This is why new drivers pay more for auto insurance. My poor Beetle. She is fine, but her ride is not.
Beetle’s Car
Tag Archives: Beetle
Gifts from Students & Colleagues
As a teacher, I receive gifts. I had no idea this was a thing. Over the years I have received all sorts of things. At some point, students changed from neckties and clothing to gift cards . . . mostly. That is probably a good thing.
Other than gift cards, however, there isn’t much I receive that is useful. I could have had a coffee mug collection. I don’t drink coffee.
But here’s the thing, I feel guilty about these gifts. I know immediately I will never keep these gifts. But I am afraid I will be called on it.
A student made me a bead bracelet last week. What do I do with it? Well, I kept it for a week. Yesterday I tossed it. If asked about it, I would tell her I gave it to my daughter.
Yesterday I received a drink cup and a coffee mug from colleagues as retirement gifts. I do not have a need/desire for either. I know I will get rid of them, but not until I actually retire. I am afraid of being asked about the gift. You would think, “There’s no way anyone would ask about a gift he gave you.” I agree, but it does happen. Even one of the gifts yesterday I was questioned about. The lady yelled (truly) at me for calling it a coffee mug (it’s a drinking cup). Who does that?
I have a few of these gifts on a shelf in the closet. The items that I think my daughter would like, I save and re-gift to her. Dunkin’ gift cards always go to her.
I get how people hold onto things. I know this is merely temporary. But I won’t get rid of it until I know I can do so free of being called on it. How do I explain to a nine-year old that I am free to get rid of gifts that I do not want? Yeah, not going to happen. 🙂
Dot . . . Dot . . . Dot . . .
Shocked! I was contacted by a book publisher who had tracked me down for a project I wrote for the Franklin Institute 23 years ago. They want to publish the story in a textbook in Louisiana . . . How can I love my boy so much when he was not conceived in an act of love? . . . Beetle had two jobs lined up for the summer (Morey’s Piers and Lowe’s). She has quit both. Apparently, she purchased a season pass to Sesame Place. She will be 19 in a few weeks. She acts like the four-year olds who frequent that theme park . . . Co-op games are fun. Fritz and I did really well playing together just now in beating Pandemic . . . The count is nine. Single digits to go . . . Have a Roth account. I don’t do much but feed it. Never log into the account, get paper statements, yada, yada, yada. The company was acquired by another and the money transferred to the new account. Through that, I was unable to create an account because my old account did not authorize me. Called the new place just now. This customer service rep was the best I have ever had. After verifying who I was, had access to my account very quickly. Understood him and he could not have been more helpful. Lovely when it works like it should . . .
Dot . . . Dot . . . Dot . . .
Fifteen days until retirement and I’m still coming in an hour and 20 minutes early . . . After 30 years, this is what I know about public school elementary teachers: they are social, they are linear learners, and they are hoarders . . . The school district is moving elementary teachers to middle school to combat overcrowding and deal with the lack of enrollment in the early grades. My K-8 certification would have had me moving, I am certain. Retiring in three weeks . . . Do before I consume . . . Worry for my daughter. She is of the generation that has no work ethic. She is in for rough ride . . . Fritz suggested we see BattleBots in Las Vegas when we go. Didn’t know that was something to do. Happily I bought tickets. Feel abused by Ticketmaster charges of $65 . . . Thought I was going to binge DC comics in retirement. Rethinking that now. All of a sudden I am seeing a hole in my plan . . .After years of heralding Kindles, I am contemplating trading both the Kindle and the Fire in to help remove myself from Amazon’s ecosystem . . . Looking at the last few things I’ve written, it seems like I was despondent. I purchased a book to read on the Kindle and have spent the day planning geocaching trips . . .
Dot . . . Dot . . . Dot . . .
Watching Game 7 of the 76ers vs. Celtics series. I haven’t seen a basketball game in several years. The game has changed. There is no inside game. Everyone shoots from the perimeter. If they miss, there is no one there to rebound . . . Spring allergies are kicking my butt . . . Spending this week planning trips I’ll never take . . . Thought I was going to become a woodworker from a second floor apartment without a balcony. My fantasy self appears to have no bounds . . . For someone who used to fancy himself a cook, I have sought ways to reduce the work I do preparing my food . . . I have to select health insurance and dental insurance for retirement. I haven’t a clue as to which plan to select and there appears to be no friendly help available . . . I’ve lamented previously that as divorced Dad, I am out of the loop. Apparently, Beetle called out of work again. I fear she will not be long as a working person in her current job . . . She also, it is reported, has been taking pregnancy tests. Oh yeah, that would provide more volatility to an already tumultuous lifestyle . . . I took my last field trip as a teacher yesterday. I am still exhausted . . . Looking to get back into braces. Everyone at TenBrook has a bubbly personality . . . Democrats and Republicans throw so much crap that it is difficult to take anything seriously any longer. That is how the Durham Report becomes ignored. I think there’s a lot there that should not be ignored, but the public cannot get a fair shake at the news any longer . . .