I have spent the weekend on the edge of being sick.  My throat is scratchy and hot, and I feel quite a bit less than energetic.  I’m hoping vitamin C, echinacea, and zinc will stave off the full-blown cold.  I swear I should don a hazmat suit at work.  I know exactly where this came from … the petri dish that is my classroom.  Could it have been Vanessa coughing all over me?  Or maybe Erik breathing steamy breath all over me while I was helping him with his math?  Or perhaps their cooties all over my eraser that they love to borrow?  Yes, I think it’s all of those.

I spent today working on report cards.  We have new standards-based report cards this year, meaning that we have to evaluate every student on every standard on top of giving effort and achievement grades for each subject area.  It takes FOREVER!  But, I actually like the new report card because it gives parents such specific information about student performance.  I’m almost done with the grades, so I will have the rest of this week to work on comments.  Somehow I know I’ll still be writing comments an hour before they’re due.  Yes, I know this is becoming quite an exciting entry.


My sister’s birthday is tomorrow, so that means I get to eat a dinner I didn’t cook. Yay!  I’ve been trying to avoid eating out, and I’m getting sick of my own cooking.  My youngest sister was responsible for the cake, and she is so proud because she found one that looks like a giant hamburger … one big blob of frosting … not that there’s anything wrong with that.  ;-)

Well, I’m off to down a few more vitamins.  Happy Monday to all!

Unrelated Quote of the Day:

“A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.”~Gloria Stuart in Titanic

Inspired by Jason and the evil specter of cramps, I took the day off today.  After the guilt (and cramps) wore off, it was like heaven.  I have been so stressed lately; it was so wonderful to just read a book, take a nap, do some laundry, and basically just enjoy some peace and quiet.  And I still have my students’ welcome to look forward to tomorrow.  The kids’ renewed love and appreciation is one of the best parts of missing school.   

I am rather proud of myself because I finally managed to hold one.  Hey, if an itty bitty first grade girl visiting my room after school can do it, I can too!

Then, sadly, one of the lizards died on the first day, and the following day, one of the snakes bit the dust.  I spoke to the parent, and he doesn’t know what could have happened, but hopefully, whatever it was won’t happen again.  We’ve learned enough about the circle of life this past week, thank you very much.  I was initially pleasantly surprised to see how cute the snakes were, but I am now keeping a close eye on the remaining snake because, while it may just be my own prejudice, I have a feeling he may be the culprit.  I practically held my breath all weekend, hoping I wouldn’t return on Monday to find a fat snake and nobody else, but, since Friday, we haven’t had any new fatalities. 

The kids have been decidedly naughtier since our pets’ arrival, but I have now threatened to send the pets home if I don’t see a quick return to their usual good behavior.  The no-more-Miss-Nice-Guy threats seemed to have helped.  I told the sub to be ruthless today, so we’ll see.

Well, off to bed and back to the salt mines bright and early tomorrow.

Quote of the day:

Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.  ~Richard Carlson