smurfin.

This morning I re-potted all my tomato plants (9 total), staked them, and tied them up.  I cleaned out half of my car as well, which is a huge accomplishment.  As the work year goes on, I collect more and more stuff in my car.  It jingles less now, but there is still much to carry inside.  Then I drove to my parent's house and worked for 7 hours in my parent's basement getting ready for the big garage sale.  I am exhausted!!!  But, my sister and I found some interesting things in the basement...some of which will be on the garage sale!  Take a peek...

First, I found this cool spiral notebook.  The smurf pictured and the message on this notebook seemed to be a good theme for my adventures in basementland today.

Then I found this autograph.  Yep, that is Trent Green, NFL star.  But wait...this autograph is from when he was still in college!  On the other side of this paper is his fiancee's signature.  His mom worked at my elementary school as a recess aide.  :) 

Then I found these two gems!  New Kids On the Block sheets (never opened, MINT condition), and my NKOTB cap with signatures.  I'm also getting rid of all my NKOTB cassette tapes...which is a hard thing to do.  They were such a prized possession!  The florescent colors are blinding on this cap.  Look at your own risk.

Check it out!!!  I found my stash of Garbage Pail Kids trading cards!!!  These are being stored in a very secure location.  Hilarious!

We found a bunch of shrinky-dinks!  There were loads of My Little Pony, Rainbow Bright, and Cabbage Patch shrinky-dinks.  We're saving them...

And last, but not least, we keep finding these.  That's right, Tee-Ties!  The accessory for your T-shirt!  My favorite is the Batman shaped one pictured above which was mine.  Love it!  Used to wear these ALL the time. :)

totally.

On Thursday, I met my sister and we ventured to Washington University in St. Louis together.  Katie just graduated with her certificate in Clinical Research Management from there, and she needed to pick up her certificate.  I think she really wanted me to go because she doesn't know her way around that area or campus...which is strange because she works at WashU and took classes there.  But, to her defense, she only works/studies on the Med Campus and we had to go to the main campus.  Anyway...I'm never comfortable anywhere standing in the middle of a sidewalk with a giant map outstretched trying to find where I am going.  And, that's just what happened.  Katie and I, standing in the middle of a WashU courtyard with a giant map looking all tourist-y.  But, we got her certificate and even ventured to the bookstore.

I wanted this cup, but Katie wouldn't buy it for me.  So sad...

But then, we went to the clearance section and I saw this:

I'm not sure if you can see it or not, but these mugs are speckled.  And, like any good music therapist, I start singing to my sister:  5 green and speckled mugs...sat on a ....  you get the picture.  She about left me in the store.  ;)

On Saturday, I started the ginormous task of helping my Mom start to weed out the family basement in the hope of getting rid of a bunch of junk at a garage sale or giving it away.  My parent's basement is crazy insane.  It's a miracle that I'm not on that show Horders.  Yes, a bunch of the junk is mine, and I'm trying to downsize by quite a bit.  The problem is that the majority of the stuff is work related.  UGH.  Children's books, file folder games, laminated stuff, random instruments, recorded music, old files, binders of MT info from college and grad school....it just seems to go on and on.  Luckily, for most things I'm asking myself:  have you used this in the last year or two?  Will you use this in the next year?  Does this have some significant sentimental value?  Keep or pitch...

Here are some treasures I found on Saturday that will be on the sale table.  Get ready for this awesomeness.

That's right.  I found this VHS entitled, "Preparing for your wedding dance."  No one knows where it came from.  Apparently, it magically appeared in a box of junk.  Then there was this poster that was mine.  I call it my "Totally Minnie" poster. 

Yes, that is a late 80s, early 90s version of Mickey & Minnie.  Anyone else remember the TV movie entitled, Totally Minnie?  Released in 1988, my sister and I recorded it on VHS off of the TV when it aired.  I think I still have the whole thing memorized.  I loved it!  And when I watched the American Idol finale this past week (before the rediscovery of the prized poster), Janet Jackson's performance immediately reminded me of this:

And yes, in the next week or so I will probably watch Totally Minnie in it's entirety on YouTube. :)

stress.

So...today I searched for job openings.  [GASP!]  I know.  I have a great job where I make very decent money, but sometimes I wonder if the stress factor is worth it.

In January 2009, I started my current schooling to get special education teaching certification with a masters degree in teaching for one purpose:  in order to be able to do the next step - an administrative degree.  I thought, at the time, that being a principal or administrator was the path for me.  I'm not so sure anymore.

Salary wise, I'm currently at the top of my pay scale.  I've maxed out the educational salary increases to the point where I can only get a significant raise if I complete a doctoral degree.  The only other option for a raise is to move into an administrative position.  But do I really want to deal with that stress and job expectations?  I'm not sure.

