Since my last post, so much has been happening. We've made it through the marching band season. It was really a hard season for the members. Some things occurred that had a negative impact on the band. They triumphantly put on their best faces and 'marched' on through the issues and came out as better people.

"I" made it through Senior night at the last home game. It was a very bitter-sweet time for me and my mother. It really is difficult to see my son become a man. When you have a child; you can never imagine them growing up. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined 18 years ago that I would be getting prepared to send my son out in the world.

Gus' natural diet was a failure. He would get better for a short period of time and then begin scratching again. The scratching and welts and sores became so bad that a trip to the vet was warranted. A round of steroids, antibiotics and antihistamines and specialized, hypoallergenic dog food and Gus is doing much better. He is still on the antihistamines but is down to one pill a day. I'm monitoring to see if that is sufficient. I have noticed more scratching but it could be my paranoia.

Work has its ups and downs. There are days that are more challenging than others. I'm learning to not sweat the small stuff but that doesn't always work. I do a lot of self talk. I have to remind myself that there are some things I just cannot change and that I have to accept. That is tough for a control freak like me. I'm looking more for the positive things and not the negative. This is really helping keep things in perspective.

The child and I have begun visiting colleges. We went to our first, VA Tech. He loved it. I keep having to tell him to keep things in perspective. He has only visited one college. There are many more to see.

Thanksgiving was really nice. We had just the three of us plus a friend from Alabama. Very small and nice.

We are slowly beginning to prepare for Christmas. My list keeps longer and longer and I'm getting a little overwhelmed. I can do an entire post on Christmas but will save my thoughts for another day.

Until next time...take care.

As Expected

As expected, once school started back the entries in the blog would become less and less. I'm doing good to get in one a week. It will probably keep going down from there.

With the start of the new year, I've tried to set personal goals for myself. Sure, most people set goals in January, but for teachers, our year 'begins' in August and is finished in June. My goals for this year are to pray often, temper my tongue, think first before I speak and be more compassionate yet firm. I don't think these are unrealistic and I honestly try to do these everyday anyway. I'm just going to make more effort in achieving them.

Jury Duty

Wow! What a rough week!!!!This week, teachers came back to school to a mess of technology, training, meetings and workshops. As the 'technology' person, I've had to try to meet the needs of the teachers in between my own required trainings and meetings. Then to top it all off, I was called to jury duty on Thursday. I felt pretty confident that I would not be called. I honestly felt that I wouldn't...After all, I'm educated and do know about how our judicial systems work. I am NOT a peer to most of these 'alleged' criminals. Boy was a surprised that I was chosen.

THE PROCESS:
Teaching Civics and feeling pretty well versed about our judicial system does NOT prepare you for the actual serving on a jury. I'm not sure anything can. My day started off pretty good. I was nervous because I wasn't sure where I was supposed to go. I got up at my usual time. I decided that I'd look professional. I wanted to present myself as the intelligent person I am...remember...I didn't think I'd be chosen because I am a professional. I head downtown to the City Courthouse and was met by 2 deputies. I was asked if I was there for jury duty and told where to go. Once I arrived, I had to give my name and was told where to sit. Walking into the court room, I couldn't help but wonder, "How much information do the attorneys and other officials know about me?" "Did they do a background check on me?" The defendant was brought in. He looked very sad and possibly in another situation was a nice person. The attorneys came in and then the judge. The judge introduced himself and the attorneys then described the process of juror selection. He read a list of questions in which we had to verbally answer yes or no. "If we were citizens of the Commonwealth, were we over the age of 18...." Then the defense attorney stood up and asked questions. "Did we know about this case?" "Did we have any relatives on the police force?" "Did we know any attorneys in Staunton or anywhere else?" "Did we have a family member the victim of a crime?" I answered yes to 2 questions and KNEW I would not be chosen. The man beside me was the victim's neighbor and knew all the people involved. The woman next to me is an alcoholic and asked to be dismissed because she could not render an impartial decision since alcohol was the defense's main explanation for the shooting. The questions went on for about an hour then the attorneys huddled together and submitted a list to the judge. One name was called, another, and another...I was almost home free! I had a 1 in 50 chance my name was going to be called!!!! The odds were in my favor. NOPE, "Karen Stinson" was called. I almost said, "You've got to be kidding!"

