Beneath the Wraps

            From the beginning of the pandemic, the horrific pictures in the media, the stay-at-home and lock down orders, mask mandates, verbal battles, etc. has been a reminder to some cheesy sci-fi that gets played on the Comet station.   Only we are really living it – though some are still in denial about it doesn’t change that it is and has been part of our lives for one to two years.                     Jenna is currently in the high school library with a bunch of other students who have not yet received their schedules.   At least she’s not alone.   She has always been enthusiastic and fired to return to school – even last year when I wouldn’t let her.   This year is worse than last year was – more deaths, more cases.   That is why she doesn’t have a schedule and is in the library waiting.   photo credit source here         ...

Jenna starts school tomorrow and had hoped to have less hair to deal with.   I had set up an appointment for each of us to get our hair thinned out – though I wondered if it we better just to recreate the pandemic hair from last year. Because we were already out and Jenna hadn’t gotten the schedule that would supposedly be sent out by August 27 (that was the original plan anyway. Tomorrow is the first day of school and no schedule has been identified. I told Jenna we could swing by the high school to see if we could figure out the source of the problem.   Walking to the school from the street made for an interesting challenge all by itself.   This is a view of the high school parking lot: I seriously have my doubts about this being finished tonight and ready for the students who drive to school tomorrow.   COVID is the source of vacant schedules. Only the freshmen who started today have the schedules.   Still working on grades 10 – 12) After I returne...

       Jenna and I both need our hair thinned.  I called the hair salon just the other day to learn that they are shut right now due to COVID, but do plan to reopen.  Well, great.  Do I even want to go anymore - although the last time we went, it was just the three of us there.     A lot of businesses have closed due to staff members testing positive.  Businesses that are open are short-staffed.  I don't think any of us should be shopping anyway.  Unless it's essential - like toiletries and medicine.     Jenna was supposed to start high school on the 31st this month.  A reminder was sent out last week on the 19th.  Yesterday we found this post:      Oh, please.  Jenna could have finished her schooling last year at ORCA but had wanted the opportunity of socializing with her friends once again.  I wonder how many of them will make it to graduation.  I wonder if there will be a gra...

I have always considered myself an introvert – well maybe not always.  I was evidently extroverted in my early childhood.  School changed that.  School was not a good experience overall. I felt excluded and found myself withdrawn from wanting to be a part of life.                             Illustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018. I remember being comfortable in the company of certain adults and grew to accept those who were decades older than me or several years younger than myself.  It was a long time before I was comfortable with any peers of my own age.  I never liked crowds or artificial people.  I enjoy learning but not in a structured environment.  I am better at learning when it isn’t a requirement. I didn’t realize that it was possible to meet in the middle as AMBIVERT exists in the middle of introvert and extravert.   I am ...

  The air quality was down this morning.   I forgot to see what rating   - moderate.   I went to the Church to pick up Jenna.   I took the dog and had her out of the car when the kids came out of the building from seminary.   They all gave the dog attention.   Today is the last day that they will visit as three of them will start at the high school tomorrow.   I know that Jenna feels bad that she won’t be returning with them.   She is frustrated with the online classes.   But flu season is coming up in addition to Corona.   The air quality hasn’t been great I just checked it and it’s worse than it was yesterday.   How can that be?   I had drawn back the curtains and could see the hills better than just the outline that was provided yesterday.   I can feel and see the thick smoke again.   The air quality report has us back up to hazardous.   My curtains are closed...

          I’ve seen memory posts about walking Jenna to preschool and kindergarten – some comments about those who cried when they had to leave their child.   I didn’t cry when we lived in Kearns.   I did when we moved to West Valley.   Jenna was still in kindergarten in a school that wasn’t academically challenging.   She would cry as we walked to the bus stop and I would cry when I turned around to come home.            Rather than torture us both by returning her to that elementary school I put her in a dual immersion program ( here ).   I cried again when she started sixth grade in Oregon and no longer a part of dual immersion.   This year it doesn’t seem to matter if she stayed with dual immersion or not. This year has been tough.           I may have mentioned that I signed her up for online schooling which will start by the end of this month. She w...

                When the schools initially closed, the staff had given the students the impression that they would be back in two weeks.   Our governor then sent out the word that schools would not reopen until April 28.   I would hope not.   I would not be willing to return as an aide.   But just a few hours ago it was announced that the governor stated that all schools will be closed for the remaining of the academic year.   Now there’s a shocker.                        Governor Brown did make the statement to have all beaches and national parks and playgrounds closed.   Anyone caught at said beaches, parks or playgrounds (thus far walking path is still available in city parks – but I expect that will change too) before the nation took a stand on closing the parks – probably a week before.    ...

