DeadpanAnn (old blogger version)

I got a lot done on the politically incorrect kitchen cleaning project today. I vacuumed under the shelves and pulled out all the freaking linoleum the previous owners put down instead of shelf liners. Then I sprayed the shelves with Lysol, let it air out, and then put down real liners. I only got this done on about half the lower cabinets, but it's a good start. I started running loads of tupperware and lids yesterday, and I think I got all of them finished today. Tomorrow I will start trying to match parts up. Mismatches are going to the trash. I haven't even thrown anything away yet, and I feel better already.

Charlie had a physical therapy appointment this morning. I suspected he had torticollis because of how he tilts his head to one side all the time. I brought this up to the pediatrician last week, and he said if he has it, it's a mild case. He made us a PT appointment to be evaluated. The physical therapist, a spunky older lady named Bernice, said he does have it and needs PT once a week for a while. She said it was a mild case, and she expects it to be corrected without very many visits. I learned some exercises that I have to do with him 4 times a day. He doesn't love them, but it's not that bad. He tolerates it for a few minutes before he gets fussy. Poor guy.



If you don't know what torticollis is, here's a link. It basically just means that the muscle on one side of his neck is tighter than the other, and needs to be stretched and strengthened. It can be a sign of more serious problems, but he seems to have been born with it and it's probably because of how he was positioned in the womb.

Here are the pics of Charlie, which were requested by JAC. Thank you for requesting them, by the way. I've been dying to post more, but I know that pics of other people's kids are generally, how you sayyyy...not interesting.

I think Charlie is The Exception to that rule, don't you?







I went to get my belongings from my classroom Friday. The principal insisted that we "conference" before I go to the classroom. The "conference" involved him basically saying things he had already said before, but in front of a witness this time. He then had the witness-- the assistant principal with whom I actually have a good relationship because she's not a piece of shit like some other certain principals-- escort me to my room, wait while I collected my things, and then escort me off campus like I was gonna steal something. Like there's something TO steal. I mean, what was I going to take? Some dry erase markers? THAT I BOUGHT??


It was insulting. I've probably given as much of my personal money and belongings to that place as any dishonest teacher ever stole from it. In fact, I left a book shelf and a computer cart there, along with all of my posters, a handful of books, and basically every office supply I owned (staplers, tape dispensers, labels, file folder, etc.) The AP assured me she would make sure they go to the teacher who gets my old job, or, if that teacher's got plenty of stuff, to a new teacher next year. I know how it was when I started out. It will likely be a few years before I go back to the classroom, and I will probably have no problem replacing those items. No need for them to sit in our garage collecting dust until then. Just like there was no need to treat me like a thief.

I requested a hearing before the school board. Haven't heard back. They're having a meeting tomorrow night. I left a voicemail for and also emailed the Asst. Superintendent today and asked for some info to see if I should go, but haven't heard back from him. I'm not holding my breath for the phone to ring.


I don't miss the stress or the paperwork or being treated like I'm the cause of all of society's ills, but I miss my kids. I miss their antics. I miss them making me laugh and me making them laugh. I miss the satisfaction I felt at the end of a long, hard day.

Right now life is kind of boring, but the upside is that the next few years are sure to yield lots of good blogging material. A young 'un probably provides even more to talk about than teaching, especially once I got normal classes and no longer had the, uhh, "high risk" students. Smart kids aren't nearly as helpful with this blogging thing. "Chitlin's is for Thanksgiving" has probably never been uttered in an accelerated English class.

So sad.