Laurie's "Grand HCG Experiment"

[LAinSEA]

We did our staff walk today, but opted only to do the 5K, there were two that ran 10K in the time we walked the 5. Same players again, those who deviled the rest all week stayed home this morning. Perhaps they won't show up until it is time for the 20K....Oh well, it was a beautiful morning--pink clouds over the mountain and no drizzle or fog. We did the walk in just under an hour.

Weight-wise, I've been up and down all week and finally back to 153 this morning. At least I'm staying in the ballpark and maintaining that 65 lb loss. That's the goal for now, I have another 5 weeks before I'll go back on the HCG and try to get those last 20-30 lbs off. Still, I'd like to see the belly shrink--I'd be in 10s instead of 14s (and a few 12s) if it wasn't for that darn belly!

We went into lockdown for the first 2 1/2 hours for school yesterday. I couldn't believe the bellyaching--"I can't work under conditions like this!" My mom's school being close to a major commercial district north of Seattle are in lockdown for some reason or another at least once/even twice a month and her first and second graders deal with it just fine. Just stay quiet, focused, and get escorted to the restrooms when needed. With my Honors sophomores, you'd have thought it was Columbine all over again. (The police activity that put into lockdown was a mile or two away, but the policy is when there is a runner from a crime scene, the schools are locked down.) "I have to text my mom, she'll be worried about me." Honestly, that would make it worse for the police, to have parents converging to the area to deal with their dramatic little darlings. Good Grief! I think it's just because my sophomores spent the week messing around, not doing their work, or preparing for their DBQ essay Unit test on the 1920s. (I also sent home progress reports for that first week of the semester and most were Fs--seems homework or even classwork hasn't been a priority for the majority this week.--I'm such a mean teacher.)

We're having dinner out with my parents tonight for my father's birthday this evening and I want to hit the Flower and Garden show downtown on our way up there this afternoon for a couple of hours. DH isn't thrilled, but he said we could. Then he promptly went off to call his own dad and, well, an hour later, we haven't moved yet. I'd better go pace and pout and let him I'm ready.

I'm taking a break from Pro Cert and other school work this weekend except for a little planning (some done last night and I'll do a bit more tomorrow). The long weekend next week will be for stressing out again on Entry 2.

 

[VernRDH]

Hey there!! Glad to see you!

Good job on the 5k! Don't worry about what others do, you went out and did more than a lot are doing, so don't fret.

Good job on the maintenance. That is a big part of the battle. I hear ya on the belly thing, it is the one thing that really gets me.

Oh the drama of high school. DH works in a middle school, I hear this kind of stuff all the time. Last week they had a 7th grade boy get pummeled by an 8th grade girl. Apparently he is Aspergers, she is an ignorant piece of city trash and she decided to beat the tar out of him AND VIDEO TAPE IT!! Craziness, I tell ya.

Good for you taking a break from the ProCert. A little time away may help it go easier when you start up again.

Keep up the good work friend. I am always looking for your posts, I like hearing from you.

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica - thanks for the positive vibes! Truthfully, I'm a bit of a control freak (isn't that a female trait?) And before this year, I'd been blessed with amazing classes--yes, one or two students not on board, but not 2/3rd's a class not on board. Funny, when I ask my colleagues about what their seeing in their own classes, I get the feedback that this year's sophomores are engaging, yet not real good about following through (with the exception of the AP and two other honors sections for one teacher). Now that my mentor teacher is long-term subbing for one of the other honors/AP blocks she saying the same thing about that group. It helps to know it isn't just me; but, I'm concerned that that the other teachers don't want to admit the issue and find similiar--across the board remedies for it. If we don't, next year we'll see more failing grades in junior English classes and again as seniors. And the feedback needs to be sent downstream to the junior highs--whatever they are reinforcing there has to be changed so that the next group isn't as lax as this group.

