I’ve been sick with a cold and cough the last two days, and haven’t gone to work. And, I don’t feel well enough to really “enjoy” being at home-it’s a real bummer I tell ya. I have a lot to do at work in terms of wrapping up evaluations and testing, and writing reports, but when the body doesn’t cooperate, you can’t do much about it.
When I think of everything I must complete in the next 30 days, I get anxious and then the stress comes. Reports for Personality Assessment (stupid reports) are coming along, and I think I can make my April 15th deadline, but I also am concerned about passing the licensing exam (I still haven’t heard if I passed it or not, and they said I would know in 4 weeks, and it’s BEEN 4 weeks and I STILL don’t know, stupid Educational Testing Service) and , I’m a little concerned about getting all my practicum hours in (an impossibility so I will have to work after school is officially out). I also owe the office at WSU some hours as they let me take a few weeks off to get caught up. That’ll come after school is out too. THEN, I get to look forward to trying to find some sort of job for the summer to make money until I start my real job in the fall-I’d hate to file bankruptcy all because I had a job but I just wasn’t going to get my first paycheck until 60 days after my start date, which puts it at, oh, not that I’m counting, but it will be the END of September. Stupid payroll system. Speaking of jobs, I interviewed for one with a large school district (wink wink) on March 16, but I STILL haven’t heard if they want me or not, and I was told I would hear the first of this week (stupid red tape).
Yeah. I hate the way things are right now. I feel like socking something. Maybe I should go over to my brothers and hit the punching bag.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006
Good morning
Good morning! Spring Break is officially over. Time to get back to work. Hope all my fellow students reading this enjoyed a few days of not thinking about school or work. The NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) Convention is going on right now-consider your colleagues who are workin’ hard in Anaheim California. (I’m sure.) NASP delegates, make us proud. Come back with information we can use-and position statements we can adopt in the practice of school psychology. Try to address these issues between catching a few rays, sightseeing, and shopping. Here’s to you!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Supper on the stove
Driving home from Missouri a few days ago, I traveled a stretch of highway here in Kansas that I wasn’t familiar with. From Independence Kansas to Winfield, US 160 meanders west, and meander is the right word. It takes its own sweet time as the speed limit along this 80 mile portion is 55 miles per hour.
At first, I was impatient. 55! It’s so slow you feel as though you could run down the road on two legs faster. But, the question comes loping around like a happy dog coming to greet the master: Why are you in a hurry? Why do you want to get back to the madness of living in the middle of the big city? The time it took me to drive this 80 miles at 55 miles an hour was indeed, a gift, bestowed on me by Someone who decided I needed to just take an hour or so and let it all go.
The road slopes up and down rolling hills-yes, there are hills in Kansas-and it snakes along curves. There are ranches and farms along the way, sometimes few and far between. I was traveling about sunset, and at the end of the day, the red and orange hues in the horizon guided me onward, westward.
I noticed calves and colts in pastures staying close to moms. Sheep and goats were grazing contentedly. Hawks flew above, and birds sitting on fence posts greeted me with cries of, “There she goes! There she goes!” Around the curve. Up the hill. Down the hill. And around another curve.
This sunset reminds me of times long ago, when as the sun was setting, I’d walk into the warm kitchen at home. The smell of fried potatoes would waft past me, oh, how this delicacy could soothe the soul! There was Mom standing at the stove, stirring warm, delicious things in pots and pans. The TV was on in the living room, and Walter Cronkite’s deep voice talked to me of things I didn’t understand, events which were happening way around the world in a little country he called South Vietnam. Grainy pictures on a black and white screen informed me of disturbing things far, far away from home.
But somehow, someway, I was assured by the scene of a mom cooking up fried potatoes in a warm, cheery kitchen, with a big table set to serve hungry diners. It helped make everything right in my world. If you would have stood outside my house and gazed in the window above the sink, you wouldn’t have seen anything special. No fine china, silverware, or coffee service. No linens or matching glasses. And you sure wouldn’t have seen cherub faces saying, “thanks mom”, or a father who looked like Ward Cleaver. But you would have seen the best thing that was gonna happen for me on that day - supper on the stove.
At first, I was impatient. 55! It’s so slow you feel as though you could run down the road on two legs faster. But, the question comes loping around like a happy dog coming to greet the master: Why are you in a hurry? Why do you want to get back to the madness of living in the middle of the big city? The time it took me to drive this 80 miles at 55 miles an hour was indeed, a gift, bestowed on me by Someone who decided I needed to just take an hour or so and let it all go.
The road slopes up and down rolling hills-yes, there are hills in Kansas-and it snakes along curves. There are ranches and farms along the way, sometimes few and far between. I was traveling about sunset, and at the end of the day, the red and orange hues in the horizon guided me onward, westward.
