Tumbling Down

Well my day started out with a bang, and a bump, and a bruise…

I fell down the stairs.

And it was terrifying.

Our house has this staircase that is divided into a long flight of about 10 or so stairs and then there is a landing with a little window, and it turns a 90 degree angle, and there is a smaller flight of about 5 or 6 stairs.  The house is over 100 years old and so the staircase is narrow and steep.  Now, that you have the setting pictured here’s what happened…

I was leaving my room on my way down to take a shower, I lost my footing (stupid slippers), and started to slip.  In mid-air I started to panic that I would somehow fall forward and go tumbling through the window and fall two stories, so I try to throw my weight back instead of forward.  I successfully (somehow) managed to fall backward and then I hit the stairs. And I hit hard.  I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me but I didn’t have any time to recover because as soon as I was on the ground, I proceeded to tumble-down the remaining short flight of stairs stopping at the landing.  Thankfully I didn’t continue to fall down the much longer flight of stairs.  But after I fell I just laid there for a while…I could tell I hadn’t broken anything but had jostled my neck pretty good as well as injuring my tailbone.  It felt like I had been hit by a line-backer, or by a bus, or some other big heavy thing had just run full force into me.

I have been in pain all day, although thankfully I was able to stay positive and upbeat with my kindergarteners despite feeling uncomfortable sitting, standing, walking, etc.  I love them to death, but sometime all their wants and needs can drive me a little bonkers.

At free time at the end of the day one of my little ones, made me a kite (a piece of construction paper taped to some string) and she very adamantly told me I should go fly it after school, I didn’t want to dash her hopes and let her know her teacher would not be flying her kite due to the huge amount of pain she was in; so  I told her I would put it up on the wall with the other artwork students have made for me so everyone could see it and that seemed to make her happy.

I didn’t get the job that I interviewed for last week, but tomorrow morning I will start my new sort of job at my current school.  I’ll basically be doing what I would have done had I gotten the job, minus the title.  So, tomorrow morning I’ll be meeting with teachers and trying to figure out how I can best help their students.  I’m really excited for the extra work, as well as the opportunity to get to know other staff and students, but with how I’m feeling right now I just wish I could sleep in! I’m definitely going to try to hit the hay early tonight, and I plan on taking a nice warm shower before bed to try to loosen up some of those stiff and sore muscles.

I even stopped at the pharmacy on the way home to see if they had any magical recommendations to make me feel better.  They didn’t.  And I got to tell more people that I fell down the stairs, it’s a little embarrassing.  But oh well. I got some chocolate and that certainly has helped my mood a bit, however I’m anticipating feeling worse tomorrow so we’ll see how that goes. :0)

Report Card Season

I’ve been MIA the past week, due to report cards at school.  It seems like when that time of year rolls around, things just get crazy! For every category on the report card there’s a test that I have to give my kids, it’s exhausting for them and for me.  It has been a very long week full of math and reading testing, but today will hopefully be the last day! Hallelujah! And after all this testing and since St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow, we’re going to do a few fun little activities with Lucky Charms today!

In other new, I feel like I’ve been a little boy crazy in the last month in my posts. Sorry! Not meaning to be, just something that’s been on my mind, and so it comes out here. :0)

I had an interview for another part-time position on Tuesday (when it snowed!).  They only interviewed me and one other candidate, but I haven’t heard anything yet, so I’m thinking that they decided to go with the other person.  Which is okay, disappointing but okay.  The principal at my current school also offered me an additional part-time job, as a small group tutor essentially.  So, however it works out I’ll have more work which is such a Godsend!

Oh Happy Day!

I got a JOB!!!! When I didn’t think it was possible, after all the interviews and calls where the principals told me I was the runner-up and they wished they could hire me too, I got a job! A month and a half into the school year and I got a teaching job!!

What a blessing! I went into the interview thinking I had a small chance of landing the job, and knowing that this was probably my last opportunity to get a contract this year, and God totally provided. When I got the call this morning, I could hardly believe it and was expecting to hear, “Thanks for coming in to interview, we’re offering the job to another candidate.” And instead, “We would like you to come be our new kindergarten teacher!” eeeeeee!! Squeals of joy!

This is going to be a challenge and I know my hands will be full, but I am so looking forward to working with this classroom of kids. Yay, yay, yay!

It’s conference week so I’ve been sitting in on conferences so I can meet parents and some of the kids. My first official day of teaching will be Monday, which just happens to be Halloween! It’s going to be a crazy November!

Wait and See

I didn’t get the job. I was the second choice, which is nice to know but heartbreaking at the same time.  The staff at the school where I am long-term subbing have been such an awesome support and so encouraging. When they heard I didn’t get the job they gave hugs and had such sweet things to say. I only cried once over this whole thing and a big part of the reason for those tears was all the love from the wonderful staff I am so blessed to be working with again. Love them all!

There are 2 more jobs I’m applying for but that’s pretty much my last shot for a steady job for the year. Teachers at the school I’m long-term subbing at have been fighting over me to be their sub in the afternoons. :0) If either of these 2 jobs don’t work out it’ll all be okay at least I’m working! I’ll just have to see…

In other news, I got a puppy!! I adopted her at the humane society on Saturday. She’s an Australian Cattle Dog Mix and 7 months old. Her name is Kanga!

