Another Week Gone By

This week was interesting.  On Wednesday, we got a visit from a big wig of the Orlando Magic who is coming back on the afternoon of the 24th with some of the players. They will be conducting drills and activities with the kids and on Thursday, we were sent this permission slip to send home to the parents. 

I understand what their objective is...I just think the wording needs work. "Your child may be seriously injured or killed???"  Seriously??  

This week saw another cold snap.  Thursday and Friday I had 4 students absent I am assuming because of the cold.  In Wisconsin, they'd be laughing if a student stayed home because it was 30* in the morning.  After using the oven to cook dinner, Sadie found the warmest spot in the house. 

She is so dang adorable - and she's a little snuggle bug

Rounding out the week was a family gathering at Manny's in Daytona Beach last night to celebrate Zack's birthday.  

It is so nice when we can all get together - it rarely happens.  Chris and the boys left about 1/2 hour before we did but ended up getting home about 15 minutes after we did.  They ran into an accident near Altamonte Springs.  Meanwhile, I had seen the traffic warnings and took the 417 to the 528. It was such a nice pleasant, traffic free drive and only took a few minutes more than taking I4. I'd love to take that way all the time but, unfortunately, it involves about $6.00 in tolls.  

Exciting week ahead...

Happening Lately

Oh my poor, poor neglected blog.  

I blame it mostly on the fact that I do not have a working camera right now.  

I have my phone but then I do have a way of transferring those pictures to my computer other than uploading them to Facebook and then saving them to my computer.  Not good. 

On my to do list is getting my camera situation fixed. (But my life lately...before working two jobs no money, since working two jobs no time) I'm going to try to get the internal battery replaced in my expensive camera but I'm really disappointed that, for a camera that cost so much money,  the battery quit after only 2 years.  The battery in my cheap point and shoot lasted about 6 years.  

At the beginning of December, Zack and I met C.J. at the City Walk Cineplex and we saw The Disaster Artist.  

After the movie, which I really enjoyed, we walked over to Toothsome's and shared a $13.00 birthday cake shake...yummy!

Christmas break was shared between putting in my seasonal hours at Universal and relaxing.  I had a full week off from all three jobs and it was heavenly.  C.J. and I went to the Cineplex to see Coco on one of the days, I took Zack to Fudruckers one of the days, we used a gift card for Steak and Shake on New Years Eve, and then Zack got the flu. 😟

On Thursday, January 4, I went with Jon to his orientation (more like a borientation...lol The Office reference) at the University of Central Florida. I was shocked at just how big UCF is. Largest enrollment in the country at nearly 66, 000 students.  

After he registered for classes, he very kindly took his good ole mom out to dinner.  It kind of reminded me of Zack's basketball playing days when we would drop him off and then run to get something to eat before the game started.  I miss those days.  

The first week back from break was good - but YES - my kids are STILL driving me crazy with the unreal, ridiculous things they tell  me - ALL DAY LONG.  Example: "Ms Koeck, I have a lot of white on today.  I have a white shirt, white socks, and white shoes on."   

Friday, we had a half day.  The whole 2nd grade was treated to Subway sandwiches because we won the Christmas door decorating contest.  The manager of Subway came over to judge and agreed to provide the sandwiches for the class who had the  winning door. However, our 2nd grade team went with a "North Pole" theme so he could not pick just one.  It was well appreciated because springing for 75 turkey sub sandwiches with chips and a cookie is not cheap.  Our doors were great though (my door is Mrs. Claus)

And lastly, on Saturday we met C.J. at City Walk, grabbed a Margherita pizza at Red Oven and then went to see Jumanji.  

I think we're caught up now...phew.  

The Doctor Phillips Saga - Testing Positive for the Flu

Zack does not get sick often but when he decides he has had enough of not feeling well, then he insists on seeing a doctor right away - as in, "I do not want to wait even another minute."  

Such was the case last night.  For a couple days he has been experiencing cold symptoms with a cough.  Yesterday, he added a low grade fever to the mix along with a headache and worsening cough.  By last night, he was coughing so hard, he gave himself a nosebleed.  That was it!  He was determined to be out the door ten minutes ago. 

