Joe

08:18 pm: Here goes...
Its been a while, but theres things to say!

1. I moved from Chesapeake to Ward's Corner (ick)
2. Left Ward's Corner (because of semi-obvious reasons) and moved to Ghent
3. I LOVE GHENT and living ALONE again!
4. I am seeing someone special, been goin on for about 4 months, BIG FUN
5. I finally feel like I am getting back on top of my game after 3 years, but that leads to some discontent with certain areas
6. I love my job again this year, and see things for me going very nicely over the next... say... three years
7. I miss my family greatly these days, a lot goin on up there
8. Eventhough things here are going VERY well in my eyes, I am lonely for the friendsips and good peoples that walked thru my life...I need that again.

Thats about it for now, I'd elaborate on it all, but nobody would read it b/c of length!

P.S. My moment of zen for the day: NO WORK ON FRIDAY!

10:19 pm: Warning
WARNING, This journal may again become active very, very soon....

05:08 pm: Wekk 14...
14 weeks of school and all was going well....This week has been one for the books (or journal) though!.


Monday-MLK b-day, no school but an appointment with the orthopedic doctor. His speculation w/o seeing the MRI is that I'm going to need surgery and he'd like to see me in March, I might try to wait till June. Good times.

Tuesday- Got word of another new student coming, OK, fine.... No heat in school OR my portable sucked esp in the AM when it was 19.

Wednesday- Got the new girl, my teammates got pissed b/c of numbers blah blah blah made me feel shitty... the kids were WILD.... the snow and ice came, took me an hour to get the distance it'd normally take me ten minutes to get to. Got an E Mail from ODU, my "gre scores are problematic" blah blah blah

Thursday- Got a call that Austin is in drug rehab. Fifteen years old and his mother had to admit him to drug rehab... good times! But no school.

Rock on!

11:27 pm: Another trip home, another excellent time!

I've been home for a week, and am headed back to snow covered Hampton Roads tomorrow (shouldn't it be the opposite??) I'm excited to get back to "reality" but also a little sad to leave home.... again. Since I've been home i got to hang out with Mike and Missy, Deanna, and family, family and more family, followed by a night out with Ariel, Michelle adn Christina. That was pleasurable as well, even if it did involve a hour and a half wait at PF Changs.

My flight leaves pittsburgh at 430 tomorrow and I arrive in Norfolk at 730ish. A few more days vacation there and then back to work on Monday. Believe it or not I miss the buggers! I'm sure they will have lots of stories to share when we get back about their breaks.

I hope all is well out in journal land as well! Take care....

08:41 am: I am.....

you're an ideal boy... guys want to date and boys
want to be you. you play sports, can shop, have
great friends, good music taste and are always
loyal to your boyfriend! go you!


what type of gay boi are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

08:37 am: Merry Christmas to everyone on this lovely 6* morning!

11:54 am: So, today finally feels like it might be near to Christmas. For the past few weeks I've slowly been buying gifts, wrapping them, getting cards, etc., etc. but it hasn't felt like the holiday season. Even this weekend, I knew that I only had two days of work over a stretch of 16 days, but nothing. So, yesterday I woke up with a killer headache. I spend some of the morning resting it away and then decided it was time to start to pack for the trip home. (I'm flying this trip to avoid the sitting pressure on the back) Even that, NOTHING.... HOWEVER, today when I woke up, there was maybe .75' of snow on the lawn outside my bedroom window! This was exciting for two reasons. 1) NO SCHOOL and 2) COLD TEMPERATURES!!!! Now, when I say cold, I really mean cold... not like Pgh which was at a whopping "0" degrees this morning, but 11 which is still pretty damn cold! So i put on some christmas music, made some tea and have spent the last several hours cleaning. I'm kinda excited now too (eventhough its going to be 60 by wednesday).

