I don't feel like I'm on summer vacation yet, even though I've been off for a week and two days already. It has been a whirlwind of a year, that's for sure, and it's looking like I'm not going to have too many lazy summer days ahead.
For me the craziness really got started in January when I started studying for a math PRAXIS exam. I've been feeling the itch to get back to middle school, and my dream of dreams, teaching just math. Anyway, I had a stressful first quarter studying for the PRAXIS, taking a class, and putting our school's yearbook together.
After a restful spring break wherein I sat on the couch in a puddle of my own drool, I started the slow process of applying for middle school math positions, and COOL BEANS! I got one! I'm so excited that my mind is running nonstop with ideas of all the things I want to do to get my classroom and curriculum ready for a new school year.
And not a one of those ideas has been implemented yet because I haven't been home. Whine, whine. However, thanks to my BFF, the iPad, I've been blowing up my Pinterest boards with all the ideas, and I have an organized check list going in Evernote. It's the only thing keeping my head from exploding right now.
So, that's my big news, here's a little update on the rest for anyone who cares.
That picture you see above is Peanut Head's truck loaded up with a FREE piano. My mom was giving it away, and I just couldn't pass up such a great deal, so as soon as I got out of school last Wednesday, we loaded up the truck and headed to Oceanside, California.
Well, except that since we were driving through Las Vegas, we decided to spend a couple days in the City of Sin. And man is it dirty there. In the city anyway. And hot. And stinky.
However, one of its redeeming qualities is that M&M World resides there. I love me some M&Ms.
And since we were in San Diego County to get the piano, we had to go to the zoo. We had the best day ever because of the weather. June weather in Southern California is referred to as June Gloom because it's overcast and coolish.
I will spend a day hoofing it through the San Diego Zoo during June Gloom Any. Day. It was awesome. Never again will I go in July when my armpits are sticky and my thighs are rubbing together and giving me heat rash. No way.
Peanut Head has a new love in his life now. This is my mom's dog, Cleopatra, aka Naomi Campbell on account of her excellent bone structure and poppin' eyes. Girlfriend here is gorgeous but she is CUH-razy. She has some special needs, let's just leave it at that.
And this, my friends, is our new piano. I am so in love with it. I can't wait to start taking piano lessons and killing my family slowly with my tortured music.
Oh yes, and I can't wait to learn how to read music.
It's the little details, isn't it? I embarrass myself.
Now for news that will cause me to rename my vacation The Summer That Sucked So Bad, my BFF, Smashley, moved to Tennessee today. The gang and I spent last night in my backyard, stuffing our faces with Pizza on the Grill, and Ugly Girl Crying all over each other. I've been in denial that my BFF is leaving, and now I just want to cry all the time. I'm so sad. :(
I need to take an Ugly Girl Crying break and go hose off my house. It's giving me hives looking at the background in Smashley's picture.
And because I can't put it off any longer and am left with only the less desirable photos of this post, this is my quite hideous new classroom.
Perhaps I'm not being fair because I've come from a beautiful classroom in a brand new school, but I need to spend some time in this room whipping it into a cutified state. The biggest thing it needs is COLOR.
I'm going to beat it to death with the rainbow. Count on it.
I have this particle-board-covered-with-70s-wood-grain-veneer-shelving all along one wall, and I love the storage, but I'm thinking they need some TLC. So far all I can come up with is curtains to conceal the beauty that is not within.
What do you think? I need ideas.
For this next picture I'm going to spare you the up close and personal pictures and just leave you with this one.
That way you won't have to gouge your eyes out with a butter knife.
The Bunny Sargeant is on a Food Trial right now because it seems he is allergic to something that is causing him to lick around his goodie region, thereby leaving him with a dry heave inducing black and red rash.
No pictures, just the visual that you can provide for yourself with your immense talent. I apologize for ruining your dessert.
We are starting with the food trial because a) that way the veterinarian makes the most money and b) it is the best way to be sure of the allergy. Plus, if he's allergic to grass then it just sucks to be him. No fix except that we can put him on an antihistamine. If he's allergic to cats, well then it still sucks to be him because the cats are in charge around here, not him. Apparently it is very common for dogs to be allergic to beef, so he is now eating a $5 per delicate serving Duck & Potato Prescription dog food. I'm sure it's because we live in Idaho and the vet is laughing all the way to the bank on that one.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
My life is so amusing.
