We had an exciting weekend.
Friday, I went to the doctor because my rash was still itching and still getting worse. He was as stumped as I was about what had caused this rash. He did a biopsy (ow) and gave me some antibiotics. I go back to see him on Thursday and hopefully he'll know more. Meanwhile, I'm still itchy. It waxes and wanes, but generally, I itch.
Friday evening we set out for Richmond. Of course, at the time it was alternating between sleeting and snowing - making the roads lots of fun to be on. However, we took our time and made it to Richmond in 3 hours. Only a half hour longer than it should have taken. Our hotel was right downtown, only 6 or 7 blocks from the convention center. LMK and I discussed it and decided that since the weather on Saturday was supposed to be very cold and I was planning to wear a skirt that we would get up early and drive to the convention center instead of walk.
Then we went off in search of food. We had no idea where we were going, so eventually we ended up back at the hotel. Around this time, I was getting VERY, VERY itchy. Of course, I had forgotten my Cortisone cream. We checked the phone book, located the nearest Wal-Mart and set out. We drove and drove and drove. No Wally World. Finally, LMK spotted a Target. Hooray! Target! I like Target better anyway. I got some cream and we started back to get dinner. I chose Panera and LMK chose Wendy's. LMK was tired and ready to go home, he would have picked anything at that point. We got our food to go and went back to the hotel. We ate and LMK called for a 6AM wake-up call. Me? I was still itchy. Finally at 11 o'clock I fell asleep.
At 4:30 our phone rang. WTF!? "This is your wake-up call." LMK called the front desk to see what was going on and we decided that some wonderful hotel guest had called our room to prank us. Grrr. We tossed and turned for a few more hours until our real wake-up call came.
We arrived at the convention center at 7:30 and we were able to pack in an adjacent parking garage. Hooray! We checked into the Teach-In and waited until the booths opened. I visited 6 surrounding school districts. Two weren't conducting interviews. Small County had sent the man I had interviewed with for subbing. He asked if I had all my paperwork in and essentially sent me on my way. Gee, thanks. I'm consistently underwhelmed by Small County, but I digress. I interviewed with two districts. One is where a friend of mine teaches. The other is Large County. I am in love with large county. I want to work there.
LMK was able to meet with licensure specialists and figure out exactly what he needs to do to get his teaching license. He also met with two universities a local one and the only one (Go Hokies!). He wandered around the booths while I was interviewing wearing his polo from The School. Wouldn't you know it, the man from Small County tried to recruit him! "Are you happy at The School?" They don't give me the time of day, but LMK is in high demand.
Grrrrrr.
Over the past few months, I've been adjusting to life in Virginia. People talk funny. Everything is in English and Spanish. All in all, I'm liking our new home. There is so much to see and do that I've never done before that each time we go out, it's an adventure.
This week, I will interview with Small County schools to get on their subbing list. I will also sub for LMK on Wednesday and Friday (if his games aren't cancelled like todays). Finally, we will travel to Richmond so I can hopefully interview with all the surrounding schools in hopes of getting a job for next year. This week starts the beginning of the spring break count down(2 more weeks!) and we are busy, busy, busy.
I'm looking forward to getting into the Small County elementary schools and seeing if I like it. I've been warned about Small County, but it's mostly been from people involved in the high school. I've seen the teenagers around here - and yep, they'd worry me too. However, with no specifics, just a "watch out" I can't help but not worry.
I'd like to think that I can teach anywhere. In fact, my cooperating teacher told me once, if I could teach in Roanoke City schools, I could teach anywhere. Mind you, I won't be heading into the DC schools, but most urban schools don't worry me. Every school has it's problems - urban schools have urban problems, rural schools have rural problems. Right now, all I want is a job. Once I get some teaching experience, I'll think about moving to a more desirable district if needed.
Now, about those pod-teenagers...
I am constantly amazed, no, flabbergasted by LMK's students. Not only do they come up to him in public and speak to him. They're polite! Uber-polite! It's always, "Hello, sir. Yes, sir. No, sir. Nice to meet you, ma'am." It's all I can do not to stand there and stare at them with my mouth hanging open.
