I am sure that, by now, you have begun to wonder if my little predicaments really do happen.  After all, you don’t know me personally (most of you, that is), so who’s to say that I’m not some gifted writer who’s resorted to writing a lowly blog.

Alas, that is not the case.

I am AuburnChick, lucky recipient of strange occurrences.  Especially on Mondays.

Take today, which just happens to be a Monday, by the way.

After school, I hurried home to pick up Rooster.  The temperature only got up to 44 degrees today, and, if you can believe it, my school district made today optional for students.  Floridians don’t take kindly to cold weather, and apparently they think their children should stay home cuddled in bed if the temperature drops below sixty degrees.

Rooster attended, of course.  Lucky him to have a mom who cares so much about his education.

I was merciful enough to pick him up from school so he wouldn’t have to brave a frigid walk home.

He walked into the house ahead of me and turned around and said, “Mama, did you leave the back door open today?”

No, I hadn’t, but whoever last closed it obviously had not done so tightly (you know…when you hear the “click”).

Aubie and Pele greeted us with huge dog smiles and whines.  I’m not sure if they had enjoyed their freedom or were confused by it.

What got my attention, though, was the temperature INSIDE of the house.  Brrr.

I took a peek at the thermostat.

My heart sank when I saw the reading:  57 degrees.

Now, let me just explain to you that I am a miser.  I pay the electric bill out of my meager earnings, and keeping it low is one of my primary goals.  Last month, my bill was about $80.

During the summer, I kept the air set at 83 degrees, and I had completely turned it off in September.  I still had not turned on the heat.  My family has discovered that 66 degrees is not cold enough to turn a human into a popsicle.

Well, when I saw the current temperature this afternoon, I knew that this simply would not do.  The Mr. would be livid if I didn’t do something about it, so I decided to turn on the heat to warm up the house.

I pushed the right buttons, but I didn’t hear anything.  No lovely sound of the fan coming on, and no “heater smell” the first time you turn on the heat during winter.

Uh oh.

I turned if off and back on again.  Nothing.

As you know, I am somewhat gifted in the handy-woman trade, so I ran out to the garage and took a peek at the fuse box.  Everything was set as it should be, but just to be safe, I flipped the heater switch off and back on.

Then, I ran back inside – fully expecting the heat to come on.

I was wrong.

Well, not only am I a handy-woman, but I am a techie at heart.  Techies troubleshoot.

I tried turning on the air conditioner, setting the thermostat way low to ensure it would come on.

Nothing.

Oh boy.

This was looking bad…especially since we are going to experience the coldest night of the year.

Great.

Thankfully, on the inside of my thermostat’s door is the number of the company that installed it.

I called.

I begged for someone to walk me through a fix-it-yourself snap-it-on kind of fix.

I only got a receptionist.

She was nice, but she couldn’t help me except to take my name and number.  She also promised that if someone needed to come out, it would be that afternoon.

Five minutes later, I got a call back.  The guy listened to my dilemma and decided that his company needed to make a house call.

Great.

He assured me that someone would call back right away to set up a time.

He was a man of his word.  Five minutes later, I got a call.  The technician was en route at that very moment.

Talk about service.

When the guy arrived, he took one look at my house and said, “It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”

He had helped install the unit back when the house was first built (we are the original owners).

He had also made one service call way back when…several years ago.  Ironically, he had quit working for the company one month after his last visit, and he had only recently returned to work for the company again.

It was meant to be.

He had been out on service runs when he got the call to help me.  Because his last call is near his home, he rearranged his schedule to fit me in.

Don’t you just love how God orchestrates even the smallest things?!

He took a look at this and that…popped off the unit’s cover, which I had dared not done.  He tried to “wake up” the wires, but they were snoozing good.

After determining that my fan was not the problem (praise God, for that would be a very expensive part to fix), he figured out that the part that is broken has to be picked up from the warehouse, which was closed by then.

Great.

