Feeling political today? Check out MomsRising.org. (Thanks to Staci for the tip.)

(more…)

I made the rounds to the Starbucks stores today and gathered up ceramic mugs, travel mugs, pitchers for steaming milk, and little tasty boxes of Vanilla After Dinner Mints and Gum for the teachers at school, for Teacher Appreciation Week. (Dedicated as the first full week in May, but we’re celebrating May 8-12 at our school.)

But you know I couldn’t be normal about it, right? As I am not. Abbey Normal, here.

I’m going to add this post to the School Fundraising Primer, so look for it there.

Enjoy your day, everyone!

WM

Spring Break = No Homework.

True or false?

(more…)

Just as I sat down to write this, I got a “pass it on” e-mail from one of my cousins. Starbucks allegedly wouldn’t send free coffee to the Marines, yadda yadda. Well, of course it’s an Urban Legend but that isn’t the point.

The point is: If Starbucks didn’t have any free coffee to pass out, it would be cuz they’re saving all their love and grounds for moi, Wacky Mommy.

That’s right, Fundraising Tip #1: Starbucks rocks. They are extremely generous in donating coffee, pastries, mugs, teddy bears and more to the schools. Also, they will give you bags and bags of coffee grounds for your garden (for the rhodies, azaleas, blueberries…) They reduce their garbage bill and your yard flourishes. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

(more…)

Tomorrow I will try to write about the following topic: School Auctions and Why It Is Important to Not All Hate Each Other by the End of It. That’s if I can get to the office. Contractors? The ones who have been MIA for close to a month??? How can this be? are reportedly coming by in the morning.

I’ll fucking believe it when I fucking see it. (Am watching the Sopranos again, can you tell? Would Carmela have this problem? Hell no. Her house looks fucking great, all the time.) We went to the coast this weekend. I took a shower. It was delicious.

WM

The lice policy for Portland Public Schools is…

(more…)

Mine does. It’s not the Clap, it’s Lice. “Scratch, everybody! Scratch!” Yeah, I have some hideous sinus infection combo wallop thing, my throat is still trashed (the doctor took a long look at my vocal cords — “Are you sure they’re not damaged?” he asked. “No, I just sound sexy.”) The kids are finally over the flu-cold-respiratory thing they had, so they’re bouncing off the walls — which brings us to My Life in Hell, the Afternoon Session: Wacky Girl’s Class is Chock Full O’ Bugs.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day snuggliness.

Wacky Girl: “Y’know how we found out? S looked at S and said, ‘Hey, there’s something in your hair!’ And then that’s how we found out it was lice.”

Neat-o. Our heads have been checked and so far, so good. It’s just the power of suggestion is all.

Feeling itchy?

Also, the Stabber? Spent the entire morning on Friday stabbing himself in the forehead with a pencil. (A sub was there. She refused to “play the heavy,” as my hippie parents used to say, with the kids.)

There are three new kids in Wacky Girl’s class this week, bringing the total to 29 kids and one stressed-out teacher. Let’s call the new ones The Crier, The Stabber, and Violet Beauregarde, and I got to know them all up close and personal when I volunteered yesterday. Yes, The Crier can’t stop crying, and no amount of comforting will help her. Hand her tissues, and she flings them around and grabs more out of the box. Tell her to try taking a few deep breaths and she sobs, “I can’t! I can’t!” and cries harder. The other kids look at her like, “WTF?” and keep on with their lessons.

Violet? Violet just wants to eat the candy she brought for lunch. “After you eat your lunch,” I say. “No,” she says, “I’m just going to eat my candy! I don’t have to eat my lunch!” She holds the chocolate bar aloft and squishes it. “I have more, too, see!” She holds up another piece.

The Stabber, he likes scissors. He likes them so much he cuts his palm, and his finger, too. On purpose. Then he requests a paper towel and fixates on the blood.

Aren’t you glad you don’t go to our school? For real, mommies and daddies, what can I do? Is it OK to hold Violet’s candy hostage and force her to eat lunch? And WTF, indeed! Since when do schools allow candy at lunch? Wacky Girl’s little friend was over today (she goes to school across town), and she said, “You can’t bring candy to school at all at our school. Only on holidays.”

Must talk with principal about instituting similar rule. As for The Stabber, I told WG to steer clear of him, especially if he’s packing sharp objects.

Still no word from C and R.

WG loving school and her new friends.

WM