And now, I teach!

Today was the first day of my new job and while as of now, I like it, it seems to be a glorified teaching job for the less gifted. Funny, I went to college for 5 years (why only take 4 when you have time on your side) to become an accountant, I can't truly teach a classroom full of kids with that degree, but I sure can pull them out of their rooms, put them in my tiny classroom and teach the hell out of Math and Reading Comp to get them to pass their Ohio Achievement Tests in the Spring. And who would have thought that my idiot hilljack neighbors ( http://justjulie75.blogspot.com/2007/07/ok-i-do-have-lifeand-it-belongs-in.html ) would have two children who BOTH require my services? Justice is sweet.......

Why? Why? Why?

Read this and come back to me.....
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=b4faeae0-195b-475f-b7f7-9b39c4e909e4

"A local school administrator spent the day at work while her two-year-old daughter was locked inside her SUV, with temperatures at or near 100-degrees outside.
Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby is an assistant principal at Glen Este Middle School.
Her daughter was found dead inside the vehicle shortly after 3:00 p.m.
"Upon arrival the fire department began life saving measures, however, the child was pronounced dead at the scene," said Union Township's Lieutenant Scott Gaviglia.
Superintendent Dr. Gary Brooks confirmed that Nesselroad-Slaby was hospitalized after her questioning.
"The parents in this matter have been very cooperative with the police department and they're dealing with their own issues as one might imagine," said Lt. Gaviglia.
A member of the parent-teachers' organization described Nesselroad-Slaby as a working mother and a good person.
Police tell 9News the case is still under investigation and that they will work with the Clermont County Prosecutor's office to determine what, if any, charges are appropriate.
In the meantime, Superintendent Brooks says the district's crisis intervention team will be at the school to work with staff members before school starts."

Back to me now....Why? How many times is this gonna happen? And who in the hell buckles their child into the car in the morning and then forgets about him/her? We don't know the excuse yet for this recent tragedy, but we've heard from cases in the past, "I forgot to drop them at their daycare" and "I didn't have anyone to watch them so I left them." What good excuse is there for a SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR to leave her child in the car, when it hasn't been under 100 degrees outside this entire week? Tell me. As much as I pray that child didn't suffer, I'm just astounded at the parents. And even more shocked that this woman was second in line in charge of a middle school. It's unbelievable! I realize that being a parent can be trying, and that the first week of school, especially when you work there (as I do) can be very hectic. However, I would never forget where my children were, or put them in harms way, no matter what the circumstance. There are some things out of my control, and I realize that, but leaving any living thing in a car with the windows up and the heat index over 105 is KAH-RAY-ZEE and totally in my control. While I'm super pissed at the parents for this tragedy, I do pray that the family of that child, parents included, can know she's with God and is being cared for.

ETA--in talking with some other Moms, we agreed that there ought to be a sensor or something...some way to let you know that you've forgotten something....something other than a string around your finger. It could be a car sensor, or even better would be a carseat sensor (since kids that aren't in car seats for the main part could get out of their buckle and the car all alone) that would somehow alert you to what's in the back seat. It's all so very tragic.

Freaking Clepto!

Remember those neighbors that went all "hilljack" on us last month? Well their son has been itching to play with Zac, so we gave in, a few times (IDIOTS are we). Tonite though, he came over and STOLE from us! Would I lie? He took the memory card out of our Playstation and keeps telling us he doesn't have it. I have no idea what the card is, even though me, playing Santa, bought the damn thing, but Terry had been playing the PS and was using the card, (which stays in the system) before the clepto came over, so I know it exists. He allowed said clepto to play and came downstairs with me. Thirty minutes later the kid went home and our card has vanished. It's not under the TV armoire, not in the game drawer, not on top of the TV or PS, nowhere to be found. Now, tell me, where could it have gone? This kid has taken it before, "accidentally," as he and his toothless Mother refer to it as, but we usually get it back when we ask for it. I asked twice tonite and both times I was shot down. So, I did what any other respectable parent (with all her original teeth) would do....I told the kid he couldn't come over and play anymore, since our belongings went missing. And you know what he said? "Sorry Julie." Whatevs, you little clepto---you got what you came for. You with your mullet hairstyle. Guess your family can order that pizza you've been eyeing with all the money you'll get off the sale of our gamecard, eh?

