Girl Power

Well score one for the little guy....... I mean the Queen of the World!  I spoke to the power company today, and landlord should have received his letter today also.  Until he gets an electrician in here and fixes the electrical entanglement, HE will be billed for all the power in both my, and my neighbors apartment.  The next meter read is tomorrow, so  HAHAHAHAHA.  I mean, no....that's what I meant. 

The gentleman I rent from thinks I'm a helpless female, who really needs a man to look after her.  It isn't his fault, I've cultivated that persona especially for him.  It gets things done around here.  He isn't the type you can "fire and brimstone" at and see results.  This time, however, he has crossed the line.  Lets just say I'm prepared for whatever his next move may be, and if I don't like it he's going to find out that I'm not helpless, and that I only play the game if I'm pretty sure I can win.  I didn't get the nickname "Queenie" for nothin'.

I may have mentioned that Steve has moved into his mother's house, and he now lives in the worst area of town.  It wasn't always that way, but has gone downhill over the last ten years or so.  He also is battling the slumlords in his neighborhood, trying to get things cleaned up.  This city allows these people to do whatever they please, and two things are obvious.  If the rent is paid you can do whatever you want to the neighborhood, without consequence, and that as long as the property taxes get paid the city doesn't give a damn about codes, violations, or anything else.  Hmmmmm......... I wonder if there is some sort of group out there I could join.  If there isn't, there should be.  Hmmmmmm......

If you happen to read this, and you are a slumlord......... Shame on you.  Shame. On. You.

Champions!

GO PACK GO!

It has been a wild season, and almost every game has been a nail biter. Today's battle against the Chicago Bears was no different. While it wasn't the game I expected to see, with Jay Cutler's non performance, and ultimate exit from the game, it ended up being too close for comfort anyway! I actually felt a little bad for the little third string quarter back guy. Yeah, I don't remember his name. However, I think we'll see him again down the road.

Clay was quiet, Woodson too, but Raji did a great fat boy dance in the end zone! Aaron Rodgers didn't have his best game, but it was enough to win the Championship. This isn't college, so a win is a WIN, no matter how pretty. This game really is the ultimate for me. We are the Champions of the NFC. Not the Vikings, not the Bears, the GREEN BAY PACKERS! A super bowl win would just be the icing on my cake!

So now I'm rooting for the Jets! I can't help but want a GB/Jets Superbowl that does not include Mr. Favre. How are you liking the purple now Brett??? Karma, it's a beautiful thing!

New Begining!

Free at last, free at last! The YMCA can........ you follow the general train of thought.

You, dear readers, are reading the blog of the newest member of the University Child Care team!! I will be teaching preschool again. My own class, my own lessons, my own assistant, MINE, MINE, MINE! I have been so excited, and I've had to keep it mostly to myself for SEVEN weeks. Do you have any idea how hard that was to do? For the first three weeks only my sister, the teacher I work with, and "Missy Christy" at work knew about it. She and I have been helping each other make some decisions about where our work lives should go. Incidentally, she and one assistant also gave notice this week. While not planned that way, it is a good shot of Karma for sure.

In 2000 I took over the lead preschool teaching position at the Y, and it is by far my favorite age to work with. I loved teaching the kids new things and watching them grow. Five years later, the district brought in 4K, pushing me to an assistant position in the room in the morning, and then taking over when 4K left off. I would "teach" when they weren't in session, and during the summer. I lived for the summer. I have a lot of comments about 4K in general, and about some of the teaching styles, skills, of the teachers (8) who came through our program. I'm going to choose to keep them out of here. If you know me, you KNOW. :) 4K has it's own room at UCC, I will have the 3's and the 4 and 5 year olds when they aren't in 4K.

This past summer we learned that the daycare was facing eviction from the college because they are expanding their dorms. Then in the fall for a time I got stuck with the two year olds. UGH! I have little faith that the Y will bother to open another center, so the job hunt began. I had a few nanny opportunities, and then this little gem fell into my lap. When I first contemplated it, and tried to decide which road to take I woke in the middle of the night because I was so excited at the possibility of teaching full time again, my own class, my own lesson plans, my own room. I knew right then what I really wanted to do when I grew up.

I have worked for the YMCA for 22 years. *minus 6 month sanity break in '99* I have worked with every age group, including latchkey. I also spent two summers as the Day Camp director. It has been an interesting ride, and I will miss the kids I am currently hanging out with everyday, but it is more than time to move on. It's going to be great looking forward to going to work each morning!

My last official day is Dec 31. I will start the new year at UCC! My technical last day is Tuesday December 28. I only have four more actual work days to go!!!!!!!