THE TRIAL:

OMG!! My brother has always told me that trials are NOTHING like they are on TV. TV gives us a false sense of how things should be. On TV everything moves fast and is packed with excitement and always a 'surprise'. Not in real life. Attorneys are dry and boring. The presentation of evidence is dry and boring. Police officers and forensic witnesses can't tell us what they saw. For example, questioning to the crime scene technician, "What does this photo indicate?" Answer:"It appears to be a red dot on the pillowcase." Question: "What is this mark on the wall?" Answer: "An indentation which is about an inch in diameter and 4ft from the ground." First, the red dot was blood, and the indentation was a bullet hole. BUT apparently, they can't tell us that. Jurors have to make that determination!!!! Ridiculous!

For two grueling days, we listened to witnesses testify. We listened to attorneys argue over stupid stuff and we were shuffled in and out of the court room as they continued to argue. It was actually comical. I was happy to see the defense doing something. Their defense was weak and we all felt that they could have done a better job. But we also suspected that we don't know what evidence was allowed to be submitted and what evidence was not permitted. That is the thing about court. Jurors don't hear all the evidence and we have to base our decision on what we have.

THE VERDICT:

Wow is all I can say. This part of jury duty hits you like a ton of bricks. I NOW have to make the determination if this man is guilty or innocent. That is pretty powerful. Think about it. I now have to decide the future of this other human being. As I said earlier. In another place and time, this man might have been a nice guy but unfortunately, his actions and bad choices caused a horrible tragedy.

First, the defense wanted us to decide that this man was soooo drunk he could not make any rational decisions. The evidence just didn't support that. Yes, he was drunk. Yes, I believe he is an alcoholic. Yes, all the victims were drunk too. Yes, two of the victims were convicted felons. BUT, the defendant was not unrational as defined by the State of Virginia. He had to have been drop down, sloppy drunk, staggering. The defendant was not. So based on the evidence, we dismissed the defense's claim that the defendant didn't know what he as doing. Second, the defense wanted us to find that the defendant was protecting himself because he had just been beat up. True, this younger boy had beat him up but the evidence proved that the altercation was over. The 2 brothers were in the kitchen cleaning up. The defendant was going out to his car to look for his cell phone to call someone to come pick him up. While out there he found a pistol and decided to take it back in the house "for protection". Here is where the Commonwealth wanted us to decide that this was premeditated murder. I struggled with this thinking that premeditated included a long period of time such as a day. NOPE, not according to the directions the judge gave us. Premeditation has no time frame. The defendant went out to his car, found the gun, went back into the house and went to the kitchen and shot the victim in the back of his head. We found him guilty of 1st Degree Murder as well as 3 other charges.

Here is where the emotion comes in. After we made this decision, I wanted to throw up. I have NO reasonable doubt it was premeditated...and I do NOT regret my decision but it was still tough! I started shaking uncontrollably as an emotional release and didn't stop until we left. I shook as the verdict was being read and tried hard to hide it.

THE SENTENCING:

Believe it or not, this is the part of the process where, we jurors actually argued. During the verdict stage, we all rationally poured over the evidence and testimony. We discussed the evidence like normal human beings. The verdict was not as nice. We didn't yell at each other but we had some pretty strong opinions. Although we did not believe that the defendant was so drunk he was not able to make rational decisions, we do believe that alcohol was a factor in all of this. We believed that every one in that house was culpable for what occurred. So how could we balance the severity of the crime with a fair sentence. We came to a consensus and recommended 40 years in addition to 5 years for attempting to wound the brother, 3 years (max. allowed by the state) for using a gun in a murder, and 5 years for unlawful wounding (shooting the mother/girlfriend). Thankfully he must serve the full 40 years. If he every gets out of jail he would be 108 if the sentences run consecutively. If they are concurrent, he would be 98 and possibly no threat to society.

CONCLUSIONS:
Court is not fun no matter how you slice it or which side you sit on. Jury duty is emotional and stressful. Words just cannot explain the feelings you have. It is a huge responsibility which I'm not sure we really understand until we are there. We think, "Yeah, it is cut and dry...this person is as guilty as sin." It isn't. But thankfully, there are guidelines to follow and evidence and testimony to view. I now have a better appreciation of the the struggle the Casey Anthony jury went through. The evidence just wasn't there to support her guilt. Believe me, those jurors did NOT make their decision lightly. Gosh I'm tired!

First Days Back at School

I began school Monday. I start back before the teachers come. Makes for a very short summer. I'm already feeling stressed. Just one week before teachers come and I have so much to do and not enough time to do it!

Thankfully, my school was able to get out from under the clutches of the Virginia Information and Technology Agency. This is a GOOD thing. Unfortunately, our computers and network is 'broken'. We have to rebuild everything from the ground up. In an effort to preserve some computers on campus, we now have shared computers in labs. This is not ideal but it is temporary. Problem is, nothing is as it was when we left. We've been able to remove many of the computers in the labs and replace them with 'better' computers which we moved from classrooms. So for 2 days, I've been in one lab trying to get a handle on what needed to be done. Too overwhelming!

