This week I have to pass two finals. For the love of God, pray!

This week my employers will let me know if I'm still employed. Cross your fingers. I would hate to change jobs, but I got a job offer a few days ago from a friend. What I need is for the right thing for us to happen, and I don't have a clue what that might be.

This week we continue the difficult process of forcing a school to provide federally mandated services that they have refused to provide for years. This one will take a minor miracle. No, a major miracle.

Mike Mule was practicing his EMT skills and accidentally got a tourniquet on his leg. He's ok, but please spare him a thought.

-- helen (time@enough.later), August 12, 2001

Answers

I’ll be thinking of you this week, Helen.

Actually, I think about you often.

Quite a lot, really.

Sorta everyday-like.

Even hourly, in fact, or more like minute-by-minute, even.

Oh, for cryin’ out loud, I think of you constantly. You haunt my every waking moment and stalk through my fevered dreams in endless nights of desperation and longing. Is THAT good enough for you? Is THAT what you want to hear?

I hope you’re happy!

(sheesh)

P S - I WILL be thinkin’ of you (and Mike, of course)

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-- Lon Frankenstien (evil@the.bayou), August 13, 2001.

Blessings to you Helen. You will be in my prayers. May you find happiness in the things to come, and may Mike be well once again.

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), August 13, 2001.

Helen: Thoughts and prayers for it all to work out for you.

-- (thesonofdust@thinking.ofyou), August 13, 2001.

(((((Helen))))) When I'm not sure what is the right thing for me, it's always a comfort to know I can pray and ask God for HIS will to be done in my situation. I'll pray the same for you.

Where the school is concerned, don't back down. Keep fighting! Are there any other sources that can help you put pressure on them?

Give Mike a kiss. He'll forget about his pain. ;-)

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), August 13, 2001.

Thank you! First test result: an A!

Tomorrow, the kid and the school, followed by the "future employment" session with my employer.

Got two more job leads today.

Mike Mule is very kissy since he had to accept rescue.

-- helen (one@down.three.to.go), August 13, 2001.

Gayla applauds for Helen... You GO, girl!

Let us know how things went today.

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), August 14, 2001.

Wow, Helen! Good for you : : :

My prayers are with you for the other test, and for your job situation.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), August 14, 2001.

Meeting with school went reasonably well, although in our experience the meetings go well and the resulting plan fails. We'll see.

The employment situation is such that I will remain employed for varying part time hours per week. I think I can layer in another part time job if I need to.

One more final tonight.

I'm TIRED. Your support is deeply appreciated.

-- helen slogs to the beginning ... :) (no@rest.for.the.wicked), August 15, 2001.

You're tired, eh?

Mucho sympatico's ....... and hugs. 8<)

But on to more important topics.

How's Mike feeling?

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), August 15, 2001.

Mike Mule is unsympathetic. Having no offspring, he is free to spend his time and his income in pursuits that please only himself. He pointed out that he has it made without bothering to earn even a high school diploma, and it's my own fault that I have to work for my living after breeding my way into perpetual poverty. I'd write more, but he's calling me to finish the backrub I rudely interrupted with my lunch break.

-- helen (mules@of.the.field.do.not.spin), August 15, 2001.

MEAN MIKE!!!

-- Gayla (get@rope.now), August 15, 2001.

Second final, A+.

hoo boy tomorrow I can have my nervous breakdown right after I find out just how underemployed I am...

-- helen (done@final.finished), August 15, 2001.

I'm proud of you, Helen. You did good!!!

I really think you should make Mike get a job to support you!

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), August 15, 2001.

Mule Rides 1$

Mind you don't kick the mule. Sit quietly. Wait for him to initiate forward locomotion. No bouncing, spitting, or cursing.

Fee non-refundable.

-- helen (mules@rides.get.yer.mule.rides), August 15, 2001.

LOL

Try offering mule kisses for $5. You'll make money faster that way. :-) OR, if he's mean to you, tell him you will rent him out to pull a plow or something.

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), August 16, 2001.

congrats, helen.

I know that with all the intrigue on the ranch, it must be very hard to study. Keep an eye on the snake. They can't be trusted. Dishonesty is in their jeans. And if the snake writes a book, don't buy it.

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), August 16, 2001.

Gene, jeans on a snake? What a fantastic idea! If I put jeans on this snake, maybe he can hang around longer in the fall...and a little hood on the top will help too! Fur lining ought to keep him out until frost! An embedded solar-powered heating element could allow him to snowboard in competition! The possibilities are endless!

-- helen (life@over.the.edge), August 17, 2001.

helen,

kill the snake. He is no good. He will lie, he will cheat, he will eat your pet gerbil. He has defective jeanetic material which causes him to lie compulsively. In fact, he is probably related to a famous personage who lies all the time and gets paid big bucks for doing so.

On second thought, don't kill the snake; have him write a book.

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), August 17, 2001.

Book the snake in a low-riding jeans competition?

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), August 20, 2001.