Why do I have homework?
I'm the teacher. It's so not fair that I have homework to do :P I'm busy prepping for tomorrow's classes. I have some of the day planned, and the room all set up, but I'm not sure what I'm doing for the last 20 minutes of class. Nor am I sure what to do with my 7th&8th grade combined reading class. I could do the same thing, but there are some 8th graders in both classes, so they won't be wanting to do the same thing. And so, tonight I will be brainstorming and coming up with a plan. And by tonight I mean, sometime between now and 11pm when I REALLY want to go to bed.
Because I want to sleep by then, I must make this a short blog entry. Wish me luck on my first day--I'm so going to need it.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Working for a living
Since I began employment at the middle school, I've been running my ass around town and all over the schools. I'm trying desperately to understand what I'm supposed to teach, how I'm supposed to teach it, and who exactly I will be teaching. As I'm only there for a quarter, some of the pressure is relieved, but I'm still finding it hard to keep up.
I've managed to put together my classroom when it comes to the basics, but I still have major decoration issues. That's the fun part. The hard part will be getting to the planning for the first week. But right now, for reasons of further stupidity, I have more urgent issues.
Urgent issue #1:
The St. Paul post office has been fucking around with my mail, or at least it was until I put my name on the mailbox. This would not be such a problem except that 2 very important items have somehow become LOST. Item 1: my social security card. Item 2: the checks I ordered. This has conequences. Do I wait and see if my SS card shows up back at my parents' house like the Post Office SAID IT WOULD? or Do I order a new SS card so that I can get that form of ID as soon as possible? As for the checks...that brings up another issue.
Urgent issue #2:
Whether it is the Post Office's fault (which I suspect it is) or the check company's fault, I have no clue. I called the check company and they redelivered my checks. I just got them today, and I'm quite happy with that EXCEPT for one thing. Yesterday, I received in the mail one booklet of checks from the checks I had ordered that were lost. Where were they? In Stevens Point, WI. WTF?!! So now I have no idea where the rest of the checks went, and if they are possibly in the hands of some fraudulent person. That means, I have to call the bank and void out all the checks. That's step 1.
Step 2 is that I have to call the check company again and reorder checks with a different number. There's simply too big a risk if I were to ignore the fact that 180 blank checks are roaming around the country with my name on them. They better let me have them for free, or there will be hell to pay.
Urgent issue #3:
Okay, this one is all my fault. With having a new bank and only using that check card, I haven't been paying much attention to my old bank account. Unfortunately, I had been using checks from that account for rent and loan payments. I could have SWORN that I had enough money in that account, but apparently I did not. So, on top of everything else, I have overdrawn from a bank that will charge me plenty for it too. The sad thing is, I HAD the money, just that it was in my savings, not in checking. Dammit, I suck.
In summary, I just seem to have issues lately. The next few blog entries may not be too pretty. Perhaps I'll try putting up more pictures--they may keep me from further blogs of venting.
Since I began employment at the middle school, I've been running my ass around town and all over the schools. I'm trying desperately to understand what I'm supposed to teach, how I'm supposed to teach it, and who exactly I will be teaching. As I'm only there for a quarter, some of the pressure is relieved, but I'm still finding it hard to keep up.
I've managed to put together my classroom when it comes to the basics, but I still have major decoration issues. That's the fun part. The hard part will be getting to the planning for the first week. But right now, for reasons of further stupidity, I have more urgent issues.
Urgent issue #1:
The St. Paul post office has been fucking around with my mail, or at least it was until I put my name on the mailbox. This would not be such a problem except that 2 very important items have somehow become LOST. Item 1: my social security card. Item 2: the checks I ordered. This has conequences. Do I wait and see if my SS card shows up back at my parents' house like the Post Office SAID IT WOULD? or Do I order a new SS card so that I can get that form of ID as soon as possible? As for the checks...that brings up another issue.
