May 10, 2008 New Ship Of Thieves...May 2008 Repo Thread...Part 6

[Jhalkias]

I'm thinking of doing the Police & Elvis Costello at SPAC and of course James Taylor has the July 4th at Tanglewood... & Boston Pops with fireworks...

(i'll stop now...)

Catching up a bit too . . . two of my favorite performers that I have seen . . . Elvis Costello and James Taylor. And what a dichotomy.

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Hello Friends,

It has been a long and trying couple of days. We were back on the ballot for our school levy, and despite getting more votes out than in the six previous losses, the no voters got out more. It is disappointing, and depressing, and I really wonder about my community. We lost by about 1,000 votes out of over 20,000 cast. Parents and teachers worked our rear ends off, and spent thousands of dollars in this effort all for nothing.

The really horrible thing is watching the attack of the no voters in our community, spreading misinformation and lies. You can read the story here, and then read the many nasty comments below:

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=402177

I posted this comment in response tonight:

No nasty comments here. You reap what you sow. For all of you who think you have sent some kind of message to Columbus - think again. They could care less. When attacking teachers and the people who care for our children in our community becomes sport, it is indeed a sad day. I doubt that any of you have taken the time to meet these people, to know them, and to show them the care, respect, and love they give to children every day. It is not just your fault, but the fault of every person who puts so little value on education that it is the last thing funded, and not the first. You have not voted negatively on things that affect your well-being, and the services that aid you, and yet you would vote this way when those who have no voice in their future pay the price. My parents taught me differently. They taught me to respect and value teachers and not to insult them. They taught me children come first and it is the duty of each succeeding generation to sacrifice if they must for the future. We will lose good teachers. We will lose what it took generations to create, and the loss will come more quickly than the time it will ever take to regain that loss. I am sad, and I am ashamed - and the negative comments here show the real heart and priorities of many of you.


Hope you are all doing well - I'm having a hard time focusing on a fun vacation when Sophia and kids like her are losing more educational opportunities.

Very well put, John. I thought about clicking on the link but you know, I just don't want to put myself through reading that kind of c**p. The further away I get from teaching, the clearer I get on why I was ready to retire. It wasn't that I didn't like working with kids--far from it, in fact. But after 35 years of knowing I was doing a good job yet hearing otherwise from ignorant people of the type you describe above, plus increasing indifference and outright hostility from parents and students (not all, but more and more every year) I'd just had enough.

What I realize more with each passing day is that I want to spend the rest of my life being with folks who appreciate me, treat me with respect, are genuinely happy to have me around and will take the time to say so. I'll knock myself out for those people! Not trying to be dramatic, just honest.

 

[HollyTyler]

I have not read or caught up....just read this page.

John, so sorry about the vote.....I wish it could have been different.

I have been so busy with Frank. I brought him home today from the hospital. He has to drains that need to be cleaned and flushed 4 times a day. I just am not too sure how I will keep that up. Don and I are talking about hiring a nurse to help us.

He will be going back into the hospital for at least one more operation.

Not sure where this will all lead to.

Lisa, it's good that you got to bring Frank home. Sounds like the surgery went well. Hiring a nurse would definitely be the way to go. You have so much going on in your life already, I'm not sure how you'd be able to take on this extra duty.

 

[onekindman]

Hey everybody! LONG day today, after taking Tyler to school on the west side of town, then me going to work way in the east, I left work an hour and a half later to pick him up from school to head to his sensory evaluation with the occupational therapist on the south side of town, then back to take him to school, then me to work way on the other side of town for an hour, then back to pick him up from school, then karate and dropped him at his dad's where I spent about a 1/2 hour filling dad & stepmom in on all the details of his eval. BUSY! Then I got home and a friend stopped for a short visit and now I'm STARVING for dinner but wanted to read a few pages here first.

GREAT news is that I think we're finally on the right track with some of Tyler's issues. The evaluation continues next Wednesday, but the OT already says she sees major sensory issues and gave me an idea of some of the accommodations she thinks she'll recommend for the school and also at home exercises, plus OT every week with her and twice a week at school. I won't bore everybody with the details, but she feels ALL of the problems stem from some sort of sensory processing disorder, she just now has to figure out which type and come up with her plan for treatment (but will still evaluate him further next week before doing her report & recommendations). His dad, stepmom and I are so excited now! We really seem to be on the right path finally!

