I went to visit my principal yesterday and took a tour of the school. The school is lovely and the staff was very kind and helpful. This school seems to have it all buttoned up on the support side of things. We have a TOA (teacher on assignment) assigned to new teacher on each track. I'm lucky, I'm the only new teacher on my track. This teacher is assigned to shadow me for the year and help me with anything I need. I also have supplies galore. They will give me anything I need, I just have to ask. The only bummer is that I have to change classrooms at the end of each trimester. They do give me a rolling cart that I put all of my supplies in and the custodian moves to the new class so it wont be too bad. It sounds like the entire school is going to a modified traditional calendar next year so I wont have to change classrooms.

I got my TEs and my info about my students. It is going to be a tough and interesting year based on what is written on the students' cards. I definitely have my work cut out for me and will most definitely be leaning on any teacher that offers support. My next few days are going to be spent planning, planning, planning. I have two days in my class before the students arrive and I should be able to spend most of the time setting up lessons, making copies, and laminating. Having a borrowed class means that I can't do too much decorating.

I LOVE THIS!

Too much fun!

This would be Tim after waterskiing today. Yes, the rest of us followed the "re-apply" rule. As you can see, he did not. Now he is radio active and sitting on the couch covered in aloe drinking a beer.

Besides cooking my husband, we had a great time on the lake. I even got up on a knee board on my first try!

Just because I don't want to be left out of the fun...This is me after a day of teaching, or being a mom. Notice the margarita in one hand and the ice cream in the other. I can't really tell you why I don't have any shoes, but I guess those do come off at the end of the day anyway.

Today is a much better day. I have to apologize to all that have had to read my drivel lately. Could I feel more sorry for myself? I don't see any happy teachers here. So, after a very good night of much needed sleep, I have decided that I need to buck up and take life as it comes.

I mentioned before that I love weekends and today is no exception. I turned off my cell phone, slept 'til 8, made scones for the boys (now only three but still smelly), and watched Anchor Man. The best part was that Paul Bunyan intoduced his step-brother to Will Farrel. That was a fascinating little social experiment. You would have to know my kids for this to be funny. Kathie and Beth will laugh as they picute this little event. This was followed by even more fun...making teen-age boys sort laundry. This project took three boys 30 minutes to complete. Making kids do yucky chores on Saturday mornings is where we mommies reap our rewards. I've decided I will make this my work today. I should take advantage of having all these boys around and I think the dog yard needs some attention ;)

Running on empty

It's almost 4am and it's pretty obvious that sleep is out of reach at the moment. Note to self - Never, and I mean never, work two jobs again. I am teaching six days of summer school and working at the conference center every day. My dreams alternate between parents and administration heckling me because I know NOTHING about ancient civilizations and guests yelling at me because the bowl they painted didn't have the specs of green like the picture. So here I sit typing. Actually, because I am so exhausted, mostly backspacing because my already deficient spelling gene is dulled due to lack of sleep.

Fear is taking over and the joy of becoming a teacher is sitting very far in the back of my brain. Because the school is year round I can't get into my classroom until the 30th and the kids start on the 1st and that is causing some severe anxiety. I have so many questions and nobody to answer them until the 30th. My teacher list is huge right now and, to be perfectly honest, I don't really care about ancient China. I will of course eventually look like I care. I'm really worried that I have spent so much time planning the little things in the class like the prize box and the color of the reward tickets but I haven't seen a teacher's edition of any of my subjects.

My house is full of boys. That alone is enough to cause a break down. Too many boys! Everywhere I go...BOYS! For those of you that don't have boys in your house, they smell. They smell bad. Four of them between the ages of 9 and 16 smell really bad. They are also messy little buggers. I have run my dishwasher two times a day for the last seven days. That can't be good. Apparently, your head will explode if you use the same glass twice.

I suppose I should head back to bed seeing as I have to get up in a couple of hours to teach 1st grade. On the very cute and happy side, little Memo looked at me yesterday and told me had the "hipups".

Just in case you were wondering. When your bowl comes out of the kiln and it is not the color you expected it to be, the bowl suddenly and very dramatically becomes useless. Go figure. I guess my parents did something right...In my book, a bowl of any color can hold some cold cereal.

Ok, how much fun did I have today? So much fun! I finally got to spend my Lakeshore Learning gift certificates today. I bought a ton of books on ancient civilizations and 6th grade math and writing. I also bought stuff for the walls. I love this stuff. I can't wait to get into my room to set up. I got my letter from my principal today with my calendar and welcome letter and went down to the DO and SIGNED MY CONTRACT! As soon as my fingerprints clear I will be officially employed. This is amazing. It was so fun to shop for an actual grade and start to plan out the year. Nothing else to report these days...

