TGIF...TGIALWE...TGIPD!!!

Ok...the first one is pretty clear...Fridays are always good as they lead directly to Saturdays. As for the TGIALWE....well, that would stand for Thank God It's A Long Weekend!!!! Oh, and the last one....Thank God It's Pay Day!!!! All three are good things....VERY good things!



Been a L---O---N---G week at school this first week back...remember the good ol' days when we didn't start til AFTER Labor Day...actually, Kyle doesn't start til the 6th even, but the bright side is that I will be out earlier when it really counts...in June! Of course the weather has been fabulous, and I have been inside all week with meetings the first two days, Freshmen the third day, and all the kiddos yesterday and today. No actual activities outside as we must do the necessary class rules and regs, etc...It has been a pretty good week though. We have a new computerized grading program...just as I was finally getting used to the old one. I HATE CHANGE! Getting it figured out though...as we all are. At least I am not alone in this.



Then, of course the idiot in our State House and his moron of an Education Secretary decided that we high school teachers need new I-Book lap tops now...what a ridiculous waste of money!!! The theory is that the kids in middle school got them, so they learned on Macs....the PROBLEM is that most high schools have PC's!!! I like the Mac, have one here at home, but am currently blogging on my school model PC! I am finally learning Microsoft, Windows, Excel, etc...and now they are gonna throw me to the wolves and have me learn how to "cross-utilize" both systems with the new special hard/software that works for both Macs and PC's. Don't get me wrong...if someone wants to give me a computer, that is nice and I do appreciate the thought, but I am fine with what I have, really. I would rather see my taxes drop than worry about a new lap top when the one I have works just fine! I can't tell you how many "initiatives" and ideas and assessments and other educational programs/ideas that have come down from Augusta that have already fallen by the way-side. I am all for the consolidation idea for the most part, but it is NOT going very well for a lot of districts, and for a lot of good reasons! Someone is NOT thinking everything through, as usual, down there, and if they would just take a little more time with things to get all the possible bugs out, then maybe everyone could be happy. As Fred Nutter would say, "that's our opinion, we welcome yours." hahaha



So, a long weekend awaits...GREAT! I have no plans whatsoever, which is not such a bad thing as I am exhausted. Being the night owl that I usually am, it is difficult to change gears and go to bed earlier and get up at 5:30 a.m. No one pities me, and that is fine...do not expect it. But I am tired...Also, Kyle has had this horrible infection he was battling all week...SEVERE headache, seriously high fever...102.8 more than a couple times, chills, aching, vomiting, etc that all goes with it...needless to say I was up half the night because of it too...I felt so bad for him and yet I HAD to go to work as it was the first week...called him hourly, and had my neighbors on call to help if he needed. He is a trooper when he is sick though...always has been. Thanked me for taking care of him...how sweet is that? I told him that is my job and I hate it when he is sick...he said he knew that, and was sorry...made me cry. He is a good kid. Today, he is MUCH better. Eating again, up and about all day, no fever or headache. But, he was not able to go to the first football game in Skowhegan...the Coach told me last night that a bunch of guys have been out. Some had this or something similar, and others have pink eye...so, glad Kyle has not been exposed to that!
Ok...time for night night....early on a Friday....GOD I NEED A DATE!!!! Hope everyone has a great weekend...LONG weekend that is!

Kimmie

School is a "dirty word"

Yep....back to work this morning...up at Odark hundred as Jimmy Buffet would say, and back at it. Two staff days, then Freshmen only, then all the little cherubs!
Can't say I am happy to be back...but, whatever! Today was a fun day for the most part...tomorrow more work with meetings, etc...

Hate that my son doesn't even make an appearance til the 6th of September (happy birthday to me)!!!!! Oh well.....he will be suffering through it in June when I am all done!!!!! ha ha

And of course, the weather is cooperating nicely for everyone who is on "vacation" this week...like Super Sibling #1. I am glad for her....but she does need to drive to D.C. too, which has GOT to stink....been there, done that!...a long drive.

Ok...catching a movie with Jr. here, then to bed early again...not used to that yet.

Kym is now OFFICIALLY in the Gymnasium again

My son...is NO Davey Crockett!!!

