Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Wednesday????

I am not the only one who was heard to say, "Whaddaya mean, it's only Wednesday???" today.  I heard it from my Cheerful Teaching Assistants.  I heard it from another teacher while we were outside and on recess duty.  I heard a kid say it.  

But it is true.  It is only Wednesday.  How three days can feel like three months, I know not.  But Wednesday it is.  If nothing else, it is the day of the Wednesday Night Bullet Post.  That's something to celebrate....

*Dunno if I've ever mentioned what my daily schedule is like.  It's not that of the regular sort of teacher.  My caseload is rugged and I teach in a building that houses two schools.  Hence, I start my day at 7:10 when the first kiddies arrive.  I stay with them for the morning breakfast interlude.  I teach them some stuff.  The ones that can make it to "specials" like art or music, go to those classes.  The ones that can't stay with me.  I have a lunch period in my classroom for the students who can't eat with their peers.  I cover the recess duties.  I teach some more stuff.  At 2:30, the last of the 6th graders leave.  But the 5th graders are still there because they are part of the "other" school so I keep teaching.  At 3:00, I put my foot down and close the doors to the classroom so I can leave by 3:15 and not be in violation of my contract.  That amounts to about 8 hours on the job without breaks of any kind, assuming that nothing goes horribly wrong and I have to stay until the last 5th grade bus departs.  I do this for five days and then I sleep for two.

*I am so very ready for spring break.  I do not feel badly about getting a spring break.  I feel like I would crack into a million, tiny, screaming pieces without it.  Spring break is a very, very good thing.

*Fortunately, I have students who are really interesting and have a keen understanding of irony.  They know that my schedule is kind of crazy and really do try to keep me entertained when they see me starting to fray about the edges.  

*They do not, however, have any interest in learning to knit.  This means that I am anxiously anticipating my week of vacation so I can loll about the house with the needles.  

*I also plan to go loll about publicly with the needles.  Chicks With Sticks is calling...

*The thing that is keeping me going right now is playing the "This Time Next Week..." game.  I have all sorts of thoughts about what I will be doing "this time next week."

*One of them is fixing the Internet.  I cannot live much longer without a consistent connection to the outside world.  I think I will be throwing money at this problem.  I can live with that.

*I cannot live without the Internet.  I admit it.  I am addicted.  I needs me that sweet, sweet wireless...

*I have run out of kitty treats.  I thought I had more.  I may not survive until next week's vacation.  The Big, Fluffy Kitty has been staring at me with The Killing Eye.  It is a little disconcerting.

*But not nearly as awful as the look of disappointment that she throws my way every time I come back from the kitchen without having scattered some of the crunchy goodness all over the floor.  That is the sort of thing that makes a mother hang her head in shame.

*If you need me tomorrow, I'll be at the Greenie's Store.  To most people that is known as the Pet Store.  But we call it the Greenie's Store.

*We were calling it the G-spot for a while, but that just came off kind of "unseemly."  

*I'm hoping to finish carding up some shetland next week.  I have me a need for some shetland.

*It is supposed to be sixty-five degrees tomorrow.  I am not ready for this.  I have naught but turtlenecks in the way of clean clothes.  I really need to go look for something more Spring-like.  

*It is not supposed to be that warm during my spring break, but I don't care.  I still have turtlenecks I can wear.  Or pajamas.  I may wear those for a week.  

*Except when I go knit publicly.  By Tuesday night, I anticipate that my jammies will be a little less than presentable.  They will probably be covered in chocolate and pizza sauce.  And I have a hard time driving in slippers.  I will have to wear shoes.


Tomorrow is Thursday and we can officially say that the end of this week is close.  Then it will be Friday, the day that I can eat peanut butter cups for lunch.  And I had the foresight to reserve one of the DVD players in the library so I have a little incentive for the students to keep it together for another day and a half.  There can sometimes be bitter battles over the limited video equipment on the Friday before a vacation, but I won this round.  Thankfully, I had the strength to stand my ground back on Monday.  

I do believe I'm gonna make it!

SA

12 comments:

Cursing Mama said...

What movie will be playing on Friday while a certain Sheepie is busy sneaking peanutbutter cups from the kiddies?

sheep#100 said...

Tomorrow is Friday at Neatnik's school. It is Thursday for the entire rest of the world but for the students and their parents, it is Friday because the teachers have an in-service on the next day, Part-of-the-Weekend-not-Friday. We are looking forward to this lovely thing known to the Western Hemisphere as a Three-Day-Weekend!!

Hang in there Sheepie.

Anonymous said...

If I were you, I'd spend the entire week in Jammies! I am taking a mini spring break myself; I'm taking vacation time on Friday and Tuesday and of course Monday is a holiday. I'm not working at the gym on Sunday, so that's FIVE whole days off. I feel kinda like a teacher :-)

Kath said...

Good lord - with that schedule I'd crack. Do you get pee breaks? Oh and by the way - you are so underpaid. Seriously.

Perhaps the members of your local Board of Education should each take a turn at your job for a day? That could be interesting!

Knitting Linguist said...

There's a lot of jonesin' goin' on Chez Sheep, I see. But I totally understand the Spring Break Jones! I have no idea how you do it, but you have my undying admiration. Two more days... two more days...

Leigh said...

I do believe you're gonna make it too!

Anonymous said...

The "This Time Next Week" game is one I play quite a bit! It's very helpful when I'm dreading something. :)

yarnslinger said...

I'm planning on being at chicks this Tuesday night as well - it will be good to meet you - those chicks been tellin' stories about you!!
And I might be able to help you out with the wireless woes as well...

Mia said...

Sorry to laugh at your misery sheepie, but that line about The Killing Look cracked me up *grin*

And hey, look! It's already Thursday!!

Donna Lee said...

Wednesday is my favorite day next to Friday. It's the day after the med clinics and before all the paperwork for next week's med clinics. It's the day when I can draw breath and relax (well as much as one can at work). If I could get away with knitting at my desk, Wednesday would be the day. I hope your spring break is restful and internet-ful. Though, if you don't get some treats for BFK, I don't see that restful thing happening.

April said...

The G-Spot.

*Snort*

Yarnhog said...

You are SO entitled to a spring break. I volunteer at my kids' school a few hours a week, and I always get home ready to sleep for two days. I can't imagine how teachers manage to do it all day, every day--especially the ones who go home to their own kids at the end of the day, or the ones like you who (I'm guessing) have the kids who are harder to teach.

I love teachers. When I am emperor, they will all have salaries like professional athletes and work schedules like members of Congress.