I'm finally back here in civilization (Rock Hill, to be exact) after a somewhat long vacation (almost two weeks) back in Hampton with the parentals. It was really good to be home for Mother's Day and my mom's birthday for the first time in a few years, and I was really happy that my mom loved all of the presents I got her. I tried to enjoy every moment of it since it will be one of the last long trips home I get to take for the next year.

Now that I'm back here in Rock Thrill, it's time (sigh) to get down to business. School business, that is. I have so much to do and so little time to get it done before the littles ones show up on July 17 (a mere 48 days away). As soon as I get back from my next trip home for Father's Day, I plan to start going in and fixing up my classroom everyday until it's finished. I know most people would say that going in everyday for three consecutive weeks before I'm even scheduled to come in seems a little excessive, but I believe that these people (A) don't know how much work it takes to set up an early childhood classroom from scratch, (B) don't know that it's necessary to come in early because of how little time we get to work in our classrooms during our required work days, and (C) apparently don't know how truly excessive and obsessive (compulsive) I can truly be sometimes. I think it will be plenty of time to get everything the way I want it. I've recruited my mom to come up one weekend and donate her veteran teacher expertise. I wish it were time already. I'M GETTING EXCITED!!!!!!

Hmmmm...let's see. Is there anything of actual interest that I can talk about? Probably not. The only thing I've got going on in my life right now is my impending teacher-ness. So I guess I'll have to continue to bore you with that. If my life is an open book, then it would have to be an unused diary.

I think I'll go now before I start to get all mopey and complainy (yeah, i said complainy, so there! ). I have lots of more first grade oriented things to take care of, not to mention a an apartment that is sorely in need of a makeover. Later taters!!!!!!

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

Last week was pretty damn awesome if you ask me. I officially got everything moved over from the old apartment to the new one on Tuesday. I really wish I could get some of that April rent money back from them for moving out so quickly ( I don't have to be checked out until April 30, and the month isn't even half-way over yet!!). The internet guys came and installed my awesome cable modem on Wednesday, and the guys from Lowe's came and brought my brand-new washer and dryer. On Wednesday I found out that Brian is going to be moving back to Rock Hill to finish school. So I'm super-excited that I'll have someone around to hang out with. Now that everyone has moved away and gotten jobs and stuff, it gets really lonely around here all by myself. But now with him back in town and me living here permanently, there are plenty of good times to be had. (Who's up for an Olive Garden night this June? ). Then on Thursday, I topped off a great week the best way I knew how. I went to see the Avetts!!!! And in true going-to-see-the-Avetts fashion, I got lost!!! Unbelievably, I got lost getting to Tabatha's (thanks Yahoo Maps) and leaving Tabatha's. I would say the only other lowlight of the weekend would be spilling a $6.25 drink on myself after only taking about two sips of it. Luckily the bartender gave me a free one!! I'm gonna miss having weekends like that all the time once I officially become a working woman in July. I think that's why I plan on living it up as much as I possibly can for the next few months (Did someone say, "Girls Night"?)!!!

I think that's about it. Just another day in the life of a soon-to-be first-grade teacher.

It's remarkable how my life has changed so much in the past two weeks. For those of you who don't know, I have accepted a first-grade teaching position at Chester Park Elementary School of Inquiry in Chester, South Carolina. I'm really excited about it and can't wait for July to get here (Did I mention that it's a year-round school and that I will have a thirty-minute commute each day?)!! I'm hoping that it's not more of challenge than I can handle. Speaking of more challenges than I can handle, I am so knee-deep in all of the crap that it takes to finally get a real place of my own that it's not even funny. I've finally moved into a permanent apartment (and accrued a nice collection of monthly bills in the process). But luckily my parents have been really generous in helping me with all of the things I need to get started. I really don't know what I would do without them sometimes. Despite the insanity of becoming a first-year teacher and finally having to support myself financially for the first time in my life, I feel like my life is really coming together for once. I completely satisfied with almost everything in my life right now.