The weekend was good, I rested again to try to keep the back spasims down. I had coffee with the Jasons on Thursday evening, that was very nice. Friday I didn't do much nor did I on Saturday. I was REALLY missing friends this weekend, I'm not sure why?!?!

Tomorrow is party day at work.. BLAH. Party day always makes me tense, I dont like the disorganization and lack of structure for the WHOLE DAY! The sing along is always fun but seeing that that is first thing the whole day is a wash!

Flight leaves at 10 on Wednesday and I return to Hampton Roads at 7:30 on the 29th. Big Fun! Looks like I'll have to miss the wedding on the 15th which makes me a little disgruntled, but its for the best. I see an Orthopedic on the 17th and finally get the diagnosis on this issue out of the way... I might know what it is by March Hahahah!

Ok, enough of my scattered thoughts and back to cleaning!

06:38 am: Here we go again!
I'm goning to try and return to work today. I will admit it was nice to have off 7.5 working days in a row, with two weekends mixed in. Eventhough I was laying around on the floor most of those days, the time off was... well.... enjoyable! I wasn't able to get the whole week planned out, therefore that is today's priority during resources... LESSON PLANNING get this ship back on course so to speak. I go back to the doctor at 3. 60 degrees today, it really doesn't feel like the holiday season, on and the fact that I havenot gotten a thing for anyone doesn't help much either! Well, happy monday to everyone!

02:21 pm: oy
Day three, on the floor. I'm really not enojoyin gthis, walking still is near imporrible. I was goign to try to go to work tomorrow but I think its best that i just throw in the towel for the rest of the week. I can shuffle around but with great pain.... no fun. SO, I go back to the doctor today to find out exactly what is done when one is suspected of having a bluging disc.

After the doctor, I am going to try to go up to work to write plans for tomorrow and Friday. Beth was nice enough to bring me all my stuff last nght and wit for me to finish and take it back today, but i'll basically be there anyway, so i'll just swing by.

OK, i'm gonna ice up before the chiropractor.....

07:45 pm: oops i did it again.....
SO, yesterday I spent the day cleaning. The last thing that I did was put up an empty rubbermade container in my closet...... and then.... OUCH... there went my back.... AGAIN! Third time in nine months, not fun. I went to work this morning, thought i'd attmept the day. I was sent home before eight even hit. I made it back home and slept for a few hours, which was good because I didn't sleep last night. Then I got up and went to the doctor. Its pretty certain that its a bulging disc. The first step is to get the spasims to stop and get my back to settle down. SO, i'm on the floor of my apt. again where I've spent oh so many hours in this same position doing the same thing.....BLAH. I'm not sure what the next step is after the spasims end. That I will try to find out on Wednesday when I have to go back to the doctor.

SO, I called off work again for tomorrow.... and then canceled the request after I heard about today. However, I have to take care of this back or I'll be down for months again as I was this summer. Evidently my aid feels illy about the administration and some of the teaching styles that are present in teh building and freely vocalized them in front of a large group of students, and faculty. Doesnt' make me happy. Not to mention she called a parent and resorted to take a student to someone who I told her I didn't want them to see. SO, fun times will be awaiting when I get back.

Family fun time, I decided, in Pittsburgh will be shortened for Christmas. I dont know taht two weeks up there will be ok mentally for me! LOL Some down time here would be nice, spend some time with friends, maybe some lunches with people... sounds nice, no?

I hope you all are well....

03:08 pm: I traveled back form Pittsburgh yesterday. It was a nice drive. I was home in 7 hours as normal. All in all the traveling was great! Very little traffic, no accidents, and not many jerks on the roadway. I made it back in time to do a little unpacking, shower, and head to Matt and Jay's. It was nice to see everyone, and a nice way to start the holiday season.