I noticed calves and colts in pastures staying close to moms. Sheep and goats were grazing contentedly. Hawks flew above, and birds sitting on fence posts greeted me with cries of, “There she goes! There she goes!” Around the curve. Up the hill. Down the hill. And around another curve.
This sunset reminds me of times long ago, when as the sun was setting, I’d walk into the warm kitchen at home. The smell of fried potatoes would waft past me, oh, how this delicacy could soothe the soul! There was Mom standing at the stove, stirring warm, delicious things in pots and pans. The TV was on in the living room, and Walter Cronkite’s deep voice talked to me of things I didn’t understand, events which were happening way around the world in a little country he called South Vietnam. Grainy pictures on a black and white screen informed me of disturbing things far, far away from home.
But somehow, someway, I was assured by the scene of a mom cooking up fried potatoes in a warm, cheery kitchen, with a big table set to serve hungry diners. It helped make everything right in my world. If you would have stood outside my house and gazed in the window above the sink, you wouldn’t have seen anything special. No fine china, silverware, or coffee service. No linens or matching glasses. And you sure wouldn’t have seen cherub faces saying, “thanks mom”, or a father who looked like Ward Cleaver. But you would have seen the best thing that was gonna happen for me on that day - supper on the stove.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Spring break is OVER
It’s Saturday, the day before the day before spring break ends. I just spent a restful two days in the Branson area with family, arriving back home last night. Restful? Those of you who know Branson, with all the billboards, signs, traffic, and eye pollution as far as you can see might wonder how anyone can even remotely think about “resting” in such an environment.
Depends on where you are. We have discovered a little place to stay tucked down on the end of Indian Point road-it’s not a Hilton Hotel, a Hampton Inn, or even a Best Western, but it suits our purposes for relaxation quite nicely. And the price is right as well. Once you get down there, you can just stay there, and not venture out much. You can cook your own food, or get food to eat at the little grocery across the street, which also serves hot meals. It’s within 300 yards or so of Table Rock Lake, and if you like, during the summer, you can rent a boat or skis. You can make coffee in your room, and in nice weather, there are places to sit outside and visit. We discovered a nice little “Irish” pub within walking distance, maybe a ½ mile or so away. Went inside, and enjoyed the Irish ambience. The proprietor invited us back for lunch the next day, he was serving Mexican food. Ok. Just so I know how THAT works.
We did see a show on Thursday evening, the first one I have been to since I lived in that area 30 years ago. I am a graduate of what is now the College of the Ozarks, having finished school there in 1976. Don’t get me started on what dreams and ambitions I had 30 years ago, and how we end up differently than we ever think we will. That’s a blog for another time and place.
Now I’m back home and it’s early on a Saturday morning. I took my laptop and material to work on reports while I was there. I endured some teasing from a brother who said to me, “Oh, come on. You aren’t going to work while you’re there.” He was right. I did review some things but didn’t type one thing! So today it’s unpacking, laundry, going to the store, and working on reports. AAUUGGHHH.
It was good to visit with Paul and Melissa and Julie as well. Lifelong friends you met in college are fairly rare. Although there have been times that we have gone awhile without corresponding, we have always remained in touch and I am grateful for their friendship. They SOMETIMES read the blog, and I was gently reminded that I need to write in it oftener so that they WILL read it…I get the hint guys!
If you’ve made it this far in this blog, I have other news…my beloved Shockers lost to George Mason last night. I love it that they even made the Sweet Sixteen, and what a deal if they would have gone on. But I’m so proud of them anyway. I’m not a rabid fan, but I sure do cheer them on. Now I don’t care who makes it to the Final Four and onward. I’ve lost all interest!
Depends on where you are. We have discovered a little place to stay tucked down on the end of Indian Point road-it’s not a Hilton Hotel, a Hampton Inn, or even a Best Western, but it suits our purposes for relaxation quite nicely. And the price is right as well. Once you get down there, you can just stay there, and not venture out much. You can cook your own food, or get food to eat at the little grocery across the street, which also serves hot meals. It’s within 300 yards or so of Table Rock Lake, and if you like, during the summer, you can rent a boat or skis. You can make coffee in your room, and in nice weather, there are places to sit outside and visit. We discovered a nice little “Irish” pub within walking distance, maybe a ½ mile or so away. Went inside, and enjoyed the Irish ambience. The proprietor invited us back for lunch the next day, he was serving Mexican food. Ok. Just so I know how THAT works.
