Short and Sweet

I know I promised a lengthy update, but I have RA and I woke up in the night with a flare. I am in bad shape right now, pain really bad. My hands are killing me, but I want to let you know what's going on.

First last weekend, I got bit/stung by this huge black bee. 3 weeks ago I had a run in with a nest of bald faced wasps...and a few weeks before that I was stung/bit by a yellow jacket. I tell ya, I must look like something bees don't like. But each time my reaction has worsened. With this last one, my whole arm swelled up from the wrist to past the elbow (I was stung midway between). It hurt and itched and was real red and hot. Then about 4 days later it turned a lovely shade of purple. It's all cleared up now, but I hope I can make it the rest of the year without getting stung again.

As for my job, it's fabulous, but we have a dress code and evidently I'm having a difficult time following it...at least according to a woman that works there. I even went home one day and changed. She is relentless. Friday I got called to the Principal's office and finally got the low down. I guess this woman used to be in charge a few years back and she is having trouble giving up control. So with me being the new girl, she feels inclined to pick on me. Her emails are real passive aggressive. I told my principal that I'm not going through this again and he is behind me 150%. He said the next email I get, I am to forward it to him. Then he will go tell her a thing or two and also to leave me alone. Finally, someone on my side. He said he has seen me everyday and I am dressing fine, better then some of the others that have been there for years.

Also, apparently the honeymoon is over with my students. I have a few that are acting up and testing the boundaries. I didn't want to be a bad guy because that is what they deal with all day long. But I think with a few, that's all they understand, so last week when one had pushed to far, I went and got the guard and had him escorted out of my class. The rest of them then saw that I mean business and won't tolerate being disrespected like that or having someone distract the class and inhibit their learning. Their behavior did a 180. The one student that was involved in the gang mob years ago gave me a smile and thumbs up. He also stayed after class and said that I'm doing a good job, that he likes the way I treat them and that the guy I tossed is a jerk. He then went on to tell me that it was his birthday and that he was going to be giving his mom a gift. He had made a beautiful cutting board for her. I went over and had the teacher show me his and it was amazing. I went back and told him that I was impressed. That those kinds of boards sell for a small fortune in upscale kitchen supply stores. You could see the pride all over his face. He was smiling like the Cheshire Cat. He said he didn't know he could do something like that having never had the chance before. I told him he could get into wood working when he got out and make a pretty good living at it. He said he'd like that. 

Now about the challenge. I worked out 3 of the 5 days last week. I got that awful headache that prevented me from doing one of the days. I haven't "worked out" this weekend, but I worked for 5 hours in my garden/yard yesterday (maybe that's why I hurt so much) and don't feel like doing much today. But I still managed to lose 3 pounds! I'm eating veggies out of my garden. It is doing so good, I haven't had a year like this in a very long time. My husband went fishing last week and we had fresh trout one night. I will continue to do what I'm doing and hopefully the pain will slack off in a few days and I can get back to working out.

I also plan to go to an endocrinologist soon to have all my levels checked. I had a growth on my thyroid removed back in 95 and I also had to quit taking my hormones because it's been 5 years and now my hot flashes are back with a vengeance. This doctor was recommended by a friend and helped her a lot. He uses all natural stuff and has a compound pharmacy right there, so I hope to get in soon.

And that's about all I can typr right now. I will post again when I feel better.
Have a good week everybody!

Squirrel