House of Zathras

Obamacare isn’t official until 2014. But insurance companies, seeing how it’s going, are working now to make any profits they can while they can.

My new health insurance rates have just come out. From $357 a month to $568…while my employer’s contributions are dropping about $50.

And do you know whom I feel sorry for in this particular aspect of this mess??? All those dads who are court-ordered to provide insurance for their kids who are in the ex-wife’s primary custody…how will that affect their take-home pay…pay that needs to go to child support?

This whole Obamacare is going to be such a disaster for our country. How can people be so blind to this economic bomb?

Is there any hope at all that it could be repealed???

Scene: Back door of Mrs. Who’s classroom, where a class is emerging. A strange scent hangs in the humidity-laden air…remnants of repeated attempts to eliminate the wasp population in the eaves of the building.

Student 1: (making a face) What’s that smell?

Student 2: That’s the cafeteria.

Student 1: Oh.

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You mean I have to go BACK to school tomorrow? With students?

Are you sure?

Damn…I was afraid of that.

You see…Friday was awful. Just awful. We had this terrible storm hit mid-morning (and it’s been raining ever since…which means no recess for a few days because the playground will be a sodden mess). But this storm was loud and full of lightning. Which struck the fire alarm system. Which has this loud, piercing, deafening repeated shrill.

And I was proud of my students…they immediately jumped up as we had practiced for fire drills. But since the storm was so terrible, and knowing that the lightning had most likely set off the alarm, I had the kids wait. While the fire alarm is flashing and emitting its deafening warning. The kids have their hands clapped over their ears…because the damn alarm hurts!

But sure enough, an announcement comes over the intercom to stay in the rooms. And then an announcement comes to leave the room…for the cafeteria. They have turned off the alarm, but an automatic notification goes to the local fire department and they have to check it out. And the buildings that have an alarm notification HAVE to be evacuated during the firemen’s inspection.

Which means we walk out under metal awnings to the cafeteria. During the electrical storm. Yeah.

So we sit in the cafeteria for about 30 minutes before we’re allowed back in our building. And since it’s getting close to lunchtime, the kids have a hard time paying attention. However, we plow ahead with our reading lesson, then wash up for lunch.

Recess after lunch is naturally an indoor affair, because of the still-horrible weather. I let the students work at various centers. Three little girls choose to work with magnetic letters, which are to be used to practice spelling words.

Until one of the three girls comes to tell me that the other two are spelling ‘bad’ words. In the course of the investigation, it turns out that the first girl who tattled was the one who started spelling the bad words.

By this time, I’m wanting to say my own bad words. Ho. Ly. Crap.

The second week will be better, right? Right?

*sigh*

Friday is ALMOST here! Which means I’ve just about made it through the first week with students.

Good news: The screamer has stopped screaming. And is proving to be a remarkable student! The counselor said that the kid’s mom is really happy with how I’ve handled the kid. I’ve told the counselor that it’s because the crazy kids spend time with me and realize that I’m crazier than they are, and get really, really scared by that fact. Being crazier than the crazies makes for a good behavior plan.

Bad news: The Fire Marshal wants us to spray anything paper on our walls with fire retardant, and then only 20% of the wall can be covered by said paper-type products (posters, word walls, rules, kids’ work, school standards…everything the district tells us MUST be on the walls or it will be counted off during our observations!). I’m not worried, however. Because I have no real ceiling above my room…we can see straight up to the slanted metal sheeting of the roof…and it’s a very, very, high ceiling. So therefore, my walls go up about two or three times as much as an ordinary room…meaning the posters et al on the walls are within the bastard’s 20% ratio, mwuh-haaa-haaa-haaaaaa! (I need Blog-Mama Bou to use her Math-Wonder-Brain to tell me an actual formula to shove under the fire-marshal’s nose when he comes to ‘inspect’.) Oh, did you know they’ll actually do a flame test if they ‘feel the need’? Yeah, fine example to the kids…burn up the work they proudly have displayed on the wall!

Not that I’m against the kids’ safety of course. Just everyone trying to tell us teachers what to do, be it the Fire Marshal, the principal, the district, the math coach, the reading coach, NCLB, the general public, the parents, the government, etc., etc., etc.,…and the goals don’t often mesh and it’s ALWAYS the teachers’ fault when it doesn’t. But when it comes to fires, we teachers can handle it. I had a teacher friend who attended a conference down in the Orlando area when there was an actual fire. The teachers all trooped out in an orderly and quiet manner, even carrying out a wheel-chair bound man who was staying at the hotel. The firemen were pretty dumb-founded at the orderly manner in which they evacuated, and laughed when they found out it was a bunch of teachers!

