I am not a patient person. I know this about myself. I try to be patient; or I guess I try to pretend that I am patient. I hate being in a holding pattern. I still feel like moving back to Southern California was the right decision, but there have been some pitfalls that don't really give me a positive outlook on life.
I have applied for jobs in several of the school districts in Southern California. I am trying to stay within an hour of home. My other requirements are that they pay enough for me to live on my own, and that the area is safe. Other than that, I don't feel like I am being too picky. I have heard back from several districts already, including my dream district, and have been placed in eligibility pools. I have interviewed with a few districts, but others just put me in the pool based on my qualifications.
My dream district was one of those that just put me in pool. However, I need to have a screening interview with the district before I am allowed to interview with principals. I think that they rank the applicants and then principals can choose the ones they want to talk to in the future. A friend of mine is in a long-term position and had her screening interview a while ago. She has site interview really soon. I have heard nothing.
There are a few teachers at my mom's school that have been really supportive and encouraging. They said that the first round of interviews were for long-term positions only. Okay, that sort of makes sense; but only for a few of those positions. Some of those positions are just luck of the draw. I could have received a long-term position as well, had there been an opening. They just go to substitutes. No extra qualifications or experience required. When there is an opening, either the school requests someone or the district goes down a list and asks who is interested. Not really fair. This isn't what happened to my friend. She actually runs a program within the district.
I am trying not to be jealous, but it is frustrating and difficult. She already has another interview set up and I have heard nothing. I am having a hard time staying positive. Even in the other districts that I have had screening interviews with, I have heard nothing. My interviews have gone well, they said they were impressed. Now I am just supposed to wait. I get that there is a process. Teachers who want to transfer get first priority. I assume there is a final deadline where no more transfers are allowed, and they have to actually start hiring; but it is taking forever! Every few days another list of open transfer positions is sent to the schools. I can't apply directly for any of them.
Then when I hear that a few people are getting site interviews already, it makes me very nervous. I would feel a lot better if I could get the initial interview. I emailed the head of HR to find out where they are in the process. I hope that he has a clear, and positive, answer for me. The last few times I have spoken with him, he has been very vague about everything. I just want to know my chances!
I needed to vent and remember this moment of frustration. Hopefully I look back in a months, once I have a full-time job, and laugh about how nervous I was. I hope! I just don't know if I can sub for another year, both emotionally and financially. I think about looking for another job, but then I would lose my place in the district. Usually they hire current employees, including subs, for upcoming positions.
I guess I just need your prayers. Prayers that I will find a job and that it will be the right fit for me. Maybe the perfect job is just around the corner and it will all work out. I just get tired of praying for the same things night after night and never having them answered. I will keep praying and trying, but I am feeling very discouraged right now....
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Reflections...
So, I have been trying to decide what to write for awhile now. It is difficult because my life has been at a bit of a stand still since I have been back in Southern California. I still feel like it was the right decision, and I am a lot happier; but I don't now exactly why it was the right decision. Maybe that confirmation is still in the future. I hope that it gets here soon though!
I have been substitute teaching since October. I did it for a year and a half before I moved to Utah, but it was still scary to jump back into it. I have made a lot of contacts at my Mom's school; I sub there most of the time. I work at a few other schools when I really need the work, but I am not known anywhere else. The biggest thing that subbing has done for is that it has allowed me to considered a current employee of the district in which I would really love to teach. So, when there was a posting on Edjoin for current employees only I was able to apply.
Unfortunately it was for an eligibility pool. Which means they anticipate having to hire next year, but they have no idea when they will start or how many jobs there will be. I am pretty nervous about the whole situation. As the school year winds down, after spring break, there will be fewer and fewer opportunities to substitute teach. Most of the district is on a traditional track, so the summer will be really tight financially. All of my prayers are about having enough money to pay my bills and getting a job lined up by summer.
That is my life right now...waiting to hear about job possibilities. I am in a single's ward. I haven't made any friends there. They are all very young and I am sort of waiting to age out. I turn 31 in June and will have to make a decision to either try this ward in Riverside that is a mix of a family ward with a singles class, or I will be going to church with my family. My Mom asks why I am waiting to try out the other ward. I guess it is because I don't have to yet. In June, I will be forced to make the decision; but right now I don't have any real motivation to do it. I don't enjoy going into new, unknown situations; and meeting a ton of new people at once isn't exactly my favorite thing either. Ah, the life of an introvert!
