The World According to Leslie

I hope that everyone is having a great Halloween…or at least plans to!   Tonight, my Princess and my sister’s oldest foster daughter are going to be handing out candy to ghouls and goblins. The only thing I don’t like about our house (other than it’s hard to get up the stairs when I am exhausted at night…lol) is that we don’t have a storm door. So, tonight, when the “creatures” come, we have to open the entire house to them.   I am going to be working on invitations for my parents’ party. I still don’t have them made. Actually, the only one that is completely assembled is the one we used to invite Mom and Dad to the party!     At school today, the Princess is going to be Sadie from The Kane Chronicles. Since she attends a “uniform school,” she has to pay $1 to get to dress in anything other than the uniform. Yesterday was “Think Pink” day for Breast Cancer Awareness. The $1 went to cancer research!   Today, the $1 goes to the school as a fundrais...

Saturday, the Princess had a double header. It was freezing at 8am. They finally won (after scoring 12 runs in the final inning) by 1 run. They won the second game by 1 run in the final inning also.   They are now in 1st place so they will play ONE game this weekend for the championship!   My sister got two new foster kids last week. So the Princess is hanging out with one of them for Halloween. (Considering the situation, I can’t share names or anything, but it is a girl who is around the Princess’s age.)   Sunday was the first day since the end of September that Tony did not have to work.  So we all went to church together and cleaned the house.  With me working full time, Tony working over 30 straight days, and the Princess having softball, the house kind of got neglected!  So…. the living room actually has furniture and carpet!  (They were hidden under mail and laundry!)  lol   Tomorrow, I’m supposed to have my first offic...

There are some people that it is really hard to keep a secret from. You all know these people. It’s the people that you see daily… or at least talk to daily.   My sister and I have been working on planning something. We still aren’t ready to reveal details, but it is starting to come together. We finally have a location. We locked it down yesterday. That means that my brain was free to think of other things.    So….what did I think of? Invitation wording….planning the food….writing a poem for the event….the cake or cupcake debate!   So….  we are getting the planning done. It’s going to be AWESOME!

Wow!  How it is October 22nd already? Where did the month of October go?   I feel like I have so much to do and no time to do it!     Anyone else with me on this?    When did time start flying by so quickly?

We did a lot of NOTHING yesterday!   It was nice.   There was no softball for us.  So we didn’t have to get up AS early!   Tony is still working weekends. This is the 4th one….I think. I lost count. He has until the beginning of Nov. to work every weekend.   The Princess and I went to check out a couple of locations for a party we are helping to plan. One place is fabulous, bring in your own food and everything. The other place is pretty, but in order to be there you must use their catering service.  (From what I have heard, their caterers charge the equivalent of a small down payment on a house for the number of people we are going to be serving that night.)  So….  we are still looking, but we need to get something nailed down soon!    300-400 people is A LOT, but it will be worth it when it all comes together!

Today the Princess gets out of school at 11:30am.   Tomorrow we are going to Trunk-or-Treat at my school.   Sunday is church.   Monday I am resting. I have papers to bring home to grade, but other than that…. I'm sleeping in!   So excited! 

Note: I love alliteration. Don’t you? I have finished all my afterschool meetings with adults for the week….well, almost.   Today, I have a Multicultural Club meeting. (I hope a lot of kids show up!)   Tonight is Girl Scouts. We have had 11 every week so far. I hope we keep a large group! It’s easier to do things with them if we have a huge group.   Tomorrow I have training after work. The kids get out at 10:30. Then the teachers are required to work until 3pm because we have training.    Monday is a Teacher Workday. If I can get most of my projects that the kids turned in this week graded today and tomorrow, I don’t think I’m going to work on Monday. (I could bring them home…..that way I’m not going INTO work!)   Here is my request.  And…. it’s random.  I have found a way to earn credit towards technology for schools. Every school is looking for free ways to get things into the classroom. So….  did you know that if yo...

So, technically, I’m self-published.    My article is now live on degreestory.com. Here is the link, if you want to check it out.   http://www.degreestory.com/browse/bachelor/education-teaching/special-education/looking-for-a-sign   Have a great day!

