Things are pretty much the same right now. I am subbing a lot at my mom's school. I am requested pretty regularly there; which is nice because I am getting to know that school, staff, and students really well. The kids are excited when they see that I am subbing for their teacher for the day. That makes me happy.
I really miss my friends up in Utah. I need to plan out a visit. Unfortunately, time and money would need to be just right for it to happen. I might be able to do something over the summer, but I would like to see them before that!
My ward is still really small. I am, once again, a R.S. teacher in the ward. At least it is a calling that I know well. I am still just waiting to age out in June; I will figure out where to go next after that. Hopefully, I can find a good ward with people my age that I can make friends with. We will see...
The family is doing well. My grandpa had a health scare a little bit ago involving surgery after having some mini-strokes. He is doing much better now! Prayer works! Danielle is doing well in her nursing program. Drew is doing the pathways program through BYU. Michael is trying to apply to local colleges for next fall. Dad has been very busy with projects at work. Mom is busy at work as well; in addition to keeping busy with her callings. Jack is doing great. He still has massive crazy moments where he just has run around the house and get the crazies out. His favorite spot to sleep is in my lap when I am sitting on the couch. He curls up into a little ball. He is a little big for a lap dog, but I love it!
So, that's it. I am really grateful to be home for the holiday season. I am still looking for a teaching job. That's about it. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Disneyland...
So, I finally broke down and did it. I bought a Southern California Select Annual Pass to Disneyland. There are a ton of blackout dates; but those are the days that Disneyland is really crowded and I wouldn't want to be there anyways. :) Others in my family are still debating whether or not they will be getting pass; so, as of now, I plan on attending alone.
I had never been to Disneyland alone before. There are a lot of people who do it, however, and it is supposed to be a new experience and worth it. So, I did it. On Tuesday, I went to Disneyland all by myself. I left around nine in the morning, with the hopes that I would miss the traffic. So much for that. I got stuck driving for two hours. I huge rock also hit my windshield and left a nice big chip in the glass. Bummer. But finally, I made it to my destination.
I have to admit, I was a little nervous about going alone. I had spent all this money on a pass. What if I didn't enjoy myself? It was a little weird at first, but I got over it and had a good time. It did get a little boring in the lines, and I imagine that it would be more fun on slow days when the lines are short. I did almost everything that I wanted to in Disneyland. They closed early for a special Halloween party, so I went over to California Adventure. So did everyone else. I was only able to do two things there before I realized that I was tired and not interested in standing in a 50-minute line as my last ride. So, I left and beat some of the traffic leaving the park. The traffic on the way home was much better and I made good time.
I took some time to reflect on my trip. I did have a good time and I will be going again, probably next week. It is more fun with other people; but it was still enjoyable and I talked with some nice people (and listened in on some really weird conversations). All in all, I would recommend going by yourself at least once. That said, if anyone is going to be in my area give me a call and I will totally go to Disneyland with you! :)
I had never been to Disneyland alone before. There are a lot of people who do it, however, and it is supposed to be a new experience and worth it. So, I did it. On Tuesday, I went to Disneyland all by myself. I left around nine in the morning, with the hopes that I would miss the traffic. So much for that. I got stuck driving for two hours. I huge rock also hit my windshield and left a nice big chip in the glass. Bummer. But finally, I made it to my destination.
I have to admit, I was a little nervous about going alone. I had spent all this money on a pass. What if I didn't enjoy myself? It was a little weird at first, but I got over it and had a good time. It did get a little boring in the lines, and I imagine that it would be more fun on slow days when the lines are short. I did almost everything that I wanted to in Disneyland. They closed early for a special Halloween party, so I went over to California Adventure. So did everyone else. I was only able to do two things there before I realized that I was tired and not interested in standing in a 50-minute line as my last ride. So, I left and beat some of the traffic leaving the park. The traffic on the way home was much better and I made good time.
I took some time to reflect on my trip. I did have a good time and I will be going again, probably next week. It is more fun with other people; but it was still enjoyable and I talked with some nice people (and listened in on some really weird conversations). All in all, I would recommend going by yourself at least once. That said, if anyone is going to be in my area give me a call and I will totally go to Disneyland with you! :)
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Things going too easy? Here! Jump through this hoop!
Last week was a crazy and stressful week! I had a bunch of stuff that I needed to get done before the end of the month and chose last week to get it all done. I had called the sub office and found out that I got into the September orientation group and needed to get a TB test done. I had just received the test in May and it was negative; but I also had a slight reaction that made it hard to read the test. I have really sensitive skin on my arms, so I was a little concerned.