It is so nice to know that I have a job starting soon. At the moment I am floating between two worlds. I am running the A&C program at the Conference Center at the moment and they need me to work almost every day. I also need to get my paperwork filled out for my new job. Neither place is very happy with me because I cannot give them everything they want exactly when they want it.

I think I will be able to breathe in about three years when I have a better idea about what I am doing, have completed my BTSA, am tenured (if I stay in one place long enough), and Paul Bunyan and the Dungeon Master (my step son) are done with their first year of college. Whew!

It was about 3 am the other day when I found myself in the kitchen with two lists - one for the conference center and one for school. It's amazing how much it helps to just get out of bed and write a list. It still took a couple of hours to go back to sleep, but at least I got the ideas on paper. I have a feeling this will be something that happens quite often over the next couple of years.

My prays these days have consisted mostly of trying not to lose my marbles. I am not the most patients and emotionally level person in the world so it is taking a ton of work not to break down. Tim laughs at me because I am over compensating a little and I am significantly more perky than usual.

Off to do some crafting!

Gainfully Employed

I would like to start by thanking everyone for their prayers and their kind words. Today I was offered a contract with Colton Joint Unified School District. I will be teaching 6th grade and I start on July 30th. I will be year-round and I get three, month-long breaks during the year. I am so excited I'm not exactly sure what to do with myself yet. So many emotions...fear, excitement, anticipation, fear, trepidation...did I mention fear? I'm not sure what I am going to do with sixth-graders, but I have a month to get ready and three Lakeshore Learning gift certificates burning a hole in my wallet. I can't wait to build a few pyramids and mummify some chickens!

Ta!

So I wasn't going to tell anyone because I didn't want to jinx it, but I thought better of it and decided that I needed all the payer I could get.

I have two interviews next week. Wednesday with Colton (the one I want) and Thursday with Hesperia. On Wednesday I am interviewing with the principal of a great elementary school in Colton. The best part is that he was one of my professors at University of Redlands. The day after I posted my application I emailed him for advice and he was very kind and reassuring. He was actually my favorite teacher and we shared a lot of the same views on teaching. I would love to teach at his school and work with him. Of course I will take any school and any grade that offers me a job.

Chris, your mom was so sweet the other day. I was subbing for Nancy and your mom and I were in the office. She told the principal that she wouldn't leave her classroom next year when she retires unless they would guarantee me a job and her room. Of course we were all joking around, but it was really great to have her on my side. The principal laughed and looked a little pale, but he also had nice things to say so it went over pretty well.

I'm really nervous!! I've talked to several teachers and they all gave me some wonderful advice for interviewing. Mostly, not to act like I know everything about teaching because I DON'T.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

So, here I sit waiting and wondering. Waiting for anyone to call me back and wondering what it is about my application that is making people wait to call me. I even called to check on both applications and both places told me all I could do is wait for someone to call me. Round and round we go. So, my prayers have switched from a job to me being able to let go and let God take the wheel for this ride. UGH!!! Having only had two jobs in the last 18 years was good for the pocket book and not so good for the interview/application experience. I know a couple people that applied after me and have already been scheduled for an interview with Hesperia. Want a humbling experience? Apply for your dream job and see what it does to your psyche.

I'm too busy feeling sorry for myself to write much more.

Here I sit on a lovely, lazy Sunday morning. I dropped Tim off at the airport for his week-long trip to Mississippi. I'm glad to have some time to myself, but I already miss him so it's a double-edged sword. I don't envy him having to be in MS this time of year...humid and hot...blech!

I'm thrilled that Christina has an interview in Hesperia. Wouldn't it be great if we ended up at the same school? Maybe the mountain teachers will take over the High Desert. I know of several other new teachers that applied in or have been hired by Hesperia. I am still waiting to hear from Hesperia and Colton. I am going to apply in Redlands and Yucaipa as soon as they start posting jobs. The school districts seem to like the electronic, paperless application process. It's nice because I don't need to make a ton of copies. I just scanned all of my documents, uploaded them, and sent in my application. Technology is nifty. I'm trying to talk Tim into getting his credential too. I was so close when he found out that the Air Force ok'd the Lasik surgery, finally! He is so excited and is strongly, by strongly I mean STRONGLY, considering applying to be a boom operator on a refueling plane. He's like a little kid at Christmas. I haven't seen him this giddy in a long time. Looks like teaching might have to wait a couple of years.

Off to be lazy again!

Show me the money!

Well, I submitted two applications today. Waiting patiently is not something I do well. I'm trying to find some comfort in God's timing and all of that. I applied in Hesperia and Colton. The only good thing about possibly working off the mountain is that those schools pay more than Rim does. Go figure. No jobs up here. As a matter of fact, there seem to be many teachers that have no idea where they are going to end up next year. That's the part of this process that I fear the most. After 17 years of working non-stop, I'm not handling the "no job" thing very well. I'm getting some home projects done but that's about it these days. I do a ton of sitting and moping so I need to find a job and pronto.

