Case of the Octobers...

I know, I know...it's been a month. I'll do better, I promise. Luckily, I sit in grad class every Tuesday, so now I take the liberty of writing things down to write in my blog since there is really no reason to listen to the discussion happening around me. Speaking of which...is it ironic that I am getting a masters degree IN education in one of the worst states educationally speaking? 35% of high school students drop out before graduating in Mississippi and yet we're getting our masters degrees here. Something doesn't seem right...

Highlight/lowlights of the last 4 weeks of my life...
(-) instead of giving 9 weeks tests, I was told that during my planning period I needed to be working on filling out basic contact information/shots/SSN for each child on their cumulative folder. Apparently cumulative folders trump 9 weeks tests when you know there is an audit around the corner.
(-) Speaking of 9 weeks tests, one of the days I had no assistant, a crabby class and it was raining which equals being stuck inside all.stinkin.day. ick.
(-) it's getting cold here. Our house has been 60-65 the last couple of days, although I think it gets colder than that at night...I know, it doesn't seem bad, but when you go outside and the temperature is the same as it is inside, you know there is a problem.
(+) The colder temperatures have greatly reduced the number of steroid-induced mosquitoes around these parts, particularly in my bedroom. I have been seeing more cockroaches though :(
(-) Cody and I broke up...stop asking when you're going to get to meet him.
(-) I ask my class how they are doing each morning when we get to the rug. They have to give me a variety of responses using different vocabulary. One day I asked them if they want to know how I am. One kid instantly responded, "sad." truth. I started to tear up in front of them, what on earth, no rhyme or reason for it, I was fine. Don't worry, it didn't affect them, they were still bad for the rest of the day. No compassion I tell you.
(+) Last weekend we got out of the Delta and went to stay at Mike and Gretchen's house (even though they were on vacay) and went to the Mississippi State Fair...if you know me, you know this was a big deal. My roommates and I did a ride just like the Power Tower at Valleyfair, which is kind of sketchy to think that this was a carnival and therefore none of the rides or objects were stationary. It was so fun though!
(+) Guests: I had two nursing students in my room observing and assisting one day. The next day came and I knew my assistant was going to be out so I asked my principal if the nursing students were coming back, just to gauge how I was going to fill 1 1/2 hours on my own with everyone doing the same thing (they need to be split into groups). Well, she said no they were not coming back. Anyway, they were on the rug listening to me tell and illustrate a picture about snakes and I was modeling how to add text to our picture. All of a sudden we had 3 visitors knock and ask if they could watch, they had heard good things yadda, yadda, yadda. Sure, I figured they WERE nursing students, just dressed differently. Well, two things...my kids were FRICKIN amazing and thank goodness I did not talk to these women whom I thought were nursing students. Awhile after they left I realized they left me a note, turns our they were from TFA visiting the Delta. They are the institute design team and the core group of people planning the Delta's first summer institute (teacher training thing that I had to attend in Houston). Ohhh...emmmm......geeeee. I almost screamed, what are these big wigs doing here and in my room? Talk about nerve-racking, thank goodness I was not forewarned, I would have been a total nervous nelly. I went to a session about working at institute this weekend and the woman leading it told me I looked so familiar, after I said that she had been in my classroom a few weeks back, she just said, "Oh yeah, I knew that I recognized you, you did wonderful." Wow, my horrible-prosat-induced-mood was just lifted.
(+) Our pumpkin patch/farm trip is THIS THURSDAY. WHO WANTS TO COME?!?!?! This year they have a new haymaze, so I can't guarantee the haunted walk, but I can only hope for it. My camera will be out and ready either way.
(+) Finally booked my flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas...I love Minnesota....
(+/-) Tomorrow is a teacher "work day." We do not have kids, but we sit at school from 7:30 until 4 while parents come in to get report cards and talk about progress. I sent home notes with 4 kids requesting URGENT parent conferences because their student was getting one or more F's. Sorry, had to.
(-) It's just after 8 p.m., I wasted most of my day putzing on my computer and reading the hilarity on mylifeisaverage.com If you're bored, you should check it out. I feel awful, I took my temperature and it read 96, ugh, clearly that doesn't indicate a fever. I only ate a poptart today and am not hungry, something has to be wrong. My head is throbbing. WebMD told me nothing, blah.

Clearly the list I just made has more negatives than positives, i.e. the Octobers. October is the month that traditionally feels the longest. No end in sight. Children are restless, uninvested, crabby, needing a break...clearly I feel the same. It doesn't help that it has been raining for the last 3 weeks straight. Swear to it. The sun came out briefly on Friday and I made everyone look out the window because we haven't had a day that was NOT overcast in weeks.

Since everything has been negative in this post, I'll add one more. Friday was Ruleville's homecoming. I walked in the parade with the elementary cheerleaders from my school because they need extra help in these homecoming parades (Indianola's and Ruleville's). We found out after the parade that a high school senior girl was shot and killed by her boyfriend who then shot himself. Word was spreading during the parade. Students were gathering at the school, the high school football cheerleaders came over to out house since my friend is their coach and they needed to get out of there for awhile. It broke my heart, kids should not have to go through that. No one should have to go through that, but especially kids. The football game was somber, not packed, not enthusiastic; this town is about the size of Mapleton if that helps put anything in perspective.

Okay...I'm out, sorry for the depressing post. But after Thursday's trip to the farm/pseudo pumpkin patch, hopefully I'll have some great stories! :)