One of those days!!!

Have you ever had one of those days when everything and everyone irritated you to no end? Well, today was one of those days. First, it is Monday. I hate Monday. I hate defrosting my car. I hate that there are no parking spaces. I hate the parking lot is like an ice skating rink. Second, the weather is cold and dreary. Third, some of the kids didn't do their homework or snow day packets. AGAIN!!! I am so sick of 30 years of excuses. Please just stop at "I didn't do it." To the student who asked if you are in the hospital is that an OK excuse?  The answer is NO! What do you  think those pull up lap desks are for in a hospital room? Please (for just one day) can everyone stay out of  my room, leave me alone, don't talk to me. I can not be listening and talking to a bunch of adults, who have their own jobs to do, while I'm trying to teach. I'm sorry but the older I get most days I really don't care who is mad at who in Preston County, who got a DUI or who is pregnant. Classrooms are not meant for inside recess. I don't think we have been outside for recess since October. Very irritating. By noon today, I really wish I had worn my tee shirt my brother David got me that says. "I'm surrounded by stupid people". I've had my picture taken with this tee shirt on with more than one administrator. I hate dirty cars that are covered with winter salt and dirt. I hate when I brush up against them. I hate meetings. I hate driving home in a cold, rain in the dark. I found today to be a very irritating day. I think I should probably just stay home on days when I feel irritated, but this time of year I find just having to get out of my warm bed irritating. I find people telling me good morning irritating. I don't want to be nice when I'm irritated. Many people irritate me so I'm irritated most of the day. I was thinking about becoming a greeter at Walmart but the idea of having to greet people irritates me. Thanks for listening ,and have a nice day.

The Rowlesburg Shale Pile

OK,  everyone knows I'm from Rowlesburg and still live here, so I think since occasionally I will be writing and mentioning Rowlesburg in my Blog it will be easier for my Rowlesburg followers and non-Rowlesburg followers to all be on the same page. Today will be a history lesson on the Shale Pile. First, the Shale Pile is a place, and you have to be in a certain generation to understand its history and what it signifies. The Shale Pile is on the Manheim side of the Cheat River Bridge in Rowlesburg. It is Chessie System Railroad property on the right side of the road after directly coming off the bridge. I have made calls and asked different people why it is called the Shale Pile and I can't seem to get an official answer. If anyone reading this blog post knows please comment. Back to the history of this Rowlesburg landmark, actually it is more of a cultural historic landmark of the 1970's and early 1980's. I know everyone is dying to know what the Shale Pile is or was. First, it is a piece of land, rather undescriptive with drive able dirt paths throughout it. I should add drive able for some people. Second, before anyone gets worried, no names, dates, or specific events will be named in this blog. Third, the Shale Pile took on a life of its own during the 70's. Most of my information has come from other people because I rarely went there, The Shale Pile was a gathering place. It is where you went when you were lonely, wanted to have some fun or lots of fun. Our parents called it the "party place". I called my Dad and asked  him why it was called the Shale Pile. He said he does know and didn't remember much about it. That is really good for me, which also means I may still be in the family will. Yes, it was a party place, a parking place, a hanging out place, and yes a getting into trouble place. I'm hoping my Dad has also forgotten about the couple of times that he came to the Shale Pile late at night to drag my butt home. Many people seem to have conveniently forgotten about the Shale Pile. It may be because they are now lawyers, doctors, teachers, in law enforcement, mothers, fathers, grandparents, or just generally responsible adults now. I haven't forgotten. I think the happenings of the Shale Pile would make a great book and I will probably write it someday. The stories of the the Shale Pile are infamous among a certain group of nameless people. When I take people to the Shale Pile now and try to explain it, they just don't seem to get it. I guess it is one of those times and places that you just had to be there.

