The Comic Book Family

Busy busy busy little family

It's been a month, I know, but it's been a very busy, very emotional month. Actually, a very busy, very emotional year, I think. Tyler and I have been in counselling, and it's helped. Things are improving slowly but surely. I've been fighting to get continuing status in my school district for awhile now, and this week I'm going to finally get it. It means I get full benefits and a steady paycheque, but most importantly I'm actually allowed to apply for a position in a school, instead of just being on-call or hoping that something works out that somebody needs someone last minute. It means I should get my classes in the fall. Mine. Not taking over for someone, not going to be replaced at the end of the year (unless education cutbacks continue because the wrong party has control of the provincial government and somehow the layoffs go THAT deep next year), but my position. I graduated from teacher training in 2001. I've been waiting a long time for this.

We've finally been getting the leak on the roof repaired. Turns out I now need to paint the outside of the house to cover up where the black sealant got splattered on the white stucco, then smudged around as it was being wiped off. I've already washed two of the outside walls. I think it's going to be my summer project, but I just need to make sure I don't try to do too much of it yet. That and there's a TON of other stuff to be done around the yard...old lumber to be gotten rid of, the gardens to be prepared for planting, something about the lawns as they heaved in the cold weather we had this year....

I finished the renovations on the bathroom. That means that I know how to do drywall, tiling, use the mitre saw, etc. It also means that I know I'm capable of and therefore want to dive into other projects, like fixing the hallway walls. I've already been removing the painted textured wallpaper with the assistance of Jade and Quentin, and we can't possibly leave the walls with the two colours of paint on it and the white stripe in the middle, but I need to repair the drywall first, and I might as well do the upstairs hall with it, and replace all the baseboards, and... Then there's still the back deck. And...

I also took tennis lessons and am contemplating taking the next level, although I'm still not very good. I'm also looking into a crocheting class. Not sure about the timing of that one though, as it will be on the two Sunday afternoons that coincide with the last two weeks of classes and I know that I'll be in for somebody and possibly needing to mark. We'll see.

And it's not just me that's busy. Quentin is in Kindergarten, with his second teacher there. He is making awesome advances in learning how to read. I'm so proud of him! His daycare is wonderful. He's done wood projects, clay (Fimo), baking, art, skating lessons, gymnastics, swimming lessons, field trips galore, and been making some great new friends. (He even had a playdate last week!) On top of that, he's done soccer lessons and gymnastics with us, and he's now taking an art class. He'll also be doing swimming lessons in a month. He is growing up and learning so much. I can watch as he observes a situation and see how he processes it all as a mature young man instead of just a reflex reaction like a little boy.

Jade has had a busy year herself. She adjusted to life in daycare without her big brother there, then this last month, two of her closest friends left to go to a daycare closer to their home. She's now the big girl at daycare with most of the other attendees being much younger than her. She loves singing and is still taking her music classes, but enjoys making up her own songs that are quite wonderful! Dancing is part of her life. She takes creative dance on the weekends now, but she PERFORMS when she dances outside of that. She's very expressive in her face, and does all sorts of hair flips and wiggles of attitude that she did not learn at dance class. She enjoyed learning how to play soccer this year, but isn't ready to take it too seriously yet. She'll also be doing swimming lessons next month as we think it's very important for both children to be comfortable and safe in the water.

Oh, and I had an awesome birthday party the other weekend. Tyler invited a number of my friends and family members over, including my friend Lori who flew out from Calgary to surprise me. I was surprised, to say the least. It was wonderful to see her again! I figured out that since I moved in grade 8, we've only actually seen each other 5 times. I visited the summer after I moved, she came here once, I went to visit her once after she moved, then I saw her two summers ago and then a couple weeks ago. You know, that just isn't enough!

I think that's more than enough for me to say this post. Especially since I haven't formatted any pictures for posting. I guess I'll go mark, and do taxes, and do laundry, and...

Oh, please make sure that you are informed before you vote next month.

Stop reading here if you don't want to read political pleas.

Normally I don't campaign for anything in politics, but I do feel strongly about this upcoming election to the point where I am asking you to get informed before voting in the referendum, or even for your representative. If you get fully informed and vote differently from me, that is fine, but please know what you are voting for.

Voting yes in the referendum could mean that you are no longer voting for your riding's candidate as your vote will be shared. For me, there are too many different factors between ridings for this to be feasible. My riding and the one next over have different economic backgrounds, etc. We have different environmental concerns relevant to our neighbourhoods. We need people who can speak to those individual needs.

As for the government, I am appalled by the damage that has been done to our public education system. Funding for private schools has increased while public schools (that which even by name should be funded) have been stripped of money for everything. Contracts were ripped up. Bill 33 went in to assist with class composition, and that's great and all, but it has not been enforced, and there's no money available to enforce it. Extracurricular activities, supplies, non-academic subjects, sports, and even the core subjects have all been negatively affected. Not to mention the fact that hundreds, if not thousands of teachers, are layed off and have to go through a massive process to make sure they have a job every year. Then there's the environmental concerns, the privatization of public utilities, the massive debts incurred, the list goes on.

Right, I was going to go do one of the many things on my to do list. :)

posted by The Jaded Bee @ 8:33 AM