School, Work, & Stuff

Yet another post without pictures...do you hate me?  Well, even I hate my posts without pictures, so I understand if you do, too. 

I'm conferencing with students today.  I love conferencing with students because they can tell that I really care about their work, that I'm on their side.  And then, there are the students who miss conferences.  Of all my pet peeves, I think absences are among the greatest.  Why?  Because I went back to work three days after my father passed away.  Because I took a single day off when my grandmother passed away to drive all the way to Pennsylvania and back again.  Because I took (and take) commitments seriously.  There.  I've said it.  I've vented.  Phew!  Ok, so maybe all that wasn't entirely healthy for my mental state, but the excuses of working late hours or getting strep and therefore taking off a month just don't fly with me. 

I'm also having a conference with Lovely's teacher, per my own request.  I want to make sure she's getting all she needs.  More on that to come.

As for another confession, I've been cheating on you.  "What?!  How dare you!" you exclaim.  Yes, I know, cheaters never prosper and all that.  Actually, I've felt the need to develop a separate blog that focuses on my writing & teaching experiences.  I only just started it, and I have a whopping two followers (I'm actually being serious--no sarcasm here)--total strangers who actual see some value to my writing.  Or they accidentally hit the "follow" button.  We'll see.  Anyway, I've found it's a good place to share my ideas and articulate my thoughts, separate from my home/family posts. 

Speaking of work (again), I'm still looking for other work.  I put in my request to teach this fall, which I absolutely love, but let's face it--bills need to get paid and teaching won't start back up again until the end of August.  Online teaching jobs have fierce competition, I'm finding.  I'm even considering going back to administrative assistant work, but then I realize, it's not 10 years ago anymore--there aren't many of those jobs out there.  I saw a job that interests me at The Learning House, but I hate rejection-- and I still have to teach for 75 minutes two afternoons a week, through the end of April.  S had had an extremely busy Jan., but then Feb. rolled around and he got sick (for about 3 wks), and work has been pretty slow again.  Moral of the story is:  if you see a job I might be interested in, send the info my way; I'll be grateful :)

The Perfect Post

I just noticed the date of my last post.  I...just...didn't see it until now?

Ok, I avoided looking until now.  Why, you ask?  Because I want to write the perfect post, of course.  You know.  The side-splitting, laughter inducing sentences with a contemplative undertone. 

Problem is, those just don't come out of my little (big) mouth...nor are they formed from the tiny keys overwhelmed by the pressure by my fingers.  Bumm-er. 

So, instead of prolific prose or giggly zingers, I'm going to make a to-do list for this week.  How many of you make to-do lists?  I make them, and then I realize everything I left off of them.  Then I make a new one.  Then I forget where I placed both of them (old-timers strikes again).

Here's my list for the weekend (that is, until Tuesday because that's when I'm actually required to wear clothing that half-way matches as I speak coherently (hahahaha) in front of 40-some college freshmen.

Source:  vi.sualize.us

1. Rework syllabi calendars--obviously, I thought I had no life when I planned the originals.  Oh, wait.  I don't. Ok, maybe I just want to sleep more.
2. Grade essays.  Grade essays.  Grade essays. 
3. Wash, iron, hang, & tag clothing/toys for a kids' sale. 
4. Call about a couple more job opportunities (how many others can I infect with my grammar par-tic-u-larities?)
5. Write some lesson plans.  Yep, I actually write this stuff down before it spews out of my mouth.  
6. Clean the bathroom.  I'm waiting on my gas mask and commercial-grade plastic suit to come in, which is a perfectly good excuse for shutting the door and ignoring what may be growing inside (ewwwwwww).  
7. Re-design my daughters' doll house before they redecorate the entire thing with colored markers, tiny pieces of toilet paper, and chewed-up straws.  As we all know, one person's trash is my daughters' treasure.  

What's on your to-do list this week?  

Source:  free-avatars.com

 

Start of the Week

I've been up since 6:50 this morning, but I'm actually lasting pretty well! I got up, tutored for an hour, got ready for my temp job answering phones, dropped off the girls, dropped off our tax stuff at the accountant's, and when I go home, I plan on working out. I brought my lunch so I wouldn't spend money or be tempted by calories, so at least I can't snack today! My eyelids are a little heavy, but I've completed almost all the reading I needed to get finished today, I wrote an article for The Examiner --make sure to visit-- and I'm about to see if I can find some WW meals to make this week, so I can plan a grocery list.

Speaking of planning, although I've been a major planner most of my life, it wasn't until the past few years that I read about planning meals for the week. I don't mean to speak ill of anyone, but I wasn't taught to meal plan growing up--I don't remember my mother doing it. Maybe it's just my memory? Anyway, I've been trying to keep up with it, but I keep failing at the task. Any secrets out there for easy meal plans? It doesn't help that I'm such a picky eater, of course.

Time? What Time?

Whew! I just finished tutoring for two hours and my last student was well....we just won't go there!

I had to change my tutoring hours around for next week because I'm filling in answering phones/performing office work for someone from church for the next two weeks. Honestly, the opportunity couldn't have come at a better time! DH's work schedule has been lacking lately, and bills just keep coming! I got a lovely bill for a radiologist from Lovely's hospital visit last summer, so I called this morning after praying profusely, and I was informed, "Oh, that was just a computer glitch. Just ignore it." Gee, thanks for the $194.00 heart attack! But I am sooo thankful that it worked out! I did keep some tutoring hours on, but I realized I may be working 48 hrs next week in addition to homeschooling, my school, housework, and DH's payroll! YIKES! Can someone say S-T-R-E-S-S?

I don't know how exercise will go the next two weeks, but I'm going to give it a shot. I've been doing well with it, but I ate at the Mexican joint for lunch (I ordered a taco salad, which is small, but still not great--although it had very little cheese and lots of guacamole), but we ordered pizza tonight at my hubby's request, so I had two slices and a glass of coke (eek!). I'll be cleaning my mom's house tomorrow, so I hope to burn off some more calories. I did exercise this morning before gym/art/music classes, and then I went for a walk while my oldest daughter biked around the neighborhood--those little legs were getting with it!

Oh, and if you haven't noticed, I've started yet another blog. I plan on designing my own layout/template, but I haven't had time (can you believe that?), so I'll have to get to it later. I will be offering a writing program, tutoring, and testing, catering to homeschool kids. I'm praying that this venture goes well! I know I was given my love of writing for a reason, I just have to find His perfect will in which to use it.