But, he is an expert in the business, so he fixed my unit so I can have heat tonight.  It does mean that my fan will run all night.

I dread the electric bill.

The Mr. came home in the middle of the repair, and he was smiling.

You see, he’s been begging me to turn on the heat.

Go ahead and call me Mrs. Scrooge.  Of course, that wouldn’t be fitting, now would it?  Scrooge had lots of money to spend but chose not to.  If I had money, I’d gladly spend it!

heehee

So, I’m sitting here in what is now a sauna at 70 degrees.

I am content though and very grateful that, despite the odd things that seem to happen in my life, God is always in control.  I see His hand in every single part of every single happening.

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Tis the season for being sick.

First, let me say that as a first year teacher, I think I’ve been rather lucky.  I caught a cold the second or third week of school, but I got through it without a problem.

I’ve had students come in with running noses, stuffy heads, and tummy aches…and I haven’t gotten sick.

Even when sickness hit my own home, I managed to steer clear of it…or so I though.

Last night, I attended two girls’ soccer games.  I took 1900+ pictures.  I ate chili from the concession stand.  I sat with friends and enjoyed myself immensely.

Life was good.

Until 3:15am.

Don’t you just hate being woken up in the middle of the night with the most horrendous stomach ache ever?

I trotted myself to the bathroom, thinking it would be a one-trip deal.

Oh.  My.  Gosh.

All I have to say is that I had the worst pain I can remember in several years.

One bad thing about getting sick in the middle of the night is that you are completely exhausted, but the potty just isn’t the bed.  You try to make yourself comfortable, but you can’t.  You find yourself nodding off, but then you wake up as another spasm of pain rolls through your body.

It was the height of misery.

Just when I thought I might be okay, I returned to bed, glancing at the clock as I slipped between the covers.

Forty five minutes had elapsed.

I was still in terrible pain, but I managed to doze off…for maybe fifteen minutes.

More pain.

Another trip to the bathroom.

Misery.

When I finally returned to bed, Molly looked at me.  I could tell that she had been wondering where I had been.

Two more visits ensued before I was finally able to sleep until noon.

I managed to stay up for, maybe, an hour, before returning to bed, where I slept until 5pm.  Rooster was playing his Xbox in the same room, but I didn’t hear anything.

A note about Rooster.

As you read in one of my other posts this week, he was sick with suspected Strep, and he stayed home from school three days while I did my best to take care of him while working.

This sweet, 16 year old boy of mine was the kindest I’ve ever seen him.  I could tell that he was really worried about me.  He got me Gatorade without complaining.  He did his chores without complaining.  He asked me if I wanted him to vacuum.  He didn’t want to disturb me.  I gave him the day off since I didn’t feel like listening to the machine run.

I am so used to taking care of everyone else.  It has been nice to be taken care of.

I am a basket case right now.  I despise being sick.  I had planned on getting ahead on my lesson plans.  Nothing got done.

Sigh.

I’m still feeling sick.  Whatever intestinal ailment I have is brutal.  I’m going to try to rest up…skip church in the morning to recoup.  Hopefully I will feel better by Monday.

Tis the season.

Filed under: This-n-That | 3 Comments »

Oh my word, y’all.  I am having one humdinger of a week, as evidenced by my lack of blog posts lately.

Seriously…the stuff that I’ve had to deal with this week has the makings for a song worth of Johnny Cash, Lord rest his soul.

Here’s a rundown of the happenings thus far, and keep in mind that it is only Wednesday evening.

Monday

6:30am – Rooster wakes up with a horrible sore throat.  We argue as I force him to take Excedrin for the pain.  He goes to school anyway with instructions to call if he needs to go home.

7:15am – Spill water all over papers in the box on wheels that I use to carry school stuff each day.  Great.

8:00am – Education Director comes into my classroom to schedule an observation.  Like a crazy person, I tell him to come during my most difficult class.

8:15am – Spill hot chocolate down the front of my shirt.  Lovely.

