Harry Potter

I finally know the rest of the story...

Hairspray

Loved it.

The Game of Life

There are all sorts of changes afoot... "That's life" you say? Yes, but there are even more changes lately than usual.

There are a couple of job options that have popped up... POTENTIAL job options I should say.

I'm excited and terrified and anxious and uncertain and all those other lovely emotions that come with this sort of life change. I've been in the same place (in one job form or another) for five years now. It feels safe and comfortable and I'd be quite happy to stay here for another year, but while I've climbed the ladder a rung or two in the last couple of years there are no more rungs. I've reached to top. I can only keep this job for one more year and then I'll have to jump to another ladder. The question is do I go now or this time next year? I'm choosing now, but it really depends on these other potential job options.

I have a great deal of support from my current employers; they understand that I can't go on being a Graduate Assistant. They're encouraging me to find something else and offering good wishes and letters of recommendation, all while assuring me I'm making the right choice and I shouldn't feel like I'm abandoning this department. My boss even promised to hold my current position for me in case the other possibilities don't work out.

I'm a very, very lucky woman.

Stabbed in the back...

At least that's what it feels like... like some little gremlin snuck into my bedroom with a super-sharp little dagger and stabbed me in the back... it went just past my heart and came out through my chest.

Ow.

Maybe I slept wrong... but it's been hurting since Saturday. I'm sure loading and unloading luggage for the villagers on Sunday didn't help... one girl... under 5 foot, had a bag that weighed over 75 lbs. *boggle*

In any case... I can't take a deep breath or move certain ways without triggering that stabbing feeling.

Bleh.

In other news...

I've had lots of bad news roll my way over the last two weeks (starting on the 4th of July). It's frustrating and in some ways painful.
I've been trying to focus on the positive.
You know how that goes.

Happy Friday the 13th

I've always rather liked Friday the 13th...

Only worked for two hours this morning as there was nothing else for me to do - and I can't in good-conscience get paid for sitting there reading Harry Potter... I left to run errands. Dropped of my grades and keys for Upward Bound - saw my first chipmunk of the year (love them!) - had lunch with a friend who made me feel better about some stuff that's been bothering me - spent the afternoon snuggled with my kitty reading HP - got a msg from my Brit friend - and now a thunderstorm.

Things are improving.

Last night at the UB end-of-the-year Banquet/Awards Dinner I had two students (out of 9) come up to me and thank me, tell me what a good teacher I was and say they hope I come back next year. That helped too :)

*edit* P.S. If you didn't watch tonight's episode of Psych... shame on you... two words: Tim Curry... Genius!

P.P.S. And if you didn't watch Dr. Who... double shame! Dr. Who, William Shakespeare and HP references... good times. *edit*

Upward Bound is Over

Or at least my role in it is... I taught my last class today. I must say I really did enjoy it! Despite a few students with a bit of attitude (aren't there always). Looking at the Pre-test and the Post-test they ALL learned so much. Some of them came in there knowing very little or no ASL and they left able to carry on a basic conversation. That's awesome for seventeen 50 minute class periods. I'm so proud!

Tonight is the dinner/awards banquet and I'm definitely going to that.

Yay... I survived and I had fun!

Eye to eye...

Transformers kinda rocked.

The 4th... not-so-much...

Better

I figured my UB students would be stir-crazy today - with it being the last day of class before a very long weekend... They were certainly hyper, but they did remarkably well. They all presented for 2-3 minutes about their families and they were very patient and attentive to their fellow students. Afterwards, I went over a list of new signs: Activities (baseball, work, soccer, play, cheerleading, etc) and they loved it.
Just one week left...

I've been working in the Ed Lab since 11am - JUST had my first person show up at 1:30pm. Out of here at 3 - to run a few errands and start clearing out my storage unit.

Tomorrow is a late lunch/dinner with Aya's family and then Aya and D and some other friends are going to the top of Tamarack to watch the fireworks.

Happy 4th of July to everyone.

Oh, saw Ratatouille last night with Aya and D - it's cute :)

Movies, Carnivals, Weddings, Work and the Fourth

Last Wednesday Aya, D, his friend and I went to see Live Free or Die Hard – Aya LOVES... love love love love LOVES - Bruce Willis and all the Die Hard movies. This was no exception. I kept hearing giddy-giggles and gasps to my left as we watched the movie. It was a good movie, but Aya was almost more entertaining...

Friday night Aya, D and I went to the carnival by the lake. It was the first time (in the 6 years I’ve lived here) that I have been to the carnival. I bought a funnel cake (nummy) and threw some darts at balloons and won a stuffed dog.

Saturday (as I previously mentioned) was Chris & Ashley’s wedding. I videotaped – though there were some technical difficulties. I got to see quite a few people I hadn’t seen in a long time = Yay! At the dinner/dance I danced myself silly – after being drug out the first time. I then drug Aya and D out and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It was so much fun… and I don’t dance… ever… I think I danced more in those 5 hours than I have in my entire life all combined… I only sat out 6 songs or so… My feet hurt yesterday, but it was SO worth it! I think I should dance more... maybe I should practice in the privacy of my own apt though... kitty won't laugh at me... at least not to my face... and thankfully none of my friends laughed at me - to my face - at the wedding. But yeah... I should definitely practice for Aya's wedding.

Today was back to work – starting out with a meeting – then teaching ASL. Those kids were CRAZY hyper! We have class today and tomorrow and then they’re off for the Fourth. I’m sure it doesn’t help that next week is their last week of class. I’m taking Weds-Friday off this week – from all my assorted jobs. And of course I have Saturday off, but then I work for Concordia on Sunday. I’m not sure what I’ll do with 4 days off… love my kitty… watch TV… relax... hang out with Aya and D... finish reading Slaughterhouse-Five (which came highly recommended by a couple of people)... I so look forward to having time off... but then I never know what to do with myself... /sigh... vicious-vicious cycle.