You know what feels good? Coming back to work after a tough summer and feeling welcomed and valued. YAY.

What doesn't feel so good is back-stabbing cramps coming out of left field for no apparent reason. WTF, body??

Oh dear doG I'm tired of dealing with insurance. At least now both trucks are moved over to a commercial policy and I've got my regular drivers listed as well as additional insured set up for the companies that require it. I've also got the latest round of general liability insurance tweaks done and am now also getting a quote on an additional umbrella policy since apparently $2,000,000 of coverage isn't enough for a few of my clients.

I have two art degrees, I didn't sign up for this.

We have this system where it's (1) verbal redirect (1) Think sheet (3) safe seat (4) buddy room.

Problem? It's all hedged in with superspecific lang., and the kids take it not seriously at all, so if you want a kids out, you get the "Have you gone through The Process?" questions.

My choices in answering

(A) I have tried to process with this student, but s/he is unamenable to participating.

(b) No, I haven't. I can't shut him up long enough to send him to the fucking safe seat,

Not that I have any experience managing a classroom, but I do have plenty of experience running behavior programs, and have learned a few things about how to document so that I can come out of situations smelling ... if not like roses, at least somewhat competent - so I have a suggestion.

Here is what I would do in your situation: In ordinary conversational tone of voice, attempt the verbal redirect. When the student(s) continue talking, maintaining the same ordinary conversational tone of voice, direct him/her/them to complete the "Think Sheet". Repeat this step with the "Safe Seat". And then when they do not comply with that, then send them to the "Buddy Room". When asked if you have gone through the process, you state that yes, you followed established procedure, but that the student in question refused to accept redirection, refused to complete the "Think Sheet", and then refused to move to the "Safe Seat", in spite of your verbal prompts.

This insomnia fairy seriously needs to find another place to stay. She's been here way too long and I'm quite sick of her.

It must be the different coast thing. She seems to be here too. I'm very tired , but I am afraid to go to bed too soon , because I wake up at stupid hours

I'm exhausted, have barely slept all week, too anxiety meds and benadryl and still when I close my eyes, nothing.

Aw, rotten insomnia fairy - leave beth and sj alone.

ItotallyON, these bikers mean business about stopping mistreatment of animals: [link]

OMG, tonight at trivia, we were invaded by two of the softball teams in town for the Gay World Series. Two softball teams from Texas. Dear lord.

Trivia was difficult (we tied for THIRD PLACE. OUCH! But we think that the second place team was a big bunch of cheating cheaters. And the first place team was the one that beat us last week. And the one we tied with has apparently won many times...but been on hiatus since before 4th of July...which is when we showed up and started playing. Uh oh!!!)

And then after trivia, when the softball teams had been getting good and liquored up for a few hours, one of them who had apparently just turned 21 decided to start a fight and there was mad drama outside, and her teammates trying to run outside and tear people apart, or pitch in, or what have you, and the owner/bouncer trying to kick people out (or keep them out!) and not have the drama...it was insanity!! Way more drama than is usual for the bar, much less for a Monday night! We were like "TEXAS! Get a handle on it! This is only the first night of a week long stay in town, do you really want every Texas ID to get denied at the door of the one dyke bar in town?!?"

OMG, erin. Good luck with the little toads.

"Thanks to Fay, we are wet!!"

meep!

Meanwhile, I'm on Day Two with my new class, and they are AWESOME. Bless. Blessity bless bless.

However, when we came to choose a class name yesterday, they did not oblige me by choosing to be the Year 3 Pirates. Hmph. Suggestions ranged from Butterflies to Crystals to Samurais to Smiles to Racers to Sphinxes.

Say that last one out loud.

Yes.

So obviously I sort of cracked up and then hastily tried to repress it when 'sphinxes' was suggested, but I thought it would surely get beaten by one of the other ideas.

The winner?

...yeah. Um.

I fleetingly considered explaining that it was inappropriate because it sounds too darned like another word for arsehole, but obviously that wasn't a conversation I particularly looked forward to having with a group of wide-eyed seven year olds, so this morning I've fed them some BS about the word being a bit hard for the younger children to pronounce/understand, sha la la, ho hum, nothing to see here, so maybe we could vote again?

I more than half expected the universe to punish me with the Year 3 Uranuses, or the Year 3 Beavers, but happily they settled on the Year 3 Teddy Bears instead.

My mom told a student last year: "Do that again and I'll kill you." She was worried she'd get into a lot of trouble, but it made the kid decide she was great. But I had to laugh when she got her review and got a perfect score on "Sets Clear Boundaries"