Life this week

As you know we re raising two grandsons. I am here to say it isn't easy. I don't know if it is because we are older now, or if kids are different now. but, whatever it is it sure makes life harder.

Why is it that kids nowadays don't think they have to do the things that are necessary for them to have a good adult life?? Do they really believe that life will just work out no matter what? That sure isn't what we have tried for the last 16 years to instill into them. Something is just not working.

On the 18th my brother died very unexpectedly. He was only 52 years old. He has had medical problems for years, but nothing we thought was this bad. but early in the morning of the 18th he just laid back and stopped. So last week was spent taking care of all that, and trying not to give into this illness. On Saturday night there was a Celebration of Life for him. Of course we went. Even my sister didn't realize until he husband told her that we were sick.

Monday we were really sick!! So sick that my office manager sent me home!! The doctor put me off work for a week!! That has never happened before. So I have been home recovering. I don't know what it was, but it was mean!!! AND... Poor G-pa found another medication he is allergic to. So he is off to the doctor's again.

So there is life in my world this week. Isn't life wonderful???

Donald R. Tangora RIP

This morning at 5:00AM my sister called us. Our baby brother had passed away. This is so unreal as he was the youngest. Only 52 years old. Yes he had health problems, but I would have never thought they had become this bad. Acording to his wife, they were watching TV and he was complaining about being very uncomfortable in the new hospital bed he has just gotten. He got quiet and that was it. He was gone.

Now he is no longer in pain or suffering from anything. Rest In Peace Don.

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Sadness Tonight.

We had the ferrets out and the were going nuts as usual. Bandit was romping and then decided to go under G-pa new rocker recliner. All the sudden he felt that the ferret was pushing the chair. Bandit was. He was trapped and could get free. G-pa went to get up to help and snapped his neck. G-pa is really upset. We found a box for Bandit and the boys went outside together to bury him. We believed that Bandit was the older of the two as he was more calm and content with being held. That is not to say that he couldn't be just as wild and playful as the female.

Missy, the female, is very active. She is hard to keep track of. She thinks my plants are for her to dig in. We have to watch her like a hawk. I am just hoping she doesn't get blue or something like that.

Now we only have 2 dogs, 1 ferret, 2 cockatiels, and 7 finch. We gave another finch to Terri. A real shortage of wildlife around this house. OH, I forgot, 2 boys.

Earlier tonight I finally got me new embroidery software going. I actually made a patch with our school Husky and name on it. Very cool.

OK, that is my Saturday. Wonder what Sunday will bring???file.com / Grapes / Comments

School Levy

This is a heck of a time to have to try and get a school replacement levy passed. But that is what we are trying to do. I am usually not worried about our levies as they pass. But with the economy the way it is, it bothers me. We are not asking for anything new or different, just a continuation of what we have.

If we should not get this approved, it is not going to be pretty. The students are going to lose a lot. The teachers will lose 22 days from their year, half the Para-educators will be laid off. There goes the extra support in the classrooms. Also the Health Techs would be gone, and the office support. That would put the one person in the office to care for the office and the health room. There would not be the Paras to take the disruptive children out of the room anymore. Not to mention the buses would not be getting repaired and or the buildings.

I know it sounds like gloom and doom, but it could happen. People are struggling to keep food on their tables. Too many are getting laid off. So here we are asking for a $1.35 per $1000 of value on their property. What scares me is I can see many thinking it would be a good way to cut out an expense. No, it is going to cause a greater expense if it is not passed. Then we have the State wanting to make big cuts in education. Something is very wrong there. I believe the State constitution says that the State will fund education.

The vote is going to be completely by mail this time. That should be interesting. I wonder how many will not remember to vote, or won't want to waste the stamp.

OK, I'll get off my soap box. My concern is a very real concern as I am a Health Tech in this District. I don't want to lose the job I love. I actually get up in the morning looking forward to going to work. Is that weird or what???

Well we have a long weekend this weekend. Three days to do what has to get done. I wonder if things will get done? Maybe.

Have a good weekend. Hope it is decent weather wherever you are.

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Ramblings

I am so glad that Thursday and Friday we were able to take the students outside to run. On Thursday it was on the blacktop only, and Friday the got the grass play yard back. But, we are still restricted to half our play ground as the roof on our lower gym, used mainly for storage, collapsed. They have been working on it, but we have trucks and workmen down there and it is just not a safe area for the students.

I have been trying to encourage our two guys to get their homework finished and so on. I am talking to a wall. So after getting myself all stressed out and upset, I have gone on strike! Their grades and graduation really is not my problem. Yes, I am here at assist them if they ask for help. But I am done pushing. #2 is skating on thin ice with his school because he really doesn't put forth any effort. The school and I have bent over backwards to try to help and encourage him. If he can give any effort he just doesn't need to be taking up space there. He is in an alternative high school because he could not make it at all in a regular school and had completely shut down. Well it has been two semesters at the alternative school and he is barely doing much. Some but very little. I know the problem, but he needs to try. In middle school he was in the resource room with 100% support. He went up to high school and got 0% support. Yes, I raised all sorts of sand, but by the time I got him out of there, the damage was done. The Special Ed teacher at this high school said she was going to really try to help him. He says he has not seen her?? What gives???

#1 grandson is skating on thin ice too. Only his issue is that he may not graduate on time. There again, this is not my problem. He is the one who has to do the homework and classwork. So, we sit and watch. His high school is bending over backwards to help him too. Can't blame the schools too much on this one...

I just do not understand these two... An education is one of the most valuable things you can have. but it is not important to either of them. What a waste. They both watched me go to college and were at my graduation. They both expressed how exciting it was and how they could wait to walk across to get their diplomas. I wonder if it will ever happen???

Unpredictable weather...

Anyone watching the news will most likely see that we are having a downpour and a half up here!! It has poured for the last 24 hours here. I don't mean showers, I mean really pounding rain. Add to that strong winds. There are now flood warnings all over and some communities have been evacuated.

Last week we had beautiful snow. The skiers were extremely happy as the hills were great. Not so now. The rain is even falling in the mountains. That is causing avalanches right and left. So far we have only heard of one that has killed anyone.

Last time I remember the weather changing this fast, I lived in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, 35 years ago. It was awful. All the snow melts so fast and then people get hurt and or lose everything.It is a mess and so sad. Weather is the one thing we can honestly count on to be undependable!!

We didn't even think about outside recess today. It will most likely be that way most of the week. That makes it hard as the kids all need exercise. They need to get rid of all that built up energy. But it is just to awful out there. Besides we could not possibly change all the kids into dry clothes!!! A few yes, but not over 400.

Well, there in lays my day. Rain rain and more rain. Last night we lost power for a couple hours. That is always nice. Sure hope it doesn't happen again.

You all stay warm and dry. 2009 is off and running.

Hugs all around,