So I know I have great friends and all, but sometimes I feel like I don't contribute enough. Take today for example. A friend's husband volunteered to prune my out of control maytan tree. Then, we ended up calling another friend over...mainly cuz I suck at pruning and I would end up chopping off a lot and having a lopsided tree. So by the end of the day I had 2 families over helping with this damn tree. The two men, with a little help from the rest of us (kids included), loaded up the back of a pickup. It was then taken away to a huge burn pile on a farm.

Now, when I stop and think about how 2 families gave up their day and came over, I actually well up. I know, I'm such a sap. But I feel like I always need help...and I hate that. I know I need help, but I feel like I'm not contributing enough. I hate relying on others and always needing help. I know part of this is coming from residual "I'm not worthy" crap.

I don't mind being on my own, but I do mind having to ask for so much help. I guess this is part of my journey and a lesson I must learn...It's okay.

Obnoxiously out of control maytan tree...Yea, that's the farmer who agreed to climb it and cut the shit out of it.

And after we all had our 2 cents as to which branches should be lopped off!

I just have to begin by complimenting Panda (I'm sure he's a reader of this site) on how well behaved he has become when I'm not home! In the beginning, he couldn't help but to mark every damn thing he could lift his leg to -- with the exception of Tootsie and Zig's furniture. It's like someone was watching over it making sure he stayed away. Anyway, I have recently started leaving him out when I"m gone on short jaunts. I have tried this in the past, but had the doggy door closed and a belly band on him. This hasn't worked for a while since he knows how to wriggle out of a belly band. With the doggy door closed, he would lift his leg everywhere! UGH, so annoying. However, I have been leaving the beloved doggy door open and retired the belly band. He hasn't made any messes...at least none that I have found. Today I was gone for 4 hours...no mess, and I don't think he even jumped on the bed -- a no, no for him.

So while I was gone today and Panda was riling up the neighborhood dogs (then running in the house like he had nothing to do with it), I went shopping. Now, it's no secret that I HATE SHOPPING! I hate trying on clothes, I HATE the mirrors, and I hate how all the cool stuff is costly. Today's goal: get a new bra! I am down to 2 and one of them is a sports bra! I bought one a few weeks back, but I hate how it fits. And to complicate matters, I have no idea what size I actually am these days. I know...go get measured. Please remember I live in the middle of nowhere and I went south (Paso Robles) today. Not sure where to get it done down that way. So I enter Target and get some bras to try on. UGH! Those damn mirrors! They LIE!!! Did you know they are actually fun house mirrors (and yes, I know I've blogged about it before. So this just proves that I'm right). Anyway, the stupid mirror gave me rolls...and I don't mean the kind you put butter on and eat. Fucking mirrors. Then, none of the bras fit right...I know....Get measured. I did end up buying one -- the least annoying one.

So I am not sure what's going on this week. Normally, I get along really well with parents. Okay, there are the occasional instances -- like last Sunday -- when I really don't get along with a parent. So to have an additional 2 parents -- that I know of -- be annoyed with me I am only left with one explanation...something in the universe is misaligned! Earlier this week I had a parent annoyed with me (although it was really more with the kid than me) that I didn't share with them that we were doing multiple paragraph essays. I didn't really tell the parents because we did them in class. It took us 2 weeks to do a graphic organizer -- fancy teacher word for a paper with boxes on it to help students organize thoughts. Then they were to transfer the sentences from that and put them into the paragraphs. It was totally easy! No need to tell parents ahead of time, just let them sit back and be amazed at what their kid can do at the end. Ugh, nope not this time around.

Then....there was today. I now know how Mrs. Obama feels. I had a conversation with a kid yesterday. He informed me that he hurt his leg and wouldn't be able to run the mile this week -- never mind the fact that there has been no limping and playing at recess was unhindered. As per my usual response I asked if he had a doctor's note...of course not. So not content with my answer the kid told his dad what happened. Ah, now dad is annoyed with me-- boy being a teacher is fun! He says that he hurt his leg, but he's not taking him to the doctor's. So in my mind I'm thinking, "Then it must not be that bad and he can run." However, to the parent I say, "Okay." And fast forward to today at PE time...The kid doesn't run, the rest of us do -- yup, me too. Fast forward to after school.

Dad: You have a problem with him? (pointing to son who is 15 feet away)
Me: Huh? (completely puzzled at what the hell he's talking about)
Dad: You have a problem with him? (pointing to son who is still 15 feet away)
Me: No
Dad: He said you made him cry
Me: I didn't see him cry (to myself: fuck Lisa shut up!)
Dad: You asked for a note, we talked yesterday that he hurt his leg.
Me: Right, he didn't run.
Dad: Why did you ask for a note?
Me: I didn't because we spoke yesterday.
Me: (to child) Did I make you run today?
Child: No, but you said that you wanted a note.
Me: No, we talked yesterday. You didn't run today.
Me: (to dad) he had no problems playing at recess (Seriously, when will I learn to shut my mouth? But honestly, parents need to see the whole thing before defending their child)
Dad: Well, it might be better today, but we talked and he wasn't going to run. Why does he say that you needed a note?
Me: It must have been some sort of miscommunication. I'm sorry.

Please note that at no time did the dad ask the child to come and speak with us to share his side of the story. Nor did the dad get after the kid for saying that I wanted a note today, when in fact I NEVER ASKED FOR A FUCKING NOTE!

Seriously, running 4 laps around a field in 30 minutes isn't killing anyone! Oh, and this is the same kid that got his foot caught under the fence TWICE at the beginning of the year. He's not the biggest fan of running and often doubt his multiple complaints!!

Okay, so I had to run to the grocery store today. And yes, it's a madhouse on Superbowl Sunday. So as I am exiting the store I see a former parent approaching. My first thought, "Fuck!" My second thought, "Suck it up and say hi." So, I do. I smile, look at her and say, "Hi". I know, some of you are thinking, "Why bother if you know she doesn't like you?" Well, this is a small town and I'm trying to do the mature thing here. You see in town there are 2 options at the grocery store when you see someone you know and don't want to talk. Option 1: go in another direction. Option 2: say hello and be on your way. As option 1 wasn't a choice because of location I was left with option 2. So what does crazy lady do? Marches past me LOUDLY declaring, "I don't like you!" I continued walking and burst out laughing. I mean who acts like that besides a 5 year old? Very happy the child and family have moved to another site. Although without crazy people, we wouldn't have stories like this to tell.