So, yeah. I'm pretty much on my way to getting an actual career (Yeah, I know it's shocking!! ). I went to a job fair last weekend in Lexington and sat down and interviewed with someone. Hopefully something positive will come of that. Yesterday, a school in Anderson called me to schedule an interview with them. So that is where I will be tomorrow. I think it might be one of my top prospects because I already know what school and what grade level I'd get. Then later this weekend I'm going back to the Columbia area to another job fair/interview thing. Things seem like they're looking up for once. I still don't have a job currently. That's fine with me, but I don't think my parents enjoy paying for me to sit around in Rock Hill. And I don't enjoy taking advantage of them either. I'm starting to get all of the stuff together to start subbing. I think all I have to do is submit the applications and attend the training sessions. The problem is getting into the training sessions; everytime I try to get in they're already full. I think I'm going to one in York on Thursday. Rock Hill doesn't have one until late February and Clover doesn't have one until March. I know it's a gamble and something I don't think I'll like, but if I can't sub then there wasn't much of a point in becoming a teacher, right? Things will work out for the best, I'm sure.

So today I purchased what I believe is one of the best albums that my ears have ever been exposed to; Four Thieves Gone:The Robbinsville Sessions by the Avett Brothers. If you're not yet on the Avett Brothers bandwagon, then you need to jump on quick cause it's taking off at break-neck speed!!! I would say the song on the album that I identify with most is "Colorshow". The way I interpret it is that it has to deal with not hiding your true identity (something I've had to struggle with for most of my life). The appeal of their music is that it's so pure and simple with something that almost everyone can identify with. I can't wait to go to the next show, which I believe will probably be Greenville in March. It's great that they're playing so close to me soon. It's been a while since they've really done SC. I am totally excited!!!

If you guessed me, then you're absolutely correct!!! My SC teaching certificate came in the mail last week!!! Now all I need is a job. I think it's safe to say that all the prospects I had lined up a month ago have been filled. I guess maybe I shouldn't apply for jobs that I'm way overqualified for (instructional assistants, daycare worker, etc.). I guess it's back to the slightly-above-minimum-wage jobs that I love so much.

Well, in more positive career-related news, I think I'm going to apply to this new school they're opening up Chester. It's a year-round charter school, and so far I'm really excited about it, but I probably need to look a little bit more in-depth about what charter schools really are. I'm not too crazy about the possibility of having to commute to Chester five days a week (cause I don't think they really have any apartment buildings), but they start an hour later than regular schools (8:30 instead of 7:30). And as bad as a year-round school schedule sounds, I'm thinking I would like that better than a traditional school schedule. I started comparing the schedules and I quickly learned that year-round schedules are much better. Even though with a year-round schedule I would have to start in early July, they basically go for nine weeks and then get three straight weeks off (in addition to all of the typical school holidays), whereas traditional schools start off the year by going for fifteen weeks and don't get a break until Thanksgiving (a measly three days off). I think I would be willing to give up the traditional eight-week summer for three straight weeks of paid vacation after every forty-five school days. I really have to haul ass to get ready for this though because the application deadline is January 20. But the plus side is that (if I'm selected)they'll contact me for an interview this month and notify me of whether or not I have the postion by the end of next month. So hopefully this will work out for me, if not, then I'll have time to move on to the next thing. Wish me luck, everyone!!!

Um, yeah. I really did. Cause I was just that tired. I don't think I had dinner either. I should really fix that or something.

Well, I'm almost to the half-way point of my full internship, and it's going okay. She officially "throws me to the wolves" next week, not to mention she's going to be out on Thursday and Friday. I'm kinda nervous about that, but I hear the sub that's going to be in the classroom with me is a real hard-ass. That should make things go a lot smoother. I really can't wait until the week after that. I get a three-day week because October 10 is a teacher workday, and I have a mandatory seminar at Winthrop on October 14.

I have the best mentor teacher ever!! She has the patience of a saint for having to put up with me in addition to those kids every day. A lot of other mentor teachers would have given up on me by this point and berated me for my constant unpreparedness and lack of classroom management skills. But not her, she looks deep down and still sees my potential, and I thank her so much for it. It's being with someone so compassionate and patient that keeps me going each day. I almost feel guilty for graduating in December and leaving her all alone with them. Hopefully, they'll give her another full-time intern (cause she really needs it with all the interesting little diversities of our children).