But it has been a draining week. I have at least three kids who no longer can live with their parents, one ‘drug-baby’, one former home-schooled child who doesn’t have any grasp of phonics, one kid who couldn’t keep still if you duct-taped the child with three rolls, and some girls who think school is for others to be quiet while they visit.

*sigh* But *I* control the important things: recess and ‘Fun Friday’. I. HAVE. THE. POWER!!!!! (bonus points if you’re old enough to remember the origin of that phrase!) Mean ol’ Mrs. Who had the class practice walking in a straight, quiet line in the hallways instead of being out at recess. And Fun Friday is down to 20 minutes out of the original 45…with heads will be down on the desks for the 25 minutes they’ve ‘lost’.

By next week, I’ll have one of the best-behaved classes in the school. It gets to where all I have to do is raise an eyebrow, and the students get an ‘oh, shit’ look on their face and settle down. I’m a real bitch at the beginning of the year…but then I don’t fight the behavior as much the rest of year. You can’t teach if you’re fighting behaviors. So it’s the time for bud nippin’. Yep.

Otherwise known as Mrs. Who’s first day with the students. And yes, indeed, I have a screamer…who is also a runner. And it’s not me. That will come later in the year.

Just when is the next school holiday?

The first day of school for my students is tomorrow. I’m excited. And concerned. It looks like I’m going to have some, ahhh, challenges this year. Good thing I like challenges. Like the kid who stole money last year from the teacher’s purse. Or the kid whose mother didn’t even say ‘boo’ to me at the Meet and Greet…or bring any supplies, either.

Anyway…

This weekend I’ve had to make curtains for the window in the back door of my classroom. Back in February, the painters destroyed the blinds that I used to have on it. I requested new blinds then, and then again at the beginning of this year. No blinds…so I made curtains (thanks to BR who bought the material for me!!). But we have to have something over the window so prospective thieves can’t see in, and for lockdowns.

I didn’t get absolutely everything done that I wanted. I tried to be done by Friday, but since Buck had YM on Saturday, I figured I could hit the school while I had to be out anyway and tie up any loose ends.

BR went with me to help with some of the more tedious aspects of labelling supplies. We were almost done when the damn fire alarm went off. We were told over the intercom that officials were just working on the system. I had a bag of foam ear plugs that I shared with BR and a couple of other teachers there, but then 15 minutes later we were told to EVACUATE!!!! The firemen were on their way!!! And they had to get into the upper level of MY building!!

So…we left. The work wasn’t done. It won’t affect what I need to do with the kids tomorrow, but it’s bugging me that it’s unfinished.

Oh, well…better the alarm screw up on Saturday, than on the first day of school. But we teachers have learned to be flexible…it’s the only way to get through the year. And there’s always stories to tell in the process of the funny and weird things students do.

Any interesting first day of school stories out there???

…when plastic lids were first used on coffee cans? Or when zippers came into common usage, specifically in denim overalls? Were either of those present or in common usage in the late 1940s to mid 1950s?

I was reading a book that was okay overall…but the mention of those two items above seemed anachronistic.

Just wondering…

It’s been a very busy week at school getting ready for the new year. While I work in the room, I usually have the tv on for background noise…I don’t work well in silence. (“But Moooomm! I really do my homework better in front of the tv”…yeah, that was me, and it WAS true!)

Somehow the cable service was messed up, and most channels were snowy and full of static. So I brought some DVDs from home to fill the noise void.

Earlier today a mom registered her child who was put into my class. The mom asked to speak with me about several concerns with her child. (She was there almost an HOUR!!!!) The mom started walking out, when she stopped to stare (I thought) at the spelling words on a chart. I started to explain the process of choosing the words, when all of a sudden she turned and said in an excited voice, “So you like Firefly!!!????” I realized then she wasn’t staring at the chart, but rather at the tv on the file cabinet next to the chart…the tv wasn’t on, but the Firefly DVDs were tucked behind the tv. I laughed and affirmed my affinity for the show, and she went on, saying that their cat is even named ‘River’ for Summer Glau’s character. So maybe the Mom will feel a connection and a little bit more relaxed about her kid starting school. Shiny!

