February Already?

Can't believe it's been well over a month since my last post. Looking at my header I suppose I should have changed it to a Valentine's theme - however, it is still cold and snowy outside so I'll keep it as is!

2010 is starting off a little rough. Bill still isn't working regularly - however things appear to be starting to turn around-keeping our fingers crossed. After going for blood work I found out that I am glucose intolerant or pre-diabetic. With some hard work and life style changes I am determined to reverse it. Counting carbs and excerise is extremely important and since the day we walked out of the doctor's office Bill and I have walked AT LEAST 1.5 miles everyday (no matter the weather conditions!). I've been keeping a food journal to help determine how well we are doing on carb intake. I started testing my glucose levels twice a day to help determine if all our efforts are paying off. Each reading has shown either in the Target range or below - which means things are going very well.




The school district is offering free blood work on February 22nd and I'm anxious to see how much of an improvment I will see on my A1C test and fasting glucose level. (A1C is the blood work that determines how much sugar has been present in your blood levels for the past 2-3 months. Normal readings should be 6 and under. My levels was 7 which indicates higher than normal levels were present for October/November/December. Bill has been very supportive and has decided to change his lifestyle and eating habits which helps immensely!

Today Ryan turned 15~ can hardly believe it! He just brought home the information for Driver's Ed.! YIKES! He also made the honor roll for the first quarter of Freshman year! WAY TO GO RYAN!!

Check back again for another update........Lisa

CHRISTMAS LEFT OVERS!

Well, Santa made it through the ice and snow to deliver Ryan's gifts! Here is a before picture:

And here is the after photo! If you look closely you'll see many Transformers. Ryan is still a big Transformer fanatic. (This picture also has some gifts that belong to Bill and myself.) Over all Christmas was a complete success. Keep in mind, these are only the "Santa Gifts"!

We then headed over to my brother's house where Ryan received more gifts! The boys were extremely surprised by their final gift that suddenly appeared out of nowhere! A Wii Gaming system from Grandma.

The weather has been very "wintery" lately. Ryan has been making a small fortune this winter with his "new business" of shoveling!

Along with the snow it's been very icy. Everything has been covered in ice, making it difficult to get out and about. Thankfully we haven't had to travel too far!

Bill continues to be "off" work. This week he is painting my brother's house which gets him out of the house! We keep hoping that things will turn around very soon! Anyone looking for a good painter????

It's hard to believe winter break is 1/2 over.........one week from today were back to the old "school routine" again! UGH!

LONG TIME - NO POST again...

WOW! I guess it's been close to 2 months since my last update. . . . School is back in full swing - as a matter of fact we are almost done with the first quarter! Ryan only has two more football games and then the season is over. Since the school is not official in a conference due to the fact there is not varsity team this year - they will not be able to go onto the play-offs. They have only lost one game (so far) - so it would have been interesting to see just how far they would go! I became the "official" photographer for the team - the coach has posted hundreds of my photos on the teams official website. Ryan continues to do very well in his Freshman year. His grades are amazing and we are hoping he will continue working hard. **with much encouragement**. Since Metea Valley is a brand new school and doesn't have a varsity football team, there was not official homecoming. However, there was a fall dance. Ryan went with a group of his friends and seemed to have a good time. His tie was a big hit with his teammates! I designed it and had it made with the school mascot design printed on it!

Like last year, I am in second grade. I have a very high needs student and another with ADHD. Things are going well and I'm enjoying the second grade curriculum again.

Last week Ryan was diagnosed as positive for H1N1 (90% positive). Thankfully, he was treated quickly and the symptoms were under control within a few days. Although I know several people who have had the swine flu, it was still an uneasy feeling to be told your child has it! Especially since a freshman from a neighboring high school died that same day due to complications from the H1N1 virus. Although he still is not at 100%, he returned to school after the long three day weekend and has been participating in football practice all week.

