For....ev....er

Wow... I cannot believe that the last time I posted was right after my b-day! I am terrible! No, actually I think the word is "busy."
Let's see where to start... well, since then I have completed the long, stressful journey of becoming legitimized... as a credentialed teacher, that is. I have graduated with my Masters, and good news, I still have a job next year (good thing b/c I have to start paying back that student loan).
On a more personal level, the world lost an amazing person in March (I know, I know... March is NOT a good month for me and my family - sorry Dave). My grandfather, Eugene Yakes passed on and went to meet his maker (as he always eagerly said he would), but the rest of us miss him tremendously... including me. I was, as were all of the grandkids, incredibly close to him. The most giving, loving, funny, honest, faithful, inspiring... nearly perfect man. He touched everyone he met (evident by the hundreds of mourners who visited our family at funeral services that week). A true patriarch and leader of our family, he will be missed. I am happy that he is where he wants to be, and even happier knowing he is with other special people who have been taken from our presence.
We love you, Grandpa.

#34... here I come!

So this week is my b-day (hence the #34 reference in the title), and someplace I have always wanted to go was La Fondue www.lafondue.com in Saratoga, CA. And finally...

Saturday night, Dave arranged for us, along with our very best friends, Dan and Charmaine to try this place out... and man, were we rolling in style! While I thought the best part was that I got to spend an evening with great people and fun food, I got to be escorted to Saratoga in a limo... weird, I know, it's just a b-day, and not a "big one" at that. But hey, my husband sees celebrations for what they are... and this was... well, is actually. I think the reason for the slight splurge is because I am only about 1 month shy of getting my Masters finished up, and I know that in my life, it's a big accomplishment. It's been some time since I have began such a large goal and actually been lucky enough for the planets to align long enough for me to reach it (well, that's not true, there's one other area, and he knows who he is). 

Anyway... yay! for me! And yay! for great family and friends!

I suck, I know

I know it's been way too long since my last post. To be honest, I forgot that I was doing this for a while. Oops! My minds gets away from me when I get busy. 

Anyway, things are good... school is great. I still love it. My students are awesome, and I will miss them (only a little though) over the next 2 weeks off. Ah yes, one of the perks of teaching... lots of breaks! So, over the break I plan on getting to a lot of those things that have been neglected during the first part of the school year (basically, a head start on "Spring cleaning"). But one of the things I would like to do is to discover a way to replicate a yummy sandwich that I recently ate. There is this place in downtown SJ that D&C took us to called the Poor House Bistro. I never knew it was there, and now wish I never discovered it! Because I had the best BBQ Chicken Po'Boy sandwich so full of flavor and spicy enough that I could not feel my lips! Yummm-my! But I cannot seem to find any recipes that sound like the same tasteful experience. So, if any of you have any hints for me... please, please, please, pass it on! I don't want to have to drive the 30 minutes each time I want that sandwich!

What else.... my studies are going very well also. In fact I will have my Masters degree completed by the first week in February!!! 

Well, I hope everyone has a great holiday and new year. I am not usually one for resolutions, but if I had to pick one, it would be to "try" and keep this blog updated. I said "try"...

What an honor

Here is an update for all of you who are wondering where I have been and why I have not been blogging lately. Well... that is mostly because I am so incredibly busy with school.... and it's going very well, I must say. So well in fact that I was given the honor and recognition as Teacher of the Month! I was, of course, confused and surprised but so very honored. Presented with a framed certificate and the privilege of the corresponding parking space, I accepted this honor, given to me by students that are not in any of my classes. I am not certain what the criteria is, but nonetheless, I am very honored and proud of such a recognition so early in my career.

Oh, and that feels good... great... to say.. my career. It might be still early yet, but I feel as though I have finally found a job that I look forward to each day. 

BTSN

As if it's not been hard enough to adjust to 150 different students and their needs in the classroom, I must now adjust to the needs of their parents as well. Thursday night, I experienced my first Back To School Night (BTSN) at my school, where a surprisingly large amount of parents and grandparents came to see what their child's classrooms looked like.. although for a new teacher like myself, it felt more like a judgement. So after a very long, yet successful day of teaching, we basically were asked to stay and do it all over again, but in the much shorter 10 minute class periods. 

It went very well I think, considering I had no idea what to expect... was 10 minutes going to drag out? Be too short? When that 15 hour work day came to and end (and no, you don't get paid for that extra time), parents were nice, excited about their child's classes, and I felt successful, relieved, and exhausted.

Stay tuned... next week is my first fundraiser for my yearbook class which involves the teachers (including myself), students, and projectile water balloons???? Ugh... the things we do for our kids.

I have survived 2 weeks

I know, I know... it's been way too long since my last post. Hey! Leave me alone! I have been incredibly busy. I am barely keeping my head above water in my new career change.... I knew becoming a teacher would not be easy, but I was not prepared for how hard it would be on me physically. In addition to the many hours I spend outside of class on preparation for the next day or week, I am finding myself extremely fatigued and sore each night... so any free time and energy I have goes to my studies towards graduation (only a few more months!!!). 

It has been a tough transition and roller coaster of confusion being a new teacher, not accustomed to my school's routines and procedures. But all in all, I like it (so far). Although... check back in about a month when I have begun the evaluation process by my both my Masters program professor and my Principal! Yikes! Talk about pressure!

Not So Great America

So this weekend Dave and I went to California's (or is it Paramount? I forget) Great America with a bunch of folks. This was my first visit to the park... and probably my last...
Now I am a long-time fan of roller coasters.... even though my body is... umm... let's say, getting too old to handle that kind of physical force... but dangit, I still crave the thrill! My last experience at a similar park (Magic Mountain - my all-time fave) left both Dave and I feeling wrecked and slightly sick. But, in the interest of good fun with friends (and since I had never been to this park), I was willing to give it a try (armed with Dramamine, just in case).
It was a fun day. Let me just start with that. It was absolutely fun. Barely any lines nearly the entire day. And I handled the rides perfectly. Fun. So fun that I am not ready to give up my love for the coaster. But here's why I doubt I will ever go back to Great America. In the 5ish hours that we were there, we went on about 6-8 roller coasters. Could someone please tell me why nearly half of those were "experiencing technical difficulty" as soon as we reached the front of the line? Literally... the rides were working, but when our group neared the front, the rides stopped. We were beginning to think it was a sign.... that we were pressing our luck or something. Which of course did not stop us from still getting on the ride after it started to work again... maybe that was why all of the lines were so short?
Anyway, not a good first impression of Great America in my opinion. Yes, I had a great time, with great people, but I doubt they will be getting my money ever again.