Other than lesson plans, my "darling angels", and waaaaaaaaay too much other stuff to do, I really have nothing else going on in my life. It just occurred to me last night that it was so weird to go from my first three years of undergrad (where I had a huge group of friends in an extremely close vicinity to go out with constantly at the drop of a hat) to my senior year(s) (where everyone has graduated or left, leaving me without basic companionship ). It's a real dichotomy (in a way). I miss not being able to hang out with anyone anymore since we're all so busy with jobs, school, and significant others (Well, most of the group, anyway.). I got some get-togethers planned for the next few months that I hope won't fall through. Beth and I should be going to see the Avetts in Athens in about a month (it'll be the first time we've seen them since August). I'm trying to get the gang together for our annual end-of-the-semester Olive Garden dinner in December. I think another ambush on Karen's birthday is very much called-for. And then there is the event of all events---Avett Brothers New Year's Eve Bash in Charlotte,NC. All I have to do is line up a "date" (You know you wanna go, Karen. Don't even try and deny it!!! )and order the tickets, and I'll be ringing in the New Year the best way I can imagine!!!!

I think I managed to actually end this blog on a high note!! I think that may be a first!!

There comes a time in your life when you think, "Why me? What did I ever do to deserve this?" I'm starting to feel that way again (big surprise). I went into this final semester of student teaching thinking it was going to work out well, but now I'm not so sure. We were just starting to get comfortable with our class arrangement, when were were rudely interrupted (and I do mean rudely). Because of the devastation caused in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, obviously everyone had to relocate to various parts of the country. Well, because of our small class size, we were up on the chopping block to get the next new student that came to the second grade. Everyone was all prepared to be comforting and accepting to our new classmate, but we had no idea what would be entering our school. I wouldn't say this child was a complete holy terror, but he isn't exactly an angel either. We hadn't even made it to noon before we had determined that this was going to be a rough year (Luckily, I'll only be here until December 2nd!). He came in the door and was disruptive, disrespectful, and unattentive to everyone around him. It's been 3 days and I don't think many of the other children like him (I had to hold one of the girls off of him so she wouldn't kill him at lunchtime yesterday.) and the teachers don't know what to do with him. On top of that, the day after he came in we got another new student. Her name is Lupita, she is from Mexico, and she doesn't speak a word of English. It makes me really regret never really taking any Spanish classes during my Gen Ed days, and I don't really have the time to sit down and involve myself in anything else this semester. Let's not even talk about the fact that we have several children in our class who we think have serious behavior disorders (or at least problems in the home). Our truest little angel, Anna, has erupted into several major emotional breakdowns almost every day this week over trivial little incidents (she got upset one day because she couldn't be the one to dispense the soap at lunchtime). Mrs. Lyon (my mentor teacher) equated the children's behavior this week to "playing a game of Whack-A-Mole." The second you tackle one, two more pop up, and they just keep coming and coming.

On the upside of things, my teaching is improving even more. I think it's like a fine wine; it just gets better with time. I'm not nearly as nervous as I used to be. I think with a little perseverance, practice, and prayer, I'll come out on the winning end of this experience.

And on the super upside of things, Bethy and I have plans (hopefully) to be going to Winston-Salem next Friday to see The Avetts (how could you not have seen that coming). It will be a much-needed treat from my stressful and overly productive life. I can't wait!!! Hey, if anyone's free on New Year's Eve, they're gonna be rocking "The Queen City" (That's Charlotte, NC for those of you who don't know.) and I needs a date!!!

So it's that time again, kiddos. Back to school time, that is. Things are officially back in full swing again here at the WU. I feel more disconnected than ever before during my last semester here. I mean, I'm no longer living on campus and the bulk of my "classwork" will be completed at Finley Road Elem. It feels weird to be on campus when I have to run my random errands. I had to spend most of the day today tracking down Cindy Cassens (director of residence life) to make sure they finalized my appeal to get out of my Courtyard lease without the 50% penalty. I'm glad all of that is finally over and done with.

