Weekend

The weekend has generated an all's-right-with-the-world feeling. Saturday morning, the snowstorm of the century had evaporated, and the grass was green. Liberto's and Shawn's cars both had a coating of snow on the back window, but it soon melted. Liberto and I went to H& R Block to do the taxes. Although I'd given it a run-through myself, I had under-estimated the refund. We discovered that our new heating/air conditioning unit was also tax deductibe, as well as the new dryer. Between that, and a couple of other deductions the nice lady unearthed, we left knowing that our refund will be much larger than I'd calculated, which pleased us. We rushed back to the Southside so I could get to my hair appointment on time. Two hours later, we headed back to town, with Paul this time, to pick up a cartridge at Staples, stopping at Taco Bell to eat tacos. Next, we went to Publix where Liberto likes to buy his French bread, and of all people, we ran into Phyllis and Mark! It was such a happy surprise. We stood in the aisle, as shoppers squeezed around us, and caught up. Phyllis said she hopes to retire in three years, if she can make it that much longer, because the University is burning out its employees with the huge workload, committee work, and constantly increasing expectations. I told her I, too, am burned out, and may be retiring this year due to budget cuts. It turns out that their beloved dog, Waldo, died the day after Pete died, so we all shed a few tears over our lost pets and the emptiness we feel. After a lovely visit in the Publix aisle, they left to go for a dinner date in Savannah, and Liberto, Paul, and I drove to the mall to buy a few things. It was a busy and fulfilling day, simply because I didn't do any school-related work and managed to get that tension out of my mind.

Late this morning, after our Valentine's gifts to each other, Liberto and I drove to his office so he could make me some giant Word Walls for my classroom on his big engineering machine, whatever it's called. The newest thing at the school is that Administrators want to see Word Walls when they come around for the frequent visits they'll now be paying to all classrooms. My students have new vocab words and vocab quizzes every week, but that's not quite enough; the evidence of this must be displayed on the walls. It's all about appearances. The Administrators have also mandated that the students must learn the Georgia standards and must be able to repeat back to an Administrator what Georgia standards the teachers are teaching that day. In your dreams! But I had Liberto print up some Essential Questions posters, and posters listing all the state standards, lest their presence impress the Administration. I told Liberto that if they're determined to dismiss me, it won't matter what I do. The walls can be covered with words and standards, but if I'm on their S-list, it won't matter. But he insisted.

After the office, we went to the YMCA to exercise. I may have mentioned that the Downtown Athletic Club which Liberto had been going to for 15 years recently closed. He and all the other clients had a strong bond of friendship and collegiality. Liberto soon found out that the City of Savannah is now sponsoring memberships at all the branches of the YMCA for city employees and their families. All his pals from the Athletic Cub are now going to the Y, so we are now members of the Y too. I'm dropping my membership at the other gym in Georgetown. Because of my hours at work, I can't exercise in the mornings, but Liberto now goes to the Y three times a week, just as he went to the Athletic Club three times per week. After we worked out this afternoon, I asked him if he would meet me at the Southside Y on Mercy Blvd. two late-afternoons per week, so that I will have more motivation to go during the week.

I have to go watch Amazing Race now with the boys.