I also have to plan for a presentation on Monday, fix PowerSchool problems and try not to loose it!!!

I just read a really good post about keeping things in perspective. I've got to remember to take care of myself, exercise and eat healthy and not let the stress of school get the best of me.

So here is off to a busy start!

This and That

Wow, it has been awhile since I've written. I've been pretty busy. A week ago, my aunt and cousin flew in from Georgia to spend the week. My cousin comes every July and I know my mother really likes having her here. My mom gets to do things that she knows I wouldn't do!!! It is a refreshing change for her. My cousin also really likes to cook and has the opportunity to try new things. I'm pretty set in my ways and don't venture to far from my favorite dishes! One year, my cousin decided to cook some recipes from Julia Child's cookbook. My word it was fantastic! This was also way before I had my bariatric surgery and didn't care that the food had a pound of butter!!!!

This year, my cousin asked her mother to come along too. Mom took them on the usual local tourists things and then the four of us went to DC and spent the night. I really had difficulty in DC this time. I don't typically have a problem getting around since I've been there many times but for some reason, I just could not get my bearings. It also didn't help that the Metro station that we usually use was closed for repair. That just threw me off. The most enjoyable part of the trip for me was going to the Episcopal church's National Cathedral for church. It just felt right. I miss church. I felt closer to dad whom I still miss terribly.

My summer if finally winding down and I look back and try to think where has it gone? I actually have not had time to become bored. The rest of this week and next week, I plan upon doing absolutely nothing but enjoying my last few days!!!! After all, school will be here soon enough and I will be complaining for a break! Take care until next time.

Checking In-Gus's Diet

 It has been about a month now that I took Gus off every pre-manufactured dog food and put him on a grain free diet. Wow...what a difference! I think the biggest thing is that he is actually still interested in his food! When he hears me pull out the freeze dried mix he comes running to the kitchen knowing that in about 15 min., he'll get fed. He NEVER did that when I fed him kibble. His coat is also so shinny and soft. The oil that I put in the mix is really working too.

The hardest part of this diet is making the food. Maybe I shouldn't use the word 'hard'. Hard is not correct. It takes more time to prepare his dinner. Since the mix is freeze dried, I have to boil 6 ounces of water and pour that over the mix (veggies). Then while that sits, I add the oil and a multivitamin. Next I either brown some ground beef or turkey and drain any fat off of it. By now, the veg-mix has become the consistency of oatmeal. It also looks very good. There are peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, and lots other vegetables. I add 8-10 ounces of meat and stir. Then I place it in the refrigerator so that it will cool off. Finally, I separate the food into 2 servings, one for the morning and one for the evening. I also have to rotate meats weekly. This week, Gus had beef, next week he'll have chicken. The following I'll do tuna fish, then turkey. So each week has to be a different meat. Sometimes it is difficult to wrap my head around! But I know that it is for best. He is soooooo much more happy and itch free...for the most part! :)

Technology

Ok...I DID IT! As a technology person, I really do fight technology. Not that I don't love it, after all, it is my job, I just get tired of being plugged in all the time. It is so nice to disconnect. I have a Kindle, a cell phone, a laptop, and an iPod Touch. What more could I possibly need? Well, for about a year now, I've had that itching, gnawing feeling. I've been toying with getting an iPad or an iPhone.

My son is a die hard Apple hater and I am a die hard Apple lover. I love their products! So when I mentioned that I wanted either an iPad or an iPhone, he went ballistic. Why do you want one? The ____ (you fill in the blank) is better. Apple is &^%$#! It is a no win battle. I just ignore him and do what I want. I like to see him mad :).

So this itch became more pronounced last week while in Chicago. It seemed as though everyone had a smart phone while I was still using a standard talk and text phone. The itch became a pounding this past Wednesday and I bit the bullet and went down to the Verizon store and bought an iPhone. It was not an impulse decision. I had been thinking about it for ever! I told the sales person, a real jerk, what I wanted. Naturally, he tried to sell me and my son more than what we needed. My son was getting a new phone too. He got an Android which is very fitting for him. It looks very masculine and gives him the ability to change up everything on it. It is actually a good thing that we purchased our phones when we did. Yesterday, Verizon changed their packages from unlimited data plans to a tiered plan which is much more expensive. In total, my son and I walked out of the Verizon store $400.00 lighter but both very happy with our purchases.