Breakdown Here

Alright so two posts in one day, that doesn’t happen often with me especially not lately. I just found out the possible job opening at the school I’m currently subbing at, which I was hoping would be like a fallback if the interview Thursday morning doesn’t work out. Mom and I were on the phone and I totally lost it. I just feel a lot of pressure about the interview and it’s hard to feel relaxed about it. And everyone is like you’re such a great teacher, they’d be lucky to have you…which just builds up this pressure and if things don’t work out it makes it even harder. Goodness, I just need to go into this with a clear head and know that if it’s meant to be and part of God’s plan everything will work out. I hate interviews and this whole process. I’ll be glad when this is all over and hopefully there will be happy news!

Macarooni

I am proud to report that I completed several things on my summer wish list!

Why are job applications so long? It took me almost all day to finish two job applications – well not actually all day but it felt like it! One was for a school district and one was for Starbucks. Hopefully one or both will lead to a job but I’ll keep working on applications over the rest of the week and make some follow up phone calls.

After I finished the job applications I made some macaroons. One of the items on my learn to bake list. They turned out so well, I think I’ve had four! But the chocolate didn’t quite turn out and is a little over sweet something to alter for the next time I make them. They are still good but you can just scrape off the top and then they are plain coconut goodness.

It was a productive and fun day capped off with dinner at my favorite local Mexican restaurant, yum!

Hip Hip Hooray!

I got the job!

Feeling excited and nervous!!! So much to do in the next 24 hours essentially since school starts bright and early on Wednesday morning!!

Hooray! :0)

Interview Round 2

Hallelujah, I finally heard – I have an interview for a half-time kindergarten job on Monday!

This all feels very deja-vu, last minute interview for a job I don’t know if I’m qualified for…but just because of those similarities I’m not counting it as THE job. Because it’s so close to the start of school it sounds like Monday is it, I should know sometime on Monday if I got the job or not…which makes me anxious and excited (especially that I don’t have to come back and teach a model lesson). 

I’m trusting God to lead me through this experience and if this is the right job things will work out and if not, then things will still work out.

So, prayer would be amazing and…I’m off to try to relax and learn as much about kindergarten as I can in the next two days!

Unemployed

I didn’t get the job…

I guess I wasn’t detailed enough in my answers, and that I just didn’t say what they were looking for.

Feeling heartbroken, embarrassed, and upset.

Loss For Words

Okay, so the title doesn’t really fit this post because I have plenty of words to say, just none that can be squished down into an amusing or witty title.  And that’s the story of how this post got its name, fascinating I know. 

It’s been a few days (better than going a few months!) and lots has been going on in my world. So, let’s break it down…

Fatty (aka Beth) reunion!  On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to get to spend the day with my best friend of 23 years. Yes, 23.  We have been friends since before I can remember owing to the fact that our dads our like glued to the hip. She’s been going to grad school in Boston and the last time I saw her was Christmas break. I love her and definitely do not get to spend enough time with her. It was a simple day of lunch, coffee at my most favorite shop ever, pedicures and cupcake baking. We’re going camping with her fam in a couple weeks and I’m so looking forward to getting to hang with her more!

Job News - While over at Beth’s place, I checked my email and happened to get word that I had not been selected to interview for any of the remaining positions I had applied to. I managed to keep it together while I was over, but inside it kept constantly picking at me. Last summer I got an interview for almost every job I applied to, when I was a new teacher and had zero experience. And now, things are not looking good for the coming school year.  So, that means more subbing for me and a possible return to Starbucks.

I’m trying to stay positive and not lose sight of the fact that something could still open up in August, but not to  put all my eggs in one basket.  I’m not going to lie I feel like it would be a little humiliating to come back as a sub next year…but I’m trusting Him.  Trusting Him to provide the right job, at the right time, at the right school.  Who knows? Subbing could be really beneficial this year, and maybe I would be able to do some other stuff like a little traveling. No matter what happens I know that He is in control of my life.

Baby Visit! Today, Mom and I went to visit one of the 3rd grade teachers from SG who had a baby two weeks ago. Little Reece! She’s sooooo sweet, and I got to hold her for a majority of the visit. She fell asleep in my arms, ahhh I can’t wait! (Not that I’m ANYWHERE close) Hopefully I’ll get to babysit!

House sitting Hijinx – Over the next three weeks or so I will be house- and dog-sitting for two different people. It all starts Monday, where I’ll be off to take care of puppies and my college roommates’ parents’ house. (yes it’s a mouthful) They don’t exactly live close, so it will kinda be a mini-retreat, hanging out and just having some good me time. I’m trying to come up with some fun things to do while I’m there but I haven’t come up with a very compelling list.

Tomorrow – Okay, so I am super excited for tomorrow night because….get ready for it, and full disclosure, I am a total dork for this, but I’m going to see “Eclipse”!! Yes, I am a Twilight fan.  Last summer, all the girls in my Bible study group made our way through the books, and each week we would sit around the kitchen table before diving into the Bible, and discuss the newest development, or those of us who were ahead of the group would sit back and giggle at predictions made by others. Based on our mutual love of the story, we enjoy going to see the movies together.  It’s such a giggly, girly thing to do and don’t worry we fully discuss the movies after viewing and embrace the dorkiness of doing so.  Tomorrow night is the night, and in spite of the reviews and teasing I am so excited to see it!

Fourth of July Sunday is the 4th, which is one of my most favorite holidays ever. We’re going over to a friends’ house which happens to be right on the lake. We were there last year, and it was gorgeous, I spent the majority of the day floating on the lake working on my tan, or on the boat. Here’s hoping for nice weather and a repeat of last year!

see, lots of words to say and not all of them that fantastic, but hey it’s my blog! :0)