One More Year Down. . .

many more to go. The good news is - - IT'S FINALLY SUMMER, WOO-HOO! Some good news for next year. I still have a job, whew! More good news possibly will come in July. I'm not suppose to say anything, but how can I not with something so exciting? If all goes well, I will be a Dean of Students over discipline. I am excited, yet hesitant at the same time. If we have the same principal as last year (because he is now talking like he will be coming back next year) I will be under the biggest magnifying glass in the world. I am really looking forward to this opportunity and hope that all will go well. I have noticed I do a lot of hoping. Maybe I look to the future a little to much and am not engaged in the present enough. I will have to work on that, this SUMMER! Ahhhhhh, beautiful summer!

One More Day!

One more day left until summer officially begins! Eeeeeeek! I asked Leland last night what the plan was for Monday, being Memorial Day and all, since I had nothing planned. Number one thing to do on the list, sleep-in. That's right ladies and gentlemen, sleep-in. I am so grateful that sleeping in is on the list of things to do. The rest of the day I have no clue what we are going to do, but at least the morning is taken care of. I may just go work out after I wake up. I can begin my summer workout ritual. I hope I am able to continue my plan without getting burned out too quickly. Run to the gym (3 miles away), do a little weight training, then run home. I will hit 6 miles a day. My goal for this year running is to be able to run a 10K with no problems. I know I could run a 10K, but without problems is the big thing for me. No tight hips or hurting tendons in my left foot and definitely, no slow-almost walking jogs. It's a tough goal to reach in just two and half months, but I can do it. It will be really nice to be able to go to Utah and run three to four miles without dying in the altitude.

Today the kiddos are taking their Science finals. I am usually in one of the classrooms administering an exam, but when I looked at the list, my name was nowhere to be found. So this is my schedule for Thursday: 0 period - nothing, 1st period - nothing, 2nd period- nothing, 3rd period- nothing, 4th period- nothing. Then the kiddos go home. Then I have my contract meeting at 1pm. I am wondering if there is something else in the plans for me though. I know books are starting to be returned today so I wonder, hmmm. . . Whatever it is, I hope I am able to get it done in a satisfactory manner. Isn't that a killer schedule? In the good way of course. I mean, how often do you go into work and realize there is nothing to do? There is always something that needs to be done. Right now with athletics over and no more classes to teach and grade finalized I can only think of one thing to do, review my ILD/PDAS training books and prepare for my meeting. Also, with nothing to do and my meeting ahead I have plenty of time to think about it and drive myself crazy with the "what if's". So no thinking about it. None whatsoever. The bell just rang, gotta get to the hall patrol. =0)

The end of the school year is approaching. Only four more half-days left. The middle school kiddos are getting excited, the high school kiddos are starting to panic. It's fun watching the kids and thinking back to the times when I was in those grades at the end of the year. The only difference between the kids I teach and myself is that I never really panicked about anything. NOW the kids are starting to fret about not getting the credits they need to graduate. It's the last week of school! If you were worried about not graduating or getting the credits you need so your not held back a year (or in some cases another year) then you should have been doing your work and asking for help all year long. There is a student in the 8th grade that failed 8th last year. So this his second time going through the 8th grade and it looks like he is going to repeat it for the third time. In two of his classes he would have to make over 100% in order to pass his classes and go on to 9th grade. I remember talking to this kid before school started and he seemed to be very remorseful and was ready to make a change for the better and get out of middle school. His actions this year totally contradict what he said he was going to do. He fell right back into his old games even after I pulled him aside several times to help him. From what I know, I am not the only one that has done that and his parents are at a loss as to what to do too. How do you get through to a kid that just doesn't care and thinks he doesn't need to graduate high school in order to be successful? It's a sad situation. Maybe after this year he will realize what he needs to do because no one is going to fall for his stuff again and all is friends will be in high school while he is still in middle school. That would embarass the heck out of me! It's ultimately his choice and all I can do try to help him see the light. It's tiring trying to do this day in and day out with more than one student every day.

Enough talk about work, on to life. This past weekend was a lot of fun. On Saturday I went to the annual Border Patrol volleyball tournament out near Bracketville, TX. I went with my friend to cheer on her husband. It was a a very relaxing day. I shouldn't have been, but I was a little taken aback that the people we trust to protect our borders from terrorists, drugs, and other illegal substances are so high school and petty in their thinking and drink alcohol like there is no tomorrow. I know it's their day off and stuff like that, but have a little more self control so you don't look like an idiot like a lot of the men and women ended up looking like. I won't dwell on that sunject. It was nice spending time with a friend and watching drunk people try to play volleyball. But I like the time with the friend more.

