Saturday, April 30, 2005
Summer's a-comin'!
Maybe I was inspired by the FABULOUS weather we've been having the past two weeks. Maybe I was tired of looking at an empty patio. Maybe I was giving in to the closet shopaholic within me. Whatever the reason, I just got home from IKEA (man, I love that place!) with two chairs, a table, and a matching flower box for my little patio area oustide my front door. It's gonig to be my little garden retreat! Breakfast outside or an evening cup of tea with friends, the smell of the garden and freshly cut grass drifing through the air - ahhh - I'm relaxed already.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Oh the insanity!
We don't really know how insane BC politics really is.
Sure, we've got the Liberals and the NDP. And we all know about the Green Party. But did you know that in BC there are FOURTY-FIVE political parties? Of course, they don't all have candidates in every riding, but FOURTY-FIVE!!! So, if you're not too happy about the Liberals or NDP, here are a few more options for you to take a look at, taken from the political parties page on the Elections BC website.
The Annexation Party of British Columbia
They wanna annex BC to the US, making it the 51st state.
The Communist Party of BC
Cause we all know how well THAT one worked out...
The Free Canadian Party (formerly known as the Bald Eagle Party)
errmm..... the Bald Eagle party?!?!
The Idealists Party
solidly rooted in reality?
The People of British Columbia Millionare's Party
Do we get a million bucks to join??? Oh yeah, and it's home base? GOLD RIVER!
The Work Less Party
Their slogans? "Alarm Clocks Kill Dreams" and "Workers of the world.... RELAX!"
Hmm... maybe they're on to something with that one...
Party Of Citizens Who Have Decided To Think For Themselves And Be Their Own Politicians
Now that's far too long a name. They prefer to go by the acronym POCWHDTTFTABTOP. No joke.
And what BC election campaign would be complete without these two:
The Sex Party
Their goal? TO create a more sex-positive culture. They want to, and I quote, "make society better and have fun doing it." Oh dear.
And of course, The BC Marijuana Party
"Overgrowing the Government"
Hmmm... I wonder what some of their platform might include? Well, we all know the basics, but what about some specific things they'd do if voted in? How about this one:
The BCMP will also make marijuana the official flora of B.C. We like the dogwood as much as anyone, but there is no denying that cannabis is the Province’s most recognized flower.
(well what do you expect from a party who's stoned most of the time?)
Sidenote: If you're a member of, candidate for, or believer in any of these parties that I'm rolling my eyes at, mocking, or being appalled at, just carry on. All this is is tongue-in-cheek amazement at the multitide of political parties I had no idea existed! Go democracy! Any old crack pot (even me!) could make a party! Perhaps I'll call mine "The Party That Was Created For the Sole Purpose of Being Number Fourty Six." All our dollar amounts will have $0.46 added to them. We'll run the province by the number 46! 46's everywhere! Mwuahahahahahaaaaa!
Sure, we've got the Liberals and the NDP. And we all know about the Green Party. But did you know that in BC there are FOURTY-FIVE political parties? Of course, they don't all have candidates in every riding, but FOURTY-FIVE!!! So, if you're not too happy about the Liberals or NDP, here are a few more options for you to take a look at, taken from the political parties page on the Elections BC website.
The Annexation Party of British Columbia
They wanna annex BC to the US, making it the 51st state.
The Communist Party of BC
Cause we all know how well THAT one worked out...
The Free Canadian Party (formerly known as the Bald Eagle Party)
errmm..... the Bald Eagle party?!?!
The Idealists Party
solidly rooted in reality?
The People of British Columbia Millionare's Party
Do we get a million bucks to join??? Oh yeah, and it's home base? GOLD RIVER!
The Work Less Party
Their slogans? "Alarm Clocks Kill Dreams" and "Workers of the world.... RELAX!"
Hmm... maybe they're on to something with that one...
Party Of Citizens Who Have Decided To Think For Themselves And Be Their Own Politicians
Now that's far too long a name. They prefer to go by the acronym POCWHDTTFTABTOP. No joke.
And what BC election campaign would be complete without these two:
The Sex Party
Their goal? TO create a more sex-positive culture. They want to, and I quote, "make society better and have fun doing it." Oh dear.
