School's Back and More

 Since my last post, all the schools in Australia have commenced the 2021 school year.  That was a real whirlwind of surprises, stress, emotion and craziness.  All of that was before the students even arrived!  

I can't get into details - for several reasons including the fact that I don't want to - so let's just say that things have not quite settled down yet.  If only! Most of my students are lovely.  Most! 

In addition to all the stress of school starting, Shelly had to have surgery on Wednesday to remove a lesion on her back.  The lesion had been there for more than a year and she was not responding to any treatment.  The vet wanted to take a biopsy, and figured it would be worth removing the whole thing, considering the trauma of general anesthetic.  10 stitches and more than $500 later, she came home and was really dopey. 

Fast forward to very early Thursday morning, and we are taking Shelly to the All Night Animal Hospital, because she has managed to pull out two of her stitches and has shortness of breath.  Needless to say, I was late for school and dropped another $200 on that little adventure.  Shelly now has an "E-Collar", 

  

If she didn't hate me on Wednesday, she certainly hated me on Thursday.  

That is only a fraction of the excitement over the past few weeks and to be frank, it's all I can manage.  Can we just all agree to lay low for a few weeks?  No drama at school, no family crises, no vet visits allowed.  I'm getting my groceries delivered so I don't have to leave the house except to go to work! 

In other news, the Doctor thinks this is a good time to reduce my medication.  He's an optimist, I will give him that. 

On a more positive note.... My streak of exercising every single day this year is still going!  Things could be so much worse. 

Until Next Time

Did you know?

 A list of things you might/might not already know about me.... 

I'm a primary school teacher who works in a high school.  I have a Bachelor of Education (Primary) and I used to say "I wouldn't teach high school for a million dollars."  I have learned that making such broad statements is less about commitment and more about a lack of understanding life.  

I love teaching high school students. 

My nephew - number 2 - is moving in with us next week.  He is moving so he can do a TAFE course that is offered close to here.  The same course is not offered in the remote mining town where he lives.  He's 17.  I'm excited for him and the opportunities he will have while he is here.  I think it will be good to have him around.  It will be nice to get to know him away from his brothers and sisters.  

I have a lot of stuff.  Too much stuff. 

I'm working on getting rid of stuff.  Lots of stuff. 

I have another blog.  It's about teaching.  I haven't posted on it for more than a year.  You see, AGT people, you are not quite as neglected as you thought you were.  

I have a chronic pain condition which could be called a few different things.  The doctors have settled on 'chronic pain'.  Technically this is a symptom, not a medical condition, but it is what it is.  What you call it, doesn't actually change it.  I take medication and a diet and an exercise program, none of which make sense to anyone else but me.  

I'm overweight.  

I have made long-term, effective life style changes in the past and I am working on making more.  

I am smart.  

I live with my mother.  I do this by choice and have plenty of money.  I could live alone if I wanted to, but I don't. 

I like to make cards.  I like to play with ink and water and paint and see what happens.  

Telling other people that they are awesome, special, amazing and more than enough... is my specialty. 

My cat is a member of my family and I regularly talk about her as if she is a room mate and not a pet.  

My mum has worked full time for as long as I can remember and this makes me proud of her. 

There is an ever growing list of things I don't need.  

The list of things I do need, has a tick beside every single item.  

Being grateful is one of the most important steps towards happiness, in my opinion.

I've been thinking about ditching this blog and starting a new one that is about card making.  Just about card making.  Then again, I only just 'got back'.  

I have ADHD.  

Could you tell? 

I'm hungry. 

Bye. 

... and We're Back

 Almost 9 months has passed since my last post. So much has happened in this time and I'm so tired.  The plan went out the window, for a start.  The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry and so it goes (Stienbeck 1937). 

I had planned on wrapping up this blog at the end of 2020.  When I walked away from AGT in April, I did plan to return, although I didn't know when.  Since then, I thought my absence had been far too long and a return would not be worth the effort.  The BFF told me I should post at least one more time.  We all know, that if the BFF says so, I rarely argue.  I don't think this will be my last post, though.  It's just another one. 

