Guess what? I don't have TB!

Ok, so the title's a little strange, but I couldn't think of anything good. Yesterday I had to go back to the Dr. because they forgot to give me the PPD check to make sure I don't have Tuberculosis, and of course I need this on file before they will let me register. Well it's close enough to tommorow that I can tell you I don't have TB. The dumb thing is I have to have another party do the reading to prove me right. My last Dr. just let me call them and tell the results. So at least my school nurse can do it so I don't have to go back for the negative reading (in other words, there is no bump or mark of any kind where I had the test done).

In other news, I just got my teaching contract today for next year. It's pretty crazy that they want our response in less than a month, especially when I'd be taking a 9k pay cut because of decreased enrollement. They aren't sure if a traveling position will be open or if we can officially fill the missing classes by doing Title 1 tutoring or some other duty. It's a tough call... I'd basically be going back to my 2nd year teacher salary. I'm barely making it on my current salary, let alone afford a cut. Happiness at a job means a lot, but I'm not sure if I can afford this cut, unless I officially move in with the parents.

A friend of mine officially broke up with her boyfriend to whom she was previously engaged. She is selling her condo with him, and was planning on purchasing a place. We would then plan to be roommates, and I could live cheaper than I am now, with someone I know to be a good and normal person, and still have the same 'luxeries' I do now (by luxury I mean doing my own laundry at home, having a place to park, my own room, a back yard, close to work, freedom to do just about whatever...etc.) She doesn't know what she is going to do because her contract went even smaller than mine. I know she will look for a new job if there are no opportunities to be full-time. I on the other hand I'm not sure what I'll do.

I want to stay because I like where I am. I'm not prepared to start another job in teaching again. I at least will not be going to another school district; I'll say that much. I'm leaning toward signing the contract and hoping for the best. I want to double check about my benefits still being in place. But I will most likely stay. I will have 80 minutes less teaching time every day, which means I could be coming in later or leaving earlier. I could use that time to study or make it a point to exercise, but I'd definitely have to live with my parents.

It's not so much my parents that are my concern. My concern is living across from my brother. My brother is in a world of his own suffering from constant diabetes problems, memory loss due to seizures, and mood swings. In the past, I would have had the entire upstairs to myself. Wheras now, my Grandma also lives there in my brother's old room. I really wish the basement were even partially finished. Enough for a big bedroom with a small study area, a living room area, and a full bathroom. If/When I move back I'll take the upstairs bedroom (my old one) and sweat to death in the summer b/c my brother won't keep the air on (supposedly he says he will keep it on for me, and if not then maybe he'll consider switching rooms which btw are both the same size only one has an extra closet (mine).) I'll then set up shop in my mom's study that she used for her Master's and have a little living room in the basement.

The other concern is the 45 minute (all traffic!) drive every day to work. If I so much as left 15 minutes later to go to HS. It took me an hour just to get to Webster Groves. I'm worried what it would be like to get to No. Co. every day from really far South, So. Co. What if I forget a book or a paper? I can't run down and grab it. (Maybe my Grams could help, but she has a life too.) It's all a matter of finances vs. mental health. Right now I lean toward mental health. I have a feeling that if I just trust God, my job will work itself out. I'm also going to look into being a PCT at the hospital, it won't pay as much probably, but I'd get tuition reimbursement.

Just craziness. Uncertainty is good sometimes, but when it comes to money and jobs and life decisions it's really stressing.

PS .... I would post my house listing to advertise but I don't want random people knowing where I live. So far just as of yesterday 38 people looked at my house online. Keep praying, I need it!

Goodbye house!

Well, it's official. My house will be on the market starting tommorow. Many repairs and super cleaning jobs were completed. I moved boxes around and tidied the storage area. Melia and I discussed pricing and we hope to sell fast and close around June.

All my hoops are mostly complete for school. I completed the Financial Aid visit Monday. I passed my recert for Healthcare Provider CPR. I went and got my drug screening. I went to the Dr. today for my required physical, I even had my cholesteral checked. All I have to do is make copies of the my card when I get it, and send these things in. Yeah!

Everything would be great, other than my roommate not bothering to read my post-it notes reminding her of what is up. I even sent her an email and gave her a free card to go get a relaxing massage. I just don't understand why someone would be wierd about me cleaning the house for them. I should start a whole new blog just for this segment of my life alone entitled, Wierd Roomate Stories.

Unexpected

I can't believe how much I got done in one day. It made me feel like all my worries were for naught. Monday I finished my FAFSA, met with the Financial Aid person, had extra time to get the drug test done, and then to go home eat, and go to CPR. Originally they told me I missed the boat for CPR, but then someone cancelled and she called me just in time for me to get there.

I passed. I didn't like my teacher (neither did my partner), and wished I was in the lady instructor's group because that's who I had last time two years ago. This guy acted like if you asked a question because you were confused with the video something was wrong with you. Seriously, don't be a teacher if you are going to make someone feel dumb for asking questions and then say "feel free to ask me anything, that's why I'm here." For example: Me: "So are we supposed to give one minute of CPR first to both adults and children and then get help if no one is there, or should we get help first?" Him: "Well what did the video say?" Me: "It wasn't particularily clear what one should do if someone wasn't there (for adults) for you to ask them to call 911, whereas the child's was, which is why I ask." Him: "Well what was the chain of survival for the adult?" Me: "Early Access." Him: "What about the child then?" Me: "Early CPR" Him: "Well there's your answer then." He basically picked on anyone who made one mistake and made a big deal about it. I'm sorry I've only taken CPR twice (this being the 2nd time), if I or the other students forget something, don't treat us like dummies, help us fix the situation instead of belittling us. He was very humilating for all of the girls in our group. He left the guys alone because there was a fire-fighter and a army person. How Rude! We came here to learn, not to be treated like crap, with a smile. Glad that's done. Next time I take it, I'm making sure I'm in the group with the woman instructor.