Every morning, I run out of time before going to work. There are always things I want to get done, but I can’t.   At work, there are a million things to do, but some get left for “tomorrow”.   When I go to bed at night, my mind reels with all the things that should have/could have/would have done if there were more hours.   Anyone else feel like you are just running out of time?

As if Mondays were not packed enough, let’s throw in a Girl Scout leaders’ meeting and Open House (to see what the kids have been doing) at the Princess’s school.   While she is at softball practice tonight, I will be at the Girl Scout leaders’ meeting. I guess we will miss out on the Open House.   Tomorrow after work, I am meeting with someone to try to get a very special party planned. (More details to come!)   Wednesday, I have a PTC meeting to work on planning the end-of-year Gala for the Princess’s school.   Thursday is Girl Scouts.   Friday…. wait? Do I honestly not have anything on Friday? HOLY COW!!   Saturday we don’t have anything either. No softball.  Tony just has to work!   Sunday…Sunday is always church, homework, laundry, grocery shopping.   This is definitely shaping up to be a very busy week.

This post is going to be short and sweet.   I logged in this morning to find that I have had 9000 visitors to my blog. (Many are repeat friends…THANK YOU!)   It just amazes me that my blog has been looked at that many times.   WOW!   I’m Amazed!

I have always hated making decisions.   Last night, I made a great one!   After being broken-hearted that I could not make it to scrapbooking, Tony actually got off work in time that I could go. However, after going by my Papaw’s how to get my mom… (She takes his car to him on Fridays.  That’s another story. )…I decided that I would not go scrapbooking. I could have made it for a couple of hours. I decided to spend time with my family.   We haven’t done that in a while. So, we went to the Chinese buffet. After dinner, we went to watch part of the race that is in town this weekend on my dad’s huge TV. My brother and two nephews were there. We stayed until about 9:30pm. Then we left and came home to get some rest.   I wrote my article about my Interpreting career. (When it is posted, I will link it here.)   Then we were all in bed by 11pm.   Now, Tony is already at work.   The Princess is eating breakfast and getting ready...

I have a writing assignment due today. It’s about my career. When it is posted online, I will let you know.     Today is “Favorite NFL Team” day at the Princess’s school.  I had to get her a shirt. It matches one that Tony got for Christmas. Now, they have two shirts that are exactly the same. They dress alike without even knowing it!  lol    I finished reading another book yesterday. If you get a chance, read The Invention of Hugo Cabret . It’s an easy read because much of the story is told in pictures, but it is a great story.    I’m so tired. I feel like I never get any sleep.   Last night we had 11 girls at Girl Scouts again. That STILL wasn’t everyone!   I’m supposed to go scrapbook tonight, but I’m sure I won’t make it. Tony has been getting home late all week. Then I’d have to leave early to get home to sleep so that I can have a 6am alarm tomorrow morning. (These double headers are killing me!)  BUT….no g...

I would love to tell you that my observation went swimmingly yesterday.   However…. I cannot!   Actually, I didn’t have it yesterday. It had to be rescheduled. Something came up off campus that my Principal had to take care of.    So….the word from the AP is that when she gets back on campus, she will get with me about an observation.   This is the 2nd time for rescheduling. The first was because our school had a student who was killed, and we were doing some special things for her. Now, this time was something off campus for the Principal.   Maybe 3rd time’s the charm!

Although I know what I am doing in my classroom, I never have any idea how my observations are going to go. I guess today I will find out.   My principal is coming into my 4th period class to observe me. This class’s behavior is somewhat unpredictable. So, I guess we will see how it turns out.

I have never really been good at letting people help me. Oh, I will. I just think that sometimes I should just do it if I want it done.   So with the PTC at the Princess’s school, I’m in charge of the Social Committee. This is cool, but I have been trying to take care of everything. So I sent an email out to my leads today and told them what I need them to do. I think this is going to be interesting.   I need to step back just a little so that we can all work together. It will be fine. (That’s what I have to keep telling myself!

As of Thursday, the Princess is on book #6 for the school year. As of Saturday, I am on book #4.   She is reading The Red Pyramid . I am reading Among the Hidden . I am mostly reading it to see if it is something I should let her read. It is only 150 pages, so I should be finished quickly. Then, I think I might go for The Hunger Games .   Any book suggestions for me? (I’m open to most anything!)