"Its My Party and I'll Cry if I Want to"

Don't you just love that song! I feel like that today. Today is my birthday and even though I don't really care about my age; I must confess that I get a little blue on this day. I don't have a problem telling people my age. I do not look like I'm 44 and don't feel like it either. What bothers me about getting older is that I always analyze my life on this day. What have I accomplished? I'm very proud of my life but I still feel like there is more I should be doing for others.

I wonder if others feel this way on their birthday. Is this just natural? I do know that as we age, we become less egocentric and start to think more of others. I have noticed this in myself. When I was a teenager, I only thought of me. Now as I am getting closer to 50, I think more of others. I honestly can't wait until I am able to financially and physically able to give back to others.

Happy Birthday to me! :)

The Justice System

Dismay is not quite the strongest word I can express with the recent verdict in the Anthony trial. I must confess, I'm not at all surprised. I have felt all along that the evidence was not strong enough to convict. I also believe that the behavior of the prosecuting attorney impacted the jurors. His behavior during closing arguments was inexcusable.  Let's look at this realistically....

Our justice system, whether right or wrong was set up to protect the rights of the accused....not the rights of the victims.

History lesson 101: During the years when the United States was a mere colony, the colonists were taxed and taken advantage of. The English could quarter their soldiers at will in any colonist's house or farm. This meant that the English soldiers could go up to a anyone and say, "Hey, you, mister colonists, you will provide food and lodging to these troops. If you don't, it doesn't really matter, we'll take what we want. Doesn't matter that it is your pig, your cow or your grain. We need it and it is ours. If you refuse, we'll just burn your house, your crops and probably shoot you and your family." In another injustice, the British government in the colonies could accuse anyone of any crime and many times, not even have a trial and forget about a jury of your peers. The governors of the territories were the judge and jury.

When the Constitution was written, the founding fathers felt that it was very important to protect the rights of the citizens. They drew upon the experience with the English to draw up the Constitution. I'm sure that many of the founding fathers either experienced first hand for themselves the hand of the English judicial way or had friends and family who had.

So now back to today. In an effort to try to be fair and impartial, we try to uphold the belief that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Theoretically, all accused persons entering a courtroom is innocent. We may feel that they are guilty as sin and may even have the smoking gun in their hand but they are still to be treated as though they are innocent. Like it or not, this lessens the chance of someone who is really innocent from being wrongfully convicted.

If anyone has failed in the Anthony trial it is the state of Florida. They had a job to PROVE without a shadow of a doubt that Casey Anthony killed her daughter. They failed to prove that.

Do I blame the jurors...heck NO. They did their job. They could not convict her beyond a reasonable doubt. Doubt is a horrible thing.

What's next? This is the part that really bothers me. I believe that Casey Anthony will profit from her trial and the murder of her child. I believe that she will get interviews, book deals and movie deals. I have a huge problem with this. The only way WE can prevent this is not to pay her any attention. Don't buy her book, don't watch her movies or interviews. Don't buy into the frenzy associated with her.

I support our legal system even when we know things are not right because I believe in the principles of the establishment of our courts by the founding fathers. Do I believe there are problems with our judicial system? Heck yeah! But I honestly can't think of any fair way to change it.

Support Caylee...don't buy her mother's books or watch any movie about the case. Don't let her profit from this.

Let Freedom Ring

Happy 4th of July ya'll! Remember the real reason for our celebration....the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. We all love the fire works and the get togethers with family and friends but we need to remember the very important document written by Thomas Jefferson in June of 1776 that lead to the dissolution of the relationship with England. Jefferson, a scholar of French thinkers and an avid reader of Thomas Paine and John Locke, adopted many of their beliefs one being that all people have certain natural, unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. During the 1760's the Colonies were very unhappy with England. During this time, England's Parliament had passed several taxes and several acts directed only towards the North American colonies. Due to several military actions including The French and Indian War, the English were desperate for money. In an effort to raise funds, the King and Parliament saw that the colonies could supplement the treasury. North America was very rich in natural resources and a large exporter of raw materials. The Stamp Act, the Tea Act, The Sugar Act and The Townsend Acts all taxed the colonists. The English justified all of these controversial acts by claiming that they were enacted "for defraying the charge of the administration of justice, and the support of civil government, in such provinces as it shall be found necessary; and towards further defraying the expenses of defending, protecting and securing the said dominions (American colonies)".  As we know, the colonies cried "unfair' since these taxes were only levied at the American colonists. The colonists were being taxed without any representation. Not a single colonist was ever elected or appointed to Parliament. American Colonists were accustomed to having certain rights since the signing of the  Magna Carta of 1215 in England. According to the National Archives and Records (NAR) "When Englishmen left their homeland to establish colonies in the New World, they brought with them charters guaranteeing that they and their heirs would "have and enjoy all liberties and immunities of free and natural subjects." Scant generations later, when these American colonists raised arms against their mother country, they were fighting not for new freedoms but to preserve liberties that dated to the 13th century."