Yeah, so you are wondering about the title...another fine story to regale you all with from Brewer!
I leave to run some errands, and Jr. finds Ken's old hunting knife in the garage...he later tells me he didn't know where it came from but it has been in there for years now, and he must have seen it before this. Anyhow, he decides to try out his marksmanship by throwing said knife at the huge oak tree in the front yard. Of course it would take too much common sense to realize one should be sure NOTHING is behind the tree.....just in CASE he missed! (here it comes...)
So, he does in fact miss....and throws it right into my downstairs window(s)....yes plural! Goes through the screen, storm window, and the inside double paned window! Glass everywhere down there! He calls me to inform me he broke a window...I am at Walmart and just simply hang up and head home, not knowing what to expect....although I half expected him to break this newest phone I just got to replace the one he trashed earlier this week.
I get home to see the lovely mess in my family room, though luckily, most of the glass stayed in between the closed windows.
So I ask you....how does a fairly intelligent young man NOT have any common sense???!!!! I think I may need to invest in a BABYSITTER for when I am gone....this is getting way too costly for me...he now gets no allowance for yet another month while I try to pay for this one. Chris is gonna come take a look at it for me first though...thank God for my little house husband!!!
I told him I might have to sell his guitar if this keeps up....he will have to lose it for a while as punishment I think...it seems to be the only thing that means anything to him these days...if he thinks I will let him drive one of MY cars soon, he has some serious work to do in the"respecting other's property" category! YIKES!!!!!
I am gonna have to get a part time job if this keeps up....actually....HE WILL!!!!!

Kym (who will be glad to be in the gym now) nasium

Movie Gallery..."this is a good place to start movie rentals" as Ken would say!

Ok...so I finally use my free movie rental at Movie Gallery from when I donated a pint for the Red Cross...I get to the counter only to discover that it's only good for older movies...not new releases! So, I go back, pick out one I have yet to see, and get it home....ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT I HAVE DISC 2, WHICH IS THE MAKING OF THE DAMN FILM!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no disc 1!!!! Now of course, this is NOT the Red Cross's fault, I realize...but I am NOT a happy blood donor tonight....SHOOT!!!!



On my last week of vacation...which I know will please some of you...but it does NOT please me! And a friend asked me to babysit her two kids on one of my days this week, plus I have to go to a computer training session all day on Thursday!!!! SOME WEEK OFF!!! Sorry.....just had to vent there for a sec.

Kyle has his first scrimmage game tomorrow at Edward Little...a long haul! Not going, but hopefully he will do fine...will only get a down or two as it is. He raised some good money for the team with a liftathon fundraiser...was thinking of not playing the other day, but changed his own mind....good thing after I had just shelled out an activity fee, picture money, and some team shorts and a tshirt funds as well. I was not happy about his late decision, but told him to speak to the Coach, which he did not. He came home and just said he didn't know what he was thinking and that he DID in fact want to continue...he talked to Sheb as it turned out...his best friend. I love that boy!!! Doesn't matter to me if he plays football or soccer or runs XC, but I was disappointed after putting up some hard earned money initially, only to hear him say he didn't think he wanted to play. So, his season begins.....I DO hope he enjoys it.

Ok...gonna try to watch the other movie I rented now....I HOPE!!!

What is up with this wind...Dean is not even close to us!!! "Ahhh, Toto, looks like we're not in Kansas anymore!" Can the Red Cross help out with shutting that Mother Nature of a fan off or what???!!!

Kym-soontobebackinthegym-nasium

Red Sox Win!

Yep, we DID get to see a "rare" (these days anyhow) win on Monday. Wakefield actually was dealing a no hitter through 6 innings before giving up just two hits. We had a blast, even though Varitek, Crisp, and Pedroia didn't play...Did get to see Paps close out the game too!



We did some bar hopping and appetizer tasting at a few bars and pubs in the vacinity, the best being Eastern Standard...a restaurant/bar with THE BEST drink menu and raw bar I have ever been in. I tried a cocktail I never would have before...mighty tasty! We were so full that we walked all the way to the Pru and then went up to the Top of the Hub for more drinks, entertainment (a jazz trio) and desserts....I swear I ate ALL weekend long! It was great fun though.



