understand that this was an involuntary move for me and that they know who I am as a teacher and professional, but I am still beyond stressed that people see I am part of that team.
There is also the small matter of my maternity leave. Unfortunately is is prohibiting me from taking on the leadership roles I was set up to take this year. Although I am right now living for my maternity leave (only 3 months of this challenging class) I am frustrated that my hands feel tied professionally. I am unable to take on the committees and teams I would normally be a part of because of my (hopefully 12 week) absence.
I may only teach first grade but I know when you add up all those things together, you get a hormonal mess of tears each night at home (and once at school this week) and a woman who is having a hard time finding her feet (not because my belly is so big either) as a teacher, mother to be and wife. I hope all the new school stuff settles down and I can adjust but either way, 3 months until the Goober is born!! I can do anything for 3 months.... right?
Sunday, August 23, 2009
DH Vent
For the record let me state that I love my DH more than anything. He is wonderful to me, he is the one I am meant to spend my life with. That being said I have a vent... (loooong)
Today was planned to be our get work done around the house day. We had friends and family volunteer to come and help us, it was going to be a major step forward in being ready for the baby. The boys were going to cut down the trees in the yard while the girls and I worked on the nursery....
Well 10:30 rolled around when everyone was supposed to be here, and no one was here. 11:00 rolled around and I went out to get ice. Got back at 11:15 and everyone was there drinking beer in my kitchen. I scooted them out and was waiting for the girls to show up. 12:15 the girls and DH's best friend who was supposed to be in charge of this endeavor show up just as the rest of the crew is leaving. It's muggy, I get that, I am not saying work in the mugginess but there is plenty else you can do around my house- how about finishing the bathroom that has been in progress for 19 months?!
Well the girls and I go up and get started while the boys announce they will go fix the jeep. We finish the entire first coat and I decide to text the guys to see where they are... they are sitting in the driveway drinking and smoking cigars. Now I know he doesn't see his best friend often enough and his best friend is going to Afghanistan soon for his 3rd depolyment. I get they are tryign to spend as much time together as possible but really.... while we are working you are sitting in the driveway fooling around?
We need to go get paint so GF(DH's BFF's GF) and I go to Home Depot. While out the boys keep calling making requests- pick up a video game, grab such and such for dinner. We do this, and come home to the two of them halfway through a bottle of Sambuca.
We go to finish the second coat of paint in the nursery while they go start the bonfire. To their credit they stacked the wood and got the fire going quite impressively. I came out and the two of them continued drinking quite heavily. They were dunk at this point. DH and I have been together 5 years and I have NEVER seen him drunk like this. Buzzed yes, drunk no. Well the night is wrapping up, and the two of them ask to have some chatty time to themselves so GF and I go into the house to pack up their things and leave the boys alone. 15 minutes pass, I look out the back window. BFF looks like he's hunched over puking. We decide to leave them. 10 more minutes pass and we go out. MY DH is puking. At first I thought he was giving me a hard time, but no, he was getting sick to his stomach.
The two of them were totally bombed, BFF fell out of his lawn chair necessitating GF to pick him up. DH goes into the house to shower all the PUKE off him. I start to put the fire out. Well being 7 months pregnant BFF decides I can't do that by myself and HE will take the hose from me and put out the fire.... and ME along with it. He thought it was hillarious to spray me with the hose and I finally went and turned off the water since we were not getting the job done anyhow. He and GF go after trying to get him in the car SEVERAL times. I put out the fire and go into the house to check on DH...
He is passed out on the bathroom floor. Now as I mentioned; 7 months pregnant, 280 pound husband who is drunk and beligerant, it is midnight after I got up at 5 AM and haven't had a moment to sit (or nearly enough to eat). Do you think this is a good situation?! Oh and did I mention that he's ON CALL tonight?! Yeah, the phone rang just after he passed out for the SECOND time and I had to wake him up. NOT COOL.
So here I am setting up to sleep on the couch because he can't go upstairs, he took out my AC and put it in the nursery while we painted so our bedroom is unbearable, and I need to be near the phones incase he gets more on call calls. I am hoping that tomorrow DH wakes up and is doing better.... but I have a feeling I am in for the hangover of a lifetime.
Today was planned to be our get work done around the house day. We had friends and family volunteer to come and help us, it was going to be a major step forward in being ready for the baby. The boys were going to cut down the trees in the yard while the girls and I worked on the nursery....
Well 10:30 rolled around when everyone was supposed to be here, and no one was here. 11:00 rolled around and I went out to get ice. Got back at 11:15 and everyone was there drinking beer in my kitchen. I scooted them out and was waiting for the girls to show up. 12:15 the girls and DH's best friend who was supposed to be in charge of this endeavor show up just as the rest of the crew is leaving. It's muggy, I get that, I am not saying work in the mugginess but there is plenty else you can do around my house- how about finishing the bathroom that has been in progress for 19 months?!