OK, so I'm not a Princess

Many of you who have really known me since childhood know I'm not a Princess but for you others who may get caught up in my delusions with me I thought I'd better clarify a few things. One, I grew up with three brothers who liked to torture me and my dolls .I grew up with boys so I know how to fight, shoot a gun, dig a hole, and fish. I've camped, backpacked, kayaked, and spent hours in Cheat River and in the woods.I grew up in Rowlesburg, a tiny mountain, river valley town. We made our own fun with very little money. We played ball, games and rode our bikes in our neighborhood called Tar Hole. One of my brothers is my twin, he was always in every class, every school activity, Sunday School, 4-H, summer, fall, winter and spring.  We also went to college together. He loves nothing better than to irritate me. Two, I have had one kind of job or another since I started babysitting at 12. I know what it is like to work in a store like Walmart, sell ice cream, be an office assistant, etc., because I've done it. I graduated from college on a Friday and started subbing the next Monday. I've been a poor young Preston County school teacher with a mortgage, car payments, and my husband's school loans to pay back. I've cut grass, used a weed eater, helped paint our house, shoveled snow, and used a snow blower. I know how to jump start a car, drive a shift, a 4-wheel drive, a sports car, and a truck. I've ridden dirt bikes and motorcycles. I've shoveled flood mud, gone without utilities for weeks, hauled water, taken a bath in the river, and walked to school and work. Most of my working life, I've been a teacher, a mother, cleaned our house, washed clothes, ran errands, and cooked.  I look for bargains, shop clearance racks, and I'm generally happiest in sweats or a bathing suit. Three, I've worked in Preston County Schools for 30 years through consolidation, floods, fires, blizzards, and a state take over. Four, my life has not and still is not glamorous. I teach, check on my parents, wait on my son, look out for nieces and nephews, take care of Rob, and I always have some kind of cause I'm fighting for. Five, I've had battles to fight may entire life like my weight, anxiety, and back problems. I'm on medication for high blood pressure and anxiety. So, you can see I'm not a Princess. I sleep a lot because I'm a middle age, menopausal, medicated woman, who gets tired after spending the day with 9 and 10 year olds, who take great pleasure in informing me that I am older than their Grandmothers. Now Queen is another thing. When I retire, in a few years, I do plan on hiring as many things done for me as I can. I plan on spending the winters in Florida walking around in beach clothes and flip flops, waking up at noon, and spending the day at the beach writing and looking for shells. Late spring, summer and fall will be on the Cheat River in Rowlesburg. After snow shoveling and snow blowing today, I've decided it will be possible to get this body into Queen shape, but probably never Princess shape so I am officially giving up on being a Princess.

I hate school and I'm the teacher.

Being a teacher on a day like this  is a nightmare. It starts as soon as the kids hit the door. "Are we getting out early?" It is down hill after that. They watch the only window in the room instead of paying attention. They interrupt my classroom instruction to give weather reports. Then there is the dreaded moment when a teacher from another class walks into your room and informs your class that they are going home at noon. Cheers go up and instruction goes out the window, and you realize you still have two hours to go until the kids are leaving. Then it starts endless announcements and classroom interruptions. Across the intercom comes ... "Teachers, teachers put your radios on Channel 10. My radio has been corroded shut since September. Next announcement ......"Kindergarten, you will be eating lunch at 9:30"   Ten hands go up.  "Mrs. Morell, Mrs. Morell, What time do we get to eat lunch."  "Can we all eat lunch in the room with you." At this point I'm thinking, "Did I remember to take my Prozac this morning."  Specialty teacher arrives at the doorway ... "Will you be sending your kids to specialty class today." I have no idea what I'm doing because no one has told me anything at this time. I try to save a little of the day by trying to convince the kids that it is not snow that it is white rain. So I have a room full of kids, a snow storm outside, and a school counselor (of course male) who walks in at this point and wants to know if I have the 999 page testing survey filled out because we are testing tomorrow. Then my cell phone starts ringing.  The cell phone that I'm not suppose to answer but people are calling because they can't get through to the school to tell them about all the wrecks and the road closures, and for one split second it occurs to me that the early out may turn into a sleep over. More teachers arrive in my classroom to give me more information, more questions, more requests. It hits me I need to get snow day work ready. Thank God for Brandy because I'm trying to figure out when to fill out the 999 page test survey and get things copied on a copier that's been broken for two days. Another announcement "Teachers, please pay attention to announcements we have 600 plus kids to feed in the next hour 1/2 if we are going to be able to count this as an instructual school day. Another teacher pops into my room to inform me she is getting a migraine.  I'm not sure why she thinks I care. Another announcement "Fourth graders report to lunch," " I know you just ate breakfast, but go eat again" I inform my class. Great, a quite moment to work on the 999 page testing survey. A teacher walks into my room to use my microwave, and informs me my microwave is not working. I stop to try and fix it. Now back to the survey. The 30 minute lunch is only 15 minutes because there are still more kids to feed. I have to get my snow day work ready for kids or I may get fired. Fired at this point almost sounds like a vacation to a tropical place. Recess. Next announcement ....."Teachers, please listen carefully to all bus announcements, buses are not going to be called in the same order tonight and may not arrive at all. "Mrs. Morell, are we staying here tonight?" Cell phone rings  ...... buses are stopped behind wrecks. Finally get microwave fixed. Wait I can't eat I have bus passes to write. Only 697 more pages to fill out on the form. "Mrs. Morell he pushed me."  "I didn't push you, I accidentally ran into you."  Everyone sit down and be quiet. "Mrs. Morell, I don't want to stay here tonight.  "Nobody is staying here tonight." Finally buses start being called. Reports are coming in that the roads are horrible. Snow day packets, bus passes, survey, "I have to go to the bathroom, Mrs. Morell"  "He hit me again." "Teachers. please listen carefully to the buses being called. 4th grade teachers we are looking for a student." Send lice announcement paper home. Another announcement. "Teachers, the official word is you can't go home until the roads get hazardous. What do you think we pay you for?" Today I hated school and yes I am the teacher.