8:30am – Rooster calls.  He needs to go home.  He’s about to throw up.

8:45am – I call the doctor and tell them no, he cannot wait until Thursday to go in.  The boy had Strep in March, and I suspect he has it again.  They schedule him for a 2pm appointment.

9:00am – During Planning, I pick him up, run him home, take his temp, tuck blankets around him on the couch, and return to work dejected that I can’t be home with him.

12:30pm – Get observed by Education Director.  Kids, mercifully, behave, and the pronoun lesson goes smoothly.

2:00pm – The Mr. takes Rooster to the doctor.

2:45pm – I receive a text from the Mr., “We’re still waiting to be seen.”

2:50pm – Text:  “We just got called back.”

2:52pm – I arrive at the doctor’s office just as the doctor is sitting down with Rooster.

3:35pm – Drop Rooster off at home and pick up Molly and Pele for annual shots

3:45pm – Molly gets wedged between my car door and the back seat.

3:50pm – Molly is finally free, after using my head for leverage to push herself back up into the car (she was wedged in tight).

3:51pm – Do the Iditarod run, dogs in tow, to the vet’s door.

4:15pm – Get informed that my Molly is a “chunky” 76 pounds.  No wonder she got stuck.  Can you say Doggie Diet?

4:20pm – Drive to CVS to drop off Rooster’s prescription, which is promised to be ready at 5:30.

4:30pm – Arrive home and throw dinner in the crockpot.

6:15pm – Drive back to CVS to pick up prescription after allowing an extra 45 minutes “just in case.”

6:20pm – CVS employee tells me they can’t find his prescription.

6:21pm – Fume in anger

6:22pm – Technician finds the prescription but announces that his insurance information is not in the system.

6:23pm – Fume in anger while insisting it is and that he had Strep in March and that is the only place I get prescriptions filled.

6:24pm – Look for insurance card.  Remember that I gave it to Chicky to take to college.

6:25pm – Fume because I forgot to order another card.

6:26pm – Come up with brilliant idea.  Transfer Chicky’s insurance information to Rooster’s.  Works like a charm.

6:45pm – Prescription finally ready.

6:46pm – Use coupon to score a $25 gift card for filling a new prescription (even good things happen in country songs).

6:47pm – Turn right instead of left on the way to another errand and home.  I’ve only lived here eight years.  The brain is officially fried.

7:00pm – Arrive home and turn on TV to watch Sing-Off.  Cable TV is screwed up, and the people sound like they have Spanish accents…every third word has rolled “r’s.”

7:05pm – Discover internet is not working either.

7:06pm – Fume.

8:30pm – After resetting the modem and still getting nothing to work, call Comcast and score a $20 credit on my bill for my woes.

10:00pm – Collapse in bed.  With nothing to watch on TV and no internet to work on lesson plans, I might as well.

Tuesday

6:30am – Repeat of the previous day.  Rooster is sicker.  He doesn’t go in to school at all.

7:00am – Text the Mr. and tell him to go to Comcast and insist that someone come out to fix the cable.  There’s nothing like complaining in person.

8:00 to 2:50 – Teach my heart out.

1:00pm – 9th grader’s phone rings in class.

1:01pm – Fume.  Rule #2 of 5 has been broken.

1:30pm – Assign student 500 word essay.  Ahhh…consequences.

2:50pm – Get approached by Education Director and told I am supposed to take an education class one time per week.

2:51pm – Fume.  Explain that I am returning to college to complete a 21-credit alternative education certification program that is needed for my permanent teaching certificate.

2:57pm – Finally win the battle after producing course descriptions.  Do the happy dance.

3:15pm – Arrive home to hear Rooster asking if I brought home the Gatorade I had promised him.  Oops.  Out the door I go, only after learning that we now have cable and internet.

4:00 to 6:45pm – Waffle about going to the boys’ soccer game.  Finally decide to stay home and read essay rough drafts.

