I am in Cincinnati. I will be here for another full week. Why? I am attending the AP Reader's conference here. I will be grading about 100 essays a day for the next 6 days. I don't know if I have ever graded that many.
I do know that I have never spent this many days away from K. I miss her already and I have only been away one night. Eight nights is going to tough. Every morning I am waking up at 5:30 our time. I don't want t get use to the time, completely, because I want to be able to slide back into our home time zone easily.
I am meeting a lot of new people from through the country. One teacher I met today is a Navy wife who is currently stationed in Guam. It took her 24 hours to fly here. I thought it was neat that they brought someone from there here. It helps contribute to the diversity of the readers.
One thing that kinda stinks is that just as I finally get to a point where I am learning more about the exam I am being given a different course. In the fall I am going to begin teaching AP US History and regular US History. I am happy to be going back to a course that I really enjoy, but at the same time I am nervous about the differences in the tests. I will be doing a lot of studying over the summer, as time allows, and going to a training session to get some more information. I just want to be ready to teach the course in the best possible way.
I am grateful for the experience, but will be happy to be in the arms of my love again.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Vacation yet?
I am ready for my vacation to start. Where is it?
Oh yeah, that's right, I am working through most of it once it actually does begin.
I am tired. Seriously tired, but all I can think about is all the work that lies ahead. About the planning I still need to do for the classes I will be teaching in the fall. I realize it is, in the fall, but I have a full school year of new classes that I will be teaching and need to plan out. The scary thought is I am intending to truly plan out the entire year. I want to do it right.
US History is something I enjoy, or at least I use to. I am sure hoping I find I still enjoy it when I have to begin planning to teach it.
I have things I am attending in June that will take up two full weeks. Then in July I have another full week of training I am going to. The big difference with the one July is that K is going to be going with me. We will be spending the week in Austin. Our plan is to stay up there an extra few days after the conference ends in order to get a long weekend together.
The summer is going to be busy and I am already feeling it.
Oh yeah, that's right, I am working through most of it once it actually does begin.
I am tired. Seriously tired, but all I can think about is all the work that lies ahead. About the planning I still need to do for the classes I will be teaching in the fall. I realize it is, in the fall, but I have a full school year of new classes that I will be teaching and need to plan out. The scary thought is I am intending to truly plan out the entire year. I want to do it right.
US History is something I enjoy, or at least I use to. I am sure hoping I find I still enjoy it when I have to begin planning to teach it.
I have things I am attending in June that will take up two full weeks. Then in July I have another full week of training I am going to. The big difference with the one July is that K is going to be going with me. We will be spending the week in Austin. Our plan is to stay up there an extra few days after the conference ends in order to get a long weekend together.
The summer is going to be busy and I am already feeling it.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
More training...
Another week of training has been added to my summer schedule. In July, after we move, after the two youngest are at the father's home for their visit, I will be heading to Austin for a week to get some training for my new subject next year. I have finally been given APUS History. I have my dream classes next year. I will be teaching US History and APUS History.
What this means, however, is that I will be doing a lot of reading over the summer and lesson planning. I need to recharge my US History knowledge. I have to take it out, dust it off, and hope I can remember everything I feel like I have forgotten. :)
K is happy about this latest schedule though. What this means is she gets to go to Austin with me for a week and the only thing we have to pay for is her food. My hotel and transportation costs are covered by the district. She loves going to Austin. We seem to be able to relax up there. We can just be ourselves up there without having to worry about someone paying any attention to us.
I can hardly believe my school year is winding down. This time next week I will be done for this year. I fly out to Ohio Wed. morning. June will be busy. July will have its busy time as well. I have a feeling my summer is going to go by MUCH faster than I want. I must take time out for myself this summer as well. Re-energize for the new school year. There are several new changes coming at us in the next 3 - 4 months. I must be energized enough to face them.
