Express Auto Rant

I will NEVER go to Express Auto in Lee's Summit. Yesterday they failed my tires on my inspection. Since they were still technically under warranty for a few hundred more miles, I went to Firestone to see what they would do. They looked at them and said they should have passed and to go to the highway patrol for a second opinion. Highway patrol passed them. So I took my car back to Express to get my pass slip and the girl at the counter asks for my keys. I was a little confused as to why they would have to look at my car again so I asked her why she needed them. She looks at me and says, "Uh, to pull your car in." I asked why and she said, "That's just what they do. I don't know, I just do the typing." So I give them to her and they look at it. The guy comes out and starts talking to me like I'm stupid trying to convince me that my tires do not pass, telling me that the tread is well below the wear-bar. I informed him that I looked at it and it was not below the wear bar. According to state regulations, the cord of the tire needs to be showing in order for them to fail. There was no cord showing at all. So after I tell him that I looked at my tires and the cord was not showing at it was above the wear bar, he walked away from me, shaking his head and muttering. Are you serious? I realize that my tires are almost the end of their life, which I admitted, but if the highway patrol passes them, then by law they have to give you your pass slip. The highway patrol did say that I'd need to get new tires before winter, which I knew. But that at least gives me until my next paycheck to save for them. But I will definitely be taking my business elsewhere.

Back to School

Hello friends! Haven't been on here in forever. This year I'm pretty much full time at the high school. We restructured our program so that all of the kids that received services go to one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. Before this year, we had 4 teachers traveling around the district, which in Lee's Summit, amounts to a lot of traveling. Our district has 18 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools. A 4th middle school and 4th high school are in the works but are on hold with the budget crisis. So this makes a lot of sense. We can now spend more time with students instead of in our cars. Last year, 40 minutes of my day was spent going back and forth between schools. I was putting tons of miles on my car. This year? I travel twice a week and only go one day. It's great. I can give my students the attention they need.

So far I'm liking working at the high school. I'm a little isolated back in my little corner, but I'm making friends. Since I push in to a lot of classes, I've met a few other teachers. Last Friday I stopped by to talk to one of my student's teachers and got invited to happy hour. I had a chiropractor appointment but I went ahead and went anyway. It was definitely a good time and I met a few more people. One thing about working at the high school is that there are so many people that it's hard to actually get to know them unless they're in your department. SPED teachers are pretty spread out though. In my corner are all social studies teachers, but since my student doesn't have any of them, I haven't really had a reason to go talk to them. So my new friends are mostly English teachers and SPED teachers. They're fun times. I was told anytime I needed a happy hour, just email. I like that.

In other news, my little sister is getting married in 12 days! I'm really excited for her. He's a good guy and treats her well. I'm excited to be her maid of honor. This is the first time I've been a bridesmaid, much less a maid of honor, unless you count my parents' weddings. Next week I have a 2 day work week after Labor Day, then it's off to St. Louis on Thursday for the rehearsal and the wedding on Saturday!