Sassy Song Sunday: I Look So Good (Without You) by Jessie James

Todays sassy song is I Look So Good (Without You) by Jessie James. My words to Soon-to-be Mr. Ex, indeed!

The Observation

Well, as you all know I had my observation today. I have to admit I was feeling okay until I actually walked into school and then suddenly I was a ball of nervous. But then, when as I stepped into my classroom I saw a beautiful pot of roses sitting on my desk, with a note from a coworker wishing me good luck ~ it made my day! (Thank you, Debbie!) Once my students arrived I relaxed a little as we got into the swing of our day.

The elementary principal and curriculum coordinator arrived around 9:10 (earlier than I was anticipating – that means they had to have left at 6:00AM at the very latest… wow!) and they left at a quarter to 10:00. All they ended up seeing was guided reading, which I was kind of disappointed about because I had some other really cool things planned which I was hoping they would see. Had I known they wouldn’t be staying until lunch I would have only met with two of my reading groups, then done my working with words and writing lessons and then finished reading after they left. But, they did say the wanted to see my “regular day”, so I guess they did! I also printed off my lesson plan for the whole day and also gave them a copy of my weekly schedule, so at least they were able to see what else I had planned. I felt like I did some really good teaching and my students were awesome – showed how smart they are and were so well behaved, bless their hearts! When they were leaving I thanked them for making the long trip over and asked about their timeline. They said that they hope to have a decision made by the end of the month, so optimistically I will know something by this time next week.

It is in God’s hands – I did my best and if I am supposed to get the job then I will.

Cog Train Ride up Pikes Peak

The coolest thing New Guy and I did in Colorado was take a cog train ride up Pikes Peak. Talk about a view – wow!

Garden of the Gods

One of the most amazing places we visited while in Colorado was Garden of the Gods; it was truly breathtaking. I will let the pictures speak for themselves…

Meeting New Guy's Sister

I am back from vacation ~ the trip was amazing! I am by no means a nature girl at heart but I must admit that Colorado is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been – a place full of breathtaking and awe-inspiring views. I will elaborate more on that and tell of some of the places we visited in the coming days, but before I get to that I’ll fill you in on what I had been so worried about… meeting New Guy’s sister. Let me preface this by saying that the reason I had been so nervous was because he is probably closer to her than anyone else in his family so it was very important to me that she and I hit it off. Plus, speaking from experience I know that I have not always been the nicest to all of my brother’s girlfriends and I was a little concerned that this might be one of those “what goes around comes around” situations. Thankfully, however, she and I really hit is off; in fact, I would say she is hands-down my favorite of all of his relatives and I cannot wait to see her an her family again!

Update: Interview

For those of you not familiar with the teacher interview process, many schools will ask you to teach a demo lesson with a small group of students that they select in order to see you "in action". This particular district; however, prefers to do “site visits” where they actually go to the school(s) of their final candidates and observe them teaching in their own environment. Well, I got a call around 2:30 this afternoon from the elementary principal saying that I am one of their final candidates and they would like to come on Thursday, March 25th to observe me! I am a little surprised that they would drive three hours (one way) just to watch me teach… I guess I’m really not a good reader of people!

Interview

I just got back from my interview. I felt I did well, but I don’t necessarily have that “nailed it” feeling that I have had after other interviews where I have gotten the job. Interviewing me were the elementary principal as well as the district curriculum director. I got the vibe that the curriculum director wasn’t into me, but that could have just been her personality, who knows. Actually, when I interviewed for my current teaching job I got the same vibe from one of the elementary principals and it turned out to be false. (Maybe that just means I am not good at reading people!) Anyway, after the building tour and then formal interview (question/answer) I had to do a writing test where I was given a scenario and I had to describe what I would do. I knew that this was going to happen and had assumed that it would be done on the computer – WRONG! They actually handed me a tablet and a pen and I had to handwrite my response. Yikes - pretty terrifying for a horrible speller like me! I tried to use “little words” that I couldn’t misspell, lol!