Urgent issue #2:
Whether it is the Post Office's fault (which I suspect it is) or the check company's fault, I have no clue. I called the check company and they redelivered my checks. I just got them today, and I'm quite happy with that EXCEPT for one thing. Yesterday, I received in the mail one booklet of checks from the checks I had ordered that were lost. Where were they? In Stevens Point, WI. WTF?!! So now I have no idea where the rest of the checks went, and if they are possibly in the hands of some fraudulent person. That means, I have to call the bank and void out all the checks. That's step 1.
Step 2 is that I have to call the check company again and reorder checks with a different number. There's simply too big a risk if I were to ignore the fact that 180 blank checks are roaming around the country with my name on them. They better let me have them for free, or there will be hell to pay.
Urgent issue #3:
Okay, this one is all my fault. With having a new bank and only using that check card, I haven't been paying much attention to my old bank account. Unfortunately, I had been using checks from that account for rent and loan payments. I could have SWORN that I had enough money in that account, but apparently I did not. So, on top of everything else, I have overdrawn from a bank that will charge me plenty for it too. The sad thing is, I HAD the money, just that it was in my savings, not in checking. Dammit, I suck.
In summary, I just seem to have issues lately. The next few blog entries may not be too pretty. Perhaps I'll try putting up more pictures--they may keep me from further blogs of venting.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
I've got it!
A job that is. The peeps from yesterday finally called me back...at 8:30am today. As happy as I was to hear from them, couldn't they have called yesterday or perhaps later today when I wasn't contentedly sleeping? I know; I'm lazy. But the call meant I had to leave Chris's early, get back here to shower and change, call UWEC about a transcript, and then haul my ass over to HR across town.
In reality, outside my lazy morning mind, that's not too much work or trouble. The real work will come in today and tomorrow, meeting with teachers and other staff trying to figure out what exactly I'm supposed to teach and how I'm supposed to teach it. AND I have to throw a room together with all that teachery stuff, you know, like inspirational posters saying "I love reading--even boring shit" and "Speaking standard English is da bomb." I can't say I own any of that crap, but I suppose I'm going to have to if I'm going to have my own classroom (though I may be able to borrow the absent teacher's stuff). Ugh. A lot of stuff to do, all before class starts next Tuesday. Yes, I mean BEFORE Labor Day cuz this middle school doesn't understand the word "vacation." ::sigh:: Whatever.
Here's to having a new job...even if it IS only for 4-8 weeks...unless she decides to be a stay-at-home mom...
A job that is. The peeps from yesterday finally called me back...at 8:30am today. As happy as I was to hear from them, couldn't they have called yesterday or perhaps later today when I wasn't contentedly sleeping? I know; I'm lazy. But the call meant I had to leave Chris's early, get back here to shower and change, call UWEC about a transcript, and then haul my ass over to HR across town.
In reality, outside my lazy morning mind, that's not too much work or trouble. The real work will come in today and tomorrow, meeting with teachers and other staff trying to figure out what exactly I'm supposed to teach and how I'm supposed to teach it. AND I have to throw a room together with all that teachery stuff, you know, like inspirational posters saying "I love reading--even boring shit" and "Speaking standard English is da bomb." I can't say I own any of that crap, but I suppose I'm going to have to if I'm going to have my own classroom (though I may be able to borrow the absent teacher's stuff). Ugh. A lot of stuff to do, all before class starts next Tuesday. Yes, I mean BEFORE Labor Day cuz this middle school doesn't understand the word "vacation." ::sigh:: Whatever.
Here's to having a new job...even if it IS only for 4-8 weeks...unless she decides to be a stay-at-home mom...
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
I've got both feet stuck in concrete
God I love the new DNA albulm. I rocked out to it on the way to my "interview" today for one of the nearby suburban districts.
I say "interview" because it was like no other interview I have yet encountered. They seemed to have no questions really in mind or set interview structure. There were three of them, and they each asked a question, mostly about my experience with teaching kids that are a bit unruly. Thankfully, my experience as a summer teacher and over in London took care of that answer.
From the informal interview, I was given a short tour of the classroom I'd be working in, the facilities there, and some explanation as to what I would be teaching and who I would be teaching. That was all well and good, but I didn't even know if I'd be getting the job. That's the frustrating part.