Sorry. I guess being a teacher it irks me when other teachers do their job poorly. I understand having a bad day, because certainly I have those too. At least I try to be patient, instead of rolling my eyes at another student while the one having trouble is confused. There was another girl who was obviously "English as a Second Language." She had never taken CPR before and needed extra help. He treated her very poorly (using raised voice sometimes, rolling eyes toward me etc.), she's translating everything you say, at least give her time to figure it out and walk her through it, everyone learns differently. I should have written this on the comment form, but instead I just gave lower scores for the instruction because I didn't want to be 'picked out from the crowd'.

Anyway, I'm going to be being my packing adventures today. Anyone else think the snow is crazy? First day of Spring and it snows. All those poor daffodil flowers will die now, bummer. Not sure why, but once the snow started my sinuses went hay wire. I even lost my voice for a few hours last night. Strange. I haven't reacted to weather changes like that in a LONG time.

I know I don't sound poetic or exciting or even really informative lately, but that's just how it goes. By the way, the movie called "Winter Solstice" is not worth your time. I rarely fall asleep during a movie, but this one almost had no plot.

Enough already!

This last week was CRAZY! I found myself venting to Eric today, simply because I was sick of being a slave to my own life. I was feeling trapped and stuck and that just makes me want to scream sometimes. Everyday this week I had to be at school early and at least two days I stayed late. I had two extra rehearsals during the week for this choir performance today and tommorow, one of which was right after one of my big student concerts (of which we got a standing ovation). Then I had to go to another one today because he didn't feel we were prepared. Honestly I kept making mistakes because I'm BORED of singing the same thing over and over because 12 of us can't figure out how to sing in unison. Anytime I messed up was because I zoned out and wanted to go home.

That's all I could think about this morning. It's my Spring Break darn it, and I really didn't want to be spending two of my days singing for this Gregorian Chant concert. It's cool, it was fun, might actually be fun tonight and tommorow, but now it's just old for me. I'll be very happy when we are done. You think I'd be excited to have a big solo part in this thing, but quite honestly I'd rather be getting ready to move or playing around with friends. Have you ever just been forced to be 'on' all the time, and you get to a point where you can't take it anymore and need a break? That's me right now. UGH!

Now that I'm done whining and complaining here's the news of my exciting journey through life. Monday I'm meeing with Financial Aid and taking CPR at Meramac. The rest of the week will be spent getting my house ready to go on the market. I'll be moving some things over to the parental's house and making it look like no one really lives here. I'm not really sure what to do with the roomie other than remind her the house will be on display, which I already mentioned two weeks ago.

As for my current job, I'm being rehired at .79 for sure (we lost some sections) and that means I'll end up traveling again probably, if the option is there. I'm not sure what I'm doing with this yet, other than since I'll be moving back home, as long as this ensures I can leave early (since I won't be teaching) and still get full benefits, I can handle the decrese in pay. On the other hand since I'm taking more college grad credits, maybe I'll have enough to bump up a salary schedule by next year. Depends on what I have time to do. For nursing school, I have to jump through all these hoops before they'll let me register. They are requiring a lot more than Maryville did, ie a drug test, fun fun.

Anyway, that's it for now. This post was mostly random junk, but read if you will my random, unexciting ramblings for the day.

3 more days!

3 More days until I'm done with Phase 1 of the SB diet. I can't wait to have some carbs back in my life baby. All these leafy greens are great, but my digestive system is mad at me this time (maybe because I was sick last Friday who knows). I'm having dreams of chocolate covered strawberries (sugar-free chocolate of course) and whole grain pita with my hummus and tomatoes again..... yum!

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On another note, I got home today and the neigbhor is selling their house too. I hope that doesn't look bad for me, however, my house is better kempt and has a bit more to offer :) (ie finished basement, wood burning stove, 3 bedrooms, a covered deck, nice landscaping, hard wood floors underneath the carpet, lots of exterior updates, I could go on etc.)

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Four more school days until our concert. 7 days until 'the big solo' as "Chastity." One more week until Spring Break!!!! Two more weeks until my house is on the market!

Wicked and Son of a Witch

The book discussion I used to frequent, much more oft than I do now, was reading Wicked last month. I finally finished it about two weeks ago and hungered for more. I went to the library and checked out the "7 Day Loan" edition of Son of a Witch from the Best-Seller Shelves. I had to renew (or exchange rather), but I finally finished reading Son of a Witch (the sequel) yesterday. I'm not sure why I was so compelled by these books, but I absolutely loved them. The ending was beautiful.

I miss reading so much that when I return the book to the library (due today), I'll have to find another one. I almost forgot how I really enjoyed reading, espeically for fun. My problem usually stems from the question of what to read. Having been told what to read for most of my life (especially from all those high-school summer reading requirements about women's struggles etc.), it's hard to know what are valuable books and are also very interesting to me in the fiction sense. I wish I could find a list of quality fictions books of all types (not just the classics) from which to choose for my reading pleasure. I am sometimes overwhelmed at the infinite possibilities, even at my teeny-tiny library off "The Rock Rd".

Coming soon.....

It's unofficially official!!! My house will be going on the market hopefully on March 25th! Melia seems to think that it will sell fast. Keep your prayers going! I'm going to need it!

Beach Update

So far I've lost 7 lbs and counting. I guess it really helped that I've been sick for the last two days and haven't really eaten anything for obvious reasons! Trust me, the sickness wasn't worth the extra 2 lbs. Well, I'm off to the store to get some eggs and turkey bacon. I'm finally hungry, and I really hope my sickness is done with me, so I can start eating things other than sugar free jello and not lose it 10 minutes later. YIKES!