Snow. Everywhere

Most of you have heard by now of the great blizzard of 2011. This is the third blizzard I've ever experienced, and it has been by far the most inconvenient. For me, anyway.

The first one happened on our way to Aspen when I was four and a half. Not really a big deal for me, I wasn't driving, and I didn't have to work. It merely meant an extra night in a truck stop with my parents, siblings, and grandparents. My mom probably didn't like it, since my sister was less than ten days old, but she didn't air her concerns to me.

The second one was Christmas of 2009. Not really a "blizzard," there wasn't really enough snow, but it was blizzard-like conditions (which just means the wind blows the snow a lot and makes visibility practically nothing). I wasn't working at the time, although Chad was, but since it was Christmas Eve, he got off work early so we could drive to Temple to see my family. How far did we make it, you ask? Oh, about 45 minutes down the road to this little town called Okmulgee. Only it took us like two hours to get there. After we watched another car on the northbound side of the highway spin into the median (they were fine), we turned around. It was actually the best Christmas I've ever had, since it was just my little family. By some lucky chance, I bought a saucer sled for Chad for Christmas, so we played on that, made stuffed rock cornish game hens, and just hung out.

This year, I have a job. Not one that I'm particularly crazy about, but it is a job. I can't get to it. My car does not have 4 wheel drive, and since we live in an apartment, we're pretty well blocked in. We got fourteen inches, and yesterday it was so miserable outside that we only ventured out three times between the three of us. Once for Chad, and twice for me, just so we could walk the dog. Today has been better, we did get out, but it's cold, and Hailey can't really walk on the icy parts of the road well, so she falls a lot, and so she hates it. Which means we're home bound. Again. And probably will be again tomorrow. Chad is going to get to work, but Hailey's day care is closed, and I'm not interested in wrecking my car to get to work.

Anyway, we moved to Tulsa for this kind of weather. Sort of. We thought we'd get a little snow here and there. The other day, my best friend (who lives in Philly at the moment) asked me how much snow Tulsa got annually. Nine inches was the average that I saw a few days before this conversation. She then asked if living here might require a snow blower. I told her that if she thought she wanted to own a snow blower, perhaps Tulsa was not the place for her. Sure do wish I had a snow blower right now...

But hey! At least I'm not in Texas, where they're iced in and experiencing rolling blackouts...

Why I Want to be a Teacher

So I just got my packet of stuff that I have to fill out for TCRP (that's Teacher Competency Review Panel, for those of you who are not in the know...). Not quite the thick packet I was expecting. Seems that I don't have to actually go BEFORE the panel, like I thought. Which is good, because when I have to do stuff like that, I get nervous, and say "Um..." a lot. No, this "packet" had only 4 sheets of paper. An application of sorts, another sheet with the list of things that are required to be sent back (along with a breakdown of the necessary codes for eye and hair color, in which they felt it was necessary to clarify that auburn was only for hair, and hazel was only for eyes. UMMM...). (And hopefully they don't read my blog as part of the investigation, because I think that last sentence alone disqualifies me from ANY job teaching English.) Also included was two sheets of cardstock, for fingerprinting. Evidently there will be a thorough FBI background check.

On the list of things to send back were of course my application for licensure, my fingerprints (right and left), and an essay. Now, I have a degree in English. I ADORE writing papers. Okay, maybe not adore, but I do actually like it. And I'm good at it. One of my most proud moments in college was receiving a paper back from a much admired professor with a note that said, "Good syntax." I still have that paper, and yes, I do pull it out from time to time when I need a pick-me-up. I also read that paper and am amazed that my brain put that together. Probably the night before. With research pulled fully from the internet.

Back to this essay, though. They want me to tell them WHY I want to be a teacher. And I'm not really sure. I mean, I drifted through college, taking five or six different majors, graduating with a bachelor's degree in record time-and by record, I mean a record for the longest EVER. Seven and a half years, to be exact. And the only reason I got a degree in English? Because I like to read. And always have. And when you get a degree in English, the first thing people ask you is, "So are you going to teach?" My response was always a resounding NO. So here I am, being asked to write a paper on why I want to teach. A paper that will determine whether or not I get to teach. And I'm not sure what to say.

