Trick or Treat!

What a blessing that Halloween fell on Friday this year...and it was a 70-degree day! Interestingly, we don't get tons of trick-or-treaters here. I'm guessing maybe 50 darkened our doorstep. Most were little ones and as cute as they could be. My own urchins were cute, too. Robin was a classy witch and Ryan was Wolverine. Both were in store-bought costumes. (They're making those a WHOLE lot nicer than they used to!) And both picked out their own. We were willing to make costumes, but if the kids wanted what they picked, 'twas easier for us!

So how has the "holiday" changed since I was a kid? First of all, the word had an apostrophe in it (Hallowe'en), and when it appeared on a spelling test, the teacher marked it WRONG if the apostrophe wasn't there. Now, you can't find the word with an apostrophe anywhere! Secondly, store-bought costumes were so poor that we would have died rather than wear one. Our costumes were all put together at home with whatever we had. I can remember being a Chinese person one year (wearing the Chinese pajamas that Dad brought home from the Orient). Another year, I was a Japanese girl, wearing the kimono that was made for me when we lived in Japan. I don't remember others. (Hey...that was a long time ago!) Megan always had homemade costumes. People gave homemade things like popcorn balls and apples and, of course, candy. Then evil people started with product tampering, making it imperative that treats be store-bought and inspected before eaten. Also, my sister and I were allowed to go trick-or-treating without an adult escort when I was quite young. We would never dream of allowing that now! Too many perverts in the world!

School parties have changed, too. Ryan goes to a private preschool three half-days a week. They had a Halloween party with costumes (but no masks or weapons). First-grader Robin, however, had a "fall" party--no costumes at all. Gone are the days of the Halloween costume parade through the classrooms. Also gone are the days of providing yummy homemade treats for birthdays or school parties. (Remember when you were considered a bad mommy if you sent store-bought treats to school???) It's sad, really, that we have come to this...

Last night was Dad's Night at the Plainfield United Methodist Preschool. Grandpa Phil substituted for Nathan. (Meg took Robin to the library for their Halloween event, then shopping.) I was to meet Phil at the church to collect Ryan so Phil could go to choir practice after the Dad's event. When I got there, Ryan was in line to pet animals. Apparently, the preschool had a nature dude there with critters. Ryan got to pet a dog, a hedgehog, a 25-lb. python, some kind of orange frog/toad, and bearded dragon lizard. (Apparently Grandpa and Ryan also got to assist with holding the python for the demonstration.) They also carved pumpkins. I think Ryan was expected a movie because he misunderstood about a field trip, so he was disappointed when I showed up...but Grandpa had a good time!

I'm still trying to get used to the new blog protocols. Be patient with me!

Joys and Concerns

In church, we are always encouraged to share our happy and sad moments. Today was one of "those" during which I had both.

I went directly from school to my hairdresser's for a hairscut, then directly from there to pick up the children from the other grandparents'. Ryan was dead asleep when I got there, again. It took some doing to get him awake. (He doesn't wake up happy.) Grandpa Phil joked him out of his surly mood...but then said something about how he would never catch up to Robin in age. Apparently that set Ry off. He kicked a chair over and was made to pick it up. We got to the front stoop where he shoved me. I nearly fell off the stoop. I grabbed him by the coat collar and got in his face and yelled at him never to do that again. All that netted me was a scowling face that lasted the whole way home.

By this time, I was kind of honked off. I had done NOTHING to him to warrant the treatment I got. Things settled down at home for a few minutes. Robin went out to play and Ryan had a child's pushbroom to sweep leaves. At one point, I saw him dash off with the broom and assumed there would be trouble. (I went to the bathroom, having had no opportunity to take care of that little item until then.) Then I heard him come in crying. I asked three or four times what the problem was, but got no answer. When I came out of the bathroom, he had kicked over the computer chair that had my jacket on it, and was kicking my jacket and the once-contents of the pockets around the living room. When I demanded that he pick the contents up, he threw it. When I then demanded that he hand it to me, he crushed it. I lost my cool! He went to his room until he could control himself.

He came out while I was cooking supper. Spongebob Squarepants somewhat saved the time. He was entranced, as was Robin. Then Meg came home, and the rounds started all over again at supper. (sigh) I felt bad because I vented on Meg. I'm sure she had hoped to come home to a happy household. (double-sigh). So did I!

On another note, Ryan is reading! He is excited about it, which Robin isn't. Whatever life brings, we will deal with. It's just tough to do all of that on the deficit of stressful days. The little dude is sharp. We have always known that. Now, if we could just control the tantrums...

