La Dolce Vita

September 20th, 2008

Lazy Saturday

9/20/08 09:41 am

So, I'm sitting on my couch (thanks mione1977 ) drinking my coffee, enjoying the breeze coming from my front door reading my book with CMT on softly in the background. Downstairs I have some laundry going in my washer and dryer. My house is relatively clean (minus the recently flooded basement) and I don't feel much pressure to get up and do anything productive. Jeremy is paintballing in Peoria this morning and won't be back to wrestle the remote from me until this evening. All of a sudden I stopped reading, stretched and thought: this is heaven!

I'm loving my new house soooo much. We've owned it for almost 2 months now (the 25th will be two months exactly), we've been moved in for a little less time than that, but already I'm feeling very settled and content here. Kelin is moving in next weekend, and I think soon after that we will start work on the master bedroom upstairs so it will be ready for us to live in before winter. Soon I'll start research on a new furnace, but the money doesn't freak me out as much anymore, thanks to my kickass new job. Overall, life is good. Sometimes I feel myself slipping into Coyote Blue (when everything is right, but you are so afraid that something might go wrong that it ruins your balance) but I've been working on that lately. Overall, I'm feeling damn good, and I have to say, that's a great feeling :)

Current Location: My living room
Current Mood: content
Current Music: random country

June 26th, 2008

Wow, time for an update.

6/26/08 09:04 pm

Wow, I haven't updated this thing in a long time. So let’s see...a lot has changed.

That dream house fell through. The house inspection didn't go well. It turns out the foundation was shotty. So after a small heartbreak I moved on. It seemed like the perfect house would never come along, but it turns out patience really paid off in the end. I found my perfect house. It is most certainly a fixer-upper, but I love it dearly. I will be sure to post some videos of it if I can figure out how...

I had the house inspection already so I figure its ok for me to get attached at this point. I hope. Anyway, closing is July 25th. I have a TON of wallpaper to take down, so it's a good thing I have three weeks until school starts to get that done. I feel like it's going to be an adventure. I'm feeling very very optimistic about it.

So, in other facets of my life, things haven't been the greatest. I went to Florida as soon as school let out to visit my grandma. I found out in march that my gram had cancer, we knew it was pretty serious because it was a very fast moving kind of cancer. It had spread from her esophagus to her stomach, liver, and kidneys. And it wasn't there in January. So we all knew that time was limited, which was why we all rushed down to see her as soon as possible, but I wasn't expecting to stay quite as long as I did...

When I got to florida gram was in assisted care, my mom just couldn't keep up with taking care of her anymore, so they took her in at the "lodge." My gram lived in this retirement community where you had to move in before you got sick, and you could live in an apartment or a little house or whatever, but once you got sick they would take care of you at the "lodge." So my gram got to that point, which really wasn't what I was expecting when I showed up.

So my mom and dad needed a little breather so they left my brothers and I to stay with gram while they took a day trip down to miami to visit my aunt rainy. They left wednesday night and woke up to a call thursday morning from the nurse at the lodge telling my mom to come back right away, that gram wasn't doing well at all. So dad called us at gram's apartment and woke us up telling us to get there as soon as we could and they would be there by noon. Jon and I sat with gram from 7am to noon while she gasped for breath. It was the most horrible and...difficult 5 hours of my life. Gram made it through that day, and we got hospice to come in and keep a nurse with her 24hrs a day. Since I was done with school and hadn't found a summer job, I stayed with my mom and tad while jon and dad went home. I got there tuesday June 3rd, and gram held on until Wednesday June 11th. We knew she was close, she wasn't conscious at all the day before. The nurse warned us that it was close, so when we went to bed that night I couldn't sleep. I just kept reading, hoping I would get tired enough to drift off, but then I finished my book. So at 2am when the phone rang and my mom shot up in bed saying "oh no!" I was still wide awake, staring at the ceiling. The nurse said her breathing had drastically changed that we should come right away. We threw on clothes and ran over, but we were too late, she was already gone. It was...I don't even know how to describe the experience of seeing her laying there. Tad was still down at the library on the computer, and the library was a cell phone black hole, so I volunteered to go get him. I took off my flip flops and just started running, I ran the mile to the library and I wished I had longer to run, so I took another loop around, by the time I got to the library I was completely out of breath and managed to scare the crap out of tad. It was ok, I stayed for another week after that, for the wake, funeral and memorial service. It was a long 15 days, it really felt more like a month, but we all made it through ok, more or less.

