Mrs Blanchard 1936-2009

It is sad for me to inform you that Mrs. Dorothy Blanchard passed away this morning, right after calling Stinky Creek Elementary School and telling them they better have a sub ready.

Mrs. Blanchard had been ill for quite some time, spending time in the Crappie County Memorial Hospital where she went into a coma for a short time. She had been back home resting when she passed away.

Mrs. Blanchard taught 3rd grade at the elementary school for more than 50 years and wasn't set on retiring. She once said, "I just love going to work because it beats the alternative -- being dead."

Oh well Mrs. Blanchard, I guess the alternative caught up with you. Rest in peace, and we'll leave this website up as a memorial to you.

More bad news

Dear friends of Mrs. Blanchard -- Mrs. Blanchard, who was taken to the hospital after having an "episode" in her doctor's waiting room, has slipped into a coma.

Mrs. Blanchard hadn't been feeling well for several weeks, but it wasn't until recently that she went to go see a doctor. She was transported to Crappie County Memorial Hospital and was believed to be in stable condition, but was found Friday in a coma. So far the doctors haven't given any indication of what might be wrong with Mrs. Blanchard, but we'll keep you informed when we hear something.

Bad news

Dear friends of Mrs. Blanchard -- Mrs. Blanchard has been taken to the hospital where she is stable, but in critical condition.

For the past few weeks she hasn't been feeling good, but it wasn't until this past Friday that she went to go see a doctor. She had an "episode" while waiting in the doctor's waiting lounge, and she was immediately rushed to Crappie County Memorial Hospital. So far the doctors haven't given any indication of what might be wrong with Mrs. Blanchard, but we'll keep you informed when we hear something.

I don't feel good

Boys and girls, I don't think I'll be making it to school this next week. I'm not feeling myself lately. I've had some chicken soup, curled up on the couch with a blanket and some old Bob Hope movies, but I'm still not feeling like I should. I guess I'm going to have to go to the doctor.

So, I won't be in this week because I'm not feeling myself lately. I lost my computer password, I think, but that's not it. I don't know what is, but I'm trying to do better. I had some chicken soup on the couch, and I even watched some movies. Bob Hope movies, but I'm not feeling any better.

Did I tell you I was sick? It must have been something I ate, so I've only been eating chicken soup for the last few days. I even watched some movies, but I can't remember which ones they were. I don't want to go see a doctor, but I guess I'll have to.

For some reason my right arm feels a bit heavy. So, I guess I won't be a school this next week. I'm thinking about seeing a doctor.

I'm sleepy now.

Now where did I put that?

I've lost my password to get on my computer. In fact, I haven't seen it in days. I know I had it last week -- or at least I thought I had it last week -- but now I can't find it anywhere. I always put it on my bedside table at night before I go to sleep, but I guess this time, I didn't.

Hmmm. Maybe if I backtrack a bit, try to remember when I used the password last, maybe I can find it. Now let's see. I remember having it on a Tuesday. I logged into my computer to put in some grades, averaged everything, and was glad to get it over with. That's right, it was a Tuesday. And I remember that because it was election day.

Wait a minute. Election day? That was awhile back. But I know I had it then. I specifically remember finishing up my grades to see the results, and I was so glad Carter won.

Hmmm. Carter? Must have been. I remember it like it was yesterday.

No fun allowed?

I walked into one of my co-workers room the other day, just to have a look around to see what kind of creative ideas I could “steal” from her, and noticed a sign she had taped to the wall. It read: “My expectations – You better listen to me when I talk; Don’t get up out of your chair unless it’s an emergency; Work so quietly I don’t even know you’re here; Absolutely no gum chewing or I’ll give you Caster Oil; and Have Fun!” Can you believe it? I couldn’t! She let’s her kids have fun? How ludicrous!

Actually, I’m a firm believer in having fun – especially at school. I mean, we’re stuck with those little boogers for most of the day and if we spend it griping and complaining and yelling, “Be quiet; sit down; turn around; don’t punch Little Eric in the face; stop eating the crayons; no, you can’t go to the bathroom – you just went; get down off of that desk!” and other nonsensical things like that, we’ll go bonkers and it’ll be our own fault. That's why I teach my kids how to juggle.