One of my students today made a point of telling me that his mother was born the year after my first year of teaching. Okay, I said...so what's your point...that I'm old?? I am beginning to think that it's time to retire, for sure!

Good Grief!

I have worked my proverbial buns off this four-day weekend, and I'm happy about what got done...but there is so much more to be done, it isn't funny.

The endless laundry is done and put away. The living room is clean. The kitchen is mostly clean. The new computer is installed in my bedroom. The kitchen cabinets are washed down. Garbage, garbage, garbage is in the trash cans. My car has new oil and new brakes. That is the good news.

The bad news is that I didn't get to any of the things that have been hanging over my head. The children's rooms still aren't done. The front of the house is still trashed. My bedroom is a disaster (because it collects whatever has no place anywhere else). And the long weekend is over! We are looking to having Ryan's birthday party here in the middle of November, but there is so much left to do. We'll see.

Meg is emotional tonight because the children weren't back in the house 15 minutes before the tantrums began. I have to admit, it is pretty formidable. Ryan had a secret. Robin wanted to tell it. He threw a fit. Both told the same story: Ryan "risked his life" to get a bird's nest out of their "club tree" in Muncie. He didn't fall out of the tree, but he "almost did"...and apparently step-sister-to-be made a big deal about the risk. In any case, we endured a hissy fit about whyo should tell whom what.

The house is quiet now. I don't think Robin is asleep yet, but I'm ready to cave in. Tomorrow is another day!

Where's My Whaaaaat??

Okay...so I was sitting on the commode tonight. Meg was doing some computer work for me. From the living room, she yelled, "Where's your dongle?" I don't hear all that well, so I asked her to repeat it. "Where's your DONGLE?" Long silence. I thought she was poking fun at what I was doing...or perhaps a body part. It's none of her business where my dongle was at that moment! Well...silly me. As it turns out, a dongle is a doo-hickey that attaches to the USB port of the computer and allows something else to work. That's all the explanation you're gonna get because that's all I know about it! (I dare you to look this up and tell me what it says! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongle) I'm sure glad she told me, though...because if I'd heard one of my students talking about a dongle, I might have written him/her up for inappropriate language!

Speaking of computers, I broke down and bought a new one this evening. My old 'puter, in spite of several efforts to resuscitate it, just couldn't get going. (It was 5-6 years old. Ancient in computer years.) I am amazed at how cheap computers can be these days. The very first one we bought in this household--with all components--cost $1,500 back in 1994. I walked out of Wal-Mart tonight with one--no peripherals--for $300. It's up and running, but downloading stuff at the moment. I'm just happy because it brings me closer to actually being "installed" in my bedroom--radios, computer, furniture, and all.

I'll be depressed tomorrow because it will be the end of my "vacation"...but I have gotten a lot done. I feel good about that. I just don't want to go back to school on Monday!

Fall Break?

I know one is supposed to rest on a school break, but my idea of resting is having the chance to bring order to our disarray here at home. The last several weekends have had Saturday activities, so my time to get things done has been limited. This week, I had a four-day weekend to do some of that...so I have been making hay while the sun shines!

Thursday, Grandma Judy had something she needed to do, so I kept the kids. We made a craft in the morning, took baths, and generally got ready for the weekend. I had taken my car to the shop for an oil change, winterizing, and a brake job on Wednesday night. A friend took us over to pick it up in the mid-afternoon on Thursday. That worked out nicely. Robin was to have a sleepover at friend Mariah's house, so we got her ready to go in the late afternoon. In between, I did laundry and cooked a corned "beeth" because Robin loves it so. When Meg got home, Robin was delivered to Mariah's and Ryan went to bed. No biggie. (This was a first sleepover for Robin. I fully expected to get a phone call...but no. She had fun, I guess. Didn't come home until 4:00 on Friday...in time to get supper and go to Muncie.)

Friday, Grandma Judy and I were going to trade off with Ryan...but it didn't happen. I just decided to keep him. Figured if things got out of hand, I'd call Judy...but things didn't get that bad. Ryan was probably bored out of his skull because I really didn't spent much time with him since I was doing laundry, but we got by. He was surly a few times, but when his mother got home at supper time, he turned into Mr. Sweetness and Light. Kept saying how much he loved us and how delicious dinner was, with many kisses and hugs, etc. Huh??? Is this MY Ryan?

In the meantime on Friday, Meg came down with something. She was running a temp of 101.8 at work and feeling lousy, but she wasn't allowed to leave because other managers and supervisors were gone. When she got home, she felt really bad...but had to take the children to Muncie. If I hadn't had the kids and/or been doing non-stop laundry, I could have been a nice mommy and offered to take them...but she didn't ask, and I didn't offer. I will always feel guilty about that. I am torn between wanting to be helpful and NOT wanting to be TOO helpful. I'm sorry, Meggy!