Like a teenager, the American Colonists, began to grow-up and come into their own. The Declaration of Independence was not only a declaration of our unhappiness, it was the first step of the colonies cutting the apron strings.

I suggest that everyone read the Declaration of Independence. It is a very compelling document. I am enthralled with the elegance in which Jefferson wrote and the clearness of the language. There was no denying what the colonists wanted and why.

Since the first July 4th celebration in 1777 in Bristol, Rhode Island the 4th has come to encompass so much more. We celebrate our military men and women who protect our fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We celebrate our founding fathers and the time we have with family and friends. So enjoy the watermelon, the fireworks and the rights we have as US Citizens but remember that in 1776, the colonies took the first steps to becoming a united states.

Declaration of Independence


Quotes:
"The Declaration announced to the world the separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain and the establishment of the United States of America. It explained the causes of this radical move with a long list of charges against the King. In justifying the Revolution, it asserted a universal truth about human rights in words that have inspired downtrodden people through the ages and throughout the world to rise up against their oppressors" (Charters of Freedom).

Home at Last!

Having to depend upon anyone is always a risk. Think about that and I think you will agree. You risk a job getting done, something going wrong, disappointment, danger...and many other things. Traveling is the same way. When you depend upon an airline, bus company, or Amtrak, you are risking your life, your time, your luggage, your money. Well, yesterday, we depended upon Amtrak to get us home safe and sound and relatively on time. One thing I've learned is that there are always circumstances beyond our control. I really don't expect airlines or Amtrak to take off or arrive on time. Things happen...the weather, a late passenger whatever. Things happen and I'm pretty cool with that. What I don't expect is how transportation companies handle those delays beyond their control. I expect an explanation. I expect politeness, I expect to be treated like a person. Yesterday, we spent 25 hours on the train. Our journey began in Chicago and Union Station. IT IS a DUMP! It is like the worst bus terminal you can imagine. The pick up station at Staunton is better than Union Station. It was hot, smelly, dirty and crowded beyond belief. The lay out of the entire facility made no sense what so ever. Amtrak can actually take some lessons from the TSA and airports. The lines are worse than any line getting on a plane. Oh...and security??? What security? Our train system is ripe for a terrorist attack. Any one can hop on a train and really cause some damage. I digress.....back to the trip itself. Thank you Lord that my mother is 'old'! Because of her age, we were able to get on the train before the other 200 passengers. That helped tremendously. It is like a herd of stampeding cattle when you run to your train. I'm not kidding....you run to catch your train because they will not wait for you. We get on the train and all is well. One thing that Amtrak does better than any airline is the space and size of the seats. They are huge! There is so much room. It is actually very comfortable.

We leave Union Station on time and we are so happy. It looks like we'll be home by 1:00 Friday. Loved Chicago but it was time to go home.

Now we are settled for the evening. We take our own food to snack on because the train is sooooooo expensive and all the food they have is microwaved zapped food. Nighttime comes and mom and I take a sleeping pill. It is not easy to sleep on the train. People continuously walk down the aisle going to the restroom or the cafe car. There are also many stops along the way. I think that we manage to sleep a few hours and arrive in Indianapolis. In Indianapolis, Amtrak adds more cars to our train. Going up, it took about 45 minutes. No problem. Well, we waited and waited and waited and waited. 2 hours later, the train finally pulls out of the station. During this time, people have gotten up, gone to the restroom and begin talking, calling people on their phones and generally begin to become loud. Oh, did I mention this is like at 1:00 in the morning. I had ear plugs in and still it was disturbing. Mom woke up and told some old man to be quiet. Off again.....traveled in between Indianapolis and Cincinnati and again we stop at some hole in the wall train station. We wait, and wait and wait. For 3 hours, we waiting. After 3 hours, the train once again pulls out. By this time it is about 5:00 in the morning. We are supposed to arrive in Charleston, WVa in between 7:30 and 8:00. We are 6 hours from Charleston. You do the math. Not once did Amtrak ever explain why were late. In fact, I didn't know why until we stopped at the Greenbriar stop did I hear why. Apparently, an Amtrak bus got lost bringing transfer people to Indianapolis. They ended up meeting us in between Indianapolis and Cincinnati. We were a total of 5 hours late. Not only did we arrive 5 hours after the projected time but people along the way were late getting on the train. The people who got on at Greenbriar got an extension of their trip. They were supposed to get off at D.C but Amtrak let the stay on until Baltimore. Guess what we got! Imitation, cheese like substance with cheddar or swiss cheese flavoring. I kid you not! We got a snack pack because the cafe car ran out of food! and the cheese wasn't even real! :)