And of course, The BC Marijuana Party
"Overgrowing the Government"
Hmmm... I wonder what some of their platform might include? Well, we all know the basics, but what about some specific things they'd do if voted in? How about this one:
The BCMP will also make marijuana the official flora of B.C. We like the dogwood as much as anyone, but there is no denying that cannabis is the Province’s most recognized flower.
(well what do you expect from a party who's stoned most of the time?)
Sidenote: If you're a member of, candidate for, or believer in any of these parties that I'm rolling my eyes at, mocking, or being appalled at, just carry on. All this is is tongue-in-cheek amazement at the multitide of political parties I had no idea existed! Go democracy! Any old crack pot (even me!) could make a party! Perhaps I'll call mine "The Party That Was Created For the Sole Purpose of Being Number Fourty Six." All our dollar amounts will have $0.46 added to them. We'll run the province by the number 46! 46's everywhere! Mwuahahahahahaaaaa!
Saturday, April 23, 2005
In a bloggin' mood
Perhaps it's cause I have a mondo load of stuff to get done here at home tonight, but I think I'm in a typing mood.
Lots has been rolling around in my head lately. The biggest one is that I'm wondering if I will need to move in the next while. I really don't want to. I love my place, and my landlords are AWESOME. I really feel like it's a friendly neighbourhood around here. Chris and Michelle upstairs, of course. Liz accross the way, and Meta and Reinhardt, Julie and Sean, Christine and her son Desmond, etc... I've been here for over two and a half years. I can't believe it! It's really strange, cause this place feels more like home now than my parent's house. I'm settled here, I'm happy here.
Except.
Well, money is one thing. I live on my own, and so it's expensive. I keep thinking there's so many other things I could do with an extra 3 or 400 dollars a month. (Like buy a new car! My parents actually PHONED me yesterday cause they saw a car like mine dead on the side of the highway and so they called me to see if it was mine! You know it's bad when..... But I digress...)
The money is kind of a secondary issue, though. The main issue that would lead to me moving is something that I've been stewing on for a while.
I think I need to live with another person.
I'm getting far too used to doing things my own way. Honestly, I worry about what I'll be like when I get married (one day, hopefully sooner than later!). I'm so used to doing my own thing, not having to compomise with anyone, not having to work things out. I don't think it's healthy. I worry that I'm becoming too selfish.
But every time I think about moving, I wonder who I'd live with. I think of what a pain it will be to move this time. This is no college-style put-all-my-stuff-in-mom-and-dad's-van. It would be a pain. And so I'm torn. Stay here or look for another place? What to do, what to do?
Lots has been rolling around in my head lately. The biggest one is that I'm wondering if I will need to move in the next while. I really don't want to. I love my place, and my landlords are AWESOME. I really feel like it's a friendly neighbourhood around here. Chris and Michelle upstairs, of course. Liz accross the way, and Meta and Reinhardt, Julie and Sean, Christine and her son Desmond, etc... I've been here for over two and a half years. I can't believe it! It's really strange, cause this place feels more like home now than my parent's house. I'm settled here, I'm happy here.
Except.
Well, money is one thing. I live on my own, and so it's expensive. I keep thinking there's so many other things I could do with an extra 3 or 400 dollars a month. (Like buy a new car! My parents actually PHONED me yesterday cause they saw a car like mine dead on the side of the highway and so they called me to see if it was mine! You know it's bad when..... But I digress...)
The money is kind of a secondary issue, though. The main issue that would lead to me moving is something that I've been stewing on for a while.
I think I need to live with another person.
I'm getting far too used to doing things my own way. Honestly, I worry about what I'll be like when I get married (one day, hopefully sooner than later!). I'm so used to doing my own thing, not having to compomise with anyone, not having to work things out. I don't think it's healthy. I worry that I'm becoming too selfish.
But every time I think about moving, I wonder who I'd live with. I think of what a pain it will be to move this time. This is no college-style put-all-my-stuff-in-mom-and-dad's-van. It would be a pain. And so I'm torn. Stay here or look for another place? What to do, what to do?
Free Beer!
I was driving down to Kits this morning when this caught my eye:
Sodas Diner at 29th and Dunbar has got a great special on right now - they're offering FREE BEER! This special is only valid on certain days of the week, though....
Sodas Diner at 29th and Dunbar has got a great special on right now - they're offering FREE BEER! This special is only valid on certain days of the week, though....
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Liz is the bestest!
