What is WRONG with people?

We're back at work...haven't yet opened school and we have a situation that's really ugly. At some point at the end of the last school year, the teachers were given a survey (the teachers only, not the rest of the staff) asking them to rate our principal (OP). It had 30 or 40 questions with answers being Agree/Agree Strongly/ Disagree/Disagree Strongly. The questions were skewed, in my opinion. They had a negative feel to the way they were written, like they were asking for trouble. At the end of the survey there was an option to write in comments. The results were then mailed to the teachers. Not to OP, but to the teachers. Comments, and all.

I was shocked to read the results of the survey. The answers to the questions were not very favorable. But the hand-written comments were deplorable. There was just 1 positive comment and about 25 negative. The comments were malicious and mean spirited and hurtful. None were the least bit constructive. And they were mailed for all the teachers to see! What? What good can come of that??

OP was devastated. Upon learning of the survey, she had a horrible night and came in to work in the morning and handed in her resignation. . . Her supervisor wouldn't accept it. Now OP has decided to stay the year. Try to remain professional and see if she can "make a difference" before she leaves. I'm proud of her for the way she's handling all this. This little survey will change the course of her life...

I am friends with all the staff. Our school feels like family. Like home. As a whole, we love and support each other, with a very few exceptions here and there. I can't imagine who wrote these things and why? Constructive criticism is a good thing. Why be hurtful and demeaning? It's set the mood and I don't like it. I plan to make it a good year. We'll all work together like we always do. We'll rise above all the garbage and behave like adults. (well, sometimes..lol) It's the kids we're all there for. I can't wait to see them all fresh from summer vacation, an inch or two taller and ready to face another year...

Oh, and if anybody is still reading...I love youse guys!

Blog blah

Ah...back home after a restful vacation. Here's a picture of my hotel room...

Fooled Ya'!

Here's a picture of my hospital room! I had my surgery at a new hospital in town. Schmancy, isn't it? The floors were carpeted and the TV was in an armoire and the furniture was, well, furniture! Velour couch and chairs, glass topped coffee and accent tables. The hospital lobby looked like a lobby in a nice hotel... With fresh coffee and teas and donuts and juices, set out specifically to torture those of us who were having surgery! Had I stayed long enough, they would have provided meals for my family as well as myself. It's a new wave in health care, I suppose. Apparently, the surgical facilities are state of the art. Cutting edge. In case you were wondering.

Life's been sorta weird lately. Don's working on a huge project which means he's basically been home only to sleep. He had the luxury of taking a day off, only to watch ME sleep. ironic. I've got just this one last week before heading back to work and I can't do the things I'd like. I'm reminded with an "owwwch" when I try. :-\

*edited* If anyone was looking, I'd written here a blurb about blogging. I mentioned that I'm thinking about dropping this blog. :shrug: I'm having a sleepless night and decided to have a look at this again. When I re-read it, I realize it reads ... umm... crappy. Unkindly, maybe even offensive. Uck...That's not how I meant to sound at all....So, it's gone. poof..

So, I'll leave it at this-- I really enjoy my online friendships and don't want to give them up. Yet, if I stop blogging... I dunno. I guess I can go back to writing a line or two in the comment boxes. I just don't always feel inspired to respond. Not that the writers aren't inspiring, *I'm* just uninspired. I really enjoy reading my friends' blogs. I just don't enjoy the obligation to comment.

I think Gayle needs a little fresh air....she's sounding a bit stale. bleh....

Lazy(?) days of summer

this space saved for something witty, profound and entertaining.

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Aghchhhhkkkhhhhhhhhhhh....! A? That IS me. I....oh geezo, I must be old! This was taken by Don in the days of our dating. Circa 2002. My, how the years have changed me, huh? Maybe I'll put up a new one and you can gawk at the BIG diff!

Laughed out loud at Mel's comment, though... :-D

Ho hum... Remember when you were young and summer vacation seemed like forEVER?? yeah. Well, this summer break has been BY FAR the quickest in my life. July flew by and I can't remember a darn thing I did! I had plans planned and accomplishments to accomplish. Now it's August and next thing you know I'm heading back to work. grumble...

Friday I'm having surgery, so I have that to look forward to... (unrelated to last year's world of fun, but it's surgery none-the-less and I'd much rather go to the beach or something) shitmumblegrumble.... We'd all made plans to visit some friends in Northern Ca next week. ALL of us--Don and the kids and yours truly. Now, it's unlikely. damn... Then, the next thing I know, I'm back at my desk at work. With that NEW office manager! grumblesomemore...

Maybe I can use this last little bit of time to work on my attitude adjustment!?

Let's see. Guess I should think a little harder. What HAVE I done with the time?

• I'm 92% finished with a filing cabinet project that's been hanging over my head.
• I went through a blur of appointments of some kind, or another. Physical therapy for my neck/back that I'd like to think is helping but as I'm typing with an aching back I'm not so sure.
• I made exactly one trip to the beach with a buncha magazines, lunch and a girlfriend. It was brief but lovely.
• I've spent some very enjoyable quality moments with my kids.
• Read a book or two...
• Don and I walk every evening ... some of those evening walks take us to our new outdoor mall. They have jazz some nights and it's just so lovely to sit out in the courtyard with my sweetie listening to the music. We try to catch local live music whenever we can and during the summer months it's easy to find a place to sit outside and enjoy some music.
• Last weekend, we were adventurous old folks and went dancing. We didn't break a hip or anything! It was a great bar, with quite a mix of people. The music was fun and the people watching was at it's finest!

Okay, so maybe it wasn't so bad. But it WAS fast! Today, I baked a banana bread and ran some errands and did some laundry and met some friends for a quick bite.

And I just took this. The older version of me. Circa 5 minutes ago. Isn't my cat CUTE???