Long Time Gone

I have been severely neglecting my blogs as of late, mostly due to lack of internet access, but partly because of severe laziness on my part. So, an update on the goings on of the last few months.

In June and July I worked in the Resource room at District 25. I enjoyed the company of a wonderful Special Ed. teacher who usually teaches in American Falls. She and I had a LOT in common and got along great. Also in our room was another aide, a friend of mine who also works at Alameda Ctr. During the 2 months we worked together at summer school, she studied for and passed a slew of tests to become a certified Special Ed. teacher. She's now working at Kinport, the program I worked at last year.

I skipped out on the last few days of summer school to head back east to visit family and friends in Maine. I spent 3 weeks there, enjoying the company at our family reunion and visiting friends all over. We went to the ocean and I spent a day in New Hampshire with my honorary family, the Collins' at their family reunion. I also got a massive case of sun poisoning and had a bad run in with coconut rum (NEVER AGAIN, let me tell you!). I lost about 15 pounds due to sweating and lots of activity (WOOHOO).

The day after I returned to lovely, hot and dry Idaho, I had a job interview for a full-time position at Alameda. It was the easiest, most stress-free interview of my life!!! The very next day, I was informed that the job was mine!!!! I was really sad to leave Kinport, but I couldn't pass up full-time work, benefits, and a pay raise. It seemed almost too good to be true!!!

Diane stressed all summer about her job. She had her paycheck extended throughout the summer so we had money, but she was really stressed about finances and her dislike of her job. But at the last minute (5 days before our school jobs started) she was called about an interview in Logan, UT. The job would be in our area, but the company is based in Logan. The day after the interview they called to offer her the job!!! She's started her training and will begin working soon. This is a huge burden lifted off of her shoulders. I am so happy for her. I hated to see her so stressed and unhappy. Her job will be working with at risk babies and toddlers and their families to make sure they stay developmentally on track. Her title is Early Childhood Family Educator. It sounds so official and important. I love it.

So school started last Monday, at least for the staff. We had meetings and prep times and more meetings. Alameda Ctr. has an entirely new administration. This is both a good and bad thing. Good, because the administration has been so unstable for several years. Bad, because new administration equals changes and not everyone likes changes, staff and students both. We're managing. I'm getting used to a new job, new hours, new boss and coworkers. It'll take some time, but I'll get into a routine. We'll see how my body and mind handles the workload and the stress. I'm hoping things will work out for the best.

We finally got the last of our kittens from last year adopted out, only to have one returned after a nine month stint in a new home. She came back with what the vet called the worst case of ear mites she had ever seen. Bearie scratched her face to a bloody mess in an attempt to ease the itching. Now she's in a cone while she heals. She's less than thrilled. She's also less than thrilled (to say the least) that we have taken in a new foster. This one is an approximately 3 month old kitten who was starved and severely mistreated by her last owners. She's the sweetest, most loving kitty I've ever seen and we're working to get some meat on her bones and to keep her hydrated. She's started getting her shots and when she's healthier, she'll start going to Adoption Days every month until we find her a forever home. Diane was very hesitant to take on a new foster, especially such a high maintenance one while Bearie is still healing, but I begged. I just couldn't bear to see her end up in a shelter where she would be on death row. The Humane Society didn't have any open fosters, so if we didn't take her that's where she would have ended up. I named her Inkblot, but mostly we just call her Baby. She's getting healthier and stronger by the day!

So that's what's been happening around here. I've spent a lot of time this weekend catching up on blogs, emails, and facebook. Leave comments and let me know what's happening in your lives!!!

~KK~