Bill has been working on and off - hoping things pick up again really soon! I've been teaching a kickball enrichment class with my friend after school on Wednesday's - the PTA pays very well! I've started Christmas shopping because it will be here before you know it!

Hoping to update again soon -

Lisa

So Long GOGO - Hello Summer!

It's official, my final day at GOGO was on June 26th. You think with all this extra time on my hands I would have posted sooner! You think after almost 27 years of working there I would have been sad.....but I wasn't - actually I was quite relieved. Ever since Flight Center bought our company a year and 1/2 ago things continuously changed - and always for the benefit of the stock holders and not the employees. Everything from the 401K employee match benefit, to the paid time off policy, to less insurance coverage for a higher premium, a new computer system with no training, and 2 days prior to my departure and entire new phone system allowing phone calls to be monitored and impossible to receive an incoming personal phone calls, and the topper was the announcement of a downsizing our office space which requires a move to another office building. The day prior to my final day they emailed over my separation package documents. I found an error on my accrued vacation time - by 2 weeks! We were able to keep 2 years of vacation time (which should have totaled 8 weeks.) However, each month they kept banking more hours into my benefits package so I had a total of 10 weeks..........they agreed to pay the entire 10 weeks! In addition I received a very generous total of 35 weeks gross pay. Net pay is close to a full year - as insurance and 401K will not be deducted. In addition, I qualified for the stimulus COBRA insurance which will only be 100.00 more than I was currently paying and I qualified for unemployment. My insurance through the school district kicks in September 1st - so since August payment for COBRA isn't due until August 30th - I most likely will only need to pay one month of the COBRA rate. Things worked out so well, I definitely made the right decision on not taking another position and leaving on the terms of position elimination! No regrets at all! However, I do feel sorry for the few employees that remain - most told me to put on my running shoes and keep running and not to look back. I have kept in touch with a few coworkers and they are miserable. I have actually been doing some "side work" at home for the team leader for some extra money. I've been asked to come in for a few hours next week to work some reports for a little extra cash also.

Summer is flying by - as you can see from the countdown clock above the posts showing how many more days until school starts up again. Ryan has been in football camp along with strength and speed training all summer long. It starts very early in the morning, so we've been getting up earlier than we had to when school was in.

I took Ryan and one of his friends to Raging Waves in Yorkville. I have free passes and thought we'd take advantage of them. It turned out to be a great time - they had a lot of fun.






Tomorrow Bill is off and we are planning another water park visit - we were thinking Great America but we aren't up for the long ride.

This past week I've been doing a lot of running around, renewing drivers license, getting service done on the car, luncheon with a friend, bike ride, cleaning windows, deep cleaning, and I purchased a Netbook. It only weighs 2 lbs and I got a pink snap on cover - it's a fun new toy - and the best part is it was 1/2 off at my favorite store - TARGET!!!!


Hope to post again soon - - Lisa

FOURTH QUARTER ALREADY?

It's already the end of April and were in the final quarter of the school year......and in about 6 weeks Ryan will be officially a HIGH SCHOOLER! Although our school district does not have a graduation ceremony for 8th grade, they do have a "celebration" of sorts. Ryan's will take place on June 5th.

Since my last post, Ryan has joined the Track and Field team. His "specialties" are the 100 yard dash, discus and shot put, as you can see from the above photo. We also just enrolled him into the summer football camp for his new high school.

Speaking of school, this time of the year is so chaotic! We have so many projects going on and will be entertaining the parents with poetry this up coming week. We have also compiled recipes for a cookbook we will be using as a Mother's Day gift. On top of the regular curriculum and our field trip to Naper Settlement, I've been working into the wee hours of the morning to make these projects "extra special" !

Training has begun at GOGO for our new system. Unfortunately, it takes place in New Jersey. Once again, I have told them I WILL NOT TRAVEL. Apparently, this "new" company feels that everyone enjoys to travel and your job should be your first priority.....NOT.... I have mentioned several times my family and teaching position takes priority, and traveling is not an option. My "work-life" ends at 7:00pm and no amount of money will interfere with MY time.

