Ninja: Recovered

I was home for the holidays and survived. There were many opportunities for death and insanity this week, but somehow, I careened past the path of utter destruction and have made it safely back to my newer home. What were some of those pearls of peril?

1. Downhill skiing for the first time in my life. Really, it was more like me trying in vain to stay off my ass for more than two minutes, but hey, cross country has always been more my style. Or more accurately: I'm a wuss. Perhaps I will return to the hills yet this season. And maybe I'll run into my two instructors whose summative age would make them my peer.

2. A mouse who won't die. I set up traps, complete with a decoy granola bar in a box next to a peanut butter laden trap, but the thing just won't kill itself. Stupid smart mouse. I think our mouse has a strong sense of mortality, much like myself (except that my danger senses are overcome by peanut butter and chocolately goodness any day).

3. My parents' living room stuffed to the brim with wrapped boxes, three generations, and three dogs (one, the size of a rat, and two that were surprisingly not overweight by some strange miracle). I'm perplexed that we escaped that torture room with only a spilled beer casualty. Oh yeah, and it'll be bigger next year with Jennifer expecting her first little one sometime next summer. ::sigh:: What's with the profusion of procreation? That is one fad I'll be happy to avoid...for a long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, LONG time.

4. The emotionally gripping meeting of my ancient computer with my trendy laptop. I think my 1999 Compaq sabotaged my stripping of its files due to jealousy of my new younger and much slimmer companion. It decided that a pen drive is WAY too complicated to open and forced me to send files by email instead (after a frustrating ordeal trying to rearrange my dad's cables that WERE fine the last time I fixed them). Of course, that meant that I only sent about six mp3 files due to the escruciatingly slow process of uploading the files into email. On the bright side: "Ninja of the Night" has returned! Try looking for it online sometime...NOT THERE anymore, so thank god for an old evil computer that still has some good in it; I knew it to be true. Now if only I could find defeatyou.com. ::sigh:: Some things just remain lost.

5. Hauling all of our shit up to the third floor. I tell you, after Christmas shopping did not help our cause. My car was full, although I'm certain we could have stuffed more in if we put everything into those vacuum airtight storage bags that seem so handy in those 2am infomercials. Next time everything on my list will be smaller than my head and I will only bring what I am wearing. If it means sleeping naked and wearing a t-shirt and jeans to mass, so be it.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Week

And when is that? Why, Thursday night, just 17 hours away from a much-needed winter break that will last and last. How long is this work-free time period? 2 Weeks! Yes, two weeks of splendiferous late mornings and adolescentless days. (You may ask why I make up words, and I can tell you the answer. I'm an English teacher; I have a license to change the completely irrational "laws" of the English language at will. Like my students would realize the difference anyway.)

Tonight I spent an hour and a half looking for supplies for my teaching "lesson" tomorrow. Let's face it. Tomorrow is going to be hell on earth with kids flying everywhere in an attempt to escape through 2nd floor windows, cracks in the wall, vents in the heater, between tiles in the ceiling--anywhere they could possibly squeeze through to escape the last day of class before a long vacation. They will be hyped on sugar. They will be asking repeatedly, "Can we have a party? Can we have a party?" And just when you think it will be okay, "Can we have a party?" There will not be a moment of peace even during my hour prep period. I can feel the tension seeping into my shoulders already.

Hence, my "lesson" for tomorrow. Here are the details:
Step #1: Take attendance.

Step #2: Spend a good 5 minutes explaining the plan for the day in an attempt to kill time.

Step #3: Have the kids create hand-made cards to give to friends and relatives for the holidays using newly bought construction paper, confetti, glue, magazine clippings, and various other objects they may find on the floor in the classroom.

Step #4: While students are working, hand out old papers, including the recent test they took so that they can make needed corrections.

Step #5: Hope that all hell doesn't break loose while students are using scissors, glue, and listening to Manheim Steamroller's Christmas.

Step #6: Surprise them all with a special holiday gift of a pencil, pen, and peppermint candycane tied together with a piece of difficult-to-find curling ribbon for each and every one of my seventy students (all of which I will put together tomorrow morning before school starts).

Step #7: Thank my lucky stars they are gone for the day, the week, and the rest of the year.

Damn, I am way too good to my students. They should worship me. Really, they should.

A Scent of Accomplishment

So, aside from some sweaty visits to the gym, I have another goal completed: Tricia and I finally finished our game tonight. I think the only challenge about the last battle, or any of it really, was to our patience. It wasn't exactly a bundle of excitement. Granted, it is designed with kids in mind, but I mean, really, aren't these kids better at video games than we are? Still, for $20, it had its moments.

I was going to write more, but well, I think my brain is fried like my old hard drive. ::sigh:: I miss you, Old C.

Oohh, and here's a piece of the past: an new, very abbreviated edition of KRAP (Katie's Random Advice Post).

KRAP: On Stopping at an Intersection

One should probably find out whether one has a car with ABS before driving on icy roads.