They said that I would know TODAY. I gave them my cell phone number after they asked where they could reach me this afternoon since they would be calling me. Well, it's a bit past the afternoon I'd say, and no call. ::sigh:: Even Kelly Services, who set up the interview for me, gave me a call after the interview and said it looked good, that they would very likely offer me the job. So you'd think after all they've given me all these bloody hints, they'd stick this fucking job down my fucking throat (tell me you got that allusion, Jenny).
Anyway, even if I do get the job, it'll only last somewhere between 4-8 weeks while the regular teacher is away on maternity leave. I honestly can't say I'd be very bothered if I just ended up subbing for a while instead. Granted, a regular paycheck even for just a month or so would be very helpful indeed, but then a sub doesn't have as much responsibility. Bleah, whatever. Oh yeah, by the way, the other district I was waiting for FOREVER finally told me when I called them that they had chosen other candidates, which I can understand cuz I know I was not the best qualified for the kind of teachers they wanted.
The ball is in the air, so now I just have to wait until I either hit it, miss it, or it whacks me in the face.
God I love the new DNA albulm. I rocked out to it on the way to my "interview" today for one of the nearby suburban districts.
I say "interview" because it was like no other interview I have yet encountered. They seemed to have no questions really in mind or set interview structure. There were three of them, and they each asked a question, mostly about my experience with teaching kids that are a bit unruly. Thankfully, my experience as a summer teacher and over in London took care of that answer.
From the informal interview, I was given a short tour of the classroom I'd be working in, the facilities there, and some explanation as to what I would be teaching and who I would be teaching. That was all well and good, but I didn't even know if I'd be getting the job. That's the frustrating part.
They said that I would know TODAY. I gave them my cell phone number after they asked where they could reach me this afternoon since they would be calling me. Well, it's a bit past the afternoon I'd say, and no call. ::sigh:: Even Kelly Services, who set up the interview for me, gave me a call after the interview and said it looked good, that they would very likely offer me the job. So you'd think after all they've given me all these bloody hints, they'd stick this fucking job down my fucking throat (tell me you got that allusion, Jenny).
Anyway, even if I do get the job, it'll only last somewhere between 4-8 weeks while the regular teacher is away on maternity leave. I honestly can't say I'd be very bothered if I just ended up subbing for a while instead. Granted, a regular paycheck even for just a month or so would be very helpful indeed, but then a sub doesn't have as much responsibility. Bleah, whatever. Oh yeah, by the way, the other district I was waiting for FOREVER finally told me when I called them that they had chosen other candidates, which I can understand cuz I know I was not the best qualified for the kind of teachers they wanted.
The ball is in the air, so now I just have to wait until I either hit it, miss it, or it whacks me in the face.
Monday, August 23, 2004
Sunday, August 22, 2004
.jpg)
A New Saga in Stupidity
WELCOME! Yes, welcome to the first installment of "Tales of Incredible Idiocy!" Starring yours truly, Katie, the smartest woman in the world!!--her only problem is getting some of those smarts to leak out between her continual acts of utter stupidity!
Case in point: tonight. I had a great time at the Down and Above CD release party rocking out, pushing annoying moshers around, and buying their new CD and a sweet band T-shirt. Came home, ready to relax and go to bed. Up to that point everything was pretty good and pretty smart.
Later this evening...I decide it's a good idea to pick up the book I started at 2am this morning couldn't put down til 4am (112 pages later) once more, just to read a few more chapters. Right, like that was going to happen. So I finished the book 15 minutes ago. Not exactly smart since it means not getting a full night's sleep without sleeping into the afternoon when I want to get things done. Think that's dumb? Oh just you wait.
Of course last night I had issues trying to sleep having read in bed and then having hundreds of thoughts flowing through my head. I didn't sleep until almost 6am. Not cool. Think I would remember not to do it again tonight? Oh no. I knew I wouldn't fall asleep right away tonight, but I turned to my alarm clock to set it for tomorrow, turn off my lamp, and try to sleep anyway. Who knows, I MAY have been successful if it weren't for the SHOCK I felt when I touched my alarm clock to find that I HAD MELTED IT!!! I MELTED MY ALARM CLOCK!!!!