What this means, however, is that I will be doing a lot of reading over the summer and lesson planning. I need to recharge my US History knowledge. I have to take it out, dust it off, and hope I can remember everything I feel like I have forgotten. :)
K is happy about this latest schedule though. What this means is she gets to go to Austin with me for a week and the only thing we have to pay for is her food. My hotel and transportation costs are covered by the district. She loves going to Austin. We seem to be able to relax up there. We can just be ourselves up there without having to worry about someone paying any attention to us.
I can hardly believe my school year is winding down. This time next week I will be done for this year. I fly out to Ohio Wed. morning. June will be busy. July will have its busy time as well. I have a feeling my summer is going to go by MUCH faster than I want. I must take time out for myself this summer as well. Re-energize for the new school year. There are several new changes coming at us in the next 3 - 4 months. I must be energized enough to face them.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Another school year closing down fast
Today was the last day of school for the students who have passed all of their state mandated tests, all of their classes, and have not been absent more than the legally allowed limit.
I am not sure how many students, exactly, that made the cut, but I do not foresee us having very many seniors on campus tomorrow. We should have about 1/2 the number of students we normally have. The students have until June 6th. I only have until May 31.
June 1 I fly out to Ohio for the AP Reader conference. I'll be there for a week.
We signed the lease on the new house. We will begin moving in July 1. I am nervous and scared, but its a new chapter. We are trying to make a move that helps everyone out. The next couple of months will be nerve wracking, exciting, scary, joyous, saddening, and yet it will be ok because we are together.
I am not sure how many students, exactly, that made the cut, but I do not foresee us having very many seniors on campus tomorrow. We should have about 1/2 the number of students we normally have. The students have until June 6th. I only have until May 31.
June 1 I fly out to Ohio for the AP Reader conference. I'll be there for a week.
We signed the lease on the new house. We will begin moving in July 1. I am nervous and scared, but its a new chapter. We are trying to make a move that helps everyone out. The next couple of months will be nerve wracking, exciting, scary, joyous, saddening, and yet it will be ok because we are together.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Walking a thin line
I just finished haggling over visitation time with my ex for the kids this summer. I feel like I just had a long negotiation with a car salesman. UGH!
I am not about to give him exactly what he wants, because he thinks we are just waiting to work around him. Wrong!
I also did not want to let it out of the bag that we are moving into town during that month. He doesn't need to know until 30 days after the move is complete. (legally) Besides, he didn't tell me he was moving and didn't tell me he had moved until the kids mentioned it. So I am only treating him as he treats me.
He wanted them the first week of July. I don't think so. We will be moving. I don't want the kids gone while we move and come back to a different house. Moving is going to be tough enough for our youngest. That would be wrong. At least now, after negotiations, (HA! I was going to get my way regardless.) they will be leaving during the 2nd week of July and coming back the first week of August. Enough time for us to get the new house comfy and hopefully the old house sold.
We will be signing the lease on the new place this week. Hoping to get through the moving process without emotionally ripping myself apart.
I am not about to give him exactly what he wants, because he thinks we are just waiting to work around him. Wrong!
I also did not want to let it out of the bag that we are moving into town during that month. He doesn't need to know until 30 days after the move is complete. (legally) Besides, he didn't tell me he was moving and didn't tell me he had moved until the kids mentioned it. So I am only treating him as he treats me.
He wanted them the first week of July. I don't think so. We will be moving. I don't want the kids gone while we move and come back to a different house. Moving is going to be tough enough for our youngest. That would be wrong. At least now, after negotiations, (HA! I was going to get my way regardless.) they will be leaving during the 2nd week of July and coming back the first week of August. Enough time for us to get the new house comfy and hopefully the old house sold.
We will be signing the lease on the new place this week. Hoping to get through the moving process without emotionally ripping myself apart.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
New chapter?
I found access to the account. Last time I wrote I tried to update my account to be associated with my new email address and it the process did something where I locked myself out. It took some time, but I got back in.