Not much more to report. Paul Bunyan is finishing his sophomore year and driving around the mountain. It's hard to believe that he is looking at colleges and talking about where he will live after graduation...ugh! Some days I can't imagine having an empty house and some days I am ready to pack for him. Oh how I love teenagers.

On a side note - Tyler Florence is hot!

Saturday

I love Saturdays. Nothing much to report these days...sold my truck and bought a new "girl" car. I never thought I would go back to a 2WD car but alas, the rising gas prices won out over the 10 days a year I need 4WD. My parents also gave Paul Bunyan their '89 Toyota truck to fix up and drive so, three 4WDs seemed a bit much. I drove my new car in the snow yesterday, without chains, and although it was a little harry at some points, the car did really well. It is front-wheel drive so they do pretty well in the snow. Now Tim and I have matching his and hers silver cars. We look so yuppie...little do they know ;)

I've been subbing quite a bit these days and mostly in the primary grades, go figure. Those first and second graders are really growing on me. Those grades are a ton of physical work but the kids are so cute and loving. I subbed in the absolute worst 6th grade class the other day. You know it's bad when the school secretary starts by begging you to sub and then hands you a stack of referral forms as soon as you walk in the door. Uh oh! They wanted me to sub the following two days in the same class but I just couldn't do it. Those kids were awful. The teacher regularly gives them several "free" times during the day and it shows. They weren't interested in learning a darn thing. Sadly, as much as I want to suck up so I can get a job, they don't pay me enough to babysit 32 rotten 6th graders. I feel really bad for those kids. They are going to get to middle school and high school and get their butts kicked. I had one kid that spent the entire day using the word "ghetto". Pick a part of speech, even some that don't make sense, and he used the word that way. People were "ghetto", things were "ghetto", actions were "ghetto", at one point we were even "ghettoing"...think about that one for a while. Michael would have lost his marbles in this class. I finally made the kid look up the meaning of the word but that didn't stop him from using it ALL day. Obviously, one of your more stand-up, socially aware citizens. The world needs more of this kind of kid!

Off to let Paul Bunyan drive to the post office...Good Saturday to all!

Double ugh!

First ugh - I called the District Office to find out why I don't receive phone calls when there are sub jobs (I have to look on-line). The personnel person told me that I am just unlucky. What kind of answer is that? One of the guys that I student taught with gets 3 to 5 calls every morning. He has only been on the sub list 3 months longer than I have. The lady told me that he was put higher on the list but she doesn't know why. Funny, she is the person that puts the subs in the system but she can't tell me why I don't get any calls. Ironic isn't it? I need the money but I am bummed that I don't get phone calls for jobs. See why I need to work full-time. I sit and think about stuff too much when I don't.

Second ugh - The problem is money vs. experience. I can take a four days worth of sub jobs = experience. I can work 2.5 days at the conference center = money. What to do? The bummer is that I make WAY more money working 2.5 days at the conf center than I do working four WHOLE days subbing. I know I need the experience but right now we need the money. Not working for five months and only working part-time for the last two has put a huge squeeze on the pocket book. I also need to make it through the summer so I need the money. Not really looking for answers, just thinking out loud...blah, blah, blah.

Fun in the sun!

I love living in California. We went out on a friend's boat this weekend. You've gotta love any place that you can leave the snow and head for the water on the same day. We had a great time as you can see. This is my honey water skiing - in MARCH!














We also pulled the kids behind the boat in an inner tube. The smiles were great and we all had an amazing time putting around the lake. This is a private lake down near Temecula and there were about four boats out that day. Tim and Marc were able to ski until their little arms couldn't hold on any longer. http://www.vaillakeresort.com/

This is Tim driving the boat. He had a wonderful time (as you can see by the smile on his face) and we were able to spend the entire day just relaxing.














Two posts in one day. Can you tell that it's the first day of Spring Break?

Big week. I was able to teach for six days in a row. For those of you who are going to get me on the little stuff...that is Friday of last week and Monday - Friday of this week.

I started out in sixth grade for three days. The jury is still out on that grade. I headed to second for two days. Can I tell you how adorable second-graders are? So cute! Not a bad grade either. Old enough to be able to follow a discussion about a book and young enough to love teachers unconditionally. I like that. Today I was back in my first grade class. I love those kids but I am exhausted. Lots of tattling and tears today. I will blame it on the following: Friday, Spring Break, nice weather, spring, 6 years old. Get the picture?

