More Hours!

On Thursday, after technically six full days of work for me, our tutor team was offered an increase in hours.  The principal met with us over lunch, lamenting the fact that he was unable to find any additional staff to cover the lunch hour.  He asked if we would be willing to put in an extra half an hour a day to cover the lunch shift, either outside for recess or inside in the lunchroom.

Just like the Three Musketeers "All for one and one for all", we agreed to two more hours a week starting October 5.

All in a day's play!

Steven, a lifeguard at the Y, and I have been getting together all summer with a just a fun eclectic group of women who mostly have just the Y in common.  

Today, Steven and I renewed our CPR-PR and First Aid Certifications at the Y.  Earlier this week, after Rachel and I set the time for our renewal, I told Steven to meet me in the Electrical Closet at 11 a.m. this morning.  

It got out to our group of women that we were planning a clandestine meeting n a closet today and we got some team harassment. 

We look pretty scary, not to mention clandestine!  The good new is we both passed!
 

  

Throw Kindness Around Like . . .

 

CONFETTI CUPCAKES!

Thankful Thursday!

I'm not sure what made me more thankful on Thursday.  Was it the fact that I made it home alive Thursday night after an exhausting week of working at both the Y and Oak Hills, fighting with insurance companies, looking for new cars and just life in general?  Or was it the fact that we came home with a "new to us" 2017 Galactic Aqua Toyota Corolla?   I know I was definitely thankful for all the work Sam put into finding us a new car.  Maybe now, life will settle down just a bit . . .

Farewell to Minnesota Unemployment Insurance!

Since March 23, I have been eligible for Minnesota Unemployment Insurance.  It has been a definite gift to us, allowing me to "hang tight" during furlough from my jobs.  I am happy to say, now that I will officially start working Monday through Fridays at Oak Hills Elementary, I can say "good-bye" and "thank you!"

Chocolate Chip Overload!

Micah invented a new cookie this morning that we all liked.  She calls it "Chocolate Chip Overload"!  

Even the spider got into it . . .

 

 

Whinge Friday

If you're wondering what a "whinge" Friday might be . . . "whinge" is the Australian term for whiny!  And today I'm feeling just a bit whinge . . .

• First thing this morning, I was at the orthopedic surgeon's having my knees checked out following last Thursday's car accident.  Surgically speaking, comparing today's x-rays with July's x-rays, my knees are surgically fine.  But there is something not-quite-right with my left knee and my surgeon wanted me to try six weeks of PT before he ordered an MRI.  That means on top of a new job and seeing the chiro twice a week due to whiplash, I'm adding PT once a week.  Whinge. 
• I left the surgeon and went to the endodontist to finish my root canal (Neighbor Nancy says I really know how to plan fun days!).  There was a possibility of not finding that fourth root that had calcified and having a quick appointment, but no!  On my full face x-ray, they found the root and pried my mouth open FOREVER!  Whinge.
• This afternoon, Micah and I went to Best Buy.  I had finally purchased a new phone on Labor Day which, of course, was quite damaged in the accident.  Progressive said they would pay for the phone, but I had bought it on sale.  They would only cover the sale price.  Now I'm out another $150.00, although I do have a request in to Progressive for that additional amount.  I didn't run the stop sign!  Whinge.  

And there you have it - whinge Friday!

Thankful Thursday!

Today, I'm thankful for all of those who helped me have a successful first full day of work at Oak Hills Elementary!  My co-workers are a delightful group of women who are there to answer any question I might have.  The building staff have been friendly and helpful.  It has been good.  I am thankful. 

Surprise Me!

I'm currently re-reading the book, "Be the Surprise!" by Terry Esau.  He has an earlier book that I've never read, but he refers to in the book I am reading called "Surprise Me!".

With all the hassle of the car accident, I've just been praying that God would surprise me.  My thought for the "surprise" is that God would provide us with enough settlement money to pay for either a "new to us car" in full or even a new car in full.  

I don't know where God is at with that, but let me tell you how He's been in the business of surprising me just today:

