#Microblog Mondays - Work Woes

My room at work is near the center of the school at the end of one of the main hallways. Most teachers pass by my room to get to the office or the lunch room, and nearly half generally pass my room to get to their cars in the parking lot.

What this means is that a lot of people end up "stopping by" my room to chat.

This on the surface shouldn't be that big of a deal. In theory they'd stop in, say hello, and then head on their way. Unfortunately, what happens in reality is that people stop in, unload all that troubles them, and then (far too long later) merrily go on their way.

Sigh.

I know there are worse work woes to have. I mean, it should be kind of nice that people are so friendly. Hey, they like me! And I guess that it is nice to an extent.

But, it occurred to me today after the eighth--YES EIGHTH--person popped in to chat that this can't go on any longer. Not only am I too nice to do my work while they talk, although I was less interested in being nice as the afternoon worn on, I've decided that I need to not take on the added weight of other people's problems.

I do not want to know if so and so made them angry.

I do not want to know about students who didn't do what they should have.

I definitely do not need to know every nuance of their relationship with their husbands.

I do not need anything more than my own life to worry about nor do I need to inherit extra frustration or stress. I have enough of all of that without them adding to my everyday load.

Let's face it, I barely have enough time for my own life crap; I don't need to deal with theirs.

Besides, I am not the school's personal therapist.

Sheesh.

Now I just need to figure out how to get the message out...I've found working in a room with the lights off sounds a whole lot more appealing than it is in practice.

Anyone else ever been in a similar position? Any tips for how to handle this without making work miserable?

~~~

Stop by Mel's for more Microblog Monday posts.

Weekend Leftovers

Today was my birthday. I got to sleep in a little, and there was a huge chunk of time in which I was sent to my room, ALONE, so they could decorate the house. It was wonderful! :)

Is.aac also took the boys to the store to pick out gifts for me. lol. Sh.awn chose a Goofy figure. Jack selected a harmonica for me. Ja.son decided I was in desperate need of two construction cars. They also made me a picture frame.

We had cake and ice cream and spent some time with my mom, too. It was a nice day all around.

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Yesterday my 92 year old grandmother in AZ called (here in CA) and told my mom she wasn't feeling well. Long story short, my mom ended up calling one of her neighbors who in turn called 911. Grandma was taken to the ER where she has been since. Some of the scarier possibilities have been ruled out, but they weren't exactly sure what was going on last I heard. She is on oxygen at the moment because she was SATting low. We're worried about her because let's face it--she's 92 and lives alone.

My mom is heading out there for the next ten days to be with her.

~~~

We got these...

How cute are my boys in their spring pictures? :)

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Decided to potty train Jack over this break. He's four. It's time. (Mostly because he has his 4 year appointment on the 23rd, and I was dreading having to say he wasn't trained yet. Sigh) He's proving to be a tough case.

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I think I mentioned some time back that Sh.awn was diagnosed with AD.HD. We started him on a very low dose of medication, and he was doing so well...until recently. Ugh. He We all were really struggling.

We ended up increasing his dosage of medication. It has made a WORLD of difference. I am so relieved that we were able to help him return to the sweet boy we know and love. The best part is that he has been so much happier since we've changed his dosage.

~~~

This is the last weekend of my spring break. I am not looking forward to going back and starting all of our S..B.C.C testing. My eighth graders are looking at somewhere around 14 hours of testing over a ten day period. Sigh. It all just frustrates me.

~~~

Stop by Danifred's for more Leftovers!

8 Years

8 years ago today I started blogging. I was just starting my third IVF, the one that brought me the boys.

It seems like a million years ago.

It seems like it was yesterday.

It is cliche to say so much has happened.

So much has changed--some for the bad.

So much more for the good.

The me of 8 years ago was so hopeful and excited. She was ready to conquer the world and have her dreams finally realized.

I'm a bit lot more jaded now, a bit lot more leery of the twists and turns of life. What wasn't battered by infertility was beaten by everything that has happened since.

I'm definitely a lot more tired.

But I've survived.

And I do think the hope and excitement is there.

They might look a little different than they did 8 years ago. I would say pretty much everything about me is different than it was back then. But if I push away the rough edges I can see them shining in the background, waiting to work their charm.

