I'm home!!

I'm home and utterly exhausted!!!! I left Sunday night to head up to Edmonton, Alberta's capital city, to do some work for Alberta Education. I was marking Provincial Achievement Exams that all Grade 3 students in Alberta have to write in May. They are given a picture and are asked to write a story about it. The picture was of a little girl whispering in a boys ear, and behind them, was a classroom, with animals all over the place, dogs chasing cats, mice, snakes, rabbits, etc. So, needless to say, if I read ONE more animal story in the next little while I might cry!!! There were 150 teachers there marking 44,000 stories!! We started Mon. at 7:30 am and worked until 4:00 every day, and finished up today about 2:00!! PHEWWWW!!!!! It was really interesting - and a big learning experience for me professionally - I have a new sense of what needs to be taught to these kids next year! Boy are they in trouble!! LOL

I stayed in a hotel with 3 other girls and that worked out quite well, surprisingly!! It was fun! One night we went to West Edmonton Mall to shop, vegged a couple nights in the room, went swimming, and did a lot of walking!! That part was fun....here are 2 stories of events that weren't so fun:

I don't think I've ever talked about my bizarre food allergies before so here is my first story from the week: Some background info first: I am deathly allergic to carrots, celery, apples, nectarines, cherries, pistachios, snap peas, and a few other things & probably more that I haven't discovered yet. During the week, Alberta Education was supplying us lunch (I was a little worried about that). So, Monday at lunch, I go into the room, here is what I see: Beef Veggie soup with CARROTS, wraps with sandwich meat in them on huge platters STREWN with CARROTS, 2 huge veggie trays full of...you guessed it.... CARROTS!!! So I went to a little deli across the street, got a sandwich and sat under a tree and cried. I was sad to be away from home, and I was feeling sorry for myself (I know..pathetic!) but I was so emotional!!! Anyways, on Tues. the lunch was: Chicken pasta with CARROTS, tossed salad full of CARROTS, 2 huge veggie trays full of CARROTS, and carrot cake for dessert!! WOW, can you say PISSED OFF?? LOL I didn't even bother seeing what was for lunch the rest of the week - but reports told me it was alllllll full of carrots! I went out for lunch every day either by myself or with a friend! Sad eh?? It really makes going out for dinner interesting and I'm continually asking what is in something...it is annoying! BUT, it's either that, or I use my Epi-Pen which I totally DON'T want to do!!!! SCARY! And I hate needles!!!

ANYWAYS, second story: Parked my vehicle in the parking lot of the hotel and on Tues. I find a note on it, saying she hit my car with her mirror & to call her so she can pay for damages. I get out to look and almost fell over! Mental breakdown #2!!! There is a huge scratch about 3 feet long, and about 2 inches wide, and right down to the metal, plus a big dent! Hell of a mirror I'd say! Anyways, I called her, left a message - she called me back, left a message cuz I was working - I called her back (annoyed by this time & a bit scared that she is going to flake and I'll be stuck paying for it) then finally her HUSBAND called me! So, now I have to take time out of my summer to go find auto body shops, get estimates, fill out a police report, let them have my vehicle for a few days, all because of someone else's carelessness! NOT HAPPY! I know shit happens, and I am VERY truly thankful that she left her # (most wouldn't be so honest!) but it's just annoying and a hassle......not something I want to be doing! BAHHH!!! I will do all of this hopefully Monday as Tim said auto body shops are closed Saturdays..bummer!

Other than that glitch, the trip was good! I am soooo thankful to be home! I missed my boys!!! Off to unpack and hit the hay!!! (for you city folks, that means "going to bed" - LOL)
Hope to get crafting tomorrow!! I MISSED it!!!!!