Just so all you out there know, Liz is the bestest. Last Wednesday she drove me around from gas station to gas station trying to find the goop to fix my tire enough to limp to the tire shop, and THEN she let me hang at her place after school so I didn't have to sit around at school by myself my the cold classroom before going to Bible Study. She even gave me yummy chips, an even yummier vanilla cream soda, and washed my lasagna bowl for me. WOW!
(there Liz, is that good?)
(there Liz, is that good?)
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Just another day in the life...
So. Monday I had a flat tire, and didn't have time to fix it for a few days, so I was taking the bus to work. On Wednesday, I decided I would just stay at school till it was time to go to Bible Study, instead of spending the entire evening bussing all over the city. I had a backpack full of stuff (marking, marks books, etc) that I was packing around with me, cause I didn't have my car. Now Wednesday I had started to feel gross again - my sore throat/cold/cough combo coming back to haunt me again. By the beginning of Bible Study I had decided that I was feeling icky enough that I needed to stay home the next day. There was only one snag. I had the quizzes that I was going to be giving the kids with me, and not at school, and some of the quiz was hand-written, so I couldn't email it. I was going to have to get up early, bus to school for 7am or so, do my photocopying and lay everything out for my sub, and then come home. That was not a particularily attractive option, especially since I had been sleeping really poorly the last week - Tues night I only got about 2.5 hours of sleep. But, it had to be done.
"Why don't you just fax in your day plan and the quizzes?" said my friend Laura, whose house we have Bible Study at. I told her I didn't have a fax machine, so she offered to lend me hers. Woohoo! I would actually get to sleep on Thursday!
So, Bible Study ended, and off I went with two other friends for the bus - purse, giant backpack, and basket with fax machine in hand. Me and my load got off one bus and transferred to another. About two minutes into the trip on the second bus, a horrific realization dawned on me...
I HAD LEFT MY PURSE ON THE OTHER BUS!!!
Here it was, nearly 11:30 at night, not the best part of town (not the worst, but not the best), and my purse was quickly headed far far away from me. I ran up to the driver and asked what a person would do if they had left a purse on the bus. He told me he'd call dispatch and have them radio out to all the #99 drivers and have them check. I gave him my number and told him to have them call me at any time of the day or night if they found anything.
I was horrified. I had EVERYTHING in there. My house keys, car keys, work keys. My credit cards, my checkbook, all my ID. My cell phone. My PALM PILOT. I was beginning to feel sick. I could replace the cards, but the phone? Maybe. But never the Palm. It was a grad gift, and I just couldn't afford to replace it. Yes, life was going to carry on, but how could I have been so irresponsible???
I raced home, thankful that I keep a spare key hidden. Sick, waaay overtired, and now this. I quickly began calling to cancel all my cards and my phone. "What am I gonna DO?" I messaged a few friends who were up late and asked them to pray that someone honest finds my purse. I began to bawl. (keep in mind my super-duper overtiredness here :P). And I still had to write out the detailed plan for my sub the next day, too.
As I was dealing with business, it dawned on me more and more how much was actually in there. Birth Certificate. SIN card. Keys, with my address in my palm. I would have to have my locks changed. My parent's keys, and their address still on my driver's licence. Would they have to change their locks, too? Thoughts of identity theft went through my head, and of all the money I'd have to pay to replace all my cards. How would I get new ID if I didn't have any ID to prove who I was? And on and on it went. I kept PLEADING with God that someone honest found my bag.
Having cancelled everything I needed to cancel for the time being, I started to write out my sub plan. I didn't have it finished and faxed off untill 3:30 am. I asked God to give me peace about it, and felt something, but I didn't know what. Wishful thinking? I didn't want to get my hopes up. I fell into bed, only to have worry and a massive coughing fit wake me up at 6:30 again.
What am I gonna do? What am I gonna DO? At about 7:30, I called my parents to tell them what happened, mostly just to warn them that their address and house keys were floating around out there somewhere. My dad was wonderful. He even offered to drive over and give me some cash to get me by till I got my new cards (as I now no longer had any access to my money. It's amazing what a bizzarre feeling that was).
I thought I would try one last resort. I called transit info and told them what had happened, and asked for the number of the lost propery office. The lady suggested that I try calling the depot first, as any lost property goes there first. So I called, and asked weakly if there had been a purse turned in last night. I gave a quick description, and the lady went to check. It seemed like forever before she came back to the phone.
"Does it have an umbrella in it?"
