Everything Is Possible

Today is Friday, the last day of my totally random three-day vacation days from work. I needed to take vacation days before the end of the year... so I just picked seven random days in October, November and December to enjoy the days off.

Things here at home are kinda crazy. For example... last night we got a call from Kayla at about 9:30. She was crying really bad and told me to please come up to her work. There was a Jamaican guy who works with her that was there harassing her. She's had problems with this guy before. She has told us that he keeps "touching" her while she works and she yells at him, telling him to stop. I asked Chris to get into 'corrections officer' mode and let's go up to McDonald's to check on her.

We get up there and the guy was already gone. The police had already been called by McDonald's management. Apparently this guy and his cousin (who is a very large and intimidating guy) came up and started cursing at Kayla. They crossed the line when they threw dipping sauces at her.

The manager said that he 'would be fired' - but there was a process for that. The police officer said that since he was technically still an employee, they couldn't issue a trespass order that night. But - once he was fired - if he came back, they could then issue the trespass warning.

I'm telling you -- they BETTER fire the guy immediately. I'm already still fuming that this McDonald's hasn't refunded money they've taken out of her check for drawer shortages. I think I told you that before... they take money out of her check if her drawer is short. There are several issues with that: one being that she is not the only one with access to that drawer, and that they take the money out when she's short, but don't put money IN if she's over. They said she signed something when she started saying it was okay for them to do that... but it's still against the law - any HR person can tell you that -- and she was a minor, only 16 at the time.. it doesn't matter what she signed. So... yeah... I'm still upset about that.

To add to my day yesterday, I got a call from one of Kayla's teachers. She wanted to meet with me to talk about Kayla's attitude and behavior. I met with her yesterday afternoon and she explained to me that Kayla's grades are good in her class, but her attitude is horrible. She said that she talks throughout class to her friends, at will, regardless of what the teacher is talking about or how many times she tells her to stop. Not good. Then she tells me that Kayla has a good friend that she talks to throughout class. This friend has already been suspended once this year, and that the friend was not doing well in class and really wasn't going to 'go anywhere'. Kayla, on the other hand, DOES do well in class and has a bright future in front of her. This teacher can't figure out why Kayla is associating with her. That - this girl is going to bring her down. I can totally see that... Kayla's whole new group of friends are not the long-term friends kind of people. I don't know what she's doing there. Then she tells me that Kayla also brings food into her class and eats, even though it's against class rules and she's told her to stop. The teacher said that she has never before had a class like this class -- where she will tell the kids to do something, get out a book or assignment, and someone will just say "no"! Then it infects the rest of the class and everyone tells her "no". She explained that Kayla's attitude is "I can do whatever I want and you can't do anything about it". Sigh... I know all about that - I've seen it plenty too. But I also know that Kayla wants to do the right thing... and that will hopefully keep her on track.

I had a talk with Kayla and explained that she had the chance to be the GOOD example in this class. That the teacher doesn't deserve kids talking back to her every day. She is there from 6:30 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon 5 days a week... just because if a kid wants to come before or after class for help, she wants to be there for them. She doesn't deserve to be treated poorly. And Kayla has enough charisma and friends to where HER deciding to act well in the class might just ripple on through the rest of the class. She said she's going to try, so we'll see.

Jonathan has had a really bad week. He has been SO addicted to that computer, playing World of Warcraft. On school days he plays from 3:30 in the afternoon until bedtime, only taking breaks when we force him to do so. On weekends, it's all-day until he has a scheduled break. Now, the computer he was using has been returned - so he doesn't have one he can use. It was really hard for him... I know. But -- I have to tell you how wonderful it was last night. He played X-Box for a little while after school, then he went to a friend's house for a couple hours, came home and played Piano (made up a new song). I muted the television and just sat for a while... listening and smiling. It was wonderful to see him not stuck in one place/in one chair ALL DAY.

Justin has had a good week. He received a card the other day from one of his teachers. It says "Justin - Congrats on being selected "most honorable" student! I am so proud of you; you take your education and roles as a learning student seriously, and I know you will be so successful in your future plans. Thank you for all you are - Keep up the excellent work! :) Ms. Orlando" WOW, what a surprise that was, and what an honor for Justin!

Speaking of Justin, he is going on Monday for the MRI of his knee, then Tuesday to meet with the doctors out at USF again to discuss the results and possible surgical options. Sure hope all of that goes well.

