As in “Peer Relations.”

Had a student transfer from another teacher’s Algebra class to my PreAlgebra class on Monday.  Tuesday I got an I/M from the previous teacher asking me to send him over with his Algebra book because she needs it back.  It was an B day so I didn’t see him, so of course I didn’t send him.  This morning (Wed) there is a note in my box reminding to send him over as soon as I see him.  Then 2nd period, the class I have him, I get an I/M saying;

“Could you send [him] over, I NEED that Algebra book.”

To which I replied “He’s on his way right now. chill.”

I got back “Seriously, you did not actually say that. }=”

That little extra at the end is a scowl.  I got scowled at by a coworker over the I/M.  Banner week.

Now, maybe I’m a little defensive after those notes from the custodian.  Maybe it’s just been a bad week because the kids were uber-hyper because of the impending 5 day weekend (for the students).  Maybe it’s just because I ran out of Diet Coke halfway through the day.  I dunno.

I just know that I’m really happy that it’s a long weekend……

…. I haven’t heard so many people refer to the principal as “this principal” (in a negative tone) in a long time.  Oh there were those that didn’t like her, some that had their ups and downs with her, but none had the smug “I’ve outlasted bad principals before, I’ll outlast this one too” attitude. 

…. It also shocked me when the vice-principal had to send out an apology email for the checklists he sent out, primarily for the new teachers, because some teachers automatically assumed he thought they didn’t know how to do their jobs.

…. Add to that all the negative comments and attitudes, directed towards the principal again, for every new idea she asks us to try – and every new procedure that was mandated by the district that she passes along.

…. But the first feelings of regret at being where I am were in these series of notes from the custodian responsible for my classroom:

…. This one didn’t bother me at all, it’s kind of bossy, but at least it isn’t condescending or talking to me like I was a 9th grader.

…. This one was a little less nice.  It was good that he brought to my attention that the kids were writing on the accordion wall, but the note is more than a little condescending. 

…. This one I couldn’t just shrug off.  I wrote him a little note:

…. I took all the notes to the principal to get a feel for how this would be reacted to.  One of the things I’ve learned is that in a school there are two people you really do not want to piss off – the main secretary and the custodian.  They can make your life a hell of a lot more miserable than even the principal.  So I wanted her input.  Got more than I wanted, she found the notes even more insulting than I did and insisted on talking to the custodian herself. 

…. If I don’t answer the phone in the next week, you may want to have someone check out those new bushes planted at the back of the soccer field.

…. I’m standing at the outside door by my classroom before school this morning.  I’m holding the door open, enjoying the breeze and smell of breakfast in the air.  One of my coworkers walks up from the parking lot and I say to her as I sniff the air:

“Kinda smells like toast out here.”

“Yeah, that’s the crematorium next door, they must be burning bodies today.”

…. Lost my appetite after that.  May not ever be able to enjoy toast again.

…..Got a $5 tip from a guy buying a case of Corona. 

…..He just left it there on the counter and when I called after him “Sir, you left your change.” he says “No, that’s your tip.”

…..Could use more days like that.

…. In 1998 I went to Denver with 4 other teachers from my school for a Mid-Level Conference.  The other math teacher on the jaunt was Ms. T, an older, naive, somewhat conservative lady that for some reason still loved my off-the-wall humor.  (One day at school I rolled her through the halls on her chair, between classes when the halls were full). 

…. We were driving through Denver in our rental car, she had us stopping here and there looking for a Symphony chocolate bar she was craving.  When I saw this adult bookstore I pulled into the parking lot and told her that I was pretty sure that they had some in there.  I don’t remember how I convinced her that it was a convenience store or how I knew they had her candy in there, but she was all ready to head in there asking for a Symphony Bar.  I also have no idea what she would have ended up bringing out, but I just couldn’t let her go in.  We all got a good laugh, and then decided to pose for this picture to give to our principal (who just happens to be my principal again now). 

So, here are 5 teachers standing under the sign for a triple-x book store.  On the left is the Social Studies teacher, then the science teacher, two math teachers and an english teacher. Yup, this principal hired me back despite this picture.