Don’t get me wrong…I’m very grateful I have a job. A job, aside from the regulations, that I do enjoy. Working with my students on most days brings a smile to my face.

But it effin’ pisses me off when people think teaching is a ‘cushy’ job. Work 8 to 3:30, several holidays and summer vacations. Nothing to it, right? God, how I wish!!!

If you think that, then I DARE you to spend a week with a teacher. I won’t get into the minutiae yet. I’ll be doing that as the school year progresses.

Today was officially the ‘first’ day back at school for teachers. But in the previous two weeks, I’ve put close to 40 hours into preparation for the school year. 40 UNPAID hours. One ‘regular joe’ work week WITHOUT pay. Would you do that for your job? No over time, no comp time, just time GIVEN to my job. This week I’ll probably work 10-15 ‘extra’ hours on top of the contracted hours. Before the students even come back. When they do come back next week, I won’t be leaving at ‘quittin’ time’. There’s always so much to do. Tonight, for instance, I spent two hours online completing mandatory training for safety, security, and sexual harassment awareness requirements.

Yeah, I could work the contracted hours and no one could say anything.

But it’s not enough for me. Because my job is just not about me…it’s about children. About helping them to become more, become better, to grow up. It’s an awesome, fearsome, and happy responsibility.

And for anyone who thinks that kind of responsibility requires no thought or preparation is a sorry-ass loser. Yeah, I called you a name. Puerile of me, wasn’t it? But that’s the only credit an ignorant detractor deserves. Sure, there are lousy teachers out there…sucking at the union’s tit and whining about their Viagra. But most teachers aren’t like that…there are jerks in every job type. You always remember the jerks, right, not the quiet workers who day after day effectively do what they’re supposed to do. And don’t go by teachers you had in school…you were looking at them through a kid’s eyes. Go back, volunteer for a week, and see it from a teacher’s perspective. A grown-up perspective. If I’m willing to give so much ‘extra’ time, surely you can too since teaching is such a ‘cush’ job, right?

And as it’s the beginning of the school year, I do want to thank you parents out there who send your kids ready to learn. You read to them, talked with them (instead of on your cell phone), set routines, and taught them how to behave in public. Parents are the first and MOST IMPORTANT teachers a child can ever have. You set the standard for their future learning. Thank you for giving them expectations that will make wonderful students and even better adults.

Now, I’m off to have my chocolate wine and then to bed, since I have to get up before the crack of dawn. Good-night.

So. Friggin’. What.

He even swims! In the water! EXCEPT…he goes swimming in a bay that was NOT affected by the oil spill. And the part of the Gulf just outside Alligator Point is OUTSIDE the fishing ban that still exists.

If you wanted to prove your point, Mr. Obama, go just a bit further west, near the Alabama/Florida border. Where there is still a ban on fishing…are you going to eat the fish there? Or the shrimp? The local delicacy is mullet…my family had many a fish fry with that delicious gift from the sea. But we can’t now because the mullet is a bottom-feeder…and all the oil that ISN’T floating on the surface is on the sea-floor.

Or keep heading further west still, Mr. Obama. To the Louisiana coast, where the marshes are STILL affected by the oil. To the oyster beds that were coated with dispersed oil.

So swim away, Mr. Obama. Far away. Far away from the areas that were really affected. Just as you are ideologically far away from the common folk to whom you promised such great things.

I pray for you: Psalm 109:8. Amen.

(via email from the Who-Mommy)

Al Gore, Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama all go to heaven and
are standing in front of God awaiting judgment.

God addresses Al first. ”Al, what do you believe in?”

Al replies: “Well, I believe that I won that election, but that it was your will that I did not serve. And I’ve come to understand that now.”

God thinks for a second and says: “Very good. Come and sit at my left.”

God then addresses Bill. “Bill, what do you believe in?”

Bill replies: “I believe in forgiveness. I’ve sinned, but I’ve never held a grudge against my fellow man, and I hope no grudges are held against me.”

God thinks for a second and says: “You are forgiven, my son. Come and sit at my right.”

Then God addresses Barrack. “Barrack, my son. What do you believe in?”

He replies: “I believe you’re in my chair.”

***************

Hard to believe how many of us thought at the time that Al and Bill and even “W”, were the ultimate extremes in arrogant, egocentric, evil, lying politicians, isn’t it?

