Good things

Perks are good things... I went to a conference Thursday to Saturday in Richmond. It has to do with the Provincial Resource Program - Auditory Training Equipment. They paid for everything! The airfare and the hotel plus food for the day. It was very informative especially from the seasoned TODHH (Teachers of deaf and hard of hearing). That I found the most useful.

I also got a couple hour visit with my best friend, Miriam.

Then I got home and there was a letter from the school board. My position has been confirmed from temporary to continuing!!! It is official that I have this job (as long as I complete my Masters). I love that fact that I am going to obtain my goal.

Husbands are a perk too. I got to come home to a welcoming home.

Everyday life

I have time to blog - but what? Ah, I know... how I dislike Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is really the only big store we have here. I hate how their prices are so low that it makes it hard to patronize local businesses. I went to Columbia Gardens Nursery yesterday. I got a bunch of planter stuffers. They cost 3 for 6 dollars. Then I go to Wal-Mart - .97cents each!!! I am glad I went to Columbia Gardens first though because how hard would it be to choose between 1 $ or 2$ for the same? This is just one example but you get my drift.

My rant for today.

I need to balance it off.
I got my homework done early so I have the rest of Sunday to myself :)

Research

Well, I have started my first course... Reading and Understanding Research. So much for understanding it! There is a term 'research synthesis' that from my reading I am unable to determine the meaning. I think I have got it now and answered correctly. I will find out Wed when it is returned. I sure hope that the first module is not an indication of what I will face throughout the rest of the course.

Anyway, I saw fire works last night for "Silver City Days" It was a very nice evening. I had a buffalo burger too! It was good.

Now, I am off to clean, clean, clean... and next week, steam clean the carpets to remove the evidence of our Bulimic cat - who is better now.

Another death but not what you think.

Thanks to all who sent their thoughts and prayers for my Grandma's funeral. It was beautiful, quiet, and a great celebration of her life. Thanks.

On the other side, my car was sent to be buried. It hemorrhaged anti-freeze yesterday when we were supposed to come back to Trail. We came out of London Drugs and noticed liquid dripping heavily from beneath the car. We managed to bring it to the garage where I have gone to before. Well, our choice was to pay 500 to get it fixed or a new one. My car is 13 years old and has been great. However, I have paid already about 2000 in the last 6 months. Dan was also worried that my car would die on me at the most inopportune moment so we decided to look around. Bruce Striker at Don Folk Chevolds was great. A good salesman who doesn't push. We checked out a few cars and chose the Chev Cobalt (Consumer rated as best buy). By the way, anyone who has graduated from University in the last 4 years, the company will pay your first two months of car payments. Anyway, they took another 1000 off the price and Chev Canada will donated 1000 to a charity of your choice. It is called the "Car Heaven" program. So, I have a new zippy car with a/c (never before) and it is a four door, and it has all the doodads for babies (whenever they come) and a bunch more. It is a fun car to drive (also a standard).

So, bye to my Chev Calavier and hello to Chev Cobalt.

Our sadness, her freedom

Today, I got word that my Grandma passed away. It is a sad time for us but not for her. It is sad as we will miss our mother, grandma, great-grandma, and friend. But for Grandma, she is free of the body that was no longer hers. She now is in a place where she can remember everything rather than the select. She is free.

Now in Heaven, she can golf (and get that hole in one), curl, play cards, and even bet on the ponies. She will see all those who left before her. She will see her infant son, her brothers who died too young, her epileptic mother, her father, her step mother and many more. She will be our guardian angel who will look over us and keep us on the straight and narrow.

We will no longer see her with our eyes, hold her hand, or give her a hug. We will instead see her with our hearts, remember her with our memories, and feel warm when we remember.

Nedra Mae Macallister Snelson, we will miss you.
Love, your grand daughter.

Bulemic Cat

Not for the weak stomach.

This is Mouse. For the past 3 weeks, she has been throwing up. At the beginning, we thought it would pass but then took her to the vet. It was an obstruction; wait for a BM to try and find out what it is and feed her Vaseline with her food. BM's are happening but she is still throwing up. Mostly it is hairballs but sometimes food. Give her hair ball remedy. Still throwing up. I want to follow the directions to the letter but Dan does not. Will it ever stop? She still eats as she has only lost 1 lbs in the whole 3 weeks, she is still active, and healthy. She has become more of a suck - now a lap cat where as before, she would sit beside us not on our lap. We are just tired of her throwing up. If you have any ideas, please pass them on.

teaching

So, I don't work Fridays so at the beginning of the school year, I put my name down to sub on Fridays. I RARELY get called. In fact I have taught a total of 1.5 days since September. However, as I had plans yesterday, I of course get called in. I figure that by the time they call me, they are running out of options plus I got the call at 7:45 rather than an earlier call. So, I saw the call display and debated with myself should I answer or not. I chose to answer. I was asked to go to a grade 2 class nearby (thankfully). I got there several minutes before the bell rang.

It was fun. The class mostly accepted my changes in the way things are done but I tried to follow their routine. I could not find one book I was supposed to read... I looked everywhere except the one place where it was (but I was not looking for a stack of photocopied books). Anyway, it was found for buddy reading.

I forgot how much kids tattle on each other. Groan. At the end of the day, my voice was so tired. I wish I had a sound field system!! Then I kicked myself... I had one in my car the whole time as I have it for a school on Monday to use!!!

So, I enjoyed teaching a class but I also like my job where I am teaching one on one.

And on the note... two more months and I start going to school again myself.

Happy Saturday.