I called a few places and found a low-cost clinic (because I don't have health insurance right now) in Corona. I set up an appointment and got the test done. I had the same reaction that I had in May, except larger. I went to the clinic a few days later and the doctor barely touched it before telling me that it was positive. I tried explain about my skin and what had happened in May. She just said that is wasn't possible, and that this is what it was...positive. She told me that I needed to get a chest x-ray done and that, because I had tested positive once, I would always need the chest x-ray from now on.
I was referred to a nearby imaging center and got the x-ray done that day. I was told that the results would be faxed to the clinic within a few hours and that I could stop by the next day for the results there as well. I went to the clinic the next day and they said that they couldn't do anything. I had to wait for a letter from the CDC because that is where my results were sent. I explained what the imaging center had told me and they finally gave me a paper to sign in order to get my results released. However, they would tell me what they meant. I went to the imaging center for their results, just in case they happened to look different...they didn't.
The paper basically listed a bunch of things that they looked at on the x-ray. Each one said normal, negative, and no abnormalities found. Sounds good right? That should be enough? Well, no where on there did it say "negative for TB." A rational person could look at the paper and conclude that it means that I am negative; but I doubt that the district will be rational and needs something signed from a doctor. So, next week I am going to try to go to the clinic again to see if I can get them to sign something. I would hope that doctor that referred me has enough sense to know what the paper says and can sign my release to work. I need to get this done before Wednesday! I can't wait for something from the CDC, if that is even coming. If anyone has experience with this, I would appreciate your input. So stressful!
The other thing that I had to do this week was register my car in California. I went to AAA to get this done. I couldn't make myself go back to the DMV. When I went there for my new license the lines were huge, everything was complicated, I had to take a test, and I caught a cold. AAA was still busy, but I got in pretty quick. The lady who helped me seemed nice, but was also a little condescending. She also had no idea how to do an out-of-state transfer. There was some sort of suspension that she needed help to get around (I think it was from when I first got the car, because I didn't send in insurance information--I was registering it somewhere else anyways and, when I looked it up, it said that it was no longer active). Then she said that my car was classified as a truck and that I needed to get it weighed; and she wanted to mark it as a commercial vehicle. Ummmm, my CAR is NOT a TRUCK. It's a CAR! Then she said that because Utah didn't put print my name on the registration they couldn't just believe that I was the owner.
Let me explain. When I bought my car I didn't have a strong credit history. So, my parents went with me to their bank and they co-signed a loan with me. Everyone listed on the loan would have their credit scores helped every time that I made a payment. Technically, we were all registered owners of the car. When I moved to Utah, the DMV there listed my name third in the computer. When my registration printed, I wasn't even on it. I was listed as "et al" or "and others." AAA didn't want to accept that. They either wanted the title with my name on it (which I couldn't get because the bank still holds the balance of my loan), or have my parents sign this registration form. I didn't want to have to do this for two reasons: first, I didn't want to have to come back to AAA (I wanted to finish everything); second, I was the registered owner!
I went home and had my parents sign the stupid form. I also had my mom go with me to the bank and we got a print out that showed all three names on the loan. She also went with me to AAA, just in case. First, we went and got my car weighed at a horse-supply store. The guy there said that it was stupid and that it clearly wasn't a truck. My dad said that obviously someone wasn't thinking and made a mistake. I didn't want to take any chances. I just wanted to get it registered. So, back to AAA I went. It wasn't as busy this time; and a different person helped me. I decided to not say anything about the weight thing and let her judge for herself. She inspected my car and listed it as a car on the form. I didn't have to get it weighed after all. There were no problems. She had me pay the fee, turn over my Utah plates and gave me a tool to put the new CA plates on. So, that is officially finished!
It doesn't seem like that much looking at it now, but in the moment it seemed like way too much to handle. The TB test still is too much for me right now. Just one more hoop to jump through before I can start working again. This a highly contagious disease, I would like to think that the doctors would take the time to explain things like results! Whatever. Here's to hoping that I can get a normal doctor that know me really soon!
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Southern California...
It has been a while since my last post. In fact, at the time of my last post I was still in Utah. I moved back to California in June, right after the school year ended. My Dad came up and he, along with a lot of the really great friends that I had made while living in Utah, came and loaded my stuff on a trailer. I had expected my Dad to leave Sunday, but he ended up leaving the same day and driving all the way back to California. Crazy.
As soon as I got home I was thrown into helping get things ready for my sister's wedding. It was a lot more work than I had imagined, and I only came in on the tail end of it. The day before, we went to the church to decorate. Luckily, Danielle and Drew had some awesome friends who had a lot of experience decorating those types of buildings. They did the brunt of the work. It ended up looking really nice. The actual day of the wedding was so hot. It was over 106 in Redlands that day. People were melting during pictures. There are many interesting stories to tell about the actual day. Unfortunately, I can't share the really good ones because the people involved would know how rude they were being...and then it would get all awkward.