Those ol’ boys are looking better every day.

Last night we stopped by my sister’s place (otherwise known as the House of Chaos) because it was her oldest son’s birthday. My sister has four kids in all, ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 12. And they have two settings…loud and louder.

Last night the two boys were playing with the birthday boy’s new toys. My elder niece was playing in her room. She has a marvelous imagination and can keep herself entertained for hours, creating her own worlds.

My youngest niece was very wound up…crawling into and out of my lap, running around throwing her stuffed animals, getting back into my lap, getting down again, crawling into BR’s lap to shyly investigate his beard, crawling back to my lap, getting her blanket and resting against my shoulder.

It hit me one of the times she lay curled in my lap, fighting sleep but needing rest…BR and I could have had a child just about that age. That son or daughter would have only been a few months younger than the child relaxing against me.

I felt…bereft.

The Obama healthcare plan has hit us much sooner than I thought it would. We have to make a choice about how we want to continue our healthcare…to the tune of several thousand dollars…on top of our insurance premiums.

How can this be, you say? Isn’t Obamacare supposed to be affordable for everyone? Of course it is…if you choose to become one of the multitudes who will be among the thousands in line for your ‘affordable’ healthcare. Where the doctor is only allotted a limited amount of time for each patient. Which means ‘cattle calls’ for healthcare.

Our physician has told us he has pondered long and hard about his future practice. He is a very thorough doctor, and both my husband and I are very happy with him because of his attentiveness to all our concerns. But the good doctor faced the problem of having his practice turned into a ‘drive-by’ medical service, with huge numbers of patients being rushed in and out of the office (as deemed by Obamacare).

So the doctor has turned to an alternative that is allowed under Obamacare. His practice will be associated with a company that offers ‘personalized healthcare’. For adults, there is a yearly cost of $1,500.00 and a full and complete physical (it’s quite exhaustive). We get same or next-day appointments when we call, and get 24-hour physician availability by phone. Appointments are scheduled so that you have plenty of time to ask the questions you want. The number of his patients will go from 3,000 to 600. After he reaches 600, that’s it…he takes no more ‘adult’ patients after that. He will see our children without the yearly fee…and hopefully our insurance will still be affiliated with him.

So…the choice is…do we stick with a doctor we trust but have to pay an extra several thousand dollars per year? Or do we leave it to chance and the cattle-round-up…and the costs go up next year, with health benefits becoming taxed and the Bush tax-cuts ending?

Because of Obama(un)care, how many people will take home even less…and start going without? How many families will go without adequate and affordable healthcare, without money to pay for housing and food and transportation… You think the economy has taken a downturn recently? Wait till next year…Obama’s audacity of ego can quite possibly lead this country down an ever-spiraling path of economic destruction, making us vulnerable in ways recent generations could never have imagined.

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
Thomas Paine

Our basic rights are being eroded away, one intolerable ‘feel-good’ policy at a time. I hope (not Obama’s self-aggrandizing kind of ‘hope’), that this November’s election will be a sign-post of change (not Obama’s country-destroying ‘change’). Our country doesn’t deserve its president and Congress attempting to destroy it from within. We, the people, don’t deserve to be raped and pillaged of our basic rights.

If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.
Thomas Paine

We, the people, need to now act to form a more perfect Union. Vote for real hope, vote for real change. Doc Utopia and his ilk are NOT the physicians we need.

“Oh, get off of her, you damn lesbian!”

Uttered by BR as he walks out the door to work, and he sees the dachshund curled on top of the Golden Retriever.

Thank you ALL for your prayers and thoughts…it turns out Goob has mononucleosis…that’s right, folks, the KISSING disease, lol!

Actually, there’s not much lol in reality. He has to watch his physical activity for awhile (because his spleen is at increased risk of a rupture), which will affect his duty status. And he can’t kiss anyone, or share utensils or drinking containers or food, etc., for SIX MONTHS!!! IF he hadn’t been kissing (and other things!!!) he probably wouldn’t have gotten this disease. Maybe religious edicts seem restrictive…but for the most part they can keep you hale and hearty, both physically and mentally! Think about it, Goob!

Poor Goob…life keeps knocking him down. He needs to think about the path he’s choosing that keeps throwing up these warning signs…slow down and smell the roses…just don’t go kissing them.

