Acid Indigestion

I got no relief.

The exit exam stopped me. Not only did it wear me out physically and drain me emotionally, but it flat out whipped my butt.

I didn't pass.

The only "bright" spot is that several of my friends will be joining me for the second opportunity to pass. Misery truly does love company.

Now I have to beat the time crunch I set for myself when I conveniently forgot that my application to sit for the bar exam must be postmarked before February 1. I did get the basic application done today with a few exceptions - places where they forgot to put a box for typing on the pdf form. I'll have to get my secretary to finish it on the typewriter for me. Then I must get it notarized and in the mail - along with four money orders totalling $465. It can be done.

I'll keep you posted.

How do you spell relief? (Part 1)

I label this part one as it isn't over yet. That comes next week.

Today was my first opportunity to take the senior exit exam at my law school. It was a mock MBE - 100 questions followed by a 45 minute break - then 100 more questions. It was exhausting. And I can honestly saw that I am not sure if I answered any of the questions correctly. Now I have to wait until at least Tuesday to find out if I passed or if I get to repeat this lovely experience again in four weeks.

I'll keep you posted.

Memories

This morning I got up very early and found Prince 3 to accompany me on an errand. I chose him because he is the handiest of the three princes, and this job needed someone who can wield a hammer or a saw. We met a couple of friends and a dog and proceeded to a vacant, closed school - where I once taught for 19 years.

The place looks like a war zone now, but the memories within it are numerous. I went in search of a special one of my own - wanting of piece of dear old (Blank) high school for my very own.

My dad attended this high school and graduated in 1941. When I was first hired to teach there, I found it ironic that it already had a place in my history. My first day on the job - being an obedient and eager young thing at the time, I proceeded to decorate my classroom - and of course, put an appropriate educational theme on my vast bulletin board.

While placing paper on the board, I noticed the name TERRELL carved into the wall. That is my dad's name. Since this was before cell phones and even before phones in the classroom, I had to wait until I got home to call him and discuss it.

Sure enough, he did carve his name into the wall in that room way back when he was a student assigned to a boring study hall in that very same classroom, just after his shop class.

The old school is slated for demolition any day now. But I wanted just a piece of it before the walls come tumbling down - as well as a chance to be in that room one more time. I decided that the wrecking ball would not take my piece of history - nor will the school board miss that one piece of wall when the building is destroyed.

I am now the proud owner of my dad's carved name from the walls of his alma mater.

Back to the grindstone

Three days.

That's it.

Just three days.

I have been back at work three days after an 11 day vacation. I am still energized and ready to go. I am the first one in the office in the morning and the last one to leave. My work is all done. I even did my secretary's work since she is on vacation.

The question is: Will I still feel this energized after 30 days? or even after 60 days?

Guess we wait and see.

Winding Down

As I savor the last few minutes of my vacation, I have many thoughts about how I spent my time. I know I stayed in bed way too much and was down in the dumps even more.

At this point, I am energized. I had my B-12 shot and I am ready to go back to work. Eleven days off in a row is almost more than I can stand. How did I ever manage teaching with ten weeks off in the summer?

I have a list of at least twenty things that need to be done immediately in the morning. I just hope that I have a few minutes to take care of some of them before the crowd rushes in. We usually have a large influx of new students after the break - and I have to help get them registered. Add the fact that 7 of the 9 students that needed to come for conferences didn't show and will probably show in the morning. And I have hearings that start at 11:30.

It will be a busy day. I'm so ready for it!

It's Time

I have been so busy since the new year started that I have failed to post. Sorry about that, my friends. I have been on a cleaning spree - not that it was needed, I promise. I just had to do my bimonthly laundry gig and some straightening up. I hope to run the vacuum in a bit. My dog sheds badly, so it is needed often.

I have decided that I will make every effort to be cheerful this year. My depression is showing through way too much in my musings. I have made a few resolutions that I will share with you:

• I will take my meds on a fairly regular basis.
• I will make an effort to lose weight by eating less and exercising more.
• I will try to get my finances in better order.
• I will make my kids more accountable for their expenses.

And to do all of these things, I have just ordered refills for all of my prescriptions and filled my weekly box. I have placed the "Shapely Secrets" DVD in the machine so I can do it at least once per day. I have registered for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and start next week. And I have handed each of the kids their phone bills, due tomorrow.

Just a few other things that need to be done. Think I'll go make a list.

That is one way to procrastinate against cleaning - make a list of the cleaning that needs to be done.