I *heart* my job

And I'd *heart* it more if I were actually doing more of it! :( Sadly my student has been absent ALL WEEK! I found out quickly what happens to Kels when her student is absent... I don't get used elsewhere in the Spec. Ed. Dept.... oh no... I don't even help out the teacher I work with regularly... I help out in the front office and all over campus! lol Monday and Tuesday were spent sorting recycling papers and shredding things that had students names on them. THEN today I got a change of pace and I was using student pictures to update their files with their picture from this school year. I finished K-3rd grade (and considering my student apparently won't return to school until Friday... just in time for Halloween...) I'll be finishing out the files and then filing them in their proper place.

On a serious note, I have to say that everyone I've met so far are the nicest people I think I've ever worked with! We have a lot of laughs with each other... and I love shocking the two ladies that greet everyone on their way into school in the mornings by standing outside in my short sleeved shirt(s) and enjoying the cool mornings... apparently, they're both admittedly very whimpy when it comes to cold weather... I'm usually okay if I have a good cup of coffee in my hand! ;-)

Well, I have to go now... the 3rd grade team is dressing up like Skittles for Halloween Friday... so I need to go paint a white "S" on my lime green t-shirt! :-)

Good day

My first day was a good one! Thankfully the gal that's been subbing to fill my position for the past 2 weeks was there today to walk me through my day with my student. He sure is a witty little booger! He's very smart... I think he has just gotten off easy as far as not being pushed to complete work... and he's not used to that (which will definitely change with me...! He won't be a quitter on my watch!). SO... highlight of my day..? I helped get him to complete his spelling test... AND, a funny moment at the end of the day:

We were playing a game with these oversized foam die... and at one point he said, "Come on dice! B needs a new pair of shoes!" LOL I about died laughing.... this was a great point in the day because it helped me to realize that he's really smart... I mean, he knew exactly what context to use a joking phrase like that! It gives me a lot of hope. After I was done for the day I ran over to the local education shop and picked up some stickers and some small incentive charts... I'm figuring he should be able to complete a chart a week (given he finishes his assignments and does well for the day) and then perhaps I'll have something to reward him with on Fridays. I've mulled over the idea that if he completes his spelling tests on Fridays I'll eat lunch with him that day... I haven't really thought too much about what sort of "rewards" he'd get on Fridays for completing assignments and doing well during the days during the week.

Anyhow, I'm super excited about how things went today and look forward to the rest of the year... it sure would be great if I had some work space in the classroom, tho... like just a small desk/table or something. I may have to see if I can talk to the teacher and see if she would mind or if it's possible.

First day of school...

Tomorrow will be mine... at least for this school year! I start tomorrow morning (bright and early at 6:45am!) and I'll be done by 3:15... I'm anxious to see how things will be... I'm wondering if I'll be allowed a small work area (I don't even really need a desk with drawers... but a table or something would be nice)... I'm SUPER excited and anxious to meet the little guy I'll be working with! I was told he has a very fun sense of humor and has a sarcastic way about him... I'm sure he'll be fun to work with. Also, I'm really glad that I'm starting on a Friday... it's spirit day... so I get to wear jeans and a school shirt... and also I think it'll be much more laid back than starting on a Monday. Plus, Monday is the start of a new 9 weeks... so I'm glad I'll learn most of the ropes tomorrow before a new grading period begins! YAY! Hopefully I'll have excellent things to post tomorrow afternoon... and this weekend should be fun... Dustin has a Tball game at 11 and then Saturday night is Damian's poker night... which means all us gals get together to hang out... maybe we'll go see a movie and grab dinner... because we already decided we're continuing the celebrating of my job! :-D YAY!

I had an interview today...

I haven't really been freely throwing around the information that I had an interview lined up for today (until last night) because... well... frankly I've been there before and things didn't go well. I don't want people's pity. But, anyhow... I went today for an interview at an elementary school for a Special Education Asst. position (this isn't the interview possibility I previously posted on... I haven't ever heard anything back and after some research I strongly suspect it was a spam effort from a job search site! So beware... thankfully I haven't gotten any extra spam and neither have my references... and I didn't ever input any personal info of mine or theirs... so I think it was just a way to give the advertisers on their site more names for a list!)...

I learned in my interview that I would be working with one kiddo... a 3rd grade boy. He's in a wheelchair but making transitions to using a walker/walking on his own. He's about a year and a half below grade level.... so I would be mostly just getting him motivated to work hard and try and close that gap and providing him assistance around campus and such when needed (or when he needs to get a move on it and get back to class from recess, etc.!). I'm excited at the opportunity to see and learn another facet of the special education system. The only one I'm truly familiar with is the kiddos with learning disabilities that need extra help on classwork... but in this scenario, I'll get to learn the more physical disabled services aspect of things. I'm really excited because I did get a call back after I left the campus this afternoon from the Asst. Principal asking for my social so that she could recommend me to HR and have things cleared... so I'm assuming that it's an unofficial job offer.

