So here's the short of it, 
I'm focusing on continuing to walk further and more briskly.

And here's the long

Wow - I worked today (most of the day) in our Central Office helping to check in the portfolios that we are required to do for those students who wouldn't be able to demonstrate learning on a standardized test. I also will be doing that most of the day tomorrow. All of this testing rigamarole is my least favorite part of our education system.  I agree for sure that we have to hold all of us who work with students accountable for their academic growth. It's just that I don't believe we are doing it in the right way!

I've also got this feeling of tiredness today that doesn't have lots to do with lack of good sleep. I'm not sure what it is. I suppose that I need to get more exercise. I did take Sophie out today and was able to make it three times around the circle at a pretty good pace for the first time since before I broke my ankle.  I think that's progress. I'm starting physical therapy on Wednesday.  They will give me exercises to help strengthen my ankle as well as some work on my gait. I still have pretty pronounced neuropathy in my feet - steps can still be problematic. A couple of weeks ago I had to go down steps in a school, and if I hadn't been holding the railing going down, I would have taken a tumble. I'm also still very wary of uneven surfaces. But I pretty much know my way around the circle, so for the time being, that can be my walking place -- Let's hope the weather holds up this week so that I can get a daily walk in!

So here's the short of it, 
How can two ball hogs get along? 

And here's the long

It warmed up a bit today and I took advantage of it to get out and get Sophie out for a little while this afternoon.  She had a good romp with Cutie Pie. Now, Cutie Pie is a Labradoodle and she is a ball chasing fool.  She would rather chase a ball than anything. Sophie doesn't want to chase a ball, but when Cutie Pie brings the ball back to put it down so that I can throw it again, Sophie likes to grab it and run around playing keep away.  I got a second ball and it worked out fine.  I would throw a ball and Cutie would run like crazy and get it she'd run it back to me and reluctantly drop it. Sophie would grab it up and run off with it and then I'd get the other ball and throw it for Cutie Pie.  Sophie would run around with her "stolen" ball and Cutie Pie would run off to get the one I threw.  It was so funny.

So here's the short of it,
Alan is working with Sophie.

And here's the long

I took a couple of Advil PM last night and then I couldn't get up this morning! Well, I slept in til 8:30 anyway. I suppose I may just do that again tonight.

So, Sophie hates going in the car.  When she was a pup, riding in the car made her sick and she really maybe only had 3 or 4 rides. This fall when it was time to go to the vet, she refused to go into the car, and we ended up getting the vet to bring her shots home since he's a neighbor.  This past week Alan has started working with her to try to desensitize her to the car. He's been taking her to just sit in the car all week long. They sit in the car and he talks to her and starts the car. She so anxious that she won't even take a treat while she's in the car. Today I sat in the car with them. She did NOT want to get into the car. She pulled completely out of her collar! Alan was able to get her into the back seat. She came right up between the front seats and stood there. Next week I think Alan's going to try driving maybe just around the circle to see how that goes! Thank goodness he has the patience to work on that with her.

So here's the short of it, 

 I am so awfully glad the weekend is here. 

And here's the long

Well, Hamilton County didn't get any frozen stuff last night. So it was off to work today. It was a pretty long week all in all. I did some good consulting regarding a student today if I do say so myself, so I ended this long week on a pretty good note. 

Alan and I had a dinner and symphony date tonight and by the time I got home, it was too late to take Sophie out for a walk. It's so much better for her when she has some time to get outside.  Tonight when we got home she was just running from room to room with her toys in her mouth. I really felt awful about not getting her out for a walk.  I'll sure make it up to her tomorrow.

My foot and ankle are more swollen and painful tonight than they've been for several days. Maybe because it was so late by the time I had a chance to sit down and put it up.

So here's the short of it,
My foot is beginning to feel a little better.

And here's the long

So there's one more rainy cold day in this work week.  I have a couple of school appointments so I'll be out in it. I'll be careful.

This evening when I got home I had a walk around the circle with Sophie.  I only went two times, but my foot/ankle was OK. I'm so out of shape and stiff and it's so cold and so wet... walking isn't much fun - well, at least for me. Sophie doesn't seem to mind at all - she just loves to hear me say "out front".  She fairly dances to the door and can hardly wait for me to get the door open. But if I don't go right out the door with her, she waits on the sidewalk or the porch til I get outside.  Then if I have her off leash, she takes off around the circle. Unfortunately, today none of her doggie friends were out except for Winston and his parents have reset the parameters of his shock collar. Sophie's pretty confused that he's not coming to the front to play with her.

We are supposed to get some wintry mix this evening. It's actually been coming down for several hours to the south of us. But it's really just beginning to start here in the city. And the weather is supposed to get a bit warmer as we move into the morning hours, so I'm not anticipating a snow day or even a late start for tomorrow - which of course means that I need to get myself headed toward bed so that I can get myself some good sleep.

So here's the short of it,
Chattanooga Chuck calls for 6 More Weeks of Winter.

And here's the long

Well down in Atlanta at the Yellow River Game ranch groundhog General Beauregard Lee predicted that spring is on the way.  And Punxsutawney Phil, predicted an early spring when he failed to see his shadow Wednesday morning at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

But here in Chattanooga at the Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga Chuck saw his shadow, meaning the Tennessee Valley is in for six more weeks of winter!

"They" say Chattanooga Chuck was right last year. 

Here's what the Farmer's almanac says is coming.  It doesn't sound so much like what we've had... 

Southeast U.S. Long Range Weather Forecast for February 1st - April 3rd

Includes Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida

Select Another U.S. Zone -----------Northeast U.S.Midwest/Great Lakes U.S.North Central U.S.South Central U.S. 

February 2011
1st-3rd. Blustery, rainy Carolinas to Florida. Very unsettled Mississippi and Tennessee river valleys.
4th-7th. Becoming fair, much colder; widespread heavy frosts for Gulf States.
8th-11th. Blustery, with showers,thunderstorms Carolinas south. Snow, sleet Mississippi River.
12th-15th. Fair skies, then stormy.
16th-19th. Stormy, then turning fair and colder. Fog along Gulf Coast.
20th-23rd. Pleasant, then unsettled and unseasonably chilly.
24th-28th. Fair, then turning stormy. Mainly rain, though some snow could fall over the higher elevations of the Appalachians.
March 2011
1st-3rd. Generally fair.
4th-7th. Clear and warmer.
8th-11th. Fair and pleasantly mild.
12th-15th. Stormy for the Mississippi River Valley. Increasingly cloudy farther east, with warm temperatures.
16th-19th. Squally for Gulf Coast. Unsettled weather as far north as Tennessee. Across the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, it's mainly dry.
20th-23rd. Clearing for the Mississippi River Valley. Showers finally spread farther east.
24th-27th. Fair skies. Windy for the Gulf States.
28th-31st. Showers, then fair.
April 2011
1st-3rd. Dry and pleasant initially, then becoming unsettled.

So here's the short of it, 
 What a long day - Advil sure does help!

And here's the long

Well, today was a long one for me.  I didn't get home until about 8:30.  I don't really work that late so much anymore, but tonight we were holding a recruitment fair for people interested in working as a paraprofessional.  The people I screened were all great candidates and several of them had college degrees. These are tough times; I'm glad to have work that I enjoy and believe in.

Anyway it was such a long day and I was not able to put my foot up much so it's pretty swollen tonight. BUT I am back to 2 Advil before I leave for work and two at night, and that seems to really be helping it not hurt so much. I'm really grateful for Advil! Actually let me say that in the true way. I'm glad for the generic equivalent of Advil, Ibuprofen!

I have much to do tomorrow, so I'm going to try to head to bed soon...