The Day After Thanksgiving

What a crazy day. Up at 4am to join the throng of ravenous shoppers packed like salty, sweaty sardines at the local mall? I don't think so. I have a will to live; a will to live sanely...and lazily. Because that's what Thanksgiving is all about: eating a lot of food and then doing nothing for the rest of the long weekend.

Okay, so I'm doing SOMETHING by cleaning up and organizing the apartment. But have I set one foot out of here since last night? Nope, and it's lovely. The snow has been lightly falling since way before we woke up at the crack of noon, which means plenty of shoveling tonight. Maybe we'll think of leaving to bring the mail to the box a couple blocks away sometime before 4pm. I'm SO not sorry I didn't go to GB this weekend. I'd have been driving in snow and arriving there just to leave two days later, probably to have missed all Thanksgiving except the leftovers.

Besides, I just saw my parents a couple weekends ago when they carpooled with Tricia's parents to visit us. That was pretty sweet. I'm getting downright spoiled. My parents have visited twice in the last six months--that's unprecidented since I moved west (even to college in EC). Highlights from the visit?

*Fresh deli sandwiches from the best deli in town: Neson's Cheese Factory and Deli.

*Walking to the Como Park Conservatory and Zoo to see myriad flora and fauna. Various flora and fauna shown below:

*Cooking up a storm with Tricia to create a meal made in heaven for our parents. First course: summer sausage, cheddar cheese, various crackers, and plenty of beverages. Second course: tortellini soup with saltine crackers. Third course: homemade chicken pot pie with hot rolls on the side. Final course: "tunnel of fudge" bunt cake (more like pure fudge brownie that only looks like a cake) topped with real whipped cream.

*Playing my newest favorite card game called "I Goofed" with the whole gang.

*Swimming and relaxing at the Holiday Inn...the hot tub was soooo nice and hot.

*Shopping at the gigantic and over-zealously modernized and decorated Menards.

*Double-deckeroni pizza at Old Chicago. Who would have thought hot sauce was the ultimate pizza topping?

And now, two weeks later, Chris and I are contemplating our next household enterprise. Put up the plastic window coverings or clean so we can put up the Christmas tree? Or just futz around like we've been doing the last couple hours? Hm...tough choice.

Home Alone: The Near-Empty Apartment

With Tricia house/dog-sitting this weekend, and Chris off in Kansas city until sometime this evening, I've had the majority of this house all to myself all weekend long. Not to say our downstairs neighbor is "Nobody" like so many Odysseus's...but he isn't exactly someone I feel like hanging out with except on special occassions, ie our Halloween House party. Hm, speaking of, I do have a few pics I could share. Let's see...

When the mime saw the geeky math teacher, she couldn't help but exclaim, "...!" You would think the mime would be more freaked out by Mr. Wonka and the lamp. Mostly, I'm curious as to where he connected his power cord.


Ah, an advertising dream: After years of heavy competition, Ketchup and Mustard hook up. "I love your smooth yellow bottle." "Not as much as I love your hot red bottle. " Whew! Someone turn off the lamp and give these two some privacy.


Who knew that Willy was a blues guitarist? Or is that a blue guitarist? Either way, there was no lack of entertainment, or candy.


Coach Lee of Burnsville says, "Personal foul, Kagome, for wearing a short skirt that somehow never EVER blows upwards despite being involved in numerous intensive battles, torrential winds, and plummets from impossible heights." Tricia's secret? Skort.


I, Kikyo, have decided that my reincarnation, Kagome, can have my ex-boyfriend Inuyasha and the wonders of Japan's Feudal Era. "Why deal with a stubborn half-demon and nasty monsters when I can have a pro golfer and indoor plumbing?"


I know what this stunning Egyptian queen was thinking, "My husband may be dead now, but wait til he wakes up when I unwrap him after the party."


Fox 9 Investigative Reporting: What fairies and angels do behind closed doors....SLUMBER PARTIES!

Return of the Journalist

So it's been a while. My computer is back to "normal" thanks to campus computer services and about $180...sadly almost 1/5 the price of this hunk of plastic. My students are testing this week which means our schedule is fucked up for two more days. My weight has stayed the same damn poundage thanks to Halloween candy and minimal Y time. My family is doing well and my bro Scott and Jennifer visited this weekend to see Cirque du Soleil: Corteo. My friend Liz has picked out her wedding dress and we've been fitted for bridesmaid dresses.

In other words, MY life and everything in it is pretty much "normal" too at this point. The most thrilling moment in the last week? Using my power drill to screw two pictures on the wall. I could get used to power tools.

Best Bitch

Okay, so I did fall off the face of the earth for a while. Then I chucked a grappling hook upwards and climbed my way back up. Why have I been gone? Truth is, I haven't gone; my computer has. It was at Best Buy for almost 3 weeks. Did they fix it? No. Did they call me to tell me what was wrong with it? No. I called them, I went there, I bitched. End result? I have a diagnosis that the hard drive is fucked up and I need a new one. Best Buy doesn't sell any, but they can order one, to which I replied with an affirmative "Fuck no." On the bright side, my bitching meant a FULL REFUND. Damn straight.