On a funnier note, I noticed something very interesting today. Today was Convocation Day at Winthrop, and they've started this new tradition (about a year ago, I think) of giving all the Freshmen special "Blue Line" shirts to wear. For some reason, not only were most of them already wearing them, but some people were just carrying them around. It kinda makes it easier to point out the newcomers from at least a twenty foot distance(Not that you can't see their wide-eyed and confused faces coming a mile away anyway). As I was driving around running errands (Oh how I miss the days when I could walk anywhere on or near campus!!!), I had to resist the temptation to run them down with my car (I think they're worth about 2000 a piece). I thought to myself, "They're a lot like ducks in a shooting gallery. All dressed alike and walking in organized lines like that." I was a good girl and resisted the temptation to perform some much-needed population control (Remember: Felony=no job).

Another interesting Freshman story: I was walking into the Bookworm to get my one $8.00 book for the semester, and I saw a Freshman that had just walked in looking quite confused. I just wanted to walk up to him and say, "Downstairs, honey, downstairs" and lead him by the hand to where the textbooks were. I feel like such an old maid. For once, I can actually tell how much younger they are than me.

I met my new roommate today. Her name is Amber and she seems pretty nice. Hopefully we'll be able to not kill each other or anything like that over the course of the next 12 months. I don't really like that she has a boyfriend that is going to be around all the time, but he might turn out to be an alright guy. You can't judge a book by it's cover.

Well, I think it's time for me to say goodbye. I have some last-minute relaxing to do before tomorrow morning. There should have been some adult-type imbibing, but I guess that will have to wait until the weekend. LATER DAYS!!!!!!

Repost this and put in the subject how many of the following 100 questions you said YES to. Be truthful.

1.smoked a cigarette
2.smoked a cigar
3.made out with a member of the same sex
4.crashed a friend's car
5.stolen a car
6.been in love
7.been dumped
8.shoplifted
9.been fired
10.been in a fist fight
11.snuck out of your house
12.had feelings for someone who didnt have them back
13.been arrested
14.made out with a stranger
15.gone on a blind date
16.lied to a friend
17.had a crush on a teacher
18.skipped school
19.slept with a co-worker
20.seen someone die
21.been on a plane
22.thrown up in a bar
23.taken painkillers
24.love someone or miss someone right now
25.laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
26.made a snow angel
27.played dress up
28.cheated while playing a game
29.been lonely
30.fallen asleep at work/school
31.used a fake id
32.felt an earthquake
33.touched a snake
34.ran a red light
35.been suspended from school
36.had detention
37.been in a car accident
38.hated the way you look
39.witnessed a crime
40.pole danced
41.been lost
42.been to the opposite side of the country
43.felt like dying
44.cried yourself to sleep
45.played cops and robbers
46.sang karaoke
47.done something you told yourself you wouldn't
48.laughed till some kind of beverage came out of your nose
49.caught a snowflake on your tongue
50.kissed in the rain
51.sing in the shower
52.made love in a park
53.had a dream that you married someone
54. glued your hand to something
55. got your tongue stuck to a flag pole
56.worn the opposite sex's clothes
57.been a cheerleader
58. sat on a roof top
59. didn't take a shower for a week
60.ever to scared to watch scary movies alone
61.played chicken
62.been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on
63.been told you're hot by a complete stranger
64.broken a bone
65.been easily amused
66.laugh so hard you cry
67.mooned/flashed someone
68.cheated on a test
69.forgotten someone's name
70.slept naked
71.gone skinny dipping in a pool
72.been kicked out of your house
73.blacked out from drinking
74.played a prank on someone
75.gone to a late night movie
76.made love to anything not human
77.failed a class
78.choaked on something you're not supposed to eat
79.played an instrument for more than 10 hours
80.cheated on a gf/bf
81.ate a whole package of oreos
82.thrown strange objects
83.felt like killing someone
84.thought about running away
85.ran away
86.did drugs
87.had detention and not attend it
88.yelled at parents
89.made parent cry
90.cried over someone
91.owned more than 5 sharpies
92.dated more than 1 person at once
93.have a dog
94.have a cat
95.own an instrument
96.been in a band
97.had more than 25 sodas in one day
98.broken a cd
99.shot a gun
100.been on the internet for more than 10 hours

Have I ever begun to mention how great Karen is? The live journal page you are looking at is an unsolicited labor of love from the incomparable Karen Jones. I don't know how she managed to read my mind all the way from Greer to know that I wanted to start an lj this week, but I'm glad she did it. I just have to remember to blog both here and MySpace from now on. It doesn't sound as difficult as you think; it will just be a copy and paste kinda thing.

