Day 30

3/12/2014

Yesterday marked a milestone of sorts; 30 days of daily aspirin and daily hand walks for Speedy G. Except, I didn't make it to the barn last night. I know he missed me; my BO replied to my can't make it out text.

I don't feel guilty about not making it out there, but I wish I could have actually administered the 30th aspirin dose on day 30. But honestly, 30 (actually more counting the days before the countdown began) consecutive barn days is a lot. I enjoy taking care of my boys' day to day needs: I clean their stalls/runs each evening, feed them their beet pulp and rice bran, and of course they get exercised. But occasionally, I do have other obligations.

Yesterday, I got to work at my regular crack-of-dawn time, 6:30, but when I should have left at 3:20, I went to a work-related meeting that lasted until 5:00. The meeting took place at another school farther from home than my own school site, so the drive home was even longer than normal. When I walked in the door just a few minutes shy of 6:00 p.m., I knew Speedy was going to have to suck it up.

I need this!

I do have another appointment this afternoon, but it's on my side of town and shouldn't take too long. Sydney probably won't get ridden, but he'll at least get turned out to play and Speedy will get his hand walking and grazing time.

I wish there was just some way to add more hours to the extended daylight. I need at least 26 hours on the clock!

Tracy link

3/12/2014 12:30:15 am

You're able to make it out to the barn a lot more than I am! I average about 5 days a week... but in the winter there are times when I don't make it out for 5 days straight!

Bakersfield Dressage link

3/12/2014 11:21:15 am

I don't have any excuses … it never rains, it never freezes, it only gets gusty occasionally, I don't have any kids, and I get off work before it's dark. And to top it off, the barn is less than 10 minutes from the house. My boys like to see me every day so I try and carve out at least an hour each afternoon. :0)

Lauren link

3/12/2014 01:05:47 am

Congrats on 30 days past!

3/12/2014 11:22:00 am

Yep - 5 more of those and he's in "the clear!"

Desirea

3/12/2014 01:39:17 am

Sometimes life takes precedence. I try to get out to the barn everyday to get both of my horses ridden. It doesn't always work out that way but hey life happens.

3/12/2014 11:23:37 am

Like I told Tracy above, I don't have any real excuses not to be out there and besides, I LOVE going out there. I've been able to arrange my life so that I can be there nearly 7 days a week. On occasion, I do have meetings or appointments, but I definitely enjoy my time at the barn and treat it like breathing or eating. I have to do those to survive!

Val

3/14/2014 07:55:40 am

Daily barn visits are tough to fit in. I understand that now more than ever.

Not sure what your situation is, but we are without a contract and have been in negotiations since November 2012. The state is also enforcing new evaluation systems for teachers which nearly force us to teach to the test. These are trying times in education.

3/15/2014 02:17:45 am

Val,

Here in CA, we have a fairly "powerful" union which lobbies very hard for good teaching practices. We're not always successful, but we still have a culture of academic freedom (to some degree).

We have been teaching to the test for many years, but for the most part, our tests have been aligned to California's overly ambitious standards. This means that we're (again, for the most part) testing our kids on what we've taught. The tests have driven our curriculum, but at least they're aligned.

The new Common Core Standards are not stressing us out either since they're mostly the same as what we've been teaching for the last decade anyway. In some cases, the CCS are actually easier, especially in math. We are pretty worried about the new test though (the SBAC) as it is a test done on the computer. We have a lab of only 35 computers, many of which malfunction at random times. The test also requires the kids to "do" things which are not intuitive at all. Things like, show the fraction … I had trouble figuring out the commands to show the fraction. And when I goofed, I couldn't figure out how to delete my answer.

So yeah … these are tough times for sure. This is my 20th year teaching, and I am counting down the next 13 (my anticipated retirement date). Hopefully things will get better.

We worked without a contract for several years, but our contracts leave us with some safety as both parties must operate under the language of the last contract until a new one is signed. We start our negotiations in April (I am union rep). Best of luck as you struggle through your own negotiations.

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