So there my computer sits by my desk, unused and abused by the shitty Best Buy Geek Squad. And they asked on their survey if they should add capes to their uniform? Hell no. That's what SUPERHEROES wear. For one thing, they are as far from uber as humanly possible. Secondly, heroes typically HELP people...when they're not fornicating with various creatures or leaving their wives. (I'm reading too much Greek mythology).

Consequently, the only online access I've been using is at school, and blogging just isn't top on my priorities when I'm spending hours there arranging lesson plans or bureaucratic bullshit. At the moment, I'm borrowing Tricia's computer during one of the moments she's not having to work on a homework assignment, I'm actually home, and we're not watching Inuyasha or playing the PS2. Oh yeah, and I'm sick. Any questions?

Let's hear it for the girl!

On this day in history, a stupendous young woman was born in a quiet city in Wisconsin. Twenty-five years later, we celebrate her entrance into the world by means of a fabulous group dinner at Olive Garden and entertaining party back at her cozy abode. So, raise up your voices in a joyful chorus, shouting for all the earth to hear:

"HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY, TRICIA!"

I want to stay inside

Seriously. It sucks outside. It's hot, humid, and about one degree hotter out there than it is inside our apartment. That ONE degree is enough reason for me to have barely ventured into the out-of-doors the past couple days. Geez...tomorrow's already Monday...and Sept. 12...shit, we're almost halfway through September. Time is cruising past my window with no sign of slamming the breaks or even coasting.

Last week I began my first official FULL TIME JOB. And I have to say overall: it rocked. Naturally there are kids that are pains in the ass, but for the most part, they're a bunch of good kids I won't mind teaching for a year or two. The only kicker is that I have to make some adjustments for some special ed and ELL students. I found some materials that I think will help, including a history book written in Spanish, so that one of the students has a supplement to her class materials. And I'll find more materials on the internet eventually that will hopefully help fill the gap.

Anyway, another reason I haven't blogged much is because my computer has been really fucked up lately. It will work for a while and then suddenly crash for no apparent reason. It's running a bit slow, but I haven't lost any files and the virus scanner hasn't come up with any hits either. If it keeps on being a bitch, I'm going to wipe the thing and then put the programs back on ever-so-carefully. That's about it for now. I'll try to be more interesting later, but for now I've got to finish dinner and prepare for the new Simpsons and Family Guy episodes. Rock.

Algoma's Shanty Days Highlights...I guess



Note to self: next time WE pick the campsite. No more sleeping on a 15 degree incline. But at least we did "rough it" by camping and then biking into town. Maybe next time we'll try it for more than 24 hours.

Yes, I did dress like my mother for the occassion complete with a lighthouse printed T-shirt and nearly matching printed jean shirt. It helped me blend into the shore town fashion.

Can you guess what interest group may own this float? Subtle, hm?

I'd really love to see a sand castle as tall as the Algoma signature water tower.

I WANT this bike.

As a Nam vet, my dad didn't like this "float," but I thought it was original and beautiful. It stood out from all the rest.

Hey...are those real?

I really liked this Nemo float.

I am more than just a street sewer

The interesting things people say while half-asleep. So this last weekend Chris and I went to WI to see my family and attend Shanty Days in the bustling town of Algoma. Okay, so there's nothing doing any sort of hustle or bustle in that little lake town that has actually decreased in population since my mother lived there. But for this one weekend of the year, the city really shows its shine...or spit and polish.

We had an early morning drive to my parents' campsite outside the town, and then rode bikes on a trail to join together in the festivities with some relatives at my aunt's house. There was a 1.5 hour long parade with all the fixin's, a bazaar of craft booths, a flea market, and a special sectioned off pay-to-get-in portion filled with many unhealthy foods and noise pollution bands. During the day we watched the parade, ate a potluck lunch, bought some crafty junk, walked the pier, and took a tour of my family's historical landmarks.

That evening we crashed in our tent for a slanted nap...our tent was on a hill so we had the "fortunate" opportunity to sleep on a 15 degree incline. After literally rolling out of bed, we went with my parents to the critically acclaimed Pizza Bowl for some very slow but very tasty pizza. Then it was time to break off from the fam and go for a romantic stroll along the boardwalk until we found a good spot on the beach to make out. It was so cliche, I had a hard time taking myself seriously. But it was fun, despite the smell of Lake Michigan.

So all in all, a fabulous, if busy weekend. I miss camping. I used to do it a few times a year when I was younger and in Girl Scouts. I think the campfire is my favorite part--what can I say: I'm a pyro in responsible clothing. Anyone want to light my fire and go camping sometime this fall?