Overall, the day was really nice. The most important thing is that Danielle and Drew thought everything was wonderful. I was so exhausted by the end of the day. I pretty much spent the whole day on my feet running around and trying to help people get things done and making sure that Danielle could go to the bathroom and eat and things like that. We took a ton of pictures and, if you are friends with me on Facebook, you can see a lot of the non-professional ones that were taken. Danielle and Drew spent a few days on mini-honeymoon and then moved into my parent's house with the rest of us. They went on a real honeymoon cruise, to St. Thomas, in August. They had a lot of fun and ate a ton of weird food that I wouldn't never try...ever.
While they were gone, my Mom and I both got sick with a cold. It is one of those awful ones that leaves you exhausted. I have been going pretty crazy being stuck inside all day. I am still sick, but I am over the worst of it. I hope. As soon as Danielle and Drew got back, they immediately got sick as well. Danielle blames me, but she started feeling sick in Florida; so there is no way she can blame it on me. ;)
Anyways, I am still looking for work. I have applied to a substitute, but I haven't heard anything yet. It is a very frustrating position to be in. I want to work, but there is so much competition. I received a rejection email that said that they had received over 500 applications. Unless I get some sort of miracle, the only way I will get a full-time position is if I can get a long-term sub job and become well know or if I get hired once the year already starts. I will take anything at this point. I don't know what else I could do at this point. My friend, and former co-worker Shannon, said it best. "I have educated myself into a corner." She makes a great point. As teachers, we have a specialized license in one area. If that one area is flooded with a ton of people looking for work, it is almost like winning the lottery when you actually get called for an interview. So, I keep praying and hoping that something will happen.
As far as the other areas of my life goes, I have started attending my former single's ward. It was the same one I left when I moved to Utah. Except now I don't know any of the people in it. Everyone seems really young and it is even smaller than the ward that I left. One of the counselors asked me how long I planned to be in the ward. I told him that I planned to be there until June 22, 2014. That is when I turn 31 and can no longer attend a singles ward. There aren't really any mid-singles ward where I live, so I will have to go back to my parents ward after that happens...with my parents and my married younger sister and her husband. I am sort of hoping that I can at least get a job somewhere by that point so that I can go to a separate ward.
So, that is it. No other updates for now. I miss my friends and co-workers, who became friends, in Utah like crazy. I think about you guys all of the time! I will post when I have more news.
As soon as I got home I was thrown into helping get things ready for my sister's wedding. It was a lot more work than I had imagined, and I only came in on the tail end of it. The day before, we went to the church to decorate. Luckily, Danielle and Drew had some awesome friends who had a lot of experience decorating those types of buildings. They did the brunt of the work. It ended up looking really nice. The actual day of the wedding was so hot. It was over 106 in Redlands that day. People were melting during pictures. There are many interesting stories to tell about the actual day. Unfortunately, I can't share the really good ones because the people involved would know how rude they were being...and then it would get all awkward.
Overall, the day was really nice. The most important thing is that Danielle and Drew thought everything was wonderful. I was so exhausted by the end of the day. I pretty much spent the whole day on my feet running around and trying to help people get things done and making sure that Danielle could go to the bathroom and eat and things like that. We took a ton of pictures and, if you are friends with me on Facebook, you can see a lot of the non-professional ones that were taken. Danielle and Drew spent a few days on mini-honeymoon and then moved into my parent's house with the rest of us. They went on a real honeymoon cruise, to St. Thomas, in August. They had a lot of fun and ate a ton of weird food that I wouldn't never try...ever.
While they were gone, my Mom and I both got sick with a cold. It is one of those awful ones that leaves you exhausted. I have been going pretty crazy being stuck inside all day. I am still sick, but I am over the worst of it. I hope. As soon as Danielle and Drew got back, they immediately got sick as well. Danielle blames me, but she started feeling sick in Florida; so there is no way she can blame it on me. ;)
Anyways, I am still looking for work. I have applied to a substitute, but I haven't heard anything yet. It is a very frustrating position to be in. I want to work, but there is so much competition. I received a rejection email that said that they had received over 500 applications. Unless I get some sort of miracle, the only way I will get a full-time position is if I can get a long-term sub job and become well know or if I get hired once the year already starts. I will take anything at this point. I don't know what else I could do at this point. My friend, and former co-worker Shannon, said it best. "I have educated myself into a corner." She makes a great point. As teachers, we have a specialized license in one area. If that one area is flooded with a ton of people looking for work, it is almost like winning the lottery when you actually get called for an interview. So, I keep praying and hoping that something will happen.
