"Sittin' round the Pot Belly Stove!"

[Dee Bee]

David, congratulations!

pojo, take it easy and concentrate on the healing power within you.

Jeremy, I like your attitude -- and I think you're right!

Gosh, Mary, how do you keep from from just shouting for attention and then calmly but firmly saying "Knock it off, all of you!"

Nice to meet you, Amy! Are you a FL native or a transplant?

My hand is healing! Even a med instructor at work was amazed. The skin is quite "shiny" but remains unbroken, the swelling is totally down, and I can make a fist without pain. Since the incident, I've spent time practicing visualization, a technique which has been helpful in the past when dealing with migraines and lupus-like neurological symptoms.

Kurt's been in Tallahassee since Monday for state legislative lobbying; he returns late Thursday and leaves for five days in D.C. on Saturday. If it weren't the end of the term at my college in Ft. Lauderdale as well as the beginning of my new class in Lake Worth, I would have gone to D.C. with him. His next trip is to Panama City, FL mid-May and if I'm on break then I'll tag along.

I "impulse bought" two oversized Mexican Wedding Cookies at the Publix bakery when I ran in for half-and-half after dinner. OMG, it's a good thing I didn't buy more -- absolutely delicious, fresh, and probably fattening as all get out!. I've got to dig up a reliable recipe; then I'll make some for y'all who stop by the PBS.

Have a pleasant evening, everyone!

[GulfBreezer]

Dee, I am glad your hand is healing so well!! Must be all that good livin!! Burns just scare me to death b/c of all the chances for infection. You have done the right thing in caring for it!!

Jeremy, it is always so good to see you my friend!!

Weather is beautiful here............I have spring fever bad!!

I have my last epidural shot tomorrow. The last 2 have not worked as well as I hoped but if this one doesn't work either, we might be able to go in and actually burn the nerve that is so damaged. (For those who don't know, I was in a car accident last summer and ended up with some damage to my neck and some nerves.)

Anyway...........I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!!

Sandi

[Dee Bee]

Sandi, I'm keeping you in my positive thoughts for success with your injection tomorrow.

It's a wonderful "crispy" SoFla morning here -- it's already mid 60's (up from low 50's a few hours ago), bright sunshine, blue sky, and a pleasant ocean breeze.

I'm set up at the big kitchen granite-topped table so I can spread out all my materials and organize that new teacher-training class I'll begin teaching next Monday. I'll move onto the patio later.

Enjoy your day, friends!

-- Diane

[Miss Mary]

Can I ask for prayers for my daughter Laura? She's my daughter with ADD and takes the OGT testing next week. Because of her 504 Plan (a step down from an IEP/Intervention Educational Plan, something like that), she is to be given extra time for testing. Either in the classroom or standarized testing. During her 504 Plan meeting for next year a month ago, we addressed this concern. Please tell us or our daughter where she is to take this test. By Wednesday, nothing. So I emailed the teacher who cooridinates special need students. She said another teacher was going to send notes to each student in this category, in their homerooms today.

Well, as many of you already guessed, no note came today. Laura went to two other resource rooms today to find where to report Monday (it begins promptly at 7:20!). The last person said to ask on Monday.

Oh sure, let's wait until Monday. She is already stressed out about this test!

I've left 2 emails and 2 voice mail messages, for both teachers coordinating the special needs students. I stated we need to know by the end of today, where to report on Monday.

If I know my daughter, she will sit down with her regular class and just hurry thru it, performing terribly. Laura just needs twice as long to complete each component.

This same thing happened in 8th Grade. For the practice Terra Nova's, they didn't give her extra time. I was livid, to say the least.

You'd think a school district would want all their students to do their very best.

That last voice mail message I left wasn't too nice. I'll admit it. Usually I'm a polite parent but waiting this long to notify special need students where to report for standarized testing is negligent. I know to them my daughter doesn't even look special needs but she qualifies for extra time.

Thanks, just pray we find out where she goes before the end of the day. If not I think I'm driving her up early on Monday. And either she herself will ask around or I will march in there myself.

She does not want to fail this test and then take it next year, when she'll be a Junior. A Junior taking it with Sophomores is extremely embarrassing.

Mary

[Skywatch_NC]

Mary,

Prayers and thoughts on the way for Laura, you and Jim!

