Boorish Chorus

For the first time ever, I will have a chorus at my school this year.  I have always wanted to have a chorus but never really got around to it.  Now I have a lot of excited kids and a lot of excited teachers and parents (could be a good or a bad thing).  Our first meeting is tomorrow and I needed some inspiration.  Have you heard of PS22's chorus?  You probably have.  They are on the news quite a bit.  They are an auditioned chorus of 5th graders at a public school in Staten Island, NY.  And they are good.  Real good.  Their teacher, who goes by Mr. B is obviously doing something right.  Check out their blog or their YouTube channel.

Anyway, I frequently visit their blog and videos because these kids are just so awesome and talented and (best of all) emotional!  You have never seen 10-year-olds who are not afraid to show their emotions like this before!  You should probably go and watch, like, every video, but I will share my current favorite.

Ok, pretty awesome, right?  There is something way better to come, trust me.  Mr. B has his kids improvising a lot (something I also do--just usually on instruments).  He is so incredibly supportive and you can tell how comfortable the kids are around him.  Here is a video of two of his students improvising a duet while he plays a piano.  Now remember these things:

1. These girls are in the 5th grade (that's elementary school, guys).
2. They come from Staten Island.
3. They are making this up entirely as they go.  No prior discussion or ideas.

If that's not beautiful, WHAT IS?!

Hopefully I will have some updates in the future about how my chorus is doing.  Now, I can't promise anything like the videos you just saw.  But they are certainly excellent inspiration for the principles a chorus could be built on.

Speaking of building--I have been so busy lately I haven't touched anything that has to do with home improvement.  The first week of school really kicks it out of you!  But I have so many projects and ideas that I want to accomplish, I just need to find the time and money!

Tomorrow I am going to my friend K's house to help her paint her living room.  This is definitely going to be a learning experience for me.  I have never painted a wall in my life.  But (shhh... don't tell) I am pretty happy I will be practicing on someone else's walls and not my own for the first time.  Plus, it's a really light grey color, so not too much could go wrong, right? We'll see.

Then on my long Labor Day weekend Josh and I are staying at my mom's house in Cumberland and going to the WVU vs. Marshall game on Sunday.  You might not believe this about me, but I am simply not a football fan.  So instead, while everyone else is watching 4 hours of live college football, I am going to be hitting up all of my favorite restaurants in the city that I lived in for 5 years but haven't seen in 15 months.  And yeah, I might even go to more than one restaurant.  And do I care that I am going to be alone? Nope.  The whole city will be like a twilight zone while the game is happening anyway.  Fun times.

Busy Bee

As the new school year is approaching, I am beginning to feel the tiniest pinches of stress in my neck.

I actually really enjoy my job (as long as I'm not thinking about the BS that is public education).  And I am a super hard worker, so I am always keeping myself busy.  Even though I am often really busy, I am enjoying it so I have lots of motivation to continue my work ethic.  Every year that I have worked so far I have had a few things that have caused me stress.  I can't wait for an entire school year where the only thing I have to worry about is doing my job well.  For instance, the first two years of teaching for me were in new schools each time.  This is my third year teaching but only my first year of seeing the same kids as last year.  So that has been taken off of my shoulders.  It's always hard getting acquainted to your new building, students, administrators, coworkers, etc.  While there are a few personnel changes at our school, at least I have a good idea of what's to come.  And I will no longer be the newbie (sp?)

But, as always, I take things overboard.  Here is a "short" list of what is to come for the school year that is starting in two days:

• I am working my regular job full time.  PK-5 General Music teacher.  Because of some changes at my school this year, I am going to be teaching more classes this year, sometimes 11 in one day... and with less planning time.  And I am starting a chorus, which I didn't have last year.
• I just got hired for another position after school every day teaching a program called STARS.  It's about project-based learning for students who are "at-risk".  By the way--I hate that term.  I don't think it's fair to label students that way.  But I am excited for the program in general.  I will probably teach general ed stuff and music stuff.  SO, instead of being at work from 8a-4p every day, I will be there from 8a-6p.  Less time for at home stuff, but I am happy to be getting paid more.  Josh also plans to take advantage of some after-school teaching opportunities at his school this year as well.
• I am still charging full speed ahead in my master's program.  I am going to be taking one class in the Fall and one in the Spring.  One class doesn't sound like much, but it really is.  We meet in a virtual classroom once per week and I am pretty much spending the rest of my free time reading or working on a paper or project.
• A friend of ours, Wesley Rice, recently moved here with another good friend of mine who will be teaching in my county.  Wesley owns a clarinet repair shop in Salisbury and is starting lessons at his shop.  Josh and I are both trying to gain some students at the shop and make some extra dough.  Check out his website.