My lamp is one of those desk lamps that has a conical metal shade. I'm sure the bulb I have in there is the maximum wattage you can have, perhaps more. But I never had a problem with it. But then I never before leaned my lamp two inches away from the top of my alarm clock for 4 hours either. Fucking stupid, eh? Oh, but you think it ends there?
Considering that I had read for a good two hours yesterday, with the lamp in roughly the same position, I bet you anything that the clock was already starting to melt last night and I didn't notice it. How could I NOT NOTICE A SICKLY WARPED ALARM CLOCK?!! The poor thing...the clock still works, and I could probably turn on the alarm. But the buttons for setting the time are melted into plastic puddles forever connected to the framework of the alarm clock--never to be pressed again. Dumbass.
Frustrated, I get up out of bed and retreat to the sanctuary of my laptop and this blog. Venting seems reasonable enough, doesn't it? Not TOO dumb. Oh sure...but five minutes into blogging, I start remembering that it is STORMING OUTSIDE! I've only been listening to the thunder rumble and watching the lightning patterns for a good half hour or more. But do I think to unplug my laptop and use it's battery power so I don't accidently blow it up? Oh no, of course not. God I suck.
It's unplugged now, which also means my battery will be nearly dead by morning. But I'm telling you, this is good stupid shit that just had to be shared. Want to hear any more stupidity? Just give me a topic and I'm sure I can come up with an equally idiotic anecdote. Like for instance not relabeling the mailbox here at the apartment so that now I have not been receiving any mail here like for example a very important document my dad sent me three days ago. Sure, it's not my fault the post office is a big fat piece of shit for not asking or giving a notice or warning or JESUS WOW... that is a hell of a thunder bolt. Fucking wow. I feel like a four year old...I'm all ready to start cowering...dang third floor attic apartment with every window open, head just feet from the roof and the rain and the storm.
Hm, I guess the bonus of this blog entry is the idiotic babbling on top of the storytelling. Stellar. Well, enjoy your day. I hope it's much smarter than mine so far.
WELCOME! Yes, welcome to the first installment of "Tales of Incredible Idiocy!" Starring yours truly, Katie, the smartest woman in the world!!--her only problem is getting some of those smarts to leak out between her continual acts of utter stupidity!
Case in point: tonight. I had a great time at the Down and Above CD release party rocking out, pushing annoying moshers around, and buying their new CD and a sweet band T-shirt. Came home, ready to relax and go to bed. Up to that point everything was pretty good and pretty smart.
Later this evening...I decide it's a good idea to pick up the book I started at 2am this morning couldn't put down til 4am (112 pages later) once more, just to read a few more chapters. Right, like that was going to happen. So I finished the book 15 minutes ago. Not exactly smart since it means not getting a full night's sleep without sleeping into the afternoon when I want to get things done. Think that's dumb? Oh just you wait.
Of course last night I had issues trying to sleep having read in bed and then having hundreds of thoughts flowing through my head. I didn't sleep until almost 6am. Not cool. Think I would remember not to do it again tonight? Oh no. I knew I wouldn't fall asleep right away tonight, but I turned to my alarm clock to set it for tomorrow, turn off my lamp, and try to sleep anyway. Who knows, I MAY have been successful if it weren't for the SHOCK I felt when I touched my alarm clock to find that I HAD MELTED IT!!! I MELTED MY ALARM CLOCK!!!!
My lamp is one of those desk lamps that has a conical metal shade. I'm sure the bulb I have in there is the maximum wattage you can have, perhaps more. But I never had a problem with it. But then I never before leaned my lamp two inches away from the top of my alarm clock for 4 hours either. Fucking stupid, eh? Oh, but you think it ends there?
Considering that I had read for a good two hours yesterday, with the lamp in roughly the same position, I bet you anything that the clock was already starting to melt last night and I didn't notice it. How could I NOT NOTICE A SICKLY WARPED ALARM CLOCK?!! The poor thing...the clock still works, and I could probably turn on the alarm. But the buttons for setting the time are melted into plastic puddles forever connected to the framework of the alarm clock--never to be pressed again. Dumbass.