I have a good friend up in Roanoke Rapids, NC (where I used to live) who has ADD, also. His name is Bruce and he's a weather enthusiast but doesn't have much time at all with his job, family and church for any spare time for wx forums. He and I had a weather booth one year at a Safety Rally Day at a paper mill where he and my Dad worked! Bruce still works there.

I remember testing in school, too, and how it took me more time to complete them as well due to my Asperger's Syndrome...like for ie. those IOWA tests back then.

Eric

[Miss Mary]

Well, this OGT test is a huge deal. The kids are all worried about it. You can't graduate HS until you pass it. And she failed several practice components.

The teacher just called and apologized. Now I know where she reports. She'll be given all the time she needs. I am greatly relieved.

Eric - your prayers did it! I just worried we wouldn't know anything until Monday morning. Her school is closed now!

Thanks.

Mary

[vbhoutex]

Mary, I understand riight where you are!! You did th eright thing!! We must always advocate for our childrens rights, special needs or not. Both of my children are/were ADD and one exhibited ADD/HD a good deal of the time. And for any doubters, yes both of mine were tested and diagnosed by qualified professionals. We never allowed our children to use their challenges(my son is profoundly hard of hearing also) as an excuse, but we ALWAYS were ready to go to bat for them if needed. Many, many meetings over the years to straighten out problems but it was worth it. Both are now leading productive lives and both are about to get married(one engaged, one semi-engaged ). Anyway, glad to know you got a proper response and apology as you should have. We had to keep the teachers accountable for following the modifications required and that sometimes included walking into the classroom unnanounced to see if they were being followed. Ususally after an unannounced visit we never had a problem again especially if we had an administrator with us(which we normally did). Ok, down off the soapbox.

Sandi, I hope the injections work for you. They did for me. Keep us posted.

Well, have a great weekend everyone!!!

[Pburgh]

Thank goodness. But to tell you the truth, sometimes it pays to be a Bit@h.

[GulfBreezer]

Wow Mary, I am really glad to hear that the teacher called back and some of the stress has been removed!! Good luck to Laura and I can't wait to hear how well she did!!

[Miss Mary]

Well, I was premature in my calm. When Laura got home from volunteering at her former Elem (she's done this since she was diagnosed with ADD, in 6th Grade, loves helping students, working with 2nd Grade this year), she said now wait a minute. That's the same arrangement had I stayed in my homeroom. Long story short, I fired off another email and drove up to school personally. It was past 3:30 by this point and I was hoping to catch someone around. The first teacher I ran into was the one who called me. Whew, he took the time to explain it all again. She'll have from 7:20 to 9 in the cafeteria, with other students who need extended time, a few Juniors who didn't pass last year and one Junior who's a transfer student, new to Ohio. This whole group will move at 9 to the Media Center, a few classrooms away. From there she can have up to 5 hours (total). Now she could have just started out in the Media Center but that would have been a whole new set up. With it being Friday, Laura didn't want to change it all now. I asked what happens if she doesn't pass. She can take a practice test in July and then the real one, in July for a $50 fee. Well worth it IMO (if she doesn't pass all 5 areas). That way no one has to know she didn't pass.

It's a fine line you walk with high schoolers. Embarrassment is huge on their list - don't embarrass me Mom. I can't even begin to count the times I heard that! LOL 99.9% of the time I don't. But today I was marching up there and there was nothing she could do to stop me. I told the teacher later, I didn't want to do this with you @ 6:30 on Monday! He agreed, get it all understood now.

When it's all overwith I think I'm going to send a letter, gently suggesting they notify special needs students a full week before testing. That way the student, parents and teachers can make sure it's the best accommodation. Again, I think b/c my daughter doesn't even look like she has special needs, she sometimes falls thru the cracks. Today I was not going to let that happen.

And the best validation I got - she sighed tonight and said thanks Mom, I feel so much better about the OGT now. I can take it Monday and not worry about where I'm moving to, do I have to hurry, will someone boot me out of the media center.

This is when you want to shake somebody by the shoulder though - I'm a detail oriented person - this could have handled days ago. No one would have been stressed out! Why a district waited until today to notify special needs students of where they were taking the test - is beyond me. Completely unnecessary.