5:00 to 10:30pm – Go through four pencils while proofreading essays.

10:30pm – Turn on the TV to relax and boot up the computer to blog, only to discover that the cable and internet are out again.

10:31pm – Fume.

10:45pm – Go to bed.  There’s nothing else I can do.

11:00pm – Open eyes to check the lights on the cable modem.  Still only two lights.  Still no internet.

11:01 to 11:45pm – Mentally write out the speech that I plan to give a Comcast representative the next day.

Wednesday

6:30am – Rooster wakes up with nausea.  Can it be…three days in a row?  This is starting to resemble the movie Groundhog Day.

6:45am – Drop off doctor’s note at the school and report Rooster out sick…again.

6:50am – Buy Gatorade at Walmart (you can teach an old dog new tricks sometimes)

7:00am – Startbucks run.  The gal has my cup ready as I walk in.  Peppermint Hot Chocolate soothes the soul.

7:10am – Arrive at school, ready to tackle the day.

7:15am – Send emails to Rooster’s teachers asking for homework assignments.

9:45am – Planning Period – Visit doctor’s office for an excuse for school for the last two days that Rooster has missed.  Visit Comcast and present the sob story pre-written the night before.  Representative promises to have someone out this afternoon.  Go to Bed Bath and Beyond and buy Rooster new bedding, saving $43 in the process.  Cha Ching.

10:40am – Make it back to school with two minutes to spare.

11:40am – Lunch – Drive to Rooster’s school to pick up assignments.  Get lost looking for his English room.  Walk into the wrong portable.  Kids say “Hi Mrs. AuburnChick.  Are you lost?”  They know me well.

12:00pm – Locate Rooster’s teacher and pick up essay folder.  Notice bad grade inside.  Fume.

12:15pm – Quickly run home, drop off homework, and give Rooster his new bedding.  Smile as I watch him smile at the surprise of new bedding.  Joy.

12:30pm – Make it back to school with 30 seconds to spare.

12;31 to 1:25pm – Teach hormonal, giggling teenagers hell-bent on not listening to my well-prepared Pronoun lesson.

1:00pm – Send one student out of the room to collect herself.

1:03pm – Student asks to return.

1:10pm – Send a second student out to collect himself.

1:15pm – Student returns.

1:16pm – Third student insists on interrupting me with questions unrelated to the lesson.  Slyly reach over to desk drawer and pull out green parent contact cards.  Make a show of laying them on my desk first before picking them up and sliding them into back pocket.

1:17pm – Smile inside as the class gets quiet.  Trouble is brewing, but I am in control.

1:26pm – Fume.

1:27 to 1:30pm – Lecture class about respect and almost break down in tears.

1:31pm – Listen to student beg me not to call his parents.  “I’m sorry, Mrs. AuburnChick.”  Yeah.  Kids are always sorry.  Until the next time.

1:32pm – Fume.

1:33pm – Vent to other teachers.  Smile as we make jokes.  Joy again.

2:00pm – Happily greet my sophomores, who are gems.

3:00pm – Staff meeting.

4:00pm – Quizno’s for dinner.  Upon arrival at home, Rooster tells me that he saw a cable guy carrying wires.  Hope.

5:15pm – Attend high school soccer game.  Eat M&M’s and take pictures.  Joy.  Peace.  Contentment

7:15pm – Arrive home.  Cable and internet still working.  Joy.  Peace.  Contentment.

7:30 to 9:30pm – Proofread Chicky’s research paper.  Insert comments.  Email back to her while ducking from the arrows she’s going to throw at me.

9:00pm – Tuck Rooster into his bed, which is complete with his new comforter.  Smile.  He’s happy and starting to feel better.

9:56pm – Blog.

Relief.

Things are back to normal, I think.

And now where’s Nashville’s phone directory.  I have some songwriters to call.  I think I have a very good song in the making!

Filed under: This-n-That | 2 Comments »