Hello, gentle reader.
I'm sorry that I've been gone for so long, but I've been super busy. Since my last post, I've managed to leave my first apartment (lesson learned: if you know going in that someone is crazy, don't move in with them, no matter how nice it seems), live in a series of hotels (love the fact that I didn't have to clean behind myself, but got sort of claustrophobic after a while) lived with one of my best friends (who's daughter is the 2nd nicest little girl in the world for letting me live in her room all that time) and finally moved into what I think will be my PCS (permanent change of station) for the foreseeable future. Oh, and i got a new job as a Recruitment and Admissions Officer for a group of Charter Schools here in Chicago. Along with that, I've tried to come to grips with being single, not seeing my children everyday, dating (i really need someone to honestly look at my match.com profile and tell me what is wrong-if you think you can help, ping me! please!) balancing work and life, and trying to win a baseball game or 2 with my high school team (we did OK - 13-1 in conference and 16-7 overall - playoffs start this Thursday - i can't wait ITS A GREAT DAY TO BE A WARRIOR!). That and keeping on my goal to lose as much weight as possible without getting crazy obsessive about the whole thing (in case you hadn't heard, between Ash Wednesday and Easter I lost 37 lbs. Woot! ) So why the title of my post? Well, in my position at school, my desk is located in the main office and I see a lot of stuff. What i saw today made me start this post. our 8th graders (our schools go from 6th to 12th grade in the locations that are at least 4 years old) and their families are losing their minds over tickets for graduation. People want to be able to invite everyone from mom and dad to their last cousin to see them accomplish this rite of passage - graduating 8th grade! A mother today was insisting to our Program Director (great guy - most laid back cat you could ever meet) how she had "professionals" coming to graduation practice and how she didn't want to be embarrassed...what sort of professionals? are there really people that are professional graduation runners - for 8th fricking grade??? WTH! That's not to mention the parade of cap and gown vendors coming into show their wares. Do we get Red and Grey robes or black - do we honor the kids on the honor roll or the Principal's list with tassels? Please! this is truly a sign of why our kids are falling back - we give out glory and praise for the things they are supposed to be doing. (don't even get me started on the graduation I have to attend in August for my little one - from NURSERY SCHOOL) and then when something is truly amazing we blow it out of the water. When i finished 8th grade - we had graduation - we wore suits and dresses, we sang a song (Time to remember...) while they showed our baby pictures and some candids of the year. they gave out some academic awards and we got our diploma - that was it. No grand hoopla, no reserved seating (it was outdoors) and no hype because everyone was going to High school and everyone was going to graduate high school (that's when you throw the big deal) and go to college. So for the love of all that's holy and good in the world, please stop this madness - I beg of you!In other news, Congrats to the Wolfpack of Saint Ignatius for both their boys (3rd place) and girls (2nd place) water polo teams! Great season and Hail Ignatius!
I'm sorry that I've been gone for so long, but I've been super busy. Since my last post, I've managed to leave my first apartment (lesson learned: if you know going in that someone is crazy, don't move in with them, no matter how nice it seems), live in a series of hotels (love the fact that I didn't have to clean behind myself, but got sort of claustrophobic after a while) lived with one of my best friends (who's daughter is the 2nd nicest little girl in the world for letting me live in her room all that time) and finally moved into what I think will be my PCS (permanent change of station) for the foreseeable future. Oh, and i got a new job as a Recruitment and Admissions Officer for a group of Charter Schools here in Chicago. Along with that, I've tried to come to grips with being single, not seeing my children everyday, dating (i really need someone to honestly look at my match.com profile and tell me what is wrong-if you think you can help, ping me! please!) balancing work and life, and trying to win a baseball game or 2 with my high school team (we did OK - 13-1 in conference and 16-7 overall - playoffs start this Thursday - i can't wait ITS A GREAT DAY TO BE A WARRIOR!). That and keeping on my goal to lose as much weight as possible without getting crazy obsessive about the whole thing (in case you hadn't heard, between Ash Wednesday and Easter I lost 37 lbs. Woot! ) So why the title of my post? Well, in my position at school, my desk is located in the main office and I see a lot of stuff. What i saw today made me start this post. our 8th graders (our schools go from 6th to 12th grade in the locations that are at least 4 years old) and their families are losing their minds over tickets for graduation. People want to be able to invite everyone from mom and dad to their last cousin to see them accomplish this rite of passage - graduating 8th grade! A mother today was insisting to our Program Director (great guy - most laid back cat you could ever meet) how she had "professionals" coming to graduation practice and how she didn't want to be embarrassed...what sort of professionals? are there really people that are professional graduation runners - for 8th fricking grade??? WTH! That's not to mention the parade of cap and gown vendors coming into show their wares. Do we get Red and Grey robes or black - do we honor the kids on the honor roll or the Principal's list with tassels? Please! this is truly a sign of why our kids are falling back - we give out glory and praise for the things they are supposed to be doing. (don't even get me started on the graduation I have to attend in August for my little one - from NURSERY SCHOOL) and then when something is truly amazing we blow it out of the water. When i finished 8th grade - we had graduation - we wore suits and dresses, we sang a song (Time to remember...) while they showed our baby pictures and some candids of the year. they gave out some academic awards and we got our diploma - that was it. No grand hoopla, no reserved seating (it was outdoors) and no hype because everyone was going to High school and everyone was going to graduate high school (that's when you throw the big deal) and go to college. So for the love of all that's holy and good in the world, please stop this madness - I beg of you!In other news, Congrats to the Wolfpack of Saint Ignatius for both their boys (3rd place) and girls (2nd place) water polo teams! Great season and Hail Ignatius!