Our Goob is being taken to the hospital in Korea as I write this…they originally thought he might have strep, but it’s not. There’s some kind of lump and bleeding in his throat. Abscess??? Who knows…just please send out good vibes.

Talk about feeling helpless…we can’t just drive there to be with him. Dammit.

*I’m sitting at the public library while my daughter is at a community function. Often I’ll go sit down at the pier and just read…but it’s too hot and humid right now.

*There’s a tremendous storm coming. I’m sitting by a window on the second floor of the library, and have been watching this huge, dark line of thundering clouds ponderously but surely coming this direction. The front edge of the clouds has a long, wavy white line marking it. Nasty, nasty looking against the black roiling mass behind it. I might want to reconsider sitting right by the window.

*What is it with the teachers’ union in Wisconsin wanting Viagra on their insurance plan? The district can hire 12 teachers for what it costs to cover that prescription. And aren’t most teachers women? So doesn’t that mean it’s probably mostly the spouses that want the Viagra? Maybe they could compromise by only covering it only for actual employees? But still…times are tough for everyone. My insurance premiums are up about 5 times what it was when I started, with less coverage. Sex is great…but money for food on the table and a roof over the head kind of takes precedence…

*Will 2012 get here fast enough? I would be happy to see Barry Sotero gone…but even happier just to have Nancy P lose her speaker-ship. I would pay good money to see that meltdown. Surely someone would tape that and put it on youtube?

*The windows next to me are creaking as the wind picks up. This is a really old building. It was old when I went to it as a child. There are also a lot of homeless people that come here when the weather gets bad. They mostly play games on the computers. In looking around, I also realize I’m probably the only female patron on the second floor (where all the computers are). Meh. There is one woman down in the parking lot…screaming. Screaming with her kids as they dodge raindrops while running for their car. Better than the man down there earlier who was screaming into his phone. He had on a red-checked kheffiyeh. But since he was screeching in ghetto-anglo, I don’t think I had to worry about a jihad.

*The storm is about to pass over…all bluster and no bite. Lots of hot air blowing around and rumbling noise, but everything will be okay shortly. Please dear God let that be synonymous with the Obama administration and its effect on our country.

*I guess I’ll go back to Facebook now and annoy my kids. Isn’t grand how technology can bring a family together!

A few nights ago I was in line at Walmart behind two other women. As the first rather largish woman was finishing checking out, a whole pack of kids came up. The woman started berating her kids, asking them where they had been. The oldest, a girl of about 12 (just a guess, as the kids, like their mama, were all rather plump), explained that she had fallen down.

“What????!!!!” screeched the mama. “I done tol’ you that if you fall down, you don’ get back up. You just lay there and holler!!!!! Nex’ time, you just lay on that flo’.”

No questions if the girl was okay or what else happened. Apparently you just lay on the floor, carrying on, and try to take advantage of the situation.

It made me so sad…

How do I know this?

Because apparently the word ‘papal’, as in ‘Papal blessing’ is considered to be a naughty word, and an email containing the word ‘papal’ will be thrown into Spamland. And Fred hates us Catholics. And homosexuals. And soldiers. And, well, anyone who isn’t a member of his so-called ‘church’. I just didn’t know he was running an ISP to further his bigotry.

One of my mother’s friends has already contacted the provider, and they’ve promised to have the problem rectified within 48 hours. I don’t know if I’ll survive this 48 hour period, however, because my mother keeps asking people to send her emails with the words ‘papal blessing’ in it. *sigh*

I rarely ‘not’ finish a book. It has to be pretty bad for me to put it down and walk away from it. I only threw away one book that I can recall.

I would like to throw away one I just (partially) read, except that it’s from the library. Then I’d have to pay for the frikken thing, and I’m not about to do that.

The storyline is about a pandemic bird-flu and a family’s efforts to survive. Basic enough apocalyptic stuff, right?

Except this author was a total ditz. I think she’s from the big city and has no clue about life in suburbia.

One of her characters is an art teacher. Who when the fire alarm goes off, takes the time to find out who the line leader is, lets them slowly line up, and gets outside leaving a child behind. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. Then runs back in going all the way around to the front to get back in. And then she’s praised as a heroine for rescuing the child she left behind!!!!