Well, let's see!! What's been going on in my rather dull, yet amusing, life? I am, once again, no longer an employee of Paramount's Carowinds. I think I must have had what I'm calling "The Best Last Day of Work Ever"!! I was scheduled to work from 11:30-9:30 (which means that I will be there until 10:30 or 11:00), but we got off at 6:30 because it decided to rain almost all day. I was inside (working the main counter in Premiers)the whole time and I had an almost perfect register (and that was quite a feat considering how pack it was in there with everyone buying ponchos). I got to see two of my closest friends at work, Kevin and Toni, before they left for the day. We hugged and everything and exchanged phone numbers (at least Toni and I did). It was almost kinda sad. I think I'm really gonna miss everyone at work. How am I ever going to get through my day without daily stockroom bitchfests? I'm gonna promise myself once again that I will not be going back to that hellhole next summer. And if I do go back, you had better believe that I WILL NOT be wearing a blue shirt. In other words, I'll either be in some kind of management position or I'll be in a better department. I don't feel like ever being on the lowest level of the totem pole ever again. I think I did manage to come out pretty good on the money end of the situation. I wish I could have gotten a few more hours each week. Just a little bit of over time could have made my checking account a little bit happier, but I think I'll be okay. I have enough to get me through the rest of the month and get my things for school and MY NEW APARTMENT!!!!!!

Yeah, I've moved again. This is the second place I've lived in since January. It's not that I'm unhappy with living on-campus. It's just that this new place gives you more amenities for the same price, and they'll let me finish the rest of my lease out even though I won't be a college student after December 17. And I can get out of my lease any time I want to (given that I provide them with a 30-day notice). I wish Winthrop would be that compassionate and understanding instead of being heartless, money hungry bitches!!!! There is no way I can get out of my Courtyard lease unless I pay them 50% of what I owe them for my room this last semester. So my mom and I devised a plan to try and talk them out of charging us the fee by playing the sympathy card. We're going to convince them that I've lost all of my financial aid and can no longer afford to pay for the room in the Courtyard (which isn't a complete lie). Every sad detail expressed in the letter that I turned in to Residence Life isn't a complete lie, just a slight exaggeration of the truth. I am so pissed off with them and I will be so glad to walk across the stage in December and be done with them forever. But back to the new place!!

It's a four-bedroom apartment, but I'm "leasing it as a 2-bedroom" or something like that. Essentially, half of the apartment is mine, but I only have access to one of the two bedrooms on my side. But at least the bedrooms are much bigger and I get a bigger bed!!! Oooooooo!!! And my own bathroom!!!! And we have a real kitchen with a stove and oven. I don't know why that excites me so much, cause I don't cook. But at least I have the opportunity to learn a little bit every once and a while. The girl that called me last week and said she would be my suitemate sounds pretty cool too. I think we're really gonna click. Her name is Melanie and she is a senior education major who's going to be doing her field experience this semester. So that means she is going to be really busy. That makes me really happy cause I'm going to be doing my full-time internship, and I need someone who is going to be considerate and respect the fact that I have to be up between 5 and 6 every school day (and therefore need the place to be quiet at night). Maybe fate brought us together for a reason. Maybe all the crap I'm going through now will be worth it to have an environment conducive to my needs and my hectic schedule. Let's hope so.

I am so pumped for the weekend to get here. If you don't know, I'm going to see the always amazing Avett Brothers in Charlotte on Saturday night. The intensity has been building up all week with numerous radio appearances. This will surely be a well-earned treat for my weeks of hard labor and stress. I must call the Bethy to make sure she remembered and when she's coming into town. I miss the Bethy; it seems like forever since I've seen her last. Now that we both have crazy, unpredictably scheduled jobs, we can't keep up with each other. I miss the rest of The Cool Kids too. It's just so hard to get together when everyone lives in different towns and have their own lives and job schedules. Maybe we'll all get to get together in December for another Olive Garden night (wink wink).

I think I've said enough now. I bet you haven't even made it this far. You probably stopped reading somewhere around Carowinds. Didn't you. DIDN'T YOU!!!! I wouldn't blame you if you did. I can get a little long-winded sometimes. Well, later taters!!!!