I need to get back to planning meals, but I have found when I do that, I often don't feel like eating the thing I planned. Even though its basically the same things most of the time anyway. I need to look in my freezer and see what I have and try to plan stuff out for the next week or two I guess. And then I'll be all alone for a week and thats even worse because I hate cooking for ONE person. Its hard enough cooking for just two. (to get the right amount cooked so we don't have a lot of leftovers or to make sure its something one of us will eat if its leftover)

Anwyay! Today is my first day of summer PreK work. New experience with a different teacher and a different school so that is good for me, to expand my knowledge.

Need to go to the post office and then check in with the day care. I tried calling and it put me on hold forever (on Friday).

ALSO I AM KILLING MYSELF I just visited the bathhouse - and realized I didn't go yesterday cries I was at 340 something!!!! ARGH SO CLOSE!!!!

When we do it I plan a night for leftovers or whatever (salads, eggs, chicken tenders), two nights that can move to the next week, and then the rest can basically be whenenver, though we do plan it generally based on what's going on and the weather, so we'll have meals that take longer on nights we don't have anything (duh, why am I explaining that?). So it works out pretty well!

If we don't plan, we don't really tend to eat anything and uh.. I can't live that way :P

Hows the summer job?!

And ughhh on the bathhouse. I missed my streak and I just.. stopped doing it and most of my dailies. I barely play now but that's OK :P

I reaaaaally want to get to the achievement of 1 year. Then I'll be like whatever because even tho I like the csc I get, the rest of it is whatever.

It's good so far. We haven't had more than 6 kids show up each day so far. 14 are the limit. (It's only day 3 lol)

I am just ... Lazy. When it comes to meals. I often don't feel like cooking. But also since I don't like leftovers(so like meal planning/prepped food - like cook once and freeze for later meals - wouldn't work for me too well)...I have to cook. Or eat out. Which is honestly for two people not too much more than groceries. But I also get tired of that as we don't do a huge variety of war out places either.

I forgot about the CSC. I should start again, but I just feel so MEH after I miss it that like.. I don't know if it's worth it :P

Ooooh, 6 is a nice easy day haha.

Yesterday one of my favorite kids asked me to sign her cap (for graduation) and was like "You're just always so nice and kind to us and really care about how we're feeling and what we like and what we do." and I wanted to CRY. <3

I'm pretty lazy with it too, but thankfully I can split the work. If we didn't meal plan, I think I just.. wouldn't eat? Which is what happened last week. I can only eat so many chicken tenders (and we were OUT of them even, rotten kids) before I just have a breakdown LOL.

Really the only food we cook and freeze for later is soup... but I also freeze pasta sauce (because I can't be bothered to can!) when I make it.

You freeze soup? Interesting. I do not make my own pasta sauce. I'm a Ragu girl :P (I will buy generic as well but its not as good) I did try buying the bigger jars and freezing the rest after I used part of it - I feel like with two people I need more than the small jar, but not the full big jar....but I forgot about the sauce being in the freezer and then later just tossed it out when I was cleaning out the freezer...so .. eh.

I hear you on the chicken. Between school serving it every other day (sometimes every day) and then Nathan wanting Chickfila and then Zaxbys all the time - I feel like I've had ENOUGH chicken. Eat Mor Chiken be danged. Nope. Gimme something else lol (I still eat a lot of chicken tho lol I even cook it at home sometimes, bbq or lemon pepper chicken breast tenders)

Hey guys! I had to share with you that I got into a Master's in Social Work program!

How are the boys, Kat? Meal prep is something that mom does. I should really cook more to help out. Chicken can get overdone if you have it that much for sure!!

You made it through another year too, Kat!! Now for the summer program. One more year whoo!

Oh congrats on the master's program Beth!! Thats great!! Yep one more year for me for my bachelors. I will be glad to be done. This upcoming year is already stressing me out just thinking about what I have to do and not knowing what kind of kids I'll have (well behaved? Wild? UNCONTROLLABLE???) Not major stressed out but when I think of it I'll be like....eeek!

My boys? Oh well they're good. Shane is finally back with Werner and on the road, he'll be home this weekend and says he has a birthday present for me. Nathan is excited and ready to go on his trip to see Asher for graduation. He leaves on Thursday and will be gone a week. And Shane and my daughter Katie are probably happy that my mail situation FINALLY seems to be sorted out.