I am getting more and more excited about my summer plans. I can't wait to take some time away from SA and Texas in general. I love my state and I am full of Texan Pride, but sometimes you just need to get away. It's Disney in two weeks, Girls Camp in a month and a half, and Utah in two months. I can't wait! It's going to go by really fast, but summer is almost here and I am so excited!

Ten Years From Now...

One of my friends had the whole "Where do you see yourself in ten years?" question on her blog. I thought that was a good thing to think about. I, at this point in time in my life, can't even begin to imagine where I will be in ten years. I thought I had it all planned out when I graduated high school that I would be happily engaged by time I graduated from college and have my perfect job driving the perfect truck and ready for my life to really begin. What did I actually have at that time? A Grand Prix, no job, no boyfriend (didn't even have any dates that whole time), no money, and was getting ready to start grad school. Not what I thought would happen by time I was out of college. Then the next year I was moving to SA to finish grad school and start a whole new life. Since then my life has been nothing like I planned. My life has had so many twists and turns that I feel like I could never get back to my starting point. So for me to answer the question "Where will you be ten years from now?" is impossible. I really can't imagine or begin to think where I will be. I hope in ten years that I will have a beautiful family, running kids from activity to activity, living in a house, and just being the best darn wife and mom that I can be. Who really knows what the future holds. I just want to focus on the here and now and find joy in the journey. Then I look back in ten years and see that my life was nothing like I had ever planned it to be =0)

The Real Story

So I called the DA's office and HEB this morning to find out what really happened. HEB got everything from my Wells Fargo account straightened out. So dodged a bullet there. Little did I know that the theivers had used checks from an account at Guaranty that I had closed way back in August. HEB sent the notices but I never received them. Because I never received them and couldn't send fraud reports about them HEB sent everything to the DA. So, it's not HEB's fault (good thing, because I would have stopped shopping there and I can't turn my back on HEB. I love them too much) but instead the United States Postal Service. Yes, that's right, I am blaming the government (it's always their fault anyway)! I don't know why the post office did not forward my stuff, but I am going to have a little talk with them about it. Next on my hit list, snail mail. No more snail mail for me thank you very much! Everything will be electronic or fax or phone call. So there USPS, you get nothing from me! =0)

Jail Time?

So I might either be arrested or I might have to pay over $600 in charges because HEB messed up somewhere. Remember when my car was stolen? Well, the theivers used a few of my checks and a few days after that I started receiving the letters from HEB that I owed them a ton of money. We called HEB and told them that all the checks that had been written were fraudulently done. They sent the paperwork and I sent it all back with everything they asked for. Friday night I received a letter from the DA that I have ten days to pay or I will be arrested. What the heck happened? I know I sent in all the proper paperwork because I spent an hour at FedEx Office (Kinko's for those of you who didn't know the new name) making copies, checking all paperwork and making sure the proper forms went to the proper addresses. I know I sent it out and got it there before the deadline, unless the mail was moving slow. Which, by the way, I think the mail is moving really, really slow in my part of town because it's taking four days to get mail that is sent locally from within San Antonio to another San Antonio address. I don't get it. Just when I thought everything had been worked out and I was free of this mess a new situation pops up that I have to fight against. What can be learned from this experience? I don't know yet, maybe it's so I become this great victim's rights activist and change the way victims of crimes are treated. Hmmmmmm? Nah, but there is something to this whole mess, I just hope I can figure it out before it's too late. It may be time to practice my mug shots ;) I should really smile and make them tell me straight face then give them "I'm mad" or "I don't wanna" attitude and smile anyway.

Character

What ever happened to trying to build character and teach about responsibility and consequences? Last night at my kiddos soccer game I only played eight players at the beginning of the game because of kids who had missed practice or had some behavioral issues during the school day that day. We were down 2-0 and a parent comes up to me during the game (and btw what makes parents think they can interrupt a coach during a game?) telling me that I was three players short on the field. I told him I knew we were and there was a reason and went on to explain that we had some behavior issues at school and kids who missed practice so they were not starting the game. My kiddos are reminded everyday that if I catch them or my assistant coach catches them doing anything that they know they should not be doing they will suffer the consequences which include but are not limited to sitting out of a game until I decide they can go in. Another rule is that you show up to practices in order to play. You can't play until you know what is going on. So, I explain this to the parent and told him it was explained to the kids and they understood and accepted it. He then tries to say that I am teaching them to lose if that is what I am doing. "Shouldn't you want them to win?" Of course I want my kiddos to win, but in a first year program in which over 3/4 of the team had never touched a soccer ball in their lives until they were at try-outs in March the goal is not to win but to focus on the improvement of the players and give them the opportunity to improve. I also explained that the student-athletes are the examples in the school and if they go without consequences then the rest of the team and the rest of the students in the school would think it's okay for them to do the same things. This parent just didn't get it. The parent in this situation also allowed his son to miss four weeks of the season without a reason and thought his kid would automatically start. I really don't care about the amount of "W"'s we have. I care about the personal growth and development of my athletes. A lot of my kids come from poverty and don't get the support or character building opportunities that being in a sport can offer. Kids today also think that they can do whatever they want and there are no consequences for their actions since their parents are more into being a friend than being a parent or they just aren't around and leave the kids to their own defenses. I feel it is my responsibility to teach these kids more than just win, win, win. I can guarantee those players that did not play because of behavior reasons will give a second thought to their actions, or just wait until they think I am not looking ;) Seriously, parents or future parents that read this, please teach your kids about taking responsibility and accepting whatever consequences come, and support your kiddos teachers/coaches/mentors (if they are teaching correct principles). It's a hard battle that is fought everyday within the walls of a school and the playing field. A little character goes a long way.