My evaluation from the school should be within the next 2 weeks. (the union contract states it has to be done prior to May 8th) At which time I will mention to the principal the possibility of returning there full time in the fall - in order to receive the union benefits . I am hoping by mid -summer that I will know my options with GOGO and make a decision base on what is going on at that time. After turning down several offers of Future Team Leader, Area Accountant, ticketing agent and most recently Sales Consultant - I'm not quite sure what would be left! Then we have uncertainty with the school district as there will be budget cuts , due to the fact that Illinois is the state with the least funding for schools and is 3 months/15 million dollars behind in payment to the district! The superintendent is trying to change the special education program AND our union contract is up at the end of this school year and in the bargaining stages right now. So, I'm trying to be patient......because good things come to those who WAIT!!!!

Here's Ryan's Easter "basket" from this year -
We also just celebrated my Mom's birthday!




Hope to update soon!

Lisa

HAPPY MARCH!

Well, it's been quite some time since my last update.........actually over 2 months. Since my last post Christmas has past, Ryan turned 14, Bill has had some "unplanned" time off, we purchased a new washer and dryer, and a new car.

Bill is finally back to work full time - and we hope the trend continues. In the past, he may have had a day or two off here and there, put unfortunately he was off for 3 weeks. With that in mind, my afternoon job isn't look very stable at this time either. Offices have been closing, reduction in staff continues on a weekly basis, and our new computer system is scheduled to begin in May, which will eliminate most of my responsibilites. YIKES!! After 27 years with the company, I have mixed emotions about leaving. I'm hoping if it comes down to leaving, I can go full time to the school to qualify for the health insurance.

Health insurance is a big issue, as over the past couple months we've had a few urgent care visits and can only imagine the out of pocket cost! Currently, the doctor believes I have pinched nerves in both feet and may need several more visits to help relieve the pain. I'm just getting over bronchitis, Bill had to go to the doctor because an infection was going through his body making it difficult to move his arm. Ryan had to go do to some personal issues, and after falling in the parking lot of work, the numerous X-Rays of my skull that followed sure would have been a HUGE expense.

Ryan still made out like a bandit at Christmas:

Keeping with our tradition received his yearly ornament(s) in honor of what he was interested in or accomplished for that year:

wrestling:

and being class co-treasurer:

Ryan turned 14 - believe it or not! (All of the sudden his pants are WAY TO SHORT!!)

Here is our new washer and dryer - the older ones we getting way too noisy and couldn't stand listening to them anymore: nothing fancy - just plain white Whirlpools!

AND FINALLY - my new car. Of course, a GRAND PRIX. My fourth in a row - It's a year old and hope to have good luck with it!!! We were putting way too much money into the silver one.

Sure hope to update again really soon - keeping up the school blogs and slide shows seems to take priority of my personal blog!

SNOW DAY!!

~Let it snow....Let it snow....Let it snow~

The day before Winter break we end up with a SNOW DAY!!! I told Ryan he's going to wish we had this day on the first day back instead of today! I am so glad I was thinking ahead and brought the 37 Christmas gifts I had under the tree for students, faculty and staff. Otherwise I would have had to store everything for over two weeks! Ryan decided to experience a day at work with Mom! He got to see how long the day can be at the office!

This past week has been a trying one! First I was rear ended while Christmas shopping, my check engine light has come on, I fell on the back of my head on the icy parking lot at work and ended up getting many X-rays of my skull - which is still extremely sore! It's causing me headaches and periods of nausea along with times of "confusion". A few people have told me that I've been repeating myself within an hour or two. The doctor explained that I hit my head so hard that it caused my brain to move in my head and I'm experiencing these symptoms because of it. It's been 3 days now and the second day was worse than the first......hopefully soon I will start feeling "normal".

