feeling

Feeling the need to blog then a good workout after. A crazy day at work. You may have heard on the news, 14 year old teen found dead near my school. Yep, went to my school last year. And now another kid that went to my school last year is arrested for doing the killing. Shot the kid in the head. Possibly over a stupid conflict. This is why we do what we do at Eisenhower but we can't control the choices they make when they leave us. We work hard to give kids a safe place to come when there is a conflict or bullying situation and we work hard not to minimize it and to help them resolve it. Because when you don't, this is the nonsense that can happen. So I spent the morning doing crisis counseling with all the hurting, hurting kids and staff who loved this kid. And others who weren't close but just feel a real loss of innocence. Yes, this is a world where two 14 year old kids can't work out a conflict over something small and it results in a dead kid in a field. Unbelievable.

Spring Break part three plus some more

The final part of Spring Break was grey, cold, blah, boring and sort of lonely.

Last week was a crazy blur, busy at work, busy at home.

Thursday night went to Junction to watch the girls win over Wichita West 4-0. Fun times.

Friday night met Scott at the Manhattan-Olathe North game and sat with the JC team AND the new MCC team girls! It was so fun! We had both teams over for cheesecake and pizza and good times. I really like the MCC girls so that is going to be a blast.

Scott got accepted to grad school this week. Everything is coming together for him. The recruiting is already going amazingly well with Rachel Lease that he's coached for years and just loved committing this week to come play. She came over Friday night to meet the girls too.

Then yesterday Scott wanted to go to Wichita to see one of his new players for next year--the goal keeper for Maize high school. He dropped me off with Leah and went on in to Wichita to watch her game and meet her parents and get to know her. He was very impressed. Leah and I had a wonderful time! We got food at her favorite restaurant--Chong's and ate it picnic style by the river. Then we went to David's brother's house and babysat one year old Colin. We took him for a long walk and then DAvid's mom came over. We went back to the mod and went downtown but everything was closed. I love to spend time with Leah and it was extra good to get some one to one time.

Today I got Adelle and we went to the library and grocery store and then came over here and made a facebook page for Adelle. (With her mom's permission--I am keeping the passwords). So we sent a friend request to about 15 people starting with the gal she considers her best friend and a boy she talked about constantly last year. They responded and confirmed immediately along with several others. When I got home from Bible study just now, I needed to open my email and her new one popped up and I cried as I saw a page and a half of friend confirmations and requests. She is going to be so unbelievable excited! She also started in special olympics track this week and I asked her how it was going. Her response: "Insanely good!" She had so much fun on facebook putting in her favorite sports teams, players, and commentators. Her friend, John, said "Yessss! Are you on facebook?!" and she answered, "Yes, as of today, thank you very much." Amazing.

Off to paint my nails, maybe call mom real quick, pay some bills, send some birthday cards to nephews, etc.

Spring Break Part 3, A Blank Page

Thursday morning I got up and went to step class at the gym. It felt so good! Finally! I had long quiet time at home and got some chores done including the fafsa corrections online. I went to the doctor for my tendonitis in my elbow and to get some allergy nose spray, then I made a salad and met scott over at the Wright's for a soccer barbeque (jc girls). It was fun but I ate way too much--two hot dogs, two servings baked beans, a least twelve cookies and some ice cream. And I had just eaten popcorn when I went over there! We played kinnect (I beat scott in a dance off) and apples to apples. The weather outside was very strange last night--thunder, lightening and sleet. I read and went to bed early ish. This morning, scott was at the fire department. I was excited as I got up and realized that today was an entire blank page to fill with whatever I wanted to do. I slept until 9 and had a looong quiet time (joyce meyer, Bible study, prayer journal) in my pjs. I folded some laundry, painted my finger and toenails pink, and made a grocery list. I cleaned out a closet then took a bunch of blankets to the animal shelter and some junk to grand ol trunk. It always feels great to clean out and get rid of stuff! Scott called as I was at the grocery store and wanted me to do some errands for him--take him the taxes, fax something, pick up his contacts and go to the bank. I didn't mind. But at the bank, I hit one of the posts on the way out. So embarrassing! I know that all the people in the bank saw me and all the cars by the light. So I backed up, corrected, and drove off. Then I was worried that I was going to be arrested although I was pretty sure I didn't hurt the post at all. The truck has a pretty good chunk in it and the passenger door barely opens. Scott didn't really care. So I came home and had an egg sandwich for lunch and some blueberry oatmeal for a snack and rested and read and then went to the gym for body jam and step class. Again, it felt so good to finally have my back not hurt! We didn't do any lifting so my elbow was good, too! Then I got chipotle and took scott his burrito and came home and had an awesome hot shower and ate my burrito bowl. Yummy. A friday night tradition I won't break soon. I just also fixed a healthy chocolate strawberry smoothie but couldn't finish it. Now I'm blogging and will probably watch a movie and then.... what I've waited all day for....I will get my new prayer journal ready to write in! I love a new journal! This one is a spiral that is brown and has a turquiose flowery pattern on it. I got it on sale at barnes and nobles in topeka on monday. I am at the end of a pink, really thick journal that I've written in since October. That's a lot of prayer! So I filled up my blank page day and now I will fill up by blank page journal. Life is good.

