randoms...what else.

on a light note....

comfort food, snacks, all that stuff that has fattened us up over the years should forever be packaged in canisters similar to the pringle can.  for it's a struggle for chubbies to successfully get their hand in & out with out great damage to the goods.  and after failed attempts we tend to give up.


paper gowns at the dr. office should come with their own set of markers.  that way you can be creative while waiting on the dr. to come see you. 

on a bit heavier subject....

I do have many teacher friends and must say they are very good teachers.  some my children have had the privilege of having as an instructor and others who are not in our district therefore unable to teach my kids.  and i married into a family of teachers.  i fully respect all that is expected of them.  i do however feel that in any job (teaching included) review/evaluation/dismissal should be performance based.  now the 64 mil $ question....performance based on what?  i have ideas, regarding this but nothing much more than possibilities.  i do not however see the necessity for a required "heads up" on observing an instructor.  having sat in on several classrooms as an inclusion aide i was often shocked and bothered by the heads up given to the kids when an evaluation would take place and even more bothered by the 180 in what was a typical lesson plan.  : (    as a parent and former school employee i think it sad that a teacher remain employed based on "time" as opposed to effectiveness.  ....i believe i was told by and administrator once that 3 complaints is a pattern...and one the school just can't have continue.  yet there are those still at it who have exceeded 3 ...some multiple times. with all that said...those who do their job...forever encouraging, teaching, inspiring, shouldn't have a care in the world and if it were like jobs i've held they would be duly rewarded financially for their job well done.  !!!


my position on stuff.....

Christian, conservative...(very), not a fan of unions....(at all), open minded enough to respect our differences of opinion.

as for the possibility of a new elementary in our district.....I like a campus concept.  i don't like the effect it will have financially for business owners and farmers, i don't care for the potentially devastating effect it will have on my home town of swayzee (supposedly sweeter elem. has a buyer in liberty baptist and converse town is 'booming' compared to the other two), i don't like that the physical size of the classrooms is slated to be smaller in size yet the number of students is not to decrease & for that matter OH is in recruiting mode to entice new students,  i do like the reduction in principals...or administrators, however wonder if perhaps that's not something that could happen now not only at an elementary level, but at the jr/sr. high level also.  i feel there's a misconception re: tuition kids, allowing the general public to  wrongfully assume that the monies brought in from a tuition student would somehow reduce the debt left to the OH community members.  (that $$ is solely for education/academics not building)  i'm also left to wonder what's gonna change....by that i mean, what's going to guarantee upkeep on the new building?  as past precedent is not maintaining. (evidently)  where will the money needed come from ...as we've obviously not had it in the past.  i don't think NOW when the entire public education system and the dolling out of funds is up in the air, is the time to build and incur more debt for the system and expense for the community.  i don't think NOW is the time with the economy the way it is...what's attractive about choosing to live in the highest taxed system in the county who has a HS on academic probation*?  (*on probation b/c the state has a set standard of improvement required from yr. to yr. to stay off probation.  OH has had great academic success in standardized testing, graduation rates, and attendance and as a result...anything less than perfect in those categories has resulted in a probationary status....this too shall pass...but in the mean time who understands?)

with all that said i am for our children, mine and others.  those who know me know i've been one of THE biggest supporters/fan of the kids at OH.  and those who know me know that i believe in our system.  i'm not a fan of all the "connections" but that's part of a small community.  and those who know me know that i'm all for change!  i'd love to see a woman at the helm.  as i've commented many times before it would appear that a 'good ole boys' club is at work.  (siblings, old school mates, church family, family, etc....)  it leaves one to wonder what (if any) role nepotism plays.

my take on parenting 401 (the teen years)...

situation 1: teen gets busted (again) for drinking with "friends".  teen receives a punishment.  some time passes.....teen announces they're off for the night with "friends" ....drinking ensues....teen gets busted.  punishment ensues.  some time passes teen announces they're off for a night out with "friends"......come on!  really parental unit!!!    i'm all for 2nd chances but not while my head is buried in the sand. 

at some point i have to wonder if perhaps the parent shouldn't be punished as they're being outlasted, outwitted, and outplayed by their teen!  if you're done parenting don't bother w/ the punishments....you look silly.   and in this case ignorance is not bliss!  be aware.


tomorrow my oldest turns 15.  wow!  she's signing up for drivers ed!  looking for work!  and planning her future!  my how time flies.  PTL my 13 yr. old is clinging to his childhood!  regardless of the pressures from his peers.  i'm convinced that's why he avoids "hanging" with the guys!  :)  whatever the reason, I'll take it.  they grow up way too fast!