"Uhhh..... maybe." Of all the things in there, the umbrella was not what I was thinking about!
"What about a book... by Gary Paulsen?"
"HATCHET!!! Yes!"
She looked for the title. "Yep, Hatchet."
"That's it!! That's my purse! Is there a fat brown wallet in there?"
(rummaging) "Yes, it appears so."
"And a cell phone?" I asked, a little more cautiously.
"Yes."
OK. Go for the gusto, I thought. "What about a Palm Pilot... It's in a black leather case?"
"Yeah, it's silver coloured?"
I couldn't believe it. "YEAH!!! Oh my goodness, everything's there!!! How do I come and pick it up?"
The lady gave me directions, and as soon as I had hear from my TOC, I was ready to go. But how to pay for the bus? All I was able to dig up was $0.80. I tried knocking on my landlord's door to sheepishly ask to borrow a toonie, but no answer. So off I went, hoping I had a sympathetic bus driver. Thankfully, I did, and he let me on (maybe it was cause I looked so pathetic with my spare key and 80 cents made up of nickels and dimes! :P)
Anyway, I got to the depot, and signed for my bag! Yahooooo!!! A quick check told me everything was, in fact, there.
THANK YOU GOD!!! (I really should have trusted that feeling I had when I asked God for peace!)
I spent the rest of my day getting a new bank card, getting my tire fixed (which they did for FREE!), having lunch with my dad, and then having a looooong nap.
What can I say, I'm so glad that there are honest people out there, and that I have a God who's looking out for me, even when I do dumb things!
"Why don't you just fax in your day plan and the quizzes?" said my friend Laura, whose house we have Bible Study at. I told her I didn't have a fax machine, so she offered to lend me hers. Woohoo! I would actually get to sleep on Thursday!
So, Bible Study ended, and off I went with two other friends for the bus - purse, giant backpack, and basket with fax machine in hand. Me and my load got off one bus and transferred to another. About two minutes into the trip on the second bus, a horrific realization dawned on me...
I HAD LEFT MY PURSE ON THE OTHER BUS!!!
Here it was, nearly 11:30 at night, not the best part of town (not the worst, but not the best), and my purse was quickly headed far far away from me. I ran up to the driver and asked what a person would do if they had left a purse on the bus. He told me he'd call dispatch and have them radio out to all the #99 drivers and have them check. I gave him my number and told him to have them call me at any time of the day or night if they found anything.
I was horrified. I had EVERYTHING in there. My house keys, car keys, work keys. My credit cards, my checkbook, all my ID. My cell phone. My PALM PILOT. I was beginning to feel sick. I could replace the cards, but the phone? Maybe. But never the Palm. It was a grad gift, and I just couldn't afford to replace it. Yes, life was going to carry on, but how could I have been so irresponsible???
I raced home, thankful that I keep a spare key hidden. Sick, waaay overtired, and now this. I quickly began calling to cancel all my cards and my phone. "What am I gonna DO?" I messaged a few friends who were up late and asked them to pray that someone honest finds my purse. I began to bawl. (keep in mind my super-duper overtiredness here :P). And I still had to write out the detailed plan for my sub the next day, too.
As I was dealing with business, it dawned on me more and more how much was actually in there. Birth Certificate. SIN card. Keys, with my address in my palm. I would have to have my locks changed. My parent's keys, and their address still on my driver's licence. Would they have to change their locks, too? Thoughts of identity theft went through my head, and of all the money I'd have to pay to replace all my cards. How would I get new ID if I didn't have any ID to prove who I was? And on and on it went. I kept PLEADING with God that someone honest found my bag.
Having cancelled everything I needed to cancel for the time being, I started to write out my sub plan. I didn't have it finished and faxed off untill 3:30 am. I asked God to give me peace about it, and felt something, but I didn't know what. Wishful thinking? I didn't want to get my hopes up. I fell into bed, only to have worry and a massive coughing fit wake me up at 6:30 again.
What am I gonna do? What am I gonna DO? At about 7:30, I called my parents to tell them what happened, mostly just to warn them that their address and house keys were floating around out there somewhere. My dad was wonderful. He even offered to drive over and give me some cash to get me by till I got my new cards (as I now no longer had any access to my money. It's amazing what a bizzarre feeling that was).
