School Started and So Did I

I'm just going to get right to the point. The first day of school was horrible. I knew teaching middle school was going to be challenging, but come on.

My day starts with me having first period off for conference. It's a little early to have a conference and I wasn't happy about it at first, but now I love it. I can get in to school mode before I have a class and get a few extra things done first thing. Next I have my first class, Pre-AP. Since I'm teaching 7th grade Language Arts and Texas has a state exam called TAKS, we have the students for 90 minute blocks. They're in my class for 45 minutes, I give them the passing period break and then they come back to me for another 45 minutes. Think that's bad? Haha! I only teach 3 classes. Sounds better, right? Next is my 4th period. All language arts teachers have this period off to plan with each other. Some days we just meet grade level and others we meet with the whole school. Then I have lunch, and then my other two classes. My 5th/6th period is Pre-AP too, but my 7th/8th is not. This is where they put all of the kids that may be regular students, those that need additional help, behavior problems and even special ed service kids. And did I mention it's the end of the day? Lets just say that the whole night after my first day I spent on the couch and in bed, CRYING!!! I know, suck it up. Well, guess what? I did!

I have just completed my second week as a teacher with success. I guess I just had to get through that first day. And I just want to address one thing. The only person that reads this blog that I went to school with is Tommy Norris (and of course Jason), so let me get this out. I know what you're going to say, and I just want to say to you....DON'T! Haha. For all others, this just means that I was the reason that all of my teachers probably went home and cried their first day of teaching middle school. Oh well. Lesson learned.

I can't wait to post pics of my classroom, and although I have a few, I want to wait until my class looks perfect. Something else I've learned is that I never knew how long I would be at school after the final bell rang. I could easily stay there till 10 or later and be working the whole time. But, I refuse to do that. I do have tons of work to do and so now I'm just waiting for this to become routine. I never want to lose sight of what's important to me because I'm working too much.

Jason's been in Colorado for 7 days elk hunting. I've been all alone, but maybe it's been better since I just started this job and it's requiring so much of my attention. But, I would still rather have him home. As of now he is still empty handed, but he's not letting that stop him. He goes out everyday looking for something.

One last thing. As I mentioned before, I went to see Grease, the musical. I went with a bigger group then last time. Some I knew, some I didn't. I loved it. I think I could become totally addicted to going to musicals and am considering buying a season pass for next summer. I read the comment you made Becky, and please, feel free to fly/drive here to see one with me. We'll have a blast!

And the best part was this:

Taylor Hicks was in it. He was Teen Angel and sang Beauty School Drop Out. It was great.

Look Familiar?

Wasn't it right about this time last year that I posted a picture like this?





Um, and how weird is it that I got him doing the same pose, and in the SAME clothes! HAHA!

Girls Night Out

For those of you who have never gone to see a Broadway musical, I highly suggest it. Although we weren't able to go to New York to see one, we went to see one through the Dallas Summer Musicals. Our choice? Legally Blonde, of course!

It was really good, and much longer than I expected. I guess this was the first musical I have been to that I can remember. I know that for field trips in elementary school we went to see one, but I can't remember what it was. Anyway, I definately remember this one. There were four of us that went. And if you're wondering if you can take you camera in and take pictures of yourselves, or any of the action, I'm here to tell you that YOU CAN NOT! I pulled my camera out to take a picture of us and next thing I knew one of the ushers was standing beside us ready to take my camera away. He said I could get it back after the show with a redemption ticket he would give me. Lucky me, he didn't have any tickets on him. I quickly shoved it in my purse where it remained for 3 weeks after, just in case.

So, the only pictures I got were:

Me and Sarah

(I just realized that my eyes looked weird. I swear they are normal! Must be the glare!)

And, Michelle and Katy

Up next, Grease, September 4, 2009! :)

Family Fourth

This year was the very first year that Jason and I have been off together at a decent time and were able to enjoy the day. Jason got home from work around 6 and we let our dogs play with our new neighbor's dog, Chevy, for a little bit, then we went to Denton to Michelle's house. The last couple of years she has had a get-together at her house for the 4th so instead of breaking tradition we went there.

This is Erik, cleaning up from the kids' sidewalk chalk to make way for the fireworks:

Adrienne, another Walgreens "chick" always knows how to entertain the kids. Here she is handing out the "Snaps" with Cole cheesing in the background:

Michelle and Reed with his sparkler:

So, after we spent some time with Michelle we met my dad, Sherry, my dad's best friend Brad and his wife to watch the fireworks show at Fouts Field:

Me and dad. Dad's sunburnt from being at the lake all day.

Jason and Brad

And can you believe it? The ice crema truck came by. Who can resist that?

