How I Spent Party Night

I decided to skip the party and donate blood instead. Today is exactly 56 days after my last donation (the amount of time needed between donations) and the day my mom would have turned 82. Since blood donations kept her alive for so many years, I felt it was appropriate to donate today, in her memory and honor.

This turned out to be a great donation. I didn't pass out or even get dizzy. The guy who took my blood actually took the necessary precautions with me. In fact, I felt so good, I decided to stop at Pathmark to pick up some things for dinner. That is when I got pissed.

First, the carts were laying all over the parking lots, blocking spots and rolling into cars.

There has got to be something seriously wrong with people who won't move the extra couple of feet to put them in the corrals which are very conveniently located.

Then, the long lines forced me to go to a self service check out. I hate those things. I worked my way through high school as a checker and these registers just take jobs away from needy people. They also never work right. There was a really big guy standing in front, supposedly to help, but I think he is there to make sure no one is stealing. He barely moved to help when my register stopped working.

Bitch fest finished. My husband is cooking and it smells good. I'm supposed to drink lots of fluids during the next 24 hours. I think there is a cold beer with my name on it in the fridge.

Dance Anyone?

Before Suit, I went to every school party. I love to have fun and dance everywhere there is music playing. But, those parties meant so much to Suit and boycotting them bothered him so much, I just had to do it.

It is almost party time again and now I considered going. I heard Suit will be there and it would be a good kick in the teeth to Suit if he found out lots of us were going. But, going would mean looking at him and this cancels out the good feeling I get by taking a swing at him.

So, to go or not to go, that is the question of the hour. The party place is walking distance from my house (just about a mile a way) and my husband would be willing to drive me both ways so I can drink away. But, the party is on a Monday night which means a whole week of work after a night of festivities, which, at my age, is not a good idea. Also, I know people find this hard to believe about me, but I am on the shy side. I feel lost in a crowd unless I am with a few people that I am comfortable with and I always feel everyone else has people they would rather be with than me. Suppose no one talked to me all night? Suit would be the one kicking me. Mostly, the idea of partying at work is just not doing it for me anymore. I think I will pass. And so, to answer the question, I'll just say no.

Sour Puss

As a "baby" teacher, I loved going to the school holiday parties. They gave us all a chance to cut loose and get to know people that we never had a chance to know before. They gave us a chance to get to like (a little alcohol goes a long way) people (even administrators) we never liked before. I even remember dancing with Suit at one of these parties.

I don't go to holiday parties, or any parties at school anymore. I still work because I love the kids but the party part of the job has been gone for years. Originally I stopped going because the parties were so important to Suit. Not going was a great way to ignore him without being insubordinate. Now, I look around and feel only sorrow for what the school has become. I've seen colleague turn against colleague to make a few brownie points with the administration. I'm sick of the whining from fellow pedagogues. They complain and complain but refuse to stand up for anything. (I know, you are probably saying I do a great deal of complaining myself, but I try to keep my complaining to this blog rather than subjecting others to it. I also stand up for what I believe is right, unlike so many others.) I've seen administrators harassing teachers over things the teachers have no control over.

I guess you can say I've become a sour puss. I try to keep to myself. I only really talk to select adults. To most, I just say hi, and keep going. I surround myself with papers so no one comes near me in the cafeteria unless I want them to. I put chairs in the hallway and tutor my students. I wander the building on my lunch and on my preps (when I am not working) and spend at least 10 minutes a day hiding out in the resource room with my kids. (I really do prefer the kids to the adults.)

I honestly hope everyone enjoys themselves at the party tonight. I am one person that will not be missed.

He's Begging Us

There was a new memo from Mr. AP today.

Please make sure you do your best to show up on Thursday, June 5, 2008 – I have an exciting day planned for you. I will distribute important information on the new Geometry course. It will be a good idea for you to show up.

He's been getting a lot of grief from Principal Suit because the people in my department tend to take off on staff development days. The math department has the absolute best attendance in the building. We almost never take off on teaching days. One day, a few weeks ago, there were 17 teachers out in the school and not one of them was a math teacher. Suit just doesn't understand that sometimes a teacher just needs a day off and if there is going to be a day when the kids are not going to miss instruction, that is the day to take off. Besides, although he thinks that everything he says is mportant, no one else thinks it matters for anything. I do wonder what kind of exciting day he has planned for us. I am sure we will all be chastised for one thing or another. He will definitely berate (not by name, of course) a teacher or two. Maybe he will bring in a keg or a bottle of wine? That is the only thing I can think of that will make the day exciting. Some people are afraid to stay home. I'm on everyones s***t list anyways, so there is no reason for me to attend. I have a doctor's appointment so anything I write about the day will be hearsay only.

I know most people in this department do not drink, do not like loud music or do not dance, but I encourage you to attend the end-term party so that you get to enjoy the food and company.

These memos are getting pathetic. He is begging us to go to the party even though we don't drink, dance or like loud music. Personally, I love the drinking, music and dancing part. It is the company that I can't stand. Suit has been on his case to about the poor participation of the math department in school functions. Suit ought to think about why people won't participate instead of coercing us to do so. Poor Mr. AP. Although I have no love for him, he should not have to take heat because I, like the rest of the department, am a party pooper.

A few people are talking about possibly going to the party, because of Belle. Most are determined to avoid it at all costs. We feel Suit is maniputating us by getting Belle to attend his party. We'll take Belle out for lunch during regents week.

Guess What A New Day Has Brought

It looks like Belle caved. She is going to the end term party. Suit had his henchman. little Ms F Status call Belle and ask her to go to the party. She made it seem like Belle would be doing the whole school a big favor by celebrating her retirement with the school party and that it would be a great experience for Belle.

My take on this is quite different. Little Ms F has a cushy job. She comes in late, leaves early and manages to spend a good part of the day hanging out with friends and napping. Suit asked her to speak to Belle and Ms F, not wanting to risk her free money, agreed.

Now, let's see if others in the department cave and go also. I'm guessing that some will.

And, teachers wonder why we are always given the wrong end of the stick. Most need to grow a pair of balls and learn how to use them.

Suit Does It Again

Traditionally, when a teacher in my school retires, they have a big party. This party is for the retiree and the retiree only. Belle is retiring and her party has been planned for one week after the school's end term party. Suit is upset. He thinks people will not come to the end term party because they are going to Belle's party. He asked the people arranging Belle's party to cancel it. They refused. He then got a little departmental suck up to ask them to cancel. Again, they refused. He then summoned each person to his office and "gently persuaded" them to cancel Belle's party. So, after thirty years of teaching Belle leaves us without a proper send off.

Suit says all retirees will be honored at the end term party, but we all know that the most of the honor will go to his little friend. Besides, Belle does not want to go to the end term party and has decided not to attend. Suit thinks the teachers that were going to go to Belle's party will now come to the end term party. Boy, is he wrong. I for one, never planned on attending but if I did, I would now be boycotting it on principle. (Besides, he stupidly booked the party on a Jewish holiday, a big sign of disrespect to the Jewish teachers in the school.)

Who in their right mind has a party that people have to be coerced into going to?

Party Time Again

The end term party is coming soon. Principal Suit must be pressuring Mr. AP to get the members of the math department to attend. (The math department has almost a perfect non-attendance record at these things.) Every memo has a reminder about the party and a sentence urging us to attend. This party is being held on a Jewish holiday. I hope even people that usually attend boycott this year.

I think I will pass this one up again.