I thought I would try one last resort. I called transit info and told them what had happened, and asked for the number of the lost propery office. The lady suggested that I try calling the depot first, as any lost property goes there first. So I called, and asked weakly if there had been a purse turned in last night. I gave a quick description, and the lady went to check. It seemed like forever before she came back to the phone.
"Does it have an umbrella in it?"
"Uhhh..... maybe." Of all the things in there, the umbrella was not what I was thinking about!
"What about a book... by Gary Paulsen?"
"HATCHET!!! Yes!"
She looked for the title. "Yep, Hatchet."
"That's it!! That's my purse! Is there a fat brown wallet in there?"
(rummaging) "Yes, it appears so."
"And a cell phone?" I asked, a little more cautiously.
"Yes."
OK. Go for the gusto, I thought. "What about a Palm Pilot... It's in a black leather case?"
"Yeah, it's silver coloured?"
I couldn't believe it. "YEAH!!! Oh my goodness, everything's there!!! How do I come and pick it up?"
The lady gave me directions, and as soon as I had hear from my TOC, I was ready to go. But how to pay for the bus? All I was able to dig up was $0.80. I tried knocking on my landlord's door to sheepishly ask to borrow a toonie, but no answer. So off I went, hoping I had a sympathetic bus driver. Thankfully, I did, and he let me on (maybe it was cause I looked so pathetic with my spare key and 80 cents made up of nickels and dimes! :P)
Anyway, I got to the depot, and signed for my bag! Yahooooo!!! A quick check told me everything was, in fact, there.
THANK YOU GOD!!! (I really should have trusted that feeling I had when I asked God for peace!)
I spent the rest of my day getting a new bank card, getting my tire fixed (which they did for FREE!), having lunch with my dad, and then having a looooong nap.
What can I say, I'm so glad that there are honest people out there, and that I have a God who's looking out for me, even when I do dumb things!
Reunited!
Monday, April 11, 2005
BIttersweet thoughts
Bitter:
I think I"m gonna start leaving my car unlocked from now on. And I'll post instructions on how to hotwire it. AND how to actually get it into drive. Then maybe someone will steal it, total it, and I'll get some money for that hunk'o'junk and start over. The beastmobile has yet another issue, which means I'll have to take the bus to work tomorrow. And then worry about finding hte time to get it fixed. It's a flat tire, no biggie, really, but come ON. I wouldn't be so frustrated if the flat tire wasn't preceded by a bazillion other things. Oh well, it could be a lot worse.
Sweet:
My nextdoor neighbour Julie knocked on my door tonight at 11:30, cause her husband got home from grocery shopping and noticed I had a flat. She wanted to let me know soI wouldn't be surprised in the morning when I went out to my car. How sweet is that? And I'm especially grateful for that, seeing as I've been getting out the door really late these days and only arriving at school maybe 5 mins before the bell. I'd be late for sure if that happened tomorrow. I am really fortunate to live where I do. My landlords are awesome (I don't even really like to refer to them as landlords - they're friends). Who has landlords who bring you down homemade soup and homemade mint tea when you're home sick? And Shawn and Julie next door are super nice, too. There are 3 or 4 other households on my block who are really friendly, too. It's funny, I'm right here in the middle of the city, and it still has a neighbourhood feel to it. Sweet.
Thoughts:
Even as I write this, I'm reminded about the fact that it's not about our stuff, but about people. It's so easy to get caught up in stuff - what I have, or what I have to DO - and let people get pushed aside. I want to keep making relationship-building a priority. After all, Jesus didn't get all worked up about the annoyances of daily life (like a clunkermobile), he came for PEOPLE. I want to be better at being like that.
I think I"m gonna start leaving my car unlocked from now on. And I'll post instructions on how to hotwire it. AND how to actually get it into drive. Then maybe someone will steal it, total it, and I'll get some money for that hunk'o'junk and start over. The beastmobile has yet another issue, which means I'll have to take the bus to work tomorrow. And then worry about finding hte time to get it fixed. It's a flat tire, no biggie, really, but come ON. I wouldn't be so frustrated if the flat tire wasn't preceded by a bazillion other things. Oh well, it could be a lot worse.