Frustrated, I get up out of bed and retreat to the sanctuary of my laptop and this blog. Venting seems reasonable enough, doesn't it? Not TOO dumb. Oh sure...but five minutes into blogging, I start remembering that it is STORMING OUTSIDE! I've only been listening to the thunder rumble and watching the lightning patterns for a good half hour or more. But do I think to unplug my laptop and use it's battery power so I don't accidently blow it up? Oh no, of course not. God I suck.
It's unplugged now, which also means my battery will be nearly dead by morning. But I'm telling you, this is good stupid shit that just had to be shared. Want to hear any more stupidity? Just give me a topic and I'm sure I can come up with an equally idiotic anecdote. Like for instance not relabeling the mailbox here at the apartment so that now I have not been receiving any mail here like for example a very important document my dad sent me three days ago. Sure, it's not my fault the post office is a big fat piece of shit for not asking or giving a notice or warning or JESUS WOW... that is a hell of a thunder bolt. Fucking wow. I feel like a four year old...I'm all ready to start cowering...dang third floor attic apartment with every window open, head just feet from the roof and the rain and the storm.
Hm, I guess the bonus of this blog entry is the idiotic babbling on top of the storytelling. Stellar. Well, enjoy your day. I hope it's much smarter than mine so far.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
We're a dick, we're addicted to BG2
Yesterday Tricia and I began a quest. A quest that shall not meet its end until all manner of beasts are slain, all treasure is hoarded, and all boxes and pots are broken.
When not playing Baldur's Gate 2, like today, I've actually been QUITE productive. Since rolling out of bed this morning at 10:30am (after receiving a call from the district I had the interview with last Monday telling me that they are STILL in the selection process which means I have to be patient), I temporarily became a "stereotypical housewife." Yes, I cleaned and organized the heck out of the apartment.
Laundry washed and dried. Dishes cleaned and put away. Sink and countertops washed. All carpeting vacuumed. Tupperware containers organized. Bedroom furniture reorganized. And mail brought in.
On top of the housework, I finally installed MS Office 2000 on my laptop so I no longer have to deal with WordPerfect and all of its infinite shittiness. That meant reworking my resume and generic cover letter, which need a bit of revamping anyway.
I declare today a VICTORY for productivity. Laziness? Defeated!
(P.S. Did they take "Defeat You" off the web? Cuz I can no longer find it. Anyone have a copy?)
Yesterday Tricia and I began a quest. A quest that shall not meet its end until all manner of beasts are slain, all treasure is hoarded, and all boxes and pots are broken.
When not playing Baldur's Gate 2, like today, I've actually been QUITE productive. Since rolling out of bed this morning at 10:30am (after receiving a call from the district I had the interview with last Monday telling me that they are STILL in the selection process which means I have to be patient), I temporarily became a "stereotypical housewife." Yes, I cleaned and organized the heck out of the apartment.
Laundry washed and dried. Dishes cleaned and put away. Sink and countertops washed. All carpeting vacuumed. Tupperware containers organized. Bedroom furniture reorganized. And mail brought in.
On top of the housework, I finally installed MS Office 2000 on my laptop so I no longer have to deal with WordPerfect and all of its infinite shittiness. That meant reworking my resume and generic cover letter, which need a bit of revamping anyway.
I declare today a VICTORY for productivity. Laziness? Defeated!
(P.S. Did they take "Defeat You" off the web? Cuz I can no longer find it. Anyone have a copy?)
Monday, August 16, 2004
Throw the grad a party? Or throw the grad?
Like Tricia said, this weekend was ultra busy, filled with appointments, friends, parties, and plenty of pictures of me soaking wet. How did I get wet? I'll tell you.
My grad party. Awesome time, great group of friends and family there. My dad's cousin Kevin who is a priest in Chicago came up to visit for the weekend. My friend Liz from high school drove over three hours just to come to my party for a few hours and drive right back home--I hadn't seen her for a year so it was friggen sweet of her to come visit. Some other nice friends and family arrived, as did my brothers, their wives, and little Matthew. Couldn't really ask for a better turn out, except if maybe I had planned a bit more ahead some more friends could come.
