Eek...an update!
So it's been a while. Here's what trickled down -
WORK:
After major convolutions and contortions, I found out I am not A) losing my job and B) having any unpaid "furlough". We started out with the District having to cut 18 million dollars out between now and June 30. That translates into 18 days off as each day we run the District costs 1 million dollars. Then we were only 15 million short, then 8 million. Then the stimulus package arrived and the legislature rearranged how we could spend it and we ended up only 4 million short. That we were able to make up by not filling open positions, cutting expenses, canceling field trips, etc and now we are all still working and getting our regular salary. It has been pretty exhausting running all the different scenarios for presentations to the various unions involved, the school boards and parent involvement groups just to say we are back to "We're okay for now. Stay tuned for next year."
One of the things that really pissed me off is the loud public vitriol aimed at teachers throughout this whole thing. Like teachers should work with out pay if they REALLY care about their students (Hello - what part of a legal contract do you not understand???) and that teachers are overpaid, underworked, etc. What utter bullshit!. I am constantly blown away by what teachers put up with every day as part of their "normal" job and think every one should seriously think about what these folks do for kids and the rest of us in general. An ignorant population dooms us all. As for any special education teachers, I personally think that qualifies for sainthood. I would never in this lifetime do what they choose to do on a daily basis, let alone take all the crap that seems to be flung lately at them. Ok.. down off soapbox.
HOME: The Harper's chemo is working well. Viral load is down 66% after one month. Woohoo!! Only side effects seem to be insomnia, an irritating cough and some small nausea. Will see where this goes. Keep the good thoughts coming.
ART?: Some stuff in the pipeline, mostly knitted. Am waiting to see the response of a piece sent to K A&S as a gift for a certain potter. ;-) It may be time to get crafty with paper, which I haven't done in some time. As an aside, I really enjoyed the Art Tea at Fjorlief's last month and look forward to the next one. It was really fun to see what everyone is working on and Acorn Cottage is very inspirational in itself. That and the fact that it's next to a Goodwill make it pretty much perfect.
OTHER: Liked "Coraline" a lot. Also "The Reader" in a strange angst ridden way. Got roped into seeing "He's Just Not That Into You." What a waste of a potentially good cast and two hours I will never get back. Oh well, consider it a sacrifice to friendship.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Spring break and the chance to hang with some people I don't see enough of. SPRING WEATHER ANY TIME NOW PLEASE!! It was freaking 29 degrees on Thursday morning. I am getting really tired of long underwear under my work clothes. We have an "energy conservation opportunity" (read: budget cut) so it's 64 degrees at work. To everyone who gave me Hello Kitty gauntlets and gloves for Christmas - Thank you! They are getting lots of use.
Onward and upward...
WORK:
After major convolutions and contortions, I found out I am not A) losing my job and B) having any unpaid "furlough". We started out with the District having to cut 18 million dollars out between now and June 30. That translates into 18 days off as each day we run the District costs 1 million dollars. Then we were only 15 million short, then 8 million. Then the stimulus package arrived and the legislature rearranged how we could spend it and we ended up only 4 million short. That we were able to make up by not filling open positions, cutting expenses, canceling field trips, etc and now we are all still working and getting our regular salary. It has been pretty exhausting running all the different scenarios for presentations to the various unions involved, the school boards and parent involvement groups just to say we are back to "We're okay for now. Stay tuned for next year."
One of the things that really pissed me off is the loud public vitriol aimed at teachers throughout this whole thing. Like teachers should work with out pay if they REALLY care about their students (Hello - what part of a legal contract do you not understand???) and that teachers are overpaid, underworked, etc. What utter bullshit!. I am constantly blown away by what teachers put up with every day as part of their "normal" job and think every one should seriously think about what these folks do for kids and the rest of us in general. An ignorant population dooms us all. As for any special education teachers, I personally think that qualifies for sainthood. I would never in this lifetime do what they choose to do on a daily basis, let alone take all the crap that seems to be flung lately at them. Ok.. down off soapbox.
HOME: The Harper's chemo is working well. Viral load is down 66% after one month. Woohoo!! Only side effects seem to be insomnia, an irritating cough and some small nausea. Will see where this goes. Keep the good thoughts coming.
ART?: Some stuff in the pipeline, mostly knitted. Am waiting to see the response of a piece sent to K A&S as a gift for a certain potter. ;-) It may be time to get crafty with paper, which I haven't done in some time. As an aside, I really enjoyed the Art Tea at Fjorlief's last month and look forward to the next one. It was really fun to see what everyone is working on and Acorn Cottage is very inspirational in itself. That and the fact that it's next to a Goodwill make it pretty much perfect.
OTHER: Liked "Coraline" a lot. Also "The Reader" in a strange angst ridden way. Got roped into seeing "He's Just Not That Into You." What a waste of a potentially good cast and two hours I will never get back. Oh well, consider it a sacrifice to friendship.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Spring break and the chance to hang with some people I don't see enough of. SPRING WEATHER ANY TIME NOW PLEASE!! It was freaking 29 degrees on Thursday morning. I am getting really tired of long underwear under my work clothes. We have an "energy conservation opportunity" (read: budget cut) so it's 64 degrees at work. To everyone who gave me Hello Kitty gauntlets and gloves for Christmas - Thank you! They are getting lots of use.
Onward and upward...