Moral of the story...when you depend upon others, there is always the risk of disappointment. So...will I travel via Amtrak again? I don't know. Maybe not for long trips. The restrooms smell, men cannot aim right when in motion. The service sucked, my butt hurt, my legs hurt...the list goes on and on. The positive...everyone needs to ride the train. It is a national treasure and reminiscent of a time gone by. Many improvements need to happen though and I now understand why Amtrak is a federal subsidized program. All aboard? Not anytime soon :)

Last Day!

Sunset in Chicago...view from ferris wheel

Being in Chicago was everything and nothing that I expected. I knew that Pearson would treat us right after all, they are a multi-million dollar corporation. I knew that it would be first class all the way. What I wasn't expecting was hot, sit down lunches with linen table cloth and napkins, the actual tech people who I call when I have problems....seriously...I met one of the guys who handles my school and I've actually spoken to on the phone, the camaraderie, the networking opportunities, Bill Clinton in my hotel, Wolf Blitzer, the FRIENDLINESS of the people in Chicago and so much more! So glad I've had the opportunity to come....once in a lifetime event.

Last night, my son, mother and cousins from Texas said our final goodbyes to Chicago by heading to the Weber Grill and then to the Navy Pier. We had seen the Weber Grill on the Food Channel and it was everything we had hoped it would be. Then about a mile walk to the Navy Pier where we rode the ferris wheel and watched the fireworks. What a way to end the trip.

Professional Sports

I am not in anyway a sports fan...period. I can tolerate SEC college football but that is about all. It is just not my thing. So heading to Wrigley Field in Chicago is a history lesson. I'm more interested in the historical aspect.

I've seen pictures of people at Wrigley Field in the 40's and 50's so when I took this picture; I was reminded of those times when people would skip work or skip school to go see the cubs. Now days, the cost to go to a game is outrageous!

PowerSchool University

For those of you who don't know, I'm in Chicago for training. So my trip is not exactly 'for fun'. When I told people that I was going to Chicago for school stuff, the looks were of pity. I quickly told people...this is pleasurable. This is what I enjoy. Besides, I've found that I'm still able to get out and see the sights. We came up a day before and was able to do a lot of sight seeing.

PowerSchool is a student information system that a majority of schools use throughout the United States. In Virginia, something like 80% of schools use the program. The huge company, Pearson, owns PowerSchool. Pearson is known for book printing and testing material. So you know that this company has lots of money and treats their customers well. My first impressions of PowerSchool were everything I had expected. We have been treated like kings and queens and have very knowledgeable staff.

As I said in a post on Facebook, there are all kinds of PS users here. There are those who know a lot, those who don't know anything and those who know enough to do damage....like me!

In Chicago

In March, I was able to convince my school superintendent to send me to PowerSchool University. PowerSchool is the Student Information System we use. Although I consider myself a pretty good user of the program, I am NO expert. I need more training. The school found a grant and I happy to report that I'm here in Chicago. My mother and my son were able to come. They will be sight-seeing in Chicago while I'm in class. I do not mind at all! I'll be doing something I enjoy too.

The three of us traveled on Amtrak. It was a lot cheaper than flying but VERY long! We got on the train at 3:00 Friday afternoon and got off Saturday morning at 11:00. I must say, all day yesterday, I felt that I was still on the train. The journey on the train is interesting. You see and meet all kinds of people. People traveling with families, older people, rich,  and not so rich and all in between.

View from a boat tour

We arrived in Chicago and I really didn't know what to expect. I have been in big cities but not as big as Chicago. Boy was I pleasantly surprised. Chicago is NOTHING like I expect. We all have self perceived notions of how things should be. For example, we all think that New York should be smelly and have rude, pushy people. Chicago, I expected about the same. First, Chicago has a lot of green space. There are parks everywhere. There are people walking everywhere. Downtown Chicago, where we are, there are more condos than businesses so this is where people live. We've seen lots of families. I didn't feel scared walking outside. So far, I'm enjoying Chicago. I'm not a city person and still enjoy my little town but this is not a bad place to visit.

Day 1: The Dr. Harvey Way

Update on Mr. Gus: Gus has been on his homemade diet for over a week now. He is enthusiastic about his food, seems happier and has more energy. Today, we took our normal walk over to Nana's and when we got there, he was not the least bit tired. In fact, he ran around her yard like a crazed dog! His skin has cleared up except for a couple 'old' spots. I even more confident that his recent skin problems was diet related.

