Illegal Blogging!

I am SO at work right now but it's a time of day called SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) and the whole school is to be reading for 15-20 minutes. This is when I check up on everyone's blogs! Hey, that's reading! :) I haven't written anything in awhile and I intend to do so soon. A quick run down of the last several days: my softball team won despite my first strike out fo the season, I gained weight last week (talk about yo-yo!) but feel that I'm doing really well so far this week, Mark's 32nd birthday was great! (filled with delicious dinner and homemade cake and fun at Oktoberfest), I'm working on the 2nd IEP of the week... Well, there's the timer. Suppose I should actually work right now, that IS why I get paid the big bucks! ;)

Spider Season

I HATE spiders! Hate, hate, HATE them!!! And, they are EVERYWHERE right now. The daddy long-legs that like to hide out in the corners of our house and in the shower (eeek!) I can handle. But, this afternoon, I walked out the front door and the beginnings of an enormous web caught my eye. Upon further investigation, I saw the biggest, furriest spider that I have ever seen not in a cage. I tried to take a picture with my phone but, of course, couldn't get close enough. When I returned home, the web was finished and, like I anticipated, enormous. It makes my toes curl just thinking about it!

I'm brilliant!!!

Well, not really, but I scored 19/20 on my first exam in my Tuesday night class and I am quite pleased with myself to say the least. I was really quite anxious about it and studied very hard in order to be successful. At this point, I'm averaging a 4.0 in both of my classes but I still have some major assignments and several exams before the semester is over...

A Grown Up Decision & A Heartbreaking Loss

As many of you know, Mark and I went to a Dodgers playoff game on Sunday (we won!) and, while there, were given two tickets for Monday's game as well with the idea that we would pay the guy who gave them to us the next time we saw him. Well, Monday afternoon I really wasn't feeling well plus I had reading to do for my classes this week plus it would have been an additional $160. So, we made a grown up decision and sold the tickets and watched the game from home instead. I read during the commercial breaks, took some NyQuil, and hit the hay early.

Later this week, my boys in blue ended their season. Mark's parents were complaining that they were playing so badly (like one of our best players getting 3 errors in one inning!) but I say they simply lost to a superior team. Only 5 more months 'til only day!!!

Sending Happy Thoughts!

My Aunt Nancy Bogosian, my Godmother, has been in the hospital since last Tuesday for surgery on her colon. I talked with Uncle Memo on Wednesday and he said that the surgery went well and that she'd be in the hospital until at least Sunday. I just got off the phone with her, though, and she is happily recovering at home this evening. She said that she feels really good. A little sore, but MUCH better than she thought she would feel. When thinking happy thoughts, please send some her way!

Friday Inferno

My softball team lost last night. I didn't do so hot with only 1 walk, 2 ground outs, and 1 foul out. Plus, being in the outfield again, I totally missed a ball that was hit to me. I looked like a complete idiot floundering out there. Oh well. I really enjoy being on the team and I am the exact opposite of competitive when it comes to sports. Give me a board game anyday and I will kick your @#% though!

Whew! What a week...

Last Sunday's to do list included the following:
-Midterm exam on Tuesday night (that's the biggest stresser at this point)
-Final research project outline due on Wednesday night
-Readings for Wednesday night
-Department Chair meeting on Monday after school
-Start the 5 IEPs due this month at work
-Pay October's bills
-End the week with a departmental happy hour on Friday afternoon

Progress so far:
-I think I did pretty well on my midterm. After studying all weekend, Mark quizzed me and was really amazed at my brilliance! :) He said his brain hurt after we were done.
-Research project outline done. I realized it wasn't graded but merely to give my professor an idea of what I will be working on so I did my best with hopes of feedback from him.
-Yeah, my readings didn't get done. We did, however, have a quickwrite in class which meant that I was supposed to cite authors and their opinions in response to a question when given only 20 minutes. Luckily, before the quickwrite, we got into groups to discuss the readings pretty thoroughly. I think I did okay considering I didn't read a thing for class! Bad, Melissa.
-No sweat for the department chair meeting, just an hour out of my day.
-Started my IEPs Individualized Educational Programs - each student in special ed. has one - they average about 12 pages each and include all the goals for the next year, we have to meet annually to discuss progress. I think 5 in one month is the most I've ever had to complete! The meetings all start on Tuesday. I have a meeting on the 14, 16, 21, 23, and 28!
-October bills are paid.
-Happy hour was enjoyed and very much needed.

On top of my anticipated list of things to deal with, some other highlights of my week include a fire drill at school (kids with Autism HATE fire drills), the most disgusting bloody nose I've ever had to deal with (let's just say that that kid did some serious digging for gold!), a City of Cerritos (where my school is at) Council meeting in support of a motion to increase funding for adaptive programs in the city (it passed!), and FINALLY receiving a compliment from a parent who has spent the last 3 years telling me what I'm doing wrong and exactly how I should be teaching her son.