I was much less enthusiastic as I had been up at 6 (after 4 hrs of sleep) and was with Jon all day at the University of Central Florida for his orientation. But, no amount of talking would convince him to wait - so out the door we went at 9:30 pm.

I had been to the ER at Dr Phillips 3 times before...twice for ear infections for Zack and once when I had diverticulitis.  Both of the ear infection experiences were great (as great as a trip to the ER can be).  We were put in an area called the fast track and were in and out in less than hour.  Of course, the diverticulitis trip took longer because it involved a CT scan and some IV antibiotics.  But still, I had no reason not to expect a similar experience on the fast track.  

The first indicator that things were not great was the parking lot was full!  When we walked in, we were not directed t the fast track...because there was no fast track.  We walked in about 9:45, registered, and they bought Zack back to triage.  He came back about 20 minutes later and said they had shoved something up his nose and that he did not like that!!  So I knew they had tested him for the flu.  

Then we waited...and waited...and waited.  By 10:45 we agreed that if he was not called back by 11:00, we would walk out.  In the meantime, I noticed they were calling a few names that got no response so I think there were others who also got fed up waiting.  We got called back at 10:55. 

Then we waited...and waited....and waited.  Finally, at 11:31, the doctor walked in and introduced himself.  Then the "conversation" went something like this, "I don't know if someone told you this already, but you tested positive for the flu.  There is not much we can do for the flu.  We can give you Tamiflu but it is not going to take your symptoms away but will shorten the duration of the them.  We will also prescribe an anti-nausea medication and a cough suppressant, okay?"  He turned and walked out the door. He stopped suddenly, came back in, and checked Zack's throat, ears, and listened to his chest.  Said only that his throat was nice and red (probably from coughing) and then walked out at 11:39. 

Then we waited...and waited...and waited.  See a theme here?  One half hour later (12:10)!!!! I walked out to the nurses station and (politely) asked if we might have been forgotten about????  The nurse replied, "I will check."  Apparently, that took 25 minutes because she did not come back with the prescriptions until 12:45!  

Then we grabbed our stuff and ran out of there!

Now I just hope I don't get it.  

It's A Perplexing Life

I've been watching It's A Wonderful Life about 1000 times lately and,even though I have seen it a few hundred times already, I've just noticed a few things about the movie that make no sense at all!  

1). When Uncle Billy is in the bank...
In this scene, we see Uncle Billy counting $8000.00 and filling out a deposit slip when he runs into Mr. Potter.  He has a newspaper in his hands that display the headline praising his nephew, Harry, for being a war hero. He walks up to Potter, gloating about his nephews accomplishments and then accidentally puts the $8000.00 inside the newspaper and gives the newspaper to Mr. Potter.  He goes to the teller to deposit the money but realizes he no longer has it.  
Making no sense at all, Uncle Billy then returns to the building and loan looking for the money and, when he can't find it there, he supposedly tears his house apart in an attempt to locate the missing money.  How does he not remember that he had counted the money at the bank and therefore, it cannot possibly be at the office or at home but somewhere at the bank.  

2). The kids had school on Christmas Eve day???...
According to the story line, Zuzu won a flower at school that day...and that day was Christmas Eve day. 

3). Zuzu catches a cold walking home from school...
Again, according to the story line, Zuzu won a flower at school that day and caught a cold because she walked home without zipping her jacket so that she wouldn't ruin the flower.  First of all, one cannot catch a cold that way.  But what really does not make sense is how fast she catches said cold.  We are supposed to believe that she left school completely healthy and arrived home minutes later with a cold because she did not zip up her coat???  Ummmm...nope. 

4). How does the teacher even know that Zuzu is sick???...
While George is home, the teacher (Mrs. Welsh) calls to check on Zuzu.  Since we are supposed to postulate that Zuzu got sick on her walk home from school, how is the teacher even aware that she is unwell?

4).  Mr. Welsh just happens to be at the same bar as George...on Christmas Eve...
Prior to the scene at the bar, George gets on the phone with the teacher and vituperates her for letting Zuzu walk home without her coat zipped up (and incidentally, the teacher could not have knowledge of the coat debacle unless she was walking home with them!). Naturally, the teacher becomes upset, prompting her husband to get on the line and threaten to harm George for treating his wife that way.  
Later on, after George gives his family a verbal tongue-lashing, he leaves home and goes to the local bar.  There, in an inconceivable coincidence,  he runs into the teacher's husband, Mr. Welsh, who then punches George in the face.  

