Sleep

But not too much

Eat

But don’t overdo it

Read

But have lots of books handy

Watch tv

But just enough to tide me over until Game of Thrones returns

Shop

But I’m on a budget

Relax

because I’m a teacher

For those of you who remember watching the Brady Bunch, one of the episodes that has always stuck in my head is the one where Jan is jealous of Marcia because she is perfect at everything and gets all the attention . In her frustration, she shouts out, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”…

I feel her pain. Today is my teaching partner’s birthday. In my first blog, I shared how I was doing a countdown because my partner loves her birthday. Well, today was the blessed event. I changed her countdown, brought in her favorite doughnut, and gave her the gift I had picked out.

We got all the bday obligations out of the way and were preparing to do our planning for the week after break. We get to school early on Thursdays to get some planning done. Today was going to be a challenge since everyone at school knew it was her birthday. Our principal even made our daily update email all about her birthday.
(“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”…”Sarah, Sarah, Sarah)

People came streaming in wishing her happy birthday and asking what she was going to do-no planning was going to get done.
(“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”…”Sarah, Sarah, Sarah)

Then we had Portillos for….you guessed it-her birthday lunch!
(“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”…”Sarah, Sarah, Sarah)

Just when I thought we were done with the birthday celebrations, I was in her room asking her a question, when a kindergarten class came in and sang her “Happy Birthday. ” I threw up my hands to surrender. You see, I too have a birthday in March, but my dearest friend takes the whole month to celebrate…

Hence, I’m Jan Brady, trying to get a little attention.

PS. Happy birthday Sarah-you deserve all the love and attention today. You are the best teaching partner in the world! But, we are done celebrating, right?

I would hate being a new student this late in the school year. You don’t know anyone, you don’t know where you will be sitting, you have no idea where anything is and more importantly–when’s lunch?

I got a new student this week. I had a student at his table be his buddy to guide him along. Of course, we didn’t have a normal week (come to think of it, I don’t know what a normal week looks like myself). Of course, he didn’t have the same folders and spirals we have so every time I said to get out a particular color folder or spiral, he didn’t have it. Or glue stick, or dry erase marker. Not the end of the world, but again, it has to be addressed.

We have many routines up and running, or sinking like the Titanic, but we get it right most days. This new student has so much to take in–he was tired and wanted to know when it was time to go home. I told him that I wanted to go home too!

He has 2 more days before spring break, and when we come back, we will review expectations and procedures and maybe, just maybe he will feel like he fits in.

I consider myself lucky to work with a group of ladies that are my dearest friends outside of school.

We are all different ages, some just starting families, some empty-nesters, some newly married/divorced, and have dealt with deaths in our families. We have gone through it all together and have rallied around each other since forever.

We are also spread out among our building and teach different grade levels and have different lunches. One of us decided to get all of us together once a month for dinner with each of us taking a turn hosting.

It has been so good for the soul to go out–even on a school night. The laughter, getting caught up with what is going on in our building (some of us live in a bubble), and sharing a meal is way cheaper than therapy.

We were brave enough to go on an overnight trip together and rent a house. The memories made last summer sparked us to book another trip in June.

I’m the oldest on the squad, closest to retirement, but these ladies keep me young and I can’t imagine not going to a place everyday where my friends are –even if I have to call it work.

Chicken doesn’t belong on a pizza. A friend of mine is always trying to get me to put chicken on a pizza. No way! Chicken should definitely not be on pizza.

Try it! You’ll like it-he said. No way. I will put pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon..but not chicken.

Fast forward a few months ago–my friend (the one trying to get me to eat chicken pizza) made Chicken pesto pizza and offered me a bite. I was hesitant because if I liked it, then he would have been right–and I like being a bit stubborn.

I tried it and you guessed it-I loved it! In fact I made it tonight for dinner.

Moral of the story: I’m still not going to try food just because people think I will like it. I like to be a bit stubborn.

Fortunately it is my dog’s birthday on St. Patrick’s Day.

Unfortunately he got me up extra early to go for his walk (it’s his birthday, I couldn’t say no)

Fortunately, I made me (him) pancakes with warm syrup.

Unfortunately, he wanted my bacon too.

Fortunately, I took him for a second walk because the weather was beautiful.

Unfortunately, he thanked me by getting into the garbage and coffee grounds were everywhere….

Fortunately, I had a coupon for Pet People so I could get his favorite treat.

Unfortunately, I took him with me and he peed on a bag of dog food in the store.

Fortunately, I love that dog to pieces.

Unfortunately, I will continue to spoil my poor rescue dog Earl!

What makes old creaking sounds, gasps for air, and can pull a sprint out at the finish line? Uhm, that be me participating in a 5K…not too bad for an old lady with osteoporosis.

My daughter and I have started a tradition of running the St. Patricks Day 5k about 4 years ago. We are not runners but we like green beer, corn beef, and the color green and oh, we are Irish–enough reasons in my book to run a 5k.

Each morning when we rise very early, we check in with each other-each of us hoping the other will say they don’t feel like running….but it hasn’t happened yet.

I even hate to admit it, but I enjoyed this year’s run–probably because I power walked it. My daughter has not been the healthiest this year so we agreed to power walk and run when we felt like it. Best decision ever.

I wasn’t bothered when little kids were sprinting by me, moms with strollers zipping around me and people older than myself were jogging past–my goal was to show up and finish. I accomplished both.

So, what makes old creaking sounds, gasps for air, and crawls back to bed?….Me

What is wrong with me? What was I thinking? I just realized that the 5K that I registered for back in January is tomorrow.

I don’t feel like running, jogging, walking or crawling. It is cold and rainy today and the weather looks the same tomorrow.

I only signed up because it is a St. Patrick’s Day 5K–and I’m Irish. I’ve done it for the past 3 years. And there’s beer.

On my way home from work, I’m going to pick up my race packet. Maybe that will inspire me. Maybe my daughter who is joining me will inspire me. Maybe the green beer will inspire me….

I often wonder how I would react in a true emergency–stay calm, run around like a chicken with my head cut off, or somewhere in the middle of those two.

Today I got the chance to find out. We had a half day today due to parent teacher conferences. Several teachers and aides had gathered in my room after the students had gone home. One of the aides was sitting on the top of the desk, and out of the corner of my eye I saw what I thought was her trying to reach her feet to the floor to get off.

Within a blink of an eye, she crumbled to the ground. Someone shouted and asked if she was okay and she replied no. Here is where I come in–I ran out of my room yelling, ” Call 911, call 911.” and got the wheel chair from the work room.

The aide quickly responded that she did not want me to do that and she was fine. The school nurse was in my room lickety -split with water and an ice pack and asked her questions regarding her blood pressure and if she ate anything. The aide did let us put her in the wheelchair while she waited for her emergency contact to pick her up.

We have strep throat and a virus going around our school so she attributed her light-headedness (is this a word?) to that. She is resting at home and feeling better.

As for me, if you call running around screaming call 911 a good way to react to an emergency, then I’m your gal!