I better tell my friends...

So, finally, after a Skype Chat with Loki, I thought it was time to *release the hounds*. I sent an email and a link to this Blog to a few close friends, and then took a breath and posted a link on The Teacher Site I Belong To. So now....it's official. If you know me real time, or virtually, you know who is the author of this blog....you know who JustOneTeacher is. And you can probably hear the truth in my words, and you know how this has affected me.

But reaching out is part of healing. And you know what I'm like--I can't hide away alone.....

*smooches*


(The Email)

Hi everyone

Firstly, and most importantly, I hope you are all enjoying a restful, peaceful holiday--eat, drink and make with the merry.

Ok, back to me.

Since you've known me, you know that I have had a *unique* situation in my workplace. Not only is the atmosphere poisonous and horrible and just bad, I have been sent on the merry-go-round every year of being told I will be transfered (yay!) and then being told "Oh...not so much", (boo) and then other devices of torture are applied, randomly and with varying levels of intensity.

Well, finally, just like Popeye when he says "I can only takes so much and I can't takes no more", I left school on October 27th, took myself to the Dr. the next day and said, "I'm really feeling overwhelmed" and she took one look at me and said "Yeah, you are going home for 2 weeks, and then come back, and THEN we will talk about how or when you'll return to work".

So! Here I am, home on *Stress Leave* and loving every minute of it! Well-- not that there weren't a few dark days at the start, and I am still pretty raw, often, and as T. will attest, still close to tears, but I'm finally "taking advantage" of the system that has taken advantage of me for the last few years. I have accessed the EFAP Counsellor provided for me, and also a Rehab program sponsored by the union (You know the one, D.). As it stands now, I am off *at least* until March, am set to attend a retreat/course in February, have baked a variety of Christmas Treats and am just enjoying seeing little bits of myself return. Thank god I didn't lose them..

So-- I've (Of COURSE) written a blog about this journey. Here is a link to the very first post:

http://teacherteachme.blogspot.com/2006/11/yesterday-storm-was-raging.html

--you know how they work (read the rest from the bottom up). You know I tend to be a little dramatic, so don't be too alarmed by some of what you read there, if you read it all. I really wanted to document it at the time, in as honest and clear a way as I could.

I'm having good days, more than there are bad days, and I am accepting this as another turn in the path, another element that makes me who I am. Because of course, Popeye also says "I yam what I yam".

Thanks for understanding-- I knew you would. And don't worry. Eat spinach.

Much love,