Weight; holding steady at 153 (post breve--isn't coffee the wonder drug?) This is despite going out to eat last night (nice seafood restaurant) and yes, gasp, eating some rice! I did avoid the sourdough bread and OMG did it smell fantastic! Besides walking the 5K, we also did the laps on the concrete floor at the Flower and Garden show. There were some great ideas to be had, but we didn't buy anything. $40 for entrance fee just about made that an impossibility. I will be looking for this oak-leaf moss to mix in amoung the black mondo grass in my front beds though. The pop of contrast really was stunning. I was also impressed by the mixed use of veggies in borders and yes, the addition of chicken houses. If this isn't the next "great depression" (the economists are saying that it will take until 2016 for employment levels to return to 2007 levels), then I don't know what is (remember, I teach history). It only makes sense to produce some of the foods we eat at home or to buy locally produced foods. IMHO, our greatest insecurity comes from the fact that our building codes and tax codes have run the family farmers out of business. A spike (again) in fuel prices will drive up food prices to a point where this country could be in such terrible problems we might just see riots. Just look at your local supermarket--this time of year, most of our produce is coming from latin, central, and south America--not Florida, Texas, and California like it use to. (Perhaps, I'm showing my advancing age!)

Laundry is in the works, vacuuming needs to be done and I'm debating about heading to school to run off some video notes for tomorrow. The Super Bowl doesn't really hold much charm for me this year - too many years working in sports TV has done that to me.

Got out and walked 3 miles in about an hour between rain storms (avoiding what looks to be a pretty one-sided football game.)

 

[LAinSEA]

Weight - still holding at 153 this morning. That one hour walk during the game yesterday must have helped. One good thing about not sitting around and watching football is no snacking.

I got home in time to walk in the light for an hour tonight too...but DH had come home early because his stomach is upset, so he didn't go with me. I hope whatever it is, it isn't catching...too much to do this week before the 4 day weekend.

Despite the threats, the emails home, the progress reports and goal sheets requiring signatures, only 2/3rd of students turned in their final DBQ essays on the 1920s. I'm not accepting them late and the hole for some will be quite deep now. Only 2nd week of the semester--wham! I talked to another teacher I try to do some collaborating with; he's got one class were the average is a D. No A's or B's, a few Cs and Fs, but mostly Ds. Welcome to mediocrity!. He's never seen it before. Again, I just don't get it. Even the smaller state universities require GPAs above 3.0 to get in and it's over 3.65 at Univ. WA now. What are these kid's thinking? Their parents must be clueless too. Here, you can't get a gig at Starbucks without the MA, the job market is so tight. I remember growing up, teachers saying, "Hey the world needs ditch diggers too." How untrue that is. The world doesn't need anything like that anymore.

DH has got some crab stuffed sole baking in the oven and I'm going to try not to snack anymore before dinner. (Dried fruit and nuts are my hang up lately--surprised my weight is staying in range.)

 

[momof2minnies]

WOW that mentality about the grades is very different from here.Most kids here strive to be straight A students in honor society or just missing it.That includes all walks of life from the jocks to the so called "geeks" even the kids that you think are "losers" hold very high grades.Some of the kids names I see in the paper is very shocking.

In my day most kids were average but the competition is so fierce now they have to be this way.

Hope your DH feels better.

Linda

 

[LAinSEA]

Linda - I think it is the lack of competition that hurt the kids out here; they all get trophies for showing up, they don't compete for grades (no curve), almost all kids make the team or the jazz ensemble or the chamber choir. There is no process for selection into Honors or AP classes--they are open to all. (Which could be a good thing if all would work to that level.) What I see is a "if everyone skips" mentality, then no one will get into any trouble because everyone is in it together. At least in my district, kids don't have an understanding that the habits they develop today, will determine thier success later on. They don't understand that their competition for spots in college are working their tails off. They don't understand that kids in China and India have goals to earn PhDs in Engineering and take over that innovator role Americans are so certain is theirs. I knew that there were only going to be 3,000 slots open at UW in 1982 and that 186 of those were for scholarship athletes. I fought tooth and nail for my A's in high school so my GPA would be high enough to get into UW--our teachers graded on the curve and out of 40 students only 4 would earn the A even if our test/essay scores were nearly identical. I believe that competitiveness is what got me through college with decent grades despite working fulltime, and got me jobs from my internships, and raises, etc. You can bet if my job is on the line, I'm find a way to out compete my colleague down the hall and stay while he/she goes even if they have more senority. But that fire is not present in 99% of my students today--and the few that have it are made fun of by those who dont'...sorry for the rant.

