Do Cereal Killers Escape

 I have managed to erect my privacy screen for my back deck and garden during my summer vacation but have not completed stringing the fake ivy or the solar powered string lights. 

I planted 7 bushes, completed the front garden. I also put up my front shutters and new house number sign. I put solar lights around the house.

I put up a new double umbrella on the deck along with a new table.  I have gone to free concerts in the park with my neighbor, walks, cookouts, flea markets, restaurants with friends and family.

Bought a new (gently used) SUV.  My kids have each come to visit and had a family reunion.  

I have a new adjustable height standing desk along with a third monitor and docking station...all waiting to be put together and hooked up.

I still have a vinyl storage building to erect.  It shouldn't take more than 2 afternoons.  

And I have a new kitten coming to stay.  I named him Dennis. He's black and white. He is one of the kittens in my son and DIL's kitten rescue.  TJ says he acts like an old cat and does not play much and doesn't seem to need or want much attention. No one wanted him so I adopted him.

Oh...best part...I signed a new contract with my school for next year with a $10,000 raise.  Yep.

And yet another thing...my daughter got engaged and they are already married...because they are hoping to buy  a house very soon.  There will be a wedding ceremony next summer cuz hopefully there will not be this virus crap still going on.  She tried my wedding dress on and it fit her perfectly. We discussed alterations. 

This last school year was a killer. But I did the best I ever have.  Next year is full of many changes.  

Cracks are Closing

My daughter called me last Saturday.  She asked me if I would be mad if she and Jordan did not move up here but bought a house more near her brother.  I just laughed and told her 'no', it is their lives and they need to be where they need to be that is best for them.  She said that she knew I was looking forward to her moving up here.  I had to stop myself because I have been TRYING to talk them out of it for 2 years!  I just told her that actually I am happier that they don't move up here because if she had then I would have had to stay here until I die.  I am not fond of the area and if they stay down there, then once my parents die I will move back down there. I would be looking to move down there now but I like being with friends right now. But things will change over the years and it will be good to be near my kids again.

I am still hoping to sell my house and maybe find a nice place in the same town as my parents and brother and sister.  The realtor is coming next Friday.  She is going to look it over and we are going to talk about my timeline, moving forward, etc.  I received a sale estimate of $40,000 more than I bought it for.  Minus seller costs and realtor cut, I should have $47000 left to drop on another house.  OR I could pay off some things and drop the rest on the house.

I like the last option better BECAUSE, whatever house I buy I will not be living in it until I die.

Back to the first subject...I told my daughter that I only moved back here to this part of the state because I needed to be near family and some of my friends for a while...out of that house that so many ghosts in it...for my mental health.  I feel like I have come a long way.  

Head down...moving on

 School is back in session and I am just not feeling it.  I was that way last year at this time, too.  The only hopefulness about it is that they SAID they are only doing enrollment for the first 2 weeks of January and they are taking people off the waitlist.  WHY is that hopeful?  Because I am at 20 students on my caseload.  I checked and only 2 other 7th grade ISes have as many as me.  They try to even out the caseloads so that means that all of the other 7th grade ISes will get new students before me.  AND if they only do enrollment for 2 weeks, then hopefully we will all be capped off at 20.  That means for the first semester EVER, I will not get any new students.  That would be ideal!

I am not talking about politics.  I am not happy with either side.  Not saying anything about that bunch coming in and their plans.  Just going to say my prayers, do my thing as I should and keep the faith in God.  The end is looming and I want to be on the up escalator.

Having said that, I am hoping to bag a cute little house a few blocks away from my parents. The neighborhood is quiet, I am used to it, and the house is just the right size for me.  It has enough room for Beth and Jordan if they need to stay for a while the only down side is it has only the one bathroom.  I will not think about that because I do not know what the future holds and it may just be me.  The landscape is miniscule which means no flower beds all around the house.  Just in the front and they are small.  I could do some flower pots in the summer and be done with it.  It would be a weird concept and something to get used to.  

Not much else to say.  It is winter and I am at low energy.