Actually, there was kind of a bright side to it all. I was able to keep alot of my grandma's things. No one else needed some of her things, like dishes or furniture, or anything, but I did because of the new house. It is kind of cool that I have some things that will always make me think of gram, like her dishes. It makes me happy.

So anyway, that is what my life has been like lately. It's interesting, kind of depressing and really uncharted territory for me.

On a totally different note, my little laura is getting married soooo soon!! She and Genc just got their first apartment, bought all their furniture, got two kitties!!, and had their wedding shower. It's so sweet. I'm so happy for her, she's radiant lately. I do have to say, for some reason your best friend getting married is like an open invitation for people to ask you when you're getting married. Geeze, I could seriously punch the next person who asks me when I'm getting married. Ooh, but I am really excited about this particular bride's maid dress, of course it could be because I picked it out, but you know.

Alright, I've rambled enough for one day.

Current Mood: lazy

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March 27th, 2008

Update on the house

3/27/08 09:11 pm

Well, things have been pretty crazy lately. We agreed on a price right at the top of my budget, but still a hell of a deal for the house and land we're getting. So...as long as all our inspections go alright and there are no unpleasant suprises...

we will close on the house April 15th. That's in 19 days!

Talk about some crazy stuff happening! I have to call to get the inspection set up (hopefully for this weekend) I have to call insurance agents to get quotes on insurance. I need to switch my checking account to a different bank, ok I don't have to do that, but it gives me some huge perks having a checking account and a morgage with the same bank. Yikes, I feel like my head is spinning. My realtor gave me a funny look today when I was signing all the papers. She said, "you don't look excited?" It's not that I'm not excited, I'm just so incredibly overwhelmed with all this coming at me so quickly. Besides, once we actually get the place, we have to figure out how to fill it! We don't have much furniture between the two of us, so we will have a long summer of slowly filling up the house with furniture and whatnot.

I'm also attempting to find a summer job. I'm going to seriously miss my trusty camp job and all my awesome camp buds, but hopefully I'll find something that works for me.

So, while it is incredibly exciting to think that in 19 days I might be a homeowner...I'm so overwhelmed and freaked out! I think I need some time to adjust to the idea...although I don't have much time do I? Yikes.

Current Mood: conflicted

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March 18th, 2008

Emotional Rollercoaster

3/18/08 09:21 pm

Um, so today might have been the most emotionally bipolar day I've ever had in my life.

When Jeremy and I started house hunting we were disappointed because the dream house I mentioned in my last post had an offer approved on it. So we were trying (without much success) to get it out of our head. Well, yesterday our realtor told us the buyers were supposed to have their financing by friday and they still were not successful so she was going to show us the house.

We loved the place even more after seeing it, and talking to the listing agent prompted us to put an offer on the place in order to entice the seller to opt out of the bogus contract he is currently in.

So...

Today I signed my very first offer on a house. They are going to sit on it for a few days to make sure they are legally out of the first contract, then they will hopefully accept our offer, but most likely they will counter offer until we come up with a compromise. We are still hoping to get a hell of a deal on the place.

Right now it's listed at $82,900 (originally priced at $89,900) and we are pretty confident the most we will end up having to spend is around $75,000.

For 3 acres a pretty solid house, a great garage and a bonus barn that's a hell of a deal. I hope to god we get it.

If we DO get the house, I'll be closing April 15th, probably painting a bit and then moving in. It overlaps with my current lease, but Jeremy is going to help pick up the slack as I will still have to pay utilities for april and may as well as april's rent. Luckily I have already paid the last month's rent so that isn't an issue.