Today, I slept till ten and felt like I could sleep even longer! However, I got up and cleaned! I love cleaning, why? I guess its the smell of clean and the look that satisfies my need for organization. I brought home my collection of nutcrackers, and when I hopeed up the box and unpaced, two were broken a bit (one mustache was loose and another missing a nose) and I realized that somewhere there is another box, I only have about half! I put them up for the holiday and took out the stuff that I got from my studnets that I keep in my apt. from last year. I ATTEMPTED to go get a tree, but two things occured. 1. I threw out my back again, UGH i'm not pleased. hopefully i got to it in time with meds and ice and stretches that it'll work itself out. and 2. its 65 and sunny, somehow buying a tree in jeans, a t shirt and flip flops didn't feel right! SO, i'll wait till tomorrow or tuesday when its a little cooler.

I'm watchin the Steeler game, i'm so glad that they are doing well enough to be televised down here almost weekly now! I thought they'd pound the deadskins, but alas, we are in the lead anyway! WELL, i'm going to attempt to get lesson plans done for the week!

11:12 am: Wintery Days
29* and snow. BIG FUN. HA.

The trip up was great, I made it here in just under 8 hours when it normally takes me 7. I was very pleased. Thanksgiving was good also, it was nice to have everyone around, and my cousins were very social this time. I stayed in Wed. and last night. Today my dad wants to go to WV to see some outdoor store and the casino and then meet my sisters inlaws for dinner. I'm not too excited about all that, but I guess its the family thing to do. I am leaving here tomorrow around noon, hoping to make it back for Matt's party. Sunday will be fun filled with cleaning and grocery shopping and then back to work for a couple weeks before the next break.

Matthew's last day of school was Wednesday. It was sad to see him go, and he was sad as well. Its a good move for him though, I hope he is a changed young man when he returns in the spring. I'm nearer and nearer to making a decision about next year, I think. That will be good to have settled. This journal is scattered, I dont think my brain is working yet, so i'm going to go... perhaps I'll start to journal more often till my internet is shut off on Dec. 7th... YES I am on my way to the 21st centry and going to get high speed after Jan.

Later y'all!

04:04 am: 4am rocks
SO, its 4am, I just got home from a night out with colleagues... GREAT TIME! If you faithful journal readers recall, last time I went out with colleagues on a Friday night, we were out till about the same time! GOOD TIMES! After homearama (which was fabulous, if I must say) I met Beth and Elise at Beth's house at 9:30. From that point we Joined Jenny and her fiance and two of her friends at Crockadile Rocks... VERY FUN! Then we went to Have a Nice Day, all at waterside. After that, we went back to Beth's house and Elise and I engaged in good conversation while Beth worked her magic with newcomer Matt. Elise is fabulous.... if only...... It was a rough week, I needed a night like tonight. The week was crazy! Matthew was very off which got the whole class off track and in turn, I feel like I have accomplished nothing. It turns out that he leavs us on Monday to go to a residential School. I will miss him, and I think him us. I got good news today though, that I will get to visit him while he is there. I'm excited for that. Its about time for me to go to bed, so i'll catch you all later. I hopefully will get to hook up with Deanna and Dana tomorrow for lunch and then maybe waterside again tomorrow night. Thanks to Scott too for a great evening at homearama! Talk to y'all later!