Anyway, back to the wetness. A couple hours into the party, I walked up to some of my friends and they told me that I really should put my swimsuit on NOW. Apparently they overheard my dad, brother, and cousin plotting to throw the grad into the pool. Well, I figured it would be just like one of the many many other threats I have had over the years--just a way of convincing me to go in the pool. I didn't think much of it as I asked my friends if they would go swimming with me. I had just arranged getting a swimsuit for Tricia who had forgotten hers, and was thinking of heading in the house to get one for her and for myself....when I was suddenly surrounded.
My brother Scott grabbed me and picked me up over his shoulder. My dad go the pool door open and helped grab my legs to make sure I didn't struggle too much. Meanwhile, my friends fought valiantly to set me free from this form of family bonding. But their combined strength just wasn't enough to stop the inevitable. Besides, I think they secretly may have enjoyed the idea of seeing their friend thrown in her own pool.
Just before the "1, 2, 3" I managed a few requests: took off my watch, necklace and my nice outer button down shirt and then WHOOM! SPLOOSH! Into the water. Thankfully, the pool's solar heater made the temperature of the water barely tolerable. It was only after my upper body resurfaced that I realized maybe just wearing the white tanktop...braless...wasn't the best choice. I'm pretty sure I manged to cross my arms over my chest before the tell tale clicking of cameras occurred. Guess I'll find out soon enough.
Despite the fact I had to change, and to rewash my freshly cleaned khakis, and vainly attempt to salvage my drowned-rat hair, I actually didn't mind being throw in too badly. I changed into my bikini, grabbed my friends, and we all relaxed in the pool for a while anyway. And it will give me something to remember. PLUS, a great excuse to get back at my dad and brother someday. MWA HA HA HA HA!
Like Tricia said, this weekend was ultra busy, filled with appointments, friends, parties, and plenty of pictures of me soaking wet. How did I get wet? I'll tell you.
My grad party. Awesome time, great group of friends and family there. My dad's cousin Kevin who is a priest in Chicago came up to visit for the weekend. My friend Liz from high school drove over three hours just to come to my party for a few hours and drive right back home--I hadn't seen her for a year so it was friggen sweet of her to come visit. Some other nice friends and family arrived, as did my brothers, their wives, and little Matthew. Couldn't really ask for a better turn out, except if maybe I had planned a bit more ahead some more friends could come.
Anyway, back to the wetness. A couple hours into the party, I walked up to some of my friends and they told me that I really should put my swimsuit on NOW. Apparently they overheard my dad, brother, and cousin plotting to throw the grad into the pool. Well, I figured it would be just like one of the many many other threats I have had over the years--just a way of convincing me to go in the pool. I didn't think much of it as I asked my friends if they would go swimming with me. I had just arranged getting a swimsuit for Tricia who had forgotten hers, and was thinking of heading in the house to get one for her and for myself....when I was suddenly surrounded.
My brother Scott grabbed me and picked me up over his shoulder. My dad go the pool door open and helped grab my legs to make sure I didn't struggle too much. Meanwhile, my friends fought valiantly to set me free from this form of family bonding. But their combined strength just wasn't enough to stop the inevitable. Besides, I think they secretly may have enjoyed the idea of seeing their friend thrown in her own pool.
Just before the "1, 2, 3" I managed a few requests: took off my watch, necklace and my nice outer button down shirt and then WHOOM! SPLOOSH! Into the water. Thankfully, the pool's solar heater made the temperature of the water barely tolerable. It was only after my upper body resurfaced that I realized maybe just wearing the white tanktop...braless...wasn't the best choice. I'm pretty sure I manged to cross my arms over my chest before the tell tale clicking of cameras occurred. Guess I'll find out soon enough.
Despite the fact I had to change, and to rewash my freshly cleaned khakis, and vainly attempt to salvage my drowned-rat hair, I actually didn't mind being throw in too badly. I changed into my bikini, grabbed my friends, and we all relaxed in the pool for a while anyway. And it will give me something to remember. PLUS, a great excuse to get back at my dad and brother someday. MWA HA HA HA HA!