Addicted to Maple Sugar...I mean, Story

Jenni introduced me to this online RPG on her blog a while back, and it took me a while to finally download and try it out. I did a couple days ago and...have played it for hours. I know it's fairly childish and silly for an RPG, but it has basically no loading time, you play with people all around the world, and the animationn is amusing. It's like an easier, very cartoon version of WOW, and the best part is: IT'S FREE!

The plan was to play with Jenni sometime, organizing a party and playing together. Problem is, I can't seem to get a hold of her to organize. So, I've been playing on my own, talking to new people now and then. But I wouldn't mind some company. Any body interested? I'm off to GB this weekend for some fun and camping in DC, but I'm here today and back next week. Just drop an email or send an IM and I'll tell you my character's name so we can hook up and have some fun ;)

Photographic Memories of the Southeast Corner



On my adventure to the "Southeast Corner," seeing Mandy in Madison was first. There was food, there was drink, and before I left there was...a free makeover. This is before.

After our makeup makeover. All of this just to go to Milwaukee?

Then it was on to Milwaukee to visit an OLD friend, Justin, who ended up being a very enthusiastic tour guide for the city. He was so good, I might actually now think that there is something in Milwaukee other than lots of cars, conventions, crime, and beer.

This art museum in Milwaukee is stellar. I still can't figure out if it reminds me more of a ship, a whale, or a stingray. Every angle gives it a different presentation.

The Milwaukee skyline in all its glory.

I couldn't tell you if this is an old water tower, an old lighthouse, or just some old meaningless structure. Feel free to use your imagination and come up with your own suggestions of its former use.

I took this picture for Sean and his Cold Press Rad Racers fetish. You can't get much more girly than this, aside from the couple bikes outside this picture that have pretty baskets on the front.

Liz and I walked for hours around Chicago, passed by dozens of interesting landmarks, and even visited my cousin. How many pictures do I have of Chicago? One. But the smile on Liz's face just says it all, doesn't it? What a great trip...I think I'll go back there, and soon.

baaaahm, baaahm, BAAAHM, BAH BAHM!

(Dahn, dahn, dahn, dahn, dahn, dahn, dahn, dahn, dahn, dahn, daaahn)

Only a rendition of "Also Sprach Zarathustra" can really show my excitement.

I have a job. Not just any job. THE job. A full time job with great benefits. A full time job with benefits within the same city. A full time job with benefits in my city teaching my favorite age group, 7th and 8th graders. A full time job with benefits in my city teaching 7th and 8th graders from my classroom that overlooks a beautiful, peaceful lake. A full time job with benefits in my city teaching 7th and 8th graders in a lakeside classroom at a school with a super friendly staff that is going to make me feel really welcome. A full time job with benefits in my city teaching 7th and 8th graders in a lakeside classroom at a school with friendly staff that is going to help pay towards my masters degree after I put in a year of teaching there.

In short: I have my dream job. Excited? Ecstatic.

The Show is Over, Folks

Okay, so I didn't win the showdown for the job on Friday. Still, I can take solace in the fact that I was the running competition for someone who had 7 years experience and a masters degree. Apparently I must have gained some interviewing skills somewhere along the line that sometimes decide to show themselves in a beautiful performance. They said they were "very impressed" by me and they are certain that another school will "snatch me up" as soon as they can. No hard feelings with the school that didn't hire me, and I think I'll look in that same district in the future--the neighborhood is beautiful.

Despite the downer of that particular rejection (and another one earlier that day by a school I really didn't give a rat's ass about), I am feeling good about the upcoming school year. Some jobs are still popping up in the search engines, and there are four schools that still need to get back to me about the positions for which I applied and interviewed during the past month. Some schools are excrutiatingly slow at making a decision. My fat dog could probably make a better and faster decision. I've seen him growl at people he doesn't trust, and throw himself upon people he does like so they are helplessly pinned below him and eventually resolve to just pet him. He would be especially productive if he were given food as a reward like some of the interviewers seem to be. Seriously, I've seen spreads of danishes, cheeses, coffee and juices laid out like a miniature buffet to the side of the table where the interviewers enjoy yet another delicacy: grilled candidate.

The Final Showdown

I am "this" close to having a full time job for the fall. Tomorrow morning at 8am, I have a final interview with one of the schools. Why another interview? They called me today saying they were very impressed with me yesterday, and they're having a very difficult time deciding between me and one other candidate. Tomorrow is their deadline for choosing someone for the position, so at 8am sharp I will be meeting with a few more people and they will finish scrutinizing my charm and abilities. It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.

Earlier today, I had an interview at Jenny's alma mater that went frightfully shitty. On top of that, the school was in such disarray, that I didn't find anyone to help direct me to the committee until I had already stood around for 5 minutes. Combine that with a bad hair day and crappy traffic, and I was not in the most organized mood for an interview, especially one in such a tragic looking room. It had an oversized table, big black chairs, and dim flourescent lighting. The three women interviewers were all at least 30, and had severe looks on their well maintained faces. They barely cracked a smile all through the process, only admitting a slight giggle when I mentioned something about dealing with difficult students or tried throwing in a humorous anecdote about my writing. Everything I said just made me feel less qualified and more like a foolish school girl still trying to find a job. I felt like I was being slowly grilled and fried by their penetrating laser eyes...