It's a crazy time. I seriously go from being ridiculously excited and giddy to overwhelmed, nervous and sick to my stomach. However, I know that if we get this place we will be soooo happy there, I will never feel trapped, i will always have room to roam and get away if I need it. I honestly hope we get it, so keep your fingers crossed for me (maybe your toes too!)

p.s. I am addicted to HGTV shows now. It's sick.

Current Mood: crazy

March 11th, 2008

Ahh Spring!!

3/11/08 06:21 pm

Um, I would just like to say...

I FREAKING LOVE SPRING!!

Nothing else can make me feel so alive and happy and carefree as some warm weather after a long winter.

Bliss!!

Current Mood: energetic

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March 10th, 2008

Oh boy, life comes at ya fast doesn't it?

3/10/08 08:29 pm

So, while I'm just starting to adjust to the whole, "I'm an adult with a real job and all these crazy responsibilities" thing I decide to take yet another leap into the unknown. Morgages, relators, and repeated house hunting trips.

Yep, I'm attempting to buy a house.

It kinda freaks me out and gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach everytime I think about it. But the market is right for buying and if I can find something that is in my price range it will make more sense than throwing away all kinds of money on renting. I've been pre-approved for a morgage, actually the banker pretty much kissed my ass all the way out the door, so that was pretty freaking sweet.

So I found my perfect, absolutely amazing dream place. It's a bit expensive. I've been crunching numbers reapeatedly to figure out what I have to do to save up enough money to make it a comfortable price for me. See here's the deal:

I'm buying the house in my name, with my credit, it will be my morgage. But Jeremy is moving in with me and paying half of everything, we just don't want to put a morgage in both our names at this point, seems like a good way for one of us to potentially get burned. But I want to find a place that is not only manageable for both of us, but managable if something happens and I end up having to pay it myself. I'm not thinking that's much of a possiblility, but I have to be responsible when it comes to this type of thing. So, the house we really really want is a bit pricey, even if we talk them down some it's kinda out of my comfort range. I could work this summer and save up a couple thousand dollars as some cushion money and then I'd feel ok about it, but we'll see I guess.

It's really perfect. The house itself is not huge, just about right I'd say: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a full basement, hardwood floors, a big back porch. It also has a big two car garage, and....wait for it....a BARN! Yeah, make fun of me if you must, but you have clearly never been to a barn party. Anyway, the place sits on 3 acres of freaking beautiful land, half wooded, half rolling meadow. I'm in love. Seriously, I'm trying sooo hard not to get attatched to this place, but oh my god, I can't help it!!

Check it out: http://www.maloofrealty.com/search/gallery.asp?mls=1090354&MLSArea=1

So, I might be growing up even more here really soon...we shall see.

Current Mood: giddy

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January 7th, 2008

My first "real" adult moment...

1/7/08 08:17 pm

So, I am completely and officially a teacher! Today was my first day as a working, certified teacher. Of course, it was a teacher institute day, so I didn't actually have any students...but I still felt all teacher-y working at my desk and setting up my room. I think the weirdest part of the day though was when I was sitting in my staff meeting looking at my principal (who is really nice to look at btw) and I realized that out of all the people they interviewed for my job...they picked me. Me. Weird. I'm a teacher, I'm a part of a staff, I laughed and shared jokes and felt like a real teacher...a real adult. It was a brief moment, but it totally blew my mind.

So tomorrow is really the big day, though. Tomorrow is my first day with students. People keep asking me if I'm nervous, but it's strange, the nerves kind of come and go. I'm really well prepared and I know I'll be fine, but I'll keep on being nervous in little waves until the beginning stuff is over. I like this new feeling though...I can get used to this adult thing I think. :)

Current Mood: thankful

December 16th, 2007

Still alive

12/16/07 03:40 pm

Well, it's been awhile I guess, and I'm still kickin. Actually, some awesome stuff is happening lately. I student taught this semester. I spent 8 weeks at the elementary level in an awesome low incident classroom with K-2 kids. That was excellent but oh so exausting!! Then i spent another 8 weeks at the high school level. I taught pre-algebra, two sections of algebra, geometry, english and consumer ed inclusion. That was absolutely amazing, and my mentor teacher was the most amazing, angelic woman I have ever met. I learned more than I expected to learn in that placement, but I am such a better teacher just from those experiences, I can't complain.