Sweet:
My nextdoor neighbour Julie knocked on my door tonight at 11:30, cause her husband got home from grocery shopping and noticed I had a flat. She wanted to let me know soI wouldn't be surprised in the morning when I went out to my car. How sweet is that? And I'm especially grateful for that, seeing as I've been getting out the door really late these days and only arriving at school maybe 5 mins before the bell. I'd be late for sure if that happened tomorrow. I am really fortunate to live where I do. My landlords are awesome (I don't even really like to refer to them as landlords - they're friends). Who has landlords who bring you down homemade soup and homemade mint tea when you're home sick? And Shawn and Julie next door are super nice, too. There are 3 or 4 other households on my block who are really friendly, too. It's funny, I'm right here in the middle of the city, and it still has a neighbourhood feel to it. Sweet.
Thoughts:
Even as I write this, I'm reminded about the fact that it's not about our stuff, but about people. It's so easy to get caught up in stuff - what I have, or what I have to DO - and let people get pushed aside. I want to keep making relationship-building a priority. After all, Jesus didn't get all worked up about the annoyances of daily life (like a clunkermobile), he came for PEOPLE. I want to be better at being like that.
This is why I love the West Coast...
Some friends and I went on a hike on Saturday to Norvan Falls. It was awesome!
^ There used to be a mill along the trail. All along there are old artifacts - buckets, shovel heads, old machinery, but the forest is slowly taking over again. In one place there was the frame of an old cart or trolley. Two trees had grown up through it, and had begun growing around the old metal frame. I wish I had taken a picture of it!
^ Signs of Spring
^ The falls were pretty spectacular. Some of us crossed the swollen creek (jumping from slippery rock to slippery rock - I'm amazed nobody fell in!) to get a better view - you couldn't see the bottom of the falls from the trail side.
^ It's scenes like this that jsut put me in awe of where I live. Wow. Wow wow wow.
^ There used to be a mill along the trail. All along there are old artifacts - buckets, shovel heads, old machinery, but the forest is slowly taking over again. In one place there was the frame of an old cart or trolley. Two trees had grown up through it, and had begun growing around the old metal frame. I wish I had taken a picture of it!
^ Signs of Spring
^ The falls were pretty spectacular. Some of us crossed the swollen creek (jumping from slippery rock to slippery rock - I'm amazed nobody fell in!) to get a better view - you couldn't see the bottom of the falls from the trail side.
^ It's scenes like this that jsut put me in awe of where I live. Wow. Wow wow wow.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Update
Yesterday I talked to the friend I was talking about in my "So Close" post, because I wanted to invite her to the Alpha Course my church is starting up next week. There have been SO many times I've been in church and have jsut thought, "ARG! If only she was here!" I want so badly for her to have the opportunity to keep seeking answers to the questions she's asking. I hope that someday soon she is going to be a part of God's family, and I can't wait!!!
Aaanyway... I called to invite her to Alpha. I told her what it was, and she was like, "YES! I want to go to that!" Unfortunately, she can't go to this course, but she told me to tell her as soon as there's another one starting up! (It's funny, even knowing what I know about where she's at, it STILL took me a while to get up the nerve to ask her. Sheesh!) As soon as what she's busy with now is done, we're SO there! :D WOOHOO!
Aaanyway... I called to invite her to Alpha. I told her what it was, and she was like, "YES! I want to go to that!" Unfortunately, she can't go to this course, but she told me to tell her as soon as there's another one starting up! (It's funny, even knowing what I know about where she's at, it STILL took me a while to get up the nerve to ask her. Sheesh!) As soon as what she's busy with now is done, we're SO there! :D WOOHOO!
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
YAY for God!!!
So I got more good news today. Man, I am once again SOOO blown away by God's provision for me. I simply cannot be worried about money/my job after the way he's shown Himself faithful time and time again. So what's this have to do with today, you ask?
Well, for the past 3 or 4 years, the school board has been laying off teachers below a certain level of seniority at the end of the school year. Mostly it's just to reshuffle people, and to make sure that people with highest seniority get the jobs, I suppose, but still it sucks for newer teachers (like me!) cause we get laid off, and often can't stay at the same school. It's hard when teachers have to move around all the time to build up consistency, get to know the kids/staff, etc. Now right from the start God has had his hand in my job. I got hired my first September of teaching, and even though I got laid off last year, I ended up back at the same school this year, AND with a full time assignment! :D
So of course, this is the time of year when the budget comes out, and everybody starts wondering about layoffs again. I still don't have enough seniority to 'escape' layoffs if they should happen. Well, the board came out with it's preliminary budget today, and guess what.... NO LAYOFFS!!! That means that I get to keep my job next year! I'm SOOOO happy about that! I'm finally starting to get to know all the kids (all 600 of them!) and I'm starting to feel like I actually have somewhat of a handle on what I'm doing. Plus, I LOVE my school. I get to stay!!! My assignment will look a little different, but most likely I'll even be able to stay at full time.