"I've got laser eyes! And I know what you're thinking! It comes as no surprise! Christmas lights are blinking! And I'm so curious and I'm so curious and I'm so curious! Cuz I've got laser eyes!" Sifl n Olly...I loved that show.

Crappy interview followed by near job aquisition. I suppose it balances out. Only minor annoyance is that I'll have to pack up for the weekend, dress up for the interview, have the interview, and THEN drive to the "Southeast Corner" to visit peeps in Madtown, Chitown, and Mil-le-wa-kee

Wayne Campbell: So, do you come to Milwaukee often?
Alice Cooper: Well, I'm a regular visitor here, but Milwaukee has certainly had its share of visitors. The French missionaries and explorers began visiting here in the late 16th century. Pete: Hey, isn't "Milwaukee" an Indian name?
Alice Cooper: Yes, Pete, it is. In fact , it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin for "the good land."
Wayne Campbell: I was not aware of that.

It's going to be a busy-ass weekend. But fun.

Because I have to embarrass Lee

A completely untrue but possible conversation from July 14th:

Us: Why are you all dressed up, Lee?
Lee: I'm French! Why do you think I have this outraaaageous acCENT?!"
Us: What are you doing with the food?



Lee: Mind your own business! I'm celebrating Bastille Day with wine, baguettes, brie, croissants, crepes and many many people of various cultural backgrounds. Go and boil your bottoms, you sons of a silly person!
Us: Is there someone else we can talk to?
Lee: No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time.

Congrats to Erin and Lance! Good food, fun dancing and lots of familiar faces to enjoy at the wedding and reception, as shown by our smiling faces. We may all be cute and coupled, but Tricia's tan with a plan, looking oh so fine as "Best Person."

Who would have guessed?

I should have known it would be so, when my interviewer said "Let's begin this interview with a prayer." As it turns out, I discovered at my interview at a Christian school today that I'm just not Christian enough. I know that must be a shocker to all of you out there, especially to my "spiritual reference." But sadly, it's true. I think I actually felt sorry for the administrator who interviewed me. Otherwise, I might have made comments about being happy for my homosexual friend who just got married, or mentioned how my live-in boyfriend and I had a great-fucking-margarita party the other night. That would have been fun.

But no, he was way too nice. He repeatedly told me that my credentials were fantastic for a beginning teacher, and it was only in the one area of my faith that there would be a challenge. He wouldn't even come right out and say, "Sorry, I don't think this job is for you." He just said it would be a "challenge" and then gave me pointers on other places to apply. I just couldn't resist telling the mostly true version of my position on spirituality. Probably a good thing too. He later went into describing how they teach evolution...as an "untrue theory" so that the students are prepared to argue why and how they believe in creationism. Sounds like a good place for me, eh? Right...

I haven't mentioned it in my blog, mostly because I've been mentioning (i.e. bitching about) it everywhere else, but as most of you know, I've been applying and interviewing for jobs all over the place. I have a lot more interviews this year than last year, but so far nothing at all has popped up. I keep searching as schools begin to get serious about planning their staff for the next year, but despite the many jobs out there, few are for English teachers, and there's a lot of us out there. However, I'm not going to give up on finding a full time job until the school bell rings on the first day. After that point, it will be subbing and grad school time for me...and maybe writing...something.

At last! He has turned to the dark side...mwa ha ha ha!

Knownst to me, but unbeknownst to some, Chris has finally taken my advice (and the goading of Lee) to heart and has created his own blog. I helped him get started, and now the rest is in his random, poetic, post rock inundated fingers. Whatever he ends up doing with his blog ought to be as intriguing as he is. So hats off to the new blogger and may others that visit blogs but have not one of their own follow his example and make one!

I really wish that our blazing hot apartment was as cool and refreshing as it was in this picture. I wonder if it's worth a trip up there just to jump in that waterfall...only problem would be the jagged rocks at the bottom...

Well, we survived

Tricia and I finished the race in relatively one piece, which is good. Her parents were there, and mine actually made the drive up there too. I was rather impressed and touched by my parents wanting to join us, especially since it meant that they had to wake up at 4:30am so that they could be in Egg Harbor just after 7:00am. What can I say? I'm their favorite child ;)

So we had a cheering section waiting for us at the finish line, and you'd be amazed what that will do for someone's initiative. I knew I would do okay, but I wasn't sure how fast I could keep it up. But I think I did myself proud. I ran less than 10 minute miles the whole way, which meant I finished the 3.1 mile race in 30 minutes 10 seconds. Sure, I was #324, but that's better than being #700. I'm not sure that many people did the RUN, but there were definitely at least that many people there total for the run/walk. It's amazing how much difference a couple minutes make, because Tricia's uncle beat both of us by coming in at 27 minutes which meant he was a whole hundred people ahead of me.