• I don't have a fob yet to open the school doors.  Today, I prayed that someone would be there to let me in at 10:00.  I walked in with my new co-worker Danette.
• I told Danette that she was an answer to prayer.  She said she was glad to hear I prayed.  I asked her where she went to church (take a risk!).  She said, "Berean."  I said, "Me, too."  A great conversation ensued. 
• Stacy, another new co-worker gave me a building tour today.  First I ran into my friend, Tracy, who is a special ed para.  She greeted me with a huge smile!  Then I ran into my friend, Heather, who greeted me with great joy!  Next I ran into the speech teacher who said, "You had my daughter Mallory in swimming lessons at the Y!"
• I discovered that our schedules until October 2, are NOT what our schedules would be in a "normal" (non-COVID) school year.  Our team motto has become "blessed are the flexible" - just like Mercy Ships, without the waves rocking! 
• We only worked an hour today, so I went to get groceries at Fresh Thyme.  My favorite checkout person, Linda, noticed two women had literally budged in front of me while I was in the checkout line and she gave me her staff discount, even though she wasn't the person checking me out!
• I was checked out by Mitchell, who said to me, "You had me in swimming lessons."  "Oh, really, where?"  "I was in your WSA class three or four years ago."  Excellent!
• Not only did my car get totaled in the accident, but the phone I had purchased three and a half days earlier and had yet to set up voice mail on, was damaged.  The OTHER insurance agent called today (his, not mine!) and after he asked me all his questions, I asked him mine, "What about my phone?"  They will at least pay what I paid, but we purchased during a sale and with Best Buy Bonus Bucks, so we're not sure if they'll give us more, but at least I'm not out a phone. 
•  
  
• "Thank you, Jesus, for all of these wonderful surprises today!" 
  

What a Recommendation!

I walked up to the front door of Oak Hills this morning, ready to start my new job.  I inserted my driver's license into the slot that would allow me to gain entrance to the building and nothing happened.

Fortunately for me, a teacher saw me and ran up and opened the door saying, "Margo, do you remember me?  Janet?  Janet McBride?"  (She had been Micah's third grade teacher at Christina Huddleston.)

She asked me what I was doing there and my new supervisor, Mo, walked up and said, "She's my new tutor" to which Janet responded, "Oh, my gosh, she's the best!" 

I can't think of a better way to start a new job, can you?

 

Do you ever have . . .

 . . . one of those days where you're not going to win no matter how hard you try?

While I was showing the kids my "new" rental car last night, we noticed the tags were expired - like May expired!  So this morning I called the agency and was told to come in and get a new car.

Sam and I picked up the car, I dropped him off for a haircut appointment, and went to JoAnn Fabrics to look for bulletin board material for Sam.  I found no material.  Even worse, I couldn't find the car fobs!  We had two staff plus the manager looking with us.  We went door to door in the strip mall to see if the fobs had been turned in somewhere else.  Maybe I had lost them in the parking lot.  I was getting more and more nauseous by the minute.  (Sometime soon I really WANT to follow doctor's orders and take it easy!)

Sam called Micah to come and get me.  Sam called the rental agency.  The rental agency called a tow truck.  Sam went back into JoAnn's to look ONE.MORE.TIME.  He found the fobs!

Matt brought me back to JoAnn's.  I drove the rental home.  It was now 2 p.m.  We had left home at 9:30 a.m.  

But there was no rest for the weary!  No, we needed to look for a "new" car.  One of the dealerships didn't like me sitting on the floor utterly exhausted, so they brought both of us a chair.  Finally, at 4:45, Sam said, "Let's go to church."  You KNOW that's when the day began to get better!

The best part was our friends Tara and Jameson finding us after church and then joining us for dinner at our house.  Totally spur of the moment!  Totally great time!

 

 

 

 

Thankful Thursday! - Part Two

Today, I'm just thankful to be alive!  

I was driving down Portland Avenue on my way home from a great swim at the Y.  At the first intersection after the round-a-bout, I was in utter shock as I watched a little red car run the stop sign and crash in to me.  Every air bag in my car deployed. I was knocked around, but I was alive.  Eventually, I managed to get out of the car.  I had hit both of my bionic knees, got an interesting cut on my left leg and TOTALLY bruised my sternum.  

We took these shots of the Toy at the towing place this afternoon.  It's so totaled.  I've spent my day on the phone with the insurance company, the doctor's, Allen's Towing, trying to get a loaner car and talking with a few friends from the Y who saw bits and pieces.  I've called friends and neighbors for rides to the doctor's and the chiropracter.  Needless to say, I don't have a loaner car - yet.  And, I hurt. 

Here's what's amazing:  the driver of the other car only had a scratch on his hand and his twin daughters in the back seat were physically fine.  

Here's what's stupid:  "But Google didn't say to stop."  You have GOT to be kidding me!  Really?!?

So here it is - the first week of school for Sam.  I have a new job.  I am in great pain that is only going to get worse before it gets better.  We need to buy a new car.  But, I am alive! 

 

 

 

Thankful Thursday! - Part One

Last night, I was so looking forward to writing this post today.  You see, since COVID, my hours were DRASTICALLY cut at the YMCA from four shifts a week to just two. I also haven't been able to work at Sand Creek due to lack of bilateral face mask usage.