Once a year, most churches have Homecoming celebrations. I don’t know where the tradition started, but I have always been in churches that have them.   Today, the church that we recently left is having Homecoming. My parents still attend there, and Dad wants me to come help with the music. So, I’m going. The Princess and I are going. I’m not thrilled. I don’t really want to see everyone there again. There are a few people I could do without seeing again….ever. But, since Dad asked, I will be there.   After church, the Princess and I will be coming home to get a lot of work done. She has two projects for books that she completed last week.  She is on book 6 now for the school year. I am getting ready to start book 4 for myself.   I have plenty of stuff for the PTC from her school to take care of this afternoon.    We will be plenty busy. Not to mention….laundry, homework, and groceries.  All the while, Tony is working and we get to do it...

Is it just me, or do you think it’s rude for someone to hand you an invitation to a birthday party a few hours before the start time?   At the softball game this morning, the Princess came to me and handed me the invitation to a party that starts in just a few minutes. Of course she wants to go! She also wants to get the girl something for her birthday.   I’m sorry. I don’t know this kid all that well.  We will go to the party, but I don’t know what to get her. So, we are going empty handed. (Really, showing up is asking a lot of me on a Saturday…..especially since I have only been home long enough to SLEEP all week!)   Note: They won the first game, but lost the 2nd. (If we had not let girls that were just learning to pitch do the pitching, we would have won it too! But…this league is about learning all the positions. So, we lost by only 4!  Not bad!)

I’m so excited that it is Friday! Today, I can pay $1 to wear jeans to work. I really wish I had something PINK to wear. Then I would be totally appropriate. However, I think I might wear my navy blue and my jeans and my brown boots.   I’m on fluid pills now for all the fluid that my legs and ankles are holding. I don’t think they are working as well as the doc would like. So….she might have to play with it. I still can’t get my black boots on. If  I do, my ankles swell so much that I can’t get the boots off.   Last night, we had 11 girls at Girl Scouts. It was FABULOUS!  I hope they all come every week! That would make it GREAT for the activities that we need to do.  I just need to figure out what we are planning to do NEXT week.      This week has been very difficult. I have had a meeting EVERY night. Tonight I have to work the gate at the football game for work. I’ll probably leave at halftime.   Tomorrow is a double header...

Note: BING has no idea I’m writing this. This is something I heard about and wanted to share. However, if BING wants to find me and give me extra BING rewards credits…. I’m not opposed!     As one of the fundraisers for the Princess’s school, they are doing BING rewards. All I had to do was sign up. It’s FREE!  Then, instead of using Google or anything else to search with, I use BING. For every 2 searches, I get a credit. Once I get so many credits, I can “cash" them in. We are working toward new technology at the school, so we have to save a fair amount of points.   However…. yesterday, just for signing up, searching throughout the day, and sending an email to invite a few friends, I earned 50 credits.   If you want to sign up (and don’t mind helping me out), let me know and I will send you the referral link.

Monday night, I had a PTC chair meeting at the Princess’s school.  I’m the chair of the social committee for the PTC (Parent Teacher Committee).   Tuesday night, I had a Teacher Appreciation sub-committee meeting. 2 hours. Accomplished a lot!     Tonight (Wednesday) I have a Hospitality sub-committee meeting. 2 hours. Hopefully will accomplish a lot!   Tomorrow we start Girl Scouts for the year! I hate starting so late, but we had to get some new girls. Right now, we have like 15, I think. We always accept more.   Friday, I have to work the gate for the football game at school.  Once that is finished, I will be coming home to crash…..  Yeah right! That’s not how it works.   Saturday, while Tony is working, the Princess and I have to be at the softball field for a double header! That makes for a VERY long day!   Sunday, I’m going to my mom and dad’s church (the church that we recently left). Dad asked me to come ba...

As I write that, I am fearful of what October will bring! In 2008, Dad had a wreck and we almost lost him. In 2012, Dad had an infection in his leg and we almost lost him. Could we just skip to November or stay in September (but still move to cooler weather) this year?   October is also my Blog-a-versary month. My first post was Oct. 25, 2008! That’s FIVE years! WOW!   I am excited for cooler weather. Girl Scouts. Fall Festivals. Halloween. Just about anything that has to do with FALL! I love it!   What’s your favorite season? Why?