At the end of the night, everyone came back to our house

I Copied

OK, I have to admit, when I look at other people's blogs that I do know, I look at their followers list, many of whom I don't know. One headline stood out to me. It said "For all you Taylor Swift/Coldplay fans". That's me, and I had to look. What I found was amazing.

I have always been a fan of music. I grew up performing to it and today, even though I can't carry a tune, it doesn't stop me. I sing everywhere, and throw a few dance moves in there just for fun. I especially love watching music being performed. Here, at this link, it is amazing what people can do with instruments.

I say I stole this link, but I'm pretty sure that the person that put it on YouTube WANTS everyone to see it. So, consider it my good deed for the day to share this masterpiece:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v3d6SFcDys

Oh, and thanks to Tommy and Becky for having interesting blogger friends for me get this from!

Spring Time Projects In Full Swing

This year we got started early on some projects around the house. With me being done with school and Jason working day shift (finally for the first time since we've been together) we've found plenty of things to do to keep ourselves busy.

This first project actually has a story behind it. I got bronchitis, for the first time ever, and had it for the whole month of April. The first week I had it I was taking cough medicine with codeine in it and I pretty much just melted into what ever I was sitting or laying on for several hours. And here's where the story begins...

Jason's side: He came home from SWAT practice and asked me if I wanted to go ahead and put rails up on the front porch to close it in. We talked about it and he even called his mom to ask her a few questions about and even went across the street to see how they built theirs. He then asked if I wanted to go to the lumber place with him, which I declined, so he went by himself.

My side: I woke up and heard something loud out front. I went outside and Jason and our neighbor Shaun were sawing away at wood for the railing that was halfway done.

Regardless, it's something we had talked about in the past but never quite got to yet. I think it came out pretty nice.

Before:

After:

And now with the addition of new plants, plus what's already blooming, it looks like this:

We also laid down a walkway that leads to our backyard and put in a huge deck (no jokes, please).

Jason's stepdad and mom helped get us started:

And Jason's dad helped us finish it:

And now:

We still need to add rails around it, but for now it's great. Every single night we sit on that step and play with our dogs. Then we do a perimeter check on all of our plants and flowers. Jason made a beautiful garden area under the tree in front of the deck with hydrangeas, our wedding flower.

I think we're done for now. At some point this year we'll probably put the rails on the deck up, but with triple degree weather here it makes it kind of hard.

Panther Pride

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!! I'm officially a 7th grade Language Arts teacher. I just found out last Wednesday.

I went on an interview 2 Wednesdays ago and I was up for either the 8th grade or 7th grade position. Luckily, this is the school I student taught at so I was a bit more comfortable than most. That is, until I walked into the interview room. It was every person I had previously worked with sitting at a table across from me, or a "jury of my peers", as I joke. I had never been so nervous. I think at that moment I would have preferred complete strangers.

I left the interview feeling confident, but knowing that there were more qualified people that they would see that day. The principal told me that I would hear something that afternoon. I went on to work, late, and checked my phone every 5 minutes. (Did I mention that we're not allowed to have our phones in the pharmacy, "allegedly"?) Finally, between 4 and 5 the principal called me and said I was up against one other person for the 7th grade position. Is that better than getting told I do/don't have the job, or worse? Anyway, they wanted to see me the next day. I went in again and this time it was only grade level, subject specific teachers in the room. I answered all their questions and even fired off a few of my own, and as i got ready to leave, I walked out of the room and saw my competition. Are you kidding? Here's how it went...I student taught the first semester of this past school year. My competition student taught the second semester next door to where I student taught. Two rookies. May the best woman win.

I'm kidding, but that really is the way it went. I waited all day Thursday and Friday, and by the weekend I wasn't so confident. Monday rolled around and by Tuesday night I couldn't sleep. I knew I blew it. I woke up from little sleep on Wednesday morning and put on a brave face and called the middle school to "follow-up". The secretary said, "When they make a decision I'm sure they'll call you!" I got in my car, and the check engine light was on. Of course it was! What else could go wrong? So I called and complained to Jason about it, and about 10 minutes before I was supposed to be at work my phone rang. It was a representative from Northwest ISD calling to extend an offer. My reaction? I screamed in the phone "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???" He said, "I'll take that as a yes?" Idiot!! After that all I heard was blah blah blah. He said some things that I'm sure were important, but my heart was beating out of my chest and I was trying to drive between my own lines and try not to use the other lane's lines to the best of my ability. I'm not even sure when I start. Oh well, I got the job.

It's bittersweet. I'm leaving the comfort of the pharmacy for something I've worked so hard for so long for. I'm going from the top the bottom. It's gonna be hard, but I'm sure I'll survive. And it doesn't hurt that I student taught with the 6th graders too, so I know most of them. Stay tuned, I'm sure I'll have great student stories. You know what they say, kids say the darndest things.