So, I was a little worried about finding a job in the middle of the year and had pretty much resigned myself to sub for a semester and find a job for next year. I kept looking though, and I went on my very first interview a few weeks ago, at Abingdon high school. Apparently it went well because less than a week later they offered me the job!! So, starting January 7th I will be the LD/MI teacher at Abingdon High School! It's pretty exciting, and as an added bonus I have a smart board in my classroom, so I'm pretty pumped about that.

So, other good things have been happening as well, yesterday I graduated from college, very exciting. I graduated summa cum laude and as the departmental scholar as well, so that was pretty cool. I was lucky enough to have a whole bunch of family able to come, including my aunt and uncle from miami and my grandma from orlando. My immediate family was there as well, it was a great time. Rainy kept us out late every night bar hopping, it was amazing. So yeah, great big things going on.

Not much else is going on, Jeremy and i are doing pretty well. We've hit our road bumps, that's for sure, but he's a trooper and loves me through all my many faults, which is amazing to me. He got a new job, acutally he was recruited for a new job in Peoria, which is great for him. He's working for a company that works in Caterpillar's research and development plant, and I think tha'ts really really cool. He's testing diesel engines will all kinds of complicated computers and gadgets I don't even pretend to understand. lol. So we're both starting some really awesome things in our life right now. It's pretty great.

So, yeah I guess I'm doing pretty good right about now, which is nice. It seems like I've worked a long time to feel this good about life, so I'm just going to enjoy the feeling while it lasts.

Current Location: my comfy bed (on my new laptop!!)
Current Mood: hungry

May 30th, 2007

(no subject)

5/30/07 03:05 pm

So my brother's wedding was a little while ago. It was by far the most beautiful and perfect wedding I've ever seen. I cried like a baby when Erin walked down the aisle, I couldn't help it. She looked amazing, and she had this look on her face...like she'd waited her whole life for that moment. Wow, you should have seen the look on Jon's face though. Then I cried like a baby again when they said their vows. God I was such a sucker, especially cause I never cry.

The reception was amazing. I had so much fun. Jeremy was actually just incredible that day too. He came in on the train saturday morning, but I was getting my hair done with the other girls, so he had to hang out with my family until the wedding, then after the wedding I had to take pictures with the bridal party so he had to hang out with all my extended family with only Laura for help. lol Apparently he was a HUGE hit though. I didn't stop hearing about how much my family loved Jeremy. It made me feel good, and I'm sure it made him feel good too. We had to sit apart at the reception too (geeze, being in the wedding party does not make bringing a date easy) and I guess during dinner he got grilled on when we're getting married. lol that's not even a question I like to hear. So when I came back over after dinner he said "when are we getting married?" I just turned and walked away and everyone laughed.

But seriously, we haven't been talking about marriage much lately so I wasn't 100% sure where we stood on that subject, but that night he cleared it up for me. Laura said he told them that he was waiting until my parents fully approve of him to ask me, and that he had to get more financially stable too. But he said "If I don't marry Jenny, I'm not going to marry anyone." It was sweet. Ever since he's been hillarious talking about how much a wedding costs. lol he's so cute. We have had some serious relationship problems lately, but that night when we were dancing he said "I'm sorry." when I asked for what he said "All the bullshit I've put you through lately. Will you forgive me? Because I really love you." Aw, how could I say no to that? lol. It was good to make up and put things right. We've been doing sooo much better since then. I'm really really happy right now.

A week and a half until his first race! I'm excited. I get my apartment in Macomb this weekend too, so I'll see him two weekends in a row. I love it!

I'm sooo bored though, I can't wait for work to start. I got a second job at Circuit city for the summer too. Not super excited about that, but I need the money. Oh well.

Well, that's about all going on right now.

Current Location: my ridiculously hot room
Current Mood: content
Current Music: little big town

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May 10th, 2007

(no subject)

5/10/07 08:33 am

I'M DONE!!!

hehe. Well my last final was last night, actually it wasn't a final so much as presenting a group project, and I'm done. I'm all packed and ready to move out of a dorm forever!! It's weird, cause I'm not actually graduating till December, but I still feel like I'm finishing school, because next year is going to be be living in an apartment, and student teaching. To me that's way more like the real world than going to school. I did the happy dance last night to "never having to take another final again!" woooo!

