Room For All

Welcome to Wondercafe2!

A community where we discuss, share, and have some fun together. Join today and become a part of it!

Register Log in
What a wonderful night for sleeping last night. Sound of rain. Bit of wind. Air cooled down.

All of the folks, like our family, who do not have air-conditioned homes give thanks. (we do have 2 window air conditioners but rarely use)
 
What are people's plans for today?

I am thinking of lbmuskoka.

Beloved gave a long list earlier and I thought how inclusive she is.


The room is open, the pillows are fluffed, sit for a bit
 
Hope you find something helpful ChemGal. Can't imagine the difficulties you must face, but God bless your attitude!

I'm enjoying real alone time at the moment. Husband, daughter and grandson are all elsewhere. I don't get the house to myself very often.

One month of holidays...very little thinking about school (although I went in the first week to do some cleaning, and I've downloaded the curriculum for the new grade I'll teach). I've done two church services and gone on two little holiday trips. I've read a couple of books. AND I've been able to sleep at night. That makes a huge difference. I love July. Once August comes, I start thinking more seriously about school. As I feel the benefits of less anxiety, more sleep and a more balanced life, I always think: I'll live my school life differently so that I don't feel like SUCH a basket case. It usually works for about a day. Maybe this year will be different. After all, I AM older and wiser, right?
 
Nancy said:
Hope you find something helpful ChemGal. Can't imagine the difficulties you must face, but God bless your attitude!

I'm enjoying real alone time at the moment. Husband, daughter and grandson are all elsewhere. I don't get the house to myself very often.

One month of holidays...very little thinking about school (although I went in the first week to do some cleaning, and I've downloaded the curriculum for the new grade I'll teach). I've done two church services and gone on two little holiday trips. I've read a couple of books. AND I've been able to sleep at night. That makes a huge difference. I love July. Once August comes, I start thinking more seriously about school. As I feel the benefits of less anxiety, more sleep and a more balanced life, I always think: I'll live my school life differently so that I don't feel like SUCH a basket case. It usually works for about a day. Maybe this year will be different. After all, I AM older and wiser, right?
Click to expand...
Thanks Nancy! I'll at least get into an exercise specialist, so even if I don't find a group, I think finding safe exercise will improve my mood.

What are you doing at school? Maybe you can make your good intentions last a week this time lol I think we all go through something similar to an extent. When I had multiple classes, my big thing was notes. Every year, I would promise myself that I would keep them organized, and any time I had an exam I would be spending time just sorting through my notes, as when my clipboard for 5 classes was full, I would stick the whole stack somewhere and not sort them by class & date!
 
When we are young and healthy I think we are sometimes patronizing about older people with their aches and pains. We joke about them getting together and talking about illness, doctors, and pills - comparing medications. As we get older, or develop health problems we start to understand why this might be so. Finding out more about our condition, learning how other people cope with it, comparing treatments, and learning that we are not alone is helpful and supportive.

Often we don't want to burden our family or our friends with a never-ending list of complaints, but it is nice to find others who are willing to listen and able to identify and understand.
 
Pouring rain, rumbles of thunder. I hope that we have power tomorrow. I've got a sermon to write for next Sunday, hymns to check, etc. And a eye examination in the morning. Drops in my eyes, and I won't be able to see for several hours. A light overcast would be preferable.
 
ChemGal...I'm a teacher of SK and Grade 1, maybe Grade 1 and 2 this year. I'm at a school that is physically falling apart, under review to close in a year, and services an area where unemployment, substance abuse, and poverty are rampant. I love my job, but it drains me totally. In the summer, I start to feel like a normal person again.

Seeler...wise words about aches and pains. I think I have osteoarthritis (at least the doctor thinks I have that), and I treat it by only taking Aleve every day. It may be getting worse though, and I had a huge attack last night. I can barely walk today. There...now that I've unburdened to all of you, I won't bug my family with my aches and pains!
 
Aaah, Nancy. welcome. You sound like you teach in a school similair to what my sons went to . World needs more teachers who give themselves to children in these areas. Yet, you know the magic of what a difference you can make to a child who has recently moved to our country or faces challenges in their home. You also know the gifts of families who chose to live with less to meet other needs. I love our area and our school. Thankfully there is a huge addition going onto it, and being upgraded. I can see myself being a volunteer in it when I retire as it is quite close.

I know that I have told folks (way too many times), that I can retire in 16 months. Things are challenging at work and I am struggling to get through it. In part, because I know that I can retire in 16months, i think. Heavy peanalty to leave early. I figured out that I can take 2 moths of vacation between now & then, so...that means only 14 months of working! There are also 10 days of holiays, so....that takes it closer to 13 months. I can do this! lol I am strategizing about taking them every month, or doing something to look forward to and celebrate, ie, this Christmas will be my last at work. D'ang, gotta make it good
 
Pinga, as someone just starting out in the work force retirement is an awfully long way away, I can't imagine how excited you must be!

Nancy, my mom also teaches jk/sk in a school with a lot of lower income, troubled families often with kids who are ESL. I have come to the conclusion over the years that teachers are saints and people like you deserve all the gratitude in the world. Thank you for be amazing.
 
