FINE!!!!

Gosh!... It seems almost everytime I post anything it is because of someone's insistance that I do so. Ok BRAD... after you embarassed me by pointing out my lack of recent blogs on YOUR BLOG (which I will NOT link to here as my way of getting back at you... and not because I don't know how to do it.. because I DO...)...Here's the update of my life since January:

I took two more classes at Whitewater (booooo!!) - one of which I got a "C" in (I believe I deserved better, but apparently there is no debating it...). By getting a "c", my gradepoint dropped to 2.8 thereby losing me the small amount of financial aide awarded to me by that crap-hole of a school (they require a 3.0)... SOOOOOOO.. I've been pretty crabby.

I finished up my own classroom in June. I will miss and love my kids until the end of time, but I'm glad we're getting a little break! We were SO busy right u untill the end that I thought I might declare myself mentally/emotionally unfit and start getting disability pay for mental illness. That apparently does not work that way, so back to work I go... which makes me a little crabby.

There is a rumor floating around that I may get a new classroom next year. I'm not holding my breath because they are adding a 4year old Kindergarten to our already over-crowded school, but you never know! (Ps. I actually AM holding my breath most of the time in my classroom because of the pervasive smell of "death" in there... I'm not sure what died, but it certainly is taking its time decomposing...). Luckily the good people of Racine reluctantly voted to pass the referendum... I could understand their frustrations on having to vote every year to give the school district money - but my goodness, people! - spending a little money on school wouldn't be the worst way to spend a few dollars!! My kids spent two week this year on the floor of the library (and various other classrooms when those students were out of the room) because of the mice running rampant in our class!! That is not the optimal learning conditions for Special Needs students - or any students for that matter! (so I've been a little crabby...)

This summer, I will NOT be working (for pay) as a summer school teacher. Instead, I will be spending 40+ hours a week working (for NO pay) in Kenosha County with the Birth to 3 program there. I'm excited about the work, but nervous about the bill-paying part (see above comments on lack of financial aide....hmmmmm....) Basically, I will be finding money to PAY Whitewater to let me do a difficult and time consuming job for no money.... so that sounds like fun, right?

Meanwhile: my downstairs neighbor smokes and has VERY loud "relations", my apartment is hot (even with the A/C on!), I have no money, no kids, no friends that have time to hang with me (leading to my recent revelation that I should only be friends with teachers since they have all the same times free that I do...), and no real desire to better my situation. I guess you could say I'm depressed -- and crabby, as well.

BUT HEY!!! I LOVE the World Cup! I have watched ALMOST every game (exceptions being this past Friday - I was at a wedding...Sunday - Father's Day... and Monday - I went in to school to work...) But I do catch highlights and "re-runs" on ESPN late at night. As long as Germany keeps winning, I will be thrilled!! I'm pretty excited about Portugal's overthrow of Mexico, and the other "upsets" that have been going on throughout the contest - good for you, Ivory Coast! Also, I am a big fan (as only AJ knows) of the commerical with the little kids calling out their favorite players to play street soccer with them... It's great. I love that commercial. "Beckenbauer"!... classic.

I will be at the Bavarian Inn (in Glendale) to watch the Germany game on Saturday - 9:00 AM. You will know me by my Ballack jersey (number 13) which has been very lucky so far in the tournament...Also by the facepainting... A tradition we tried to cut out of the last game, only to have the game tied with time running out! A hastily painted flag on each cheek, and my former Hansa player - Neuville - makes the game-winning goal with less than a minute left in stoppage time. It was so clutch. I will never go without my facepaint again. I feel that made all the difference....

There! Happy now???