"It don't matter if you're black or white"

At this very moment, I could have been a widow. That is, if things would have gone differently about 35 years ago.
Sadly, that's not the way things unfolded.
When I was about 12 I wrote a letter to my love, Michael Jackson. In this letter I professed my undying love for him and my wish to be his girlfriend. At the end of the letter, in a typical teenage angst-ridden tone I confessed that there was perhaps one small problem in our future relationship, and that fact was that I was white.
I never heard back from him. I was crushed.
If only he had.

In all seriousness, I'm very saddened by his death. He was a musical genious. I know he had issues, but to me his talent outshined all that.

All the book group food was a hit. They were all new recipes, and they came out well. I thought the baked onion dip was a little salty, and the lime cheesecake I wasn't thrilled with, but others were. The corn dogs were scrumptcho-banumptcho! But, the pumpkin cheesecake muffins were my favorite!
Our house went on the MLS on Wednesday and the sign went up on Thursday. We had four showings this weekend. That's a good sign. (it sure is a pain to have to evacuate the house, especially getting the dog out as that limits where we can go for the hour the showings typically last. - It's not supposed to be as rainy this week, so hopefully when there are showings we can just go for a walk)
Other than that, I got nothing. But, that's a good thing, I guess.

Yummy

I'm hosting bookgroup tonight.
I have a fun afternoon of cooking planned. I've recruited JJ to help me (It will help work off his punishment for his grades). The book had a Japanese/baseball theme
The menu I've planned is:

Bleu chees/bacon corn dogs
Roasted spicey nuts
Baked onion dip
Wrapped asparagus
Egg rolls

Desserts:
Lime cheesecake
Pumpkin Creamcheese muffins
Raspberry filled chocolate cake

Oh, and a sparkling peach punch.
Personally, I'm looking forward to the corn dogs (new recipe) and the muffins.

Lights, camera, action!

Well, the list is finished.
The real estate agent is coming tomorrow and we're listing it.
My neighbor doesn't want us to move so she said she's going to do strange things so potential buyers are afraid to move here. Like get a bunch of old cars on blocks in the front yard, hang a rebel flag, etc.
Keep your fingers crossed.

"One small step for man...."

Well, I was pleasantly surprised at yesterday's meeting.
It was JJ's and Braden's school caseworkers and the Director of Special Ed. and me.
First we went through JJ's IEP, and she agreed that the goals were irrelevant and non-measurable. But, she did say that if he has any interest in college at all, a 504 plan is better than an IEP. I don't know if that's true....I can't find any information that says one is better than the other.
Then we went through Braden's. She helped his caseworker rewrite all his goals. Then she said that she knows the school was totally wrong with not sending reports of progress but that she had no idea. She just assumed they were since the middle and elementary schools were sending them. She also said it looked like IEP's needed to be looked at in general and more training was needed for her staff. She said they're using a new computer program next year that will automatically generate the reports, which will be tied right into report cards. She going to implement a plan where the report cards of student's with IEPs will be generated separately and the reports will be attached and mailed together by the main office, who will notify her if reports aren't done.
She thanked me for calling her and said that believe it or not, I'm the first high school parent to ever call and complain about IEP's or lack of progress reporting and if I hadn't called, she would have continued to assum that things were being done the way they were supposed to be.
I didn't particularly care for her....he attitude was a little, "I'm way better and smarter than you'll ever be", but I made my points clearly and she took care of all my concerns. Now, we'll just wait and see what happens next year. But, she clearly knows that if these issues aren't rectified, I will call the state.

IEP SchmIEP

About a month ago I had to go to the school for JJ's IEP meeting. The school says he doesn't need an IEP anymore. Last year he had two goals on his IEP and at the meeting one was classified as "not introduced" and the other showed "minimal progress". In math, JJ tests at a 4:7 (high fourth grade level). How can they say he doesn't need an IEP when they haven't met the goals of his existing IEP??? Unfortunately, I don't have Educational Rights for him, and Children's Home doesn't want to fight it. My hands are tied.
Two weeks ago I went in for Braden's IEP meeting. He has three goals. Two were marked "moderate progress" and one was marked "significant progress". However, the school has no data to back up these statuses. When I requested it, they said there really wasn't any. Braden went from a tested sixth grade level in math at the end of 8th grade, to a 5th grade level at the end of ninth grade.
Also, according to all IEP's, there are supposed to be quarterly IEP progress reports sent home...I never get any for either boy. I talked to my neighbor, whose son has an IEP, and she doesn't receive the progress reports either. And, all three of these kids have different special ed caseworkers at the school, so it's just not one person not doing their job....it's standard operating procedure.
I called the Director of Special Ed yesterday and she wants me to come in today for a meeting at 9:am. I know a lot of you aren't familiar with IEP's, but Nazareth is being non-compliant. That's against the law. I know it. They know it. She said the meeting was going to be with her, and JJ's and Braden's caseworkers, but, I know I'm going to walk into that meeting this morning and have to face about 8 people with various degrees. I'm very nervous. I'm so pissed about this whole situation and I'm going to forget all the logical points I have made in my mind. I'm going to come off as a stark raving lunatic....but, holy crap, this is about the education of these boys. And, if the three kids I know with IEP's are having this problem.....what about all the other kids with IEP's? It just can't be a coincidence that these are the only three problems.
Wish me luck!!!

listless

My list finally has more things crossed out, than aren't crossed out.
Thursday we're getting the carpets shampooed, then we'll be ready.
I was going to buy new bedding for my room....so my curtains and bedspread match...but, I don't want to spend the money. I just have to plant some flowers in the window boxes out by the pool and we're done!
I'm glad, yet sad.

"No more pencils no more books...."

Today was the last day of school this year for me.
So, I'm off for the summer....except for the part-time job I do. But, 15 hours a week is better than 50. I won't have to set my alarm for two months!