Tracy is now a Momma

I'm now at school.

I talked to Jay in the hallway. He told me Tracy had a little boy. He came a little early, but not so early as to make it worrisome. This is just great as she will now be able to come to graduation--which I know she would hate to miss.

I didn't bring my laptop to school today--mainly because I am hoping to be allowed to leave at noon so I can take care of the whole broken dryer/laundry issue. Because of the dryer issues, I am forced to wear these damned underpants that do not fit properly. They are the right size--they are just some weird cut that makes them simultaneously ride up in an attempt to invade my body from the rear and slide down in the the front. I think they are supposed to be some kind of "hip-hugger" underwear. Duh. Hip-hugger things do not work for someone with a body type like mine.

Ah well. I can endure it.

Since it is Monday, we will be having our faculty "stand-up" meeting in which we go around the circle and tell what's up in our lives and what's going on in our classrooms this week.

This is the last Monday of the year. This is the last full week of the year. All the rags and tags and odds and ends have to get tied up this week as next week is basically graduation and school picnic outing.

My knee is out of whack again. It isn't out of whack to the extent that I cannot put any weight on it at all--as it has been in the recent past--but it feels like it is partially locked up, so it hurts when I walk. I need to go see the chiropractor.

I need a full body tune-up.

I also need to get my car into the shop for an oil change--and make an appointment with the dentist--and call the eye doctor for an appointment with her. Sigh. It never ends.

Not much else is up.

I have a bunch of papers that I did not get corrected last week that I have to make a concerted effort to finish up this week. Maybe I will take them home with me to correct at the laundromat, where I will probably end up to dry all my laundry.

Sigh.

The thought of hauling all that shit up from the basement and loading it in the car to take to Kasson and hauling it into the freaking laundromat makes me want to PUKE.

But, I have to have clothing. And I can't let all those clothes sit in the basement wet--they'll mildew and be wrecked.

I wish I could afford a brand new dryer. I bought the one I have now back in about 1987.

Well, the meeting starts very shortly, so I better get my ass in gear.

La.

Yay! Steve is my HERO!

My friend Steve has to run a few errands, and he has graciously offered to take my broken dryer belt to appliance village and see if they have it in stock. If they do, I can go home and have Jim fix the dryer and get all that damnable laundry dried.

In the midst of that last sentence, Steve called me from his cell phone--THEY HAD THE BELT IN STOCK!!! The relief that has just washed through me is palpable.

I think I will give James a call and see if he will be be able to fix it this afternoon. I also need to ask Jay if it is okay for me to go home so I can take care of all that mess.

ARG.

My knee hurts so much that I may call Laurie Cole and see if she can work me in this afternoon. I can feel an unnatural dip in my knee where I KNOW something is out of place.

GRR.

Well, back to class.

(It's break and the kids are all out having cigarettes.)

Serious Questions to Facilitate Contemplation and Self Knowledge...

Re: a bit of communication with Nate (AKA "Rained Out Life"), I have thought about and even done a little research on some Questions that will make people think and Facilitate a little Personal Growth. Anyone who wants to may feel free to use them.

1. What exactly does happiness mean to you? What do you need to be happy--materially, physiologically, emotionally, or spiritually? (If it is more relevant, substitute the word "contentment" or "satisfaction" for happiness.)


2. What is your highest priorities for your life?

3. Do you feel you are making progress toward these priorities? How? If not, what is standing in your way? What do you have to do or change (or stop doing) to begin to make some progress?

4. What are some things that really irritate you? How do you respond to those irritations? WHY do these things irritate you?

5. There is an event (or series of events) in your life that has placed a difficult roadblock to your goals and/or happiness. What is it? Why does it still exert a hold on you? What can you do to "unblock" yourself?

6. If you were taken from your current life and dropped all alone into a completely unfamiliar environment with nothing but the clothes on your back and $2,000 in cash, and NO POSSIBILITY of returning to your current life--how would you go about making a new and satisfying life for yourself? What would be the most difficult thing involved in this process. What would be the most exciting aspect of this situation?

7. What kind of friend are you? Do you consider yourself a good friend? What are your best attributes as a friend? What areas are you less than stellar in as a friend to others?

Think hard and have fun.

I will post my own answers later.

Let me know if these are good questions.