Our room was delightful...if you ever get a chance, 1750 Beacon Street Inn is a wonderful little secret...only $99 a night, and it is an old brownstone converted to an inn. We had a room just inside the front door, and adjacent to the little check-in desk and continental breakfast set up. The room was very large, with an attached bathroom. It couldn't have been nicer...and none of that sterile Holiday Inn feel to it, more like a B&B really. The T was right across the street outside the door which made things easy too.



On the way home we stopped in Kittery for some outlet shopping, and lunch in York at a little deli style cafe. Route 1 was, of course, crowded so we hopped back on 95 as soon as it was in sight. On the way home, we came upon that black Rav that was mentioned in the paper this morning with the two people who abducted the two kids...they had just taken them out of the vehicle when we were stopped for a bit...it was funny cause I knew the two troopers there who had made the arrest...and while we wondered what was going on, it was cool to see it in the paper and on the news last night. So we were right in the thick of things...



Kyle has started double sessions of football practice, so I see him in between, then for a late dinner. He is tired already...no more late nights for him! Reminscient of my life with his Dad...



Ok......counting down the rest of my vacation with great chagrin. I hate this time of year...sorry, but you do sort of get used to having time off when it has been a couple of months since you last worked. I know, no one feels sorry for me, and that is okay....just voicing my opinion...for what that's worth!!!



Kimmie

Boston Here We Come...Look Out!

Leave Sunday morning with the girls, Penny Sargent (my surogate Mom), and Sue Goodwin who is a close friend of Penny as well as me...Sue has never been to Fenway and is so excited...I am SURE we will have a great time. The game is Monday night and our seats are in the right field corner near the visitor's bull pen. I think we will be making a sign or two...saying hello from Brewer, Maine or something silly. Look for us...

Will head down early, stop in Kittery at a couple outlets, and hit Boston Sunday afternoon and evening, then Monday do the Fenway tour, hit some bars, do some shopping, whatever...I cannot wait! Hoping to maybe coax Super Sib #2 out to lunch with us on Monday...

Kyle starts football practices Monday, and is staying with his buddy Sheb who also plays, so that worked out nicely. Double sessions...and a step up from Freshman ball to JV this year...gulp! I think he is excited to get started.

Have a good end to the weekend all...and a good start to the new week ahead.

Kym

Shoes, Cell Phones, and Car Keys........

Ok....so you are wondering what the title has to do with....well, with ANYTHING!!! Alas, only Super Sib #1 and I REALLY know!!! After an hour plus spent in the shoe aisle of Mardens in Brewer, we, or rather she, decided on a pair of sandals...so we make our way to the check out lines and escape the dirt, filth, dust, and "bag ladies" that make up ANY Mardeen's trip, only to discover that Super #1 left or lost her cell phone in the store! So, thinking I will just sit in the cool car, I stuff my purse under my seat, then we decided that we will need to call her phone to find it if it is in an aisle somewhere....so, I will need to help inside. So, I shut off the car, and as I listen to the ding ding ding of my car reminding me "HEY IDIOT, YOUR KEYS ARE STILL IN HERE", I slam the door shut.....LOCKED!!! Shit! And of course, it can't BE any hotter outside...Uh, can you say Triple A!!! So we go inside to take surveys of how long they will take to come "rescue" us....Oh MY God....it was too funny really! We set up "shop" at the cheap tables out in the lobby pretending to be doing something productive of course, as Gretchen inquired of some pre-K student just when he thought Citgo would show up....And then there was the old white haired lady who panted in her face..."Hot out, isnt' it?"...BRILLIANT!!!! I am still laughing about it....
Finally, Union Street Citgo shows up, and we head off for lunch....of the NOT FROZEN VARIETY!!! What a good day it was! And I DO mean that really. Have not laughed so much in a long time.
The two boys have kept me entertained as well....playing their guitars, and just acting like, well, like the teenage boys that they are. Took a hair raising trip out in the storm of the century to get take-out even....t'was fun! They get along so well....it is nice having Ty up here for Kyle.

Big plans next week it sounds like....Mommie Dearest has it all scheduled in it seems....she even invited me to stay at Gretchen's....or at least that is the way I figure it, since she has no place for me to stay, when she asked if we were staying over, she must have meant somewhere other than her place....CAUSE I AIN'T SLEEPING ON HER COUCH!!!! Whatever!!!!! hahaha Or is that "Everwhat".....hee hee

Kimmie the Keyless