The End of Summer.

When I was looking at the calendar today and saw it was August 6th, a desperate feeling came over me.  It is the end of summer, and I never did anything fun outside, never took a few days off for a vacation to enjoy time with my husband outdoors (even if it was just sitting outside), never even went to a fair, concert or to the lake.

Now what do I have to look forward to?  Bad roads, school cancellations, being trapped in the house instead of enjoying the outdoors.......... oh yeah, I didn't do that when it was summer anyway did I?  Ha, ha.  Mostly I'm just nervous about the driving in the winter on my way to work.  I didn't know how lucky I was before to be three or four blocks from my job instead of a half hour away. 

You know what?  I'm pretty sure I still have time left before winter and can at least enjoy some of the summer.   You know what else?  Fall is actually my favorite time of year anyway.  Crisp cool evenings and warm days.  Yep, it is the end of summer.  I can't wait until fall.  :)

Changes in our Schools

 

Changes

 

This year, we lost a lot of wonderful staff from ISD #630.  First and foremost our superintendent.  He was one of the best bosses I ever had.  I will really miss him.  We also lost one of our special ed teachers, Sarah.  She was like a breath of fresh air to me and brought out the little devil in me trying to get a reaction out of her........grins.  Sandy, one of our paras was with us for 14 years and she knew things front and back.  She was fun to be around too and was always up to date on things. And Bonnie, another para at the high school.  Not only is she my sister in law, she also knew how to get the students to do their work and still like her, and also has a great sense of humor. She is ready to retire, so now she will sub for us occasionally.  These ladies touched their students lives by the way they cared.  Then there is Lonie.  She worked at the elementary school and was our food service manager.  She was with us for 10 years and she is really going to be hard to replace.  She followed the state rules to a tee and you never had to tell her what to do, because she was always on top of things.  And Ashley.  She was a para at the elementary school and had the patience of a saint.  I think she would of stayed with us if it would of been year around employment instead of 9 months.  And last but not least there is Chad.  We not only lose him as a math teacher, but also a golf coach.  He was well liked by students and the staff.

 

Some changes are a good thing, but I can honestly say I don't think that pertains to the above.  They will all be missed and I'm sure they will always be remembered fondly.

 

As for me, I am going on my 20th year at the school.  I've met a lot of wonderful kids and I can honestly say none of them have treated me unkindly.  

 

Since I moved to another town and have to drive 1/2 hour each way every day, I have been thinking of finding work closer to where I live now.  But like a old comfortable pair of shoes, I find it hard to even start looking. 

It's not that I don't love my job and the people there, don't get me wrong.  But things are changing so much that the thought is there in the back of my mind. 

I work with some wonderful people.  Bonnie in the high school office who I've worked with as long as I've been here.  And Pam and Judy who I work with for 6 hours of the day,  Karrie in the media center, Lois and Gloria in the kitchen and all the teachers.  I couldn't ask for better people to work with. 

 

So, sometimes changes are good.  Maybe if I left they would find a better secretary.  Who knows.  I guess time will tell.  :)



Long, Long Winter



 

It's been a long, long winter.  Not only has it been cold, stormy and icy, the roads have been 


Submitted by Roy Klipping

frightful.  

I've never been a great driver.  I never really had to drive anywhere too far from where I lived. Maybe three blocks both ways.....
 When I moved to another town and had to start driving 60 miles a day, I like to think I learned how to "keep the car on the road".  I moved in December a year ago, and thought I was doing pretty well with the driving to and from work.
Boy was I wrong.  I thought that winter was scary driving, but this year topped anything I have ever driven on.
If it wasn't poor visibility from blowing snow or drifts so high my vehicle had a hard time getting through, it was ice and more ice that made traveling unbearable.  I would get to work and my neck was stiff, and my shoulders felt like they had been pulled by a semi with a load that was well above the weight limit. 

Seems that the weather is all most of us have been talking about lately.  When I get to work it's "how were the roads?"  Were your roads as bad as mine?"  "Did you have any trouble getting here?"   I swear when I pull up in the parking lot I just want to kneel down and kiss the ground on some days.

Maybe I am embellishing a little, but just remember I told you that I have never been the greatest driver.   The main reason  is because I have no sense of direction.  Can you imagine trying to drive somewhere and getting lost in a town of 1,500.  Yes, I swear that has happened.  I don't even think poor old Sally our GPS could help me get where I need to go. 

That said, I haven't gotten last to and from work, though it is a straight road with no turnoffs to get there. 

I figure if I survive this winter, I can survive any winter.  The only thing that makes me feel better is that we in Minnesota are used to this kind of weather, whereas the states that have been getting snow this year, don't have the tires or the knowledge to drive in that kind of weather and I really feel sorry for them.

Guess I can suck it up and smile the next time I am on a icy road, because at least I know to drive slow in bad weather.