Spring Break Part 2 Friends and Family

As I left KC tonight after spending some time with my mom in LV and my dad and Jean(and even squeezed in some extra Leah time as she's in Leawood,) I got melancholy and thought about home. I felt sad thinking I was leaving home, but realized I was heading TOWARD home, my Scotty. I also passed through Lawrence where I have nephews and Topeka, where Julie and Larry and Nephew Ian are. I have family all around this part of Kansas. Is home where family is or where you have history? I guess I could just say northeast Kansas is my home.
I spent the last few days trying to squeeze in some good friends and family time. Monday, the last day Leah and her boyfriend were in Manhattan, we went to Topeka and got Scott some much needed new duds from Kohl's. We met Julie and Larry for dinner. Larry's cancer is back and he's waiting to hear the doctor's plan. It was good to get some time with them--we never spend enough time with them. I was a tad sad as we said goodbye to Leah and sent her on to spend the rest of the break with David's family in Leawood.
Yesterday I spent the entire day with Adelle. We did some errands, ate two meals together, and then just hung out here. I read and she watched music videos and her favorite tv show. My goal was to talk to her about her autism and it went really well. I told her that I am reading about a famous person, Temple Grandin who thinks in pictures and has autism and was able to turn her unique way of thinking into a career for which she's become famous. I asked Adelle if she knows she has a unique way of thinking, different from others. She said yes. When I read her the different types of thinking that Temple described in her book, Adelle said she thinks all three ways. I said that we need to figure out a way to turn that to a successful career. She liked that.
Then, of course today, I took the dogs and drove to LV to spend the afternoon with mom. We at lunch at applebee's then went in to KC to Legends and had Leah meet us for a quick shop at Target and Kohl's. Then I stopped in to visit and eat supper with with Dad and Jean. Both my parents are getting up there in age and I'm really proud of them. They are, at 82 and 80, both doing amazingly well physically. They are both doing well mentally, too, but you do have to patiently tell them the same things over and over. They are both independent, which is really a feat for my mom since she lives alone. No one knows what the future holds so I give them extra special hugs each time we part.
I am now officially half way through Spring Break. If I'd known it was going to get cold, I would have appreciated the warm days a bit more. Last night we slept with the house wide open and when I got up this morning, it was 60 degrees inside--45 outside! I still love the sunshine and today, the billowy clouds. Part three Spring Break, what will you hold?