So, since it is the beginning of the year, I am still really excited and have lots of motivation to start these new and exciting projects.  We will see how it goes!  Please pray for me :-)

Book Club and Book Store

I am sitting in Barnes and Noble at the coffee shop.  Josh and I ditched our house for the day so our air conditioner didn't have to kill itself trying to keep the house cool.  The heat index today is 117.  Seriously!

So, I am doing some grad school work here.  And I am currently taking a break.  It is about 65 degrees in here, which is cold.  But I really don't want to complain considering I could be outside having a heat stroke right now. I have been doing a very large amount of work on our group project for school and I am excited to share it soon!

In other news, I was invited by some ladies at my school to be in their book club.  I am really, really, really excited!  I love stuff like that and I have never been a part of a book club before!  The closest I have ever come is being in a bible study group and it was awesome.  I really enjoy having a goal and then having meaningful and thoughtful discussions with other adults... especially when it doesn't have to do with work or education... I get enough of that at school.  They are currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  I have been wanting to read this book for a while and now I have a good reason to do it:

Have you read it?  What did you think?

Another development has recently taken place.  We had a meeting at school this week to discuss our upcoming school year.  A lot of changes have been going on at my school and in my county lately.  First of all, our school didn't make AYP this year.  If you don't know what that is, Google it.  I would tell you, but it makes me too frustrated to talk about it.  By the way, we lost it because of two students and six total questions on a test.  Second of all, we are no longer a Title I school.  This is very bad.  For many reasons.  The main ones being that because of this, we will lose a number of services, a ton of finances and financial resources, and a lot of personnel.  Google Title I if you don't know about it.  Because of this, my principal is forcing me to spend 45 minutes per day in 4th or 5th grade classrooms working with small groups to teach reading and math.  This is something that Title I teachers or assistants would typically do, but since we no longer have them...  it's up to the music and P.E. teachers.  Seriously.  

I understand that our kids now need these services, so I am a little torn about the whole situation.  I feel bad complaining about it, but if we ever want to meet AYP, I might need to help in this area.  But, it's definitely not my job, I'm definitely not qualified for it, and it's taking away time from my schedule to teach our 650 kids some awesome music.  Also, and most importantly, I DON'T WANT TO DO IT!  It's sad that I have to do this just so we can "pass a test".  Having their music teacher teach them music would be way more beneficial for them, but that's the way of the education world lately.  It's very sad.

On a happy note, G is coming in the morning and I am super excited to see her and do some cool Ocean City stuff.  Have a great (and cool) weekend!

Something I Would Like to Share With My Teacher Friends

So I had to give a standardized assessment to my 5th graders today.  They had to come up to me one by one to perform some rhythms and I had to grade them on their accuracy and sight reading.  Yes, it was lame.

Well, this was a magnet class, which is essentially just like "Gifted and Talented" or something.  They are pretty intelligent.  While I was giving this exam, I didn't know what I could do with the other kids who weren't performing at the time, so I gave them a little survey asking some random musical questions.  I MUST share some of these answers!  I will quote exactly... spelling and everything!  Keep in mind: These are 10-year-olds.

1. Who is your favorite singer/artist/band?  Why?

"none"
"Lady Gaga because she is just out their"
"Eminem because I love Rappers"
"I like all of them but not all of them.  I like all music, exept hip hop, pop, and modern rap"
"Lady Gaga because she's like the madona of our generation."
"Bruno mars because he is a inspirational person with Real life situations."
"I despise the music that plays on the radio alot (hip hop, rap, and pop).  That music sounds awful"

2.  What is your favorite instrument?  Why?

"I love the horn because I love how people hold it."
"The violin is very respectful"
"recorder because it is the only one I can play"
"guitar because it is a smooth sounding instrument and it's so compelling to me"
"The bassoon because the instrument is most popular in music"

3. What would you like to do in music class by the end of this year?

"play outside"
"Dance around with music then we all have lunch with our teachers"
"karioki"
"Dance to Mrs. Mengels music"
"Dance outside on a warm day"
"Have a No-Shoe Day"
"I can't think of anything musical to put in Miss Mengels room because its the biggest collection of music I ever saw so I cant really come up with anything"
"Nothing."