In other life events school is finally winding down, but getting busier. The past two weeks have been full of soccer games and practices, middle school dance, play-offs, international and multicultural fair, fundraiser, sixth grade field trip, and an end-of-the-year soccer party. I have also had to try to get my teaching folder finished. I don't understand why I need to do a teaching folder every year. I don't teach a different subject every year like some of the other teachers. Why can't I just add a supplemental portion with the changes from year to year? I think all the folders should be on a departmental level and just add to it every year. Why does every teacher need to make a new one every year? If you ask the admin about it they never give an answer. While on that note, why is it that admins never give you a straight answer but expect you to give them a detailed answer when they ask you a question? Even better, we are evaluated on our promptness and timeliness of answering admin e-mails. I will have points deducted from my evaluation if I do not answer an e-mail right away (then get a memo about answering e-mails during class time) but the admin can wait two weeks after an answer is needed to reply and not get anything deducted from their evaluations because they don't get evaluated. The admin does not take feedback from the teachers or parents and if either group does suggest something that could better the school or make things easier, then they either fall on deaf ears or get the eye-roll, or the suggestion is taken in but since it wasn't their idea they won't bother with it until it is their idea. And where is the credit when credit is due? On the admin. Grrrrrr! Can you tell I am a little passionate about this right now? I know I will be grilled about what I added to the school environment and then told I didn't do enough or I didn't have any new ideas. If I hear that I think I might have a nervous breakdown right there in the meeting. Ahhhhh! Sorry, tangent. But I guess this does have to deal with character. The true colors come flying through the air when we are in tense situations. In a couple of weeks we shall see what my true character is. Will I come through with vibrant full colors or will I dull and blend in with the back ground, hmmmmm?

Summer and Some Stuff

It's almost here! The end of the school year is so close right now. Three weeks and it's time for some real vacation. I think it's been about a year since I had a real vacation and I can't wait for this one! I will finally catch up on sleep, have time to hit the gym again (and lose the 15lbs I've gained since last August), and keep up with all the cleaning in the apartment. This summer is going to be the busiest summer since 2007 when I took 15hrs of grad school. In June Leland and I will be heading off to Florida to go to Disneyworld, land (whichever is in Florida) and to visit my great aunt and uncle. Then in July I have girl's camp and then we are hitting up Utah so I can meet the rest of his family and experience a real Pioneer Day celebration. I have never been to Utah and I always told myself I would never go, but it looks like I have to since my in-laws live up there. Wait, so do I need a passport or anything to go to Utah? I may have to research that one (haha!). Then when August rolls back around school starts up again. I am so excited for this summer and what a break it will really be for me. Ahhh, summer.

On the weekend news, I ran the Race for the Cure on Saturday. About mile two I started to die, but pushed my way to the finish line. I found it a little odd that out of everyone in the group I finished first. I have not really run and worked out since December (because of the whole mono thing and not feeling safe at the gym anymore since my car was stolen) and the rest of my compadres had been working out and eating healthy and all that jazz. I really don't understand how I could have out-run them. It was funny listening to them talk. One person like to run this thing with me because I am her pacer. She loves to sprint about a quarter of a mile then take it easy to recover and when I finally catch up to her she takes off again. Another person told herself that as long as she could stay with me for the first mile she would be happy. She would also follow me through the throngs of people everywhere since I was so good at cutting through them all. She was so happy that she was able to keep up with me for a mile and half, until she stopped for a few seconds to listen to a mariachi band and when she finally looked back up, I was nowhere to be found. I really thought that everyone would catch up and eventually pass me since I was so out of shape, but no one did. I know I still have a long way to go, but I also have all summer to do it.

Oh, finally have my pictures taken off my camera from the past few events, but they are one Leland's computer so I can't really get to them right now. AS soon as I can, they will be posted here. Keep a lookout, they are coming =0)