Have A Good Time

Yesterday it was my birthday... I hung one more year on the line...
That link leads to a Paul Simon song on YouTube, in case you're wondering.

I had a nice birthday, despite the ear infection, aching joints, fever and general feeling of crap. My kids made me pictures and cards this morning, the music teacher came out of the music room and played Happy Birthday while everyone sang. I sure was looking forward to my nap this morning, I didn't sleep very well last night.

The nap didn't work out so well, unfortunately. I fell asleep with my mouth closed, but as soon as I'd start to relax, my mouth would drop open and I'd snork myself awake.

::sigh::

I was asked by a couple people why I didn't just stay home from work.
Hollow laugh.
First, because we are (as usual) short staffed and there isn't really anyone available to take my place.

Second, if I stay home ill, I will still be sick but I'll be worrying about my kids, too.

It's Deck the Halls month, and we do an ornament or decoration every single day. Who will do that with them if I am not there? I know where everything is!

I picked up the bug at work, so I'm not particularly worried about being there while I'm not feeling well. In addition, I don't sneeze on people or pick my nose and touch their toys or get into someone's personal space and breathe on them.

So whatever. I Worked. Felt like crap.

We had popcorn to celebrate my birthday. A treat that all the kids can eat. We have one who can't eat gluten. I definitely don't want to leave anyone out, so I work to find something they can all have without setting someone apart or making that person feel funny.
Man, it's nasty windy out there tonight!

We're getting some weather from the tail end of some storm or another.
They've been warning us that it was going to hit.
They predicted 3 PM-ish.
And sure enough, that's what we got.

Gusts up to 70 according to the weather guys, but I don't know. From the number of trees down on my way home, I'd say maybe the wind is stronger than that.

Saw several emergency vehicles going here and there, too.

I took a circuitous route home so that I'd miss most of the stoplights or have to turn right at them in case the power went out. Too many people can't figure out what to do when the light isn't working.

We had several power surges. The lights blinked out more than once. Our cafeteria doesn't have very much natural light, the windows are small and near the door in the corner. So when the power goes out, it's pretty dark.

Every time the lights blinked, Jennifer and a couple others screamed or made some scared noise.

I decided we needed a plan.

I got my own flashlight out of my backpack. Eric made me get a maglite a few years ago, so I always have one if needed. It fits in my pocket, but it's very bright.

So I announced to the kids that, "Here's what we're going to do if the power goes out. Number one, freeze. NO ONE moves. If the lights go out and you're walking, stop. If you're sitting, remain seated. Don't scream or get scared. I have my flashlight," and here I demonstrated, getting it out of my pocket and showing them that it worked, "And I will immediately turn it on. Then I will walk to this table over here."

I placed four flashlights on that table, telling them that we'd have plenty of light if needed, so, "Settle down. It's fine. You don't need to scream. I have this covered."

But Jennifer was freaking out. She finally attached herself to me with an invisible cord about three feet long. Followed me everywhere until her dad came to pick her up. She really was nervous about the lights going off.

I finally purchased a thermometer today. My normal temp is about a degree colder than most people, so the 99.9 that it registers is about two degrees of fever. Assuming that it's calibrated correctly and all that. I just took two aspirin, hoping that once I get into bed and covered up (about thirty seconds from now) I will get warm and the fever will eventually break and I'll sleep well.