Still, our main goal was to try and get it done in less than 35 minutes, and we both succeeded! So yay for us! Now we're thinking about adding a race or two to our list. I mean, what motivation is it for the rest of the year if I know I can get back into running shape in just a couple months and the next Hairpin Race is a whole year away? I guess there's a nice wooded one up in Door Co. sometime in October, and there are TONS in the Twin Cities greater area, with a race every weekend SOMEWHERE in Minnesota. Oh, no worries. I won't be going hardcore health nut...I love food, movies, and video games too much. But I WILL try to keep up my running abilities so that if I had to, I could still run a 5K at the drop of a hat. I think that's a worthy enough goal. Although, Tricia and I DID think about trying to reach the next step of a 5 mile run. Hm...this could take a while.

Running, running, as fast as we can. Do you think we'll make it?

Now, "no doubt" we'll make it, but I doubt we'll be feeling like singing a song when we hit the finish line...at least not "We Are the Champions"....more like "I Will Survive"...maybe.

Notice how Tricia and I look like we're about to spring into action and hike a mountain? Well, we didn't quite do that last year at Penninsula State Park, but we did do some hiking up and down some hills and Eagle's Tower.

But that was soooo last year. What are we up to this year? Oh I'd say about a 5K. Monday, July 4th I will be running in my very first "race!" It's a walk/run up in Door County called The Hairpin Run because the first half is all up hill, and then you make a sharp U turn and go back. Tricia ran it last year, and she convinced me to try it this year. I've been doing some training, but I'm certain it will only be enough to JUST make it the approximate 3.1 miles while doing a moderate jog. Perhaps I'll get some burst of speed at the end, but that'll be like 15 minutes after the forerunners hit the finish line, have a bottle of Gatorade, order pizza, and take a cat nap.

So then they started calling

This last week I had two interviews. Next week I have three interviews. FINALLY! Last year I struggled to get any call backs at all. This time I actually have had calls the same day my resume arrived on their doorsteps. I can't help but be a little hopeful. However, I still have a lot of work to do when it comes to applying to the public schools. Their applications tend to be a lot longer and more of a pain in the ass than the private or charter schools. Maybe it's because they have better retirement packages, benefits, and pay. ::sigh:: Baby steps. Baby steps.

Tricia and Karin will attest: twas a good bridal shower and a jammin bachelorette party.

Erin after.

Erin before.

So I give them a call

No word from my "former" employers--no letter or call--so I decide to give them a call. This is after I talk to one of my collegues that has given me the lowdown on who is there and who was not "renewed." I talked to my boss who said, "Oh, no one called you?" To which I replied, "No, no call or letter." She said, "Oh, well, the secretary was supposed to call." For a moment, I almost thought there had been some terrible mistake, but no. She was supposed to call about a meeting for summer school, which I am teaching. She DID say that well, they're still deciding about what to do for English teachers next year. There are about 2.5 jobs open, and she hired someone new. She wants someone there with more experience who can teach AP. Who says I can't teach AP? All you have to do is take a short workshop course and I'd be set. Whatever.

I told her I started applying for other jobs, and she said, "Oh, yeah. Don't feel obligated to wait." Yeah, right, obligated. Whatever. Supposedly I'll find out more as things get rolling. I applied to 3 jobs today, and plan on doubling that tomorrow. No way I'm waiting for the administration to get their act in gear. By then I'll be retired.

Depressed

I don't have a job next fall.

Um, so yeah. There were some pleasant roads up on the North Shore.

Highest waterfall in MN.

See, I told you. 3 hours.

The peak of Lookout Mountain--halfway through our 3 hour hike.

Our view, 5:20am.

An absolutely breathtaking weekend vacation. The weather was perfect, the forests were serene, the waterfalls were intense, and the view from the room (and the room itself) was ideally romantic. ::sigh:: Why do I have to go back to the "real world?"

Not since "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

It's been many years since I learned the lyrics and tune to the tragic folk hit "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," yet it has surfaced in my brain and hasn't left me all day. A person might ask, why? Why now, after years of silence, has this song sprung forth into my conscious thought? I have a theory that I will share with you...I'M FINALLY VISITING LAKE SUPERIOR!

Yes, now that I have been a resident of MN for almost a full year, I am finally embarking northward of the Twin Cities. Thus far, St. Cloud was my North, but now I will visit what is commonly known as "The North Shore." Granted, I believe that I may have been further north into the UP than I will be going here in MN, but it's still exciting. Hell, I haven't been to the UP for years now, so even THAT would have been a bit of a thrill, even though there isn't a whole heck of a lot there. Except really good pasties. Yes, the pasties and the Niagra Escarpment are wonderful there. And the trees. They have good trees. Lots of color.