As far as the other areas of my life goes, I have started attending my former single's ward. It was the same one I left when I moved to Utah. Except now I don't know any of the people in it. Everyone seems really young and it is even smaller than the ward that I left. One of the counselors asked me how long I planned to be in the ward. I told him that I planned to be there until June 22, 2014. That is when I turn 31 and can no longer attend a singles ward. There aren't really any mid-singles ward where I live, so I will have to go back to my parents ward after that happens...with my parents and my married younger sister and her husband. I am sort of hoping that I can at least get a job somewhere by that point so that I can go to a separate ward.
So, that is it. No other updates for now. I miss my friends and co-workers, who became friends, in Utah like crazy. I think about you guys all of the time! I will post when I have more news.
Sunday, May 05, 2013
4 1/2 Weeks...
As of tomorrow, I will have just four and half weeks left until I move back to California. Time seems to move by very quickly some of the time and super slow the rest of the time. Sometimes I think of everything that I need to get done before I move and I wish that I had started earlier! Too late to anything about that now. I am sure that I will get everything done; I just need to get organized.
Work is going well. My class has had one set one state tests and we just have two more sets to go. We have one this week. This week is going to be very busy, but really good. This whole week is teacher appreciation week. I can't wait to see what the PTA has planned. On Monday, we are having Kneaders french toast for breakfast. I am also going to see "Iron Man 3" with Tracie and Nate on Monday. We are going to see it in 3D in the d-box seats. D-box seats are motion seats that move with the action of the movie. Tracie and I have been trying to figure out what movie to see in those seats for a while now. I am sure that it will be worth it.
On Tuesday I am having dinner with some friends. Then on Wednesday it is my brother's 21st birthday and we are going to Skype while he opens presents. Unfortunately, he won't get my gift until Friday...when I give it to him in person! A couple of my friends from church are driving to San Diego for the weekend and they said that I could catch a ride to and from Corona! We are leaving around 4 pm, after work, on Thursday. We will drive all night and I will have all day Friday and Saturday with the family. We will drive back on Sunday. I also decided to take the following Monday off work to recover from all of the driving and to do some more packing and cleaning. I just hope that I can actually find the motivation to get things done. After that it will only be three weeks until my dad shows up to pick up my stuff, and I follow a few days later.
In weight-loss news: I have pretty much been on a plateau for the last year. I got about 8 pounds below the top end of my BMI and stayed there. Since January, I have put on about ten pounds. I am really hoping that it is just due stress and that once I get some things settled I will start to lose again. I actually did manage to take off about 4 of those pounds in the last two weeks. But still, it's frustrating to put in all of that work (you know that you are staying within your calories and exercising two hours a day) and nothing is happening. Some days I just want to say "forget it" and just eat all of those foods that I don't eat anymore. But I don't, and I try again tomorrow. I need to get over weighing myself everyday. I become obsessive about it. I know that that truth is that weight fluctuates daily because of water and what you have eaten. It doesn't mean that is your actual weight. I know that I should only weigh myself once a week, at the same time. Maybe I will get there eventually.
The job search isn't going much better. Most of the jobs are in San Diego, which is to expensive. The ones in the areas that I want are still just hiring internally. Most of the districts that I emailed, and I emailed ALL OF THEM, said that they wouldn't be posting jobs until May or June. So, I still have some time. I have applied for a lot of jobs. I can tell when districts have looked at them. The ones that haven't been looked at, fine. I get it. They had a lot of applicants, or they already knew who they wanted to hire. What bothers me is the ones that do look at my stuff. I haven't had a single call. I have gone over my resume and cover letter a hundred times. I, personally, think that it look good. The only thing that I can think is that they see a Utah address and figure it would be easier to hire someone who is already in the area. My dad suggested that I just change my address, because I will be there in a few weeks anyways. So, I did that today. I hope that it makes a difference.
I think that the wedding planning is going well. They tell me how stressful it is, but mostly I hear about things after they have already made decisions. The rest of the family is doing pretty good. My mom and dad just celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. I think that this is a major accomplishment in the world that we are living in today. Jack is also trying to learn to adjust to his new life. When we got him, he was the quietest one in the litter. He had a little sister that was so hyper she couldn't stay still. That is how Jack is now. I can only imagine what the sister is like now. Jack was pretty much potty trained and then he had a couple of accidents. My dad seems to be sure that he did it on purpose. What an evil little genius! ;)
I know that he seems to listen to my dad the most. He does whatever he wants when dad isn't in the room. When someone tries to discipline him, he gets into this defiant pose and howls at them. Watching it on Skype, it looks hilarious. But I am sure that it will be very annoying when I have to deal with it. I plan on taking him to obedience school over the summer. He is going to be my project. I think he is acting out a little because he doesn't get all of the attention that he needs or wants. Well, he is going to get so much attention from me that he will start to crave quiet time. I think that he will fit into the family in time. We have all just forgotten the hard parts about raising a dog. Kody was special. He was one of a kind; and we had him for so long that the things that we had to really work to fix were long forgotten.
