I don't normally do a meme for the new year. As I reflected on this past year, I though I would.
January: The year started reasonably enough. Tom and I had the NPD car show at Silver Springs and had a nice time. Didn't win anything but my '67 got a lot of attention. Started a new semester at work and that brought a new batch of kids. Had one of the best English 3 classes I've had in years. Had a small English 1 grade forgive class. Struggled with the "dump all Drama classes into one" the school keeps doing to me. Ended up deciding to do an incorporated project for Drama and we studied "Our Town", I think that project went fairly well. On the 27th my brother and sister-in-law (and Amelia!) welcomed Knox Richard James into their family.
February: Valentine's Day, my Birthday, FCAT. Worked a lot. Cast the spring show and started rehearsing. Had some blood work done and the endocrinologist thought we had my thyroid levels under control with medication. My GP wanted me to start taking some additional medication but I resisted, I just wasn't comfortable with taking it then.
March: 3rd quarter exams. Spring Break (where I basically slept the whole time). Rehearsals continued. Adopted a new Black and Tan coonhound (Annabel Lee) and she is amazing. We knew we would know when it was time to get a new dog and God sent us Bellee
April: Rehearsal increased and the show was the end of April. Tom and I celebrated our 13th anniversary. Got word Uncle Bill (Dad's brother) had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Granny fell and broke her other hip, requiring surgery. During the Spring show I got work Uncle Bill went home to be with the Lord. Continued to have problems with DE the AP (she walked out of the spring show twice and trash talked me and my kids).
May: Went to Uncle Bill's Celebration of Life. Graded research projects. Officially learned I was losing my classroom and black box theatre. Got torn to shreds in an evaluation and after 5 years of DE the AP's 'issues' addressed the problems with 'The Boss'. Learned DE the AP had been reassigned to the Renaissance Center (school for 'problem students') and she was getting her 'wish' to be a Principal (this is a bit of a 'be careful what you wish for' situation). Had the Broken Leg banquet and said good bye to another group I cared deeply about. Went to another graduation (in the miserable heat). Started packing and moving my home on campus (death #2). Ended my 12th school year at CRHS.
June: Tried to recover from the school year. Wasn't feeling well. Spent at least a week working with Cate on the 'sooper seekrit' project. Met people in Dunnellon. Karen contacts me about Mom and Dad's address. She wants to send Dad a plant for Father's Day. (this is a big deal) Mom turned 68(?)
July: went to St. Maarten for a week with Mom and Dad. Wish I could go back to that condo on Simpson Bay at least once a year. It was such a beautiful place and I really loved sitting on the balcony (either the small one off my room or the big one off the main section) and reading or looking at the water/boats/planes take off or land or watch the sunset or watch the rain showers move. St. Maarten was a wonderful experience. Started getting ready for a new school year. Got my hair trimmed and colored (note to self...don't wait 10 months between trim and coloring) Dad had a cancer scare.
August: started school year #13 at CRHS. Stuff was missing that was supposed to be moved. The new construction isn't everything it was 'supposed' to be. My room is very small and doesn't begin to meet the needs of my subject. They forced me to teach 2 English 3 classes and only 1 Drama class. Was given no time to move out of my old space and lost about 85% of what we owned, the program will never recover from that. Was given a number of challenging students (an autistic, an ESOL, several very low learners). Started having lunch with another teacher and one of the aids. Have to start going to training mandated by the county. Lots of changes going on. Got closer to Bri after knowing her for about 2 years. Going on a Spring Break cruise with Mom, Dad and Karen. Tom working on SD A LOT. Planning to have the car done by October 2012. Angela turned 34. Granny turned 92.
September: Granny passed away on September 10 while Mom and Dad were in Italy. Amelia turned 3 on the 13th and had her first 'real' birthday party on the 16. Mom and Dad came back to the states on the 15 and I took 6 days off work to help. Went to GA with family to have Granny's funeral during that time. Very different experience from Uncle Bill's. Returned to work to Homecoming week and then end of the first 9 weeks. Exhausted most of the time. John turned 33.
October: End of the first 9 weeks. Tom turned 51. Mom and Dad celebrated 47 years of marriage. Started working on Districts one act and tried to get the kids working on their IE's. Work feels off so much of the time. Anji has a birthday. Started formulating a project for next semester for the production, going to be a production and a community service project.
November: Finally had a holiday and then a week off. Working on research papers. Sarah and then Dad and Aunt Jane have a birthday. Karen making gestures to become close to Mom, Dad and me. Karen needing to get away from her Mom. Karen admits to us she is an alcoholic (we knew but she told us) and is recovering. Judged an event for Cate.
December: Districts where the kids did better than the scores reflect but I got to know a couple wonderful parents and one of the staff from work. Districts also kicked the kids into wanting to change things. Am hopeful this will follow through. Had a Christmas party with the kids. Another set of research projects due. Jeff, James, Jimmy, Luke, Savannah and Derek all have birthday's. Second quarter exams. Losing an English 3 class I really likes (2 in one year!). Losing an English 3 class that wasn't that good (with all the problem students). Finished a Drama class with all sorts of problems. Spent 2 weeks recovering from the year. Went back to the endocrinologist and are trying a different mix on medication. Weight has crept up and am going to try to get back into my exercise regiment next year. Had hair cut and colored. Got bedroom set from Mom and Dad (but Tom would only take the bed frame and night stands...ugh). Mom and Dad moved into a 'retirement community'.
So it felt like a year of stress and loss. There were some bright spots but it felt like more valleys than mountain tops. Glad to have it gone. Praying 2012 is better. Praying for doors to open and for opportunities to afford themselves. Maybe I'll write out some goals for 2012. There are some things I am excited about happening in 2012...honestly, don't know I could handle many more years like this one!