08:34 pm: Terrible Tuesday
WHAT A WEEK! I feel like this week is hello in person, and its only Tuesday. The boys have been way way off, so I've resorted to the method of 15 minutes of instruction, the rest of the class guided practice seat work. Its an effective teaching method but damn its boring for me! However, untill they can get it in check, such is life in Mr. Sciullo's room. I have a couple pieces of the puzzle figured out. One of them being my aide. She just doesn't have the patience and understanding, I feel, to work with kids who have these kinds of problems. She went into some speech today about graduating high school... HELLO these kids are ten! A third of them probably will barely pass High School as it is, the other two thirds are worried enough about passing fifth grade moreso than whats going to happen eight years down the road. Yes I agree we have to look forward to the future but lets try to get thru fifth grade instead of jumping thru twelfth. SO, the foremost reason this speech bothererd me was becuase these kids dwelled on that all day! She went into this whole wroking at McDonalds and not having a car to drive bit. I just find it incredibly intriguging that she can sit and argue with a student for one hour to do 8 comprehension questions when in thirty minutes I had the comprehension questions and a quiz done with this child. I dunno, I'm done bitching.. it is my job and I love it! I did piss off two colleagues today though, I think. For the Haunted Courtyard next week, we asked teachers to donate a jack o lantern from their class to decorate the outdoor classroom... I got a note back from a teacher that said " I would never have a sharpe object in my classroom like a knife in my room. I dont think we are even allowed to do that." Now come on, I'm intelligent enough to realize that carving a pumpkin involves a knife, and I'm also perceptive enough to know that a teacher would be very careful about who handled the object, not to mention more than likely not allowing a student to handle it. ALSO, does she really think I'd send a memo out to the whole school about this w/o the approval of the administration???? The other teacher involved one of her students who fell at Recess. The student was laying on the ground like she passed out, another student picked her up and she was lifeless. She complained whenever I got anywhere near to her leg and knee, therefore I sent for the SCHOOL NURSE and found her teacher. I'm in no position to have a kid walk to the nurse when the nurse can easily come to her. Well the teacher didn't like that I sent for the nurse I guess... whatever! It was the end to a bad day, my fuse was short... The girl claimed she was really hurt, I'm not going to make that call when we have a nurse to do that in the school!

Tutoring with Shannon went well. The hour went fast.. she's a good kid... another session tomorrow followed by a couple hours work at school and its finally Thursday! Thursday means storm drain cleaning! When will I learn to say no????


I hope all is well with everyone, I've soooo been the slacker on both entries and reading others! My bad!

08:33 pm: Terrible Tuesday
WHAT A WEEK! I feel like this week is hello in person, and its only Tuesday. The boys have been way way off, so I've resorted to the method of 15 minutes of instruction, the rest of the class guided practice seat work. Its an effective teaching method but damn its boring for me! However, untill they can get it in check, such is life in Mr. Sciullo's room. I have a couple pieces of the puzzle figured out. One of them being my aide. She just doesn't have the patience and understanding, I feel, to work with kids who have these kinds of problems. She went into some speech today about graduating high school... HELLO these kids are ten! A third of them probably will barely pass High School as it is, the other two thirds are worried enough about passing fifth grade moreso than whats going to happen eight years down the road. Yes I agree we have to look forward to the future but lets try to get thru fifth grade instead of jumping thru twelfth. SO, the foremost reason this speech bothererd me was becuase these kids dwelled on that all day! She went into this whole wroking at McDonalds and not having a car to drive bit. I just find it incredibly intriguging that she can sit and argue with a student for one hour to do 8 comprehension questions when in thirty minutes I had the comprehension questions and a quiz done with this child. I dunno, I'm done bitching.. it is my job and I love it! I did piss off two colleagues today though, I think. For the Haunted Courtyard next week, we asked teachers to donate a jack o lantern from their class to decorate the outdoor classroom... I got a note back from a teacher that said " I would never have a sharpe object in my classroom like a knife in my room. I dont think we are even allowed to do that." Now come on, I'm intelligent enough to realize that carving a pumpkin involves a knife, and I'm also perceptive enough to know that a teacher would be very careful about who handled the object, not to mention more than likely not allowing a student to handle it. ALSO, does she really think I'd send a memo out to the whole school about this w/o the approval of the administration???? The other teacher involved one of her students who fell at Recess. The student was laying on the ground like she passed out, another student picked her up and she was lifeless. She complained whenever I got anywhere near to her leg and knee, therefore I sent for the SCHOOL NURSE and found her teacher. I'm in no position to have a kid walk to the nurse when the nurse can easily come to her. Well the teacher didn't like that I sent for the nurse I guess... whatever! It was the end to a bad day, my fuse was short... The girl claimed she was really hurt, I'm not going to make that call when we have a nurse to do that in the school!

