Standardized testing fulfills no educational purpose or value whatsoever. It's only use is to suck money from education into the pockets of the companies that produce and score the tests.

Congrats on the raise! How often do you get paid? I get paid once a month. I think you get paid more often.

Can you carpool or take any kind of public transportation? Because that raise may be swallowed by rising gas prices. Make no mistake. They will only go up. If you're not keeping track of every penny you spend on school, start doing it NOW. It will increase your income tax refund. I can't believe how much money I spend on instructional supplies.

I only hope I can get my house clean and organized before you get here.( Yes, I realize it could be years.) BTW there's a Highlander convention in April in Los Angeles. I'm driving up. (we could be roomies) So far: Adrian, Elizabeth, David A. and Valentine have confirmed.

I'm checking my dishwasher for leaks tomorrow. The adapter arrived and I finally managed to struggle it on. Now I'm trimming out the opening. I installed the shelf in the hot water heater closet and my pots are already in there. I still have to pull all of the other stuff out of the other cabinets, put in new shelf paper, and then reorganize. Also repair and trim out the shelf over the stove. Then paint everything. I ordered beautiful new cobalt glass pulls for the cabinets.

I still have to repair the driveway too. I guess I could finish before school starts.

I report next Wed. I still don't know where. But I did apply for a job as a Literacy Resource Teacher working out of the district office. If I get it, I'll be going to low performing schools to do staff development. I'll use more gas, but I won't have to take roll or do grades.

My dog is sure going to miss me being home all day, every day.