Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Severing and Binding

In two days, I sever a tie that cost me $60 last month. Comcast. I informed them that there was no f-ing way I was going to give them another dime, no matter what "deal" they were going to set up for me. For a year we payed $30/month, which seemed fairly reasonable. At no time when I signed up did they say, "This price is promotional and will DOUBLE after a year." Apparently, they didn't feel it was important information to share. Well, we put up the money for last month so we could take more time to peruse new providers, and we did finally find one that seemed very reasonable. We're going through USI Wireless, which is cooperating with Minneapolis, trying to make the whole city wireless accessible. What will the cost be? About $18.50 a month (by paying it all in one lump sum for a year's access) and $80.00 for their modem. Hm, let's see...$18 or $60...which one was I going to choose?

In other news, we're very, very annoyed with our landlord. He told us he was going to fix the insulation in the attic this summer. He didn't. I sent him a letter about it. No call. I called him a few days later. He was apathetic, "I'll call the contractor and see if he has the time." I told him that if he doesn't have the time, he can just pay for some of our outrageous heating bill. So far, no response. It has been 14 days, so I'll be calling him tomorrow. Eventually, if nothing gets done and no agreement is made, I will take him to court. Scary.

School is going alright. There are a few...challenging students this year, but that's to be expected. Not every student is going to be bright and cheery and ready to learn. Some are just going to be beeoches, no matter what you do. The funny thing is, students I had last year that were a little difficult look at the new students and give me sympathetic looks. How time flies...and children mature.

Married life? It pretty well rocks, even if both of us are pretty busy lately. Chris is still getting accustomed to his new work schedule, but we make a point of spending time together when he gets home from work (except now while I'm blogging). He is mildly amused/annoyed at my current addiction to Facebook, but he's managing alright. I'm sure he'll turn to the geek side eventually.

Speaking of, for the first time, I watched "Beauty and the Geek" for it's season premier. It was rather addicting. I might have to tune in again, even though reality TV usually turns my stomach. Either my appetite has changed, or the show is nearly decent.

Thursday, September 06, 2007

The Honeymoon is Over

It was already over in the last blog entry, I suppose. OF COURSE the feelings are still there and Chris and I are very happily married. But the reality of jobs has really set in.

Chris started a part time job in the northwest burbs a few weeks ago. I started teaching for the fall school year this week. Granted, I have been working for most of the summer anyway, but it is a little different teaching a full load at the beginning of a school year. I have to say, though, I am psyched to be at the same school for a second year. FINALLY!

One thing that sucks is that Chris and I have different schedules now. Monday through Thursday, Chris works evenings, which means I only see him in the morning when I wake up and for about 2 hours before I fall asleep at night. It could be a lot worse, and I know we'll get used to it, but it's taking a while. I know it's especially hard for him since he would much rather be working full time during the day. But he's working hard and searching hard for a new job, and hasn't given up trying. He's got some patience, that's for sure. Hmmm, maybe that's one of the reasons I married him...

So yeah, not the end of the world. Just a setback that really isn't holding us back much. I just know it's gotta suck doing a job that doesn't involve using your college degree and isn't very thrilling. Work isn't fun anyway. Yeah, I like teaching. Sometimes I even love it. However, it does vacuum up huge swaths of my life, and there are times I really wish I had a 9-5 job that was truly over at 5. I'm just happy both of us are working at all. Sure, we're years away from having all of the things we want, but at least we have one thing taken care of--finding someone to spend the rest of our lives with. I mean, some people have everything--job, house, car, garden, pets, vacations, plasma TV, thrilling sex life, stellar workout program--but they are still not satisfied because they haven't found someone to love. Man, does that sound hokey...really, really lame.

But that doesn't make it less true. I just have to keep telling myself, and keep telling Chris, "We're damn lucky." So we had better appreciate it. Hell, we're alive! Life rocks.