I am within just a couple of loads of being DONE with laundry! You don't understand, perhaps. Our space is already challenged...plus we are at a season change. As laundry is done, some things are thrown to the "donate" pile...outgrown. Some things are stored...may be worn next season. (Find a place to put them.) Then there is the "regular" laundry. Over the last three days, I may have done 10 loads or more. We are clean--and getting organized. Talk to me again next season when I will be doing this again!

The weekend was not without fun. I'll leave that up to everyone's imagination. You'll never know!

Weird Day

Because of the whole parent conference deal, and trying to keep hours the same for the entire district, today was a half-day with students...but they didn't come in until 11:30. We had meetings in the AM. The rest of the day went okay...but there has been no real teaching this week. Tomorrow is yet another half day, but I get to come home at the end of it! Then two days off for fall break. I guess fall break used to be a statewide teacher's institute...long since gone. Now, we just get to enjoy the days. *Um....this post will be all one paragraph because I can't get the "enter" button to skip down, for some reason. Sorry about that! I'll put asterisks where paragraphs should be. *As a result of last night's conferences, I made some changes in scheduling. One young man is being switched to another class. He is a "special needs" kid who really needs to be in the class with the special needs aide. He didn't seem to care much, but his mother does. I think she's desperate to see him succeed. He just isn't succeeding now! *Meanwhile, our inservice this morning dealt with a new law in Special Ed that is affective this year...and means a tremendous amount of work above and beyond what we already do. I told my team yesterday that it is probably time for me to retire because I KNOW that all of what is happening now will revert back to what we have been doing in education forever. It just takes time for the general populace to understand that only God can make a tree! Perhaps I have the wrong perspective... *Time for bed. One more day!

Loooong Day

Students were dismissed at 11:00 today. Teachers had an hour for lunch on their own. Conferences started at noon. Then supper on the district between 4:00 and 5:00 (pizza), and conferences thereafter. The conferences were supposed to end at 7:00, but I still had parents waiting to see me. I finally got out about 7:40. Got home about 8:15 after making a short grocery stop. Ahm tard! I feel like I've been talking all day long, when (in fact) I have!

Parent conferences are a necessary evil. I never regret touching bases with the parents because I always gain insight into their children. Some of the stories are heart-wrenching. One "parent" is actually an aunt who left Texas to come and raise her sister's two boys who were orphaned when a car wreck killed their mother and sister. I admire the dickens out of her for what she has done for those boys--both good kids. Another of my students lost his father to cancer 1 1/2 years ago, only a year after he lost his grandfather to cancer. This is his first year in public school after being homeschooled since the beginning. He is still grieving and adjusting...and I didn't know all of this until tonight. Young'uns dealing with adult issues that even adults probably wouldn't handle well! God bless them all!

I don't have to be at school tomorrow until 8:00. Good! I can use the extra 30 minutes of sleep!

Dirty Jobs

Where's Mike Rowe when I need him?
SOMEONE has piddled on the bathroom floor...apparently more than once. Ryan claims that it wasn't him, although he's the only male in the house AND I stood and watched him piddle THROUGH the toilet seat to the under side of the toilet lid this evening. I'm told that the bathroom smells like urine. (I have no sense of smell.) Okay...so it was on my list of things to do today to get the bathroom floor washed with bleach. But before I could get it done, Nathan brought the children home...and, you guessed it...needed to use the restroom. How embarrassing! I tell myself that their house was no cleaner when Meg and Nate were together, but it still bothers me...

The children came home early today so Meg and Robin could attend a Girl Scout event at Camp Dellwood in Speedway. In the meantime, Ryan and I went shopping for sheets and a mattress pad for his new bed (that isn't purchased yet) and new shoes. (The new shoes that were purchased for school already have major holes in them. They lasted a whopping two months!) We were gone two hours, which put a kink in my efforts to get the rest of the laundry done, etc. At least everyone has underwear, socks, and a clean outfit for a couple of days. Whoop-de-doo!

I have parent conferences all afternoon and some of the evening tomorrow. There has been no communication about mealtimes--if the district is feeding us or we are expected to provide our own...or even if there is time built into the schedule to eat lunch and supper. Meg is on her own with the children for supper tomorrow. Unfortunately, the kitchen is a mess (as usual) so it won't be fun.

Colts lost. :(

We have fruit flies. I've been killing them at a rapid pace, and some have committed suicide in my wine glass...but I'm tired of the little critters in my space. Die, you dirty gnats!

