Labor Day weekend

I woke up this morning at 6:30 a.m...not because I wanted to, not because I set my alarm, but because my phone rang. While I was still sleeping I realized my aunt was calling and ignored the call. I felt a little guilty, but it was 6:30 in the morning and I have been wiped out from trying to get ready for school. She was calling because she had left our hometown on her way back to NJ and wanted to see if I felt like meeting for breakfast. It is nice that she wanted to do that...but not that early in the morning. She proceeded to keep calling until I answered the phone. When I did answer it she and two of her kids were getting close to where I live and wanted to stop in. Truth be told, her youngest wanted to see and play with my cats. That's cool. I am glad that they appreciate my cats. They got here and I had barely thrown on a sweatshirt and a pair of shorts, and was in a daze. They visited for about an hour and then continued on their way. I think that my aunt just figured since she was up and on the road, everyone else was up too. It is what it is.

I think I am going to stay home today, though I do need to go into school again this weekend. I am going to try to get some cleaning done, I swept my living room today and am hoping to do the rest of my place as the day progresses. I am also trying to get all the cats brushed...so far Stella has been my only victim. She was less than happy. She is so fluffy that her fur grows between her toes, and today I trimmed that hair, she was growling at me, but she looks so much better. Tess is my next victim and just jumped up beside me...unsuspecting.

My knee is stiff, but it is ok. I just need to work on straightening it. I am a little worried about school starting, making it through the day without pain and swelling...but I will have to wait and see. Yesterday I did go into my classroom and got one of my bulletin boards covered. I also did a few things that I know my mom would not be happy about....but I wanted to do. I did not want to wait for help. and it all worked out...although I did cut my toe. I need to go through all of my files and try to get a handle on the kids. I try not to depend on the files too much because how much of a person can be captured by a file? Not much. I am excited because I went online last night to Amazon.com and ordered some books that I think will be helpful and fun for the kids. They won't come in for about a week, but that's ok. I am excited about starting a new year with kids. I will be teaching only one subject, math. This will mean I can do more with one subject which is great for me. I will help kids in other subjects throughout the day, but will focus on math.

Mom just called as I was writing...and Gram is on her way to a nursing home/rehab facility. I gotta say that I did not expect it. The time I spent sitting with her, I truly believed were my last moments with my grandmother. I felt like she was fighting so hard...too hard to survive and feared she was running out of energy. I really expected that mom's calls were going to be announcing that Gramie had stopped fighting and was gone. My aunt got here about a week after all hell broke loose with Gram. By the time she got here things had improved. I am happy for her sake, and for her kids, that she got to see Gramie improving and recovering and did not have to see her suffering so much. At the same time, I resent it a little. She wasn't here when things were at their worst and my mom bore that burden. Mom was very stressed and should have had her sister there to support her. Granted, my aunt had to make her own decision about when/if to come up through all of this, and her choice is her choice. My mom was more forgiving than I was, and perhaps others in my family were. And for Mom's sake, we kept our cool and will continue to do so. Family is wonderful, but can be stressful at the same time. Everyone was stressed and perhaps said things without thinking...and in stressful times we become protective of each other as well....there were comments made that could cost future relationships. It's ironic because tough times are supposed to bring family closer, but can also put wedges between people. I don't want to offend people by what I write here... my family has access to this site and I hope that when reading this, they remember that it is my thoughts and feelings and this is a place for me to express myself. Anyway.... before I get off on too much of a tangent...I think it best to sign out and go sweep another room....