Tutoring with Shannon went well. The hour went fast.. she's a good kid... another session tomorrow followed by a couple hours work at school and its finally Thursday! Thursday means storm drain cleaning! When will I learn to say no????


I hope all is well with everyone, I've soooo been the slacker on both entries and reading others! My bad!

12:48 pm: October mornings...
Its been a little while, I know. Things with me are going great! My class is in full swing, and I am really enjoying it. I have a couple of really challenging students, but thats exactly what I was looking for this year. I have a challenging Aide as well, but I'll deal, thankfully I only have to deal with her for three hours!

I am in PA this weekend for a wedding. The plan was to drive up to Pgh. THursday after work, head to ALF in Clarion on Friday then to Erie for the rehearsal dinner Friday evening. WELL, the ALF trip didn't happen so I spent the morning cutting the grass at my dad's house. I love cutting the grass even if it messes me up all day (allergy). The leaves have begun to fall up here, so I had that to battle on the mower as well. A John Deere is a wonderful thing!

Not too much else is going on personaly. I find myself thankful for Sunday evenings and coffe talk. Its been a great way to end the weekend and get ready for the new week! The weeks are going fast!

There was talk of me being transfered within the city to a new school. I dont think that has been resolved yet, but my principal feels confident it won't happen. If it doesn't happen by Oct. 15th, I guess it won't happen. I'm glad about that. I don't want to transfer school, to have to start all over in a new environment mid semester would suck.

GRE exam is November 6th! I'm going to look into the satelite campus of UVA, I've decided. Thats all for now!

-Joe <--- author of today's scattered, unorganized thoughts!

04:42 pm: Mr. Sciullo needs to kick it up a notch
Well, 11 days in and what I thought was going to hapen has happened. When i came into the year I felt like I was prepared, but not "ready." Today it hit me. I need to kick it up a notch. I am dead set on getting these kids out of the "babied" phase and into the midset of what their task/job is while they are at school. Therefore I have been stubborn on what I was going to provide them. My job as a special educator according to their IEPs is to service in the areas of Lang. Arts and Mathematics, they are to succeed in inclusion with minimal support (according to the IEPs). SO, I felt that I'd give the IEP the benefit of the doubt and treat the students the exact way that they are to be supported. WELL, it appears that isn't going to fly. ON THE OTHER HAND, we have to remember that these children are disabled and they are not going to be the A/B students... more likely they will be the C student. Also, who is going to be there to hold their hand when they are in middle school/high school/ society????? Therefore, I find myself here now listing accomodations I can do and pros/cons to each in order to have these children succeed w/o holding back the rest of the class and yet still showing their own knowledge and potential.

The weekend was big fun on Friday. After work Beth and Debbie and I went to happy hour. I then met JT and JR for dinner in Ghent at No Frill, always a good choice, adn we got the usual table! We then went to the New Belmont for a couple drinks till the band came in... so we migrated to the Metro with Vlad (sp??). Saw CM and met his buddies then went to the garage and saw a couple more friends... all in all a good day! Saturday morning I woke up SICK... blah... i'm sure it was a mixture of the kids and the season changing. I feel better today though.

I had three kids off today, that wasn't pleasant, but in a way it was. LOL I do love my job, so I enjoy the challenge. Just like the above paragraph, I do love it! Hope you all are well!

