Guys, I got bad news. I just can't take the time off from work right now to make the event. We have been short-handed one school psychologist all year because one of us was out for severe depression. This wonderful old guy went ahead and retired while he was getting therapy. Unfortunatly, my district made the mistake of hiring him back as a consultant for a 4 day a week contract for the remainder of the school year about 3 weeks ago. As per my boss, he was given a small part of my work and those of my peers to do, but he only lasted about a week before he had a nervous break down. He did not really tell my boss for another few days because he felt so terrible about it. He just didn't show up for work. Consequently, the work we gave him to do was never done. Not any of it. We are further behind than before. As of yesterday, my boss assigned me to one of our middle schools to do behavior modification plans and another sort of legally required assessment called a Manifestation Determination. This is for special education children who are chronically suspended. Well, I went and met with the middle school principal and VP this afternoon, and the situation is far worse than my boss knows yet. We are already legally WAY out of compliance on not 1 but 3 cases at that school, and the legal department will not be happy. Furthermore, when these legally required steps are not taken, the kids don't get the help they need, and it hurts them too.
I was going to take a Monday or Friday off to drive the 500 miles one way for the event, but I just can't do that now in good conscious. They really need me up here right now, and every day counts.
I really wanted to win that bottle of Old Savage Aftershave, too.
I hope you guys will carry on without me. I hope you will take some pictures and report back about how it went.
I feel terrible because I know I started this event, but my conscious just won't let me take time off right now.
I'm truly sorry and very bummed.
-Tutt
"It ain't dead! As long as there's ONE COWBOY taking care of ONE COW, it ain't dead!!!" (the Cowboy Way)
-Monte Walsh (Selleck version)
"These battered wings still kick up dust." -Peter Gabriel