I could write that the vacation time sounds great, but I don't think that's what they want to hear. I could write that I want to be able to choose my kids' (because eventually there will be another one) school based not only on geography. Again, probably not the right answer. I could tell them that I've fought this tooth and nail, and that I've only recently been convinced (by God, no less) that this is the right path. Maybe. But with the current stance on God in school, I'm not sure that is the right response, either (although I'll keep it in mind if I apply to a parochial school!).

I do know that I want to share my love of books. All books, whether its Dickens or Patterson, Shakespeare or Blume. And of writing, although I don't think I'm great at it without being given a topic of research. And that in every job I've had since I was 16, I've taught in some capacity, whether it was a job as a Sunday school teacher, or a job waiting tables.

The good news is, and I'm going to cut this off abruptly because it's bathtime, that since the fingerprints have to go in with the essay, and will take some time to get done because I have to go to the police station during business hours, I have time to think this over. Chew on it a little bit. And maybe post it on my blog for proofreading purposes.

On passing things...

Okay, my last post was about studying. For a pretty important test. Pretty sure those who follow my blog know this already, since I'm facebook friends with all 9 of you, but I PASSED MY TESTS!!!!!!!!!!!! Both of them, even the subject area test that I was unsure of. SO excited. Called the state, and the next step is the Teacher Competency Review Panel and fingerprinting. Basically, background check, and something else that I'm not sure what it is. Or whether I have to wait to start hunting for jobs. Hopefully my packet will come in the mail and I'll have a better explanation...at any rate, YEA ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On studying...

I suck at studying. A lot. It's part of the reason that it took me 7.5 years to graduate with a four year degree (also because I had five different majors, some for several semesters before changing, but that's a topic for another day). I don't like it when I don't just "know" things. I know, stupid, right? No one just knows stuff without learning it, but it's the things that I'm bad at that make me nuts. Like math. Which my sister in law will tell you (and she's probably right, she was a math teacher and has a degree in the nasty stuff) I am not that bad at. Unfortunately, I have a MAJOR mental block against it. Therefore...you know the rest.

So back to the title of this little tale. Tomorrow I'm taking a test. A pretty important one. Maybe life changing. No, I'm not taking a pregnancy test, it's a teacher certification test for the state of Oklahoma. Before we moved to Tulsa, I talked a lot about getting certified to teach. In Texas. Where they make it relatively easy to get an alternative certification. I didn't think I wanted to teach, and it seemed like (and still does) everyone I knew that taught had it in their blood. Like their moms were teachers, or dads, or everyone they knew, or whatever. Now, my grandfather taught at Texas A & M (GIG EM, AGS!), but he's the only teacher in my family. Period. So I didn't want to.

Now I'm in another job that I'm not sure about, making less money than I'd like to (I know, teaching doesn't pay a lot, but still), and so about three months ago I decided to go for it. The test wasn't that expensive (I should say tests, there are two), and I figured, what the heck, if I hate teaching, then I'll just stop doing it. No biggie, right? Then I started thinking about every job I've ever had and how I always ended up being a trainer. Sometimes before I felt like I really knew what I was doing. And that's teaching, even if part of the reason I did it was for trainers' pay. And I didn't always mind it (now, on a busy Friday night in a restaurant I hated it, but pretty much any other time it was ok).

So everyday for three months I've studied during my lunch break. I feel about as prepared as I can be. I'm going to study some more tonight after my parents get here to watch Hailey, and tomorrow morning at 7:15 (ouch), I'll be signing in at East Central High school in Tulsa. I guess at this point, please say a prayer, wish me luck, whatever it is that you do...And don't be offended if you're a good friend and you didn't know, I didn't tell many people.

fill in the blanks

I'm back. At least for the moment. I can't guarantee that this will be entertaining, or that I'll post again anytime soon, but for this moment, I'm back.

Our lives have been really busy lately, Chad is back in school, which is very exciting, but means that I am taking on a *little* more than I was doing before. Mostly, I'm taking Hailey to day care every day instead of just Mondays and Fridays. His classes are online, so his work schedule has not changed, but he spends a lot more time in front of the computer on the days he is home. We are really proud of him for doing so much and doing so well.

