YES, YES, YES I am an Idol Junkie. Kat or Taylor? Taylor or Kat?

I think after tonight's performances it will be Taylor, but I have been wrong in the past.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE CROWNED "AMERICAN IDOL 2006?"

OKAY, OKAY! I will try again. I have until Thursday, so maybe, just maybe I can come up with something new instead of having to copy mine from last year, but with a few minor changes.

All right, I do believe I have edited down to the final copy.

As we come together
on this day before the last,
we give honor to the 2005-2006
Graduating Third Grade Class.
There are several of you students
who started at the age of three
Early Childhood became your growing space
a place where you learned to believe.
Other students enrolled
when you were only four,
Pre-K opened up a brand new world
where each of you learned to explore.
Yet most of you Third Graders started
in Kindergarten after you turned five,
making this year's class quite unique
doing your best to be successful, to strive.
Many things have happened
throughout your learning years,
happy, sad and in between
with so many smiles and yes, even tears.
Moms and Dads and Teachers too
were standing by your side,
you may not have always realized
that they think of you with pride.
Now you go onto Intermediate School
conquering Fourth Grade will be your goal,
everything that you have learned at Hermes
are the things you are expected to know.
Everyone who has been a part of your life
has always wanted the best for you,
learning the difference between right and wrong
is a major lesson you were taught at school.
It's always difficult to say good-bye
especially after all these years,
of watching each and everyone of you
climb mountains while facing your fears.
During this time of remembering you
and all that you have achieved,
please don't forget the most important thing
in yourself you must always believe.
Moms and Dads and Grandparents too
please give your child a hug,
encourage them throughout their lives
be there to give them a nudge.
It takes friends and families
to properly help raise a child,
to be a part of your child's success
makes every moment of effort worthwhile!
Now the time has come to say, "So long
Adios, Auf Wiedersehen, Good-bye,"
please take excellent care of yourself
never giving up as you try and try and try!

I need to work on my poem for later this week to read at our end of year awards ceremony. Each year we have a different type of third grade class which leaves us and goes to fourth grade at the Intermediate School, which is not too far from our elementary because ours, Intermediate and Middle Schools are all joined by sidewalks.

Now let's see. Where to start? I think I will have a work in progress this week for my poem. Sometimes I have an idea for the title before I start, but most times, the title comes when the poem is finished. I will be working and editing, so here goes.

Once again it is time to say good-bye
To another Elementary Graduating Class,
For the Third Grade Class of 2005-2006
Time has traveled on by way too fast.

Classes have come and classes have gone
Throughout the many many years,
So many emotions, so many smiles
So many emotions, so many tears.

Teachers teaching
Students yearning,
Parents parenting
Together are learning.

You have passed your TAKS Test
Now you must go on,
Taking the journey towards your goals
Into the world where you belong.

I don't like this poem
It just doesn't have the flow,
So I will probably chunk it
Send it to wherever really bad poetry must go!!!!!!!!

It's getting late and I'm a bit giddy
So I best get to bed pretty soon,
While posting I'm also watching a disaster movie
And the cow jumped over the moon!!!!!!!!!!!



HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!! And I love all of you too!!!!! Karen

I was working at the video store today and had a couple come in who were really very irritating. Were very rude and disrespectful and blasting our wonderful little town. Kept saying how much it sucks and I said it did not! I felt like a kid on the playground or something to that effect. You know those kind of arguments, "Yes it is!" "No it isn't!"

They had kept a movie for 10 days. It was 5 days late and had a $3.79 late fee. They argued that they had just rented it and there was no way they had it for "2 weeks!" Of course we are on computer and the date they rented it and the date it was due was on their receipt that returned with the movie. They said it was a mistake. I told them they could talk to the owner and when they asked if he was there, I said no and they said it figured. I told them I would call him, which I did and he would be over in a couple of minutes. Of course they couldn't wait and left. He called them when he got there and told them what I did about the dates. He was not a happy camper when he got off the phone with the young lady.