Laughed, cried, and enjoyed the hell out of Episode 3. Star Wars and good friends. I can't think of a better combination...unless it involved sex and chocolate somehow.

Gathered the supplies necessary for a successful movie experience.

In the line at 5:40pm.

Kitten by Prophesy

Okay, this is kind of freaky. Last night, I had a dream. Chris and I were in our apartment, with whiter carpet, and along with us were two cats. Our cats. Apparently we had picked them up the day before. One was a full grown, the other was a kitten, and both were gleaming white and very friendly. Suddenly, I realized I hadn't fed them yet since we picked them up. We had no cat food or kitty litter. I wondered to myself, how did they manage to hold it this whole time?

So Chris and I went to Petco (in my dream, Petsmart didn't have food there), and found the cat food isle. It was completely empty, except for one huge bag of Purina cat food. That would have been fine, except according to the clerk nearby, it also contained mouse heads, which weren't healthy for the cats. So, if we bought it, we'd have to sort out the food from the mouse heads. We decided to buy it anyway, and went on to buy the kitty litter and container. Then I woke up.

This morning, I told Chris about the dream, and he said it's pretty messed up. I agree with him. Anyway, so I got to work, opened the door of the school, and there at my feet is a half-drowned kitten. The student standing by it said he found it outside while walking to school, and he took it here. With no regard to my white, blue, and tan striped brand new shirt, I picked up the dirty wet kitten, and held it close. It purred immediately, and I fell in love with it. I took the box the student had made for it, and brought it into my classroom, knowing it couldn't be left in the hallway or it would be swarmed by well-intentioned/not-well-intentioned high schoolers. I wrapped it in the free T-shirt I got yesterday, and put it on my lap. Eventually, it got dryer and cuter, and I saw that it was a little girl, grey with white feet, and very soft fur. The eyes are clear and healthy, and the teeth are sharp.

Naturally, I called Jim to double check (even though I knew the answer) if we could have pets. Of course, he said he'd prefer not, which translates to NO. I know I'm not really ready for a pet, but it's hard to deny a helpless little creature like that. I got here early to do school work and prepare for the day, but all I did was pet the kitten and make it feel warm and loved. My shirt is nasty, and has a couple pulls in it now, but it was worth it to make that little bundle of joy feel better. The student brought in a peanut butter cracker for the kitten to nibble on, and some water in a small cup to drink from. I'm sure that's better than half of what it ate on the street.

Right before classes began, Jenna took the kitten down to the office, and now it's being watched over down there. I wanted to keep it in here, and I'm certain I could have, but my students would have gotten absolutely nothing done. It would have been irresponsible of me to do that, even if it would have been more fun. I'm totally out of it now. My kids are reading in groups, and I have no assignment to give them. It will simply have to do. Maybe I'll come up with some ideas later, during prep time. It's just pretty hard to prepare for the day when there's a kitten gnawing on your finger. So damn cute. Do you think moving to a new apartment is worth it?

To all the "mothers" out there: Happy Mothers Day!

As my dad says, it's all in how you emphasize the word. He says he'd like to call his father-in-law and wish him a happy "mother's" day. He amuses me sometimes. Such a smart ass. Of course there's little that's similar about us two. Nope, nothing not at all..."Left right here!" Yeah, I'm a lot like my parents, aside from the crazy tailgating and overanalyzation of finances. I may start arguing like one of them, but at least there's just one of me. I love them dearly, and they are super generous and loving and were wonderful about helping me move in with Chris. But if I become them, please slap me.

Check out the label--Jesus has a day job. (FYI, I posted this on www.collegehumor.com but it won't show up until the May 3rd posting I think...check it out)

I will miss you.

Good-bye my wonderful "rose/salmon" room

April Movers, bring May Apartmenters

Something like that, anyway. Today my parents are coming up from GB to help Chris and I move into the "new" apartment. I say "new" because I was just living in that apartment two months ago. My how the time flies when you're making major career moves.

I'm sure Chris would agree. He now has a full time job with benefits, starting next week...BUT just this Friday, he had a successful interview with ANOTHER company offering a few thousand more a year, that also relates more strongly to his career goals, and they want him to come in for a second interview (slight problem in that the hour of the interview would overlap his new job's hours). And this is all after quitting the part time job he just aquired two months ago that was also a step up from the bank customer service job (that he also just quit). Just a few months ago, he was wondering if he'd ever get a full time job, or any job that related to his field. Now he's swarmed with them. Lucky bastard. Love him, of course.

Alright, enough of the "mushy stuff." Today we're moving, and it isn't going to be pretty. I love my parents dearly, but involve them in any project more complicated than changing a toilet paper roll, and there will be a slew of curse words, raised voices, and plenty of impatience. I'm so happy to say that I have not inherited most of that impatience, although it does surface now and then when I can't find something, I hurt myself, or I'm not feeling well. But it's much more subdued in me...I think.