So, that's it for now. I am still waiting for the day when I can post about the new job that I got that is just perfect for me. Please pray that it will happen. Otherwise I will be sleeping with craft supplies and exercise equipment for a really long time...
Work is going well. My class has had one set one state tests and we just have two more sets to go. We have one this week. This week is going to be very busy, but really good. This whole week is teacher appreciation week. I can't wait to see what the PTA has planned. On Monday, we are having Kneaders french toast for breakfast. I am also going to see "Iron Man 3" with Tracie and Nate on Monday. We are going to see it in 3D in the d-box seats. D-box seats are motion seats that move with the action of the movie. Tracie and I have been trying to figure out what movie to see in those seats for a while now. I am sure that it will be worth it.
On Tuesday I am having dinner with some friends. Then on Wednesday it is my brother's 21st birthday and we are going to Skype while he opens presents. Unfortunately, he won't get my gift until Friday...when I give it to him in person! A couple of my friends from church are driving to San Diego for the weekend and they said that I could catch a ride to and from Corona! We are leaving around 4 pm, after work, on Thursday. We will drive all night and I will have all day Friday and Saturday with the family. We will drive back on Sunday. I also decided to take the following Monday off work to recover from all of the driving and to do some more packing and cleaning. I just hope that I can actually find the motivation to get things done. After that it will only be three weeks until my dad shows up to pick up my stuff, and I follow a few days later.
In weight-loss news: I have pretty much been on a plateau for the last year. I got about 8 pounds below the top end of my BMI and stayed there. Since January, I have put on about ten pounds. I am really hoping that it is just due stress and that once I get some things settled I will start to lose again. I actually did manage to take off about 4 of those pounds in the last two weeks. But still, it's frustrating to put in all of that work (you know that you are staying within your calories and exercising two hours a day) and nothing is happening. Some days I just want to say "forget it" and just eat all of those foods that I don't eat anymore. But I don't, and I try again tomorrow. I need to get over weighing myself everyday. I become obsessive about it. I know that that truth is that weight fluctuates daily because of water and what you have eaten. It doesn't mean that is your actual weight. I know that I should only weigh myself once a week, at the same time. Maybe I will get there eventually.
The job search isn't going much better. Most of the jobs are in San Diego, which is to expensive. The ones in the areas that I want are still just hiring internally. Most of the districts that I emailed, and I emailed ALL OF THEM, said that they wouldn't be posting jobs until May or June. So, I still have some time. I have applied for a lot of jobs. I can tell when districts have looked at them. The ones that haven't been looked at, fine. I get it. They had a lot of applicants, or they already knew who they wanted to hire. What bothers me is the ones that do look at my stuff. I haven't had a single call. I have gone over my resume and cover letter a hundred times. I, personally, think that it look good. The only thing that I can think is that they see a Utah address and figure it would be easier to hire someone who is already in the area. My dad suggested that I just change my address, because I will be there in a few weeks anyways. So, I did that today. I hope that it makes a difference.
I think that the wedding planning is going well. They tell me how stressful it is, but mostly I hear about things after they have already made decisions. The rest of the family is doing pretty good. My mom and dad just celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. I think that this is a major accomplishment in the world that we are living in today. Jack is also trying to learn to adjust to his new life. When we got him, he was the quietest one in the litter. He had a little sister that was so hyper she couldn't stay still. That is how Jack is now. I can only imagine what the sister is like now. Jack was pretty much potty trained and then he had a couple of accidents. My dad seems to be sure that he did it on purpose. What an evil little genius! ;)
I know that he seems to listen to my dad the most. He does whatever he wants when dad isn't in the room. When someone tries to discipline him, he gets into this defiant pose and howls at them. Watching it on Skype, it looks hilarious. But I am sure that it will be very annoying when I have to deal with it. I plan on taking him to obedience school over the summer. He is going to be my project. I think he is acting out a little because he doesn't get all of the attention that he needs or wants. Well, he is going to get so much attention from me that he will start to crave quiet time. I think that he will fit into the family in time. We have all just forgotten the hard parts about raising a dog. Kody was special. He was one of a kind; and we had him for so long that the things that we had to really work to fix were long forgotten.
So, that's it for now. I am still waiting for the day when I can post about the new job that I got that is just perfect for me. Please pray that it will happen. Otherwise I will be sleeping with craft supplies and exercise equipment for a really long time...
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Quite a few things have changed since my last post. For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you are already aware of most of these changes. I officially made the decision to move back to California. The district that I currently work for offers a monetary incentive for teachers who give a written notice of resignation before March 1. I knew that I would want any funds that I could get, so I needed to make a decision fairly soon. I sent in my notice two weeks ago and, a few days ago, I received verification that human resources had received my paperwork. There is no going back now.