Weight: up again to 155 this morning (whoa--what happened?); got in a 45 minute walk with DH this evening right before dark. I'm thinking it's water weight--too much sodium somewhere. How can I can two pounds overnight?

Oh well...did get my essays graded and one class returned. Need to make some exemplar copies from the other class and hopefully, can do so in the morning before classes start as it is the late start day for students.

 

[momof2minnies]

Hi Laurie that is too bad that is happening.There is nothing wrong with a little competition.



Great job on the weight- that lousy water retention gets to me too.I weigh myself after exercise because I don't think it is fair to myself to keep weighing all that water and get frustrated.

We are in for a huge storm here today- school was cancelled and we don't even have one flake yet.My DD is supposed to work at Chili's today right in the middle of it all.Hopefully they won't need her.I don't want her driving in it.I do suppose you have to learn sometime though.

Have a great day,
Linda

 

[LAinSEA]

Linda - wow, another storm coming your way! I can't imagine anyone wanting to go out in it--hopefully they'll cancel your DD's shift!

Well it had to be water weight; this morning I actually lost a pound and I'm down to 152! I sure hope it doesn't make a large jump up again tomorrow. That is the reason I don't prefer to weigh every day, but on this plan you have to. While you are stabilizing and maintaining, you shouldn't gain any more than 3 lbs without taking drastic measures (5 apples and a steak for dinner) to get the weight back off. This is the time for my hypothalmus to re-set (not sure exactly how that works) and that is why it's important to stick with the low carb/no sugars, no starches.

Skipping the walk this evening, it is pouring down rain and the wind is supposed to pick up too. I actually was sore this morning in my hips and lower back, but I haven't really picked up the intensity or distance as much as I need to to be ready for a 10K in a couple of weeks.

Students were a little more focused today--and the regular class beat the honors class on the quiz over the first two chapters "Of Mice and Men." I now owe them treats, but there are still a few students who have to make up the test. Probably will drop it on them on Tuesday next week.

 

[momof2minnies]

Laurie
Good job on the weight- blasted bloat!

I loved Of Mice and Men.We had to read in our soph. year and then so did my DDs.We also had to read Grapes of Wrath and Lord of the Flies but my youngest DD's teacher does not believe in them- HUH?????????? Some of these teachers here leave alot to be desired.

Not much snow here as predicted- DD did have to work, came home after 10.

Have a great day,
Linda

 

[VernRDH]

Just dropping by to say hi!

Hope you enjoy your long weekend. Our schools are on vacation all this week, DD is going to Tae Kwon Do camp each day. DH gets tomorrow off, I am working all week and will be busy.

We read of Mice and Men, not Grapes of Wrath. Lord of the Flies was okay. The book I really disliked was All Quiet on the Western Front. Just couldn't get into it. Didn't like George Orwell particularly either.

Favorites were A Seperate Peace and Catcher in the Rye. Didn't mind Shakespeare, was fun when we read it out loud in class, with different people reading different parts each day.

 

[VernRDH]

HELLO, HELLO, anybody home?

Just checking in again to see how you are doing. Miss you buddy!

 

[LAinSEA]

Sorry, Veronica & Linda - been over my head the past week (or more)...

So I'm alive, up in weight, up in stress and frustration!

The weekend was actually wonderful. I was off on Friday for our Presidents' day holiday weekend. I actually woke up and was down to 152! woohoo! That didn't last long...I took the time to get my nails done and DH took me out to dinner at a very nice seafood restaurant. We splurged because we had giftcards to use from the past two holidays. We ordered oysters on the half shell, salads (mine maytag blue cheese, his caesar), I had filet and lobster tail, he had halibut cheeks, a nice bottle of Kings Estate Pinot Noir, and yes, desert--chocolat flourless cake with ice cream and pear sauce. I indulge in a piece of the forcaccia and a little of the garlic mashed potatoes on my plate too...not a good choice--because it definitely woke up my carb cravings.