At GOGO our area leader flew in under the impression I would except a position as "area accountant". This would require lots of travel throughout the United States! Not too sure what she was thinking after I've already turned her down as future team leader and to train in New Jersey since "I DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL OR WORK FULL TIME" there. The position I hold is being "restructured" and they keep giving me other duties with other offices to insure I will continue to work there. After turning down the area accountant position I explained that I had an opportunity to go full time with the school in insure I would have benefits. They keep telling me I'm a valued employee and they will fight tooth and nail to keep my there......what ever happens - happens.

For the holidays I will be off on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.....it will be a nice break, as I haven't had that many days off ever!!!!!

Ryan's been doing well with wrestling. I was able to go to my first meet on Wednesday. I arrived while the other team was practicing and wasn't sure how I would handle seeing my son's limps, head and body tortured! What an awful sport!





Hope to post again real soon - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! ~Lisa

Where Has The Time Gone?

WOW! It's hard to believe my last post was in JULY!!! So much has gone on since then. Of course, school has started for both Ryan and I. AGAIN, Ryan was chosen as STAR STUDENT for the first week of school out of over 150 kids on his "team". I was placed in Second Grade, which is one of my favorite grades. (First and Second tend to be my favorites!) I'm with a teacher I worked with for my first two years at Brookdale. She changed from Kindergarten to Second Grade several years back - so it's nice to work with someone I know so well. Unfortunately, the only slotted on classroom for supported education students, thinking there were only 3 children qualifying. Two more students moved in that have IEP's so they were placed into my care! YES, 5 students (2 with autisim and 3 with learning disabilities). In addition we have 3 low students one with behavorial issues that require constant monitoring. I feel like an octopus at times - but since I was with two of the students last year I know them well enough to know their abilitities. It's the new students that I need to get to know better. They have been sending someone in to assist for about 1/2 hour during literacy since two of the children do not know the first grade sight words. I have been helping the teacher keep up our classroom blog. Visit us at http.//sandersscoops.blogspot.com to keep up on all our adventures.

In addition to this classroom blog - you will see at the right side of this blog under portfolio - I have designed around 20 blogs for teachers and the office. I've set up almost all of them and created a header and layout for all. Check them out - I even have teachers contacting me from other schools!

Ryan joined football again this year. He made starter for special teams and is very excited. He chose to keep his same number from last year (THE BIG 49!). He mentioned that the jersey felt a little tighter this year!! He has a big game at the high school football field on Wednesday against their rivals - so he's been practicing and reading his play book to prepare. He spent the night at grandma and grandpa's last night; so I decorated his bedroom door to surprise him when he gets home tonight. Yes, it's 3 dimensional! GO TRAILBLAZERS!!!

Among everything else, it was my birthday at the end of August. We celebrated at Hugo's Frog Bar in downtown Naperville. I received many generous gifts from family and friends and a message on my answering machine reminding me of how old I am!! Thanks Jacob!!!!

I hope to update MY personal blog more often - or at least as much as I update the office blog and the school blogs!!!

Until then.................

Summer's Flying By

It's hard to believe that 1/2 of the summer is already gone. This past week Ryan and I visited Cantigny. I wasn't sure what to expect, but after seeing some wedding photos a friend showed me that were taken there, I thought it might be something to go see. Ryan had been there on a field trip there in 5th grade - but it was primarily for the military tanks and museum. I was pleasantly surprised that even the area with the tanks was interesting and the grounds was absolutely breathtaking. After dinner, we decided to take Bill over to see the tanks and even though the museum was already closed he was fascinated to read and see all the tanks, including the tank his father operated during the Korean War.




Last week Ryan was in Football Camp. We had to get up a lot earlier than we've been use to and frankly we hated it! Friday the boys along with Ryan's friend went to see the Batman movie, The Dark Knight and then Saturday they went to the Sox game with Dave, Dan,Kim and Jacob. I, of course, enjoyed the time to work on the computer and enjoy the piece and quiet.