I really think this will be great because it will give me a chance to get some experience, and I'm totally psyched that I'll be focusing all my energy on ONE KID and helping him out!!!! Teachers don't often get that chance... and I'm really glad that I will have the opportunity to harness all my energies toward helping one kid grow by leaps and bounds! I may never have this opportunity again... I'm also glad that I will be working side-by-side with a classroom teacher... it's going to be like student teaching all over again (which was a GREAT experience!) because she seems a lot like me... laid back, yet goal oriented and focused on reaching goals (she doesn't seem to be the type that stresses over little issues... like behavioral infractions... and I also after meeting with the AP and teacher really get a vibe that the campus is a very close-knit family and very supportive and helpful (which will be great in this job opportunity! I'll need all the support I can get!) WISH ME LUCK!


************UPDATE********************

I got the job...! I have orientation on Thursday and start on campus on Friday... and I'll get my first paycheck Nov. 15th!!! WOOHOO! I'm excited!

"You 8 Ball Lookin' Outfit!"

Won't be a habit, but this looked interesting...

8 Things

8 TV shows I love to watch

1. One Tree Hill
2. Heroes
3. The Hills
4. The Office
5. The Starter Wife
6. Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
7. Ace of Cakes
8. Dexter

8 favorite places I love to eat

1. Red Lobster
2. Panda Inn (a local hole in the wall)
3. Grady's BBQ
4. Taco Cabana
5. Any pizza place that has good, cheap pizza
6. Sonic
7. Subway
8. Texas Roadhouse

8 things that happened yesterday

1. Went to early service at church
2. Ate breakfast after church with Daughn, Dustin, Mama Bayer, Jon and Deena
3. Watched True Blood on HBO
4. Daughn came over for a bit and hung out and looked at Sunday ads with me
5. Waited for my Mom/Dad to get back from Spring, TX
6. Watched some weird, old Halloween movie on ABC Family
7. Watched the new movie Living Proof on Lifetime
8. Watched Army Wives

8 things I look forward to

1. My interview tomorrow
2. Getting a job in a school
3. HALLOWEEN!!!!! :) SO EXCITED!
4. Colder weather (although the weather here has been really nice lately)
5. A FULL TIME teaching job (WOOHOO!)
6. Getting married and subsequently starting a family
7. Moving outta here and into an apartment, and then a house.
8. Seeing my little booger nephew Conner again (and the rest of the family) at Thanksgiving

8 things I love about Fall

1. HALLOWEEN!
2. Thanksgiving
3. Colder temperatures
4. Using blankets because you need to!
5. Family time
6. The arts and crafts done in elementary schools
7. Pumpkins and carving them
8. Being able to just open windows and not running the A/C

8 material things on my wish list

1. A FULL TIME teaching job
2. A job for now (to help get a full time teaching job)
3. Moving out into my own place again (you have NO idea)
4. Really good, sturdy furniture
5. New kitchen stuff
6. Lots of new clothes for work
7. The VUE Hybrid SUV from Saturn
8. Eventually a simple diamond ring and wedding band

Hauntings

Well, it's October and since my favorite holiday (Halloween!) falls in this month... and also because it's a month filled with chills and scary stories... this is a good time to tell this tale! I have always had a belief in the spiritual world... being that some spirits do not cross over (for whatever reason). Some have tried to argue with me before that being a Christian I shouldn't believe in "such nonsense." I quickly remind them that in the Bible spirits/apparitions/ghosts are mentioned... not to mention there is a Holy Ghost in the Blessed Trinity. Anyhow... moving along... I have had a few encounters that have solidified my belief in ghosts.

The first real one was after my Grandpa's suicide when I was in 6th grade. A couple weeks after his funeral during the night I had a visit from his spirit. This may sound totally crazy to people... but I have told this story to family members, and they all believe what I say to be true. I was asleep... and because of my paranoia (which I have had for MANY MANY years) I sleep with my bedroom door shut. Well, I was awoken by a very BRIGHT light... my door was wide open, and it looked like someone was holding a halogen lamp behind the person in my doorway. Once my eyes adjusted I could see my Grandpa standing in my doorway... in his suit which he was buried in. He smiled very calmly and sweetly at me... and said, "Goodbye, Miss America" (this was his nickname for me). After he said goodbye, his image faded away... as did the light... and my door was shut... no longer open. I firmly believe his spirit came to say goodbye to me considering the way his life ended (he did not leave any sort of note behind for us... that whole situation is another story which I may get into around the anniversary of the time of his passing in early Dec.).