Thursday, August 12, 2004
"I've been waiting a long time for this moment to come, I'm destined for anything at all"
Lyrics from such a great Green Day song, and so very true for me right now. Seeing as how I didn't get a call about my interview on Monday yet today, I should be hearing from them tomorrow. They said they'd call no matter whether it was "yes" or "no." Nice that a district actually goes through the trouble of doing that. It was a rather unpleasant surprise to discover just how many districts don't bother calling at all. The least they could do is email (which is FREE and they could do a MASS MAILING) but no, that would take too much effort when they're busy prepping their new pride and joy teacher. No bitterness there.
Like Jenny says, enough griping about job issues. With no concrete plans for full time employment on the horizon, I've scheduled a plethora of orientation appointments at surrounding school districts for substitute teaching. Can't say I'm thrilled at the prospect of undependable work hours and classrooms full of apathetic students (you know how it was to be a student with a sub teaching). However, I need the experience to boost my resume, and it's something that I can sign up for instead of going through more grilling interviews.
And like any good unemployed college graduate, I'm here in my wonderful new and virtually completely set up room, trying in vain to prevent myself from snacking on everything in sight, and still managing to find a few moments between addictions to Mah Jong to do some much needed dusting of my window and other furniture. Things aren't so bad. AND my grad party will include a very fine assortment of friends who I am VERY excited to see. Now if only the weather would cooperate so that the pool won't give us cases of hypothermia.
Lyrics from such a great Green Day song, and so very true for me right now. Seeing as how I didn't get a call about my interview on Monday yet today, I should be hearing from them tomorrow. They said they'd call no matter whether it was "yes" or "no." Nice that a district actually goes through the trouble of doing that. It was a rather unpleasant surprise to discover just how many districts don't bother calling at all. The least they could do is email (which is FREE and they could do a MASS MAILING) but no, that would take too much effort when they're busy prepping their new pride and joy teacher. No bitterness there.
Like Jenny says, enough griping about job issues. With no concrete plans for full time employment on the horizon, I've scheduled a plethora of orientation appointments at surrounding school districts for substitute teaching. Can't say I'm thrilled at the prospect of undependable work hours and classrooms full of apathetic students (you know how it was to be a student with a sub teaching). However, I need the experience to boost my resume, and it's something that I can sign up for instead of going through more grilling interviews.
And like any good unemployed college graduate, I'm here in my wonderful new and virtually completely set up room, trying in vain to prevent myself from snacking on everything in sight, and still managing to find a few moments between addictions to Mah Jong to do some much needed dusting of my window and other furniture. Things aren't so bad. AND my grad party will include a very fine assortment of friends who I am VERY excited to see. Now if only the weather would cooperate so that the pool won't give us cases of hypothermia.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Movin' right along, we're truly birds of a feather
She's arrived! After a week or so of slowly packing a few boxes, delivering a few boxes, day by day, I finally got off my ass and with the help of fan-skippin-tastic friends MOVED IN to my new place with Tricia.
And no, against what some would believe (hope) this doesn't mean I'm forsaking Chris and playing for the other team. It means I'm FINALLY living in a place I will likely be living in for more than just a few months. I can FINALLY settle in. And I can FINALLY hang up some pictures. And best of all, it means I get to live with one of my best friends. :)
Bleah...it also means I have to actually get up from behind the computer and start arranging my room. Right now it's hard to tell if I'm moving out or in; everything's still in boxes, crates, baskets, you name it and it's inaccessible. I suppose it's good then that I buried my bed, since I will then have to put away a few items before I crash tonight. At least my computer's all set to go--having a laptop is great that way. Well, time to start the project that likely won't end until the weekend...and even that is questionable.
She's arrived! After a week or so of slowly packing a few boxes, delivering a few boxes, day by day, I finally got off my ass and with the help of fan-skippin-tastic friends MOVED IN to my new place with Tricia.