I can't remember if I mentioned in my previous postings that I was offered a new "role" at GOGO. After being a little overwhelmed at first, I'm finally able to organize myself between the two different office's accounting. The other office is located in Mahwah, New Jersey. I'm hoping to take on another office soon. Since Flight Center bought our company, they have been eliminating people in my position. It was such a shock to be one of the 2 people picked out of the entire country to be given the opportunity to assist the auditing department in auditing other offices finances. The entire company was put on the same monitary "retainer" and has to work on a commission incentive to produce business. They offered me a higher retainer in addition to working on my own personal incentive to reduce errors in both our office and the Mahwah office. So far, so good!

I still have not received word from the district on my "temporary" assignment for the next school year. The previous principal told me not to be worried about returning - I am the only part time employee at school. They have made "special arrangements" to keep me employeed at our building. This year we have a new principal who doesn't know me - so I'm hoping my special schedule is still exceptable!

I'm off to create a slide show of the Cantigny pictures......................

Quick Post

It's been a while since my last post. Things are extremely hectic with the end of school arriving next week. Between Ryan's school agenda and my school agenda, it's hard to keep everything straight.

I started a blog for the office and the home office was extremely impressed and will now be starting one of their own with my guidance.

Bill and Ryan leave for Tennessee on Friday evening and will be gone until Monday evening. This will be Ryan's first time on an airplane. He's looking forward to going but seems to be a little uneasy about the airplane ride.

We needed to decorate the office with a Hawaii theme for an area competition and a free lunch - Here's my entry:

I've begun decorating our last bulletin board of the year - it's something the kids are really enjoying. I left the black paper covering the board and the kids are taking colored chalk and drawing a First Grade Friends Theme. I'll post a picture as soon as it's complete. Here's the insect board I finished last week - - unfortunately it will have to come down in a day or two!

Until next time.......

Spring Break At Last!

Even though I'm still working the afternoons, it is still much more relaxing than having to get Ryan off to school, rush to get everything done before I have to leave, then hearing Mrs. Sadler from 26 kids for the next 3 hours! Actually I miss it a little - but before I know it, we'll all be back in the classroom counting down until our next day off!

The last day of school was jammed pack with fun stuff! We had a reptile assembly where I actually touched a 16 foot albino phython - of course I touched the middle of the body nowhere near the head! The owner of the reptiles asked if I'd be the "official" photographer while many of the kids held the "cold blooded creatures". I did get some amazing photos - my friend, Julie got to hold the alligator that was found in the DuPage Sewer System!

It was also Crazy and Wild Hair Day along with a Pizza Party for Lunch!

Prior to all the fun we were told that our principal will be leaving our school and transferring to another school as vice principal. My part-time status is always "ify" when someone new takes over. So between that and the other place of employment being sold and bought by another company, I see many changes on the horizon! YUCK!

Welcome to our NEW Blog!

After creating many many blogs for the teacher at the school I work at - I decided to change my blog over to Blogger. There are many more options than with Wordpress - and it's more user friendly.

This week is a 4 day school week due to Good Friday. We will be spending Easter at my parent's house which Ryan always looks forward to. After that, is a full week of school and then SPRING BREAK!!!

On Friday, I received the "passion" award at school. It is given to a faculty member that shows passion for the children and collegues. It is nice to be recognized for the award - however, I will need to present this award in a couple weeks onto who I feel has shown passion. I will do so at the faculty meeting in front of the entire staff............although, I know who I will be presenting the award to, I do not look forward to doing so due to the fact I will be in front of so many people.
Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day - The lepruchaun will be visiting Ryan's bedroom this evening and the first grade classroom prior to their arrival. Gold Candy Coins and a Target Gift Card is on the agenda for Ryan and Gold Candy Coins and pencils for the students.

Until the next time -
To the left you can visit some of the sites I've designed for the teachers. (Under Portfolio)