4.  In your own words: What does it mean to improvise?

"Add your own flare"
"to play notes without a paper"
"Play off top of your head"
"you are not reading anything"
"do anything/note you want"
"Make up a song with no practice"

5. What is your favorite song that we have done so far in music class?

"I liked the song we performed at the PTA night" (We didn't perform any songs at PTA night)
"none in particular"
"None in particular"

The Night Before His First Program

Josh's first school program is tonight.  He is super excited and nervous and I am too!  His whole fourth grade is performing.  Students are reading The Night Before Christmas as narrators and every few stanzas a different class will perform a song.  Most of them were written or adapted by Josh, me, and his students to fit the story. 

One of the classes is even performing a longways set dance as the "reindeer" on the sleigh.  They will be wearing reindeer antlers with bells!  All of the other kids are going to be wearing "Christmas Eve" attire.  A.K.A. Pajamas.  It should be super cute. 

Programs are scary and nerve-wracking.  We, as teachers, get all worked up and try to make everything perfect for a bunch of 6 year olds!  They end up performing a stellar program full of great musicianship (especially for little kids). Meanwhile, all the parents remember is the cute kid in the front who just stood there and waved to his mom.  I will have to remind myself of that in two weeks for my program!

Wish us luck!

Stories from American Education Week

I had a plethera of adults in my room this past week.

The mom from my previous posts of child abuse has been in to visit all three of her kids.  Dad isn't allowed on school property.  It is weird having her in my room because she is treating her kids like they are angels.  Makes me wonder why she is married to this dude.  And why she doesn't have any control over their discipline strategies.

I had a dad come in the other day who was dressed in his police uniform.  He walked in while I was teaching a class of first graders.  I assumed they would react to it, of course.  In the brief second that I had to think, I thought they would have said "Wow!"  "Cool!"  "A cop!"  "Neat gun!", etc.  Nope.  My kids are thugs whose parents are constantly running from the cops.   This was their response (in terror) "Mrs. Mengel! There's a cop in our room!"  "AHHHH!" "What's he doing here?"  "Who is he here for?"  "Is someone getting arrested?"  I attempted to explain to the 6 YEAR OLDS that police are good people who are here to protect us.  Didn't work.  They were still scared and most of them wouldn't even look him in the eye.  Kind of felt bad for the guy.

I had a 4th grade class today with 9 parent visitors.  The adults had to sit on the floor with us because we didn't have enough chairs in our room!  Having 10 adults in one room is tough.  Especially when one particular student wanted to show off for his mom.  He was playing his instrument like a rock star while I was talking or while other kids were trying to share.  He got reamed from me AND his mom.  That part was nice :-)

You would think that the kids would be super behaved because their parents are watching but really they are excited to show off!!  I was definitely caught off guard by this phenomenon.

I also gained a lot of respect for some parents and lost a lot of respect for a few.  First of all--I think it is awesome when parents are involved and come to see what their child is learning and how their days are spent at school with friends and teachers.  Every parent who actually showed up got a check mark in my book.  But then we had the parents who would chat to each other while their kids were trying really hard to pay attention and participate.  And I had more than one mom who actually ANSWERED HER CELL PHONE in my room while I was teaching a class of 5 year olds.  HOW RUDE!  I didn't say anything at all but I just kept on teaching loudly so she couldn't hear her phone call.  Respect=Gone.  I wonder what the expectations are for her children when it comes to manners.

Catching Up

Geez, it has been two weeks since I have blogged.  AND it has been two weeks since school started.  WOW.  Now is a good time because the Mountaineers are losing terribly and I would rather be in the computer room alone that sitting with stressed-out-Josh.

So far, I am really enjoying my school.  I have Pre-K for the first time ever and was VERY scared.  I have never taught 3 or 4 year olds in a classroom setting.  I got some advice, tried it, and so far it is working very well.  I REALLY like my schedule.  I usually teach around 9-10 classes per day, which seems like a lot, but... I will admit I kind of have it easy.  I get plenty of planning time, free coffee all day long, and NO DUTIES.  I am the ONLY teacher in my school who sees all 636 students every 4 days... so I get a bit of a break.

