Merry Christmas!

Whoops - been a long time since my last post. My apologies.

My main Christmas present was a week in Maui in November. I loved reading on a lounge chair and listening to the ocean. So warm and nice.

Celebrated my birthday with a couple friends. We played Mario Party 9 and watched My Cat From Hell (LOVE that show!). Got some books and really cool jewellery. Christmas Day my Mom still wanted us to open presents so I got some funky little things and a printer.

Braved the world for some Boxing Day shopping, but I didn't really find it busy except for one place. Spent too much money, but what else is new? Did that again today when I signed up for my first quilting class and bought the fabric that I need for it. I better get to work on some of the stuff I have at home so I can feel well practised.

Remember

All the work I have to do seems unimportant in comparison to the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our country. They fought for freedom, equality, and peace. Perhaps one day we can realize their dreams. Thank you to all the soldiers who fought for what is right. Thank you to all the soldiers who continue to fight.

Been busy and yet haven't gotten much done. Makes me feel dumb, but then weird things like falling asleep while sitting up and read a book happen that make me think maybe there's something going on in my poor brain. I need a break (which I will get next week), but I need to finish with all this work first.

Grrr

So apparently the condo board did vote against pets in the building. That's so dumb. There are so many pets there already (either brought in before the vote or have a doctor's note). So another place bites the dust. At this point I'm thinking build a house and put in a basement suite. Or maybe God is telling me to just wait because He's got something better in mind.

Preapproval

Met with an attractive mortgage guy today. Can't believe we're actually starting the preapproval process. So very exciting! Tomorrow I should find out my numbers and then I'll call my real estate agent to start talking about a condo I saw. ~fingers crossed~

Bah!

The apartment doesn't allow pets. I suspected this from talking to a different landlord in the same condo building, but then this guy had me thinking that maybe I misunderstood the first guy... Doesn't matter. No place to live but home for now.

Feel Like I'm Ready

I feel like I am so beyond ready. Ready to move out, lose weight, take better care of myself, get a permanent job, etc. I think I've had a decent September - 4 days worth of subbing scheduled so far, lost more than I've gained, inquired about an apartment (just have to make sure I can bring my cat and maybe bring the rent down just a tad?). Buying a house is going to have to wait - I just don't feel comfortable about it unless it's absolutely perfect and I have a permanent full-time job to take care of it. My mom shouldn't have to get it for me.

My class is going alright, except that I'm having a hard time making myself keep up with readings (as in I really haven't done any reading). I think the group assignment will go a little better this time around - so glad my prof wants a work plan by Monday so that we all have to have some input right away. From the little contact I've had I think there are at least a couple members that I will try to keep as long term contacts.

Sold My Car

After 10 and a half years the time has come for James and I to separate. I sold him. I am experiencing a great mix of nostalgia and relief. Mom got a new vehicle so I get her old one and that's a definite upgrade over mine. Farewell dear car - I will and won't miss you.

I Don't Know What's Happening

Well the rental place never got back to me so I haven't moved out and I can't help out my friend. Too bad. I guess this is just God's way of telling me to stay put for another day. I have a ton of books to read, but I just don't feel like reading right now. I do have good news: I passed my summer class! Yay!

Done and Done

My class is all finished. I don't have a final mark, yet, but I did pass every assignment so I should pass the class. I hope to do better in the next one. Been reading lots of books and tomorrow I'm going to go look at a rental. I think it just makes more sense to rent than buy at this point and this is the cheapest place that might accept pets, even if it is a little beyond my budget. If they let me have 2 cats I might help out a friend by taking care of hers... we'll see how Veritas reacts to that.

All done :)

Surprisingly the 10 min nap did help. I finished the last assignment early this morning and handed it in. I hate having no idea whether or not it's what my professor wants to see, but there's nothing I can do about that. I didn't do so great on the first assignment and my group did super awesome on the second. Theoretically I should be in good standing with this course. Now I have a TON of books from the library to get through. I hope some of them can be renewed so I have more time. Won't know until I get close to those due dates though.

Just One More

All I have to do is finish one more assignment and then I'm done. So why does my brain decide to shut down? Probably because I'm almost finished and the whole group project fiasco just drained me completely. See? I'm still thinking about it and I told myself no more! I just need 8-10 pages of well-written response about the class, my projects, and how I'm going to use this stuff when I get a job. I need a break, but I need to get this done first. And I've taken breaks and I've barely got anything down. Maybe an 8-10 min nap will help?

My First Assignment

I WILL get it done in a timely fashion. It's due Monday morning and I WILL NOT be late!!! I hope.

Storybook Lady!

I finally got the chance to be the storybook lady at the library! I was a little disappointed that only 4 kids came out, but I'll take what I can get.

My class is still an emotional roller-coaster. Sometimes I think I'm doing well and then all of a sudden I'll feel like I just fell off the turnip truck. Whatever that expression means. I just feel young and inexperienced and I'm definitely the latter. I'm thinking that perhaps the intense summer courses are not for me, but we'll see how I feel after taking the 13 weeks courses.

End of Week 1

How was my first week of my course? Let me put it this way: I gained 3 pounds. Oh I wish stress made me less of an eater instead of more. I am so stressed and at a loss for my assignments. I knew it would be intense, but I didn't think I'd feel so inadequate. Just another part of life, I guess, only three more weeks and then the next course will have more breathing room.

Day One

I know that title gets used frequently, but whatevs.

It's the first official day of my class and I'm feeling even more inexperienced. I think everyone in my discussion group has had significant classroom time and one lady has even been a TL for 10 years! They also seem to have taken some of the other classes and it looks like one of them would have been really helpful. Can only do my best, right?