Holly, glad to hear you have a diagnosis for Tyler so you can start working on the plan and treatment. That is always a relief when you can put a handle on what is wrong. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers for good things to come!

 

[lillygator]

V - we (Ian, Sukie & I) met on the 4nt 12/10/06 cruise

I think I need to go read my TR from that cruise.

ok - the Geeks and I were on the 12/9/06 7 nighter.....!

Thank you everyone. Sometimes I think that those who care about children and value the future should all get to live in one place, and everyone else live on their own island. I wonder which place would prosper, and which place would decline?

you know, what is amazing is - weren't we all once children? doesn't everyone see, that even if you don't have children - oh, nevermind, I guess a lot of people don't get it.

 

[LisaG520]

I've been to Jacksonville a couple of times, and it seems like a very nice place to live. I haven't been in the downtown area but the riverfront sounds fun.

Connie

when I was at UF we went to Jacksonville all the time. We even did several cruises on the St John's River. The Landings area is a fun place.

http://www.jacksonvillelanding.com/

Thanks - that area looks great!!

 

[LisaG520]

Hi V.....we're staying 5 nights and checking out Fri morning and going to Vegas for one overnight then taking the red eye out on Sat night.

We're going to do San Diego and Santa Barbara in Cali. We're also doing LA and DL and CA......that's 5 days.

How long are you staying V?

What are you planning to do in SD? Maybe we could meet up for one last dinner before your trip is over?

 

[iankh]

Sounds like this is the anniversary of OUR first cruise

I hadn't realized that! It does! Want to come along?

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

HEY HEY HEY! THE WEBSITE CAME UP FOR ME!!! HOORAY!

What website?

 

[Jhalkias]

I think we are lucky the increase in Mexico port fees do not affect our cruise!

Woody

I think DCL is lucky the Mexico port fees do not affect our cruise! Poor Tom probably does not need any more email!

 

[disneylover5]

not a bad tought, I'm on hold with the doctors office now.

Nan, not too sure what is going on, but I put off taking Annie to the Doctor for a hurt shoulder cause I thought she could work though it,,,,

Well, her growth plate was borken in her shoulder.....a lot worse than I could ever have imagined. I wished I had taken her sooner.
Lisa

 

[LisaG520]

John,

I am listening to the Dis Podcast, I have downloaded it since the beginning, and never had the time to listen, OMG. These guys are a riot. Great information, and a fun time is had.

Pj

I've only been listening to them for the last month & half and it is my favorite Disney podcast (followed by Mouseplanet)

 

[HollyTyler]

Holly, glad to hear you have a diagnosis for Tyler so you can start working on the plan and treatment. That is always a relief when you can put a handle on what is wrong. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers for good things to come!

Thanks Steve!

 

[HollyTyler]

I think DCL is lucky the Mexico port fees do not affect our cruise! Poor Tom probably does not need any more email!

Definitely!

 

[Jhalkias]

Very well put, John. I thought about clicking on the link but you know, I just don't want to put myself through reading that kind of c**p. The further away I get from teaching, the clearer I get on why I was ready to retire. It wasn't that I didn't like working with kids--far from it, in fact. But after 35 years of knowing I was doing a good job yet hearing otherwise from ignorant people of the type you describe above, plus increasing indifference and outright hostility from parents and students (not all, but more and more every year) I'd just had enough.

What I realize more with each passing day is that I want to spend the rest of my life being with folks who appreciate me, treat me with respect, are genuinely happy to have me around and will take the time to say so. I'll knock myself out for those people! Not trying to be dramatic, just honest.

You're right Cherie. Don't put yourself through it. Every day lately I start to wonder why I do, but I have only been at the school board thing about 10 years. Nothing like a lifetime in teaching.

wern't we all once children? doesn't everyone see, that even if you don't have children - oh, nevermind, I guess a lot of people don't get it.

I think some of these people were BORN curmudgeonly old adults who sucked on lemons instead of milk. They must have had rotten childhoods, and that is sad too.

 

[MrsMork]

Hearing about Molly's knee issues (and the others too) makes me cringe

I had a skiing accident in January of 1988....had my 1st surgery November 1988....2nd surgery in 1998....and still facing a 3rd one (have been putting that off as long as possible). First 2 were orthoscopic and outpatient.

I don't know the technical term (s) for what I did....best way to describe it is that my kneecap doesn't stay in it's place....it's pulled to the side. My knee will every once in a while decide it doesn't want to work....so I can be in the middle of a step and then on the ground. (I plan to use this as an excuse on board after a night of drinking too much ).

