Foo - I don't need sympathy...just a chance to vent.

I don't need sympathy or advice or really anything else. I just needed to give a small rant. You don't even have to read it if you don't want to. So if you aren't interested in an old woman's selfish ranting, then SHOO...go away right now!

Yesterday I thought things could not get any worse. Sunday nite, I was up all nite long talking to my suicidal daughter, who was so completely dejected about an impending divorce that she didn't want to be here anymore. I got her talked to and tucked in about the time my alarm rang to get me up for work. Because of some important activities at school, I could not take a day off yesterday, so I dressed and went to work. The 4th grade picked yesterday to act worse than they have all year long. Even my "best" kids were bad. Every period, the day got worse and my headache and heartache got bigger. Then in the early afternoon, I got a call telling me that my mother had been in a car wreck. She has macular degeneration and really should not be driving any more because it is getting worse all the time. I went to see about her and had a huge fight with her about her wreck. She thought I was going to fuss at her about it, and all I wanted was to make sure she was ok!

Then last nite my daughter cried all evening long, my grandson had a fever, and I got about 12 crank hang-up calls....some as late as 2:00 a.m. There is no telling who that was. :mad:

At least I got a little sleep last nite and woke up in a better mood this morning, ready to battle 4th graders again all day. They actually were very good today, so I thought things were FINALLY looking up. I was wrong.

I was driving to my son's basketball game tonite and had not one, not two, but THREE frigging deer run out in front of my car on the way there (three separate times!). I got there without getting killed or killing a deer, watched the game, and came home. About 20 minutes after I get home, I am in the back of the house and my phone rings. I look at the caller id and see that it my son's girlfriend. It keeps ringing and I finally pick up the phone and Eric's girlfriend says "GO CHECK ON ERIC!" (This has happened once before where he was talking to a girlfriend and started having an attack and the girl hung up and called me back because he could not move...this time it was a different girlfriend and a much worse attack. :( )I throw the phone down and run into his room, and he is having an asthma attack and cannot breathe.

I have been scared in my life, but not like this. Here is a big ole 6'2" 16 year-old gasping and crying and coughing and curled into a ball. Not being able to breathe had caused a panic attack on top of the asthma attack, so his heart was pounding and his chest was tight like he was having a heart attack. I found his emergency inhaler, got him calmed down and able to breathe again, and it looks like he is going to be ok. He did get a little pissy with me when I scolded him for not using his Advair as he should every morning and not taking better care of himself. He is asleep now. Tomorrow I think I will schedule a doctor's appointment. He'll get even MORE pissy about missing basketball practice tomorrow afternoon. Oh, well!

I give up. I am going to bed now. Surely tomorrow will be better?

(I still cannot ride on my land... hunters are everywhere. I think a ride would help!)

I hope you don't mind, but I asked the Lord to give you a little peace.
Tom

I hope you don't mind, but I asked the Lord to give you a little peace.
Tom
I'm not a religious man by any stretch, but I second this.

Thanks, the prayers must have worked. I just woke up feeling a lot more peaceful. Amazing what a good nite's sleep and a couple of prayers can do!

:)

My grandmother had this on her wall:

"When trials are greatest, and all goes wrong,
Just buckle your armor and trudge along.
The way that is weary, dark & cold,
May lead to shelter within the fold.
These trials were meant to make you strong,
so buckle your armor and trudge along".

Know that lots of us are thinking of you, we're not very near, but we're with you.

Can I come over and go hunting?

Just kidding, you are in my prayers Vicki, hope things get better and hope you have a good or at least tolerable holiday if nothing else. I've been fighting my own demons as well here lately.

Sam

Can I come over and go hunting?

Just kidding, you are in my prayers Vicki, hope things get better and hope you have a good or at least tolerable holiday if nothing else. I've been fighting my own demons as well here lately.

Sam

Might as well come on and hunt. The more, the merrier I guess!

I hope that your demons all stay in Hell where they belong and you have a nice holiday, too, Sam.

I am off to battle 4th graders. I get the opportunity to keep all the "bad kids" who don't go to UIL competition today. It just doesn't get any better than this!

:D

Good luck with those 4th graders.

I can remember days when, like you, I was up all night with similar problems having to face 100 6th graders the next day.

They sense your weakness and can take full advantage of your situation, and can be absolutely horrible.

Here is a memo I wrote for my own record about part of one day:

1. Morning - Cinco de Mayo – blastingly loud announcements on intercom in school to attempt to stop flag carrying and waving..

2. Morning - More intercom blasting - Dress code violations and enforcement announced on intercom for enforcement by teachers.

3. Afternoon - Temperature in classroom in the afternoon at 90+ degrees. No air conditioning. Our room temperatures are in violation of OSHA standards. I have previously informed the principal of this. The principals and secretaries all have air conditioning. None of the classrooms have air conditioning.

4. 7th period. (2:09 – 2:57) A number of boys “acting up,” not paying attention, talking, etc. Referral written on one student and he was taken to the SSC (Student Support Center) and a referral was written. There was an attempt to call mother with no success.

