Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

A Woman of Many Hats

I think I'm wearing too many hats. I've been trying for days to stop and catch my breath, but it's not happening. Here's what I have going on:

1) Mom. Last week: kids sick. This week: I'm sick.
2) Wife. Trying to plan construction with DH.
3) Teacher. Four English classes (9th and 11th), one 9th grade High School Transitions class, one mixed level reading/study skills class.
4) Mentor Teacher.
5) Department Head. This a big joke right now.
6) One Act Troupe Coach: 26 practices until competition. Yikes.
7) Drama Club sponsor. Another big joke right now.
8) Student Governement co-sponsor. Working really hard on this.
9) CP. It's a wonder Carol and Kristi haven't both kicked me to the curb. Many crits I owe, I owe, I owe.
10) Chief Cook and Bottlewasher. My kitchen is clean!

I'm pretty sure there's more, but my head hurts, my throat hurts, and I still have a set of quizzes to grade, a calendar to finish, Monsters to put to bed.

How many hats do you wear?

Perception and Reality

We had a softball tournament at school this weekend. I worked the gate, watched my students play, talked with board members and parents. It was a beautiful day, cloudless, warm, breezy. We had many teams participating, from all over the state. While I was chatting with a friend, she mentioned that one of the girls from another school (a well-to-do private school in Atlanta, one large enough they choose to compete in GHSA athletics rather than the independent association program) had told our softball players we were a "poor school." I think our girls were a tad miffed and a little hurt.

Interesting, isn't it, the difference between perception and reality?

If you'd walked through our softball complex today, you'd have seen three fields surrounded by chain link and wooden fences, some portable bleachers, dugouts, a wooden concession stand, a tent at the entrace gate, a concrete block restroom building. You'd have seen that the parking area was under the pecan trees and that the entryway is a dirt path worn by many cars. You wouldn't have seen any score boards. We can't afford them yet and keep score on white boards.

Yes, looking around, you'd probably think we were a "poor school," too. We all know it's easier to write a check than give of your time and yourself. It's difficult to come from outside and look at the softball fields, where there used to be a pecan grove a few short years ago, and see how rich we truly are.

Those fields, those fences, those dugouts, that concession stand, the less-than-fancy restrooms -- all of that came from parent volunteer labor. Others look at our facilities, compare them to what fairly unlimited money can buy, and find us lacking. We look at our facilities, see the level of commitment and sacrifice that went into creating not only our softball complex, but our school, and we wouldn't trade it for anything money can buy.

The perception? Yes, I guess we look like a "poor school."

The reality? We're rich beyond our wildest dreams.

What are your intangible riches?

MIA, but Still Alive

The Monsters have been sick for over a week, so I've been playing Mommy and trying to catch my breath with school stuff at the same time.

I do, however, already have my Friday post up at Romance Worth Killing For. Go check it out!

Isn't It Fantastic . . .

. . . when awesome things happen to wonderful people?

Go congratulate Larissa!

Today . . .

Remember them.

Lazy Sunday Post

Scarfed from Larissa:

Skinny Jeans

You are classy and a bit formal when it comes to your personal style. Your look is feminine and well put together - and never trashy or too trendy.

What Style of Jeans Are You?

Today's Post . . .

Is at Romance Worth Killing For!

Progress . . .

I love my job. I mean, absolutely, totally, passionately love my job. Believe me, I know how lucky that makes me, because I know so many people who get up, go to work, and hate what they do.

The very thought of such an existence would make me want to slit my wrists.

Today, even though I took a sick day because Monster #1 wasn't feeling well, was one of those days when I really love my job.

See, last week, I gave back the most horrific set of essays you've ever seen. It wasn't that my kids don't know how to write -- they do. I guess, as one of them so eloquently put it, "everything we learned leaked out of our brains over the summer."

Anyway, no one was happy last week -- not me, not my students, not my administrators, not the parents.

Paper #2 is due Friday. We've been working hard to stuff some of that leaked-out knowledge back into their brains before then.

So I went by the school this afternoon to meet with a handful of students who wanted feedback on their rough drafts. Revised rough drafts. With notes on them. I was thrilled. Then, when I started reading the rough drafts?

Color me tickled pink.

The rough drafts I read today are loads better than the final drafts from last week. They're learning. They're improving.

How can a teacher not love that? And how could I ask for a better job?

Whoo-hoo!

I have electricity again!

And papers to grade. Some things never change . . .

Progress, of Sorts

Okay, still no electricity.

But I have emailed my art forms and my blurb forms to my editor.

Now I'm off to get caught up on teacher things.

What have you spent your long weekend doing?