WICKED

If you ever have the chance to see this amazing musical, DO IT!!!!Rachel and I went last night (July 4th) which in itself is crazy to go to downtown Houston on that day to see this. This is the third time for her and I can see why. It's really an amazing show. Of course, being big OZ fans it's understandable that we both were really into it. The whole thing is awesome from the costumes (loved those)to the music, dancing and sets. It was fun to have a night out with her.

Well, have three days of PD this week, Covey training. People I talked to who have taken it said yeah, it was okay, but takes a lot of time. Oh well, always wanted to take it but it never worked out, so here goes.

well I'm off to do whatever. Have a Ozian day!

H&K
Peace Out
Leann

Summertime

Well, not sure if anyone reads me anymore. School's out and I have left Holub to pursue High School. Not just any High School, but the Early College High School. Way different that the regular one. Not only are the kids taught at an AP level, they also follow AVID, which is a group of strategies which make them to becoe self directed and focused. It's been around for 30 years and seems to really work. This is for those kids who have the potential, not necessarily the drive, who may never go to college or be the first in their family to do so, who need direction or in many cases will drop out. It's a very cool program, but top that with teaching a new content area and AP as the cherry on it I'll be working bery hard for the next few months. Our school is not finished yet, so the incoming freshman will still be housed in the T-shacks, and the majority of the sophomores will be housed on the second floor of one of the HCC campuses. Hopefully, by December we will be able to move into a brand spanking new building. Just returned from Dallas where we had a week of intense training for AVID, but got to know a few of the teachers from last year there and some of the new ones for this year.

Bath and Rachel are co-existing at best. Beth does have a job working for a bariatric surgeon in Dickinson, but has no medical insurance. It was her call on that. She tells me today that Armando's sister and she are going to look at engagement ring so that Armando knows what she likes. For heavens, sake why don't they both go, she shows him what she likes and then he decides. Why put a third party into it. Oh well, not my call.

Summer is going by quickly, have a bunch of in-services yet to do. Rachel and I go see Wicked next weekend, can hardly wait, and she and I are going to Kansas and the end of July to see mom and my girls grandfather.

Well, gotta go. Thanks to anyone who still pops in from time to time.

H & K
Peace Out
Leann

Decision time

Well, it's that time to decide what I am going to do next year. I send my paperwork over to the head honcho at the Early College High School. I was given to absolutely awesome letters of recommendation from my AP and Specialist. I've truly never had anyone speak about me in the manner in which they did and least not to where I could actaully witness it. It was truly humbling. I'm leaning towards staying where I am though because of what will be happening with the school next year and that fact that I've been accepted as one of the AVID teachers (this is a strategy of working with kids who have potential but don't have a clue how to get to where they want to go, we work with them through content classes on strategies and other things to help prepare them for high school and college). However, I'm going to still see if I get invited for an interview, my AP says at least leave the door open to say "no", so that's what I'm doing. ECHS would mean learning a whole new content area, AVID, and teaching AP courses not to mention the extra emotional and mental work that goes into these particular kids and this school. Since there has only been one year there really is no "dept." to work with. I have a former colleague who works there and she says being an "island unto yourself" while it sounds great isn't all it's cracked up to be, but she says the kids are amazing, so we shall see. I tend to jump in before I look and this is one time I really need to stand at the end of the cliff and look to see what's down there before taking the first step.
Beth is home and so far so go, but Rachel has had a really nasty virus (which I hope I don't get)so things have been calm so far. Beth now can put R.D. after her name and start looking for a job, her ultimate goal is to teach at a college level, but right now she would like to try to work with WIC. Of all of us in this family she has the most drive and discipline, not sure where she gets that from.
Going to try my hand at applique today with a class, we shall see. Have a great one everyone who has logged on just to see if I'm still writing.

H&K
Peace Out
Leann

01-01-10

HAPPY NEW YEARS to anyone reading.

Well, as expected the New Year came in right on time. I can't remember the last time I was up for it. I figured one of two things will happen: midnight still comes and I'm asleep or if something happens to the world I'm not awake and won't know any difference. However, Harley and Annie wanted to celebrate with everyone else. It was any abnormally noise new year around my house, including my dogs adding their own noise makers.

Interesting to see the things which are occurring around here. First the fight at Fuddruckers and then the shooting at 1st Colony Mall. Hmmm.

Only three days left of vacation. I guess I need to get fired up to go back, which I kind of am. Ready to get the school year over with. Beth comes home in March, which will be interesting having both she and Rachel under the same roof again. The roof might lift off a couple of times with the two of them.

Anyway, I hope for my friends that the new year is prosperous and that your gratitude for what it brings is real and heartfelt. Remember, He doesn't give us more than we can handle. Have a great new beginning and remember to look at it as that.

H&K
Peace Out
Leann

2010

Last blog for 2009. I know that's not saying a whole lot since I haven't done it much this year. To all of you who occasionally check to see if I do still blog. I hope you had a comfortable 2009 and that the new years brings joy, luck and happiness to each and everyone of you.

As they say in Pirates of the Carribean, this isn't as much a rulebook as a guide to go by. I'm sure things will be modified and changed or ignored completely, but here it is.

GOALS 2010
LEARN HOW TO SAY NO!