Thank you so much for all of the well wishes, thoughts, and prayers. I did my best and really it will come down to whether they think I am a good fit for their school or not. I am putting it in God’s hands and know that if I am supposed to get the job, then I will. They said they hope to have someone hired by the end of the month (like me, they are also on spring break next week) so I will let you all know when I hear something.

Bon Voyage

I am going to be taking some time off from blogging next week… I am going on a vacation! That’s right, in seven years of teaching I have never gone anywhere or done anything special for my week-long spring break until now; New Guy and I are headed to Colorado to visit his sister and her family. We are driving out on Saturday the 13th and coming back on the 20th. If you’ll remember, one of my goals for my 30th year was to do some traveling and what a bonus, I’ve never been to Colorado ~ yay!! I am really excited, but I must admit secretly I am also kind of nervous wondering if his sister will like me.

Witty Words Wednesday #11

"Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow."

~ Dan Rather

Not the Boots!

One of my sexy black boots broke! Not just a little break, but a full-on snap off that cannot be repaired (not even with hot glue ~ a teacher’s BFF). Oh, woe is me!

Glimmer of Hope

I got a call this weekend… I have an interview at 9:00AM on Friday morning for a teaching job in a school district in the area where I would like to live. I know it’s just an interview and I don’t want to get my hopes up too high – it’s a long shot, at best considering my years of experience and level of education = more money they will have to pay me. However, after the week I previously had, even getting an interview is an amazing glimmer of hope, plus I figure if nothing else it will help me refresh my interviewing skills. Keep your fingers crossed!

Sassy Song Sunday: The Words I Would Say by Sidewalk Prophets

This past week has been one of the more difficult I’ve had in awhile. I’m struggling with the fact that there is so much going on that I have no control over. I’m trying to trust that everything will work itself out exactly the way it’s supposed to be, but it’s hard. The first time I heard this song I connected with it and could actually imagine my friend Anita sitting me down and saying it to me (or in her case, sending it to me in an email similar to the one that she sent me yesterday). Today’s song is The Words I Would Say by Sidewalk Prophets.

Stress, Worry, & Anxiety

Stressed.

Worried.

Anxious.

These words describe a lot of the ways I feel lately.

I am stressed about life with CANNOT-BE-SOON-ENOUGH Mr. Ex and the fact that our divorce has taken an extremely ugly turn and will likely not be settled out of court.

I am worried about the job market. I have gone back and forth for some time trying to decide if I would stay here next year (as in 2010-2011 school year) or not. I love my job ~ my school is fabulous and my coworkers are amazing, but the truth is my job is really all that is keeping me here and it’s no big secret that I didn’t really want to move here in the first place, having only done so for CANNOT-BE-SOON-ENOUGH Mr. Ex and his career. I want to be closer to my family. I would like to move back to the town where we previously lived - the town where I went to college; the town where both of my brothers (and New Guy) live. But teaching jobs are hard to come by right now (even in the metro area) and I am actually having some regret about getting my masters – as a teacher a masters degree, coupled with seven years of experience, actually hurts you when looking for a new job.

I am anxious about our house being on the market. I want it to sell… but not before the school year is over because if I do plan on moving and the house sells quickly, where am I going to live for a month (or two)? In that same breath, even it comes June and the house hasn’t sold yet and I plan to move away, I am still going to have to pay my half of the mortgage – plus rent at a new place.

Stressed.

Worried.

Anxious.

These words describe a lot of the ways I feel lately.

Witty Words Wednesday #10

“People almost always divorce somebody different than they marry.”

~ Dr. Phil

Nowhere on the Horizon

Do you suppose the term “civilized divorce” is an oxymoron - kind of like civilized warfare, a fine mess, or equal justice? I am certainly beginning to think so! Despite the fact that CANNOT-BE-SOON-ENOUGH Mr. Ex and I composed the decree (which my attorney then wrote up) together prior to it going to either of our attorneys he did not agree to it. Not only did he not agree to what we wrote together, he is now going back on all of those things and actually had the nerve to say that I “tricked” him into agreeing the first time. I am sad to report that the finality of my marriage looks to be nowhere on the horizon.