Nightmares, Funiture and Vacations!

Well, my teacher friends loved the cookies, as did Declan. He was really sad that I didn't buy him a whole bouquet. He did however tell me to write him a card that said "Thanks a Bizz-illion!"





I'm having nightmares about the new job...that's not helping me relax.





I've recently purchased a new desk and printer / storage cabinet. I decided that because I'm officially a full-time teacher, I can justify a nicer desk setup than I currently have. I ran into a big clearance sale so it was a steal. I ended up buying a matching t.v. stand also.

Declan and I are currently visiting friends several hours from home. We'll then go camping with my parents for the weekend and hen I start working on Monday- I'll be doing full-time child care this summer.

It's been a very relaxing week so far. The friend I'm visiting is really like family, so it's very easy to relax and just hang out. Hummm, maybe that isn't a great description, because family isn't always the most relaxing atmosphere is it :).

Lack of Sleep and Cookies

So, I've been up since 4:20 UGH! I think there is just too much going on inside my head to sleep. Today Declan and I are headed to pick up two cookie bouquets for two wonderful teacher friends, who I feel were so helpful to this whole hiring process. Thanks Casey for the inspiration. I must also admit, I am looking forward to trying one of those cookies myself!! Declan is really excited to pick out his very own cookie as well.

Can't wait until naptime...

BIG NEWS!!!

So..I heard "officially" that I've been hired! YEAH! Have I told you the best part? 6th Grade!! 6th graders are the best!!! I couldn't have asked for a better job. When I told Declan he said "That's good, I know you like 6th graders." I then wondered if he really knew what he was saying, so I asked "What do I think about 8th Graders?" Declan" Ooooh, they're really mean kids." :) I guess he does listen. And for the record, it's only a few select 8th graders that are a pain, but they can make your life pretty miserable!

I actually ended up calling the Principal today for information. Another Principal called me to come interview tomorrow. I couldn't turn down an interview without having a job locked down so I accepted the interview and then called my Principal. I told her about the phone call and she proclaimed "You already have a job! And you don't want to work for the X school district anyway." I really like this Principal. I am just sooo blessed. Great district (seriously one of the best in the state), no gang or serious drug problems, and a great Principal!!!

It also looks like I'll be subject specific, which means I'll be teaching two classes a day of math and science. By the way, I already have my classroom assignment for next year. The middle school is actually in my old high school. I think it's a little ironic that I'll be teaching math right next door to the classroom where a math teacher told me (along with every other student in the room) that I was a loser because I was in remedial math. That was my freshman year- 1982! Life takes you in interesting directions doesn't it?

I am so excited to be teaching math, particularly with my background.

More News!

O.K. I can't go into detail right now, but I did get an "unofficial" job offer (pending reference checks) and a hug :) from the Principal. Wow, who knew job offers came with hugs these days!! It still feels a little surreal...still waiting on that "official" word. I'm the kind of person who doesn't celebrate until the contract is signed.

Exhausted!

I am utterly exhausted. I haven't been able to sleep well for about 10 days (when my first interview was scheduled). My emotions change every hour, I'm nervous, excited, then nervous again, then excited: "I must have the job. What if I don't get it. What if they can't get a hold of my references. What if I'm mis-interpreting things." I just want 8 good hours of sleep.

Tomorrow I'm subbing at the school where I had my last interview. I kind of assume I'll hear something...then again maybe not. Can't take this much longer.

Thank You Google

I just had to do a little research this A.M. I don't know about you, my blog buddies, but I've never heard the phrase "shoot the lights out," although I assumed it was a GOOD thing :)

I'm guessing the Principal is a golf or basketball fan:

Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 19:27:58 EDT
Reply-To: American Dialect Society <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: American Dialect Society Mailing List <[log in to unmask]>
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: "Shoot the lights out" (1968, golf?)
Comments: To: [log in to unmask]
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
SHOOT THE LIGHTS OUT--26,600 Google hits
...
I like Rutgers' Quincy Douby for the NBA draft. It's said that he can "shoot
the lights out." We did "lights out" before, but not "shoot the lights out."
...
I thought this might come from basketball, but the early citations appear to
come from golf.
...
...
...
(GOOGLE NEWS)
...
_Offseason Primer: Cleveland Cavaliers_
(http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_17729.shtml)
Hoops World (subscription) - Jun 1
... The New York City product is an athlete with amazing range that can
shoot the lights out. Douby led the Big East in scoring as a junior with 24 PPG.
...
...
...
...
31 March 1968, Panama City (FL) News-herald, pg. 24?
"I don't understand the scores they are shooting," said Miller Barber after
carding a 67 for a 205 total. "My game is as good as it can be and I'm not
leading the tournament. This course is not that easy, yet everybody is shooting
the lights out."
...
...
15 May 1969, Odessa (TX) American and other newspapers:
"I'm playing pretty well now. It's a funny thing, though. Sometimes you
think you're not playing well, and you shoot the lights out. You just never can
tell."
(Jack Nicklaus. AP story--ed.)
------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org/

This Just In...

I've been on pins and needles all day. I was told I'd hear something next week, be then I received that phone call from the Principal...so I thought maybe I'd hear something today. I sent a "Thank You For The Interview" email this morning...and waited...and waited...and waited. Remember, they still had 4 more people to interview after my phone call, and what if another candidate out-shined me?

At 7pm tonight I received the following email in response to my thank you:

M, you shot the lights out in your interview! It was our pleasure. I’ll get back to you early next week, because I got buried today (220 e-mails) and didn’t get a chance to do anything about the opening.


Principal X

The Anxiety!!!!

So, my second interview is behind me. Once again I felt really good about it. They interviewed 7 people today for one or maybe two positions. Interesting incident: About an hour after the interview, I was in a classroom waiting for students (they kept me in the building as a sub). I received a call: "Hi, this is Ms. X (Principal), if Jane ( Principal from the other middle school where I interviewed) calls you today and offers you a job, don't make a decision today, O.K.?"

Me, stunned :""O.K. Thanks." Crazy! Obviously that is a really, REALLY good thing. However they still interviewed 4 more people after that phone call.

Now I wait.....

Interview

I'll quickly say that the interview went very well. I wouldn't change much about my answers. However, there is no telling how the other candidates did -so who knows if I'll get the job. All I know is- I made it through without a panic attack feeling good about it, so I'M HAPPY!! Should make Thursdays interview even better.