Juggling teaches eye-hand coordination; juggling teaches spatial awareness; juggling is a fun thing to look forward to when you get all your other work down. Besides, juggling is a lot more useful than knowing Napoleon Bonaparte's birthday.

I used to juggle a lot when I was younger, but ever since that incident with the knife and my big toe, I just don't seem to juggle as much anymore -- except at school, when I'm watching my kiddos juggle with big, happy smiles on their faces. And there's nothing better than that, I guarantee.

What a vacation!

Saturday -- sick; Sunday -- sick, but not as much; Monday -- felt good enough to get out of the house and go to the mall; Tuesday -- rented some movies and I was so glad I did because it rained all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and I didn't dare try to drive down my driveway because the rain has washed it away and I didn't want to be found dead in my car which had been stuck in the mud, with overdue videos still clutched in my hands.

So in other words, it was just a blah vacation and I can't wait to get back to work.

Being at home with nothing to do, no responsibilities, SOUNDS like it would be great, but it isn't. The mind's got to be active, and when it isn't, you can drive yourself bonkers and right into the nursing home. I would prefer to work 20 hours a day than to sit around doing nothing. So that's why I'll be up early on Monday, I'll go to school with a smile on my face, all great all my students with a hug, and I'll be thankful to be alive -- and not stuck in the mud.

Spring Break is here, but now I'm sick!

You wait and wait and wait in anticipation for any kind of small reprieve from your daily routine (such as Spring Break), you muster all the strength you have to last until the final bell rings, breathing a sigh of relief when it finally comes, and what happens? Some little kid comes to school sick, and when you breathe in that fresh almost-vacation air, you suck in some of his nasty germs and you hate yourself for ever telling your students to "be nice and share."

And now my keyboard is covered with snot germs and who knows how I'll ever clean it. Spray it with Lysol?

Oh well, at least I have a week to recover. And you know what I'm going to do during this Spring Break? Not give school one iota of thought. I'm not going to grade papers, make plans, think of new ways to add 5+7, wonder what those poor darlings are doing with their week, or anything!

What I AM going to do is catch up on my soap operas and read some trashy romance novels. There's nothing better than a trashy novel to keep the heart a pumping!

Only 120 more hours before Spring Break!

It's pert-near pitiful when an old woman like myself starts counting down the hours -- not the days, mind ya, but the hours -- until vacation time. You would think that I worked in a factory or something, mindlessly putting together parts, so bigger parts can be assembled together to make cars, or boats, or mobile homes. Yep, that's what you'd think, but I'm a teacher, and...oh, who am I kidding, I'm tired.

I guess I should feel lucky having a job that allows me time off for spring break, summer and Christmas. There are a lot of people out there who would LOVE to have the job I have. But I cannot deny the fact that my frazzled are wits -- wait a minute, wits are frazzled! That's better.

I guess it would be different if I worked all the time, and only got off for weekends, and maybe two weeks vacation that I had to beg for, six months in advance -- but it's not like that. And as spring break gets closer and closer, I just can't stand it! I've got to get out of here! Rest my mind! Rest my body! Talk to some adults for a change! Have longer than 30 minutes for lunch! Not have to worry about what I wear or how I look! Drink three cups of coffee and pee all day long!

I'm pathetic!

Februarys make me feel blah!

I think it's time for me to retire. Pack up my toys, head home to a rocking chair on the front porch, sip on iced tea or hot cocoa, and let these younger folk make their way in this world with someone else. They're too spry, I'm too tired, and I keep thinking "what am I still doing here?" Truth be told, I feel this way every February. I don't know why. Maybe it's because Christmas is over and Spring Break seems a long ways away. Either way, I'm pooped.

Maybe it's my diet. I've been eating a lot of junk lately and not a lot of greens. But junk tastes so good, and greens taste so -- greenish.

Maybe it's because I haven't been getting any exercise. I hate exercise. I much prefer sitting on the couch.

Maybe it's because nobody really cares. I bet I could call in sick tomorrow and nobody would mind. In fact, I bet I could not show up at all and nobody would even notice. In fact, I bet they would be a lot better off.

But, I know exactly what my friend, Suzy, would say. She'd say: "Suck it up, Buttercup! You can have a pity party all you want, but nobody's going to come and you ain't going to get any presents."

Suzy is my best friend. And she's always right.