The 3rd surgery (as explained to me in the 1999) is supposed to involve 2 nights in the hospital, moving bone (yeah), 6 weeks (min) on crutches, then another 6 weeks (min) recovery time....can you see why I don't want to do it???

I was thinking Nan (ok, don't laugh at that comment) - how about if you wrap her knee with an ace bandage? Maybe that would help.

Speaking of knee surgery. I am at my Mom's for a couple of days. She had knee surgery today. Arthroscopy (sp?) for a torn meniscus. Bless her, she is 82 years old and this is the first surgery she has had in 50 years. 1958 was the last time she had surgery! Tought old bird is what I told the nurse. And so far she has not had any pain. I keep asking her since they told me to give her pain meds as soon as she felt pain so we could stay ahead of it for the next few days. So far, "nope, don't feel nothing yet." Amazing lady, I hope I have inherited all her genes! She has been bending it an stretching just like they told her.

I miss DrHug already though! I will be here until Friday morning if all goes well. DrHug has jobs today and tomorrow so he had to stay home. We live about 2 hours from her.

 

[LisaG520]

So I've been sitting here multi-tasking: eating my Subway sub, reading posts and posting, and watching last week's Survivor. I just discovered a big thing I miss about my laptop. I have to PAUSE Survivor to go to the bathroom! I'm so used to carrying my laptop around the house with me to whichever room I happen to be in!

 

[Tink rules]

Well, I actually told Heather (threebritts) I'd help her team deliver too, so I guess that makes 3. Not sure how that all happened, chalk it up to my eagerness and being scatterbrained, but I figure why not? It will be something fun to do 3 times, and what great exercise! I'm loving it! I'll just need a team member to give my room a call to remind me. LOL!

Oh, I'm happy to help!

Holly... you'll know the ship better than any of us!!!

Thank you everyone. Sometimes I think that those who care about children and value the future should all get to live in one place, and everyone else live on their own island. I wonder which place would prosper, and which place would decline?

I think there would be anarchy (right word??) on that island... but then again they would all be on a reality show, vote each other off and then begin a career in Hollywood...

I have not read or caught up....just read this page.

John, so sorry about the vote.....I wish it could have been different.

I have been so busy with Frank. I brought him home today from the hospital. He has to drains that need to be cleaned and flushed 4 times a day. I just am not too sure how I will keep that up. Don and I are talking about hiring a nurse to help us.

He will be going back into the hospital for at least one more operation.

Not sure where this will all lead to.

Lisa... get all the help you need. You need to take care of yourself as well... all around!!!

Catching up a bit too . . . two of my favorite performers that I have seen . . . Elvis Costello and James Taylor. And what a dichotomy.

I was hoping that Elvis would tour with his wife, Diana Krall... she's one of my faves!!!

I think DCL is lucky the Mexico port fees do not affect our cruise! Poor Tom probably does not need any more email!

& we'd make a t-shirt out of it too...

Speaking of knee surgery. I am at my Mom's for a couple of days. She had knee surgery today. Arthroscopy (sp?) for a torn meniscus. Bless her, she is 82 years old and this is the first surgery she has had in 50 years. 1958 was the last time she had surgery! Tought old bird is what I told the nurse. And so far she has not had any pain. I keep asking her since they told me to give her pain meds as soon as she felt pain so we could stay ahead of it for the next few days. So far, "nope, don't feel nothing yet." Amazing lady, I hope I have inherited all her genes! She has been bending it an stretching just like they told her.

I miss DrHug already though! I will be here until Friday morning if all goes well. DrHug has jobs today and tomorrow so he had to stay home. We live about 2 hours from her.

Angie... DM sounds like she's on a good road to recovery...

You and Dr. Hug will be back together before you know it!!!

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

You're right Cherie. Don't put yourself through it. Every day lately I start to wonder why I do, but I have only been at the school board thing about 10 years. Nothing like a lifetime in teaching.

Good school board members are SO important! Hang in as long as you can!

 

[HollyTyler]

Well, I caught up long ago, watched Survivor and 3 episodes of According to Jim, but am too tired for Lost. I want to be wide awake and alert when I watch it, so I'll watch it after work tomorrow. Sort of saving the best for last!

Have to get up early for another appt tomorrow and a busy day at work.