5. Were notified by blasting intercom to direct our attention to our email system, where there was a notification of a “Level I” security alert [a security alert usually means there has been a shooting or armed robbery nearby - last year we had a shooting at a nearby school and the police "take down" - with guns drawn - of the shooter took place directly outside of the windows of about 100 7th graders at our school, where the chase ended]. There were no instructions as to what our actions should be. The teacher across the hall and I checked our security handbooks, where it stated we should lock our doors and close the blinds, etc. However, I was able to locate the principal in the hallway and he stated that we did not need to do that. In the interim, I was able to get all of my students needing a bathroom break to the bathroom in case the alert went to a higher level and they were locked in the rooms.

6. Other core (6th grade) was in the hallway outside my door for an extended period of time, continuously yelling and goofing off. Closed door, increasing heat, but noise still extremely loud. Went out to caution students and ask them to be quiet. One teacher from the other core did also attempt to quiet them. Still noisy.

7. 8th period. (3:00 – 3:45 – end of school) Discussed with students about the need to have a good attitude, not drop in work on the last days of school. Mentioned need for keeping work up.

8. Asked students several times to direct themselves to “warm-up” on board – every period starts with a warm-up on the overhead projector. Most students did. Several did not.

And on and on!

I am so glad to be out of that zoo!

Stress is a REAL killer - believe me.

Try and look at the bright side- you can't appreciate the good days without a few bad ones thrown in. Of course, your bad ones are worse than most so maybe your good ones will be better than most :-)

MsVicki, you could always try what I do to help me get by in times like these:

Some things in life are bad, they can really make you mad
Other things can make you swear and curse
When you're chewing on life's gristle, don't grumble -- give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best, and...

Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life

If life seems jolly rotten, there's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you're feeling in the dumps, don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing, and...

Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life

Life is quite absurd, and death's the final word
We must always face the curtain with a bow
Forget about your sin, give the audience a grin
Enjoy it -- it's your last chance anyhow, so...

Always look on the bright side of death
Just before you draw your terminal breath

Life's a piece of ****, when you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true
You can see it's all a show, keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you, and...

Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life...

- Honors to Clese & Co.

I have no wonderful words of wisdom for you to take comfort in, but I hope things do get better, and I pray that they will.
Happy Holidays.

Sorry you've been having such rough times. Don't forget, among all the difficult things that have been happening, to remember the good things that have happened, too:

Your 4th graders did settle down some.

Your mother survived her accident in good enough shape to fight with you (better have the big fight and take her car keys away).

You are such a good driver you avoided running over three different deer (must be residual ability from your bike handling skills).

Your son has good taste in girlfriends. He's picked two who are smart enough and caring enough to call you when he has an asthma attack.

Your daughter will probably be fine. She has a mom who will sit up all night with her when she is in crisis.

Finally, you have bikeforums.net, where you can vent all you want. Now all you have to do if figure out where you can have a good bike ride (go away hunters!).

Ok, now I have a smile on my face! :D

The "worst" 4th graders who are left with me while the "best" are at a UIL competition are turning out to be fun! We have had a good, good day today so far!

Ms. Vickie,
If things get really bad, go out and haul off and sell
any deer stands you can find. Take the money you make
and buy yourself a little gift. . .
Glad to hear your son is Ok. yeah he may get a bit
pissy but keep on him about his meds.


Marty

Jesus, it turned into another horrendous day. One bad thing after another, more bad news and even MORE bad news. I am not even going to say more about it except to say it was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I give up.

I think I'll move to Australia.

The holiday break for most schools is coming up. You owe it to yourself to find some kindly adult to keep an eye on your family for a few days. Then, you need to hop in your car, drive over to New Orleans, and check into a quiet place, such as the guest house across from the old Ursiline Convent. Sit in the Farmers Market sipping coffee and watch the world go by. Stay away from Bourbon Street. A nice school teaching lady would be shocked by the goings on.

New Orleans or not, you deserve a few days with just one priority: youself.

Yeah, in Australia.

Can't ride on your land because of hunters? You're kidding!

I'm not city folk; I grew up on a farm in Mississippi. Fortunately we were far enough in the back woods that asking if you could hunt on someone's land wasn't just a matter of courtesy but the only way you knew you wouldn't be shot for trespassing.

1: Shoot one of 'em. If you've got moral problems with it, use saltshot, but remember if they live they can sue. (The Mississippi home-defense motto.) Aim low, 'cause the last thing most of these idiots need is to be uglier.
2: Ride wearing hunter's orange.
3: Spray Bobbex or Deer-Off. Put up a sign saying you did this and that there are no deer there. More simply, just put up the sign and omit the spraying. Alternately, I've heard planting garlic works, but I've got no personal experience there.

(Don't actually shoot 'em. This worked back in the day but unfortunately "Because he needed killin'" is no longer a valid defense, which explains most of modern society's ills.)

