I think I am going to the humane society once my project-from-hell ships (on Oct 6)and get either a new dog or a new cat to add to my household. It's time. It's been a year since I lost two (of four) of my beloved pets, and I think the two remaining pets would welcome an addition.

Well, okay, "welcome" might be a euphemism for "they won't give me stink-eye and run away".

Drew, I am very glad to hear that your mom is doing better.

My mom made me breakfast, loaded the dishwasher, and fed my animals. This right here is why people live with their parents way longer than they should.

::waves at Pix's mom::

And java, a new pet is often such a renewal. Jasmine's been so happy since we added Pisces. And Mooshu's probably been the happiest of all because Jasmine's not trying to eat his tail anymore.

whew, I finished my education law case study assignment. It's definitely not something I'm used to doing, but hopefully it is on the right track. Thankfully, this case study won't be graded, it will be discussed in class. Then, hopefully, I will know what's what.

My parents were up this weekend and took us out to dinner at this new-ish fancy place in Salem, Sixty2 on the Wharf. Food was good, and the service was a little frantic- i think they were down a server or two and they were training new bussers. Also, our server spilled a bottle of beer on me. Ah, well, accidents happen. I had a pasta dish with braised duck, dried cherries, pine nuts, and some sort of green. Yum.

So, for a 4:30 wedding which asked for cocktail attire, I assume a fancy black, green and gold silk velvet burnout shirt and black pants, plus heels, is okay?

Good, because that's what I have to wear.

Scrappy, that sounds perfect. And gorgeous. And mrowr.

Scrappy, that sounds perfect. And gorgeous. And mrowr.

I second that.

Cool slideshow. I sent it to my son because he is doing a bridge thing for science fair.

Kristin totally deserves some mama pampering. Yay!

Kristin totally deserves some mama pampering. Yay!

I'll second that, too!

Can I just say that I detest the way my school is forcing the teachers to do lesson plans this year? What took me an hour or two to do on the weekend, now takes 3 or more hours and is less user friendly. Hrumph.

What took me an hour or two to do on the weekend, now takes 3 or more hours and is less user friendly

Holy crap, GG. What are they having you do? (I'm very lucky in that my principal doesn't look at lesson plans ever. I do them, but in a very shorthand way that only I understand. Takes me less than an hour to do them for 4 preps for a whole week.)

They have given us a choice between one of 3 "school approved formats". We must list, for each day: essential question(s), daily objective(s), activities, assignments, goals, Sunshine State Standards and something else I'm forgetting. At the end of the week we have to write a reflection for each class. All of this has to be typed, printed up and posted in our rooms and it is collected at the end of the school year. (I still end up doing a written set like I prefer to use.)

Multiply that by 7 preps in 4 blocks (English 3, Intro to Drama, Stage Craft 1, Stage Craft 2-3, Comprehensive Theatre 1, Comp Theatre 2-3 and Acting 1-2). Yeah, they royally screwed my schedule this year.

The English is something they are forcing me to do because, foolish me, I ended up double majoring in English and Theatre. They don't like to address my Masters in Theatre. I dropped the English certification 5 years ago because I don't need it to teach Drama.

Last year my county gave me an ultimatium: reactive the certification or you will be dropped down to part time. Hub and I couldn't do with the loss of income so here I am. (I think they will dissolve my department when the time comes that I leave and then give the teaching unit to the English department)

I've already gotten a "frown" from DD because I still use shorthand. I got the "what if you aren't here" lecture. I stopped him and replied, "if I'm not here, the sub should baby sit, make sure the kids behave and let the advanced kids do the work they have been trained to do. Under no circumstances should the sub try to direct!" He actually rolled his eyes at me!

I truly hate what my school has become. This is what they get for moving an elementary school principal to run a high school.