Updates

Well, first off... THE SPURS WON THE FIRST ROUND!

Second, I didn't get the job... inexperience strikes again... unfortunately there's nothing I can do to remedy this... I just have to hope and pray eventually someone will give me a shot... otherwise I will NEVER be able to obtain the experience that is so sought after. I still don't know why substituting as a certified sub isn't considered valid experience... For Heaven's sake... if I can go into a classroom and be OVERLY productive in what we accomplish, you would think that'd count. I can guarantee it's 10 times harder to go into a classroom and maintain classroom management and be productive with kids you've never worked with! But I guess no one considers that against writing lesson plans (which I have done and been very effective).

Anyhow, lastly, the festival was a hit. The group that won my red velvet cake started eating it there and polished off half of it at the festival! We also had a net profit of $1500 to be put towards a donation. That's about $500 more than last year's festival... so at least we're doing better each year than the previous year.

Okay, that's all for now... I know I may seem to be in cheery disposition... but I'm unfortunately quite upset about the lack of obtaining a job... It's more frustrating than anything... for many reasons... but the biggest one being I have such a yearning and passion to have my own class, and yet I get shot down every chance it seems I get. I may not post for a few days as I know my mind will be flooded with thoughts of sorrow in this situation... so I apologize in advance.

PedEgg update

So... it works! If you have any kind of rough spots or callouses on your feet/heels... I highly recommend this product! I was quite skeptical... but I now have nice, smooth feet... and a new french pedicure to match. :) It was SO worth the $10!

Baking, Baking, and MORE BAKING!

Well, today is a busy day for me... I've spent the morning/early afternoon at church (we're having our annual church festival tomorrow... my friend and I are in charge of the cake walk)... anyhow, I'm baking 3 cakes and decorating them for the cake walk tomorrow. After that, I hopefully will find a moment to run to Wal-Mart because I really wanna get some jean capris... The Festival shirt is khaki colored... so I don't wanna wear khaki capris with that... I know, I know... Fashionista Kels in the house! lol Anyhow, I somehow need to find time to get myself a pedicure... and clean in my room since the cat has managed to track a ton of cat litter out onto the carpet... I need to take care of watering some plants out front too...! Anyhow... I got a PedEgg today at Walgreens...

So, I'll update later on what my thoughts are on it... I can smell the Red Velvet cake in the oven right now!

Oy! Too much free time!

Today has been kind of a gloomy day! It's been cloudy out almost all day long and the clouds are a little gray... but Fiesta is well under way here in San Antonio!!! ARRRRIBA! lol Tonight is the river parade... I think I'm actually going to watch a bit of it on tv this year... mainly because my parents are gone in Spring, TX... my Dad had something for work tonight (Monday) in Conroe, TX so he and my mom headed out yesterday around 2ish and figured they'd go get in some quality time with my little pumpkin boy nephew. I'm anxious to see pictures... we saw him about a month ago and when I talked to my mom last night on the phone she said he's moving around so much and really trying to get to pulling himself upright (he's been crawling about 2 months now). I think it's ENTIRELY possible he'll be walking on the beach when we go May 10-14!!!

In other news, I went out and bought a new memory card for my camera. If you can believe it all I had was a 128MB SD card! lol Office Max had 2.0 GB SD cards on sale for $15 so I went to go get one!!! I should've gotten 2! lol Anyhow, I went out and took a few pics of the dogs and the new fence (my Dad had a new fence put in last week in the backyard... it's nice... and it'll be nicer after it's stained). Anyhow... below are some of the pics of the dogs... I may even add the movie I took if I'm ambitious enough... lol (and please, no comments on my silly sounding voice... I'm well aware that I look and sound like I'm still in HS!).

Pictures:

VIDEO:

This is pretty typical... I try to get MAX to talk, and Dioji does all the talking... and notice how he constantly tries to get her to play with him... but she's too lazy! lol Enjoy.

Keep thinking good thoughts...

So, the interview went really well (or at least, I think so!). As the principal walked me out she told me that I did a good job, and I honestly don't think she would've said anything, especially compliment me, unless she felt it was duly owed.