Friday, I went up and met his kids. I always like to know the kids a little before I walk into a classroom. Being a first time high school sub, this was doubly important to me. These are still typical teenagers. They're concerned with themselves, make stupid choices, and whine, but under that - they're just nice kids.
As his last class was leaving, several students stopped to say, "It was nice meeting you, Mrs."
"It was nice meeting you, too. I will see you on Monday," I replied.
"Oh no, Mrs." One student said stopping and looking proud, "I won't be here. I have a game."
"In that case, good luck!"
As we were leaving Friday afternoon, one of LMK's students all but jumped in front of the car to get us to stop. LMK got out and the student turned over his missing homework assignments. "I'm sorry they're late, sir," he apologized, "and I'm sorry to have to interrupt you on your way to practice."
Saturday, we went to a movie with LMK's parents downtown. We ran into another one of his students. He, too, was unfailingly polite and well-spoken. It's refreshing to speak to teenagers who are trained to be polite. My mother worked hard on my brother and I to teach us manners and respect for our elders. For goodness sakes, when I subbed for her colleagues that had known me since I was born, I still called them Mr. Smith and Mrs. Jones. I thought manners had all but disappeared.
Teenagers, with manners! At The School, teenagers with manners aren't the exception, but the rule. I swear, The School is spoiling me. No school is going to live up to the atmosphere at The School. Everyone is so unfailingly polite, generous, and kind it's amazing. I don't know whether I should be proud to be associated with such a wonderful program or if I should be upset that a little dose of manners and common courtesy are such a shock.
I'm glad I'm not working at The School more. All these kids would have to do is "ma'am" me a couple times and I'd give them whatever they wanted.
I have lost my ever-lovin' mind! I'm having flashbacks to the day LMK came home from practice at The College and told me Head Coach had agreed us hosting a team function was a great idea.
"I said I'd do what!?"
Next week, LMK starts soccer games. In order for him to coach, he'll have to leave school early on game days. Usually not more than the last period or two. As long as we've been here, I've heard how hard it is for The School to get subs (I've heard its a problem for most private schools). So instead of having someone in the administration come cover LMK's class, I said I'd do it. Why?
I DON'T KNOW!
In all honesty, I'm not that concerned about subbing for him. I know he will leave me enough work for the kids to complete. I know he will back up any decisions I make. But most importantly, I know he will nail their asses to the wall should they give me problems. After all, he's the one that told me "If they give you trouble, then you give me trouble and I can make them sorry they gave you trouble." Hehehe. My work here is done. Who knows, I may love it. Right now, I'm just excited to be getting out of the house for a few hours. FREEDOM! I'm planning to go up Friday afternoon to meet his kids. Plus, I need to ask the secretary that does subbing about some of the protocol I'll need to follow. Another day out of the house!
Also, the interview/sub meeting I worried about - not a problem. Yesterday, Small County called to reschedule my interview due to the forecasted weather. "Great," I thought, "I can go to Large County's sub meeting".
Ahahahahahaha, I'm so funny. All the schools are closed today due to inclement weather. Mind you, it didn't even start snowing until 1 in the afternoon. Gotta love Virginia!
Ollie had a little porch party Saturday evening. LMK told me about a huge black and white persian he'd seen around our house one morning last week. We've counted about 6 different cats that walk through our yard throughout the day, but I hadn't seen this persian. Seeing as I LOVEpersians, LMK was excited to tell me about this new one that looked like Ollie with Socks' colors.
Well Saturday evening we were watching a movie and I looked out the sliding glass door to see none other than the black and white persian sitting at our window. Ollie was sleeping next to me so I gently put him down on the floor and nudged him toward the window. First, I got the typical crabby face...but then he spotted his new friend. Pretty soon, all we could see was Ollie cat butt.
I couldn't use my flash, so the pictures are blurry, but you get the idea. That is one pretty cat!
The Good
LMK and I went to Large City on Saturday to celebrate his first week of work with dinner at Olive Garden.