A day in the life of a sub driver and bad Mom!

So, it's the FIRST day of school here. The bad Mom part comes in when this Mom forgets to bring her camera to work and doesn't get a picture of Zac on his FIRST day of FIRST grade! And it's raining (no, I didn't do that!) Poor Zac....he didn't care...he just wanted to get to school!

Being a sub sucks. Being a sub means you aren't on the same route 2 days in a row, you don't know the kids' quirks (this one doesn't ever stand AT the busstop, but inside the house to wait for you) etc etc. Today was no different. We have a driver out and I know his route better than anyone but him, so I got it! GOOD, I think....I KNOW this one and it's a no brainer. Things are going great...all the kids are standing outside, within view, and I am on time. WHEW, for my first day of school ever as a driver, I'm patting myself on the back (figuratively...I know I'm to have two hands on the wheel--DUH!) So I get to the stops on a busy road and get everyone at the first 5 stops and then the next two stops were empty, or so I thought. Sara, Miss Sara....never rides the bus in the morning. Today though, she was going to, until I passed her up! And then, my day really started. The kids told me I passed her, and there is NO turning around anywhere on this road....and the block is probably a 3+ mile radius to get back to her. And that puts me way late....so, I have to have other drivers finish my route so I can go back and get Sara. OOOOOKKKKKKK! Loop back about 8 minutes later and she's not there. The kids tell me she had been standing in her doorway, which, btw, is a trailer and sits about 100 feet off the road. Now, I'm sorry, but is that the busstop? Is there anyway I can POSSIBLY see you when you are in your house? There's a reason that the school sends everyone a postcard that tells you where your stop is and what bus you ride. The handy little card also tells you to be outside at the stop 50 minutes before school starts at least for the first few days. And as a high school kid, I'd think you could handle that, even though it isn't cool to stand out and wait for the big yellow beast.

I'm sure there will be many more mishaps along the way....so stay tuned! LOL!

Kittens! Kittens! Everywhere!

We are WILD and all over the Casey house....what are we?







Kittens, of course! The calico one has a home, but the carmel/white one (who I am calling Milo) and black one (who Zac wants to name Mason?) do not, as of yet. They are too precious and LOVE playing with our baby, Max, who is almost 5 months old now! He even plays pretty gentle with them, when we are watching! All in all, it was a very rewarding experience, and something I would never want to volunteer for again. If we only had one or two cats, maybe! Who am I kidding...I'd jump on it in a heartbeat! Playing with and watching the babies grow as quickly as they did was super fun! But with four of our own and two more without homes, we, along with our bank account, are drained! And beside that, Terry said no! Momma cat, shown here,

is going to be spayed tomorrow morning! YAY! She doesn't know it yet, but Terry and I are at our wits end....she's in heat and cries all day long (and sometimes even in the night!) Our oldest cat, who will be 9 soon, came to us from a shelter and went into heat not long after we got her. OMG, we would have paid $1000 to shut her up. Luckily, they will spay a cat in heat...it just costs more, but it's so worth the extra money, it's not even funny! They will also spay a pregnant cat, according so the website. Hmmmmm, I guess it's that big of a problem. Of course, they don't call it an abortion, but wouldn't it be considered that? It's mind-boggling to think of the pet population problem.... but here's a link anyway, just to show you. http://www.spayusa.org/media/pdfs/Cats_Multiply_Pyramid.pdf

Between our neighbor and ourselves, we are getting at least 2 stray cats fixed in the next month or so. Then we have to get our own kitten fixed (Max is just now of age, I guess) and then I think, we will be officially DONE! Well, we will still live in a "catery" and have to feed, shelter and clean up after them, but the extra work will be done. WHEW! Donations are accepted! LOL! I'm staying on my soapbox awhile longer....

Lillie

Little Miss Lillie LOVES babies. Real, pretend, play, even furry! Any baby will do. My best friend and her husband, aka Terry's best friend, had a baby last week! And now Jaxon is officially a week old! Lillie just HAD to see Jaxon, so we went to the hospital before he was even a full day old and here's what I got to see. Lillie wanted nothing more than to hold him, and when I was holding him, if she couldn't SEE his face, I wasn't holding him right! Lillie visited her new favorite baby this weekend and got to hold him some more. I hope she never grows out of this and that I get lots of cute grandbabies (in about 20-25 years or so!) just like Jaxon! Isn't he freakin' precious?