I'm so sorry you have had such a rotten time of it...that truly sucks. Come to DFW and we'll have a girls spa day...massage, pedicure, manicure, facial, the works! If anyone deserves it honey you do. Chin up. We think about you, care about you and pray for you.

If you don't mind me asking, what the heck is a pedicure? I'v heard some of my friends(who are girls) talking about getting pedicures but I never figured it out.

IMO it sounds like something you'd do to you're dog to rid him/her of fleas or something :p

^ A maincure for your feet. Mmmmmm good!

Thank you for being a teacher.

I'm so sorry you have had such a rotten time of it...that truly sucks. Come to DFW and we'll have a girls spa day...massage, pedicure, manicure, facial, the works! If anyone deserves it honey you do. Chin up. We think about you, care about you and pray for you.

That sounds divine, girl. Thanks for the offer! I may surprise you and take you up on that!

Maybe if I can get through my uncle's funeral tomorrow, things will be better.

Yeah, in Australia.

Can I come, too?

I'm glad to see you Trollie it's been too long.

I'm glad to see you Trollie it's been too long.

And a big old SMOOCH to you, boyfriend!

:love:

Can I come, too?
Well, of course Trollie. We welcome any good-lookin' sassy gals like you in Australia. Now go get that suitcase packed... or better still, get packed in MsVicki's suitcase... and c'mon over!

G'day seppo ladies,

please excuse that rather crass chat up line coming from our taswegian friend Rowan. You see, down in taswegia, they don't have any women that they are not already related too...so the gene pool is running a little shallow......all the blokes down there look like david Boon....10,000 people turned up to welcome some fish & chip shop owner back from a TV show on the fabled 'mainland' (they say that word softly & with awe down there!)...anyway, Rowan is on the prowl for a lady so he doesn't have to sell the tandem that has been sitting neglected in the shed, since his grandma got to old to ride with him....don't fall for it whatever you do.... Rowan had a 'personal ad in the paper...."man wants woman with bike...send photo of bike"!.......you have been warned!. We're not all as crass as Rowan, why some of us even put the stubbie down during foreplay! :D

Hitchy

That sounds divine, girl. Thanks for the offer! I may surprise you and take you up on that!

Maybe if I can get through my uncle's funeral tomorrow, things will be better.

For sure do! Now that Christmas is behind us...I have nothing but time...and cookies, I have lots of cookies. Good grief, I baked for three days. And I must say, I am not a cook, a baker or anything of the sort, but the Cookie Gods smiled on me and some awesome cookies came out of my kitchen!!!

Wow. Bad day. Merry Christman though!

Ok, here's an update to anyone interested (if you are not interested, close this thread and go look at others).


It looks like my daughter will be getting a divorce from the jerk she has been married to for 2 and a half years. I can't say I am upset by this. He has not been good to her, and she deserves much better. She is resolving herself to the idea, though, and is no longer talking about suicide.

My grandson had strep throat. We had to take him to the emergency room at the first of last week, but they fixed him up, and he was much better by Christmas.

My mother will get her car fixed, but she has promised NOT to drive at nite and to limit her driving during the day to only when she has to go somewhere and there is no one else to take her.

My son's asthma seems to be under control at the moment. I think his last incident scared him enough that he is taking better care of himself, taking his asthma medication, etc.

My relative in the hospital is still there, but he got to go home for 4 hours on Christmas Eve, and he seems to be on the mend.

My uncle's funeral is past. It was so hard seeing all the grieving relatives. Next time I see them, I want it to be on a happier occasion.

No more deer have run out in front of me while I am driving, although I did see a herd of about 30 deer in my front pasture when I turned into my driveway last nite. I am not sure when deer season is over. Surely it won't be much longer, and I can once again be free to hike and ride on my own property without being scared that I will be shot and killed.

I am on a two-week break from my 4th graders. I think I needed the break as much, if not more, than they did! When school starts back on January 4th, I will be rejuvenated and ready to go.

And finally, the stress of the holiday is over.

Thank you for the kind words and prayers. It helped me get through these hard times!

The holiday break for most schools is coming up. You owe it to yourself to find some kindly adult to keep an eye on your family for a few days. Then, you need to hop in your car, drive over to New Orleans, and check into a quiet place, such as the guest house across from the old Ursiline Convent. Sit in the Farmers Market sipping coffee and watch the world go by. Stay away from Bourbon Street. A nice school teaching lady would be shocked by the goings on.

New Orleans or not, you deserve a few days with just one priority: youself.

Speaking of Bourbon Street, here is a joke I got this morning that made me smile.


We sent our parents during the Mardi Gras festivals to New Orleans for their 55th Anniversary. They had a
nice room in a hotel just outside of Bourbon Street. Dad, who was 82, couldn't sleep and decided to take a
walk at 1 A.M., the first night there.

As he was cruising down Bourbon Street, he saw a skimpily dressed woman on a balcony above him. "Would you like to sleep with me for $100," she called down to him.

He answered, "Making love at my age is always a real effort. But I could sure use the money."

My grandmother asked my grandfather to come upstairs and make love. He replied, "make up your mind. I can only do one or the other!"