Oh blah de, oh blah dah, Life goes on

This has been a busy couple of weeks. I finally hosted Bunko at my house, and it was a lot of fun. I didn't bother with a lot of cleaning and such because we had been running around with the kids and doing the tournament things. My friends got to see how I actually live, and it didn't seem to scare them to death. My two cats moved out over a year ago, but I think they still linger somewhat...one of my friends was having allergy problems. I guess I need to shampoo carpets and wash all the draperies to get it completely out.

This past weekend, on a whim, we went to the Opryland Hotel where there was a Regional Video Game Championship for....you guessed it...Pokemon. It was a horrible set-up. Over 300 "seniors" (13 and older) and even more "juniors" (12 and under) were there. You had to register and just HOPE to be one of the 128 people that were randomly picked. As luck would have it, only one out of my three was chosen. He actually made it to the top 8 in the tournament, and now that is all he thinks about. They will have the National Championship in St. Louis when we go, so he wants to try to make it into that tournament. It is really sad, however, that hundreds register, get their hopes up, practice their games for months, and then only have their hopes shattered by not being chosen in the drawing. I'm trying to prepare him for the possible disappointment, but you know how kids are...he is sure that he will be chosen.

Life goes on...A friend got engaged, another found out she was pregnant for the third time, and my quest for a full-time teaching position continues. Meanwhile, I'm reading a lot and hanging out with the kids. Our BEYOND wonderful Grandmother turned 82 this weekend. My kids are so extremely fortunate to get to know their great-grandmother. She is still active and quilting daily, although some headaches and coughs have kept her down lately. She is by far the best person I know.

Summer has started!

The kids have been out of school for a whole week now and they are all still alive. I've started a countdown for them to return to school...how awful is that? We've been to Atlanta for a Pokemon tournament, but thats the only traveling so far. They even got ME to play in the tournament. Scary. I will admit it is fun, but even more important than that is my husband and kids' reaction to me playing. They are all getting a kick out of it. I've battled them several times over the past few days, which is wonderful because it keeps them off of the computer and fighting over video games.

We will be going to St. Louis for our family trip this summer because of the National Pokemon Tournament. That one is where scholarship money is at stake. Dorky, yes....but free money? I'll take it. We're going down a few days earlier to do the Six Flags/Arch/Science Center tour. No beach, but it will still be fun.

I still have no word from the school system. I'm afraid that I waited too late to start the interviewing process. I was led to believe I had to go through the county before I could go directly to a school, so I was left behind by those who already knew to go directly to the schools. Oh well...as I've said before, I love it at the college. I will be happy to stick with that.

Today I take my daughter in for an I.Q. test. She is testing as a gifted student, just like her brothers were. I think she will have no trouble with it, although she is sort of nervous about it. She started naming off "smart kids" that she knew in kindergarten and hopes they are all in her class. I wish it worked that way, but at least she will be getting some much needed stimulation in the first grade. Kindergarten was just way too easy for her, so she was not the best behavior-wise. She'd get bored and get antsy. Here's hoping it all goes well!

HAPPY DANCE!

Final grades were posted today, and I got all three A's! Even on that infernal final project...an A! I'm glad its over but also missing school already. Am I weird or what?

I've been in kindergarten the past few days helping out my daughter's teacher. I swear they do not pay those teachers enough. I'd be gone after a week, but I know I have zero patience. I like to teach the older kids. I've had a preliminary interview with the Board of Education, so now I just have to wait for principals to put out a call for English teachers. But like I've said before, my heart won't break if I stay at the college. I really enjoy the people there.

I'm toying around with a Ph.D. There is a semi-local (45 minutes away) school that offers one in Adolescent Literature. If I can get a graduate assistanceship (i.e., they pay me AND pay my tuition), I just might do it. I'd have to take the GRE...and I'm NOT good at written exams...but thats a cross I will bear if I get to it.