1. Don’t give them cash, be sure to prepay for their gas.  It may take a couple of minutes out of your day, but that way you are sure they are using it for gas.
2. Prepay with a credit or debit card.  If you prepay with cash, they could pump 37 cents and then come in and get the change.  With a credit card if they only pump 37 cents that’s all you get charged and when they go in for the change they’ll be told there isn’t any.  If you are afraid that they will get a receipt with your credit card number on it, look at yours next time you use a card.  It only prints the last 4 digits for a reason – they would have to figure out the other 12 digits from 1,000,000,000,000* different possibilities.

…. I can’t remember whether or not I mentioned it before, but I have new neighbors.  They bought the house next door, moved in about a week ago and have been renovating ever since.  I haven’t met her, but I’ve talked to him a few times now.  They are in their mid-20’s and seem like a really nice couple.  He and I have talked about the things he is doing and plans to do to the house, and it sounds like some great improvements.  Inside won’t matter to me much, but he wants to get rid of the white vinyl siding (he thinks it’s too boring) and change it to a rust colored siding with wood trim, a rustic style. The picture he showed me looks kind of like in this one, but without the green and the rock.  It should be a lot nicer to look at out my window than the blinding white, not so well fitting, vinyl.

 …. Anyhoo, he’s storing a truck for his sister and asked me if I owned the property behind my garage.  When I told him that I did, he wanted to know if it was ok to park the truck back there for a while.  …. I told him that since I won’t be starting any projects back there until at least next summer, that it wouldn’t be  a problem until then.  He said thanks and then asked me if I liked Fuze, since he is the regional distributor for them in this area.  I really like the sugar-free flavors, I buy tons of them whenever they are on sale, so he goes “Well, there are 5 flavors of the sugar free, I could give you a case of each - - - every month.”  So today he looks over the fence, just like Wilson on Home Improvement, and says he’s got some Fuze for me, and just starts piling cases on the fence ledge for me.  You can see it all in the picture there, including a case of NOS and NOS shots (their energy drink).  When I told my friend Adele about this she said “You could fall in a pile of horse shit and come out holding 2 dozen roses.”  I don’t think I’m that lucky, but every time I get a little down I remind myself I really do not have anything to bitch about.

…. Even without the freebies, I think the new neighbors are going to work out well.  (Sorry Writer, I know misery loves company, but I’m still glad I didn’t get my own “The Blob” next door.)

…. About a week ago, we’re working in 1st period and one kid way in the back raises his hand to ask me “So, do you still like Ms. P?” (The history teacher from the high school that the kids always accused me of flirting with). I was a little dumbfounded, and it took me a second or two to figure to ask “How do you know about Ms. P?” Seems he hung around the 9th grader I mentioned last year that worked 30 hours a week to help pay the rent. So this kid had actually been to the high school and been in Ms. P’s room and seen me “flirting” with her.

…. Then today a different 8th grader tells me he got bumped “down there” and had to go check to see if he was bleeding. I’m thinking, that’s one heel of a bump!” I made the mistake of making a comment to that effect, and got an explanation regarding just having a hernia operation. Which was ok, except when he described the doctor’s visit and how he screamed when she pushed on it and he felt “it pop into my testicle.” Yeah, thanks.

…. Now for the pictures (of the camping vacation, not the hernia!)

The campground at night. that’s my nephew looking all ghostly at the bottom of the picture.

The moon in the clouds at night.

The stars above my camper. Without the city’s light pollution, you can see millions of them.

Looking out over the valley from the cabin.

Looking out over “Rossi Draw” from one hill top to the other hilltop on our property.

Old wagon train meets new(er) Ford pickup. that’s my little brother’s pickup with his truck tent set up. It’s pretty cool, I had possession of it for a while when I had a pickup and he didn’t. Very comfortable and even I could stand up in the middle of it.

The view from inside the cabin.

The cabin itself.

…. To see all the pictures I took, click HERE. To see all the pictures my niece(s) took, click HERE.