So we are facing a weekend of rest, good food and calm. If that's possible. Thanks everyone. David - you're so right, we need to be our children's advocate. Lately we've been suggesting she be her own. She's permitted to turn in assignments a day later and still receive full credit. One teacher was taking off points. So Laura pointed it out to him, he pulled out her 504 Plan but it was outdated (a year old). Not clear on extended time for homework assignments. He talked to her LD coordinator and it was all worked out. But Laura took care of it. We didn't. She'll have to do this in college - speak up and say I need help or more time. She's been in her own world since little. Very bright but it's just tapping into it that's the challenge. I sometimes wonder if I had ADD as a kid. I had horrible grades in school.

Mary

[Dee Bee]

Mary, I'm keeping Laura in my positive thoughts for an abundance of Guidance and calm during her test. She has a great model in you for your understanding of Laura's capabilities and potential, as well as persistence for her rights! Parents not only should but must be the primary advocates for all facets of their children's education. I'm proud of you, and of Laura, too!

[Miss Mary]

Diane - thanks. She's already worrying about the test now though. Tomorrow is the English part and Laura's always struggled in this area. Hates to read, has trouble spelling and comprehending. Her sister cleans up in this area (college Journalism major). Both my girls were taught with Inventive Spelling (being permitted to spell a word the way it sounded, kat for cat, etc.) and the Whole Language Theory. A wonderful approach for some but not all. Her sister could turn around the early misspellings but not Laura. She'll still ask us, how to spell such and such word and it's one she should have learned long ago. I'm told Kindergartners and First Graders are no longer allowed to use Inventive Spelling - I'm so relieved for this new generation coming up the ranks. I've always said Laura should never have been allowed to spell words the way they sounded! I've joked she should have learned phonics, reading, spelling, comprehension the way I did - by extremely strict nuns with pointer sticks, wrapping the blackboard constantly - you will learn to spell. You shook in your shoes, you were so scared. But I spelled correctly, at a young age!

Part of her problem is stubborness too - she just shuts down and quits on ya. As if to say - how do you like that approach - eh, why do I need to learn this stuff again?

We'd be packing for a vacation and her sister would be packing chapter books. Several, not one. And Laura would be standing there with comic books. We'd give her that look - comic books are not the same as fiction! Yes it is she'd say and whip them open, see? I'd throw my hands up and we'd leave. Nina devouring a new book and Laura glancing thru her comic book. I know she didn't read them! LOL

Mary

[therock1811]

Hey guys. Hope everyone is enjoying the quiet weather. Or at least, not having so many severe storms in the country.

I am relieved that nothing happened in Cincy this weekend or yesterday. I know, it's unrealistic to expect that lucky streak to continue. I don't. That's why my life is gonna change in the next year to 18 months. I can't give details just yet but when I can, you'll know. It does have a little to do with the previous situation, and the fact I expect the lucky streak may end before then, but partly it's because I need a change in my life. A BIG change. That's all I have to say on that subject.

Mary, I'm not surprised at your story. I frankly would have done the same thing in your place. And I will. Everyone has to have an equal opportunity to succeed, whether that means getting extra time or having some other sort of help. In fact, during all state tests, I was given a 30 minute break around 9am each day. I had to be, since it was for medical reasons. For the same reason, if I needed more time to finish tests, which I usually didn't, I got it. And likewise, if I need the same help at NKU, I know I can get it thanks to Disability Services. The people there are really great at what they do, so Mary, if Laura is going to go there, I HIGHLY recommend she register with them.

Sandi, how did things go with that shot? I hope you're doing better. Miss talking to you.

That's about all I really have for now.

[Miss Mary]

Jeremy - thanks for your suggestions. I have heard that NKU has a wonderful LD department. Not sure where Laura will decide to attend but no matter where she ends up, her college has to have an excellent learning lab, LD tutors, etc. I went to Mt. St. Joseph for 2 years back in the mid-80s. I made friends with several students with LD's. They received so much help, I was very impressed with the Mount.