Ok. Okay, I'll be honest. We were celebrating, but I wanted to go to Olive Garden, not him. He's a good sport though. The OG in Large City must be new. It's totally different than any I've ever been in before and let me tell you, I've hit a LOT.
It didn't have the rolling chairs with the arms that I hate. It had high vaulted ceilings and a fire place! It was gorgeous! And the food? Superb!
The Great
Then we came home and let the boys out into the sun porch. They had a ball - once the big scaredy cats actually went outside. I can't wait for spring/summer so we can sit out there and enjoy the evening. I'm already planning flowers in my head. ME! Flowers!
The Ew!
We've been having some drainage problems, but since the maintenence men have been here things have been pretty uneventful. After we had gotten everyone inside off the porch, I decided I needed to piddle. So off I went to the downstairs bathroom. As I walked in, I noticed something in the toilet. My first thought was, "great, what did the cats knock into the toilet." Then the "object" registered. It was a rat. A rat!
Ewewewewewewewewew
LMK swears it was dead - at least, I think that's what he was saying as I ran screaming up the stairs with Ollie leading the way.
I pride myself on not being a girly girl. I don't like snakes, but I can handle seeing them. Mice don't bother me either - Hokie loves to catch mice. Spiders? I don't like to crunch them but I'm pretty big and bad when I have a vacuum in my hands.
Rats however, nah uh. No way, no how.
We're on pins and needles over here, people. PINS AND NEEDLES! Nothing today regarding Lawn Mower King's interview this weekend. Well, I guess that isn't entirely truthful. He had a fifteen minute converstation with the head of the math department. Whether that's good or bad, we have no clue. He said they want to make a decision before the dean gets back from vacation (end of the week). We're hoping it will be tomorrow like the head of the school said. You haven't uncrossed anything yet, have you?
I did find out that the town we may be moving to (knock on wood) does offer a "relocation packet". I'm forcing myself to wait to request one until we actually decide to move there. But! How helpful! Gotta love those Virginians.
I began my two week job as a Title 1 teacher. I love the woman I'm subbing for. She left me a present! How sweet is that? She had surgery today and cannot be around kids for at least two weeks (totally understandable - they cough and sneeze all over you). When I went in so she could show me where everything was she kept saying things like, "Here are the reading take home books for the rest of the year -- just in case I never come back." WHAT!?
However, I do not love her schedule. She has bus duty twice a day. Did I mention it was only 20 degrees today? They don't make appropriate school clothes that warm. Brrrrr!
LMK and I really want him to get this job. Reallllly. He's pretty shocked because I am just as excited about it as he is. Me! The person who only months ago would totally shut down at the idea of a move.
Where do I begin?
The hotel. The school put us up in a Hampton Inn. I'm a simple girl, really. I don't need a big fancy hotel room. Holy heck, they've "redone" the Hampton Inns. They're wonderful! Even Twin would approve because their linens are laundered every day. I loved, loved, loved the comforter....excuse me, duvet. It was so fluffly that you sink into it and oh brother, was it warm. I definitely need one of those.
The school. It's beautiful! It sits over one hundred acres on the highest point in town. You can see everything! Everyone we met at the school is so nice. The head of the school was really great. Since it is a boarding school, LMK would have a lot more responsibilities than a regular teachining position. We're both ok with that.
(view from one side of the school)The housing. The school provides houses for their staff to use should they need somewhere to stay. The only thing they have currently available is a four bedroom house, with a porch, fenced in backyard, sunroom, garage, and wood burning fireplace in the living room. The backyard was the selling point. It means we can bring Lucy with us. I was really concerned about where she was going to live if we move. (I got a little sniffly on the way home because I was so relieved) Even though it isn't rent free, we saw the same house (4 bedroom, backyard, etc) adveertised in the rental book we picked up for twice the price. It's definitely a deal!
Please, everyone keep your fingers, toes, eyes, etc crossed for us, send good karma, keep us in your prayers - whatever you believe. We should know something by Tuesday. While you're crossing/praying, think of me and hope that I can pick up a job in town too. That would make this move truly perfect.