Ha.Ha.Ha. I enjoyed reading about your amusing life! Way to go switching it up to teach math, I always pretend I will switch up nursing clinical specialties but never do. Good luck with that gorgeous piano, very awesome!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit but I will be back, you are hysterical. I had the same problem with my dog she licked her feet to death. She now eats Beneful and does really well with it
ReplyDelete1st of all, congratulations on your new job. Somehow I have a feeling that you will be a great math teacher and you will get those kids excited about math!! As a result, they will learn a lot!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your dog, and your friend. Bummer!! It's hard enough finding a friend you like that much.
How nice for your mom to give you the piano, and I think it will be a great asset to your home. Will your girls now take lessons??
Hope the rest of your summer goes well. I'm a bit jealous because school doesn't end here until June 29th.
p.s. I have a friend who has a dog who is allergic to EVERYTHING. quite literally. so they have to give the dog a raw diet. So, like raw meat, eggs and i don't know what else. Other than the fact it's not cooked, the dog eats better than everyone else I think. lol
ReplyDeleteLOL, Jill ~ never a dull moment at your place! Congratulations on your new position. Your classroom is good in the sense that it is bare enough that you can build on it the way you want it to look. I know you will have all your cuteness introduced here.
ReplyDeleteThat classroom is...interesting. I would cover it with contact paper. You can paint the contact paper, or just stick with boring white. I've done that with ugly shelving before. It makes me want to curse, though, as I try to line up all of the edges.
ReplyDeleteWe took Lola to the vet to get her some doggie downers so we could drive to California without her hyperventilating. We spent a dollar a pill, and the doctor assured us that we could give her only 1/4 of the pill, but up to 2 pills. Of course our dog needs 2 pills. So now I have to pay for another vet visit to get pills to drive back to Idaho, because the doctor was so sure that she would only need 1/4 of the pill.
Jill I can't wait to hear your piano playing.. I had the same idea when I was preggo with baby 3.. he's five now and I am a level 3 piano player. I think your new classroom has "potential" I don't think I'd do curtains unless you need to get to that stuff all the time I'd do 1/4 plywood.. you can chalkboard paint it, or mod podge it, hang it in front of the shelves with eye hooks and cuphooks, or if you are feeling very fancy.. run a double curtain rod along the front and hang the panels of plywood from the rod like a wooden curtain... can't wait to see what you decide!
ReplyDeleteSo, I think I would cover the boards with chalkboard contact paper. That way you can doodle in chalk or label things even as you move them around later.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new job, I am sure your classroom is going to look fantastic once you are done with it! I hope you get everything sorted with your dog, my sisters dog is allergic to everything in sight so I know what a pain that is! The piano is gorgeous! :)
ReplyDelete*Smooch* Good ta see ya!!...Ahh, how I have missed the time to read blog posts... especially yours.
ReplyDeleteYeah, on the new position. I love Middle School. I did find out that I'll still be in the Middle School next year, but not sure of what position. I got a BIG hint there there will be a new Math Learning Center & the posting will be in the next couple of weeks. Our principal 'highly suggested' 3 times during a recent conversation that I apply. Woo Hoo - keep your fingers crossed!
Nice piano! We only have a keyboard here that the Princess plays on. In addition to having brown thumbs for gardening - I have two left thumbs when it comes to playing the piano. Good luck with that.
As for the shelves... you could always ask the school for some new ones.... ROTFLOL. I crack myself up. Some of the readers above have excellent ideas, I on the other hand have none. Go with them.
As for the dog food, we switched recently too. My future DIL gave me a site that was really helpful: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/
Congrats to you on the new job!
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of adding curtains to the shelving. That will really add some color to the room. I'm excited to see what you do with it!
Love the way you write. Humorous and real. I can totally relate to the ugly girl crying. Felt that way my last week of school. Glad others feel the same about how girls cry. haha
Have a great week, Jill!
I can't wait to see your pinterest boards for school. Your new room is, um, ugly, but it is about 4x bigger than mine. You can't see the cabinets in mine for the wall-to-wall desks.
ReplyDeleteCan you paint the ugly cupboards? I saw this info on Pinterest about painting laminate furniture.
ReplyDeletehttp://todaysfabulousfinds.blogspot.com/2011/07/featuring-how-to-paint-laminate.html
Congrats on the math teaching job, but I will miss your updates on your 5th grade class, because I teach 4th grade, and I loved to hear your take on the kiddos.
Congratulations on the job-and I'm so sorry about your best friend moving. I had that happen about 10 years ago and it really was terrible. :( My oldest is a middle schooler and although she's wonderful, I can't imagine teaching some of her peers! I'm sure you will rock their world!
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