The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:
I got a very nice email at school today from a former student of mine...someone who graduated from MHS about 10 years ago or so. I had him as a Sophomore and again as a Senior...and he was in one of the plays I directed. He wondered if I had forgotten who he was. Not so! He was one of my favorites...and apparently, I was one of his. He was a "spirited" young man. I was happy to hear from him--especially the part where he said I had helped to make him into the person he is today (and he is happy with who that is). Don't get those kind of kudos very often!

The Bad:
I have a couple of current students who are not working up to potential and have decided to drag the rest of the classes down with them. I'm not the meanest teacher on the planet, but I am stubborn. Everyone got a warning today that I was willing to clear out the classroom, if that's what it took, in order to keep the kids who wanted to learn in a good environment.

The Ugly:
The weather continues cold and yucky. The pristine snow that we got last week is now clumps of ugly stuff. Had a big melt yesterday, but it will take many more before we will see the ground again.

On another subject, if I retire at the end of this year, I have two four-drawer file cabinets and two big cupboards to clean out. (That won't be too tough. Just pitch it all!) I have things left over from the days that I taught elementary school--what? 13 years ago? Meg and I have yet to discuss the logistics of what will happen. I would likely take over pre-and-post-school care for the children. I already cook dinner on the weeknights, and make the kids' lunches...and do most of the laundry. I am hoping to work out a deal with Grandma Judy for the summer months, just so I can have some time for me. Last summer, the children went to day care as usual, but that is expensive, and Nathan's child support was reduced this year because Judy and Phil took over the school-year duties. It will all work out. We just have to keep talking and determining how to fill everyone's needs.

Meg ended up taking today off. Grandpa Phil had a doctor's appointment at 9:00, so Meg took the kids to school...but she didn't have her own homework done because we had Robin over the weekend, and Ryan was returned home early yesterday. (Superbowl, you know...) Schedules get complicated! As far as Meg and I are concerned, dinnertime is sacred. We eat at what the television calls the "family table"--all of us together. The tough part is that she usually doesn't get home until nearly 6:00, which makes for a late evening for the children...and she (and I) are most always tired by the time that hits. Tonight was pleasant because I BOUGHT supper instead of fixed it, and we could eat early because she was home. Plus, Robin didn't have a ton of homework. Yay!

Here we are in February now. We aren't out of the woods for bad weather until after the middle of the month. Have I mentioned that I hate winter????