YIPPEE! Now just to get that diploma and frame it :)

Yep..you guessed it

I had to do ANOTHER revision. This time wasn't so bad, though. The second reader had a few corrections and questions that needed to be addressed, but no major overhaul. It was hopefully sent to the third reader already, because yesterday was graduation. I didn't go through the line. I didn't do it as an undergraduate either. I don't know why. I probably should have, but I had so many more things to do with my time. When and if I go on for the doctorate, I WILL walk in that line! I'm seriously considering it, but I don't know if I can put my family through any more of my "student stress" episodes.

I get to host the girls on Monday night, so I need to use what little time I have to straighten and clean and get the menu prepared for Bunko. It is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. I also have Field Day with Reese on Monday and an interview with the Board of Education, so I will have no time to get anything done on Monday. I guess they will get to see how messy I really live! They all have kids, so I'm sure they will relate.

I feel like I'm rambling...my brain is on overdrive this morning. It is strange how I can function well from about 6:00 - 10:00 a.m., but then I start going downhill. By 6:00 p.m., I'm toast. I guess it is the Kentucky farm girl in me. I used to stay with my grandparents in Kentucky over the summer, and it would amaze me how they would go to bed as soon as it turned dark. Now I get it.

I hope every Mom out there has a great Mother's Day and is able to take a little time for herself. It is the toughest job, but the most rewarding job, and I know everybody says that...but you Mom's know what I'm talking about.

Please, please, please...

...can I please be finished? I turned in my final project again yesterday with the necessary revisions and told my Professor, "Do NOT give it back to me!" I also taught my last American Literature class yesterday as well. We went over "The Dutchman" by Amiri Baraka. That was a cool study in racism and assimilation. The students were quite confused over the message, but once the saw the illusions to Adam and Eve and considered the things that were going on in the 60's, they got it. I still don't think they liked it. I thought it was a good read and even better movie (its on YouTube).

Otherwise, I am ready to enjoy the summer. I believe we'll be headed to St. Louis this year for our vacation, and I'm looking forward to it. I am going to try to meet up with a girl that was one of my best friends in middle school, and I'm excited to see her. We were Adam Ant freaks..."freaks" being the operative word because I believe she and I were the only ones crazy enough to love him so much.

This past weekend we had a lot of fun with the kids. We flew kites and ran around the playground. They got drenched in the fountain at a local outdoor mall. It was 80ish degrees, but they were all shivering like crazy. We went to the college where they had a movie night on Friday, which was really cool (literally and figuratively). All in all it was a great weekend.

Still trying SO hard!

I thought I had finished my final thesis project, but no. My advisor gave it back to me with "a few" suggestions. HA! Few my butt. Anyway, I am trying to find the motivation to work on it. It is so pretty outside today and I really do NOT feel like driving to campus and shutting myself up in the library. Classes are over this week, and graduation is the 9th, so I need to suck it up and find the energy somehow.

I've been trying to get in touch with the board of education to schedule an interview. I've left AT LEAST 5 messages for this woman to call me, and she never has. Is this a message from the great school genie that I'm not supposed to teach public school? I really enjoy what I'm doing now at the college, but I would like to be a more full-time (i.e., benefits and leave time) worker. Either way, we will be OK. It would just be nice if I could get the courtesy of a call.

My "little man" turned 14 a few days ago. He got quite a bit of cash for his birthday and wanted to start saving it for a car. I can't say that at 14, that was my goal with my money. I think I blew mine on clothes and cassette tapes. I'm quite proud of the young man he is turning out to be.

Spring Break

The kids are now officially on Spring Break, but I'm not. I wish the colleges would have the same break as the public schools. Lots of my friends are going to the beach, but we will have to make do with the movies and bowling and fishing. I may even get some kites and take the kids out by the lake to fly kites. Thats one of those things you always think about doing but never quite get around to doing.

I have a couple of weeks to finish my project and to complete my online course. I'm stressed (whats new), but I'm also excited that there is a light at the end of the long two year tunnel.

Otherwise, my family is finally healthy (everybody has been sick in some shape or form in the past month). My 12 year old son got his braces off and keeps checking himself out in the mirror...SO hilarious. But we just keep on truckin' along...