Off to finish my last dirty job--making lunches. I HATE making lunches! Why do I do it? Because life is a three-ring circus around here. There aren't enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done! My lot in life is to do laundry and provide food in a timely manner. And yes, Meg pays handsomely for it. Maybe when/if I retire, it will get easier. In the meantime, we do the best we can. It is ever thus!

Done!

Meg is now officially and totally OUT of her storage unit! Grandpa Phil came over with his "big brue truck" today, and with his help, we got everything out of the unit. (We are still finding places for things, but--as usual--that will take time.) In any case, that saves Meg $55 a month and contributes to the family larder and her pocketbook. Storage units, in spite of need, are hard on furnishings. Meg's belongings came out horribly dirty and spidery. Dust finds a way to get into those deals. I'm glad she is done with that.

We weighed in this morning. In spite of my cheating, I was still down. I've officially lost 12.4 pounds; Meg, over 21. We are both paying $40 a month to belong to Weight Watchers...which seems stupid considering that we KNOW what to do to stay "legal"...but there is something about the official weigh-in and system rewards that makes it worth it. I will continue to stay with it until I FINALLY succeed in getting off the weight that I've allowed myself to put on over the years. Of course, my metabolism has changed due to my age, so I need to consider stepping up my physical activity to help jump-start my losses. I have a long way to go, but I'm just going to keep on pluggin'.

We took stuff to Goodwill from the storage unit today...but in the process of working in my room, came up with a whole bunch more. We have sent hundreds of dollars to Goodwill this year alone. I can't prove any of it, so don't know how it will work with taxes. I'm just glad to be shed of it. Now, if I could just get rid of bunches of radio crap, I'd be ahead of the game!

I did get a nap this afternoon. Like that!
Back to work here. It never ends!

Fall Fun Night?

The eighth grade core teachers (four of us) were assigned to plan the "fun night" for the middle school which took place this afternoon. We've done it three or four other times, so it is somewhat down to a fine science. The social studies teacher does more of the work than the rest of us, but I think the kids enjoy it. There was food for sale, board games (which no one did), a volleyball tournament (which a large majority of kids participated in), and a hayless hay-ride pulled by a tractor along the fitness trail at school...also popular. There was music to dance to, but no one danced. Every class is different! The event lasted until 4:30...and as soon as I could scoot out, I left in order to pick up the grandchildren. As with the last two days, when I arrived at the Heffelmans, Robin and Ryan were raking leaves and playing in the piles. Better than TV as an entertainment source!

I took the kids to McD's for supper. Ryan was being sweet and using his manners...but that soon ended. When it was time to go, he wasn't a happy camper...and his sister didn't help things...but there were no huge tantrums. Whew!

After Meg left for Muncie with the children (hasn't returned yet), I left to go do some grocery shopping in order to relieve tomorrow's responsibilities. We are cleaning out Meg's storage unit, once and for all, with Grandpa Phil's truck, etc. Also have to weigh in at WW...and laundry. Ever laundry!

Oh! The shopping bill at Meijer in Mooresville today came to $275. Why? I bought a winter jacket...and two electric blankets for the children, plus groceries. Ryan's room is usually warm during heating season, but Robin's isn't. Can't give one without giving the other. I have no clue how my bedroom will be. Haven't been there through a cold season yet!

Next week will be interesting, at best. Parent conferences on Monday...and two half-days with students thereafter...then fall break. Come on, fall break!

Typical Thursday Exhaustion

The boil order at school was rescinded today. Hallelujah! Some of the kids still don't trust the water. Can't say that I blame them. I did tell them to check the source of the bottled water they were bringing in. I checked a bottle I had purchased some time ago. It said, "Municipal water supply of Greenwood, Indiana." In other words, tap water. I could have done that myself!

When I picked up the grandchildren from the other grandparents' this afternoon, they were out raking leaves. Ryan got into the pile they had raked, then picked up a handful and dumped it on me...then started chasing Grandma Judy (who was running away in baby steps). It was great fun. I don't have as many leaves down in my yard yet, but the kids continued their play at our house...until Ryan hit Robin in the arm with a stick or something. That ended that. I ordered him in. He wanted to give me a hard time about it but complied. I was busy fixing supper and so wasn't in a good position to supervise a tantrum. Fortunately, the tantrum didn't happen.

Did I say supper? There is a zucchini casserole recipe that Meg and I like which is low in WW points, so I got busy fixing that. I knew the kids wouldn't eat it, so I filled them up with fruit and chicken. Robin eats next to nothing at lunchtime at school. It kind of concerns me, actually. For awhile, she was eating everything I packed. Now, most of what I pack comes back home at the end of the day. We have enlisted the children in packing their own lunches, as time permits...but it doesn't always help. God bless the little toads. They don't seem to be losing weight, so I guess they aren't starving!

