The Cure for Boredom

(This was written in Feb of 2010)

As I blogged about before I volunteered to be our school’s PTA President, a job that I really wasn’t prepared for to be honest.  They must have been desperate because the previous VP (and it was the VP calling me because last year’s President did NOTHING that year) called me three times to beg me to take the job.

I wish I had said no.

I’ve tried my best to be a good President, I really did.  To date NONE of the teachers have contacted me to submit anything for the newsletter nor do they let me know what special projects are going on in their class.  Communication between me and the committee chairs is practically nothing and now some of the the teachers are boycotting the book fair.  Why would teachers who claim to be in dire need of supplies cut off their nose to spite their face?  Because they are fucking idiots, that’s why.  Lemme splain…

The school has a reading program where kids can read books on a certain list, then take a test on that book in the computer.  Not all teachers use this list and it’s only for the higher grades.  Not all of the books have tests.  Let me rewrite that for you:  some kids will read a book only to find out there is NO FUCKING TEST TO TAKE.  They then have to read another book and hope that there’s a test to take.  PTA was asked if there were funds to upgrade the system so every book has a test; we did not have specific funds set aside so we decided to use the profits from our next book fair to pay for the upgrade.  This suggestion was brought up at a Board Meeting; the Teacher Liaison had NO PROBLEM with this and assured me the teachers would be on board.  The book fair committee chair discussed this with the principal; he approved it after being asked several times if he was sure this would be okay.  This was not a decision that was made rashly or without consultation from all parties involved.  To compensate for the books the teachers won’t be getting from the profits of the book fair we decided to let them put an unlimited number of books on their Wish List; this is where the parents buy books requested by their child’s teacher. 

The book fair arrives and most of the wish list slots are empty.  Instead of supporting a PTA decision that will benefit the majority of the students they decided to boycott because their particular grades don’t use the reading system.  Instead of telling their parents about the PTA’s decision and requesting extra books they decided to NOT SEND HOME THE ORDER FORM FOR THE BOOKFAIR.  My 5th grader brought one home; my 3rd grader did not.  My 5th grader’s teacher made a wish list (and I bought her a book); my 3rd grader’s teacher did not. 

In a time when education is facing more and more cuts these pig-headed teachers decided to do the  most selfish thing possible.  They couldn’t have been more blatant if they had walked up to the rest of the kids in the school and told them to go fuck themselves.  THIS is why our PTA is floundering; it’s only a Parent-TEACHER Association if the teachers are getting something; otherwise we can all go get fucked.  Most of the parents didn’t even KNOW we were having a book fair this week; I am making DAMN sure the school principal knows why.  Then, when the dust settles (so the wrong people won’t get blamed) I am going to make it my mission to let every single parent know what these teachers did so the next time they have their hands out whining about how they need books for their classroom the parents can make an informed decision on whether to buy them or not.  As for me, once this year is over I am DONE with this PTA.  I really REALLY thought I could make a difference, turns out a few bad apples have ruined it for the rest of us.  I know exactly which of my kid’s teachers will be getting appreciation from me at the end of the year and which one will be getting a big FUCK YOU.  I will find out which of the upper grade teachers participated in this cluster fuck and I will make sure if my child gets them as a teacher that they will also be getting a big FUCK YOU from me, not just at the end of the year from ALL YEAR LONG.  You need a ream of paper?  TOUGH SHIT, BUY IT YOURSELF.  You need hand sanitizer?  BOO FUCKING HOO.  You need extra snacks for the class?  START CLIPPING SOME COUPONS, BITCH.

When I think about how I could abuse my power as President and really make the rest of the year crappy for them I smile and stop myself.  I’m better than that.  I can think about it though, right?

***UPDATE***

So, that wasn’t my last year as Prez.  I stayed on for a second year to make sure the changes I implemented weren’t abandoned.  The second year was infinitely easier and the teachers all shut their collective pieholes when we upped the Instruction Materials limit by $100.  Kindergarten was the biggest offender during the Book Fair fiasco of the previous year, since they don’t use the system in question, but when it was time to hand out funds for that reading program they sure the fuck had their hands out for their share of the money.  A parent let slip they needed it to pay for their end-of-year fair (that had NOTHING to do with literacy).  I had the Principal remind them the funds MUST be used for a reading program.

My term as president ended at the end of this year (THANK GOD) and because I’m a sucker for punishment I’m this year’s Treasurer.