spring break so far

I am sure enjoying spring break so far! Leah and her boyfriend, David, came Friday night and we immediately left for chipotle. :) Then coffee at Bluestem and a quick trip to the fire station to take Scott his burrito bowl. We needed to take the sand bags out of the truck and there wasn't room in the cab, so we followed Scott while he walked out to the sand pile in the far end of the parking lot. We were in the truck, he was walking so we followed closely behind him, lighting him up in the headlights. He started walking in crazy patterns and we laughed hard while we tried to follow. Did the same on the way back to the station. He's a nut. Saturday I got up and had a leisurely quiet time while the kids slept in. Professor finally got Leah up. I went to the grocery store and the kids went for lunch. I went to the mall for a haircut and a quick stop at Gap for a cheap pair of jean and some black flats. Met back up with the kids at home. Fixed a yummy batch of chicken noodles and took some to nancy who is recovering from surgery. Scott and I made a quick trip to the gym where I got on the eliptical and took it easy (but it felt ok on my back) and then sweat off a whole pound in the sauna. Then we all sat around and watched the k state ncaa game and then watched 127 days. I never thought I'd watch that movie! But it wasn't EXACTLY a climbing movie. He wasn't climbing when he got stuck. It was a great movie. Today Scott and I went to church and it was beautiful when we got home. Opened all the windows in the house and they are still open! We fiddle farted around today, not accomplishing much but having some good fellowship. Scott, Leah and I took the pups for a walk around Anneberg park while david took a nap this afternoon. I finished reading, "Christmas Train" by David Balducci. Liked it. Made steak, potatoes, corn and asparagus all on the grill and we ate on the back patio. Then we all walked to aggieville for coffee and sat outside at bluestem. Good stuff. Now more basketball and am reading some ebook on my kindle pc. I like spring break.

Leah and the orchestra

I am writing today for two reasons: one, my fans have requested that I write more often. Tee-hee. Two, I did something interesting yesterday, I visited Leah. Usually I have such a regular, boring life there is little to tell about.
Yesterday I took the afternoon off work and drove to Newton to visit Leah at Bethel! I drove the truck and took Professor with me as she loves to see him. It was a beautiful, sunny day and I did lots of good singing on the way. I got there while she was still in class! I was going to be brave and just show up at her class but I checkened out and called her. It was a four hour class so she left after 3 hours (I guess it was ok, it was an art class and she can finish up another time). We went up to the mod and talked to her roommate for awhile and looked for an outfit for Leah to wear to the concert that night. Then we got David and went for coffee at the coffeeshop where Leah works on campus, Mojo's. We sat outside in the beautiful, cool sunshine and chatted while we sipped our coffee. (David had a smoothie cause he isn't a coffee drinker.). When we decided to go for dinner, we got a text that Larry and Joanna were coming the the concert so we met up with them and we all went to Chang's for chinese food! I had sweet and sour chicken, yummy, and they all had fried rice (chicken or shrimp). Professor hung out in the truck. That was better than 8 hours in the kennel at home. Leah's concert was very good, as usual, but we were treated to she and Emma and two other girls in a quartet, also! Very impressive--we could tell they'd worked very hard on the two numbers. During the regular concert, a little girl was watching very closely and imitating the conductor. She was so graceful and good! I think there is conducting in her future. Went back to the mod for awhile then drove back to Manhattan at 9pm! I did make record time with virtually no traffic. I didn't sleep a wink last night, though, because apparently the coffee I ordered wasn't decaf after all! I love going to visit Leah at Bethel. Everyone there is so happy and friendly. It just seems so protected and safe and joyful and relaxed. A perfect place to go go college.

School Social Work Week

This week was school social work week. On Monday, I made cookies for everyone and left them in the lounge with a letter about school social work from KSSWA. On Thursday, my office buddies brought "healthy" treats and sang to me, presented me with a hat that had paper feathers in it that the kids had written nice things on. Ann wrote me a nice card and gave me a cool plant. And Nancy wrote (adapted)me with the absolute most fabulous poem. Here it is:
Dr. Seussish
Ode to a School Social Worker

I love my job, I love the pay! 
I love it more and more each day.
I love the kids; they are the best! 
I love the teachers and all the rest.

I love the parents and all they say, 
I love the stress that comes each day!
I love the noise of my lunch bunches,
I’m so grateful when there are no punches.

Being a LSCSW is really swell, 
There's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work at EMS
I love the forms, the logs.. the mess.

Classroom observations, IEP’s and 504”s
Let’s try and document a little more!
For every problem- let’s make a group.
When kids come in, I get the scoop.

I love doing bullying prevention.
Schools are like a mean kids convention.
I love dress code and school transition,
With all I do- it’s a great position.

I'm happy to be here.  I am.  I am. 
I will say it again and again.
I love this work; I love these chores. 
I love the meetings…let’s have some more!

I love my job – I do! I do!
I love pain and misery too.
I’ve finally lost it - just today, 
It’s time to come and take me away!