I love my job. As I was working with a student showing them how to use the system to check on their financial aid, grades, and register for classes, it hit me. This is the same feeling I got when I was working one-on-one as a parent helper in J's first grade classroom. Her school was old. The kindergarten room had a huge fireplace that housed a lego table. A nook that bowed out over the side entrance to the school had tall windows. This also served as a passage way connecting the kindergarten room and the 1st/2nd grade classrooms. There were also water fountains, a sink and the bathrooms. Lastly, there was a table and chairs. That is where I worked with the kids. One by one they would visit me and read to me. It was so much fun watching them grow in their reading, working so hard to crack the code. Of course some of them were fantastic readers. That time with each of them was so special. While many of my clients now are not as cute, I really like helping them.

My status as an employee is temporary part-time. This means if they no longer need me, they just don't have to give me any hours. Like in all work environment, there is stuff that goes on that does not make sense. I stay out of it. Oh it does bug me but I do not vent to anybody there. It has not been easy and like it or not, I have been dragged into some stuff. But I roll with it and just enjoy my job. Yesterday before work I checked my bank account to see if my deposit had come in. I only had one day that pay period but I was still hoping for my few bucks. Nothing. Hm. My plan was to call my bank later. All of the regular advisors had a meetings on Friday. When they came back two of them were talking about the payroll problem. Somebody goofed and several part-timers were not getting paid. Yeah, that is how I found out. My boss did not tell me. I happened in on a conversation. But I decided not to say anything. The day before my boss called me into her office and said, "Rebecca, are you not getting my emails?" Let's think about this. If I was not getting emails, how would I know if I was supposed to be getting them? I put up with this because I like my job and I hope to get hired one day.

Our department gathering was yesterday afternoon. Jane and I went together. She was hired in a week before I came it. She is permanent. She is trying to make sense of what is going on and cannot understand why our boss has not been fired. Jane had good intentions when she went to our boss's boss. She told Dr. K what happened to me. I was horrified. My plan to fly under the radar was foiled. Plus, I did not want this kind of attention. So what do I do? burst into tears. Jane and I left. Not only did I cry, I broke out in hives on my chest. So I pulled it together as best I could. Somebody came up to check on me and I lied telling her that I choked on something. She believed me. Later, I went to talk to her in her office. Haley and I have known each other causally for years. She was so helpful, explaining what happened and what is happening in the office. Boss is not going anywhere soon as far as she can tell. But she did tell me about a job opening. It would not be the same thing, but it would still be working one-on-one with students. That's what I love and am made to do. First grade or college, all students want to be told they are doing a good job and everything will work out. They want to feel safe and have guidance. I can provide that.

I have a job. That makes me lucky. I love what I do. That makes me blessed. Everything else I can deal with.

I'll tell you about drunks, felons, druggies and pissed-off people another day. 

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Sometimes when I am feeling down about my health, I think about the days when I was healthier and the things I did that seemed just a way of life. My exercise was a built into my day. I read a lot about foods, vitamins and supplements that would help me. Cutting things out of my diet has always been a struggle. One thing that I always did was drink water. Alan and I used to laugh at pictures of me because my water bottle was always present. When I gave blood I never had a problem because of the amount of water I drank.

Through the years there have been varying thoughts as to how much a person really needs. 8 cups/64 ounces? But there is no disputing its importance when you consider how water benefits all of your body's systems.

Water benefits

The brain needs water to function properly. I like the visual that one article created stating that the signals sent by the nervous system are like little water ways for the signals.

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Twice now I have had a full post and lost it completely. This may be my laptop's problem but I really wish Vox had a feature like Blogger does where it can be saved to publish later. I don't feel like recreating the whole damn thing right now. Maybe I'll try again later. Sorry.

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Things are still fun and exciting at work. Now before you get the idea that everything is perfect, it is not. I just choose not to stress over the imperfect. My boss does not always communicate well. Somethings I found out directly relating to me, I actually overheard as she was telling somebody else outside my door. Ha. There is an issue of my pay. When does that exactly happen? Hmmm. Not sure, but since this is not causing my family hardship I am going to wait until this Friday and see what happens. Also I need to go to one of our other sites next week. I found out because the co-worker I am meeting there told me that Boss told him he might want to meet me somewhere so I can follow him. Fuck that! I'm not following a man. She may need a man for things, but I have Google, Bing, Yahoo and an awesome sense of direction. I politely declined his offer. Even he laughed at the idea.

The job, however is fantastic. Everyday I meet with all sorts of people. Most are excited at their new adventure that I get to help them map out. One student came in for an unofficial audit for GRADUATION! I am so happy for her and I have never met her before. She had to know I was happy for her because I was smiling like an idiot and bouncing. THEN later I had a drunk person in my office. The student had just taken a test and was sent to see an advisor. They should not have sent him to me but this happens and it is not a big deal. He was slurring and telling me all of the schools he's been to and the online college he is attending. It was all hard to follow, but I sent him on his way to the right place. If I was wrong, he will not remember. Believe it or not this was the second drunk person in our offices this week and I did not even work on Tuesday!

Thing 2 may be getting the flu. He was directly exposed to H1N1 (aka hini) but he also receive the mist vaccine. That can cause a low grade fever and a little coughing from the drip. The kids' main school is closed for the rest of the week because so many students and staff are ill. However, they both have to go to their other schools. T2 doesn't have it today so he can just rest and do homework.

Well I am off to work! Yay.