Just as a point of interest, the genus and species of the American Robin (for whom my granddaughter is named) is Turdus Migratorius. How appropriate! heh heh.

I did an analysis of my classes' first term grades today. I have one class that only has 68% of the students passing. My "honors" class is passing 100%. The rest fall somewhere in between. It isn't pretty. I have told some of them not to plan on being pilots or surgeons because their work ethic is such that I wouldn't want to put my life in their hands. I'm not sure they get it...

I'm just blathering here. Need to go to bed. I've been pooped all evening. Typical for Thursday. Nightie-night.

Boil Order

I forgot to mention in my last blog that our school has been in line for a "boil order" due to a water main break since the weekend. We have water. We just can't drink it. After the first day, the admin. gave the kids permission to bring water....then they delivered 10 bottles of water per day with drinking cups to the classrooms. I don't think it has mattered much. I haven't had a rush on water. It's there if they need it. Still, it is an inconvenience.

The last of my grades went in today for the first grading period. Hard to believe that the term is over already. I had two students who conveniently "forgot" that we took a test on Friday and never made it up. I should have given them a zero, but made as I am, decided to excuse them from that score and make it show up on next term's grades. I know....I'm a softie.

I don't know why October is such a stressful month. I had radio club on Monday night. Then Grandparents' open house for Robin on Tuesday. Friday, my team is sponsoring a fall fun night at school. Monday night is parent conferences. This weekend has some stuff. I just need a few days without any commitments. NOW!

Next week is fall break. I have to figure things out. I'll have the children part of the time. The rest will be up to schedule.

Robin is resisting bedtime right now. The little toad is still up. Ugh! I told her I'd be going to bed, so--since everyone else has crashed for the night--she'd be alone in the house. That seemed to settle her. Time will tell...

Grandma Time!

Monday, Monday...

Tonight, for the first time in two months, I went to my radio club meeting because Ryan doesn't have soccer anymore. It was a Daisy Girl Scout meeting night, however, so Meg did the honors. The Daisies meet at the Plainfield Public Library. The Children's Room is a great place to play, so Meg took Robin to her meeting, then took Ryan there for an hour to wait for Robin. All was going well until, just before they left, Meg told Ryan that she wasn't going to borrow a movie...then The Meltdown occurred before she could even tell him why. He apparently threw a screaming, kicking, biting fit that both embarrassed her and Robin both. When I got home from radio club, I found Meg in tears saying that she will never take him there again. He was ensconced in bed with clothes and shoes and everything...past bedtime. (This is not the first time for a library Meltdown with him.)

Of course, I felt guilty because I wasn't there to help. And then there is the issue of Robin's Grandparents' Open House at school tomorrow afternoon, which occurs when Meg isn't home from work. Do I go and take Ryan with me? Do I stay home with Ryan and let the other grandparents go? Robin needs not suffer because of her brother's temper...but she does. At this point, we all feel like we are walking on eggshells around Ryan just to keep him on an even keel...and we aren't happy doing that with an almost-5-year-old.

Some of you may think that beating his bottom is the cure. We've done that. We've also done soap in the mouth for wicked words. He's had time-outs, loss of privileges, and a structured existence (that can't always be accommodated), but he remains defiant and sometimes out of control. The first sign of this behavior occurred last December. It hasn't gotten better. Our once sweet little boy has become a monster. We are looking for answers.

My students also weren't that well behaved today. They had a sub on Friday. She attempted to grade their spelling tests...and I applaud her attempt...but they were poorly graded. I found most corrections to have 1-2 mistakes. Ugh! Grades are due tomorrow. I have a set of tests to run through the Scantron machine before I can assure grades. Looks like a late day at the computer tomorrow!

Some things never change.

Laundry, Meltdowns, and Other Local Disasters

Since the children were in Muncie, Meg and I both slept in this morning...a welcome thing. Thereafter, we did some work--Meg on schoolwork and me on laundry. Laundry? Did I say laundry? Late in the day, I did a dark load. BLACK, to be exact. But when the stuff came out of the washer, it was clear that I had washed a tissue with the load. We all know what that means. Then, the same load in the dryer got noisy. Rocks. Pretty rocks that the children got at Blue
Spring Caverns last weekend. SOMEONE put their rocks in a pocket, and I didn't check. I have taken over a dozen rocks, one at a time, out of the dryer.

