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May. 21st, 2012 @ 07:09 am priorities
What does it say about me that I didn't leave the house to check on the annular eclipse-- I have never actually seen a solar eclipse of any kind-- but I gave serious thought to getting out of bed and seeing if I was right that an owl killed something in the front yard?

Lots of hooting, then some squeaky-toy noises with hubbub in the background. That, to me, says a very non-stealthy owl vs a rabbit. Or at least a very non-stealthy owl.
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May. 16th, 2012 @ 05:37 pm booklog, early May
( Late because I really loved one of the books on here and eventually gave up on conveying that. )
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May. 12th, 2012 @ 05:29 pm blood and other things
Gave blood Tuesday. Nothing special save that it was a triple platelet donation and, since I didn't bring a book and the magazine pile let me down-- I would much rather have National Geographics or Smithsonians than hobby magazines or Us-- I got to sort of nap and confirm that yes, it is me getting cold that causes problems. When I stuck one hand out from under my blankets to drink milk and eat string cheese, I started beeping a lot. Well, my machine did. I mostly ate the disappointing string cheese as quickly as I could so I could warm up.

Unfortunately, at about ten this morning, my head filled with fuzz. I think I'm getting a cold. I'm certainly getting a something. This is within the period they want me to call for, so it's likely that no one will get to use my blood.

In other news, three Alphans did a reading here yesterday. I drove to Grinnell and back twice. It's a much better drive when the car is filled with Alphans.

Now I am going to have a very quick nap before the graduation barbecue starts.
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May. 4th, 2012 @ 04:22 pm random
As soon as I get up from the computer, I have to do things. Buy food and dirt. Shopvac the basement. Catbox.

We were down two kids today-- I have a long-term job, a week at least, at a preschool. The two kids who were out today are the babies. They're both old enough to be in preschool, but treating them like infants is not inappropriate most of the time. Their absence was good because I was not the only sub and also the one I put down for a nap just doesn't sleep for me. Yesterday, my legs stiffened up every time I sat for more than ten minutes. It's all the swaying with a kid in my arms trying to soothe.

I am so glad it's Friday. Just made a blood appointment for Tuesday, have plans for Saturday, but today is Friday and while I have all the things to do I can do them in flip-flops.

Eighteen days left in this school year. That means I can make approximately twelve hundred dollars. I'm looking up kibblejobs since grading may never actually happen. With luck, somewhere else will hire me. Actual jobsearching hasn't been happening lately-- three jobs last night but nothing else since mid-March-- so I have to get back on that terrible terrible horse.

Wiscon! Wiscon Wiscon Wiscon. My parents' birthday money is paying for this-- I became an ungrateful child when I got their card because I had mentioned maybe a HyVee gift card and instead Mom was telling me to buy a Kindle, and would it have been better if she'd just bought me one? No, I would rather have groceries. This resentment is not appropriate or proper, and I knew it at the time, but it doesn't stop me from feeling it. But I have made it okay: birthday money goes to Wiscon. It's a thing I was spending money on anyway, and it's a luxury. That makes it right for birthday money.

Grading, will you please just happen? I had so much more money last year. Seriously.

Anyway, Wiscon: I have panels, I have things I want to go to, I have plans to meet with all the people, and who knows, I may be taken in a fit and buy the gorgeous watercolor-wash map art I have coveted for years. We'll find out.

Now I have rested my poor preschool feet, and it is time to buy food and dirt. Shopvac to follow. Go me.
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May. 4th, 2012 @ 07:23 am rain rain rain
I have to recalibrate myself from 'pouring down rain, whoo!' to 'pouring down rain, better ready the basement'. This afternoon, I shall shopvac. I also left my seedlings in their bin outside, which turned out to be a mistake-- I didn't know it would rain, then forgot they were out there. Poor peppers, all soaky and drowned. Also on today's to-do list is going to Paul's because I think that's my best bet for cheap dirt. Then I plant.

And shopvac. At least I won't have to water the carrot bed.
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May. 1st, 2012 @ 10:02 pm booklog, late April
( Yup. )
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Apr. 29th, 2012 @ 03:47 pm a wonderful birthday
I am now twenty-eight. This is older than I expected to be and still be me, if that makes sense. I still assume people a bit older than I am are twenty-six. I had Friday off, which was amazing; I spent the entire day in pajamas and slept in until nearly noon. I didn't manage to feed myself appropriately-- a quart of chocolate milk and ramen, not really enough for a day-- but I made up for it Saturday, my actual birthday. Baby Sister called me at 12:05 to sing to me, and Facebook posts started coming in around then. After Knitter's Breakfast, Angela and Kats took me out for sushi; they split my check, which was amazingly kind of them, and it meant that I could get ALL THE SUSHI. Later that evening, I went to the boy's for bacon and pierogies. He also bought dessert: a Village Inn truffle pie. I really didn't expect that, as I didn't expect the lunch or the many well-wishing posts. Last year, I made my birthday into a big deal. I had coworkers, I had first-graders, and I had plans to make it amazing. This year, I expected everything to be much lower-key, but it was a wonderful day. I have the best friends.
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Apr. 23rd, 2012 @ 05:55 pm tired
I have Friday off.

I need this. I'm tired. I just threw a bunch of words at Angela that I didn't know I had in me, and I am tired. I thought it would be good to be out of elementary schools for a bit, and I've had a couple days of junior high and high school... in the more hardcore rooms. In today's case, with the most hardcore disable kiddo I've been left alone with.

This is not easier than primary autism.

So, Universe, I have jobs lined up for Tuesday and Wednesday, and they're preschool. Here's your job: Thursday, I get City High resource. I get to go to actual academic classes with students who are working hard to get through them. I get a break for a period because they schedule that, and I'll do a crosswork and then help with the students in the room. I get to eat lunch with the other teachers of resource. I get to talk to students who can not only talk back but do so about a range of topics. I get to feel like my academic skills are useful.

There are fewer than thirty days left in the school year. If I think of that, I can handle all the adaptive music and work classes I need to, all the diapers and screaming and bruises and people asking me if I've considered a permanent job and too-small chairs and shredders. But I don't want to stay there.

I want City High resource. Get that for me, Universe.
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Apr. 16th, 2012 @ 11:03 pm books, early April
I have been an absolute crankypants for more than a week. Every Monday, I think this will be a better week, and every Monday, it is not. Lots of little things have gone wrong, lots of stress for everyone, not just me. And after a while, text stopped being soothing. Instead, I played a shit-ton of Terraria.

( But the books! )
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Apr. 9th, 2012 @ 07:20 am Okay, maybe the new week starts tomorrow.
Did not sleep well. Barely slept at all, in fact. But new week, and if it's bad today I will make it better tomorrow.
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