I am thankful for that.

Oh these 8 years.

I can't think of a way to end this post, probably because the story isn't over. I guess I'll end this by saying thank you.

For being here.

For reading and commenting.

And for your support during this journey.

Good Things

Jen at Here We Go Again had a post about things she loved. She asked her readers to post in the comment section about things they love, too. I think this is such a fun idea and a great way to learn about new things I might like to try, so I thought I'd do a similar post here. (I hope you don't mind, Jen!)

These are the things I left in the comment section of Jen's post:

• The first is a different type of snap hair clip that actually stays in my fine hair. Rather than the usual one prong, this clip has three prongs. My Target sells them in black, which is how I found them. I love these things.
• The second thing is something I got to solve an issue my boys have drinking from a plastic bottle (water bottle, etc) whenever we are out and about. Essentially, this is an adapter system that fits on most juice/water bottles that converts the opening of the bottles to noless-spill drinks. Plus, the adapters are small enough for me to keep in my bag without taking much room. We've used them a lot. :) 

Those two things immediately popped into my head that day, but I've been thinking about more things I love ever since I read her post. 

• The CoverBot External Battery - We are a techy family, and Is.aac and I use our phones a lot to take pictures, text each other when we divide and conquer or crew, and yes, sometimes to distract our children when we have various appointments to attend. This little gadget has saved us many a time when we need a quick recharge while out. I love that it has two USB ports and can easily charge the phones or  iPads (or LeapPads) if needed. I loved these things so much that I gave a bunch of them out as Christmas gifts two years ago!

• 4 Port USB Wall Charger - One outlet. 4 things charged at once. Love.

• Eggsact Egg Timer - Stick this thing in the pot with the eggs when you start them cooking and leave. Take them off the stove when the color has reached the appropriate level of doneness. I've had it for years, and it works every time. (Been cooking a lot of eggs lately.)

• Laminator - I'm a teacher, what can I say? lol. I have one at work and one at home because you just never know when something will need to be laminated. :) This year I'm also giving one of these to the boys' teachers at school. (Only I paid less than half of the price I linked. Watch this product, it goes on sale fairly frequently.)

Now it's your turn. I know not many people comment here any more. Heck, maybe they never visit either? Still, if you're out there, I'd love to see what things you're loving right now.

#MicroBlog Monday

The boys get to play a little iPad each day. Mostly they play learning apps, although at some point not too long ago, the youngest discovered the wonder of YouTube. Specifically, he discovered the wonder of Ki.nder Su.rprise eggs videos.

Now, I seriously do not understand the obsession with these clips, but from my queries on FB it seems that these videos have caught the attention of a lot of kids. I admit to being a little relieved in that my kid isn't some sort of oddity in the Ki.nder egg addiction.

Anyway, with the youngest's birthday and Easter on the way, I thought it would be a neat idea to procure some of these surprise eggs for him. I only needed to search for a bit before I quickly realized that it just wasn't going to happen. They aren't sold in the U.S., and what I could find on ebay were ridiculously overpriced.

I couldn't believe it when my next door neighbor, upon reading of my egg dilemma on FB, brought over two of the eggs she just happened to have brought back from a recent trip to Mexico. I practically kissed her when she showed up at my door with them in hand. When does something like that happen? I was so excited to give them to him.

Fast forward to the boy's birthday. He opened them. He oohed. He ahhed. He was amazed. He has carried around his two ridiculously cheap toy prizes since he opened them. It was, by all intents and purposes, a huge hit with the boy.

But in the process of fulfilling a simple joy for him, I have created a monster--foil uncovering, egg smashing monster.

And it was a sad misfortune of timing that this monster has been created at Easter time, because dude. You cannot begin to realize how many things are foil wrapped and egg shaped at the Easter season until you have a child hell bent on destroying every single one of them in order to unleash a "hidden" toy inside.

I have foil and chocolate remnants all over the freaking house now! Definitely not how I expected things to play out. lol

It seems that the boy has a bit of his mother's ability to throw herself full force into whatever interests her. Ahem. Thank goodness Easter is over and we can finally rid ourselves of the foil/egg temptations for another year. :)


Stop by Mel's for more #Microblog Monday posts.

The Boy Is 4

Jack's Birthday Video...