I'm also hoping that it works in my favor that 3 of the 5 teachers on the panel (it was a panel of 7; 5 teachers, the principal and vice principal) I've either subbed for, worked with (spec. ed.), or know through my aunt (she's an aide in the spec. ed. autism unit... the head of the autism unit was on the panel).

I know it seems strange to those who aren't religious... but trust me, I've done NOTHING but pray since I graduated and was unable to get a full time position. As hard as it may be to believe, my faith grew mountains... because I realized I needed to put my faith in Him and set my cares aside... especially since the small bout of depression I suffered wasn't getting me anywhere, and I wasn't going to seek medical help for it and have that on any kind of record. I did it alone, and with God's help... again, I know that it's hard to understand if you're not a religious person... but I got through it. And, also unbelievably, I have a certain sense of calm. Like, inside my heart just feels excited and happy... not wrecked with fear that I may not get the job. And I may NOT get the job... I may get a call on Thursday telling me that they don't have a position they feel I'm suitable for... but I guess then my happiness is God resolving in me that there's another place for me.

Anyhow... I'd still appreciate good thoughts... the principal said I'd be told one way or the other by the end of the week... Since Friday is a holiday here in San Antonio (it's Battle of Flowers!) I'm guessing I'll know on Thursday. I sincerely hope that I have something to celebrate this coming weekend... and if I don't... at least I can take solace in knowing I have a backup plan.

SPECTACULAR NEWS!!!

Well, as you well know by this point... I am not yet in a full time teaching position. This school year was the 2nd school year that I was a certified SUBSTITUTE. :( This school year I began subbing for a second (smaller) school district hoping that I would meet people more quickly and that I would build rapport faster so that come interview season I would more easily be approached about interviewing. After subbing ONCE at the intermediate school (5th/6th grade only campus) I decided to add my 4-8 certification so that I could teach all the way through middle school if I wanted, but hoping I could teach 5th/6th grade.

So, honestly, in this second school district I've ONLY subbed at the intermediate school and none of the other schools. This is fine by me because the kids are exceptionally polite and friendly, and the faculty/staff are the same way! Well, the first job I did at this school (back before I even got my 4-8 certification) was for a 6th grade teacher... and she came by the room in the morning before school started because they were having an on-campus inservice. It was fate that I met her that day... because after she and I introduced ourselves and small talked a bit and basically hit it off right from the start... she was shocked when I revealed I was certified and this was my 2nd school year without a full time position. She just couldn't believe someone like me wouldn't have landed a job by now... but understood when she realized how difficult it is here in TX to get onto an elementary school campus! She said in that moment, she would do whatever she could to help me get a job in the future.

Well, about a month ago, after subbing for a teacher at the intermediate school... I stopped in the office and asked to meet with the principal. I gave her my resume, and she went over it asking me some basic questions... the other impression I left that day (to get my foot in the door) was that my aunt worked there and she could also be contacted to get ahold of me about subbing or open jobs. Well, anyhow... I noticed about a week and a half ago that a generic posting went up on the district's employment bulletin and they were looking for elementary and intermediate teachers. So, I decided I should err on the side of caution and send an email to the principal once more expressing my great interest in a position there and try and get her to leak about definite openings and possibly schedule an interview.... that was, if she responded to my email at all (I've contacted probably 30+ principals and have only ever heard back from 2... well now 3). Anyhow, her response was non-committal and that she'd "keep me in mind." So, I then decided I'd ask to call in the favor of the help of the teacher that said she would do "whatever she could" to help me and ask her if she'd write up a letter of recommendation for me.

I had an email from her this morning, saying of course she would... and luckily enough... SHE'S ON AN INTERVIEWING PANEL THIS FRIDAY! I don't know what magic she worked... but she said something to the vice principal... and I got a call today about an interview! WOOHOO! So think of me at 9:30am on Friday as I'll be interviewing... and will hopefully hear something about an offer or about coming back for another round of interviewing! I'm not normally nervous about interviews, but this is my first campus interview... so I am kinda nervous this go round. Luckily (again) for me... I got some questions that she's pretty sure they'll ask ahead of time so I can start thinking of how I would answer... lol WISH ME LUCK... PRAY IF YOU DO... KEEP ME IN YOUR THOUGHTS IF YOU DON'T....! And hopefully I'll be having excellent news to share after Friday... and maybe something to celebrate this weekend!!!