Maybe I should update, huh?
First of all, my computer at home sucks. Literally. The pages don't load, you get kicked off all the time, it runs so slow, blahblahblah. Well, I called Comcast today and they want something close to about $200 to install wireless internet throughout the house. I could go out and buy the stuff to hook it up and get someone to do it for me (and I would pay them too--just not $200, I don't have that kind of money) and it would be cheaper but who wants to drive all the way out here, hook up my computer, fuck around with this piece of shit, and the have to drive all the way back to the city? Yeah, that's what I thought....
Second, this summer has been a blast. Cate and I were just talking about the fact that every summer we plan all this shit and then when August hits, we're like, "Where the hell did the time go?!" I think what is making this one great is that we're both at home and we both HATE staying in so we're always moving. I don't think I've been home on a weekend since, well, I can remember.
I think I've gone to more Sox games this year than I have in the past 3 or 4 years. And with good reason! They're having a great season, the games are fun, and Cate lives so damn close to Sox Park, there's no reason NOT to go. Not to mention Rowand, Posdenik, and Garland! haha
The softball season ended last night with a win (thank God or Kevin would have killed us). I suck so basically I was made extra hitter but yesterday I had a nice line drive. Quite proud of myself for that one. Actually, I was quite proud of myself for actually playing because when I was 7, I only swung the bat once, goofed off in the outfield, and hated every minute of it (well, except the cheers from the dugout). If I remember correctly, at the end of the season, my dad looked at me and said, "I think you should just stick to cheerleading." But nonetheless, we had a hilarious time playing. It was a great group of people Lally got together. How about the "Loose V's and small p's?!" Oh man did we suck but we made the most of it...
The wedding has come and gone. I can't believe that's already over and Chris is no longer a Malnarick. I freaked out during my reading about the gazelle, stuttered a bit, couldn't look at Cate, Chris, Dave or Joe, and had the terrible shakes. But I did see Jimmy staring at me with his tongue out (thanks for that one Cate). The reception was fun (from what I remember) and Silver Lakes was a really pretty place to have it. Just to let you all know, I was well behaved and in rare form that night (HAHA right). Actually, Cate and I took shots, danced the night away, and ran around like little kids. Basically a typical night out for the both of us only this time we were all dressed up...
Next weekend I'm going to Indianapolis for another wedding. Everyone's telling me that it's going to be an amazingly great time but I'm still a little nervous about it. There's people there that I'll know (Joe, his friends, his cousins, family, etc.) but I won't be in my "comfort zone." Meh, just give me the champagne and I'll be fine...
The weekend after that, Cate and I are going tubing in Michigan with Maureen Lally and other people from softball. I'm really looking forward to that and Lally got me super excited last night when we were talking about it. Maureen, lemme know if you need help buying anything or getting things together!
After that, I'm going to go see Coldplay in Indy. Greg told me that the venue is really nice. I just wish they would have stopped in Chicago but, this just means that I'll spend Saturday tanning at Joe's lake house and then partying it up for Megan's graduation that night!
Third, last week I found out that I was admitted into St. Xavier's Masters program in Elementary Education. I was really impressed when I went in to meet with an advisor and was hoping to get in. Lewis' program in Secondary Ed wasn't as impressive and I would have to get a second major in history. That's all fine and good and I wouldn't mind doing that but, honestly, I don't have the money to pay for another major and I can't get any more money from the government for another major. I guess they cut you off after one. Whatev.
The program at SXU is two and half years with a cohort of students. There's something like 30 or 40 of us who all go to the same classes at the same time and all that shit. So, in May 2007, I will be state certified to teach K-5 and then I have the option of either doing research and a thesis on elementary ed to get my masters or working to get the degree and become endorsed to teach middle school as well (and I'll have the degree by December 2007). I'm going with option B only because I really wanted to get into high school. With that plan, I can teach anything from K-9 and I'd have a Masters degree. Pretty marketable if I do say so myself!
Ideally, I would love to teach kindergarten or first grade just because I LOVE kids when they're between the ages of 3 and 6 or 7 but that's not where the money is and it is so hard to get a job in a good school for those grades. No one wants to work with the pests in junior high so why not me?! Everyone is telling me that I won't be able to handle it but I think I'll be alright. Plus, I've heard that when you do your clinical and observation hours is when you find out what age you really want to work with.