This summer, and home in general, will be an adjustment to say the least. I just hope that it all works out for the best. I have told most of my co-workers about my decision and they have all been very supportive and understanding. A few of my old students also know, so we will see how fast it gets around the school. I am still trying to figure out how to tell my class this year. I want to tell them before they hear it from someone else. I also want to give them time to adjust. They keeping talking about how they are going to visit all the time next year. I know that they mean it, because I have a handful of students from last year and the year before that still stop by after school. I would feel bad if someone else told them. I think that I might do it after parent-teacher conferences, or wait until the end of March.
So, that's it for now. I hope that my next post will be all about this miracle job that I found. I have a feeling it will be something like "Nothing much has changed. Work is stressing me out!" Hopefully, I can have something upbeat and positive to add in there as well. Take care!
I still do not have employment in California. I look every day. If I am being honest, I look a few times every day. I have contacted every district, private school, charter school, and principal in the area. I have heard back from a lot of them. Unfortunately, they have all said the same thing. They anticipate that they will actually being hiring a few teachers this year, but nothing will be posted until May or June. So, I just have to wait. One principal did say that he admired my initiative and drive and that is the type of attitude that they looked for in his district. I am just hoping that when jobs are posted I am email a few of these people and say something like, "Hey, remember me? I just applied for one of your jobs!" Everyone keep praying that something, the right thing, happens for me really soon!
The current plan is this: My school year ends of June 5th. I will have packed up as much of my classroom and apartment before that date comes. That weekend, June 7th-8th, my Dad will drive up with the quad-trailer and we will load up my stuff. We will drive back to California and put my stuff in storage. Hopefully, it doesn't have to stay there too long and I can move it into my own place. Otherwise, I will take a few things to my parents house and keep looking and work as a sub until I can find something. We will see how it goes. I feel slightly pathetic. I will be thirty and living with my parents again. Oh, and I won't have a "real" job. I guess life happens. I still feel like this is the right decision. I don't know what will happen, but something good has to come out of this.
In other news, Jack (our new puppy) has really gotten comfortable with the family. They basically describe him as crazy. All he wants to do is play. They are all exhausted, but I can't wait to be home so I can bond with him some more, or again... I sort of feel like I am missing everything. I find out everything after it is already passed. Then they say, "Didn't we tell you about that?" Nope, you didn't. Anyways, I guess I will be home soon and can have some time play catch up.
This is Jack in the back yard in California.
In other news, my sister is getting married! They made it official last night. His name is Andrew and they will be getting married on June 29. She has actually know him since high school, but they have been friends for just over a year, I think. They have been dating since September. I have only really spoken to him a few times, while I was home over the holidays and while talking to my family over Skype. He seems nice, and he makes my sister happy. I guess I will have to really get to know him when I move back. He and my sister will living with my family while she goes through her nursing program.
This summer, and home in general, will be an adjustment to say the least. I just hope that it all works out for the best. I have told most of my co-workers about my decision and they have all been very supportive and understanding. A few of my old students also know, so we will see how fast it gets around the school. I am still trying to figure out how to tell my class this year. I want to tell them before they hear it from someone else. I also want to give them time to adjust. They keeping talking about how they are going to visit all the time next year. I know that they mean it, because I have a handful of students from last year and the year before that still stop by after school. I would feel bad if someone else told them. I think that I might do it after parent-teacher conferences, or wait until the end of March.
So, that's it for now. I hope that my next post will be all about this miracle job that I found. I have a feeling it will be something like "Nothing much has changed. Work is stressing me out!" Hopefully, I can have something upbeat and positive to add in there as well. Take care!
Saturday, January 05, 2013
Holidays...
I have had to do a lot of serious thinking over the last few weeks. It is interesting what the holidays make you start to consider. When I first moved to Utah, I had no idea how long I would be teaching and living here. I sort of planned on 3-5 years. In three years, I would have cleared my Utah credential; in five years, maybe things would start to look better in California and I could move back. I had made the decision, this year, that I needed to switch districts.
I wanted to work for the Salt Lake school district. They pay better and have a better schedule. I figured that all of this would allow me to go home more frequently and help me not to stress so much about money. I was looking at other districts as well. That decision was easy. I knew that I would be moving somewhere new by the end of this school year. My rent keeps going up and I needed to make a change. I thought that making this switch, as well as switching to a younger grade, would refresh my outlook on life here. I have quickly realized that I was very wrong.