Cheesey Bisquits

OK, more on the biscuit thing. I was in Morgantown this evening, so of course Justin wanted to eat out. He suggested Rio Grande but I had a soft taco at Taco Bell for lunch so I really didn't want more Mexican, not that a soft taco from Taco Bell is Rio Grande but I like to spice things up in my old age. At my age, you don't know how many more times you might be eating out and you want to fit as much variety in a day as possible. So being on this "I feel like I'm being deprived" track, biscuits came to mind. Cheddar biscuits at Red Lobster, but wait I really love the salad bar at Ruby Tuesdays and don't they have biscuits. So off Rob and I go to meet Cassie and Justin at Ruby Tuesday. I ordered crab cakes and salad bar. Rob ordered fish and I forget what Cassie and Justin ordered because I was already obsessing about the crab cake and cheesy biscuits. We all head to the salad bar to get our salads.  Yum Yum !!!!! Main course severed and part way through  Cassie yells "Cheesy biscuits, they forgot our cheesy biscuits." Great, I like my cheesy biscuits with my salad. I demand Rob get our waiter, who was young and cute. "You forgot our cheesy biscuits."  "We are out for the moment."   he said.  "WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!" Cassie and I said. That is why we came here." Young, cute waiter reassured us there were more in the oven, but was there anything else he could do for us. I informed I needed help with housework this coming weekend and a cabana boy at the beach house for the summer. He said he thought he was busy. Off he goes for the cheesy biscuits only to return to say other waiters had  taken all the fresh ones just out of the oven. Before I could get my mouth open he said "I have a special order in just for you." "Good", I said, "and bring to go boxes and bring two orders because I am not in the mood to share my cheesy biscuits." I also asked him the calorie count of their cheesy biscuits. He thinks it is lower than Cheddar biscuits at Red Lobster. So if I just eat 5 cheesy biscuits instead of cheddar biscuits tonight, I could save enough calories for a serving of M&M's for a midnight snack.

Please keep that information to yourself.

Recently one of my doctors pointed out to me that 25 M&M's are considered a serving (100 cals.). That information he really could of kept to himself because he kind of ruined eating M&M's for me. I like to or I should say use to like to eat M&M's directly from those 1 lb. bags. The same man told me that many of my favorite things to do are probably addictions. He also informed me that the medication I was blaming for my weight gain, doesn't cause weight gain. There really are things that I wish people would keep to themselves and let me live in peace in my nice little delusional world. Tanning beds! I really liked tanning beds. I like that warm, sunny, laying out feel, that sun kissed look, those few quiet peaceful moments feeling like I was somewhere tropical. TANNING BEDS CAUSE AGING AND SKIN CANCER. That was something else someone ruined for me. I tried to convince my family doctor to put a tanning bed in his office so I could use it while waiting for him to see me. I guess you know how that went. This morning I was reading online about how many calories the free food at restaurants contain, but wait I love those cheddar biscuits at Red Lobster, the endless bread sticks at Olive Garden, the big bag of fries at Five Guys. Why do people take such pleasure in ruining my pleasures? I think over the years how many things I have given up. I use to drink Diet Pepsi endlessly. One of my doctors made me give all but one Diet Pepsi up a day. He had the nerve to tell me I was addicted to caffeine. Now caffeine is a bad thing. I can have decaffeinated, but that I really should stop drinking so much diet pop. Have you ever noticed the only things anyone ever tells you to do more of are the things you don't want to do. Exercise, eat broccoli, get organized, go to the dentist, and wear sunscreen. Rob tells me I'm on the computer too much. David thinks I'm too demanding. Justin thinks I should pay more attention to him. Some information people just really need to keep to themselves because I really like my little delusional world where eating M&M's in the tanning bed is a good thing.

Faith

A beautiful sunny morning like this one helps me define faith. I think once a person understands and has faith their life becomes much easier. I haven't always had faith. I don't mean faith as in religion or belief in God but everyday ordinary faith. Faith that good out weighs bad. Faith that spring will come again. For me faith has come with age. Faith comes, I think, with life's experiences. Faith requires some patience.  I watch my son at times and he reminds me so much of myself at his age. Everything seems to take forever, life seems frustrating, very impatient, and people cannot react quick enough for his demands.  I remember that feeling that if it doesn't happen now, it will never happen. I think my faith has grown not so much do to wisdom of age but more to the aging process its self. Day after day, week after week, year after year of seeing things eventually working out, the feeling of renewal each spring with the first sight of a crocus popping out of the snow, the slow but eventual healing that takes place after you loose someone you love. I think faith like many things in life take time. I think each experience in life helps define us and gives us the chance to develop those desirable traits of faith, patience, honestly, dependability, kindness, etc. My faith has grown as I've seen my town and its people survive and come back after a devastating flood.  My faith has grown as I've seen troubled youth grow up and become productive citizens. My faith has grown when someone steps up to defend someone weaker or less fortunate than themselves. As I take a moment now and then to look out the window as I write, I have faith that this glorious sunny day will be one of many to come. I have faith that bad times will be followed by good, lean times with days full of riches, days of healing will follow days of illness.  I have faith that my students will grow and develop into loving parents and productive citizens, my son will learn faith as I have and his children as he will.