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Loathe:

• H1N1
• People who do not inform themselves and rely on hearsay 
• People who hack and sneeze without covering their face

• Seeing my 12 year old son hug my 17 year old daughter as she cried
•  My job
• Families that love to be with each other
• The IT lady at my husband's office
• Eucerin Hand Creme
  

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Our local paper gives a quick run down of the police and fire activities in town. Some are really bad/sad things. Some things are not meant to be trivialized but sometimes I find them entertaining because of how they are written. Here are three:
VICIOUS DOG ATTACKS: Police reported two vicious dog attacks:

• A 7-month-old pitbull named Thor was attacked and bitten by a 3-year-old beagle and blue heeler mix named Sparky about 1:35 p.m. Tuesday in the first block of Eldred Street. Sparky was quarantined.

(I find it funny that they put the names of the dogs in the write up. I can just picture Sparky getting his mug shot and paw prints taken.)

• A red-and-brown pitbull named Mutt Face attacked a 13-year-old Brittney Spaniel named Brittney about 11:35 a.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of Cove Drive. Mutt Face was residing with a 57-year-old woman who said the dog belonged to her boyfriend, who is currently in prison. Officers notified her that she is now the dog's owner, and cited her for the vicious dog. Mutt Face was taken away by animal control.

(I love the original thought that went in to Brittney's name. Although, I am not sure who to blame for the misspelling of Brittany Spaniel: the owners, the police or the writer of the article. All are suspect. The added information of the boyfriend's absence being due to his incarceration is a nice touch.)

(Is anybody surprised that it does not say the lady was intoxicated? AND why was the canine victim not properly identified in this write-up? No name, no breed, just DOG. I smell a cover-up.I hope the lady has had her shots. My guess is she is in quarantine along with Mutt Face, or Mr. Face, and Britt.)

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Steve Betz wrote about his encounter with rattle snakes. I have never seen one before, but I remember my brother killing one once when we were youngsters. However it did remind me of a snake encounter of a different kind.

Right after Alan and I married, I worked at a daycare center. At first I was in the infant room. Somehow I slipped into an assistant  to the director role. She was out of the building one day and one of the workers came into the center yelling for her. Kids were out on the playground and there was a snake. It was the harmless, garter snake. As we went out there we could see a toddler had picked it up and was beating it on the ground. The teachers out there saw it the same time we did. Much yelling ensued. The tot looked so happy playing with her new toy. Children were ushered towards the doors. Hands were washed thoroughly. A floppy snake carcass was flung over the fence. The end.

So it was not much a story but it popped in my head and I thought I would share. 

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Ahhh fall. OK not technically but it is a crappy rainy day so why not send the young un's back to school where they belong. Since it is cold it is perfect knitting weather.

J began her senior year. Thing 2 entered seventh grade but is taking high school French and who knows what level math and language arts. We'll call him 7+. How about a picture? Yes I still take pictures.

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Then I had some "me" time. This is the first time in 5 years that I have not had some kind of first day of school along with the kids. Today "me time" meant knitting. It was good to see Marty, Alice, Miss Em, Carina and Holly. And as a bonus the other Marty, also known as Mel, was hanging with us. For the occasion we brought some stash to share with Iraqi Bundles of Love.Here is a little bit of what we packed:

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No it is not an illness. It is Iraqi Bundles of Love. This very cool dude wants people to donate sewing and knitting supplies. How is your stash? Not sure what you are going to make with that one skein that looked oh so lovely? Send it to IBOL. A few years ago I happened upon a garage sale and bought a bunch of needles. Why? Well, I am crazy and I inherited this gene that does not allow me to pass up butter cream frosting and good deals.

Time running out though. You have only until September 7!!!! Sometimes I do better with short deadlines, hopefully you do too. I only wish I had a bigger following. If this does not apply to you but you know somebody who is a knitter, quilter, or sewer, send them to IBOL. I can guarantee they have extra supplies, fabric, and/or yarn. Crafty people are hoarders. Don't believe them if they say any differently.  They are good people, they just hide the fact that they have to have lots and lots of stuff. 

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Have you ever experienced a natural disaster? If so: when, where and what happened?

Growing up in the mid west we are raised knowing that tornado's can destroy and kill. In schools we grow up practicing tornado drills. Many times we end up in halls or other window-less rooms sitting cross legged, facing a wall with our heads down and hands clasped behind our neck. The teacher hushes giggling children and we remain in this pretzled position until the all clear is sounded with an announcement over the PA system by the principal.

I remember one morning going to the house of the lady who watched us before school. The air seemed different. It was not gloomy as much as it felt green and still. I truly do not remember if this was the same morning of 6th grade when our drill became real. The sound of the sirens were heard before the school alarms sounded. We knew this was real. I don't remember hearing a train like sounds.  As we headed for the door to the hall, I looked back over my shoulder to see an angry pea green sky swirling about.

In the hall little kids' cries seemed to drown out all noise. We did not sit facing the wall with our bum's in the air. We huddled together and hugged each other. Mr. H then did something that was not in the handbook. He instructed us to sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat.  His goal was to calm us and to help the little kids as well. Many years later I found out that in another hall a girl was hysterically trying to run out the doors to go home. They had to restrain her. 

When the storm finally passed and we were released at the end of the day, the walk home revealed trees and lines down through out the neighborhood. Nobody died and as far as I can remember no houses were destroyed. Forever tattooed in my memory is the sight of that sky as I exited the classroom.

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