I got my phone case and some OTHER mail in my mailbox yesterday! YAAAAY (I also got a UPS delivery from BARK for Daisy - Shanes dog - Annas dad has set up an automatic shipment to my house for that I guess, since this is the 3rd thats showed up addressed to Daisy and MY address. Fun for her I guess. I don't mind it being shipped here, instead of sitting on their porch for who knows how long! But the stupid dog does not NEED any more toys or treats, she has PLENTY and is not even at home to use them, they only take a few on the truck!!! I am halfway tempted to open it and give the treats to Belle LOL Maybe I will when I run out of the treats I bought for her - she only plays with toys when Daisy is here!)

[edit] Tuesday 410 pm So I am going to have a little rant here.... I really didn't expect something like this...I thought all was going good. Today the state lady (DECAL) and Dr Beardon (main director of county PreK program) stopped by to check in on the summer program classrooms. Dr Beardon called me out into the hall and asked me "Do you have any problems with the program? I was just asking because there was an issue with the lunch duty? And our babies take naps because we are mandated by the state and we have to follow their program which requires a nap...." - I of course replied, no I have no problem with the program or following whatever directives are given.... I was asking for CLARITY on the lunch duty issue

• that issue/convo happened that first Tuesday - On Monday, I expected to have duty free lunch since that was what the teachers stated was the case, AND what happened LAST year when I subbed. So when the one lady finally came down (10min late, I asked her if it was ok for me to go and leave and eat my lunch and SHE said sure" SO I did. On Tuesday, she NEVER came down. (The rest of the week honestly) so that afternoon I asked the other lady (the one was a sub) to verify if we were supposed to have duty free lunch or if we were supposed to stay with the kids, so I WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO - I even made a point of explaining I just wanted to know what was expected of me? Apparently someone took issue with me asking for clarity? And the naptime thing??? I AM SO PISSED ON THAT BEING BROUGHT UP - because seriously?? YESTERDAY I made a simple comment about how I had found it interesting to learn last summer that the PreK program that is trying to get kids ready for KINDERGARTEN, in which they DO NOT take naps, has the kids take naps. I mentioned that I thought the wouldn't have done that since they're trying to get them ready for Kindergarten and K doesn't nap. So apparently my simple conversational comment also got taken the wrong way AND reported as ME HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM????? WTF? SERIOUSLY??? I AM SO ANNOYED. I replied to Dr Beardon about the nap thing that I was simply making a comment about naptime and kindergarten, not that I had any issue with it, or with following the program...that it was simply a comment I had made ?? She didnt' respond other than "Ok well, we have to go now, have a great day!"

EXCUSE ME? How am I to have a great day after you just literally told me someone (obviously the teacher I am working with) told you I was complaining when I WAS NOT??? I mean, am I not allowed to have conversations anymore? Or ask for clarity? ARGH. Now I feel like there is a damper on my whole summer experience because evidently people have problems with me or with what I have to say? Or something. I really don't know. I do know that the teacher I am with TRIED to get her para (who is also in the summer program but at the other school with another teacher) into her room instead of me. Fine whatever,(I get it, I'd rather work with someone I"m already comfortable with too~!) but you gonna take it out on me that Dr Beardon said NO we can't switch or what? I mean, it really makes me wonder if and why offense was taken and why you felt you had to say I had a problem with the program??? And now I feel like I can't really talk to you for fear you might take something ELSE out of context!!!

YAY BETH, congrats!!!!

Kat, yay for Shane being back on the road, and for getting your mail fixed! And your phone case! But omg booooo on your head teacher and everything happening there, that really sucks. I always want to triple clarify things that I'm confused about, so I would have asked for sure, too! And it's definitely not fair to take it out on you that she wanted her normal para and couldn't have them!

And.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (Right?! I think it's the day after Alex's?!)

Yes today is my birthday. Thank you! ❤️

Yeah I mean I don't know if that is what was going on, but that's my feeling about it. She's been nice enough other than that so it's all I could think of for her to have said something about me saying something about naps!! Eh. Whatever. Shrug it off right?

I had a lovely dinner with my friend and the restaurant brought me a slice of cheesecake for my birthday all plated up so cute - picture on Facebook!! So I got cheesecake AND my chocolate cake slice too!! (Which is big enough for at least three servings lol)

I saw the cheesecake, I loved the whipped cream? Icing? strawberry! So cute! That's awesome, I'm glad you had a good day!

Maybe she's just tired and was thinking you hated it there or something? I don't know. :(

Lots of bad going on, but.. camping tomorrow! Until Tuesday afternoon. Bad thing is, it's going to rain the whole time :P

Yes it was like whipped cream, not icing. Soft and fluffy and yummy and soooooo cute.

Oh no for camping in the rain!! It's been very rainy here too.