            I accepted a long term position at the middle school last week.   When I arrived to the school on Monday I was given a schedule which had my name on it along side three other aides.   I was told to follow the schedule unless another aide is absent and than her schedule would be my priority rather than my own.   I’ve been there enough times to know what teachers utilize me and which ones don’t and so will use my own discretion on where I may be needed most but often will feel as useful as a tampon dispenser in a men’s room.             The schools let out an hour earlier on Wednesdays giving time for instructors to meet together or what have you.   Those aides who are scheduled to stay after school lets out go to the detention room to provide homework support for those students who need it.   As I have mentioned in prior posts I have R...

When the “Come Follow Me” program was introduced at the same time as two hour meetings, we were told to use the third hour to study at home.   We were also told that we wanted to develop the habit for one day when we were unable to attend church meetings for whatever reason.   None of us had predicted this soon however. We had cancelled our last RS activity due to the weather and decided to cancel our upcoming as well.   We had made the decision before the church announced NO MORE MEETINGS until further notice ( here ). Only seminary will be held unless the schools shut.   But as of now only seminary is the only meeting that will be held at the ward house.   No others.   Not even sacrament meeting.   Why do people panic instead of remaining calm?   Why do so many always expect the worse.   Instead of viewing the police car at the high school as “Oh, good.   They are keeping my child safe” a parent may panic and demand, “What...

          Valentines Day is a non-Federal holiday full of traditions and legends which may or may not be true.   There were at least two, perhaps three, patron saints who bore the name St. Valentine.   Their lives ended in tragic massacres; perhaps it was the way they lived that got the Valentine’s celebration started.   There are many websites to choose from when “Valentines” is the subject entered into a search engine such as Google.   I have never been much into the Valentine spirit.   The concept behind Valentine’s Day seems noble enough, but the commercialism is what keeps the holiday alive and I could do without that.  No one gets off of work or school in honor of Valentines. https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day             President’s Day was created in honor of George Washington, first president of the United States.  President’s Day was initiall...

Another restless night and stomach pains What did I eat that made me so sore? I didn’t have anything scheduled for work but checked the availability as I was willing to work at the middle school today. No jobs were posted.   Just as well. I thought perhaps I would sleep for much of the day and then I received a text. I really like working with the aide who text me. If it had been anybody else, I would have said “NO” but I got dressed and scraped my things together.   Roland fixed me a lunch.   And then I was off. The morning drive was in thick fog.   I thought that would mean sun and heat during the day, but it was cold.   All day.   I only had to be outside two times for recess. In each class I’m supposed to help with phonics And letter sounds.   What a confusing language! ONE – a word that rhymes with “sun” or “fun” – where are the phonics? Nobody looks at the “O” and expects a “wwww” sound. What th...

I was on my computer Tuesday morning when I received a call from one of the schools.   It was 8:35 and the shift started at 9:00.   It was for the school that is farthest away, but I thought I could be there on time.   At that point I didn’t know if I’d be working with the elementary or middle school age children.   I wish it had been the older kids instead of the younger ones. I was over my sore throat but still had that darn dry cough, and because I was using my voice all day (except for recess) my cough became stronger and my throat started hurting again.   I did not work yesterday. The RS presidency meets once a week.   Initially they met on Monday but had changed it to Wednesday to accommodate me.   I don’t particularly enjoy working on Wednesdays as it is the short day and school lets out at the same time I get off.   I’d rather not deal with school traffic – which I don’t on any other day.   If I know there is not going to be...

            I don’t remember the elementary school having a particular smell.   I remember the option of two ways to walk there on foot.   Seems like it may have been faster to walk up our street and over on third east and down than the safer way which we usually went – over 240 to 260 and came in behind the school. The playgrounds were behind the school.   a really ROUGH map of my neighborhood             Our desks had openings in the front.   They were wide enough to hold two plastic trays.   We called them tote trays.   It is where we put all of our school supplies.   We carried the trays each time we moved for math, reading, science, etc. according to whatever our learning level was.   If someone was absent, the desk could still hold my tray as well as that of the absent student.    ...

I seem to have such a hard time waking up and staying focused – which I’m certain my readers recognized with my last post.   Perhaps I should just delete it and start over.             In August of 2018, I had applied for a teacher’s aide position within the school district.   I had been interviewed at three of the five schools but was not hired through any of them.   Instead, I stayed on as a substitute which gave me the option of filling in for aides at all five schools.   Turned out to be a good fit as it gives me more options and flexibility.   At least it did.             My first assignment was at the end of September.   I had accepted a position at the middle school.   It was a very positive experience and I had been grateful for the opportunity.   The next day I was filling in for somebody at one of the elementary schools. ...