About the same time that the black load was drying (with rocks), I realized that I couldn't find my car key anywhere...and the car was locked. Hmmm...had to be in the house somewhere. I looked in all of the obvious places, then began to wonder if I had left it in the BLACK pants that I wore yesterday. (Are you beginning the get the picture here?) When I transferred the load from the washer to the dryer, there was the key...in the pocket of my black britches. This isn't merely a key. This is a key on a keyless entry fob that I paid $72 for just over the summer. It has an electronic circuit board in it. Probably doesn't take well to being in the washer. Oops! The minute I found it, I tried it out on the car. It worked! Thank you, GM!!

The children got home just after the Colts game. (Colts won. Yee-haa!) We always hold our collective breath to see what mood they are in when they get here. Robin is pretty predictable. Ryan, however, is the one to watch. He was fine...and then the evening went to crap. I had Meg in my bedroom asking her questions about what I should do about furniture arrangements while Ryan was (apparently) yelling to be taken out of the bathtub. That started the "I hate you" stuff...and thing deteriorated from there. Major meltdown. He finally settled down, but it wasn't pretty...and he went to bed far earlier than he should have, just because he was out of control. Both children came home sick. Ry had a cough on his way to Muncie on Friday. Both sound nasal and "coughy" tonight. 'Tis no excuse for abusive behavior, however...

Apparently the step-sister-to-be said some things to Ryan that scared him. There were issues. It kind of surprises me because he acts like nothing on earth scares him! In any case, we just keep on keepin' on.

On another note, congratulations and best wishes to friend Mike and his bride. You deserve all the happiness in the world!

My granddaughter pulled a joke on me tonight:
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Spell.
Spell who?
W. H. O.

Pretty cute!

Blog Posting

I didn't realize that this new blogspot has an auto-save function. The last time I wrote in this missive, the computer shut down with a "serious error". I though all was lost. Meg showed me that it wasn't...but when I reviewed what I had written, I deleted it because it wasn't all that interesting AND it was already old news. Blah!

The week finished without me. I took Friday off in order to accomplish some things, but really got nothing more done than some R and R before the weekend. Since Meg had a class assignment due on Friday night (sometime around 11:00 PM), she had already forewarned me that she probably couldn't take the children to Muncie until Saturday morning...and we had spent Thursday evening doing other things to get her ready for her assignment as well as a big-deal party at her work. (I worked with the children; she worked on homework...then she worked on homework while I fixed party food.) In any case, I volunteered to take the children to Muncie on Friday evening...in her vehicle because it has a DVD player in it...and because we really did need for the children to be gone in order to get through the rest of the weekend.

Today, I was up early for Coats for Kids. Have posted about this event in previous years. Coats for Kids is an event that is sponsored by Tuchman Cleaners (who cleans donated coats), WTHR Channel 13 (which provides news celebrities and advertising), and The Salvation Army (which provides hundred of volunteers, the venue, and the can-do experience to bring it all together to provide thousands of winter coats, free, to thousands of Indiana's children. SATERN, of which I am a part, provides communications for the event. Today was the day. I only had three radio operators on both shifts, but we managed. Everything went very smoothly! It was a warm day, so 'twas probably hard for parents to shift gears in looking down the road for winter temps, but there was a loooong line at the beginning of the day. It dwindled as the day went on, but we were serving folks until 4:00. My guys (and me) left at 3:00 because things were totally under control.

The SATERN operators that have worked with me on this event for probably 5-6 years now are the best! One fellow, N9XOQ, has to be commanded to take a break. KG9QJ and his wife are faithful and professional. This year, we had N9JPS with us. He has added a lot to the radio club and to our missions. Good guy! (And I don't think he is even a SATERN ham! Will have to fix that...)

Although I dread events such as these because I am overstressed at home and work, I always come home feeling good that I have done something to help others. I suppose they can function without radio communications, but it would be tougher. I know that there are thousands of children in the Indianapolis area who now have winter coats...and I helped in a very small way.

The Times, They Are A-Changin'

AOL informs me that they are shutting down the blogs.  Will be moving this daily diatribe to whatever before the end of the month. 

Also, the last of our fishies went the way that all fishies eventually go...  Don't know how the little thing could be expected to live in a mixing bowl for long.  He looked so depressed.  Nathan wanted the children to have their fish HERE because THIS is where they live and they could see them every day.  Well...I had to tell the kids that the fish was dead.  That's how much they paid attention to it!  It was belly-up for a day before I told them, just to see if they'd notice.  They didn't.  So much for that!

Meg has been getting Ryan in bed by 7:30 each evening this week.  He hasn't been napping at Grandma's, and we really do believe that (so far, at least) it has made a difference in his behavior to get the extra sleep.  He resists, of course, but generally not for long.  In any case, it sure is easier to have a decent evening once he is down for the night.  He really is a sweet little guy, until the Demon of Holy Terrors takes over... 