This same teacher left in the middle of the school day to go to the post office. Yeah, right. I’d LOVE a teaching job where I had enough of a break to be able to do that…aside from the fact you usually can’t leave campus during class hours. But maybe this author lives in the big city where a post office can be very close by…although this story was set in suburbia, meaning a drive to most places. Then when this character gets back from the post office, the office is empty because everyone is in a meeting in the cafeteria. Again, total bullshit. Someone is ALWAYS in the office, or at the very least the front door and office door is locked.

At this assembly, it is announced to the whole school about the Health Department closing the school indefinitely (because of the bird flu). Again, this is not the way a serious matter is handled. Something that important isn’t announced blandly to elementary school kids. (We didn’t even tell our students about 9-11 the day it happened. When there are hurricanes heading our way, automated calls go to the parents and notes are sent home.)

And then what pissed me off enough to close the book was when the woman asked if she liked teaching, and she said to the affect of ‘it’s okay, but it wasn’t doing‘. Fuck you.

The book sat there a day after that. And then I picked it up again, deciding the author just simply didn’t research with actual teachers, and just assumed she knew more than she did. She did appear to have good research about the spread of the flu, so I would try again.

I read a few more chapters. The flu has spread, there are shortages of food and water. But somehow internet and electricity and water are all working just perfectly! What I couldn’t figure out was why the family was so intent on buying bottled water. When the outbreak started happening, the water supply was still fine…start storing up water at home. Nope, they couldn’t do that.

Then a serious winter storm hit with about two feet of snow and the power went out. So they started cooking their meat so it wouldn’t spoil. SERIOUSLY???? You have tons of snow outside, and you couldn’t keep packing the freezer with that? Or hell, even store it outside in the sub-freezing temperatures?

I was done with the book at that point. I hoped they all died in the epidemic so their genes of stupidity wouldn’t be passed on. But dammit, I peeked at the end and the stupid bitch was still alive.

Thank God I didn’t pay for this inanity. Total stupidity. I can’t wait to get this book out of my house and back to the library. That kind of stupidity can be catching, and I don’t want it spreading here at the HoZ. We have enough of our own without adding to it.

So…do you finish a book even if it’s stupid?

…I don’t want anything to do with them. From the same guy who brought you ‘Cows & Cows & Cows’ over at LeeAnn’s.

Crazy…that one word sums up this past week. Crazy fun and crazy scary all at the same time.

And I can’t talk about it yet because of contractual obligations (see four posts back.)

But there’s been some Middle-Aged Mama Squealing going on on top of PN’s. Aii-yi-yi.

But I giggled and laughed and snorted at this picture. Can’t really tell you why, but I did. (Stolen from Andy.)

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I just read an article about the gangs in Chicago wearing certain sports clothing to show gang affiliation.

I kind of laughed. No wonder there’s so much violence in Chicago if the powers-that-be are just now figuring this out! This gang identification has been going on for years and years. Back when I first started teaching in Houston, teachers had to go through ‘gang awareness’ training. This sports-associated clothing was one of the aspects we were taught…the one I remember in particular was for the basketball team at University of Nevada at Las Vegas…UNLV. It was for a black gang, and it stood for ‘Us N…… Love Violence’.

Maybe the person conducting this study was young and has no concept of what happened before he was born…and wanting everyone else to be amazed with ‘his’ discovery. If it’s not on Facebook, then it’s not relevant unless he says it’s relevant.

I don’t know…but I’m just glad I no longer live in a big city. I don’t want to be at risk for wearing my favorite team’s baseball cap…

I could run around the house nekkid right now. Because on this rarest of rare occasions, I have the house to myself! Woot!
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Damn, it’s quiet, too. Weird. I’m not used to this.
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But I could get used to it. Very easily.
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(whispers) NEKKID HOUSE!!!!

….probably not.

But you never know. My daughter just called from New Orleans where she is auditioning for American Idol. And she and her friend were filmed!!! They were right behind Ryan Seacrest!!! And it probably means they’ll be in the opening sequence for New Orleans!!!! Teenage Girl Squeeeeeeeeaaaaaallllll! And her hair was probably just horrible because they’d been standing out in the hot, hot sun!!!!!! But they were filmed right behind Ryan Seacrest!!!!!!! Teenage Girl Squeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaallllllll!!!!! But she wouldn’t be able to stand seeing herself on tv!!!!!!! Teenage Girl Squeeeeeeeaaaaaaallllll!!!!!!

I have a big smile on my face right now for her…sounds like they’re having a great time, no matter the outcome.

