Kat,

that is fucking terrible - for you and the students and the other teachers. what madness.

I was listening to This American Life this week (I did not finish it yet) and they were talking about how Trenton, NY cut like 1/3rd or more of the cops and the crime rate has doubled. They cut other public employees and other city services are delayed and hampered.

Ugh.

I would love to move to Seattle. Find us jobs, will you, meara!

The last info I can find on # of teachers is 45,000 in 2007-2008 (35,000 other employees), but there have been probably 10,000 terminated since then. So 11,000 is an insane-o huge number.

Oh my lord, Kat! So, about a third? INSANE. Totally insane. Uggh.

(I think it was 130/80). Is that bad?

That's above normal, and yet not considered high: [link] I think what that translates to is "Keep an eye on it." Since that's the first time it's been above normal, I wouldn't start worrying just yet. It could have been a fluke, you could have had white-coat hypertension, or it could be increased blood pressure.

But bear in mind that it's not within the realm of *high* blood pressure, either.

I doubt that the 11,000 would be teachers only. Right now, there are 2,749 people in the district with English credentials. Some are dual credentialed and are principals etc. Like the person who is at 2,742 is the local district superintendant (her seniority date is 1/7/1971).

My seniority number is 1161, which means they'd have to cut 1,160 other English credential holders before they cut me.

I have all of this info in a pdf file. All of the seniority for all English people in the district. This is like having the hospital chargemasters. There is something wrong with me.

There's a house on my street for rent, y'all could move here.

But couldn't afford to pay rent. Instead, we'd have to live with you and mac, which would be awful because the twins are sort of a nightmare.

Also, it occurs to me I should use up everything on my good health insurance before I get laid off.

Dear Grace, no more cushy hospital visits for you. Be decannulated already because who knows if we'll ever be able to insure you again.

Fuck. Now I'm actually getting upset and depressed. Must back away.

Thanks, Tep. I figured if the doctor didn't say anything not to worry, but I wanted to ask anyway.

There's a house on my street for rent, y'all could move here.

What's the rent?

I've been monitoring my blood pressure with a wrist cuff unit. The doc I go to says three readings of 140/90 in a row is when they start considering BP meds. I have serious white coat effect and every time I went it would be over that. Monitoring my BP every morning when I get up, it's rarely over 120/75. But I also don't drink any caffeine anymore and watch my sodium intake very carefully. Caffeine alone will push me right over 140/90, so I indulge only sparingly.