Today, Dr. Harvey's dog food mix arrived. Anxious to try it out, I made up a batch to see Gus's reaction. Good LORD...he gobbled it down. He even went back to the bowl several times to re-lick it. So does that mean he likes it or he isn't getting enough protein? I'm confident that it is because he likes it. Each daily batch has 9-10 ounces of protein. I'll feed him twice a day so that is about 4 1/2 ounces at each meal. The total weight of the protein and the mix is 15 ounces or 7 1/2 at each meal. That is a LOT. I don't even eat that much at a meal. I also put in 2 tsp. of fish oil. I've ordered Dr. Harvey's vitamin supplement but it is on back order.

My mother's neighbor thinks I'm crazy. She tells me that I can buy kibble dog food that is made for allergy suffering dogs when I get tired of making Gus's. I already cook once a month for my son and me. So, why not add the dog into the mix?

Gus: Day 6...The Homemade Way

I'm happy to report that everyday brings improvement with Gus's skin. Yesterday, I counted 3 times that he scratched!!! Today, I've caught him licking his feet twice. We haven't gotten the food mix from Dr. Harvey yet. I was notified that it has been shipped today but the vitamin supplement is on back order. For the first time since Gus was a young puppy, he was actually excited about eating tonight! He ran around the kitchen and barked!!! I'm hesitant to be too happy but so far, so good!!!

The Car and Child are Here!

First, let me say, I am TIRED. Rode/drove for over 12 hours yesterday. Being a stubborn, hard-headed 17 year old, the child wanted to drive back home by himself. The child's father and I both felt that he did not need to make this drive from Alabama to Virginia by himself. The child and his father rode in "the boat" and his grandfather followed in his car. At the same time, my mother and I were coming from Virginia. We had decided that we would meet in Knoxville and 'swap'. My mother would ride with the child and I'd follow in my car. I must say, the child is sooooo thrilled. He acted like a proud papa with a new baby. He would not let me or his grandmother drive! He is also a pretty good driver. Weather conditions were pretty bad. By the time we hit Roanoke it was dark and started to rain. The child did pretty darn good. I think that Nana had white knuckles...it is a control thing...but I was proud of my boy. Now we begin a different chapter....the child with his own car. I'm very confident that he will continue to be a good, responsible driver. Prayers and faith!!!

The Child's First Car!

Today is THE big day. Today my son brings his 'new' car home. Last Sunday, the child flew to Alabama to visit his father. His real intentions were to pick up his 'new' car that his great grandmother is giving him...well actually giving me.

This has been a long journey for me. I never had a car at 17. In fact I was 19 and in college when I got my first car. What a treasure. It was a 1976 Ford Elite that I called Miss Ellie. I've stood firm and determined that my child would not be like others and have a car when he turned 16. I'm proud to say that I've held him off for a year. Pride is such a terrible thing. The opportunity came up this Spring when his grandfather approached me to say that they were ready to give the child his great grandmother's car. I nearly freaked out and the voice of Judge Judy pounded in my head about all the evils of teenagers and the stupid things they do. I'd be darned if my 17 year old was going to be like those teens on TV and have a car. The child knew the answer too and sat quietly as I said, "I'd think about it." When we got in the car and before I had the chance to turn on the ignition, I said, "I'll have to talk to your uncle and the insurance agent." I just knew that my brother would say, "Are you crazy! Do you know the statistic for wrecks with teen drivers!" After all, he is an attorney. I also knew that my insurance agent would say, "Karen, you cannot afford for your 17 year old to have a car. You cannot pay the premiums. What are you thinking! 17 year old teens have no business having their own car." I felt confident that I had the support from these two, so I knew that I was safe in my decision for my teen to NOT have a car. Little did I know that would all blow up in my face!!!!!

The next day, I called my brother and explained the situation. In his lawyerly voice he asked the important questions, "What kind of car? What year? Will the title be signed over to you?" My reply, "It is a Ford, 1993 and yes it will be titled to me." His response shocked me! This was my safety net! I just knew that he would say, "ARE YOU CRAZY!" but NO....he said, "Karen, I think that it is a good idea." I was stunned. No words could come from my mouth. Not one sound, while all the time I was yelling inside. "No...you were supposed to tell me NO. I'm not ready for this" I quickly gathered myself knowing that there was one last hope; my insurance agent would surely support me and tell me that I couldn't possibly afford the premiums. Besides, how stupid am I for giving a 17 year old a car. I gathered myself together and called. I explained the situation. I could hear the keyboard clicking away as the agent entered the information in THE COMPUTER. My confidence is gaining strength. I know that I can't afford this. I just know! Then I hear, "Well, Karen, if I were to get my teen a car, that would be the kind I'd get. It is made of steel and it is big. Also, your premiums will go down." My vision turned black. I couldn't hear anything. I sat in silence.