Since I last wrote K and I have been trying to decide if we should move closer to where I work. Our oldest two at home are going to be going to that high school, therefore they will be riding into work with me everyday. The drive is about 30 minutes each way. The gas prices aren't going down anytime soon. K goes to grad classes over there - 45 minutes each way. So we are spending a whole lot of time in the car, spending a lot of cash on gas, and not close to anything where we are now.
We, however, own our home here. Well, we are making payments to the mortgage company. Once we move, we can try to sell, but we can't carry two payments, so if we make the move, we jump and have to hope we can sell fast.
We have found two homes we like. One is within walking distance of the school. The other is about a 10 minute drive, but is 800 sq. feet bigger, and $300 a month less expensive. The bigger, less expensive house, is actually in a very good neighborhood, but when K did a search on the property, the owners owe $9000 in taxes and when I did a search on the company trying to rent it - they aren't the same people and the company Home Advocate Trustees, seems to be slightly shady. I don't want to move the family into a home we may get pushed out of.
The smaller, more expensive home, is in a great location, but the layout is, well, odd. We can get a two year lease on the smaller home, so it would see us through any fall out from the house here, but I can't seem to wrap my head around the layout.
We need to make a decision soon. They would like us to move in July 1. We have to decide.
Since I last wrote K and I have been trying to decide if we should move closer to where I work. Our oldest two at home are going to be going to that high school, therefore they will be riding into work with me everyday. The drive is about 30 minutes each way. The gas prices aren't going down anytime soon. K goes to grad classes over there - 45 minutes each way. So we are spending a whole lot of time in the car, spending a lot of cash on gas, and not close to anything where we are now.
We, however, own our home here. Well, we are making payments to the mortgage company. Once we move, we can try to sell, but we can't carry two payments, so if we make the move, we jump and have to hope we can sell fast.
We have found two homes we like. One is within walking distance of the school. The other is about a 10 minute drive, but is 800 sq. feet bigger, and $300 a month less expensive. The bigger, less expensive house, is actually in a very good neighborhood, but when K did a search on the property, the owners owe $9000 in taxes and when I did a search on the company trying to rent it - they aren't the same people and the company Home Advocate Trustees, seems to be slightly shady. I don't want to move the family into a home we may get pushed out of.
The smaller, more expensive home, is in a great location, but the layout is, well, odd. We can get a two year lease on the smaller home, so it would see us through any fall out from the house here, but I can't seem to wrap my head around the layout.
We need to make a decision soon. They would like us to move in July 1. We have to decide.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A new vehicle... a better feel?
Is it strange to say that by getting a truck again I feel better? More like me?
Yeah, its ok to say it, I know it is strange. However, I can't deny I feel better having a truck to drive again.
K was very supportive, although cautious. I could see it. However, I did show her that I was saving money on the interest rate and I think she saw that I just wanted it.
Now I get to start playing with upgrades. :)
How to make the truck unique to me. I am not going to go all nutty, K wouldn't let me even if I tried. However, a few things here and there she will be ok with. When things need replaced I will try to upgrade them to better made and better looking things.
Spring break is coming to an end fast! How do I hold it off? I am not ready to return to work. Not yet. I still have so much I want to do around the house, so much to do to prepare to go back to the classroom. I am just not ready.
I am not ready, I will miss time with K.
Yeah, its ok to say it, I know it is strange. However, I can't deny I feel better having a truck to drive again.
K was very supportive, although cautious. I could see it. However, I did show her that I was saving money on the interest rate and I think she saw that I just wanted it.
Now I get to start playing with upgrades. :)
How to make the truck unique to me. I am not going to go all nutty, K wouldn't let me even if I tried. However, a few things here and there she will be ok with. When things need replaced I will try to upgrade them to better made and better looking things.
Spring break is coming to an end fast! How do I hold it off? I am not ready to return to work. Not yet. I still have so much I want to do around the house, so much to do to prepare to go back to the classroom. I am just not ready.
I am not ready, I will miss time with K.
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