Oh yeah, until I found out on Thursday that my beautiful new, spacious, perfect classroom is being taken away from me.  We are inheriting a new Pre-K class and they need my room.  I AM being moved to another classroom, which is nice, but the move is a little stressful.  I need to do it all next week.  My new room is bigger.  It has a mounted LCD projector with a beautiful sound system.  But it is connected to the cafeteria by a collapsible wall... which means it will be very noisy during lunch hours.  Last year I had ZERO rooms and traveled on a cart.  This year I get to set up and decorate TWO rooms. Not bad.

A cute story to leave you with: Yesterday I got a new Kindergarten student.  He was Middle Eastern and after I introduced myself to him, I asked his name.  He told me a number of times and I could NOT understand him... poor kid.  Instead of embarrassing us both, I just asked him to spell his name for me so that I could write it down on my class list.  He replies:  A...  b.... c.... d.... e.... f...

No, Summer, Please Don't Go Away

As I sit here filling out our health insurance forms and such, I am unfortunately reminded that our wonderful summer is coming to an end and we both have to go back to work :-(

I will admit, it was definitely wonderful.  Neither one of us had to do a lick of work, we got married, we went to Mexico, we moved into our (awesome) new home in a new city, we went to the Outer Banks with my family, and we both have (great) JOBS!  So why am I complaining?

It's because I like to wake up in the morning and... relax.  I love to stretch my morning as long as possible with a pot of coffee.  I am currently doing just that.  I sit and think about my day or read a newspaper or magazine or blogs or chat with Josh.  I love eating my breakfast slowly.  Especially if it is 12-grain toast with nutella and blueberries.  Or eggs and bacon.  Or yogurt with granola and peaches.  Or a big buttermilk waffle.  If I wanted to enjoy my morning this much on a school day, I would have to wake up at 4am!

On the flip side, I am psyched to start my new job.  I am so excited to have my own room with my own instruments and my own desk.  I can't wait to meet my little kiddos and have fun.  It's going to be a great year!

A Good Day For Josh

Today we traveled the 27 miles down to Josh's new school.  He got to see his room, look around, meet with the principals, and hear some great news.  And I got to do it all with him!!!

His principals basically told him that they wanted him to do anything that he wanted with these kids (Grades 4-7).  He can just do drum ensembles, choirs, dancing, ANYTHING.  He is jumping into a music class which was not  structured or set up to involve the kids.  So the administration's goal is: Get the kids involved.  They have even offered Josh an extra two hours after school (paid) to start extra music programs which can be available to all of the underprivileged kids FOR FREE.  They said that last year 86% of the entire school showed up all year.  Not kidding.

So we were excited to see Josh's room.  But... it was a mess.  There is literally few usable items because most of the (cheap) instruments are so old and banged up that they will probably need to be thrown out.  We took some pictures so that we will have 'before' and 'after' pictures later.  Here is what we saw today:

The room!!!!

Yes, it is a mess.

A small view of the closet.  I have no idea why there are so many plants.

This is a mess.

Yes, folks, that is an autoharp.  He has many of them and we are not sure why.

On the VERY bright side, his principal basically told him that they will pay for WHATEVER Josh wants.  They want him to start an African Drum ensemble.  Josh said, "That would be AMAZING, but honestly, it would be incredibly expensive to purchase ALL of the instruments this year for that many students."  Do you know what they said?  "Okay.  How about if we buy all of those and give you a couple thousand dollars extra?"   Uhhhhh.... needless to say, I am so jealous proud of him and excited for his year to start!

Are They Allowed To Do That?!?!

This morning, I was so excited to see my little kindergartners.  I only have one more class left with them and then I will never get to see them again!  So I had the most beautiful and fun songs and games to play with them.  I even planned to take them outside and have music in the sun! 

So I walk down to their room to pick them up and take them outside with music and instruments.  They are all dressed up and all of their parents are in their classroom taking pictures.  They are apparently having an Author's Tea.  Whatever that is...

I walked in with a surprised face to see all of the parents and the kids dressed up on a little stage.  Their teacher says these exact words to me in front of all of the kids' parents, "OH!  No music today!  You have a free period!"  

