Burning

Such an evocative word. So many different meanings. I think it is impossible for me to become sunburned anymore, my skin just eats photons and UV rays and says "thanks."

But no, I am burning (I'm burning, I'm burning, I'm burning for you - funny how songs just jump in your head) with creative energy and all sorts of wild thought patterns. School here starts in a couple of weeks, but tomorrow through Wednesday the school is open for early-bird registration of 7th graders. Only 3 hours a day, so I am going to bike over there (feel the burn - 5 miles each way) and see about transferring all my stuff to my new classroom and whatnot. Creatively burning that new website for my classes. Vocabulary is up for all chapters, as well as a chapter-by-chapter custom link on each page to the online resources for the textbook. Drag and drop sure is easier than having to write all the code myself.

My neck and shoulder continue to burn. Nerve pain is hard to explain, but sometimes it feels like a huge intense ache, and other times like an electrical shock, and yet others, a burn beneath the skin. No throbbing, just a steady impulse to let you know it is there. Waiting for a referral for an MRI and a visit to a specialist. The prescribed drugs either knock me out or do nothing, so I am making my own private peace with the pain. If I didn't tell anyone I was in pain, they wouldn't know. Most movements don't aggravate (or relieve it), so I just trundle along with my own little secret.

I am ready for school to start. There is only so much you can do to prepare, then you have to be reactive to whatever gets thrown your direction. No idea whether we will get our usual $100 stipend to stock our classrooms, with the budget "crisis" here in Memphis. To recap those of you who won't believe this crap still goes on - The city council, working on an idea the mayor floated a couple years ago, decided to withhold city funding from the city schools, after having provided funding for 70 years. The city's attorney opined that the county was responsible for funding any and all schools within the county. Cue lawsuit #1. Then the state decreed that the city was in violation of their funding requirements, which does not allow a government to withdraw funding from schools. Because of this, the state will withhold over $600million from the city schools. Cue lawsuit #2. Everybody wants lawyers and judges to work this out. In the meantime, schools open in 3 weeks, but the budget doesn't kick in until October 1. As far as I can determine, nobody has begun developing a worst-case scenario plan, and nobody is looking to resolve this quickly. I expect to have a bunch of free time come October.

Anyhow, not knowing if I get my $100 in supplies, I am still shopping for 130 composition books, file folders (1 per student) etc. Also waiting for my rebate (from Memphis City Schools) for my Praxis test fees, but I am not holding my breath. It always falls on the teachers.