Pinga, believe me - those 16 months will go by quickly. Try and enjoy (focus on) the perks of "working" (although I'm not sure what they would be LOL!).

I agree, Greywolf - teachers are saints - especially here when I hear some of the things they have to put up with in their classroom and with some students. And sometimes don't get parental support. Nancy, I hope you enjoy the rest of this summer vacation, and that you are well rejuvenated and strengthened to go back and do the important work that you do.

It is a warm summer morning . . . will be a scorcher by this afternoon if their is no breeze or scattered clouds.
 
It is very worrisome to us that the City who holds many of the pensions -hospital workers( this is CrazyDad)
some nurses and lots of other city workers. They have been negotiating for months and now the Province has drawn a line.
There is no money so they might shut down the pension or move it. I am having a hard time understanding bit there are many are worried.
 
Those pension struggles are definitely worrisome crazyheart - hopefully some resolution soon, and good legal representation for those already on pension.

I agree - most teachers are definitely saints! Enjoy your summer Nancy - are there any ways we can help you stay on track with your resolve come September? It is indeed so easy to get sucked back in to unhealthy patterns of imbalance.

Ah pinga - it can be hard to keep trudging along in difficult circumstances when the end-point is so clearly in sight. I know you'll work out a good plan for yourself to make it to the finish line - and stay healthy while doing it.
 
This morning I've cleaned my daughter's old bedroom, which we re-purposed as a reading room, catch-all space after she moved out 6 years ago. She's arriving home on Thurs evening for a 10 day visit with us :love: We found a good 'inflatable bed' on sale, so we've put that in there - hopefully it will be comfy!

Now I'm off to Michael's craft store - there's a yarn sale on & I will stock up on some supplies for knitting prayer shawls next fall & winter. I also have to find some supplies to repair a bracelet for one of my patients - it's a keepsake bracelet that contains tiny photos of her family - I can hardly see them & she's legally blind so I'm pretty sure she can't see them at all - but it was a mother's day gift from her daughter & she's heartbroken that it has fallen apart. Hoping a good solution will emerge! If not, my daughter (who has a diploma in jewellery!) will be of help I'm sure.
 
Thanks Carolla. Yes, last week was a pretty significant set of straws. I recognized the emotions being tweaked, why they were impacted, addressed the immediate causes, put in some de-escalation emails, identified alternate employment, figured out the financial implications of a sudden departure, and consulted with appropriate support orgs and networks. It was busy, but it needed addressing and I feel better knowing things are named and in play. I also have determined that within 4 months I will be saying "this is the last itme that I will be doing _______ at _________. ie, celebrating christmas, setting budget, doing review, and so on. That and vacations will help time fly. Although I haven't (and won't) formally announce retirement due to legal and financial impliations, I have made it quite clear that there needs to be succession planning to reduce risk to the org. most are in denial as I am such a long-term employee.
 
Sounds great re going to Michael's. I can spend way too much in that store.

Crazyheart, I hadn't heard about the pension challenges in your city, but I did listen to an interview of folks from Detroit. It is scary. I hope to have my pension for 30 years (presumign that I live to my late 80's). Lots can change in that time.
 
Pinga said:
Sounds great re going to Michael's. I can spend way too much in that store.
Click to expand...
INDEED! I think I came home with enough yarn for 4 or 5 prayer shawls! But it was such a good sale :whistle: And 4 picture frames - buy one get one free, then an additional 20% off! I have some beautiful sunset photos from Nicaragua that my daughter sent for Xmas several years ago - so I have to make sure now to get them on the wall of her room before she arrives! Thanks Michael's for helping with that project!
 
Came home after getting drops in my eyes for eye exam (no significant change since last time), and found that the power was off. Major tree trimming a few houses down the street. Didn't get it back on until 5:00 pm A day wasted.
 
Just played catch-up and read all the posts that had arrived here since the last time I looked. So much news.

I tend to think that some teachers are saints too. I wonder about the immigrant communities and low income areas that were mentioned, and that teaching there could be harder.

My community is very mixed with one school for each age group (several grades in each building). I have watched new immigrant families arrive, start learning English, upgrading education, buying homes, adding to their family etc. I've watched the kids grow, make places for themselves in a new land,

At the Grad ceremony it became very obvious that many of the awards went to immigrant students.
 
@Nancy sounds like a rewarding but challenging job!

So far, in this period where I should have had no medical stuff, I had a doctor's appointment Monday, one on Tuesday, multiple phone calls for info about drugs & IV support, an appointment with a nurse today and a health workshop tonight!

This is all good stuff though, it's about getting support. I might be able to get in with a hospital in a town outside the city for their IV clinic, we'll see. I got a phone call saying a clinic could help me, but I would need an appointment first. Turns out, it's not for the clinic, it's just what I tried before. The GPs at the clinic have hospital privileges, but for a hospital I didn't try.

My youngest cousin (in law) is in the hospital right now. She sounded quite sick but is better than a few days ago. We're all frustrated with the health system! She has gone to the hospital multiple times. She went twice last week and was sent home. The 3rd time they finally admitted her and were worried her kidneys and liver would fail. She's in isolation. How can a kid be that sick and not be treated just 2 days prior?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top