We are down to the last three days of the first grading period at school.  I have been grading and entering scores on Harmony like mad.  (Harmony is a software program that allows parents to get online and see how their kids are doing.)  Week after next, we will have parent conferences, then Fall Break.  I look forward to getting that busy week over with!

We really have had some pleasant days.  Cool in the mornings but warm in the afternoons.  Haven't had to turn the heat on yet.  (There were a couple of days when I thought I would have to because the house seemed too cold when I came home in the afternoon...but the process of cooking dinner and getting everyone back home warmed things up.)  "Dr. Dirt"--a horticulturist on WIBC radio--says we have had perfect conditions for brilliant fall colors...and the trees are turning.  I can't believe that this coming weekend is the first weekend of the Covered Bridge Festival in central Indiana.  How the time doth fly!

One of my colleagues, the 7th grade English teacher in the room right next to mine, has what his doctors call terminal cancer that began in a kidney.  He and his wife (who teaches French in the adjoining high school) are absolutely charming people with 3-year-old twins and an infant.  Rich was telling me today that we were being given an extra year of an online paper-grading software item because the company that we bought our new textbooks from was slow in getting information to us.  He said, "That means we will have it for eight years."  I looked at him and said, "I hope I live that long."  He said, "Yeah...me, too."  We tapped knuckles in a kind of pact.  All things considered, I hope I can retire or give up the ghost before he loses his fight.  He's only 35.

One of my ham friends came over tonight with a nightstand that goes with a bed that he gave us for Robin.  He was accompanied by his fiancee.  Long-time bachelor, KB9RDO, is getting married this month!  It will be a huge adjustment for him, but he deserves the companionship.  Best wishes, Mike!

Gotta go figure out how to transfer my blog to the new blog space.  Stay tuned...   

The Town Crier Says...

"Eight-thirty and all's well!" 

After a horrific morning with Ryan...to the extent that Meg finally had to just pick him up and carry him to the car...the rest of the day went swimmingly.  Sort of.  Ryan had a thundercloud over his head (Grandpa called it a "surly mood") when I picked them up at the end of the day.  In short order, however, he settled down.  The rest of the evening went okay.  Ryan was in bed, never to be heard from again, by 7:30.  Robin, an hour later.  Meg is ensconced in her room desperately trying to finish projects for work and school. 

Meg and I have been grasping at straws about Ry's behavior.  Here's what we know:

1.  As an infant, he loved being swaddled...restricted by blankets, etc.  2.  He had no self-comforters.  Never sucked his thumb or used a pacifier.  3.  He did well in regular day care where the schedule was exact...meals and naps at regular times.  4.  He keeps score about what he gets vs. what Robin gets.   For instance, Robin's school shoes failed.  We had to get new ones.  He objected that she had new shoes and he didn't...  I wonder sometimes if I'm the problem.  I spent more time with him after school today.  He responded.  I don't have any answers!  I think fatigue plays a big factor in his behavior.  We just have to find the secret to getting him to nap when it's time.

Speaking of time to nap, Grandma is tired!  Off to La-La-Land for me. 

Four Down; One to Go

Four little fishies have been "promoted to Glory," as my Salvation Army friends say.  I probably sound like a terrible person, but we are patiently awaiting the last one's demise so we can reclaim the kitchen counter space where they have lived in a HUGE mixing bowl for a week.  I love animals.  Really, I do!  I just didn't want these fish, in the same way that I didn't want the dog...and I have Nathan to thank for both.  Oh...and Nathan, if you are reading this...you will be interested to know that the children have paid NO attention to the fish, whatsoever.  I had to show them that they were dead!  So much for that!

Friday evening, we went to the Fun Festival at Robin's school.  Grandma Judy joined us.  All was going somewhat well until Ryan started acting up.  Meg pulled him aside on three occasions to warn him that he needed to straighten up, to no avail.  In short order, he was in a full-blown tantrum and had to be removed.  Poor Judy volunteered to take him home so Robin could finish with the festival.  (Grandpa Phil was probably quite surprised to see them BOTH show up on the doorstep at that hour!)  When we went to pick him up, things got worse and worse.  By the time we got home, he was totally and completely out of control...screaming, crying, saying nasty things, kicking, hitting...you get the picture.  He was immediately put to bed amid stressed out feelings on everyone's part.  The crying might have lasted a couple of  minutes...then silence.  He was pooped...as were we all...but he had already lost his parade privileges for today.