So, in front of the parents, I yelled back across the room, "OH!  I was unaware that there would be an Author's Tea this morning.  I planned for a music class."  She says, "Well, you can stay and sing the songs with us..."  Me: "No thanks."

Argh. Are they allowed to do that?  I would NEVER take a WHOLE class out of their classroom without any notice.  Why do they think that their class is more important than mine?  This is almost the last time that I will ever see them.  In addition,  I have a degree to be their teacher... just like she does. 

I am sure that their Author's Tea is going to be adorable and wonderful for the kids and parents, but she could have asked me and not told me.  And she could have done it a month ago. 

It honestly hurts my feelings that some teachers believe that we (specials teachers) are there to just babysit their kids when it is convenient for them.  Again, I became a teacher to teach children about music.  Not to just go wherever they need me for whomever need a plan period.

Sorry, if you know me well enough, you will know that I am a complainer by nature.  You can ignore me if you wish. 

I feel like I need to say something happy.  I heard on K-LOVE this morning about what some people say to themselves when they wake up.  Please watch this little girl give herself a morning pep talk.  Click on Jessica's Daily Affirmation.

The End

While my life may seem like a beginning at this point, I also feel like it is an end!

I have lived in Morgantown for 5 years now and it looks like I will be moving in the next few months to a completely new place.

I got really used to my job at Cheat Lake Elementary and now I have to leave these kids.  I really like them and I know it's going to break the kindergartner's hearts to hear that I am leaving.  I am waiting to tell them until closer to the last day of school.  I just hope that my next school is as nice as this one.

Last night, my home group met and we discussed a quote from our book.  "Don't live everyday like it's the first day of your life.  Live every day like it's the last day of your life!"

My Crippled Body, Heart, and Brain

Maria N. Thomas:

Josh and I have been so busy.  It is so exhausting. Our schedule for a few days:

Yesterday (Tuesday):  Went to work all day.  Came home and packed.  Left for Cumberland.  Spent the evening at my mom's.

Today (Wednesday):  Drove to Hagerstown, MD.  Had interviews for jobs that are not even posted.  Drove back to Cumberland.  Visited my (too young) grandfather who has lung cancer.  Drive back to Morgantown.  Had a meeting with my Home Group from church.  Came home.  Got a scary phone call about my family.  Booked a hotel for tomorrow.

Tomorrow (Thursday): Go to school and work all day.  Then drive to Salisbury, MD after school.  6-hour trip.  We will get there a little after 10pm.  Stay in a gross, cheap hotel.

Friday:  We both have interviews early in the morning.  Then we will drive the 6 hours back to Morgantown.

Saturday: Wake up and drive to Fairmont to babysit a 6-month-old and 20-month-old all day.  Drive home that night.

Sunday:  Sunday school teaching in the morning.  Then go to church.  Then drive to Pittsburgh to watch the PSO.  I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS CONCERT SINCE I WAS BORN.  **More about this below...  Drive home from Pittsburgh Sunday night.

Monday:  Go to work.  I have a phone interview Monday morning during my plan time for another job.  Then teach all day.

Tuesday:  Election Day.  No School.  PTFO. (Pass the eff out)

**Note about the PSO concert:  When I was a junior in college I took what was probably the most demanding class of my life.  But here's the thing:  after being in the class for about 10 weeks, I stopped caring.  So during my lecture time 3 days per week, I would sit at my desk and make lists.  I decided to make a Bucket List.  Nothing too ridiculous... I didn't want to climb the tallest mountain or jump out of an airplane or anything.  My list, after careful reflection over a period of a few weeks, only totaled about 25 things.  Two of these things were:  See the Sibelius Violin Concerto performed live.  See Shostakovich Five performed live.  A stipulation:  These will only count if they are performed by reputable orchestras with great conductors and horn sections.  This weekend, the Pittsburgh Symphony is playing a concert.  Here is the program:

Heinz Hall

Sunday, May 09, 2010 at 2:30 PM

Manfred Honeck, conductor

Hilary Hahn, violin

                                                                           

Sibelius: Violin Concerto

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

I'm going to kill two birds with one stone!

--A side note:  my grandparents and my mom could use your prayers right now.  Send them our way, please!