We did see a show on Thursday evening, the first one I have been to since I lived in that area 30 years ago. I am a graduate of what is now the College of the Ozarks, having finished school there in 1976. Don’t get me started on what dreams and ambitions I had 30 years ago, and how we end up differently than we ever think we will. That’s a blog for another time and place.
Now I’m back home and it’s early on a Saturday morning. I took my laptop and material to work on reports while I was there. I endured some teasing from a brother who said to me, “Oh, come on. You aren’t going to work while you’re there.” He was right. I did review some things but didn’t type one thing! So today it’s unpacking, laundry, going to the store, and working on reports. AAUUGGHHH.
It was good to visit with Paul and Melissa and Julie as well. Lifelong friends you met in college are fairly rare. Although there have been times that we have gone awhile without corresponding, we have always remained in touch and I am grateful for their friendship. They SOMETIMES read the blog, and I was gently reminded that I need to write in it oftener so that they WILL read it…I get the hint guys!
If you’ve made it this far in this blog, I have other news…my beloved Shockers lost to George Mason last night. I love it that they even made the Sweet Sixteen, and what a deal if they would have gone on. But I’m so proud of them anyway. I’m not a rabid fan, but I sure do cheer them on. Now I don’t care who makes it to the Final Four and onward. I’ve lost all interest!
Saturday, March 18, 2006
I'm here...
See, this is what happens when you have a bad week. The last thing you want to do is update your blog. Then, people talk to you about it. Barbara, I love ya like a daughter…thanks for the reminder!
I said in an email to someone that I feel pulled in about 14 different directions, and part of my energy always goes to creating plans B,C,D, and E just in case Plan A doesn’t work out. It’s a survival strategy and one that I see far too few “young” people doing these days. My kids don’t. And they’ve even watched me do this for years, yet, they are invincible. “Who, me? I need a Plan B? Not me…”
Things are going forward at work. I am evaluating a couple of children who may unfortunately, have disabilities which are relatively rare. This surprises me, considering how small the district is I’m working in. This week, I have also visited with a couple of parents of other kids being served in special education and as always, am struck by their commitment to always want the best for their child, and also, see the best, when others do not. Parents who have been called to raise a child in these most difficult circumstances have my admiration.
This weekend and next week during spring break, I will be toiling on reports for a class I have an incomplete in. But for fun today, I’m making chili, and chicken noodle soup. It’s a gray, rainy day and those comfort foods seemed to fit well. They are like, well, like “home”.
I said in an email to someone that I feel pulled in about 14 different directions, and part of my energy always goes to creating plans B,C,D, and E just in case Plan A doesn’t work out. It’s a survival strategy and one that I see far too few “young” people doing these days. My kids don’t. And they’ve even watched me do this for years, yet, they are invincible. “Who, me? I need a Plan B? Not me…”
Things are going forward at work. I am evaluating a couple of children who may unfortunately, have disabilities which are relatively rare. This surprises me, considering how small the district is I’m working in. This week, I have also visited with a couple of parents of other kids being served in special education and as always, am struck by their commitment to always want the best for their child, and also, see the best, when others do not. Parents who have been called to raise a child in these most difficult circumstances have my admiration.
This weekend and next week during spring break, I will be toiling on reports for a class I have an incomplete in. But for fun today, I’m making chili, and chicken noodle soup. It’s a gray, rainy day and those comfort foods seemed to fit well. They are like, well, like “home”.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Rollin', rollin', rollin', keep those dogies rollin'...
I don’t know-I don’t have a good feeling about the test I took Saturday. I won’t know how I did for four weeks, but I’m going to register to take it again April 29 - just in case I didn’t pass it. It was a great example of a difficult multiple choice. I eliminated two answers on every question almost immediately, then the two that remained were sometimes both correct so you had to pick the best one. I HATE those.
It’s time to get going I guess. How come Monday always comes around so fast? I’m sure people have been asking that ever since we’ve had calendars and the concept of a “weekend”. Some professions don’t offer weekends. I’m thinking (since I live in Kansas), of farmers. Can you imagine…Farmer Brown takes a weekend off. The cows don’t get milked, the tilling doesn’t get done. Machinery doesn’t get fixed, and the wheat stands in the field another two days before it’s cut. I think not.
As my Grandpa used to say, “Hop to it!” Time to get rollin’…
It’s time to get going I guess. How come Monday always comes around so fast? I’m sure people have been asking that ever since we’ve had calendars and the concept of a “weekend”. Some professions don’t offer weekends. I’m thinking (since I live in Kansas), of farmers. Can you imagine…Farmer Brown takes a weekend off. The cows don’t get milked, the tilling doesn’t get done. Machinery doesn’t get fixed, and the wheat stands in the field another two days before it’s cut. I think not.