And it’s breaking my heart, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

Remember how I mentioned she wanted to audition for American Idol in New Orleans? After I told her I would take her, I started looking at my calendar and at the demands on my time with my obligations and the kids’ activities. Princess No has gotten involved in a community activity that would occupy a lot of time…I told her she would have to make a choice between that and AI. I couldn’t get her to the activity almost daily for several weeks and spend days away from home for AI. The school year is getting ready to start and I have workshops and preparations to perform that are time consuming, on top of everything else a family needs. PN wasn’t happy, but she accepted having to make a choice and stayed with her long-term activity.

Then a family friend stepped forward who is taking her daughter to AI, and offered to act as guardian for PN. It seemed a workable solution…I wouldn’t have to spend extra days away from home, and PN would still get her chance. They would be staying at a friend’s condo in Mississippi, and hop over to NO for the auditions. There’s registration on Saturday, and the actual auditions on Monday.

All this is when Tropical Storm Bonnie will be hitting. Projected to hit the Mississippi/Louisiana area. That whole area is so full of bayous and rivers and creeks and swamps…flooding is a given. And these tropical storms are in many ways worse that a category 1 hurricane. Tropical storms are generally slower moving and dump way more rain…hurricanes at least move through more quickly.

I have a bad feeling. A feeling deep in my gut that I can’t alleviate. At this time, the family friend is still going to AI. But she is unfamiliar with the area and could face flooded streets and who knows what else. I can’t let my daughter go. I would have cancelled if I had still been planning on taking her myself.

I cried telling my daughter she couldn’t go. I know she’s disappointed and mad, but it’s a risk that is not worth taking. I love her, so therefore I can’t let her go to AI.

Maybe she’ll forgive me by the time she’s through college…

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UPDATE
*****************************************

She went. When I first made the decision she couldn’t go, I had just gotten in from a three- and a-half hour drive from New Orleans. At 3:00 AM. And came in, tired as shit, and looked up the storm and really freaked out.

But she went with her friends. They left in the early hours of Saturday morning and got registered with no waiting at all. That gave them this weekend to rest up. Monday is the actual audition day…that could be a long day.

This is wearing me out, and I didn’t even go…

I did a little of both tonight. Okay, a little of the laughing, and more of the crying.

Because I hurt my back. Going to the bathroom.

Stupid movie theater stall. Somehow, in reaching across for the toilet paper (which is down below toilet bowl level…what the hell kind of sense does that make?), I twisted and pulled something in my lower back. This horrendous pain started off on the back of my left hip and shot across my lower back. I couldn’t move.

Oh, God, it hurt. Bad. So bad that I sat there crying, unable to move because of the pain, afraid that I would have to call out to a stranger to help me get up. But then I thought no way in hell that I would let someone see me with my pants down. I managed to somehow finish up, pull up my pants, and limp slowly out of the bathroom. BR, Eraserhead, and Buck were waiting for me. I’m proceeding slowly, alternating between laughing and crying. I mean, how do you tell someone you hurt your back going to the bathroom? BR had this concerned look on his face. I told him I hurt my back…when he asked me if I had fallen, I started laughing and crying again.

I’m sure BR was very confused…I told him what happened, and he looked, well,,,,horrified. I’m sure he was imagining taking me to the doctor and having to explain what happened.

The ride home was an adventure. If I tried to relax, it seemed to put more pressure and therefore more pain on my lower left back. If I tried to straighten up and pull up away from my lower back, the tightness would make it hurt worse. When we got home, I couldn’t even lift my left leg to get out of the truck. BR and Eraserhead wanted me to go to the UrgiCare place…in tears, I agreed. We made it a couple of miles away, while I forcibly concentrated on relaxing my muscles. The pain started to ease up. A little. And I didn’t relish the idea of sitting on uncomfortable chairs for hours for a doctor to say I pulled a muscle…go home and rest.

So we turned around. I could move my legs without triggering an avalanche of pain. Moving around helped some. I took a muscle relaxer and sat on the heating/vibrating chair pad thingee. I can’t sit for too long. I get up and move around and it helps, but then I have to sit again.

But I hurt my back…going to the damn bathroom! It ain’t right. It just ain’t right.

I just found your clips! You can’t be leaving us:

(I did have to laugh at the comments. Apparently someone said that Chuck Norris was jealous of this guy…someone replied that Norris wasn’t jealous because Old Spice is made from his sweat!)