04:41 pm: Mr. Sciullo needs to kick it up a notch
Well, 11 days in and what I thought was going to hapen has happened. When i came into the year I felt like I was prepared, but not "ready." Today it hit me. I need to kick it up a notch. I am dead set on getting these kids out of the "babied" phase and into the midset of what their task/job is while they are at school. Therefore I have been stubborn on what I was going to provide them. My job as a special educator according to their IEPs is to service in the areas of Lang. Arts and Mathematics, they are to succeed in inclusion with minimal support (according to the IEPs). SO, I felt that I'd give the IEP the benefit of the doubt and treat the students the exact way that they are to be supported. WELL, it appears that isn't going to fly. ON THE OTHER HAND, we have to remember that these children are disabled and they are not going to be the A/B students... more likely they will be the C student. Also, who is going to be there to hold their hand when they are in middle school/high school/ society????? Therefore, I find myself here now listing accomodations I can do and pros/cons to each in order to have these children succeed w/o holding back the rest of the class and yet still showing their own knowledge and potential.

The weekend was big fun on Friday. After work Beth and Debbie and I went to happy hour. I then met JT and JR for dinner in Ghent at No Frill, always a good choice, adn we got the usual table! We then went to the New Belmont for a couple drinks till the band came in... so we migrated to the Metro with Vlad (sp??). Saw CM and met his buddies then went to the garage and saw a couple more friends... all in all a good day! Saturday morning I woke up SICK... blah... i'm sure it was a mixture of the kids and the season changing. I feel better today though.

I had three kids off today, that wasn't pleasant, but in a way it was. LOL I do love my job, so I enjoy the challenge. Just like the above paragraph, I do love it! Hope you all are well!

09:07 pm: Whirlwind
This weekend it all hit me. Reality. Here I am again, where I need to be for now, but what's next? Thats the question to be answered, goal number 3 to be answered this semester. I'll figure it out. I'm in a mood tonight, like I've done somethign terribly wrong, and I'm not sure what it is. I feel like I'm in a slump and now i need to prove myself to get out of it, its a weird feeling, but one I find myself in with every new transistion (going from vacation back to work I think).

Today however professionaly was an AMAZING DAY! I really feel good about it. The kids were right with me on everything and I really felt like I had a good handle on where things were and where they are going. Brian and Betty will be good to work with as well. And of course I have my aide from the summer in the room with me who is simply wonderful!

My quest begins the 15th. Itd been decided. It should start now, and I'm not going to make excuses as to why it isn't but the 15th is the day. I'm over it, I'm over the pain and the discomfort. I need to get this back taken care of and get my fat a** into shape. It's been something I've partially committed to since 1999 and have yet to complete it. I'm over it... its now my quest.

I think thats all for today! OH Banana, it was great talking to you! It felt like it had been forever! Thank god for livejournal, eh?

OH Did anyone watch Home Makeover Extreme Edition tonight? Talk about a tear jerker!

01:17 am: It speaks!
Myjournal spoke to me today.... so I figured I better write back before it really comes to life and haunts me in my sleep!

SO, the week went OK. I got kicked out of my classroom indefinitly for major mold problems, was possibly switching grade levels, got some new kids on my roster, was missing several IEPs, and had a bad back flare up this weekend... all in all, ITS GOOD TO BE HOME! hehehehe

No, really.. it all worked out the way its supposed to. I am still in 5th grade and my colleagues are goign to work well with me so that i have a place to teach next week. My asst. principal insists that I'll be in my room the second week of school. I think Charley really dumped a lot of rain on the place and totally got that mold growing! I just hope they do the job right so that next year we dont have this same problem... then again, next year I might actually get moved into the building (if i stay there).

I did have a stint of homesickness this weekend :-( Thanks to some friends, that went away tonight. I went out with some guy that I havent really spent time with since before my back went out in early june! It was a good time.

Now that summer is over, its time to start thinking about what is next for me. If i'm going to start taking classes, I have to start that process and perhaps take the GRE instead of just post-bach. classes. We'll see... There is talk that several of my colleagues that I am close with at work will not be back to my school next year. Not because of troubles in the building, but becuase of changes in their lives... that should be interesting.

I made the mistake of having a tall coffee tonight... at like 9. I'm wide awake! This could be bad... good think I dont have to work tomorrow!

OK, I think thats all for now!

G'nite!