It has always been difficult for me to come back to Utah after a trip home; but I was able to do it. I was able to cry a little and then get back into my routine. I have mentioned before that this year has felt different. Something didn't feel right. I felt like a change needed to be made. I wasn't sure what that change was. I started to think about home more and more often. Kody's death didn't help the situation at all. I couldn't stand to be away from everything that I knew and loved anymore. I still continued to look for jobs in Utah (I started to ask my co-workers for recommendation letters); but the thought of California was still in my mind.
I went home for Thanksgiving and had a great time. We got an extra day and I really enjoyed the time with my family. Sunday came all to soon and I couldn't believe that I had to go back. Right before I left, I broke down. I told my parents that I didn't want to go back. My dad told me that it was only four weeks until Christmas and then I would be back again. I told him that I was worried about the time after Christmas; the five months before the summer break. I really didn't feel like I could do it. I came back to Utah and tried to get back into the swing of things. I kept looking forward to my next break.
My trip home for Christmas was just as great. It was colder than I had been hoping, but way warmer that the below 20 degree weather that I had left behind. The second day that I was home, I went with parents to pick up their new beagle puppy. I held him in my arms the whole drive home. By the end of the drive, we had named him Jack. He is a 0-60 type of dog. Meaning, he is either sleeping or acting incredibly hyper and crazy. I love him already. He would sleep in my arms a lot. We heard that beagles were very hard to train, and I think that we all forgot what it was like to really train a puppy. I think he will get there, he just needs time and patience.
After Thanksgiving, I had decided to apply at a few private schools in California. I thought that they might have more openings that public schools. I was able to get an interview with one in Yorba Linda while I was home. The interview went well, but I was really disappointed with the salary. It was about $20,000 less than I would make as a fourth year teacher at a public school there. Not enough to live on my own. I haven't received an offer yet, but it is still really early in the school year for them to make any decisions; plus I think that they could tell that I wasn't sure about the job.
The break flew by and, before I knew it, I had to fly back to Utah. I started getting more and more depressed as the day grew closer. On the day I flew back, I cried even more than I had at Thanksgiving. I asked my dad for a blessing and we all talked about my different options. I knew that I had to get back to Southern California no matter what. My parents drove me to the airport and I cried. My mom walked me into the airport and I cried. I swear, I almost turned around and went back. At the moment, I didn't care about all the crap I had in my apartment in Utah. I couldn't make myself go back.
When I got home, I asked my family if we could Skype. I was already sobbing at that point. They basically sat there and watched me cry uncontrollably. Sorry about that guys. There has only been one other time that I have cried so hard and so much, and that was in August when Kody passed away. For the second time, my eyelids were swollen and it looked like I had been punched in the face on both sides (really attractive by the way). I knew now, more than ever that looking for jobs in Utah was pointless. I HAD to get back to California no matter what. I can't do this anymore. A lot of people have presented me with "what if" situations. "What if this happens? Would you stay?" I have thought about each possibly seriously and carefully. the answer is no. I can't stay here anymore. If doesn't feel right and I am not happy. I realize now that I haven't been happy in a really long time. Not really.
I started to look for more California teaching jobs. I know most schools won't post until the spring, but I found myself getting really discouraged. I convinced myself that I was never going to find anything. The thought in my head was that the timing wouldn't work out, know one would hire me because I can't come in for a bunch of interview because of where I live, and I would be stuck here forever. My parents presented me with a backup plan. If I really couldn't find anything, I could live with them and be a sub in a few districts until the market got better. At least I would be in the area and more available for interviews. I would have to make enough for rent, gas, insurance, car payments, etc... I figured that I would have to sub 13-15 days a month to make enough. If I can sign up with a few districts I will probably make it. Once they knew me, I was getting called a lot when I sub there before. We called this "Plan B;" and I was not allowed to make a decision about while upset.
The more that I though about "Plan B," the calmer I started to feel. I could go back to California no matter what. I could keep looking and hoping for a job, but I had a backup plan. I haven't officially made the decision, but I am pretty sure I know what it will be. I will continue to look for a job like crazy, and pray that I beat out the 200+ other teachers that are also looking. I will plan on moving to California this summer, no matter what. If I don't get hired before I move, I keep hoping to be one of those teachers that gets hired right before the school year starts. If nothing comes up, I will move back home and do "Plan B." It feels strange to ask my friends and family to pray for me, but will you anyway. I know, without a doubt, that I cannot live here anymore. Please pray that I can get a teaching job in California. I know that it is what I always pray for.
That being said, I hope that you are all well. If anyone needs anything, please let me know. Take care!
I wanted to work for the Salt Lake school district. They pay better and have a better schedule. I figured that all of this would allow me to go home more frequently and help me not to stress so much about money. I was looking at other districts as well. That decision was easy. I knew that I would be moving somewhere new by the end of this school year. My rent keeps going up and I needed to make a change. I thought that making this switch, as well as switching to a younger grade, would refresh my outlook on life here. I have quickly realized that I was very wrong.