[edit]

6/27 @ 845am Going to go ahead and post this in here, since Masq is almost over (a few more days I know) but this is a biggy!! FINALY FREAKING TIME - the lady at the daycare filled out my paper. Actually, its a new paper hahaha I printed another copy and stopped in unexpectedly this morning (no call ahead) and she was all OH! I wish you'd called, that form is buried on my desk somewhere" I was like, no problem, I printed another copy, its in the car, I can go grab it?? "Oh. Yes go get it, I'll sign it right now" ROFLMAO I printed it prepared to head to another daycare if she put me off again.

We spoke for a few minutes about when class starts, how many hours I needed, and a bit about days - I asked if she'd be ok if I did longer days (6-8 hrs a day) to get as many hours in as I can during school breaks, she was good with that....so I'll be looking at my school calendar for days off work, and asking/double checking with the teacher to make sure its ok (I swear she said something about it being ok in another class). But I'll probably still go one day a week for 2.5 hrs (330-6) for at least 12 weeks of the 16 weeks of class.

Hopefully she's not a butt about getting me the info I will need to do whatever "records check" she mentioned a few months ago that I'll need to do for her. I mean, I know I'm good, I got one to work in the school that gets redone every few years or so, and I did one when I started at the college as it was a different kind required by BFTS (DECAL).

oh my goodness, YAY for her finally getting back to you! .... even though you basically stalked her :P Which is fine, you've got to do what you've got to do!

Haha yeah I really did feel like I was stalking I called every day that week and then just showed up on Friday.

And in answer to you low income PreK thing....no I don't think it's due to that in particular though our district is a lot of low income. It is more that the program got given a specific amount of money to use and if they don't use it all, there will be less given next year, so they had to use it all up. Discretionary spending or something I guess lol

Wow, well, that's really awesome!

I know one year my nephews did Head Start and they all got two new outfits, some PJs, toys, and food.

Not being on the administrative side of it, I'm not sure what the rules/regs were....I only know what I was told by the teacher I am working with and what I've seen the past two summers. But it is great, and I'm happy for these kids and their families to get this extra aid. I think some kinder school supplies were bought too for them.

Shane and Anna are here, got in last night. We went to slices for dinner cuz no one felt like cooking after they got here lol. Their car is supposed to be delivered today (changed date since they wouldn't get here in time to sign for it). And apparently Anna's dentist apt is today too, I got that wrong. Eh. Oh well. So they'll be going to Thomaston later.

Nathan and I went to the fireworks stand and got a few things for the fourth. He got one big multi-arial and I paid for the small stuff he picked and my fairy want sparklers. Ryan said he was going to bring me some bamboo sparklers he bought out of state....those sound interesting. And he's fixing the dog gate for me. Belle just pushes thru it any time she wants now she knows how. Grrrr

It really is terrific, even people who have money, right now, can still use help. It's a crazy world we're living in.

I think... we're not celebrating the fourth this year. Doesn't seem much like anything to celebrate right now, you know? Though, shiny lights and sparklers are always fun regardless.. :P

We always used to do a lot of fireworks...but the fourth was also our anniversary. I don't do much now, but I still want to do a little. I think I do it more for the pretty lights than any other reason.... Our country kind of sucks, especially lately. Freedom is still good tho....but who truly has that? We have certain freedoms, yes... but are "enslaved" in other ways.... And there are those who don't have any true freedoms at all.

Well, you also used to sell the fireworks, for a long time. So that definitely makes sense.

The pretty lights are the only reason I can think of for fireworks, honestly :P

And I agree. Just.. ugh. To everything.

Also. When we went camping I got bitten by mosquitos the last day. They went GIANT and were super gross.. then they're STILL itchy and I look like I have leperosy, PLUS I've got some kind of allergic reaction all over my chest and back and behind my ears, it's hives. Like I've rubbed myself all over with a pepper plant or something.

But I haven't changed anything or used anything new?! I'm legit going nuts, it's been over two weeks of this and I can't stand it anymore, I'm going to the doctors this morning because I'm going to go BATTY.

Oh my goodness..I hope the mosquitos didn't give you an illness..I am glad you are going to the Dr!!

Yes, also used to sell the fireworks...making it super easy access lol downside is I know what they USED to cost 10(ish) yrs ago vs now!! Insane price hikes on some things.

OK so she thinks I just had a crazy allergic reaction to the mosquitos, and it was still in my system and wasn't healing, and that's why I had the hives ELSEWHERE, too.. my body sending off a warning flare?

She gave me steroids to calm the inflammation , and a strong antihistamine to stop the itch.. and they've both definitely helped! But I still look gross so I hope things heal before we leave for this bus trip on Friday night, I can't be down south in the heat wearing pants, I'll die!

(Did I ever talk about the trip?!)