Next years' vacation!

My MIL is fabulous in ways of gifts! I got an email this morning that asked if we would be interested in a trip to LA that includes a trip to DISNEY http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage next summer! We could stay 5, 7, or 10 days, our choice!! Terry's grandma lives close to Disney, along with other extended family, so it will be a mini reunion and a FUN trip too! And of course, Grandma will be there to witness her daughter in law, er, her grandkids go berzerk in Disney! I have been 4 times to DisneyWorld, but NEVER to DisneyLand! So I'm stoked (is that still a word?) And, while looking up attractions around the big D, I found I can go to HOLLYWOOD (hello, sign!), Laguna Beach, Beverly Hills....ugh, I will be one happy girl just to get to WALK on those streets and sightsee and take a bazillion pics. Not that I could even afford a soda in that part of swankyville, but just to be there will be enough! This is gonna be sooooo supercool! We are also tentatively going to NYC next summer, although from the sounds of it, the trips might be overlapping, so NYC will have to wait, but oh my GAWD am I ever excited! I want Mouse Ears with my name on them, and I would love to have breakfast with the characters or dinner in the character kitchen (which I think Terry would enjoy even more!) and I want to walk down that street that has all the stars' stars on them, and I want my kids to be as excited as I am! Oh, and if Santa is listening, I want a new, much nicer digital camera for my upcoming trip! Oh, and I size 8 ass....and that's all. Really, I swear. I'm done.

Gripe Central

Today is all about my gripes, listed in order of how they happened today!
1) Taking kids grocery shopping....it should be outlawed, don't ya think?
2) Paying yet ANOTHER fine at the library. They should personally call me when I'm about to be overdue, as for some reason my mind can't wrap itself around due dates.
3) The dude at Blockbuster LYING to me about them having a restroom. Lillie, all of 4 years old, is holding herself and he blatently tells me they don't have a restroom. REALLY? THEN HOW COME I'VE USED IT BEFORE? I KNOW YOUR SECRET AND IT REQUIRES A KEY! LIAR!
4) Even after telling BB dude I know about their secret potty, he just gives me a blank stare and so I stomp off, grab Zac and his game and go up to pay for the rental and the BB dude is RUDE! REALLY?
5) Traffic on Rt 28. I got on the highway, went up an exit and took back roads home just to get around it. UGH!
6) Kids, whom I didn't create, walking in my house uninvited and taking popsicles.
7) Kids stated above walking in my house without knocking to tattle on my kids.
8) This heatwave (this has been an all day occurence!)
9) Bug bites...just found one on my arm while typing and now I'm in a scratch frenzy, and must quit typing to continue on.

32 going on 12!

Somewhere between having kids and now, I have regressed into a teeny-bopper. Is that still a word? I have fallen IN LOVE with Justin Timberlake's newest album....and I mean LOVE. I turn it up so loud that the mirrors of the minivan shake (when the kids aren't with me, of course) and I'm sure that's a sight to see. I even daydream about getting some booming speakers just for a few of his songs...not that I ever would, but daydreams are just that.....dreams! The kids sing "Summer Love" almost all the way through, even Lillie sings along. My faves off the album are "Chop me Up" which is like rap, which I usually can't stand, but it's just cool I tell ya! And I love "Until the End of Time" as well. You must go purchase this album---and let your husband make fun of you day and night...it's so worth it!

Vacation is a wonderful thing....

until you have no choice other than to come home! All the laundry, the things you didn't do to your house before you left, the spending spree that you still want to go on, even though you blew a ton while you were away. And of course, eating out for every meal. You just can't do that when vacation ends! Vacation means no bills, no soliciation calls, no sick cats, just pool side lounging, eating what you want, sleeping in without the sun waking you up (gota love those room darkening drapes!) and buying stupid crap that you really don't need. In our case, our big purchase was a day out on a pontoon boat on Monroe Reservoir. It was the best money we spent by far. The kids got to drive the boat for a few minutes, we stopped and fished a little, the kids jumped in and swam, and it was overall a gorgeous day on the water.

Back to reality....chores, getting school clothes ready, getting stuff ready to sell on EBay (not that we have much as our kids are super hard on clothes), cooking our meals and alas, paying bills. It was nice while it lasted!