5).  Your mouth's bleeding, George...
After getting punched by Mr. Wells, George's lip is bleeding.  He leaves the bar, drives drunk, and crashes into a tree.  He then gets out of the car and walks to a bridge where he is contemplating jumping into the water to commit suicide. Here, he meets his guardian angel who jumps into the water himself, forcing George to save him.  
After a sequence of events that gives George a look of what life would be like had he not been born, he returns to the bridge and begs to "live again."  Here, enters the policeman who exclaims "you okay George, your mouth is bleeding."  Really?  The jump in the water did not clean the blood off his lip?  

Despite these dubious scenes, the movie is great and one of my favorites.  

Why I Am Ready for Christmas Break

We have a late Christmas break this year.  While we don't start break until Thursday afternoon, we then do not have to be back to school until January 8th.  I think I will enjoy the start back time but truthfully, I am ready to be done RIGHT NOW!  


I love my job, I love what I do, and I love my students. But the never ending, "Ms Koeck......." lately is doing me in and I am ready to wave the white flag of defeat.  

This was the list today(and I must add that these things are said at the MOST random times).

"Ms. Koeck, look, I have my own hand sanitizer" (as a bag of mini hand sanitizers gets shoved in my face." 

"Ms Koeck, one time I went to Let's skate and I wiped out." 

"Ms. Koeck, I got this pen at Funspot" (as a bendable flower pen gets shoved so close to my face that I have to back up just to see it.)

"Ms Koeck, look what I can do." while balancing a backpack on top of the head.  

Which led to

"Ms Koeck, I can do this." balancing the lunch box on the head. 

"Ms Koeck, I need a paper."  To which I respond, "I'm sure if you would just wait 0.2 seconds the paper passer will put one on your desk."  (OK, I didn't say that...that is what I felt like saying).  

And, my personal favorite from last Friday...as we were cleaning out desks, "Ms. Koeck, I found a pretzel in my backpack."

Class----Ms. Koeck has changed her name!!!!!

Thunder and Lightning

After a majorly disappointing season last year where the Lightning didn't even make the playoffs, they are off to a "thunderous" start posting a 21-6-2 record, which puts them in first place in the Atlantic Division. 

They have racked up 44 points and have scored 110 goals while giving up only 74 which means a differential of 36.  The differential for the second place team is 17 and the third place goes all the way down to 3.  

So, yes, they are hot right now.  Last night, C.J., Zack, and I headed down to Tampa to see them hopefully extend their 3 game win streak.  They played the Winnipeg Jets who also have a great record at 17-8 with a goal differential of 16.  

It's safe to say that the game could not have gotten off to a worse start.  Winnipeg scored just a minute and a half into the game, the Lightning had 0 shots in the first 8 minutes of the game, and they also did not win a single face off in the 7 attempts during that time period.  

But after some shift changes, they hit their groove and started becoming the aggressive players we are used to seeing this year. Goals were traded throughout the game ending in a tie and overtime (although I'm at a loss as to understand a goalie interference call that negated a Lightning goal and resulted in a couple rounds of "refs you suck" cheers - basically a Lightning players was close to the goalie and then got pushed from behind by a Winnipeg player which made him fall into the goalie.  How is that the Lightning player's fault???)

Anyway, 30 some seconds into overtime Brayden Point scored on a breakaway and the Lightning pulled out the win.  Terrible reffing aside, it was a fun game to watch.  

I miss my camera.  I have to see about replacing the internal battery.  

A Birthday

In all the years I have been teaching, I don't recall ever receiving a gift from my students.  This year, however, I was completely overwhelmed as one kid after another came through the door holding a present.  

Of course, I loved the homemade cards just as much as the gifts. 

Sad story...one of my students and his mother made the cupcakes but we could not have them because they were homemade and we can only give out store bought food.  He was obviously upset and started to cry.  So I took one and gave one to him and we ate them together.  Then I took about 10 of them to hand out to the teachers.  

I felt very loved. 💗