And no, against what some would believe (hope) this doesn't mean I'm forsaking Chris and playing for the other team. It means I'm FINALLY living in a place I will likely be living in for more than just a few months. I can FINALLY settle in. And I can FINALLY hang up some pictures. And best of all, it means I get to live with one of my best friends. :)
Bleah...it also means I have to actually get up from behind the computer and start arranging my room. Right now it's hard to tell if I'm moving out or in; everything's still in boxes, crates, baskets, you name it and it's inaccessible. I suppose it's good then that I buried my bed, since I will then have to put away a few items before I crash tonight. At least my computer's all set to go--having a laptop is great that way. Well, time to start the project that likely won't end until the weekend...and even that is questionable.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
News from the front...and the back
The weekend at home was all it should have been. The only thing missing was a visit with Mary, and a bit more time with my brother Chris. Otherwise, it was a full three days of friends, family, and a friggen load of fattening foods.
Now that I'm back, it's time for hauling my shite from here to Tricia's joint, and I can tell you that it's going to take a while. Don't get me wrong, I'm very much looking forward to the the move and finally feeling completely settled into The Cities.
But there are a few things I'm going to miss:
1) A queen size bed to sprawl out in (much to the dismay of my bedfellow) and to share (much to the mutual satisfaction of both parties).
2) Having a bedroom AND a room for work, wardrobe and miscellaneous objects.
3) The myriad hooks that the former resident of my room decided to strew about the walls of the room. Honestly, how many hooks does a person need?
4) A bookshelf FULL of DVD's and VHS tapes sporting such classics as The Blob, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, and gagillion more movies ranging from the obsurdly obscure to the best movies of all time.
But like all things, there's also a backside...other side...of the story.
There are things I will NOT miss:
1) Mice. Enough said.
2) Seeing a roommate's ass 3 more times than I ever wanted to.
3) Using a kitchen from the 1940's that has NEVER been updated. No countertops, barely any "cupboard" space (if you can call a few shelves "cupboards"), and any food below the 5 feet mark can be fair game for the mice. Did I mention I won't miss the mice?
Naturally, there are pluses and minuses to every living space and every roommate arrangement. It will be awesome finally being able to live with one of my best friends, and it will be sad moving 12 minutes away from my boyfriend (made more difficult by his lack of a transportation device). But put into perspective, I should just be damn happy that I'M HERE in the Twin Cities, where I've wanted to be for years with people I care very much about. I miss my family and my friends randomly located througout WI, but this is the place I need to be for now.
Time to take things one lease at a time ;)
The weekend at home was all it should have been. The only thing missing was a visit with Mary, and a bit more time with my brother Chris. Otherwise, it was a full three days of friends, family, and a friggen load of fattening foods.
Now that I'm back, it's time for hauling my shite from here to Tricia's joint, and I can tell you that it's going to take a while. Don't get me wrong, I'm very much looking forward to the the move and finally feeling completely settled into The Cities.
But there are a few things I'm going to miss:
1) A queen size bed to sprawl out in (much to the dismay of my bedfellow) and to share (much to the mutual satisfaction of both parties).
2) Having a bedroom AND a room for work, wardrobe and miscellaneous objects.
3) The myriad hooks that the former resident of my room decided to strew about the walls of the room. Honestly, how many hooks does a person need?
4) A bookshelf FULL of DVD's and VHS tapes sporting such classics as The Blob, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, and gagillion more movies ranging from the obsurdly obscure to the best movies of all time.
But like all things, there's also a backside...other side...of the story.
There are things I will NOT miss:
1) Mice. Enough said.
2) Seeing a roommate's ass 3 more times than I ever wanted to.
3) Using a kitchen from the 1940's that has NEVER been updated. No countertops, barely any "cupboard" space (if you can call a few shelves "cupboards"), and any food below the 5 feet mark can be fair game for the mice. Did I mention I won't miss the mice?
Naturally, there are pluses and minuses to every living space and every roommate arrangement. It will be awesome finally being able to live with one of my best friends, and it will be sad moving 12 minutes away from my boyfriend (made more difficult by his lack of a transportation device). But put into perspective, I should just be damn happy that I'M HERE in the Twin Cities, where I've wanted to be for years with people I care very much about. I miss my family and my friends randomly located througout WI, but this is the place I need to be for now.
Time to take things one lease at a time ;)