Laura's taken full advantage of extra test time for the OGT. It's paid off, she feels like she did very well today (Math, her strength) and passed the Reading one yesterday (her weakness). Tomorrow is Writing, another hurdle to get over. From there it's not so hard she says - Biology and Social Studies. I really think if she had been taught phonics from the beginning and had a third year of pre-school, she may not have struggled as much. What I learned the hard way is, over 50% of students entering Kindergarten are now 6, not 5. Kindergarten is no longer K, it's more like First Grade. First is like Second used to be. Teachers are now teaching more difficult concepts at earlier ages and I suspect teaching to these older students. The ones starting K at the once target age of 5, are sometimes lost in the shuffle. Laura's sister Nina has a friend turning 20 and she's just a Freshman in college right now. That's quite a span in today's Elementaries, ages all over the place. I could beat myself up about this all over again so I'll quit. I'm glad you could receive the extra time and breaks you needed Jeremy. Sorry to hear about your bad luck. I'll say a prayer your good luck will continue. You could be wrong about that! At least I hope so...

Thanks all for the prayers for my daughter. I usually don't like to ask for them, when others seem to need them so much more.

Mary

[Miss Mary]

Doing a quick pop in.....we have a Winter Storm Watch posted for late Monday into Tuesday. Will someone consult a calendar for me. Mine says March. Mmmm........I know this storm will catch many off guard. Or extremely skeptical.

All I know is I'm looking forward to that very early phone call - snowday - since I work for a school district now. No more checking the news crawls for our area's school closing (although it is fun to see who all has the day off, we'll still probably check it).

I ~almost, almost~ packed away the winter gear (gloves, hats, scarves but not coats). Something told me to keep them around for a little while longer.

Mary

[Miss Mary]

I have a SNOWDAY today.........Yeah!!! This is when it's great to work for a school district.

I'm still a sub though so I don't get paid for this snowday. But I have a day off just the same. I joked with my family if I was off today I was cleaning. And here I sit, putzing on the computer. Yeah, that vacuum is working hard - LOL!!!

Naw, I will clean today. I need more coffee to pull that off though. If I just pretend in my mind we're having a party, then I'll be flying all over this house, dust rag in hand. Think it will work? he he

Happy Tuesday everyone - this is my first real snowday since I was in High School. And I do not remember many back then!!!! My HS rarely closed, despite the fact the mid 70s were very snowy.

Mary

[therock1811]

Hey everyone. Doing a little pop in here.

I'm stranded. Can't leave, can't do a darned thing. That's the only thing that sucks about the 3" of snow I got.

Other than that, there's not much going on that I can share. So, I'll grab me a Dew outta the fridge and off I go. Later.

[Miss Mary]

You need a good movie to watch Jeremy.

Have you seen Elizabethtown yet? It's really good - all about Kentucky. I think you'd like it.

We're homebound too. But since I'm a homebody at heart I like hanging out at home. You're young though - I'm sure you're getting cabin fever!!!!

Mary

[therock1811]

You need a good movie to watch Jeremy.

Have you seen Elizabethtown yet? It's really good - all about Kentucky. I think you'd like it.

We're homebound too. But since I'm a homebody at heart I like hanging out at home. You're young though - I'm sure you're getting cabin fever!!!!

Mary

You said it. Hoping that it goes away soon. I'll be watching Dog the Bounty Hunter in a little bit. That should get rid of some of the boredom.

[furluvcats]

Hi everybody!!!

Mary, I;m glad you persevered with the school concerning Laura...Brett is in an IEP and luckily things have gone really smoothe since he got into this. His teachers even picked his HS teachers for next year...unfortuneatly, they don't have much of a program in the HS 's here, and I do not quite understand what will happen...I guess he'll be in gen ed classes, and there will be additional teachers who will take the IEP students out for testing, will write down notes for the kids, etc...BUT, his grades and GPA are amazing since he's been in this program in Jr. High!!!! Can't wait to hear how your daughter scored on her tests!

I've been absent lately, huh? lol We're just super busy...spending every weekend up at Big Bear, and TRYING to decide on a house plan and builder, I want to be in by Christmas, and thats looking almost impossible at this point...

We've had a ton of snow...it was fun to exchange snow pics with Azsnowman and Michelle... Late season this year, but very welcomed!!!!

We're going to Tahoe for a vacation the week of April 1...excited, the kids will be snowboarding at NorthStar and Heavenly...and we'll be relaxing in front of the fireplace...we also have rented a cabin at BB this weekend, so that will be fun too!

Thats about it for me...I've met some awesome local weather friends and been chatting it up with them...everyone lives at Big Bear or surrounding areas...so its been a nice close to home group...it seems that no matter where you go, wx ppl are the best!