60 Days!

Two months 'til our wedding.  Some thoughts that crossed my mind on this day:

• I am going to be a wife in two months.  I better learn how to fold clothes better.
• I wish my brother could be there.
• I love Zumba.  I absolutely love it.  I hope to be a Zumba instructor some day.
• I can't wait to start grad school. Wait... scratch that.  I can't wait to finish grad school.
• I hate cancer.
• I am currently eating dinner: rotisserie chicken and a glass of red wine.  Oh yes, and a dark chocolate truffle.
• I punished a student today for doing something that just wasn't safe.  He didn't hurt anyone, but he could have.  He was terribly upset, because he is normally a wonderful student.  I felt really bad, but I apologized and explained to him why I chose to give him the reminder.  After that, I think he understood.  But he still cried a lot.
• Josh and I both got interviews for Baltimore County!!! Woo-hoo.  But we can't go until June 9.  I was hoping to have a job by then! Oh, well.
• I love rain.  I used to hate it.  But lately I have been thankful for our rain.
• And another thing--I still hate bees.  But I am thankful for them.  And I am pleased to see them.  Then I run.
• I want (more than almost anything) to have my very own classroom.  I love my job at my school right now.  But I keep thinking of the wonderful things I can try with my students once I have the access to floor space and instruments.  Let's hope for that next year!
• And I am getting so fed up with this long hair.  I am literally getting it cut on the way to the airport to our honeymoon.
• We are going to Cozumel in 62 days!  A picture of our resort:

I AM NOT A BABYSITTER.

...well, actually, I am.  But only on my own time.  Outside of school.  Where I get paid directly from the parents of the children.

I did not earn a summa cum laude honor for a bachelor's degree of music education so that I could babysit a room full of fourth graders, miss ALL of my plan time without notice, and not be apologized to.

I did not work my butt off all week planning lessons for 6 classes only to not be able to teach them because I didn't have any time to put the materials on my CART that I wheel around to other classes so that THEY can have their plan times. 

Vent, rant, rave: over.

On the bright side:  one of my fourth grade classes is singing for a volunteer luncheon that our school is putting on.  They lit up my day today.  They learned a song perfectly in 35 minutes and can sing it and play it on recorder in 3 part harmony.  It was just beautiful.  The words to the song: 

Let me be a light for hope.

Let me be a light for peace.

From the seas below to the skies above,

Let me be a light for love.

An Exciting Week!

Such an exciting and jam-packed week.

Sunday: My first Sunday teaching The Incredibles, a Sunday School class at my church made up of autistic children.  I spent the majority of the rest of the day relaxing.  Well needed.  Had the most delicious sushi for dinner.

Monday: Back to school.  Writing Assessment week.  I have to be quiet this week.  Trying some new and pretty cool "quiet" projects with the kids.  Put a chicken salsa corn soup in the crock pot.  Went to Zumba!

Tuesday: Starting packing up my room at school for the end of the year.  Worked out.  Went shopping for wedding stuff with Josh.  Had dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

Wednesday:  Getting a new student at school.  She will be in my favorite class, the class that I teach made up of 4 (now 5) students with autism.  I literally cannot wait to meet her.  For some odd reason, I feel like I am adopting a child or something.  I will only see the girl twice per week!  Then the girls from my home group are coming over to help me finish my wedding invitations.  Then we have home group.

Thursday:  Lauren and Eli are coming over for dinner.  I am making lasagna and garlic bread.  SOOO excited!

Friday:  Going out for a friend's birthday... should be fun.

Saturday:  Orff workshop in the morning.  Then an old friend from high school is coming to Morgantown to hang out!!!   I literally cannot wait for this!  We haven't spent time together in about 3 years!  Mallory, Christine, and I are hopefully going to do some fun stuff :-)

Sunday: My second week with the Incredibles.  Then lunch at Red Lobster for another friend's birthday.  And hopefully mailing the invitations :o)  IS it just me, or does mailing the invitations seem like a HUGE step???  It seems like the Point of No Return!!!!  

WOO-HOO!!!!

Oh, Oh, Oh, Woke Up Today...

We are going to Baltimore tomorrow!!!

Maria Loves Baltimore.

We are staying in The Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore Hotel.

We are going to a huge MD job fair Saturday morning.