The weather was raining all weekend long -- We didn't get out to walk and with the Olympics on, I snacked on too many nuts and dried fruit. Saturday's meals were mostly low carb, but Sunday I had the craving for fish and chips and so we went and indulged the craving. I went up to 156 by Monday. Then whoa! Got on the scale on Tuesday am and I'm up to 158! Ouch! I've bounced between 158 and 157 all week long despite getting back to eating properly and exercising.

I bought a pair of Sketchers and wow, do my legs feel sore, but my lower back feels better when I walk in them. My lower right back and hip have just been painful as of late. Not while walking though, usually worse when I've been sitting and then get up.

Now for the rant about my students--OK not all, but most came back from the four day weekend totally forgetting to complete their literature circle assignments. Quiz scores were abysmal! The test scores over Of Mice and Men and the excerpts from the Lit book on Steinbeck, Grapes of Wrath (short excerpt) and the Life Magazine photo essay on the subject were simply awful! All the work on multiple choice strategies was completely forgotten and the honor class rushed through the assessment so fast that almost all were done with 20 minutes when this test should have taken 45 minutes to an hour with some taking longer. Then those who were done thought they should just start to socialize! Since when do sophomores not know that it's is not OK to disrupt others who are still testing? Not that I haven't reinforced good test-taking ettiquette, but I had to repeatedly re-direct behavior. The regular class was much much better, but even they rushed more than they should. The regular class beat the mean of the honors group (again) and the high score came from that class, but it was still much lower than classes in the past.

Since we are just four weeks away from the state skills tests (mandatory to pass to be able to graduate), I was hoping to just review writing and reading test-taking strategies not have to re-teach skills again this year. But the scores tell lme that the majority of students need test bootcamp.

Beyond that, I've never had students laugh while reading the last scene from Of Mice and Men...it upset one of the young ladies that has a brother with Down Syndrome so much she wrote me a letter (a polite, but to the point one about assigning such a horrid book!) I sat and had lunch with her and promised to teach more about the plight of the disabled during the Great Depression and the lack of safety nets. But never have I had students think it was funny. What does that say about this group of kids? The only bright spot was from the group that watches Lost - there was a reference to the novella in this week's episode (I'll have to watch it online--I missed it for the Olympics).

Speaking of Olympics...new rant...why can't they actually start coverage at 7pm instead of waiting until 8pm and then why so much talking head? Nothing is shown live here and it's happening in our timezone! I fell asleep before the big guns even took the ice last night and watching skating online just doesn't do it justice. So frustrating! Usually the games are shown on the one Canadian channel we get on cable, but not this year. I love Canadian coverage--pure sport.

Plans for the weekend include working on the dreaded pro-cert Entry 2. I remembered to bring home some of the student work for scanning, but I still don't have enough evidence yet. I'm fearful of collection anymore on diversity from these classes...I might get something really politically incorrect.

 

[momof2minnies]

I did not know the NW was mild- I thought you guys had tough winters.Mow the lawn ah what athought- love the smell of grass.

Why are the Sketchers hurting so much? That can't be good?

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

Mow the lawn??? I still can't SEE my lawn. Can't wait until it is nice enough to be able to mow though. I do enjoy working outside in the yard and tending my garden and pool.

I am assuming that you got the Skechers Shape Ups? I didn't realize they made them in other styles besides the sneakers.

My cats don't do outside, they are strictly indoor kitties. The big bad outside scares them. And with the dog, they pretty much stay under the bed or couch unless it is night and the dog is in bed with us.

Enjoy the nice weather, please send some of it to Linda and I, we could really use it!

 

[LAinSEA]

Again, I've been thwarted in keeping my journal up-to-date...this time it was a rotten, very bad, nasty, time-suspending cold. I'm back to about 80%, but getting the last 20% back may take awhile.

