Bye Ned!

Today the Brewers fired Ned Yost. There are 12 games left in the regular season. The Brewers are tied for the lead in the wild card race. Seems strange they would fire him, right? Well, consider the sweep that just happened in Philly - and the 4 game lead that is now gone.

I'm not surprised they fired him but I am kind of surprised at the timing.

Now let's just hope they can kick butt these last few games and actually make the playoffs. It's been too long.

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I'll have to think of some really exciting things to start posting on this blog. My DH tells me I write about "lame stuff". :-)

And who wants a lame blog?! Ok, it is kind of lame because it really doesn't really have a main focus - just my many thoughts, right?! Maybe I should start writing about him!

Where to start?!

I have been so busy this week I couldn't even think of posting anything on the blog. It's been one of the busiest back to school years ever for me. If this is a sign to come it is going to be quite a year.

Today the Packers got the blood pressure going again with the near-collapse in the
4th quarter and then 3 INTs, the latter two which were returned for TDs. WooHoo! Aaron Rodgers is playing great. Now McCarthy needs to do something about all of these penalties!!!

And, how could I not write about Ike. Wow. The destruction is amazing. We can only pray that the people who have been affected by Ike get the help and support they need to keep going and, in many cases, start over.

Finally, I dedicate a poem to all my fellow special education teachers out there ~ I'm on my way to go write draft before I can go to bed.

IEPs by Dr. Seuss

Do you like these IEPs?

I do not like these IEPs
I do not like them, Jeeze Louise
We test, we check
We plan, we meet
But nothing ever seems complete.

Would you, could you
Like the form?

I do not like the form I see
Not page 1, not 2, or 3
Another change
A brand new box
I think we all
Have lost our rocks.

Could you all meet here or there?

We could not all meet here or there.
We cannot all fit anywhere.
Not in a room
Not in the hall
There seems to be no space at all.

Would you, could you meet again?

I cannot meet again next week
No lunch, no prep
Please hear me speak.
No, not at dusk. No, not at dawn
at 5 pm I should be gone.

Could you hear while all speak out?
Would you write the words they spout?

I could not hear, I would not write
This does not need to be a fight.
Sign here, date there,
Mark this, check that
Beware the students ad-vo-cat(e).

You do not like them
So you say
Try again! Try again!
And you may.

If you will let me be,
I will try again
You will see.

Say!

I almost like these IEPs
I think I'll write 6003.
And I will practice day and night
Until they say
"You've got it right!"

It finally happened

When I student taught 15 years ago my cooperating teacher told me that teaching special education (EBD) is hard and I shouldn't be surprised if somewhere down the road my former students would appear on the news and/or in jail for doing something really bad.

Well.......it happened.

Last spring actually, but sentencing was yesterday for this 16 year old that (as a 15 year old) shot two people (gang related) and when an unmarked cruiser came and the officers identified themselves he shot two of three officers, one of whom will never be a cop again due to his injuries - most of which are psychological I believe.

60 years, 9 months.

A few years ago he was a punk kid in middle school. Cold and uncaring. But still a kid deep down inside. We wouldn't see that too often. Told us a lot that by the time he was 18 he would either be dead or in jail. Just like his father. Was sent a few hours north to live with relatives because he was starting to get into the gang thing. Didn't last.

Now he has a lot of time to think about it.

Tropic Thunder: A review

Tonight my hubby and I saw a movie. In the theater. First time in - oh, over a year. Neither of us can remember the last movie we saw. Well, I remember Munich but I'm sure we've seen *something* since then.

Tonight we went to see Tropic Thunder (our choice over The Dark Knight). BAD choice. People said how funny it was. Sure, there were some funny parts but overall I'd say it was a big waste of $8.50 and 2 hours of my time. Bummer for us, considering it might be a long time before we hit the theater again.

And when did movies get so dumb anyway? Are there any good movies out there anymore???

My recommendation: Don't waste your money on this one - wait until it comes to DVD or On Demand. Sure, Robert Downey Jr. was good and so was Tom Cruise, but overall, I'd say C- tops.

Goodbye Summer!

Today was a very sad day for me. I had to return to work. OK, it wasn't really all that sad but that early alarm was killer! I haven't been up that early since the last day of school in June *LOL* Today was a workday and tomorrow we have a staff breakfast meeting (MMmmm) and then meetings all day. Ugh.

Glad Friday and Monday are vacation days....I really need to get back into the routine!

IT IS FINISHED!

My DH has been on my back to make a pen for a while. Yes, you heard right. Make a pen. He took a class at a local woodworking store a while back and made one. It was pretty cool. He decided he needed a lathe. He also thinks I need to take up woodworking. I don't. I like to scrapbook. I am behind in my scrapbooking - I don't have time to do woodworking.

But I said, "Sure honey, show me how to make a pen!" We started a few weeks ago and cut the wood in 2 pieces and drilled the hole. Well, that was hard b/c we didn't have what we needed to do so and the hole was a bit off-center but workable.

DH bought whatever it was he needed to use with the drill press - the name escapes this wood-working novice - and he drilled the other hole.

Last Friday he took off of work, the 4 year old was at Grandma's for the afternon, so........we got to some pen-making. The fun part was when it finally got on the lathe! For a project that should maybe take an hour it took me/us longer but it was our first time!

And....drum roll please.......here is the final product:



What do you all think? I'm proud of it. I didn't do it all myself, DH helped a good deal, but I'd say I did a good 60% myself. I'm sure it will get easier when I do the next one ...... gotta get going if everyone is going to get a pen for Christmas! *ha*

Thanks for making me do it, honey!

Prayer Request, please

A friend of ours, John, is currently in the hospital after receiving word that he will most likely need to have some surgery. He has been through a lot, has already had a surgery, and recovery has had ups and downs. Please send your prayers and good healing thoughts to John and Jody. Thanks!

Happy Birthday

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Kitty who turns 4 and my hubby who likes to keep his age a secret! Here's to many, many more! Love you!

8-for-8

Last night it was by .01 of a second. Tonight his teammates helped him to another world record and a clean sweep. A gold medal in every event he swam. I don't know that we will ever see that again. WOW! Michael Phelps is king of the athletic world!

Question of the Day

Can someone please tell me why in the world the track stars want to have all of those chains banging around their necks?!?!?!

Not only would I think it is uncomfortable but it creates extra drag.

Inquiring minds want to know!