Oh yes, the parade!  Every year, Plainfield has Quaker Day.  (We have the Quaker Western Yearly Meeting House here.)  The Girl Scouts were marching.  We tried to discourage Robin, telling her that if she was marching in the parade, she wouldn't actually see it or be able to rake in the candy, as in other years, but she would not be deterred.  It was a 2.5 mile route.  Never mind!  Soooo...since I had already signed up to help line up the parade via amateur radio, I was elected to take Robin.  It was pretty chilly this morning.  I soon figured out that the little jacket we had taken wasn't going to be enough for her, but (luckily) her fleece sweatshirt was in her bookbag in the car.  That worked.  THEN,her name was drawn out of a lottery to wear one of the five Girl Scout cookie costumes for the occasion.  She just grinned and grinned!  She was the only Daisy Girl Scout that showed up, so I was very pleased that she got to have some distinction. 

After standing around for the 1 1/2 hours that it took to line everyone up, my back was bothering me.  I decided not to walk the parade route with Robin.  There were lots of other parents and she didn't seem to be bothered that I wouldn't be there...so after the parade got off, I got a folding chair out of my car (leftover from Ryan's soccer days) and walked around the school to sit where the parade would come back to the point of origin.  An hour later, here came the prettiest "cookie" in the parade!  Was I proud?  You betcha!

Meg and I had originally planned to go to the State Museum with the children today, after the parade.  I think we both figured out at the same time that we were overbooked.  After lunch, Ryan went down for a nap.  Robin and I escaped to do the craft fair at the Quaker Western Yearly Meeting House.  We bought some things, then went to get her some new shoes.  (The last "new shoes" didn't even make it through two months!)  When we got home, Grandma needed a nap.  Do you think I could fall asleep??  Nooo....

Robin wanted to go to the park.  Once we got Ryan up and everyone going in the same direction at the same time, we went to Swinford.  Well....that didn't work out.  Ryan wanted to play with Robin.  Robin didn't want to play with Ryan.  He kept chasing her and she kept running away from him.  He would collapse on the ground and throw grass at ME, telling me to "get away".  I told Ry not to chase his sister.  I told Robin not to run from her brother.  With all of that playground equipment and all of the children there, I figured we could work things out.  Silly me!  After thirty minutes, we left to get a Subway supper.  Things quieted down after that.

We decided that tonight would be movie night...along about 8:00.  I took the kids to Hollywood Video for their pre-selected choices.  We couldn't find them all  so came home with other entertaining movies.  True to form, eventually Ryan acted up.  Meg got upset.  The evening ended way late for them.  I would be nice if we could have one evening without trauma!  We don't have the children on the weekends often.  I actually like having them here IF we could do without the tantrums.  Ugh! 

We need a thermometer that will tell us what is going on in Ryan's brain from one minute to the next.  He can be the sweetest child on the planet one minute, and a horrific demon the next.  Meg and I are both working on understanding his behavior.  God save us from little boys!  Robin is such a joy.  They both have their quirks, but right now, the biggest quirks come from the master more than the miss.  God bless them both...and grant us mind-reading abilities!   

All's Quiet...I Think

Meg is in her room preparing an assignment for one of her courses...due tomorrow.  I was Chief Cook and Bottlewasher most of the evening for the children.  I confess that I used the computer and the TV to keep things quiet while Robin did her homework, and thereafter.  Bad Grandma!

Would you believe that the first grading period is over next Friday at school?  That means that the school year is officially 25% gone.  It flies by!  October is a busy month with parent conferences and that sort of thing.  So is May.  The months in between have their challenges, too, but seemingly not as bad.  I just wish there was more time to sit back and smell the roses.  Roses??  It's October, for Pete's sake!

Tomorrow evening, we will be doing the Fall Fun Festival at Van Buren Elementary School.  Whoop-de-doo!  It's a fundraiser for the PTO, for good causes.  Still...on Fridays, I usually am pooped enough just to want to veg out.  Not this weekend!

Be well and prosper!

 

I Think I Got a Compliment Today

One of my special ed. kids with dyslexia told me today that she is usually pulled out of English class to work with resource people, but that she liked me so much, she asked not to be.  That's fantastic...HOWEVER, her skills are so low that I virtually have nothing to give to her at her level.  One spec. ed. teacher sent me a couple of links to sites that provide spelling words at other levels.  Went to both of them...clicked on third grade, and found out in short order that even third grade words are too difficult.  <Sigh> 

The grandchildren will be with us this weekend.  Robin is going to walk in the Quaker Day parade with her Daisy Girl Scouts...and we have other things planned.  I'm tired already!

We are still in the throes of getting rid of things.  Trying to find surfaces.  I don't look for this process to end until summer.  Come on, summer!