I started feeling bad last weekend, but did my very best to ignore. I spent the that Sunday completing my draft of my 2nd Pro Cert Entry and feeling like I did as much as I could possible do on it. The second entry is about classroom and learning environment the impact of diversity. I teach in the least diverse, least divided socio-economic high school in our very homogenous suburban school district. My students are more divided politically than in any other way (and only because their parents voted for change and aren't seeing any change thus far...) What a difference a year makes with 90% in favor of Pres. Obama, to an "off with his head" mentality. I added what evidence I could, but I know this entry is lacking. I can only hope for adequate right now.

By Monday, my cold was at the cough up something technicolor stage. And I had a very full week of lesson plans to get through. We are just three weeks away from the proficiency tests--not a good time to be out for any reason even when I feel like death warmed over. Tuesday, the cold included my nose running like a faucet. Wednesday and Thursday were getting by with Theraflu--when I found out my mentor teacher (now subbing) was available for Friday, I put in the sub request and left the easiest lesson plan I could even if I'd rather of swapped tomorrow's plan for last Friday. I stayed in bed all of Friday and most of yesterday. Again, I feel back to 80% of normal now, but anticipate another week of coughing and running nose. At least my head doesn't feel like it will implode any more.

Weight-wise, it's followed the ups and downs of my cold. I went, up and up and up - to 160 by mid-week. DH says that cold medicine is full of sodium and my weight showed it. By yesterday morning, I was back down to 154, but a craving for a Mikey burger and fries put me up to 155 this morning. Today, to console DH after USA's loss to Canada in hockey, we grabbed Mexican food. A little rice and beans to go with the on-plan chile releano and chicken toastada and yes, a margharita on the rocks. I promise to be good all week long after the long day tomorrow with the evening pro-cert meeting. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and I can get back to walking by Tuesday afternoon.

I've had no exercise to speak of, unless you get points for blowing your nose. I've done my best to stay hydrated despite the cold medicine. We missed the staff walk/run planned for yesterday morning, DH was going to head down, but was feeling a bit under-the-weather too. He's been sneezing, but not coughing up goo yet.

I did get out yesterday afternoon to meet with my pro-cert partner and go over her entry and she mine. Mine was so less detailed than hers, but her's is over the character limit. She was last time too, and didn't get nicked for it. I'm going to submit as it and if I have to add, I will. We have one more entry to go.

Sketchers - my feet feel great when wearing them, but they do really work over my calves, my hamstrings/quads and hips/low back. It was weird to feel my arms and shoulders feel stiffness too. I guess now that I've had a week off from walking due to the cold, that I will have to take it easy and slowly in getting used to them again.

We didn't mow the lawn this weekend, but it will probably need it by mid-week or this weekend again. I wish I could send you our spring weather...it is supposed to be 60 degrees again tomorrow and I know that my students will be squirrelly due to it. Normal winters for us involved snow in the mountains (where it belongs) and rain in the lowlands with about 40-45 degree temps until mid-March or later. This is not a normal winter for us--it's been mid-to-upper 50s since the cold shap in December that put us down in the 20s for about a week and half with a few snow flurries that didn't stick around. It's weird to get snow that lasts more than a moment; although it did happen last year and the year prior and make us stay in school until nearly July. Crossing fingers and knocking on wood, hopefully no snow days this year and we'll have a four day weekend for Memorial Day (never happened while I've been teaching, but just maybe....)

More laundry to fold, but I'm done with my piled up grading (until tomorrow) and planning through Tuesday. Will get to sleep earlier tonight to take on the week.

 

[momof2minnies]

Hey Laurie,
How is it going? Hope everything and everyone are well.

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

Hey buddy, whats going on? Hope all is well with you. Let us know how you are doing!!

 

[LAinSEA]

Linda, Veronica: Aren't you two the absolute best...no hunting for my journal. It was right on top. Very sweet and so appreciated given my energy level.

I've been ill with the cold all week; working, yes, but just hanging in there during the school day and absolutely collasping once I get home. DH is a week behind me, and he can't take anything for it (BP meds don't mix with cold meds.) So, neither or us are sleeping well with the coughing and copious amount of tissues everywhere.

