Is it Spring Break yet?

Ugh. Have tried to stay positve on this blog, but not feeling too postive right now. Not stressed about the play (yet) as everyone but one person is giving their all, and working cooperative with me and Becca Jean, my student director (self-proclaimed student dictator).

Zach, the little stinker, got himself suspended for the afternoon yesterday -- his mouth got him in trouble, yet once again. It seems he had to go to "ZAP" which is a program at lunch for kids who are missing work. According to Zach, he got in trouble for "asking" a kid next to him what the assignment was. Knowing Zach as I do, I'm sure there was more to it than that. Anyway, the teacher sent him to lunch detention. At detention, he was asked by the vice principal to take out a piece of paper and do some "character building". He told Mr. Bailey, "no." He was asked a second time and Zach still said "no." Mr. Bailey told me he asked Zach, "So you're telling me that you refuse to do what I ask?" Allegedly, Zach said, "I shouldn't be here; it's stupid, so no, I'm not going to do it." Well, Zach got the afternoon off and I'm sure that Mr. Bailey now has his eye on Zach. Aye aye. How much longer til Zach is done with middle school?

Then there's my lovely daughter. I left her in Oregon to go to school. She told me she had "help" to go to the first year of school. Well, that was not correct. At Christmas, I told her that she had a month to pick one of three choices: move here to Blanding with me and Zach; enroll in Job Corp (they have a graphic design program that would be great for her); or stay in The Dalles and go solo (no more cell phone or monthly stipend from me). She called me a week or so ago to tell me that she had a job interview with a new grocery store opening in The Dalles. I decided to postpone her decision with the hope that she could land a job, thus allowing her to stay in Oregon with her friends and boyfriend. Well, still no word on the job (supposedly if she doesn't get picked the first round, she might get picked the second round). I told her I'd give her two more weeks. She started to cop attitude with me. I guess she's in a program at McCog (some government agency), learning how to write resumes because she's getting food stamps. I asked if they would help her get a job -- no. Well, then, why not go to Job Corp who will help her get a job. She doesn't get that if I cut her cell phone, there's no way she can get one on her own. I pay $15 a month extra for her to have one -- with free long distance and unlimited texting. If she goes with a prepaid, there's no way she can continue her habit of 8000 texts a month. Aye aye. She's 19 1/2, she needs to grow up and pick a path, any path at this moment.

On a positve note, though, I was talking with the principal of Navajo Mountain (where I used to work) and the district reading specialist. They were telling me about a kid who graduated a couple of years ago that was a voracious reader and read everything they gave him. In fact, I guess he won some reading contest. Well, it just so happens that I got him "started" on reading. He hated reading as a freshman. I learned what he liked and found a book I was sure he'd love. I was right. After that, I kept hooking him up with books I thought he might enjoy. Anyway, I facebooked him and told him jokingly that I deserved some of the credit for his love of books. He wrote me back, seriously I might add, and said that I deserved ALL the credit. All I can say is that his comment totally made my day. I went into teaching to make a difference in at least one person's life. Well, I guess I can retire now -- lol.

Maybe it's just the February blues. That stupid groundhog had better be right -- spring had best be around the corner. I need a vacation. Ok, that's enough. Will try to be more positive next week.