I was on the Archdiocesan website today looking at educational positions that were open.  I found myself wanting to apply for a full time kindergarten teacher position or elementary grade...  I think moving to a position like that would make me really happy.  How cool would it be to continue to teach children, but also being able to pray with them?

Well, I know I can't take anything like that right now because, for one, I don't have my teaching certificate yet.  And two, I signed my contract for my current job already for the 2010-2011 school year.  Also, I'm pretty sure I would be taking a significant pay cut, and I'm unsure if I could make it work on just that one salary.

And, I realize I might just be burnt out at the moment.  Yet, I know my job isn't going to get any easier with increased caseload and job responsibilities.  Doing between 25-30 school building site visits for therapy sessions, assessments, and meetings each week just really takes a toll on my body, mind, and spirit.  Many times, I come home absolutely exhausted while remembering I have paperwork to complete in the evening.  Don't get me wrong, I'm ready to be exhausted if I teach in a classroom full time, but it will be different.  I really feel the traveling takes a lot out of me.

I'm surprised how happy the thought of teaching at a Christian/Catholic school makes me.  Could this be my dream job?  Could God have routed me in this direction by getting me into this teaching certification program?  I don't know, but I'm curious to see what the future holds!

summer.

My summer vacation started yesterday at 3:30 pm CST!

I know it will probably go by quickly, but I sincerely need a break.  I was on the brink of serious burn out at work...I was starting to lose my patience with students (which rarely ever happens), and my creative mojo has been long gone for at least a week.  Luckily, I have the gift of being about to improvise simple vocal melodies over cool hip hop loops on GarageBand.  Easy electronic storybook turned into a visual enhanced musical podcast.  Woo! 

I haven't been blogging much lately because of work and school being so time consuming.  Many things have happened.  I just review several of my previous posts and wanted to share updates.  Get excited...

1.  I'm obsessed with Stargate Atlantis.  I saw the original Stargate movie when it came out in [eek] 1994-ish.  Loved it.  But I never got into the TV series.  Well, that has changed.  My geekdom hyperdrive is fully operational.  And...I found out that there are Stargate novels out...watch out summer reading list!

2.  Nothing happened with OTBG (outside the box guy).  We went on a Mass date and then to Bread Co...but it was awkward and strange.  We're friends on facebook...but I haven't spoken with him in weeks.  And I'm super okay with it. :)  I think I may need to put a nix on Mass dates...never work out in my favor.

3.  Did I mention I'm on summer break?

4.  TMJG (you really don't want to know what that stands for - guy) emailed me and asked me out...again.  [sigh]  I wrote him back a direct email and told him how utterly creeptastic he was on our date (in a nice, Christian way of course).  I said we could be friends if he really wanted to (maybe he just needs someone to pray for him?)...he said that would be great.  Haven't heard back.  DUUUUUUUH.  He was looking for a hookup and I could see it coming.  Bu-bye TMJG!  I won't miss you and your creeper-ness!

5.  Yesterday was great because it was my last day of work until August 13th, but it turned fantastic when I received an email from T.  He apologized for his contact being sporadic, and still wants to get together when he's back in the Lou.  He was writing from an internet cafe, which make me wonder where in the world he is located at the moment.  All I know is somewhere with a military base...  He should be back in St. Louis in a couple of weeks.

6.  I officially stepped out of my pilgrimage trip to Europe that should have been starting in about 10 days.  I thought I was going to have to work later into June, and I really just didn't have the extra funds.  Someday I will get to Lourdes, Fatima, and the like!  I'm sure there will be a more perfect trip sometime that includes a jaunt to Lisieux...

I will blog more in the near future.  <3

literacy.

I have started making my summer reading list and collecting books to read! The magic number is currently 8. For those of you who are not working for school districts and working a teacher school year, that means 8 whole work days left until a summer full of vacation! For me, this is a milestone. This is the first summer I have not elected to work summer school. Additionally, I'm not taking graduate classes either. I'm a little excited, if you can't tell! ;)

When I consider my reading preferences, I look at fantasy, suspense, biographies, self-help, and faith. Those are my biggies. I chose to begin my summer book search at Catholic Supply - the place I always spend way too much money. Here's my awesome collection so far:

"The Restless Heart" by Ronald Rolheiser

"Forgotten Among the Lilies" by Ronald Rolheiser

"Saint Gianna Molla: Wife, Mother, Doctor" by Molla & Guerriero

"The World's First Love: Mary, Mother of God" by Fulton J. Sheen

"Padre Pio: The True Story" by C. Bernard Ruffin

"Deus Caritas Est (God is Love)" by Benedict XVI

"Spe Salvi (Saved in Hope)" by Benedict XVI


I hope my list inspires you to read something...well...inspiring this summer!  I'm hoping I have time to read all of these plus some other great reads.  I guess I'll find out!  <3