Thursday, September 24, 2009

Anywhere in the world - Writer's Workshop

Another Thusday and another Writer's Workshop.

If I could go anywhere in the world....since I was able to see many places in the two years I was in Germany, there aren't too many other places I would like to go. Did you believe that? You shouldn't have!!! I would love to see many of the same place I went to before but I'd also like to go to a few others.

Some of those places I'd love to re-visit are:
Tallinn, Estonia because it was just filled with medieval looks. I loved it.


Another place I would love to re-visit would be Paris....I LOVE PARIS. Paris c'est une tres belle ville! Elle est magnifique!


I'd love to go back to Switzerland. I think going back in the summer would be fun, but I'd love to see it in the winter as well. Here's a shot of a waterfall.

And here's the Mt. I climbed:


And the last place I'd love to re-visit is Ireland. Anywhere there. It's all great After my twelve days of driving through the country, I couldn't get enough of it. Here's the Cliffs of Moher.


Now as for the places that I'd love to visit...I wanna go to Australia. I now have friends living there. It would be great to and travel around down-under in Oz. I wanna see some Kangaroos, which I've heard are just nuisances. Crazy I know.

And I'd love to go to Rome. Denmark, The Netherlands, and Lebanon. You're probably thinking....I can understand Rome, Denmark, and Holland, but...Lebanon? Well, I'm part Lebanese and I've always been curious about that part of my heritage. But that country has been in War for all of my life and I'm not sure that I would feel comfy going there. But I'd love to. I am related to a fairly famous philosopher/writer from there. It'd be cool if I could meet any of the family.

There you have it. My wishes.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Threats

Yep so today I was at a school subbing. All was going well until one little stinker threatened to shoot me. Yes, I said shoot me! He made those lovely gun sounds and pointed his fingers at me and used colored pencils that were inside the desk to pretend it was a gun and shoot me through the desk!

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! And he was only in 3rd grade. Man I love teaching! It's always full of surprises. Needless to say I sent that little sucker back to his class and spoke to the Asst. Principal about him. Apparently he's already on their radar screen and had spoken to the principal this morning. Goodness me! In all my years of teaching and 6 of them were at a school with kids just as rough and tough...none of them openly threatened me!

I wasn't scared, I mean, he was being a snide little SOB but....I wasn't scared. I just WAS! Ok...all is good now.

I'm home. Actually I'm gonna get off of here and change so that I can make it to my karate class. I need to go! Work off some of the stress from the day!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Reflections

So I had a fine weekend. Then I was sitting yesterday and I was getting sad. Yes sad. I don't know what it really was. Was I sad, afraid, angry, what? I am just not sure.

Then I saw this and I was reminded that the small things in life are so great!

Thanks Summer for reminding me of that!

And just now, I was called to sub for a school...I had to turn them down, because I am already booked! Kind of nice! But a little sad. I would love to sub at that school. My former school!

Happy Monday!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Fall Favorites - Writer's Workshop

It's been a long time since I've done one of Mama Kat's writing prompts. I have been out of sorts lately, guess that's why.

Ok, so some of my fall favorites (although I won't get to enjoy them this year as I'm in the desert now):

1. The changing color of leaves. I have a friend who lives in Vermont and she calls the folks who drive up there to watch the changing of the leaves "leaf peepers" I love that! I want to be a "leaf peeper." One of these days I will go and hang with her in Vermont and peep at those leaves during the fall!

2. The smell that is in the air. Usually that's attributed to the leaves as well. But the crispness the starts to come out that you can just smell.

3. The way people's demeanor changes. It usually gets nicer. It's like during springtime as well. When the weather warms up after a long winter people get nicer. And vice versa...when the summer heat starts to cool down it's when people start to get nicer as well. You've gotta love that!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Got Work?

I do!!!! I am so excited that I am finally going to be filling my days up! I only worked a half day today, but that made me feel so much better! I work a half day tomorrow as well. Then I have work all day on Friday, Monday thru Thursday (so far) of next week. Yippeeee!!! It's so exciting.

And the cool thing about it all is that although I'm subbing, I have this nice feeling about it all. I don't have to creat sub plans and I don't have to grade anything or do report cards. Wow! It feels kind of freeing. Plus I don't have to go to the mtgs!!! Now, I would trade with anyone of the teachers, don't get me wrong. I don't have benefits with subbing and I don't have as much money coming my way, but...that's ok. At least money will be coming IN finally! Although after yesterday's air conditioning fix....a lot of what will be coming in will be going OUT!!!

Another kinda cool thing about subbing is that I finally get to see what the other schools are like. I worked in the same school for 6 yrs when I worked for the district and I only ever saw another school if we had a mtg there. And then it was only the multipurpose room. But now...I will be seeing loads of different schools and some I've never even been to before.

So I'm doing what I want to do - teach - but I'm doing it in a different way. I subbed 10 years ago when I was fresh from the farm (right out of college) but I was young and didn't really know what I was doing!

Anyway...I'm just elated to be working. It's such a nice feeling! I hope that everyone is good and that you are having good luck in work!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Home ownership

Ok, so sometimes being a homeowner really bites the big one! My A/C was acting up the other day. It was emitting some smoke into my house. NOT GOOD! I promptly turned it off and checked to see what was up. I couldn't find anything. I got the smoke aired out. The smell was rancid. I then turned off the A/C for the night. Luckily the temp was comfy enough to have the windows open that night. Then I turned on the A/C yesterday thnking....ok, well maybe it'll be fine now. It was for awhile. But then I went to the store and when I came back there was that horrible smell again. I called someone!

They came today. Checked me out. Apparently the A/C unit is 30 years old (the bloody original unit that was put in the condo) and it where the condensation is supposed to go...it's not. The plate or whatever is all rusted through now and so the condensation is running down to the fan. Which is why the smoke and smell! Ugh!!!

So...the plus side is that I might have a little less energy being used by getting the new unit put in. And there is a lifetime warranty...whose though? Mine? The guy that sold it to me? Whatever. But the guys can come and tear out my old unit and put in a new one today...TODAY! Thankfully the temps outside are reasonable lately. The downside is the pice tag that comes along with this new unit.

But I suppose that it's a good thing all in all. The unit DOES need to be updated and hopefully it'll be better and all. I guess that I'll just have to wait and see.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Saga

Sorry I've been gone for so long. It's been a crazy time. My computer went kaput! I ordered a battery thinking that was the problem. But then it wasn't. I thought that the power source was the problem then, but that didn't work out. So...I ended up with a whole new computer. But...that was just way more than I wanted to be spending for the moment. Hopefully it will all be taken care of.

I have now put in for subbing at two different private schools and the main district out here. I hope to be getting some jobs soon. That would be nice. A check would be fabulous.

Anyway....and then to top it all off, I got a letter from a collection agency asking for money that I do not owe. It is apparently from the storage unit company I had used while in Germany. I had paid for that unit in full for the 2 yrs. I left it clean and didn't owe them any money. I didn't get any letters from the storage unit company asking for money. I have only gotten something from this collection agency. They didn't even tell why I owe money. Ugh! I have sent them a letter disputing the claim. I hope they actually look into th claim. But they probably won't and then I'll have to deal with more crazy stuff. Ugh!

Ok...enough of that. It's depressing. I'm just trying to prepare myself for what might be.

Happy Labor Day Weekend all! Have a great one!