Bottom line is, the couple told me they couldn't wait to get out of this horrible town. I have been thinking of them the rest of the day. They are expecting to find someplace that is perfect, with perfect people. That is so sad to me that they don't realize it is them that are the problem and they may never be happy if they think their happiness relies on other people and places.

In the past I have had near fights between couples over what movie they want to rent. I thought I would have to call the police, it got that bad. On the other hand there have been a lot of times I go into the back of the store and I'll find couples being very lovey dovey. The store is located in a very old building, so it has a lot of character to it, not one of these corporate video stores but a Mom and Pop store. The floors creak under the carpet, we have critters running around in the ceiling, and we have a resident ghost. One of these days I wouldn't be surprised if some of the characters in the movies come out and start dancing around. Have been thinking that there might be a good storyline in all of the adventures at the video store.

I can tell you, people get very serious about their videos and wow, the money people spend is outrageous. How they can afford it is beyond me. I brought a couple of movies home today to watch. They will be going for rent on Tuesday. We get a chance to view them so we can tell people about them. I have to tell you the two I came home with are pretty bad and they have some good actors in them.I just don't understand how good established actors and actresses can agree to be in such bad movies. I guess it all comes down to money.

One that I watched at the store that will be available is Cheaper by the Dozen 2 with Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt. I love Steve Martin and this is a movie that was fun to watch. I also watched a wonderful movie, The Blue Butterfly. It is based on a true story and is a great film to watch.

Well, I better get some sleep. Have a Bible Class to teach tomorrow and then work at the video store later in the afternoon. Next week is our last week of school. Have a week off, then will help teach summer school for three weeks. I'll be out Tuesday because hubby has a doctor's appointment in Temple at the VA hospital. I don't like him going too far of a distance by himself. He was in a lot of pain today with his arthritis and could hardly move. There are going to be some major changes in our lives I feel in the near future concerning his health and my working.

God Bless! Karen

My husband is now 62 and applied for Social Security. They had also told him he could try to get Medicare early because of his physical problems. He didn't have enough money that went into Social Security to get Social Security Disability because he worked for our school district for 12 years and instead of money being put into Social Security the money was put into Teacher Retirement.

Anyway, he received a letter today from Social Security saying they turned him down for being considered disabled to receive Medicare early. It listed all of his doctors who take care of his different physical problems and the Social Security board took into all the information and made their decision on the fact of his past work record and deduced he could get a job and would be able to earn a decent living and he was not as bad as he had told them.

Now I think that is pretty funny considering the fact my husband has worked since he was a teenager, did two tours in Viet Nam, yet he is turned down and others who do not work are given Medicaid.

Chuck was a mechanic. He has congestive heart failure with a pacemaker/defibbilator, he is on seizure meds because the stroke he had when he was 48 years old caused the seizures and the stroke was caused by his heart attack which damaged his heart and it is operating at 65%. He has rheumatoid arthritis which is effecting every part of his body. His hands are so painful, he can't even open a cap off a coke bottle. He is barely walking and has fallen a few times, but he cannot use a cane because of the pressure to his hands and wrists. On hot days he can hardly breathe and he is out of breath after a few steps. We are planning having a wheelchair ramp built this summer into the house and going to have to try to get a motorized chair for him. We are also hoping to get a portable oxygen tank for him. I have to help him button and unbutton his shirts. He had back surgery a couple of years ago and the damage to his discs were extensive and the doctor did all he could do.

What I would like to know is what kind of work they think he could do and how bad do you have to be before they consider you DISABLED?
He said he will keep reapplying every 60 days.

Has anyone reading this ever had this kind of problem with our Social Security system? My brother has had 3 heart attacks and has been turned down twice for Social Security because THEIR DOCTORS say he could work. Yep, last heart attack was on his first day at a job, climbing a ladder. He has a lawyer, but court dates are in the far off future. I guess the nose bleed section.

Karen