I just marvel at this, cause it's SO hard to get a contract these days it seems. Here I am, it's my second year of teaching, and I've been at the same school for both years, now I get to stay! PLUS, even if there are layoffs next year, I might have enough seniority to not be laid off. (I can't help but feel a little guilty about it, though, cause there are lots of teachers out there who have been trying for so long to get contracts.) I'm really grateful for what I've got!
Thanks God! Your timing and your mercy continue to amaze me! :D
Well, for the past 3 or 4 years, the school board has been laying off teachers below a certain level of seniority at the end of the school year. Mostly it's just to reshuffle people, and to make sure that people with highest seniority get the jobs, I suppose, but still it sucks for newer teachers (like me!) cause we get laid off, and often can't stay at the same school. It's hard when teachers have to move around all the time to build up consistency, get to know the kids/staff, etc. Now right from the start God has had his hand in my job. I got hired my first September of teaching, and even though I got laid off last year, I ended up back at the same school this year, AND with a full time assignment! :D
So of course, this is the time of year when the budget comes out, and everybody starts wondering about layoffs again. I still don't have enough seniority to 'escape' layoffs if they should happen. Well, the board came out with it's preliminary budget today, and guess what.... NO LAYOFFS!!! That means that I get to keep my job next year! I'm SOOOO happy about that! I'm finally starting to get to know all the kids (all 600 of them!) and I'm starting to feel like I actually have somewhat of a handle on what I'm doing. Plus, I LOVE my school. I get to stay!!! My assignment will look a little different, but most likely I'll even be able to stay at full time.
I just marvel at this, cause it's SO hard to get a contract these days it seems. Here I am, it's my second year of teaching, and I've been at the same school for both years, now I get to stay! PLUS, even if there are layoffs next year, I might have enough seniority to not be laid off. (I can't help but feel a little guilty about it, though, cause there are lots of teachers out there who have been trying for so long to get contracts.) I'm really grateful for what I've got!
Thanks God! Your timing and your mercy continue to amaze me! :D
Monday, April 04, 2005
So what's the point...
... of this blog? I've been thinking lately that I don't really have a 'theme' or a general purpose for what I post here.
Some write political commentaries. YAWN (sorry if you're a political commentator, it's not my thing! :p)
Some write deep, introspective, journals of their deepest doubts and fears and dreams. I don't think I want to share those kind of things about myself with the world in general.
Some write to keep friends up to date on all their exotic adventures. Maybe one day.... ;)
Me? I just write random stuff. Post a picture. Share a joke. Tell a story. Maybe people read it, maybe not. But here ya go. It's me! Random snipits into my life - what I'm thinking and who I am. Not trying to impress anyone here! I guess that's a purpose in and of itself. (maye it's just a place for me to yabber on... hee hee hee!) What can I say, sometimes I feel like being deep, sometimes I don't! :P
Some write political commentaries. YAWN (sorry if you're a political commentator, it's not my thing! :p)
Some write deep, introspective, journals of their deepest doubts and fears and dreams. I don't think I want to share those kind of things about myself with the world in general.
Some write to keep friends up to date on all their exotic adventures. Maybe one day.... ;)
Me? I just write random stuff. Post a picture. Share a joke. Tell a story. Maybe people read it, maybe not. But here ya go. It's me! Random snipits into my life - what I'm thinking and who I am. Not trying to impress anyone here! I guess that's a purpose in and of itself. (maye it's just a place for me to yabber on... hee hee hee!) What can I say, sometimes I feel like being deep, sometimes I don't! :P
Friday, April 01, 2005
Fill in the blank
I like big ____ and I cannot lie, you other brothers can't deny......
Well, you may be thinking "butts" and you'd be right... unless of course, you're listening to this, er... "holier" remix (click the title below to hear)...
Beware - it's sooo cheesy, yet so funny at the same time...
Well, you may be thinking "butts" and you'd be right... unless of course, you're listening to this, er... "holier" remix (click the title below to hear)...
Beware - it's sooo cheesy, yet so funny at the same time...
Thanks to the folks over at 'Church Friends' for the link :p
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