Oh, I came down with the most severe case of step throat I've ever had on monday (and had to reschedule finals on tues) but I'm starting to feel better so not even that can dampen my mood!! hehehehe

I'm already kind of missing Jeremy, but I'll see him in a week and half at my brothers wedding so I'll be ok. Besides I have soooo much to do before then I'll hardly have time to remember that I miss him. I'm in an exceptionally good mood today!

Current Mood: happy

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May 1st, 2007

New adventures

5/1/07 09:23 am

God I hate the end of the year, I always spend finals week sweating my ass off. Ick. Suposedly they turned on the air but I'm highly skeptical at this point. I'm still sweating to death.

So, I found out where I student teach!! I'm doing my elementary in a life skills classroom in Collchester (that's only like 10-15 mins from my apartment) and my high school placement is in a resource room in Sciota (which is about the same distance). I can't tell you how relieved I am that they aren't 45 mins away like my block teaching this semester was. Erin is placed at the same schools as well, so we can even car pool if we need to.

I can't wait to move out of this stupid dorm for good. I wish I could set up my apartment right away, but since I'm going to be working at camp again it won't happen for awhile. Actually, I'll only have a few days to move in and get set up before student teaching starts, but that's ok. I finish camp Aug 11 and I start student teaching Aug 15.

I'm a little conflicted about this summer. I'm really excited to go home to camp and my friends, my brother's wedding and to see my family. But at the same time, it seems like every week something else comes up that I wish I were going to be here in Macomb for. I think I'll see Jeremy more than last summer, but I'm still a little aprehensive about leaving him for three months. But he's going to be racing this summer, so that will keep him fairly busy, and I'll get to experience lawnmower racing for the first time, so I'm excited about that. I'm really excited for camp this year though, I have so many ideas and new things to try out this year. I'm determined to spend our budget without stressing myself out with a huge shopping trip at the end of the summer. It will be fun. Plus Laura and I are going to start planning her wedding of course. That will be exciting. I'm really looking forward to getting to voice opinions and know everything that is going on, since I'm the maid of honor and the best friend. :)

I'm really looking forward to next year though, I think it will be great to live in my apartment and teach. I'm not exactly sure what I'll be doing second sememster, but even if I don't find a job right away I will substitute, so I'm not worried. Jeremy and I have started talking about where we'll live depending on where I get a job, so that's an exciting new venture too. I have a lot ahead of me. But I'm looking forward to the summer to help me feel ready to tackle all the obstacles ahead.

Current Location: Room
Current Mood: hot

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April 6th, 2007

Weeeeee

4/6/07 02:32 pm

My bestest friend in the whole world got engaged on wednesday!! (that'd be Laura-Laura!)

When I told her I'd be home sometime soon to make sure my bride's maid dress fit me for my brother's wedding she said "You'll be doing that again soon" So I said "Yaaaay! I'm gonna be the maid of honor!!" and she said "Yaaaaay! I'm gonna be the bride!!"

lol. Silly Laura. I'm sooo happy for her and Genc. It's been awhile coming I suppose. This is the first of my friends to get engaged though, kinda weird.

Current Mood: excited

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March 14th, 2007

Grrr

3/14/07 07:25 pm

Yeah I know, two posts in one day, the world must be ending.

But I'm sitting here at 7:25 on the wednesday of my SPRING BREAK doing homework and watching the same movie I watched this afternoon. If that's not depressing...I don't know what is.

I think it should be illegal for best friends to go out of town to visit their wonderful boyfriend (who just happens to live in sunny florida) for spring break. Bah humbug.

If I wasn't being such a gas conserving freak I'd go bother Kevin.

Bah. It's so sad that all my other friends are in Macomb (or rather Bushnell) right now.

Ok, done whinning, gonna go find some ice cream.