As I reflect upon my first year in my thirties, I have discovered a few things. The first being that life is boring when you are stuck in limbo. I have also learned that once you turn thirty losing weight is way more difficult, so is dieting when you are living with other people. I lost a good deal of the progress that I made over the last two years. Even when I think that I am doing really good, I don't end up losing anything. Jack, my beagle, and I have started walking everyday. We have been walking for over a month. We go anywhere from 4-5 miles per day. It is good for Jack because he has much better behavior on the days that we go for walks. I just hope that I start to see the benefits!
I have been substitute teaching since October. I did it for a year and a half before I moved to Utah, but it was still scary to jump back into it. I have made a lot of contacts at my Mom's school; I sub there most of the time. I work at a few other schools when I really need the work, but I am not known anywhere else. The biggest thing that subbing has done for is that it has allowed me to considered a current employee of the district in which I would really love to teach. So, when there was a posting on Edjoin for current employees only I was able to apply.
Unfortunately it was for an eligibility pool. Which means they anticipate having to hire next year, but they have no idea when they will start or how many jobs there will be. I am pretty nervous about the whole situation. As the school year winds down, after spring break, there will be fewer and fewer opportunities to substitute teach. Most of the district is on a traditional track, so the summer will be really tight financially. All of my prayers are about having enough money to pay my bills and getting a job lined up by summer.
That is my life right now...waiting to hear about job possibilities. I am in a single's ward. I haven't made any friends there. They are all very young and I am sort of waiting to age out. I turn 31 in June and will have to make a decision to either try this ward in Riverside that is a mix of a family ward with a singles class, or I will be going to church with my family. My Mom asks why I am waiting to try out the other ward. I guess it is because I don't have to yet. In June, I will be forced to make the decision; but right now I don't have any real motivation to do it. I don't enjoy going into new, unknown situations; and meeting a ton of new people at once isn't exactly my favorite thing either. Ah, the life of an introvert!
As I reflect upon my first year in my thirties, I have discovered a few things. The first being that life is boring when you are stuck in limbo. I have also learned that once you turn thirty losing weight is way more difficult, so is dieting when you are living with other people. I lost a good deal of the progress that I made over the last two years. Even when I think that I am doing really good, I don't end up losing anything. Jack, my beagle, and I have started walking everyday. We have been walking for over a month. We go anywhere from 4-5 miles per day. It is good for Jack because he has much better behavior on the days that we go for walks. I just hope that I start to see the benefits!
Thursday, January 02, 2014
New Crock Pot Recipe...
Cheesy sour cream crock pot chicken
One bag frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts 3 lbs)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 of a large onion, chopped
One container fat free sour cream
2 cups shredded cheese
3 tsp paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups crushed cornflakes
4 tablespoons melted butter
Combine frozen chicken, onion, and cream of chicken soup in crock pot.
Cook on high for four hours, or low for eight hours.
Remove chicken. Shred and set aside.
Strain onions and leftover chicken from crock pot.
Put sour cream and shredded cheese into soup in the crock pot. Add paprika, salt, and pepper.
In small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water. Add to crock pot. Sir until thickened.
Add chicken to mixture in crock pot.
In small bowl, combine cornflakes and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly on top of mixture in crock pot.
Cook for another half an hour, while you make rice.
Serve chicken over rice.
Calories: 46/ounce
One bag frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts 3 lbs)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 of a large onion, chopped
One container fat free sour cream
2 cups shredded cheese
3 tsp paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups crushed cornflakes
4 tablespoons melted butter
Combine frozen chicken, onion, and cream of chicken soup in crock pot.
Cook on high for four hours, or low for eight hours.
Remove chicken. Shred and set aside.
Strain onions and leftover chicken from crock pot.
Put sour cream and shredded cheese into soup in the crock pot. Add paprika, salt, and pepper.
In small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water. Add to crock pot. Sir until thickened.
Add chicken to mixture in crock pot.
In small bowl, combine cornflakes and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly on top of mixture in crock pot.
Cook for another half an hour, while you make rice.
Serve chicken over rice.
Calories: 46/ounce
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Nothing New...
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!
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!
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! :)
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