It has always been difficult for me to come back to Utah after a trip home; but I was able to do it. I was able to cry a little and then get back into my routine. I have mentioned before that this year has felt different. Something didn't feel right. I felt like a change needed to be made. I wasn't sure what that change was. I started to think about home more and more often. Kody's death didn't help the situation at all. I couldn't stand to be away from everything that I knew and loved anymore. I still continued to look for jobs in Utah (I started to ask my co-workers for recommendation letters); but the thought of California was still in my mind.
I went home for Thanksgiving and had a great time. We got an extra day and I really enjoyed the time with my family. Sunday came all to soon and I couldn't believe that I had to go back. Right before I left, I broke down. I told my parents that I didn't want to go back. My dad told me that it was only four weeks until Christmas and then I would be back again. I told him that I was worried about the time after Christmas; the five months before the summer break. I really didn't feel like I could do it. I came back to Utah and tried to get back into the swing of things. I kept looking forward to my next break.
My trip home for Christmas was just as great. It was colder than I had been hoping, but way warmer that the below 20 degree weather that I had left behind. The second day that I was home, I went with parents to pick up their new beagle puppy. I held him in my arms the whole drive home. By the end of the drive, we had named him Jack. He is a 0-60 type of dog. Meaning, he is either sleeping or acting incredibly hyper and crazy. I love him already. He would sleep in my arms a lot. We heard that beagles were very hard to train, and I think that we all forgot what it was like to really train a puppy. I think he will get there, he just needs time and patience.
After Thanksgiving, I had decided to apply at a few private schools in California. I thought that they might have more openings that public schools. I was able to get an interview with one in Yorba Linda while I was home. The interview went well, but I was really disappointed with the salary. It was about $20,000 less than I would make as a fourth year teacher at a public school there. Not enough to live on my own. I haven't received an offer yet, but it is still really early in the school year for them to make any decisions; plus I think that they could tell that I wasn't sure about the job.
The break flew by and, before I knew it, I had to fly back to Utah. I started getting more and more depressed as the day grew closer. On the day I flew back, I cried even more than I had at Thanksgiving. I asked my dad for a blessing and we all talked about my different options. I knew that I had to get back to Southern California no matter what. My parents drove me to the airport and I cried. My mom walked me into the airport and I cried. I swear, I almost turned around and went back. At the moment, I didn't care about all the crap I had in my apartment in Utah. I couldn't make myself go back.
When I got home, I asked my family if we could Skype. I was already sobbing at that point. They basically sat there and watched me cry uncontrollably. Sorry about that guys. There has only been one other time that I have cried so hard and so much, and that was in August when Kody passed away. For the second time, my eyelids were swollen and it looked like I had been punched in the face on both sides (really attractive by the way). I knew now, more than ever that looking for jobs in Utah was pointless. I HAD to get back to California no matter what. I can't do this anymore. A lot of people have presented me with "what if" situations. "What if this happens? Would you stay?" I have thought about each possibly seriously and carefully. the answer is no. I can't stay here anymore. If doesn't feel right and I am not happy. I realize now that I haven't been happy in a really long time. Not really.
I started to look for more California teaching jobs. I know most schools won't post until the spring, but I found myself getting really discouraged. I convinced myself that I was never going to find anything. The thought in my head was that the timing wouldn't work out, know one would hire me because I can't come in for a bunch of interview because of where I live, and I would be stuck here forever. My parents presented me with a backup plan. If I really couldn't find anything, I could live with them and be a sub in a few districts until the market got better. At least I would be in the area and more available for interviews. I would have to make enough for rent, gas, insurance, car payments, etc... I figured that I would have to sub 13-15 days a month to make enough. If I can sign up with a few districts I will probably make it. Once they knew me, I was getting called a lot when I sub there before. We called this "Plan B;" and I was not allowed to make a decision about while upset.
The more that I though about "Plan B," the calmer I started to feel. I could go back to California no matter what. I could keep looking and hoping for a job, but I had a backup plan. I haven't officially made the decision, but I am pretty sure I know what it will be. I will continue to look for a job like crazy, and pray that I beat out the 200+ other teachers that are also looking. I will plan on moving to California this summer, no matter what. If I don't get hired before I move, I keep hoping to be one of those teachers that gets hired right before the school year starts. If nothing comes up, I will move back home and do "Plan B." It feels strange to ask my friends and family to pray for me, but will you anyway. I know, without a doubt, that I cannot live here anymore. Please pray that I can get a teaching job in California. I know that it is what I always pray for.
That being said, I hope that you are all well. If anyone needs anything, please let me know. Take care!
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