Oooh, p.s.
I went to try on my bride's maid dress today. Wow. So I really don't like halter dresses much cause, well, I have man shoulders, but this one is really rather beautiful. And an added bonus, the material gathers just a little right over my pudge, making me look skinny. I love it. Kudos to Erin for being such a freaking incredible (almost) sister-in-law. If only I had some freaking boobs the world would be a better place. Oh well, fake ones will have to suffice. hehehe

Current Mood: grumpy

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Scary dreams

3/14/07 11:02 am

I slept like crap last night, for a really odd reason.

I was having nightmares about trying to type a lesson plan that kept erasing itself.

I think that's the first sign that I've been WRITING TOO MANY LESSON PLANS!!!!

My spring break:
- 13 lesson plans
- a CBM (curriculum based measurement) plan
- finishing my teaching portfolio

Good news though: 13 lesson plans down, 1/2 a CBM plan down.

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: tired

December 12th, 2006

Good things. :)

12/12/06 10:43 pm

So, Maine was amazing. It was so beautiful, even without any leaves on the trees or snow on the ground. It was great to meet Jeremy's family. They are all completely insane, but I love them. They're so welcoming, I got hugs right away and they talked to me like I was part of the family.

I really liked Jeremy's cousins, Tina, Nick and Tony. We spent the most time with them, playing games and hanging out. I don't think I ever mentioned it on here but Nick went to the world series of poker this year. He made it to the second day and beat out some pros I guess. Overall, he did pretty well for a rookie. Well anyway, we had a big poker tournament one night and Jeremy bought me in. All I really wanted to do was not look like a dope in front of all these guys that play poker all the time. Well, I think I accomplished my goal...considering I won the tournament. It was down to me and Nick at the end. I actually knocked out everyone but two players (I didn't knock out Jeremy...thank god! lol). It is true that I caught some really lucky cards, but I played everything really well, I even managed to bluff Nick out of a few hands. At one point I came back from not even having enough money to make the big blind. I remember before that hand Jeremy walked back in the room and I said "sorry I tried" and then I won the hand, and the one after that, and ended up being the big stack when it came down to me and Nick. I beat him when I was the big blind, he called with pocket Aces, but didn't raise pre-flop, he wanted to draw me in. I stayed in (obviously, it was for free) with a 5, 2 off-suit. I flopped pairs, Nick went all in, I called and won. It was pretty cool. I won $115. Overall it was a really exciting experience I guess. I certianly learned a lot from the game.

I also got to meet Jeremy's uncles, aunts, Nanny and Bumpa (grandparents), and his dad!! Jeremy is so much like his dad, despite living with his mom his whole life. It was so cool to see them together. I love his dad, he was awesome. Everyone kept asking when we were coming back. I hope it will be soon. I really did have a great time, it was way better than I hoped it would be.

I didn't have a whole lot of pictures of the scenery but this is my favorite, it's the lake right by where most of his family lives in Newport, ME.

I got to try on the bride's maid dress over break too. It's actually really pretty, I'm looking forward to wearing it. I saw some pictures of my boss Matt's wedding today, it made me think of Jon and Erin's wedding. I can't wait. It will be the first time Jeremy get to meet my family too.

I leave for home Friday morning. Jeremy is coming home with me for a few days, I'll get a few days to hang out and have fun before I have to start working at Circuit City again. Bleh, oh well, it's money. I can't wait until this Christmas season is over though, it will be my last retail Christmas, after this year I'll have a degree and hopefully some good job prospects. Sounds nice. :)

Current Mood: content

November 22nd, 2006

Imagine a super bouncy ball...that's me today!

11/22/06 11:21 am

I'm so so so so so so so excited.

I'm printing out our boarding passes for our flight tomorrow. I can't even tell you how excited I am to be going!! I'm like a big bundle of energy. weeeeeee

On a different note, another exciting thing is happening today, I'm going to try on bride's maid dresses with Erin for their wedding! I can't believe how fast May is approaching. Yikes. I'm excited though. This will be the first wedding I've ever been in. Unless you count my parent's second wedding when I was a flower girl. lol.

Oh my, so much to be excited about today!!!

