Checkin' In

Horsetail Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon - February 2005

Yes, it's been a LONG time since my last post.  I've been busy with work and just not too interested in posting when I did have the time to post.

First of all, let me welcome my newest followers:

Jessica, who writes a blog called Happily Ever After
Rusted Granny
Tami
N&J

Thanks for finding me and reading my blog!

As I said, work has been pretty time-consuming. I'm the president of our local teachers' union, and have been busy with the beginning-of-school issues:  transfers, reassignments, class sizes, administrator demands, potty training (kids in Kindergarten who haven't been potty trained!), daily schedules, extra duty assignments, evaluations, budget cuts, layoffs, rehires, catastrophic leave, student discipline, our governance documents review, professional development, dress code, testing - and all that just since August 10.

Things are beginning to slow down some, and this past 3-day weekend proved to be a perfect break between the beginning-of-the-year issues and settling in to a routine. Now that I've made the decision to retire at the end of the school year, there are a few issues I don't get as wound up about - it's more like "take it up with the new guy," since they're long-term issues. I'm still fighting the good fight for my members, don't get me wrong, but I'm focusing on the issues I can handle this year. 

I wish I could fire our governor and state legislature. They're all clowns. Both sides are so entrenched in their positions, here it is September and we still don't have a state budget. There's not one in sight, either - rumor has it that they're just going to let the new governor have that battle.  Until then, schools continue to suffer - more billions cut or deferred. Districts are beginning to have cash flow problems - which means our paychecks are in danger of being delayed - ouch! 

But Don and I have had some great times the past month that we've been back. Now that we've officially made the decision to keep the house, all the unknowns about full-timing are gone. Instead of planning a big trip for next summer, he's going to Orlando to see his father next month, and I'm going to Lubbock to see Mom in November. We'll be home for Christmas, since Kenny's coming home on leave on his way to his new base. He's leaving Kadena AB (Okinawa, Japan) and going to Holloman AFB in New Mexico.

We ARE getting hitch itch, though - and need to schedule a 2-3 night outing somewhere close just because.  I'll check at the Regional Park - that way I can just get up in the morning and go to work. We don't have to schedule a weekend.

I'll post again when there's more to talk about. Until then, we're

Another Day Closer....