I got the WORST haircut of my life last weekend. Sunday I went for a little 'trim'. My bangs were in my eyes, and so I knew it was time for just a bit to be trimmed, it had been two months since my really GREAT haircut. I got compliments all the time on my hair, so I wanted to make sure to keep the look 'fresh', not wait another 6 or 8 months for a haircut like I usually do. I went to the same place, Great Clips, but got a different guy. I told him what I wanted, and he did a horrible job. Cut WAY more than a trim... then he did it horribly uneven. My right side was 3/4 of an inch longer than the left. There were pieces that were hacked away and other pieces that were - literally - 2 inches longer in length. You could clearly see it when I tried to put a curling iron in it. HORRIBLE. I lived with it a few days, before finally deciding to go to a different Great Clips and asking them to fix it. Now it's just SHORT all over. UGG. But... at least it's even. I tried to figure out what to 'do' with it this morning... and I just can't find a style I like. I'm just SO upset that this guy ruined my hair. I keep saying to myself though... "It'll grow back!" It will, and it's only hair... so I'll make the best of it I guess.

Report cards should be here next week. I don't know what we are going to do with the kids and their phones. The cell phones were given to Kayla, Justin and Kayte as a 'reward' for getting honor roll, with the understanding that they would have them taken away if they didn't make honor roll the next 9 weeks. Jonathan has a cell phone which was given to him to keep reminders and schedule tasks - things he forgets because of his aspergers. Well... Kayla is going to have a D on her report card. That much we are sure about. But... Kayla will run out and get a Metro PCS phone if we take hers away. She has done it twice before, and she told us she'd do it again. So... what to do about that? We decided to make her pay her own share of the cell phone bill when it comes in. Kayte, I am pretty sure, is going to have honor roll. She had a C, but it was a 79.8, so I think they are going to round it up to a B. Justin has a C, which he thinks is unfair to him. He had a workbook stolen from his locker and he didn't make up the work between the time it was stolen and he got a new workbook. All the other grades in the class are great, with the exception of those few zeros, which brought him down to a C. Justin thinks it's unfair that he lose his cell phone for this, since it was 'beyond his control'. I think he could have borrowed someone else's workbook, re-written all the assignments, and just turned them in. I got permission for him to do this from the teacher, but he never did it. Said that the other kids workbooks were already completed and graded and it felt like cheating, so he didn't do it. So.... I'm torn about him. Jonathan is going to have 2 C's I'm pretty sure. But Jonathan's phone wasn't given to him on the understanding that he needed honor roll to keep it. So.... I just don't know what the right thing to do is. If I take Justin's phone, he's certainly going to think it's unfair that Jonathan and Kayla both still have their phones. This parenting thing is pretty tough at times like this!!

I have photos of the kids from school, I'll try to get them scanned and uploaded her in a couple days. All the kids look GREAT! And... all of them growing up so much. Justin and Jonathan are getting so tall, Kayla and Kayte are both so beautiful! As soon as I figure out how to scan from the printer using this computer (Vista - ugg!), I'll get them loaded here for you.

We are having a big dinner here at my house on Sunday for my mom's birthday. She's going to be the big 6-5. We were going to go out to eat, but figured with the economy the way it is and everyone pinching pennies, it would be better to eat a home-cooked meal. So... I'm going to make her one of my favorite Apron's meals... Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. Should be good! I was going to make another batch with shrimp, but the more I think about feeding 13 people, the more I think I need to make it as easy as possible and I might just stick with only the chicken. Wish me luck on this dinner, I'm a little nervous about it.

As Halloween approaches and the Christmas decorations hit the store, I'm surprised that I'm not more freaked out about the fact that we are less than two months away from Christmas. I guess I'm now okay with knowing that the kids really have everything they 'need'. They know I'm facing a job loss at the beginning of the year, so I think they'll be okay with us getting whatever we can afford for them for Christmas. Of course, they haven't yet started asking... but - given the times I know that we are not the only family in this financial boat. I have faith that God will provide -- He always has.

I'm still nowhere with the job search. I've gotten two calls out of the dozens of places I sent my resume to. One was for a part-time position that didn't pay all that well. The second was from a guy who was opening a metal manufacturing shop in Oldsmar and he needed a 'Girl Friday' to start in a week. Oh, and the Girl Friday needed to understand she'd be working with men all day long... and country men on top of it. I pretty well understood what he was saying. I could probably work in that environment - but I am not willing to leave my current boss in a lurch by starting a new job in a week. So... I'm continuing to look. I know God has a plan... I just have to believe in it and keep the faith. And with the help of your prayers, I'm going to keep the faith.

" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Mark 9:23