Monday, February 16, 2009
'Tis the Season
This is grant-writing season (March 9 is the due date and none of us wants to push that envelope this year - too much unnecessary stress) and it's been interesting working with some new partners.
I'm busy preparing and grading for classes now that the semester is in full gear as far as students go.
There's also quite a bit of work going on at my house - replacing the popcorn ceiling with an orange peel ceiling - fewer cobwebs and getting rid of the 15-year-old paint. It _almost_ looks like a brand new house. I'm also adding some color to walls. I moved in and only used an ivory paint during construction and had some of that redone about 8 years ago. Now, it's time to add some color. It's all moving a bit fast but I know I will be glad to have it done. And the man doing the work will do a lot of other odds and ends that either I don't have time to do or he can do much better/faster and/or that I just can't do.
Poor Molly is a little disoriented . . .
I'm also spending more time on Facebook . . .
I'm busy preparing and grading for classes now that the semester is in full gear as far as students go.
There's also quite a bit of work going on at my house - replacing the popcorn ceiling with an orange peel ceiling - fewer cobwebs and getting rid of the 15-year-old paint. It _almost_ looks like a brand new house. I'm also adding some color to walls. I moved in and only used an ivory paint during construction and had some of that redone about 8 years ago. Now, it's time to add some color. It's all moving a bit fast but I know I will be glad to have it done. And the man doing the work will do a lot of other odds and ends that either I don't have time to do or he can do much better/faster and/or that I just can't do.
Poor Molly is a little disoriented . . .
I'm also spending more time on Facebook . . .
Labels: classes, grants, house
Friday, November 09, 2007
Oops - and my Shadow man
Didn't realize I hadn't posted all week. It's been busy both on the home front and with work.
Will and I did an assessment workshop with area teachers on Wednesday and it was a great learning experience and the evals were excellent overall. (I always strive for perfection.). I'm still practicing my "i can't control every aspect of the world around me" approach and it seems to be working - especially in decreasing my stress level overall.
Yestereday was doctor's appointments - they alway seem to consume hours and hours and so I have finally learned not to expect to get much else done.
I was back in the saddle visiting student teachers on Monday - it was great getting back out into actual high school classrooms.
I have more meeting today than I would like but it is Friday after all . . . so there is an end in sight.
Yesterday I did get rolling on TAH grants.
I also took my little Shadow man to the doctor and the poor little guy is deteriorating faster than we thought - we're probably looking at weeks to months instead of months to years. I mainly want to be sure he isn't hurting or in pain in anyway. Since he's also starting to mentally detach, I'm missing part of him already. He does recognize me but doesn't hear out of one ear and only partially in another but still sees some movement. He does get upset when I go and seems happy to see me when I return but the major change is that he used to stay right with me whenever he was beting petted and now he's more likely to leave me. I do have to pick him up more - no more jumping up and down and it's better than he not hop on the steps. The vet did give him a shot and he seems to feel better - I think he was so sore from falling off the bed a couple of nights before (part of what precipated the office visit).
When I lost Sadie Bess ten days after moving into the house I built because there was nowhere suitable to rent in this small town that allowed pets, I swore I would never be without a dog and would always get a new one before I lost the old one. However, Shadow has always been a one dog household - he tolerates other critters but has always been more people-centered. And my research indicated there was the possibility that he would give up sooner if he knew he was replaced. And, on a more selfish note, it's all I can do to handle his extra needs right now without adding a younger (probably rescue again) animal to the house. In fact, I will probably take a break and travel more and the next animal will member of the family will be acclimated to doggy day care options that are for groups and not individual dogs so it's easier on both of us for me to fulfill work-related commitments. Of course, my guilt with Shadow is huge right now - am afraid every time I leave him that it will be the last time. And yesterday I left him at Mom and Dad's while I was at the dentist and didn't realize the cleaning lady was coming so when he heard her upstairs, he was upset the entire time. I'm kicking myself (and wasn't too happy with her given that she didn't go let him out given all his barking) that I didn't just let him hang out in the car - but I thought it would be quieter at mom and dad's house. On the other hand, as I finally had to convince myself last week, I can't keep him from dying. And, so far, his quality of life is still generally good given that he is responsive and still excited about eating and going out. He comes up to me at the computer and puts his paws up and just wags his little tail as fast as it will go. There are also some emotional issues attached to his going that are mine and not his - where I thought my personal life would be before he was gone. But, as with the rest of life, there are no guarantees.
The leaves are gorgeous and starting to hit their red/yellow peak - too bad too much of today has to be spent inside - but at least some meeting spaces have windows!
