Never enough time

This isn't a complain. Or a whine. More just a..................frantic and rather unsettling realization I hit each year about this time.

There is never enough time to get done all the things I have to do and many of the things I WANT to do.

I am curled up here at the school with a mountain of marking from h*ll along with prep work and it is absolutely overwhelming. With 29 students at very different levels, there isn't a moment to spare during the day so all the other work has to happen outside of traditional hours.

Compound that with the housework and laundry that needs to be done. DS2 is at home with homework (a ridiculous amount for a long weekend and an assignment I would never give as a teacher) and I HOPE he's working on it. DS1 is up skating with the junior team and excited as heck about it. DH is out with one of my nephews doing the winterizing for the boat and helping him winterize his seadoos.

And it's nice out. I'd like to be out for a walk or a bike ride or a fire at the farm to enjoy the moments of autumn that are quickly fleeing.

And there's a football game on!

I know I do not use my time to it's fullest (does anyone??) but this is something I HAVE to do a better job of.  I need to stream line what I am doing at school to make it the most effective for the students and I. I also need to just get down to business and bite the elephant one chunk at a time.

(and for those who say "hey chickie yer complaining about time and yer blogging".....I typed this in the 2 min my water was boiling to make my tea :-)

Laterssssss

Good ole manual labour

With DS2 gone for the weekend with his scouter buddies, the day begins with the daunting task of manual labour with the promised reward of turkey meal #1.

DH's sister and her husband are gyprocking/sheetrock their 3 car garage and are in need of extra hands. DH and DS1 are already out there and I am just whapping together the chili in the crockpot to take out for a quick noon meal to go with my mom's fresh homemade buns. Those buns are like gold in our family.

The sun is shining today though it's not supposed to get more than 12 C. It has to be better than the gloomy swirly grey clouds and cold weather we have had the past couple days.

Should be a good day of cheap 'entertainment' (read no spend day) and some together time. Wish DS2 were here too though.

I may run out to my sister's place for a bit to play with her kittens. They are starting to warm up to strangers and a half hour with them is nature's own stress relievers.

Have a great day.

Facing the wrong way

This is one of those "if everyone else is doing it wrong and I am doing it right, maybe "I" am the one doing things wrong :-)

For the past 6 weeks, it seems like everytime I go to put gas in my vehicle, everyone is always facing the wrong way. That means I can't slide in behind folks to wait my turn. The first time or two I just thought that it was a busy time at the filling station, but as the weeks went on I realized that if it is happening ALL of the time, it cannot be coincidence.

Then I began examining vehicles more closely.

My tank is on the right side, or passenger side of my vehicle. EVERYONE else I see has theirs on the left, or driver's side.

Just one of those hmmmmm moments of life :-)  so is it just me or do others have their tank on the right???

I have a Pontiac Torrent and I'm a rightie.

What about you?

Where the money stands

as of October 6th

Debts
Mortgage - $32 914.62
Vehicle Loan - $9429.01
Total Debts - $42 343.63

Savings/Planned Spending
Xmas - 2011 - $1200
RRSP - $2675
RESP - $8200

Highlights - We are finally down a 'ten thousand' on the mortgage. We've been at 33 thousand, something since my 'as of June 5th' post. That pesky interest and property taxes  and such make it take awhile.

Savouring the Weather

It has been an unbelievable Fall. The weather has been record hitting highs and just such a pleasure to enjoy. We had one night of frost in early September but beyond that we've been spoiled rotten. As I write this there are dark swirly clouds out there and a very thick rain is coming down.

The weather really gave out that feeling of "get outside as much as you can and enjoy it, as winter is coming!" There were so many people out doing things in their yard, or walking and biking, or taking one more weekend at the cabin before closing it up.

I took my students outside as much as I could this week. As long as they were working productively, we went out. Math was outside. Writing was outside. Phys-Ed was outside.  We did a school wide walk for Terry Fox. It's so fun to see all the different ages interact as we go around our route.

I also did my annual Fall Field trip with my class and we went out to the hills and did some team building activities and then went ziplining. Many have zipped before but for those who haven't, it is a very empowering experience for them. 

And now with October here I am amazed at how fast the first month of school went. Time to get myself to the school and get some work done on this gloomy sunday, before I head off for DS's hockey game.