Kontan.

There was nothing more we could do for her. It is so hard to let her go. Goodbye Black dog. You were our furry friend and our favorite soccer player.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author Unknown

Days of nursing a sick dog and no progress, frustrating. She is so weak and is no longer drinking on her own. Sometimes she willingly takes what I give, sometimes not. I don’t have thousand(s) for heroic measures. I’m giving meds and making her hydrate. It is not enough. I’m losing hope, but I won’t stop trying. I don’t like being helpless.

School started, best start yet. It’s been a great 3 days.

Dealing with a very sick dog. Not cool. Not happy.

Yard to be done. It is amazing what can be ignored at the start of school.

My room is together, but I have yet to turn the Promethean board on. I need to make sure everything works and play with it enough to not look like a newbie in class. Monday is open house. I haven’t written my newsletter. That is on my agenda for tomorrow. Thrilled with my classroom, I have forgotten how much work goes into a classroom that is truly yours. I wouldn’t want to trade for floating teacher again.

BTW…what does it say about us if we sit in the living room with the TV on Disney channel, and the kids are now in the other room?

The first two days have been exhausting. Actually, we spent yesterday in meetings. Today I packed up the teacher that was in my room and moved furniture, setting up my room like I want it. I have several necessary items still in boxes and nothing on the walls, but it is starting to look like a classroom. After watching Big Brother I shall turn in and enjoy the soothing sounds of rainfall as I drift into a tired slumber.

It’s a cloudy Monday, and a little nice to not have the HOT sunshine of the last few days. I love the forecast this time of year…

Weather guys should just give up and admit that they have no clue what it is going to do.

Cloudy, foggy, raining, or bright sunshine…doesn’t matter. I have lessons to complete. Three classes, three different preps. I have everything I need and planning shouldn’t be an issue, but I want to have everything written and ready for at least two weeks. I’m determined to not fall behind and barely be treading water later in the semester.

Today was sort of my first day back. It was newbie day. We listened to all the assistants speak and learned various details that will be important for our sanity. I really think I’m going to like it here. So far so good. I also picked up my new toy.

It’s a little silver HP Mini, a companion toy to my Promethean board. So far I am not impressed with the little mini. I may have gotten a dud, but the ‘net speed is atrocious. Maybe it just needs a good update session, I hope.

My room is a very good size, but the person in it didn’t realize they were changing rooms so it isn’t totally mine yet. I almost feel bad for the individual, but am glad that it is not me moving all my stuff to a “learning cottage” (aka trailer).

Thank you Promethean board. I owe my job and my classroom in a sturdy building all to you.

I needed some serious me time this afternoon so when Jem came home I took off with my geocaching materials and decided to try and find a few in a local park. No luck. All I managed to do was avoid going face first into this web of joy…

My spidey-sense was broken.

and then I found

After braving the giant spider web I decided to take my chances with snakes and make my own path out of the woods. I don’t know where this guy hid the cache but I will seek it when I have a better GPS for outdoor adventures…or winter…whichever comes first.

It’s a little lonely this early. Jem is off to work. The girls are asleep. My dog is asleep. The cat doesn’t care much for me so she goes to hide until Jem returns from home. No one is on FB. It is time to start preparing myself for the school start. My drive time will be the same, but the route is not a straight shot like last year. There will be little flexibility in my must leave time.

I’m excited about the new year. New school, and if all goes as planned, new technology. Months ago I mentioned working with a colleague to write for a Promethean Board grant and we were successful with the venture. Unfortunately, there were conditions attached and I can’t use the grant and just any school. Fortunately, the school I have been offered qualifies. I’m excited about the opportunity to teach with this. It is a little late coming, given the technological trend of today. The board will come with a mini-laptop that I am looking forward to. I can transfer all of my school junk to an SD card and carry the school’s laptop back and forth, not my own overly heavy Dell. (Yes, a jump (thumb) drive would be an option too…let’s face it, I can’t keep up with it.) This topic is what I should really be spending my morning time working on. All of material needs to be converted to flip-charts. I know that once I start the task I will enjoy it. As historian James McPherson once told me, starting is the hardest part.

There are other things that need to be done as well. For instance…

activity needing serious attention

Before shopping tax-free shopping weekend I must have the girls go through EVERY item of clothing in their wardrobe to determine keep/toss/donate. An article in the metro paper addressed the nature of tax free weekend, stating it combined favorites of Americans: a bargain and sticking it to the gov’t. It went on to point out that the savings weren’t all that great unless you were buying a big ticket item. True, the savings are not huge. However, savings are savings. That $20+ that I will save is money in my pocket. If I have to buy the items anyway, I might as well save a little. Besides, stores will also have sale items to get you in the door. The office supply stores are prime example. Penny pencils? Hello, do you know how many pencils students go through? My own children? Glue sticks? Markers? Paper? I don’t need any big ticket items at this time, nor can I afford them. As stated, savings are savings.

On that note…If anyone would like to gift this little gem I would be giddy.

Dang it! I’ve been hanging out with Lil Bit while the teen is at camp and I didn’t bother doing my two summer memes…

Guess that is a sign of decreasing frustration. That’s how I plan to view it.