Today

Today I went to my final check out of school day. Then I met my wonderful husband in Champaign and we went out to eat and then the book store. Came home went to my mother's and my cousin Glenda came by. We went to two of the many cemeteries so Glenda could learn some family history. Came home. Went to get some LJS for dinner, mom wanted this, and we ate with mother. Now I am trying to figure out where to put all my 30+ teaching years worth of stuff.
Tomorrow I will maybe feel I am retired.

Ahhhhh.

Relief, retired officially in less than 24 hours. Oh how great it feels. It was a hard decision at first, but as the school year progressed I decided it was time. The younger generation needs to move into my spot. If the state of Illinois has their way, congress and an idiot governor, teachers will be the oldest working class in America, age 67. Not only that they want to take away half of the money you have earned to pay for their poor leadership. Attack big business or your own pensions, not people who work 30+ years, more than 40 hours per week without overtime pay, no paid holidays, no paid vacations. We need to overhaul the pension plans of congress members, why do they collect full pension, even when they only work 4 years to receive it? Cuts... let's start by cleaning the pension system of congress and governor first. Maybe they need to be able to only collect one pension... which do you want? Teachers that have paid into social security, at a different job, only receive about 25% of their benefit... what is up with that? Yet congress can collect full pension from more than one fund. Why do railroad widows have to choose between the half benefit they receive from their husband's retirement or their own? Why do spouses only receive half of their spouses pension when the spouse passes away... they both gave in some way and should get the full benefit... More research needs to be done. American people need to start standing up and telling congress we have a voice, we have the power, we want change, but let's start right there with you all. You get to write your rules for you, I want to write your rules! You have the UNFAIR advantage!

Genealogy Dig

Wow I just found a census that states one of my great-grandmother's sisters had 13 children. I did not know she had so many. I have not found out when she died either. As far as I can tell no one else that is researching that line knows either. I guess one of my trips this summer will have to be to Wisconsin (Even though I have sworn I would not give them any of my hard earned teaching money with what they did to teachers there.).
I also need to go to Tennessee. I have a few unanswered questions there. Then of course I have plenty of research around here.
We are going on a motorcycle trip to Colorado. I need to see what research I need to do between here and there. Never hurts to make plans for when the weather is such that you cannot ride.
I also need to go to Indiana. I have some questions that the answers may be there.
My retirement will be full this summer. But so is every other summer.

Indy 500

This weekend is the big Indy 500. We are taking our grandsons. Our daughter,Lara, her husband and Emilia are all going with us. Kristina and Dustin are going as well as Rachel and Ashley. Or at least Rachel and Ashley want to go. Their father is insisting on them spending extra time with him if they go because it is his weekend. Rachel doesn't want to do that. So I don't know if they will be going.
Devon wants to go because Austin wants to go. I don't think Devon knows what it is or how hot it can be.
I just hope it doesn't rain and storm for the race. Looking at weather reports... well the race might not happen.

A New Life...

Well not really a new life, but time for change. I have worked most of my life. I started babysitting at the age of 10. That's right, 10. I think back and wonder, just what were those people thinking, I was 10 and babysitting their new baby. Of course they lived across the alley from us, so I guess they figured I could call my mom. I mowed lawns for others, never asked to be paid as they were all elderly people and I just liked to mow. Then I babysat on a regular basis for 3 families. I worked at my uncle's restaurant and I worked at my aunt's boutique. I worked at a department store and scrubbed floors at a nursing home. And then I did what I did for a major part of my life... taught school.
I retire in just 3 days. Wow does that ever sound great... retirement.
I have been teasing the students all year that I was going to go home and just bake cookies one of these days. Well I really wasn't joking, as I had already made up my mind I wanted to retire.
My daughter is just starting her teaching career... she is "inheriting" lots of stuff for her classroom. She has been laying claim for awhile now... so now she can just have it all. 34 years worth of collecting!
So Hello new life. Sewing machine oiled and dusted off. Cookie sheets ready to go. Lets see what I can find to fill up my days. I may need to sub once in a great while, just to feel I am contributing to the future. Who knows. I sure don't. This is kind of scary. But it is also kind of exciting.
Maybe I'll write a book.

Study hall

Talk about being quiet... well most of them were. I told them I would not sign their test waiver if they were as loud as Thursday. Most were quiet. Some well they can't get out of finals, so they were just their normal selves.

I have been told I have the quietest study hall.. I say if they are quiet, then what do the others sound like?

I have the largest... 57 students 29 are freshman.... the rest are juniors....

Made the....

I have put in for retirement. Yes, I have taught many years. Many times under appreciated for all the hard work. I will miss most of the students, however there are some I will never miss.
It is not I will not miss the student... it is their behaviors, attitudes, lack of parent involvement, too much government... too many that do not know what they are talking about.
I ask students that are not achieving, "What can I do to help you be successful?" Their response, "Nothing! If I want to learn it I will. But I am here to visit friends. I could careless about what teachers are teaching."
So there you have it. Congress... stop blaming teachers, start blaming congress and stupid laws, regulations, tests that prove nothing... You cannot educate when you have to teach to a test. There is so much more to education and you have no clue. Ask real teachers and not people who have not been in an educational setting except maybe the college level. If they are not currently in education or just retired they have no clue!

To Retire....

To retire or not.... well lets see.... hummmmm..... maybe!

Seniors last day

Thank God it is their last day. It seems when they get near the end of their senior year they become, "I KNOW EVERYTHING!"

10 days

10 days left for teachers; 8 days left for underclass; 2 days left for seniors. Wish that study hall was full of seniors.

look at the countdown.

Woo hoo! 17 days that is counting weekends. Summer vacation is just 17 days away.... Plan to start planning ....
The students are about crazy now. Seniors are in NO mood to study any more. They are in graduation mode. The senior picnic will probably be tomorrow when you study the weather for the rest of the week. The list was posted last week and now it is just a matter of when will it be.
The art club went to Indy today so the picnic wasn't today. Too many seniors that could go on the picnic and some that went on the trip aren't able to go on the picnic. (They really thought today while they were gone would have been a great day... not!)
Been cleaning my classroom. You really don't know how much stuff you accumulate over 30+ years. Some of it is still usable, some of it is not. (outdated) I can't wait... 17 more days!

The countdown....

The countdown is on... Seniors 5 class days
Students (other than seniors) 11 class days
Teachers 13 work days