Have I said how much I like this job? Only about a million times. I can not wait to have my own classroom. I find myself teacher shopping all the time. I want to buy fun books and posters but I have to wait until I know what grade I'm teaching and that makes me sad. Oh well...soon enough!

On another note...I am taking Paul Bunyan down to get his permit tomorrow. I'm not sure I'm emotionally ready for this event. He will be 16 on Saturday. I know I'm not ready for THAT! Wow, sixteen years and I often feel like I know less about parenting than before he was born. I must admit that this is the most frightening blessing one can receive. Some people with no children or small children always think that parenting an older child is easier. I am here to tell you that is a myth. So I don't have to worry about him drinking the stuff under the sink or drowning in a bucket of water, but in six months my baby boy will be operating a large vehicle alone. Those haunting nightmares of things that can happen to a small child have long since faded and are now replaced by new nightmares of mangled cars and such. No way to avoid worrying about our kids is there? Well, this turned into a not-so-cheery post now, didn't it?

More fun...I get to head out to Boise to celebrate an upcoming birthday! I can't wait!

Comfort and Joy

Comfort - Brownie chunks and chocolate chip cookie dough in chocolate ice cream! That's all I have to say! I'm not a big ice cream fan, but that stuff is heaven and manages to make the yuckiest day seem good.

Joy - I get to sub for Janet at LGE tomorrow! Yeah, fifth grade!!!!!!!!!!

I love teaching. Have I mentioned that yet. Even first grade has grown on me and I can't imagine doing anything else with my life. So, I sit and wait and pray for a job to open. I did discover that snow days are more fun when you get paid to stay home. I was supposed to sub in 5th grade at LGE last week and both of my days were interrupted by snow days. I was actually sad because I was looking forward to working, especially at LGE. Oh well. I get to sub for Janet on the 16th and I am really looking forward to that. Sub jobs seem to come in waves. Some weeks are a heavy load and some are really dry. One prayer was answered; the Conference Center called to see if I would work for them part-time. Yeah money! It's kind of fun to be there being able to make my own schedule and knowing that it's not forever. They work around my sub jobs. As a matter of fact, they are being so great and working around anything in my life. What a wonderful way to work.

Fun news is that my sister might be moving back to the mountain. San Diego has been good for them but they want to be back near family. I can't wait to have my babies back here and sometimes I even miss Heidi. Just kidding...I do miss hanging out with her on a regular basis. I'm looking forward to having time this summer to be the auntie that I want to be. Mom and I already have a ton of field trips planned.

Off to find something to do...

Just needed to get it off my mind...

So, I have come to an impasse. What do I want to write about? I had a whole speech in defense of something that was said about me but that seems pretty self-centered now. What I will focus on is how annoyed I am at “those” people that cannot be honest about shortcomings and choose to shine a spotlight on other people's shortcomings. Does that make sense? At the moment I am really peeved and my brain is working much faster than my fingers. What I mean to say is, it seems as though there are people in the world that use other's shortcomings as ammo. Ok, here is the deal. Unfortunately, I am one of those people that talks a lot and I end up becoming an open book. There is very little that my friends do not know about me and that is fine with me. Now, I don't necessarily share info with my friends so they will sling it back at me some day in a pathetic attempt to make themselves feel better about their lives.

I am speaking about “those” perpetually “happy” people that aren't really happy, they just want everyone to believe they are happy. Don't get me wrong, I know there are people in the world that are happy but let's face it, we all have our dark days. We all have issues in our lives. We all have days when our spouse is REALLY annoying and our kids make us want to run and hide. Does that make us awful people? No, it makes us human. It is also human to confide those feelings to our friends. Notice I said confide...not make a bullet out of it and fire it back at me via another person. Ugh! This would probably have been easier if I wrote about what happened but I can't do that.

I guess my feelings are hurt and I am having a hard time letting go of the crap. I know that I should. I know that I should pray for the person that was shooting at me because they have some issues that really need prayer, especially when that pedestal they are standing on gets knocked down. I know that I will get to that point but it is not going to be today. Enough of this. My brain is sad and tired and I need to bake so cookies. That is of course if I don't eat all the batter first.

Boring post

For anyone that was wondering...I made it through Friday with no incidents. I promise that will be the last gross post for me.

My first day of subbing was great but 8th graders are not very bright. For the most part they assumed that I was blind and deaf. I ended up being "mean sub lady" and that's ok by me. Tuesday and Wednesday I was in a first grade class at VOE and that was wonderful. Elementary is defiantely the place for me. I have two more jobs lined up for next week and this seems to be going along pretty well.

I recieved my credential on Friday so now begins the job search. I found an opening in Yucaipa and I have to decide if I want to drive that far. I'm going to keep my eyes and ears open for spots up here.