Well the girls and I go up and get started while the boys announce they will go fix the jeep. We finish the entire first coat and I decide to text the guys to see where they are... they are sitting in the driveway drinking and smoking cigars. Now I know he doesn't see his best friend often enough and his best friend is going to Afghanistan soon for his 3rd depolyment. I get they are tryign to spend as much time together as possible but really.... while we are working you are sitting in the driveway fooling around?
We need to go get paint so GF(DH's BFF's GF) and I go to Home Depot. While out the boys keep calling making requests- pick up a video game, grab such and such for dinner. We do this, and come home to the two of them halfway through a bottle of Sambuca.
We go to finish the second coat of paint in the nursery while they go start the bonfire. To their credit they stacked the wood and got the fire going quite impressively. I came out and the two of them continued drinking quite heavily. They were dunk at this point. DH and I have been together 5 years and I have NEVER seen him drunk like this. Buzzed yes, drunk no. Well the night is wrapping up, and the two of them ask to have some chatty time to themselves so GF and I go into the house to pack up their things and leave the boys alone. 15 minutes pass, I look out the back window. BFF looks like he's hunched over puking. We decide to leave them. 10 more minutes pass and we go out. MY DH is puking. At first I thought he was giving me a hard time, but no, he was getting sick to his stomach.
The two of them were totally bombed, BFF fell out of his lawn chair necessitating GF to pick him up. DH goes into the house to shower all the PUKE off him. I start to put the fire out. Well being 7 months pregnant BFF decides I can't do that by myself and HE will take the hose from me and put out the fire.... and ME along with it. He thought it was hillarious to spray me with the hose and I finally went and turned off the water since we were not getting the job done anyhow. He and GF go after trying to get him in the car SEVERAL times. I put out the fire and go into the house to check on DH...
He is passed out on the bathroom floor. Now as I mentioned; 7 months pregnant, 280 pound husband who is drunk and beligerant, it is midnight after I got up at 5 AM and haven't had a moment to sit (or nearly enough to eat). Do you think this is a good situation?! Oh and did I mention that he's ON CALL tonight?! Yeah, the phone rang just after he passed out for the SECOND time and I had to wake him up. NOT COOL.
So here I am setting up to sleep on the couch because he can't go upstairs, he took out my AC and put it in the nursery while we painted so our bedroom is unbearable, and I need to be near the phones incase he gets more on call calls. I am hoping that tomorrow DH wakes up and is doing better.... but I have a feeling I am in for the hangover of a lifetime.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Countdowns...
95 days until baby....
1 week before school starts.....
and today I was reassigned to teach a different grade. I knew it was coming but I kept holding out hope that enough K kids would sign up or that my new principal wouldn't want to do staffing changes on his first day, but nope...
I spent the day sweating in my classroom trying to get things in order. A few people came by to help me move furniture which was helpful but it is the mental shift I am dealing with. Most of the day was spent in tears and sweat but I am adjusting now. I am not good when things do not go according to my plan. Ask my husband. If he tells me dinner is at 6:00 and he comes home with the idea that we will run errands and eat a late dinner, I have a hard time dealing. Imagine my issues when it comes to changing grade levels at the last minute. It will be fine, but the mental shift is draining.
I was actually ready to go to bed at 6 tonight but DH had changed the plans and invited some of our friends over for dinner. It's been all I can take to get to this point and now, I am going to enjoy a Klondkie bar and watch I Love You Man! With Paul Rudd. I hope this takes my mind off of things. It also helps that the AC is working at our house. Now I am only upset about change, no longer sweaty or tearful. Tomorrow I will be ready to be positive about this change in grade level. (Just think- they will be somewhat independent, they already know me and my routines, etc.)
1 week before school starts.....
and today I was reassigned to teach a different grade. I knew it was coming but I kept holding out hope that enough K kids would sign up or that my new principal wouldn't want to do staffing changes on his first day, but nope...
I spent the day sweating in my classroom trying to get things in order. A few people came by to help me move furniture which was helpful but it is the mental shift I am dealing with. Most of the day was spent in tears and sweat but I am adjusting now. I am not good when things do not go according to my plan. Ask my husband. If he tells me dinner is at 6:00 and he comes home with the idea that we will run errands and eat a late dinner, I have a hard time dealing. Imagine my issues when it comes to changing grade levels at the last minute. It will be fine, but the mental shift is draining.
