It is August 14th.

Just a few little news bites. Steven finally got his bandages off his foot. It was really---actually very---gross but still cool in a weird way. We both agree his doctor isn't a plastic surgeon. The stitching was a little sloppy--some places were not matched up as smoothly as they could have been. (Okay--the stripes didn't match either). He sure is bruised up good. He thinks some of the bruises are from his sticking things down in his bandage to scratch with ( you would think a sharp letter opener wouldn't be on your list for scratching items unless you were very seriously going insane)--All I know is that he was driving me insane --He was soooo grumpy from itching, and no showers and having to wait soooo long. All you can do for such a miserable person is try to give them extra space and make sure your child realizes that his welfare is best preserved in another room. But, as I said he is unbandaged, healing, smelling much better and finally at peace with the world. Poor guy--I really hope that this time he has found a cure. Enough is a enough!!

Andrew is registered for 1st grade and we start on the 21st. He is very excited and too too cool for his mother anymore. He has reverted back to his previous forgein tongue. "Hey Dad, we saw this Dude on this girly bike and he was not cool." That is the best way that I can put it. I have concluded the beginning of school lectures about not calling his teacher by her first name even though we know her very well--not kissing your girl friends when you first see them again (on this particular lecture we had to be very clear because kissing and girls are ever on the mind of six year olds going on seven "TEEN.") He is particularly happy to be a drop off kid instead of a mother escorted kid. I will be working at another school, so I don't have to walk into school in the same general direction he has to walk into school. I think it is the next best thing to riding the bus. I had a terrible time convincing him he wouldn't have enough time to ride his bike to school by himself. I shiver at the thought of any child riding along that busy road. Altogether, I think Andrew is ready for college--oops 1st grade. It should be an interesting year.

Steven has already been out and about meeting all his new sixth graders. He and Mrs. Perry, his co-teacher, have been to every house with homework--Yes!! Homework!!. One girl was so excited she couldn't stop dancing he said. It was mostly the boys who were not very touched by their thoughtfulness. They delivered them puzzle pieces one of which they were to write something about themselves on and four smaller pieces which they get to put together with their classmates when they arrive on the first day. What crazy teachers they are!! Most of my elementary teachers spent most of their time trying to forget that school was actually in session.

I had a job interview at Falls Valley Elementary and they hired me --whew--to be a teacher's aid, but this year I may actually be able to be in a regular classroom with my students instead of segregated. I hope so. The kids last year were so cut off from all their other peers that it was a real set back. They didn't have any examples of what were realistic behaviors because they only ever saw bad and extreme behaviors. (I am also hopeful that any head lice problems will be dealt with a little more firmly. Last year, I felt like the lice were part of our teaching assignments. They could have counted them in their books because I really felt many of them had perfect attendance.) I am way too sarcastic--sigh.