Some on staff have said that they are over the overt symptoms, but it hangs on for weeks more. At least most say they are so exhausted, it's like mono. One went into the Dr. for it and no, it wasn't positive, but it sure feels that way. All I can say that over two weeks in, the cough is still there, nose not so drippy, but the overwhelming desire to lay down and nap is ever present.

My Pro Cert Entry 2 must have hit the email mark first, because before I could even get to mid-day Monday it was back with the required revisions, "Just clean it up, add the extra evidence and have it ready for tonight, dear." I teach straight through on Mondays and don't have access to a scanner even if I did have time to spare (I didn't.) So I turned in the burned CD I did the night before with a note that I would have to wait to make changes until the weekend. I re-submitted tonight and given my state of tiredness, it probably won't pass this time either and I've failed the whole thing. Too bad I won't get that feedback until after my tuition check has cleared (DH just sent it in.) The syllabus and requirements were finally emailed to us yesterday afternoon--and it touched off a firestorm of emails...we have to complete the thing we started last year plus do all the new crapola and journal entries we were told to drop after October meeting. I don't get it. The latest blast all email from colleagues said to get our unions involved in it; but darn it all anyway, I don't want to do this again next year. I stuck it out because they said it would be a sure thing, the university grades it instead of the state this year and they have a vested interest in us passing since we started the (wrong) process last year--the state said they could of "grandfathered" us and had us just complete what we were trained to do through all of last year--but that didn't happen. Apparently other universities did just that with the hangers on. So frustrating. I did this instead of National Boards; one NB are tough and not a sure thing, teachers with twice the years in the classroom have failed it, and it costs nearly $4,000--not cash I have around--I still have student loans from the Masters program. We are teachers, not MBAs. Now I thing NB would have been easier--at least there are examples of what it is supposed to look like out there as guides. Not with this program; still no exemplars on the state website.

It has been lovely spring-like weather almost all week long, but I was too tired and coughing too hard to walk this week. That makes two week off and my fitness level will be awful. I'll have to get use to the Sketchers all over again slowly. And now it looks like we're going to have normal weather; 30s overnight and mid-40s during the day instead of near 60. My weight has bounced; down to 155 yesterday, but back up to 156 today--probably the Qdoba Mexican food last night. Too much sodium in every restaurant meal.

We did go out (took my parents) to see the student production of Les Misables. Oh, so excellent! Over 150 students involved in production and the end brough the house to tears and a 15 minute standing ovation. My dad didn't like it--I could tell. He doesn't think Sh!T should land in a school auditorium...only one, also the play definitely has mature content--even the school version. But the music was lovely--I played in the pit orchestra for both school and community theatre during high school/college and I don't think I could have made it through Les Mis--there is never a time when the orchestra isn't playing; it's an Opera not a traditional musical. Really outstanding. My special students in the cast were all looking for their hugs on the way out; DH and my folks had to stop and wait and be introduced several times. Again, my dad doesn't seem to get it--"They actually grab and hug you--not the side hug, but pounce and hang on." They're my kids--or as close as I'll get to real ones (besides the cats and the nieces)--I cry with them, write them letter of rec for college, go over their essays for college classes they are taking outside of HS, tell them they are amazing (and he/she is a fool for breaking his/her heart). Weird that I still don't have that kind of closeness with year's cohort of sophomores yet and all the more strange to new students when the old ones think nothing of interrupting class to jump around and wave their college acceptance letters and I jump with them. It's the one reason I like teaching at this HS and not at others...the good students (yes, even my remedial seniors are good) make the tears and sleepless nights worth it.

This week, one more week of stealth state test prep and The Great Depression and into To Kill a Mockingbird (my absolute favorite novel of all time since 4th grade!) I'm still debating on trying something new with it; my students never get to do any creative writing, and I'm thinking that maybe the way to engage them is to have them write their own (short, 3-4 chapter) "novel" using TKAM as a model. Usually I just assign discussion questions and use Socratic seminar, but we'll be into testing the first week of the novel and maybe it's time to do something more creative and write some fiction instead of essays. Either way, I'll have Tuesday planning to hammer it out and just hope the exhaustion doesn't get in the way.

