Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty (I have to fill it up with lots and lots of words)
April 24, 2012 Morning Pages 0753 hrs Cloudy and 55 degrees in Twin Peaks, rain is supposed to arrive later today.
Wow, I have so much to detail here regarding yesterday.
First off I took the dog for a long walk. It was a glorious day and I needed to collect my thoughts for my afternoon battle at the school district. We took the long way round to Tanner’s Landing, which I hadn’t visited since a mild day in February. Yuki (my adorable fur-generating husky), was a total spaz on the lease initially, but then settled down quickly enough for us to enjoy our time riverside.
I was chagrined however to find that the conservation district had come through and willow-sticked the only beach access we have near here (at least by foot). And honestly I don’t understand why they would do that. There’s a huge field on the other side of the beach, following a patch of woodlands, which acts as storage. Willow sticking this area is just retarded. It’s natural. I can see willow sticking levies and places where erosion is bad. But there was not bad erosion. The only thing I can think is the big mcMansion on the other side of the river is afraid of the big bad river eroding their bank. Well dipshit, why did you build so close to the river’s edge? A living, breathing creature, it is, you idiot! Meanwhile, Scotch Broom, a very troublesome invasive species here, lines the trail on both sides. Hey conservation district, why don’t you work on eradicating scotch broom and willow stick that? I am just so annoyed at this. I did notice that some of the willow sticks were too large in diameter to take effect. Someone (*cough* not me) might want to just remove those and use them as sticks for their dog to fetch.
Regardless it was a beauty of a walk and I found this tentacled creature at the river’s edge. I love how green. And can you see the face?
On the way back home from our hike I saw someone I didn’t recognize. He was dressed to look casual, but all his gear was very REI (moisture wicking and utilitarian). I remember thinking, “former military.” It wasn’t until I saw the search helicopters that it dawned on me, “Oh maybe this guy is a cop.” But then news reports finally came out that described the “person of interest” in more detail and I knew that the suspect they were searching for in the wilds around Twin Peaks here was not the man I saw, but, yes, a cop. I was feeling so inspired by the beauty of the day and getting my thoughts together for the afternoon that I wasn’t fearful at all. When you walk the trails regularly, like I do, you eventually start to see the same people with dogs, joggers, bikers, moms with babies, etc. This is especially true on the weekdays. This guy was out of place, but I wasn’t fearful. Also, because Yuki was with me and one of the reasons we got a dog even though after Sadie died we said we wouldn’t. I wanted a protective companion on my hikes.
Then it was laundry and getting the beans going for meatless burritos for dinner. Then off to a writer’s meeting. Where I successfully did work for two clients while trying to help one of my writing comrades through a tough blockage. He’s just quit smoking, is a recovering alcoholic, and ended a bad relationship. Kind of tough to write through all that. We all offered him some tips, techniques and encouragement. I mostly said to just cut himself some slack and forgive when everyday he’s not a production machine. We’re human. Not robots. Also got some of the latest journal to be carried in that particular café from SnoValley Writes.