1. Health
a. Lose 10 pounds
b. Weigh in on Saturday and record
c. Walk three times a week

2. Medical
a. Eyes
b. New blood work (AIC)

3. Scrapping
a. 15 minutes a day to purge
b. Organize pictures
c. Organize scrap room
d. Set up shelves in scrap room
e. Organize stamps and specialty items
f. Use what I have

4. House Clean Up and Organization
a. Stop holding onto things that have no meaning any longer
b. Purge clothing, shoes, drawers, closets, etc…
c. Clean out kitchen, including drawers and cabinets
d. Clean out bathroom cabinets, closets and drawers
e. Paint bathrooms
f. Have downstairs carpet cleaned
g. Fix front window, install plexi- glass
h. Start using what I have instead of buying new

5. Finances
a. $50 to savings on the 1st and 15th before paying bills
b. Pay down credit cards
c. Stop buying unnecessary items

6. Social/Friends
a. Meet with friends at least once a month
b. Keep in better contact with friends in KC

7. Career
a. Decide what to do for next school year
b. Go to transfer fair
c. Read more educational/content based materials
d. Be better prepared for classes

H&K
Peace Out until next year
Leann

Christmas at moms and the trip home

Happy happy and Merry merry to everyone. I am the only person I know who can go home to their mothers and not gain weight and in fact lost a couple of pounds.Just got back from KCK last night where we had snow on Christmas Eve, and day and the next day and the next day. Mom had 12-14 inches at her house and the drifts were double that in some places, but my girls went out and played in it and had a good time and I got some once in a lifetime pictures of them. Rachel had never made a snow angel before. It was so cold though and the wind didn't help. Girls went and saw theire grandfather a couple of times and their father was there. I stopped by Christmas Eve for a few minutes, got there in time to see Dean open up his quilt Rachel had made him. The girls going to his house of course prompted my mother once again to tell me how they prefer to spend time out there rather than with her. Sorry mom, thought the every other day thing would work. Always has in the past. You have to understand my mother thinks she's very flexible where sharing the girls with the other family is concerned. It would be different if we did something but we don't. My mom is content to watch TV all day. Anyway, Beth flew out of KC on Monday and Rachel and I left on Monday. Saw an sign on the way to Wichita for a scrapbook store so we took a detour we hadn't planned on (thank you Jack, the GPS0. There was a quilt store next to it so we were both happy. It was an awesome store. Stopped for the night in Pauls Valley, OK. Had probably the worst Mexican food I've ever tasted, (I know you're saying Ok. and Mexican food, come on Leann you've got to be kidding)but the place was packed which is why we decided to eat there. Don't let appearances fool you. Went to Braums afterwards for desert, big mistake as my sugar went to 199. Learned my lesson there. About 2:00 in the morning Rachel's phone goes off and it's Beth. Of course, alarms go off in my head as how can I get to Ca. quickly. Unfortunately, Verizon doesn't work where we are, and neither did the hotels phone. Rachel had to go down to the main desk so they could turn it on. Long story short, Annie (Rachel's dog) had found and eaten a 1/2 box of chocolate covered cherries and Suzanna (who was watching the dogs) freaked. So she ends up at the emergency vet with her where they give her something to induce vomiting. She's fine now. Got up Tuesday to head on home, stopped in Gainesville at a quilt shop and then on to Waxahachie. Rachel heads to the quilt shop and I walk into the Crafty Scrapper where the young lady tells me that everything in the store (yes, I said everything) is 40% off. I've died and gone to heaven. And anything that is in the clearance which is 50% of has another 40 off of that. I actually behaved myself, got some stamps, flowers, a few pieces of paper. Ended up spending 70 but saved 50. Missed the snow in Dallas and got home about 6:30, but it's cold and rainy here. Had to move things from my bedroom and bath as they are coming to put in the new tub and enclosure today. Well, hopefully they will be here soon.

H&K
Peace Out
Leann

The Dog Days of Summer are ending

Well, it's back to school time. Don't 'cha just love it? New pencils, crayons, cell phones, fighting over what color their socks are, the little urchins. Oops, sorry got carried away. Already know that instead of the 8:45 we used to start with, Fat Pat has us in the class room at 8:15. Yes, that is our contractual beginning, but that 30 minutes allowed teachers to get ready for the day. Oh well, will learn to deal with it I'm sure. I agreed to do a scrapbooking club again this year, I figure it will be mini albums (paper bag books and cheap chip board) and such, more papercraft rather than the cherubs just sticking stickers on a page.

Beth's love of her life (that would be Armando) was here on a short leave and went to lunch with Rachel and I and BJ's. Talking marriage and how to surprise her with an engagement ring. Hasn't asked for approval yet but somehow I doubt that that will matter. He's finished with the Marines and will be out in March then going to school. He's already talking to Pixar Films, at least that's what he says he's doing. Wants to come back to Texas for school. Hopefully, that will get Beth back here too. Sure would like to have both my kids within driving distance.

Rachel begins another year at Hightower, both excited and apprehensive. She's afraid that what she accomplished last year was just a fluke and she got lucky. Tried to tell her that most of the really good teachers think that same thought at sometime in their career.

Well I've put off getting moving long enough. Everyone have a great one!

H&K
{Peace Out}

Leann