Current Mood: bouncy

November 16th, 2006

(no subject)

11/16/06 11:11 am

This time next week...

I'll be in Boston!!!

getting ready to drive to Maine!

weeeeeeeee

Current Mood: jubilant

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November 1st, 2006

Trip time!

11/1/06 01:41 pm

Well, I suppose I have some big news.

After a year of talking about it, we finally did it. Jeremy and I bought plane tickets.

Where are we going you ask?

MAINE!!!

(This is when you say: "Brrr")

We're going to Maine to visit Jeremy's family! I still haven't gotten to meet his dad's side of the family because they all live in Maine. But, Jeremy gets a few days off for Thanksgiving making it possible for us to finally go see them! We're leaving Chicago at like 6am Thanksgiving morning and staying until monday evening. I'm sooooo excited. I've been talking to his grandma and his dad through email since this summer and I'm really anxious to finally meet them. Plus, we're driving from Boston to Maine so I get to see lots of pretty east coast-ness. Granted it will probably be covered in snow, or at least really chilly, but I love the winter so I'm all for it. I hope it snows while we're there so we can play in it!! I'm so giddy about it, I can't even tell you.

Only 23 more days!

Current Location: Work
Current Mood: loved
Current Music: something random on Sirius

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October 2nd, 2006

For all the teachers!!

10/2/06 08:55 pm

WHAT DO TEACHERS MAKE ?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Susan. Be honest. What do you make?"

Susan, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?"

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them criticize.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them write.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math and perfect their final drafts in English.

I make them understand that if you have the brains, and follow your heart, if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you must pay no attention because they just didn't learn."

Susan paused and then continued. "You want to know what I make?

'I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.' What do you make?"

Current Mood: accomplished

September 14th, 2006

I found Happy Jenny again!!

9/14/06 10:16 am

I guess I've been in a bit of a funk lately. I kept feeling cranky and stressed out all the time and I couldn't seem to shake it. I was worried about a lot of things, where I was going to be placed for my Block Teaching this semester, how far away it would be, how much gas I was going to have to buy a week, and then on top of all that, I was just nervous about teaching. I was stressed out about the fact that my hours at work got cut this semester, and I'm not making much money this year. I was getting to be not very fun to be around, and it was starting to take a toll on everyone, especially Jeremy. Poor guy, he's such a trooper, putting up with me when I'm in random bitch mode.

But, on a happy note, I've had a couple of really good days this week, and I seem to be back to my normal cheery self. First, for our anniversary Jeremy bought me a fish tank and some fishies!! I really really like them, they calm me and take my mind off things for awhile. I have four of these little neon type fish, they're named Huey, Duey, Gooey, and Bill. (we had a Louie, but he didn't do so well in the trip home from Walmart sadly). I also have two kissing fish, but we still haven't named them yet. I'm waiting for something brilliant to come to me. So for now they're girl and boy. I'm not actually sure one is a girl and one is a boy but one of them is bigger and sticks his fins out all the time and chases the other one around. The smaller one is very calm and likes to hide under the log, she also never sticks out her fins. So I've decided that I'll just pretend one is a girl and one is a boy. :)

Also, Jeremy came up with a way for me to make some extra cash. I'm working with him, calling his dormant customers and trying to get them to buy again. I'm also doing some paperwork for him. It's not a bad job, and I get some spending money so all my other money can go to paying the bills. It's a nice setup. Plus it means I learn more about Jeremy's job and we have a lot more to talk about. It makes me feel good, so that's a nice bonus.

Finally, I got my placement for Block!!!! I'm going to be in a third grade classroom here in Macomb. I'm so happy I don't have to drive an hour away! I already set up my meeting with my teacher, she seems pretty nice, so I meet her tomorrow morning, which means I can get started monday!! Our advisor decided it would be a good move for us to go all day Friday as well, which means I shouldn't have a problem getting my 120 hours done by Thanksgiving like I was hoping.

So, in the end, I had nothing to worry about really. But, that never stops me from doing it. So, to everyone's happiness I'm back to being only normally stressed. No extra crankiness here. Yay for that!

La Dolce Vita

Jenny

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