Sunday, February 21, 2010

Haven't been snowed away...

......although it feels like it! I think I heard we're up to 26 inches of snow - that's a lot of snow!

I'm still here, plugging away.

This next week will be a busy one as I have a Middle School Concert tomorrow night, Musical rehearsals after school on Tues. and Fri. and Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences Thurs. night. Next Saturday, I probably will not be able to move!

Had a discussion with my Superintendent the other day. I still have a job next fall HOWEVER, it will be doing what I am now = Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade Vocal (not including every day teaching, that's 5 concerts a year, plus the musical, plus Honor Choirs, etc. )

WITH THE ADDITION of:

Teaching 5th - 8th grade Band. So add what I'm doing now to starting beginning band students, literally running all 5 concerts, prepare students to march at Homecoming Parade, do Honor Bands, and add another concert in there for the "Band Extravaganza"). In essence I would be doing a 2 person/2 full-time job that they are cutting down into one.

OR:

I could continue what I am doing now for 1/2 the pay.

I'm getting very tired of having the "rug pulled out from under me" every spring - this is year number 3 now. I don't know if this and past event's are God's way of saying it's time to move on to a different profession, or if I'm being tested.

Thankfully I have some time to search for another position if I choose to, or look into another career - either way, it just plain stinks.

And, someday - this will turn back into a crafty and happy blog :)

Thanks for stopping and take care! - Elizabeth

Monday, February 8, 2010

Snow, and Snow, and Snow, and......

Catch my drift...... (tee hee)

Yet another extremely snowy day in Iowa today.

We had school today, for a whopping 2 hours. I won't tell you how irritated I was - okay maybe I will :)

Warning: Venting ahead - I do apologize to those of you who come to see crafty pictures and news. Unfortunately it's just not in the works right now. For the moment my blog, is a way to journal - get things "off my chest, and out of my head". So if you care to move on to another blog - that's fine, I understand. If not, thanks for reading and stopping by! I do appreciate you!!

I knew that we were in for another big snow storm, and was sure we would not have school today.

But as of 6:00 am, there was no news. So, before leaving home to head to work (which takes 1 hr. in good weather), I called my Superintendent to make sure that we were on schedule. Yup, we were but it looked like we would be getting out early. As to when "early" was he didn't know.

Because I live an hour away, I said that I may turn around and come home if it was too bad. I then got the spiel about how I would have to take a full personal day if I did not make it to school (once you/students get to school and then are sent them home early, it is still counted as a full day). Which, I can understand.....however......

Due to my surgery, I have NO MORE personal, sick, you name it days! In other words, if I don't show, I don't get paid. Unless I'm really physically ill, I'm not in a position that I can afford to miss school.

So, I trodded along going between 25 and 40 mph on the interstate that was primarily one lane at best. If you were passed by a semi, and insane drivers, you couldn't see due to the kicked up snow. This will probably describe how bad it truly was - a snow plow had gone into the ditch! A SNOW PLOW!!

It took me 2 hrs. to get to school (I was only 15 min. late as I had left that early!) I was so tense and knotted up that I could hardly move when I got there. We had a short staff meeting, and then it was a mad dash to get some items printed off and handed out to my musical kids, and then it was get ready to dismiss the kids at 10:00 am.

I risked my life for 2 hours on dangers roads, to be at school for 2 hours! If I'm at home and this happens again, NO WAY. I'll take a day of no pay. It is simply not worth it.

Thankfully, my Dad only lives about 30 min. from where I work, and so I am now holed up with him. I had originally planned to stay with him this evening, as musical rehearsals were to start, so the plan was/is to stay with him on Mon., Tues. and Thurs. evenings.

I doubt we will have school tomorrowv (but then again who knows!) as the winds are to really pick up this evening. That means all this fresh snow, 8-10 inches, of it is going to go flying all over the place. Fun - Fun.

So, no matter were you are, I hope you are safe and comfortable!

As always, take care and thank you for stopping by! - Elizabeth