I AM SUMMER WIFE!

So, last Friday was my last contract day.  I went over to school yesterday to finalize some paperwork with my process coordinator.  So now, ladies and gentlemen, I am SUMMER WIFE (and mom)!!!  Who is Summer Wife, you ask?  Well, she's the one who keeps up with the laundry, vacuums even if people aren't coming over, cooks things from scratch and packs a lunch for the DH in the morning.  Summer Mom has dozens of fun things planned because the monkeys and I cram as much vacay into the days as possible (ala Phineas and Ferb).  Now, my DH will argue that Summer Wife doesn't truly arrive until two weeks after school ends, because Narcolepsy Wife comes first.  But, I beg to differ.  So far, I have made three home cooked meals and the house is relatively clean.  Although, I did fall back to sleep after giving the monkeys breakfast and didn't wake up until 11:30...  (ahhh the life of leisure), so maybe he's right (I only said maybe). 

My friend

One of the funniest people I have ever known passed away yesterday.  We had worked together since 2004 in some way or another.  Most recently, we cowrote and received a grant for trade books to go with the math textbook at my old school.  This year, I moved to another school in order to make the switch to sped.  I didn't do a good job at keeping up with people.  Of course there were the typical run-ins at district meetings and such, but nothing more than that.  I knew the cancer was back, but I took for granted that she was strong and she had gone into remission once before.  So why wouldn't she win again? So I lost touch.  It still didn't seem real on Friday when I was told the hospital had called in her family.  On Saturday morning, one of my friends from my old school called to tell me that my friend had passed an hour earlier.  I took a few minutes and cried for her and the husband with 3 children she left behind.  Then my husband said something like, "She was a funny, funny girl and there is no way your crying would make her happy." So true.  The last time we spoke she told me crying wasn't allowed from me and she needed me to be funny so she wouldn't have to put on a brave face for my benefit.  So I am reposting one of my favorites because it is about my friend Lynn.

Every year we drew names for Secret Santa.  Every year, you hoped someone good got your name.  By good, I mean someone who doesn't think fruitcake is a delicacy.  So when I drew, and got a good friend of mine (who definitely likes what she likes), I saw my opportunity.  I immediately knew that I was going to prank her.  I went to my mom's house and asked, "Hey, do you have any old junk that I could regift to my friend for Secret Santa?"  She was more than happy to help me with my joke, and out from under the bathroom sink, she pulled a package of champagne bubble baths (still in their box).  The cellophane was coming off and the Walmart sticker (old green kind) was still there.  I had struck gold.  I gathered up some other things from my house (to be honest what teacher doesn't have some stuff to regift?).

On Monday, the trick began.  I can't really remember the order of the gifts that I gave (one was a gourd painted like an apple with a chip in the lid), but what I do remember is my friend showing me the "gifts" with an astounded expression and the words, "Look at this, LOOK AT THIS!"  By the end of the week, pretty much the whole school knew what was going on (it's amazing that no one told).  On Friday, I did give her real presents of things she actually does like.  She was a good sport (even though I'm not sure she has truly forgiven me).

So, I have this blog...

It's actually fairly funny.  You know, when I bother to write it.  Recently, I haven't really bothered (obviously).  Let me tell you why (or not because if I vomited the story of everything that has gone down over the course of the last month and a half all over you, I'd be fired and you'd have emotions all over your blouse).  Let me just tell you one thing.  This year has been hard and emotionally exhausting.  But, it is almost over.  Almost.  Because we still have 1.5 more days of surviving (if you think that's hyperbole, then you aren't an ASD teacher at the end of the year).  So with this snippet of a post, I recommit to bringing you the funny (I did still write even though I didn't post...so there'll be some of that, plus family vacay is coming up and hilarity will ensue, no doubt).