I apparently need an umbrella drink

OK, at some point I'm getting off the train of gloom and doom, because the last few posts have been very whiney.

But, you know, I'm really in a cycle here which I think demands a large drink in an unidentifiable tropical fruit sporting a paper umbrella.

I spent all day negotiating with the teacher's union--again.

Before our pay raise was accepted, we were treated to a long tirade from one of the members, who would not be silenced, about how disrespectful the Board was being to the teachers by offering the pay raise as part of a package. They actually demanded that we :blink blink: LOWER our offer since they did not want to be subjected to the indignity of a package. He also mentioned that he was leaving negotiations so that he could go out "and tell everyone" he knows about how shabbily the Board was treating the teachers. He actually left negotiations.

Since he doesn't live in town, I'm not sure who he's talking to tonight, but I hope he's having a jolly time.

So to recap--we offered a pay raise, along with additional monies tied to contract language which would do away with a time card system (WHICH THE TEACHERS HATE!). They demanded that we take the language out of the package (along with the money tied to it) and then proceeded to berate us for not offering them enough money.

By the end of the day, they accepted the offer, but only verbally. Sometime in June, they might see fit to sign a Tentative Agreement for both sides to ratify.

Why am I doing this again?

I don't even know.

I have a Closed Session special Meeting on Thursday (which, since it's closed, the contents thereof are confidential. But because it's a "Special Meeting" rumors are flying as to what we are going to be discussing. Oh Joy). That's good for at least two hours, maybe four. I have a regular meeting next Thursday from about 6 pm until at least 12 am. And I still have to deal with kids, school projects (Friday is Colonial Day. Bring your children to school dressed like Colonists. Yippee!), tutoring, mold, home improvements, business concerns, and, hello. What's my name? Who am I? What AM I doing here?

Off to raid the liquor cabinet and go to bed. Bad habit, that.