Then it was off to battle at the school district. I’ve had to recount that meeting four times now since it happened. One to my husband, one to my friend in education, once within my hand-written journal and online to another friend. Suffice to say that I am victorious and Bean will remain in school, at that school, and the district’s special education director agreed with me (she obviously knew that ‘lawyering up’ was my next step). There was a long discussion regarding how I teach Bean at home (all senses technique - see, hear, do, etc.) and they once again complained about how he behaves and I said, “Read his IEP. Everything you’re saying is part of his issues: he has problems getting started, he gets overwhelmed easily and then flees the scene, and he has problems staying on task.” I LOVED that the SED (special education director) had clearly read Bean’s files, his tests, etc. and had great ideas on how to teach him. We have new strategies in place and the special services coordinator even proffered up new resources to specifically help Bean. I felt victorious about this, but also irritated that the principal didn’t know she had those things at her disposal - like a computer and software that Bean can read text on and it reads along with him (reading comprehension is a huge problem with him, he has to hear it as well as read it and then discuss it before he comprehends it). I’m trying to be magnanimous and give tolerance that the principal is brand new and still learning the ins and outs of the school and the district. However, it’s clear the budget cuts are wrecking havoc on the alternative schools in our community. You know they have no robotics program of sports program for people to get excited about and budget and or donate more money. So to assist, recognizing my role that if I’m not actively engaged - especially where Bean’s education is concerned - it won't happen. So, I will be volunteering at the school for one hour every morning (0800 to 0900) to assist both Bean and where else needs doing. Had I not had my degree this particular opportunity/arrangement could not have been available. At least now it can be done. And my liberal arts degree is worth something. Bean is horribly embarrassed by this, but tough shit. It’s the hand we’ve been dealt. He may come to like it after awhile. We’ll see. Likely won’t begin this until later this week or early next week as the equipment needs to get set up at the school and a brief training on it. Having to be somewhere every morning at 0800 will be good for my butt to get up and out of bed and get things done before I have to go. Then I’ll come home and walk the dog each day. Should be a good schedule. As I was leaving the office, Bean’s advisor at school - someone who is the wife to his very beloved middle school teacher, stopped me and gave me a hug and whispered in my ear that “I was a good, mom.” I said, “Thanks, you’re a great teacher. Thanks for not giving up on him.” Kind of made me feel like this.
Then it was time to pick up the two wees from the middle school and get them home. Chores. Homework hour. Then they went off to play in the sunshine and I got to work on celebrating my victory with the school with some drunk landscaping, which I will blog about later on my dot com site.
For now laundry awaits and a dog needs to be walked and an article written for a client and a check cashed and a water bill paid. And the stuff from yesterday I missed:
Operation Organization (Writing Desk)
Move bushes from gravel bed in yard to fence bed
Finish planting lettuce beds (acquire more soil)
Check in on my Rulin’s
Plan an Artist Date for this week
Hammer out plans to visit with J this week
Continue to rearrange things to get record player set back up
Visit Azeroth (my reward for the sheer lunacy of my day)
More 80s music to push me through the day as well. Enjoy:
This entry was originally posted at http://caszabrewin.dreamwidth.org/44058.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
Wow, I have so much to detail here regarding yesterday.
First off I took the dog for a long walk. It was a glorious day and I needed to collect my thoughts for my afternoon battle at the school district. We took the long way round to Tanner’s Landing, which I hadn’t visited since a mild day in February. Yuki (my adorable fur-generating husky), was a total spaz on the lease initially, but then settled down quickly enough for us to enjoy our time riverside.
I was chagrined however to find that the conservation district had come through and willow-sticked the only beach access we have near here (at least by foot). And honestly I don’t understand why they would do that. There’s a huge field on the other side of the beach, following a patch of woodlands, which acts as storage. Willow sticking this area is just retarded. It’s natural. I can see willow sticking levies and places where erosion is bad. But there was not bad erosion. The only thing I can think is the big mcMansion on the other side of the river is afraid of the big bad river eroding their bank. Well dipshit, why did you build so close to the river’s edge? A living, breathing creature, it is, you idiot! Meanwhile, Scotch Broom, a very troublesome invasive species here, lines the trail on both sides. Hey conservation district, why don’t you work on eradicating scotch broom and willow stick that? I am just so annoyed at this. I did notice that some of the willow sticks were too large in diameter to take effect. Someone (*cough* not me) might want to just remove those and use them as sticks for their dog to fetch.
Regardless it was a beauty of a walk and I found this tentacled creature at the river’s edge. I love how green. And can you see the face?
On the way back home from our hike I saw someone I didn’t recognize. He was dressed to look casual, but all his gear was very REI (moisture wicking and utilitarian). I remember thinking, “former military.” It wasn’t until I saw the search helicopters that it dawned on me, “Oh maybe this guy is a cop.” But then news reports finally came out that described the “person of interest” in more detail and I knew that the suspect they were searching for in the wilds around Twin Peaks here was not the man I saw, but, yes, a cop. I was feeling so inspired by the beauty of the day and getting my thoughts together for the afternoon that I wasn’t fearful at all. When you walk the trails regularly, like I do, you eventually start to see the same people with dogs, joggers, bikers, moms with babies, etc. This is especially true on the weekdays. This guy was out of place, but I wasn’t fearful. Also, because Yuki was with me and one of the reasons we got a dog even though after Sadie died we said we wouldn’t. I wanted a protective companion on my hikes.