Yeah, I know.

Well, I’m Treasurer if and when I get the books back in time.  Apparently, this past year’s Treasurer was a moron who knew nothing about the importance of getting the books to the accountant at the end of the year despite us repeatedly reminding her, asking her, and the fact that it’s the LAW.  I predict we will lose our tax-exempt status and be royally fucked all year.  At least I get to forward all the grouchy emails I’ll be getting from disgruntled parents/teachers and pass them on to the new President.  Not my problem anymore, man.  And that grand revenge I had planned for all those selfish teachers? Well, I got over that.  However, I do plan on having us hand out the literacy funds in the middle of the school year so those darling kindergarten teachers can’t spend in on their end of year fair.  I may have matured a bit in my old age but I’m still a raging bitch.

Hello! Glad to see all three of you still out there, waiting eagerly to get off my lazy ass and blog. I have tons to blog/write/rant about but not enough time to make it into a coherent mess you’d want to read. That and I’m still cheating on you with Facebook.

What can I say? I’m a lazy hoar.

We just had a small tornado blow through this weekend plus I’m finishing up my reign of terror with my school’s PTA so I’ll have lots of time soon. PROMISE.

Well.  Six months ago I made a lovely blog post, then promptly fell off the face of the earth.  I’ve meant to come back and rant about the side effects of my new meds (WARNING: may cause drowsiness or insomnia.  WELL WHICH IS IT?) and I’ve had loads of stuff to blog/bitch about but have I bothered to make an effort to come hear and share it with you, my Good Readers?

Yeah, I’m a lazy shit.

My subscription fee is due next month and I was debating on letting this go but I decided to keep it for two reasons: 1) it’s not expensive and 2) everyone else has a blog no one reads, why can’t I have one too?   So I’ll plug along and revel you guys with my endless drivel about how my kids are driving me crazy, how I’m still fat despite not dieting or exercising at all and how I don’t miss my uterus but I do miss my sanity.  Oh yeah, and I got a hair cut.  ALERT THE MEDIA.

Getting ready for a swim meet, just wanted to log and and tease you a bit with what I could do for you if I had the time and gumption and man!  Am I tired!  Welcome to Hubby’s world.

I’m borrowing this from Sundry, check out her answers if you like.

 1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Hmmm, this year wasn’t exactly my most adventurous unfortunately.    I had a District position with my local scouting council only this year I was actually TOLD what I was supposed to do and given the tools to do it.  Hooray!  I also agreed to be PTA President as well as recruiting a new Tiger den in June instead of waiting until September so that was fun.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn’t make any resolutions for 2009 but I need to make resolutions for 2010.  The big one: I want to lose 15-20 lbs by the end of February; and the remainder of my excess weight by my next birthday (Nov).  In the meantime I’ll start an exercise regimen and work on getting healthy as well.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth??

Yes, two people: NGD’s wife JS had a baby girl in August and one of my newest scout’s mom had a baby boy on Dec 28th.  Hey, better them than me!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Uncle D died in May.

5. What countries did you visit?

I didn’t visit any foreign countries but I did visit a few altered states.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

A job of some sort, preferably part time.  I also need to go back to college and get my Bachelor’s degree but I can’t do that in a year’s time.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

No dates in particular jump out at me.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Finally taking my health seriously and putting myself before anyone or anything else.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Waiting three years to do #8.  My husband and kids deserved better.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Oh yeah, I pretty much stayed sick throughout the year.  Some of it was just  allergies but enough to make me feel miserable.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Well, I didn’t buy it (I traded my old printer for it, the one I bought at a yard sale for $20): a Brother MFC7820N.  The only drawback: the color ink cartridges are VERY expensive so I’m only printing in B&W right now.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Auntie M’s, for helping grandma with EVERYTHING (sometimes by herself) and somehow managing to put up with my mother’s shit at the same time.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My mother’s, as usual.  Something pissed her off this year and not only did we not receive any card (not even a free e-card!) we didn’t even merit a “Merry Christmas”.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills, food, mortgage and the kids.

15. What did you get really excited about?

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.  Too bad the movie wasn’t nearly as good as the book.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

None.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

– happier or sadder? Earlier in the year I was way sadder, now I’m happy again.
– thinner or fatter? ??  Fatter but I’m working on it.
– richer or poorer?  Definitely poorer, the economy caught up with us this year despite cutting back.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Knitting and photography, equally so. 