Megan, Cate and I were talking and we think it would be hilarious if we all got into the same school. I could just see it: Cate teaching cursive and fractions 3rd or 4th graders, passing them onto me in 5th grade, and Megan working out all the fucked up problems kids have (which is still a mystery to me why so many children have so many issues...) as the school social worker. If that happened, I think the parents would pull their kids from the school left and right! haha
Finally, I hate my job. I know, I know, who doesn't, right? But I have never been so stressed and angry in all my life.
Don't get me wrong, I love my kids. My Bubbs runs to me every morning yelling, "Bubba" and hugging my legs, Lauren will dance to "funny clown" anytime I say "la la la la," Haley always has to give me drool-filled kiss when she gets there at 10, all of 13 of them come to me with open palms so I can do "Round and round the garden," they absolutely love it when I dance to "Everyday's a moving day" or "Hey Jim along," and don't even get me started on how good toddlers are when I read "Goodnight Gorilla" or "5 Little Dinosaurs" (complete with my own motions). They're so incredibly smart for their age--so quick and eager to learn everything. For example, we have to say grace with them before they eat. Sure, my older, almost 2 year olds can do it no problem but I have Lauren, Ashley, and Kaira yelling "AMEN!" Charlotte, one of the youngest in my class, can say "DeLacey." It sounds like, "lelacey" but she's trying and I understand her. And the two year olds are another story! With Kayla the hypochondriac who gets hives from water (I don't know where she comes up with that) to Julia Goolia, to my little Nathaniel who will HATES Firestone but will run to and from Meza and I saying, "Hi DeLacey! Hi Meza!" I could go on forever about them too...
What makes this place suck is the fact that I can't give nicknames (shit, I can't even shorten their names from Charlotte to Charlie {which is what her family calls her}!), I can't have double pierced ears (they should've seen my nose a year ago!), usually get left alone and when I do combine, Firestone does nothing, I can't call the children "kids," "guys," "babies" or anything other than "children" and I can't tell a child their "bad" or "no" but I can tell them to "respect." Give me a fucking break! I WORK WITH KIDS WHO ARE 15-24 MONTHS! They have no idea what respect is! Thursday, my newest little boy, Caden, bit me. He bites all the time and was a biter in the infant room (which is why he was moved up early) but there, he could be restrained and redirected in a high chair with a table toy. In my room, he bites, I have to tell him "respect." If he does it again, I have to put him in a "thinking chair" (nope, can't say "time out" either). DO YOU EXPECT A BABY TO SIT FOR A MINUTE IN A THINKING CHAIR?! I don't even think he realizes he is doing something wrong because he isn't doing it out of anger. Its just a phase that some kids go through. Well, anyway, I was bit and when I told the director, she said to be stern with him. Me? Stern? TO A BABY? So that went real well...
I've been told I have no control over my room. Well, listen here asshole, they're one. If I put them in areas, they won't stay there; when I sit and play with them, I lose their attention after a few minutes; and they all want to run around the room with the "walking toys." Fine with me. I clean it all up, they're happy, and I'm happy. How is that lacking control?!
I've put in so much time and effort for them to constantly bitch at me for things that Firestone (the head teacher and 2 year old teacher in room 1 with me) does. I come up with creative crafts for toddlers (I'm pretty limited since we can't paint, cut, paste or use glitter with the little ones) and get no recognition from that place (but Lauren's mom did come in and tell me she loved the fish we did!). They say nothing about how immaculate and organized my room is. And, the kicker is that when I ask for helpers, even to move tables so I can sweep AND watch the kids alone when Meza has to go another room, they "forget" and don't send them. I work 7-5:30 with no time and a half. Its a joke. That place is a nazi boot camp for kids.
Sad to say, I'm leaving there in August. I will miss the little ones and watching them advance, grow and learn but I won't miss the place itself. Hopefully Dale comes through with a DLS job or Big Nance calls me to work at Maria. Providence called but that's only subbing (a start!). I'd need a part time job on top of that and going to school full time. Eh, it'll all work out...
I guess I should update more often but I really don't have time between work and making the most of the summer. So this is it so far. This is what I've done since graduation. Well, all this AND manage to stay out of trouble...FOR THE MOST PART!