On a whim, I started to look for a new jobs with Lakeville Public Schools.  My former supervisors were wonderful, quickly putting together letters of recommendations for me.  Even one of Matt and Micah's former principals put in a good word for me.  

I had an on-line interview yesterday morning and was offered the job last night.  I will be a Title One Tutor, a regular tutor and recess supervisor at Oak Hills Elementary from 9:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., five days a week.  

I am thankful for so many things:

• For the kind letters my former supervisors wrote, 
• For the encouragement those letters gave me,
• That my boss at the Y was so very understanding when I semi-retired today,
  
• That I actually got the job!  

It's going to be way different, but as a family we're excited!

 

  

 

Banana!

After a hard workout, I'm supposed to carb up.  

I usually try to eat a banana after every swim, but someone had eaten all of our bananas today.

Since banana bread has bananas in it, it counts, right?😄

Bored Betty

This is one of Micah's favorite songs, but every time I hear it, I hear "Bored Betty", not "Born Ready".  Listen and decide . . . 

 

My Boss' Husband

My apologies for not posting this sooner.  Duane met Jesus face to face last Friday.  His funeral will be tomorrow and I'll be there to support Pat and her family.

Breach of Code of Conduct

As I spoke with my supervisor and head of customer service today, Glen without a doubt breached the Y's code of conduct by speaking to me so inappropriately yesterday.  He will be talked to by a department head in hopes that no one else will ever be asked those questions, unoffendable or not.

How to End a Marriage

Sam and I started painting our house together last Thursday.  He asked me to paint the white trim and he would paint the blue.  

It didn't take long for me to figure out that the white trim was up the highest.  Now, I am in no way afraid of heights, but I am only 5'5" and he is 6'1".  That's an eight inch difference, folks.  He can lift the big ladder.  I struggle to moved the mid-size ladder.  He has two knees from God.  I have two knees from Dr. Johnson.  I can guarantee his knees work better.  I explained this to him.  He replied, "I want to paint the blue."  

So, I painted white.  Up on the deck, I forgot I had a half a can of paint on my ladder when I moved it.  He did clean it up for me.  Then he asked me to paint blue with the wrong ladder.  He cleaned a tray of blue paint off of the front step.  Then he let me paint down low without a ladder.  Our marriage was saved! 

The Y Inservice

We had our quarterly Y swim instructor inservice last night.  Elaine had us share our names, how long we'd been at the Y, what we did at the Y and something we were looking forward to this fall.  

My response went something like this: "Hi, I'm Margo.  I've been at this branch - it will be thirteen years this fall.  To be perfectly honest, what I'm looking forward to most this fall is - my husband changed elementary schools and his new principal wants all of his teachers to teach from the classroom and not from home.  I won't have to go to fifth grade anymore!"

Every married woman in the room laughed and then started talking about how tough it was to have their husbands working from home while all of the singles just did NOT get it!

Thirty-Six!!!

Micah had a doctor's appointment on Monday.  I'm not sure who was more happy - she or the doctor.  Micah had lost thirty-six pounds since her last appointment six months prior.  Way to go girl!!!

Thankful Thurday - oddly!

I was swimming laps this morning at the Y, when Glen, an eighty-something-year-old-man, asked if he could ask me a question.  Oddest question ever.  Pointing to his chest, he said, "Have you always been that small or did you have cancer?"  

Woah.  I think that crossed a line.  What I'm thankful for is the book I've been re-reading, "Unoffendable" by Brant Hansen.  I could have chosen to get angry at him, but I chose instead to be unoffended.  I replied, "Yes."  Then he went on to say he had three daughters with three different sizes.  T.M.I.  The "largest" had had breast reduction surgery due to breast cancer.  Way T.M.I.! 

I tried to end that conversation quickly, grateful that I was unoffendable, but thinking I may need to share this conversation with my supervisor tomorrow because it's just not sitting right.

Thankful Thursday - the REALLY Thankful!

Like, I know in the greater scheme of things, this is no big deal, but I am so thankful today that Micah found Softsoap at Target - and she was able to buy two refill bottles!

We have been searching for this for MONTHS - no exaggeration!  We've gone on-line.  We've traveled to Walmart, Target, Cub (there are three in Lakeville!), and Walgreens.  We've checked stores in Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville and Apple Valley.  I even contacted the company and they were less than helpful.

You see, this is the one soap Micah can use without having a nasty reaction.  We tried a Walmart knock-off and her hands got really bad - covered with bumps and itchy.  Fortunately, we were able to control it with a thorough washing, Benadryl and ditching the knock-off.  Her doctor confirmed on Monday that we did indeed make the right choices and suggested a hydrocortisone cream, too.  So . . . that said, I am ever thankful that she now has two bottles of refills!  Really!