Okay, next story is from when I lived in my apartment off Blanco Rd. My roomie Jamey and I each had encounters with the spirit. We never SAW this spirit... but we heard it... frequently for a long time... and then after we had been there for about a year, the encounters faded until we no longer had them. It started out with a "knocking" noise. For several weeks we'd be in the living room watching tv and such and hear this knocking... loud and close enough that it sounded as if someone was at our door... we lived on the second floor and the stairs to our door ONLY went to our door (we were in an end apt). You could always hear even the most light-footed person coming up or going down our stairs... It was very harmless interaction... but still unnerving. Well, then one night a friend of ours came over... and some guy she had started dating and his crew stopped by... we could hear this terrible knocking... We knew it wasn't our neighbors below because we had heard them leave for the evening... Jamey and I just exchanged glances knowingly. The guys started complaining of the noise... the answer to this was louder banging noise... and immediately after they left, we no longer heard it. There were a couple other times that "questionable" people came over and this would occur... but never with people that we genuinely felt we could trust, like close friends and family. The most crazy encounter was the last big one that we experienced in that first year at the apt. We had both gone to bed... and all of a sudden I began hearing this banging coming from the other side of the apt. where Jamey's room was (our rooms were on opposite sides of the apt). Not long after Jamey was in my room with her pillow... she said the banging was coming from inside her closet... and she could see the door trembling with every bang.... it was as if someone was stuck inside her closet and trying to get out. She slept in my room that night... and from that point on the happenings dwindled away until they disappeared.

The last is the most scary/chilling of them... and I didn't even experience it firsthand. My best guy friend's (Ricky) older sister and BIL went to stay at the Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana... it's supposedly the most haunted place in America (which was why they booked a room for a night). They were booked in a 2nd floor room (it's a 2 story structure) and there was one other couple staying in the building. The couple that runs the place don't live in the building, but elsewhere on the land in a small cottage. Well, they settled in and were planning on walking around the grounds at night... so they decided to get a little rest/relaxation. Marta was reading a book, and Jeff was taking a nap... or trying to at least. While they were both on the bed (Marta reading, Jeff napping) the end of the bed started moving... and they felt as if a small child was jumping up and down on the bed. Jeff complained and Marta was looking in horror at the end of the bed where she could see something pressing into the mattress repeatedly...! They were both pretty shocked... but still weren't completely convinced. They briefly met the other couple staying in the house, and learned this couple was going out to eat dinner and would return later... Jeff and Marta were getting ready to go walk about the grounds and take pictures and all.... well, as they were getting ready to leave the room... they could hear footsteps above... like on a wooden floor... pacing. They both knew all that was above them was the rooftop, and were becoming more convinced there was spiritual life at this place. They went and walked around the grounds for a bit and came back to the room. The next morning, Jeff got out their video camera and asked Marta to tell the tales of what happened the afternoon/night before. She did, and they went about their day... they left and went on to the French Quarter and continued taping other things. When they returned home from their trip, they told us their short story about what happened at the Plantation and got out the video tape for us to watch/hear the story. We were SHOCKED at what we found.... in the beginning of the story, you could hear Marta... but slowly white noise (pure static for the audio... even though the video was fine) covered up the details of what she recounted.... then the white noise slowly faded away so you could hear the very end of her story saying, "that's what happened... and we were proven right..." We thought maybe something had just happened to the tape and that the audio was cutting in and out.... but then the very next taped thing was from the French Quarter... and the audio was TOTALLY fine... you could hear all the noise from the crowd the entire time and on through the rest of their tapings. So, apparently... someone... or something... didn't want their story to be told.

Free handbag?!?!

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A random thought...

Last night I was watching an episode of Food Network's "Unwrapped." Now, sometimes I don't like to watch this show... it's like the reaction I had in middle school when a teacher said something about taking the group on a tour of McDonald's... and I knew I could NEVER again eat at any place other than my kitchen if I saw what went on. It's the same way I'm convinced if I got a look behind the kitchen doors of Jack in the Box I would discover that the meat in the tacos is really the scrapings of the grill.

But last night's episode was okay because it was factory stuff (like normal). Anyhow, they talked about Vlasik and their process of making the little snack-mmms pickles. I love pickles... so I was watching the portion with my mom. There was a part where the pickles had been through a rinse and then they were on this belt that was shaking them... it looked like they were being fried... or like they were Mexican Jumping Beans or something... and I exclaimed to my mom (after a REALLY good laugh!) "I wouldn't mind if for one day in my life, I could be a pickle going through the pickle plant and hopping around on that belt all day! It looks like a REALLY FUN RIDE!" My mom just looked at me and was laughing so hard that she could hardly catch her breath.

I guess the stress of life and trying to get things in order has made this 27 year old really come to appreciate the simple things! lol On the upside of anger and stress, I discovered a job posting on one of those job search sites for a teacher assistant in a private school system and the pay starts at $15/hr... and I'm TOTALLY OKAY with that kind of pay... because it's like the pay I'd have as a part-time teacher. So I am now being considered for an interview... I'm hoping it works out because I'll make a decent living and I can use that as "teaching experience," to help me when I update all my applications for next school year. And from the sounds of it, I'd be given a lot of opportunity to take initiative and take charge... I'd get ample opportunities to interact with parents (which will be very beneficial to me in the future... moreso than subbing was) and it's right here in my hometown which means I don't have to move away. Plus, the benefits seem good... health/medical, 401k, paid time off. I may even come to like it a lot! So, start crossing legs, feet, fingers, and toes again! lol