Aaron has been getting tons of magazines in the mail the last few months.  These magazines range from “Family Fun” to “TV Guide” to “Maxim” (I think this is because he signed up for a bunch of free stuff online).  Needless to say, what I saw next came as no surprise.

As I pulled up to my house at lunch today, I saw a magazine in our mailbox, which is located by the front door.  What I could see from the road read PLAY.  I thought to myself, “That better not be what I think it is!”  It was.  Aaron got a playboy catalog in the mail that was clearly visible to all of our neighbors.  I promptly went in and threw it away.  What a good wife I am.

I’ve just about had it with the local school system. This past year, the district eliminated more than 50 teaching positions, and now Marion Community Schools’ superintendent seems shocked that class sizes are higher. Some elementary schools are up to nearly 40 students per class (what?!).

In today’s Chronicle-Tribune, superindent Jeff Hendrix said that they predicted class size accurately, and then the article goes on to say there were other factors that affected class size. Uh, Jeff… if you predicted class size accurately, there wouldn’t be over 30 students in a classroom and you wouldn’t have to hire back teachers. Don’t blame it on your principal turnover rate (most of the principals gave their notice at the end of this past school year giving you plenty of time to hire new principals to assess their schools’ needs), and don’t blame it on the opening of a charter school in the district. Especially do not blame it on the fact that you let go too many educators and now have to follow a contractual procedure that the school district agreed to.

It also seems ridiculous to me that the school is advertising openings for 14 classroom assistants. By my count, you could hire seven additional teachers for the price of those aides. If you have four classrooms of 35 students (ridiculous!), why not just hire two teachers instead of four aides for those classes? It’d be about the same price, and reduce your class size to approximately 24 students.

And, school board member Mike Roorbach, I’m calling you out. In today’s issue of the Chronicle, you said “I can jump in and try to run the school system, or I can let the administration run the school system and try to hold them accountable.” The paper then noted that you favored the accountability side. Well, Mike, put your money where your mouth is. Having more than 30 students in a class is detrimental to our community’s children and their education. It never should have happened nor should a situation where the school felt it necessary to eliminate 50 teaching positions in one fell swoop. Where’s the accountability, Mike? Where’s the accountability?

I just want everyone to know that I just completed the very last paper for my Master’s Degree.

I can not express the accomplished feeling that I have right now.

Today while making dinner, someone knocked on the door.  I assumed it was Aaron being locked out since he had yet to get home.  Nope, it wasn’t.  It was a guy who was selling something so win a contest.  This guy was probably in his thirties.  When I answered the door, he got very nervous and red.  I could hardly understand him because he was talking so fast.  Apparently, he wanted me to listen to his spiel and try to sell me something.  I told him I only had a minute.  He looked relieved when I told him that I would listen to him.  He said, “Great, let me go get my boss that is sitting in the van across the street.  You just have a seat.”  I quickly told him that I was not interested after all.  Thankfully, he walked away.  I shut the door and locked it.  Luckily, Aaron came home shortly after.

All this to say, if some creepy guy in a van comes to your door and tries to hand you a white oval weird thingy to sell,  please decline, shut the door, and call someone to come stay with you.

Tuesday and Wednesday I was in Chicago visiting my good friend Corey.  It was a quick trip but such a good time.  Yesterday, while waiting in a mass of people for my bus to arrive to take me back to Indianapolis, something embarrassing happened that I don’t ever want to think about again after this post.

I went to put my bag on my shoulder and as I picked up my bag, the hem of my dress caught it.  By the time I realized this had happened, my dress was already lifted up.  I quickly fixed the situation and did not dare look around. My sincere apologies to the crowd of about 80 who were waiting for the Megabus.  I did not mean to flash you.