My plan to be all healthy and not have any chips or pop was circumvented by a trip to Timmy's. Mmmm Timbits. At least I walked over.

The End of June

I can't believe it's the last day of June already. My brain is totally freaking out from information overload and me wanting to get to work on my class stuff. People have started posting their introductions and it seems like a good crowd so far. Some of them have already taken some classes so I feel like I'm starting off behind.

I'm checking out an open house this afternoon. I'm not expecting much because it's cheap, but maybe it'll work out too. It's so hard to tell in Warman. I just know that I need to move out. Sooner rather than later. I really should get a full-time job before I buy, but there aren't many rental options out there either.

A Rant on Education

So I've been watching some videos about education on Ted.com and I'm thinking about our education system. What is important for our students to learn? What should our priorities be? I've always thought that reading and writing and math (yes, I know the 3Rs that have been around forever) are the foundation. You learn to think and observe and gain all kinds of perspectives and experiences through reading. Writing is a terrific means of communication (and don't most movies, speeches, etc. begin with a written script), as well as a means of discovering more about ourselves. Math is used every day in so many different ways.

Science changes as we learn about the world around us. There are so many areas of science to look at and you're not going to find two kids who want to learn about all the same stuff at the same time and in the same way. Why do all Grade Threes have to learn about rocks and all Grade Fours about light. Why can't those kinds of things be learned as kids get interested? Granted you need something to focus on when teaching about observing and stuff - they just don't want kids to have a headstart if a new class teaches it after they've learned some stuff once. Can't they just continue where their interests have taken them? Maybe a student who's already focussed on a topic can help be an expert during that unit.

Saskatchewan seems to match the social studies curriculum to mental development. Starting with self and then growing outward, which I think is great. Not all students are ready for it at the same age - which is why I wish there was more flexibility in grade placement in the younger years. Some of the curricula choose which countries you have to focus on when you get out far enough. Why? Sure we can do bigger things and have projects where the students get to choose the countries they study if there's time. We're told we need to focus on the curriculum and get the students mastered in that, especially if there's standardized testing. Teachers have to pick and choose what student directed-projects they do throughout the year.

I don't know. It seems that guiding students in their interests (and sometimes we have to force them to see outside their interests) is more helpful to them as people. It would be nice to have more time to let them explore their passions and introduce them to ours. Who wants to worry about every little detail? Yet we make kids do their work over and over so that it looks right without giving the content enough thought. Why would kids want to try when they know every little thing is going to be torn apart? Sometimes, I just want to be told I wrote a great story because the story is good, not because the spelling and grammar are great and the printing is tidy.

Eep

I kinda forgot about my blog in the midst of a bunch of computer troubles. A lot has happened since January.

I've had quite a few sub days and they have been rewarding. The education system is where I belong. I applied to, and was accepted in, the Teacher Librarian Distance Learning (TLDL) course at the U of A. I'm getting my Masters! and I start on Friday ~gulp~ I don't think I'm ready - my head hurts and there's so much to read and my room is too crowded. However, I do look forward to talking with my class and meeting people and getting ideas for my future library/classroom.

The search for a new place to live has commenced. There's pretty well nothing to rent at a decent price that let's cats in - I've been seriously looking for months now. The search turned into maybe buying. I've found one place that I just LOVE, but the community isn't fully wired for high internet speeds. At least it gets basic high speed. Gotta think and pray about it - this is one of those places where I really don't want to make a bad decision.

I'm still buying fabric, but not really doing anything with it. At least when I do move out I don't really need an entertainment budget - between school, gaming, and all my sewing projects I should be busy for the next four years... except that doesn't leave room for meeting Mr Right-for-me. Guess that part is still up to God's amazing hand.

I think I'm going to try posting some thoughts on my readings. Why didn't I think of that earlier? I only have a week to get my stuff together and I could've been getting my thoughts down all along. Oh well. No point in focussing on the past - just gotta look ahead to the future.

Thanks for catching up with me :)

Struggling

I'm feeling lonely and can't seem to get myself motivated. I had a good sub day on Monday, but I just felt like I was in pieces Tuesday morning and I still feel that way. I don't know why I'm like this and I wish I could figure out how to just stop it and get on with life.

First Week

2012 is starting off pretty good. Worked most days packing, cleaning, moving, and unpacking at Dad's office. Was sad not to get any subbing days, but I'm so glad that my low season only lasted one day. Those have the potential to last weeks and I just can't seem to get anything done during them. I have some resolutions and goals and I hope to keep working towards them.

I do have a sub day tomorrow so the second week is off to a really great start (except for the part where kitty decided to make a mess all the way along the hall - it's cleaned up now). I don't know how else God is working, but I'm praying that I am content with His will.

Happy New Year

Well, the year has just turned over. What will 2012 hold? That is for God to know and I'll probably find out. I certainly couldn't have predicted how 2011 would end after the way it began.

I lost my Grandma. I started a new job, hated it, and quit in about ten months. Reevaluated what I want to do in life and went back to teaching, but also applied for my masters of education in teacher-librarianship. Reconnected with some friends; let others go. Paid off my interest-bearing loans and then spent too much. Found my art in quilting and also started looking into other crafting and sewing areas. Played more facebook games than ever and got sick of them - will be blocking a lot of them now. Got one of each class in World of Warcraft to 85, but the best is still just playing with my friends.

All in all it was a pretty good year. I most definitely feel better now than before. Here's to hoping the journey continues in the direction God guides.

Happy New Year to you all!