Then it was laundry and getting the beans going for meatless burritos for dinner. Then off to a writer’s meeting. Where I successfully did work for two clients while trying to help one of my writing comrades through a tough blockage. He’s just quit smoking, is a recovering alcoholic, and ended a bad relationship. Kind of tough to write through all that. We all offered him some tips, techniques and encouragement. I mostly said to just cut himself some slack and forgive when everyday he’s not a production machine. We’re human. Not robots. Also got some of the latest journal to be carried in that particular café from SnoValley Writes.
Then it was off to battle at the school district. I’ve had to recount that meeting four times now since it happened. One to my husband, one to my friend in education, once within my hand-written journal and online to another friend. Suffice to say that I am victorious and Bean will remain in school, at that school, and the district’s special education director agreed with me (she obviously knew that ‘lawyering up’ was my next step). There was a long discussion regarding how I teach Bean at home (all senses technique - see, hear, do, etc.) and they once again complained about how he behaves and I said, “Read his IEP. Everything you’re saying is part of his issues: he has problems getting started, he gets overwhelmed easily and then flees the scene, and he has problems staying on task.” I LOVED that the SED (special education director) had clearly read Bean’s files, his tests, etc. and had great ideas on how to teach him. We have new strategies in place and the special services coordinator even proffered up new resources to specifically help Bean. I felt victorious about this, but also irritated that the principal didn’t know she had those things at her disposal - like a computer and software that Bean can read text on and it reads along with him (reading comprehension is a huge problem with him, he has to hear it as well as read it and then discuss it before he comprehends it). I’m trying to be magnanimous and give tolerance that the principal is brand new and still learning the ins and outs of the school and the district. However, it’s clear the budget cuts are wrecking havoc on the alternative schools in our community. You know they have no robotics program of sports program for people to get excited about and budget and or donate more money. So to assist, recognizing my role that if I’m not actively engaged - especially where Bean’s education is concerned - it won't happen. So, I will be volunteering at the school for one hour every morning (0800 to 0900) to assist both Bean and where else needs doing. Had I not had my degree this particular opportunity/arrangement could not have been available. At least now it can be done. And my liberal arts degree is worth something. Bean is horribly embarrassed by this, but tough shit. It’s the hand we’ve been dealt. He may come to like it after awhile. We’ll see. Likely won’t begin this until later this week or early next week as the equipment needs to get set up at the school and a brief training on it. Having to be somewhere every morning at 0800 will be good for my butt to get up and out of bed and get things done before I have to go. Then I’ll come home and walk the dog each day. Should be a good schedule. As I was leaving the office, Bean’s advisor at school - someone who is the wife to his very beloved middle school teacher, stopped me and gave me a hug and whispered in my ear that “I was a good, mom.” I said, “Thanks, you’re a great teacher. Thanks for not giving up on him.” Kind of made me feel like this.
Then it was time to pick up the two wees from the middle school and get them home. Chores. Homework hour. Then they went off to play in the sunshine and I got to work on celebrating my victory with the school with some drunk landscaping, which I will blog about later on my dot com site.
For now laundry awaits and a dog needs to be walked and an article written for a client and a check cashed and a water bill paid. And the stuff from yesterday I missed:
Operation Organization (Writing Desk)
Move bushes from gravel bed in yard to fence bed
Finish planting lettuce beds (acquire more soil)
Check in on my Rulin’s
Plan an Artist Date for this week
Hammer out plans to visit with J this week
Continue to rearrange things to get record player set back up
Visit Azeroth (my reward for the sheer lunacy of my day)
More 80s music to push me through the day as well. Enjoy:
Click to view
This entry was originally posted at http://caszabrewin.dreamwidth.org/44058.html. Please comment there using OpenID.