Sunday, April 29, 2012

Another thing off the checklist

Every month of the school year, for the past 10 years, I've created a calendar and newsletter for each class.  I just did my LAST ones.  EVER.  Wow.  It's just surreal.

We've had a FUN and FULL weekend.  We had an unused inclement weather day to use, so we got a 3-day weekend, with Friday off.  Thursday night, Shannon and I were sitting up late, and decided to sleep out on our deck.  We pulled out her old Playhut tent to keep the dew off us, and camped out!  (Good thing we did, too...because about an hour after we went out, it rained for about 20 minutes, lol!)

Since we had slept outside, we woke up much earlier than we normally would on a weekend morning.  We were sitting on the couch talking to Patrick, and he said "I want Crab Shack for dinner."  (An aside...The Crab Shack is his FAVORITE restaurant...but it's in Savannah, GA...which is 5 hours away.)  We kind of got *that look* on our faces and said "OK, why not?"  My parents agreed to watch our dogs, we Pricelined a hotel room, and within an hour of him saying that, we hit the road!

We had the best time!  We spent a couple hours on the beach, ate Crab Shack for dinner, walked on River St. after that, and then went to our hotel.  Saturday morning, we went back to the beach and just enjoyed the water, sun, and sand.  We watched pelicans dive, we saw a pod of dolphins swim by, and it was just...blissful.  On our way out of town to head home, we stopped by our favorite island ice cream stand for a treat.



We drove 5 hours home, and then took my parents (they don't drive at night) to a North GA Symphony concert at our church.  WOW.  It was tremendous. The kind of music that just sends goosebumps up and down your spine, and makes you close your eyes to take it in.



On the way home from church, we stopped and picked up a friend of Shannon's to spend the night.

This morning we had waffles, bacon, and coffee for breakfast.  (Have I mentioned here that I'm a big girl now, and like coffee?  It's TRUE!  I know, it only took 40 years! Ha!)  After Shan's friend left, we took her to a study group for her Lit. class.  We brought our 15 year old Jack Russell Terrier with us, because she desperately needs a haircut...but the groomer couldn't get us in.  We decided to surprise Shannon with a pet fish (she's been asking, and asking...but we kept saying no) while we were there.  So, we brought the dog (and fish) home and got everything set up.  Can't wait to hear what she decides to name it.



We "installed" a new screen door that the dogs can get through on their own, ate lunch, and I worked on my preschool stuff.  Then it was time to get Shan.  We didn't tell her about the fish...we just let her discover it on her desk when she went in to finish up her homework.  She is excited! It's a real pretty teal/aqua betta fish.

Anyway...I'm BEAT now...good thing tomorrow's Monday!  I can go back to work and rest up from my weekend!  (Wait, no.  I'm a preschool teacher...no rest at work! LOL)


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Out of practice

Before I could share that I was leaving my job, I took a blogging hiatus because the one thing I couldn't talk about was the only thing I wanted to talk about, lol!

Well now unfortunately, I'm out of practice.  I feel like I just blogged...but it's been more than a week.  Oops. 

Things are good.  I've been doing a pretty good job getting exercise in, and I'm drinking way more water than I used to...but  my eating is still hit and miss. I realized yesterday that I'd forgotten to log ANY of my food. Duh.  But then I realize...this is life.  You just keep working at it.

So this is me.  Working at it.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Back on the wagon

Did you know that starting an "eating and exercise plan" the day after Easter is challenging?

The good news is: I logged my food this week, even if it was bad. I drank a LOT more water than I have been, although I still need to get all the way up to my 64 oz. minimum. I exercised 3 times this week (including today), walking 7.5 miles. Not great, but certainly better than I'd been doing in previous weeks.

So, it could've been better. But it could have been worse! I'm looking forward to a better week. The Easter candy is gone. The birthday cake is gone. I was sick last week, and I'm getting better, etc. Onward!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Preschool Winding Down

It's so strange...after 10 years, to be coming to the end of this chapter. In 2002, when I took my job at the preschool, I never really considered how long I would keep it. I loved what I did, and each year I was happy to return.

Now that I've made the decision to further my education, my time at the preschool is coming to a close. It's bittersweet. Each event that we hold, gets a mental check-mark next to it, as if saying "that was the last time for that." Friday, we had Circus Day, an event that has always signaled "we are almost to the end of the year" for me. And now it's past. That means we are almost to the end of my last year.

Wow.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Accepted!


Not that I really thought I wouldn't, but I checked on my application status for college...and I've been accepted! I'm really doing this!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Like a boss

It feels good to blog again! Can you tell? Two posts in one day...after months of silence.

I've had SO much on my mind, changing my life path, leaving my job that I've held for 10 years, going back to college, etc. etc. But...I couldn't talk about it! I had to wait until I'd notified my boss on my letter of intent for next school year, and then go through the process of letting preschool parents know, etc. So *I* knew my life was about to make a 180, but I couldn't let it out yet!

Ahhhhh.... feels good to be out in the open again! LOL!

So anyway. I went and took my placement tests today. I thought it'd be quick and easy. Ha! It was neither. But it was, however, very good. I scored 100% on the writing test, which was actually hard! It was proofreading essays. I scored 100% on the reading test, which wasn't hard...but very boring. And then I scored 94% on the pre-algebra test, which was very hard...so I was incredibly surprised at my score. I tested into diploma-level algebra. God help me! LOL! I can do this, I can do this, I can DO THIS!

After my testing, I went and talked to a counselor, then a person in admissions, and THEN someone in financial aid. By the time we left, I was pretty much a quivering mass...but it's all good!

Feeling pretty proud of my day today!

My big secret

LOL.

You may have noticed, but my blog has been dead here for a few months. I've had something big going on, but I couldn't talk about it yet. I needed to let certain people know first, etc. Finally the "secret" is out, and now I can blog again, ha!

This is my last year at the preschool where I've taught for 10 years. I am going back to college to study to be surgical tech. I am scared to death, but SO excited.

Today I'm going to the school to take my placement tests. I haven't taken a test in over 20 years! I'm a little nervous...but whatever. I'll do what I can do, and get placed where I'm meant to.

But here I go! Gonna go create a new future.