I was actually ready to go to bed at 6 tonight but DH had changed the plans and invited some of our friends over for dinner. It's been all I can take to get to this point and now, I am going to enjoy a Klondkie bar and watch I Love You Man! With Paul Rudd. I hope this takes my mind off of things. It also helps that the AC is working at our house. Now I am only upset about change, no longer sweaty or tearful. Tomorrow I will be ready to be positive about this change in grade level. (Just think- they will be somewhat independent, they already know me and my routines, etc.)
Saturday, August 8, 2009
School Next Year
About a month ago we all received an e-mail from our principal giving us the current budget update. The e-mail was positive overall until the last line which said something to the effect of: "I was questioned about how many kindergartens we had. I think that it will be ok for now, but I thought it best to let you all know." I teach kindergarten. I am still (after 5 years) the newest teacher in my building. That was my position they were discussing at the meeting. When we left for summer break we each had 12 students on our list. That's low but do you know how much I can teach 12 kids?! And compared to the fact that I had 19 last year, no help, and 13 of those 19 were boys. Man I could do some real work with 12 kids and get them on a solid path....
I of course went to speak with my boss who assured me that *hopefully* it wouldn't come up again but if it did I may be relocated to another school. I would still have a job, but it may not be the one I want in the building I want. He told me there was a 25% chance of that. Since then the percentage chances have gone up and down and last week he shared with me that he will not make the decision until the end of August. So at 28 weeks pregnant in the heat and humidity of August I may have to pack an entire classroom and move to a completely new building with new people, expectations, routines, and rules.
Any year I'd be upset, but this year in particular I am feeling extremely overwhelmed. Now he's hoping to keep me in the building and same room but perhaps teaching another grade level. This is the year I feel I have to be the most prepared due to my maternity leave. I wanted to have the bulk of the year planned out and prepped just in case anything happened and now everything is up in the air. Luckily this has forced me to really take this week off and next week as well since I am unable to prepare for the unknown. *Hoepfully* decisions will be made in the near future.... but for now it's scary. I was thinking that perhaps this would be the first year I didn't have back to school jitters but I guess I was wrong...
I of course went to speak with my boss who assured me that *hopefully* it wouldn't come up again but if it did I may be relocated to another school. I would still have a job, but it may not be the one I want in the building I want. He told me there was a 25% chance of that. Since then the percentage chances have gone up and down and last week he shared with me that he will not make the decision until the end of August. So at 28 weeks pregnant in the heat and humidity of August I may have to pack an entire classroom and move to a completely new building with new people, expectations, routines, and rules.
Any year I'd be upset, but this year in particular I am feeling extremely overwhelmed. Now he's hoping to keep me in the building and same room but perhaps teaching another grade level. This is the year I feel I have to be the most prepared due to my maternity leave. I wanted to have the bulk of the year planned out and prepped just in case anything happened and now everything is up in the air. Luckily this has forced me to really take this week off and next week as well since I am unable to prepare for the unknown. *Hoepfully* decisions will be made in the near future.... but for now it's scary. I was thinking that perhaps this would be the first year I didn't have back to school jitters but I guess I was wrong...
Friday, August 7, 2009
So much for free time!
I always have the best intentions when I have a little free time on my hands but so often, it goes by with much less getting done than I expected. I had *most* of this week off. My team at work decided they all wanted to meet on Monday, my first day off all summer so my vacation began Tuesday. The week hasn't been too exciting but that's been just what I've needed. I spent one day with a friend of mine and her children catching up. I did lunches with DH a couple of days, saw friends and family, and watched a LOT of FRIENDS DVDs. I just love that show! I
t's funny how many times I've seen them but it seems they always fit at a different part of my life. Last summer I watched the episodes with Monica and Chandler struggling with fertility and moving into adoption endlessly but couldn't watch any of Rachel's pregnancy. This summer I watched Rachel's pregnancy through new eyes, and had a much deeper appreciation for the Monica and Chandler struggles.
Next week is my last week off and then I need to go back. I am filling my last week of break with massages, medical appointments, and more lunch dates with friends and family I cannot see as much once school begins. An enjoyable vacation to be sure, just not much for free time and the stack of books sitting beside my bed!
t's funny how many times I've seen them but it seems they always fit at a different part of my life. Last summer I watched the episodes with Monica and Chandler struggling with fertility and moving into adoption endlessly but couldn't watch any of Rachel's pregnancy. This summer I watched Rachel's pregnancy through new eyes, and had a much deeper appreciation for the Monica and Chandler struggles.
Next week is my last week off and then I need to go back. I am filling my last week of break with massages, medical appointments, and more lunch dates with friends and family I cannot see as much once school begins. An enjoyable vacation to be sure, just not much for free time and the stack of books sitting beside my bed!
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