As my Grandpa used to say, “Hop to it!” Time to get rollin’…
Friday, March 03, 2006
Friday Fun
Another week has gone by without one blog entry since Monday! I’m beginning to figure out that I may lead a boring life…either that, or I don’t have time to sit down and write. Yeah. I like that excuse. “I don’t have time”…it’s a handy generic excuse which causes sympathy to well up in the reader, (please let me stay in my fantasy world).
Tomorrow morning I’m taking the licensing exam for School Psychology. I’ve been reviewing some but I really need to go over some things this evening. I want to pass it the first time so I don’t have to cough up another $135.00 to take it again. And it’s EARLY. It starts at 7:30am. Does anyone’s brain work well enough to take an important exam at 7:30 in the morning? I don’t think so. Tip of the day: Drink your quota of water. A well-hydrated brain works better.
Work is going well, and I’m feeling pretty good, now that Ms. Pancreas is settling down. I am again amazed at how very little I know about the practice of school psychology, even after almost 6 years in school, earning two degrees. There’s nothing like practical experience to help you realize how little you know. I am grateful that I work with three school psychologists who have between them, I would guess, at least 50 years of practice.
But, the field is always changing, and “young” people like me are being trained in new ways of doing things, so maybe on some level, I’m contributing something.
My advice to all of you about to go on practicum: Learn all you can in Diagnostics, and in Personality Assessment. You’re gonna need every scrap of knowledge you can possibly accrue in both of those classes. It’s important to not only have the book knowledge of facts (How is a Learning Disability defined?), but also to know the broad concepts that undergird assessment, test interpretation, and evaluation. I think the information gathering is fairly easy-interviews, observations, the review of school records, and the testing. The hard part is taking all those individual pieces and putting them together to create an accurate picture of the child. Your hypothesis concerning what’s wrong may or may not be true, and if you say it’s true, you better have empirical evidence to back it up.
G, thanks for the email. She emailed me recently in response to my musings regarding God allowing evil to exist. She recently has come through a spiritual awakening, so to speak, and has a fire in her soul I’ve not seen in the 30 years I’ve known her. She’s been in a life-long search for God, going down all kinds of different paths, and some of them, quite dangerous. But she now knows the meaning of the words spoken by Jesus, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes through the Father except by Me.”. I’ve been a witness to her remarkable journey and someday, she’s gonna write a book.
To all who are getting ready to take the licensing exam-may your #2 pencils hang in there with you. May you think clearly and remember well. And may you never forget that there is no such thing as a “standard battery”. (ha)
Tomorrow morning I’m taking the licensing exam for School Psychology. I’ve been reviewing some but I really need to go over some things this evening. I want to pass it the first time so I don’t have to cough up another $135.00 to take it again. And it’s EARLY. It starts at 7:30am. Does anyone’s brain work well enough to take an important exam at 7:30 in the morning? I don’t think so. Tip of the day: Drink your quota of water. A well-hydrated brain works better.
Work is going well, and I’m feeling pretty good, now that Ms. Pancreas is settling down. I am again amazed at how very little I know about the practice of school psychology, even after almost 6 years in school, earning two degrees. There’s nothing like practical experience to help you realize how little you know. I am grateful that I work with three school psychologists who have between them, I would guess, at least 50 years of practice.
But, the field is always changing, and “young” people like me are being trained in new ways of doing things, so maybe on some level, I’m contributing something.
My advice to all of you about to go on practicum: Learn all you can in Diagnostics, and in Personality Assessment. You’re gonna need every scrap of knowledge you can possibly accrue in both of those classes. It’s important to not only have the book knowledge of facts (How is a Learning Disability defined?), but also to know the broad concepts that undergird assessment, test interpretation, and evaluation. I think the information gathering is fairly easy-interviews, observations, the review of school records, and the testing. The hard part is taking all those individual pieces and putting them together to create an accurate picture of the child. Your hypothesis concerning what’s wrong may or may not be true, and if you say it’s true, you better have empirical evidence to back it up.
G, thanks for the email. She emailed me recently in response to my musings regarding God allowing evil to exist. She recently has come through a spiritual awakening, so to speak, and has a fire in her soul I’ve not seen in the 30 years I’ve known her. She’s been in a life-long search for God, going down all kinds of different paths, and some of them, quite dangerous. But she now knows the meaning of the words spoken by Jesus, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes through the Father except by Me.”. I’ve been a witness to her remarkable journey and someday, she’s gonna write a book.
To all who are getting ready to take the licensing exam-may your #2 pencils hang in there with you. May you think clearly and remember well. And may you never forget that there is no such thing as a “standard battery”. (ha)
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