Why do I love staying in hotels?  I don't know.  Maybe because there is a pool.

Wish us luck!

Senioritis... Well, sort of.

I have senioritis.  I have a disease.  It is getting close to the end of my very first school year as a teacher and all I want to do is go outside and play.

Wedding planning is starting to get stressful and job hunting makes me want to vomit. 

On the bright side, there are only 38.5 days of school left.

Next week our students are taking the West Test (West Virginia State Standardized testing).  So, I was told that I was not allowed to make noise all week.  Yes, that's right, the music teacher cannot make any "noise".  So, I am debating a few options.  Most likely, with good weather, we will play some games outside.  I think they will like that.  I, however, will smell all week like a bottle of sunscreen.

Birthday!

Josh and I have a busy week. And it's my Spring Break week. Ugh.

Josh's Birthday is tomorrow, but we are celebrating today :-) He is on his way home from work now. I have his birthday gifts on the living room floor waiting for him! I got him really nice manly heavy beer mugs. He really wants them! And both of Ron White's books. I didn't even know he wrote books... whatever. That's what the kid wanted.

Tomorrow Josh works all day, then we are going to Cumberland to get my wedding gown altered. WOO-HOO. Thursday we are going to meet with our pastor for our pre-marital class and then I am meeting with some friends and family to discuss bridal shower plans. THEN we have a meeting with the people form our reception hall to finalize plans.

Friday we have a second interview in Washington County!!!!!! I can't wait :-) I actually get really excited about interviewing now! Never thought I would say it.

Then we are headed to York for a few days to visit and watch the Mountaineers in the Final Four.

On Sunday, we are going to Cumberland for Easter with my family. Then back home... and my Spring break is over :-(

I can tell that time will fly fast. Boo-hoo.

But only 89 days til the wedding!

SPRING FEVER

An exciting couple of days for us!

Today, immediately after school (which will be in about 30 min), Josh and I are driving the 4 hours to York, PA for a job fair.

We should get there by 7:30 or 8. We are stopping by to see friends who are having a baby in about a week... so that's exciting. I can't wait to see the nursery!

Then we are headed to his parent's house for the evening.

In the morning, we are going to Millersville for a job fair. There are going to be about 30 counties and districts there that we are interested in. I can't wait to meet people! Which is SO unlike me. Ever since I have become a teacher I feel like I am so much more outgoing. Usually at places with lots of people, I sit around and wait for people to talk to me. NOW--I can't wait to go just so I can talk to people! Even if they don't have any job openings for us, I still really want to talk to people!

Hopefully we will meet some people and get those resumes out there!

Then we are making the trek about to Morgantown tomorrow evening. But we are stopping in Cumberland to watch the WVU game with my family.

We probably won't get back until 11pm or later... and then I have to go to school on Friday morning!

BUT... Don't worry. It will all be worth it. Because Friday at 3:45pm starts my spring break!!! 9 whole days of no school and no waking up early.

Now let's just pray for good weather :-)

It's 70 degrees!

A look at my day:


Crap.  This morning I woke up late.  I got to school on time.  Crap.  I realized that I left my lunch at home.  It was too late to go back.  Oh, I will just call Josh and ask him to drop it off this afternoon.  Crap.  I forgot my phone, too.

I am walking up the steps in my new pretty shoes.  Already I have three compliments on them.  I get upstairs... Crap.  I already have three blisters from them.

Oh well, at least I have a long plan period this morning to get all that stuff done that's been on the to-do list for a while.  Crap.  Vice-principal asks me to go watch another class while the teacher is in a meeting.  Planning time--gone.

THEN---all was better.

Good lessons.  Day went by fast.  I took my last class (of 2 students) outside to play on the playground this afternoon.  It was so nice outside! Came home, ate something for lunch and took a nap.  Woke up and went to zumba (yay).  Came home and made pork chops and asparagus for dinner.  Watched the new episode of The Office with Josh.  Did the dishes... [don't ever tell Josh, but I enjoy doing the dishes in the evening.  Sometimes I complain about it, but it's just because he never does them.  It's me standing my ground.]  Now I am watching The Marriage Ref, which is a ridiculous show, but kind of funny.  Then I will watch Chelsea Lately (my favorite) and THEN the world premiere of the 9-minute music video "Telephone" by Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce at 11:30. woot.