19. What do you wish you’d done less of??

SNACKING!  Oh sweet Jesus, the snacking.  WHY???

20. How did you spend Christmas??

At home with my boys.  Hubby had to work everyday except Christmas day (he was on call so we couldn’t go out of town) but he had us around him so he was happy.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Well, I’m married so I don’t think this applies to me.
22. What was your favorite TV program?

Just one?  I’d have to say Criminal Minds, although what I watched were re-runs.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don’t hate anyone.

24. What was the best book you read?

I’m embarassed to say I didn’t read any books in 2009, at least not any novels.  Hubby got me an extended guide for my D70 for Christmas so I’ve been reading through that and I’ve been attempting Fellowship of the Rings but the paper it’s printed on is so damn shiny it gives me a headache no matter what lighting I use.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Didn’t have one.

26. What did you want and get?

The boys got me my own Nintendo DS for Christmas, so now I can re-learn chess and get some Brainage going on.

27. What did you want and not get?

A new vehicle.  Well, not NEW but newer.  I need more room!

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

The newest Star Trek movie withX-Men Origins: Wolverine a close second.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I had a normal day and a den meeting that evening.  I turned 41.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

An inexhaustable budget to fix up the house.  I could have just said “more money” but everyone says that.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Sloppy housewife chic, and I ROCKED IT.  Mostly flip flops and capris with cotton t-shirts in warm weather and sweatpants and hoodies in cooler weather.  Tres sex-hay!

32. What kept you sane?

HA!  HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Hugh Jackman, preferably with his shirt off.  RAWR!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Healthcare, of course.

35. Who did you miss?

My grandfather, who I miss every day.  Now I get to miss Uncle D, too.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

P-mom, who I met at the school parking lot.  She’s the one who traded the printers with me and she’s been a good school buddy while waiting for the bell to ring.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

Sadly, the same lesson I tendto re-learn every few years or so:  just because someone is friendly does NOT mean they are your friend.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

No song lyrics but I do have a quote:  “Do or do not: there is no try.” 

I’m not overly superstitious but I don’t plan on being online at all tomorrow; I will be spending the day (and hopefully setting the tone for the rest of the year) by playing games with my boys, spending time with my husband and maybe doing some knitting and/or photography.  See you guys on Jan 2nd and have a wonderful New Year!

 

Greetings and salutations those of you who (for whatever reason) are still reading me.  I seem to have hit a dry spell, a little episode that can be summed up in three little words: I Don’t Care.   Oh, not that I don’t care about YOU, gentle reader; I pretty much stopped caring about everything.  Gradually, over the course of about three years, I stopped enjoying the little things in life, things like watching my kids play sports, taking pictures, crocheting or knitting, dealing with the people at church (although in all honesty I really wasn’t getting what I needed from that particular church), etc.  Everything became such a chore when it should have been a joy.  The last 6 months took a turn for the worst; I couldn’t stand to have my husband even hug me.  My children never did anything right and all I did was harp and bitch at them.

My kids and husband deserve better.

So I finally bit the bullet and got some help:  Hello Prozac!  I’ve been taking a 10 mg dose for just over 2 weeks now and so far so good.  The only side effect has been insomnia and hey!  I already had that!  The serotonin dreams were a bit freaky; last night I dreamed that my Allegra pills all turned into pebbles and bits of scrap and I was telling the pharmacist something was wrong because they USED to be peach.  YA THINK?  I started the Allegra yesterday and it seems to work, I dusted yesterday and my nose didn’t itch once.  I was really hoping it would do something with the excess fluid I have in my ears SO I’LL STOP TALKING LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME.  Seriously, that shit gets old.

For the first time in years I’m really feeling the Christmas spirit.  I WANTED to do Christmas cards this year, a few years ago I didn’t bother at all.  I didn’t do the Christmas letter simply because I ran out of time; I had several scout meetings, a PTA function, two class parties and basketball for both kids in one week so I was a bit stretched.  I’m hoping to find more to write about here as well; the blog was the first casualty of the I Don’t Care brigade so all of you hoping to have your boredom cured?  Sorry about that.

I’ll go into more details about the prozac and the effect it’s had on me in another entry, right now I wanted to let the three of you know I’m still alive and kicking and to have a Merry Christmas!