12/11/18, Tuesday

Just a thought regarding working part time (from my experience)- Unless you are a time clock by the hour employee, "part time" in a salaried position does not exist in the real world. Even if you are able to bill your hours, they will most always add up to more time than you want to spend. Kind of ruins the whole purpose, which is to free up time at home with the kiddos.

Chicago weather in winter is bloody cold! For instance, I knew I didn't have a winter coat sufficient for Chicago, so I asked my girlfriend if I could borrow one of hers. She loaned me one of her Canada Goose coats (they are industrial-strength winter coats), and it was fabulous. HOWEVER, my gloves were insufficient. Turns out leather gloves pretty much suck in real cold weather, and my hands were immediately chapped. In fact, I'm still treating them. That was a surprise! BTW, it's not just the temperature, but the WIND, as in "the Windy City."

Chicago in many ways is like New York or San Francisco ... you need to go there many times to even scrape the surface. I've been to Chicago scores of times on business in my life, but only a few times for pleasure -- and the pleasure trips are the ones that really have introduced me to the incredible depth of that city and its many cultures. :)

Greetings December Darlings

Can't believe the year is almost over. Where did it go? 155 today so it looks like I've picked up close to 10 pounds this year. Not good. And the season of eating is in full swing. Must cool it.

Dr.'s office called and rescheduled my appointment due to an emergency they had. Just as well. So my day opened up and I got a bunch of little chores done including the Costco run. It wasn't too bad there and now we have nice shrimp.

Liz I am so thinking of you. Over the last couple of years we have all followed the decline of your DH and its heartbreaking. We are all here if you need to talk. I will pm my phone#. Sounds like you may have some decisions to make fairly soon. And hoping your DD has nothing seriously wrong. 'nuff stuff going on.

Decisions decisions indeed. That seems to be what life is all about. BB you have some decisions to make about work/home but as others have said, as time goes along the right path will reveal itself. Plus no path is really irreversible.

Shirley love the image of you standing on a plastic bucket on a string to get in to that beast! Tee Tee, my old self probably would have squished the plastic bucket! They make hard plastic step stools that might be slightly more dignified but you still need the string. But the bucket image is fun.

Diane O sorry DC had a setback. Hope it's minor. Jeez, my DH wears sweat pants all the time. And yay for the shower project. Enjoy it.

Gallery duty today but at least it should be busy. If not, its squats and circles. And banking. Always banking.

Peps I am going to send your prose photo instructions to the OH lady who called me but I missed it. I can't figure out how to post her diagram here but its useless. Multiple pages. Ah, the value of good writing. I remember as a lawyer interviewing some high school kids regarding a school bus incident. Several were able to write several excellent pages describing the incident, but one poor kid took a half hour to write "The bus went real fast. I was scared". It was sad.

SteffiePlum wishing you the best for new hip. Bet you will be glad it's done. Take care all. Diane S

Ah yes, writing. I am exhausted from coaching students (9th graders) through their research projects. I team teach a mainstream English 9 class, so my special ed students in this class have enough ability to be in general education with some support. Some students work so hard and so diligently, but need much more academic support. Some students have solid academic skills but cannot initiate any task whatsoever without my prompting.And by initiate a task, I don't mean write a research paper, I mean cut and paste the MLA citation (which the database now generates for them, all they need to know is are we using MLA or APA style) of an article I helped them find into an electronic notecard. It's death by a thousand cuts! The payoff is next week, when they do their power point presentations, I could almost cry, I'm so proud of them. These last few weeks however, not so much, she mutters ruefully.