Will and I did an assessment workshop with area teachers on Wednesday and it was a great learning experience and the evals were excellent overall. (I always strive for perfection.). I'm still practicing my "i can't control every aspect of the world around me" approach and it seems to be working - especially in decreasing my stress level overall.
Yestereday was doctor's appointments - they alway seem to consume hours and hours and so I have finally learned not to expect to get much else done.
I was back in the saddle visiting student teachers on Monday - it was great getting back out into actual high school classrooms.
I have more meeting today than I would like but it is Friday after all . . . so there is an end in sight.
Yesterday I did get rolling on TAH grants.
I also took my little Shadow man to the doctor and the poor little guy is deteriorating faster than we thought - we're probably looking at weeks to months instead of months to years. I mainly want to be sure he isn't hurting or in pain in anyway. Since he's also starting to mentally detach, I'm missing part of him already. He does recognize me but doesn't hear out of one ear and only partially in another but still sees some movement. He does get upset when I go and seems happy to see me when I return but the major change is that he used to stay right with me whenever he was beting petted and now he's more likely to leave me. I do have to pick him up more - no more jumping up and down and it's better than he not hop on the steps. The vet did give him a shot and he seems to feel better - I think he was so sore from falling off the bed a couple of nights before (part of what precipated the office visit).
When I lost Sadie Bess ten days after moving into the house I built because there was nowhere suitable to rent in this small town that allowed pets, I swore I would never be without a dog and would always get a new one before I lost the old one. However, Shadow has always been a one dog household - he tolerates other critters but has always been more people-centered. And my research indicated there was the possibility that he would give up sooner if he knew he was replaced. And, on a more selfish note, it's all I can do to handle his extra needs right now without adding a younger (probably rescue again) animal to the house. In fact, I will probably take a break and travel more and the next animal will member of the family will be acclimated to doggy day care options that are for groups and not individual dogs so it's easier on both of us for me to fulfill work-related commitments. Of course, my guilt with Shadow is huge right now - am afraid every time I leave him that it will be the last time. And yesterday I left him at Mom and Dad's while I was at the dentist and didn't realize the cleaning lady was coming so when he heard her upstairs, he was upset the entire time. I'm kicking myself (and wasn't too happy with her given that she didn't go let him out given all his barking) that I didn't just let him hang out in the car - but I thought it would be quieter at mom and dad's house. On the other hand, as I finally had to convince myself last week, I can't keep him from dying. And, so far, his quality of life is still generally good given that he is responsive and still excited about eating and going out. He comes up to me at the computer and puts his paws up and just wags his little tail as fast as it will go. There are also some emotional issues attached to his going that are mine and not his - where I thought my personal life would be before he was gone. But, as with the rest of life, there are no guarantees.
The leaves are gorgeous and starting to hit their red/yellow peak - too bad too much of today has to be spent inside - but at least some meeting spaces have windows!
Labels: appointments, assessment, fall, Greenbush, house, leaves, meetings, schools, Shadow, student teachers, teacher workshops, work
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Problem Solved
As I sat down yesterday to start working on my folder of materials about the jammed up city drainage/stormwater system, I noticed a city truck pull up. Naturally, I went out to greet them. (Remember my morning email had given an update along with a request for a meeting today before I attended tonight's city council meeting . . . . )
They immediately guessed who I was and it turned out to be the man I had been corresponding with as well as who I later discovered was the city engineer. I showed them the problem and then we walked along the drainage area. I also learned something about sump pumps - they don't push out just trickles of water. I assumed since it was brand new it wouldn't have issues like that so I've let a message with the plumber to come check on it. It has indeed been running since April 27. Last night I slept much more peacefully without a constant pumping sound.
I also have my larger weedeater back so I can go over the growth along the back fenceline again. I'm just hoping he balanced the blade for me or else I'll have to go get a Stihl tool to do that.
I hope to head to the farm later today with a stop by Greenbush to make copies of evals to send along.
It's great to have one less stressor off the list. I was really worried about my poor little house.
They immediately guessed who I was and it turned out to be the man I had been corresponding with as well as who I later discovered was the city engineer. I showed them the problem and then we walked along the drainage area. I also learned something about sump pumps - they don't push out just trickles of water. I assumed since it was brand new it wouldn't have issues like that so I've let a message with the plumber to come check on it. It has indeed been running since April 27. Last night I slept much more peacefully without a constant pumping sound.
I also have my larger weedeater back so I can go over the growth along the back fenceline again. I'm just hoping he balanced the blade for me or else I'll have to go get a Stihl tool to do that.
I hope to head to the farm later today with a stop by Greenbush to make copies of evals to send along.
It's great to have one less stressor off the list. I was really worried about my poor little house.
Labels: city, flooding, house, stress
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