This week is packed too, band concert, the Daffodil Queen competition and coronation (need to support our princess); Daylight savings next week (and I won't be OK until we get the hour back in the fall). Then testing the next week. Orchestra concert the week after and finaly, Spring Break! (wish it was going to be at Disney...)

Well, off to bed...take last of the laundry up and remember to re-set the alarm. I'm tired.

 

[LAinSEA]

I'm still coughing up all manner of goo today (nearly woke up drowning in it a couple of times last night). What I wouldn't give for a good night's rest right now. I'm just exhausted--must be phase three of this cold.

Students worked diligently on their practice essays today, but those who were absent are going to have a difficult time making it up; I have meetings tomorrow and I'm not willing to stay around on Friday, so Thursday is it after school or nothing.

Our weather has turn cold - we actually had snow flurries blow through yesterday afternoon (didn't stick, but got the kids all excited---you'd think the world was coming to an end) and it may do so again overnight tonight with no accumulation expected. After such a mild winter, this feels like an abrupt immersion in the ice age. (Not to mention all the complaint from the softball, track, baseball teams about how cold they are.)

After a deli-takeout meatloaf from the local Top Foods last night, my weight was up to 159 this morning, and still 159 this afternoon when I go home from work. I knew it was all water weight...but it's a shock to see it on the scale in the am. My rings are still tight this evening and usually they are nearly sliding off this time of day. It didn't taste overly salty, but obviously it was loaded. DH was just last after meetings yesterday (and tonight); he's grilling little lamb chops tonight without added salt, just olive oil and rosemary rub.

The emails continue to fly over the Pro Cert syllabus and whether or not to take it to the teacher's union and file a grievance with the state. (From my perspective and experience--I put myself through college the first time working as a paralegal for a labor relations consulting firm--pushing the issue might do more harm than good. Best case senario, the state puts pressure on the university and just gets us passed the hurdle without too much pain, worst case, the state extends our residency certificates another year and says we have to do through their website program next year. No one wants that. I tend to trust the university more than I trust some national testing company (ETS) to determine whether or not I get to keep my teaching credential. However, I now understand why more new teacher leave the profession within the first five years given the hoops we have to jump through and all the finger pointing about how we're the problem...the reason our young adults aren't becoming productive citizens. Funny, no one is putting any responsibilities on the students/families in this state--no attendance requirements except if you miss 20 days straight, then you are reported to the state and the parents could be arrested. However, it's OK to miss as many days as you want without consequence as long as you don't miss 20 in a row. And I'm up to 2 cell phones in my desk drawer for this week already; 6 total last week. When I heard a news report on the radio about a Georgetown Law professor complaining about the use of laptops and cellphones during his courses, I just laughed. Things are tough all over. Parents out there; your sons and daughters don't need cell phones at school. period. If you need to reach them, the office will do so for you. Most, even the Honors students, are not capable of leaving them alone during classes. And if, Heaven forbid, a Columbine event should occur, the ringing, buzzing, vibrating phone would most likely give their hiding place away and let the shooter know their location...I know that the last earthquake in this area (2000) rendered cell phones and landlines obsolete for about 24 hours, so that is no reason to have one at school either. Just say no, please. Have pity on us educators out here.

 

[momof2minnies]

Hi Laurie,
Too bad about your pro cert.What a bummer and so much time and work.

Boy do I wish the majority of teachers around here were like you.

My weight has been fluctuating too.I worked Mon and Tues and my Mom brought over stuffed peppers, mashed potatoes and vegs.How do I say no thanks we can't eat that right now? So for 2 days diet not so good for dinner.The plus side is at least at work I run for 10 hrs with only 30 mins for lunch so I must have burned something.Not even one chance to sit down.

It's too bad your Dad didn't just enjoy the show since you were all together.I love to watch the talent of young kids.

Hope your cold is better, DD had it too and she blew her nose and napped for days.

Have a good one,
Linda