You never have to worry

This week the microwave died. Just died. I had popped a bag of popcorn for the two of us and we decided we needed another. Steve went out to pop us another and the microwave blew up. Just died!

Knowing that we couldn't live without a microwave longer than 24 hours, I searched the web during my work period at school to find a brand that would last me for a while. Nothing fancy, just a workhorse kinda machine. I couldn't make up my mind but decided to head to Lowe's as they had a good selection.

It was a cold, rainy, almost sleety kind of night, one where I just wanted to buy a microwave and go home and heat up a can of chicken noodle soup. Ventured out to Lowe's and found the perfect machine. Not too expensive, fancy, big, etc., just a good all around machine. Paid, had it put in my car, and drove home.

Steve happened to be in the driveway so he kindly carried it in, we unboxed it, and I plugged it in. Now the story begins! The door was shut but the light stayed on. As I peered at the electronic wonder, I noticed that the side panel was cockeyed and hence the door wasn't shutting properly, thus the light was staying on. All I wanted to do was heat a can of soup and and relax. By now it's 6:15 and my idea of a relaxing night was going up in smoke.

Called Lowe's and mentioned my defective small appliance and asked if they would be so kind as to toss another one in a truck and deliver it to me that evening as the night was just getting nastier as was I. Of course there was no one available to do that, but they would be glad to have another at the front desk if I wanted to bring it back and exchange it. How could I be so lucky?

After spending ten minutes reboxing, carrying, and trudging through the torrential downpour (I'm sure it really wasn't, it just felt that way), I got back in the car to return my purchase. I decided with gas as expensive as it is, it cost me about $2 for the return plus my time but I was going to be a pleasant customer and let it go at that.

Once I got out there I had to return my microwave, get a credit on my card, then purchase another one. Why does it have to be so difficult? I requested that the salesman remove the "new" one from the box so I could personally inspect the product. Seemed to be just fine, paid, loaded, and headed home.

I am happy to say that this one worked just fine. But I want to reassure anyone who ever buys something in a box or is packaged that they can't see that I ALWAYS get the merchandise with something defective. Rest assured that if you ever pick something off the shelf, your's will be just fine as I have purchased the only bad one in the lot. It never fails. This may not be true, but I like to believe that there aren't as many defective items floating around as there probably are. Isn't it nice to know that you do not have to worry about it. Yup, it's in my car, in the trunk, cold, rainy night, soon to be installed, uninstalled, returned, and exchanged. All that for chicken noodle soup and nice relaxing evening.

From the heart

Note left on my desk this week:

TO: MRS. T

i hope you like this note from: Emma

You are the best teacher in the world
i lerend alot from you i now my math and stuff my favorite part is the chace drawing because you win stuff like anmils like that stuff !!

Now evidently I have taught this girl a great deal! You wouldn't believe it from her spelling and punctuation. When I initially got this I was kind of sad thinking, "Oh my gosh, look at all the mistakes!" After that first shock, I couldn't help but smile. Maybe teaching isn't just about book learning. Maybe, just maybe, I have made a difference, even if a small one, in Emma's life. She hugs me every morning when she gets to school, standing over by my desk until I get there for her hug, and gives me another as she leaves at night.

Anytime anyone ever asks me what I make as a teacher I have a very simple answer:

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!

PS: Follow up from gel pens blog - Alyssa picked a gel pen last week when her name was drawn for the chance drawing. Imagine that!

The mom (and dad) song

Parenting! Such a joy. Found this website that will have you howling. Turn up the sound, sit back, and recollect on those days it seemed your mom (and sometimes your dad) would never stop nagging at you. Who would have thought she could have done it in less than three minutes?

http://www.komando.com/videos/4-2.asp