Hailey's thinking about potty training, which is REALLY cool. She likes to use the potty a lot, but we're not quite dedicated enough to really commit to it yet. Soon. I hope. We didn't tell her Sunday school teacher that she was potty training at all, and she ended up messing up the ONE diaper we took in. Oops. Her tantrums are fewer and farther between, although we had a couple of doozies last night. Tonight she and I walked down to the pool, and she jumped off the side at least ten times, and didn't even throw a fit when it was time to leave! It's the little things....

I'm still working, my job is good, although I'm still praying for guidance. Kind of thinking about teaching, although I'm not sure about it. Teacher friends, if you have any advice where this decision is concerned, I'll gladly take it!! I'm working on myself a little too. Trying to give up the green eyed monster, which is tough. I'm really not a big "coveter," but I do compare myself to others a lot. "She's skinnier, she has a better car, has a house, a second kid, and so on..." The problem with my brand of jealousy is that I forget to be thankful for the things that I have. Like a beautiful, smart little girl. And a pretty terrific husband. A loving family. A roof over my head, and food in my belly. A JOB, even if I don't think it's the one that I want. That said, I just don't think that attitude is healthy. So if I can stop grumbling about what I don't have, trust that GOd will give me the things that I want when HE wants me to have them, and just be thankful for all those things (and more), I think I'll be happier.

Ok, I got a little bit deeper than I meant to. Next time I'm going to try to be a little less "fill in the blanks since my last post 3 months ago" and a little more entertaining.

Til next time...

nothin...

i haven't been here in a while. okay, that isn't entirely true. i've checked in on my friends' blogs, just haven't posted on mine. with a new job, Hailey in day care, and desperately trying to get to the gym, i haven't had much time. immediately after starting this job, i had to go out of town two weekends in a row, and so this past weekend was my first chance at real rest time. with a two year old, so the actual rest was negligible.

i feel like i want to write something deep and profound, but the truth is, i just don't have it in me. i still don't catch the news very often, so i can't give my views on that, and truthfully, in addition to not getting to the gym, i haven't gotten to church much either. (although we did make it this past sunday.)

so i don't have much to say. i forgot how tough it is to work and be a mommy. especially when daddy works a schedule that doesn't allow him to be here for bathtime and bedtime. maybe next time i'll feel more inspired. in the meantime, thanks to my friends who are keeping ME entertained, even while i provide no entertainment myself.

The number 2

Hailey is 26 months. Which makes her 2 years and 2 months. Since she was about 18 months, she has been "practicing" for two. And it's here now. And my beautiful, smart, funny little girl occasionally turns into someone I don't recognize. And don't like. Worse than that, when she turns into that child that I don't know or like, I turn into this yelling, screaming, wreck of a mommy because I can't figure out what it is that she needs/wants (or sometimes just what will shut her up). Don't get me wrong, I still love her when she's being nasty mean Hailey, but it makes for some very rough days.

We recently got rid of her pacifier, which was relatively easy to do. Unfortunately, what we also gave up was naptime. Seems that without a "chachu," she simply can't soothe herself to sleep. Darn it. Probably that will come back when she goes back to daycare next week, but maybe not. Equally frustrating was the return of poop art. Yesterday I washed her sheets twice. And gave her three baths. Her sheets were washed night before last b/c of another poop incident. That's right, 3 times in 24 hours I washed her sheets. Sigh.

As a result, yesterday I decided that it was time for her to graduate to a toddler bed. So I turned her crib into a day bed (with no bed rail), which only resulted in me contemplating the possibility of turning it back into a crib in the wee small hours. I decided it might be more traumatic to change it back, but I also got NO sleep. And remember that part about no naps? Even though we played outside for an hour, went to the library, Target, and Babies R Us, still no nap today. I couldn't even get her to lay down for a solid hour in my bed with me.

Suddenly, going back to work doesn't look so unappealing. For eight hours a day, someone else gets to fight my strongwilled child, and I get to hang out with grown ups.

Gotta go, bad Hailey is back, and she just pinched the heck out of the dog....ARGH.