When we'll be finished today, I haven't a clue. They're supposed to be here around 11am, which means that they'll be here at least a half hour before that, cuz that's how they are. I'm hoping a couple of Chris's friends show up for the move, so that my parents aren't invovled in any of the heavy moving. The queen size bed is going to be a bitch to get up the spiraling stairs to the third floor. I'm just thankful my shite is almost all here on the second floor, or already up there, cutting the workload almost in half.

Hm, better get going. Gotta take a shower (I smell like shite thanks to having a shitty cold the past couple days), stop at the pharmacy, and pick up Chris and some minor items for moving. Fair thee well, until the morrow! Or a week from now, whenever I get off my lazy blogging ass.

Yesterday, PS2 was such an easy game to play

::sigh:: It's been so long since I've had a nice easy night of game playing. Not that there aren't a gazillion other things I could be doing with my time, and not that I haven't been having plenty of fun. I simply haven't had a lot of down time lately. I could count tonight from this time on as down time, but a few hours before bed just doesn't cut it. I think I need to ask a day off of work this week, just to get the time and ambition to do some major packing for the move this weekend.

Yep, this Saturday's the real deal--moving on back upstairs, this time with a ::gasp:: MALE roommate. This weekend Chris and I did some MAJOR shopping, so we now have some DVD/CD storage shelves, a nearly complete bathroom set, and numerous other little items that are necessary for keeping an apartment in shape.

Sad to say, there is one thing we're missing...Sometime in the last week or so, our landlord took away the massive loveseat that we thought would be forever enshrined in our living room. It was there when Tricia and Rachel moved in, still there when Tricia and I were there, and it was still there for over a month later. It just didn't seem that it would ever leave the apartment. Its inertia was just too great. Honestly, this thing was sturdy enough for two people to sit or lay down on the back of it, and not have the couch tip even slightly. I can't say it was ultra comfortable or anything, but it was just a given, a part of the move in deal. ::sigh::

Oh well, I guess it means we'll have room for more chairs and tables and things in there. Chris and I definitely don't lack for couches. I have my full-length futon, Chris has a full-sized couch, and there are two couches waiting for someone to claim them in my parents' basement. Not to mention, I have two nice sized recliners back in GB as well, plus an older swivel chair that's in great shape. No, Chris and I could fill a house with all of our purchased and hand-me-down furniture. Part of that is because Scott and Jennifer turned their noses up at it, and Chris and Beth don't have room for anything more.

And so, this is my last week in the "rose room" (soon it will most likely be the "sage" room when Jenny gets through with it). I will miss it (especially since it's the best room in the whole housing complex due to its two windows and skyline view), but I'm ready to move on to a place slightly more permanent. Bleah, my luck and I'll be moving again within a year. I hate to say it, but I can't wait to settle in ONE PLACE! This moving every few months thing is a bit more than I can take...now I've done it for two years :P "Always in motion, is the future." Apparently that applies to my furniture too.

Count down to detention

Okay, so that doesn't really make sense, but I was thinking of the Megadeath "Countdown to Extinction" thing mixed with me starting my full time teaching job on Monday. I've gotta say, I'm a bit nervous about it. I know I have plenty of time to prepare on Monday, but I don't have things quite worked out yet for the Speech and Drama class I'll be teaching. The 9th grade English I've got set, no problem, thanks to teaching Greek/Roman Mythology to the 8th graders last fall and keeping a nice unit full of copies of lesson plans and materials to use in the future. God, I'm thankful I took the time to do that.

The Speech and Drama class is another story--I've never taught it before, nor have I had A LOT of experience with it. I took the required Speech class for my liberal arts college, and I did read plenty of dramas in my literature classes. But many of those dramas aren't appropriate for the age and language proficiency level...plus they're in the anthologies I don't have with me here. I didn't think about it when I was home last time. I did print off a bunch of short plays, but what I think I'm going to have to do is find a play in the text book that they haven't covered yet. I want to do a lot of hands on work with them, including some storytelling, skits, mono/dialogues, speeches and presentations, but I'll need some materials to read and analyze with them too. AND we'll have to take some notes and quizzes on dramatic techniques, persuasive strategies, and such. ::sigh:: I have my work cut out for me. It's been a while since I've come up with an entire thematic unit.

So yeah, that's what's up this weekend, along with Party #2 for Chris. He's having a BBQ tomorrow so that more friends can stop by and just hang out for a while. Birthdays on weekdays just don't work out so well. Tricia and I have been doing some running, trying to reshape ourselves. Mostly, I just want to get back the endurance and trimness of last summer, and maybe get even better, since I'll have started already in Spring. This weather is friggen awesome, although my classroom is pretty toasty. I guess that's better than the frigid room I had during my student teaching way back when, where the AC was so high in the room I was wearing sweaters inside and tanktops outside. Nothing worse than nipping out in front of teenagers :P

And you can bet he got some nice presents that night too ;)

And yesterday was a Happy Birthday for Chris :)

And the party was thumping.