Posts won't be regular and posts certainly won't be perfect.  The important thing is, they will continue, one at a time, as they come.  

Next time I will try not to ramble so much. 

That's that then. 

2020 Goals Quarterly Check-in

Time to check in on the goals I made back in January.

I will LEARN something new every week : I have learned so much already this year.  I learned new systems, new rules, student names, and my new school.  I reckon I could list at least 20 things I have learned this year and we are only 15 or so weeks into the year.  Does that mean I can go for two weeks without learning anything... wouldn't that be good?!  Anyway, this one gets a tick so far.  

I will IMPROVE my Excel Spreadsheet Skills: I am finding it a bit overwhelming having to learn the best ways to use Microsoft Teams, WebEx and One Note.  Excel has been on the back burner.  I have some good people around me who can help, though.  I have already learned how to use Excel to calculate the Mean and Median of a data set.  Good thing too, considering I had to teach my class how to do it! 

I will AVOID making old mistakes; I'm not really sure what this goal was actually about.  It could be a bunch of things.  You know what, this could be a whole blog post all of its own.  I've made lots and lots of mistakes all of which I want to avoid.  

I will MAKE TIME FOR exercising at least 4 times a week:  Hahahaha!  I am generally managing three times a week.  I am planning to exercise everyday while I'm on my Easter break.  Hopefully, that will help me transition to 4 times a week when school goes back (whatever that looks like).  

I will ORGANISE my Work and Personal Spaces: I started out brilliantly on this one.  My filing system was easy to keep up with and my craft room was staying tidy.  Even my bedroom has stayed tidy (because it's organised).  Marie Kondo really made a difference at my house.  

I will EMBRACE the CHANGE.  I had NO IDEA what I was saying when I chose this goal.  I thought that starting a new job at a new school, and teaching a subject I have never taught before would be all the change I could handle.  Then, the pandemic came to Australia.  Everything has changed.  I really miss hugs.   

I will BE my BEST self!  I'm doing the best that I can.  That's all I have to say about that. 

Join us next time.  No promises, because, who really knows what the future holds.  I certainly don't. 

Stay home! 

Crisis Mode

Well, hasn't this been an interesting turn of events.  Or not.

Unless you are living under ground and have absolutely zero contact with the world (let's face it, not many can say that), you know that the world is currently in crisis mode over Corona Virus AKA Covid-19. 

Typically, the Aussie's were in the  "She'll be right, mate!" camp until they started seeing people in the US fighting over toilet paper and cities such as Hong Kong running out of rice.  Then some of us have gone a bit silly.  While most of us are still trying to remain nonchalant about the whole thing, it's gone beyond mild interruption to flat out inconvenient.  Understatement of the year.

While many places in the US are in lock down ... "Don't leave your houses", international travel has been banned, people are losing their jobs, supermarket workers are being abused for purchase limits and the world of memes has exploded with observations about the human race in crisis mode.  Let's watch Netflix and 'chill' but only if you don't touch me. 

There might be something good from all of this.  The optimists among us are struggling to find it.  The conspiracy theorists have already discovered the science fiction novel written in the 1980's, set in 2020 and is beginning to read more like recent news reports. They are feeling pleased.  In all the madness, there is a glimmer of hope as we see that there are people who care about their fellow man.  Such as Salvo's who are volunteering to help out at the daily shopping hour reserved for the elderly and people with a disability.  Video of Italians singing on their balconies while in lock down has gone viral.  Parents are beginning to lobby for teachers to get a pay rise while they begin to understand why so many of us drink every Friday night (and Saturday and Sunday).  It really is the end of the world as we know it. 

It was not my intention to say this much about all this craziness, but there it is.
This seriously messes up my Blog schedule (yet again), how inconsiderate, so next time we might just add to the list of things I don't need or look at some photos of cards I have been making.  I have to admit, it's difficult to think about long term goals right now.  One day at a time is how it goes. 

One day, the panic will be over.  We will live differently as a result of all this, but it will be less stressful.  We need to believe that. 

Now is the time to pray, be still, carry the peace that surpasses all understanding with you.  While the world may seem to be in chaos, there is a purpose for all this and God will take care of His people.

Praying