What would be my excuse now? I know, I'll just lie to the child. I'll tell him that his uncle and the insurance agent thought it was a stupid idea and I just couldn't afford it. Yeah...I'll just lie! Problem is....I've never lied to the child before. Not sure I could pull it off with a straight face. Ok...fine...I'll just lie to him over the phone. I can do that. I don't have to look at him. Wait...he is going to want to talk about it later. Crap! What was I going to do???? AVOIDANCE. That was the ticket. I will avoid the conversation. Relief...I had a plan. Feeling ever so confident, I waited for the child. My plan was in action. The child came home. We talked about the usual, how was your day stuff. He went to his room and I went to mine...AVOIDANCE! How wonderful. Then it happened. I hear him coming up the stairs. My heart is pounding. I begin to sweat. Why is he coming up? I hear my child's voice, from the kitchen, those dreaded words, "Mom have you talked to Uncle Craig yet?" What was I going to do? Pretend I didn't hear him. I do that all the time so why no. This time, he comes to me and asks. "Mom, have you called Uncle Craig yet?" My reply, "Huh? What? Why?" The child's response, "You know. To ask about the car." The dam burst and out it came. "Uncle Craig thinks it is a good idea and the agent said that my premiums would be cheaper." There, I said it! Oh NO...what had I just done?! There was no turning back. I said IT.

So here I am, sitting at the computer on a Sunday morning at 5:00 AM about to get dressed to drive 6 hours to meet the child and his 'new' old car. How did we get to this place? All because I can't lie.

Teens really think that they have a tough life. Peer pressure, school pressure, growing pressure and life in general pressure. Well, one thing is for sure....I honestly believe his growing up is harder on me than it is on him. I'm the one with the 'letting go' problems. This is just another step in his independence and journey to manhood. I don't like it all!

Life With Gus: The Homemade Way

So last week and this week have been pretty tough for my tough 11 month old Scottie. The weather turned warmer and I noticed a significant amount of scratching. I just chalked it up to hot spots. Saturday, a week ago, Gus went to his last doggie obedience class and the trainer noticed his scratching too. There would be times that he scratched so much that he could not do the exercises we asked him to do. The trainer and I talked and I told her that I just thought it was the heat. Well, things got worse. All last week, Gus was scratching so much that I was determined to take him to the vet. Then all of a sudden, I thought....maybe he has allergies. A quick trip to the store and I bought some Benadryl. I got 2 doses in him and things seemed to calm down....some. The dog was literally waking me up at night scratching. I could hear the rattle of his kennel all the way in my room! During the day, my mother was putting him in baking soda baths. Things were not getting better! Another, eureka moment and a quick check on the internet....Gus could be allergic to his dog food. Getting him to eat has always been a struggle...and this is EXPENSIVE dog food. He has always been on Blue and then stopped eating it. I switched him to Innova and he seemed to like it for awhile then acted as though I was forcing him to eat. I also can look back and his stools have not been what I'd call "just right". Even as a younger puppy, I had taken him to the vet twice for an upset stomach. Things started clicking. This dog is allergic to dog food, which is not uncommon for Scottish Terriers. So I immediately took him off everything and began a homemade diet. For 5 days now, he has been eating a rice, chicken and veggies dinner with a vitamin supplement. He is still scratching but NOTHING like he was before. He even now comes in the kitchen when I'm fixing his dinner and actually looks excited about eating! I got on line and did some more research and I have ordered a grain free, organic mix from Dr. Harvey and a vitamin supplement of flax oil, borage oil, fish oil and Vitamin E. I can't wait to get the stuff next week and I'll keep you posted on his progress. This mix looks very interesting.  You can check out the site yourself and see!


Dr. Harvey's Fine Health Food for Companion Animals

Starting a Blog...again

A few years ago, I had a blog. I found that it was just too much to keep up with. At that time, I was busy with a 13 year old son. Now, my son is 17 and needs my attention in different ways other than dictating his days. I also found that I was posting entirely too much on Facebook and really wanted to say a lot more but felt guilty for posting stupid things! So it is summer time and I will once again try to 'do' a blog. You'll find that most of my posts will be about mundane things and particularly, my 4 legged son, Fergus MacPherson MacDuff. The 17 year old son would be mortified if I wrote about him....frequently :).